The Weekly Ringer

Students’ trip to Nepal focuses on civic engagement

MADISON MCCALLUM Staff Writer

Over winter break, twelve students spent two weeks in Nepal on a faculty-led study abroad trip focused on civic engagement. Led by David Rettinger, psychology professor and director of academic integrity programs, and Sarah Dewees, director of the Center for Community Engagement, the group participated in walking tours, dined in local restaurants, enjoyed traditional entertainment and engaged with local schools and government through service projects.

“Having the opportunity to see another part of the world so far away from home, with other peers your age, led by two faculty members, is an experience unlike any other,” said junior political science major Nathan Francis.

The students spent the last eight weeks of the fall semester in “International Perspectives on Civic Engagement: Nepal,” a course taught by Rettinger. They studied a broad range of topics related to Nepal, including its history, culture, economy and art, with a primary focus on different strategies for positive social change through non-governmental organizations. According to NGO Source, a nongovernmental organization is “a voluntary group or institution with a social mission, which operates independently from the government.”

The students’ classroom experience, according to senior psychology major Tyler Clift, was meant to provide them with a strong understanding of the role external facilitators, like NGOs, play in social advancement, as well as social enterprises and the

impact local government plays when in regard to preserving architecture and history through historic preservation.

“A memorable moment was visiting the nongovernmental organization of Slisha, which supports women and children through micro-loans to entrepreneurs and by providing early childhood education for the children of female entrepreneurs,” said Dewees. “We got to visit their office and learn more about their programs, and then we visited one of their early childhood education centers. It was inspirational to learn about their work and see one of their programs in action.”

Attendees had opportunities to gain cross-cultural knowledge through visits to local Nepali cultural and religious sites and by interacting with the community. They also visited schools, government offices and non-governmental organizations.

“We had the privilege of visiting Slisha’s main office, then we went out into the city to visit one of their program sites, an Early Childhood Development Center, that provides education and resources to young children,” said senior psychology major Grace Pippin. “Seeing the success

Faculty profile: Sociology professor Nora Hui-Jung Kim

KY HUYNH Staff Writer

Seating for Dr. Nora Hui-Jung Kim’s sociology classes fills rapidly each semester—even her 9:30 a.m., 65-seat intro sociology class held 57 students in the fall of 2022. Not only are Kim’s classes notable for their popularity, but upon walking into her classroom, many students recognize that Kim is one of the few non-white professors at this school.

From cultural events to diverse clubs, the themes of diversity and inclusion are presented in many ways for students at UMW. Even so, statistics from College Simply show that UMW’s racial diversity is low, with 70% of students identifying as white and 30% as people of color.

The professors at UMW, however, are even less diverse. According to College Factual, UMW’s professors are 86.2% white, 9.9% Black and 3.9% Asian.

Kim, a Korean-American professor, has been teaching sociology classes at UMW for the past 14 years, starting in 2009. She was drawn in by the job announcement saying that the sociology department was looking for a scholar who specialized in race in a non-western context.

Despite the promising job description, when she got to UMW, Kim faced a lack of diversity in UMW’s professors—and she is currently the sociology department’s only non-adjunct faculty member of color.

“When I first came here, it was very isolating because there are not that many professors of color,” she said. “There are certain things that I cannot really share with my other professors. ... There’s a kind of burden that you carry, that you have to prove yourself—that you’re as good as others.”

Being one of the few Asian professors, Kim also feels that her duties to represent her race extend beyond the classroom on campus. For example, the university often hosts diversity-related events, such as the Asian Cultural Celebration. While wellintentioned, Kim said, these events can put

pressure on people of color to participate merely because they belong to the group being celebrated.

“If there are any diversity-related events, then you have to kind of volunteer, even if you don’t want to,” Kim said. “There’s a term called diversity tax. So I’ve definitely felt that diversity tax—that I had to pay extra for those kinds of events.”

Beyond diversity-related events, Kim has also felt pressure to participate in faculty search committees.

“Kind of an unspoken rule is that you have to have one faculty member who is not white on the search committee,” she said. “And there are not that many non-white faculty members. So if there’s 30 going on, they have a really small pool of non-white faculty members to choose from. So I’ve been serving search committees so many times.”

Participating in these committees is incredibly time-consuming and can be frustrating, Kim said.

UMW students traveled to Nepal to

engagement.

Photo courtesy of Nathan Francis

Kim has been teaching at UMW for nearly 15 years. Photo courtesy of Nora Hui-Jung Kim

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Professor Nora Hui-Jung Kim talks being a Korean-American professor at UMW

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“It’s a lot of time commitment,” she said. “It was also challenging when I served on search committees for disciplines that have little in common with sociology. It’s rewarding and frustrating at the same time depending on the outcomes.”

worse on average than male professors. These evaluations, Kim said, are even worse for female professors of color who have accents.

up her opinions as a Korean-American professor,” Asnicar said of Kim.

