The Blue & Gray Press

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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ISSUE

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,

spring cleaning Secret war Don’t break the bank or your morals.

LIFE | 4

U.S. pulling out of Afghanistan won’t change much.

VIEWPOINTS | 3

club sports

Teams prepare for a normal season next semester.

SPORTS | 8

NEWS 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

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

With all students and staff vaccine-eligible, UMW hopes to return to normal in the fall

Kaitlin Smyth & Khalia Delancy Staff Writers

With all UMW students and staff eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, UMW administrators have high hopes for a more normal fall 2021 semester.

Jeff McClurken, one of UMW’s COVID coordinators, reflected on what campus will look like in the fall in terms of gatherings, in-person classes and mask-wearing. McClurken believes that, with the right precautions, UMW will be able to get COVID under control over the summer.

“In the short term, that means continuing to practice MMDC,” said McClurken. “Longer term, the answer is widespread vaccinations to the point where we reach herd immunity. There are many months before the fall, and the fall experience will depend on conditions at the time. Our responses will be developed, as they have been all along, in consultation with health units at the local and state level as well as federal health guidelines for colleges and universities.”

McClurken outlined his hopes for the fall semester.

“I feel like COVID has taken a piece of my college experience, and I’m ready to reclaim it.”

-Scotti Mullen “We are planning for a fall semester that is much more like fall 2019 than fall 2020,” he said. “That includes most classes being in-person and without significant social distancing. It will likely include masks still in many public settings, but we will likely see significant increases in gathering size and in what people are able to do in person.”

According to the Virginia Department of Health COVID website, there have been a total of 635,552 COVID cases and 10,472 deaths in the state as of April 11. Fredericksburg reported 1,498 cases and 22 deaths thus far. UMW will be basing their opening procedures off of COVID conditions.

“On one level, the university will be looking at the same conditions as we have been – cases numbers, test positivity, hospitalizations, access to needed supplies, commitment to behavior that mitigates risk – but the vaccine adds a new component and the more people who get vaccinated, the more likely it is that we will be able to have a fall that is closer to our prepandemic lives on and off campus,” said McClurken.

As of April 9, all faculty, staff and students are vaccine-eligible. Anna Billingsley sent an email on April 8 with a link to sign up.

“We strongly encourage everyone to get vaccinated. Widespread vaccination is a key part of reopening and getting

One of many vaccination clinic signs that surround the Mary Washington Hospital.

Matthew Simmons / The Blue & Gray Press

to the post-pandemic world where we can return to many of those traditional college experiences,” said McClurken.

When asked if UMW will be requiring students to get the vaccine for in-person classes, McClurken said, “At the moment we are strongly encouraging it. There are conversations going on at the state and federal level about requiring the vaccine, but those are still in preliminary stages from what we understand.”

University President Troy Paino also shared how important getting the vaccine and remaining vigilant are to keeping cases low.

“Until enough people get the vaccine, we still have this dangerous virus and variants of the virus out there,” said Paino. “While we all see light at the end of the tunnel, we do not want to let our guard down these last few weeks.”

According to the CDC, 34.5 percent of the total population in the United States has at least one dose of the vaccine and 20.5 percent of the total population is fully vaccinated.

Scotti Mullen, a junior economics major, plans to return to campus for the fall.

“I feel like COVID has taken a piece of my college experience, and I’m ready to reclaim it,” said Mullen.

“I am ready to have classes in-person again, as I feel I learn better that way, reunite with friends and re-enter the UMW community. I do plan to still wear masks and be safe, but I’m excited to be independent again.”

Freshman Emily Hemphill was present on campus during fall 2020 but at home for the spring 2021 semester.

Hemphill hopes that this upcoming semester will give her the opportunity to have a more real college experience.

“I felt very isolated in the fall,” said Hemphill. “I definitely missed out on having my classes in person, joining clubs and meeting people. I decided I did not want to spend another semester alone in my dorm, so I came home. I am planning on coming back for the fall semester. I am looking forward to coming back in hopes that I can get a better idea of what UMW is really like during normal times.”

Other students are also excited to return to campus.

“I am excited, I have Attention Deficit Disorder and it is quite hard to pay attention and keep up with work when not in school,” said sophomore biology major Caitlyn Knittig. “It also just feels more special being in person, I feel like I am missing out on friendships I could be making and especially connections with professors. I find it much harder to stand out and to receive accommodations, so I am extremely excited for in person classes.”

Senior English Major Junior Beau Wentz is also enthusiastic about returning to campus.

“I’m excited as f—-,” Wentz said.“Especially considering vaccination rates are skyrocketing. I feel that it’ll be safe to return in the fall because of falling COVID-19 rates and rising vaccination rates. Given that UMW has been doing well with MMDC and getting students vaccinated, I feel that it can be done safely and swiftly. Also,

“I have Attention Deficit Disorder and it is quite hard to pay attention and keep up with work when not in school. It also just feels more special being in person.”

