The Blue & Gray Press

THE

BLUE &GRAY

THE UNIVERSITY OF MARY WASHINGTON STUDENT NEWSPAPER

VOLUME 88 | ISSUE 17

PRESS

Campus opens late amid commuter student protest

SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE

1922

Virginia Powershift marches on UMW

HOPE RACINE News Editor

Students flocked to social media to express their dissatisfaction with the University of Mary Washington’s decision to open the University of Mary Washington for classes two hours late on Wednesday, February 18, rather than close for the day.

On Tuesday night, Vice President of Finance and Administration Rick Pearce notified the community that the university would have a two-hour delay on Wednesday, while other classes would be held as usual.

The announcement was posted on the university Facebook page, where it received almost 200 comments from students who disagreed with the decision. The majority of students expressed concern over the safety of commuter students in particular.

“A lot of commuters are not happy because their roads are not cleared and the parking situation on campus is bad to start off, but with the snow piled up on college, it was even worse,” said Evan Smallwood, the president of the commuter student association. “The students on campus only had to worry about the possible ice patch while walking, while the commuters have to worry about it while driving.”

Smallwood, like many students who commented, stressed that commuter students face different challenges when getting to school.

“It seems like that is not something that the university takes into consideration, even with it being vocalized on social media,” said Smallwood.

The University announced truncated hours on Monday, Feb. 16 following an announcement from Gov. Terry McAuliffe that Virginia was in a state of emergency.

The University closed at 3 p.m. and remained closed throughout Tuesday.

According to Pearce, the decision to open on Wednesday was made after considering a series of factors.

“I used all the information I had at hand,” said Pearce. “I had done a lot of •SNOW | 11

FEBRUARY 19, 2015

The three day conference unites Virginia students together for social justice EMILY HOLLINGSWORTH & HANNAH RIDDLE

College students from across Virginia made their voices heard on the University of Mary Washington campus during Virginia Power Shift, a student-led conference designed to invite dialogue about social, economic and environmental justice.

More than 350 students from 11 Virginia universities and several high schools registered for the threeday long event sponsored by the Virginia Student Power Network and the Virginia Student Environmental Coalition groups at UMW. Many of the guests were housed on the UMW campus as they gathered to gain the administration’s attention about climate change.

Kick-off began Friday with a march that started at the Anderson Center parking lot and ended at Ball Circle. Despite frigid temperatures, students from across the Commonwealth were fired up in their scarves and hats, and were too invested in the goal of the march to care about the chill.

Senior Divest UMW co-founder Zakaria Kronemer spoke before the march, describing climate •DIVEST MARCH | 2

Julia Davis/ The Blue & Gray Press Students from universities and high schools across Virginia joined together on the University of Mary Washington campus to protest for divestment and change.

Communication major approved for 2015-2016 school year

ANNA DEMARR Staff Writer

A new major could be joining the University of Mary Washington academic selection on Friday, Feb. 20, when the University Faculty Council will review and vote on the prospective Communication and Digital Studies Program.

Beginning this past summer, Anand Rao, associate professor of communication, along with other UMW faculty, de-

veloped a program that will combine both communication courses and classes in the digital studies program.

After being proposed in the summer, the program has gone through several review boards, including the English, Linguistics and Communication department, the College of Arts and Sciences Curriculum Committee and the University Curriculum Committee.

The final step in the approval process, the University Faculty Council’s decision,

was originally scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 17, but due to inclement weather, UFC and UMW have been corresponding via email, and the final decision will take place on Friday. If the program is approved, students will be able to declare a communication major as early as Fall 2015.

The communication major has been popular in the past as a create-your-own degree special major option. The special major path at UMW is not intended to be •COMMUNICATIONS | 11

Committee to review language requirement

NIKKI OESTRICHER Staff Writer

HEAVY SNOWFALL GIVES STUDENTS FIRST SNOW DAY OF THE YEAR LIFE | 6 Anna DeMarr/ The Blue & Gray Press Students spend the snow day outside, (left) two students play football at Eagle Landing (right) Students sled down a hill during the University’s first snow day.

IN THIS

ISSUE

Earlier this year, President Rick Hurley and Provost Jonathan Levin asked the University Faculty Council to establish a committee to review the University of Mary Washington’s language requirement as part of the ongoing Strategic Resource Allocation Project.

Currently, the language requirement calls for students to demonstrate intermediate competency in a second language •LANGUAGE | 10

DRUNKEN CITY

U.S. RELATIONS

LAX ON...

Klein Theater’s newest show opens to rave reviews

U.S. relations with Syria start later rather than sooner

Lacrosse starts season with win over Hampden-Sydney

LIFE | 7

VIEWPOINTS | 5

SPORTS | 12

NEWS THE

Virginia students gather for divestment march

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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Ginny Clark/ The Blue & Gray Press

•DIVEST MARCH | 1 change’s prevalence, particularly in this generation’s lifetime.

“We are not being silent victims. We are standing up, and it’s working,” said Kronemer.

Kronemer spoke about the UMW Board of Visitors denying Divest UMW’s request to speak at the BOV’s next meeting. The refusal generated enough outrage from UMW students for the BOV to take back their denial and instead offer Divest UMW an opportunity to speak for 15 minutes at their next meeting.

The goal of Divest UMW and other Virginia environmental organizations is to urge universities to divest from companies that profit from fossil fuel.

Kronemer used the experience to tell students they are making headway.

“Each step will bring us to the future that we deserve,” said Kronemer.

Shortly afterward, the students took those steps through the campus.

Students held signs that varied from inspiring, such as “We are unstoppable: another world is possible,” to cheeky, such as “Don’t be a fossil fool.”

Students also made noise, shouting chants such as “We will not rest ‘till we divest” and “This is what democracy looks like.”

The march ended at Ball Circle, where students crowded together holding multiple signs, of which Kronemer and others took pictures and recorded from the roof of Virginia Hall. The sign read: “VA BOVs: Whose Side on You On?” Another sign read: “Divest!”

Doug Searcy, vice president for student affairs, attended the march and said he was impressed by the large turnout and the groups’ level of dedication.

“I am pleased that the group came out to show their perspective and opinion in such a positive and constructive way,” said Searcy.

After Friday’s march, students were ready on Saturday morning to turn their attention toward a more in-depth discussion of the conference’s goals.

By 9 a.m., the students rolled into the Digital Auditorium of UMW’s new Information Technology Convergence Center,

sitting cross legged with coffee cups in hand.

Overflow settled down in the balcony, and handmade posters hung on the front walls. The posters defined some of the conference’s key topics of discussion, such as “privilege,” “identity” and “-isms.” These subjects focused on various social justice themes and ways to affect change.

Rabib Hasan, a member of Divest UMW, helped kick things off by telling the crowd, “All these next workshops are geared towards giving you guys the tools you need to get engaged, get involved and get active.”

Other leaders of the conference also encouraged attendees to get to know those around them, stressing the opportunities available for networking.

In fact, many attendees said the community created there was a major draw of the Power Shift.

“I think the main point of the conference is for people of a similar age and similar goals to have a chance to meet up and create something,” said Katherine Barry, a UMW sophomore who said she was inspired to attend the conference after taking part in UMW’s Mindfulness program earlier this year.

“If there isn’t an opportunity to do that,” continued Barry, “then you have a lot of little groups trying to make things happen, but when you come together you have more people power.”

Her sentiment was echoed by others.

“It’s cool to see what other schools are doing,” said Wynne Davidson, a sophomore from Virginia Tech.

Dianna Borkor from Virginia Commonwealth University agreed.

“It’s really seeing the energy of everyone here,” she said.

For some, like VCU’s McKayla Burnett, Virginia Power Shift was a time for exploration.

Burnett is majoring in social work and said she is excited to learn more about the social and environmental issues discussed during the weekend.

“I wanted to get my foot in the door,” said Burnett.

For others, like Virginia Tech freshman Sam Gittelman, Virginia Power Shift menat making students’ voices heard.

“I think it’s important to give more exposure to Virginia college students who care about the issue, and give it the attention that it raises,” said Gittelman.

Like Gittelman UMW senior and Ecology Club president Alice Redhead also said she wanted the Virginia Power Shift to garner awareness. Redhead said she hopes that the weekend event will get the administration’s attention and invite a larger discussion about climate change that extends beyond the student body.

