THE
BLUE &GRAY
THE UNIVERSITY OF MARY WASHINGTON STUDENT NEWSPAPER
October 19, 2017
VOLUME 91 | ISSUE 7
PRESS
SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE
1922
UMW Health Center is understaffed OLIVIA BRIDGES Senior Writer
UMW, a predominantly female university, was without a female practitioner at the Student Health Center for several weeks. According to UMW physician and Director of Student Health, P. Thomas Riley, MD, the current female nurse practitioner and Associate Director of the Student Health Center, Heidi Simpson, took an extended leave. Simpson was on leave for several weeks to take care of her mother who lives in California. The exact number of weeks Simpson was gone from the health center was not disclosed. Simpson returned to UMW’s health center on Monday, Oct. 9. During Simpson’s leave, Riley attended to female patients. “In Heidi’s absence, our Women’s Clinic registered nurse, Danielle Hollandsworth and I have started and renewed birth control prescription and dealt with female issues,” Riley said in an email. “All health care practitioners are trained to provide care for all patients no matter the gender.” Riley is a Board Certified Family Physician of 41 years. Due to Riley’s experience as a family physician, he said he felt comfortable stepping into the roles normally performed by a female nurse practitioner. “Personally, I don’t think there is a huge issue with the female practitioner being gone, especially because she is back on campus now,” said junior Sarah Myers. “I grew up with a male
doctor… So I am comfortable seeing a male doctor even about women’s issues.” Many female students agree. They did not have a problem with Riley caring for females during Simpson’s absence. “As long as the male is capable of doing their job and as long as the females aren’t uncomfortable with it, I don’t see a problem.” said sophomore Rebecca Parise. While some students were comfortable with their only being a male practitioner on campus, others held a different opinion. “I prefer to see a female doctor because they know more about me than a male,” said junior Sarah Ebsworth. “That is just my personal preference, I prefer to see a female practitioner, but if the male was there I would be completely fine with it.” The majority of male and female students shared a similar opinion on this issue. They felt that the main problem was whether or not women would be comfortable with a male practitioner. “I know a lot of people that wouldn’t be comfortable with telling a male practitioner about certain things,” said junior Nabel Mriza. “If more people are comfortable with it or more people are uncomfortable with it than the schools should do something to change it.” Despite the health center not having a female practitioner for several weeks, many students were unaware
“I prefer to see a female doctor because they know more about me than a male.” -Sarah Ebsworth
•HEALTH CENTER| 2
UMW has over 1000 bikes registered to students on campus.
Cayley McGuire / The Blue & Gray Press
Students confused when bike pump disappears from UC ALLISON TOVEY Staff Writer
The bike pump located by the University Center was taken away for repairs earlier in October. The university’s original goal was for the pump to be fixed and back at the University Center by the time students returned from fall break. John Wiltenmuth, UMW’s Associate Vice President for Facilities Services, said, “the
pump was reinstalled last week after a new concrete base was constructed.” Students started to notice that the bike pump was not working properly for weeks leading up to the pump’s disappearance from the University Center. “I have been using my bike on campus for the past two years because my car is not always reliable,” said junior Rona Randall. “So when I saw that the bike pump had •BIKES | 2 been removed, I
“It’s frustrating if only one of the pumps is working, especially since they are pretty far apart from each other.” -Mackenzie Hard
UMW athletics new rides
GRACE WINFIELD Staff Writer
Grace Winfield / The Blue & Gray Press UMW athletics recently got two new vehicles for recruitment purposes.
IN THIS
ISSUE
GO GREEN
The University of Mary Washington has recently obtained two new vehicles. Both vehicles have been given to the UMW Athletics department in hopes to expand and simplify the recruiting process for potential players. The Director of Athletics, Ken Tyler, says that the cars’ primary use is to support coaches, of all teams, at UMW in their recruiting travel. Coaches travel frequently to recruit prospective student-athletes all throughout the year; however, it is a difficult task to compete with other university’s when the responsibility and expenses of transportation lie on the coaches themselves. “Having a department vehicle
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means that coaches aren’t piling up miles on their own vehicles or spending money on rental vehicles,” said the Director of Athletics, Ken Tyler. “These cars will save us money and allow our coaches to travel in a more efficient and effective manner.” There are currently only the two vehicles for approximately 40 head and assistant coaches, according to Tyler, so everyone must share and rotate. This is common practice, and not unlike how other university vehicles are utilized by UMW Admissions or Advancement staff. The two cars are a part of a Corporate Partnership with Sheehy Toyota; they provide the vehicles and the funds to pay the lease. Corporate partnerships with local car dealers are very common in NCAA •ATHLETICS | 10
ALL DEFENSE
Goalkeeper Matt Spencer continues his amazing season. SPORTS | 3