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NAACP hosts Black Mary Washington: Past, Present and Future discussion panel of Black students and alumni

During his first year at UMW, class of 1996 alum Sye Smith had his first class taught by a Black professor: James Farmer.

“One of the last questions that he asked at the end of the semester was ... ‘Who in this classroom would say they would never practice racism?’” Sye said. “When I looked around the room at hands that didn’t look like mine, you saw every hand fly up in the room. And Dr. Farmer looked and told most of them, ‘Congratulations, you’ve just told your first lie.’”

Smith’s story was part of Black Mary Washington: Past, Present and Future, a panel discussion led by UMW’s NAACP on Feb. 6. The event consisted of Black UMW alumni and current students, ranging from the class of 1984 to the class of 2025, answering and asking questions about their experiences at UMW.

Maya Jenkins, a senior political science major and president of UMW NAACP, presented questions to the panel.

After touring the university, Jenkins came to UMW with idealized expectations of what college would be like.

“Then when I came here there was this shift in my mind, where an extremely traumatic racial incident happened before I even started my classes,” she said. “And then another thing happened during my classes and this kind of reality that I had, about how good Mary Washington is, kind of shifted. That doesn’t mean that I didn’t find joy—that I didn’t find beauty.” She credited the Black community at UMW that came before her for creating this beauty.

Multiple speakers recalled times in which they had experienced a hate crime.

support system for men of color.

Myca Lester, a sophomore sociology major and chair of the Radical Students’ Union, recalled a similar experience.

“I have had multiple challenges being here. In the middle of my freshman year I was the victim of a hate crime on campus,” she said. “There wasn’t necessarily a lot of support from administration regarding that, but then Dr. Shorter came along, love her. And she sort of helped be, not just administration support, but support as a Black woman.” Shavonne Shorter is the associate provost for equity and inclusion and the chief diversity officer.

the honor code by cheating.

“There were three Black students in this sociology class ... and somehow all three of us got accused of cheating,” he said.

The basis for the allegation was that their grades had improved “too much” between the midterm and final exams. Though Ford spoke about the situation with administrators and the accusations were ultimately dropped, the fact that the accused students were Black—the only Black students in the class—troubled him.

“I was seeing all these stories about people talking about Black people who exist at Mary Washington. I know when we come here, we be thinking like, ‘Am I the only person who’s experiencing these things? Like do these problems just happen to me?’ and it can be isolating,” she said. “These stories need to be told, not just for us, but so that future generations at Mary Washington know that there’s a playbook.”

“My four years at Mary Washington, I can give you the rosy picture and I can give you the dark picture,” said Smith. “Myself, I was the victim of a hate crime.” If he had retaliated, he said, he probably would have ended up in prison instead of finishing college.

Smith found support and solidarity through his membership with Brothers of a New Direction, a student organization at UMW that he played a role in establishing. The organization works to provide a

Kianna Davis, a class of 2013 alum with a degree in business, came to UMW with a full scholarship, which she tried to hide to avoid racist remarks from her peers.

“A lot of people would come up to me like, ‘Oh you only got that scholarship because you’re Black,’” she said. “That was really rough for me because it was like people diminishing my accomplishments to my skin color.”

Jason Ford graduated in 2020 with a degree in political science. During the summer after his sophomore year, he received an email saying he had violated

“It was a weak argument, but what kind of shook me was the potential outcome of suspension or expulsion from the university,” he said. “It was definitely one of those times where I was like, ‘Why is this the accusations you’re making?’ And all three of the Black students got accused, it didn’t make any sense, at least the three Black males.”

Lester spoke on what helped her feel more comfortable at a predominantly white institution.

“I was a peer mentor and that really helped me, especially because three or four of my mentees, they were Black,” she said. “I started helping them navigate being a Black person at a PWI.”

Greta Franklin Okomo, a class of 2000 alum with a degree in art history, said she was greatly impacted by the Women of Color organization at UMW.

JOSEPHINE JOHNSON

Associate Editor

Maya Jenkins speaking at Black Mary Washington: Past, Present and Future, a panel discussion led by UMW’s NAACP. Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer

“These stories need to be told, not just for us, but so that future generations at Mary Washington know that there’s a playbook.”

-Maya Jenkins

“This is the time to have a voice, to let university administrators, let faculty members, know what your experiences are because you are a student and you are there to thrive, not survive.”

-Greta Franklin Okomo

Thursday, February 9, 2023

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Digital Media Studio class to take “Are We Live?” to Paris, France on four-week trip

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Bell tower logo designed by Bernadette D’Auria ‘22

DANIELLE ROSS Staff Writer

The Digital Media Studio class, taught by Cartland Berge, director of UMW’s Digital Knowledge Center, will send enrolled students on a four-week trip to Paris, France, this summer. While there, students will plan, write, produce and stream live video programming each week, focusing on stories about their experiences.

