THE
The University of Mary Washington Student Newspaper
BLUE & GRAY PRESS
VOLUME 95 | ISSUE 9
Serving the community since 1922
NOVEMBER 4, 2021
Cross country raises over $8,000 after Students feel mask mandates belongings are stolen in California are ignored
Mason godek Staff Writer
Tabitha robinson Staff Writer
Tragedy struck the UMW cross country team this past week while visiting San Francisco, Calif. for their Coast-to-Coast (C2C) Championships on Oct. 28. The team had six bags taken from one van that left five of the team’s runners without gear for the upcoming race. A GoFundMe page for the team has raised over $8,000 dollars to replace the stolen items, including the runners’ personal IDs, running gear, laptops, house keys and other personal necessities. “I burst into tears—all of us were pretty upset,” said senior Amber Zipfel, an English major with a
Masks are required in UMW dining locations when not actively eating. However, some students have noticed that their peers are unmasked while walking around or socializing indoors. “Most of the people I see unmasked or wearing masks below their chins seem to be athletes,” said Jessie Mills, a sophomore biomedical sciences major. “They will be wearing clothes with their sport on it and it’s really disheartening to see that they would represent their UMW sport in such a negative way. It’s disrespectful to those who actually follow the rule.” Mills’ sentiment is a cause for concern among some athletes, as they worry about the reputation that UMW sports teams are maintaining with non-athletic students. “Why would you [not wear a mask]? You’re just Cross country runners in front of the car that was broken into. @umw_xctf / Instagram giving all of us a bad name,” said Kevin Munson, a “Literally minutes later we was in high spirits to tackle the long stuff was in there like our laptops, junior environmental science major and UMW athlete. looked over to see all of our weekend of competition. On their way wallets, running clothes and shoes, “I feel that the current mask policies are pretty fair. rental van smashed and when to the hotel, the team decided to take etc.,” she said. “It really sucked and Like when you’re in a building, wear your mask—it’s a pit stop at one of San Francisco’s we were all upset, but we had to make not that hard.” we ran down to check on it, landmarks: the Golden Gate Bridge. a lot of phone calls to our banks to our things were gone.” Maggie Mrowka, a senior business administration “The view was awesome and we cancel debit/credit cards, our parents, and marketing double major and UMW athlete, took a lot of great pictures and we our coaches, the school and people believes the masking issue is among athletes and non-Cameron Delean explored around a bit,” said senior close to us for comfort.” athletes. sociology major and runner Cameron While they were waiting for a “There is often a divide placed between athletes Delean. “Literally minutes later we replacement van, the team stayed on and non-athletes, although at the end of the day we creative writing concentration, whose looked over to see all of the windows the bridge for two hours, and Zipfel are all here to get an education,” said Mrowka. “Based belongings were stolen. “In that of our rental van smashed and when screamed in frustration. on my personal experience alone, I had four people in situation I had thought about the big we ran down to check on it, our things “I could scream on the bridge so no one of my classes have to be excused for not wearing things I lost, but as the days went were gone.” one would hear me because I just can’t masks, and they were all ‘non-athletes,’ but I still on, it just hit me that … this custom Julia Kapp, a sophomore business believe it happened,” she said. don’t think athletic status is relevant to this.” keychain that I made for my boyfriend administration major, also had her Following the incident, the team Mrowka acknowledges that all students must fulfill and I [was] gone. These little things belongings stolen. contacted the park service. Park their responsibility by wearing masks. are gone.” “When we saw what happened, we rangers instructed them to file a report “Although wearing a mask isn’t convenient or After a five-hour flight to San were all in shock because important with the San •ROBBERY | 7 comfortable, it’s what we have to do as a community,” Francisco, the cross country team said Mrowka. “As an athlete myself, there’s a lot of added responsibility … but I also understand that everyone on campus has their own responsibilities.” On Oct. 20, UMW Athletics sent a schoolwide email about changes to their policy. The policy now niyah yisreal ensure there was no requires spectators to provide proof of vaccination or a Staff Writer further deterioration,” negative COVID test before attending a game. said Messplay. Alvey Hall will “Due to the current pandemic and the varying sizes Gynger Adams, be knocked down of indoor athletic venues, UMW Athletics will require a senior double over winter break due majoring in art proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 to mold problems. test (within 24 hours) before admittance to any of the history and religion, The residence hall, a home contests.” The email ends, “This policy applies remembers visiting co-ed dorm that was to current UMW students as well. All guests must Alvey years before completed in 1990, wear face coverings, regardless of vaccination status, it was closed was closed in 2018. at all times while indoors.” indefinitely. Her “Alvey Hall was Anna Billingsley, associate vice president for brother, Lexus closed during the University Relations and director of communications, Adams, was a former fall of 2018 due to suggests students utilize the COVID concern form student and resident ongoing moisture when they see people breaking COVID protocols. of the hall during control issues, which “We can assure you that we follow up with each 2011-2012 school led to some mold incident report in which a student is named,” said year. growth on the walls,” Billingsley. “I remember going said Paul Messplay, Director of Athletics Patrick Catullo receives to visit my brother ... vice president of COVID concern reports involving student-athletes. Alvey Hall has been closed since 2018. Megan Mecuro / The Blue & Gray Press and there was like a administration and “Any individual that has a concern with a studentsmell in it,” she said. that attempting to Billingsley, associate resulted in students finance and chief athlete is instructed to complete a UMW Concerns “I just assumed ‘ah, renovate Alvey would vice president for being re-housed financial officer. Report,” he said. “I am then copied on all of the filed it’s the smell of an old elsewhere. The only cost more than it university relations. Alvey Hall has reports involving student-athletes and follow up as building.’ Now that I “Due to a flooding would benefit. difference was that not been occupied appropriate with the coach and SAs. think about it, it was problem there in “Alvey has the building was able by students since its Mrowka stressed that the mask-wearing habits of probably mold.” 2018, it underwent been closed since to be salvaged and closing. students, both athletic and non-athletic, reflect back Arrington Hall, a renovation in the [2018] because the reopened after the “We have done no on the university. the residential latter part of 2018. University has had damage was repaired. work on Alvey since “UMW student-athletes work hard every day building identical Updates included new sufficient housing “Arrington Hall is it was closed other to represent the school in a positive light, just like to Alvey, had an showers, flooring and stock to support of the same vintage than to monitor it all other students do in the classroom and in their unrelated flooding mattresses.” as Alvey,” said Anna •ALVEY | 7 [respective] activities,” she said. on a regular basis to incident in 2018 that Messplay said
Alvey Hall to be demolished due to mold
IN THIS
ISSUE
YOUNGKIN ELECTED
dressing up
basketball returns
Youngkin beats McAuliffe in Virginia gubernatorial election.
