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... Read more at: Piedmontforum.com VIRGINIA PRIMARY VOTER GUIDE VIRGINIA VOTER GUIDE A NON-PARTISAN GUIDE TO VIRGINIAS PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY With Contributions from Piedmont Virginia Community College Journalism and Political Science Students IMPORTANCE OF PRIMARIES The Virginia state government conducts primaries in which voters may choose the presidential candidate that best represents them. Virginia traditionally holds open primaries. A voters candidate stands a better chance of appearing on the ballot in November when voters participate in the primary. The 2016 presidential primary will take place on March 1, 2016 Voters choose which partys primary to vote in at the polling place. Voters may change their primary party and candidate for the November presidential election. A primary represents the opinion of voters. The delegate who votes at the national convention of their respective party then conveys the opinion of the voters. Some candidates who have suspended their campaigns will still appear on the ballot on March 1. Every Vote Counts! Be sure to vote on March 1, 2016 Page 2 ALBEMARLE CO. POLL LOCATIONS Rio District Brad Sheffield, Supervisor Woodbrook Precinct Woodbrook Elementary School Branchlands Precinct Senior Center Agnor-Hurt Precinct Agnor-Hurt Elementary School Dunlora Precinct C.A.T.E.C. Northside Precinct Earlysville Fire Department Jack Jouett District Diantha McKeel, Supervisor Jack Jouett Precinct Jack Jouett Middle School University Hall Precinct University Hall Georgetown Precinct Albemarle High School Belfield Precinct St. Anne's-Belfield Lower School Convocation Center Samuel Miller District Liz Palmer, Supervisor Ivy Precinct Meriwether Lewis Elementary School Red Hill Precinct Red Hill Elementary School East Ivy Precinct Miller Center Country Green Precinct Berean Baptist Church Porter's Precinct Yancey Elementary School Yellow Mountain Precinct Mt. Ed Baptist Church Scottsville District Jane Dittmar, Supervisor Scottsville Precinct Scottsville Elementary School Monticello Precinct Monticello High School Cale Precinct Cale Elementary School Stone-Robinson Precinct Stone-Robinson Elementary School Rivanna District Kenneth C. Boyd, Supervisor Keswick Precinct Zion Hill Baptist Church Stony Point Precinct Stony Point Elementary School Hollymead Precinct Hollymead Elementary School Free Bridge Precinct Elks' Lodge Hall Baker-Butler Precinct Baker-Butler Elementary School White Hall District Ann H. Mallek, Supervisor Crozet Precinct Crozet Elementary School Free Union Precinct Free Union Baptist Church Earlysville Precinct Broadus Wood Elementary School Brownsville Precinct Brownsville Elementary School Albemarle County Schools Page 3 DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES Hillary Clinton on the Issues: Employment Increase federal minimum wage. Create good-paying jobs and get pay rising by investing in infrastructure, clean energy, and scientific and medical research to strengthen our economy and growth. Education Ensure no student has to borrow to pay for tuition, books, or fees to attend a four-year public college in their state. Enable Americans with existing student loan debt to refinance at current rates. Hold colleges and universities accountable for controlling costs and making tuition affordable. Require students to work 10 hours a week in order to contribute to their education. Hold colleges accountable for graduation rates and student outcomes. Alternative Energy Wishes to require 500 million solar panels to be installed and generate enough renewable energy to power every home in America. Bring greenhouse gas emissions 30 percent below what they were in 2005. Provide funding for state and local governments to promote clean energy. Bernie Sanders on the Issues: Employment The current federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour is a starvation wage. We need to raise the minimum wage to a living wage--$15 an hour over the next few years. No one in this country who works 40 hours a week should live in poverty. Education I do believe that public colleges and universities should be tuition -free. Is this is a radical idea? Well, other countries around the world do that, because they know investing in their kids is good for their economy. Health Care He believes that healthcare is a human right and should be guaranteed to all Americans regardless of wealth or income. Page 4 REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES Donald Trump on the Issues: Employment Trump does not want to raise minimum wage. Does not want to raise business tax because it forces businesses to move jobs out of the country. He wants to take jobs back from foreign countries to reduce unemployment. Education Wants education to be at a local level. He does not want federal government to be involved with education. Believes the Common Core needs to be terminated. Wants more competition among schools to encourage a higher level of education. Health Care Wants to replace Obamacare with a different health care system. In favor of vaccines, however feels they should be done more gradually and over longer periods of time, specifically for children, because the treatment can be harmful to their health. Sees the amount of money saved in other areas of the government as an opportunity to cover everybody in the country under health care. Ted Cruz on the Issues: Employment Cruz Simple Flat Tax: collapse current seven rates of income tax into a single rate of 10%. For families of four, the first $36,000 in income will be tax free. Opposed to a minimum wage hike. Reduce government involvement and regulation of small businesses. Education Repeal Common Core. Believes the best solution for student loan debt is a stable and productive economy where college graduates can find well-paid work. Alternative Energy Disputes scientific consensus on climate change; Would approve the Keystone XL Pipeline Believes in full use of domestic fossil fuels and does not plan to allocate federal funding for alternative energy. Page 5 REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES Marco Rubio on the Issues: Employment Against raising the minimum wage Wants to raise wages by [Making] America the best place in the world to start a business or expand an existing business. Alternative Energy "I do not believe that human activity is causing dramatic changes to our climate the way scientists are portraying it." Feels solar and wind energy should be a part of the U.S.s energy portfolio without eschewing coal, oil and natural gas. Health Care Opposes Obamacare. Wants to Expand mental health centers; address violence at its source. All kids should get vaccinated, with medical exceptions Ben Carson on the Issues: Employment Believes higher minimum wages for the young creates unemployment, because they have fewer skills to offer for the price the business would be required to pay them, therefore they are not given jobs. However, the minimum wage should be raised for the general population and then indexed to more accurately reflect the demographic it affects. Education Supports school choice programs, such as charter schools and school vouchers. Feels it would give students the opportunity to reach their full potential. Is against the one size fits all, approach to education and feels innovative thinking and individuality should be focused upon. Health Care Complete repeal of Obamacare; keep the federal government from involvement between doctors and patients. Wants to decrease the cost of prescription drugs by reducing Obamacare taxations, reducing FDA regulations and encourage more competition amongst pharmaceutical companies. Supports vaccinations and encourages people to vaccinate themselves against harmful diseases that have left the U.S but could return. Page 8 REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES John Kasich on the Issues: Employment Elimination of death tax, 16 percent income tax across the board, and abolition of income tax on small businesses. Would put job growth and economic development entirely in the hands of the private sector; minimal or no federal involvement. Education Believes education is a state and local issue that should not be managed by the federal government. Would abolish federal learning standards. Would incentivize colleges and universities by paying them based on course completion and graduation rates rather than enrollment. Health Care Would repeal Obamacare and incentivize market-based healthcare. Believes in rewarding effectiveness and value of healthcare rather than volume. Candidates Who Have Dropped Out The following candidates will appear on the ballot but are no longer in the running for the presidency. Democrat: Martin J. OMalley Republicans: Lindsey Graham, Rand Paul, Mike Huckabee, Jim Gilmore, Chris Christie, Jeb Bush, Rick Santorum, and Carly Fiorina. Page 9 FIND OUT MORE To learn more about the Virginia Primary and individual candidates, visit the following websites: Virginia Department of Elections website: www.sbe.virginia.gov Find your polling place: https://vote.elections.virginia.gov/ VoterInformation/PollingPlaceLookup Vote Smart: votesmart.org Vote 411: vote411.org Virginia Democrats website: http://vademocrats.org/ Virginia Republicans website: http://www.virginia.gop/ Created by Journalism and Political Science students: Range Crisler, Kaitlyn Duvalois, Malinda Fisher, Joseph Fowler, Owen Krug, Ellie Muraca, Kellyn Torres, Arif Vega, and Ryan Winkler. Check us out on social media @PVCCForum Contact Us PVCC The Forum 501 College Dr. Charlottesville, VA 22902 theforum@pvcc.edu www.piedmontforum.com The Forum offers classified space to the PVCC community free of charge. Please send announcements along with full name, email, and phone number to: theforum@pvcc.edu  ...

... Read more at: Piedmontforum.com Winter 2021 Piedmont Virginia Community College PVCC Program Alleviates Food Insecurity over Holiday Season Jaume Plumb-Planas, staff writer Food insecurity is a well known issue, with thousands of food banks and food resource networks across the US attempting to alleviate it; the problem is that most of them are closed during the last ten days of the year. So in 2019, Amanda Key, the Student Financial Resource Center (SFRC) coordinator, came up with a solution; Boxes for Break. Food insecurity is a huge issue for college students, especially for those who have to work and attend. Student advocacy organization Chegg published a report that stated that nearly one-third (29%) of college students have missed a meal at least once a week since the beginning of the pandemic and more than one-third (34%) know someone who has dropped out of college due to difficulties affording food. While college food Experience Let There Be Light pages 16-17 pantries have been picking up the slack, a good portion of them simply do not have the same levels of funding or volunteer support as traditional food banks and resource networks. However, thanks to a grant from Anthem Healthkeepers Plus and donated money and supplies from the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education, the SFRC was able to plan and assemble 200 food and hygiene boxes for PVCC students and their families. Members of the SGA, PVCC Foundation Board, UVA SIM 21-22 volunteers, and PVCC staff and faculty got together to assemble these boxes. It took us a few days to get everything done, but we had over 45 volunteers, so we were well ahead of schedule. We finished packing boxes the first week we started, within three days. We had three boxes, a hygiene bag, a box that came See Boxes on page 4 In This Issue Volunteers and Faculty posing in front of the Panther Cafe, with Boxes for Break in background. Photo courtesy of Amanda Key PVCC Events -pg. 2 SGA Update -pg. 3 Profiles -pgs. 7-9 Classes -pgs. 10-11 Clubs Reviews Video Games -pgs. 26-27 Comic -pg. 12-13 -pgs. 20-25 -pg. 31 DATES TO REMEMBER Fall Final Exams Dec. 15-21 Spring 2022 16-week Classes Begin Jan. 10 Martin Luther King Day Holiday Jan. 17, All Day, No classes Gallery Exhibition Opening Reception * Feb. 5, 5-7 p.m., Dickinson Building Galleries One Mic Stand * Feb. 11, 7 p.m., Dickinson Building Maxwell Black Box Theater "Gospel Joy" with Odyssey of Soul featuring Horace Scruggs Feb. 19, 7:30 p.m., Dickinson Building Main Stage Spring Break March 7-13, All Day, No classes Richmond Ballet March 9, 7:30 p.m., Dickinson Building Main Stage *Free Event Photography by Jaume Plumb-Planas Santa Crashes a Tree Lighting at Stonefield Jaume Plumb-Planas, staff writer Both children and adults that came for the tree lighting at the Shops at Stonefield were in for a surprise on the night of Nov. 27 when a special interruption occurred. When the crowd got to the end of the countdown for the lighting of the tree, the lights simply did not turn on. All of the sudden, Chris Gallagher, one of the event organizers, pointed out a figure on the roof, who turned out to be none other than Santa Claus plugging in the lights and saving the event. Disney Princesses Elsa and Anna also made an appearance immediately after, singing a piece from Frozen. Following the song, children lined up outside Eichner Studios to take pictures with them and lined up inside the building directly adjacent to the tree and Regal Cinema to get pictures with Santa Claus. This event is supposed to help celebrate all the nonprofits that the Shops at Stonefield has worked with in the past year, said Gallagher, after we worked with them on Battle of the Bands, they wanted EpicCville to come back here to help them set up this event. The lighting featured over a half a dozen nonprofits and charities, including Building Goodness Foundation, the Arc of the Piedmont, SARA (Sexual Assault Resource Agency), The Ishan Gala Foundation, HOWS (House Of Wood and Straw), and Elk Hill. The tree will remain lit from sundown to midnight until after New Years. Page 2 Student Government Association News What is the SGA? We are a student-led organization that gives PVCC students a platform to voice their concerns and expectations. Our vision is to establish a communal spirit that supports student engagement and develops a civic sense of responsibility. What do we do? Represent the student body and voice their concerns Look to build student engagement and student participation Improve student satisfaction with PVCC and help take PVCC to new heights Host annual events. (Casino night, spring fling, drive-in movie, welcome back social) Accomplishments so far: Successfully held Welcome Back Social event Initiated PVCCs first Service event alongside the IRC (International Refugee Committee) Night Against Procrastination took place on December 8, 2021 Provided items and support for Boxes4Break Organized Voting for PVCCs next service project How do I join? As long as you are interested and willing to share your ideas and contribute, we would be happy to have you. If you are looking to spend a couple of hours per month, please join our General Assembly. If you are looking to be an active member who is directly involved with organizing events and activities, join the SGA Senate. For further information please contact aza251@email.vccs.edu. Page 3 Boxes, continued from page 1 from Sentara, and then the regular food box. We prepared 200 food and hygiene boxes, said Raven Hysell, a single stop coach with the Student Financial Resource Center. Inside the boxes were a variety of items, to suit a wide range of cultures and tastes, as well as utensils, cooking tools, and meal kits. This year we put a wide range of things in it, not just canned goods. We added a little twist to the boxes, a little spice by doing a cookbook and providing some of the ingredients from it. Just because you need this service doesnt mean you shouldnt be allowed to do things like baking or things like that, said Key. Once packed, the boxes were brought up to the Panther Cafe by volunteers and staff for a large distribution day, where students came between 4-6 p.m. to pick up the boxes. We try to accommodate everyones needs, both with the boxes and with distribution. Our whole goal is to remove the barriers to getting what you need, and its especially difficult when theyre older or they just dont have that type of transportation they come to get the items, so everybody could either pick-up or get a delivery. We actually just got done doing a delivery of 22 boxes that we took straight to some peoples homes, said Key. But Boxes for Break still has a few more goals to tackle, including increasing the scope of the project to covering non-credit students, expanding coverage to Greene County and the Guiseppe center, and continuing to add more culturally inclusive items to the boxes. We need donations of hygiene items, diapers, and things that are culturally friendly. Thats one of the reasons we add so many of the spices and items like that. Blue Ridge Area Food Bank did a study and those were some of the items that some of the refugees and others requested, said Key. Overall, the entire program is about ensuring that students and their families are able to celebrate during the break without worrying about resources. Seeing everything packed up is my favorite thing about this. It's absolutely beautiful. Just knowing that all of this is going to be given away to someone, and they dont have to pay anything for it, its just a good feeling, said Key. Night Against Procrastination at PVCC Chloe Boutin, staff writer the library. The snacks were set up in the main area for people to study, but writing center tutors With finals coming up quickly, it is easy for and other support staff were located in the Betty students to start getting overwhelmed about all of Sue Jessup Library for extra support. the work they have on their plates. PVCCs This was a space for students to study for their Student Government Association (SGA) held a exams or work on any final projects or Night Against Procrastination to give students a assignments they had for the rest of the year. But space to work on this event was not just for study assignments for different time. It was also a chance for classes, study for finals, students to re-focus and calm and give them a relaxing down during these stressful space to de-stress during times. There was a mindfulness this hectic time. session held as well to let This event was held in students relax in between study the Bolick Student Center sessions. on Dec. 8 from 5-10 p.m. With this event, PVCCs This event was supplied SGA helped set students up for with free snacks such as success by mixing both study fruit, assorted wraps, pizza, time and relaxing time in order Jessica Hladky at the snack table sodas, sparkling water, and to help students get into the Photography by Chloe Boutin coffee was even offered in correct mindset for finals. Page 4 The Psychology of Misinformation Luca Gett, staff writer While they remain important components of the issue, the increasing abundance of misinformation cannot be entirely attributed to technology and interconnectedness. Without the individual and the combined actions of many, misinformation would remain confined to its source. On Oct. 27, employing the topics of the 2020 presidential election and recent increases in vaccine hesitancy, PVCC Associate Professors of Psychology Dr. Adam Johnson and Dr. Michael Rahilly sought to explain the role of human psychology in facilitating the spread of misinformation in a campus talk titled The Psychology of Misinformation. The discussion was centered around measuring just how much of an effect human psychology had on facilitating the spread of misinformation, with the two professors making mention of cognitive biases, as well as identity and social influences, all while seeking support from a series of studies and the application of other psychological concepts. This effect was, as demonstrated by Johnson and Rahilly, vastly more than one would think. Johnson began the talk. He accompanied explanations of authoritarian psychology and confirmation bias with the example of the 2020 presidential election and the disputes surrounding its outcome. He credited Bob Altemeyer for his extensive work on the psychology of authoritarianism. The authoritarian personality was explained as someone with an unwavering adherence to a preferred authority, even to the point of justifying violence. He defined confirmation bias as an inclination of the individual to validate their beliefs with their preferred sources. These two factors were highlighted as causes of disputes to the 2020 presidential election results, mentioning studies conducted relating these concepts to the issue. Johnson made a particularly interesting mention of social media as strengthening the effect of confirmation bias due to its incredible levels of personalization, something that will only increase as these platforms continue to develop. Vaccination hesitancy was the focus of Rahillys portion of the talk, a topic that was a little more complex. Mention of confirmation biases reappeared in this portion of the talk, along with mentions of social identity and conformance biases as well. He identified personal and social identity as integral components of ones sense of belonging. Consequently, they have a great deal of influence on human behavior. The conscious rejection of information could occur at the hands of an individuals social identity and conformance biases, Rahilly stated. From here, the complexity of this particular topic became more apparent. While concepts such as confirmation, social identity, and conformance biases could be easily explained and exemplified. It was the combination of these things with the unique conditions of the pandemic that caused such widespread vaccine hesitancy. Firstly, the stress of the pandemic accelerated the effects of these biases in influencing those resistant to vaccines. This stress was combated with what Rahilly described as fast thinking coping mechanisms. In this particular case, these mechanisms were the rejection of information in the interest of maintaining social belonging. The newness of the vaccine and a lack of education in science and the scientific process further contributed to the spread of misinformation and vaccine hesitancy, Rahilly added. Both Johnson and Rahilly used the examples of the 2020 presidential election and vaccine hesitancy amid the pandemic to explain the effect that human psychology has on the spread of misinformation. Johnsons brief discussion of the 2020 presidential election was accompanied by explanations of authoritarian psychology and confirmation bias. Rahillys portion of the talk related confirmation, social identity, and conformance biases to the incredibly unique nature of the pandemic. It was, however, some of Johnsons last statements that resonated most. The internet and social media platforms have made it easy to select information sources that align with our views and opinions read one of Johnsons presentation slides, to which he added ...a stronger source of confirmation bias is going to come from the internet. Social media platforms will only increase in personalization as data collection and analysis becomes more sophisticated. The heightening effects this will have on confirmation bias in the future are unthinkable. Page 5 ACPS to Receive Electric School Buses Jaume Plumb-Planas, staff writer Albemarle County Public Schools (ACPS) are getting two new electric school buses, but unlike the vehicles themselves, they are not staying quiet about it. On Friday Nov. 5, ACPS co-hosted an event with Generation180 to showcase the model of the new electric school buses that will be joining their fleet most likely midway through next school year, according to Jim Foley, director of transportation for ACPS. The addition of the electric buses is a part of Albemarle Countys Climate Action Plan, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower environmental impact in the county. Currently ACPS fleet of 220 school buses travels an average of over 14,000 miles a day, and while the current diesel buses are around one third of the price of an electric bus, they cost significantly more in terms of fuel and maintenance costs, while also producing greenhouse gases. Albemarle Countys funding for the electric school buses was provided through a Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) grant, originally announced by Governor Ralph Northam last August. Part of the funding for the grant will go towards creating infrastructure for charging the buses and other electric vehicles, and requires that the new electric buses replace older buses that do not meet the Environmental Protection Agencys (EPA) diesel engine requirements. Louisa County Public Schools (LCPS) will also be receiving two new school buses from the DEQ grant besides the two it received in January from Dominion Energy's school bus grant. We did something weve never done before, which is that we ran those buses with 30 day paper tags, said Deborah Coles, director of transportation at LCPS. Last year we ran those buses on a shorter route because we werent sure what would happen This year the new buses were getting will be running substitute routes, where we dont know where theyll be ahead of time, said Coles. We have five transit systems in this community with their own buses, said Diantha McKeel of the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors, The next step that we need to take is to start thinking about how we can reduce the number of those buses, for efficiencys sake, as well as the type of buses we have. I am thrilled Albemarle County is putting a pole in the ground and saying we are going to be purchasing electric buses. One of the new Blue Bird buses taking the Generation180 event attendees on a test drive. Photography by Jaume Plumb-Planas Page 6 Creativity over Tradition Yasser Perez, staff writer own work. Comparing her work to the work of her peers can be overwhelming, she says, but it Across hundreds of colleges and universities pushes her to expand her creativity. in the United States, thousands of collegiate Another challenge Baugher mentioned was majors are offered. Engineering, business, and how much work and planning actually goes into education are among the most popular choices for interior design. Its so much more than just college students, but one student at Virginia decorating. Theres more to it than what you see Polytechnic Institute and State University chose on HGTV, Baugher said. to defy tradition and opted to pursue her passion Enthusiastically, Baugher dove into all of the in a more creative field. nit-picky details that interior designers are Emily Baugher is a sophomore at Virginia responsible for, often using hand motions and Tech who is currently facial expressions to pursuing a degree in truly personify the Interior Design. Visibly importance of building excited to dive into detail codes interior designers over her chosen career have to adhere to, path, her infectious smile specifications of light and passion radiated fixtures, and other through the screen as she interior furnishings. explained why she chose When speaking interior design over a about her future, virtual conversation. Baugher beamed with Baugher explained joy describing her that throughout high excitement to put her school she had always skills to use at a design liked her art classes and firm, or in her own had a passion for design. business. Baugher Baugher described that expressed her desire to pursuing a career where work close to home and creativity was a main focus on residential focus was a contributing interior design, but the factor towards her commercial side of her decision. Although she career also entices her. was undecided on what to Im a homebody, so major in for the majority I dont want to move of her senior year, that far away, which is Baugher said, I picked scary to think about, but interior design because if I were to work in Emily Baugher its not rigid like commercial interior Photo courtesy of Emily Baugher engineering and other design, such as working traditional majors I felt like it would be a on hospitals and hotels, I could travel a lot which perfect fit for me. would be super cool, Baugher said. Baugher admitted that although interior Baugher recognized that challenges are design is an easier major than engineering or inevitable whether she chooses to pursue the medicine, it is no walk in the park. Baugher residential or commercial side of her career, but mentioned that while engineering is based on a that she is eager to face those challenges. In a rigid structure of math and rules to follow, world where traditional careers reign supreme due interior design is more subjective. With a slight to their safety in regards to their return on chuckle and wipe to her brow, she shared that one investment, Baugher is ready to take on the risks of her biggest challenges is over criticizing her of a more experimental career. Page 7 Trans Activist Teaches Self-defense Jaume Plumb-Planas, staff writer Gun sales increased rapidly in 2020 with an unprecedented amount of new gun owners walking out of stores with firearms, many of them with no prior experience handling or operating any sort of firearm. I met with a local firearms instructor to discuss how she has been working to counteract this trend. We met at a gun range about 45 minutes from Charlottesville, where she had been teaching a concealed carry class, and sat down at a picnic bench for our interview. Clara Elliot and student on the firing line. Photo courtesy of Clara Elliot I remember one particular time going into a gun store at the height of the [Black Lives Matter (BLM)] protests, and there were a lot of AfricanAmericans, and there were a lot of white folks in there, and you could feel the tension. Thats when I realized that a lot of people are very uncomfortable around gun culture, said Clara Elliot, founder of ATW Firearms Instruction, Often times when you think of gun culture, you think of the far right, yknow, people who are racist, sexist, homophobic; extremely nasty bigotted people. I realized that people needed a place where they could feel comfortable learning about firearms, in training to use them safely. So she took a National Rifle Association (NRA) instructor course and started ATW Firearms Instruction in Oct. 2020. Unfortunately, that class was a perfect example of why I was becoming an instructor. The entire class was nothing but cops, and they made bigoted jokes about LGBT people, African Americans, POCs (people of color), Muslims, Latinos; and I was literally in fear the entire class. I had just had voice surgery and thankfully they couldnt tell I was trans, because I was afraid, in all honesty, of what would happen if they did, said Elliot. Since founding her LLC (Limited Liability Corporation), she has provided training for more than 60 people in Virginia and gained over 1,300 followers on Instagram. Starting [ATW Firearms Instruction] has been a learning experience, but Ive found amazing people who share the mindset, a great community of leftist, POC, and female gun folks and instructors that Ive been introduced to, said Elliot. One of the things from the beginning of ATW was that it was about building a community for LGBTQ+ [people], building a community is so important and especially in the aftermath of 2020, said Elliot, Currently besides teaching this class, Ive been making and handing out free self-defense kits for local trans and non-binary people. Its been great for helping them have more access to self-defense and feel a little safer as well. Elliot said, This is a passion project for me, and Ive seen the impact that its had for people. Theyre happy to have a place to come learn selfdefense, because theyve wanted to, but theyve never had a safe way to do that. The NRA is not the end all and be all of training organizations, but Im an NRA instructor. As a friend of mine put it, use rocks to break rocks, which is a good analogy of what Im doing. Im trying to do my part to break down these stereotypes of gun culture, so in the future I want to expand out from helping a few people a month to get their concealed carry permit, to being able to teach future instructors, so they can go out into their communities and do the same Clara Elliot, founder of ATW thing Im trying Firearms Instruction. Photo courtesy of Clara Elliot to do. Page 8 Patricia Jassmann, Living a Life of Language Laurel Molloy, staff writer Patricia Jassmann, adjunct assistant professor of German, sat outside the north entrance of PVCC. She wore pink pants and a rich-purple shirt covered by a silver blazer that looked almost like reflected snow or metal. As Jassmann talked, gesturing, and taking occasional sips of water, black birds chirped and swam through the air. She discussed many different subjects from social issues, to the importance of language and believing in yourself. Jassmann has been teaching for a long time. She has taught German and English as a second language. Before she started at PVCC, she lived and worked in Germany. Her longest stay was seven years. The love she has for the place and language was clear as she sat recalling her time there. She lived in Kiel, the capital of Schleswig-Holstein, for a while. Schleswig-Holstein is the northernmost state of Germanys 16 states. Jassmann said around 3 p.m. in the winter it would get dark, and by 2 a.m. in the summer, the sun off in the distance [would] just start to shine. The light slowly sank across PVCC, the glow on the grass receding, as Jassmann mentioned the importance of language and history. She said, We really need to learn more languages. She went on to say that languages are gateways into other countries and cultures. As Americans, we are not just influenced by ourselves, so many places and people affect us. She said traveling, learning languages, and culture help everyone appreciate our own country and others. Jassmann talked about how it is crucial to understand the world and where we all come from, saying, We dont live in just this country. We live in this country but are affected by so much that is going on in other countries. She also added that it is important for everyone to examine history including the mistakes and triumphs made in the past so we can all learn from them. Many people find learning languages hard, and it does take a lot of work. But Jassmann said when she teaches German it is not as much memorization as people first think. She said there Patricia Jassmann poses outside of PVCC. Photography by Laurel Molloy are various tricks and patterns you can learn and follow. Parts of German still need to be memorized, but these tricks help people learn and understand the language better. When asked for a closing remark about something she wished to tell students, Jassmann said, You have to believe in yourself. She said that it is not enough for teachers to believe in students. Students must believe in themselves and put in the time and work to accomplish their dreams. Just like she believes the sun will come up in the morning, Jassmann said she starts out believing every student can accomplish what they want. But she said in the end, it is the students who must believe in themselves and do the work to succeed at whatever they want. Page 9 Economics: A Class that Solidifies Adulthood Yasser Perez, staff writer As college students work towards taking classes to fulfill diploma requirements for their respective majors, many classes are tailored to specific degrees. With ECO 202, however, this is not the case. Not only does this economics course help students, principally adults, in understanding the financial world that surrounds them, but it also provides crucial business skills that could be beneficial down the road, regardless of chosen career paths. The course, Principles of Microeconomics, whose class number is 33572, will meet synchronously online on Mondays and Wednesdays from 2-3:15 p.m. The class is taught by the Assistant Professor of economics at the University of Lynchburg, who is an adjunct professor at PVCC, Dr. Michael Schnur. He has a doctorate in financial economics and has been teaching since 1987. A lot of students work, have a life, it gives people the Textbook used in Principles of Microeconomics. availability of an education, Photography courtesy of Professor Michael Schnurs Canvas page said Schnur, when explaining why he chose to teach this course online this semester amidst a global concepts play a huge role in our everyday lives, pandemic. but understanding these topics help the students The class is based on a lecture format, and the become better equipped to navigate the financial professor utilizes presentations, videos, graphs, world. anecdotes, and articles pertaining to the subject In regards to what students can expect after matter at hand to expand on information taking this course, Schnur says, Its trying to discussed in class. give you the foundation its not here to give all Topics covered in this class include elasticity the answers, but its trying to let you understand (how income influences spending habits), market based on market structures how the economy is structures, supply and demand, and how major impacted. Inflation and rising gas prices, adult corporations incorporate these concepts into their level problems like were seeing today, the cause everyday business models. Not only do these of these events are discussed in this class. Page 10 Creating Art Through the Mind and Pencil Laurel Molloy, staff writer Art and imagination come into play in the ART 121 Drawing I class. Next semester there are introduction to drating three classes, two of which are online. The only in-person class in the spring is led by the Assistant Professor of art Aaron Miller. In this art class, people learn basic drawing skills to bring the paper to life. Miller said, I think anybody can learn how to draw. He said it is like any other skill; you must practice it to get better. He said it is like the piano: at first it sounds strange, but once you practice it and hone the simple skills needed to play, it sounds great. In ART 121, people work on the basic skills like making straight lines and drawing things in perspective. Miller said that they usually work a lot with still life objects for ART 121. Miller has been teaching art for over seven years. He said every year and every class is different and unique. Students often form a community within the class. They sometimes do field trips to see art exhibits. One of Millers favorite parts of the class, however, is when students show off their final portfolio at the end of the semester. He said it is exciting how each person has developed. Every class usually has three elements within the four-hour time slot. They start with a critique of homework, then a short lecture talking about new concepts, and lastly, they practice drawing. Miller said that he wants people to practice drawing as much as possible during class. He grades drawing pieces not by their potential to go in an art gallery but by if the drawing shows the new skills people are practicing. In the spring semester, the in-person Drawing I class will meet on Tuesdays from 1-5 p.m. in room 118 in the Dickinson building. It is a hybrid class, which means people meet in person and must do things online as well. Its course number is 33479. Miller said that drawing can take a lot of time and effort, and you never end your process of learning how to draw. But if you like to draw or just want to learn more, Miller said that the class is a lot of fun and a great community. You learn a lot about the basics of drawing and have fun while doing it. Stop by the Dickinson building to see examples from other drawing classes. It brings the hallways to life as worlds of imagination hang across the walls. From shapes, teapots, and Pokmon creatures, the mind can fashion anything onto the page. Artwork pinned up on the walls in the Dickinson building. Photography by Laurel Molloy Page 11 The Anime Club: A Gateway into Worlds of Art Laurel Molloy, staff writer Soldier, Poet, King, by The Oh Hellos and Gas Gas Gas. Everyone had a lot of passions that they shared and talked about during the meeting. The Anime Club meets every Friday in room M174 from 2-4 p.m. to discuss and watch anime. Meetings have been going on for over ten years. They are now looking to have another meeting time, but have not figured out when yet. At their meeting on Oct. 29, they started the meeting by watching an anime called Demon Slayer. They finished episode four last meeting, so they watched episodes five and six this time. Demon The lights dimmed in room M174 as the Anime Club started to watch a show on Friday Oct. 29. The screen lit up as vibrant scenes danced across the display. Simple lines created fast paced sword fights and panning shots of sun capped villages. Anime is a style of Japanese film and animation. It stems from manga, which is an art style of Japanese books much like western cultures comic books and graphic novels. Anime comes in many forms from Shonen, which is mainly about fighting and adventure, to Shoujo, which is more about drama, romance, and journeys. Popular kids shows like Pokmon are considered anime. But Maria McCormack, the anime club president, said that anime is not just geared towards kids. People of all ages watch and enjoy anime. McCormack said that each club meeting is unique. Members discuss what they want to watch and talk about The title of the Demon Slayer anime. Photography by Laurel Molloy during the meeting. McCormack said, People come and just chill out and watch anime. She Slayer had color changing blades, colorful fight said she likes the social aspects of the club the scenes, and strange and unusual demons. best. She likes being able to talk to people about The Anime Club does not have any events anime that not everyone might know. planned, but McCormack said, We are hoping to On Oct. 29, only five people showed up, maybe do a Comic-Con. She wasnt sure if the including the club President. It was a small club would be able to attend the event any time number of people, but everyone voiced their soon, but it is a hopeful option for the future and a opinions. The atmosphere was talkative and free. way to have fun and get out in the anime There was a discussion on what horror anime to community. watch and which people liked best. People spoke Even if you just want to come check us out up about Avatar the Last Airbender, groaning at and you have no idea what [the club] is, you are how awful the live action movie was. The topics more than welcome, McCormack said. Its just even strayed away from anime and manga as a social space for people to come and bond over people talked about RTS (Real-Time Strategy) shows and things that they read. You dont really games and songs. Everyone listened to the songs have to know what it is to come. Page 12 Growth from Community: The Horticulture club Jaume Plumb-Planas, staff writer gaining a hands-on education. The club's initial impetus for being was trying to feed the hungry in For over a decade, a small tamed patch of the the community, and weve tried to stay pretty PVCC grounds has been growing and evolving. close to that mission. Because were at an educational institution, theres also a component to education ... so some piece of what were trying to do is we connect people with the joys of growing their own food. Teaching them sustainability, said Lerman. The garden is student led, and they take the initiative when it comes to hosting events. Whoever has permission to grow in a bed can basically grow whatever they want. Students, teachers, and community members grow View of the garden from the northeast end. everything from indigo to Photography by Jaume Plumb-Planas sorghum. During the winter, What began as a garden started by a single students grow in the greenhouse or in hoop student and a few co-advisors, with plants being houses and plan out what crops and expansions grown directly out of bags of soil, has evolved they would like to see for next year. into a community of its own. Thats kind of the delight of watching a We started out with no fence, no beds, said community garden; its that its truly organic. It one of the clubs co-advisors, Director of Student shifts and it ebbs depending whos involved in it Success and Retention David Lerman, We tried I would encourage people who are curious and to plow up the ground, but its all fill from when want to know more to come on down and visit the Dickinson building was built, so its too rocky. garden and to contact me, and Ill give them the Eventually, we came up with the raised bed tour. Garden@pvcc.edu is the easiest way to model. reach me, said Lerman. From there the community pitched in. A construction academy that used to be at PVCC built the shed they use for storing tools, a UVA service fraternity raised money for hoop houses (a type of small greenhouse), and a pump and underground water delivery system were added to the garden. The club not only seeks to be a community project, but also a way for individuals to give back to Student led event, where members of the community garden painted canvas bags. Photography by Jaume Plumb-Planas their community while Page 13 Using Dance to Promote Voter Registration Chloe Boutin, staff writer There are many different ways Greek-letter organizations use to raise money for their philanthropy. The Upsilon Beta chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. at Christopher Newport University (CNU) hosted a dancing competition, Stroll to the Polls, on Saturday, Oct. 23 in order to raise money to promote voter registration awareness. Greek-letter organizations give students many opportunities within their school and their local community to raise awareness for their particular cause. Each organization has a specific cause to raise awareness and money for which is their philanthropy. While Greek life on the surface looks like a social club for students to find a group of friends , it is also important to remember the reason they exist. The Upsilon Beta chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. is an all-black fraternity founded on Dec. 4, 1906. It was formed at Cornell University by seven male students who believed they needed a strong brotherhood for African descendants in their community. It started off as a study and support group but eventually grew to become what it is today. CNUs involvement website The Compass says, While continuing to stress academic excellence among its members, Alpha also recognized the need to help correct the educational, economic, political, and social injustices faced by African-Americans. The event took place at the Ferguson Performing Arts Center at CNU. Admission was $10 for people who bought tickets online ahead of time and $15 if bought at the door. The audience Photo from CNU instagram was filled with members of all the different sorority and other Greek groups participating in the event who came to cheer on their fellow sisters and brothers. Many students had signs with pictures of their sisters faces on it to hold during their performances. It was clear that this was a big event for the Greek organizations and many people came out in support. The dances the groups performed included specific dance moves called strolling. Strolling is a form of dance that Greek Organizations in the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) showcase at special events. For this event specifically, groups were given permission by the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity to use these specific dance moves, but made it clear in their introduction speech that use of these dance moves outside of these events is not appropriate. Eight Groups performed, including the Latino Student Association, Gamma Phi Beta Sorority, K -pop choreography & performance group, Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority, Delta Gamma Sorority, Phi Mu Sorority, Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, and Alpha Phi Sorority. Along with the groups, two guest speakers came to speak in between some performances. The first speaker was Cameron Bertrand, a CNU graduate and an Alpha Sigma Alpha Alumni. The second speaker was the mayor of Newport News, McKinley Price. Both speakers talked about the importance of getting involved in our community and having a voice when it comes to ways we can improve it. They spoke about how crucial it is for everyone to vote and make their voices heard because it can have such a big impact on everything around them. The group that ended up winning the entire competition was the Alpha Phi Sorority. Their performance was well choreographed, and they had the largest and loudest section of sisters and students cheering for them. Although all of the groups that performed did a good job, it was a well-deserved win for the Alpha Phi Sorority. This event was a great way to promote voter registration while also keeping everybody engaged with the performances. It helped educate people while also giving them a show full of talented dancers. This has been an extremely popular event for the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and hopefully will continue to be in the future. Page 14 Drinks and Astronomy on a Starry Night Lamont Robinson, staff writer On the windy and star-filled night of Oct. 26, Speakers from UVA and guests came to talk about astronomy and play trivia games in an event called Astronomy on Tap. The event took place at the Champion Grill location in Stonefield. With the event being close to Halloween, costumes were encouraged; The host, Matthew Pryal, even wore a Buzz Lightyear costume. The event started around 7 p.m. with the first speaker being Yao-Lun Yang, a postdoctoral fellow at the department of astronomy at UVA. Yang talked about the James Webb Space Telescope, which is planned to launch Dec. 18. The James Webb Space Telescope is tasked to be the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope. It will help people have a better understanding of things like star formations and the universe. He said with this telescope, We can see much fainter stuff that was previously obscured by dust molecules and allows us to have a totally different view which gives us a way to dissect whats happening in these star-forming regions. After Yangs talk, a trivia game called Higher or Lower was played. The guests were given two astronomy facts and had to decide whether the second fact given had a higher or lower distance or time compared to the previous question. Guests received prizes for winning, such as lanyards and stickers. After the trivia game, the next speaker was UVA Astronomy Professor Ed Murphy. Murphy showed the constellations in the sky and told the audience the story of Cassiopeia to explain the names of the constellations, like how Cassiopeias constellation is upside down as punishment from the gods. He jokingly said, Compared to other Greek stories, its a great story to tell to your kids. Murphy also mentioned a partial lunar eclipse scheduled for Nov. 19 where the moon will turn a deep red color. Due to time constraints, the grab-bag trivia game was skipped and the final speaker was up. Graduate research assistant at UVA, Molly Finn, who studies the formation of stars, talked about two irregular dwarf galaxies which can only be seen from the southern hemisphere called The Photography by Lamont Robinson Magellanic Clouds, which are as old as The Milky Way Galaxy. The two clouds were not originally associated with Ferdinand Magellan, known for his circumnavigation of the world in 1522, and were called names like Nubecula Major and Minor. Magellan became associated with the clouds when sailors would use the name in his honor. Finn said, Because of its common usage, it eventually worked its way up until the 1850s when John Herschel first used a scientific reference to the common name Magellanic clouds. Finn also showed a bridge of stars which connects the galaxies known as The Magellanic Bridge. She said, [It] further implies that theres a bunch of strong interactions happening between these two dwarf galaxies, that are orbiting each other and causing activity among the stars. After Finn finished her segment, Pryal thanked all the speakers, volunteers, and members of the Charlottesville Astronomical Society who loaned their telescopes for the people who wanted to observe some of the objects in the sky. Pryal also said to check them out on Facebook and Twitter and Hopefully well have another event coming to you guys in December. Page 15 Photography by Max Walpole Page 16 Let There Be Light Exhibition Shines Bright Maxwell Walpole, assistant editor On Dec. 10, the grounds around the V. Earl Dickinson building on PVCCs main campus resembled something out of a folktale. Billowing plumes of fire shifted hues from red to purple to green. Yellow lanterns hung from a tree like strange glowing fruit. Flowers flickered gently like candles. This was not a scene from a fairytale. It was the night of a celebrated Charlottesville tradition, the 15th annual Let There Be Light exhibition. The Let There Be Light exhibition provides a creative space for artists of all backgrounds, from PVCC students and faculty to students from other schools. Each artist is allowed a great degree of artistic freedom to create pieces centered on the unifying theme of light. In fact, light was about the only thing the various artworks at Let There Be Light had in common. The medium and subject of the exhibits varied wildly. There was a statue of a glowing figure standing over the lake behind the Dickinson building, its reflection making it appear as if an identical figure lurked just beneath the water. Neon signs depicting two purple roses and a rabbit with wings sat on the lawn to the side of the building. A section of the lawn was transformed into a fairytale garden, with large red and white-spotted mushrooms and small winged fairies suspended from a nearby tree. All throughout the exhibit, hundreds of people walked through the dark, stopping to cluster around each piece, drawn to the light like moths to a flame. However, Let There Be Light nearly did not happen at all. In addition to the problems posed by COVID-19, rainy weather threatened to disrupt the outdoor event. Fortunately, the rain held off just long enough for the event to proceed as planned. I think [the event] went remarkably well, especially since the weather was a little iffy, said Associate Professor of Art Fenella Belle, one of the exhibits two curators. The decision to go ahead with the event despite predictions of rainy weather was a difficult one, but Belle was ultimately glad she chose to proceed. It was lovely because people came out, and they werent deterred by the Photography by Max Walpole weather at all. Im still trying to figure out about how many people came out, but I think it was between 1500 and 2000, said Belle. Another challenge the organizers had to contend with were how to adapt the event to meet COVID-19 safety guidelines. While a bulk of the event was outdoors, thus reducing the threat of transmission, some changes still had to be made to the eating arrangements. In the past, food had been served inside the Dickinson building, which made it an ideal place for attendees to congregate. We decided to get some food trucks to come up here instead, and we decided to still do the free hot cider, said Belle, One of the ideas behind the event is to make it a gift to the community, not just the Piedmont community but the Charlottesville community, so having some free refreshments is a part of that gift. While Belle was careful not to give any one exhibit preferential treatment, one particular piece held special significance for her and for the wider PVCC community. There were a few pieces that were very specifically designed to pay tribute to Beryl Solla, the professor who passed away last year, and one of them was the one with the flying bunny and the two roses. That one is one of my favorites, said Belle. Now that the exhibit is over, Belle and her fellow organizers have begun drawing up tentative plans for next years Let There Be Light event. My hope for next year is that we continue to make it a little bit bigger than it was this year and keep getting schools involved with their teachers, and I would like the community event to end up being a little bit bigger, said Belle. Page 17 A Christmas Carol: The Live Radio Play A photo from last year's radio play. Photo courtesy of SCAN Laurel Molloy, staff writer The Victory Hall Players, a local acting troupe based in Scottsville, brought the classic A Christmas Carol play, adapted for the stage by Joe Landry, into a new light. They took the old tale of Ebenezer Scrooge and his humbugging ways and told it through the lens of a live 1940s radio broadcast full of old-time commercials. The live radio play debuted on Thursday, Dec. 9 at 7:30 p.m., it went for about 90 minutes and had a 15-minute intermission. It played Dec. 9 through 11 at the same time. The play was held at Victory Hall Theater in the center of downtown Scottsville, right near Baines Books and Coffee and the James River Brewery. It was hosted by the Scottsville Center for Arts and Nature (SCAN), a non-profit organization whose mission is to create a love of learning, nature, and arts. Kristin Freshwater, the artistic director of theater at SCAN, explained why the radio play format was chosen. Freshwater said that the radio play format was first chosen because it has less cost, time commitment, and elaborate costumes needed. Everyone is busy toward the holiday season and the approaching end of the school semester. She said, The format also creates a relaxing environment that is super fun and interactive for the audience. Tickets were available online or at the entrance of the theater on the nights of the performances. The show is kid friendly and wheelchair accessible. Prices for tickets range from $5 to $15. Children under 12 years old are $5, seniors 65 years or older and students 13-17 years old are $10 each, while adults are $15. Because of COVID-19, everyone in attendance was asked to wear masks. Freshwater explained that the theater is only seating 75 people with social distancing between each group. We will be producing Courtney Walker's 'The Mom Journals' May 13th & 14th, 2022. Courtney is a local playwright and a member of 'Victory Hall Players,' Freshwater wrote. They are still working out the details and will give more information later. The Victory Hall Players try to have several events throughout the year. Last year the Victory Hall Players did the same radio play before Christmas. The audience laughed at commercials for outdated merchandise as they were pitched, and the stage was full of energy as actors played their different roles with gusto. You get to really explore the role that sound and voice plays in storytelling. The live on-stage sound effects help to create a fun and immersive atmosphere for the actors and the audience, Freshwater wrote. The radio play brings a creative twist to Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol story. It is an event aimed for all ages and backgrounds filled with song, laughter, and Christmas spirit. Freshwater said, There's nothing like transporting yourself back to the 1940s to immerse yourself in a classic Christmas story. What could be more nostalgic? Page 18 Live Theatre Returns to Harrisonburg Yasser Perez, staff writer Since 1960, Valley Playhouse has provided live entertainment to the city of Harrisonburg. