Dangerously high temperatures are forecasted for the Richmond area this week, potentially being the region’s worst in several years, according to the National Weather Service.

Current and former employees of the Institute for Contemporary Art at VCU described a deteriorating work environment marked by ethics complaints, restrictions on expression, a fear of retaliation among staff and a high turnover rate.

As many of us prepare to move on from VCU, we, The CT staff, are reflecting on the period of substantial growth and change we have undergone this past academic year — and the meaningful stories you allowed us to retell.

Summer is coming full blast to Richmond and there are many things to do across the city. Whether you are planning ahead or just taking things one day at a time, something is always happening.

VCU’s payroll shows a substantial gap between the salaries of administrators and other staff. Data shows that gap has increased nationwide, and VCU salaries are consistent with those of other universities — with some notable exceptions.

VCU’s “NEXT Step” dual-admission program has expanded to include Richard Bland College and Brightpoint Community College.

VCU’s Department of History now offers a new course, Intro to Asian American History, the first of its kind in the university’s history.

VCU Police issued 1760 traffic summons this semester amid their “Operation Safer Streets” enforcement effort.

Pink and orange hues decorated all corners of Abner Clay Park as queer spirit radiated among the smiles of lesbian participants, while cheerleaders dressed in their unique outfits applauded those in the midst of a decisive round of tug-of-war.

The Women’s National Basketball Association and the Women’s National Basketball Player Association announced a new collective bargaining agreement in March.

Virginia lawmakers rejected Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s proposed amendments on legislation to create a retail cannabis market during the General Assembly’s reconvened session on April 22.

As peace talks between the United States and Iran continue on an unpredictable path, a student from VCU’s Qatar campus spoke to The CT regarding his experiences of living through threats of bombing and a peace in the balance.

When I first received my acceptance letter for VCU’s masters in teaching program, I was so excited to finally be getting a foothold in my future.

I have deleted Instagram — my primary vice — many times, and each time I’ve felt my body become instantly lighter, my energy increase and my anxiety ebb, even if only slightly.

The Richmond Animation festival started as a creative initiative of three artists and animators — Zack Williams, Jordan Bruner and Dash Shaw. This year marked their fourth festival, celebrating short films from artists all around the world and Q&As with awarded animators.

The Virginia General Assembly’s special session to work out Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s amendments to pending legislation has come and gone with no finalized budget and the rejection of several of the governor’s recommendations.

It was a normal day in Scuffletown Park, the birds were chirping, the flowers were blooming and the punks and ravers were moshing and dancing. Femmefest, a festival of DJs and hardcore punk bands, celebrated feminine-presenting people, both in and out of music.

VCU women’s tennis is setting a new standard for the program. The Rams won their second straight conference championship tournament in the Atlantic 10, marking their 10th title since 2013.

VCU’s year-long search for a new second-in-command and chief academic officer finally came to a close last week.

Service workers represented by chapter 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union began a public effort to ensure a fair negotiation as their contract is set to expire on June 30.

“VCUarts Fashion has made my work into a minstrelsy,” read a post by third-year student Taylor Hodge last Thursday — less than a week before the annual VCUarts Fashion and Merchandising show at the VMFA.

The CT obtained VCU and VCU Health’s payrolls for active employees through a Freedom of Information Act request. The data is publicly available information.

Help (un)wanted by Sydney Yeadon

The first time I learned CPR, I was sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with my peers in a dimly lit classroom as an earnest gym teacher played a video about Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) and chest compressions.

As spring settles in and the city starts to warm up, Richmond’s art scene is stepping into the spotlight. From major museum exhibitions to intimate gallery shows and pop-up experiences, there is no shortage of creativity to explore across the city.

MayorGPT by Johnny Eusoof

People ask me where I’m from all the time. If you look anything like me, they ask you too.

The VCU School of Social Work Radical Alliance for Anti-Racism, Change and Equity, or R.A.A.C.E, was formed in 2020. Their mission is to address the racial injustices that exist in the field of social work, in the past and today.

The VCU Board of Visitors will vote this week on whether to create two new STEM degrees and discontinue the bachelor of science in health and physical education.

Many VCU faculty and staff have called on their peers and administrative representatives to stop a change to VCU’s tenure policy from going through, citing a rushed schedule and evidence it would harm the university.

Zack Fox — actor, rapper, DJ and comedian — dazzled nearly 1,000 people at the Activities Programming Board’s 2026 RamFest at the VCU Student Commons plaza on Thursday.

In 2025, VCU head men’s basketball coach Phil Martelli Jr. started his tenure with the Rams by bringing in the No. 46 ranked recruiting class in the country.

I was sitting in the Student Commons a week ago when someone stood up and started shouting. I didn’t hear much of what came out of their mouth, but I didn’t need to; my mind had already gone to the worst possible place.

The VCU Board of Visitors voted on Friday to approve a 3.9% tuition increase for in-state undergraduate students.

PHOTOS: Furries across campus during second RUFF

VCU Health System will remove university President Michael Rao as chair of its board of directors as part of leadership changes recently approved by Gov. Abigail Spanberger. Rao will still serve as president of VCU.

New VCU women’s basketball head coach Chelsea Banbury joined the Rams just in time to begin recruiting for the transfer portal — which opened on April 6 and remained open until April 20.

VCU’s year-long search for a new second-in-command and chief academic officer has come to a close. Arturo Saavedra, VCU’s current interim provost, will take up the role permanently. The leadership change comes after the departure of former Provost Fotis Sotiropoulos last spring.

The VCU Board of Visitors will consider approving a new memorial for the East Marshall Street Well Project as part of the university’s efforts to recognize those whose bodies were posthumously stolen by what is now the VCU School of Medicine.

Second-year guard Terrence Hill Jr. announced his commitment to the University of Tennessee on Sunday, following an impressive season with VCU that helped lead the program to an NCAA Tournament win.

VCUarts fashion design and merchandising students will display their works in the theme of “Synergy” at their annual student-run fashion show at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts on April 28.

The people of Virginia voted on Tuesday to pass the mid-decade redistricting amendment by a nearly three point margin — allowing the General Assembly to redraw Congressional district lines in a way that favors Democrats 10-1.

Here's how every VCU team did this week.

The CT reported last semester that fire alarms went off 91 times across all student dorms during the 2024-2025 academic year. Of all of those instances, very few were due to actual emergencies.

Once upon a time peddlers, paupers, painters, pirates, poets and a plethora of ye ole Renaissance faire goers paraded the ground of Dorey Park — henceforth marking April 18 and 19 as the first Richmond Ren Faire.

Richmond’s Fringe Festival brought performances of art, music and theater to venues across the city last weekend, fostering connections between Richmond locals, viewers and performers from all over the country.

Every week, a dozen or so students get up at the crack of dawn and haul themselves into vans for a sleepy drive to beyond campus boundaries.

Virginians will vote this November on amending the state constitution to protect same-sex marriage rights against any future, federal-level threats — and polling indicates they will likely vote “yes.”

Every week, a dozen or so students get up at the crack of dawn and haul themselves into vans for a sleepy drive to beyond campus boundaries.

You don’t own a single song on your phone. Not one. That precious playlist you’ve spent years curating? Rented. Your “Spotify Wrapped,” telling you who you are based on what you listened to? That’s not actualization — that’s a corporation selling your listening habits back to you as identity.