SEE SPIRIT ROCK PAGE 7
In the Title IX case against the former RA that began in April, the Title IX process continued into the summer before ending in an informal resolution. The informal resolution included a no-contact order, both he and the student who accused him said. They also confirmed that he was required to complete an online training course about sexual misconduct prevention and UMW’s Policy on Sexual and Gender-Based Harassment and Other Forms of Interpersonal Violence. Reactions to the rock
“Politely, I wish that people would stop talking about me so much and leave the business between myself and the complainants,” he said. “I don’t like how public my life has become. ... And I know that there’s no turning back from that.”
This past weekend, UMW’s spirit rock was painted four times in approximately 48 hours. The rock called attention to students’ concerns that a Resident Assistant hired for the current school year had two previous Title IX complaints. The student is no longer an RA.Inrecent years, the rock’s use has expanded beyond advertising events and spreading school spirit; the rock has become a massive message board—a way for students to call attention to safety concerns on a platform no one walking by can miss. The rock was painted on Friday by The Weekly Ringer, advertising the newspaper’s first issue of the semester. It was then painted red on Saturday night with a white spray-painted message: “Admin hired an RA with Title IX reports against him. Fix Title IX.” Just a few hours later, the message was covered by smeared paint. By Sunday morning, a new message was etched into the wet paint saying “don’t cover it up” and mentioning the first name of the former RA. The rock was painted again early Monday morning to honor sexual assault survivors. Recent Title IX case According to the former RA, he has been through the Title IX process twice with two separate complaints, the first of which was filed in January and the second was filed in April. The name of the former RA, the name of the student who filed a Title IX complaint against him in April and the details of the case have been withheld while The Weekly Ringer gathers additional information.According to Dean of Residence Life and Housing David Fleming, “The selection process for Resident Assistants includes a prior conduct check (OSCAR, Title IX, and Honor).”
On Saturday night, when the student who filed the Title IX complaint against the former RA in April saw the rock, she was taken aback by it.
Kenya
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“I’ve been in that rageful state, and then this is another victim or someone who’s close to another victim that has happened since me that I don’t know about,” she said. “I can see the pain. You can see it in the way it’s etched in. You can see it in the colors. You can see that there was pain behind the statement. But this pain is not something that I think everyone has to know about. And we can have the message of ‘We need to fix Title IX’ because I am not going to sit here and say that Title IX handled everything with me accordingly and made me feel comfortable or safe. I am not going to say that, but I don’t want my experience and what happened to me used as a political weapon.”
Both Title IX cases that the former RA was involved in ended in informal resolution, the former RA said. According to UMW’s Policy on Sexual and GenderBased Harassment and Other Forms of Interpersonal Violence, “In cases in which a formal complaint has been filed, prior to reaching a determination regarding responsibility, the parties may voluntarily and in writing consent to an informal resolution process facilitated by an informal resolution facilitator(s) under this Policy that does not involve a full investigation and adjudication.” The complainant and accused may agree to an informal resolution at any time before the final determination of responsibility is made. Once the two parties reach an agreement, the case is closed and cannot be appealed.
was
The Spirit Rock was painted honoring survivors between late Sunday night and early Monday morning. Carter can see the pain. You can see it in the way it’s etched in. You can see it in the colors. You can see that there was pain behind the statement. But this pain is not something that I think everyone has to know about.”
The former RA didn’t hear about the rock until Sunday afternoon when he got a call saying his name was etched into it.
TheWeekly The University of Mary Washington Student SEPTEMBERNewspaper1,2022Serving the community since 1922 Ringer VOLUME 96 | ISSUE 1 RINGERTHEINSIDE Dorms Newssummer.datesrecievedcampusacrosshaveupoverthe| 2 Asia Coach.TracknewhiredHartasXCand&FieldSports| 8 Yik Yak’s new photo feature will Opinioncampus.harmcauseon | 3 Mila Liferelease.Nights”“LuckydiscussesWebbEP| 5 “I don’t want this—I want to heal”: Students’ reactions to the spirit rock painting regarding Title IX
-Title IX Complainant
“At first when I first saw it I was like, ‘Oh, my story’s being told,’” she said. “And then it dawned on me, ‘Wait, who did I tell? No one told me they were doing this.’ And also ‘Oh my God, he’s gonna see it.’ And that terrified me.”
JESS
When the former RA’s name was put on the rock, people reached out to the complainant, wondering if she had painted the rock. She hadn’t, and she did not agree with people using her story for their own purposes.
The Spirit Rock painted calling to Title IX” between Saturday night and early Sunday morning. Photo Courtesy of Erin Hassall Editor-in-ChiefKIRBY
“As a freshman, I’m thankful to be staying at Virginia Hall,” said freshman Natalia Pereddo. “The bathrooms are much nicer and the privacy they offer makes me feel safer. I also love the mini lounges on each floor, it’s nice to have a little place near my room to just chill with Willardfriends.”Hallwas recently upgraded with the installation of a new, large kitchen on its ground floor.
