The Blue & Gray Press

THE

BLUE &GRAY

THE UNIVERSITY OF MARY WASHINGTON STUDENT NEWSPAPER

FEBRUARY 12, 2015

VOLUME 88 | ISSUE 16

PRESS

SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE

1922

UMW hires new sexual assault coordinator State legislature pushes forward with campus safety reforms EMILY HOLLINGSWORTH Assistant News Editor

The University of Mary Washington announced Marissa Miller as the new Coordinator for Prevention and Advocacy to the Office of Diversity and Inclusion in an effort to further address sexual assault education and prevention on campus.

Miller, who is associate coordinator of judicial affairs, will work to promote programs that initiate discussion on sexual assault with students. Miller will also provide resources for victims and survivors of sexual assault.

On campus organizations such as Feminists United on Campus have petitioned throughout the year for the school to hire additional staff to handle sexual assault advocacy and counseling.

Leah Cox, Title IX coordinator and special assistant to the President for Diversity and Inclusion, has been promoting campaigns and working with students to bring awareness to the issue of on-campus sexual assault. It was through talking with student organizations, such as Feminists United on Campus, and hearing their requests that caused Cox to realize that the job would be too large for one person to handle.

Cox is confident that Miller’s involvement and the programs UMW has in place, including the “Yes Is the Key” campaign, which focuses on the importance of consent, will start a conversation with students on campus who are not familiar with the idea of consent.

“A lot of students still don’t know what [consent] means,” said Cox. “This program will answer the questions ‘What is consent?’ ‘What is sexual assault?’ ‘What is stalking?’ Bringing education to these issues, we hope, will bring awareness and prevent these happenings.”

Cox said that new posters and a video from the “Yes Is the Key” campaign are •COORDINATOR | 11

Residential nursing program receives approval for 2015 school year HANNAH RIDDLE Staff Writer

Incoming students to the University of Mary Washington will now have access to a new four year nursing program set to begin this fall semester.

The upcoming program, entitled the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Academic Partnership Plan (APP) or the 1+2+1 BSN Plan, will be open to incoming freshmen who wish to graduate in four years as registered nurses with bachelor’s degrees. “[Nursing is] one of the best professions in the world,” said Program Director Pamela McCullough, who has worked in the field for 35 years.

According to McCullough, the range of job options within the career is what makes it so desirable. It was McCullough who led

UMW to partner with Germanna Community College over the summer in order to create the new program.

Germanna already has an established nursing program.

“Instead of starting from scratch,” said McCullough, “we complement the Germanna program.”

According to the partnership, a UMW student enrolled in 1+2+1 will spend their first year taking general education and prerequisite classes at UMW. The student will then take Germanna classes for two additional years in order to earn an Associate of Applied Science.

The AAS is required for any student interested in becoming a registered nurse.

With an AAS under their belt, the student can then return to classes at UMW,

“THERE’S A NATIONAL MOVEMENT TO INCREASE THE EDUCATION OF THE NURSE AT THE BEDSIDE.” -Pamela McCullough

•NURSING | 10

TAKING THE PLUNGE:

UMW Athletics cools down at the Polar Plunge to raise money for Area 11 Special Olympics team UMW Athletics/ Facebook

IN THIS

ISSUE

SPORTS | 12

Flickr The new nursing program will allow students to live on campus and graduate in four years with a nursing degree.

UMW celebrates 107th anniversary with fundraiser

MADISON HANLEY Staff Writer

In honor of the University of Mary Washington’s 107th anniversary this March, the University is launching a largescale fundraiser.

Since UMW is celebrating the anniversary of its founding on March 14, the Alumni Association Board of Directors decided to launch the UMW Founder’s Day Challenge to commemorate the occasion.

According to a letter written by UMW President Rick Hurley, the purpose of implementing this fundraising challenge, in cooperation with the Fund for Mary Washington, is to provide money for university’s needs.

“Each year, this fund helps fill in the gaps between the operating budget from the Commonwealth of Virginia and actual needs for students and academic programs,” said Hurley in a message to alumni. “The needs and academic programs that are funded range from scholarship support, Career and Academic Service Programs and senior class celebrations.”

Raising funds is not the only aim of the Founder’s Day Challenge. The initiative also has the opportunity to determine college rankings and recommendations by grant-making institutions. These are determined by the amount of alumni giving. While it is encouraged for everyone to donate to the challenge fund, alumni donations are noted as particularly important.

“Each year, UMW has to complete •FUNDRAISER | 10

RELAY FOR LIFE

FEMINIST FRIENDLY?

YOU SUNK MY...

The annual event kicks off to raise cancer awareness

Can generalizations on campus groups be harmful?

UMW Battleship takes to water for a fight to the end

LIFE | 7

VIEWPOINTS | 5

SPORTS | 3

NEWS

Who chooses a snow day? Not Marty Morrison

THE

BLUE & GRAY PRESS

MISSION

The Blue & Gray Press is published every Thursday in the University Apartments Clubhouse for our university community. The goal of The Blue & Gray Press is to produce high quality and accurate news in a manner compliant with the Society of Professional Journalists ethics code. In its coverage, The Blue & Gray Press strives to highlight the community of the University of Mary Washington, as well as deliver fair and accurate coverage on the issues important to our students.

EDITORS-AT-LARGE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Alison Thoet

MANAGING EDITOR Mariah Young

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Jonathan Polson

SECTION EDITORS NEWS Hope Racine Nephthalie Lauture

VIEWPOINTS Tess Osmer

LIFE Amanda Motley

SPORTS Chris Markham

ONLINE

Lauren Brumfield

PHOTO

Ginny Clark

ASSISTANT EDITORS Emily Hollingsworth Alex Obolensky Mikey Barnes

ADVERTISING TEAM BUSINESS MANAGER Cara Sexton

ADVERTISING MANAGER Jess Wu

FACULTY ADIVSOR Steve Klein

CRIME COVERAGE POLICY The Blue & Gray Press will publish the names of students who are formally charged by the University of Mary Washington Campus Police or the Fredericksburg Police Department to have committed acts of extreme violence against members of the UMW community or pose a large threat to that community, when names are released to the public. The Blue & Gray Press will publish names and write articles about criminal acts on a case-by-case basis according to the aforementioned parameters.

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JULIA DAVIS Staff Writer

When snow is in the forecast, the University of Mary Washington campus buzzes with excited students, all hoping that they will get the coveted email from Director of Media and Public Relations Marty Morrison, UMW’s unofficial “snow day lady.”

In moments of excitement, students send out their snow day wishes, and “Marty Morrison” begins trending on Twitter.

While students are waiting for their snow day savior, the planning for inclement weather, which involves a complex orchestration of university faculty and staff, begins the moment potential snow shows up on the radar.

The planning is dictated by the UMW Inclement Weather Policy. This policy, which is reviewed every three years, defines inclement weather as “all types of weather phenomena such as snow and ice storms, thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, wind storm, flooding, etc.”

University policy is “to proactively plan and prepare for weather events that may affect university operations and to respond to events in an organized manner to ensure the continuation or resumption of normal operations in a timely, efficient and effective manner.”

While Morrison may be famous for her snow day announcement emails, the policy states that the Vice President for Administration and Finance Richard Pearce makes the official call. Pearce said he has developed a decision making process to determine if the University needs to close or alter the normal operating schedule. If snow falls at night, Pearce is up before 5 a.m. to monitor the weather.

“We gauge the current weather and, using forecasts from several sources, attempt to estimate what the weather will be like from then on during the day,” said Pearce.

Pearce consults many other officials while analyzing inclement weather, including the provost, representatives from the Stafford and Dahlgren campuses, the police department and Ruth Lovelace, UMW’s emergency management and safety director, who receives regular updates from the state and federal governments’ emergency weather agencies.

