The Blue & Gray Press

THE

The University of Mary Washington Student Newspaper

BLUE & GRAY PRESS Serving the community since 1922

VOLUME 94 | ISSUE 5

MARCH 4, 2021

2020 security report shows sexual assault as third most common crime for third consecutive year

Adam cooper Staff Writer

The 2020 Annual Security Report, which documents crimes reported on campus in 2019, was recently released by the UMW Police Department. The report was expected to be released in 2020 but was delayed due to COVID-19.

The three most frequent crimes were liquor law violations, drug law violations and forcible rape.

Sergeant Jay Snipes of UMW PD, who has been with the university since 2000, compiles the report yearly in collaboration with other campus resources such as the Talley Center, Office of Student Conduct and Responsibility (OSCAR) and Title IX offices.

The crime report covers crimes such as manslaughter, sexual offenses, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft, arson, stalking, domestic violence and dating violence, as well as liquor and drug offenses on campus.

The total number of each of these types of crimes is compiled over the past three years: 2017, 2018 and 2019.

While some of these categories have zero reported cases in the last three years, such as crimes in the homicides category, the top three crimes have stayed the same.

The Office of Title IX, which provides resources to sexual assault survivors at UMW, is located in Fairfax House.

Matthew Simmons / The Blue & Gray Press

Liquor and drug offenses, handled

by OSCAR, were the most common on campus in 2019 with a combined 56 persons found responsible.

Thirty-eight persons were found responsible for liquor-related referrals in both 2018 and 2019. These numbers were significantly lower than 2017, which saw 112 persons found responsible.

Drug related referrals stayed consistent with a total of 19 persons found responsible in 2018 and 18 persons found responsible in 2019.

Again, these numbers were down

significantly from 2017 in which 31 persons were found responsible for drug related referrals. The cause of the decline is unclear: according to UMW Police Chief Michael Hall, the police department has not done anything differently in enforcing these policies.

The third most common on-campus crime was forcible sexual assault with a total of 16 reported cases in the 2019 year. This is an increase from 2018, which had a total of 13 reported cases, but remains the same as 2017, which had 16 reported cases.

While most liquor and drug related

offenses are handled through OSCAR, sexual offenses can be more complex.

While survivors have the option to report a sexual assault directly to UMW PD, they can also report to the Title IX office, the Talley Center or other campus resources.

Hall, who’s been with the university since 2009, detailed how the process works once an assault has been reported.

“Once we get the call we have 48 hours to notify the commonwealth attorney of the sexual assault,” he said.

“That’s normally within hours of us getting a call. Once we get that we reach out to Title IX and bring them on board, we reach out to our partners at the commonwealth attorney, the victim witness advocates, the Talley Center, we bring all these people to the table on a need to know basis.… We want the right people at the table to ensure we’re empowering the student, that’s our number one thing at that point.”

The Title IX office plays an important role in the reporting of sexual offenses on campus as well. Sexual assaults can be reported directly to the Title IX office or UMW PD, but either way the Title IX office will be a part of the process.

Stephanie Lucas-Waverly, Title IX Coordinator, explained how the Title IX office differs in its role as opposed to UMW PD.

•Security report | 2

Virginia Hall and Seacobeck Hall renovations to be completed by late fall of 2021

liz foster Staff Writer

Despite a few setbacks, both Seacobeck and Virginia Hall renovations will be completed in 2021, bringing major updates to two historical buildings on campus. Virginia Hall, Mary Washington’s second oldest residence hall, will be completed in early summer of 2021, while Seacobeck, the future home of the College of Education, will be completed in late fall of 2021. “[COVID-19] made it challenging for sure,” said Jay Sullivan, project manager of the Virginia Hall renovation.“[It affected] onsite manpower and caused manufacturing delays because of product and material demand and cost.”

Despite this, the timeline for the renovation was not largely altered.

The Virginia Hall renovation began February of 2020 and was expected to take 16 months to complete, finishing in the early summer. According to Sullivan, construction on Virginia will be substantially completed on May 26 of this year. Though COVID-19 caused some challenges, the project will be completed only two weeks behind its original scheduled date.

IN THIS

ISSUE

Seacobeck Hall will be completed in late fall of 2021.

“[There have been] no major setbacks. There have been many small delays and setbacks because of various reasons throughout the project but I feel good with only a two-week delay in substantial completion,” said Sullivan.

The building will have new mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems as well as an elevator. Original historical details such as the cast-iron staircases, terrazzo floors and door trims will be preserved. The double rooms,

Cara Lowengrub / The Blue & Gray Press

open spaces and large hallways will be retained.

While Virginia Hall is being updated structurally with an aim of preserving historic details, Seacobeck is undergoing major internal renovation to transform the building into a new home for the College of Education.

Renovation on Seacobeck has been pushed back more than Virginia Hall.

According to Dr. Pete Kelly, Dean of the College of Education, construction

on Seacobeck will now finish in late November of 2021. Originally, classes were to start in Seacobeck in the fall of 2021. Construction was halted due to a shortage of funds resulting from market escalation. Classes will be offered at Seacobeck starting in the spring of 2022.

