The Weekly
UMW IT Department addresses professors’ frustrations regarding multi-factor authentication issues
MADISON FRY Staff Writer
This semester, several professors expressed complaints regarding the effectiveness and efficiency of the multi-factor authentication system that was recently implemented to better secure UMW accounts. According to some faculty members, the updated authentication system was unintentionally an inconvenient and unreliable way to log in to their university accounts.
After faculty and staff expressed frustrations with the authentication system, the University IT Department worked to create a fix that would benefit professors while still adhering to guidelines put forth by the Commonwealth. Faculty and staff can now choose between using multi-factor authentication or having a password over 14 characters and changing it every 90 days.
An email sent on Oct. 15 from Chief Information Officer Hall Cheshire communicated that multi-factor authentication would pause so that other options for enhanced security could be offered instead and integrated through password updates.
Most faculty, such as Professor of Classics Angela Pitts, understand the importance of protecting their account security while still acknowledging the issues that resulted from using the multi-factor authentication system.
“None of us wants a major breach of data, and cyberattacks involving malicious theft of data, sensitive information, and intellectual property are unfortunately becoming increasingly common.”
- Angela Pitts
“Protecting the cybersecurity of UMW students, faculty, and staff is, of course, a serious challenge and an urgent priority. I take the cybersecurity of UMW systems very seriously,” said Pitts. “None of us wants a major breach of data, and cyberattacks involving malicious theft of data, sensitive information, and intellectual property are unfortunately becoming increasingly common.”
JLARC report finds Mary Washington is facing “some viability risk” due to aging campus facilities and financing
ENYA CEA-LAVIN Staff Writer
A report published by Virginia’s Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission earlier this month found the University of Mary Washington to have “some viability risks.” The report cited factors such as aging buildings and tuition costs as primary concerns.
According to the report, total enrollment declined 23% between 2016 and 2023. While the university has recently stabilized enrollment, offering continued discounted tuition has harmed the institution financially. As a result, the report suggests that UMW has indicated that it would halt these discounts, subsequently raising tuition costs.
returns back to the
for
Faculty and staff have experienced difficulties logging into their university accounts. Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer
preventing
use of Ball Circle are once again put up
to revitalize the dead grass are made to upkeep the natural beauty and heart of campus. This is a part of the ongoing maintenance efforts that disrupt students’ experience at UMW. Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer
The Editor-in-Chief
Weekly Ringer
Editorial Staff
Callie Harkins
weeklyringer.eic@gmail.com
Associate Editor
Emma Kingkeo News Editor Ky Huynh
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Opinion Editor
Claire Marshall Watkins
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Life Editor
Grace Wagner
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Sports Editor Thomas Jackson
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Online Editor
Abbey Magnet
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Photography Editor Abbey Magnet weeklyringer.photos@gmail.com
Multi-factor authentication system meant to secure UMW accounts causes disruptions
Despite their understanding, professors experienced difficulties with multi-factor authentication. Struggles with logging into Canvas, Banner and Outlook caused disruptions while teaching. Some professors, like Associate Professor of Spanish Antonia Delgado-Poust, did not like the multi-factor authentication as it required the use of their personal phone.
“To be completely honest, I was a little annoyed that we were expected to download an app on our personal phones just so that we could access Canvas during class time,” said Delgado-Poust.
Professors were inconvenienced by using their personal phones for a variety of reasons. Faculty mentioned storage problems, cell reception, workflow disruptions and overall inconsistencies in their login abilities.
“I, personally, found the frequent need to check my phone significantly disruptive to my workflow and sometimes disruptive in the classroom as I navigate between, say, Canvas and webpages and then back to Canvas in different segments of a lecture or class presentation,” said Pitts.
Surupa Gupta, professor of political science and international affairs, expressed her concerns about having to use a personal phone for multi-factor authentication as it causes issues when faculty members have to travel.
“I totally understand the need for the two-factor authentication login from a cybersecurity perspective. However, using our personal phones to do so seems problematic for many reasons,” Gupta said.
and on occasion, signing on to Canvas to do my work. I can’t sign on using a process that uses my U.S. cell phone number.”
