Guest Author, Author at EagleEye

UMW’s Great Lives Lecture Series Announces 2025 Lineup, New Director

November 14, 2024 by Guest Author Leave a Comment

Distinguished Professor Emeritus Bill Crawley (left) and UMW Museums Executive Director Scott Harris ’83 have served as co-directors of the William B. Crawley Great Lives Lecture Series for the past year. Photo by Karen Pearlman.

A selection of fascinating figures will be profiled during this year’s William B. Crawley Great Lives Lecture Series at the University of Mary Washington. The 22nd season of the popular series was announced Tuesday evening at a presentation that welcomed over 160 supporters, donors and sponsors to UMW’s Jepson Alumni Executive Center.

This year, bestselling biographers will shine a light on senator and civil rights leader John Lewis, broadcast journalist Barbara Walters, controversial baseball great Pete Rose, Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull, and over a dozen other notable individuals from history and culture.

Yet, of all the larger-than-life personalities highlighted on Nov. 12, the one that drew the most applause was series founder and Distinguished Professor Emeritus of History William Crawley, who announced his retirement. His co-director, Scott Harris ’83, executive director of UMW Museums, will oversee the series – the latest installment of which starts on Jan. 21, 2025 – moving forward. Read more.

Head Start Gift Box Drive 2024 is Underway

November 14, 2024 by Guest Author Leave a Comment

The COAR Gift Box Drive has started! The UMW community fills gift boxes with hats, gloves, and books for 3 to 5 year old students in the Head Start program in Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania. The boxes will be delivered to the students by COAR staff during finals week.

Gift Box Pick Up: Email coar@umw.edu and the COAR students can deliver the empty gift boxes to you. Or, you can stop by the Center for Community Engagement in Suite 320 in the CRUC and pick out your boxes. Students will also be coming by offices over the next few weeks.

What goes in the boxes?: Each box should include a small toy, hat, gloves, toothbrush, and toothpaste.

When are boxes returned?: Boxes should be returned to the CCE by Tuesday Dec 3, if possible (use Thanksgiving Break to fill a gift box!). COAR students can pick up boxes if needed! Just email coar@umw.edu.

Thank you: Thank you for helping our Fredericksburg community by participating in this gift drive for Head Start students.

Farnsworth Lectures on the Politics of Not Voting

November 14, 2024 by Guest Author Leave a Comment

Professor of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth

Professor of Political Science and Director of the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, Stephen Farnsworth, recently presented an online lecture, “The Politics of Not Voting,” at the None of the Above Voter Mobilization Conference in Arlington, VA.

In addition, recent media mentions for Farnsworth include:

Second-wave Population Shifts Carry Vindman in Seventh (FXBG Advance)
Virginia’s sprawling Seventh Congressional District, which includes all or part of ten counties and the City of Fredericksburg, was one of the most sought-after congressional prizes nationally this year.
https://fxbgadvance.substack.com/p/second-wave-population-shifts-carry?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

Candidates line up for special elections to replace Virginia senators recently elected to US House (The Washington Post; US News and World Report; Virginia Lawyers Weekly; VPM)<
“It’s not impossible for the out party to win these districts, but a lot would have to go wrong for the dominant party to lose — a contentious nomination struggle, an extremely low turnout special election or a really energized out party,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington. “You would basically need a perfect storm followed by another perfect storm … Most of the time, perfect storms don’t happen.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/11/11/special-election-mcguire-subramanyam-virginia-senate/b7baba6c-a084-11ef-be87-1106a06524c6_story.html
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/virginia/articles/2024-11-11/candidates-line-up-for-special-elections-to-replace-virginia-senators-recently-elected-to-us-house
https://valawyersweekly.com/2024/11/12/candidates-line-up-for-special-elections-to-replace-virginia-senators-recently-elected-to-us-house/
https://www.vpm.org/elections/2024-11-12/virginia-special-election-2024-senators-mcguire-subramanyam

2024 Election Recap: Virginia (DC News Now)
“Well, the polls all showed that this was going to be the state where the Democrats had the advantage,” said Stephen Farnsworth. https://www.dcnewsnow.com/news/capitol-review/2024-election-recap-on-capitol-review/<

