The Blue & Gray Press by The Weekly Ringer

THE

BLUE &GRAY

THE UNIVERSITY OF MARY WASHINGTON STUDENT NEWSPAPER

SEPTEMBER 24, 2015

VOLUME 89 | ISSUE 3

PRESS

SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE

1922

Disability accomodations under scrutiny by student body ANDY UNGER Staff Writer

Isata Sesay/The Blue & Gray Press

Student senate represents student concerns, extends dining hall hours EMILY HOLLINGSWORTH News Editor

Leaders from UMW Dining Services met with the Student Senate on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. in the first floor lecture room of Monroe Hall to receive feedback and provide additional information regarding the recent changes in University Dining. Students’ main concerns have been those regarding University Dining’s hours of operation. An extension of the dining hours occurred with three of UMW’s dining options on campus beginning Sept. 14 and continued through Monday of this week. Roy Platt, general manager of Sodexo in UMW Dining Services, Rick Pearce, vice president for administration and finance and Juliette Landphair, vice president for Student Affairs, attended the meeting and listened to feedback from members of the student senate. The UMW dining hall restaurants “Simple Servings” and the “Sustenance” salad bar will be open until 9 p.m. on Mondays through Thursdays. The changes were enacted on Monday of this week. Beginning on Friday evenings, “Simple Servings” and “Sustenance” will close at 7 p.m. “Blackstone Coffee,” the retail

IN THIS

ISSUE

Extended Hours

restaurant located across from the Information and Technology Convergence Center will remain open until 11 p.m. on Mondays through Thursdays and close at 9 p.m. on the weekends. The extensions, according to Landphair, are meant to address concerns from students about operational hours. “We were hearing a lot of feedback that students with later afternoon/early evening obligations were having a hard time getting to the dining center in time,” Landphair said through an email message. According to Landphair, “Simple Servings” and the “Sustenance” salad bar provides proper dining options for students who would previously be unable to dine at earlier hours. “Simple Servings and Sustenance were chosen because they best meet the needs of the students and the responsibilities of the dining center staff who need to clean up and begin preparing for the next day,” Landphair said. During the meeting, students brought up concerns such as the viability of gluten-free options on campus, such as gluten-free pasta or including gluten-free sauces. Members of the student senate also believed creating posters of the vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options •DINING | 11

Simple Servings: Mondays through Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sustenance WWSalad Bar: Mondays through Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Blackstone Coffee: Mondays through Thursdays from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

University of Mary Washington students have many different takes on the University Center, from the new dining options to the studying corners. However, something that most students might not think about is the new accessibility options that it provides. Before the University Center opened, most dining services were provided in Seacobeck Hall. This building was largely inaccessible to disabled students, as the only way for people in wheelchairs to get into the building was through the College Avenue entrance. Part of the reason for this was because Seacobeck Hall is 84 years old and was built in 1930 when the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) had not been created. So does the UC provide improvements for disabled students where Seacobeck did not? According to freshman Ren Salman, it has. The wheelchair ramp, for instance, is clearly visible in front of the building for students living on campus and there is a parking lot behind the building with easy access to the elevators. The only problem, according to Salman, is that the way to the elevator is not commonly known, and so could prove to be a problem for people who do not know where they were going. While the UC has improved the resources available for students with disabilities, there are other problems around campus that have not been resolved. According to commuter transfer student Chloe Rippel, a freshman and disability advocate, there are only a few disability parking spaces around campus, making parking for disabled students very difficult. Rippel, who drives to the school every day, has to compete with other students and even faculty for the two parking spots near Combs, a building she spends a good deal of her time in. In addition to their inaccessibility to Combs, both Rippel and Salman mentioned Monroe Hall as being difficult to get to. “There isn’t a railing up to the accessible door,” Rippel mentioned. Not to mention the fact that smokers regularly hang around the entrance, and the smoke from their cigarettes could easily affect someone with hypersensitivity, such as a student with autism. “The accessible entrances are always tucked away and difficult to find. It feels •DISABILITY | 11

GLOBAL CAFÉ

FOR OR AGAINST

SERVES UP

Annual meal spices up International Education Week

Writers weigh in on Planned Parenthood debate

Tennis teams begin season with strong matches

LIFE | 6

VIEWPOINTS | 5

SPORTS | 3

NEWS THE

BLUE & GRAY PRESS

Graffiti reveals negative sentiments on campus, threatens students in Randolph Hall

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 Chris Markham

MANAGING EDITOR Tess Osmer

SECTION EDITORS NEWS Emily Hollingsworth Sarah Grammer

VIEWPOINTS Alex Spence

LIFE Della Hethcox

SPORTS Mikey Barnes

ONLINE Ethan Tobin

PHOTO Alex Sakes

ASSISSTANT EDITORS Ester Salguero

FACULTY ADIVSOR Sushma Subramanian

CORRECTIONS: In the story “UMW student and professor explore environmental impact of oil spill in Gulf,” published on Thursday, Sept. 17, the term “dedigration” was incorrectly used to describe how oil breaks down. The correct term is “degradation.” In addition, Teflon was incorrectly described as a type of metal. It is a type of plastic. 2

University Relations

ESTER SALGUERO Assistant News Editor

On Friday, Sept. 11, which marked the 16th anniversary of 9/11, residents of Randolph Hall expressed their repulsion towards distasteful, stereotypical comments that were written on a white board which belonged to two students in the residence hall. Left anonymously on the fifth floor, the comments targeted the Islamic faith and the residents’ assumed affiliation. Freshman Matthew Allocca was, among many, surprised and said, “I sympathize with those attacked, and I am disgusted by the act.” However, in an e-mail that was sent

out by Marty Morrison on Sept. 12, Raymond Tuttle, the director of Judicial Affairs and Community Responsibility, stated that the ‘graffiti’ was a Code of Conduct violation and that there are a range of sanctions which could be placed upon the perpetrators.

“I SYMPATHIZE WITH THOSE ATTACKED, AND I AM DISGUSTED BY THE ACT.” -Matthew Allocca Nothing about the severity of the offensive comment was mentioned. The Code of Conduct in the student handbook displays 15 possible disciplinary actions such as restitution, fines,

social restrictions, or other responses. According to the page of the range of sanctions on the UMW website, “sanctions are presented in written form to students” and are “placed in their educational files.” Megan Kraus, an undeclared junior interested in pre-law, believes there was a delay in action from those involved. “I feel that no action was really taken,” Kraus said. “At first it was all hush, but once lawyers got involved action started.” Kraus knows the victims and stated that one of the students did not even practice Islam. With only a few hushed conversations and little action taken to react to this trend in Islamophobia, residents of Randolph Hall were not even fully aware of the incident. After many attempts were made in trying to retrieve vital information on the situation from the Office of Student Life, Res Life, the director of Judicial Affairs and other authorities on campus, little information was disclosed. Kraus also stated that she worries about something dangerous happening with “no one [knowing] until it is too late.” According to students, the situation is being treated comically while it poses as a real threat to students and allows students to get away with perpetuating threatening behavior on campus. According to Kraus and Allocca, one of the students was relocated to a different residence hall in response to the actions which took place on Sept. 11.

