THE
BLUE &GRAY
THE UNIVERSITY OF MARY WASHINGTON STUDENT NEWSPAPER
PRESS
October 31, 2019
VOLUME 93 | ISSUE 9 SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE
1922
Support for marijuana legalization in Virginia at an all time high UMW student opinions reflect state-wide trends
Joseph Milbank Staff Writer
UMW students believe that legalization would be a step in the wrong direction. According to a recent poll conducted “I watched someone close to me get by Research America Incorporated for into marijuana usage. He was fine at the University of Mary Washington, first, the first couple of months that he 61 percent of Virginians are in favor of was regularly using. He started using legalizing recreational use of marijuana. multiple times a day until he hit the point The legalization of recreational where he seemed off when he wasn’t marijuana has become a subject of high. When he wasn’t able to use he was controversy in recent years. With eleven completely not himself. I’m open to the states and the District of Columbia now idea that some people may benefit, but having legalized recreational use of the amount of people that, if marijuana was legalized, “I think recreational and medical marijuana should be would go down legalized in Virginia so that it can be better regulated and the same road is too high,” said keep users safer than having to invest in a risky illegal David Craig, a market, and there can be criminal justice reforms to focus on crimes that are actually fatally damaging to our junior computer science major. community.” Virginia has already begun -Cat Montoya to loosen their laws. In 2015, marijuana, widespread debate on the the use of THCA oil was legalized for issue has increased. medical use in the treatment of epilepsy A University Relations article about in Virginia. the poll reported that this statistic is a Because of the overall increased large increase from 2017 in which a percentage of people in favor of similar poll found that only 39 percent of legalization, the issue will be at the Virginians were in favor of recreational forefront of voters’ minds in both the use. November 2019 Virginia elections and While the legalization of recreational the upcoming 2020 presidential election. marijuana appears to be growing in While past Republican presidential popularity among Virginians, some administrations have been against
legalization, President Trump stated in a press briefing at the end of August that he supported states making their own decisions on legalization. The majority of Democratic presidential candidates support some form of legalization. These
Some students also want more than just legalization; they want criminal justice reform for offenders of a law that they don’t believe in. “I think recreational and medical marijuana should be legalized in Virginia so that it can be better regulated and keep users safer than having to invest
A new UMW poll shows increased support for marijuana legalization in Virginia.
Hightimes.com
include legalization for medical use, decriminalization and full legalization for recreational use. One Republican candidate, former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld, supports federal decriminalization.
in a risky illegal market, and there can be criminal justice reforms to focus on crimes that are actually fatally damaging to our community,” said Cat Montoya, a junior
•Marijuana | 7
Report argues for renaming of Trinkle among other measures Ginny Bixby Associate Editor
The Campus Environment Presidential Ad Hoc Committee hosted two open forums on October 28 and 30 to discuss its recently released report. The forums were held in the Digital Auditorium and were hosted by Michael Spencer, chair of the committee and historic preservation professor, and Cedric Rucker, associate vice president and dean of Student Life. Eight faculty members and two students, who have now graduated, served as volunteers on the committee, which was formed in 2017. According to the report, the committee was charged by the Board of Visitors with “...conducting an audit of the public displays of history and culture in the campus common areas, including academic and administration buildings and residence halls, and to make recommendations where appropriate” and “making sure that the physical environments on our campuses more generally reflect our commitment to diversity and inclusion.” The recommendations will be reviewed by Paino and the Board of Visitors. Twelve faculty attended Monday’s forum in addition to one student reporter, while 26 students and eight faculty
IN THIS
ISSUE
members attended Wednesday’s forum. Many of the students in attendance at the second forum were representing the UMW chapter of the NAACP. The report covers many issues relating to representation in public displays, but Spencer highlighted three of the committee’s recommendations as the most commonly asked about— renaming Trinkle Hall, concealing the representation of Robert E. Lee in George Washington Hall murals, and preserving and contextualizing the Monroe Hall murals, all by the year 2024. Renaming Trinkle Hall Many students at the forum voiced their support for changing the name of Trinkle Hall. According to page 57 of the report, the committee recommends that “Trinkle Hall should be renamed as the values the name embodies run contrary to the University’s ASPIRE document and the University’s mission as a whole.” E. Lee Trinkle was the governor of Virginia from 1922 to 1926 and was a public supporter of segregation and eugenics. Trinkle signed the Racial Integrity Act of 1924, which was created to preserve racial hierarchies and was promoted by white supremacists and
eugenicists. Spencer said that the committee used Yale University’s considerations about renaming, which include evaluating if the legacy is at odds with the mission of the university, and whether or not the building plays a significant part in the life of the campus. “Trinkle’s legacy, especially with the eugenics movement and the Sterilization Act of 1924 are in direct conflict with our current mission and objectives at the university,” said Spencer. Spencer said that Trinkle Hall’s prominent presence on campus played a role in the committee’s recommendation to rename it. However, it will be up to the Board of Visitors whether or not it is ultimately renamed. Sophomore Brianna “Breezy” Reaves said she came to the forum with other members of the NAACP chapter because she felt it was important to express herself as a black student at a predominantly white institution (PWI). “When it comes to safety and representation, it’s very important that I show up and I make my issues known, that way I can hold the administration and any parties involved accountable,” she said. Reaves is passionate about renaming
Trinkle Hall. “It’s a totally different thing to attend a predominantly white institution that still encapsulates, and still promotes or ignores the obvious hypocrisy of Trinkle Hall being located on a campus in which we promote diversity and inclusion,” said Reaves. The College of William and Mary and Radford University both have buildings named Trinkle Hall as well. Trinkle helped fund the construction of the buildings at UMW and William and Mary. “A lot of PWIs are good at being diverse, but a lot of PWIs aren’t good at being inclusive. Being inclusive would mean that you are including the voices of those you are trying to diversify the community with, and that you are listening to them when they say ‘we don’t want to [go to] an academic building [named after] a racist,” said Reaves. “The academic buildings, the residence halls, the buildings owned by the university are a representation of the community. So if you have a building named after Trinkle —a racist, a segregationist— that says something about the community.”
