The Weekly Ringer

Phil Smith ‘10 Talley Center Endowment reaches $25,000

JESS kIRBy Editor-in-Chief

The Phil Smith ‘10 Talley Center Endowment, created by friends of Smith, a class of 2010 alum who took his own life in October of 2020, is working to bolster mental health programs and resources for students at UMW. On Nov. 15, just over one year after its creation, the endowment met its five-year funding goal of $25,000.

“Our goal for the endowment was at least twofold: create a lasting memory for our college roommate and friend, Phil—and, help provide mental health resources for the UMW student base to call upon when in need,” said Smith’s friends, UMW alumni Jake Kelly, Jeremy Wood and Jonathan Wigginton, and wife, Ashley Guzzetta. They answered The Weekly Ringer’s interview questions together via email.

The endowment, created by

Kelly, Wood and Wigginton, will be used in various ways, all with the aim of supporting students’ mental health and honoring Smith.

conferences and Talley Center workshops, as well as any other programs or services dedicated to students’ mental health.

According to Reaser, $25,000 is the minimum amount needed to create an endowment. Once that funding is secured, “a portion of the income is paid out every year, based on the purpose specified by the donor,” she said.

Ringer

Eagles, Let’s Talk: UMW promotes mental health

GRACE SChUMAChER Copy Editor

This past month, UMW’s Student-Athlete Advisory Council developed the program Eagles, Let’s Talk, which aims to break down the prevalent stigma of discussing mental health within athletics and give UMW student-athletes a safe space to talk about it.

coaches and teammates.

Senior business administration and marketing major and StudentAthlete Advisory Council copresident Jackson Popeck said that there was an “exceptional turnout” at the two meetings they’ve had so far.

“The endowment will support education, programming and counseling services to promote suicide prevention and mental health awareness,” said Lee Ann Reaser, director of advancement services. The funds may also be applied toward hosting guest speakers,

After graduating from UMW in 2010 with a degree in business and accounting, Smith, a licensed certified public accountant, opened his own tax consulting firm in Raleigh, N.C., where he lived with his wife and two children.

“We would describe Phil as an intelligent, thoughtful, funny, and trustworthy friend,” his friends and wife said. “We’d like the UMW community to know that Phil would always be down for friendly competitions, live

Many student-athletes feel the pressure to be on top of their game, both in and outside of their respective arenas, this battle often taking a toll on students’ health and academic lives. When creating the program, Assistant Athletic Trainer Katie Carnaghi drew influence from her alma mater, James Madison University, who developed the program, “Dukes, Let’s Talk.”

“Eagles, Let’s Talk isn’t just a mental health group,” Carnaghi said. “It’s really a big initiative to support athletes in all aspects of their lives whether that be discussing nutrition, body image, depression, suicide prevention, stress relief, roommate drama, their home lives, all of those things are on the table.”

Each Eagles, Let’s Talk session is planned in advance and a new topic, based on student feedback, is addressed at each meeting.

“We just had a nutritionist come to our last meeting and speak, which was super nice,” said Senior business administration major and Student-Athlete Advisory Council co-president Krista Rodgers.

The UMW Student-Athlete Advisory Council Instagram as well as the Eagles, Let’s Talk Instagram both provide information about when upcoming events are. Additionally, athletic trainers and Student-Athlete Advisory Council representatives share information about the initiative with their

“I think the biggest obstacle we were worried about was, ‘what if no one comes?’ he said. “We are fortunate to have had the turnouts we did and the discussions were great!”

Next semester, the StudentAthlete Advisory Council hopes to have a more consistent meeting schedule.

the spring semester

are going to be having meetings more regularly and are looking to have at least one or two events each month so that we can open it up to more people and have more discussions,” said Carnaghi. “The first event we held, around 35 students attended.”

While Eagles, Let’s Talk is advertised to all athletic teams on campus, it is not mandatory for students to show up, or to talk if they do.

Men’s soccer advances to final four of NCAA tournament.

students hands-on experience.

