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Muslim Student Association, UMW Dining, JFMC collaborate on Ramadan dining options

Students at UMW observing Ramadan, which began the evening of March 22 and ends the evening of April 20, have had access to dining options that allow them both to fast according to the rules of the holy month and have more on-campus dining options than in prior years. The Muslim Student Association worked with the James Farmer Multicultural Center and UMW Dining to create these additional options.

“As co-presidents of MSA, Iqra and I are excited to work with the school to provide better dining options for the Muslims on campus,” said junior computer science major Tubba Noor, co-president of the Muslim Student Association. “We are pushing for better dining options for those participating in Ramadan. I think having the Grubhub options is better than no options. I hope to see the school become more inclusive of this holy month in future years.”

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic year when Muslims fast during daylight hours, eating one meal, suhoor, before sunrise and one meal, iftar, after sunset. The month is meant to be dedicated to spiritual rejuvenation, with the act of fasting being “a means of gaining self-discipline, strengthening one’s willpower, and empathizing with those less fortunate,” according to the Muslim Student Association.

The additional dining options for students who fast during Ramadan are a response to the dining hours at the Top of the CRUC, which opens at 7:30 a.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. on weekends and closes at either 7 or 8 p.m. every day. With the sun rising at around 6:45 a.m. and setting around 7:30 p.m. these days, the dining hall’s regular hours are not in line with the schedule of suhoor and iftar. On-campus students who wish to break their fast, therefore, must go to other dining locations on campus or eat elsewhere. While the Top of the CRUC provides all-you-can-eat dining for one meal swipe, the university’s cafes and Eagle’s Nest restaurants provide a limited amount of food for a set cost.

Students can go to the dining hall during regular dinner hours to take their food to go, allowing them to browse the stations and choose items in person. They may also order food on Grubhub and pick up their order from the cashier’s station 30 minutes prior to the dining hall closing.

This is not the first year that UMW Dining has provided options for students fasting for Ramadan.

According to UMW Dining Marketing Manager Rose Benedict, this year’s options are “pretty similar to what we’ve done in previous years. The primary difference is the new Ramadan Re-heatable Breakfast option on Grubhub and the addition of the single date, since it is tradition to break the daily fast with a date.”

The cold breakfast option includes items such as hard-boiled eggs, yogurt parfaits, cold cereals or oatmeal packets as the main components, along with some side items and beverages. Newly introduced this year, however, is a reheatable breakfast, which is a cooked breakfast that is stored cold so it can be reheated the following morning. Each meal includes a single date, a breakfast potato, a non-pork breakfast meat or veggie sausage, fruit, pastry and a beverage. This new option also includes a different main breakfast course each week, such as scrambled eggs, French toast sticks or pancakes.

“We try to consult with student groups and/or the leaders of the James Farmer Multicultural Center,” said Benedict. “Executive Chef David Roeder, Dining Director Lance Mailem, and I met with JFMC Director Marion Sanford and leaders of the Muslim Student Association in mid-February to determine the type of dining options needed by students who observe Ramadan.”

Senior psychology major Foziya Mohammed said, “I was expecting to get my own food because I was aware I was going to a PWI,” referring to a predominantly white institution. “I knew the school would most likely not be aware of Ramadan. Last year the dining hall closed early so I had to eat from Panera a lot during Ramadan. I am

glad we are pushing for more inclusive options.”

UMW Dining created the option to order through Grubhub so that students would not have to walk through the dining hall while fasting.

“The advantage of this option is that it is easier for the students to maintain their fast if they don’t have to walk through the dining room past all the food in order to get a meal that they can only eat later,” said Benedict. “The food choices are slightly more limited on Grubhub, but there is still a nice variety of selections, including pastas, burgers, a vegan entree, salads, and the Simple Servings meal.”

However, not all students feel that the quantities are sufficient.

