The Blue & Gray Press

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BLUE &GRAY

THE UNIVERSITY OF MARY WASHINGTON STUDENT NEWSPAPER

PRESS

March 16, 2017

VOLUME 90 | ISSUE 18 SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE

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Glenn Taylor / The Blue & Gray Press

BOV sets standard room rate for all first-year halls KAYLEE TYEE Staff Writer

UMW Archives

President Paino and the Board of Visitors have made a decision to standardize freshman room rates starting in the upcoming 2017-18 academic year.

The room rate for all first-year residence halls will be $3,300 a semester.

In 2015 UMW started the FSEM program, which was designed to help fresh-

men transition to the college life. However, the BOV is concerned that FSEMs were being chosen based off the dorm rather than the class.

Juliette Landphair, vice president of Student Affairs, said, “Standardizing the price [for room rates] ... will make it more likely [that] FSEMs will influence [students] in their decision [making].”

•BOV DECISION | 10

Students take issue with lack of dietary options in UC VIRGINIA BIXBY Staff Writer

UMW Relations

IN THIS

ISSUE

HIs KEEPER

After a long day of classes many students look forward to winding down and having a relaxing meal at the dining hall. However, for students with allergies and other dietary restrictions, they often find themselves asking what can they eat? Although management claims the University Center offers meals suitable for all, UMW students are taking issue with the dining hall menu, finding that it lacks adequate options for students who have various dietary restrictions.

Marketing Manager Rose Benedict said, “There is a vegetarian or vegan entrée at every lunch and dinner,” said UMW dining marketing manager Rose Benedict. “We always have chicken available upon request for students who cannot eat pork, and students can take anything from the salad bar and have it cooked.”

The next issue for college students is time, which many student do not have a lot of.

“It may take some extra time to get it cooked for them when it is not part of

FEMINIST FOUL?

the regular menu, and that can be hard when students don’t have much time to eat between classes,” Benedict said.

“We try to advertise things like that, but we find that people don’t read fliers so we stopped putting them up.”

Some students, such as freshman Emma Yerly, find the lack of options frustrating.

“There’s nothing for vegetarians to eat but the salad bar,” said Yerly, who is a vegetarian. “I want more hot food options for vegetarians, vegans and anybody else with dietary restrictions.”

Executive chef Andreas Ortner said that it is difficult to deviate from the items offered because the facility follows a basic national menu through Sodexo, Incorporated. “Sodexo has sets of recipes that we must follow,” Ortner said. “If you get a specific item here, it should be the same anywhere else you go that has Sodexo facilities.”

Additionally, the management and staff of the dining facility are employed

by Sodexo rather than by the university.

Sodexo bills itself as a “Quality of Life Services” company and specializes in

•UC DINING | 2

MARCH MADNESS

How one family deals with disability stigmas

Emma Watson bares skin and encites feminist uproar

Who to keep an eye out for in the race

LIFE | 6

VIEWPOINTS | 5

SPORTS | 13

NEWS THE

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

Sodexo’s unsuitable food conditions create upheaval

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

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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Glenn Taylor / The Blue & Gray Press

•UC DINING | 1 food services and facility management. It is based out of France but has a United States branch, and works with colleges and universities, elementary through high schools, hospitals and prisons, among other sectors.

“I’m a Muslim student and there [have been] many times where the UC has pork in all three main stations... It really minimizes the amount of food that Muslims can eat,” said freshman Savara Gunn. “I also have a lot of food allergies so even if just two stations have pork, there are a lot of other things I can’t eat like shellfish.”

Sodexo has been no stranger to controversy in recent years. In 2015, Loyola Marymount students found issue with Sodexo, this time petitioning the university to end its contract with the corporation following reports of food poisoning and mistreatment of workers as well as complaints from students that the food was unhealthy and not suitable for students with dietary restrictions.

Over 600 people signed the petition.

Similar protests and petitions have been prevalent in multiple universities across the country.

In 2009, 1,500 students from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles boycotted the school’s Sodexo facilities, requesting that the facility either reduce prices or pay employees the Los Angeles living wage of $11.25 an hour.

While a spokesperson for Sodexo said that the employees at Loyola Marymount were paid the living wage, an investigation by “The Los Angeles Loyolan” found that in actuality, some employees were paid as little as $8.50 an hour.

“It’s hard to work within the constraints of Simple Servings because there aren’t many options out there that don’t contain the major allergens,” said Dining Services general manager Roy Platt. “Our employees follow recipes very closely to avoid cross-contamination.”

But some students said they want to eat items that are not just Simple Serv-

ings. “It would just be nice if the UC made sure to have a balance of different main courses because there have been a

the Sodexo food, as UMW requires all freshmen students that live on campus to purchase the Eagle Plan, which costs $2,495 a semester and primarily pays for unlimited access to the UC dining hall, along with 30 retail meal swipes and $200 flex dollars.

“I am gluten sensitive and mildly allergic to eggs and I also don’t eat a lot of meat,” said freshman Leah LeBlanc. “I find that there are [few] options for me in the UC, and this is frustrating especially since freshman are required to pay for a very expensive unlimited meal plan.”

According to Benedict, resources are available for students who do not feel like they have the necessary options.

“Students with dietary restrictions are welcome to come to us and organize a time to tour and see the options. If students have an issue they should come talk to us about making changes,” Benedict said.

While the opportunity for change is there, some students are still not aware of what they can do to change their options.

“Unfortunately, because of the lack of protein in my diet I find myself hungry all the time. Because of this I often buy snacks or go to Qdoba,” LeBlanc said. “Now I’m almost out of my Flex dollars and meals but sometimes I had no other choice.”

According to Platt, the requirement of the Eagle Plan was spurred by parents.

“Parents were calling us saying that their students were out of meals,” Platt said. “So, with this meal plan, food is one less thing they have to worry about.

Parents don’t have to worry about their kids getting enough food.”

“I think that it should be an option for those who are concerned about running out of meal swipes, but for students who know what they’re doing and are responsible, it should be an option to choose a more limited meal plan,” Yerly said. “We shouldn’t be forced to eat food that we are uncomfortable eating.”

“I’m a Muslim student and there [have been] many times where the UC has [had] pork in all three main stations... It really minimizes the amount of food that Muslims can eat.”

-Savara Gunn lot of times where cereal becomes my meal,” Gunn said.

In 2010, the corporation paid $20 million in a settlement following claims that it overcharged 21 New York school districts and the State University of New York. In 2007, Sodexo recalled 3,000 lbs. of listeria-contaminated chicken that it had distributed, and in 2013, scandal erupted in the United Kingdom when samples of Sodexo beef distributed around Britain and Ireland were found to contain horsemeat.