Nathalie Luciano discusses her Latina Ameri cana identity

Life

“In

we

“It’s really a big initiative to support athletes in all aspects of their lives whether that be discussing nutrition, body image, depression, suicide prevention, stress relief, roommate drama, their home lives, all of those things are on the table.”

-Katie Carnaghi

From left: Jeremy Wood, Jonathan Wigginton, Phil Smith and Jake Kelly at Wigginton’s wedding. giving.umw.edu

“The endowment will support education, programming and counseling services to promote suicide prevention and mental health awareness.”

-Lee Ann Reaser

The

Weekly Ringer

Editorial Staff

Editor-in-Chief

Jess kirby

weeklyringer.eic@gmail.com

Business Editor

Erin Matuczinski

weeklyringer.business@gmail.com

Associate Editors

Josephine Johnson

Norah Walsh

weeklyringer.associate@gmail.com

Copy Editor

New data science major

TERESA GUzMAN Staff Writer

A new data science major was recently approved and will take effect in the fall of 2024. The new major will accompany the existing data science minor.

business, but one of my professors, Dr. Stephen Davies, talked to me about data science,” she said. “I intended to have that be my minor, but I really enjoyed Data 101 and Dr. Davies told me I could make my own major—Data Science.”

Currently, there is no need to hire new professors, but there may be in the future.

“Our current data science faculty possess all the expertise necessary for the new major,” Garcia said. “However, as the

Cagle created her own major before the official major was approved.

weeklyringer.copy@gmail.com

News Editor

Grace Schumacher Callie harkins

weeklyringer.news@gmail.com

Opinion Editor

Abby knowles

weeklyringer.opinion@gmail.com

Life Editor

Josephine Good

weeklyringer.life@gmail.com

Sports Editor

Emily hemphill

weeklyringer.sports@gmail.com

Online Editors

Ally Tingen

Emma Brennan

weeklyringer.online@gmail.com

Photography Editor

Sarah Sklar

weeklyringer.photos@gmail.com

Faculty Advisor

Sushma Subramanian

ssubrama@umw.edu

Advertisement

Please direct all advertising inquiries to Erin Matuczinski at weeklyringer.business@gmail.com.

“The new major will provide students with a deep fluency in the mathematical, statistical, and computer science underpinnings of data science,” said Associate Professor of quantitative methods Christopher Garcia. “In addition to these foundations, data science majors will also develop strong skills in all the major modern techniques and in applying data science to drive effective decision making. The major will bring more methodological depth as well as more breadth in techniques and applications than the minor.”

Senior Veronica Cagle created a data science major.

“I came to UMW thinking I would do

“During my sophomore year I went through the process of creating my own major and officially made the switch,” she said. “I’m really excited that the major is being approved! I hope to see a lot of data majors in the future graduate from UMW! It’s an exciting field to be involved in.”

Students who do not want to pursue the major will still be able to pursue the minor.

“The minor provides students of all disciplines with data science tools that can greatly increase their ability to use data to solve problems and find insights within their disciplines,” said Garcia.

program grows, we will need to bring on additional faculty members.”

Senior computer science major Patrick Murphy has heard about the possibility of

Endowment reaches five-year funding goal in just over one year

FROM SMITH PAGE 1

sporting events, and general shenanigans.”

Friends with Smith since their first week of classes, Kelly, Wood and Wigginton knew they wanted to do something to honor Smith and give him a lasting legacy at UMW. When they initially connected with the Office of University Advancement, they intended to name a bench in Smith’s memory.

“But we also knew/felt there was a more meaningful and impactful way to honor him,” they said.

Reaser had just the idea.

Corrections

Please report any corrections to Jess kirby at weeklyringer.eic@gmail.com or Sushma Subramanian at ssubrama@umw.edu

Bell tower logo designed by Bernadette D’Auria ‘22

“I suggested the idea of supporting the Talley Center, and set up a Zoom call with Talley Center Director Tevya Zukor so they could learn more about the Talley Center and how an endowment could enhance and expand programs and resources to educate students on mental health and suicide prevention,” said Reaser.

