The Weekly Ringer

The University of Mary Washington’s Independent Student Newspaper Serving the community since 1922

The

Weekly

Ringer

VOLUME 97 | ISSUE 10

November 17, 2023

Students left frustrated after Panera Bread removes selfservice option for Charged Lemonades following lawsuit

Callie harkins Associate Editor

moved from the main dining area to the kitchen approximately three weeks after the lawsuit was filed. The delay in their The Panera Bread located on the Unirelocation was a result of limited kitchen versity of Mary Washington campus has space, as the area needed to be rearranged issued new warnings and removed the to accommodate the beverage dispensers, self-service option for the highly caffeinthe employee said. ated Charged Lemonades, following guid“The current managers at Panera inance from the restaurant chain’s corporate formed the crew while they were working office. These changes follow a wrongthat the Charged Sips would be placed ful-death lawsuit involving the beverages behind the line in attempts to monitor that was filed on Oct. 23, according to the the consumption of Charged Lemonade,” New York Times. the employee said. “Signs are still posted Panera encouraged increased caution regarding the need for moderation and when consuming the Charged Lemonades to avoid consumption if health issues are after the parents of a 21-year-old Universipresent.” ty of Pennsylvania student filed a wrongIn addition to the removal of the ful-death lawsuit that asserts that the self-service option, signage encouraging Charged Lemonade contributed to their consumers to moderate caffeine intake and daughter’s death. The student, who sufavoid consumption if they are “children, fered from a heart condition, passed away sensitive to caffeine, pregnant or nursing” in Sept. 2022, the New York Times reporthas been displayed around the restaurant. ed.

“Corporate initially contacted manAccording to a UMW Panera employee agement regarding the incident with the who spoke on the condition of anonymity Charged Lemonades within a day,” the to avoid potential retaliation from their employee said. “They informed us of the supervisors, the Charged Lemonades were need for signs to be placed warning about the caffeine amount the Charged Lemonades, and to consume in moderation.

Within the following 2–3 days management was contacted again regarding substantial change needed to prevent this from occurring again.”

According to the nutrition facts on the company’s website, 30 fluid ounces of the Charged Lemonade contains approximately 390 milligrams of caffeine. For reference, the Federal Drug Administration recommends that adults do not exceed 400 milligrams of caffeine daily.

“When the charged lemonades were first introduced about a year or so ago, I had no knowledge of the caffeine content, so I had to look it up online and it shocked me,” said Ciara Wolsak, a junior elementary education major.

Panera Bread introduced the Charged Signs in Panera caution students on their consumption of the beverages. Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer Lemonades in early 2022, about two years

News | 2 INSIDE Health Center

THE

RINGER

offered virtual appointments after water line rupture

Opinion | 3

UMW should implement practices for mental health and well being

The Charged Lemonade was moved from the main dining area to the kitchen following guidance from Panera Bread’s corporate office.

Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer

after the on-campus Panera opened in Jan. 2020. Located on the second floor of the Cedric Rucker University Center, the UMW Panera has welcomed numerous students, staff, faculty and visitors since its opening. Several students go to the restaurant daily, and some go specifically for the Charged Lemonades.

Before the change, Knox McKinley, a sophomore sociology and women’s and gender studies double major, drank two Charged Lemonades a day on average.

However, since the removal of the self-service option, he has stopped consuming the lemonade.

“It has been so inconvenient,” he said.

“As someone with social anxiety, I struggle asking for things. It was much easier to fill my own cup up, but now that I need to ask, I just don’t feel that it is worth it.”

Some customers, like Wolsak and McKinley, preferred the self-service option because of the flexibility it provided.

The self-service option provided consumers the opportunity to dilute the beverage, control the amount of ice in the cup and mix drink flavors.

“The removal of the self-service is a total inconvenience,” said Wolsak. “I like to control the amount of the charged lemon-

Life | 4

Sam Slate masters punk, grunge and metal with Her Majesty

ade I put in my cup with ice so that I don’t react as badly to the caffeine, but now I can’t do that.”

In addition to frustrations from customers, some students highlighted the role of Panera employees and the potential annoyance this may cause them.

“I see it more as an inconvenience for the workers, it’s an extra job they need to perform when Panera workers already have a lot to do,” said Enya Cea-Lavin, a sophomore English and secondary education double major.

According to a second Panera employee who also spoke on the condition of anonymity, it is now the cashiers’ responsibility to fill Charged Lemonade orders.

