VCU Cultivates Student Life through New Facilities

Le Monde
The Honors College Newsletter
Fall 2011
VCU Cultivates Student Life through
Tolu Omojokun
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Any student or visitor
to VCU will undoubtedly
see what a large presence
our university has within
the city of Richmond.
With over 32,000 current
students and more than
700 acres of land—91 of
which belonging to the
Monroe Park campus— it
is impossible to ignore
what an impact we have
in the area. VCU continues
to expand in order
to accommodate all of its
students, and we have
recently watched two new
structures rise up on our
campus: the Laurel Street
parking deck and the new
West Grace housing.
Construction for the
new parking deck at the
southwest corner of North
Laurel and West Grace
streets began in October
2010, and was completed
in August 2011. The deck
INSIDE
New Facilities
has the capacity to hold
up to 212 cars within its
five levels. With street
parking being so difficult
at times—especially
considering the challenge
of parallel parking and
the frequency with which
expensive parking tickets
are handed out—the new
deck is a welcome addition
to our campus.
Despite the need for
more parking area, what
really has students excited
about the parking
deck is what it offers
at the street level. The
grand opening of Laurel
& Grace Place on
October 24th welcomed
thousands of students to
three new dining options:
IHOP Express, Raising
Cane’s Chicken Fingers,
and Croutons Salads and
Wraps. Many students
have complained about a
lack of variety in our campus
dining locations and a
lack of late night food op-
Day Trip Ideas
pg. 4-5
tions. With IHOP Express
serving diner-style dishes
until three in the morning,
Croutons appealing
to students seeking
healthier or vegetarian
food options, and Raising
Cane’s offering nationally
famous chicken fingers,
our complaints have been
resolved. Students can
enjoy all three of these
VCU Clubs
pg. 6-7
Laurel & Grace Place
(Photo courtesy of Tolu Omojokun)
new options using meal
swipes at various hours of
the day and night.
While the new parking
and dining are already in
full swing, construction
still continues for the new
housing at the northwest
corner of Shafer and West
(Continued on Page 2)
Cary Street Gym
pg. 6-7

New Facilities, Tolu Omojokun
(Continued from Page 1)
Grace streets. The fivestory
building will house
a total of 459 beds within
2- and 4-bedroom apartments.
There will also
be 23 study lounges, 13
common lounges, and
community engagement/
living-learning area available
for residents to concentrate
on schoolwork or
just hang out for a while
with their fellow students.
Outside its walls,
the building will also
encompass two courtyards
and bicycle shelters.
Construction started in
January 2011 and will be
completed in July 2012,
just in time to be open for
the fall 2012 semester.
As VCU continues to
respond to the requests
of its students, faculty,
and staff, we are going
to see even more expansion
projects in the near
future. Plans are already
being put into motion to
add onto current student
housing, construct more
classroom space, and create
a new building for the
School of the Arts.
Features
Laurel Street Parking Deck
(Photo courtesy of Tolu Omojokun)
Grace Street South Apartments Construction
(Photo courtesy of Tolu Omojokun)
Grace Street South Apartments Computer Rendering
(Photo courtesy of www.fmd.vcu.edu)
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VCU Music
Kellie Masters
ASSISTANT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Because VCU is located
in thriving Richmond, it is
the center of a rich classical
music scene! Many events
are hosted nightly at the
Singleton Center for the
Performing Arts (that huge
building on the corner of
Park Ave. and Harrison St.)
that are free or discounted
for VCU students. Here
are some upcoming events
for this winter:
VCU Music Holiday Gala
Friday, December 9, 2011:
7:30pm
Tickets $10 for adults, $5
children 12 and under
Proceeds benefit the Hospital
Hospitality House
VCU Guitar Series:
Richmond Guitar Quartet
Sunday, January 29th,
2012: 4:00pm
Tickets $15 general admission,
$10 for students with
VCU ID
Guest Artist:
Julia Heinen, Clarinet
Friday, March 2nd, 2012:
8:00pm
Tickets $5 general admission,
free for students with
VCU ID
VCU Symphony
Orchestra
Thursday, March 8th, 2012:
8:00pm
Tickets $5 general admission,
free for students with
VCU ID
For more information and
a full list of concerts and
events, visit
www.vcumusic.org.