Candidates line up for special elections to replace Virginia senators recently elected to US House (The Free Lance-Star; The Seattle Times; MSN; WTOP; ABC News)
“It’s not impossible for the out party to win these districts, but a lot would have to go wrong for the dominant party to lose — a contentious nomination struggle, an extremely low turnout special election or a really energized out party,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington. “You would basically need a perfect storm followed by another perfect storm … Most of the time, perfect storms don’t happen.”https://fredericksburg.com/news/state-and-regional/candidates-line-up-for-special-elections-to-replace-virginia-senators-recently-elected-to-us-house/article_cb7e188f-1c53-542e-ba4b-40ce3c4349ee.html
https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/candidates-line-up-for-special-elections-to-replace-virginia-senators-recently-elected-to-us-house/
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/candidates-line-up-for-special-elections-to-replace-virginia-senators-recently-elected-to-us-house/ar-AA1tUfgr
https://wtop.com/virginia/2024/11/candidates-line-up-for-special-elections-to-replace-virginia-senators-recently-elected-to-us-house/
https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/candidates-line-special-elections-replace-virginia-senators-recently-115753266

Trump Announces Homan as Border Czar (CTV News)
“Well, it’s important to recognize that Donald Trump makes a lot of promises. But, this one, I think above all immigration question is the promise that he intends to keep,” said Stephen Farnsworth. https://www.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=3027544

Commentary: Out of the blue? Virginia was purple all along (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
Tuesday’s election results in Virginia, where Democratic nominee Kamala Harris won the commonwealth’s electoral votes and the two major parties each went one-for-one in the two most volatile congressional districts (2 and 7), should demonstrate — once again — that Virginia has not become a blue state. https://richmond.com/opinion/column/election-harris-trump-virginia-competitive-purple/article_d98e6050-9d53-11ef-ba79-57e8be74d911.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

Trump’s agenda would mean profound change, from economy to federal workforce (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
“Donald Trump always pushed the political and legal systems as far as they could go,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington. https://richmond.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/elections/virginia-donald-trump-economy-port-immigration-nato/article_5025e9b4-9d17-11ef-b737-c79a5cd0e1c3.html

Pelosi Blames Biden for Election Loss (CTV News)
“Well, there is a painful reality here that to Donald Trump’s message resonated in this country and I think a number of Democrats are trying to figure out a way that they can avoid that painful message by blaming something internal,” said Stephen Farnsworth. https://www.ctvnews.ca/video/c3026981-nancy-pelosi-blames-biden-for-u-s–election-loss?playlistId=1.7095788

Virginia leaders react to Trump win as Harris keeps the commonwealth blue (Prince William Times)
“In Virginia and nationally, red areas became more red and blue areas became less blue nearly everywhere,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington. https://www.princewilliamtimes.com/news/virginia-leaders-react-to-trump-win-as-harris-keeps-the-commonwealth-blue/article_fc76f7a8-796b-5b69-a1da-898f2c487fc6.html

Press Rewind, Nov. 3-9 (Fredericksburg Free-Press)
“I think it’s clear that the legacy media doesn’t represent the greatest, most effective use of a candidate’s time right now. When you’re thinking about who you need to reach, people who are not reflexively going to vote for you or vote for the other candidate, you’re talking about people who are kind of casual consumers of news at best.” –Stephen Farnsworth, University of Mary Washington political science professor, in a podcast interview with Joey LoMonaco. https://www.fredericksburgfreepress.com/2024/11/10/nov-3-press-rewind/

The key election statistic: Many Democrats simply didn’t vote (Cardinal News)
Some laughed at the time when the University of Mary Washington poll in September that showed the presidential race in Virginia essentially tied. https://cardinalnews.org/2024/11/11/the-key-election-statistic-many-democrats-simply-didnt-vote/

Soon: Biden to Address the Nation (CTV News)
“Well, I think one of the things we can appreciate about Joe Biden is the extent to which he really does put the country first,” said Stephen Farnsworth. https://www.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=3025941

