THE
The University of Mary Washington Student Newspaper
GREY & BLUE PRESS VOLUME 94 | ISSUE 8
Serving the community since 1922
MARCH 32, 2021
White man spontaneously combusts when asked by student to wear a mask on campus On the afternoon of March 29, an unidentified white man was jogging maskless on campus. He passed by many signs signifying the campus mask mandate, but it wasn’t until a student confronted him on his maskless state that he finally responded. After the altercation, the maskless man fell to the ground and spontaneously combusted. “I was on the way to my Chinese class when I saw him,” said sophomore communication and digital studies major Josephine Johnson, the student that confronted the maskless man. “All I said was, ‘Excuse me, you need to wear a mask on campus.’ He started turning red and I could tell he was trying to think of something sexist to say back to me, but then he just collapsed.” When UMW PD arrived, there was nothing left of the man but his white tennis shoes, athletic shorts and blue lives matter t-shirt. UMW Police Chief Michael Hall cautioned students not to approach men like Johnson did. “This student’s attempt to make campus safer, while I believe her heart was in the right place, should’ve been left up to the professionals,” said Hall. “If we had asked the man politely to put on a mask and provided him with one, he might still be alive. We want to send the message that, ‘Hey, you may have to wear a mask on
JESS KIRBY News Editor
our campus, but that doesn’t mean you’re not welcome here, it just means you have to follow the protocols in place.’ I’d even settle for below the nose.” Sophomore English major Abigail Weber witnessed the altercation. “I don’t get anti-maskers,” said Weber. “Look, best case scenario you’re right and you made the tremendous
“He started turning red and I could tell he was trying to think of something sexist to say back to me, but then he just collapsed.” -Josephine Johnson
Although The Grey & Blue Press was not allowed access, student Patrick Brown recreated the crime scene, pre-combustion. Jess Kirby / The Grey & Blue Press
sacrifice of putting some cloth on your face for a few months. Worst case scenario you kill someone’s meemaw. The risks don’t really line up.” Johnson does not believe her actions caused the man’s death. “Well I certainly didn’t mean to kill the man, I think his masculinity was just that fragile. Maybe he should try a neck gaiter next time,” she said. This story is a part of our April Fool’s edition and is intended to be satirical in nature. All information or quotations are made up and not to be taken seriously.
UMW launches new mental health program, “Go for a walk you ungrateful brats”
KATE SELTZER Editor-In-Chief
On March 31, UMW administration announced a new mental health initiative to combat the stress of an academic year like no other. #GoForAWalkYouUngratefulBrats (GFAWYUB) will go into effect next week. “We know students are overworked, overwhelmed and struggling now more than ever,” said UMW Provost
“I thought that the announcement about a new mental health initiative might be to hire more counselors at the Talley Center, but this is equally good and effective.” -Josephine Johnson Nina Mikhalevsky. “We hear you, we see you, and we want to help. That’s why we’re so excited about #GFAWYUB.” The idea behind #GFAWYUB is to get students out of their dorms — and heads — and into the outdoors. Any time students feel anxious or depressed or exhibit
any other symptoms of mental illness, they are encouraged to post a picture to social media of themselves walking with the hashtag #GFAWYUB. Because of the significant cost of promotion, #GFAWYUB will cost the school roughly $200,000. According to Mikhalevsky, those concerned about the cost should not fear: every student that participates will be given a free water bottle and a pen. “I’m so grateful that UMW is really listening to our concerns as a student body,” said sophomore communication and digital studies major Josephine Johnson. “I thought that the announcement about a new mental health Grey & Blue Press editors Abigail Weber (left) and Jess Kirby (right) try out the initiative might be to hire more counselors at new #GoForAWalkYouUngratefulBrats program. It cured their depression. the Talley Center, but this is equally good and Kate Seltzer / The Grey & Blue Press effective.” “We really hope students will take advantage of Sophomore sociology and communication major #GFAWYUB,” she said. “Also, we’ve decided to get rid Jess Kirby was one of the participants in a trial run for of spring break permanently.” #GFAWYUB. This story is a part of our April Fool’s edition and “Within hours, I felt the depression leaving my is intended to be satirical in nature. All information or body,” she said. quotations are made up and not to be taken seriously. Mihalevsky hopes the new initiative will alleviate stress for burnt out students.
Sammy D. Eagle and Simpson Owl married
Josephine johnson News Editor
Sammy D. Eagle and the Simpson Library Owl ended their years-long enemies-to-lovers trope by marrying under the new bistro lights on Ball Circle. The university budgeted $50,000 for the wedding. There was a buffet of all kinds of mice, which was catered by Sodexo. All students and staff were invited regardless of MMDC restrictions. President Troy Paino officiated the wedding, crying tears of joy.