Joanne Chiao
FEATURES EDITOR
The VCU Honors College
puts great emphasis
on working collaboratively
with its students to make
its programs the ideal
environment for motivated
VCU students to learn,
explore, and apply their
knowledge. One such way
in which the Honors College
communicates with
its students is through a
student leadership group
known as the Honors
Student Council. The
Student Council is a group
of students who are selected
based on application
for their enthusiasm and
achievements in the Honors
College; their main purpose
is to serve as ambassadors
to the college and its
respective programs. The
council body is made up of
two to three representatives
from each graduating class
with each selected member
serving a two year term.
At the end of the two year
term, should the council
member like to continue to
participate, he or she must
re-enter the application
process and be selected
once again for another two
year term. It is a group of
highly motivated students
who work with Honors
College faculty and staff to
voice student concerns and
suggestions for the betterment
of the VCU honors
body; it targets not only
the incoming freshman
applicant pool but also the
honors-eligible students
that are currently at VCU.
The Honors Student
Council session for Fall
2011 began with a busy
Features
The Honors Student Council
Meet your
representatives:
agenda to promote not only
Honors College academics
and its numerous opportunities,
but to also promote
the strength and benefits
of being part of the Honors
community. For the most
part of this fall semester,
council members have been
working hard at VCU Open
Houses, sharing the highlights
of their expanded
Honors education to prospective
college students.
Additionally, veteran
council members welcomed
additions to the council
body after a rigorous selection
process, and are participating
in the process of
training their new members
to answer comprehensive
questions on not only their
great experiences enhanced
by the Honors College,
but also to tackle questions
on Honors Admission
requirements to the
general program as well as
to the Guaranteed Admissions
programs for various
professional schools. The
council is also working on
hosting various community
events that will both help
build the community and
bring together more honors
students from all over VCU
in all different disciplines
and backgrounds. For students
who are interested in
contributing to another student’s
decision about VCU
and the Honors College,
the Honors College has created
the ideal outlet.
Rodrick Brooks
SENIOR
Ha Tran
JUNIOR
Joanne Chiao
SOPHOMORE
Sheila Kapyur
SOPHOMORE
Ali Salman
FRESHMAN
3
Candice Corrigan
SENIOR
Bobby Chaggar
SOPHOMORE
Komal Dhir
SOPHOMORE
Adam Gonzalez
FRESHMAN
Kristina Hendel
FRESHMAN
Not pictured:
Christina Garland, Junior

4
Belle Isle Crossroads
(Photo courtesy of www.richmondvapresents.com) (Photo courtesy of www.crossroadsrva.com)
A great option for a day trip, Belle Isle is simply a pleasure. With its Take a break from studying and grab some coffee at Crossroads Coffee
shallow rapids and enormous river rocks, it’s the perfect place to hone & Ice Cream. You will undoubtedly feel refreshed at this charming
in on the beauty of the natural world. Pack a picnic lunch and spend café. Crossroads is marked by a welcoming, indie feel. Check out the
the afternoon there! Be sure to check out Hollywood Cemetery, located books, board games and other miscellaneous items up for trade at
just across the river, as well. Hollywood Cemetery is quite majestic in the North Morris Street location and relive some of your childhood
the fall, and you won’t regret seeing the graves of the late president memories. This branch is part of Richmond’s Fan District and is within
James Monroe and others, including the fantasy novelist James Branch
Cabell, after whom VCU’s library was named. You can walk, bike, or
even run to Belle Isle from campus.
walking distance from campus.
Oh, the Place
Maymont is a 100-acre estate located just south of Carytown in Richmond.
It is widely known for its gardens, including the Italian and Take the To the Bottom and Back (2BNB) bus to Shockoe Bottom for
Japanese Gardens and an Arboretum including more than 200 exotic a night out on the town. Shockoe Bottom is known for its thriving
species of trees and plants. The grounds are rich with history, includ- nightlife and is also a fun place to dine in style with friends. Restaurant
ing the Dooley family’s majestic thirty-three room mansion and a week, held annually in the fall, is an ideal time to eat high-end cuisine
collection of period carriages. The park also offers a children’s petting at restaurants like Europa for a more affordable price. The “Bottom and
zoo, wildlife exhibits, and various holiday events such as the Victorian Back” bus runs off of Cary and Main and Broad and Boulevard every
Holiday celebration. Maymont is a great destination for photogra- Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to 3 a.m., so you have a safe and sure
phers, children, and anyone who wants to spend a day with nature.
way of getting home.
