The Blue & Gray Press

THE

BLUE &GRAY

November 8, 2018

VOLUME 92 | ISSUE 10

PRESS 1922 Raccoons and rabbits and groundhogs, oh my!

THE UNIVERSITY OF MARY WASHINGTON STUDENT NEWSPAPER

SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE

Director of landscape and grounds Richard Blair discusses campus wildife Kaitlin Swanton Staff Writer

squirrels, groundhogs, deer, various birds, cats and occasionally a skunk,” said Blair. “Raccoons, squirrels and For freshman and business groundhogs have all become issues at administration major Jacob Chambers, different times of the years.” the nature on campus is an attractive For Blair’s task of keeping the feature. But what he has found is grounds of campus orderly and in that the large trees and open, grassy fashion, the typical challenges faced sections of campus do not only attract with those three animals can vary. potential students, but also wildlife.

They generally include damage to “I have only been positively property and facilities, and interactions affected by the with campus wildlife here at buildings and the University “We have a wide variety other services of Mary such as of animals on campus; Washington,” dumpsters and said Chambers. trash cans. raccoons, possums, Often, “Raccoons squirrels, groundhogs, members of normally don’t the UMW deer, various birds, cats and become a community see problem until occasionally a skunk.” various animals they decide to on campus live in the attic throughout the or crawlspace -Richard Blair day. of a building, “The rabbits, or they get too squirrels and friendly with other wildlife are wonderful sightings,” people because someone is feeding said Chambers. “I have personally them,” said Blair. “Squirrels are noticed rabbits around Randolph [and] normally not a problem until they get Mason and an increase in raccoon in an attic or other area of a building sightings around Woodard.” they don’t belong. Groundhogs damage For the director of landscape and some ornamental plant material and dig grounds, Richard Blair, the animals can holes everywhere.” pose a challenge to keeping the campus As for the damage control of the community safe, clean and animal wildlife on campus, Blair said “when nuisance-free. we receive a complaint, we investigate “We have a wide variety of animals it and determine what the problem is on campus; raccoons, possums, and what caused it.

•WILDLIFE | 10

A raccoon was spotted on the road behind Monroe and Willard.

Various students have spotted a black cat by Virginia Hall.

Noah Strobel / The Blue & Gray Press

Cayley McGuire / The Blue & Gray Press

Mary Beth Mathews appointed as faculty athletic representative Joshua Staley Staff Writer

Dr. Mary Beth Mathews was appointed UMW’s new National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) faculty athletic representative by UMW president Troy Paino.

Griffin Bower / The Blue & Gray Press

IN THIS

ISSUE

JAZZY MUSICAL

On Oct. 16, Dr. Mary Beth Mathews, professor of religion in the Department of Classics, Philosophy and Religion, was appointed UMW’s new National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) faculty athletic representative by UMW president Troy Paino.

“I would first like to state that I am happy to have Dr. Mathews in this position,” said UMW men’s basketball head coach, Marcus Kahn. “It is a very important position for our department and we need someone who understands the rigors of being a student-athlete and is willing to help them across campus.

It is important, like with anything on campus, that our student-athletes have a support network with their teams, but also with their professors, advisers and other students across campus.

Since getting to know Dr. Mathews and

WRESTLING BACKLASH

UMW theatre presents “Merrily We Roll Along”

WWE prioritizes profit over morals.

LIFE | 6

VIEWPOINTS | 4

being involved in discussions on this very subject, I am happy that she is our faculty athletics rep.”

After being asked by the provost last fall to serve on an athletics diversity and inclusion committee, Mathews was exposed to issues that the athletic department faces in terms of recruiting a diverse athletic team and how athletics fit into the university at large. This experience, along with other previous experiences, led her to apply and ultimately interview for the NCAA position.

“I think in some ways here at Mary Washington, athletics is a side note.

It doesn’t have to be the main part of Mary Washington but building student interest in athletics while also making sure faculty understand that our student-athletes are hard workers is important. They don’t think they are going on to play professional sports,” said Mathews.

Mathews’ new position,

RECORD BREAKER

•FAR | 10

Joey Peppersack beats the SM8 100 IM Paralymic record.

SPORTS | 8

NEWS THE

BLUE & GRAY PRESS

MISSION The Blue & Gray Press is published every Thursday in the University Apartments Clubhouse for our university community. The goal of The Blue & Gray Press is to produce high quality and accurate news in a manner compliant with the Society of Professional Journalists ethics code. In its coverage, The Blue & Gray Press strives to highlight the community of the University of Mary Washington, as well as deliver fair and accurate coverage on the issues important to our students.

EDITORS-AT-LARGE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Lauren Closs

Associate Editor Ginny Bixby

Managing Editor Ryan Brauch

SECTION EDITORS NEWS Meaghan McIntyre Kate Seltzer

VIEWPOINTS Grace Winfield

LIFE Lucas Burkholder

SPORTS Jack Hagn

ONLINE Ronic Ngambwe Harry Fisher

PHOTO Cayley McGuire

FACULTY ADVISOR Sushma Subramanian

Editors: Meaghan McIntyre & Kate Seltzer | blueandgray.news@gmail.com

Dr. Jessica Gordon Nembhard presents about African-American economic cooperatives Rhys Johnson Staff Writer

On Nov. 1, UMW hosted a presentation by Dr. Jessica Gordon Nembhard in Chandler Ballroom.

Nembhard is a professor of community justice and social economic development in the Department of Africana Studies at John Jay College, City University of New York (CUNY).

Nembhard spoke about her book, “Collective Courage: A History of African American Cooperative Economic Thought and Practice.”

Written in 2014, the book delves into the socioeconomic success that African Americans past and present Dr. Jessica Gordon Nembhard presented at UMW about her new book and the history of African have achieved through the practice of American economic cooperatives. cooperative (co-op) economics.