The course includes one week of online classes to learn the basics of digital media production. Students will learn a variety of technology skills, including those relating to live media productions and web streaming. They will then apply them throughout their four weeks abroad, from July 1 to 31.

While in Paris, students will stay in shared dormitories at Cité Universitaire. They will explore the city, which is a ten-minute metro ride from their accommodations, and act as writers, cinematographers and performers. They will record videos for the course’s weekly show “Are We Live?” The show can be found at umwlive.com, along with previous seasons.

Students will also experience French culture by being exposed first-hand to the language, food, music, art and fashion. These experiences are set to enhance the course in a way that would be impossible if the class was entirely taught at UMW.

“I am really excited about being there for Bastille day again and getting the chance to explore the city on my own,” said Brianna Kenealy, a sophomore undecided major.

“Oh and of course the food!”

Berge also said that he has a long list of cities he would like to take his class to in the future, including Tokyo, Rome and Barcelona. He decided to start with Paris, however, since he is already familiar with the city.

“I love Paris!” said Berge. “I’ve visited the city several times facilitating other study abroad classes and there are still things I haven’t gotten a chance to see.”

The class is offered every spring and is open to all UMW students, regardless of major or minor. Each week, the students prepare skits ahead of time while others work behind the scenes to make sure

“I did not expect the class to be so much fun,” said Reese Kubricki, a junior communication and digital studies major who is taking the class this semester. “I came in just thinking it was editing and filming YouTube videos. As we went to the media studio and got to practice, I learned that I love being on camera. Plus, Cartland is the coolest teacher ever.”

Jamie Keller, a senior communication and digital studies major, chose this class in the hopes of learning skills to apply to their own YouTube channel.

“Being in digital media is a little different from what I was expecting initially,” said Keller. “After the first few classes, I realized it would be more like Saturday Night Live in terms of structure.”

Before coming to UMW, Berge worked for 10 years doing live production in New York City, Baltimore and Washington D.C. He has taught the class for the past five years here at UMW, but this is the first year he is doing it as a summer study abroad class.

“Teaching this class each spring is one of the greatest joys of my job!” said Berge. “Bringing together a live production is such a unique, intensely collaborative experience, and I love that I can share that experience with students who otherwise might never get the opportunity.”

Season five of “Are We Live?” starts Tuesday, Feb. 14 at 8 p.m. Students can also join in person for the filming of the season finale in the Hurley Convergence Center Digital Auditorium on April 18.

Hazel Hill Homework Club brings UMW student tutors to local community

ASHLEY MARTIN Staff Writer

The Hazel Hill Homework Club, a partnership formed in 2012 between the UMW College of Education and the National Housing Trust, is currently seeking UMW student volunteers to help tutor children in the community.

Since the program started in 2012, over 500 UMW students have volunteered, according to Alexis Rutt, the UMW director of the Hazel Hill Homework Club and assistant professor of science education. The students volunteer throughout the week in the Hazel Hill Apartments, located on Princess Anne Street in downtown Fredericksburg.

“It’s such a cool opportunity for our students to get involved in the community in a way that’s really relational and in a way that works with the future of the community,” said Rutt.

Senior elementary education major Taylor Grigsby was placed in this club to fulfill her practicum education requirement.

“It was definitely different for me because you don’t really have a mentor teacher,” she said. “You’re not working in a specific grade level, you’re working with so many different other kids. But the experience is just amazing because you’re getting so many different minds and people all in one classroom, and you can really help them personally.”

Senior special education major Katya Stafira has also volunteered.

“Being a volunteer is a little crazy, but it is really fun because you kind of get to go in and just be like the fun tutor for the kids,” she said. “Seeing those kids really succeed and progress just through their homework is amazing.”

The club is open to all residents within the apartment community and mainly serves students from first to seventh grades.

“Being able to be together in a community of people who are just like them because a lot of the students in the program are Afghan and all get along in that way. They understand each other culturally,” said Stafira.

Students on the trip will spend four weeks in Paris, France. Svetlana Gumerova / Unsplash

“It is not just giving them a place to live, but helping them in developing in many different ways. And one of those ways they do that is providing support for our Fredericksburg City Public School students.”

-Alexis Rutt

Criticism of tattoos and piercings is unfair and unfounded

ABBY KNOWLES & MEL LAMM Opinion

When people consider getting a tattoo or piercing, it’s common to hear negative comments like, “get it somewhere hidden or easy to cover” or “imagine how it’ll look when you’re older.” Some people even go as far as to say, “you’ll never get a job with a tattoo like that.” However, facial piercings and tattoos have gained popularity in recent years, making these critiques that people attempt to disguise as concerns antiquated, inappropriate, controlling and rather inaccurate. For this reason, the negative rhetoric surrounding these body modifications has to stop.

