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THE UNIVERSITY OF MARY WASHINGTON STUDENT NEWSPAPER

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Athletics departments lets go of Ken Tyler Olivia Taylor Staff Writer

It was announced on March 30 that Ken Tyler, University of Mary Washington athletic director, will not be continuing on in the position. Tyler was informed that his contract that expires in June would not be renewed.

When reached out to for comment, Tyler responded “I am extremely proud of our many accomplishments during my tenure as director of athletics. We did some amazing things for the department, university and community. I have been humbled by the incredible outpouring of support I have received and will cherish tremendous relationships with many colleagues, student-athletes, and supporters.”

According to an email addressing the UMW athletic staff member, that was obtained by the Free Lance-Star and cited in the article “UMW parting ways with athletic director Tyler,” this came as a surprise to Tyler.

“I had no idea this was coming and was not given any real reason. Needless to say, I am shocked and disappointed...

I gave everything I had to UMW, right up until today.” said Tyler in the email which was addressed to the UMW coaches.

Tyler has filled the athletic director role at Mary Washington for just over

April 12, 2018

VOLUME 91 | ISSUE 22

1922 Students voice concerns over FERPA policy SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE

Laura Taylor Staff Writer

www.umw.edu Ken Tyler has served as the athletic directior at UMW for just over six years.

six years. He was first hired following former athletic director Edward Hegmanns retirement in 2012. Tyler served as the athletic director for West Virginia Wesleyan before coming to UMW. Tyler served as the athletic director for several significant events in the department. Some of these events included the addition of a men and women’s golf program to the list of varsity sports at UMW, as well as the addition of two athletic department vehicles to aide in the recruitment process for coaches.

A less positive happening during his tenure was the release of a Washington Post article concerning discrimination on the women’s basketball •TYLER | 11

In the past two years, the dean of the UMW College of Business has received 12 student complaints about their professors according to a Freedom of Information Act request.

Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, also known as FERPA, these records are private and therefore students who are not directly involved cannot know the outcomes of the complaints. Because of FERPA, other students to whom these cases might be relevant are not privy to the information and the nature of the complaints or even the professors involved.

Students have voiced frustration about this policy, saying it inhibits them from making informed choices about which professors to take or whether anyone responded to these complaints.

“I feel that it’s not fair that students don’t have access to statistics regarding how students’ complaints are handled,” said senior business major Savannah Syms.

Others say that they understand the privacy concerns involved but still wish they had the opportunity for better understanding what happened, even if the records were redacted.

Regardless, investigating the process of how these cases are handle provide a window into the judicial process for complaints against teachers and brings up questions about whether it is fair.

HOW CASES ARE HANDLED When students file general complaints against professors, they first submit a written complaint to the academic unit head, whether that be the department chair or the program director.

The academic unit head will then meet with the student involved, the appropriate faculty member, and any direct supervisors if needed. Throughout the whole process, the academic unit head will create a summary of the steps take to work towards a resolution which will be copied for the student and any relevant faculty member. Should the student be dissatisfied with the outcome, he or she can appeal to the college dean as according to Appendix D of the Faculty Handbook.

“I think most would suggest that the process is fair because of the appeals processes built into both policies,” said the acting dean of the college of business, Ken Machande.

If a case still doesn’t reach resolution, then it can be appealed to the State Council of Higher Educa

•COB | 2

Why some students take a greater leap towards success even after receiveing a higher education

Ester Salguero Contributing Writer

Patrick Tompkins, a Rappahannock Scholar and advisory board member for the program, knew from a young age that he wanted to go to college to live out his mother’s dream.

Angel Archie, Tompkins mother, worked three jobs to support their family in King and Queen County, Virginia.

She was finishing out her studies at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College to become an upper respiratory therapist when she passed away. It was three months from when she was expected to graduate. Tompkins was 11 years-old.

“That has always been a thing for me that I keep in the back of mind, that I would go to college just to finish a step that she didn’t get to finish,” said Tompkins, who now studies business administration.

He graduated from high school with a 3.7 GPA and was admitted to several colleges around the country, a feat that was impressive to his fellow students at King and Queen Central. But he wasn’t sure if he could afford to go.

Then his guidance counselor told him about the Rappahannock Scholars Program, which might allow him to get a full ride to the University of Mary Washington. Six of these scholarships are given to under-represented students

IN THIS

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each year.

The Rappahannock Scholar program also takes on students who receive some aid, but not full scholarships. Tompkins is grateful for the opportunity he received at Mary Washington. Now as a senior, he works to provide counseling to incoming freshman who are a part of the scholars program.

But Tompkins knows that the opportunity he was given is a rarity for students in his position. While the school is committed to admitting more students from underrepresented groups, it doesn’t always happen.

According to an ongoing study, called the “Equality of Opportunity Project,” the University of Mary Washington admits fewer low-income students than other schools in the state. Only two of every 100 students on campus, or 1.3 percent, have parents from the bottom 20 percent of the income distribution at Mary Washington.

For reference, at Marymount University and Mary Baldwin University, 10 percent and 7 percent of students have families from the bottom 20 percent.

Some reasons for this low rate of admission include the reputation that the school has for being mostly white and having fewer social activities, which deters students from enrolling.

As well as relatively few and hard-to-navigate financial opportuni-

LEAD LYDIA

Ester Salguero / University of Mary Washington

Patrick Tompkins is a UMW senior and a Rappahannock Scholar. Six scholarships from this program are given to under-represented students each year. ties, unlike the Rappahannock Scholars along with data spreadsheets explaining Program, to help underrepresented stuthe rates and numbers calculated for this dents who otherwise wouldn’t have the project, which are updated every year. It means. was designed by professors at Stanford, WHERE UMW RANKS Harvard and Brown.

The “Equality of Opportunity ProjThe study is interested in determinect” investigates the number of low-ining students’ rate of upward mobility, come students who are admitted to uniwhich is calculated by figuring out the versities around the country and what fraction of students who come from their chances are for upward mobility. families in the bottom fifth of income Since 2011 there have been multiple distribution and find- •EQUALITY | 10 papers published through this project, ing out which of these

INDEPENDENT STUDY

GOT SERVED

Lydia Hundley stars in upcoming “Medea” production.

Independent study courses don’t replace actual classes.

UMW tennis falls to Carnegie Mellon.

LIFE | 6

VIEWPOINTS | 5

SPORTS | 12

NEWS

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

College of Business experiences twelve complaints BLUE & GRAY towards professors in two year span PRESS THE

•COB | 1

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 Kelly Emmrich

SECTION EDITORS NEWS Meaghan McIntyre

tion of Virginia. In the past several years, no cases from UMW have reached this point.

This might be because the parties were satisfied with the conclusion. It could also have been because they didn’t want to take the time to pursue their issues further, according to procedure outlined in Appendix D of the Faculty Handbook.

THE PUBLIC RECORD As stated, the documents that are produced are never made public due to privacy issues.

According to Marty Morrison, the director of media and public relations at UMW, the University of Mary Washington does not keep such a record of the outcomes regarding student complaints against professors. The only documents that exist are the files that build the cases, and those are kept private in accordance with FERPA and will not be released to the public.

T h e documents can only be released when they reach the level of the State Council of Higher Education of Virginia.

“Students can fill out of a Freedom of Information Act request to The State Council of Higher Education of Virginia pertaining to a certain school and complaints against that school,” said the director of private postsecondary education at the council, Sylvia Rosa-Casanova. “When the student requests this information, we redact all personal identifiable information from the records and release that information to the student.”

Rosa-Casanova has been working at the State Council of Higher Education of Virginia for 10 years and when asked about the student complaints about professors reaching the council level, she said she had seen one case at most.

Most of the cases fall into a specific category rather than general student complaints implying that student complaints may involve specific policies rather than just the professor.

Rosa-Casanova set up the database in 2007 and has been cataloging cases since then. Most of the complaints fall under financial aid, financial, administrative or academic. For students interested in finding out ethics disputes, complaints that have reached the State Council of Higher Education of Virgin-

ia that are of ethical nature are categorized under ethics in the administrative complaints.

