The University of Mary Washington’s Independent Student Newspaper Serving the community since 1922
The
Weekly
Ringer
VOLUME 97 | ISSUE 8
November 3, 2023
Maxine & Carl D. Silver Hillel Center Panel discusses AAPI culture, history replaced by Chabad organization and experiences in the DMV area ETHAN ROPP Staff Writer
Mateo gutierrez Staff Writer On Oct. 30, UMW hosted a panel discussion that brought faculty, students and local community members together to delve into the rich tapestry of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) history, culture and experiences. This event, which was hosted in the Chandler Ballroom, sought to foster a deeper understanding of and build allyship with the AAPI community. The event, titled “Exploring AAPI History, Culture, and Experiences: Building Allyship at UMW,” was a collaborative effort between UMW’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion, the Asian Student Association and the local AAPI community. Panelists included Guan-Yi Leu, assistant professor of political science and international affairs; Steve Rabson, adjunct instructor in the modern languages and literature department; Evelyn Yuen, a volunteer for the Viet Place Collective; and Jingying Li, an IT professional and Spotsylvania County resident of 30 years. Rabson began the discussion by providing a comprehensive overview of AAPI history and culture within the greater Washington, D.C. area. He highlighted the immense diversity within the community and focused specifically on the establishment of Chinatown in the district. “This was a real community, it had Chinese schools, churches, language teaching at the churches and other culture centers,” he said. Rabson also spoke on the range of ethnic backgrounds and how different groups have migrated and left their own indelible marks on the communities in which they live. Yuen, a second-generation Chinese-American, shared her experience with Eden Center. Eden Center is a primarily Vietnamese-American commercial center that was founded in 1984 and is home to over 120 family-owned businesses, according to their website. It is located in Falls Church, Va. and is the largest of its kind on the East Coast. “I actually grew up in Hong Kong, but every summer I would come to the DMV where the rest of my clan lives and to visit them, and every summer we would go to Eden Center,” she said. “So even though I emigrated here five years ago, Eden Center gives me a piece of home and it’s also a
Mary Washington’s Jewish student center, known as Hillel, has come to an end fewer than three years after its opening. What was originally named the Maxine and Carl D. Silver Hillel Center opened in late October 2020 with a soft opening and a miniature ceremony celebrating the donor, Larry Silver. The Hillel Center provided Mary Washington students with multiple study rooms, an espresso machine and snacks, a Shabbat dinner once a month, Jewish holiday activities and a Rabbi: Menachem Sherman. This past spring, the Silver Foundation—the building’s sponsor—decided to replace Hillel with a larger Jewish campus organization, known as Chabad. As of now, students have not been able to enter the building, and there have been no events held despite the signage change on the exterior of the building, which denotes the center as the Maxine and Carl D. Silver Chabad Center. Many Jewish students on campus were in shock and upset about this sudden change, and those sentiments still stand. “Hillel was a Jewish organization that worked with the Silvers to provide Jewish students with a community on campus to develop their relationship with Judaism and form relationships with other Jewish students,” said UMW Jewish Student Association President Logan Kurtz, a senior history major.
The organization officially known as Hillel International is present on over 850 college campuses and serves over 150,000 students, according to their website. Hillel International not only provides a social space for Jewish and non-Jewish students alike but also a space to celebrate Jewish holidays. Hillel International also provides students with birthright trips to Israel. “As far as I understand, the Silvers were dissatisfied with the financial arrangement they had with Hillel and decided to end their relationship,” said Jennifer Hansen-Glucklich, associate professor of German, faculty advisor for the Jewish Student Association and a member of the Jewish faith. Chabad, a different Jewish campus organization, was chosen by the Silver Foundation to replace Hillel at Mary Washington to serve the Jewish students. According to the Chabad organization’s website, Chabad is located on more than 850 campuses worldwide and works to nurture Jewish identity and uphold Jewish pride on college campuses. As of now, the organization has held no events and the doors have been locked, despite the Jewish High Holy days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur having just passed. As to what this transition entails, Hansen-Glucklich said, “This meant ending Rabbi Sherman’s employment. Chabad will be moving into the center at some point, but we don’t know yet when.”
SEE AAPI, PAGE 2 The Maxine & Carl D. Silver Hillel Center closed after three years of opening.
|2 INSIDE “INews miss Hillel”
THE
RINGER
UMW Jewish community responds to change
Opinion | 3
AI and boundaries: Responsible use in the classroom
Life | 4
SEE HILLEL, PAGE 2
Department of Modern Languages hosts Roberto Zurbano
Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer
Sports | 8
Girl on the run: Eliana Ramirez takes to running the track.
