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Virginia Tech Continues Sustainable Practices in Dining Halls

By Sean Weinstock

With a return to the school year, Virginia Tech continues its efforts to create a more sustainable packaging system for all campus dining facilities.

“Several new initiatives are on the horizon and on-going, said Emily Williams, Dining Services Sustainability Manager. “We are continuously working on transitioning from single-use plastics to compostable options”.

In 2020 Virginia Tech adopted the Climate Action Commitment dedicating itself to being a leader in climate action to the community, the commonwealth, and the world. One of the key tenets of the commitment was for Virginia Tech to become a zero-waste campus by 2030. Dining Services is playing a key role in this effort.

Over the summer Virginia Tech Dining Services began updating packaging systems and incorporating new methods to reduce waste. One of the first steps was implementing new plastic containers that can be returned to dining halls. Single use plastics is one of the biggest sources of waste at the university. Another more recent change was the removal of plastic bags and water cups from all dining facilities. The removal of plastic bags aligns with a broader statewide initiative to charge for or remove plastic bags from many retail locations. “At the start of the semester I didn’t really notice that they were gone, but now not having them has made picking up food a little more annoying,” said Ryan Erickson, Virginia Tech student. While some students are less than thrilled with the changes in packaging, the sustainability team is confident that students will adjust, and the benefits far outweigh any inconvenience. “There has been some concern about the reduction of plastic bags in our dining centers,” said Williams. “We understand that plastic bags are a convenient option, and this change can be challenging for those accustomed to using them.”

Additionally, a new reusable tracking system is now being tested, starting at the West End Dining Hall. The program is called the West End Pilot Program. Sponsored by GrubHub and Topanga, the program is designed to track the reusable food containers so they can be returned properly and be ready for use again. Food delivery and carry out containers are another major source of plastic waste and developing a viable mechanism to switch to multiple use options is another important element of the university’s sustainability program. “The pilot at West End has only been active for a little over a week but initial results are promising”, said Williams. “We are observing about an 89% return rate for containers; this marks a significant improvement compared to past semesters.” Since the start of the semester and the Pilot, the sustainability team has seen over 2,700 containers used and returned by Virginia Tech customers.

As with most sustainability and recycling efforts, separating materials early in the process is critical to the success of the initiative. This semester students in most dining facilities were greeted by new signage providing students with clear guidance on how to properly dispose of waste. In addition to signage, trash receptacles contain unique icons and color coding designed to make it easier for students to identify the appropriate bins at a quick glance, thereby increasing the likelihood of correct waste disposal. Having a universal system across all dining halls ensures consistency, which helps reinforce proper sorting habits. This new signage is intended to enhance front-end sorting by aligning student behavior with established back-end practices with the ultimate goal of bridging the gap between students’ waste disposal actions and Dining Services’ sustainability goals.

Efficiently disposing of organic waste is another important pillar of Virginia Tech’s sustainability program. Southgate Food Center has now implemented a Biodigester into their dining hall. A Biodigester works by using a process called aerobic digestion, to break down food waste by turning it into gray water and adding it into the plumbing system. Gray water requires less sewage treatment and can be used for gardening and other uses. The first Biodigester was implemented into Southgate Food Center in January 2024. “There are plans to explore the expansion of biodigesters to other dining facilities in the future”, said Williams. “The technology has proven to be quite effective at Southgate, and there is a strong desire to extend its use across more locations”. Virginia Tech’s sustainability team does not have a current timeline on when new biodigesters will be seen in dining facilities but assure that there are plans for more.

The Dining Facilities office does not operate in a vacuum and actively collaborates with various environmental and sustainability groups at Virginia Tech. “I work closely with other sustainable departments on campus, including the Office of Sustainability and Waste Management,” said Williams. “Additionally, I engage with student groups such as Rhizome, the Honors College, and several classes within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The office is continually exploring new opportunities for collaboration to further our sustainability goals and support student involvement in these initiatives.”

Williams emphasized that although progress has been made, it is still early days, and much work remains to achieve the university’s sustainability goals. There are several new initiatives on the horizon, many with a focus on transitioning from single-use plastics to compostable options. “We have hundreds of different items to convert and it’s something that can be time-consuming to complete,” said Williams.