“We wanted the students in Westmoreland to have a similar experience to our other first year students, so we worked to provide renovated community space that they could use,” said Rauscher.Whilethe rooms themselves had been renovated, there was still work to be done in regards to furniture and entertainment, Rauscher said. There has been a delay in this process due to shipping issues and long wait times, but once those issues are resolved, Residence Life and Housing will be working to install diner booths in the basement dining area, an integrated workstation in the basement study room, a TV monitor and tables in basement study room two, new furniture and TV in the basement common room and a kitchen cart/prep area in the third floor kitchen.
“It’s a promising program and I hope we continue to use it going forward,” he said. Rycroft likes that because of the program, all of his students had their textbooks by the first day of class, which has not been the case in previous semesters. An automatic message was sent to students enrolled in participating classes
First Day program negotiates textbook prices with publishers
Students return to find newly-renovated living spaces in residence buildings
Front entrance of Westmoreland Hall. UMW Residence Life and Housing
“I’m staying on the fourth floor of Eagle Landing, where we had new thermostats and sinks built in,” said Carlos Nunes, a junior majoring in political science. “The new thermostats are easier to control and very user friendly.”
The First Day Program adds an automatic charge to a student’s account for materials, but students can opt out of the program and be refunded. Romina BM / Unsplash
SEE FIRST DAY PAGE 7 REBECCA CHERIAN Staff Writer NATHALIE LUCIANO Staff Writer
News Page 2Thursday, September 1, 2022 Weekly Ringer Editorial Staff The BellSushmaPhotographyGraceErinBusinessEditor-in-ChiefJessKirbyEditorMatuczinskiAssociateEditorsTabithaRobinsonCopyEditorSchumacherCallieHarkinsNewsEditorsJosephineJohnsonOpinionEditorNorahWalshScottiMullenLifeEditorJosephineGoodSportsEditorEmilyHemphillOnlineEditorsAllyTingenAbbyKnowlesEditorSarahSklarFacultyAdvisorSubramaniantowerlogodesigned by Bernadette D’Auria ‘22 Corrections The Weekly Ringer strives for accuracy and will correct any inaccurate information printed in the newspaper. Please report any corrections to Jess Kirby at weeklyringer.eic@gmail.com or Sushma Subramanian at ssubrama@umw.edu. Advertisement Please direct all advertising inquiries to Erin Matuczinski weeklyringer.business@gmail.com.atweeklyringer.eic@gmail.comssubrama@umw.eduweeklyringer.photos@gmail.comweeklyringer.online@gmail.comweeklyringer.sports@gmail.comweeklyringer.life@gmail.comweeklyringer.opinion@gmail.comweeklyringer.news@gmail.comweeklyringer.copy@gmail.comweeklyringer.associate@gmail.comweeklyringer.business@gmail.com
“I think it is really nice,” said freshman Celine Sharee. “The new appliances are cool too. The electric stove is good for a couple of reasons, like the kitchen will stay cooler versus if it was a gas stove. It’s also a lot easier to clean and wipe down because it’s a flat surface. The toaster oven is nice too because of the way they are built; it cooks the food quickly and thoroughly.”
“We are always looking for ways to improve the student experience in the residence halls and feel the common spaces in each hall provide a great opportunity to build community and bring our students together,” said Rauscher.
First year students in Virginia and Willard Halls are also in newly-upgraded dorms, as those buildings were renovated in the past few years.
Hunter Rauscher, the associate director for Residence Life and Housing, also discussed renovations that took place in Westmoreland Hall, which just transitioned from housing upperclassmen to housing freshmen, this past summer. These include refurbished rooms, showers and plumbing.
When Eagles returned for the fall semester, many found upgrades to their dorm buildings after the university renovated and improved residential areas on campus.
The First Day Inclusive Access program by Barnes & Noble College was implemented this semester to reduce the cost of textbooks and course materials for students. Before the semester begins, professors can choose to opt their classes in or out of this program. If a professor opts in, the program automatically bills their students’ accounts for the course-required textbooks at a reduced cost. Students can choose to opt out of the automatic charges before their specified deadline. According to the First Day FAQs provided by the University of Mary Washington Bookstore, the costs of the books are reduced by negotiations with the publisher. Digitized versions of the materials are made available through Canvas to enrolled students by the first day of classes, but students can choose to purchase physical, loose-leaf copies instead. If a student drops or withdraws from the class, they will be refunded, according to UMW’s policies on refunds for tuition and fees.Professor of economics Robert Rycroft made use of this new program for all of his classes this semester. He volunteered to participate in the program after receiving an email from the campus bookstore informing him of the new model.
While she said she only uses Yik Yak for fun, Hackett said, “It’s also useful to check in on what’s going on around campus and to see people’s opinions on campus life, events, the weather, etc.”