News
Friday, November 3, 2023
Page 2
Weekly Ringer “I miss the Hillel” students respond to Chabad The
Editorial Staff
FROM HILLEL, PAGE 1
Neither the Silver Foundation nor Hillel nor Chabad made an official statement as Editor-in-Chief to why the change occurred, leaving many Norah Walsh Jewish UMW students feeling lost and disweeklyringer.eic@gmail.com appointed. “I miss the Hillel and having a safe and Associate Editors comfortable place to go to. I spent a lot of time at the Hillel building studying and Callie Harkins I have felt a lot less productive since the Emma Brennan weeklyringer.associate@gmail.com change,” said Nathan Fimbres, a junior computer science major. Hansen-Glucklich commented on the News Editor purpose behind Hillel as well as her own Ky Huynh experiences attending events at Hillel. “The building that served for a few years weeklyringer.news@gmail.com as UMW’s Hillel Center was provided by the Silver family, a Jewish family from FredOpinion Editor ericksburg, and was designed to provide a Margaret Jackson space and programming for UMW’s Jewish weeklyringer.opinion@gmail.com student population,” she said. “I attended Yom Kippur services at Hillel, showed films there with discussion and went there regLife Editor ularly to talk with Rabbi Menachem SherCharlie Li man, who was hired by Hillel to act as the weeklyringer.life@gmail.com Hillel Center’s Rabbi.” The former Rabbi of Hillel at UMW, Sports Editor Rabbi Menachem Sherman, discussed the
Abbey Magnet weeklyringer.sports@gmail.com
Online Editor Davy Washington weeklyringer.online@gmail.com
Hillel Center’s successes over the past three years. “I am very proud of the work that we did at UMW to expand the offering for Jewish students and creates such a special place for many students,” said Rabbi Sherman. Rabbi Sherman also commented on the work both on the part of the Silver Foundation and Jewish students on campus.
“I miss the Hillel and having a safe and comfortable place to go to.” -Nathan Fimbres “The facilities that the Silvers generously provided are beautiful and laid the foundation for the growth Hillel experienced. The lion’s share of the credit, however, belongs to the dedicated student leaders who poured their hearts and souls into Hillel. They worked tirelessly to engage with and connect students and build a Jewish community,” he said. Based in Boca Raton, Fl., Silver Companies is a real estate investment and develop-
ment firm founded in 1941 by Carl D. Silver, a prominent real estate investor. As a division of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County, Fl., Silver Companies developed The Deborah & Larry D. Silver Center for Jewish Engagement, which is “a major initiative developed to reach deeper into the local Jewish community to connect Jewish residents to Jewish life and to each other,” according to the Silver Companies website. The goal of the initiative is “to connect Jewish neighbors to each other, to synagogues, to agencies and organizations, and to elements of Federation that align with their individual interests and concerns,” according to the site. In light of the work that students contributed to Hillel, Rabbi Sherman continued, “For that reason, I wish their voices, and the voices of Hillel participants, were considered when the making the decision to make such a substantial change. All that said, I am incredibly grateful to have been in that role for three years and I miss Hillel, the UMW community and Mary Wash culture very much.”
Panel emphasizes allyship and understanding
FROM AAPI, PAGE 1
place where I find belonging.” Yuen is also a volunteer with Viet Place Collective—an organiPhotography Editor zation based in Falls Church that aims to uplift and uphold VietAbbey Magnet namese culture in the greater Washington, D.C. area. Recently, the weeklyringer.photos@gmail.com organization has been working to preserve Eden Center and combat gentrification in the surrounding neighborhood. Maintaining community during periods of mass development has been a proven Faculty Advisor challenge for Asian-Americans in the area. Both Yuen and Rabson Lindley Estes commented on the Metrorail that displaced what was formerly Litlestes@umw.edu tle Saigon. “As Dr. Brooks mentioned, in Clarendon, they built this new metro station which displaced the former little Saigon to where is now Eden Center,” Yuen said. Corrections In regards to economic impact, Leu discussed the importance of international trade partnerships between the West and East Asian Clarification: In last week’s issue, we covered countries. She asserted that strengthening trade relationships will Devin Schwers’ write-in campaign. We would like to clarify that there are two Soil and Wa- benefit all parties and promote allyship. ter Director positions open on the ballot. “I think that there’s a hope and I personally believe that, more collaboration, more economic opportunity, definitely can change a Please report any corrections to Norah Walsh at weeklyringer.eic@gmail.com or Lindley Estes at lestes@umw.edu
Advertisement Please direct all advertising inquiries to Norah Walsh at weeklyringer.eic@gmail.com.
