The Blue & Gray Press

THE

BLUE &GRAY

THE UNIVERSITY OF MARY WASHINGTON STUDENT NEWSPAPER

PRESS

February 28, 2019

VOLUME 92 | ISSUE 18 SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE

brought everyone here through careful planning, painting the rock weeks ago, and I have no plan. I brought you here for no reason.”

This proclamation was met with loud cheering from the crowd, everyone seemingly ecstatic that they had been bamboozled into doing nothing with their Friday night.

Lloyd, a transfer sophomore, said he wanted to leave his mark on UMW before transferring out again. He had the idea to paint the rock and hoped that he would be able to think of an idea of what to do before the actual day came.

“I think when someone sees something like that, especially five Sophomore Ryan Lloyd was behind the mysterious message on the rock.

Daley Jennings / The Blue & Gray Press weeks ago it just became kind of like self-promoting itself, especially when everyone talked about it,” said Lloyd.

Lloyd said he felt the pressure to figure out what to do once everybody saw the rock.

“I couldn’t figure out what would meet everyone’s expectations for it.” of the tunnel. A group of students sat DALEY JENNINGS Apart from the few who had helped on the rock, one student standing next Contributing Writer him paint the rock, Lloyd had kept his to it with a keyblade from Kingdom plan a secret from his friends, some On Feb. 4, the message “MEET Hearts, but these students said they had whom did not believe him even when HERE 2/22, 12, Midnight” appeared nothing to do with the painting on the he did tell them. Freshman Paige on the spirit rock. The message caused rock. Also unrelated to the painting on Harrington said she did not believe speculation among students who the rock, five minutes before midnight it was Lloyd up until thirty minutes wondered what it could mean. a student wearing a horse mask raced before the event.

Leading up to the mysterious through the crowd and slammed into “Ryan was like ‘yeah, I painted event, posts on the the rock,’ and I was Facebook page “The like ‘no you didn’t, M in UMW Stands “I have brought everyone here through careful no you didn’t,’” For Memes” joked Harrington said. “I planning, painting the rock weeks ago, and I have no about the impending was like ‘that’s not doom that awaited plan. I brought you here for no reason.” your handwriting.’” students who were Lloyd had broken brave enough to the news to her venture to the rock, -Ryan Lloyd earlier in the day as with one asking the well as telling her students who were again at Vocelli’s before they went to going to comment so the school would another student. the rock.

Harrington had joined in the have a list of bodies to look for.

Finally, at midnight, a student discussion of what the painting on the Before the clock struck midnight, climbed onto the rock to address the rock could have meant, people having the rock was surrounded by 120 crowd, phone in his hands recording guessed the worst of all outcomes. people. The crowd stretched all the way them. His name was Ryan Lloyd.

“People were talking like ‘Oh my from Monroe Fountain to the entrance “Hello everyone,” he said. “I have

Spirit rock draws crowds and mixed reviews over hoax

1922

God we’re all going to die, this is going to be like some mass murder, like what kind of cult did we just join,’” Harrington said. “They thought it was the Mormons on campus too.”

When Lloyd arrived at the rock he very surprised when he saw the crowds his message had drawn.

“I could barely contain myself, I was dying laughing,” Lloyd said.

“Every time you looked back towards the tunnel, or back towards the fountain there were just crowds of people coming, and I was like it’s still growing, and everyone’s like Ryan, what have you done?”

But as the numbers grew, he began to worry about what might happen when the students got more excited and what they would do.

“I didn’t come forward at first, especially before 12, because I knew like the energy was so chaotic so if I came forth, I knew I would kind of be responsible for whatever happened,” he said. “I did see someone run down in a horse mask and totally bodied someone, and I felt bad for that, because in a way I felt responsible.”

Aside from the horse mask incident, Lloyd’s concerns were alleviated. The excitement died down and students returned to their •UMW ROCK | 10 weekend plans.

120 students gathered at the rock at midnight on Feb. 22.

Kate Seltzer / The Blue & Gray Press

Faculty launches food and clothing pantry Joshua Staley Senior Writer

Members of the faculty have worked to set up a food and clothing pantry in the suite between the Writing and Speaking Centers.

Emily Sanborn / The Blue & Gray Press

IN THIS

ISSUE

A new committee has formed to start a new food and clothing pantry on UMW’s campus.

It was started in Dr. Kim Gower’s College of Business leadership and social justice course in spring of 2018 as a group project called “change the world.”

“Part of the project is making sure there is a sustainability component,” Gower said. “So, fortunately, we had dedicated students continue through this fall and spring.”

Student poverty has been gradually increasing over time. Since 2014, the percentage of students awarded a Pell grant, which is a federal grant awarded to students with exceptional financial need, has gone up by 6 percent at UMW, according to vice president for

Fred food

Student Affairs, Dr. Juliette Landphair.

Receiving a Pell grant is typically an indicator of low individual or low family income, with the maximum grant for the 2017-2018 award year being $5,920.

According to a survey published by researchers at Temple University and the Wisconsin HOPE Lab, 36 percent of college students say they are food insecure, meaning they are in a state without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food.

Another 36 percent reported they are housing insecure—being without a reliable, stable place to live—and 9 percent reported being completely homeless.

“There are a number of articles I have read recently about college students and food insecurity,” said director of Transfer and Off-Campus Student Services, CJ Porter. “When it

TOXIC MASCULINITY

Photos of the top food in Fredericksburg.

Gatekeeping’s control on men.

LIFE | 6

VIEWPOINTS | 4

all comes together, I think folks realize that we do have students who are in need of support.”

The pantry will provide any student with food, personal care items and clothing for jobs and internships.

The committee—consisting of CJ Porter, Leslie Martin, Laura Wilson, James Pape, Pam Lowery, Rita Thompson, and Gwen Hale—came together early this semester and has been operating in relative silence thus far, gathering items and getting organized. They currently do not have everything they need to fully take off.

“It is an ongoing process that will take replenishing year-round,” said Writing Center and Writing Program director, Dr. Gwen Hale.

“This all comes out of the kindness of community members but mostly UMW faculty, staff and students.” • FOOD CLOSET | 10

WORLD CUP

US women’s team is set up for success but needs support.

SPORTS | 12

NEWS

Editors: Meaghan McIntyre & Kate Seltzer | blueandgray.news@gmail.com

President Paino communicates with students via email

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 Lauren Closs

Associate Editor Ginny Bixby

Managing Editor Ryan Brauch

SECTION EDITORS NEWS Meaghan McIntyre Kate Seltzer

VIEWPOINTS Grace Winfield

LIFE Lucas Burkholder

SPORTS Jack Hagn

ONLINE Ronic Ngambwe Harry Fisher

PHOTO Cayley McGuire

FACULTY ADVISOR Sushma Subramanian

Ethan Ratliff Staff Writer

Three UMW alumni received Fulbright grants in 2018.

On Feb. 12, a message from President Troy Paino was sent out via email to students which addressed issues apparent in the leadership of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The message, similar to other releases from President Paino, addressed the issue and spoke of the goals, values, and standards of the UMW community, and focused on the need to hold to University Relations

UMW named a top producer of Fulbright students GRACE WINFIELD Viewpoints Editor

The University of Mary Washington has recently been named a top producer for Fulbright U.S. students amongst other colleges and universities featured in the Feb. 11 issue of “The Chronicle of Higher Education.” This is not the first time the school has received the accolade. “[To be named a top provider] is a great honor in itself and inspires the campus committee to keep working with students in this capacity. More importantly, it reminds us that we have some amazing alums around the globe doing great things,” said Dr. Dianne

Baker, who serves as the campus Fulbright Program Advisor (FPA). “I am so happy for the alums and for the people they are working with, as this type of intensive cultural exchange is very effective and rewarding.”

The most recent Fulbright students at UMW received their grants just last spring. The three Mary Washington alumni were awarded English teaching assistant grants. Currently, Molly Bernhard ’14 is spending the 2018-19 academic year in Bulgaria; Destiny Williams ’18 is in Taiwan; and Molly Garthwaite ’17, M.Ed. ’18, is in India.

The Fulbright U.S. program provides grants •FULBRIGHT | 11 for individually

“In the absence of information, people will fill it with rumors.This offers me a forum to have a conversation or to address some of them.”

