President Obama made VCU his second-ever stop on his re-election campaign on May 5th, 2012. A big part of a president's re-election agenda has always been targeting the college youth, and this move was no different. His move was strategic in winning over hotly contested states on the East Coast, which included Virginia. Included in his plans are other states with strong election competition, such as Ohio, where he initially began his re*election campaign.

Highlights of the VCU rally included an attendance of over 8,000 people, including students of the college itself. Obama presented himself as many things during the rally, touching upon issues faced by the middle and working classes of America. He also gave light to the many protests and rallies at Wall Street, and did his best to state why he was an overall better pick for the country than competitors such as Mitt Romney.

The Campaign Trail

A crowd of about 8,000 strong braved the rain to see current U.S. President Barack Obama speak on stage at Virginia Commonwealth University this May 5th. Obama had previously won the election in Virginia back in 2008, and remains to be a heavily contested state this coming election season.

Election rival, and leading contender for the Republican Party Mitt Romney had just wrapped up a campaign stop in Northern Virginia just three days prior. He then moved down to the Hampton Roads on May 3rd. Being early to the draw has always been critical for winning votes for the general elections; a strategic move that won Obama this hotly-contested election state.

Ohio, where Obama made his first stop, is another state where votes are closely contested between both Republican and Democratic competitors. His speech at the Ohio State University, where branded Romney as a “rubber stamp for extremest Republicans.” He then labeled himself as a man who strives for the working and middle class citizens of the United States.

Perhaps Obama was touching upon the recent economic and social inequalities brought upon by the Wall Street protests when he mentioned Romney during his speech. Quips that pointed out Romney's experience with “Running a large financial firm and running a state,” and why that made him “wrong from these experiences” revealed Obama's clear disdain for his Republican competitor.

Journalists who attended both rallies criticized his speeches as being attacks geared directly towards Romney while being veiled as generic criticism against Republicans as a whole. Obama's track record as a president has not been wholly well-received by citizens; critics argue that he plans to take a more aggressive path to re-election as a result.

A War Against Republicans

Obama's criticism against Republicans and Romney have been taken up a notch for his recent re-election campaign. His speech at VCU included many pressing matters that the nation faces today, which included the current state of the economy, the social classes brought to light during the Wall Street Protest, among many other things.

“The Republicans who run this Congress have insisted that we go right back to the policies that created this mess in the first place.” Obama made in a bold statement against his competitors. He believes that his Republican counterparts will refuse to move the country “Forward,” as his campaign slogan states.

While Obama did have much to say about his competition, he also had much in store for the country. He stated that he refuses to “pay for another tax cut by kicking children off the Head Start program, or asking students to pay more for college” in his struggle to re-gain the Virginia voter's belief in his re-election.

 His controversial stance on medical care was also something Obama touched upon during his re-election speech at VCU. He “refuses to eliminate health insurance for millions of poor, elderly and disabled Americans on Medicade,” clearly showing his stance on the entire health care debacle the country still feels today.

While touching upon the many issues that stand in the way of his re-election, Obama reminded the attendees at VCU of his promises to fix the economy, and create jobs for millions of unemployed Americans. The president did indeed have these promises again, but his track record still followed him to the event; something that may make his race an even closer one than in 2008.

Not Just Promises, But a Record

During his term as president, Obama signed off on all-encompassing yet controversial acts and bills. One of these was the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which requires citizens who are not currently covered by insurance plans from private or government offices to maintain one regardless.

The Stimulus Package, or the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, was also an act by Obama that was met with controversy. Here, the government would seek to counter the recession by offsetting the excess in private spending with an increase in public spending. This was done by employing a great variety of measures, all of which aimed to save the job market and stop the deterioration of the economy.

Despite relatively welcoming crowds at both Virginia and Ohio, Obama still has a long road ahead of him when the election finally comes around on November 6. His pubic appearance at Virginia Commonwealth University will leave voters both young and old something to ponder on, both in the present and in the past.