Fate of federal workforce unclear as Trump wins second term (AOL)
“What we’ll see in the short term is an answer to the question of exactly what is the plan that the Trump administration wants to put forward regarding federal workers,” said Dr. Stephen J. Farnsworth, professor of political science and international affairs at the University of Mary Washington. https://www.aol.com/fate-federal-workforce-unclear-trump-023050666.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAI0YcSHnBdtDXQonVAQeOv3PtUmPtm6Y0YHNP1KwDMGCqm4Zmry1mWRjvtfqpR5YRqFzSno3PSZ317FRLVNshAz1wYU_0nhLEVCeIsCjYcYjAfRQBa2rqi6r1PeMZPZyTQyCR8D6KpmuZ7m1MaqMB81jBsbR82feBA3rERS_cMpE

Election 2024, The Night After (WTOP)
“I think one of the things to take away from this election is that the Republicans were able to do a bit better in the suburbs than they have in the past,” said Stephen Farnsworth.

Less suburban support narrows Harris’ Virginia margin (Richmond Times-Dispatch; Virginia Mercury)
“In Virginia and nationally, red areas became more red and blue areas became less blue nearly everywhere,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington. https://richmond.com/news/local/government-politics/elections/donald-trump-kamala-harris-virginia-election/article_158addc4-9c7b-11ef-a958-27ca54b7de42.html https://virginiamercury.com/2024/11/06/virginia-leaders-react-to-trump-win-as-harris-keeps-the-commonwealth-blue/

Trump lost Virginia but gained ground in slightly less blue D.C. suburbs (The Washington Post)
Some of the credit for the purple blush should go to Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) and his ability to connect with suburban voters, University of Mary Washington political analyst Stephen J. Farnsworth said. “The movement of suburban voters into the D column had really been accelerating before Youngkin’s victory [in 2021],” Farnsworth said, referring to the Republican’s narrow win in that year’s gubernatorial race. https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/11/06/virginia-election-youngkin-trump-harris/

Virginia District 7 House seat goes to Democrat Yevgeny ‘Eugene’ Vindman: AP calls (Fox 5 DC)
“It is the sort of district where congressional majorities are won and lost,” University of Mary Washington political science professor Stephen Farnsworth said. “If you can’t win the outer-ring suburban counties of big cities in America, then you’re not going to be in the House majority.” https://www.fox5dc.com/news/virginia-district-7-house-seat-goes-democrat-yevgeny-eugene-vindman-ap-calls

Northern Virginia Trump supporters react to election win (WUSA 9)
“You really do see a scenario where a lot of people felt like they could take care of the abortion question I think on the referendum or legislative side and vote for Trump based on other matters of high importance to them,” Dr. Stephen Farnsworth of University Mary-Washington said. https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/virginia/trump-supporters-in-stafford-co-feel-election-victory-sparks-excitement-for-the-future/65-422d5133-ab0b-480b-93cd-ef9d53419922

Fate of federal workforce unclear as Trump wins second term (DC News Now)
“What we’ll see in the short term is an answer to the question of exactly what is the plan that the Trump administration wants to put forward regarding federal workers,” said Dr. Stephen J. Farnsworth, professor of political science and international affairs at the University of Mary Washington. https://www.dcnewsnow.com/news/local-news/washington-dc/fate-of-federal-workforce-unclear-as-trump-wins-second-term/

Maryland’s District 6 race remains deadlocked before remaining mail, provisional ballots (WJLA)
“The reality is that we are a 50/50 country, and there are going to be 50/50 districts,” explained Stephen Farnsworth, PhD, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington. https://wjla.com/news/local/election-results-maryland-district-6-house-senate-republicans-democrats-early-voting-voters-congress-mcclain-delaney-provisional-ballots-november-5-dmv

Hot House Races to Watch on Election Night – And the Ads That Define Them (U.S. News & World Report)
Stephen J. Farnsworth, a University of Mary Washington political scientist, says that Vindman “has a huge cash advantage, but Anderson has been working hard throughout the fall in this sprawling district.” https://www.usnews.com/news/elections/articles/2024-11-05/hot-house-races-to-watch-on-election-night-and-the-ads-that-define-them

