Wednesday, March. 18, 2026 @commonwealthtimes @theCT1
VOL. 72, NO. 8 MARCH 18, 2026 THE INDEPENDENT PRESS OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
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Over a century after VCU’s first Black, female nursing class, STEM students reflect on progress FEATURES
The first graduating class of the St. Philip Hospital School of Nursing. Archive photo courtesy of VCU Special Collections and Archives, available through Scholars Compass.
Women’s History Month Issue MOLLY MANNING Managing Editor Over a century ago, in an era of sexism and segregation, VCU’s first female graduates crossed the stage. Women studying STEM at VCU today say they appreciate the progress they championed, but divides still exist within certain fields. There is more work to be done. Innis Steinmetz became the first woman to graduate from the Medical College of Virginia in 1920 — and in the same year, the St. Philip Hospital School of Nursing opened its doors to a class of 10 Black, female nursing students. MCV opened the hospital as a separate, segregated school at a time when it was mandated, according to VCU News. Bessie Conway, Adelaide Royster Thomas and Helena Bell Wooldridge were the first St. Philip’s graduates in 1923. A commencement ceremony was held the following year at the First African Baptist Church, celebrating them as well as the 1924 graduates — Lily Leila DeWeaver, Dorothy Tanner Hooper, Rebecca Thompson Johnson, Thelma Kathleen Jordan, Catherine Ellerson McDowell and Willie Mae Moody. NURSING CLASS Continued on page 11
Kimmy Rivera of Athera performs on stage. Photo courtesy of Rivera. FEATURES
The people behind Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia working to raise awareness for reproductive health. Photo courtesy of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia.
How advocates have protected the south’s last stronghold for reproductive care MAEVE BAUER Spectrum Editor Virginia is on the cusp of codifying an amendment enshrining access to reproductive care in the state constitution. The commonwealth is the last state in the southeastern United States with access to abortion past the first trimester. Though there is access to abortion
in Virginia, many women, transgender people and gender-non-confirming people still struggle to secure reproductive health care due to income inequalities, lack of education and general stigmas. Advocate groups have been working to support each other and maintain equity in access for those seeking reproductive care in the state. Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia have been collaborating with
democratic legislators for four years to amend the state’s constitution. Their proposed change would enshrine protection for multiple reproductive needs — fertility treatments, contraceptives and abortions in the state legislature. Voting for the amendment will open in late September and close on Nov. 3. ABORTION ACCESS Continued on page 10
VCU slugs past Dayton, punches ticket to March Madness
SPECTRUM
The women rocking Richmond’s hardcore scene CORA PERKINS Assistant Spectrum Editor Behind the distorted tracks and stage dives that have long made Richmond a beacon for hardcore music, the women performing, shooting and attending these shows have been the backbone of the scene for years. WOMEN HARDCORE Continued on page 8
READ ON PAGE 7
Women lawmakers champion reforms
Women’s track and field remains the standard
Anti-intellectualism is anti-feminism
see NEWS page 2
see SPORTS page 6
see OPINIONS page 12