Weekly Ringer
Editorial Staff
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Callie Harkins
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Emma Kingkeo News Editor Ky Huynh
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Claire Marshall Watkins
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Life Editor
Grace Wagner
Sports Editor
Thomas Jackson
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Online Editor
Abbey Magnet
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Sushma Subramanian
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Corrections
Please report any corrections to Callie Harkins at weeklyringer.eic@gmail.com or Sushma Subramanian at ssubrama@umw.edu
Some students find AMW courses ineffective
HARSHA RAVURI Staff Writer
The After Mary Washington course requirement aims to bridge the gap between the liberal arts education students receive at UMW and the careers they pursue after graduation. However, not every department offers a major-specific AMW course, so some students have expressed concern that the requirement is ineffective as they complete their degree.
The university emphasizes that it helps students transition from college to the workforce by focusing on career readiness and adaptability. Unlike traditional general education courses, this requirement is meant to be practical. It teaches students how to apply their skills beyond the classroom, whether through professional development, internships or networking opportunities.
Luke Busch, a senior computer science and political science double major, expressed mixed feelings about the requirement. He found the content useful but felt that the execution could be improved.
“I want students to be able to connect the dots between everyday coursework and future employment.”
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Bell tower logo designed by Bernadette D’Auria ‘22
- Emily Crosby
“It didn’t feel like I learned anything,” he said. “An 8-week course would have been a great time commitment instead of a whole semester.”
He also pointed out inconsistencies in workload and expectations among different courses fulfilling the requirement.
Hallie Perry, a senior sociology major, echoed similar sentiments.
“It felt like we just needed to check it off and move on,” she said. “I haven’t really gone back and reflected on the class because it didn’t make much of an impact.”
However, Perry also acknowledged that having a structured requirement for professional development is beneficial for students who might not otherwise engage in career planning on their own.
Emily Crosby, assistant professor in communication and digital studies, supports the requirement’s goal.
“It felt like we just needed to check it off and move on. I haven’t really gone back and reflected on the class because it didn’t make much of an impact.”
- Hallie Perry
“You can enjoy the moment and embrace college life, while also realizing that professional preparation takes time, organization and effort,” she said.
By requiring students to engage with career-focused content, UMW encourages proactive post-graduation planning.
“A big part of college is an eye to the future,” said Crosby. “I want students to be able to connect the dots between everyday coursework and future employment.”
Crosby emphasizes the importance of early professional preparation through internships, workshops and projects relevant to students’ career goals. Her AMW course takes an “Adulting 101” approach, covering financial literacy, job negotiation, cultural etiquette and professionalism.
Employment data from recent years highlights both the successes and challenges faced by UMW graduates.
According to data released by the university, approximately 92% of UMW undergraduates are either employed, attending graduate school participating in a service program or the military within six months of graduation.
The AMW designation was created following a 2018 survey conducted by the General Education Committee that found
recent graduates believed personal and professional development should be more meaningfully integrated into the undergraduate experience.
This feedback, along with other employment data, contributed to the creation of the course requirement. The program was designed to help students explore their personal values, interests and strengths to guide their career aspirations.
However, not every major offers a class that fulfills this requirement. This has caused frustration among those who must find alternative ways to complete it that may not directly align with their professional interests. Similarly, some students feel that they have already gained the necessary career skills through their major coursework, making the requirement feel redundant.
“Having the requirement can definitely be helpful,” said Perry. “I don’t think it helped me much but I can see how it could be useful. It also could have a lot to do with major/field of study.”
UMW encourages students to plan their postgraduation life. Anna Goodman / The Weekly Ringer
Students need to fulfill the After Mary Washington course requirement in order to graduate, even if it isn’t offered in their major. Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer
Friday, March 28, 2025
Opinion
UMW needs to improve enforcement tactics for electronic scooter usage violations to ensure student safety
GARRETT HENNESSEY
Contributing
Writer
Although UMW has released a scooter policy that prohibits riders from speeding through the covered walkway between Simpson Library and Woodard Hall, more than once, I have found myself walking to class and heard an electric scooter drawing near. Rather than risk getting hurt by waiting to see if the scooter would swerve, I jumped out of the way to avoid a potential collision. Initially, it was a minor inconvenience really; that’s what happens when there is a small tunnel area with a plethora of students competing to get to class. Eventually, though, it began to happen every time I walked back and forth to class. Every time I walk now, I am on edge wondering when I may have to jump to the left or right to evade a racing scooter.