Political expert weighs in on 2024 Presidential election (MSN)
“Well, I think it is really early to read too much into these numbers. And a lot will, of course, on which state we are talking about,” said Stephen Farnsworth. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/political-expert-weighs-in-on-2024-presidential-election/vi-AA1tzUaS

Harris wins Virginia but by lesser margin than Biden (MSN; Washington Examiner)
Two separate polls, one conducted by the conservative-leaning Rasmussen Reports and another from the University of Mary Washington, showed in the days leading up to the election that Trump had cut into Harris’s lead and was within striking distance. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/harris-wins-virginia-but-by-lesser-margin-than-biden/ar-AA1tAdLG https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/presidential/3219261/harris-wins-virginia-lesser-margin-than-biden/

Economy, democracy most important to voters on election day (The Center Square)
An early September University of Mary Washington poll showed the same thing: that “threats to democracy” was the second-biggest concern for voters after the economy. https://www.thecentersquare.com/virginia/article_0ebfb0e0-9b82-11ef-bc70-47eb70fde189.html

Vindman claims victory in Virginia’s 7th Congressional district (WVTF)
“Vindman won this contest likely on the basis of offering a centrist democratic message that has worked for Spanberger in the past,” said Stephen Farnsworth. https://www.wvtf.org/news/2024-11-06/vindman-claims-victory-in-virginias-7th-congressional-district

Will Trump’s Joe Rogan Interview Help Win White House? Analysts’ Verdicts (Newsweek)
Dr. Stephen J. Farnsworth, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs-Professor of Political Science and International Affairs: Former President Trump’s Joe Rogan interview was an effective way to reach a group of potential voters that Republicans very much need to reach. The challenge for both campaigns throughout the fall has been to connect with voters who are not all that likely to participate and get them off the fence—and off the couch. If Trump wins, it will largely be as a result of his aggressive outreach efforts to younger male voters who can connect with Trump’s anger about the current state of the country. https://www.newsweek.com/will-trumps-joe-rogan-interview-help-win-white-house-analysts-verdicts-1978481

2024 is the first time some Hampton Roads elections are in November. Is it helping or hurting?
“For candidates for local office, it’s a much more challenging environment in which to be heard,” said Stephen Farnsworth, professor and director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington. For candidates, it may be harder to raise money and more expensive to run a campaign, Farnsworth said, because donors may opt to spend all their money on federal or state races. https://www.pilotonline.com/2024/11/03/2024-is-first-time-some-hampton-roads-elections-are-in-november-is-it-helping-or-hurting/

Sen. Tim Kaine responds to criticism over SNL appearance from opponent Hung Cao (WUSA 9; MSN; NBC 4)
“All indications are that Cao just simply was running at a bad time against an incumbent very well known in Virginia,” Dr. Stephen Farnsworth of University of Mary Washington said. https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/virginia/tim-kaine-responds-to-snl-appearance-criticism-from-republican-opponent/65-6dc5c906-50db-4892-b016-408319522f93 https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/kaine-responds-to-snl-appearance-criticism-as-virginia-senate-candidates-make-final-push-before-election-day/ar-AA1tvpff https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/northern-virginia/video-of-confrontation-over-politics-demonstrates-how-many-americans-are-on-edge/3758296/

Billions flood into political betting market ahead of 2024 election (The Patriot Southwest Times)
Stephen Farnsworth is a professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington, and the director of its Center for Leadership and Media Studies. Betting markets should not be considered comparable to polls, as these markets can be prone to bias that is hard to detect, Farnsworth stated. https://pcpatriot.com/billions-flood-into-political-betting-market-ahead-of-2024-election/

Video of confrontation over politics demonstrates how many Americans are on edge (NBC)
University of Mary Washington professor Stephen Farnsworth said the confrontation isn’t surprising in this fraught political atmosphere. “What’s clear is that America is not in a happy place,” he said. “Half of the country is going to be furious once this election is resolved, and many people are already very, very upset in advance of Election Day.” https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/northern-virginia/video-of-confrontation-over-politics-demonstrates-how-many-americans-are-on-edge/3758296/?os=vbkn42tqhoPmKBEXtc&ref=app