“A lot of people I know have opted to eat off-campus, since they know that they’ll be able to get a reasonable sized meal,” said freshman political science and philosophy: pre-law double major Tonia Attie, a member of the Muslim Student Association. “I appreciate that Sodexo is at least offering this to students, and appreciate our MSA for working as hard as they are, but this is very much the bare minimum and the system could be done better.”

Being a commuter student, Attie has not utilized the options provided by UMW Dining.

“I currently have never used it, nor do I plan on using it,” said Attie.

These dining options will last until April 20, which marks Eid al-Fitr, or the end of Ramadan. Eid is one of two official Muslim holidays and the concluding festival of Ramadan.

UMW Dining has implemented new dining options for students fasting for Ramadan this year. Those fasting now have access to reheatable meals outside of regular dining hours. Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer

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Promotion Management class develops marketing strategy for local theater

ASHLEY MARTIN Staff Writer

Each semester, students in UMW’s Promotion Management class put their previous coursework into action by developing a marketing plan for a local business. This spring, the class is working with The Riverside Center for the Performing Arts to broaden its audience.

“Students have the chance to spend a good portion of this semester working in their marketing teams looking at every aspect of local Integrated Marketing—advertising, direct and digital, sales promotions, personal selling and publicity,” said College of Business Lecturer Dan Wolfe, who teaches the class. “I want students to apply what they’ve learned in their previous coursework and apply it to actual situations.”

Because Riverside mostly attracts older audience members, the theater will use the students’ plan to draw in a younger crowd.

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“Working with UMW just seemed like the perfect thing to do, to be able to work with the students and get a perspective from the younger audience of how to get you guys involved in the theatre,” said Allison Mayberry, director of marketing and group sales at Riverside. “I’m hoping to gain an insight into how you guys think and how the class uses the marketing industry. Just seeing it from a different perspective.”

In teams of five or six, the class is utilizing their knowledge of marketing and advertising to market Riverside as a destination for young people to enjoy.

“By looking at what elements they have now, we can help them achieve that goal of reaching a younger demographic through social media and digital marketing via the internet,” said senior marketing major Duke Morisset. “Especially in the business side of things, this experience has made me think and do more than the standard rubric for other courses at UMW. So far, it’s going pretty well and I look forward to finding what other aspects I could learn.”

Working with Riverside has allowed senior marketing and

German double major Sydney Burnley to understand how elements like social media, traditional media and publicity collide in integrated marketing communications. Watching her schoolwork have a tangible impact, she said, has been a rewarding aspect of the class.

“By giving students, like myself, the opportunity to work with real clients in the community and create marketing pitches and strategies, we are able to more tangibly apply everything we have learned in the classroom,” she said. “It also feels rewarding to see my knowledge and skills, along with my classmates, directly translated to helping a local business.”

Through this hands-on experience, Wolfe’s goal is to equip his students with the confidence and capability to make an impact in their chosen fields. The project has allowed students to push themselves out of their comfort zone and explore new possibilities.

“Promotions and advertising are a complex field and it can be difficult to do in a traditional class setting,” said Morisset. “I believe working on the project with Riverside has made the material learned in class more applicable to life after college, which is a plus.”

Since he began teaching at

UMW five years ago, Wolfe has been teaching Promotion Management. Recognizing the need for his students to gain hands-on experience working with the local Fredericksburg community, he developed this program, allowing students to create marketing plans for local businesses and make a positive impact.

“I quickly realized that as a 400 level class, I wanted students to get practical experience with the local Fredericksburg community,” said Wolfe.

“Past campaigns have included two local Skrimp Shack Restaurants, a daily bus service called ROX, and the UMW College of Business.”

Wolfe decided to partner with Riverside after consulting UMW’s Executive Director of the Center for Economic Development Brian Baker to see if he had recommendations for companies looking for a marketing plan.

“Brian and I had talked in the past about my Promotion Management class working on one of their projects,” said Wolfe.