Another important sustainability focus area is increasing local purchasing of produce and other food products. Buying locally supports local businesses and reduces the carbon footprint associated with transporting food across the countries. The Dining Services office has internal goals to increase local purchasing. There is also an effort to expand the availability of organic products available to students. The Dining Services offices has an outreach and marketing program that targets local farmers.

With all of these new plans being set in motion at Virginia tech, there still comes the matter of cost. “Our primary goal as a department is to support the campus in achieving its Climate Action Commitment goals, this can sometimes come as an added expense,” said Williams. “We believe that the long-term benefits of these initiatives, both in terms of environmental impact and alignment with our sustainability objectives, outweigh the immediate costs”.

Virginia Tech Students Prepare to Vote

By Spencer Davidson

Virginia Tech students are being encouraged to register to vote before Oct. 15 from a variety of groups on campus.

While the issue appears to be a concern of student engagement, some voter registration groups have additional goals during classroom visits.

Traditional grassroots campaigns spread the word to encourage students to register ahead of elections, whether for a primary, congressional or presidential race. Recently, however, organized campaigns such as NextGen America have suggested students register in Blacksburg.

The organization’s representatives have visited Virginia Tech classrooms to present an argument: Students spend anywhere from nine to 12 months of the year in the town limits. They should vote for a delegate who represents the students as equally as town residents. So, Virginia Tech students should register to vote in Blacksburg.

Peyton Dofflemyer, a Virginia Tech senior majoring in graphic design, has not formally affiliated with any of the local “Get Out the Vote” campaigns but has taken it upon herself to encourage her peers to vote regardless.

“It feels like there’s a lot of apathy surrounding the idea of voting, especially for younger or newer voters,” said Dofflemyer. “These feelings are what hold some people back from casting their ballots.”

While campaigning personally, Dofflemyer is also part of a movement in the Virginia Tech School of Visual Arts to create and distribute informational flyers around campus encouraging students to register.

“I think enthusiasm is important, and being a voice that’s coming from someone else who’s in the same boat as you can really be what pushes some people to see the value in it,” Dofflemyer said.

Dofflemyer also believes that it is important to raise voter awareness as early as possible, as it can encourage students to participate in state and local elections. She further argues these elections are more important in terms of voter turnout.

According to VT Engage, the university-affiliated Center for Leadership and Service Learning, which compiles statistics about student voter registration, during the 2020 presidential election, while 90.7% of students eligible were registered to vote, only 80.4% actually voted.

In 2016 VT Engage reported a 73% actual voting rate for the presidential election, and while this demonstrates a 15.1% increase, other groups are aiming to fill the remaining 9.3% for the 2024 election.

According to Dr. Cayce Myers, a communication law professor in the Virginia Tech School of Communication, voter registration groups often aggressively target large lecture-based classrooms in order to yield a higher return of voters.

Myers also believes that while faculty are supportive of the push to encourage students to register, they may not be aware of the underlying motivations of the organizations that target such classrooms, or that they have a right to say no to such visits.

NextGen America is an organization that aims to improve voter registration on college campuses including Virginia Tech. The organization is paid for in part by NextGen Climate Action Committee, a super PAC which aims to raise awareness of climate-related issues among young voters.

According to their mission statement, “NextGen America is the nation’s largest youth voting organization, using innovative digital and field strategies to turn out young voters in key states. We’re empowering the largest and most diverse generation in American history through voter education, registration, and mobilization. At NextGen, we share lessons learned with the broader progressive community to build a stronger and more effective democracy. By working with young people across the country, we’re shaping a government that respects us, reflects us, and represents us — not just for an election cycle but for generations to come.”

In classroom visits, NextGen America has used tactics such as having representatives visit early in the instruction period. The representatives share their platform for registering to vote in Blacksburg. Following class the representatives wait in the hallway to collect completed registration forms from students.

Once students are registered to vote, their name, address, and party affiliation becomes public. According to Virginia Code section 24.2-406, the Virginia Department of Elections can “furnish at reasonable price” lists of persons who voted at any primary, special, or general election held in the preceding four years to political party committees, and political action committees which can only collect such records for political purposes only.

The statute additionally cites that the Commonwealth can sell “members of the public or a nonprofit organization seeking to promote voter participation and registration by means of a communication or mailing without intimidation or pressure exerted on the recipient, for that purpose only.”

“I’ve always had an awareness for voter registration and there’s also been leveraging of voter registration drives in classrooms,” said Myers. “I think it largely is presented as a nonpartisan drive, although there are questions around whether or not it actually is partisan, and that’s to benefit one party or another.”

