THE
BLUE &GRAY
THE UNIVERSITY OF MARY WASHINGTON STUDENT NEWSPAPER
April 7, 2016
VOLUME 89 | ISSUE 19
PRESS
SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE
1922
Divestment report released; BOV to make decision KELLY EMMRICH Assistant Life Editor
The University of Mary Washington President’s Council on Sustainability released an official report that recommends a 99 percent divestment from fossil fuels. Because of the report, the Board of Visitors has an obligation to make a decision on the issue in their next public board meeting on April 15 and 16. President Richard Hurley said that he intends to make a recommendation to the BOV on divestment for their April meeting. But according to assistant professor of anthropology and sociology Eric Bonds, what the recommendation will contain has not been made public. “In August, President Hurley gave us a list of seven questions to answer in an honest and balanced way, weighing potential costs versus benefits of divestment for a small public liberal arts college, and ultimately making some kind of recommendation on the issue,” said Bonds, who is also co-chair with Erin Wysong of the Divestment Subcommittee. The divestment report is the culmination of all of the deliberation that the subcommittee has done throughout the year. The 23-page report is divided into seven parts that answer Hurley’s seven questions respectively. Alex Sakes / The Blue & Gray Press
•DIVESTMENT | 11
Definition of “administrator” released ALEX RIKER Staff Writer
Earlier this semester at a Student Government Association meeting, vice president for Administration & Finance & CFO Rick Pearce, along with executive director of Budget Financial Analysis Paul Messplay, explained to students that tuition prices might rise in the next coming year. During the meeting, Pearce and Messplay said that they did not have a set definition for what an administrator is, giving the SGA cause for concern that if administrative members are overpaid, it may very well be one of several reasons causing students to possibly pay more tuition. The SGA prompted that “administrator” be defined because the definition of administrator could tie with the tuition costs.Juliette Landphair, the vice president for student affairs, responded to the SGA by sending a definition of what constitutes as an administrator. While inquiring about the matter, Landphair said via email that “these definitions are not new but have been in place for years and are shared by other state public institutions.” According to the Administrative/ Professional Faculty Definitions Spring 2016 Document, ‘administrative fac-
IN THIS
ISSUE
ulty’ (instructor) and ‘administrative’ (professor) were defined as follows: “Administrative Faculty– perform work directly related to the management of the educational and general activities of the institution, department or subdivision. Administrative– administrative faculty who are also awarded teaching rank by contract.” After this information was given out, the SGA was able to get a clear picture of what they were looking at, and overall felt better informed. “I absolutely think the landscape now is more clear, because any definition is better than no definition,” said the vice president of SGA, Alex Obolensky. “As they had no definition previously, I think the Student Government has served an essential function by instigating this process.” The SGA believes it has made progress in the matter, even if it was something as little as gaining a clear and direct definition. He also talked about the availability of knowledge on why tuition costs have increased. “This will position the student body to much more effectively challenge what may well be unnecessary or unjustified cost increases,” Obolensky said.
President Hurley’s Questions 1. What are the pros and cons of divesting from the fossil fuel industry? 2. What alternative strategies can the university follow to address the ultimate goal of impacting climate change? 3. What does UMW already do that addresses sustainability concerns? 4. What would the financial impact be on our endowment if we divest? 5. What is the feasibility of divestment, given the investment profile of the UMW Foundation (e.g. disentangling of a specific type of investment from broad-based funds-of-funds)? 6. Determine whether or not any UMW divestment decision would impact relevant industries, global climate change, and sustainability goals. 7. Examine higher education institutions that have divested and report how they did it and the impact of their decision, i.e. return on investments.
Alex Sakes / The Blue & Gray Press
COLOR EXPLOSION
UBER AWFUL
DISK RACE
Annual Holi Festival shrouds Ball Circle in tradition
Uber safeness questioned by student
Ultimate Frisbee scores historic win in Myrtle Beach
VIEWPOINTS | 5
SPORTS | 3
LIFE | 6
NEWS
Editors: Sarah Grammer & Emily Hollingsworth | blueandgray.news@gmail.com
UMW’s observance of Autism Awareness Month draws attention, concern
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.
TESSA CATE Staff Writer
EDITORS-AT-LARGE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Chris Markham
SECTION EDITORS NEWS Sarah Grammer Emily Hollingsworth
VIEWPOINTS Hannah Parker
LIFE
Petr Kratochvil / PublicDomainPictures.net
Blue lights are associated with Autism Awareness and are a key part of “Light it up Blue.”
Della Hethcox
Student Government Association Beat
SPORTS Mikey Barnes
Wednesday, March 24 & Wednesday, April 6
ONLINE Ethan Tobin
PHOTO
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A motion that the academic affairs committee work with whatever relevant party to release and publish the Dean’s List and President’s list within a quick and timely manner, for example, two weeks after the end of the semester, passed.
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A motion to have the dance studio rooms be put on the same reservation system as rooms in the HCC, library and other various academic buildings to prevent confusion between professors and clubs about who has what room at what times, passed.
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A motion was proposed that listed possible qualification for a student representative in the University Faculty Council. These qualifications include serving a two-year term and having some knowledge or experience studying budgeting and finances. The motion passed.