“There have been a series of things that have slowed progress on the Seacobeck renovation,” said Kelly. “The original plan was for the renovation to be completed to allow for move in during the summer of 2021 and to start classes in the fall. There have been a number of delays that have pushed substantial completion back to late November 2021.”

Among the setbacks, asbestos was found in the building.

“During the Trump administration, the use of tariffs caused slow downs in our ability to purchase the materials needed for the renovation. Later in the renovation, asbestos, a mineral once used in construction projects that is now a known carcinogen, was discovered and had to be removed. My understanding is that the weather has also caused some delays,” said Kelly.

Construction •RENOVATIONS | 7

First Generation

BOOK BENEFITS

MOTHER’S RUGBY

Commencement ceremony important for families.

What paper books have to offer over e-readers.

International players help grow rugby program.

LIFE | 5

VIEWPOINTS | 3

SPORTS | 8

NEWS

Editors: Jess Kirby & Josephine Johnson | blueandgray.news@gmail.com

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 Kate Seltzer

Associate Editors Abigail Buchholz Cosima Pellis

SECTION EDITORS NEWS Jess Kirby Josephine Johnson

VIEWPOINTS Abigail Weber

LIFE Erin Matuczinski

SPORTS Victoria Percherke

ONLINE Samantha Price Bernadette D’Auria

PHOTO Bryanna Lansing

FACULTY ADVISOR Sushma Subramanian

Environmental science majors will have increased job prospects, professors say Alyssa spencer Staff Writer

According to UMW environmental science professors, President Biden’s environmental policy will open doors for graduates within the major.

On Feb. 19, Biden formally rejoined the United States into the Paris climate agreement, an international agreement dedicated to averting the effects of climate change. This act, in combination with the promises he made to combat climate change and environmental injustice, sparks excitement and newfound hope within many environmental science majors and their professors at the University of Mary Washington.

Professor John Tippett, an adjunct professor of earth and environmental sciences, believes that Biden and his plans would indeed help foster new jobs for his students.

“Biden has a much stronger environmental agenda which will open up more jobs in the field,” he said.

Professor Tippett said that the past four years under the Trump administration have made an impact on those already in environmental science-related careers. He cited the Environmental Protection Agency, which saw nearly 1,600 employees leave the organization in the first 18 months of President Trump’s term, as an example of a workplace that will potentially create new opportunities for graduates.

“The prior administration was so openly hostile to the role of science and in particular, environmental regulation, that a lot of professional scientists left environmental agencies over the past several years,” said Tippett. “What you will probably see is that a lot of mid-level and upperlevel positions will promote existing [employees] into those positions, which frees up more entry-level opportunities.”

Tippett said that this trend should put graduates in good standing in upcoming years.

Melanie Szulczewski, an associate professor of earth and environmental sciences, said that a common misconception related to building a greener future is that jobs will be lost, when in fact the change to the new industry has been shown to create jobs.

“Some like to promote the idea that helping the environment means hurting the economy and getting rid of jobs, and while it’s true that some jobs will go away like those in the coal mining industry, other jobs will be created,” said Szulczewski. “In addition, Biden himself has claimed that because sustainability is so closely tied to social justice, he’s going to be looking at solutions such as making a living wage, encouraging job training, and so forth.”

Many industries that aim to curb climate change or foster greener energy and policies have been negatively impacted in the past few years, but both Tippett and Szulczewski believe that they are on the rise once again.

“Jobs related to the climate, renewable energy, and jobs involving innovative methods for carbon sequestration show the most promise,” said Tippett. “There is a lot of private sector work being done such as consultants that help local governments develop renewable energy plans, or private businesses that create markets for carbon sequestration so that businesses can pay into a fund and they can get their carbon dioxide negated. All of this innovative stuff is happening right now in the private sector, that will go along with the government taking a stronger role in the environment.”

Szulczewski believed that the most growth will be seen in the renewable energy sector.

“Energy is something that we need in our everyday life. We need it to

drive to work or school, to power our houses, and even to get proper drinking water. The transition to renewables is not an easy task, but it’s the most cost comparable sector out there right now.”

Tippett concurred, claiming that economics and politics are creating much momentum in the green energy sector. “We see the general trend towards renewable energy because coal is no longer cost-competitive, making renewables more economically viable.

So, that’s pure economics driving that, but now we have an administration that is incentivizing all of those actions.”

Lydia Samson, a senior environmental science major, believes that job opportunities in environmental science will rise, but not because of Biden. “The number of opportunities will come from general need as the climate crisis worsens, not necessarily because of any federal push for more jobs in the environmental science field,” she said.

Samson has ambitions to become an environmental lawyer and is optimistic that her job will fare well in the upcoming years.

“I’m planning on attending law school this fall and have somewhat high hopes about job opportunities after graduation, as I’ve been told that environmental law is currently the fastest-growing subfield of legal practices.”

Szulczewski has high hopes for the upcoming graduating class—more hope now than in the past 13 years she has worked at UMW. “There has never been so much momentum and reason to believe that we are actually going to see change.

The fact that we have seen some improvements even in the past four years means that now it is going to be exponentially better. There is no better time to be hopeful, to go out there, start working, and quite literally save the planet.”

UMW 2020 security report results

“The Office of Title IX administrative process is separate from the criminal process,” said Lucas-Waverly. “Further, the Annual Security Report covers crimes that take place in a limited geographic area, whereas the Office of Title IX takes reports and provides supportive measures for incidents that take place both on and off-campus.”