(Photo courtesy of images.fineartamerica.com) (Photo courtesy of www.wikipedia.org)
Maymont Park Shockoe Bottom

The Jefferson Kings Dominion
The Jefferson Hotel is in the top ranks of elegant hotels and graces
Richmond’s very own West Franklin Street. Stop by to admire its interior
architecture and experience a bit of its history. Originally opened in
1895, the Jefferson today stays true to the time period in which it served
a number of U.S. presidents, renowned authors, actors, and singers.
Modern reconstruction followed a fire that devastated a huge portion
of the building in the early 1900s. Cherish the artistic beauty that you
will find here, including intricate ceiling carvings, paintings and other
remnants of past times. For those that live close to campus, the Jefferson
is only a short walk away.
Visit Virginia’s “Resort City” in the spring or summer and enjoy
breathtaking views of the ocean on the Boardwalk. Walk or bike
along the three mile path and check out the historical monuments
and sculptures along the way. You’re bound to come across live
performers as well. Set aside a day to make this trip so you can head
down to the beach itself and have plenty of time for some R&R.
Virginia Beach is about a two hour drive from Richmond.
(Photo courtesy of www.jeffersonhotel.com) (Photo courtesy of www.kingsdominion.com)
s You’ll Go!
Located less than half an hour away from campus, Kings Dominion
is an exhilarating place to let loose with a group of friends. Launch
into darkness at 70 miles per hour on Volcano the Blast Coaster, drop
over 270 feet on the largest drop tower in the country or just eat some
funnel cake and follow Snoopy around the park. Buy tickets online for
twilight admission to save some money. Halloween is a great time to
go and get spooked—enter the haunted mazes at your own risk!
Pooja Magavi
FEATURES EDITOR
The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, located on North Boulevard off of
Monument Avenue, was just expanded last spring and now includes a
sculpture garden that spans over three acres, in addition to an extensive
permanent collection of works that are free for public viewing. If
you’re a fan of jazz, the museum and the Richmond Jazz Society collectively
host free jazz music nights on Thursdays in the fall. The museum
also partakes in First Fridays, held on the first Friday of every month,
during which a greater diversity of art showcases and the regular galleries
are open later than usual.
(Photo courtesy of www.wikipedia.org) (Photo courtesy of archrecord.construction.com)
Virginia Beach VMFA
5

6
Ellen Chyn
FEATURES EDITOR
Poppers of VCU
Do you enjoy doing or
watching hip-hop? Then
check out the Poppers of
VCU! Poppers is a special
interest group with the goal
of spreading and cultivating
the traditional style of
hip-hop dance at VCU. It
doesn’t matter whether or
not you are experienced.
The group offers lessons to
all levels of dancers. For
more info about practices
and meet-ups, find Poppers
of VCU on Facebook!
Badminton @ VCU
Did you love to play
badminton outdoors as a
kid? Well take the sport
to a whole new level with
the badminton club at
VCU! Badminton @ VCU
Kaitlyn Parkman
FEATURES EDITOR
So now that the new IHOP
express is open, you can
eat pancakes all day long
right? Right! It’s time to
guiltlessly enjoy any of the
new dining places here on
campus. Throw in one or
two of Cary Streets Gym’s
hour-long classes a week,
and go enjoy a plate of late
night chocolate chip pancakes.
Cary Street Gym has
many classes to offer, and
gym experience is never
required. Whether you’re
looking for something with
high cardio intensity, or
low impact, there is defi-
Features
Unique Student Organizations:
is a competitive sports club
that motivates and inspires
students to compete against
badminton clubs at other
universities. Practice sessions
are held at both Cary
St. gym and MCV gym!
For more info, check out
http://www.facebook.com/
groups/vcubadminton.
Quidditch Club
Are you a serious diehard
Harry Potter fan or
do you want to explore
playing a new sport? Either
way, Quidditch Club is
the club for you! Learn
the rules on broom riding,
scoring points, and catching
the snitch. Quidditch
Club @ VCU is part of the
International Quidditch
Association, which sets
up tournaments between
universities. Grab a broom
and join Quidditch Club
for a practice session! For
nitely a class for you!
Don’t like to sweat? Try an
aquatics class!
Cary Street Gym offers
various types of aquatics
classes at the pool throughout
the week. Options
include Deep Water exercise,
Shallow Water, Aqua
Circuit, and many more.