The corporation’s past involvement in the private prison industry has also been widely criticized and has spurred student boycotts at many universities, imparting the schools to stop doing business with Sodexo.

Some students said they have complained and requested changes but nothing has come of it.

“It’s annoying how no matter how much we complain the school doesn’t listen,” Yerly said. “My friends and I have used the texting comment system that the UC has to explain our frustrations, but often we are told that our requests can’t be honored or they never follow through on their promises to do what we requested.”

Yerly said that she would support a boycott at UMW. “Sodexo’s past is disgusting and I think the school should question why it is doing business with the company, especially when it’s so difficult for students with dietary restrictions to eat Sodexo food anyway.”

Freshmen specifically have been frustrated with being forced into eating

Thursday, March 16, 2017

SPORTS

Despite early adversity, UMW baseball is off to hot start

Sue Spencer / Perfect Shots

Mikey Barnes Sports Editor

The University of Mary Washington baseball team is off to a 9-5 start. Last year, the team went 24-15 and was ranked as high as Number 12 in the nation. Fifth year head coach, Wayne Riser and the Eagles faced some adversity immediately coming into the season with quitting or ineligibility to a number of key players, notably pitchers on the team. The Eagles are currently with seven strictly pitchers on the roster, along with a number of position players who can pitch as well, though, not being their main position.

The baseball team began the season with a tough loss to Methodist, in which they came back from down 4-1, to tie the score, but were unable to hold on as Methodist scored two more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to win the game.

The Eagles bounced back the following day with a 15-5 victory over Bridgewater in Fayetteville, N.C. Senior Nick McIntyre pitched six strong innings, allowing one earned run and striking out eight as he earned the victory. The Eagles were led at the plate by freshman Christian Hague who went 3-4 at the plate with a two doubles, a homerun and three runs batted in.

Seniors Kyle Bynum and Tyler Truslow along with sophomore Stephen Johnston each contributed with two rbi’s each.

The Eagles dropped their next game as well, falling to DeSales, despite a strong

pitching performance by sophomore Hank Biggs. Hague had another strong performance at the plate, going 2-4 with a double and two rbi’s. The Eagles grabbed two strong victories with a two-game series sweep over Penn State-Altoona. The Eagles won the first game 9-2, with three rbi’s from Johnston, as he went 2-4 at the plate and walked twice. Senior Cole Jarvis had seven strikeouts over four innings, with sophomore Jonathan Truba taking the victory. In the second game of the series, the Eagles won 11-3, with McIntyre grabbing the win in 5.2 innings pitched and nine strikeouts, while allowing just two earned runs. Bynum and Johnston both had strong performances again, with both driving in two runs on two hits, with Johnston smacking two doubles. Junior David Slupek drove in two runs as well, with a pinch hit single for Hague.

The Eagles followed up the Penn St. double header with a double header the following day against City College of New York. Biggs got his first win on the season, with 15 strikeouts over six innings, a phenomenal performance while only allowing one hit. Sophomore Alex Shapiro closed out the victory with an inning of work and three strikeouts. Johnston went 2-4 on the game with a homerun and two runs batted in. Leadoff hitter, senior Thomas Weaver had two hits on the game and the team’s only other extra base hit with a double. The Eagle’s won

Sue Spencer / Perfect Shots

the first game 6-1. Freshman Robert Cross started the second game for Mary Washington, pitching 2 ⅓ innings, with four strikeouts while only allowing one run on one hit. The combined pitching staff of the Eagles allowed just two hits on the game, amongst six different pitchers, including Johnston who got the save. Truslow and freshman Bryce Runey drove in the two runs for Mary Washington.

The Eagles won their next game, the first game of a double header against Messiah, giving them their fifth straight victory. They dropped the second game by a score of 3-2, despite a strong pitching performance by McIntyre who allowed three runs on 5 ⅓ innings pitched and nine strikeouts. Sophomore Kevin France went 2-2 on the game in a substitution role, with a triple.

In their first Capital Athletic Conference game, the Eagles took on St. Mary’s (Md.). Biggs started the contest pitching 5 ⅓ innings while allowing four earned runs. Senior Paul McClure earned the win with no earned runs in two innings pitched. Senior Brian Burns went 3-5, with a double and scored two runs. Weaver had two hits, with a double and an RBI. The Eagles beat the Saints of St. Mary’s, 8-7.

The Eagles lost to ranked opponent Shenandoah University by a score of 5-1.

Slupek had the Eagles lone real bright spot, with a home run in the bottom of the

ninth, his first of the season.

Against then 1-7, Case Western Reserve, Sophomore Ramsis Ruiz went 3-5 on the game with two RBIs and a stolen base.

Johnston had two RBIs and a homerun on the game. Junior Bryan White got the win, his second of the season. The Eagles won this game in the bottom of the ninth, by a score of 9-8, being down two runs, after a Ruiz RBI single and an RBI walk by senior Cody Beacorn.

On Monday, March 13, the Eagles played a doubleheader against conference foe Penn St.-Harrisburg. The Eagles dropped the first game by a score of 3-2, despite another strong pitching performance by Biggs, who struck out eight batters of six innings, while only allowing two earned runs. Mary Washington took the second game by a score of 8-6, with McClure grabbing another victory. Weaver went 2-4 on the game, with a double, two runs batted in and two walks. Junior Reed Farrier went 2-4, with two doubles and a run batted in.

The Eagles are led on the season by Hague, who currently leads the team with a .405 batting average. Johnston is leading the team with two home runs and 15 runs batted in. Biggs leads the team in strikeouts with 33. McIntyre is the current team leader with 3.05 Earned Run Average.

The Eagles will be back in action on March 16, away against conference foe Christopher Newport University.

Mary Wash Milestones Coach Dee Conway

Congrats to UMW head softball coach Dee Conway on her 500th career win as a head coach. Conway achieved the feat in a 1-0 win against Eureka College in a Spring Break tournament at Myrtle Beach. Conway has been the head coach of the softball team since 1988, serving as the only head coach in school history.

Conway is also the all-time winningest volleyball coach in UMW history. Conway has been named CAC coach of the year seven times.

Anna Corley Congrats to senior Anna Corley on becoming an All-American at the Division III National Championship in Shenandoah, Texas. Corley, who is back for her second year in the championships finished in 13th place in the 200-yard individual medley. She swam a time of 2:04:84. Corley will also swim the 400 IM and the 100 freestyle during the remainder of the NCAA championships.