Therefore, stop being afraid to disagree with your friends. When you avoid conflict and debate, you’re refusing yourself the opportunity to become a more informed person, a better communicator and a more engaged citizen.
Why disagreeing with others is beneficial for everyone
picIt’syet.”fair to assume that most people stand by the right to free speech and being able to say what they want; however, there are some lines that shouldn’t be crossed.
Opinion Page 3Thursday, September 1, 2022
However, the main appeal of apps like Yik Yak is the anonymity they offer; people can become completely different online than in the real world. Just recently, users in the UMW community could see an anonymous person advertising where to get alcohol around campus without an ID. While scrolling through the app, Hackett saw a post stating, “Welcome freshmen, the abc store on William street doesn’t card.”
While college students have the freedom to do what they want, it is harmful to promote illegal or dangerous behavior to such large groups of people. In any online space, there’s always a risk of personal information being seen, and there are very few ways to get it removed. It can even affect your ability to get a job.
NORAH AssociateWALSHEditor
Of course, this means that argumentation must occur both in good faith and fair dealing, for if the people involved try to skew the argument or knowingly introduce false information, successful argumentation is impossible.
This means that sensitive photos or videos of an individual, even posted anonymously by someone else, can impact their ability to get a job. Online moderation has become a hot topic in the past few years as the internet has become a place for everyone to share their opinions. Unfortunately, social media moderation does not always stop people from posting harmful content. The Yik Yak community guardrails urge users to “always ask permission” and say that moderators review any post that has been reported. This is not enough moderation, however. Yik Yak already allows people to post harmful content, and the addition of photo and video content on an anonymous app will only increase harmful impacts to others’ reputations in the community.
According to the American Bar Association, “good faith and fair dealing” means that “parties cannot evade the spirit of the bargain, lack diligence or slack off, perform incorrectly on purpose, abuse their power when specifying the terms of a contract, or interfere with or fail to cooperate in the other party’s performance.”
Echo chambers accept a person’s belief system without question, which leads to weak claims that are not supported by reason or fact—both of which are necessary to make an argument. If you are always in agreement with those around you, it may be time for you to take into consideration what you actually believe; agreeing with everyone will lead to a contradiction of thought if you treat every idea equally and qualify each one as correct.
On Aug. 22, Yik Yak released an update that added a photo and video feature, which was met with concern from UMW students who use the app. The concern is that sensitive and unwelcome images and videos of individuals will become available for the public, having a negative effect on the community and creating an issue beyond the university’s control. Not only should the feature be removed, but more moderation should also be put in place to avoid harming reputations and make the app a safer space for Thougheveryone.thereis a feature that automatically removes posts or comments if it receives five downvotes, active human moderation of the posts or a smarter AI system that recognizes harmful comments and media would benefit the app. “I think it could be funny, but it could also be bad, because what if people post stuff without consent?” said Grace Stewart, a sophomore biomedical sciences major. Sophia Hackett, a sophomore history major, shared a similar sentiment. “I don’t really understand the point of it [the update], as it [Yik Yak] has always been for short messages, and I think it could easily lead to people abusing it and adding problematic content. I’m surprised I haven’t seen a d**k
Yik Yak’s photo and video feature will have harmful effects
College campuses are like a giant game of telephone: information gets passed on from person to person, becoming more convoluted as it spreads. On Yik Yak, this game has a wider reach, and the untrue information that evolves out of miscommunication and retellings becomes digital. As a result, gossip that has the potential to do serious damage to someone’s academic, social and mental well-being becomes common in the public sphere. Yik Yak has gained popularity in college towns, and UMW is certainly no exception. The app often serves as a place for gathering information, such as campus events, underground happenings, parties or general gossip.
“Job seekers should be conscious of the content they are releasing,” according to the website SciSpeak, a technology training brand for employees. “What happens on social media lives FOREVER.”
DAVY WASHINGTON Senior Writer
“The spirit of the bargain” means that both people should remind themselves that the other person is not trying to be malicious or harmful with their opinions; rather, they are trying to express their viewpoint. Arguing in good faith means both parties are interested in the argument for the sake of discussion rather than winning. For example, in his article about debating vaccine politics with a friend, Adam Grant writes, “Arguing well is a skillset, but it’s heavily influenced by your mindset. A good debate isn’t about one person declaring victory, it’s about both people making a discovery.”Inthesame spirit, people in an argument should not subject themselves to immature forms of argumentation such as insulting, belittling or becoming irrational. This also pertains to using pure emotion to further your argument rather than fact, for emotions are not feasible counterarguments when faced with facts. In addition, arguing with more emotion than intellect is often unreceptive and manipulates the other person in an appeal to pity or by demonizing them for their beliefs. After all, as the conversational receptiveness researchers concluded, “Simply choosing to engage with opposing views may not lead to greater understanding or cooperation if the language of that engagement is unreceptive.”Thisiswhere conversational receptiveness, or “the use of language to communicate one’s willingness to thoughtfully engage with opposing views,” can lead to a successful argument. Engaging with a person to find out why they think a certain way through listening to their argument and subsequent reasoning is the only way to avoid becoming polarized. This does not mean you have to agree, but it’s a good way to learn why someone holds a particular belief. Disagreeing with your friends about the latest House bill or how much billionaires should pay in taxes should not be something that ruptures your friendship simply because you cannot agree; it should be a learning experience. Politics are inherently personal because the government’s decisions affect us no matter what, but just because your political views don’t always align does not mean that you cannot engage in meaningful conversation with that person. These conversations will either make your opinion more informed or make you feel more secure about your current one; either way, they lead to greater understanding.