Since the beginning of the academic year, the University of Mary Washington campus has fallen victim to an evident increase in scooter traffic. While the university has created policies to help address the influx of scooters, greater enforcement needs to take place to protect student safety. In the United States, there has been a 450%
increase in emergency room visits regarding the use of electric scooters from 2017-2021.
The sudden looming presence of scooters on campus, once a mere inconvenience, has blossomed into a widespread issue. There are plenty of valid reasons why scooters are a preferred method of transportation such as athlete recovery, speed and ease. While I recognize the benefits of scooters as a mode of transportation, it needs to be acknowledged that there are several factors that can foster a crash.
Inexperienced riding, pedestrians or other obstacles such as unideal weather conditions can all cause crashes. Often these factors, along with distracted driving, result in close calls or near crashes. It is important to understand these factors and practice mindful driving. In essence, scooters should be treated as bikes and cars. The user of the scooter must carefully be aware of their surroundings and move at an appropriate speed when they are on the scooter.
In November, UMW Student Affairs sent a schoolwide email about scooter-related safety concerns. Later that month, The Weekly Ringer ran an article on the existing guidelines at the time, highlighting student con-
cerns as well. Despite this coverage taking place last semester, these same issues still persist.
More recently, on Feb. 28, the UMW Division of Student Affairs officially approved and adopted the Motorized Scooters and Electric Power-Assisted Bicycles Policy. The policy states that riders must obey traffic regulations, including traffic lights yielding to pedestrians in crosswalks, use hand signals when turning, not ride under the influence of alcohol or drugs, wear headphones, use a mobile device while riding or operate the vehicle carelessly and recklessly.
While these policies are a welcome improvement and a necessary step in the right direction, a viable solution to enforcement and to ensure pedestrian safety in high-traffic areas, like the tunnel between Simpson Library and Woodard Hall, would be to put up a sign advising that those who use scooters hop off and walk with their vehicles through the walkway. It would be an effective measure to moderate scooter use and make campus safer.
No one should be worried they will be taken out by a speeding scooter on their way to class and UMW should do more to enforce safety policies.
Op Ed: By chance or by choice, we should take a step away from social media use and pay mind to the real world
I deactivated my Instagram accounts in mid February. A week later I got a notification that read “Weekly Report Available: Last week your screen time was down 34% on this device, for an average of 2 hours, 38 minutes a day.” Woah. In two and a half hours, I could (hypothetically) sit through three 50-minute class blocks here at UMW. In two and a half hours, I could rewatch “Oppenheimer.” The last time I sat through a film that long without distraction was “Wicked” in theatres. At home, I tend to choose films around the 90-minute mark because, like most of my generation, I have a shortened attention span. Is it my fault? Is it my generations’ fault? I remember
getting ruthlessly made fun of at age 11 for not having a smartphone like most of my peers. I was upset that I didn’t have one, not because I wanted a smartphone, but because I wanted to fit in at school. Kids my age were already on Snapchat while I shared an iPod with my little sister to listen to Beyoncé on long car rides.
Finally, my father told me that if I could play “Für Elise” on the piano, then I could have a phone. I only ever learned the introduction, but by my 12th birthday, I had a smartphone. The social pressure was ridiculous, and my family were in a fortunate enough position to afford me a phone.
Over the following years, I put my debate skills into practice by convincing my parents to allow me on social media. Now that I’m a decade older, it’s easy for me to wish that I hadn’t begged for that access. I can’t begin to
imagine how much time I spent on Instagram and other socials over the last 10 years, but I can admit the detrimental impact social media has on the human psyche.
There are plenty of other uses for technology beyond social media. I mainly use my phone for basic communication as was intended—iMessages, Whatsapp. But I also use it for language-learning through apps such Teuida, which boasts an interactive interface through which users can study Korean, Japanese and Spanish. Sometimes, I’ll prop up my phone on the treadmill and watch a video essay while running, or, more likely, to listen to music.
In 2023, I went without a phone for a month after it was stolen. At the time, I was studying in London, but had planned trips to Edinburgh, Amsterdam and Brussels that were all scheduled to occur within that month. Let me tell you this: it may have been the best month of my life.