Bell tower logo designed by Bernadette D’Auria ‘22 The AAPI panel discussion was held in Chandler Ballroom. Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer
Yuen and Leu discussed their history, culture and experiences as Asian-Americans during the panel. Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer
lot of things,” she said. Li spoke firsthand of her experience moving to the United States from China. Her family fled China following the release of her father from prison for a charge regarding what was deemed as anti-government behavior. She moved to the U.S. when she was 15 years old and detailed her tumultuous teenage years where she initially struggled to fit in. Prior to her family’s move when she was in tenth grade, she had difficulty connecting with her peers. “There was almost no niche space for me to thrive,” she said. It was only after she started public school and enrolled in English as a Second Language (ESL) classes that she became more comfortable in her own skin. “I thrived at school, within the first year I could speak fluently. My grades were great and I made some friends,” she said. This panel discussion provided an opportunity for attendees to gain a deeper understanding of the issues faced by the AAPI community and how they can contribute to building a more inclusive environment. “Asian Americans are an important part of American history. And, in general, people should be sensitive to the issues that minorities face in this country,” said Rabson.
Opinion
Friday, November 3 , 2023
Page 3
AI and boundaries: Responsible use in the classroom Margaret Jackson Opinion Editor Recent technological advances have created a broader, more diverse classroom, but they also present concerns about cheating, knowledge retention and the acquisition of durable skills, especially at the university level. Because of this, AI should be used as a learning resource rather than a replacement for learning itself. During the COVID-19 pandemic, educational institutions were able to move to a completely virtual format to ensure that no time or education was lost. However, the push to a more modern classroom in terms of AI usage has opened the doors to a potential downfall of genuine knowledge retention if not used correctly. This is especially the case because, according to the Department of Education, there is no guarantee the information being presented is entirely accurate, and there is no way to check the information before it is produced.
“I think its fine as a tool, but there needs to be regulations put in place. It should be used as a resource, not as an end all be all.” - Ella Weber According to the study “The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Learner Instructor Interaction in Online Learning” by Kyoungwon Sea, et al., students are at risk of losing their creativity, becoming too reliant on technology and becoming incapable of producing original thoughts or ideas if they use AI to generate their work rather than as a supplementary tool. Senior anthropology major Ella Weber said, “Giving AI power, decreases our power. It takes away from human knowledge” when talking about the increased use of AI and its expansion into new territories. On the use of AI in the classroom, Weber continued, “I think it’s fine as a tool, but there needs to be regulations put in place. It should be used as a resource, not as an end all be all.” When asked about using AI as a resource rather than a replacement for student-produced work, Aloysious Kabonge, a sophomore data science major, discussed the limits that should be considered regarding the technology. “While AI can be a valuable tool, it should not replace human interaction and guidance,” said Kabonge “It is essential to strike a balance between technology and human involvement to ensure a comprehensive and holistic learning experience.” Furthermore, the use of generative AI has also led to questions about the presence of other educational materials that we are familiar with, such as textbooks. When asked about the use of AI in classrooms and providing diverse materials in an email from The Weekly Ringer, Director of the Digital Knowledge Center Cartland
Photograph of a student with ChatGPT pulled up on their computer while completing school work. Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer
Berge said, “I don’t think textbooks will ever fully go away, but I’m hopeful that we will see a shift in the way textbooks are published and distributed.” He continued, speaking on the nature of Open Educational Resources (OER) and how they can facilitate access to information in the classroom. “I’m a big fan of Open Educational Resources,” said Berge. “These are openly-licensed, free or low-cost course materials that are available for instructors to adopt in their courses. There are a lot of champions for OER at UMW (both among faculty and at the library), but I’d love to see more adoption in higher education everywhere.” The use of artificial intelligence as a replacement for human knowledge is concerning. Increasing technological advances in our everyday lives call into question what we should be teaching and how AI should be utilized in academia. “Encouraging students to use their own creativity is crucial, as AI should be seen as a supplementary tool rather than a substitute for human creativity and critical thinking,” said Kabonge. Amidst the concerns, however, there may still be hope for a compromise between relying on human production and using generative AI. According to a paper titled “Beyond Algorithmic Solutions: The Significance of Academic Debate for Learning Assessment and Skill Cultivation in the AI World,” which was co-written by Anand Rao, professor of communications and department chair of communications and digital studies, “we know that students will continue to need to learn foundational knowledge, develop greater expertise in particular areas, and develop the skills needed to succeed.” Technological advancements have pushed us into a more modern world and have shifted the foundations of what we need to learn and increased the need for durable skills, such as critical thinking. New advances in technology, such as AI chatbots, allow us to expand our classrooms in terms of learning resources. “I think knowing how to use it effectively with the right kinds of prompts, with the best way to be able to have it rephrase something or work through it, or using it as a tutor bot, which I think is an excellent model—that those examples are few and far between mostly because we haven’t taught students how to do that yet,” said Rao when talking about the use of AI.