Because of this, they said, there has been a substantial decline in orders.

“I have definitely noticed a decline, since they were usually like one of, if not the most popular drinks, and now that it’s more hidden I don’t think many people want to ask for it,” the employee said.

“However, I think the biggest change I have noticed is that people very rarely get refills now, because despite them still being free you have to now go up to the counter and get the attention of a worker.”

SEE LEMONADE, PAGE 2

Sports | 8

Senior Daniel Bullock reminisces on collegiate rugby career

News

Friday, November 17, 2023

Page 2

Weekly Ringer Inconvenience lead to choosing other options The

Editorial Staff

FROM LEMONADE, PAGE 1

Both employees stated that most cutomers have been understanding of the new Editor-in-Chief changes and recognize that the decision was Norah Walsh made by corporate, not the UMW Panera weeklyringer.eic@gmail.com employees. Despite their understanding, some customers are still frustrated by the Associate Editors changes.

Callie Harkins “I understand why they removed it but I also think that there needs to be some trust Emma Brennan weeklyringer.associate@gmail.com that students will know what is best for them, and as long as there are signs explaining what is in the drink, people should be News Editor able to have the self-service,” said Ainsley Ky Huynh Lord, a sophomore environmental science weeklyringer.news@gmail.com and conservation biology double major.

Lord purchased the Panera Unlimited

Opinion Editor Margaret Jackson weeklyringer.opinion@gmail.com Life Editor Charlie Li weeklyringer.life@gmail.com Sports Editor Abbey Magnet weeklyringer.sports@gmail.com Online Editor Davy Washington weeklyringer.online@gmail.com Photography Editor Abbey Magnet weeklyringer.photos@gmail.com Faculty Advisor Lindley Estes lestes@umw.edu

Advertisement Please direct all advertising inquiries to Norah Walsh at weeklyringer.eic@gmail.com.

Corrections Please report any corrections to Norah Walsh at weeklyringer.eic@gmail.com or Lindley Estes at lestes@umw.edu

Bell tower logo designed by Bernadette D’Auria ‘22

Sip Club last year primarily for the Charged Lemonades. According to Panera’s website, the Unlimited Sip Club subscription costs $11.99 a month and grants subscribers “any size drip hot coffee, hot tea, iced coffee, iced tea, Charged Sips, lemonade or fountain beverage every two hours during regular bakery-café hours, including free refills of the same beverage.”

Prior to the removal of the self-service option, Lord drank one 30-fluid-ounce cup of Charged Lemonade a day. Now, she often drinks two 20-fluid-ounce cups of the Charged Lemonade or finds caffeine elsewhere.

“Instead of getting one large lemonade a day I feel pressure to get a small because someone else has to fill up the cup,” she said.

“That results in me drinking more coffee, or ordering two separate lemonades a day instead of filling one up in the morning.”

McKinley agreed that students are finding caffeine elsewhere instead of posing an inconvenience to the Panera employees. He believes that the removal of the self-service option is not effective in regulating students’ caffeine consumption and merely leads students to other caffeinated beverages instead.

“We as students are not drinking less caffeine. We are only sourcing our caffeine through other beverages,” he said. “In my personal experience, I just drink the Panera coffee instead. So, we are not drinking less caffeine, we are just being restricted.”

here,” Wang continued. “We pretty much went virtual Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday [and] Friday. Initially, we thought we were going to open on Thursday, but the drywall were not dry enough.”

Even though their office was closed, the Health Center continued to provide care virtually. They also were available to contact by phone or via email.

Additionally, a list of local clinics was provided in a campus-wide email from Executive Director of University Communications Amy Jessee on Oct. 23. This list was relevant for students who preferred in-person appointments or those who needed in-person care, such as a test for strep throat.

In addition to informing where students could access in-person medical care, the list of local clinics helped students identify additional ways to seek medical help in the area.

“I received the email that the Center operating was affected, and out of curiosity I took a look at the list provided by the Health Center,” said Andrew Kabiri, a senior business administration major. “I wasn’t sick, but now I have a list of local clinics I can attend after my time at UMW.” The Center was expected to resume normal operating hours on Thursday, Oct. 26, but the repairs took longer than expected due to the drywall repair that continued the rest of the week.

In another campus-wide email from Jessee on Oct. 26, it was stated that the Health Center was expected to open on Oct. 30, though there was no follow-up affirming that normal operations had resumed on this date.