-President Paino these when dealing with hate and intolerance. President Paino differed from past messages by announcing that this message is the first in a series of regularly released messages that will, “explore issues of importance at the University.”

“When I got here to Mary Washington there was an employee survey that was done the spring before [that] showed areas of concern the campus had, •PAINO | 10

Committee proposes changes to general education program Chloe Martin Staff Writer

Brooke Di Lauro from the Modern Languages and Literatures department, and Christopher Musina from the The general education committee Art and Art History department. The has proposed changes to the current discussion began right away with general education requirements. These the question from a student in the changes, which the committee has audience: what were the faults of been working on since August 2018, the original include an general overall reduction education “I do think [the changes in the language requirement] will of required requirements? directly impact your GPA in a positive way, because, if you credits, shifting Professor from 61 credit aren’t passionate about a language, you’re not going to want Di Lauro hours to 38 in responded, to put effort into the class.” one plan and 44 “They were in the other. made before These cuts we came up -Elijah Hanisian are intended with [our core to be fairly value] statements. Compared to other courses. evenly distributed, though the main Virginia schools they are much larger At the public general education topic of conversation at the forum was and with the Passport Program [a committee forum held on Feb. 18, the hit that the language and science program between the local community students and faculty gathered to requirements will take under either colleges and the University] these discuss the potential benefits and proposed plan. As it stands, students requirements didn’t really match up in detriments of the new proposal. This are required to take a language through terms of what would forum was lead by two committee a 202 level and take a sequential •GEN EDS | 11 transfer in, so we’re members and university professors, science course of their choosing. With the proposed changes, these will both essentially be cut in half, requiring a maximum of two language courses through the 102 level and discarding the sequential sciences in favor of two seperate, and possibly easier, science

CORRECTIONS for THE Week The article titled “Students participate in discussion about mass incarceration and UMW’s inmate-made furniture” from the Feb. 7 edition incorrectly stated that Oliver Johnson is from Fail Safe ERA. He is the director of Optimal Health Enterprise.

PLEASE REPORT ANY MISTAKES SEEN IN THE BLUE & GRAY PRESS TO Lauren Closs, blueandgray.eic@gmail.com or Sushma Subramanian, ssubrama@umw.edu

2

SPORTS

Women’s club frisbee attends professional ultimate combine SOPHIE AHAVA Staff Writer

University of Mary Washington women’s club frisbee was presented with an opportunity to attend a development combine at John Lee Pratt Memorial Park in Fredericksburg earlier this month. On Saturday, Feb. 9, Richmond Ultimate, a professional ultimate frisbee organization hosted a frisbee combine open for all frisbee players from beginners to expert. UMW women’s club frisbee attended this event with hopes to gain new skills, make new connections and ultimately prepare for upcoming tournaments.

This is not the first year women’s club frisbee has attended this combine. Senior Savannah Steblein has played on UMW’s club frisbee team for all four years of her college career and sees this combine as a tradition. She explains that going to this combine is crucial and beneficial because “fresh eyes may pick up on an issue that the coach may have overlooked because they see us everyday at practice.”

This combine was put into place to help refine player’s skills and help them improve their game play. Steblein said, “throwing has always been my weakest

skill, so whenever I go [to the combine], I always try to practice and get tips on how to improve.”

Professional frisbee players run this development training, therefore, all the women there are gaining professional knowledge and insight from players that have learned to overcome the same difficulties.

The frisbee combine welcomed all kinds of frisbee players. Darlene Mugisha is a sophomore here at Mary Washington and this is her first year playing on the club frisbee team.

Mugisha explained that the combine “prepared me for playing defense and offense during the game and helped me out with my field awareness.”

Professional players know the game better than anyone and the development combine was set up to teach players like Mugisha and other beginners about the rules and ways of the game.

Mugisha continued to say, “it was a great opportunity to learn from experienced players and gain new skills for our upcoming tournaments.” New players that attended this combine left with new knowledge about the game that they can implement in upcoming games and

The whole women’s development combine poses together.

tournaments.

The development combine was not only about doing drills and learning new skills, it also consisted of round robin scrimmages. Sophomore and two-year player, Izzy Burns said “there wasn’t much to prepare for the event because it was all about teaching and it was really fun to meet up with friends from other teams.”

The scrimmages allowed UMW women’s club frisbee to put their new skills to the test. Whether they were a veteran or playing for the first time, everyone had the opportunity to put their newfound skills to the test. Steblein loves how the combine “let us get to know players from other teams as well as [the professionals] leading the combine.”

Connections are key.

Whether is was about making new connections, learning new skills, or just going out to have a good time, the Ultimate Frisbee 2019 Women’s Development Combine proved to encompass all of that. UMW women’s club frisbee takes to tradition and will continue to attend this event year after year.

The key takeaways for them included preparation for future tournaments, learning and improving game skills, and continuing to make valuable connections within the sport. Whether you have no experience with ultimate frisbee or have been playing for years, this development combine provided the necessary guidance and skill to make everyone that attended comfortable, confident and more excited than ever to play frisbee.

Richmomd Ultimate / Facebook

Beth Druvenga named head athletic trainer

SIERRA HORTON Staff Writer

In February, University of Mary Washington Athletics announced that Beth Druvenga is the new head athletic trainer for UMW athletes. This decision was made through the careful promotion process and consideration by the interim director of Athletics, Patrick Catullo.

“Beth Druvenga was selected because of her leadership style, professionalism and experience with UMW Athletics. In addition, Beth will be able to provide an exceptional staff and student-athlete experience,” said Catullo.

UMW student athletes also believe in Druvenga’s ability to excel in this new position.

“I am super pumped about Beth taking over the position. She is always full of energy and truly cares about all of the athletes and their specific needs,” said Michaela Miller, a senior swimmer and psychology major. “I hope and know that Beth is going to continue to keep athletes healthy while making the training room a welcoming environment.”

Athletic trainers (ATs) are healthcare professionals who provide care for athletes using their education, training and careful consideration of the rules, statutes and regulations of the state. This takes place under the direction of, or in collaboration with, a physician. ATs provide services that include everything from injury prevention, avoidance of illnesses, wellness promotion, wellness education, examination, clinical diagnoses, therapeutic intervention, emergent care, and injury and medical condition rehabilitation.

As head athletic trainer, Druvenga now has some additional responsibilities different from an AT. Some of these responsibilities include administrative and supervisory tasks that Druvenga was not held accountable for previously, but she still keeps the same mindset as she had in her past position.

“My overall goal to provide quality healthcare and a safe environment for our student-athletes to participate in remains the same [as it did when she was an AT],” said Druvenga. “I and the athletic training staff provide care to the student-athletes participating on all of our varsity athletic teams.”

Druvenga also has past experience that prepares her for the responsibilities of this position. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training from Central College in Pella, Iowa, and is also a board certified athletic trainer. She also has a Master’s of Science in Education from Old Dominion University and worked as an assistant athletic trainer at Norfolk State University, a Division I school. While in Norfolk, she also taught Kinesiology at ODU. Beyond her education, Druvenga is also a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association, licensed by the Virginia Board of Medicine, and CPR/ AED and first aid certified, according to the UMW Athletics website.

“Both of these experiences taught me a lot as an athletic trainer,” said Druvenga. “I’ve worked with a lot of great athletic trainers and learned a lot from the different head athletic trainers I’ve worked with. All of this helped shaped my practice and my goals for the future.”

Druvenga has been an assistant athletic trainer here at UMW since 2016 and she is feeling optimistic about her promotion.

“I’m excited to continue working here in this new position,” says Druvenga.

“We have a great group of student athletes and coaches who I truly enjoy working with every day. We also have a phenomenal athletic training staff and I’m excited to collaborate with them in this new era.”

As head athletic trainer, Druvenga has more responsibilities, but she also has a vision for change within the department.

“There may be some changes coming to the athletic training department, with the goal of fostering a positive environment for student-athletes and enhancing their experience here at UMW,” said Druvenga. “We have a lot of great things going for us in the athletic training department and I can’t wait to work with the other AT staff to give our student-athletes the best experience possible.

