The Blue & Gray Press

THE

BLUE &GRAY

November 9, 2017

VOLUME 91 | ISSUE 10

PRESS 1922 UMW YAF hosts funeral for Halloween

THE UNIVERSITY OF MARY WASHINGTON STUDENT NEWSPAPER

TESSA CATE Managing Editor

In her office on Monday afternoon, UMW Vice President for Student Affairs, Dr. Juliette Landphair slid a red folder bursting with papers from her desk into her hands, dubbing it her “Free Speech Folder.” North American universities have been met with the challenge of facilitating and policing students’ rights to free speech on campus, and UMW is no exception.

On Oct. 30 and 31, the UMW Young Americans for Freedom gathered on campus to pass out flyers with language similar to that of YAF’s “Funeral for Halloween” campus initiative, supported on the national level. This initiative is one of many YAF encourages its chapters to take part in.

The “Obituary in Memory of Halloween” flyer handed out took on highly controversial topics of political correctness and cultural appropriation, the effects of these

•HALLOWEEN | 10

SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE

Erynn Sendrick / Facebook

The UMW Young Americans for Freedom club held a funeral for halloween.

UMW community comes together to make birthday cards for Balian

John P. Broome / UMW Class of 2020 Facebook Page The UMW community came together to make birthday cards for a young boy.

VICTORIA MUNEVAR Staff Writer

Over the past few weeks, the UMW community showed up in a big way for 9-year-old Balian from Western Wayne Elementary School in Indiana, who just had his ninth birthday where none of his 30 classmates attended.

Dr. John Broome, associate professor for the College of Education here at UMW, heard of Balian’s story from a close friend and sent out emails to his students requesting that they make as many birthday cards as they can for Balian.

IN THIS

ISSUE

“My close friend’s mother is a teacher at Western Wayne Elementary School in Indiana,” said Broome in his email, when he first read about Balian’s story on Facebook, his reaction was instant. “Immediately, I responded back and my initial response was how awful this is and how heartbreaking this is for a kid to experience that.”

Afterwards, Broome started posting on different Facebook groups to spread the message.

“The first thing I did was send an email out to my college and the next day, I sent it out to all of the Facebook groups of the college, junior class,

LEVEL UP

sophomore class and the freshman class,” said Broome. “I just put it out to everyone.”

Many different clubs and organizations at UMW responded and Dr. Broome ended up receiving 784 cards.

“For example, [clubs such as] Women’s Rugby, Rowing Club, College of Education [all expressed support],” said Broome. “There were also different departments on campus [that participated].”

This event, however, did not just stay on campus. According to Broome, it quickly became a regional thing.

“You also have local schools as well, they did it at James Monroe, Rocky Run Elementary, Brooke Point High School and Stafford Elementary School,” said Broome.

“A lot of religious groups did it in Sunday School or bible study.

People went home and did it with their families, with their own kids.”

Courtlyn Plunkett, a sophomore History major, heard about this event because she is part of the College of Education and saw Broome’s initial email. “As being a future teacher, it made me really sad that a 9-year-old didn’t have any friend come to his

birthday party, and so I thought that would be a nice way to celebrate his birthday,” said Plunkett.

Many people also took a more personal approach to the cards, according to Dr. Broome. “What is interesting about all of it is you can tell through the cards, that we needed to do this as much as he needed it,” said Broome.

Austin Williams, a junior Biochemistry major, read about the event on Facebook and also connected to Balian on a personal level. “I was picked on in middle school so I get it,” said Williams.

Broome is taking this whole experience and turning it into a lesson for people everywhere, but he is putting a focus on it for teachers in the classroom. He is also adding a digital twist on this project.

“The coolest thing is I am turning this into a website,” said Broome. “I am currently digitizing 20 percent of the cards. I think it is important to create a digital space by which it is not so much about the 30 kids, but about how we treat one another, and to what degree do we remember children and trauma in classrooms and having kids process things.”

“Immediately, I responded back and my initial response was how awful this is and how heartbreaking this is for a kid to experience that.”

-Dr. John Broome

MALICIOUS MEMES

Super Mario Odyssey impresses players.

Funny memes can turn dark when they reference suicide.

LIFE | 7

VIEWPOINTS | 5

OH BROTHER!

LiAngelo Ball gets arrested for shoplifting.

SPORTS | 3

NEWS THE

BLUE & GRAY PRESS

MISSION The Blue & Gray Press is published every Thursday in the University Apartments Clubhouse for our university community. The goal of The Blue & Gray Press is to produce high quality and accurate news in a manner compliant with the Society of Professional Journalists ethics code. In its coverage, The Blue & Gray Press strives to highlight the community of the University of Mary Washington, as well as deliver fair and accurate coverage on the issues important to our students.

Editors: Meaghan McIntyre & Izzy Briones | blueandgray.news@gmail.com

Residence assistants convention takes place at UMW COLLEEN SULLIVAN Senior Writer

This year, the Virginia Association of College and University Housing Officers (VACUHO) chose the University of Mary Washington to host the annual residence life conference. Colleges and universities around Virginia visited UMW from Friday, Nov. 3, to Saturday, Nov. 4. The visitors included George Mason University, Liberty University, Virginia Tech, Old Dominion University, Roanoke College and many others.

This year’s conference focused on leadership. It also aimed to unite resident assistants from other universities and allow them to collaborate in a space designed just for them.

The VACUHO conference required almost a year of planning in advance.

The conference’s theme was television, so the event began with, “Golden Girls Night Out,” an event where RA’s could play bingo, mingle with one another and partake in a fully-equipped photo booth. UMW’s Assistant Director of Residence Life, Noura Allen, ran the bingo night. The University of William and Mary had participants who stayed at this event for over three hours, which shows their competitive edge, even for this light-hearted game night.

A large draw for the RA’s who attended the conference were the unique programs designed by their peers. RA’s could choose to contribute their ideas

and host a program for fellow RA’s to attend.

These programs ranged from, “Putting RA on Your Resume,” an information session on how to market oneself in an interview, to “Pet Advisor, Pet Detective,” a humorous session about dealing with unauthorized pets in residence halls and also “Life After Residence Life,” which was a program dedicated to pointing out the skills learned as an RA. Damien Ream, an RA from Roanoke College, hosted the “Pet Advisor, Pet Detective” program. He detailed the number of instances he had encoun

•VACUHO | 10

EDITORS-AT-LARGE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kelly Emmrich

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Ester Salguero

MANAGING EDITOR Tessa Cate

SECTION EDITORS NEWS Meaghan McIntyre Izzy Briones

VIEWPOINTS Ginny Bixby

LIFE Lauren Closs

SPORTS Ryan Brauch

ONLINE Es Hethcox

PHOTO Alex Sakes

BUSINESS TEAM

Marye House holds the office of residence life at UMW, along with other campus organizations.

Kyrstiane Urbaniak / The Blue & Gray Press

SGA loses funding for newspaper program KYLEIGH COUTCHER Staff Writer

This year, daily issues of The New York Times and the Washington Post have disappeared from their usual stands throughout campus. Many professors and staff were confused, as they looked forward to reading the paper every morning.

Mary Washington used to provide The New York Times and the Washington Post all around campus for everyone to read and those who enjoyed having these papers easily available to them around campus were confused as to why they have gone missing.

“In the year and a half I’ve been here, I have always noticed the newspapers have been available to students in every building,” said Carolyn Rouse, a sophomore and

English major.

