Author: Lauren Dalban

A wide variety of women-owned small businesses from across the Charlottesville community came together at the University of Virginia Women’s Center on December 12. The vendors sold locally crafted goods at the free holiday market, including cards, candles, jewelry, calendars, books, and soul food. 

Cary Oliva, owner of ByCary handmade goods, creates and sells unique greeting cards, calendars, trivets, journals, and similar items. Many of her designs include her original photography, which she describes as her “true love.” Using several different photography techniques, she crafts distinctive prints to feature on her merchandise.

Oliva was inspired to start her business when she realized she could never find a greeting card that pleased her, she said. Thanks to training and support from the Community Investment Collaborative, she was able to learn about the many critical aspects of entrepreneurship, like pricing, as well as the importance of both sides of running a business—the creative and the financial. She encouraged other local women interested in starting small businesses to reach out to the CIC to help get their ideas off the ground. 

After spending time in area communities educating young children in various fields, UVA Ph.D. candidate Merci Best founded STEAMKITX in 2020, offering innovative educational kits that explore careers in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. Each research-based kit includes five different engaging activities for students ages 5 through 18 and their families to do together. The company’s two current kits explore the STEM and arts fields, and their connections to ice cream and football.

Best cited her biggest accomplishment as being interviewed on TV about her business, and she hoped to get more media exposure in the future. She would also like to see more hands-on programming within local business circles in Charlottesville, and even more collaboration among female entrepreneurs, she said.

JBD Catering founder and owner Jeanetha Douglas had hot, home-cooked meals for sale, including collard greens, mashed potatoes, honey-baked ham, and cornbread. She’s been catering events for over a decade, serving both soul food and other food items. Douglas expressed joy at being able to own a successful business in her hometown, and espoused her love for food and cooking. She called for more financial support for women-owned businesses in the community. 

Fatima Shakeri’s Mystical Sunshine Co. sold an array of crystal jewelry at the market, including pendants, bracelets, earrings, and rings. Shakeri, who has Afghan roots, said she often thought about selling her handmade tasbihs, Afghan prayer beads, before finally starting her business last year. In addition to crafting her own gemstone jewelry, Shakeri offers tarot card readings. She said she felt very supported by the other women in the local business community, and that they often encourage each other’s ventures. 

Shakeri designated the holiday market as one of her favorite events of the year, and said she hoped to see more events like it in the future. 

French soccer legend and activist Lilian Thuram joined students, faculty, and community members at the University of Virginia on December 2 for a live screening of two World Cup games. During the event, hosted by UVA’s Karsh Institute of Democracy, Thuram discussed his experiences as a Black player on France’s national soccer team in the 1990s, and the role activism has played in his life up to the present day. 

Thuram was a heavy-hitter on the French team during the 1998 World Cup, which France won 3-0 against Brazil. Today, he is still the most capped French international player—he appeared in 142 matches over the course of his career. 

Since retiring from international soccer in 2008, Thuram has authored several books about racial bias and Black history, including White Thinking and My Black Stars. He aims to educate people about the history of racism in France, and the ways in which entrenched thinking patterns can reinforce subconscious prejudices—all while taking time to cheer on his two sons at their professional soccer games. His son Marcus is playing on the French team in the 2022 World Cup.

After a viewing of the Cameroon-Brazil and Serbia-Switzerland World Cup games, Thuram sat down with Professor Laurent Dubois, director for academic affairs at UVA’s Democracy Initiative, to discuss his groundbreaking career and activism.

Thuram recounted moments of his childhood, and the important role his mother has played in his life. After moving to France from his birthplace of Guadeloupe at age 9, he found himself feeling alienated from some of his school peers, who called him “sale noir,” meaning “dirty black.” Thuram asserted that this is when he “became Black”—he had no awareness of the importance of skin color until then. He admired the sacrifices his mother made over the course of his childhood, and expressed disappointment at how long it took him to understand the difficulties she faced. “Be conscious of what certain people do for you, and don’t forget to thank them,” he said.

Thuram highlighted the role of soccer in the battle against racism. As a team sport, soccer can break down stereotypes, and create unity across races and religions. However, that sense of belonging can also lead to a collective perception of the opposing team as “the enemy,” which often divides people, he said. He drew attention to the many people who capitalize on this division—the more extreme the division, the more merchandise can be sold. 

Additionally, Thuram emphasized the importance of educating the French populace on the history of racism in the country, which is not taught well in schools. Education, he argued, empowers people to speak out against racism when it occurs. “Education makes visible the violence of racism,” he said.

When questioned about the differences between race relations in the U.S. and France, Thuram asserted that those who speak up about racism in France are often accused of incorrectly applying “American modes of thinking” to “colorblind” French society—an example of the common denial of racism and white supremacy in France.

Closing out the event, the soccer star spoke with pride about his team’s World Cup win—many of his teammates were also members of minority groups. He expressed gratitude at having been a part of changing the collective imagination about what it means to be French, and what a French person can look like. 

“We had the chance to say, ‘This is France,’” he said.

As I reflect on the University of Virginia’s memorial service honoring the victims of the November 13 shooting, it is a struggle to put my thoughts into words.

I could mention the names of those who spoke, like UVA President Jim Ryan, Athletic Director Carla Williams, or the large number of students who knew the three young men who were killed. I could tell you what they said about Devin Chandler, D’Sean Perry, and Lavel Davis Jr, the stories they told. I could reflect on the many tears that were shed. But all of this would fail to fully illustrate the pain and suffering present in John Paul Jones Arena on a cold November afternoon.