“It affects us,” said Redhead.

“EACH STEP WILL BRING US TO THE FUTURE THAT WE DESERVE.” -Zakaria Kronemer Throughout Saturday and on the following Sunday, students had the opportunity to attend information sessions on a wide range of topics, such as renewable energy, student debt, pipelines and power structures, amongst many others.

Two of the most popular sessions were “#BlackLivesMatter” and “Sexual Assault on Campus: The Landscape & Spaces for Student Activism.”

The host of speakers for Power Shift was made up of students and professors from various Virginia universities, including the University of Virginia and George Mason University.

There were also two keynote speakers, Elise Keaton, the fundraising director for the Keepers of the Mountain organization, and Reverend Lennox Yearwood, president and CEO of the Hip Hop Caucus.

Kronemer encouraged students to attend at least one session that was not geared toward their top interest as a way to broaden their knowledge bases.

“Think about how you can act to create change and affect change in our state and around the world,” Kronemer urged his peers.

Julia Davis/ The Blue & Gray Press, Ginny Clark /The Blue & Gray Press High School and university students from accross Virginia participated in a rally on Ball Circle during the conclusion of a Divest event on Feb. 13.

Thursday, February 19, 2015

SPORTS

UMW tennis takes down multiple Division I teams to begin spring

Baseball starts 2015 with dominant double-header wins CHRIS MARKHAM Sports Editor

UMW Athletics The UMW men’s tennis team is off to a strong start in the 2015 spring season, beating Division I teams.

CHRIS MARKHAM Sports Editor

Two of the most dominating sports programs at the University of Mary Washington, the men’s and women’s tennis teams, began their 2015 spring campaign on high notes against multiple Division I opponents.

On the men’s side, several strong performances proved that the Eagles’ top-15 national ranking is justified and well deserved. UMW opened up at home against Division I George Mason University. The Eagles put up a good fight against their admirable opponents, ultimately losing 4-3 to the Patriots. The Eagles went undefeated in their doubles matches, going 3-0 against the Patriots. Another high point was senior Tyler Carey’s 2-0 victory over GMU topseed Lange. However, the Eagles only won one singles match after Carey’s win, leading to their defeat.

UMW took many positives from their tough loss to the Patriots as they headed into their next matches against two more Division I teams with much confidence.

The men took on Longwood University shortly after their defeat by GMU. The following day, the team faced Loyola University. Both matches took place at the University Tennis Center.

The Eagles exerted their dominance on their way to back-to-back 6-1 victories.

Much like their match against GMU earlier

in the day, the Eagles won all three doubles matches against Longwood, led by Carey and Evan Charles’ 8-3 victory over Dan Elston and Steed Johnson. UMW also won all but one of the singles matches, once again led by Carey’s dominant 6-1, 6-3 victory.

It was much of the same against Loyola, with UMW winning all three doubles matches. Even more impressive, however, is the fact that the Eagles were without their no. 1 seed Carey throughout the match. Stratton Gilmore served as the Eagles’ no. 1 seed, winning his singles match handily 6-4, 6-2.

On the women’s side, the no. 22 nationally ranked Eagles also took on the GMU Patriots on Sunday, Feb. 15, but with a much more favorable result than their male counterparts. The Eagles won two of their three doubles matches to go along with victories in four of their six singles matches. Although UMW lost the top two seeded matches, their victories in the bottom four seeded matches propelled them to a 6-3 triumph over the Patriots.

On that same day, the Eagles also took on Division III Elizabethtown College, scoring a perfect victory and defeating the Blue Jays 9-0.

The men’s team will be back in action on Saturday, Feb. 21 when they host the UMW Invitational at the University Tennis Center, and the women won’t head back to the court until Sunday, March 1 against Chapman University.

Following their less-than-stellar 2014 season, the University of Mary Washington baseball team made a resounding statement this past Saturday during the first two games of the season that this year would be much different from last.

The Eagles played host to a double-header against the Plattsburgh State University of New York Cardinals. The teams took to V. Earl Dickinson Stadium on a bitter, cold February day in what was both teams’ first games of the season.

In game one of the double-header, the Eagles wasted no time getting the 2015 season off to a good start, as they jumped out to 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. At the bottom of the third, UMW took complete control of the game and exploded for eight runs.

However, it was not just the swinging of the bats that proved to be the source of the Eagles’ dominant performance. The constant ‘0’ that showed next to the Cardinals’ name inning after inning is what truly kept them out of the game. The Eagles did not allow a score until the sixth inning, which ended up being Plattsburgh’s lone score of the game.

Of course, one must get on base first before they can score, and the Eagles did a great job of making sure that did not happen for Plattsburgh State. Junior starting pitcher for UMW Ryan Van Assche allowed no hits in the five innings that he pitched. UMW allowed just two hits the rest of the way, as the Eagles out-hit the Cardinals 16-2. Five additional scores in the sixth inning propelled UMW to its 16-1 victory in the opening game of the double-header.

Game 2 of the double-header brought

much of the same for the Eagles. Pitching was once again the name of the game for the Eagles, and the defense did not allow a single run until the seventh and final inning of the game.

Meanwhile, the Eagles built an 11-0 lead with consistent scoring in five of the seven innings. UMW scored two, two and three runs in the first, second and third innings, respectively, before capping their scoring output with a four-run at the bottom of the fifth.

Sophomore starting pitcher Nick McIntyre allowed just one hit in his five innings on the mound. The Eagles again out-hit the Cardinals 12-5 in Game 2 while Plattsburgh State also committed four errors in the game to the Eagles’ one.

The 2-0 weekend puts the Eagles off on the right track but still has them far from where they want to be. An 11-2 start last year came crashing down as they proceeded to go 1-13 in their next 14 games against Capital Athletic Conference opponents. As the early games in the season often serve as “warm-up” games, they also serve as measuring sticks for teams as they look forward to what they have to work on down the stretch.

Plattsburgh State showed a respectable 14-22 last year, similar to UMW’s 15-19 final record. Assuming the two teams are still as evenly matched as they were last year, the two dominating wins are certainly what the Eagles want to see.

The Eagles were slated to face off against the Cardinals one more time on Sunday, but the game was cancelled due to inclement weather. Now, the Eagles will continue their long home stand to begin the season with games against Susquehanna University on Friday, Feb. 20 and Saturday, Feb 21.

Men’s lacrosse has high expectations •LACROSSE | 12

UMW Athletics Men’s lacrosse is looking to build off of last season.

Glaeser also gave praise to Smith, who scored the winning come from behind goal with 21 seconds left.

men's Basketball:

Feb. 14 vs. Penn State Harrisburg (W) UMW: 73 PSH: 65

Women's Basketball:

Feb. 14 vs. Penn State Harrisburg (W) UMW: 82 PSH: 52

“We could improve upon last year’s nationally ranked eighth place if the team focused on controlling the face offs, being composed while clearing the ball and being extra tough while man down,” said Glaeser.

In order to be more successful than last year’s squad, Glaeser stressed “being mentally and physically tough, to be resilient in pursuit of the ball and unselfish in sharing it, but more than all to execute. All the enthusiasm and hard work means nothing if our players cannot execute and make smart choices.”

UMW was ranked sixth preseason in the Capital Athletic Conference and 17th in the nation.

“I see this as a challenge to do better. The

UMW Athletics The UMW baseball team opened up with two dominating wins at home to open their 2015 season.

team not only works hard for me but hard for each other, and that’s what will carry us through,” said Glaeser.

With only one game under their belt so far this season, it is difficult for the players and coaches to predict the trajectory of the season, but there are still areas that the Eagles will look to focus on.

“It is too soon to tell where this season will be heading, but if the players execute

Weekly Scoreboard Men's TENNIS

Equestrian:

Feb. 15 vs. Loyola Maryland (W) UMW: 6 Loyola: 1

Regional Championships First Place

Feb. 15 vs. George Mason (W) UMW: 6 GMU: 3

Feb. 18 vs. Randolph-Macon (W) UMW: 11 RMC: 7

woMen's TENNIS

Men's lacrosse

smart choices then we will surely succeed,” said Glaeser.

The team hosted Randolph-Macon College on Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 3 p.m. in their next match, with only a few days rest until their following game hosting McDaniel College on Saturday, Feb. 21 at noon.