At the beginning of her first semester, freshman Sophia Pedroza was concerned that she may not feel a close relationship with her professors, who were almost all white. She expressed how fortunate she feels to have a Jewish professor to relate to.

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In the classroom, Kim teaches classes that are not usually offered or taught by white professors. She offers courses such as Global Inequality and the Sociology of East Asia. And, this semester, she is also teaching a new course on critical refugee studies. She’s found that students of color appreciate her offering courses on diverse subjects that they may not otherwise be able to take.

“One student told me that she never thought this course will be offered at Mary Washington,” she said. “She was glad that this course was offered before she graduated.”

Kim said that some of the best and worst moments in her role as a professor have involved students.

“Teaching-wise, the best moment is when students of color open up,” Kim said.

However, Kim has also experienced several instances of complaints from students.

“Because I have an accent, some students complain that they can’t understand me that well,” she said.

This happened once during an external review of the sociology department, Kim said. Although she was not present when the comment was made, she heard about it afterward.

“It’s heartbreaking, really, because I was also told that other students quickly corrected her, like, ‘Her English is fine, we can understand her no problem,’” she said. “But still, the fact that it’s not what I teach and how I teach, but just because my accent and the way I look, that students are just even not trying.”

According to statistics from Rate My Professors, female professors are rated 28%

“It’s frustrating that they don’t see the skills and content of the course that I’m trying to teach,” she said. “They put a barrier and they don’t try to learn or they don’t want to break the barrier ... that they put themselves, and then they complain about the barrier as an obstacle of learning.”

Kim is fluent in English and has been speaking the language since she was 25.

“My English is perfectly fine,” she said. “Anybody can understand.”

She feels that her accent is not an issue when it comes to her delivering content in class.

“I would rather put more efforts to improve my pedagogy or do my research than fixing my accent because that’s not something that is efficient use of my time, and also students need to learn how to listen to different accent,” she said. “I don’t feel like I need to change that because of some students’ Eurocentric- and U.S., North American-centric attitude, because everybody has accent. Even native speakers have accent, right? But they don’t think of that as accent.”

On the first day of Kim’s intro sociology class, The Social World, freshman Daniella Asnicar noticed that Kim had an accent. She was concerned about it impacting her learning at first, but after continuing with the class, it didn’t pose an issue.

“I can understand her, she is fluent, and it’s not really a big thing for me,” she said. “I don’t recognize the accent much and don’t see it as a big deterrent in her teaching.”

In the classroom, many students appreciate learning about diverse perspectives from diverse professors. Asnicar only had one white professor during the fall semester of 2022, which provided her with a positive opportunity to learn from different perspectives in her first semester in college.

“I think it’s interesting that she brings

“I have a teacher that has Jewish ethnic heritage,” said freshman Sophia Pedroza. “I like her teaching style because I find what she says to be relatable more compared to my other white professors.”

In light of her experiences, Kim has pushed for a more diverse faculty, which she has brought up in faculty meetings several times. Still, the faculty remains mostly white.

“The faculty community has a commitment to that, but when it comes down to decisions, we never actually do it,” she said.

Pedroza also said that students would benefit from more diverse faculty.

“It’s important to have more diverse professors at UMW so more students can culturally connect with them,” she said.

Kim believes more diversity in the curriculum would be beneficial as well.

“We need to change the emphasis on our curriculum from American history to, say, Latin American history,” she said. “Instead of the American society, we teach them more on the global issues and things like that.”

Being at UMW since 2009, Kim has noticed some improvement in UMW’s diversity, but there is more work to be done, she said.

“I wouldn’t say it’s enough, but there are some notable changes. But even if there are some changes, our leadership is still really white,” she said. “That’s oftentimes the case; you see some changes in the faculty members, but still, the leadership is very white, very male. So I think that that’s going to be more difficult and challenging to change those, but once that happens, we’ll see more significant changes.”

System-wide error limits meal plan access

SAMANTHA BERTSCH Staff Writer

balance the weekend before the semester started to find that flex dollars had not been loaded into her account.

Corrections

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

Bell tower logo designed by Bernadette D’Auria ‘22

Due to a system-wide issue, some students were welcomed back to school on Jan. 9 without access to their full meal plan. Many students had meal swipes but no flex dollars as a result, making them unable to use their meal plans at retail dining locations.

The issue was resolved by 2 p.m. on Jan. 9, according to Dean of Students and UMW Dining Liaison Chris Porter. Students who have enduring meal plan issues were told to contact Porter.

According to Porter, the issue was “traced to an interruption in communication between the software and server.”

“It was a system-wide issue, which means it had the potential to affect the approximately 2,000 UMW students signed up for meal plans that feature flex,” she said.

Freshman English major Ky Huynh checked her meal plan

“I started getting concerned the weekend before class started but I kept waiting,” she said. “The Sunday when I got back to school I was starting to get concerned so I asked my roommate if she was having this problem too but she didn’t check yet. When it got to first day of classes, I still saw nothing in flex.”