ITCC named after President Hurley, disregarded by students SARAH GRAMMER News Editor

On Thursday Sept. 17, the University of Mary Washington revealed via email it would be renaming the Information and Technology Convergence Center (ITCC) in honor of President Richard V. Hurley. “President Hurley has made an indelible impact at Mary Washington,”said Rector Holly Cuellar, giving the reasoning behind the BOV’s decision. “We wanted to recognize his accomplishments with one of our highest tributes to a president.” While many students agree with the university’s decision to honor Hurley, they are not willing to start referring to the building as the Hurley Convergence Center. Senior computer science major Ruth Catlett believes Hurley more than deserves this honor, but does not think that students will break the habit of calling what is now known as the Hurley Convergence Center, the ITCC. “I think a lot of people will still call it the ITCC but as new students come to Mary Washington knowing it as the Hurley Convergence Center, that may change,” Catlett said. While students like Catlett think about how future students will handle the name change, Casey Tinius, a junior environmental science major, is focused on what it means for students attending the university today.

The Blue & Gray Press

“I think it is illogical because it already had a name for a year that students had gotten used to,” Tinius said. Tinius suggests that it would have been sensible to name a different building for Hurley, saying “it would have made more sense to name the University Center after Hurley since it just opened.” Tinius and Catlett did agree that Hur-

ley was deserving of the honor that the Board of Visitors presented him. They are not against the Board of Visitors’ decision to honor Hurley’s service to the university, but neither of them have made an effort to call the building by its new name. It does not seem that many other students will either.

Thursday, September 24, 2015

SPORTS

UMW tennis teams ready to serve their ways to another title

Men’s Tennis

Sep. 19-20 - UMW Kick-off Classic Double’s 6-0 , Singles 12-11

Women’s Tennis

Sep. 19 - UMW Kick-off Classic Double’s 8-0, Singles 8-13

Sep. 25 - at Navy Invitational Sep 26. - ITA Small College Regional Championship Oct. 3 - ITA Small College Regional Oct. 2 - St. Mary’s Invitational Championship Oct. 14 - ITA Small College National Championship

UMW Athletics

ETHAN TOBIN Online Editor

Following memorable seasons with impressive results in both the Capital Athletic Conference and on the national scene, the men’s and women’s tennis teams are back on the court as the new season arrives. Finishing with a record of 7-0 CAC and 21-6 overall while also extending its season into the third round of the NCAA Tournament and reaching a national ranking of No. 15, the men’s team looks to swing itself right back into top form for another dominant season. Alongside the seven returning Eagles, the program welcomes five freshmen: Max Fritsch, Derek Hagino, Patrick Hughes, Axel Jobeus, Matt Miles and one transfer, sophomore Ryan Berry. Saturday, Sept. 19, these new Eagles took to the court alongside their teammates at the UMW Kickoff Classic, where they showed much promise and potential in their game. The Eagles, who faced three schools including George Mason, Washington & Lee and North Carolina Wesleyan, finished with a team doubles record of 6-0 and went 12-11 in singles. Sophomore Eric Hurwitz, who finished his freshmen year campaign with a singles and doubles record of 22-8 and 12-3 respectively and being named to the First Team All-CAC selections, has high hopes and good vibes about his first year teammates. “They bring a lot of energy to the team and all ended with good results following this past weekend’s tournament,” Hurwitz said. When asked what would be the biggest difference between this seasons and last, Hurwitz replied, “We lost 3 doubles starters and 2 singles starts so there is obviously going to be big differences in lineups.” Although it is evident that many shoes will need to be filled, the team remains poised and highly optimistic about the season. “When the team is in big moments, we’ll rely mostly on our doubles because doubles is our ticket to getting good leads. With six incoming players, we will pro-

Volleyball:

Sept. 22 @ Gallaudet (W) UMW: 3 Gallaudet: 1

WOMEN'S soccer: Sept. 22 vs. Catholic (L) UMW: 1 Catholic: 4

duce solid combinations that will get us those important wins.” Following this past Saturday’s play, freshmen Patrick Hughes and sophomore Ryan Berry displayed great play posting 2-0 records individually and are key examples of what the new talent is bringing to the program. Posting a record, 7-0 CAC and 17-8 overall, and finishing with their 12th consecutive CAC title, the Eagle’s women’s tennis team is also in position for another big year within the conference and on the national scale. Following a season that also led them to the second round of the NCAA tournament this past May, the Eagles will be led by 13 returners with only two freshmen newcomers, Sarah Fiorettio and Danielle Mirabella, joining the team. The Eagles have the depth, experience and leadership that they hope can once again take them far in the conference and nationally. Along with their male counterparts, the women’s team posted dominant performances at the UMW kickoff classic where they took on Washington & Lee and George Mason University. As a team, the Eagles posted an 8-0 record in doubles and finished 8-13 in two rounds of singles play against opponents. Leading the way for the women’s tennis team includes senior standout Shelby Harris who won CAC Player of the Year last year and received All-CAC First Team singles and doubles honors. Accompanying Harris, five additional standouts will hope to serve their A-game once again this season. These players include All-CAC First Team single and doubles honors seniors Christina Gaul, Mackenzie Smith, sophomores Kait Brogan, Caroline Mosberg and Senior AllCAC Singles honors senior Alina Suyama. The men’s next contest will be Friday, Sept. 25 at the Navy Invitational and the women’s next contest will be Oct. 2 at the Mount St. Mary’s Invitational.

Eagles have strong races against CAC teams MIKEY BARNES Sports Editor

The men and women cross country teams have begun their new season behind new head coach, Kunle Lawson. Lawson comes to the University of Mary Washington from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, where he served as the Director of Cross and Country and Track & Field since 2011. The University of Mary Washington welcomes Lawson as former coach Stan Soper retired this past spring. UMW cross country and coach Lawson opened up their season at the Christopher Newport Opener Relay event in Richmond, VA on Tuesday, Sep. 1. The men’s cross country team was led by the relay team of junior Chris Markham and freshman Calhoun Stirling who finished 7th overall with a time of 31:20. The team of senior Ian Granger and freshman J.P Burklow finished 16 seconds behind Markham and Stirling and in an overall place of 12th overall. Senior Chris Anderson and freshman Sean Miller finished in 14th place with a time of 31:49. The men’s team finished in third place behind William & Mary and Christopher Newport University. Junior Victoria Parent and freshman Emily Knerr led the way for the women’s team with a time of 39:02 and finishing in 17th place overall. Three spots behind

Jim Granger

Knerr and Parent was the team of senior Sam Park and freshman Brianna Dolecki with a time of 39:34. Seniors Amanda Patterson and Colleen Boyle finished in 21st place with a time of 39:38. The women finished in fifth place, behind William & Mary, Richmond University, VCU and CNU.

“WE ARE CERTAINLY THE UNDERDOGS AND NOBODY EXPECTS US TO PERFORM LIKE WE WILL, BUT SOMETIMES THAT IS THE BEST THING THAT CAN HAPPEN.” -Ben Sorenson On Sept. 12, the men and women cross country teams traveled to JMU for the James Madison University Invitational. The men’s team finished in second place amongst non-Division I schools, led by the performance of junior Ben Sorenson. •CROSS COUNTRY| 12

Weekly Scoreboard

MEn's soccer:

Sept. 23 vs. Dickinson (L) UMW: 1 Dickinson: 3

Upcoming:

Men’s Soccer: Sept. 26 @ Wesley 4:00 p.m. field hockey: Women’s Soccer: Sept. 23 vs. Va. Wesleyan Sept. 26 @ Wesley (W) UMW: 7 Va. Wesleyan: 0 7:00 p.m.

Field Hockey: Sept. 29 vs. @ Messiah 7:00 p.m. Volleyball Sept. 25 @ Wesley 7:00 p.m.