After discussing with each other and with UMW, Kelly, Wood and Wigginton decided to create the endowment.

“We knew that was the direction we needed to go,” they said. “With a lot of guidance from Lee Ann and Tev, we pivoted in a way that could have a lasting effect in helping provide UMW students with mental health resources more directly.”

The Office of University Advancement then worked with them to meet the $25,000 minimum, which included promoting the endowment on April 13, 2021, last year’s Giving Tuesday.

“Betty Dobbins Talley ‘68, who gave the gift to name the Talley Center in 2014, sponsored a dollar-for-dollar match on all gifts received for Phil’s endowment on that day, up to $5,000,” said

Reaser.

Then, in mid-November of this year, the endowment hit its $25,000 fundraising goal years early.

“Having that translate into immediate implementation of those funds is more than we could have imagined and [we] are forever grateful to all those who contributed,” Kelly, Wood, Wigginton and Guzzetta said.

During orientation this August, Wigginton and Kelly spoke to incoming students to share Smith’s story, emphasize the importance of mental health and highlight how the Talley Center can be a valuable resource.

“It was really kind of a powerful way to highlight the importance of mental health for our incoming students,” said Tevya Zukor, director of the Talley Center. “It was also the first time the university had been able to give us so much time to speak to all the incoming freshmen.”

They plan to speak at next year’s orientation, too.

“The COVID pandemic has reminded us of the importance of relationships in life,” Kelly, Wood, Wigginton and Guzzetta said. “For whatever reason, Phil wasn’t comfortable sharing his mental health struggles with his closest college friends. Check in on your friends, family, and loved ones—you never know the extent to which folks might be struggling.”

Lauren Albert contributed to reporting for this article.

created, will be available to students in fall of 2024

“The new major will provide students with a deep fluency in the mathematical, statistical and computer science underpinnings of data science.”

-Christopher Garcia

From left: Jake Kelly, Jonathan Wigginton, Jeremy Wood and Phil Smith in their apartment at UMW. giving.umw.edu

“It was really kind of a powerful way to highlight the importance of mental health for our incoming students. It was also the first time the university had been able to give us so much time to speak to all the incoming freshmen.”

- Tevya Zukor

Phage Hunters: Biology class gives students hands-on lab and research experience with real-world applications

REBECCA ChERIAN Staff Writer

As a freshman honors student at UMW, I was given the opportunity to take an honors-designated science course titled BIOL 125: Phage Hunters. Taught by Assistant Professor of biology Swati Agrawal, the course is research- and lab-based, allowing students to isolate and characterize phages, which are bacteria-specific viruses. In addition to fulfilling more than one general education requirement and also serving as an honors-designated course, the class allows you to develop necessary skills that can be used in any major—especially when it comes to research—while having fun. Any student interested in gaining hands-on lab experiences to accompany their learning should definitely look into this course.

“This class is my favorite class to teach because it is incredibly rewarding to see students get excited about research and see them being confident and successful at the end of the semester,” said Agrawal.

This semester has been a thrilling journey, especially during the lab portion of this class. From starting with just a mere sample of dirt, we now have isolated, purified and amplified our phages, and we are currently in the process of characterizing them as we near the end of the semester. At the end of the course, one selected phage will be sent to Pittsburgh to have its DNA sequenced, and one student will present the information discovered at an international meeting.

Not only is the class interesting, but what we’re learning also serves a practical purpose.

“The ever-increasing rates of antibiotic resistance combined with slow discovery of new antibiotics means we have to find new and creative ways to tackle these infec tions,” said Agrawal. “The bacteriophages students discover in this class can have therapeutic potential and offer a solution to the above problem.”

During the class, I’ve learned that there are other additional applications of phage in biotechnology, such as in bacterial detection and display systems, vaccine development, natural antimicrobials to prevent food spoilage and more. Being able to work on this kind of research as a freshman has been an incredible experience.

For me, one of the best parts of the class is that it enables students who are interest ed in pursuing further research on this topic a chance to do so in their upperclassmen years. This was true for senior biomedical sciences major Abby Delapenha.

