The Blue & Gray Press

THE

BLUE &GRAY

THE UNIVERSITY OF MARY WASHINGTON STUDENT NEWSPAPER

DECEMBER 3, 2015

VOLUME 89 | ISSUE 11

PRESS

SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE

1922

Businesses in Downtown Fredericksburg could affect UMW students DREW PETTERSON Staff Writer

Whether students have lived in Fredericksburg for 10 months or 10 years, downtown, or down Route 17, their lives have undoubtedly been impacted by the unrelenting expansion of the commercial and residential areas of the city.

In a recent study conducted by the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, estimates show that Fredericksburg’s population has increased by 16.2 percent since the 2010 census- the highest growth rate of any locality in the state, a title it has earned in three of the past four years.

To put this number into perspective, population growth in the United States as a whole during the same time period was only 0.7 percent. Fredericksburg is outpacing the national trend, growing 23 times faster than the average city, and showing no signs of slowing down any time soon. But what does this mean for UMW students?

According to UMW’s department of Institutional Analysis and Effectiveness in the same time period of the last four years, total enrollment at UMW has declined by 12.8 percent, from 5,203 students in 2010 to 4,535 in the current semester.

While this trend in enrollment may seem counterintuitive to the highly-pos

•BUSINESS |11

Alex Sakes & Ashley Chung/ The Blue & Gray Press

Laundry prices increase with no explanation to students

Student has bike stolen, surprised when her property is returned

IZZY BRIONES Staff Writer

After returning from fall break, Jamie McGuire, a freshman and secretary of the Student Senate, noticed that multiple bikes seemed to be missing from the Randolph Hall bike storage room.

Following her discovery in the storage room, McGuire realized that her own bike was missing, and in response she carried out her own investigations to try and figure out what had happened while she had been away.

Her investigations eventually led her to contacting the UMW Police Department to report what she had discovered and to receive further help.

The department carried out an investigation pertaining to all of the bikes in question. Upon watching video surveillance, it was found that according to McGuire, her bike had been taken by a student-athlete.

The athlete, a freshman on the women’s soccer team, was discovered taking McGuire’s bike without her consent or knowledge at strange hours, such as 11 p.m., and the bike was not brought back until 3 a.m.

The bike, new this year, received visible damage which has not yet been repaired or compensated for, according to

IN THIS

ISSUE

McGuire. Though numerous bikes were taken out of the storage room, with police questioning it was found that only McGuire’s was taken without her consent or knowledge and that the others were taken with permission.

In the on-going case, only two student-athletes have been accused of possibly taking bikes without permission: women’s soccer player Kelcie Macomber and men’s soccer player Conor MacMurdy.

However, Macomber is accused of taking McGuire’s bike, but the owner of the bike taken by MacMurdy appears to not to be aware of the theft.

In her case, McGuire believes her bike to have been stolen. However, throughout the beginnings of the UMW Police Department’s investigations, McGuire’s bike was referred to as “borrowed” according to UMW Police, due to the fact that it was brought back to the storage room and never taken permanently.

UMW Police does not appear to have a penalty for borrowing. The student-athletes accused are waiting to be brought before the Honor Council. If the case is taken on by the honor council, the accused will be determined guilty or not guilty of theft by stealing

•BIKES |2

GLORIA KAMOLE Staff Writer

Alex Sakes/ The Blue & Gray Press

After coming back to school for the fall semester 2015, students were surprised to find out that the cost of washing and drying their cloths now amounts to a total of $3.50. Laundry at the University of Mary Washington used to cost $1.50 per load. As of May 2015, however, the price to operate the washer and dryer was increased to $1.75.

Students have expressed their displeasure about this laundry cost increase; particularly those who regularly wash have multiple loads of laundry at a time.

Senior anthropology major Reed King has worked for Residence Life since his freshman year of college and stays on campus during most breaks.

“Some students have opportunities to wait until they are able to go home and do their laundry, but I rarely get the occasion to do so and the increase in laundry cost is an inconvenience for

•LAUNDRY | 2

UGLY SWEATERS

TURNED DOWN

AWARDED EAGLES

Holiday tradition get its chance in the spotlight

Protest raises issue about freedom of press

Women’s Field Hockey players named all-region

VIEWPOINTS | 4

SPORTS | 3

LIFE | 7

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 Chris Markham

MANAGING EDITOR Tess Osmer

SECTION EDITORS NEWS Sarah Grammer Emily Hollingsworth

VIEWPOINTS Alex Spence

LIFE Della Hethcox

Editors: Sarah Grammer & Emily Hollingsworth | blueandgray.news@gmail.com

Uptick in prices brings financial concerns to students •LAUNDRY | 1 me,” King said. “I just wish I knew why this happened. I just want an explanation for this.”

According to Erma Baker, assistant vice president for Business Services and Chief Procurement Officer, the decision to increase the price of laundry was presented by Caldwell & Gregory, Inc. to UMW. Caldwell & Gregory Inc. are contracted partners for UMW and provides and maintains all campus equipment, manages the eSuds automated monitoring and notification system, periodic dryer ventilation, marketing and education, and a fixed value toward renovations.

After researching the information provided by Caldwell & Gregory Inc., UMW agreed to raise the price. Residence Assistants were notified of the change in price on May 12, according to Baker. However, many RAs deny receiving such a notice. Some students, however, were not notified of the shift in cost before it was implemented.

Caldwell & Gregory Inc. also supplies laundry equipment in other Virginia universities, according to a 2012 report from The Richmond Times-Dis-

patch, including the University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University and Virginia Tech. The same report said that 90 percent of universities in Virginia use Caldwell & Gregory for laundry services and machines.

Doing laundry has sometimes been seen as a challenge for some students.

One of these reasons being that most students are used to having their laundry done either by a parent and/or for “free.” When students come to college, they are expected to know how to do laundry on their own because they are considered adults.

Taking on new responsibilities, like doing one’s own laundry, is part of what it means to be an adult and what college is meant to prepare students for. What many students do not immediately realize is the financial burden laundry can be. Students must buy detergent, fabric softener, laundry baskets and hampers.

On top of all these laundry accessories, students must also pay the school a fee per load of laundry processed in either a washer or dryer.

The last time the price was changed on laundry was in May 2010, when the price was first raised to $1.50, according to Baker.

Taken bike referred as “borrowed,” case to be brought to Honor Council

SPORTS Mikey Barnes

ONLINE Ethan Tobin

PHOTO Alex Sakes

ASSISTANT EDITORS Ester Salguero Hannah Galeone Kelly Emmrich Reina Datta

Faculty Advisor Alex Sakes/ The Blue & Gray Press

Sushma Subramanian

•BIKES | 1

CRIME COVERAGE POLICY The Blue & Gray Press will publish the names of students who are formally charged by the University of Mary Washington Campus Police or the Fredericksburg Police Department to have committed acts of extreme violence against members of the UMW community or pose a large threat to that community, when names are released to the public. The Blue & Gray Press will publish names and write articles about criminal acts on a case-by-case basis according to the aforementioned parameters.

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another student’s property.

“Personally, I felt violated that other students took advantage of the honor code and stole my possessions and left it damaged,” McGuire said, “I trusted the honor code. And with this trust, I believed that I had left my bike in a secure bike storage area for fall break.”

The university’s student-athletes are also held to the high standard of representing UMW in all that they do, and in McGuire’s case, the student-athlete in question began her year signing the UMW Student-Athlete Code of Conduct agreeing to the, “responsibility to lead and conduct themselves in a manner that is a credit to themselves, their sport and to the university... to be a role model, mentor and spokesperson... and

[to] be held accountable for their actions.”