IN THIS
ISSUE
However, other students were not amused. “I hope that their marriage marks the end of our school’s fake activism,” says sophomore communication and digital studies and sociology major Jess Kirby. “Instead of making changes that ensure transgender students correct names will be used, UMW gave pronouns to their birds.” “I just worry about their disagreements, Ref Desk Owl is always seen wearing his mask and face shield but Sammy has never been seen with a mask,” said
foster puppies
Students take in three dogs to nurse back to health. LIFE | 5
Young politics
Current politicians are out of touch. VIEWPOINTS | 3
sophomore English major Abigail Weber. “Sammy D. and Ref Desk Owl’s union is the single most important thing to happen on campus. My classes were canceled for the wedding,” said senior political science and communication major Kate Seltzer. “What a way to finish out my time at UMW.” This story is a part of our April Fool’s edition and is intended to be satirical in nature. All information or quotations are made up and not to be taken seriously.
students skydive Students will make a grand entrance at graduation. 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
SGA grading survey discredited by UFC
rachel benoudiz Staff Writer
On Feb. 12 the university announced to its students through email that the alternative grading scale from spring 2019 and fall 2020 would not be in effect for the spring 2021 semester. SGA created a survey to gather the opinions of the students on alternative grading for students to express their opinions on alternative grading. However, when this survey was brought before the University Faculty Council (UFC), it was discredited because the survey was not approved by the Office of Institutional Analysis and Effectiveness. The “Alternative Grading Scale Survey by SGA” was created on Feb. 4 by class of 2023 SGA senator and academic affairs chair Denise Naughton prior to the release of the UFC’s decision to not continue with the alternative grading scale. The SGA Senate voted to approve the survey on Feb. 11 at their next meeting, the day before the decision went out to the student body. UFC Chair Andrew Dolby declined to comment on this topic. “The survey was created by me and the idea of the survey was… widely accepted by members of the Senate as our goal was to ensure that the student voices were directly heard by the UFC,” said Naughton. The survey was distributed through social media, such as the UMW Meme Page, on the day that the UFC’s decision came out. It was later distributed through an email from Kathleen Flanagan on Feb. 17. The survey received around 1,200 responses. The responses included students that do not want to use the alternative grading scale but wanted the opportunity for their peers to use the scale. The majority of the responses were in favor of the alternative grading scale, according to SGA vice president Amber Brown.“A lot of responses were trying to make you understand why they need it [alternative grading scale],” said Brown.
The survey and the results were shared at the emergency “Can We Talk” SGA meeting on Feb. 18. In attendance at the meeting were 21 people including SGA representatives, Provost Nina Mikhalevsky, Dr. Andrew Dolby, Dr. Debra Schleef and students. SGA’s survey to gauge students’ thoughts on the alternative grading scale was then discredited on Feb. 26 because it had not been approved by the Office of Institutional Analysis and Effectiveness (IAE). Schleef, the associate provost for Institutional Analysis and Effectiveness, decided that the survey was not valid. Schleef commented that the vernacular of the survey was too informal. “We are kind of in a transition period here, I think where there is no formal process. There will always be a kind of informal understanding that SGA, if they are going to put a survey out... they should have it be run by me first, but we are still kind of in the middle of that,” said Schleef in regards to campus groups conducting surveys that should be approved by IAE. IAE has different levels of approval for surveys, like people requesting email lists of students and staff, or using qualtrics. UMW conducts census surveys to easily gauge the response of the student population. “You want the survey to be as representative as possible,” said Schleef. The survey being distributed in Google Forms was not a problem. Schleef said, “There were a couple of questions on there that it wasn’t so much bias, but it was kind of like ‘this isn’t really clear.’” She also felt that the multiple-choice answers could have provided more specific answers. Schleef is working to create a resource for organizations that include information to create an accepted survey. SGA was unaware of the requirements of the survey at the time the alternative grading survey was released.
“At [the time of the survey being released] we were unaware that any decisions had been made regarding alternative grading,” said Naughton. The SGA survey was distributed without requiring a UMW login to give anonymity to those that chose to fill out the survey. “This was initially done by the senate to ensure anonymity, but in future surveys, we are trying to look in both allowing anonymity and addressing the concerns of the UFC by creating surveys through a more official channel that require a UMW email but still will keep that information anonymous from the people able to view the survey results so students can share their opinions openly,” said Naughton. The survey did not include questions like academic year, race/ ethnicity or gender. These items are information Schleef wants in approved surveys to gauge the response demographic. Schleef said it is important that “the sample is generalizable to the larger group.” Kendall Wilkinson, a sophomore psychology major in the elementary education program, did not agree with the SGA survey being discredited by the university. “I don’t think I agree with them completely scrapping it [the survey], just cause I think there was some thought put into the survey, and there is a point for them making it because SGA knows their students and everything,” she said. “I think if the university was to make a survey [about alternate grading] with like more of what they are looking for that would be helpful. There are probably students that would need the alternative grading scale.” The SGA alternative grading scale survey, along with the responses received, was dismissed by the university. The university has included a new withdrawal policy instead of continuing the COVID alternate grading from previous semesters.