Diehard Trump supporters question whether Virginia can turn red (MSN; The Gazette; Washington Examiner)
While Trump lost in Virginia in both 2016 and 2020, some GOP insiders in the state think victory remains within reach, pointing to two separate polls, one conducted by the conservative-leaning Rasmussen Reports and another from the University of Mary Washington that show the former president is cutting into Vice President Kamala Harris’s lead, putting Trump within striking distance. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/diehard-trump-supporters-question-whether-virginia-can-turn-red/ar-AA1toFY9 https://gazette.com/news/wex/diehard-trump-supporters-question-whether-virginia-can-turn-red/article_0d3ab09a-4fe8-5b3c-a67a-0ee9490b29cf.htm l https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/presidential/3214437/trump-supporters-doubt-virginia-can-turn-red/

The weekend that could change the election landscape (Richmond Times-Dispatch; The Daily Progress)
“Is it the best use of his time in the final days before the election? No, North Carolina or Michigan or Wisconsin or Arizona would be better uses of his time,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington. https://richmond.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/elections/kamala-harris-donald-trump-salem-virginia-election-president/article_c85ca25e-97ba-11ef-be25-ebb7031e550f.html https://dailyprogress.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/elections/kamala-harris-donald-trump-salem-virginia-election-president/article_107695fa-e429-53cc-ada4-fdad081ed27a.html

Trump & Harris Head Into Final Swing State Blitz (CTV News)
“Well, I think what we’re going to see is what we’ve been seeing all along through this campaign,” said Stephen Farnsworth. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFoPFP26oTs

Podcast: Coffee shop talk with UMW’s Stephen Farnsworth (Fredericksburg Free Press)
It’s a Thursday morning in October — just about three weeks before election day — and Farnsworth’s schedule has precious few openings this time of year. Fortunately, I booked one of them to discuss, among other topics, his career pivot from journalist to political scientist, his special academic focus on the laughing matter of politics and, of course, the upcoming presidential election. https://www.fredericksburgfreepress.com/2024/11/04/podcast-coffee-shop-talk-with-umws-stephen-farnsworth/

Virginia faith group urges people to polls, calls for unity (WHRO; Chatham Star-Tribune)
Stephen Farnsworth is a political science professor and director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at Mary Washington University. Candidates connect with voters in any way possible, but especially through religion because it is a substantial part of some voters’ lives, according to Farnsworth. https://www.whro.org/elections/2024-11-03/virginia-faith-group-urges-people-to-polls-calls-for-unity https://www.chathamstartribune.com/news/article_a02eaf78-9a1e-11ef-942b-6b6e1b6bb947.html

What is deficit spending, and should it matter to voters? (Chatham Star-Tribune)
Stephen Farnsworth is a political science professor and director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington. Recent Democratic presidents have seen smaller deficits than Republicans, according to Farnsworth. However, neither party tends to be fiscally responsible. Democrats favor expanding programs, while Republicans prefer tax cuts, and both achieve these goals by spending in the deficit, according to Farnsworth. https://www.chathamstartribune.com/news/article_6962ff20-9a2e-11ef-97cc-0b7952c69c15.html

What’s on the ballot in Virginia? 2024 election key races (Fox 5)
Stephen Farnsworth, a University of Mary Washington political science professor, said it’s Virginia’s most competitive race in 2024 and a bellwether for the U.S. House balance of power. “There’s a lot of national interest in the Virginia 7th, and it is the sort of district where congressional majorities are won and lost,” he said. “If you can’t win the outer-ring suburban counties of big cities in America, then you’re not going to be in the House majority.” https://www.fox5dc.com/news/whats-ballot-virginia-2024-election-key-races

Presidential closing arguments are in. What’s the verdict for DMV? (WJLA)
“This is an election, I think, where the real influence is how much you dislike the other side more than how much you like your own side,” said Steve Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington. “I think that we’re living in a time when campaigns are much more effective at demonizing the opposition than making the case for one’s own side.” Farnsworth feels the candidates’ final speeches were more reenergizing for the Harris camp than for Trump’s team. https://www.wjla.com/news/local/presidential-elections-closing-arguments-vice-president-kamala-harris-former-president-donald-trump-white-house-virginia-maryland-dmv-voters-mary-washington-steve-farnsworth