Weekly Scoreboard SOFTBALL:

baseball

SOFTBALL:

March 9 vs. Anna Maria (W) UMW: 14 Anna Maria: 3

March 13 @ Penn St. H-Burg (W) UMW: 8 Penn St. H: 6

March 16 vs. Bridgewater 3:00 P.M.

March 11 @ Roanoke (W) UMW: 12 Roanoke: 4

March 11 vs. Catholic (L) UMW: 10 Catholic: 11

March 18 vs. Salisbury 1:00 P.M.

women's LACROSSE

men's LACROSSE

women's LACROSSE

baseball

March 16 @. CNU 3:00 P.M.

men's LACROSSE

March 18 @ Salisbury 1:00 P.M.

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VIEWPOINTS

POTUS: Predator of the United States EMILY GROTTLE Staff Writer

No matter how many times someone tells me I need to accept the fact that Donald Trump is the president, I will not, because I can never respect this man. Trump has been accused on multiple accounts of sexual harassment, and he continues to demean and belittle women because he is a celebrity in the eyes of the media.

We need to break the silence on Trump and recognize that what this man has been getting away with for years is simply unacceptable.

According to The Atlantic, along with the 2005 recording of Trump saying it is okay to “grab them [women] by the pu**y,” he also said “when you’re a star they let you do it.

You can do anything.” This is a dangerous abuse of power and further proves that he not only disrespects women, but also believes that being famous means he has immunity when it comes to the rights of others. This screams in the faces of women that speaking out against sexual assault, especially against someone in a position of power, is useless. This is not okay.

Two women shared their experiences with Trump’s sexual assault with The New York Times. Jessica Leeds and Rachel Crooks are just two of the many women whom Trump has assaulted. Ms. Leeds, now 74, was in her thirties when

Trump assaulted her. She was on an airplane, sitting beside him in first class. According to The New York Times, Leeds said “about 45 minutes after take-off, Mr. Trump lifted the armrest and began to touch her…[he] grabbed her breasts

and tried to put his hands up her skirt.”

She only told a few people at the time of the incident, but went public when Trump said during the second presidential debate that he “had boasted about kissing women without permission and grabbing their genitals. But he had never actually done those things.” Crooks

the mouth.” She was shook up and was quoted saying that she “can’t do anything to this guy, because he’s Donald Trump.”

Trump denies all sexual assault allegations made against him (of which there are many). By denying the claims against him, Trump takes away the agency of these women. The women who chose to speak out should not be silenced by him or his supporters.

If people in power are allowed to believe that treating women inappropriately is OK, then what does this teach our youth?

The rape myth cannot continue.

The fact is that an accused rapist and sexual predator is our president. One can turn a blind eye to that fact or choose not to believe it, but it is true and women have spoken out. What is frightening about Trump are his insistent remarks that he did not commit the sexual assault crimes he was accused of. The dangers of the patriarchy are deeply seated into him and his personality.

If you are a supporter of his, Gage Skidmore / Flickr I urge you to consider this ina real estate investment and development formation. Sexual assault is never OK. company in Trump Tower in Manhattan. By reporting it and talking about it, we Crooks introduced herself to Trump as can hope to dispel the rape myth and let she was aware they would be doing busi- voices of victims and survivors not just ness together. She told The New York be heard, but be listened to.

Times that when they shook hands, “he would not let go, instead, he began kissing [her] on the cheeks…then directly on also spoke out about her experience with Trump after he said this.

Crooks was only 22-years-old when Trump assaulted her at work. According to The New York Times, she was working as a receptionist for Bayrock Group,

Op Ed: Home is where the hate is GRANT RAYCROFT UMW Senior

I went home for spring break last week and explored my old haunts. I live in

Alexandria, Virginia, and so a frequent stop is Misha’s our local coffeehouse.

Misha’s specializes in its jazzy laidback atmosphere which I can attest is superb.

Yet every time I visited, I was nervous.

I’d fix my gaze out the large window facing South Patrick Street towards a second story apartment on the corner.

I made a stop by Misha’s after visiting my favorite comic book shop with some old friends. I picked up my favorites like Wonder Woman and Action Comics. I got my order and as I made the way back to my car, I passed someone I thought I knew. We’d never met in person, his face was obscured by a pair of sunglasses, and of course I didn’t want to assume. However, his haircut was very distinct and he possessed an uncanny resemblance. Perhaps I was paranoid, I am now in that part of town, but not without reason. Because if this man was who I thought he was, his home would have been right across the street. This man in question would have been Richard Bertrand Spencer, neo-Nazi and leader of the Alternative Right.

For those of you who don’t know Richard Spencer, first of all I am jealous,

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but second some context. Spencer is the founder of the Alternate Right, better known as the “Alt-Right.” The AltRight is a white supremacist movement as described both by the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center. Like many white supremacist movements, the Alt-Right engages in code words and dog whistling to get across its views. The SPLC describes them as “a suit-and-tie version of the white supremacists of old.” Case in point, Spencer heads the National Policy Institute, a think tank “dedicated to the heritage, identity, and future of people of European descent.” Oddly the NPI says nothing about the heritage, identity, or future of marginalized European groups.

There’s no advocacy for European Jews, Romani, or Muslims. Instead, Spencer pushes for a white ethno-state that would exclude any that do not fit his rigid definitions of white or European. In his own words, “you are not us, this country is for us.” Spencer tries to appear academic so others might think his racist ideology comes from a scientific angle, what he calls. However, his terms falter against any respectable academic approach to race and hold up about as well as wet

cardboard in the monsoon season.

Spencer’s living in Alexandria came to me as a shock. None other than my cousin personally tracked down Spencer’s new office in our city. While renting the property, Spencer plans to use it as a recruitment base for his white supremacist cause. I don’t think I have the power to express the horror of my city housing this man. With his hateful rhetoric, Richard Spencer advocates for the deaths of my friends and family. Now he lives down the street from them.

Spencer is more than someone on the political fringe. When residences organized against Spencer’s white supremacist efforts in his previous home of Whitefish Montana, his followers targeted them with anti-semitic hate speech, and even threatened an armed Nazi march through the town.

Sadly, this isn’t new for Alexandria, certainly not for Virginia. As a lifelong resident of this state I am aware of its racist history. The South is far too often characterized as the bedrock of racism in America from the Prince Edward County Public School closings to the Lynchburg State Colony. These horrible deeds are not exclusive to the South, it’s

indicative to all of America. Yet it’s also within the South where the boldest statements against oppression are made. I am an alum of T.C. Williams High School, known for its early efforts to integrate. I am proud as it boasts a minority student population of 79 percent with over 100 native languages. I am proud to attend a university which housed and honors a forgotten Civil Right hero like James L. Farmer Jr. And I am proud as the community of Alexandria regularly protests the presence of Richard Spencer in our home city.

