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Incumbent Democrat Abigail Spanberger faces Republican Yesli Vega in 7th Congressional District race

CALLIE HARKINS

Editor

The University of Mary Washington resides in Virginia’s 7th Congressional District where, come Election Day on Nov. 8, voters will decide between reelecting incumbent Democrat Rep. Abigail Spanberger or flipping the seat and electing Republican Yesli Vega.

The Cook Political Report, an independent, nonpartisan newsletter that analyzes campaigns and elections, has deemed the race as one of the most competitive in the country. Together, the two campaigns have raised over $11 million.

Virginia’s newly-redrawn 7th Congressional District encompasses Fredericksburg City, Stafford, Spotsylvania, Culpeper, Orange, Caroline, King George, Greene and Madison Counties, as well as parts of Prince William and Albemarle Counties.

The 7th District, according to the 2020 United States Census, is 64% White, 18% Black, 8% Hispanic and 5% Asian. The median age among residents is 40.7 years old, and the District is comprised of 51% women and 49% men. The District records a median household income of $89,823, which is roughly 10% higher than the statewide median and 1.3 times higher than the national median. All of the aforementioned demographics, in conjunction with increasing political turmoil, are cited as making this race a tossup.

The Vega campaign

The Vega campaign has raised $2,982,226 as of Nov.

2, according to the Federal Election Commission. She has been endorsed by several leaders in the Republican party, among those are former President Donald Trump, Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-Va.) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.).

Vega’s campaign did not respond to multiple interview requests from The Weekly Ringer, made since Oct. 23.

“President Trump, you know, joins the hundreds of thousands of seventh district voters that have endorsed my campaign,” Vega said in a live interview on Fox News. “When it comes to the race that I’m running, I’m laser focused on continuing to get support from the voters of the 7th district because that’s the most important endorsement for me as we look into Nov. 8.”

Vega has highlighted her appreciation for Youngkin’s endorsement and looks forward to collaborating with the governor if she is elected to the seat.

“We’re going to fight to lower the cost of living for Virginians, clean up the crime in our streets, and ensure parents and children have a say in their education,” said Vega in a written press release accepting Youngkin’s endorsement. “It’s great to have the Governor on our team and we’re looking forward to fighting for a huge win this November.”

Vega started her career in public service as a member of the Prince William Board of Supervisors. While on the board, she defeated gun control resolutions, introduced reduced property tax rates and worked to preserve an agreement between Prince William County and the

Immigration and Customs Enforcement that allowed local police forces to act as federal officers, according to NPR.

She is running on a platform that vows to institute checks and balances on the Biden Administration, protect law enforcement, strengthen border security, limit government, abolish critical race theory in public primary schools, ensure affordable and transparent healthcare, boost the economy, reinstate integrity in elections and provide the American people with “competent” foreign policy, according to her campaign website.

“Virginians are sick and tired of sky-rocking gas prices and cost of living and they are tired of the drugs and rampant crime due to Biden’s Southern border crisis,” she said in a written press release. “We’re seeing this kind of momentum all across the district, including a massive wave of support from former and currently elected leaders like Congressman Bob Good, Senator Ted Cruz, Ken Cuccinelli, Dave Brat, and Corey Stewart. With our growing coalition of support, there’s no doubt we are the best campaign to take on Abigail Spanberger and win this seat in November.”

Vega has also noted inflation and the economy as drivers of change in Virginia and the country as a whole.

“Small businesses in Virginia continue to struggle under the leadership of Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, and Abigail Spanberger,” she said in a written press release. “It’s no secret that since Biden took office, American businesses are facing a disrupted supply chain, skyrocketing inflation, and employment shortages. ... We are fighting for the small business owners who have struggled to keep their businesses afloat under Biden’s policies. We are fighting to help create good paying jobs in our communities and to root out burdensome government regulations that hinder folks from pursuing the American Dream.”

The Spanberger campaign

Abigail Spanberger, the Democrat and incumbent, has raised $8,348,350 thus far, according to the Federal Election Commission. In addition to some elected officials, she has been endorsed by the United States Chamber of Commerce, the Washington Post Editorial Board and Planned Parenthood.

Spanberger embraces the UMW community as a powerful influence in the 7th District and encourages students to turn out and vote in every election, no matter who is on the ballot.

“Every election is

Yesli

William County Board of

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As Election Day approaches, competition heightens between Spanberger and Vega

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important, and in Virginia where we have elections every year, it is sometimes easy to think that higher-profile elections are more important and that you don’t need to vote every year,” she said in an email interview with The Weekly Ringer. “However, in every election, your priorities — whether they be hyper-local or national — are on the ballot. This year’s election will determine control of Congress and who is your representative in the U.S. House. There are clear differences between the candidates on your ballots, whether you vote in Fredericksburg or back home.”