Upcoming:

Women’s Lacrosse Feb. 21 vs. Washington & Lee. @ Home 3 p.m.

Men’s Tennis: Feb. 21 UMW Invitational Home 9 a.m.

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VIEWPOINTS

Inclement weather policy needs to be addressed

Relations in Syria finally peak

BRANDON QUINTIN Staff Writer

Google images COLMAN HOPKINS Staff Writer

Is it time for Virginia to rethink its department of emergency management? In the past month, portions of the Commonwealth, from Williamsburg to northern counties like Loudon and Fairfax, dealt with ice, snow and unusable roads.

Unfortunately, Virginia does not react to the snow effectively enough. For example, the University of Mary Washington canceled classes on the morning of Jan. 27 in response to cold rain.

I believe that it is past time for Virginia to revamp its procedures and policies on dealing with inclement weather to fit the realities of the type of weather that we face most winters. Back in early January, the Fairfax County Public School board avoided calling a snow day or even a delay after a night of ice and rain, leading to serious accidents and a social media push back by students. The backlash, in turn, intimidated the school board, who went on to allow cold temperatures and a minimal amount of snow delay school multiple times thereafter. Is it a good precedent to set that when a state cannot have the roads in good enough shape for use that the school board bow to student pressure on opening or closing schools after fumbling their decision one time? There are also some issues with the proper response of simply closing school due to the inability to clear the roads because, while it may be fun to miss some

class from time to time, there are some serious issues associated with a consistently unprepared response to weather problems.

For non-students, the prospects of unusable roads is not a day of fun, but rather a day of not getting to work, which in this economy is not something that people want to play around with. Thousands of people, from government workers to professors to truckers, depend on roads like Route 7, I-95 and Chain Bridge Road to go to and from work, yet these roads are consistently the least prepared to deal with bad weather.

Specifically, I-95’s poor conditions led to this school’s delay last month.

Regardless of your position on the climate change debate, it is apparent that Virginia’s winter weather has become increasingly hazardous over the past five years.

Back in 2012, school was canceled over rain, and even further back during the winters of 2010 and 2011, piles of snow led to multiple days of people being shut into their home. Some may say that these were unprecedented conditions, and they would not be wrong in saying that, but how is it then that states we match up with do not have similar issues? Marketwatch.com put together an interesting and highly informative map of how much snow is required to close schools in different areas of the U.S. Some of the states that I compared Virginia to, like New York and Pennsylvania, require between six and twelve inches to close schools and to presumably rule the roads unsafe. By contrast, we Virginians

require between one and three inches on average.

New York or Pennsylvania are also wealthy and largely well-run. In these states, schools do not close for a few inches of snow, and their roads are typically well-prepared for snow and ice.

If the Virginia Department of Emergency Management was properly prepared for action, would the roads still be in bad enough shape that drivers would struggle using them? When you consider that Virginia has one of the most prosperous economies within our country that also historically has been one of the most fiscally conservative, our lack of an effective weather response seems outrageous. I do not think it is unreasonable to assume that there are not some funds somewhere that couldn’t be appropriated to adjusting and or expanding the Department of Emergency Management.

If Virginia is going to continue to serve as a model for what a state aspires to be with its excellent schools, prosperous markets, well-run government and diversified population, then it is high time that we took the steps necessary to fix issues in our infrastructure and in our government agencies to adapt to our weather conditions because once there is a trending hashtag that mocks our government’s response to snowy weather, something we encounter every single year around the same time, that is a sign that things are getting ridiculous.

Editorial: Student clubs inspire all Last week, the University of Mary Washington campus played host to Virginia Power Shift, in which students from all across the Commonwealth of Virginia came together in solidarity to raise awareness for various social, educational and environmental causes.

The weekend included more than 30 workshops that informed and motivated students to take action and dismantle systemic inequalities. At the Blue & Gray Press, we look on proudly at our fellow students and their passion for progress, as they make gains to implement change in the world. Each day, we hear amazing stories of young people all across the nation on the frontlines of revolution. These student-run groups continually prove that we are not here to sit idly by and watch the world go on without us. We are creating a future for the next generation. And for elders who like to point out the apathy of this

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generation or the leadership that we lack, we have many examples to prove otherwise. We have seen two members of Feminists United submit op-eds, taking strong stances and shedding light on misogyny.

Despite the backlash, they still remain strong on their beliefs.

We have seen students publically speak out against as well as in favor of the implementation of Greek Life, many highlighting concern for the safety of our students in light of the UVa scandal. We witnessed students dedicate 4 minutes and 5 seconds of silence to Mike Brown, a young man who had so much more life to live.We see DivestUMW working extremely hard and creating innovative and precise strategies to raise awareness for their cause with passion and zeal. We see the YoungDemocrats and College Republicans informing students of political issues, the stances of their representatives and how important it is to

By THE BLUE & GRAY PRESS EDITORIAL BOARD

Google images

vote, going as far as to provide free rides to the polls to cast ballots this past November.

These are just a few of the many amazing things UMW students have accomplished in the past year. We thank you all for inspiring us to continue and encourage these movements as best as we can. As young journalists, we promise to do the best we can to ethically report on each and every one of you, ensuring that your voice rings throughout campus. This mark of bravery that our fellow classmates display sets a spectacular example. As students join hands in solidarity, let us all remember what we are here for and to never become discouraged in the face of obstacles.

History shows time and time again that it is always young people on the frontlines of protests, marches and revolutions. Our grandparents did it and our, parents did it as well. Now it’s our turn.

In September 2013, when I was a freshman, I attended an interest meeting for the College Republicans here on the University of Mary Washington campus.

The country was in the midst of a strong debate about military intervention in Syria.

There were questions of chemical weapons, Islamic atrocities and the need to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and end the civil war before things got out of hand.

But most attendees, it seemed, were opposed to any use of military force to end a conflict that was thought to be irrelevant to American interests.

A poll was taken at that meeting to see who supported and who was opposed to intervention.

Out of the thirty or so people present at that meeting, I was the only one to raise my hand in support of military action.

Now, a full year and a half later, our country is paying the price of our inaction.

The chaos of a long and brutal civil war left a vacuum that was quickly filled by a new and terrifying enemy: ISIS, or the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

ISIS exploited the breakdown of law and order in Syria—and the failure of the poorly supplied and trained Free Syrian Army—to gain thousands of new recruits.

They consolidated their power in the rebel territories so that it can now be said that there no longer exists a moderate rebel movement. The Free Syrian Army, which John McCain, Mitt Romney and others pleaded for the president to supply and train, has been thoroughly defeated by ISIS. The “good” rebels are no more.

From their new base in Syria, ISIS looked toward a greater goal.

Since the forces of Assad had been pushed back to the southwest and fought to a standstill in the area near Damascus, they sought expansion elsewhere.

In this case, it meant expansion into fragile Iraq, which had lived a precarious existence since the premature American withdrawal.

Their sudden strike resulted in the entire northern and western half of the country—nearly all of its Sunni areas—to be quickly occupied.

Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city, was among the first to fall. It is an embarrassment to see a city in which so many American soldiers were wounded and killed to be in the hands of Islamists just as, if not more, dangerous than Saddam Hussein and his Baathists.

It is also no coincidence that nearly the entire military high command of ISIS is made up of former military officers of Hussein’s Iraq.

Last year, only after large swaths of Syria and Iraq had fallen to ISIS and numerous American and allied journalists and aid workers were barbarically beheaded, did the United States decide to intervene. While I am glad that military force is now being used, why did we have to wait so long? Why must we wait for journalists to be executed? Why must we wait for tens of thousands to die?

Had we acted earlier, none of this would likely have occurred. It is a lesson we have repeatedly failed to learn as a country.

I worry, as a citizen of the United States and the world, that next time we will not have the luxury of delayed reaction.

If one basic law exists in international and military affairs, it is one worth remembering: big things have small beginnings.

Thursday, February 19, 2015

VIEWPOINTS Victoria’s Secret unveiled

AMANDA MOTLEY Style Editor

I can still remember the first time I entered a Victoria’s Secret. I was 16 and finally had a job that meant freedom to go shopping on my own. My friends and I would spend hours at the mall and by far one of my favorite places to browse was Victoria’s Secret.