VIEWPOINTS

Confederate flag preserves ongoing racism debate

Support for Ahmed Mohamed sets positive example AHMED KHOKAR Staff Writer

theodysseyonline.com HANNAH PARKER Staff Writer

“It is southern patriotism, and I am just supporting my state’s history,” a phrase you have probably heard far too many times by southerners sporting the Confederate flag, has and never will be viable. Sure, the Confederate flag supports southern states and their history, but in a highly nega-tive light. We all know why the Confederacy broke off from the Union, because of state rights, significantly the legalization of slavery. The Confederacy lost the Civil War, and slaves were freed through Union President Abraham Lincoln’s issue of the Emancipation Proclamation. So why, if the Confederate flag was flown during a time of racial and national division, would so many Southern Americans want to support such a symbol? Some argue they want to fly it in honor of the Confederate soldiers who fought for their families and states during the Civil War. Although that is understandable, any solider should be honored for their sacrifice and bravery and there is a place for such recognition. Civil War battlegrounds, for instance, would be a perfect place to fly the Confederate flag in honor of fallen soldiers. Perhaps even in a museum for American history where these soldiers could be recognized. This resolution is unfulfilling to many people, where as our First Amendment rights give any and all Americans the right to freedom of speech, and while flying the Confederate flag is a form of that, it is still racially offensive. In Lebanon County senior Christopher Shearer, of the Lebanon County Career and Tech-nology Center, was sent home from school by the principal for wearing an offensive Confederate flag t-shirt that had the word “redneck” running across the top.

Fox43 covered the incident, and in an interview Shearer’s mother, Jennifer Shearer, spoke out, saying, “I demanded to talk to the principal. He told me that the shirt that he was wearing was offensive and I immediately asked him, ‘offended who? Did Chris say something wrong? Did he offend someone? Was he mean? Was he rude?’ And he said ‘he offended me,’” Shearer said. “He men-tioned recent events down south.” Shearer claims that her son was not being offensive to anyone because he did not say anything outright, but clothing can speak just as loudly as words. Based on recent shootings such as the ones in Ferguson, Missouri, there is constant de-bate over the usage of the Confederate flag, making it almost impossible to be ignorant about the stigma that it carries. Yes, Shearer’s son has the right to wear the Confederate flag on clothing if he wanted to, but in school systems, obscene or offensive clothing is not tolerated, and a Confederate flag shirt falls into such category. For there is no refuting the fact that the Confederate flag highlights a low point in Ameri-can history, and it supports a time of division. Flying the Confederate flag in modern day America is equivalent to flying the Nazi flag in modern day Germany. Today African Americans are still fighting oppression and racial division in America. If America is trying to be a country of progression and acceptance, why support an outdated sym-bol that is offensive to so many Americans. The Confederate flag is a symbol we should remember along with those who gave their lives for the cause that symbol represents, but do not disguise it as a symbol for “southern patri-otism” when it is truly a symbol of racism.

It comes as no shock that the media perpetuates negative stereotypes on Muslim Americans across the country, for, after the infamous Sept. 11 attacks, Muslim Americans all across the country faced discrimination. Only about 27 percent of Americans have a favorable view of Muslim Americans, according to the Arab American Institute. This is a highly significant statistic when one considers the fact that there are more than 12 million Muslims in the United States. Recent news of Ahmed Mohamed, a 14-year-old Muslim from Texas who was arrested on Sept. 16 because he brought a homemade clock to school that his teacher said resembled a bomb, brought awareness to this issue, which permeates throughout the United States. According to CNN, as Mohamed was explaining to authorities that it was not a bomb, they told him to stay quiet. Authorities suspected that it was a hoax bomb to cause alarm around the school. Although not all the details of the investigation have been released, many suggest that his race and religion played a role in the suspicion and ultimately the arrest. Somehow, I find it easier to assume that this incident was a product of negative racial stereotyping rather than to assume a 14-year-old American kid brought a “hoax” bomb to school to draw attention to himself. While the investigation was going on, Mohamed received a massive wave of support on Twitter, with the hashtag,

“#IStandWithAhmed” trending for several hours. People were expressing a variety of emotions including anger, sadness and disappointment in the authorities. According to the International Business Times, Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, tweeted about the incident, saying, “You’ve probably seen the story about Ahmed, the 14-year-old student in Texas who built a clock and was arrested when he took it to school. Having the skill and ambition to build something cool should lead to applause, not arrest. The future belongs to people like Ahmed.” He then invited Ahmed to visit Facebook, adding, “I’d love to meet you. Keep building.” Zuckerberg was not the only high profile innovator to show support for Mohamed. Mohamed also received an invitation to Google’s annual science fair, “Hey Ahmed- we’re saving a seat for you at this weekend’s Google Science Fair… want to come? Bring your clock! #IStandwithAhmed.” In addition, Twitter’s own CEO invited Mohamed to visit and even offered him an internship. NASA invited Mohamed to take a tour of the facility, and Microsoft sent him several gifts including a tablet, a phone and a laptop. Most notably, President Barack Obama commented about the incident on twitter, saying, “Cool clock, Ahmed. Want to bring it to the White House? We should inspire more kids like you to like science. It’s what makes America great.” President Obama’s invitation and encouraging words, along with others, set a positive example for kids who want to get interested in science, regardless of race or religious beliefs. It sends a strong message that America values education deeply and that the color of your skin should not prevent you from reaching your potential in this country. Although Ahmed Mohamed will likely never forget the shock of being arrested for bringing a clock to school, he should remember the encouragement of so many fellow Americans, brilliant innovators and the president of the United States.

“MOHAMED RECEIVED A MASSIVE WAVE OF SUPPORT ON TWITTER WITH THE HASHTAG #ISTANDWITHAHMED TRENDING FOR SEVERAL HOURS”

Editorial: GOP debates do much to entertain, little to inform Last Wednesday evening, the top 11 Republican candidates for President gathered at the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley, Calif. For the second GOP presidential debate. The candidates threw barbs at one another, candidate Donald Trump being a common target and perpetrator. While It was entertaining, the exchanges almost reaching absurd proportions. As it turns out, entertainment sells in the political world. The second GOP presidential debate averaged 23.1 million views on CNN, according to CNN Money, making it the most watched program on CNN in history. Though some important issues received attention during the debate, such as Rus-

sia’s involvement in Syria and the migration of Syrian refugees, there were not many clear statements from candidates about what actions they would take. The focus was the candidates who butted heads. While limited screen time gives candidates a disadvantage in bringing up detailed plans of action, there should be greater emphasis in reporting on what the candidates say, how valid their plans of action would be, rather than how it’s said, or the possible entertainment value from it. Come election time, how a candidate chooses to handle these very real situations is going to be what is important, not so much the quality of their banter. In a time where students are continuously encouraged to get involved, to research

the candidates, to watch the debates, and to not make the debates a “popularity contest,” it’s a little hypocritical that one of the debate’s primary focus were the candidates themselves. While it is important to understand a candidate’s background and know how that can affect a candidate’s decision, the individualistic focus, the push from candidates to connect with viewers by making themselves look human prevented legitimate and concrete discussions on important issues. For example, there was no discussion on the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. According to National Journal, the Affordable Care Act has 10.2 million Americans who have paid premiums to start cover-

age. Nothing about the act was mentioned during the debate. Especially with the number of Americans this issue affects, understanding a candidate’s views on this issue is monumental, particularly if a candidate chooses to change the Act during their presidency. Healthcare is an important topic that should have received more coverage during the debate. Greater emphasis from the media on candidates being given the screen time to clearly state their beliefs could give students and viewers a starting point in creating an informed decision on a potential candidate, rather than entirely focusing on the debate, or candidate’s entertainment value.