Dean Cedric Rucker said that budget constraints have caused these amenities to be cut from buildings on campus.

“The newspaper program was sponsored by the SGA, and the program was ended due to budget restrictions,” Rucker said. In order to provide news

makes sense that some cuts were made, however, students think we could make budget cuts somewhere else.

“I never read the paper before but I feel like that’s not because I don’t live on campus but for students who do, I feel like that would be really important to them to know what’s going on,” said Adeline Comerford, junior and American Studies major.

Upon looking into this matter, Dean Rucker was able to explain what had happened.

“I have received a lot of complaints from students, as well as faculty and staff members... We’re currently working to see about getting it back,” said Matthew Good, Director of Communications.

The SGA notices how important being able to have the paper readily available has become to us and is working to get it back for the UMW community.

“The newspaper program was sponsored by the SGA, and the program was ended due to budget restrictions.”

-Dean Cedric Rucker

papers for the school, money must be put aside. Newspapers are not free, so it

CORRECTIONS FOR THE WEEK

Linda Fitzpatrick Janelle Behm

In last weeks sports article titled “UMW cross country performs well in CAC Championship meet,” CAC was stated to mean “Costal Athletic Conference,” but it is actually the Capital Athletic Conference.

This was a mistake made by an editor.

FACULTY ADVISOR PLEASE REPORT ANY MISTAKES SEEN IN THE BLUE & GRAY PRESS TO

Sushma Subramanian

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Kelly Emmrich, blueandgray.eic@gmail.com or Sushma Subramanian, ssubrama@umw.edu

Thursday, November 9, 2017

SPORTS

Big Baller Behind Bars: LiAngelo Ball gets arrested for shoplifting

Late season fantasy football pick ups SHACOBE JOHNSON Staff Writer

The 2017 Fantasy Football season has proven to be one of the most unpredictable seasons in history for many reasons. This season has allowed us to put our trust in rookie running backs again with the stellar play of Leonard Fournette, Kareem Hunt and Alvin Kamara. We have had more reliable tight ends to choose from with the emergence of players like Evan Engram, OJ Howard, Tyler Kroft, etc. Defenses are scoring more touchdowns than ever before.

With the way things have changed this season, tt feels like we are in an alternate fantasy football universe.

As unpredictable as it has been, fantasy owners always have to stay on top of their game. Unless you’re sporting a team with the likes of Ezekiel Elliot, Le’veon Bell, Antonio Brown, and A.J. Green, you should never feel too comfortable with your team. There is always a potential move you can make to improve your team. The playoffs are right around the corner and now is the best time to start looking for guys who can give you a better chance to win your league’s championship.

In terms of quarterbacks, a decent target could be Cam Newton. Newton has looked a bit shaky this season but around playoff time he should be getting his star tight end and number one target, Greg Olsen, back. If you forgot, Olsen caught for over 1,000 yards and three touchdowns last season. With his favorite target back, Newton should improve just enough to be a decent option leading into the playoffs. First, Newton plays at home throughout the entire course of fantasy playoffs. Although he seems like a real road warrior, it is great to have three straight home games to end out the season.

When we get to Week 14, Newton faces off against Minnesota who are the league’s fourth best team against opposing quarterbacks. This game is honestly a toss up and could go either way -- this is also his only difficult matchup on the playoff schedule.

Week 15, Newton matches up against Brett Hundley and the Green Bay Packers. If the Panthers continue to pick up steam and the Packers continue to play like they have of late, this game could get ugly. The Panthers’ defense is top notch against the run and over the past two weeks the run game has been the primary game plan for the Packers. If they are unable to get anything going, Newton should have an easier chance of slicing up this underperforming defense.

If you make it to the championship round, Newton will be playing the

Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tampa Bay has completely failed its lofty expectations for this 2017 season.

Coming into the season, some believed they would be one of the young contending teams. Now, they are a team that looks like they have already given up. With no bye week in sight, this team should be flat out exhausted come Week 16. With the Panthers currently at 6-3, they could very well be fighting for a playoff spot come the end of the season. Tampa is already looking horrible defensively against opposing signal callers, ranking twenty-sixth against them.

With no rest, they are only going to get worse. Watch out for Cam “Superman” Newton to walk all over the Bucs.

As far as running backs go, Mark Ingram is an intriguing player. In a complete turn of events, the New Orleans Saints have completely flipped their script. Over the past few years, the Saints have been known for their pass-heavy offense. At times it seemed they would even forget that Ingram was even on the team. Once 2017 came around the Saints have one of the deadliest running games in the NFL. Rookie running back Alvin Kamara has been consistent around 14 fantasy points a game in 0.5 points per reception leagues, meanwhile Ingram has taken control of most of the ground game, averaging around 11.

With Drew Brees under center, defenses are unable to focus solely on one aspect of New Orleans’ twoheaded offensive monster. Defenses facing them have to respect both aspects of the offense. Kamara provides a great change of pace counterpart to Ingram. On the other hand, Ingram has had some fumbling issues the past few weeks but that has never been a serious problem for him. He is a great runner and the Saints are finally using him correctly.

As for his playoff schedule, he gets two juicy matchups against Atlanta (Weeks 14 and 16). Atlanta is ranked twenty-first against running backs this year. Last year, Ingram averaged 88 rushing yards, 30 receiving yards and a touchdown in his two bouts against Atlanta. This year, that rushing attack is more lethal, expect him to get you something equal to or better than what he got last year. In Week 15, Ingram plays the Jets who have been decent against the run but they will struggle against Brees and his receivers. If this game gets out of hand for New York, Ingram could dominate this week as well.

The last sleeper is Nelson Agholor of the Philadelphia Eagles. The

Philly offense is looking downright unstoppable. They have a top five offense and they just added running back Jay Ajayi to the mix. Alshon Jeffery has been crushing his opponents as of late and he is starting to really take on the role of the best receiver on their team. Since he is getting pressure from the defense’s best players, Nelson has been able to get better looks and show people why the Eagles drafted him a few years ago.

Nelson has five touchdowns on the year and from Weeks 5 to 8, he had a floor of 45 yards and a touchdown.

No matter what league you are in, those are amazing stat lines and reliable numbers. That is great flex value and he is trustworthy against obviously good matchups. I would categorize him as a boom or bust player because that offense has a lot of mouths to feed.

In Week 14, The Eagles play the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams are top five against wide receivers. There is no doubt they are a great defense, lead by Wade Phillips. Although the Rams are great against receivers, this could be an absolute shootout. Philly and L.A. have both shown that they are two powerhouse offenses and they can get it done on the ground and through the air. The Eagles offense is averaging a whopping 36 points per game.

Weeks 15 and 16, the Eagles play the New York Giants and the Oakland Raiders. The Giants are ranked twenty-third against receivers this season. They really do not have much of an offense, so this game could get out of hand quickly. Their first matchup was pretty close but since then the Giants have lost four receivers and Eli Manning lacks any decent targets to throw to at this point. Meanwhile, the Raiders are ranked sixteenth against wideouts this season. This is a middle-of-the-pack matchup for the Eagles. Nelson would be covered by one of their safeties or their nickel cornerback. If Nelson can get one good look, he could definitely take it to the house.

RYAN BRAUCH Sports Editor

On Tuesday, three basketball players for the University of California Los Angeles were arrested for shoplifting at a Louis Vuitton store in Shanghai, China, one of which being LiAngelo Ball. LiAngelo, younger brother of standout Los Angeles Lakers’ rookie point guard Lonzo Ball, could now be facing time in prison along with his two teammates.

