THE
BLUE &GRAY
THE UNIVERSITY OF MARY WASHINGTON STUDENT NEWSPAPER
OCTOBER 30, 2014
VOLUME 88 | ISSUE 8
PRESS
SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE
1922
MA
KE N FO OIS E R.. .
HONOR TRANSGENDER & TRANSEXUAL AWARENESS SEXUAL ASSAULT ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES
WHAT?
HOPE RACINE & EMILY HOLLINGSWORTH
CULTURAL APPROPRIATION
Signing the honor code is a long-standing tradition for new students at the University of Mary Washington. With this pledge, students agree to academic honesty and integrity in their actions and relations within the community. However, some students feel that the pledge does not go far enough. Last Thursday, Oct. 23, several student organizations gathered on Ball Circle for the Make Noise Rally, an event focused on raising awareness for various social justice causes and encouraging students to sign a new, student-drafted honor pledge. The pledge, called the Student’s Honor System, includes vows to stand up against injustices, not shy away from questioning systems and be steadfast against discriminations. Representatives from clubs such as DivestUMW, Feminists United on Campus, PRISM, SAVE, the Black Student Association, Diversability, S.E.E.D and UMW United Stance led the rally, surrounded by a circle of students. “We can no longer stand by and agree to live silently in a world that
GENDER EQUALITY DIVESTMENT FROM FOSSIL FUELS DISABILITY RESOURCES DIVERSITY SENSITIVITY SUSTAINABILITY RIGHT TO BODILY AUTONOMY & CHOICE
INTEGRITY
allows systematic oppression and abuse,” said Sarah Palmer, senior English and history double major and secretary of FUC. Palmer, FUC president, senior Paige McKinsey and senior DivestUMW member Zacharia Kronemer led the beginning of the rally, reading the pledge and listing various injustices that students previously identified as pressing issues on campus. In preparation for the event, many of the clubs participated in a video, advocating the rally and reading their new pledge. In addition, throughout the week students were able to walk by a large elephant painting on Ball Circle and create a list of their concerns, such as divestment, right to body autonomy and choice, bisexual awareness, gender equality and more. “Today several clubs have gathered together to address the big issues,” Palmer said. “We can make a better world together, on our campus and outside it. We will not stay silent when we can speak up.” During the rally, club representatives took turns addressing the
“WE CAN MAKE A BETTER WORLD TOGETHER, ON OUR CAMPUS AND OUTSIDE IT. WE WILL NOT STAY SILENT WHEN WE CAN SPEAK UP.” -SARAH PALMER
•RALLY | 11
British debate team challenges UMW on American politics DAHLIA SOMERS Staff Writer
The British arrived at the University of Mary Washington with fighting spirits. On Thursday, Oct. 23, award winning British debate team members Kate Brooks and Alice Coombs Huntley debated UMW team representatives Mariah Young and Thomas Pacheco on the topic “This House regrets the rise of the Tea Party.” Brooks and Huntley argued the affirmative, and Young and Thomas countered with the negative. Anand Rao, associate professor of communication and director of the Speaking Intensive Program, was excited to hear the British debate team and its views on U.S.
IN THIS
ISSUE
politics. “[The debate] was about American politics and it was really great to hear a discussion of American politics from somebody outside of the U.S.,” Rao said. More than merely bystanders, the audience became active participants during the debate when they were given the opportunity to assert their opinions and ask questions in the cross examination that took place before the final speeches. By a show of hands, the British team that argued the affirmative won the debate. UMW Debate coach Adrienne Brovero described the attention to detail that distinguished the university’s debate from more widely viewed political debates. •DEBATE | 10
Anand Rao Kate Brooks (left) debates against UMW’s Thomas Pacheco (right) during a debate about the Tea Party.
LIPSYNC
SIDE EFFECTS?
EAGLE NATION
Lip Sync kicks off the Homecoming celebrations
Anti-vaccination advocate reaffirms her stance
UMW sports has exciting finish to Homecoming
LIFE | 6
VIEWPOINTS | 5
SPORTS | 12