“I really liked the challenge that the Riverside Center for the Performance Arts brings to our students.”

In addition to the class, Riverside is looking to partner with the university more broadly.

“We’ve got opportunities for anybody that is in Mary Washington that’s looking to do theatre for a living. They can come here and audition for shows. We’d like it to be a working partnership,” said Mayberry. “It’s a staple in the community that people can come to and if you’re looking to intern, looking to make some cash, it’s a good relationship that we’d like to build because I don’t think there is one right now.”

Some of Riverside’s current actors have grown up in the area and went to UMW, Mayberry said.

“I think the Fredericksburg area is really blessed to have Riverside here because the quality of the shows,” she said. “It’s almost like you’re in New York, but you don’t have to leave Fredericksburg. Some that have gone to Mary Washington, and of course some of our actors or actresses that we bring in from out of town.”

The students hope to continue using this experience in their careers.

“Post-college, the ability to work in small groups, communication tactics, and organizational skills are all applicable traits that many jobs are looking for,” said Morisset.

Photography Editor Abbey Magnet

As members of the Promotion Management class, students have gained hands-on experience in business marketing. Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer

UMW should offer a personal finance course to prepare students for financial responsibilities after graduation

ABBY KNOWLES Opinion Editor

While sitting in my 9 a.m. Perspectives on Organizations in Society class with Business Professor John Burrow, I sometimes feel out of place. We learn about a mix of things, from management to entrepreneurship, and as a communication and digital studies major with no background in business, terms like “limited liability” and “cooperative business” seem almost like a different language to me.

Coming into this class, I wish I had more of a vocabulary of business and personal finance terms. For people like me outside of the College of Business, we may never fully gain an understanding of these terms unless our parents have the patience to sit us down and teach us. I’ve really enjoyed this class and appreciate all that I’m learning about businesses and money, but had the class not piqued my interest, I would have never learned about these topics that have lifelong importance.

Therefore, UMW should offer a course on personal finance to teach students about important topics relating to financial planning, such as paying taxes, building savings and retirement accounts and renting and buying properties.

This personal finance course could fulfill general education requirements like Quantitative Reasoning or After Mary Washington. A course like this would make our general education requirements richer and provide undergraduate students with valuable information they’ll need after college.

“Topics for the course might include discussions on how to budget; what is a credit rating (and how do you build it and why you care); short term versus long term financial planning; financial challenges (what to look for); financial opportunities (developing wealth); retirement planning (especially as a student); and investing (risks and opportunities),” Burrow said.

While Virginia high schools require an economics and personal finance credit to graduate, it’s often offered online, and many of us are too young for the information to be applicable when we take the class. I vividly remember my class—and I did learn a lot—but I was also 17 years old at the time, so I didn’t care about rental agreements, mortgages, savings accounts or credit cards. For me, taking that course was just about checking another box required for graduation.

Upon graduating, students like myself need to know how to plan for things like student loan repayments and housing costs. Furthermore, students considering grad school should be taught how to weigh the pros and cons of the financial investment that comes with the additional degree. All of this requires a baseline knowledge of personal finance that this class could provide.

“I believe that financial literacy is a major shortcoming of college graduates. Too many times we try to simplify the complexities of developing wealth and financial security and fail to recognize that the basics of managing money are not understood or practiced by people of all ages,” said Burrow. “By providing this understanding through a personal finance course, students will develop the knowledge and skills to effectively understand and manage their finances as well as plan for the future.”

However, four years later, I wish I had a crash course on this information as a 21-year-old getting ready to enter a world where rental agreements, budgeting and repaying loans are a reality instead of just a concept taught in class.

“I had to take personal finance in high school and I didn’t learn any practical skills,” said junior communication and digital studies major Erin Caine. “I think something that actually has us practice how to fill things out could be very helpful.”