The UCLA Bruins kick off their season against Georgia Tech on Saturday in Shanghai, but it has become evident that Ball and his teammates will be unable to play.

After taking the basketball world by storm last year, the Ball family has been relatively quiet these past few weeks. The family first entered the spotlight when Lavar Ball, the boys’ father, made numerous disrespectful comments towards NBA players and announcers, proclaiming that Lonzo would be the best player to play the game.

The media erupted after Lonzo got drafted by his hometown team the Lakers and Lavar and the boys launched the creation of the family brand “Big Baller Brand.” Lavar Ball, continued to make headlines in September by announcing that the youngest Ball brother, LaMelo, will withdrawal from his public high school and will be homeschooled.

As the lesser known Ball brother, LiAngelo sure did make the crowd remember his name, unfortunately it came before he even played a single minute for the Bruins.

Now facing possible jail time, LiAngelo and his teammates are hoping for a Big Baller bailout.

LiAngelo Ball

Mark Ingram

www.playerprofiler.com

www.aol.com

The Ball family

Forbes

Weekly Scoreboard Men's Soccer

Nov. 4 @ Christopher Newport (W) UMW: 3 CNU: 1

women's Soccer

Oct. 28 @ St. Mary’s (Md.) (L) UMW: 0 St. Mayr’s (Md.): 3

Field Hockey

Men's Soccer

Nov. 1 @ Christopher Newport (L) UMW: 0 CNU: 1

VolleyBall

Nov. 4 @ Christopher Newport (L) UMW: 2 CNU: 3

Nov. 11 @ Washington & Lee TBA

M/W cross country

Nov. 11 @ Newport News TBA

Men's basketball

Nov. 15 @ Eastern Mennonite TBA

women's basketball

Nov. 15 vs. Washington & Lee TBA

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VIEWPOINTS

Excessive use of social media can detract from genuine friendships

ELENA LA DOLCETTA Staff Writer

Technology has helped humans make many advances throughout history.

It has been a great tool in regards to communicating from long distances.

Social media and technology are great tools for advertising and sharing news.

There are many advantages to technology and social media, however, it seems as though technology could be affecting our ability to have and build authentic friendships.

One of the things that I have learned from college is that technology and social media plays a huge part in the way we communicate with one another.

If you log into your Facebook account and look at how many friends you have, it’s likely that you don’t actually consider all of those individuals your true friends.

A friend is someone that you talk to frequently and that knows you very well and knows what is happening in your life right now, the good and the bad. Most importantly though, they are someone that loves you even in your brokenness and vulnerability. A lot of the times, we use social media as a platform only to show the successes or joys of life. Yet, we all know that life is messy.

Through social media, most of us create an image we want others to see but sometimes it does not reflect our true selves. This is in no way suggesting to post negatively about yourself but

we must ask ourselves why our generation gravitates towards social media in this way. We post a picture and we are so consumed with how many people will hit a “like” button on Facebook or hit the “heart” button on Instagram or “retweet” our tweet on Twitter.

On Snapchat, different emojis represent different kinds of friendships- whether you are their best friend but they are not yours, whether you two are each other’s best friend, or whether or not you have a mutual best friend with another Raw Pixel/Unsplash.com person. The majority of our According to Pew Research, roughly 77 percent of adults own smartphones. generation is so accustomed to the concept of social surroundings shows how consumed this try and one of the things that we were media, we do not even realize these generation has become with technology. encouraged to do was to put our phones generalizations are being made for us The same concept goes for when we on airplane mode so that they were not about our friendships. are in a classroom, from what I have ex- a distraction. It made me realize how Another issue is how much time our perienced in the majority of my classes attached I have become to my phone generation spends on our phones, espeis that we either are trying to cram in and it was such a rewarding experience. cially in college. Walking on College readings that we didn’t fully do or we I even left it in my cabin and during the Avenue, so many people have their ear- are on our phones. day I interacted with so many people buds or headphones in and their phone There are so many people in these and had genuine conversations. It was a in their hand. Generally if we take the classes that we could interact with yet beautiful experience. same path to go to our classes, through- we decide to keep the earbuds in and My challenge to everyone is to reflect out the semester we most likely will be continue to scroll through Facebook. on the concept of social media and techpassing by the same people.

Asking how someone’s day is going nology in relation to authentic friendThe fact that we have become accusand taking the time to interact with ships. Try limiting the time you spend tomed to ignoring our surroundings and them truly makes a difference. This past on your phone. Even if you start out tuning into screens or virtual reality, weekend, I went on the upperclassmen small, see the difference it will make rather than interacting with our physical retreat with the Catholic Campus Minis- with your interactions with others.

Excessive construction on campus may deter prospective students GARY KNOWLES Staff Writer

A central part of the University of Mary Washington’s identity as a college is its beautiful campus. Being located in a historic city and a relatively small town allows UMW to maintain its status as an aesthetically appealing campus.

Fredericksburg’s emphasis on its historical identity means that while new buildings and structures are built, the central places and buildings remain unchanged. UMW is one of the cornerstone attractions in the Fredericksburg area, but the recent construction projects have interfered with the natural, meditative beauty of the campus.

I live in Spotsylvania and a couple of my high school friends were going to UMW before I transferred from Germanna in the fall of 2016. Sarah Sanford—who is no longer a student here—showed me around campus.

The amphitheater stuck out to me as one of the most quiet and beautiful places at UMW, the experience of tour-

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ing campus is one of the main reasons I wanted to apply here. The relative distance from other buildings allowed the amphitheater to be a peaceful getaway for me. Occasionally, you could stumble upon a student or two sitting down at the amphitheatre because it’s such a great place to read or work on assignments.

I would go there from time to time when I needed a place outdoors to contemplate new ideas and enjoy the restorative qualities of the encompassing natural beauty. During the snowstorm, I came upon the amphitheater blanketed in white and the scene left me breathless.

Since the incident at the amphitheatre, the facility has undergone construction. With all this construction happening on campus, walking along College Avenue became even more hectic, trees along the sidewalk have been uprooted, obstructive fences and cautionary cones have been put up.

News/umw.edu

Work on the restoration of the UMW amphitheater began in July and is expected to be finished in June 2018.

The first sight of the UMW campus along College Avenue is now interrupted by the highlighter orange cautionary signs and roadblocks. Farther down College Avenue, towards Combs, there are bales of hay marring the view of campus.The construction projects are there to provide new resources for the school—nobody argues that. But, the fear is that these projects are chipping away at a key feature of UMW’s identity.

The pristine and visually appealing views found around campus can invoke an attraction to the university and allow for students’ minds to wander. The construction has taken away from the

peaceful environment of UMW. Instead of the beautiful campus, many current students have come to know and love, visitors and prospective students are greeted by a scattered series of projects that chip away at the peaceful scenery at UMW. On the surface, the temporary staining of the university’s campus seems superficial. However, it may be someone’s initial impression of UMW. Not to mention students who are used to a lovely campus, waking up to see trees and ground being morphed into piles of dirt littered with construction equipment and bordered by fences.

Thursday,January November 2017 Thursday, 21, 9, 2015

VIEWPOINTS Memes that glorify depression and suicide are not funny Editor: Ginny Bixby | blueandgray.views@gmail.com

ALICEN HACKNEY Staff Writer

and feeling desperately alone.