More people have tattoos these days than in previous generations, making them no longer isolated to less mainstream groups. According to a 2019 study by Ipsos, it is estimated that 30% of all Americans have at least one tattoo.

The study also found that “The vast majority of those with at least one tattoo (92%) say they are happy with it, and forty-six percent of respondents have had at least one tattoo for more than ten years.” Therefore, people’s happiness with their tattoos stands the test of time, unlike what critics say.

tattoos, piercings or other body modifications in order to feel more comfortable in their own skin and more confident in their lives.

For example, junior psychology major Melissa Celebi shared how her background and insecurities have influenced her decision about body piercings. “Being from the Middle East, I was always self conscious about my nose,” she said. “I even asked my mom for a rhinoplasty for my eighteenth birthday.”

When her mom denied this request, Celebi took a different route to feel more confident in her own skin. “When she said no, I decided to get a nose piercing,” she said. “It was the best decision—drawing more attention to my biggest insecurity made me fall in love with it.”

In their Psychology Today article, researchers Kristin Broussard and Helen Harton explain that “despite the increasing popularity of tattoos, people who have them are still seen to have negative characteristics, lower levels of inhibition, competence, and sociability, and higher levels of promiscuity.”

This negative perception—key word, perception—of people with these types of body modifications assumes their character from their appearance. But weren’t we all told never to judge a book by its cover?

When it comes to the matter of employment, tattoos and facial piercings shouldn’t be an issue.

“I work at Crumbl and everyone has tattoos,” said junior communication and digital studies major Reese Kubricki. “I wasn’t looked down upon for having one—I am probably the only person with the least amount of tattoos or piercings.”

is most likely caused by the criticism people with piercings and tattoos face. The truth—according to the same organization—is that “73% of people say they would hire staff that had visible tattoos” and “only 4% of tattooed or pierced people say they’ve actually faced discrimination in their current job.”

We’ve gotten to a point where too many people have tattoos and piercings for it to be acceptable to keep this negative rhetoric around these types of body modifications alive. We’re going to get tattooed and pierced, and society has to get used to it.

“Tattoos tell a story and if a job doesn’t want me to show and express everything I feel or want, then I wouldn’t feel comfortable working for someone like that,” said Kubricki.

Today’s society does a phenomenal job of making young individuals feel insecure or self-conscious about their appearance. Whether it’s stretch marks, scars, small breasts or hairy arms, our generation is conditioned to feel uncomfortable in our own skin. Oftentimes, as a reaction to these society-induced insecurities, people choose to get

Though some employers still have policies against body image modification, this is not the case for most jobs.

According to the organization Support Tattoos and Piercings at Work, which advocates against the discrimination of people who have tattoos and piercings in the workplace, “76% of employees feel tattoos and piercings hurt your job interview chances.” However, this feeling

Op-Ed: Simpson Library’s course reserves provide free access to course materials for students

LAURA GREELEY Contributing Writer

I’m Laura Greeley, I work at Simpson Library, and I am in charge of course reserves. I saw the article, “Free, open access course materials should replace costly textbooks.” I wanted to make students aware of course reserves! Course reserves are an option we have here on campus at Simpson Library. The way it works is that professors send me a list of their required texts, sometimes articles, DVDs, or online resources, needed for their courses each semester. If the items aren’t already in the collection, we can purchase them. We then place the items on hold at the circulation desk. Students can check out these resources for a limited amount of time (usually 2 hours). We can also acquire electronic versions of textbooks if they’re available!

Once the professor activates the

“Library Reading List” tab in Canvas, students will have access. If a student goes to the “Library Reading List” tab, the entire reading list will be available to them to use. Students have the option of checking out books here, instead of spending tons of money on books they may only need a chapter or two out of. They can even scan chapters on our book scanner, which converts them into a PDF, and the student can have an electronic version for their own use. The materials are kept at the circulation desk where they are reserved for each individual course, making sure that all students of that course will continue to have access, without having to worry about it being checked out by someone else for a long period of time. I highly encourage visiting Simpson and taking a look!

I can only create these reading lists for professors who have requested them. Unfortunately, it seems a lot of professors

are unaware of the many resources the library has available for students. I have reached out to many of the departments and tried to spread the word. Some professors know about course reserves and will use them every time. I would like to thank our professors who do use the library and course reserves but wish that they were larger in number.

As a student, what can you do? Check your courses in Canvas and see if you have reading lists available for you to use! If not, ask your professors if they know about course reserves. Make sure to advocate with the professors! We have resources here, so make sure they’re using them. Reserves are here for the success of the student. We have a ton of resources here at Simpson. You’d be surprised at what you’ll find!

Editor & Staff Writer

“It was the best decision— drawing more attention to my biggest insecurity made me fall in love with it.”

