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Bicycle thefts spike in fall semester as UMW Police Department plans to improve bike registration process

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This year, there has been an increase in bike theft around the Mary Washington campus. According to the UMW Crime Log, four bicycles have been stolen so far from various locations including Palmieri Plaza, Monroe Hall, Bushnell Hall and Brent Hall. In both 2019 and 2020, three instances of bike larceny occurred throughout each entire school year.

“I had my bike stolen last year,” said Hollis Cobb, a senior English major. “I reported it to the UMW Police but never got an update from them, so I ended up just getting a new bike.”

Lieutenant Brad Sullivan, head of campus investigations, says that UMW Police has access to a plethora of inexhaustible resources and that some cases can stay open for two or three years until the bike is eventually located.

“We have a close relationship with the Fredericksburg Police network and we are connected with local pawn shops,” said Sullivan. “We want students to know that we keep our cases open or pending until we recover the stolen bike.”

As stated in the 2022-2023 UMW Student Handbook, all bicycles are required to be registered with the UMW Police, either on-site at Brent House or at bike registration events on campus.

Similar to the information collected when registering a car, during the process a student provides their bike’s serial number, make and model in order to receive a unique sticker to place on their bike.

“Once we have all the information, the officers can put it into the system,” said UMW Police Chief Michael Hall. “So if someone runs the sticker, boom, there it is.”

After it is inputted into the Virginia Criminal Information Network database, which is a centralized source for registration information accessible to all law enforcement agencies in every state, a student’s bike can be flagged if it is involved in a case of larceny.

“If someone were to try and pawn a bike stolen from campus, the registration sticker acts as a deterrent,” said Sullivan. “It says ‘wait a minute, stolen from UMW or missing from UMW.’”

However, many students say resources regarding bike policy are difficult to locate, outdated or missing altogether. Senior geography major Dylan Wright was surprised to hear that registering your bike was even an option.

“I brought a bike to campus this year but was unaware that I had to or could register it with campus police,” said Wright. “Therefore, I did not.”

The 2022-23 student event calendar, a resource listing all student events on campus, does not include a bike registration event. UMW’s digital bicycle regulation resources have not been updated since the 2013-14 academic year, and many of the links and information provided are no longer accurate.

Currently, with online bicycle registration not available, students have to attend one

of the registration events or bring their bikes to Brent Hall. This is so that an officer can collect identifying information about the bike and help the student locate the bike’s serial number.

Emma Bower, a senior creative writing and studio art major, expressed frustration regarding the university’s bike policy.

“Why does the university not set up a way to register your bike online? Going all the way to Brent House can be such a pain,” said Bower.

UMW Police do plan to re-introduce online registration. However, students will still need to visit Brent House in person to pick up their stickers.

With over 50 bicycle parking locations on campus and bike-friendly routes, traveling on two wheels is a popular alternative to the hassle of college parking and transportation problems. Since UMW’s bike registry was established in 2004, 1,309 bicycles have been registered.

According to the National Bike Registry, “a four-year student bicyclist faces a 53% or 1 in 2 chance of losing their bike to theft.” In addition, 1.5 million bikes are reported stolen from college campuses every year, but the speculated 4.5 million unreported thefts put the odds and numbers potentially much higher.

In addition to this ongoing problem, students have been noticing their bikes disappearing from the racks where they originally left them and reappearing across campus in a new location. Cobb’s bike, before being outright stolen, was first taken for a joyride.

“I was studying in the HCC until 2 or 3 a.m. and when I left, my bike was gone from the rack outside,” said Cobb. “There was still an overnight security guard at the HCC, so I let him know, and someone from UMW PD happened to be there too. They said they would file a report on my bike and looked in the immediate area. When I walked back across campus afterward, I happened to spot my bike in a rack in front of George Washington Hall. I guess someone had taken it to ride across campus and then dumped it.”

Hall says that he has noticed a majority of bikes that

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Pro-choice student organizations plan class walkout alongside nationwide protest

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On Oct. 6, a walkout supporting abortion rights will take place at noon on Ball Circle. The UMW chapter of Young Democratic Socialists of America, the Radical Students’ Union, UMW Young Democrats and UMW Women’s Gender and Sexuality club are all organizing the event.

UMW’s Young Democratic Socialists of America chapter created a petition listing the demands for the walkout, citing Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s planned bill to ban abortions after 15 weeks except in cases of rape, incest or if the pregnant person’s life is at risk. Some of the demands include increased access to a greater variety of contraceptives on campus, as well as free Plan B and free pregnancy and STD testing. The petition also calls for the University to take an official, public pro-choice position.