UFC creates COVID withdrawal grading option rachel benoudiz Staff Writer
Despite not implementing alternate grading for the spring semester, the University Faculty Council has adopted a new COVID-19 withdrawal policy which will allow students to appeal for a withdrawal after the semester is over. Students who want to use this new policy will have 21 days after final grades are posted to submit an appeal to Academic Services. This appeal should include the course or courses the student wishes to withdraw from and the rationale for the withdrawal. The appeal will
then go to the governing body for administrative withdrawal, who will decide whether the student will be able to withdraw from the course. Students may request to withdraw any grade based on extenuating circumstances related to COVID-19. Specific criteria for whether an appeal will be approved or denied has not yet been decided by the University Faculty Council, but every request will be reviewed by the committee on an individual basis and has been kept open to allow for a number of different circumstances. In the March 3, 2021 UFC meeting, Dr. Paul Fallon of
the UFC committee gave an example of what a related circumstance might look like. “We anticipated, for example, family members having Covid and the student having to take on greater responsibilities, perhaps for [something like] ensuring the online schooling of younger siblings. We anticipated a number of different situations,” he said. The new policy comes after two semesters of alternate grading. Students have varying opinions on the policy and what it might mean for them going forward. “I think that it was fair to have the first two semesters
CORRECTIONS for THE Week
with the alternate grading scale. However, I feel as if by now we should be comfortable with online learning,” says sophomore Emily Packett. “While I understand in-person is not an option for everyone, it is available. I myself would like to go to grad school and the alternate grading could get in the way of that.” Other students have different opinions about the policy. “I feel as though, while [the policy was] well intentioned, it is detrimental to students who have a harder time learning virtually. We are still facing the added •GRADING | 7 stress
Due to editor error, the print edition of last week’s paper said that the photos in the “Photo Essay: Eagle eye view of our once-vacant campus” were taken before winter break. That was meant to serve as a point of comparison, and the photos were taken this semester while classes were in session. In the print edition, the article “Soda dispensers > vending machines” by Alyssa Spencer was misattributed to Jennifer Glazebrook. 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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VIEWPOINTS
Editor: Abigail Weber | blueandgray.views@gmail.com
Current politicians don’t represent most Americans CALEB PICARD Staff Writer
The American political sphere has become staggeringly disconnected with the American people. Forty-five of the 100 members of the US Senate are at or above the age of retirement. Likewise, 126 members of the House of Representatives are eligible for retirement, with the oldest being 87 years old. In addition to age, the lived experiences of modern politicians are staggeringly at odds with those of everyday Americans.Today, the country needs radical change and the only way to achieve that is for young people outside of the political elite to enter government. Much of the legislation needed within American politics has little to no relation to the way the world existed 20 years ago, much less during 1973 when House of Representatives member Don Young was first elected. Political power has become more and more centralized in a generation at a disconnect from the people of the United States. This is not only visible within the legislative branch but also in our presidency. Looking at the birthdates of presidential candidates, Donald Trump was born in 1946, Hillary Clinton follows the year after being born
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is the second youngest member of the House of Representatives J. Scott Applewhite for AP News
Construction dirt benefits us all By ABIGAIL WEBER Viewpoints Editor
If you’ve been on campus this past year, you may have noticed the paths have gotten dirtier in a quite literal sense. With so many construction sites on campus, a lot more dirt and sand gets picked up and deposited around campus when it rains. While it may initially seem inconvenient, this dirt provides a valuable service. At no cost to the school, it maps the path of floodwater and the puddles during rain in real time. When the water evaporates and turns these water hazards to sand traps, students can use this information to plot their next walk. This is especially useful for new students. In the past, students like myself had to learn where to step and which circuitous routes would take them safely home through trial and error. Now, thanks to the miracle of modern construction, new students can pin down where the puddles are on the sunniest of days! Additionally, this sand serves to tell visitors who can’t see the construction that we are always improving. How can we as a campus convince visitors that we are a school of the future if our paths are not practically sandboxes from construction runoff? The next time your shoes get covered in mud from a stroll down Campus Walk, make sure to take a moment as you’re scraping them off on the carpet to consider the benefits of a dirty, sandy campus. This story is a part of our April Fool’s edition and is intended to be satirical in nature. All information or quotations are made up and not to be taken seriously.
Thursday, March 32, 2021
in 1947, Bernie Sanders was born in 1941 and Joe Biden was born in 1942. This trend has become the norm, with almost every major leader within government being above retirement age within America. If we compare these ages to some ages of founding fathers, it is night and day. Most of the founding fathers were around their 30s during the Revolutionary War. This country was built upon the progressive thoughts of youth, yet today there is little to no connection between people and their governing bodies.
If we continue to allow for the political sphere of influence to be dictated by retirees and the ultra-wealthy there will be no future for the American public. A perfect example of the modern generation needed in the political sphere can be seen in Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. As the second youngest member out of the 425 voting representatives, AOC has life experience relatable to much of the current generation. She worked as a server and bartender before she was elected the youngest woman to ever be a part of the House of Representatives. We see that the younger generation of leadership understands the issues that are prevalent in today’s America such as Medicare for all, as well as the need for student loan forgiveness. This is a need since in comparing the cost of college in the 1970s to today; there has been a 3000 percent increase in cost according to the National Center for Education. In addition to this, incumbent leadership is even more removed from society because they enjoy a prepaid medical plan as well as a salary of $178,000 a year. This number comes in addition to perks and benefits such as $40,000 provided for “office furnishings” according to the Congressional salaries document. That alone is more than the poverty line for a family of four. This also comes with a flurry of tax deductions as well as being able to gain ridiculous amounts of income through “outside donors,” allowing for corporations to have a say in the political sphere. The standard of living for political leadership has little to no relation to that of the “average Joe.” While people froze to death in their homes in Texas, their Senator Ted Cruz was able to take a trip to Mexico
Staff Ed: Happy April Fool’s Day!
79-year-old Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is part of a larger problem of disconnected older people in politics Timothy D. Easley for AP Photo
followed by a second trip to Florida. While governing bodies can take months before putting out a stimulus relief, people are being kicked out of their housing and out of work. There has never been as big of a gap between the super-wealthy and the working class. The poverty line sits at 26,500 for a family of four while senators’ salaries sit at about seven times that. Leadership needs to be built through ordinary individuals, people who know what it’s like to work ungodly hours making $7.25 just to make ends meet. If we continue to allow for the political sphere of influence to be dictated by retirees and the ultra-wealthy there will be no future for the American public. “The American Dream” was once that anyone could come, pull themselves up through hard work and perseverance and achieve anything. More and more it has become obvious that America is not the place it was advertised to be.