I was fortunate to stand with them over this spring break to hear from the other members of our community, activists, preachers, and politicians alike. And one thing that I am grateful for is that I know Spencer will never be one of our community. His racist rhetoric goes against what makes Alexandria great and he will never be welcome. It’s for that same reason I am proud to see the resistance from the swastika note posted on campus last month. While both my homes are now targeted by white supremacists, they cannot and will not define them.

Thursday, March 16, 2017 Thursday, January 21, 2015

VIEWPOINTS There are no rules for feminism Editor: Tessa Cate | blueandgray.views@gmail.com

KAYTLYN BIDDLE Staff Writer

Following the release of her recent Vanity Fair spread, actress Emma Watson is being shamed for the photos that appeared in the magazine.

She is being told her pictures are too revealing and that she is not allowed to display her body in such a manner. Comments have appeared on social media insisting that she cannot wear whatever she wants and still call herself a feminist. How would you feel about thousands of people commenting on what you can and cannot do as a woman?

Watson has been an outspoken advocate for feminism, speaking at the United Nations, marching alongside other celebrities at the Women’s March in January and holding a feminist book club through social media.

People are upset because the photos taken reveal Watson’s body in a risqué manner, and feminist advocates say that these photos go against everything she said she was fighting for.

With the release of these photos, some people believe Watson is not a feminist at all, but an anti-feminist.

I respectfully disagree.

While you do not have to agree with what she says or the way she goes about embracing feminism, you do have to look at what feminism is supposed to be at its core. To me, the move-

showing off their body. Emma Watson is an adult who deserves to do what she wants with her body. You don’t have to agree with what every other person does.

But saying she cannot take these pictures (which were taken with her consent) because it is anti-feminist is like saying your friend could not get her ears pierced because it is disempowering.

Women are supposed to empower other women, and here Watson has taken control of her own body and released pictures she chose to take.

We should be celebrating the fact that she has taken control of her body rather than tear her down for “flashing” parts of it. These photos don’t discredit the work she has done up to this point. She still attended Brown University, still spoke out against sexism and still pushed to make Tim Walker / Vanity Fair her most recent charWe cannot say that women’s chests acter “Belle” a more empowered should not be sexualized while rag- person. ing about someone who is proudly A woman can be so much more ment has always been about allowing women control over their bodies, jobs and futures in a way they have not been able to before.

The assumption that I dress to impress other people, that I need to wear makeup to leave the house or that I was the assistant in the room rather than the boss are all reasons I was interested in this movement in the first place.

Tim Walker / Vanity Fair

than one stereotype or another and can break the boxes we put them into. A woman can be a feminist while still embracing herself. There are no rules to being a feminist, there are no guidelines of how they should behave, look or act. They don’t all have to be young or old or a STEM major or an artist or even a woman.

They just have to stand up for the right to choose, and be a proponent of freedom and equality. I don’t care what she does with her body or her photos; it is her life and she deserves to control it without people attacking her for embracing her freedoms.

Staff Ed: School transparency shown through recent email, lawsuit settlement On March 9, 2017, the University of Mary Washington sent out an email to students, staff and faculty containing details of a settlement made with former student, Jasmine Orsted.

Orsted filed a lawsuit against UMW in 2015. claiming that she was denied eligibility for the school’s basketball team because of her race.

During tryouts in the fall semester of 2014, Orsted reported experiencing racial discrimination. She was denied a

spot on the UMW varsity team, despite being a standout basketball player in her high school. “[They] did not like having black people at their school or teams,” said Orsten in an interview with the Freelance Star.

She recalled one member saying that she visited a large black church and felt “terrified because there were so many black people.”

She also claimed in her lawsuit that she was unable to join two varsity sports

teams because of her gender. In her argument Orsted said that she was not allowed to run track during basketball’s off season, which male students were allowed to do.The complaint said that then track team head coach, Stan Soper responded to her request by saying “men have done it but women don’t do it.”

Now Orsted plays basketball at Division II school, Bowie State University.

The email that UMW sent stated that UMW agreed to pay Orsted $160,000

for settlement In addition to this, UMW amended to clarify its tryout policies and make sure that they are in line with university-wide diversity and inclusion efforts. UMW will also be expanding sensitivity training to staff and students in the athletic department.

We at The Blue & Gray Press commend the school for its transparency in this email. Communication like this helps keep the administration connected to students and help to keep open dialogue.

By THE BLUE & GRAY PRESS EDITORIAL BOARD

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LIFE

Editor: Kelly Emmrich blueandgray.life@gmail.com

My Brother’s Keepers: Having family with disabilities isn’t as easy as it looks

RACHEL FINSTON Staff Writer

When I met my best friend, I had no idea how much we had in common. We have government employee parents, we are both vegetarians and we both have disabled older brothers.

It isn’t every day that you meet someone who understands the differences inherent in a childhood that includes a cognitively disabled sibling. We both love our brothers, but it doesn’t make things easier. Growing up like that is difficult, but as a kid I didn’t think about how hard it actually was for my family.

When my brother was in school, it was easier. After school, there were doctors’ appointments to go to and therapists to see. My brother’s days were accounted for. He had somewhere to be, and people who were responsible for him. This changed radically after he graduated.

My mom travels for a living. When I was last home, she laid out two passports in front of me. The first passport was from before my brother graduated from high school. It had a hundred different stamps, and at least two extra sets of pages sewn in. The second one was barely used and still had that new passport smell permeating its pages. The work that she loves unquestionably takes the backseat to my brother.

She is the one who does the full-time work of keeping him busy. She’s the only one who has the patience to deal with the social workers, the government disability people and whatever volunteer service he’s in this week. Those programs usu-

ally mean well, aspiring to train disabled kids for work, but in our experience, they’re disorganized and they don’t have wings. They make big promises, but employee turnover is frequent, and no progress is made. He’s been floating for the last three years, from program to program, while my mom fights with different agencies trying to fill his hours.

The thing is, no one else really cares.

That is what my dad told me when I asked why there weren’t better options for my brother. He smiled at me, and said, “The only people who care about disabled kids are the parents of disabled kids, and we have enough problems.”

I have never forgotten that, because it feels true. For every well-meaning, sweet special-education teacher who wants to change the world, there seem to be fifty congress people trying to reduce benefits for the disabled. For every kind stranger, there are a hundred people staring at my family in public.

Once, someone I knew criticized the way my parents treated my brother. This filled me with rage. I am allowed to be a little embarrassed in public, a little uncomfortable with the way my brother comports himself. My parents can’t.