We need to argue more often with each other. We need to get frustrated, analyze our methods of argumentation and go back for another round in the ring of discourse for the sake of making ourselves better communicators who can defend what we believe in. I mean this for those I agree with, those I disagree with and those in between. We need to argue with each other so we become better at it, for without those skills we retreat into our echo chambers and the skills that our English teachers and university professors have tried to instill in us are put to waste.
In a study titled “Conversational receptiveness: Improving engagement with opposing views,” the researchers note that “across many domains, other viewpoints can help us increase the accuracy of our own beliefs by exposing us to new information and perspectives.” This is important because an uninformed argument can fall apart with a basic counterargument, whereas an argument that considers possible rebuttals has been strengthened under scrutiny. More important than needing to expand our knowledge of other perspectives, however, is the need to engage with those who have differing opinions in order to prevent polarization. When a person is constantly surrounded by sources that only reinforce their opinions and beliefs, it creates an echo chamber, which researchers of “The echo chamber effect on social media” define as “environments in which the opinion, political leaning, or belief of users about a topic gets reinforced due to repeated interactions with peers or sources having similar tendencies and attitudes.”
In his free marketplace of ideas theory, John Stuart Mill “claims that the free competition of ideas is the best way to separate falsehoods from fact,” and he also looks at how ideas compete against each other without an overarching authority deeming one better than another. This results in the best arguments—which must be composed of strong claims backed up by reasons and support—winning the agreement of the people, for the other arguments have been successfully rebuked.
For new students, the evening began in Dodd Auditorium where they were given an immersive presentation on “Being an Eagle” and were taught the Alma Mater so they could recite it during the ceremony. Following their session in Dodd, the new Eagles processed down Campus Walk with the Eagle Pipe Band playing in the background, landing at their final destination on Ball Circle, where an army of upperclassmen, staff and UMW community members stood in a circle ready to greet them and initiate them into the UMW community. Once they were directed to do so, the outer circle of students lit the new students’ candles and symbolically passed them the “torch of knowledge,” which is at the center of the UMW seal. The very first Eagle Gathering took place in 2012. Richard V. Hurley, who was Mary Washington’s president at the time, said the symbolism behind the candlelight passed from returning students to new students “stands for the desire to learn, to grow, to serve, to lead, and in all things, to give our best in search of meaning and truth.”
Eagle Gathering typically takes place on the first Sunday of the semester, but this year it was postponed one week due to “rainy weather and potential thunderstorms,” as relayed to the Mary Washington community in an email from Amy Jessee, the Executive Director of University Communications at UMW. The one-week delay did not put a damper on the event in the slightest. The Ball Circle audience was dazzled two times over by performances carried out by the Eagle Pipe Band, who led the procession of new students down Campus Walk, and once more by Symfonics, UMW’s oldest co-ed a cappella group, with their rendition of the Alma Mater.The procession alongside the Eagle Pipe Band is something that students only experience twice in their time at UMW: their freshman year Eagle Gathering and on their graduation day.
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“The walk to Ball Circle as a freshman is sort of surreal, knowing the only other time we will walk together as a class on that path will be at our graduation ceremony,” said Anacko.
HALEY
Members of the UMW a capella group Symphonics sing the Alma Mater. Sarah Sklar Ringer
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UMW hosts annual Eagle Gathering after rain delay
SCHNITzER Staff Writer
Eagle Gathering is difficult to capture in plain English, but it is best described as a candlelit ceremony with music—both instrumental and vocal—and inspiring speakers, with undertones of nostalgia, optimism, belonging and purpose. Mary Washington is known for its rituals and traditions, both official and unofficial. At first glance, the energy fostered in these sorts of events can seem wacky or even “cultish,” but there is a lot of intention and meaning behind the practice. The traditions at Mary Washington are held in high regard and have the power to reinvigorate students and connect them back to their Mary Wash roots.“As an upperclassman who can sometimes feel disconnected from the community, [Eagle Gathering] is a nice way to say ‘Welcome back!’ and ‘Good luck!’” said senior communication and digital studies major Addy Reeher.
This past Sunday, Aug. 28, at 8:30 p.m., students, staff and the larger campus community gathered on Ball Circle to carry out one of the most beloved annual Mary Washington traditions: Eagle Gathering.