“I would like to learn about real world applications and have a hands-on learning experience, like how to do my taxes and how to manage a savings account or how to rent or buy a home,” said junior communication and digital studies and psychology double major Dayton Keffer.

So, why should UMW create a course to teach us all this? The answer is simple: This is the stuff we’ll need to know how to do after our time at Mary Washington comes to an end.

“By providing this understanding through a personal finance course, students will develop the knowledge and skills to effectively understand and manage their finances as well as plan for the future.”

-John Burrow

Woodard Hall includes the College of Business, Post Office, Eagle’s Nest and Center for Business Research. Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer

“I would like to learn about real world applications and have a hands-on learning experience, like how to do my taxes and how to manage a savings account or how to rent or buy a home.”

-Dayton Keffer

The College of Business holds classes in Woodard Hall. Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer

The College of Business offers classes ranging from management, entrepreneurship and marketing. Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer

Album review: Intense, psychadelic, progressive rock lands in Grand Park, Los Angeles

MAx STEINBAUM Staff Writer

On June 19, 2022, a black cube popped up in Grand Park, Los Angeles. The cube was inscribed with “The Mars Volta’’ on the sides; emanating from it was a bright orange light and an early preview of one of the band’s upcoming songs, “Blacklight Shine.”. Anyone curious enough to enter the cube was greeted by a mesmerizing light show. Tweets from the band titled the cube “L’YTOME HODORXÍ TELESTERION,” and the multimedia experience served as an announcement for their album, which was eventually released last September. After ten years without a release, fans and media started buzzing about what could be coming next from the band.

Interviews from the founding members, Omar Rodríguez-López and Cedric Bixler-Zavala, hinted at a change coming in the band’s sound. In an interview with The Quietus, Lopez said, “Ten years ago, the most revolutionary thing we could do was make a pop record.” But now, “revolutionary” has a new meaning to the band, and their resurgence only leaves you wanting more. Rodríguez-López and Bixler-Zavala were in the post-hardcore band At the Drive-In from 1994 to 2002. The band saw widespread success, especially with their final album “Relationship of Command,” but the momentum and enthusiasm halted as tours continued and the band split up. Rodríguez-López and Bixler-Zavala formed The Mars Volta, hoping to perform their creativity without scrutiny from other bandmates, as well as to have a place to proud-

ly display their Puerto Rican heritage in their work with both English and Spanish lyrics. Their intense, psychedelic, progressive rock sound with a clear influence of salsa and jazz is uniquely theirs.

Their first LP, “Deloused in the Comatorium,” which was released in 2003, exhibits this musical freedom and expression within the first heavy rhythmic strums of “Inertiatic Esp.” The album was produced with a lineup of known heavy hitters around the Los Angeles music scene; it was produced by the masterful Rick Rubin with fast-paced rhythmic bass from Flea of the Red Hot

Chili Peppers and powerful, catchy hits by Queens of the Stone Age’s Jon Theodore on the drums. Rubin’s methodology and framework transformed the crunchy and shallow “Landscape Tantrums” demo tapes into a polished, post-progressive masterpiece that still stands to this day.

Over time, the band’s sound has changed from the aggressive and piercing sounds of the debatably cursed album “The Bedlam in Goliath” to the free-flowing and smooth “Amputechture” and the more electronica-inspired “Noctourniquet,” all of which blend some Puerto Rican rhythms and flair. The Mars Volta have never been one to stray away from new ideas, influences and experimentation, even at the risk of losing fans or enthusiasm in their music.

“The Mars Volta,” their self-titled album released on Sept. 16, 2022, suits the artists as well as the current state of music better than if the band tried to relive their past hits or maintain their old style at this point in their career. Swaying synths and enveloping guitar are led by organized drums and Bixler-Zavala’s melodies that wind across the tracks. Compared to The Mars Volta’s previous works, the album sounds much more brushed than more tinny, crunchy albums like “Bedlam,” and it’s much easier to listen to. From die-hard fans, first impressions of the self-titled album were mixed. But Rodríguez-López and Bixler-Zavala’s passion and new approaches to their sound make the present state of the band clear and are why many fans stick around. The new sound is here, but it is nothing unexpected. The ability of the band to exhibit their distinctive style and sound in everything that they do—even on their polished new album—emphasizes the mission behind their current approach to their music post-hiatus. While first impressions were skeptical, it is now clear that the self-titled record holds its place well in the collective The Mars Volta discography.