“The safety of our students and the

University Relations In cases of inclement weather, workers from Facility Services must clear the snow so classes can be held.

over 1,000 faculty, staff and contractors is our most important priority by far,” said Pearce. “The academic schedule is a distant second.”

Area schools, government offices and universities are also monitored for closures or late openings, as well as the conditions of snow on UMW’s campus and surrounding areas.

Joining Pearce at the crack of dawn is Director of Landscape and Grounds Joni Wilson, who informs Pearce of the snow conditions on campus. If snow does fall, Wilson and the Facilities Services staff are

ment, checking supplies such as sand and ice melting chemicals, speaking with local police forces and working with contractors on campus.

“We try as hard as we can to pay attention to as many details as we can,” said Wilson.

Snow removal on campus is prioritized into zones, with the highest priority given to access for emergency vehicles. If there is heavy snowfall in the night, staff work from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. to ensure campus is safely cleared by the morning.

“There are a lot of small details to take care of, as well as the hard work of standing out there at 3 a.m. with a shovel,” said Wilson.

After all the preparations, every attempt is made to make an inclement weather decision by 6 a.m.

When Pearce makes the official call, he passes the torch on to Morrison to inform the UMW community.

“That’s where Ms. Morrison comes in to work her magic,” said Pearce.

Part of Morrison’s “magic” is working with her to team to send out emails to the community, post on the UMW website, contact over 20 television and radio stations from Richmond to Washington to report UMW’s closure, update the information line and post to UMW’s social media accounts.

“I’m pretty much a behind the scenes person,” said Morrison, “but I still get recognized on campus as the ‘snow lady.’”

Despite the work, Morrison insists that she is simply the messenger.

“I might get the credit, but they’re doing all the hard work,” said Morrison.

IN MOMENTS OF EXCITEMENT, STUDENTS SEND OUT THEIR SNOW DAY WISHES, AND ‘MARTY MORRISON’ BEGINS TRENDING ON TWITTER. ready to tackle it. According to the policy, Facilities Services is responsible for developing and maintaining a Snow and Ice Management Plan for the university.

“The worse the weather, the more important it is for us to be here,” said Wilson.

Wilson and her staff extensively plan for inclement weather so they can be ready at a moment’s notice. If snow is in the forecast, Wilson’s lengthy to-do list includes staging snow removal equipment, coordinating with in-house staff and parking manage-

Thursday, February 12, 2015

SPORTS

Track & Field records fall for second consecutive week MIKEY BARNES Assistant Sports Editor

The UMW Track and Field teams competed in the Vince Brown Invitational at CNU. Senior Claire Harrington, for the second meet in a row, broke her own record in the women’s pole vault. Harrington leapt to a height of 11 ft., 5.75 in. Her clearance ranks her first in the Capital Athletic Conference.

MATHIEU WETMORE Staff Writer

Jim Granger Harrington celebrates as she falls to the mat.

Sophomore Sheree Turner broke a record herself at CNU on Feb. 8.

Turner broke the women’s weight throw record with a distance of 46 feet. Turner’s phenomenal performance is the second best throw in the conference this season, only behind Salisbury Sophomore Paige DeMent.

Jim Granger Sheree Turner is a key part of the Eagles’ success.

Sophomore Glenn Taylor broke his own record for the second straight meet at the Vince Brown Invitational. Taylor, who missed the opening meet of the year due to injury, broke his own 60-meter dash record with a time of 6.06 seconds.

Taylor’s run placed him in the sixth position in the conference.

Meet and Greet: Q & A with UMW Director of Campus Recreation Mark Mermelstein Mark Mermelstein joined the University of Mary Washington as director of Campus Recreation almost eight years ago. The UMW Community has greatly benefited from his dynamic experience since.

Mermelstein received his B.S. in Recreation and Park Management from Pennsylvania State University and his M.A. in Sport Science from the University of the Pacific. Mark has more than 11 years of experience in campus recreation programming, including six years as director of Recreational Sports at St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

Q: Where are you from, Mark?

A: I grew up in Rockville, Maryland. I love the Washington Metro area, and Fredericksburg has become a part of that. It has a different feel, but I love this area. This is home to me.

Q: What sports did you play growing up?

A: From the time I was a kindergartner to when I was in college soccer was my passion.

It still continues today. I also did some swimming and dabbled in all the other sports like young kids like to do.

Q: What is your favorite soccer team?

A: I don’t necessarily stick to one team, I just enjoy watching the games. In Europe, Chelsea FC has always been a favorite of mine. I went on a tour in the UK when I was coaching at St. Mary’s. Man City was our host, so I also like watching them because of how nice they were. Here in the states, I’m a huge D.C. United fan. Being a women’s soccer coach, I also really enjoy watching the Women’s National team Q: Do you have a favorite athlete?

A: On the soccer side, Mia Hamm. She may even be my favorite athlete because of how she’s handled herself and what she’s meant to the sport. I’m also a big fan of the Olympics, so Dan Jansen is another one of my favorites. His story is full of dedication.

Q: What is your favorite sports movie?

A: I got a couple. On the comedy side, Bull Durham. It’s absolutely hilarious. Miracle on Ice, the story about the American hockey team, is probably one of my all time favorites, though. Americans beating the Russians was a big deal when I was a kid growing up.

UMW Athletics Despite injury, Taylor is exceeding expectations.

Q: What is your favorite part about your job?

A: Interacting with students. The best part of my day is having the chance to speak with students, help them solve issues, talk about their interests, and help them gather some skills that will be of use to them later in life. As a coach at St. Mary’s, I loved building relationships with my players and their parents.

Q: How many students participate in club/IM sports?

A: Right now we have about 760 club student-athletes at UMW. Last year, we had 1,745 IM sports participants. Our programs have really grown exponentially over the past several years.

Q: How many different IM and club sports are offered here at UMW? A: We offer 29 club sports, but only 23 are currently active. Depending on the season, we run 7-9 IM events a semester. That’s about 15 events per year. Every year is different depending on what the students are interested in and the feedback we get. We love feedback.

Q: Are you looking forward to anything new concerning campus recreation this year?

A: On the club side, we’re looking forward to the renovation of the Hanover grass rugby field. We plan on adding seating for spectators on the hill, so I am really excited for that.

It’ll benefit any of the teams that will be looking to play on grass, as well as the spectators. We are also going to get new cardio equipment over this summer. We want every class that comes into their freshman year to experience new equipment.

men's Basketball:

Feb. 7 @ Salisbury University (L) UMW: 69 SU: 85

Women's Basketball: Feb. 7 @ Salisbury University (L) UMW: 54 SU: 65

Weekly Scoreboard Men's TENNIS

Feb. 7 vs. George Mason (L) UMW: 4 GMU: 3 Feb. 7 vs. Longwood (W) UMW: 6 LU: 1

Upcoming:

Men’s Basketball: Feb. 14 vs. Penn State Harrisburg 3 p.m.

Women’s Basketball Feb. 14 vs. Penn State Harrisburg 1 p.m.

Upcoming:

Women’s Tennis Feb. 14 vs. Longwood and N.C. Wesleyan @ Home 10 a.m.

Men’s Tennis: Feb. 15 vs. Loyola Maryland @ Home 4 p.m.

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VIEWPOINTS

Op Ed: UMW students to join in demanding divestment

Last month for Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend, some students got to relax and debrief on their day off.

However, a dedicated few went before the General Assembly in Richmond, Virginia to lobby their representatives about relevant issues, such as debt-free higher education and proposed pipeline routes.

This group of students included some from the University of Mary Washington joined by a large number of their peers from other universities around the state, such as UVA, VCU, GMU and JMU. Together, these students and community members from all different backgrounds shared their stories and came together as an example of student solidarity.

The students involved were part of the Virginia Student Environmental Coalition (VSEC) and the Virginia Student Power Network (VSPN).

VSEC is a statewide coalition of students aiming to promote solidarity in city and campus communities across Virginia to collectively improve environmental issues and to create a network for advocacy, education and action.