I guess I should start out by saying that I am what America considers “plus-sized,” and as a plus-sized teen I often found myself going into Victoria’s Secret and walking out empty handed. I gave up on shopping there until a woman who was working in the dressing room helping my petite best friend in and out of various pieces of gorgeous lingerie said to me, “Why aren’t you trying on anything honey?” I stared at her and responded with something along the lines of, “I don’t really fit into the stuff that looks my age.”

She then went to the drawer and pulled out a bra extender. It was one of the most humiliating things ever for a 16-year-old, but I soon found that meant nothing to me, and I was no longer embarrassed. I used the extender and it was still a little snug, but I got the bras and was happy. Fast forward a few years later and I found myself an employee of Victoria’s Secret, surrounded by beautiful lacquered drawers and sparkly pieces of lingerie; I was in heaven. My job meant helping men and women pick out various pieces of lingerie, an experience I found very rewarding.

However, I soon realized that I was not the only person who felt like Victoria’s Secrets sizes were not applicable to the average-to-plus-sized woman. Women of all shapes and sizes came in and out of the store, only to walk out empty handed.

One of the most puzzling customers was a woman who was 5’5’’ and was a size 6.

Her small frame combined with a large bust size made it almost impossible for me to help fit her into anything. During my time at Victoria’s Secret there was also a marketing ploy that made us push a new bra selling tool called the “sister size.”

We were told to inform women that if their actual size was not available in store then they could go up a cup size and lose a band size. For me, being a 38 C meant I could become a 36 D. It seems brilliant; make the consumer think they are smaller than they actually are. WIn a more recent marketing campaign, Victoria’s Secret came out with “the perfect body.” Obviously, the campaign was plastered with beautiful and skinny models, sending the message that this is the perfect body. No wonder there are so many people in an outrage.

One of the solutions is to simply say, “OK, so the clothes don’t fit you. Lose weight or go somewhere else.” But Victoria’s Secret holds one third of the entire lingerie market, a fact that as a former employee of the retailer was drilled into my head.

Recently, they changed the campaign to “A body for everybody,” but that was an even bigger mistake. How can the company say “A body for everybody” when women of all shapes and sizes can walk into the store and find that it doesn’t have a DDD bra or that if you are a size XL you can only truly shop in the more modest section of the store.

I believe that Victoria’s Secret should work harder to create a model and size representation of all the diverse body types we have in the world. A company that promotes sexiness should promote healthiness as a whole, not just a market for supermodel skinny.

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

‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ alleviates harsh stereotypes

ALEX SPENCE Staff Writer

With the release of the much-anticipated “Fifty Shades of Grey” movie, there is no doubt many are flocking to theaters to watch the charming bad boy Christian Grey in his onscreen debut.

The film is based on the book series of the same name by British author E. L. James. The first installment in the Fifty Shades Trilogy was released in 2011 and quickly gained favor amongst its readers.

Four years later, the film is finally being released.

The plot follows literature student Anastasia Steele and wealthy business mogul Christian Grey as they meet and enter into an exciting new relationship.

As she comes to know Grey and his lifestyle, Ana must choose which path best suits her, with or without him.

“Fifty Shades of Grey” portrays a lifestyle of dominance and submission. What this means is that one person assumes the position of the dominant, which entails taking charge over the submissive.

The submissive’s role is to willingly obey the dominant.

With all the focus on Christian Grey and the steamy storyline, not many people paid attention to the death of a 28-year-old woman that occurred while playing a Fifty Shades of Grey-style sex game.

According to The Independent, a British national morning newspaper, in October 2013, a German exchange student went to Sweden to visit her boyfriend that she met while studying abroad. Nine days after she arrived she was pronounced dead.

Her unnamed 31-year-old boyfriend was charged with her murder after it was discovered that she was hit 123 times with a wooden blackboard pointer while bound with nylon tights. The boyfriend claimed that she was a willing participant, but police found her diary, which included an entry that said, “You [her boyfriend] once said you did not want to see me in real pain. I am a subservient but no masochist.”

The lifestyle of dominance and submission crosses the line to abuse when consent and respect are no longer taken into account. The 28-year-old German victim neglected to speak up, and whether she was too scared or being pressured into it, I believe burying her issues led to her death.

Dr. Tevya Zukor, director of the Talley Counseling Center at the University of Mary Washington, believes that the release of “Fifty Shades of Grey” could be an important icebreaker for society concerning uncomfortable topics such as this. “One of the really nice things about a movie like “Fifty Shades of Grey,” even when the books came out, was that it started to allow for conversation,” said Zukor.

It is important to feel comfortable with conversations about dominant and submissive, as well as abusive, relationships.

The shame of these topics causes people to shy away from getting help in dangerous situations for

fear of being judged or humiliated. While talking with Zukor, I was informed about a study conducted by the Department of Justice concerning the amount of women that become abusers.

I was shocked to discover that women act as the abuser just as often as men do. In the same way, it is also common for women to take on the role of the dominant. I believe it’s important to acknowledge that both men and women can find themselves in situations where they need to get help.

Dr. Melissa Palguta, a therapist for the University of Mary Washington discussed with me the signs and patterns of an abu-

Cartoon courtesy of Giselle Flores

sive relationship.

“Most abuse doesn’t start with a fist being thrown, and in terms of sexual abuse there’s usually a grooming process,” explained Palguta.

The grooming process consists of charming your partner and gaining their trust. After the charming period, the abuser begins to desensitize their partner to violence. Through this process, the abuser will isolate their partner, making them believe there is no one to go to for help.

The same process is used with dominance and submission when consent is no longer a concern. This is when it becomes dangerous to be a part of such a relationship.“Fifty Shades of Grey,” though controversial and inappropriate to some, opens up a world of conversation where people are comfortable talking.

If people could shed the shame of discussing these topics, I believe there would be less people finding themselves in long-term abusive situations.

The best course of action to take when finding yourself in a circumstance involving Doran and Dakota Johnson/ Google Images abuse is to find a way that you can feel comfortable enough to talk about it. And what better way to familiarize yourself then to sit in a jam-packed theater and experience it with total strangers.

However, if you find yourself questioning your decision to knock elbows with a stranger during a not-so-family-friendly film, consider the advice of Christian Grey: “You don’t know what you’re in for, you could still run for the hills.”

Connor Trader/ Flickr

5

LIFE

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

‘The Drunken City’ contemplates themes of love and marriage

Geoff Greene

Students perform in the UMW Theatre production of “The Drunken City.” The show centers around humor and relatable themes regarding love.

MADDIE LEMELIN Staff Writer

This past weekend, the newest production from the University of Mary Washington theatre department premiered in Klein Theatre to packed crowds.

“The Drunken City” combined many relatable themes such as love, sexuality and alcohol in a captivating performance.

The plot started out with three best friends out for a night in the city for a bachelorette party.

The tipsy trio unexpectedly meet up with the very heartbroken and very drunk Frank, played by junior Josh Bartosch, and his friend Eddie, played by senior Austin Bouchard.

Much to everyone else’s dismay, Marnie, the bride played by Kat Zeringue, and Frank spark up a romantic connection. The affair drives Melissa (sophomore Megan

Khaziran) to recruit the help of Bob (junior Ford Torney), the employer and very close friend of the three.

When Marnie and Frank run off, all hell breaks loose as the four other characters go in search of them.

At the beginning of the play, the theatre was filled with the song “Welcome to New York” by Taylor Swift, which created the assumption it would be a romantic-comedy-type of account of a girls night out.

However, as the play went on, the plot proved to be much more important than that. “The Drunken City” warns that the idea of marriage and being in love is enticing. So much so, that people go through with relationships and marriages they are not happy with just for the sake of the beautiful wedding, or out of the fear of being alone. It also shows how relationships can be tricky, and finding ‘the one’ takes a lot of care and consideration.

The characters’ romantic backgrounds gave the audience various scenarios to relate to. From getting over a cheating ex-lover to having hope for love in the future, the actors wonderfully displayed the rollercoaster of emotions that accompany heartbreak.

In addition, the actors also carried the audience through devastating situations with a comedic touch. The vulnerability expressed from the characters mixed with alcoholic humor gave the show a realistic touch.

The aftereffects of the characters’ actions during their night out are just as awkward as they need to be, giving the play the perfect amount of closure.