Several UMW students and alumni have joined the Spanberger campaign to serve as interns, volunteers and full-time staffers.

“Half of our field team is made up of fantastic UMW grads — Rina Murasaki, Jason Ford, and Keegan Frederick — who bring professionalism, heart, and creativity to our team,” she said. “Additionally, I’ve been privileged to have many UMW students intern and volunteer for our campaign, knock doors and make phone calls, and get the word out about how we can make Virginia a stronger place. I’m so grateful to have the support of engaged, dedicated, and thoughtful students who care about our communities, our Commonwealth, and our country.”

As noted on her campaign website, Spanberger is running in hopes of bolstering the economy, lowering healthcare and drug costs, protecting Social Security and Medicare, “cleaning up Washington,” safeguarding access to abortion, strengthening national security, securing boarders, funding the police, preventing gun violence, supporting students, defending civil rights and protecting the environment.

“These differences matter, and the policies that my colleagues and I are voting on and making — or not voting on and not making — will impact you and your peers years into the future,” she said. “Right now, students have the opportunity to choose candidates who are working to address the issues you face every day — like improving college affordability, lowering costs, and increasing job opportunities during school and after graduation. You also have the opportunity to weigh in on decisions that will impact the rest of your life, your career, and your family for years to come.”

Spanberger recognized the stress that comes alongside following a campaign and witnessing constant breaking news as one grows up.

“It can be easy to get discouraged by cable news hosts, politicians, or social media personalities who seek to divide us or promote outrage, so ignore them, unfollow them, and focus on what matters in your community and life,” she said. “I know it is easier said than done, but we live in a country where the voices and votes of every citizen, not just those with the biggest platforms or the most resources, carry the exact same weight at the ballot box.”

turn away from it,” she said. “Instead, engage on issues that matter to you; seek out earnest conversations about politics and the impact of policy in your lives; participate in conversations that make you think, that challenge you and that challenge others; and expect candidates and politicians to focus on issues, results, and accountability.”

As Election Day approaches, Spanberger reflected on her relationship with UMW and emphasized that students should contact her if she can assist them in any way.

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Spanberger continued, “I know from my time campaigning across our district that more people want progress, safer communities, greater opportunities, a strong economy, solid educational system, healthy families, and accessible and responsible public servants driving real policy progress — and that continued progress will be possible when everyone votes.”

Spanberger has represented UMW and the surrounding Fredericksburg community since 2019. On Tuesday, Oct. 4, the James Farmer Multicultural Center hosted her as part of a social justice teach-in. She spoke on the importance of civic engagement and advised students on how to remain invested in politics despite a greatly polarized and ever-changing political landscape.

“It may sound trite or simplistic, but be a part of the change you want to see,” she said. “When we participate, when we choose to remain hopeful about the future of our country, and when we find common ground with our neighbors, we can make progress.”

“Now that UMW is part of Virginia’s Seventh District, I’ve enjoyed meeting many of you and sharing my thoughts and policy priorities with your classmates, your professors, and your neighbors in Fredericksburg,” she said. “This is a special place, filled with engaged students who challenge themselves — and I look forward to serving UMW in Congress and listening to the issues that matter most to you going forward.”

Buildup to election day

Gallup, a global analytics firm, conducted a national poll attempting to gauge important issues for voters going into the midterms. 49% of voters say the state of the economy is extremely important to their vote, 42% of voters say abortion is extremely important to their vote and 40% say crime is extremely important to their vote. Gun policy, immigration, relations with Russia and climate change were additionally noted as topics of importance to voters.

Bell tower logo designed by Bernadette D’Auria ‘22

Spanberger encouraged young people to stay engaged, even as the political climate heats up.

“If you feel overwhelmed by the current political climate, don’t

According to an NBC News poll conducted in Oct. 2022, 30% of registered voters - 41% of Democrats, 23% of Republicans and 20% of Independents - believe “threats to democracy” are a top issue.

Overall, Americans on both sides of the aisle are looking towards the midterms as means of getting their voices heard.

Virginia’s 7th Congressional District is predicted to be a tossup come Election Day. Sarah Sklar / The Weekly Ringer

Campaign sign for Yesli Vega sits outside of a home in Fredericksburg City. Sarah Sklar / The Weekly Ringer

Opinion

Anti-mint: Mint chocolate chip ice cream is overrated

TERESA GUzMAN Staff Writer

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream, the familiar saying goes.

We can all agree that ice cream is a top-tier dessert, especially one to enjoy on a hot summer day. Or on a cold December one if that’s more your speed.

But what I’ve never understood is people’s obsession with mint chocolate chip ice cream. It’s easily one of the most overrated ice creams to exist, and I’m here to tell you why. Mint chocolate chip lovers, you’ll want to shield your eyes from this one.