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, brought their nearly 60-year streak of plays and other theatre performances to a screeching halt. Live performances at Court Square Theatre, the Valley Playhouses outlet for in-person entertainment in Harrisonburg, were discontinued for an indefinite amount of time due to the effects of COVID-19. On Oct. 23, two years to the date of their last live performance, Court Square Theatre was able to present the city of Harrisonburg with a community performance of Alice in Wonderland. Alice in Wonderland is a well known literary work popularized by Broadway productions and various media adaptations, especially Tim Burtons 2010 film adaptation which starred Johnny Depp and Anne Hathaway. It is a family favorite which was evident by the considerable number of children in attendance with their parents and grandparents. With all of Alices kooky interactions with talking animals and the fantasy world she is trapped in, it is no wonder childrens imaginations are captivated by such an eccentric story. The performers and crew of the production spent two months vigorously preparing for their public presentation of the play, and their hard work was undeniably evident. Among all of the inhabitants of Wonderland, including the Mad Hatter and the White Rabbit, the most prominent roles belonged to Alice and the Narrator. Alice was played by Jandilee Ramos Richards, who delivered a strong performance throughout the entirety of the play. Jandilee Richards is an eighth grader who has previous experience performing in Court Square Theatre productions playing Roxie in Annie. Michael G. Richards, an older gentleman, took on the role of the Narrator and his performance truly helped maintain the continuity of the plot displayed by each of the characters. Michael Richards has also participated in previous works at Court Square Theatre, playing Franklin Delano Roosevelt in a production of Annie. Despite the age differences across the cast, all the performers meshed well and truly put on a solid performance with no individual trying to steal the spotlight. After two years of theatrical absence, Harrisonburg residents were able to indulge in one of the most beloved forms of entertainment among the community. Buttered popcorn, hearty laughs, and a temporary escape from lifes stressful obligations were shared in the safe space of the theatre. If current COVID-19 trends continue, these performances are something that will continue to be shared for the foreseeable future. The cast of Alice in Wonderland. Photography by Yasser Perez Page 19 Dune: An Uncommonly Ambitious Sci-fi Epic Max Walpole, assistant editor On Oct. 22, Denis Villeneuve's long-awaited sci-fi film Dune was released in theaters and on HBO Max. With an ensemble cast including Timothe Chalamet, Zendaya, Oscar Isaac, Rebecca Ferguson, Stellan Skarsgrd and Javier Bardem, Dune follows the struggles of the noble house Atreides in the year 10191. Led by Duke Leto Atreides, his concubine Jessica, and son Paul, house Atreides are given stewardship of the desert planet Arrakis, the source of a valuable drug known as spice. Set up for failure by the emperor himself, the Atreides must contend with the machinations of their bitter rivals house Harkonnen, the designs of the mysterious Bene Gesserit sisterhood, and Pauls destiny to become a psychic super-being, the kwisatz haderach. Since the original Dune novel was released in 1965, over the years many directors and writers have tried their hand at adapting it to the silver screen. Cult director Alejandro Jodorowsky's attempt in the mid-1970s catastrophically collapsed before it had even entered production. And David Lynch's 1984 adaptation was a massive critical and commercial flop, crippled by executive meddling and Lynch's frustration with the project. It seemed as if Dune was too impossibly strange and unwieldy to be corralled into the confines of a Hollywood blockbuster. Any time a director tried, the source material eluded their grasp, like desert sand spilling out from a desperately clenched fist. Taking all this into account, it is nothing short of a miracle that Denis Villeneuves Dune is as cohesive and comprehensible as it is while still preserving the dense worldbuilding and surreal strangeness that makes Dune so unique. It is an almost impossibly delicate balancing act, deftly navigated by a sharp script that shows and tells in nearly equal measure. The careful balance between the alien and the familiar also extends to the human characters. They are immersed in a world staggeringly different from our own, but there are many examples of vulnerable, wonderfully human displays of emotion throughout the film. The effectiveness of these emotional moments owes as much to the script as it does to the acting. Dune is an exceedingly well cast film. There are no weak links, only actors I wish had more screentime. Timothe Chalamet plays Paul Atreides as a thoughtful, sensitive character, almost underselling his performance. His normally soft-spoken and brooding performance makes his intermittent intense displays of emotion all the more impactful. Oscar Isaac is completely captivating as Duke Leto Atreides, carrying himself with the stubborn, ethereal nobility of a figure from legends of kings and queens of old. Similar to Chalamet, Stellan Skarsgrds performance as Baron Harkonnen is subdued, his voice barely rising above a gravelly murmur. But with the Baron, it is a different kind of quiet, denoting his cunning and cruelty. What few words he does speak are as calculated as they are dripping with contempt. Rebecca Ferguson displays terrific range as Lady Jessica, one of the most challengingly multi-faceted characters in the film. Ferguson is completely believable as a member of the enigmatic, seeming supernatural Bene Gesserit sisterhood, as a devoted companion to duke Leto and a loving mother to Paul. Even characters with scant few moments of screentime, like Zendayas Chani and Stephen McKinley Hendersons Thufir Hawat leave a lasting impression. The soundtrack by Hans Zimmer is easily his most daring and original work yet. The soundscape Zimmer creates is impressively diverse, with guttural hammering percussion, stirring strings, gentle synths and exotic wind instruments all working together in delicate harmony. The heavy usage of female vocalists, their voices distorted into ethereal chants or spine -tingling wails, gives Dunes score an imposing, spiritual quality. In an IMAX theater with speakers that rumble your seats, the majesty and mystery of Zimmers score is visceral and overwhelming. Dune is a startlingly unique film that earnestly manages to adapt seemingly impossibly complex source material into a thought-provoking and engrossing 2.6 hour cinema experience. With stunning effects, a star-studded cast and an ambitious and complex story, Dune feels truly deserving of being called an epic. Dune was released on streaming platforms on Dec. 3 and returned to IMAX theaters for a limited time on Dec. 3. Page 20 Ghostbusters: Afterlife Offers Nostalgia Lamont Robinson, staff writer Jason Reitmans Ghostbusters: Afterlife continues the story of the original Ghostbusters franchise after the audience backlash to the 2016 Ghostbusters movie. Callie (Carrie Coon) and her children Phoebe (Mckenna Grace) and Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) are forced to move to an old farmhouse in Oklahoma that was owned by Callies father. The children soon learn that their grandfather was a Ghostbuster, specifically Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis), one of the original Ghostbusters. The children discover why Egon moved to Oklahoma and what he was trying to stop. The characters are the strong point of the movie. Grace gives a great performance as Phoebe, who takes after Egon with her genius intellect and socially-awkward personality. Mr. Grooberson (Paul Rudd) gives some great comedic moments while also giving exposition to the kids. However, it is strange how he is one of the only characters that remembers the existence of the original Ghostbusters crew. Podcast (Logan Kim) provides great scenes with his energetic personality and chemistry with Phoebe. All of the characters in the movie provide some comedic and heartwarming moments and give new and old fans a somewhat fresh cast to bond with. However, one of the biggest problems with Ghostbusters: Afterlife is the constant nostalgia pandering throughout the movie. Whether it is a character saying, Who youre gonna call or bringing back the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man for no logical reason, the movie spews references and has such a similar story to the original Ghostbusters that it makes the movie feel unoriginal. One of the only ghosts you see in the movie, the Muncher, might as well be the Slimer, except it eats metal. Some parts of the movie feel too forced, for example, near the end of the movie, a scene that should be exciting feels weak due to how abrupt the scene is. Ghostbusters: Afterlife gives a younger generation a chance to get into the series while also giving older fans many references to the original movies, but the nostalgia pandering can be too much for its own good and makes the movie seem too scared to try anything different. The Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man. Photo courtesy of Sony Press kit Page 21 Venom: Let There Be Carnage keeps it simple Lamont Robinson, staff writer Instead of being a sequel that attempts to live on a grander scale, Venom: Let There Be Carnage focuses on the strengths of the previous film in order to make a more enjoyable movie-watching experience. While struggling to coexist with his symbiotic companion known as Venom (Tom Hardy), Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) attempts to reconcile with his ex, Ann Weying (Michelle Williams) and revive his journalism career by interviewing the convicted serial killer Cletus Kasady (Woody Harrelson). After a physical confrontation with Brock, and a taste of his blood, Kasady transforms into the bloodthirsty symbiote known as Carnage. After breaking out of prison, Kasady goes on a rampage to find the person he loves. Brock and Venom must settle their problems and work together to stop Carnage. The relationship between Venom and Brock is the star of the movie. While Brock wants to lay low due to the events of the previous movie and live a normal life, Venom wants to fight criminals and eat their brains. Even though they have a rocky relationship, Brock and Venom do care about and support each other. Brock wants to prevent Venom from being found to keep him safe while Venom tries to help Brock any way he can, he even helps Brock find where Kasady hid his missing victims. Harrelson delivers a great performance as Kasady and Carnage, making them an intimidating foe for Brock and Venom. However, it is a shame that Kasady does not have a more noticeable reaction towards his new powers. He walked out of the prison like he did not turn into a monster with tendrils, claws, and a nastier attitude than his own. The action scenes are wild and a treat to see, but they can be confusing to look at when most scenes take place at night. In 90 minutes, Venom: Let There Be Carnage provides a simple, yet entertaining movie with chaotic action, enjoyable characters, and humor to keep your eyes on the screen. Carnage killing a guard. Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures press kit Page 22 Eternals Dazzles in Opening Weekend Official Logo of Eternals. Photography courtesy of Disney Press Kit UK Yasser Perez, staff writer For many years, Thor: The Dark World was considered the worst installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, amassing a Tomatometer of 66% among critics on the movie review website Rotten Tomatoes. With the arrival of Eternals, however, it has now dethroned Thor: The Dark World as the worst Marvel movie to ever exist in the MCU according to critics. Negative reviews began to appear a week prior to the films official release, and critics immediately began bashing Marvels newest team of superheroes. Critics can be unnecessarily negative at times, so I had to check out this movie for myself upon its release. I saw the movie on Friday, Nov. 5, and Saturday, Nov. 6, to investigate for myself if the movie was as bad as critics made it out to be. The movie is two hours and thirty-seven minutes long, which is not unbearable by my standards and almost necessary to tell a story as complex as those of the Eternals. According to Marvel, the official synopsis of the film is as follows: The Eternals, a race of immortal beings with superhuman powers who have secretly lived on Earth for thousands of years, reunite to battle the evil Deviants. While watching the movie, this was truly the case, but it was also so much more. There are 10 superheroes who make up what is ultimately known as Eternals, and although they are not human, they still face much of the same challenges humans face when trying to seamlessly coexist within a large group. While the Eternals functioned as a cohesive group for a long period of time, their individual personalities still persisted and even broke through during inopportune moments, causing chaos at times and irreversible consequences. Compared to past MCU team-up films such as Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy, Eternals is much like a new iPhone and its predecessors, incredibly similar yet vastly different. Not only does Eternals introduce new cosmic villains and characters, but it also introduces never before seen forms of bonding in the MCU. The film's director, Chlo Zhao, manages to maintain her signature style and still have the film feel like a Marvel movie. There are many different ways a human can be heroic. I want audiences to see themselves in these heroic moments and feel they can relate, Zhao said in an interview with Wired. Not only does Zhao use the characters in Eternals in unique ways, but she also features the most diverse cast in recent history when it comes to superhero movies, including an openly gay superhero and a deaf superhero. Eternals felt like a completely different film compared to its other Marvel predecessors, but it is because of this difference that the movie is not only enjoyable, but an amazing film in its own right. Page 23 Stepping Back in Time at the Paramount The Paramount sign at day. Photography by Laurel Molloy Laurel Molloy, staff writer The Paramount theater celebrated its 90-year anniversary with a showing of Charlie Chaplins 1936 film Modern Times on Saturday Nov. 27. For this celebratory event, ticket prices were taken back to older times at only $0.25 a person. The show started at 4 p.m. and went for about an hour and a half. The Paramount has displayed many films ever since its opening on Thanksgiving Eve 90 years ago. It is a bright staple in the middle of the Downtown Mall. Its glowing signs light up the night traffic along the walking mall as people pass by. Enjoy the movie, the ID checker called out as people walked into the Paramount theater on Nov. 27. COVID-19 protocols at the Paramount theater ask everyone to wear masks unless actively eating or drinking in the theater, and before entering everyone must show their vaccination card and a form of ID. Once people step inside the festive hallway and show their tickets, they can explore the theater and its raised balconies. The theater glowed with Christmas trees and warm lights. People could buy popcorn and warm tea at the concession stand among other goodies to warm themselves from the chill. Chaplin was a famous comedian, actor, and producer from the early twentieth century. He mainly worked on silent films like The Great Dictator, The Kid, Modern Times, and The Gold Rush. Modern Times is a comedic film about finding work and trying to fit into modern life in the 1900s. All spoken lines that are vital to the film are portrayed on cards flashed across the screen; everything else is acted out in comedic fashion. The Paramount theater will be showing several events in December. They will present the classic Christmas tale of A Christmas Story on Dec. 19 at 1 p.m. Tickets for that show can be found online at the much more modern price of $8 for adults and $5 for children under 12 years old. The Paramount will also present a live broadcast of The Magic Flute for opera lovers on Dec. 22 at 2 p.m. and many other fascinating events. That was fun, an audience member remarked about Chaplins Modern Times film. Many people seemed to agree because laughter sparked and jumped throughout the theater as Chaplin and the rest of the cast performed on the large screen. The Paramount theater has brought laughter and excitement for 90 years, and they plan to continue throughout the holiday season and onward. The Paramount theater shows old films and new films alike. Films like Modern Times still bring smiles and laughter to people and transport them into a different time and place. Page 24 Finding Gucci in a Movie Theater Katie Austin, staff writer On Nov. 29, I went to one of my favorite movie theaters in Charlottesville at the downtown mall area: the Violet Crown. Violet Crown surely fits the expectations it holds from their reviews. Even their concession stand holds up to scrutiny, from sodas, candies, hot dogs, pretzels, pizzas, coffee, espresso, and tea. The meals and drinks do not go higher than $12 and no lower than $3. For moviegoers who are over 21, they have a nice IPA ($9) and an amazing La Marca prosecco ($9 per glass or $34 for the bottle). The menu is available on their website. House of Gucci tells the story of an Italian woman named Patrizia Reggiani who was an outsider that started from humble beginnings. Then she marries into the well known family, the Gucci family. Patrizia has unbridled ambition which begins to unravel the family legacy and triggers a reckless spiral of betrayal, decadence, revenge, and ultimately murder. Overall this movie has become a favorite because every single scene puts the viewer at the edge of their seat. The movie has so much drama, Photography by Katie Austin The Lobby of the Violet Crown. Photography by Katie Austin passion, and emotions for each character and scene that has been laid out for this movie. Lady Gaga (Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta) really gives her character Patrizia Reggiani life and drama. The amount of emotion that Stefani gives to the person who she is portraying is perfect. She truly knows how to get viewers to feel the emotion of the characters. My review is simple, the whole place just keeps on getting better every time, from the amazing food and drinks to an amazing atmosphere. The experience of wining and dining while laying back in a reclining comfy chair is my favorite part. Also the staff was very kind, so warm when greeting patrons, and did an amazing job of keeping the place clean. They truly never disappoint and make it a pleasure to come while never wanting to leave. Overall, the Violet Crown movie theater has brought true elegance to a simple movie experience, from the amazing food to the drinks and the reclining chairs. You could not ask for more high-end experience at a movie theater today. It is truly a place that I recommend going and enjoying what they have to offer. The tickets are $11 for students. House of Gucci is rated R. Page 25 Time Traveling in Cvilles Retro Arcade Laurel Molloy, staff writer Throughout Decades Arcade, many precautions against COVID-19 are in place to keep all the gamers safe. Scattered near games and throughout the different rooms are hand sanitizer stations that ask everyone to use it before and after playing a game. Many fans and air purifiers also get the air moving. All customers are asked to wear masks as they play different games and talk. As one more safety measure, Decades Arcade also has UV germicidal lights perched atop some of the games to act as a disinfectant. Josh also said, Probably once a weekend we spray down the games but these lights do the cleaning for us. They are trying very hard to keep the space safe for everyone with many precautions in place. Food is not allowed to be brought into the arcade either, but near the back they have a vending machine for drinks and snacks if people get thirsty or hungry. People wear wristbands so they can come and go to get food outside the arcade . No place in Charlottesville is quite like Decades Arcade. For $12 a person, people can spend all day playing games and hanging out with friends. The building is filled to the brim with bright displays, old games, and soft music. It is a place where childhood never dies and games are for all times. Screens glow throughout Decades Arcade as people play pinball, Mrs. Pacman, and many other games. Customers talk as they go from game to game. After the entry fee of $12, all games are free to play. There are myriad games. People can compete against each other in Mrs. Pacman as she munches her way across the screen. Cruisn World is a fast-paced car driving game where the brakes are almost never used. The main room had an assortment of different pinball tables to choose from. Of thirty-five pinball tables, our eldest table is Silver, said Josh, the attendant on duty. He enthusiastically explained that Silver has been around since 1957. A bunch of the games are vintage, though the arcade has some new games as well like their Mandalorian Pinball table. Five rooms were packed with games, laughter, and soft robotic noises. The blue room is where you will find skeeball, air hockey, a miniature bowling alley, [and] a couple of other games, said Josh. An upstairs also has more games, a couch, and a jukebox where patrons can pick from a variety of songs. People can plug in the song they want and listen as the lights glow around them. Artist choices include Neil Diamond, Frank Sinatra, The Cure, Sting, and many more. Decades Arcade is in Kathys Shopping Center on Carlton Road near Beer Run, Belmont Pizza, and the train tracks. It is in a large warehouse, sharing space with Champion Brewery and selling some of the beer themselves as well. It is open to the public Friday 510 p.m., Saturday 1:30-10 p.m., and Sunday 1:30-6 p.m., but people can book events for a single party on Monday through Thursday. For pinball lovers, Tuesday is also open for the Dominion Pinball league at 7 p.m. Josh said that they have been in business for almost four years, and during that time all high scores are kept on a scoreboard. The high scores on most games are never reset, so you can compete to overthrow real peoples Ms. Pacman screen. Photography by Laurel Molloy titles on the scoreboard. Page 26 New Update Maintains Fortnites Popularity Visual from Fortnite Chapter 3. Photo courtesy of Epic Games Yasser Perez, staff writer On Dec. 5, Fortnite introduced a new chapter to their game titled Chapter 3. In Fortnite, chapters are distinguished by their seasons; Chapter 1 had 10 seasons, Chapter 2 had eight seasons, and Chapter 3 is still yet to be determined. Each season brings with it a BattlePass: an addition which can be purchased and which grants exclusive rewards such as skins and V-bucks, Fortnites in-game currency, as one levels up throughout the season. Fortnite made its debut in the gaming scene in July of 2017, and its popularity grew rapidly. According to an article by Culture Vultures, by August 2018 Fortnite had reached its peak with 78.3 million concurrent players, an impressive feat, since most games are predominately popular upon release. Video games are a lot like blockbuster movies, once the next big thing is released a lot of consumers jump to the newest item on the market; but that is not the case with Fortnite. There are two main reasons for Fortnites longevity and popularity: its pop culture references and its building feature. Fortnite is a third-person shooter game that loves to include as many pop-related features as possible. These include emotes (dances and gestures) that are popular on TikTok, guest concerts from well known artists such as Ariana Grande, and skins (player cosmetics) from popular movies and TV shows such as Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) characters and Naruto characters. With the introduction of Chapter 3, Spiderman has entered the game as a playable character, joining a huge list of famous comic icons. Additionally, building has become a game changer. In most other shooting games, cover is acquired from the player's own surroundings, but in Fortnite, one can build their own cover, providing opportunities that are unavailable in other traditional shooter games such as Call of Duty. Upon the release of Chapter 3, millions experienced technical difficulties due to the massive amount of players trying to enjoy the release. Fortnite stated, by far the most players weve ever seen at the launch of a season, in a statement on Twitter addressing the reason why so many players were having trouble playing the game. With many new items and features introduced in Chapter 3 drawing old and new players in, Fortnite is showing no sign of slowing down. Page 27 Where Creativity and Coin Collide Maggies Pottery stand. Photography by Laurel Molloy Laurel Molloy, staff writer Tucked between murals and sculptures, stalls were scattered throughout IX art park for the farmers market on Dec. 5. People crowded amongst the art and tents perusing the merchandise all morning. The Farmers Market at IX is an event on Thursdays 4-8 p.m. and on Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Many stalls showed off a variety of products on Dec. 5. Local farms like Soul Soleil Farm, Agriberry Farm, and Free Union Grass Farm, had vegetables, mushrooms, and other fresh produce to put on the table. An assortment of art stalls like Lenas Craft Corner, Maggies Pottery, Bellavance Ink, and Crescent Moon Confections had jewelry, pottery, and other vibrant arts. There were also food trucks supplying lunch for all and baked goods to snack on. One delectable stand was Odyssey Chocolate. It is a local Charlottesville business that takes cacao beans from all over the place and turns them into chocolate. We sorted the beans from all over the world, said the person managing the booth. She gave out samples of Ugandan, Venezuelan, Bolivian, and Colombian chocolate bar blends. All chocolate bars were $11.50, except for their wine infused bars, and if someone bought three chocolate bars, it was $30 instead. The booth manager said the chocolate is also available in Rebeccas Natural Foods and other local places along with being found online on their website. The art stalls also drew peoples attention. People gazed at Lenas Craft Corner, a floral and pineapple themed stand bursting with bright colors. Lena makes flowers, hair clips, and many other lively products out of Duct Tape. She had pens with flowers on the end, each petal curled around the next, and sunny pineapple earrings. Lena said, I will be here next week and the week after. People can check her out on Instagram to see her products and keep up with where she will be. The farmers market was active. A lot of dogs looked around curiously and investigated all the smells as their owners perused. Kids peered about themselves as they walked through the crowds with their parents. Music was also heard throughout the market as a man played his violin. Smells and sounds wafted around the farmers market. All of IX had a spirited atmosphere as the soft music played and people talked as they passed paintings of birds, sculptures of squids, and stands of food alike. Come by IX on Thursdays and Saturdays to experience the market. Page 28 Pop-up Market: Art Calling to the Senses Laurel Molloy, staff writer The sun warmed the morning chill away as people strolled down Stonefield at the Pop-up Market Craft Cville on Saturday Oct. 23. A breeze swept the street as people tried to sell their colorful wares. The market was organized by Craft Cville, a group that celebrates vintage, handcrafted items and art in this community. A collage of white and blue tents dotted in front of Regal Stonefield IMAX and Screen X, Duck-Donuts, and the other permanent shops. An assortment of items were sold including handcrafted soap, scarves, cutting boards, paintings, fresh vegetables, and much more. The sellers stayed at Stonefield from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, watching people come and go. Several shops participated in a door prize giveaway through Instagram. After commenting and tagging two people in a post, shoppers had a chance to win free credit or items. Each of the sellers taking part in the door prize had a post on Craft Cvilles Instagram account giving directions on how to win. A stall called Bud and Thorn sold scarves with zippered pockets and masks. The tent was draped with colorful cloth of checkered flannel, bright cottons, and simple dark colors to go with most outfits. The seller pointed out the pockets. They were big enough to fit a large phone, car keys, and a thin wallet all at once. Along with selling their wares in person, Bud and Thorn has an Etsy shop with over a thousand sales. They also participated in the door prize giveaway. Another stall sold carpets with moths embroidered on them, pottery, and slug figurines by Abigail Treece. Treece said that this was her second event in Charlottesville. She said Craft Cvilles next event is Nov. 20. More information can be found on Craft Cvilles Facebook page when the event nears. Amy Shawley Paquette sold drawings of birds, from black vultures to blue herons. The drawings fluttered in the strong breeze, their small eyes watching the passersby. She explained that she is part of the Charlottesville birding community. I work from all my own photographs, she said. Shawley Paquette said it is a challenge to find different types of birds to photograph then draw. Sometimes she goes into the woods to capture pictures of birds, and other times they come to her birdfeeder. Paquette sold 4x5 prints of her drawings for $4 and 8x10 prints for $15. Her Etsy account is called KeswickForest. The pop-up market had almost everything. It had handmade wooden pens from DSL Woodturning and goat milk soap from Moth Wood that moisturizes and cleans all at once. Kristina Parker from K.P. Knitwork was garbed as a buccaneer selling felt hats and embroidered towels. Art caught the eye as it hung in the sun. Canvases of painted pumpkins and flowers had brightly colored glass stuck to them. Shoppers could find CBD products from Albemarle Hemp Co. and The Little Flower Fields body work selections. Vintage albums from Styx and Stones was a busy attraction. I enjoy craft markets like this. I get to find unique gifts and just see and appreciate things people are making locally, said a local shopper. Many people seemed to agree as a steady flow of people passed through the stalls as lunch came and went. Conversation dotted down the street as people looked at the numerous crafted items. People smiled as they glanced at the shining art and sweet-smelling creams. A rack displaying colorful art. Photography by Laurel Molloy Page 29 Is Dave Chappelle Uncancellable? Yasser Perez, staff writer The internet can be an incredibly judgmental place, and in recent years, judgment has only increased, especially towards high-profile celebrities. Not many people can be considered uncancellable, but Dave Chappelle may have just survived one of the harshest backlashes of 2021. In early October, Chappelle released his most recent stand-up comedy special on Netflix titled The Closer. In the special, Chappelle made some jokes about the LGBT community that sparked a lot of controversy from the community and their supporters. The transgender community was the most vocal, expressing their outrage about the specials content and Netflixs support of the special. According to the Washington Post, Netflixs CEO, Ted Sarandos, expressed his support of the special stating, Our members enjoy it, and its an important part of our content offering. It seemed that Chappelle had his back against the wall and that his career was done for, after all, few people have been able to keep their popularity and career intact after upsetting the LGBT community. Chappelle, however, managed to not only survive the controversy, but also profit off of it quite comfortably. Chappelle set out on a limited national tour to promote his documentary Untitled, which was produced during the pandemic. Chappelle claimed that this documentary would set the record straight and determine if he was indeed the awful, insensitive person the LGBT community suggested him to be. The 11-city tour ended in his hometown of Washington, D.C., in Capital One Arena to a sold -out crowd on Nov. 23. The show provided a screening of his documentary, a musical performance from his dear friend Erykah Badu, and a small stand-up set after the conclusion of the documentary. Phone use was prohibited during the event, and phones were locked up in Yondr pouches upon entry (small, lockable pouches to prevent access to cell phones during the show). Chappelles documentary was filmed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in his current residence of Yellow Springs, Ohio. Like many small towns, Yellow Springs was feeling the devastating economical effects of the pandemic. Chappelles documentary demonstrated how he sprung into action and hosted stand-up comedy shows on a nightly basis in a corn field to bolster his small towns economy. Not only did Chappelle and his team follow COVID-19 guidelines with social distancing and rapid testing, but the small businesses in Yellow Springs began to see increased foot traffic due to his shows. Untitled unequivocally portrayed Chappelle as not only a caring member of his community, but incapable of being the awful and inconsiderate person he was described to be. The sold-out crowd roared with laughter and genuine enjoyment was felt throughout the arena for the five plus hour event. Despite the enormous amount of internet hate, Chappelles therapy, in the form of comedy, was still greatly needed and appreciated in these unprecedented times. Although Chappelle may have taken a huge blow to his career with his recent special, he has proven that he is, in fact, uncancellable. Page 30 Do You Want To Make Headlines? Introduction to Journalism ENG 121 Spring Semester 2022 Meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Civic Engagement Course Course Number 33600 Write articles for The Forum and build a portfolio of your work! This course is an approved transfer elective in many degree programs Email Dr. Tamara Whyte for more details: twhyte@pvcc.edu Comic by Lauren Cottrell Page 31 Classifieds Contact Us The Forum 501 College Dr. Charlottesville, VA 22902 twhyte@pvcc.edu www.piedmontforum.com The Forum offers classified space to the PVCC community free of charge. Please send announcements along with full name, email, and phone number to: twhyte@pvcc.edu. The Forum Staff (Listed alphabetically) Assistant Editor Maxwell Walpole Staff Writers/Copyeditors Katie Austin Carlos Banda Montes Chloe Boutin Luca Gett Walter R Miller Laurel Molloy Yasser Perez Jaume Plumb-Planas Lamont Robinson Gianni Strazzullo Maxwell Walpole William Waugh Comic Artists Lauren Cottrell Sarah Louis Faculty Advisor Dr. Tamara Whyte Check us out on social media @PVCCForum The Forum is a voice for all students. Accordingly, materials published in The Forum, including any opinions expressed, should not be interpreted as the position of the VCCS, Piedmont Virginia Community College, or any stakeholder thereof. The paper welcomes letters to the editor, guest columns, questions, photography or any other ideas or submissions one may have for the upcoming publications. Please contact twhyte@pvcc.edu with any questions.  ...

... Read more at: Piedmontforum.com Fall 2021 Piedmont Virginia Community College Miss Club Day? Read about it on pages 10-11 PVCC Committee Continues to put the Environment First Yasser Perez, staff writer Amid a plethora of services provided to students, the sustainability committee stands out without drawing too much attention. PVCC provides many services and committees for the benefit of their students such as veteran services, academic tutoring, and workforce services. Most of these services are obvious in their aid towards students, but that is not the case with the sustainability committee. The sustainability committee may not be as well known as its other counterparts, but its powerful impact is still deeply felt throughout the school. According to a report provided by a professor of English Dr. Bruce Glassco, one of the leaders of the Sustainability Committee, PVCC implemented recycling schoolwide around a decade ago, and this has helped the school maintain its green initiatives. Not only that, but PVCC is planning to be plastic free by 2025 in accordance with Governor Ralph Northams General Order 77, which seeks to eliminate single-use plastics in all state agencies. Students at PVCC can take advantage of the sustainability practiced in the facility, but they are not the only ones who can reap the benefits. The PVCC Community Garden is run by 40-50 individuals from PVCC and UVA alike and provides self grown produce to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, Food Not Bombs, Loaves and Fishes, The Haven, a church, and other needy individuals, according to Glasscos report. Although the sustainability program has provided immediate impact towards its students, they are still looking towards the future. The program plans to install EVCs (Electric Vehicle See Environment on page 4 In This Issue PVCC Community Garden. Photography by Yasser Perez PVCC Events -pg. 2 One Book -pg. 3 PVCC Services Sports -pg. 7 Music -pgs. 8-9 Reviews -pgs. 12-18 Comics -pgs. 18-19 Classifieds -pgs. 4-5 -pg. 20 DATES TO REMEMBER Fall Break Oct. 11-12, All Day, No classes Free Movie Friday: Peter Rabbit 2 Oct. 15, 7:30 p.m., Dickinson Building Main Stage One Book Event: Making Sense of the News during an Infodemic Oct. 18, Noon to 1 p.m., Virtual Immigrant: Courage Required talk by Golara Haghtalab Oct. 20, Noon to 1 p.m., Main Building M229 Documentary Filmmaking Workshop with Ty Cooper Oct. 22, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Dickinson Building Day of the Dead Candython Oct. 27, 3:30 p.m., Dickinson Commons PVCC Theatre presents A Midsummer Nights Dream Nov. 5 and 6, 7:30 p.m., Nov. 7, 2:30 p.m., Dickinson One Book Event: News Outlets vs. Fake News Nov. 8, Noon to 1 p.m., Virtual One Mic Stand Nov. 11, 7 p.m., Dickinson Building Maxwell Black Box Theater Kadencia performance Nov. 13, 7:30 p.m., Dickinson Building Main Stage Gallery Exhibition Opening Reception Nov. 17, 5-7 p.m., Dickinson Building Galleries Free Movie Friday: Minari Nov. 19, 7:30 p.m., Dickinson Building Main Stage Thanksgiving Break Nov. 24-28, All Day, No classes Let There Be Light Dec. 10 and Dec. 11, 6-9 p.m., Main Campus and around Charlottesville About the SGA The Student Government Association (SGA) of Piedmont Virginia Community College represents the rights, interests, and concerns of the student body to the college officials of PVCC while promoting an effective communication network between students and college officials. It is the largest and most influential student organization in the school. The departments in the SGA are: The Events Department: This department organizes and runs SGAhosted social events across the campus and the community. Casino Night and the Talent Show, among many other events, are run by the committee. The Public Relations Department: This department develops and maintains SGA media, outreach, administration-specific polling, and appreciation processes. The Student Voice Department: This department maintains the Student Voice initiative, edits proposals, prepares project proposals for submission to the college administration, and conducts any necessary polling to determine student opinion of or interest in proposed or potential plans. Additionally, three SGA senators represent the students opinions and perspectives on the College Senate to bring improvements to the PVCC campus. Further, student representatives (elected from the department bodies) serve on many college committees. These representatives communicate the interests of the SGA, and thus the student body, by their respective committees. SGA Membership Requirements: Hold a minimum of 2.5 cumulative GPA. Be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours at PVCC. Page 2 Combatting Misinformation in the Digital Age Max Walpole, assistant editor Facebook Disconnects Us and Undermines Democracy, a lecture presented by University of For the Fall 2021 semester, PVCCs One Virginia professor Dr. Siva Vaidhyanathan on Book Program has taken aim at misinformation Oct.4 and Making Sense of the News during an and fake news. And the selected book, The Infodemic, a lecture by Stony Brook University Misinformation Age: How False Beliefs Spread, professor Jonathan Anzalone on Oct. 18. In by Cailin OConnor and James Owen Weatherall, addition, a showing of the movie The Social is available for every student and staff member on Dilemma is scheduled for Sept. 27. campus to read The Misinformation Age: digitally, a first for the How False Beliefs Spread was One Book Program. specifically voted for by both The One Book staff and faculty for this year's Program is a collegeOne Book Program because of wide program where its exploration of topical issues both students and staff concerning misinformation on read a selected book social media sites. and participate in I think interest in this book various activities is apparent after the tumultuous connected to the text. year(s) we have experienced, For its 8th year, the said Newell. Thinking One Book Program is critically and dealing with working in conjunction misinformation is a perennial with the PVCC Civic concern for all educators; this Engagement Quality book definitely had appeal. Enhancement Plan to The Misinformation Age: help engage students How False Beliefs Spread with civic life issues carefully examines the social such as local politics, and political factors that have misinformation, and contributed to the mainstream local charity proliferation and staying power The cover of The Misinformation Age organizations. In the of false facts, and offers upcoming years, each strategies on how people can use their selected book will connect with relevant civic understanding of this system to combat topics. misinformation. According to Director of Library Services I hope students will take away (from the Crystal Newell, the One Book Program has book) a greater understanding of how information implemented changes to adapt to the threat posed is shared, distributed, and understood, and what by COVID-19. role they play in this environment. We all have COVID certainly affected the One Book personal agency in this misinformation age; we program, but primarily it affected access. Last need to accept responsibility for not perpetuating years One Book, How to be an Antiracist by it, but to do so, we must educate ourselves first Ibram X. Kendi, was only available in print or said Newell. individual ebook access, said Newell. Mailing To download The Misinformation Age: How print books to individuals in classes proved to be False Beliefs Spread, visit the PVCC library extremely cumbersome and time consuming, so website and click PVCC Fall 2021 One Book we were very happy to be able to provide Program. universal, immediate access to this years One For more information on the One Book Book. Program, contact the planning committee at The events list for this years One Book onebok@pvcc.edu or contact Crystal Newell at program includes Antisocial Media: How cnewell@pvcc.edu. Page 3 Environment, Continued from Page 1 Charging Stations) within the next few years as electric vehicles become more popular. Additionally, PVCC is set to begin construction soon on a new Science and Technology building, which will be a net-zero carbon emissions building. This means the same amount of carbon dioxide going into the building will match the same amount of carbon dioxide going out of the building, a major milestone for PVCC. Commenting on the construction of the new building, Glassco said, We can certainly be very proud of the fact that the new building which will begin construction this year will be zero carbon emissions. That will be a big deal, not just here in Charlottesville but across the state. SFRC: Helping Students in Need Laurel Molloy, staff writer The Student Financial Resource Center (SFRC) offers many different tools to help students succeed in life and in school. When you do not have enough money for food or good clothes but need a job and energy for school, it is hard. This can create a never-ending cycle of needing resources to get the resources you need. But the SFRC gives people a chance to stop the cycle and grow. They give students everything from financial assistance and counseling to free food and clothing. When we first started one of the most useful resources was the food pantry. However, now I think the most useful resource would be the resources [themselves], said the Coordinator of the SFRC, Amanda Key. The SFRC offers an assortment of resources, like their name suggests. Key said that a nice tool they have, that not many people know about, is the office itself. It is a safe and free space where students can study. The SFRC also gives financial assistance and education. We try not to provide financial support without financial education, said Key. Their goal is to help students as much as possible so they can help themselves in the future. The center offers referral services, tax preparation, and other useful financial tools to help students. The SFRC is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. But students can stop by the food pantry right beside it throughout the week as well from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Both are located down the 100 wing at the opposite side of the hall from the gym. In the food pantry, lots of different foods are available. They have a fridge stocked with milk, vegetables, eggs, butter, as well as cold drinks. Their shelves have an assortment of staple foods from pasta PVCCs food pantry. Photography by Laurel Malloy meals, to canned soups, and cereal for breakfast. But the food pantry does not just supply food. They also have binders for school, bathroom supplies, and cat food so you can feed your furry friends. Along with those things, their selection of clothing is useful. There are nice shoes and suits for interviews that students can borrow or keep. Key said, You can donate to the pantry by donating clothing or donating food. She went on to say that they take school supplies and hygiene products as well. All donations can be dropped off in the two barrels outside the food pantry or to the office directly. They go through things quickly, especially the refrigerated items, so donations are always welcome. People can be afraid to ask for help or reach out. But the Financial Resource Center wants to help everyone and is willing to go out of their way to support students. On occasion they even go to houses to provide that support. You do what you need to do in order to provide the services that the individual needs, said Key. Page 4 How Academic Coaching can Help You Chloe Boutin, staff writer PVCC offers immense amounts of support for its students during their time at the college. One of the many great support systems PVCC has in place is academic coaching. Academic coaching is meeting up with a tutor at PVCC to help students create a plan for how they can improve their skills for academic success. Academic coaching finds its home in the Writing Center, in hallway 600. It is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The advisers students are able to meet with are James Bryant, Todd Parks, Emily Kingsley, and Ruth Yoder. Students can find specific information about tutors emails at https://www.pvcc.edu/academiccoaching. Meetings can be set up in-person at the Writing Center, on Zoom, or by going to Navigate on your myPVCC dashboard. They can be as short as 20 minutes or as long as 45 minutes, depending on what help students need. The academic coaches are there to help with a variety of skills to help better students academic achievement. A common misconception with academic coaching is that people often confuse it with academic advising. Advising is there to help students pick classes, while the coaching is not just focused on one specific class but rather gives students skills to use in all of their classes in order to succeed. Skills they like to focus on are time management and notetaking, while Ruth Yoder. also helping Photography by Chloe Boutin fix problems James Bryant. Photography by Chloe Boutin like procrastination and testing anxiety. Appointments will usually start with discussing the issues at hand, so the coach is able to get an idea of what skills students need to work on, and what things in their schedule need to change in order to be successful. Students come up with a plan with their coach and then usually book an appointment for a week later to check back in and see what worked and what needs a bit of tweaking in order to fit their needs. Coaches will usually help students build a routine in order to keep these skills in place so they become habits. The meetings also serve to keep students accountable for their work with help from their coach. It lets students meet with faculty at PVCC to make new connections, but also holds them accountable for their academic success. I sat down with Ruth Yoder, one of the academic coaches here at PVCC. Yoder works in the Writing Center as a writing tutor and an academic coach and also helps with freshman orientation for incoming students. She brought an interesting perspective to the process. She brought up the fact that all of your favorite celebrities have a support system very similar to this in order to keep themselves successful and on task with everything going on in their busy lives. Just like us, they are not able to do everything by themselves; they need help. Yoder said, The most successful people are the people that get help when they need it. Page 5 Ty Cooper Hosts 2 Upcoming Events Carlos Banda Montes, staff writer PVCCs Open Mic Stand, hosted by Ty Cooper, is a free public event where anyone can sign up to perform an hour before it starts. The last Open Mic Stand was held Sept. 9, and Im grateful to not have missed it. You had to be there is all I can sincerely say. I asked the technical staff if it would be recorded or live-streamed, but out of respect for the performers, it was not. You only get that one chance to experience it. As ephemeral as Sept. 9s event was, it left a nice lasting memory. Cooper is a creator, an award-winning producer and director. His newest screenplay Amanda premiers Nov. 12 and 13 at Vinegar Hill Theatre, in Charlottesville. At Open Mic Stand, he was a wonderful host. Welcoming and truly interested, Cooper wants to know when he asks, How are you? The audience, albeit small, was receptive. We got to know each other quite well. One poet, a student at PVCC, reflected on Coopers question during their time on stage. In their original piece, they ask, Do you want to know? Fine, okay, and good are not very honest answers. Do you really want to know how one is? Most would rather hear a lie, than hear a heavy truth. Theres so much to be truly said, rather than to give a false one-worded response. But do you really want to know? We can all relate to their frustration for this damned question. A storyteller came to recite two excerpts that day. Their voice was a deep and powerful bass, so captivating. I cant remember what the stories were about, but their voice stuck with me like a wordless melody that lingers in your head. The lines were articulated so nicely that if I did not see them reciting in front of me, I would have thought I was listening to a professional audiobook recording. Two comedians, one a PVCC student and the other a California native, did routines. They were there to test their new material in front of an audience. The masks on the audiences faces made it hard to tell, but there were certainly smiles. When the audience did laugh, the jokesters then knew for sure they delivered good stuff. There were certainly more jokers in the room, however. In between some of the dramatic pieces, Cooper got some banter going to lighten up the mood. We got to talking about little dogs, randomly. It was nice to balance the drama with some comedy, I thought. Towards the end of the night, after all the signees had performed, we still had some time for Ty Cooper. Photo courtesy of PVCC Marketing and Media Relations anyone to go up. One man, a Christian worship leader, went up and read a few hymns. He had asked for feedback. Some audience members gave theirs, and I recommended establishment of metrical flow to the verses. Putting a pencil to his printed hymn, he took note. I appreciated how open this Open Mic Stand was. Sept. 9s Open Mic Stand was a great way to get back into the rhythm of things. Cooper had not been on campus since before the pandemic, due to lockdowns. Now, he has plans to come more and share publicly with the community. Along with the next Open Mic Stand on Nov. 11, he will be hosting the free Documentary Filmmaking Workshop on Oct. 22. He wants us to share our creative talents, like he does his. While the filmmaking workshop will focus on capturing and recording moments, PVCC will not be doing such a thing with these public events. So, whether you perform or not, I encourage everyone to attend, because I dont want anyone to miss it. Page 6 Under the lights: UVA v Duke Womens Soccer UVA Womens Soccer team in action. Photography by Laurel Molloy Laurel Molloy, staff writer On Thursday Sept. 23, the UVA Womens Soccer team warms up preparing to take on the Duke Blue Devils. People trickle in as the sun dips behind the bleachers at Klckner stadium. The trees are capped in golden light that swiftly fades, and the players retreat to the locker rooms before the game begins. The line to the concession stand fills up like the bleachers towering above it. The stand sells bottled water, hot chocolate, nachos, pizza, candy, and an assortment of other goodies that draw people to it. Salty smells waft from the popcorn and pretzels mixing with the crisp smell of autumn. The sun sinks down making a cool chill sweep the stadium. The players march out onto the field. The UVA Cavaliers, ranked No. 7, wear their allwhite home uniform while Duke, ranked No. 2, wears their all-black away uniforms. The commentator calls out the names of the players before they take the field. With a short whistle blast, the game begins. The two teams face off, knocking the ball around the pitch. It is quick paced as both teams look to gain the upper hand. The whole crowd cheers as #25, Samar Guidry, makes a cross down the left wing for UVA, but Duke clears it away. Boom, a UVA supporter cries out as a shot curls toward the top corner, but Dukes goalkeeper, Ruthie Jones, tips it out for a corner. Little kids run and jump near the grassy fence as the game goes on. The first half comes to an end, after a tense and high-spirited segment, both teams are still 00. As people get up to get something to drink or have a quick walk, a youth team takes the pitch scrimmaging against themselves for halftime entertainment. The kids call out to each other running across the grass. But soon they must leave the pitch for the teams to come back on. The game continues, still scoreless, as the players shout across the field pinging the ball around. But the tide shifts twelve minutes in. A long pass curls into Diana Ordoez, a UVA forward, who slots it into the back of the net. Klckner stadium erupts in cheers and the clanging of shoes on the metal bleachers. UVA bunches up, hugging each other as they run back to their side of the field. The ball rolls once again as Duke kicks off, and they are hungry for a goal. The Blue Devils press UVA, getting several shots off as the minutes slowly tick by. Both teams battle for the ball. Laurel Ivory, UVAs goalkeeper, must make a couple saves as Duke tries to level the game. But UVA stand their ground, fighting to get another goal themselves. The clock counts down and as it reaches zero, the buzzer goes off signaling the end of the game and the win for the Cavaliers. As the clapping slowly dies, the commentator thanks everyone for coming, wishing safe travels and to come again. The next opportunity to see the UVA women play at home comes on Oct. 17 as they match up against the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. When asked about the game, a bystander said that it is such a great opportunity to watch powerhouse teams like UVA and Duke competing in our backyard. He mentioned his gratitude that everyone living near UVA and Charlottesville has this opportunity to watch, learn, and have fun at these games. Page 7 VA Bands Battle it out in Battle of the Bands Jaume Plumb-Planas, staff writer Jet Plane was Charlottesvilles own modern rock group Thebandbig. The John Denver thing goes This weekend marked the 12th or 13th year back to the 80s when I was with a different that EpicCville has hosted Battle of The Bands. band, said guitarist Gary Hawthorne. Honestly weve been doing this so long I dont Weve been in a number of bands, said even remember, said Adam "J.R." Stoffel, organizer Chris Gallagher Knowing Chris, I said we from atop the stage set in need to be in the battle of the field at the Shops at the bands, were older, Stonefield. and were wiser, but really I originally started were looking for any Battle of the Bands opportunity to get in front because I came from a of people again. large area that had one, Head banging their way and Cville desperately on stage was Smoke, a needed an event like it. Lynchburg metal band. Its a good way for smaller We started about two bands to make their way years ago, and just liked Kings of the Wild Things on Stage. into the scene, especially getting together drinking Photo courtesy of Leon Nunez the ones that havent some beers and decided to played a gig before. Pre-covid we used to get over do something with it, said Dalton, the bands 100 bands that would apply to play, and its singer/guitarist. With [COVID-19] lockdown we grown to the point that we have events ranging took the time to record an album, so were just from Maryland to Virginia, and were prepping to trying to hit it hard now. start doing some in South Carolina soon, said Last up on the stage was Lowlife Tea Party, Gallagher. an Alt-Rock band from Richmond with a big ol Over 70% of proceeds go to Masons Toy rock sandwich vibe. I saw about RockFest in Box, a local organization focused on providing 2020 and thought it was a good opportunity for aid and holiday gifts to families with terminally or us, so I signed us up six times, and then the email chronically ill children. came out saying we only needed to do it once, so Usually at events like this, charities only end I took the opportunity to sign up one more time up receiving about 10% of the money brought in just to make sure, said the bands drummer. from alcohol and ticket sales, said Gallagher. The music ended at 11 p.m. Chris and the First up at 7:30 p.m. was Musical Suspects, a folks that had helped set up the stage took down funk rock band with heavy elements of jazz. the stage and packed everything up. There was an Unfortunately they had to leave before their overwhelming feeling of appreciation for Chris. interview as they had another gig that night. Were really grateful for people like Chris Up next was the incredibly high energy Kings who say Come aboard, we want to do a concert of the Wild Things, a band based out of to benefit [our charity], said Kelley Kassay, Baltimore, Maryland. Its all Pop-punk, pop- Masons Toyboxs Co-founder and Masons punk, pop-punk... [We] play solid simple Mother. bangers, said the bands frontman, Oscar Im really big on local charity, said Sobkowicz. Thebandbigs Gary Hawthorne. I used to do Local rapper Cheno Bliss took the stage next what Chris does and produce charity shows, but I with a soulful but insightful set. I like to be self cant do what Chris does anymore. Hes the aware, and any song that I do is about that. I felt man. like I didnt have a voice, and I felt like music On Monday, EpicCville announced the was a way I could get my voice out there, he winners of the Battle of the Bands to be Kings of said. the Wild Things with Thebandbig in second Opening with John Denvers Leaving on a place. Page 8 JMU Returns to In-person Concerts Yasser Perez, staff writer Live performances were absent in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but on Sept. 24 a sense of normalcy was felt at one of Harrisonburgs first live musical performances in over a year. Ian Zook, a brass professor of James Madison University (JMU) and the French horn player of the event, teamed up with Tracey SchimmelReed, the principal pianist of the Shenandoah Valley Childrens Choir and the pianist of the evening to provide a refreshing live performance to all of the musical enthusiasts of the area. The event was held indoors in the Recital Hall at the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts, JMUs main building for its art department. Masking was enforced in accordance with the schools COVID policies in order to mitigate the transmission of the virus. Cell phones and other electronic devices were prohibited at all times during the performance to prevent any distractions and any unauthorized video recordings or photography. The performers played five pieces, each varying in length and feeling, but for the most part the audience was serenaded with lush tones for the entirety of the performance. I Threw a Shoe at a Cat was the only outlier of the evening as the piece was more humorous than the other four. Ballade Normande and Every Day an Alleluia were more traditional pieces, played with enhanced intensity and passion demonstrated by Zooks soulful body movements and Schimmel-Reeds nimble fingers, which seemed to take over as if they had a mind of their own. For 60 minutes, Zook and Schimmel-Reed held the audience in the palm of their hands. Thunderous applause followed the conclusion of every piece, signaling the audiences approval and appreciation for the performance. At the conclusion of the evening, the audience stood and offered a standing ovation, sending the performers off with a clear message: Thank you for an amazing performance. Tracy Schimmel-Reed and Ian Zook perform on stage. Photography by Yasser Perez Page 9 Anime Club Drama Club Civic Sense Table CRU Christian Fellowship Japan Club Horticulture Club Page 10 PVCCs Community on Display: Club Day Maxwell Walpole, assistant editor On Wednesday Sept. 8, the Bolick Student Center was packed with people, a rare sight in the era of social distancing. But that day was special. It was PVCCs club day. Lining the hallway from the Bolick Student Center past the library were dozens of tables, each festooned with eye-catching displays and distinctive and often colorful iconography. Pride flags stood proudly on the LGBTQ+ club table, a large red rocket decorated the table of the Piedmont Student Launch Team, still images from different anime series were taped around the perimeter of the anime club table, the CRU Christian fellowship table was flanked by a large decorative banner, the Horticulture club had a tri fold display with information on plastic pollution and cups of seeds for students to take, and many more. Many clubs, such as the international club, have a strong focus on social events. The main idea of the club is to bring people from all over the world together to learn about different cultures, said club member Xiohan Fan. The club regularly participates in events like a hayride, hiking, and other activities. Fan made sure to clarify that just because it might be called the international club, that does not mean that Americans cannot join. This club invites people from any country, anywhere, said Fan. The LGBTQ+ club likewise offers a welcoming, tolerant social environment. The club is a safe space for LGBTQ+ people on campus to get together and talk, said club affiliate Alex Kingsley. All people are welcome here. The anime club also has an emphasis on socialization. We meet, watch and then discuss different anime, said Club President Maria McCormack. Even if you dont have any prior knowledge [of anime] you can check us out. Other clubs have a focus on specific activities. The Piedmont Student Launch Team enters a yearly competition held by NASA that challenges college students nationwide to work together to design and ultimately fly a rocket carrying a payload. Some people dont feel like theyre smart enough to join [the club], said club member Faith Brown. But there are lots of options not related to engineering. And lots of people start out not knowing anything. In the event that a student missed club day, they can still sign up for any club of their choosing by going to the PVCC clubs and organizations webpage. Photos courtesy of PVCC Marketing and Media Relations Page 11 Is Cville Coffee the Best Coffee in Cville? Chloe Boutin, staff writer people like myself that come to do work silently by themselves. Before I could even get all of my Many locals dine at Cville Coffee & Wine as stuff out of my bag, my food was ready. The their go-to local coffee shop. Tailored for guests sandwich tasted exactly the same as I of all ages, Cville Coffee offers delicious remembered it; the cheese was nice and melted breakfast sandwiches and snacks, coffee and other and there was just the perfect amount of ham on beverages, and play areas for the young ones and there to add some more flavor. I cannot say it is study areas for the adults, creating a welcoming the best sandwich I have ever eaten, especially for atmosphere for all Cvillians. how expensive it is, but it was a solid breakfast I went one morning to enjoy some coffee and sandwich. a breakfast sandwich to see if this timeless coffee I then decided it was time to try my chai latte, shop was still as welcoming as I remembered it which was one of the best ones I have ever had. was as a kid. They You could tell do have a mask that this was not policy for entering just milk and a the store, and chai concentrate employees are mixed together as wearing masks at they do at other all times while places, but it was interacting with much better customers. because it had a I ordered my lot more flavor. go-to beverage for Compared to a cafe: an iced other coffee chai latte for shops, the price $4.85. My was not that sandwich of outrageous, and I choice was a basic honestly think egg cheddar and this latte was the ham sandwich on best $5 dollars I sourdough bread have ever spent. for $9.95. The This coffee total of my meal shop definitely was a whopping has its reasons for $16 including tax, being well which seemed a known. It offers a bit excessive for a relaxing simple sandwich environment that and a small chai, people are able to Chai latte with breakfast sandwich. but I was invested enjoy for a Photography by Chloe Boutin in this review and number of this was indeed reasons. I did my breakfast. enjoy my morning there, but I am hesitant to go After you order your food, you enter the back, only because of the price of the food. seating area where chairs and tables are placed all Although it was a pleasant experience, I do over, with a small play area for kids to the side not think I could find myself going there on a with the iconic wooden tortoise that has been regular basis or else I would not have any money there since I was small. I stationed myself in the left. But if I ever needed a good pick me up or a adult zone, which is an area toward the back nice chai latte, Cville Coffee would be the place that is meant for studying and is usually used by to go! Page 12 Review: Baines Books and Coffee Laurel Molloy, staff writer include most the things just mentioned but cold, as well as smoothies and Italian sodas. All their Wedged between two buildings in downtown coffee is from the local Lexington Coffee roasters Scottsville is a small caf called Baines. You will West of both Scottsville and Charlottesville. For find it if you weave down Route 20 into the food, they have grilled lunch sandwiches served middle of Scottsville, the town of the Batteau daily from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. along with Festival. This quaint caf is filled with books, quiche and scones served all day until they run coffee, tea, and happy chatter. out. It holds a warm joyful atmosphere with books As you sip at your beverage under the warm wrapping the ivory and red walls, and sprinkled lights, you can peruse both new and used books throughout the caf are harry potter paraphernalia. for sale and for looking at. They have local art A picture of and authors the Fat Lady displayed for from Harry sale Potter sits throughout. It right among is always the guitars fascinating to and books see what is about history. new. They In years past, love to they have support local even made artists and butterbeer for local business Harry Potter even while lovers during being a local October. business It is a themselves. small caf Every now with only and then they five real even play live Baines storefront. Photography by Laurel Molloy tables music in the scattered within. But for such a small place, it has evening, but that has slowed because of COVID. its own wooden entrance ramp for wheelchairs To evaluate Baines for being a small rural and easy access. And after you walk in, a back caf, it is good, not over the top but a consistent room has armchairs, a fake fire, and a chessboard and solid caf in flavor. They have very good for more leisure and comfort. pecan sticky buns that puff with warm steam. You can stroll in almost any time throughout Their scones, on the other hand, are a little too dry the week. They are open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday and dense. through Friday, and on Saturday and Sunday they But its atmosphere and joyful spirit is good. are open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. instead. Like many People sit with books clutched in their hands as shops, they have had to adapt to COVID-19. They paintings happily watch them. request that everyone wear masks except while Although tons of shops and businesses have eating and drinking. All their employees also come and gone in Scottsville, Baine's has stayed. wear masks as they work to ensure everyones It is a staple where people come to meet up and safety. feel comfortable and connected. The staff are Baines is mainly a place to get drinks, always friendly and cheery people. And it always sandwiches, and sweets. But they serve a variety feels comfy and fae-like, like little cafs should. It of things. Their hot drinks include coffee, chai, is a relaxed place to go to seek free internet or a hot chocolate, apple cider, and an assortment of good drink, to warm or cool yourself down, for espressos and other things. Their cold drinks wherever your path leads. Page 13 Should Pineapple go on Salmon? Yasser Perez, staff writer Island Wing Company is the newest addition to the slew of restaurants in Harrisonburg. The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. everyday except for Fridays and Saturdays, where its hours extend to midnight. Island Wing Company is right across from the movie theater and just a few blocks from the local mall and Costco, perfectly placed in the center of Harrisonburg. The first thing that stands out are the tropical vibes given off by the restaurant. Bright blue walls and prominent orange chairs evoke a relaxing atmosphere like being at the beachfront with your favorite drink in hand. To the relief of hesitant patrons, all employees are masked and contactless menus are available via QR codes on the tables. Social distancing is also in effect, so consumers can breathe easy as well. I dined at Island Wing Company on a Monday night at 7 p.m., the most common dinner time in the area. For a Monday night, the restaurant was not excessively packed, but it did have quite a few more customers than surrounding restaurants due to its infancy. I ordered Caribbean Salmon ($23.99) which is paired with coconut sprinkled rice and steamed vegetables. The salmon is a significantly larger portion compared to most restaurants and is topped with pineapple instead of the typical lemon. Although the spices on the salmon are quite pleasant and excite the taste buds, the pineapple unfortunately overpowers the dish leaving the entree sweeter than preferred. Likewise with the rice, the coconut added an excessive amount of sweetness, hindering the rices potential. Surprisingly, the steamed vegetables are the star of the show, perfectly textured and lightly seasoned to the satisfaction of the customer. I applaud Island Wings ambition with their recipes, bringing fresh, new dishes to the area, however, they fall short in capturing the same success as their ambiance. Caribbean Salmon, Coconut Rice, and Steamed Vegetables. Photography by Yasser Perez Page 14 Comedy Night Produces Laughter The Southern Cafe and Music Hall. Photography by Lamont Robinson Lamont Robinson, staff writer On a Monday night in September, The Southern Cafe and Music Hall held an open mic comedy night from 8-10 p.m. The nights host, Keith, entertained the crowd of spectators. Before the stand up comedy started, Keith gave the crowd his appreciation for coming in tonight. The crowd was smaller in comparison to other comedy nights. As Keith explained, The comedy nights usually get bigger crowds in comparison to this one. The audience consisted of three couples, me, and another lady. Some returning comedians came to test out some new material they came up with to see if it would be a hit with the crowd. Each person making jokes had their own style ranging from shock/edgy humor, stories from their life, sex jokes, political jokes, and improv. Many of the jokes got a chuckle out of the audience while a certain few caused the room to erupt in laughter, like one joke in regard to someones hair. The crowd always gave a round of applause to each comedian as many of the jokes seem to have given them an enjoyable experience for the night. However, as the jokes went by, the time for them to end at 10 p.m. came swiftly. Keith asked if anyone in the crowd wanted to do any stand up comedy before they finished up but no one was interested in joining in. Keith then gave the audience his appreciation as he considered the audience a great crowd for its size. If anyone in The Southern Cafe wanted to come back to attempt or watch stand up in the future, Keith explained that comedy nights happen every Monday at the same time. Page 15 The Suicide Squad revels in Wonderful Insanity Four members of Task Force X pause after a battle. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. studios Maxwell Walpole, assistant editor On Aug. 5, James Gunns The Suicide Squad was simultaneously released in theaters and on HBO Max, starring an ensemble cast including Idris Elba, Margot Robbie, Sylvester Stallone, John Cena, Joel Kinnaman, Daniel Melchior, Peter Capaldi and David Dastmalchian. The Suicide Squad sees a team of misfit superpowered criminals, designated Task Force X, dispatched on a mission by the U.S. government that they have little hope of returning from alive. Contending with a brutal South American dictator, an extraterrestrial monster, and their own callous commander, Amanda Waller, the members of Task Force X must fight to survive or else live up to their sardonic nickname: the suicide squad. A big part of what gives this film such a wonderfully unique look is the costume design. All too often, comic book movies seem to be embarrassed about their source material and tone down the more ridiculous elements of superhero costumessee Bryan Singers X Men. In The Suicide Squad, costume designer Judianna Makovsky embraces the absurdity, and the results are spectacular. The costumes burst with color every time the characters are on screen, faithfully adapting the vibrant aesthetic of superhero comics to the screen in a way only rivaled by Into The Spiderverse. The action set pieces are equally over the top, with positively astronomical levels of gore (and well-honed sense of dark humor to match), frenetic fight choreography, and a giant blue CGI starfish monster. But if it was solely ridiculous and no care was taken towards character development, The Suicide Squad would just be fun, substanceless spectacle. Perhaps that alone would be enough. But committed performances from the cast and satisfying writing ensure that the lovable misfits of Task Force X leave an impression long after the screen cuts to black. After years of the box office being inundated with scores of superhero movies that tried their best to neuter or entirely abandon the inherent childish absurdity and wonder of comic books, The Suicide Squad is a breath of fresh air, an absurd amount of fun, and most importantly a faithful and joyous celebration of the comic book stories to which it owes its existence. The Suicide Squad is currently streaming on HBO Max. Page 16 Marvel tries a New Style with Shang-Chi Lamont Robinson, staff writer In life, the past will always creep back up whether you like it or not, and Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings is an example of that. Shaun A.K.A Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) lives the simple life working as a valet with his friend Katy (Awkwafina); however, he is forced to reveal his past to her and attempt to stop his father Xu Wenwu (Tony Leung Chiu Wai), who leads the thousand year old Ten Rings organization and stole Shang-Chis pendant for unknown reasons. Shang-Chi is forced to take his friend on an adventure around Asia that will get them into trouble with not only The Ten Rings, but also mythical beings. One important thing about Marvel movies is if they are full of intense action scenes that will keep the audience glued to the screen, and ShangChi delivers in that aspect with intense fight scenes that use martial arts as their basis to make the battles grounded yet just as enjoyable, if not more, than the usual gargantuan CGI fight scenes that are standard in Marvel movies like Avengers: Endgame. Unfortunately, the action starts to lower in quality when the movie switches from the martial art scenes, which was one of the main attractions of the movie, and instead follows the same formula of other Marvel movies with the final CGI fight scene in the later half of the movie. The main characters of the movie are full of life, having their own goals and conflicts that shape their personalities and actions throughout the story. Xu Wenwu, the main antagonist of the story, is a great example of this. When Xu used the Ten Rings, a weapon that gave him eternal youth and superpowers, he conquered many lands for thousands of years until he met Ying Li (Fala Chen) searching for Ta Lo, a land said to have mythical beings. He eventually fell in love with Ying and dedicated his life to being a family man instead of the leader of The Ten Rings. When Ying dies, Xu is struck with grief and resumes operations of his organization to get revenge for Yings death and to bring her back to life by any means necessary. Tony Leungs acting makes Xu an amazing character as he makes the audience feel sorry for him despite being a villain Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Studios press kit as his grief is manipulated by an entity long sealed away. The main actor Simu Liu makes Shang-Chi as a character enjoyable to watch thanks to his incredible stunt work in fight scenes, charismatic attitude, and acting skills when the movie delves into Shang Chis past with his father and his sister Xialing (Meng'er Zhang) who is one of the weaker characters of the movie as she barely gets any screen time spent on her. She doesnt develop as a character and unfortunately stays the same towards the end of the movie. Shang-Chi overall delivers if you want a movie with some great action despite the final fight scene being more CGI focused instead of martial arts. The story can be on the weaker side sometimes as some things are not explained. For example, the film does not explain how Xu obtained The Ten Rings, which might be a result of Marvel trying to sequel bait. Shang-Chi still is a great movie that will bring you some enjoyment for its 2-hour screen time. Local Theaters showing the movie: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema 375 Merchant Walk Sq., 326-5056. Regal Stonefield 14 and IMAX The Shops at Stonefield, 244-3213. Violet Crown Cinema 200 W. Main St., Downtown Mall, 529-3000. Page 17 A Sweet Delivery with a Spicy Kick Katie Austin, staff writer If you are like me, then you are always looking for an opportunity to find a unique place to eat. If you are also a college student that enjoys keeping their meal under $20-30, then I have a place for you. Try Now and Zen on the strip of the outer skirt of the downtown mall. I have visited this place a few times this year, and the sushi has not disappointed me once. It always hits the spot and is so fresh. I have been here at Now and Zen a couple of times for my favorite meal of all time, sushi. One sushi roll that has sent my tastes buds on a roll every time is the Spicy Maui ($8). The Spicy Maui is a flavor explosion of spicy tuna, with creamy fresh avocado, and the sweetness of mango, and it is so unbelievably good. Overall, it might not be the biggest place, but sometimes the smallest places hold the most powerful dishes that will never leave you disappointed. Now and Zen has a unique set of days and hours. For instance, they are not open on Monday at all. On Tuesday through Thursday and also Sunday, they are only open from 5-9 pm. Friday and Saturday they are open an hour longer than usual. They are not terribly expensive. The least you could spend on a meal is $20 and the highest would be $150 at the most, all depending on what you get. The address of this amazing place is 202 2nd St NW, Charlottesville, VA 22902. So go on down to Now and Zen; I promise that you will not regret it. Comic by Lauren Cottrell Page 18 Comic by Sarah Louis Page 19 Classifieds Contact Us The Forum 501 College Dr. Charlottesville, VA 22902 twhyte@pvcc.edu www.piedmontforum.com The Forum offers classified space to the PVCC community free of charge. Please send announcements along with full name, email, and phone number to: twhyte@pvcc.edu. The Forum Staff (Listed alphabetically) Assistant Editor Maxwell Walpole Staff Writers/Copyeditors Katie Austin Carlos Banda Montes Chloe Boutin Walter R Miller Laurel Molloy Yasser Perez Jaume Plumb-Planas Caleb Reeves Lamont Robinson Gianni Strazzullo Maxwell Walpole William Waugh Comic Artists Lauren Cottrell Sarah Louis Faculty Advisor Dr. Tamara Whyte Check us out on social media @PVCCForum The Forum is a voice for all students. Accordingly, materials published in The Forum, including any opinions expressed, should not be interpreted as the position of the VCCS, Piedmont Virginia Community College, or any stakeholder thereof. 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... Read more at: Piedmontforum.com Piedmont Virginia Community College Summer 2021 Inspirational PVCC Professor Bruce Robinson Retires Maxwell Walpole, assistant editor Instantly recognizable by any PVCC student or faculty member for his distinctive neatlytrimmed, starting-to-gray beard, his warm smile and prominent position as the Phi Theta Kappa honor society faculty adviser, Bruce Robinson has been a valued member of the community ever since he began working at PVCC in 1979. Now, after 42 years of teaching, Robinson is preparing to retire on May 14. When Robinson graduated college, he was not intending to pursue a career as an educator. Robinson served as the assistant manager of a department store before he changed to selling insurance in Charlottesville. I saw an ad for Piedmont Virginia Community College for an accountant, and so I applied for that job in 1979 and was hired that September, said Robinson. Robinson worked at PVCC as an accountant for 12 years before he found an opportunity to Preview the Student Art Exhibition pages 14-15 demonstrate his leadership skills. When PVCC updated their phone systems from rotary phones to the current models, he was in charge of training PVCC employees to use the new system. When it was time for Robinson to train the business division personnel, the college chairman was impressed with how easily Robinson connected to the employees he taught and how patient he was with them and asked Robinson if he wanted to become an adjunct professor. At first, Robinson was hesitant. I thought, Well, I've really never taught per se and he said, Well, yes, you have and Ive seen you do it . . . you really do have a knack for it, and so I said, Sure. I'll go ahead and teach a course in Lotus 123, said Robinson. At first, Robinson was extremely nervous when teaching his first class. However, after seeing the student evaluations of his course at the end of the semester, he realized he did not have See Robinson on page 4 In This Issue Bruce Robinson and David Lerman"twinning" at the PVCC Spring 2020 Convocation. Photo courtesy of Bruce Robinson SGA Game Night -pg. 2 ENG 254 -pg. 6 Vaccines -pg. 9 Staunton -pgs. 10-11 Sports -pgs. 19-21 Reviews -pgs. 22-27 Classifieds -pg. 24 DATES TO REMEMBER Festival of Cultures * May 7-13, Virtual Radiography Pinning Ceremony * May 11, 6 p.m., Virtual Tuesday Evening Speaker Session: Advanced Manufacturing * May 11, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Virtual Sonography Pinning Ceremony * May 12, 6 p.m., Virtual Nursing Pinning Ceremony * May 14, 1 p.m., Virtual 48th Commencement Exercises Virtual Ceremony * May 14, 3 p.m., YouTube Live Drive-through Graduation Celebration * May 14, 5-6 p.m., Main Campus Summer 10-week Classes Begin May 24 Fall 16-week Classes Begin Aug. 23 *Free Event ^Student Vouchers Available SGA Game Night. Screenshot by Maxwell Walpole Fun and Games with the SGA Maxwell Walpole, assistant editor On April 2, the PVCC Student Government Association held a virtual game night over Zoom. The entertainment chosen for the event were Jackbox TV party video games, which offered an array of delightfully zany experiences that kept the atmosphere of the event light and playful. Tee K.O., a game in which players create unique tshirt designs by matching up slogans and drawings provided by the other players and vote on which shirt is best, proved especially popular. Bizarre creations like a grotesque drawing of the cartoon character SpongeBob with the caption why, just why below it were among the panoply of horrors created during the event. In a unique touch, the entire event had an overall costume party theme, with a $100 gift card prize for the best dressed participant. As colorful posters advertising the event recommended, the attendees came dressed to impress. Costumes ranged from the grizzled monster hunter Geralt of Rivia from the Witcher franchise to nefarious mischief -maker Waluigi from the Mario franchise. Ultimately, Lucas Lockheart won the gift card, and Jan Van Dyk won best dressed for their costume. According to SGA member Ginger Hood, Despite not having as much attendance as we wouldve liked, the game night itself actually went really well because we were a little bit concerned when we were planning it that Zoom would have connection issues, or that we wouldnt actually have enough people to play. When asked about other upcoming SGA events, Hood said The SGA does hope to do the game night again, so its going to be recurring. Page 2 VCCS hosts Student Leadership Retreat Ginger Hood, assistant editor On April 16, the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) hosted a leadership retreat on Zoom. With three keynote speakers and seven speakers overall, the retreat lasted from 10 a.m. to approximately 1:30 p.m. (with a few minutes of overtime from the final speaker). Students from all VCCS colleges were invited to attend the Zoom event through Cvents conference hosting tool CrowdCompass, which required students to sign up beforehand. Through CrowdCompass, students were able to choose which sessions they wanted to attend throughout the conference, leave reviews on different presentations, and read short bios on each speaker. With three keynote speakers and seven speakers overall, the event had several choices depending on what information attendees were interested in. The first keynote speaker, Tianna Soto, opened the retreat with her presentation titled Stress, Success, & Duck Syndrome, which put a focus on maintaining college students wellness. The whole idea of Duck Syndrome is that youre gliding smoothly along the surface, but beneath the water youre paddling furiously to keep up, said Soto. She shared some of her own struggles with Duck Syndrome from when she was a college student and talked about different ways to cope with school stress, even taking a minute to have the virtual attendees take some deep breaths with her to relax. Soto also talked about some of the risk factors and deeper problems of Duck Syndrome, such as competitive environments, social pressures, and mental health issues like anxiety and depression. Soto was sure to stress that each and every student could (and should) overcome Duck Syndrome. She said, It doesnt matter if youre in the corporate world, faculty or staff member, or if youre a student, wellness is for you. Besides deep breathing, Soto recommended that college students practice mindfulness and self care, take the time to get up and dance to their favorite music, set both academic and personal boundaries, and connect with their friends and communities. She also said that students should not be afraid to seek professional help, despite the stigma that commonly surrounds it, as many students can genuinely benefit from the assistance of a professional during stressful times. College is a marathon, not a sprint dont be afraid to slow down, said Soto. Burnout is not a badge of honor, and ducks need their rest too. The second time slot of the session held multiple presentations in breakout rooms, one of which was the second keynote speaker, Tisha Evans. The presentation, titled From Surviving to Thriving: Opportunities in times of Uncertainty, was about students wellness and leadership skills, with a specific focus on pushing students out of the survival zone. I want to speak to the leader in each of us, said Evans. You dont have to be the president of the student government, but as a person, you are a leader. Evans acknowledged that the pandemic complicates things for students trying to leave the survival zone. However, she encouraged students to keep pushing themselves forward. During times of uncertainty, the more you move forward the more momentum you build, she said. I encourage you all to tap into the resources you have on campus. If you have success coaches, reach out to them. Overall, Evans wanted to inspire students to keep striving for success: I want to push you towards that thriving zone. Embrace it, step into it embrace someone else along with you. The final speaker, Darryl Bellamy Jr., also aimed to inspire students to overcome obstacles and become successful. Bellamy has collected over 52,000 students fears across the country, and uses his analysis of these fears to reassure students that theyre not alone. You might be thinking, am I the only one going through this? and I can assure you, youre not you are never, ever alone in your journey, said Bellamy. Thousands of students had previously shared the same fears: failure, disappointing others, and not being enough, to name a few. Bellamy encouraged students to try to overcome these fears, saying, The only thing worse than failure is regret. Read the full story on piedmontforum.com. Page 3 Robinson, continued from page 1 to be as nervous. From there, Robinson went back to university and worked hard to earn a masters degree so he could teach full time. After graduating with his degree, he balanced teaching with his job as an army photojournalist until he retired from the military in 1998. So it was the military . . . that kind of influenced the way I did my teaching, because I would always tell my students, Im not a control freak, but Im always in charge, said Robinson. Over the course of his teaching career, Robinson has learned as much from his students as they learn from him. I didn't have the same people every semester, I had 150 different new students. And so that kind of drove me to learn from them as individuals as time passed, learn new cultures, understand the value and diversity of not only the different cultures, but also the different ages and what students experienced in the class because my classes were technology based, said Robinson. [I learned] that they had their own issues, that they had their own lives. And that I had to do what I could to meet them where they were. Regardless of how many times you repeat it, I think some students didn't learn it that way. So the job for me was to not let that frustrate me, and not let it frustrate the student, and give the student confidence that regardless of whatever it was they thought they did not understand that I would always be there to push them to be able to learn, said Robinson. Outside of teaching, Robinson worked for many years as a faculty adviser for the Phi Theta Kappa honor society. As an adviser, Robinson helped students develop their leadership skills, answered questions related to PTK projects, and helped register PTK students for the regional conferences they attend. He has been the heart and soul of Phi Theta Kappa at PVCC since, well, forever, said fellow PTK faculty adviser and Professor of Spanish Kit Decker. [He] has given untold numbers of club officers a baptism of fire in student leadership and he has chosen them with insight, kindness, and an unerring knack for unleashing potential. Robinson formed strong friendships within the PVCC community. He maintains a close friendship with Director of Student Success and Retention David Lerman. On memorable occasions, Lerman and Robinson have even taken to wearing matching outfits. He is one of my very good friends and though I am very happy for him to reach this milestone, I will greatly miss having him as a colleague, said Lerman. He was such a wonderful professor, such a fine leader for PTK, and such a good role model for students, staff, and faculty. He took immense pleasure in the lofty accomplishments of our colleges most highachieving students, quite a few of whom won awards as the top community college students in Virginia. But he also was one of the most gentle and encouraging guides a student could possibly have, truly meeting our students at their level and working with them to achieve mastery of skills that would provide not only career possibilities but also pride of accomplishment and a growth in their self-confidence. Furthermore, he took it upon himself to reach out to all PVCCs male students of color every semester and emphasize his pride in them and his availability if they wanted someone to talk to. Aside from faculty, Robinson also approaches each male African-American and Hispanic student each semester and offers to mentor them. To me, being a mentor to students who look like me because they get to a point where they have communicated that they never saw a whole bunch of African-American male teachers, even in high school. They may have seen a coach or two, but once they get to college, they dont see any African-American male instructors. And so I wanted to make sure that my face was out there for them to be able to count on me if they needed me. And so that, to me, is what I want my legacy to be, said Robinson. Ive had several [mentees] come back to visit and just pour their hearts out to me that if I hadn't been there, that they wouldnt be where they are. I will say that its a well-rounded group of people, not just African-American males or Hispanic males, but particularly [students] who have moved on to four-year schools and say later in life that they remembered me telling them that they could do what I do. That . . . my parents didn't finish high school . . . I was the first one [in my family] to go to college, I was the first one to graduate high school and certainly the first one who was going to be a college professor. And as I Page 4 tell my story to them, they kind of held on to some of that as they moved on with their lives and that they would either share that with a phone call by my office or they would actually let me know that they had children who are coming to PVCC and they wanted me to look out for them, said Robinson. Robinson does not regret his choice to retire, but it was a tough decision. While he still plans on teaching at PVCC as an adjunct faculty member, Robinson immediately knew what he would miss the most about teaching full-time at PVCC. Ill miss everyday interaction with, again, each individual student, because when I go into the classroom after three or four weeks I've become familiar with the goings on of each individual student. Whether they're really quiet, or whether they are talkative, whether they have a lot of questions, whether they need additional help, said Robinson. Undoubtedly the PVCC community will miss Robinson, too. Bruce didnt just talk about education, empowerment, and social change. He lived it, said Lerman. Bridging the Political Divide with Dialogue Ginger Hood, assistant editor On March 24, a diverse assortment of faculty members and students gathered on Zoom for PVCCs Deliberative Dialogue, A House Divided, as part of PVCCss recent Civic Engagement Conference. The National Issues Forums Institute (NIFI) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that publishes issue guides for deliberative dialogues. NIFI defines deliberation in the context of these dialogues as, a process of thoughtfully weighing options an unbiased kind of talking that starts where the problem startswith your experience of it. Its not a bunch of abstract backroom negotiations, but real, genuine, human struggles of which we are a part. This is what a deliberative dialogue is hoping to achieve. Attendees reasons for participating ranged from those planning to go into politics as a career to those who simply wanted to learn more about different perspectives. Participants were sorted into two Zoom breakout rooms to make it easier for everyone to get a chance to talk, as a deliberative dialogue is designed to encourage talking; though, as co-host of the dialogue and PVCC English Professor Jennifer Koster said, Listening is as important as speaking. Even with the emphasis on listening, there was hardly a silent moment, though there were no arguments or raised voices. Questions were encouraged and answered kindly, clashing opinions were mutually considered, and multiple points of view were presented on each proposed solution to the issue. We all learned about seeing different points of view. A lot of things came up that I hadnt thought of, said Paula Morales, a student who attended the dialogue. The dialogues topic of deliberation was A House Divided: What Would We Have to Give Up to Get the Political System We Want, and the dialogue focused heavily on how to fix the inflammatory rhetoric that saturates Americas current political system. There were three proposed solutions to this issue, with each solution given its own list of upsides and drawbacks. Solutions included adding more moderation to online spaces, making news organizations give equal amounts of time to different candidates and parties, and giving more power to local governments to make laws as they see fit for their individual citizens. The dialogue overall lasted approximately an hour and a half, with each proposed solution given an approximately equal amount of time. When the time for deliberation was up, participants were once again ushered into the main meeting room. There was time for closing thoughts, so the note takers for each group and many of the respective groups participants shared their comments, compliments, and conclusions. While the conclusions were not the most solid, there was a general agreement that it was a positive experience for the participants, and it opened, and even changed, some peoples minds. Koster agreed with this sentiment, saying learning more about how others think is one of the most interesting parts of a forum. For those interested in learning more about deliberative dialogue, the National Issues Forums Institutes website has a variety of resources. For more information on this deliberative dialogue issue, visit the issue guide page. Page 5 Examine Black American Literature in ENG 254 Isiah Cowan, staff writer In the 402 years following European colonization and the enslavement of Africans, the dominant literary voice in America has been extremely homogeneous. With the inception of Black literature, American literary spaces have benefited from a more diverse and intersectional perspective of life in the United States of America. At PVCC, Survey of African American Literature II (ENG 254) shines light on the multiplicity of Black literature. Taught by Associate Professor of English Dr. Justin Wert, the course surveys Black-American literary works ranging from the colonial period to the present. Students can expect to read and interact with a broad spectrum of African American writers including Richard Wright, Ralph Ellison, and Maya Angelou. With a diverse set of literary pieces such as biographies, memoirs, poetry, slave narratives, and works of fiction, students will engage thoroughly with Black-American literature while also satisfying the PVCC writing-intensive degree -requirement. When asked why PVCC students should take this course, Dr. Wert said, Black literature is worth studying for a litany of reasons. The variety of literature helps one properly assess the historical story-arc of America. African-American literature acknowledges the rather arduous journey people of color have taken to tell their stories while also working to achieve similar constitutional freedoms compared to their European-American counterparts. The course is being offered on Zoom during the upcoming summer semester of 2021 for students who have completed ENG 112 as a prerequisite. The course lasts for a duration of seven weeks from June 14 to Aug. 4, 2021, and meets on Mondays and Wednesdays 2:45- 5:45 p.m. for a total of six in-class hours a week. The course is 3 credits and it satisfies PVCCs writing intensive graduation requirements for degreeseeking students. According to Dr. Justin Wert, students should expect to encounter assigned reading, critical responses, discussion posts, quizzes, as well as two papers, during their time enrolled in English 254. Justin Wert poses with BSA. Photography by Kellyn Torres Page 6 PVCC Introduces The Panther10 Podcast Ginger Hood, assistant editor what were six resources we wanted students to know about? How do we continue to tell students when Hosted by SGA members Ana Doder and they've had to enroll at a distance who may Ashab Alamgir, the podcasts guests so far have have never set foot on campus that we are still included Parks, Amanda Key, Emily Kingsley, here and that we still care? This was the question Shelley Moss, Tamara Whyte, and Ruth Yoder. that Student Development Instructor Meg Foster Each guest took an in-depth look into what and Director of Academic Support Services Todd services they provide at PVCC, as well as sharing Parks were pondering halfway through this spring tips for students trying to succeed. semester when the first seeds of PVCCs new All of the staff and faculty we spoke to really podcast The talked about the Panther10 began to community at sprout. piedmont, said The podcast, Foster. I really do which was Parks enjoy being able to idea, was created in listen in on our initial an effort to make season and where the students aware of the students went with the resources offered by questions, she added. the college in an It was all very fun. easily digestible, fun, Though the first and accessible way. season did not have With only half a much time to blossom, semester to put it Foster is hopeful that together, a multitude The Panther10 will of PVCC services to continue to grow in choose from, and the the fall. help of the SGA, The We're a really Panther10s first simple operation at the season began in April moment, and I hope to 2021. get more students As the title involved so we can suggests, each become more episode of the podcast sophisticated, said is approximately 10 Foster. In the fall, we minutes long, though might have entrance The Panther10s cover on Spotify and Sounder. those ten minutes go music. Screenshot taken by Ginger Hood by quickly when each With student hosts guest starts to talk about and a focus on student what resources they have available for PVCC success, The Panther10 is mostly student-driven students. even the name was chosen by students. While each episode focuses on a different Students can really help us create content PVCC service, the first season of The Panther10 that's engaging and meaningful to them, Foster had a clearly defined overarching theme: student said. Im always looking at how we can elevate success. students' voices its the work of my heart. Piedmont has so many resources available The Panther10 is available on both Spotify for students. We just want more and more and Sounder. students to know of those resources, said Foster, Its here for student learning and support. Use the podcasts faculty adviser. We had to ask this resource! said Foster. There are people at ourselves, if we could only make six episodes, this college who care about you. Page 7 Career Services Talk with Cville Professionals Jessica Coyle, staff writer much of a holistic picture of a person and in the form of a candidate. She went on to explain that PVCC has taken their usual career chats employers only see so much, and you want to online this year, speaking to multiple different make sure what they see is good. Charlottesville professionals about their Nazeer had other suggestions, about how to experience in their fields. As part of PVCCs prepare for and make yourself attractive for an Wednesday career panels, February 24s interview and how you can always learn more Education Employer talk was centered around about your career path. She suggested finding finding employment and networking, particularly connections in any way you can and even in the world of teaching. participating in similar fields as your experience Gigi Davis, who is the job and internship and skills can transfer over. Experience and coordinator for PVCC, networking were began the meeting by key for the talk. introducing herself and Nazeer pointed to her guest, Assistant opportunities like Director of HR for internships and Charlottesville city volunteering as schools Mitsuko ways to solidify and Clemmons-Nazeer. exemplify your They began the talk interest in a certain centered around field and make teaching as a connections, saying profession and how it is less about the they each found their degrees you earn way to career services. as it is about the Nazeer spoke learning and frequently about how experiences youve her early indecisiveness gotten. had a lot to do with her Nazeer put career choice and need special emphasis on for help from career the idea that services after learning is graduating from lifelong and that Virginia Tech. using resources like Nazeer highlighted career services and the issues most similar students face when it opportunities give comes to finding a you an advantage in career path and knowing what you knowing what to do want to do. Mitsuko Clemmons-Nazeer. with your skills and Defining yourself as Photo courtesy of PVCC Marketing and Media Relations education. When asked a professional in about what she as an your area takes real employer looks for in hiring, she said, I pay interest and credentials, but they can come from particular interest in and focus on the activity unexpected places. section because I think the activity section can As Nazeer said near the end of the meeting, lend to an understanding of one's interest, their There's no one way to pursue a career of your pride, and their passion towards specific interest dreams, and there're so many different ways to groups or bodies of work...So I think that it's reach your goals I am still learning what I want important that you are able to kind of create as to be when I grow up. Page 8 Blue Ridge Health District Vaccinates Virginia Ginger Hood, assistant editor Under glittering fluorescent lights and between sectioned off fitting rooms, the Blue Ridge Health Districts (BRHD) vaccination clinic in Fashion Square's former JCPenney is equipped to vaccinate hundreds of people each day they open their doors. The inside of the formerly deserted store is now divided by winding lines of belt barriers between its mirrorcovered pillars; leftover advertisements and shelves are scattered between signs directing vaccine recipients through the various stages of the vaccination process. The volunteer personnel are friendly but efficient, making the vaccination process run smoothly. No insurance or payment is required to receive the vaccine all that is needed is an appointment (which can be made online) and a photo ID. Upon arrival to a previously scheduled appointment, recipients can enter through the JCPenney door facing Route 29. Recipients under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. After checking in, recipients receive a card that denotes which vaccine they will be getting on a Moderna and Pfizer day, the cards are either pink (for Moderna) or green (for Pfizer). After a quick temperature check, recipients proceed A vaccination table at the clinic. Photography by Ginger Hood straight back to the registration tables where IDs, birthdates, and vaccine types are all sorted out in a matter of minutes. After registration, the slightly longer wait begins. The line moved, so there wasnt a lot of standing around and waiting, said Lillian Hood, a PVCC student who got vaccinated at the clinic. It probably took 30 minutes to get through the whole process. The line flows back and forth in 6-foot increments, inching towards the eventual goal: the vaccination area. Tables equipped with alcohol wipes, cotton balls, band-aids, and vaccines stand in neat rows between empty shelves. Filling out the pre-vaccination questionnaire helps to speed up the vaccination process itself; however, each vaccination table is equipped with a computer where recipients can fill out the questionnaire. The vaccination itself only takes a few moments after a swab of an alcohol wipe on the injection site and a quick pinch of the needle, recipients can proceed to the observation area. After 15 minutes ample time to schedule a second dose online recipients are free to leave or to schedule a second dose appointment with a volunteer. For more information on vaccinations in Virginia, visit the Virginia Department of Health's website or the Vaccine Appointment Management System (VAMS). For more information on the Blue Ridge Health District's vaccination process, visit their vaccination webpage or call the BRHD COVID-19 Hotline at 434-972-6261 (open Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). Page 9 Visit Stauntons Frontier Culture Museum Jessica Coyle, staff writer The Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton, Virginia, offers locals the chance to slip back in time and explore 17th and 18th century life through exhibits and demonstrations. Seemingly unaffected by the events of this past year, the museum has been open year round and is gearing up for another busy summer season. Being almost an entirely outdoor exhibition, COVID-19 guidelines at the museum are few, and the pandemic has had little to no effect on the museum as a business. Masks are required indoors, but the sheer space the museum occupies means visitors can go mask-less and not worry too much about social distancing. The visitors center hides a massive compound of different exhibits. Covered in greenery and pastures with livestock, the exhibits and animals sit along a loop of trail that visitors navigate with a museum map. Shuttles run from designated stops within the exhibit loop for convenience, and $25 golf cart rentals are even available for a speedier trip between the different sights. Employees man the authentically recreated homesteads, demonstrating common practices of the time and answering questions from the public. Despite the American frontier connotation, the museum is home to six different renditions of early life from cultures all over the world, from a Nigerian village to an Irish iron forge. Nature trails also split off from the main loop, allowing the public a chance to explore the rest of the grounds or find a quiet bench for a rest. Photography by Jessica Coyle This week, starting on April 24 was wool week at the museum and offered a glimpse into the process of shearing sheep and using raw materials; it also meant the debut of this season's lambs. Cows, pigs and goats populate the pastures around the grounds and play a large role in the recreation of life pre-industrialization. The German homestead featured a 18th century cottage made with natural materials and exposed beams. It was also home to one massive pig that had previously been napping in the sun. A trip to the Frontier Culture Museum can easily fill an entire day, so visitors are encouraged to bring blankets, chairs and snacks, as the grounds have plenty of space for picnicking out front and between exhibits. Snacks and drinks are available in the visitors center among gift shop items, and food trucks often occupy the parking lot for special events and occasions. Museum tickets are $12 for adults, $11.50 for seniors, $11 for students, and free for children, with guided tours on the hour every hour. Check out Stauntons hidden gem of a museum any day of the week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine. Page 10 First Live Performance in a Year at Blackfriars Jessica Coyle, staff writer After over a year of heavily regulated gatherings and the cancellation of almost all public events, things are beginning to look more normal. As vaccination rates climb and the weather gets warmer again, venues like the Blackfriars Playhouse in Staunton are opening back up just in time for summer. Their first performance since early April The famous bear scene of The Winters Tale. of last year, The Winter's Tale, Screenshot taken by Jessica Coyle took place Monday, April 26 at the Blackfriars Playhouse in front of a live and virtual audience. and the cast used the stage to interact with the In partnership with the Mary Baldwin audience on multiple occasions. The playhouse is University Shakespeare and Performance the only recreation of Shakespeares original Graduate Program, the Blackfriars Playhouse is Blackfriars Theater from the 13th century; with a home to most performances by the school. The two story stage and wooden rows of small padded playhouse is also unique as it houses the seats. Student actors would go through the American Shakespeare Center. Monday was the audience to the stage while playing instruments students first live performance since the start of and using props like swords and fake babies, they the pandemic, but guests still followed strict virus even sang one of the songs to the tune of Jolene, guidelines. All viewers were seated in groups, which the entire audience enjoyed. What stood out most surrounding the show distanced from each other, and wearing masks. The cast also wore masks for the performance. was the excitement of both the students and the The live romantic comedy seemed particularly audience after being deprived of in person events timely as crew members drew similarities for so long. The majority female cast later agreed between the 16 year gap in the play and the 13 in the Q&A that the production took a lot of effort month gap in their lives. The story of love, from everyone involved but was worth the time. jealousy and the eventual re-uniting of a broken Mondays performance was one of two and family hit close to home for the student actors as had a limited in-person audience while the play they're finally back together on-stage after a long was live-streamed to MBUs Facebook page. The hiatus. second performance of The Winters Tale will be Amber James, student director and class of open to the public on Tuesday April 27 as well as 2021, told the audience how the cast was the recording of the play being posted for supposed to put on an identical show a month viewers. before COVID-19 closures began. Explaining that Luckily, there will be plenty of other the show was the effort of returning original cast opportunities for entertainment and lots of events members, James referred to the play as a long taking place at the Blackfriars Playhouse this year lost production and thanked the audience in their Actors Summer Renaissance featuring profusely before the play began. the theaters own troupe of actors. Featured This has been a true labor of Love and sheer Shakespeare plays this year include Macbeth, persistence and we are honored to have you all Alls Well That Ends Well, and Henry V. Visitors here. can now enjoy Shakespearean classics in person The Winters Tale was brought to the next again, breathing new life into actors and students level by the famous venue, Blackfriars Playhouse, let down by the pandemic. Page 11 Carter Mountain is Ready for Summer Jessica Coyle, staff writer After nearly a year of canceling events, socially distancing and requiring tickets for entry, Carter Mountain and other Chiles Family Orchards have finally restarted regular business. During the height of the pandemic, Carter Mountain was vigilant about social distancing and health guidelines. Visits earlier this year were by ticketed slot only, and guests were required to stay within their fruit-picking time with their group, wearing a mask any time they got close to or faced someone else. Pets were kept from visiting the orchard during the pandemic, and the food options were limited due to staff cuts and quarantine guidelines, but Carter Mountain tried to maintain some kind of normalcy throughout the pandemic. The Bold Rock tap room was opened periodically through the last year but is now open every evening, with a new selection of Carter Mountain-made wine coming out later this year. Their Mountain Grill has their usual choice of savory comfort foods like fries and pulled-pork sandwiches and a new apple cider slushie all for usually under $10. However, to visit guests must continue distancing. The orchard is also restarting its Sunset Series, taking place every Thursday evening starting on May 7. Carter Mountain as well as its sister orchards, Chiles Orchard and Spring Valley Orchard, have said that they may continue doing ticketed events, especially when it comes to live music as the country slowly creeps out of quarantine. Ticketing shows means crowds can be relatively small and the orchard has more control over the exposure of their employees. Its also a means of extra revenue for businesses hit hard by the pandemic. Any visitors still weary can visit the socially distanced orchard or visit one of Carter Mountains pop-up locations like the one on Ivy Road or in the Seminole Sq. Farmers Market for fresh pies and cider. Carter Mountains online order/curbside pick up is also a great option. Customers can view products online and have them brought to their cars on arrival at the Orchard contact free. Visitors can find everything everybody loves about Carter Mountain from fresh produce to their famous apple cider donuts. The view from Carter Mountain. Photography by Jessica Coyle Page 12 IX Art Park Farmers Market now Open Photography by Danny Talbert Danny Talbert, staff writer For many years, Charlottesville has had the privilege of having a local farmers market. Located at the Water Street outdoor parking lot, the market became a local favorite each spring. Each week the farmers market would be packed to the brim with customers and vendors. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in spring 2020 the market had to be briefly shut down. After a short hiatus, the market switched locations to Pen Park and was changed to an order ahead and pick up system, which lasted the rest of the season. This year, the organization that runs the market, Market Central, moved the farmers market back near the downtown mall in IX park. Market Centrals goals, according to their website, are to support local farms, farmers markets, and entrepreneurs and connects them to the community to benefit our health, the environment, the local economy, and to promote social and cultural diversity, The Market and the organization survives off of donations that can be made on their website. The new location is behind Three Notchd Craft Kitchen & Brewery in IX Art Park. The market runs from 8 a.m to noon every Saturday this spring. When I went to the market, I knew I wanted to try as many things as possible. The market was a bit crowded, but none of the lines were too long of a wait. Everyone was also wearing masks and trying their best to social distance. The market offered food from all different types of backgrounds like local farm goods, sweets, coffee, and hand-crafted products. I decided to get a JBird dark roast coffee and a mini chocolate pie from Family Ties & Pies and more. Previously, I had never heard of either company, but I thought both the coffee and pie were a delicious combination. My brother purchased a pound of Appalachian yak from Natures Bridge Farm. We made burgers out of the meat for our first yak experience and it didnt disappoint. Most of the vendors accepted cards, and all of them accepted cash. SNAP and SNAP Match can also be used at certain vendors in the market; the list is updated weekly on their Facebook page. The farmers market is a great event that supports local farmers, vendors, and the community. Its great for all ages and the market has something for everyone. Go check it out for yourself, I couldnt recommend it enough. Where: IX Art Park 522 2nd St. SE, Charlottesville When: Saturdays 8 a.m. to Noon Website: https://www.marketcentral.org/markets Page 13 Explore Student Art with PVCC Ginger Hood, assistant editor Each semester, PVCC assembles a collection of student art to showcase the hard work and dedication of students taking various art classes. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, it has become a bit more complicated for students to take in-person art classes or have their works displayed in their usual gallery in the Dickinson building that is why PVCCs annual Student Art Exhibition 2021 is available online. This year, the students and faculty had the ongoing challenge of translating studio art classes Collage by Kaz Smith website showcases student art with five pages of clean, professional pictures. From ceramic cats, polygonal pigeons, and digitally edited lightsabers to illustrated haikus, pixel art, and painted portraits, the Student Art Exhibit is an impressively diverse collection. Each piece, made with a different medium, style, and artistic vision, gives insight into the various lives and minds of students throughout PVCC. Though showcasing art online presents unique challenges, it also has unique benefits. A virtual exhibition is accessible from ones own house no need to travel to campus to see it. For students Ceramic Cats by Daisy Dudley to a virtual format while also making special accommodations so that some classes could safely return to in-person teaching, says Fenella Belle, a fine art faculty member at PVCC, in the exhibitions introduction. Everyone has had to be flexible, understanding and patient. Yet, in spite of the Covid challenge, our students have persisted in making interesting and quality work, all while practicing their newly learned artistic skills. See for yourself the results of their grit, determination and talent in our second virtual student exhibition. Rather than guests perusing hallways full of picture frames, display cases, sculptures, and video displays, a virtual collection on PVCCs Miniature Teapot with Saucer by Claire Zilmer Page 14 with far away family members or limited transportation, being able to see their work displayed from the comfort of their own homes can be a blessing. We hope this virtual format allows you to share this exhibition far and wide with friends and family, said Belle. As PVCC mourns the death of Professor Beryl Solla, the Student Art Exhibition is a valuable continuation of her work and passion for art. Belle acknowledged this aspect of exhibition, urging virtual guests to keep tradition of art and chocolate alive. We are proud to highlight and celebrate Digital Illustration by Gail Sullivan the the the beautiful and indomitable creative spirit of our students and Beryl herself, said Belle. I highly recommend sitting down with your favorite piece of chocolate and feasting! Layer Mask by Jessica Hildebrand Page 15 UVA Womens Center is Committed to Cville Isiah Cowan, staff writer To honor Women's History Month, this article highlights the University of Virginias Maxine Platzer Lynn Womens Center and the resources they provide to the Charlottesville and UVA community. The Womens Center, founded in 1989 and named after Maxine Platzer Lynn (Curry 51), provides support and counseling services to all regardless of their identity. According to current Director, Dr. Abby Palko, the Womens Centers counseling services are their best known resource. We provide free, trauma-informed counseling for the UVA community We also have a year-long internship for undergraduate students; our interns learn how to develop programming that works for gender equity from an antiracist, intersectional feminist, social justice-oriented perspective, she said. Though affiliated with UVA, the Womens Center serves as an asset to the greater Charlottesville community as well. Palko said, In addition to our counseling services and experiential learning opportunities, we offer events and lectures during the academic year to highlight gender-based issues that impact our community. Many of these events, including our annual Community MLK Celebration speaker, are open to the public. As a cisgender man, I asked what it means for me to be an ally to women. Palko said, Being an ally to women means recognizing first, their humanity and second acknowledging and working to undo the ways that our culture harms or disadvantages them. Palko suggested three actionable steps men could take saying, A key step to being an effective ally is to work to understand [womens] reality in group settings, pay attention to how often youre talking and how much (or little) the women in the group are talking Palko also added, A third concrete action that men can take is to make a difference in all-male settings. When the Access Hollywood tape was released in the fall of 2016, the rhetoric was dismissed as locker room talk. When men insult and degrade women to each other, how do you react? Do you let it pass, go along with it, join in? Or do you offer a thats not cool? Men are often associated with their masculinity. However, not all forms of masculinity are healthy expressions. Healthy masculinity accepts and embraces the full spectrum of human emotion In a committed relationship and family, healthy masculinity means men are full active participants in their relationships. They dont leave all of the emotional labor to women in their life, nor do they deploy learned helplessness Healthy masculinity is confident in its choices when measured against their own values, not against cultural norms of what a real man is or does Healthy masculinity views women as people, not objects, Palko said. With March being Womens History Month, we are reminded of the countless contributions of women throughout history. With that in mind, I wanted to ask Director Palko about some of her favorite transformational leaders during the 20th century. She said, There are some women I think of immediately like Eleanor Roosevelt, Patsy Matsu Takemoto Mink, Sylvia Rivera, Shirley Chisholm, Sacheen Littlefeather, and Joan Baez who lived their lives refusing to follow what the gender norms of their moment would have dictated. While these womens legacies may live on, Palko added the importance of the unnamed women who fought for gender equity in their everyday lives. Im drawn to the women whose names well never know. For every woman who broke down a barrier, many others pushed against it. And those are the ones I really want us to think about, Palko said. The Maxine Platzer Womens center is located at 1400 University Ave. The main office phone is (434) 982-2361. For more information visit their website https://womenscenter.virginia.edu or email womenscenterservices@virginia.edu. Additionally, to find community resources, visit the Resource Navigator on the Womens Center website Page 16 Screenshot taken by Jessica Coyle Electrify Charlottesville Jessica Coyle, staff writer Charlottesville, like countless other cities across the country, is facing an energy crisis. An organization called the Community Climate Collaborative (C3) has partnered with the Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP) to help Charlottesville residents and businesses transform their energy usage. The joint program includes fundraising for non-incentivised upgrades and panel talks for anyone interested in learning about switching their energy to electric. The program offered a free event led by C3 executive director Susan Kruse on March 30, titled Electrification is the Future. The talk centered on switching home energy usage from gas or fossil fuels to electric appliances. Kruse was joined by several other professionals in the Charlottesville area, but the main leader of the meeting was John Semmelhack, owner of a local contractor specializing in energy efficient homeprojects called Think Little. Semmelhack began the event with a virtual tour of the work he had done to switch a clients home heating system, water system and cooking system to electric energy. He outlined the changes that needed to be made to the previous systems and how common inefficiency is. Most houses have a furnace that is three times bigger than what is needed for the size of the home, Semmelhack said. By switching to electric energy, he explained, homeowners and business owners would be saving more money and living more comfortably. Another main point of discussion was the motivation for switching to electric energy and what kinds of electric energy would be best to invest in. Semmelhack explained what he thought the best option would be in a limited environment. In the long run, switching your home appliances from gas to electric is more sustainable and more possible with limited resources than putting up solar panels or other options, he said. Semmelhack continued to uproot the full benefits of switching to electric energy which arent limited to saving money. Improved air quality, less audible noise and maintenance, as well as more consistent temperatures for heating and cooking are all reasons for switching. These changes are also safer for the environment and those living in the home. The only obstacle in switching to more sustainable energy is the lack of accessibility and affordable resources available for those willing to switch. The government does not subsidize or incentivize switching, and rebates for old systems are rare or nonexistent, making it hard for consumers to make the switch. But Semmelhack had this to say in response to questions of the real-world possibility of a full switch to an electrical grid, Virginias grid will be entirely electric by 2050: it is going to happen either way. Learn more about LEAP and C3 and their efforts to further renewable energy on their websites: theclimatecollaborative.org and leapva.org Page 17 Speaking Truth Through Fiction Jessica Coyle, staff writer Every March, people flock to Virginia for the Festival of the Book: a two week event that Publishers, authors, and editors all come together for to talk about the importance and impact of literature. Moderated by Courtney Maum, author and writing coach, The Art of the Short Story was presented by the festival this past weekend on March 22. Focusing on fiction, the guest speakers were two published authors whose material covers a range of subjects from cultural diversity to the effect of modern technology on our lives. One of the main points of this talk was that art, and literature in particular, helps us come together as people and bridges basic understanding. Te-Ping Chen, the author of Land of Big Numbers, was the first to read a sample from her short story collection. She spoke at length about using real-life as her inspiration for fiction and grounding her work in things she knows. She also brought up the discussion of cutting work down and getting to the grit of a story, and how sometimes the inspiration can be entirely different than the finished product. This echoed a similar point made by Maum, that although sometimes unfortunate, authors have to focus on what their readers will find interesting and meaningful. Chen said, What had led me to the story originally which was just really my feeling of fascination As soon as I read through again it was very clear, this has nothing to do with the story. Interestingly, the second guest, John Lanchester, had similar points of issue when writing, even with the dramatically different subject matter. The author of Reality and Other Stories, Lanchester puts emphasis on the idea of presence without presence and the thought that everything is somehow connected. Providing his example of how someone noticed all his work includes technology without him himself noticing. The idea being that themes and relations are drawn between things in literature and life without even trying. Lanchester spoke about the difficulty of re-reading and sometimes finding those inconsistencies that clash with the story he was trying to tell. Both authors ended up coming to relatively the same point: literature can aid understanding. And although a lot of thought has to be put into what is interesting for the targeted readers and what material will illustrate a point, creative and fictional writing is more than just a hobby. Maum, the days moderator captured the sentiment of the panel perfectly The power of art and literature is to connect people and to allow people to get to know others that they might not meet, and understand cultures they might not get a chance to know intimately. Screenshot taken by Jessica Coyle Page 18 Next in Sports Media: Chicagos Pierre Andresen Isiah Cowan, staff writer about your take but after a while and some experience its like man, being wrong or having a Father, Entrepreneur, recording artist, and bad take comes with the job. of the Through The Wire Podcast, Pierre Andresen has studied the game of basketball Andresen is making a name for himself in the his entire life. When you couple this with the fact content creation and sports media industries. that Andresen has a polished demeanor and strong Andresen, a Chicago native, possesses a deep public-speaking skills, naturally his talent affinity for the game of basketball. Now at the age translated well into the sports media industry. of 26, Andresen successfully parlayed a reverence Andresen can be seen on the Through The for the sport into a reputation as an up-and- Wire Podcast on a bi-weekly basis. The podcast is coming media talent. composed of Andresens Andresen is known for his cousin Kentrell Beachem nuanced sport-takes, relentless (@KOT4Q) and childhood entrepreneurial spirit, and friends Darrick Mills authentic not goin (@Dmills_hoh) and Mike personality. As a basketball Heard (@Mikebeenhere). savant, Andresen is on a Additionally, Pregame picks mission to inspire the next streams several times generation of basketball throughout the week. enthusiasts and online content Pierre Andresen is creators. affectionately known as Many people possess a BigStacksPorzingis, Mr. deep institutional knowledge Know It All, and The #1 of the sport of basketball. Knicks fan in the world. What sets Andresen apart from Though Andresen enjoys other media pundits is his todays brand of NBA willingness to be nobody other basketball, he is a major than himself. Andresens proponent of both the worst competitive spirit, energy, and shot in basketball the Photo courtesy of Pierre Andresen Chicago edge gives fans the long two-point mid-range authenticity that major media outlets often lack. jumper and the aesthetics from 2000's era NBA Viewers are drawn to what is considered real basketball. Lastly, Andresen loves 6-foot-5 to 6and that is how Andresen has made his name in foot-9 foot tall two-way scoring wings like an oversaturated media industry. Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Tracy Andresen co-hosts Bleacher Report's Pregame McGrady. He also enjoys watching flashy guards picks, House of Highlights' Through The Wire such as Allen Iverson, Baron Davis, Stephon Podcast, and participates as a guest-speaker on Marbury, and Nick Van-Exel. several other media entities. When asked if Pierre Andresen is a leader of a new wave of Andresen had tips for creators who have creators making a name for themselves and aspirations in media, Andresen said, If its your building a lane for others to exist in. Andresen passion, give it your all and dont look back said, With that kinda influence its only right way before I ever knew it [sports media] could be that we push the envelope as far as we can for the a career or make me money I gave it everything ones next in line after us. Plain and simple, out of pure love when the love is real and Andresen is here to stay, so we should get used to genuine, it finds you. seeing both his mug[shot] and hearing his name Andresen continued, When you have people for years to come. listening or watching you for the first time, Pierre Andresens content can be found on sometimes its easy to hold back on your real his YouTube and on Twitter @PeeWeeDaPlug. thoughts or opinions because you just want to For business inquiries email: play it safe or care what people are going to say PierreAndresen@gmail.com Page 19 How D3 Virginia Schools kept Athletes Safe Danny Talbert, staff writer Playing a college sport is already difficult for student-athletes, with many people comparing it to a full-time job. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit last year, thousands of these American studentathletes had their lives on pause until the NCAA and conferences came up with ways to get students back safely into sports. Most Division III conferences decided to postpone fall sports until spring or cancel the season and wait until fall 2021 to continue. The Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) decided to postpone the 2020 football season until this spring. The ODAC is made up of nine Division III private and public schools, with eight located throughout Virginia. To also reduce spread, the ODAC established strict COVID-19 restrictions since last fall. ODAC football players in the offseason were required to fill out daily health forms which were checked by staff to ensure no one playing had symptoms. Also, during workouts like lifting, players and coaches must socially distance, wear masks at all times while indoors, carry cleaning bottles between stations, and also bring their own water. When full contact started in the spring, each player and staff member had to be tested three times a week on top of all the other rules. If athletes showed any symptoms they would be tested and if positive they must enter a 10-day quarantine at which point they will retest. If negative the player is forced to sit out for a 7-day period that is followed by a physical to ensure that they are fit to return. The ODAC also included that if someone is close contact, like a roommate of the infected person, they must go into a 14-day quarantine and will be tested at the end for COVID. Playing in the spring was not the only thing different about this season the ODAC also shortened the schedule from a 10 game season to a four game in-conference season where the winners of each side played for the championship. This was meant to reduce the extra spread of COVID from team to team and to prevent spread Photography by Danny Talbert from conference to conference. To protect fans, the ODAC allowed up to 250 fans during games in February and was increased to 1000 in March and then to 3000 in April. I decided to go to the Hampden Sydney v Ferrum game on April 3, 2021, to see what other restrictions were in place to keep fans safe. The first thing I noticed when walking into the stadium was how spread out each group of people was. There were around 800 people, which from what I could tell is drastically different from the normal HSC environment. In comparison, in 2019 HSC averaged 6,949 fans per game, which were ranked first for average attendance in Division III football. Also, fans were required to wear masks inside the stadium when out of their seats and HSC offered hand sanitizing stations around the stadium seating. This was my first live sporting event since 2019 and at no point did I feel like I was too close to anyone, and didnt see anyone not wearing a mask. I am happy the ODAC was able to figure out a way to keep the season alive while keeping fans and players safe. Page 20 Tap in: WNBA Season is Approaching Isiah Cowan, staff writer Twenty-five years ago, former NBA Commissioner David Stern founded the WNBA on April 22, 1996, centered around the marketing campaign We Got Next. However, in the year 2021, it is safe to say the WNBA has got now. In celebration of the WNBAs 25th birthday, the W (as the sport is referred to by fans) will introduce a new basketball, logo, and new Nike uniforms in their launch of the new marketing campaign Count It. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Englebert told ESPN, We want to count all the accomplishments of the league, from a game perspective but also in a culture and society. Coming off momentum from the seasons 22 game Wubble (womens bubble) experience at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, the WNBA season will return to a more normalized travel schedule for the season. While in anticipation of the WNBAs opening day on May 14, fans of the W had WNBA free agency to look forward to. In free agency, there was an unprecedented volume of player movement. Most notably the headliner was future Hall-of-Famer Candice Parker. Parker chose to leave the Los Angeles Sparks in favor of her hometown team Chicago Sky. Marquee names such as Sue Bird (Seattle Storm), Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury), Seimone Augustus (Los Angeles Sparks), Chiney and Nneka Ogumike (Los Angeles Sparks), and Tina Charles (Washington Mystics) opted to stay put in their respective markets. In terms of the WNBAs draft, the league is full of new and exciting storylines. The Dallas Wings positioned themselves for a full-on youth movement by controlling one third of the first round (picks 1, 2, 5). With picks one and two, the Dallas Wings added to their Front Court of Satou Sabally by selecting the consensus number one pick prospect Charli Collier and Finlands first WNBA player in 6-foot 5-inch Awak Kuier. Picks three through five were Aari McDonald (Arizona, Atlanta Dream), Kysre Gondrezick (West Virginia University, Indiana Fever), and Chelsea Dungee (Arkansas, Dallas Wings). Samantha Hammer, an avid WNBA fan and former PVCC student, watched the draft with admiration for the new league members. She said, Performing at an elite college level while studying full-time and training for the WNBA is no easy feat. Im excited to see these young players grow and evolve during their time in the league. Looking ahead to the 2021 season, Breanna Stewart, Jewell Llyod, and Sue Bird look to propel the Seattle Storm to repeat as champions and overtake the Houston Comets and Minnesota Lynx in most titles won on their quest for championship number five. The Las Vegas Aces, last years runner-up, will attempt to avenge their finals loss to Seattle. The Aces bring back star power in the 2020 regular season MVP AJa Wilson alongside Liz Cambage and Kelsey Plum. Former MVP and 2020 DPOTY Candice Parker looks to propel the Chicago Sky from pretenders to contenders. The 2019 Champion Washington Mystics are poised to compete as their do-it-all wing Elena Delle Donne looks to re-join her squad after sitting out the 2020 season for precautionary health concerns (Lyme Disease). Lastly, the 2020 WNBA number one pick and New York Liberty Guard Sabrina Ionescu looks to prove that both the pre-draft hype and the Kobe Bryant co-sign is worth the price of admission. This year Ionescu will look to showcase her talents after suffering a grade-3 ankle-sprain that forced her to miss the majority of the 2020 WNBA season. With the WNBAs 25th season set to kick off, fans can dive into the womens game by purchasing WNBA league-pass for $4.99. Viewers receive access to every game on-demand as well as statistical analysis. Additionally, supporters who are interested in purchasing the Ws new apparel can tap-in at the WNBA Store. When asked about the new apparel lines, Hammer emphasized the Washington Mystics specifically, which honor racial, gender, and LGBTQ+ equality movements throughout history and includes the 19th Amendment etched into the fabric. The design of the new apparel as well as the important messages the line represent everything the WNBA has to offer innovation, equality, new beginnings. Ill be getting a jersey for sure, Hammer said. Page 21 New indoor Food Market opens in Cville Danny Talbert, staff writer guests first walk up from the parking lot, they are introduced to some outdoor patio seating and the In early 2021, Charlottesville welcomed a entrance to Starr Hill brewery. new indoor food market to the city. Located at Guests can enter from either these doors or 946 Grady Ave, the market calls the historic continue down the side of the building to the main Monticello Dairy building its home. entrance. Starr Hill has its own dining area and According to the Dairy Market website, the bar where customers are allowed to bring food history of the market dates back to the opening of from one of the other vendors. the Monticello Ice Cream Company in 1912. In The food court is connected to the brewery 1936 the company built the historic Monticello and is set up in a long hallway with counter Dairy building which quickly became a place for service restaurants on each side. At the end of the social gatherings. The same building has been row of food options, the building opens up to a used by many local businesses over the years, and large room with the Milkman Bar on one side and in 2017 Cunningham Quill Architects and Stony coffee and ice cream on the other. Point Development group purchased the building. I ordered a wrap for $10 from Dinos WoodSince then, they have renovated it to host local Fired Pizza & Rotisserie Chicken and brought it restaurants and breweries in a food court style. over to the seating area in Starr Hill. The wrap They also are currently building an apartment was huge and delicious, and the beer from Starr complex next to the market. In early 2021 the Hill was great! There were many options for me Dairy Market opened to the public offering 12 to choose among from pizza, sandwiches, and food vendors, one full-service restaurant, a fried chicken to ice cream and coffee. One thing I brewery, four retailers, and a bar. did notice is that there doesnt seem to be enough When I visited the Dairy Market, I first seating area available for when the place goes to noticed how surprisingly big the place is. When full capacity. A patron even told me We were hoping that there would be more room to just hang out. Which I agree with. Although it does feel like a lot in a relatively small area I really enjoyed checking out the market. It offers a unique dining experience to Charlottesville and they did a fantastic job keeping the history of the building alive. Address: 946 Grady Ave, Charlottesville, VA 22903 Hours: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday-Monday 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday (Vendors vary The historic Monticello Dairy building turned market. between these hours). Photography by Danny Talbert Page 22 A Taste of La Michoacana Taqueria Danny Talbert, staff writer Located above Merry Maids cleaning on E High, in what looks like an old white house, is a local culinary gem serving up delicious Mexican food. When customers first walk into La Michoacana Taqueria & Restaurant, they will immediately notice how small the indoor area is. Offering about eight indoor booths with some outdoor patio seating, the place can fill up quickly during rush hour. Thankfully, the restaurant is able to work around this issue by serving food quickly and by having the customers order at the counter, pick up their food, and also fill up drinks and sauces for themselves. La Michoacana serves a wide range of Mexican food like tacos, a variety of different platters, vegetarian options, and soups, all at a great price. Most of the meals range from $8-10, with the most expensive item on the menu being $13. I decided to order three Asada tacos and one Carnitas taco, all with homemade flour tortillas. Each taco is only $2.5 and offers you the option of homemade flour or corn tortillas and either Mexican Style or Super Style as a choice of toppings. I got the more basic Mexican-style taco, which is topped with cilantro and white onion. After you pick up your food from the side counter, guests are given the option of adding three different types of salsas, ranging from mild to very hot. One of my favorite things about this restaurant is its spiciest sauce. The homemade green salsa seems to be jalapeo based, which adds great flavor and a nice kick to tacos. but if you are not a fan of spicy food, I would stick to the more mild options. I also like how the homemade shells are thicker than most tortillas served at restaurants. The unique style of the shell does a great job holding everything together. The tacos were delicious with my favorite being the Asada. If you like tacos, check out La Michoacana Taqueria & Restaurant. I give the Tacos 9.3 out of 10 Address: 1138 E High St, Charlottesville, VA 22902 Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mon-Sat. Closed Sunday. Photography by Danny Talbert Page 23 Step back in time with Decades Arcade Danny Talbert, staff writer in free, and guests are able to stay as long as they please. They also offer two-hour private events In late April, I stepped back in time at for $300 and up to 50 people. Charlottesvilles Decades Arcade. Located near To keep customers safe, the arcade only Meade park and down the street from Beer Run is allows 50 people in the building at one time. This a building packed with all the pinball and arcade can cause a minor waitlist for up to 30 minutes for games someone could want. a group of five, according to their website. When Decades Arcade proudly offers over 30 I went there was no wait, but there were different pinball customers enjoying the machines built from the classic games wearing 50s to today. Each masks and socially machine has its own distancing. The arcade unique theme ranging also provides many from The Simpsons, Star hand sanitizer stations Wars, the Monopoly and has set up fans game, and many other throughout the flashy retro themes. My building to keep the air favorite thing about the in circulation. arcade is that they also The Arcade sells water offer plenty of eighties to and a variety of nineties arcade games to Champion beer but choose from. They have only offers snacks some of the most popular from vending and fun to play arcade machines. games, from the Pac-Man I really enjoyed games, Mortal Kombat, spending the day at Galaga, Donkey Kong, Decades Arcade, and I and many more. plan on going back Photography by Danny Talbert There were many shortly. It is a great different options to place for the family, a choose from, its easy to first date, or even to spend a whole day here. Decades Arcade is check out on your own; you will not be affordable at $10 per person, kids under four get disappointed! Page 24 Review: Operation Varsity Blues Danny Talbert, staff writer scandal, and even the Stanford sailing coach, John Vandemoer, who was charged with accepting If I know one thing to be true, its that Netflix bribes. This gave multiple sides to the story and audiences love true crime stories. Some of the also a nice visual representation of how Singer streaming services biggest hits are documentary- did it. I thought Matthew Modine did a fantastic style true crime stories like Making a Murderer, job playing the lead role of Singer. When the Tiger King, and Evil Genius. It has become such documentary switches to the actors it feels very a fan favorite that the category titled realistic, especially because the phone calls are Documentaries feels based on the mostly filled up transcripts from the with true crime FBI wiretaps. stories. In 2019 Another aspect when the American that Operation college admissions Varsity Blues hits bribery scandal on is that it tries to news broke, I knew point out the that it was only a problems with the matter of time modern-day higher before Netflix made educational system. a documentary The major issue about the felony Operation Varsity conspiracy. So as Blues mentions is soon as I saw that college is Operation Varsity becoming too much Blues this past of a business with month it came as no opportunities surprise. afforded to the The hour 40wealthy but not minute one-part available to anyone documentary does a else. fantastic job They also retelling the story of mentioned the William Singer and issues on how the American standardized testing college admissions holds too much scandal. Singer was weight in college Photo courtesy of Netflix the mastermind acceptance today. behind getting They say that this is wealthy families into any college of their not a fair measurement since it tends to favor rich choosing using what he called the side door and educated families. Being a current college between 2011 to 2019. The side door involved student, its nice to see a documentary pointing bribery, falsified SAT and ACT test scores, and out the issues that have been getting increasingly creating fictional athletic accomplishments to worse. It also doesnt feel like it takes anything gain scholarships. away from the story, but in fact, I think its My favorite aspect of the documentary is that important to mention when retelling the Varsity they switch between actors reenacting the parents, Blues scandal. kids, Singer, and others involved in the scandal. I really enjoyed this documentary and like Then the perspective will switch to top American how it was one long episode instead of the college tutors, students who felt impacted by the common multiple-episode style of Netflix. Page 25 Godzilla vs. Kong: Exactly What You Expect Maxwell Walpole, assistant editor feel underdeveloped, Kong, Godzilla, and even their mechanical foe Mechagodzilla are brimming On March 31, Legendary Pictures released the with personality. At first, Godzilla takes a more latest entry in their Monsterverse shared universe antagonistic role in the film, attacking humans Godzilla vs. Kong, starring Alexander Skarsgrd, and kaiju alike with relentless ferocity. He looks Millie Bobby Brown, Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree meaner, too; his ember-orange eyes smoldering Henry, and Demin with hate, his mouth Bichir. As the title locked in a spiteful suggests, the film pits snarl. In combat, he the fearsome reptilian moves with the kaiju Godzilla against confident swagger of the noble giant ape a prizefighter and King Kong. A strikes with the research team led by savagery and cunning scientist Nathan Lind of a crocodile. His (Skarsgrd) and Kong sudden change in attitude is expert Dr. Ilene Andrews (Hall) lead understandable. His Kong to his authority has been homeworld of hollow challenged, and he is earth to find a power not about to let that source for an slide. On the other experimental weapon hand, Kong is a much to defend against more animalistic Godzillas sudden, fighter, contrasting his mysterious attacks. usually gentle Meanwhile, disposition when interacting with conspiracy theorist Bernie Hayes (Henry) humans. Their mutual and rebellious teen enemy Mechagodzilla Madison Russell is a sadistic brawler, (Brown) attempt to brutally beating and uncover a conspiracy stomping his within the Apex opponents into Cybernetics submission. corporation. While a more Photo courtesy of Legendary Entertainment The sections of dramatic approach to Godzilla vs. Kong that giant monsters is focus on the human characters are mainly just more than valid, if a writer or director plays there to move the plot along. While it may be things too straight, they risk losing touch with the disappointing for some that most of the human inherent wonderful absurdity of kaiju movies. characters receive little focus or backstory, One of Godzilla vs. Kongs greatest strengths is ultimately most viewers (including me) are just that it wholeheartedly embraces the absurdity that there to see giant monsters batter each other makes kaiju movies so enjoyable, to delightful senseless. With a speedy and efficient plot with results. The movie is big, loud, and ridiculous, but little to no filler, it does not take long for the film most importantly, it is a whole lot of fun. to get to the action. Godzilla vs. Kong is currently streaming on The real heart of the film is, of course, the HBO Max. Alternatively, the film is also monsters. While many of the human characters available to watch in theaters. Page 26 Drake Releases new EP Scary Hours 2 Isiah Cowan, staff writer In the wake of Drakes much anticipated sixth studio album Certified Lover Boy Torontos finest blessed his cult-like following with the release of Scary Hours 2 EP on March 5, 2021. This project is the second installment of the Scary Hours series with the first debuting in 2018. The EP is composed of three songs titled Whats Next, Wants and Needs, and Lemon Pepper Freestyle. The project showcases guest vocal appearances by artist Quadron, Lil Baby and Rick Ross. The first song, Whats Next, debuted at the top of the US Billboard Hot 100 and functions as the lead-single of the EP. The chorus utilizes lines from an unreleased song, What a Time to be a Slime featuring Young Thug. Producers Maneesh and Supah Mario are the primary architects of the tracks sound. Sonically, the production on Whats Next is comparable to the sounds of Generation Xs favorite arcade games such as Dig Dug, Galaga, and Pacman mixed with a traditional trap melody. Over a playful trap melody, Drake keys his audience in on the challenges associated with accruing elite level financial security and fame. Song number two, Wants and Needs, is produced by Cardo, Dez Wright and Noah Shebib (widely known as 40). On the track, Drake and Lil Baby trade verses, rapping about the phenomena of practicing both balance and moderation in a life filled with wants and needs. Genius.com writes, Between women, money, inner-circles, religion, and more, both rappers have to balance the importance of many things in life. What drew the most attention from this song was the last few bars of his verse saying, Yeah, I probably should go link with Yeezy [Kanye West], I need me some Jesus But soon as I started confessin my sins, he wouldnt believe us. These lines sent the internet into a frenzy and launched public debate amidst Kanye West and Kim Kardashians public separation. While it is understandable that Drake grabbed headlines with seemingly veiled shots taken at artist Kanye West, many people felt that Lil Baby was the topperformer on this piece. Listening to Lil Babys performance was akin to reading your favorite authors novella as there was not one letter, word, or sentence wasted in getting his point across that he is a central figure in the rap game. His most notable bar, Im not a G.O.A.T. [Greatest of All Time] but I fit the description, put rap fans on notice that although Lil Baby is humbled enough not to anoint himself as the greatest, he is cognizant of the fact that his talent is unmatched. The last song of Scary Hours 2, Lemon Pepper Freestyle, is a nod to Rick Ross, a notable WingStop Franchisee and avid fan of the lemon-pepper flavor wing flavor. The track is produced by Austin Powerz, Fnz, Keanu Beats, and Boi-1da with guest vocals from Danish Duo Squadron and Miami area legend Rick Ross. The intro keys in strong feminine vocals from Avant R&B duo Quadron over a harp-filled, 808 drum trap-beat. During his first verse, Ross carefully recites lines detailing his high-end, luxurious lifestyle, while mentioning his growing wealth and multi-faceted financial interests. Throughout the songs second verse, Drake gives fans roughly four minutes of end-to-end rapping. For fans of traditional rap, this was the proverbial Drake fix they have been patiently waiting for: just raps and pure lyrical artistry. Drake starts his verse mentioning his rise from being dressed like Urkel as a youth to now out earning Kansas City Chiefs Patrick Mahomes ($477 Billion contract) by more than a couple hundred million. Verse two continues as Drake gives the listeners insight on his unique experience of fatherhood from the perspective of a public figure. He raps, Dropped him [Adonis Graham] off at school, big day for my lil man Teacher-parent meetings, wives get googly eyed, regardless of what they husbands do to provide asking if I know Beyonce and Nicki Minaj'' Flooded French Immersion [his sons school] with the secret service, its so obvious it defeats the purpose. From these lines, listeners can assume that Drakes presence is largely a distraction to both faculty and other parents, but this does not keep him [Drake] from fulfilling his duties as an active co-parent. Read the full Scary Hours 2 review on piedmontforum.com. Page 27 Classifieds Contact Us The Forum 501 College Dr. Charlottesville, VA 22902 twhyte@pvcc.edu www.piedmontforum.com The Forum offers classified space to the PVCC community free of charge. Please send announcements along with full name, email, and phone number to: twhyte@pvcc.edu. Interested ENG 121: in joining Intro to The Forum? Journalism Need to is now a fulfill a Civic The Forum Staff graduation Engagement (Listed alphabetically) requirement? Course! Journalism classes are getting an update! This upcoming Fall 2021 semester, English 121: Introduction to Journalism will be offered as a 12-week civic engagement course. Due to PVCCs new Civic Engagement Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), all students are now required to take at least one civic engagement course in order to graduate from PVCC. ENG 121 (course ID 18151) is a three-credit class with three lecture hours per week on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2-3:45 p.m.. It will be held in the Writing Center classroom on campus in the fall as PVCC returns to in-person education. As the Student Information System describes, [It] introduces students to all news media, especially news gathering and preparation for print. The Forum presents many opportunities to develop journalistic writing skills, learn how to conduct an interview, and become proficient in assembling a newspaper. Join us in keeping PVCC informed this fall! Check us out on social media @PVCCForum The Forum is a voice for all students. Accordingly, materials published in The Forum, including any opinions expressed, should not be interpreted as the position of the VCCS, Piedmont Virginia Community College, or any stakeholder thereof. The paper welcomes letters to the editor, guest columns, questions, photography or any other ideas or submissions one may have for the upcoming publications. Please contact twhyte@pvcc.edu with any questions. Assistant Editors Ginger Hood Max Walpole Staff Writers/Copyeditors Jude Bolick Isiah Cowan Jessica Coyle Ginger Hood Samuel Huff Chelsei Moore Zhaire Roberson Danny Talbert William Waugh Comic Artists Wren Bolick Lauren Cottrell Faculty Advisor Dr. Tamara Whyte  ...

... Read more at: Piedmontforum.com Piedmont Virginia Community College Spring 2021 Professor Jennifer Koster wins Outstanding Faculty Award Ginger Hood, assistant editor The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) Outstanding Faculty Award is an award given to faculty members who have a demonstrated record of superior accomplishments in teaching, research, knowledge integration, and public service, according to the SCHEV website. This year, there were 72 faculty members nominated; only 12 of those 72 were recipients. Among these recipients was Jennifer Koster, an English professor and the writing center coordinator at PVCC. PVCC salutes Jenny Koster on this tremendous accomplishment, said PVCC President Frank Friedman in an article about the award. Professor Koster is a talented, dedicated faculty member who is committed to providing Read a tribute to Beryl Solla, pgs. 12-13 opportunity for students. She goes the extra mile to help all students succeed. She epitomizes the quality of faculty that students encounter at PVCC. In addition to teaching and acting as coordinator of the Writing Center, Koster has been the coordinator of the Virginia chapter of the Southeastern Writing Center Association (SWCA) and the Virginia representative to the SWCA Board for the past four years. She also helped initiate Virginias first statewide tutor collaboration, TuColla-VA, in 2020. We call it TuColla it sounds like a music festival, said Koster. It was in October, and we invited tutors from all around the state to submit proposals we had representatives from 16 schools in Virginia, and I think 70 people signed up. It was a great week. See Koster on page 4 In This Issue English Professor and Writing Center Coordinator Jennifer Koster Photo courtesy of Jennifer Koster PVCC News -pgs. 1-9 SGA Update -pg. 3 Local Activities -pgs. 10-11 Beryl Solla Art at PVCC -pg. 10 VA History -pg. 16 Reviews Classifieds -pgs. 12-13 -pgs. 19-23 -pg. 24 DATES TO REMEMBER Editors Note Maxwell Walpole, assistant editor Exhibition: Barbara Shenefield * Feb. 5 to March 31, Virtual Deliberative Dialogue: A House Divided * March 24, noon to 1:30 p.m., Virtual Open registration for students March 26 Richmond Ballet Swan Lake ^ March 28 to April 14 Advocacy in the Capitol * March 31, noon to 1 p.m., Virtual SGA Game Night * April 2, 7 p.m., Virtual Smi people Guest Lecture * April 7, noon, Virtual SGA Drive-in * April 9, 8 p.m. Last day of classes May 3 Spring Semester final exams May 4 to May 10 Graduation May 14 *Free Event ^Student Vouchers Available When I started out at PVCC, the medium of journalism was not even on my radar. Ever since I was a child, I had a deep fascination with storytelling. But back then, my passion had solely lied with fiction. I paid attention to current events and had a keen interest in history, but it took enrolling in Journalism 1 for me to realize there was just as much potential for expertly crafted, impactful storytelling in real life events as there was in the realm of fiction. Frankly, I was not expecting to become as invested in the field of journalism as I am today. I rationalized enrolling in Journalism as a pragmatic decision. It would allow me to pursue an interesting career, and that would have to be enough. But as I attended each class session and completed the weekly assignments, I began to learn that journalism was not just a career path, but an art form all of its own. Journalism 1 was easily my favorite class that semester, and I was champing at the bit to learn more. That dogged determination got me where I am today, an assistant editor on PVCCs student newspaper, The Forum. It is a position I am honored to have the privilege to serve in, and I anticipate that even after my time as an editor has ended I will use the skills I developed while working on The Forum in my future career. Above all else, I hope that telling my story will inspire young and talented writers to enroll in a Journalism course and join the writing team of The Forum. I know that my time as a journalist has changed me in ways I never could have imagined and opened up a whole new world of possibilities for me. Page 2 Student Government Association News Page 3 Koster, continued from page 1 Of the 12 recipients of the Outstanding Faculty Award, Koster is the only recipient from a community college. Its nice to be recognized, particularly in a community college. We often get a little overlooked, Koster said. However, when it comes to personal recognition, Koster is more hesitant. I'm trying not to, but it feels funny to get [the award] because so many of my colleagues are such talented and deserving people. Its strangeIve struggled with the attention. Attention is not the only overwhelming factor of winning the SCHEV Outstanding Faculty Award a lot of work goes into providing examples and resources for review. The honor of being nominated comes with a lot of work, says Koster. You work with the president's office putting together a package, so it's quite a bit of work, actually. I found out a couple of weeks before the holiday, it was surprising its a big honor, she said. She continued with a chuckle, A lot of people kept calling me tireless, and I was like Im very tired! Its very tiring. Besides all the work of being nominated, Koster has also been kept busy with transitioning both her classes and the writing center online. I had thought I would spend the summer doing The Writing Centers English Conversation Circle in 2018 Photos courtesy of Jennifer Koster creative writing. But with getting the Writing Center and also getting teaching completely online, its been very consuming, Koster said. I was kind of in the groove, and then [the pandemic] came along. Among all this work, Koster still finds the time to encourage her students to use their voices. She cites her upbringing as part of her inspiration: My mother's family is Mexican; Mexican families are very close. They're very tight knit. We would spend a lot of time traveling to visit various family members, but I did not speak Spanish I was not raised speaking Spanish, though my mother was raised bilingual. That was a challenge I couldn't speak to my grandmother, who only spoke Spanish and who very much wanted to be a good grandmother. I was terrified of her most of my childhood because I couldn't speak to her, she said. Language, family that's something that comes up in my writing a lot, I think it's really just wanting people to be able to speak their experiences and I hate to say it, it sounds a little hokey but speak their truth, and be able to express themselves. To learn more about the 2021 SCHEV Outstanding Faculty Award and view the full list of winners, visit www.schev.edu/index/ institutional/outstanding-faculty-awards. Page 4 PVCC Scholars Receive Academic Awards Chelsei Moore, staff writer Breakfast held during the The 2020-2021 academic year just became a American bit more rewarding for three members of Phi Association of Theta Kappa. Yanir Haim, Trent Zakielarz and Community Gustavo Guevara were the most recent recipients Colleges Annual of academic achievement awards at PVCC. It Convention, said takes hard work and dedication to achieve a Bruce Robinson, degree from any institute, whether it is a Khi Theta Kappa community college or a four-year university. The advisor and students that show tremendous strength and associate professor determination in their everyday lives are members of Information of the All USA Academic Team led by the PTK Technology. organization. Unlike the Trent Zakielarz There are two awards that can come from Transfer Pathway being nominated for the All USA Academic Scholarship, the Team at PVCC: the Transfer Workforce Pathway Scholarship Pathway Scholarship and the (also known as the New Century Workforce Pathway Scholarship. Workforce Pathway Scholarship) Both of these scholarships are is awarded to one student per granted to students who show state each year. The individual genuine interest in their that receives this award would be academics, but in two slightly recognized as someone who has different ways. the most outstanding The Transfer Pathway performance as a workforceScholarship is granted to students bound student. who demonstrate excellent The $1,250 scholarship can be academic performance and used to complete an associates intellectual ability combined with degree, obtain a certificate, or leadership and service. purchase any trade-related tools These individuals would to enter the workforce. possess the tools necessary to Everyone can congratulate the Yanir Haim Photos Courtesy of Bruce extend their education beyond two Transfer Pathway Robinson the doors of the classroom to Scholarship recipients, Yanir Haim and Trent Zakielarz. benefit others in Congratulations are also in store for the society. Workforce Pathway Scholarship recipient, Twenty Gustavo Guevara. members of the Please join the Alpha Epsilon Tau chapters academic team are officers, members and advisors of Phi Theta named annually and Kappa here at PVCC in recognizing our three each will receive a outstanding nominees for the All-Virginia $5,000 scholarship, Academic Team for the 2020 2021 year, said totaling $100,000 in Robinson. awards. Led by PTK advisors Bruce Robinson and Kit In addition to Decker, these students will be recognized at an scholarships, team event in Richmond, Va. in the spring with the members are colleges president, vice president of instruction, presented at the and the chancellor of the Virginia Community Gustavo Guevara annual Presidents College System. Page 5 Rebecca Payton: VAACE Teacher of the Year Maxwell Walpole, assistant editor TJACE, said Payton. For Payton, the best part of her job is helping On Dec. 2, 2020, PVCC Career Coach her students to succeed. I love working with Rebecca Payton was awarded the Virginia individuals who are goal oriented and have a Association for Adult and Continuing Education passion to work towards those goals. Sometimes I (VAACE ) teacher of the year award, another can help them discover their passion and that is benchmark in a long and successful career. The exciting said Payton. The people who are most VAACE teacher of the year award is given to successful in their careers are very self-aware of only one adult education teacher from a pool of their strengths and weaknesses I encourage all educators from all across Virginia. According to my students to use self-reflection to become selfPayton, A career coach is someone who helps aware of their gifts and talents and how to best people determine a use them. career path that is a Paytons long tenure as good match to them by a career coach has had a using interest substantial effect on her inventories and view of the world. Many personality of the individuals I have assessments. The coach worked with are trying to will also help them map better themselves so they out a plan to reach their can earn better pay to career goal. support themselves and Prior to winning the their families. What I have award, Payton worked become acutely aware of is as a career coach for 13 that even the jobs that years. For the first three these individuals get after years of her career, training are not jobs that Payton served as a provide self-sufficiency. career coach with the said Payton. I have Jobs for West Virginia become aware of the Graduates program at systemic issues of income PikeView high school inequality. I look at a in Princeton, West world that tells the Photo courtesy of Rebecca Payton Virginia. I was called individuals I work with to a job specialist and I look at their wants vs. their worked with at risk youth. I assisted students with needs and budget appropriately. However, I think staying in school and creating a plan after this is a good lesson for those who are hoarding graduation I was with the JWVG program for 3 wealth in our country and globally and for the years until funding was cut, said Payton. leaders who develop our economic policies. It is For the next 10 years, Payton worked at the my hope that the essential workers of this Mercer County Academy of Adult Learning as a pandemic can now be seen as the vital member of the Strategic Planning with contributors to our communities that they are and Occupational Knowledge for Employment will be compensated appropriately for their Success program. Then, she and her husband efforts. moved to Charlottesville to be closer to their The TJACE program is dedicated to helping daughter. Through a series of job applications and adults earn a high school diploma or GED, transfers, Payton was transferred to the Thomas assisting speakers of other languages in Jefferson Adult & Career Education (TJACE) improving their english language skills, and center at PVCC. My years of experience in adult helping adults to find their ideal career path. You education in West Virginia combined with my can find more information about TJACE at the experience as a career coach made a great fit for PVCC website. Page 6 Professor Colum Leckey Reflects on his Career William Waugh, staff writer Colum Leckey, professor of history at PVCC, has always been passionate about the study of the past. From the responsibilities of a Civic Engagement course, the early days of being a professor, and the essence of world history, Leckeys teaching style has been anything but stagnant. Leckey considers himself to constantly be learning and questioning the world. Ive always been curious, Leckey said. As a self-proclaimed bookworm, Leckey has a natural inclination to the analysis of historical documents. I guess Ive always had a knack for history, he said, and then took a brief pause to reflect. Growing up, his father was always reading about history, and Leckey has no doubt that his passion was passed on to him. Leckey remembered his old history professors at the University of Virginia and the University of Pittsburgh who inspired him to teach. He especially admired their ability to frame a good discussion, he said. Having taught for over 22 years, Leckey still remembers the difficulties of starting out. The first years of teaching college were really, really hard for me, and I think they are for all teachers, Leckey said. The most difficult part is acclimating to your environment and developing your own approach and your own identity as a historian and as a teacher, and you dont know it yet, but you still dont have a style yet, Leckey said, laughing. When starting out, Leckey tried to emulate his professors to no avail. I tried to do what [my professors] did, and I found out, in a zig-zaggy kind of way, that I am not them, Leckey said. It took time for Leckey to find his own style, but he quickly became comfortable in his approach to lectures. One thing students quickly learn is that Leckey will call them out to include their perspectives in class discussions. I work hard to include all the students as much as possible in class, even if it means sometimes putting students on the spot. Kind of putting them on the hot seat and enduring long, uncomfortable silences, Leckey said. This can be difficult for new students to adapt to, but quickly becomes second nature once they are used to it. For myself, the idea was intimidating at first, but I ended up sharing opinions on topics in class where I never would have raised my hand traditionally. It began to feel like my input was wanted in the class discussions. Leckey acknowledges that there were days when he had just felt off or had a terrible lecture. In the first five to eight years, even early into Piedmont, I had some god-awful days, just horrible days. Nothing I did worked, and I still feel that way sometimes, but little did I know at the time, I was steadily improving and working out my own method of teaching: one that suited me, and one that suited my students as well, Leckey said. And Im still striving for it, he added. Leckey applies his same philosophy on learning to teaching; he is always improving and experimenting. As for Civic Engagement courses, a new program brought by the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) for community colleges statewide, history courses naturally lend themselves to this prospect. I really want students to understand the Enlightenment origins of the American political system, more than anything else. I think its really important for us to examine the intellectual, ideological, and cultural roots of our system, Leckey said. Leckey argues that understanding political origins of the United States is crucial to being civically engaged and educated. I think its really important for all students who are civically engaged to have some semblance of understanding about the Enlightenment origins of modern politics, Leckey said. Leckey particularly struggles with a dilemma as old as time: teaching the uninterested. The main obstacle is those who are [not interested in history] are in a pretty big majority, so you gotta make it interesting for them, or at least try to for 70 percent of the time, Leckey said. Read the full article online at piedmontforum.com. Page 7 Screenshot of Great Expectations program video PVCC Continues Great Expectations Program Jessica Coyle, staff writer Every year, 19 percent of children age out of the Virginia foster care system according to FosterVA. Since 2009, PVCCs Great Expectations program has provided an avenue for these students to continue their schooling or job training in order to achieve their goals and enjoy successful adulthood. Headed by Advisor LaTisha Jackson, the Great Expectations program (GREX), was built to help the youth in the foster care system in need of resources and support. In order to be eligible for the program, students must be between the ages of 13 and 24 years of age and have a current or past affiliation with the Virginia foster care system. The program accepts high school students, college-age students and students that may already be attending college. To apply for the program, students can signup for placement tests in order to decipher where they are academically. The program is made to help students utilize their current knowledge to start attending classes and learning again. With the Covid-19 Pandemic, most services for the GREX program are no longer available on campus. However, through the GREX program webpage students can access all the sign-up and scheduling info easily. In 2018 alone, over 200 students were projected to age out of the system and its subsequent educational support according to FosterVA. Participating in the GREX program provides students with access to financial support, career coaching and academic essentials like computers and books. The program also offers a sense of community for these students, with experienced advisors and incentives for participation. The program has a structure based on support, with regular meetings between advisors and students, as well as events and activities put together by the program. Students not in the GREX program can still get involved and help. As a PVCC program, GREX takes donations in many forms. The public can donate items for incentives like gift cards or concert tickets, or they can donate books, calculators and hand sanitizer. Students are encouraged to get involved and embrace the opportunities provided by the GREX program and it has proven successful in helping students find success. To learn more about the Great Expectations program, visit their PVCC webpage. https:// www.pvcc.edu/great-expectations-pvcc Page 8 PVCCs Memorial Garden gets a Makeover Ginger Hood, assistant editor At the north end of PVCCs main building, overlooking mountains and a winding road, there is a quiet garden. PVCCs Memorial Garden, to be exact. It has stood there for more than two decades, becoming almost an outdoor extension of the student lounge. When PVCC still had most classes on campus, it was not a rare sight to see students sitting in the garden socializing, doing homework, or enjoying the scenery of the garden and surrounding mountains. But do students know the story of PVCCs Memorial Garden? The garden was founded in 1999 by former Professor of Philosophy Marietta McCarty, who dedicated it to her grandmother, Plum. An email from Ben Copeland and David Lermann about the garden touched on McCartys relationship to it, For many years Marietta could be found out there with her students. They would prune while discussing lifes thorniest problems, weed while gravely examining life and death, spend time together on the mulched beds or perched on the gently curved stone walls. The garden was a peaceful respite from all the stress and deadlines of school. When McCarty retired from PVCC and The memorial garden before renovations began writing books on philosophy, the garden went mostly untended. It was not abandoned, but it became overgrown and weathered. Years of students populating the garden and exposure to the elements began to age the garden its metaphorical gray hairs began to show. But hope was not lost for the garden. McCarty returned to PVCC this fall and, with the help of The Garden Spots landscaping crew and an anonymous benefactor, breathed fresh air into the Memorial Garden. New plant life, seating, and stone walls have been introduced to the garden, and the fruits of this refurbishing will be apparent in the upcoming spring months. David Lerman and Ben Copeland concluded their email with an optimistic message: Marietta sends her love and offers this place for rejuvenation during these hard times and hopefully, hopefully, we can again use this lovely space to work The new and improved memorial garden with our students next Photos courtesy of David Lerman and Ben Copeland year. Page 9 Lets Roam Charlottesville: Adventure Awaits Zhaire Roberson, staff writer This semester, take the opportunity to roam the streets of Charlottesville with purpose and discover scattered secrets throughout the city. The Let's Roam team has worked hard to find hidden secrets in cities across the globe. Charlottesville is one of the chosen destinations for the Lets Roam Scavenger Hunt Adventure experience. Adventurers are split up into teams where they will walk together around the city. One member of the team can download the easy to use Lets Roam app for a route key and hints. The team members will work hand-in-hand to collect various items, execute actions, and solve riddles to complete challenges. The more challenges and riddles the team completes, the more points they earn. The team with the most points earns the highest ranking on the leadership board. The hunt takes about 2 hours to complete and up to 10 people can be on a team. The ticket is $11 per person. Tickets can be used from the day of purchase up to a year later. The scavenger hunt can be enjoyed by everyone, from family members and friends to a partner or co-workers. Reservations are not required and the scavenger hunt can be done during the day or at night. Throughout the hunt, participants will walk through Charlottesville Historic Downtown Mall, Court Square, the Mcguffey Art Center, and more. This scavenger hunt highlights Charlottesville's diversity and the town's historical aspect. Lets Roam Scavenger Hunts have received over 2,000 five star reviews since its establishment. To buy tickets visit www.LetsRoam.com. According to Let's Roam's website, participants are guaranteed to "learn about [their] city and each other on a one-of-a-kind adventure." The Let's Roam Scavenger hunt is fun, interactive, and competitive. The scavenger hunt is an opportunity for the people of Charlottesville to make deeper connections with their fellow adventurers by obtaining knowledge about their city's history together. Journaling as a New Form of Stress Relief Jessica Coyle, staff writer With the Covid-19 pandemic still limiting people and students, the website EventBrite is providing people with the opportunity to sign up for online events quickly and easily. The platform offers public and private events, classes and concerts with tickets available by register or purchase. One event offered by the website was Self Care Sundays, a live streamed workshop every Sunday, centered on different stressrelieving activities. This public workshop, offered by Loughborough University in England, was one of many student-led sessions related to different departments within their college. This particular session on Jan. 31 was about the art of journaling. The livestream started with student and host Yasmin Nwofor introducing herself and greeting new, as well as experienced writers while laying out her objectives for the workshop ahead. Nwofor began immediately with a writing exercise, asking everyone to take a few minutes and write about what journaling meant to them. She then explained how the practice of journaling can be useful, and how for her, it was a form of self-awareness. She said journaling aids in building that strength to maintain a positive internal dialogue. Nwofor went on to explain that being comfortable when writing, particularly in a personal setting, is what leads to discovery and peace of mind. She listed ways that a bit of writing every day can be helpful, whether it is morning or evening. Nwofor spent a large portion of time talking about how writing freely can help to ease anxiety. She described using a journal as a planner for her week, and taking time to work with selfaffirmations like I am, I can, and I will. As Nwofor put it, What you give attention to will expand its presence in your life...that can either be fear and worry and anxiety or it can be gratitude. Read the full article on piedmontforum.com. Page 10 Walking the Blue Ridge Tunnel Trail Danny Talbert, staff writer Since there are no lights in the tunnel the only Located 500 light comes from feet beneath each end, but that Rockfish Gap in light doesnt reach Nelson County, far. I recommend Virginia has bringing a opened a brandflashlight stronger new walking trail than a phone called the Blue flashlight. It is so Ridge Tunnel pitch black inside Trail. This isnt that the phone any ordinary trail, light is consumed but central by the darkness. If Virginias only you have never former train been inside a long tunnel converted tunnel, being into a trail. A 15inside might feel 20 minute walk odd at first from the parking because your eyes lot takes visitors wont be able to right up to the adjust without the nearly one-mile help of your light. long former train Thankfully, the tunnel. path is flat, and Built between also had no trash the years 1850 when I went and 1858, the through. Another tunnel was built thing that you mostly by a poor should bring is a Irish workforce jacket, even if its and slaves. The cool or temperate tunnel hasnt been weather the wind in use since the is directed into the 1940s and was tunnel and is donated to Nelson strong at times. county in 2007 by It is important Photography by Danny Talbert CSX to know that the Transportation to trail isnt a loop, construct this trail. It was finally opened to the so when you finish you go back through to get to public on Nov. 21, 2020. your car. I also recommend going during the On the trail to the tunnel, you will find many weekdays if possible because it does get busy and informational signs about the history of how it theres limited parking. There are port-a-potties was constructed. The trail is relatively flat and located at the trailhead. This is truly a unique, very well maintained with trash cans along the beautiful, and relativity easy hike for the family. footpath. The train tunnel itself is almost a mile Just remember to not leave trash and to be long, 16 feet wide, and 20 feet tall. Most of the respectful to the wildlife. walls are exposed rock with some parts having to Address: Blue Ridge Tunnel Trail, Afton, VA be bricked up to prevent debris from falling. 