VSPN is a statewide grassroots network of students organizing for accessible, democratic and diverse education in Virginia, as well as social, racial and economic justice.

We seek to create intersections between social issues in order to address the common roots of each social justice issue.

The two organizations believe that the convergence of their organizations will create the necessary platform for students in Virginia to join forces against social and climate injustice.

These two organizations are hosting the third annual Virginia Power Shift confer-

ence here at Mary Washington.

From Feb. 13 through 15, hundreds of students will converge in Fredericksburg for two days packed with training, strategizing and network-building to get mobilized to act on the most pressing issues we are facing on our campuses and in our communities.

VSEC and VSPN are planning an array of panels, projects, breakouts and actions to facilitate these discussions and build a platform for grassroots student activism at the state level.

Current themes include environmental justice and divestment, racial, gender, social justice and economic justice. Art, music and culture will be incorporated heavily into the conference​.

Keynote speakers for the conference include Reverend Lennox Yearwood from the Hip-Hop Caucus, Grammy Award-winning producer Malik Yusef and the 2014 Women of the World Poetry Slam Champion Dominique Christina.

If you’re interested in being a part of the Power Shift conference, you can register here: http://bit.ly/StudentPower2015 Help us raise money for the event, share our fundraising page at http:// www.youcaring.com/other/virginia-power-shift-2015-/274053. If you have any further questions, please contact Rabib Hasan at rabibhasan123@gmail.com or Beatrice Ohene-Okae at boheneok@umw.edu.

Beatrice Ohene-Okae is a sophomore and member of VSEC

Facebook/ Virginia Student Environmental Coalition

FUC debacle ignites full debate online and on the streets COLMAN HOPKINS Staff Writer

Following the brutal terror attacks in France, Secretary of State John Kerry went to Paris along with singer James Taylor to show solidarity through a performance of his famous song, “You’ve Got a Friend.”

The song couldn’t bring back those killed by radical Islamic terrorists, but it did help to bring the U.S. closer to a country that we have been on friendly terms with historically and to assuage fears that America was disinterested in the plight of the French.

In recent weeks, two op-eds have created a rift between different parts of the University of Mary Washington student body that also seems to require a diplomatic song from Taylor. While it may be difficult to secure a visit and performance by Taylor in Fredericksburg, I believe that is time for the UMW community to come together to resolve some petty differences and to move forward together on an issue that has been dominating the campus for the past few months.

On Jan. 29, an op-ed written by Feminists United on Campus’ President Paige McKinsey touched a raw nerve within the student body.

The article, titled “Why UMW Is Not a Feminist Friendly Campus” received plenty of feedback and attention, some positive, but most negative. It even drew out a second response by the club’s Vice President Kelli Musick.

The opinion piece presented several different anecdotes before coming to the conclusion that our school is not “feminist friendly.” WThe article cited the popular anonymous, location-driven app, “Yik Yak,” as a piece of evidence that UMW is not as progressive or egalitarian as it may seem. Specifically, McKinsey noted that people “yakked” about the club, using derogatory language to, as she saw it, try to impact or deter the club’s message.

Though other forms of social media, like Facebook and Twitter, have become acceptable to use as evidence in opinion pieces, some have viewed the decision to

cite the app as controversial because of the anonymity factor. Certainly some people only “yak” on the app for attention, resulting in plenty of outrageous and offensive content. It is because of this that it is difficult to determine whether or not a few immature and ignorant “yaks” are representative of our more than 4,000 member community’s collective culture.

Other evidence put forth by McKinsey included the allegation that the UMW men’s rugby team chanted an offensive and perverted song late last semester that promoted rape and sexual violence against women.

Some have praised this segment of the article for its specificity, while some have felt that this unnecessarily and very publicly portrayed the men’s rugby team in a poor light that was not meant to promote dialogue or solve problems.

Additionally, McKinsey recounted a walk back from an FUC meeting in which obscenities were launched at her and other FUC members from a car on the street. The insults were specific and meant to hurt at the very least, but, as she saw them, they spoke to the greater anti-feminist sentiments of the campus.

The article also touched on the recent Greek Life debate at a UMW town hall meeting. Specifically, McKinsey wrote, “When the argument was made that research shows that institutionalized Greek Life on campus increased the rates of sexual assault, a fellow senator said this statement (which is supported by numerous studies) is simply a stereotype and to stereotype fraternities in such a way was the equivalent of racial stereotypes.”

The piece ended with a warning to detractors that FUC is not going anywhere and is committed, now more than ever, to “[making] UMW a safer and more equitable place for all students.”

The biggest complaints that I have seen against the FUC have been in their methods and in their arguments.

THE BIGGEST COMPLAINTS THAT I HAVE SEEN AGAINST THE FUC HAVE BEEN IN THEIR METHODS AND IN THEIR ARGUMENTS.

•DIVIDED | 5

Editorial: Brian Williams misrepresents journalists Brian Williams, the lead anchor of the NBC Nightly News and considered by some as the “face of American journalism,” is under fire, figuratively, for his claim that he came under fire, literally, while covering the Iraq War in early 2003.

The story started innocuously enough, with Williams reporting that a helicopter ahead of his own convoy was shot down by insurgent fire. From there, the story morphed, taking shape over almost 12 years and turning into a harrowing tale of how Williams’ own helicopter was brought down by enemy fire.

These inconsistencies in his reporting spurred many news sources to comb

through Williams’ stories, finding other exaggerations involving the events of Hurricane Katrina, in which Williams later recounted seeing a body float by his hotel in the French Quarter, one of the few areas of New Orleans that did not suffer heavy flooding.

The puzzling part of the story comes from the fact that in his broadcasts Williams tends to stick solely to the facts, reporting the truth. It’s only later as he recounts his experiences and adventures that the fish becomes large and larger until it eventually takes over his seat at NBC. That a journalist was caught in a web of lies is troubling but, unfortunately,

not uncommon. The Stephen Glasses and Jayson Blair’s of the industry have prepared us for these circumstance. And yet few have fallen so fast and so far as Williams.

Williams was handed the NBC news desk from the much respected and distinguished Tom Brokaw, a detail that automatically instills a certain level of implied trust. Instead of fulfilling this trust, Williams has placed himself within the stories, seeking celebrity instead of credibility.

The situation is troubling not only to journalists, but to viewers as well. The entire field of journalism has shifted uncomfortably, now on edge and hyper

aware of any possible mistakes, putting everyone under the microscope. And the American people have now found themselves in search of a “trusted name in news,” as that the former name has let them down.

At this time, as Americans are reassessing their trust and faith in news sources, journalists must be sure to hold themselves to the highest possible standards. With credibility at an all time low, journalism stands on a precipice, and Williams threatens to pull us over.

By THE BLUE & GRAY PRESS EDITORIAL BOARD

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Thursday, February 12, 2015

VIEWPOINTS

Editor: Mona Osmer | blueandgray.views@gmail.com

UMW needs to bind together:

Valentine’s Day brings out materialism in everyone

Dividing the campus on a single issue will only make matters worse

University of Mary Washington

Bella Pop MONA OSMER Viewpoints Editor

When the day comes, I will want flowers just like everyone else. But isn’t it funny that couples make such a big deal out of Valentine’s Day even though it’s not even a real holiday?

Plus, shouldn’t you celebrate your love for someone every day? We all want that relationship where the words “I love you” are spoken every morning and every night, so why on one imagined day of the year do we all drop everything in a big materialistic showing of affection, which has just gotten more sickening with the addition of social media?

If you do not know what I mean by “imagined” day of the year, I am referring to the fact that Valentine’s Day is not actually a historical holiday.

“Each year on February 14, many people exchange cards, candy, gifts or flowers with their special ‘valentine.’ The day of romance we call Valentine’s Day is named for a Christian martyr and dates back to the fifth century, but has origins in the Roman holiday “Lupercalia,” which is actually on Feb.13, and about purifying the city.” That is the definition of Valentine’s Day, according to the Webster Dictionary.