They have to be 100 percent on top of how he’s feeling and what he’s doing at all times, and do their best to keep him calm. Both of them have worked so hard to give my brother and me a good life, and hearing someone ignorant of their sacrifice trivialize that made my blood boil.

Whenever I heard the “R word” I am reminded of those people who have all kinds of things to say about other peoples’ child rearing, but couldn’t give a fig about providing for the disabled.

There is a senator from New Hampshire, Maggie Hassan, who caught my attention recently. She spoke at the hearing of the education committee on the confirmation of Betsy Devos, and asked if Devos will support the rights of disabled students.

She repeated her question multiple times, but Devos responded like someone who does not have a disabled child, she deflected, under the guise of sympathy.

Hassan has a son with cerebral palsy, and is just another example of a woman like my mom: a strong career woman who has a child with unique needs. I admire the senator for her commitment to fighting for kids like her own, but her son’s story is a best-case scenario.

My brother is, too.

He can speak, read and write in three

different kinds of towns and lifestyles in South Africa.

Every individual that studies abroad has his or her own unique experience.

Current senior McKinley Nault chose to study abroad in France during her junior year of high school and had a vastly different experience than Stanbro. She continues to describe the difference in schooling in France saying how high school in Europe was more similar to college.

While homesickness is to be expected, Nault said that the distance was not too overwhelming. She remembers her mother sending her the DVD “Tangled” for Easter, even though she had no DVD player to watch it. Nault had a lot of free time and an extremely relaxed time schedule, which prepared her better for college.

Nault stayed with a host family, so she could fully immerse herself into the culture. Bread and cheese was a constant at every mealtime. Nault recalled her host father calling American burgers “sponges.”

Nault also appreciated the different festivals and celebrations France had to offer. She listened to a lot of reggae, and attended a festival, called “The Giants Marionettes of Royal de Lux.” The festival only happens Vogue China/Facebook once every four years.

She also explained the difference in grocery stores, saying that there were not a lot of processed foods that American grocery stores carry. She recalled that many French people did not buy their food in bulk and would go shopping for dinner every night.

Asim Bharwani/ Flickr Both Nault and Pastries from a bakery in France.

Stanbro exhibit that every college student should considthe benefits and er pursuing. unique experience of studying abroad and going to a completely different country. Every country has its own culture Thursday: and its own lifestyle. StudyFree Hot Cocoa,3-5pm, UC Living Room ing abroad gives students an Job and Internship Fair, 3-6pm, UC Chandler Ballroom opportunity to experience Real Lives Series: Queen Liliuokalani, 7:30pm, Dodd and be a part of a culture Auditorium outside of the United States.

However, the one problem Friday: for many people is the cost. JFMC Gender and the Media Brown Bag, 12pm, UC Mary Washington proCapital Room vides students with different financial assistance to Saturday: allow for students to study Women's Lacrosse vs. Salisbury, 1pm, The Battleabroad. Along with multiground ple approved scholarships, Baseball vs. Salisbury, 3pm, The Battleground UMW’s Center for International Education provides Sunday: information on several Ladies Lift Night, 8-9:30pm, The Fitness Center forms of financial assistance that are available through Reel Deals: UMW Financial Aid. Why Him? Friday @ 7pm and Saturday @ 10pm Overall, studying abroad Passengers Friday @ 10pm and Saturday @ 7pm is an amazing opportunity

“The only people who care about disabled kids are the parents of disabled kids -Finson’s Dad

languages. He is intelligent, kind, and funny. He has had the opportunity to develop social skills, and relationships with other kids like him. He has always had access to the treatment he needed and the best doctors and therapists my parents could find. Disabled children from lower income families, families who live in poorer school districts, and children of larger families all lack the advantages he has had.

All over campus, I see people wearing “spread the word to end the word” bracelets, or the little puzzle pieces that represent Autism Speaks. I wonder, do they know? Do they understand how hard it is? Are they actually doing anything to help? This isn’t a past issue. When someone campaigning to be the president of our nation mocks a disabled person and still gets elected, it doesn’t feel like an issue of the past. Seeing the exhaustion of my parents, I really hope my dad is wrong. I hope someone else cares.

NIH/Science Alert

Study Abroad program takes UMW students to far away places AMANDA BIELECKI Staff Writer

For many college students studying abroad is a once in a lifetime opportunity and experience. Some choose France, Italy, Argentina and countless other countries around the world. From new food, new people and a new environment, studying abroad offers a wide range of unique experiences.

Most students study abroad over the spring or fall semester, but senior Kelsey Stanbro she chose to study abroad over winter break in South Africa. Stanbro shared her experience and the environment she settled into.

She said that the two townships she visited were polar opposites. The poor township of Langa had several homes where eight or so families of five shared a four-bedroom house.

The township next to Langa was affluent by comparison. Stanbro only went to two, but she felt that since both were so diverse, she could experience two

Rows of homes in Langa, South Africa.

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C.L.A.W. Activities for the Week

Thursday, March 16, 2017

LIFE

Women’s History Month: 100 years of women in music SHAWNYA PETERSON Staff Writer

Female musicians have a rich and complex history, and, over the past century, share much overlap with social movements of the era, including the fights for racial justice and LGBTQ equality. In celebration of Women’s History Month, we’re taking you decade by decade through the last 100 years of female musical artists. · Some of these Days - Sophie Tucker (1911) Sophie Tucker, a Jewish woman born to Ukrainian parents, was a vaudeville performer well-known in the era for her bawdy, risqué humor and audacious stage presence. Though initially pressured to perform in blackface when her managers believed her too unattractive to perform out of costume, Tucker later retired the routine and incorporated such criticisms into her later songs. Some of her most well-known numbers include "I Don't Want to Get Thin,” “My Yiddishe Momme” and “Life Begins at Forty.” ·Nobody Knows When You’re Down and Out - Bessie Smith (1929) Bessie Smith’s song “Nobody Knows When You’re Down and Out” quickly took on a new meaning when the stock market crashed just weeks after it was released in September of 1929. Smith was one of the most iconic black female blues singers of the 20s and 30s, and her classic song is, even today, one of her most well-known numbers. ·Strange Fruit - Billie Holiday (1939) In her iconic 1939 song based on the poem by Abel Meeropol, Billie Holiday

