April 9, 2026

EagleEye

A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff

Campus Rec Round-Up

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Join Outdoor Rec for Apple Picking! Hartford Orchard, October 16th from 10:30 am to 2:00 pm. Students can enjoy a day of delicious apple picking! The event is NO COST but bring spending money to purchase apples and other goodies! 15 person limit and Transportation is provided! Apples are $10 per peck or $20 per half bushel. Register at campusrec.umw.edu.

 

 

 

 

Registration is now open for IM Basketball! Begins October 3rd until October 26th. Three games per week with a minimum of four players per team. All players receive a Freddy's Promo Card! The winning team receives an Intramural Champion Shirt! Register at campusrec.umw.edu

Registration is now open for IM Basketball! Begins October 3rd until October 26th. Three games per week with a minimum of four players per team. All players receive a Freddy’s Promo Card! The winning team receives an Intramural Champion Shirt! Register at campusrec.umw.edu.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Want to be featured on Campus Recreation's Social Media? Email campusrec@umw.edu to be highlighted as a Human of CREC!

Want to be featured on Campus Recreation’s Social Media? Email campusrec@umw.edu to be highlighted as a Human of CREC!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Banned Books Read-Out

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Banned Books Week Read-OutIn recognition of the annual American Library Association’s Banned Books Week (September 26-October 2), a Read-out was held on Wednesday, Sept. 29, on Campus Walk, in front of Lee Hall, and on the University Center steps facing Ball Circle, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. President Paino and other administrators, faculty, and students read from selected banned and challenged books in a free, public event sponsored by the Department of English and Linguistics and Simpson Library. A special exhibit of banned books will be on display in the lobby area of Simpson Library throughout the week and on the UMW Libraries Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram pages.

Holmes, Crow-Dolby to serve on Fredericksburg PR Society board

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GMHS Education and Communications Manager Michelle Crow-Dolby

GMHS Education and Communications Manager Michelle Crow-Dolby

UMW Director of Marketing Malcolm Holmes

UMW Director of Marketing Malcolm Holmes

University of Mary Washington Director of Marketing Malcolm Holmes was recently announced as the president of the Fredericksburg Public Relations Society Board for the 2021-22 season. Gari Melchers Home and Studio Education and Communications Manager Michelle Crow-Dolby will serve as the board’s recording secretary. Read more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Farnsworth Comments in the News

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Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science and director of UMW's Center for Leadership and Media Studies

Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science and director of UMW’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies

Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science and director of the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, recently commented on the following news stories:

Virginia governor race is close, UMW survey says (The Free Lance-Star)

Virginia Governor’s Debate (WAMU Radio; WHRV 89.5)

Youngkin Takes the Lead over McAuliffe in New Virginia Gubernatorial Poll (yahoo.com; National Review)

UMW poll shows Youngkin with slight lead in Governor’s race (WINA)

University of Mary Washington Poll Finds Tight Race For Governor (WVTF)

Mary Washington poll shows tight contests for statewide races, with GOP boosts among likely voters (Richmond.com)

Virginia gubernatorial race pretty much a toss-up says new polling data (Los Angeles Blade)

University of Mary Washington Poll Finds Tight Race For Governor (Virginia Public Radio)

Republicans aim to reverse Virginia’s blue shift as gubernatorial polls tighten (WSET; abc6onyourside.com; abcnews4.com)

How Late-Night Comedy Evolved from Trump to Biden (Harvard Politics)

Cook Political Report puts Virginia Governor’s race at “toss up” (WINA; Newsmax)

The race for governor is a dead heat (VA Scope)

Youngkin leads McAuliffe for the first time in a Virginia governor’s race poll (The Washington Times; Breitbart)

Youngkin has 5-point lead in UMW governor’s race poll (Virginia Business Magazine)

Survey finds most Virginians approve of K–12 schools’ COVID-19 response (The Free Lance-Star)

Haitian Migrant Crisis (CTV News Channel)

Election in Virginia (The Vince Coglianese Show)

Democrats harness vaccinated Americans’ ire at holdouts as a political force (The Washington Times)

God, COVID and the Rage Against the Unvaccinated (Bacon’s Rebellion)

Youngkin’s calls for bagging Virginia’s grocery tax may hit home for economy-minded voters (The Washington Times; Washington Dailies)

Cultural Awareness Dining Events Make National News

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A recent Islamic Cultural Celebration Dinner was planned and executed by Jordanian pastry cook Hind Abulali and included Saudi Arabian Kabsa and Lebanese kafta made with Halal meats.