One thing that you should know when looking for a place to stay while attending VCU is that there are many different apartment choices at Virginia Commonwealth University. Because of this, you might find it hard to choose the right one that will not only match your budget, but your needs, preference, and taste as well. A lot of these apartments located at the Virginia Commonwealth University are old and have just been renovated. If you want to get the best value for your money while still being able to relax and feel secure in your new apartment, you should consider getting a Pine Court apartment.

There are many reasons as to why you should choose Pine Court Apartments over the other apartments at Virginia Commonwealth University. First and foremost, Pine Court apartments provide more benefits and advantages over the other house-for-rents you will see near the university. And as mentioned above, most of the apartments that you will find located near VCU or within VCU itself are old. While some of these old apartments may have cheaper monthly rates, this also means choosing one might lead you to experience numerous problems.

Listed below are some of the top reasons as to why you should choose to live in a Pine Court apartment over the other cheaper but older apartments at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Reason No. 1: Pine Court Apartments are Located 1 Block off the VCU campus

One of the things that you should consider when looking at the numerous apartments at Virginia Commonwealth University is whether or not it is near your department. While budget may be your first priority, just imagine how hard it will be for you if you choose an apartment that is out of your way to school just because of its cheap monthly rates. This will not be a problem for you when you choose Pine Court as your home away from home.

Pine Court Apartments at Virginia Commonwealth University are located just across Cary Street when you are coming from the New Engineering School. These apartments are just a block away Cary Street when you are coming from the New Business School. These are also just a block away on Cary Street if you are coming from the New Cary Street Gymnasium. As you can see, living in Pine Court will provide you with immediate access to VCU.

Reason No. 2: Pine Court Apartments Provide Convenience

Another reason as to why you should choose Pine Court Apartments at Virginia Commonwealth University is because of the convenience that these provide to all its tenants. One of the problems that you will experience when choosing a cheaper and lower quality apartment is the lack of amenities. However, with Pine Court Apartments, this is never a problem, as you will be granted with access to numerous amenities for your convenience.

The following amenities are being offered by Pine Court:

• Suite Style Apartment Designs
• Private Bathroom in Each Bedroom
• Premier Location
• State-of-the-art Technology in Security
• Private Outdoor Courtyard
• Laundry Facilities located in Every Building
• High Speed Internet
• Cable TV
• 24 Hour Availability of Management
• On-Site Maintenance
• Daily Cleaning and Janitorial Services
• On Site Safe Parking
• Balconies for Some Units

Reason No. 3: Safety of the Tenants is the Priority of Pine Court Management

Another problem that you may experience when choosing an older apartment in the vicinity of VCU is lack of security. However, when you choose one of the Pine Court Apartments at Virginia Commonwealth University, security is not an issue. In fact, the safety of all the tenants is one of the top priorities of the management. Here are the security systems being implemented by Pine Court:

• Secure Parking Area with Remote Control Access
• CCTVs
• Dead Bolts on all Apartments
• Fire Alarms
• Sprinklers
• Smoke Detection Systems
• State-of-the-Art Security and Safety Systems

Reason No. 4: Pine Court Apartments are Built to Meet the Needs of VCU Students

As a student of VCU, you will be provided with numerous housing options. However, as mentioned above, most of these apartments at Virginia Commonwealth University are just old houses that were renovated to provide housing options to VCU students. This means that most of these have problems when it comes to amenities, security, clean and spacious bathrooms, and safe parking lots. When you choose Pine Court as your second home while in college, you will never have to deal with all these issues as all of these apartments are specifically built for the needs of you and other VCU students.

Reason No. 5: Pine Court Apartment Rates are Budget-Friendly

Another good reason to choose Pine Court over the other apartments at Virginia Commonwealth University is because of its competitive and friendly monthly rental rates. Your parents will be happy that they will send you off to college knowing that you are safe, secure, and comfortable in a place that you can call your home while you are away. The best thing about this is that their money will be well spent on a worthy investment.