-Melissa Celebi

Reese Kubricki has a tattoo of a dreamcatcher that she got on her forearm when she was 18 years old. Abby Knowles / The Weekly Ringer

Group of course textbooks that can be loaned out to students to prevent overpaying. Russell Carver / The Weekly Ringer

Bittersweet goodbye: Professor Ambuel’s retirement from the classics, philosophy and religion department

Staff

Many students like myself seek admission to UMW solely for the classics, philosophy and religion department. As one of the smallest and arguably most antiquated areas of study on campus, the fortitude with which students pursue this area of study can be surprising to people outside of the field.

As a philosophy major, however, I know the path of philosophical pursuit is malleable, and it offers endless opportunities. From careers in law to continued pursuit of higher education and everything in between, this field of study has proven itself timeless and invaluable. At UMW, the bountiful lessons taught by the department’s handful of faculty—both inside and outside the classroom—make this fruitful field even more special.

However, at the end of this spring semester, the department will be facing a change that can only be described as bittersweet: Professor David Ambuel’s retirement.

“Usually when people hear that you’re pursuing philosophy, they ask what you’re going to do with that,” said Ambuel. “Philosophy can be a useful background for all kinds of things. The whole idea of liberal arts education is, if it’s successful, it makes you into an openminded, open-hearted, lifelong learner, and that enriches your life.”

Ambuel joined the classics department in the fall of 1992 and has been making a humble and graceful impact ever since. Beyond the teachings of Plato and Aristotle, Ambuel’s impact extends not only to the Center for Asian Studies and teaching contemplative practice, but also to the careful curation and maintenance of the campus zen garden. Having over 30 years of students in and out of James Farmer Hall, he will undeniably leave a felt absence as he enters retirement. His exit will be felt not only by his students but also by the whole department, as only two philosophy professors will remain.

Because each professor has their own area of expertise, it’s currently unclear who will teach classes like Early Modern Philosophy and Plato.

Students have shared similar sentiments of the contributions Ambuel has made in their lives that go beyond the confines of the academic world.

“Being in his classes have given me ways to have philosophical views outside academia and beyond the classroom,” said senior philosophy major Malcolm Gatling.

Ambuel has left a lasting impression on faculty as well.

“He has a great laugh!” said Reno. “He’s very sympathetic as a philosopher and a human being, which is a good quality for both.”

Ambuel once gifted Reno homegrown peppers from his garden, and Reno replants the seeds every year. “I’m still planting them,” said Reno “I’m keeping an entire line going of David’s original plant and seeds.” As a philosophy professor himself, Reno remarked on the parallels between the pepper seeds and the seeds of knowledge that have been planted and carried by Ambuel’s students over the years.

Something that makes the department so wonderful to be a part of is that this admiration among the faculty is not one-sided. “We have a very good department,” Ambuel said. “It is one of few in the world with this combination of disciplines, and nice people.” His favorite part of the department is that it’s “small but friendly.”

In the three classes I have taken with Ambuel, I’ve learned not just from his lectures but also outside of the classroom. Of course, I’ll take away the innumerable connections and dissections of both Plato and Aristotle, but every encounter with Ambuel reminds me to conduct myself with humility and kindness, as he exudes the same.

Within my first few weeks at UMW, I was sitting in one of Ambuel’s classes when my full iced venti matcha latte went flying off my desk in the front row. As an older transfer student, I felt especially embarrassed and insecure at the moment, mopping up my forest green latte with a bundle of paper towels. As all of this was happening, Ambuel continued his lecture completely unphased. Not only had Ambuel cultivated a comfortable learning environment within his classroom, but he unknowingly prevented me from succumbing to my internalized imposter system as a student just beginning their journey into the depths of philosophy. His levels of steadiness and reliability can be seen not only in what he has offered the department but also in his daily interactions with students.

When met with a question or misconception in one of his courses, I have learned to be fearless and thorough in my pursuit of philosophical understanding. Ambuel has made me feel seen and heard, and I’ve never been afraid to ask a question.

“His breadth of knowledge is irreplaceable,” said Michael Reno, a classics, philosophy and religion lecturer.

Ambuel’s understanding and love for philosophy has grown throughout his lifetime in academia.

“Once I got into college, I never got out,” said Ambuel. “The never-ending, enjoyable task is to try to become a better teacher every semester.”

His quest for constant improvement has not gone unnoticed by his students.

“He makes difficult philosophies and topics easy to understand and that speaks to his expertise I think, and his passion for what he teaches,” said senior political science and philosophy double major Mary-Elise Alworth, who has taken three of Ambuel’s classes. “He is just a very passionate professor, and it shows in every single lecture.”

“A quality I admire about Dr. Ambuel is his teaching style and how he’s helped me understand philosophy in different ways,” said Gatling. “He really gave me a foundation for my major.”

As an author and philosopher, Ambuel plans to continue his studies and work on writing another book during his retirement.