When serving students who were impacted by the issue, employees at retail dining locations such as Panera and Katora either wrote down students’ EagleOne card numbers or did not accept payments from meal plans.

Thalia Sabit, a freshman environmental science major, also experienced issues with her meal plan. She planned to only eat at the Top of the CRUC until her flex was added to her account.

New bus, same old problems: FRED Bus still unreliable mode of transportation after rebrand

zOE HANRAHAN Staff Writer

The Fredericksburg Regional Transit Bus, otherwise known as the FRED Bus, is publicized as an opportunity for students lacking a vehicle on campus to travel off campus for free. Unfortunately, due to unscheduled delays, the FRED Bus is an unreliable mode of transportation that students cannot rely on, which is more of a headache than a help.

The FRED Bus is meant to be useful for students. It is a free option for those who do not have a car or do not want to pay the $225 to $375 it costs for a parking decal on campus, according to the UMW Parking Management website. While the FRED Bus gives students a chance to travel off campus affordably, its unreliability and the threat of being stranded for hours discourage student use.

“We tried to go to the bus stop there and wait for the bus and waited about forty-five minutes or an hour in probably twenty-degree weather, and it didn’t show up,” said sophomore applied physics and geology double major Carter Bussey. “Then we decided to move back inside so that we would be warm and stay near the door to watch for the bus.”

In the end, he and his friends waited for a total of four hours before having to take an Uber back to campus, costing him and his friends both time and money.

Delayed buses can turn what’s meant to be a short trip into an unplanned expense and leave riders waiting for extended periods of time in poor weather. As a result, students’ opinions on the bus are often more negative

than positive, based on both firsthand experiences and word of mouth.

The FRED Bus recently underwent a rebranding effort, changing some of its buses from the typical tan color to blue with FXBGO! on the side. The website features this new logo as well. Despite this rebranding, the bus is still an inadequate and unreliable form of transportation.

As the app is meant to aid riders with using the FRED Bus, faulty information like this leaves users refreshing the app only to find that they actually have to wait for the bus later than originally planned.

Because of the bus’ inconsistency, some students are pushed to reevaluate their means of transportation around Fredericksburg. For example, Maxwell Van Vort, a sophomore computer science major, said, “I have been considering getting a car specifically because of the unreliability of the public transit system.”

Like Bussey, he “had to take an Uber back to campus at one point when a bus did not arrive.”

Researchers at the University of California Berkeley found that when it comes to public transportation, reliability and the length of a wait are two highly important factors. When public transportation is not dependable and waits are long, people may reduce their use of it or cease to use it altogether.

-Carter

Students who are reliant on the bus are not the only ones affected; those who have a car may also experience the impact of the delayed buses.

Senior history major Rowan Phillips owns a car on campus and says that she has had to pick up friends who have had to wait over two hours for a bus, often when it is cold outside.

“This kind of stuff is the reason that my friends tell me that they’re taking the FRED Bus somewhere in case I have to pick them up later,” Phillips said. “It seems like a generally unreliable source of transportation, which is unfortunate because a lot of people can’t afford cars and need a steady public transportation system to get them to and from their jobs and other responsibilities.”

On top of its advertised weekly routes going up places like Walmart in Central Park, the train station on Caroline Street, Princess Anne Street and Charles Street, the FRED Bus offers an extra route on weekends: the Eagle Express, which takes passengers from UMW’s main entrance to the Spotsylvania Shopping Center and back. According to the route schedule provided on its website, the bus is supposed to pick up students every half hour, looping through Central Park, the Spotsylvania Towne Center and downtown. However, the bus does not always stick to this schedule, sometimes arriving hours late or never at all.

RouteShout 2.0 is an app advertised on the FRED Bus that shows passengers when their train will arrive, and what time it will depart. On the App Store, the app has a very poor rating of 1.6/5 stars. It does not always work, though, and it sometimes mistakenly reports that a bus is arriving when it is not.

If the buses have trouble arriving close to scheduled times, then they should be modified to reflect more accurate and reliable times. Despite the FRED Bus’s rebranding, it is still not dependable, and therefore requires more improvements to be an effective form of public transportation for the Fredericksburg community.

A Fredericksburg transit sign at the Lawrence A. Davies Transit Center depicts the new logo. Wilson Jackson / The Weekly Ringer

“We tried to go to the bus stop there and wait for the bus and waited about forty-five minutes or an hour in probably twenty-degree weather, and it didn’t show up.”

Bussey

Fredericksburg buses parked at the Lawrence A. Davies Transit Center. Wilson Jackson / The Weekly Ringer

Bus stop located off Double Drive near campus Bell Tower. Norah Walsh / The Weekly Ringer

“It seems like a generally unreliable source of transportation, which is unfortunate because a lot of people can’t afford cars and need a steady public transportation system to get them to and from their jobs and other responsibilities.”