Alex Sakes
ASSISTANT EDITORS Kelly Emmrich Ester Salguero Izzy Briones
ADVERTISING TEAM ADVERTISING MANAGER
SGA Announcements: •
Natalie Furman
• •
FACULTY ADVISOR
•
Sushma Subramanian
Kappa Sigma will be hosting a fundraiser for military heroes at Buffalo Wild Wings this weekend. The Multicultural Fair will be this Saturday, April 9 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Associate of Residence Halls will host Powder Puff will take place on Sunday, April 10 on Ball Circle. April 21 will be Devil-Goat Day. The event will be working with the Fredericksburg Food Bank and accepting food donations between now and the day of the event. DETAILS PROVIDED BY JAMIE MCGUIRE
The University of Mary Washington kicked off Autism Awareness Month on April 2 with the lighting of a tree on Ball Circle in celebration of World Autism Awareness Day. The tree was lit as part of a campaign called “Light It Up Blue,” run by Autism Speaks. The tree can currently be seen covered with blue light and plans to remain lit until the end of the monthlong autism awareness celebration. According to the Autism Speaks website, “autism statistics from the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identify around one in 68 American children as on the autism spectrum.” In order to celebrate the “over 3 million individuals in the United States and tens of millions worldwide” touched by autism, the entire month of April has been dedicated as a time to be spent focusing on autism education. Every organization and student group has a different approach to the way Autism Awareness Month is celebrated, and the carrying out of the “Light It Up Blue” campaign on the UMW campus has prompted controversy and debate over how the campus community has chosen to talk about autism and promote the awareness of it. According to their website, UMW’s Office of Disability Resources “works with the university community to increase awareness, eliminate barriers, and create a welcoming and inclusive environment for students with disabilities.” In order to work towards their goal of increasing awareness and creating a welcoming and inclusive environment free from barriers, they made the decision to “light up a tree [on] Ball Circle for the month of April as a visual prompt for autism awareness/acceptance.” Though autism is a disorder that touches the lives of many, not all groups on campus agree with the way in which the Office of Disability Resources has decided to promote the awareness of it. DiversAbility, a UMW club for students on campus with disabilities or chronic health conditions, recently wrote a letter to The Blue & Gray Press expressing their disappointment with the way the school has chosen to carry out their Autism Awareness Month celebration and has made it clear that they prefer to focus on “autism acceptance.” In the club’s letter, published in the March 31 edition of The Blue & Gray Press, they cited issues with the logo of Autism Speaks – the organization behind the “Light It Up Blue” campaign. The logo, a standalone blue puzzle piece, is described by DiversAbility as “[focusing] on the weaknesses of au
•AUTISM | 11
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Thursday, April 7, 2016
SPORTS
“Mother of George” has mother of all weekends
Zach Norrbom
Zach Norrbom
JONATHON MYERS Staff Writer
The DIII Eastern Championships took place this past weekend in North Myrtle Beach and UMW Ultimate Frisbee, otherwise known as Mother of George, brought their best. Some of the top teams in the nation came together to compete and Mother of George came in seeded 15 out of 16 in the tournament and No. 220 in the nation. With a win-loss of 2-5, Mother of George ended up taking eighth place overall. To begin the tournament, UMW Ultimate lost on the universe point (a tie game ending with the opponent scoring for the win) to Rice at 11-10. Mother of George also suffered losses to Brandeis, Air Force and Oberlin. However, they did manage to beat regional rivals, Elon for the first time in recorded history on the universe point at 9-8. The second win for Mother of George came from the No. 2 team in DIII ultimate and top seed in the tournament, Richmond by a final score of 11-9. It was
“’WITHIN THE CORE GROUP OF PLAYERS WE HAVE THIS YEAR, ON BOTH THE OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE SIDE OF THE DISC, WE CAN HANG WITH ANY TEAM...” -Keys Pattie also the first time UMW Ultimate has ever beaten them. “We have played them many times every year and we just had the right formula and the right personnel this time around to take them down. We were able to get up by two points and hold them off until time ran out,” said coach Keys Pattie. After being knocked out of the top bracket, Richmond ended up taking ninth
place overall. Both Elon and Richmond ended up in the finals for the tournament the past two years. The momentum did not hold up, however. “Sunday for us was rough, as we just didn’t have the legs to keep up with the stiff competition,” Pattie said. “We went 0-3 in bracket play to finish eighth. We entered the tournament seeded 15th, so we still broke seed by seven, which is a tremendous accomplishment.” Certainly, this past weekend marked many firsts for Mother of George. “Since the club was suspended, about four years ago I think, we have been in a major rebuilding period. We have very high hopes for this year and are currently in the hunt for Nationals. This would also be a first for the program,” Pattie said . “The important thing was to learn where I am weakest in my game and do what I can to fix it before sectionals in two weeks,” said junior cutter Robbie Pratt. “The rookies were incredible this weekend and made a ton of fantastic plays. Note-
worthy guys were Cameron Bierkan who could not be stopped and Joseph Richards who played through an injury and scored two game winners. I really want to list the whole team because they all played their hearts out. Zach Norrbom was great as usual.” From April 16 to 17, Mother of George will be hosting the North Atlantic Coast DIII Conference Championships, facing the likes of Richmond once again along with teams like Navy, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, Christopher Newport and Catholic. UMW Ultimate will have to place at least second in order to make it to Regionals. “With the core group of players we have this year, on both the offensive and defensive side of the disc, we can hang with any team and we will be sure to rattle some cages as the season progresses,” Pattie said. As of the new USAU rankings following Easterns, Mother of George is now seeded 145th in the nation.
Despite “disappointing” Final Four, National Championship game did not let fans down
There are a few moments in a lifetime where you look back and ask your friends “where were you when it happened?” In sports, these are the moments that captivate us and turn a simple game into something magical. These moments are rare and hard to come by, but when they do, lives are changed forever. One of the best places to find one of these moments is in March Madness and the NCAA Tournaments, which came to a close on Monday night with No. 2 Villanova Wildcats claiming the title. Villanova had quite the challenges ahead of them during their NCAA tournament
MIKEY BARNES Sports Editor
run. Their opening round matchup came against the Big South Conference champion UNC Asheville Bulldogs. The Wildcats had little difficulties as they came away with a 30-point margin of victory, 86-56. As it usually does, the level of competition improved dramatically from the 15-seeded Bulldogs. In the Round of 32, Villanova took on the the No. 7 Iowa Hawkeyes. Similar to their first game of the tournament, the Bulldogs had little trouble taking care of business with a 19-point routing of the Hawkeyes 87-68. In the the Sweet Sixteen, the Wildcats were prepared for the greater competition.
As the wildcats were tearing apart their side of the bracket, the University of North Carolina Tar Heels were doing something quite similar, defeating Florida Gulf Coast and Providence by scores of 16 and 19 respectively. In the Sweet Sixteen, the Tar Heels took on the Yogi Ferrell led No. 5 Indiana Hoosiers. The Tar Heels came away victorious 101-86, proving to be the highest scoring game the Tar Heels had throughout the tournament. In the Elite Eight, UNC took on conference foe Notre Dame, who had been tearing things up in the first three games. North Carolina had little troubles as they came
away victorious for the second out of three times against the Fighting Irish by a score of 88-74. The Final Four had quite the opponents lined up. In one side of the bracket were the two-seeds, the Oklahoma Sooners and Villanova. On the other side of the bracket was UNC and the cinderella story, ACC team, the Syracuse Orange. The often highly coveted and anticipated Final Four took place on April 2, at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. The opening game between the Wildcats and the Sooners was a no-contest match, as the Wildcats had their largest margin of •NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP | 12
Weekly Scoreboard Mens lacrosse:
softball:
Apr. 6 @ St. Mary’s (Md.)
Apr. 3 @ York (Pa.) (L) UMW: 2 York: 10
(W) UMW: 13 St. Mary’s: 7
(W) UMW: 3 York: 2
Upcoming: baseball: Apr.7 @ Bridgewater 4:00 p.m.
wOMENS lACROSSE: Apr. 7 @ St. Mary’s (Md.) 4:00 p.m.
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VIEWPOINTS
Amphitheater renovation unwanted, removes historial character
OCEANA PEEMOELLER Staff Writer
Despite being such a little-visited part of campus, the amphitheater has recently come to the forefront of the minds of the student body. This is mostly due to the unfortunate accident that occurred to a female student. Something mentioned much rarer is the $3 million fundraiser to renovate it. Unlike some of the student body, I do not believe that the amphitheater’s reconstruction should happen in the near future. The amphitheater is located behind Trinkle Hall, mostly ignored by the campus. Sometimes professors might use it when they decide to teach class outside during nicer weather. The amphitheater also saw use three years ago when Stephen Davies, the computer science department chair, and David Toth, a former UMW professor, allowed themselves to get pied in the face after a lost bet with their students. Considering the email sent out on March 16 by vice president of student affairs Juliette Landphair, in regards to the incident in which the aforementioned student was seriously injured from the columns in the amphitheater, the renovation seems rather prudent. Landphair suggested a rather simple set
of rules for the student hammockers which boil down to how the buildings are old, some of the trees aren’t strong enough to hold a hammock’s weight, and just to avoid the amphitheater in general. “The work put into [the amphitheater] could open it up to future use for other venues, like how years back we used to have those shows at the Nest,” said James Rives, a senior English major. According to the UMW website, the most recent article regarding the matter of the amphitheater’s fundraiser was published on March 30, 2015 to celebrate how there is just half a million dollars left until its goal is met. In this article, President Hurley was quoted saying that the amphitheater brings forth a “tremendous amount of nostalgia and pride” from alumni. Along with the fact that some people on campus think the abandoned amphitheater lowers the attractiveness of the campus, the need for the renovation has been in dis-
THE AMPHITHEATER’S DECAY IS A LIVING METAPHOR. IT IS THE CALM THAT COMES AFTER A LIFE WELL LIVED.