When asked what he thinks the destination of his philosophy journey will be, Ambuel said, “I don’t think there is a destination. It’s always new in a way. There will always be more to discover, an inexhaustible source for the mind.”

For both faculty and students who remain in James Farmer Hall, we have ahead of us a period of transition, but we also have consistent hopes for the department going forward.

“I would like to see the philosophy department be more active and expand,” said Gatling. “I wish more students would have interest in philosophy so it would continue to grow.”

As fellow students share the same heartbreak at the size of the department dwindling in light of Ambuel’s departure, Alworth said, “I think the philosophy major and discipline is growing and I think more undergraduates are finding philosophy an engaging discipline and are finding interest in taking philosophy classes even if it’s not their major.”

Reno hopes that the department will find someone who can adequately teach all of the disciplines in which Ambuel specializes, noting that his expertise has been crucial for not only the department but also for the education of present and future students. “As far as the future of the department we need to be sure we can offer the sorts of courses that Ambuel offered and courses that will keep the department relevant,” said Reno. “There seems to be an emphasis on only hiring for the hot and popular majors.”

Even though philosophy classes may seem daunting, the lessons you learn in the classroom are fit to apply in every facet of your life outside the classroom. It’s for this reason that strong faculty members like Ambuel make these lessons all the more accessible and comprehensible for those who dare pursue them.

“The institution needs philosophy because it is at the heart of liberal arts education,” said Reno.

For those who have not had the privilege to learn from or interact with our beloved professor, I’ll leave you with some of his sage words that those of us who have learned from him will find comfort in: “My main advice to everybody, whether philosophy or not, is if you have a passion or something you want to do or are interested in doing, follow your passion,” Ambuel said. “You must try and have experience—you won’t be any worse off for that experience.”

SHELBY GRAY HERZOG

Writer

“He’s very sympathetic as a philosopher and a human being, which is a good quality for both.”

-Michael Reno

David Ambuel has been a part of the UMW classics, philosophy and religion department for over 30 years.

UMW classics, philosophy and religion department

Personal essay: Experiencing “the best of both worlds” and living in the melting pot of the world

MEL LAMM Staff Writer

Growing up, I moved back and forth between Turkey and the United States every two years. My father was in the Air Force and met my mother while he was stationed in Turkey. It was love at first sight, literally. He knew absolutely zero Turkish, and she knew nothing about America. And yet, my dad took it upon himself to bridge the gap, dedicating years to not only learning the Turkish language, but also to educating himself on the country’s history, traditions and the way of its people.

After years of polishing his “Tarzan talk” and building relationships and connections with my mother’s family and friends, they eventually got married. Soon after, my dad got orders from his job to move to California, which led to my mother leaving her home country for the first time. Soon after moving to their new home, I was born.

My mother had started picking up some English, but she was still heavily dependent on pocketbook translators and my dad. She didn’t work the first two years of us living in California, and because I grew up with both of my parents speaking Turkish, it became my mother tongue.

We eventually moved back to Turkey for another two years, and being surrounded by family and a familiar language felt more comfortable. But that quickly changed when I was 5 years old and we moved back to California. The biggest difference from the first time we were in the state was that I had to start preschool. At the time, my dad was stationed in Iraq, and once he got my mom and I settled into our new home and registered into my new school, he had to go back, leaving my mom to teach me English and find herself a job. When I was at a young age and with very little English of my own, my mother managed to use what she knew to get a job at Walmart. Meanwhile, I had a hard time making friends of my own and trying to understand why the letter “C” exists if it makes a “K” and an “S” sound, not a “J” sound like it does in Turkish.

My mom tried to teach me what she could, but since she only knew how to speak English, she didn’t have the ability to teach me grammatical rules or spelling. This

led to my dad retiring from the Air Force so he could come back to the United States to teach me English. It was a long and difficult struggle that lasted years, and he would get called into parent-teacher conferences to be told I belong in ESL or other special courses for help. My teachers showed him my assignments where I had mixed up “couch” and “coach,” “soup” and “soap” and various spellings of words with special, non-English characters, such as “ö” or “ü.”

My dad took the time to teach me English, to read and write correctly, and to speak and enunciate my words. I remember at the age of 7, sitting at the dining room table for an hour repeating the “th” sound over and over again until my “dank you” sounded like “thank you.” My dad started only speaking to me in English and encouraged my mom to do the same, which helped both of us in the long run. By the end of third grade, I was speaking English fluently and touching up my reading and writing the best I could for an 8-year-old.

The tables turned when I became fluent in English and my mother was still figuring out how to spell items for grocery lists. She’d come to me for help applying for new jobs, and I would help translate the application questions and explain the job survey scenarios for her to understand. Ultimately, it went beyond translation.