University of Mary Washington Sports Schedule

Men’s Lacrosse (2-2)

Feb. 15 W @ Shenandoah (14-8) Feb. 19 W @ McDaniel (13-12) Feb. 23 L vs. Ursinus (10-9) 2 OT Mar. 2 @ Berry Mar. 6 @ Washington and Lee

Women’s Lacrosse (4-0)

Feb. 19 W @ Shenandoah (14-8) Feb. 23 W vs. Lynchburg (17-7) Feb. 27 W @ Randolph-Macon (16-7) Mar. 6 @ Franklin & Marshall Mar. 9 @ Messiah

Baseball (1-1)

Feb. 19 W @ Methodist (8-0) Feb. 26 L @ Va. Wesleyan (7-4) Mar. 1 vs. New Rochelle Mar. 2 vs. New Rochelle Mar. 3 vs. New Rochelle

Softball (0-0)

Feb. 24 vs. Elizabethtown (Postponed) Feb. 28 vs. Randolph-Macon Mar. 2 vs. Shenandoah Mar. 4 @ Wentworth Mar. 4 @ Hilbert

Men’s Tennis (2-2)

Feb. 23 W vs. Stevens (8-1) Feb. 23 L vs. Kenyon (5-4) Feb. 24 L vs. Sewanee (5-4) Mar. 3 @ Claremont-M-S Mar. 6 @ Redlands

Women’s Tennis (2-0)

Feb. 16 W vs. Methodist (9-0) Feb. 16 W vs. Franklin & Marshall (9-0) Feb. 17 L vs. Longwood (6-3) Mar. 5 @ Chapman Mar. 7 @ Redlands

Full Schedule not listed above.

Most recent games included.

Bold indicates home game.

Beth Druvenga.

UMW Athletics

3

VIEWPOINTS

Gatekeepers set the standards for masculinity ETHAN RATLIFF Staff Writer

“Well you’re not a real Star Wars fan,” and, “You don’t understand, you’re too young.” We have often heard comments like this throughout our lives.

While we tend to accept these comments, and forget them not long after, they have a lasting impact on not only those involved, but society’s perception at large. This is known as gatekeeping.

As a man, I’ve been subject to gatekeeping my entire life- all men have.

It happens anytime someone says, “A real man would...”

Gatekeeping is defined by the r/ Gatekeeping Reddit thread as an instance “when someone takes it upon themselves to decide who does or does not have access or rights to a community or identity.,” The idea was first asserted by

An advertisement from Gillette’s campaign.

social psychologist Kurt Zadeck Lewin in support of his mass communication theory. The theory is not the same as the communication theory described by Kurt Zadek Lewin. While the modern definition varies from Lewin’s original, the model he described can be used to understand just how gatekeeping works, and the problems that gatekeeping causes.

According to Professor Ghulam Shabir’s study, “Process of Gatekeeping in Media: From Old Trend to New” Lewin first used the term “gatekeeping” to describe a wife or mother as the person who decides which foods end up on the family’s dinner table. “Lewin recognized that for food to go from a store or a garden to the dining table, there were multiple decision-making processes it had to pass on the way there

in a time when men were thought to control all household decisions. Lewin found that food does not move by its own force. Entering or not entering a channel, and moving from one section of a channel to another, are affected by a ‘gatekeeper’.”

Essentially, a gatekeeper decides which commodity - whether it be materials, information or dinner - will move forward and which will not. This concept may be applied to all aspects of the social system, the political system and the workforce. There are positive gatekeepers, who serve as intermediaries between a group and the focus of their attention, like publicists and aides for celebrities, magazines and other companies that welcome and accept input from the community. However, this is not the case for majority of gatekeeping.

Medium.com

Industries and organizations often are considered gatekeepers. To push their products onto consumers, or gain public support, they will manipulate the delivery of their products. A recent and controversial example that has brought the nature of masculinity into the limelight is Gillette’s “The best a man can get” advertisement.

The ad tries to call attention to the toxicity that has grown in masculinity such as physical and emotional bullying, implementing dominance and enforcing sexuality, all awful things that are a relief to see addressed.

In response to the Gillette ad, hundreds of negative comments spread across Twitter, including cries about “Leftist propaganda” and #MGTOW. However, many responses from men were similar to what one Twitter user

wrote, “Gillette doesn’t represent the majority of good men like myself.”

Those offended by the advertisement are missing one good point Gillette makes: accountability. It doesn’t matter if you don’t actively participate in toxic masculinity, not recognizing and fighting against it achieves nothing. We need to pay attention to what other men say and do, and reject gatekeeping.

Personally, I don’t like the advertisement. I appreciate what it attempts, but even if Gillette is pushing for more emotionally intact men and claiming that, “things have changed,” they still neglect to address that the definition of manliness varies amongst every person. While they do shift the narrative away from “the real man,” the company defines and pushes its vision of “the best man.” They are creating new gatekeepers, and that’s not good enough.

“Personally, it’s never been a direct thing [for me] but I’ve seen it in sports a bit. A player will go down hurt and get shamed for not acting tough,” said Harry Masters, a junior math major.

Consider Colin Kaepernick and the NFL. Kaepernick did the one thing no “real man” should do and took a stand for something he cares about.

Football players traditionally serve as symbols of manliness on and off the field, but supporting people who aren’t being treated equally isn’t manly, and something as unpatriotic as taking a knee certainly isn’t, either. Kaepernick’s actions were praised by many. He was named “Citizen of the Year” by GQ magazine, but the NFL quickly blackballed him. Fox News’ Todd Sarnes was quick to name him the “Coward of the Year” and GQ the, “magazine for emasculated men.” The industries that are built by powerful men refuse to allow for a man that didn’t meet their standards to receive acknowledgement.

Those unwritten standards are idolized by society, or at least tolerated.

The ladies’ man. The breadwinner. The troublemaker. Just as anyone else does, men have standards to meet, but it seems those standards are often a stretch from who men really want to be.

“The notion that my masculinity should be defined by the number of women I sleep with during the semester has always baffled me. That bringing a

random girl home from the bar is what I ‘should be doing’,” said senior political science major Alex Sakes.

Why do gatekeepers set standards then? Because gatekeepers never want you to be a real man. People use the phrase, “a real man would…” not to educate, but to manipulate boys who don’t know any better to act accordingly with their view of a man, and sadly the perception of men seems to have more negative connotations than positive. It’s a cheap, “I’m better than you so listen to me” that disguises itself by creating a false checkpoint or goal. Worst of all, it turns the idea of masculinity and brotherhood into a competition, destroying the ability for men to recognize and fix the toxicity that spreads within manhood.

Men are taught that they must never appear weak and lose their ability to understand themself and connect with other men. Crying, talking about emotions or admitting insecurities are all signs of weaknesses that men are taught, “a real man wouldn’t show.” According to a study in the Journal of Psychology of Men & Masculinity by YJ Wong titled Men’s Restrictive Emotionally, while men studied had a negative reaction to the idea of sharing emotions, there was no significant reaction to repressing emotions. Many men didn’t realize that they were repressing their emotions. This ends the chances of ever fixing problems, because if you can’t feel, how can you tell that something is wrong?

The only way to stop the gatekeeping is to make sure that we don’t in turn become gatekeepers.

First, we must recognize the masculinity archetype. I asked several students how they would use the “A good man...” statement that has been weaponized for years. Nicolas Vinson, a senior communication and digital studies major responded, “A good man wants to leave a situation better than he found it.”

I’m not arguing masculinity is all bad, there has to be good if it’s worth fixing, but we can’t accept the standards that industries and men in positions of power continue to implement on consumers and audiences, it just continues the problem.

We will never fit their image of “real men” or “best men”, but they can’t stop us from being good men.

Staff-Ed: Jussie Smollett’s alleged actions do not represent all victims of hate crimes On Jan 29, 2019 Jussie Smollett, star of the TV show “Empire”, filed a police report alleging he was assaulted with multiple hate crimes committed against Smollett. The alleged attack took place in downtown Chicago where two men dressed in black called racial and homophobic slurs, tied a noose around his neck and poured an unknown chemical substance down his throat.

Smollett was not seriously injured in the attack and was released from the hospital the next day.