Words fail to express the utter horror I felt while watching the victims’ families walk slowly from the stage to their seats. No words can convey their suffering, yet it reverberated around the arena—and made the space feel like the smallest, most intimate room. 

Williams admired Chandler’s penchant for dancing—his close relatives fondly referred to him as “Devin the Dancing Machine.” She spoke of Davis’ extreme enjoyment of the 18 scrambled eggs his grandmother made him every time he came home. She recounted that a young Perry insisted on dressing as a red Power Ranger for Halloween, and that he refused to take the costume off until Thanksgiving. 

Her stories gave every person who did not know these three young men a hint of the lives they led—and it was devastating. 

She ended her speech with a promise to their families: “We love your sons, and we will make sure their legacy never fades at the University of Virginia.”

The speeches were interspersed with musical selections by the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Choir and gospel singer Cece Winans, as well as videos showing pictures of the trio, narrated by teammates and past coaches. 

The most gut-wrenching speeches were delivered by the slain players’ football teammates. Second-year student Cody Brown spoke about a funny, confident, and kind Chandler whose “smile alone was enough to brighten anyone’s day.” He uttered a tearful goodbye to his fallen friend. “We love you so much, and know you’re smiling down on us in Heaven.”

Third-year student Jared Rayman painted a portrait of Davis as a “natural-born leader” who perfectly modeled the phrase, “lead by example.” 

“Each tear I shed for you, ‘Vel, holds immeasurable love,” said Rayman. “The only thing that lessens my grief is the memory of your infectious smile.”

First-year student Matt Bettridge admired Perry for many years at their Miami high school, viewing him as a mentor and role model. Reading a letter he wrote to his beloved friend, he said, “Your presence was felt each and every day that I was able to step on the field and share it with you.”

Bettridge urged those attending the memorial service to “fight for what you want, and fight for the people you love the most. D’Sean was the best fighter I knew—and always pushed himself to be the best person on and off the field.” 

Though these speeches could not begin to encompass the richness of the lives of the three men, they offered a glimpse of the smiling, energetic, and kind individuals they were. And for that, I will forever be grateful to their teammates who shared these stories in the midst of their deep, intense grief. 

UVA football coach Tony Elliott closed out the service by reading a Bible passage, wishing peace to those affected by the tragedy. He also reflected on his time with the three men, pointing to a moment Davis took him by the shoulder during a practice to tell him something important: “Coach, I’m starting to understand it. It’s the little things that matter.” 

Elliott praised how Chandler brought joy to everyone around him.“You felt and heard Devin before you ever saw him,” he said. The coach also spoke of Perry—who “on the inside [was] intricately woven together with life, beauty, and love”—with much reverence.

As everyone filed out of the arena in near-complete silence, I was thankful for all that I had learned about the young men, and overwhelmed by the enormity of the loss. Though the feelings in that arena were almost too much to bear, I hope it will give the families and friends of Perry, Chandler, and Davis one simple assurance: We will remember them. 

GoFundMe fundraisers have been set up for Davis, Chandler, Perry, and Morgan.

Two dozen student veterans came together November 11 at Newcomb Hall to celebrate Veterans Day and share the struggles they’ve faced transitioning from military to student life—as well as the advantages being a veteran has afforded them. UVA President Jim Ryan, along with other university officials, also attended the event, hosted by the Student Veterans of America.

Student veterans detailed the struggles they faced adjusting to UVA. Alex, a second-year statistics major, shared that he had difficulty adapting to the amount of downtime he now has as a student, and learning to manage his own time and commitments. 

However, many veterans praised UVA for offering them opportunities they may not have had elsewhere. As a first-year computer science major with a young daughter, Dalton expressed gratitude for being afforded early enrollment and graduate housing for his family. He felt that these advantages helped him better navigate the university as an unconventional student: “I felt the UVA hand reach out,” he said.

Halfway through the event, Ryan arrived to give the Veteran Student Center a check for $25,900 “due to the generosity of others,” he said, detailing the ways in which he wants to “make UVA synonymous with service.” He expressed admiration for those who have served in the military, and said he felt honored to be in the presence of student veterans, particularly on Veterans Day. UVA officials in attendance—many of whom were veterans themselves and work closely with student veterans—also shared stories about their time in the military.

Though the students discussed their gratitude for the Veteran Student Center, some said they often faced additional stress because of the lack of representation in the upper echelons of UVA administration. Brett Schriever, a third-year aerospace engineering major, detailed his struggles getting help from the university when he faced complications with his GI Bill benefits. In the end, Schriever—who spent two years on active duty, and is now in his eighth year in the Army Reserves—said he had to ask another student veteran for advice. 

Marine Corps veteran and first-year student Romeo Sarmiento, treasurer of UVA’s Student Veterans chapter, expressed similar concerns. Sarmiento, who spent seven years as an infantry assaultman, articulated his disappointment that there is still no veteran representation among the university’s faculty, and that there are no faculty advisors to help veterans with all the aspects of their transition into university life. 

Sarmiento also explained the ways in which his time in the military affected his career path—he plans to apply to the McIntire School of Commerce, and eventually become a lawyer to serve his country in a new way. “Service doesn’t end,” he said.

Concluding the event, Sarmiento expressed hope that the Veteran Student Center will be able to organize more events in the future incorporating the general student body. There is an “important opportunity for exchange,” he said.