-Rowan Phillips

A sign at the Lawrence A. Davies Transit Center in Fredericksburg. Wilson Jackson / The Weekly Ringer

Netflix’s “Kaleidoscope” offers a unique viewing experience

CHARLIE LI Staff Writer

“Kaleidoscope” is Netflix’s smartest move ever in terms of overall series viewership for a number of reasons. As the streaming service’s most recent heist-themed release that is sure to keep viewers up late binge-watching, “Kaleidoscope,” starring Giancarlo Esposito, Paz Vega, Rosaline Elbay, Rufus Sewell and Tati Gabrielle, is currently ranked sixth among TV series on Netflix.

The heist drama series revolves around a big job worth around $7 billion. Each episode has several smaller stories and is the true meaning of “a job to do a job,” said Leo Pap, the main orchestrator of the heist played by Esposito. Released on Jan. 1, the dramafilled show is being promoted on the streaming platform to attract viewers to watch something new.

The plot, while thrilling no matter what episode you’re on, also presents an unfamiliar and unique experience by allowing viewers to start at episodes other than the pilot while still being able to understand and follow the plot.

According to Vulture, there are “5,040 possible combinations of the seven episodes leading up to it. Rule-breakers who throw the finale (episode ‘White’) into the mix, have a mind-boggling 40,320 ways to watch Kaleidoscope.”

Viewers can take in completing the series so that they can still make sense of the story in the end. By being set up in this way, the show expands the viewer’s ability to think more creatively while watching.

The episodes are color labeled, which makes it easy to share with a friend how you watched the show. Even if you watch the show in a completely different order, you will both be able to make sense of it all at the end. The show attains this by filming each episode either before, during or after the heist, creating an addicting sequence of events for viewers and allowing them to replay the show in a different order. Each different sequence of episodes contains different moments of foreshadowing depending on the order.

This unconventional viewing experience elicits the question: What’s the best order to watch the show?

Luckily, the show allows the option for a viewer to explore the different viewing routes in order to find their preferred perspective, for the order can really alter your viewing experience. For most people, it may make sense chronologically put together. I went through the episodes as Netflix listed them, starting with “Yellow” and ending with “White,” and while it was a little more confusing due to the random chronological time frames in the ordering of the episodes, it was interesting to put the pieces together

in how the heist was conducted.

The characters in the show are well-developed and are sure to leave you wanting more depending on which 35–50 minute episode the viewer is watching. Some episodes contained a satisfying end, while others took a twist and I felt betrayed, even just being in the audience—every episode felt personal. No characters felt like they were underlooked or lacking in personality or backstory, as the main crew had an equal amount of screen time.

Additionally, the show’s cast already has an extensive resume. Esposito is best known for his roles in “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul,” while Gabrielle has starred in several popular Netflix series such as “The 100,” “You” and “The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.” She also starred in last year’s movie, “Uncharted,” alongside Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg.

Although the show is unique and the acting is well done, some say the number of crime and heist shows may be over-saturating Netflix’s offerings.

Junior geography major Zander Loy said, “It’s interesting, but there have recently been a lot of bank robbery series in recent years such as ‘Money Heist,’ which came out with their fifth season just last year.” However, Loy also said that “while there is some repetitiveness, ‘Kaleidoscope’ has introduced a cool spin to the entire genre.”

Though some are concerned about the prevalence of similar series, “Kaleidoscope” completely stands alone as its own show in my mind. The show wasn’t repetitive for me, as it’s a completely different story with a spin that “Money Heist” didn’t have. Every episode has a unique ending that will send you reeling in shock and excitement for the next one. It fills in some of the puzzle pieces, but also has you watching more episodes to get the final picture.

However, the new drama miniseries is not a show for everyone. Kolby Simpson, a junior business administration major who watched the order starting with the episode “Yellow,” said, “After watching the first episode (Yellow), I would say it’s really intriguing but also a little gimmicky at the same time. I can see how it’s popular now, but the craze will most likely die down within just a week.”

If you do choose to watch this Netflix hit, you won’t feel left out, no matter what order you watch it in, as everyone ends up on the same final episode: “White.”

Eric Garcia, the producer of “Kaleidoscope,” has called the final episode “the one canonical place ... that essentially serves as the skeleton key” that holds the show together,” as he said in a New York Post article.

Overall, the show is a fantastic watch that gets you thinking outside the box. While some say it’s bandwagoning off the success of “Money Heist,” I think it stands well on its own as a minidrama.

Book review: Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” is a timeless adventure

DANIELLE ROSS Staff Writer

Over the years, I have read hundreds of books. I have dabbled in science fiction and historical fiction, several memoirs, a few romance novels and one or two mysteries. I have even picked up the occasional poetry book, but regardless of how far I branch out, I always return to one book in particular: “The Hobbit.” This fantasy novel by J.R.R. Tolkien remains, without a doubt, my favorite work of literature.