If students cannot find the information they are looking for through the council, their inquiry may never be an-

“I feel that it’s not fair that students don’t have access to statistics regarding how students’ complaints are handled.”

-Savannah Syms swered. The university may have more documents and records than the council because not all cases leave the university level.

Students have one more option for researching the outcomes of how a school at the university handles student complaints about professors.

Students can contact the Fredericksburg General District Court and asking if there are any documents pertaining to student complaints about professors.

“Our website is public record and may help with this kind of research,” said clerk of court Laura Hatch.

WHY MORE RECORDS AREN’T OPEN The Virginia coalition for open government explained the details about how FERPA applies to schools.

Institutions such as schools are not required to release private records in accordance with Section §2.2-3705.4 of the Code of Virginia which states that individuals will not have access to “scholastic records containing information concerning identifiable individu-

“I know I’ve had teachers who have said they’ve changed things because of feedback they have gotten.”

-Emily Keehan

Izzy Briones

VIEWPOINTS Ginny Bixby

LIFE Lauren Closs

SPORTS Ryan Brauch

ONLINE Es Hethcox

PHOTO Cayley McGuire

Kyrstiane Urbaniak

ment Megan Rine.

Filling out a Freedom of Information Act request for all records that regard student complaints against professors in the UMW college of business will be rejected even with a request to redact all personal and identifiable information.

OUTCOMES Morrison later denied the request to create such a document that would record the nature and the outcomes of student complaints about professors in the College of Business.

“Even if the department were to create a record despite the limitations of FOIA, the individualized nature of complaints and complaint resolutions are such that no document could be created with purely aggregate, non-identifiable information,” said Morrison.

“Any such information is consequently exempt from disclosure and, further, prohibited from release under FERPA.” STUDENT REACTIONS Students currently enrolled in the college of business revealed their reactions to not being able to have access to documents pertaining to the outcomes of how the college handles student complaints about professors.

“There should be public record because it allows for other students to know that the complaints were acknowledged and worked to a resolution,” said Syms. “If the complaints aren’t reported, it makes the school look suspicious.”

Others say that it’s enough for the records to be available to the student who are involved in the dispute, if not the larger population at the school.

Still others say that they feel like they can speak openly in course evaluations of a professor, which are read by multiple people. This relieves some of the secrecy in handling the dispute cases.

“There should be public record because it allows for other students to know that the complaints were acknowledged and worked to a resolution.”

-Savannah Syms als, except that such access shall not be denied to the person who is the subject thereof, or the parent or legal guardian of the student.”

“The university has chosen not to disclose information because the entirety of the document could be identifiable information,” said a representative from the Virginia coalition for open govern-

“I know I’ve had teachers who have said they’ve changed things because of feedback they have gotten,” said senior business administration major Emily Keehan. “I think it is also up to the teacher’s discretion and not necessarily the college to document that kind of thing and make those decisions.”

CORRECTIONS for THE Week FACULTY ADVISOR

In last weeks sports article ‘Women’s rugby wins close match with William and Mary’, the final score was incorrect. The final score was actually 41-38. Also, the head coach’s name was misspelled. Their name is spelled Kabza.

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

Sushma Subramanian

2

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

SPORTS

UMW rowing teams ready for warm weather as their season begins

JOHN WRAY Staff Writer

As the University unthaws from a very cold and rainy winter with only one good snow day in the books, the campus is ready for spring and to feel the warm weather again. Some of the most excited students on campus are the ones that are involved in spring sports. The UMW men’s rowing team is beyond thrilled to be getting the warm weather back during the day but more importantly during the morning at practice time. The crew team has been on the water for a few weeks now and have been paving the way to have a successful spring season. Many students believe the team practices on the Rappahannock River, however it is much too rocky and it would end up being a Titanic story.

The team practices at Hope Springs Marina which is about twenty minutes north depending on the traffic. It is an inlet off the Potomac River with a lot of room for the crew team to practice. In order to get to Hope Springs on time the team has to get up at the crack of dawn with the stars. They must walk across

campus to get into their stylish UMW vans.

A typical practice day for the team would be getting up before 5am to make it to the Alvey parking deck by 5:15 a.m. and then leave in the vans by 5:30. They get to Hope Springs around 5:50 and try to be on the water by 6 a.m. The stars are still out at this point but the boats all have a bow and stern light so the Coach and other boats out on the water can see them in the dark. Water practice lasts about 90 minutes. The crew team had a rough start to the season with their first race but are looking to make a strong comeback in the upcoming weeks. They have two races left this season and are in high hopes of doing well at both of them. One is on the 14th of this month, it is the Kerr Cup in Philadelphia on the Schuylkill River. The last one is also in Pennsylvania but not in the same place.

The regatta is called MARCS and it is on the 28th of this month in a town called Lewisberry on Pinchot Lake.

The races are 2000 meters long and

last about six or seven minutes. They may be a short time to some people but it is a very painful six minutes.

It is not new news anymore that Ken Tyler, the Athletic Director, is being replaced. This caught the attention of many athletes and had them wondering what was going to happen to their respective sport.

The crew team was especially shocked about this happening but did not look at it as a bad thing. Co/Captain Kyle Moran is the teams only senior and has rowed all four years since he has been at UMW. As an incoming freshmen, Ken Tyler took away the teams varsity status which hurt the teams funding substantially.

Rowing and Rugby are in the same category as high liability sports, which means the athletes are at greater risk of injuring themselves. For example, in the colder weeks it is important for the rowers to stay safe because in the event that the boat flips they are in danger of hypothermia and shock from the

frigid water. This means the University is required to cover the team with insurance, but in return does not give them much funding to support the sport.

Rowing is an expensive sport to have and the team itself, due to so little funding, has to pay out of their own pockets to cover a majority of the fees.

The boats and oars alone that the crew team uses cost thousands of dollars each.

So, with the looks of a new athletic director, the crew team is excited and hopeful at the possibility of getting back their varsity title and more funding to support the team.

Rowing team practices on open water UMW Rowing Facebook

2018 Masters kicks off in exciting fashion KYLE CLARKE Staff Writer

Once a year, the best golfers on earth gather in Augusta, Georgia to compete in the most coveted golf tournament of our time. Augusta National is one of the most punishing golf courses in the United States, with greens faster than lightning and fairways that seem to get narrower every year. This course, can bring the best out of few, and worst out of many.

This year however, seems to have more eyes than ever on the Masters.

Is it because of golfs upcoming prodigies like Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth and Rory Mcllroy. Or perhaps its due to the familiar faces, that are taking their last shot for that notorious green jacket.

One face in particular, that has captivated the media’s attention, is Tiger Woods. His apparent “comeback” has media heads salivating at the very sight of him holding a club. Since his departure from golf (due to his ongoing back injury & foot problems) he has made multiple attempts at a return to golf, and has sparked the question every time “is he back?” This question does not however refer to him being able to participate on the PGA tour again but refers to him being able to dominate the golfing world like he once did.

Having won 14 major tournaments, (2nd all-time) right behind Jack Nicklaus, it’s no wonder people are pandering for even the slightest glimpse of the “old” Tiger to return. But these unreasonably high expectations have left many fans disappointed time after time. And with his recent 2nd place finish at the Valspar Championship, it got fans even more excited at the thought of a Masters win for Tiger. Tiger Woods was once even the favorite to win the Masters this year, in front of much more capable and recently successful golfers.

These incredibly high expectations set by the media, have once again left fans depressed and saddened, with Tiger finishing tied for 26th and 1 over par. After playing Saturday, Tiger said “I just haven’t gotten it done” when referring to the way he’s been swinging of late. He also added, “It’s been scratchy this week. My swing’s just off with my irons just at the wrong time.”