Too many meal choices at UMW
By THE BLUE & GRAY PRESS EDITORIAL BOARD
By JOSEPHINE JOHNSON News Editor
Happy April Fool’s Day! We hope everyone enjoyed this year’s April Fool’s edition of The Blue & Gray Press (not The Grey & Blue Press). While it’s important to take COVID-19 seriously, it is also important to safely seek out normalcy wherever we can. In keeping with our beloved April Fools tradition here at UMW, this issue includes silly and satirical stories that we hope will lift your spirits. As we finish out another abnormal semester as a paper, we would love to hear from you. If you have a UMW-related topic you feel passionate about, we welcome you to reach out to us about writing for any section. As a staff, we want everyone’s voices to be heard. We value the community here and plan to ensure that there is more serious news coverage and light-hearted stories to come. Feel free to email us at blueandgray. press@gmail.com or message us through social media with your suggestions and input.
UMW students are given far too many food options. Between Vocelli, Panera, Hissho Sushi and the University Center fourth floor it is too overwhelming for students to pick their own meals. Students surviving college in quarantine do not have time to decide where to eat. It can take the average college student up to seven hours to decide what they want to eat, according to fakenews.com. Speaking to the ghost that haunts Virginia Hall gives an example of the drastic consequences that having multiple dining options can cause. “I once spent an entire week trying to decide whether I wanted pizza or Sushi and I ended up starving to death,” she said. “If there was only one choice of dinner I may still be alive.” Her tragic death could have been avoided. The safest option for students is to only offer one meal a day from the fourth floor of the UC. Although, to make it safe for all students regardless of allergies it should be colorless, flavorless, textureless and glutenfree. Perhaps some sort of gruel. For the adventurous student, the UC should offer their spare caterpillars to be mixed into the gruel like funky chocolate chips. This adds both protein and flavor!
Happy April Fool’s Day!
This story is a part of our April Fool’s edition and is intended to be satirical in nature. All information or quotations are made up and not to be taken seriously.
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LIFE
Editor: Erin Matuczinski blueandgray.life@gmail.com
Sammy D. Eagle to be replaced with new bear mascot
ABIGAIL BUCHHOLZ Associate Editor
In order to not dwell on what has been lost and to move the community forward as a whole, President Piano, along with the Board of Mascot Founders, has decided to retire Sammy D. Eagle as the official UMW mascot. Sammy has served the community for the past 86.3 years, and he will be missed dearly. “Sammy was like a father to me,” said Corey Lemons, a junior outdoor education major. “When I heard about his retirement I had to take a moment and just reflect on everything they’ve taught me.” While Sammy will be leaving behind some big shoes to fill, coming fall 2021 there will be a new mascot and leader who is up for the challenge: Irving da’ Bear. Irving is known by many for his environmental and humanitarian work around the world. “When I heard Irving was going to be the new mascot I just about died,” said Melissa Cummins, a senior majoring in pre-med and bear studies. “I’ve read about all the work he did saving the koalas in the wildfires this past year. He really became an inspiration for many people, so the fact that he’s coming to UMW is just amazing!” There was some fear among students that Irving’s worldly experience would leave him feeling out of place at UMW. “I don’t know about having Irving
on campus,” said Jim Ramey, a child prodigy and twelve-year-old freshman. “UMW has such a homey atmosphere, and Fredericksburg is a more small-town than many of the places Irving has been. I just don’t know if I could ever picture a hero like him settling down on campus and just chilling on Ball Circle with the rest of us.” President Pain-o has assured students that Irving has been fully briefed on the ins-and-outs of the UMW campus. He is certain that the bear will have no trouble fitting in. “During his first day on campus he already knew the place better than I did,” said Piano with tears in his eyes. “He was even able to lead me out of Melchers when we got lost in there after lunch. He just had this intuition about him that let me know he would fit right in.”
Irving during his first visit to UMW. Courtesy of Abigail Buchholz
Students who met Irving on his first tour around campus also felt at ease with the fluffy bear. “I honestly just wanted to give him a hug,” said Sir Jack Youngblood III, a junior squirrel studies major. “He just had this air about him that radiated acceptance. He looked like he could just take me in his arms and make all the problems in the world go away.” Despite his residency as the campus mascot not beginning till the fall, Irving has already made plans to change campus for the better. Katie Friend, a sophomore floral major, and Mary Adeline, a sophomore dance major, are the first two members of the Irving fan club. The two girls have gotten a front-row seat to the creation of Irving’s 53-step campus improvement plan. “Honestly, step number forty-three rocked my world,” said Friend. “I can’t go into detail about what it’s all about, but I will give you a hint. Three words: Monroe chocolate fountain.” “My personal favorite step is step number eighteen point five,” said Mary Adeline. “I really think that replacing the devil goat statue with a statue of Danny DeVito will mend the bad blood between the Devils and the Goats. I mean, who doesn’t love Danny DeVito?” As campus prepares for the arrival of Irving da’ Bear this fall, Irving himself asks that we take a moment to remember the work of Sammy D. Eagle.
Irving is set to start his residency next fall. Courtesy of Abigail Buchholz
“I could never expect to replace such a legend, but I will try my best to honor their legacy,” said Irving. “I ask everyone to take a few days to remember Sammy and all the joy and pride he brought to campus. I will be doing my own reflecting during this time.” “I am so thankful for this opportunity to make UMW my home,” said Irving. “I hope to do great things at UMW and I think if we all work together we can make this campus a brighter, more welcoming place.” This story is a part of our April Fool’s edition and is intended to be satirical in nature. All information in nature. All informationor quotations are made up and not to be taken seriously.