Class council hosts Halloweens event.
Men’s basketball team has first game Nov. 6.
VIEWPOINTS | 3
LIFE | 4
SPORTS | 8
NEWS THE
BLUE & GRAY
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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 Jess Kirby
ASSOCIATE EDITORS Bernadette D’Auria Cosima Pellis
BUSINESS EDITOR Erin Matuczinski
COPY EDITOR Abigail Slaughter
SECTION EDITORS NEWS Scotti Mullen Josephine Johnson
VIEWPOINTS Norah Walsh
LIFE Josephine Good
SPORTS Victoria Percherke
ONLINE Cameron Delean Maggie Mae Young
PHOTO Emily Warren
FACULTY ADVISOR Sushma Subramanian
Editors: Josephine Johnson & Scotti Mullen | blueandgray.news@gmail.com
Students and professors notice low class attendance following fall break Samuel pugliese Staff Writer
Samantha Stachowiak, a senior business administration major, has had a difficult time finding the motivation to go to class after coming back from fall break. “After a really exhausting first half of my semester, coming back from fall break has not been easy,” she said. “I have been having an extremely difficult time staying motivated to go to class, especially being so close to graduating.” Stachowiak is among other students who are struggling to find the motivation to go to class.
“After a really exhausting first half of my semester, coming back from fall break has not been easy. I have been having an extremely difficult time staying motivated to go to class, especially being so close to graduating.” -Samantha Stachowiak Students and professors have noticed a decrease in attendance and participation in their classes. Some professors have been hosting classes virtually on certain days in attempts to increase attendance. Grant Cragg, a senior communication and digital studies major, noticed his professors commenting on the lack of students in class. One of these was his logic class taught by lecturer Michael Reno of the Classics, Philosophy and Religion Department. “In my one class, professor Reno has commented on the attendance,” he said. “We normally have a full class. However, after fall break, half the class does not show up. There are a lot of empty desks.” In Reno’s logic class, there are 49 students. According to Cragg, an average of about 24 students show up to class. Students such as Jamiyah Bryant, a senior applied
Some professors are having record low numbers of attendance in their classes this semester due to high student burnout. Megan Mercuro / The Blue & Gray Press
economics major, have also noticed a downward trend in class attendance. “I have managerial economics; it is a higherlevel course,” said Bryant. “However, I am pretty sure that almost half the people who are in the class do not show up, whether they dropped the class or just stopped doing assignments. I noticed this after our first midterm and then it became really obvious after fall break.” Aria Janello, a senior sociology major, reported similar findings. “I think at this point in the semester, students’ priorities really show,” she said. “I have two major elective classes on the same day ... and there is a lot of overlap in who is in both classes. For my 11 a.m., my professor grades participation as a large portion of our grade. The class is almost full every meeting, but my 3:30 p.m. has no attendance or participation requirements, and only four to five students show up each meeting.” Due to the recent requirement that professors take attendance in class for COVID-19 contact tracing, professors can see the number of people who are missing classes. Smita Jain Oxford, a senior lecturer in the College of Business, pointed out how important attendance is. “My classes typically do not have low attendance,”
she said. “In my classes, attendance and participation are a large factor of every student’s overall grades.” The UMW attendance guidelines state that each student is responsible and accountable for the information they miss. It also states that the student is responsible for notifying the professors ahead of class time
“I am pretty sure that almost half the people who are in the class do not show up, whether they dropped the class or just stopped doing assignments. I noticed this after our first midterm and then it became really obvious after fall break.” -Jamiyah Bryant if they are to be absent for an extended period of time. Kashef Majid, an associate professor in the College of Business, said that he wants students to give notice when they will be missing class. “I have noticed a decrease in attendance in my classes,” said Majid. “However, my classes vary in size ranging from larger to smaller sized classes. Even though attendance is down, most of my students do an excellent job giving me notice in
advance when they will not be attending class.” UMW students feel that having an online option once a week is more manageable. “I have a management class that has one day a week where we are online,” said Cragg. “I honestly prefer it because there is no need to go on campus every day. Having one day where we can learn material and then read the rest on our own limits the need to be on campus.” Caroline Broderick, a junior accounting major, also likes having a Zoom class option. “Starting Tuesday, my federal taxation of individuals class will be online but only on Tuesdays, said Broderick. “I think it’s a great option. My course load is already hard enough to manage; I think this can take some pressure off of me. I also believe it will help students be more motivated to show up to class.” Cragg believes that having class online once a week could benefit himself and other students because of how difficult re-adjusting to inperson classes was. “I feel like I have seen more people in my hybrid classes than my actual inperson classes,” he said. “I think there’s a reason why people are going to class on Zoom instead of in person. We still have to get used to going back in person. A lot of people are probably feeling burnt out and drained of inperson learning.”