High school and college age people are the main audience for such memes where depression and suicide rates are among

day to day lives of students. They can just be something Memes, we’ve seen them, we’ve shared funny to look at in them, we’ve quoted them. between classThey’re everywhere, from es, and they the internet to poster club can even be a advertisements, and they way to connect don’t always send a very for people who positive message. have similar Common themes that I’ve feelings on noticed in memes are social different social anxiety, depression and issues. But, suicide. From “Bad News when memes Brian” to “Demotivational begin joking Posters,” memes consistentabout weighty ly remind people that many issues like things in the world are terridepression and suicide, they can ble and there’s generally no Demotivators/ZDNet.com become harmful. Suicidal thoughts use in making any efforts. are often linked with feelings of Some examples of memes the highest. In 2015, according to the Na- hopelessness, and memes such as demothat make a joke out of failure are the tional Institute of Mental Health, suicide tivational posters only reinforce those commonly viewed or shared demotivawas the second most leading cause of tional posters with a picture of a boat death among ages 15 to 34 years, with a sinking that reads, “Mistakes: it could be more common mid age range of 20 to 24. that the purOverall approximately pose of your 44,000 Americans die life is only from suicide each year, to serve as a and according to the warning to American Foundation others,” and For Suicide Prevention, evil Kermit for every one successthe Frog as ful suicide there are 25 the negative failed attempts. Accordvoice inside ing to the American your head Psychological Associtelling you ation, at least one third not to trust of college students in feelings of hopelessness. people and 2015 reported having Along the same lines, memes can continue difficulty functioning be used as a coping mechanism when binge watchdue to depression with- dealing with tough times. I am one of ing Netflix in the past year. many people guilty of this. The more you even though There are a number Humor/thechive.com stay on your phone looking at memes, it’s 4 a.m. of more serious factors the less time you’ll have to deal with the and you have an 8 a.m. class. This trend contributing to this epidemic than memes, real issues you may be facing in life. It has gone so far as to have people making however, memeing is often a negative becomes a truly mindless activity to fill memes about wanting to commit suicide pop culture practice that is present in the space that should be used positively. Even

Dank Memes and Gifs/dopl3r.com

though issues may be painful to deal with, they will have to be dealt with at some point, and prolonging that experience by becoming numb and looking at memes isn’t healthy.

On campus the Talley Center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., appointments can be made by phone or by walking in and crisis appointments are also provided. If you or someone you know is Memes/me.me.com suffering from depression or thoughts of suicide there are also many hotlines and services available. The number for the Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255, and the number for the Crisis Call Center is 775-784-8090. There are many more hotlines and services to reach out to that can be found easily online. Whether you rely on memes or not, no one is alone.

Staff Ed: The staff of the Blue and Gray Press stands with the victims of the Sutherland Springs Shooting This past Sunday, Nov. 5, marked the deadliest mass shooting by an individual in Texas history, as well as the deadliest shooting in an American place of worship. When a gunman opened fire on the congregation of First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, he killed 26 people and injured at least 20 more, including children, according to the New York Times.

This tragedy, occurring barely a month after the mass shooting at the Jason Aldean concert in Las Vegas, is indicative of a larger problem. According to ABC News, there have been 307 mass shootings in the U.S. in 2017

alone. Whenever a crisis of this kind occurs, debates over gun control, a hot topic in general, are brought further into the public spotlight.

At a news conference in Tokyo on Monday, President Donald Trump addressed the shooting in Sutherland Springs, calling the gunman “a very deranged individual” and saying, “This isn’t a guns situation… this is a mental health problem at the highest level.”

However, a study in the American Journal of Public Health found that less than five percent of 120,000 gun-related killings in America between 2001 and 2010 were committed by people with a diagnosed mental

illness.

This is more than a mental health issue. This is a gun issue, and while guns do not need to be completely banned outright, there should be some limitations on what kinds of firearms the average citizen can own.

It is one thing to own a handgun for protection or a hunting rifle for sport and an entirely different thing to own a semi-automatic weapon, like the Ruger SR-566 that gunman, David Patrick Kelley, used in the Sutherland Springs shooting.

According to Politico, mass shootings are not becoming more frequent; they’re about as frequent as they were

in the 1980s and 1990s, but they are becoming more deadly, with more casualties per shooting. This is partially due to the use of automatic and semi-automatic weapons.

The safety of American citizens is paramount, and government officials need to set politics aside and focus on what is most important by working to decrease the probability of tragedies like what happened in Sutherland Springs.

The Blue and Gray Press Staff offers our sincere condolences to the families and friends of the victims of the shooting at First Baptist Church.

By THE BLUE & GRAY PRESS EDITORIAL BOARD

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LIFE

Editor: Lauren Closs blueandgray.life@gmail.com

Wacky waffles: recipes for “Stranger Things” season two KAYTLYN BIDDLE Senior Writer

Nostalgia is having a serious moment with 80s and 90s themed trends being revived, remade and revisited seemingly every day. Shows that ended years ago, shows based on decades long past and shows chock-full of outdated references are surfacing on every media platform, but none capture a specific time or feeling half as well as “Stranger Things.”

“Stranger Things” is a type of show that works perfectly in the exact moment of its release. A Netflix Original created by virtually two unknown brothers and child actors, could only work in this world of streaming. The Duffer brothers were given a chance to both pay homage to great 1980s classics, while still maintaining the sense of the world in that time period.

Based in the fictional Hawkins, Indiana circa 1983, the story revolves around a group of friends: Mike, Dustin

Pizza Waffles Ingredients: Box of waffles Pizza Sauce Shredded Cheese Your choice of toppings Directions: Toast two waffles slightly.

I used a toaster oven and toasted them for about two minutes.

Remove the waffles from the toaster and put one to two spoonfuls of pizza sauce on the waffle. Sprinkle cheese on top of sauce and add other toppings as desired. Caution: too much sauce can cause Kaytlyn Biddle/The Blue & Gray Press your waffle to be soggy and not cook correctly.

Using the toaster oven or oven, put waffles back in for an additional 3-5 minutes. Waffles are done when the waffle can be lifted by one edge without bending in the middle.

Once waffles are cooked, remove and let cool for two minutes.

Enjoy!

Triple Decker Eggo Extravaganza

Kaytlyn Biddle/The Blue & Gray Press

Ingredients: Box of waffles Whipped cream Hershey’s kisses Jellybeans M&Ms Directions: Toast three waffles to desired toastiness Place one waffle on a plate and cover with whipped cream Place a few candies, I used m&ms, on top of the whipped cream Place a second waffle on top of the candy and whipped cream Repeat steps two and three Place the last waffle on top Put a swirl of whipped cream on top and cover with candies. For the most accuracy, use Hershey’s kisses, jellybeans, and m&ms. Those were the candies that looked the closest to the original picture in the show.

Enjoy!

Ice Cream Waffle Sandwich Ingredients: Box of waffles Ice cream (I used vanilla) Chocolate chips or sprinkles Directions: Toast two waffles to desired toastiness Scoop ice cream onto one waffle, making sure to cover the waffle equally Place the second waffle on top and gently press down so the ice cream just barely covers the bottom waffle Fill a bowl or plate with chocolate chips Take the ice cream sandwich and roll the edges in the chocolate chips. You may need to press the chips in a bit with your fingers if the ice cream is not soft enough.