•Renaming 7
Ridderhof Exhibit
LGBTQ+ Classes
Claudia Keller
Marginalized Histories of Korean women.
Representation needed to understand history.
Keller was awarded CAC swimmer of the week.
LIFE | 4
VIEWPOINTS | 3
SPORTS | 8
NEWS THE
Editors: Kate Seltzer & Abigail Buchholz | blueandgray.news@gmail.com
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 Lauren Closs
Associate Editors Grace Winfield Ginny Bixby
Buisness Manager Lucas Burkholder
SECTION EDITORS NEWS Kate Seltzer Abigail Buchholz
VIEWPOINTS Alicen Hackney
LIFE
Students discuss generational gap of understanding in Facebook misinformation Emily Malone Staff Writer
Some UMW students and faculty are concerned about Facebook’s spread of misinformation after presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren’s recent ad highlighting this issue. The ad began with the line “Breaking news: Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook just endorsed Donald Trump for reelection.” That statement is false, and was used to demonstrate how Facebook allows false information to be shared so easily. Warren pointed out that the social media site is allowing the public’s ideas of the political world to be skewed because it doesn’t take down ads or posts including misinformation. Zach Whalen, a professor and director of the digital studies minor, explained that sharing information is not the priority of Facebook. “Facebook is not designed to give people the best information. It’s
“I was always sort of amazed by the fact that these people are educated, but they would still read something like ‘stop eating sugar and you’ll lose 30 pounds and grow an extra tooth’ and they would take it at face value.” -Sarah Eltayeb designed to get people emotionally charged and engaged,” he said. “Facebook doesn’t want you to click an article and then go read something and learn something new, they want you to keep scrolling. They want you to keep refreshing, so that you stay inside of Facebook.” As of now, Zuckerberg isn’t focused on solving this problem. During a hearing on Oct. 3, Zuckerberg was questioned on whether he believed Facebook was responsible for taking down ads that included misinformation. He stated that Facebook will take down
ads that include depictions of violence but didn’t say whether they would remove political ads containing false information. “Facebook so far has been like ‘that’s not our problem’ but I think increasingly they have more of a responsibility just ethically to be more careful about that,” Whalen said. For many students, this misinformation sharing on Facebook is not a new problem, and has become part of the culture. “The articles that you find Mark Zuckerberg remains unclear on Facebook’s expectations for political ads. The Economic Times on there were always sort of the subject of jokes, and people rant about it to other people or he will at my old school would say that if you comment on it and be like ‘this is false’ got an article from your parents from and he will fact check it, but he won’t do either WhatsApp or Facebook you know anything to get rid of it because he likes it’s one hundred percent a scam,” said conflict I guess. But my mom purposely freshman Sarah Eltayeb. just will block it,” Thurst said. Many students that grew up with For some, the articles with Facebook recognize that some articles misinformation are a funny joke because are false, and take the headlines with a they are so obviously fake, but others grain of salt. Some students stay away believe this to be a problem, especially from Facebook completely because of when it comes to politics. these articles, and some caution their “I think that is a really dangerous way consumption of news from the social of reporting the news, and especially in media site. For parents and other older this day and age where communication adults, this sense of caution isn’t always is so important in our society, it hurts on their minds. our overall political system when there “I was always sort of amazed by the is misinformation spread from an fact that these people are educated, but important news source,” said Jennifer they would still read something like Snyder, a sophomore and sociology ‘stop eating sugar and you’ll lose 30 major. pounds and grow an extra tooth’ and With the spread of false information they would take it at face value and becoming more common, students they would just believe it. On the one have found they have to look beyond hand my mom would say ‘don’t always Facebook to find the truth. believe what you read online’ and then “I personally don’t believe there is a she would send us articles like that,” way to avoid looking at false news other Eltayeb said. than looking up the news yourself to Freshman Ash Thurst said although fact check their argument or data. While he doesn’t use Facebook, his parents time consuming, it makes you a better come across misinformation a lot. researcher in that sense, and that way “My parents use Facebook you know you for sure. It does frustrate religiously. Whenever my dad comes me that our journalism system is known across misinformation or something that for spreading false news,” Snyder said. somebody has signal boosted he will
Cosima Pellis
SPORTS Jack Hagn
ONLINE Meaghan McIntyre Samuel Cobb
PHOTO Cayley McGuire Noah Strobel
FACULTY ADVISOR Sushma Subramanian
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CORRECTIONS for THE Week PLEASE REPORT ANY MISTAKES SEEN IN THE BLUE & GRAY PRESS TO Lauren Closs, blueandgray.eic@gmail.com or Sushma Subramanian, ssubrama@umw.edu
Thursday, October 31, 2019
VIEWPOINTS
Editor: Alicen Hackney | blueandgray.views@gmail.com