Non-traditional students desire more recognition on campus REBECA MURPHY Staff Editor
Everyone has their own unique college experience, but being a non-traditional student can create a negative experience. Some students are transfers, commuters, full-time career-building family providers – some are like me: a 23 years old, newly married, transfer, commuter, and full-time student. That’s a lot to handle sometimes. I don’t feel that UMW accommodates the non-traditional student as well as they could. It’s not that we should get special treatment, but I expect us to be understood and acknowledged. UMW used to provide commuter-only parking, however, that changed at the beginning of this school year. I find it frustrating that I have to allot extra time in addition to my commute to find parking on campus. If I’m running late due to the horrific traffic, forget trying to parallel park on College Avenue. Depending on the time of day, there’s little chance there’s a free spot at Pizza Hut, and depending where I have class, I either hike from the parking garage or from the parking lot by the University Apartments. I’m confident there’s a free space somewhere on campus, but spending 15 to 20 minutes trying to find it can be aggravating, especially if I see the same resident parked closest to my classes five days in a row. UMW should offer commuter-only parking again.
Another category some may fall under is transfer students. No one seems to care that you’re a transfer. When you have questions, answers are never consistent. UMW is my third school since beginning my college career. When I decided to transfer to UMW, I was lost, uneducated on procedures and expectations and frustrated with not receiving the help I needed. Knowing UMW would be my last stop before completing my Bachelor’s degree, I tried to get involved in campus activities. I joined the track team, tried to make friends in my classes and expressed interests in clubs. However, my life situation continued to get in the way. These are just some of the struggles non-traditional students deal with. At the end of the day, we’re at UMW to go to school. Being class president or the star athlete may not be an option for a non-traditional student. Students such as transfers and commuters, probably spend the least amount of time on campus. Why wouldn’t the school make sure that short amount of time is influential? I’m confident that I’m not the only one with these struggles, but it would make life easier if UMW acknowledged people such as us non-traditional students, making our experience at UMW more positive so we feel wanted and inclined to give back once we graduate. I don’t feel I have an emotional attachment to UMW, because I haven’t had a fantastic experience.
I DON’T FEEL LIKE I HAVE AN EMOTINOAL ATTACHMENT TO UMW, BECAUSE I HAVEN’T HAD A FANTASTIC EXPERIENCE.
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cussion for awhile. “Watching it fall to pieces is a neat visual reminder of the persistence of nature over any man-made structure,” said UMW alumna Ellen Dreher. The amphitheater’s decay is a living metaphor. It is the calm that comes after a life well lived. The fact that the fundraiser has nearly reached its $3 million goal demonstrates that UMW’s students have loved the amphitheater well, but sometimes people need a reminder that aging ungracefully is not necessarily terrible. The atmosphere that the amphitheater provides is calming and that attracts many students. There is nothing to be ashamed of for escaping to the one quiet place on campus whenever necessary. UMW’s campus is so small that trying to avoid certain people is almost impossible. Renovating the amphitheater takes that away from students. Its status as a campus monument that is also falling to pieces ensures that students, for the most part, stay away from it and preserve this peace.
Girard Bucello Amphitheater renovating makes some unhappy.
Editorial: North Carolina bill not step in right direction for transgender people North Carolina legislators passed a bill on March 23 that would force those who identify as transgender to enter restrooms and locker rooms that do not match their gender identity.The bill, having been proposed, drafted and made into law over the course of a day, prevents municipalities from creating individual antidiscrimination bills and bars the minimum wage from rising above the current state level. The bill was believed to have been made in response to an antidiscrimination ordinance made by Charlotte, North Carolina last month, the state’s largest city. The ordinance offered protection for members of the LGBT community, including that transgender individuals could use the restrooms that corresponded with their gender identity. After the bill was passed, it was met with national backlash. Speculation that the Obama Administration could determine that North Carolina would be ineligible for billions of dollars in federal aid for schools, highways and housing also came as a result.The bill in North Carolina is one of many state issues that transgender people have had to face in recent years. The restroom issue has even hit home in Virginia earlier this year. Del. Mark Cole proposed two bills in January that transgender individuals use restrooms, locker rooms and showers for the gender that is on their birth certificate or of their anatomical sex. What made the bill different from North Carolina’s, however, was that any individual who knowingly used a bathroom that corresponded with their known gender if it does not match their gender at birth would be fined $50. This measure
had originally included transgender students, but a later version of the bill removed students from having to pay the fine. The bill was shut down in a House committee meeting on Feb. 6. Knowing Virginia’s own struggle with providing rights for and understanding the transgender community, understanding the impact the bill in North Carolina could have is crucial. This is particularly the case as members in the LGBT community are often not given special protection under the law that is typically reserved for minority groups, even discriminatory laws, according to a report from the Washington Post. The bill, in short, has shut down local communities from making their own decisions regarding people in the transgender community, but has sparked national discussion and outrage, particularly as the bill was written and passed in such a short time that many of the legislators were not able to review the bill. The struggle for rights has been a reality for members of the transgender community and has continued to be a discussion that many students at the University of Mary Washington, including students who identify as transgender, are passionate about.As it is approaching one year since the Supreme Court made gay marriage legal in the United States, protecting the rights for transgender people should also be a priority on the state and national level. To not do this would be a step back, putting people who have established their gender identities in dangerous and unnecessary circumstances in public places. We at The Blue & Gray Press want to bring awareness regarding transgender people and their rights.