While Tiger has been mainly absent in this Masters, the younger upcoming players have been dominating the field, with Patrick Reed (-14), Rory Mcllroy (-11) and Rickie Fowler (-9) in the top 3 going into Sundays play. Patrick Reed as

it stands now, is going for history at the Masters. Reed has now shot 3 consecutive below 70 rounds and is heading for his 4th, which has never been done in Masters history. Not even Jack Nicklaus or Tiger Woods have accomplished a feat like that, with their combined ten Masters wins.

Last year’s Masters winner Sergio Garcia, didn’t even make the cut this year, after posting an astronomical 13 on a par-5. That score, ties a Masters record for the highest score on any hole. This high score was mainly due to him hitting the ball in the water 5 times in a row on the 15th hole, which threw him out of contention for a repeat of last year’s Masters win. He will however, have to stay for the end of tournament festivities and present this year’s Masters winner with his green jacket, due to him being the 2017 Masters winner.

No matter who comes out on top in this year’s Masters tournament, we are seeing the future faces of golf take center stage in a dominating fashion.

And while we may never see the likes of Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson dominate to the level they once did, we can look forward to seeing what’s in store for the eventual icons of golf.

Rory McIlroy watches the ball after a putt

Tiger Woods admires his shot

BBC

Bleacher Report

Weekly Scoreboard baseball

Apr. 10 @ Christopher Newport (L) UMW: 0 CNU: 5

softball

Apr. 5 @ Wesley (W) UMW: 1 Wesley: 0

Men's lacrosse

Men's Lacrosse

Apr. 11 @ Christopher Newport (L) UMW: 5 CNU: 8

Apr. 14 vs. Salisbury TBA

women's lacrosse

women's lacrosse

Apr. 11 vs. Christopher Newport (W) UMW: 14 CNU: 10

Apr. 14 @ Salisbury TBA

baseball

Apr. 14 @ Salisbury TBA

softball

Apr. 14 @ York (Pa.) TBA

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VIEWPOINTS Independent study courses are just an excuse for the University not to offer certain classes MILEN MEHARI Staff Writer

During my three years at the University of Mary Washington, I have declared and switched five different majors and minors.

I am not indecisive, just hyper-conscious of my right to curate my academic career.

As a rising senior, I am majoring in English and women and gender studies (WGST) and minoring in digital studies.

I have always been interested in studying theory, so naturally, I came in wanting to be a philosophy major. And after my first semester, I was implored to also major in English and WGST because I wanted to explore the theoretical standings in those fields as well. I continued in this triple major path until the spring of my sophomore year. By that point I was halfway done with my philosophy major, but I had become disenchanted with the program, tired of taking courses about old white people, just so I could get to my senior year to do one independent study on a non-Eurocentric topic.

It was at this point when a graduating friend of mine said to me, “you don’t have to major in it if you don’t want to,” and after that conversation of clarity, I dropped the major.

After two years of identifying as a triple major, and admittedly loving the preten-

tious feeling it gave me to say so, I had become problematically attached to that title. So when I dropped philosophy, I decided to add on sociology, thinking, it would fulfill my desire of theory study from diverse theorists. And this for the most part was true, however, the major did not challenge me in the ways I hoped it would. Thus, that too had to be dropped.

In the process of dropping sociology, I picked up a minor in digital studies. This partly still had to do with pride, but also because at the turn of my sophomore year I became hyper-aware of the importance of digital fluency and my lack thereof.

While I am currently very satisfied with my academic decisions, there is still a nagging in my belly, part frustration and part content. During my senior year I will be taking 6 independent study courses, exploring topics I am thoroughly excited by with professors I admire greatly. Yet—I am disappointed that not until my senior year will I get to take a course in my field that is exclusively centered on the African continent.

Throughout the years I have seen a few African-labeled classes offered in other departments, but it is the same one or two courses taught every other semester. In

Violent video games do not cause people to be violent in real life BRIAN SWEENEY Staff Writer

Video games are a great means to escape the real world and reality.

Delving into a game’s world, visiting different worlds to explore, and following through stories in games that requires either saving the world from a meteor that’s capable of destroying life or taking down monsters to ensure the safety for people to live in harmony can be a fun getaway from real life.But, the real question is: Do violent video games really encourage violence in real life?

Violent video games tend to raise more interest to other players to try out and experience things that normally people wouldn’t do in real life, whether it be stealing cars and causing destruction to people and property in games like Grand Theft Auto or progressing through the story while killing nightmarish creatures using guns or knives like in Resident Evil or Dead Rising.

These violent video games are fun for some people, but given how good the

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graphics in games are today, seeing realistic blood and gore and how detailed and character deaths could be sickening and wrong to some players. Gamers who play violent video games know and recreating certain actions in games into real life can harm or kill a person, and they don’t plan on doing these things. In addition, gamers have enough common sense not to do these things in real life and still continue to play violent video games, while maintaining the divide between what is real and what is made up.

Senior Robert Klink is a gamer himself and plays violent video games sometimes during his spare time. “[Arguments about violence in video games] are majorly false, for the most part,” said Klink. “[I don’t] see video games promoting violence, even though there are violence in video games. Like from my experience, from my friends, who copes with stress in life... [playing video games] helps prevents them from

addition, African friends of mine that have taken these courses have told me they are not worth taking, citing the problematic teaching methods of some white professors. African course options are limited in their topics, departments, and general reliability.

In fairness, the University is not advertised as a hub for African studies, nor is it an HBCU, or even a large institution from which we can expect a great diversity in course selection. Recognizing this truth, I began to scheme early in my academic career to take as many independent study

Milen Mehari/Blue & Gray Press

courses as I could, some broadly covering the African continent and some specifically on Eritrea, my home country.

While the University’s independent study options are alternatives to issues of limited course selection, I do wonder if they are just temporary fixes. While this may not apply to my case of wanting greater access to African courses, and I recognize the demand-supply relationship that is present here, it does still speak to the lack of diversity in academia.

causing violence, if they didn’t have anything else in life to vent their frustration when they have troubles.” In his response to having the urges to be violent Medium in real life, Violence in video games is a controversial topic. he simply answered actuality, violent video games doesn’t “no”. really affect one’s psychology.”

Playing video games to help cope with Huppuch continued, “studies have stress or to handle one’s frustrations shown that playing video games are a is a good way to do so, but is playing great way to relieve stress, instead of ena violent video game to handle stress courages violence. Again, it is based on and frustration a healthy way to relieve [each] different individual’s view on viostress? lent video games. Playing video games, Jacqueline Huppuch, a senior, is also in general, helps relieve my stress other a gamer who plays violent video games, than cause it and hurt others. In fact, but for a different reason. In her rethe video games I play are about saving sponse to whether video games encourpeople and making a difference.” age violence in real life, she answered, In her own views, playing video games “It really depends on the person, on a is a form of escapism that doesn’t hurt case-by-case basis, and, definitely not. I one’s mental health and mostly brings feel that people ‘poke’ at it as a scapein people as a community. As more goat for people who assume that ‘people violent video games come out and grow who do these kinds of things in violent in popularity in years to come, they will video games are a bad person’ or ‘that continue to be a way to “escape” the real [he or she] does those things in games world and be in a place where one can would do these things in real life’ but in do whatever he or she wishes.

Thursday, April 2018 Thursday, January 21,12, 2015

VIEWPOINTS

Editor: Ginny Bixby | blueandgray.views@gmail.com

UMW smoking policy should be reviewed and enforced MACKENZIE HARD Staff Writer

When we walk to class, we usually expect to breathe clean air. But throughout my time at Mary Washington, I have noticed that more people are smoking on their way to class or outside of the academic buildings and residence halls.

The biggest place where students tend to smoke is along campus walk, which is the main route that many non-smoking and smoking students use to get to and from classes. Personally, I hate being stuck behind someone who is smoking with no way to get around them while on campus walk.

In June of 2015, the UMW smoking policy was revised and reviewed. According to this policy, “smoking is prohibited in all buildings and UMW and State vehicles, and that the right over the nonsmoker to protect from smoke his or her health takes precedence over an individual’s desire to smoke.”