According to Wang, the Health Center did resume in-person operations on Oct. 30.

According to the Health Center’s mission statement, they are “dedicated to supporting the academic and co-curricular missions of the University of Mary Washington.” In addition, the Health Center’s mission indicates their aims to address student health needs through which the Health Center “enables students to participate as fully as possible in the classroom, our community and in its cultural activities.”

The Health Center works to fulfill their mission statement by providing accessible and timely primary medical care services to those who are sick or injured. The Health Center also offers preventative services as well, such as allergy shots, sexually transmitted disease testing, physical exams, contraceptive services and even travel consultations. Additionally, by collaborating with the Talley Center, they are also able to provide psychiatric medication consultation.

Health Center transitioned to virtual appointments following water line rupture

Emerson guiterrez Senior Writer From Oct. 23–30, the University of Mary Washington’s Student Health Center’s services were temporarily disrupted due to a hot water line rupture in Lee Hall. As a result, the Health Center moved their appointments online.

Following the closure of their physical offices on Monday, Oct. 23, the Health Center moved the rest of their appointments online, which began on Tuesday, Oct. 24.

UMW Police noticed the water seeping out of the Student Health Center on Saturday night during their rounds, according to Dr. Nancy Wang, the director of the Student Health Center.

“We came in and tried to see students on Monday,” said Wang, describing the Health Center’s attempt to continue their services despite the water damage.

Because the water caused drywall damage, the Health Center remained closed for additional repairs, which resulted in the Health Center having to be closed for longer than anticipated.

Wang described why the Health Center decided to move to virtual appointments in light of the additional repairs.

“The only problem was they had all the fans blowing, so it was like a wind tunnel here,” said Wang. “We had somebody who was nice enough to bring earplugs in and then we had to pull them out so we could hear each other. It was just terrible. The phones were ringing, and it was really loud.”

Not only was the noise a concern for their ability to consult students, but the state of the space was also not conducive to having in-person appointments.

“There was wires everywhere because of the fans. It was a bit of a trip hazard as well as the fact it was a wind tunnel. There was just dust blowing everywhere. We just feel like it wasn’t safe for us to see students in

“The Health Center giving that option show that the Health Center cares about students and is working to the best of their ability.”

-William Andrehsen In the same email, students were also reminded that they should contact the UMW police in case of an emergency.

“I was feeling a bit sick and wanted to go to the Student Health Center. Unfortunately it was closed,” said William Andrehsen, a junior marketing major. “I had the option to do a virtual appointment, but it just seems odd having an online appointment, so I decided not to book the appointment.”

Even though Andrehsen didn’t make the appointment, he noted the Health Center’s attempt to continue service in light of their physical office being closed for repair.

“The Health Center giving that option does show that the Health Center cares about the students and is working to the best of their ability,” said Andrehsen.

Friday, November 17, 2023

Opinion

Page 3

The pressure is on: UMW should implement practices to address student mental health and well-being Harriet King Staff Writer ‘Tis the season of joy and happiness, but students at the University of Mary Washington are feeling otherwise.

The holidays are typically one of the most enjoyable times of the year, especially with winter break approaching.

However, before students are able to rest, there is one thing looming on the horizon that makes winter break seem much farther away than it is: finals week.

“I’m excited that classes are coming to an end, but I am worried about passing two of them,” junior biomedical sciences major Samantha Harms said. ”I’m very stressed about exams coming up and just really need to focus on studying a lot, and put more time into my homework.”

Finals week is stressful in and of itself, but once the added pressures of life outside of academics are tacked on, the stresses of being a student and maintaining a balanced life can be overwhelming.

“The lives of college students and young adults are more stressful than ever,” said Dr. Tevya Zukor, the director and a practicing clinician at the Talley Center, in an email to The Weekly Ringer. “Many students regularly engage in (more than) a full caseload, are members of multiple clubs and activities, and may have additional family and work obligations on top of everything else.”

Zukor continued, “It has been a long time since college students were ‘only’ expected to focus on their academic progress while attending school. This is a recipe for feeling overwhelmed and burnt out.”

“It has been a long time since college students were ‘only’ expected to focus on their academic progress while attending school. This is a recipe for feeling overwhelmed and burnt out.”

- Tevya Zukor On campus, students have a variety of commitments in addition to their academic responsibilities.