“Phage Hunters gives students foundational laboratory skills necessary for conduct ing research,” she said. “I took phage hunters my freshman year and I use many of the skills I learned in class in my own research.”

Phage Hunters is one big continuous lab with different procedures that all have the same end goal. Part of the biology program at UMW since 2008, the course fulfills the beyond the classroom general education requirement for undergraduate students.

While the class is technically reserved for honors students only, faculty can make exceptions for students who show a genuine interest in the course, which was the case for freshman biology major Lillie Burbulis.

“When I initially saw this class, I wanted to take it but it was an Honors class,” said Burbulis. “Thankfully, because the faculty are so willing to work with you, I was still

able to take the class. Phage Hunters has been an amazing experience for me because of the opportunity to conduct independent research and form a close connection with my professor in the process.”

The class attracts a lot of interest from students, especially those in the Honors Program due to its honors designation, but the popularity and fascination surrounding the class are well-deserved.

“Phage Hunters is exactly what I imagined college bio to be like,” said freshman biology major Eleni Kepler. “The lab portion gives students the opportunity to use advanced equipment and techniques used by professional lab researchers in microbiology and provides hands-on and engaging look into cellular biology.”

When it comes to workload, there is a significant amount of content to learn, which may be overwhelming at first, but it’s doable when the topics are broken down into parts. The lab portion of the class also ties into what we’re learning, which helps us de velop a stronger understanding of content. Other than that, the only actual assignments are some mastering assignments, which consist of a series of content-specific multiple choice questions and a couple worksheets here and there.

Though Kepler says the workload is heavy, the class has helped her gain a deeper un derstanding of concepts that can be hard to grasp without such hands-on experience.

“I feel like I’ve finally started to understand how certain bacterial and viral processes genuinely function,” said Kepler. “It is a bit of a heavy course load sometimes, but I truly think the experience is worth the extra work.”

The way that Professor Agrawal instructs the class invigorates students to look forward to research in the future, especially due to the confidence she instills in the students.

“I have grown so much throughout this class and I feel prepared for future research opportunities because of the content, confidence, and connections this class has given me,” said Burbulis.

I’ve seen and experienced this growth as well. At the start of the semester, we were pretty lost and didn’t have much confidence in our ability to perform lab tasks neces sary for the class. I even once poured top agar into the wrong side of a petri dish. Since then, however, we’ve consistently worked through lab procedures and improved our skills. Typical labs often involve key practices like micropipetting and aseptic technique, which I, along with the rest of the class, am now proficient in. Now, I feel much more prepared for future courses with lab, and I am much more excited to conduct my own research.

Phage Hunters has been an awe-inspiring course to learn more about various lab procedures and perform very hands-on lab work that feels so relevant in the real world. There are many practical applications of isolating

in the medical field, and it’s an excellent course that inspires both intellectual interest and confidence in students’ abilities.

phages, particularly

Phage Hunters is one big continuous lab that works toward the same end goal. Hans Reniers / Unsplash

The Jepson Science Center is where all science level courses are held. Sarah Sklar / The Weekly Ringer

“Phage Hunters gives students foundational laboratory skills necessary for conducting research.”

-Abby Delapenha

Personal essay: “I know I am Latina Americana; that

NAThALIE LUCIANO Staff Writer

As a Puerto Rican and Dominican woman who was born and raised in the United States, the issue I’ve faced for a while now is not about proving myself to be Caribbean enough or Latina enough. Rather, it is the disconnectedness I feel from a language and culture that I, at one point, felt so close to.

How do I recreate something that I feel like I never truly had? I have never been to either island my blood is from, yet I claim this cultural identity based on the warmth I feel when I hear a Dominican mother chastising her child or lovingly calling after her son when he wanders off. These occurrences remind me of my Maguela chastising my own mother before placing a warm meal in front of her; a sign of her love.

I know I am Latina Americana; that is without a doubt. However, it is something I want to show on my tongue and in my kitchen to bring back a part of my childhood I feel like I have lost as I have gotten older. I almost want to blame that “Americana” part for how I feel.