I eventually grew up to adapt to the American way of life, but many things continue to be a struggle for my mom to wrap her head around. For example, she had to adjust to tipping here, since that isn’t the custom in Turkey. Even differences like American home architecture have taken some adjustment. So many houses—especially in the Virginia area—don’t have foyers; it’s common for Turks to have extended welcomes and goodbyes right by the front door where they’ll talk for an additional 15–20 minutes, but many townhouses here are not built to accommodate that.

We moved here to Virginia a week before the start of my junior year at my first American public school. I had no idea what to expect besides what I’d seen in movies and pop culture media, especially the movie “Mean Girls,” which was quite accurate to my personal high school experience and moving to America.

By the age of 18, I had finally gotten my driver’s license in the state of Virginia, and a year later so did my mom. I helped her study for the exams and explained what all the different signs meant. She didn’t pass her first time, but neither did I; driving in Turkey was much different than in the U.S. For instance, kids start driving here at 15 instead of 18, which we both thought was crazy. In Turkey, though you drive on the right side of the road like in the U.S., the right lane is for parking. In fact, if your car fits, it’s a parking spot. I also had to show her how to pump her own gas into the car, since a gas station attendant does it for you in Turkey just like they do in New Jersey.

Today, I am beyond blessed for my bicultural background and truly getting to experience the best of both worlds. Moving to America after being raised overseas has opened my eyes to the different western ideas and perspectives of other people, both good and bad. The conversations I’ve had here have enlightened me and given me different ways of looking at the world. And at times when I felt alone or misunderstood, I also remember I am living in the melting pot of the world. I have made so many positive connections with people who also have similar stories and backgrounds to my own.

I can’t help but think how moments like this have affected my childhood and shaped who I am today. Having

My parents in the ‘90s on their second date, which consisted of a lot of charades, along with ice cream and a nice walk by the beach. The person taking the photo was a Turkish market owner named Cemal (Jem-aal), who spoke English and Turkish and became a good friend of my dads, helping him learn Turkish for my mother. He was there to help translate between them.

to help and guide my mother with things that usually a child needs help with forced me to grow up and mature faster—to learn “adult things” while still figuring out how to be a kid. The struggles of cultural differences and language barriers might have been the biggest obstacles I faced as a young foreigner in a new country, but it was exactly these struggles and obstacles that have shaped me into the person who I am today and understanding both sides of my nationality. Despite all the miscommunication and struggle to understand the English language, my mother and I both managed to learn and guide each other through it all.

Photo courtesy of Mel Lamm

Me in Cappadocia, Turkey, this past summer.

Photo courtesy of Mel Lamm

My mother and I in her family’s house in Mersin, Turkey, around 2003. Photo courtesy of Mel Lamm

Do you skip meals or not buy food in order to pay for gas, rent, utilities or other necessities? If so . .

“Swipe Out Hunger” is for You!

A simple and confidential online application is all it takes to get access to meals at the Top of the CRUC! Meals are loaded directly to your EagleOne Card, so you can swipe in just like all other students with meal plans!

Please don’t go hungry! We have more meals available than are being used, so there are plenty to go around.

Use this QR code to apply, or contact Chris Porter at CJPorter@umw.edu for details.

Panelists discuss Black experience at UMW over the years

FROM NAACP PAGE 1

“I was so mentored and cared for by the women, the students, but also the faculty advisors in Women of Color,” said Okomo. “I was so awed by them.”

Jenkins also noted the positive impact of Black women at UMW.

“That was the reason that I really enjoyed my time on campus there,” he said of the center. “It was the people you meet at that center, who come into that office, are truly the reason why I loved that school so much.”

Jenkins said that though the survival tips the panel members shared are helpful, students should not have to employ them.

“I’m seeing multiple generations, multiple decades of people saying that they were hate crimed, that they went through these things,” said Jenkins. “It’s beautiful to see all these tips and stuff like that about how we can survive but, like it was said, I’m not in the business of surviving.”

“We have this community of Black women who’s been here ... that existed for generations,” she said.

Ford enjoyed the community he found within the James Farmer Multicultural Center.

Jenkins continued, “In 20 years if a program like this is done again, I don’t want those kids to be like ‘Oh I experienced a hate crime, someone called me this,’ because that’s not how it’s supposed to be!”

Okomo shared advice for current students, encouraging them to advocate for themselves to faculty and administration.

“Have a voice,” she said. “This is the time to have a voice, to let university

administrators, let faculty members, know what your experiences are because you are a student and you are there to thrive, not survive.”

Joy Griffin, a 1984 alum with a degree in biology and chemistry, also shared words of encouragement for current UMW students.

“For you to forget that there are those

who don’t think like you do and don’t see life as you do, that would be a non-reality,” she said. “Part of the reason why I’m here tonight is to do my best to encourage you, and all those who are attending Mary Wash now, because what you gain in your education as you stay and you commit and you come away with that, no one can take that from you.”