By THE BLUE & GRAY PRESS EDITORIAL BOARD

Thursday, September 24, 2015

VIEWPOINTS

Editor: Alex Spence | blueandgray.views@gmail.com

Defunding of Planned Parenthood caused by misinformed Americans NATALIE FURMAN Staff Writer

The Facebook page “Defund Planned Parenthood” has 92,585 likes, a number that continues to grow each day. In my opinion, this is a disparaging fact and I hope that this number will significantly decrease. While taking a look at the “Defund Planned Parenthood” Facebook page, I do not see facts, but merely propaganda to persuade people to join this unnecessary and damaging cause. The majority of the articles posted on “Defund Planned Parenthood” come from a single source, TownHall.com. When clicking on this biased and unreliable source, my computer screen was immediately bombarded with pop-up ads. Although the TownHall.com articles come with links that supposedly back-up their arguments, they take one from the article to sites filled with ads and pictures of women advocating for the defunding of Planned Parenthood, not real informational sources. Pictured, are mostly white women in suits standing tall and strong, shouting over a podium. These women advocating to defund Planned Parenthood are almost always republican, wealthy and white, which hardly represent the women and families who desperately need Planned Parenthood. According to plannedparenthood.org, 78 percent of Planned Parenthood patients are at or below 150 percent poverty rates. Planned Parenthood has been providing services to and educating people for 98 years and 2,680,000 clients are served by Planned Parenthood and affiliate health centers in the United States. Unfortunately, news broke Friday that the House of Congress passed a bill that would strip Planned Parenthood of funding for at least one year, according to The Washington Post. If this bill is passed in the Senate, it will greatly affect the 5,180,000 people that receive sexual and reproductive health care and education from Planned Parenthood each year. Much of the persuasion behind defunding Planned Parenthood comes from the

idea that Planned Parenthood is involved in a great number of abortions and that they are selling body parts of aborted fetuses. In fact, according to plannedparenthood.org, only 3 percent of health services provided by the institution are abortion services. The estimated number of unintended pregnancies prevented by Planned Parenthood contraceptive services is 516,000 per year and the estimated number of abortions averted by these contraceptive services is 217,000 per year. The idea that Planned Parenthood is selling body parts is very controversial rumor currently spreading around the internet and is being fueled by videos fabricated by right-wing organizations and radical pro-life activists. In reality, Planned Parenthood donates fetal tissue for research and has been doing so since the 1930s, according to an article in the Tampa Bay Times. The National Health Revitalization Act of 1993 outlines that the woman must sign a written statement consenting to the donation of fetal tissue for research purposes. This research is currently aiding in the understanding and possible development of cures for diseases such as AIDS, muscular dystrophy and Parkinson’s disease. The NHR Act of 1993 also makes allowances for reasonable payments associated with the transportation, implantation, processing, preservation, quality control or storage of human fetal tissue. Planned Parenthood is a necessity for low-income families in the United States and all over the world. The untruths being spread about Planned Parenthood are damaging and hopefully do not lead to the permanent defunding of such an important health care foundation for so many people. By making people more aware of the realities of Planned Parenthood and by providing real statistics, we can hopefully put a stop to the misinformation being spread and put an end to the ludicrous bills proposing the defunding of this organization.

“PLANNED PARENTHOOD IS A NECESSITY FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND ALL OVER THE WORLD”

Beth Kanter/Flickr

Abortion services cause question of morality ALEX SPENCE Viewpoints editor

Since the early 1900s, Planned Parenthood set out to provide affordable health care to women, offering services such as cancer screenings and STI testing, as well as contraception. However, they also perform abortions, a controversial service that has caused a war among pro-life and pro-choice advocates. Planned Parenthood offers two kinds of abortion, the pill and the vacuum aspiration, or suction abortion, which is available up to 16 weeks after a missed period. This procedure is legal in America, and it is not considered murder. However, 38 states in counting hold fetal homicide laws, 23 of which apply to the earliest stages of pregnancy. Interestingly, the fetal homicide law defines a “person,” for the purpose of criminal homicide, as an unborn child at any stage. Notice they refer to it as a child, not a “bundle of cells,” which has become the catch phrase for many pro-choice advocates. Many people argue that Planned Parenthood is a necessity for women and that the myriad of other crucial services provided by it are more important than the fact that abortion happens to be one of them. While I do not disagree that Planned Parenthood provides many services for women that are important, there is a significant injustice occurring that is perpetuated by it. People across the nation have either seen or heard the footage of Dr. Deborah Nucatola, the director of Planned Parenthood, discussing selling the body parts of aborted babies. Although there is talk that the video was strongly edited and shown in negative light and that the organization is not selling, but donating the body parts for research. My response to that is simple: edited or

not, it makes me cringe. Spokesman Eric Ferrero of Planned Parenthood made a statement about the videos, saying, “Women and families who make the decision to donate fetal tissue for life-saving scientific research should be honored, not attacked and demeaned.” While I agree that there is no reason for them to be attacked or demeaned for their personal decisions, I do ask, what exactly should these women be honored for? There is one life in these situations that is not taken into consideration, and unfortunately, that life is cast away. Most notably, Hillary Clinton argues that the defunding of Planned Parenthood is an attack against women’s health. I have to strongly disagree. I do not believe women’s health is being targeted or attacked. It is unfortunate that certain services offered outshine the good that Planned Parenthood accomplishes, but that is how life works. It is important to know that women have other options. According to the Chiaroscuro Foundation, in addition to thousands of United States doctors and hospitals providing the same care Planned Parenthood does, there are 1,048 federally qualified health centers in America that provide cancer screenings, contraception and STI testing. If someone wants an abortion they will find a way to do it. However, this does not mean that I or anyone else should continue supporting something that we do not agree with. As of Friday, federal funding for Planned Parenthood has officially been frozen for one year, while Congress investigates claims against the organization. The federal defunding is not an attack on women’s health. I, as well as many others recognize the good that Planned Parenthood has done for people, but that is not enough to erase the injustice that continues to be done.

Kristen Hawkins/preciousadornment.wordpress.com

LIFE

Editor: Della Hethcox blueandgray.life@gmail.com

Global Cafe brings a taste of globalization to the University Center ELIZABETH BEAUCHAMP Staff Writer

Delicious smells wafted through the dining hall as a busy kitchen staff weaved in out of crowds to refill empty buffets while International music played in the lobby and students excitedly waited in line at the Global Cafe last Wednesday. The Global Café allowed University of Mary Washington students the opportunity to experience traditional foods and to learn about the diversity of cultures from all around the world from the comfort of campus. Each serving station in the dining hall was organized thematically, each serving dishes from around the globe. Fish and chips, chicken curry and Chinese pot stickers were just a few of the dishes that students enjoyed during the event. The pizza and pasta station offered several different kinds of pizza, as well as a lasagna casserole and an authentic Alfredo dish that seemed to be a fan favorite. “’Sequelbeck’ definitely brought it tonight. The Alfredo pasta dish was the best it’s ever been. However, they did a really good job of including a lot of different countries, not just the obvious pizza in Italy,” said Mad-

die Quick, junior historic preservation and art history double major. Mama Jean cooked up Chinese pot stickers, which quickly disappeared from the counter, while fish and chips, a traditional

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English dish, could be found at the WOW station alongside traditional German bratwurst and sauerkraut. Students lined up for Moroccan chicken curry drenched basmati rice, offered at the

Chef’s Fare station. The chef behind the wok, Billy, assembled a Korean stir-fry to the delight of hungry students. At the Simple Servings station, Brazilian beef and basmati rice was served with chimichurri sauce and tropical fruit, which covered all of the necessary flavors in a dish: sweet, savory and spicy. Moving on to dessert, students could choose from chocolate truffles, French crepes, Danishes and several kinds of cakes. Students who have studied abroad, along with international students, hosted tables around the dining hall to talk about their study abroad experiences and to encourage current students to think about studying abroad. Dressed in traditional garb from countries all around the world, students handed out UMW Passports as guests entered the dining hall. Former study abroad students sitting at their tables stamped these passports, and if a student had filled all four boxes with stamps, they could enter their name in a giveaway for door prizes such as EagleOne money and gift cards. This event helped publicize the many opportunities UMW has to offer students who want to continue their education abroad.