By THE BLUE & GRAY PRESS EDITORIAL BOARD
Thursday, April 2016 Thursday, January 21,7, 2015
VIEWPOINTS
Editor: Hannah Parker | blueandgray.views@gmail.com
Uber transportation potentially dangerous for students
YouTube/ Google
NICOLE CONTRINO Staff Writer
Uber has become increasingly popular among individuals looking for the easiest way to get around a city. College students have begun to capitalize on the use of Uber as a “safe” and easy way to get home from
a night out that may have ended in a little too much to drink, but how safe is Uber? While I am no fan of an overpriced taxi ride or waiting around at a questionable bus stop late at night, Uber has been creeping into the media as not exactly being an ideal situation either. When a driver is requested through the Uber app, a passenger
Letter to the Editor : Last year the student body approved a change to the Student Government Association constitution which removed a clause requiring the SGA to drop their advocacy any issue where they disagreed with the administration, and added a new statement of purpose: “to advocate for the legitimate interests of the student body.” While some understood it as a minor change, it fundamentally recast the relationship between the SGA, the administration, and the wider university community. It allowed the student body to have a steadfast advocate, even on issues where there was disagreement within the community. The President and his cabinet lost their immediate and unbreakable veto over SGA actions. This allowed the SGA to function as an effective counter-weight to administration positions, and forced decision makers to deal with students as equals. That is only right as we are the primary stakeholders in this institution, and ultimately the only reason it continues to exist. This new relationship has enabled all the successes we have won this year. It has allowed us to negotiate. When there was widespread consternation about the new mandatory freshmen meal plan, we passed motions to expand the places on campus where those swipes could be used. That was opposed by the administration initially, but we stuck with it. We won the ability to use some fresh-
men meal swipes at almost all retail dining locations on campus. Freshmen are now freer to eat wherever they wish on campus than ever since the change was implemented. When students spoke up about the moral and pragmatic arguments for institutional divestment, previous student governments stayed silent on the issue. They believed it was too controversial and did not want to risk the confrontation. This year the SGA has passed a number of motions advocating for this avidly supported student cause. We passed a motion asking that the President’s Council on Sustainability report relating to the issue include a recommendation. That has happened and is shaping the debate across campus. Most recently the SGA passed a motion requesting that the Board of Visitors respect that recommendation and vote to endorse 99% fossil fuel divestment from Carbon 200 companies. Two days later we were joined by the University Faculty Council, which passed a nearly identical motion. The official bodies of both the students and the faculty have now joined with the recommendation of the committee – which includes two board members. I expect that the Board of Visitors will approve institutional divestment at their upcoming regular meeting. We will be the first public university in the south and the first university in Virginia to divest. This demonstrates our unique
immediately puts their lives in the hands of an anonymous driver. Yes, the passenger knows the name of the driver and the driver’s car model, but that tells the passenger little about the safety of getting in the car with a random driver. Here are, what I believe to be, three reasons to reconsider getting into a car with a stranger and sticking to a designated driver. 1. Terms of Service Has anyone taken a second to read Uber’s terms of service? I am not going to lie; I never read it the first time I agreed to accept Uber’s terms of service. I was more interested in quickly getting a car to pick me up, rather then checking what that might have actually entailed. Uber’s terms of service are as follows: “Uber does not guarantee the quality, suitability, safety, or ability of third party providers…” and, “Uber shall not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, exemplary, punitive, or consequential damages, including personal injury, or property damage related to, in connection with, or otherwise resulting from any use of the services…” Basically, if you are hurt in anyway, Uber is not to blame and does not protect their drivers or their passengers. 2. Uber barely screens their drivers Uber has been questioned many times about how they screen their drivers and many times the answer is that Uber uses a “zero-tolerance” background check to ensure that drivers are safe to be alone with other passengers. An Uber driver in San Francisco physically and verbally attacked a passenger, but apparently passed Uber’s “zero-tolerance” background check. Turns
out this driver had a very long list of criminal history that would have probably persuaded Uber from allowing them to drive for their company. Seems to me like Uber is the place to get a job after being convicted. I will pass on that next ride. 3. Some people are just a little crazy Look in the news and you will find that some Uber drivers are not only convicted felons, but they also seem to have lost their marbles. No, not all Uber drivers are crazy, I personally have had only good experiences with Uber, but a company as large as Uber should not be having such common problems. In Los Angeles a driver held a woman’s phone hostage for $500 ransom, which Uber ultimately did nothing about. Not to mention, Jason Dalton who killed six people while on his Uber shift. While he did not actually kill any of his passengers, USA Today said that Dalton was driving through lawns and over medians when taking passengers to their destinations. While waiting for another fare to pop-up, Dalton went to three different locations and shot the parking lot up. Think about being the next passenger this guy picks up. No, thank you. How does Uber deal with all the negative comments? They tack on a $1 fee every time a passenger decides to take the “Safe Ride” program called UberX. This fee helps to cover the additional background checks to ensure that your driver is safe. Gee, thanks Uber. If you must call an Uber to pick you up from a party, be sure to have someone you can trust to take care of you. It is always better to be safe then sorry.
ability to engage on issues of great social importance, and will attract many more high quality students than the cheap slogans that have been relied on in the past. In other words, Divestment is a “Yes-Brainer,” only enabled through oppositional advocacy. A Student Senate meeting, which was supposed to be about tuition and fee hikes, it was revealed that the administration could not calculate its own overhead costs – mainly because they couldn’t define who was or wasn’t in an administrative position. This brought the entire rationale for the cost increases into question, so we started investigating: creating a ad-hoc Committee on Tuition Increases; demanding a definition of administrator; and advocating for student oversight throughout the budget process. After nearly a semester’s contentious effort, the administration has offered a definition of administrator, and the University Faculty Council has approved the installation of a new student representative on the University Budget Advisory Committee beginning next year. These will both go a long way to foster an atmosphere of open and continuous communication on one of the issues of greatest importance to the entire student body. Besides improving life and institutional access for all students, these victories validate the utility of this new oppositional approach. Instead of closing down discussion, respectful confrontation allows effective and honest advocacy efforts to succeed. Instead of wasting political capital, it has allowed the organization to accrue legitimacy. Instead of intransigence, it has
promoted student responsibility. Now don’t get me wrong, there are still many more improvements to be made to our community. The ability of freshmen to use meal swipes around campus is still more limited than it should be. The definition of administrator includes artificial restrictions limiting the amount of personnel that can be identified as administrator, and has not led to a cost analysis as we originally requested. The tuition and fee increases have not been mitigated by moderate administrative budget cuts, even though spending in that area has more than doubled in the past four years. There is still work to be done. However, the success of the model implemented this year demonstrates that the solution to these problems lies not in kowtowing to established authority, but in representing our views in a forthright, negotiable way. I have full faith that the incoming leaders will build on our success this year, and confidently advocate for causes which have wide-ranging student support, empowering our university to excel through respectful opposition. I can only hope that the incoming administration recognizes that empowering students improves everyone’s life, and makes the ideals of our community a reality. Signed, Alex Obolensky
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LIFE
Editor: Della Hethcox blueandgray.life@gmail.com
Film Review: “Batman Vs. Superman,” disappoints critics, delights moviegoers NICCO BARATTO Staff Writer
Many of the critics believe that “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice” didn’t live up to expectations. However, as a movie viewer with not much knowledge pertaining to the DC Comics, I enjoyed watching this film. The reason that I decided to watch it was mainly due to its popularity. It seemed like a movie that everyone should see, like “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” Financially, it is clearly on top of the box office making over two times its $250 million budget, just three weeks since its release. The film, directed by Zack Snyder, is a follow up film to “Man of Steel.” It stars Ben Affleck as Batman, Henry Cavill as Superman and Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman. The antagonist in the film, Lex Luthor, played by Jesse Eisenberg, is determined to defeat Superman by manipulating Batman. As Superman and Batman start to view each other as a threat, Lex Luthor sets the stage for a deadly battle featuring Man vs. God, as Lex Luthor put it. Batman, being suspicious of Superman as a threat to mankind, wants to acquire a material called kryptonite, which happens to be Superman’s one and only weakness. He breaks into Lex Luthor’s Corporation (LexCorp) and steals it. Superman is faced with a test to save Martha, his mother, who Lex Luther threatens to kill if Superman doesn’t kill Batman. The turning point in the film is when
Rogue Speedster/Flickr
Batman realizes that Lex Luthor set up this battle when Superman tells him in what could’ve been his last words, “save Martha.” Batman has a flashback of when his parents were murdered by a mugger. Martha also happens to be the name of Batman’s mother. Batman departs to rescue Martha, while Superman confronts Luthor. At this point, Luthor goes crazy and unleashes Doomsday, a monster made from his DNA, forcing Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman to join forces. I won’t spoil the ending, but let’s just say that there will be plenty more
movies in the future. There have been talks of a Justice League movie, which is planned to be released in November 2017. For those interested, there is a complete DC and Marvel comic book movie lineup posted online. They have at least five planned for each year from now until 2020. Wonder Woman, Flash and Aquaman are all slated to have their own solo films and come together for a Justice League movie. There have been many mixed reviews about this film. While the fans are applauding it, critics have found issues with the acting and the plot. Howev-
er, if you want a decent film to launch the summer of superhero movies, this might be perfect for you. The only issue I had was that it seemed a little slow in the first half, but the second half definitely made up for it. Given its action-packed plot, it is a film that you won’t want to miss. Even if you aren’t much of a superhero fan, I would still recommend it for your next movie.