I felt so liberated. I read three books on the train from London to Edinburgh. I read three more a few weeks later on the train from Amsterdam to Brussels. I took photos on a disposable camera I got from Boots. I emailed my family and friends from my laptop when I was in my flat or between classes and if I really needed access to a phone, I borrowed one of my friends’.
I’m not saying that everyone should deactivate their social media, or that my deactivation is permanent, but I do think everyone who has the privilege to use a smartphone and social media should reckon with the danger— and sometimes reality—of a digital addiction. Without a phone, it was easy for me to notice how addicted many people are to theirs.
I have definitely fallen victim, and ever since that March, I have made an effort to spend less time on my new phone. Two years and a few gigabytes of extra storage later, I feel confident in my decision to step away from a constant social media presence.
In 2023, while on holiday without a phone, I bought a disposable camera at a Boots in Edinburgh. Claire Marshall Watkins / The Weekly Ringer CLAIRE MARSHALL WATKINS Opinion Editor
Spring blooms more study spot options for Eagles
Staff Writer
The daffodils outside of Combs Hall are finally in full bloom, the weather is above 60 degrees and your next class starts in five minutes.
For UMW students, springtime presents this unique new problem of balancing the beginning of the nice spring weather and the demands of a busy semester.
For many Eagles, choosing where to study outside can be tough, especially as construction creeps its way across campus and closes off study areas. To determine the best outdoor study areas on campus, I visited five popular spots and ranked them based on their access to WiFi, sunlight, seating variety and availability, noise level and surrounding scenery.
#5. Ball Circle
While maintaining its reputation as the most popular outdoor study spot on campus, Ball Circle is not without its flaws. Although the grassy patch has earned its place as the unofficial campus center of springtime social life, the poor WiFi connection and unobstructed sunlight make it incompatible with laptops.
With the dozens of lawn chairs scattered around the area, Ball can accommodate many students at once. Still, the chairs tend to be dirty and lack the room needed to fit computers, books, backpacks and any other study materials students may need during their homework time.
Although a beloved part of campus life, Ball Circle is perhaps better suited for a nice day off with a picnic blanket than an actual study session.
#4. Lee Hall Patio
The Lee Hall Patio, or Lee’s front porch, is similar to Ball Circle in how close it is to the center of campus life. While only a few feet away from Ball, Lee offers the same level of social scenery and landscaping as Ball, but with more room for multitasking students and more access to shade in the middle of the day.
However, Lee Hall remains one of the busiest buildings on campus, with constant foot traffic from bookstore customers, prospective students and tour groups, often making it feel like a fishbowl with the constant influx of people. Like its close counterpart, Ball Circle, the WiFi on Lee Patio can be harder to connect and stay connected to for long periods.
#3. Melcher’s Hall Balcony
Similar to the Seacobeck porch, the Melcher’s balcony provides a unique study experience for students hoping to spend their homework time outdoors. The unique furniture and color scheme, paired with the nearly panoramic views of the campus and strong WiFi connection, make it the perfect opportunity for people watching away from the noise of campus.
The downside to the balcony, however, comes at the detriment of the building it’s attached to. Melcher’s can be confusing to navigate, especially when it comes to finding the second-floor balcony, which closely resembles the fire exits and studio doors that neighbor the entrance to the balcony.
#2. Seacobeck Hall Porch
The Seacobeck porch boasts one of the most underrated and often unnoticed study spots on campus. The porch, littered with lawn chairs outside of Seacobeck’s campus walk entrance, is secluded enough from the busy campus traffic to make the environment quiet enough for studying, with a strong WiFi connection from the attached academic building.
The porch’s surrounding scenery and architecture provide a beautiful background. It also offers enough unique small elements, like the birds nesting in the columns, that are healthier and more captivating for a study brain break than TikTok.
However, the fully covered porch’s lack of sunlight makes the outdoor seating area feel more removed from the outdoors. The little space from the narrow walkway and lack of chairs also make the study spot unreliable as an open study spot for students.
For sophomore communication and digital studies and studio art double major Riley Munford, the porch is a goto for outdoor homework sessions.
“I love watching the trees and the campus life walk by, listening to the faint flow of the fountain, and at the right time of day, there is a perfect combination of sun and shade,” Munford said. “If I could change anything, I wish there was some sort of table there so I could more easily set up my study stuff, but my lap has been working fine so far.”
