THE
The University of Mary Washington Student Newspaper
BLUE & GRAY PRESS Serving the community since 1922
VOLUME 94 | ISSUE 10
APRIL 15, 2021
Security concerns spark fear from students
“It makes me feel like I am not safe at a campus that I call home” reported that the incidents occurred in the same location on March 31 and April 6, in the vicinity of the wooded area near the amphitheater. The report stated that two students were on the brick sidewalk during both occasions shortly before midnight when a white male appeared from the woods.” The man was described as about
TABITHA ROBINSON Staff Writer
In addition to the two campus safety alerts emailed to students in the past week, other students have spoken out about similar safety threats. Anna Billingsley, associate vice president of University Relations, emailed the campus safety alerts to students on Friday, April 9. The first was sent around 4 p.m. and explained that a middle-aged white male called a student a racial slur. The second was sent later that evening and explained that a half-naked man approached two students near the amphitheater.
“All people of color are used to being targets of racism and discrimination, and it is unacceptable to come into contact with it on this campus—a campus that we all chose because we believed we would be safe.” -Jalen White “The two Friday alerts were unrelated as far as we know,” said Billingsley. The first, sent at 4:18 p.m., said, “Last night, April 8, at approximately 6:50 p.m., an older (described as 50-ish years old) white male driving a gray pick-up truck verbally harassed, with a racial slur, a UMW student in the parking lot of the UMW Apartments.” The email closed with safety tips for students such as “If
“No one should go through what that student went through... When one of our community members is hurt through ignorance, we all stand with them.” -UMW PD Chief Michael Hall The Heslep Amphitheater and Morris Stage where students were approached by a half-naked man. University of Mary Washington
campus. “All students should be outraged by this, not just students of color,” said Jalen White, a sophomore psychology major. “All people of color are used to being targets of racism and discrimination, and it is unacceptable to come into contact with it on this campus—a campus that we all chose because we believed we would be safe.” The second email from Billingsley came at 10:11 p.m. It said that members of campus “reported two separate (but related) indecent exposure incidents. It was
you see something, say something” and encouraged students to download the RAVE Guardian app. “No one should go through what that student went through,” said UMW Chief of Police Michael Hall. “The student was taken aback by what the driver said for no apparent reason. It’s troubling to me why people do what they do—it’s just ignorant. When one of our community members is hurt through ignorance, we all stand with them.” He said the UMW police are applying for additional funding for more cameras and lighting on the east end of
5’6”, 150 lbs, early 20s, with brown hair. According to the email, “The subject was wearing only a white T-shirt, and he spoke with the students before departing toward the street.” This email also gave safety tips and urged students to notify campus police immediately if they saw the individual, concluding with, “DO NOT APPROACH THE PERSON.” “We’re monitoring this and will have a conversation with the individual, should we catch them,” said Hall. These two incidents are a part of a pattern of students feeling uncomfortable or unsafe in recent weeks. Around 5:50 p.m. on April 11, freshman Reese Kubricki was sitting in front of •safety | 6
End of five-year education program has lasting effects MATTHEW BOVA Staff Writer
Starting in the fall of 2020, the UMW College of Education transitioned away from a five-year bachelor’s and master’s degree program to a four-year bachelor’s degree. Those enrolled in the College of Education before fall 2020 are able to finish both their bachelor’s and master’s degree program, but current sophomores, freshmen and future students are left with only the undergraduate degree and teaching certification. This change is still affecting current students, many of which chose UMW for the five-year program and were told they would be eligible for it. Some students Before transitioning away from the five-year program fall of 2020, students at the University of Mary Washington were able to apply and enrolled in the five-year program during their sophomore year. These students were also able to choose an undergraduate degree and complete it while taking classes in the College of Education. By the end of the program, they had both bachelor’s and master’s degrees and were certified to teach in Virginia public schools. This program came to an end following
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a shortage of Virginia teachers. Because of this shortage, the State Council on Higher Education opened and encouraged the creation of bachelor’s degrees in education on May 14, 2019. After much debate, UMW’s College of Education decided to create a series of undergraduate degrees in education. As a small program, the College of Education couldn’t run both this program and the five-year program. UMW decided to stop adding new students to the five-year program while keeping the students already enrolled. Dean of the College of Education Dr. Peter Kelly spoke about the merits of the new program. “The thought was, we could get teachers trained faster in four years rather than five obviously, and that would address the teacher shortage,” said Kelly. “That students would incur less debt also, because they’re not going into debt for a master’s degree, and so the state was really pushing universities that have teaching programs to develop undergraduate programs.” Salem Smith, a junior English major, shared their perspective on the education program. “They implemented that program the year I started the education route, and honestly the only reason I chose to do the
five-year plan is because there would’ve been a lot more requirements in the undergraduate plan.” Still, this program has its drawbacks for them: Smith is currently unsure of how they will fund their final year. The decision to switch programs was not made lightly, according to Kelly. “We had difficult decisions about it here with my faculty, because not everybody was on board and not everyone believed it was the best thing,” he said. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree receive a lower salary than Seacobeck Hall will reopen to the College of Education in late fall of those with a master’s. 2021. Cara Lowengrub / The Blue & Gray Press According to data from the teacher with a master’s degree would Fairfax County Public Schools, a new make $76,049 while the teacher with a teacher in Fairfax County on a 194-day bachelor’s would make $67,150. contract makes $55,000 in their first year Kelly said that, while he if they have a master’s degree, but only understands the disappointment that these makes $50,000 with a bachelor’s. Ten students feel, the •EDUCATION | 7 years later on the same contract length,
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