Loot boxes: gaming’s unethical business tactic referred to as “pay to win.” Particularly in online multiplayer games, some players have an advantage because they paid more to get overpowered loot, that To fund the expanding gaming market and cost to can also be gained through loot boxes. This can take produce games, video game companies have adopted the away the fun from the game. use of microtransactions and loot boxes. Loot boxes are “Loot boxes and microtransactions were made as a randomized virtual item generators that players can get cash grab for companies, allowing players to pay to win in games and microtransactions are usually associated instead of dedicating time and effort into a game,” said with Downloadable Content (DLC) which can extend junior Matt Augustine. “Even if the microtransactions the life of video games by providing additional content. were just cosmetic, it’s still a harmful thing, especially However, the use of microtransactions and loot boxes to young children. Loot boxes are a form of gambling can be unethical and has been challenged by many in and it’s targeted at children who are unable to be aware the gaming community due to the predatory business of the dangers they can have.” practices associated with loot boxes. Microtransactions Some people disagree, however, about the can initiate gambling, addiction and unfair advantage if classification of loot boxes as gambling despite the not surveilled closely. random nature of the prize. “When Sophomore Logan targeting addictive Palmer said, “Loot behavior in game boxes aren’t gambling. design involving In gambling, you mostly microtransactions, lose money, in loot boxes such as loot boxes, you pay for something that’s unethical. and you generally can It’s unethical when see all the possibilities big company’s of stuff you can get so target a group that you accept that you can are susceptible to get a random prize. And these predatory then microtransactions business tactics. are a different story. It’s very easy for Microtransactions in Fornite loot boxes expose children to gambling. arstechnica.com mobile games games are for both greed where people can get a small endorphin rush when and the average worker who doesn’t want to grind.” buying something small, a reward chemical mechanism Some players are selective when it comes to in the brain, and can lead to addictive behavior,” said microtransactions. Sophomore Mike Redding said, “I William Dickinson, professor of physics at UMW. enjoy DLC, but I pick and choose what I buy and not Loot boxes and microtransactions can cause every DLC or microtransaction.” endorphin rushes, making the purchaser feel rewarded In response to the loot box controversy, many video and want to repeat the behaviour. This can lead to an game creators have created battle passes for certain addiction. Big companies may target these endorphin games such as “Fortnite” and “Call of Duty Modern rushes to try and get people hooked, which can be Warfare.” Battle passes allow players to enter into a unethical when it targets young children. Young children limited time event to get all the cosmetics in that season don’t fully understand the concept of money, which and or allow access to all DLC maps when they are could lead to them spending a lot of their parents money released. In order to get the cosmetics, though, players and possibly lead to an addiction at a young age to have to either spend a large amount of time playing buying virtual items. the game to get the loot, or they can pay to get all the “When it’s to expand a game and give players more cosmetics quicker. of what they enjoy through microtransactions, that’s Microtransactions can be good when expanding a ethical,” added Dickinson. Not all microtransactions are game, but not when the core mechanic of the game is bad as it can extend the life of a game by giving more focused solely on microtransactions. Microtransactions content players enjoy as well as supporting the business. and loot boxes are not inherently bad, but how Microtransactions can also enable unfair advantages, businesses use them today is often unethical.
NATHANIEL HOLBROOK Staff Writer
Staff Ed: Stand with Hong Kong By THE BLUE AND GRAY PRESS EDITORIAL BOARD Protests have been raging in Hong Kong since April of this year. They have been recently publicized in the US due to support from an NBA owner for the protests, causing China to retaliate by cancelling NBA games in the country. LeBron James supported China and received backlash for supporting a regime with many human rights abuses. The protests started after an extradition bill was introduced that would allow for criminal suspects to be extradited to mainland China under certain circumstances. Millions of distraught citizens believed that the bill would extend mainland China’s jurisdiction and legal system into Hong Kong, which would hurt their civil liberties. More so, the citizens feared potential abuse and injustices under the Chinese prison system, which has a long history of wrongdoing. This sparked massive protests that became increasingly violent in response to the methods of the Hong Kong police. In late July, protesters stormed the Hong Kong parliament and the chambers were wrecked and spraypainted. In August protesters sat in the Hong Kong international airport which led to more violence by the police force and hundreds of flights were canceled. In October the extradition bill was withdrawn but the protesters believe this was too little too late and clashes continued. The violence escalated when an 18-year-old protester was shot point-blank by a police officer. Protesters started using poles and small bombs to fight against the police. There have been two sides of the protesters, the more violent side, and those trying to peacefully demonstrate. So far there has been no clear leader of the protests. Many protesters have hidden their faces in fear of being targeted by Chinese facial recognition technology and retribution. The protesters have five demands: for the protests not to be characterized as “riots”, amnesty for arrested protesters, an independent inquiry into alleged police brutality, implementation of complete universal suffrage, and the extradition bill to be fully withdrawn. While the extradition bill has been fully withdrawn, the protesters are still pushing for the remaining four. The Blue & Gray Press stands with the Hong Kong protesters as they fight against China for freedom of speech and universal suffrage. This editorial was lead by Jack Hagn.