Personal Essay: Online instruction has benefited me greatly have been extremely accommodating in my experience and office hours can almost always be conducted via Zoom or another video chat application. This has encouraged me to make more office hours as it’s easier to schedule and While some classes have returned to in person instruction recently, I attend. While before I may have had to return to campus or a certain building intentionally signed up for classes that would be taught entirely online, at an inconvenient time, I can now discuss any troubles I’m having in class something I’m extremely glad I could do. from my kitchen table, usually at a variety of times throughout the day. Initially I had concerns about having to transition to online classes. I’d The removal of trips to campus from my schedule has also allowed me more spent my entire academic career in a classroom, so the prospect of completely time for things outside of academics. I’ve had more free time to work, allowing changing that was definitely intimidating. me to make a little more money which Like many, I had some difficulties with can really help with things like rent and the first transition last spring, but I soon groceries when added up. While I still have found myself enjoying the online classroom to attend the classes, it’s much less of a time far more. It had benefits that were not commitment without a drive and walk from immediately seen but became more clear the parking lot to class and back. I’ve also the longer online classes lasted. found more time for things I enjoy doing Having become a commuter student at like exercising and visiting my family. the beginning of last year, I had become I also took summer classes last year that used to not spending as much time on would have been nearly impossible for campus when UMW made the decision me to complete in person due to my work to transition to an online format and as schedule, but fit in perfectly due to online a result, I didn’t feel the effects as much instruction. Things like this have actually as some others may have. The only times enabled me to accelerate my progress I went to campus was for classes, so not towards graduation, something that wouldn’t having to make that trip every day was have been possible before. beneficial for many reasons. While I’ve enjoyed online instruction, I In addition to saving gas and not having There will still be some online classes offered at UMW in the upcoming fall semester. recognize this is not the case for everyone. I Gabriel Benois/Unsplash to get up as early, I’ve found myself more understand that the vibrant campus life that motivated in general. Going to class doesn’t feel like as much of a burden now, UMW has to offer is greatly missed and students who see their friends mostly and because of this I feel more attentive and in tune to what’s being taught. on campus or live on campus have definitely been more affected than me and The ability to get up right before a class and still be on time greatly reduces may not see online classes as beneficial as I do. I believe in-person instruction the discomfort of morning classes, something I always avoided when I was on definitely has benefits for some and I hope UMW can fully return to normal campus. soon, but I also believe more online options should be offered in the future as As an English major, almost all of the work I have to do is done online they can truly offer some great things to certain students. and submitted through Canvas anyway, so there was no major change to By the time classes fully resume on campus, my college career will be the way I completed and submitted my work. While I’m sure it was more over. I spent the majority of my time in college in a classroom on campus difficult to transition for those majoring in fields that required labs, I found and no doubt made numerous memories and friends that way. I’m glad I got no real difference in the completion and submission of assignments. In fact, to experience in-person instruction and all UMW had to offer, but I’m also it made certain aspects easier, such as turning in multiple drafts and doing the thankful for the unexpected benefits online classes offered me as I transition occasional group project. from college into the career field. I’ve also found things like office hours more easily accessible. Professors ADAM COOPER Staff Writer
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LIFE
Personal Essay: Fostering helps both the pet and the person
CALEB PICARD Staff Writer
During quarantine, it seems like the only ones not going stir crazy are our pets. With their best friends at home 24/7, it is a dream come true for the family fur baby. The Fredericksburg SPCA has been working tirelessly to make the cats and dogs who need the love of a partner and escape from the shelter a reality. Sadly, it can take time for the adoption process to happen, especially with little information about dogs in a shelter environment compared to in a home environment. On the bright side, that leads to the Fredericksburg SPCA having an incredible foster program being run by some UMW students and Alumni, like Erin Whitesell, who works as a case manager for dogs living in foster homes. Personally, my roommates and I have fallen in love with the program because of being able to take a dog home and give them the love and attention that they deserve. This semester alone, we have had the privilege of fostering three dogs: Franny, Willow and Molly. Each one of these dogs were some of the sweetest pets I have ever known, but all came to us in rough shape. Franny was our first foster baby and came to us as a scrawny, underweight puppy just over a year old. We had to feed her three meals a day with high calorie food as well as wet food on top. Willow and Molly came to us as a pair of dogs who had lived together and were given to the SPCA as part of a group of five dogs (all from one home). They had been overweight and needed only two meals a day, a little less than one cup each, of low-calorie food. After two weeks on a diet and some exercise, they both got to slim out a little and show some of their amazing, happy personalities. All of the dogs my roommates and I had a chance to foster each had their own quirks and personal-
ities. More than anything else, all three of them wanted to be pet and loved whenever the chance arose. Franny had the hardest time acclimating; she came to us severely underweight and riddled with anxiety. Thankfully, after a few days passed Franny’s personality started to shine through as she would watch the television and chase squirrels after she started to regain a sense of normalcy. Sisters Willow and Molly exhibited a typical sibling relationship, competing for our attention with jealousy arising whenever the other got something. There was a seemingly eternal power struggle between the two: Willow was bigger, but Molly was faster and crafty. Molly was our success story. After a Zoom interview with a potential adopter, Molly was able to find a home and a new best friend. We still see photos of Molly now and again and seeing how happy (though unphotogenic) she looks, makes the morning walks in the snow all feel worth it. These were experiences that brought a light in the dark of the pandemic. The SPCA gave us the opportunity to take in these dogs and not only give them a break from the stress of the shelter but give ourselves a break from the stress of school. It is also eye opening how amazing and welcoming the SPCA community is. There are hundreds of people who will open their arms to help these animals in need when they need it the most. Fostering allows these animals to prepare for their adoption/life outside of the shelter and get some spoiling and love. The Fredericksburg SPCA in particular has an amazing turnover in adoptions as well. In 2020 alone, there were 1,316 adoptions. That is an average of almost four adoptions a day. The Fredericksburg SPCA has almost 900 volunteers working tirelessly to help in-need animals find their forever homes. Being less than 10 minutes down the road, you too can make help make a difference. Fostering a dog was one of the most rewarding experiences I