#1. Kalnen Plaza
Located conveniently outside Woodard Hall and the Nest, Kalnen Plaza comes in first for its easy access to the Nest for study snacks, beautiful surroundings and a balanced mix of sunlight and shade. Although access to Wi-Fi can be tricky, the abundance of space for students to spread their work out with a big or small study group comfortably, with the available tables, chairs and benches, makes the spot ideal for a long-term homework binge.
Kalnen Plaza is a popular spot amongst students, especially sophomore psychology major Kaci Miedema.
“I just really like that it’s surrounded by the trees and flowers in that area, but also you have students walking by in that area, so you have that social atmosphere with you,” Miedema said.
Sophomore English major Hannah Holstrom shares the same appreciation for the plaza’s natural landscaping.
“I like how that area is close to the stream because you can sometimes hear the water running through, and the path has a lot of nature. I feel like it’s a good mix between natural and then having an actual area to sit,” Holstrom said.
However, one of the only major drawbacks of the Kalnen Plaza is the bugs. While its sunken features make it the ideal people-watching spot surrounded by natural landscaping (specifically UMW’s No Mow Zone), the bugs it attracts can be overwhelming, especially while trying to concentrate.
As the weather continues to get warmer and more outdoor spaces on campus begin to open up, studying outside can be a good way to eliminate stress while staying on top of your coursework. No matter where your go-to outdoor spot for homework is, our campus offers a variety of beautiful places to explore.
MEAGHAN VAN DYKE
Ball Circle is home to many sunbathing students and spring blooms perfect for a studying background. Meaghan Van Dyke / The Weekly Ringer
Kalnen Plaza is a popular study spot for students looking to work in a beautiful natural space. Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer
The Melcher’s balcony hosts quite a spring color palette and invites students to study with a view. Meaghan Van Dyke / The Weekly Ringer
UMW Theatre builds a community beyond the stage
“We can’t picture being anything but show people/ Civilians find the whole thing quite bizarre/ But that hop in our hearts/ When the overture starts/ Helps us know how lucky we are” - Show People from Curtains I have been a theatre kid for a very long time—I was going to the theatre before I was even out of my mother’s womb. In third grade, I watched the sixth graders put on a show as part of a class assignment and dreamed of the day that would be me. When I was older and it was finally my turn, I was so excited to live out that dream and be part of the class that put on a show about Greek myths for the younger kids.
In expanding my love for theatre, I took classes at my community theatre and performed on stage there. In middle school, I joined the costume crew for productions such as Beauty and the Beast and Peter Pan. When I joined the costumes department, I found something that felt like me. I continued with costumes throughout high school and even found myself acting again, like I had in elementary school.
When I was applying to college, I knew I wanted to stay involved with theatre, so I joined the UMW theatre department by taking a few classes and signing up to work in the costume shop. I immediately made friends and felt like I belonged. I love every aspect of the work, like spending time in the costume shop creating pieces to be worn on-stage, ushering for the shows and attending classes.
Theatre creates a community for so many people, even those who worry they may not belong.
“I’ve always really, really loved the community that I can find through theater. It was something that really stood out to me in my high school,” said freshman Emma Simanski. “When I started doing theater in high school, I very quickly found that community. I was really nervous because so many people in my theatre department had been doing it for so much longer than I had, and I was so worried that they were going to think that I was fake or that I didn’t know enough. But once people started knowing my name I was immediately accepted.”
Being part of this department and putting on these productions sometimes feels unreal. Theatre has always been such an important part of who I am, and being part of productions that leave the audience thinking, laughing, or even crying gives me a purpose in life that I never thought I would have.
Shows like “Twelve Angry Jurors” and “John Proctor is the Villain,” which leave the audience thinking long after the show, are so fun to work on because someone in the audience might have experienced something similar to what is being depicted in the play. This puts life into our shows and adds an additional human touch, so it isn’t just actors on stage reciting lines, instead, it is characters with real-life experiences.
Shows like “Nunsense,” which make the audience laugh, are equally fun to work on because they give the audience a break from whatever is going on in their life. Allowing the audience to just sit and laugh rather than thinking about the next bill they have to pay or the paper due next week is so important.
“Those late nights and those stressful tech weeks with all your friends backstage until 10 o’clock, 11 o’clock at night, and rehearsals and all of those memories of creating that really close community, I think theater has the power to do that in a really impressive way, and I’ve always loved that about it,” said Simanski.
