The Blue & Gray Press

THE

BLUE &GRAY

THE UNIVERSITY OF MARY WASHINGTON STUDENT NEWSPAPER

February 2, 2017

VOLUME 90 | ISSUE 13

PRESS

SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE

1922

Dr. Leah Cox retires -leaves void in Title IX office

Exiled journalists from Turkey discuss violations of media freedom

Creative Commons / Flikr Exiled journalists came to speak to students in Monroe about media freedom violations.

IN THIS

ISSUE

WILL ATKINSON Two exiled jourdia owners to fire Staff Writer nalists from Turkey their reporters,” Biwere invited to talk lici said. “They also to the University of Mary Washington started to call companies to not allow students at Monroe Hall on Wednesadvertisement in our newspapers…that day night, regarding the dangers of is where most of our income comes media censorship. The panelists were from.”

Abdulhamit Bilici, Editor-in-Chief of After both speakers were able to the Turkish newspaper, Zaman Toda,y give their personal testaments about and Mahir Zeynalov, a Turkish journalwhat they have resisted in Turkey, Seist who was deported from Turkey for vart opened the floor for the audience heavily covering government corrupto have an open discussion with the two tion and the Turkish coup of July 2016. journalists. Most of the remarks dealt They spoke about their personal acwith Turkey’s issues and the apparent counts with national and governmental parallels that are occurring in the Unitlimitation of media freedoms. ed States with Trump’s administration.

The audience was comprised of stuWhen asked about Trump’s recent dents, faculty and concerned citizens of press conferences and accusations of Fredericksburg. Zeynalov now writes certain media outlets being “fake news” for the Huffington Post and is a frequent Zeynalov said, “This seems very familguest on CNN, NBC and BBC news iar to me, from where I come from... sources. Student mediator and political this is something I have seen in the past science major, Justin Sevart, introduced several years in Turkey…He (Erdoğan) both journalists and opened the floor thought media outlets were there to atto them to share their experiences with tack the government.” media oppression.

Bilici added, “At rallies Erdoğan Five years ago, Turkey was a would cry out, ‘do not buy this newssemi-democratic nation with full media paper!’ He got his followers to boycott freedoms, says Zeynalov. After Turkthe paper.” ish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Because of President Erdoğan’s atwas elected in 2014, many media outtack on media outlets, Bilici was left lets were targeted and stripped of their jobless and in danger of imprisonment freedoms because he felt personally after Erdoğan and his constituents purattacked by the media, Zeynalov exchased Turkey’s largest newspaper the plained.

Zaman. They fired him along with many “This is how it happens, we [jourother journalists. nalists in Turkey] became overwhelmed “Erdoğan started to put a lot of jourwith libel lawsuits,” Zeynalov said. nalists in jail,” Bilici said. “I lost my ca“We spent more time in courtrooms reer, my job… We were a critical newsrather than newsrooms.” paper and all of a sudden it changed, this Reporters from certain media outlets happened in one night, they completely were not allowed to ask questions or shut down the media after the July coup, even attend President Erdoğan’s press now there is nothing.” conferences, according to Bilici.

Zeynalov became the first Turkish “We were not able to ask our quesjournalist to ever be lawfully deported tions, they [state officials] called me-

Title IX office shuffles around personnel due to vacancy EMILY GROTTLE Staff Writer

Now that Dr. Leah Cox has resigned from her position of Title IX Coordinator effective Jan. 19, President Paino has been working hard with multiple people to make sure her position will be filled, to ensure the safety of students and keep the Title IX position active. The University of Mary Washington has long been committed to keeping campus safe for the student body.

Although no one has officially replaced Dr. Cox, according to Martin Wilder, Chief of Staff, President Paino has been meeting with multiple people to assign the duties that previously belonged to Dr. Cox. Wilder also noted that Dr. Cox’s responsibilities will be taken over by multiple people, including two groups, which are the President’s task force on Diversity and Inclusion and the Board of Visitors, specifically working on the diversity and safety of campus.

“The Board of Visitors,” Wilder says, “is comprised of 12 members of Virginia and is an Ad Hoc Committee formed by Rhonda Van Lowe specifically to work diversity.”

Other people taking over Dr. Cox’s responsibilities are Sabrina Johnson and Tiffany Oldfield. Johnson has been at UMW for 20 years and works in Human Resources to ensure equal employment as well as to resolve issues in the workplace.

As of right now, Johnson is only a temporary replacement for Dr. Cox. Johnson is the co-chair of the Presi-

•MEDIA PANEL | 10

•TITLE IX | 2

HOT SMIDGE

MARCH MOMENTUM

Matters of identity and reality through a feminine lens

Women keep spirits up and fight for equal rights

Women’s basketball avenges loss in pivotal rivalrly game

LIFE | 6

VIEWPOINTS | 4

SPORTS | 12

SWEET REVENGE

NEWS

Editors: Ester Salguero & Lauren Taylor | blueandgray.news@gmail.com

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-AT-LARGE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Chris Markham

MANAGING EDITOR Tess Osmer

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Alex Spence

SECTION EDITORS NEWS Ester Salguero Lauren Taylor

VIEWPOINTS Tessa Cate

LIFE Kelly Emmrich

SPORTS Mikey Barnes

ONLINE Ethan Tobin

PHOTO Alex Sakes

Business Team Linda Fitzpatrick Janelle Behm

FACULTY ADVISOR Sushma Subramanian

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UMW Archives

BOV seeks applicants to fulfill Title IX responsibilities •TITLE IX | 1 task force team on Diversity and Inclusion where she works to create a more diverse set of faculty, staff and students while “offering an environment where a student can thrive and be successful.”

Johnson will be working on the task force team and as Title IX Coordinator until someone is able to replace Oldfield as investigator.

Oldfield will be the first full-time Title IX Coordinator UMW has had, since Dr. Cox was not full time. She expressed interest in the job when Dr. Cox retired and will be the Title IX Coordinator as soon as the President chooses someone to replace her as investigator.

Oldfield is determined to “continue what Dr. Cox already started,” she says and wants to, “get more into the community by talking to students, meeting with groups, and work with students to figure out their needs in gender and sexual based violence.”

Oldfield says she is committed to helping a wide and diverse group of survivors. “When a survivor comes in,” Oldfield said. “I want to continue to provide academic and housing contracts and support the student as a member of the community.”

She stressed her desire to listen to the students and to provide information of resources on and off campus. Oldfield wants to provide as much information and education as she can for students who are survivors of sexual assault, whether that be going through the Tally Center or law enforcement. Oldfield says she is “really excited to be in this role” and that it is a “testament to President Paino’s commitment to stop sexual assault on campus, and to continue to make UMW a warm and safe environment for students.”

With the resignation of Dr. Cox, President Paino has been working hard with faculty and staff to ensure the right people take over and has stressed that it is important that all students feel safe on campus no matter what.

Student Government Association Beat Wednesday, Jan. 18 & 25 • A motion passed for a Vote of Confidence for Professor Mark Snyder, whose contract in the Music Education Department has not been extended.

• A motion passed to amend the University of Mary Washington’s Judicial Review Board’s constitutional bylaws. This amendment would be included in JRB’S constitutional by-laws and be labeled as Article 3, stating the following: No current Judicial Review Board member can have a hearing with the Judicial Board Members but must have a new jury selected for then from the student body.

• A motion passed to get a sauna in the gymnasium.

For more information, contact the president of Student Senate, Ethan Carter at : ecarter@mail.umw.edu

All motions were originated and passed in the student senate. They have not gone through approval by the executive cabinet.

DETAILS PROVIDED BY JAMIE MCGUIRE

Thursday, February 2, 2017

SPORTS

Retiring NASCAR drivers threaten sport’s popularity JOHN MARTIN Staff Writer

NASCAR is known for its huge fan base. Fans are more dedicated to their favorite driver than a political candidate.

With the 2017 season quickly approaching, NASCAR is without the majority of their biggest names. Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Carl Edwards and more have all retired or left the driver’s seat behind in the past two years.

When asked what drivers they think of when hearing “NASCAR,” multiple students stated names like Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Rusty Wallace and Tony Stewart. Out of those drivers, only one is still racing in the sport full time.