had in a long time. Not only that but the SPCA will provide you with food, bowls, crates, leashes, collars, litter boxes or anything else you need. Alternatively, if you are on campus you can help with your time, working with animals has been so therapeutic as well as enlightening. The foster program has been a win-win situation for my roommates and myself. Not only do we get a dog, but the SPCA gets to focus their time on some of the more in need animals, and the pets get the love and affection they deserve. Franny was the first foster dog to arrive to the students’ home; a young puppy who needed lots of care to be nursed back to health. Courtesy of Caleb Picard
Molly was not particularly known for being a photogenic dog. However, she was the first of the three foster dogs to be adopted into a forever home. Courtesy of Caleb Picard
Willow was the biggest of the bunch, but she was able to come out of her shell after having a better diet alongside her sister, Molly. Courtesy of Caleb Picard
ODR encourages faculty to caption videos for HoH community ANNE SMITH Staff Writer
The outbreak of COVID-19 has brought new challenges for everyone, and this is no exception for students who experience hearing loss or difficulty. They are facing some obstacles having to adapt while using Zoom and other formats as sources for online education. Claudia Woods is a Deaf student who uses hearing aids here at UMW. “I began learning ASL on my own during university and made many online Deaf friends.” According to Woods, there have been some advantages to an increasingly online day-to-day. “I’ve actually had an easier time since going [virtual],” Woods said. “There’s a saying that disabled people have more of a social life online than offline, and I think in my experience it’s true.” One option to accommodate hard-of-hearing students is closed captioning. With education being online, a resource like CC has been an example of the advantages online educational formats may provide. Within a normal pre-COVID-19 semester, some services provided for hearing loss or Deaf students are ASL interpreters, CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) real-time speech-to-text transcription services, Typewell meaning-for-meaning real-time speech-to-text transcription services, and appropriate Assistive Listening Devices.With only about 10 students registered through through the Office of Disability Resources with hearing loss or difficulty, they aren’t the largest group that ODR works with, but they do experience some of the
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greatest need in regards to the changing educational format. “The university doesn’t provide closed captions outside the classroom, meaning clubs, events, therapy meetings, meetings in general won’t have captions for me, so I will use Otter.Ai, a free captioning service to communicate,” said Woods. Even though the community of hard of hearing is a small one, closed captioning can benefit other students as well. This service can aid several demographics: those who are learning English, students who learn better by reading and those who benefit from having class information in writing due to attention difficulties. The disabled community is a part of the University’s student body, so part of receiving an education is having equal access to materials presented in the course, allowing for each student to advocate for themselves and be able to have access to required services in order to be independent. With in-class lectures, students being able to understand what the instructor is saying is a fundamental element of classroom learning. Getting professors to participate in universally providing aid has been another unexpected issue. “We tried to encourage faculty to caption their videos and use captioned videos, because it allows for a more accessible experience for all,” said Jessica Machado, director of the ODR. “Of course, this means faculty often have to caption their own videos, which can be time-consuming and difficult for a variety of reasons. It means student organizations would also need to think about how they caption their own videos that are posted on social media or websites – but when we all consider ways,
we can support our shared mission for access for all at UMW, it’s a good thing for everyone.” Dr. Melissa Wells, assistant professor at College of Education is taking advantage of utilizing the tool of Closed Captioning. “CC benefits the hard-of-hearing community and beyond,” said Wells. “For example, one student’s speakers stopped working one day in class, so they were able to continue participating in class by reading along with our CC. Even in the classroom teaching socially distanced with masks on, CC can help people at the back of the room hear what is going on more clearly. In education, we talk about Universal Design for Learning (UDL), which is a framework for designing instruction by anticipating learners’ needs from the beginning.” In order to solve this, ODR has developed training videos in order to encourage not only course instructors but anyone within the university community to see the importance and utilize this tool more.” “We’ve tried to develop training videos – including event accessibility for digital and in-person events which can be found on our website for event accessibility considerations at UMW and were shared broadly across the UMW community with partners, as well as our Access for All open educational resource, which has tons of videos and guides – including those specific to closed captioning.” said Machado. As more professors have started integrating closed captioning as a fundamental part of presenting their lectures over Zoom, many in the hard-ofhearing community hope that this will eventually become a standard practice even after COVID-19.
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The Blue & Gray Press @theBlueandGray
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bgpress1922
NEWS
CRIME TIME TIME FOR CRIME JESS KIRBY & JOSEPHINE JOHNSON News Editors
Tree displacement Between April 1, 2020 and March 32, 2021, all stolen trees were replaced six inches to the left. This case is pending.
Missing dog On March 32, my dog wasn’t missing, I just missed him.
Failed offering On March 28, a student left an offering for the Raccoon King. He did not like it. He WILL be pressing charges.
Assault On March 29, a student arrived at the Health Center with multiple raccoon claw-sized scratches. This case is pending.