Film Review: Underlying racist tones in Disney’s “Zootopia”
Novacore Deadpool/Flickr
JONATHON MYERS Staff Writer
Walking into the movie theater to see Disney’s 55th animated feature, with my 6- year-old little sister in tow, I wasn’t expecting anything too divergent. With a movie called “Zootopia,” I was prepared to see a colorful film about anthropomorphic animal people learning a lesson about working hard and having everything working out OK in the end. I left the theater that day having seen something I never thought I’d see in my lifetime: an animated kid’s film that tactfully and non-offensively teaches children about racism. The star of Zootopia is a tiny adorable bunny rabbit that dreams of be-
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coming a police officer. Once she does, she begins to realize that her dreams didn’t mean much when faced with discrimination against her species. All manner of discrimination occurs in Zootopia; between predators and prey, large and small animals, etc. The paradise of integration it appears to be from the outside is quickly revealed to be just as problematic as any human city. In an effort to prove her worth beyond her appearance, our bunny heroine teams up with a predatory fox con artist to solve a kidnapping case and earn the respect of her department. This is where the film diverges from expectation. Rather than just end with the case being solved, proving that big things come in small packages, the film fakes you out and keeps going. Rather
than ending there, where it would have been easy, it starts addressing more complicated issues of race beyond just some groups disliking different groups. Without meaning to, our bunny heroine says a few ignorant things about predators, unintentionally devaluing them along with her new friend by drawing out deeply held prejudices in the other animals. A society that evolved together into intelligence and civility fractured along racial lines, driving the two friends apart by acknowledging prejudices and fears our bunny heroine didn’t even realize she held alongside all the other prey. Racial issues are not presented solely as binary in this film. The first half of the film deals with a perceived inferiority in prey and targeting specific species
(bunnies are all hicks, foxes are all untrustworthy, for example). Whereas the second half turns it around and makes prejudices against predators, (the minority group) the main focus. While the first half is the same basic Disney version of discrimination we have seen before that teaches kids to embrace unique qualities among individuals, the second half is more about the systemic kind of racism we see in everyday life. But did Disney go far enough? For Clarence Tweedy, professor of English at the University of Mary Washington, the issue of racism was, “Oversimplified to the point where it lost its meaning and relevance.” Tackling an issue like this would be difficult for adults to handle, but most children would walk out of the theater the same way my younger sister did: oblivious to the social commentary and unable to even remember the characters’ names. It is a bright and colorful Disney movie that will enthrall kids with cute animals and not much else. “[The film] denies the power dynamics of race and white supremacy that consistently hinders minority success.” The oversimplified version of racial prejudice that Disney portrays ultimately fails to capture the root of the issue, and thus, ultimately fails to provide an adequate representation of it. Racism is an issue that needed to be handled with a level of seriousness that Disney was probably unwilling to commit to a children’s movie.
Thursday, April 7, 2016
LIFE
UMW celebrates Holi, the Festival of Colors
Holi History Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, celebrates the beginning of spring, and according to religious legends, the triumph of good over evil. Based on the Hindu calendar, the festival generally falls sometime during February and March, this year it fell on March 24. The most wellknown aspect of the festivities is Rangwali Holi, when participants and frolickers playfully throw colored powders at each other. According to various sources, Holi helps overcome social gaps and unifies participants, no matter their social status, and it also marks the time to renew relationships as you wish others a happy Holi!
UMW Students participate in the Hindu festival of colors, Holi, on Ball Circle. Photographer : Alex Sakes/ The Blue and Gray Press
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Op-Ed: Amid lackluster election year, Americans should turn to Calvin Coolidge for positive example
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The political circus of this election is disheartening. I really do not think that anyone, on either side, is satisfied with the choice of candidates. It is another election of choosing that candidate with whom we disagree least. I know that my friends and peers vote reasonably, and we have all been unfairly given terrible choices. As a sort of side-step from the current political makeup in the United States, let us remember the virtue of responsibility in civic duty. Let us remember Calvin Coolidge. At the end of the First World War the United States was in a position that demanded budgeting. The people of our nation were also worried about the rise of Bolshevism and the potential of the progressive movement to run amuck. Amid this backdrop, the Boston Police, against their department rules, had become affiliated with the American Federation of Labor in August of 1919. In September, the police were threatening to strike if their demand for better pay and improved working conditions were not met. They were working in quite deplorable conditions, so their complaints were not unfounded. The 19 officers who headed the unionization movement, led by the senior John McInnes, were suspended by the police commissioner Edwin Curtis after a judicial review. The following day, about 3/4 of the Boston Police left their posts and joined the strike, leaving the city undefended. Riots, rapes and death ensued. Militias were called in and order was soon restored, but not after considerable property damage had already taken place and a number of people were killed. After the strike, the head of the AFL, Samuel Gompers, called for sensibility by having the striking officers reinstated. Curtis said no. Calvin Coolidge, while Governor of Massachusetts in 1919, showed the people of the United States what leadership meant in the face of crisis by defending Curtis’ decision. He, understanding that the policemen leaving their posts was not only irresponsible, but indefensible, said “There is no right to strike against the public safety by anybody, anywhere, any time.” None of the striking police were reinstated. President Woodrow Wilson, dealing with national strike issues but still sympathetic towards the governor, agreed with Coolidge’s hardline and said “In my judgment…the obligation of a policeman is as sacred as the obligation of the soldier…I hope that that lesson will be burned in so that it will never again be forgotten.” The people of Boston, afraid of general strikes such as what had happened in Seattle, were relieved. The American people also
stood by Coolidge’s side. Coolidge’s actions, however, have not eluded criticism from those who side with unions against public safety. Indeed, today Coolidge is not seen as a good leader either while governor, or during his term as President of the United States. Historian and Marxist Eric Foner wrote an article for The Washington Post called “He’s the Worst Ever,” in which Foner declares that Coolidge was as corrupt as they come, not an honorable man. Coolidge’s decision during the strike, a pro-public safety stance, has been spun into cold-heartedness. This is utterly false. Coolidge actually had a history of dealing with labor unions and agreeing to their demands. He raised the pay of telephone operators who threatened to strike earlier in 1919. But as already mentioned, Massachusetts and the nation were deeply in debt. The war had exhausted much, so much so that Coolidge at this time was engaged in a process of trimming government fat. Everyone had to tighten their belts. Coolidge, himself, lived well below his means, much to the ire of his political opponents who thought it unfit. Historian Amity Shlaes, in her book “Coolidge,” described him as “a rare kind of hero: a minimalist president, an economic general of budgeting and tax cuts” and went on to say that “Economic heroism is subtler than other forms of heroism, harder to appreciate.” When Coolidge stuck to his decision, he went to bed thinking that the morning would bring news of his unpopularity. He acted according to principle and was willing to risk his career for it. Coolidge is a model for us all, and should be heeded by anyone willing to run for the nation’s highest office. Maybe someday soon a rising politician that cares will become to us a hero like Coolidge.