Mint chocolate chip ice cream is a wannabe Thin Mints Girl Scout cookie. But even though imitation is said to be the most sincere form of flattery, the flavor of both desserts is rather mediocre. While any slander against frozen Thin Mints is treasonous, it is still an unexceptional, basic dessert on its own. The true reason Thin Mints reign over any other minty dessert is the excitement surrounding the commodification and scarcity of their production— it’s not every day the Girl Scouts come knocking on your door.

“I personally don’t like mint chocolate chip ice cream because I don’t like something minty and chocolate going together, it’s kind of gross,” said freshman conservation biology major Aidan Kimener.

Grace Pippin, a senior psychology and education double major and mint chocolate chip ice cream critic, was quite explicit about why she doesn’t like the flavor.

She elocuted her disdain for the ice cream in just one word: “Toothpaste.”

Imagine deciding that the best way for you to enjoy a little sweet treat is to scoop up what is practically just a menthol paste. Unfortunate.

Pippin goes as far as to say that “literally anything else” is better than mint chocolate chip ice cream, and I have to side with her on this one.

Furthermore, not to get critical, but also to be very critical, the appearance alone is skeptical.

Though some varieties of mint chocolate chip are worse than others, the ice cream itself is often an unnatural green color. It gives off slime-on-a-messyNickelodeon-game-show vibes, and I am not here for it.

Out of 15 people I surveyed here at UMW, nine voted that they liked mint chocolate chip ice cream, while six said they didn’t.

If someone came knocking at my door offering me mint chocolate chip ice cream, I would have to decline. Pairing mint and chocolate is just not exciting—it’s a tired combination that doesn’t really deserve all the hype it receives.

Pro-mint chocolate chip people claim that sweet chocolate and cool mint together is a religious experience, but I just don’t buy it. How can they look past the obviously disturbing taste?

Freshman mint chocolate chip lover Sophie Jensen said, “It might be weird, but I think of the chocolates as little treasures to find in the ice cream.”

As fun as treasure hunting is, something must be said for the fact that people who eat mint chocolate chip seem like they have to distract themselves with the game just to get through a cup.

Another member of team mint chocolate chip, freshman English major in the education program Enya Cea-Levin said, “I like mint chocolate chip because it is

refreshing but also has a sweetness to it!”

While Levin may find some sweetness in the flavor and the experience, the menthol brain freeze just isn’t worth it. The toothpaste-flavored ice cream alone could be swept under the rug as just an interesting choice. However, when you add in the bittersweet piece of chocolate, things can get weird.

At the end of the day, everyone can choose whatever ice cream they want. Will there be some mild judgment? Of course. However, mint haters and mint lovers can come together at the end of the day and agree on one thing: People whose favorite ice cream is vanilla or chocolate are the true enemy.

Staff Ed: Witches, ghosts, superheroes... serial killers?

Many people look forward to Halloween all year, getting out their decorations the second it becomes fall and wearing extravagant costumes all Halloweekend long. Though Halloween is often seen as a fun, unproblematic holiday, issues arise when peo ple who dress up for Halloween leave behind the traditional, time-honored costumes and don more controversial ensembles that glorify harmful people.

Over Halloweekend, many of us were troubled to see people dressed up as notori ous serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, a trend that likely spurred from Netflix’s recent Jeffrey Dahmer series. On a day when people can dress up as anything they want, too many chose to physically embody a serial killer who would drug his victims, engage in sexual activity with them and then brutally murder them.

“Over the past weekend I saw so many people dressing up in the Dahmer costumes,” said senior historic preservation and English double major Grace Schumacher. “One person going as far as to carry fake date rape drugs. Honestly I don’t think people would have even considered it as a costume idea if it wasn’t for this new Dahmer craze sparked by the new Netflix series.”

These costumes reached such an extent that they were banned by many LGBTQ+ bars in Dahmer’s hometown of Milwaukee, Wis., according to an article by Pink News. Additionally, eBay banned the sale of any “Dahmer” costumes and merchandise saying

that those violate their violence and violent criminals policy. Large costume chains such as Spirit Halloween and Party City reportedly are not selling the costume, according to an article by New York Magazine.

The disturbing surge of fanfare has drawn backlash from Shirley Hughes, whose son was murdered by Dahmer in 1991.

Over the weekend, Hughes told TMZ that the costumes were “evil” and trauma tizing. “If Netflix hadn’t streamed the show,” she said, “none of the families would be revictimized ... and then there’d be no Dahmer costumes this year.”

Hughes continued, “It’s already super triggering to see a hit Netflix series about the serial killer, much less folks dressing like the killer.”

Olympic gymnast Simone Biles also criticized Dahmer costumes even before Halloweekend. She said in an Oct. 18 tweet, “I’m just gon go ahead and say it, put the Jeffrey Dahmer costumes back in the closet. We ain’t having it!!!”