LGBTQ+ courses needed for cultural representation LGBTQ+ topics are often overlooked in the education system-- and sometimes entirely left out. Although courses that are specific to the community are offered at UMW, there is a discrepancy in the availability and access to them. UMW needs more classes that educate students on LGBTQ+ topics to increase representation and to diversify students’ education. It is hard to find a class that exclusively highlights the LGBTQ+ community within the curriculum. Students will find few courses specifically concerning the LGBTQ+ community. “Looking at the courses given every semester, I only see about two classes that focus on the community, and I feel that’s an issue with students who are part of the LGBTQ+ community,” said sophomore psychology major Jai-Leah Garcia. This semester, the course Queer Literature was offered underneath the English discipline. The course has two sections, no prerequisites and is open to any student. However, most classes that cover LGBTQ+ topics are not offered every semester. “I think that UMW does offer some very good LGBTQ+ courses, but they are almost exclusively in the English and women and gender studies departments. As a history major, I would love to see some LGBTQ+ related courses within the history and American studies department. There are courses on African American history, women in history, and other groups, but there is a gap in LGBTQ+ history,” said senior Carolyn Stough. Several classes centered around sexuality and the LGBTQ+ community are higher-level courses that
Thursday, October 31, 2019
GRACE MONTES Staff Writer
require prerequisites, which prevents some students from being able to take them on top of their majorspecific coursework and general education requirements. Students come to UMW to pursue a liberal arts degree and create an educational experience that not only prepares them for their future, but also allows them to learn about other interests outside of their major. There should be easier access to these classes, as they are popular among students, and give background to a community that many students at UMW identify with. UMW English professor Kate Haffey shared her experience as a professor teaching these courses. “I think we could pay attention to the fact that classes
LGBTQ+ classes should be found in multiple disciplines. Noah Strobel / The Blue&Gray Press
that deal with these LGBTQ+ issues are popular among students because they fill a gap in many people’s high school education. Students want classes that deal with LGBTQ+ issues, and this becomes clear to me every semester when I teach queer literature and the course fills rather quickly, or when I am teaching WGST 101 and there is a long waitlist to get into the course,” said Haffey. The lack of representation can be troubling for students in the LBGTQ+ community. There is great significance in being in a class that recognizes the history and importance of your community. There is the feeling of a safe space where students are free to express their own experiences and connect them with topics covered in the class. Courses that are exclusively about the LGBTQ+ community can provide insight into its history and contributions, which are usually skipped over in general history classes. “Being someone who just recently came out, I wanted to immerse myself into the community and learn more about this new part of my life,” said Garcia, who is in Haffey’s Queer Literature class. “I always feel included in the class, and I never feel as if I don’t belong because we all have been through the same struggles and many of the books that we read connect with our lives. I feel like more students should have that feeling of belonging.” UMW needs to offer more LGBTQ+ representative classes to its students. These classes will benefit students greatly by increasing knowledge on the history and contributions of the community and cultivating a safe, inclusive environment.
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LIFE
Editor: Cosima Pellis blueandgray.life@gmail.com
Cozy comfort food recipes to “fall” in love with
Pumpkin Cake Roll 3 eggs 1 cup sugar 2/3 cup canned pumpkin 1 teaspoon lemon juice 3/4 cup flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 2 teaspoons cinnamon 1 teaspoon ginger 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon salt Handful of pecans, or nuts of your choosing Confectioners sugar, amount of your choosing Beat eggs with sugar, canned pumpkin, and lemon juice. Combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt. Stir both mixtures thoroughly together to make batter. Grease and flour a cake roll pan. Spread batter in pan and sprinkle with nuts. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes. Cool in pan. Flip onto a towel covered with confectioners sugar. Roll up in the towel and serve. Hot Fudge Pudding Cake 3/4 cup sugar 1 cup flour 1/4 cup cocoa 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/3 cup butter, melted 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 cup white sugar 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup cocoa 1 1/4 cup hot water Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine 3/4 cup sugar, flour, 1/4 cup cocoa, baking powder, and salt. Stir in milk, butter, and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Pour batter in a 9 inch square pan. Stir together the remaining 1/2 cup white sugar, 1/2 cup brown sugar, and 1/4 cup cocoa. Sprinkle over batter in pan. Pour 1 1/4 cup hot water over --do not stir. Bake 35-40 minutes until almost set. Let stand for 15 minutes after removing from oven.
Almond Brittle 1 package Keebler Club Crackers 4 ounces sliced almonds 1 cup butter 2/3 cup sugar Line cookie sheet with foil. Cover foil with crushed crackers. Cover crackers with almonds. Bring butter and sugar to a rolling boil. Pour over almonds. Bake 15 minutes at 325 degrees until browned. Will continue to brown once taken out of the oven. As Halloween approaches, so does the cooler, crisper weather and the season for fun fall recipes. Here are some recipes to keep you warm in the chilly weather and maintain that autumnal spirit throughout the rest of the holiday season. Recipes by
Ella Green
Almond brittle is a unique alternative to peanut brittle. Ella Green / The Blue & Gray Press
Leftover Turkey BBQ 2 cups turkey 1/2 cup celery 1/4 cup bell peppers, the color of your choosing 2 tablespoons butter 1 cup ketchup 3 tablespoons vinegar 2 tablespoons brown sugar 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard 1/4 teaspoon salt Combine turkey, celery, peppers, and butter. Brown. Add remaining ingredients. Let simmer for 10-15 minutes on stovetop.