According to Smollett, the alleged assault was not the first attack against

him. A week against Smollett

By THE BLUE AND GRAY PRESS before the for filing a false EDITORIAL BOARD attack, Smollett police report. Two turned over a Nigerian brothers hate letter to the police that contained who worked as extras on “Empire” multiple death threats. Included in the told police that Smollett hired them to letter were various homophobic slurs stage an attack. Police released footage and death threats, as well as “MAGA”, of the brothers purchasing supplies President Trump’s campaign slogan. used for the attack. Along with that Smollett also claimed that the assaulters information, they provided the police yelled “This is MAGA country” when with a copy of the $3,500 check Smollett the assault occurred. bribed the brothers with. Chicago Police The narrative of this attack changed Superintendent Johnson denounced on Feb 20 when Chicago police issued Smollett, “To stage a hate crime of that felony disorderly conduct charges nature, when he knew as a celebrity it

would get a lot of attention … is just despicable.”

If these allegations are true, the actions of Jussie Smollett are despicable.

He attempted to use public outrage to further his career and make a name for himself. If it is found that this attack was staged, he may discredit real hate crimes and assaults across the nation, in turn hurting real victims who may lack support and trust due to this heinous crime. The Blue & Gray Press condemns the alleged actions of Jussie Smollett and urges the public to believe and support victims of hate crimes.

ThursdayJanuary February 2019 Thursday, 21,28, 2015

VIEWPOINTS

Editor: Grace Winfield | blueandgray.views@gmail.com

UMW must reevaluate on-campus housing scholarship requirement

The Kittchen

Bacon: the killer on your plate

Student advocates for warning labels at the UC Every morning, UMW students stand in line at the UC to fill their plates with eggs, biscuits, sausages and bacon. And while these are just a few of the staple breakfast foods, one consistent and popular choice among many are pork products.

I never thought much about it, until my trip to Washington, DC, a few weeks ago.

In DC, I witnessed a demonstration in which physicians had united against McDonald’s in the consumption of pork.

McDonald’s typically adds bacon to an order for $1.50 extra, but during their promotion “Bacon Hour,” bacon was free as a side with any purchase.

Citing health concerns that arise from ingesting those products, doctors held signs that read “I’m Riskin’ It,” and “Bacon Causes Butt Cancer,” warning consumers of the carcinogenic effects of bacon, a pork product.

The protestors were not mistaken in their assertions. Pork consumption has become a major concern across the US, and has been deemed dangerous by the World Health Organization (WHO).

After reviewing 800 studies, they have determined that 50 grams of processed pork eaten daily exacerbates cancer rates by 18 percent.

Due to the high amount of pork made available to students, the UC should be required to provide signage indicating the dangers of consuming pork products.

SHARJEEL AHMAD Staff Writer

Many students consume pork products in bulk and without hesitation.

While I am a proponent of people eating how they please, offering pork in the dining hall is comparable to feeding students poison.

Pork is becoming so infamous in the high risk foods category that some schools have removed pork from their dining halls, like Paul Quinn College in Dallas, TX in 2012. Aside from the obvious health benefits, many students reported that they no longer had concerns of what they could or could not eat in the cafeteria.

The decision was controversial to say the least, but made for a more inclusive environment.

For instance, a major component of the Jewish and Muslim faiths is to abstain from consuming pork and all pork products.

Muhammad Khan, a senior business major and ambassador at the UC Dining Hall, said, “the dining hall will receive more business from me and others if we know they don’t have pork and my food is completely free of it.”

In addition to the moral and ethical pleas to change the status quo, universities have a duty to preserve the general health of the student body. When a university is providing adequate housing, a clean environment, and quality education to help students

grow, it seems counterintuitive to be poisoning them with food options that are categorically unhealthy and could possibly lead to long term adverse health effects. Processed meats include ham, sausage, hot dogs, bologna, salami, pepperoni, and pastrami, names that are very familiar to us. Controlled portions of these foods are most likely non lifethreatening, but because of the increased risk of colorectal cancer, no amounts of processed meats are considered “safe to eat,” according to the American Institute for Cancer.

It may be a stretch to remove all pork products from the UC, but to simply provide nutritional facts about the dangers of pork may be a step in the right direction. In restaurants, meats and seafood that are not entirely cooked come along with warning notices of foodborne illnesses. In the same way, bacon, which makes its way into salads and sandwiches, should be complemented with a similar sign. For example, four pieces of bacon accounts for half the recommended sodium intake for a day.

The UC already provides a calorie count for a majority of meals, but these nutritional facts should be more readily available while students are deciding what they’ll eat. That being said, you can still order your eggs sunny-side up, but next time, hold off on the bacon.

It is time for the students at UMW to be able to retain possession of scholarships without the obligation to live on campus. While the University has thirteen residence halls that offer upperclassmen housing, they do not fulfill the need for independence for students.

There are many different types of scholarships given by UMW to their students.

The scholarship awards that are most commonly affected by renewal issues are merit and curriculum based, such as the following: Presidential Award, Presidential Diversity, Blue & Gray Award, Transfer Award, Eagle Award, Talon Award, Scholastic Excellence, and International Award.

Each has a different set of criteria that must be met to obtain the scholarship, though they all have the same ways of losing them. The most common issues addressed are not meeting GPA requirements, not meeting enrollment criteria, and moving off campus. If a student receives an academic scholarship, then the only thing that should have an effect on their funds are academics and student conduct violations. If they are maintaining the GPA required and being an honorable student, then nothing should get in the way of them getting the funds they need.

These claims may seem very obvious, however, students are unfairly being punished for living off campus.

What’s most alarming is that it is essentially beyond student control.

Junior business administration major, Quintin Ricci, received the the Eagle Award merit scholarship. Also being a member of the men’s lacrosse team,

NICOLETTE VALLEE Staff Writer

moving off campus after sophomore year to live with his teammates was a personal necessity.

There is no question that Ricci is a model student as well, he recently got elected into the business administration national honor society, Sigma Beta Delta.

After his scholarships was not renewed, “I attempted to appeal the issue after being told I would probably receive a partial scholarship.

However, the University denied my appeal and I lost the entirety of the funds,” Ricci said.

The fact that these students are eligible for the scholarships and receive them, but then get them taken away is unfair.

Scholarships are becoming one of the best options for students and their families, due to the fact that they are much less costly than loans and most of the time are not too difficult to obtain. A 2014 College Board study reported that 122.7 billion dollars of scholarship and grant funds were given to students in the US from both public and private universities. It is obvious from this report that students rely on these scholarships in order to further their education.

Junior biology major, Malorie Joseph, was also affected by the on campus housing rule. When asked why she chose to move off campus, she said, “I wanted to be able to learn and grow as an adult, which I don’t think could have happened as efficiently if I stayed in dorm-style living until senior year.”

The housing on campus at UMW for upperclassmen is far too similar to the dorms we all lived in freshman year.

Though this might not bother some, most of the

Merit-based scholarships are awarded based on GPA and test scores.

students I have spoken to about this issue are eager to change their surroundings once they have the ability to. Like Joseph touched on, being able to live completely on your own grows your skills in terms of money management, housekeeping and a plethora of other responsibilities, which may not be experienced in college otherwise.

So why does UMW continue to keep this rule? While I’m sure the university doesn’t want to limit student independence, I do believe they intend to keep students on campus for money purposes. Both the merit and curriculum scholarships listed above vary in terms of money given to students. On the UMW Admissions website, both scholarship categories range from $1,000-5,000 a year for in-state students, and $5,000-9,000 for out-ofstate students. Seems fair enough. Now, compare that to the cost of living on campus. The lowest price for a standard double, which is the highest provided option for dorms across campus, runs at $3,322 per semester. That’s $6,644 a year. Essentially, if an instate student receives as high as $5,000 dollars for a scholarship, the student is then almost covering their room and board rates, a win-win situation for both the student and the school. However, if a student moves off of campus, and could still receive that hard-earned 5,000, the school doesn’t benefit, but instead loses money.

Students receiving scholarship money should be allowed to live off campus without having consequential restraints on their well-earned financial benefits. UMW should alter the criteria that must be met in order to maintain a scholarship.

UMW.edu

5

LIFE

Editor: Lucas Burkholder blueandgray.life@gmail.com

Red pepper gouda soup has become a UMW tradition

MACKENZIE HARD Staff Writer

One of the most popular features of UMW’s Underground Café is the delicious, creamy taste of the red pepper gouda soup that is only available on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., or until they run out. Its popularity has caused some students to include getting the soup as part of their daily Wednesday routine.