Each of these classes will
take you through various
exercises with water
weights, medicine balls,
and noodles. The water
is about 12 times more
resistant than air, so you’ll
be burning calories and
building muscle while having
fun in the pool. The
more info, check out http://
vcu.collegiatelink.net/organization/quidditchclub.
Car Club of VCU
Are you a car enthusiast
or would you love to learn
more about cars? Car Club
of VCU is a student organization
that brings together
all car admirers and fanatics
in a spirit of fellowship.
This group focuses on car
shows, building cars, discussing
new models, or just
about anything that has to
do with an automobile. For
more info, contact Michael
Seymour at fergusonbl2@
vcu.edu.
Magic and Juggling
Association of VCU
Have you seen David
Blaine on TV? Do you love
watching magic or would
you rather perform it? Join
best part? You can’t feel
yourself sweat when you’re
already wet!
Get that heart rate up!
If you’re looking for a
class that is more intense,
then you should consider
Total Body Conditioning,
Body Boot Camp,
and Spinning class. Boot
camp and condition classes
focus on getting your
heart pumping and sweat
flowing. You get a great
cardio workout along
with strengthening your
abs, legs, and arms. Spinning
is a fantastic class for
beginners or experts. You
control the resistance on
VCU’s Magic and Juggling
Association to learn the
secrets of magic and get
tips from other student
magicians. No experience
is necessary! Everyone is
welcome to participate in
learning and exchanging
magic tricks with other
magicians. For more info,
email Zachary Gartrell at
gartrellza@vcu.edu.
Amendment
Are you a political activist
or do you just want
to express your opinion
about social issues? Then
Amendment, an on-campus
student organization, is
the perfect group for you.
Amendment offers students
a means for their voice
to be heard with respect
to the issues of gender,
race, class, sexuality, ability,
and identity through
artistic and critical expres-
Get the Facts
the bike, so you have the
freedom to bring up the intensity
or tone it down. It’s
a great workout, and you
will leave feeling energized
and refreshed, despite
the sweat. Don’t forget to
bring your water bottle to
these classes!
Like to dance?
The gym has a variety
of dance classes! Dance
classes are a great way to
get in shape while having
fun. Bring a partner to a
salsa class, and work on
tightening up your dancing
techniques. Want more of
a workout? Try Zumba to
shake things up! Zumba is

Features
Get Involved at VCU
sion. Artists and writers
are inspired to write and
publish their own works of
art while increasing their
awareness of social and political
issues. Amendment
accepts submissions such
as creative essays, personal
narratives, short stories,
one-act plays, poetry and
prose. The group also
welcomes artistic media
including drawings, paintings,
and photography. For
more information, email
the editorial staff at amendmentvcu@gmail.com.
Campus Chefs of VCU
Do you have an affinity
for cooking or simply love
to eat good food? Campus
Chefs is new club that was
created to educate others
on ways to cook healthy
food! The group’s main
goal is to teach easy, quick,
but nutritious recipes. This
organization usually meets
on the first and third Tuesday
night of each month
of the semester! Make new
friends, watch movies on
cooking, exchange recipes,
and cook and eat yummy
food together! For more
info, contact Amanda
Fitzgerald at fitzgeraldal@
vcu.edu.
Health and Fitness Club
Are you looking for a way
to stay fit and in shape
throughout the semester?
Well, look no further.
Health and Fitness Club
at VCU is an organization
that encourages individuals
to reach their fitness goals
through friendly competition
and peer encouragement.
It seeks to maintain
a healthy community
through exercise, which
is encouraged by group
dynamics. Members will
on Getting Fit!
a high-energy dance class
that will get you moving to
the hottest hits. Ladies—
this is really a class for you,
so bring your guy friends
to boot camp instead!
Mind and Body
Yoga and Pilates are
great classes for anyone on
campus. Take an hour out
of your morning to stretch
it out on the yoga mat,
and you will feel refreshed
for the entire day. Pilates
offers more strength training,
so you can get those
muscles toned. It’s never
too early to work on that
beach body!
be matched with buddies
based on similar shape,
build, or fitness goals. This
buddy system uses friendly
competition to motivate
others to get out and exercise
on a weekly basis. For
more info, contact Grace
Chao at chaogt@vcu.edu.