“All student-athletes must sign a Code of Conduct in order to participate in athletics,” said athletic director Ken Tyler. “Violations are dealt with on a case by case basis and sanctions can range from reprimand to dismissal from the program. We expect our student-athletes to act as responsible members of the community at all times.”

With the investigation continuing, McGuire awaits word on what will occur in the case of her bike. Though there may not have been bad intentions on the parts of UMW’s student-athletes, one has broken an oath that they had agreed to honor and abide by. With honor standards at the heart of the university, McGuire waits patiently to see what will become of this honor case.

Students make tough decisions as deadline approaches for 2016 internship applications KATHERINE BARTLES Staff Writer

In today’s highly competitive job market, employers are looking for candidates who are able to set themselves apart. While a high grade point average remains an important part of a student’s credentials, the question remains as to how recent college graduates are to distinguish themselves among a sea of peers.

The deadline for students wishing to take part in internships during the 2016 spring semester is rapidly approaching as contracts are due Jan. 29, less than two weeks after the start of spring classes.

According to Brian Burnsed with U.S. News, the answer is internships.

“University officials and employers almost universally maintain that partaking in an internship—or several, which sets a student apart from his or her peers even more—before graduation is integral to finding meaningful employment in today’s seemingly impenetrable job market,” Burnsed said.

Whether seeking a job, acceptance into a graduate program, or simply looking to round out a resume, internships make students unique in more ways than one.

Mary Becelia, a career counselor from the Office of Academic and Career Services, offers students invaluable advice.

“Start early,” Becelia said, “if you choose an internship in a field you’re interested in early, and don’t like it, you have time to look into other options.”

Becelia also warned against focusing solely on “prestigious” internships.

“Go ahead and shoot for it,” she said, “[but] you may want to try a stepping stone first.” Internships go beyond the day-to-day experience, they help foster professional connections as well.

Paid versus unpaid internships also make a difference, according to a report from The National Association of Colleges and Employers in 2014. The association’s findings showed that 65.4 percent of students from the class of 2014 who completed a paid internship at a for-profit company received a job offer before graduation.

For students who had unpaid internships, however, 39.5 percent of students received a job offer, marginally higher than the 38.6 percent of students who received a job offer without having an internship.

UMW offers numerous resources to those in pursuit of an internship opportunity. The Office of Academic and Career Services can help students with everything from writing and revising resumes to creating a common, interactive space where students have the chance to meet prospective employers,

•INTERN| 10 Thursday, December 3, 2015

SPORTS

Four field hockey players named All-Region

UMW Athletics

IZZY BRIONES Staff Writer

Monday, Nov. 30, upon returning from Thanksgiving break, four fellow Eagles and members of the University of Mary Washington field hockey team were named by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association’s All-South Region Team (NFHCA).

Forward Jenna Steele and midfielder Haley Kane were appointed to the first team, while their two teammates, Kathleen Namey and Carlee Budd, who are also both defenders, were ap-pointed to the second team.

Steele, Kane and Budd each earned All-Region honors this year. For Steele, the NFHCA honor was received for her fourth straight year, and marked her third time being on the first team. She finished her field

hockey career this year as the team leader in goals, which was a total of 69, and points, at 163.

In addition to these recognitions, Steele was also named the 2015 CAC Player of the Year. She stands as only the eighth UMW player to achieve this esteemed recognition. Along-side her teammate, Kane also received all-region honors for the fourth straight time.

Kane also finished third on the university’s all-time assists list; and ended her career at UMW with a total of 100 points.

For senior Carlee Budd, this year marks her first in which she gained All-Region honors. She scored 22 goals and achieved 19 assists this season to finish her senior year at UMW. In ad-dition to these

achievements, Namey finished her season repeating as an All-Region selection; and ended her three-year career this season as a part of the UMW field hockey team with 27 goals and 19 assists.

With an end to their season and to their senior year with the UMW field hockey team, these accomplishments show these women’s dedication to their team and how they have served as true leaders to their teammates.

“We are very proud of the accomplishments of this senior class,” said head coach Lindsey El-liot. “They have given the university and the athletic department recognition at the regional lev-el. These four players have been instrumental to the success of our program and will greatly be

missed next season.”

Not only have they been distinguished players in their league and served as key players to their coach, but they have, in a very short time, served as role models and inspirations to their newest teammates.

“They all worked very hard to earn their spot on the All-Region team and I am very proud of them,” said freshman Jordan Fam. “Learning from and playing with teammates as talented and hardworking as these four has really showed me what kind of player I want to me.”

UMW Student-Athletes prove philanthropy is part of the game CJ CUMMINGS Staff Writer

When you see an athlete walking down campus walk you may think that they are a jock or that they always party. Though this could be true, have you ever thought that they could also spend time working with fundraisers and charities?

Many athletes here at the University of Mary Washington do more than just score points and runs, set records or run races. In fact, many help out in the community and with the school. Student-athletes help out with other teams’ home games, working as ball boys, ticket check, ushering and more to support their fellow Eagles.

This many not seem like much but these volunteers help give time and money to help the university. “It’s great to give back to the community, especially cause I live here” said freshman track and field thrower Ripken Smith.

On Nov. 25 of this year the UMW Student Athlete Advisory Committee partnered with Giant along with many other companies to collect food for the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank. Every UMW team was involved with the food drive.

The field hockey and softball teams collected cans in different neighborhoods in the area. At the end of the collection, the athletic department had a total of 8,278 pounds of food.

“It’s such a simple and very rewarding task to donate canned food especially in the winter and around the holidays when families need it the most” said senior field hockey player Hunter Causey.

Apart from the athletes on the varsity teams, there are many students here that play club and/or intramural sports that give back to the community and school. This past fall season the club field hockey team played in their third annual Play4theCure tournament to help fight against cancer.

They made an online website for donation to fight against cancer.

They sold tickets to their game as well as a silent auction and a bake sale in order to raise money to find a cure. “The best part was that it was all for a good cause” said team captain Chesley De Leon.

The next time you see an athlete walk by you, realize that they do more than what you think.

UMW Athletics UMW men’s lacrosse players volunteer as ball boys, adding to student-athletes’ philanthropic duties.

Weekly Scoreboard MEN'S BASKETBALL:

Dec. 2 vs. St. Mary’s(Md.) (W) UMW: 70 St. Mary’s: 60

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL Dec. 2 vs. St. Mary’s(Md.)

(W) UMW: 67 St. Mary’s: 45

.

Upcoming:

Men’s Basketball Dec. 5 vs. Penn St. Harrisburg 3:00 p.m

Women’s Basketball Dec. 5 vs. Penn St. Harrisburg 1:00 p.m.

Men’s/Women’s Swim Dec. 4 @ Gettysburg College Invitational.

6:00 p.m.

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VIEWPOINTS

Freedom of press unwelcome at University of Missouri protest HANNAH PARKER Staff Writer

People are very quick to protect someone if there is a violation of one of the Bill of Rights legally mandated freedoms, but when it comes to the press this protection flies out the window.

Sometimes the press can come off looking like a group of dirty, low-life scumbags whose goal is to produce yellow journalism to ruin someone’s life, and although there are plenty of bad intentioned journalists in the world, this is not the majority.

The majority’s goal is to report on events occurring in our Nation and around the world so that the public can become more informed.

So if a journalist’s goal is to inform the public on events happening in our world, why would people be inclined to deny them their basic freedoms?

According to the New York Times, the Concerned Student 1950 advocacy group who was pushing for better awareness of racial issues at the University of Missouri, attempted to block student photographer Tim Tai from photographing the protest.

The group said that Tai was not respecting their wishes for a private protest and was asked to leave the premises by the protesters and some of the faculty members.