The monthly rental rates of all the Pine Court Apartments at Virginia Commonwealth University already include the following:

• All monthly utilities including electric, water, cable TV, trash, and sewage expenses
• High Speed Internet
• Private Bathroom in Every Bedroom
• Daily Cleaning and Janitorial Services in the Public Toilets
• On Site Keep Up and Maintenance
• Laundry Facilities located in Each Building

These are just some of the reasons as to why you should already consider living in Pine Court compared to other cheaper yet older apartments at Virginia Commonwealth University. If you want convenience, comfort, and affordability, this is the right housing option for you.

If you are planning to attend med school in Richmond, Virginia, you should consider enrolling in the VCU School of Medicine. Considered as one of the best public educational institutions located in the United States, prospective students are guaranteed to receive only the highest quality education when it comes to health care giving. In this article, you will find all the information that you need about the school, its history, the other courses offered by the school, its mission, its strategic plan, and its teachings.

About VCU

The Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is an educational institution considered as one of the leading research universities in the United States. VCU is a home to over 32,000 students. This educational institution has two campuses located on Richmond – one is the Monroe Park Campus while the other branch is the MCV Campus. The VCU Medical Center, which includes the health sciences schools of the institution, specifically the VCU School of Medicine, provides state-of-the-art health care in over 200 areas. This university also serves as Virginia’s sole Level 1 Trauma Center.

History

Before the establishment of the VCU School of Medicine, the university undergone several changes first, both in its name and the educational programs that it provided. Its rich history began when VCU was founded in the year 1838, when the Medical College of Virginia (MCV) was established as the Hampden-Sydney College’s medical department. In the year 1854, MCV became an independent institution. In 1860, MCV became state-affiliated.

The Monroe Park Campus of the Virginia Commonwealth University started its operation in the year 1917. Back then, it was known as the “Richmond School of Social Work and Public Health.” In the year 1925, the educational institution became the College of William and Mary’s Richmond division. In the year 1939, from being known as the Richmond School of Social Work and Public Health, it became the Richmond Professional Institute. In the year 1962, the institution separated from the College of William and Mary to become an independent state university.

In the year 1968, the Virginia Commonwealth University was signed into existence by Governor Mills. E Godwin Jr. He proceeded with this decision with the recommendations of a 1967 report. A legislative commission that was led by the then Richmond Federal Reserve Bank President Edward A. Wayne Sr. developed this report containing the recommendations for establishing the Virginia Commonwealth University.

The first ever VCU Board of Visitors then named Wayne as the vice-rector of the educational institution. In present times, individuals who have made exemplary contributions as well as outstanding services to the Virginia Commonwealth University are awarded and honored with the Wayne’s Medal. VCU became what is now today when the Medical College of Virginia and the Richmond Professional institute merged as one in the year 1968. Today, the VCU School of Medicine is the leading public school in the state of Virginia proving comprehensive medical education and top notch training programs.

Other Courses Offered

Aside from the VCU School of Medicine, this institution also provides numerous other educational programs. These include:

• Accountancy
• Adult Learning
• Advertising
• African American StudiesAmerican Studies
• Applied Social Research
• Art Education
• Art History
• Athletic Training
• Business Administration
• Cinema
• College Student Development and Counseling
• Communication Arts
• Computer and Information Systems Security
• Computer Engineering
• Computer Science
• Crafts and Material Studies
• Creative Writing
• Criminal Justice
• Dance and Choreography
• Design
• Economics
• Education
• Electrical Engineering
• English
• Environmental Studies
• Fashion
• Financial Technology
• Fine Arts
• Foreign Language
• Gender Education
• History
• Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness
• Human Resource Management
• Information Systems
• International Studies
• Leadership
• Marketing
• Mass Communications
• Mathematical Sciences
• Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering
• Music
• Non Profit Management
• Philosophy
• Political Science
• Product Innovation
• Public Administration
• Real Estate and Urban Land Development
• Religious Studies
• Social Work
• Sociology
• Sport Leadership
• Systems Modeling and Analysis
• Taxation
• Teaching
• Theater
• Transportation Planning and Analysis
• Urban and Regional Studies