Enjoy! and Lucas, in their search to find their missing friend. Nothing turns out to be what it seems, which the boys learn when they stumble across a lost girl in the woods who goes by the name Eleven.

The story hinges on the search for the missing boy and brings everything about this quiet town, and the mysterious government facility nearby, into question.

“Stranger Things” feels like an 80s thriller, right up there with Poltergeist and Fright Night. Viewers are dragged into the world immediately with the opening scene and then there is no hope of getting out. There are no glaring mistakes, no accidental cell phones shown or too-modern furniture to pull you out of the experience.

A lot of attention was paid to getting the environment as authentic as possible, and it shows. It is difficult to pay direct attention to it, however,

as the young actors absolutely steal the show. “Stranger Things” is a homage to a classic suspense thrillers and has to rely on the actors to portray that subtlety and mystery, a job that balances on the shoulders of these very young actors.

They will blow you away, by the way, especially the performance by Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven. The older actors are just as intriguing, with each main adult character having their own complex story and background to bring to the table.

Now, nothing is perfect. I’m sure there are authenticity issues somewhere in the series, and no matter how brilliant the actor, there are bound to be disagreements about portrayal amongst viewers but “Stranger Things” has no reason to worry. The show has already been renewed for a third season, ahead of its second season premiere and the Duffer brothers have a four-season story

Kaytlyn Biddle/The Blue & Gray Press

already planned out.

The success of “Stranger Things” is both very clear and very much deserved.

The story doesn’t suffer from either rushed or monotonous pacing. Every actor brings their full weight to their scenes. And the backdrop of 1983 is the perfect setting for the story. The hints of humor and focus on individual moments help the characters feel more realistic and remind the viewer why the story is important in different ways to each person. Exploring the themes of friendship, family, government influence and the supernatural, “Stranger Things” delivers on every expected aspect, and

lives up to its name of truly depicting the stranger.

Even if you haven’t checked “Stranger Things” out yet, there is a good chance you are aware that some girl in it is obsessed with Eggo waffles.

Fans of the show embraced this love for waffles and thus the memes were born.

The Eggo obsession was even furthered in season two when, SPOILERS, the Eggo extravaganza is created. If you haven’t already binged the second season, or have yet to check it out, you can whip up these recipes to enjoy during your marathon.

Thursday, November 9, 2017

LIFE

New Super Mario game from Nintendo is out of this world

HARRY FISHER Senior Writer

For over thirty years, Nintendo’s world-famous Italian plumber, Mario, has dominated the video game industry, providing both gamers and non-gamers with some of the most entertaining experiences the industry has to offer.

In addition to being fun, well-designed and family-friendly, Mario games do not require players to have any high-level gaming skills to enjoy them. Even those who have never played a video game before can easily pick up a Mario game and immediately start having fun with it.

They have excellent controls, bright and colorful levels, challenging game play, great music and a charming cast of characters that have become well-known in pop culture. The newest installment of the series, “Super Mario Odyssey” for the Nintendo Switch, has all of these elements and more. Mario fans have been chomping at the bit, waiting for months for this game’s release, and now that it’s finally here, it’s being hailed as one of the best Mario games in history.

Personally, I believe that Odyssey is the best game in the entire Mario series, and I’ve never had more fun with a Mario game than I’ve had with Odyssey.

As with all Mario games, the story of Odyssey is pretty simple. The evil Bowser, who is basically a fire-breathing dinosaur with a giant turtle shell, has kidnapped Princess Peach, ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom, and is trying to force her to marry him, so nothing new in terms of storyline.

When Mario tries to save Peach, Bowser defeats him and leaves him stranded in a strange kingdom inhabited by ghosts who are obsessed with hats.

Mario meets a ghost named Cappy, whose sister Tiara has also been kidnapped by Bowser. Cappy transforms himself into a duplicate of Mario’s hat

so he can aid Mario in his quest, and Cappy can transform Mario into these together they set off on a journey across enemies, allowing the player to take the world to rescue the princesses. control of them. This one mechanic The game has Mario and Cappy adds so much more to the game play. traversing several different “kingdoms,” Throughout the many levels, Mario each of which has its own unique charm can transform into various different and atmosphere. For example, the Sand Kingdom contains a village of little skeleton people wearing ponchos and sombreros, as well as a large desert with a sphinx and a giant inverted pyramid. Levels like these are clearly inspired by real world locations, in this case Mexico and Egypt.

The Cascade Kingdom is a prehistoric land where dangerous creatures roam, such as the classic Chain Chomp enemies from past Mario games and even a massive T-rex. Each level is absolutely gorgeous to look at.

They are all oozing with detail and make you feel like you are actually in the world of Mario.

This is easily one of the best looking games the Switch has to offer.

However, the gameplay mechanics are the core of the game and the main reasons why it is so fun. In addition to having classic Mario staples, such as the ability to jump on enemies’ heads to defeat them, this game adds many new gameplay elements, most of which revolve around Mario’s ability to use Cappy as a weapon or tool. Mario can Super Mario Odyssey was released Oct 27. throw Cappy at enemies to attack them, classic enemies such as Goombas, Chain use Cappy for a jump boost and do a Chomps and Bullet Bills, and use their spin attack with Cappy that hits all the various abilities to solve puzzles and get enemies surrounding them. power ups. The wide variety of enemies Cappy’s most notable function and creatures Mario can transform and my favorite feature in the game, into opens up new levels of fun and however, is his “capture” ability. When exploration of new abilities. I could Mario throws Cappy at certain enemies, even become the T-rex in the Cascade

Kingdom and cause mass destruction.

Another really interesting feature of the game is just how open-ended it feels and how much there is to explore.

Every level feels like a brand new world, filled with various hidden items and secrets you can spend hours searching for. I must have spent two hours in the Sand Kingdom alone, just trying to find all of the hidden coins and secret doors scattered throughout the desert.

The player’s exploration is always rewarded with a fun new challenge or secret area to conquer. My personal favorites were the areas in which Mario actually transforms into a 2-D, pixelated version of himself and the game play suddenly resembles the original Super Mario Brothers. These sections are even complete with 8-bit enemies and music to add a nostalgia factor to the game for long-time Mario fans. Sections like these just go to show how much fun it is to explore and discover this game.

Super Mario Odyssey is a perfect example of why Mario has been the face of Nintendo, and gaming in general, for so long. It has breathtakingly beautiful and detailed levels, as well as Wikipedia. incredibly fun gimmicks that make it feel like a Mario game, but so much more at the same time. The game is a must-have if you own a Switch, and if you don’t have one already, the console is worth buying for this game alone. Hats off to you, Mario, for another fantastic adventure.

Seniors reflect on brunch at old Seacobeck dining hall

EMILY KUBE Staff Writer

Ever since the University Center became the new Seacobeck in the fall of 2015, few and current students have experienced meals at both locations.

Only seniors have been here long enough to remember the quaint dining experience of Seacobeck Hall, and a large portion of them dropped their meal plan after moving off campus or are transfers who also never stepped foot inside the old building. Students who have experienced both, however, have fond memories of Seacobeck, in particular, brunch nostalgia.

Most students who never experienced the dining hall, like senior marketing major and transfer student, Brian Hobbs, have mostly positive things to say about options at the UC. “I think the UC has a nice variety of food,” said Hobbs. “I like their sausage links and their french toast sticks the most.”

When comparing the two dining halls, senior business administration major Lydia Kong stated, “I miss Seacobeck brunch because I think it’s better than the UC,” said Kong. “As a freshman, I would go to Seacobeck brunch every weekend with my friends...