CORRECTIONS for THE Week Due to editor error, the photo caption for last week’s article “Petition calls for protections for transgender students” incorrectly stated that the petition had 151 signatures. At the time of publication, it had 251 signatures. PLEASE REPORT ANY MISTAKES SEEN IN THE BLUE & GRAY PRESS TO Jess Kirby, blueandgray.eic@gmail.com or Sushma Subramanian, ssubrama@umw.edu
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VIEWPOINTS
Editor: Norah Walsh | blueandgray.views@gmail.com
UMW falsely advertises the diversity of its student body DUKE MORISSET Staff Writer
The University of Mary Washington continues to promote that it is a diverse college, even though that could not be further from the truth. In doing this, the administration poorly reflects their stated values by falsely marketing themselves as a diverse or inclusive institution. Upon looking at the UMW homepage, one can find the slideshow of featured stories and topics that the campus promotes. Currently, one of the slides reads “Dedicated to Diversity” and shows Desmoné Logan, a student who is being honored for her work. The article focuses on her contributions to the campus’s diversity and inclusion. However, if someone were to only read the title of the slide and see the picture of the student, it would seem like UMW is the one that’s “Dedicated to Diversity.” For anyone that goes here, it is clear that ethnic groups on campus are small in population. According to a statistic from College Simply, the percentage of students on the UMW campus who identify as white is about 70 percent, while the percentage of any other ethnic group is below 10 percent with a couple of them actually being 0 percent. UMW promotes this false narrative through the pictures they post. I have personally witnessed the University staging photos for their social media, website and brochures. I remember being outside on the fourth floor of the University Center, witnessing a UMW photographer stage a photo of mostly ethnic individuals, along with three or four students who appeared to be white. The photo ended up on the homepage of the university’s website, where the title was trying to convey a message of diversity and inclusiveness. This photo and post is an exaggeration of diversity on campus. “It is honestly sad that this campus feels the need to lie,” said senior communication and digital studies major William Moore, who is a member of the Black Student Association on campus. “Why would I trust a liar with securing my safety, especially as a Black student?”
Anyone who knows anything about this university knows that it is a predominantly white institution, and giving students the illusion of diversity and inclusion on top of that is inappropriate. Students of color should not have to be persuaded or tricked into believing that there is diversity at this institution. “Do they expect us to not notice anything amiss as soon as we arrive on campus?” said Collin Chinn, a senior business administration major. “Like, do they expect me not to notice the lack of other Black students on campus?” According to an article published by NPR called “A Campus More Colorful Than Reality: Beware That College Brochure,” colleges try to sell this idea of diversity like it is something you can buy at a store instead of being honest about what actually occurs on campus. When UMW came to visit my high school, which was very diverse and historically Black, the only African-American admissions counselor at UMW was the one who presented and promoted this school as a diverse campus. The presentation included brochures that seemed to back up the claim of diversity, but once I arrived, it was not what was advertised. Due to the false advertising, I was not prepared for the huge culture shock that I experienced on campus, since the presentation I received in high school did not reflect the same level of diversity the university actually has. Having a diverse population was an important factor when I was deciding which colleges I was going to apply to. College can be a big next step for many people, including myself, and being able to find a community I could associate myself with would make it easier to settle in a place where I may not know many people. It is honestly disgusting that UMW feels like falsely advertising themselves is the only way to get students of color on their campus. If they have to fake their image to attract ethnically diverse students, they clearly aren’t doing enough, if anything, to create a campus where non-white students feel welcome. Administration and faculty obviously see that there is an issue of the lack of diversity of this campus, so
what would be the next step? A good place to start would be removing the white professors who currently teach classes heavily involving race because they can not relate to the experiences that the material is based on. A student should not have to accept a white professor inappropriately using the N-word just because the literature used in class uses that type of term. I agree that it is not easy to increase the diversity of a university that is frequently labeled as a predominantly white institution, and it may seem that the administration has to lie in order to increase those numbers. However, lying does not leave current and future students with a good impression of UMW. The University is also ignorant about topics such as the white supremacy advertising that occurs multiple times throughout the year. White supremacist groups have spread propaganda so frequently that it is considered “old news” on campus, and administrators do nothing but remove the propaganda and send an email about it. Additionally, the school’s rebranding was butchered by appropriating the “matters” concept that was first coined by the Black Lives Matter movement. These actions only amplify the argument that UMW does not have respect for its students of color who can find it hard to succeed in such a hostile environment. I also had a friend who left UMW for a Historically Black College or University due to her not being able to adapt to the lack of diversity on campus, which was the opposite of what UMW promised through their advertising. The UMW Student Transition Program that occurs over the summer reflects a diverse campus. However, once those students return for the fall semester, the “diverse” environment is not even close to what the program implies. One thing is certain: the University of Mary Washington is not diverse. Until the faculty and staff actually want to incite real change to encourage more ethnic students to attend this school, diversity and inclusion will continue to be false advertisements perpetuated to people on and off campus.