Backpacking through the Yucatan: an explorer shares her story

natecochrane/Flickr

Reina Datta Staff Writer

Growing up in the United States is more of a blessing than students may realize. As the cultural melting pot, the U.S. gives everyone the opportunity to not only embrace other cultures, but to define and appreciate their own beliefs and traditions. From Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, the University of Mary Washington is celebrating Latino Identities Month, with events hosted by the Latino Student Association and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. These events, such as Zumba and Spanish movie viewings, are meant to highlight the array of ethnicities, heritages and traditions that Spanish speakers represent. “Spanish: More Than a Language,” the slogan for this year’s Latino Identities Month, features the role of culture in our everyday lives. As part of these events, Araceli Palomino, communications professor, presented her recent backpacking trip through the Yucatan, and how it has affected her and her Spanish identity, on Monday, September 21. When most people plan on traveling to another country for an entire month, the planning process means running through every idea and element of the trip with a fine-tooth comb. This was not the case for Palomino. As a college graduate in her late 20s, the whole world was in front of her. Palomino

said that one of her favorite quotes is “of all the books in the world, the best stories are found between the pages of a passport.” With her passport, best friend and backpack in tow, Palomino set off for a 31-day adventure of four countries, 10 cities and absolutely no itinerary. Palomino’s travels took her all the way from Cancun Mexico, down to Belize, then to Guatemala, Honduras and finally back to Antigua, Guatemala. Her goal for this trip was to see the world, particularly the Mayan ruins, and to find herself at the same time.

While describing the various stops in the Spanish speaking countries, the comment Palomino made frequently was that “pictures just don’t do these places justice.” A picture cannot capture the personalities or conversations of the people that she had met, or the feelings she experienced while making her trek through regions that were both beautiful and foreign. One piece of advice that Palomino shared with the audience is that they should immerse themselves in the culture of the country that they are exploring, soaking themselves in native customs and everyday

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routines. “Stay in hostels and small hotels, not in resorts,” Palomino said. This is the way to meet new people, a mistake she made at the beginning of her trip. Palomino also shared that although she swears by the “Rough Guides,” which is the best guidebook for backpacker’s, to help her wade her way through the tourist traps, “there’s nothing that can prepare you for the culture shock that you will experience when traveling to another country,” she said. Even though she has a Spanish background, she still felt like she “stuck out like a sore thumb.” It was not until she made it to Utila, Honduras, that Palomino made friends that she felt like she could stay in touch with after her voyage; friends who could share the new-ness of the culture. The point that Palomino reiterated is that “the best way to understand your culture is by learning a new one.” People living in the U.S. are fortunate to live in a country where different cultures meet on suburban neighborhood block parties, or in a college class. This diversity is present everywhere you look. Each person has a different story, a different background, and is connected to a different place. Traveling helps you discover yourself and experience other cultures simultaneously.

Areceli Palomino sharing her Yucatan adventures from this summer with students.

Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015

LIFE

An Eagle Experience: one senior’s thoughts

University Relations

DELLA HETHCOX Life Editor

I have never been that student who participates in campus events. It is not that I think I am too cool for them, I have just never had much school spirit. However, as I work my way through my senior year, I am already feeling nostalgic and I am trying to savor each campus activity, small and large. Movies in Monroe? I am there. Global Cafe in the Dining Hall? Yes, please. Club Carnival? Sign me up. Previously, I never allowed my parents to come for family weekend. “It’s fine,” I assured them, “I’m okay being on my own.” But this semester, as the university started promoting family weekend, I thought that maybe it would be nice to see my parents, despite my only living 30 minutes away.

I sent my parents a casual email asking them if they would like to pop down for the day and see all that UMW offers their students and families, although I did warn them that I was likely to write about them in the school newspaper. Saturday morning rolled around and I woke up to a buzzing phone, alerting me to a series of incoming texts from my mother: “On my way!” “Almost there!” “Walking to your dorm!” I ran around my room, applying mascara to my sleepy eyes and throwing on clothes. I ran downstairs and saw her. My mom, the person who cares the most about me, who has helped me figure out this college thing for the last several years. The mom who would willingly drop everything to cheer me up, to bring me muffins or to come down for family weekend. Even though we have only been in session for a month, this visit was perfect. The semester is starting to become in-

creasingly more difficult and the reassuring presence of parents all across campus makes students feel like they can indeed make it through the rough days and group projects. Families and dogs strolled across Ball Circle and the entire campus felt more relaxed than in the first week of classes. We ran through the schedule, highlighting interesting events such as the Education Abroad Fair in Lee Hall and the University Center tour. But, of course, I gave my mom the unofficial tour of the UC. Additionally, I found my favorite professor and introduced my mom to him. How often is it that you can introduce two of the most influential people in your life to each other? She was impressed with both the new center and my professor. My mission was achieved. Now my parents could feel safe in the

knowledge that their money had been well spent on my education. We even headed downtown on the free trolley and ducked into the shops along Caroline Street, after eating at La Petite Auberge on William Street. Our final stops were at Hyperion and the Pennsylvania Dutch Tea and Candy Company, a must for any out-of-town visitors. Although I was never much into school pride, events like this remind me of how connected my family is to my education. Without the financial and emotional support of my parents, my academic career would have been incredibly different. Family Weekend is a reminder that your academic achievements are made possible by a myriad of people, your family, your friends and your faculty. I may not have an excess of school pride, but I do have an appreciation for my family, the UMW student body and the warm Fredericksburg community.

Downton Abbey returns with promises for a riveting and tumultuous final season KELLY EMMRICH Staff Writer

The sixth and final season of Downton Abbey premiered in the United Kingdom on Sunday at 9 p.m. Set in 1925, the hourlong premiere episode promised viewers a season riddled with new and recurring hurdles for each character. Downton Abbey fans, such as myself, have been through the emotional turmoil that comes with the scandals of the upstairs family and the downstairs staff. Upstairs, Rita Bevan, a chambermaid who previously worked in the Grand Hotel, is blackmailing Lady Mary after her week long rendezvous with Tony Gillingham. Bevan threatens to go to the press with the scandalous news. However, in typical Lady Mary fashion, she does not succumb to the effects of blackmail. In retaliation, the Bevan turns to Mary’s father, Lord Grantham, to disclose Mary’s clandestine tryst. Proving that blood is thicker than water, Grantham does not cave to the blackmail either, and forces the maid out of his home. Hopefully after this altercation, Lady Mary and Lord Grantham will never see Bevan again. After Branson’s departure to America at the end of last season, the position of running the estate lands is empty. Lord Grantham is considering having Mary fill the position, but he is unsure whether or not she will be able to handle the workload and the pressure that comes with managing the estate. Ultimately, Mary assumes the position after Grantham sees Mary’s resilient nature in the face of her scandal. Viewers anticipate that she will thrive in this new role. Frequently overlooked, Lady Edith has gone through many hardships during the entire series. Once she finally found Michael Gregson, who would marry her, he