While men are just now coming under scrutiny for problematic costumes, women are long used to being shamed for the outfits they choose to wear for this holiday. The stigma for women on Halloween is extremely different from men—women have his torically been called sluts and whores, accused of showing “too much,” while men have been able to dress up as serial killers without anyone batting an eye.

Halloween is meant to be a day when people can dress up in a lighthearted way and enjoy some free candy—the twisted horrors of reality should stay out of it.

Mint chocolate chip ice cream on a cone. Anna Sullivan / Unsplash

“I personally don’t like mint chocolate chip ice cream because I don’t like somethinig minty and chocolate going together, it’s kind of gross.”

-Aidan Kimener

THE

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Life

To work or to rest: Students choose between earning money and spending time with family during breaks

MADISON MCCALLUM Staff Writer

With Thanksgiving and winter break approaching, many students are contemplating how to spend their time off of school. For some, school breaks are not such a break, as they fill their time working, but others choose to take the much-needed rest. To get a better understanding of students’ reasoning behind their choice of whether or not to work during the holidays, I spoke with six fellow Eagles who all had varying experiences.

Staying home for the holidays

For freshman Kathryn Field, the holidays stand for one thing and one thing alone: family time.

“My family likes to spend as much time as possible together during the holiday season, and working would detract from that time,” said Field. “During the rest of the year, we’re all pretty busy, so this is our time to take a break.”

Having worked during the holiday season in the past at Chick-fil-A, Field found that between late night shifts, her coworkers needing assistance covering their shifts and angry customers taking out their stress on employees, working over the holidays was not worth the hassle. She recalled dreading going to work, oftentimes wishing she could simply rest and enjoy the break from classes instead of reporting to work. Remembering feeling tired day in and day out, Field decided not to return to work during the break between semesters this winter.

“Even though our break is pretty long, it’ll be nice to not have to worry about anything during that time and to be able to focus on my family after not seeing them for a while,” said Field.

Now, she treats the holiday season as a time to sit down and enjoy meals with her family, bake all of her favorite holiday treats, visit her extended family, watch classic holiday movies and simply enjoy the company and ability to talk to each other.

Similar to Field, junior business administration major Garrett O’Connor looks forward to being able to spend quality time with his family, as well as with friends who are also home from college. Although O’Connor has not had negative experiences with working during the holidays, the time commitment of a job would impede his ability to attend family activities.

“We usually take a vacation over the holidays as a family,” said O’Connor. “Sometimes our out-of-town family comes to visit us, but most of the time we have to travel to them. Working would prevent me from partaking in those visits.”

Searching for the hustle and bustle

For some, a break from school is the perfect opportunity to earn money to work towards paying for tuition as well as student loans. Sophomore psychology major Isabella Lazarte plans to spend the holiday season working in the food service industry at a local açaí bowl smoothie business in her hometown of Arlington, Va.

Working around 30 hours a week, Lazarte will not have to work on any major holidays, which allows her to celebrate Roman Catholic traditions with her family, such as midnight mass on Christmas Eve. Having worked during the holiday season since high school, Lazarte recalls feeling as if she missed out on typical teenage activities. “There were times that I would miss out on social interactions in high school, games for my school’s sports teams, other affiliated school events, and being in clubs,” she said. “All because I was working 39.5 hours a week at 16, while also attending school.”

Overall, the smoothie-mixing sophomore feels that working has benefited many aspects of her life, although it has also taken away from some. “Working gives me something to do, and I think the sense of productivity and accomplishment helped my mental health a lot,” she said. “The work/school balance at a younger age helped teach me a lot of time management, but it has also made me burn out and at times I’ll lose motivation for school. While having an on-campus job as well as an additional job at home is financially beneficial, it feels like I never truly get a break.”

Back for more

During the break, junior psychology major Skyler Revutin and sophomore biochemistry major Merna Mousa will return to the jobs in their respective hometowns that they left for the fall semester. Luckily, the two do not have issues with their jobs impacting their families’ holiday festivities.

Working 35-40 hours a week as team lead at the local Panera in her hometown of Culpepper, Va., Revutin decided to return for the holiday season to earn extra money to make up for not working while classes are in session. Working around her work schedule, Revutin’s parents do their best to plan festivities that she can attend, including their annual trip to New York City to visit family.

Returning to her local Walmart in Henrico, Va., Mousa does her best to be at home with her loved ones on New Years.

“I don’t like to work on New Years because I think that’s a great time to sit with your family and friends and think back on the year you’ve had together,” said Mousa. “My family isn’t a big fan of me working on New Years, but I always make time for them even if I am stuck working.”

Adding on the hours

For year-round workers like senior business administration major Alicia Butler, who works as a manager at Aerie, adding hours during the holiday is no big deal. Moving to Fredericksburg from Draper, Utah, back in 2021, Butler’s break includes spending quality time with her parents while working 40 hours a week during the holidays.