In NASCAR, when a driver leaves, the team remains. However, it is a completely different team with someone else behind the wheel. Everything changes with this new team. The organization has to form a new bond with each member, and team items such as the truck, have to undergo

a complete transformation. The teams are not the only things that have to make changes, the fans have to shift themselves, too. When Chase Elliot took over the twenty-four Chevy from Jeff Gordon, fans who once wore Gordon gear, had to make the change to Elliot.

With many cult favorite drivers leaving the sport, the question becomes will fans remain loyal to the sport? When asked if he would continue to watch the sport if his favorite team left or retired, junior math major John Sullins said “Yes, I would continue watching because if I like a sport I won’t leave because the one I’m rooting for does.” A true fan of any sport will stay due to the passion they have for the game.

NASCAR racing is a sport that is rooted in passionate followers. They spend their days watching high-octane speed racers driving at 200 miles per hour.

Unlike all other sports, the level of

competition is drastically larger than any other. In football, teams will only play against another organization maybe two to three times a year. However, in NASCAR, teams race each other every week. They beat and bang with their rivals over the course of 38 weeks instead of those two matches. This is one of the main reasons fans will continue to watch, because they gain connections with the competitor.

They love to watch certain teams lose.

The same goes for sponsors and manufacturers. A fan that follows the Ford Motor Company likes to watch the Chevrolet teams lose a race. Also, just because a driver stops driving does not mean they leave entirely. Jeff Gordon became an analyst for the sports coverage for FOX. It is this type of competition that allows fans to follow multiple teams and change to a different team when their favorite leaves. They get to witness every team

New coach brings out new team in Men’s Lax

NFL fans tired of Patriots success JONATHON MYERS Staff Writer

Super Bowl LI is around the corner, and many football fans are coming into the game with a sour taste in their mouths.

“Oh God, not the Patriots again,” mumbled a Wegmans employee after the Patriots beat the Steelers 36 to 17 in the AFC Championship. “Anything but the Patriots again. I’m so tired of the Patriots.” These sentiments are echoed throughout the country as football fans find themselves at a loss for enthusiasm for this year’s Super Bowl, except the New England region, of course.

A lot of this ire is directed at Tom Brady, arguably the greatest quarterback in the history of the game and a notorious jerk. We saw plenty of his legendary skill in the game with the Steelers on Jan. 22.

Brady completed 32 of 42 passes for 384 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. With terrifying career averages and the legacy of “deflate-gate” behind him, there are plenty of reasons to resent him for beating your favorite team.

The Patriots are now the first team in history to make it to nine Super Bowl appearances, with the Cowboys, Steelers and Broncos tied for second place at eight appearances. Bill Belichick is also now the first head coach to make it to seven Super Bowl appearances ever. Clearly this duo has had a good run, but perhaps too good for many fans’ tastes. According to The Buffalo News, “The year was 2000 when an AFC East team finished with more wins. The Patriots were 5-11. They were the only AFC East team with a los-

ing record…Players still wore single-bar facemasks. Memorabilia collectors were on the lookout for Peter Warrick and Chad Pennington rookie cards.” Seventeen years is a long time to be on top. No other team in the NFL has enjoyed this level of dominance before. Even retired wide-receiver Matthew Cherry tweeted out, “So tired of seeing the Patriots in the Super Bowl,” in response to their victory over the Steelers. This many wins carries a bitter taste among fans.

Many of these fans have found a solution, however, as Falcons Nation begins to swell with extra numbers in the days approaching the Super Bowl. From 11 Alive at NBC, an interesting article popped up regarding the fan base for the Atlanta Falcons. “[T]ype ‘Biggest Falcons fan’ into Twitter, and you will find some new contenders for the crown. ‘A couple of folks saying they’re going to be big fans for two weeks,’ Nathan Farno observed while scrolling through his phone. Why so temporary? It seems many people’s newfound love for the Falcons stems for the hatred of their Super Bowl opponents.”

It would appear that the millions of fans who rooted for teams crushed by the Patriots will be donning red jerseys on Feb. 5. It is not an ideal alternative, but one of the few remaining for those who are tired of the Patriots cleaning up every year.

Even if the Patriots lose next Sunday, it does not necessarily mean we won’t be seeing more of the same next year. But if they do win, at least the look on Roger Goodell’s face will provide us with some entertainment.

compete around their favorite driver. Fans can even see a preview of their favorite’s replacement before they retire. For instance, in 2015, Chase Elliot raced in a handful of events before Jeff Gordon was five races into his final season. They can judge and form relationships with the replacements even before their favorite leaves.

So, to answer the question of the loyalty of the fans when their favorite driver retires or leaves, the answer is simply “no.” The majority of fans would not leave the sport entirely because the sport is filled with drivers and teams that a fan sees week in and week out. While they follow one driver passionately it is nearly impossible to not form connections with the others around the sport as well.

JOHN JAMISON Staff Writer

A new head coach in addition to an unprecedented 32 players on the athletic honor-roll, signals a new direction for the University of Mary Washington’s men’s lacrosse team this spring.

UMW places a premium on student-athletes balancing their academic and athletic goals. In fact, the GPA of the entire student-athlete body, which includes approximately 500 young men and women, has been over 3.0 for five consecutive semesters. The recent academic efforts of the lacrosse team have undoubtedly contributed to this achievement and the athletic

Men’s Lax Fall 2016 GPA: 3.013 department is proud of these numbers.

“We don’t just maintain their eligibility, we encourage all student-athletes to maximize their academic experience and earn their UMW degree,” said UMW athletic director Ken Tyler.

It appears to be a promising start for head coach Drew Delaney. He replaced Kurt Glaeser, who retired after 27 seasons at the helm when last season came to a close. Delaney comes with plenty of experience as he was named the Landmark Conference coach of the year in 2015 while leading the Elizabethtown College Blue Jays’ program to back-to-

back undefeated seasons in conference play. Additionally, he served as the first head coach of Arcadia College’s lacrosse program in 2012 and 2013. Beyond his coaching merit, however, is his experience as a player himself. He was a defender at Franklin and Marshall College where his team reached the NCAA quarterfinals in 2003.

The players themselves are the ones largely responsible for their academic improvement as a team. Having so much of the team on the athletic honor roll does a lot for morale and adds another layer of trust to the relationship between players. It creates an environment where it is far less likely that teammates will fall victim to academic suspensions and be forced to sit out of practice or games.

“Not having to stress about grades lets us focus on just playing when we’re out there,” Drew Carlson, a senior on the team said.

Further, it opens up an extremely accessible avenue for those who are not doing particularly well in certain classes.

Sometimes it can be easier to reach out to a teammate to help with tutoring since they interact with each other almost every day during the season.

In 2014, the men’s lacrosse program finished the regular season 14-4 and made their first and only appearance at the NCAA tournament to date. No doubt the current program seeks to repeat that success, while at the same time continuing to cultivate a strong academic focus.

Weekly Scoreboard women's basketball:

Jan. 28 @ Salisbury (W) UMW: 59 Salisbury: 47 Feb. 1 vs. CNU (W) UMW: 74 CNU 69

men's Basketball

Jan. 28 @ Salisbury (L) UMW: 63 Salisbury: 67 Feb. 1 vs. CNU (L) UMW: 63 CNU 73

women's basketball:

Feb. 4 @ Frostburg St.

1:00 P.M.

Feb. 8 vs. St. Mary’s (Md.) 6:00 P.M.

MEN'S BASKETBALL:

Feb. 4 @ Frostburg St.

3:00 P.M.

Feb. 8 vs. St. Mary’s (Md.) 8:00 P.M.

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VIEWPOINTS

The Women’s March momentum must be continued SHAWNYA PETERSON Staff Writer

On Jan. 21, I was one of the many people that participated in Women’s Marches across the country and around the world – one of approximately 4.9 million people worldwide, according to the march organizers. I am so proud to have been able to take part in the original march in our nation’s capital the day after the inauguration of our new president.

The march was undoubtedly a powerful show of strength and willingness to fight for our rights as women as well the rights of others. At the same time, I would be remiss if I only talked about the march as a supreme triumph for womankind, when in truth, the march was not quite the emotional, empowering feminist experience that I wanted it to be.

