Lessons not included in College Tuition

Exploring what VCU student’s gain from being in such a diverse atmosphere


Photo courtesy of VCU homepage

Take a walk around Virginia Commonwealth University’s campus, and you will experience a variety of cultures. From the African grocery store or the Korean restaurant on Grace Street, to Elephant Thai on Harrison; the local restaurants not only reflect the uniqueness of the Richmond area, but they also reflect VCU’s student body.

VCU is commonly recognized for their diversity, but even more importantly, it’s cherished by the students.

“We aren’t cookie cutter like many other Virginia schools. We have an art school, business school, medical school. That’s what brings so much culture to our school, we have what it takes to facilitate so many different types of interests.” said Wendy Alabastro, a VCU senior who is a first generation Filipino-American.

VCU’s student body includes 1,429 international students from 113 countries. This year’s graduating class alone represents 41 countries and 37 different states. Not only are VCU students proud of their diversity, but they celebrate it with different groups devoted to embracing culture stemming everywhere from the Jhoom-Hindi Indian Dance club, to the Caribbean Student Organization, to the Ethiopian student Union. Some organizations are specific to certain cultures, but many like the Global Foundation and the Office of Mulitcultural Student Affairs or OMSA, encourage all students to join.

“Omsa is open for everyone, for people to learn about issues around diversity. Our society is changing rapidly and diversity is becoming a very important part of our culture.” said Dr. Napolean Peoples, former director of OMSA.
Many of these organizations prompt students who feel out of place to realize that they should feel just the opposite.

VCU % of population JMU% of population UVA% of population
African America 20.2 3.6 8.7
American Indian or Alaskan Native .60 0.3 .20
Hispanic 9 2.2 3.5
White 3.20 83.4 64.5
Asian or Pacific Islander 64.6 4.8 10.2
Unknown 13.9 4.9 8.6

“When I first came here from Saudi Arabia, I joined a group, and made friends with a lot of Arab people. They introduced me to all their friends, and soon I had friends of all types. It was like a gateway to meeting people. VCU’s diversity has made me a lot more open-minded to other cultures.” said Torki Al-Zughaibi who came to the United States for college.

Becoming open-minded to other cultures and races isn’t limited to just students from other countries, but many students from neighboring towns.

“My hometown is only about an hour and half away from here. But it definitely isn’t as diverse there as it is here at VCU. I went from being surrounded by the same type of people to living here on campus with three other roommates. One is African-america, one Persian, an Irish guy, and me, who is Hispanic.” Said Jose Perez-Ferrer, a VCU senior.

Compared to other Virginia colleges and universities, VCU is leader in diversity, and their Statistics from Education-Portal.com

statistics prove it. This kind of data is what many students say help spur their decision to come to VCU.

“I visited a lot of Virginia schools, but I definitely felt a sense of comfort here. It’s more welcoming when you see all sorts of people, and I knew I would make a lot of friends.” Maria Komianos, a VCU student of Greek decent.

Like many students commented, VCU’s diversity means more than just having a school filled with different types of people. To the students it’s an area of comfort, a chance to explore new cultures, and an opportunity to make friends from all over the world.

“I think VCU is doing a great job in terms of dealing with diversity, diversity

of population and a diverse staff, they are doing a great job in terms of being a leader.”, said Dr. Napoleon Peoples.

If you want to join OMSA or any other student organization listed above, visit
http://www.usca.vcu.edu/studentorgs/ , for a directory and description of each student group.

Love, Lust, or Stress?

Examining the Affects of a College Relationship


The stress of tests, deadlines, and pressure to get good grades are all too familiar to the typical college student.College relationships however can be another leading factor in the many strains of college life.

Although not always recognized as a stress factor, college students may feel overwhelmed with all the new freedoms and responsibilities of having a relationship in college. Fights or break ups can cause a range of emotions, and prevent students from concentrating on their work. Nabia Ali, a VCU senior has dealt with many of these issues,

“It was hard,” Ali said, “Every time my boyfriend and I broke up, my grades would slip. It was so distracting.”