Singles are currently being released for “Que Dios Te Maldiga Mi Corazon,” an acoustic version of their last LP which will be out on April 23!

Their intense, psychedelic, progressive rock sound with a clear influence of salsa and jazz is uniquely theirs.

The Mars Volta combines English and Spanish in their music to embrace their Puerto Rican hereitage. @themarsvolta / Instagram

The black cube in Los Angeles from The Mars Volta sparked the interest of passersby. @themarsvolta / Instagram

Campus Rec hosts trauma-informed yoga class

yoga instructor at Dragonfly Yoga Studio in downtown Fredericksburg, who would be instructing the class.

I usually hate yoga. Two years ago, there was this month-long period when my attempt to integrate yoga into my morning routine was consistently correlated with me receiving bad news, and it turns out that I’d rather be a little stiff than be riddled with constant misfortunes.

After my weird past experiences with yoga, I had no intention of bringing it back into my life. However, when I saw that Campus Rec was hosting a trauma-informed yoga class in light of April being Sexual Assault Awareness Month, I was instantly intrigued and decided to give yoga another chance. The class, hosted by Campus Rec in conjunction with UMW’s Talley Center and Center for Prevention and Education, taught me to trust my own limits and that it’s okay to take up space.

As I walked into the gym, I tried to push away all expectations that I previously had, and I pushed myself to embrace the experience and really let myself take everything in. I walked back toward the dance studio where I saw Becca Childress, an Army veteran and

Naturally, I was the first one to show up to the class—I usually show up 15 minutes before everything. I grabbed a mat, found an area on the floor and sat down and breathed a little bit in preparation for the class.

Since suffering a concussion last semester, big groups of people make me a little bit anxious. I had vestibular trauma, which affects anxiety, nervousness and feelings of stress when in groups or closed-off spaces. Having just finished physical therapy, just being there was a big step for me.

Once more people showed up at noon, the class started.

To begin, Childress explained the differences between a standard yoga class and a trauma-informed class, which was a great way to shape people’s expectations of the class, especially for those of us who only had experience doing standard yoga. In a trauma-informed class, every movement is a suggestion. Instead of saying, “Next, hold this position for three breaths,” Childress would say, “If comfortable, let’s hold this for three more breaths.” I appreciated this a lot because it took out the feeling of competitiveness and allowed me to take full control of what my body was capable of and maintain autonomy over my actions.

Once we started getting into a flow, I stopped looking at my watch to keep track of the time. I let myself breathe and stopped paying attention to the people around me. Childress led us through breathing techniques and stretches, all of which were intended to give us different methods of getting through fears or worries in our daily life. She also taught us different breathing techniques that we can use to help when we feel like we’re panicking or anxious.

When the class ended, I felt more relaxed than I did when I showed up. They had a small lunch catered so we could all grab a sandwich, chips and a drink on our way out of the studio. There were

also tables set up outside the studio with pamphlets and information about sexual assault.

While leaving, I approached Childress to discuss some life goals of mine. I told her about how I want to join the military after I go to law school to help advocate for active duty and veterans who have been sexually assaulted. Since she works with veterans, I felt compelled to talk to her about it, and I’m happy I did.

Childress validated a lot of the things I was thinking and feeling both during and after the yoga class, but one thing in particular that she mentioned will stick with me for a long time. She explained to the class that we often think that perfect silence and stillness is equivalent to peace; however, at the end of the class, she had me convinced that peace is not the absence of noise and chaos, but rather a stillness within yourself that you wouldn’t have found unless you tried.