La Figura del Padre/Flickr

revealed to her that he was still married to another woman. He fled to Germany to try to get his previous marriage annulled, and, in doing so, left behind a single and pregnant Edith. Last season, Edith received the news that Gregson had died in Germany, and she was distraught at the thought of delivering their child out of wedlock. This season Edith is struggling to figure out what she wants her life to be like. Cur-

rently she is running a London newspaper company and caring for her child. Edith is still struggling with keeping her child’s identity hidden from Lady Mary and the downstairs staff in order to prevent the shame and scandal that accompanies an illegitimate child. In downstairs staff news, Mrs. Hughes and Mr. Carson are struggling with choosing a date for their wedding. Mrs. Hughes is in no hurry to get married because she is

Andrew Stawarz/Flickr

Highclere Castle, the Grantham’s fictional estate, is a popular tourist destination.

nervous about whether or not Mr. Carson will want to consummate the marriage. She and Mrs. Patmore, the cook, had several discussions about this topic. Ms. Hughes was mainly worrying about her age and the look of her body not being what Mr. Carson would want for a wife. Ms. Hughes sends Mrs. Patmore to discuss the terms of the marriage, and Mr. Carson confesses that he wants a full marriage. “I am happy and tickled and bursting with pride that she would agree to be my wife. And I want us to live as closely as two people can for the time that remains to us on Earth,” Mr. Carson said. Mrs. Patmore delivers this message to Ms. Hughes, and in conclusion, Mr. Carson and Ms. Hughes share a long-awaited kiss. As usual, Anna and Bates are unhappy. During the past season, both Anna and Bates were arrested for the murder of Mr. Green, Lord Gillingham’s former valet, after he raped Anna at a Christmas party. Anna is still on probation for the murder after being taken into custody. In the season premier, a woman has confessed to killing Mr. Green, so it seems like Anna and Bates are out of trouble for now. However, the problems for this couple don’t stop there. Anna is also deeply upset because Bates had told her at the beginning of their marriage that he wanted a household full of children. Anna reveals that she has miscarried three times now, and she is deeply saddened that she probably cannot carry Bates’ children. Julian Fellowes, the creator and writer of Downton Abbey, has formulated a new stage for his characters as they tread farther into the 1920s and the glamorous Jazz Age. Hopefully the rest of the season will be just as heartwarming as the premier and allow the characters to develop until the series finale.

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LIFE

Group fitness offers students a healthy way to work off stress

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GLORIA KAMOLE Staff Writer

Physical activity is often seen as a chore, but this year the Fitness Center is offering a wider variety of group fitness classes than they have in the past, in an attempt to encourage students and their friends to take a study break and workout. Cycling, core blast and pop-up boot camp are just a few of the new classes that have been positively received by students. Classes are scheduled during multiple time slots to be more convenient for students with busy schedules and limited time to spend at the gym. One of the improvements made to the group classes is the fact that they are now offered multiple times a week. For example, the cycling class is offered

seven times a week and the classes are offered in three different options which include 30 and 45 minute long sessions as well as hour long sessions on Monday, Wednesday and Friday of each week. The cycling classes are led by University of Mary Washington undergraduates and graduate students while some of the other classes, such as yoga and Dance Trance are led by certified professionals. The Core Blast class is a 15-minute class that focuses on working the abdominal muscles in order to strengthen the core. Students looking to maximize their workout in less time partake in this class. Michael Middleton, senior psychology major, instructs the class and has worked at the Fitness Center since his junior year, acting as a student supervisor in addition to leading weekly classes.

Group class schedule at the Fitness Center

“The core has always been my favorite thing to workout,” Middleton said. When he was given the opportunity to teach a class, he chose to teach something that he enjoys in order to inspire those in his classes. According to the fitness center page, Core Blast is described as “the most bang for your buck.” The exercises performed in the class include planks, leg lifts and bicycle crunches. Shibani Gautam, senior political science major, said that the new fitness classes “...are super fun and I love how they [the fitness center] incorporated students this year. I feel that the cycling classes brought something new to Mary Washington.” According to Miranda Lovett, junior classics major, the pop-up boot camp is “the most challenging fitness class I have

ever taken at school.” Lovett enjoyed how intense it was, but felt the results of her intense workout for days afterwards. Lovett also practiced yoga regularly and was pleased with the newest fitness class, power yoga. “I got to do yoga and get a workout in at the same time,” she said. In addition to all of these new classes, the Fitness Center still offers a few of the old classes such as TGIF Yoga. Many students found TGIF Yoga very relaxing, especially since it’s at the end of the week and it focuses on just relaxing their bodies and minds. Group classes are very popular on campus, especially now after the recent changes to the schedule.

About Instructor Michael Middleton Michael was an avid fitness center patron; he became enamored with fitness and wellness and sought to get involved in order to be in a position to help others achieve their fitness and wellness goals. He is currently CPR/ First Aid/AED certified after acquiring them through the American Red Cross. To Michael, fitness and wellness mean striving for the ability to achieve each and every goal and dream that he has, physically as well as mentally. He likes to keep himself fit by running,

dancing, strength training, and eating well balanced meals. His favorite dessert is a triple chocolate double decker brownie. Michael enjoys dancing, writing, and music in all its forms. He practices break-dancing six days a week and his favorite film is The Matrix because it is the optimal mix of action and existential metaphysical inquiry. -via Campus Recreation

Regular Academic Year hours for the Fitness Center: Monday through Friday: 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Sunday: 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 9

NEWS

Administration, students and public figures dedicate University Center, highlighting UMW’s past

DAVID CONCEPCION Staff Writer

President Hurley and the Board of Visitors gathered Thursday, Sept. 17 to celebrate and dedicate the opening of the University Center, the newly constructed $43.4 million building, on Ball Circle. Other guests attended the ceremony, which included students, UMW faculty and staff, former members of the Board of Visitors and elected officials, which included the Fredericksburg City Council and State Senator Bryce Reeves. The family of Edith Logan Ott, deceased alum of UMW, also attended the event. The clock located at the top of the University Center was dedicated in her memory. Juliette Landphair, vice president for student affairs, initiated the ceremony. During her presentation, Landphair said the university was founded with a “democratic purpose,” saying that the university was started “to provide higher education to women during a time when most americans did not think that women should not go to college.” Landphair also cited the university opening to black women and to men for the first time, no longer being an all-women’s college, in the 1950s. “So here we are 2015 with this building behind me, and before you which will tell its own story,” Landphair said. “Its story continues to tell this important institutional theme, of democratic purpose.” Landphair’s definition of “democratic purpose” is one that is inclusive to everyone in the world, signifying that the building is to help the community. “The building is welcome to all members of the community.” Landphair said, and later said that the University Center is open to “Fredericksburg, the state of Virginia, the United States, and the rest of the world.” President Hurley, who was introduced by Landphair, referenced the many construction projects he oversaw, but also gave credit to the Board of Visitors. “During the time I’ve served as president at UMW, several projects were completed that have been strategically designed to enhance the quality of the student experience of Mary Wash-

POLICE BEAT EMILY HOLLINGSWORTH News Editor

Alcohol law violations: On Saturday, Sept. 19 at 11 p.m., public intoxication occurred at Sunken Road and Franklin Street. An arrest was made and a student received an administrative referral.

Vandalism:

On Sunday, Sept. 20 at 9:15 a.m., vandalism occurred in the Campus Recreation Field on Sunken Road and Fitzhugh Street. The case is pending.

The information was compiled with assistance from UMW Police Manager James DeLoatch and Fredericksburg Police Department Public Information Officer Natatia Bledsoe.