They were chanting things such as, “Hey hey, ho ho, reporters have got to go,” and said that Tai did not have a right to be there.

Tai countered the group by expressing that these photographs were for ESPN, a national news company, and that it was his First Amendment right to be there.

After months of protesting by Concerned Student 1950 due to the lack of attention given to racial issues on campus the president of the university, Timothy M. Wolfe, resigned. The protesters were overwhelmed with happiness and celebration, but Tai was not able to document the

Letter: DivestUMW lacks complete consideration of consequences

Over the course of the past several weeks, divestment has reemerged as a forefront issue on several college campuses.

Student advocacy groups like DivestUMW here at the University of Mary Washington seek college administrations to remove institutions’ investments in fossil fuel companies.

However, I argue, they fail to completely consider the consequences of their demands.

Many students’ educations are funded in part by the returns of their parents’ portfolios. I’m sure there are members of DivestUMW who are a part of that demographic, and the likelihood of said portfolios containing companies like Exxon Mobil is very high.

The simple truth: it works. Investments in energy and other fossil fuel-related companies have traditionally yielded large returns, making them a staple in the books of citizens, colleges, and other organizations.

This money has allowed for scholarships, projects, and countless other improvements that otherwise would not have been possible.

Personally, a sizable percentage of my college fund is a result of direct and indirect investments in fossil fuels by my parents and their broker.

Why is the focus solely on institutional divestment and not individual? Is it just easier to have the University take the responsibility of an issue that we should all bear?

With current oil prices, it may be easy to rationalize a relatively painless process for the University to divest, but with a lack of readily available information as to the size and scope of current investments from the University or the UMW Foundation, the impacts could be grossly underestimated.

As with many extra or unforeseen expenditures experienced by colleges, tuition hikes, additional fees and program reductions are endured by students in

order to balance the books.

This begs the question, are we prepared to make college less affordable if it means assuaging our consciences?

I wholeheartedly agree that we as a society need to break our dependence on fossil fuels, and fast, but nothing can be accomplished with heavy rhetoric and no plan. Meaningful change comes from the bottom-up, not the top-down.

I would suggest that DivestUMW and the entire Mary Washington body direct their passions into reducing consumption, increasing efficiency, and making smarter environmental decisions.

If divestment turns out to be a part of that plan, it should be undertaken with the utmost of confidence that it is the right decision, and that it is making changes for the better for the university.

Sincerely, Matthew Good

historical event.

Not only were these protesters infringnect those people to what’s going on.”

This situation can be summed up very ing on Tai’s rights, they were disregarding Tai was not one of the scumbag simply in words spoken by Tai, “The First the job he was sent to achieve. journalists, as these protesters probably Amendment viewed him as. protects your He was trying right to be to help them. here and Had the actions mine.” of Concerned These Student 1950 not protestbeen reported on ers were to the rest of the adamant that country, protests Tai needed in support of Conto leave becerned Student cause it was 1950 would never their right, of happened at their First other campuses Amendment such as Univerright, to sity of Central freedom to a Florida, James peaceful asMadison Universembly and sity, University petition. But www.notey.com of Tennessee and what they Stephens College.

University of Missouri professor Melissa Click attempting to keep media from reporting the protest were not Journalists may considering was Tai’s First Amendment “We’re documenting historic events be seen as the ones impeding on others right to freedom of the press. with our photographs, and when peorights, but let us not forget that journalists Just like these protesters had the right ple are crying and hugging when Wolfe also have rights that cannot be impeded to protest peacefully on campus, Tai had resigns, it becomes a personal issue that on. the right to photograph their protest, as a people all over the country can connect member of the press. with,” Tai said. “It’s my job to help con-

Editorial: Domestic terrorism outweighed by international violence On Friday, Nov. 27, 57-year-old Robert Lewis Dear shot and killed three people at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs.

According to The New York Times, after his arrest Dear uttered to the investigators, “No more baby parts,” an official reported, signaling that the reason for his violence was related to his known anti-abortion views. After this, word began to spread that his actions were politically motivated.

But does this characterize Dear as a domestic terrorist?

The legal dictionary loosely defines terrorism as, “the unlawful use of force or violence against people in order to coerce a government and the community in furtherance of political or social objectives.”

Perhaps Dear himself should not be labeled a domestic terrorist, but his actions certainly do make a political statement.

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On top of his violent outburst at the Planned Parenthood clinic, The New York Times reported that his ex-wife, along with several acquaintances, stated that Dear held violent and aggressive characteristics.

When it comes to terrorism, the line drawn between domestic and international is whether or not you are outside the territorial jurisdiction of the United States.

Therefor, if you are a United States citizen and commit an act of violence in which you are harming persons or property in the name of politics in your country, you are a domestic terrorist.

The question this begs is, what is the real difference between domestic and international terrorism if they both reveal acts of aggression and violence all in the name of politics?

International terrorists are leaving their homes and taking the war to someone

else’s court, while domestic terrorists are waging war on their own turf, in their own homes, with their own people.

We watched as the Boston bombing occurred, and three were killed, 180 injured by two American citizens. Domestic or international? Debates carried on, but did it matter? The pain was the same.

We are becoming increasingly smothered by breaking news, opinion articles and media clips of every day domestic violence, that we see it as less heartbreaking than we should.

The world is becoming more desensitized to routine acts of violence, giving more attention to the larger international schemes.

For example, we look at all the African Americans that have been and continue to be unfairly treated here in our own home, and we think, “well it has been this way

By THE BLUE & GRAY PRESS EDITORIAL BOARD

forever, but at least we are progressing.”

No. That is not how anyone should look at it.

People are violent with the same individuals they share a home with. International terrorism is sometimes seen as more intense and dangerous because these people are willing to risk relocating just to threaten, destroy or kill.

However, we could argue the ones that wage war on their own home are just as dangerous, if not more.

As a society, we want to shy away from labeling these acts as domestic violence.

However, it is clear that civil unrest is becoming more and more apparent in our everyday American lives.

While it is understood that some attacks are more group oriented rather than individualistic, the attacks in Paris, Boston, Colorado were ideologically based and heavily rooted in political rhetoric.

Thursday, December 3, 2015

VIEWPOINTS

Editor: Alex Spence | blueandgray.views@gmail.com

Professor evaluations requested, UMW students fail to reap benefits

Benefits of Academic Evaluations • Helps gauge effectiveness of courses

Reuben Ingber/Flickr CAROLINE TRABUCCO Staff Writer

The fall semester is drawing to a close and finals are upon us. As students prepare for exams, many may also find themselves being encouraged to give the end-of-term evaluations for their professors.

These evaluations are regarded as “useful educational tools” and are used for the “betterment of the university.”

If our feedback, as well as the feedback of our peers, matters so much, why don’t we have access to the results of professor evaluations?

In selecting courses for upcoming semesters, many UMW students look to their peers’ opinions on certain professors, as well as online forums such as RateMyProfessors. While both can provide some useful insight into the effectiveness of a professor’s teaching style or how hard his or her exams are, neither is entirely credible.

According to The New York Times, on the “commercial professor ranking site” Rate My Professors, student-reviewers identities are not only seldom verified, but they are not even required to begin with.

The Times suggests that because RateMyProfessors has its own vocabulary, values and idiosyncrasies, it is best consulted “for novelty purposes only.”

USA Today writes “the categories used

by RateMyProfessor are vague and fail to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of things that are import-

ant,” adding that “there is also no way to know that the person writing the review has actually taken a class with that professor.”

RateMyProfessors has even added a functionality, which allows professors to respond to comments and refute bad reviews. Not to mention that RateMyProfessors is owned by MTV, which also tanks its credibility.