After this class, I’m not writing off yoga anymore. Maybe it will teach me things I never knew about myself, or maybe it will be a way for me to wake up and start my day. Either way, the stillness I found is one that I hope to experience over and over again.

Anyone seeking resources for sexual assault may turn to UMW’s Health Center, the Talley Center and/or the Center for Prevention and Education.

Celebrating Women’s History Month through poetry

On March 29, the department of modern languages and literatures hosted an International Women’s Poetry Recital at Combs Hall in celebration of Women’s History Month.

The recital was organized by Professor of Spanish and Director of the Bachelor of Liberal Studies Ana Chichester and Associate Professor of Spanish Marcelo FajardoCardenas.

“Since 2010, the Multicultural Center has always created a special event during this month for women,” said Fajardo-Cardenas. “The modern languages and literature department has always tried to create specific activities such as the poetry recital to participate in the activities happening in March.”

Brooke Di Lauro, professor of French, elaborated on the department’s participation in Women’s History Month.

“Modern Languages and Literatures sponsored two events in celebration of Women’s History Month,” she said. “The first was our annual international film series for which we chose films highlighting women.”

The event also offered foreign language scholars an opportunity to put their knowledge

to practical use, as it was a chance for students to take their pronunciation and recitation out of the classroom and speak in front of an audience. Both students and professors read varying poems in their target language of expertise, which included Spanish, French, German, Arabic, Euskera, Chinese and Arabic.

“The International Poetry Recital also focused on women, but was even more special because, as it was presented bilingually, it offered the rare occasion for all of our majors to come together at one event,” said Di Lauro.

The hour-long event attracted an audience of about 30 students and faculty. In addition to celebrating Women’s History Month, April is also National Poetry Month, which made this event dually important.

“Poetry is like music, it expresses not only what the poet feels but also the people around the poet,” said Fajardo-Cardenas. “The voice used in the poem always goes beyond the poet themselves. For example in Maya Angelou’s poem, ‘Still I Rise,’ she says something that is so universal for the struggles of women, ‘You may write me down in history / With your bitter, twisted lies.’ Not only is she sharing her voice, she is also voicing the struggles of women universally wherever they may be.”

Presenters shared works from female poets such as Mayra Santos-Febres, Leire Bilbao, Nazik Al-Malaika, Gioconda Belli, Eva Strittmatter and Rosario Castellanos.

JOSEPHINE GOOD Life Editor

Rebecca Childress is a yoga instructor and Army veteran. @rebeccachildressyoga / Instagram

CHARLIE LI Staff Writer

Trauma-informed yoga focuses on the beauty of finding stillness within oneself. Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer

FROM POETRY PAGE 5

Before every recitation, the reader shared background information about their respective poet, which helped contextualize and understand the subsequent poem.

Adjunct Instructor of Chinese Hongbo “Hope” Tang had one of the longest introductions to the poet she read, Yu Xiuhua. In this contextualization, Tang explained that Xiuhua was a disabled Chinese woman who was not able to go to university because she was disabled and a woman. Additionally, she faced extensive hardship from her abusive husband. Her life changed in 2014 when her poem “I Crossed Half of China to Sleep with You” was shared across the platform WeChat throughout China. In doing so, she gained popularity as a poet on the platform, which led to the creation of a documentary about her rise to fame and her divorce from her husband.

All of the poems had English translations shown side-by-side so that attendees could understand the works no matter what foreign language they were studying. Several poems did not have official translations, in which case the professors who read them were responsible for translating them into English. This was no small feat, since it’s quite a chore to maintain the essence of a poem through translation.

While this event was not mandatory for students to attend or read at, the size of the audience highlighted the strength of the department of modern languages both in the faculty and in the student body. Furthermore, it was a great opportunity to see the dedication foreign language students give to their studies pay off both in their pronunciation skills and in their confidence to speak another language fluently.