Myers also believes this raises concerns of transparency regarding political speech on campus, as to whether the groups are truly nonpartisan or a political group encouraging a political registration for a certain outcome, though he also notes that classroom visits must be conducted with permission from the professor instructing the course.

“I think that the university has to stay aware of this as a movement,” said Myers. “It’s an evolving sort of movement and in the past, there have been very aggressive attempts to do voter registration on campus by some groups with the faculty and allowing them to come to their classes.”

NextGen America did not return requests for comment at the time of publishing, however, Myers has experienced requests for such visits in his classes and has declined to accept visits from voter registration organizations. Myers elaborated on the ethical issues raised by such visits.

“What I think is concerning to some people is organizations that are super PACs that may be more Democratic leaning than Republican, but it could be either side– that disrupts the educational mission of the class,” Myers said.

While the university has not addressed the issue directly, VT Engage provides resources on how to register, which voting method to use, upcoming election information, candidate information, and local governance information for university students.

Additionally, students can view voter registration guides or utilize a personalized response form for questions not frequently asked.

“The 2024 election season is a very tight election nationally,” Myers said. “Voter registration is a big part of changing the votes. It could be either side doing the registration because we have such a razor-thin margin in November, and I think folks are very aware of that on both sides.”

Train track trade primes the NRV for Amtrak by 2027

By Ainsley Cragin

CHRISTIANSBURG, V.A. – An exchange of train tracks in Northern Virginia will bring a 121-year-old Christiansburg train station back to life.

1906 Rail Station in Christiansburg, VA

Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) announced updates Sep. 5 to the New River Valley (NRV) Passenger Rail project after an unexpected purchase agreement with Norfolk Southern.

“As early as January of this year, we were told there was no way that Norfolk Southern is going to let us on their tracks,” said D. Michael Barber, Mayor of Christiansburg.

Colin Burch, senior planning manager for the VPRA, described the transaction as “an in-kind exchange of roughly 28 miles of the Virginian Line (V-Line) for about 24 miles of the Manassas Line (M-Line).”

“This new agreement with Norfolk Southern allows passenger rail to reach Christiansburg years earlier and at a better location,” said Secretary of Transportation Shep Miller after the VPRA announcement Thursday.

Barber says it will take about one and a half years to prepare the site and restore the 1906 Passenger Rail Station in Cambria to full operation. If the project stays on track, the doors to the new NRV passenger station will open in 2027.

“We’d like to think sooner,” Barber said, “but we don’t know. We’re just much closer than we were when we started.”

In 2022, the VPRA purchased the V-Line from Norfolk Southern as part of a plan to build a passenger station in the NRV.

According to Barber, the discovery of a mile-long freight tunnel under Route 460 derailed plans to bring passenger rail to Christiansburg using the V-Line section of track.

“Just to renovate that tunnel was going to be $740 million – in addition to another $350 million to build the station and the other tracks,” Barber said, “And so it was a $1 billion set-up. The VPRA and the state, rightfully so, didn’t want to commit that kind of money.”

Barber said Norfolk Southern decided in May of this year that they were interested in making a deal with the VPRA to buy back the V-Line.

Burch explained the new trade deal offered an opportunity to exchange the V-Line track for a portion of Norfolk Southern’s Seminary Passage, a section of the M-Line tracks in Northern Virginia.

“The Seminary Passage piece of the agreement was important for the Commonwealth,” Burch said, “because it would allow Virginia Railway Express (VRE) – which is the commuter rail line serving Northern Virginia and D.C. commuters – to improve service with weekend and late-night service.”

The trade provides an opportunity for the Commonwealth to maintain the NRV budget while supporting intercity rail and enabling additional services in Northern Virginia.

Sec. Miller said, “the deal achieves all of this while saving nearly $100 million.”

As Chairman of the Passenger Rail Station Authority, Barber made it a priority to avoid spending unnecessary funds to create an artfully designed passenger station.

“They projected the cost of that station to get everything ready is about $4.5 million, but we were looking at the potential of hundreds of millions to build a station,” Barber said, “I told my group we’re not going to build a monument to an architect.”

According to Barber, 20 of 29 possible sites for the New River Valley project were in Christiansburg, VA. The coveted Cambria location – made possible by the track exchange deal – served the Cambria neighborhood in Christiansburg from 1906-1979.