22920 Page 11 Professor Beryl Solla Tribute I remember helping Beryl set up for Let There Be Light. I remember Beryl's artistic flareher lively eccentric hair styles and flashy shirts. I remember her speaking up in staff meetings and faculty senate. I remember her warm personality and her dedication to her students. She will be missed by many. Wendi Dass Beryl had a special way of sharing her thoughts during faculty meetings. Always humorous, but no less serious, she cut through the bull-stuff and articulated what many of us were thinking (but may have been too shy to say). Beryl, you will be missed at these meetings and well beyond! Anne Allison I always felt wholly connected to Beryl. Although I was a health science faculty and she an art faculty, I looked up to her and saw her as a mentor in many ways. She was confident, spirited, and full of advice and kindness. She was one of the first faculty who warmly welcomed me to PVCC 11 years ago. She was always the first to give me a compliment or offer a warm smile that would make me feel at ease. A couple of my favorite traditions here at the college were lead by Beryl; 'Art and Chocolate' and 'Let There Be Margot stands among Beryls artwork Photo courtesy of Jeremy Taylor Photos courtesy of PVCC Marketing and Media Relations Light'. It was a privilege knowing her and to call her my colleague and friend. Now, in her memory, whenever I look at a piece of art I'm going to want a piece of chocolate, if for no other reason than to think of her with the same warmth that she always showed to me. She will be greatly missed. Nicole Winkler I am a professor at PVCC and Beryl was a dear friend and colleague for 12 years. I cannot share one specific memory because I have so many awesome ones with Beryl. The one thing that stands out to me is that she was always so wonderful to my daughter Margot. Margot even had her own nick name for Beryl Bear Bear. Since my wife and I have families that live far away, Beryl was always like an extra grandma figure to Margot. One thing I want to say here is that Beryl's love was infectious. Her care for her friends and loved ones was always so powerful. In her death I still feel her love and care. To quote the Christopher Nolan film Interstellar, Love is the one thing we're capable of perceiving... that transcends dimensions of time and space. I certainly feel this now. Beryl Solla's love certain transcends time and space and I still feel her presence. Jeremy Taylor Page 12 Beryl Solla Tribute continued Now the campus was formless and void, and drabness was over the surface of the deep basement. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the drabness. And God said, Let there be light, and Beryl said, Youre damn right, God, we need some color here!! And lo, she began splashing. And there was light. And color. And excitement. And movies. And hot chocolate with banana bread. And God saw that it was good, and He said: You rock, Beryl! There has been so much excitement in this place here below for so many years: red and blue and purple and orange and green and yellow bursting into our field of view. And now there is quite a tizzy in the Place upstairs: Previously dignified angels with slow, majestic steps are giddy with excitement and dancing the tango at the very thought of getting to shed their dull white robes and don some new robes that are bursting with color. We shant begrudge them their joy, although well still miss our Beryl. Patricia Jassmann During my first year at PVCC, I decided to go to Let There Be Light. By happenstance, Beryl and I noticed one another at opposite ends of a hallway in Dickinson. I knew who she was, but she did not know me. Not yet at least. She recognized me, but not as the recently hired sociology instructor. Instead, she mistook me for an artist. Beryl grabbed my wrist and started ushering me to the food station for artists. My meager protests went unnoticed, too much hustle and bustle for that. Minutes later, Beryl recognized her mistake. For me, the situation was too good to go waste and it became a joke between the two of us. For a long time after, I would often announce myself as The Artist whenever we crossed paths at meetings or events. She always responded by slinging barbs my way or jokingly threatening to beat me up; all the while, her smile poorly hiding her feigned outrage. As the years passed, I started assisting in the set-up for Let There Be Light. It was here that Beryl gave me the nickname of The Brute for my ability to handle many of the heavy props and exhibits. Anything heavy, call for me. One year, President Frank Friedman paid a visit to the set-up crew. Here belted out something to the effect of, Hey Frank! Did you know that Todd is a brute? He can lift almost anything. It should be mentioned that Beryl often gave people nicknames, usually it was unique between her and the other person. No one ever called The Brute, just Beryl. Beyond these stories and beyond similar ones that can be shared by colleagues and students, Beryl was a towering figure on campus. She spent fifteen years with us and accomplished what most people could not in forty. She spoke her mind and voiced her passion and compassion, always advocating for students, particularly those struggling academically or experiencing hardships. She will be missed, dearly. Todd Platts Art from the memorial gallery Solla World Art by Rose Guterbock Page 13 Art Classes in a Socially Distanced World Jessica Coyle, staff writer Clarkson explained that his class goes through fewer materials, and uses their massive kilns less Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, often with reduced class time and space. After the students everywhere have transitioned to almost tour, Clarkson set up outside on the studio patio to entirely online learning. The few classes that do take questions. The doors were open to let in the meet in person are hybrid classes and mostly fresh air blowing across the pond, with the view related to the arts. Tom Clarkson, professor of art, visible from the studio. teaches ceramics as a hybrid class on campus and Clarkson said for ceramics, a hands-on shared some thoughts about how his practices and approach is necessary. On the potential benefits, experiences have changed since the beginning of Clarkson said, Its like an extension of what we the pandemic. do. Clarkson began with an in-person tour of the Explaining that he tried to make his online pottery studio. He demonstrated the high firing school work an extension of what his students can temperature used to solidify clay and glaze in the do in class. He went on to say, every culture has kiln, even removing a block to show me the red a ceramic culture, and everybody in ceramics has hot ceramics inside. The heat of the kiln room their own vision. subsided as he walked through the finished works Clarkson encourages his students to research room. and take interest in ceramics that may be outside of class possibilities. Although they may not have the time or the resources to try everything, students can still explore ceramics outside the studio. Ceramics courses have experienced a vast drop in participation, with a regular semester totaling around 100 enrolled students, and the current semester having only 28. I think a lot of people are still worried about coming to campus, Clarkson said, But its still a class, and were still learning and doing our best. With only certain areas of the studio open for use, the class sizes are much smaller, but the class still makes their own glazes and has certain pottery wheels designated for students to work on. Clarkson says he still has students who come back to the best-kept secret at PVCC, with some taking his classes for years and continuing through the pandemic. Thanks to a scenic and virusfriendly location, the class is as PVCC Ceramics room with small kiln and view of the finished normal as possible. works room. Photography by Jessica Coyle Page 14 New Deal art Reimagined in Virtual Art Gallery Jessica Coyle, staff writer This month, PVCCs Visual Arts Department published a new visual arts gallery online. Featuring local artist Barbara Shenefield, the series of posters is reminiscent of Americas history yet relevant to life today. Shenefields exhibition is titled World Progress Association: the New Deal. Although the collection would usually be displayed on campus, the availability of the virtual gallery means the community can still enjoy the collection from home from now until March 31. Based in Charlottesville, Shenefields work is centered on local spots and iconic scenes. For this particular collection of posters, Shenefield drew inspiration from the depression-era art created during Roosevelts presidency. In her artist statement, she wrote, Rather than being protest posters, which have pointed and direct critical messages on them, my posters will be more in the spirit of the New Deal. With her art featuring thought provoking text and images related to modern life, Shenefield makes it known that her work is meant to acknowledge and bring attention to these subjects, it is not meant for protest. Her posters draw on existing works, but Shenefields interpretation is meant to represent the future of what society is capable of, and American possibility. The images are in vivid color and a familiar style, drawing on both previous and new designs to fit todays issues and crises. The name of the exhibition itself is a nod to Roosevelts New Deal. Shenefields WPA is meant to mirror that of the great depression. The WPA was the Works Progress Administration; providing work, pay and infrastructure as a way of boosting the economy. Shenefields version is a play on words as well as the old themes, with classic looking designs and values against a modern backdrop. She covers common causes, Art by Barbara Shenefield like livable wage, climate change and propaganda. Shenefields reimagined WPA posters honor the American way of life; American workers, natural resources and government. The posters are meant to repurpose those used in the 30s, but as Shenefield herself explains, the two sets of art are not that different, as American values havent changed. But Shenefields version of these WPA posters are meant to inspire American culture, and the continued importance of these natural and human resources. Take them as a call to action, she said. Page 15 The Continuing Legacy of Buck v. Bell Max Walpole, assistant editor On Feb. 18, the Virginia Festival of the Book and Encyclopedia Virginia came together to host a webinar focused on one of the most controversial aspects of Virginias history the forced sterilization of almost 8,000 people under a eugenics program that lasted until 1979. The panelists of this event were journalist Adam Cohen and author and historian Elizabeth Catte, both of whom have written books on the history of eugenics in Virginia. When the livestream started, Catte appeared first. She immediately established a welcoming atmosphere, sitting clad in a yellow sweater and wide-rimmed glasses in her cozy-looking home. I think that today, we would have more of an entry level discussion to these topics, because they can be intimidating, [and] very heavy, she said. After Catte finished introducing herself, Cohen spoke. He is a stocky man with a salt and pepper beard and thick-rimmed glasses. His room was comparatively more spartan, with just a chair and two lamps, but his committed interest in this subject was clearly evident. As the two authors explained, the decision that would lead to decades of involuntary sterilizations all started with a woman named Carrie Buck. In 1924, Carrie Buck was only 17 when she was sexually assaulted by the nephew of her adoptive mother. Later that year, Buck became pregnant, and her adoptive parents had her committed to the Virginia State Colony for Epileptics and Feeble-Minded because the circumstances of her pregnancy could have tarnished the reputation of the family. Carrie gets there just at the wrong time, explained Cohen, just when Virginia has passed a sterilization law, just when the head of the colony is looking for a test case. And because Carries mother is already there, and she already has a child who theyre able to say is mentally feeble theyre able to say oh look, shes part of a family pattern, so they set her up and she becomes the test case. Bucks selection as a test case had little to do with testing the medical procedure itself and more to do with testing its legality. The state of Virginia had recently enacted a eugenics law, and Albert Sidney Priddy, the superintendent of the Virginia State Colony for Epileptics and FeebleMinded, was eager to see if the law would endure the scrutiny of a court case. However, Buck V. Bell was far from an impartial case. The lawyer assigned to defend Buck, Irving Whitehead, was a supporter of the eugenics movement and a member of the board of the Virginia State Colony. The consensus among historians today is that Whitehead deliberately did the absolute minimum to defend Buck, in some instances even working against her to sabotage her case. A lot of legal scholars are pretty comfortable today calling Buck v. Bell a sham trial, said Catte. Her diagnosis of feeble-mindedness was also a sham. Buck was not only intelligent, but a gifted writer, as evidenced by the letters she wrote while interned in the colony. This was a way to medicalize a lot of pre-existing beliefs about people who were poor, non-white, disabled, and people who were immigrants, said Catte. But ultimately, Buck lost the case, and she was sterilized. Priddy did not live to see the outcome of Buck v. Bell, but his successor, John Bell, continued Priddys work with the added assurance that the law was on their side. From 1927 to 1979, 7,325 men and women were involuntarily sterilized, although some researchers approximate that the total number of victims may stretch as high as 8,300. But outside of Virginia, the incorporation of eugenics policies into law had far reaching consequences. In Europe, a particular group of political extremists were influenced by American eugenics policies: the Nazis. When asked to what extent American eugenics law had influenced the Nazis, Catte said, This is sort of like the simplified version of the chronology of eugenics, that American eugenics exists as a social movement in the 1910s, 20s and 30s, and then Nazi science comes along and pushes that knowledge into an even darker abyss. Eugenics also influenced Americas immigration policies. According to Cohen, [He] wasnt aware how much eugenics influenced american immigration law [such as] the Immigration Act of 1924, which cut off most immigration from Eastern Europe and all immigration from Asia and other places. Now the thing is, Cohen said, a decade Page 16 A screenshot of Elizabeth Catte during the webinar after this, Anne Franks father wrote a series of letters begging to get visas to bring his family to America. And they were turned down because of this 1924 law. So, of course, he ends up not being able to save his family, and Anne Frank dies in a concentration camp. [That] was when I realized that Anne Frank died in a concentration camp not only because the Nazis thought Jews were genetically inferior, [but] because the U.S. Congress did also. That was why they passed the law that prevented immigration from that part of the world. So the connections between America and the Nazis in that era were so much stronger than we realized. While the practice of eugenics is no longer as mainstream as it once was in America, the government has been slow to offer reparations to surviving victims. My own take, Catte said, which Ill mention briefly, is that possibly the supreme court is waiting for most of the victims of eugenic sterilization to die so that their status as victims is not elevated in states that have not, like Virginia, decided to pursue financial compensation for victims. As for Carrie Buck, while her sterilization prevented her from having another child, she went on to live a long life outside of the colony, marrying twice and working in an apple orchard with her second husband. One little detail that was for me so poignant, Cohen said, is they say that when she finally ends up in a retirement home, shes very popular and well liked, and people thought of her as someone who was very intelligent. She would get very excited in the morning when the daily newspaper came, and she loved doing the crossword puzzle I just thought, heres this woman who, shes not mentally defective, she seems to greet the day with a smile and attempt[s] to move forward despite what the state has done to her. And I think all in all, she persevered in a way that she should never have been made to persevere. If you are interested in learning more about this subject, you can view a recording of the livestream at the Virginia Festival of the Books website or purchase Pure America: Eugenics and the Making of Modern Virginia by Elizabeth Catte and Imbeciles: The Supreme Court, American Eugenics, and the Sterilization of Carrie Buck by Adam Cohen on Amazon or at other digital and physical retailers. This event was hosted by the 2021 Virginia Festival of the Book, a 13 day long event centered around the celebration of literature. The festival will be held virtually from March 13 to March 26. You can find out more information at the Virginia Festival of the Book website (VAbook.org). Page 17 PVCCs German Baking Club gets Cooking Ginger Hood, assistant editor attendees can bake along in their own kitchens. This months meeting, which lasted just When a person joins a Zoom meeting, it is under 2 hours, had a total of 9 attendees. The expected that they will be met by their peers in atmosphere was friendly and welcoming their bedrooms, living rooms, and other at-home questions and conversation were encouraged, and workspaces. It is not every day you join a meeting topics ranged from visiting Germany and past with a group of people in their kitchens some baking experiences to upcoming movies and plans quaint and homely, others tidy and professional after graduation. each kitchen a glimpse into its owners life. The club is open to inexperienced bakers as This semester, the German Baking Club well as those who do not want to bake along. It is welcomes members of any skill level to learn to a learning experience, even for the hosts. bake German Im making dishes at home in mistakes already their own Thats what kitchens. lifes about On Thursday, you gotta screw it Feb. 11, the up to learn. German Baking Though that's Club held their always easiest to second ever tell others than it meeting over is to believe Zoom. The recipe yourself, said of the month was Trainum. Lebkuchen, a The club plans gingerbread-like to meet again next dessert with a month lemon glaze that meetings are can be made as a announced cake or a cookie. through email, Most participants with recipes for chose to make that months cookies, though project included. Photo courtesy of Skylar Trainum each batch came They have also out different than expressed that the next. they are open to recipe suggestions, and are Some baked the dough in a flat sheet, some looking into including vegetarian and vegan hand-cut the dough into shapes, and some used substitutes with their recipes. shaped cookie cutters. As for future recipes, the club already has Personally, I recommend cat cookie cutters. some ideas. Those are my favorite, said German Baking Club I hope to make a black forest cake someday, President Skylar Trainum. said Trainum. Though that may be a little The German Baking Club, previously known ambitious. as just the German Club, only recently began For those interested in relaxing, socializing, holding meetings over Zoom. and learning more about German food and We were the German club, but no one was culture, the German Baking Club presents an really interested in that, so now were the german excellent opportunity. baking club, said Sadie Harper, the clubs vice For more information on the German Baking president. Club, email Club President Skylar Trainum at Virtual schooling helped to facilitate this shift grt2014@email.vccs.edu or Vice President Sadie of the clubs focus towards baking; this way, Harper at sh251202@email.vccs.edu. Page 18 Tacos Gomez: Authentic Mexican Street Food Isiah Cowan, staff writer even the latest UVA sports result often in several different languages. While the customers As we move into the new year, there is no wait in hopes for a good meal, the area outside of secret that many communities around the country the food-truck functions as an ecosystem for both are experiencing an unprecedented amount of diversity and a cultural exchange of conversation change. One thing that hasnt changed in the as customers from all walks of Charlottesville Charlottesville community is Tacos Gomezs share their stories. I found this to be a particularly glowing presence. comforting element of the Tacos Gomez This past weekend, I ordered from Tacos experience. Gomezs to-go service and came away from the This past weekend, I ordered the Four Tacos experience pleased with the quality of the deal and opted for Al Pastor (Pork), Chorizo customer service and (Beef), Carne Asada the freshness of the (Steak), and Lengua ingredients, as well (Cow Tongue) for a as the price. grand total of only The staff gave a $10. friendly greeting and In my opinion, took my order, the protein options which was ready were extremely lean within 6-8 minutes. and tender, the By the time I had sat tortillas were in my car and cooked to listened to one song perfection: both soft on Spotify, my order and crunchy, and was steaming and the fresh cut cilantro ready to go. & onions functioned Tacos Gomez to balance the sets itself apart from overall texture of the competition due the meal adding Photo courtesy of Miguel Gomez to their diverse range elements of both of food options and crunchiness and zest the authentic feel that is associated with street bite after bite. Both lime and sauce options were food. added, although the tacos were adequately The most common order, Four Tacos for $10, seasoned to begin with. is a great value for the price when you consider Overall, I give Tacos Gomez five stars. The the freshly made ingredients as well. Tacos Gomez restaurant is a thorough Tacos Gomez operates from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. interpretation of what real family-owned servicing the local Charlottesville community 7 authentic Mexican food is supposed to taste like. days a week. The food, which has always been good, is Tacos Gomez resides at the foothills of the guaranteed to be complimented by extraordinary Pantops district in Charlottesville (1348 Long customer service. St.). Unlike traditional restaurants, what makes What also makes Tacos Gomez extremely Tacos Gomezs unique is the fact that they unique is that while waiting on your order, it is operate out of a stationary food truck. Their street standard to reason a nod, smile, or engage in a -food identity is precisely what defines the unique friendly back-and-forth with a diverse set of experience of dining with Tacos Gomez. community members; all in this little crevice of a While customers await the arrival of their parking-lot East of Downtown Charlottesville. food, it is commonplace to witness back-and-forth You can contact Tacos Gomez by calling 434banter from a diverse cast of patrons where 953-5408, via Instagram (@tacos_gomez) or on discussions range from politics, to the weather, or Facebook.com Page 19 Shining a Light on Black Artists from Virginia Danny Talbert, staff writer For a small city, Charlottesville has many different places for art and music to be shared, from local to international artists. Some staples are The Jefferson Theater, IX Art Park, and the McGuffey Art Center, to name a few. The center, which is located just north of the downtown mall, has been in operation since 1975, making it one of the oldest artist-run art cooperatives. The current art exhibit is titled Water: The Agony and Ecstasy of the Black Experience, and is being shown until March 28, 2021. The purpose of the exhibit is to take viewers through a journey, using water as a metaphor of the Black experience. Water serves as a never-ending stream connecting all Black lives together, the McGuffey Art Center states. It showcases 25 Black artists from Virginia and includes paintings, illustrations, poems, and other art pieces. All of the work is for sale ranging from $20-$5000 with the art center only taking 10% commission and the rest going to the artist. One of my favorite pieces was done by Tronja Anglero, a beautiful and striking acrylic painting titled, I am the honored and the scorned, that stood out to me as soon as I saw it. vivid detail and colors used caused me to admire the artwork for a considerable amount of time. Angleros work has been showcased in many exhibitions throughout New York, Virginia, and the D.C. area, and is showing two pieces in this exhibit. If you cannot go in person, you can still check out the full exhibit at https:// www.mcguffeyartcenter.com. The website offers high-quality pictures of the art. Users also have the ability to support the artists by purchasing whichever pieces you like. The hours for the Mcguffey Art Center is open Wednesday through Sunday from 1-5 p.m. and the entry fee is free. Due to COVID-19 protocol, the center requires masks, socially distanced observation, and a maximum of only 10 visitors in the building at a time. Paul McCartney Innovates in McCartney III Max Walpole, assistant editor If Im being entirely honest, when I first queued up McCartney III, I did not know what to expect. I knew that in his heyday with The Beatles, McCartney did some spectacular work. And I knew that in recent years McCartney had released a series of solo albums, although I had not listened to them. I found myself wondering if, after all these years, could McCartney still produce good content? I had my doubts. In this case, Im very happy to be proven wrong. Of course, any album made by a former member of The Beatles is inevitably going to be compared to the extensive Beatles discography. Songs like Find My Way and Pretty Boys contain guitar rhythms and vocal melodies that will sound familiar to many Beatles fans, but these more conventional tracks are a minority on McCartney III. In lieu of revisiting the established sound of The Beatles, McCartney proves his musical versatility by updating his sound with slick, polished production and drawing on a variety of sources to create something wholly unique. The steady drum beat on the track Deep Deep Feeling is almost Phil Collins-esque. The dynamic and energetic track Slidin is reminiscent of the English post-punk revival band Arctic Monkeys. The mellow, acoustic guitar driven song The Kiss Of Venus is evocative of the solo work of fellow Beatles members John Lennon and George Harrison. What is most striking about this album is its tone. Amidst the chaos of 2020, McCartney III has a uniquely light and optimistic mood. It harkens back to the optimistic teen rock atmosphere of the 1960s that groups like The Beach Boys and The Beatles thrived in, but in more mature, refined ways. In that sense, while McCartney III is undeniably a fun slice of escapism, it still has enough substance and depth to feel like youre hearing something new. McCartney III is available for listening on Spotify, Apple Music, and other music streaming services. CD, vinyl and cassette editions are available to purchase on Amazon, other digital retailers, and retail stores. Page 20 Safety begins Streaming on Disney+ Danny Talbert, staff writer Safety is based on the true story of Clemson freshman Ray McElrathbe. During the 2006 season, Ray was forced to hide his brother in his room and take care of him due to his mother battling drug addiction. The inspiring story follows how he balanced football, school, and taking care of his little brother Fahmarr with the help of his teammates and friends. The first thing I noticed is that the gameplay in the movie is the most realistic TV or movie football Ive ever seen. The plays and hits look real, the summer camp, their team meetings, and their daily schedules all felt like what life would be like for a college football player. The coolest thing Disney did to make it feel realistic was film the game scenes during the halftime of the 2019 Clemson vs. Charlotte game in front of a packed Death Valley. My favorite thing about this scene is that they at times switch to the first-person view through the players eyes as they play, putting you right into the action. Another thing that stood out is how great the soundtrack is in Safety. Outkast; Whitney Houston; Earth, Wind & Fire; and Lauryn Hill are just some of the artists that make up one of Disneys best soundtracks since Guardians of the Galaxy. There are moments in the movie that remind you that it is from Disney. One being the feud between an upperclassman linebacker and Ray. It feels a little forced and clich, but its not the only thing they created to spice things up. The love interest in the movie is also fictional, but since it is a movie, that's forgivable. One thing that is annoying is that they credit a fictional character for writing an article that gets Rays story national attention, not the actual sports reporter Larry Williams of The Charleston Post and Courier newspaper. With those being my only complaints, I did really enjoy watching Safety. The movie is filled with many heartwarming and inspiring moments and is a must-watch for any football or Disney movie lover. I give it an 8.7/10 Photo courtesy of Disney+ Page 21 All Eyes are on Diana in Season 4 of The Crown Zhaire Roberson, staff writer Season Four of The Crown is filled with "soapy" drama and one climactic moment after another, receiving a score of 97% from Rotten Tomatoes. There are 10 episodes this season and each episode is about 52 minutes in length. This season takes a deep dive into the early days of Diana and Prince Charles relationship, and because a bright light is shone on Lady Diana's struggles with her eating disorder, the beginning of many episodes in season four display trigger warnings. The Crown is rated TVMA, meaning it is for mature audiences. Cast members and fan favorites from season three, Olivia Colman, Helena Bonham Carter, Josh O'Connor, Erin Doherty, and Tobias Menzies, all return and appear in season four. This season, viewers are introduced to two prominent female figures in Britain's history, Lady Diana Spencer and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. The two women are played by Emma Corrin and Gillian Anderson. Jackie K. Cooper, a top critic at Rotten Tomatoes, praised the seasons leading characters to the Huffington Post. "The saga continues with outstanding performances by the entire cast," he said, "but especially from Emma Corrin, Josh O'Conner and Gillian Anderson. The portrayals of Diana, Charles, and Thatcher by Corrin, O'Connor, and Anderson helped the series immensely. The storylines surrounding the life and political shortcomings of the Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher gave The Crown a new sense of direction. Corrin and O'Connor's depictions of their complex characters were spot on. The actors allowed the audience to see how the royal couple may have acted towards one another in their private time. From Charles's jealousy to Diana's loneliness and crumbling selfesteem the audience can understand why, nearly 25 years after their divorce, the couple's marriage came to an unsuspected and bitter halt. By adding the dynamic of Charles and Diana's ultimately tragic and tangled relationship to this season, the creators of the show created a more thrilling plot. This season the series had bingeworthy energy that it lacked in the previous season. Throughout season four, viewers will notice that the cast's performance overall was more unified and the storylines and plot were much more complex and thought out. Overall, this season of The Crown was full of drama and seemed incredibly realistic. Season four is unlike any other season to date, since it was not centered around Queen Elizabeth's marriage. The series in its entirety is worth watching, but if learning more about the early days of Queen Elizabeth's reign does not seem thrilling, then one could consider just watching seasons three and four since they are set in later periods (the 70s and 80s). Season Five is scheduled to air on Netflix between late 2021 and early 2022. Photo courtesy of Netflix Page 22 First Netflix Action Movie of 2021 Falls Short Jessica Coyle, staff writer At the beginning of 2021, the streaming platform Netflix said they would release at least one new movie per week on their platform. One of the first movies to be released was Outside the Wire, starring Anthony Mackie and Damson Idris. Outside the Wire takes place in Ukraine in the midst of war. Lieutenant Harp (Idris), a disgraced drone pilot, is forced to face his decisions after hes paired with Captain Leo (Mackie), a bioengineered soldier. The premise of the movie is that only Harp and one superior know that Leo is not human, while the two soldiers make their way through the gauntlet for information against their enemy. This enemy happens to be a Russian, named Koval, who wants the codes for nuclear weapons to destroy the U.S. The beginning of the movie started well. There was a lot of build up, and the moment when the main character, Harp, realizes who and what his captain is sets up suspense for the pair to see action. But the realities of being a robot, or bioengineered soldier, arent outlined that well. At multiple points in the movie Leo points to the fact that he feels more than humans do. He even goes as far as to claim that maybe humans dont feel enough. But its never shown exactly how different Leo is, placing emphasis on how hes supposed to be the same as a normal man. One thing I thought they did well was the portrayal of Captain Leo and his abilities. Hes persuasive and leads Harp and others into intense standoffs and dangerous situations. The plot thickens when Leo reveals to Harp that they werent randomly partnered and that Leo chose him specifically. After this is revealed, its easy to see Leos character twisting reality for Harp, making it hard for him to say no. I think the better than human aspect of Leos character was done well. It also played into his main function, inspiring peace and trust. Leo convinces Harp to go rogue and cut out his tracker, and they go after Koval and the codes themselves. This seems to clash with the storyline as it has already been presented. Harp was stoic and strong when it came to procedure. Having already been in trouble, Harp knew he could not fail or disobey orders again. Yet, with little effort, Leo convinces him to go along with him. This leads to the plot twist in the movie, which was not entirely unexpected, but it still made sense. Spoiler alert for anyone who wants to watch the movie themselves. After a failed attack on Koval, Leo reveals that the tracker pulled from his back was actually a fail-safe, keeping him from disobeying orders unless in extreme situations. Leo tricked Harp into giving him what he wanted: freedom. The two men fail to kill Koval but Leo manages to get the codes he needs. But Harp doesnt catch up fast enough mentally and is dumped, realizing Leo was working for Koval too late. With little explanation, its just accepted that Leo was working for the Russians the entire time and he too wants to destroy the U.S. with nuclear weapons. This is somewhat confusing considering how in depth Leos character goes while explaining why he looks the way he does and what his function is. Leo is supposed to inspire negotiation; his face is meant to be safe and trustworthy internationally. He is an American soldier and a peacemaker, but all of a sudden, its thrown out and hes now determined to takecontrol of the nuclear weapons himself. Harp eventually makes it back to command to tell his superiors, explaining that he is the reason they cant track or control Leo anymore. Overall, Outside the Wire was a fun watch, but it felt like they couldnt keep a theme. Emphasis was put on Captain Leos abilities, but we didnt get to see all that many of them, as the movie was focused on Harp. The deeper meaning behind the movie is also somewhat confusing and not well portrayed, as you dont really have a sense of whats going to happen until it happens. The bio-engineered character was a captivating concept and could have gone a lot further, but you dont get to see all that much of what Leo is actually doing or what he was doing before Harp. After finishing the film, it really came down to who could blow up who first. The ending note was meant to be thought provoking, and it was, just not so much in relation to the movie. But with a star-studded cast, this movie stands out. I also think they left room if they wanted to do another movie or show adaptation, Netflix could expand on a lot and I would watch it. Read the full, unabridged article on piedmontforum.com. Page 23 Classifieds Contact Us The Forum 501 College Dr. Charlottesville, VA 22902 twhyte@pvcc.edu www.piedmontforum.com The Forum offers classified space to the PVCC community free of charge. Please send announcements along with full name, email, and phone number to: twhyte@pvcc.edu. The Forum Staff (Listed alphabetically) Assistant Editors Ginger Hood Max Walpole Staff Writers/Copyeditors Jude Bolick Isiah Cowan Jessica Coyle Ginger Hood Samuel Huff Chelsei Moore Zhaire Roberson Danny Talbert William Waugh Comic Artists Wren Bolick Lauren Cottrell Faculty Advisor Dr. Tamara Whyte Check us out on social media @PVCCForum The Forum is a voice for all students. Accordingly, materials published in The Forum, including any opinions expressed, should not be interpreted as the position of the VCCS, Piedmont Virginia Community College, or any stakeholder thereof. The paper welcomes letters to the editor, guest columns, questions, photography or any other ideas or submissions one may have for the upcoming publications. Please contact twhyte@pvcc.edu with any questions.  ...

... Read more at: Piedmontforum.com Piedmont Virginia Community College March 2020 PVCC Students Lobby for G3 at Virginia General Assembly Ginger Hood, staff writer How many PVCC students know what the General Assembly is? At least ten do that is how many PVCC students attended the General Assembly with four faculty members on Jan. 29. The General Assembly is the Virginia state legislature, where bills get proposed, discussed, and voted on. So why exactly were PVCC students there? The students attended the General Assembly to lobby for the get skilled, get a job, give back initiative, or G3. G3 is a bill proposed by Governor Ralph Northam that would make community college tuition free for low and middle-income students going into high-demand fields or trades. This lobbying was not as straightforward as it may sound. According to Cody Clark, a PVCC student Looking for a job? Check out pages 8-9 who attended the event, there was a lot to be done. We were in the Pocahontas building for about two hours, Clark said. It was a mix of moving and standing. We had to go up and down floors several times and navigate across the building to get to peoples offices. Once we were there, it was a waiting game; the delegates and senators we went to meet had several other people and groups to meet with. Clark and his group of fellow students met with four different people: Delegate John McGuires aide, Senator Emmett Hangers aide, Senator Mark Peake, and Delegate John Avoli. As for the meetings themselves, Clark had good things to say. [It] wasnt what I expected, it felt very casual. It reminded me that they are normal See General Assembly on page 2 In This Issue PVCC students at General Assembly. Photo by Connie Jorgensen PVCC Events -pg. 2 SGA Update -pg. 3 Presentations Career Services -pgs. 8-9 Arts Trevor Noah Reviews Classifieds -pgs. 6-7 -pgs. 10-13 -pg. 15 -pgs. 19-23 -pg. 24 DATES TO REMEMBER Election Day March 3 Spring Break March 9-13 Richmond Ballet ^ March 11, 7:30 p.m., Dickinson Main Stage In Form: Shapes of Contemporary Improvisation * March 13, 6-8 p.m., Dickinson Maxwell Theatre Clothing Shop * March 16-25, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., M103 Workshop: Help! Im Trying and Still Failing * March 17, 12:30-1:30 p.m., Main Building M627 Voices of Adult Learners * March 19, 6 p.m., Dickinson Building Free Movie Friday: Jojo Rabbit * March 20, 7:30 p.m., Dickinson Main Stage Music Club Fundraiser Concert March 21, 7:30 p.m., Dickinson Main Stage Graphic Novels for All Ages * March 21, 6 p.m., Dickinson Building Workshop: Rocking Around the Clock * March 23, noon to 1 p.m., Main Building M627 Job Fair * March 25, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Main Building PTK Induction Ceremony * March 26, 4:30-6:30 p.m. PVCC Presents Ives Plus March 26-28, April 2-4, 7:30 p.m. And March 29 and April 5, 2:30 p.m. Dickinson Maxwell Theatre *Free Event ^Student Vouchers Available General Assembly cont. from page 1 people like everyone else Ive ever met . . . I felt each person my group spoke with was legitimately interested to hear our stories and listen to what we had to say, said Clark. These meetings are not only beneficial for students, but they are important for the politicians too. According to Connie Jorgensen, assistant professor of political science and one of the faculty members who accompanied the students, meeting with the senators and delegates can change the fate of bills like G3. Its one thing to read about community college but to talk to someone whos had that experience is different, Jorgensen said. Jorgensen also has concerns about students awareness of the General Assembly. Far too many students dont know what it is . . . These things affect you every day who do you think is deciding on tuition? Its not the feds, she said. PVCC is already among the best rated Virginia community colleges for voter turnout. The General Assembly is practically just as important as voting in terms of students livelihoods, and even more open to hearing what students have to say. The general assembly has a website at virginiageneralassembly.gov, where lists of senators and delegates and their contact information are available. Overall, for those interested in learning more about Virginia state politics, Jorgensen gave a lighthearted statement, You should take my political science class. Page 2 Student Government Association News Why I Love Being a Member of the SGA Ally Marckesano, vice president of SGA When I started my first semester at PVCC, I knew that I wanted my time here to be meaningful. Having moved from Wisconsin to Charlottesville the previous summer, I was still searching for ways to find belonging in my new city and was eager to take advantage of the student life opportunities that would allow me to meet new people and connect with our community upon returning to school. I joined the Student Government Association after a classmate encouraged me to run for the position of vice president, and I have loved being a part of this organization! From the first meeting I attended, I found the members of SGA to be passionate, intelligent, and deeply committed to improving PVCC and our surrounding community. My SGA colleagues have a variety of passions similar to and different from my own, and this club is unique in its ability to find great uses of each persons skills and strengthswhether it be through graphic design and marketing, volunteering with local nonprofits, connecting with other clubs on campus, or drafting proposals for administrative staff members. SGA has also given us opportunities to travel throughout Virginia: last fall we attended a Student Leadership Conference in Virginia Beach, where we learned from dozens of accomplished speakers and networked with hundreds of VCCS students from all over the state. I am particularly excited for our upcoming retreat this semester, where we will continue planning our spring events from the comfort of the Boars Head Inn. Perhaps most importantly, I have been lucky enough to develop great relationships during my time in SGA. My colleagues have joined me for yoga classes and spa days, helped me with my photography business, and studied with me for midterms. Sean and Kelly are great staff advisors and make us better leaders; I often stop by Seans office to ask for advice and always feel welcome. If you would like to join PVCCs Student Government Association, now is a great time to apply! We are always interviewing new candidates, and this semester we could use all the help we can get, as we have some big things planned for spring. Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to be particularly knowledgeable about government or politics to join SGA. All of our members have different skills, backgrounds, interests, and personalities. In fact, if you are passionate, hardworking, and team-oriented, then you will be a great addition to our organization! To apply for SGA, just go to PVCC.edu/ student-government-association and click SignUp online. To learn more about PVCCs Student Government Association, you can visit our website at pvcc.edu/student-governmentassociation. If you would like to be part of something meaningful at PVCC while strengthening your leadership skills and forming connections with students and staff members, join us! Page 3 Everything is Positive at the First Quadrant David Huynh, staff writer For students that struggle with math assignments, the First Quadrant Math Center located in room 253 of the PVCC main building is a resource students should take advantage of. The First Quadrant can help students with every subject of math, from Geometry and Algebra all the way to Calculus. That is not all though. The First Quadrant does not just help with basic math; it can also help students with Science, Computer Science, Accounting, Engineering, Nursing with dosage calculation, and Economics. The First Quadrant can help students with anything containing numbers from quantifying information to basic calculation skills. For students who just need a place to do homework, the First Quadrant is the perfect place to go. Being easily accessible to the public, students can simply walk in and complete their homework there. If a student struggles with completing their work or how to start it, there are people that provide their professional services to assist them. For students that want to make plans on going to the First Quadrant, they can always make an appointment at the front desk, or by calling the number (434-961-5284). When entering the First Quadrant, the first person that greets students is Byadumnia Buluma. He is the desk staff at the First Quadrant, and helps all students get situated. Students shouldnt be scared to come get help from the First Quadrant, as Byadumnia Buluma said, Its called the First Quadrant because everything is positive here. This is the motto that the First Quadrant runs by and should be a clear indication as to how accepting and helpful the great individuals at the First Quadrant are. The First Quadrant hours of operation are Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and on Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The First Quadrant Math Center. Photography by David Huynh Page 4 Use PVCCs Computers and Rent One, too The computer lab in M832. Photography by Jane Monaghan Jane Monaghan, staff writer Imagine this: alone at PVCC, without a computer and an assignment due on Canvas in two hours. Oh dear! How to make the deadline? Never fear. From the 800 Wing to the Bolick Center, from the Electronics lab to the Betty Sue Jessup Library, computers for student use are never far away. Moreover, PVCC can help with technical issues with Canvas and other MyPVCC services, and even lend you a laptop for the semester through the librarys G.O.A.L program. We log them in every morning, said Jacqueline Carrell, one of the circulation/access librarians at the Jessup Library. It is only a few steps past the doors of the library to the first row of computers, which are open to anyone with a MyPVCC username and password. But the library has an additional five computers available for public use; two in the last row of desks and three more standing up next to the librarys printer. These computers are the only ones on campus that do not need a MyPVCC login. Those are not all the library has to offer, however. The Betty Sue Jessup Library also has 60 laptops available for semester rentals, and students in need can apply online at pvcc.edu/ student-services/library, under G.O.A.L. Program. The library is not the only place students can go to connect to the internet. The Computer Lab in room M832, the Writing Center, the First Quadrant Math Center, and many other places, including the Bolick Student Center, have computers accessible to anyone with a MyPVCC login, although some are only for class or appointment use. The Computer Lab is open Monday to Thursday 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to noon. And if MyPVCC is not working right, the Computer Labs help desk, located in room M832, can assist students with all their PVCCrelated technological issues. Students can call the Help Desk at 434-961-5261 or come during lab hours. Page 5 Tension is in the air with Ukraine Crisis Photography by David Huynh David Huynh, staff writer On Feb. 19, 2020, PVCC held a seminar on the Ukraine Crisis within and the U.S-Russian relationship. This talk was run by Dr. Yuri Urbanovich, an associate professor of politics from UVA. Urbanovich got his M.A. in international relations at the University of Moscow, and his Ph.D in international relations from the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs. The event was run at the main building in the auditorium, room M229. About 50 people attended, including students, staff, and even visitors from the community. The event ran from noon to 1 p.m. Many students signed in on a signin sheet to receive extra credit. During the seminar, Urbanovich went over a few key points. He gave a short overview of the history of Ukraine, conflict in eastern Ukraine, annexation of Crimea, and lastly President Zelensky and his peace treaty. After Urbanovich went through the five points, he held a Q&A with the last five minutes of the seminar. While the seminar occurred, the air became tense and the severity of the issues that came to light. However, the seminar was not all bad. Urbanovich lightened the mood with light humor of the events happening by making remarks such as, NATO is not a club of housewives. Additional information was given, such as how Ukraine got its name, and how the U. S. sent medical support to Crimea to help Russian troops. Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, and how he attempted to make a peace treaty with the EU known as the European Association Agreement, but plans failed once NATO was brought into the picture. The event was educational while being entertaining. It shed light on the current topic of the Ukraine crisis that is not talked much about on current news channels due to the presidential election. It also gives another perspective on the situation itself. Page 6 PVCC Hosts Workshop on Self-Advocacy Jude Bolick, staff writer College can be overwhelming, and students will often run into a number of problems during their pursuit of a degree. Luckily, PVCC hosts a series of workshops meant to help students overcome a number of challenges they may face during their education by helping them develop the skills needed for academic success. In this particular event, Mastering Self-Advocacy: Be an Agent of Success, the subject focused on the art of standing up for yourself and seeking out help as needed. Todd Parks, the director of academic support systems, organized the event and gave information about the other upcoming events before the workshop began. It was located in the Writing Center Lab (M627) and took place from noon to 1 p.m. on Feb. 10. Free lunch was provided for the first twenty students to arrive at the event, which was pizza and cheese bread from Marcos. Five people came to the event, so there was plenty of food to go around. The speaker for the event was Susan Hannifan, the disability services counselor at PVCC. The lecture was informal and encouraged discussion throughout. Hannifan started the workshop by defining the term self-advocacy using a colorful example. Imagine you are a student in a wheelchair, Hannifan said. You arrive on your first day of class, and you see a huge flight of stairs leading up to your classroom. How do you react? She explained that there are several ways one might handle the situation. The student may just turn around and go home, or they may seek out someone for help finding a more accessible route to the class. The decision to not back down and seek out help as needed is what Hannifan defined as self-advocacy: speaking up for yourself and being an agent of your own success. She said that the student that gave up missed out on a number of things, like life experience and the information taught in the class they missed. The rest of the workshop focused on what it means to advocate for oneself, mostly focusing on asking for help when needed before it is too late. New is always uncomfortable, Hannifan said. She encouraged students to break free of the negative thoughts that often cloud a persons mind when dealing with unfamiliar territory and described the variety of resources available that would allow them to get the support they need. These resources include the students professor and that professors office hours, tutoring services like the First Quadrant Math Center and the Writing Center, and the librarians in the Betty Sue Jessup Library. Hannifan stressed that finding adequate time to study is crucial to college success. She explained that for every hour spent in the classroom, two hours of homework is required to retain the information and build on it. Hannifan also described the 24 hour rule, which says that if a student does not review material within 24 hours of receiving it, studies show they will lose 80 percent of it. Hannifan recommended students who struggle with finding this time to study visit an academic coach, who will help the student find a strategy for balancing school and personal life. She also said that the best way to learn is to completely overwhelm your senses with the information by hearing it, seeing it, and doing something physically along with it, be that exercising in the PVCC fitness room or taking notes on paper. At the end of the workshop, Hannifan said that if there was only one takeaway from the lecture, it would be to ask for help before it is too late and to utilize the resources available. Upcoming workshops: (all in Writing Center Classroom M627 Main Building) Procrastination: It's not what you think Sarah Surratt Tuesday, March 17, 2020 12:30-1:30 p.m. Rocking around the clock: 24 tips to better manage your time Meg Foster Monday, March 23, 2020 Noon to 1:00 p.m. Get up! Get movin'! Get involved! Shawn Anderson Tuesday, March 31, 2020 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Page 7 Career Services helps Students plan the Future Danny OConnor, staff writer PVCC offers their students guidance in choosing a career through their Career Services Program located in rooms M129 and M132. At the Career Services office, career counselors help students plan their future in many different ways. The first thing they will do is help their students explore different career paths by narrowing down their interests. In order to choose a future job, it is vital to figure out what in life you are passionate about. Once a career counselor gets to know your interests, personality, and skills, they will provide you with an area of study and a career possibility that they believe you can succeed in. After the career path has been chosen, Career Services provides their students with the advice and information needed to achieve their goals. Other than required college courses, career counselors will provide you with any online or printed material that further educates students about their chosen career. This allows students to be absolutely sure with their career choice before making their decision. Another thing offered by Career Services is internship and work-study opportunities. If they believe you could succeed in fields such as accounting, management, computer support, or criminal justice, they can set you up with a paid or unpaid internship within days. These internship and work-study programs both have informative web pages outlining everything you need to know about them, which can be found on Career Services page on the PVCC website. These programs allow students to get handson experience with a potential career and see up close what day to day life would be like. In a work-study program, students are able to work part-time at PVCC in their chosen field. This program allows students to make money and learn without even having to leave the school. For some of these programs, they also offer college credits towards your major. Even if you believe you do not belong in college anymore, a visit to the Career Services office could change your life path. Students can schedule an appointment with Career Services by emailing them at careers@pvcc.edu or calling them at 434-961-5336. LinkedIn is more than just a Social Network Jan Newcomb, staff writer The PVCC Career Services offers a photo booth to take a business photo to upload to a social network called LinkedIn, which offers students a chance to network with other people or even make a connection for future employment. Job & Internship Coordinator Gigi Davis said LinkedIn is a good way for students to connect with a future employer. She listed the advantages of using LinkedIn, such as obtaining the newest information, narrowing the list of employers and building a network of contacts and connections. Davis wants the students to be successful in finding a job and makes sure they have every advantage of obtaining employment. Davis also said a few of the students didnt think they be on LinkedIn because they werent professionals, but she stated, You are professionals. She also mentioned that the students need to sell their abilities and experiences, and what better way than networking on LinkedIn? Therefore, Davis set up Drop-In Job-Win/ LinkedIn Photo Booth to help any student find their future employer. When a student takes their photo with career services, they will also review the student's resume. Career Services holds this event from 4:306:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month in the Bolick Student Center. Even if the student decides not to take their photo to upload to LinkedIn, they can still make use of career services because they offer a variety of career and job search resources. Students can make an appointment with Andre Luck, career services manager or Gigi Davis, job & internship coordinator at careers@pvcc.edu or call 434-961-5336. They are committed to your success!aaa Page 8 Page 9 Kluge-Ruhe Hosts Special Storage Tour Jude Bolick, staff writer pigments, mixing them with eucalyptus sap or egg to make it adhesive to the bark. Using a brush The Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of made of human hair, the artists then set about UVA hosts a guided tour every Saturday from painting their bark, which could stretch up to 10:30-11:30 a.m., showing their wide collection fourteen feet, using distinctive patterns unique to of acrylic paintings and weaving, as well as a full their particular province or clan. wall mural done by a visiting artist. However, on Once a bark painting is complete, special effort must be put in to care for it properly, as there are many things that can damage the bark, causing it to swell or crack. The humidity must be kept consistent to avoid constant swelling and shrinking of the bark. Pest control must be rigid to protect the artwork from termites and other harmful bugs. Direct sunlight should be avoided, except for only brief moments, as it too can cause harm to the art. Aside from the sheets of bark, there were also totems and capsules of bark manipulated into a cylindrical shape. A bark painting of Aboriginal men building huts by covering frames with bark. These were Photography by Jane Monaghan traditionally used to hold the remains of Feb. 3, 2020, a special tour was offered, which the dead, but the ones in the collection were explored the storage area under the main exhibits. simply decorative. At the end of the tour, baskets This tour is only offered twice a year or on special not on display were shown, including one made request. Both the guided tour and the specialty there by visiting artists. The artists crafted the tour are free and open to the public. baskets using the same system they used in their Nicole Wade, the collections manager and own country, from handpicking the supplies to registrar for Kluge-Ruhe, was the tour guide for dying their own strands to weave with. the specialty tour, giving detailed descriptions of It was like watching magic happen, Wade each piece of art and extensive background said when describing the experience. information on how each was made. The normal exhibit is open to the public from Most of the art was done on sheets of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and eucalyptus bark, which are cut directly off the tree from 1-5 p.m. on Sunday. The exhibit is closed on and carefully dried to make it as flat as possible. Monday. It is located at 400 Worrell Drive in Then, the artists would grind up their own Charlottesville. Page 10 Explore Aboriginal Art with Kluge-Ruhes Tours Jane Monaghan, staff writer Finding art in Charlottesville is an easy task: it is on buildings, inside museums, and beside the roads. Finding an easily accessible tour of one of Charlottesvilles many collections is less straightforward. Hidden behind a rolling, scenic hillside, the KlugeRuhe Aboriginal Art Collection of UVA may not seem like an obvious first choice for a museum outing, but the gallerys weekly tours are the perfect primer in Aboriginal culture and art forms. The exterior of Kluge-Ruhe. Photo courtesy of Wren Bolick What can you do in Cville that you cant do anywhere else in the United States? Visit the only museum dedicated to Indigenous Australian art that they have a fixed collection of over 1,900 and culture! said Kluge-Ruhes website, adding works. Nicole Wade, the museums collection manager and registrar, put that number at 2,089 on Feb. 1, 2020, when she gave a tour of the museums storage. In the short, 30-minute introduction to Aboriginal art, Wade explained Aboriginal methods and customs, as well as what Kluge-Ruhe does to preserve their works. Starting with humidity and ending with a directory of every bug ever spotted in the building, Wade detailed the efforts of the museum to preserve the fragile, eucalyptus bark paintings, which can start to expand within a few minutes of an atmospheric change. The paintings, which range from small, tablet-sized pieces to huge, 10foot slabs of bark, are decorated with dots and crisscrossing patterns. In addition to Kluge-Ruhes current works, Wade said 32 more have been commissioned by the museum and are on their way from Australia. She also mentioned the other exhibitions of Aboriginal art in the United States, such as UVAs Fralin Museum of Art and an upcoming tour. Kluge-Ruhe is located at 400 Worrell Drive, a short way from Shadwells. The museum offers weekly tours every Saturday, starting at 10:30 Made of eucalyptus bark, these were used to hold a.m. and usually lasting about 45 minutes. It opens at 10 a.m. most days except Sunday (1 the remains of the dead. Photo courtesy of Wren Bolick p.m.) and Monday (closed). Page 11 Journey into your Imagination at IX Art Park Amy Laufer, staff writer IX Art Park does not look like a regular park or an art museum. In fact, it's a repurposed warehouse. The