ANALYSIS: What’s Wrong with Polling? (FXBG Advance)
In late September, a poll by the University of Mary Washington’s Center for Leadership and Media gave Harris only a two-point lead. https://fxbgadvance.substack.com/p/analysis-whats-wrong-with-polling

UMW Employee Campus Climate Survey Announcement

November 14, 2024 by Guest Author Leave a Comment

The following message is from the Offices of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Institutional Analysis and Effectiveness:

Dear Colleagues,

We hope that this message finds you doing well. Soon you will receive an email that has a link to the 2024 University of Mary Washington Employee Campus Climate Survey. A climate survey is an assessment tool used to measure organizational culture, attitudes, and experiences, particularly around issues like workplace satisfaction, diversity, inclusion, and belonging. This survey will ask you to reflect on key experiences had at our university. We kindly ask that you take some time to fill this brief survey out. Your responses will be very helpful as we ASPIRE to maintain a campus environment where everyone feels included, safe, and that they belong.

Please answer as candidly as possible. All of your responses are completely confidential. At the close of the survey, only aggregate data will be shared with campus leadership. Please note that some of the questions in the survey may be sensitive for some individuals, but there are no other risks associated with taking this survey.

Finally, each participant who completes the survey will be randomly entered into a drawing for prizes such as gift cards and UMW merchandise.

Please complete the survey by Wednesday, Dec. 4th at 11:59 pm.

If you have any additional questions about the survey you may contact, Associate Provost for Equity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer, Shavonne Shorter, Ph.D. at sshorter@umw.edu.

Associate Provost for Institutional Analysis and Effectiveness, Dr. Debra Schleef at dschleef@umw.edu.

Thank You,
Shavonne Shorter, Ph.D.
Associate Provost for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer

Debra Schleef, Ph.D.
Associate Provost for Institutional Analysis and Effectiveness

This email is being sent to you in accordance with the UMW Broadcast Email Policy. Please do not respond directly to this message with comments or questions, but instead to the office or individuals listed above.

Fall Semester Updates on Construction and Maintenance Projects

November 14, 2024 by Guest Author Leave a Comment

The following message is from the Office of Administration and Finance:

UMW Campus Community,

We continue to make progress on many maintenance projects across campus, including very visible, large projects such as the Monroe Hall roof, and smaller, interior projects such as the Simpson Library stairwells. We want to quickly update you on the status of these projects and provide updated timeline information about their anticipated completion.

The Monroe Hall roof reconstruction project is underway. The contractor has replaced damaged wood rafters in the attic, and materials for the new slate roof will arrive in the next month. This project continues to be weather-dependent, but work will be completed through the winter. Spring classes have not been scheduled in this building, as Monroe Hall remains closed during the repairs. We are working closely with faculty on planning for the spring semester.

The Goolrick Pool project is pending permits for occupancy and requires reworking the drains for permit compliance. Work is ongoing for these necessary steps, allowing time to rebalance the water and resume operations. We hope to have an opening date following winter break and welcome back our swim teams and campus recreation members to the newly renovated pool. Anyone seeking alternative pool locations can contact Campus Recreation for recommendations or read more about the project online. The Fitness Center, auxiliary gym and main gym, along with primary locker rooms remain open.

The Simpson Library stairwells have been on the schedule this year for structural repairs. One stairwell will be closed at a time, maintaining access via the center stairwell or opposite end of the building. Please look for signage in the building to navigate to the open stairwells and elevator. Simpson Library remains open and accessible during this work.

The UMW entrance signs at the corners of College Avenue will have additional landscaping work through the end of the year, with a new brick knee-wall installed at each corner. Sidewalks remain open, and no impact is expected to pedestrian or vehicle traffic.