Such commitments come in many forms. For example, student-athletes commit over 20 hours of time per week according to Stack. Furthermore, many students work

either on or off campus, and many others are part of the 150+ student-led clubs on campus listed on UMW’s website. These activities, which are common to many college students, don’t even factor in additional stressors, such as being a caregiver for one’s family or applying to graduate school.

Senior nursing major Mary Brunie discussed the challenges of juggling academics, work and extracurriculars.

“Between commuting and school, work, and sports it can sometimes be mentally overwhelming. I find it hard to have the brain power to do my work sometimes coming off of a 12 hour shift and just having to push through,” said Brunie who also commented on the cold weather playing a role in this feeling.

Junior elementary education major Conner Rodgers shared similar feelings, citing the weather change as a contributing factor to his fatigue.

“I think the fall semester is always more hard on me because of the weather changing and the time changing,” said Rodgers, “I do feel burnt out by the end of each week, and feel as though I never get enough sleep.”

In light of these pressures, the concept of burnout is all too familiar.

When asked about academic burnout among his students, Associate Professor of Chemistry Randall Reif discussed how society is changing. He spoke on both the willingness to discuss topics such as mental health and academic burnout, as well as the changes in the pressure being put on our generation.

“I get very passionate to hear about the word burnout, because people weren’t talking about burnout years ago … It wasn’t something I heard, either as a student or at a job,” said Reif. “For me, burnout has always been there.

We just now have a word and a willingness to talk about it.”

“I would make the argument that there are pressures that are being put on this generation of students that did not exist,” Reif continued. “Society has fundamentally changed. And watching that change and being a professor for the last 10 years of it, I’m seeing that change even in my students and the pressures that are on them. I don’t know that they’re greater in the pressures that were there before, but they’re certainly different, and they’re certainly more diverse.”

These factors that comprise a college student’s life have a strong link to their mental health and well-being, and reports show an increase in student mental health concerns.

Students dedicate hours to studying in various locations around campus, such as Panera Bread.

Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer

The results of a Healthy Minds Survey revealed that 44% of students sampled reported symptoms of depression and 37% reported significant symptoms of anxiety during the 2021-2022 academic year. The Survey also showed that the number of students who received professional counseling or therapy increased from 30% in 2018 to 37% in 2022.

“I find it hard to have the brain power to do my work sometimes coming off of a 12 hour shift and just having to push through.”

- Mary Brunie When asked about the number of students seeking help from the Talley Center, Zukor said, “The number of students coming to the counseling center for all services continues to rise. In particular, there has been a marked increase in the numbers of students presenting with anxiety, and to a lesser extent, depression.”

Zukor explained that anxiety has risen to be the number one mental health concern, as it has superseded depression over the past 10 years. He also noted how anxiety and depression often intersect.

“It is actually more common than not for students to be experiencing some combination of both anxiety and depression,” said Zukor.

While there are mental health resources available to students, there are other steps the University should take to help students avoid reaching a breaking point.

It can be challenging to take time out of the day to stop and rest, and many students feel that if they take the time to step back and care for themselves, they won’t have enough time to get everything done each day. Often, I find myself choosing a quick dinner like Ramen over a more elaborate meal so that I can have more time to study, or I skip reading my book in the morning so that I can get just a few extra minutes of sleep.

These seem like small, insignificant changes in the moment, but according to Mental Health First Aid, having a consistent self-care routine helps to reduce stress and anxiety while increasing happiness levels. With a limited amount of time in the day to get everything done, it is easy to scratch off self-care tasks from the to-do list in order to get more “productive” things done instead.

One way that colleges could help address students feeling overwhelmed is through implementing wellness days.

Some colleges, such as Northeastern University, have taken this step, allowing students to take up to two days per semester to care for their mental health, according to NPR. Additionally, other colleges, including Penn State and the University of Illinois, have begun implementing new policies to accommodate students’ mental health, including mental health days, according to the American Psychological Association. These wellness days allow students a way to take a step back and take care of themselves when things are overwhelming.

As the pressures put upon students continue to increase, UMW should follow the example of other universities that are currently implementing these procedures and allow students a few mental health days each semester where the student’s absence is excused and missed work can be made up.

Friday, November 17, 2023

Life

Page 4

Artist profile: Sam Slate masters punk, grunge and metal with Her Majesty band in Virginia

charlie li Life Editor

In the dynamic world of modern music where artists often come and go, Sam Slate stands out not just for his musical talent, but also for his multifaceted role that keeps the band Her Majesty thriving.