Therefore, you can attribute the nonsense of having to please your boyfriend or girlfriend on this specific day to the hands of marketing.

The world has played on our incessant need to prove ourselves to one another with money and shiny new things.

Cardboard hearts and chocolates line the grocery and convenience stores, and ads guilt you into thinking you are the worst person alive if you do not attest your love to someone on Feb. 14, which if you have not already noticed, is ridiculous.

Every kiss does not begin with “Kay,” and you do not have to put your heart on display for everyone to see on Valentine’s Day. But go ahead, if it makes your significant other that happy, buy into the ploy that is Valentine’s Day. Rather, do not buy, but write a letter or make a sweater; just do something out of the box this year, and put some effort into it.

Sure, every other person may want something new and expensive, but I would think something meaningful is more desirable.

Since the holiday is made up anyway, why don’t we all embrace it and get a little creative, just like the marketers and advertising companies did.

In all honesty, I am just like any other hopeless romantic.

I want someone to stand in the rain and plead for my attention; I want my name in the sky. One may think that meaningful displays of love are purely unrealistic, but do they have to be?

Point blank: do not just fill a bag with candy and a stuffed animal. If you are one to make a big deal out of Valentine’s Day, then be unique and give it a little more thought this time. If your Valentine is truly worth it all, show them.

•DIVIDED | 4 There are many arguments against Greek Life – the desire to maintain UMW’s traditions, to be against an uptick in partying or to preserve a quiet campus, to allow the student government to be fully representative when deciding on serious changes, to try to maintain a respectful relationship with the city of Fredericksburg and its people – yet the one presented by the FUC is simply too shaky an argument to seriously use.

If one trys to say a group cannot be included in society because of the negatives associated with the group that may be statistically common, then there is the risk of opening up a very large can of worms because most groups of people have some undesirable traits associated with them.

Moreover, this very same argument has been used to justify racism and the mistreatment of LGBT people, and that is not a point to dismiss with a passing comment.

I fully understand some peoples’ fears about Greek Life, but I also believe that there are better ways to state reasons for being against Greek Life than to use such a poor argument that comes off as thoughtless. Another issue that some at UMW have voiced about FUC has been their methods in dealing with problems. Mckinsey’s op-ed painted an entire group at UMW in a very negative light.

Rape and sexual assault are horrendous things that we as a community need to address in order to limit them as much as we possibly can. With that said, calling

out multiple members of our community here at UMW with an opinion piece over a stupid decision at a party is, at best, misguided. I am not standing up for the rugby team, because it is gross and immature to make light of rape, but again, there are better ways to resolve problems here at our small school than taking to the newspaper.

When anyone takes combative positions against fellow members of the UMW community, even in the unstinting belief that you are right and they are wrong, it increases the risk of alienating people normally sympathetic in a community the size of UMW. While there are problems to resolve and improvements that can be made to improve our community, UMW is a feminist school. Moreover, we are an extremely inclusive school with something for everybody, which I believe is why many of us chose to call this place home for four years.

I feel confident in saying that we are the most inclusive school in Virginia, with a thriving LGBT community, many political clubs for people with various ideologies and an acceptance of those with disabilities that is hard to beat anywhere.

There is always room for improvement, and I believe that is why FUC is such a valuable part of our community. There needs to be a greater effort to explain what feminism is, which is what FUC needs to lead on because feminism itself is often misunderstood, and as has been the case the past few weeks, the message has been lost in the delivery.

Writing about traumatic experiences improves writing skills

Jeffery James Parcel/ Flickr

MARLYN CELEDONIO Staff Writer

Writing can help students both academically and therapeutically.

Author Marian McCurdy did research for her book “From Trauma to Writing” about how beneficial it can be for students who write prose about personal traumatic experiences.

Her research considers the positives to better writing among students, comparing both strict academic topics and free writing.

Some professors believe students produce better writing when a subject is academically required as compared to one that is written in more free-style format.

Free-style writing became stigmatized because schools do not give the same value to an emotionally well-written personal essay than a critical, researched essay.

However, autobiographical writing allows students to write about their own life experiences, which at some point may become akin to therapy.

Trauma produces a mental picture, or ionic image, as McCurdy calls it. These are

Angie Grant / F;ickr

saved in the brain along with our ability to make decisions and have emotional reactions. The ionic images are deeply buried, which is why writing helps access such inaccessible feelings and unearth those buried emotions.

The point is that writing about extreme life moments is a method of trauma recovery. McCurdy contrasts emotional writing with image and detail telling, favoring emotional writing more.

She says that she has offered this research about trauma writing to demonstrate its effectiveness on prose and therapeutic

aspects, recalling that details and writing them down helps us heal.

“We cannot proclaim our humanity without acknowledging our capacity for suffering and the results of that suffering,” McCurdy states.

Personal writing helps new writers find their inner voice and also gain control over their experiences by communicating them to others.

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LIFE

Editor: Amanda Motley | blueandgray.life@gmail.com

Relay for Life works to run cancer off the track

‘Jupiter’ fails to rise to the top Starring: Channing Tatum, Mila Kunis, Sean Bean, Eddie Redmayne, Douglas Booth Release Date: February 6, 2015 Running Time: 125 minutes Acting:

***

Graphics:

***** Overall Experience: *** SARAH GRAMMAR Staff Writer

“Jupiter Ascending” hit the box office this past weekend with less than interstellar reviews.

In the film, Jupiter Jones (Mila Kunis) is given the life she has always dreamed of when she is suddenly whisked away from her mundane, servant girl lifestyle by Caine Wise (Channing Tatum), an ex-soldier who has been hired to find Jupiter.

Caine takes her to safety after a group of aliens try to kill Jupiter.

She soon learns that she is the reincarnation of the mother of the three Abrasax children, who now rule the universe.

Jupiter is thrown into their family conflict and learns the real reasons for the Earth’s existence and the part she now plays in it.

If you are solely looking for sci-fi, then this probably is not the film for you, since

its sci-fi elements play only a small role in the story. Most of its fantastical influences come from the classic story of “Cinderella.”

The film contains elements of multiple genres.

It could be classified mainly as action and adventure because of Jupiter’s perilous journey through space and the multiple battle scenes scattered throughout, but there are also hints of comedy and romance.

It is a film intended to draw in all audiences.

Due to the introduction of a new world and the speed at which scenes were run, the film was hard to follow at times.

On the other hand, certain parts of the film were very familiar.

The characters were very serious throughout the film, except the people who came from Earth.

•JUPITER | 9

Dressing for success with Chelsea a torn shirt.

When you get dressed for class, you send unspoken messages that you are here We’ve all been there: 9 a.m., alarm to learn, interact and get the most out of clock ringing and already 10 minutes be- our education. This “ready for the day” athind for an over-scheduled day. Jumping titude then becomes contagious, eventualout of bed, you throw a shirt on over your ly changing the dynamic of the classroom sweats, grab your bag and run out the door from a let’s-get-this-over-with attitude to a to class. But those days are, hopefully, not lets-get-this-started atmosphere. everyday.

In case the whole “respect” aspect is Why then do we keep dressing like not incentive enough to keep you looking everyday is such a bursharp, it is a good habden? Well, between it to bring with you into practice, class and dreaIT IS NOT JUST OUR the workforce. Whethry winter weather, it’s you are working now PROFESSORS THAT er hard to find a reason to or just concentrating on actually make oneself ARE PICKING UP THE school, a career is in the presentable to the pubnot-so-distant future for MESSAGE, BUT lic, or even to a small, all of us. By getting into FELLOW STUDENTS a rhythm of looking your liberal arts campus community. best for your job – and for AS WELL. While there are a many of us school is our plethora of excuses job – you can condition to don those fleece-lined sweats or over- yourself to make pants and blouses your stretched leggings, there are plenty more go-to instead of pajamas or running shorts. reasons to get dressed.