The march’s greatest success was, for me, also one of its greatest downfalls: the massive crowd of people in attendance.

As soon we arrived in D.C., there was no-

where to go that was not packed with people clad in pink knit hats. The sheer number of people filling the streets of D.C. left me too overwhelmed to feel awed. Instead, I found myself waiting for a sense of unity and empowerment that never came.

I believe that the march was well-organized for the number of people they were expecting, but not the number that showed up. At 2:30 p.m., an hour and a half after the official start time, we were still waiting for the speakers to end.

A person next to us in the crowd relayed the news that the streets originally planned to make up the route were filled up with people. There was nowhere for us to march, and after standing for hours listening to speakers, we never actually got the chance to do so. Cold, stiff, tired and hungry, we attempted to march for a while, before getting swept up in a crowd that stretched across city blocks. We in-

Alex Sakes / The Blue & Gray Press

stead ended up in a coffee shop near the metro that was filled with pink hats, where we waited in line for 40 minutes to get sandwiches. Right after we left, the store announced that they had run out of food entirely. A friend who attended the march in a separate group told me that the speakers were still going around 4:30 p.m., with no official call to march.

Despite facing initial criticisms for not focusing enough on intersectionality, I believe that the organizers did a good job of stepping out of the mainstream feminist narrative of straight, white, cisgender women to incorporate topics of race, religion, privilege, etc.

At the rally preceding the march, we heard from a diverse range of speakers— including Gloria Steinem, Linda Sarsour, trans woman Janet Mock, America Ferrara, Michael Moore, president of Planned Parenthood Cecile Richards and so many more inspirational women.

They talked about their triumphs and trials, their individual journeys and how they were shaped by their race, religion and country of origin as well as their gender identity.

Even so, I believe that the people in the crowd—predominantly cisgender white women— could have done a better job of reflecting the message of intersectionality. For example, a photograph taken at the march that went viral in the days following shows a black woman holding a sign with the words “53 percent of White Women Voted for Trump.” She is looking coolly at the crowd around her, which is made up entirely of white women in pink hats.

This brings me to my next critique. The pink knit hats that have since become a symbol of the Women’s March, dubbed “Pu**y Hats,” have left me feeling conflicted.

When women have been made to feel ashamed of their bodies from a very young age, bringing our bodies out into a public setting in celebration rather than fear or shame is a radical act.

Additionally, when I think of the simple fact that one person’s idea to make hats for the march could blossom into something so

recognizable and widespread throughout the participants, I can’t help but feel a little glimmer of pride. At the same time, the message cannot end there or else the message you are projecting is vagina = woman, and vice versa. One of the things I noticed was that so many of the messages present in the protest signs were vagina-centric (ex: “Pu**y Power” and “Viva la Vulva”) with no mentions of supporting trans women, or trans men with female genitalia.

Despite my feelings of disappointment, I am very happy to have gone, and I am so grateful for the experience and the potential to make history.

In my opinion, the most important part of the march is not the march itself, it is what comes after. On Jan. 21, 2017, nearly five million people across the world came together in support of women’s rights.

What we all have to understand is that the fight does not end after we go home.

We have to continue to fight by calling our representatives, staying tuned in to current

Alex Sakes / The Blue & Gray Press

events and resisting the actions of a hostile administration and willing constituency.

We must be willing to support each of our sisters of different races, religions, socioeconomic backgrounds and sexual orientations—for until then, we will never know true unity.

If all five million of us are able to see past our differences to strengthen each other and commit ourselves to long-term change, then maybe we can be a force for good over the next four years - not just for the United States, but also for the world at large.

Staff Ed: The staff of The Blue & Gray Press stands behind UMW President Paino’s recent statement on immigration On Friday, Jan. 27, 2017, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order that suspended entry of all refugees to the United States for 120 days, also barring Syrian refugees indefinitely.

On Tuesday, Jan. 31, University of Mary Washington Dr. Troy Paino issued a statement to the community assuring the support of the university in protecting international students affected by the order. In his statement, Paino says “Regardless of background, faith, nationality, identity or political perspective, all members of our UMW community are valued and help to make Mary Washington the inclusive,

vibrant and intellectually engaging community that it is.”

We at The Blue & Gray Press are in full support of President Paino’s statement in support of those affected by President Trump’s executive order. We commend President Paino on his message and back all students, faculty and staff. While our student population is not known for its diversity, those who are affected by the order have the right to continue their education in a safe space and we believe that UMW is that place.

Based on demonstrations on campus and protests participated in by students, the ma-

jority of UMW students are not in support of President Trump’s executive order, despite many of them not directly affected by the travel ban. This support of our fellow students is to be looked upon with great pride and respect, regardless of political stance. We are proud to be a part of such a supportive community.

As community members of this great institution and as American citizens, we are disheartened to see that a country founded and built by immigrants and whose history shows a proud commitment to accepting all people has fallen to this level of intolerance, freedom and human rights. We hope that at the end of

these 120 days, peace can be found and faith restored in our country’s leaders.

Mary Washington has provided a home for all of us in which we have been able to both develop and express ourselves as students and as human beings.

For this, we are grateful. Now more than ever, it is important that students, faculty and staff alike feel the reassurance that they will be supported, protected and defended at all costs by a university whose essential values include commitment to a diverse and safe community for all.

By THE BLUE & GRAY PRESS EDITORIAL BOARD

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Thursday, February 2017 Thursday, January 21,2, 2015

VIEWPOINTS

Editor: Tessa Cate | blueandgray.views@gmail.com

Social media used to combat information overload AHMED KHOKAR Staff Writer

In the current political climate, it is becoming increasingly difficult to identify credible sources when trying to get your news fix. There are publications for every point of view, and the sources of information are overabundant particularly when it comes to current events. There has been an increasingly rapid trend of Americans relying on social media outlets as their primary news sources. According to a study by Stanford University in 2016, an estimated 29 percent of American adults rely on social media as their primary source of news.

The researchers estimated that fake news on social media during the election cycle totaled at least 38 million posts. This presents two potentially catastrophic problems: the first is that false claims spread faster on social media because of the sheer volume of information transferred through memes, tweets and Facebook posts. The second is that it has become incredibly difficult to find the source of false claims, so the misinformation wildfires rage on.

To make things even more confus-

ing, the spread of fake news is being perpetuated by automated programs pervading every popular social media outlet. According to a Pew Survey in 2016, an estimated 64 percent of U.S. adults say that fake news caused confusion about basic facts regarding current events. Even more troubling, the survey estimated that 23 percent of U.S. adults shared a fake news story during the election cycle. At first glance, the new reliance on memes and tweets as primary news sources seems somewhat puzzling, because several watchdogs have been warning the public about the inaccuracy of social media news for years.

PolitiFact reported as early as 2014 that 47 percent of shareable Facebook memes were based on false claims. So why are more people relying on social media rather than traditional news outlets to become informed?

Perhaps it is the information overload. In today’s world, there are so many conflicting “news” stories that it is almost impossible to individually fact check every single controversial issue, let alone a few. News is spread-

ing faster than people can check the sources, and much of it cannot even be traced back to valid sources. Everywhere you go, there are aggressively satirical memes and tweets limited to one image and 140 characters, perpetuating divisive sentiments from party mascots. The sheer volume of content is overwhelming and intimidating to even the most resilient reader.

Some see memes as parallels to political cartoons, and there is some validity to that. After all, memes and Twitter commentary are an accessible way for many young Americans to make their voices heard, and news outlets must adapt to the public’s preferred medium of news consumption as they continue the shift from print to digital.

However, it is important to remember that political cartoons often supplement articles extrapolating the underlying ideologies behind the illustrations in far more than 140 characters.

I hardly think that people flip through political cartoon collections to become informed about issues. Even more unlikely is that people see satirical political cartoons and believe them to be factual evidence.

Despite the dangers of these forms of “news,” I want to be clear: I am certainly not against political satire or the use of social media channels for news consumption. Just as much as Twitter has become a breeding ground for misguided one-liners in divisive political discussions, it has also spurred social movements and given people channels through which to express their thoughts and creativity.