Staff Ed: Election leaves us wary of future policies THE BLUE & GRAY PRESS EDITORIAL BOARD
On Nov. 2, Glenn Youngkin was elected as the first Republican governor of Virginia since 2014. According to the Virginia Department of Elections, Youngkin won with 50.82 percent of the vote, only 2.42 percent ahead of his Democratic opponent Terry McAuliffe. Rather than being upfront about his platforms, Youngkin’s campaign was purposely vague and capitalized on fears about human rights policies, such as abortion and transgender rights, in order to gain a larger following. Youngkin advertises himself as a businessman, not a politician, but his debate on Sept. 16, 2021 against his Democratic opponent Terry McAuliffe reflects the same rhetoric and political slander as we have seen in past elections between politicians. In the Sept. 16 debate, Youngkin claims “He’s the most extreme pro-abortion candidate in America today” about his opponent in order to demonize McAuliffe and attract voters who don’t support abortion. However, McAuliffe’s take on abortion is not radical; he only supports a woman’s choice to terminate a pregnancy through the second trimester, as stated in the Sept. 16 debate. Just because Youngkin claims that he’s not a politician does not mean that this statement is true. He campaigned to be the governor of Virginia, and he was elected, therefore his job is to control and decide on policies. If that doesn’t make someone a politician, what does? In regard to his platforms, Youngkin being elected as the next governor of Virginia poses a serious threat to transgender people. In order to gain conservative support, Youngkin used the sexual assault of a female high school student to push an anti-trans agenda, even though the perpetrator was not genderfluid nor transgender, according to Politico. In his “Day One Game Plan,” Youngkin fails to
Thursday, November 4, 2021
mention reproductive rights, but he highlights his plan to ban critical race theory in schools. Critical race theory is not even part of the K-12 curriculum in Virginia. As Tyler Kingkade states on an episode of NPR’s Fresh Air, “opponents are using critical race theory as really more of a catchall to include anything teaching students about systemic racism … the definition that they’re using has expanded to include anything related to equity, diversity and inclusion.” Critical race theory includes the discussion of race and the implications racism has on America’s history, but Youngkin views this as teaching children “to view everything through a lens of race,” according to Fox News. Youngkin doesn’t want race to play a role in how we learn about history, even though it is essential to learning how to be anti-racist in the future. Regarding abortion, Youngkin identifies as prolife. In his first debate with McAuliffe on Sept. 16, 2021, Youngkin refused to give a definitive answer as to whether or not he would sign a fetal heartbeat bill that respected the exceptions of rape, incest and if the mother’s life is in danger, and he changed the focus to allude to the idea of supporting a pain threshold bill. On the other hand, McAuliffe dedicated his platform to enshrining Roe v. Wade in Virginia’s constitution, which he noted in the same debate. He stated his support of a “woman’s right to make her own decision through the second trimester,” and he cited his past gubernatorial history of blocking anti-abortion bills. With Youngkin being pro-life and representing vague opinions in his debate with McAuliffe, it is hard to say what the future of abortion looks like in Virginia. However, as Youngkin appeals to conservative values as a Republican candidate, the future looks bleak for women’s reproductive rights. In wake of Youngkin being elected, it is hard to know what is going to happen with a politician
who refuses to call himself such in office. His focus revolves around conservative values, and therefore it seems that we know what the next four years will look like in terms of reproductive rights and social justice policies. In response to the election results, The Blue & Gray Press uploaded an Instagram story asking how students felt about the election results. Many students responded “:(“ or “sad.” Out of 21 responses, 20 of them expressed disappointment in the election results. “I worry that Youngkin doesn’t have any clear platform on LGBTQIA rights, reproductive rights or any big social issues that can affect minority groups having equal rights,” said Emma Bradley, a junior religious studies major, who responded to the poll. “I didn’t like McAuliffe, but even if I didn’t like him, I knew he wouldn’t take those rights from me.” Bradley makes a compelling point, indicating the lack of solid plans Youngkin presented in his campaign. This leaves the 48.4 percent of people who voted for McAuliffe uncertain about the future protection of their rights. “[Youngkin getting elected] means a setback for trans rights, environmental issues and abortion access,” said Wyatt Spage, a fifth-year history major who responded to the Instagram poll. Again, Youngkin promoting a vague vision of his gubernatorial term leaves us with more questions than answers, which is daunting in light of extreme bills such as Texas’ Senate Bill 8. Although Youngkin did not support this bill, this is not to say that his conservative agenda will not infringe upon women’s right to choose here in the state of Virginia. In all, having the first Republican governor since 2014 is bound to sway Virginian policies, but our voices still have power, and we mustn’t let them falter in light of who is in office. This staff editorial was led by Norah Walsh.
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LIFE
Editor: Josephine Good | blueandgray.life@gmail.com
Photo essay: Class Council hosts Halloweens event for students KYLIE STEFFENHAGEN Staff Photographer
Halloween is an entertaining and highly-anticipated holiday for all ages. When we outgrow trick-or-treating, other spooky festivities tend to take its place. This was my first October at UMW since we returned to in-person gatherings. I was hoping there would be Halloween-themed events around campus that would help inspire some school spirit, and I wasn’t disappointed. On the evening of Oct. 28, Class Council hosted the traditional Halloweens event on Ball Circle. Students engaged in various activities, such as roulette wheel, cornhole, ball-throwing and hula hoop games. Decorations, lights and Halloween-themed music set the atmosphere, and popcorn and cotton candy were provided for students to enjoy. Many people, both hosts and guests, dressed up for the occasion. I attended this event and captured a few of the many impressive costumes at Halloweens 2021.