“The Hobbit” ages like fine wine, with every read better than the last. It’s a story that feels familiar and comforting, as if you are reuniting with dear friends and not simply thumbing through the pages of an old book. It leaves you content and satisfied while simultaneously itching for more—more adventure, more fellowship and more wonder.

Set in Middle Earth, a fictional realm, the novel follows a small, humanlike creature called a hobbit by the name of Bilbo Baggins as he partakes in an adventure that leads him far from the peaceful, rolling hills of his home, the Shire, and into the thick of danger. Accompanying him on his journey is a company of 13 dwarves and one wizard. Their quest is to reclaim the dwarves’ kingdom from the last great dragon of Middle Earth, Smaug. They encounter many perils and surprises as they travel towards the

lonely mountain.

“The Hobbit” is first and foremost a coming-of-age story. However, contrary to many novels encapsulated in this genre, what makes this novel unique to others is that Bilbo is already fully grown and completely satisfied with his life when the reader meets him at the beginning. The coming-of-age element comes into play at the idea of going on an adventure, which frightens him. At the last moment, however, he rushes to join the company of dwarves, foreshadowing that his character still has some development to undergo.

Along the way, Bilbo finds himself in countless situations where he must rely on his intuition and his newly discovered bravery. His experiences force him to become stronger and more independent. Still, he never forgets where he came from, and in the end, Bilbo is more than thrilled to return to his simple hobbit hole and comfortable life.

In addition to bravery and courage, another one of the defining themes in “The Hobbit” is greed. Throughout the book, almost every character is partially motivated by greed. The dwarves are eager to reclaim their homeland and treasure, the wood elves believe that part of that treasure is rightfully theirs, Gollum kills anyone who attempts to steal his precious ring and Smaug hoards wealth that does not belong to him. However, there remain clear distinctions between the characters who

are entirely driven by their greed and the characters who eventually overcome it. For instance, Smaug and Gollum remain alone for the entire story, yet the 13 dwarves and Bilbo repeatedly renounce their selfish desires in favor of trust and cooperation.

Aside from the powerful messages “The Hobbit” conveys, the story itself is masterfully contrived. Written as a children’s book and narrated in a style akin to telling a bedtime story, this book is a straightforward read. Tolkien’s attention to detail and the unparalleled world he has created never fail to leave me feeling a sense of awe.

Tolkien excels in creating each character with some humanizing quality, making them relatable and unlike the usual, seemingly flawless fantasy heroes. It is easier to become completely captivated in a story that follows characters who are misled and make mistakes than a story with a protagonist who knows their purpose and identity from start to finish. It is also refreshing to have an antagonist, Smaug, who is scary because of his wit rather than his nature as a supposedly dangerous dragon.

These elements aren’t exclusive to “The Hobbit,” but they are some of its distinguishing features. Although it wasn’t the first in its genre, it undoubtedly set the standard for every fantasy novel since. Authors can only hope to create a work of literature that falls within the same excellence as this book.

Dear Davy: Evaluating the strength of your COVID relationship and expressing yourself to your partner

DAVY WASHINGTON Senior Writer

Q: My partner and I have helped each other survive this pandemic and are super bonded because of it, but sometimes I can’t tell if we’re holding on to this relationship because we want to be together or because we survived on each other for so long and we can’t imagine not having each other around. How do I tell if I want to be with them or if I’m attached to them because of the trauma of the pandemic?

A: You and your partner should sit down and talk this through. If you think you’re grasping onto a dulling relationship, it might be time to let go or make a plan with your partner to liven things up. Situationships—which may be the case if your relationship grew quickly out of the social isolation during the pandemic—are always tricky, and the pandemic took that to a whole new level, either forcing people into solitude or bringing people together for a long period of time. In my personal experience, the friendships I formed during the pandemic reached a deeper level of closeness a lot quicker than they might have otherwise. With that, I’ll leave you with some questions that you—and, if they’re willing, your partner—should consider.

How much have you trauma-bonded?

Think about your relationship with your partner and recall how it began. In situations where trauma is a key component, the foundation of that relationship might already have a fault that could make it unstable and even unhealthy. Trauma bonding is the formation of connections that are an indirect result of repeated—or in this case elongated— emotional or physical trauma. When a bond is formed because of shared trauma, this can turn into codependency or weakened awareness of relationship issues.

It was common for people to get much closer much faster during the pandemic, which was sometimes the result of a trauma bond, as the isolation we endured had varying impacts on everyone. While it can be helpful to have that shared history during something as distressing as COVID, it can lead to unhealthy relationship characteristics.

Evaluate

your

emotional dependency on each other

It’s normal—healthy, even—to have someone to rely on who you feel comfortable talking openly with about your life. However, there’s a limit to how much you can share heavy, traumatic thoughts and feelings without it being emotionally taxing on your partner, and it may be better to seek out a therapist for this instead.