“I’m just over the moon that we’re going to be able to restore that building,” Barber said, “My goal all along has been to restore that station because, when I was a kid, I rode that train every so often going out to Lynchburg.”

Located on a well-kept road near the Christiansburg Aquatic Center, the rail station will be easy to access by car and will continue to be served by public transportation.

According to Barber, the renovation project will include the addition of about 150 parking spaces and two canopy-covered areas. In the coming months, crews will begin the process of cleaning and restoring the existing building to meet safety and ADA standards.

The new Cambria station could prompt a steady migration of travelers toward Christiansburg.

According to Burch, “when gas prices are higher, people tend to take the train more. And we typically see higher ridership during the holidays, summer travel months, and college spring breaks.”

The New River Valley Regional Commision assisted in forecasting passenger demand by using public transportation data.

“Essentially they determined that roughly 1 million people travel from the NRV to Washington, D.C. and the Northeast Corridor every year,” Burch said.

“I think the increased traffic in the Cambria section of Christiansburg will be very beneficial,” Barber said, “they’re figuring around 40,000 riders a year.”

According to Barber, two trains will come through the station each day. One will depart from the station at 4:30 a.m. and the other will likely depart around midday.

“We could see a coffee shop or even a train related sales type thing, that would be great,” Barber said.

In 2023 the Town of Christiansburg commissioned a mural depicting the station’s history.

“We’ve already been kind of anticipating this, there is a beautiful mural depicting Cambria and the train history and all this kind of stuff,” Barber said, “it’s right next to the station, right where the train will come.”

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According to Barber, there have likely been no people allowed to enter the 1906 station since late 1979.

“They’ve got to clean up and build another maintenance shop and do some maintenence type things.” Barber said, “So it’ll, I don’t really expect see any personality to the station itself for at least another year and a half, possibly.”

Adding a passenger train station near the Virginia Tech and Radford University campuses may increase student ridership, reducing the heavy traffic associated with college events in the NRV.

Mary Biggs, the legislative liaison for Montgomery County to the New River Valley Passenger Rail Station Authority and chair of the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, said, “The investment from the state, Norfolk Southern, and our localities will benefit our citizens, our universities and their students, businesses and economic development for our region. It is a much needed asset for our area.”

SOL Results are in for the New River Valley

By Caroline Reed

As students adjust to a new version of normal, so are the Standard of Learning (SOL) scores across the New River Valley.

After looking at the data released by the Department of Education, numbers are still not where they were in prior years, even after 2020 when the cutoff score was lowered for math and reading. Naturally, there is worry from student, teachers, and parents alike about the post pandemic numbers.

Overall, the passing rate looks very similar to the previous year with a slight improvement in math. According to the Virginia Mercury, the proficient score is “evidence that the student demonstrated the skills and knowledge defined in the Standards of Learning as appropriate for the grade level or course.”

After students returned to in-person classes, in 2021, there was a jump in both the math and reading categories. But while questions rise about the accuracy and necessity of standardized testing, Superintendent of Salem City Schools, Dr. Curtis Hicks is excited about this year’s results looking forward to making the necessary adjustments to ensure that every student succeeds, whatever that may look like.

“I think SOLs accurately reflect how well students know and can demonstrate their acquisition of learning standards. The only thing I would add is that SOL tests are only one of the many ways that schools impact children and communities,” said Hicks.

Statewide we have seen 70% of schools show improvement from the previous year. WSLS 10 News reports Roanoke City scored higher in all subjects except history. Montgomery Country tested above the state average as well. While Salem places 32^nd in the Commonwealth, Daleville, and Bedford also saw major improvements.

(Data found at https://doe.virginia.gov/data-policy-funding/data-reports/statistics-reports/sol-test-pass-rates-other-results)

But in Pulaski County, SOL numbers still fall below pre-pandemic levels, putting it at No. 95 out of 131 school districts. Last year only 18 schools in all of Virginia remained consistent or improved their pre-pandemic scores.

Many parents and teachers hear that and become fearful, but success in the education system is not linear, and unfortunately takes time. “The key is to focus on what matters most. I think sometimes we add other “requirements” to the point of getting in the way of what matters most, or in some cases, we continue to do things because that’s what we have always done even though the standards have changed,” said Hicks.

But with the help of the state, there are many ideas and plans in place to help tackle some of the obstacles that are opposing the SOL results: tutoring, absenteeism, cellphones, and many other factors that impact a students’ ability to learn.