-Reese Kubricki I feel that because we have been on campus since Fall 2020, I do feel that we will be fine in Fall 2021. On a personal note, I will be a senior this coming academic year. I would like to spend my final year on campus in some form or another.”

Paino is proud of the UMW community for keeping COVID cases on campus low with 73 cumulative cases as of April 8, according to UMW’s COVID 19 dashboard.

“I am very proud of the Mary Washington community and how it has responded to this pandemic,” said Paino.

“This community has been a model of responsible, community-minded behavior.”

CORRECTIONS for THE Week Due to editor error, last week’s article “UMW athletes miss out on the comeback of spring sports” incorrectly attributed writing credit solely to Victoria Percherke. Patrick Brown contributed to the reporting of the article.

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, April 15, 2021

VIEWPOINTS

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

Troops leaving Afghanistan won’t end US involvement

On April 13, the Biden administration announced are involved, what are the structures of this. When they GABRIEL MATTESON that it has decided to push back the May 1 deadline to were set up, why are they not in Afghan control?”

Staff Writer remove 2,500 troops from Afghanistan to September The unaccountability of these paramilitary units is war crimes, the US did not cease its strategy of terror.

11, 2021, the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist emblematic of a larger issue: the Afghan government This is best exemplified in the central Afghan province attacks, and bring an end to the decades old US war in in Kabul is largely a proxy for the US’ interests and of Wardak where, beginning in December 2018 and Afghanistan. goals in the region and relies on the millions of dollars it continuing on for at least a year, residents reported This decision doesn’t come as a surprise as, when provides in aid. “…a string of massacres, executions, mutilation, forced asked about Afghanistan in a April 6 press briefing, The US continues to provide support despite disappearances, attacks on medical facilities, and Biden’s Press Secretary Jen Psaki stated “…the corruption on an institutional level that has undermined airstrikes targeting structures known to house civilians.”

President… has conveyed that it would be difficult key public institutions, electoral corruption which has For the majority of cases the victims were men and operationally to meet the timeline.” led to fraudulent elections, and financial corruption boys as young as 8 who were summarily executed. Few Biden’s decision to bring the remaining 2,500 US which has led to billions in aid being lost. All of which to none appeared to have any kind of formal connections troops home follows his campaign promises to “… has largely been ignored or tolerated by the US. to the Taliban. bring the vast majority of our troops home from Most importantly, despite a transition of security These attacks are believed to be led primarily Afghanistan...” responsibilities to the Afghanistan National Defense

by Afghan operatives belonging to CIA-trained The only problem is that there are more than 2,500 and Security Forces (ANDSF) in 2013, the Afghan paramilitary units, which were supported by US special US troops in Afghanistan. It remains unclear if the government and the ANDSF rely heavily on the US for returning troops include the approximately the fundamental building and functioning of its 1,000 unacknowledged US special operations security forces. forces. This raises the question, is the war in US commitment to ensure the existence of Afghanistan truly going to end? Or will it be a the Afghan government is further complicated “symbolic end,” while the CIA and Pentagon because despite the military, financial, and continue the war in the shadows, with even less economic support from the US the Taliban oversight and public scrutiny? remains a potent fighting force and is at its It is possible that Biden will also withdraw strongest point since the US first invaded all US special operations forces, but due to his Afghanistan. policy views articulated during his Presidential All of this means that the US will have to campaign and time under Obama, we will retain a heavy presence in the region which it most likely see the US retaining special forces is fully willing to do. The Biden administration operations and covert actions defined in the stated in a press briefing on April 13 that “The terms of “counterterrorism operations.”

United States is going to remain deeply engaged A senior administration official further with the government of Afghanistan.” supports this assessment as they stated, Following that overview, I feel comfortable in a press briefing on April 13, that “... asking “so what’s changing?” Then answering, in coordination with our Afghan partners in function, not much. The US will continue President Biden announced he would remove the remaining troops from Afghanistan by and with other allies, we will reposition Sept. 11, 2021.

Andrew Harnik/Associated Press News propping up the Afghan government while our counterterrorism capabilities, retaining engaging in covert special forces operations operations forces and air power. Targets were chosen significant assets in the region to counter the potential and actions that fall under the label of counter by the units’ CIA advisers who accompany Afghan reemergence of a terrorist threat…” terrorism operations. The same label which the targeted paramilitaries on the ground during raids.

Counterterrorism operations are largely unnecessary assassinations of civilians in Wadark fell under.