Additionally, inadequate cell service furthered frustrations and disruptions while teaching, as professors were not receiving the codes needed to log into UMW services.
“The change, as I understand it, adheres to state guidelines and regulations and maintains best practice.”
may cause.
“My own perspective is that if these challenges and disruptions while on campus may be averted by using the alternative best practice—a longer and more sophisticated password—then the alternative is highly favorable,” Pitts said.
“I will be changing my 14+ character password every 42 days. I am very grateful for the option,” said Delgado-Poust.
However, Professor of Sociology Kristin Marsh was unsure if changing the password protection requirements would resolve the issues occurring with the multi-factor authentication.
Faculty Advisor
Sushma Subramanian
ssubrama@umw.edu
Corrections
Please report any corrections to Callie Harkins at weeklyringer.eic@gmail.com or Sushma Subramanian at ssubrama@umw.edu
Due to editor error, last edition’s article “Local journalists from various publications discuss news coverage and financial futures at UMW panel” incorrectly spelled Managing Editor of the Fredericksburg Free Press Joey LoMonaco’s last name.
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Bell tower logo designed by Bernadette D’Auria ‘22
She continued, “Many of us in the UMW faculty travel internationally for work. I always turn off my U.S. phone while abroad. But if I am traveling to a conference during a semester, I am still responding to emails
- Angela Pitts
“Cell reception is sometimes not very good in older campus buildings, and some faculty have reported needing to leave their classrooms as they are logging in to Canvas to display material in the course management systems to their classes,” Pitts said.
The IT department acknowledged that the disruptions to the classroom were an oversight, and that further notice about the implementation should have been provided and more training and testing opportunities should have been offered. As a result of these issues, the university responded to concerns with a change that appears to have helped resolve this issue.
“The IT Department has been working to expand the use of MFA across all UMW systems, and that project could take 12 to 18 months to complete,” said Cheshire. “Until then, to meet Commonwealth requirements, UMW will change its minimum password length from 8 to 14 characters and expand the password change requirement from every 42 days to every 90 days.”
Many professors have opted to change their passwords frequently in hopes of avoiding any possible disruptions in the classroom that multi-factor authentication
“I don’t know—it actually depends on how often we have to log in; it will be disruptive in the classroom if one log-in doesn’t do it for the full day I’m on campus,” Marsh said.
The professors were content with the change in how their privacy and password can be protected and appreciated that the IT department was willing to listen to their concerns and create a suitable fix.
“Using
our personal phones [for multi-factor authentication] seems problematic for many reasons.”
- Surupa Gupta
“I deeply appreciate the administration’s and the Chief Technical Officer’s willingness to pivot in a way that prevents some of the practical challenges of a two-factor authentication system for use of campus systems while on campus. The change, as I understand it, adheres to state guidelines and regulations and maintains best practice,” said Pitts.
The University of Mary Washington IT Department recognized professors’ frustrations with multi-factor authentication and offered alternatives. Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer
October 25, 2024
Letter to the Editor: UMW should get back to the basics
BRADFORD ELDER
Contributing Writer
It’s really sad to see that Mary Washington is on the Virginia’s Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission’s list of at-risk universities. The trouble started with President William Anderson’s lying about changing the
“I’d like to see Mary Washington get back to basics: solid academics and smaller classes taught by tenured professors.”
- Bradford Elder
institution’s name in the early 2000s and his feverish push to turn a great college into a large university, something that literally and figuratively did not fit the institution. From there, Mary Washington’s beautiful campus has been overbuilt with bloated and drab buildings, including a dubious “Convergence Center” that bears another former administrator’s name. I’d like to see Mary Washington get back to the basics: solid academics and smaller classes taught by tenured professors. Those things will stand the test of time. New buildings and shiny objects won’t, and we’re seeing that bear out now.
Bradford Elder
Mary Washington Class of 2005
Even as empathy becomes an increasingly rare trait, we should be able to feel for those who are nothing like us
engagement. Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer
a valid question, it upholds the idea that for one to empathize with a concept or person, one must relate to it.