Petit larceny
UMW to host in-person graduation ceremonies on recreation field
WILL HACKETT staff Writer
UMW announced on Wednesday, March 24 that there will be in-person Commencement ceremonies for the class of 2020 on May 6 and 7 and the class of 2021 on May 8 and 9. The ceremonies will be held on the recreation fields between Route One and the Alvey parking deck, which will allow up to 875 people to gather safely at each ceremony, and all graduating seniors are allowed four guests. For several months, UMW has been concerned that they would not be able to hold in-person graduation ceremonies for the second year in a row. However, Governor Ralph Northam made significant changes in the COVID-19 protocols that universities must follow in order to host a graduation. Virginia’s new commencement guidelines have maximum indoor and outdoor capacities
“I was disappointed that I will not be graduating on Ball Circle but am happy that we are being given the chance to graduate in person at all.” -Jack Brewster of 500 and 5,000 people, respectively, with strict social distancing requirements of 10 feet between parties. Seniors received an email from Nina Mikhalevsky, who is the provost at UMW, announcing the plans for graduation. “Like much of the last year, this will be a different kind of graduation event involving a new format
This story is a part of our April Fool’s edition and is intended to be satirical in nature. All information or quotations are made up and not to be taken seriously.
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with multiple ceremonies, limitations on the number of individuals in attendance, a venue different from Ball Circle and strict health and safety protocols,” said Mikhalevsky in the email. “However, it will have all of the pomp and circumstance, some new unique features and many of our timehonored traditions.” In years past commencement has been held on Ball Circle, but this year that will not be possible due to space restrictions. “I was disappointed that I will not be graduating on Ball Circle but am happy that we are being given the chance to graduate in person at all,” said Jack Brewster, a senior economics major. Each graduate is allowed to have four guests in attendance who will be seated 10 feet apart from other groups. These guests will be given a nontransferable ticket. Due to the spacing of these groups, there will be multiple ceremonies over the course of two days with up to 150 graduates at each ceremony. “My biggest excitement is being able to graduate in front of my mom and
siblings. I am the first sibling to graduate college and can’t wait for them to be in attendance,” said Brewster. In order to determine the number of ceremonies for each day, seniors have to fill out a form to indicate whether or not they plan to attend the in-person commencement. Participating in graduation is optional and some students are planning not to attend. This form needs to be filled out by no later than 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, March 30. A schedule will then be made over the course of the two days with the health and safety protocols in mind. “I was excited to receive the news about in-person graduation. It is something that I have been looking forward to these past four years at UMW,” said Jamin Lane, a senior communication and digital studies major. The commencement schedule and sign-up information will be shared the week of April 5. The commencement team, which is led by Nina Mikhalevsky along with other students and faculty members, will
reach out again to the class of 2021 with further details on each graduate’s preferred ceremony date and times. In order to participate in the ceremony, graduates must purchase and wear regalia, which can be purchased from the University Bookstore. Not all students are satisfied with the graduation options. “When I think about graduation I think about being with my friends, I do understand we are still in a pandemic; however being a part of a sports team I feel like the university should plan an athletics commencement. We have all dedicated a lot of time to UMW and we deserve to walk across the stage with our teammates,” said senior Brandon Williams, an economics major. The announcement of in-person graduation has excited many students and their families, but not everyone is planning to attend. A survey that was presented on the University of Mary Washington Class of 2021 Facebook page shows 95 people attending graduation and 13 people not attending.
New withdrawal option replaces COVID-19 alternate grading scale
•Grading | 2
On Jan. 25, I lost my will to live. This case is pending.
The Campus Recreation field where commencement will be taking place from May 6 to May 9. Cara Lowengrub / The Blue & Gray Press
and everyone is burned out,” says senior geology major Trevor Gunn. “While giving the option to withdraw is a step, it ultimately does nothing but acts as a setback for students who are still struggling during these times. A withdrawal also means that students might be forced to stay at the university longer and would then add further financial stresses and setbacks for students.” Thomas Bascom, a senior history
major, also gave his opinion on the policy. “I feel like none of the policies or extension stuff really matters for me because I’m at a point where I can’t withdraw from any of my classes without having to stay for an extra year or semester. If I really needed alleviation from problems relating to the Covid learning atmosphere, I would ask a teacher to use the incomplete option.” Rita Dunston of the University Registrar, and Wes Hillyard, Director
of Academic Services, encouraged students to consider the consequences of how a withdrawal from a course could impact other academic issues. Dr. Andrew Dolby of the University Faculty Council recommends that if any students have questions about how the policy might affect their particular situation, they should make an appointment with an advisor in Academic Services.