But heartbreak isn’t the only thing “The Drunken City” offers. It also portrays the excitement that comes with finding new love. Bob and Eddie share a heartfelt exchange during the chaos, in which they

discuss why failed relationships in the past are no cause to give up on love for the future. After they realize this connection, Bob and Eddie begin a relationship, representing the idea that opening oneself to someone might be intimidating but can prove to be worth it in the end.

The actors and plot are not the only thing that makes “The Drunken City” a successful production. The set design is perfectly understated and a wonderful representation of the city. The sound effects and lighting were great emphasis on the ideas of the play. The deep purple lights and movement of the stage serves as a moral warning because they appear whenever characters are doing something ethically wrong.

“The Drunken City” is a play that everyone can enjoy no matter what kind of romantic situation they may be involved in.

UMW students celebrate snow days with winter fun and activities DELLA HETHCOX Staff Writer

of snowballs in case of a sneak attack.

Emily Simoni, a freshman French major, brought a new twist to playing in the snow.

“I drew a huge taco in the snow in front of Dodd. It said ‘I don’t wanna taco ‘bout it,” said Simoni.

Jordan Wade, a freshman communica-

tion and studio art double major, went sledding with friends.

“We found cardboard from the recycling bins and went sledding behind ITCC,” said Wade.

Suzanne Holland, a senior international relations major, took the chance to stay at home and catch up on homework, but

With a snow covered campus and classes cancelled for the day, University of Mary Washington students hit the hills for a day of fun and winter activities.

Students welcomed the snow day on Tuesday, Feb. 17 by using the unexpected day off to catch up on studying or play in the snow.

As excited students were leaving their mid-afternoon classes on Monday, Feb. 16, they were greeted by the a whirlwind of snowflakes, leading to the cancellation of Monday’s evening classes and eventually all Tuesday classes.

Even the University got into the spirit of a snow day by urging students to utilize the hashtag #UMWSnowDay on twitter and Instagram.

Students embraced the surprise day off with childlike enthusiasm.

Snowballs, snow angels and snowmen littered the campus – even the statue of James Farmer could be found holding his own personal stash Students celebrate their snow day by sledding, playing football and enjoying their day of school.

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took wine breaks while watching re-runs of “Arthur” on YouTube.

“I purposefully went on YouTube and watched it,” said Holland laughing. “It was not on T.V.” However, some students found the accumulation of snow a nuisance, particularly for the commuter students who were unable to find parking along College Avenue.

Many students had complaints as of Wednesday about the snow-covered and icy sidewalks, particularly Wthe brick sidewalk along William St. Alaina Zitzmann, a junior English major, found walking from the commuter parking lot to Combs difficult.

“I don’t understand why they can’t clear the sidewalks if the university is open, and it wasn’t even that much snow,” said Zitzmann.

Tess Schwemmer, a senior psychology major and employee at Blackstone Coffee, managed to play and work.

Anna DeMarr/The Blue & Gray Press

Thursday, February 19, 2015

LIFE

Flickr

Directions: Ingredients: 36 Oreo cookies, finely crushed 1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened 4 package (4 oz. each) semi-sweet chocolate, broken into pieces and melted

HAVEN SCOTT Staff Writer

This past Tuesday, the University of Mary Washington celebrated a much-needed snow day.

While that meant no classes, it also meant that we had more time on our hands to do things we love, such as baking, drinking hot chocolate or watching Netflix. If

you are like me and love to bake, then these easy Oreo truffles are the perfect project for you.

They are easy to make but delicious with creamy Oreo filling and a hard chocolate outer shell that is to die for. I have made them a couple of times before, and they were an instant hit. These truffles will have everyone in your Residence Hall or apartment craving for more.

1. Mix cream cheese and cookie crumbs until blended.

2. Shape into 48 1-inch balls and then freeze for 10 minutes or until firm.

3. Place the semi-sweet chocolate into a microwaveable bowl. Microwave on high for 2-to-2 ½ minutes or until chocolate is complete melted. Make sure to stir every 30 seconds.

4. To easily coat the truffles in melted chocolate, put one truffle in the bowl at time. Use two forks to roll truffle in chocolate until evenly coated. Remove truffle with forks, letting excess chocolate drip back into bowl. Place truffle on prepared baking sheet; let stand until firm.

Refrigerate one hour or until firm.

Professor Profile: Stephen Davies rocks & rolls

Humans of UMW

By NANCY MILROY

University of Mary Washington

NOELLE PAOLICELLI Staff Writer

“The Rusty Lunchbox came from an idea I had starting as a playlist during finals week. It was inspired by ‘Ohio’ by Crosby, Stills & Nash. The theme began as songs I would want to personally hear at a music festival. Now it is a playlist of songs you can have a good time to. Listen to WMWC Radio from 8-9 PM on Thursday nights to hear my broadcast.”

As students, we often assume that professors do not have a life outside of the classroom. However, that is not the case for University of Mary Washington Professor Stephen Davies.

On top of being a professor, Davies also has produced and performed on a studio album.

Davies, a computer science professor, has quite the life outside of the classroom.

He created his very own rock ‘n’ roll album titled “10 of Spades.”

Davies sings and plays the keyboard in each and every one of the ten songs.

Davies said spirituality was a major theme when composing his own lyrics.

“I thought of this album to be an offering to God since many of the songs are about my own spiritual life,” said Davies.

He released five hundred copies of the album and gave them out to close friends and family members.

Davies often performs in churches and

enjoys singing and playing the piano at his home, entertaining his wife and three children.

For Davies, music runs in his family.

His oldest daughter is 15 and is a very accomplished singer and a member of the allstate choir.

His 13 year-old son is in all-district for his outstanding accomplishments playing the trombone. His youngest son is 13, and while he enjoys listening to music, his interest is in sports and loves running.

Davies stated that his wife was very supportive of the album, and she was thrilled that it enabled him to express himself and share his feelings in an original way.

His wife played a major role in the album’s creation and was his advocate as the studio engineer, recording and editing the album.

Davies said he derived inspiration from playing in his high school band with his brother and two friends.

This is how he learned to write music, and the experience inspired him to create this album.

Davies achieved his undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering at Rice University.

Wishing to further pursue his education, he attended the University of Colorado and received his master’s degree in Electrical Engineering.

He joined the UMW community in 2006.

He views this great accomplishment as a milestone in his life. Davies’s unique gift and impressive success proves that professors here at UMW are dedicated, well-rounded professionals who not only instruct us in our coursework but also take time to pursue interesting hobbies and goals.

They actually do have a life outside school.

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LIFE

Playlist plugged-in: Electronic Dance Music

TESS OSMER Viewpoint Editor

Pause and plug in those ear buds or reach for your beats, I have something to show you. That is if chill, layered music sounds like something you would be interested in.

I recently found two blissful music stations known as MrSuicideSheep and Apieron, both accounts on Soundcloud determined to change the populace’s musical experience.

First, about 13 days ago, EDM.com, along with MrSuicideSheep, posted a song called “Between Us.” It was originally produced by Elénne and featured Mothica, but was remixed by Autograf, another EDM artist.

If you are not inclined to electronic dance, you can cut corners by looking up the original; it still has a very interesting sound.

However, I would strongly advise against it. Behind the mask that is MrSuicideSheep is supposedly one man.

The account is extremely elusive, claiming only to release ‘good music’ under the record label Seeking Blue.

The layers and sophisticated beat of the remix by Autograf does not disappoint and is indeed very good.

Both the highlights of the lyrics with sharp beats and underlying drips and drops of the xylophone captivate the senses.

Similarly, in the late afternoon last week, a remix of ODESZA’s “All we need,” which was featured on their album “In Return” released five months ago, was reposted on MrSuicideSheep’s account.

Flickr

Once again, Autograf, who claims to hail sphere. And this is “not a tactic of expofrom Chicago and is currently gaining a lot sure, baby.” of followers, tweaked the already evocaNow, surrender to the repeat button. tive nature of ODESZA’s sound.

More than two weeks ago, MrSuicideSheep The track is reposted “The enhanced by Woods,” a I recently found two blissful piano notes and song originalthe underplay music stations known as MrSui- ly produced of the origiby the Hollow cideSheep and Apieron, both nal lyrics with Coves. drum notes The origaccounts on Soundcloud and handclaps inal song has determined to change the taking center done well stage. enough on its populace’s musical This song own, but it is experience. certainly pulls significantly the listener in turned up by and cumulates Ghosts, an in an almost gravitational affect.