Gov. Youngkin’s “All In Virginia” plan is an education bill trying to reteach kids how to learn in classrooms after growing accustomed to learning at home focusing on three major components: attendance, literacy, and learning.

With the “All In Virginia” education plan, there is hope for those in charge. As chronic absenteeism is down 16% from the previous school year.

The DOE of Virginia released a statement the end of August: “These [SOL] results show that Virginia students are beginning to recover from the post-pandemic learning loss they suffered after 2020 and 2021. But the results also show that we must continue to focus every day on helping them catch up to pre-pandemic levels and move ahead,” said Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Coons.

The “All In” house bill increased state funding; an approach that encourages school districts focus 70% of fund on tutoring, 20% on the VA Literacy Act and 10% on chronic absenteeism. This budget bill was signed on September 14^th, 2023.

As the pandemic changed the states approach to education, the overall test itself has also changed. “In general, the SOLs continue to move away from basic recall fixed response items to questions that require more application and explanation of your answers. As a result, students will have to have a greater depth of understanding regarding the standards and know how to apply their learning in new situations,” said Hicks.

The understanding we gain from the testing provides numerical understanding of our education. But from teachers to students, the fear of failure and pressure can be overwhelming. For some students passing an SOL could be the final achievement needed to graduate. However, if a student fails tutoring and retesting are required in order to meet the requirement.

Darlene Marshall, retired elementary school teacher and now substitute, shares some encouragement to teachers: “More tests do give the power to gather more data, but it is at the expense of good quality teaching. Teaching is a craft. I am a believer in teaching the whole child to do what they can become to be lifelong learners. Teachers have so much pressure and on them today and I just want to hug and thank them all,” said Marshall.

But at the end of the day, the pressure does not rely amongst the shoulders of the individual but an understanding into how overall schools and districts are learning. The data that comes back each year is crucial to those in charge.

“I would say we are measuring both students and teachers but using the results to rate schools not children. Students and families need to know how well they are progressing, but we never use scores to label or rate students,” Salem’s Superintendent continues, “it is important for schools to use the data to make the changes necessary to propel learning further,” said Hicks

Despite all the new plans, tests, and other implemented standards and rules, patience and kindness to teachers and students alike is the main priority. Making sure they have the help and guidance they need to succeed. “I would just say that you have to be able to block out the noise and the distractions and focus on what matters most,” said Hicks to encourage teachers and students.

Students everywhere have suffered at the hands of Covid-19, mental health issues, and teacher shortages. But at a state and local level there are those that care. Those striving to improve the systems in place, adapting to a new generation of both students and teachers.

What’s the “Hokie Plague”? It’s a little bit of everything!

As empty classrooms fill up after a lonely summer, there’s a small chorus of keyboard clicking, backpack zipping, and chatter among eager students as a hopeful year begins. But that back-to-school melody is paired with the disgruntled harmony of coughing, sneezing and whatever sound that kid behind you is making who you swear is hacking up a lung.

At Virginia Tech, we call it the Hokie Plague. It’s a sinister sickness that hits almost every student at some point in the first month of the semester and drives a motivation to make it to class every day to a moment of I can’t leave my bed, I feel horrible! But this “Hokie Plague” isn’t new to Blacksburg, and like many seniors, it isn’t hoping to leave campus anytime soon.

“Definitely heard that over many years,” joked Monica Martin, the Health Quality Manager at Schiffert Health Center at Virginia Tech. “It’s sort of a love-hate relationship. Because we get that students are like, ‘Oh, it’s the Hokie Plague,’ but we also want them to understand it’s not just one thing that’s going around getting everybody, it’s a number of viruses.”

So, there you have it – As much as we all would love to see the “Hokie Plague” listed in the Center for Disease Control as one of the deathliest illnesses (Because, at the moment, it really feels deathly,) it isn’t just one thing. It is not just Virginia Tech that battles an illness at the beginning of each year. Talk to anyone on a college campus, and they’ll tell you the witty name they use for the campus-wide sickness – Like James Madison’s “JMFlu,” Penn State’s “PSFlu” and Virginia Military Institute’s “Barracks Plague.”

If you were hoping for a diagnosis, CareSpot Urgent Care identifies the most common college illnesses as the flu, upper respiratory infections (“illnesses that leave you hacking, coughing and just feeling miserable”), mononucleosis (mono), and stomach bugs.