Of course it is very simple to say that First and foremost, it shows respect for getting dressed for class is the way to go, others. There has never been a day when it is another to act on it, especially when your professor rolled into class wearing a looking at a 20-degree morning outside hoodie over jeggings, primarily because to of your window or a very enticing snooze do so would be to tell everyone that they button. would rather be in bed. Though at times Whatever the case may be, there are this may be the case for some of us, by get- ways to take short cuts and still look your ting dressed, classmates and teachers alike best. will undoubtedly notice that you are not For instance, try laying clothes out the only are ready for the day, but also that you night before as part of your evening ritual take your academics seriously. or make go-to outfits that are tried and true; It is not just our professors that are pick- whenever you pull out that skirt, you’ll ing up the message, but fellow students as know it pairs perfectly with that sweater, well. Respect for others is important, but or those shoes always merit that pair of perhaps not as motivating as respect for pants. As the saying goes dress for success, ourselves. By dressing for our day, we nat- be it in the classroom or the job market. urally demand respect from others, more The best way to tackle your day is with so than if you are wearing yoga pants and preparedness and style.

CHELSEA FULLER Staff Writer

UMW Relay for Life

Students pose at a photo booth in the nest that was sponsored by UMW Relay.

ALLISON DIEHL Staff Writer

Relay for Life worked to raise money toward their overall goal last week through a campus-wide kickoff event that marks the start of the spring fundraising season at the University of Mary Washington.

In Relay for Life every year, a number of students come together to fight cancer and raise awareness.

The event is filled with love, support, hope and an equal desire to end cancer.

The kickoff week lasted from Feb. 2 through 6 and offered students the chance to learn about Relay for Life.

During those days, the UMW Relay events were used to raise awareness for the organization.

On Monday, students were spotted having fun with the photo booth in the Eagle’s Nest.

The following night, bingo with the Hurleys raised money by charging one dollar for game cards. All of the proceeds from bingo went to Relay.

On Wednesday night, students dressed accordingly for the purple-out basketball game.

The proceeds from this event went toward the overall fundraising goal as well.

To finish off the week of fundraising, students met in Monroe Hall and talked about “why they Relay.” Everyone who came to the final kickoff week event was given an Old Navy coupon for five dollars off a purchase.

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Overall, the week raised $135.25 at bingo and $151.15 at the basketball game.

This was the first time Relay For Life has had a kickoff week.

Many teams are created to help fundraise, and they are led by team captains.

Freshman math major Marleigh Eure will be a first-time team captain for Relay in April.

“I’ve never been a team captain before, and it will be a lot of fun,” said Eure.

The main Relay for Life event in April goes throughout the night and into the morning because “cancer never sleeps,” explained James Stewart, a Relay co-chair.

There will be a Relay for Life spirit week as April gets closer.

“I relay because I want the horrible disease to end, and I don’t want there to be anymore suffering,” said Stewart.

Likewise, freshman Dara Pomerantz says she is “excited for everyone to come together and fight cancer.”

Pomerantz said she wants to help the people who are suffering all over the world.

Cancer affects everyone: family members, friends and even strangers. The American Cancer Society estimates about 589,430 people will die from the disease this year in the United States alone.

Students, families, and friends are welcomed to celebrate, remember and fight back against cancer.

Relay for Life is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. on April 18 and run until 7 a.m. on April 19. The main Relay event will take place on the UMW track.

Thursday, February 12, 2015

LIFE

Flickr

Directions:

Materials: For the cheesecakes: 1 cup graham cracker crumbs 2/3 cup finely chopped walnuts 1/3 cup pure maple syrup 1 teaspoon ground ginger (optional) 6 ounces regular or reduced-fat cream cheese, at room temperature 2/3 cup reduced-fat ricotta cheese Juice of half a lemon 2 tablespoons natural cane sugar or other light-colored granulated sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract For the raspberry sauce: 2 cups raspberries 1/4 cup water 2 tablespoons granulated sugar Juice of half a lemon 2 teaspoons cornstarch 1 tablespoon water

For the cheesecakes: Line 12 regular muffin cups with paper liners. In a large bowl, stir together the graham cracker crumbs, walnuts, maple syrup and ginger, if using, until everything is covered and mixed well. Add a small amount of additional maple syrup if needed. In a second large bowl, use a fork to stir together the cream cheese, ricotta cheese, lemon juice, sugar and vanilla extract until smooth. Divide the crumb mixture among the prepared muffin cups and press down flat. Divide the cheese mixture among the muffin cups and use a butter knife to smooth the tops. Place the muffin tin in the refrigerator to chill overnight, and then enjoy the next day.

For the raspberry sauce: Combine the raspberries, water, sugar and lemon juice in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Simmer until the raspberries have broken down (about 10 minutes). In a small bowl, dissolve the cornstarch in the water.

Add to the sauce and heat for one minute. Let cool before serving over the cheesecakes.

SARAH NAYLOR Staff Writer

This Valentine’s Day, surprise your special someone with a sweet homemade treat.

Every Feb. 14 for the past several years, I have tried out a new dessert recipe to make for the special people in my life.

Most of these have been traditional chocolate recipes, but this year I decided

to try something new. Cheesecake is one of my boyfriend’s favorite desserts, so I will be making these mini No-Bake Cheesecakes with Raspberry Sauce.

They are much easier to make than traditional cheesecakes, but they are every bit as delicious. Plus, the sweet red raspberry sauce makes the cheesecakes so pretty and perfect for Valentine’s Day.

Valentine’s Day in Fredericksburg: What to do for fun and romance NOELLE PAOLICELLI Staff Writer

Valentine’s day is this Saturday.

Whether you are in a relationship or single, it is time to plan your itinerary. The most romantic day of the year should begin with treating yourself before you have to treat anyone else.

“I am getting myself chocolate, and I already got a stuffed animal. If you don’t have a Valentine, treat yourself,” said freshman chemistry major Emily Gondar-Besser.

Valentine’s Day can be interpreted as a day to express love for another person, but what every person in society needs is a day to enjoy themselves.

This Valentine’s Day, plan a day for you. It can be just getting a box of chocolates or even sending yourself flowers and going out to see a movie, but take a moment and enjoy this Saturday.

“50 Shades of Grey” comes out on Valentine’s Day. This adaptation of E.L James’s bestselling novel goes into depth of the graphic life of Christian Grey’s unique lifestyle.

While there are other movies coming out that same weekend, “50 Shades of Grey” has garnered a lot of media attention over the controversy of its content.

Whether you are staying at Fredericksburg or going home for Valentine’s Day, there will be something fun to add to your plans.

Staying in Fredericksburg has many advantages for Valentine’s Day. For restaurants, Fredericksburg ranges from high quality to easy dining. Some of the fine dining restaurants are La Petite Auberge, Kybecca, Bistro Bethem, The

Log Cabin and Olde Towne Steak and Seafood.

Since Valentine’s Day is a special and popular time of year, remember to make reservations for any sit-down restaurants.

There are also a couple of movie theatres around Fredericksburg, including one with a bowling alley, called Splitsville Luxury Lanes.

Fredericksburg offers a great deal of fun things to do on Valentine’s Day. There are many brewing companies and wineries in the area, including the Blue & Gray Brewing Co., Hartwood Winery, Potomac Point Winery and Wilderness Run Vineyards.

Plus you do not have to go out for the holiday.

It should be about spending time with

the person you love, and you do not need to spend a lot of money.

Couples can stay in and watch a movie, make a simple dinner or even have a lovely picnic either inside or outside.

Just show your love any way possible that makes a great night for you and the person you care about.

“It is a nice day to appreciate those that you love in your life,” said sophomore theatre major Beverly Kippenhan.