“This will be around my third year working over the holidays,” said Butler. “Working does make the holidays more stressful as a retail worker because Christmas time is our peak season, meaning it’s extremely busy. But overall, it’s a good distraction from being at home with my family for weeks on end during the break.”

Some students decide to work over the holiday break while others choose to spend the time with family. Vlada Karpovich / Unsplash

Dracula Daily makes reading Bram Stoker’s novel more convenient at the expense of dramatic irony

BERNADETTE D’AURIA Staff Writer

If you’ve ever wanted to pick up Bram Stoker’s “Dracula,” now is your chance. Since May 2021, I and countless individuals have been receiving emails directly to our inboxes that feature small snippets of the novel all via a free subscription called Dracula Daily. Although I was instantly drawn in by the format and the novel itself, the chronological format changes the reading experience from the printed version.

Dracula Daily first launched last spring, when creator Matt Kirkland decided that he wanted to share the novel in real time as events transpire. The novel is told in an epistolary format, meaning that it is compiled of letters and other documents. When writing his novel, Stoker dated each character’s letters, journal entries, telegrams and newspaper clippings, allowing for Kirkland to create a newsletter in which letters and documents are sent to your inbox on the corresponding day.

Kirkland decided to relaunch Dracula Daily for another year after hundreds “overwhelmingly said: YES” to his inquiry about a relaunch, Kirkland said in a post on the Dracula Daily website. On May 3, anyone who had subscribed to the newsletter received their first email from Jonathan Harker, one of many main characters throughout Stoker’s novel.

When I first began receiving emails from this newsletter, I was instantly hooked by the novel. As a result, I decided to pick up my physical copy of “Dracula” so that I could read it without waiting days or weeks between letters. Immediately, I noticed that there were some differences in the formats.

As already stated, “Dracula” is an epistolary novel. In my Norton critical edition of Bram Stoker’s work, the novel begins with the assertion, “How these papers have been placed in sequence will be made manifest in the reading of them.” I take this quote to mean two things: first, that Stoker is taking on an archival approach to the construction of the novel, and second, that Stoker ordered the letters and documents in an intentional order to give readers a specific experience while reading the work. This means that certain letters and documents are not in chronological order.

According to an article published by the literary magazine “The Curious Reader,” the epistolary format provides a dramatic irony as “the reader knows the significance of the events long before the characters.” As readers, we are able to compile a comprehensive narrative based on the fragments provided to us. Readers are the ones who have the complete picture, making for a frustrating read at times because all of the information reaches us before it reaches the characters.

So how does Dracula Daily change this?

Well, because Dracula Daily provides the novel to individuals in small, chronological vignettes, the dramatic irony is lost. Sure, it is hard to go into “Dracula” without knowing that Count Dracula is a vampire, but there is still plenty of suspense given to the reader by delivering the novel in this way. One of my favorite examples of this is the introduction of Lucy and Mina into the narrative. In Stoker’s ordering of the novel, readers do not get to meet Lucy and Mina until chapter five, where readers have already experienced the horrors of Count Dracula’s household. In Dracula Daily’s ordering, readers are left

in the dark about Jonathan Harker’s status and are delivered letters recounting Lucy’s various proposals. This provides a bit of a comedy to the story, but now readers are left waiting in anticipation for whenever the next “letter” from Jonathan is set to arrive in their inbox. We readers feel the real-time anxiety of what it means to not receive word from Jonathan, allowing more dread to build and for a better connection to be formed between us and Mina, who is concerned about her partner.

The success of Dracula Daily has been an inspiration for others to create their own daily novel deliveries. For example, if you are interested in reading “Frankenstein” in short, digestible bits, you can sign up for Frankenstein Daily, which will send you realtime emails in the same vein as Dracula Daily. If you’re looking for something a little bit older and even more classic, you can join Ovid’s Summer Book Club or Ovid’s Fastorum Libri Sex, which is set to begin on January 1, 2023. Finally, if you want to conquer an intimidating classic, you can join Whale Weekly starting in December 2022, where updates of “Moby Dick” will continue for approximately three years.

While I do not believe that these daily fragments of novels serve as a full replacement for the novels themselves, I do believe that this delivery form encourages those who may have been intimidated to pick up the books to be more inclined to do so. Not only is it an easy, fun way to engage with classics, but it provides a sense of community with those who are doing the same thing. If you look up Dracula Daily on social media, you will find tons of people reacting, making memes and drawing art all inspired by this collective experience. It’s truly been something special to witness and I encourage others to join in on the fun.

Dracula Daily sends subscribers letters from Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” for free. Majkl Velner / Unsplash

Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” is told through a series of letters.