And let’s not forget that pesky pandemic that banned us from the classrooms for nearly a year. Although many people have gotten their vaccines, Coronavirus is still on the loose, hoping to latch onto anyone.

“I know across the country there was some spikes at the end of summer, so I’m sure there is some circulating,” said Martin. She’s not wrong – The Virginia Department of Health reports that 0.56% of all emergency visits resulted in COVID-19 diagnoses in the first week of April this year. Four months later, in the first week of August, that rate was 2.78%. The highest rate in August for diagnoses was in the third week of August, where it was 3.24%… Right around the same time students are coming back to school.

Students gathered outside Lavery Hall during the first week of school.

“You have thousands of individuals coming into a very concentrated area in a short period of time. And so as everybody convenes back on campus, they bring with them any germs, bacteria and viruses that they may be carrying with them, and that are just in our environment in general,” said Martin. “If you think of it as like a pool, it’s an empty pool. And then you throw everybody into this pool, everybody’s going to get exposed at some point. And depending on what bacteria or viruses that [are] in our community, they kind of have different rates of how they spread and how infectious they are.”

The entire campus is that pool, and it makes it extremely difficult to avoid getting sick between dining halls, football games, dorm buildings, and downtown life. Luckily, Martin said that within the first week of school, the health center wasn’t seeing too many people coming in feeling sick.

“I think last week wasn’t terribly bad,” she said. “That’s also just the first-time students getting together. So it will take time for those all to spread and then people to develop symptoms. I think we’re starting to see some of that now after the long weekend, and individuals have been gathering together and those symptoms are now trying to show after two or three days.”

Although the possibility of sicknesses getting worse as the beginning of the semester progresses, Martin said there are steps students can take to prevent catching the “Hokie Plague.”

“The first thing I would make sure students know, and it’s the hardest one I know for folks, is if you’re sick and feeling sick you should try to stay away from others and stay away from crowds,” said Martin. “Because you are going to be the infectious person who’s spreading it around to everyone else, and that’s where it will start.”

Martin recommends that if you’re feeling that tickle in your throat or a bit of a sniffle to always mask up. Schiffert Health Center has masks available to students in the lobby and Martin said staff would be more than happy to give students any available masks if they want to stay safe.

Masks available to students at the entrance of Schiffert Health Center.

“The second one is washing hands,” continued Martin. “Obviously, it’s been drilled into us since COVID. Wash your hands, wash your hands. So that really is important, whether you’re the ill person or if you’re a well person and you are just trying to prevent getting sick.”

Even if you take every precaution possible to avoid catching the Hokie Plague, sometimes it’s inevitable. But Martin wants to assure all students that Schiffert Health Center is right on campus and willing to help if they feel themselves starting to get sick.

“If it’s the middle of the night and you’re starting to feel sick, you can make an appointment in the evening time and then there’s usually appointments the next day,” said Martin. She encourages students to schedule appointments online at the Healthy Hokies Portal. “If students are really feeling awful and ill and they have concerns that’s like ‘This feels more than just a cough or cold,’ they can call us to talk to a triage nurse and try to get in earlier if they feel like it’s urgent,” she added.

So, whatever you do this semester – Don’t be the person hacking up a lung behind someone in class. But resources are available if you find yourself coming down with the Hokie Plague.

Legislation emerges for U.S. fashion industry

by Nicole Tutino –

Photo: Ekaterina Bolovtsova via Pexels.com

Laws can help enforce ethical and sustainable actions by fashion brands in their supply chain and distribution processes.

Garment factory conditions often conflict with workers’ safety, due to long working hours, health effects and unstable building structures.

In 2022, the Garment Worker Protection Act was enacted in California. The state law prohibits the piece rate payment system which refers to wages distributed based on the number of apparel pieces a worker creates. Piece rate compensation often fails to provide garment workers with sufficient income.

Recently, The Business of Fashion reported that California-based manufacturers of apparel brands failed to meet the garment worker compensation requirements of the state’s laws.

New York may join California with the state’s own fashion-related legislation.

Originally proposed in 2021, The Fashion Sustainability and Social Accountability Act requires sustainability and ethical workplace practices for brands operating or selling products in New York.

According to The New York State Senate, the bill features “due diligence” requirements that detail solutions to combat unethical practices within the fashion industry impacting workers’ rights and the environment.