Bailey Clark, a sophomore majoring in historic preservation, comes to Halloweens in a costume based on the Cats musical. Kylie Steffenhagen / The Blue & Gray Press
Junior Caitlin Moore, majoring in conservation biology, poses on Ball Circle in a Snorlax costume. Kylie Steffenhagen / The Blue & Gray Press
A UMW student attends Halloweens in a Ghostface costume. Kylie Steffenhagen / The Blue & Gray Press
Class Council members and volunteers welcome UMW students to the Halloweens event on Ball Circle. In the back row are junior volunteer and chemistry major Dorothy Haas (left), junior Class Council promotions director and history major Maddie Wilson (middle) and junior Class Council president and IA major Joe Johnson (right). In the front are freshman Class Council vice president and political science major Shadwick Yoder (left) and freshman Class Council treasurer and biomedical sciences major Marion Robinson (right). Kylie Steffenhagen / The Blue & Gray Press
Grayson Jones, a sophomore computer science major, and Beckett Jacobs, a freshman psychology major, attend Halloweens dressed as a cowboy and a cow. Kylie Steffenhagen / The Blue & Gray Press
Kenna Westen, a freshman psychology major, in costume for the Halloweens event. Kylie Steffenhagen / The Blue & Gray Press
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Brian Veranga, a sophomore in the pre-nursing program, and Alexandra Polymeropoulos, a senior double-majoring in women’s, gender and sexuality studies and philosophy/pre-law, in costume on Ball Circle. Kylie Steffenhagen / The Blue & Gray Press
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LIFE
Cornhole Club offers students a new opportunity to get outside
ABIGAIL SLAUGHTER Copy Editor
Although cooler fall weather is approaching, some students still actively participate in recreational activities outdoors. One of these activities takes the form of a relatively new club on campus called the UMW Cornhole Club. The club was approved only one year ago. “It’s brand new,” said Jeffrey McLean, a junior business administration major and president of the UMW Cornhole Club. “We play cornhole once a month, and it’s a social thing—you sit around, talk and play cornhole.” McLean wanted to create a social activity people could participate in. “One of the problems with this
school is it’s harder to meet people,” he said. “I wanted a place where people could be [part of a] social network and branch out, and I think that’s a really important thing here.” Reese Place, a senior communication and digital studies major and vice president of the UMW Cornhole Club, helped create the club with McLean for the love of the game. “I liked organizing things and I love cornhole,” said Place. “I still have to be COVID-safe, and cornhole is perfect because you can meet outside.” Place said the club borrows cornhole boards from friends. “We have so many friends who love cornhole,” she said. “As the club gets bigger, we will probably rent them out
[from SAE].” Because of COVID, the club’s most recent meeting was actually their first; they hosted their first meeting on Oct. 16 on Jefferson Square. Despite being a new club on campus, they had promising turnout for their first meeting. “We’ve only had one so far; there [were] like 20 to 25 people,” said McLean. “At Club Carnival, we got like 100 plus [people] to sign up.” According to McLean, the students at Club Carnival seemed to take interest in the relaxed environment that the club promised. “People were like ‘How casual is it?’ I was like ‘it’s once a month.’ It’s not a commitment,” he said. After news spread to other schools
about the formation of a cornhole club at UMW, McLean started to receive offers to take the club to a more competitive level. “I got an email a while back [saying] ‘Oh, would you like to [compete]?’” he said. However, McLean turned down this opportunity, as the club was meant to focus more on the social aspect of the game rather than competing. The formation of the UMW Cornhole Club was not a spontaneous decision. McLean grew up playing cornhole, so he was not at all new to the game upon attending college. During his first year at UMW, he made an observation that ended up leading to the formation of the club. •CORNHOLE | 6
Different ways to eat eggs in Middle Eastern breakfast recipes SARAH KHALIL Staff Writer
When cooking your eggs in the morning, they don’t have to be plain and boring; there are various ways to enjoy eggs with a hint of Middle Eastern taste. The following recipes are very popular in parts of the Middle East. Although they are mainly enjoyed during breakfast, they can be eaten during any time of day. These recipes are healthy and easy to make and use affordable, common ingredients.
Fava bean eggs
The first recipe is a way to enjoy eggs with beans. Fava beans are called “ful” in the Arabic language. They have a unique taste and are used in many creative ways. You can enjoy fava beans on their own or add other ingredients to them, such as eggs and vegetables. This recipe can be served with pita bread or any other type of bread. It is best when the bread is toasted or warm.
Ingredients:
2 eggs, beaten. 1 (15 oz.) can fava beans 1 medium-size cucumber, diced 1 medium-size tomato, diced 1 tbsp. olive oil Splash of sesame seed oil (optional) 1 ½ tbsp. salt ¼ tbsp. black pepper powder 1 ½ tbsp. cumin powder ½ tbsp. chili powder (optional)
Instructions:
Strain out the water from the canned fava beans. Add the fava beans into a bowl and mash the beans using a fork. Add the cucumber and tomato. Mix the ingredients until they are well combined. Add the salt, black pepper, cumin and (optional) chili powder. Mix all of the ingredients together. Heat up the skillet with olive oil on medium-high heat. Add the eggs (scrambled). Stir occasionally for 4-6 minutes, depending on how you like the consistency of the egg. Remove the skillet from heat and let the eggs cool. Transfer the eggs into a separate bowl. Add the mixture of fava beans and vegetables on top of the eggs. Add a splash of sesame seed oil on top (optional).
Shakshuka
This dish is packed with flavors and nutrients, and it consists of a mixture of eggs and vegetables. The word shakshuka simply means “a mixture” in the Arabic language. This recipe can be served with pita bread or any other type of bread.
Ingredients:
4 eggs 3 cloves of garlic, diced 1 medium white onion, diced ½ bell pepper, diced 1 (10 oz.) can of unsalted diced tomato 1 tbsp. olive oil 1 tbsp. salt ¼ tbsp. black pepper powder 2 ½ tbsp. paprika 2 tbsp. cumin powder ½ tbsp. chili powder (optional) Chopped cilantro for garnish (optional)
Instructions:
Heat up the skillet with olive oil on medium-high heat. Add the garlic and onion. Stir for 2-3 minutes or until it starts to change colors. Add the bell pepper and stir occasionally for 2 minutes. Add the salt, black pepper, paprika, cumin and (optional) chili powder, stirring until these are well mixed. Add the canned diced tomato and stir until it is well mixed. Lower the heat to medium-low and let simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Create four empty circles in the pan. Crack the four eggs, one in each of the circles. Cover the skillet and let the food cook for 8-10 minutes, depending on how you like the consistency of the egg. After the eggs are cooked to your desired liking, turn off the heat and let it cool. Add chopped cilantro on top (optional).
White cheese eggs
White cheese is one of the most popular types of cheese in the Middle East. It’s the key to transforming any dish, and it has a soft texture that melts in the mouth. This recipe is the best way to combine eggs with cheese and vegetables, and it is made with few ingredients. The addition of the white cheese adds extra creaminess and texture to the dish. This recipe can be served with pita bread or any other type of bread, but it’s best if the bread is toasted.