Many UMW students are prompted to evaluate their professors electronically. The movement from paper to virtual forum adds an extra layer of anonymity to the student responses, negating the need to “sugarcoat” true feelings and further validating this evaluation method.

This, accompanied by the accessibility of electronic material, should make it easy to circulate reviews to interested students. So are we still denied access?

According to insidehighered.com, the University Senate at the University of Minnesota is considering a proposal to publicize student feedback, in the hopes that the data will aid in making informed course selections.

Robert McMaster, vice provost and dean of undergraduate education at Minnesota was quoted as saying, “We think this

is an excellent step forward in providing students quality information.” He, and the Minnesota University Senate, have both criticized the credibility of RateMyProfessors as well.

As other universities attempt to make helpful and reliable resources available to their students, Mary Washington students should be asking themselves, why not us?

The documented experiences of fellow UMW students have the potential to help their peers choose classes, and professors, while building the schedules that are most suitable for them. The only resources available to us as a student body are unreliable and unaccredited.

As of right now, UMW asks for our feedback, but does not make this feedback available to us in return. We as students should absolutely have access to a better contemporary representation of opinions on UMW professors.

Harvard Buissness School Students in Harvard Buisness School attend class lecture

• Allows students both honesty and anonymity • Provides university with student opinions regarding professors • Can help determine tenure for professors

American policy against ISIS lacks commitment, new strategy needed BRANDON QUINTIN Staff Writer

It has been nearly 15 months since the beginning of Operation Inherent Resolve—the codename for the American intervention against ISIS. Since then, the radical terrorist group has launched a number of sophisticated attacks, signaling to the world that they are far from defeated.

The recent attacks, as well as the situation on the ground in the Middle East, should be enough to convince American leadership that the current policy is failing.

On Oct. 31, ISIS destroyed a Russian passenger jet full of vacationers, killing all 224 people on board. Nov. 12, a suicide bombing in Beirut killed 40, and only a day later a large-scale attack was launched in Paris, murdering 129 innocent civilians and sending another 433 to the hospital.

These are just the recent major incidents outside of ISIS territory.

Within the caliphate, a horrendous scene is taking place. The militant’s barbaric and perverted version of Islam is being forced upon a helpless people. The resulting humanitarian and refugee crisis

may be the largest and worst the world has seen since the end of the Second World War. While our leaders decided to eventually intervene in Iraq and Syria against ISIS, the effort has been half-hearted and lacking any real conviction.

President Obama does not see this war as his primary responsibility or issue of concern. During a recent press conference held in Turkey, he stuck to his view that the current policy is working—but admitted that the attacks in Paris represented a “setback.”

Contrary to the president’s opinion, our strategy against ISIS is not working, and it does not take a genius to see that.

Anyone with access to a credible news source can see that ISIS has launched an increasing number of attacks and maintains control over a large portion of Iraq and Syria—a whole year and three months since the beginning of our so-called “intervention.”

It was recently announced that the United States will send a limited number of special operations soldiers, a total of 50, into Syria to “advise and assist” Kurdish rebels in the north of the country.

While the White House insists that

the troops will not be actively engaged in combat, they are equipped to defend themselves if necessary.

This shift in policy comes after the administration’s two previous plans failed to bring about any significant change in affairs.

Our aerial bombing campaign has yielded minimal results. The Defense Department has claimed to have killed around 20,000 ISIS fighters since bombing began, but the CIA also estimates that ISIS only has a real strength of 20,00030,000 men.

This dubious math leads to some serious questions: Either original estimates about the strength of ISIS were way off, or our bombing campaign has killed far fewer than assumed.

Whatever the true answer is, it is now clear to everyone that simply bombing from the air will not bring about any possible or conclusive end to the conflict.

The second pillar of the administration’s plan was to train and equip so-called moderate Syrian rebels. A $500 million operation was set up to do just that. The first 50 or so rebels trained by the United States were immediately captured by the al-Nusra front, another Islamist opposi-

tion group, as soon as they entered Syria.

In September, General Lloyd Austin, commander of CENTCOM, said that only “four or five” American-trained rebels are currently fighting in Syria.

Since then, the Obama administration has moved away from its train and equip program.

The decision to send a limited number of special ops soldiers into Syria is a response to the complete failure of our current policy.

So far, the United States has struggled to define its goals or seriously back up the harsh language it uses to describe ISIS. While president Obama and our leaders may think they are doing the right thing, this half-hearted and weak intervention will not in any way bring peace to the region.

As awful as the recent attacks in Paris have been, hopefully they will help enlighten the world’s leaders to the seriousness of this war and encourage a more forceful commitment—bringing to mind George Washington’s regretful observation that democracies must “feel before they can see.”

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LIFE

Editor: Della Hethcox blueandgray.life@gmail.com

Ugly Christmas sweaters become cult classic for the holidays

KELLY EMMRICH Assistant Life Editor

It’s the most wonderful time of the year again, where the holiday season is filled with an overzealous uncles wrestling with decorations, carolers that are just a little bit flat, Grandmas that are slaving over a ham in the oven, and, of course, the adornment of the ubiquitous, ugly Christmas sweaters.

Originally, we were sure these sweaters littered the wardrobe of our sixth grade English teacher or our great-aunts who were a little too crazy about cats.

Now they are worn, ironically, by party-goers of all ages. These sweaters have been around since the 1950s, the sewing tactics used originated in the 1950s, and they were not emitted in American popular culture until the 1980s.

The commercialization of Christmas was just beginning in the 1950s, so wearing a Christmas sweater was not trendy, it was a horrible experience. Christmas sweaters were just a part of your holiday wardrobe, a dreaded present.

Despite his recent controversy, Bill Cosby was heralded as ‘the father of ugly sweaters.’ He unintentionally started the trend that would last for decades to come.

“The Cosby Show” was not one without Cosby’s ridiculous sweaters and their designer, Koos van der Akker, who takes the credit.

Akker has dressed celebrities like Cher, Elton John and Barbara Walters. One of Cosby’s friends personally asked Akker

to design a custom-made sweater for a present.

“At that time I was making those sweaters for my regular customers, so I said sure. The customer took the sweater to his set, and Cosby put it on and liked it, and then he had to go on for the camera, so he kept it on and did his sequence in that,” said Akker in a Fashionista interview with Tyler McCall.

After the episode aired in the 1980s, “The Cosby Show” started receiving emails asking where Cosby had received the sweater. Because of the up tick in popularity, Cosby called Akker to order more sweaters for the show.

Also in Christmas classic, “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” Chevy Chase wore an ugly Christmas sweater that combined the designs of the Cosby sweater with a Christmas theme, much to the delight of viewers.

During the 1990s the popularity faded, but these garish sweaters have made a serious comeback in the 2000s.

For instance in 2001, Colin Firth wore a reindeer turtleneck sweater in the movie Bridget Jones’ Diary, creating a new iconic ugly sweater moment in cinema.

Not only are consignment shops such as Goodwill and the Salvation Army reaping the benefits from this trend, but

so are big retailers all over the country.

Stores such as H&M, Wal-Mart, Kroger’s, Nordstrom and even Bloomingdales are going out of stock of the tinseled and reindeer sporting sweaters.

No one will ever be sure as to who created the first ugly Christmas sweater party, but in the early 2000s, longtime friends, Chris Boyd and Jordan Birch, hosted an ugly Christmas sweater party in the prestigious hotel Commodore Hotel in Vancouver, Canada. “We have always claimed to be the first, and even trademarked ‘ugly Christmas sweater’ and ‘ugly Christmas sweater party’ here in Canada,” said Boyd in several interviews. The two now host a coveted annual Christmas party, featuring the ugliest of holiday sweater.