My mother immigrated from the Dominican Republic to the United States with her family when she was a young girl. Her mother moved her and her sisters from Puerto Rico to New York City before finally moving to New Britain, Conn., where she would later meet and marry my dad.

My mama didn’t learn how to cook growing up; her elder sisters got that privilege. It wasn’t until her adulthood that she started reaching out to my grandmother—who we call Maguela, a combination of mama and abuela—and her older sister to learn how to cook foods like carne guisada, arroz con salchicha and ponche con café the way they had it growing up. With time, my mom had collected a variety of Puerto Rican and Dominican dishes from her own family as well as from her mother-in-law that we all greatly enjoyed with copious amounts of avocados and plantains.

Growing up, I did my best to learn from and with her. At one point I was building my own mental library of recipes from my family and was doing a decent job of replicating them. Unfortunately, I started to forget these pieces of home once I moved out. I quickly realized that the sofrito you buy in stores is definitely not the same as the one my mother

made, and that Sazón was strangely difficult to find in some of the stores I was shopping at. Thus, I was only able to replicate a few of the dishes I adored as a child. Even then, they hardly came out the same.

Practice makes perfect, but life became busy once I enrolled in college, and the time I had to practice these recipes dwindled more and more. During school breaks and empty weekends, I take time to learn recipes with my mom, such as the pastelón we recently made. Other moments, I make time to learn all over again how to make empanadas the way my mom does.

It felt like, at times, I was losing the “Latina” to the “Americana” when I didn’t cook my favorite foods and started to forget how to make them. So taking this time to recollect those memories filled with foods and times shared over the dinner table as a family has become a process that is precious to me.

My efforts to repair this disconnected feeling also extend to learning the language my parents speak.

When my sister and I were born, my parents didn’t prioritize teaching Spanish to us. Undoubtedly, this was due to my mom needing to care for two young daughters while her husband was off on deployments and other assignments during his military service. I believe that it was also because teaching us Spanish just wasn’t as important to her as it would become for me as I grew up.

Ironically, my mom and dad spoke Spanish in front of me for the majority of my childhood to talk, argue or discuss things they didn’t want us to know about. Little did they know, though, I was able to pick up bits and pieces of what they were saying over time, which was when I began to develop fluency in listening and understanding the language.

I felt like I knew everything at that point—everything from the family chisme my mom told me I was too young to hear about to where they were hiding the candy in our pantry. However, this all ended one summer when my Titi (Aunt) Melania was visiting us and caught on to my scheme. I was about 9 years old, and over steaming cups of Café Bustelo, I was the topic of chisme as she told my mom that I understood everything. As a result, the Spanish speaking in my house slowed, and I only learned little phrases and

is without a doubt”

Luciano (left) and her sister (right) in their apartment in Okinawa, Japan. Nathalie Luciano / The Weekly Ringer

Nathalie Luciano reflects on her multifaceted identity. Nathalie Luciano / The Weekly Ringer

I know I am Latina Americana; that is without a doubt. However, it is something I want to show on my tongue and in my kitchen to bring back a part of my childhood I feel like I have lost as I’ve gotten older.

It felt like, at times, I was losing the “Latina” to the “Americana” when I didn’t cook my favorite foods and started to forget how to make them.

Meet the editors: Spotify Wrapped edition

Jess Kirby, Editor-in-Chief

I feel like my Spotify Wrapped reflects my music at the beginning of 2022, not the entire year. However, I was in the top 0.5% of Greta Van Fleet listeners, so I can’t really argue with that. My No. 3 song, “When You’re Around,” is still one of my favorites, as I played that a lot when I first started dating my boyfriend in April. And finally, even though I don’t feel like I listen to much Coldplay, “Green Eyes” and “Don’t Panic” will never get old.

Josephine Johnson, Associate Editor

“Unfortunately this represents me pretty well, although it’s more a combination of the last few months rather than the whole year. I’m a huge fan of Ashnikko and Mother Mother, and I’ve been listening to Ride the Cyclone on repeat.”