They had more food options, seating and the atmosphere was welcoming.”

Students enjoy brunch at the University Center.

The food is not always the most important aspect of the dining experience. Many seniors had more to say about the new atmosphere than they did about the food.

Senior business administration major Terrin Dickerson said, “The food is pretty much the same, eggs, sausage, just normal brunch food... I like the old-school environment from Seacobeck better though.”

Senior biology major, Alex Fellows had a similar opinion. “I was a little bummed because I moved into a house on Seacobeck Street my junior year,” said Fellows, “and I was excited that I could basically walk across the street to get to the dining hall.”

UMW alumni, Brian Christiansen also remembers Seacobeck brunch.

“I don’t necessarily believe that the food has changed dramatically with

Cayley McGuire / The Blue & Gray Press.

the transition from the old building to the new one... I liked being in the old building and having that feeling that it was somewhat original to the school.

I feel like the UC has started to move UMW away from it’s roots.”

The common theme seems to be that students miss the atmosphere of Seacobeck, but as far as the food that is served during brunch, the UC and Seacobeck are very similar.

7

Weekend Events

Thursday

• 30th Annual James Monroe Lecture, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m., Monroe Hall, Room 116 • Little Shop of Horrors, 7:30 p.m. Klein Theatre

Friday

• Virginia Undergraduate Symposium in Classics, 1 p.m. - 5 p.m., HCC Digital Auditorium • American Assassin, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Monroe 116 • UMW Concert Band Fall Concert, 7:30 p.m., Dodd Auditorium • Little Shop of Horrors, 7:30 p.m., Klein Theatre

Saturday

• Little Shop of Horrors, 2 p.m., Klein Theatre • Baby Driver 7 p.m., Monroe 116 • Little Shop of Horrors, 7:30 p.m., Klein Theatre

Sunday

• Studio Talk: Painter’s Point of View with Marcia Chaves. 2 p.m. - 3 p.m., Gari Melchers Home and Studio • Little Shop of Horrors 2 p.m., Klein Theatre

• Fall Formal, 8 p.m. - 11:30 p.m., Chandler Ballroom • American Assassin, 10 p.m., Monroe 116

• Baby Driver, 10 p.m., Monroe 116

@theBlueandGray

BlueandGrayPress

The Blue & Gray Press

LIFE

Dressing for fickle fall weather: students share strategies Laura Taylor Staff Writer

during the fall season leaves many students wondering how to prevent being caught off guard by the sudden changing weather.

Walking down campus walk provides an insight into the various approaches to combating the ever changing and unpredictable fall weather that exists in Virginia. Some students prefer to dress for the chilly mornings and retire to their homes in the afternoon to change

into a whole new outfit while others take the layer approach so they can be comfortable and fashionable throughout Hiding a picture perfect outfit under a both the chilly mornings and the warm trench coat because the weather is crisp afternoons. and nippy in the morning just to have “Layers!” said senior Shannon to change down to shorts and a t-shirt Haley. “Wear a short sleeve shirt and by afternoon has been all too familiar then a sweater or jacket on top for the amongst students at the University of mornings, then you can take it off when Mary Washington this fall season. it’s hot.”

This unpredictable weather in Virginia Junior Sarah Petty gave her advice.

“Never wear jeans because you can’t change out of those as easy and never wear full length leggings because you can overheat in those, too,” said Petty.

Wearing layers seems to be the remedy to combat the haywire Virginia fall weather according to several students.

“Dress in layers so that as the day gets hotter, you can be cooler,” said sophomore Sylvan Brier.

For the women at the University Recently the weather has been experiencing 25-35 degree increases between the morning and afternoon. Pixabay. of Mary

Washington, dressing in layers can still take on a fashionable approach. Leggings with a cute top and a light jacket can make any deceiving morning look good while also looking chic in the afternoon when the weather becomes warmer.

For males, dressing for the ever changing fall season is not as complex.

Layers seem to be the solution for many male students.

“A light pair of pants, shirt, and jacket work for my everyday go to outfit and it allows me to be both warm and cool depending on the time of day and weather,” said junior Joshua Staley.

For students that are indoors most of the day and don’t experience the changing of weather, dressing comfortably for the time of day when they are getting to get to their destination works best for them.

“Making sure to dress for whatever temperature you’re going to be in the longest is always helpful,” said senior Emily Keehan.

Some buildings around campus have already switched to only heat even though these first few weeks of fall have been on the warmer side, especially in the afternoons. Knowing that most of the buildings are running the heat could help students when planning their attire for the day.

The crazy unpredictability of the Virginia fall weather creates a frenzy amongst students as they attempt to dress comfortably for both the chilly mornings and the almost spring like afternoons.

Students get applicable experiences from internships

JACKSON DOWNEY Staff Writer

Students are often told that internships are a great way to gain experience for the workforce, but internships can be a great deal of work, sometimes without compensation.

A very popular internship among students at UMW is the one associated with the graduate education program.

Upon entering their graduate year, education students begin teaching at local schools full-time. Erin Altschuler and Caitlin Lucas spoke about their experiences with the education internship. Both had previously been practicum students, teaching between 20 and 40 hours per semester. Altschuler, who is currently teaching first grade, described the internship as “far more eye-opening” than her practicum experience.

“It’s much closer to what I will be doing next year, so I feel like I am gaining a lot more this semester,” said Lucas, who is currently teaching eighth grade math. “I realize how much patience and dedication it takes to be a full-time teacher... It was very different when I only came in for a few hours twice a week.”

When asked about her internship experience, Altschuler said, “I’ve learned to set expectations early on. This is something that wasn’t as clear during practicum because I wasn’t seeing the day-to-day classroom experience.

Altschuler said that she has gained a lot of information from her internship, saying, “One of the things I have learned is that kids will surprise you with what they know and how they think... I know that next year I will set up expectations

Internships can be an opportunity for students to get real-world experience.

with my students early on so that I don’t run into a lot of problems.”

Other students find internships with businesses locally or back home during the summer. One such student is junior marketing major, Jacob Atkinson, who worked at SOC LLC the past summer and into this school year. His duties primarily included creating a database for the business development team.

“I learned that having good time management can really benefit an individual in the workplace... Another thing I noticed was that professionalism goes beyond education and includes how you work with others and conduct yourself in the workplace,”

said Atkinson. “I have made a lot of connections which I hope to use in my future careers and appreciate what I have been able to do at SOC.” Senior accounting major, Matt Candy, worked within the finance department of Professional Solutions Developed LLC this past summer. While there, he was responsible for investigating accounting information systems to see if the company should change software which would change the budgeting process.

“I learned how to use real-world software, something I wouldn’t have been exposed to in the classroom [setting],” said Candy. “I also learned about managing government contracts

Pixabay.

which is something that I am interested in going into upon graduation. This internship provided a glimpse inside the financial side of government contracting and provided practical skills which I can contribute to my classes.”

It is clear that while internships can vary in their fields and responsibilities, useful skills can easily be gained from experience in a setting similar to one expected upon graduation. Internships will continue to be popular among students wishing to get more out of their college experience and gain qualities which can be applicable to future career paths.

9

NEWS

POLICE BEAT Halloween display fuels debate •HALLOWEEN | 1 MEAGHAN MCINTYRE & IZZY BRIONES News Editors

Possession On Tuesday, October 24 at 10:40 p.m., there was possession of marijuana at Virginia Hall. Two administrative referrals were given.