Another group of men launched a website in 2007 called uglychristmassweaterparty.com. The founders Brian Miller, Adam Paulson and Kevin Wool started collecting sweaters and then selling them Online. In 2011, the three of them published a book called “Ugly Christmas Sweater Party Book: The Definitive Guide to Getting Your Ugly On.” The book includes how to throw the perfect party, what to wear and how to judge the ugly Christmas sweater contest. In other words, everything you need to know to have the ugliest party.

This Christmas, be sure to throw on your cringe-worthy bedazzled vintage reindeer sweater and have a great holiday season, eggnog in hand.

Inside Provo

This holiday season, shop local fair trade businesses for gifts

CRISA YOUNG Staff Writer

With the holiday season in full force, the biggest franchises lead the way with extravagant sales and unbeatable deals.

Shoppers flock to these opportunities with the intent to finish their holiday shopping in the quickest and cheapest way possible. But are they really aware of what they are paying for?

Most companies create such amazing deals by exploiting workers overseas and by buying goods that are made from overworked employees with unfair wages in unsafe working conditions.

In 2013, a garment factory in Bangladesh collapsed from neglect of safety provisions, killing over a thousand

people and injuring more than two thousand. It is considered the deadliest structure failure in human history. Yet, there is a real solution to this very serious issue: buying fair trade products.

Fair trade is the practice of buying handmade items from artisans in third world countries for fair and livable wages.

Vendors of fair trade are branching out into stores like Wegmans and even cultivating nonprofits such as Ten Thousand Villages. Fair trade also helps artisans come together to help build their communities.

Handmade products come with extensive stories of how the artisans made the products, what they were made from

Snapapix.com

A local shop offers shoppers fair trade products from around the globe.

6

and why they were made. Most products are created from local raw or recycled materials, helping to enhance and preserve our environment. Products can range from furniture, home decorations and accents, to clothes, jewelry, purses, journals, chocolates and so much more.

Even downtown Fredericksburg has its very own foothold on fair trade. Latitudes, located on 806 Caroline Street, is a fair trade store run by Lee and Terry Owsley.

They started with a store in Warrenton, Virginia, supporting fair trade by selling a variety of products and even visiting their artisans overseas to review their products and ensure the artisans are thriving.

“We love being a part of the Fredericksburg community and have been impressed at how many of the people who come in already seem to know a lot about fair trade,” Lee Owsley said.

Latitudes is also promoting the holiday season by allowing customers to come in and create a wish list of their products for loved ones to review when finishing their holiday shopping.

“We look forward to a happy and long partnership with the community and have just celebrated our one year anniversary here,” Lee Owsley said. “We are members of the Fair Trade Federation, and that is a prime way that we source our products, but also enjoy finding new groups when we do trips to visit our artisan partners. In March we are going to India for several weeks with Matr Boomie, one of our wholesale partners. We’ll be visiting about

Brands of the World

eight different artisan groups there including woodworkers, block printers, jewelers and bell makers.”

Fair trades gifts have a literal personal touch; each one is unique and made with a care to ensure each product is appreciated.

Finding the perfect gift becomes easy, when every product has certain character to match whomever the shopper intends to surprise this holiday season.

Latitudes also has a lovely assortment of winter wear, jewelry sets, children’s toys, bake-ware and a multitude of religious decorations.

Choosing to buy fair trade this season will not only ensure a gratified loved one, but also allow patrons to support a sustainable and ethically responsible system, the greatest gift of all.

Thursday, December 3, 2015

LIFE

Mockingjay Part 2 sets box office ablaze standing, not just of each other, but of their unified world, and where they each belong.

Overall, it may be hard for fans In a world of strangely dressed to say goodbye to this series, espedystopian rulers, Katniss Everdeen cially after a movie like this which stands tall as a symbol of unity for was both plot-driven and action the rebel soldiers. She represents packed. the perseverance of faith in humanAlthough the movies may be finity even in the midst of total adished, the themes in which this versity, sending a great message of franchise has brought to us, which heroism and determination. may also be the reason why we The film has generated a large fan love it so much will always be in base of readers and movie goers our hearts. both young and old.

“The Hunger Games” is a story in Overall “The Hunger Games: which the overall message is one of Mockingjay, Part 2” was a movie understanding what is wrong with well worth the money. our own world. From the ways in The final cinematic installment of which war is devastating to people the franchise was definitely a great everywhere, to how reality televiway to end the series, and it was the sion influences us as viewers, the best movie out of all of them. franchise has never been afraid If you are someone who has never to directly confront us with those seen the previous films, it definitetruths. ly makes you want to run Not to mention the out and buy every book, spectacular actors and and binge-watch the preactresses, as well as the vious films. beautiful scenery and Our heroine Katniss plethora of sensationEverdeen, played by Osal characters wearing car winner Jennifer Lawunique costumes done by rence, dominates the big the franchises’ amazing screen once again, and costume duo, who prekeeps us on the edge of fer to be known as simour seats as she continply Kurt and Bart. This ues to defend her world concluding film really from the Capital. does what it sets out to The film opened with do, which is go out with the face of Philip Seya bang. mour Hoffman, an unAccording to Variety forgettable actor who magazine Online, in passed away in February the opening weekend of 2014. the movie made around His image brought an Bago Games/ Flickr Gale Hawthorne (Liam Hemsworth) and Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) during “Mockingjay Part 1.” $101 million.

HEATHER JACKLING Staff Writer

obvious hush over the audience, and a few chuckles when he mentioned how he hated the way Katniss could be such a rogue.

Following, the beginning consisted mainly of dull dialogue and action-less scenes while the actors wandered around a barren landscape.

It took a while for the characters to stumble on any conversation worth noting, which is particularly funny, as one may have expected the movie to open with a bang of action since the book was split into two parts.

But once Katniss decides that her mission is to kill President Snow in order to revenge her friend and lover, Peeta, the film starts to get that same fiery overtone many have come to expect from the series. After all, Katniss is the girl on fire.

One of the more important subplots, which in regards to the movie seemed somewhat strange, but makes a lot of sense in relation to the series, is the ever winding love triangle between Katniss, Peeta and Gale.

At one point, Gale and Peeta have a conversation about who has kissed Katniss the most, while a laughable conversation, it is an endearing moment for the two characters and their relationship.

Without giving away any spoilers, I will say that there is a rather large and spectacular confrontation which is sure to leave the watcher with a sense of fulfillment.

The final confrontation between Snow and Katniss not only leaves them both physically and mentally shaken, but also ends with them each possessing a better under-

Screen Crush

7

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LIFE

Campus honor society focuses on community service

giate honor society recognizing seniors that have excelled in scholarship, leadership and service,” said Angela Dixon, As a club, the Mortar Board is not well president of the Mortar Board and a seknown on campus. In fact, not many nior majoring in English.

According to Dixon, students are inipeople are aware that it exists. The club however, has been a part of campus cul- tially invited to apply during their junior year and must have a 3.5 GPA or higher ture for quite some time.

Due to fundraising efforts of the Mortar to be considered. “[Mortar Board] is very exclusive.

Board Club, every Thursday for the remainder of this academic year, the Sweet Many students applied last semester, Frog located in Eagle Village will be only a few were accepted. We currentdonating a portion of the proceeds from ly have 19 active members on campus,” their yogurt sales to help financially chal- Dixon explained.

Dixon admits that the school’s Mortar lenged college students pay for products Board chapter struggled at the beginning like toothpaste, and other expenses such of this academic year, stating that the last as bus fare.

According to The University of Mary active year, for this chapter, was in 2010.

At that time, according to the UMW Washington’s website, the school’s Mortar Board chapter has been chartered website, they received the “Silver Torch since 1959, with roots extending from Award at the 2010 Mortar Board Nation1943, when it was known simply as “Cap al Conference for meeting management standards while exemplifying the ideas and Gown.”