Most people have likely seen or heard some version of the same question. There are a plethora of videos, comments and real-life instances of people using that point to support their belief.
“With sexual assault, a lot of people are like, ‘Oh, if that was my girlfriend, if that was my daughter, if that was someone I’m closely related with.’ Sometimes people use that to preface the rest of their statement and I think you don’t necessarily need to do that to convey empathy. It shouldn’t happen to anyone at all. It’s a little hard because I feel like when people say that they don’t realize it sounds non-inclusive,” said Garret Hennessey, a senior English major.
He continued, “They don’t necessarily understand that them saying it basically sounds a little [in]genuine as if it would only affect them. Maybe they do feel empathy for any survivors of sexual assault, but because they preface it with, ‘Oh, if it was my girlfriend,’ it sounds [in]genuine.”
What bothers me most about the sort of “what if it was your girlfriend” argument is the fact that sometimes, that is the one point that appeals to some men.
Some people with anti-choice values use confirmation bias or overlook facts that do not support their belief, and argue that pregnant people should carry out pregnancies regardless of circumstance.
what good are we talking about human rights issues?”
The video, posted to YouTube, goes on for nine minutes and is flagged with an informational message containing a link to a page on the Centers for Disease Control website with facts and information about induced abortions.
“With sexual assault, a lot of people are like, ‘Oh, if that was my girlfriend...’ Sometimes people use that to preface the rest of their statement and I think you don’t necessarily need to do
that to convey empathy.”
- Garrett Hennessey
Abortion Surveillance in the United States conducted by the CDC records that in 2021, 625,978 abortions were reported in their survey. While the lowest percentage of these abortions were performed on minors under the age of 15, the number of abortions performed on people ages 1524 increased from the previous year. The CDC also reports that at least one in four girls experience child sexual abuse.
CLAIRE MARSHALL WATKINS Opinion Editor
Too often while scrolling through social media, I see posts from people arguing that others should agree with their belief or opinion by attaching an element of attempted universality to the topic. Count-
less times online, I have observed users who support reproductive rights rhetorically asking, “What if it was your daughter?” or some variation of that question to men who regard themselves as pro-life. They hope to incentivize these men to question their beliefs and agree with prochoice values. While this argument poses
Charlie Kirk, a right-wing public figure who has gone viral multiple times for sharing his views online and around college campuses with a microphone, holds this belief.
“I just think it’s important that if we’re not willing to fight for those in the womb that we can’t see, that we can’t observe, then we’re just hypocrites,” said Kirk in one video in which he speaks to a student about abortion rights. “We’re just like,
Does Kirk believe children and victims of sexual assault should bear children? Does he know these facts and just not care?
Sometimes speaking to people with differing views can feel like speaking to a brick wall if they are unwilling to listen, and unfortunately, sometimes the only way to get reciprocity is to use a personal appeal.
UMW ‘Aspire’ values promote accountability, scholarship, personal and institutional integrity, inclusive excellence, respect and civility and
Mary Washington was named on the JLARC’s list of at-risk public universities. Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer
Historic downtown Fredericksburg embraces autumn through proud displays of seasonal decorations
GRACE WAGNER & ABBEY MAGNET Life Editor & Photo Editor
The historic downtown area of Fredericksburg is a charming destination in the fall, offering a delightful mix of vibrant foliage, rich history and local culture. When strolling along the picturesque streets lined with 18th and 19th-century buildings you can explore unique shops, cozy cafes and art galleries. Fall events, such as harvest festivals, scarecrow contests and ghost hunting tours, bring the community to life, while the stunning backdrop of autumn leaves creates a perfect setting for outdoor activities.
The Fredericksburg locals know how to bring the seasonal spirit to their doorsteps and encourage everyone to join in on the autumn fun. You can feel the spirit of this small town when walking down the neighborhood streets and seeing locals who treat everyone like their friendly neighbor. The kindness and hospitality of the locals is what makes Fredericksburg the perfect friendly fall town. Fredericksburg in the fall is an unforgettable experience for all to enjoy. Whether you are a resident UMW Eagle or just someone passing through the area, dowtown Fredericksburg is a must visit.