EDM artist from Australia. The remix feaThe twists of inclinations and the evoc- tures more instruments than the original, ative lyrics bring about a change in atmo- including drums and simple techno tech-

niques.

The guitar from the original song is the most heightened aspect of the song and treats the lyrics with much respect and accordance.

In contrast, Missio’s “I Run to You,” is rightfully untouched by the account and simply reposted. Missio, or Matthew Brue, comes from the dusty southwest that is Austin, Texas. His musical product, “I Run to You,” has lyrics that both pop and lay in the background.

With notes of whistling while the beat reverberates between vocals, he captures longing in a way that my ears have never experienced.

“The Way She Moves,” originally produced by an artist named Tenru, is another song MrSuicideSheep amps up.

Its sensual vibe becomes the spotlight in the remix. This is the type of song that makes you feel someone else’s state.

Laced with emotion already, MrSuicideSheep has revved it up just a bit, leaving you with all the emotion and none of the bore.

If your feeling the snow, and the ominous sky that is hovering above campus at the moment, I would strongly suggest you play Vancouver Sleep Clinic’s “Collapse.”

This track encapsulates ambient music with indie rock roots. This Canadian band is hitting the high marks, and their music is changing the game.

The loneliness of the lyrics accompanied by the layered guitar and samba percussion shakers evoke the senses in a way that molds perfectly with the weather outside.

‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ soundtrack beats out competition

Flickr The “Fifty Shades of Grey” soundtrack features artists such as Frank Sinatra and Sia. The soundtrack is currently second on the iTunes most bought list.

AMANDA MOTLEY Life Editor

“Fifty Shades of Grey” accumulated a lot of media attention over the past couple of weeks due to the racy nature of its plot.

The movie reached a record high at the box office with an opening of $266 million dollars worldwide, but the soundtrack also shined and reached the number two spot for most purchased album on iTunes.

The soundtrack, which combines all sorts of sultry contributors, is filled with A-list performers like Beyoncé, Ellie Goulding and Sia, but also includes some classic artists such as Frank Sinatra.

This perfect combination of old and new created so much success for the album that it is currently beating Taylor Swifts “1989” on the charts, which has owned the

top of the charts for weeks.

Some of the most well known tracks from the album feature Beyonce.

She remixed two of her songs, “Haunted” and “Crazy in Love,” specifi-

cally for the film.

The “Crazy In Love” remix is by far the better of the two tracks. This version is a sultry sound, the perfect tone for the movie.

However, Queen Bey has made it hard for fans to buy her tracks.

Both songs are not available for individual purchase, so other than YouTube, the only way fans can listen to these tracks is by purchasing the entire soundtrack off iTunes.

Another great song from the soundtrack comes from The Weeknd with “Earn it.”

This track ties together elecro-beats with stringed instruments to share the lyrical message that there is beauty in relationships that are non-conventional.

This is another theme that corresponds to the nature of the film.

Other great tracks from the film included the already popular song “Love Me Like You Do” by Ellie Goulding and Annie Lennox’s cover of “I Put A Spell on You.” Both of these tracks add a more playful and sweet sound to the album’s otherwise sexy songs.

Less enticing songs on the album include: “Salted Wound” by Sia, “One Last Night by The Vaults, “Where You Belong”

by The Weeknd, “Meet Me In The Middle”

by Jessie Ware and “Undiscovered” by Laura Welsh.

Despite the long playlist, coming in at 16 tracks, the album does a great job of keeping listeners wanting the next song. It is most successful at creating a sensuous and sexy mix of music that fits perfectly into plot of the movie.

The producers of this album thoughtfully arranged the music so it corresponded with the movie’s plot.

Whether you are a fan of the franchise or not, there is no denying that with this mix of artists, the album was destined top the charts.

9

NEWS

Campus Police officer runs for Spotsylvania county sherriff

CATE STACKHOUSE Staff Writer

Last Monday, University of Mary Washington Police Lieutenant Bill Gill announced his candidacy for Spotsylvania County Sheriff. This fall, Gill will run against Republican incumbent Roger Harris for the four-year position.

According to Gill, running for sheriff has been a long-term goal since beginning his law enforcement career in 1995, and he has spent much of his career preparing for the eventual election Gill said that his career in law enforcement has always been about school safety.

“I consider myself an expert in law enforcement, and I consider myself an expert in school safety,” said Gill. “I spent a long time in training in that area, so I am going to try to bring my expertise to [Spotsylvania County] with some new ideas and some things that are not being done by the current sheriff, so I can help make the area a safer place.”

In addition to school safety, Gill plans to emphasize a greater focus on drug enforcement, leadership and fiscal management.

“This region is being hit hard with a heroin epidemic and other hardcore drugs,” said Gill. “The current sheriff has done nothing to expand the investigation of illegal drugs in the county, and I have some ideas of how we can do those investigations and get some more people in there.”

While the Spotsylvania area faces various criminal problems, Gill believes the solutions are all interconnected.

“With the drug issue, I’m going to tie it back to school safety. I want to get drug

P O L I C E

POLICE BEAT

BY EMILY HOLLINGSWORTH Assistant News Edtor

LIQUOR LAW VIOLATIONS

A case of underage possession of alcohol was reported at Russell Hall on Friday, Feb. 13 at midnight. A student received an administrative referral.

VANDALISM

An incident of vandalism was reported at Marshall Hall on Saturday, Feb. 14 at 1 a.m. The case is pending.

Bill Gill for Sheriff Officer Bill Gill hopes to have the Republican nomination for Spotsylvania County Sherif in November.

investigators back into schools and meeting with administration, teachers and staff to educate them on what is going on, what the trends are and what to look for in their classrooms,” said Gill.

According to Gill, a decisive presence in classes and throughout the county will be a cornerstone of his platform.

“Leadership is another thing that is key.

It starts at the top and trickles down. Leadership is missing [in Spotsylvania County] now,” said Gill.

He also indicated the importance of fiscal and organizational management, something that Gill said he believes is currently missing in management.

“There is overspending, and they’re creating positions for family and friends,” said Gill.

Gill said his time at UMW has made an

A vandalism incident was reported at Russell Hall on Saturday, Feb. 14 between 2 a.m. and 4 p.m. The case is pending.

LARCENY impact not only on his career, but also on his future plans as sheriff.

A theft was reported at Randolph Hall “[UMW has] given me the opportunity between Sunday, Feb. 8 at 6 p.m. and to see some problems at the university that Monday, Feb. 9 at 5:30 p.m. The case I can take back to the high schools to eduis pending. cate kids that are getting ready to go off to A theft was reported at the UMW college,” said Gill.

Apartments Building 6 on Sunday, Gill will be seeking the Republican Feb. 15 at 11 a.m. The case is nomination against Harris, who received pending.

48.9 percent of the vote along with GOP support in the 2011 election.

THREAT “Lieutenant Gill will make a great sherA threat was reported on Monday, iff of Spotsylvania County and is a great Feb. 16 at Jefferson Hall at 11 p.m. representative of UMW,” said Nicole TarThe victim declined prosecution and dif, chairman of the UMW College Repuba student received an administrative licans. “Although the UMW CRs do not referral. support a specific candidate until after the primary has concluded, it is great to see DRUG POSSESSION one of our own from the Mary Washington A student was found in possession of family throwing his hat into the ring.” marijuana at the William Street Apartment Building 7 on Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 2 a.m. The student received an administrative referral.

Foreign language requirement to be reviewed by committee be reallocated internally to meet strategic •FOREIGN LANGUAGE | 1 via the completion of a 202 or high- priorities in CAS.” er-level foreign language course, a passing Senior English major Virginia Cox, score on the university’s language compe- who studied French at UMW to complete tency exam or satisfactory marks on ap- the language requirement, is happy with proved standardized tests. the university’s intermediate competency The creation of the ad hoc committee standard. was prompted by a study conducted by “I have a sister who goes to Emory and the Academic Task Force during the 2013- Henry, and they only have to complete 2014 academic year. Formed in February two semesters of a language,” said Cox. “I 2013, the 15-member task force was co- think four semesters are good.” chaired by Allyson Poska, professor of UMW’s current foreign language rehistory, and Chuck Whipkey, department quirement is similar to those maintained chair and professor of earth and environ- at the University of Virginia and George mental sciences.