describes victims of lynching, calling the bodies “strange fruit...swinging in the southern breeze.” As a black woman, Holiday’s haunting melody was an unprecedentedly deep critique of racism in the Jim Crow south. ·And Her Tears Flowed Like Wine Ella Fitzgerald (1945) Though jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald’s solo career first began in the early 1940s, her musical career was one spanning 60 years. She would go on to become one of the most notable musicians of the 20th century, collaborating with fellow black artists Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong, among others. ·Trouble of the World - Mahalia Jackson (1959) Mahalia Jackson was not only a gospel singer, but also a noted civil rights activist and close friend to the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Jackson worked closely with King throughout the movement, performing at the March on Washington, where King performed his “I Have a Dream” speech, as well as performing at King’s funeral after his murder in 1968. Jackson’s solemn rendition of an African-American spiritual was timely, echoing the hopes and struggles of the Civil Rights era, hearkening back to the roots of black America. ·You Don’t Own Me - Lesley Gore (1963) Released in the early days of the 20th century women’s liberation movement, in Gore’s song, she speaks to a partner, telling them they don’t control what she says or does, finishing the song by saying “just let me be myself, that’s all I ask of

you.” ·Feeling Good - Nina Simone (1965) Renowned singer and civil rights activist Nina Simone’s song of growth and empowerment hearkens back to the civil rights and women’s liberation movements of the time. ·I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor (1971) Gloria Gaynor’s song speaks to a woman emotionally rebuilding herself after the end of a romantic relationship, overcoming the partner’s mistreatment and growing stronger as a result. ·I Am Woman - Helen Reddy (1978) Helen Reddy’s song of female empowerment is easily one of most iconic songs to come from the woman’s liberation movement of the 60s and 70s.

Reddy celebrates the gains women have made, while acknowledging the progress yet to be made, saying that “No one's ever gonna keep me down again.” In the song, Reddy proudly proclaims the now-famous words, “I am woman, hear me roar.” ·I’m Coming Out - Diana Ross (1980) While Motown artist Diana Ross’ song was originally written in celebration of her release from her record contract, it has since been adopted an unofficial LGBTQ-pride anthem, saying “there’s a new me coming out.” ·Nasty - Janet Jackson (1986) While Janet Jackson’s number was originally released in the 80s as a song against catcalling, the already famous song has recently experienced an increase in popularity. Over the past

‘UMW’s Got Talent’ takes over Dodd

few months, the song has gained a new meaning, gaining popularity with feminists and so-called “Nasty Women.” ·Enamorada De Ti - Selena (1992) Selena Quintanilla was born in Texas to Mexican-American parents. Her heritage played a large part in her career in the Tejano music world, with many of her early songs featuring Mexican musical influence and Spanish lyrics.

Despite her untimely death at 23 in 1995, her music has a lasting impact on and is a prime example of the blending of Mexican and American cultures. ·No Scrubs - TLC (1999) TLC’s 1999 hit song is a criticism of cowardly men that hit on women by “hanging out the passenger side of his best friend's ride, trying to holler at me.”

After the song’s release, the term “scrub” became widespread in popular culture for a “deadbeat” guy. ·Can’t Hold Us Down - Christina Aguilera (2002) Christina Aguilera’s early 2000’s pop song goes through some of the many double standards women face, criticizing how powerful women are treated in society. In the song, Aguilera calls on women to come together and stand up for each other, saying that they “can’t hold us down.” ·Run the World (Girls) - Beyoncé (2011) Beyoncé Knowles’ song is an overt song of unapologetic female empowerment. Knowles, one of the most wellknown feminists in Hollywood today, sings of “repping for the girls taking over the world.”

Creative Column Creative Column manager: Finnley Goff

Photos by: Alex Sakes & Joemmel Tendilla

The Assassination of Julius Caesar, as Told by his Daughter Olivia Lehman His voice was too loud for his body, an artificial volume that came from too many victories. He was only quiet when he read the newspaper.

Damon Dixon (below) took first place

He liked to run a hand over the printed words until the ink bled. Until tomorrow looked like worm or root, something he could flatten underneath a shoe sole.

He forgot the paper that day. The one you all know. He left it on the porch, for me to trip over.

Electric blue eyes, glazed and shrieking stared back— He should have seen it coming. Had to know the glint in the corners of their eyes was not just a look. It was their sharpened blades.

He must have heard the emptiness, where the whispers should have been.

All places have them.

The room was a poorly disguised theatre that day. A tragedy played all night long, but the whole senate laughed like a live-studio audience.

I can still hear the echoes every time a TV is turned on— Why shouldn’t they laugh? It was all absurd.

The bend of the elbows. Again, again.

Such an inefficient form of betrayal, he could not believe it.

I folded the newspaper in half. Again and again until it was a small torch in my palm.

I lit the edge, like I was lighting incense to cleanse the kitchen, where he used to read obituaries. I watch his face burn away from me.

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LIFE

Great Lives Lecture: George Lucas’ unexpected success

ES HETHCOX Contributing Writer

George Lucas’ need for control not only helped him succeed in making movies, but also facilitated how much he impacted the world of cinematology, The New York Times bestselling biographer told his audience in Dodd Auditorium.

“Control is going to be an important word for tonight,” Brian Jay Jones said, beginning his lecture.

Mary Washington students and Fredericksburg residents filled Dodd Auditorium on Thursday, March 2, and waited eagerly for Jones to shed light on the life of famous director George Lucas in an installment of the Great Lives lectures.

Jones did not disappoint his eager crowd.

As he energetically showered the crowd with details from Lucas’ childhood to his height of fame, Jones showed the crowd how Lucas’ time in college paved the way for his success.

“What we think of as modern cinema, George Lucas invented,” Jones said.

During Lucas’ studies at the University of Southern California in the late 1960s, he shocked and impressed his professors by doing exactly what they did not want. Professors had two rules for their students to follow; do not use color and do not film more than five miles from the school.

“Lucas broke both those rules,” Jones said and added, “Lucas’ time at USC was when his reality began.”

In 1967 Lucas began his career of cinematology when he met director

Francis Coppola, who took Lucas under his wing.

“Francis never gave up on me,” Jones said, quoting Lucas.

With his talent for film editing, Lucas began working on what would be one of his greatest hits: “American Graffiti.”

“Coppola told Lucas he needed to make a film that had warmth in it, something that he related to.” Jones explained.

One thing that Lucas cherished from his childhood was cruising on 10 th Street in his childhood home in Modesto, California.

With that inspiration in his mind, Lucas started one of the most stressful times of his life.

Jones explained how Lucas would hang on the side of cars filming the actors.

Sometimes people would find him fast asleep, still hanging

off the side of a set car. Lucas would start filming from sunset to sunrise, and repeated this schedule until filming was completed.

“I didn’t know Lucas was so prolific with his writing and control over his movies,” said Stafford native Jim Sizemore. “I found that very interesting.”