Ingredients:
2 eggs 1 medium-size tomato, diced 1 small white onion, diced 4 oz. Middle Eastern white cheese ¼ tbsp. cumin Pinch of salt Pinch of black pepper powder Cilantro for garnish (optional)
Instructions:
Shakshuka is a Middle Eastern breakfast food that involves a mixture of eggs and vegetables. Sarah Khalil / The Blue & Gray Press
Thursday, November 4, 2021
In a pan, boil the eggs for 12-15 minutes over medium-high heat. Remove the pan from heat and let the eggs cool. Peel off the eggshell. Put the eggs in a bowl, and mash the eggs using a fork. Add the tomato and onions, using a fork to mash all of the ingredients together. Add the white cheese. Mash well using a fork until the ingredients are well mixed. Add salt, cumin and black pepper. Mix the ingredients until they are well combined. Add cilantro on top (optional).
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“ H
LIFE
Personal essay: The international student experience at UMW THERON GERTZ Staff Writer
International students aren’t easily identifiable upon first glance. Much like shapeshifters, one can usually only identify them by very minor idiosyncrasies revealed through prolonged conversation. Unlike shape-shifters, they are real people whose experiences we should try and empathize with and better understand. I know this because I initially transferred here from Japan. To start this discussion about the international student’s experience, we must first note that culture shock is real and jarring. People who are born in the U.S. might not consider some things strange, but they can appear truly bizarre to non-native citizens. To list some of my first impressions, I’ve noticed Americans’ road rage and how often they honk and curse each other out on the road. I’ve also observed how little they know about the rest of the world compared to other groups. Living in Asian and European countries, I felt a much stronger cultural emphasis on being worldly and informed about different cultures. Unfortunately, this information leads me to my next point, which is that telling people you’re an international student––or, more organically, telling people you’re from “X” country––is a lot like telling them you’re vegan. More often than not, they will respond with a quick “that’s cool,” and allow the subject to change. Best case scenario, they may throw a few declaratory statements about how “they aren’t, but how cool it is that you are” or ask a couple of superficial questions. Either way, the eventual result is the same: conversational annihilation. As an international student, isolation is an incredibly terrifying prospect, making it especially important to make friends. Without family members close by, you have few other options for a support net. While many international students can attest to having made lifelong friendships, most can also admit it is initially difficult to connect with locals. One of the first things I noticed upon arriving here was just how much of Virginians’ small-talk is based around the state itself; historical knowledge, district rivalries, regional descriptions such as NoVA (Northern Virginia) and SWVA (Southwest
Virginia) are rife. Having a conversation with a local Virginian feels eerily similar to taking a test without having read the textbook pages that you were assigned. This even holds up for their specific vocab terms, such as “seeing someone in a brick,” or, upon finding something funny, being “geeked.” Another important fact worth noting is how different the relationship of an international student with this university is compared to that of non-international students. For example, it may be significantly harder to feel school pride when you’re paying almost twice what an in-state student does. Regardless, not having a family to visit means you will become more acquainted with this school than the average person. I know this university like the back of my hand, mainly because I’ve spent the past three, almost four, years living in it. What this often means for international students is that they will become more acquainted with school facilities than native students could possibly imagine. For us, financial aid, the student health center or the Talley Center are not resources that are “nice to have” and that you can possibly put off until going home; rather, they are absolutely essential. Holidays are uniquely bad in this regard. More often than not, I stay on campus and choose to wait out the days. Without its usual population, the school looks like New York did in the movie “I Am Legend.” That is to say, eerie and depressing. The few people who are on campus seem to make frictionless eye contact with you, and it almost never leads to social interaction. Still, despite all of this, it’s not all bad. Not being from here means you can better appreciate all that the area has to offer. I can attest to Virginia’s spring being one of the most beautiful anywhere in the world. Likewise, while not perfect, Virginians are, more often than not, incredibly well-meaning. A big part of why I decided to stay here was because of the warmth and support people showed me. To truly survive in a place, you often have to find your own niche, and nothing teaches you that more effectively than living in a foreign country. While I believe people are fundamentally good, not all of them may be your crowd. Still, you will find out that many of them are, country or culture of origin notwithstanding.
the formation of the club. “My freshman year, I’d go outside to Ball Circle and there’s just nothing happening,” said McLean. He thought there was so much more that could be done with the space, so he got a group of friends together and started a club that would utilize that space and bring people together. Sandrine Sutphin, the director of Student Activities and Engagement (SAE), is familiar with the process students go through to create clubs. She said a group can start on the chartering process “as long as they have submitted all the required information, including the name of five interested members, a club advisor and a constitution.” “[The Inter-Club Association (ICA) and SAE] work closely together on the chartering process,” said Sutphin. “Typically, when all ICA officer positions are filled, those officers vote on whether or not a club should be chartered.” After McLean got a couple of friends to sign up, filled out the proper paperwork and attended an approval meeting, the club was approved. According to him, the process took between a couple of months to a semester to become an approved club, but the work he had to do amounted to about 30 minutes. “It’s really easy to make a club on campus,” said McLean. Despite his success in creating a club, the process is currently different for those who want to create clubs in the near future. “At this time, all ICA officer positions are vacant, so SAE has carried on the role of chartering clubs this semester.” McLean and Place also run an Instagram account for the club, which McLean said is continuously gaining followers. They use it to post about meetings and to respond to students’ direct messages about any cornhole-related questions they may have. Meetings are typically held on Ball Circle, filling that space that McLean noticed years ago was not being utilized much by students. To stay updated on upcoming meetings, students can follow @umwcornhole for more information and details.