Fredericksburg locals go all out with seasonal decorations. They embrace the spirit of the season with a charming blend of autumn hues and Halloween whimsy and invite all passersby to celebrate the joys of fall. Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer
Pumpkins of all shapes, colors and sizes are a staple for Fredericksburg fall decor. Many homeowners compete over the greatest array of gords. Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer
The local Fredricksburg culture and Halloween spirit are woven together like a spider’s web. Each house, restaurant, business and music venue plays a key role in keeping our small town as charming as it is. Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer
The restaurants of dowtown Fredericksburg are simply to die for.
Whether you want a big meal, a quick bite or a crisp brew, the food will rock you to your core. Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer
Grab all of your witchy freinds and head downtown for a fun group outing. There are loads of things to get up to this spooky season on the streets of Fredericksburg. Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer
Every year, events like the scarecrow festival create a lot of community buzz when locals vote on their favorite farm frieghteners. Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer
Advertisement
The UMW Philharmonic Orchestra will be hosting its third annual concerto competition. Winners will go on to play their piece at the February 23rd concert.
Event Details:
Wednesday, Oct 30, 7 pm
The Weatherly Wing of Seacobeck Hall Admission free; reception to follow
The following students will be taking part in the competition this year:
Claudia Boyd - Violin
Parris Dineen-Viola
Keats Foreman – Viola
Riley Frances - Cello
Angus Frazier-Violin
Abigail Gage - Timpani
Jemima Manton – Bassoon
Kelsey Payne - Violin
Last year’s winner: Sasha Murphy(flute),center
The UMW Jazz Ensemble holds an annual concert, Jazz for Justice, to raise money for LegalAidWorks in Fredericksburg and for music scholarships for students.
Event Details
Sunday, November 2, 7:30 pm
Dodd Auditorium
$5 for students
$10 for community members
Addressing the current lack of empathy: She’s not just someone’s mother, daughter or sister, she’s her own person
FROM EMPATHY, PAGE 3
“I definitely do think that argument has worked before. I know I’ve been in a situation where I’ve witnessed it working, where someone has brought up a personal example or a hypothetical personal example, and it has appealed to someone else’s empathy,” said Ally Hamilton, a junior English major.
“I like to think that in a perfect world, everybody would just kind of treat each other well just to treat each other well. Obviously I know that’s not realistic.”
-Ally Hamilton
“I take issue with it because I like to think that in a perfect world, everybody would just kind of treat each other well just to treat each other well. Obviously, I know that’s not realistic,” she said.
I agree with Hamilton. While a personal appeal as an argument is certainly effective in many cases, it shows that some people fail to empathize with people outside of their lives. It implies that facts or inherent moral stand-
ing is not enough to persuade or dissuade some people regarding an opinion or value. It shouldn’t matter the disadvantage or oppression a person or group of people face, any individual with mor-
als ought to empathize with those facing oppression. We should hold our values for what they are, not for the sake of the people in our lives for whom those values might benefit.
A sign points to Lee Hall. Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer
There should not have to be a personal appeal for someone to be willing to show empathy towards another person. When discussing issues of gender-based harrassment and reproductive rights, some fail to empathize because they cannot relate. Gayatri Malhotra / Unsplash
Decreasing enrollment and condition of facilities contribute to UMW’s potential future struggle to “retain and recruit”
FROM VIABILITY, PAGE 1
Similarly, aging facilities that require extensive maintenance have contributed to the viability risks. The report found that UMW has the second oldest campus facilities among all public four-year institutions in the Commonwealth.
According to the JLARC Higher Education Institution Viability Report, total enrollment declined between 2016 and 2023 by 23%.
The report asserts that UMW may struggle to “ retain and recruit “ students because of factors such as ongoing construction projects to repair dated facilities and gradual tuition changes.