This control Lucas exhibited in his making of “American Graffiti” would be seen in his most successful film: “Star Wars.”

During the creation of “Star Wars” Lucas was behind everything, Jones said.

He was the sole director of over 900 workers, film editing and special effects.

Lucas was so sure “Star Wars” was going to crash that he contemplated running away to Hawaii so he wouldn’t have to read the bad reviews.

What Lucas thought would be Cosplay Culture/Flickr a failure

of a movie turned out to be a piece of cinematic history.

Audience members of this Great Lives Lecture were surprised at the information they learned during Jones’ speech.

“Well, I knew about ‘Star Wars,’ but what shocked me was all the other movies he made,” Kenneth Bach said. “It’s interesting how Lucas went through a lot of stress not knowing how great he was.”

The Great Lives Lectures are running Tuesdays and Thursdays until April at Mary Washington in Dodd Auditorium.

These lectures are open to the public, giving the surrounding community a chance to learn about notable figures in a university setting.

“I think that this is a great opportunity for all generations to come together,” said audience member Barbera Castill.

“Young and old, we can all enjoy these lectures.”

“I’m enjoying this series,” said Sizemore, who has been attending the Great Lives Lectures for over seven years.

Many other audience members were impressed with Jones’ lecture on Lucas.

Former Mary Washington faculty member David Hunt enjoys the liveliness that Jones brings to the auditorium. “Brian has a lot of energy,” Hunt said. “In fact, someone once made a comment to “tell that young man to speak slower.’”

“I always enjoy his talks,” Hunt continued. “He did a really fine job tonight.”

Hunt’s wife Jene enjoyed Jones’ “interesting take on Lucas’ personality. He is an enigma.”

UMW beats donor goal in first annual giving day

Expectations for the University of Mary Washington’s first ever Giving Day were blown away on Tuesday as more than 1,000 donors helped raise almost $200,000 for a variety of school departments. UMW previously set a goal of 654 donors as homage to the UMW related phone numbers. However, the total count was 1,112 donors. This added up to a total of $194,870 raised.

Videos of theatre students, athletic teams and departments flooded Facebook and Twitter in the weeks leading up to March 14, 2017. All of these videos were created as advertisements for the University of Mary Washington’s first annual giving day. Mary Washington Giving Day was a 24-hour event where

donors could give money to specific groups. The date was chosen in honor of Founder’s Day, traditionally celebrated on March 14, and marked 109 years since UMW’s founding in 1908.

During Mary Wash Giving Day, donors made donations of $5 minimum at the website mwgivingday.com. Gifts received during this time will help fill the gap since funding from the Commonwealth of Virginia accounts for just 25 percent of the university’s operating budget. This day essentially was for private donors to give money to the fund for Mary Washington athletics, arts and culture, scholarships, president’s impact fund, libraries and the 2017 senior class gift.

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NEWS

POLICE BEAT ESTER SALGUERO News Editor

Petit Larceny On Wednesday, March 8, at midnight an incident of larceny occurred at Seacobeck Hall.

A marble wall divider was reported missing. The case is pending.

Vandalism On Monday, March 13 at 8:30 p.m., vandalism of an exit sign occurred at Eagle Landing. The case is pending.

CRIME COVERAGE POLICY

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 xtreme 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.

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Registration Times for Fall 2017 Day Registration Starts

Earned Hours Seniors

Time Registration Starts

Day Registration Ends

Time Registration Ends

118-999 106-117.99 101-105.99 98-100.99 95-97.99 92-94.99 90-91.99

March 27, 2017 March 27, 2017 March 27, 2017 March 27, 2017 March 27, 2017 March 27, 2017 March 27, 2017

8:00 AM 9:00 AM 10:00 AM 11:00AM 12:00PM 1:00PM 2:00PM

March 29, 2017 March 29, 2017 March 29, 2017 March 29, 2017 March 29, 2017 March 29, 2017 March 29, 2017

6:00 AM 6:00 AM 6:00 AM 6:00 AM 6:00 AM 6:00 AM 6:00 AM

85-89.99 81-84.99 78-80.99 76-77.99 73-75.99 70.72.99 67-69.99 63-66.99 60-62.99

March 29, 2017 March 29, 2017 March 29, 2017 March 29, 2017 March 29, 2017 March 29, 2017 March 29, 2017 March 29, 2017 March 29, 2017

8:00 AM 9:00 AM 10:00 AM 11:00 AM 12:00 PM 1:00 PM 2:00 PM 3:00 PM 4:00 PM

March 31, 2017 March 31, 2017 March 31, 2017 March 31, 2017 March 31, 2017 March 31, 2017 March 31, 2017 March 31, 2017 March 31, 2017

5:00 PM 5:00 PM 5:00 PM 5:00 PM 5:00 PM 5:00 PM 5:00 PM 5:00 PM 5:00 PM

Juniors

Sophomores

56-59.99 52-55.99 49-51.99 46-48.99 44-45.99 42-43.99 39-41.99 34-38.99 30-33.99

April 3, 2017 April 3, 2017 April 3, 2017 April 3, 2017 April 3, 2017 April 3, 2017 April 3, 2017 April 3, 2017 April 3, 2017

8:00 AM 9:00 AM 10:00 AM 11:00 AM 12:00 PM 1:00 PM 2:00 PM 3:00 PM 4:00 PM

April 5, 2017 April 5, 2017 April 5, 2017 April 5, 2017 April 5, 2017 April 5, 2017 April 5, 2017 April 5, 2017 April 5, 2017

6:00 AM 6:00 AM 6:00 AM 6:00 AM 6:00 AM 6:00 AM 6:00 AM 6:00 AM 6:00 AM

25-29.99 21-24.99 18-20.99 16-17.99 15-15.99 13-14.99 10-12.99 3-9.99 0-2.99

April 5, 2017 April 5, 2017 April 5, 2017 April 5, 2017 April 5, 2017 April 5, 2017 April 5, 2017 April 5, 2017 April 5, 2017

8:00 AM 9:00 AM 10:00 AM 11:00 AM 12:00PM 1:00PM 2:00PM 3:00PM 4:00PM

April 7, 2017 April 7, 2017 April 7, 2017 April 7, 2017 April 7, 2017 April 7, 2017 April 7, 2017 April 7, 2017 April 7, 2017

5:00 PM 5:00 PM 5:00 PM 5:00 PM 5:00 PM 5:00 PM 5:00 PM 5:00 PM 5:00 PM

Freshmen

All information was found on the Course Schedules and Registration Information online.