“Encouraging students to use their own creativity is crucial, as AI should be seen as a supplementary tool rather than a substitute for human creativity and critical thinking.” -Aloysious Kabonge While AI is not a suitable nor comparable replacement for durable skills, such as communication, critical thinking and problem-solving, it can assist students in becoming familiar with content, finding appropriate resources in a more efficient way in their research and preparing for class discussions or presentations, according to Rao. However, an issue arises when students fully rely on AI. On the topic of using AI to complete assignments, junior computer science major Carlos Ortega said, “I think programs such as ChatGPT and Cramly.ai can prevent students from learning if they are used incorrectly. These programs can be used to generate essays, code, and other creative content, which can be tempting for students who are struggling with their assignments.” Rao highlighted the fact that being trained to use AI is a marketable skill, but it does not constitute a substitute for durable skills, such as verbal skills. Rao said, “‘I wouldn’t say that AI necessarily undermines the development of verbal skills. I think the claim is that all students—and really all professionals—really need verbal skills that will help serve them and whatever career they’re going to be going into.” In support of the use of AI, Rao said, “I think a case can be made that AI can be introduced in a way that would help support the use of those verbal skills, and the educational model that we have at UMW would really support the development of durable skills with the use of AI skills or AI tools.” The continued reliance on AI tools has the potential to damage students’ classroom experiences without proper regulations or guidelines, but with its proper usage as a tool rather than a replacement for knowledge, AI can facilitate learning in the same way technology has done so in the past. Rao said, “I think there are ways that AI can be used to supercharge your ability as a student in much the same way that when I think about when I was an undergraduate student [and] we only had a few resources available electronically.” Norah Walsh contributed to reporting for this article.
Friday, November 3, 2023
Life
Page 4
Department of Modern Languages hosts Roberto Zurbano to discuss racism and identity in Cuba
norah walsh Editor-in-Chief
On Tuesday, Oct. 24, the Department of Modern Languages and Literature hosted Roberto Zurbano to speak on his essay titled “For Blacks in Cuba, the Revolution Hasn’t Begun.” Zurbano is an essayist and cultural critic who lives in Cuba, which led him to share his perspectives on the issue of racism in Cuba following his visit to Howard University to speak on the same topic. In his lecture, which took place in Combs Hall, Patricia Orozco Watrel, a lecturer of Spanish, and Gonzolo Campos Dintrans, an associate professor of Spanish, took turns translating his discussion, as well as subsequent questions from the audience. I first heard about Zurbano coming to campus from my Spanish thesis advisor, Ana Chichester, who is a professor of Spanish and the director of the Bachelor of Liberal Studies Program at UMW, who invited me to interview Zurbano before attending his lecture.
“Cubania is something you can’t touch. It’s something intangible. It’s culture. It’s customs.” - Roberto Zurbano In our bi-weekly meeting that took place the Monday before the event, Chichester prompted me to ask Zurbano about the concept of “cubanía” which pertains to identifying oneself with being Cuban and has a strong relation to the topic of racism addressed by Zurbano in his essay, as well as in his lecture. As Zurbano lives in Cuba and whose primary language is Spanish, I have translated the following quotes from our interview, which we conducted in Spanish. “Cubanía is something that you can’t touch,” he said. “It’s something intangible. It’s culture. It’s customs.” He explained that some of these customs can be negative in nature, such as jokes made at the expense of others, especially as they relate to identity. He continued, extrapolating on this theme of identity and highlighting how “cubanía” is also found in a connection to Cuba’s geography. “Cubanía in Cuba also pertains to the ocean, as we are an island,” he said. “We always have the ocean close by, and if it’s not close we know it’s there. The absence of the ocean can harm certain people.” He continued “Cubanía today can be one thing, but tomorrow it can be another. It depends on your class, your racial condition … your ambitions, [and] the era in which you live. It depends on the manner with which you recognize your history.” Zurbano explained how identifying as Cuban means something different for everyone, and he offered an example of how this works. “Perhaps a Cuban who is born in Switzerland, who lives in Switzerland, doesn’t have the same perception of the food, baseball or music as someone who lives [in Cuba],” he said. “This is not to say that one perception is lesser than others, just that they are different. I think that Cuban identity includes a wide diversity that sometimes we don’t know how to realize that we are all of it; sometimes we exclude and keep what interests us.” In his lecture and in our interview, Zurbano discussed
Zurbano also held a lecture at Howard University discussing the issue of racism in Cuba. Photo courtesy of Norah Walsh.
the importance of African tradition and religion in the language, the music, the food and the culture in Cuba, all of which can contribute to Afro-Cuban identity and “cubanía.” In our interview, Zurbano commented on the link between African languages and their influence on the Spanish language in words like “bongo” and “mambo.” He said, “There are phrases and words that come from Patois and Yoruba, as well as other African languages.” Zurbano also explained the connection between religion and food within the Santería religion, which is of Yoruba origin and was brought by enslaved West Africans to Cuba. In Santería, each Orisha—forces of nature considered part of God—eats a different food, which leads to an abundant culinary scene in Cuba with African links. According to Zurbano, this is one of the many ways in which African culture permeates throughout Cuban culture, though it often goes unrecognized. On the topic of racism in Cuba, Zurbano explained that Afro-Cubans are often subjected to a condition I likened to redlining in the United States.