Lucas-Waverly reaches out to every survivor to provide them with information and options on how to move forward.

“Upon receiving a report, I reach out to the student, faculty, or staff via an electronic letter, and I offer to meet and discuss the procedures, resources and supportive measures available to them regardless of their choice on whether to proceed with a formal process,” said

•security report | 1

Lucas-Waverly.

In comparison to other schools’ crime reports, UMW has more reported sexual offenses in some cases. For example, despite having over 20,000 students, Virginia Commonwealth University had only 33 combined reports across its various campuses over the last three years compared to UMW’s 45 reported cases.

Sergeant Snipes credits this higher number to the progress UMW has made in being accessible to survivors of sexual violence.

“If you look at other universities in Virginia, we have a higher percentage of reported sexual offenses per capita on the residential population,” said Snipes.

“We see that we have more reports, that’s kind of a metric that we are doing something right.”

Hall acknowledged the possibility

that some cases still may not be reported, but also noted the progress that’s been made.

“We’re always concerned that there are more incidents taking place that are not being reported but we feel we’ve gotten ahead of the game over the last few years with our partners at the Talley Center and judicial affairs, working with the Title IX office dealing with sexual assault and awareness so that individuals feel more empowered to talk to someone.”

Hall continued, “We don’t always get things right as a whole, but I can honestly say the police department’s heart is in it … At the end of the day, everyone at UMW Public Safety cares about our students and our communities.

That’s the message of the security report.

We want to be transparent, we want to put the info out there.”

CORRECTIONS for THE Week PLEASE REPORT ANY MISTAKES SEEN IN THE BLUE & GRAY PRESS TO Kate Seltzer, blueandgray.eic@gmail.com or Sushma Subramanian, ssubrama@umw.edu

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Thursday, March 4, 2021

VIEWPOINTS

Editor: Abigail Weber | blueandgray.views@gmail.com

Paper books have advantages over online reading

In a time where infinite reading materials are LEIGH HATTON available at your fingertips via the tap of a screen, you Staff Writer might have wondered why printed physical books are still such a popular choice. system than reading printed words does.

Especially for college students, electronic books are Techniques such as frequent breaks can help to an appealing option because they are more affordable prevent digital eye strain, but it can be largely avoided and easier to transport between dorms and the library. by choosing print books when the option is available.

Despite this, there is a lot of value in reading traditional A more unexpected benefit of physical print books is print books and textbooks. improved reading comprehension of the text. In a study One of the top concerns with reading e-books is that by the University of Maryland, students predicted that they contribute to an individual’s daily screen time. they would experience better reading comprehension Overexposure to electronic devices can cause digital after reading a digital version, compared to reading a eye strain, as well as a variety of other symptoms such print version of the same text. as headaches and blurred vision, according to UCLA However, the results of the study contradicted their Health. These symptoms are often relieved by ceasing predictions. Students remembered more details and digital reading after an extended period, but they can showed a more complete understanding of the text after also develop into longer-lasting issues. reading the physical The printed version.

American Researchers Optometric suggested that Association the improved states that understanding of digital screens print books may be have more caused in part by the blue light and tactile experience of glare, as well turning the pages. as less contrast Physical books also and definition make it easier to between glance or turn back the text and to previous pages, background. which enforces These factors understanding of the combined place reading. more stress Some researchers say physical interaction with a book helps with reading comprehension.

Another issue Valentin Salja/@valentinsalja on Unsplash on the visual with electronic books

is that they allow for the possibility of distractions.

Reading on your phone or computer means that many other tempting options are presented. Notifications will urge you to read new emails, check on texts, or look at updates on social media, among many other things.

Research shows that students are less likely to multitask while reading paper books. The lack of distractions very often means increased productivity.

The majority of students also reported that they felt more satisfied with the experience of reading a physical book.

However, none of these factors resolve the issue that is most prevalent in the minds of many individuals, and students in particular: prices. In many cases, books can be found for low prices or even for free online. On the other hand, physical books quickly become expensive, often costing over $100 for a hardcover textbook. The easier accessibility of e-books is one of their main draws.

There are numerous possible solutions, and the best options can vary for each book. Renting textbooks, buying used copies, or checking libraries for book availability can all be good options for students.

Individuals could also consider audiobooks, possibly used in conjunction with another format, in order to minimize digital eye strain.

While some any prefer e-books, especially in certain situations, physical books still provide an array of benefits which e-books cannot truly compete with.

Universities should continue to endeavor to make used textbook options more affordable and available, as well as maintaining their library collections, in order for students to have access to the option of physical texts.

Now and in the future, professors should use open-note exams Professors should normalize giving students open MADISON TURNER note tests in the future, even after we move back to inStaff Writer person learning. any of the information’s meaning.