Felony On Saturday, October 28 between 1:55 p.m. and 4 p.m., it was reported that money was obtained under false pretenses, which is a felony crime. This took place at the Simpson Library. This case is still pending.

On Saturday, October 28 between 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m., it was reported that money was obtained under false pretenses, which is a felony crime. This took place at the Stafford Campus library. This case is still pending.

ideas on our society’s holidays and the fun-sucking consequences some believe these topics have on the celebration of Halloween.

The flyer reads, “We mourn the loss of Halloween. Too many costumes have been denied due to the fact that their owner doesn’t accurately represent and live out the lifestyle they are dressing up as,” followed by a list of variables leading to Halloween’s death.

“Factors that contributed to the death of Halloween include but are not limited to: girls not being able to dress up as their favorite princess, Pocahontas, if they are not native americans or Belle, if they are not French, banned sombreros for those who aren’t hispanic, and banned kimonos for non-Asians.”

The flyer continues, taking on a melodramatic tone, expressing that “the left” has killed Halloween and inviting the student body to a funeral during which they may dispose of any non-PC Halloween costumes they own since

covered by the First Amendment and the actions in violation of it. As this topic spreads like wildfire through college campuses, the UMW administration including Dr. Landphair, is doing its research on how to deal with the issue and combat it if necessary.

“This struck me as an interesting one because clearly some of what they are saying in this flyer is going to be offensive and hurtful to some of our students but under the First Amendment, they have the right to express those sentiments,” Dr. Landphair said.

Dr. Landphair then recalled a UMW policy titled “Expressive Activity By Members of University Community” that addresses the rights and reach of student expression on campus. The policy is currently under review and states, “Free inquiry and free expression are indispensable to the vibrancy and vitality of a campus community. Diverse perspectives are honored and valued on campus and it is essential that community members have the opportunity to

“This struck me as an interesting one because clearly some of what they are saying in this flyer is going to be offensive and hurtful to some of our students but under the First Amendment, they have the right to express those sentiments.”

-Dr. Juliette Landphair

Grand Larceny Between Sunday, October 29 at 9 p.m. and Monday, October 30 at 9 a.m., a bicycle was stolen from Virginia Hall.

This case is pending.

Trespassing On Tuesday, October 31 at 11:50 p.m., there was a trespassing and underage possession of alcohol incident at the William St. Apartments lot. One arrest happened and one administrative referral was given.

The information was compiled with assistance from UMW Police Manager James DeLoatch and Fredericksburg Police Department Public Information Officer Sarah Kirkpatrick.

10

they are no longer suitable for Halloween festivities.

Talk of the flyer and UMW YAF’s activities spread throughout campus and students’ Facebook pages, producing boiling comment threads and blurring the line between hate speech and personal expression.

“I understand the importance of freedom of speech, but there comes a point where you need to educate yourself on what you’re talking about,” senior Erynn Sendrick said after posting a picture of the flyer to her personal Facebook page. “When I say educate I mean things like ways to hold effective discourse, confronting topics of controversy, sharing your opinion in a mature way, etc.”

Courtney Owen, UMW YAF Chapter Chair, responded to the aftermath of the chapter’s actions by circling back to the club’s initial reason for holding the event. “After reading numerous Facebook posts and hearing how schools across the country regularly send out emails that warn students who dress up as someone/something that they aren’t already, not to do so, it became apparent to the members of University of Mary Washington Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) that the Left was determined to rob students of their ability to have fun – once again,” said Owen. “YAF hosted the Funeral for Halloween to show our peers that it’s ok to have fun on Halloween.”

The club’s actions, while offensive to some students and backed by others, drive our reexamination of the rights

engage peaceful and orderly protests and demonstrations.”

“As a public university, we’re essentially a governmental entity so the First Amendment applies on our campus,” Dr. Landphair noted. “For student groups, as long as they put in their request with the Student Activities and Engagement office, they can speak.”

Though UMW YAF’s “expressive activity” was within their rights as students and members of the UMW community, it struck a chord with students and raises the question – what qualifies as hate speech and what control does a university administration have over it?

“YAF [Young Americans for Freedom] hosted the Funeral for Halloween to show our peers that it’s ok to have fun on Halloween.”

-Courtney Owen “Some people would view this as hate speech. They would feel like this is hateful or hurtful or offensive, but it’s not individually threatening,” Dr. Landphair explained. “But is that hate speech? Depends on how you interpret it.”

Meeting of RAs from different universities •VACUHO | 2 tered involving pets and how he quickly earned the nickname “Pet Detective” by following a Great Dane around campus. This program provided a medium for other RA’s to share their own crazy pet stories and how they approached the respective situations.

One component of the conference was spirit, each university had to make a banner representative of both their in-

“I loved learning about alternative ways residence life works at other colleges.”

-Ronan Gorforth stitution and relate it back to a TV show.

Banners were draped on the first floor of the University Center and included depictions of shows such as, “The Office,” “Stranger Things” and “Friends.”

Universities were also expected to dress up and coordinate to their theme, in addition to making a “roll call” video.

UMW’s theme was the Disney show, “Kim Possible.” Various resident assistants contributed to make a video that showed RA’s helping others out, some UMW spirit and even a clip of President Paino. Others worked to make a large banner of the character Kim Possible.

The universities in attendance appeared to go all out for the competition.

Averett University made a “Stranger Things” banner with lights, Old Dominion University students were decked out in all blue and Randolph Macon participants all dressed in scrubs.

Another focus of the spirit competition was on service, canned food and hygiene products were collected from all the participating universities for extra points. By the end of the weekend, Area Coordinator, Brandii Halliburton, and her spirit committee determined Averett University to be the winner.

Junior Ronan Goforth, a first-year RA in Madison Hall, was a part of the delegation committee. They starred in and created the roll call video working hard to make VACUHO a success. They were very pleased with the outcome of the conference and said, “It was great to make new connections and be in a group of only RA’s,” said Goforth. “I loved learning about alternative ways residence life works at other colleges.”

Goforth was nominated for “Outstanding New RA,” which they were very proud of. Their favorite event was the Golden Girl’s Night Out, Goforth liked spending time in that social environment. “They reason I became an RA was to serve as a voice for the LGBTQ+ community and I was glad to share that message with others,” Goforth said.

The VACUHO conference provided a chance for RA’s to learn from one another, and for them to learn what others before them have done. UMW Assistant Dean Dave Fleming recalled his own days of being an RA at Salisbury University. He mentioned hauling mattresses into rooms before move-in day and the other tedious work he completed.

Thursday, November 9, 2017

NEWS

Student-driven project leads to creation of anemometer

SHYAN MURPHY Staff Writer

Most students who belong to the UMW community have passed by the Jepson Science Center before. This tends to be a heavily trafficked area on campus due to the science general education requirement, and several residence halls being stationed nearby.

When a strange object was erected outside of Jepson, some students had questions about the new structure.

“I have friends who live in Eagle and I go over there almost every day,” said junior English major Joshua Staley. “When I first saw, I had no idea what they were building.”

With the help of associate professor and department chair for Earth & Environmental Science, Chuck Whipkey, the structure’s identity was properly identified. “[It is] a recording anemometer or wind-speed indicator,” said Whipkey.

According to a University of Illinois sponsored site, as the wind blows, the cups of the anemometer fill with air and are pushed. The cups start to rotate which makes the long rod in the center start to spin. As the rod spins, the number of rotations are counted by the anemometer which is then used to calculate the wind speed.