Recently, UMW has made an effort to address some of the concerns cited in the report. Specifically, the university has invested in construction projects to maintain and repair historic buildings on campus. The report states that UMW has nearly $200 million in funding to “build a new theatre building, renovate three academic buildings and undertake various accessibility and maintenance projects.”
Although the university is working to address some of the concerns associated with the aging campus, current students remain frustrated with the ongoing disruptions. The Underground Utilities Project, which lasted for four years and sought to replace outdated piping, demonstrated the issues associated with an aging campus.
The physical appearance of a campus under constant construction can potentially deter prospective students. Kendra White, a junior biomedical major, believes the ongoing construction has contributed to a decrease in UMW’s overall charm.
Crime Column
EMMA KINGKEO News Editor
The Crime Column is based on UMW Police reports from Oct 7. - Oct. 23.
There has been no crime reported since The Weekly Ringer’s last publication on Oct. 11.
“I feel like UMW would look more appealing if it wasn’t being renovated all the time,” she said.
The university has also made recent adjustments to tuition costs to address some of the financial concerns associated with the discounted rates. This semester, the total tuition increase for a full-time undergraduate student living on campus with a meal plan is 4% for those in-state and 3.4% for those out-of-state.
“If [the tuition increase] was happening my freshman year I think I would attempt to find a cheaper college due to the financial situation that I have,” said White.
Ultimately, the report recommends that the university take several steps to address the viability risks identified. In addition to ongoing monitoring and assessment, the report “suggests actions such as adding or eliminating academic programs, reducing spending in specific areas, or developing new community or regional partnerships.”
Monroe Hall’s ongoing construction efforts contribute to the viability concerns cited in the JLARC Higher Education Institution viability report. These various repairs and maintenance projects occurring on campus cause interruptions to students and faculty by creating noise, blocking pathways and displacing professors. Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer
Nathan Terrell returns back to the nest at UMW for another season with his team
AMANDA SHEWARD Senior Writer
The COVID-19 pandemic affected universities worldwide in a number of ways, and in the chaos of the pandemic, athletes temporarily lost their ability to play the sport they love. To make up for the time past, the National Collegiate Athletic Association implemented an exception that allows student-athletes to play for an additional year if their previous seasons were impacted by the pandemic.
Nathan Terrell, a biomedical science major, is playing his fifth year of NCAA men’s soccer at UMW. He decided to stay an Eagle because of the team’s great comradery.
“I chose to stay at UMW because we have a team that has great chemistry and have the opportunity to play for conference and national championships this year,” he said.
“Being in the presence of someone as squared away as himself, is a massive motivator for our entire squad.”
- Gabe Francisconi
Last season the team fell short to Washington and Lee University during the third round of the NCAA Division III tournament. By winning the Continental Athletic Conference and advancing further than last year’s team in the tournament, the decision to stay will be even better.
In addition to this season being Terrell’s last, he is also a co-captain with Freddy Rogers, a senior marketing major and Gabe Francisconi a graduate student obtaining his masters in business administration. Terrell believes that being a captain brings its own set of challenges and rewards.
“Things are not always black and white,” he said. “Finding solutions and communicating these effectively to the team is not always easy but is rewarding when done right.”
Even though this may be his final season as an Eagle, the thought of not coming back with his team next year has not crossed Terrell’s mind, instead he is focusing on taking the season one day at a time.
“Our team emphasizes taking the season day by day, focusing on being the best you can be today, so that’s been my mindset,” he said.
Terrell hopes to help cultivate a winning culture with his team this year and leave with no regrets and hopefully a national championship.
“I am still playing soccer because we have a great group of guys here at UMW that are capable of winning a national championship,” he said. “I also wanted to take my fifth year because I didn’t want to regret not taking it.”
Terrell emphasized the importance of being at a university that has strong athletics without missing out on academic opportunities.
“I am thankful that UMW has an environment that is highly competitive and that I get to play a role in our success on the field,” he said. “I also found UMW to be a good fit academically, where I am satisfied with my education without having to sacrifice soccer, free time, or social life.”