Tammy McKeown, the coordinator of sexual assault and domestic violence services at the wellness resource center at VCU, is also available to students dealing with stressful relationships.

“An unhealthy relationship can definitely have negative consequences on someone’s academic performance. It does cause a lot of stress and people start missing classes or not be able to focus on there school work. This is very common.” McKeown said.

Although distraction from schoolwork is a negative aspect, college relationships can also be very problematic if abuse comes into play. Although abuse can be prevalent in any relationship, it may be an increasing issue in college relationships that many people don’t realize.

“The increase of stress correlates with the increase in abuse.” McKeown said.

Students are advised to look for red flags in their relationships to avoid dealing with the future problems. The wellness center offers pamphlets that illustrate the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships. Justine Glatter, a VCU senior has learned how ensure a healthy relationship.

“As the years have gone on I’ve matured so I’ve handled the relationship better. I realized that my relationship should never be the main focus of my life, or prevent me from doing as well as I am capable in school.” Glatter said.

College students are advised to maintain respect, trust, honesty, fairness and good communication in their relationships. If red flags do emerge students are encouraged to visit the wellness center at VCU, where they can receive counseling, advice and guidance.

Mezza Restaurant Review

If you’re looking for a quick bite to eat, a place to smoke a flavorful hookah, or just want to try something new, Mezza is the place to go. Mezza is located on Main Street across from the 711. The menu is filled with authentic Mediterranean cuisine, but also offers classic American foods, so pretty much anyone can find something they like.

Although I have tried many of the menu items, this time choose the falafel. Since I am of Lebanese decent, and have grown up eating Lebanese food; I have some experience of how things should taste. I have also tried many Lebanese restaurants and can’t say that I ever thought any of them were outstanding. Mezza however, was an exception. The falafel, which is a deep fried patty made up of a combination of spiced chickpeas and fava beans, was cooked perfectly, with a crispy outer layer. The pickled vegetables that were served with the falafel were tasty and fresh. I also got to taste the chicken kabob that my friend ordered, and that too was delicious. The chicken was cooked and spiced just right, leaving it juicy and flavorful.

Given that the restaurant is so close to VCU campus, it is usually filled with college students making the atmosphere fun and lively. Arabic music is always playing to add to the Mediterranean feel. It is a family owned business, so you are greeted like a long time friend when you walk in. Some of the menu items include classic Middle Eastern foods such as shawarma, hummus, tabouli, and gyros. If you aren’t in the mood for ethnic food, or are with a picky eater, hamburgers, BBQ, and subs are also an option.



It’s an easy and tasty alternative to fast food, given you can order take-out and be in and out within five minutes. On the other hand if you would rather dine in like I did, there is a cozy restaurant area filled with pictures of Lebanon, and other Middle Eastern countries.

If you enjoy smoking hookah, there is a lounge area where you can sit, and hookahs are brought to you. Hookah flavors include but are not limited to mint, double apple, grape, juicy fruit, and lemon. Since Mezza is a hookah bar and restaurant, the hookah smell is very present. If you are someone who likes hookah, the smell probably won’t bother you. However, if you can’t stand the smell, take-out may be a better option.

Although the food is outstanding, the best part of Mezza is the desserts. They offer tasty baklava, and gelati ice cream, that are both an excellent finish to a tasty meal. I ordered the Lebanese baklava, and absolutely loved it. Although it is hard not to love baklava, if it is not made fresh, it can taste pretty dry. The baklava at Mezza tasted fresh and delicious. My total cost for the entire meal, the falafel, baklava and a drink, was $11, which isn’t bad for such a great meal!

Men Against Violence; The New Crusaders for Women

RICHMOND, Va, -- VCU’s Men Against Violence group or MAV, is not your typical group spreading awareness about violence against women.

