The University of Mary Washington’s Independent Student Newspaper Serving the community since 1922
The
Weekly
Ringer
VOLUME 97 | ISSUE 9
November 10, 2023
UMW clubs raise money from bake sales Mary Washington in response to ongoing violence in Gaza continues to honor Day on Democracy
Amanda sheward Staff Writer
From Wednesday, Oct. 18 to Friday, Oct. 21, the UMW American Student Union, UMW Students for Justice in Palestine, UMW Radical Students’ Union and the UMW Muslim Student Association organized a bake sale to raise money for relief efforts in response to the ongoing violence in Gaza. In collaboration, the organizations held two bake sales in the Cedric Rucker University Center and another in front of Lee Hall. In total, the clubs raised over $1,500, and all the donations will be donated to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund. The Palestine Children’s Relief Fund’s mission is to provide free medical care and humanitarian aid to children. According to their website, the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund is currently the primary humanitarian organization in Palestine. When asked about the event, Max Hiznay, a sophomore history major and founder of the UMW American Student Union, said, “Our coalition figured that a multiple-day bake sale would get more attention and success in fundraising.” During the bake sale, the members of each organization baked cookies, brownies and Arab-American pastries like baklava. Students spoke on the importance of the bake sale, as well as their reasoning behind organizing the event. “It is important because Palestinian children are disproportionately impacted by this conflict and the apartheid regime,” said Hinzay about the fundraising event. “This bake sale is to raise awareness of the Palestinian perspective and to, of course, raise money for relief.” On the topic of awareness, Kai Otero, a junior historic preservation major, highlighted the importance of creating a safe and productive space where students can have conversations regarding important topics.
Each organization provided baked goods, such as cookies, brownies and baklava for the bake sale. @umwsjp / Instagram
|2 INSIDE News UMW Day on
THE
RINGER
Democracy offers voting access and information
Latifah smith Senior Writer
On Nov. 7, the University of Mary Washington continued to honor their Day on Democracy tradition by canceling classes on election day to encourage students and faculty to vote. General elections took place on Nov. 7 from 6 The bake sale raised over $1,500, which will be donated to the Palestine a.m.–7 p.m. Participating voters in Fredericksburg Children’s Relief Fund. @umwspj / Instagram were voting for the State Senate, House of Delegates, “It is important to me that I see people at school spread- School Board, City Council, Mayor, Sheriff and Soil ing awareness about Gaza because it creates a safe environ- and Water Conservation Director Tri-County/City ment for students to learn about the events happening in District. the world without the fear of getting judged for not already UMW Day on Democracy was adopted in March knowing anything about it,” said Otero. “It is also super cool 2019 when the university faculty voted to cancel to see my peers that are passionate about it using their voices classes so that students had the opportunity to vote. and coming young activists.” Since then, an array of organizations have worked in Speaking on the news about the Israel-Hamas war, conjunction to organize the event each year, which Amirah Ahmed, a junior political science major and presi- includes providing the information and the means dent of UMW Students for Justice in Palestine, comment- for students to vote. This includes free trolley rides ed on how students should approach the situation and their to various polling locations and promoting the day in duty to be informed. advance through social media, as well as tabling on “It is absolutely, undeniably, crucial that students look at Campus Walk. the news because of how hard it is to look at,” Ahmed said. For the students who may have not been familiar “I would even go as far as to argue that it is every single one with the election process, there were a plethora of of our duties as college students that are privileged enough communication methods that were used to explain to be on a college campus to look at the worst of the news.” what students could do to ensure they could actively On Wednesday, Oct. 18, the first day of the bake sale, participate in their civic duty as voters. there was also a candlelight vigil hosted on the University The UMW Center for Community Engagement Center patio. The vigil aimed to both honor and mourn the sent out an email a week prior, highlighting the neccivilian lives lost in Gaza. Attendees had the opportunity to essary details to facilitate student participation. Such give speeches that were the main part of the vigil. Candles information included what Day on Democracy is and were placed around the steps of the University Center’s main its origins, how to check voter registration status and entrance alongside posters that reemphasized the goal of polling locations. the vigil. Some of the statements observed read, “The world The student organization UMW Votes’ Instastands with Palestine!” and “End the violence.” gram account posted about who was on the ballot. According to the Associated Press, approximately 2.3 mil- UMW Votes also set up tables around campus and lion Palestinians live in Gaza. As of Nov. 7. The Palestinian hosted events on election day, such as “picnic on the death toll since the war began on Oct. 7 has surpassed 10,300, beach” where students could eat on the lawn outside and 4,200 of those have been children. Randolph and Mason Hall and “puppies to the polls” “This cause is everything to me,” said Ahmed. “None of us which gave students the opportunity to pet and are free until all of us are free, and that cannot happen unless spend time with dogs during the day. all of us are taking action to stop this genocide and liberate Palestine.” SEE DEMOCRACY, PAGE 2
Opinion | 3
Life after Mary Washington: Major-specific classes benefit students
Life | 4
Theatre department performs “Matilda the Musical”
Sports | 8
Lady Eagles volleyball team sweeps the court against rivals