Rocky Mountain Employee Ownership Center “Collective Courage” defines Nembhard says that the cooperative chose this same delegate to introduce cooperatives as “companies owned system has been championed by its leader at the convention’s opening. by the people who use their services.” several prominent African American Black co-ops survived in the face of According to the book, “these leaders, including W.E.B. DuBois. significant prejudice and bigotry. member-owners form the company According to her, DuBois knew of the “The ones that survived it, it [sic] for a particular purpose: to satisfy an existence of 154 black co-ops and 20 was because the communities around economic or social need, to provide credit unions by 1907. the co-ops supported them and helped a quality good “He’s them,” Nembhard said. “Often when or service.... actually where they came under attack, it was the “Certainly the work of Dr. at an affordable I first starting communities that made sure they Nembhard in the cooperative price, or to create learning stayed right. Sometimes the community an economic field certainly addresses a lot about co-ops literally got guns and stood in front of structure to in the black the co-op to protect it.” of the issues, the social justice engage in needed community,” Dr. Marion Sanford, director of the issues that plague our society.” production or said James Farmer Multicultural Center, facilitate more Nembhard. attended the presentation. equal distribution -Dr. Marion Sanford “He thinks “Certainly the work of Dr. to compensate for that the saving Nembhard in the cooperative field market failure.” grace for African Americans is to certainly addresses a lot of the issues, “I took up the challenge of finding create cooperatives and cooperative the social justice issues that plague some black co-ops so black people communities and that blacks really our society,” said Sanford. “As she would stop telling me that we don’t do need to create their own cooperatives mentioned tonight, there are a number co-ops,” Nembhard said. where they control all the business and of opportunities that can help relieve What she thought was going to be the wealth and sales so that we insulate some of the injustices that are in a two-year project ended up lasting 15 and isolate ourselves to become strong place for a number of individuals and years. “There was so much information and independent.” communities throughout the country. to find,” she said. “Everywhere I turned Nembhard says the most famous She gave a nice historical overview I kept finding more information.” black co-op is “a united black press about how co-ops have been significant According to her book, there group. That’s probably the most in addressing and improving the plight are seven principles and values of famous one because people would of a number of communities.” solidarity and self-help in cooperative know it from black news even though Michael Barker, a senior majoring economics: democratic participation, they don’t know it’s a co-op.” in business administration, was also directors as members, open present at the lecture. participation, limited “The lecture was compensation to capital “The cooperative movement was especially actually a requirement (for-profit or not-forfor the cooperative impactful for the African American community, profit), continuous specifically how it pertained to gaining equality and class that we’re taking, education, concern but I did enjoy the for community, and having a say in their governance and a means of presentation,” he said. “The cooperation among participating in the economy.” cooperative movement cooperatives. was especially impactful “What did the cofor the African American -Michael Barker ops accomplish for community, specifically African Americans? how it pertained to Quality goods and services that Nembhard mentioned another gaining equality and having a say they couldn’t get other places, famous co-op, the Knights of Labor, in their governance and a means of saving costs, increasing income and which was the most prominent labor participating in the economy.” wealth for people, combating racial organization of the 1880s. The union Barker, a Richmond native, discrimination,” said Nembhard. “A brought unorganized black workers connected with Nehmbhard’s lot of co-ops were started because into the same group as white workers, comments about the Knights of Labor. blacks were discriminated against in making it one of the first integrated “I thought it was great,” he said. the market – either they couldn’t buy unions. At the 1886 KoL General “Especially with Richmond being the from certain stores or they couldn’t Assembly in Richmond, race was the capital of the Confederacy, I think it’s get certain food they wanted, because defining issue. The Knights boycotted especially significant that one of the sometimes the supply stores that were a white-owned hotel that refused to first integrated cooperatives would owned by white supremacists were lodge a black delegate, Frank J. Farrell have formed there.” overcharging them.” from New York. The organization then

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

2

SPORTS

Daniel Cormier holds UFC heavyweight title in easy fight

BRIAN HARNISH Staff Writer

This past Saturday, the UFC heavyweight title fight for the belt went down. The battle was between Daniel Cormier and Derrick Lewis in Madison Square Garden. The champion being Daniel Cormier with a record of 221-0 and the contender being Derrick Lewis, with a record of 21-6-0. Daniel Cormier has had an extensive wrestling background, At the 2004 Olympics he took fourth place after losing to Khadzhimurat Gatsalov in the semifinals. Cormier was also a member of the 2008 Olympic wrestling team for USA, where he was named team captain, but was pulled from competition due to kidney failure, brought on by excessive

Cormier wears the UFC belt.

ufc.com

weight cutting. Meanwhile Derrick Lewis did not enter the MMA fighting stage until 2009 and has not had as much experience. Before entering the UFC, Lewis also spent four years in jail after violating his probation for an aggravated assault arrest. So Cormier was favorited.

The experience gap was quite apparent to viewers. According to sophomore business major Kolin Hoffman, it seems as though Cormier was much better at grappling, as he was diving for Lewis’s feet and wrestling him to the ground.

“Derrick Lewis was just severely outclassed from a wrestling standpoint by a two-time Olympian and the fight showed that,” said Hoffman.

Lewis has a more martial art background which causes him to rely on his legs.

“It was kind of boring, Cormier was just dodging trades and was looking for a way to wrestle Lewis down,” said sophomore Bradley Torrington.

This means that Cormier was not exchanging punches as frequently as Torrington believed he should have been.

Instead, Cormier was looking for ways to wrestle Lewis down because of his excessive experience in wrestling that

he knew Lewis did not have. The fight ended when Cormier “ankle picked” Lewis and put Lewis into a rear naked choke.

Cormier was under heavy criticism for picking Lewis Daniel Cormier punches Derrick Lewis. ufc.com over Stipe heavyweight title, another “easy fight” Miocic or Jon Jones as his fight. Many due to the fact that Lesnar is a wrestling believe that it would have been a much type fighter and he is not of the same closer fight if he picked the latter over caliber as Cormier.

Lewis. Especially because in early 2019, The seasoned Cormier had the Cormier will be stripped of his light upper hand from the start because of heavyweight title when Jones returns. his extensive experience and Olympic Hoffman said, “I love Derrick Lewis background. Both Hoffman and from a fans perspective, but there Torrington saw the fight as uninteresting would definitely have been much more and underwhelming because of the competition if DC [Daniel Cormier] experience gap and the style of fighting. picked Stipe Miocic or Jon Jones, and I Despite the viewers opinions on the fight, don’t think [Cormier] wanted that”. they still watched it. Approximately Cormier skipped over many potential 900,000 viewers tuned in to watch the contenders that would have made for fight. Both fighters obviously have a better fight, but he chose to take the appeal to the audience even though the “easier” fight so he can end his career fight was predicted to end with Cormier on a stronger note. His next fight will as the victor. be against Brock Lesnar to defend his

The Leckrone brothers become close teammates

ELISABETH DELLAROVA Staff Writer

Brothers Jeffrey and Thomas Leckrone were never close in high school. However, since becoming teammates on UMW’s swim team, they’ve become each other’s biggest supporters.

“This year, especially with a new school and new team, I have been really fortunate to have my brother there. He helps with the anxiety a lot more than he knows just by being there,” said Thomas, a freshman and intended sociology major.

Throughout his swimming career, Thomas has battled intense nerves before and after he starts a race.

“I have a history of depression and anxiety. When I get really stressed and anxious that causes me to stop breathing in the water. When I’m swimming and stop breathing, I start to panic. My whole body shuts down and the only thing I can think about is getting air. I start gasping

for air, but my body doesn’t allow me to take any in, forcing me to stop,” said Thomas.

Jeffrey, a senior business administration major, is thankful for the opportunity to encourage his younger brother.

“Nerves are a part of the sport and everyone handles them differently.

Thomas is strong, and I know he won’t let them get in the way of him achieving what he wants to during his time here on this team,” said Jeffrey.

In addition to encouraging each other, however, the Leckrones are also extremely competitive.

“Jeffrey and I are pretty competitive when it comes to certain things, such as the 100 fly,” said Thomas. “I’m hyper competitive so I don’t lose well to anyone, and that’s especially true of my little brother. I want him to be the best he can be, but while I still have eligibility I’m going to do everything I can to beat him,” said Jeffrey.

Being on the same team has given them the opportunity to learn from each other’s experiences.

Though they are both lifelong swimmers, the brothers were only on the same team for a year in high school. But they

Jeffrey Leckrone (left) points to Thomas Leckrone (right).

Jeffrey Leckrone

weren’t very close then or after Jeffrey left for college. Jeffrey chose UMW before he even committed to swim here.

“Swimming and athletics was more of an after-thought in my decision, I only filled out recruiting paperwork after I had decided to attend the university,” said Jeffrey.

Thomas’s college decision was strongly affected by the fact that Jeffrey Leckrone swims breaststroke.