“We are asking them to support students’ right to choose, as well as to improve various student mental and physical health services on campus,” said Chloe Vanderhoof, a junior political science major and co-chair of UMW Young Democratic Socialists of America.

The petition states that those signing “will not accept an increase in the price of tuition with the implementation of these services” and that the University should be transparent on how

the demands are being paid for. It also demands improvement to Talley Center services, including queer-specific counseling and specialized counseling for pregnant people and/or those who choose to get an abortion.

“The protest and the public presentation of our demands at the protest is the glamorous part of the process,” said Devin Schwers, a junior political science major and chair of the UMW Young Democratic Socialists of America. “We will still have to work with the student government and the university to actually enact the change we are demanding.”

The event is in collaboration with all Young Democratic Socialists of America chapters that are participating in a national day of action.

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“We believe our chapter’s participation in this campaign has the ability to do something truly good for of course our student body and university at large, but more importantly what we will truly be doing is helping in showing that young people all over the country are not only discontent with the state of our government, but that we will not continue to tolerate the blatant disregard of our rights,” said Schwers.

Jesse Frye, a senior American studies major, plans to attend the protest.

“I am attending the walkout because I believe in people’s right to choose,” said Frye. “I am concerned that the rights of uterushaving people are being restricted and stolen by an ever entrenched far-right government.”

Emma Dabolt, a senior women and gender studies major and secretary of the Women’s Gender and Sexuality Club, also plans on attending.

“I think it’s really important for as many people as possible to show support for this issue,” said Dabolt.

Schwers stressed that students should advocate for their needs.

“I think it’s really important for students to understand that the ball is in their court,” said Schwers. “The university will not bend over backwards to accommodate and provide for its students unless we demand them to. It is our responsibility to create the change we need not only for ourselves, but for everyone else who comes after us.”

UMW Police work to combat bike thefts

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are reported as stolen are actually just displaced around campus, a result of joyrides or “bike borrowing.”

“If you have a student and they need to get to the other side of campus in 2 minutes, and bikes outside are not locked up, they’ll hop on a bike and drive across campus,” said Hall. “Many of the bikes we find are actually abandoned at different racks.”

A core element of UMW’s mission statement is the Honor Code, which is based upon the integrity of each student and their obligation to act honorably in all facets of campus life. And, while all Mary

Washington students are asked to make a pledge to uphold the Honor System, some students find it very hard to put their faith in that promise.

“I brought a bike from home that had been in my family for decades,” said Cobb. “I probably took more liberties with it than I should have though, but I trusted people around campus because of UMW’s Honor Code ... I learned my lesson and I started locking my bike all the time.”

The goal of the Honor Code is to curate an environment in which members of the campus community feel they can leave laptops, backpacks and valuable items unattended. However, Bower shares

Cobb’s opinion.

“I want to believe that people will do the right thing, but I don’t know everyone on campus,” said Bower. “Relying on the moral compass of a stranger feels too risky, especially with something expensive like a bike.”

UMW Police reminds students that the university is an open campus, and all kinds of individuals have the ability to access campus.

“Locking your bike is like locking your car or your house,” said Hall. “It doesn’t guarantee that your bike won’t get taken, but by securing it, you make them work for it.”

Four on-campus organizations are collaborating for this event.

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“It is our responsibilty to create the change we need not only ourselves, but for everyone else who comes after us.”

-Devin Schwers

Opinion

NORAH WALSH Associate Editor

The effects of natural disasters are a peek into the future if we don’t address our use of energy with heightened attention. With devastating hurricanes, Europe fearing a blackout if Russia shuts off their gas supply, and floods and heat waves causing innumerable deaths, we need to consider how we use energy in the United States in preparation for worsening conditions consequent of climate change, as well as how energy can be used as a political weapon.

I came to Bilbao, Spain, over the summer to study abroad, and as I continue my studies abroad for the fall semester, I’ve started to note the differences between how we in the United States use and regard energy versus how my European friends and Spanish host mom treat it.

How other countries minimize energy usage

In my room, which is located a couple blocks away from the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, the overhead light only holds one lightbulb, even though there are four places that could be filled. This reminded me of 2011 when my family moved into a smaller house after declaring bankruptcy as a result of the 2008 financial crisis and my father having lost his job. Every penny that could be pinched was, and thankfully energy was easy to reduce, since one light bulb illuminating the upstairs bathroom was plenty for us to utilize the space. That was the first time I really understood that using energy cost money, and my knowledge surrounding how energy worked and how it could detriment the environment evolved from that moment onward.