So why are there not more designated smoking areas on campus? Why are

non-smokers still being put at risk of secondhand smoke?

Throughout campus, there are smoke poles where student smokers can throw away their cigarette butts.

The biggest issue with these poles is when students do not extinguish their cigarette before putting it into the pole. There has been a significant number of times when I have seen students stop to put out the cigarettes by dumping water from their water bottles into the poles. If the cigarette is not put out before going into the pole, then there is a higher chance of the other cigarettes lighting. Next thing you know, we have an entire smoke pole filled with Sarah Louise Kinsella/unsplash.com lit cigarettes.

UMW policy prohibits smoking in all campus buildings.

Within the same UMW smoking policy, there are also “general procedures for implementation” listed.

These are all causes for concern and this library? Are they still within 50 feet of the One of the biggest ones is that “smoking doesn’t even include the risk that it poses building? is not permitted within 50 feet of any for nonsmoking students who have allerAccording to the Center for Disease residential, academic, or administrative gies, asthma, or heart and lung conditions.

Control and Prevention, more than 15 buildings.”

I hope that smokers on campus realize and of every 100 US adults aged 18 years or But what if a smoker is passing the older were currently smoking cigarettes in are aware of the health risks that they are

Admissions/umw.edu

UMW Campus Walk

2016. But despite the slight increase that I have seen on campus, national smoking has declined from 20.9 percent in 2005 to 15.5 percent in 2016.

Tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of death and disease in the United States. Cigarette smoking has killed more than 480,000 Americans each year.

But secondhand smoke is not a big deal right? Well, that’s not true, because more than 41,000 of the 480,000 cancer related deaths are from exposure to secondhand smoke. The American Cancer Society (ACS) even has secondhand smoke classified as a “known cancer-causing agent by the US Environmental Protection Agency, the US National Toxicology Program, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer.” Secondhand smoke is known to be the cause of many diseases and health conditions - there could even be a possible link to breast cancer.

taking on personally, but also the danger that they are putting non-smokers in through secondhand smoke.

Being stuck behind someone who is smoking on campus walk, especially in the tunnel by Vocelli’s or on the Eagle Landing bridge, is both disgusting and rude.

I believe that UMW should do another review of this policy and either add more measures to it or further implement some of the measures that are currently in place.

The addition of measures like putting up signs that signify where designated smoking areas are, signs to remind smokers to put out their butts, and restrictions for where on campus walk smoking is or is not permitted, would greatly help this campus. And I am sure that non-smokers who are just trying to get to class would greatly appreciate smokers smoking in designated areas.

Staff Ed: Resources are available for survivors during Sexual Assault Awareness Month

By THE BLUE & GRAY PRESS EDITORIAL BOARD

April marks a month of nation-wide observance of the issue of sexual assault, and University of Mary Washington organizations are working hard to spread awareness through events and educational workshops across campus.

While these events may bring attention to an issue which affects members of the UMW community, the signs and announcements around campus may cause distress UMW students who are survivors of assault.

As these events occur across campus, it is important to bring attention to the

resources available to students.

The UMW Talley Center offers individual counseling from 8a.m.4:30p.m. on weekdays to students. For more information contact their office at (540) 654-1053 or visit Lee Hall room 106 or the Tyler House.

While the Talley Center is the most

convenient for students, they do not offer services to students outside of Project Sanctuary their scheduled times.

However, there are various resources in the Fredericksburg area that students can access if needed.

The Rappahannock Area Community Services Board (RACSB) provides

community members with 24 hour crisis intervention. Contact (540) 373-6876 for more information.

In addition, the UMW Campus Police are available to students at any time.

While they may not be able to provide counseling immediately, they are able to assist students in a number of ways. Contact them at (540) 654-1025.

As events to raise awareness about sexual assault continue, the Blue & Gray Press urges students to remember the resources available to them and take advantage of them if they are needed.

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LIFE

Editor: Lauren Closs blueandgray.life@gmail.com

Lydia Hundley plays Medea in latest main stage production LINDSEY BROWN Senior Writer

Lydia Hundley, a junior theatre major, has been involved in theatre since grade school. Her mom is a theatre teacher, so Hundley was bound to get into theatre at some point. Once she started listening to show tunes, Hundley says it made her want to audition for her middle school musical. She took on her first role when she was in the eighth grade. Hundley has portrayed a variety of different roles during her time in theatre including Jane in “Tarzan,” Rosie in “Bye Bye Birdie” and Drood in “The Mystery of Edwin Drood.”

Hundley’s favorite show was “The Addams Family Musical,” where she was in the ensemble.

“It really was a big family.” said Hundley, “The show really included everyone. Even though I was in the ensemble, I really felt like a pretty big part. It was just such an inclusive show.

There was so much singing and dancing, and it was really just fun.”

Hundley prepares for an audition by researching the entire play or musical.

She learns as much as she can about the characters that would be good roles for her. She even learns about characters that she would not be able to play, in order to understand the characters that she could potentially play.

“You really have to have a knowledge of what is happening in the play in order to have a good audition,” said Hundley.

When asked how she immerses herself into a character, Hundley explained the struggles with the character Medea. Medea is a mother and is also very manipulative.

Hundley has nothing in common with Medea’s character, so she found becoming this character to be difficult.

“Medea switches into these different things. She comes across as bipolar a little bit. It’s very strange,” said Hundley.

One trait that Medea has is strength, which Hundley says is the only thing she feels she has in common with the character.

“Her strength throughout this entire show is unbelievable.

There are a lot of strong women in my life. They have this resistance to the struggles they have faced. Medea has this wall up where she doesn’t let people who hurt her affect her, because she is going to get revenge.”

Hundley feels the character that got her out of her comfort zone was Drood. “Drood pushed me to be a person who wants to be the center of attention. I am a very self conscious person. My first entrance I had to walk out on stage with my arms in the air and smile so people would applaud for me. That pushed me a lot as an actor because I was Lydia Hundley ’19 as “Medea.”

Geoff Greene / UMW Theatre

not used to that at all. I feel like its what helped me lead up to getting the part Medea.”

Hundley feels like the character Medea has helped her grow as an actor. “I have a lot of trouble being big. Now through the rehearsal process, the director [Helen Housley] has helped me so much. She has made comments on how I have grown. This show has pushed me to be big, and push myself. I used to not be able to make any variation with how I said things. She has pushed me to take risks as an actor. And I think I have become a better actor from this.”

Housley shared her thoughts about Hundley’s role. “I thoroughly enjoyed working with Lydia on “Medea,” said Housley.​ “Medea is a very complicated character with many facets to her personality. Lydia has given much thought and energy to her portrayal of this woman, building a character that runs the gamut from endearing charm to brutal cruelty and everything in between.

It has been gratifying seeing Lydia grow in her interpretation and characterization of Medea and I'm sure the audience will appreciate the complex woman Lydia has created for this production.”

“Medea” will run from Apr. 12 to Apr. 22 in Klein Theater.

“Ready Player One” wows pop culture fans in print and on screen of the planet has become a desolate wasteland filled with slum cities.