The School of Medicine’s Mission

The mission of the VCU School of Medicine is to provide students with the proper education that they need in order for them to improve the quality of the health care they provide to others. Through the use of state-of-the-art and innovative activities and diverse educational programs, the School of Medicine aims to create, and at the same time, apply the new knowledge gained to continuously improve and provide the best medical education to all its students. It is also the mission of the school to come up with health care practices that are more effective in order to address the needs of the people it serves.

The School’s Strategic Plan

The strategic plan that the VCU School of Medicine implement is for the students to try their best to overreach the goals and objectives set for them by the university. By doing so, the students, the faculty members, and its staff will excel in an ever growing, creative, supportive, inclusive, intellectually stimulating, and innovative community. This strategic plan reaffirms the school’s vision of a strong and continuous commitment to its mission, roots, and core values. VCU believes that this plan will ensure equity, diversity, and excellence in research, community engagement, patient care, and teaching.

The School’s Teachings

The VCU School of Medicine provides high quality education and training programs to more than 700 students from all over the world. These students attend this institution to pursue and finish their M.D. The renowned faculty of VCU is composed of both internationally and nationally acclaimed and recognized staff members who also represent over 200 specialty areas. VCU also provides prospective students with as interdisciplinary programs, doctoral degrees, and master’s degrees.

One major question incoming freshmen students at Virginia Commonwealth University ask is ‘do I live in the dorm or live in an off-campus freshmen housing at VCU?’ While it is commonly perceived that living in the dorm is cheaper, more convenient, and easier overall, think again. Here are no-nonsense reasons why apartments near VCU are clearly the best choice when it comes to freshmen housing at VCU.

Pricing

As stated above, living in off-campus freshmen housing at VCU is actually cheaper compared to living in a dorm. This is great news for students on a strict budget, or for those who just want some money saved up to be used for other necessities. Some freshmen housing at VCU come with electricity, cable TV, water, and high speed Internet access among others, while others will require you to pay for the said utilities, so be on the lookout for apartments in VCU with all-inclusive packages.

Privacy

One of the main advantages that off-campus freshmen housing at VCU offers is privacy. This can mean a spot in the Dean’s List or flunking your exams. With apartments, you can pick the level of privacy you’re comfortable with; get a roommate/s or simply choose a one-bedroom apartment. When you live in your own apartment, you won’t have to worry about accidentally breaking every little rule the dorm requires you to follow.

Majority of VCU dormitories only permit a certain number of guests daily and only at specific times, while some go as far as only allowing people of the same sex to visit in the dorms. Likewise, all, and by all, we mean ALL VCU freshmen dorms appoint an RA or Residential Adviser and a hall director to keep watch on all dorm residents and report to the University whenever necessary. If you want to feel like you didn’t leave home, then by all means, live in a dorm since the RA will be watching your every move like a hawk.

Furthermore, if you don’t want to follow strict (and oftentimes ridiculous) rules and regulations imposed by the dorm, such as curfews, you’ll be better off living in an apartment. In apartments, you will only find maintenance crews and 24-hour apartment managers to help you with stuff you may require, but not hall directors or residential advisers to watch every little move you make.

In addition, you will be subjected to frequent and usually, surprise inspections of your room. While this is for the good of everyone in the dorm and to ensure overall safety and living standards, this can be annoying, especially if you are in the ‘zone’ studying for an important exam, or getting that much needed rest. In an apartment complex, apartment managers, campus police, and housing officials may drop by once in a blue moon, but rest assured that these visits are for a specific and important purpose.