The section’s facets include supply chain transparency, which refers to the identification of suppliers used in apparel production to understand working conditions and the origins of materials used. Although the bill does not require all levels of suppliers to be completely reported, the increased legal supervision intends to restrict unethical actions.

Environmental requirements relate to fashion companies’ developing plans to restrict their involvement in climate change through limited greenhouse gas emissions and the disclosure of the brands’ emissions.

Fashion brands that receive an income of at least 100 million dollars each year will be required to adhere to the act’s guidelines. With about 900 apparel brands housed in New York City, the bill’s reach can be widespread. According to the New York Fashion Act, brands failing to comply with the bill can “be fined up to 2% of annual revenues.”

Patagonia, Eileen Fisher and Reformation, which are apparel brands known for valuing sustainable efforts, are among the supporters of the bill.

Currently, the bill remains under review by the New York State Senate and General Assembly committees and will require the committees’, houses’ and governor’s approval prior to becoming a law.

While legislation for fashion sustainability shows growth, the laws’ effects are limited to a specific state.

With more proposed environmental and worker protection legislation emerging in states, lawmakers begin creating a consistent methodology to identify unethical brands and create pathways to federal and global regulations.

Uncertain future of menstrual-tracking apps in Virginia

by Cyna Mirzai-

Almost one-third of women in the United States use a mobile app to track their periods. However, a bill to protect menstrual app data from search warrants failed the Virginia General Assembly in February, alarming abortion rights supporters for a future of post-Roe abortion restrictions.

The state’s Democrat-controlled Senate passed a bill to prohibit the issuance of a warrant for the search and seizure of menstrual health data stored on electronic devices, allowing people to protect personal information about their menstrual health. According to AP News, the legislation passed with a 31-9 vote, with nine Republicans joining Democrats to send it to the House. Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who introduced a 15-week abortion ban early this year, tabled the bill through a procedural move in a Republican-controlled subcommittee.

Inspired by the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June 2022, Sen. Barbara Favola, D-Arlington, introduced the legislation since current laws allow search warrants to be issued for access to all data stored on computers, computer networks and other electronic devices as long as there is a probable cause for a crime.

Before the repeal of Roe v. Wade, an abortion could be performed up until the third trimester of a patient’s pregnancy in Virginia. Therefore, if a person stopped tracking their cycle on an app due to a terminated pregnancy, there would be no probable cause for a crime. However, as stricter abortion laws continue to pass in various states, these tracking apps can become the scene of a crime.

Sen. Favola said her bill is straightforward and one of the shortest bills of the Senate’s season, per WUSA 9. She will wait until the election of a new General Assembly in 2023 to try for the bill again.

While this can remain an alarming time for many, there are still ways to protect one’s personal information. The Department of Health and Human Services issued guidance last year encouraging people to turn off location sharing and tracking activity across apps. Some tracking apps also state they do not share or sell data, but if weary, creating a personalized menstrual data tracker by using spreadsheets, digital planners or even paper planners will aid in concealing personal information.

Whatever happened to savings bonds?

by Emaryi Williams –

According to AARP, savings bonds were really popular gifts “back in the day”, especially among grandparents. Savings bonds date back to 1935 when former president Franklin D. Roosevelt signed into legislation that the U.S. Department of the Treasury could sell them as a new type of security.

According to Treasury Directs, when you buy a savings bond you’re essentially “lend[ing] money to the U.S. government. In turn, the government agrees to pay that much money back later — plus additional money (interest).” The interest can only be earned for up to 30 years, and it can also be federally taxed.

There are three main types of savings bonds in the United States:

Series E — These types of bonds were created in 1981 to help fund World War II. As of 1980, they are no longer being sold. While these would be out of date, they are still redeemable.
Series EE — These bonds were created in 1990 to replace the Series E bond and were used as a way to help save and pay for college. These bonds earn different interest rates based off of when they were issued.
Series I — These bonds were created in 1998 to help Americans save while protecting them against inflation. These bonds have a combination of a fixed rate and a semiannual inflation rate that reflects the consumer price index.

Now that you know the difference between savings bonds, you may still be wondering where they went, and why you may not see them anymore.

The answer is simple. They went online.

As of 2012, savings bonds were no longer printed on pieces of paper. To both purchase and redeem an online savings bond, you must go through Treasury Direct, which is maintained by the U.S. Treasury. The move to online was made to make bond purchases easier and more accessible using the internet.