Univer sity Dining News

Out of Swipes?

Adjunct Instructor of Chinese Hongbo “Hope” Tang introduces poet Yu Xiuhua. Charlie Li / The Weekly Ringer

Center for Prevention and Education holds Sexual Assault Awareness Month events

KATY ROSE PRICE Staff Writer

In recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month this April, UMW’s Center for Prevention and Education is holding various events related to sexual violence awareness, support and education.

Linda Catullo, the project director to reduce sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking at the center, assisted with programming for the month’s events, beginning with trauma-informed yoga on March 31, co-sponsored by Campus Recreation and the Talley Center.

The trauma-informed yoga class “was very well attended,” she said. “It was a wonderful class. We had an instructor that came in who is certified just in trauma-informed yoga.”

The last event of the month hosted will be Denim Day on April 26, sponsored by the center and the Rappahannock Coun-

cil Against Sexual Assault. The Denim Day campaign has been run by Peace Over Violence for the past 22 years.

“They write empowering messages on denim and then they are displayed for everyone to see,” said Catullo.

Sexual Assault Awareness Month was first nationally observed in 2001. In 2000, the newly created National Sexual Violence Resource Center and the Resource Sharing Project gathered data from sexual violence coalitions to form the symbol, a teal ribbon, and underpinnings of Sexual Assault Awareness Month as it is today. The work of the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, along with other parties, was recognized by the executive office in 2009 with President Obama’s proclamation that formally classified April as National Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

“Sexual Assault Awareness Month is incredibly important and brings light to a serious issue that still gets overlooked a lot,”

said Bailey Merriman, a senior English major. “This is an issue that everyone should be fighting to prevent, regardless of whether or not they have been personally affected.”

The Center for Prevention and Education was created in 2016 with a mission to address sex- and gender-based violence through prevention, awareness and educa-

Sexual Assault Awareness Month Calendar of Events

Dear

Trespassing

On April 4 at 10:13 p.m., there was an incident of trespassing at Eagle Village. A notice has been served for this case.

Hit and Run

On April 1 at 2 p.m., there was a hit and run at the Cedric Rucker University Center. This case is pending.

tion, intervention and advocacy. They manage the You Are Not Alone webpage, a complete and detailed source of information for survivors of sex- and gender-based violence at UMW.

“I think it’s really impactful and important that UMW and campus organizations like the CPE are doing awareness and community building work,” said Jamie Van Doren, a senior women’s, gender and sexuality studies major. ”It lets people know that we’re a supportive community and helps us all feel less alone.”

Catullo encourages all students to attend the month’s events.

“I hope that students get out to see some of these events, they can be really empowering and very emotional,” she said. “Many individuals might think if they haven’t been a victim of sexual assault, that it doesn’t pertain to them. But I think it would be wonderful for everyone to attend because they can hear other people’s stories and education is key for awareness, which is what we’re trying to spread.”

Crime Column

CALLIE HARKINS News Editor

Underaged Possession of Marijuana/Referal

On March 25 at 10:55 p.m., there was an incident of underaged possession of marijuana referral at Eagle Landing. This case has gone to a judicial hearing.

Colleagues:

Title IX Exhibition

Date: March 6 - April 28

Time: Library Hours

Location: Simpson Library

Take Back the Night

Date: April 6 Time: 6:30 p.m.

Location: Lee Hall patio

Navigating Relationships and Intimacy After Sexual Assault

Date: April 12

Time: 5 - 6 p.m.

Location: Zoom

Hour 2 Empower

Date: April 15

Time: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Location: CRUC room 315

Doing My Part Through Art

Date: April 17

Time: 12 - 4 p.m.

Location: CRUC kiosk B

Denim Day

Date: April 26

Time: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Location: CRUC second floor

Hit and Run

On March 28 at 8 p.m., there was a hit and run in the Sunken Road Lot. This case is pending.