In general, the rules and regulations dorms stringently enforce will greatly limit your privacy and independence that you should feel after leaving home to start embarking on your ultimate college experience. With an off-campus apartment, you get your privacy, your sense of responsibility, and your fun however and whenever, just as long as you remember to respect the very reasonable rules of the apartment and your neighbors around you.

Space and Appliances

Space is likewise a big factor when deciding on a freshmen housing at VCU. It has been said time and time again that when you live in a dorm, you’ll know how it feels to live in can of sardines—yes, some dorms can be that small. With apartments however, you get to pick how much space you need, and at a reasonable price you can certainly afford.

Some even come with balconies, which can be very handy if you want to go ‘outside’ to take a breather, but not outside of the apartment per se. Also, when you live in an apartment, you get the pleasure of having your very own bathroom. There are even apartments that come with bathrooms for every single room; great for those who don’t like sharing their bathrooms.

Other important factors in relation to space requirements when looking at freshmen housing at VCU are furniture and appliances. With dorms, you will find that they only provide certain appliances and you can only use these when you comply with the specific rules and regulations pertaining to each every appliance. Likewise, furniture is a major issue.

In dorm rooms, you cannot just put up stuff when you feel like it. You have to have permission from the University and to get permission; your request should be in compliance with the dorm rules and regulations.

Location

When looking for an off-campus freshmen housing at VCU, the location of the apartment complex is likewise of the utmost importance. You want to find an apartment that is as close to the VCU area as much as possible, but is also close to important establishments and businesses. Preferably, you should find one within walking distance to VCU so you won’t have to trouble yourself with traffic and being late to your classes.

In addition, a great location would be one that is close to stores, restaurants or cafes, the campus police, and the fire department in case of emergencies.

General Safety and Maintenance

Of course, when choosing the most ideal freshmen housing at VCU, you should check for overall safety and maintenance of your living space. In topnotch apartments, they have very secure parking spaces, with some even having garage remote for utmost security. On the other hand, in dorms, good luck finding a parking space for your car since secure parking areas is very hard to come by.

Additionally, great apartments also employ high-tech camera security systems to make sure that you and your possessions are always safe. They also come with dead bolts, fire alarms, sprinkler systems, and security cameras you can see right on your TV. Proper and regular maintenance is also very valuable to have when you live in your own apartment. Preferably, your apartment should have daily janitorial services, on-call maintenance crews, and a 24-hour manager that can be easily reached with your mobile phone.

Overall, when you live in an off-campus freshmen housing at VCU, you make your college experience unforgettable without having to worry about various expenses, severe rules and regulations, your privacy, and safety.

Taking a break from our normal topics on VCU living, we are extremely proud of the VCU Basketball program and its accomplishments.  The VCU Basketball Program is a college men’s basketball program currently headed by well-renowned head coach Shaka Smart. The VCU Rams men’s basketball team of the Virginia Commonwealth University competes in the NCAA’s Division I mid-major Colonial Athletic Association.

History of the VCU Basketball Program

Established in 1968, the VCU Basketball Program followed the merger of the Medical College of Virginia and the Richmond Professional Institute. The Rams played their first season in 1968 to 1969 as an independent team and managed to get into the 1978 National Invitation Tournament only to lose against the University of Detroit in the 1st round.

The VCU basketball team under Shaka Smart is the first team ever to sweep the CBI post-season tournament’s best of three championship matches to become the CBI Champions in 2010, which is also a first for the VCU Basketball Program.

Coaches of the VCU Basketball Program

The VCU Basketball Program has had 10 head coaches through the years. The first coach of the Rams is Benny Dees who headed the team for two seasons. Dees managed to get some wins but was fired since he couldn’t get the team past .500. Chuck Noe was consequently hired and coached for six seasons.

Coach Dana Kirk

Dana Kirk became the Rams’ head coach in 1976 and led the team to a record of 24-5, earning them a place in the National Invitational Tournament. This marks the first time the Rams made it to major tournament, only to lose in the 1st round. He left the Rams in 1979 to coach in Memphis. 