When I first arrived in Bilbao and met my host mom, I was given certain rules to follow in order to respect the household, and almost all of them had to do with energy usage. The main ones I remember were to take short showers, turn off the lights when they weren’t needed and unplug my electronics and chargers when they weren’t being used. In the first couple weeks, I was hyper-cognizant of my actions, but after having grown accustomed to them, they’ve become instinctual.

Not to mention, my host mom doesn’t own a dryer, so all of my clothes are hung up on a clothesline that hangs above the apartment courtyard after they are taken out of the washing machine. This has quite the beneficial effect on the environment, for according to Green America, “Air-drying your clothes can reduce the average household’s carbon footprint by a whopping 2,400 pounds a year.”

“All of their toilets have water-saving mechanisms and public restrooms have conveyor-belt-like cloth towels for drying hands that are regularly cleaned and replaced to cut down on paper towel usage,” she said. “People are more likely to live in groups of friends, even sometimes families, in larger houses that are close together rather than singles or single families living alone on large properties. Living close together and with others saves energy and resources.”

While countries like Spain and New Zealand may be more conscientious about their use of energy and resources, there is always more to do, especially when it comes to shifting to renewable energy.

“Regarding the political effects of switching to renewables, the Europeans have, generally, been more willing than the US to move ahead on this,” said Ranjit Singh, associate professor in the Department of Political Science and International Affairs. “Until Biden’s recent initiative, we’ve done virtually nothing. But even the Europeans have dragged.”

The ways in which we can save energy are elementary, and there’s really no reason why we cannot take these steps to alleviate the stress we have put on the energy economy.

One of the initiatives Biden has taken is called the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. One of the goals of the Law is to “Improve transportation options for millions of Americans and reduce greenhouse emissions through the largest investment in public transit in U.S. history,” which pertains to both railways and electric vehicles. Furthermore, another goal the Law asserts is to “Upgrade our power infrastructure to deliver clean, reliable energy across the country and deploy cutting-edge energy technology to achieve a zeroemission future.”

The United States wanting to move towards carbon neutrality by 2050 is promising, but according to the Pew Research Center, only 31% of Americans believe that “the U.S. should phase out the use of oil, coal and natural gas completely.” These opinions may be influenced by the increase in price of consumer goods as well as the price of heating and cooling homes that come along with renewable energy. However, people can save money by controlling their thermostats.

Because renewable energy is projected to cost consumers more, we have to think about how we use energy in order to afford it. Ways to reduce energy can include using energy-efficient products that eliminate energy waste, but they can also be as simple as using more daylight in the home rather than utilizing artificial light, according to Energy Saver.

My classmates and I were ill-prepared for the chilly temperatures that met us in the northern Spanish city when we first arrived. We embarked to find pants and long-sleeved t-shirts, but only a couple weeks later, we were sweating in our rooms and classrooms alike and finding refuge in air-conditioned sites, such as certain stores and surrounding museums.

The heat wave made me realize how much I had taken my access to air conditioning for granted in the United States. To my host mom and other locals, it was normal to be hot in the summer, so unless it were about the fires or floods that resulted from this high heat, they weren’t concerned. Additionally, nobody was rushing to buy air conditioners and subsequently spend more energy in an attempt to make themselves more comfortable. Instead, they mitigated the problem as best they could by opening windows, eating colder foods and staying out of the sun, especially when the sun was highest in the sky in the middle of the day.

Even at the University of Deusto where I am studying, there’s a cognizance surrounding energy usage. The lights in the classrooms are only turned on if there are people actively inside, and an open window was always the first step to cooling down the room rather than air conditioning.

These practices aren’t only familiar to Europeans, though, for other countries also take energy usage more seriously and act to not waste it.

Kylie Jackson, a junior conservation biology major and environmental sustainability minor who is currently living and studying abroad in New Zealand said, “There are a few aspects where I feel New Zealand is a little more conscientious about resource usage. People actually turn off lights when they aren’t using them here. One of my biggest pet peeves is leaving lights on in empty buildings or rooms, and NZ actually does turn off lights.”

She also described the ways they minimize energy and resource usage.

Additionally, “the best energy is the one you don’t need,” according to Josep Borrel, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy who is also the Vice-President of the European Commission. Countries in the European Union work together to decrease their use and waste of energy, according to an article from The Guardian.

For example, in France, air-conditioned shops face fines if they do not keep their doors closed, illuminated signs are switched off when not in use, as is advertising between 1-6 a.m. except in railway stations and airports.

Germany has turned off fountains and spotlights on public monuments. The rooms in the Lower Saxony state capital are only to be heated from October to the end of March to a maximum of 68 degrees Fahrenheit. They also do not allow mobile air-consitioners or space heaters.