•CORNHOLE | 5
The UMW Cornhole Club gives students the opportunity to learn a new game and recreationally play against each other. @umwcornhole / Instagram
Thursday, November 4, 2021
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NEWS
CRIME COLUMN JOSEPHINE JOHNSON & SCOTTI MULLEN News Editors
Cross country team left heartbroken after robbery of personal items •ROBBERY | 1
Possession of Marijuana
On Oct. 16 at 2:00 p.m. there was a case of possession of Marijuana at Arrington Hall. This case is pending.
Francisco Police Department, who instructed the team to go back and file a report with the park service. “The authorities on sight were kind of helpful, but since then it has gone a little bit downhill,” said Kunle Lawson, head coach of the cross country team. “We’re getting the run around from the authorities. This is something that happens all of the time apparently. People that
“Just seeing everyone contribute and help out lifted our spirits and made the situation a little better.” -Julia Kapp break into cars target cars with out-of-state plates.” The team had three rental vans, two of which had California license plates and were not robbed. The van that was broken into had outof-state license plates. Eventually, a local resident contacted the team through Facebook, saying that some of the team’s emptied
Petit Larceny
On Oct. 26 at 3:10 p.m. there was a case of petit larceny at Arrington Hall. This case is pending.
backpacks were in their front yard, including Zipfel’s. “I got my journals back, but they took some little weird things,” she said. “They took my hairbrush, my colorful pens, my toiletries bag … I had to pay for my retainer just now and that was $300, so that was fantastic. According to Kapp, the GoFundMe was initially set at $5,000 because five runners lost laptops roughly valued at $1,000. Once that goal was met, they raised the goal to $7,000. At the time of publication, the GoFundMe has raised $8,145. “Just seeing everyone contribute and help out lifted our spirits and made the situation a little better even though we did lose a lot of expensive and sentimental items,” said Kapp. The boyfriend of Kenzie Lloyd, one of the runners, started the GoFundMe page. “It was a blessing that Kenzie Lloyd’s boyfriend created that GoFundMe page,” said Zipfel. “It shows that there are evils in the world from this experience, but there’s also a lot of good, and there’s kind people. The
Cross country runners in front of A Runner’s Mind, a business in California that donated running shoes and apparel to the team after the robbery. @umw_xctf / Instagram
generosity of people is just amazing.” A Runner’s Mind, the running store based in California, ended up supplying all of the team’s stolen gear. “One of the girls on the team works for a running store up in [Northern Virginia], and the owner of her store called an owner of a store here locally,” said Lawson. “They were able to help us outfit the kids that didn’t have shoes and spikes for that day. They did a really good job taking care of us.” After receiving several donations and a local resupply from the store, the team was finally ready to get back into action at the Coast-to-Coast
Championships. The team competed against teams such as CNU, UC Santa Cruz, Salisbury University and Pratt University. The men’s cross country team ended up placing fourth in an 8K course with 89 points. For the men’s team, notable performances included a ninth-place finish from junior political science major Patrick Brown, senior physics major Matt O’Cadiz finished 22nd, followed by senior communication and digital studies major Justin Libman in 23rd place, junior communication and digital studies major Nicholas Onorato finished 25th, and senior biochemistry major
Brandon Baumgartner took 26th. The women’s team placed fourth with 101 points overall. Delean finished 17th, junior psychology major Grace Pippin placed 21st and senior interdisciplinary science studies major Kenzie Lloyd finished 31st. UMW will compete next at the NCAA Southwest Regional on Nov. 13. “I think for our Regional meet we will be in good shape. Despite the C2C scoring of C2C, we all ran really well so I think we’ve shown that we have a lot more to give on the course,” said Onorato. Jess Kirby contributed to reporting for this article.
Moisture issues cause mold in Alvey Hall the needs of our residential students and the cost for remediation and renovation exceeded the value of the building [...] It was decided to raze the building rather than let it sit empty and deteriorate,” said Messplay. The cost of total mold removal for Alvey Hall would be “Between $12 -$15 million, depending on whether we kept the building as a residence hall or converted it for other uses,” said Messplay. According to Messplay, there are no other “immediate concerns” about other
•ALVEY | 1
residence halls on campus. “The University is making progress in addressing deferred maintenance in our residence halls, and we will continue to make improvements as we are able,” he said. Construction is scheduled to take place during winter break. “As a part of the project to raze Alvey, we will make landscape improvements to the site. Although Alvey will be razed over winter break, the landscaping will not Landscaping will take place in spring 2022. occur until spring,” said Messplay.
Megan Mercuro / The Blue & Gray Press
COVID DASHBOARD 0.57
85
Total cases since Nov. 2, 2021
9
Active cases
7-day average cases per day
38 of 38
541
Isolation spaces available
22
Quarantine spaces available
Student health center tests
82 of 82
Positive student health center tests
Thursday, November 4, 2021
7
SPORTS
Editor: Victoria R. Percherke | blueandgray.sports@gmail.com
Men’s basketball returns to the courts Nov. 6 SHAWN FLEETWOOD Staff Writer
Riley Welch, senior, special education major. UMW Athletics
“I believe we definitely have the group that can achieve whatever we set our minds to.” -Riley Welch
Da’Shawn Cook, senior, communications and digital studies major. UMW Athletics
“No one will remember ‘close.’ They’ll remember the team that wins, and we want to be remembered for winning it.” -Da’Shawn Cook
Daniel Peterson, sophomore, math and computer science major. UMW Athletics
“Having a crowd makes the game more exciting. The bigger the crowd is, the bigger the game feels, and the more exciting it becomes.”