The same goes the other way—if you feel like your partner’s personal therapist and it’s weighing on you and your relationship, it’s time to set some boundaries. Kindly tell them that you’re there for them and understand it’s been a hard time for both of you, but you need a break from taking on their emotions in addition to your own. Let them know that this doesn’t mean they have to stop sharing their emotions with you, but they should be cognizant not to overwhelm you—you’re dealing with your own emotions, too.

You can also encourage them to find a therapist. That being said, you can’t control their actions at the end of the day, and how they choose to address their emotional needs is not your responsibility. If you’re truly willing—not out of guilt for putting up a boundary—you may offer to help them find a therapist who’s compatible with their needs, but that’s optional.

Also, how are your relationships with people other than your partner? Though COVID is still present in our everyday lives, it’s died down enough that it’s safe to interact with more than just a small bubble of people. Your partner should not be the only person you ever see, especially if you’ve let relationships with friends and family fade since this relationship began. If you do decide to end the relationship, it’s important to have a support system to lean on during that change.

What is your relationship based on?

Looking at the roots of your relationship can be hard, since it often depends on how long you’ve been together, especially if you were together before the pandemic started. You mention that you don’t know if you’re attached to them because of the pandemic or out of genuine want, but even needing to ask that question sounds like a clear indication that you may not be fully invested in the relationship anymore and may be ready to explore other options.

To find out whether or not your relationship is worth holding onto, step back to look at what your relationship consists of and how it’s evolved based on the state of the pandemic. How much of your relationship was built on the circumstances of the pandemic and the social isolation that came with it? Have you noticed more closeness

during worse times of the pandemic? Conversely, as COVID has improved, do you feel that your relationship has deteriorated?

Most importantly, consider how your partner makes you feel. Do they bring you joy when they’re around? Do they lift you up or bring you down? Do you still find them attractive? Do they still meet your needs? Do you find yourself feeling slightly trapped or wondering what else is out there? The way you feel about your partner now is arguably the most important factor in deciding to take a break or move on completely.

The bottom line

Overall, what’s necessary is to talk to your partner. Face the uncomfortable truth with them that it could be time to see other people if there’s no connection between you two—or even if the nature of your relationship has evolved to be something much different than it once was. It’s okay to recognize that it’s no longer fulfilling your needs.

However, if you’ve had a strong relationship from the beginning up to this point and you feel like it’s worth fighting for, you and your partner should strive towards finding a way to calm the doubts that led you to submit this question, together. This may sound daunting, but in practice it can be quite easy, and the results will justify the extra effort that it may take at first—effort that shouldn’t feel like a chore.

In chatting with your partner about your relationship as a whole, try to identify elements of your dynamic that are less than satisfactory for the both of you. Would they appreciate some words of encouragement or affirmation more often, or are they in need of additional quality time? In the same vein, be vocal about why you two like each other—these values are the foundation of your relationship. The things you like about a person don’t have to be affiliated with grandiose adjectives you’d find on the SAT or in the trenches of a thesaurus, but you can communicate them by telling them how sweet it is when they send you pictures of pretty trees or dogs around campus. These little things are what we hold on to, and they are what make the person we’re in a relationship with so special.

Overall, we should all learn to better—and more frequently—express our appreciation and care for each other, and this is especially important for those we’re in a relationship with. Let your partner know that they have a reserved space in your heart, your mind and your life, and trust that you have something good together.

Meet the writer:

Hi! I’m Davy, I use they/them pronouns, and I’m a senior writer for The Weekly Ringer here with a new relationship advice column: Dear Davy. I’ve been in a fair share of relationships—some good, some bad and some really bad—and each of them has taught me something valuable. That being said, I’m a strong advocate for everything love- and relationship-related, from helping a struggling couple fall back in love to opening someone’s eyes to a dysfunctional relationship. My job is to help you navigate the ups and downs of the dating world, whether it’s a miscommunication or a lover’s quarrel. Overall, I’m here to answer any and all of your questions, so ask away!

Crime Column

CALLIE HARKINS News Editor

Destruction of Property

On Dec. 19 at 8:46 p.m., there was an incident of destruction of property at the UMW tennis courts. This case is pending.

On Jan. 7 at 1:01 a.m., there was an incident of destruction of property at the CRF Fields. This case is pending.

Burglary/Breaking and Entering

On Dec. 22 at an unknown time, there was a case of burglary/ breaking and entering at the 1200 Block of College Ave. This case is pending.

Trespassing

On Jan.11 at 9:21 a.m., there was a case of trespassing at the Battlegrounds. This case is pending. Rape (Victim incapacitated)

From Jan. 14 to Jan. 15 at 1 a.m., there was a case of rape with the victim incapacitated at Eagle Landing. This case is pending.

Possession of Marijuana/Referral

On Jan. 17 at 8 p.m., there was a case of possession of marijuana at Eagle Landing. This case is pending.