The Alexandrian Society
of VCU
Do you have a strong
love or passion for history?
Then consider joining the
Alexandrian Society of
VCU, a department-sponsored
student organization
for students that are history
majors or just love history!
The organization’s name
originates from that of a
library located in Alexandria,
Egypt, known as one
of the leading centers of
scholar enlightenment on
the ancient world. This
group offers lectures and
Cary Street Gym
(Photo courtesy of www.recsports.vcu.edu)
symposiums that feature
esteemed professors and an
array of topics. For more
info, email AlexSociety@
vcu.edu.
Video Game Club of VCU
Whether you are a pro at
video games or just love
to watch them, check out
VCU’s video game club.
The purpose of this group
is to motivate students to
take the video game experience
to another level. It
offers information on local
tournaments and weekly
meet-ups include playing
classic arcade Paperboy
and Goldenaxe, as well
as games such as Marvel
vs. Capcom 3. For more
info about the club, email
palmra@vcu.edu.
No matter what your fitness
level is, there is a class
for you at the Cary Street
Gym! It’s never too late
to start working out, so
next time you are feeling
bored, try a class at the
gym. Classes are offered
throughout every day of
the week. The gym is a
great way to spend time
when you’re away from the
books, and you will definitely
make new friends.
Now go enjoy those pancakes,
and check out Cary
Street’s Gym class schedule
under the “Programs” tab
on the recreational sports
website!
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Abdulwahid Nur
OPINION EDITOR
It’s that time of year
again. The air is nippy
and trees are donning a
new, yet familiar look
with hues of red, orange,
yellow and those shades
in between. This natural
wardrobe change is more
than fitting, for it’s the
sign of fashion’s most
important seasons—fall
and winter. New lines of
clothing are being revealed
and released, and
for the fashion-conscious,
this means a time to
mix, match, and create a
look that will represent
one’s own tastes. From
the relaxed and unique
pairings of the hipster
movement to the simple
yet elegant garments
of the couture connoisseurs,
fall and winter
fashion has something to
offer to assemblies of all
tastes and preferences.
Items that have been
featured as staples in
this season’s collections
include modern men and
women’s suits, relaxed
tailoring, fur clothing,
pleats and plunging necklines.
These, in addition
to fashion fixtures like
scarves, beanies and couture
boots, are just a few
examples of what is considered
‘in’ this season.
I’ve spoken in generalities
thus far--let’s delve
into the fashion presence
here at VCU this
fall and winter season.
One thing VCU undoubtedly
features is a vast
and eclectic array of
style-conscious students
who put some heavy
consideration into their
fall and winter wear. A
prominent fashion approach
around campus is
hipster-couture, including,
but certainly not
limited to, articles such
as beanies, thick-framed
glasses and Clark boots.
In addition to fashion
consumers, VCU features
an assortment of suppliers.
Many students, in
and out of the art school,
are hard at work conceiving
and creating clothing
that has captivated and
permeated Richmond’s
fashion culture. Of these
various clothing lines is
Dirgy Styles, a small
Richmond-based clothing
company owned and
operated by VCU’s own
Andrew Wolfe. Andrew,
affectionately known as
Andy, is a sophomore
marketing student in
the school of business
who has caused quite a
stir in the local fashion
scene. His fusion of urban
culture and modern
styling has garnered him
some local attention; he
sells his clothing in local
Richmond boutiques such
as Turn Styles on Broad
Opinion
Fall & Winter Fashion
Street. During a brief sitdown
with Andy, I asked
him what his vision was
for this fall and winter
season. He simply replied
with “simplicity, quality,
and maturity.” This
casual utterance embodies
Dirgy and extends to
represent the manner in
which the fashion world
Le Monde Staff: Editor-in-Chief: Tolu Omojokun; Assistant Editor-in-Chief: Kellie Masters; Features Editors: Joanne Chiao,
Ellen Chyn, Pooja Magavi, Kaitlyn Parkman, Meredith Spencer; Opinion Editor: Abdulwahid Nur
Le Monde is brought to you by the VCU Honors College.
has progressed. So when
you embellish your garments
with scarves, hats,
shoes and accessories,
remember: wear what
inspires you, for “adornment
is never anything
except a reflection of the
heart”—words of wisdom
from Gabrielle “Coco”
Chanel.
8
Richmond Fashionistas
(Photos courtesy of dirtyrichmond.tumblr.com)