As a bass player, occasional drummer and the band’s manager, Slate is a pivotal figure behind the band’s success.

Slate’s journey in the world of rhythms and melodies began at 10 years old when he received a drum set for Christmas from his parents. In high school, he also became a part of his school’s marching band, which helped lay the foundation for his future in music.

Slate’s path to becoming a member of Her Majesty is a combination of both chance and opportunity. According to Slate, he met the two other band members in high school while taking part in an after-school program that was held in a recording studio.

“We drove a lot for that record, we recorded it out of state. But it was the biggest project that we’ve worked on as a group, and it came together beautifully.”

- Sam Slate “I was in there one day, I was lucky enough to be holding a bass guitar trying to learn how to play it, and Felix [Byler] barged into my practice room and was like, ‘Hey, do you want to come jam with me and my drummer?’ And the rest is history,” Slate said.

Along with Slate, Her Majesty is comprised of two other members: Felix Byler and Zora Dulaney. Both Byler

Sam Slate jams out on the bass at a show.

and Dulaney were born and raised in Floyd, Va., a small town in southwest Virginia that boasts a population of just over 450 people. According to Slate, Floyd is known for its incredibly vibrant music and arts culture.

Byler comes from a very musical family, teaching themself to sing and play guitar at a very early age. One of the band’s songs, “Fourteen,” gets its name from how old Byler was when they wrote it.

While Dulaney wasn’t part of a very musical family, she started making her own art at a young age. Because of this, Dulaney is Her Majesty’s chief designer when it comes to posters and merchandise in addition to playing drums and bass.

Currently, the band members reside in different areas, which makes scheduling and Her Majesty’s single “Bile” was released July 19 and appears on their album “State of the Union,” @hermajestyofficial / Instagram rehearsing difficult during which came out Aug. 1. punk rock zest but with shades of such ‘90s pop/rockers the school year. Byler lives in Floyd, Va. where they work, write music and help discov- as Alanis Morrisette.” Additionally, Erik Reyes from Gas er other bands and venues. Dulaney is a full-time student Mask Magazine commented on “Downer,” a song from at James Madison University and works on campus, and their 2020 album “Operator Error.” Reyes wrote, “The voSlate attends Mary Washington where, along with being cal styles here are the main draw, for me, as they harken a student, he also works a part-time job on campus at back to an earlier era of Punk, Rock, Emo, and the various inter-genre gremlins that we all obsessed over in our adDodd Auditorium.

Slate’s contributions to Her Majesty extend beyond olescence.”

Her Majesty released their latest album, “State of the his instrumental talents. As the band’s manager, he is the backbone of their behind-the-scenes Union,” on Aug. 1, which is available on all streaming operations—handling the booking platforms. They also recorded a music video for the song of shows, finances, merchandise “Bile,” which appears on the album.

According to Slate, the band considers this album to sales and social media presence.

His managing role has helped be their “most proud piece of work.”

Slate also mentioned that the newest album took a lot the band navigate the ever-changing world of music by keeping their of blood, sweat, tears and gasoline.

“We drove a lot for that record, we recorded it out of presence well-known. As a result, their music has been reviewed by state. But it was the biggest project that we’ve worked on as a group, and it came together beautifully,” said Slate. several local newspapers.

The band’s next concert is in Richmond, Va. at The Elise McCue from The Roanoke Times described the band as, “full of Camel on Jan. 8 at 7 p.m.

Her Majesty and Bone Machine at a sold out show in Blacksburg, Va. at the Milk Parlor. The band tries to take @hermajestyofficial / Instagram pictures with every crowd they play for a more personal experience. @hermajestyofficial / Instagram

Friday, November 17, 2023

Life

Page 5

Personal essay: Melissa Lamm considers what comes at the end of the tunnel post-graduation

MELISSA LAMM Staff Writer The thought of life after college can cause a lot of anxiety for soon-to-be college graduates. This has been something I think about far too often, especially as I near the end of my college career. Since the age of six, I have been going to school in some way. Now, at 24 and with only one semester left of my university education, I am finally nearing the end of the tunnel.

In college, we were told we can pick any major or minor of our interest and pursue studying for our dream career. And we’re told you can pick from any classes and electives that interest you—as long as they’re available, of course—or else you waste hundreds of dollars taking a coding class when your passions lie with art, just to get your credit hours.