With many classes being taught remotely, it is This form of testing is better for the mental health of difficult for instructors to use traditional exams in their students. A 2019 study titled “Comparison of academic courses, due to the ability of students to cheat while performance and stress levels in open book test and unsupervised at home. Instead of wasting time and closed book test and perceptions of undergraduate energy on trying to combat cheating, many professors dental students” found that “significantly lower stress have taken the opportunity to give open book, often levels were observed before open book test when timed exams instead. compared to closed book test. A positive experience was While effective in combating cheating, open reported by the students regarding the open book test.” note exams are also less stressful and better for Open note exams are significantly less stressful understanding important concepts using critical because students are not punished for forgetting thinking. These tests challenge students in a way small details when they may actually understand the that resembles what life in the real world looks like material and concepts very well. Unlike life in the real after graduation. In the “real world,” graduates are professional world, students are tasked with taking not expected to have memorized every detail about multiple courses at a time, while still being expected to a subject. It is extremely common for professionals memorize all course material. These expectations result in their respective fields to reference aids when they in higher stress levels, and lower quality understanding are lacking information, even doctors when giving a of main course concepts. diagnosis.

Even though it is impossible to ensure all students Being able to use references during exams does not are abiding by the honor code in their homes, some mean the exam is any easier, nor does it imply that professors choose to continue testing by regular means. students will be putting less effort into their work. Open The students who are honest and follow the honor book exams ask questions that are more geared towards solidifying students’ understanding of the material and their ability to apply important concepts to real world situations. This is in direct contrast to closed note exams, which force students to memorize and regurgitate small details about the course without When most classes went online, more professors began giving open note quizzes. internalizing Eugene Chystiakov/@eugenechystiakov on Unsplash

Thursday, March 4, 2021

code are forced to compete with the grades of students whose scores are inflated by the fact that they utilized unauthorized resources during exams. In this way students are rewarded for cheating and punished for having integrity.

When instructors create open note, timed exams, in order for a student to get a high score, they are still required to have a good understanding of important

Open note exams are significantly less stressful because students are not punished for forgetting small details when they may actually understand the material and concepts very well. concepts prior to the exam day. When being timed, it is not possible to refer to aids for every single question.

The ability to refer to notes only benefits students who have already prepared for the exam.

Like traditional forms of testing, there is a clear distinction in quality of work between those who have prepared for an open note exam and those who have not.

An unprepared student’s responses to exam questions would be vague and fragmented, as unprepared students are forced to make up justifications for newly learned information on the spot. Changing the format of the exam does not negatively impact students who typically perform well on exams.

“The exam scores on the two types of tests were strongly correlated – good students tend to do well and poor students tend to underperform regardless of exam type,” a 2013 study titled “Test Anxiety, Student Preferences and Performance on Different Exam Types in Introductory Psychology” found.

COVID-19 has forced us to adapt our learning and teaching methods to best fit the current situation, but this does not mean that these methods should be abandoned once in-person classes resume. Some of these adaptations have revealed more effective, less stressful means of ensuring that students fully understand material. Once schools return to inperson instruction, our professors should continue to utilize new, beneficial techniques and ideas from our experience working remotely.

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LIFE ISAIAH DURAN Staff Writer

Editor: Erin Matuczinski blueandgray.life@gmail.com

Personal Essay: First generation and no graduation each. They should be two months away from watching their last child make that walk as well.

That has been my dream ever since I figured out what college really was. I wanted to make my parents proud and give them that experience of watching all three of their children walk across a stage and get their bachelor’s degree.

With the uncertainty surrounding UMW’s Spring 2021 commencement ceremony, I have taken it a lot harder than I expected I would. I have found myself thinking back to my sibling’s graduations and remembering the times I would tell myself that I was going to have that moment one day too. I pictured myself waiting to make the walk across the stage and trying to spot my family in the crowd before it was my turn to walk.

After all the sacrifices — leaving family behind, dropping their careers, working up to three jobs at a time — I wanted my parents to have a moment where they could celebrate and feel a sense of pride. To me, this degree will be theirs just as much as it is mine. I know there are many families that have found themselves in the same situation and I feel their pain. Being a first generation American and college graduate means a lot to me, and I know it means a lot to many of my fellow UMW students in the same situation.

Thinking back to my siblings’ graduations, there was something special and uniting about graduation days. The whole family was there together, taking pictures, giving each other hugs. If there is one thing we know how to do as Latinos, it’s celebrate. After the ceremony, my father and my mother would always countdown.

“Four years until this is you.” Then, after one of my siblings got another degree, “Two years until this is you.”

Sadly, the countdown is close to its end and it is looking more and more likely that I will not have that moment to reward them for all of their hard work and sacrifices. If I do not get the chance, hopefully, through this they will know how much I wanted this moment for them and for me.

My parents arrived in the United States in June of 1989 when my father was 24 and my mother was 22. They left the small Central American country of El Salvador because the ongoing civil war and political tension was devastating their hometown, San Salvador. They both were forced to leave behind their parents, siblings and career to evade the war and change their lives and the lives of their future children. My mother was nearly done with her nursing degree and my father was completing his studies to become a dentist.

They landed in the United States and were able to find jobs at a local McDonald’s while living in Fairfax, Virginia. As the years went by, they welcomed their first child, my sister, in 1992, followed by my brother in 1994. At that point, they knew they were going to need new jobs to support their small family. My mother went on to get her associate degree and became a teacher in Arlington County, where my father began work as a custodian. After, they welcomed me to the family in 1999.