However, the people of the world find escape and happiness in the OASIS, a massive virtual reality where people can do anything they want and be anything they want, even famous pop culture characters. Before he died, the creator

overcome three special challenges that were hidden in the OASIS would inherit Halliday’s video game company and his When I first read Ernest Cline’s entire fortune. The protagonist, Wade famous novel “Ready Player One” about Watts, otherwise known as Parzival four years ago, I immediately fell in in the OASIS, decides to take on the love with it. The book is riddled with challenge of finding the egg. Together allusions to movies, TV shows and video with his closest friends, he attempts to games, as well as other aspects solve Halliday’s three challenges and of pop culture, particularly find the egg before a sinister company from the 80’s. As someone can find it and use Halliday’s fortune who greatly appreciates pop for their own corporate agenda. culture from the late twentieth The movie is an absolute century, I had a great time wonderland for pop culture fanatics. reading through the book and Throughout the film, characters from recognizing the references to video games and movies appear in some of my favorite movies and the background. It was always fun video games, as well as learning when the main characters would be about some new ones that I had talking to one another, and all of a never heard of. sudden Batman or one of the Ninja When I learned that Steven Turtles would just casually walk by Spielberg, one of my favorite behind them. In fact, there are so directors, was going to be many cameos that you most likely behind the film adaptation, won’t spot them all during your first I was extremely excited at viewing. However, the main focus first. However, I became is on the characters from the novel, skeptical once the trailers and Wade Watts and his best friends commercials were released. It Artemis and Aech. Although their seemed like the movie wasn’t characters aren’t quite as well fleshed going to have the same depth out as they are in the novel, they’re of character and adventurous still pretty well developed and are spirit that the book had, and able to carry the story, and the film’s was mainly going to market actors do a good job portraying them. itself on nostalgia, as well as The films’ main draw is in its modern trends. But after seeing visual spectacle. All of the OASIS the movie, I can safely say scenes are CGI, which makes most that the film version of “Ready of the film look like an animated Player One” is proof of two movie. This works to the movie’s things. One, the movie proves “Ready Player One” was released on Mar. 29.

Wikipedia. advantage, as it really makes the that modern trailers never do OASIS feel like a virtual video game their movies justice, and two, that film of the OASIS, James Halliday, created world where anything can happen. It adaptations can be just as good, if not a contest in which all OASIS users also allows the film-makers to make the better than their source material. could compete. Halliday hid a special action sequences a real treat to the eyes.

The film has the same basic premise “Easter Egg” somewhere within the vast All of the action scenes are so hyper as the book. In the year 2045, most multiverse, so whoever could find and and intense that they make you feel like

HARRY FISHER Senior Writer

you’re actually playing a video game.

While there is a lot going on in these sequences, and some might say that they feel cluttered and confused, I personally found them highly entertaining, and I can’t wait to see the film again to catch what I missed the first time.

In relation to the book, I found that the movie didn’t do as well of a job at fleshing out the characters as the book did. Some characterizations in the movie felt rushed. Also, Halliday’s challenges in the book felt more mysterious and intriguing, and it seemed like the main characters had to be clever and have a lot of gaming skill in order to beat them.

In the movie, solving the challenges basically just means figuring out some incredibly simple riddle, and then suddenly, boom, you win. Because of this, the characters’ victories in the book feel rather underwhelming. However, the movie is able to be a lot more visually appealing simply because it’s a movie rather than text. This makes you want to watch the movie multiple times to try and spot everything you missed, whereas the book doesn’t really give you any reason to read it more than once.

Overall, as a fan of both the book and the movie, I would say that they’re great for different reasons. I highly recommend going to see the movie as it has great acting, fantastic visuals and special effects and all around great direction from Spielberg. However, I also recommend giving the book a shot after you see the movie, to learn more about the characters and their motivations, and to see all of the small details that were left out of the movie. Overall, “Ready Player One” is an incredibly fun and well-thought-out story, as well as a love letter to pop culture fanatics, whether in print or on screen.

Thursday, April 12, 2018

LIFE

Then & Now: how campus has changed over the years

E. Lee Trinkle Library was built in 1941, named after a former Governor of Virginia. Here, it is captured in 1950. The road running through campus can be seen in front of the building. It became an academic building in 1989 when Simpson Library was built.

“Then” photos from UMW Archives

Named for Anne Hill Lee. the mother of Robert E. Lee, Lee Hall was built in 1951.

It is pictured here in 1967 when it was an administrative building.

Trinkle Hall as seen in 2018 with a few additions such as a handicap accessible ramp and railing. Campus Walk can be seen where the road used to be.

“Now” photos by Griffin Bower

Lee Hall pictured in 2018. Changes can be seen to the staircase in front and the flags across the top.

I was inspired to do a "Then & Now" photo series of campus after learning that Campus Walk was once a road in an Intro to Planning class I took last semester. I found pictures on the old road on the UMW Digital Archives page online and also an adorable picture of Dean Alvey. Having a class with Dean Rucker this semester, I asked him if he would be interested in posing for a picture for my project. I have always loved "Before and After" themed things and I don't know of a better way to capture the progress and development of a campus than through photography.

Later renamed for Dean Edward Alvey Jr., North Hall was built in 1990. Here, Dean Alvey poses in front of the residence hall in 1991.

Dean Cedric Rucker posing in front of Alvey Hall in 2018.

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Weekend Events

Thursday

• Islamic Cultural Celebration Keynote Banquet – Qasim Rashid @ Chandler Ballroom, University Center, 6 p.m.

• Medea @ Klein Theatre, 7:30 p.m.

• UMW Spring Concert @ Anderson Center, Doors open 7 p.m.

@theBlueandGray

Friday

Saturday

• FRIDAY NIGHT OUT: Medea @ Klein Theatre, 5:30p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

• 28th Annual Multicultural Fair @UMW campus, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

• Pitch Perfect 3 @ Monroe 116, 7 p.m. 9 p.m.

• Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle @ Monroe 116, 7 p.m.- 9 p.m.

• Medea @ Klein Theatre, 7:30 p.m.

• Medea @ Klein Theatre, 7:30 p.m.

• Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle @ Monroe 116, 10 p.m.- 12 a.m

• Pitch Perfect 3 @ Monroe 116, 10 p.m. 12 a.m.

BlueandGrayPress

Sunday

• UMW Jazz Festival featuring UMW Jazz Ensemble, with special guest Chris Vadala @ Dodd Auditroium, All Day • Medea @ Klein Theatre, 2 p.m.

The Blue & Gray Press

LIFE

Is Downtown Fredericksburg safe? Prof. Pineda releases new novel JESSIE WHITMER Staff Writer

GARY KNOWLES Senior Writer

Is heading from UMW to Downtown “I personally do not feel unsafe,” Fredericksburg making students feel said O’Grady, “but I do feel much more uncomfortable? Some students love comfortable going downtown with heading downtown and will make the another person or group of people. I walk every day, but some students have feel like having a car and being able concerns that need to be discussed. to drive downtown instead of walking “I feel completely comfortable going also reduces a lot of stress about safety to downtown,” said sophomore Abby because I personally do not have to Cassell. “I usually walk there since it’s walk on some of the secluded streets. I so close. The only time I feel unsafe is also would not feel comfortable going late at night, but as long as I am aware downton during the later times of the of my surroundings and don’t make silly evening because I would not be as aware mistakes/choices, I am fine. It is a small of my surroundings. Seeing emails from town and if someone were to notice the school about recent events, like that I was in harassment, trouble, I feel do make me as if people fear going would help.” online, but Cassell said luckily I that the only have never time that she experienced felt unsafe was anything that at nighttime made me fear – do others for my safety feel more when going uncomfortable downtown.” at night time?

Sophomore Griffin Bower / The Blue & Gray Press. Reina Irby Does one have to consciously make sure that bad further emphasized the notion of choices are not made in order to be safe downtown being unsafe during the night. downtown?

She said, “Downtown is very safe during Junior, Kelsey Phillips, responded the day, but being down there alone at in a completely different manner. “I night is not something I would ever want agree with other students in that I do to do. A good majority of downtown not always feel comfortable walking is bars and as a girl being around downtown, said Phillips. ”Especially drunk strangers sounds like a bad mix. as a young woman in today’s society, I However, as long as I was in a group, I feel like I have to constantly look over do not think I would feel unsafe. I have my shoulder if I am walking alone. been alone at night downtown before and Once, I was meeting with some friends it gave me a panic attack because all of for dinner after dark and had to park a the people in the dark alleys. Safety in few streets over from the restaurant. I numbers I think would be the best policy called my dad and talked to him on the when navigating downtown.” phone until I got to the restaurant and It appears that students feel safe then to my car safely. I did this because during the day, but night time is a I have experienced men catcalling different story. Since Fredericksburg is at me multiple times in downtown a college town, students should be able Fredericksburg and even following me to to enjoy the shops and the atmosphere continue the harassment.” without feeling scared. Taking Similarly, junior Kelly O’Grady precautionary measures like going with a responded that her main fear of going group or using the RAVE Guardian app downtown is being alone can help.

