The Blue & Gray Press

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THE

BLUE &GRAY

PRESS

February 13, 2020

VOLUME 93 | ISSUE 16

1922 Students navigate absentee voting in preparation for the Democratic primary election during spring break

THE UNIVERSITY OF MARY WASHINGTON STUDENT NEWSPAPER

Jess Kirby Staff Writer

SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE

worried about how I’m going to be able to vote in this election,” said freshman and psychology major Carson Miller. “My only option, the absentee voting system, is really confusing.” For sophomore Patrick Healy, finding a way to vote has been an especially trying task. The double major in political science and economics decided to register in Fredericksburg and originally had no problems. “It was better for me in the 2019 elections to vote here than to try

voting back home,” he said. However, when he applied to vote absentee for the upcoming primary election, his Virginia’s Democratic primary application was rejected. “They had election will take place on March 3 declined it on the basis that school is during UMW’s spring break. As a still in session, but we’re not when the result, students registered to vote in primary is.” Fredericksburg will need to either vote Instead of driving up to his voting absentee or commute to their polling precinct on election day, Healy will be location to cast their ballot. voting absentee in-person. According to Unfamiliar with the absentee voting the Fredericksburg, Va. website, voters process, some students have voiced already registered in Fredericksburg can concern. go to the general registrar’s office on “Since I’ll be out of the country on 601 Caroline St. within 45 days of the vacation during the voting period, I’m election to vote absentee in-person. The last day to do so is March 1. “It’s not fun having to go all the way into downtown just to vote,” he said. “I think it definitely makes it more difficult because we’re approaching midterms right before [the election] so of course people are going to be distracted. It’s really a matter of whether people are really that determined to vote.” The absentee voting system can be somewhat unpredictable, so some young voters have elected to make the drive back to Fredericksburg on election day. UMW Votes along with several other clubs have organized across campus to register to vote. “I have voted absentee here Jess Foster / Facebook before in the primaries a year ago.

That’s part of the reason why I’m going to come up here and [vote]. It’s easier than applying for the absentee ballot and not really know if I’m going to be able to vote or not,” said junior Sam Hartz, an

“Since I’ll be out of the country on vacation during the voting period, I’m worried about how I’m going to be able to vote in this election. My only option, the absentee voting system, is really confusing.” -Carson Miller American Studies major and president of the UMW Young Democrats. He says the drive will likely take him three hours. The UMW Young Democrats club has been discussing how to best inform the community of their options for voting in the upcoming primary election. “So far it’s just being talked about in meetings, but we are looking at doing tabling or making flyers, things like that, or partnering up with other groups on campus like UMW Votes to try to get that •Voting | 2

Sex in the Dark event educates students about safe sex Alexandra Lewis Staff Writer

Residence Life staff hosted an event called ‘Sex in the Dark’ in the HCC Digital Auditorium on Feb. 4. The event was designed to educate students about sexually transmitted infections and diseases, as well as healthy sexual practices. “I was inspired to throw this event after I noticed the lack of education on campus regarding protective and safe sex. Back in November, I attended an RA conference (VACUHO) and a Norfolk State RA put on this event for her residents,” said senior resident assistant Sydne Coleman, a senior psychology major. “However since our campus is so small and I only have about 16 residents, I decided to make it into a campus-wide event. The goal of the event was to expand upon the red flag and consent education done by the Title IX office.” The turnout for the event was close to 60 people. Upon entry, the RAs handed each participant a glow stick, piece of paper with an STD or STI printed on it and either an index card or QR code linked to a Google form for participants to post questions anonymously. Once everyone was settled they asked the audience to come to the front and talk to each other for a mingling game. After a few minutes, everyone was asked to crack

IN THIS

ISSUE

their glowstick if someone they talked “Sexual health is an essential to had a paper with an STD or STI, component of overall wellness,” Kagan which nearly everyone did. The object said. “I thought this panel would of this game was to show how quickly provide students the opportunity to ask these diseases and infections can spread challenging and difficult questions about through interactions with others. sex. As a counselor, I want to take part After this the audience split into in events that create a safe environment smaller groups to play Kahoot, in which to delve into meaningful, and sometimes the questions dealt with various topics of uncomfortable, topics like sexual sexual health. health.” Michael Tucker, a freshman business One of the anonymous questions administration major, said, “It was very dealt with what symptoms to be on the informative. I just realized how blind I lookout for, which lead to a discussion was to all the about how diseases; all a lot of “My hope is that participants gained I knew about symptoms a greater understanding of STI/STDs was STDs aren’t obvious. like herpes, The extremes and how to practice safe sex. As the but I didn’t awesome button I received at the event shown to know about students in says, ‘Safe Sex Is Great Sex.’” everything high school else.” are a small -Eve Kagan After percentage, the games and symptoms concluded, the RAs had set up can be similar to a urinary tract a panel for the audience to ask infection, mono, the flu and a persistent questions. The panel consisted of Aide yeast infection. As a result, the members Sanchez, a prevention specialist with of the panel stressed the importance of Fredericksburg Area HIV/AIDS Support being tested regularly. Services (FAHASS), Chris Eaglin, FAHASS representatives explained former UMW student and current that they are on campus every first outreach education coordinator with and third Friday providing low cost FAHASS, Dr. Nancy Wang, UMW or free testing, and the UMW Health Physician and Student Health Center Center offers one free STI test a year Director, and Eve Kagan, sexual assault for students which can be performed specialist and staff counselor for the anytime throughout the school year. Talley Center at UMW. The Health Center will also provide

Harley quinn

“Birds of Prey” fails some characters. LIFE | 5

treatments for STIs and practices strong doctor-patient confidentiality. Cameron Coates, a senior communications major, said, “I know now if I’m ever in a predicament where I do catch an STD I know how to get tested and the resources across campus that can help with that.” “As we received questions there were many things that we felt like students in college should have already known for safety and health reasons, and that just shows that there is not enough discussion around this topic,” said White. “I thought it was very informative, especially when it came to the Q&A because I feel like a lot of people, including myself, don’t know how testing for these diseases work and how easily it is to spread to one another,” said Coates. There were numerous questions on fear – about telling a partner, seeking medical help and taking the initial step to get tested. The panel explained that there is courage and bravery in simply showing up. The Talley Center can help students work through how to have those difficult conversations with others and themselves. “My hope is that participants gained a greater understanding of STI/STDs and how to practice safe sex. As the awesome button I received at the event says, ‘Safe Sex Is Great Sex,’” said Kagan.

Coin Laundry

100th Win

Some students don’t trust SpeedQueen app.

Swim coach Justin Anderson gets his 100th career win.

VIEWPOINTS | 3

SPORTS | 8


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