Many of these rules have to do with air conditioning since the recent heat waves that permeated throughout Europe led to power systems being overloaded. However, many people in these countries are accustomed to not having any air conditioning whatsoever, which differentiates them from people in the United States who rely on and take it for granted. This means that the United States would have to endure a learning curve and some discomfort in order to aid in the effort against climate change and be less reliant on energy.

The ways in which we can save energy are elementary, and there’s really no reason why we cannot take these steps to alleviate the stress we have put on the energy economy.

Difficulties reducing energy consumption in the United States

According to Bill Ritter, the director of the Center for the New Energy Economy at Colorado State University and former Colorado governor, in an interview with the Wall Street Journal, “The Southwest Energy Efficiency Project estimates that 32 large power plants can be avoided, and $544 million in public health benefit generated, in the Southwest by 2030 by implementing best-practice energy-

To combat climate change, US lawmakers and consumers must follow other countries’ leads on energy conservation

“The best energy is the one you don’t need.” -Josep Borrel

Music review: Breaking down the songs of “Everything You’ve Come to Expect (Deluxe Edition)”

DAVy WASHINGTON Senior Writer

“Everything You’ve Come To Expect (Deluxe Edition)” is The Last Shadow Puppet’s most recent album, which was released in Dec. 2016. The lead singer, Alex Turner, created the group as a side project from Arctic Monkeys—an effort to try out new sounds and types of music with Miles Kane, former frontman of the Rascals. The songs on this album are dreamy and romantic, with many of the songs following an intimate relationship between the singer and a woman—presumably the one on the cover of the album. There’s also a wide variety in the styles of songs on the album, such as “Les Cactus” sung entirely in French and “Sweet Dreams, TN” being a rock-ballad of sorts with an orchestra backing the main guitar, drum and bass, which is something that comes up often in this album. Additionally, the album includes a cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Is This What You Wanted” with a diaphanous twist using the piano, violin and guitar to step out from the original song’s country style.

It’s been over six years since the album was released, and even though I’ve been

listening to it for a while, it’s always a fresh experience to revisit it and listen to it with friends. It’s also a ton of fun to pick up my guitar or bass to learn some of the parts to my favorite songs on the album.

Something that was particularly enticing to me was the addition of orchestra and occasional brass accompaniment. I’ve heard this with other groups before, such as Dexys Midnight Runners and Hippocampus, and it works to create a dynamic that creates complex sounds in their music. With “Everything You’ve Come To Expect” for example, the addition of instruments such as the violin, viola and cello on certain songs give for a more cinematic listening experience.

The first song that immediately stands out to me is “Used To Be My Girl.” The track opens with a groovy guitar, drum and tambourine rhythm that puts me right into a bopping trance. The song touches on a relationship gone wrong where the singer blames himself for the breakup, but who hasn’t been there? With lines like “Don’t make no mistake, I’m a liar, I’m a cheat, a leech, a thief,” the singer makes himself out to be the villain of the relationship, but he later sings about how they’ve both grown bitter about how things ended.

The song that precedes “Used To Be My Girl” is “Sweet Dreams, TN,” a very coming-ofage song that is perfect for blasting as you cruise down the highway. The powerful vocals in this song make for such a moving listening experience. Turner has a well-rounded range that helps him tremendously in making this dramatic song so hard hitting, and it has been cemented as a staple of the group, with it being their second-most-listened-to song on the album.

“Miracle Aligner” is the band’s most popular song on Spotify, and it comes with extremely dreamy aesthetics in addition to a pretty yet abstract music video. The twangy electric guitar separating the chorus and verses creates such a lively flow, almost like that of an old western movie. Furthermore, the sounds of the violins in the background add resonant harmonies during the bridge that complete the vibe of the song and stick with the orchestral accompaniment and relationship motif explored across the album.

Two of my favorite songs from the album, “Is This What You Wanted” and “The Dream Synopsis,” contain ethereal aesthetics. The album features an acoustic cover of “The Dream Synopsis” that slows the song down and adds a smooth saxophone to give it more of a slow-dance-kind of vibe. “Is This What You Wanted” is the Leonard Cohen cover, and Turner and Kane took a more grandiose approach with the song. The lyrics and meaning of the song are focused around a now-lost love, and they fit into the theme of the majority of the songs on the album. The tagline of the song, “Is this what you wanted, to live in a house that is haunted, by the ghost of you and me?,” while metaphorical, speaks to a large audience of people who’ve gone through heartbreak and can relate to the feelings of longing, nostalgia and all of the other emotions that come along with remembering the past.