“Getting red pepper gouda with my friends every Wednesday is one of my favorite parts of the week. We have had a longstanding date for the past few semesters and it’s such a great time to catch up with your friends,” said junior communication major, Faith Hogue. “It’s become one of my favorite UMW traditions and one of the things I will miss most when I graduate. #RedPepGoudWednesdays!”

For others, going to the Underground started as a tradition before they even started at UMW. Senior studio art major, Emily Siegfried said, “Before I started at UMW, I met with Dean Rucker and he told me I needed to try red pepper gouda and I wasn’t going to because I don’t like red pepper or gouda, but I did and it was super tasty. It has a really unique taste that I’ve never had before and when the Underground served it with grilled cheese, it was the best thing ever.”

Since the Underground changed its menu from deli-style food to Mediterranean at the end of the fall

Red pepper gouda soup is a fan favorite at the Underground Cafe.

semester 2018, they no longer sell grilled cheese sandwiches, which were a popular pairing for the soup.

Senior geology major, Grace Rihl said that the soup was introduced to her when she was a freshman by one of her senior friends. “I have been passing along the tradition to other friends since then.”

In a way, this soup has become a tradition at UMW and will hopefully

never leave the menu of the Underground despite all the recent menu changes.

“It is one of my favorite memories and traditions at Mary Washington. What a better way to catch up with friends than sharing a meal together, especially one so good. Though the cuisine at the Underground has changed over the years, red pepper gouda remains and is always reliable.

Griffin Bower / The Blue & Gray Press

#LongLiveRedPepGoud,” commented Rihl.

For those that miss the red pepper gouda on Wednesday or crave it after graduation, One Sweet Mess has a recipe for a very tasty and comparable version.

To make this recipe vegan or vegetarian, use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth and use a dairy-free heavy cream and gouda.

Roasted Red Pepper Smoked Gouda Soup (via One Sweet Mess) Ingredients: 6 large red peppers 3 tablespoons of olive oil, divided 2 large carrots, cut into thin rounds 2 stalks of celery, diced 1 medium onion, diced 2 cloves of garlic, minced 1 bay leaf 1 and 1/2 teaspoons of

Servings: 6-8 Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 1 hour and 20 minutes

ground cumin 1 and 1/2 teaspoons of smoked paprika 2 cups of chicken stock 1/2 cup of heavy cream 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar 2 cups of grated smoked gouda Salt and pepper to taste

Total Time: 1 hour and 30 minutes

Pinterest

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F. Place the peppers on a baking pan and drizzle with two tablespoons of olive oil, make sure to turn the peppers to coat them evenly. Roast for 15 minutes. Flip each pepper and roast for an additional 15 minutes. The peppers should be soft and slightly charred.

2. Remove the peppers from the oven and cover the pan with aluminum foil. Allow the peppers to steam for 10-15 minutes. Uncover and allow the peppers to cool long enough to handle.

3. When the peppers have cooled, remove the stem, seeds, and charred skin. Tear the peppers into 2-inch strips and set them aside.

4. Heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the carrots, celery, and onions to the pot. Cook these for 7-10 minutes, or until they have softened. Add in the garlic and bay leaf into the pot and cook for an additional two minutes, stirring often so the garlic does not burn.

5. Pour the chicken stock over the veggies and add the roasted red peppers to the pot. Bring the mixture to a boil. Then turn down the heat and allow the soup to simmer for 20 minutes, or until the carrots and celery are tender.

6. Remove the pot from the heat and take out the bay leaf/ Using an immersion blender, blend the soup until smooth. ( If you do not have an immersion blender, you can ladle the mixture into the bowl of a blender or food processor and pulse until the mixture is smooth. ) 7. Place the pot back over the heat and gradually stir in the heavy cream and sugar. Slowly stir in the grated smoked gouda. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve with a side of crusty bread or pita.

One Sweet Mess

Thursday, February 28, 2019

LIFE

A taste of students’ favorite foods across Fredericksburg Photo Story By Emilia Michalkiewicz After attending UMW for almost two years, I have had plenty of time to enjoy many of the amazing restaurants Fredericksburg has to offer. Knowing that there are many strong opinions on the best restaurants in Fredericksburg, I set out to get some student opinions on their favorite restaurants. After surveying students, I found that the top four food spots according to UMW students are Benny’s, Soup and Taco, Mason Dixon Café, and Carl’s.

Soup and Taco Benny Vitali’s Benny’s is a must visit in Fredericksburg. Known for their 14-inch pizza slices, they always draw a large crowd. My roommate and I went around 2:30 p.m. and there was still a decent line, but do not be discouraged. Their pizza is definitely worth the wait.

Only $4 for a slice of cheese pizza and $1 for a can of soda is what makes Benny’s number one for UMW students.

The second most popular restaurant is Soup and Taco. This restaurant has two locations, one on Caroline St. and one on William St. I got a steak quesadilla and was extremely happy with how delicious it was. My roommate ordered the sopapillas, fried pastries with cinnamon and honey and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. We were both impressed with our food and the service was extremely quick. Our bill was under twenty dollars, making this another affordable and delicious option for students.

Mason Dixon Café Coming in third was Mason Dixon Café. Mason Dixon always draws a large crowd, especially during their brunch times on the weekends. They have great food and large servings. My roommate and I split an order of cheesesteak fries and chicken tenders.

The cheesesteak fries were delicious and had plenty of steak on top. The cheese was creamy but not too heavy. The chicken tenders were some of the best either of us had had in awhile. They were crispy on the outside with a perfectly seasoned batter. The inside was still moist and juicy. We were very happy with our picks and definitely recommend them to anyone considering stopping by. The total was under twenty dollars for our food and drinks so another affordable meal, something very important as a college student.

Carl’s Frozen Custard Last but certainly not least is Carl’s. An old school ice cream stand, Carl’s has been a landmark in Fredericksburg since 1947. And they have been around that long for good reason; their custard is delightful. My roommate and I, along with a friend, went the second night they were open for the season. To no surprise, there was a long line of people waiting for custard, even though it was only 40 degrees outside. We got two hot fudge sundaes, one plain and one with nuts, and a chocolate malt milkshake. The total for three people is around ten to fifteen dollars, and the service is quick. One important note, Carl’s is cash only, so make sure you keep that in mind if you plan to stop by.

7

Weekend Events

Spring Break

Thursday

All campus dining will be closed

• On-Campus Job Fair @ Chandler Ballroom, 4 - 6 p.m.

• Florida Bound: James Monroe’s Slaves. @ Monroe 116, 7 - 8:30 p.m.

• Great Lives: Oscar Wilde @ Dodd Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.

• The Underground closes Thursday @ 11 p.m.

• All other retail locations close Friday @ 4 p.m.

• Top of the UC closes Saturday @ 10 a.m., will serve continental breakfast 8 - 10 a.m.

CONNECT WITH US NOW ON SNAPCHAT AS WELL The Blue & Gray Press

@theBlueandGray

theblueandgraypress

bgpress1922 bgpress1922

LIFE

Netflix’s “Russian Doll” puts a twist on classic time loop story ASHLEIGH GRIM Staff Writer

“Russian Doll” puts a surprising twist on the classic time loop storyline.

It’s funny, witty and sometimes bizarre, but underneath, it uses the time loop to work the characters through trauma and depression in a raw and honest way.

The show follows Nadia Vulvokov (played by Natasha Lyonne), a selfabsorbed, rebellious software engineer, through the night of her thirty-sixth birthday, a night that carries immense baggage for her. Nadia, who has little regard for the consequences of her actions, spends most of the night trying to find her missing cat. By the end of the night, worry leads Nadia straight to her death, for the first time.

Immediately after she dies, the scene opens right back into the bathroom where the show opened, thus begins the loop. Every death opens back to her staring at her reflection and the reality in which she is living and the trauma she is trying to overcome.

Nadia cycles through trauma, deaths and many, many drugs before she finally meets Alan (played by Charlie Barnett), a uptight, routine-oriented man who is coping with the trauma of his own night. As the show progresses, Alan soons starts to learn who, exactly, he is and why he is such an integral part to the time loop both characters are

stuck in. Both of the characters develop individually in the show, but they soon start to develop together and start to unravel why they are stuck together.