Hot fudge cake is the perfect sweet treat for chilly days. Ella Green / The Blue & Gray Press
Students anticipate release of Disney+ streaming service RILEY RANDALL Staff Writer
TV and movie streaming platforms are among the most popular forms of entertainment sought by college students, and now the House of Mouse is stepping up to the plate to take their swing at the market. On Nov. 12, Disney is launching their first ever streaming service, known simply as Disney+. The service is looking to steal market share from entertainment mainstays like Netflix, Amazon and even their own subsidiary, Hulu. Disney+ will cost $6.99 per month, which is $2.00 cheaper than Netflix’s current cheapest plan. If you decide to pay for the service for a year upfront, Disney will charge $69.99, dropping the average monthly cost to just $5.83. If you also want Hulu and ESPN+, Disney+ will provide a discounted bundle for $12.99 per month, which is $5 cheaper than purchasing all three separately. Subscribers are given access to 4K streaming, unlimited downloads and simultaneous streaming across four different devices at once, which Netflix only offers at its premium $15.99/month
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Disney+ will be released on Nov. 12.
plan, with limited downloadable content. The Disney+ library will have virtually every show and movie that the entertainment behemoth has ever produced or outright bought, including Star Wars, Marvel, National Geographic, Fox, Pixar and their own in-house projects as well. Along with everything you may have already seen, Disney has invested heavily into their own original shows and movies exclusive to the service.
DigitalTrends
Marvel fans can look forward to original shows like “Loki,” “WandaVision,” and “Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” while original Disney fans can look forward to a “High School Musical” series and a new “Lizzie McGuire” sequel series. The list of original planned content goes on. Several students on campus are anxious for the debut of the streaming service that was originally announced in 2017. Jonathan Caicedo, a junior accounting major, is most interested
in the exclusive original content and is curious to see how the service will pan out for Disney. “I’m definitely interested to see everything Disney+ has to offer when it comes out. I personally am looking forward to the new Star Wars ‘The Mandalorian’ series. I know that they are also coming out with a couple of Marvel spin off series that seem pretty good. It seems that a lot of companies are turning to this subscription based service so it should be interesting to see if Disney is successful,” said Caicedo. Simone Levendosky, a junior psychology major, is excited for the debut. But like many other college students, she is on the fence about forking over more money for yet another streaming service. “I think it’s exciting that all of our childhood movies and TV shows will be in one place. I’m just conflicted on paying for another streaming service because it can get expensive for college students. If I were a die-hard Disney fan, then this would be perfect, but I’m still on the fence about it.” Disney+ is available for preorder now and will launch in time for some Thanksgiving break binge-watching.
Thursday, October 31, 2019
LIFE
Modern Korean women dismantle historical patriarchy through art KAITLIN BAILEY Staff Writer
middle-aged women are seen as having little significance to The Ridderhof Martin Gallery’s society. Cho created a video most recent exhibition, “Marginalized which contrasts a group of Histories of Korean Women” had its women dressed beautifully as grand opening last week on Oct 24. The brides with military scenes. art illustrates the daily life of Korean The brides seen in the women throughout history beginning video are normal women in 1910 and continuing into the 1980s. rather than professional It focuses on the ignored histories of models. While they are women that contradict conventional beautifully styled and made values of marriage and family including up, they show physical signs messages of political regimes. of age and stress which The exhibit features four demonstrate the taxing roles contemporary Korean artists: Youngjoo women take on in society. Cho, Sohee Kim, Sumita Kim, and This piece shows in a raw Wonju Seo. sense how women have been Suzie Kim, curator of the exhibition previously restrained by and professor of art history at UMW, said societal gender roles and they that their art “epitomizes the intersection have the ability to be admired of personal and collective histories amidst the sacrifices they of Korean women, and illustrates make as wives and mothers. contemporaneous conversations against This exhibit accurately militarism, patriarchy and nationalism.” Art by Youngjoo Cho, Sohee Kim, Sumita Kim and Wonju Seo is featured in the exhibit. shows the importance of the Adam Wartel / The Blue & Gray Press growth of feminism in Korea These inspiring female artists put new self-portraits. She emphasizes the to counteract the patriarchal perspectives on Korean confinement of women during the government and society. It is hard not to gender roles and show a 1970s and 80s patriarchy based on support these strong, intelligent female variety of ways women Confucian ideologies. Her facial artists who have chosen to openly have overcome obstacles expressions are dull and emanate express their discrepancies with the that society has thrown at the suppressed feelings of a young marginalized histories of their cultures. them during this roughly girl being held back from being her The Ridderhof Martin Gallery seventy-five year span optimal self. has given the UMWs community a through multiple art A common theme throughout striking opportunity to appreciate these mediums. the exhibit is a metamorphosis women’s moving pieces that depict The exhibit showcases of powerful women emerging the bleak history of women and the the blossoming of into identities greater than just inspiring progress that has been made in individuality and turning homemakers and caretakers. In promoting feminism and individuality away from the standard Cho’s 2015 piece “Demilitarized for Korean women in all of the and traditional female Goddess,” she highlights a specific generations moving forward. identity through textile group of women in Korean culture, The exhibit will be open daily through and fashion in Korean the “ajumma.” These married, Dec 8. society that has been rigidly ingrained into the previous generations. Seo’s 2009 textile piece “Wrapping with Blessings” narrates through cohesive patchwork that it is possible to resolve issues in gender, race and immigration and emerge into a new identity. In Sumita Kim’s inspiring 2019 oilon-canvas piece “The Quelling,” she portrays a transformation through The exhibit features art in many mediums. Adam Wartel / The Blue & Gray Press
Metamorphosis of powerful women is a theme throughout the exhibit.