“My favorite part of the evening was getting to look around on Ball Circle and seeing the upperclassmen around us, knowing they had been in the exact position we were standing in just years earlier, and knowing that I will be standing where they stood in years to come, lighting a freshman’s candle and welcoming them in the way they welcomed me,” said freshman sociology major HannahThereAnacko.isquite a bit of nostalgia inspired by this event for all groups of students in attendance, both for years passed and in looking to the future.“As a student who is now a senior, it was really a good catharsis, not just for me but for my fellow seniors,” said senior political science major and SGA President, Joey Zeldin. “I was so happy with the outcome, the amount of people there to celebrate was really awesome, and being able to have the honor and privilege to speak was so surreal.”
UMW a cappella group, Symfonics, is the oldest co-ed a capella group at the university. Sarah Sklar Ringer
Life Page 4Thursday, September 1, 2022
Students hold up their lit candles at Eagle Gathering. Sarah Sklar Ringer
“One of the reasons I transferred to Mary Washington was because I felt a really strong sense of community on campus, and I’m glad that I’m experiencing that already,” said sophomore transfer student and biology major Laurel Gilbert.
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University President Troy Paino lights a candle. Sarah Sklar Ringer
Eagle Gathering is a tradition unique to UMW. The evening’s purpose is to initiate the class of new students, freshmen and transfers alike to officially welcome them into the Mary Washington community.
“If you think of me someday and wondering while you still do, I think it still would be enough for me too.” -”Lucky Nights”
ELI SeniorKEITHWriter Mila Webb’s newly released EP, “Lucky Nights.” Photo courtesy of Mila Webb
Mila Webb’s debut EP, “Lucky Nights” was released on Friday, April 15 under the record company Perpetual Doom. Webb welcomes her small following with the agreeable four-song listing that culminates in the title track, which currently has about 3,500 streams on Spotify. The EP carries a consistent sense of ease and ethereality that provides the listener with a sense of relief.
“My mind wanders and my songs usually end up being about ideas, people, friends that overlap,” she said.
“I wanted the EP to be like a lullaby something that I could use to travel to a moment that felt complete.”
Life Page 5Thursday, September 1, 2022
In her opening song, “Masterpiece,” Webb brings listeners in slowly, immediately setting the tone for what proves to be a measured span of gentle music. With lyrics like “You don’t have to paint me a masterpiece,” she insists to the person she’s singing to that they don’t need to be perfect, only good company— something emulative of the comfort in a lullaby. “Waste my time, take my time,” sings Webb, a subtle variation in the words that draws attention to the back-and-forth nature of both enjoying and killing time. Webb takes a bit of a surprising turn in “Halos That Hang Around,” the second track on the EP, which bares her admission of letting someone down. Directly following “Masterpiece,” the listener may assume she is addressing the same person, but we gain insight into a relationship that sounds less positive, and Webb says the EP is not drawn from experiences with one person.
“My mind wanders and my songs usually end up being about ideas, people, friends that overlap.” -Mila Webb
“I think overall it’s about allowing things to change and coping with contradictions,” Webb said of the EP in an email interview with The Weekly Ringer. The primary accompaniment to Webb’s widelyranging voice is her acoustic guitar. She also employs a lap steel guitar, commonly found in country music, which sheds a light on her Southern California roots. A soft snare drum assists in keeping quiet regularity of each song, reserving the front stage for Webb’s own singing. She comes from a musical background and, by making music of her own, deliberately distanced herself from her five older siblings who make music under the moniker “The Webb Brothers,” according to Webb’s biography on Spotify.“Iwanted the EP to be like a lullaby—something that I could use to travel to a moment that felt complete,” said Webb.
-Mila Webb
“Sometimes we want a break and a release from the responsibilities of life. But time on earth is precious,” WebbPerhapssaid.the most positive line of the EP, and indeed one of the most memorable, is “you make the stars come out … like the midnight sky would be a long long time ago.” It is essential, in hearing this line, that we remember one of her most despairing lines in “Halos That Hang Around,” as she wonders, “don’t know if it’s a lunatic thought on which all stars hang.” If “it,” what appears to be the union between her and the subjects of these songs, is in fact a lunatic thought on which stars hang, Webb brilliantly foreshadows in the description of her memories the fate that she knew would arrive. Through this subtle weaving of emotions through symbols, Webb cathartically connects with her audience by presenting a common situation of emotional turmoil and complexity through the course of living through confusing and uncomfortable evolution.“Ifeelhappy listening to it,” Webb said about the EP as a whole, which she describes as “a moment in time that is far away.” Looking to the near future, she has a new release planned for early 2023.