Despite paper bonds being discontinued, you can still cash in paper bonds. You can even convert your paper bond into an electric one on Treasury Direct’s website, letting it mature longer online. According to Investopedia, another pro to switching to electronic bonds is that when you want to cash out an electronic bond, you can choose to only take a portion and keep the rest maturing. You cannot do that with a paper bond.

Rules about interest and taxes are still the same for both paper and electronic savings bonds, and they can be found on Treasury Direct’s website. There is also a tool available to help bondholders determine what their bond may be worth today.

Apartment hunting? 5 things to consider

by Emaryi Williams-

As inflation rises in almost every aspect of American life, including housing, renting an apartment is starting to look unrealistic for some. According to Virginia Realtors, rental demand and prices for apartments are on the rise. Early preparation is important if you are thinking of finding an apartment.

In no particular order, here are five things to have or consider before renting:

Budget

According to Capital One, it is a general rule to have a job that pays three times your rent, and most landlords even require it for renting. This will be key in trying to set your budget. According to Citizens B ank, one common budget plan is the 50/30/20 Budget Rule, which divides your income into needs, wants and savings respectively.

Savings

With the numerous upfront costs that accompany a newly acquired apartment like furniture and appliances, aspiring renters need to have money readily available. The exact amount of money is subjective to the potential apartment and additional charges, but Supermoney says that the average person should have $5,000 to $8,000 in their bank account before moving.

Security deposit and application fees

To get through the application process, there are two main fees of which potential renters will need to be aware. According to Virginia tenant law, a landlord is required to charge tenants a security deposit, which is a maximum of two months’ rent. Potential renters will also need to make sure they are aware of the application fees. In Virginia, laws limit application fees to $50.

Credit score

Fixing a poor credit score cannot happen overnight, so making sure you have a good score is something you want to do well in advance of looking for a new apartment. According to Flex Finance Inc., the more competitive the market is, the higher your credit score will need to be with the following ranges:

Exceptional: 800 – 850
Very Good: 740 – 799
Good: 670 – 739
Fair: 580 – 669
Poor: 300 – 579

If you have a bad credit score, you may need to look into a co-signer.

Required documents

According to Apartmentguide, there are standard documents that you will need to provide your potential landlord. Other than providing your social security number, you will need to provide proof of employment with paystubs/bank statements, a government-issued ID, vehicle registration (for a parking pass) and rental history.

Inclusivity in Hollywood

by Golder Baah-

In the last few years, Disney has been remaking many of their classic animated films into live-action movies. Although there hasn’t been an official announcement or confirmation of a live-action version of “The Princess and the Frog,” rumors are circulating in the news and on social media that Disney is working on it.

Social media users have immediately jumped to who should play Princess Tiana and who should not. Many people on social media are voicing their opinions on the role due to Hollywood’s repetitive colorism. Hollywood has a history of giving roles that are meant for darker-skinned women to lighter-skinned women, and the media is not having it for the live-action version of “The Princess and the Frog.”

According to Deadline, “nearly 80% of Black female characters have light or medium skin tones.” This is due to the stereotype of darker-skinned black women “not having the white standards of beauty.” This limited representation on the big screen does not accurately showcase the range of Black women in today’s society.

In 2021, the trailer for the movie “The Harder They Fall” was released, and the media immediately noticed the portrayal of Stagecoach Mary, a real historical figure who was a dark-skinned Black woman, was being portrayed by light-skinned actress Zazie Beetz. This sparked questions on social media about why a light-skinned actress was cast in the role of a real-life darker-skinned woman when there are darker-skinned actresses who could have justified the role.

According to TeenVogue, “Hollywood still overwhelmingly believes that a Black woman must possess non-Black ancestry or features to be considered beautiful or valuable.” Concerns over colorism and blackface were brought to light again when light-skinned actress Zoe Saldana was cast as Nina Simone, a dark-skinned musician who faced racial discrimination. Saldana wore a prosthetic nose, false teeth, and dark makeup for the role.

While there have been some efforts to increase the number of roles meant for dark-skinned women in Hollywood, inclusivity cannot be achieved until dark-skinned women have equal representation on the big screen. With the potential upcoming live-action version of “The Princess and the Frog,” many people on social media are hoping to see Hollywood make progress and accurately represent the Black community in film and TV, rather than continue to disappoint with a lack of representation and blackface.