UMW Athletics Jeffrey already attended UMW. “Jeffrey being here helped me in my The team has two mid-season choice. I’ve always wanted to get closer invitationals, as well as conferences, over to him, but have never been able to. I the next couple of months. Jeffrey hopes liked the school a lot and it gave me UMW will be able to send a team to the everything I wanted, so I chose UMW,” Division III National Championships in said Thomas.

March.

So far the transition to being “After that, who knows. I’m going teammates has been great for the to graduate and Thomas is going to Leckrones. “I’d say we’ve gotten a lot continue to develop as a person and a closer in the past couple months,” said fantastic swimmer for the university,” Jeffrey. Thomas agreed: “I do really said Jeffrey. like having Jeffrey around. He’s the one Thomas is hopeful that he and Jeffrey person on the team that I feel like I can can be on a relay team together at really talk to.”

Nationals. That would be their last time What is next for the Leckrones? competing together.

Jeffrey is graduating in the spring with “After [the season], I have three more his business degree and looking for a job years of getting up early and working in project management. In the meantime, hard to get better every day,” said he is grateful for his experience Thomas. He intends to keep working on swimming here and is excited for one overcoming his anxiety. “As Jeff always more season. says, ‘it’s all in the cranium.’ I may have “My experience swimming for a hard time with anxiety, but at the end UMW is something I never could have of the day I really just want to do my imagined. My teammates are my best best and do my best by others, especially friends, they make the monotonous grind for my team. I don’t intend on letting fun and different every day,” said Jeffrey. anything get in the way of that.”

Weekly Scoreboard Woman's Volleyball

Nov. 3 vs. Christopher Newport (L) UMW:2 CNU: 3

men's Soccer

Nov. 3 vs. St. Mary’s (Md.) (W) UMW: 1 St. Mary’s (Md.): 0

Woman's Swimming

Woman's Volleyball

Nov. 3 @ Barton (W) UMW: 170 Barton: 90

Nov. 9 @ Marymout (Va.) TBD

Men's Swimming

Women's Basketball

Nov. 3 @ Barton (W) UMW: 133 Barton: 129

Nov. 9 @ Elizabethtown TBD

men's Soccer

Nov.10 @ Eastern TBD

Cross Country

Nov. 10 @ Berry University TBD

3

VIEWPOINTS

Don’t judge me by my playlist: all genres deserve respect

LINDSEY BROWN Senior Writer

I grew up listening to country music, and I absolutely love it. I consider myself a country music nerd. My teacher in high school used to quiz me on my knowledge of it. Even though I related to and found a home in the genre of country music, I got picked on for loving it so much.

Despite growing up and attending high school in a more rural county, people still gave me a hard time about it. Today, attending college with over 4,000 other students, I find myself being the odd one out in my passion for the genre.

Country music is my go-to and it means the most to me when it comes to music. It reminds me of home and my family. It will always hold a special place in my heart. I have always been proud to say that I love it- but why are people so quick to make fun of me for it? What is so wrong with loving country music, and why do some people automatically stereotype me as a redneck for loving it?

The kind of music that a person listens to should not be stereotyped. Everyone should be confident and proud of the music they listen to, because every type of music is beautiful in it’s own way. The people who relate to different types of music are beautiful and unique in their own ways too. And I’m not the only one who has experienced this issue.

“I have been judged for my more moody type of music,” said sophomore and international affairs major, Jennifer Ramos. “I usually like this music

because it’s something soft without feeling like you are that helps me study and it’s all alone in the world. The also a vibe just being able steel guitar that perfectly to chill and have like slow pairs with Merle Haggard’s music playing is always soulful twang hits me right nice.” in my heart, and it makes I’m not the only one me feel a little bit closer to who has faced judgement my grandfather, because he for the music I like. loved his music.

This is a problem for This is what music is music listeners across about. It is there to get me the spectrum. If my love through the tough times, for country music is this and no matter what kind of strong, who am I to say day I am having, if I can that someone else’s taste is listen to my music it makes poor because what the type me feel better. I honestly they listen to is different do not know what I would from mine? Music is an do without it. Life is hard outlet to get emotions out, Student Ronic Ngambwe listening to music.

Grace Winfield / The Blue & Gray Press enough, but music makes so why are people judged it a little easier. People music doesn’t label a person. Music is on how they feel? shouldn’t be judged on what what we listen to when we want to feel Rap is another genre that receives a makes them feel better. things, not be them,” says senior and lot of criticism. Some people that it is “I think country music is like any journalism major, Hannah Galeone, and I only about drugs, sex, going to the clubform of music. It is a form of artistic would have to agree with her. but I would never assume someone who expression,” said junior and journalism To me, country music is about prefers rap only possesses those ideals. major Olivia Bridges. “The only time family, love, faith, the hard times and Not every rap song is about those things, I associate country music with being a the good times and living life to the and the more heartfelt songs may be redneck is [if] the lyrics are offensive or fullest. It pushes the envelope at times by what the listener is drawn to. There are discriminatory.” touching on tough subjects. The artists also songs are about love, heartbreak and My music means the world to me, and in country music are not afraid to tell family, that express true emotions from I don’t know how I’d get through the it like it is, all with the sass of a guitar the artists that connect to their audience. days without it. No one should ever be and a Southern accent. Brad Paisley’s Whether it be rap or country, there are judged on how they express themselves. song “This is Country Music” embodies songs that are typical of each genre- but You never know how someone is feeling, country music as a whole and makes those songs do not symbolize the genre or what they are going through. If a type any country music fan proud. It tells a as a whole. of music helps someone get through a story that pulls at your heart strings, and “I don’t think listening to country tough time, or it makes them feel better, lets you experience all of your emotions music makes you a redneck because then they shouldn’t be judged.

Littering on stairwells poses a safety hazard to community LUKE HILLMER Senior Writer

Trash cans are plentiful at the University of Mary Washington. It’s difficult to walk any amount of distance across campus without seeing one.

Most are accompanied by some sort of recycling bin. The UMW campus pushes for sustainability as part of a greater effort to encourage students to recycle more. But some students, and possibly staff members, appear to not only fail to recycle, but are also failing to throw away their garbage in proper waste bins.

UMW students need to be extra careful when it comes to leaving garbage on stairwells, because pile-ups can lead to dangerous tripping hazards that can potentially injure students.

Last Wednesday at around 4:30 p.m., Combs Hall had a horrible mess on the entrance stairwell. The steps were littered with what appeared to be a mess of corn, rice, beans and torn bread. The mush was slowly being eaten away by a small troop of ants. It’s difficult to discern whether or not this was a result of someone’s spilled Qdoba, or someone vomiting on

Plastic Coke bottle left outside Woodard Hall.

the stairs. Regardless, the mess was still there an hour later after I was released from class, waiting to trip some unwary person walking down the steps.

Susanne Cromleuy, a senior majoring in Spanish and math, said that she’s seen a lot of similar food spills increasing across campus.

“I notice that there’s a lot of food spills,” said Cromleuy. “Like, people just spill their food, there’s so much trash, I don’t get it. It’s so easy to just get rid of it, there are disposals literally everywhere. It definitely annoys me, and it’s very wasteful.”

Concrete steps are a common hazard at UMW; slipping on them can lead to some serious injuries. Many who used the parking deck located near Arrington Hall last year may recall the phantom banana that contained half of its inner contents, which sat on the third floor northern stairwell. It sat there and rotted for the entire semester until it was nothing but decomposed soil.