Just as much as Facebook has de-

volved open-minded, inclusive discussions into meme wars, it has also served to organize protests, share deep introspection and connect people from around the world. Technology is moving forward, and that can be great for everyone involved as long as we move forward with it.

Although it is harder than ever for millennials to navigate the maze of conflicting information, there are clear ways we can adapt. The first step is to hold these social media outlets and news publications accountable. After the public expressed their disdain over the issue of “fake news,” Facebook and Google both announced that they will restrict ad revenue from any identified fake news website and increase security measures.

The second step is to be skeptical rather than give in to the cynicism prominent in divisive political debates.

This means looking for sources behind information, comparing the article’s publish date to the date of the sources, checking the history of the author’s previous work, and most importantly taking anything without listed sources with a huge grain of salt.

Admittedly, this is a lot of work for college students and young professionals who are already bombarded with deadlines, social pressures and rigorous work schedules. However, we must remember that we are not so far away from becoming the lifeblood of American society, and we certainly cannot hope to fulfill our duties and make a difference without reliable information driving our decisions.

Women’s March made strong by strong organization KAITLYN WIEDMANN Staff Writer

On the morning of Jan. 21, the Metro opened its doors at 5:00 a.m., a full two hours earlier than usual on a weekend.

It was the morning of the Women’s March, and the protest had garnered such widespread support that the entire city seemed to hunker down in anticipation of the crowds that would soon flood the streets.

Although the rally was scheduled to start at 10:00 a.m., and the march itself not until 1:15 p.m., several industrious souls set out for the heart of the city on the very first trains. By 7:00 a.m. it was difficult to board a train at all.

Enough people poured into the city that day to set records for the number of Metro trips taken, second only to the turn-out for Obama’s 2009 inauguration.

In the midst of the protest itself, people were packed in too tightly to do more than shuffle.

It was impossible to see a beginning or end to the crowd, and even D.C.’s broad streets were too narrow to contain it.

Everywhere I looked, there were hundreds and thousands of people spilling out in every direction, some coming, some going, some merely stepping aside for a bit, many with handmade signs, and many, many more with the distinct pink cat-eared hats.

The sheer size of the crowd was intimidating. A crowd that immense could easily be seen as a threat, or become one if everything went perfectly wrong, but thanks to the wonderful efforts of the Women’s March organizers, everyone inside and outside the protest could feel safe being in the city that day.

and assisting anyone who needed help. The organizers also put strict restrictions on what could and could not be brought to the protest to keep the protest as nonthreatening as possible.

A list on the Women’s March website banned items such as wooden poles for signs and opaque bags bigger than eight inches on

Security was a chief concern of the march’s organization. The organizers worked with city police from the beginning to ensure that there would be no misunderstandings.

Police were stationed along the march route, providing security for the protestors

a n y side. Suggested items included clear backpacks and gallon bags for food.

The Women’s March also provided food of its own and portable toilets. Their estimates for these were based off of voluntary surveys, and thus understandably fell a bit

Alex Sakes / The Blue & Gray Press

short, but I never had to look far to find either service, which went a long way towards keeping people in good spirits.

However, the march itself is where the organization truly shined.

The march’s route was smartly lined up with several Metro stops so that any weary protestors could leave whenever they pleased.

Organizers and volunteers were present every few hundred feet along the way to rally marchers, keeping their spirits up and directing them on how to behave.

The key moment that proved the march’s discipline to me was when we were halted by a few inflammatory pro-lifers who chose to sit themselves right in the path of the march.

Rather than argue or challenge them, we stopped, a chant slowly building in volume from somewhere in the far reaches of the crowd. Soon, everyone had taken up the cry of, “Love trumps hate!” and simply walked around them.

I had been a little nervous up until then, but that was the point when I realized that everyone around me, regardless of personal feelings, had taken up the founders’ vision of a massive peaceful protest and was determined to see it through.

I felt safe and secure that whole afternoon, surrounded by my new brothers and sisters.

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LIFE

Editor: Kelly Emmrich blueandgray.life@gmail.com

ResHall Recipes: simple apple pie taste without the hassle

FINNLEY GOFF Staff Writer

Baked apples are one of the cheapest yet yummiest desserts out there. Imagine an apple pie but without the added hassle of making the piecrust. In Virginia during autumn, there is no shortage of locally-grown fresh apples, and even in the off-season, grocery stores tend to remain well-stocked. This is a recipe to enjoy with friends or just yourself. Making

baked apples is incredibly easy. Happy cooking!

You will need: · 4 good-sized baking apples (I

always use Granny Smith but

Gala or Honey crisp can work) · ½ stick of butter (4 tablespoons)

of butter, softened · ½ cup brown sugar · ¼ cup chopped nuts (walnuts or

pecans)

Finnley Goff/The Blue & Gray Press

· · ·

Finnley Goff/The Blue & Gray Press

¾ teaspoon cinnamon 1 pinch nutmeg 1 2-quart baking dish Directions: 1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Gently wash apples of choice before coring them; make sure to leave some of the bottom core (near the base) in order to hold the filling in the apple.

3. Put softened butter, brown sugar, chopped nuts, cinnamon and nutmeg into

a small bowl. Stir to combine before rolling into logs. Press these logs into each apple, filling their cores.

4. Fill baking dish with enough water to cover the bottom, around ¾ cup.

Take apples and put them into the dish right-side up.

5. Bake apples in oven for around one hour or until they are soft and the filling has browned; if using Granny Smith apples, they will appear golden in color.

DuPont Gallery opening plays with gender and interaction KAYTLYN BIDDLE Staff Writer

“A Hot Smidge” by Sidney Mullis was the first art exhibit this semester to take over the duPont Gallery. Having never been to art exhibition opening myself, I had no idea what I was going to walk into. I felt uneasy walking up the steps into duPont hall, trying to remember the few words I learned in my art history class.

All of that faded away, however, when I saw the exhibition I had previously looked on the website for an overview of what to expect, but nothing could have prepared me for the enthusiasm and emotions displayed, not only in the various works, but in the gallery-goers themselves.

“A Hot Smidge” is one of those rare events that seem to happen exactly when we need it to. The exhibit is a unique take on the gendered trappings that young women are faced with early on. On the website, Mullis sums up his exhibit by describing it as, “a visual playground to probe how gender exists,” and having seen it for myself, it cannot be explained any better.

My own perspective changed as I

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weaved my way through the groups of people surrounding each piece on the gallery’s opening night. I was struck by the conversations of my peers. Everyone

anything but.

Female empowerment has taken over not just young minds, but the entire world stage, with millions of people rallying behind it at the Women’s March a few short weeks ago. The pieces in this exhibit range in format and style, from video, to interactive selfie sticks and hats, to paper mache sculptures.

The most striking inclusions are the items representative of feminine beauty that Mullis has based her pieces around.

Most young people are familiar with these items, such as, fake fingernails or spandex, but when confronted with them being the center of these pieces, they take on a whole new meaning.

One of the pieces that stuck with me was what seemed to be fake eyelashes attached to a ball and chain. What continues to strike me is how I look at the pieces themselves and find them beautiful, despite them not conforming to typical ideas of women’s beauty, Alex Sakes/The Blue & Gray Press because they were being used in such a new, interesting way. seemed to acknowledge how interesting I came out of that exhibition thinking it was to see these ordinary pieces as about my own experiences with these the center of gender conflict. When put items, and could not refrain from bringinto this light, it is hard to see them as ing up the intensified rights movements.

Alex Sakes/The Blue & Gray Press

In a time where people are increasing their individuality and right to expression, Mullis’ art evaluated the creation of gender and roles, and seemed to express the growing frustration and unhappiness with the current gender issue. Not limited to women’s experiences, but for anyone who has been affected by societal views on beauty and appearance, “A Hot Smidge” is an exploration of beauty and sexuality that can leave you thinking about what you have done to encourage or fight against these ideals in your own life.

If you are interested in seeing these expressions for yourself, the exhibition is open until Feb. 5.