Students reflect on winter trip to Nepal

FROM NEPAL PAGE 2

and change coming forth from the programs Slisha started was incredibly meaningful.”

Between exploring the medieval city of Bhaktapur, Kathmandu, Boudhanath, the Pashupatinath and Swayambhunath Temples, along with both Hindu and Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the mountains of Pharping, students and faculty took time to visit local schools and interact with the students there.

Spending time with the students of Sagarmatha Children’s Home, the UMW students played with the locals, participating in popcorn reading and coloring, which particularly stood out to Clift.

“When we were drawing, the kids actually, on their own, each grabbed a book and started drawing the covers of the books on their own sheets of paper. They were all really great artists, way better than me anyway,” said Clift. “It was a very special time that I know I will always hold close to my heart.”

For the entirety of their trip, pollution had hung over the city, preventing its notable scenery from being seen from the town. But on the groups’ last evening, the covers lifted and brought a memorable experience to the students before they traveled back to the states. Venturing upward on a nearby mountain in Nagarkot, Nepal, the group was met with a panoramic view of the Himalayan Mountain range as the sun set in the distance.

“The reactions of all of the students, seeing the mountains, and my own personal emotions are something that I will never forget,” said Francis. “There is something so indescribably powerful about being in the midst of, and getting to see, the tallest mountains in the world, and I will remember that feeling for the rest of my life.”

Formed in 2015 following devastating earthquakes in Nepal, the KathmanduFredericksburg Sister City initiative was created to support “current and future exchanges fostering cross cultural understanding and positive outcomes in community service and the environment, academic exchanges between the University of Mary Washington and Tribhuvan University in Nepal, arts and culture, business, trekking and tourism,” according to its website. The group was able to arrange a variety of meetings and experiences for the students to further their understanding and knowledge.

“The relationships that have formed through this relationship helped us to have some of the greatest experiences on this trip,” said Francis.

UMW offers various opportunities throughout the year to any student interested in studying abroad and gaining first-hand experience in activities not accessible in Fredericksburg, Va., regardless of academic interest or financial situation.

“Don’t be afraid to take risks and try new things,” said Jose Sainz, director of the Center for International Education. “When you get outside your comfort zone, you really gain valuable experiences and make life-long memories.”

Despite the students’ shared concerns of dealing with over 20 hours of travel, an 11-hour time difference and the fear of exploring regions unknown to them, the students returned home shortly before the start of the semester with experiences they never imagined they would have.

“I have such genuine experiences and memories from my time away, ones that I will always cherish,” said Pippin.

“The drawback to this trip is that it was very short, way too short. While I was able to make some wonderful connections with people while there, it was not long enough to be able to get to know people even better and pursue those relationships even further with the NGOs. Now, it makes me want to go back and spend more time in Nepal, more than ever.”

Student meal plan issue resolved

FROM MEALS PAGE 1

“Last Monday a friend of mine checked her balance and saw that it was the same as last semester, so I thought to check too,” she said. “I realized that my flex also had not come through, same with a majority of my friends. I planned on reaching out to someone who worked in dining, but that’s when I got an email that said flex should be fixed soon. Until the issue was solved I just planned on eating only at the UC since, as a freshman, I

have the unlimited meal plan.”

Students started sharing their concerns with UMW Dining employees as they noticed the issue.

“Emails began to come in just after 8:30 on Monday morning, Jan. 9, alerting us to the fact that flex accounts associated with meal plans weren’t working properly,” said Porter.

A final email was sent the following day, Jan. 10, telling students to reach out to Porter if they were still having issues.

“I was gonna go to the

Student Services Tuesday morning to see what’s up but I saw an email on Monday that said if we don’t receive the flex by Tuesday we should contact this person,” said Huynh. “I did end up getting the flex money by Tuesday. It didn’t affect me that much but it did give me a little anxiety because I’ve had some financial issues at UMW where I had to go to Student Services multiple times.”

One student who visited Katora during the second week of classes did not have

their full meal plan, said Katora employee Alexis Lagon, a junior theatre and education major.

“Yesterday, a student came in and their renewed plan was only flex and didn’t reload,” she said on Jan. 18.

Porter acknowledged the importance of students having access to their meal plans.

“We know how important having access to dining options is to our students, so we began working to get to the root of the problem,” said Porter.