Visitors of that same parking lot may have walked up the stairs last week to discover either a few bloody tissues, or a large wooden branch that somehow

Luke Hillmer / The Blue & Gray Press

got lodged two floors deep into the parking deck stairwell. The outdoor parking decks not only have issues regarding students, either accidentally or purposefully, leaving garbage on the stairs, but they also have issues with leaves, branches, and other parts of nature accumulating on their stairs. With November finally here, leaves are really starting to fall, and it won’t be long till this build up makes traversing the stairs even more of a nuisance for students.

Abdel Hamid is a freshman who commutes. He often parks on the top floor of the parking deck, so his experience with the garbage is admittedly limited, but after seeing some of the garbage students had left on the parking deck stairwell, he had some thoughts.

“It’s definitely not a good thing,” said Abdel. “It makes me annoyed that there are people here who just can’t throw stuff away.”

Another issue is an increase of garbage being left on stairwells that are dimly lit at night. Objects like clear plastic bottles left on these steps can be a serious tripping hazard for students.

“It’s just gross. I’ve seen a lot of ripped up paper towels on the stairwell of my hall, but you can see that so it’s really not a hazard, but I don’t really feel safe when walking down stairwells that aren’t really lit up at night because you can barely see what’s around you,” said Samantha Auclair, a freshman who expressed concern after recently seeing a plastic Coke bottle left on a dark stairwell outside of Woodard Hall.

Various clubs have attempted to help keep the campus clean throughout the past couple of years, one of which is the fraternity Alpha Sigma Phi. As part of regular community service efforts, the fraternity helps clean up litter and

garbage across campus.

“Picking up garbage isn’t our favorite community service event because there usually just isn’t a lot of trash,” said senior Adam Schoene, physics major and Alpha Sigma Phi member. “Compared to other community service events it’s not that impactful, but it does help get the brothers out. I haven’t seen too much garbage, but when I do I try to pick it up whenever I see it, I feel like the other students do too as a community.”

Schoene also seems to believe that some of the garbage, such as a used condom that was rumored to be found near the Alvey Drive parking deck, may be being placed nefariously.

“The used condom thing sounds more like a deliberate act, I can’t really see someone just leaving it there because they forgot about it, and that’s a whole separate issue within itself,” said Schoene.

This is an issue that extends campus wide. Stairs can be dangerous, and leaving garbage on them can lead to some very fatal accidents. It’s time for everyone to do their part and keep the stairs safe and clean during the fall season. If you see garbage on the ground, pick it up. If you accidentally end up with too much food and don’t have time to bring to your room and put it in a fridge, then please put it in one of the numerous waste bins visible across campus. Littering, especially on a stairwell, is not only wasteful but also be a dangerous hazard for other students.

In the end, it’s not just about picking up the garbage. The issue is careless littering and the lack of courtesy for students, faculty and staff and visitors on campus. Students need to be mindful of the fact that when they choose to litter at their own convenience, they’re affecting everyone.

ThursdayJanuary November 2018 Thursday, 21,8,2015

VIEWPOINTS

Editor: Grace Winfield | blueandgray.views@gmail.com

WWE continues with Crown Jewel event in Saudi Arabia amidst Jamal Khashoggi murder ANDRE TURNER Staff Writer

In wake of the recent controversy surrounding the murder of Washington Post journalist, Jamal Khashoggi, World Wrestling Entertainment provided fans with a wrestling show called ‘Crown Jewel’ on Friday, Nov. 2 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, despite an unprecedented number of sponsors and fans who disagreed with the company’s actions.

On Oct. 2, 2018, Jamal Khashoggi was lured into the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul and murdered by Saudi Arabian agents. The remains of his body have yet to be found which resulted in an arrest of 18 suspects by the Saudi Arabian government and full on investigation of his death by Turkish investigators.

The largest and most revered wrestling company in the world, the WWE, has decided to uphold a 10year contract with Saudi Arabia which includes two shows in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, one which has already occurred, “Crown Jewel”. The issue that has many asking where the WWE stands

Khashoggi was murdered on Oct. 2.

Press Gazette

on sensitive world matters lies within the notion of how much will the company gain in comparison to how much they could lose by holding this event. This act only further proves that the company does not care about being a part of a bigger cause, if it could mean losing money or tarnishing relationships that could affect their profits in the future.

To alleviate the pressure, the WWE issued a statement stating, “WWE has operated in the Middle East for nearly 20 years and has developed a sizable and dedicated fan base.” Their reasoning behind the statement is that the WWE wants to mesh cultures and provide entertainment worldwide. This sounds good on paper, but reading between the lines, a lot of what they seek to represent is falsified. They want it to seem as though the WWE is all about diversity and bringing fans together when in all actuality, that is not the case.

In the third quarter of 2018, the WWE made a revenue of 188.4 million dollars and a 657.7 million over a nine-month period ending in September 2018, resulting in a 12 percent growth in revenue. It is projected that the WWE is set to make anywhere from 20 to 40 million dollars for each event held in Saudi Arabia. Could the motivation to continue such a trend be the reason why the WWE continued to move forward with the show regardless of how it could affect those who promote and keep the brand alive like the fans? But many fans are firm with the belief that the WWE does not care what the fans think.

For years, the fans and the creative writers are at differences when the company chooses main event talent.

Many wrestlers who the fans support and want to see more are often buried within the ranks of the company due to “technicalities” or “business matters.”

By taking such actions, the company portrays itself as one that looks out for itself- its main concern is seizing a profit,

The Crown Jewel event was hosted on Nov. 2.

not appealing to the demand of fans.

They want what works for them in the long run, even at the expense of losing its support system.

Being that the WWE is a 3 billion dollar company, it has very well over exceeded its competition in the industry.

When looking at the numbers, the WWE has a firm grasp on its major wrestling competitors. Total Nonstop Action brings in a mere 71 million dollars in annual revenue, while the likes of a popular Japanese brand, New Japan Pro Wrestling brought in 44.1 million dollars in 2018 revenue. The company can afford to take chances because the WWE is well known for taking a stance on certain issues. For example, they have created organizations like “Connor’s Cure” to support pediatric cancer research, and many of their wrestlers participate and mentor others in youth programs sponsored by the company that promote literacy, and anti-bullying campaigns. Popular wrestlers participate in the Make-a-Wish foundation, and the WWE is an avid supporters of the armed forces and perform at events like “Tribute to the Troops”, a show dedicated to the military which is held once a year.

This indicates that the WWE may not care enough about the issue of Jamal

wwe.com

Khashoggi’s death, or they do not feel the need to get involved in matters that pressure them to make decisions based on sensitivity and humility opposed to those that accrue monetary gain or notoriety.

Two top talent wrestlers, John Cena and Daniel Bryan, pulled out of the show due to the Khashoggi murder. Neither wrestler made a formal statement, for fear of backlash and pressures from the company. In support of Cena and Bryan, many wrestlers commended their decision while others played coy and made light of the situation. “Does he still wrestle?”, said WWE Superstar Randy Orton, jokingly of John Cena.

“Moving forward with Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia was an incredibly tough decision, given that heinous act,” said WWE Brand Officer, Stephanie McMahon. “But, at the end of the day, it is a business decision.”

A business decision. One that a company could only be making at expense of others for the chase of the almighty dollar. It almost seems as if the company’s brand is more important than standing firm on something. Making the decision based on merit could place too strong a burden on egos and reputation in a time where it is needed the most.