Squeaks and dribbles echoed loudly throughout the Anderson Center as the UMW men’s basketball team prepared for their return to the court. According to senior special education major and guard Riley Welch, the upcoming season has been a long-time coming. “Personally, I am most excited about having the chance to compete again with my teammates and coaches,” said Welch. “The fact that we didn’t get to compete last year was hard on all of us, and we’re happy to be back together doing what we love most.” The UMW men’s basketball team is officially set to kick off their upcoming season on Saturday, Nov. 6. The Eagles are scheduled to face Mount Aloysius in Middletown, Pa. as part of the Penn State Harrisburg Tip-Off Tournament. According to head coach Marcus Kahn, the competition is shaping up to be a challenge for the Eagles. “We haven’t played [Mount Aloysius] before,” said Kahn. “But then the next day we play Penn State Harrisburg, who pre-season ranked, I think, number 13 in the country. The last time they played, they were in the second round of the NCAA tournament, so it’s gonna be really tough.” Christopher Newport University is also looking to be a major challenge for UMW, according to Kahn, who went on to reference the past difficulties the Eagles have faced when playing against the Captains. “We have struggled against Christopher Newport, and we play them twice this year in February,” said Kahn. “Until we can beat them, I would say that’s certainly the team to beat in the conference.” Over the course of the 2019-2020 regular season, the Captains managed to defeat the Eagles twice, chalking up winning scores of 9784 and 81-64, respectively. “I believe we definitely have the group that can achieve whatever we set our minds to,” said Welch. “The only goal on my mind is winning a conference championship and having the opportunity to compete in the NCAA Tournament.” Returning guard and senior communications and digital studies major Da’Shawn Cook added his own goals to the mix, stating that he’s aiming to win the Coast-To-Coast championship. “That’s always been the main goal for me and for us as a team,” Cook said. “We’ve been close [to winning] since I’ve been here, but no one will remember ‘close.’ They’ll remember the team that wins, and we want to be remembered for winning it.” Cook noted that the main expectations for the team are to “win the conference and make a run in the NCAA tournament.”
“We have a long season ahead of us, but we still have a main goal, and we all know what each of us brings to the table,” he said. “So the expectation is the same for everyone on the team. It’s going to be fun; it’s been a long time.” According to Kahn, with a roster composed of seven seniors and many returning players, the returning Eagles will be able “to help the new guys along” throughout the season. “We have got a really good balance of guards and forwards this year that are going to be productive for us and that we’re counting on,” said Kahn. Kahn later went on to mention several players that Eagles fans should keep an eye out for this season, specifically sophomores Daniel Peterson and Zach Blue. “[Peterson and Blue] were here last year, but this will be their first college season, and I really like the way they’re coming along and developing,” he said. “They’re both certainly going to contribute this year.” Peterson, a math and computer science major and forward, echoed Kahn’s sentiments, stating that getting back into the groove of competing “will be very enjoyable.” “I’m most excited to play a game again,” Peterson said. “The last game I played was my senior year of high school, and now I’m a sophomore, so it’s been almost a year and a half since I’ve played a game.” Peterson also noted that he’s thrilled at the prospect of playing with fans. “Having a crowd makes the game feel more exciting,” he said. “The bigger the crowd is, the bigger the game feels, and the more exciting it becomes.”
University of Mary Washington Fall Sports Schedule and Scores
Men’s Soccer (8-2-5)
Oct. 25 L @ Virginia (0-2) Oct. 30 L @ Salisbury (1-2) Nov. 5 vs. TBA C2C Tournament Nov. 6 vs. TBA C2C Tournament Nov. 12 vs. NCAA Tournament
Women’s Soccer (5-2-7)
Oct. 27 T @ Christopher Newport (1-1) Oct. 30 W @ Salisbury (2-1) Nov. 4 vs. TBA C2C Tournament Nov. 5 vs. TBA C2C Tournament Nov. 12 vs. NCAA Tournament
Men’s Rugby (4-2)
Sept. 25 W @ Southern V.A. (52-15) Oct. 2 W @ Maryland (90-0) Oct. 16 W vs. Virginia Tech (76-12) Oct. 23 W vs. Mount St. Mary’s (43-12) Oct. 30 @ L Queens (5-32)
“We have got a really good balance of guards and forwards this year that are going to be productive for Cross Country Oct. 2 @ Bridgewater us and that we’re counting on.” Oct. 16 @ Hood
Oct. 30 vs. C2C Tournament Nov. 13 @ NCAA Regionals Nov. 20 @ NCAA Regionals
-Marcus Kahn The team’s newest players have also voiced their enthusiasm for the upcoming season. Freshman cybersecurity major Ty Lacey said he’s excited to go out and compete on a collegiate level. “We’ve got a great team and great coaches behind us,” said Lacey. “I hope to make an impact right away on both ends of the court and contribute to a winning season.” The Eagles are scheduled to play their first home game against North Carolina Wesleyan at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 12. The game is slated to be one of several competitions played as part of the Hyatt Place Tip-Off Classic that will take place at UMW that weekend.
Field Hockey (9-6)
Oct. 12 L vs. Christopher Newport (0-4) Oct. 16 L vs. Salisbury (0-4) Oct. 27 W vs. Dickinson (3-1) Nov. 3 L @ Salisbury (1-3) Nov. 6 @ TBA C2C Tournament
Women’s Volleyball (18-11) Oct. 29 L @ Carnegie Mellon (0-3) Oct. 30 W @ Wittenburg (3-1) Oct. 30 W @ Geneseo (3-1) Nov. 5 @ Mount Mary Nov. 6 @ TBA C2C Tournament
-Daniel Peterson
Swimming (3-1)
Oct. W 30 @ Randolph-Macon (137112) Nov. 6 @ Franklin & Marshall Nov. 12 @ St. Mary’s (Md.) Nov. 19 @ F&M Invitational Nov. 20 F&M Invitational
Games are available to watch via livestream on the UMW Athletic’s webpage
Ty Lacey, freshman, cybersecurity major. UMW Athletics
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“I hope to make an impact.” The men’s varsity basketball team poses for a photo.
-Ty Lacey Thursday, November 4, 2021
UMW Athletics
Schedule not listed above. Bold indicates home game.
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