“Everything You’ve Come To Expect (Deluxe Edition)” is the most recent album by The Last Shadow Puppets. @thelastshadowpuppets / Instagram

album combines different styles of music in each song.

thelastshadowpuppets / Instagram

Astrology highlight: October’s full moon and partial solar eclipse will lead to emotional intensity

EDEN SHENAL Staff Writer

Full Moon in Aries: Oct. 9

On Oct. 9, the full moon will appear in the sign of Aries. A full moon in Aries, the bold fire sign of leadership, assertiveness and notorious temper, encourages us to lean into our courageousness and confidence when asserting ourselves in our personal lives and relationships. However, as it is the nature of the moon and the sun to represent opposites, the sun this month falls into the sign of Libra: Aries’s opposition. Libras, known for their need for deliberation and careful compromise, are at odds with the fiery independence of Aries in the zodiac, which once again redirects us to use the full moon as an opportunity to seek balance.

What will this sun and moon opposition represent for us in our personal lives?

Astrologer Annie Heese writes that for this full moon, we are encouraged to “strike a balance between meeting our personal needs and attending to the needs of a significant other, and between independence or autonomy and dependence or companionability.” Feelings and thoughts are bubbling to the surface, and fueled by Aries’ desire for honest communication and open hearts, this month may lead to emotional conversations that may have been held back until this point. This is the time to express what we may have been holding back and let our emotional revelations shine through. The Aries full moon encourages us to speak authentically about our emotions and let out whatever we have been bottling up—but do this with care. Remembering the influence of our Libra sun, it will be important to conduct such emotionally driven conversations with care and diplomacy. Our feelings at this time can quickly become volatile or even irrational, and we may begin to doubt our personal strength and resolve while we process those feelings brought up in this lunar cycle. Libra’s thoughtful influence reminds Aries to still seek balance and demonstrate consideration for those in our lives who our emotions may affect.

This full moon will affect those with Libra, Capricorn, Cancer and Aries placements in their personal planets (their Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus and Mars signs) most prominently. To best view the full moon, head to the Amphitheater’s open seating or Ball Circle’s Adirondack chairs for a clear view of the moon from UMW’s campus.

Partial Solar Eclipse: Oct. 25

There is a new moon solar eclipse taking place on Oct. 25, eclipsing the new moon of Scorpio. Solar eclipses, which always will take place around the new moon, are all about tying up loose ends in our personal lives, working to transform our internal selves and planning to ensure a bountiful future.

This particular combination of new moon and solar eclipse will be emotionally intense, as Scorpio is known for its deep and intense way of expressing and understanding their feelings and the feelings of others. Deeply contemplative and connected to darker aspects of life, Scorpio may seem like an intimidating sign, but it also represents personal transformation and intense bonds with other people.

The team at Moon Omens writes that this solar eclipse “marks the start of a journey colored by emotional intensity, tenacity, and rawness, during which we may find ourselves trying to discover the most unconscious intentions, motivations, and desires driving ourselves and others.”

The new moon and solar eclipse mark this year’s spooky season with serious changes in our ideas of personal identity, our relationships with those closest to us and what holds meaning for us. This period is built to foster introspection and re-evaluation of ourselves and our interactions with others. Look at what motivates you and what drives you forward. Are you still pushed forward by those motivations, or is it time for an overhaul? What do you want to motivate you? Deep down, what really fuels you, and what will be the most helpful in healing and growing during this emotionally rich moment in the year? Issues with trust and intimacy are likely to emerge during this time, so think carefully about those around you and if those relationships are still what you need. Don’t be afraid to look deep within yourself for the truth you may have been trying to avoid confronting; if there is any time to make the changes to transform your life, emotionally intense Scorpio and the transformative solar eclipse will ensure its possibility.

likely to be emotionally intense.

Scott Szarapka

The full moon will take place on Oct. 9 and will be a good time to seek balance. Griffin Wooldridge / Unsplash

efficiency programs, many of which require individual action.” However, as Ritter aptly highlights, “While Americans favor reducing energy consumption over new generations, that sentiment does not necessarily translate into action.”

In order to move towards a thought process that prioritizes using less energy rather than just switching to another type of energy, we must become aware of how we utilize and rely on energy in every aspect of our lives.

Part of this is the fault of education, for the lack of energy literacy in the United States leads people to not consider energy as a relevant and important issue, since they don’t consider how much energy they truly use every day.

In her interview with the Wall Street Journal, Katie Gordon, the vice president and director of the energy and climate program at Next Generation said, “It’s simply not intuitive to think about the origins of the energy we use to cook breakfast or drive our kids to school, and we don’t do a great job of educating students about the moral, practical or economic implications of energy consumption.”