Upperclassmen now have alternative meal plan choices •BOV DECISION | 1 Landphair gave three main reasons for the change. She expressed that standardizing the room rates will make it less confusing for students and their parents. The student can just pick a room instead of figuring out the different cost. Another reason for standardizing the room rates was because of socio-economic reasons. The idea is that if the student pays more money the student gets a better room like one with air conditioning or new appliances, which is not always the case.

According to Landphair, the university conducted a survey of students over the past few years. The top two highest rates of satisfaction for residence halls were Russell and Virginia. Neither hall has air conditioning, and Russell is located in a rather inconvenient location at the bottom of a hill.

Rebecca Messier, freshman English education major, lives in Mason this year. She said, “I ranked all the dorms on my computer by things I liked and also by FSEMs I wanted.”

Messier put a lot of research into the different halls. She wanted a dorm with air conditioning and did not want to be at the bottom of the hill. However, Messier admitted she may have picked an FSEM that matched up with the hall she wanted, rather than the FSEM she wanted.

Freshman Lauren Butler lives in Virginia Hall, and while she took her FSEM into consideration when deciding where to live on campus, it did not influence her decision as much as other factors.

“My mom lived in this hall [Virginia Hall] when she attended the university,” Butler said. The family sentiment along with Virginia Hall’s central location played a large role in choosing her dorm.

UMW has a policy that students must live on campus for two years, therefore furthering the tough decision when it comes to choosing housing.

UMW conducted another survey of students on why they moved off campus. Students said that costs were a

factor and that the required meal plan status that comes with living on campus was also a deterrent.

“We want more students to live on campus after their sophomore year by choice,” Landphair said. She added that maybe further down the line they could be standardizing upperclassmen residential halls.

Additional decisions were made to add a change to the meal plan. Seniors who have 90 credits can now pick from the 90 or 75 block meal plan. Until now, that option was only listed for students living in the UMW apartments or Eagle Landing.

According to Landphair this new plan is “recognition of developmental changes.” Seniors should have more room for experience and choice. While for freshman, the dining hall is more important and convenient because they are still forming new relationships and getting to know campus better. This is also an incentive to keep them from moving off campus after their first two years.

Thursday, March 16, 2017

NEWS

Students remain indifferent to new program replacing Employ-an Eagle

RACHEL MANNING Staff Writer

Starting next year, the University Mary Washington will be replacing Employ-an Eagle with a new system called Handshake. According to their official website, Handshake was started in 2014 in San Francisco, and has continued to grow. Handshake is similar to LinkedIn in that students can set up a profile that employers can look at. This profile will have pertinent information such as the student’s current year, major, interests and any previous work experience or internship experience they might have.

As of now, there are about 170 universities around the country who have signed up for the program.

It is gaining popularity because it does a better job of connecting students to employers than other websites or services do.

“What makes [Handshake] different from LinkedIn is that we recruit different employers who are local to the area as well as alum who may be in management positions or may own their own company,” said assistant director at the Center for Career and Professional Development, Kyle Danzey. In other words, Handshake is locally-based and tailored to each university that uses it.

Another way Handshake is different from both LinkedIn and Employ-an-Eagle is that students do not need to sign up for an account all on their own. According to Danzey, “The way it works is that all students are imported into the system, and so they’re able to search for and apply to different jobs and internships within the system.”

The system also has significant improvements from its predecessor, Employ-an-Eagle, according to Danzey.

“It’s more user-friendly than Employ-an-Eagle,” Danzey said. “Employ-an-Eagle did not have an automatic import for students, so students had to register on their own. But now it’s going to be imported from Banner, which is the system that houses all the student information.” This makes it much easier for students to navigate the often-difficult process of finding a job or internship.

However, some students feel that Handshake will not be beneficial to everyone, despite its advantages over other systems.

“Handshake would be better for certain industries than others,” said senior computer science and music double major Michael Prime. “For example, you can’t apply for jobs in the music industry; you’ve got to have connections. I can’t just go on Handshake and search for jobs in that field. But, you can apply in the computer science field, because they’re hiring all the time.”

Handshake does more than help students find and apply to jobs and internships, though. According to Mary Bece-

lia, career coach at the Center for Career and Professional Development, it hosts several professional development modules. If a student wants to know how to build a resume or do an interview, they can view the Handshake module on the subject. Students can also set up appointments through Handshake if they want in-person assistance.

“This does not mean that we’re no longer here to offer in-person help or workshops... We still do individual coaching, we still have peer career advisers,” Becelia said. “We hope that it will bring students closer, not be a ‘oh I’ll just do it all on Handshake instead’ thing.”

“I honestly don’t plan on using [Handshake] I’m going to look for jobs and internships outside the UMW Career Center and only visit the Career Center when I need a resume or cover letter reviewed.”

Thursday, March 16, 2017

University of Mary Washington Career Center / Facebook Page

-Aripra Mohan Indeed, it seems that students do plan on going to the career center for advice more than they plan on using Handshake. Junior and English major, Aripra Mohan has had many troubles with Employ-an-Eagle.

“Many times, I ran into technical difficulties using Employ-an-Eagle,” Mohan said. “I often had trouble logging on and navigating through the portal.

Employ-an-Eagle never updated my student information, nor does it let me update it myself.”

She is disappointed with the current system, and would rather find jobs on her own than try out a whole new system. She said, “I honestly don’t plan on using [Handshake] I’m going to look for jobs and internships outside the UMW Career Center and only visit the Career Center when I need a resume or cover letter reviewed.”

While the benefits of Handshake are clear, students will have to see if it works for them. Prime, like Mohan, did not use UMW’s system, Employ-an-Eagle, to get his job. He handed out resumes at the Job and Internship fair instead.

The employees at the UMW Career Center hope that they can encourage people to use Handshake with social media announcements, emails and their official launch event. They plan on sending out the official announcement email in mid-March. May 2, they are going to host their big launch event where students will be able to open their account, get t-shirts and other free items and meet President Paino.

“The goal of the launch event is to have students actually activate their account,” Danzey said, because, even though students will be automatically imported into the system, they still need to activate their accounts in order to access the benefits Handshake offers.

Student Senate Beat Wednesday, March 15 The following motions have been passed by UMW Student Senate.

The passing of a motion does not mean that its terms are subject to happen. The motions will be reviewed by the Student Government Association Executive Cabinet, who will then vote on the proposed motions.

• The motion that Student Senate work with campus security and Student Life to allow the use ability to carry pepper spray on campus was passed.

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

11

SPORTS

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

Become part of the Madness, fill out a bracket before its too late

Go online at blueandgraypress.com to read an article by Ryan Brauch on who and who not to pick.

Thursday, March 16, 2017

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