The show put these two characters in the same situation to show how important it is to have other people around you when you are dealing with life, especially if they are going through the exact same things.

As Nadia and Alan move through the scenes together, and witness pieces of their nights together, they share more of themselves with each other than they thought they would ever share, and more than they would ever want to. Their closeness allows the two of them to flourish in who they really are. Nadia’s callous attitude surrenders to softer moments, and Alan allows himself to lose control and feel what he is actually going through.

Lyonne and Barnett work exceptionally well together and have the on-scene chemistry that it takes to tackle the heavy topics of the trauma that the characters have gone through, and the resulting depression that stems from that trauma.

“Russian Doll” represents mental health throughout the show in many ways. Nadia moves through her nights, trying to forget the trauma in her past with her mother, and avoiding any idea of commitment. Many of her loops

include her ex-boyfriend John (played by Yul Vazquez), who reasserts his commitment to her and the desire to continue their relationship and build a relationship with his daughter.

The scenes that retell her past are laced with trauma and depression from her childhood. She travels to many places in order Netflix “Russian Doll” permiered in Feb. 1 on Netflix. to try and put the pieces together- a synagogue, a homeless example for strong female screenwriters. shelter and the local drug dealer. Not In an article by the Review, Maya Walker only does she have to face the question said, “with a writers room full of all of why she keeps dying, but she has to women, the show undermines the notion come to grips with how her past relates that women can’t write and direct good to the deaths. television. Women know women better Despite the serious issues of mental than anyone else.” health being touched on, this show is just “Russian Doll” is a show full of as comedic as it is dark. Nadia’s sense of complexity and drama. It’s a unique humor keeps the show light in it’s dark take on processing and accepting past moments, and the bizarre ways that she trauma. and as Nadia moves throughout the scenes, she begins to find the road to dies helps to amplify her character. self-discovery and true relationships.

The show also boasts high reviews from its critics for being a great

Musical passion: alumna’s affinity for music sparked at UMW year out of college. It was the moment that I knew this is what I want to do, and seriously what I wanted to do, not just 2018 alumna Carmen Lily Flores a hobby, like this is a career choice for found her passion for creating music at me.”

UMW. Adding the second major pushed The successful singer added a music Flores’s graduation date a full academic major in her senior year on top of the year back, but Flores knew that despite international relations degree she had her ambition towards international been pursuing. relations, her future was in music.

“It was the best decision I made in “I busted my tail in college and up my college career because I was not to this point I was like ‘okay I’m doing only able to learn how to use technology this for my parents, I’m doing this for to create music, I got to meet so many my parents’. It was at that moment I felt like I really started taking- it took cool people, I got to travel to Florida me a while- but I took that back and and West Virginia and Tennessee to do empowered myself,” Flores said. “I think performances. The more I was living I really made a statement by being like that out, the more I was like ‘this is ‘this is what I want to do’.” what I want to do’,” said Flores, “So Her interest in writing music the moment I decided to add my music began in a 101 piano class where she major was the moment I was like ‘this recalls creates her own melodies and is for me’ and I’m still doing it almost a basic chord progressions.

When she started connecting her music classes and her English classes, Flores said, “I felt like I found the sweet spot for me, wanting to be a songwriter and also incorporating my love for poetry and reading and writing with music which is another passion of mine.”

Now, almost a year out of college, Flores is hard at work Carmen Lily Flores found her passion for music at UMW. creating new Allison Tovey / The Blue & Gray Press music and further ALLISON TOVEY Senior Writer

developing her signature sound.

“I consider myself an underground artist in the sense that I’m trying to really find my style, but, because I am bilingual and I really connect with being Hispanic but also being American, my music really has a stem in pop and trap and hiphop while also having a Latin and reggae style. I really try to write from the heart, that’s honestly my thing. I am someone who likes to write stuff that doesn’t sound like what’s happening now. I like to find the new wave.” Flores said.

She cites her first single- set to release March 28- as a marker of her growth as an artist.

“I wrote it a year and a half ago and my mindset is completely different now from where I was when I wrote this track. This is a very vibey song, more darker tones, more in the depression state, but just because I wrote that doesn’t necessarily mean I feel that way now. While I still like my dark hip-hop and pop and trap, I’m turning more to reggae and Latin which is very uplifting dance type music,” said Flores.

“I think my relationship with music just really progresses with time. As I’m growing as a person, my own music is evolving and as I’m listening to other artists and upcoming artists and my music taste is changing, I am also evolving. I think that my music is maturing a lot more. It’s also taking its own identity and it’s own form whereas in the beginning, I wasn’t really sure what I was doing. I was creating and being like ‘yeah, this is me’ but there wasn’t really a style or sense of identity in itself and I think I’m starting to find that now.”

Flores will be traveling to California to film the music video for her upcoming debut single in the next few weeks.

Leading up to the release of her new music, Flores has been working closely

with her producer, recording in his home studio, as they mix and master the songs that Flores writes, arranges, and performs.

“So in the studio, I sit down with my producer and I let him know what I’m feeling. That’s another key, you need to find a producer that wants to work with you and is willing to see your vision and meet you halfway or really try to recreate what you are feeling into this physical thing. I think a lot of people don’t appreciate music as it should be,” Flores says, “Because, example- when you do art or a painting, you can see the process from an empty canvas to this whole picture. It’s the same thing with music where you need to come in with little sound samples and vocals and the lyrics and have how you want it to flow.

People just hear the end product, they don’t know that all that stuff had to be constructed and arranged, just this Lego piece being created.”

As for the future, Flores has a busy year ahead of her full of performances, multiple single releases, and collaborations.

“I’m just networking right now which is so exciting because I have different platforms to be presenting myself as an artist and to be dipping my feet into different types of music. We got a whole Spanish track coming out for the people of Central America, I have my own pop, dark hip-hop type track to really connect to my own social circle and my peers, and then I have my more mature Latinstyle music that I like,” says Flores.

She adds, “Do you and do what makes you happy, what you want to do with your life. Don’t let anyone else influence you, don’t let other people’s opinions make you choose a life that later down the road you’re going to regret because, honestly, my life goal is to have no regrets.”

9

NEWS President Paino aims to better connect with campus community •PAINO | 2

and one of those areas Future messages will focus on was communication,” informing students of similar actions Paino said. “People felt that there was taken by committees and will work a black box here in George Washington to address the perceived lack of Hall and they didn’t know what was information among students. going on. So I’ve been trying to “In the absence of information, figure out ways to more effectively people will fill it with rumors,” Paino communicate with the campus.” said. “This offers me a forum to have Paino said the suggestion to start a a conversation or to address some of more regular “layer of communication them.” between [himself] and the campus” Many find this new bulletin helpful came from the dean of the College of and informative, and embraced the Business, Lynn Richardson. unique closing signature from Paino, “I started which writing a few instead of a “I want students to know weeks ago and it traditional just kept being signature though that I am very longer and longer including accessible and if they want to doctorates, and longer, all the things I wanted come and talk to me or make position, to talk about,” and last me aware of something, that name Paino said. “But I realized that they always can contact my simply said, maybe the best “Troy.” office and get in to see me.” way to approach Paino this is through laughed a series of when asked -President Paino communications, about the to have a regular signature.

Message from the “When President.”

I signed it that way my chief of staff The first message dealt with a said ‘Do you want to just leave it statewide issue, but it specifically Troy?’ and I did think about it, I addressed actions that were and are thought consciously ‘Yes.’ I think in progress at UMW that deal with my informality is a reflection of diversity in the community. Paino Mary Washington’s network, a fairly specifically spoke on the the actions of informal place that we don’t take each the Campus Environment Presidential other too seriously. We support one Ad Hoc Committee and the President’s another and I’m glad that students get Task Force on Diversity to know me in and Inclusion. Both a less formal groups, made of a mix of way.” faculty and students, have Some made steps to improve students the environment and thought email inclusivity on campus. might not be “I think that having the best way to the backing of students communicate and faculty within Paino’s goals. conversations about these “I think it’s issues is important,” a good idea said Cristina Montemorano, a senior that they are having focus groups, but anthropology major. “The results of I don’t pay much attention to those their conversations will influence emails,” said junior music and history diversity on campus, and the students major Kassie Phillips. “They get buried need to be part of those conversations.” under the 24,000 other emails I get in my inbox.”