Thursday, February 2, 2016

LIFE

“La La Land” transports critics into a city of lights and dreamers

KAYLEIGH RONGEY Staff Writer

Musicals have long been accredited with creating a deep polarity in opinions. As with every genre of theatre or film, there are die-hard fans, those individuals who know every word in every song, and there are die-hard haters with an elaborate list of reasons why no one should enjoy that genre. It is with this division in mind that I went to see the critically acclaimed film, “La La Land.”

Being a self-acclaimed lover of musicals, I was highly skeptical of a film being a musical that had not originally appeared as a stage production. Cult classics like “Grease” and “West Side Story,” had all been on Broadway for several years prior to appearing on the silver screen, giving writers plenty of time to finalize the plot and score before their new debut.

The only company to successfully pull off a film presentation of a musical followed by a play is arguably Disney. Its multiple musical princess films that have flooded theaters for several years now.

This placed me as both a lover of musicals and an extreme skeptic of the film. However, I became much more at ease when I discovered that this is not director and writer Damien Chazelle’s first experience pairing music and film off the stage. In 2013, his film “Whiplash” took critics by surprise, winning three Academy Awards, a Golden Globe and a slew of other acclamations. Although, I advise viewers to not be fooled into believ-

ing that “La La Land” will merely contain subtle musical interludes like the ones that surround the plot of “Whiplash.” I was highly surprised to find that this film is undoubtedly

a full-fledged, tap-shoe- wearing musical.

The film begins with a stunning song and dance that heightens the viewers’ senses and boldly announces to the audience that it can expect several more plot advancing songs before the credits roll. Chazelle lets his audience know exactly what they’re getting into before the main characters even make an appearance. If your only desire to see this film stems from a love of either Emma Stone or Ryan Gosling, the opening number will leave you suspended for a good number of verses and musical interludes before revealing the Golden Globe winning stars.

When the actors do finally appear amidst the bustle of the dancers and soloists, it becomes clear that their affection will grow similarly to the relationship that appears in Gosling’s earlier film, “The Notebook.” Their love for each other begins as a one-sided

This theme has a refreshing lack of cliché given that the rolls of pursuit are the reverse of the norm. Musicals often embody motifs of forbidden,

La La Land/Facebook

but unquestionable love that leave audiences wondering when writers will let Romeo and Juliet die in

La La Land/Facebook

endeavor as Mia (Emma Stone) attempts to compliment a jazz musician on his performance at a restaurant owned by Bill (J. K. Simmons).

that audiences very willingly suspend their disbelief for in order to continue enjoying the play.

While “La La Land” does em-

peace.

Chazelle avoids the overused romantic themes by making Mia the chaser, at the beginning of the relationship. This almost feminist turn of roles sets Mia as a confident and driven individual who occasionally needs a little encouragement from her friends.

There’s a certain charming, campy quality to musicals that makes them all the more enjoyable to fans.

A strange or even La La Land/Facebook impossible set of circumstances will either bring two characters together or tear them apart. The result is always an enumerable amount of plot holes or a deus ex machina ending

ploy the fantastic, it also makes remarkably great use of the realistic.

Both Sebastian and Mia are highly relatable characters with easily understood goals. And while they may occasionally step into whimsical settings, they maintain pretty grounded roles. Sebastian and Mia only take a moment to dance among the stars during the song “Planetarium” before being thrown back into the intense life of struggling artists.

The film, despite the great divide between musical connoisseurs and complainers, has so widely been received by audiences that it leaves those critics who did not enjoy the film feeling shamed or altogether silenced.

In season 42, episode 12 of “Saturday Night Live,” actor and comedian Aziz Ansari embodies these hushed detractors during a sketch where he is being held by police officers for not liking “La La Land.” Two cops, played by Vanessa Bayer and Beck Bennett, hysterically and over-dramatically shoot down his critique that “it kind of dragged” because “there were too many montages in the middle.”

This is a fair opinion of the film and it can easily be agreed upon as an accurate assessment. However, after winning a total of seven Golden Globes, skeptics are finding it increasingly harder to share their opinions on the film. Even those who detest musicals are falling in love with it. I attribute this to the fact that unlike its predecessors, the songs help advance the plot in a creative manner, even if they do thicken a little unnaturally around the middle.

Music lovers and dance montage haters all have at least one compliment to give the film. Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling dazzle audiences and live up to the expectations of their fans. All in all, the film was engaging and it created a relatable empathy between the characters and the viewers. The film earns a 4.5/5

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Opinion Editorials Op-Ed: Give Trump a Chance Brandon M. Quintin

Sorry to break it to you, but yes, he is your president. Given that you’re reading this article in a campus newspaper, I think it’s safe to assume that you were most likely not a supporter. That’s okay. To be honest, I wasn’t one either. But the election is over, Hillary Clinton lost, and Donald J. Trump is the 45th President of the Unites States.

So what to do now? Well, you could protest, as much of you did on the day after the inauguration. But what is that actually going to accomplish? It’s not news that a lot of people oppose the president. So instead of retreating to an emotional response that will only end in strengthening existing beliefs on both sides, perhaps those of you who have been against Trump should try to see things from the point of view of his supporters.

If you’re a woman and you oppose Trump, I don’t blame you. The things he has said were offensive and not at all okay in any respect. But it is important to realize that 41% of women (and 53% of white women) voted for Donald Trump—a man that many who marched this past weekend view as an awful misogynist. How could that be? Well it just so happens that many people in this country do not have the luxury to vote on personality. They have watched their communities slowly rot away over the past few decades, with increasing drug use, crime, suicide rates, and social discontent.

For the people who aren’t lucky enough to go to college like us, the nationwide collapse in manufacturing has taken a severe toll and thrown their idea of the American dream into jeopardy. For them 2016 was a hard choice. But can you blame them for refusing to vote for more of the same? They were forgotten, and although Donald Trump is vulgar and offensive to many, he was the only person speaking on their behalf.

Was Mitt Romney as much as a “misogynist” and “racist” as Donald Trump? Unless you are hyper-partisan in your political views, I am going to assume you would say no. Although the 2012 election seemed contentious in its day, I think many of us would appreciate a return to that level of civility.

Governor Romney is regarded by many as a respectable American leader. Yet more Hispanics voted for Donald Trump than Mitt Romney. If you find that fact surprising or somehow unbelievable, I’m afraid you are guilty of the same misconceptions and misaligned priorities that cost the democrats the 2016 election. For many Hispanics, op-

posing illegal immigration is not a matter of racism. They worked hard and long to come to this country legally. Granting amnesty to line-cutting illegal immigrants would invalidate the hellish process they endured to become American citizens. It turns out that Hispanics, just like many women, decided in the end to vote for policy over political correctness.

In this post-inauguration week, all Americans, both for and against the administration, should take a step back, breathe, and gather their thoughts. The presidential campaign has been raging relentlessly since the summer of 2015. I think we deserve a break.

For those of you who oppose the president, take this next month as a necessary time for reflection. Truly ask yourselves why you are against him. Try to see things from the point of view of those that support him.

If, after adequate meditation, you still are opposed to the president and forever will be, very well, that is your prerogative. But be careful. This country saw how horribly many republicans reacted after the election of Barack Obama. They refused to cooperate no matter what, and were rightly regarded by many as blind obstructionists. American liberals should ask themselves if they want to be remembered for doing the exact same thing eight years later.

For those of you who will approach 2017 with an open mind, I am sure that you can find many areas where your views overlap with those of President Trump. Is defeating ISIS a partisan issue? I certainly hope not.

The first daughter will have her own office in the West Wing and has decided to fight for paid maternity leave and the closing of the wage gap. The president has proposed a massive infrastructure-rebuilding program.

He wants to revitalize our manufacturing capabilities and make us less dependent on foreign-made goods. These are all very admirable policies that one would be hardpressed to object to.

So as we enter this new year, with a new president, let us truly seek a fresh start.

Let us realize that although both sides had honorable causes and beliefs, one side did in the end emerge victorious. It is our duty as Americans to give President Trump a chance. Let us hold our criticism for now and see what policies he enacts and actions he takes. Only then can we have a proper, substantive, and healthy debate on the future of our country.