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SPORTS
Editor: Victoria R. Percherke | blueandgray.sports@gmail.com
Vocelli’s employee prepares for the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo
ERIN MATUCZINSKI Life Editor
Every morning at 4 a.m. sharp, Caleb Garson’s alarm clock, set to the ringing of a bicycle bell, wakes him in time for his first training session of the day. He completes a total of three long-distance rides each day in between attending classes and making pizzas. His rigorous conditioning has been amplified after being chosen for the Team USA 2021 Summer Olympics for cycling. “I never would have thought that in my senior year of college I would be preparing to compete in the Olympics,” said Garson. “It’s all so surreal, but I am so happy to see all my hard work become something.” Back in the fall of 2017, Garson began his position at Vocelli’s delivering pizzas to students across campus by bike. He never had a prior interest in cycling, or recreational athletics in general, and was initially worried that he would not keep the job for more than a semester. However, after seeing the great mental and physical benefits that delivery cycling had for him, Garson began picking up shifts at every possible moment. “It was like an addiction,” Garson said. “I was limited to a certain number of hours I could work per week, so I even started looking for other local businesses that deliver by bike. Unfortunately, there aren’t any.” Garson maintained his position at Vocelli’s throughout the following semesters. He planned and registered his classes around peak delivery times so he would always be available to work. But when the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020, Garson’s world came crashing down. “The first two weeks in quarantine back home were unspeakably awful,” said Garson. “I felt so useless, so empty, without having my purpose of delivering pizzas. I had no motivation for my schoolwork or my social life. All I could think about was that bike.” Garson admits that the beginning of the
pandemic put him out of good physical shape that delivering had brought him to. He knew he wanted to ride again, but the childhood bicycle in his garage just wasn’t doing the trick. He knew he needed something more. After a trip to both his local bike shop and Home Depot, Garson was ready to get to work. Not only did he purchase a new, white bike that resembled the Vocelli’s one he rode on campus, but he also began assembling a replica rear carriage that is used to hold the pizzas during the ride. It was completed after only two days of construction, and successfully attached to the back of the new bike. “Once I was riding with the rear carriage, everything fell back into place,” said Garson. “I felt whole again. I knew that this was my passion. Not to mention, nothing says ‘get the hell out of my way’ like the thunderous slam of that metal lid.” With the new bike, Garson began riding long
Caleb Garson’s Vocelli’s biking jersey.
“Nothing says ‘get the hell out of my way’ like the thunderous slam of that metal lid.” -Caleb Garson distances every single day, getting into even better physical shape than he was before. He used the time in lockdown to improve his diet and routine, eventually sharing his success on his personal blog. That’s when Team USA recruiter Keith Schnider stumbled across Garson’s blog, astounded at the amount of work that the young adult had put into his riding. “Normally I do my recruitment from pro teams and state or national competitions, never from the internet like that,” Schnider said. “But when I saw Garson’s dedication and success, I knew he would be a great fit for the road cycling team. I contacted him and waited eagerly for a response.” Garson said he was stunned to hear from Schnider, but immediately accepted the offer to train alongside other cyclists for Team USA in preparation for the Summer Olympics that had been postponed to 2021. However, he has insisted on training with his make-shift Vocelli’s bike. “I thought it was pretty weird that he only wanted to ride the bike with that huge container on the back,” Schnider said. “But he keeps up with everybody else, so I guess I can’t complain.” Garson only has a few more months to prepare before heading off to Tokyo for the 2021 Olympics. So far, he has been sponsored by the Vocelli’s pizza chain, but only the equivalent to his student wages. He is continuing to look for additional financial supporters. “Competing in the Olympics is truly a once in a lifetime experience for me,” said Garson. “I’m living the dream I never knew that I had.” This story is a part of our April Fool’s edition and is intended to be satirical in nature. All information or quotations are made up and not to be taken seriously.
Erin Matuczinski / TouchOfModern
Students take flight with UMW’s newest skydiving sport club ‘Fly till I Die’ is a new sport club led by Campus Recreation’s Each skydiver will be flying down performing their own set of VICTORIA R. PERCHERKE Facilities Coordinator, Caleigh Pope. This spring, Pope hopes tricks and flips. President Paino will also be taking part in this Sports Editor to create a community of flyers and help others enjoy the entrance before he presents his own set of speeches. process of free-falling and feeling like a true eagle. New flyers “I love UMW so much, I decided to become a real eagle on are encouraged to join and will learn graduation day,” Paino says. how to fly and do tricks air-bourne. ‘Fly-Till-I-Die ‘currently practices right above the Battlefield National Park in “I love UMW so much, I decided “I fell in love with skydiving the first Fredericksburg. The planes are sponsored by a nearby sky-diving facility, iFly, to become a real eagle on time I landed and my parachute opened. with professional experts to assist at every practice. I’ve made it to the ground safely every “I feel free! Freer than a bird floating through the sky. Maybe that’s because graduation day.” time, so why not get others to join in?” I’ve hit a bird while falling.” says Kelly. Pope said. Practices are held every Saturday morning at 10a.m.. Students are encouraged to -President Paino Pope will help lead demonstrations of reach out, and “fly” out of their comfort-zone. tricks and how to properly sky-dive with and without a partner. This story is a part of our April Fool’s edition and is intended to be satirical in Before skydiving, Pope said she was always finding herself zooming in on nature. All information or quotations are made up and not to be taken seriously. Google Earth really fast, and thought she should try out the real deal. When Pope went skydiving her first time, she stated that it wakes you up like a strong cup of coffee! According to the Wisconsin Sky Diving Center, skydiving helps reduce stress levels. “Skydiving is a great cognitive training ground. Undergoing stress within the context of skydiving’s managed risks helps to keep the brain become sharp and supple.” Skydiving is also known to improve your cognitive levels, increase situational awareness, and encourage communication skills. Many UMW students enjoy both the mental and physical benefits of sky-diving. Beth Kelly, senior psycholinguistics major and member of the woman’s varsity swim team, has loved skydiving ever since her dad pushed her out of a plane in the 13th grade. This love for skydiving led her to join the sky-diving club. In her interview, Kelly described some potential benefits of skydiving for students in particular. “The feeling of free-falling is what makes me want to skydive everyday. “I feel free! Freer than a bird There is absolutely nothing that wwfloating through the sky. May- compares to the feeling of jumping out be that’s because I’ve hit a bird of a plane and plummeting toward the earth!” while falling.” The skydiving team is planning on making their presence at this year’s -Beth Kelly commencements on the athletic fields. Beth Kelly is excited to make her graduation entrance via freefall. Photo courtesy of Beth Kelly
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