Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026 @commonwealthtimes @theCT1
VOL. 72, NO. 3 FEB. 4, 2026 THE INDEPENDENT PRESS OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
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VCU consolidates arts departments despite dean initially saying otherwise KAYLA MUNECAS Contributing Writer BRYER HAYWOOD Contributing Writer VCU is pushing forward with mergers of five of its arts departments despite initial assurance from their dean that VCUarts would not be affected by the university’s academic repositioning initiative, according to faculty. The Depa r tment of Dance and Choreography and the Department of Theatre will be merged into a Department of Theatre and Dance. Additionally, the Department of Craft and Material studies, Department of Painting and Printmaking and Department of Sculpture and Extended Media are being consolidated into one Department of Fine Arts, according to a previous report by The CT.
Luan Blazquez fourth year craft and material studies major, cuts wood in Murry N. DePillars classroom on Jan. 30. Photo by Bilan Osman.
REPOSITIONING Continued on page 2
VCU cites operation costs, inflation for rising meal plan prices SAL ORLANDO Assistant News Editor The cost of meal plans at VCU has continued to increase into the 2025-26 school year. Some students describe them as overpriced, and are asking for change from the university. All dining plans VCU offers have gone up in price by an average of 14.69% since the 2023-24 school year, according to VCU’s most recent budget plan. Currently, there are 6,270 students with meal plans. VCU Dining Services spokesperson Anna Obermiller said the price increase is due to inflation and a rising cost in food operation and equipment. “Plan rates are adjusted annually in alignment with the Consumer Price Index, which ref lects changes in food, labor, utilities, trash, composting, equipment and other operating costs that support campus dining services,” Obermiller said. “It’s these costs that determine increases in dining plan rates.” The inflation rate in the United States went up 5.54% between August 2023 and December 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. First-year students living in underclassmen dorms are required to purchase a meal plan, the cheapest of them being $3,155.
Swipes can be used at any VCU dining location for transactions between $7.53 and $10.15. Dividing the cost of meal plans by the number of swipes they provide shows the average swipe costs around $15. “Beyond the convenience of daily meal management, the policy aims to integrate students into the campus community and guarantee reliable access to healthy dining options,” Obermiller said.
Obermiller noted that exceptions are made for students “with exceptional dietary requirements beyond the daily cycle menu offerings,” and said a review of the requirements should be used when developing “an exceptional medical or ethnic nutritional program.” SWIPES Continued on page 3
A RamXpress bus idling on Laurel Street. Photo by Kieran Stevens.
VCU shuttle service sees 200 daily riders while Pulse operates at capacity MOLLY MANNING Managing Editor ANDREW KERLEY Executive Editor HECIEL NIEVES BONILLA News Editor The RamsXpress saw an average of five riders at a time last semester — as city buses are operating at capacity, and the Greater Richmond Transit Company continues its search to fund the fare free operation VCU divested from.
A student grabs some pizza at Shafer Court Dining Center. Photo by De Smaw.
SHUTTLE UPDATE Continued on page 3
Beth O’Boyle ‘relieved of duties’
Peace walk passes through Richmond
Six quieter, cozier study spots on campus
see SPORTS page 5
see SPECTRUM page 7
see FEATURES page 10