Increasing energy literacy, while not a direct plan to decrease the energy we use on a daily basis, is a way in which small actions could accumulate to make largescale change. My German friends cannot believe that I leave the water on when I shampoo my hair in the shower, nor can

Opinion

they fathom how I can forget to turn the lights on when I leave a room. Not having these practices implicitly ingrained in my mind from when I was young means that my first instincts work against the health of the environment, which makes me complicit in climate change.

Access to energy as a political weapon

Another pressing matter that should motivate us to ease our reliance on energy is the influence that access to energy has in the political sense.

When asked about how energy can be weaponized, Singh said, “You can make the switch to renewables in a planned orderly manner, which requires some pain, but lets you maintain control. Or, you can delay, dawdle, postpone, etc., and then find yourself in an acute crisis (environmental or political—like Ukraine) where everyone is panicked and you’ve lost control over important things. That’s the dilemma. In my view, neither the U.S. nor Europe has taken sufficient steps to avoid the second scenario. And we’re seeing that now.”

On Sept. 26, both Nord Stream gas pipelines started to leak, according to an NPR report that details seismologic records that noted undersea explosions. This attack, for which Russia has denied culpability but has not been traced back to any other cause, exacerbates the issue of how energy control is weaponized to weaken other nations as a political tactic.

In late August, Russia “shut down Nord Stream 1 entirely, blaming problems with

equipment,” according to BBC. Though Gazprom, the Russian state-owned corporation, reported that the leak has stopped after the reported explosions, the European Union’s access to gas from Russia remains unstable and uncertain. Furthermore, while the European Union was suffering due to Nord Stream 1 supplying member states with around 35% of Russia-imported gas, the pipeline having been damaged sends a much stronger message than claiming equipment problems are at fault.

Much of Europe fears what would happen if Russia were to cut off their access to gas completely, which emphasizes the power that energy control has as a political tactic. This only reiterates Borrel’s statement that encourages less reliance on this type of energy, which not only carries political weight in relation to the war in Ukraine, but also gives an additional push to utilizing renewable energy. With these efforts, we can move to remedy the climate crisis.

Greek life: An integral part of the UMW community

ABBy KNOWLES & MARGARET JACKSON Opinion Editor & Staff Writer

When you think of Mary Washington, Greek life is typically not the first thing that comes to mind. In fact, many people choose UMW because there is no Greek system, but where does that lead those who want both a smaller school as well as the Greek life experience?

The University’s statement on Greek life asserts that “UMW is not affiliated with single-sex Greek social fraternities or soroities.” However, the affiliation the University has with Greek academic honorary societies and coeducational service fraternities, such as Alpha Mu Sigma, recognizes the Greek system and the involvement of the student body within it as an integral part of the campus community and student body. These sororities and fraternities are an important part of campus life for many students, providing an inclusive community for everyone involved.

The off-campus organizations at UMW include Zeta Omega Delta, Psi Upsilon, Alpha Mu Sigma and Kappa Sigma. These organizations provide students with an established community and welcoming environment.

In general, off-campus sororities and fraternities have less oversight from a school board or liaison to the college. The Greek system at UMW is run by a board of students with no oversight from the school, so the student members have to set their own structures themselves. For example, they have honor codes and an academic standard in place for their members. The academic standards are upheld through GPA require ments and mandatory study hours, and the members of these organizations recognize the importance of community in relation to performing well academically.

Junior communication and digital studies major Carson Carr, president of Psi Upsi lon said, “We hold ourselves and strive for academic integrity.” He added that they can lean on each for help when needed with classes and assignments. “You are here to be a student, you’re a student first.”

Senior philosophy major Nate Argust, the vice president of Psi Upsilon, echoed Carr’s sentiment. “We want you to do what you came here to do,” he said. In having leadership place such an emphasis on academics, the message really delivers to the members and pledges, and they understand that they have a responsibility not only to themselves but also to the community to perform well in their academics.

Members also noted the positive environment of these Greek organizations.

“The environment is great, Greek life is often seen as harsh and toxic environments but everyone is so welcoming, caring, sweet, etc.,” said junior elementary education major Lauren King, a member of Zeta Omega Delta.

Julia Mrotek, a senior psychology major in Zeta Omega Delta, said that joining her sorority provided her with a supportive and welcoming community when she transferred to Mary Washington. Having a community around helped her grow as an individual and gain skills she hadn’t previously possessed, such as how to communicate better with others and be a leader within an organization.

When asked about her experiences in the Greek system, Ashley Cook, a senior his toric preservation major and Zeta Omega Delta pledge, said, “I joined because I wanted to experience college in a new way. I met some of the girls before joining and they were so sweet and really nice. It gave me a new light to what a sorority was. It is probably one of the best things I have done at the University of Mary Washington.”