According to Human Rights Watch, deliberate attacks as, while the Taliban does retain a relationship with The war in Afghanistan is not coming to an end and on civilians such as those in Wardak are illustrative of al-Qaeda, there are indicators that it’ll work to “regulate the US will not be leaving in a substantial way anytime “…a larger pattern of serious laws-of-war violations the behavior with foreign fighters, including al-Qaeda,” soon. The ongoing conflict will simply move to the [war crimes] that extends to all provinces in Afghanistan into the future. This is consistent with past behavior periphery of the American consciousness while staying where these paramilitary forces operate with impunity.” as the Taliban opened negotiations with the US in the in the forefront of the people in Afghanistan who are These paramilitary units are said to be under the 1990s to turn over US-labeled terrorists within its directly affected by American foerign policy decisions. jurisdiction of the National Directorate of Security of borders.

And at the end of the day, after September 11, we will Afghanistan, but when findings about raids were shared Perhaps even more importantly, counterterrorism have the option to forget what has happened over the with Afghanistan’s national security adviser, Hamdullah operations have been linked to war crimes committed past twenty years and what will continue to occur.

Mohib, he responded that, “Quite frankly, I’m not fully by the US & Afghan forces under its direction, currently Afghanistan isn’t so lucky. aware … of how they work,” and stated “We’ve asked being investigated by the International Criminal Court. for clarification on how these operations happen, who Even after the ICC began investigating charges of

Staff Ed: When students feel unsafe and targeted, UMW Campus Police needs to offer more than detached sympathy UMW Campus Police needs to be more proactive in making the student population feel safe. It is not enough for UMW PD to just state their intent to do so.

Last week two alerts were sent out by Anna Billingsley regarding two separate incidents where students were harassed on campus. One student was verbally harassed with racial slurs while a pair of students were approached by an indecently exposed man.

This is not the first time this semester students have felt threatened on campus. On Feb. 25, it was reported that a suspicious man had attempted to enter residential halls and followed several students. On March 2, UMW PD located another group of Patriot Front stickers on campus. Even though UMW PD cannot charge Patriot Front because their actions are protected by the First Amendment, UMW should be able to bar them from campus.

Despite UMW PD’s consistent verbal responses to these incidents, they still happen. Furthermore, with Campus Police’s involvement in controlling Fredericksburg’s Black Lives Matter protest in May of 2020, there has been a call for Campus Police to evaluate their policies and consider whether their actions have put the safety of students first.

While the ongoing Community Advisory Panel

Thursday, April 15, 2021

By THE BLUE & GRAY PRESS EDITORIAL BOARD

(CAP) report has been a step in the right direction, it has not elicited much change. The final report regarding UMW PD’s involvement with the Fredericksburg Black Lives Matter protest was released two weeks ago. The conclusion of the report recommended the creation of a Campus Policing Advisory Council of students, staff and UMW PD officers to evaluate complaints,effectively communicate with each other and evaluate the current policing systems in place.

While the conclusion of this report appears hopeful, it is not just enough for UMW PD to hear this recommendation. There needs to be an active move to implement this Advisory Council and the recommendations from the report. There also needs to be an active move to include diverse voices on this council.

While UMW is made up of a majority of white students, they cannot be the only representatives on this council. A special topics sociology class entitled “Invention of Police: Social Control” recently reported that 40 percent of Black students do not feel safe walking at night time on campus. 56 percent of mixedrace students do not feel comfortable in surrounding

neighborhoods, and 24 percent of mixed-race students do not feel safe in campus parking areas.

In response to many of the incidents that have cropped up on campus that have involved UMW Campus Police, the general response has been one of detached sympathy. What UMW PD needs to understand is that it is not enough for them to state situations like racial harassment and the intimidation of female students should not be happening. The UMW PD acts as if it is a mere bystander when these incidents are the direct result of their failure to protect and serve the UMW community. They need to step up and continue to take accountability for their actions and implement systems that do not retroactively harm diverse student populations.

The shortcomings of UMW Campus Police are not new. With the rise of the nation’s active discussion of the policing system, it makes sense for some to conclude that students are being needlessly critical of UMW’s PD. However, as a campus there needs to be accountability in every facet of our community in order to create a strong and healthy one. The call to action for Campus Police to step up and build a relationship between themselves and students who do not feel safe contacting the police is a necessary one in order to achieve the community we pride ourselves on.

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LIFE

Editor: Erin Matuczinski blueandgray.life@gmail.com

Eco-friendly products for your Spring cleaning session

ALYSSA SPENCER Staff Writer

Spring cleaning is an activity enjoyed by some and necessary for all. With the warmer weather coming in hot, the desire for many to begin opening up their windows and letting in some much-needed fresh air and sunlight has arrived.

With nature’s renewed vibrance and delicate scents, it’s important to refresh and reclean to not let one’s living space remain stale after a long winter indoors.

Being a busy college student living in small dorms or apartments often leads to an agglomeration of clothes, shoes and old toothpaste residue on bathroom sinks. And with finals and move-out dates right around the corner, cleaning your space now could go a long way in preparing you for the upcoming chaos. Whether this means just giving your space a quick tidy up, or a full-on wash, it is encouraged that you attempt to do so with the environment in mind to minimise your overall impact.