By following Kippenhan’s words, you can have an amazing Valentine’s Day this year.

Plan a special day, whether you are in a relationship or not.

And remember, if your Valentine’s Day does go wrong, Feb. 15 is 75 percent off all Valentine’s Day candy.

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LIFE The Blue & Gray Press: The Pinterest Project 27 Boards

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MIRANDA YOUNG Staff Writer

Makeup Wipes

This week on the Pinterest Files, we have decided to try out a new D.I.Y. for makeup removing wipes. Makeup is something almost every college girl indulges in whether they have the money to do so or not. But at the end of the day we need to take off our makeup, and that means scrubbing off all of that foundation and mascara. With that duty also comes the cost of buying name-brand makeup remover. Browsing on Pinterest, I found directions for a D.I.Y. make-up removing pads, and it only required a few steps and some items from the store, which were all relatively cheap:

Steps :

Materials :

Edit

1 quart wide-mouth jar 2 tablespoons of coconut oil 2 quarts of tear-free baby wash 2 cups of purified water 2 packages of cotton pads Microwavable bowl

1. Mix two tablespoons of coconut oil, two squirts of tear-free baby wash and two cups of purified water.

2. Microwave in 10 to 20 second increments until melted and well blended.

3. Place about five cotton pads in the quart jar.

4. Pour your liquid mixture over the pads in the jar. Press pads down to help soak up the liquid.

All of the steps were so simple that I thought it would be too simple. The mixing of all the ingredients took about five increments of 20 seconds. When I took it out of the microwave it was very hot – hotter than I expected. Even while pouring the mixture over the cotton pads, it made the jar piping hot. Pushing down the cotton was painful, and it took a while for the pads to soak up all of the mixture. One of my worries throughout this whole process was that I would have too much water, and I was right. I ended up having to pour a lot of the water out as I was going, realizing that it would overflow as I added pads.

The result, however, was more successful than I expected. It took off as much makeup as the name-brand wipes and also left my skin moisturized, but not too moisturized, which was something else that I was worried about as a person with oily skin. To make sure I wasn’t being too biased as the maker of this batch, I had a friend test the pads on her mascara, and she was also pleasantly surprised. Overall, this D.I.Y. project was a success, and I look forward to exploring more D.I.Y. projects through Pinterest.

‘The Drunken City’ is coming to Klein Theatre

Klein Theatre

ALEXA ALLEN Staff Writer

A bachelorette party gone wild will soon be on display at the University of Mary Washington.

“The Drunken City” is the next highly anticipated production brought to campus by the UMW theatre department.

This modern and glamorous play brings all the fun and humor of “Sex And the City” on an action-packed stage. The tension and excitement will be palpable in the Klein Theater as the actors bring the characters to life.

Kat Zeringue, a senior theatre major, plays Marnie, the bride to be.

Theatre majors, sophomore Megan Khaziran, and senior Taryn Snyder, play the bridesmaids Melissa and Linda.

These three women head out for Marnie’s last night in the city as a bachelorette, where they meet Frank and Eddie, played

by Josh Bartosch, a junior theatre major,

and senior Austin Bouchard.

During the play, Marnie deals with a severe case of pre-wedding jitters that cloud her judgment.

The bridesmaids have their hands full trying to keep the bride from making the biggest mistake of her life as she starts questioning if she made the right decision about her marriage. That is when they call in the big guns: Bob, played by Ford Torney, enters the scene and tries to hold everything together.

The actors each bring their own unique personalities to the performance, making this show unique to the UMW stage.

“The set, lights and spectacle are going to come out great. Different than any other show,” said senior political science and theatre major Ebony Dixon.

“The Drunken City” will run every Thursday through Sunday from Feb. 1222.

‘Jupiter’ soars into theatres without interstellar reviews

Channing Tatum stars as Caine in the new film, “Jupiter Ascending.” The Sci-fi thriller is in theatres.

JUPITER | 6

Jupiter made many sarcastic side comments, adding to the comedic element while also adding to a feeling of familiarity.

This was maintained even when Jupiter is thrust into her new life because her humorous remarks lighten the situation.

As far as acting is concerned, Eddie Redmayne gave a flawless performance as Balem Abrasax. His character was sly and quiet, which Redmayne played well. However, at moments of great tension, Balem would suddenly lose control. Redmayne’s transition between his character’s two sides was genius. It is Eddie Redmayne like he has never been seen before.

Kunis does well, but her performance was not by any means phenomenal. Her character was likeable, yet melodramatic at times.

It was obvious that Channing Tatum only got this role because of his looks.

His character, Caine Wise, was stern and unchanging and there was barely any life in Tatum’s character. It seems that Caine was written into the story more as an object than an actual character.

At the box office, Jupiter Ascending has grossed over $18 million as of Feb. 8., in the United States and $33.8 million overseas.

The numbers are not surprising based on a general lack of interest shown in the trailer, but the news is not good for the film’s studio. The movie budget was a whopping $179 million, making this theater flop a devastating financial blow.

Although its trailer was not particularly truthful and box office numbers may be discouraging, “Jupiter Ascending” can be recommended to anyone who has an interest in fantasy. Overall, it was a fairly enjoyable movie.

9

NEWS

Fundraiser celebrates 107 years of UMW education

•FUNDRAISER | 1 multi-page questionnaires from national ranking publications. One of the many questions on every form is about alumni giving and participation,” said Donna Raab, the executive director of Advancement Campaign Initiatives. “Each publication has a different way in which they weigh and process the answers, but it is a part of their consideration when they announce rankings. Grant making organizations are the same.”

While alumni participation is crucial in the UMW Founder’s Day Challenge and other fundraisers taking place within the university community, many alumni, particularly recent graduates, find donating to fundraising efforts like UMW Founder’s Day Challenge to be difficult.

“I do care very much about the school, as it’s given me nearly everything I’ve needed to find my path in life, but for right now I can’t donate to the Founder’s Challenge,” said Catie LeBouton, a 2014 alumna.

Despite the difficulty for some graduates, specifically recent graduates, to donate to fundraising efforts like the Founder’s Day Challenge, last year’s giving report stated that 63 percent of donors were alumni.

“I do think that the Founder’s Day Challenge is a good idea. Alumni support provides the school with the tools necessary to help students be successful post-graduation,” said Jillian Talley, a senior anthropology major. “Yes, I do think that it is a feasible goal. If the campaign is marketed well to the alumni, they will want to donate money back to the university.”

Part of the goal of Founder’s Day Challenge is also to celebrate the history of UMW’s founding. Before 1908, there was

P O L I C E

POLICE BEAT

BY EMILY HOLLINGSWORTH Assistant News Edtor

LIQUOR LAW VIOLATIONS

A DUI occurred on 100 block Jefferson Davis Highway. One arrest was made by the Fredericksburg Police Department.

VANDALISM

A case of vandalism occurred at Eagle Landing at 12:17 a.m.

The case is pending.

The information was compiled with assistance from UMW Police Manager James DeLoatch and Fredericksburg Police Department Public Information Officer Natatia Bledsoe.

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University Relations The Univeristy of Mary Washington will celebrate its 107th anniversary on March 14 this year.

only one educational institution in the state of Virginia, the Normal School for Women at Farmville, which was devoted to offering women the opportunity to be trained as teachers. However, C. O’Connor Goolrick, a member of the Virginia Senate, saw the need for an education school to be located in Fredericksburg, Virginia and fought vigorously for that educational institution to be put into place.

During the 1908 legislative session, two new locations for normal schools for the training of teachers were proposed.

The state Senate wanted the school to be located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, while the House of Delegates argued that Freder-

icksburg, Virginia would be the ideal destination.

Intense arguments regarding the location for the new school ensued within the Senate and the House, but a compromise was eventually reached. Both locations for the new normal school for the training of teachers were permitted, and the State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Fredericksburg, now known as the University of Mary Washington, was created.