Signed, Ian Scott Wilson Junior History Major
LIFE Students temporarily experience poverty on Ball Circle with Two Dollar Challenge
Alex Sakes/ The Blue and Gray Press
JACOB ATKINSON Staff Writer
For the University of Mary Washington students who may have noticed the large group of people who are camping out on Ball Circle, do not be alarmed: these individuals are tackling the issue of poverty head-on by accepting the Two Dollar Challenge. Founded ten years ago by Shawn Humphrey, professor of economics at UMW, the challenge asks students to place themselves in a situation where they have to go about their everyday lives with only two dollars to spend for all their needs. These students are taking on a big challenge and attempting to make a significant and positive impact on the community by attempting to broaden their understanding of poverty. From April 4 to 8, students will partake in the event
and attempt to gain a better understanding of how poverty affects the globe. According to their website, the Two Dollar Challenge was designed to help students experience life outside their comfort zone, as well examine their surrounding communities. “By asking you to live on $2 a day, we hope to push you outside your comfort zone to critically engage with and empathetically reevaluate global poverty and your role in its end,” states the website. Ultimately, there is an enormous difference between the economic lessons you learn in a college classroom and the economic lessons learned in the life of someone living in poverty. The Two Dollar Challenge aims to show those who participate a glimpse into what it is like to live on just $2 a day, an amount which 48 percent of the world lives on. This statistic isn’t just there to shock you, it’s there to hopefully encourage
you to get involved. The event’s website calls for change, from sympathy to empathy, hubris to humility and conviction to doubt. The challenge emphasizes that It takes a radical change to make a big difference, and beginning with shifts in people’s mentalities about global living conditions will help the cause of ending world poverty. What began on the UMW campus has continued to grow each year, as more and more people across the globe participate each year. Leigh Beamer, a junior economics major and an outreach coordinator for the Two Dollar Challenge team, said that the challenge has reached beyond campus. Today there are participants in Norway, China and the Philippines, which demonstrate the challenge’s influence internationally– the more people that get involved, the more mean-
ingful it becomes and the more aware the world becomes about global poverty. All are welcome and encouraged to try to Two Dollar Challenge. It is not easy to do by any means, but that is the reason it exists. The challenge has been created to properly raise awareness, starting with an individual and spreading globally in a concentrated effort to put an end to poverty. For more information, visit: http:// twodollarchallenge.org/
Justice Department officially drops lawsuit against Apple ANDREW ARENAS Staff Writer
Apple’s ongoing battle with the U.S. Government over an order that would force the company to unlock the iPhone 5c used by San Bernardino shooter, Syed Farook, has come to an end. On March 28, the Justice Department announced that it would drop the case against Apple, because they found their own way to gain access. Prosecutors for the FBI announced that they had accessed the data stored on the iPhone 5c without Apple’s assistance. Apple was originally scheduled to appear in court with the FBI on March 22, but just the day before their scheduled court date, the FBI asked for a temporary postponement. They had discovered their own way to unlock the shooter’s iPhone. Details emerged that the FBI had received help from an Israeli mobile software developer known as Cellebrite. The company touts that it offers “mobile forensic solutions” to help law enforcement agencies break past encryption on smartphones to access data. Currently, the FBI has not disclosed the details behind the method they used in order to gain access to the iPhone, merely stating that the information had been retrieved. The termination of the case brings
the once heated battle between the U.S. government and Apple to a close. Both sides have fought a very public debate over the issues of personal privacy and encryption, which all started when the FBI issued a court order to Apple to help unlock the iPhone 5c. In order to do that, Apple would have to build a new version of iOS that could bypass the iPhone passcode restrictions and bring the FBI a way to enter passcodes electronically. Apple has refused to do so as it would set a dangerous precedent for the future of encryption. This dispute is long running, dating back to 2008 when iOS8 was introduced with a new form of encryption. With this significant change, the relationship between the FBI and Apple became unstable. The events of the San Bernardino shooting eventually led the government to tackle the issue publicly, as they called for access to the shooter’s personal smartphone. Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, said in an interview with David Muir of ABC that this is one of the greatest challenges he has faced during his work with Apple. “From the beginning, we objected to the FBI’s demand that Apple build a backdoor into the iPhone because we believed it was wrong and would set a dangerous precedent,” Cook said in the interview. As a result of the government’s dismissal, neither of these oc-
curred. “This case should never have been brought. We will continue to help law enforcement with their investigations, as we have done all along, and we will continue to increase the security of our products as the threats and attacks on our data become more frequent and more sophisticated,” Cook said. Apple believes deeply that people in the United States and around the world deserve data protection, security and
Toshiyuki IMAI/Flickr
privacy. Sacrificing one for the other only puts people and countries at greater risk. This case raised issues which deserve a national conversation about our civil liberties and our collective security and privacy. Apple remains committed to participating in that discussion.
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NEWS POLICE BEAT
University ‘shatters’ stigma by kicking off Sexual Assault Awareness Month
IZZY BRIONES Assistant News Editor
Rape Forcible Rape occurred at Eagle Landing on Friday April 1, between 1:30 a.m. and 2:15 a.m., the victim declined prosecution and a Title IX referral was given.
Petty Larceny Alex Sakes / The Blue & Gray Press
Petty Larceny occurred at the Sunken Road Lot Friday March 31, between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., the case is pending.
Public Intoxication Public Intoxication occurred at Alvey Drive on Saturday April 2, around 1 a.m., one person was arrested and one person was given an administrative referral.
Vandalism Vandalism occurred at Randolph Hall on Saturday April 2, around 12 p.m., the case is pending.
Underage Possession Underage possession of alcohol occurred at Bushnell Hall on Thursday March 28, around 1:30 a.m., the case is pending
Underage possession and purchase of alcohol occurred at Framar House on Sunday April 3, around 1 a.m., two people were given administrative referrals
The information was compiled with assistance from UMW Police Manager James DeLoatch and Fredericksburg Police Department Public Information Officer Sarah Kirkpatrick.