Thursday, October 31, 2019
Adam Wartel / The Blue & Gray Press
The exhibit will be open daily through Dec. 8.
Adam Wartel / The Blue & Gray Press
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Weekend Events Thursday
Friday
• Night of the Living Musicians: • Spiderman: Far From Home UMW Concert Band @ Dodd @ Monroe 116, 7 - 9 p.m. Auditorium, 7:30 - 9 p.m. • Marginalized Histories of • Karaoke Night @ HCC Digital Korean Women exhibit @ Auditorium, 7 - 9 p.m. Ridderhof Martin Gallery • Marginalized Histories of • Thanks in Advance: Jason Korean Women exhibit @ Robinson @ duPont Gallery Ridderhof Martin Gallery • Thanks in Advance: Jason Robinson @ duPont Gallery
Saturday • Taste of Asia @ UC Chandler Ballroom, 4 p.m. • Jazz4Justice: UMW Jazz Ensemble @ Dodd Auditorium, 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. • Spiderman: Far From Home @ Monroe 116, 7 - 9 p.m. • Marginalized Histories of Korean Women exhibit @ Ridderhof Martin Gallery • Thanks in Advance: Jason Robinson @ duPont Gallery
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bgpress1922
NEWS
POLICE BEAT Popularity of legalization grows ABIGAIL BUCHHOLZ & KATE SELTZER News Editors
anthropology major. Virginia’s special election on November 5 could also have a dramatic effect on legalization if the Democrats were to gain the two State Senate and two State House seats keeping them from being the majority. The Research America Incorporated poll found that 72 percent of Virginia Democrats were in favor of the legalization of marijuana for recreational use, compared to the 62 percent of Independents and 41 percent of Republicans.
•Marijuana | 1
Public Sexual Display On October 29 at 2:37 p.m., there was a public sexual display in Monroe Hall. Prosecution is pending. One administrative referral and one Title IX referral were issued.
Possession On Saturday, October 19, between 3:15 p.m. and 4:47 p.m, there was underage alcohol possession on the Battlegrounds. Seven administrative referrals were given.
On Saturday, October 19, at 3:03 p.m., there was underage alcohol possession on the Battlegrounds. One administrative referral was given.
Petit Larceny On Friday, October 18 between 7:00 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., cleaning supplies were stolen from Trinkle Hall. This case is pending
On Monday, October 21 between 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., a food service order book and an undisclosed amount of money was stolen from the Alvey parking deck. This case is pending.
On October 19 between 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., a backpack was stolen from the Battlegrounds. This case is pending.
Assault and Battery Between Tuesday, October 22 at 6 p.m. and Thursday October 24 at 5:20 p.m., there was an incident of assault and battery in Virginia Hall. The victim declined to press charges. One administrative referral was issued.
On Saturday, October 19 at 2:35 p.m., there was an assault and battery on the Battlegrounds. Two administrative referrals were issued.
Thursday, October 31, 2019
“It is insane that our government today considers marijuana to be as dangerous as heroin.” -Lucas Brandt Another issue in Virginia involving the legality of marijuana for recreational use is its classification as a schedule one drug. Some students at UMW feel that this classification alongside drugs such as LSD and heroin, isn’t warranted. Lucas Brandt, a senior business major, said, “It is insane that our government today considers marijuana to be as dangerous as heroin. We should legalize marijuana and expunge past convictions. We should also ensure that revenue from legalization is reinvested in communities hit hardest by the war on drugs, especially African American and other communities of color.” Other students shared similar beliefs as Brandt. “Since marijuana is used for medical bases and prescribed by doctors, then it is illogical to not have it legalized. There are many benefits to the uses and, most importantly, it has not killed anyone. Criminalization of marijuana means spending more money on those caught than actually criminalizing serious crimes involving violence,” said Aly Conrad, a junior sociology major. This sentiment is felt among some Virginia State Senators as well. Senator Stephen Heretick has said that he plans to put decriminalization legislation in the 2020 session. “I think it’s taken a long time for us to distinguish and understand there are fundamental differences between marijuana and all those other drugs that we see and hear on the news every day,” said Heretick. Earlier this month Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring also said in a tweet that it was time for Virginia to move towards legalization. “Virginia’s policy of criminalizing minor marijuana possession is not working. It’s needlessly creating criminals, the human costs are huge, it costs taxpayers millions, and the consequences fall disproportionately on African Americans and people of color,” Herring tweeted in July. The upcoming November 5 election will be a pivotal moment for the future of legalized marijuana in Virginia. While it remains to be seen if legalization legislature will be passed, sentiment throughout the state appears to be moving in the direction of legalization for recreational use.
Trinkle Hall will potentially be renamed.