There are numerous ecofriendly cleaning products that are available both on Amazon and at your local grocery store, and sometimes it can be difficult to choose which products are actually good for the environment and not just a greenwashing scam. In addition, many people are misled into believing that green products are more expensive, which can discourage college students from

using the products at all. This is simply not true.

One cleaning activity that we all do no matter what time of year it may be is laundry day.

The Tide pods that are a staple for most college students, and the wasteful drying sheets common to most households, are not only bad for the planet but are also a very costly expense. That is why switching to detergent sheets and dryer balls are one of the best clean switches one can make! Tide pods are typically bought in massive plastic containers and are filled with unnecessarily harsh chemicals.

These pods typically sell for around $20 on Amazon. The Sheets Laundry Club Laundry Detergent is typically $17 for a semester’s worth of eco-friendly detergent. Not only are these cheaper than the pods, but they are delivered in a cardboard box that can be completely recycled, and the detergent is in the form of sheets which can dissolve immediately when wet, a huge advantage compared to the plastic tide pod.

As for the second half of the laundry process, dryer balls, which are often made with sheep wool, can be purchased for as cheap as $6.99 on Amazon. However, on average they sell for $10 and can be found in most grocery stores. These little wool balls are amazing with static control and can last for years with no maintenance or effort.

Most are even compostable at the

end of their life. You can even add essential oils to the balls before loading the dryer and your clothes will come out smelling as fresh as a spring daisy!

As for every day cleaning products like multipurpose cleaner for desks and countertops, the Mrs. Meyer’s brand is known for its clean and green reputation. You can purchase a single 12 oz. bottle of Mrs. Meyer’s Multisurface Everyday Cleaner for as little as $3.88. This bottle gives you the option to further create less waste by using a reusable hand towel with it instead of disposable paper towels. Mrs. Meyer’s main competitor seems to be Clorox Disinfectant Wipes, because they tend to be convenient and usually cheap, however the prices for these wipes vary depending on where you purchase them. They are commonly sold anywhere between $2-$20, and are not only wasteful in nature, but they are filled with harsh chemicals that have the potential to be problematic for one’s health.

The products mentioned above are just a few out of many. If you are curious about the products you use and how they may compare to other brands, check out EWG’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning. EWG, also known as the Environmental Working Group, is a nonprofit that has created an informative database of everyday cleaning products, where you can compare the overall

health and safety of a multitude of cleaning products. Their simple system allows you to either search for, or scan the barcode of, most products found in stores. All products are given a rating of an A if they are both good for the planet and for human health, and subsequent ratings of B, C, D, etc. for products that don’t meet certain health and safety standards, along with why they were given that rating. This website also allows you to compare personal care products and so much more.

Green spring cleaning doesn’t have to be a stressful chore. And whether you live in a dorm room or an apartment, these cleaning hacks can be used by all to help make this season a successful and empowering one, rather than a necessary one.

Mrs. Meyer’s is a recommended cheap, ecofriendly cleaning alternative.

Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day

Non-alcoholic beverages allow students greater flexibility

ADAM COOPER pure, all-natural ingredients in small batches As the days begin to warm up and the Staff Writer at our custom, state-of-the-art brewery,” says evenings get longer, many students will be Athletic Brewing Co’s website. “Our intricate at any time of the day without having to worry reaching for their favorite beverage. Many process lets you enjoy the refreshing taste of about ABV or calories. may go for a cheap twelve pack while some craft beer without the alcohol… So whether Other companies such as Athletic Brewing prefer craft beer, as we saw in a recent article. you’ve decided to cut alcohol out of your life for Company were founded with the sole goal of However, recently several alternatives have been good, for a night, or for just one drink, Athletic producing beverages to fill the gap for people popping up that’s sure to surprise even the most Brewing Company provides an option without intense IPA enthusiast. compromises.”

In the past years well known breweries and These beverages allow people who may The several different options and flavors that new breweries alike have started producing Athletic Brewing Co have range from IPA-like beverages that contain plenty of flavor, but with not be able to consume alcohol for health brews to golden ales and everything in between. less to no alcohol content. These beverages reasons or just prefer not drinking an While these are harder to find in stores, they’re allow people who may not be able to consume opportunity to enjoy a craft beverage of worth looking for. alcohol for health reasons or just prefer not One of the most unique options comes from drinking an opportunity to enjoy a craft beverage their own and even feel more comfortable in social settings. a company called HopLark. Hoplark brews teas of their own and even feel more comfortable in with different types of hops to make a unique social settings. blend that tastes extremely similar to an IPA. While these options are not well known who wanted to enjoy a cold beer at the end of the One of their drinks, known as The Citra Bomb, and seldom advertised, they can offer many contains citra hops and white tea, providing an day but who were also interested in the health benefits and taste just as good as any other drink. unbelievably delicious flavor that’s good any benefits of no or lower alcohol.