“The Mortar Board is a senior colle- of scholarship, leadership and service.”

“When we began the school year, Mortar Board had -$29.22. Now, from the fundraising we’ve done […] Mortar Board has $129.29 in the bank,” Dixon said.

“Our next goal is to achieve the Ruth Weimer Mount Chapter Excellence Award” Dixon continued, because this award, according to the Mortar Board website is “the highest possiStudent Activities and Engagement ble honor given for chapter JOSEPH GARAY Staff Writer

Abbie Tomba

UMW students are inducted into the campus chapter in September of 2014.

achievement – given for superior chapter operations, participation, selection, advising, visibility and communications.”

The society’s mission is not simply to recognize college seniors for their achievements in scholarship and leadership, but it aims to encourage “lifelong contributions to the global society.”

The UMW chapter is certainly increasing its visibility on campus, as it is actively participating in the campus community while raising awareness about their missions.

In regard to their fundraising efforts, for financially challenged students, Dixons said that it is a “year- long event,

[which will] hopefully continue after we are gone. The proceeds [will] go to a foundation account, called Support Our Students Fund (SOS), which will be overseen by the Office of Student Life, and disbursed to help students who have financial needs, which their financial aid can no longer cover.”

To find out more information about upcoming events for Mortar Board students can visit their Orgsync page.

To learn more about the Mortar Board society, visit their website at mortarboard.org.

Blackstone Coffee celebrates fifth birthday, grows presence on campus

ELIZABETH BEAUCHAMP Staff Writer

Blackstone Coffee; the coffee shop we all know and love here in Fredericksburg.

We sip and savor the delicious coffee without much thought to the origin of it. What many do not even know, however, is that Blackstone has very local roots.

It all started when local entrepreneur, Don Merritt, owner of Blackstone Coffee Company, won a roasting competition in Raleigh, North Carolina. “[The competition] validated my roasting skills and gave me the push that I needed to take my roasting to the next level,” Merrit said. The first Blackstone location opened in 2008 in Spotsylvania County, Virginia.

In 2010, Blackstone Coffee Company opened its second location in Eagle Village, which quickly became a favorite study spot for University of Mary Washington students. Merritt said that the move to Eagle Village was a significant risk, but proved to be the right move for the company.

The Blackstone at Eagle Village celebrated its fifth birthday on Friday, Nov. 20. This marked a great milestone for Blackstone as

a company. The coffee shop celebrated by awarding every 10th customer with a prize; either a free drink or free Blackstone merchandise such as t-shirts and coffee mugs with the Blackstone Coffee Company logo.

The convenience of Blackstone in Eagle Village further improved with the opening of a new location on campus.

“As a freshman I would have to walk all the way to Eagle Village for a quality cup of coffee, but now I can walk right down campus walk, grab my coffee and head right next door to the Hurley Convergence Center to study,” said junior business major Tram Hoang.

In addition to the added convenience of an

on-campus coffee shop, the “mini” Blackstone offers a full menu of sandwiches that allow students to take food and go.

The most popular item on the menu?

The New York Bagels. The selection of bagels are some of the few items that can be purchased for a single meal swipe, a key part of its appeal as we all know.

However, much to the dismay of bagel fans, Blackstone only offered bagels until 10:30 a.m. during the week, and until 1:30 p.m. during the weekend.

But just a few weeks ago, the Student Senate passed a motion that would extend the hours they offer bagels to 12 p.m. during the week. According to Student

Michael Dales/Flickr

Government Association Vice President Alex Obolensky, the Senate and Executive Cabinet passed the motion with the support of a 200 student petition.

“Once a motion like this has passed both the Senate and the Executive Cabinet, I am, as the SGA Vice-President, are responsible for communication with the administration and whatever other organizations need to be involved,” Obolensky said. The new legislation is one of several changes enacted by SGA in order to improve dining options across campus.

When asked about the changes coming to Blackstone, Madeleine Quick, junior historic preservation and art history major, raised a concern, “I understand that if you only have a certain amount of bagels, than you get there on time to get that bagel. I don’t want them to offer more bagels, but then charge us more to make up the cost.”

It is not clear what the impacts would be for Blackstone Coffee Company or the students just yet, but as the company continues to grow, so will the relationship between UMW and Blackstone.

Eagle Village

9

NEWS

Drops in college applications connected to increased online education routes

LAUREN TAYLOR Staff Writer

The next few years is expected to hold some changes in attendance for Virginia universities, according to a report

by The Huffington Post and a projection detailed in The Richmond Times-Dispatch. The number of students enrolling in colleges may decrease, as is the number of students who complete their degree programs.

According to The Huffington Post, fewer students are completing college.

The newest reports from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center show that only 52 percent of students who enrolled in college are completing their degree programs.

This study allows up to six years for a student to count as graduated, and in only two years, this number has dropped from 57 percent.

Both before this study, and especially now in response to this report, President Obama has declared a “great imperative” to individual families that graduating high school students should pursue post-secondary education. Education beyond high school is being encouraged by the President as “a national interest.”

Junior English major Chris Leach links the decrease in college attendance to tuition and other costs.

“Money is a big part of it,” Leach said. “It is very financially demanding.”

For students who cannot afford college tuition, Leach said he has friends who had chosen not to go to college and work full-time instead.

“I’ve had friends who didn’t go to college because it was so expensive and get a job instead as an alternative,” Leach said. “Even for people who leave before graduation, [working is] better than paying a bunch of money.”

Students’ needs must be put first to instigate a change. Small changes in a student’s life can lead to a critical funds shortfall, which may result in the individual putting their education on hold.

To ensure that students will return to college, institutions must stand ready to supply them with emergency funding through the forms of scholarships and grants. Just a few hundred dollars could make the difference between a student staying in school and being forced to leave because of financial difficulty.

There are some resources currently available to students who are under a financial tightening or crisis. One important step to take is applying for scholarships, both local and national, through outside sources.

The university also tries to work with students to accommodate their needs.

UMW’s Financial Aid Office is always available to students to call, email, or visit and welcome questions. The university’s goal, as is many other institutions’, is to have students succeed and graduate.

•COLLEGE| 11

10

Student Government Association Beat MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23 and November 30, 2015 All motions were originated and passed in the student senate, and then approved by the executive cabinet.

Nov. 23 • •

A motion proposed to allow access to the link past 9 p.m. was requested by the building and grounds committee. The passes went unchallenged.

A motion requested to provide a full time psychiatrist for the school. The passes went unchallenged.

Nov. 30

•

Ethan Lane, the Inter-Club Association President, stated that there are two new clubs proposed to be on campus for next semester. The Table Too Game and the Society of Collegiate Leadership and Achievement.

•

Miriam McCue the Commuter Student Association President stated that the Commuter Student Services will be giving out hot coco during finals week for a stress free zone.

REPORTING BY TESS OSMER

Career counselor offers advice in landing an internship

Pixaby.com

•INTERN | 2 at the Job and Internship Fair.

The fall 2015 Job and Internship fair was held in the Anderson Center, and catered to local and regional employers from corporations to nonprofit organizations.

Students can expect to find additional helpful information on the Career Center’s webpage, which allows access to resources such as “Employ an Eagle”, a job and internship website that is available to all UMW students. Once students registered, they can upload resumes, cover letters and search for job and internship opportunities.

Becelia encourages all students to make an account not only with Employ an Eagle, but with the professional networking website LinkedIn. Another useful resource is seeking out professors from various departments who can often be useful middlemen in the search for the perfect internship.

UMW students have found success interning both on campus and traveling elsewhere to downtown Fredericksburg, and even to Washington D.C. to work for private companies, congressional offices, and the State House, according to Becelia.

