THE
BLUE &GRAY
THE UNIVERSITY OF MARY WASHINGTON STUDENT NEWSPAPER
NOVEMBER 20, 2014
VOLUME 88 | ISSUE 11
PRESS
SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE
Room and board prices to rise in 2015-2016
Students turn out for Greek life town hall MARIAH YOUNG Managing Editor
ALISON THOET Editor-in-Chief
Residence hall room rates and meal plan costs will increase next year by about $150 and $100 respectively at the University of Mary Washington. The Board of Visitors approved the increases at their most recent meeting this past weekend. Dining and residence hall expenditures are solely supported by student fees, not by the state, according to Rick Pearce, vice president of administration and finance. The increase for next year results in a two percent change for room rates and four percent change for meal plans. Eagle Landing residents will experience a $200, or three percent increase, while the UMW apartments will rise by eight percent, which is at least a $500 difference, according to the rates approved by the UMW BOV last Friday. The increase in room charges is due mostly to the constant cost of maintenance and utilities. However, the eight percent hike for the UMW apartments results from the establishment of a repair and replacement fund that covers both the apartments and Eagle Village, according to Pearce. Meal plans increased due to the cost of food, which went up between 3.5 and four percent since last year. Increased food rates are also due to maintenance and Sodexo employee costs and wages. Pearce led a group of people, involving Doug Searcy, vice president of student affairs, budget administrators and residence life officials to set the appropriate numbers. •ROOM AND BOARD | 2
Ginny Clark/ The Blue & Gray Press
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Yes or no? Students on Greek life
MAKE “I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE CONCERNS, BUT IT SHOULD NOT NEGATE THAT FACT THAT IT PROHIBITS OTHER STUDENTS FROM ECERCISING FREEDOMS.”
MAKE “I DON’T THINK YOU NEED TO BE INVOLVED IN GREEK LIFE TO BE INVOLVED.” -RAY CELESTE TANNER
MAKE “I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ADDRESSED THAT RAPE CULTURE IN FRATERNITIES IS NOT A STEREOTYPE, IT IS A FACT.” -PAIGE MCKINSEY
-ZACH YOUNG
IN THIS
ISSUE
1922
Students, alumni, community members and members of the university administration crowded into Lee Hall room 411 to speak about the possibility of Greek life coming to the University of Mary Washington Fredericksburg Campus. On Nov. 19, senior Alyssa Smallridge hosted a non-university sponsored town hall, moderated by Professor of Communication Jessy Ohl. While there were clear comments concerning the negative aspects about Greek life being institutionally recognized on campus, there were also people in support of Greek life as well as some in favor of the way UMW currently functions. Currently, there are two nationally recognized fraternities, Kappa Sigma Rho Chi Chapter and Psi Upsilon Phi Delta Chapter, that exist, but the University does not recognize them. Multiple issues were discussed during the town hall, including that many students choose to attend UMW specifically because of the lack of Greek Life. “I chose UMW for a unique and different experience, unlike so many schools across the country,” said senior Ciara Peacock. Other students expressed support for Peacock’s statement. “The lack of Greek life made me feel the most happy and the most safe here. UMW is the only public school in Virginia without Greek life,” student Julia Michaels said. Most students supported the idea that the university is a unique environment, but pro-Greek life members in the audience believed the University was denying fraternities the right to assemble on campus for meetings and gatherings. Christian Hughes, member of Psi Upsilon argued, “Fraternities want to be considered part of student life but instead are denied rights given to student organizations.” Hughes and other speakers spoke of the instance this fall when Psi Upsilon was not allowed to have a table at the fall Club Carnival, an event for UMW students to gather information about all the clubs on campus. One of the largest issues about having Greek life at UMW was discussed by the president of Feminist United on Campus, Paige McKinsey. “Rape culture in fraternities is not a stereotype, it is a fact,” said McKinsey. “This is sexism, this is classism, this is discrimination, and we do not want it here.” Other students discussed their problems with Greek life not lying in the culture but rather the economic and institutional issues of Greek life. Students questioned where the “resources” would come from, how students that could not afford dues would pay and where Greek housing would be if it ultimately came to the university. •GREEK LIFE | 10
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