Theatre is my home away from home. It allows me to be myself when I feel like I can’t be in other aspects of my life. Whenever I am feeling down or like I am not enough, my theatre community is always there to remind me that I matter.
From break-a-leg notes on opening night to the cast and crew passing around thank-you notes when the show is closing. The department never fails to remind you that you are an important part of the process.
“Everybody has to be there or the show doesn’t go on. It’s very noticeable when someone’s not there, both in the fact that you’re like, oh my god, I’m doing another person’s job but also that you’re like, my heart is kind of empty because this person is missing,” said Kate McClurken-Orr, a senior theatre education major.
The next production that UMW Theatre will present is Peter and the Starcatcher. This prequel to Peter Pan follows Boy on his journey to becoming Peter. It will open on April 3 and run until April 19.
If you want to get involved in the UMW Theatre Department, you should sign up for practicum next semester. At the practicum meeting, you sign up for a job. These jobs can range from acting to making sets and costumes, working backstage for shows, and ushering for shows.
“From the person who’s selling merchandise to the lead actress on stage, every single part of the well-oiled machine that is theater is so incredibly integral to telling that story and creating the experience for the audience,” said Simanski.
SOPHIA TOMPKINS Staff Writer
For many Eagle thespians it is easy to find a home away from home in UMW’s Theatre Department. @umwtheatre / Instagram
Klein Theatre has held many showstopping performances and lifelong friendships have been formed there. @umwtheatre / Instagram
UMW students can find a place in many leadership roles including costume design and seamstressing. Photo courtesy of Sophia Tompkins
TICKETS ARE $5 w/ UMW ID AT THE KLEIN THEATRE BOX OFFICE IN THE LOBBY OF DUPONT HALL (Limit TWO tickets per UMW ID)
Open in Klein Theatre April 2*19
Guidance for LGBTQ+ students abroad
Crime Column
KINGKEO News Editor
Fondling
On Jan. 27, there was a case of fondling at the Battlegrounds. This case was referred to Title IX.
Dating Violence
On March 10, there was a case of dating violence on and off campus. This case was referred to Title IX.
Petit Larceny
On March 18 at 9:21 p.m., there was a case of petit larceny at the University Center. This case is pending.
Stalking
On March 25, there was a case of stalking at the Jepson Science Center. This case was referred to Title IX.
YZABEL ILAO Staff Writer
On his first day in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that states the federal government will only recognize biological sex assigned at birth. In compliance, the U.S. Department of State no longer processes passport applications with the gender marker “x,” which is used to indicate nonbinary or intersex identity, and now requires transgender individuals to use the sex they were assigned at birth on all future passport applications.
The State Department affirms that, “All passports - including those with an X marker or those listing a sex different from your sex at birth - will remain valid for travel until their expiration date…As long as your current passport has not expired, there are no restrictions to use the passport, unless another country has limitations.” Still, these changes have added additional stress for some transgender and nonbinary students who intend to study abroad.
The UMW Center for International Education, which assists students as they navigate study abroad options, maintains an LGBTQ+ Abroad Resource webpage that helps guide students inquiring about travel and outlines
factors to consider when preparing to go abroad. The site provides links to additional resources, but following the executive order, some of the featured government links are outdated, such as a defunct link to the TSA Transgender Passenger Information.
According to Caitie Cavalier, an education abroad coordinator with the Center for International Education, students can receive personalized advising and are encouraged to reach out directly with specific questions.
“This guidance includes discussions on cultural attitudes toward gender diversity in prospective host countries, local laws and safety considerations, and assistance in selecting inclusive programs,” she said. “Early disclosure of one’s gender identity to the student’s education abroad advisor is encouraged to facilitate tailored support, such as coordinating appropriate housing arrangements and connecting students with in-country resources.”
According to Human Rights Watch, an international non-governmental organization that advocates human rights, “At least 67 countries have national laws criminalizing same-sex relations between consenting adults. In addition, at least nine countries have national laws criminalizing forms of gender expression that target transgender and gender non-conforming people.”
Of those 67 countries, UMW offers study abroad opportunities in six: the United Arab Emirates, Samoa, Cameroon, Kenya, Ghana and Morocco. However, UMW student abroad guidance recommends that gender non-conforming students must also consider how gender expression is culturally perceived in countries that may not have explicit anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.