Staff Ed: Voter turn-out reaches new high in Virginia

By THE BLUE AND GRAY PRESS EDITORIAL BOARD Nov. 6 was Election Day for midterm elections all over the country, and voter turnout was impressively high in many areas. Many states and cities are reporting much higher percentages of voter turnout in comparison to previous years, and some states, such as Washington and Michigan, are reporting record-shattering numbers. The 2018 election has even broken the record for early-voter turnout for non-presidential elections, with 36 million Americans voting early.

In Virginia, the voter turnout is reportedly higher than the 2014 midterm elections, jumping from 33% to 36%.

Voter turnout has been reported to be unexpectedly high in areas such as Prince George County. The Blue and Gray Staff is glad to see that voter

turnout in Virginia is improving, especially for non-presidential elections.

The right to vote is a great privilege, and it is important to exercise it, especially in smaller-scale elections such as these. Unfortunately, many Americans take the right to vote for granted, thinking that any election that is not presidential is insignificant and not worth their time of day. But choosing who we want to represent us in Congress is no small matter, and we should treat it with the same significance we give to presidential elections. It is our right to choose who we want to represent us in government, and we owe it to ourselves and our country to take full advantage of that right. We here at the Blue and Gray Press hope that UMW students will continue utilizing their right to choose who they wish to represent them in government, and understand that voting is as much a responsibility as it is a right.

Kate Seltzer and Shawnya Peterson pose with rock as Young Dems offer rides to the polls Nov. 6.

Kate Seltzer / The Blue & Gray Press

5

LIFE

Editor: Lucas Burkholder blueandgray.life@gmail.com

UMW Theatre presents jazzy musical,”Merrily We Roll Along” HARRY FISHER Online Editor

“Merrily We Roll Along” is the latest show being performed by UMW students at Klein Theatre. In addition to having a very engaging and well-written story, the musical has a variety of upbeat jazz numbers that are sure to entertain music fans. And of course, the performances given by the UMW cast are wonderful as always.

The play follows the life of Franklin Shephard, a Hollywood music composer who has achieved fame and fortune, but has lost the love of his closest friends and family members in the process. What makes the story interesting is that it’s actually told in reverse. The play begins when Frank has already made his fortune at the cost of everyone he ever cared about, and the next scene takes place several years prior, where we learn how Frank had a falling out with his best friend, the playwright Charley Kringas. Each new scene takes place several years before the previous one, and as we slowly go backwards through time, we slowly learn how the events of the first scene came to be.

We learn how Frank and Charley collaborated to gain success, how they helped and were helped by their friend

Mary, the women Frank fell in love with, and how he lost them, his relationship with his son, and so many other details about his life that all lead back to the eccentric yet lonely man that we are introduced to at the start of the musical. It is an interesting narrative choice that I haven’t seen very many stories use before, and it kept me engaged as I was watching.

The acting from the UMW cast was great, as always.

“Merrily We Roll Along” is showing at Klein Theatre until Nov. 18.

The play stars Neal Gallini-Burdick as particularly impressive was how the Frank Shephard, Lydia Hundley as Beth, actors were able to adapt to the changing Abraham Shaikh as Charley Kringas, time periods of the various scenes of the Olivia Whicheloe as Mary Flynn, musical and act like people from those William G. Pineda as Joe Josephson, particular time periods.

Rachel Williamson as Gussie Carnegie I was also very impressed by the and Aidan Caffrey as Frank Jr., as musical numbers, as they were all very well as an ensemble cast of supporting well performed. The actors were able to characters. show off their vocal range in addition to The casting choices were excellent, as their acting skills, and the accompanying all the actors really knew how to bring band played wonderfully. I don’t often their characters to life. One thing I found

Geoff Greene / UMW Theatre

watch musicals, but I can say that this one was very impressive.

All in all, seeing the musical was a very pleasant and enjoyable experience.

It is worth seeing not only for the great story, but for the excellent performances given by our UMW peers. And if you’re a music lover, the great songs on display will surely be pleasing to your ears. The play will be running until Nov. 18, so be sure to get your tickets while you can.

“Merrily We Roll Along” opened on Broadway in 1981.

Olivia Whicheloe as Mary.

Geoff Greene / UMW Theatre

Geoff Greene / UMW Theatre

Tickets cost $10 for UMW students and staff, and $25 for general admission.

Geoff Greene / UMW Theatre

Neal Gallini-Burdick as Frank.

Geoff Greene / UMW Theatre

Thursday, November 8, 2018

LIFE

Three seniors light up the stage in “Merrily We Roll Along”

SEHAR JAMAl Staff Writer

This season, the UMW Theatre Department is presenting the musical “Merrily We Roll Along” at Klein Theatre. The story, which revolves around the lives of three old friends is especially important to the students involved, as the lead actors are old friends themselves.

The story follows the lives of three friends: Frank played by Neal GalliniBurdick, Charley played by Abraham Shaikh, and Mary played by Olivia Whicheloe. These three actors have been acting together since their first UMW musical, “Avenue Q.” Now, these three are making this production part of their senior project, and the friendship of the characters mirror their friendship in real life as they embody the UMW theatre experience.

The senior project is meant to “provide a challenging experience that connects theory and practice for a student about to complete a major in Theatre,” and that is exactly what the actors are doing through this show.

After each rehearsal, the actors must write a journal entry detailing what

Olivia Whicheloe as Mary Flynn.

Geoff Greene / UMW Theatre happened during rehearsal and how to improve for the next, and a blog, which includes detailed research about the character and time period of the show.

At the end of production, the seniors will be evaluated by a panel of judges who “assess our blog, assess our process, and come question us about our process to decide whether we have passed or not,” explained Shaikh. “The goal

Neal Gallini-Burdick as Frank Shepard.

Geoff Greene / UMW Theatre is to make you better, and focus on how you can improve.”

Being in theatre since freshman year, the three actors have improved phenomenally through the help of the theatre department and singing and acting coaches. This prepared them to excel in their senior project as well as acting endeavors outside of school.

Shaikh emphasized the standard of excellence the theatre department

has. “They expect professional quality work from us, and that prepares us for professional work outside of school.”

Over the years he has experienced a “deeper understanding of the theatre and a richer understanding about the text and interpretations of characters, which leads to a richer experience for me and the audience as well.”

By their fifth day of freshman year, now seniors Gallini-Burdick, Shaikh and Whicheloe were cast in “Avenue Q,” throwing them into the whirlwind of the theatre. “The people in that show were the only people that we had really met at school and being in rehearsals for the rest of the semester really solidified our friendship,” explained Gallini-Burdick.

“The whole theme of the show is about old friends and how you navigate being old friends, and it is really apt to our relationship,” said Gallini-Burdick.

The three are now performing in their third show together and personify the growth the UMW Theatre department boasts.

You can see Gallini-Burdick, Shaikh and Whicheloe in “Merrily We Roll Along” Nov. 8-10 and November 14-17 at 7:30 p.m., and Nov. 10, 11, 17, and 18 at 2 p.m. at Klein Theatre.

Changing seasons brings fall inspired makeup trends Prep: Use an eyeshadow base and a skin toned color eyeshadow or translucent powder to set the base in place. This will help the shadow stay longer and prevent creasing.

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LIFE

New business professor Dan Wolfe brings movie magic to UMW SAVANNAH BOYD Staff Writer

This semester there is a new faculty member in the College of Business.