University Relations

ington, both academic arena and the co-curricular part of student life,” Hurley said. Bryce Reeves, a State Senator who is running for reelection this year in the Virginia State Senate 17th district, which houses UMW, gave praise for the building. “It’s about time for the student body to congregate and circle around,” Reeves said. “It’s going to be an epicenter to build that Mary Washington brand.” Though many disagree, such as Kevin Tertocha, senior English major, who said, “I know a lot of people who were upset when they decided they were going to demolish Chandler to build this University Center, I guess a lot of them didn’t understand why they needed to do that so there was kind of a negative feeling when they opened the UC.” The University Center faced many issues when it first opened. Most notably, the fire alarms went off the first week, which received significant criticism from UMW students. Unusual dining hall hours were also an important issue, although dining services responded by extending the hours of the dining hall.

Complaints also covered the fact that during the construction of the University Center, students who majored in Business and Psychology felt abandoned as Chandler Hall, which housed the College of Business and the psychology department, was bulldozed to make way for the new building. Although, Woodard Center and Mercer Hall are being renovated to house the College of Business and psychology department, respectively. Freshman Mackenzie Guenther thought the building was nice, but complained about the requirement that freshmen were limited in the use of their meal swipes to the dining hall. “It would have been nice if we had the option or were told ahead of time that we can only use the swipes at the dining hall instead of anywhere else.” Gunther said “There’s nothing we can do about it, we just have to ride about the storm now.” It seems that while the past was praised at the ceremony, the future is questionable by students.

The Blue & Gray Press will publish the names of students who are formally charged by the University of Mary Washington Campus Police or the Fredeicksburg Police Department to have committed acts of extreme violence against members of the UMW community or pose a large threat to that community, when names are released to the public. The Blue & Gray Press will publish names and write articles about criminal acts on a case-by-case basis according to the aforementioned parameters.

CRIME COVERAGE POLICY The Blue & Gray Press will publish the names of students who are formally charged by the University of Mary Washington Campus Police or the Fredericksburg Police Department to have committed acts of extreme violence against members of the UMW community or pose a large threat to that community, when names are released to the public. The Blue & Gray Press will publish names and write articles about criminal acts on a case-by-case basis according to the aforementioned parameters.

Latino Identites Month attracts students, raises awareness of Spanish culture RACHEL MANNING Staff Writer

From Sept. 15 through Oct. 8, the University of Mary Washington will be holding its annual Latino Identities Month to celebrate Latino culture and heritage. This year, the organizers are trying to expand the activities so as to reach an even wider audience. There will be several events scheduled throughout the month, the first of which started with the Kickoff Event at 4 p.m. on Ball Circle on Tuesday. At this event, Professor Bocaz-Leiva, along with several students, handed out quesadillas, rice and Brazilian stroganoff to anyone who wanted some. The kickoff celebration was so popular that by the end, the organizers ran out of food, which is something co-president of the Latino Student Association,

Kendra Ganser, has never seen before. “[Latino Identities Month is] already a bigger success than last year,” Ganser said. According to Ganser, one of the reasons the event has garnered such interest is the inclusive attitude that the event organizers insisted upon. “We really want everyone to join in, regardless of race or ethnicity,” she said. “You should attend if you just want to learn more about Latino culture.” The current leaders of the Latino Student Association are trying to offer more varied events than in the past so more people can find more to enjoy. “In the past, people have liked the food and the music,” said former vice president of the Latino Student Association Julissa Pena. That is why they have included events such as a soccer tournament, a

dance workshop led by professional instructors and a Zumba class. They think that events like these, which anyone would want to go to, could encourage more people to join in on the celebration.

Rachel Manning/The Blue & Gray Press

In addition to the emphasis on inclusion, one of the goals the festival has retained is the enthusiasm for teaching people about the Spanish Language. “Some people are afraid of the language •LATINO | 11

Thursday, September 24, 2015

NEWS Feminists United on Campus rally targets online bullying KELLY EMMERICH Staff Writer

“No Longer Anonymous,” a rally held by Feminists United on Campus last Friday at 4p.m., combined the views of campus clubs such as Student Anti-Violence Educators, PRISM, Diversability and Young Democrats on anonymous bullying on campus. The theme was harassment, which FUC club President Julia Michels opened with and passed the microphone to other members of the club to comment on. Though, due to the low turn-out, one speaker started to call out some families and students passing by, aggressively questioning them of their knowledge of comments posted on Yik Yak last March. Billboards containing printouts of some of the comments that were posted on the social media app about some of the members of FUC were present at the rally, and ranged from slightly offensive to graphic and disturbing. One anonymous comment under the Yik Yak handle ‘Enough’s Enough’ said, “In all seriousness, can we revoke FUC’s charter on the grounds that they are a hate group? They hate men, give real feminists a bad name, and pursue witch hunts that only hurt their fellow Eagles.”

Others were more explicit, and had a red sign over them with a ‘trigger warning.’ Virgina Pierce, a senior English literature and classical civilization double major and the publicity chair for Feminist United, spoke about how the club deals with the Yik Yak comments and the animosity that they receive. “We’ve already had a lot of backlash to begin with,” Pierce said, “Some people don’t look at it [Yik Yak]. We just have to understand that backlash always happens when you try to make a change. This is part of the process, and I think we’ve all mentally prepared for that.” Feminist United is still dealing with the Title IX conflict from last semester, which was filed on May 7 and addressed cyber bullying and threats the group received on Yik Yak. The purpose of the rally was to create awareness about the hate speech and the cyber-harassment that can take place on Yik Yak. “For me the most important thing is education,” Michels said “I feel like if students were better educated about gender, race and sexuality then they’d be less likely to threaten people or harass people based on those aspects.”

Latino Identities Month kicks-off with Ball Circle celebration

•LATINO | 10 because it might be hard, but having Spanish-speaking friends makes them feel more comfortable,” Pena said. The language is a significant part of the culture, and the Latino Student Association seeks to encourage people to learn both Spanish and Latino culture. Marion Sanford, the director of the James Farmer Multicultural Center, worked with the Latino Student Association during the planning of Latino Identities Month. “Our goal is to reach out as much as we can and to enlighten as much as we can,” Sanford said of the festival. In Sanford’s opinion, the purpose of the festival is to “address [stereotypes] and make sure that people understand that it’s more than just about stereotypes.” She believes Latino Identities Month will help students learn about the Latino people and culture, and in doing so, put

stereotypes aside. The event that the coordinators are most excited for is the Keynote Performance, which will be done by comedian Joe Hernandez-Kolski in the Digital Auditorium on Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. His routine, titled “Refried Latino Pride” discusses what it means to be Latino in today’s world. “This performance is something that will speak to the pride Latinos have for who they are,” Sanford said. “We hope a lot of people come to see that, because it really should appeal to everyone, and not just Latinos.” The next event lined up for Latinos Identities Month is Zumba, which will take place on Ball Circle on Saturday at 4 p.m. “We would like to see everyone interested in Latino Identities Month,” said Ganser about her biggest wish regarding the festival. “We’ve definitely had an increase in interested people this

UMW dining services hear students concerns, hours extended •DINING | 1 on campus and spreading them around campus would bring greater awareness of the options available rather than solely keeping the information online. According to Platt, a full menu of the dining options in the University Center is located on UMW Dining’s website, umw.sodexomyway.com. The menu, however, is not easy to find. Elizabeth Hiatt, sophomore and political science and sociology major, is a vegetarian and used the online menu when she went to Seacobeck Hall for dining last semester. However, she has not been able to locate the menu since last semester. According to Hiatt, the online menu could be a valuable option for vegetarians or vegans who need the resource before heading to the dining hall. “I used it every day last year,” Hiatt said. Freshman Bryant Atkins said he knows a student who eats lunch in the dining hall and arrives at class 30 minutes late because the dining hall will be

closed by the time class ends. Atkins believes the narrow dining hall hours causes negative repercussions for students. “[They] have to choose between eating and education,” Atkins said. Platt said that many of the initial problems in the dining hall came from a lack of staff, in addition to moving and working in a new building. The University Center had crowds of students in its first week of approximately 24,000 people, which Platt compared to the size of a small town. Compared to Seacobeck in the previous semester, which typically served 12,000 each week. The number has dwindled between 12,000 to 13,000 a week, according to Platt, and more employees are being hired. Despite its challenges, Platt is optimistic of the dining hall’s success, and wants students to play as active of a part as possible in improving the dining hall and accommodating all students. “We want to make this right,” Platt said. “We want to work with you guys to make sure we are treating everyone

Feminists United/Facebook

Older buildings pose risk for students with disabilities

Feminists United/ Facebook Members of FUC displayed poster of cyberbullying instances during the “No Longer Anonymous” rally.