Some of the best ones can even be found at time, anywhere.

“We craft our innovative recipes using only your grocery store, tucked away next to more While the price per can can be common options. slightly off putting for HopLark, Lagunitas Brewing Company, it makes up for it in taste. The based out of California, was one several available flavor options and of the first big brewers to start combinations are plentiful and the producing options without alcohol. constant update of seasonal and The most notable of their drinks is limited time flavors are excellent. called The Hoppy Refresher and While these drinks won’t be for can be described as a mixture of everyone, it’s worth trying for anyone sparkling water and hops. looking for a healthier alternative Jeremy Marshall, brewmaster for or just another drink to add to their Lagunitas, says the Hoppy Refresher favorites. What these options lack in is “refreshing on its own… It fills alcohol, they make up for in flavor. that ‘Oh, I want to have an IPA, but Next time you’re at the store, take it’s 9:30 in the morning and I’m out a look and see what you can find. You of IPAs’ kind of thing.” might just come across a new favorite The Hoppy Refresher is sure to drink..

Brewers like Lagunitas Brewing Company offer non-alcoholic beverages. hit the spot for anyone looking for Photo from Lagunitas Brewing Company website a light but flavorful drink to enjoy

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Thursday, April 15, 2021

LIFE

Photo Essay: The dolls of downtown Fredericksburg INGRID RENEE DIZON Staff Photographer

Though antique stores can give some the heebie-jeebies, I happen to be one of those who get a sense of ease and excitement when walking around the store and finding little trinkets such as flat signs, vinyl records and used postcards. Luckily, Fredericksburg is known to be a very historic town, so it just makes sense that downtown is packed with antique stores. To put a twist on things, I wanted this photo essay to be a cursed items series in order to give the audience an eerie atmosphere. However, most antique stores downtown sell from different vendors and keeping track of the various items tend to be tedious to the owners. As a substitute, I decided to focus on dolls (and mannequins) that rather give off the look and energy that they could be or have been cursed.

Starting off light, we have this bunny that immediately got my attention, since it was placed right by the entrance of the store.

Next up is this mannequin that just stares off the distance and could potentially contain multiple cursed items on him.

Then, we have this Raggedy Ann doll with a rather mischievous looking smile that is actually on sale for $50.00!

This housewife mannequin might be the most pleasant looking photo. However, the longer I look at it, the more peculiar it gets. The contrast between the inviting tea towels and the missing hands gives a very strange aura.

I found these two dolls in this exact position and I love the dynamic between them. It’s almost as if they are telling their marriage story.

This bear caught me by surprise and I’m so glad I didn’t miss it. So many things about this bear raise questions, like, why was it placed in the box in that position? And, why is it necessary for it to be in a muzzle?

Left: Another set that raised a lot of questions when I saw it for the first time are these two red heads. Why there is a restraint on its neck and a plastic cover on its mouth, I will never truly know.

Right: Most people would save the best for last, but I’m not sure that applies to my case. This clown and doll combo might be one of the creepiest things I have ever seen in an antique store. I have never been more nervous to take a picture of an object before. A part of me really thought that its head would turn, and the smaller doll at the bottom with blank, staring eyes, just adds to the impact.

Thursday, April 15, 2021

Most of the items are from The Shoppes at Caroline Square LLC, which is just one of the many antique stores downtown. They sell from different vendors that locals and even tourists enjoy like Two Primitive Sisters, The Grove, Ed’s Collectibles and more. They consider themselves as the “Best Kept Secret in Fredericksburg” and after many visits, I can agree. The other items pictured are from Oldies but Goodies, which is another favorite of mine alongside Blue Shark Antiques and Collectibles.

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NEWS

Students speak out about inappropriate altercations with strangers on campus

•Safety | 1

Westmoreland Hall when she and her friend Taylor Meyers were approached by a stranger.

“He wasn’t wearing a mask and he smelled strongly of weed,” said Kubricki. “He kept asking if we knew any parties or if we smoked or did anything and we said no because that’s breaking school rules. He kept saying things about parties and drugs and was offering them to us and we politely declined.

He was also offering to drive us places and begging for Taylor’s

“I know it’s a public campus but three men have harassed many students. It is not okay, it ruins our safety and affects going to enjoy campus life.”

-Reese Kubricki number and social medias… I was texting our friends to come save us. After texting friends, I started recording for our safety.

Taylor was quick to end the conversation… we quickly called campus police and they were super quick to be on it.”

Kubricki said that, with this being the third such recent instance, she and others are feeling unsafe on campus.

“It makes us feel unsafe honestly,” she said. “I know it’s a public campus but three men have harassed many students. It is not okay, it ruins our safety and affects going to enjoy campus life.”