Beautiful things happen when you could walk out of Pearl’s life. view life as poetry. You reach something Dox and Fritter’s story seems to intangible, raw and moving. Jon Pineda, parallel Pearl’s and Pearl’s mother’s a creative writing professor at The story. In both cases the parent, Dox and University of Mary Washington, does Pearl’s mother, leave. Luckily for Fritter, just that in his new novel “Let’s No One his father comes back. While Pearl is left Get Hurt” that was released on Mar. 20, wondering what happened to her mother.

2018.

The central thread of abandonment The novel follows young protagonist continues with Pearl’s dad and his Pearl as she wades through life in the alcoholism. Her dad’s relationship with deep South. Her family is a rag-tag alcohol divides the two characters in bunch made up of Dox, Fritter and ways that make Pearl sometimes feel left Pearl’s father. The three men and Pearl behind even though he never really left live in a shack like her mother. near a river The story Pineda that belongs to weaved together someone else. through Pearl The novel’s creates a brilliant divided structure coming-of-age story into small that goes from one sections of small, innocent detailed prose girl not being can be confusing able to put down at the start of her beloved dog, the book. The Marianne Moore, sections often into someone who switch time is ready to take on and place, or whatever is thrown simply continue at her. the same Along with Shyan Murphy / The Blue & Gray Press. scene as the abandonment, previous section at a further point in its Pineda brings up topics such as racism, progression. understanding, gender, mental illness Despite this, Pineda weaves together and self-esteem. These issues follow the past, present and future in ways that Pearl as she navigates the confusing life walk the line of experimental fiction. of squatting in a shack with three older Pearl’s journey shows that the past never men and constantly wanting to fit in with stays there, and its tendrils creep up on people her own age, which is something us when we least expect it. she never quite achieves.

Pearl’s main qualm with the past is the One of the most remarkable things abandonment of her mother. She tries to about Pearl is that she doesn’t fit into reconcile how her mother could have just the tomboy role, nor does she come off got up one day and walked out on her as a girly-girl. Indeed, Pearl knew what and her father. Pearl goes back and forth she was talking about when she narrates, between wanting her mother and refusing “I’m a poem no one will ever translate.” to become her.

Despite that statement, Pineda does The dynamic of abandonment that a pretty good job translating Pearl and Pineda presents plays out in other her world onto paper. The result is ways throughout the book after Pearl a character who never quite fits into introduces the concept. Pineda’s poetic a specific gender role or stereotype, attention to detail makes the reader but one who exists in all of them frequently wonder when someone else simultaneously.

Peanut Chicken (serves 4) Ingredients: 1 box of pasta (whichever kind you prefer) 1 package of chicken breasts (4) 1 package of “A Taste of Thai Peanut Sauce Mix” 1 can of coconut milk (lite or regular) 1 bunch of green onions Sriracha (optional)

As college students, we are all always looking for cheap options for dinner. Sometimes, it is nice to switch up our options instead of eating Ramen, Easy Mac or ordering from Vocelli’s for the third time in a week. The following recipes are some of my favorites and will offer you fairly quick, affordable and satisfying meals. All of these meals will serve at least 4 people, which could offer a fun night of roommate bonding. I grew up eating these recipes, and as I grew older, my mom taught me how to make them. I definitely recommend these to any college student looking to change up your dinner menu.

ResHall Recipes

Directions: Begin boiling water to cook your noodles. While noodles are cooking, chop and sauté green onions in a frying pan. Clean and dice chicken and add to the same pan. Cook thoroughly, until all (or most) of the water is cooked out of the pan. Add the entire contents of the peanut sauce mix to the chicken, then add the entire can of coconut milk. Simmer on low for about 15 minutes, or until sauce beings to thicken. Optional: add some sriracha for more spice. Serve over pasta and enjoy.

Spanish Noodles (serves 4+) Ingredients: 1 package of wide egg noodles 1 large can of diced tomatoes 1 package of ground beef (or turkey) 1 sweet onion 1/2-1 cup of water 1 jar of chili sauce (Heinz or similar) Bacon bits (optional)

Recipes by Miranda O’Connor

Wine Chicken (serves 4) Ingredients: 1 package of chicken breasts (4) 1 bunch of green onions Bread crumbs Grated parmesan cheese (about ¼ cup) Salt (to taste) Pepper (to taste) 1 stick of butter ½ cup white wine (or cooking wine) Aluminium foil

Directions: Preheat oven to 425. Clean chicken. On a plate, combine bread crumbs, parmesan cheese and salt and pepper to taste. Roll the chicken in the bread crumb mixture until completely covered. Lightly grease a baking dish, and arrange the covered chicken breasts. Bake, covered with foil, on 425 for 25 minutes. While the chicken is baking, prepare the sauce. In a small saucepan, melt butter, then add the wine; bring this mixture to a boil while stirring constantly (low heat). At a boil, add chopped green onions. Uncover the chicken and add the sauce, dispersing evenly. Continue to bake chicken, uncovered, for 10 minutes or until golden brown. Serve alone, or with a side of your choice.

Directions: In a large frying pan, combine meat and onions. Sauté until thoroughly cooked. Add entire can of tomatoes (with juice), entire package of noodles, jar of chili sauce and enough water to allow this mixture to boil. Cover and simmer on low for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Optional: add bacon bits to taste. Serve hot.

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NEWS

Mary Washington experiences low mobility rates for low-income students compared to other Virginia Universities

•EQUALITY | 1

students make it to the top 20 percent range in the years soon after graduation.

Compared to Marymount University, which has a mobility rate of about 3.4 percent, Mary Washington has only a 1 percent mobility rate. This is in large part due to the school’s low rate of admission for low-income students to start with. Marymount has an 8.1 percent advantage over UMW in the amount of bottom quintile students that they admit, making their mobility rate higher.

Marymount’s average parent household income is about $91,000 as opposed to UMW’s $133,800. Their median child earnings after graduation are $35,800 and UMW’s students are likely to make up to $50,000 dollars after graduating.

Interestingly, low-income students who come to Mary Washington do well after leaving. Roughly 60 percent make it to the top 20 percent. Marymount’s number, in comparison, is 27 percent.

This disparity, however, may just be because of Mary Washington’s small sample size.

Several factors contribute to these numbers. Here, we look at a few.

THE BURDEN OF LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGES Liberal arts colleges are generally smaller and have less student tuition funds to keep them afloat, so they often require more external financing from private donors than campuses with larger populations. One way they do this is through endowments.

Endowments are the money universities raise and invest to secure their long-term financial status. This is also where full-ride scholarships come from.

So, when the size of an endowment is low, fewer low-income students can attend.

According to the UMW Common Data Set, a collection of statistical information about the student population put together by every higher education institution, between fall 2014 and fall 2017 the average total reported endowments received by the university amount to about $1 to $1.7 million dollars.

By comparison, in 2017 Marymount’s endowment was about $2 million dollars, according to their own Common Data Set numbers.

Statistical analysis provided by the “Equality of Opportunity Project,” shows that there are more students admitted to colleges from the top 1 percent of the economic income distribution range than from the bottom fifth quintile. This is possibly due to students being unable to support themselves through their first year of higher education and very few universities have the funds to ‘level the playing field.’

Regardless of whether universities admit more high-income students or low-income students, generally, higher education is supposed to be the equalizing variable. Many students who attend college end up reaching higher income brackets when they graduate.

Schools that can get those students from the bottom fifth to the top 1 percent are usually Ivy-League universities, because they have the funds to admit students regardless of need.

A non-profit transparency organization known as “Open the Books,” aims to disclose spending records of institutions at all levels of government. Re-

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This table shows the top 10 colleges in Virginia by mobility rate, and how May Washington compares to them.

cently, they conducted an investigative research project divulging the amount of government money that goes to Ivy League colleges.