“Halos That Hang Around” features a here-we-go-again swooping refrain that goes, “how come I’m still doing you wrong somehow,” which first sounds like Webb admonishing herself. She sounds exasperated and unsure in this lyric, which reflects the emotions surrounding the personal and global loss that she said inspired this album. By the end, however, the person she’s singing about is described as spitting on everything and being “out of it.” And yet, we learn that all of her thoughts return to that person. “I Was A Rose” continues Webb’s poetic delivery. Picking up right where she left off in her cryptic lyrics from “Halos That Hang Around,” she considers the possibility of rekindling the love that she lost. The past-tense phrasing in the title is telling of Webb’s reflection in this song, and the title’s repetition in the chorus, though semantically sad, is accompanied by a light melody, almost as if Webb is opening a window on the darkness of the old relationship. At the end of the song, we find out why. “‘Cause I’m changing,” Webb tells us, and the rose seems to signify Webb’s goal of growing along with change—though it may be painful—that runs throughout the EP. The first three songs of this EP tell a story of various reactions to change and contradiction that seems to conclude soundly upon the end of the third song. We’re taken through the chronicle of Webb being grateful for something new in “Masterpiece,” yet the line “waste my time” lingers just long enough to stay on our minds as we enter into “Halos That Hang Around,” the lowest emotional point of the EP. “I Was A Rose” is then emotionally redeeming, which would feel fulfilling and like a satisfying final interpretation of change if not for the next and final track. “Lucky Nights” is a wild-card song and, as the title song, it demands to be viewed as a representation of the entire EP. The song’s ambiguous nature lies in the multiple potential interpretations, none of which seem more or less likely than the others given the collective picture of the previous three songs. When Webb says “you give me lucky nights,” she is clearly talking about something positive—but it hinges on luck, a thing of unpredictability. So maybe the song is more in the ilk of “Masterpiece,” paying homage to the highlights of being with someone you enjoy spending time, or nights, with. However, in the last verse of the EP, Webb sings, “if you think of me someday and wondering while you still do, I think it still would be enough for me too.” This idea is entrenched in accepting the passage of something that is long gone in any way except memory. In this way, “Lucky Nights” serves well as the title of the EP, as it brands the acceptance of events changing through time.
Album review: Mila Webb discusses the inspiration behind her debut EP “Lucky Nights”
The UMW men’s rugby team, Mother’s Rugby, defeated the Welsh Engineers and the James River Rugby Club in two scrimmages at the Battleground Athletic Complex on Saturday, Aug. 27. These were Mother’s Rugby’s preseason matches with all athletes playing in the two 50-minute games. In the first game against the Welsh Royal Engineers, the first squad scored three tries by sophomores Sebastian Scheffermann, Villame Tamani and Connor Foster. Scheffermann managed to convert on all three tries, helping Mother’s Rugby defeat the touring Welsh team, 21 to 14. Scheffermann, a business major, described the first half of the match as “Very strong. The intensity was there and we followed our game structure.”Thismatch was the new Director of rugby Gearoid Dunbar’s second game with the Mother’s team. “The first half was brilliant,” Dunbar said. “We played rugby the way we wanted to play and we dominated them in everything except the scrum but near the end of the first half we had the scrum dominate.” After a break in play, Mother’s Rugby entered the second game against James River, a Division II men’s club in Richmond, Va. The second team fought hard and scored four tries, bringing the Mother’s team to another win, 24-12. The points were scored by senior Danny Bullock and freshmen Nick Ball, Nick White and Max McCluster.“Alotof our new guys played in that game so it’s the first time we’re really getting to see them playing and having a bit of fun,” Dunbar said about the second match. “They played really well against an older side with a bit more experience, so the boys had to try to force them to play it the way they wanted to play, and I think by the end of it they had them in their pocket.” The team has a strong base of returners coming back to Fredericksburg and a large group of 21 freshmen that are contributing to the squad’s structure and performance, headed by Dunbar.
Sports Page 6Thursday, September 1, 2022
Mother’s Rugby has joined the newly formed Division I-A East Conference beginning this season where they will be facing schools like Army West Point, ranked fourth nationally, the Naval Academy and Penn State, as well as other big names such as Virginia Tech and Notre Dame. “I’ll be looking forward to playing Penn State,” said Scheffermann. “It’s one of our last games this season, so, yeah, I’m most excited for that just because that was the first game I played when I was a freshman here.”
UMW men’s rugby team walks off the pitch.
“Training has been grueling and with lots of conditioning,” said Joey Welch, a senior education major. “But we’re making great strides as aTheteam.”Mother’s Rugby squad is splitting up for their next match, as some will be heading to West Virginia to compete in a Division I scrimmage against Wheeling University, while some will stay at the Battlefield to play against Radford University on Sept. 10, both at 11 a.m.
Men’s Rugby dominates doubleheader at the Battleground
“He has been amazing,” Waddington said about Dunbar. “Pushing us in training, keeping us in check and making sure we get everything done. Like he says himself, ‘he’ll either be your enemy or your best friend.’ He’s there for all of us and wants us to do well; he’s been great at pushing us to the next level.”