Chris Lawton / Unsplash

While I do not believe that these daily fragments of novels serve as a full replacement for the novels themselves, I do believe that this delivery form encourages those who may have been intimidated to pick up the books to be more inclined to do so.

UMW conducts annual test of emergency notification system: the Great ShakeOut earthquake drill

BERNADETTE D’AURIA Staff Writer

On Thursday, Oct. 20, the University of Mary Washington tested its emergency notification system as part of the Great ShakeOut earthquake drill.

Great ShakeOut earthquake drills are a nationwide annual opportunity to practice preparedness for natural disasters at home, school and work. The drill is supported by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and can include text messages, emails, desktop alerts, phone calls and sirens.

The Oct. 20 drill took place at 10:20 a.m. and included text messages, emails, desktop notifications and a siren warning.

According to Director of Emergency Management and Safety Brandy Ellard, the drill successfully tested UMW’s warning and alert systems.

“Regular emergency drills are important to build preparedness, identify resources, detect areas for improvement, and best practices,” said Ellard. “We want to ensure that each system works and make sure we have multiple ways to reach students, faculty and staff in case of emergency.”

Although the Great ShakeOut happens every year, UMW students are largely

unaffected by it.

“I was actually off campus so I wasn’t really in the center of action and I know we got an email, but I didn’t really feel prepared or really mandated to do anything in my own apartment off campus,” said senior communication and digital studies major Mia Buffington.

When asked about the alert siren, Buffington said, “I don’t think it’s like a super appealing sound to hear but I also feel like in a time of an emergency, I feel like that’s kind of the point. You want to get people’s attention.”

Senior communication and digital studies major Addy Reeher was unphased by the alert siren.

“I heard it, rolled over, waited for it to go away and went back to sleep,” said Reeher.

Reeher said that there was a lack of information about what to do in emergency situations like earthquakes. While the email notifying the campus community about the drill included a link to the Great ShakeOut website, which provided instructions on what to do during an earthquake, readers had to click on the link to find this information.

“They should probably provide us with a clear, concise plan of what we’re supposed to do,” said Reeher.

The Great ShakeOut website says emergency drills can increase a person’s chance of survival in a crisis situation.

“Earthquakes cannot be predicted,” the website reads. “While we all wish this were possible, we can at least rest assured in knowing how to protect ourselves during shaking (Drop, Cover, and Hold On).”

The emergency notification system at Mary Washington goes by the name of UMW Alerts. Both students and faculty are automatically enrolled in UMW Alerts using contact information submitted to the university including email and cell phone numbers. The system is reset at the beginning of each fall semester and then updated at the beginning of the spring semester to ensure everyone is receiving updates in case of emergency situations as well as severe weather watches. This contact information can be updated at any time. Anyone who unsubscribes from the alerts will be unsubscribed from all messages, both emergency and weatherrelated.

While UMW sends out alerts directly, additional information can be found on the UMW Alerts & Advisory page. Students and faculty can also customize and expand personal emergency communication by downloading the Rave Guardian Safety

app, which offers additional safety features and ways to connect with University Police and first responders.

UMW Dining announces upcoming events

Updates from Rose Benedict, the marketing manager of UMW Dining, on upcoming events:

Stop Hunger Scholarship Applications

Stop Hunger Scholarship Applications are now being accepted through Dec. 7. Scholarships are for students who have made meaningful contributions to help stop hunger in their communities. Winners receive a $7,500 scholarship and $5,000 grant for their hunger-relat ed charity. Open to students K-Grad School, up to age 25.

Thanksgiving celebration meals

Thanksgiving dinner will be served to students at the Top of the CRUC on Thursday, Nov. 17 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The cost is just one meal swipe. The dining room will be closed between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to prepare for this special event.

Stop Hunger Food Drive

The Stop Hunger Food Drive is being conducted by University Dining through Nov. 10 to benefit UMW’s Gwen Hale Resource Center and the

Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank. Food dona tion bins are in all campus dining locations, and students can donate up to two meal swipes and $5 Flex at the Dining Concierge (2nd floor of the CRUC).

Additional upcoming events

• Native American Cultural Celebration Dinner, 5-8 p.m., Nov. 7

• Jewish Cultural Celebration Dinner, 5-8 p.m., Nov. 14

• Gingerbread House Building Contest, Nov. 28 - Dec. 1

• Free Exam Cram Waffles and Ice Cream, Dec. 5, 9:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

• Chef V Chef Competition with Free food for all guests, Dec. 6, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• Red Eye Donuts and Hot Chocolatee fo $1 at Dining Concierge, 2nd floor of the CRUC, 9 p.m. to 10 p.m., Dec. 6

Stop Hunger Scholarship Application Site

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UMW tests alert system in conjunction with national drill. Sarah Sklar / The Weekly Ringer

Crime Column

CALLIE HARKINS News Editor

Athetics Department to report directly to University President Troy Paino

JOESPHINE JOHNSON & EMILY HEMPHILL Associate Editor & Sports Editor

Starting this academic year, UMW student-athletes will be required to self-report any previous Title IX or criminal convictions related to sexual violence, interpersonal violence and/or other forms of violence. The National Collegiate Athletic Association requires this in their policy on campus sexual violence, but it’s up to the individual universities to create their own disclosure process.