For as long as I can remember, my father would Duran family portrait, with Isaiah standing behind his parents. quote my late grandmother and tell us, Isaiah Duran “A great education is the best inheritance I can give you all.”

Those words were repeated constantly in our home growing up. When we didn’t feel like doing homework, that was the first thing they would tell us. In our home, nothing came before education. I guess that was the price of living with an educator. I have vivid memories of my parents sitting down to do homework with us every night and telling us to dream big: to be a doctor or a lawyer (sorry those didn’t work out). That is exactly why they came to the United States. They wanted all their children to get through college and have a better life than they did back in their warridden home.

Now, nearly 32 years since arriving in the US, they have supported my siblings Isaiah Duran through a bachelor’s and a master’s degree A Father’s Day celebration with multiple generations.

COVID-19 DASHBOARD 3

Active cases as of March 2, 2021 39

84

Total cases since Jan. 1, 2021

Student health center tests

7-day average cases per day

Positive student health center test

Total prevelance tests Feb. 19-Feb. 25

Isolation spaces available

Positive entry tests Feb. 19-Feb. 25

Quarantine spaces available

0.43

1,084 1

4

6

37 of 38 77 of 82

Thursday, March 4, 2021

LIFE REESE PLACE Staff Writer

Plenty of ways to stay entertained while staying in

Feeling cooped up with your roommate(s) is common, especially during a pandemic. It can get boring sometimes, but fun games or activities to help entertain and stay connected to your roommates during these trying times can make a big difference.

Protect the President Need: at least three players, healthy boundaries How to play: The game starts (at any point, the key here is surprise) by someone saying “the eagle has landed.” From there, the goal is to put your finger to your ear, as if you’re a member of the Secret Service. The last person to touch their ear is the president, making them the target. The “agents” announce “eyes on the eagle!” or “I have sight of the president!” The game ends when the guards tackle or tag the president. Remember that boundaries need to be set up before the game ever starts to clarify what each person is comfortable with.

Hockey Need: at least three players, a table, a quarter and a plastic cup or can (Do not need: hockey sticks, pucks, ice) How to play:

Hockey begins with everyone sitting around the table with their cup in front of them. Someone then starts the round by spinning the quarter in the middle of the table, and they then call out a name of a player. The person who gets called hits the quarter with their hand, aiming as best as they can to hit another roommate’s cup. The opponents can block their cup with two fingers, but if it is hit by the quarter, then the opponent receives a point. However, if the cup falls to the floor, the opponent receives two points. The goal is to end up with the least amount of points. It’s a fun way to pass time, stay in the moment, and forget about the endless list of things that need to be done. *Note: this game can be played with beer if students are of age.

Remember to drink responsibly!

What Are the Odds?

Need: at least two players, a sense of adventure This game is basically truth or dare, minus the truth and adding a bit of chance to it. For example, if you wanted to dare your roommate to do something, you would say, “What are the odds you eat that hot pepper?” They could reply by saying, “1 through 5” or “1 through 200.”

Players agree on a range such as “1 through 5.” Then, count down from three, and say a number within the

range at the same time. If you land getting ready for the day and it would on the same number, then the person remind me of how fun and lucky I who accepted the “what are the odds” am to share a room. challenge must eat the hot pepper (do the dare,) but if you do not land on Kate Seltzer contributed to reporting. the same number, nothing happens.

This is also a fun technique to see who has to do some chores.

Presentation night Need: roommates, Google Slides or Powerpoint.

This entails everyone making a presentation and presenting it, no matter the topic. A topic could be the funniest David Dobrik videos, or the worst places to play hide and go seek, or pillows that look really neat; the topics are endless and fun to present to roommates.

Hide the object Need: at least one roommate, small item of your choosing Take turns hiding the small object on the other person’s side of the room, be creative! When one person finds it, it’s their turn to find a new hiding spot.

When I played this with my Senior Margaret Gregory presents where to find the best roommate, I enjoyed it a lot because I would end up milkshakes in Fredericksburg to her roommate senior Shelby finding it in my rain boot or Bell during Powerpoint night.

Cara Lowengrub/The Blue and Gray Press hood of my jacket as I was

WandaVision surprisingly takes MCU to a new level CAMERON DELEAN Staff Writer

I was unsure of what to think of the series when Marvel originally announced its release. I was hesitant to watch because I worried it would The Marvel Cinematic Universe just released a new addition to the mix, diminish the integrity of the characters and movies I had grown to love.

WandaVision, on the streaming service Disney+. WandaVision has taken over However, this show has been a pleasant surprise in that it has constantly kept the internet with an unlikely combination: sitcoms and superheroes. However, myself and others guessing while also being a major plot driver in the larger the seemingly wholesome content took a dark turn early on in the series.

MCU story.

Taking place in Westview, New Jersey, we follow the misadventures of Marvel is notorious for leaving clues in their movies, and WandaVision Wanda Maximoff, played by Elizabeth Olsen, and Vision, played by Paul is no exception to this. Each episode feels like a scavenger hunt, because in Bettany. WandaVision is the first series in Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic WandaVision every minuscule detail matters, even down to the color of a Universe (MCU). The show premiered Jan. 15, 2021 with new episodes being flower. I’ve had to rewatch episodes several times just to make sure I caught released every Friday until everything.

March 5, 2021.