While aware of the safety concerns, Hall prefers to look on the bright side.

A view of the front of Brent Hall where the Campus Police work.

“When something like this happens, it elevates the wrong we need to correct,” said Hall. “But we can’t become embedded in the bad—we have to look for positives. UMW rallies together as a community.

Our students do a phenomenal job of that while still being respectful of others.”

Freshman Sierra DeVault, an English major in the secondary education program, had an experience with a trespasser back on Feb. 25.

“I heard rumors about a man wearing a black and red plaid jacket with a white shirt and blue jeans,” said DeVault “I didn’t think much about it and went on with my day… It was February 25 and around 8 p.m., my friends and I were approached by the man I heard about earlier. He approached us and asked us, ‘Is there a

party here?’ I stared at him and told him that there were no parties because of COVID. He continued asking us questions and finally, we walked away from him. We called the police

“Do we always get it right? No,” said Hall. “But do we acknowledge it and keep trying? Yes.” -UMW PD Chief Michael Hall afterward and they told him to put on a mask. Then it happened again, and they told him to stay off-campus.”

DeVault said these events have caused anxiety for students on campus.

Matthew Simmons / The Blue & Gray Press

“Everyone that I knew was really freaked out and scared to go outside,” she said. “My dorm decided to have a fire drill that night, which caused me horrible anxiety. Everyone is still scared. Everyone now has self-defense weapons because they feel that the police department will not do anything for students’ safety… UMW just sends out a warning in an email but it doesn’t seem like they’re taking steps to get this away from our campus.”

Hall believes that the university provides adequate support to students after these safety incidents.

“Support for victims is readily given,” said Hall.

“We notify the Talley Center, the dean and vice president, and have a threat assessment meeting.”

Some students disagree.

“I personally think this needs to be handled better,” Kubricki said. “This is something not to mess around about...trust your gut feeling. If you feel like someone is following or harassing you, try to leave and protect yourself.”

White is also concerned about her safety on campus.

“This affects me because it makes me feel like I am not safe at a campus that I call home,” said White. “It makes me feel like I can’t even walk on campus, day or night, without constantly checking my surroundings to the point I am not comfortable.”

Hall encourages students to come to the UMW police with concerns.

“Do we always get it right?

No,” said Hall. “But do we acknowledge it and keep trying? Yes. I’d rather have a conversation with students than have a problem fester. And I’d rather be called for something that’s nothing than not called at all for something.”

COVID-19 DASHBOARD 73 Total cases since Jan. 1, 2021

10 Active cases

1.71 7-day average cases per day

1,486 Total prevalence tests April 2 - April 8

10 Positive prevalence tests April 2 - April 8

183 Student health center tests

20 Positive student health center test

38 of 38 Isolation spaces available

74 of 82 Quarantine spaces available

Thursday, April 15, 2021

6

NEWS

UMW staff successfully lobbies for dedication of Virginia State Highway marker to first stop of Freedom Rides

Daniel rozzel staff Writer

Chris Williams, an assistant director of the James Farmer Multicultural Center along with Dr. Christine Henry, professor of historic preservation, and Dr. Erin Devlin, professor of history and American studies, has obtained approval from the Virginia Board of Historic Resources for the creation of a Virginia State Highway Marker to mark the first stop of the Freedom Rides.

The marker is slated to be added sometime in either October or November of 2021 outside of the Greyhound bus terminal at 601 Princess Anne Street. A commemoration ceremony will be held

“My motivation was to see a more inclusive history told on our Fredericksburg landscape. This is a small step, but because it is a statewide program has a lot of impact beyond our local community.”

-Chris Williams when the marker is installed. On May 4, the anniversary date of the Freedom Riders’ departure, a small commemoration will be held which can be viewed online from the city government’s Facebook page.

The idea for the mile marker manifested during the Fall 2019 social justice trip, where Williams and Dr. Marion Sanford coordinated a bus ride that followed the original route of the Freedom Riders in 1961. Williams recalls the specific moment that inspired him.

“We were fortunate enough to have stops in Alabama, and we saw how they had properly marked different places that were touched by the Civil Rights Movement. And one of the places we went to was Anniston, Alabama, which is where the historic incident occurred,”

said Williams. “It was actually several historic incidents that occurred, but that was one of them.

Violent clashes where the Klu Klux Klan had poked holes in the tires, bus, and the bus tires flattened about a mile outside of Ansan, Alabama. Then the local chapter of the Klan firebombed the bus with the 13 Freedom Riders in there.”