Additionally, as of Sept. 23, the UMW Athletics Department reports to University President Troy Paino rather than Vice President of Student Affairs Juliette Landphair.

admit they’ve done something terrible because they know the implications that go with that. So, in a perfect world it would be nice if people could own up to what they’ve done. My concern is that people would fib ... they would leave stuff out.”

On Sept. 23, the Office of the President released a statement announcing that the UMW Athletics Department would begin to report directly to Paino instead of Landphair. Paino serves on the board of the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference and is a member of the NCAA Presidents Council.

management workload, I was concerned with the breadth of responsibility that she had to deal with on campus day to day.”

According to Catullo, this change will not greatly impact the daily operations of the UMW Athletics Department.

Vandalism to auto

On Oct. 25, there was a case of vandalism to auto at the 1300 block of College Avenue. This case is pending.

“All student-athletes at UMW must complete the Serious Conduct Attestation Form prior to participation each year,” said Director of Athletics Patrick Catullo in an email to The Weekly Ringer. “This is the first year it’s being implemented, following NCAA requirements. Individuals must attest (disclose) if they have been disciplined through a Title IX or sexual misconduct proceeding or criminally convicted, regardless of the degree, and whether the result of a plea or court determination for sexual violence.”

If a student attests that they have pending charges or have been found responsible for any of the specified crimes, the information is shared with Title IX.

“I think it is important that we know this information about convicted athletes so that we can prevent future situations resulting in Title IX cases,” said junior studio art major and member of the UMW swim team Sarah Yowell.

Senior political science and American studies double major Caperton Beirne is one of the captains of the field hockey team and also supports the new policy.

“I think it is important especially because athletes have to travel and share very personal spaces with one another,” she said. “I think it has good intention behind it and I hope it is effective. Obviously some students may not selfreport but hopefully some students will because I think it is important for the safety of the UMW athletic community.”

Some students are concerned that the information will be inaccurate because it is self-reported.

“In theory you’d want it to work,” said senior communication and digital studies major Erin Lutz. “You would hope the people would be responsible, but you’re putting the responsibility on those people and most are unlikely to

“It’s something that’s always been of interest to me professionally speaking, and I was finding over time as I was getting more involved with issues at the national level and at the conference level I was having to meet with the athletic director pretty regularly,” said Paino about UMW Athletics now reporting to him.

Paino also stated the need for more investment in on-campus facilities, particularly athletic buildings, which is a matter that will require close workings with the president’s office. He mentioned that the lack of locker rooms for athletes at the Battleground Athletic Complex is a top priority issue, as well as improving the athletics fields that he will be directly involved in.

This change will also shift some responsibility off of Landphair, Paino said.

“I worried how much was on our Vice President for Student Affairs’s plate,” said Paino. “She has everything from all things student affairs—which includes things like residence halls, student activities, dean of students, campus safety, police—a lot. So just from a

“This will further opportunities for us to work strategically on efforts to advance the experience of our prospects, current student-athletes as well as alumni,” said Catullo. “This will not drastically change our day to day structure, but will rather provide additional opportunities for UMW Athletics to be strategic in the areas of student success, as well as recruitment and retention. I look forward to working more closely with Dr. Paino.”

According to Paino, approximately 20% of UMW students are members of varsity sports, making it an important aspect of student recruitment.

Paino was the president of Truman State University from 2010 to 2016, a Division II school, where the athletics department reported to him.

“I’d been contemplating it for a while, almost since I got here to be honest, it’s been something in the back of my mind,” said Paino in regard to the departmental change. “I was accustomed from my previous experience of having athletics reported to me.”

Looking to the future, Paino said that university athletics will be changing over the next decade.

“College athletics is going to look very different over the next five to ten years so we need to think strategically about how we position our athletic department and invest in our athletic department and I just need to be a part of those conversations,” said Paino.

University President Troy Paino now has the Athletic Department report directly to him.

Sarah Sklar / The Weekly Ringer

Women’s soccer: Ballin’ end to regular season

NATHALIE LUCIANO Staff Writer

The UMW women’s soccer team won 4-0 against Bryn Mawr College on Saturday, Oct. 29, an exciting finish to not only their home games, but also their regular season.

“The shutout we got is a good reflection of how well the defense played,” said starting goalie Allison Holden, a senior psychology major. “They did a great job at not allowing many chances for Bryn Mawr. We also did well in the attack, scoring 4 goals is impressive against any team and our offense helped put the game away early.”