Before coming to Mary Washington and joining their respective organizations, both Mrotek and Cook had a loose interpretation of what a sorority or fraternity had to offer. However, after joining, they now see it as a supportive and inclusive environment around them on and off campus.

Members from both Psi Upsilon and Zeta Omega Delta also mentioned the opportu nities the Greek system has created for them, such as getting to meet people and being able to expand their social circle. For members, their sorority or fraternity has made college less lonely and provided them encouragement and support. This goes to show that, while the Greek system may not be affiliated or recognized by the university itself, it is a vital part of student life.

Everyone has a responsibility to combat climate change. Markus Spiske / Unsplash

“It gave me a new light to what a sorority was; it was probably one of the best things I have done at the University of Mary Washington.”

-Ashley Cook

Crime Column

SCOTTI MULLEN & CALLIE HARKINS

Editors

Cardio floor at Goolrick Hall receives routine equipment upgrades

KELSEy STEINBAUER Staff Writer

UMW’s campus gym has recently updated its cardio machines and various equipment with new models available for student use.

Vandalism

On Sept. 29 at 10 p.m., there was a case of vandalism at Monroe Hall. This case is pending.

“We operate on a three-year rental contract with our cardio equipment company, Matrix,” said Anna Del Zingaro, a graduate student in the fiveyear elementary education program and the facility manager for the Department of Campus Recreation. “Every three years we receive new, updated cardio equipment from the company. Having this partnership is great as it allows us to receive updated equipment every few years.”

According to Del Zingaro, though it was time to replace the equipment with new and updated machines due to a lease change, there was some visual wear and tear on the old equipment.

Simple Assault

On Oct. 4 at 10:50 a.m., there was a case of simple assault at the Jefferson Hall rear lot. This case is pending.

“The previous cardio equipment didn’t cause major issues or delays, although, during COVID-19 we had to use a special COVID-19 cleaner, which created some wear and tear on the equipment,” she said.

rent from the front desk was replaced as well, including basketballs, volleyballs, kickballs and barbell pads, Del Zingaro said.

Junior business administration major Alex Rokow noticed the new treadmills.

“I think the majority of equipment in there is actually very nice,” he said. “I didn’t notice a lot of wear and tear.”

Del Zingaro has been with the Campus Recreation staff team since 2019. She was present in the program when the previous equipment was installed in the gym in the summer of 2019, and she recently helped incorporate the new equipment into the gym.

“I think lots of students use the gym already, but I have definitely seen more students going upstairs to see what we have that’s new,” she said.

The newly installed cardio equipment has brought more gym patrons, Del Zingaro said.

“Since we received the new equipment, I have definitely seen an increase of patrons coming into the gym and using our cardio equipment,” said Del Zingaro.

However, Rokow wishes there was more equipment.

Larceny of Bicycle

On Oct. 1 at 7:15 p.m., There was a report of larceny of bicyle at Bushnell Hall. This case is pending.

Other equipment that gym-goers may

Olivia Pearce, a sophomore biology major, also works as a staff member for the Department of Campus Recreation.

“I think what is needed is more equipment, not new equipment,” said Rokow. “The cable machine is always in use and I believe some more dumbbells couldn’t hurt.”

In addition to the quality of the new machines, the new equipment also provides programs for users to follow. Patrons are able to easily access a cardiosprint intensive workout program to complete on numerous cardio equipment.

“One thing with our new equipment that wasn’t with our old equipment is 6 of our machines are set up for the Sprint-8 Program, which is a cardio sprint-intensity interval program,” Del Zingaro said. “The program is already set up on two treadmills, two ellipticals, and two recumbent bikes but can also be added to other cardio equipment as well. This program can be utilized by patrons themselves and will be also incorporated as Group Fitness Class after Fall Break.”

Josephine Good contributed to reporting for this article.

A few of the new machines in Goolrick Hall. Kelsey Steinbauer / The Weekly Ringer

“The previous cardio equipment didn’t cause major issues or delays, although, during COVID-19 we had to use a special COVID-19 cleaner, which created some wear and tear on the equipment.”

-Anna Del Zingaro

Treadmills and ellipticals are among some of the machines that recieved upgrades. Kelsey Steinbauer / The Weekly Ringer

Women’s soccer bests Bridgewater 1-0

PEARL LEE Staff Writer

On Sept. 28, the women’s soccer team added another win to their record against Bridgewater with a final score of 1-0. Forward Amanda Krest scored the game-winning goal with a pass from forward Kaitlyn Venzen late in the second half.

