Round the Triangle Podcast

A Local Swim League Banned Trans Athletes. Parents are Protesting.

Welcome back to another episode of the Round the Triangle podcast, where we are diving into a recent controversial decision made by the Virginia Peninsula Swim Union (VPSU) [https://www.facebook.com/swim.vpsu/] in February to reject USA Swimming's inclusive policies and instead require student athletes to compete based on sex assigned at birth, rather than their chosen gender. This decision has sparked debate and concern among parents and community members. According to the VPSU February meeting minutes [https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24638065-vpsu_minutes_for_february_8__2024], President Corinne Picataggi [https://www.wm.edu/offices/it/about/staff/picataggi_c.php], who is also the Chief Technology Officer at the College of William & Mary, made the motion to vote on this amendment but later voted "no" and expressed concerns about potential discrimination. In her response to an email, Corinne stated that as president, she does not make motions or vote per the union’s bylaws. There were other contradictions in the minutes, so it’s possible the notes regarding her actions were also inaccurate. One parent I corresponded with from Queens Lake, who wished to remain anonymous, said that the idea to require students to compete based on sex assigned at birth was initially raised in her community. While some families supported the rule change, many others, including the anonymous parent, chose to boycott the swim team in protest. However, that parent said she regrets that decision, wishing she would have stayed with the team, so she could have continued to talk with other parents about the decision from within the organization. Our guest on this week’s podcast, Melissa, a parent of a swimmer from the Kingspoint Dolphins team, told me how this amendment came about and shared her opinion on how this decision goes against the league's spirit of openness and fun. While the policy most directly impacts transgender children, it also imposes more emphasis on competitive edge, which contradicts what the league was supposed to be about. Melissa also speculates that this effort to ban trans athletes is tied to a broader conservative movement in York County, which has a school board with a right-wing majority. [https://www.roundthetriangle.com/p/the-rightwing-takeover-of-the-york] If you are concerned about this decision and its impact on inclusivity and equality in youth sports, consider reaching out to the VPSU on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/swim.vpsu/] to express your thoughts. Additional Resources: * The Rightwing Takeover of the York County School Board [https://www.roundthetriangle.com/p/the-rightwing-takeover-of-the-york] * VPSU Facebook Page [https://www.facebook.com/swim.vpsu/] * VPSU February Meeting Minutes [https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24638065-vpsu_minutes_for_february_8__2024] Cover photo from Kingspoint Dolphins Swim Team page. [https://kingspoint.swimtopia.com/] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.roundthetriangle.com [https://www.roundthetriangle.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Equity Gaps in WJCC Schools: A Conversation with the Village Initiative

Howdy everyone! We’re back with another podcast. In this week’s episode, I interview William & Mary Professor Amy Quark and organization founder Jacqueline Bridgeforth Williams from the local nonprofit The Village Initiative [https://www.villagewjcc.org/] about their sixth annual equity report [https://interactive.13newsnow.com/pdfs/The-Village-Initiative-Sixth-Annual-Equity-Report.pdf], which sheds light on persistent disparities in the Williamsburg-James City County (WJCC) school division. Amy and Jackie share the troubling findings from their report, highlighting gaps in student disciplinary measures, academic achievement, and gifted program participation, particularly among Black and Hispanic students as well as students with disabilities. For instance, despite making up only 18% of the student body, Black students accounted for 39% of short-term suspensions and 43% of long-term suspensions during the 2022-2023 school year. In our discussion, we talk about how this annual report started and The Village Initiative’s efforts to advocate for policy changes. Amy and Jackie emphasize the need for systemic solutions, including better support for teachers and staff, and the importance of collective bargaining rights. Tune in to learn more about the ongoing struggle for educational equity in our community and how you can get involved. Here's how you can support The Village Initiative: * Visit their website: Village Initiative [http://www.villagewjcc.org] * Email: villagewjcc@gmail.com [villagewjcc@gmail.com] * Follow them on social media [https://www.facebook.com/groups/1374772685884777/] for updates and advocacy opportunities. Cover photo courtesy of The Village Initiative. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.roundthetriangle.com [https://www.roundthetriangle.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