Mason University.

“THE INTERMEDIATE Other schools, such According to the final report released COMPETENCY REQUIRE- as Emory and Henin November 2014, ry College, VirginMENT IS EXPECTED the Academic Task ia Commonwealth Force noted that University and TO REMAIN.” maintaining the lanJames Madison Uniguage requirement versity have less rig-Jodie Hayob represents the sinorous requirements. gle largest adjunct Prior to 2008, expense at the university, costing over VCU required four semesters or intermedi$300,000 in the last year. ate competency. The school now requires The report also referred to the univer- students to either complete three years or sity’s previous general education require- more of a foreign language in high school ments, which allowed students to place out or complete two semesters of foreign lanof the language requirement if they com- guage study. JMU’s requirement currently pleted four years of one language in high varies by major and by coursework comschool. pleted in high school.

“Based on a preliminary inquiry, a reaGeology professor Jodie Hayob, the sonably large number of UMW students current head of the University Faculty matriculate with four years of language Council, is overseeing the creation of the completed in high school,” the report read. committee to look into UMW’s language “Allowing more flexibility in the adminis- requirement. tration of our language requirement could “The duties of the committee are to have several benefits, including reduction investigate the fulfillment of the foreign in the College of Arts and Sciences’ ad- language requirement, not the requirement junct spending. These savings would ac- itself,” said Hayob. “The intermediate crue to the CAS adjunct budget and could competency requirement is expected to re-

10

main.”

Some believe that the emphasis on the importance of secondary language skills is intrinsic to a liberal arts curriculum.

“Foreign language is important for any liberal arts education, and we are a liberal arts school,” said senior biology major Cayden Brehaut, who completed the foreign language requirement in his first year at UMW. “I think languages fortify any major.”

The committee will be composed of six faculty members from different departments, including the college of business, the college of education, the modern languages and literatures department, the general education committee and the classics, philosophy and religion department.

According to Hayob, the UFC is not leading the ad hoc committee, and the exact membership of that committee is yet to be determined.

A student was found in possession of marijuana at the William Street Apartment Building 7 on Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 2 a.m. The student received an administrative referral.

A student was found with drug paraphernalia at Eagle Landing on Saturday, Feb. 14 at 10:30 p.m. The student received an administrative referral.

A student was found in possession of marijuana at Randolph Hall on Sunday, Feb. 15 at 5 p.m. The student received an administrative referral.

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

Flickr The foreign language requirement is not expected to be dismissed, merely reexamined by the committee.

Thursday, February 19, 2015

NEWS

New paperless payroll program increases efficiency

Communication major expected to be approved for fall 2015

SARAH GRAMMER Staff Writer

Student opinions are in on MyTime, the new paperless payroll system at the University of Mary Washington. MyTime was introduced at the beginning of spring semester in an effort to make the payroll process more efficient and cut down on the excessive amount of paper that the manual system required.

Though the system has not been in use long, student employees have already begun expressing opinions about MyTime.

Senior psychology major Emma Leheney works as both a tour guide and tutor for the university. Leheney described MyTime as “user-friendly.”

“I don’t have to take time to come in and sign my time sheet and can just approve it during my last shift of the pay period,” said Leheny. “So far it has not posed an inconvenience to me.”

While Leheny said that the new system has not made a substantial impact on her work experience, she acknowledged that it is more efficient for others.

“I know it makes my boss’ life easier,” said Leheny.

Other students, like junior biology major Alex Priest, expressed having a difficult time adjusting to the new system. Priest is an employee with the UMW Writing Center, where paper timesheets had always been used until this semester.

“It takes too long to log in to, and I’m already six minutes into my shift before it acknowledges that I have shown up for work,” said Priest.

Priest’s technical issues with the system were the same on any Internet browser, but he said, “Some older computers take up to 10 minutes to log into, using the [MyTime] system.”

While Priest noted that Internet connection could be part of his problem, he went on to say that he saw no reason for the switch to MyTime.

“The old system worked just fine, especially since we have the honor code, it’s expected that no one would lie on their timesheet,” said Priest.

According to Priest, he feels that time spent deciphering the MyTime system could be used more efficiently while at work.

But from the perspective of the payroll department, MyTime seems to be an improvement.

“So far, we have successfully processed one student payroll and two wage payrolls using MyTime,” said Associate Payroll Manager Lilly Lee. Payroll is currently working on processing the second student payroll, and, according to Lee, everything seems to be in order. While she acknowledged some students are struggling with the new system, Lee said that in general there has been a positive review of the new system.

“Overall, comments have been extremely positive, but as with any change, there is a learning curve. As problems and questions have arisen, they have been addressed,” said Lee. Some students may not see the potential benefits of MyTime at this point, but Lee said she sees them happening already.

“Two of the biggest improvements, in my opinion, are that paper timesheets have been eliminated and students are being paid every two weeks,” said Lee.

Flickr Communication is a popular special major among students, many of whom work at the Speaking Center.

•COMMUNICATION | 1 easy and requires a lot of time and effort. Offering communication as a special major deterred many students to other programs or even other universities. However, with the high demand for this program, it was decided that making it an official major would be both necessary and beneficial.

There is a large support network of both faculty and students for the prospective major.

“I would love to come back for reunion weekend one year and hear that someone is a communication major and they are doing something similar to what I did, since we don’t really have that right now,” said Ray Celeste Tanner, a junior communication major.

Rao commented that the program will be accessible not only to traditional students, but also to non-traditional ones, such as adult students or those managing full-time jobs.

According to Rao, courses will hopefully be available at night, online and possibly weekends in order for non-traditional students to complete the degree alongside their busy schedules.

Communication and digital studies

are ideal degrees to set students up for post-graduation, said Rao. Many communication majors go on to jobs in public relations, marketing or event planning; and with the digital experience, he noted, they will be strong candidates for many companies. “[Graduates of the program] will be well positioned to go into any business setting and do a lot in terms traditional communication, but also working in new and innovative ways,” said Rao. The major itself will be made up of specific courses in communication, digital studies and other spread out through specific areas of English, art, history and political science.

Across the nation, communication has been one of the fastest growing majors, but there are few that combine both communication and digital studies.

“We are well positioned to do it,” said Rao. “With the strong program in digital studies and the resources of the ITCC and other areas on campus, we are going to be able to do some really amazing things with it.”

“[GRADUATES OF THE PROGRAM] WILL BE WELL POSITIONED TO GO INTO ANY BUSINESS SETTING AND DO A LOT IN TERMS OF TRADITIONAL COMMUNICATION, BUT ALSO WORKING IN NEW AND INNOVATIVE WAYS.” -Anand Rao

STUDENT SENATE BEAT WEDNESDAY, FEB. 18, 2015

Changes to the Association of Residence Halls constitution was approved.

One clause was inserted that brings the ARH into compliance with the SGA constitution, which states that all hall presidents will serve as full student representatives in student senate.

The new SGA constitution was approved by a unanimous vote. The SGAconstitution will go out to plebiscite via Orgsync polling, closing on Saturday. This window will allow for training of the new executive cabinet members under the new constitution.

There were no motions introduced at today’s meeting.

Commuter students protest two hour delay, cite safety •SNOW | 1 driving around myself, and I rely on a very experienced staff. I rely on the state police, the states emergency response group and local organizations.”

Many students emailed school officials such as Pearce and Director of Media and Public Relations Marty Morrison to voice their disagreement.

“I received almost 50 or 60 emails, and I couldn’t respond to them all,” said Pearce.

“Marty sent out a few nice responses, explaining the university stance. But a lot of people weren’t interested in getting clarification.”

When the University opened on Wednesday morning, Facilities Services Workers had cleared many sections of campus, though Campus Walk remained largely covered with ice and snow, along with several commuter parking lots and spaces on College Ave. Certain roads, such as the hills leading to Marshall Hall and the Sunken Road parking deck, were closed off due to ice concerns.

Many students, such as junior Kimberly Carbajo, posted photos of snow covered campus paths on Wednesday morning.

Carbajo, who was walking from Marshall to Combs, shared a photo of the stairs next to the basketball court, which were largely covered in ice and snow.