So, what’s unique about them? It’s made up of mostly all male VCU students and alumni.

MAV is dedicated to the prevention of sexual and domestic violence, coercion, sexual harassment, and other forms of violent behavior. Members of the group educate the community about the causes and effects of violence, and how to prevent it. MAV’s mission is to promote a change of attitude so that violence is looked at as everyone’s problem, not just women’s problem. Members do so not by accusing all men of being perpetrators, but rather trying to unite men, and teach them what they can do to create a positive change in society.

“We try to challenge the notion that men are violent and try to promote ways in which men can change their behaviors,” said David Shafer, MAV’s president

Using men as crusaders for stopping violence against women can be effective in bringing together men and women for the same cause, rather than furthering the division between the two. Their message has traveled to VCU students through pamphlets and flyers throughout campus.

Mary Caitlin Barrett, a VCU senior, saw a MAV flier in the bathrooms on campus.

“I’ve had a violent situation with a man in the past, and it’s made me fearful of them, Barrett said, things can happen everyday day behinds closed doors, but it’s not until someone opens the door and lets you know that it’s wrong, that change can occur. I think that this organization is doing just that, opening the door.”

MAV was established in the spring of 2007. Currently, it receives funding from the Department of Justice. MAV works hand in hand with Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Education by Students or SAVES, a similar student organization. MAV also participates in many of SAVES campus activities, and view themselves as the “male wing” of the group. Currently the group has about 10 active members, but new members are always encouraged to join. They encourage both female and male students of all ages to look into the group.

“I had never heard about MAV, but it sounds like a great organization, said Phil Myers, a VCU junior. I think what their doing is helpful for men and women. I would consider joining.”

MAV focuses on empowering both men and women by asking them to stand up against all forms of violence, rather than turn a blind eye. The white ribbon campaign, which will be held in late November, supports this notion.

“Wearing the ribbon is like making a pledge, that men will never commit, condom, or remain silence about violence against women.” Shafer said

For more information, contact MAV at maviolence@gmail.com.

Profile: Tammy Smith

She may not be a doctor, but most likely Tammy Smith can inform you about what’s going on in health care field. Writing about health care since 1992, Smith stays up to date about consumer health issues and trends.

Speaking to a VCU journalism class last Monday, Smith discussed her career as a medical reporter, and gave advice to aspiring reporters. Smith further motivated students by distributing some of her articles and giving personal accounts of her experiences.

“Always talk to real people,” she said, “that’s where I find most of the stories I write about.”

Smith started her career as a reporter for The Tennessean, writing about consumer health issues and trends. In 2000 Smith began working as a reporter at The Richmond Times- Dispatch, and is currently still there. Although Smith says she has written“…just about everything except sports,” she is most passionate about is medical reporting.

“I’m interested health care because I am a consumer of health care,” Smith said.
Smith personal interests include public health, women's health and care for low-income populations.

Smith also frequently writes about advancements in technology at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, but warns students, that health care reporting also “…requires a lot of technical terms and knowledge.”

Smith takes the time to educate herself in the medical field. In addition to earning her master’s in public health at Virginia Commonwealth University this past year, Smith is also a member of The Association of Medical Journalists, and The Virginia Public Health Association. Many of her works have been published in magazines such as, Emerge Magazine and Essence Magazine.

Smith’s editor Cindy Creasy said, “Tammy knows about the subject inside and out. She has dealt with health stories for many years.”

Smith is interested in what concerns the community. She is an innovator of medical journalism, and she is now a highly trusted source of health information for the community.

Smith’s editor added, “People trust her because she is well known with the players in town”

Although medical reporting may seem like a complex field, Smith sees it differently.
When asked why she enjoys her work so much, Smith simply replied, “I like to be able to tell peoples stories.”

You can follow Smith by checking out her blog at, www.mytimesdispatch.com/index.php/your_health/index/