Being a fan of WandaVision The series starts with has been an experience. I have Wanda and Vision living an had to make sure on the day of a average domestic life in the new episode release, that I stay suburbs in the 1950s with off the internet until I can make lighthearted plots and antics. time to watch it. Most episodes However, with each passing leave on vague yet intense episode, more details begin cliffhangers, but the anticipation to reveal themselves that lead and build up are always worth the audience to believe that the wait. And along with that there is much more than meets payoff, I’ve liked seeing the the eye in WandaVision. The creative jokes and memes show takes place after the people have come up with most recent Avengers movie, online.

Avengers: Endgame (2019), After every new episode is and the events in the show released, TikTok, Twitter and explain what these beloved Instagram are flooded with superheroes have been up to spoilers and memes in a matter since the passing events.

The final episode of WandaVision will be available on Friday, March 5.

Marvel of hours. Although avoiding This show is unlike spoilers has been a daunting anything Marvel fans have seen before. It’s an all new format and on a new task, I’ve enjoyed being a WandaVision fan. I have learned much more about platform. However, the response has been positive for the most part, receiving the comics and I feel a deeper connection to the Marvel community. Also the a 92% on Rotten Tomatoes and 8.2/10 IMDb. references made to other MCU movies in WandaVision have rekindled my love The twists and turns of WandaVision have left Marvel fans at the edge for the older movies. of their seats, completely unsure of what’s to come next. The internet has I was definitely hesitant about the new MCU content being on a streaming circulated new theories after each episode. Fans have speculated what platform as opposed to being seen in theaters, but the quality of WandaVision characters will make appearances, along with connecting plot points in the is up to par with the rest of the Marvel movies while being unique and show with ones in the comics. I think WandaVision has connected Marvel fans refreshing. Because of how much I’ve enjoyed WandaVision, I am excited in a way that hasn’t been done before. Never before have fans been able to to see the other shows that are going to come out of Phase Four. To me, guess the direction the plot was taking in real time. The creators of the show WandaVision has served as the perfect transition into this new-age of the haven’t given any indication of what’s coming next, so it is all speculation at MCU, paying tribute to old characters while introducing us to a plethora of this point. new ones.

Thursday, March 4, 2021

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Weekend Events Thursday

Friday

• First Thursdays with the SBA | Zoo, 12 p.m.

• WSJ Jobs Summit | Zoom, 1 p.m.

• Bank of America Campus Careers Series | Zoom, 5 p.m.

• Great Lives: Zora Neale Hurston/Eudora Welty | Zoom, 7 p.m.

• Human Rights Film Series: The Women’s March | Online through JFMC, 10 p.m.

• Visa Olympians & Paralympians Business Development Program Information Session | Online through Career Center, 4 p.m.

• Great Lives Series: Zora Neale Hurston/Eudora Welty | Zoom, 12:30 p.m.

• Pro Football Hall of Fame “Before the Snap” ft Megan Goble | Online through Career Center, 12 p.m.

• ScribeAmerica Info Session | Online through Career Center, 12 p.m.

• Stafford County Info Session: Autism Teachers | Online through Career Center, 1p.m.

• Islamic Cultural Celebration Kickoff Dinner | Top of the UC

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Saturday • Downtown Greens Volunteering | meet at Bell Tower, 2:30 p.m.

• Mayo Clinic Nursing Career Opportunities - Webinar | 10 a.m. and 12:00

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NEWS

CRIME COLUMN JESS KIRBY & JOSEPHINE JOHNSON News Editors

Destruction of Property

On Feb. 23 at 2:45 p.m., property was destroyed on the Campus Recreation field. This case is pending.

Burglary

Between Feb. 24 and 25, items were stolen at the Brompton storage facility.

This case is pending.

Tresspassing

On Feb. 26 at 7:01 p.m., there was an incident of tresspassing in Seacobeck Hall. This case is pending.

Thursday, March 4, 2021

Students call for monthly Board of Visitors public comment sessions

ANNE SMITH staff Writer

UMW students are calling for the Board of Visitors and the University Faculty Council to hold public comment sessions at least once a month.

Ainsley Rucker, junior philosophy pre-law major, posted a petition on the UMW Facebook meme page on Feb. 18.

“I posted the petition about a week or so ago on the meme page since that has the biggest audience of UMW students who have continually expressed how they wish they could make some changes about the school,” she said. The petition has a few dozen signatures, and the post had 21 likes and 12 comments from students and alumni alike.

Rucker is excited about the reach her post has had. “The response has been incredible, I’m so very pleased with how many current students and alums have also felt that we need more frequent communication between students, admin, and the Board,” said Rucker.

Rucker’s petition represents the viewpoint that the university’s student body deserves to communicate more with the Board of Visitors and the University Faculty Council.

The Board of Visitors is comprised of 12 members who have been appointed by the Governor, tasked to provide supervision at the university to ensure the welfare of the institution’s public mission while also giving counsel to the school’s president.

The Board also confers on major university decisions like appointing the president, determining salaries of the faculty, establishing student enrollment policies, setting student tuition and much more.

Likewise, the University Faculty Council meets once a month — those sessions, and their minutes, are open to the public. Rucker’s petition calls for a public comment periods advertised to students. These committees convene

several times in the year to discuss an array of topics from curriculum to COVID-19 procedures, but as of right now, there is only one public comment session for the Board of Visitors meetings per year.