“Cubania in Cuba also pertains to the ocean, as we are an island. We always have the ocean close by, and if it’s not close we know it’s there. The absence of the ocean can harm certain people.” - Roberto Zurbano In his lecture, Zurbano mentioned that while society is not segregated in Cuba, racism and social class are very much connected, which means that housing may seem
segregated due to the systemic and economically linked racism at play in Cuba that significantly detriments Afro-Cubans. Zurbano highlighted the idea of identity and how it is perceived in Cuba today in his lecture, identifying a type of neo-racism in Cuba, especially as it is associated with the tourism industry, which he associated with the idea of a modern idea of the plantation in the Caribbean. Furthermore, Zurbano explained that after 50 years of socialism, which had a Eurocentric structure in Cuba, Marxist ideas often overshadowed other problems in Cuban society, as the main focus was on class consciousness rather than on other vital concerns, such as race. In our interview before the lecture, Zurbano said, “In the 19th century, there was a large quantity of Black enslaved persons who were the property of other men, and these men recorded their property in a book. In a book appears: a bag of rice, a horse and a slave. They were not human beings, they were not children of God, religiously speaking. So, it took work to take them out of this book of property and put them in a book of citizenship where they could vote; where they had rights and duties in society. And this argument has passed through an entire century of Cuban people and arrived at Cuban socialism.” As he elaborated on racism in Cuba, he also spoke on the concept of anti-racism. “Anti-racism is the struggle of revindicating the rights of Afro-descendants and it is also a way of understanding that Cuban racism has many shared aspects with Marxist socialism because, for Marxism, the category of race is not as important as class, and so this has been fatal in the struggle against racism [in Cuba],” he said. “So when I speak about anti-racism in Cuba, I’m talking about anti-racism towards Black people, about the practices that devalue, that make inferior, that subordinate and offend and humiliate the condition of a Black person or a Black project or a Black institution,” said Zurbano. “And this can be through a joke, through an action, through a word, but it can also be through a silence, for racism in Cuba has other, extraverbal forms.” As he said this, he pointed at the back of his hand and then to his palm to denote Black and white, respectively, indicating an extraverbal way to denote race identity in Cuba.
Friday, November 3, 2023
Life
Page 5
Dear Davy: After three years, I’m just not sure if I’m in love with them anymore, what should I do?
DAVY WASHINGTON Online Editor Q: I feel like I feel more friendly with my partner than romantic anymore. We’ve been dating for almost 3 years now and I really do love them, I’m just not sure if I’m in love with them anymore. What should I do? It’s tearing me up :( A: After three years together, when did the platonic feelings start to kill the romance? To some degree, whoever you’re with should feel like a friend—or something similar—but with the added benefits and expectations of a committed relationship. Obviously, you won’t go around kissing your friends—unless you’re some of the people I know—or expect the same level of emotional intimacy that comes with being in a relationship. However, the ability to joke around, banter and have that sense of camaraderie that is often associated with close friends is also really important for a healthy romantic relationship. The line between a romantic relationship and friendships can be incredibly blurry or thin for some and thicker for others. In general, having someone to rely on for more intense and in-depth emotional needs is the most common distinction. It’s not impossible to be in love with a friend, especially if you’ve known them for a really long time or have spent a lot of time together, and, in that case, the only distinction you might have between a relationship and a strong friendship is the sexual intimacy. In much shorter terms, it can be helpful to evaluate your personal differences between what makes someone your friend with what makes someone your partner. So, how’s the sex? If you’ve lost that drive and passion in bed, then it might be time to think a bit more about why you’re still with your partner and what needs aren’t being met that’s led you to feel how you do. Are they doing the things you want them to? Are you realizing that the
The UMW community is able to submit questions to Davy’s relationship column through the scannable QR code found at the end of the article. Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer
way you’re both intimate with each other or even how you show affection isn’t meshing? What you could be feeling is the loss of the initial spark. Perhaps you’re feeling too bored where you are and need something new to freshen things up, but maybe you’re not quite ready to leave what you’re already used to. To work on this feeling of romantic disconnect, try doing new things in bed! This can be a really fun way to reconnect with your partner and can lead to a whole host of discoveries that you wouldn’t have had otherwise. Also, what does your life outside of your relationship look like? If you don’t have your own sense of identity outside of your relationship, this could be affecting how you feel towards your partner. Branching out and creating more of a life outside of them could be beneficial and lead to a stronger yearning for them when they aren’t around.