A STATEMENT REGARDING OUR VALUES AND BELIEFS From the Executive Cabinet of the Student Government Association Fredericksburg, VA, January 31, 2017– The UMW SGA would like to emphasize its solidarity with the minority and immigrant populations at Mary Washington, as well as express its continued support for diversity and inclusivity on campus and in the Unites States. The SGA prides itself on being an apolitical organization, preferring to not be involved with politically driven protests or movements. However, this particular issue is seen as one of humanitarianism and common decency by our members and student leaders, warranting a response and an official stance. We encourage all affected UMW community members to reach out for help or someone to talk to, and we assure you that you are welcome and valued as an Eagle.

Op-Ed: Obama’s Wars Ian Scott Wilson

Barrack Hussein Obama is the only President of these United States to have the distinction of presiding over our nation while it was at war during the entire length of his presidency. He was at war longer than any other President. Naturally, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize during the first year of his first term. Boggling? Of course not. He can do no wrong.

One of the reasons for his nomination for the prize, it was claimed, was because he showed that he may “foster a new climate in international relations.” Good. I would like a Grammy for that fire album I’m dropping sometime! What we weren’t told was that this new climate that he was going to engineer was going to be a bad one. Obama has been a disaster for foreign policy.

I was present at the 2008 Take Back America conference in the Capital when, then Senator, Obama promised to end the wars in the Middle East “Not a year from now. Not a month from now. But now!”

That didn’t happen. As much as one side wants to blame the other, or previous administrations, President Obama did have choices he could have made, and his choices were almost never a reflection of his 2008 promise. Look at the quick run-

down of his administration’s foreign entanglements and debacles: He pulled out of Iraq, leaving the vacuum that the Islamic State filled; He added troops to Afghanistan (today, the Taliban controls more territory in Afghanistan than it did in 2001, when George W. Bush overthrew them); He amped up drone use to ten times that of Bush (The Atlantic reports that nearly 90% of drone strikes kill civilians); He approved military action in Syria, Libya, Somalia, Pakistan, Yemen, and the other countries already listed; In true hypocritical Woodrow Wilson fashion, he promised in 2011 (before the reelection) that all our boys in Iraq would be home by the holidays, and then sent more in (that is a promise he has made on multiple occasions in reference to multiple countries).

But for a President always at war, he did a pretty terrible job of winning any of the wars. Bush, though I have no love for the man, overthrew Saddam Hussein and won the war in Iraq. It was only after we won that things went downhill because of the Bush administration’s mismanagement during the occupation. What has Obama won (besides the prize for peace)? Obama won his first Grammy in 2006. Go figure.

Op-Ed: Democrats and the Border Wall Ian Scott Wilson

President Trump’s border wall has been called every terrible name in the book. Republicans have taken so much heat from Democrats and their base for their support of Trump’s plan. We are told it is racist and that it won’t work. Unless the Democratic Party platform has changed so far from the 90’s to the point that Bill Clinton looks like Trump, then there is something fishy here. I guess that must mean that the Democrats have a very short memory. It’s either that or they’re largely dishonest, and that couldn’t be true. The truth is this: Democrats, up until recently, have publically supported many of the same policy decisions that Trump has been touting. The difference is that Republicans are called racist for it today.

In his 1995 State of the Union address, President Clinton said this: “All Americans, not only in the states most heavily affected but in every place in this country,

are rightly disturbed by the large numbers of illegal aliens entering our country. The jobs they hold might otherwise be held by citizens or legal immigrants. The public service they use impose burdens on our taxpayers. That’s why our administration has moved aggressively to secure our borders more by hiring a record number of new border guards, by deporting twice as many criminal aliens as ever before, by cracking down on illegal hiring, by barring welfare benefits to illegal aliens… We are a nation of immigrants. But we are also a nation of laws. It is wrong and ultimately self-defeating for a nation of immigrants to permit the kind of abuse of our immigration laws we have seen in recent years, and we must do more to stop it.”

In 2006 the Secure Fence Act (House Resolution 6061) passed the Senate by a vote of 80-19. This bill went on to be signed into law by President George W.

Bush. Included on the list of those who voted in favor of HR 6061 are (yes I’m going to list every one of the 25 Democrats, with emphasis added to certain key names): Baucus (D-MT), Bayh (D-IN), Biden (DDE), Boxer (D-CA), Byrd (D-WV), Carper (D-DE), Clinton (D-NY), Conrad (D-ND), Dayton (D-MN), Dodd (D-CT), Dorgan (D-ND), Feinstein (D-CA), Harkin (D-IA), Johnson (D-SD), Kohl (D-WI), Landrieu (D-LA), Lincoln (D-AR), Mikulski (DMD), Nelson (D-FL), Nelson (D-NE), Pryor (D-AR), Rockefeller (D-WV), Schumer (D-NY), Stabenow (D-MI), and Wyden (D-OR). Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, and Chuck Schumer are on that list. In 2003 Hillary Clinton said “I am, you know, adamantly against illegal immigrants.”

Democrats have changed considerably in the last eight years, while Republicans have remained largely the same on core issues. Gun control, gay marriage, and im-

migration have seen on-off support from Democrats over the last decade. Whereas, Republicans (besides the likes of Marco Rubio and his cohorts), have been fierce opponents of illegal immigration. Here is Donald Trump in an interview with Lou Dobbs in 2007: “If poverty is increasing and if wages are going down, I don’t know why we need millions of people to be coming into this country as guest workers who will work for lower wages than American workers and drive wages down even lower than they are now…I read something today that a lot of people coming into this country are coming in as lifeguards. I guess we can’t find - that’s right. We can’t [find] American workers to work as lifeguards.”

Just kidding, that was Senator Bernie Sanders.

LIFE

How one student conquered speaking anxiety through theatre classes

AMANDA HOWAR Staff Writer

If you are an introverted or tend to shy away from the spotlight, a theatre course can seem like an absolute nightmare. Even though the idea of acting in front of people seems daunting, I’ve found that the best way to get over a fear is confronting it head on. This sounds like a crazy idea but it could help you come out of your shell.

A large portion of college classes require you to participate and speak out, and often times this makes up part of your final grade. It would be nice to sit in class without the added anxiety of a professor calling on you.

With theatre you can learn to be more

University Relations

ing. Being able to express yourself through this outlet will bleed over into other aspects of your life.

You are not alone taking part in a theatre group or course. Plenty of other people have similar thoughts and feelings about being a part of theatre. You would be surprised how many people that you meet on a day to day basis that have fears about participating in class and speaking in front of others. Theatre is a community. When on a common path or goal it is easier to make connections with the people within this experience. Often those connections can carry over outside the theatre group. In college your friendships and shared sense of community is an important part of

confident when speaking in front of crowds.

In theatre you can find your niche in acting, directing or possibly even writing a play. You could find yourself up on stage reading a part or directing your peers in a production.

Being forced to participate in acting might not be as bad as you think.

This will help you learn how to share your ideas without being insecure.

Often theatre will do improvisation and this can help you be quick-witted and make you think on your feet.

Improvisation can be the best way to get you up and off the sidelines. You might find you have hidden talents you have never explored and try out new things such as singing or danc-

the college experience and can enrich your time at college. It makes college much easier when you have a community to depend on.

These are some of the above reasons why I registered for a theatre course here at UMW. I felt that theatre would teach me to cope with being forced to think outside the box.

This will be a completely new experience for me but trying new experiences is what makes college exciting.

Theatre class will push me in ways that other classes might not since it has a more hands-on approach. Trying new creative outlets can bring out a different side of you. Act up, sing and express yourself in doing this you might find a new improved you.

From community college to UMW: A transfer student’s experience JANELLE BEHM Business Manager

For many, graduating high school means entering a university for four years. Others enter the workforce. I on the other hand, decided to go to community college for two years to get my general education out of the way before coming to the University of Mary Washington.

It saved me a lot of money, but it did not challenge me academically.