In addition, we are wrapping up work on the steps at the Cedric Rucker University Center to repair mortar, and we’ll begin brickwork in the area of the HCC Patio, nearby walkway steps, the two walkways bordering Alvey Green/Alvey Parking lot and the stretch of Campus Walk coming from Goolrick to the HCC in the coming weeks. Any alternate routes or detours will be marked as sections of the walkway may be closed for repairs. The small parking lot at Arrington Hall may be closed for a week or two during this project, and some noise is expected during business hours. We appreciate your patience during these repairs to improve the safety and ADA accessibility of this area.

Through Thanksgiving and winter break, Landscape and Grounds will be removing invasive plant species and working in overgrown areas of campus. This work will be concentrated below Seacobeck, around the stream at Melchers and Woodard Halls, and in the bioretention pond at the Jepson Science Center.

Steam System Repairs and Maintenance work will take place the week prior to winter break, as Facilities Operations improves the efficiency of the system beyond the previous improvements made this past summer for the Underground Utilities Project. Steam is scheduled to be turned off on Dec. 16 during the day, pending adequate outdoor temperatures, to check and repair any leaks within the steam pipes. This regular winter maintenance will improve the condensate return as we prepare the system for winter months. We’ll be working closely with any offices and residents impacted by this planned steam outage, which will temporarily turn off our heat and hot water services in buildings from Goolrick Hall to South Hall.

Planning continues for the Accessibility Improvement Project, which will address accessibility needs of the campus in a phased approach over the next three years. Work is anticipated to begin in Madison Hall starting in spring 2025, while the building is offline, followed by Ball and Custis Halls, along with the large classrooms in Jepson and Combs. Site improvements will be made to the Battleground Athletic Complex and across the Fredericksburg Campus to improve navigation, and Westmoreland and Bushnell Halls will benefit from improvements as well. See more information on the Accessibility Improvements webpage.

UMW’s new theatre is still in the planning stages, along with renovations to duPont, Melchers and Pollard Halls. More information will be available following the design review with construction expected to begin following the demolishing of Russell and Marshall Halls in summer 2025. Read more about this project through recent new stories.

More information is available for each of these projects on the Campus Construction website.

For any questions, contact Executive Director of Facilities Operations Brian Gorham at bgorham@umw.edu or Capital Outlay Director Gary Hobson at ghobson@umw.edu.

Cooperman Featured by Center for American Women and Politics on Women’s Representation in Virginia

November 14, 2024 by Guest Author Leave a Comment

Professor of Political Science, Rosalyn Cooperman

Rosalyn Cooperman, professor and chair of the department of political science and international affairs, was highlighted in an article for the Center for American Woman and Politics titled, “What will 2025 bring for women’s representation in the Commonwealth of Virginia?” Reflecting on upcoming shifts, Cooperman notes, “In 2024, Virginia had four of its 11 congressional seats occupied by women… Virginia’s congressional delegation will be down two women as Representatives Abigail Spanberger (VA-7) and Jennifer Wexton (VA-10) are each retiring.” Cooperman’s analysis emphasizes the evolving dynamics of women’s representation in Virginia’s federal and state-level politics, especially with gender and reproductive rights on the ballot in 2025. Read the article.

Cooperman, was also quoted by World News – What Finger News in an article titled “Why women’s issues and campaign finances are in the spotlight.” Cooperman said, “Sure, I think there are a couple of things to recognize when we talk about campaigns and even campaign finance. The Electoral default here in the United States still remains male so a majority of men are running for elected office and a majority of men also fund political campaigns. That said, with Kamala Harris running as the Democratic nominee and certainly Hillary Clinton before her in 2016 we see women as very capable fundraisers. We also have seen in terms of voting women are more reliable voters in the United States than men.” Read the article.

Electric Scooter Safety Updates – No Riding, Parking or Charging in UMW Buildings

November 14, 2024 by Guest Author Leave a Comment

The following message is from the Office of Emergency Management and Safety:

UMW Campus Community,

This fall, we have seen an increased use in electric scooters on campus. While we recognize the convenience of scooters as a mode of transportation, their use must follow Virginia law, local ordinances, and general use guidelines.

Electric scooters are not allowed indoors and may not be charged in UMW buildings.

This prohibition of scooter use and storage indoors extends from existing policy that restricts scooters from our residence halls. Motorized, gas-powered or electric-powered vehicles, including mopeds and hoverboards, are also prohibited items. Lithium-powered transportation devices are not permitted in buildings per our state fire and safety codes.