front of the building itself has a concrete patio that was formerly a loading dock. Currently, local artists use the space to create their artwork, which is on display for the public to view and enjoy. Therefore, instead of a loading dock and a warehouse, there are a series of photographs of wild animals hung above the Photography by Amy Laufer concrete patio, and the patio is a painted mosaic. The patio can be crowded with toddlers on riding toys with parents following close behind them, clutching their coffee mugs. The current art exhibit is The Looking Glass, a sensory journey into the imagination, according to the information card at the entrance of the exhibit. The exhibit is a series of five rooms with different moods. The beginning of the exhibit is behind a door marked cleaning closet. Inside, the mood immediately changes. The walls are covered with fake moss, paper mache, and repurposed materials, all to create forest animals. IX Art Park website describes the scene as, This enchanted forest. . . Guests are encouraged to use the swings and throne to further immerse themselves in the enchanted forest. There is a dark tunnel that runs adjacent to the rainforest exhibit. The tunnel is lit on the inside with flashing neon lights and draws guests into the next room. Here, visitors find several blacklights that highlight neon mazes that are drawn from ceiling to floor. There is one portable laser that you can use to follow the mazes to the finish line. The next center is a group of five life size human figures. As the figures move, different tones and sounds are created. The figures give way to an eccentric troll house inside a forest. The troll house is a great place for children to interact. The floor is padded and gives a feeling of walking through a forest. The small bed, the miniature kitchen utensils, and the little rocking chairs create a whimsical environment that even adults can enjoy. The final step is to walk through a light wall which can be manipulated by your arms and body. There are three comfortable chairs placed underneath crepe paper hung from the ceiling. The placement of the chairs allows guests to enjoy the light show on the wall. The exhibit is whimsical and guests can appreciate the vast amount of work that went into creating the space. The five rooms are quite different and create a sensory journey, the price is $15/ adult and $12/ child. The exhibit is available Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. at IX Art Park, 522 2nd St. SE. Page 12 Photography by Amy Laufer Page 13 Celebrate the Lunar New Year David Huynh, staff writer On Jan. 26, Vien-Giac temple held a Lunar New Year festival to celebrate the Year of the Rat. The festival included many events to ensure everyone could have fun. People from all backgrounds attended this festival. The event was completely free, including activities such as watching performers and singers to the lion dancers. One of the first events was a spiritual event of prayer. This event was not mandatory. During this event, people lit incense and prayed for good luck, prosperity, and wealth for the new year, or to give passing for those who have lost family members, before placing incense into the solid gold or stone pot. The food was free and completely vegetarian with some vegan friendly options. During the event, traditional Asian food was served. There was a self-serving station so attendees could get food in a buffet-style. The two dishes I tried were a vegetarian curry and vegetarian bom bo hue, which is a Vietnamese noodle dish. This was an Indian style curry, and the curry was sweeter than spicy. What it lacked in spice, it made up for with sweetness and richness, but that is not to say it did not have some heat to it. The spices were perfectly mild, and the perfect blend Photography by David Huynh Photography by David Huynh of seasonings which ensured that it was not too spicy to eat while also maintaining traditional curry spice. Bread was available to dip into the curry as a sort of edible utensil. The curry also had potatoes, vegan pork and tofu, which gave it an earthy taste. For people who wanted something spicy, the bom bo hue was a good choice for spicy lovers. Bom bo hue is a traditional Vietnamese noodle dish similar to pho, but the soup base is more spice concentrated to give it a rich flavor while packing intense heat as well. Typically, it would be served with beef, which is where the bo comes from, but since it was a vegetarian version of the dish, they used a meat substitute that was soy based, but it still had the rich, savory flavor the beef would have added. When ordering it, there was the option to add chilies to it to turn up the spice. The flavor ranged from a spicy umami flavor to a cooled earthy taste. The event ended with live music performances by temple regulars, where they sang traditional and festive Lunar New Year music based off of Vietnamese traditions while lion dancers came out to perform. Additionally, the head Buddhist monk came out and handed out red envelopes containing a dollar bill with a red stamp on it and a tangerine. This symbolizes a good and prosperous new year. Page 14 Trevor Noah: a Treat for Valentines Day Amy Laufer, staff writer Trevor Noahs Loud and Clear tour visited the John Paul Jones Arena on Friday, Feb. 14, Valentines Day. It was a fun way to spend Valentines Day, not romantic, but he was hilarious, according to event participant Leah Puryear. Trevor Noah is the comedian talk show host of The Daily Show series on Comedy Central. The show focuses on current events with Trevor Noah giving comedic commentaries. According to the Comedy Central website, Trevor Noah and The World's Fakest News Team tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and pop culture. The live show did not disappoint; it was a fun night listening to current events through the lens of Noah. He began the set by joking about taking photographs with our phones everywhere we go. We dont really print out the photos, and we fill up the storage of our phones with pictures and then we delete them, said Noah. He moved on to discuss emojis and evolution. He suggested that maybe the hieroglyphics are emojis and they actually represent an advanced culture. He also comments that we may be evolving backwards. Certainly when we drop our phones, we are willing to do whatever it takes to find it, namely walking on all fours. Noah is originally from South Africa, and he often discusses politics with that background and experience in mind. He jokes about the current president being a bit of a show boat and reminds everyone that some countries in the world have similar style leaders. He eventually proposed that the US government is like an airplane and the president is the captain of the airplane. All the passengers really listen when the captain is speaking, and that is why it is important to have a captain that is articulate. He reminds us that we have had different pilots in the past and they all steer the plane in different directions. He closed out the show by reminding everyone in attendance to vote in every election. He also said to remind our family and friends to do the same. Being a South African of African descent, he said, It is very precious to have the right to vote, and when you lose it, it is very difficult if not impossible to get it back. He said, All kidding aside, vote! Trevor Noah Loud and Clear Tour at John Paul Jones Arena. Photo courtesy of Trisha Fuentes Page 15 Creamy Acoustic Goodness at Cville Coffee Jane Monaghan, staff writer On Saturday, Feb. 8, anyone who stepped past the entrance of Cville Coffee and Wine from 7-9 p.m. could join the small crowd for a night of music and drink. On a simple stage, with a vintage standing microphone, Shawn Kaup and Gordon Delaney performed such classics as Fly Me To The Moon and Aint That A Kick In The Head, all arranged for Delaneys 7string guitar. With other people, it was OK, but with him, were exponentially better together, Delaney said when talking about how the duo came to be. Co-workers at Virginia Credit Union, the two discovered their common interest in music and have played Gordon Delaney playing his 7-string guitar. Photography by Jane Monaghan Shawn Kaup preforming on stage. Photography by Jane Monaghan various shows, including a work banquet of 600 people. The roughly 30-person crowd at Cville Coffee was probably much more relaxed, but the combination of Kaups smooth vocals and Delaneys talented guitar made for the perfect evening, not to mention date night. In between romantic tunes, Kaup and Delaney shared stories about the songs and occasionally called on the audience to set the tempo by clapping in time. With tables and chairs set up in the caf interior, dark except for the stage, the atmosphere was relaxed but sophisticated. Outside the sitting area, people could order wine, coffee, and sandwiches from the front counter. Kaup and Delaney charged $7 for the event, which ran for two hours and covered arrangements of jazz, swing, and pop tunes, from the upbeat to the calming. Delaney, who performed several guitar solos, had this to say about his career path: I was a jazz major, which is why I have a day job, Delaney joked, eliciting laughter from the audience. Page 16 One Mic Stand Welcomes Spoken Word Artists Ginger Hood, staff writer PVCCs One Mic Stand only happens twice a semester open mic nights can be hard to execute. The attendance all depends on the weather, the season, even other events in the area can affect how many people show up. With this unpredictable nature, open mic nights become somewhat of a unique experience. When you step inside the One Mic Stand and slip past the stage to your seat, you have no idea what exactly you will see that night. The One Mic Stand was held on Feb. 13, tucked away in PVCCs Maxwell Theater in the Dickinson building. There was a variety of entertainment, from poetry recited in German to traditional Irish singing. Not all performances were elaborate there were those reading poetry from their phones and those who shared personal stories with the small audience off sheets of paper but each performance was unique and almost intimate in its own special way. The house manager, Patricia Jassmann, helped performers sign up and eased the tension long before the show started. She spoke of past open mic nights fondly, recalling shows that date back to 2016 with a teasing tone. Sometimes its good sometimes its like a church sermon, Jassmann said. Occasionally, they make me glad Im on the other side of the door. The One Mic Stand goes from 7-8:30 p.m. most times almost long enough for the pulpit, but the variety of the performances keeps things interesting. Late entry is strongly discouraged the entrance to the theater is behind the small stage set up with a stool, a microphone, and a lectern. The seating is close to the stage, four rows set up on risers getting subtly higher in the back of the room. No matter where you sit you are close to the action, whether it be script reading or storytelling. Because of these factors, entering the room Photography by Jake DeLaurier can become a performance in itself. However, audience members are encouraged to participate and bring their own stories, poems, songs, or anecdotes to the stage just preferably approaching from the right side of the room. With intimate seating and open invitations for the audience to share their own performances, the One Mic Stand gives off a welcoming air. With this welcoming tone to the proceedings and a variety of entertainment, the One Mic Stand is an event to watch the PVCC calendar for the next one is scheduled for April 9. Jassmann concluded with a short summary of the atmosphere attendees can expect: We dont allow rotten tomatoes. Page 17 UVA Basketball beats No. 5 Florida State Danny OConnor, staff writer On Tuesday, Jan. 28, the Virginia Cavaliers pulled off their biggest win of the season by beating the No. 5 rated Florida State Seminoles, 61-56. In this action-packed game, Virginia players Mamadi Diakite and Kihei Clark led the way combining for 34 points, while Florida State star freshman Devin Vassell was held to 17 points and 6 rebounds. Despite being an unranked team in their postchampionship season, John Paul Jones Arena (JPJ) was at full capacity for this season-saving victory. After losing to three other unranked opponents in the last month, UVA proved many critics wrong with a win over a team in the top five in the country. To wrap up this victory, head coach Tony Bennett said in his press conference, I think weve established how we have to play. We just need to move the needle in all facets. It was a good step, but theres miles to go before we sleep, so to speak. Without the guidance of players such as Kyle Guy, Ty Jerome, and DeAndre Hunter, UVA basketball has lost its overall team chemistry. But unlike many other sport programs undergoing a disappointing season, Cavalier fans still passionately support their team to the very end. As a spectator at the Tuesday night game, I was impressed by the dedication shown by Hoos fans in attendance. In a game with the season and bragging rights on the line, JPJ remained loud from start to finish. It is good to know that even during trying times, the city of Charlottesville never loses its edge. If you live in the Charlottesville area and have not been to a home basketball game at JPJ, I would highly recommend the experience to everyone. Basketball is a sport played worldwide, and Charlottesville has the privilege to live near one of the best-coached teams in the country. The environment created by Tony Bennett has undoubtedly made UVA basketball the face of Charlottesville for many years to come. John Paul Jones Arena at the start of the game. Photography by Danny OConnor Page 18 Made in Asia offers a Delicious Variety of Food Jude Bolick, staff writer It can be dangerous to go grocery shopping while hungry. A growling stomach can lead to a full cart of groceries when a jug of milk was the only thing on the list. Luckily, theres a restaurant at Zion Crossroads that is perfect to stop at before a shopping trip, or just to satisfy a craving for some good Asian food. Made in Asia is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. They serve lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. I stopped by on a Saturday with my sister and father before we went grocery shopping, arriving just as it was opening. As we pushed the double doors open, the faint smell of sweet and spicy sauce filled our noses. We got a booth immediately after entering, and a small plate of pickled cucumbers was provided shortly after. My sister and I ordered water, which tasted like tap water, and my father ordered a Bud Light draft ($3.50). Other drinks offered are various sodas and a bar with mixed drinks made on the spot, including sake, which is a Japanese rice wine. After the server brought back our drinks, we had already gone over the lunch menu and decided what we wanted to order. I got the Pad See Ew with Tofu, my sister got the Pad Thai with Tofu, and my father got the Thai Red Curry Chicken with rice, which he substituted with Tofu with no problems. Each dish cost $8.25 each and came with an egg roll or wonton or egg drop soup. Chopsticks are available upon request. My father also ordered Tom Yum Soup ($4.75). During dinner hours, the prices are higher and it tends to get more crowded, so I always try to come during lunch. We did not have to wait long before food came, which was hot out of the kitchen. We all Photography by Jude Bolick tried each others dishes, enjoying the variety. Mine was sweet and filling, my sisters was a bit sour with a nutty taste to it and my fathers was hearty and somewhat spicy. While we ate, the radio played a wide variety of music, from late eighties to modern. I knew the words to all the ones that came on, making it difficult to resist the urge to sing along. After we had finished, we got a box for the leftovers and the check, which came with a fortune cookie for each of us. The total price was $36.07 for the three of us before tip, and everyone was full and satisfied. Having eaten a good meal that left us with a happy full stomach feeling, we paid and left to get our shopping done with renewed energy. I knew later that day I would enjoy having the leftovers we brought home, too. Everything always reheats really well, tasting just like it did when you first had it. With such a wide variety of food, such as noodles, fried rice, and sweet and sour chicken with vegetables, Made in Asia is sure to have what you are looking for, and for a reasonable price. It is located at 39 Market St., Zion Crossroads. Page 19 The Mill Room Review: Elegant and Delicious Danny OConnor, staff writer Located at Boars Head Resort in Charlottesville, the Mill Room lives up to its outstanding reputation. After undergoing major renovations in 2018, the Mill Room has quickly become one of the most visited attractions at the resort. While it is most popular during its 5-10 p.m. dinner time, the restaurant also offers 7-10:30 a.m. breakfast and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. lunch. The first thing that jumped out to me upon arrival were the luxurious table sets and seating options, as well as the upgraded bar and outdoor dining areas. As we were seated, the waitress greeted us instantly and gave us water and bread. One of my favorite things about the restaurant was the diversity of the staff. Many members of the wait staff originate from countries in South America, Africa, and Europe. However, I found the menu to be a little disappointing: there were Lobster pot pie Photography by Danny OConnor Photography by Danny OConnor only 12 entree options and three appetizer options. For my entree, I ordered the lobster pot pie, one of the most popular dishes served by the Mill Room. This dish combines buttery chunks of lobster with sweet peas, potato, corn, and garlic. When it arrived at the table, it was piping hot and looked much more like mac and cheese than a pot pie. Ultimately, the lobster pot pie lived up to its steep $22 price. The sweet taste of lobster combined with fresh peas and potatoes was everything that I hoped it would be. The only thing that disappointed me about the pot pie was that it stayed flaming hot throughout the entire meal and that it was soupy. Overall, I would highly recommend the Mill Room at Boar's Head Resort. While the restaurant may be a little pricey, I would still encourage anyone that enjoys a classy meal to give it a try. The wait staff is professional, the food is exceptional, and there are many different vegan options. If you are looking for a place to celebrate a birthday, graduation, or an anniversary, consider the Mill Room. Page 20 Timberwood Tap House did not Disappoint Jan Newcomb, staff writer I found the Timberwood Tap House Restaurant surprisingly relaxing, maybe because I went on a Monday night to eat out. The booths were very tall, so it felt like you had some privacy, and the lighting wasnt dark but just enough not to hurt your eyes. The colors in the restaurant were green walls with wooden rafters and black seats. Overall, the restaurant had a nice ambiance which had me thinking you could bring family, friends or even a first date. You could go dressed in blue jeans or go straight after work to eat at the Timberwood Tap House. The website I visited called the restaurant an American bistro. If this means a step up from a sports bar, I would have to agree with that assessment because there are still televisions around to see sports. If youre on a date I would suggest you sit in the dining area and avoid the televisions at the bar. My waitress, Emily, took my order of a Durango salad, which consisted of a nice spring mix salad with sliced grilled chicken, tomatoes, cucumbers, black beans, corn and cheese sprinkled over the top of the salad and the salad dressing on the side. I thought this shouldnt take long. I was reading a book while I waited when I saw my waitress approach me over a late dinner. A check mark went off in my head because she took care of an issue before I even thought about it. The man who was part of the kitchen crew also brought out my dinner and apologized for taking long. Honestly, I wasnt even thinking about my food being late: I was just relaxing reading my book. The cost of my dinner was $10.90, and soda was $2 plus tax and tip. Overall, I enjoyed my meal and the staff was prompt and friendly all around. What more could I ask for, except to go out next time with a few friends so we can enjoy breaking bread together at 245 Merchant Ave., Charlottesville, which is in 5th Street Station. Photo courtesy of Timberwood Tap House Page 21 Soup, Sandwiches, Revolution Ginger Hood, staff writer with sodium deficiencies and fresh green onions that gave it a good crunch. Its not the most filling Got a taste for revolution? Revolutionary of the soups on the menu, and it can be quite salty Soup is located on the Downtown Mall, hidden and even too much for those who dont like away on 2nd Street across from the huge mural. salt. It also has carrots in it, which is a bit Its open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through unusual, but it works well with the rest of the Saturday, and while parking is hard to find on the textures and flavors in the soup. I found that Downtown Mall, Revolutionary Soup is a short despite its unusual execution, it was my favorite walk away from the Water Street Garage. of the two I tasted. Overall, a solid choice for a I braved the two-block trek and took the steps year-round soup lunch. down into Charlottesvilles The three sisters ($4.75) is a homiest underground soup spot seasonal staple of the with one question in mind: Revolutionary Soup menu. Its whats cooking? a much thicker, almost stewThe first thing that greeted like soup with a little spice that me as I walked in was a heats up with a slow burn. The familiar wall of fliers and a corn adds a little crunch, the short stairwell leading down beans are well cooked, theres past the poem of the day and peppers for color and generous around to the restaurant itself. pieces of tomato and squash. With warm lighting and air to The small size was satisfying accompany the warm soup, the on its own, but the soup I took whole room immediately feels home was still pleasantly welcoming. The ambiance of warm an hour later a bigger Revolutionary Soup is cozy size wouldnt be a bad idea for and local, giving off the same sharing or keeping leftovers. feeling as a familiar folk song. The plain grilled cheese Photography by Ginger Hood While their soup is the ($3.50) was a bit generic but main attraction, Revolutionary Soup also offers its easily spruced up with other topping and sandwiches, salads, and wraps. All menu items bread choices, like tomato slices or bacon on are marked for allergies, and a handwritten sign either sourdough or sunflower wheat bread. It was encourages customers to ask about ingredients. the perfect warmth, toasted well but not burnt, The menu marks gluten free, dairy free, and it was great for dipping in soup. vegetarian, and vegan items, with many baring However, my favorite part of Revolutionary two or more of the abbreviated letters. Soup is the checkers table complete with a Of course, the main event is the food. I went poetry drawer. While the top of the table seems with my family to try a variety of different soups, like a regular checkers table with a cup of bottle but tasting is encouraged if you dont want to caps to use as checkers the poetry drawer is full commit to an entire bowl right away. Some soups of napkins, receipts, and even book pages with are seasonal others, year-round but all soups poetry written on them. come in four serving sizes: small, medium, large, Anyone with something to write with can and quart. leave a poem, and looking through the poetry My family and I tasted two different small drawer is a staple of the Revolutionary Soup soups and a grilled cheese, all served hot enough experience. to ward off the cold and rainy weather outside. Overall, Revolutionary Soup is a reasonably Each soup came with a side of cornbread or a priced, inviting, and unique restaurant experience bread roll and a free apple, which all went nicely vive la revolution! with the soups. The small classic miso ($4) was by far the 108 2nd St. SW, Charlottesville lightest soup, with a salty broth perfect for people 434-296-7687 Page 22 Photography by Ben Chambers Not Your Typical Pizza Joint Ben Chambers, staff writer Extreme Pizza is clean and family friendly while also offering a bar area with a dozen beers on tap and a patio for when the weather is warm. Located at the 5th Street Station shopping center, Extreme Pizza brings a little of the west coast mentality to Charlottesville with skateboards, skis, and snowboards displayed on the walls. Theres rock music for ambiance and TVs tuned into channels like Discovery and National Geographic, showing programs like Wipeout. From the name on the outside of the building to the decorations on the wall, the music coming from the speakers and the variety of sports being shown on the TVs, one might expect to find local youth with wild hairstyles speaking their own language while doing back flips off tables. Its possible, but pizza is a favorite food of young and old and all types of backgrounds. That fact brings a diverse crowd in searching for the culinary favorite, but they also have a variety of salad and sandwich options. The atmosphere is laid back and fun. The friendly staff keeps things casual and takes orders at the counter and then brings it out once it's ready. Prices are a little on the high-end, but the quality of ingredients makes it worth it. There are also coupons you can find regularly that come in local mailers that help. A 12-inch medium Signature Gourmet pizza is $16.25. Our party of five had four mediums and finished three. We ordered Drag it Through the Garden (no broccoli, no cheddar,) Screaming Tomato, Railroad Grade, and Paia Pie; they were all excellent. The vegetables were crisp and the crust was crunchy but still somehow a little chewy. The sauce had a nice flavor profile, and there was a perfect amount of hot melted cheese. I would recommend Extreme Pizza for anyone who has a craving for delicious pizza that wants to try something different. Page 23 Classifieds Contact Us The Forum 501 College Dr. Charlottesville, VA 22902 twhyte@pvcc.edu www.piedmontforum.com The Forum offers classified space to the PVCC community free of charge. Please send announcements along with full name, email, and phone number to: twhyte@pvcc.edu. The Forum Staff (Listed alphabetically) Assistant Editors Jessica Adkins Cody Clark Ari Oxford Online Editor Deadra Miller Staff Writers/Copyeditors Jessica Adkins Jude Bolick Ben Chambers Cody Clark Amy Laufer Ginger Hood Sam Huff David Huynh Deadra Miller Jane Monaghan Jan Newcomb Daniel OConnor Ari Oxford Elizabeth Phan Veronica Reyes Check us out on social media @PVCCForum The Forum is a voice for all students. Accordingly, materials published in The Forum, including any opinions expressed, should not be interpreted as the position of the VCCS, Piedmont Virginia Community College, or any stakeholder thereof. The paper welcomes letters to the editor, guest columns, questions, photography or any other ideas or submissions one may have for the upcoming publications. Please contact twhyte@pvcc.edu with any questions. Faculty Advisor Dr. Tamara Whyte  ...

... Read more at: Piedmontforum.com February 2020 Piedmont Virginia Community College PVCC hosts Virginia Democracy Summit Cody Clark, assistant editor PVCC is continuing to encourage student involvement in government and politics by partnering with the Campus Vote Project to bring the 2020 Virginia Democracy Summit to the campuss Main Building on Feb. 15 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.. Students from all over Virginia will be participating in the event. Last year, the summit was hosted at James Madison University with over 70 students in attendance. Connie Jorgensen, assistant professor of political science, said that PVCC is lucky to host it this year. Jorgensen expressed how important this summit is going to be especially with the primaries coming up on March 3. This summit is meant to facilitate young people's participation and gives students the tools to get involved and network with students around the state, said Looking for a club? Check out pages 8-9 Jorgensen. The intended focus of this summit is students between the ages of 18 to 24 as they historically have a turn out far lower than other age groups, said Jorgensen. However, she followed up by saying that the 18 to 24 age group has gone up in recent years and has picked up in ways we haven't seen in a long time. Despite the focus on this younger demographic, students of all age groups are welcome to register and attend. The 2020 summit will start with breakfast and sign-in at 8 a.m.. Opening remarks from PVCCs President Frank Friedman and Professor Jorgensen will follow at 9 a.m.. Then Using NSLVE Data at 9:15 a.m. followed by the Census Panel at 9:45 a.m.. At which time, the group will be split up and attendees will have to choose a panel to attend during each time slot. on See Democracy Summit on page 4 In This Issue PVCCs Voting registration table. Photography by Cody Clark PTK Award -pg. 2 SGA Update -pg. 3 FAFSA & Late Start -pg. 5 Classes Art Spread Profile Reviews Classifieds -pgs. 6-7 -pg. 10-11 -pg. 16 -pgs. 18-19 -pg. 24 DATES TO REMEMBER Club Day * Feb. 5, 10a.m. to 2p.m.,Bolick Student Center DMV Connect Feb. 5, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. North Mall Meeting Room Super Saturday FAFSA Workshop * Feb. 8, 9 a.m. to noon Main Building M154 Red Cross Blood Drive * Feb. 11, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. North Mall Meeting Room Eat and Meet Computing and Engineering * Feb. 13, 12-1 p.m. North Mall Meeting Room Gallery Exhibition * Feb. 14, 5-7 p.m., Dickinson Building One Mic Stand * Feb. 13, 7 p.m. Dickinson Black Box Theatre (D202) 2020 Virginia Democracy Summit * Feb. 15, 9 a.m. 5 p.m. Main Building Theatre of the Oppressed with Katie Rubens * Feb. 15, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Location TBD Evolution of a Black Girl: From the Slave House to the White House ^ Feb. 15, 7:30 p.m., Dickinson Main Stage Manufacturing Day * Feb. 20, 9:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. (Rain Date Feb. 27) North Mall Meeting Room and Bolick Student Center Free Movie Friday: Queen and Slim * Feb. 21, 7:30 p.m., Dickinson Main Stage Decades of Black History * Feb. 26, 10 a.m. 2:30 p.m., North Mall Meeting Room *Free Event ^Student Vouchers Available PTK Receives Five Star Status Ari Oxford, assistant editor As of Jan. 16, 2020, PVCCs Alpha Epsilon Tau, a chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, has earned five star status for 2019. Associate Professor of Information Technology Bruce Robinson, coadvisor of the club, said, The advisors would like to thank the college community, especially our college president, Frank Friedman, for their support. Alpha Epsilon Tau has completed the required Honors in Action Awards submission, both a research project and a college-oriented project, a separate College Project Award submission, and the submission of the Officer Team Award for their five officers by the advisors. As part of their Honors in Action Program, PTK members went to SDV classes this past year, said VicePresident of Communications Malcolm OMalley, to encourage students to engage in student life by joining clubs. We held (and will hold more) panels at SDV classes telling them what goes along with being in a club. How to balance club and school time, the benefits that come with being in a club, some (like PTK) have specific scholarships, and, volunteering at local places, said OMalley. OMalley also said, Every year PTK does an annual volunteering event that not only gives back to the community but helps us keep our fivestar rating. This year we are exploring a few options, the top ones as of now are either planting trees or getting some type of healthcare for students. For more information on PTK, students can visit their page on the PVCC website under clubs. Page 2 Student Government Association News Page 3 Democracy Summit, Cont. from page 1 10:45 a.m. Building Inclusive and Equitable Coalitions Digital Organizing on Campus Creating a Climate for Political Learning 11:45 a.m. Best Organizing Practices: A Student Perspective Panel Voter Registration on Campus International Perspectives 12:30 p.m. Lunch 1:30 p.m. Access the Vote: Secure a Polling Place on Your Campus Beyond Voting: Other Ways Students Can Get Engaged Action Planning 2:15 p.m. Day on Democracy: Creating an Election Day Culture on Campus Ask Every Student/ErrorFree Voter Registration Summit is going to be a great opportunity for PVCC students to engage in panels that interest them. The number of participants is limited, and students must register before the event if they wish to attend. So be sure to sign up as soon as possible to secure your spot at this years summit. To register please visit campusvoteproject.wixsite.com/vastudentsummit. Finishing up the day at 3 p.m., there will be a panel called Votes and Ballot and at 4 p.m. there will be Votes and Ballot Lightning Presentations. The event concludes at 4:30 p.m. with a Hot Chocolate and Coffee Networking Social. The 2020 Virginia Democracy Page 4 PVCC offers Late Start Courses Jessica Adkins, assistant editor Many students at PVCC may not realize that there are options pertaining to when their classes start. PVCC offers a variety of classes that start at different points in the semester. This year, PVCC is offering 12-week classes that start Feb. 3, 8week classes that start March 17, and 4-week classes that start on either Feb. 20 or April 7. These class options allow students to have a more flexible schedule if need be. According to Robyn Lane, an administrative assistant in the Admissions and Advising Center, Students choose to take late-start classes either because they missed the deadline for classes or they may not have the funds for classes until a certain time. Late-start classes are also an option for students who just like taking classes for a shorter time than the regular 16-week classes. Students who sign up for the late-start classes can choose from a wide variety of subjects needed for both General Studies and Liberal Arts degrees. While some students may think that late-start classes are shorter classes based on the amount of weeks of class, that is not the case. Students have the same amount of instruction time in a late-start class as they would in a regular 16-week class. In shorter sessions, classes meet for more time a week. While some people purposefully sign up for late-start classes, some may accidentally sign up and not have realized it. Some students may have signed up for a class and gone to the room on Jan. 13 and realized that their class was not in session. If students have any questions pertaining to late-start classes that may fit their degree, they should schedule to meet with an advisor in the Admissions and Advising Center. Financial Aid Office Helps with FAFSA Elizabeth Phan, staff writer With the fall semester coming to an end, most students are rushing to get school over with. However, it is important for students to remember to complete their FAFSA. The FAFSA is now open for students to complete for the 2020 -2021 school year. The financial aid office, located in M126, is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesday evening 5-7 p.m. in the Admissions and Advising Center. To make an appointment with the financial aid office, call (434) 961-6545. Sherry Dudley, the financial aids office administrative assistant said, Many times students aren't able to come to school without financial aid. A parent could get laid off or there could be a change in income. The financial aid office can work with anyone on a walk-in basis, or students can reach 24/7 financial aid support on the PVCC website under financial aid. Part-time students can receive financial aid to the same degree as a full-time student. To qualify for a loan, however, the student needs to be enrolled in at least 5 credit hours. Students dont have to wait for an appointment to come in. A counselor will come and work with you. We also have student workers who will sit right with you as long as you have your documentation, said Dudley. The financial aid office also offers Saturday sessions for students who need to complete FAFSA with their parents. Most of the documents and paperwork needed for FAFSA can be found on PVCCs website under paying for college and financial aid. Its better to get it right the first time than to go back and correct everything, Dudley said. Scholarships are not awarded in the financial aid office; however, students can receive additional help with loans and grants instead. We dont want you to wait until August to apply for financial aid. Start in September. On October 1st, for each year, a student can begin to apply for the fall. The earlier it is all in place, the less difficulty someone will have for coming up for funds for their tuition, Dudley said. It never hurts to have an extra pair of eyes. Page 5 Potential Sociology of Gender Course Ari Oxford, assistant editor Sociology of Gender is a basic sociology course at most universities and has been on PVCCs course catalog for years, but it has not been offered at PVCC since Professor of Sociology Dr. Kim Hoosier started in 2006. I think our notions of gender are changing, said Dr. Hoosier. She said that gender as a social construct is changing and it is important for people to understand what those changes are and how that influences how they think and how society functions. Dr. Hoosier said, I think thats what sociology gives you in general, is a different way to think about the world. She hopes, no matter what prospective students are coming from, that they learn to think about gender and its real-world effects more broadly. Dr. Hoosier would start the class with the difference between biological sex and gender, both as a social construct and an identity. The class would cover some history of gender in society, mostly western but pulling some examples of different gender structures from around the world. Dr. Hoosier uses a mixed approach to learning, so students can expect classes to consist of lecture and discussion and for homework to include readings, listening to podcast episodes, watching YouTube videos, and more. So, if reading textbooks is not your thing, this might be a more effective approach to learning. This class would look at gender beyond binary (only two genders) and would put an emphasis on issues like toxic masculinity as much as things like workplace harassment and the wage gap. Dr. Hoosier said that the class would feature lots of intersectionality between things like economics, media, health, and family dynamics. But, Dr. Hoosier said the class would also be a bit flexible to students interests. If students are interested in making this class happen, Dr. Hoosier suggests voicing interest, telling professors, telling deans, writing about it in the student survey, or just talking to each other and getting the word out. She hopes the class can run as soon as Fall 2020. Photography by Ari Oxford Page 6 Explore Race and Ethnicity in SOC 266 Ari Oxford, assistant editor Compared to many larger schools, PVCC has a small selection of sociology classes, but one of the most interesting is SOC 266, Race and Ethnicity. This class is only taught in the fall semester by Dr. Kim Hoosier, professor of sociology. Dr. Hossier said, I hope it changes their worldview. When Dr. Hoosier asked her class what they wanted people to know about SOC 266, they said that everyone should have to take the class because it is worldview expanding. The class starts with the year 1619 at the settlement of Jamestown. From there, the class looks at American history from the perspective of race and ethnicity, all the way through World War II. Then, once the students have a grounding in the historical context, the last third of the class focuses on current issues such as mass incarceration and housing discrimination. PVCC student Corey Goldberg said that every new lesson was shocking and depressing. But he thinks that shock makes the lessons more impactful. In response, Dr. Hosseir said, If I have shocked and depressed you, then my job is done for today. Even though the class deals with many heavy subjects, there is also space in the classroom for a constructive and fun discussion. As for the duller details of the class, it fulfills UVAs guaranteed transfer requirement of a nonwestern or minority subculture perspective class. It also fulfills PVCCs social science elective and there are no prerequisites. The class has a lot of reading and most of it is from links on Canvas. The class also has assigned videos and podcast episodes, so it is not just reading. Goldberg said the class is not too hard, but you have to do the work. SOC 266. Photography courtesy of Dr. Hoosier. Page 7 Student Organizations at PVCC Adult Student Life Club Adviser: Denise McCalahan, dmccalahan@pvcc.edu American Sign Language Club Adviser: Susan Hannifan, shannifan@pvcc.edu Anime Club Adviser: Noriko Donahue, ndonahue@pvcc.edu Art/Film Series Adviser: Beryl Solla, bsolla@pvcc.edu Black Student Alliance Adviser: Justin Wert, jwert@pvcc.edu Board Game Club Adviser: Bruce Glassco, bglassco@pvcc.edu Book Club Adviser: Crystal Newell, cnewell@pvcc.edu Brony Club Adviser Michael Ferero, mferero@pvcc.edu Chess Club Creative Writing Club Adviser Jennifer Koster, jkoster@pvcc.edu CRU Adviser: Andr Luck, aluck@pvcc.edu Cybersecurity Club Adviser Richard Seweryniak, rseweryniak@pvcc.edu Dance Club Drama Club Adviser Brad Stoller, bstoller@pvcc.edu Engineering/Makers Club Adviser: Hunter Moore, hmoore@pvcc.edu French Club Adviser: Kris Swanson, kswanson@pvcc.edu Gender Equality Club Adviser: Connie Jorgensen, cjorgensen@pvcc.edu German Club Adviser: Patricia Jassmann, pjassmann@pvcc.edu Graphics Club Adviser: Aaron Miller, amiller@pvcc.edu Homeschool Club HOPE@Piedmont Adviser: Jacquelyn Fisher, jfisher@pvcc.edu Horticulture & Environmental Club Adviser: David Lerman, dlerman@pvcc.edu, International Club Adviser: Irina Timchenko, itimchenko@pvcc.edu Investment Club Japan Club Adviser: Noriko Donahue, ndonahue@pvcc.edu K-Club Adviser: Todd Platts tplatts@pvcc.edu Latter-Day Saints Fellowship Adviser: Andrew Renshaw, arenshaw@pvcc.edu LGBT Advisers Jessica Kingsley jkingsley@pvcc.edu, and Jessica Amos, jamos@pvcc.edu Page 8 Student Organizations at PVCC Math Club (Mu Alpha Theta) Advisers Karen Overman koverman@pvcc.edu, and Justin Storer jstorer@pvcc.edu Music Club Adviser Brianne Little, blittle@pvcc.edu Pagans & Wiccans (PAW) Adviser Colum Lecky, cleckey@pvcc.edu People Empowering People (PEP) Adviser Susan Hannifan, shannifan@pvcc.edu Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Advisers Bruce Robinson, brobinson@pvcc.edu, and Kit Decker, kdecker@pvcc.edu Pottery Club Adviser Tom Clarkson, tclarkson@pvcc.edu Psychology Club Adviser Michael Rahilly, mrahilly@pvcc.edu PVCC Volunteer Club Adviser Todd Platts, tplatts@pvcc.edu Radiography Club Adviser: Stephanie Gentry-Reynolds, sgentry -reynolds@pvcc.edu Rotoract Club Adviser Miriam Rushfinn, mrushfinn@pvcc.edu Science Club Adviser Anne Allison, aallison@pvcc.edu Sonography Club Adviser Lisa Burrington, lburrington@pvcc.edu Jorge Grajales-Diaz, jgrajalesdiaz@pvcc.edu Student Government Association (SGA) Adviser Shawn Anderson sanderson@pvcc.edu Student Launch Team Adviser Sue Haas, vhaas@pvcc.edu Student Nurses Association of Piedmont (SNAP) Student Veterans of America (SVA) Adviser Jacquelyn Fisher, jfisher@pvcc.edu The Forum Adviser Tamara Whyte, twhyte@pvcc.edu VA 21 Adviser Connie Jorgensen, jorgensen@pvcc.edu Vegan Club Adviser Elsa Spencer, espencer@pvcc.edu Volunteer Club Adviser: Todd Platts tplatts@pvcc.edu Ultimate Frisbee Club Adviser John Gulley, jgulley@pvcc.edu Women in STEM Club Adviser: Joanna Vondrasek at jvondrasek@pvcc.edu. Read more about each club on our website. Scan this code to go there now: Spanish Club (Club de Espaol) Advisers Kit Decker, kdecker@pvcc.edu, and Page 9 Let There Be Light 2019 Photos Ari Oxford, assistant editor Dec. 14 2019 artists from all over Virginia came to PVCC to display their work in an outdoor gallery of glowing art that wove around the grounds by the Dickinson building. Page 10 Photography by Cody Clark and Ari Oxford Page 11 Richmond Symphony and Chorus asks for Snow Deadra Miller, online editor With the holiday activities around Richmond, a local vocalist, with the help of the Richmond Symphony and Chorus, performed a concert to remember. On Dec. 8, at 3 p.m. students ranging from fifth grade to ninth grade from across the state got to attend The Richmond Symphony and Chorus performance Let It Snow. These students are part of a program called Jacob's Ladder. According to their website, Our mission is to aid and encourage intellectually gifted, at-risk middle school through high school students to reach their full potential and become leaders equipped to help others in similar economic and social situations. The program includes a month-long camp during their summers away from school. These children are considered at risk because of their parents income and the fact that they come from school districts that cannot give them the attention that they need to succeed. During the school year, one parent or guardian gets to go with their child to an event that takes place around Richmond. This year it happened to be attending the Richmond Symphony and Chorus production Let It Snow. A local artist also sang along with the choir and symphony, singer and songwriter Natalie Prass. She did a number of songs with the audience during the sing-a-long part of the Photography by Deadra Miller Photography by Deadra Miller concert as well as on her own. During her own song of No Better Time, her producer and cowriter Trey Pollard joined her on acoustic guitar. She also sang her own song It Is You. The symphonys conductor was Chia-Hsuan Lin. Lin was interactive with the audience as a whole and commanded everyone's attention when we were allowed to ring sleigh bells in time with the symphony and choir (dependent on the musical number). As mentioned before, there was a sing-a-long to finish out the concert. This consisted of eight commonly known songs: Santa Claus is Comin to Town, Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer, Silver Bells, White Christmas, Its Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas, Winter Wonderland, Frosty the Snowman, and Joy to the World. The concert lasted about two hours and was interactive as well as fun. To find out what is yet to come for 2019 or what is on the upcoming schedule for 2020 please check out richmondsymphony.com or call 804788-1212. Page 12 Feeding PVCC with Boxes for Winter Break Abi Brand, staff writer Over Thanksgiving break, PVCCs Financial Resource Center sent students home with boxes filled to the top with food and special items for students and families in need. The center provided boxes for over 120 students and their families. Eight of these boxes went to veterans. Amanda Key, Student Financial Resource Center Coordinator said, The bags contained food items. We were able to get turkeys and other meats. We gave each student one of the resource guides we created here in the resource center. There were toys for kids in the boxes, which is different because typically when you get food boxes, theres nothing in there for the kids. Its just food. We made sure there was also financial aid information, so that students knew that we were providing the information, but that we also want you to know that this is still a college and you should take advantage of all the resources here. In total, the Financial Resource Center ended up filling 60 boxes. Some students chose not to sign in or be counted. In terms of food, it was close to 1200 pounds. For our first year, that is huge! said Key. The Resource Center worked with students and families to plan around their schedules regarding picking up the boxes. We met them where they were at. The center stayed open from 7 in the morning to 9 at night some days. The students were very appreciative. Photography courtesy of Amanda Key Page 13 Aspiring Scientists Present Their Findings Matthew Minecci, staff writer Once a semester, students of the supervised study courses (BIO 299, CHM 299, GOL 299, PHY 299) PVCC present their work in the Main Building on campus, in M299. These six students had been working all semester on these projects, and it truly shows how much hard work and dedication they put into them. Projects ranging from the effect of caffeine on beetles, to the way temperature affects lithium batteries, these students put their heart into their projects. It's definitely a labor of love, for both the students and the faculty members, said Professor of Biology, Dr. Anne Allison, who was coordinating the event. In fact, this course is so difficult that every year there are always at least a few students that withdraw The six students Cambell Thornton, Caleb Herndon, Jonathan Rodriguez, Lauren Clark, James Mclvor, and Tyler Wagner all were paired up with faculty members, who assisted them throughout the creative process to create their projects. But, it is all worth it in the end for these students. PVCC is rather unique in this course, as most undergrads do not get to make a project of this scope so early in their academic careers. The difficulty is rewarded in the results, however, as students who take science majors in PVCC and do this massive final project have an 85 percent transfer/graduation rate. As for the projects themselves, they were all in-depth and interesting. It was clear that all the students had put a lot of effort into them, and they were all happy to explain what they were researching. For instance, Lauren Clarks examination of the effect of caffeine on beetles was interesting, with the most effective amount for killing them being around the middle, rather than the more extreme amounts. Tyler Wagners experiment on the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in the environment, in which he physically went out to cow fields to test the soil, even going to a pen that held injured zebras. And while this was all interesting and exciting, it was not without a lot of effort. Id say its very challenging, Dr. Allison said. If you wish to contact her with any questions about the fair or about upcoming classes this spring, you can contact her at aallison@pvcc.edu. Photography by Matthew Minecci Page 14 Page 15 Remembering Life of UVA English Professor Karli Turner, staff writer Marilyn Gail Duggan, Hoyts wife, still remembers the day she met Hoyt Duggan. It was during her first year at Baylor University in Texas. One day, Gails roommate left her a note asking if she wanted to meet up under the flagpole at school to go on a missionary trip across town to read to the less fortunate. I wasnt into that sort of thing, but I had nothing to do that day. I was bored, so I went, Gail said. They met under a flagpole in the schoolyard and eventually got to talking on the bus. After that, Gale commented, Hoyt wouldnt stop asking me on dates after that. Hoyt was born on April 5, 1938, in Texas. Where exactly? Gail doesnt remember. However, this is what she remembers about Hoyt Duggan: He grew up in Joinerville, a small town in East Texas. When Hoyts father was not working at a nearby oil field, he taught him how to read and write. It was important to Mr. Duggan to teach Hoyt these things before he started school. Hoyt loved reading and writing so much that he became bored when he started school because he already knew all of the material. He quickly became a nuisance because he was so much further ahead than everyone else. Around third grade, his teachers made him go to the library to research and write about topics he was interested in. Unfortunately, Hoyt did not make it past his first year at Baylor. His father was fired from his job at the oil field thus forcing the family out of their house. Since Mr. and Mrs. Duggan were from Louisiana, they decided to move the family to Shreveport. There, Hoyt went to Centenary College during the day and worked as a watchman at night. During this time, he met Mrs. Clark, a woman who ran the schools bookstore. Eventually, Hoyt began working at the bookstore where he quickly formed a bond with Mrs. Clark and her husband. While working at the library, he spent most of his time there reading books. From a young age, Hoyt wanted to go to the University of Oxford, in England, for their Rhodes Scholarship. With help from Mrs. Clark, Hoyt applied to Oxford. After graduating from Centenary, where Hoyt spent the next few years studying Medieval English. When he graduated from Oxford, Hoyt decided to return to the United States. The Vietnam War had just started when Hoyt returned from England. Quickly, Hoyt was drafted. Luckily, though, he avoided going into combat. Hoyt became stationed at Fort Holabird, as an officer for an Army intelligence spy unit, in Baltimore, Maryland. Hoyt stayed there for his two full years of military service and his unit was the last not be sent to Vietnam. Sadly, the men after him werent so lucky and most of them were sent to Vietnam, where many of them died. Years later, after leaving the army, Hoyt decided to go to Princeton University to pursue a graduate degree in literature. From there, Hoyt got a job as a professor at UVA. There, he focused on Medieval English and translated works like Piers Plowman and the Wars of Alexander. He also published many scholarly journals before retiring from UVA in the early 2000s. Later in life, Hoyt was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease. After many years of battling this terrible disease, Hoyt passed away April 8, 2019, days after his 81 birthday. Hoyt was known by many in the community as a smart, kind, and hardworking individual. Even though he is gone, his work still inspires others and he will be greatly missed by those who loved him most. Hoyt and Gail Duggan Photography by Karli Turner. Page 16 What Its Like Being a Poll Worker Jessica Adkins, online editor The idea of waking up before the sun comes up may not sound appealing to some. However, that is exactly how the day starts for a Virginia election day poll worker. After rolling out of bed and getting ready to take on the 14-18 hour shift that lies ahead, it was time to go to the designated precinct. A precinct is also described as a persons designated polling place. For some people in Fluvanna County, it is the Palmyra firehouse off of Rt. 15. After arriving to the designated precinct, poll workers are encouraged to start a pot of coffee for those who like to drink it. The doors and poll books open at 6 a.m. sharp. The poll books are a series of computers throughout a county that connect to each other to keep track of who has voted and who has not voted. As the early voters start to file into the cold building, they are met by the greeter who controls the line. Since there were only three poll books at Palmyras precinct, only three people were allowed at the table at a time. When the voters approach the check-in table, they are asked to show a valid photo ID. In the state of Virginia, even if a voter has a voter registration card, they must also present valid ID. Some examples of a valid ID include, a Virginia drivers license, passport, or an employee ID card. After the voter provides proper identification , it is the poll book workers job to check in the person and give them a receipt to take to the ballot table. The ballot table workers then provide an empty ballot sheet to the voter. Upon doing so, the worker at the ballot table should also inform the voter on how to properly fill out the ballot sheet. The ballot table worker then tells the voter to proceed to the voting table. This is a table that is set up with dividers that allows voters to vote without feeling like they are being watched by others. After voting, the voter is met, they are met by a poll worker who tells them when to place their ballot into the ballot reader. When the voter casts their ballot in the ballot reader and start to exit the building they are met by the exit control person who hands them an I Voted sticker and tells them to have a nice day. According to Frances Schutz, the chief of the Palmyra precinct, The person who hands out the sticker has the most important job because it is up to them to make sure no ballots leave this building. At the end of the day, there is about another hour and a half in which poll workers must stay to make sure that all paperwork that needs to be filled out is signed. After all paperwork is signed, poll workers then need to break down the set up, clean up the kitchen, and make sure that everything is just as it was when they arrived. For information about registering to become a paid poll worker in an upcoming election, please visit your local countys registrar for information on training sessions and important dates. Page 17 Trans-Siberian Orchestra Wows Cville Cody Clark, assistant editor The Trans-Siberian Orchestra came to Charlottesvilles John Paul Jones Arena on Dec. 19. This was part of their 2019 Winter Tour which had TSO going all over the United States. Charlottesville was lucky to have TSO stop by as they did not disappoint. When I entered the JPJ arena the raw energy from the crowd was evident. Everyone was excited for the TSOs first concert here in Charlottesville. A thick fog permeated the stadium, adding another level to the atmosphere. The stage was set with one main platform in the center, and it was raised on the sides and towards the back. Large screens were positioned behind the stage and above it. They displayed an hourglass counting down to the time the performance would start. The hourglasses ticked down, and the crowd roared in anticipation for the show to begin. Photography by Cody Clark. Joel Hoekstra TCOs storyteller came on stage and began to tell the story, On a snow-blessed Christmas Eve a young man found himself alone in the back of an old city bar. The story was about an angel sent to Earth by God to find one thing that represents all the good that is done in the name of Christmas. Songs that were performed include Can You Hear Me Now, A Mad Russians Christmas, The Storm / The Mountain, and Christmas Eve/Carol of the Bells. Each song was complemented with a spectacular display of lights, lasers, and in some cases flames. From the floor seating my mother and I had, we could feel the heat on our faces from the flames. The Storm / The Mountain the most stunning display compared to the rest. It was an amazing display of electricity cascading all across the stage at the backs of the musicians. The lead guitarists (Chris Caffery and Joel Hoekstra), bassist (Tony Dickinson), and violinist (Roddy Chong) were always front and center. They traveled up and down the stage and moved to the music while playing their respective instruments. Chong was particularly animated, and by the end of the night, his bow (the tool that is used to play a violin) was nearly destroyed. At different points in the concert, the guitarists, Caffery and Hoekstra, moved among the audience taking pictures with fans and interacting with the crowd. Along with the instrumental performance, the vocals were stellar as well. Two of the more vocal oriented songs, Prince of Peace and Can You Hear Me Now, were sung by Erika Jerry and Kayla Reeves. Both ladies had powerful voices that captured everyones attention and captivated them for the entire song despite both songs being much slower compared to many of the other songs played that night. TSOs concerts are a unique experience that just about anyone can enjoy. There is a message about love, compassion, and the Christmas spirit interwoven with beautiful heartfelt songs and head-banging rock n roll. Page 18 Review: Mill Street Grill in Stanton Abi Brand, staff writer Ribs, steak, and seafood, oh my! Mill Street Grill has all the great food needed to make your stomach happy. Located in downtown Staunton lies Mill Street Grill, a restaurant you will not regret going to, even if it is out of your area. Before you pass the entrance to the restaurant, a large billboard directs you to where to go. Mill Street is best known for their baby back ribs, glazed in the restaurants own barbeque sauce. I can attest to how good these ribs were, as I ordered them as my main dish. The ribs were tender, meaty, and fell right off the bone. The sauce was sweet, tangy, and nothing short of a perfect match to the delicious ribs. For those who enjoy even more meat, Mill Street has steaks that are cooked to order and cut in house. They even have a large seafood menu of fresh catches that come in daily, which they serve and cook in many different ways. Not a meat person? There is no need to worry. Mill Street accommodates everyone, even those vegetarian and vegan diets, and they even have a gluten-free menu. The Black Bean Burger is a hit among those with dietary restrictions. Pastas and salads accompany the vegetarian portion of the menu. Mill Street Grill was once a flour mill, but in 1992 it was remodeled into a restaurant. Mill Streets food is moderately priced and food portions are very generous. The service was incredible and they were sure to accommodate all of my needs, including side substitutions, and my glass was never empty. To finish out your meal, you are served a small bowl of peppermint ice cream to cleanse your palate. Mill Street serves brunch every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is open Monday through Thursday, 4-10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 4- Photography by Abi Brand Page 19 Classifieds Contact Us The Forum 501 College Dr. Charlottesville, VA 22902 twhyte@pvcc.edu www.piedmontforum.com The Forum offers classified space to the PVCC community free of charge. Please send announcements along with full name, email, and phone number to: twhyte@pvcc.edu. The Forum Staff (Listed alphabetically) Assistant Editors Jessica Adkins Cody Clark Ari Oxford Online Editor Deadra Miller Check us out on social media @PVCCForum The Forum is a voice for all students. Accordingly, materials published in The Forum, including any opinions expressed, should not be interpreted as the position of the VCCS, Piedmont Virginia Community College, or any stakeholder thereof. The paper welcomes letters to the editor, guest columns, questions, photography or any other ideas or submissions one may have for the upcoming publications. Please contact twhyte@pvcc.edu with any questions. Staff Writers/Copyeditors Jessica Adkins Jude Bolick Abigail Brand Ben Chambers Cody Clark Amy Laufer Aleena Haidari Ginger Hood Sam Huff David Huynh Deadra Miller Matthew Minecci Jane Monaghan Jan Newcomb Daniel OConnor Ari Oxford Elizabeth Phan Veronica Reyes Anandhu Shaji Karli Turner Faculty Advisor Dr. Tamara Whyte  ...