The Police Crackdown of the VCU Pro-Palestine Protest

Howdy everyone, hope your week is going well. This week’s podcast features an interview with Richmond-based journalist Goad Gatsby, who spoke to me as he was covering the Pro-Palestine protest at Virginia Commonwealth University this past Monday, which ended in officers from multiple law enforcement agencies sweeping the camp. 13 protesters were arrested, including 6 students. [https://rvamag.com/politics/virginia-politics/police-crackdown-on-vcu-campus-palestine-protests.html] Goad explains why the charge of “antisemitism” against these protest encampments on college campuses is misguided, and how Governor Glenn Youngkin and other conservatives have co-opted sincere efforts to curb antisemitism in Virginia into a means of suppressing dissent against Israel’s war on Gaza. The events at VCU followed similar mass arrests of Pro-Palestine protesters at Virginia Tech and Mary Washington, and since Monday new protests have started at the University of Virginia and Christopher Newport. These are all part of a nationwide movement at college campuses calling for an end to Israel’s war on Gaza. Here’s how you can support the protesters: VCU Protester Bail Fund [https://rvabailfund.org/donate] Follow Students for Justice in Palestine at W&M on Instagram @sjpatwm [https://www.instagram.com/sjpatwm/#] Donate to Virginia Tech Protester Support on Venmo @VT4Palestine You can support Mary Washington protesters by calling (540) 654-1000 and asking the administration to not implement disciplinary measures against arrested students. For updates on Christopher Newport protest follow @hamptonroads4palestine [https://www.instagram.com/hamptonroads4palestine/?img_index=1#] For updates on UVA protest follow @sjpuva [https://www.instagram.com/sjpuva/?hl=en#] Cover photo courtesy Goad Gatsby [https://substack.com/profile/111062620-goad-gatsby] @GoadGatsby on X [https://twitter.com/GoadGatsby] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.roundthetriangle.com [https://www.roundthetriangle.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

The Rightwing Takeover of the York County School Board | Triangle Tidbits

Correction: Gary Porter’s FOIA Request asked which speakers during public comment were teachers. It did not ask about addresses. We’re back with another episode of Triangle Tidbits, where we talk to the people behind the headlines featured in the Round the Triangle [http://www.roundthetriangle.com] newsletter. In this podcast, I’m talking with Wavy10 journalist Brian Reese [https://www.wavy.com/author/brian-reese/] who has been closely following the York County School Board [https://www.roundthetriangle.com/p/school-board-has-links-to-rightwing] this year. According to his reporting, three board members - chair Lynda Fairman, vice chair Kimberly Goodwin, and Zoran Pajevic - have ties to the York County Poquoson Constitutional Militia. [https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/alleged-militia-actions-in-york-county-may-lead-to-democratic-erosion-expert-says/] Their tenure has been marked by a series of troubling actions: sending militia members to intimidate a sex education class [https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/york-county/trainwreck-new-school-board-leadership-in-york-county-accused-of-militia-ties-could-face-legal-issues/], asking for proof that enslaved people weren’t happy [https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/york-school-board-vice-chairs-comments-on-slaves-highlight-history-of-incendiary-rhetoric-online/], and limiting public comment at meetings in an attempt to stifle opposition to their agenda.These actions have prompted community opposition, culminating in a petition [https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/petition-calls-for-resignation-of-3-york-county-school-board-members/] calling for all three members to resign. Brian will help us put this story into the context [https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/york-county/trainwreck-new-school-board-leadership-in-york-county-accused-of-militia-ties-could-face-legal-issues/] of the larger conservative movement, walk us through his coverage, and also share what drives his attention to detail in reporting on this issue. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.roundthetriangle.com [https://www.roundthetriangle.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Changing Racist School Names in the Historic Triangle

Happy weekend! This month’s local history podcast revisits the panel I moderated at the Lemon Project Symposium [https://www.wm.edu/sites/lemonproject/annual_symposium/panel-descriptions/#panel17] last month about changing the names of James Blair Middle School [https://www.roundthetriangle.com/p/why-james-blair-middle-school] and Magruder Elementary [https://www.roundthetriangle.com/p/why-magruder-elementary], both of which are tied to the legacy of slavery. The panel featured members of the Lassiter family from East Williamsburg, who are taking a stand to rename these schools to better reflect the values of equity and inclusiveness at the heart of our local education system. I first met Mary Lassiter when I was reporting [https://www.dailypress.com/2023/10/10/documentary-shares-stories-of-wjcc-schools-first-integrated-class/] on a screening of the documentary “Voices of Integration” [https://sites.google.com/email.wm.edu/localblackhistories/exhibits/voices-of-integration] which tells the story of the first integrated graduating class in the Williamsburg-James City County School Division. Since then, we have been working to raise awareness about how James Blair [https://www.roundthetriangle.com/p/why-james-blair-middle-school] and Confederate General John B. Magruder [https://www.roundthetriangle.com/p/why-magruder-elementary] upheld institutionalized slavery. Joining us on this episode are Mary’s brothers Carl and Curtis “Buck” Lassiter, who share their own insights about the history of segregation in the Historic Triangle area and the ongoing impact of these school names. To support our campaign, please share this podcast and our previous episodes on James Blair [https://www.roundthetriangle.com/p/why-james-blair-middle-school] and Magruder [https://www.roundthetriangle.com/p/why-magruder-elementary], and if you’d like to get involved in our organizing please join our Facebook group Rename James Blair Middle School and Magruder Elementary [https://www.facebook.com/groups/384780111210737]. Note: The Lassiters did not attend Frederick Douglass Elementary but participated in summer recreational activities and other extracurriculars/events on site. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.roundthetriangle.com [https://www.roundthetriangle.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]