“It’s okay to just exist in a moment and feel at home with someone you love, even if it’s starting to feel like you’re just really good friends.” - Davy Washington
Davy Washington is an English: Creative writing major graduating in the spring of 2025. Photo courtesy of Chenin Guber.
I invite you to think back to when these feelings started and why you’re feeling this way now. It’s not necessarily a bad thing to reflect on your relationship, and you potentially may just be feeling settled in. After a while, it’s not atypical for a romantic relationship to feel less riveting, but it shouldn’t bore you to be around your partner. Being together for a long time offers a calmness that lets you accept them as a constant in your life, which is really beautiful, and perhaps this is what you are feeling. It’s okay to just exist in a moment and feel at home with someone you love, even if it’s starting to feel like you’re just really good friends. I’ve been with partners where we can sit with each other in comfortable silence and not feel like we have to talk to each other; we can lay in bed on a Saturday night and not feel like we’re wasting
the night and need to do something exciting. Once the pressure of feeling the need to impress this person and make sure they like you goes away, it’s like an immense weight is lifted. This could be the point where you are now, but if your doubt outweighs your pleasure, perhaps you’re ready to move on. Maybe you want to be single for a time after spending the past few years in a relationship. Maybe there is some inner tension between what you want from yourself and what you want from your partner. My advice: Do some soul-searching. Find out what you really want from them and communicate that. If it’s something that can be worked on and that they’re willing to collaborate on, then you’ve got some potential there. It can be extremely difficult to abandon what’s comfortable and what you’re used to in favor of something that might not work out, but know that what you’re feeling is normal and it’s a natural part of the ebb and flow in relationships.
Friday, November 3, 2023
Life
Page 6
“Party Animals”: Cuteness overload mixed in with fisticuffs PEARL LEE Senior Writer On Sept. 20, “Party Animals” was released. With the likeness of “Fall Guys” and “Gang Beasts” in its brawler style, “Party Animals” pushes the genre forward by being both a brawler and a party game that is based in physics. In the game, you can choose from a wide array of adorable animals and pit them against each other in fast-paced multiplayer matches, or you can play as a team to achieve a common goal. This game is so ironic and comical that I honestly couldn’t put my controller down with how much fun I was having. The optional tutorial level had me giggling at some parts because of the way it’s set up and how sarcastic the Irish announcer sounded while giving basic instructions on how to play. Even the loading screen had me chuckling with the ridiculous corgi flailing his arms as it tried to drag the image of a moon cake across the screen that acts as the loading bar. The artwork for this game looks very childish from afar because when you see a cute corgi with the words “Party Animals” on it, a normal person would just wave it off because it looks like a game for five-year-olds. In reality, though, you play as these cute-looking animals that are beating the ever-living crap out of each other and throwing them down. As a result, “Party Animals” is a perfectly crafted oxymoron for the most unsuspecting of players. The music adds to this sense of irony and oxymoron as it creates a laid-back environment with a tropical elevator-like music soundtrack amidst the chaos. At the beginning of the game, you’re introduced to an orange cat and a corgi both sitting on a couch mashing away at controllers, attempting to explain to the player what kind of game they should expect without saying much. “Party Animals” has two modes you can choose from, which are quick match and custom game. Quick match throws you into a random matchmaking group of eight players and allows everyone to choose between three out of the 20 different maps. Meanwhile, the custom game mode allows players to create their own levels using pre-existing assets like maps and items and letting them play other players’ maps. There are three overall game types: last stand, team score and arcade. Last stand is a combination of classic ‘king of the hill’ and free play combined into one. It is fast-paced, and the maps use environmental hazards to create more of a challenge for the player in addition to the brawl itself. Team score is your classic team mode where you can play different sports like soccer or hockey, or you can go into an all-out brawl with the opposing team. Apart from sports and team brawls, “Party Animals” offers a wide array of options, such as one where the main goal is not beating up your opponent but working with your team to reach a goal. There’s a level called “Fluffy Redemption” where two trains are moving on parallel tracks. The idea is to work with your team to throw coal into a furnace to make your train move faster, and the level emphasizes coordinating with your team by having each player fulfill different roles rather than resorting to throwing fists to win. This mode is my personal favorite because punching isn’t the solution, but, of course, we did try to jump the gap and board the other team’s train to throw them off. For the arcade style, well, it’s in the name. A classic arcade style means that the game is fast-paced and features
Recreate Games, a game studio based in Shanghai, developed “Party Animals,” which released on Sept. 20, 2023. @party_animals / X
constantly changing rules and maps. This format presents a four-on-four deathmatch style with the overall goal of survival. When playing with other people, you are given 28 different animals you can choose from, with 11 available to you at the beginning of the game, and you unlock more as you level up. There is also the option to pay with real money to unlock characters or costumes for your animal. In my opinion, having 11 different animals already unlocked is more than enough for a multiplayer game, and it offers a wide array for people who can’t really afford to buy other animals, which I really enjoy. The first mode I played was called “Gator Valley.” With “Party Animals” being a multiplayer game, players are able to chat with each other, which made me feel like we were friends playing a game together. The game