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IZZY BRIONES Assistant News Editor
Throughout the month of April, the University of Mary Washington will be hosting events observing Sexual Assault Awareness Month. These events will be open to the entire UMW community to promote awareness and educate the student body, as well as “shatter the silence,” the event’s motto, within the community. The first event held was Fear2Freedom, at the Anderson Center on April 6, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Those who attended put together aftercare kits, which will be delivered as “gifts of hope” to victims of sexual assault that are currently in the hospital. In the following weeks more events aimed at promoting awareness throughout campus will take place. A keynote lecture, “Masculinity & Violence Against Women,” will take place inside of the University Center Ballroom on Tuesday, April 12 at 7 p.m. The lecture will look at the relationship between masculinity and violence against women. Following, an event referred to as “Take Back the Night” will take place on the steps of Lee Hall at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 13. This event is one which the Sexual Assault and Prevention Specialist in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Avina Ross stated will serve, “to support and empower ourselves [as a community] and survivors with respect to sexual violence.” To close the month’s events UMW will observe Sexual Assault Awareness Day on Tuesday, April 19. The community will be able to symbolically recognize impact of sexual assault and its relevance at UMW by wearing awareness
ribbons and t-shirts. When asked about the significance of Sexual Assault Awareness Month at UMW and the events, Sexual Assault and Prevention Specialist in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Avina Ross stated that the month, “is about provid-
personally, having had a friend disclose that she was a survivor of sexual assault. “We worked together on several projects and that work and purpose has yet to leave me,” Ross said. “I believe sexual assault can be prevented by educating community members on consent, healthy sexuality and also the hardships faced by survivors of sexual assault.” The events this month aim to educate the UMW community as a whole and that education in turn aids the community in talking about and addressing the sexual assault openly. “I do strongly appreciate our 2016 theme, which is ‘shatter the silence.’ All too often survivors are blamed, embarrassed and/or shamed for their victimization and these aspects feed into their silence,” Ross said. “But, survivorship stories often times motivates individuals to get involved and learn more, so shattering the silence of survivorship is not only helpful for educational purposes, but also imperative for ending the violence.” The university hopes to ‘shatter the silence’ on the subject of sexual assault in and outside of the community. With these events in place, it can be seen that April is a month for building strength and creating an even greater community at UMW, and one in which the community will grow and develop together.
[IT] is about providing education, empowerment and support to our community to prevent and effectively respond to sexual assault. During this time, myths about sexual assault are challenged by providing accurate information about prevalence, dynamics and resources for help. Additionally, it is a pivotal time to help empower survivors through support, their healing journey and in sharing their stories
-Avina Ross
ing education, empowerment and support to our community to prevent and effectively respond to sexual assault. During this time, myths about sexual assault are challenged by providing accurate information about prevalence, dynamics and resources for help. Additionally, it is a pivotal time to help empower survivors through support, their healing journey and in sharing their stories.” The subject is not only one that affects students, but the entire UMW community at large. When asked about why this month and its events were important to her, Ross shared her passion for her work and the relevance of this month for her
Thursday, April 7, 2016
NEWS
BOV to decide Congressman Wittman speaks with students divestment about global, national issues during April meeting EMILY HOLLINGSWORTH News Editor
•DIVESTMENT | 1 The report on divestment says that reallocation of endowment funds towards sustainable and socially responsible investments would further align UMW investments with UMW values. Sean Morris, sophomore biochemistry major, has a different view of the proposal, believing that the endowment should not be limited. “An endowment should be an economic resource for a university and not a political tool,” Morris said. “The purpose of the endowment is to create money for our school to use, and
“The purpose of the endowment is to create money for our school to use, and frankly we could use all the money we can get.” - Sean Morris frankly we could use all the money we can get. We have plenty of uses for our money to go for, and putting limits on it could backfire.” Morris is a student member of the divestment subcommittee and he is one of the members who voted against divestment from fossil fuels. “Just because we do not choose to invest in fossil fuels, does not mean they go away,” Morris said. “We sell our stock we give our voice in a company potentially to someone who cares less.” The final decision will be made on April 16.
When most people think of what politicians do, they might imagine politicians in suits, giving signatures in a professional-looking office. What they may not expect are politicians who travel the world and work to make allies. This opportunity for world travel and discussing global and national issues is precisely what Rob Wittman (R-VA) shared with students as part of his experience being a Congressman. Wittman spoke with an Intro to Political Science class on Monday, April 4 at 1 p.m. in Monroe 346. Professor of political science Stephen Farnsworth acted as substitute for professor of political science Elizabeth Larus, who teaches the class. Wittman, who works in the First Congressional District, spoke with students about traveling to countries in the Asian Pacific to speak with allies. He also traveled to Baltic countries in August, and has gone to London and Afghanistan in the past. South Korea in particular has been concerned about North Korea and its access to nuclear weapons, according to Wittman. On Tuesday, a satellite with the U.S. Korea Institute recorded activity at Yongbyon Radiochemical Laboratory complex in North Korea. According to CNN News, the images cannot determine whether the activity in the laboratory is related to nuclear production. Wittman said in ideal circumstances, the United States, South Korea and China could become allies to defend against activity in North Korea. But China currently faces instability, according to Wittman’s website, committing overt militarization of certain islands and destroying miles of coral reefs. After speaking about international affairs, Wittman turned to issues facing the United States. He is currently investigating readiness with the U.S. military, which determines whether service members are given proper training and whether the entity has been modernized enough to face potential challenges in the future. “A strong United States military creates a deterrent for people who want to threaten the country,” Wittman said, saying that the military’s purpose would not be to initiate war, but to defend from aggressive forces elsewhere. The U.S. military may be five years
from full-spectrum readiness, according to Wittman, racing for time particularly as readiness may not be a secret from other countries. “Don’t think our enemies don’t see this weakness,” Wittman said. After speaking about his experience with national and international issues, students were able to ask questions about political matters. One student asked about the possible effects the Panama Papers, a leak from the world’s fourth largest offshore law firm, Mossack Fonseca, on Tuesday that revealed pressing information about world leaders who have offshore tax dealings. Wittman believes that the effects of the leak would be more far-reaching than people expect, dissolving trust between other countries. “It’s not an effect you would read about in the papers, but it would have
United States Congress / Wikimedia
a chilling effect on the relationship between [different countries],” Wittman said. Wittman also addressed a student question about whether the United States does enough to stop domestic terrorism. Wittman believed that the United States does do a fair amount, but that the country could do more, particularly as domestic terrorists appear to be one step ahead of them. Wittman proposed that the United States could rely more on Human Intelligence, having people enter these organizations and get information rather than using technological means, which Wittman believes the United States relies on too much. “This is a risk to them and us,” Wittman said about using human intelligence in the past and possible future, “but it is where we have been most successful.”