UMW had the ball for the first play, though it didn’t give them too much of an advantage at the start as Bryn Mawr’s defense fought back strongly against UMW’s offense. However, at the 19-minute mark, UMW freshman Madison Bauserman singlehandedly scored the first goal off a free kick after a foul on by Bryn Mawr.

card. Bryn Mawr’s defense continued to kick up further to protect against any other goals made by UMW as their offense fought to earn a goal.

However, UMW’s defense fought back just as strong up until the buzzer, and neither team had scored since the starting ten minutes of the game.

“We did a great job,” said Head Coach Scott Gerseny. “Combing in the attack and putting pressure on them with shots and scoring chances. We were able to get a lot of players on the field to get some experience so overall a great day for us.”

UMW’s defense and offense worked well with one another to open up another opportunity to score. This time junior Savannah Alexander got the goal despite Bryn Mawr’s tight defense a little over five minutes after the first point. As a result, UMW successfully put pressure on Bryn Mawr early on in the game.

UMW immediately scored two minutes into the second half of the game, furthering their momentum before scoring again five minutes in. Bryn Mawr’s frustration began to show with an altercation between one of their players and a UMW team member, resulting in the referee giving them a yellow

After winning against Catholic University the Wednesday prior, the women’s team had built a lot of momentum coming into the match against Bryn Mawr and went into the game “feeling good,” according to Gerseny.

“A solid win on Wednesday against Catholic gave us a chance to score goals, get a shut out and build more confidence,” he said.

Allison Holden’s father, Steve Holden, was a spectator at the game.

“It was a great last home game,” said Holden. “They played really well [and] it sets them up well for their tournament so we’re excited to go down and see how they do during the tournament down in CNU.”

The team has had a great season, winning 10 out of their 18 regular season games. Out of eight away games this season, UMW won three of them. The win against Bryn Mawr marked a two-game winning streak after their loss against the Christopher Newport University team on Oct. 22.

“The past few games have taught us a lot but also gave us a chance to show what the team can do,” said freshman goalie Adriana Thompson. “We persevered through them all and I think that it gave the team a chance to grow.”

Last season, the Eagles were ranked No. 2 going into conference play. However, their season ended in the semifinals with a loss against the University of California Santa Cruz team at Salisbury, Md.

The team, currently ranked No. 3, will move on to face Finlandia University on Nov. 3 at Christopher Newport.

University of Mary Washington Fall Sports Schedule

EMILY HEMPHILL Sports Editor

Men’s Soccer (9-4-2)

Oct. 22 W vs. Chris. Newport (3-2)

Oct. 26 L @ Salisbury (1-2) Nov. 4 vs. TBA @ Salisbury, Md.

Women’s Soccer (10-4-4)

Oct. 26 W @ Catholic (3-0)

Oct. 29 W vs. Bryn Mawr (4-0) Nov. 3 vs. Finlandia @ Newport News, Va.

Men’s Rugby (2-4)

Oct. 22 L vs. Queens (15-49) Oct. 29 L vs. St. Bonaventure (1448)

Nov. 5 @ Penn State University

Women’s Rugby (1-3)

Oct. 29 L vs. William & Mary (0-2) Nov. 5 vs. William & Mary

Field Hockey (5-12)

Oct. 29 L @ Chris. Newport (0-3) Nov. 2 @ Chris. Newport Nov. 5 @ TBA, C2C Championship

Women’s Volleyball (12-4)

Oct. 22 L @ Washington and Lee (1-3)

Oct. 29 W vs. Shenandoah (3-0) W vs. Marymount (3-1) Nov. 4 vs. TBA, C2C Semifinals

Men’s Swimming (2-1)

Oct. 29 W. vs. Randolph-Macon (192-68)

Nov. 4 vs. York @ Lancaster, Pa.

The Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference released an announcement on Nov. 2 naming freshman forward Kaitlyn Venzen as the Rookie of the Year, and five members of the UMW squad were recognized as honorees on the first and second teams: Amanda Krest, Kaitlyn Venzen, Eliza Franklin, Hope Grzebien and Mikaela O’Fallon.

“We need to keep our aggressive attitude in the final third,” said Gerseny, looking to future games. “We have scored 7 goals in our last 2 games and it would be great to carry that forward into the playoffs!”

Women’s Swimming (2-1)

Oct. 29 W vs. Randolph-Macon (156-105)

Nov. 4 vs. York @ Lancaster, Pa.

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.

“The past few games have taught us a lot but also gave us a chance to show the team can do. We persevered through them all and I think that it gave the team a chance to grow.”

-Adriana Thompson

UMW’s C2C honorees.

UMW Athletics

“We also did well in the attack, scoring 4 goals is impressive against any team.”

-Allison Holden

Kaitlyn Venzen dribbles the ball. UMW Athletics