created a feeling that you already knew your fellow players, and, while I didn’t use a microphone, the other players cracked jokes and just talked to each other, which created a strong sense of camaraderie and even friendship. This type of conversation was a good break from the infamous obscenities and offensive comments that can be heard while playing other video games. While I had a blast playing “Party Animals,” I also have deep gripes about this game, which are mainly the microtransactions that are pushed onto you and the lack of an offline mode. I deeply dislike the forced use of microtransactions in current video games not only because it is a disgusting way for these companies to make more money, but also because it bars players from being able to play with whatever character and costume they want. It’s even more heinous when the company keeps the best possible weapons and equipment behind a paywall because it’s basically telling players who don’t have the funds to pay for these weapons and equipment that only the players who have the money will be able to fully experience the game. Another critique I have is that I don’t normally have Xbox Live Gold, which is a subscription service that allows people to play online for $10 per month. I was able to play “Party Animals” for a short time, but once my Gold membership runs out, I can’t play this game. Additionally, although this game is slowly becoming one of my favorite party games, it lacks an offline mode, which means I can’t even play against bots after my membership ends. “Party Animals” creates a sense of childish gameplay that lures curious people into the game where they find that it’s a fast-paced, laughing-your-head-off kind of party game. It includes the most ridiculous ragdoll physics you’ll ever see in your life, beating the crap out of each other as well as running around in ridiculous costumes. Deeper into the game, though, it shows a nasty core of money-grabbing tactics and a lack of knowledge of knowing what your audience wants. It’s quite disheartening that this game holds so much potential, so past the cute cuddly animals and laid-back nature, it’s lackluster. Overall, I would rate this game a 7.4/10. Party Animals came out on Sept. 20 and is available on Xbox Series X&S, Xbox One and Microsoft Windows.
“Party Animals” offers an interesting new take by combining both the brawler and party genre. It allows for an enjoyable new experience for players that is interactive and memorable. @Party Animals / Steam
Friday, November 3, 2023
News
Page 7
Town and Gown Committee meets for bi-annual meeting in Fredericksburg City Police Department Tanner glascock Staff Writer On Oct. 26, the Town and Gown Committee met at the Fredericksburg City Police Department to discuss issues pertinent to the community, including campus infrastructure and police activity on and around campus. The committee meets bi-annually, switching locations between university and city facilities, and is composed of representatives from both UMW and leaders from the greater Fredericksburg area. The purpose of the committee, which is facilitated by University President Troy Paino, aims to unite the University and the broader Fredericksburg community. Fredericksburg City Police Chief Brian Layton began the meeting with an address regarding police activity on and around campus. He first spoke of parking violations in the College Heights neighborhood. “[The average number of] parking tickets issued in the College Heights neighborhood this month sits at 56.4, which is in line with the average from last year,” he said. Additionally, Layton discussed the issue of noise and the procedure for addressing such complaints. Several members of the local community spoke on this topic. Many complaints were made regarding the metal concert on Wednesday, Oct. 25 at the UMW Amphitheatre. UMW Police had allegedly issued a warning to the event organizers following initial complaints, but there was no formal law enforcement intervention, and the concert proceeded as planned. After an apology from Chief of UMW Police Michael Hall, he said, “One of the things that we are doing is learning from that … And we have been working collaboratively with these student groups to find better venues.” Regarding public safety, Hall added that the blue lights on campus have gotten a major update; they are now equipped with cameras that can transmit video feed to the University police communications center. Additionally, he noted that the University of Mary Washington Police headquarters plans to be relocated from South Hall to Eagle Village in a storefront next to Patriot Subs by January. Another topic of conversation for the committee was campus infrastructure.
The Town and Gown Committee met at the Fredericksburg City Police Department. Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer
Crime Column Ky Huynh News Editor The Crime Column is based on UMW Police reports from Oct. 26-Nov. 1.
There has been no crime reported since The Weekly Ringer’s last publication on Oct. 27
UMW and Fredericksburg leaders come together to discuss issues and complaints in the community. Photo courtesy of Tanner Glascock
The current plans for the new theatre building involve the demolition of Russell and Marshall Halls, which both sit near the intersection of Sunken Road and William Street. Final design plans are still being drafted, and a date has yet to be announced regarding the demolition. Additionally, UMW was awarded a sum of $11.25 million from the state of Virginia to use in exterior and interior renovations on campus, which is planned to be used primarily for landscaping and maintaining the grounds with a focus on Jefferson Square and Ball Circle. Melissa Jones, the dean of students and associate vice president of the Office of Student Affairs, addressed the committee to share information about events happening on campus in the near future and the state of campus-hosted events in the wake of the COVID-19 lockdown. “I love to see the vibrancy return to campus,” she said. At the end of the meeting, the floor was opened up for discussion pertaining to issues not included in the schedule of topics, and many members of the community voiced their happiness with living near campus and the connection between the University and the greater Fredericksburg community. “It’s so nice living next to campus and seeing the vibrancy and the community” commented Tim Duffy, a city council member and UMW alumnus. The meeting adjourned once there were no more comments.