“It is critical that LGBTQ students research and identify education abroad programs that are a good fit for their personal, academic and cultural goals, but also try to ascertain what it means to be LGBTQ in that host country,” the LGBTQ+ Abroad Resources webpage says.
The combination of thorough independent research, guidance from study abroad coordinators and from peer advisors can help support students as they navigate the process.
“We also want students to know that, while we are most certainly available for guidance and support, we want to empower students to take ownership of their experience,” said Sarah Moran, assistant director of the Center for International Education. “Any student going abroad should understand how aspects of their identity will affect their experiences. We hope that through their program selection they have considered all of these factors well ahead of time in an effort to mitigate risk and have the most enriching experience possible.”
When considering a study abroad program, students must consider all aspects of their host country. Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer
EMMA
The Crime Column is based on UMW Police reports from March 19 to March 26.
UMW offers numerous study abroad opportunities that aim to enrich
Mary Wash rugby celebrates seniors at home
THOMAS
JACKSON & CALLIE HARKINS Sports Editor & Editor-in-Chief
UMW men’s rugby celebrated senior night last weekend during their final regular season home game against the Naval Academy. Given their unique makeup as a team of predominantly international students, current seniors used the opportunity to reflect on their experiences as an Eagle.
Adam Deacon is a senior marketing major from South Africa and flanker on the rugby team. This season, he has made it a point to support his underclassman teammates the same way he had been supported by the leaders before him.
“One thing that I have taken from my past seniors, and which I have tried to implement with my underclassmen, is to stay close to one another and to extend a hand of help to bring each other up, whether it’s academically, on the field, or if they are struggling within their own personal lives,” Deacon said. “Most of us are away from family, our homes, and in a completely new country, and that can be hard sometimes when adjusting or even navigating new experiences. This also filters down into the trust and closeness we have with one another because without trust and that sense of camaraderie you’ll never have a winning team.”
Matthew Clinton, a junior communication and digital studies major and hooker for the team from Ireland, knows firsthand how difficult it can be to adjust to life in America as an international student. He believes supporting his teammates through their transition to UMW is as important as in-game backing.
“The seniors have taught me a lot from the way of life in America, to on field takeaways and academics,” he said. “The main thing I would teach to underclassmen on the team is more stuff off the field, like academics and how to adjust to American life as an international student, as I know for myself it was a struggle to adjust and know how helpful it was to have the seniors help guide me.”
Many underclassman players look to their senior leaders for guidance both on and off the field and go on to share that knowledge with those younger than them as they progress at UMW.
“When I think back to my freshman year, there are some guys that really just stick with you, and I can say for certain that I’ve tried to emulate them,” said Max Plumb, a senior international business major from England. “From the get-go, you could tell not only were they good athletes, but good men. That’s really been the story in my final year, trying to earn the respect of the younger guys by not only playing hard but trying to be a good bloke. It’s very easy to get caught up in a world of things freshman year but I know having been there, an older figure can 100% keep you on track.”
During the weekend’s match, Mary Washington scored early, going try for try with Navy before finishing the half with a conver-
sion kick that extended their lead to 12–5. This lead was attributed to UMW’s speed and athleticism on the pitch. Per co-captain and junior accounting major Will Lindsey, finding an open space to fight through the contact is important to their game.
“The position I’m in, I’ve got a bit of space to work with,” he said. “I kind of just got to look up to see where that space is. If I’ve got a boy backing me, I can just go straight into the contact and just fight for it.”
Despite having the lead going into halftime, the team understood the high-pressure nature of the match. Given this situational clarity, Deacon felt thoroughly prepared thanks to weeks of preparation and practice.
“I think we handle high pressure situations well due to preparation,” he said. “Knowing our opponents ins and outs allows us to go into a game knowing how to exploit those ins and outs and not just going in blind. Another factor is experience and trust, which I mentioned before. When you have been in a few high pressure games, you not only are calmer but you know that with all the weeks of preparation, everyone knows what they need to do, and with playing with each other and forming those bonds on and off the field you are able to trust every man to do that job.”
“When I think back to my freshman year, there are some guys that really just stick with you, and I can say for certain that I’ve tried to emulate them.”
- Max Plumb
While maintaining a competitive spirit is crucial to strong gameplay, Clinton emphasizes the importance of staying present and enjoying the moment.
“Just go out and enjoy it,” he said. “During the game, you soak in the atmosphere of a massive game and feed off the supporters and teammates.”