On the day before the petition was posted, the Board of Visitors held the annual public comment session, discussing the potential increase in tuition and fees between 0 percent and 4 percent for 2021-22. No changes have been implemented yet: the Board of Visitors’ Executive Committee will vote on the 2021-22 tuition and fee rates in a closed meeting on March 12, 2021.

“The public comment session happens once a year, typically a month or more before any vote on tuition and fees for the next year,” said Jeff McClurken, chief of staff and clerk of the Board.

Rucker’s post on Facebook says that the frequency of the public comment sessions is not frequent enough and that there is not enough student input on many issues, like campus security.

Some alumni are also speaking up about the Board’s public comment policy.

Bryant Atkins, a business administration major who graduated in 2019, commented in support of the petition on the Facebook post.

“While its original intent of bringing students into the conversation regarding Tuition and Fees, it is absolutely ridiculous not to involve students, except for the select student leaders sought out by administration or by the student’s own effort, in major university policies that have a direct impact on students,” he said.

Involvement was a point of focus for Rucker’s petition “Part of the petition was asking people why they would like more frequent periods to come and communicate with the Board, and the largest response by far was that students felt they were not being heard,” she said.

McClurken is aware of the students’ demands.

“I am aware of the petition. I can’t speak for individual Board members, though they did hear at [the public comment session] about the Facebook memes page started and run by UMW students,” he said. “Students also have representation and a formal presentation by the SGA president at all four regular Board meetings each year and at the UFC meetings through the Student Government Association.”

Outside of the annual public comment session, on certain occasions, only student leaders are given a chance to participate in other meetings to discuss major university policies.

Rucker said she was inspired to make the petition in part because Board member and former Virginia Senator Edd Houck has been vocal about the need for more public comments for all students.

“Again, I can’t speak for individual Board members, but the Board implemented its public comment policy in 2019 with a provision that ‘a time for public comment will be set prior to the Board’s vote regarding tuition and fees,’” McClurken said. “The policy included the opportunity to submit comment at any time through my office. The Board is a student-centric group, and they appreciate students’ insights through the various means provided.”

Rucker believes that all students have a right to be heard at UMW, since this is a university that values student participation.

“I want to make it abundantly clear that my desire to bring together the students at Mary Wash to make this change is for one reason and one reason only: we have a right to have a say in the decisions made at our school.

My own personal agenda has nothing to do with why I’m pushing for this change. I will absolutely use a better line of communication with admin and the Board, and I encourage all my fellow eagles to do the same.”

Renovated halls to be ready for spring 2022

•RENOVATIONS | 1

on Seacobeck was originally supposed to take 18 months and provide a space for students and faculty in the College of Education. Before renovation, the building had been the campus dining hall for over 80 years, though the University Center became the campus dining hall in 2016. A number of students will not have the chance to use Seacobeck during their time at Mary Washington.

Thomas Bascom, a senior history major in the College of Education, had most of his classes in James Farmer Hall, the current home of the College of Education..

“It’s been good without it, but I really wish I had been able to use it. I heard [the College of Education] talking about what they were doing, and it was okay, but they described all these great things they were going to have in Seacobeck and I don’t think I’ll get to see it,” he said.

Students will get to use the building starting in 2022, and many new facilities

will be available. Like Virginia Hall, many historic aspects of the building will be maintained, particularly involving the exterior of Seacobeck. Inside will be new classrooms, an open forum area in the center of the building for students and teachers to work together and a makerspace for students to learn and use innovative instructional technologies.

Kelly notes that the building will also retain certain aspects of the historically significant Dome Room, such as the fireplace and plaster work.

“I look forward to soon hosting walk-throughs of the building with students and others to help get people excited for the possibilities in our new home,” he said. “The pandemic has been so difficult for so many, it is good to have After being closed since 2015, Seacobeck Hall will reopen after something positive to focus renovations end in Nov. 2021. on.”

Cara Lowengrub / The Blue & Gray Press

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SPORTS

Editor: Victoria R. Percherke | blueandgray.sports@gmail.com

Mary Wash Moves campaign helps students struggling to stay healthy

During the spring said Carter. “I feel KAITLYN HUNDLEY Staff Writer semester, Campus like my physical and Recreation is urging mental health has students to come together to better their gotten better ever since I joined.” physical and emotional health. Mary As of right now there are over 100 Wash Moves club available to help edparticipants in Mary Wash Moves. ucate students on their personal fitness.

Carter said that it is a major success so Mary Wash Moves sends weekly emails far, and that there has been a signifito participants with fitness and health cant amount of positive feedback from tips, motivation, and advice. With students. According to Carter, students these motivahave reported tional emails, that they feel students are more moencouraged to tivated and participate in accomplished challenges that when they are rewarded participate in with prizes. these activiThe club uses ties. an app called Mary Strava which Wash Moves makes the has activities course easy including to access and movie nights, track for all Campus challengers.