Josephine Good, Life Editor

“I don’t think this accurately represents my music taste at all! I listen to a lot of indie-acoustic music and punk now but I guess since I’ve only had Spotify for a few months they haven’t gotten to know me well enough. Next year, David Kushner. Next year.”

Abby Knowles, Opinion Editor

“This definitely represents my music taste, I am an avid Taylor Swift fan and she’s been my top artist for years. I listened to “Getaway Car” an unhealthy amount of times so that is for sure accurate!”

Editor

“I’m not too surprised by the smorgasbord of songs Spotify compiled for me. I’m not big on making playlists, so I usually just whack the shuffle button when I listen to music!”

Callie Harkins, News Editor

“I think my Spotify Wrapped accurately represents my music taste. The one thing though is that my most listened to song of the year had the most listens on January 5th so I totally forgot I was even obsessed with it.”

Grace Schumacher, Copy

FROM ESSAY PAGE 4

words that my mom would say here and there whenever she was impatient, angry or amused with us girls.

Spanish has only now become a language I feel comfortable and familiar with as an adult. After nearly four years of Spanish classes split between semesters at NOVA Community College and UMW, I have finally been able to start figuring out how to use the past tense and not flush red when speaking to strangers. It wasn’t until my classes at UMW with Profesores Larochelle and Delgado-Poust that I started to feel more comfortable and confident speaking my constantly-in-development Spanish to people outside of my family and in the workplace.

However, there is a difference between Castilian Spanish and the dialect my mother speaks. I wish I could have learned the latter since my Spanish always gives me away as someone who was born in the States.

Nevertheless, I was recently informed that I make the best ponche in my immediate family. I carry that title with great pride, as I have always felt that my Maguela made it the best.

There is a feeling of home over a steaming bowl of sancocho or the loud laughing that comes from a crowded kitchen. It is that feeling that I will recreate and return to in due time. With enough practice, I’ll get there.

Luciano’s mom and dad celebrating their recent wedding anniversary. Nathalie Luciano / The Weekly Ringer

Crime Column

CALLIE hARkINS News Editor

Student-Athlete Advisory Council creates new mental health resources

FROM SAAC PAGE 1

“It is supposed to serve as a safe space for people to come in and have that ability to talk about these topics,” said Carnaghi. “They’re all going through something and are comfortable enough to show up to say, ‘Hey, I’m here to support. I might not be struggling with this, but I’m here to support people who are.’”

an inclusive environment where people feel comfortable talking about tough topics!”

Many student-athletes rely on friends, family and their coaches for support. Eagles, Let’s Talk acts as an extension of their social support system.

Drug Violation

On Nov. 23 at 12:02 p.m., there was an incident of drug violation at Willard hall. This case is pending.

If someone feels uncomfortable speaking in a public setting, they can reach out to their coach, Carnaghi or a StudentAthlete Advisory Council representative and get connected with someone to talk to privately.

“I know these topics can be uncomfortable and difficult to talk about,” said Rodgers. “But during these meetings, Katie, and everyone who attends, has been so supportive and kind and makes it such

“My sophomore year, I was getting frustrated with my playing time in lacrosse and it was really eating at me,” said Popeck. “This was before Eagles Let’s Talk, but I connected with an alumnus who was a life coach and was able to chat with her about the issues I was having. Having someone to talk to made all the difference!”

Carnaghi joined UMW Athletics in July and began creating the program in August.

“I just graduated from JMU with my master’s,” said Carnaghi. “So when I got hired, I wanted to create a mental health unit. A safe space for athletes. And I modeled it after JMU’s program. I feel like

UMW athletes have really joined in and really want to participate.”

Many student-athletes feel pressure to put their team above all else.

“A lot of athletes in general put the team on their back,” said Carnaghi. “But when you are so team-oriented, many feel like ‘Well, I’m injured and I’m not doing what I came here to do,’ or ‘I’m not helping the team how I’ve been able to help the team and now, maybe, I don’t feel like I’m a part of the team.’ ... And that can be reflected in grades and how they treat their bodies.”

