THE
BLUE &GRAY
THE UNIVERSITY OF MARY WASHINGTON STUDENT NEWSPAPER
APRIL 2, 2015
VOLUME 88 | ISSUE 21
PRESS
SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE
DivestUMW sits-in outside of Hurley’s office in protest
1922
Professors to receive statemandated raise ALISON THOET Editor-In-Chief
Girard Bucello UMW students gather together for a common cause, a sit-in outside the door to President Hurley’s office in hopes of recieving positive results for divestment at UMW.
119 STUDENTS, 9 SCHOOLS, SIT-IN CONTINUES ‘Fear 2 Freedom’ Students march against campus rape culture event provides aid for assault survivors
SARAH GRAMMER Assistant News Editor
“Fear 2 Freedom” took place on April 1 at the University of Mary Washington’s Anderson Center. The group is a global nonprofit dedicated to restoring the lives of people who are wounded by sexual assault. The organization recruits volunteers to package after-care kits for victims of sexual assault to help them through their time in the hospital. Each care kit contains clothing, toiletries, a journal, a stuffed teddy bear and an empowering note from the person who put together their box. The kits are sent to local hospitals and organizations; some are even sent to other countries. Short speeches were given by President Rick Hurley and Chris Kilmartin, professor of psychology. Both shared their support for the F2F movement and encouraged students to do the same, especially after recent events. F2F founder Rosemary Trible gave an empowering speech about her personal experiences with sexual assault and how important it is to acknowledge the topic. Trible talked about the general public not realizing that sexual assault is a problem in the United States and that many ignore the problem or use victim blaming in order to feel safer. Trible shared the story of her rape at gunpoint in 1975, and the process a victim goes through in the hospital. All the victim’s clothes are taken as evidence, they are subjected to an invasive exam and are •FEAR 2 FREEDOM | 10
IN THIS
ISSUE
Paige McKinsey Student feminists united for a march down Campus Walk to speak their minds about rape culture at UMW
EMILY HOLLINGSWORTH & ANDREW CRIDER Assistant News Editors
Feminists United on Campus held a march on Tuesday in an effort to create awareness about and open a discussion concerning rape culture on the University of Mary Washington campus. The march began at 4 p.m. at the Anderson Center and ended at George Washington Hall. Representatives from the Feminists Majority Foundation, an organization that FUC President Paige McKinsey
interned with, were present at the march and brought signs. Students, both male and female, spoke after the march about their personal experience as feminists and encountering rape culture. According to Bailey Meeks, English and gender studies double major and a member of FUC, the march generated student interest, as students joined in throughout the march. “I thought it was a really decent turnout,” said Meeks.
“I DON’T THINK FEMINISTS ON THIS CAMPUS HAVE DONE EVERYTHING RIGHT, BUT IN NO WAY DO THEY DESERVE THE TREATMENT THEY’VE RECIEVED.” -Bailey Meeks
•FEMINISTS | 10
A two percent pay increase will be implemented for all faculty, staff and administration at the University of Mary Washington on Aug. 10 in accordance with the new Virginia budget. The budget, passed by the Virginia General Assembly on Feb. 5, included a two percent raise for state employees, including faculty at the Commonwealth’s public higher education institutes. According to Vice President for Administration and Finance Rick Pearce, all faculty, staff and administrative members received a four percent raise in 2008, and a three percent raise in August 2013. In addition, a three percent, one-time bonus was administered in December 2012. “Whenever the state can bring in enough revenue to make the raises, they do,” said Pearce. As for the two percent raise this year, Pearce said, “Frankly, it’s not very much. It’s the best the state can do.” However, according to Jodie Hayob, professor of earth and environmental sciences and chair of the University Faculty Council, the state only funds about half (48 percent) of the two percent pay raise. UMW must come up with the other one percent, as do all other Virginia universities. According to Pearce, UMW’s one percent comes from tuition and fees. However, UMW must pay all raises for auxiliary service employees, which includes Residence Life, certain student programs and non-academic services, entirely through room, board and other fees, as the state provides no help for these raises. The one percent the state does provide will go to about 250 of the estimated 1,000 university employees. The two percent faculty raise is estimated to cost about $590,000, with the state covering approximately $290,000. “It’s something almost nobody understands. The state gives us very little money. The state gives us less than 20 percent of our budget, the rest has to come from tuition and fees,” said Pearce. According to Peace, an extra one percent was found through turnover savings when retired professors were replaced by new, lower salaried professors. Thus, fulltime faculty will have a three percent raise. However, rather than a three percent raise across the board, the administration proposed to the Board of Visitors that faculty receive a $2,000 flat pay raise, according to Hayob. “I think it’s better for the moment because of the economic recession and because of how many people we have in [the College of Arts and Sciences] and [the College of Education] earning at the low end of salaries,” said Hayob. Ken Machande, an associate business •SALARIES | 2
GOT TALENT?
OVERRATED
CLEAN SWEEP
Students compete for cash in campus talent show
Is Bryce Harper the most over-hyped Nats player?
Clean energy plans take motion across country.
LIFE | 7
SPORTS | 3
VIEWPOINTS | 5