Francesconi believes that Terrell shows the qualities of a great athlete on and off the field.
“[Terrell] motivates me in all facets of life. Off the field, being his roommate for two years I saw his attention to detail in all aspects,” he said. “Being more of an Academic than myself he motivated me to push myself in the classroom,”
Francesconi said that on the field, Terrell stands as a testament to all of the team’s hard work.
“On the field, he constantly reminds me of the work we all collectively put in and this motivates me to continue playing hard for not just him but the entire group,” he said.
Francesconi believes that just by being around someone like Terrell, the entire team is motivated to better themselves as both a cohesive team and as individual athletes.
“Being in the presence of someone as squared away as himself, is a massive motivator for our entire squad,” he said.
“The challenge for us is to only focus on us. If we perform at the level that we know we are capable of, then that is all we can ask for, and that is what we try to do every day.”
- Nathan Terrell
This season has started strong for the men’s soccer team. Winning almost all of their games so far with only one tie. Terrell is looking forward to the new challenges that the team will face.
“Our program is now at a point where we are nationally recognized as a top team, and we have the challenge of having a target on our back. Every team that we play this season will have extra motivation to beat us,” Terrell said. “The challenge for us is to only focus on us. If we perform at the level that we know we are capable of, then that is all we can ask for, and that is what we try to do every day.”
Junior business administration major Michael Lenhard, one of Terrell’s teammates, said that Terrell motivates him by setting a good example of the standards that he has helped set.
“[Terrell] brings a sense of calmness to the team that no one else has. This includes when he has the ball, but also in his decision-making, positioning and his reactions to situations,” he said. “We are going to miss his leadership the most. He gives so much both on and off the field that it will be difficult to replace the impact that he has.”
“I am still playing soccer because we have a great group of guys here at UMW that are capable of winning a national championship.”
- Nathan Terrell
After this year, Terrell wants to continue playing soccer. While he may not become a professional soccer player, he wants to at least play in an adult league.
“I will definitely keep playing soccer. I’m not sure if I’ll have the chance to play professionally, but I see myself playing in at least some sort of adult league,” he said. “I also may try to become a grad assistant, but I’m not entirely sure yet.”
Being a part of the UMW men’s soccer team for more than four years is something Terrell is incredibly grateful for. Once this season is over, he is going to miss playing alongside his teammates.
“Beating a strong opponent when everyone on our team plays their best makes me feel accomplished and proud,” he said. “I am also going to miss hanging out with the team and spending time with my friends.”
THOMAS JACKSON
Sports
Editor
Men’s Soccer (14-0-1)
Oct. 12 vs. Christopher Newport University (1-0)
Oct. 22 @ North Carolina Wesleyan University (4-0)
Women’s Soccer (7-4-3)
Oct. 12 vs. Christopher Newport University (0-2)
Oct. 19 @ Salisbury University (1-0)
Women’s Volleyball (11-13)
Oct. 12 vs. Christopher Newport University (0-3) vs. Salisbury University (1-3)
Oct. 13 vs. UC, Santa Cruz (0-3) Oct. 19 vs. Bridgewater College (3-1)
Men’s Rugby (2-5)
Oct. 19 @ Mount St. Mary’s (35-44)
Women’s Rugby (2-3) Oct. 19 @ Kutztown University (14-70)
Field Hockey (10-6)
Oct. 12 @ Salisbury University (2-5) Oct. 19 vs. Rhodes College (1-2) Oct. 20 @ Sewanee (3-0)
Men’s Swimming (1-1) Oct. 12 vs. Washington and Lee University (70-189) Oct. 17 @ Randolph-Macon College (145-117)
Women’s Swimming (2-0) Oct. 12 vs. Washington and Lee University (139-123) Oct. 17 @ Randolph-Macon College (139-123)
Games are available to watch via livestream on the UMW Athletics webpage www.eagles.com/composite
Full schedule not listed above. Most recent games included. Bold indicates home game.
Nathan Terrell kicks around a soccer ball during his fifth year at UMW. Photo courtesy of Nathan Terrell