... Read more at: Piedmontforum.com Piedmont Virginia Community College Winter 2020 An Inspiring Ending to 2020: PVCCs Symposium on Race and Racism William Waugh, staff writer Held on Nov. 2 via Zoom, PVCCs Symposium on Race and Racism was a powerful and inspiring night to incite change within not only the PVCC community, but the Virginia community as a whole. The meeting was hosted for a little over two and a half hours, spanning through 13 speakers. Presenters from various facets of PVCC came together to discuss racial inequality and share stories of their experience of having received or witnessed discrimination. The event tackled issues on both the personal and societal ends of the spectrum, ensuring everyone left having learned something new. We truly cannot move forward as a nation, as a community, as a college, if were not willing to discuss the issues surrounding racism, discrimination, and equity, PVCC President Dr. Frank Friedman said in his opening speech for PVCCs Symposium on Race and Racism. As Dean of Business Olugbemiga Adekunle introduced the guest speakers, the symposium already felt like a natural presentation. One feature unique to Zoom webinars is the ability to raise questions at any point throughout the presentation to be asked during Q&A portions and the ability to do so anonymously. The few technical hiccups experienced in the beginning were quickly ironed out as the night progressed, proving Zoom to be a fluid means of conducting a symposium. The President of the Black Student Alliance, Sheketra Payne, gave an excellent speech on what the definition of racism is in America, saying that Racism is as American as apple pie. Her speech touched on microaggressions and See Symposium on page 4 In This Issue Andr Luck shares his story on practicing civic engagement. Screenshot taken by William Waugh PVCC Events -pg. 2 SGA Update -pg. 3 Local News Art Exhibit -pgs. 10-11 Classes -pgs. 14-15 Clubs -pgs. 20-21 Reviews -pgs. 22-25 Comics -pgs. 26-27 -pgs. 6-7 DATES TO REMEMBER Editors Note Jude Bolick, assistant editor Final Exam Week Dec. 16 to Dec. 22 Nursing Pinning Ceremony Dec. 17, 4 p.m., virtual Industrial Electronics Technology Showcase Dec. 17, 5-8:30 p.m., virtual Campus closed for Winter Break Dec. 24 to Jan. 3 Gallery Exhibition: Ed Miller: Inventions for Uncertain Times Now through Jan. 20, virtual Gallery Exhibition: Faculty Exhibition Now through Jan. 20, virtual Payment due for 16-week classes Jan. 5 16-week classes begin Jan. 11 12-week classes begin Jan. 25 Martin Luther King Jr. Day: no classes Jan. 18 Last say to drop with refund for16-week class Jan. 28 Gallery Exhibition: Barbara Shenefield Feb. 5 to March 31 One Mic Stand Feb. 11, 7 p.m., Dickinson Auditorium Last say to drop with refund for12-week class Feb. 15 Spring Break: no classes March 8 to March 13 I have always loved storytelling. When I was younger, my way of telling stories was with my stuffed animals. Every day, my sibling and I spent hours constructing elaborate stories that took place in The Buddy Kingdom, telling oral stories and acting them out with stuffed animals. As I got older, I began to write these stories down, filling notebooks with short stories, working my way up to a completed draft of my first novel. As I was homeschooled up to college, I am thankful for my mother nurturing this passion and supplying me with extra lessons on vocabulary and grammar to help me grow as an author. When it came time to start college, I was extremely conscious about getting a job that was financially reliable, and I feared that a fiction novel writer was not that. I allowed my passion to go dormant while I sought out a career that could support me and my family. In a way, I felt like I had traded my writing notebooks for textbooks. My passion for writing was reignited after taking two classes at PVCC. I knew I would adore Creative Writing, but I was not as keen about Intro to Journalism. I went into that first class expecting the worst and came out with an unlikely solution to my career dilemma. Suddenly, I knew what I wanted to be: an editor for a newspaper. Not only have I found a new love for editing, I have also been reunited with my love for writing, and I have several full-length novels under my belt now. I also met my two closest friends in that class, and I have learned far more than I ever could have expected to. I encourage anyone who has an interest in writing to consider taking a semester or two of journalism. It changed my life, and I am proud to be a part of The Forum. Page 2 Student Government Association News William Waugh, staff writer For those who do not feel involved enough in their community, want to expand their connections, or just want to have their voices heard, the Student Government Association (SGA) provides a cordial atmosphere designed to change PVCC for the better. Ashab Alamgir, vice president of the SGA, and Shawn Anderson, director of student engagement and student life, shed light not only on what the SGA does for PVCC, but what it does for the students themselves. The SGA often meets directly with faculty, staff, and administrators to make connections. The SGA typically meets once every two weeks on Monday at noon for its general assembly members. The Executive Board meets every Thursday. Both meetings occur for an hour each. In these meetings, they discuss a variety of topics and issues to increase the quality of life for students at PVCC or facilitate the hosting of communal events, such as the Drive-In Movie Night or Casino Night. This year, what were trying to do is hopefully increase student engagement by maybe having more flexible hours, said Alamgir. A lot of students want to be more involved with the community, which is one of the things were working on right now. Another element of focus in the SGA this year is integrating the clubs into the SGA more than they have in the past to ensure all voices are heard. everyones voice is heard. One of the many unique factors about the SGA is that club representatives attend the General Assembly meetings, along with the Executive Board, to share or receive feedback on how or what their club is doing. If youre a student at Piedmont, and you wanna dip your toe in the water and get involved, the SGA is the perfect opportunity for that, Anderson said. Students who want to engage with the SGA but do not want to be in a larger executive position can apply for the General Assembly and attend the biweekly meetings. The SGA currently fosters a warm, welcoming atmosphere and a diverse roster of representatives in culture, age, and gender. We want to make sure that we have representation for everyone because thats only going to make the SGA better in what it does for the college and for the students, Anderson said. The benefits of a smaller community college, such as PVCC, demonstrate themselves in ways that students might not even consider. SGAs at four year institutions do a lot of huge things for their colleges and universities, but they cant always have access to their administrators in the way that the SGA at PVCC does. The president and vice president of the SGA get to meet with the president of the college once a month to discuss what theyve been up to, and thats really awesome and unique in the world of student organizations, Anderson said. One of the most essential parts of the SGA is the development of social skills and connections. The most rewarding experience for me is to really get to know other people or have my voice heard while establishing certain policies. Knowing that you can actually make a difference and actually see things from a different perspective is the most rewarding thing for me, said Alamgir. The SGA relies on working with others and seeing different perspectives to get a better understanding of the student body as a whole. As the SGA meets with different committees, such as the Student Service Committee, Administrative Services, Curriculum Instruction Committee, and College Senate, they all reference back to one group in particular: the student body. Joining the SGA not only gives students the opportunity to represent themselves and their diverse interests, but it allows them to represent others who are similar to them. I encourage students to use it to change the college and to change the experience for students in a positive way, but also use it as a way to advance where you want to end up in your careers. Its a really good opportunity to network and meet some really good people, Anderson said. This month, they are running the 25 Days of Giving event to donate 1,000 pounds of food to the PVCC pantry. If youd like to sign up for the Student Government Association, visit their website: https://www.pvcc.edu/student-governmentassociation. Page 3 Symposium, continued from page 1 nationwide racism and inequalities to prove that the textbook definition does not do it justice. It is something we absolutely must combat, but its also something we have to confront, Payne said with a photo of Martin Luther King Jrs March on Washington, D.C., as her background. Adekunle then presented statistics about college graduation rates by race, healthcare inequalities in the wake of COVID-19, and U.S. incarceration rates by race and ethnicity. He then introduced the next guest speaker, James Bryant, who is a member of the Charlottesville City School Board. Bryant gave a personal account of how he has experienced racism throughout his childhood up to his adult years as he grew up in Charlottesville. Experiencing discrimination from his guidance counselor in high school, he was told he would never make it to college and that he should pick up a trade. "I was the first generation in my family to go [to college], Bryant said. Being able to work as an educator, he understood the value of education from his parents. Although Bryant was able to succeed despite his challenges, he ended his speech by making it clear that It's always been a town of the haves and the have-nots, and we continue to struggle with those issues in the city of Charlottesville. Keith Nabb, Gequetta Murray-Key, and Todd Platts shared their perspectives on how you react to racism or discrimination when directly faced with it. Keith Nabb, associate professor of mathematics, said, Theres a tendency to just be complacent and ignore it, and then to let it fester and be upset about it, but when its . . . novel and its something youve never heard before, I think the gut reaction is to be just completely speechless. Unfortunately thats the reality when youre confronted with such blatant racism. Sheketra Payne gives her definition of racism. Screenshot taken by William Waugh Page 4 Nabb, who shared his story about being biracial in America, described his difficulties being an Asian -American. He described the false concept that Asian Americans have made it, explaining the discrimination he has been a victim of his whole life, with the exception being his college years. Dr. Todd Platts, assistant professor of sociology, replied by suggesting a route not often taken when debating those with racist and inconsiderate views. Those within organized racism groups who break free from them have usually encountered people who challenged their racist preconceptions of the world, who take the time to politely challenge them, Platts said. He encouraged attendees to research people such as Daryl Davis, Christian Picciolini, and Kathleen M. Blee after the symposium had finished. We do need to step up and challenge racism when we see it, Platts said. Gequetta Murray-Key, adjunct instructor of police science, responded by saying, There are times when you need to confront things head-on, . . . sometimes you have to bite your tongue, sometimes you have to hold your tears back. You do that because you want to feed your family. Maintaining a job and securing a promotion is already difficult enough for people of color, and sometimes challenging racist superiors in the workspace can lead to being fired. Adekunle added, It depends on the context. If Im representing the college, or Im just out in the street, or if Im playing basketball [prior to COVID], I could respond differently. The context of what situation you are in plays a major role in what you do or say, which is why the one on one interaction is preferred to challenge certain viewpoints. Michael Rahilly and Adam Johnson, associate professors of psychology at PVCC, gave a presentation on Racism, Stress, and Coping. Johnson displayed statistics of increasing national stress levels due to police discrimination of minorities being televised on media, primarily among African Americans. This process utilized sample surveys to determine the percentage of people within the United States who felt stress from seeing increasing reports of police brutality. As of September 2020, the percentage was up to 67% of African Americans. Rahilly spoke about potential methods of reducing racism in ourselves, such as increased contact with and open mindedness about diverse groups of people. He discussed human social identities versus personal identities, which allow us to increase our perception of our self worth by relating to our ingroups while denouncing outgroups. Many different social factors attribute themselves to our self-esteem, which is important to understand how we can break free from traditionally racist ideologies. Career Services manager Andr Luck shared how he was able to challenge and change systems that did not necessarily understand their harmful effects when it comes to discrimination. As a member of a financial institution, he noticed the renomination of the same people to their board of directors. As new board members arrived, Luck realized that among the new members, there were never any people of color. To address this inequality, he scheduled a meeting with the board chair and the president. First, I established my own credibility, Luck said. By sharing his experience, he was able to show them that he was qualified to be speaking about the topics he would later raise, which they were uncertain of. Luck was able to change the board of directors and institute diverse opinions amongst the board, who did so even without lip service. He shared the challenges of diplomacy when faced with issues that he is passionate about in a separate scenario. I learned to change the tone of my voice . . . If I was being verbally attacked, I learned to listen and make sure that the person got it out of their system before I responded. I wanted to make sure that--in my approach--there were benefits they were getting from the solutions or recommendations I was trying to give, Luck said. He emphasized the difference between responding versus reacting, relating further to his diplomatic philosophy. Confrontation is almost always a daunting task, but Luck states that "Sometimes, you must do things afraid." As the Symposium came to an end, the guest speakers all gave their final thoughts and appreciations for the event. Platts presented an idea that the organizers of the Symposium had suggested, which involved the guest speakers to share their stories and put together a document to send to local and state governments and incite change within the community. "I will continue to do what I do, what Ive always done, until I can't do it anymore, and yes: the struggle continues, Bryant said as he concluded his speech. The event recording is available online. Page 5 Police Chief Talks About Black Lives Matter Zhaire Roberson, staff writer members often had active links to law enforcement personnel. She said that the political rhetoric of the hate groups regularly found a home in law enforcement unions. Law enforcement agencies are aligning themselves, unions are aligning themselves with white supremacists and neo-Nazi organizations. That is not comfortable for any person of color or any person who does not feel like they have power and access," Brackney said. The Chief discussed her own personal experiences and the experiences of her husband regarding discrimination. Brackney said that to undo what has been done, regarding implicit bias, law enforcement must police through a more moral and ethical lens. We in law enforcement and you in academe can no longer be complicit, she said, We can no longer embrace the status quo, conscious moral leadership recognizes injustices, it recognizes its failures. To contend with racism, prejudice, and bias, Brackney said that she sent all members of the police department personnel on a week-long training through the Anti-Defamation League. On Monday, Oct. 19, Charlottesville Police Chief RaShall M. Brackney spoke about the Black Lives Matter movement, the connection between hate groups and law enforcement, and freedom of speech in Charlottesville. Brackney spoke as a guest for the One Book program at PVCC. Ibram X. Kendis book, How to be AntiRacist, was discussed in the webinar.. Brackney is a retired veteran of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. Chief Brackney is also the first black woman to serve as the head of the police department in Charlottesville. Across the United States, hate groups are on the rise, and for me these manifestations are most evident in places like my hometown of Pittsburgh, Charlottesville, across the nation. Weve seen the loss of life fueled by racism. Brackney said. Brackney pointed out that often police behaviors and actions with minority-led protests differed from the white-led protests. Law enforcement response to protests matters, she said. Here and across the nation, race matters. Chief Brackney stated that law enforcement as a whole has been complacent in regards to the demonstrations and actions promoted by fear, uncertainty, and ignorance. Society can be comforted by the colorblind tagline, but we can not afford a color-blind approach to these issues," she said, Colorblindness allows us to bury our head in the sand and not confront. Brackney said that many antigovernment and Chief Brackney Speaking via zoom for the One Book Event on Oct. 19. Screenshot taken by Zhaire Roberson hate group Page 6 An Interview with a Postal Worker Maxwell Walpole, staff writer The United States Post Office was first created in 1775 by the Second Continental Congress, with Benjamin Franklin serving as the first Postmaster General. This early incarnation of the post office deliberately prioritized the mailing of newspapers over personal correspondence in an attempt to help strengthen the bond of the colonies through the sharing of civic news. Franklin and his eventual successors helped to streamline the mailing process by investing in new transportation technologies, from the horse and carriage to the national roadway system to the intercontinental railway service. In 1970, postal workers organized a massive strike in protest of poor working conditions and low wages. In the face of the collapse of the U.S, mail system and falling stock prices from a spooked market, President Richard Nixon acquiesced to the strikers demands and agreed to give the major postal unions the right to negotiate on wages and working conditions. In the aftermath of the strike, Nixon passed the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970, which transformed the United States Post Office Department into the modern Postal Service. The Post Office now is a semi-independent branch of the U.S. government, required to operate like a business and run its operations solely through the sale of its products, mostly postage, while receiving no tax revenue. While voting by mail has been a regular practice for over a hundred years, in 2020, mail-in ballots have been the source of enormous controversy. Amid accusations of voter fraud, disturbing accounts of mail-in ballots being discarded, and widespread reports of mail delays, the integrity of the United States Postal Service is perhaps now more important than ever. My father, Peter Walpole, is a 33 year veteran of the post office, and in some ways it shows. He is a middle aged man, nearing 60, sporting a salt and pepper beard and a boyish smile. For 20 years, he worked as a letter carrier, but in the last 13 years he has worked in customer support and is now a senior sales executive. I work with large businesses on their shipping and mailing needs. When you get a box in the mail, thats the kind of thing I help set up, he said. I was there at the post office when we hit our peak letter mail volume, and it was extraordinary how much mail was being processed by the postal service, he said. When there was the initial great recession back in the late 90s, I saw that letter volume just fall off the cliff. I think everyone knew that the internet would take some of that first class letter volume away, but Im not sure anyone anticipated it to drop so dramatically and so fast. Weve seen some of that volume come back, especially in marketing mail. But people dont send handwritten letters and cards as much as they used to, the internet has taken a lot of that business, said Walpole. He paused, then continued, On the other hand, the rise of the internet has seen us grow dramatically in package volume. Small boxes are being shipped out by e-commerce businesses. That growth in package volume has not offset the revenue loss from letters, but it helps. As soon as I asked him what he thought people should know about voting by mail, Walpoles demeanor seemed to change. Suddenly he seemed more confident, more determined. The thing about voting by mail (is that) theres definitely concerns with our network and theres stuff thats been in the news, and I understand that, he said. But we handle that kind of volume as a regular thing. And so if everybody in the nation voted by mail, they still would be a relatively small percentage of our overall volume. There are issues about network delays, and so theres been a strong effort to get out the word that if youre going to vote by mail, vote early. I think the post office will do better than people expect, given all the stuff thats been in the news. Theres virtually zero evidence of widespread voter fraud. Theres always an issue with voter fraud in every election, but its miniscule statistically. I think thats going to be true this year, and I think that were going to get the ballots done. Theres good, dedicated professionals in the postal service that are committed to getting this job done, we take it very seriously. Im glad weve been in the news so much because there are some structural changes that need to happen in the postal service, he said. But by the same token, well handle the election mail just fine. Im very comfortable saying that. Page 7 PVCCs Library Adapts to COVID-19 Maxwell Walpole, staff writer As schools transitioned to online classes in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, PVCCs Betty Sue Jessup Library was presented with a seemingly insurmountable problem: how could a service that depends so heavily on in-person interaction survive a world of social distancing? The library faculty, led by Director of Library Services Crystal Newell, knew there could only be one answer: adapt to these new challenges and overcome them. We want everyone--students, faculty, and staff--to feel safe at the library. We also want students to know that we are here, whether virtually or in-person, Newell said. I think the most important thing to note is that almost all of our services are still available, regardless of the pandemic. Indeed, the library on campus continues to provide all the services it normally does, albeit with extensive safety precautions in place. For online students, however, the place to go is the PVCC website. The librarys homepage is the portal to all of our services and collections, said Newell. You will be able to chat with us, find out COVID-19 specific services, and search the librarys collection. Newell went on to explain that through the library website students can access some of the librarys new features, like rooms set aside for students to attend Zoom classes and even a method to mail books to students. By searching for a book in the QuickSearch library catalogue, clicking on the title, and clicking sign in under Request Item, any student can have books mailed to their address. If a student needs help from a librarian, they can contact them via the chat on the library homepage, email, phone and even in-person. While the rigid protocols of social distancing have thrown a wrench into the works of PVCC, above all Newell wants students to know that students should still take advantage of every service provided by the library. Dont let the semester pass without visiting the library, urged Newell. The PVCC Betty Sue Jessup Library is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Their staff members are available during these same hours. Page 8 Veteran Services at PVCC Zhaire Roberson, staff writer The Veteran Services department at PVCC offers an array of resources and comprehensive services to students who are veterans or dependents of veterans. The Veteran Services department at PVCC is notorious for ranking Cecelia Lightfoot, Retired Army Veteran. Photography by Zhaire Roberson highly amongst other schools in the Military Friendliness and Acceptance categories. The Veteran Education and Transition Service (VETS) offers free information sessions via Zoom for new military students who are interested in using their VA Educational Benefits at PVCC. In the online session, advisors will lead the attendee through the application process for admissions. If you have questions about Military exceptions for residency requirements, placement assessments, financial aid advising, career services, disability services, or credit for prior learning, the information session is a great place to start. For specific instructions on how to set up a web conference, contact Jackie Fisher at jfisher@pvcc.edu. I recently sat down with Cecelia Lightfoot, a retired US ARMY veteran with over 20 years of service. Lightfoot attended PVCC for one year in 2012, before transferring to a 4 year college where she received her Bachelors of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. Id like to disclose that Cecelia Lightfoot is my mother, however, she agreed to answer all my questions honestly and professionally. I asked Lightfoot about her experience working with the Veterans Services office. "The Veterans services staff was very supportive and knowledgeable. They had experience dealing with prior military personnel [...] they were so welcoming," she said. Lightfoot went on to emphasize the importance of the Veteran Service staff understanding how military people thought. "They understood that I wanted to attend school while also working a full-time job and raising a family," she said. Lightfoot continued, "As a military vet, they offered me the option to apply my military education benefits package to pay for my schooling." I then asked her what her overall thoughts about PVCC were, and she said the following, "You have great instructors and professors, who may have taught at Universities before. I liked that PVCC was geared more towards the independent individual, the go-getter type who's looking to make a career. That was really refreshing as an older student" As the interview came to a close I asked Lightfoot one final question. I asked her how she would rate the Veterans Services department at PVCC on a scale of one to ten. "I'd give them a 10 out of 10. There's structure at PVCC, yet it's informal which is something that I really liked. They helped me build my own study plan too." After talking with Lightfoot and reviewing the Veterans Services page online, it is safe to say that the Veterans Services staff is dedicated to helping Veterans and their families when it comes to pursuing a higher education. Page 9 Ed Millers Sculptures on Virtual Display Zhaire Roberson and William Waugh, staff writers In the age of COVID-19, many are turning towards the arts to express their thoughts. Through online exhibitions and social media, quarantine artists can share their craft instantly to the entire world. PVCC is harnessing local talent to create some exhibits of their own, as seen by Ed Millers newest collection, Inventions for Uncertain Times. The Adjunct Instructor of Art/Art Appreciation at PVCC, Ed Miller, released his new solo exhibition on September 25. Miller graduated from the Art Department at PVCC and earned his M.F.A. at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Miller has had many pieces shown throughout Central Virginia and is notorious for being active in the local art community. This exhibit in particular displays a vast range of works away from the canvas and into sculpture -based art. Currently, his exhibition titled Inventions for Uncertain Times has opened up online and is running from Sept. 25, 2020 to Jan. 20, 2021. His works diversify themselves from beautiful, abstract, large scale sculptures to smaller, more intimate self portraits inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic. Artwork by Ed Miller. Photo courtesy of PVCC Artwork by Ed Miller. Photo courtesy of PVCC Miller's pieces are incredibly versatile. The first sculptures presented in the gallery are two clay busts from the Art in Odd Places: Matter collection. Random people walking through the Charlottesville Historic Downtown Mall were used as models for collection and their busts were made on the spot. These busts are unlike any of Millers other pieces shown in the gallery because they use a significant amount of color. The second collection shown includes the pieces Elevated Figure, Deconstructed Minotaur, and Goddess Wings. This series is more abstract and focuses more on detail and texture. Like the other collection, the series incorporates clay but it also includes paper, tape, and wood. Ed Millers piece Body of Light uses a beautiful geodesic dome structure along with silhouettes of himself cast over a lake to mirror the image. The pitch black background makes this piece immediately Page 10 stand out against the contrast of the red dome and white silhouette. The photography included on the website was clear and the exposure of each picture was well balanced. Usually, when a person is viewing a sculpture they would walk around it. To truly experience any piece of art, it is recommended to view it from different angles. If there were more images of each piece, zoomed in or from other angles, then the online gallery would be even better for the viewer. Millers newest pieces in the collection display a unique blend of creativity and relevance. These sculptures seem to be heavily inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic, hence its name Artwork by Ed Miller. Photo courtesy of PVCC almost retrofuturistic in style, while works like Face Mask with Two HEPA Filters and Fan stretch to absurdity in their design. Within these debilitating times of the global pandemic, art is often something to look to and pursue. Ed Millers Inventions for Uncertain Times blends uniqueness, creativity, and relevance to create art within protective social distancing equipment. Emitting hope within experimental creativity, Ed Miller delivers soonto-be artifacts from a time so revolutionary in our present. If you would like to learn more about Ed Miller, visit his website at edmillersculpture.com. If you would like to view the entirety of this collection, you can visit the collection at sites.google.com/view/edmiller/home. Artwork by Ed Miller. Photo courtesy of PVCC Inventions for Uncertain Times. All of these tackle the concept of social distancing and safety measures with a slight science-fiction twist. Ed Millers Self-Portrait with Powered Air Mask #2 displays an air filter running through a tube directly to a shielded frontal mask with spectacular attention to detail. From the ridges in the air filter to the deformation in the hair from the masks strap, this is the level of quality that is simply the norm in Millers work. Other works, such as the Isolation Suit Model, demonstrate unique concepts that are Artwork by Ed Miller. Photo courtesy of PVCC Page 11 First Semester According to Freshmen Zhaire Roberson, staff writer This year's freshmen knew going in that their first semester would be unlike any other they had gone through. Millions of students across the country have had to readjust their styles of learning as they shift their focus from classrooms to computer screens. According to all four students (Sydney Lopez, Jumana Al Mulhim, Temnesera Mekonnen, and Olivia Thomas), getting acclimated to this year's learning style has been an adjustment. Although almost all courses have been moved online, Biology 101 is one of the few on-campus lab classes offered at PVCC now. My favorite class would probably be the inperson lab portion of biology. Its the only inperson class I have where I can meet new people and do fun experiments, said Sydney Lopez, a recent Albemarle High School graduate and firstyear at PVCC. To reach graduation requirements and obtain the necessary credit hours, some students are still taking as many classes as they can this semester. Lopez is enrolled in four classes this semester. I feel like high school prepared me for attending a community college in terms of the Olivia Thomas, a freshman Sydney Lopez, a first-year student workload. I took both AP and dual enrollment classes. Id say I spend an average of 14 hours per week doing homework, she said. All four students mentioned the difficulty of making friends and establishing relationships with their peers and professors this semester. Its easier to make friends with someone in person, for me, because I get to learn who they are before I meet the online version of themselves. That can be completely different than who they actually are, Lopez said. Lopez sympathized with professors saying, This year is a big adjustment for many professors who are not used to teaching online, so I assume its more stressful than usual and harder to connect with students due to this. In recent months, many students have had a hard time making the adjustment from high school to college. College-goers are finding it hard to gauge the expectations of their professors and are not used to having all of their classes online. One of these students is Olivia Thomas. Thomas is a recent graduate of Albemarle High School and a first-year student at PVCC. Page 12 The transition for me, personally, from high school to college has been very hard, not only because all the classes are online but also because [I have] to navigate new teaching styles and learn what teachers expect of their students, Thomas said, High school did prepare me for community college, in the sense that there was going to be a lot of work, but the time management piece was not really trained. When asked how she would describe this new way of learning, Thomas said, If I had to choose one word to describe online classes this year it would be complex. Each teacher has the information for their students to access in different spots. Everything they assign comes with its own challenges. Despite the challenges, students like Thomas consider their freshman year to be unique and continue to preserve. Though many students have had a difficult time transitioning from an in-class learning environment to online learning, there are still students who thrive under pressure and embrace the changing and unpredictable atmosphere. Jumana Al Mulhim is one of these students. Al Mulhim is a first-year Liberal Arts major who graduated from Albemarle High School this summer. Al Mulhim has stepped out of her comfort zone to find ways to be social with others. Ive been building relationships through club activities, she said. Not seeing people in Jumana Al Mulhim, a Liberal Arts Major person is a strange experience for me, but I feel like I am strangely comfortable with everything at the moment. Like her peers, Al Mulhim took rigorous classes in high school which prepared her for community college. I definitely think high school prepared me well. I took a total of 11 AP classes, and I think that helped me a lot in terms of knowing how to analyze well and write critically. said Al Mulhim. Like Lopez, Thomas, and Al Mulhim, Temensera Mekonnen is not afraid to go against the tide when it comes to embracing unpredictability. Mekonnen is a first-year Business major and a graduate of William Monroe High School. Mekonnen has set her sights on staying optimistic this semester. The upside is definitely getting to work from any location. If anything, I prefer college. Mekonnen said.This is a new environment for all of us, including the professors. We are all learning Temnasera Mekonnen, a business major to work together. Page 13 A Newsworthy Class: Intro to Journalism Chelsei Moore, staff writer Looking for a class that teaches everything from newsworthiness to redundancy to clichs and no-no words? Articles are the cornerstone of modern journalism, which is why PVCC offers a journalism course both in the fall and spring semester. Taught by Professor of English Dr. Tamara Whyte, Introduction to Journalism (ENG 121), teaches even the most challenged writer how to formulate well-crafted articles. Especially in school, its always encouraged to write longer rather than shorter, but in journalism (and much of the real world) its better to get your point across in as few words as possible. This makes it so the writing is more direct, eliminating the unnecessary fluff that students stuff into essays to try and reach that length requirement, and it allows the writer to highlight whats really important, said Jude Bolick, former ENG 121 student, assistant editor for The Forum, and current intern for Dr. Whyte. When asked about her experience as a journalism professor, Dr. Whyte responded, This is my seventh year teaching journalism at PVCC. My first major was journalism, and I enjoy taking what I have learned in many classes and experiences and using it to create a practical journalism class for PVCC students. Journalism is considered a transfer elective for most majors at PVCC, for any students looking to enhance their writing skills for an English major or just to tweak their knowledge. At the time, my favorite aspect was just learning about journalism and the media in general, and I still do love learning more about the world of journalism, said Ginger Hood, former ENG 121 student, assistant editor for The Forum and current intern for Dr. Whyte. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Journalism was found in the main building, room M617D (inside the Writing Center). During this unprecedented time of transitioning from inperson to online classes, Dr. Whyte did her best to provide a fun loving learning environment via Zoom. It was a really positive experience, and though I still love taking journalism online, I do miss in-person class and Forum meetings. Going online has definitely made some parts of the class more efficient, but I miss sitting next to the friends I made in Journalism 1 and doing projects together, or even just getting to talk to people more before and after class, said Hood. In the upcoming semester, Journalism will be offered again via Zoom Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m to 12:15 p.m. The prerequisite for this course is the completion of English 111 (College Composition I). While most classes have pricey textbooks that will likely never be used again once the class is over, Journalism has a different approach to having literature that can be used for all forms of writing. The two required textbooks are The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law ($17) and Journalistic Writing: Building the Skills, Honing the Craft ($20). Any student who wants to improve their writing or build their resume could get a lot out of the class, said Dr. Whyte. Journalism may be an intimidating choice for some students, but it is a gateway to learning all forms of writing. I was actually dreading the class at first, because Im rather introverted by nature and not a big reader of the news. Looking back on it now, Im so glad that I took it, because it helped me find my calling in life, and Ive met so many wonderful people. Its an experience I will never forget, said Bolick. Dr. Whyte added to this point by saying, I think it is a special class because we get to have a workshop environment and students get to produce the school newspaper, which gives them great skills and experience. Students get to develop as writers and editors, skills that transfer to other types of writing as well. It can be argued that journalistic writing is an acquired skill, but any student who puts their mind to it can excel in this course. Students who are interested in taking the ENG 121 course that have questions for Dr. Whyte could best contact her via email (twhyte@pvcc.edu). Dr. Whyte typically responds within 24 hours during the week and 48 hours during the weekend. Read the full article online at piedmontforum.com Page 14 The Perks of Taking Biology 107 Zhaire Roberson, staff writer Not everyone enjoys learning and studying science. To some students, the idea of being in a science class with no hands-on learning can seem grueling and uninteresting. The lab in Biology 107, Environmental Science, is not like that at all. Bio107 presents the basic concepts of Environmental Biology in order to gain a better understanding of how the human population interacts and impacts the natural world, said instructor of the course, Jennifer Scott, via the syllabus. When students take Bio 107 online, they will get to perform labs at their homes, by performing them at home, students make the most of hands-on learning. At the beginning of the semester, students enrolled in the class visit the Keats Science Building on PVCCs campus to pick up their lab kits. The lab kits include a variety of instruments students must use to perform experiments and tests. The lab kits also include safety and instruction manuals. Bio 107 is online anytime, which means students are allowed to work at their own pace. Usually, assignments should be completed within a week. The class week runs from Monday through Sunday. Although there is no required textbook for the course, students will need to purchase their professor's choice of semester reading. The semester reading will be a roadmap to help the student answer the weekly discussion board questions. This semester, students read The Forest Unseen by David G. Haskell. Regular course work per week includes two discussion board posts on the semester reading, one lecture quiz, one lab assignment, and a lab quiz. There are a total of three exams in Bio 107. Throughout the semester, students will watch a variety of documentaries that pertain to weekly lesson plans and exams. Biology 107 Lab is for students who enjoy hands-on learning, like working from home, and want to obtain a better understanding of the human impact on the environment. Biology 107 will also fill the requirement for a transferable science credit for a four year college. A Class Out of This World Evan Green, staff writer Class sign ups have started at PVCC and many students are looking for an elective or an extra science class with a lab. Astronomy II is one of these options for the upcoming Spring 2021 Semester, plus students dont need a prerequisite to take Astronomy II. Astronomy II is a natural sciences class at PVCC, which students can also search for under NAS 132. This class is about studying what is going on in space and in the Milky Way Galaxy. During the Astronomy I course Dr. Edmund Walendowski, professor of astronomy and former ARMY specialist said, In Astronomy II we will learn more of the Milky Way galaxys different stars. Astronomy II students will also need the Ninth Edition of the Cosmic Perspective as their textbook. A part of the class will involve looking through an observatory. Dr. Walendowski said, Im really excited to share my love of astronomy to students and sharing my observatory online with the class. Page 15 Keith Nabb: Professor and Published Author Jude Bolick, assistant editor PVCC has welcomed many new faculty members to the community this fall semester, all of whom are adapting not only to their new positions, but also to a heavily online environment. One of these new faces, Assistant Professor of Mathematics Dr. Keith Nabb, is more than ready to take on this challenge. Nabb went to Ponganset High School in North Scituate, Rhode Island, which is part of the Foaster-Glocester School District. From there, he went to Rhode Island College for an engineering program, but shortly after starting he decided to take a semester off when he realized he did not want to pursue a career in engineering. My heart didnt really feel it, Nabb said in a recent Zoom interview. After returning to college, he went into a math program instead and graduated with a B.S. in Secondary Education (Mathematics) from Rhode Island College, then went on to receive a M.S. in Mathematics from Texas Tech University followed by a Ph.D. in Mathematics Education from Illinois Institute of Technology. His interest in education arose when he went with his mother to teach art, discovering his love for teaching. Nabb worked at Moraine Valley Community College in Illinois for fifteen years, then went on to work at University of Wisconsin-River Falls for four years before getting a job at PVCC. Overall, he preferred his experience with community colleges over universities. I like the environment quite a bit better, Nabb said. The students are very similar. They just work very hard, they ask when they need something, and I just like the nation of the whole two year. COVID-19 posed new challenges for Nabb with a heavily online environment, but he adapted quickly to this new normal, helping his students strive. I finally feel like Im in a groove, Nabb said. I do think theyre learning, and thats the most important thing. Nabb has a wide variety of personal interests, such as playing board games with his family, painting, and finally solving a complex math puzzle called Martins Menace. On top of this, he is a researcher and published author with a wide collection of podcasts, presentations, and research papers. Photo courtesy of Keith Nabb My research interests are in the teaching and learning of mathematics, Nabb wrote on his website. Currently, I am working on some projects related to equity in mathematics curricula, active learning, and mathematics teaching at the developmental level. For more information, check out Nabbs Website keithnabb.com or email him at knabb@pvcc.edu. Page 16 Engineering Expert Kirk Gomes Jude Bolick, assistant editor instructions. I really enjoyed the interaction and all of that is still unchanged to this day. Life poses many challenges, one of the Gomes moved from teaching assistant to partbiggest being how to decipher what career to time adjunct while he finished grad school, then pursue. With endless possibilities, it can be hard took on a full-time teaching job after graduation. to sift through it all and find a calling in life by He worked at Central Virginia Community college. For Dr. Kirk Gomes, a new assistant College (CVCC) while his wife pursued her own professor of engineering at PVCC, it was never a education, then began looking for a different question in his mind. college that was closer to the university she Gomes grew up in Mumbai, India, where intended on attending. most of his family still resides. His interest in Katie was planning on starting grad school at engineering started at a young age, which he Mary Baldwin, which would have been a 90attributes to his father taking him to work with minute commute one way, Gomes said. So I him at Otis Elevators checked to see if there were manufacturing plant in any VCCS schools that were Mumbai. closer to Mary Baldwin, and It was fascinating to I found PVCC. What was see all the machines in even more awesome was action and all the that they were looking to mechanical and electrical hire an engineering equipment lying around the professor. Fortunately, factory, Gomes said in a everything worked out, what recent interview. I have with COVID-19 and all, and also always liked tinkering here I am. around with toys and things During his time at at home and even ended up PVCC, Gomes has found shocking myself as a kid both positives and negatives Dr. Kirk Gomes and his wife, Katie. with 220 volts of about online classes Photo courtesy of Kirk Gomes electricity. compared to in-person. Gomes graduated from the University of Although he prefers teaching in person, he has Mumbai with a Bachelor of Engineering before found that there are advantages that are exclusive coming to the U.S. for graduate school with his to an online structure of teaching. wife, Katie. From there, he received a masters and I miss the face-to-face interaction, Gomes a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the said. I have a very sarcastic sense of humor, so it University of Toledo. During grad school, he takes a lot longer for my students to get that when discovered his interest in teaching when he were meeting online only. Im also not teaching became a teaching assistant for several semesters. any classes that have a mandatory physical I had never, ever planned on joining the laboratory component. Other than that, I have my teaching profession, and in fact, I was terrified on Surface and screen-sharing and with the ability to my first day of being a teaching assistant, Gomes record lectures and post a PDF of whatever I have said. That was mainly because I was from written on the screen, I think online classes have another country and all I knew about how an advantage. American students behaved was from what I had Gomes currently resides in Lake Monticello seen in movies and television. What I didnt know with his wife, Katie, and their three pets: a was that everything that I had seen on television Maltese dog named Eleanor Mae Ellie and two depicted high school students, and that college cats named Joseph Lawrence Joey and Charles students, especially those in engineering, were Xavier Charlie. completely different. On that first day, they were For more information, contact Gomes at respectful, friendly, and they followed kgomes@pvcc.edu. Page 17 A Club Focused on a Common Cause Chelsei Moore, staff writer With a title like Black Student Alliance (BSA), a White American, Hispanic, Asian, or European student may be hesitant to join or ask questions to gain knowledge of the mission of the club. In a recent interview with BSA President, Sheketra Payne, it was made clear that any student can join the organization as long as a simple criterion is met, be a decent human being with an open mind. Thats about all you need. It is easy to think that being experienced in fighting the isms of the world and being organized are requirements to join BSA, but rest assured those are not prerequisites for membership. Not only do these criteria hold no weight, neither does ethnic background. According to Payne, We live lives filled with intersectionality and it would be a huge disservice to the club if we didnt have those same intersects represented within our membership. The most fundamental principle of BSA is to provide a safe and welcoming space for minority students and their allies. Racism has been a rampant issue in this country for centuries and those affected by it have always needed a place to gather, release some of those burdens, and formulate how to use those experiences to advocate for change, said Payne. BSA at PVCC is a safe place for students to be seen and heard, according to Payne. This is a place that stands on the foundation of allowing members to turn any challenges into strength to combat the oppression and evils of the world that may weigh them down. Just by existing, BSA gives individuals a chance to feel safe in a time of such uncertainty, especially those of minority communities throughout Charlottesville and PVCC. I believe we are helping by challenging both communities to be better. We use a variety of mediums to educate and amplify the lesser known experience in an effort to initiate community members to be more mindful of the ways in which they live. Most arent actively perpetuating the isms that plague this world but many do participate unconsciously. We strive to spark conversations that stimulate growth on an individual level. Its impossible to change the systems if the mindsets of the individuals engaging in said systems dont change also, said Payne. BSA works to provide whatever tools are necessary to help individuals succeed, whether it is hot chocolate during finals week, raising money for the less fortunate, or creating events to bring focus to underrepresented issues. We like to look for and provide solutions no matter how large or small the problem may be, said Payne. Much like other clubs on campus, joining BSA can be simple. Payne said, All students have to do is reach out and express interest. This can be done one of several ways. Interested students may reach out to PVCCs Coordinator of Student Engagement & Student Life Shawn Anderson, or an existing club member. Any of those roads will lead to membership. Theres no application or background check required. We promise. Due to COVID-19, the structure of club meetings has changed from every Wednesday at noon in the Financial Resource Center to every other Wednesday at noon via Zoom. In order to gain access to meetings, Our secretary, Kerri Gentius, sends meeting links and reminders to each member. If any non-members would like to attend a meeting, we ask that they reach out via email to either myself or Kerri to receive an invitation link, said Payne. BSA is an excellent place to cultivate leadership skills. We afford all of our members the opportunity to organize and lead events with the safety net of having the entire club supporting them as a team. We actively encourage it. This allows those who arent accustomed to leading to grow comfortable within the role without fear of failure. The support and safety of the space also allows them the chance to grow their confidence about their leadership style and skill set, said Payne. BSA also prides itself on providing the same support for academic and cultural awareness. Prior to COVID-19, BSA held study sessions to support members and encouraged them to come for help regardless of what subject area they struggled with. During study sessions, conversations would often lead to eye-opening Page 18 discussions on different cultures, heritage, and other aspects of members lives. Since COVID-19, we havent been able to gather for those study sessions but were still available to members as a virtual collective and yes, those expanding conversations are still occurring, said Payne, providing an alternative to inperson groupings. With mental health being in the forefront of the challenges in the lives of college students, BSA acts as a support group for members to an extent. While we arent experts in the mental health field, we all understand the value of a safe A photo from the Black History Month event, Spring 19. Photo courand supportive space. If more tesy of Payne. support is needed, while we dont have a therapy fund, we do have the incomparable Amanda Key on our Black only club. We try to model the welcoming team. Ms. Key is fundamental to us all keeping openness we wish to see in the world. our sanity. She provides crisis counseling, a BSA is here at PVCC to provide students with shoulder to cry on (or vent to), and most an opportunity to join an organization that focuses importantly, shes willing to pull our card as my on civic leadership, supporting the PVCC and grandmother would say. Shes an honest and Charlottesville communities, encouraging loving voice of reason a Big Momma of sorts. individuals to push forward with education, and She makes sure we dont neglect ourselves while eradicating the isms of the world, quoted from advocating for others. She also helps to connect Payne. Students can help by supporting local us with mental health resources beyond the halls organizations like BSA and being a resource for of PVCC if more support is needed, said Payne. change. BSA has several events in the works. We Like most advocacy organizations, our needs will be releasing a calendar of events on our club are quite simple, yet difficult to obtain. We need page (https://www.pvcc.edu/black-student- bodies. We need active members. We need people alliance) within the coming weeks. We also who are willing to commit to participating in announce events on our Facebook page (https:// events and we need people to carry the m.facebook.com/pvccbsa/). Weve spent most of conversations sparked out into the larger world. this semester formulating, organizing, and We need amplification via people engaging, said restructuring the club itself but we have many Payne. awesome things on the horizon. There is one Anyone interested in joining BSA should initiative that I am incredibly excited about. contact the club officers whose contact Unfortunately, I cant provide the big scoop as information is listed below: its just reaching the final stages of planning before implementation, said Payne. Members Sheketra Payne, president: and those who are interested in joining the Black bsapresident010@gmail.com Student Alliance are encouraged to attend Amelia Davis, vice president: meetings to get involved and be in the know of basvicepresident010@gmail.com the most up-to-date information on BSA events. Kerri Gentius, secretary: As parting words, Payne said, I want to stress bsasecretary010@gmail.com that while BSA is Black centered, we are not a Page 19 PVCCs LGBT+ Club Champions Diversity Maxwell Walpole, staff writer As a public community college, PVCC is naturally a diverse place, home to students from all walks of life. However, when surrounded by so many different people, the unique struggles facing some of the most vulnerable members of our community are often overlooked. This is the reason why PVCCs LGBT+ club exists, to spread awareness of the everyday challenges faced by the students in this club, and to strengthen their bond with the wider community. According to club Faculty Adviser Professor of English Dr. Jessica Kingsley, The club also seeks to support the college in various ways, such as volunteering during voter registration day, and participating in Club Day and Spring Fling. Finally, the club hopes to help its members meet new friends. At 20 members, each club meeting is filled with activity and conversation. At the beginning of every meeting, the club president first checks in with the members to see how they are doing, then the president moves on to discussing any upcoming events. In the past, club members have participated in PVCC's voter registration drive, hosted a Halloween Trunk or Treat event, hosted a booth at Spring Fling, had a coming-out day event, among other events, said Kingsley. After the planning sessions for future activities conclude, the club meeting transitions to an open discussion period. Here, club members can discuss any number of topics, from the problems that they face like discrimination from family and peers, to current events, to what classes they are taking this semester. For students not interested in discussion, they can opt to play games instead. While the club is currently on hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they plan to resume meetings via Zoom during the spring semester. Students interested in joining the LGBT+ club can contact Kingsley for more information at jkingsley@pvcc.edu. Creative Writing Brings Writers Together Chris Kreitzman, staff writer Led by Professor of English Jennifer Koster, the Creative Writing club began in 2006. It started as the Poetry Club and has been called Writers Unite! The Creative Writing Club at PVCC. We often just call it the Creative Writing Club. Its easier. said PVCC student and club member Yanir Haim. The goal of the Creative Writing Club, in the words of Haim, is to provide [a] community for people interested in creative writing. We write each time we meet, and we run a couple of contests at the collegethe 600-Word Short Story Contest, Peep-o-Rama [dioramas made out of Peeps that illustrate a favorite scene from a book], and we publish the colleges literary magazine [The Fall Line]. Haim shared what he found to be the most interesting part of the club. Our literary magazine has become increasingly professional and collaborative. The Advanced Computer Graphics class designs several versions, we choose our favorite, and then incorporate student art into it. It is also professionally published. We have readings, too. One year, we had Rita Dove, UVA Professor of Poetry and former U.S. Poet Laureate, read. Those in the Creative Writing Club urge others to join because it is a great place where students can practice creative writing, get to share and expose one another to