Other students read the email but disliked the fact that it wasn’t sent from Paino’s email address itself, but through Anna Billingsley.

“Although I liked the content of the message, I wish the message had come directly from him,” said junior communications major James Rolland.

“I feel like something this important needs to come directly from his inbox.”

Paino’s goals for furthering engagement with the student population include public forums to be hosted after spring break.

“I want students to know though that I am very accessible and if they want to come and talk to me or make me aware of something, that they always can contact my office and get in to see me,” he said.

Paino plans to release new Messages from the President monthly, hoping President Paino has started a “Message from to have another one out once students the President” email to engage with students on come back from spring break. campus.

“I feel like something this important needs to come directly from his inbox.”

-James Rolland

UMW Website

10

The food and clothing pantry is designed to address food insecurity on campus.

Emily Sanborn / The Blue & Gray Press

Faculty seek to combat student poverty issues The

secure were more likely to report a higher GPA (3.5-4.0). is not far enough in the planning “The hardest thing for people process to assess if students at UMW’s in need can be just asking for help, satellite campuses, Dahlgren and especially if they feel like the school Stafford, could use the same assistance. cannot really help them or doesn’t truly However, they are currently informing care about them,” said senior English colleges at these campuses that this major, Sarah Stephen. “This pantry can service is provide a stable available resource that “This all comes out of the and are not students know against driving they can always kindness of community items over come to. This members but mostly UMW when needed. past week, I’ve faculty, staff and students.”

According to seen multiple Hale, if they people come in find there is a to donate items -Dr. Gwen Hale great need in for it.”

Dahlgren or Hale says they Stafford, they would be happy to grow are relying on the community Honor the pantry for students there as well.

Code for students to not abuse the Students of Dr. Leslie Martin, pantry. associate professor of sociology and “The committee discussed this, anthropology, are conducting studies and we would much rather have one to assess the needs of students on the student perhaps abuse the privilege and Fredericksburg campus. still be able to serve others,” said Hale.

Food insecurity damages a student’s Fully believing in the integrity of physical health from the lack of UMW students, Hale does not think stable nutrition, and according to this will be an issue for the pantry. the Community College Journal of The pantry will be unlocked for all Research and Practice, it can also lead UMW students from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. to a lower GPA. After surveying 301 on weekdays, 3 to 6 p.m. on Saturdays, students at two community colleges and 6 to 9 p.m. on Sundays and is in Maryland, the study found that located in the back hallway of the students who experience food scarcity Writing and Speaking Center suite in were more likely to report a lower GPA the HCC, room 429.

(2.0-2.49) while students who are food

•FOOD CLOSET | 1 committee

Student pranks campus with Spirit Rock message •UMW ROCK | 1 The Saturday following, posts on the meme page appeared comparing it to Ja Rule’s Fyre Fest and TanaCon, two viral events that also had no real outline or plan.

Javon Jones, a junior theater and music major had mixed feelings about how the night panned out.

“Part of me felt frustrated for wasting my time,” Jones said.

“Another part of me found the fact that one person managed to get a good

portion of the campus to come to the rock at midnight with nothing more than some paint and ominous words as a funny way that showcases the power of the herd-mentality.”

Jones added that he much preferred nothing happening to something bad happening.

“I mean a bunch of people called into one spot at midnight without any indication of what it could be screams a bad idea in my book,” Jones said.

Thursday, February 28, 2019

NEWS

Alumni and faculty receive prestigious research grants

designed study/ research projects or for English Teaching Assistant Programs. Annually, the program awards approximately 2,000 grants for placement in more than 140 countries worldwide and is the largest U.S. exchange program that offers opportunities for students and young professionals to gain experience internationally, according to their website.

“Fulbright’s primary focus is to promote international scholarly and study exchange, in the hope that such exchange will promote greater international understanding between America and the world,” said Baker.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program relies on the campus FPAs to guide students through the application process, and to interview applicants and make formal recommendations regarding the candidates.

“For the past few years, I have served as co-FPA with Dr. Nabil AlTikriti, but he is a Fulbright Fellow in Azerbaijan this year, which prevented him from serving as co-FPA this year,” said Baker.

As Baker noted, there are also faculty Fulbrights, which are different awards than the student Fulbrights.

Just recently, political science professors Dr. Elizabeth Larus and Dr. Stephen Farnsworth have received 2019-20 U.S. Fulbright grants to expand and apply their research abroad.

Farnsworth has been named a Fulbright Specialist who will spend the upcoming summer teaching government at Methodist College in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

“I’m really looking forward to this program. American government is always a fascinating topic for people around the world, and perhaps never more so than these days, with the constantly newsworthy Donald Trump presidency and the upcoming 2020 presidential election already underway,” said Farnsworth.

Larus was awarded a Fulbright Research Scholarship to Poland, hosted by Marie Curie-Sklowdowska University in Lubin. Larus will conduct research on the impact of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, or the new Silk Road, in Eastern and Central Europe on the European Union.

“Fulbright is an extremely competitive award, and I knew that I was up against the best scholars in the world. The Belt and Road Initiative is a hot topic, so I knew that competition would be keen. However, most scholars

analyzing BRI study its impact in Asia and Africa, not Poland, so my topic was unusual,” Larus said. “As it turns out, there is a lot of interest in this topic in Europe, so the Polish-US Fulbright Commission welcomed my project. I’m excited to be able to live in Poland for a few months and travel throughout the country. I’m also excited to have the opportunity to spend some time with several friends living there.”

She will be conducting interviews with government officials, business associations and academics to determine if China’s Belt and Road Initiative is dividing the European Union into countries that support the initiative, such as Poland and other Central and Eastern countries and the core EU countries of Germany and France and the UK who are critical of the initiative in Poland. The research is especially important, Larus says, because the split may adversely affect the European Union stability.

Over the last several years, roughly 8-12 students have applied annually.

“We would love to increase the number of applicants,” said Baker.

She also noted that any students who are interested in applying for the scholarship are encouraged to contact her.

Dr. Elizabeth Larus was awarded a Fulbright Research Scholarship to Poland.

University Relations

Dr. Stephen Farnsworth will be teaching in Malaysia during the 2019-2020 academic year.

University Relations

Dr. Nabil Al-Tikriti is a Fulbright Fellow in Azerbaijan this year.

University Relations

•FULBRIGHT | 2

Molly Garthwaite, ‘18, is studying in India.

University Relations

Destiny Williams, ‘18 , is studying in Taiwan.

University Relations

Molly Bernhard, ‘14, is studying in Bulgaria.

University Relations

Proposed changes to curriculum reduce language requirement just trying to make

students’ GPAs comes from the language requirement. According to the committee panel, language courses, specifically required language courses, have the highest “DFW rate” of any courses at the University. The DFW rate is defined as Di Lauro as the amount of Ds, Fs, and withdrawals received in a particular course.

“I do think [the changes in the language requirement] will directly impact your GPA in a positive way, because, if you aren’t passionate about

to come to UMW was because of the language requirement, because they made you take language classes,” Harrington said. “It was nice that they wanted you to be able to know the world and be competent enough in a language that you can go to a foreign country and be able to somewhat speak to the locals. I think that’s a really valuable skill. Being bilingual is something that is going to help you a lot in life.”

If passed, this change will not

that we might want to move an SI and a WI class into the major, just to have smoother.” students be able to communicate at Di Lauro’s presentation laid a higher level within their major to out the general education credit prepare them for a career,” said Kelly hour requirements at other Perkins, professor of mathematics.