I came to UMW last fall. I joined

clubs and made new friends, but I struggled in classes. I did not feel prepared for the different learning styles and ways of thinking. I didn’t feel prepared to think critically. In community college and high school classes, the final grade was made up of more than a midterm test and a final. I personally did not feel prepared for the grading format. Realizing that I needed to work harder to make the grades that I wanted, challenged me to be able to think deeper into topics and immerse myself in class discussions. It

taught me that my education will not just me as a student, but also helped me grow be handed to me. I had to figure out how as a person. I am not alone in this expeto properly learn the material and not just rience. I know a lot of students at UMW memorize it like I did in high school and who have gone through the same process community college. that I’m going through. Establishing in When I came to UMW, I didn’t know two years what others create in four is a lot of people. I did not know the clubs possible. It is up to you to make these or the social dynamics. I didn’t know next couple years worthwhile. For some which professors were better than others, it is an easy adjustment, for others, it just and above all, I didn’t know what to takes some time. expect. People the same age as me had already been here for two years and had created a foundation and a friend group. I am here to tell you that it Choose from four different styles to be is possible to create a foundation your UMW’s new brand of beer junior year.

Over the course of my first semester at UMW, I had my failures and I had my successes.

Because of those, I have become a better student. I go to office hours and I can apply Text 22333 to vote what I am learning in one class to another Winner announced Friday, Feb. 3 class. All things most students figure out their freshman year I figured out a couple years later. Transferring my junior year has not only pushed

Beer tasting at the Underground

1. IPA 2. Red Ale 3. Lager 4. Stout

istock/Flickr

“PALEALE” for IPA “FREDRED” for Red Ale “LAGER” for Lager “STOUT” for Stout

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NEWS

POLICE BEAT LAUREN TAYLOR News Editor

Petit Larceny On Saturday, Jan. 14 at 3 p.m. larceny of personal items from a vehicle occurred at the 1400 Block of Hanover St. The case is pending with Fredericksburg Police Department.

On Sunday, Dec. 18 around 10 p.m. petit larceny of a purse occurred at the Planet Fitness lot of Jefferson Davis Highway. The case is pending with Fredericksburg Police Department.

Between Saturday, Dec. 17 and Tuesday, Jan. 3 around 4:30 p.m. petit larceny occurred at Simpson Library.

The case is pending.

Between Friday, Dec. 9 and Monday, Dec. 12 between midnight and 4 p.m. petit larceny of a fire extinguisher occurred at Mason Hall. The case is pending.

Possession On Sunday, Jan. 15 around 10 p.m. underage possession of alcohol occurred at Eagle Landing. Six administrative referrals were given.

On Wednesday, Dec. 7 around 9:30 p.m. underage possession of alcohol occurred at Russell Hall. One administrative referral was given.

Alcohol On Thursday, Dec. 15 around 1 a.m. prescription drugs were provided to another person and underage possession of alcohol occurred at Ball Hall.

Two administrative referrals were given.

On Saturday, Dec. 10 at 11:30 p.m. the purchasing of alcohol for minors occurred on Seacobeck St. Two administrative referrals were given.

Reporters recount personal stories •HONOR SOCIETY | 1 after his coverage of the 2016 coup.

“I myself got kicked out of Turkey mostly because I was reporting to the Western audience,” Zeynalov said. “I was the first journalist to be deported from the country…that’s what they do in Syria, Iraq and ISIS held countries, not in Turkey.”

Many journalists are still in jail without any formal indictment. Instead, they are being blamed for the coup as a way to justify their imprisonment, according to Zeynalov.

The two journalists also said that President Erdoğan’s campaign was based around the idea of returning to the old ways of Turkey. He wanted to create a Muslim-based society similar to the days of the powerful Ottoman Empire.

“Make Turkey Great Again!” said Zeynalov followed by laughter from the audience.

UMW senior and business major, Reed Farrier commented on the parallels between the downfall of Turkish media and the implications of President Trump’s recent accusations towards media outlets.

“I definitely do see some similari-

ties, but I don’t think it will reach the same extent here in the United States like it did in Turkey,” Farrier said. “Free speech is a very important aspect of our society so I don’t think he’ll be able to influence enough of the population to really do much damage to media outlets.”

Sevart, who organized the event, handed out fliers throughout campus and spoke with multiple clubs before recruiting the Middle East studies program to aid him in organizing the panel.

When asked about the possibilities of media control in the United States, Sevart said, “There is absolutely a parallel with the only thing keeping Trump from taking a similar approach to the media... it is the First Amendment that is so entrenched in American history, whereas Turkey has not had such a right.”

Near the end of the discussion, Zeynalov warned the audience of the dangers of taking away free speech and the perils of government-controlled censorship.

“You begin to think twice before you write an article…the president wanted to put me in jail for six years,” Zeynalov said. “Unless there is freedom of offense, there is no freedom of speech.”

President Paino’s Coffee & Chat

POLICE BEAT Vandalism On Saturday, Dec. 10 around 7:30 p.m. vandalism of an exit sign occurred at Eagle Landing.

The case is pending.

On Saturday, Dec. 10 around 1:30 a.m. vandalism of an exit sign occurred at Eagle Landing.

The case is pending.

On Thursday, Dec. 8 between 9:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. vandalism of an exit sign occurred at Eagle Landing. The case is pending.

On Wednesday, Dec. 7 around 9:30 p.m. vandalism of a door occurred at Eagle Landing.

One administrative referral was given.

CRIME COVERAGE POLICY

Troy Paino is starting something new. He is inviting students to have coffee and conversations with him. Here are the dates:

• Thursday, Feb. 23 from 4 to 5 p.m. in the HCC Digital Auditorium • Tuesday, March 21 from 4 to 5 p.m. in the University Center Maple Room 406 D

Monroe murals spark discussions MEAGHAN MCINTRYE preserved and send In the 1940s, Staff Writer an inappropriate professor Emil message in terms of Schnellock and gender and Mary Washington, I personhis students partook in an art project ally do not think that they represent the in which they painted a variety of muuniversity really well.” rals in the academic halls of Monroe Others feel as if the murals provide a and George Washington. These murals sense of history to the building. are still on the walls of the buildings “I’ve always liked the Monroe mutoday. In an effort to preserve the hisrals, they really show the place’s historic murals, Monroe Hall underwent tory,” said junior English major Emma renovation in 2011 and the murals were Cahoon. “And I think they’re in pretty left untouched, covered with plywood good condition for how old they are.” and were documented for safekeeping.

There are also those who appreciate However, the presence of these murals the meaning of the artwork. has created mixed feelings among pro“The murals are well-developed and fessors and students.

In total, the murals depict 19 paintcomplex,” said freshman Chad Velezis. ings of white men and nine paintings “They depict interesting historic themes of white women. There are also murals and scenery that are designed to provide depicting the state of Virginia and of further meaning to those who inquire UMW buildings. The males in the imabout their history, origins and intended ages are primarily dressed in working purpose.” clothes while the females are painted The depiction of genders within the more symbolically as a way to represent murals has become controversial. Some truth and justice. feel as if the images are empowering to “I think they are a big problem on both males and females, alike. many levels,” Dr. Allyson Poska said, “The murals depict men as being history and american studies professor. fighters and workers, while women are “They are ugly, poorly done, poorly shown as being protectors and delega

The Blue & Gray Press will publish the names of students who are formally charged by the University of Mary Washington Campus Police or the Fredericksburg Police Department to have committed acts of extreme violence against members of the UMW community or pose a large threat to that community, when names are released to the public. The Blue & Gray Press will publish names and write articles about criminal acts on a case-by-case basis according to the aforementioned parameters.

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

•MONROE MURALS |11

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Thursday, February 2, 2017

NEWS

Professor raises concerns about outdated and objectionable historic murals

•MONROE MURALS | 10

tors,” Velezis said. “These qualities fit modern stereotypes attached to both genders.”

There are also those who feel that there is a noticeable difference between how the two genders are shown and how this relates to the time period in which the murals were painted.

“The men are dressed in work clothes or what looks like a uniform of some sort, while mostly all the women are wearing some type of dress or robe,” said freshman Samantha Wagley.

Part of the reason such a difference may exist could be because of the time that they were created.

“The murals definitely reflect biases of the time that they were painted so I’m not surprised if they’re under fire for racism or sexism,” Cahoon said.

Another topic of discussion amongst students and faculty in relation to the murals is their overall preservation over

“They depict interesting historic themes and scenery that are designed to provide further meaning to those who inquire about their history, origins and intended purpose.”

-Chad Velezis the years.