A recent Islamic Cultural Celebration Dinner was planned and executed by Jordanian pastry cook Hind Abulali and included Saudi Arabian Kabsa and Lebanese kafta made with Halal meats.

Food Management Magazine, a national publication, recently published a feature story about the cultural awareness dining events that have been co-sponsored by University Dining and the James Farmer Multicultural Center and student cultural groups, for over 10 years. Dr. Marion Sanford and the dining team have worked closely together to create special dining events that celebrate the many diverse cultures of our UMW students. We’re very proud to have been recognized by Food Management Magazine for wonderful partnership in promoting diversity and inclusion through our dining events. We hope you enjoy this article.

https://tinyurl.com/kexkmx5y

 

New Civil War Trails Marker

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An interpretive marker that orients visitors to Civil War sites in Stafford County was recently installed at Gari Melchers Home and Studio.An interpretive marker that orients visitors to Civil War sites in Stafford County was recently installed at Gari Melchers Home and Studio.

The Museum hosts the Stafford County Visitor Center, offering information and directions to travelers from across the nation and around the world. The marker was developed in cooperation with Civil War Trails, Inc., a network of over 1,550 interpreted sites across five states. Narrative text summarizing the “Hard Hand of War” in the county covers battles, military occupation, and the experiences of enslaved Blacks seeking freedom, personified by the story of John Washington of Fredericksburg. A map shows other Civil War Trails sites in the county.

Gari Melchers Home and Studio and the Stafford County Visitor Center are located at 224 Washington Street in Falmouth, Virginia. The historic house Belmont, the studio, and exhibit galleries are open daily from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The grounds and Visitor Center close at 5:00 PM.

For more information visit https://www.garimelchers.org/, https://www.tourstaffordva.com/, and https://www.civilwartrails.org/.

Freedom Rides Historical Marker Highlighted in FLS

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Posing with the historical marker, from left to right, James Farmer Multicultural Center Associate Director JoAnna Raucci and Director Marion Sanford, Freedom Rider Dion Diamond and Assistant Director Christopher Williams. Photo by Suzanne Carr Rossi.

Posing with the historical marker, from left to right, James Farmer Multicultural Center Associate Director JoAnna Raucci and Director Marion Sanford, Freedom Rider Dion Diamond and Assistant Director Christopher Williams. Photo by Suzanne Carr Rossi.

The James Farmer Multicultural Center was highlighted in The Free Lance-Star article and an editorial about the Freedom Rides Historical Marker that was placed on the corner of Princess Anne and Wolfe streets several weeks ago, commemorating the site of the former bus station where the Freedom Riders first stopped in their quest to desegregate interstate travel. JFMC Assistant Director Chris Williams spearheaded the effort, along with Assistant Professor of Historic Preservation Christine Henry and Associate Professor of History Erin Devlin.

Fredericksburg unveils marker recognizing 1961 Freedom Riders’ first stop (The Free Lance-Star)

This is where Freedom Rides began (The Free Lance-Star)

 

Nominate Your Colleagues for an Excellent Eagle Award!

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Do you have a colleague deserving recognition? Nominate them today for an Excellent Eagle award!  

Winners of the Excellent Eagle award will receive a reserved parking space for ONE MONTH in a parking lot of their choosing on campus.  

If you would like to nominate someone for the Excellent Eagle Employee award, fill out the Excellent Eagle Nomination Form. Be sure to provide the person’s name and department and the reason they should be recognized.

Questions? Contact Sarah Appleby at sappleby@umw.edu