TERESA GUzMAN Staff Writer
Moving up into this more competitive division means a more challenging training regime for the rugby players. The team participated in a strict program at the beginning of the summer from Nathan Schwarts, assistant strength and conditioning coach, that emphasized increasing strength, speed and agility on the turf.
Mother’s Rugby @umw
For the past two years Akkerman has purchased most of her required texts from online sources that were able to offer her the best deal. Perl hopes that the program is more transparent in the future.
On August 25 at midnight, There were reported threats at Williard Hall This case is pending.
“I’m fortunate enough to come from a comfortable position where it was no worry for me, but I hope that the process is improved in the future so that others can receive a more accommodating and clear experience,” he said.
“I don’t think the plan is necessarily a bad one, but there was such little transparency and forewarning about it that I could understand why students, especially those with tight and regulated budgets, would be upset or annoyed,” said Otto Perl, a sophomore majoring in English with a concentration in creative writing.Despite the option to opt out, some students still worry about the program.
“Because at this point, I think that most people see Title IX for what is it now as more of a slap on the wrist and more of a like annoyance than it is an actual consequence.”-CalebRuble
Spirit rock functions as message board, conveying students’ concerns about campus safety
After the consequences of the rock paintings, many wonder what role the rock should play on UMW’s campus.“Idon’t want this—I want to heal,” said the complainant about the rock painting.
“The idea that the autonomy of deciding where to spend my money is being taken away does not sit well with me,” said Bonnie Akkerman, a senior double majoring in history and English. “That’s like letting your server decide the tip amount and you must go along with whatever they demand. ... I want the freedom to get my materials from the best priced vendors.”
Scotti Mullen contributed to reporting for this article. informing them of their enrollment in the program and the benefits. However, some students were not aware of their enrollment in it and incurred unexpected charges to their accounts. Banner does not specify which courses are enrolled in the First Day program.
Ruble, who used to be friends with the former RA, does not believe the rock painting was a productive way of making change and said it put a target on the backs of those who filed Title IX complaints against the former RA. He also worried that it might drive the accused student to violence.
“You don’t want to cause panic, but also as a woman, I’m inclined to say, ‘Yeah, you should warn your peer mentees about that,’” said Spencer. “But it’s also like there’s a line of where does this become like a manhunt or where does this become like rumors mongering kind of thing? And it’s hard to, like I said, sort of differentiate what is real and what isn’t.”
“It’s a promising program and I hope we continue to use it going -Robertforward.”Rycroft
“It’s extremely triggering for a lot of people and generally doesn’t get anything done,” he said. “I don’t really think the vigilante justice system is really the answer to a broken Title IX system. I think it is not really fair to the victims either that it’s publicized as well.”
UMW now uses Barnes & Noble First Day Program as a way to purchase course materials.
Threats
Lewis Keegan / Unsplash
Ruble believes the best way to make change is not to identify the problem but to work towards a solution.
FROM SPIRIT ROCK PAGE 1 Crime Column SCOTTI MULLEN & CALLIE HARKINS News Editors
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News Page 7Thursday, September 1, 2022
Sexual Battery
“I actually plan on starting to create a petition to see if I can’t help the Title IX office in some way and see if I can’t give it some kind of power or some kind of funding to be able to really help survivors and really see if we can actually get some punishment for those who have done things wrong,” he said. “Because at this point, I think that most people see Title IX for what it is now as more of a slap on the wrist and more of a like annoyance than it is an actual consequence.”
“It looked like violence,” he said. “It almost looked like they were using it as an excuse to be violent. ... Looking at this rock scared me.”
Professors given the option to adopt First Day Inclusive Access Program
FROM FIRST DAY 2
When sophomore biology major Caleb Ruble saw the rock with the message carved into it, he was “horrified.”
Ava Spencer, a senior earth and environmental sciences major, is a peer mentor on campus. She and her fellow peer mentors have been unsure if they should warn their peer mentees about a safety concern relating to the former RA.
Spencer also compared the recent rock paintings to one from last fall that read, “Mr. Paino, how many reports to catch a few predators?”
“I think with what our campus is kind of doing right now, this can drive anyone to become dangerous because what it feels like it’s become is everyone is now setting him into a corner. I understand,” said Ruble. “He messed up, and I understand he did many many terrible things. But no human deserves to be treated like a wild animal.”
To cover the message drawn into the smeared paint, early on Monday morning, Ruble and his friends painted the rock once more. The rock is now teal with purple writing saying, “Survivors: we see you; we are here for you.” They chose these colors on purpose, as teal symbolizes sexual assault survivors and purple symbolizes domestic abuse survivors. “Fix Title IX” was added later by someone else.
On August 28 at 1:45a.m., there was a case of sexual battery at the UMW Apartments. This case is pending.
Simon Jones, a senior economics major, believes that painting the rock about sexual assault can be harmful.