Coach J.D. Barnett

Under the tutelage of Dana Kirk, the Rams got invited to the Sun Belt Conference and when he left, J.D. Barnett was consequently hired. Barrett headed the team from 1979-1985 and led the team to five NCAA Tournaments out of a total of six seasons, and to four Sun Belt championships which they won. Because of his success, Barnett was offered a position in Tulsa.

Coach Mike Pollio

After Barnett left, Mike Pollio signed up as head coach of the VCU Basketball Program and headed the Rams until 1989. Under Pollio, the Rams had losing records for two seasons, which is a first for the team. However, Pollio also led the Rams to the NIT Quarterfinals.

Coach Jeff Capel

During Jeff Capel’s tenure, the Rams were once again pushed to the limelight in 2003 to 2004. He led the Rams to 2nd place in the conference in his first year, an overall record of 23-8, conference play record of 14-4, regular season champions of CAA, and champions of the conference tournament. The VCU Basketball team was granted with the East Region’s #13 seed and in the first round played against then #4 Wake Forest Demon Deacons. The Rams led in the majority of the 2nd half but still lost 79-78 by one point.

Coach Anthony Grant

During Anthony Grant’s first season as coach, he led the VCU Basketball team to a record 28 wins. He was also awarded the distinction of being the CAA Coach of the Year with the distinction of setting a record for the most wins as a first season coach. The Rams went on to garner a record of 76-25 in three seasons under Anthony Grant.

Grant led the Rams to a 52-10 vs. CAA challengers, which include conference tournaments, three straight conference championships in the CAA Regular Season, and two tournament championships in the CAA Conference. He also led the Rams to one NIT invitation and two NCAA Tournament invitations prior to renouncing his post to head the University of Alabama basketball team.  Under Grant’s tutelage, the Rams’ Eric Maynor became the 20th draft in the 2009 NBA Draft during round one by Utah Jazz. 

Coach Shaka Smart

Shaka Smart is regarded as the VCU Basketball Program’s most inspiring head coach to date. In two of his seasons, he has led the Rams to unparalleled heights, which include an appearance in the Final Four and 55 wins among others. They won against USC 59 to 46, defeated Georgetown 74 to 56 and reached Round of 32, and won against Purdue 94 to 76 which landed them a spot in the Sweet Sixteen, which is a first for the VCU Rams.

The Rams then won 72 to 71 against Florida State by a last second successful shot during overtime by Bradford Burgess and succeeded in landing in the Elite Eight, another first for the VCU Rams. They followed their win by defeating the #1 seed Kansas Jayhawks 71 to 61 and landed in the Final Four, another first for the VCU Rams. As champions of the Southwest Regional, they played against the Butler Bulldogs, the Southeast Regional champion in the National Semifinals but lost to them at 70 to 62.

At the end of the season, Shaka Smart was awarded 6th place in the ESPN/ USA Today Coaches Poll. This is regarded in VCU as the highest ranking in their history, as well as of all teams in the CAA. The VCU Basketball Program’s run in the 2011 NCAA Tournament is widely recognized as the best Cinderella story in the history of the NCAA Tournament.

VCU Basketball Program Current Roster of Players

• Briante Weber, 2 – Freshman, Guard
• Teddy Okereafor, 5 – Freshman, Guard
• Darius Theus, 10 – Junior, Guard
• Rob Brandenberg, 11 – Sophomore, Guard
• Juvonte Reddic, 15 – Sophomore, Forward
• Bradford Burgess, 20 – Senior, Forward/Guard
• Treveon Graham, 21 – Freshman, Guard
• Jarred Guest, 23 – Freshman, Forward
• Heath Houston, 24 – Redshirt Freshman, Forward
• Reco McCarter, 25 – Redshirt Freshman, Guard
• Troy Daniels, 30 – Junior, Guard
• D.J. Haley, 33 – Sophomore, Center
• David Hinton, 34 – Redshirt Junior, Forward