Cecelia Burkett, a freshman and prospective International Affairs major, like many students, imagines her ideal internship. “Definitely off campus, in the city…over the summer and hopefully for a private firm,” Burkett said.

Burkett added that she’s grateful to have so many resources and opportunities made available to her, which can “make that a reality.”

The best way to secure a good internship is to start early and use as many resources as possible. Fortunately for UMW students, resources are in abundance.

The 2016 Internship contract can be found on the Office of Academic and Career Service’s webpage.

IT development on campus amid interrupted network access DREW PETTERSON Staff Writer

Hall Cheshire, the new Chief Information Officer of the University, and one of the heads of the IT department, discussed the significant role that cloud technology will begin to play in everyday-life at UMW in the near future.

Students may experience a change in their internet connection as the department of Information Technologies plans to bring a third-party cloud company aboard.

“As we continue to use more and more data, the servers at UMW won’t be able to handle the traffic alone, so it is one of the IT department’s main goals to find a suitable third-party cloud company that will keep our data secure, stable and ready to use,” Chesire said.

Because less server space would be used under cloud technologies, it may be possible to expect faster network speeds if the technology is implemented.

The proliferation of cloud technology at UMW and other universities across the nation and the world will also enable increased collaboration between institutions, providing access to previously unattainable resources- one of the IT department’s main goals.

Most UMW students have experienced the bittersweet nature of internet shutdown or slow wireless connection on campus from time to time. Whether connecting with Apogee, UMW, UMWGuest, or even UMW-Secured, chances are at some point students have been met with no Wi-Fi and error messages.

When wireless connections go faulty and students are one log-in attempt beyond the breaking point, they may often wonder who is behind the campus’ internet.

The department in charge of correcting internet errors and establishing greater internet fluidity on campus is the department of Information Technology, a well-oiled machine consisting of eight offices and roughly 40 employees who work full and part-time to bring and maintain internet fluidity to campus.

According to Information Technologies’ mission statement from UMW’s IT strategic planning program that began in 2011, the employees work to allow academic and technological trends to come together.

The UMW IT mission statement reads that “academic excellence, the liberal arts and sciences, a student-centered learning environment, and outstanding teaching are at the core of what the University of Mary Washington has been and will continue to be. While this plan has been developed specific to technology and infrastructure support needs at UMW, key overall technology trends and issues in higher education have been considered and included.”

Technological advances on campus

•TECHNOLOGY| 11 Thursday, December 3, 2015

NEWS Businesses offering more options for students •BUSINESS | 1

The restoration of the Woodard Campus Center, Mercer Hall, and the expansion of the Jepson Science center, slated for later next year, indicate a university-wide commitment to further development and growth.

However, as a UMW student, there is more to life than what is just taking place on campus.

To better understand the institutional dynamics at large within the university, what is occurring in the private sector needs to be taken into account.

Newly opened bars and restaurants such as the Sedona Taphouse, Jay’s Downtown Sports bar and Lounge, Spencer and Devon Brewing, and latenight pizza place Benny Vitali’s are offering fresh social opportunities to the UMW student body and breathing new life into the culture of a town that, for many years, did not have a high number

itive overall population growth rate in Fredericksburg and the surrounding areas, the development of new and improved infrastructure and resources at UMW has been on par with the city’s rapidly expanding business climate.

On campus, these improvements are best exhibited by the creation of new, state-of-the art learning and student life centers, most notably the establishment of the Hurley Convergence Center in 2014, and the opening of the new University Center earlier this year. More behind-the-scenes improvements have also increased considerably over the last few years, providing a more accommodative system of technological and educational infrastructure which is capable of adapting to the growing and changing needs of the modern student body.

of social outlets for young people.

Senior math major Devin Geraghty, a lifelong resident of the Fredericksburg area, praised the new business development, saying “It’s bringing the college scene into downtown Fred” and connecting the town and university on a new level.

It is reasonable to expect, given UMW’s dedication to improving its infrastructure and the record-breaking size of this year’s freshman class, that the University anticipates enrollment to increase in the near future.

The complementary, interrelated nature of growth, development and expansion within UMW and in Fredericksburg as a whole, bode well for the current and future social climate of the student population, making weekends a little more fun, and life a little bit sweeter.

Hiring a third party company and using cloud technology, new goals of IT department learning analytics software that analyzes individual student performance, the development of adaptive learning technologies, software that adjusts to individual students’ needs as they learn, and the movement towards the “Internet of Things.”

The well-regarded paradigm of traditional academic theory, typified by one man standing in front of a class lecturing for 45-90 minutes, is beginning to change. Psychologists, educators, administrators, economists and social critics are at the forefront of this metamorphosis and are successfully disrupting the institution of education at the primary and secondary levels, as technological advances continue to increase.

To irrefutably challenge the rules of a game that had been played virtually the same way for hundreds of years is not something to be glossed over as students conveniently plug in laptops, phones, and whatever else into a centralized power strip in the HCC during this last week of classes.

Some majors rely on learning technologies offered by the IT department

•TECHNOLOGY | 10 do not only affect students’ homework, social media or the bars of their phones, it also affects the academic reach of the campus, according to The Horizon Report, an annual summary of key overall technology trends and issues in higher education is an instrumental resource for the formation of IT policy at UMW and colleges across the globe.

In its most recent edition The Horizon report highlighted cross-institution collaboration, dedication to personalized learning, renovation of learning spaces, adoption of informal learning techniques, and as always- increased data literacy, as key components in advancing the evolution of teaching, learning, and creative inquiry.

The report then looks to the future, and stresses the significance of maintaining an effective and flexible IT system in response to the changing needs of educators, students and administrators. Long-term trends in the evolution of education include the expansion of

more than others.

Senior physics major, John Robie said one of the biggest impacts on his academic experience has been the use of the 3-D printing lab. Just recently he used the lab to print pieces of a laser.

“It offers the opportunity for more research, new research, real-world experience and lab experience,” Robie said about the technological opportunities on campus.

UMW IT is continuing to meet the educational, administrative and technological needs of the academic community . The 3D printing lab, integrated classrooms and learning spaces in the ITCC and the UC, the evolution of Canvas, and the new data center, are among IT innovations, making the learning process more efficient and enjoyable.

And as students progress into the uncharted technological future, UMW and the IT department have pledged to maintain their adaptive, student-oriented philosophy in making the university a more comprehensive and capable institution of higher learning.

CORRECTIONS for THE Week PLEASE REPORT ANY MISTAKES SEEN IN THE BLUE AND GRAY PRESS TO Chris Markham, blueandgray.eic@gmail.com Mona Osmer, blueandgray.managing@gmail.com or Sushma Subramarian, ssubrama@umw.edu

• The photo on the front page of The Blue & Gray Press previous issue, under the article “Eagle Landing residents find mold in apartment” was incorrectly attributed to Caroline Trabucco. The photo was actually taken

by Jenna Gray.

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Finances, lack of flexibility possible cause of projected lowering college attendance

•COLLEGE | 10

Pixaby.com

According to a report from the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Virginia colleges are said to have a slower growth rate. The state also has fewer students applying to schools within the next six years.

However, private institutions expect to meet their goal of “increasing the number of Virginians with college credentials” through online programs, present at schools like Regent University and Liberty University.

Both two-year and four-year public schools are expecting a 5 percent increase by the 2021-2022 school year.

There are four schools in the state that expect a decline in enrollment. However, nonprofit higher education institutions expect enrollment to increase by 32 percent. This is largely due to the growth of online programs, namely at Liberty and Regent Universities.

These projections have begun raising concerns throughout the state.