What they found was that, because these schools are registered as nonprofits, they don’t have to pay taxes on these endowments. The organization created an imaginary timeline, they calculated how much money was gained and how it might be used, to show how this money could increase if a tax reform is not established. According to the study, there is only a 1.4 percent tax on endowments to universities like Yale.

WHY GENDER MIGHT MATTER What is not as clear, however, is how gender plays a role in endowment funds to universities and whether this role has any relationship to why low-income students may not receive admission at the same rate of other schools. For Mills College, a women’s institution, the university draws in large endowment funds and has a high rate of upward mobility that measures at 3.28 percent in comparison to UMW’s one percent rate.

Mills College has a demographic of 32 percent first-generation undergraduate students of which 40 percent are eligible for Pell grants and a highly diverse student body, according to the Vice President for Institutional Advancement, Jeff Jackanicz.

“My intuitive hunch is that women’s colleges’ endowments range from large to small for the same reasons that coed institutions’ endowments range from large to small,” said Jackanicz.

Mills received a generous amount of funds in endowments this year which totaled $183 million, a significant portion of those funds go towards scholarships for students. Jeff says that there are many factors which contribute to the varied amounts of endowment funds for different liberal arts institutions.

The size of the school, geographic location, historic religious affiliation and institutional priorities all need to be included in figuring out how to close the income gap.

“Sometimes schools that have historically been funded by a particular religious order have a hard time raising

funds because alums assume the church is still funding it in full and some schools focus on raising ‘current use’ funds instead of endowments,” says Jeff. In other words, there are many factors.

A few theories have been discussed among development officers at higher education institutions. One factor that has been considered is women’s salaries which have historically been lower than men’s.

EXPANDING OPPORTUNITY According to the Office of Financial Aid, in May 2014 students received $3,049,248 million in university financial aid, which increased to $6,191,128 million since then.

Along with the Rappahannock Scholars Program, UMW has the James Farmer Scholars Program that is very similar. The program assists students from the beginning of seventh to eighth grade and encourages students to academically prepare for college. Only twelve students from each of the four counties of Caroline, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania and Westmoreland, are selected into the program.

There are other scholarships on campus that address the opportunity gap such as the Dorsey Scholarship, given to UMW in 2008 that amounted to $1.1 million dollars. Each year a minimum of five full-time undergraduate students of diverse backgrounds, including race, ethnicity, culture, socioeconomic status, disability, religion and geography are eligible to receive the scholarship.

According to the university’s assembly speech for the 2017 fall semester President Troy Paino, said there are approximately 18 percent Pell Grant eligible students that attend the University of Mary Washington.

Federal Pell Grants are available to students through FAFSA and are distributed based on need. Need base is determined by calculating how much the student’s parents can contribute to financial aid and how much the cost of attendance is for a given institution. For the class of 2019, 43 percent are underrepresented students. Meaning 43 percent come from one of the listed locations or demographic areas listed above.

The school has other ways to de-

Ester Salguero / University of Mary Washington

termine whether it’s reaching out to as wide a pool of students as possible, separate from the goals of the “Equality of Opportunity Project.” They use separate measures to determine whether a student comes from an underrepresented population.

Not all these students come from low-income backgrounds. They include both low-income or economically disadvantaged students, and first-generation students, minority groups or students coming from certain urban areas.

For example, the school considers students who come from farming communities, mountain communities and communities from the Northern neck area of Virginia, where there is a high rate of poverty as underrepresented populations. These students might not fall into the low-income bracket.

“It’s not that they’re all low-income based [but] it could be that they are disadvantaged because they are coming from an area or a high school where they didn’t have opportunities,” says Heidi Hunter, director of Financial Aid at Mary Washington.

To decrease the opportunity gap even further, Hunter says that resources need to be established at the state level. When a student comes from a high school that is lacking in resources that translates to how well a student will do in college.

“A student who is prepared, might find it difficult but a student who is unprepared will find it that much more difficult because they didn’t have counselors, or they didn’t have special tutoring, or all these other pieces [and they] end up coming to a college campus and floundering,” said Hunter.

Tompkins believes that the university could put more effort into admitting and keeping underrepresented students.

For him and his friends who started the program, it was tough to relate to most students on campus. The transition was difficult, but he still recommends and advises possible incoming students from Central High School to come to Mary Washington because it is likely that they wouldn’t find a better opportunity financially.

Thursday, April 12, 2018

NEWS Student Government Beat Monday, April 9 - Friday, April 13 Executive Cabinet Mondays at 5 p.m. in the UC Capitol Room SGA is currently in a transition period to train the newly elected members and conduct the changeover to the 2018-19 SGA. During this time, please direct all inquiries or concerns to president@umwsga.org or info@umwsga.org, and we will point you in the right direction!

•

Motion 03.28.01 was not passed.

For more information, visit umwsga.org or contact info@umwsga.org

Student Senate Wednesdays at 5 p.m. in Monroe 116 • No new legislation was passed by the Senate.

For more information, visit umwsenate.org or contact vp@umwsga.org.

DETAILS PROVIDED BY MATTHEW GOOD

Allison Tovey / The Blue & Gray Press The Zen garden is already gaining a lot of attention, even before its official opening.

Mixed feelings over Tylers dismissal •TYLER | 1

team. In a April 2017 to talk to,” said Bennett. “When he was article of the Blue and threatening to stop the riding team, he Gray Press it was revealed would never answer our questions; he that there were “disheartening actions always danced around the answer. It taken by leaders in athletic department.” seemed that if you were not apart of a Many student athletes appeared to “popular” sport, it was hard to get his have an opinion on the situation, but attention.” Bennetts’ quote was in refvery few were willing to comment on erence to a situation that occurred last the record. According to some varsity Spring when negotiations with Hazelathletes they were advised by coaches to wild stables threatened the fate of the not say anything on the record.

Equestrian team at UMW.According Senior, Historical Preservation mato the aforementioned Free Lance-Star jor and captain of the Men’s Crew article about the announcement, “Head team, Kyle Moran said, “His concerns women’s tennis coach Patrick Catullo are obviously towards the bigger sports steps in as interim AD, and longtime like basketball Eagles coach and the like.

Dana Hall will “I had no idea this was Because of chair the Dethis the other of coming and was not given any real partment smaller sports reason. Needless to say, I am shocked Health, Athletseemed to get ics and Physiand disappointed...” lesser treatcal Education.” ment. All and When Hall -Ken Tyler all I am sure he was reached wanted what out to about was best for the school but some of his questions concerning the direction of decisions did not reflect that.” the department and some reasoning beFor looking to the future Moran nothind this decision she referred back to ed, “I hope that the athletic department the University’s official statement. takes this as an opportunity to move forLittle news has been made public ward and improve.” about the future of the Athletic DepartJunior Business Administration mament. According to the Free Lancejor and member of the equestrian team Star article, “UMW will hold a national Sam Bennett had similar sentiments search for its next athletics director this about Tyler. summer.”

“Coach Tyler was always very hard

Progress is made towards UMW Zen Garden opening

Sarah Goodnough Senior Writer

Over the first weekend of April, Gardens Unlimited Bonsai Nursery, the design team working on UMW’s Zen garden, solved a major drainage issue to prevent rainwater from washing down into the amphitheater construction area.

The area behind Trinkle Hall where the Zen garden is being built slopes down a steep hill that leads directly to the amphitheater. This is problematic because it causes rainwater to wash down into the construction area.

“This has been a major problem for erosion the whole time that Trinkle has been here,” said UMW Assistant Professor Dan Hirshberg. “This [area] is like a trough that collects all the water from the upper part of campus and runs right past here around this corner.”

Bob Chilton and Todd Stewart with Gardens Unlimited solved this issue by creating a stone waterfall at the corner of Trinkle Hall descending down the hill toward the amphitheater.

They built it in such a way to remain as aesthetically pleasing as the rest of the garden while still preventing massive amounts of drainage from washing into the construction. They maintained the aesthetic appearance by placing two Japanese white pine trees atop the waterfall to transform it into a miniature mountain scene.