Carnaghi hopes to redefine what talking about mental health looks like by providing the appropriate information and education to build student-athletes’ skills and knowledge about mental healthrelated topics.

“Mental health can be seen as a sign of weakness, when in reality, it is not at all a sign of weakness. It is something that a lot of people struggle with,” she said.

In April, Eagles, Let’s Talk plans on hosting a session for graduating seniors about transitioning from college athletics into the real world.

Underaged Possession of Marijuana

On Nov. 16 at 12:06 a.m., there was a case of underaged possession of marijuana at Marshall hall. This case is pending.

Disturbance

On Nov. 29 at 7:51 a.m., there was an incident of property damage at Woodard hall. This case is pending.

Popeck is eager to see a change in the way mental health is approached at UMW.

“Student-athlete mental health is a very overlooked topic nationwide,” said Popeck. “Katie spearheaded this initiative in order to get our athletes talking about their mental health and it gives athletes an opportunity to come together and share their experiences and how they have overcome their struggles.”

Data science major to accompany minor

FROM DATA PAGE 2

the new major since he was a freshman in Data 101.

“I remember Professor Davies mentioning it a lot,” he said. “I’m sure it takes a lot of time and effort to make a new major so it’s been neat hearing about how it’s finally happening.” Stephen Davies has been an associate professor of computer science since 2006 and has been at the forefront of the new major.

The UMW catalog describes the minor of data science as covering “the evidence-based approaches, analytical models, and stat-centered processes critical in nearly every field.”

According to Garcia, there is a two-step process for majors to be approved. The program must first be approved by

the University Curriculum Committee, then it must be approved by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.

Garcia said that this process is in motion, but the major will likely not be available to UMW students until the fall of 2024.

Murphy believes that this new major will be helpful to students.

“The field features gathering and analyzing data with a mix of programming, statistics, and modeling,” he said. “While it has the most similarities with the math and computer science majors, it’s a very versatile field, and the skills can be applied to any major.”

Murphy said he would have considered the major if it were available to him.

“I’m excited for people that

want it to be a major,” he said.

“If I was an incoming freshman right now, I would definitely be considering it. I think it’ll be a common double major alongside computer science, but it can also be applied to nearly any field so I hope people decide to major in it.”

Students are not the only ones excited about the new addition.

“I am super excited! Data science is changing the world, and this program will open up a world of opportunities for our students,” said Garcia. “Graduates of our data science minor program are already doing some amazing things today. I can’t wait to see where these new major graduates will eventually go to work after they finish, and how they will impact the world.”

The new initiative will work to support student-athletes in all aspects of daily life.

Sarah Sklar / The Weekly Ringer

Aaron Lefler / Unsplash

Men’s soccer scores a spot in the final four

LAUREN ALBERT Staff Writer

On Thursday, Dec. 1, the UMW men’s soccer team will be playing in the NCAA Division III semifinals against Williams College in Salem, Va. This will be the team’s first appearance in the NCAA semifinals since 1997, when they finished No. 3 in the nation.

“Overall, I would say we are feeling confident,” said goalkeeper Griffin Hemmendinger, a senior business administration major. “We match up nicely with any team in the country and can beat anybody on any given day.”

The team solidified their spot in the semifinals after a victory over Bowdoin College in Amherst, Mass., last Sunday, with a final score of 3-2. Senior defender Jacob Kautzman put the Eagles on the scoreboard first with a goal in the 26th minute off of a corner kick from senior Abel Lewis, though Bowdoin countered ten minutes later, ending the first half tied 1-1.

“As a freshman, there is really no better way to spend my first season with the team and I am so happy for the upperclassmen who get to experience this success in their careers.”

-James Rollinson

Sophomore forward Carter Berg came out strong in the second half, scoring two rapid-fire goals only 10 seconds apart in the first five minutes. He scored his first point off of a penalty kick, then, moments later, was crashing the net. As Bowdoin’s goalie deflected senior Josh Kirkland’s long shot,

the ball came right to Berg, who finished the job.

Bowdoin added another point to their score with a penalty at 55:30, but they did not score again thanks to Hemmendinger’s nine saves.