We will review policy related to these devices this fall and work with the Student Government Association on further delineating appropriate scooter use on campus with pedestrian safety in mind.

Safety Concerns

The lithium-ion batteries used in electric scooters and other devices may pose a safety risk. They do not go through UL testing to ensure safety and performance standards. If the batteries are not used as directed or are defective, they can overheat, catch fire, or explode.

As with bicycles, helmets are recommended when riding an electric scooter. Additional bicycle and pedestrian safety rules may apply and can be reviewed on the Virginia Department of Transportation website.

Traffic Considerations

Scooter operators should obey traffic laws and signs and yield to pedestrians. Sidewalks and Campus Walk are primarily for pedestrians. If you ride a scooter, please dismount and walk through high-traffic areas, such as the covered walkway at Woodard Hall and Simpson Library where space is limited, or choose another route.

Traffic laws must be followed when operating an electric scooter, including Fredericksburg code pertaining to downtown streets and Virginia law for electric personal assistive mobility devices, electrically powered toy vehicles, electric power-assisted bicycles, and motorized skateboards or scooters.

Parking and Charging

Electric scooters may not be brought into UMW buildings to charge due to the high-risk of the lithium-ion batteries. Electric scooters must be parked and secured outside of buildings, at bike racks or other appropriate structures, and not impede ingress or egress to campus buildings.

We appreciate your attentiveness to these updates on electric scooter safety on campus. Should you have questions or additional concerns, please contact studentaffairs@umw.edu.

Richards Leads Talk at Louisiana Book Festival

November 14, 2024 by Guest Author Leave a Comment

Professor of English, Gary Richards

Gary Richards, professor of english, led the One Book, One Festival talk on Eudora Welty’s 1972 novel The Optimist’s Daughter at the twentieth Louisiana Book Festival held on the capitol grounds in Baton Rouge on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.

Richards has led this annual event over a dozen times since it was created fifteen years ago, covering texts such as Truman Capote’s Other Voices, Other Rooms and “A Christmas Memory,” Robert Penn Warren‘s All the King’s Men, John Kennedy Toole’s A Confederacy of Dunces, Harper Lee’s Go Set a Watchman, and Ernest Gaines’s A Gathering of Old Men. His appearance was made possible in part by a Strategic Partnership Grant from the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities.

Moon Quoted by Annandale Today on Racial Covenant Legacy in Fairfax County

November 14, 2024 by Guest Author Leave a Comment

Professor of History and American Studies, Krystyn Moon

Professor of History and American Studies, Krystyn Moon was featured in an Annandale Today article titled “Racial covenants – widespread in Mason District – can be removed.” Moon commented on the impact of these restrictive covenants, noting, “Those deeds rolled back any momentum for Black residents to become renters or homeowners in Fairfax County.”

Moon’s research highlights how racial covenants, common in northern Virginia suburbs like Annandale, perpetuated segregation well into the 20th century. Her “Exclusion & Resilience in NoVA” project maps these covenants to raise awareness of their historical and lasting impact on community demographics. Read the article.

Sanford Highlighted by Rappahannock Review for Talk That Examines Slave Quarters

November 14, 2024 by Guest Author Leave a Comment

Professor Emeritus of Historic Preservation, Douglas Sanford

Douglas W. Sanford, professor emeritus of historic preservation, presented “Interpreting the Evidence for African American History: Virginia’s Slave Quarters and Free Blacks on the Middle Peninsula in 1860,” at a virtual meeting of the Middle Peninsula African American Genealogical and Historical Society. Read the article.

Other recent media mentions for Sanford include:

Talk to explore lives of slaves and free persons in 1860 (Richmond Free Press)
Historian Douglas W. Sanford will present “Interpreting the Evidence for African American History: Virginia’s Slave Quarters and Free Blacks on the Middle Peninsula in 1860,” hosted by the Middle Peninsula African-American Genealogical and Historical Society.
https://richmondfreepress.com/news/2024/nov/07/talk-to-explore-lives-of-slaves-and-free-persons-in-1860/