The anemometer is being used for a student run project.

“Two students will be recording wind speed data over the next two semesters as part of a preliminary study of air currents in the vicinity of

Jepson,” Professor Whipkey said.

The students conducting the study are senior environmental science major Adam Berry and sophomore environmental Mary Hoffman. In an interview with Berry, it was explained that this device would be used to collect, “a year of wind speed in order to determine if it would be efficient to put a wind turbine where the anemometer is.”

“This is a project that other people can work on after I graduate, but I am proud to be the initiating student to work on it,” Berry said.

The project was originally the idea of a past student. The equipment was purchased but never put into use until Berry decided to use the anemometer to study wind patterns for his senior project. The project has been met with an overall positive reaction from UMW students.

“I think this is a great start for sustainability in our community,” said junior biology major Nicole Lamb. “I am proud that we have faculty and students here at UMW searching for alternative energy sources for the science center.”

The future of this project is promising, not only for the students and faculty involved, but for the UMW community as a whole. Berry said that they could not have put this project in place without the help from the grounds team, and he wished a special thanks to them and anyone else who has taken part in helping to move along his senior research project.

The anemometer was constructed in front of Jepson.

Finnley Goff / The Blue & Gray Press

Student Government Beat Monday, November 6 – Friday, November 10 Executive Cabinet Mondays at 5 p.m. in the UC Capitol Room

SGA is currently compiling a list of current student issues to tackle for the remainder of the semester, as well as into next semester. If you have any suggestions, please send them to president@umwsga.org.

For more information, visit umwsga.org or contact info@umwsga.org Student Senate Wednesdays at 5 p.m. in Monroe 116

While the following motions have been passed by the Senate, they are still subject to further review and a vote by the Executive Cabinet. Listed motions may not take effect as written, and are not obligated to occur.

• 11.06.1 - Motion to work with Facilities Services to install speed limit signs in the student levels of the Eagle Landing parking deck.

• 10.06.2 – Motion to work with Facilities Services to post “No Littering” signs in the Eagle Landing and Alvey parking decks.

For more information, visit umwsenate.org or contact vp@umwsga.org DETAILS PROVIDED BY MATTHEW GOOD

Thursday, November 9, 2017

11

SPORTS ZACH WOHLEKING Senior Writer

UMW volleyball teammates hold their heads up high after a successful season

On Nov. 4 UMW women’s volleyball completed their impressive 2017 season.

After losing many senior leaders and players in the offseason, many did not know what to expect this year. With so many changes to the rotation, it was unclear what this new team would accomplish and if they could handle the pressure and expectations placed upon them from the previous season. Now that the season is over, it is safe to say that UMW volleyball still has the fire and grit of last year, even with the changes. The team ended their season with a 19-10 record and a conference championship appearance.

It was not all easy-going for the team out of the gate, though. Early struggles definitely raised a few questions soon after the start of the season. When they started the season 5-6, it was evident that this was not the same team we had the previous season. There was something missing; the grit and determination were there but there was still something that did not quite make this team complete.

The continuity was absent and the team had to learn to trust one another and it showed on the court.

Around the midseason mark, a spark was lit within that locker room that brought everyone together. After the midway point the team’s energy skyrocketed and they won six games straight,going on to only lose three games for the rest of the regular season and ending it with an impressive 18-9 record. They then went on to crush Southern Virginia in the conference semifinals, not giving up even one set to them.

Unfortunately, that was as far as this

GRACE WINFIELD Staff Writer

Editor: Ryan Brauch | blueandgray.sports@gmail.com

impressive team got. Facing Christopher Newport University in the conference finals, UMW just barely fell to CNU, only losing by one set. With so much change and adversity that the team faced this year, they accomplished an awful lot and with tons of young talent, they have a lot of room to grow as well.

“Family, it has been focusing on pushing each other and players to be the best we can be on and off the court,” said junior Ryan Cho regarding the culture of the team this season.

As an upperclassman and veteran on the team, Cho had to step into more of a leadership role this season as the team headed in a new direction after losing several key players.

“It’s been tough because I never realized how much more work it has been, but my teammates make it easy on me because they are so awesome,” said Cho. After losing a handful of quality playmakers, Cho spoke on the importance of this team to regroup.

“Focused on the fact that it’s a new season and there was still high expectations to meet from last season, we’ve taken it one game at a time and used the beginning of the season to grow and figure out what our new culture and team dynamic would be,” said Cho. When asked about why this season was one to remember, Cho noted that it was “the resilience and determination that our team has developed going from a slow start to all the way to conference finals.”

Wren Berry

umweagles.com

Savannah Powers

umweagles.com

Field hockey loses a hard fought battle against CNU in CAC semifinal

The University of Mary Washington field hockey team fell short on Nov. 1 as they lost 1-0 against Christopher Newport University in the CAC semifinal game.

UMW (11-8) knew the challenge they were up against when they were set to face CNU (16-1). Losing to the fifth-ranked Captains 4-3 in regular season, the Eagles were a decided underdog in the matchup.

UMW entered the game with a mission to attack, but the Eagles quickly realized that a strong defense must become the team’s top priority in order to further maintain a competitive performance.

Senior midfielder Allegra Massey-Elim’s shot at the thirty-fourth minute was put to a halt with a quick save

by CNU’s goalkeeper Stephanie McKinney, leaving the first half scoreless in a defensive struggle against CNU. The score remained tied 0-0 until CNU freshman Courtney Fiest’s second-half strike. With an assist from Jackie Kotoriy, Fiest came through with the game’s lone goal off a penalty corner in the fifty-eighth minute.

With the season on the line, UMW responded quickly and put forth an outstanding effort during the game’s final ten minutes.

After being subbed in at minute 57, freshman Bella Urcia attempted a shot that was batted by the Captain’s McKinney. Within a minute, sophomore forward Lexie Dixson shot a tip along the right pipe, but McKinney managed to successfully complete the back-to-back

Thursday, November 9 2017

saves.

UMW remained competitive until the final minute of the game, but CNUs lockdown defense proved to be a force just too strong to be reckoned with. The Captains made a tackle at midfield to prevent an initial run before gaining possession and running off the last remaining seconds of the game.

“We should’ve scored, but at times scoring can be difficult because it’s all based on timing. If you’re a second too early or late it can have you miss a tip in or an open scoring opportunity,” said junior goalkeeper Jessie Cavolt.

“Overall, we worked well together and the ball movement up the field was the best I think we’ve had all season. Our team’s biggest strengths are defense and our ball movement up the field,” said Cavolt.

CNU held a 10-6 advantage in shots and a 6-1 lead in corners. Cavolt came through with six saves for the Eagles, McKinney with four saves for the Captains.

The loss puts an end to the Eagle’s 2017 field hockey season.

“Our team was disappointed with the result but happy with how we played,” said Cavolt. “The loss wasn’t disappointing solely because it was CNU, but also because making it to the final would’ve given us the opportunity to compete for an automatic bid for the NCAA tournament.”

Getting an at-large bid for the NCAA tournament is

extremely difficult, especially in the CAC. With a double-overtime win over Salisbury in the CAC championship, CNU was rewarded with a firstround bye and the opportunity to open the NCAA Tournament at home as CNU will host second and third-round games beginning on Saturday at Captains Turf Field.

Allegra Massey-Elim

umweagles.com

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