The team feels ready for Thursday’s game, and many players noted that they are not doing anything different to prepare for this match.

“Overall, the preparation does not change,” said Hemmendinger. “We look at this like it is any other game and we know we must get the job done.”

Despite not doing anything differently to prepare, Aiden Shell, a junior biology major on the team, called this game a “once in a lifetime opportunity.”

“I know the team is ready to go and seize the moment,” said Shell. “We all knew we had the talent and determination to make it to the final four this season after working for it since last spring. It’s nice to see the hard work pay off, but we are not done yet.”

Some team members are experiencing this accomplishment during the first year of their collegiate career, while others have been working towards this chance for years.

“I would have loved to have a season like this in the past, but a run into the NCAA tournament like this does not come often, so I am very grateful,” said Hemmendinger.

Freshman James Rollinson, a business administration major, said this has been a special first season.

“As a freshman, there is really no better way to spend my first season with the team and I am so happy for the upperclassmen who get to experience this success in their careers,” said Rollinson. “Making the Final Four was one of our team goals that we made at the beginning of the season, and it feels great to see all of our hard work pay off.”

Some alumni have reached out to the team, offering support and sharing that they will be attending the game.

“UMW hasn’t made it this far in the NCAA tournament in 25 years and the support from the alumni and other students has been at an all-time high,” said Rollinson.

The last time UMW men’s soccer made it this far in the NCAA Division III tournament was in 1997 when the team’s record was 21-31. The Eagles’ current record for this season is 13-4-4. The ‘97 team reached unprecedented levels of success in UMW history, winning the Capital Athletic Conference Championship for the seventh time in a row and setting a school record with a 14-game winning streak.

But even though the team has secured its spot in the final four, the team has faced criticism leading up to the semifinals.

“Going into this week’s games we have a chip on our shoulder,” said Rollison. “People are writing us off, saying that we are having a ‘Cinderella Run’ and are lucky to have made it this far as an underdog. We don’t listen to the critics and know that we belong here. Our performances so far show that we can beat some of the best programs in the country and we are ready to do it again in the Final Four.”

The Eagles will kick off at 4 p.m. on Thursday in a battle to reach the championship match. The game will be livestreamed on the NCAA website.

University of Mary Washington Fall Sports Schedule

EMILy hEMPhILL Sports Editor

Men’s Soccer (13-4-4)

Nov. 12 W vs. Marymount (1-0)

Nov. 13 W vs. Ohio Wesleyan (1-0) Nov. 19 W @ Amherst (3-2) Dec. 1 @ Williams College

Men’s Rugby (2-6)

Nov. 5 L @ Penn State (17-29) Nov. 12 L vs. Kutztown University (12-55) Dec. 3 @ TBA

Men’s Basketball (5-1)

Nov. 16 W vs. Randolph-Macon (58-52)

Nov. 22 W vs. Hampden-Sydney (79-66)

Nov. 27 L @ Johns hopkins (92-58) Nov. 30 W vs. Methodist (64-47)

Women’s Basketball (7-0)

Nov. 22 W vs. Washington and Lee (70-58)

Nov. 29 W vs. Meredith (68-45) Dec. 1 vs. Southern Virginia

Women’s Volleyball (26-8)

Nov. 10 W vs. Cedar Crest (3-0) Nov. 11 W vs. Eastern (3-0) Nov. 12 L vs. Johns Hopkins (0-3)

Men’s Swimming (5-2)

Nov. 11 W vs. St. Mary’s (177-81) Nov. 12 @ Frostburg St. (148-114) Nov. 18-20 @ Franklin & Marshall Invitational

Women’s Swimming (6-1)

Nov. 11 W vs. St. Mary’s (202-60) Nov. 12 W @ Frostburg St. (167-94) Nov. 18-20 @ Franklin & Marshall Invitational

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.

UMW’s Carter Berg is locked in against Bowdoin in the elite eight match.

UMW Athletics

UMW players celebrate their win over Amherst in the NCAA third round. UMW Athletics