The Founder’s Day Challenge has successfully raised $6,465 as of Feb. 4. The University has approximately a month to reach their fundraising goal of $107,000.

Hurley recognized for dedication to Fredericksburg community LINDSEY CRAWFORD Staff Writer

This winter, University of Mary Washington President Rick Hurley received the Prince B. Woodward Leadership Award at the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Gala. This award was given to Hurley in honor of his continued dedication to the City of Fredericksburg.

Since moving to Fredericksburg, Hurley has made many contributions to the community through special projects.

Most notably, he assisted in the expansion of commerce in the area through the building of Eagle Village, where many businesses have opened. In addition, Hurley has sat on the Chamber’s board of directors and on the board for Rappahannock United Way. Hurley also helped create the Town and Gown Committee in 2007, which helps bridge the relationship between UMW and the Fredericksburg community. This committee consists of a mixture of stu-

dent leaders and university administrators, along with the heads of the local police and two members of Fredericksburg City Council. They meet four times a year to discuss and resolve problems that arise between the school and the community.

This has contributed to a strong relationship between the school and the city.

According to Hurley, he and city officials often work together to solve issues in the community.

“I can call the city manager anytime and see and talk to the mayor quite often. The best part of the relationship is the open lines of communication and understanding for each other’s needs and concerns,” said Hurley.

During his nine years as University Relations president, Hurley has seen plenty of change, including the construction of the Anderson Center, the Information and Technology Convergence Center and the new University Center, which is expected to open for the next academic year.

According to Hurley, one of his main priorities as president is not only to give •HURLEY | 11

UMW partners with Germanna for four year residential nursing degree •NURSING | 1 where he or she will earn a BSN before graduation.

Current UMW students Allie Nicklow, Jason Larson and Chris Lowe understand the merits of earning a BSN as an undergraduate. All three work full-time at Mary Washington Hospital. In between shifts, they study in UMW’s current nursing platform: the BSN-Completion Program.

The Completion Program is also fairly recent, having just begun last fall, but it is based on the Stafford Campus and geared toward students who are already registered nurses and have returned to school in order to earn their BSNs. “It’s going to be a state requirement within the next couple years,” said Nicklow.

BSN degrees are almost necessary in order to practice nursing professionally.

“A lot of places won’t even hire you without a BSN,” said Lowe.

According to McCullough, the degree is part of a larger trend.

“There’s a national movement to increase the education level of the nurse at the bedside,” said McCullough. She noted that medical centers have shown that patients with nurses holding BSNs have an improved patient outcome.

Presently, about 50 percent of nurses today have BSNs. That percentage is expected to rise to 80 percent by 2020, according to McCullough.

Nicklow, Larson and Lowe continue to work toward their BSNs, but explained the obtaining the degree through a Completion Program comes with a number of challenges. They often finish 12-hour nightshifts at the hospital around 7:00 a.m.

“If I could replay the tape, I would love to get my B.A. first rather than getting a B.A. while working full time,” said Larson.

According to Nicklow, she would have liked an opportunity to join the 1+2+1 programn had it been available in her college days.

“I would have loved to be closer to home,” said Nicklow.

However, that opportunity will have to be left to next year’s class of nursing students. Through the 1+2+1 Plan, these students will get to enjoy what McCullough calls the “residential experience,” as they train and study to become nurses while also living at a four year school.

To McCullough’s knowledge, the 1+2+1 is the only nursing plan in Virginia that makes use of such an academic partnership.

“Our program is unique in that way,” said McCullough.

She adds that UMW is not only partnering with Germanna but also with Mary Washington Hospital in this new endeavor.

“Nursing is a practice profession,” said McCullough. “It’s very important what you do in academics, but also what you do in practice.”

McCullough said she thinks that the three-way partnership will allow UMW students to find the balance between learning, doing and learning through doing. After that, students will be equipped to enter the healthcare system of Fredericksburg.

“Our overall goal,” said McCullough, “is to improve the health of the community.”

Thursday, February 12, 2015

NEWS

Sexual assault coordinator named in the midst of state reform

Budget proposals may grant higher education faculty long awaited raises HOPE RACINE News Editor

Feminists United on Campus Feminists United on Campus advocated for the school to hiring a sexual assault coordinator.

•COORDINATOR | 1 underway. Cox also spoke about a bystander education program in development that will provide students who witness sexual assault with resources and possible actions that they can take. Cox said the program would not be limited to sexual assault, but rather it would include any action that endangers other students.

“It’s all about students stepping in to keep each other safe,” said Cox. Miller said she wants to focus, in particular, on individual students and raise awareness of resources available to meet their specific needs. Posters will be distributed to restroom stalls across campus, which will include signs of relational abuse and stalking, how students can help other students who may be victims of sexual assault and list resources on and off-campus that students can reach for help.

Miller has already worked with student organizations to finish the bystander education program. Ultimately, Miller said she wants students to know that they have choices in how they want to handle sexual assault cases. “[We are] leaving everything to the survivor to make a decision about how they want to move forward,” said Miller.

With the recent conviction of two former students who raped a student at Vanderbilt University and allegations of rape at UVA, preventing sexual assault, providing education and giving assistance in the event of a sexual assault have been important issues at colleges nationwide.

These issues are important to UMW students too.

Sophomore Natalie Carpenter said she hopes that UMW’s campaigns will help students who need it.

“If it’s easier for people who have been assaulted to get help or to prevent it, that would be an awesome thing,” said Carpenter.

Carpenter said she believes that the “Yes Is the Key” posters need contact numbers that students can call if they have been assaulted.

“If the posters have numbers that people could call for help, that would be really good. That way, they wouldn’t just be posters,” said Carpenter.

Sophomore English major Mary-Margaret McMaken and senior history major

Jessica Hopkins said they have seen posters about “Yes Is the Key” around campus, though they believe that UMW needs to be fully engaged and act immediately when sexual assault is reported.

“Ultimately, what there needs to be is immediate response. If [students] go and tell someone, then there will be action, and it won’t be a long, drawn-out process,” said Hopkins.

Sophomore Christian Deel believes that student participation in sexual assault education programs will decrease the likelihood of rape or sexual assault on campus.

“Getting people involved is a sure way to reduce risk of danger,” said Deel.

Miller’s appointment comes on the heels of recent legislation within the Virginia General Assembly to overhaul the process of reporting and prosecuting sexual assaults on college campuses in the Commonwealth.

The state Senate and House of Delegates approved three bills on Tuesday that would give campus or local police more involvement in cases of sexual assault on college campuses.

The Senate bills and House bills differ slightly in how police are involved. The House version would only include campus police or security in the review team, and the Title IX Coordinator would determine whether disclosure of a sexual assault case is necessary.

The Senate version would have campus and local police in the review team and leave it up to the police to decide, but must have the Title IX Coordinator’s approval.

The current bills are a way to curtail earlier versions of the bills, most notably the mandatory reporting bill, which would require faculty or staff members to report instances of sexual assault directly to the police. Some feared that the earlier version of the bill would limit the amount of victims willing to come forward, either due to emotional stability or out of fear of identifying an attacker.

No matter how the bills impact UMW, Miller said her priority is providing multiple resources for those affected by sexual assault to get help and educating UMW students about ways to identify and handle instances of sexual assault.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY HOPE RACINE

Virginia legislators have proposed a budget that would allow raises for state employees, including teachers and college faculty, for the first time in several years.

Following budget cuts and tax increases, room was found to award long-awaited salary raises without pulling the money necessary from higher education funds.

Earlier this year, Gov. Terry McAuliffe announced a budget plan that would limit the amount of state funding provided to higher education. The University of Mary Washington prepared for a five percent cut of their general fund appropriation from the state. As a result of the planned cuts, the university implemented a hiring freeze.

In response to this year’s earlier budget plan, McAuliffe urged institutions not to raise tuition and to work creatively to find room in the budgets elsewhere. As a result, there were 23 unfilled staff positions at UMW in September, and many faculty members were required to fulfill extra roles and duties.