Professor Dan Wolfe has returned to UMW after graduating in 1984 and working in the movie industry for over 30 years. Wolfe is teaching principles of marketing, promotion management, and marketing movies in the College of Business.

Marketing movies is a class that was created by Wolfe and this is the first semester it is being offered. In this class students learn the ins and outs of the movie industry, how to create a movie campaign and analyze weekly box-office statistics.

“The marketing movies class is something different from anything you have learned in marketing because there is such a finite amount of time that you work on a movie and the process is so consumer driven,” said Wolfe.

Wolfe spent most of his career at Universal Pictures where he began as a manager of broadcast advertising and, after a series of promotions, became an

Professor Wolfe is a voting member for the Oscars.

executive vice president of Worldwide Marketing Operations, with offices in Los Angeles and London.

“My department handled everything marketing-related worldwide for theatrical, home entertainment, digital, theme parks and other ancillary groups within Universal,” said Wolfe.

Professor Wolfe has worked on over 550 films in his career. Some successful film series he has worked on include Bourne, Fast and Furious and Jurassic Park. He has also worked on movies that have won Academy Awards like A Beautiful Mind, Silence of the Lambs, Dances with Wolves and Schindler’s List.

Throughout his career, he has had the opportunity to work with incredible talent. “I worked with Adam Sandler early in my career which was cool because I could work directly with him,” said Wolfe. “I also got a chance to work with Steven Spielberg a couple times.

I really admire him because he knows what he wants, is collaborative, and he is such a nice guy to work with.”

Wolfe is a voting member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and

Sciences.

“My advice to students who want to go into the movie industry is that ‘If you want to hunt buffalo, you have to go where the buffalo are’. This means, do not stay local to build your resume, you need to move to New York or Los Angeles. You must be willing to start at the bottom, work hard and long hours. You have to fight to get in the door but once you do there are a lot of opportunities.

Professor Dan Wolfe has worked in the movie industry for over 30 years.

Last year Wolfe Savannah Boyd / The Blue & Gray Press decided he wanted something different in his life. “I loved life. I would definitely recommend his what I did but it consumed me, working class to other students.” sometimes 7 days a week,” said Wolfe.

In the transition from executive vice “I have always known that I would president of World Wide Marketing eventually go into teaching and I am Operations to a UMW professor, he has excited to teach faced a few challenges. “My biggest something that I am challenge is how much things have truly passionate for.” changed, everything is much more digital “I have Professor and online based,” said Wolfe. “My other Wolfe for promotion challenge is that I can talk all day about management and the business and how things operate but marketing movies,” I have not done theory in 30 years. I said senior marketing am going back and learning marketing major Sarah theories again. I find it challenging but Hampton. “His very rewarding.” previous experience Wolfe first studied marketing theories at Universal Pictures when he was a student at UMW from makes our class so 1980-1984. At the time, the ratio of interesting. He has UMW students was about 9 women to 1 the inside scoop on man. He was a business administration the movie business major, the vice president for Student which helps him Council and had an internship at the teach us how to WFVA radio station that helped him apply marketing decide he wanted to go into broadcast strategies in real marketing.

Robert Martin / UMW

Dora Whiting: the woman who has brightened Fridays for 15 years MOLLY AVERY Staff Writer

Every Friday, between class changes, at Woodard Hall a whistle goes off. For people new to campus, this may cause panic, but to others, it’s the highlight of their day. As the whistle blows, the cheering begins. From Simpson Library all the way to the spirit rock, you can hear someone yell “It’s Friday!” at high volume into a bullhorn.

Dora Whiting is the woman behind this. Multiple times on Fridays, normally during class changes, Whiting takes her bullhorn and whistle outside to celebrate the fact that it’s almost the weekend.

She’s been working at UMW in food service for 22 years, and she still comes to work each day with a smile on her face. She is full of light, and rich in happiness. Whiting motivates students by shouting out words of encouragement such as “You made it!”, “Happy Friday!”, and “You did it!” Along with the encouraging words, high fives and occasional hug, students always seem to leave the area smiling brighter than they were.

Fifteen years ago she started this ritual, creating a beloved UMW tradition, although the story behind it isn’t as happy as one might expect.

taken a burden off of others’ shoulders too. Many students consider Whiting’s weekly praise to be the highlight of their week.

Sophomore Carleigh Boland passes her every Friday at around one in the afternoon. “I really like her,” Boland said. “It makes my day whenever I hear her say ‘it’s Friday!’”

Sophomore Sophia Daly said, “She’s super consistent about screaming Friday and Dora Whiting has worked at UMW for 22 years. making everyone’s day Lucas Burkholder / The Blue & Gray Press a whole lot better.”

Whiting’s son, not Despite her good even 18 yet at the time, was sent to Iraq intentions, Whiting has given quite a few as soon as he graduated high school. students a scare before. Senior Jessica “It was a bad time for us,” Whiting Bergquist said that the first time she said, “I just was sad, and everyday he heard it “I honestly thought the world was gone I would cry, because I wasn’t was ending. I’m jumpy, so it always there for him, so instead of me crying, startled me but then people would like ‘woo’ back at her which is how I knew I just pulled out my whistle one day. It everything was fine.” took this burden off of me and from that day on I’ve been blowing my whistle.”

Although Mekayla Thompson, It appears that Whiting has also a sophomore, adores Whiting and

everything she does to help students, she said, “Bullhorns drive me bananas, so I could live without that.”

Even with the occasional scare, students still adore Whiting and her whistle. For some students, Whiting brings hope. Sophomore Colette Fralen said, “I can’t help but smile everytime I hear her, because her cheering is like a mini celebration that we’ve made it through another week.”

“I love what she does on Fridays. It’s a nice reminder that I made it through the week, and I will make it through the next one.” said sophomore Allie Wills.

Whiting isn’t just a light on Fridays though, throughout the entire week she can be found spreading joy. Students can be seen laughing with her in line as they pay for their food, and leaving with grins on their faces. “Whenever I go to Simply to Go to grab lunch she’s always really sweet and super friendly to me, and always tells me to have a good day,” Wills said.

“I like the one-on-one conversations with Dora, she’s super caring,” said Thompson.

Dora Whiting is a gift to this campus, a treasure that we do not deserve. No matter what’s happening she’s always serving with a smile. No complaints, just a wish that everyone has a blessed day.

9

NEWS

POLICE BEAT Mathews seeks to support student-athletes MEAGHAN MCINTYRE & KATE SELTZER News Editors

Vandalism On Thursday, October 25 between 7 p.m. and 8:02 p.m., a window was broken at Marshall Hall. This case is pending.

Between midnight on Friday, November 2 and 9:57 p.m. on Saturday, November 3, a window was broken in Virginia Hall. This case is pending.

Possession On Thursday, November 1 at 1:41 a.m., an incident of underage alcohol possession occurred at Eagle Landing.

One administrative referral was issued.

On Thursday, November 1 at 1:54 p.m., there was an incident of marijuana possession at the William Street apartments. One administrative referral was issued.

On Thursday, November 1 at 5:47 p.m., there was an incident of marijuana possession at Eagle Landing. One administrative referral was issued.

On Saturday, November 3 at 1:21 a.m., there was an incident of marijuana possession at Russell Hall. Two administrative referrals were issued.