Homework club seeks UMW student volunteers

FROM CLUB PAGE 2

Though the idea of being a tutor was daunting at first to Stafira, it’s not as hard as it may seem, and people outside of the education program can volunteer as well.

“A lot of the homework is just writing on the paper; it’s pretty simple to figure out,” she said. “People who aren’t in education would have a really good time and it is a really great experience to give to the kids.”

The club began in 2012 when the Hazel Hill Apartments, located in downtown Fredericksburg and owned by the National Housing Trust, reached out to UMW’s College of Education and Community Outreach and Resources in search of a partnership. This partnership aimed to join college students with the community to help elementary and middle school students at Fredericksburg City Public Schools with their education. John Broome, former associate professor of education, agreed to manage the program and serve as the liaison between Hazel Hill and the university, and Rutt is now the UMW director of the club.

Anaïs Malangu, the resident services coordinator at Hazel Hill Apartments, oversees the club as well.

“My focus is to make sure that the student-to-tutor ratio is small enough for each kid to be able to get the attention they need,” said Malangu. “I try to avoid having, for example, one tutor for seven students. If I could get one tutor for five students, that’s great because they’re able to help each other.”

Malangu, a UMW class of 2022 alum, is part of the National Housing Trust community outreach and impact team. “Our team focuses on residents’ success,” said Malangu. “As far as homework club goes, that encompasses community building and resident leadership.”

The community outreach and impact team supports residents in various ways, such as helping children in the community access resources like notebooks, textbooks, markers and even tutors.

“One of the really cool things about NHT is certainly looking at affordable housing, but they are also interested

in supporting residents,” said Rutt. “It is not just giving them a place to live, but helping them in developing in many different ways. And one of those ways they do that is providing support for our Fredericksburg City Public School students.”

The club is still looking for people to volunteer for this semester. Anyone who is interested in signing up should reach out to Rutt at arutt@umw.edu or Malangu at amalangu@nhtinc.org.

Crime Column Destruction of Property

On Jan. 28 at 3:00 p.m., there was an incident of destruction of property at Eagle Landing area. This case is pending.

CALLIE HARKINS News Editor

Destruction of Property

On Jan. 30 at 7:05 p.m., there was an incident of destruction of property at Eagle Landing parking. This case is pending.

“The experience is just amazing because you’re getting so many different minds and people all in one classroom, and you can really help them personally.”

-Taylor Grigsby

Black Resistance flier on the table.

Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer

“In 20 years if a program like this is done again, I don’t want those kids to be like ‘Oh I experienced a hate crime, someone called me this,’ because that’s not how it’s supposed to be!”

-Maya Jenkins

Kickin’ grass: Women’s club soccer wins 1-0

ELI KEITH Staff Writer

UMW women’s club soccer defeated Christopher Newport University’s club team 1–0 on Saturday, Feb 4. Despite emerging victorious, the Eagles had to fight hard to kick off the season with a win.

“It was our first game and it was really cold,” said Club Soccer President Madison Pearsall, a junior nursing major. “I felt like we got a slow start because we weren’t all the way warmed up, but in the second half we picked it up a lot and we finally got to score.”

The game started in sub-20-degree temperatures that froze the turf field overnight, causing some players to slip and fall during warmup and the start of the game. The two teams were fairly matched throughout the first half as they each had several attempts on goal.

This was not the first time the two teams have faced off, as UMW traveled to Newport News, Va., in the fall, where they defeated Christopher Newport 2–1. Having beaten the Captains the last three times the teams faced off, UMW was confident coming into the match on Saturday. However, the Captains also seemed determined not to repeat their previous mistakes against the Eagles with an aggressive defensive line and more speed from their outside midfielders.

Ending the first forty minutes scoreless, UMW’s leadership tried to rouse up their slightly-frozen team at halftime and discuss what wasn’t working. Senior captain Rachel Battiston, former president and member of the team all four years, pointed out that the

group’s lack of communication was hurting their ability to slow down Christopher Newport’s offense and move the ball up the field.

“Since it was our first game of the season we were getting back into things ... but we really came together in the second half,” said junior biomedical sciences major Abbey Orange.

It was almost as if a new Eagles team stepped onto the field for the second half. Yelling out support to teammates and moving the ball with more urgency, it wasn’t too long before junior Molly Murphy found the back of the net to give the Eagles a 1–0 lead.

Though no more goals were scored for the remainder of the half, UMW still dominated as Battiston and senior midfielder Emily Hemphill both had some close attempts. The final whistle blew and, after congratulating one another, the teams hurried to their heated cars.

The spectators also amplified the team’s energy with over 30 people coming out in the cold to support the team. They got particularly excited when goalie Krista Rodgers, a senior business administration major also on the varsity volleyball team, made her way to the goal for the second half.

