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VOL. 73, NO. 2 AUGUST 26, 2026 THE INDEPENDENT PRESS OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
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VCU implements measures to address past cybersecurity threats OLIVIA RINE Contributing Writer VCU students face growing concerns with campus online safety, especially after the Canvas breaches back in May and phishing scams earlier this month. VCU has found ways to ensure students safety from these risks through slogans and safety programs. After the initial Canvas hack, the platform faced another hack on the afternoon of May 7, where ransom notes appeared on the login pages of many universities, including VCU. VCU’s chief information officer, Dan Han, acknowledged that as the use of technology rises, risks are predicted to rise as well.
An email from VCU warning students about a fake online work-study offer that was distributed in early August. Photo by Burke Loftus.
Women’s soccer kicks off competition at new VCU Athletic Village VCU's new Athletic Village Facility with the Diamond in the background. Photo by John Brown. BEN MARTINDALE Sports Editor DEVYNN ALSTON Staff Writer VCU Athletic Village, a 42-acre site which began construction in 2024, is officially in use for VCU athletics. Since 1999, VCU sports have played home games at Sports Backers Stadium.
VCU women’s soccer was the f irst team to play an official game at the new facility, falling 4-0 to North Carolina State University. Development of the VCU Athletic Village is broken into four phases. Phase one, which was completed in January, according to VCU News, included a 400 meter outdoor track, two long jumps, two high jumps, two pole vaults, circles
for hammer throw, shotput, discus, two practice soccer fields and an NCAA game soccer field located inside of the 400 meter track. Second-year defender Bo Price, thinks the new space is wonderful.
ATHLETIC VILLAGE Continued on page 4
CYBERSECURITY Continued on page 3
Trinity tattooing a client. Photo courtesy of Trinity.
Wearing your heart on your sleeve JO COVINGTON Contributing Writer TATTOOS Continued on page 7
Beyond the VCU Campus
VCU continues to fight despite loss to Liberty
Opinions: 2nd amendment
see SPECTRUM page 6
see SPORTS page 4
see OPINIONS page 8