Students explored the medieval city of Bhaktapur, Kathmandu, Boundhanath, the Pashupatinath and Swayambhunath Temples on their trip. Photo courtesy of Nathan Francis

Photo Essay: Men’s basketball vs. Hood College

UMW men’s basketball fell 63-65 in a close match against Hood College last Wednesday night, Jan. 11, in the Ron Rosner Arena. The visiting Blazers started the game off strong, taking a commanding lead of 21-9 with 14:50 left in the first half. However, the Eagles managed to rally before the whistle. Senior Greg Rowson gave his team a boost with a slam dunk, and fellow senior Da’Shawn Cook hit a pair of threes to end

EMILY HEMPHILL & IAN CHAPMAN Sports Editor & Staff Photographer

the half 35-30 for the Eagles. Despite some early points by UMW in the second, Hood went on a scoring streak bringing the score to a tie at 46 before going up by another 13 points. Rowson proved why he was twice named the Coast-to-Coast Men’s Basketball

Player of the Week by dropping 11 straight points to bring UMW back into the game. However, the Blazers connected two threepointers in the final 30 seconds to win the heated game. Rowson ended the game with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Looking ahead, the Eagles have a road trip to the Big Apple as they face Pratt Institute in Brooklyn on Saturday, Jan. 21.

University of Mary Washington Winter Sports Schedule

EMILY HEMPHILL Sports Editor

Men’s Basketball (11-4)

Dec. 30 W @ Washington & Lee Holiday Tournament (103-95)

Jan. 3 L Catholic University (6979)

Jan. 11 L Hood College (63-65) Jan. 18 @ Eastern Mennonite Jan. 21 @ Pratt

Women’s Basketball (15-3)

Jan. 9 W vs. Stevenson (91-45)

Jan. 11 L vs. Chris. Newport (6949)

Jan. 14 W vs. Averett (76-34) Jan. 21 @ Salisbury Jan. 28 @ Lynchburg

Men’s Swimming (6-2)

Jan. 14 W @ Catholic University (148-114)

UMW indoor track sprints into the season

RUSSELL CARVER Staff Writer

The indoor track season is now in full swing after kicking off on Dec. 3 at the Christopher Newport University Holiday Opener, where members of UMW’s cross country and track teams come together as the indoor team. They will compete in three more meets before the Coast-to-Coast Championships in Newport News on Feb. 18 and the NCAA Division III National Championships on March 10.

“Outdoor track is the ideal time for athletes to hit their best competition marks of the season,” said Head Coach Asia Hart. “But one of the best benefits of having indoor track is that you get a few opportunities before that season starts to have a trial and error period. It pays off a lot because you figure a lot out indoors which allows you to be a lot more consistent with your races, jumps, throws, etc. throughout the outdoor season.”

UMW’s indoor team proved they can still dominate the track no matter the environment with several top finishes at the CNU Holiday Opener. Senior Kevin Munson placed first in the pole vault, while freshman Jacinto Jones won the 200-meter race and senior Patrick Murphy came in second in the mile with a time of 4:45.46. For the women, junior Maddie Phillips took third in the pole vault with senior Haileigh Byrd landing third in the long jump and second in the 60-meter hurdle race.

Jones runs as a sprinter on both the indoor and outdoor track seasons and noted some of the key differences between the two. The biggest change is the track size: an indoor track is 200 meters, half

the length of an outdoor track.

The training also changes with the season.

“Depending on what you will run, you will have a different workout to get you ready for a certain or all events that the coach thinks you are ready to run,” said Jones.

According to Hart, there’s a lot of overlap in the indoor and outdoor team members.

“There’s always extenuating circumstances involved if someone would participate in indoors and not outdoors and vice versa,” Hart said. “It definitely builds a great team atmosphere and you really get to develop deeper relationships having the majority of the team do both seasons in the spring.”

Indoor track also allows athletes to stay in shape and come into the spring outdoor track season on top of their game.

“Essentially each season will build upon the previous season,” said Hart. “Our student-athletes will be running their best times of the season.”

Ian Chapman, a senior majoring in communication and digital studies, participates in both the indoor and outdoor track seasons as a sprinter. He finds that indoor somewhat feels like an entirely different sport.

“The environment is totally different,” he said. “A lot of people say they prefer outdoor to indoor.”

The runners will get one week to rest before starting up the outdoor season with the Washington & Lee Carnival meet on March 17.

Jan. 20 @ Marymount (Va.) Jan 21. vs. Gettysburg Feb. 3 vs. Southern Virginia

Women’s Swimming (7-1)

Jan. 14 W @ Catholic University (138-124)

Jan. 20 @ Marymount (Va.) Jan 21. vs. Gettysburg Feb. 3 vs. Southern Virginia

Women’s Indoor Track

Dec. 3 @ CNU Indoor Opener in Newport News, Va.

Jan. 20-21 @ Marlin Invitational in Virginia Beach, Va.

Men’s Indoor Track

Dec. 3 @ CNU Indoor Opener in Newport News, Va.

Jan. 20-21 @ Marlin Invitational in Virginia Beach, Va.

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.

#4 Dorian Davis shooting a contested 3-pointer over Hood College Player #01 Michael Wallace.

Ian Chapman / The Weekly Ringer

#3 Zack Blue making a contested layup on Hood College player #01 Michael Wallace.

Ian Chapman / The Weekly Ringer

#12 Andrew Rowson shooting free throws after making a big play in the second half.

Ian Chapman / The Weekly Ringer