My father gave me three choices before I graduated high school: college, military or “get out.” At that point, I knew I couldn’t afford life on my own yet, I knew I wasn’t built for the military—especially since I was raised by a veteran—and having a degree seemed like a good thing to have under my belt. The problem was I had no idea what I wanted to study or what I wanted to do with my life.

When I take a step back from my life and academic career, I can’t help but laugh at the thought that I have dedicated thousands of dollars, hundreds of hours and countless restless nights getting a degree in hopes that I’ll find a career that will financially support me. However, there are people like my boyfriend for example, who have no college education and earn more than most college graduates after they receive their degree.

So, after three-fourths of my life spent chasing a piece of paper, who am I once I’m done with it all? Of course, I’m still a daughter, a girlfriend, a best friend, an artist, a pianist, a server and more, but I wonder about life on my own, having a full-time career, a house and bills, and I wonder how I’m going to execute doing all of those things on my own.

“Life is pretty bland without people you love by your side, and you can’t have those people without taking the first steps to create a positive relationship.”

- Melissa Lamm I have a lot of anxiety surrounding the thought of adulthood and being independent, especially as my parents get ready to move back to Turkey. When I break down all the little things in life and how much they all cost, like paying for rent living right outside Washington, D.C., car insurance, medical and dental insurance, utilities, phone bills, groceries and my dog, I’m left with nothing and even less to help support myself financially in the real world. Of course, the easiest answer would be to find a better job, but I know myself well enough that I would go clinically insane working a job that didn’t bring me some form of joy and fulfillment.

Currently, working in the service industry is a well-paying job for my current circumstances, but it’s not a career; it’s not something I can do forever. That being said, I love my job and the people I work with, and I’ve learned that one of the most fulfilling feelings is building positive connections. Life is pretty bland without people you love by your side, and you can’t have those people without taking the first steps to create a positive relationship.

Melissa Lamm is a senior communication and digital studies major graduating in the spring of 2024.

Photo courtesy of Melissa Lamm.

So, when I got to college, I had a lot of anxiety trying to decide on a major, knowing it was a commitment. I realized that most adults I knew had jobs that had absolutely nothing to do with their degree, so I chose to major in communication and digital studies because it seemed broad and flexible enough for a career path, whether that be in planning, media, art or writing.

The problem is, that I refuse to work a job that prevents a creative environment and doesn’t give me some type of joy or fulfillment. Similar to my academic work as a student, I know that most of my time will be dedicated to my job once I graduate, so I want to do something I enjoy.

wards a fulfilling experience both in the workplace and in my personal life.

I know I’m not the only college student or young adult who experiences these feelings, but I find comfort in not knowing the plans that life has ahead of me and that everything could change like a flip of a switch.

Although I don’t know what my life will look like tomorrow, after I graduate or 20 years from now, I do know that I want to pursue a creative field, whether that be creating a clothing brand, selling art, tattooing, writing poetry or publishing a book.

Regardless, I’ve learned that life can be unpredictable, and there’s no use in trying to control it all the time. I fully trust that life will always work itself out in the end, and I trust that I’ll find a well-paying career that will support me in life and also align with my morals and personal identity.

“I know I’m not the only college student or young adult that experiences these feelings, but I find comfort in not knowing the plans that life has ahead of me and that everything could change like a flip of a switch.”

- Melissa Lamm My major has taught me not only how to be a better communicator, but the importance of leaving a positive impact on others. As a server, I rely on creating positive connections and building relationships with strangers in order to pay rent and bills. Even despite the obligation to be nice to earn a living in the service industry, I’ve learned that creating positive relationships is the first step to-

Graduating from college welcomes in a whole new world of responsibilities, tasks and hurdles.

Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer

Friday, November 17, 2023

Advertisement

Page 6

Thanks to everyone who supported the Stop Hunger food drive, but especially to the UMW athletic teams, who brought in 6,627 pounds of food!

All donations were given to the Gwen Hale Resource Center and to the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank. Thank you for giving!

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News

Friday, November 17, 2023

Crime Column Ky Huynh News Editor The Crime Column is based on UMW Police reports from Nov. 8 – Nov. 15.

Petit Larceny On Nov. 9 at 2:00 p.m., there was a case of Petit Larceny at Hurley Convergence Center. This case is pending.