Inspired by the State of Alabama and their remembrance and preservation of these historical moments, Williams immediately got to work after returning from the trip. Victoria Matthews, an attendee The group of UMW students, faculty, staff and Fredericksburg residents on the James Farmer Multicultural Center field trip in fall of 2019. The group traveled on the route of the 1961 Freedom Rides organized by Dr. James Farmer.

of the trip and tourism

Lynda Allen / University of Mary Washington sales manager for the Department of Economic preservation, I was focused on finding Resources, DHR, to get the marker Development and Tourism for the City of information about the location of the bus approved,” said Henry.

Fredericksburg, worked with Williams to station at the time, and any evidence of Afterward, Henry noted the importance erect the mile marker. what it may have looked like since the of sharing the history and its use as a “When we met at Dr. Paino’s house Greyhound station was torn down and tool in social justice, both as a means of for the reunion for all the people who replaced with the current fire station,” said remembering past acts of heroism but as went on this trip, we talked about kind of Henry. inspiration to continue social justice now starting the process of not only getting and in the future. a highway marker for Dr. Farmer but “This marker shares a very significant “This marker shares a also incorporating our own Black history moment in terms of social justice action very significant moment and civil rights trails here in the city of when the Freedom Riders challenged in terms of social justice Fredericksburg,” said Williams. segregation at the bus station in Henry spoke about her motivation for Fredericksburg as a starting point for action when the Freedom this marker and the role that she played in their summer-long journey, which is Riders challenged helping it get approved. inspiring because of the long-term impact segregation at the bus “My motivation was to see a of those actions. However, I also think more inclusive history told on our it can encourage us to continue that station in Fredericksburg Fredericksburg landscape. This is a small fight for justice because it shows the as a starting point for their step, but because it is a statewide program power of collective action. Each of us summer-long journey.” has a lot of impact beyond our local can contribute in our own way to move community,” said Henry. forward,” she said.

“I worked with a great team of people For students who are interested in -Christine Henry including Mr. Williams and Dr. Devlin learning more about the Freedom Riders, on campus to research the history of the “The UMW team also collaborated the James Farmer Multicultural Center event in Fredericksburg,” said Henry. with the city on this project, and so I will be showing a documentary on May 4 Henry was able to gain critical helped coordinate all of the contributors at 6:00 p.m.. Students can register for the information on the location and history to the application which was made to event on the JFMC website. of the site. “Since I specialize in historic the Virginia Department of Historic

Education students frustrated by lack of communication

•Education | 1

decision was coordinated with the Office of Admissions so that students understood the change in programs.

When asked about the potential of misleading students, Dean Kelly said “There shouldn’t be anyone who ran into that problem, because we worked pretty closely with Admissions and our website, so [if] a freshman came here and that program as advertised, then they’re going to finish that program.” However, versions of the website captured by the Wayback Machine tell a different story. On Sept.

12 2019, the College of Education’s website displayed no warning about the end of the five-year program. The next version captured on Oct.

Thursday, April 15, 2021

5, 2019 displays the warning that it would be discontinued.

This was after ineligible

“I’m definitely disappointed, because I was told before I enrolled at UMW that I would be able to do the five-year program, and I was told at my orientation that I’d be able to do the program.”

-Lauryn Bailey students were already enrolled.

Lauryn Bailey, a sophomore history major pursuing her certification in

secondary education, began her time at UMW in the fall of 2019. The five-year program was one of her main factors in picking the school. The program was advertised to her during her orientation, and she did not find out that she was ineligible until her second semester at UMW. “I’m definitely disappointed, because I was told before I enrolled at UMW that I would be able to do the five-year program, and I was also told at my orientation that I’d be able to do the program,” said Bailey. “I’m a history and secondary education major, so I didn’t have to start applying to the program until fall of sophomore year, and I missed the cutoff to join the five-year program.”

Despite her frustration, she does not believe the

College of Education was trying to be misleading.

“When I was at that information session it was with Dr. Brecht [in the spring

“I’m not sure where in the line, but there was definitely a gap in communication.”

-Hannah Meszaros of 2020], and I asked the question ‘Would I be able to enter the 5-year program?’ and she said ‘No.’”

Hannah Meszaros, a junior elementary education major, transferred into UMW in the summer of 2020.

During her enrollment, she had the option to enter either

program, but was encouraged to take the undergraduate path. “They had told me that I would still get my master’s in the same time period. I would complete my degree in the undergraduate program, graduate and begin teaching, and they would have a oneyear master’s program for me to roll right into rather than taking it all together.”

Meszaros has since been told that the program she was told about may or may not open by the time she graduates with her Bachelor’s.

Meszaros felt like she had been misinformed by the College of Education during her transfer process. “I’m not sure where in the line, but there was definitely a gap in communication.”

7

SPORTS

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

Club sports hope to build up teams to pre-COVID numbers Caleb Picard Staff Writer

After a year of no club sports, teams are finally coming back to play together again. This change has been anticipated by club sports ever since varsity sports were recently allowed to return this spring semester. Club sports have been following the same strict regulations as varsity sports and have only been allowed to practice and scrimmage one another.