Sports
Friday, November 3, 2023
Girl on the run: Eliana Ramirez takes to track and field and cross country
Hurieh Abed Staff Writer With determination, hard work and an undeniable passion for running, Eliana Ramirez, a junior conservation biology major, is in her third year on the University of Mary Washington’s cross country and track team. Ramirez began running in elementary school, when she had the choice of continuing ballet or running, and she chose to run. In third grade, she decided to join Girls on the Run, which is a nationwide non-profit organization that encourages girls to find confidence by running. At her elementary school, Girls on the Run was an after-school club that also had a Boys on the Run equivalent. When the club members competed, they ran a 5k, and a partner outside of the club, such as their parents, could join them in the race. Ramirez ran with her father. In middle school, she joined the distance team in track and field. She ran events like the 100- and the 400-meter dash, which led her to realize that she preferred distance running. “I found out I was not a sprinter. I liked longer distances better,” said Ramirez. Ramirez continued to run in high school, where she joined the cross country and track and field team. Though she liked running long-distance, the cross-country season proved to be a challenge. “The hard part about cross country is that I run on any terrain no matter what the weather is. It could be muddy, 40 degrees and rainy and we still have to run because that is what cross country is,” she said. Because Ramirez did not like running in the cold and preferred warmer weather, she switched to indoor track in the winter and ran outdoor track in the spring season. She used this as an opportunity to keep herself immersed in the world of running but on her own terms. “Cross country and track and field helped me stay active and form connections within the team,” she said. Ramirez highlighted the differences between her running career in high school versus now at the university level. “Cross country at university is a bit different from high school, where instead of everyone running a 5k, the women run a 6k and the
Fall Sports Schedule
Men’s Soccer (14-1-2) Nov. 3 vs. TBA Nov. 5 vs. TBA
Women’s Soccer (7-8-1) Nov. 3 vs. TBA Nov. 5 vs. TBA
Men’s Rugby (4-2)
Nov. 4 vs. Queens Nov. 11 vs. Southern Virginia
Women’s Rugby (3-1)
Nov. 4 vs. American Nov. 21 vs. Maryland Nov. 28 vs. Temple @ Frederick, Pa. Ramirez poses for photos on sports media day.
Photo courtesy of Eliana Ramirez.
men run a 8k,” she said. “Training at a university level is a lot of work and the workouts are more intense.” The UMW cross-country team does not have a cross-country course, so Ramirez always has to race at other universities, such as Shenandoah University, Christopher Newport University, Bridgewater College and Rowan University.
- Eliana Ramirez For the UMW track and field team, she competes in both the winter and spring seasons. During the winter, she has to run more laps around the indoor track because it is smaller. For instance, one mile on an outdoor track is four laps while on an indoor track, a mile is eight laps. When she decided to do indoor track, she thought that the conditions would be better than the ones for cross country, but she quickly learned that was not the case. “Running indoors is harder than outdoors because everybody is packed in a tight space and there is no fresh air to breathe. We are all breathing each other’s air,” she said. Ramirez mainly uses winter track to stay in shape for the spring season. She runs in the 800-meter event during the winter season and occasionally will be put into the 1500-meter, competing in a mix of home and away meets. No matter if she is running indoors or outdoors, for track or cross country, Ramirez loves to run and sticks with it because of the sense of community it has fostered for her throughout her life. UMW Athletics
University of Mary Washington
Abbey Magnet Sports Editor
“The community at UMW is close and that is why I like it so much... If I didn’t end up choosing to run over dance I don’t know what my life would have looked like.”
Junior Eliana Ramirez races to the finish line.
Page 8
Women’s Volleyball (23-3)
Nov. 3 vs. Chris. Newport vs. Centre Nov. 4 vs. Susquehanna vs. Averett
Men’s Swimming (2-1)
Nov. 4 vs. Franklin & Marshall vs. York @ Lancaster, Pa. Nov. 10 vs. St. Mary’s (Md.)
Women’s Swimming (2-1) Nov. 4 vs. Franklin & Marshall vs. York @ Lancaster, Pa. Nov. 10 vs. St. Mary’s (Md.)
Equestrian
Nov. 4 vs. Randolph-Macon Nov. 5 vs. Chris. Newport
Games are available to watch via livestream on the UMW Athletics webpage umw.eagles.com/composite Full schedule not listed above. Most recent games included. Bold indicates home game.