•FAR | 1

faculty athletic III, for college sports; organizing with faculty in shaping the learning representative, is a mandated institutions into these categories outcomes for student-athletes and position by the NCAA. In this position depending on population and size in understanding the key roles that Mathews will serve as a bridge of each particular school. UMW is Athletics plays at Mary Wash in terms between the faculty and athletic Division III which means it is unable of recruitment, retention and school programs and facilitate discussions to offer athletic scholarships to its affinity and identity. At every college when needed. students. and university, misunderstandings UMW’s interim director of athletics, “We don’t give scholarships to our arise about athletics, academics and Patrick Catullo, voiced excitement athletes, they’re considered studentstudents, and it is so encouraging to about Mathews’ new position. athletes first and foremost,” said have such a strong representative as Dr. “UMW Athletics is excited to Mathews.

Mathews working to grapple with those welcome Dr. Mary Beth Mathews as In her new position, Mathews is also challenges and strengthening Athletics our faculty athletic representative,” tasked with making sure no violations and UMW as a result.” said Catullo. “The FAR is a Mathews’ experience with very important position in sports began as a child when she “As a gifted professor with a record of athletics that will support and rode horses and played soccer. help to ensure the academic working with athletics and student-athletes, Her exposure to sports continued integrity of the athletics her daughter, who played Dr. Mathews will be a great liaison between through program, serve as a liaison varsity soccer and varsity tennis. between the athletics program the department and the rest of the university.”

“I was never that athletic,” and academic affairs and said Mathews. “I think I was the faculty, and serve as an probably a better horseback rider -Dr. Juliette Landphair independent advocate for than I was a soccer player. I have student-athlete well-being.” all sorts of experience from both Rather than working directly to occur and she reports directly to driving many, many miles to watch her oversee a student’s academic success, President Paino if any problems arise [daughter] play but also the difficulties Mathews makes sure that faculty on either the faculty or the athletics student-athletes can sometimes face members are communicating with side of the university. However, she when making those two worlds coaches and trainers and tries to make does not take part in any disciplinary work together. They’re students first sure student-athletes have a way of action that may result due to these but athletics is a key part of how communicating with the faculty. violations. they interact with the university, so “Sometimes athletes will have In addition to these duties, balancing the two is delicate.” to travel for a particular athletic Mathews also attends various meetings Mathews’ interest in sports goes competition and one of the things I can throughout the year and works directly beyond her new position. She is do is help be the person who helps get with the provost, the vice president of also a big fan of college basketball in touch with their faculty members,” student affairs and the athletic director. and prefers it to “any other kind of said Mathews.

“As a gifted professor with a basketball,” and she is a big hockey According to National Collegiate record of working with athletics and fan.

Athletic Association website, the student-athletes, Dr. Mathews will be “The Caps are my team,” she said.

NCAA is a non-profit organization a great liaison between the department Going forward, Mathews wants to which regulates athletes of the and the rest of the university,” said help integrate athletics into the larger 1,257 North American institutions, vice president of student affairs, Dr. picture of the university. conferences and affiliated sports Juliette Landphair. “The FAR has “I hope that people who have organizations. Using a tiered system, several significant responsibilities, concerns or questions would contact the NCAA has different levels, but in my mind one of the most me,” said Mathews. “I’m happy to Division I, Division II and Division important FAR roles is to work chat, my door is open always open.”

Facilities offers advice about dealing with animals on campus •WILDLIFE | 1

Then we try to feral cat population are different than remedy the problem with other animals. with the least disturbance to both the “It is hard to determine if they animals and the university. Nuisance belong to students, neighbors or [if] animals are removed.” they are feral,” said Blair. “If and when Should any of the animal cats become a concern, we call a local populations on campus grow out of contact who manages several feral cat control, the situation will have to be populations in the Fredericksburg area. resolved due to I believe she [the health and safety “I have heard rumors of contact] often traps concerns. them, has them a raccoon that was brave fixed and returns When problems arise in specific enough to steal pizza off a them where she animal populations, finds them.” table with the person the solutions taken According to [sitting] right there.” to ease any issues Blair, wildlife vary on a case-byaround campus, case basis. although seen -Jacob Chambers “We normally regularly only deal with throughout the groundhogs when the numbers increase course of a day, must be located in or we have safety issues and/or damage particularly inconvenient areas for it to to facilities,” said Blair. “In the past, be considered for removal. Generally, we have posted signs asking people not campus wildlife can be found in to feed the raccoons, we have placed wooded or isolated areas where it poses signage on our dumpsters asking the the least problems for the campus people [to] keep the doors closed, seal community, but Blair explained that up entrances to areas they don’t belong some wildlife can be found “frequently in, etcetera. When these deterrents around food sources such as dumpsters fail, we call a professional wildlife and trash cans.” management company to remove For this reason, sealing dumpster them.” doors, disposing of trash properly and As for the cat population on not feeding the animals are paramount campus, Blair stated that he is aware of to mitigating any interaction and it and that the methods for resolving a problems that might accumulate in the

10

Squirrels are frequently spotted around campus.

future, according to Blair.

“Please do not feed the wildlife,” said Blair. “If you encounter a wild animal or even an unattended domestic animal, leave it alone. Do not feed it, do not pet it and do not get too close. They are animals and if they feel threatened, they might react in an unpleasant manner.”

He went on to add that “if you have concerns about an animal’s behavior,

The UMW Squirrel / Twitter

please call the UMW Police and they will have someone respond.”

As for Chambers, all of his experiences with wildlife have been positive. He has heard rumors about other interactions that fellow students have had with the campus wildlife.

“I have heard rumors of a raccoon that was brave enough to steal pizza off a table with the person [sitting] right there,” said Chambers.

Thursday, November 8, 2018

NEWS

Native American Celebration Dinner

Saturday, November 10

5-7 p.m., November 13 At the Top of the UC

We expect several hundred additional guests for brunch at the Top of the UC!

Cost: 1 meal swipe; $10.75 Flex or $12.25 + Tax for Cash, Credit or EagleOne

To avoid long lines we suggest students dine prior to 11:30 a.m. or after 1 p.m.

Thanksgiving Break Dining Schedule Monday, Nov. 19: Tuesday, Nov. 20: Wednesday, Nov. 21: Sunday, Nov. 25: Monday, Nov. 26:

Underground Café closes at 11 p.m.

Eagle’s Nest Market & Hissho Sushi close at 3 p.m. All other retail locations close at 4 p.m.

Continental Breakfast served at Top of UC 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Top of UC is closed at 10 a.m.

Qdoba & Vocelli open at 4 p.m. Top of UC opens at 5 p.m.

All campus dining locations resume regular serving hours.

WANTED!

Student, Faculty & Staff Volunteers!

We need lots of volunteers to help with the Thanksgiving, Winter Holiday and Exam Cram (formerly Midnight Breakfast) dinners!

Volunteers Get a Free Meal & It’s Lots of Fun! Events & Volunteer Serving Times Thanksgiving Dinner: Nov. 14: 4:45 p.m., 5:45 p.m. & 6:45 p.m.

Winter Holiday Dinner: Dec. 5: 4:45 p.m., 5:45 p.m. & 6:45 p.m.

Exam Cram: Dec. 10: 10:45 p.m.

Shifts are 1 hour long and can count toward required student service hours.

To sign up e-mail Rose Benedict at rbenedic@umw.edu or call 540-654-2165.