“Considering that the murals are well over 75-years-old and have sur-

vived several periods of renovation, they are in excellent shape,” Velezis said. “Normal wear and damage are to

be expected and add to the rich history of the hall.”

To some though, the noticeable deterioration of some of the murals leads to the hope for restoration.

“I think that some of the murals are in very good condition, but some of them need a little bit of work,” Wagley said. “For example, some of the paint is chipped away on some of the murals.”

As a result of the differing feelings surrounding the murals, a variety of options about what, if anything, should be done to them has been considered.

“If someone felt like the murals needed to be preserved, then they should be removed and properly preserved,” Dr. Poska said. “Another choice is to paint over them. That they redid the whole building and left those falling apart without cleaning them does not make any sense.”

Alex Sakes / The Blue & Gray Press

Attorney Bakari Sellers advises students about the importance of keeping a good attitude and mindset in order to succeed

THEODOSIUS ZOTOS Staff Writer

Bakari Sellers, former Democratic legislator from South Carolina, now TV political commentator and practicing attorney, visited the University of Mary Washington for his keynote address on Wednesday. Sellers spoke to students and faculty as an addition to the celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day sponsored and organized by the Office of the President and the James Farmer Multicultural Center. Sellers addressed the crowd and discussed the importance of the civil rights leaders of the past who shaped the nation’s future.

Over the course of the evening, Sellers touched on numerous topics ranging from race relations in the United States, the political atmosphere in the wake of a presidential election, civil rights issues and his own experiences throughout his career. Among these topics, Sellers also touched on his vision for political and social progression.

“Democracy is the free flow of conversation from both ways,” Sellers said.

He said that individuals, regardless of

Thursday, February 2, 2017

values, creeds, religion or race, must have conversations with one another and step out of their comfort zones.

Referencing the past presidential cycle as evidence, Sellers explained to the audience that our country is tremendously divided. He urged for more bipartisan support amongst one another, along within our political system.

“When he stepped off the stage I thought it broke a barrier in which he went from being a political figurehead to being another person like us,” said Jazmin Andrews, sophomore international relations major, in addressing Seller’s style of presentation. “The fact that he paid attention to those asking questions and treated them with respect really resonated with me.”

Along with Seller’s keynote speech, the James Farmer Multicultural Center sponsored and organized other events to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. throughout the month. These events include “Trading Spaces: A Discussion On Race Relations and Intersectionality,” “Preserving the Dream: Breakfast and Discussion” and “Dr. Martin Luther

King Jr.’s Day of Service.”

“I think in comparison to past MLK Celebration speakers, Bakari was different in the way that he discussed utilizing past leaders and their movements and using them as inspiration and viewing them through a different lens,” said senior English major Danielle Howard.

“Past speakers did an amazing job at harkening to a time where movements were more centralized, but I think he recognized that today’s movements operate differently and under different social cues and expectations.”

Sellers began his career in politics when he started campaigning in 2005 for a seat in South Carolina’s House of Representatives. He described the process of campaigning for public office for the first time as difficult but not impossible. He talked about how he personally knocked on more than 2,600 doors and visited over 55 churches in the 90th district, South Carolina, urging voters to make their voices heard.

On June 13, 2006, after the votes were tallied, Sellers became the first African-American to represent the 90th

district of South Carolina’s House of Representatives, one of the youngest state legislators in the country and the youngest African-American elected officials in the country.

Sellers concluded his address by answering questions and addressing concerns the audience had. Some of the concerns addressed by Sellers included angst in the rise of a new President and executive cabinet, rising conflicts between the Republican and Democratic Party and the future of social viability in the United States.

Although Sellers was running on a tight schedule, as he had to drive to D.C. later that night and be in court the following day, he took his time with each person. After answering questions and concerns, Sellers stepped off the stage to meet and thank all of those who came to hear him speak.

Sellers explained to the audience that he contributes a lot of his success to a simple attitude or state of mind. He expressed that nothing is impossible and that believing it will happen is important to be successful.

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SPORTS

Editor: Mikey Barnes | blueandgray.sports@gmail.com

DOWN

GOES

CNU CHRIS MARKHAM Editor-in-Chief

The University of Mary Washington women’s basketball team led from start to finish en route to gaining revenge on their bitter CAC rival, the CNU Captains.

After suffering their only loss of the year on Jan. 18 to CNU, the Eagles came into Wednesday night’s top-10 matchup with vengeance on their minds and achieved that in their 74-69 victory over the Captains.

The win pulls the Eagles even with CNU in overall and CAC standings, with each team’s lone loss coming at the

UMW’s student section errupts during a heated rivalry game against CNU on Wednesday night.

hands of each other. UMW came into the game ranked No. 8 in the nation while the Captains were No. 5 in the most recent rankings.

“I personally have never in my career here, beaten CNU at home so this feeling is even better than you could even imagine,” said junior Taylor Barton.

The Eagles out-scored CNU 24-13 in the first quarter and used their big lead to propel them to their 19th win of the year.

Senior Brianne Comden led the Eagles with 26 points and seven rebounds. The

Eagles’ next highest scorer was Barton with 13 points and six rebounds. Comden shared Player-of-the-Game honors with fellow senior Megan Green, whose well-rounded game ended with seven points, seven rebounds and six assists. The two were the team’s leaders in minutes played with 32 and 28 respectively.

Despite the close score, the Eagles dominated nearly all statistical categories.

The biggest advantage the Eagle had was on the boards, where UMW out-rebounded the Captains 43 to 29. However, CNU

UMW Athletics/Twitter

stayed in the game with a strong showing from their bench, out-scoring UMW’s bench 40-18.

“I think winning tonight made us realize how good we really are and where we have the potential to go this season,” Barton said.

The Eagles have five games left in the regular season with their next game, a road one, against the 8-11 Frostburg State Bobcats on Saturday, Jan. 4.

UMW swimming success creates rivalries in CAC

Sue Spencer / Perfect Shots

COLLEEN SULLIVAN Staff Writer

“Here’s some bus reading material,” said Abby Brethaeur, the University of Mary Washington swim coach, as the team made their way to a meet in Gettysburg.

An article from the York Dispatch circulated around the swim team, which contained words that connoted a potential rivalry. The competitiveness displayed in the article is mostly one-sided.

The UMW swim team has a very strong record; the women’s team has won the Capital Athletic Conference title every year since 1991, and the men’s team has won every year since 1999.

This is not to say that York does not pose as a threat to the UMW swim team.

York College has set out to win this year’s CAC, with help from a new coach, new

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recruits and a new three-year plan to break UMW’s CAC record. York College has done well this season, having won all of their meets as of Jan. 19.

Brethaeur admits there is truth in the article and that it was not exactly out of the blue. After all, a team cannot win for so many consecutive years without accumulating a few rivals along the way.

However, rather than intimidating the UMW swimmers, the article served as another source of motivation that will surely aid the team in the final two weeks of their season.

For some teams, this record could foster complacency, or perhaps overconfidence.

However, this cannot be said for Mary Washington’s team.

There is an enormous pressure to not be the team that breaks this record. As Brethauer aptly phrases it, “this team has

Sue Spencer / Perfect Shots

been winning since before some of them were born.”

This fact does not instill fear in the swimmers, nor does it daunt them. Instead, it acts as a goal for the swimmers to continually reach and push themselves towards.

Abby makes the reason for UMW’s success clear, “We don’t win because we’re the University of Mary Washington. We win because we work hard for what we want.” In other words, the swim team does not expect to win each year just because of their record.

They strive for excellence and earn each victory. This motivation extends far past swimming; three members of the team have achieved a 4.0 and the team actively contributes to bettering the community.

As for future CACs, Abby asserts that a loss will not happen on her watch. She

feels confident in the team’s ability to win the upcoming conference championship, especially with the family-like bonds that have been formed over the course of this season. The swimmers motivate one another to persevere through the tough times and to never quit.

“It’s one thing to have a great team, but another to have great people.”

Although the York Dispatch’s article may have insinuated a rivalry, the UMW swim team collectively overlooked that aspect.

Instead, they used this publicly announced challenge to reignite the fire that drives UMW towards success. On Saturday, Jan. 28, the women beat York 198-64 and the men won 161-101.

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