In the second half of the match, Navy slowly clawed at the lead as the Eagles went on the defensive. Lindsey knew it would take all 15 players on the field working together to try and finish the game strong as Navy came back.
“With 15 boys out there, the name of the game is to make it easy for each other, so you’re all working together,” he said.
Because the game requires strong teamwork and coordination, the Eagles remain a tight-knit team on and off the field. Even when players are unable to join their mates on the pitch, they remain connected.
“We are also a very close knit team, regardless of how often we talk and hangout with each other everyone looks after everyone, and because of that guys stay connected with the team throughout their injury by coming to team hosted events, practices to help out, doing their recovery during lifts in the morning, eating together in the UC whenever we get a chance, and even helping each other out with
academics,” said Deacon. Rugby requires great physicality which can take a toll on the body, causing injuries and temporarily sidelining players as they recover. Plumb credits the UMW athletic training staff for their assistance in staying healthy as the team works through their grueling season.
“I’ll be honest, rugby gives the highest highs but can also dish the lowest lows, in my recent career I’ve been sidelined for a lot of it, so much so that the athletic training room has become somewhat of a second home for me,” said Plumb. “But I feel that is also a real tester, and to the athletic training staff who really do care about the student athletes and develop real friendships with them.”
He continued, “I would like to shout out our rugby specific athletic trainer Dr. Riley Durbano who has to deal with around 60 rostered players on the men’s team, let alone the women’s team, and does it all with a smile on her face…Our team does not consist of just the starting 15 guys, it’s everyone: 1st Team, 2nd Team, coaches, student managers and even those that turn up to support on a Saturday. The ethos of the team is not having 15 amazing players but 60 of them, any which one that could slide into that first squad if they’re called upon.”
The Eagles ultimately fell to Navy following two successful conversion kicks and a try that led to a final score of 22–27. Even though UMW did not receive the result they had hoped, Lindsey was proud of how the group played as a team and supported each other.
“It’s not a single man game like that, it’s really who wants it more, and unfortunately, Navy got over us today, but they’re also number one in the country and we’re pretty happy just to be that close to them,” he said.
According to Plumb, Navy is notorious around the league as a tough competitor. The Eagles knew it would be a challenging game and prepared accordingly.
“Leading into this game they were the #2 team in the nation, and quite frankly other teams around the league had bet on the fact we’d get crushed,” Plumb said. “Knowing this, the lads went into the game with a fuck you attitude with nothing to lose.”
Mary Washington scorers for this match included senior sports management major Tobey Barnfield-Lee, sophomore business administration major Ben Peters, senior business administration major Kit Waddington and freshman Calum Emmans.
“It was a case of who wants it more and it really showed, unfortunately like a lot of our games this year we fell short by the smallest of margins giving them one of their narrowest wins of the year, however, the score line sent a real message around the league that on our day we can compete with the very best,” said Plumb.
The team’s next match will be on March 29 at the Old Blue College 7s Tournament, in Mount Vernon, Virginia.
Claire Marshall Watkins contributed to the reporting for this article.
University of Mary Washington Spring Sports Schedule
THOMAS
Baseball (17-6)
Mar. 22 @ Dickerson College (10-1)
Mar. 29 vs. Christopher Newport University
Apr. 1 @ Eastern Mennonite University
Softball (8-18)
Mar. 25 vs. Eastern Mennonite University (7-1)
Mar. 31 @ Messiah University
Men’s Tennis (10-4)
Mar. 22 vs. Wesleyan University (2-5)
Mar. 29 @ Christopher Newport University
Women’s Tennis (4-5)
Mar. 22 vs. Washington College (7-0)
Mar. 29 @ Chirstopher Newport University
Men’s Lacrosse (6-4)
Mar. 22 vs. Marymount University (18-10)
Mar. 29 vs. Stockton University
Women’s Lacrosse (10-1)
Mar. 23 @ Denison University (13-11)
Apr. 2 @ York College of Pennsylvania
Men’s Rugby (4-7)
Mar. 22 vs. Navy (22-27)
Women’s Rugby (2-3)
Mar. 29 Mid Atlantic 7s Series
Games are available to watch via livestream on the UMW Athletics webpage www.eagles.com/composite
Full schedule not listed above. Most recent games included. Bold indicates home game.
JACKSON Sports Editor