Recreation Studies group fitness have shown or meditation Mary Wash Moves offers weekly challenges for students to that students motivate themselves physically and mentally. classes and Campus Recreation runs with a are struggling to stay active and healthy. According fitness instructor. to the article Changes in Depression They also provide opportunities for stuand Physical Activity Among College dents to upload a post of their success Students on a Diverse Campus After with improving their mental or physical a COVID-19 Stay-at-Home Order, well-being.

“About two-thirds of students recent“This new course is giving stuly surveyed reported that they were dents the opportunity to get active and extremely concerned about the pandemarticulate in campus activities,” says ic’s duration, and increased financial Carter. stress. They also reported increases in Angelica Gaughran, a senior sociolanxiety and depression, and academic ogy major and coordinator of Campus performance suffering due to mental Recreation’s marketing team, said that health concerns.” information regarding Mary Wash “Every week there’s a new challenge Moves can be found on their social to participate in and as long as you do media platform (@umwcampusrec) and the requirements that are asked, then in campus newsletters like Student Acyou have a chance to be in a drawing tivities Engagement (SAE) and Eagle to win,” said Katie Molina, a senior Eye. It’s also promoted on the campus history major. hall TVs and the University Center’s Molina is one of the more recent television screens. winners. She “I really won a group want this fitness pass, to succeed which she and be a plans to give successful her prize to program, someone who but I think may want it only it. “I wasn’t will be if disappointed students are at all when willing to I won (even be part of it though I and particalready have ipate in the the pass), I information was really and or the surprised. I challenges usually don’t [that] they win things, are given. I so it was think all the super cool to information know that I Participants in the weekly Mary Wash Moves challenge are entered and all the Campus Recreation Instagram challengwon,” said in a drawingto win prizes.

Molina. es that are presented have a purpose Kenya Carter, a sophomore commuin helping the student-body,” said nication major and intramural sports coGaughran. ordinator, said that Mary Wash Moves’ objective is to reach out to all students and staff virtually to improve their mental and physical wellbeing.

“Ever since COVID started, it’s been hard for me to stay active, so Mary Wash Moves reminds me to move around and take care of myself first,”

Thursday, February 25, 2021

UMW actively recruits rugby players from around the world.

UMW Athletics

International players play a pivotal role on rugby teams nationally

As rugby gains time to pick my MATTHEW BOVA popularity in the US, next classes, I was Staff Writer the UMW Men’s like ‘What do you Rugby team continues to recruit talent mean?’” said Thompson. He has since from around the world in order to comhelped other international players adapt pete against some of the top college to life at UMW, and the school has also teams in the country. stepped in to help through the Center According to the players, good US for International Education. rugby teams benefit from international Aidan Gallagher, junior biology players. major, was recruited differently. After “It just helps to bring in a group moving from Western Ireland to North of players that have more experience Carolina in high school, he appeared in rugby, like the American players, in several articles by the Goff Rugby they’ve played a lot of football, [and] Report and was subsequently contacted basketball so they’re good athletes,’’

by Tim Brown. said Jack Levine, a senior international The rugby team was the 2017-2018 affairs major from Sheffield, England.

D1AA Champions, and it remains a top According to the current roster, the competitor in its division. team has seven international students UMW is not the only school that from the British Isles. These memrecruits internationally for rugby. bers not only play a pivotal role in the “Most of the higher level programs we team’s games, but they also help mencompete against will have a similar tor American players who haven’t been mixture of Americans and international playing in the game for as long. players,” said Joseph Ritter, a junior art Adam Thompson, a 2020 graduate history major. UMW has an exceptional from Aberdeen, Scotland, explained, number of international rugby students “The majority of foreigners who play compared to other schools in Virginia, rugby have had a ball in their hands according to the players. from a very young age, and there’s a Peter Smith, a junior economics malot of skills to be learned … and then jor from Lestischier, England, has been you get the running the Americans recruitment “The majority of foreigners who play rugby process for coming in who stereohave had a ball in their hands from a very an incoming typically group of young age, and there’s a lot of skills pick up the internationto be learned.” sport much al rugby later because players. The - Adam Thompson it’s such a process is fringe sport similar to his in the United States. So they might own recruitment. Using a talent agency not pick it up until late middle school called First Point USA, he is able to or high school, and there’s guys who recruit through a database of a player’s don’t start until they come to Mary records as an athlete and student. GalWashington.” lagher wrote out a message to be sent Thompson was part of the first out to any player who the team believes group of international recruits for the meets its needs. Once the potential team. He signed up with a talent agenrecruit responds, they can begin to work cy that helped him apply to schools with the student and encourage them to in America and take the SATs, and apply to the school. eventually chose UMW after an email “So there’s players from England, exchange with Tim Brown, a team Ireland, Scotland, a couple [of playalumnus. ers] from Wales but not many, South He and other students said they Africans, Australians, New Zealand, a found it difficult at first to adapt to couple [of players] who [live] in Dubai.

American universities, especially in the There’s a couple players from [conearlier years. “When I first came [to tinental] Europe, but not many,” said UMW], it was me and four other [interSmith. national] guys who unfortunately didn’t According to Smith, the team has make it all the way through. When it confirmed nine new international recame to the end of my first semester, cruits from Scotland, England, Ireland, I didn’t know I had to pick my classes and Dubai so far and is continuing to for the next semester… so when people work with potential recruits in Australia started talking to me about having and New Zealand.

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