In the budget proposed by the state Senate, state employees would see a three percent increase by Sept. 1, while the House budget suggests a 1.5 percent increase with an extra $80 for every year an individual has held their position. This additional raise would only be provided for employees with five years of previous state service.

Both budget proposals have allowances for college faculty, however, suggesting a two percent raise for faculty and staff of

higher education.

Whether the budget will be pushed through is yet to be seen, though the UMW budget still reflects an anticipated seven percent cut next year. UMW has yet to announce any plans to implement a pay raise for faculty or staff.

STATE EMPLOYEE RAISE PROPOSALS HOUSE: SENATE: 1.5% with $80 3% raise for each year of service HIGHER EDUCATION EMPLOYEE RAISE PROPOSALS HOUSE: SENATE: 2 % raise 2% raise STATE TEACHER RAISE PROPOSALS HOUSE: SENATE: 1.5 % with local systems covering 1/2 the cost STATE TROOPER RAISE PROPOSALS SENATE: HOUSE: 1.5% with $95 3 % with for each year longterm compression of service adjustments

Wikimedia Commons The proposed budget plan will allow for 1.5 to 3 percent raises for all state employees, including teachers.

Hurley recognized by community •HURLEY | 10 students a better campus but to ensure that the construction efforts do not disrupt the surrounding neighborhoods.

“I am proud of our contractors for their understanding of our concern about their impact and the steps they have taken to mitigate noise and other disruptions,” said Hurley.

Hurley emphasized that leadership qualities are one of the most important traits that a UMW student can possess.

“In my opinion, the more students, faculty, staff and myself go out and become

involved in the life of the region, the better served it will be. Our presence also enhances our reputation and name recognition,” said Hurley.

UMW students have noticed Hurley’s involvement with the community and the school. Freshman Katy Tucker said she believes that Hurley’s frequent presence on the campus gives UMW a personal touch.

“I love seeing Hurley around campus and involved with the students,” said Tucker. “Some universities don’t see their president until graduation day, and I’m glad I’m not one of them.”

11

SPORTS

Editor: Chris Markham | blueandgray.sports@gmail.com

Intramural Battleship takes center stage on Campus Recreation

CHRIS MARKHAM Sports Editor

In just its second year on the University of Mary Washington intramural sports slate, Battleship once again made a big splash this semester.

On Sunday, Feb. 8, UMW students took to the Goolrick pool armed with buckets and life jackets, prepped to do battle with their opposing classmates.

The event was such a success last year that there was no real question that the sport would make its return in 2015. The one-of-a-kind activity offers a unique experience to UMW students looking for wholesome, competitive fun.

Campus Recreation now hosts two Battleship tournaments each school year: one in the fall semester and one in the spring semester. According to graduate student and intramural referee Brandon Smith, this semester’s tournament saw a slight dropoff from the number of participants in last semester’s.

“In comparison to November’s event, this seemed to have less of a turnout, although not by much,” said Smith. “The event went extremely well and everyone who participated had an incredible time, as per the usual.”

The sport is a competition consisting of a series of matches between four groups of three to four students in canoes. Each team is given two buckets, a shield and the mission to be the last boat standing at the end of the match.

“The event gets extremely raucous as each team does their best to sink the other boats by pouring water into them,” said Smith.

Campus Recreation/Facebook I.M. Battleship takes over the Goolrick Gym pool.

When a boat sinks, that team is out for the round, and their standing is recorded.

The tournament usually has a semifinal and then a final round where the teams with the best records battle to become the grand champion, according to Smith.

“I know that if more students saw what it really is they would want to get involved,” said Smith. “Who wouldn’t enjoy splashing their friends and sinking their boats in a one-day tournament with a shot at eternal Intramural glory?”

This year’s tournament consisted of nine teams and 34 competitors, a slight increase in numbers from last year. The league was split up into two teams to make for a more fair competition.

Battleship, which is quickly becoming one of the most popular and rapidly growing intramural sports in the country, is sure to continue making a large splash at UMW for years to come. ”IM League Battleship is an incredible amount of fun and I’d recommend it for anyone who enjoys teamwork, getting wet, and making friends,” said Smith. “You’ll have to get used to the chlorine though.”

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Vicoria Parent/Faebook Members of the cross country teams Caroline Cerand, Tom Hudson and Jamie Van Emmerik were some of the members of UMW Athletics to plunge.

Members of UMW Athletics take on Polar Plunge for Area 11 Special Olympics JULIAN MENK Staff Writer

A small group of University of Mary Washington student-athletes participated in the Polar Plunge Winter Fest for the Special Olympics on Saturday, Feb. 7 at Virginia Beach. A huge success, the Polar Plunge raised over $1 million for the fifth straight year to help fund Special Olympic events and athletes.

The UMW student-athletes that attended the Polar Plunge included men’s soccer junior Mike Bennett, women’s cross country and track junior Caroline Cerand, men’s cross country and track senior Tom Hudson and men’s cross country and track senior Jamie van Emmerik. The Director of Athletic Development Philip Pierce also participated in the Plunge.

“The Polar Plunge was an extremely rewarding experience and I learned a lot about the Special Olympic community,” said Hudson. “Our athletes got the chance to talk to a lot of parents about the different Special Olympic programs to set up in Fredericksburg.”

While at the Polar Plunge, the student-athletes got the opportunity to dis-

UMW student-athletes raised

cuss possible Special Olympic events that could be held here at UMW. One potential opportunity included getting the Special Olympic athletes to teach UMW student-athletes how to bowl, a favorite amongst Special Olympic participants.

“THE ATHLETES WERE REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THAT UMW HONORED ITS COMMITENT TO PARTICIPATE.” - Jamie Van Emmerik

The Polar Plunge is an annual assemblage of representatives from across Virginia that gather together to raise money for their respective Special Olympic area teams.

“The water was very cold,” said Hudson. “The Polar Plunge strengthened the relationship between Area 11 and UMW Athletics.”

Area 11, the Fredericksburg area Special Olympic team, gained just over $91,000 to be used towards their Special Olympic events throughout 2015.

“The whole experience was amazing, but the most gratifying was connecting with the athletes and families,” said Bennett. “We never would have been able to participate in the Polar Plunge if it was not for UMW Athletics/Facebook $2,245.25 for the Area 11 Special Olympics. the planning by Caroline Cerand.”

The Polar Plunge replaced the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee’s annual “Adopt a Family” project for the second semester.

Junior Caroline Cerand led the charge in planning UMW’s participation in the Polar Plunge by coordinating with the Area 11 Coordinator Tim Doyle.

“It was the most satisfying feeling when I saw all the hard work that I did come together into a reality in front of my eyes,” said Cerand. “It was a big party with ice sculptures, food stands, and thousands of people were dressed up in costumes along the boardwalk in support of the Plunge.”

Portions of the Polar Plunge were captured on Bennett’s GoPro camera, and the footage will be used to gain stronger support from UMW and the Fredericksburg community for next year’s Plunge.

“The athletes were really excited to see that UMW honored its commitment to participate in the Polar Plunge,” said Van Emmerik.

The UMW Athletic Department raised $2,245.25 in donations for the Special Olympics, achieving 75 percent of the department’s goal of $3,000.

“We got off to a slow start in the donation process,” said Cerand. “We had some trouble with the donation website back in fall of 2014, which largely contributed to the UMW Athletic Department falling short of its goal of $3,000.”

The goal for UMW in the 2016 Polar Plunge is to raise more donations and to get a larger representation from Eagle Nation at next year’s Polar Plunge.

The 2015 Polar Plunge was largely a success because it strengthened the relationship between Area 11, UMW and the Fredericksburg community by allowing the Special Olympic athletes to form memorable relationships with UMW studentathletes and set the stage future events.

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