Vandalism On Nov. 13 at 11:27 a.m., there was a case of Vandalism at Bushnell Hall.

This case is pending.

Larceny of Bike On Nov. 15 at 10:13 a.m., there was a case of Larceny of Bike at Eagle Landing. This case is pending.

Page 7

SGA launches Eagle Concerns to give students a voice on University matters ky huynh News Editor On Nov. 2, in an effort to facilitate communication between students and administrators, the UMW Student Government Association launched Eagle Concerns, an online form for students to voice their concerns and comments regarding university matters. With this new initiative, students are able to raise concerns directly with SGA whose members then bring it to administrators.

“This is for students, by students. The faculty have their own way to get their concerns to their respective places,” said Jaylyn Long, a senior biomedical science major and president of SGA. “And so this is a respective place for students to get their concerns to SGA, which we then bring to administration.”

The form can be completed anonymously, or students can share their name and email if they would like a follow-up. The submissions are processed using different assessments depending on the concern.

“The process may take a little different paths, depending on what it is like if it’s something with campus PD [Police Department], we can easily [say] ‘Hey, Chief Hall, this is a concern that students have had,’” said Long.

After receiving submissions via the form, the SGA Senate screens responses and assesses them in terms of what’s feasible and who they can reach out to. These concerns are then delegated to one of SGA’s five committees.

SGA’s five committees are: academic affairs; university and community relations; diversity and unity coordinating; elections, appointments, ethics and oversight; and student life and engagement. Once the concern is assigned to a specific committee, members research the matter before reaching out to administrators.

“We try to check it weekly at our meetings,” said Long.

“Senate screens it and push it out to committees.”

In the past, SGA has held different in-person events for students to express their concerns. Despite this, they felt that hosting events such as tablings were not the most efficient ways to receive concerns.

“I wanted a more consistent way for us to do concerns without students having to feel nerve racking about coming to an SGA meeting to get their concerns out, or like chasing down a senator to get their concerns out to an SGA member,” said Long.

There are flyers advertising Eagle Concerns posted around campus with a QR code that links to the form. In addition to physical copies, Eagle Concern information can be found on digital bulletin boards in locations such as the Hurley Convergence Center, Woodard Hall, James Farmer Hall and the University Center. A link to the form is also located on SGA’s Instagram page. In the future, students

SGA offices are located inside the Office of Student Activities & Engagement.

Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer

Flyers advertising Eagle Concerns with the QR codes can be found around campus.

Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer

will be able to access the form via SGA’s website, which is under development.

“We’re just currently working on more ways to get it out to students,” said Long.

Prior to Eagle Concerns, the University already provided a formal way for students to report concerns via the UMW Concern Report. The processing of these reports is similar to that of Eagle Concerns, but the University’s form serves as an incident report, while SGA’s allows students to be more broad.

“I definitely see this new resource as something important for the entire student community here on campus because we now have the ability to easily connect to our representatives.”

- Allen Queen The Concern Report requires information regarding the date, location and nature of the incident. However, through Eagle Concerns, students are able to submit responses without having to include specific details.

“If students prefer to submit their concerns through the SGA, that is yet another good avenue for student government and administration to understand what students need and their concerns,” said Juliette Landphair, vice president for student affairs.

As Eagle Concerns is meant to be a streamlined form of communication for all students, it can be particularly helpful for first-year or transfer students who may be unfamiliar or intimidated by more formal resources such as the Concern Report.

“For any specific major it can be complicated and even scary at times to reach out to someone when you don’t know who that person to reach out to is,” said Allen Queen, a sophomore international affairs major. “I definitely see this new resource as something important for the entire student community here on campus because we now have the ability to easily connect to our representatives.”

Friday, November 17, 2023

Sports

Senior Daniel Bullock reminisces on collegiate career with Mother’s Rugby Ken Nicholson Staff Writer Daniel Bullock, a senior majoring in communication and digital studies stands with confidence and hard work when speaking on the world of rugby. Having begun his rugby journey in middle school at 12 years old, Bullock’s passion for the sport has done nothing but intensify over the years.

Senior Daniel Bullock stands tall for photos on sports media day.

UMW Athletics

While rugby has always been a vital part of Bullock’s life, it wasn’t his initial choice when entering the world of sports. Football took precedence during his formative years, with rugby following alongside it.