Members of UMW’s cross country team. @umw_xctf / Instagram
Teresa Guzman, a senior sociology major on both teams, commented on adjusting to a new coach and atmosphere.
The team laid a strong foundation over the past few years under the guidance of former coach Kunle Lawson, who had been at UMW since 2015, and with the help of upperclassman leadership.
“I think it was definitely sad seeing Lawson go considering some of us have known him since we were seniors in high school,” said Guzman. “But it’s been amazing welcoming in Coach Hart. It’s been a smooth transition and Coach Hart is filling the role everyone needs perfectly.”Withthe loss of multiple seniors and some athletes who are out due to injuries, the team looks significantly different from last year, according to Guzman.
Asia Hart was recently named the new head coach for both the cross country and track and field teams for the upcoming 2022-2023 season.“Ihope to create a new standard within the program and for the group to come together to accomplish their goals,” said Hart. “I admire the productive and successful season that was had last year. I’m looking forward to things coming full circle this year.”
Hart expects to work hard with each athlete individually in order to achieve this goal. This one-on-one style allows her to get to personally know each member of her team and discover what they canHartcontribute.alsoexpressed a desire to see more community involvement from the team within the Fredericksburg area and mentioned an interest in organizing a 5k run fundraising event in the near future.
Rajai Walton, a senior business major on the track and field team, said he is looking forward to the upcoming season with Hart. He appreciates the encouragement and chemistry she brings to the team and hopes they can come together as a whole to improve the team.
Hart learns from all of her previous coaching experiences to continue improving her program with each new season and team.
Walton looks forward to this new perspective on the team.
KELSEYStaffSTEINBAUERWriter
“With that being said, the team this year shouldn’t focus on what we lost and focus on getting the top five across the line,” she said.
Men’s Soccer Sept. 1 vs. N.C. Wesleyan Sept. 3 vs. Guilford Sept. 6 vs. Johns Hopkins Women’s Soccer Sept. 1 @ Randolph-Macon Sept. 3 @ Messiah Sept. 7 vs. Southern Virginia Men’s Rugby Aug. 27 W vs. Welsh Engineers (21-14) Sept. 10 @ Wheeling Jesuit Cross Country Sept. 3 @ Univeristy of Richmond Sept.Invitational16@Christopher Newport Invitational Field Hockey Aug. 24 L @ Randolph-Macon (3-1) Sept. 1 vs. Roanoke Sept. 7 vs. Bridgewater Women’s Volleyball Sept. 1 vs. Randolph-Macon Sept. 2 vs. Pitt.-Bradford @ Va Sept.Beach2 @ Va. Wesleyan Sept. 7 @ Eastern Mennonite Men’s Tennis Sept. 10-11 UMW Invitational with George Mason and N.C. Wesleyan Women’s Tennis Sept. 9-11 vs. Navy Invitational Sept. 23-25 ITA Regional 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. EMILYSportsHEMPHILLEditor
The team will be focused on building strength and general conditioning from Labor Day until mid-October when the athletes will then begin to specifically train for their events. This is the basic training structure that Hart has created over the past five years, though it does adapt athlete to athlete.
Hart grew up in Birmingham, Ala., where she excelled as a runner from an early age. Hart went to Queens University of Charlotte in Charlotte, N.C., to continue her athletic career, winning nine track and field conference titles. She was also a South Atlantic Conference Track Athlete of the Year in 2016 and a three-time NCAA Provisioner Qualifier. After completing her undergraduate degree, Hart attended Drury University in Springfield, Mo., to earn her master’s degree in communication with an integrated marketing focus, where she discovered her love for coaching. Her first coaching experience was as a graduate assistant helping athletes improve their sprints, hurdles and jumps. According to Hart, she joined the coaching community not expecting to love it as much as she does to this day. After her time at Drury, Hart moved back to Virginia to be a full-time assistant coach at Shenandoah University.
Sports Page 8Thursday, September 1, 2022
UMW hires new Cross Country and Track & Field coach: Asia Hart
“I admire the productive and successful season that was had last year. I’m looking forward to things coming full circle this -Asiayear.”Hart
“I like to see what their strong and weak points are, and work from there to bring out the best in that athlete. It is individualized for the most part,” Hart said. “There is general stuff we can do but if we really want to see the results within this program, it is going to have to be individualized to what that athlete can manage, handle, and improve upon.”
UMW’s new cross country and track & field coach Asia Hart. University of Mary Washington University of WashingtonMary Fall Sports Schedule
“For my coaching style, I do build upon each year that I have coached,” she said. “So I might have a general plan coming in August and then by December if things just aren’t working, I will adjust it so that we can try to figure out a better plan of action for the athlete.”
“I love Coach Asia’s energy and what she brings to the table,” said Walton.When asked what Walton hopes to see this year, he said without hesitation, “Another championship title.”
“Coach Asia’s passion for coaching and the sport is very inspiring to the team,” he said. “I believe she’ll lead the team to success this season.”