different types of writing, and encourage each other to practice writing in their small friendly group. With all the different kinds of stories that club members write, if it is short stories, poems, creative nonfiction, or if one just likes to read, PVCCs Creative Writing Club is the place to be. For those who want to share their creative thoughts, make friends, and bring stories to life on paper, this is the go-to place. For questions, meeting times, or how to join, email them at literarymagazine@pvcc.edu, or club adviser Jennifer Koster at jkoster@pvcc.edu Page 20 Pickup Ultimate Frisbee Returns to PVCC Zhaire Roberson, staff writer John Gulley, associate professor of philosophy and staff adviser to the Ultimate Frisbee team, discussed the next steps for PVCCs Ultimate Frisbee team. PVCC Ultimate has been around for over ten years now, and prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, we consistently held games of casual pick-up ultimate, said Gulley. Each year, new students join the team with a different level of skill and athleticism. The degree of student participation and competitiveness of our teams has varied over the years, but the goal has stayed the same," said Gulley, "Creating the opportunity for new and experienced players of all abilities to get together for pickup Ultimate. The team works collectively to achieve their shared purpose of having fun, while also letting everyone play who wants to. The team Facebook page has further information. In the past, the Ultimate Frisbee club traveled to other schools and tournaments to play. "We traveled to a few tournaments years ago, and coordinated scrimmages with some university teams, but in the last few years we have just enjoyed weekly practices, said Gulley. It is difficult for teams to practice together currently, due to the COVID-19 regulations put on sports. We do not currently have practices and that will continue through the spring semester most likely," said Gulley, "Play will most likely return in the fall 2021 semester but sadly probably not return before then due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some sports teams can hold socially distanced practices while other teams, like Ultimate Frisbee, depend heavily on teammates remaining in close contact with one another and their opponents. Socially distanced play will not work as we almost always play tight one-on-one defense," said Gulley. In regards to trying out for the team, Gulley said, Try-outs are not required and PVCC Ultimate is open to all. New players are especially encouraged to come out. We will teach you the basics. Friendship and Fellowship with CRU Evan Green, staff writer One of the many clubs at PVCC is a Faithbased group called CRU. CRU is a non-denominational Christian-based group. They have organized some events that happened in the past like Fall hangout/cookout on campus, movie nights, corn mazes, bowling, and Fall Retreat. CRU member Asley McCready said, Fall Retreat is an annual event where we all go on a retreat and stay at a camp with UVA Cru. We are gone for a weekend and students get to participate in a program and various activities. CRU does not have any major events coming up, but they do meet every Friday at noon at Barracks Road Shopping Center in front of Five Guys to hangout and have lunch. Plus, on Wednesdays, they have a virtual bible study. McCready also said, My absolute favorite thing to do is go to Panama City during spring break, we will go and share the gospel and meet students from other schools as well. As a group, CRU said, Some favorite things we do as Cru are our community events and opportunities to go on Summer missions and conferences. All through the semester, we visit conferences that teach students leadership and how to share the gospel in a workplace setting, and during the summer, our students have the opportunity to live on a mission, either in the states or overseas. CRU wanted everyone to know that One major thing about Cru is we want to serve. We want to have served hearts and for everyone to walk away from Cru feeling like they have the tools and training to share the gospel in whatever environment they end up in. For more information, please contact: Student President Ashley Hovey: ajh2598@email.vccs.edu, ashley.hovey@cru.org; or Club Adviser: Andr Luck, aluck@pvcc.edu. Page 21 The Queens Gambit Miniseries Review Chris Kreitzman, staff writer said previously, she's done magnificent in any film she's been a part of because of how much she The plot of mini-series The Queens Gambit, dedicates to her roles, from Split to Glass to based on the 1983 novel by Walter Tevis, says in Thoroughbreds to The New Mutants to The a Netflix description, Abandoned and entrusted VVitch, but I honestly think her role as Beth to a Kentucky orphanage in the late 1950s, a Harmon in The Queens Gambit is her best young Beth Harmon (Anya Taylor-Joy) discovers performance yet. Her flaws, her struggles, her an astonishing talent for chess while developing humor, her heart, and the downright incredible an addiction to tranquilizers provided by the state character development from episodes 1 to 7, as a sedative for the children. Taylor-Joy gives a great Haunted by her personal demons performance portraying all these and fueled by a cocktail of traits in Beth Harmon and gives her narcotics and obsession, Beth so much life as the character is transforms into an impressively taken on a rollercoaster ride of ups skilled and glamorous outcast and downs through each riveting while determined to conquer the episode. traditional boundaries established This is by no means a fast paced in the male-dominated world of show; It is a very slow burn, yet I competitive chess. still couldn't take my eyes off the I needed to take a little while to screen with every episode I put on. fully process my feelings and know And I wasnt the only one who my thoughts on The Queen's adored this show. Its been getting Gambit, and without a single shred endless praise since first of doubt, it is one of the best things premiering, such as the rare 100% Netflix has put out this entire year. score on the Rotten Tomatoes The sole reason I was excited website and glowing reviews like for this at first was because of one by The Harvard Crimons Emi Anya Taylor-Joy. And while she P. Cummings, saying, Adapted Screenshot taken by from Walter Tevis 1983 did magnificent (as she usually Chris Kreitzman bildungsroman of the same name, the does), I loved everything about this show. I was surprised at how completely invested show is not a treacly melodrama; instead, it is a I was, and how quickly, for that matter. The plot reinvigorated variation of a sports narrative, the was intriguing and the characters were likable, sport being chess and the athlete being fictional given their unique personalities and great chess prodigy Beth Harmon (embodied by the chemistry between the stars. And boy was this exceptional Anya Taylor-Joy). Taylor-Joy is show emotionally satisfying. supported by a stellar cast whose refined Despite playing chess, I did not think I would performances and superb chemistry present a be interested in a show focused on the game. But convincing look into the 1960s chess scene. every second the clock was ticking had me on Despite being centered around an occasionally edge, and that suspense is yet another thing thats dull game, The Queens Gambit is unfailingly nailed to absolute perfection. Even with the thrilling, endearing, smart, and somehow a seemingly mundane subject, the show is bit sexy. engaging. Both the game itself and the events The Queen's Gambit is such a fantastic, revolving around the lead character keep you emotional, exciting, intense, cheer-worthy miniwondering how each scene will play out and what series drama one of the best you'll find in will happen to the protagonist. anything new TV-related. For those who have Speaking of that main character, I couldn't Netflix, it was released on Oct. 23 and is currently just talk about this wonderful show without streaming, so I urge any subscribers to check out mentioning the astounding Anya Taylor-Joy. As I this show. It is definitely one not to be missed. Page 22 The Mandalorian Returns to Disney+ Ginger Hood, assistant editor After a year of waiting, the much anticipated second season of The Mandalorian began its release on Disney+ on Oct. 30. With a release schedule of one episode every Friday, the eight episode season is already quickly nearing its end. Many fans had high expectations for the second season after its award winning predecessor expectations that, so far, it has had no trouble living up to. With all the familiar stylings of a space western, The Mandalorian stays thematically in line with its first season without rehashing the same plot points over again. The show balances its existing characters with new characters nicely and even introduces some familiar faces for fans of other installments in the greater Star Wars canon. The second season is generally much more involved in the existing Star Wars universe, establishing a clearer timeline for the show and losing some of the standalone feel of its previous episodes. Photos courtesy of Disney+ However, the plot is not the only noteworthy difference. Where the first seasons soundtrack was good, the second seasons soundtrack is great - the original Mandalorian theme still heavily Photos courtesy of Disney+ influences the sound, but there are plenty of other notable motifs throughout each episode. Ludwig Gransson does each scene justice with his compositions, from the soft twinkling of The Childs curiosity to the stabbing synthesizers, frantic strings, and threatening percussion of the Mandalorians multiple fight scenes. The new season is also visually stunning, showcasing the beautiful landscapes characteristic of Star Wars and the meticulously crafted character designs of friend and foe alike. The setting of each episode is gorgeous to look at, even on planets covered in oppressive fog or devoid of most scenery besides sand. Additionally, the designs of the aliens populating the world of The Mandalorian have stepped up a notch, especially the designs of the various sentient humanoids of the galaxys outer rim. Even the concept art shown during the credits of each episode is worth sticking around for. Overall, The Mandalorians second season lives up to the expectation set by its previous episodes, and is even higher quality in some areas. The whole show is definitely worth a watch, whether you are a fan of Star Wars or completely new to the franchise. The Mandalorian is available for streaming on Disney+, where the season two finale is set to be released on Dec. 18. Page 23 North Street Press Club Doesnt Disappoint Chelsei Moore, staff writer Imagine having a meal that is so delicious that it becomes natural to completely ignore all the empty calories being consumed. I am here to talk about the best hidden restaurant in Farmville, Virginia. This mystical place with decadent menu options, great hours, exceptional staff, and the quickest service around is called North Street Press Club. Located at 127 North Street, the building may go unnoticed (since it still proudly shows the Farmville Printing signage). North Street Press Club, locally known as Press, has boosted its standards for cleanliness and safety with new VDH Guidelines to combat COVID-19. These measures include marking off certain tables and seating areas to maintain social distancing, requiring all guests to enter wearing masks, and setting up sanitizing stations for patrons. The hostess even displayed a lovely example of how to dress when coming in to dine. The staff has even implemented a checkpoint out front to ensure the rules are being met. With multicultural menu options that range Photography by Chelsei Moore Photography by Chelsei Moore from juicy, flavorful cheeseburgers to honey sriracha infused salmon, the menu will not disappoint even the pickiest of eaters. For those who have a favorable pallet for kimchi, I would recommend the Big Bang Chicken Sandwich ($12). It is a beautifully golden fried chicken breast with a drizzle of honey sriracha, topped with a kimchi slaw to die for, on a brioche bun with sriracha mayo and candied peppers, served up with your choice of waffle or crinkle cut fries. For those who have visited, it would be an injustice not to mention how beautiful the kitchen is set up. The display of tropical plants and sleek chrome appliances is truly a sight to acknowledge. The next time youre in the Farmville area, I guarantee if you stop by you will not be disappointed. As I mentioned before, North Street Press Club has the best hours, service, staff, and food around. Do not hesitate to stop by. Their hours are Monday-Saturday 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; Sunday 9:30 a.m. to Page 24 Lime Leaf: Thai Food Worth Talking About Zhaire Roberson, staff writer As COVID-19 continues to disrupt the country and people yearn for normalcy, it is no surprise that eating establishments have opened up. Many restaurant owners hope to gain back lost business to stay afloat. Most restaurants have taken a big hit since the start of the pandemic and as a result have either cut back on portion sizes or increased the prices of their food. Lime Leaf Thai Restaurant is not one of those restaurants. Photography by Zhaire Roberson I ordered some carry out from Lime Leaf Thai Restaurant this week and was more than happy with the quality of the food, the pricing, and the portion size. I ordered my carry out over the phone, which was very easy and efficient. You can place your order by calling 434-245-8884, or by visiting their website: limeleafsiam.com. My food was ready within 15 minutes of calling in my order, and all I had to do was go into the restaurant and pay. Lime Leaf Thai is not like most Thai restaurants in Charlottesville; it has a variety of authentic Thai dishes at an affordable price. Entrees range from $11 to $29, while small plates and appetizers range from $4 to $10. The restaurant is nestled between Tropical Smoothie and Skrimp Shack in the Rio Hill Shopping Center off Route 29. The address is 1958 Rio Hill Center, Charlottesville, Va. 22901. From the outside, the restaurant looks ordinary, however, upon entering the friendly staff greet the customer. The staff is accommodating, and they will ensure that each person walks out of their establishment with everything they want. Lime Leaf Thai Restaurant offers lunch 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Lunch is offered from noon to 2:30 p.m. on Sundays. Dinner hours are 5 p.m.- 9:00 p.m. Tuesday - Sunday. On Mondays, Lime Leaf is closed. Although indoor seating is closed and tables are pushed back, there is no doubt that customers eyes will still be drawn to the huge airbrushed paintings which make up most of the wall decor in the restaurant. The aroma of bay leaves and other herbs fill the space. The ambient music that plays throughout the entire eatery is soothing and creates an incredibly relaxing atmosphere for all who enter the restaurant. The restaurant is clean and has an open floor plan. This week, I got the Stir-Fried Noodles with beef. It cost $12 and it was prepared and executed beautifully. Stir-Fried Noodles is a noodle dish that is made with wide rice noodles that are stirfried in a light brown sauce with broccoli and egg. It sounds very simple, but when all the ingredients come together they are perfectly balanced. The sweetness of the brown sauce combined with the savory egg and seasoned broccoli creates a very light flavor. The grilled smokiness of the beef combined with the sweetness of the noodles creates an explosion of goodness in the mouth. The dish does not contain any peanuts and is not spicy at all. Spice can be added, upon request. The portion of the dish is quite large, and I actually could not eat it all in one sitting. I saved half of it for the next day. I reheated it in my nonstick pan, and it was just as good. Overall, I give Lime Leaf four stars. The restaurant is excellent not only by food quality standards but also by cleanliness standards. The food is consistently good and affordable. The atmosphere is extremely positive; the staff is not only helpful but also kind, and the service is brilliant. The only thing that would make Lime Leaf better is if they had curbside pick up or were on a food delivery app like GrubHub or UberEats. Page 25 Wren Bolick, Comic Artist Page 26 Lauren Cottrell, Comic Artist Page 27 Classifieds Contact Us The Forum 501 College Dr. Charlottesville, VA 22902 twhyte@pvcc.edu www.piedmontforum.com The Forum offers classified space to the PVCC community free of charge. Please send announcements along with full name, email, and phone number to: twhyte@pvcc.edu. The Forum Staff (Listed alphabetically) Assistant Editors Jude Bolick Ginger Hood Staff Writers/Copyeditors Jude Bolick Chris Kreitzman Evan Green Jessica L. Hladky Ginger Hood Chelsei Moore Zhaire Roberson Max Walpole William Waugh Comic Artists Wren Bolick Lauren Cottrell Faculty Advisor Dr. Tamara Whyte Check us out on social media @PVCCForum The Forum is a voice for all students. Accordingly, materials published in The Forum, including any opinions expressed, should not be interpreted as the position of the VCCS, Piedmont Virginia Community College, or any stakeholder thereof. The paper welcomes letters to the editor, guest columns, questions, photography or any other ideas or submissions one may have for the upcoming publications. Please contact twhyte@pvcc.edu with any questions.  ...

... Read more at: Piedmontforum.com Piedmont Virginia Community College Fall 2020 Celebrating Success: Online Graduation during Coronavirus Jude Bolick, assistant editor On August 17, PVCC hosted a virtual graduation ceremony followed by a campus drive -through in order to safely honor the graduates during the Coronavirus. The virtual ceremony began streaming on the PVCC website at 2 p.m. The footage was then made available on PVCCs YouTube page. The drive-through took place from 4:30-6 p.m. on the same day. PVCC faculty and staff lined College Drive to cheer on the graduates, during which 58th District Delegate Rob Bell made a special guest appearance. Participants were given gift bags filled with PVCC swag. Everything were doing now is different than weve done it before, said Andrew Renshaw, the dean of student services at PVCC, who planned the event. Check out the kitten cuteness on page 9 The virtual ceremony was pre-recorded but has the feeling of a live production. The ceremony included speakers, a commencement address given by Mark Warner, and a speech from Frank Friedman, the president of PVCC. Some parts of it will be the same as a traditional graduation ceremony, said Renshaw in an interview prior to the ceremony. There are things that we need to do with a virtual ceremony, but we need to move through it in a way that is sensitive to the fact that people will be watching it online. Instead of having students walk across the stage, each student had a personalized slide with their name, degree, and Latin honor, which were compiled into a slideshow of all the graduates. Students were given the option to send in a picture to add to their slide. A professional speaker read the slides to honor the graduates. In This Issue PVCC President Dr. Frank Friedman speaking during the virtual graduation ceremony. PVCC Events -pg. 2 BSA Open Letter -pg. 4 Clubs Fitness One Book -pg. 11 New Faculty -pg. 13 Reviews Classifieds -pgs. 6-7 -pg. 8 -pgs. 15-16 -pg. 24 DATES TO REMEMBER Editors Note Advanced Manufacturing: Personalized, SkillBased Education Leading to a Fulfilling Career * Sept. 15, 6:30 p.m., virtual Race, Sex, and the 19th Amendment: Cautionary Tales and ModelsAn Intersectional Suffrage Centennial Zoom Panel * Sept. 17, 12:30-1:45 p.m., virtual Turning Point USA at PVCC guest speaker Congressman Denver Riggleman * Sept. 18, 11-11:45 a.m., virtual Classical Banjoist John Bullard Performance Sept. 19, 7:30 p.m., Dickinson Main Stage College Hour Alumni Career Chat * Sept. 23, noon to 1 p.m., virtual Iconoclasm and Insurgents in Syria Guest Speaker * Sept. 23, noon to 1 p.m., virtual BSA Hosts: Pain into Poetry * Sept. 28, 8-11 p.m., virtual One Book Event: Kim Forde-Mazrui discusses constitutional law and racial profiling * Sept. 28, noon to 1 p.m., virtual UVA Virtual Information Session for Transfer Students * Oct. 2, noon to 1:30 p.m., virtual Tom Teasley, Drumming Through Cultures & Time Oct. 17, 7:30 p.m., Dickinson Main Stage The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, featuring Tom Teasley Oct. 18, 3 p.m., Dickinson Main Stage One Book Event: Black Lives Matter, Policing, and Freedom of Speech in Charlottesville * Oct. 19, noon to 1 p.m., virtual * Free Event Page 2 Ginger Hood, assistant editor When most young children play pretend, they imagine themselves as warriors, or royalty, or members of a family. When I was younger, I liked to pretend to be a journalist. I was not a reliable source by any means; all my stories were made up to be presented on the spot. I had no concept of ethical journalistic practice but I was enamored with the world of journalism. I was homeschooled for most of my life, and I often chose to publish athome newspapers as part of my schoolwork. But when I was thirteen, it became clear that I had to move on to public school. I was ready to take any chance to avoid high school, so after a year of deliberation, I enrolled at PVCC at the beginning of 2019. In the spring semester of 2020, English was low on my list of priorities. The class that fit best with my schedule was English 121 Introduction to Journalism. I showed up to my first day of class not knowing what to expect, feeling a little like a comic book characters secret identity, and I walked out with a new fire ignited under my dormant interest in journalism from my early childhood. It was one of the best classes Id ever taken, and it made me feel much more engaged in life as a college student. Even those who dont want to pursue journalism can get valuable information and skills for their everyday lives from taking a journalism class or joining The Forum club. Understanding how journalism and the media works and being equipped with the tools to read news analytically is important now more than ever, and I recommend getting involved with The Forum to any student interested in learning. Student Government Association News Page 3 Open Letter to Dr. Friedman from the BSA Dear Dr. Freidman: On June 2, 2020, you issued a letter detailing how recent episodes of civil unrest a response to the modern-day lynchings of black and brown peoples at the hands of police captured your attention. As a student at Piedmont Community College (PVCC), a Proud Black woman, and the newly elected president of the Black Student Alliance (BSA), I am glad you acknowledge the injustices plaguing people of color and welcome your efforts in promoting equality. Our club is dedicated to dismantling the isms of the world. We elevate, amplify, encourage, and protect the narratives and voices of people of color. We welcome anyone who shares these goals and are committed to combatting the systemic, oppressive structures that saturate society. Our work also celebrates the diverse perspectives that come with intersectionality, which is why we partner with other campus clubs and community organizations to champion a world of true equality. Dr. Friedman, you closed your letter with a call to action for each and every one of us in the PVCC Community to stand against a system that has historically promoted racism and bigotry; the BSA has accepted your challenge. We want you to know the best defense against oppression of any kind is to humanize the survivors and empathize with their stories and experiences. Therefore, we would like to focus your attention on the areas of education surrounding race and racism, fostering an environment of honest and open communication, and investing in staff enrichment and diversity. These recommendations were compiled by students based on our shared experiences during our tenure at PVCC. We believe if the administration were to concentrate efforts on these key topics, PVCC would be on a path Page 4 towards a more welcoming, diverse campus, and a better tomorrow. Racism is an incredibly difficult and sometimes uncomfortable topic of discussion. But if you ask any student of color how racism is approached in their classes, many will express a lack of experience completely or an experience that registers as unsatisfactory. Sadly, discussions with educators and staff will likely reveal results that are steeped in the same discomfort. It is with this in mind that the BSA recommends the college host or encourage faculty and staff to attend a training and/or seminar about racism in education covering topics such as how to discuss it, how to diffuse tensions in classroom settings, and how to educate others about racism in a manner that does not cause students to feel invalidated. It would be remiss of us not to address the ways in which racism can affect the curriculum as it exists in course materials. The medical field, for instance, has long held the myth that Blacks and Whites perceive pain differently a statement that is ludicrous to us because there is no scientific evidence to support this belief, yet a nursing textbook published by Pearson in 2017 attempted to categorize pain perception based on ethnicity an idea that perpetuates the notion of alterity on a basic human level. This is but one example of how racism can be hidden in curriculums and have dangerous consequences. In response, we recommend the college establish a committee to examine our current curriculum and textbooks for outdated, biased, and/or ambiguous information that can be easily misconstrued and misrepresented. A panel consisting of a variety of professors as well as members of the staff would be best. We ask that this committee recommend replacement textbooks and/or curriculum guide points for professors. These endeavors would arm the faculty, students, and staff with Open Letter continued the proper approaches to race within their disciplines of study. There is the added benefit of knowing those employed at PVCC would be equipped with the absolute best tools to handle the large issues of our society today a benefit that would not only make them invaluable to us but potentially make PVCC the model for the rest of the Virginia Community College System (VCCS). PVCC is a beacon within the community. Knowing just how influential our tight-knit college is, the college should host a deliberative dialogue on race and racism. Last years deliberative dialogue on gun control sparked many passionate and important conversations on and off-campus while allowing us a glimpse into the personal (humanized) experiences of those around us. Due to the rising civil unrest in the country, now is the perfect time for such a discussion. We feel PVCC is the ideal venue we have the space, several members of staff dedicated to a more equitable world, and most importantly, we have the ability to draw in representatives of every demographic within our community. For us, it just makes perfect sense and were hopeful that you can see the vision as well. Your letter referenced the value statement of the college We seek to promote an understanding and appreciation of differences by creating an inclusive environment embracing individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and aspirations. One of the things that makes PVCC such a wonderfully unique and special place is just how diverse the student body is. One can quickly find their tribe on grounds with ease. We wish that same diversity was reflected in the staff. While PVCC has a tremendously talented staff, the diversity of it does not quite ring true with our value statement. If PVCC is truly seeking to foster an inclusive environment that welcomes individuals with diverse backgrounds, we would like to see it reflected in the recruitment of qualified candidates of color especially with respect to faculty. We are well aware this is an ongoing process and one that is quite an endeavor. We want you to know, Dr. Freidman, that we arent asking for increased diversity on campus with the expectation that it will occur overnight. We are simply asking that the college consider ways to improve the staff and faculty diversity in the years to come. We believe in working hand in hand with the school and the community to eradicate the isms of the world. We understand at times it can feel like a futile battle; every day seems to birth new challenges, setbacks, and difficult moments; however, we also understand what is at stake. We understand just how and why those before us carried the torch and we share in those same dreams. We understand that freedom aint free and that if we do not push and persist nothing will ever change. As a club filled with passionate members from differing backgrounds, we also understand the power of unity. Ive spent most of this letter detailing demands, so to speak, and would like to, now, change the tone. We are crafting a calendar of events that supports all of the endeavors we asked you to undertake if you decide to implement them (no pressure). As the BSA President, I personally invite you, Dr. Friedman, and your administration to attend of our Wednesday meetings and any of the many events we have planned for the upcoming semester. We are thankful for your consideration and are awaiting your response. Sincerely, Miss Sheketra S. Payne PVCC Black Student Alliance President Page 5 Get Your Voice Out There, Join the Forum Club Amy Laufer, staff writer What is going on at PVCC? If you want an answer to that question, read The Forum. The Forum is the official newspaper of PVCC, published by The Forum Club. Club president Jessica Adkins said, The Forum is a space for people who like to write articles but dont want to take a class. The Forum Club produces eight newspapers each academic year and publications such as the Voters Guide for the PVCC community. Ari Oxford, an assistant editor, said, Its an opportunity to get your voice out there. The articles are written by club members as well as students in the journalism classes. The club meets on Tuesdays or Wednesdays depending on member schedules and when The Forum needs to be published. They will meet Sept. 16 and Oct. 14 at noon on Zoom (https:// tinyurl.com/PVCCForum). . You do not need to attend meetings to be part of the club. There are approximately 20 members and all receive a Press Pass. According to the website, students can take part through writing, photography, drawing, editing, and design. The Forum staff advisor, Dr. Tamara Whyte, is an associate professor of English. She teaches journalism classes and encourages class members Clark, an assistant editor of The Forum, at a Forum Club meeting. Photography by Amy Laufer. to join the club. Many club members come from the journalism class, including Ginger Hood. Hood said, I want to be a journalist and dont want it to end after the class is over. Whyte said of the club, We like it to be lowkey. There is a snack at every meeting, we do a field trip every year, and plan events as well as publish The Forum. To plan an issue of The Forum, each article title is written on a post-it note and lined up on a table to mimic the layout of the newspaper. The Forum is an opportunity for students to gain journalism experience while socializing with others who enjoy writing. The field trips and events include visiting Newseum in D.C. and hosting speakers. Assistant editor Cody Clark said, The club helped me figure out what I want to do with my life. If you want to be informed and know what is going on at PVCC, grab a copy of The Forum. If you want to get your voice out there, join The Forum Club and write the articles. Two print issues of The Forum, Dec 2019 (left) and For more information, contact the clubs Feb 2020 (right). These editions, along with many others, can be found on The Forum website. faculty adviser, Dr. Tamara Whyte at Photography by Amy Laufer. twhyte@pvcc.edu. Page 6 Board Game Club: Let the Games Begin Jude Bolick, assistant editor are treated with respect, and fellow members are careful to not lose any pieces. Every Tuesday from 3-7 p.m. during most Students are not the only people playing. semesters, the third floor of the Dickinson Faculty, high schoolers, and retired long-term building is alive with energy. The circular tables members of the club also play, making for a are covered with games of all types and sizes, and richly diverse group. The atmosphere is inviting several more lay stacked and pressed against the and relaxed, making for a fun, carefree experience walls for later use. The PVCC Game Club is in for all. session. The game variety is just as diverse, from long Although the club meeting does not officially strategic board games to quick and easy-to-learn start until 3 p.m., members can be seen playing card games. On occasion, Glassco will also bring games as early as 2 p.m. in trial versions of his latest Anyone who wants to play games to test them before is encouraged to join in the sending them off to game fun, even if they are not companies, giving the signed up for the club. A members of the Game Club typical crowd consists of a part in the games creation, ten to twelve people, either along with being some of the playing a large game that first to ever play it. goes up to that many Were in a golden age of players, or split off into board games, Glassco said. several smaller groups. More people are playing Board games are a than ever. good way of practicing Due to the campus social skills, said Dr. closing in March because of A board game by Bruce Glassco. What starts off as cooperative exploration of Bruce Glassco, an English the Coronavirus, the Game a haunted house goes awry when one professor at PVCC and the Club has stopped meeting, of the players turns traitor. faculty advisor of the but Glassco has high hopes Photography by Jude Bolick. PVCC Game Club. He was for the upcoming fall formerly the president of the Game Club at UVA, semester. which inspired him to host one at PVCC after Over the summer, Ive been researching getting hired there. different online gaming platforms that would let He is also a game designer and has created us meet virtually once this semester starts up twenty games, along with an additional three that again, Glassco said in a recent email. The have been published. His first and arguably most platform that seems to have the most potential is successful game, Betrayal at House on the Hill, is called Boardgamearena.com. Its free, and it has a popular choice at Game Club as well. His other digital versions of many of the games we play all published games are Mystery! Motive for Murder the time...Some of the games require one player and Fantasy Realms. to have a paid membership, but I have paid, so Because the meeting place is located close to that shouldnt be a problem. the offices on the third floor, the noise is an Glassco also proposed that a Discord session ongoing problem. However, as long as inside could be made to allow members to chat while voices are used and no screaming breaks out, playing. there are no issues. Sometimes, though, during a The meeting time for the club has also shifted particularly intense game, this can be difficult to to accommodate a shift in Glasscos schedule, accomplish. with the next meeting set to take place from 1-4 Members of the PVCC Game Club are p.m. on Tuesdays. encouraged to bring their own games, adding to the choices available both for the game and for For more information, contact Bruce Glassco the number of players it goes up to. All the games at bglassco@pvcc.edu. Page 7 Fitness from Home: Tips on Staying Active Jude Bolick, assistant editor Since the quarantine started, people have been encouraged to stay home as much as possible to avoid spreading the coronavirus. With classes moving online and most businesses cutting hours or closing, it can be hard to get in the daily exercise needed to stay healthy. Even if you are not a gym regular, the lack of physical activity can start to have a lot of negative effects. Luckily, there are many different exercises that can be done from home that require no special equipment and are flexible enough that they can work for both beginners and experts. I think that exercise is one of the most important activities that we as humans can engage in at all times, but its need is enhanced by the current coronavirus pandemic, said Nicholas LaCasse, the PVCC Fitness Center operations specialist and former PVCC student. Its so easy to fall into a funk when you cant leave home and our entire lives as Americans is completely upside down. Exercise combats this and also allows you to relieve stress, which is a common immune system enemy. Exercise not only improves physical health, it is also a great way of relieving stress. By making a point to work out a little every day, we can live happier and healthier lives. There are many different exercises that can be done at home, and they require no special equipment. All that is needed is a routine and a drive to complete it. LaCasse boils these choices down to two categories, offering example routines and tips on how to customize to make it easier or harder, or to simply start from scratch. These two formulas are circuits and supersets. The first workout structure is the circuit, which involves alternating different exercises with breaks of a simple repetitive exercise in a loop pattern. Circuit training is an incredibly efficient way to train your body as it allows you to build muscle strength and endurance while also getting your cardio built in, LaCasse said. His example routine is as follows: Push Ups 30 seconds, 10 seconds of jumping jacks, Squats 30 seconds, 10 seconds of jumping jacks, Pull Ups 30 seconds, 10 Page 8 seconds of jumping jacks. After taking a one-minute break, repeat the circuit until satisfied. The time can also be substituted for reps. The possibilities are endless. This is a very basic example of what one section of a circuit may look like, LaCasse said. As you get more advanced, you can change the time intervals for each exercise, the variation or intensity of each, and how the exercises are paired. With their flexibility and adaptability to different skill levels, along with their easy repetition, circuits are a great choice for everyone looking to stay active. Another possible workout structure is the superset, which involves repeatedly performing two exercises back to back. His example routine is as follows: First Superset, Pushups 10 reps, Pullups 10 reps. Second Superset, Squats 10 reps, Hamstring Curls 10 reps. Although this is a basic example, it still shows the general concept. Unlike circuits, supersets are meant to be done continuously and without breaks in between each round. Supersets are simply repeated until the end of the routine. By supersetting, you are allowing the muscles you just worked in the first exercise to rest while working the opposite muscles, LaCasse said. That way your rest periods are built in, so to speak. When it comes to this stuff, I think circuit training is probably the most beneficial to everyone, LaCasse said. It is extremely accessible due to the ability to change the number of exercises, the intervals, the rest periods, and the number of times you complete the circuits. I would recommend a beginner attempt to complete their circuit at least twice. The goal is for you to eventually complete your circuits 4-6 times when you work out. This will usually take about 30-45 minutes once you get there. Whether youre new to working out or a gym regular, exercise is critical for all, especially in these trying times. By setting aside time to go through a few circuits or complete some supersets, we can promote our health and happiness to get us through. Pets on Zoom Make Classes Cute Ginger Hood, staff writer The transition to online learning at PVCC has been a challenging and confusing one for teachers and students alike. Many of PVCCs quarantine policies and resources have been based around the academic needs of students. However, it is also important to consider the social needs of students while self-isolating. One thing I found helpful to my online school experience has been taking some time after online meetings for students to stick around and socialize with each other. Giving students optional time to connect, discuss points made in class, complain about the quarantine, and share stories with each other has greatly improved class meetings and general motivation to do schoolwork. It is a great practice for boosting the morale of classes that meet on Zoom. Sprocket, one of the frequently featured pets on Zoom. Photography by Ginger Hood. However, my personal highlight of this social time has been my classmates showing off our pets to each other. It began when I missed after class giving a mini show and tell on their a homework deadline for the birth of a kitten in animals. I am not the only one who enjoys an my house, and it snowballed into each pet owner after class not-so-national geographic special on quarantined pets Jude Bolick (and her ferrets) enjoy this opportunity too. Its very nice to see how everything has kind of shut down, but a cat is still having kittens, Bolick said. Everything is closed, but theres still happy kitten land. Life goes on. This practice is not just enjoyed by those that have kittens or ferrets to flaunt another classmate, Jan Newcomb, appreciates the furry friends. I have a lot of anxiety, and I dont have a pet, Newcomb said, at least I can still see pets in videos. Students who opted to spend extra time on zoom connecting with classmates seemed satisfied with their decision, especially after kittens became a regular occurrence. Even the teacher behind the hang-out time, Dr. Tamara Whyte, appreciates the chance to fawn over quarantined pets. Whyte summed up the addition of animals to zoom meetings in seven short words: The animals make us feel more Sprocket all grown up. human. Photography by Ginger Hood. Page 9 How To Identify Misinformation Online Amy Laufer, staff writer Now more than ever we need reliable information. When you are scrolling through Facebook or Twitter or just Googling information, there are a variety of resources constantly popping up. When almost anyone can be a publisher of information, it is hard to know what is real and what is not. Thankfully, Crystal Newell, director of library services at PVCC, is here to help. Newell says, My best advice is to have a healthy level of skepticism when reading news articles from unknown sources. When reading articles or information, Newell says, Keep in mind that fake news often appeals to your emotional responses, so if you feel angered or very saddened by the headline, beware. News articles should report the news more logically, with less bias, and a whole lot less emotion. The BBC has posted a video called Fake News and How to Spot It; they echo the concern that headlines that are sensational may not reflect actual news. After the headline, it is important to check the source to see if it is credible. Look for dates and research the actual website address. Looking at the website address can give you a clue to if it is real or not. For example, abcnews.com.co is likely not a credible source. If you see a web address ending in co, it is usually not a credible source. Also, check for misspellings. Sometimes that can be the easiest way to spot fake news. Another way to check for fake news is a technique called lateral reading. Newell says, If you are not familiar with the source, then read about the topicin other publications. Lateral reading means that you research the subject matter in other publications. After researching the subject, research people mentioned in the article and the author in other publications. Also, research the source of the material. As you uncover this information, you may validate or contradict the information you are reading. The incidence of misinformation and fake news is not new, it is just more easily circulated Page 10 with social media. As reported by Forbes magazine, a recent Pew Research Center report states that 55% of U.S. adults now get their news from social media either often or sometimes. As the Pew Researchs reporters noted, Social media is now a part of the news diet of an increasingly large share of the U.S. population. Knowing that most people take in most of their information from social media, a BBC video about how to spot fake news (https:// www.bbc.com/news/av/stories-51974040) suggests that you investigate who posted the article. Many accounts are not actual people. They recommend looking at the social media pictures to see if they are just stock photos, see how many times the person is posting articles, and see if the person actually interacts with other people on Twitter. If the account just reposts articles and never interacts with other people, it may be a fake account. If these techniques are just too much or you want to double check your work, there are also agencies who work to uncover fake news and misinformation. Newell says, There are quite a few of these types of organizations out there, but here are the ones I use the most: FactCheck.org; Media Bias/ Fact Check; Politifact; Snopes; and Washington Post Fact Checker. These organizations are focused on looking through information and checking them for validity. For a more extensive list of organizations that uncover fake news and how to spot it, you can go to the PVCC library website: https:// libguides.pvcc.edu/identifyfakenews. It is great that we have access to more resources and that we can share our ideas and thoughts with so many people. With this great resource, we have primarily two responsibilities: first, make sure what we are reading is credible, and second, only share credible information. As Eleanor Roosevelt said, With freedom comes responsibility, or as Uncle Ben in Spiderman said, With great power comes great responsibility. In the time of Covid 19 and beyond, let us all make sure we are reading and sharing real information. Battling Racism: The New One Book Jude Bolick, assistant editor In another review, Robin DiAngelo, a New York Times bestselling author of White Fragility, Change is happening all around with many of said, Ibram Kendi is todays visionary in the PVCCs services adjusting to accommodate for enduring struggle for racial justiceHow to Be the strange times. The One Book Program is no An Antiracist offers us a necessary and critical exception. For its ninth year, the One Book way forward. Program at PVCC will be hosting two books as PVCC has provided numerous ways to get a opposed to one: How to Be An Antiracist, by copy of the One Book. There are print copies Ibram X. Kendi, for the fall 2020 semester and available in the Betty Sue Jessup Library, but they Youre More Powerful Than You Think, by Eric are first come first serve and have limited Liu, for the spring 2021 semester. copies. There are also twenty ebooks available The original book, Youre More Powerful for checkout along with an audiobook. Than You Think, was scheduled to be the only Additionally, teachers that choose to incorporate One Book this year, but we added How to Be An the One Book into their curriculum will likely Antiracist so that we could address the pressing provide copies for their students. racial justice issues brought to the fore after the Aside from teachers using the One Book in extralegal killing of George Floyd, said Crystal their classes, there will also be several special Newell, the director of library services at PVCC. events based around the ideas presented in the According to a starred review from Publishers text, one of which is the upcoming Symposium on Weekly, How to Be An Antiracist is A boldly Racial Justice. In the spirit of national and local dialogues articulated, historically informed explanation of what exactly racist ideas and thinking are on racial injustice, PVCC is seeking to put [Kendis] prose is thoughtful, sincere, and together both a student symposium and a faculty/ polished. This powerful book will spark many staff symposium on racial justice issues, said conversations. Newell in a recent email. Both symposiums seek to give voice to the lived experience of persons of color, the frustrations, concerns, and possible reforms to the legal, financial, or educational systems that perpetuate racial inequity. All forms of expression are welcome and encouraged, from written forms such as essays and poems to visual forms such as dances, art displays, and many more. These will be collected and displayed on the PVCC website, along with the hope that they will also be shared with state and local governments. As stated on the One Book Program page on the PVCC website: The One Book Programis an institution-wide initiative whose goal is to bring together students, faculty, staff, and members of the community to read the same book and take part in activities inspired by the text. For more information, contact the One Book Program Planning Committee The cover of the One Book. Kendi is an a New York Times bestselling author, and in 2016 won the National Book at onebok@pvcc.edu or contact Crystal Award for his nonfiction book Stamped from the Beginning. Newell directly at cnewell@pvcc.edu. Page 11 Why Cant I Finish This Paper? Amy Laufer, staff writer Is it hard to get your work done? Do you procrastinate? It seems in this time of social distancing and staying at home, procrastination may be a problem many of us are facing. Sarah Surratt, adjunct instructor of student development and academic coach, recently hosted a workshop titled Procrastination, Its Not What You Think. As part of the workshop, we developed our to do list. We were asked to make a list of everything we needed to accomplish in the next 48 hours. Megan, a workshop attendee, said, I already made a list; my problem is getting started. This sentiment was echoed with many of the other participants. To address this concern, we watched a TEDX Talk with Mel Robbins, (Mel Robbins is an American television host, author, and motivational speaker.) She suggested that Procrastination is a form of stress relief and becomes a habit. Robbins believes that there are three main steps to procrastination, First you have a stress trigger, then, you avoid what you need to do, then the reward is a stress relieving habit, i.e. watching kitten videos. To stop the habit of procrastination, once you feel the stress, acknowledge your stress, try to count to five, and then work for just five minutes. Robbins said, Just work for five minutes. Studies show that once you start, you are more likely to continue and finish. With this as our background, we went back to our to do list. We divided the items into two categories: Urgent and Not Important. Surratt said, Take the list of urgent tasks and make a plan on how you will accomplish them. With the Page 12 Photography by Amy Laufer not important list, decide whether you even need to have them on a list. Once you have identified the tasks of the next 48 hours and have a plan on accomplishing them, Surratt encouraged everyone to get an accountability partner. You create a check in schedule with your partner to make sure you are completing your tasks. An accountability partner can hold you accountable for the tasks you need to accomplish, and make you more successful. When you begin the journey of accomplishing your tasks, you should develop a calendar and make a schedule. Robbins said, Successful people work on a schedule, work towards consistency in their day to day to accomplish more. So, if you are having a hard time finishing that paper, try to count to five and just work for five minutesmore than likely, you will finish it! Meet Jody Carlisle, a New Professor at PVCC Jude Bolick, assistant editor Masters degree in Business from Webster University, which he used to get a job as a teacher Starting in the fall 2020 semester, PVCC has at Texas A&M International University. He is welcomed many new faces to our community, currently pursuing a doctorate from Walden including Assistant Professor of Accounting Jody University. Carlisle. After the coronavirus pandemic cost him his Carlisle grew up around Tennessee and job at TAMIU, Carlisle began applying for other Arkansas, but after getting injured in high school teaching positions, which is when he found while playing football, he joined the army and PVCC. Having many friends in the area, he moved to California. After serving in the army, he accepted the position of assistant professor of became a police officer, attending first Gavilan accounting and moved to Virginia on August 15, College in California and then University of 2020. Mississippi. Carlisle expressed his fondness of the PVCC He then got a job at Walmart in 2003, a community in a recent interview, saying that position that he maintained for 14 years. In 2010, they seem to care more about the students Carlisle went back to school and received a learning as opposed to other colleges. The fall 2020 semester is Carlisles first semester teaching at PVCC, and he is teaching ACC 211. Although he has enjoyed his experience thus far, he would prefer in-person classes over online. I prefer face to face because its more intimate, Carlisle said. I can read the expressions and see if youre getting the concepts Im talking about. One thing that Carlisle strives for in his classes is diversity in teaching methods, putting effort into explaining the course content in different ways to assist all types of learners. I like working with different mediums because everyone learns differently, Carlisle said. Carlisle also described a program he helped run at TAMIU, called VITA, which he hopes to establish at PVCC. VITA stands for Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, Carlisle said. It is a program sponsored by the IRS, and they certify the tax preparers for free. It offers free tax return preparations for low-income families. In Laredo, we did over 6,000 returns last year and saved approximately $1 million in preparation fees for our clients. I am hoping to start the program here at PVCC this year or next depending on COVID-19. Jody Carlisle, assistant professor of accounting at PVCC. For more information, contact Photo courtesy of Jody Carlisle. Carlisle at jcarlisle@pvcc.edu. Page 13 The Hidden Jewel of Charlottesville Jane Monaghan, staff writer Nestled between Anns Nails and a Dominos Pizza in a line of brick storefronts, La Joya seems unimpressive at first glance. Often empty, with wall-mounted televisions that only play programs in Spanish, La Joya is little more than a hole-inthe-wall in Charlottesvilles food scene. But dont let the Corona beer ads, pinatas, and plasticcovered tables fool you into thinking this restaurant is tacky. In my opinion, La Joyas fare is the tastiest and most authentic Mexican food in Charlottesville, and all for prices that barely reach $14. Even after upwards of ten visits to La Joya, I am never bored by their food. From their cheesy and crispy Chimichangas ($12) to the spicy Verdes Enchiladas ($10) that I always finish too quickly, the staff at La Joya make sure there is always something new to try, and it is always something good. Besides the large, varied, and delicious entre menu, La Joya provides heaping plates of Mexican rice and beans, which are good for sides, leftovers, and midnight snacks. There are no boundaries between foods in Mexican cuisine; Photography by Jane Monaghan everything goes well with everything, so dont be afraid to swap or share dishes if youre eating with friends. Additionally, La Joya offers a vegetarian menu, and the choice between corn and flour tortillas makes it easy to go gluten-free; they ask that allergy concerns be brought to the servers attention before ordering. La Joyas location may not be glamorous, but it is easy to find. The Willoughby Square Shopping Center is behind 5 Street Station, and the short drive from PVCC is worth it, to me. My dad has no trouble driving up to the entrance to drop off my grandfather, the staff are always courteous, and best of all, the cooks are extremely speedy, so food is always served promptly. La Joya is located at 1145 5th St SW in the Willoughby Square Shopping Center, and is open from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on most days, with the exception of Friday (10:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.) and Sunday (10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.). Prices rarely exceed $16, and many dishes are under $10. th Photography by Jane Monaghan Page 14 C&O Restaurant Wows Charlottesville Amy Laufer, staff writer Downtown Charlottesville has many restaurants that you can choose from, but dont miss the inconspicuous red brick building with a heavy door at the end of the mall, C&O Restaurant. Its been around since the late 70s, but the building was part of the C&O Railway company and has been in Charlottesville much longer. In the evening, the entryway glows from the gas flames in the hanging lamps. The glow of the flames is reminiscent of walking back in time. As the door opens, the warmth of the floor to ceiling furnace made from local soapstone can be felt. Knowledgeable and friendly staff greet guests as they enter the door. Because of the historical nature of the building, there are four different dining areas, each with their own special feel. The main dining area is narrow but comfy and sits adjacent to a private space upstairs, perfect for groups. An outdoor courtyard that is shaded by trees and a pergola makes it a perfect summer location. The last, in my opinion, is the best for winter months, located in the basement. You walk down a tight staircase, and turn a corner, to be greeted by a wall of liquor which is the bar and a few tightly placed tables. The intimate setting is a perfect venue for the amazing food that you are about to experience. Much of the menu is sourced locally, so the items change with the seasons. On this particular evening, it was restaurant week in Charlottesville, so we had a fixed menu. Our first course started with short rib French onion soup, Rag Mountain smoked trout, and butternut squash tortellini, with each having a delicious and distinct flavor. Our second course was steak chinoise, duck, and seared scallops. The steak is served over finely mashed potatoes with a sauce of tamari, scallions and fresh ginger melt in your mouth. The duck is served with foie gras, which according to my companion, has a pleasant buttery taste. The scallops are served over a bed of pureed cauliflower and scallions. The final course includes toffee pudding, chocolate mousse, and Albemarle apples with ginger cake. The toffee is sweet but not too sweet and doesnt stick to your teeth. The ginger cake is the perfect companion to the apples. The chocolate mousse is whipped to perfection. All are delicious ways to end our meal. This is a restaurant that doesnt get old the menu changes so you can try new things while still getting their classic dishes. They offer several vegetarian options such as the shaved brussel sprouts or artichoke hearts, and of course, the classic C&O vegetable soup. C&O is open everyday from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. The menu changes after 10:30 p.m. to a bar menu which includes delicious grilled cheese and tomato soup. Items are moderately priced. I highly recommend this restaurant to townies and tourists. The staff makes you feel at home, the food is amazing, and the ambience is intimate and cozy. Photography by Amy Laufer Page 15 Classifieds Contact Us The Forum 501 College Dr. Charlottesville, VA 22902 twhyte@pvcc.edu www.piedmontforum.com The Forum offers classified space to the PVCC community free of charge. Please send announcements along with full name, email, and phone number to: twhyte@pvcc.edu. The Forum Staff (Listed alphabetically) Assistant Editors Jessica Adkins Jude Bolick Ginger Hood Staff Writers/Copyeditors Jessica Adkins Ciarra Betancourt Jude Bolick Cody Clark Chris Kreitzman Amy Laufer Evan Green Ginger Hood Jane Monaghan Chelsei Moore Jan Newcomb Zhaire Roberson Max Walpole William Waugh Comic Artist Wren Bolick Check us out on social media @PVCCForum The Forum is a voice for all students. Accordingly, materials published in The Forum, including any opinions expressed, should not be interpreted as the position of the VCCS, Piedmont Virginia Community College, or any stakeholder thereof. The paper welcomes letters to the editor, guest columns, questions, photography or any other ideas or submissions one may have for the upcoming publications. Please contact twhyte@pvcc.edu with any questions. Faculty Advisor Dr. Tamara Whyte  ...