Reflecting on his early memories and experiences, Bullock talked about the similarities between football and rugby.

know any of the opportunities it could give me until they came to me,” said Bullock, shedding light on the unseen benefits that unfolded in his collegiate rugby career. He went into rugby being confident in what would come out of the experience.

Bullock is in his fourth year of playing the 8-man position. According to Rugby Pass, this player “is responsible for putting in big tackles, carrying the ball through the defensive line and providing support to the backs.”

This also means he controls and directs the forwards from behind in the scrum, which is a contest used to restart a play that consists of 8 players from each team. In a scrum, the number 8 may extract the ball from the back of the scrum using their hands, and they are the only forward players allowed to do so.

Through this position, Bullock has seen significant growth in his skills and his performance.

“I feel as if my rugby IQ has gone up tremendously over the years, especially in recent times,” he said. “As it increases, the flow of the game gets easier.

This growth on the field has resulted in a surge of meaningful on and off-field connections, as rugby has provided Bullock with a tight-knit community through the brotherly connection he has formed with his teammates.

“The best way I can describe the rugby community is it’s like a brotherhood,” he said. “I love the guys and couldn’t ask for a better group of guys to hit the pitch with every Saturday.”

The official rugby season at Mary Washington kicks off before the fall semester begins, with practices starting in mid-August.

This paves the way for a competitive season that spans from August to November during the fall semester and February to March in the spring semester. The team also plays numerous games both in and out of state.

University of Mary Washington

Fall Sports Schedule and Scores

“It’s been a great 4 years playing rugby. I learned so much about the game, and I just want to wish the guys the best of luck.”

- Daniel Bullock In light of Bullock’s collegiate rugby journey coming to a close, he commented on the profound impact the sport has had on his life.

He emphasized the amount of gratitude he has for the experiences and the friendships he has made both on and off the pitch.

“It’s been a great 4 years playing rugby. I learned so much about the game, and I just want to wish the guys the best of luck,” he said.

Bullock has one more semester left to showcase his talent on the pitch and create any last-minute memories with the teammates he may not see afterward.

As Bullock and his teammates prepare for their next game at Virginia Tech on Feb. 17, the climax of a season filled with hard work, camaraderie and personal growth is on the horizon. Whether on the pitch or beyond, Bullock’s journey through rugby serves as a testament to the transformative power of dedication and passion in the world of collegiate sports.

Abbey Magnet Sports Editor

Men’s Soccer (18-1-2)

Nov. 11 vs. Neumann (3 -1) Nov. 12 vs. John Carroll (3-2) Nov. 18 vs. Washington College Nov. 19 vs. TBA

Men’s Rugby (5-3)

Nov. 11 vs. Southern Va. (39-28) vs. Hampden-Sydney

Field Hockey (10-9)

Oct. 28 vs. Chris. Newport (4-2) Nov. 1 vs. Salisbury, Md.

Women’s Volleyball (28-4)

Nov. 10 vs. UC Santa Cruz @ Salisbury, Md. (3-0) Nov. 11 vs. Salisbury (3-2) Nov. 16 vs. Hunter @ Huntingdon, Pa. Nov. 17 vs. TBA Nov. 18 vs. TBA

Men’s Swimming (3-2)

Nov. 10 vs. St. Mary’s, Md. (160102) Nov. 17 vs. F&M Invitational @ Lancaster, Pa. Nov. 18 vs. F&M Invitational @ Lancaster, Pa.

“The best way I can describe the rugby community is it’s like a brotherhood.”

Women’s Swimming (4-1)

Nov. 10 vs. St. Mary’s, Md. (196-43) Nov. 17 vs. F&M Invitational @ Lancaster, Pa. Nov. 18 vs. F&M Invitational @ Lancaster, Pa.

- Daniel Bullock “The transition over wasn’t that hard because rugby is kind of similar in a way,” said Bullock. “I played both in middle and high school but went with rugby in college.”

Choosing rugby over football in college wasn’t a matter of preference for Bullock; it was a strategic decision based on the many opportunities that presented themselves at the university level.

“I was given an opportunity at more and better money here at UMW and a chance to switch it up when it came to sports. I didn’t

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Games are available to watch via livestream on the UMW Athletics webpage.

Bullock posesses the ball as teammate runs alongside him.

Photo courtesy of Ken Nicholson.

https://at.umw.edu/athletics/ calendar Full schedule not listed above.

Most recent games included.

Bold indicates home game.