“It was a big game for us,” said Venzen, a freshman cybersecurity major. “It was a tough battle and I’m just happy that we got out with a win.”

A slow but physical start to Wednesday evening’s game saw balls flying into the stands, multiple players clashing to win the ball and a lot of nail-biting moments, but UMW came prepared.

Before the game, Head Coach Scott Gerseny noted that because Bridgewater was starting a newer goalkeeper, “a big emphasis is making sure we get shots off on goal. From a midfield standpoint, I think it’s a great matchup and we’ve been talking about it all week.”

Even the fans could feel the restlessness with sounds of shock and awe every time an opponent took a shot at UMW’s goal, but senior goalie Ally Holden saved it every time with players occasionally leaping in front of the net to prevent any goals. Holden shut out the Bridgewater Eagles with four critical saves.

Holden was named the Coast-to-Coast Defensive Player of the Week for her three shutouts in the past week with 27 saves so far this season.

“Kaitlyn’s been doing a great job as a freshman. She has scored a lot of goals for us and I’m just super excited that she’s always a part of the forward attack, and I just appreciate and love playing with her.”

Throughout the game, spectators saw three fouls: two on UMW and one on Bridgewater. With two fouls in the second half, the game grew more intense as time went on.

As UMW closed in on Bridgewater, players would start chanting, “Get dirty, Go Wash,” to hype them up, and even the fans would call out player names to shout out good plays.

Ultimately, UMW led in shots on goal 5-3.

Krest, a senior political science major, scored the game-winning goal, assisted by a pass from Venzen.

“Kaitlyn’s been doing a great job as a freshman,” said Krest. “She has scored a lot of goals for us and I’m just super excited that she’s always a part of the forward attack, and I just appreciate and love playing with her.”

Monday night’s game against Hood College was also a battle by UMW, but the Eagles pulled out another tough 1-0 win at home with 14 total shots on goal. Venzen was the one to find the back of the net against Hood.

“It was a really tough game, it was a battle between both teams to the end,” said Venzen.

Venzen was happy to see Krest secure the win for the team against Bridgewater.

“I’m really excited that she got to the ball and we scored,” said Venzen. “I’m really glad that we got the victory in the end and that we worked well as a team and we kept to our heads.”

University of Mary Washington Fall Sports Schedule

With a record of five wins, two losses and three ties so far, the team is working hard to put themselves in a good position for postseason play. The first round of the Coast-to-Coast tournament is just under a month away, beginning on Nov. 3.

Men’s Soccer (4-3-2)

Oct. 5 @ Catholic Oct. 8 vs. York (Pa.) Oct. 11 @ Gettysburg

Women’s Soccer (5-2-3)

Sept. 28 W vs. Bridgewater (Va.) (1-0)

Oct. 1 T @ Washington & Lee (0-0) Oct. 5 vs. Mt. Aloysius Oct. 8 vs. Salisbury

Men’s Rugby (1-2)

Oct. 1 L @ Mount St. Mary’s (0-11) Oct. 15 @ Virginia Tech

Women’s Rugby (1-1)

Sept. 24 L vs. Howard (3-56) Oct. 1 vs. William & Mary (postponed)

Oct. 15 @ Nova Community College

Field Hockey (4-5)

Oct. 1 L @ Franklin & Marshall (0-3) Oct. 5 vs. Catholic Oct. 9 vs. Centre Oct. 11 @ Kean

Women’s Volleyball (12-4)

Oct. 1 W @ Chris. Newport (3-2)

Oct. 2 L vs. UC Santa Cruz (1-3) W vs. Salisbury (3-2)

Oct. 5 vs. St. Mary’s (Md.)

Oct. 7 vs. Messiah @ Huntingtown, Pa.

Men’s Swimming

Oct. 15 vs. Washington and Lee

Women’s Swimming

Oct. 15 vs. Washington and Lee

“For soccer, wins and ties are results so we’re good with that,” said Gerseny. “We’ve gone I think 5 or 6 straight now and we’re really excited about that and to keep things moving forward.”

The Eagles will host the Salisbury Sea Gulls on Oct. 8 at the Battleground Athletic Complex, a tough conference match-up though the Eagles won both times the teams faced off last season.

Games are available to watch via livestream on the UMW Athletics webpage

Full schedule not listed above. Most recent games included. Bold indicates home game.

EMILy HEMPHILL Sports Editor

Amanda Krest races a Bridgewater player for the ball. UMW Athletics

Goalie Ally Holden punts the ball.

UMW Athletics

-Amanda Krest

Kaitlyn Venzen fights for the ball against Hood College. UMW Athletics

“It was a really tough game, it was a battle between both teams to the end.”

-Kaitlyn Venzen