Student group Diversability lends voice to blue light concern •AUTISM | 2 tism,” and “[pointing] to what is lacking for the individual, not what is gained.” In addition the issues with the logo, the club’s president, Natalia Palacois, has stated that DiversAbility also has concerns regarding the organization’s mission because “Autism [Speaks] supports the idea that Autism should be cured, something many people with Autism do not agree with.” The clash over the Autism Speaks logo and their mission has prompted DiversAbility to refrain from lending their
support to the university and their celebration of Autism Awareness Month. The club believes that the intentions behind the “Light It Up Blue” campaign are good but slightly misguided. Despite the conflict in opinion, the tree will stay lit for the duration of the month of April. The blue tree is meant to serve as a reminder of the awareness and the acceptance this community must constantly be developing and exhibiting. Though not all of campus is unified behind this specific way of celebrating autism awareness, the community can still reChris RubberDragon / Flickr
Thursday, April 7, 2016
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SPORTS
Editor: Mikey Barnes | blueandgray.sports@gmail.com
UMW women’s lacrosse taking CAC by storm
SARA TILLEY Staff Writer
The women’s lacrosse season is more than halfway through and the University of Mary Washington team is playing strong with 11 wins and just two losses. They have had some tough games, notably playing the No. 7 York on April 2 and coming out on top. The No. 18 Eagles started off in February with a huge win over Shenandoah, 13 - 4, giving them confidence for the rest of the season. The confidence from this win carried on as they went on to defeat seven more teams: Washington & Lee, Lynchburg, Guilford, Meredith, Southern Virginia, Randolph-Macon and Roanoke. However, they faced a tough loss at Catholic, losing by only two goals. In the first half, the Eagles scored five goals, while Catholic only scored one, which made a
win for the Eagles seem inevitable. In the second half, however, Catholic came out on fire, scoring eight goals while UMW scored only two, leaving the final score to be 9-7. That was a tough loss for UMW, dropping the team from being ranked 15th to being ranked 18th in the country. Last week, the Eagles brought home another win when they defeated York 11-6. It was a tied game at the half, both teams having scored five goals, but the team managed to score six times in the second half, where as York only scored once. Junior Kelsey Vincent was a key player in the game, scoring three of the 11 goals as well as having one assist. In goal, freshman Hanna Ashby had eight saves, helping to lead the Eagles to victory. This win put them at 4-1 in the Capital Athletic Conference. Paige Thumel, a captain of the team,
noted that this win was huge. “York has been a team that we have come close to defeating countless times, but hadn’t come out with a victory since 2011. After a lot of hard work, preparation and an incredible team effort, we finally won 11-6. More than just the single victory, this game shows that our team is a serious contender for a CAC Championship.” This win came at a perfect time with UMW visiting conference foe St. Mary’s College on April 7 for their 4 p.m. game. “We’ve had some nice wins over quality opponents,” said head coach Caitlin Moore. “We have things we need to work on, but we see how good we can be and it’s both encouraging and exciting.” Preparing for this week’s game against St. Mary’s College of Maryland, the team has “really focused on communication, situational decisions and quality shots,”
according to Moore. The April 7 matchup comes after a two-game win-streak and an especially big win over York. On April 16, the Eagles play their last regular season game before heading to the CAC tournament, making it Senior Day. Seniors Ashlyn Dacey, Jamie Dillon and Paige Thumel will be honored as they play in their regular season game at the Battlegrounds. Looking forward, Moore and team captains, Thumel and Emily Mott are hopeful and excited. The Eagles still will face two more nationally ranked teams, St. Mary’s and Christopher Newport University. “Our plan is to take each game one at a time, and make every game our best game of the season,” according to the captains.
Q & A with UMW men’s tennis coach Todd Helbling EMILY DALY Staff Writer
UMW Athletics
The men’s tennis coach, Todd Helbling was hired at the University of Mary Washington in 1999, and since then has led the University of Mary Washington men’s tennis team to the NCAA Tournament 13 times, and the National Championship “Elite 8” four times. Helbling graduated from Millsaps College in Jackson MS in 1989, where he was team captain and received MVP
honors. He was a nationally ranked player his junior and senior year. Helbling later attended the University of Massachusetts where he received his master’s degree in sport management in 1990. Before working at the University of Mary Washington, he worked as the assistant men’s and women’s tennis coach and head men’s soccer coach Washington (MD) College. After this he worked at Slippery Rock University, where he led the women’s tennis team to a record score of 13-6.
and are learning how to rise during the big moments.
Q: How do you feel about the season so far?
A: Just trying to provide our guys a positive experience. I try to look at it from a player’s perspective and what they want in order to be successful and have a good experience.
A: Our season has been a bit up and down. We started off great with big wins over Division I George Mason and Longwood and then nationally ranked Stevens Tech and NC Wesleyan. But we have struggled a bit against the next 7 nationally ranked teams we have played. We’ve been right there with all of them, but come up short in all but one of those. We are very young
Q: To what do you attribute the success of the men’s tennis team? A: Our guys are dedicated and work hard. They are very competitive. I think they develop and learn every day, so they continue to get better. Q: What has influenced your coaching style?
Q: What factors led to your coaching at UMW? A: I wanted to be in a DIII environment. I believe in the mission of DIII and the balance of being a true student athlete.
These kids all love to compete and they are good, balanced kids. Q: How do you plan to fill the gaps that will be left by the seniors leaving after this semester? A: We hope to have 3 pretty good guys coming in next year and we only lose David Lunding Johansson. That’s a big loss, but with how young we are, we are going to be a lot better overall next year just by being more experienced. Q: Anything you else would like to say regarding the team or UMW? A: It is a privilege to get to coach these guys. I am pretty hard on them sometimes because I want them to push themselves and have no regrets. But they are fun and really battle every time we step on the court. That makes for some fun times.
National Championship ends in exciting fashion •NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP | 3 victory with a 95-51 debacle of Player of the Year winner Buddy Hield and Oklahoma. The second game of the night had a lesser differential, though still quite the embarrassing defeat by the hands of North Carolina, 83-66. The Wildcats and Tar Heels were ready to play on the biggest stages of their careers. As fans globally ran to the bars, locked themselves in front of televisions or those few unfortunate folks, stood by as they followed live streams of the National Championship game. From the opening tip-off, Jay Wright and his Wildcats were ready to bring all they had to the National Championship familiar Roy Williams and the Tarheels. This championship game was the third for
Thursday, April 7, 2016
Williams, who was 2-0 prior and the first of Wright’s career. The first half of the game was quite back and forth, as going into the break, Carolina had a five-point lead, 39-34. The two teams came out the break with similar mindsets and playing styles as the game continued to go back and forth, no team truly controlling play or tempo. As the clock winded down, Villanova had a three-point victory as the Tar Heels had what seemed to be a chance for a stroke of luck for Carolina in their more than likely final possession. Senior and star player for the Tar Heels Marcus Paige clearly wanted the ball in his hands during these final seconds. As he dribbled the ball for the last second
three-pointer, he was swarmed by two Wildcat defenders looking for the steal. In the process, Paige seemed to lose control of the ball, resulting in an awkward double-clutch shot, as a defender had a hand in his face. The ball left his hand and seemed to be an impossible heave, until the ball sailed through the net. The Tar Heel bench and crowd at NRG stadium lept to their feet as there was now a tie ball game with just five seconds remaining. Senior captain of the Wildcats Ryan Arcidiacono dribbled the ball to the threepoint line, drawing two UNC defenders before tossing the ball back to teammate and fellow senior Kris Jenkins. The ball released from Jenkins hand with just enough time as it soared through the net,
for three and the victory for the Villanova Wildcats. The “good game” that the basketball fans globally seemed to ask for, sure received just that. It was the first National Champion victory for the Wildcats since 1985 and the first buzzer-beater victory for a program since 1983. As we look back on the history of the NCAA Tournament, 2016 will be one talked about for generations while perhaps our kids will one day ask us: “where were you when Jenkins beat the buzzer?”
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