“They came up with this in different stages with the larger rocks, these river stones, coming around representing water coming down and then they put in these trees,” said Dr. Hirshberg.

In addition to the newly planted trees and waterfall, the Zen garden consists of three large boulders, several smaller ones and a hand built bamboo fence to hide the nearby air conditioning

Thursday, April 12, 2018

units. Chilton and Stewart have worked to ensure that the garden is as authentic as possible by sourcing the materials locally and designing things by hand. The pine trees were acquired from a nursery in Northern Virginia, the bamboo was sourced from a local Virginia forest and the boulders come from Tennessee.

“All of the stones have to be natural,” said Dr. Hirshberg. “They come from a few different sources but the big ones came from the mountains of Tennessee and have been sitting at a specialized garden store in Virginia for a while.”

Two of the boulders weigh four tons and the smaller of the three weighs two and a half. The tallest one represents a mountain and, when looked at through the windows of the Leidecker Center for Asian Studies, aligns with the view of the bell tower.

“They were just placed ever so perfectly, inch by inch,” said Dr. Hirshberg. “It has such a perfect correlate for the bell tower.”

Despite its unfinished state, the Zen garden has already attracted a number of visitors. Students from Trinkle Hall are drawn outdoors by the noticeable stones and are able to hang out in the partially constructed space.

“It makes this spot a lot prettier,” said Hollis Pultz, a junior computer science and mathematics double major.

“It’s a very welcoming space.”

Since the project began in the fall of 2015, the Leidecker Center has sponsored the construction of the Zen garden. The center was founded in 1998 by the Mary Washington College Board of Visitors in honor of the late Kurt F. Leidecker, a professor of philosophy who taught at Mary Washington College from 1948 to 1973. After his death, he left his estate to the university and it

was used to form the Leidecker Center for Asian Studies.

Dr. Medhi Aminrazavi is a professor in the department of classics, philosophy and religion and the co-director of the Leidecker Center. He was the first one to suggest building a Zen garden on campus.

“For some time, I thought a Zen garden would not only beautify the campus but also provide an educational opportunity,” said Dr. Aminrazavi. “The Zen garden is not merely a garden, it is the crossroad between landscaping and spirituality, simplicity and discipline and provides an opportunity to familiarize students with Buddhism in general and Zen Buddhism in particular.”

Dr. Hirshberg, a Buddhism specialist, is the center’s associate director. He was inspired by Japanese art and gardens to explore the idea of implementing Dr. Aminrazavi’s idea.

“Japan is unique in having these modes of aesthetic practices, paths of working with beauty that also lead to enlightenment,” said Dr. Hirshberg.

These elements are being applied to the Zen garden.

While it is meant to be an aesthetically pleasing space, it also functions as a space of meditation and contemplative practice.

“The garden itself really represents our UMW and, in general, liberal arts interest in multiculturalism as a fundamental value,” said Dr. Hirshberg.

“Likewise, our wellness initiatives here are trying to support our students to live a life with less stress and anxiety, greater empathy, attention and so on.”

Between private donors and the UMW Foundation accounts held by the Leidecker Center, the project has received most of its funds; however, as of now, the project is only half funded and

there is still work to be done.

“Funding has come from a variety of sources,” said Dr. Hirshberg.

“The Leidecker Center itself is right now one of the primary ones. We’ve had a number of private donors but we’re still seeking fundraising.”

One of the ways funding is being reached is through the Giving to Mary Washington initiative, where people can donate to specific causes across the university. Some students are getting involved by offering to help out with the Zen garden once it is finished.

“Students have mentioned interest in helping maintain it and that’s a good thing because it’s a ton of work and right now that’s all on me,” said Dr. Hirshberg. “We’ll incorporate it into the meditation courses. They’ll be doing practice out there anyway and there’s a sense of mindfulness and action, and the garden will be ideal for that.”

The Zen garden is continually evolving under Chilton and Stewart’s design.

In the coming weeks, crushed marble will be spread across the area around the boulders so that it can be raked into traditional patterns. A large stone lantern will be added along with plants and temple bells to represent sound and knowledge. The opening ceremony and dedication is scheduled for June 2 to coincide with Reunion Weekend. By then, the Zen garden will be finished, provided that additional funding comes through.

“Soon, the campus community and the Fredericksburg community will see what an authentic Zen garden looks like and students will have a chance to study its symbolism,” said Dr. Aminrazavi.

“The late Professor Leidecker would have been pleased to see how much his original endowment has accomplished.”

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SPORTS

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

UMW tennis teams fall short against Carnegie Mellon

ANTHONY BENSON Staff Writer

On Saturday, April 7, 2018, the University of Mary Washington tennis team hosted Carnegie Mellon University.

Carnegie Mellon University, located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has the ninth best tennis team in the nation in DIII, outranking Mary Washington’s team by ten places, who sit at nineteenth place.

The Carnegie Mellon Men’s Tennis Team would win the match against the Eagles, defeating them with a score of 6-3, and CMU’s Women’s Tennis Team won against UMW’s Women’s team by a closer margin of 5-4.

Going into the matches, the Eagles were optimistic, although they understood the difficult challenge that they would encounter against a team ranked as highly as Carnegie Mellon. An added challenge that both of the teams faced was that the matches had to be moved indoors due to inclement weather when they had originally been planned to be played outdoors. This slowed down the speed of the matches, since there are only six indoor courts in the tennis

center, as opposed to the twelve outdoor courts.

Emily Bowerman, a freshman on the women’s tennis team, commented on their match against Carnegie Mellon, saying, “The top twenty teams always are competitive between each other.”

Bowerman added, “Even though there isn’t an official rivalry between us, there is still a bit of a rivalry there.” When speaking about the team’s preparation for the match, Bowerman said, “I am confident going into the series. Practice has been good, and the team has put their hearts into preparing for the match.”

Bowerman also commented on the fan support, saying that “There is always a good parent turnout, although there usually isn’t as much fan support,” and she also said that their alumni day was a particularly good day for fan turnout.

Cole Tecce, a freshman for the men’s tennis team, commented on their opponents on the day, Carnegie Mellon, saying, “These guys are number nine in the country, and they are really good”,

adding “I’ve seen all of these guys play before, and they want to win this as much as we do.” Tecce also commented on the games being moved indoors, and when asked whether or not it made a difference to play indoors, said “The courts are definitely faster, and the ball goes around the court much faster than outdoors.” Tecce also added, “I don’t think it’ll change things that much, because home court advantage is home court advantage.”

After the match, the Men’s Tennis Coach and Director of Tennis, Todd Helbling, stayed confident in his players and expressed that there were positives to take from the match. “We lost the match 6-3 to the number nine team in the nation, Carnegie Mellon. I thought we played very well.” Helbling said. “In singles, Matt Miles played the number two player in the nation and went the distance, and then we lost two other really close matches and won one tight one.”

Looking forward towards the rest of the season, Helbling said that their goals

for the season remain the same after the defeat to Carnegie Mellon.

“We still have several big matches against nationally ranked teams and then CAC finals. If we keep working hard, we expect to play our best in the CAC’s and try to win the championship. We have had a great year to date and we plan to keep working and finish strong.”

The result against Carnegie Mellon saw the Men’s Tennis Team’s eight game winning streak come to an end, and the Women’s Tennis Team lost after a fourgame winning streak. Now, the Men’s Tennis Team sits at a record of 15-3, and the Women’s Tennis Team currently has a record of 10-4.

The Men and Women’s tennis teams will look to bounce back in their next matches, with the men facing off against Franklin and Marshall on April 14, and the women facing St. Mary’s in Maryland on April 15.

Rachel Summers with the follow through

UMW Athletics

Cole Tecce prepares for a swing

UMW Athletics

Michael Flemming with the forehand

UMW Athletics

Brittany McBride goes for a big backhand

UMW Athletics

Thursday, April 12, 2018

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