Vandalism

On March 26 at 12:01 a.m., there was an incident of vandalism at Eagle Landing This case is pending.

Various on-campus events are being hosted throughout the month of April in recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer

“Sexual Assault Awareness Month is incredibly important and brings light to a serious issue that still gets overlooked a lot.”

-Bailey Merriman

Photo essay: Flickin’ it up with Mary Massacre

TESS WILHELM & EMILY HEMPHILL Staff Photographer & Sports Editor

UMW women’s ultimate frisbee team is enjoying the warm weather in preparation for their Regionals tournament on April 15 and 16. The team, also known as Mary Massacre, performed well enough in these games last year to qualify for the Nationals tournament held in Milwaukee, Wis. The goal is to make it back there again, and so far, they’re on the right track.

Back in February, Mary Massacre ranked fourth in the Commonwealth Cup in Martinsville, Va. They had the opportunity to test themselves against some D-I schools like Virginia Tech, James Madison University and Virginia Commonwealth University at a tournament held in Harrisonburg, Va. a few weeks ago. The nine graduating seniors on the roster are hoping to finish their frisbee careers strong back at Nationals this year held in Columbus, Ohio.

University of

Mary Washington Spring Sports Schedule

The veteran team members also want the spirit they’ve built with Mary Massacre to continue after they’ve gone.

“I’m hoping that we leave them with the passion that last year’s leaders left for us and kind of just keep the culture going and always remember why we play frisbee,” said senior biology major Natalie Brennan, a cocaptain on the team. “It’s to give a safe space and a fun place to be. It’s a frisbee family.”

Julia Mrotek contributed to reporting for this article.

Outdoor Track and Field

April 1 @ Battleground Relays

April 14-15 vs. Dennis Craddock

Invitational @ Lynchburg, Va.

Women’s Lacrosse (8-6)

April 1 W @ Denison (14-9)

April 5 L @ York (Pa.) (6-14)

April 11 vs. Southern Virginia

Men’s Lacrosse (6-6)

March 29 W @ Bridgewater (12-9)

April 1 L @ Montclair St. (13-15)

April 8 vs. Stockton

Women’s Tennis (5-7)

April 1 L @ Carnegie Mellon (0-9)

April 6 @ Christopher Newport

April 8 vs. Swarthmore

Men’s Tennis (6-5)

April 5 @ Christopher Newport

April 12 vs. Salisbury

Softball (16-12)

April 1 L vs. Salisbury (0-3, 1-10)

April 4 W @ Catholic (1-0, 2-0)

April 8 vs. Randolph-Macon

Baseball (23-7)

March 29. W @ Bridgewater (8-6)

April 1-2 W @ Susquehanna (9-5, 13-2, 12-4)

April 8 vs. Guilford

April 13 @ Eastern Mennonite

Men’s Rugby (4-7)

March 25 W vs. Siena @ Columbia, Md. (45-15)

April 1 vs. 7s Tournament (17-12, 7-7, 0-38, 25-12, 18-12)

April 15 @ Kutztown

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.

EMILY HEMPHILL Sports Editor

Senior Hope Alston has fun at frisbee practice. Tess Wilhelm / The Weekly Ringer

“It’s to give a safe space and a fun place to be. It’s a frisbee family.”

-Natalie Brennan

From left to right: Sophomore Rachel Bowman, senior Tess Wilhelm and sophomore Katherine Davis race for the disc. Tess Wilhelm / The Weekly Ringer

Freshman Celine Jenkins flicks the frisbee around her teammate, junior Ally Tingen. Tess Wilhelm / The Weekly Ringer

Brennan throws a disc. Tess Wilhelm / The Weekly Ringer

Juniors Dayton Keffer and Erin Caine battle over the disc. Both will be returning to Mary Massacre next year to step up as veteran members of the team. Tess Wilhelm / The Weekly Ringer