THE
BLUE &GRAY
THE UNIVERSITY OF MARY WASHINGTON STUDENT NEWSPAPER
February 9, 2017
VOLUME 90 | ISSUE 14
PRESS
UMW provides GIS students with an accelerated five-year program
SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE
1922
Hot Spot
RACHEL MANNING Staff Writer
The University of Mary Washington has introduced a new accelerated fiveyear master’s program for Geographic Information Sciences studies. In 2014, UMW launched a program for a Master’s of Science in Geospatial Analysis, which was popular enough to start the new five-year master’s program this
“We found out that a lot of the graduate students who start out as full-time students end up getting a job halfway through the program, so the program actually helped secure them that job.” -Brian Rizzo fall. Students who have completed at least two classes towards the GIS certificate are eligible to apply. This new option offers GIS students more experience in their subject at a better price. The program is designed to fast-track hardworking students in attaining a degree. “Graduate work tends to lead to more job opportunities and higher paying salaries,” said Brian Rizzo, associate professor and Director of the Center for Spatial Analysis and Research. “We found out that a lot of the graduate students who start out as full-time students end up getting a job halfway through the program, so the program actually helped secure them that job.” Many jobs even require that candidates have substantial experience in
•MSGA PROGRAM | 2
IN THIS
ISSUE
To the left is Mandy Barnes and to the right is Beverly Kippenhan. Two of the first customers on opening day.
Rose Benedict / UMW Dining
Hot-Spot restaurant at Eagle’s Nest draws in students
ELIZABETH PATTERSON Staff Writer
The University of Mary Washington is now offering students a new dining option. “Hot Spot,” the new pop-up restaurant, opened for the first time on Tuesday, Jan. 31 in the Eagle’s Nest. Located directly across from Vocelli’s Pizza, where the WOW Wingery used to be, this new eatery remains mysterious. According to the assortment of signs and advertisements around campus, the new restaurant intends on keeping its days of operation a secret until the day before opening, building suspense and excitement for students. Rose Benedict, marketing specialist for UMW Dining, disclosed that Hot Spot will be open at least two days a week from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. While this restaurant will not be open on the weekends, it will cycle through about six different types of fried comfort foods, though what that means for the menu options has yet to be revealed. One of the most important details of
Nancy Pham / The Blue & Gray Press
“The wonderful thing about Hot Spot is that it offers students a true retail dining option at a very affordable price,” Benedict said. “We drummed down the costs to make the menu options really great values... Guests pay only $6.59 for a complete meal, which is a far better deal than you’ll see at most commercial retail establishments.” Benedict says the menus and days of service are always changing, which provides a lot of variety and infuses some fun and spontaneity in the dining experience. “We often hear that students have lots of flex dollars left at the end of the spring semester and that they wish they had more retail options where they could use their flex,” Benedict said.
“We often hear that students have lots of flex dollars left at the end of the spring semester and that they wish they had more retail options where they could use their flex.” -Rose Benedict this new and changing pop-up dining option are the prices. Each meal will include an entrée, side and drink for $6.59. A detail that has been unattended to is how this new restaurant plans to accommodate students with tight budgets.
•HOT SPOT | 10
DONUT WARS
TEQUILA TIME
Students decide between Sugar Shack and Duck Donuts
Trump’s wall comes with unintended consequences
Comeback silences Patriots and Tom Brady critics
LIFE | 6
VIEWPOINTS | 4
SPORTS | 12
SUPER BOWL