The Blue & Gray Press
Committee recommends more inclusive displays across campus
Spencer said that if at the forum that she was concerned the Board of Visitors because people with disabilities were not votes to rename Trinkle Hall, a renaming included among the underrepresented committee would be formed and groups mentioned in the report. students could be a part of the process, “I want to make sure that there is and would also be able to suggest name an emphasis on making sure that we’re suggestions. Several students at the considering disability as a component forum voiced support for renaming of diversity, especially because we have Trinkle Hall after James Farmer. such a large population of students “One of the biggest ironies on this with disabilities on this campus,” said campus is that we have James Farmer Machado. She recommended that the [statue] right across from Trinkle Hall,” committee consider ways in which said Rucker. visual displays could be made more Committee recommendations accessible for students with visual The committee conducted a survey impairments. of other universities to see what A student with a visual impairment actions they’d taken when renaming also asked for disabilities to be and evaluating displays on campus. considered when evaluating the displays Erin Devlin, professor of history and and noted that she was unable to access American studies is one of the members and read the report because of her of the committee who contributed disability. Spencer and Sabrina Johnson, extensive research to this report. vice president for Equity and Access, “That included looking at universities said that they would work to find a way that ultimately chose not to change to make the report accessible for those names as well as universities that did with visual impairments. choose to change names,” said Devlin. Moving forward Devlin said that formulating the Freshman Maya Jenkins said she report has been a very deliberative came to the forum with the NAACP two year process that examined not chapter because she cares about UMW just permanent and prominent campus and wants all students to feel safe displays, but also and included on images and text campus. such as those “One of the “One of the biggest ironies displayed on main [reasons] on this campus is that we bulletin boards. I loved this have James Farmer [statue] university when I “We talked to faculty, we talked right across from Trinkle Hall.” came to visit was to staff, we talked that I felt safe. I to students, we felt like I could be -Cedric Rucker talked to alumni my own self… I in a series of focus wasn’t targeted. But groups last spring the Patriot Front and into this fall and other racially in order to get a sense of how different targeted [incidents] on campus have stakeholder groups in our community reminded me that maybe that safety isn’t felt about our physical environment on real, and I still love this university so I this campus and representations of our want it to feel safe for other students,” institutional history in that space,” said said Jenkins. Devlin. “I hope that after I’m here, there’s Other issues addressed in the forums going to be more black and brown included the potential concealment students, more LGBTQIA+ students of the murals in Monroe Hall. coming here, so I just feel like it would Spencer explained that concealment be great for something like Trinkle to is a temporary historic preservation be [renamed] because he represented technique that would protect the murals something that we don’t believe in…it while the university works on preserving makes us feel unsafe.” them for the future. The committee has Spencer said that he would start also recommended creating displays editing the report immediately after that would contextualize the murals in the forum to include the comments and Monroe and George Washington Halls, concerns that were addressed. He will as well as potentially covering the image distribute the revisions to the committee, of Robert E. Lee in George Washington who will edit the report and send it to Hall. President Paino within a week. The Concerns about accessibility revised report will be addressed at the Jessica Machado, director of the Nov. 15 Board of Visitors meeting, Office of Disability Resources, said which is open to the public.
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SPORTS
Editor: Jack Hagn | blueandgray.sports@gmail.com
Claudia Keller named CAC swimmer of the week
KATIA SAVELYEVA Staff Writer
Following UMW’s defeat of Bridgewater and Lynchburg in women’s swimming last weekend, junior Claudia Keller was named the CAC Women’s Swimmer of the Week. “It makes me excited for the rest of the season. If I know I’m doing good now, then I want to continue that and do good at conferences,” said Keller. At Lynchburg, Keller won the 200 yard freestyle with a time of 2:01.42 and the 500 yard freestyle with a time of 5:22.72. In the latter, she defeated the competition by 15 seconds. These wins followed her success in UMW’s opener against Washington and Lee, where she completed the 1000 yard freestyle at 10:52.30, and the 500 freestyle at 5:20.90. Her victory in the 1000 yard was the first UMW victory of the evening. Keller recalled the Lynchburg meet with a smile. “We were swimming very fast times and it was only our second meet,” she said. “We had a lot of people in first, and a lot of people got their best times for the season.” The timing of this meet created some challenges in the process. “This meet we were coming off of fall break, so we had two days off,” said Keller. “We didn’t have as much practice leading up and Coach killed us the day before. So we were a little more tired, but it was still pretty good.” The high morale as a result of the recent successes has left the team optimistic when it comes to its season goals. “Our spirits are up right now,” says Keller. “We’re trying to get our last CAC win this year. I think we’re gonna
get it. And we want to try to get some girls in NCAAs this year.” Keller’s faith in these goals is high: “We have a lot of fast girls, we have a lot of fast sprinters and distance swimmers this year that could go.” Keller’s relationship with the team began in her freshman year, although she swam in high school as well. “I wanted to swim in college because I liked the sport,” she said. “But I wasn’t quite sure because I didn’t think I would be fast enough.” After joining the UMW swim team, her speeds have continued to improve. This season, over the course of just two meets, she has experienced four individual event wins. Her membership has seen the swim team through the last three years, which has featured the addition of a new coach, UMW alum Justin Anderson, who was hired in July 2018. “Coach Anderson has been so good.
He’s been pushing us a lot harder and encouraging us,” said Keller. “He’s always joking with us, too.” Overall, Keller’s time on the team has shaped her social life at UMW. “It makes UMW so much more fun because I hang out with the team, and they’re my best friends.” Keller has formed close-knit relationship with her fellow swimmers, which reflects in their support of one another both in and out of the pool. “We’re a family, and we all get along,” said Keller. “There’s no drama, everyone always supports each other and encourages each other.” In addition, Keller’s found that the time commitment of swimming has helped rather than hurt her academic life. “It helps me become a better student because it helps me focus and manage my time,” said Keller. “Swimming makes me more motivated and hardworking.”