“I’m a very competitive person, but I definitely prioritize having fun and staying active with my friends out here,” said Rodgers. She’s currently unsure of whether she’ll continue on the volleyball team. “It’s up in the air about if I’m going to stay another semester; if I’m not, I just want to stay active and try out a different sport.”

Like other club sports on campus, the

University of Mary Washington Winter Sports Schedule

team doesn’t have a coach, which is a plus for some players.

“What’s special about this sport and other club sports is that we don’t have a coach; it’s student-run,” said Orange. “My coach in high school made me not want to play anymore, and now coming here, it’s better because I don’t have a coach. We have the president and vice president and stuff, but they’re people we can talk to and be friends with.”

Players say the team’s closeness is an asset.

“I started it for fun,” said Orange. “But because it’s such a strong-knit group, it basically takes up a lot of my life.”

Pearsall, who sees a narrow portion of UMW students due to the class structure of the nursing major, said club soccer “is one of my main sources of finding people and getting to know people, so that’s why it’s so important to me that we all bond and that we’re all there for each other.”

Crossing their fingers for warmer weather, the women’s club team takes the field again this Saturday, Feb. 11 at noon with another home match against Longwood University.

Esports hosts tryouts for two new games

CHAD FANCHER Staff Writer

UMW’s esports team is hoping to expand its library of competitive games for the fall 2023 season with the addition of Overwatch 2 and Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2. Approximately 20 new prospective players attended tryouts for either of the two new games on Thursday, Feb. 2 in the esports lounge located in the Cedric Rucker University Center.

“The program at large we’re looking to eventually grow to about upwards of 150 students across multiple competitive teams, but also casual members,” said Mark Link, director of esports. “We are looking to continue to expand the casual side. Whatever people want to play ranging from Minecraft to Guilty Gear, we will try to incorporate it.”

UMW currently has two competitive Rocket League teams and one competitive Valorant team.

“We’re also looking to expand with Overwatch, Call of Duty, Apex Legends and Fortnight,” said Link. “Pretty much the sky’s the limit since we base all of our decisions on what to add based on student feedback.”

At the tryouts, players were equipped with two rows of professional computer setups including webcams and headsets. Those who tried out could band together with others to play the games while Link observed the matches, noting individual players’ strengths and weaknesses as well as teamwork—all of which are used to determine who would be a good fit for the team.

“Me and my friends got sick of playing public matches because it was so toxic,” said Mateo Gutierrez, a junior cybersecurity major who tried out. “I’m thinking I just might as well give it a shot.”

While casual players won’t have regular practice times or competitions, competitive players will have weekly practices and skirmishes to prepare for the season.

“I thought it’d be fun,” said freshman Jake Lipinski. “I just need things to do and so I was like, this will be fun. I’ve been playing games since I was 6 when I first got Pokemon SoulSilver.”

Overwatch 2 is a first-person shooter game where players compete on teams of five. Team members select a role from three options: tank, damage and support. The overall goal is to eliminate the enemy team’s players in order to complete a variety of objectives.

With a similar team-oriented and first-person shooter format, Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 offers a remastered version of some of the classic aspects of the original game, including hard point, search and destroy and command. The teams will consist of four players each.

Those interested in joining can find more information on the University of Mary Washington Esports Discord and @umw_esports on Twitter.

“Don’t be intimidated,” Link said regarding potential players. “A lot of people in esports think it’s all about the rank and stuff like that. But really, I’ve seen quite a lot of teams that are lower ranked beat higher ranked teams. It’s not just about individual play, it’s about how you communicate and how you work together.”

EMILY HEMPHILL Sports Editor

Men’s Basketball (16-6)

Feb. 1 L vs. Chris. Newport (5367)

Feb. 5 W vs. UC Santa Cruz (6543)

Feb. 8 @ Salisbury

Feb. 15 @ Chris. Newport

Women’s Basketball (18-4)

Feb. 4 L vs. UC Santa Cruz @ Newport News, Va. (55-66)

Feb. 5 W vs. Regent University (78-27)

Feb. 8 @ Hood

Feb. 15 @ Chris. Newport

Men’s Swimming (8-3)

Jan 21. L vs. Gettysburg (126-136)

Feb. 3 W vs. Southern Virginia (198-61)

Feb. 16-19 @ METS Championships

Women’s Swimming (10-1)

Jan 21. W vs. Gettysburg (136126)

Feb. 3 W vs. Southern Virginia (175-80)

Feb. 16-19 @ METS Championships

Women’s Tennis (0-0)

Feb. 11 vs. George Mason

Feb. 18 vs. Washington College

Men’s Tennis (0-1)

Feb. 4 L vs. George Mason (2-5)

Feb. 7 vs. Belmont Abbey

Feb. 11 vs. Centre

Equestrian Team

Feb. 11-12 @ Mary Washington

Show

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

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

Club soccer in the fall. Photo courtesy of Tess