One of the major goals for the state of Virginia to meet is the “economic demand for a more educated workforce,” according to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia Director, Peter Blake.

One way that the University of Mary Washington plans to counteract any possible decrease in enrollment is through advertising. The school has already placed a television ad airing on several national channels, showcasing the university to students who may not know about the school.

The commercial also advertises the uniqueness that the school has and the special majors that are not available at other schools across the country. The school is showing off its grand features, from academics to athletics, to draw in possible applicants.

Secondary institutions around the state may want to follow in the footsteps of Liberty University and Regent University and consider adding more online classes if they wish to further their increasing enrollment numbers. Presenting more options to earn a degree could also give students a greater chance of completing college and reaching their desired careers.

11

SPORTS

Editor: Mikey Barnes | blueandgray.sports@gmail.com

Q & A with women’s basketball player Megan Green

Club Team Spotlight: UMW Quidditch AMANDA CALLENDAR Staff Writer

UMW Athletics

IBRAHIM DAILY Staff Writer

Megan Green, a senior basketball player for the University of Mary Washington’s women’s bas-ketball team and history major from Burke, Virginia, is off to a great start this year. Playing for the school since her freshman year, and having had an amazing junior year, with an average of 7.3 points per game accompanied by six assists, she is ready to go out with one of the best sea-sons of her career. With a great group of women by her side, a super positive attitude and a 4-0 start to her season, she is on the path into making her goals a reality.

Q: Why did you choose UMW? A: I really wanted to play here, I liked the basketball program plus I came to a bunch of games and a former teammate from my high school, who graduated two years earlier, played here, plus this school has an amazing academic program, so I knew I would get a great education.

Q: How long have you played basketball?

A: Since I was five or six years old, and even though I played a bunch of other sports, but bas-ketball has always stuck around.

Q: What is your relationship with Coach Applebury?

A: We have a good relationship; she’s the best coach I’ve ever had in my entire life.

She knows the game, she has helped me mature, and if it wasn’t for her I wouldn’t where I’d be or who I’d be.

Q: Who is your biggest influence in basketball?

A: As of this moment, my teammates are definitely my biggest influence in basketball Q: Who is your biggest influence outside of basketball?

A: I would say my family. I’ve got a great support system at home, who are the absolute greatest people in my life. My mom, my dad, my brothers, and all my friends from home, who watch the games online and text me about it.

Q: What are your goals moving forward in the season?

A: Definitely number one goal is to get a CAC Championship, but also, getting to the NCAA Tournament and winning it would be awesome.

Q: What has been your favorite game so far in your career?

A: Beating Marymount at the CAC semi-finals last year, especially after them beating us in pre-vious years, it was great to beat them.

Q: When your career is finished, what do you hope to do after basketball?

A: Hopefully coaching, I want to impact someone’s life, the way my previous coaches have im-pacted mine.

Q: Do you plan to stay active in the basketball community post collegiately?

A: I hope so, I can’t imagine doing anything else.

Q: What are you most excited for in the season?

A: The fact that every day, I get to go out and play the best game in the world, with the best peo-ple. This team by far has been the best I’ve seen here, every day they come out hungry, and get-ting to practice and take the floor at Anderson with this group is life changing.

Swim team looks to take success through winter break

UMW Athletics

LAUREN TAYLOR Staff Writer

Both the University of Mary Washington’s men and women swim teams have had an exceptional season and hope to see their hard work and commitment continue throughout this and further seasons. They have had much to work towards due to both personal goals, team goals, and the expectations of both the school and fans. The women’s team has a current win streak of 6 wins and no losses and a 1.000 percentage.

The men’s team stands with a 4-1 record and a .800 percentage.

As reported in an earlier story this semester, both the men and women’s teams were predicted to win the Capital Athletic Conference title this year. They have dedicated many hours to practice to claim many wins throughout this season.

Recognition began early for both teams and many individuals. In early November, senior Stephanie Hallock was named the CAC Women’s Swimming Athlete of the Week. Hallock is also the reigning CAC

Thursday, December 3, 2015

swimmer of the year and was given this title after five individual victories and winning seven relay events during the start to the season.

This week, the women’s team has been names 36th in the nation by CollegeSwim. org with 546.79 percentage. The Eagles have been continuously showing out and putting up excellent performances. Last month, both teams featured on collegeswim.org.

The men’s team was ranked as 26th nationally and the women placed in at 12th in the nation.

The most recent swim even was on Saturday, November 7th, at Goolrick Natatorium as a part of the Capital Athletic Conference action. The men’s team defeated Marymount University 177-60. Dylan Gore, Jeffrey Leckrone, Ricardo Bonilla-Vazquez, and Matthew Gartska won the 200-yard medley with a time of 1:39.32.

Dallas Tarkenton, Jake Schroth, Vance Solseth, and Gartska, who compose the 200 free relay, place in first with a time of 1:28.26. Many individuals also won in their

events. Tyler Gimple won the 200-freestyle at 1:47.25, Dylan Gore placed at 54.63 in the 100 backstroke and 1:58.39 in the 200-backstroke, Kenyon Huber-Wilker in the 100-breaststroke at 1:01.73, Joshua McBryde won the 200 fly at 1:59.73 and the 100-fly at 1:59.73. The women’s team also beat Marymount 192-69, which puts them at 6-0 for the season. Katie Fago, Anna Corley, Shannon Coryell, and Stephanie Hallock, the 200 yard medley relay team, won at 1:50.45. Also placing in first was the 200 free relay, made of Coryell, Hannah Hagy, Fago, and Hallock, with a time of 1:39.57.

The women’s team had many swimmers also win their individual events. Murphy went on to win individual events- the 200 freestyle at 1:57.74 and the 200 breakstroke at 2:34.58.

The men and women’s swim teams will be back to compete again on December 4th and 5th in the Gettysburg College Invitational at 6:00 pm and 10:00 am, respectively.

Arielle Flax

On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays evenings on the Campus Rec turf field, the Club Quidditch team practices to improve their many skills. Among the team are the club officers, president Hallie Heizen, secretary Sheldon McClung and treasurer Shane Chamberlain. The co-captains of the team are Tino Bordone and junior Quinn Ogden.

Club Quidditch is a full contact and highly competitive sport that requires the abilities of tackling, throwing and catching. Their season is year-round and they compete against all colleges in the Mid-Atlantic regions but mainly face other teams here in Virginia. So far this season they have gone to tournaments and have had many matches.

“I would have to say our game against JMU at W&M was our best,” Ogden said.

“JMU always beats us but when we pulled the snitch to take them to overtime, and then pulled the snitch to win in overtime, everyone went nuts and it was truly a wonderful underdog victory.”

The community of Quidditch is continuing to grow and become more popular among many universities including the University of Mary Washington. The sport itself can be very aggressive and dangerous however the community of the sport is the opposite. “Most of the Quidditch community is so friendly it is very hard to have a rival but I would say JMU is our biggest one currently. Every time we play them it is always so heated and intense, I feel like that’s the only team that makes us play to our fullest potential,” Ogden said.

Contributing to the new popularity of this sport is that it is both challenging and fun.

“Quidditch is a very unknown game but once you get to learn how to play, it is the most fun you will ever have with a sport,” said Ogden. “I would say it is a perfect combo between rugby, dodgeball, and basketball.”

Moving on with the rest of their season the team wants to continue improving their skills and shooting for the top. “We are a young team with a lot of potential for growth,” Ogden said. “Improving our image and holding our own is definitely a big goal. Next year we want to do well at regionals so we can qualify for the national world cup in the spring.”

There are currently no matches or tournaments set up for next semester, but they are currently in the works. Regardless, the Quidditch team will be back in action next semester and ready to compete.

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