Students looking to avoid climbing the hill from Marshall had to face the stairs to get to class. “[I] could take the hill, but that seems like the more dangerous option since it’s steep even on a normal day,” said Carbajo.

“I didn’t feel like risking it today.”

Other students disagreed that the conditions were too dangerous for class.

“I haven’t had any trouble walking across campus. There is ice but it is easy enough to avoid,” said sophomore women’s and gender studies major Blair Gruendl. “I live in Marshall and if I can get to my classes then I think anyone can get to their classes.”

Facilities Services workers labored throughout the day and night to minimize the risk of ice on campus and clear paths to class buildings.

“I think they definitely should have salted or put sand down but there’s a decent enough path cleared that I’m satisfied enough to get to my classes,” said Gruendl.

To make matters more difficult on facilities services workers, a pipe burst in the Information and Technology Convergence Center, flooding substantial parts of the fourth floor. The clean-up and repairs from this damage pulled workers away from the snow removal process.

Throughout the day, more students used social media as a platform to share photos of poor conditions, while even more shared stories about slipping or falling on campus.

“There was next to no safe parking along college avenue and, from what I hear, the designated parking locations for commuter students were not cleared as well as they should have been,” said junior English major Karlin Hoffman. “Conditions on campus were not ideal for many students, including myself.”

With snow on the forecast for the rest of the week, Pearce will likely face this decision several more times this semester.

“I use my best judgment,” said Pearce.

“I’ve been doing this for 30 years, and I’m confident in my decision.”

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SPORTS

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

Basketball teams jostle for playoff positioning as regular season draws to close

UMW Athletics The Lady Eagles are back at the top of tier the CAC as they head into the conference tournament.

ETHAN TOBIN Staff Writer

Both the University of Mary Washington’s men’s and women’s basketball teams returned to the Anderson Center to compete in Capital Athletic Conference action against rival school Christopher Newport University on Wednesday, Feb. 11. Both games were highly anticipated, as the stands were jammed-packed and especially rowdy with the massive student section cheering on their Eagles throughout both contests.

In the women’s contest, the Eagles held onto the lead throughout the game. However, with about 11 minutes remaining, the CNU women’s squad took control of the game and never looked back. The Lady Eagles were defeated by a final score of 49-56.

Senior guard Claire Haeuptle finished with a game high of 14 points, while the entire Eagles squad together pulled in 39 rebounds, five steals and three blocks.

Unfortunately, their defensive effort was not enough to control a CNU offense that produced a strong 39-point showing in the second half.

Following the women’s loss, it was the men’s turn to take the floor. Throughout the game, the Eagles trailed the Captains yet never gave up in their efforts to reduce the score. Freshmen guard Aaron McFarland and sophomore guard Kevin Regimbal contributed 19 points and 10 points, respectively, for the Captains, creating a sizable lead that the Eagles struggled to gain on throughout the contest. Down by 12 points and with 11 minutes remaining in the game, the Eagles pulled within just a basket of the Captains but were unable to take the late lead to a win. Freshmen forward Eric Shaw enjoyed a game high of 23 points and collected eight boards.

After back-to-back disappointing losses on the men’s and women’s sides Wednesday, both teams returned to CAC action in an Anderson Center afternoon double-header against CAC rival Penn State-Harrisburg on Saturday, Feb. 14.

This time around, the women’s team captured a dominating 82-52 victory. Along with this win, which brings the Lady Eagles to a season record of 17-6, 13-3 CAC, they currently sit in second place behind Salisbury University (15-0 CAC, 21-1 overall) in the CAC standings.

Although the win was a result of great team efforts, there were several notable individual performances, including sophomore forward Brianne Comden, who led scoring in the game with 17 points and also tallied seven rebounds. Senior forward Caitlin Ciniero and Haeuptle added 14 points and 13 points, respectively. Ciniero

Thursday, February 19, 2015

dominated the boards on both offense and defense, tallying 13 rebounds and marking a big double-double for her on the day.

After the game, Head Coach Deena Applebury commented on the win, stating, “The win represented an overall great team effort. It was especially nice to have Aubrey [Howland] back in the rotation after she had missed significant time due to injury.”

Along with capturing the win, the day brought further emotion amongst the team and crowd. In honor of breast cancer awareness, the game was the Eagles’ “Play for Kay Day.” Along the Eagle bench and within the crowd, pink dominated the color scheme in a show of support for the great cause.

“My grandmother was affected by breast cancer. I’m sure other members of the team have been affected by it in one way or another,” said Applebury. “So it was a cause that we are so proud to support and to help raise some money for. The win made the day even better.”

With two games remaining before the playoffs and in a solid second position in the CAC, the women’s basketball team mentality remains the same.

“We will continue to be aggressive, we will take each day as a new challenge and will continue to work hard and grow,” said Applebury.

Following the women’s game, the men’s basketball team secured a 73-65 victory over Penn State-Harrisburg. Significant offensive contributions from senior guard Taylor Johnson, who poured in 25 points, as well as sophomore Asa Scott and freshmen Eric Shaw, both adding 12 and 16 points, respectively, led to the UMW victory. The Eagles contained a Penn State-Harrisburg squad who throughout the game remained within only a few points.

Along with the important Eagle win that keeps them well in the hunt for the CAC playoffs, there was another important game on the radar. Frostburg State and Salisbury University took on one another in CAC action. With Frostburg also battling for the sixth and final playoff spot in the CAC, the game held as much importance to the Eagles as did their own game. With Salisbury defeating Frostburg 72-54, the Eagles now take the sixth place spot in the CAC playoff standings.

The Eagles now look ahead to their final regular season game against Wesley College on Saturday, Feb. 21, with a win-orgo-home scenario virtually in play. The Eagles will also be waiting anxiously to see the result of the Frostburg vs. Marymount game, also on Saturday, as it will most likely determine the Eagles’ destiny.

Thrilling last-minute goal lifts men’s lacrosse over Hampden-Sydney in opener

CODY REYNOLDS Staff Writer

The University of Mary Washington men’s lacrosse team had a date with Hampden-Sydney College in their season opener this past Saturday, Feb. 14. The eventful game culminated in a come from behind victory of 14-13.

The Eagles fell behind 3-0 early in the first quarter but were led back by sophomore Mike Marson, who scored the opening goal with 3:15 left in the period. This paved the way for the Eagles to score four unanswered goals leading into the second quarter.

Sophomores Miles Davis and Jack Carver and freshman Owen Dingman all showed composure in the face of adversity, helping the team rally in the second quarter to get the team back in to the game with a score of 7-6 Eagles at the end of the first half.

The Eagles continued excellent play with three goals in the third, as Marson and Bondurant both scored to push the

lead to 9-6. The HSC Tigers then reeled off four straight goals to assume the lead at 109. With goals scored by both teams at the end of the quarter, the Eagles were down one goal with a quarter to go.

Bondurant and Smith opened the final quarter with goals, giving UMW a 12-11 lead, but Hampden-Sydney answered with their own pair of goals to take a 13-12 lead with less than seven minutes left. It was all UMW from that point on.

Davis tied the game with six minutes on the clock, and senior Greg Smith found the game winner with 21 seconds left on a Chris Garcia assist to give the Eagles the win.

Junior Pete Shammas kept the Eagles alive with a stellar 14 saves as goalkeeper. However, the team struggled from the face-off circle, only winning 13 of the 28 face-offs.

UMW men’s lacrosse Head Coach Kurt Glaeser said he was “extremely impressed with senior Jack Bondurant,” who scored five goals against HSC. •LACROSSE | 3

UMW Athletics After making the NCAA tournament last year, the men’s lacrosse team is looking to continue to build.

Birthday Boy:

Tyler Carey (left) with Wesley Berry (middle) celebrated Berry’s 20th birthday with UMW Athletics.

Philip Pierce

Recently adopted member of the UMW Athletic Department Wesley Berry was invited to the Anderson Center on Saturday, Feb. 14 to spend Valentine’s Day with Eagle Nation as the men’s and women’s basketball teams played host to Penn State Harrisburg.

Wesley, who has been battling brain cancer for close to eight years, was brought to the court at halftime of the men’s game so that all of the home crowd could sing happy birthday to the newly 20 year old.

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