“More than any year prior, we need to prepare for this upcoming semester and have a successful year recruiting, especially if we want another chance at making a play at nationals,” says junior economics major, and president of men’s ultimate club Frisbee, Sam Wainwright. In interviews with multiple club leaders some club sports are preparing for the possibility of a new season and are hopeful for rising freshman, sophomore, and juniors who have spent most of their college indoors to join their clubs Initially, club sport practice requirements included pods of only 10 people allowed to practice together, masks, social distancing, and defensive drills and scrimmages were not permitted. As the season progressed there remained a possibility that these regulations would ease and permit more freedom during practices. Instead, as cases spiked at various times during these past semesters, clubs have been bound by these regulations as varsity sports have more free reign.

With the promise of a normal season this fall there are hopes for fresh faces and new teammates on the field. This promise of

“More than any year prior, we need to prepare for this upcoming semester and have a successful year recruiting especially if we want another chance at making a play at nationals.”

secondary B-team has had its numbers falter so far to the point that a “full team of 14” struggles immensely, states De Koninck.

“After a long year and a half of altering our typical practice style we are looking forward to getting back to normal as more of our teammates get vaccinated,” said De Koninck.

Club volleyball has also had to make do with Campus Recreation’s increased regulations since the start of COVID.

University of Mary Washington Spring Sports Schedule & Records

“Over the past two years we have lost almost half the team, we can’t wait to get out there and play with some new blood.”

-Sam Wainwright As two generations of students have graduated during the pandemic, teams are suffering from a lack of experience and loss of teammates from graduation. Club volleyball has attempted to substitute this loss of experience with staying in shape.

President of club volleyball, junior economics major Quinn Lipetz, shared about how the team has been practicing more often and for longer times in hopes of a successful return to the court. “This semester we have increased our practice times to two hours and meet once a week in hopes of building up our team,” said Lipitz.

After losing numerous seniors with years of experience, the biggest thing for club volleyball is getting back on the court and practicing. With a bunch of fresh faces the biggest need for the team is experience.The team currently trying to find a time and place this summer to reunite the players and help them stay in shape and continue to succeed as a close knit group of friends and teammates.

As a sense of normalcy returns alongside the increased number of vaccinated students, the hope grows that sporting events that make club sports a family return will return to normalcy as well.

Men’s Baseball (3-9)

April 10 W vs. St. Mary’s (Md.) (10-7) April 14 vs. Southern Virginia (Postponed) April 17 @ Christopher Newport April 18 vs. Christopher Newport April 22 @ Randolph-Macon

Women’s Softball (6-10)

April 2 L vs. Randolph-Macon (7-4) & (3-2) April 8 L @ Lynchburg (4-11) April 10 L vs. Salisbury (4-0) April 14 vs. Va. Wesleyan (Postponed) April 17 @ Southern Virginia

-Sam Wainwright

Men’s Tennis (5-2)

growth is a welcome change of pace as men’s ultimate president Sam Wainwright iterated, “Over the past two years we have lost almost half the team, we can’t wait to get out there and play with some new blood.”

Ultimate captains Wainright and Beau DeKoninck, a recent graduate in the business program, have been working on how to recruit and add as many people to their team as possible as they plan to make a run for nationals in both the fall and the spring semesters. The team that once was big enough to have a

April 6 W @ Washington and Lee (5-4) April 7 W vs. Southern Virginia (5-4) April 14 W @ St. Mary’s (Md.) (9-0) April 17 @ Christopher Newport April 24 vs. Washington and Lee

Women’s Tennis (5-1) UMW Men’s Volleyball team on tournament day.

Instagram / UMW Mens’s Volleyball

March 26 W @ Washington & Lee (6-3) March 27 W @ Longwood (5-2) April 7 W vs. Southern Virginia (9-0) April 11 @ Towson April 15 @ St. Mary’s (Md.)

Men’s Lacrosse (2-7)

April 10 L @ Christopher Newport (7-16) April 11 L vs. St. Mary’s (Md.) (12-13) April 14 L @ Shenandoah (11-14) April 17 @ Southern Virginia April 21 @ St. Mary’s (Md.)

Women’s Lacrosse (5-4)

UMW Women’s Frisbee posing at practice.

April 7 W vs. St. Mary’s (Md.) (9-8) April 10 L @ Christopher Newport (8-12) April 14 W vs. Meredith (16-6) April 17 vs. Meredith April 20 @ Salisbury

Instagram / UMW Women’s Frisbee

Club baseball player runs with a mask on.

Instagram / UMW Baseball

Club softball practices at a safe distance between teammates.

Thursday, April 15, 2021

Games are available to watch via livestream on the UMW Athletic’s webpage Full Schedule not listed above.

Most recent games included.

Bold indicates home game.

Instagram / Club Softball

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