Playing a high school sport helps students build friendships and teaches valuable lessons about teamwork and time management. According to the National Collegiate Athletic Association website, approximately 8 million high school students participate in high school athletics, but only about 480,000 college students compete as NCAA athletes. If sports are such a productive tool, why do so few students play sports in college compared to high school? As a college student, managing classes and homework can be difficult. For some, balancing early morning practices and games with school work is not ideal for peak academic performance. Zadie Lacy, an undeclared sophomore, competed in both soccer and swimming while attending high school, but does not play at UMW. “I tried out two sports here at UMW on the club level, and I had conflict[s] with the team schedule, and practice times,” said Lacy. Freshman Mia Buffington played volleyball in high school. Most of her reasoning behind the decision to drop the sport in college was due to the time commitment. “I think the main difference between high school and college sports is the time commitment and sacrifice of free time,” said Buffington. “I didn’t want to play at a college level because of the frequency of practices and potential for distraction from my schoolwork.” Will Lawson said, “I find the problem
Thursday, October 31, 2019
Fall Sports Schedule
Women’s Soccer (8-10)
Oct. 23 L @ Salisbury (1-0) (OT) Oct. 26 W @ St. Mary’s (Md.) (2-0) Oct. 30 W vs. York (Pa.) (2-1) Nov. 2 Southern Virginia CAC Tournament First Round
Men’s Soccer (11-3-3)
Oct. 16 W @ Southern Virginia (6-0) Oct. 19 W vs. Christopher Newport (1-0) Oct. 23 W vs. Salisbury (2-0) Oct. 26 T @ St. Mary’s (Md.) (2-2) 2OT Oct. 30 W vs. York (Pa.) (5-1)
Field Hockey (7-10)
Oct. 23 L vs. Salisbury (6-0) Oct. 26 W @ St. Mary’s (Md.) (2-1) Oct. 30 @ Southern Virginia (12-0) Nov. 2 @ York (Pa.) Nov. 2 vs. St. Mary’s (Md.) Keller won the 200 yard freestyle with a time of 2:01.42 at Lynchburg.
UMW Athletics
Time commitment prevents former athletes from pursuing college sports DARCY SPICER Staff Writer
University of Mary Washington
is more with the amount of work and how much free time I have, which is not much.” This lack of flexibility is not only influenced by schoolwork, but also by Lawson’s involvement in other campus activities. Lawson actively participates in College Republicans, Young Americans for Freedom and Students for Life, which all involve some form of time commitment. The question is then raised: how feasible is it to be active on campus, find time for school work and play a sport?
“I didn’t want to play at a college level because of the frequency of practices and potential for distraction from my schoolwork.” - Mia Buffington Some students view the stricter schedule as a positive for their academic performance. Natalie Linnekin played club sports in high school as well as managed the varsity boys basketball team. Currently, she plays for the UMW women’s rugby team and is involved in several committees on-campus. Linnekin claims that she is able to be more diligent towards her schoolwork due to a more demanding schedule, which causes her to be choosy with her time. “Sometimes I want to go out with my teammates even when I have a pile of
work,” said Linnekin, “but it also forces me to get stuff done in a timely manner.” While time shortage is a valid reason to stop participating in sports, there are some downsides. “I miss the friendship and bonding between my teammates and I,” said Buffington, “but I don’t miss the long days and late nights finishing work.” As for Lacy, there are many things she misses about sports. “I miss playing sports, because I miss being a part of a team, and having something that gives a uniform structure to my schedule,” said Lacy, “I also miss having the healthy competition as part of working out, and meeting new people through that. I don’t miss the stress.” For Linnekin, playing sports in college served as a breath of fresh air compared to high school. “In high school I found that sports teams were extremely cliquey. If you weren’t a part of that friend group you weren’t going to play that sport or be included in the team,” said Linnekin. “I really like that in college everyone is from different walks of life. The dynamic in college is a lot different and I really like that.” Research shows that although on average they have lower GPAs than students who do not participate in sports, student athletes have a higher graduation rate than students who are not athletes. Overall, it is important to examine the ways in which college sports individually impact students in terms of time, workload and the various other stressors that college students face.
Volleyball (14-12)
Oct. 19 L vs. Christopher Newport (3-1) Oct. 23 W vs. Southern Virginia (3-0) Oct. 26 W vs. Lynchburg (3-1) Oct. 30 W @ York (Pa.) (3-0) Nov. 1 @ St. Mary’s (Md.)
Men’s Rugby (0-3)
Sep. 7 L vs. Kutztown University (36-8) Sep. 21 L @ Penn State University (22-0) Oct. 26 L @ Army (31-15) Nov. 2 vs. St. Bonaventure Nov. 9 vs. Notre Dame College
Women’s Rugby (3-1)
Sep. 21 W vs. Old Dominion (38-21) Sep. 28 W vs. Maryland (41-5) Oct. 5 W vs. Longwood (81-0) Oct. 26 L @ William & Mary (15-12)
Full Schedule not listed above. Most recent games included. Bold indicates home game.
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