Thursday, November 8, 2018

11

SPORTS

Editor: Jack Hagn | blueandgray.sports@gmail.com

Women’s varsity swimming holds its winning legacy

MAGGIE MCCOTTER Staff Writer

The University of Mary Washington’s women’s swim team is currently, and has been for the past 28 seasons, reigning Capital Athletic Conference champions.

These women are currently adjusting to a new head coach, as well as working hard at the top of their conference. Currently, their regular record is 6-1, but 2-0 in conference meets. They are heavily favored to become champions again this year, but is the pressure of a 28 season win streak more than expected?

Michaela Miller, a senior majoring in psychology, believes, “this is going to be the best year of all of my four years here on the UMW swim team. The atmosphere is cohesive, empowering, and full of great teammates pushing each other to their limits,” when asked about her prediction for the upcoming season.

When asked if she feels any pressure from the school, or herself about the legacy, she stated, “yes, but not a negative pressure. I think that it is full of excitement and pride of being a little part of this long legacy.” Miller has been on the swim team since her freshman year.

She swims freestyle, backstroke and

butterfly; she is also a mid-distance and sprinter swimmer.

When questioned about the legacy and if that has affected her performance, Miller said, “This legacy is something that we feel we need to uphold and strive for each year.” UMW is a school that does not always place varsity sports in the forefront of the students’ minds, so the feeling of duty and responsibility to keep the streak alive is found mainly within the team.

Miller did say that her coach puts pressure on the team, “but because he believes in us and knows that we can win if we push ourselves day in and day out. Hard work always pays off.” Justin Anderson is the new head swim coach at UMW this year, but by looking at record alone, it seems as though whatever he is doing with the team is working well.

Makenzie Katzer, a junior majoring in biology, shares some of the same sentiments as Miller about the legacy.

“I feel that this legacy has caused me to take my swimming more seriously, with the realization that each member of the team plays a key role in keeping the streak alive. We take pride in our legacy, but we know that we cannot take it for

granted, as other CAC teams have been posting impressive in-season times and the CAC title is a highly sought-after achievement.”

Katzer also believes in Anderson and the path he is currently taking the program down. “Coach Anderson encourages us each and every day to push ourselves past our limits and be competitive not only in dual meets, but also in day to day practices. He is proud of the program that he has been chosen to lead, and, as an alumni of the team UMW Athletics himself, he places a high importance on Julia Geskey swims backstroke. maintaining the legacy of the program.” space is gone. It is also right in front of Katzer, who swims breaststroke the lanes, so the swimmers can see the and freestyle in mid-distance events, legacy of those before them. doesn’t feel as though the school puts Clearly the legacy of the UMW pressure on the team, but, “the common women’s swim team is a motivator and assumption that we will win each year not a deterrent of hard work. The amount causes us to place more pressure on of pressure placed upon the swimmers ourselves and makes us hold ourselves seems to be the exactly right amount to higher standards. Personally, I would because of the success the team is having also really like to continue this streak in regular season and conference meets. because if we win CAC’s this year and The women’s and men’s swim teams next, our banner will be filled the year will be back in action for a weekend long invitational at Franklin and Marshall that my class graduates.” from Nov. 16-18, their first invitational The banner is prominently displayed of the year. at the Goolrick Aquatic Facility and there are only two spots left to fill until all the

Peppersack beats SM8 100 IM Paralympic record GEMMA SPICKA-PROFFIT Senior Writer

Sophomore Joey Peppersack was awarded CAC Men’s Swimmer of the Week after he broke the American Paralympic record for the SM8 100 meter Individual Medley during a home meet against Frostburg State on Oct. 26.

Peppersack swam a 1:08.01, breaking the previous record by three seconds.

“We had a time trial here a couple Saturdays ago called the Blue and Gray meet. I swam the 100 IM, not expecting to do anything, and I think I ended up going a 1:09,” said Peppersack.

With the realization that he would be able to break the record if he raced for an official time, he got his coach’s approval and tried out the event.

“I got behind the blocks, got real pumped and had my teammates cheering me on. I dove in, swam as fast as I could and wasn’t sure what was going to happen. It was pretty cool; I wasn’t expecting to do anything this semester,” he said.

Peppersack is a world athlete.

UMW Athletics

“I’m close to the 50 freestyle and the 100 freestyle [record, too]. I’m not sure if I’ll get those this year, but there’s always a chance,” he added.

Peppersack was born with a birth defect called tibial hemimelia.

“That is when you are born without a tibia, or the growth is severely affected,” said Peppersack. “I was born without a tibia in my right leg, and in my left leg, the growth was affected a lot. I had the one that was born without a tibia amputated when I was four.”

According to World Para Swimming, Paralympic athletes are “grouped by the degree of activity limitation resulting from an impairment.” Classes 1-10 are for physical impairments, where “a lower number indicates a more severe activity limitation than a higher number.” Classes 11-13 are for visual impairment, and class 14 is for intellectual impairment.

An S before the class number indicates freestyle, butterfly and backstroke, SB indicates breaststroke, and SM indicates individual medley.

“I am an S8 for everything except for breaststroke, in which I’m an SB7,” stated Peppersack.

He stated that his condition does not affect his life much on a daily basis since he is used to it.

“When I want to do something, I just put my leg on, and when I’m relaxing, I take it off.”

“We’re very abled. We all have a disability, but that does not mean we’re disabled. I think that’s something a lot of people don’t understand, and we can do a lot more than people think we can do,” said Peppersack when asked about misconceptions about Paralympic

Joey Peppersack swims freestyle in the last leg of the 100 IM.

athletes.

A big inspiration for Peppersack is his friend Robert Griswold, a teammate from the Para Swimming national team.

“He’s the same classification as I am for mobility, and he’s a machine. He’s super super quick, and I look up to him in everything that he does. I hope to get as close to him as I can one day,” said Peppersack.

When Peppersack was 17, he competed in the Paralympic trials for a chance to swim in the 2016 Paralympics in Rio. Although he placed top three in all of his events, he was not able to make the cut.

“I was pretty nervous, I wasn’t really going in expecting anything, I just wanted to have a really really good meet and see what I could do,” stated Peppersack. “It showed me what I could do, and what I couldn’t do.”

The experience he gained from the Rio Paralympic trials and from representing Team USA in the Para World Series in Berlin in 2017 will be utilized to help him prepare for the Tokyo Paralympic trials in 2020.

Leading up to the trials, Peppersack’s

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main goal will be “really trying to hit 100 backstroke because I think that’s my best chance in going. I’m communicating as much as I can with my current coach, Coach Anderson because he knows about the paralympics fairly well” since he’s coached several Paralympic swimmers in the past.

One challenge Peppersack faces when training for the Paralympics is that all of the Paralympic events are in meters, while all of the college races are in yards. Additionally, the Paralympic sized pools are long course, meaning they are 50 meters long. This is approximately twice as long as the college sized, short course pools, which are 25 yards long.

Peppersack prefers swimming in a yards pool because “long course is way too long.” However, swimming in a long course pool is also “kind of nice because there are less walls, and I kind of lack on walls because I don’t have another leg to push off with.”

In the end, it does not make too big of a difference where he trains, as long as he gets about a week to train in a long course pool leading up to meet that will use one.

Club Sports Scoreboard Club Women's Soccer Nov. 3 @ William and Mary (T) UMW:1 W&M:1 Thursday, November 8, 2018

Club Softball Nov. 10 @ University of Maryland TBA

Club Ice Hockey Nov. 10 @ NOVA Prince William Ice Center 12