Virginia universities. University Sophomore Sarah Parker is one of Virginia has a 50 credit hour student who attended the forum. requirement, Christopher Newport Learning about the change only in University requires 52, and Virginia an email, Parker was left with many Commonwealth University has the questions that she hoped could be lowest requirement of 33 credit hours. answered by the general education The 61 credit hour requirement that committee members and other UMW currently has in authorities at the discussion. place has been cited as a “I definitely learned “The changes could benefit the university by diversifying its requirements more deterrent for both first year about the proposals and better fitting students needs, but only if the changes are more effective at and their intentions, the applicants and transfer students, according to ideas of people from maintaining the university’s values than the current proposals will.” the panel as well as the other departments about students in the audience. the proposals, and gained According to Di Lauro, new perspectives on -Sarah Parker there were roughly 400 different outlooks that are less applicants this year than the a language, you’re not going to want to only cut down on the existing general affected by the proposals,” Parker last, a fact that she attributed to how put effort into the class,” said freshman education requirements, but it will said. “I wouldn’t necessarily say overwhelming the general education Elijah Hanisian. “By allowing people also introduce a new digital literacy that [the evolving general education requirement looks to the unknowing to mainly take courses that they enjoy, requirement in order to adapt to requirement] is a necessary change, applicant. The 73 percent graduation your overall UMW experience is going changing desirable skills in the but a welcome one. The changes could rate may also be related to the general to be better.” corporate world. benefit the university by diversifying its education courses, with students Freshman Olivia Harrington had a “We got a lot of feedback that we requirements and better fitting students becoming frustrated by the strenuous slightly different outlook on the change should include digital literacy, which needs, but only if the changes are more requirement. in the language requirement. isn’t currently represented [by the effective at maintaining the university’s Perhaps the biggest hit to most “One of the reasons that I wanted general education requirement], and values than the current proposals will.”

•GEN EDS | 2 all of those transitions

Thursday, February 28, 2019

11

SPORTS

Editor: Jack Hagn | blueandgray.sports@gmail.com

US women’s team deserve more support in 2019 World Cup

MIKAYLA MCDONALD Staff Writer

Popularity of women’s sports has increased dramatically in the twentieth century, especially in the last few decades. One of the most notable events for women sports that has gained popularity in the last three decades is the FIFA Women’s World Cup. The upcoming 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, to be held in France this summer, has gained quite a bit of attention as it promotes its #LegendsAssemble group, which is made up of 13 women and 10 men from 20 of the 24 countries. Their mission is to promote and advance women’s soccer.

“I’m excited about #LegendsAssemble, because my alter ego has just one goal, and that is to empower girls and women and encourage them to play football,” announced Alex Scott, a former English footballer for Arsenal in the FA WSL. The FIFA Women’s World Cup began 60 years after the first Men’s FIFA World Cup tournament.

Carolyn Rouse, a junior playing on UMW’s women’s club soccer team, is planning on attending the Women’s World Cup this summer. She said, “The [USA] women’s team, despite their success, has been treated lesser than the men’s team.”

“The main argument has been that the women’s world of soccer is less competitive because some countries don’t fund and support their women’s team like the U.S. does,” said Rouse.

“Another way people discredit the team is that the men’s soccer team brings in more revenue than the women’s.”

“Since their 2015 World Cup, the women’s team has skyrocketed in sales and surpassed the men. People argue it’s a matter of skill, that the men are more skilled than the women, but they’re not,” said Rouse, displacing this theory.

“The women have three World Cup wins, four Olympic gold medals and one silver medal. At the most recent Olympics, they did not make it to the finals, but that was a rebuilding year for them while it seems that the men’s team is always rebuilding. The men, who did not even qualify for the last World Cup are still paid more than the women. After the men did not qualify, the women were finally granted bonuses equal to their male counterparts.”

Andres Cabrera, a freshman on UMW’s men’s varsity soccer team, said that women’s sports are less popular because there are more men than women watching sports. “This question depends truly on the person, no matter the gender you can’t force someone to watch something she/he is not interested in,” he added.

Currently, the U.S. women’s national team holds the champion title with three wins, one being the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup. In 2015, Carli Lloyd was named the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup champion as she dominated the sideline as a midfielder.

Although there are many phenomenal women athletes Cabrera points out, he

The grouping for the teams to play in the group stage of the 2019 Women’s World Cup.

attributes the main difference in how men play versus how women play to physical attributes.

“In my opinion, men play the game faster and harder than women. That could be because of the way men are built and our physicality. I never doubt women in sports, especially soccer, because athletes always give their 100%.

However, there is a limit for athletes, and men and women just have different limits to their bodies. It’s also not about intelligence because we can all agree that women are smarter than men, and they can multitask as well. But like I said before, it comes down to physical attributes,” said Cabrera.

Nonetheless, Cabrera predicts that “the US women’s team will win the 2019 world cup for the simple fact that they are ranked first in the FIFA rankings and they have shown that they are the

FIFA

most dominant country when it comes women’s soccer.”

Rouse is hopeful that the U.S. will win again, but recognizes the tough competition from the other teams.

“Germany is also a very skilled team and I can see them potentially beating us,” she said. “France, who is ranked third in the world, beat us 3-1 this past January even though we are ranked first. Spain is ranked twelfth and we only beat them 1-0 in our most recent game.”

Rouse outlined changes to the U.S. women’s team since the last world cup.

“They have lost some key players that helped them win the last one like Abby Wambach who was a big goal scorer for us or Hope Solo. However, the U.S still has a lot of their best players like Carli Lloyd, Megan Rapinoe, Becky Sauerbraun, and Julie Johnston (now Ertz).”

UMW dance team organizes Kid’s Dance Camp

DEANNA BIONDI Staff Writer

UMW’S dance team is an entirely student-run group. Limited faculty support can make planning difficult, but that doesn’t stop the team from organizing their own events on top of choreographing routines and attending rehearsals.

Earlier this month, UMW’s dance team hosted a Kid’s Dance Camp, organized by co-captains Jenna Holland and Shannon Worley. They got the message out to families by emailing local dance studios and elementary schools and asking them to spread the word to students and parents about the camp. It was held on Feb. 8 and 9 and included games, crafts and food on both days. They were taught basic techniques of dancing as well as a dance routine, which the kids joined the dance team

The dance team organizes their own events and choreographs their own routines.

to perform during halftime at the men’s basketball game on Feb. 9.

Worley, a senior majoring in business administration, discussed the difficulties behind organizing an event for the first time. “The events we’ve done before, like basketball games and homecoming, it’s been done before so it’s easy to just follow the routine,” she said. “The Kid’s Camp has never been done before, so it was kind of difficult because we didn’t know who to talk to or who to email[…] it was difficult at first, but we managed to get it done.”

“We learned a lot about dance team when we started doing the kid’s camp, like figuring out all the stuff we needed to do through the school,” Holland, a sophomore majoring in psychology, added.

As Worley will be graduating this semester, Holland hopes to continue the Kid’s Camp in the future given this positive first experience.

Despite experiencing difficulties in the planning process and scheduling UMW Dance Team / Facebook issues, the

Club Softball Feb. 23 @ George Washington University Postponed Thursday, February 28, 2019

Kid’s Camp was a success, with twelve children total in attendance. A good turnout for a first-time event. “We got really good feedback from the parents. They were like ‘Oh my god, they [the kids] never wanted it to end, they UMW dance team at a varsity game.

UMW Dance Team / Facebook want to do it next year, it’s never been with PAC, too, we perform at the done before,’ so I think the community same shows.” PAC is an all-inclusive is really interested in it happening organization, while the dance team again,” Worley said. The camp would requires tryouts. be held either once a year, or once every Emily Kaser, a senior majoring in semester if possible. communications and digital studies, Members of the dance team keep chimed in with the typical schedule of busy, as many of them are also part of being part of both PAC and dance team. the Performing Arts Company. Hina “For PAC we usually have Sunday Zafar, a senior majoring in psychology, rehearsals because that’s when PAC gets discussed the differences between being the studio space, and dance team has a part of PAC and the dance team. practice Tuesday and Thursday from “The Performing Arts Company is 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and then Friday a lot bigger than dance team, I think for two hours. For PAC the hours depend we have about 80 members. We have on how many dances you’re a part of.” a variety of styles of dance that we do, The team performs a new routine for and we perform twice a semester with each half-time show of home games a small show and a big show. And then “Sometimes PAC rehearsals will dance team is more of a team thing overlap with home games, so the dance where we all perform at homecoming, team can’t perform during halftime on soccer games, basketball games and a those days,” Zafar added. “But we try to few performances we have. Sometimes do as many home games as we can.”

Club Sports Scoreboard Club Swim Feb. 23 @ Georgetown University Placed 3rd

Club Men's Ultimate Mar. 3 @ Winston-Salem TBA 12