•DISABILITY | 1 like people don’t want to see us,” Salman said. “It also makes me nervous that anything could happen to me back there and nobody would see it.” There are a few other potential problems on campus, such as the brickwork on Campus Walk, which makes manual wheelchairs hard to manage, and the absence of wheelchair accessibility to Madison Hall, the gender neutral housing option. The Office of Disability Resources, on the fourth floor of Lee Hall, handles student concerns and goes around campus to make sure that everything is okay. According to Sandra Fritton, the director of this office, Seacobeck was

up to par with old Americans with Disabilities Act standards, but not newer ones. The University Center, however, meets current standards entirely, according to Fritton. Her office is also sponsoring Disability Awareness Month in October, which is a chance for other students to learn more about the challenges disabled students face. Although it is important to note that most of the problems on campus are built into the architecture, as both Rippel and Salman pointed out, many buildings could only be made more accessible by extensive renovations.

SPORTS

Editor: Mikey Barnes | blueandgray.sports@gmail.com

Cross Country picks up wins at conference preview meet

•CROSS COUNTRY | 3 Sorenson finished in third place overall with a time of 26:43. Granger finished the 8k course in fifth overall with a time of 27:27, followed by sophomore Kevin Jones with a time of 27:35 in seventh place. Senior Lauren Braney led the women’s team to a second place finish with her individual fourth place finish, clearing the 6k course in 21:19. Knerr finished in sixth place while freshman Jillian Weisbeck finished in ninth place overall.

Jim Granger

Next on the schedule for the cross country teams was the St. Mary’s College Invitational on Sep. 19. Braney led the Eagles with a first place finish. Braney recorded a final time of 23:55. Senior Claudia Autore finished in third overall, with a time of 24:24. Knerr finished just nine seconds behind Autore with a time of 24:33. Park finished in fifth, Parent in sixth and Weisbeck in eighth overall. The Eagles scored 19

points, just four points off of a perfect score of 15. The men’s team finished second overall behind Sorenson’s first place finish. “It’s always a confidence boost to win, but that ends that day,” Sorenson said. “The next day is back to work. [I’m] looking forward to another good training block this next month with our eye on the prize.” Granger finished in third place, behind Burklow in ninth. Anderson finished in 13th place and Markham finished just two spots behind him, in 15th. The men’s team lost to Salisbury University, who were fourteen points ahead of UMW and 67 points in front of the next closest team, York College. The second place finish came despite some injuries to two of the men’s team’s top runners, Jones and Stirling. “Our second place finish last weekend without several of our top performers was reassurance that we can compete for the conference title.” Sorenson, Lawson and the rest of the cross country program will be back in action on Oct. 2, at the Paul Short Invitational in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Similar success in the St. Mary’s College Invitational is desired as the Eagles are in search for their first CAC championship since 2009. Sorenson is very optimistic that is the case. “We just need to keep putting in the work day after day,” said the captain. “We are certainly the underdogs and no one expects us to perform like we will, but sometimes that is the best thing that can happen.”

Pair of runners earn CAC honor Senior Lauren Braney was named CAC Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the week for her first place finish at the Seahawk Invitational at St. Mary’s University on Sept. 19. Braney finished in first place at St. Mary’s with a time of 23:55, which was 23 seconds ahead of the second place runner. Braney’s performance helped lead the UMW women’s cross country team to a first place title. Braney finished in fourth place the week prior.

Thursday, September 24, 2015

MASON LATIMER Staff Writer

“Dominant,” the one word that would describe this season so far for the University of Mary Washington men’s soccer team. Through extraordinary play, they have jumped out of the gate this season to a 7-2 record; making them second in the CAC Conference standings only to Christopher Newport, who has a 7-0-1 record. One of the key members of this strong start has been junior Jacob Burke.

Q: What has contributed most to this year’s great early start to the 2015 season? A: This year, we met before the season and decided that we needed a culture change built on good chemistry on all levels towards winning. And that culture change has impacted the way we play defense, communicate, and initiate our offense towards scoring goals. No one is complacent, everyone wants to win and will do what is needed for victory. This year’s group of guys is the best I’ve been a part of since I’ve been here.

Q: Do you think you will be able to keep this hot streak going? A: Yes, the culture is right and we have the depth for someone if needed to step in and have a good game.

Q: How is Kilby’s coaching style? Is he calm and collected or tough but fair on you guys? UMW Athletics

Jim Granger

Men’s soccer off to hot start, Q&A with Jacob Burke

Junior Ben Sorenson was named CAC Men’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week for his performance at the Seahawk Invitational host by St. Mary’s on Sept. 19. Sorenson finished first overall and 10 seconds ahead of the second place finisher. This was Sorenson’s second straight week as the Eagle’s top runner as he led UMW to a second place finish. The week prior Sorenson finished in third place, giving the Eagle’s their first second place performance so far on the short season.

A: Kilby has done a great job in my opinion, and I would say that he keeps a calm head and makes good decisions in the games.

Q: How did the team prepare for this season? A: Well, we worked out all summer wherever we were and just looked for ways that we could improve on our own games to help the team.

Q: What are your thoughts on goalie Matt Spencer having 6 shutout games this season?

UMW Athletics

Q: Why is the UMW Soccer squad such a tight-knit group in your opinion? A: There are no conflicting personalities on our team and everyone gets along with each other. The team chemistry is at an all-time high and we hope to keep it that way.

Q: What new additions have been key parts to this year’s success? A: Bringing in new assistant coach Max Watson and the recruitment of talented freshman and transfers have been key additions in creating a team that has no weak links.

Q: What else can you attribute to UMW Soccer becoming a defensive powerhouse? A: Our back line has been solid, and we have depth at every position that can perform just as well. Also, our focus on defense is to play defense all over the field. The forwards and backs on our team have been pestering opponents into turnovers and we have just been playing lockdown defense.

Q: Will UMW win the CAC Championship this year? A: We have a great shot at winning the CAC championship, but we still have lots of work to do to get there. Our main goal and belief as a team is that we could win, if we stay on top of our games. The Eagle’s soccer team opened up the season on a 5-0 start. Though they have dropped two of their last four, the team and Burke are optimistic success is in the future. UMW men’s soccer have completed their out-of-conference games and will begin play against their CAC opponents. Wesley, on Sept. 26 will be the first conference opponent for Jacob Burke and the men’s soccer program on the season.

A: Matt is doing an awesome job, training hard, and will probably break the school record for shutouts in a season,which stands at 9 games.