UMW is celebrating Disability Awareness Month during the month of October. There are a number of exciting events in store for our students, staff, and faculty! Please review the flyer or check out ODR’s website to see What’s Happening!
Dennett Interviewed by American Theatre
Assistant Professor of Theatre and Dance Bridgette Dennett
Assistant Professor of Theatre and Dance Bridgette Dennett was recently interviewed in American Theatre on her experiences of teaching technical theater through COVID-19, as well as the UMW and outside productions she’s working on now that live theater has returned.
A scenic designer and assistant professor in the department of Theatre and Dance at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Va., Dennett described some of her teaching over the past year as “how to use power tools but saying, ‘These are theoretical, you shall never touch them.” With school now in session—with masks, reduced class sizes, and some social distancing to prevent COVID-19 spread—she said with relief, “I was joking with my technical production class yesterday, I was like: ‘I just want to tell you guys I’m so happy to have you here. We’re actually going to do lab hours this semester!’” Read more.
Barry Discusses Biblical Rape Culture with The Daily Beast
Associate Professor of Religious Studies Jennifer Barry
Associate Professor of Religious Studies Jennifer Barry was interviewed for an article on The Daily Beast entitled, “Forget the Meteor. We Should Be Talking About Biblical Rape Culture in the Sodom Story.”
As Jennifer Barry, an associate professor at the University of Mary Washington and expert in the history of sexual violence told me, “in stories like Sodom and Gomorrah and Judges 19, the sexual violence preserved in the text focuses on the protection of men, while casually handing over women (some of whom are never heard from again).” Read more.
Campus Rec Round-Up
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.
Want to be featured on Campus Recreation’s Social Media? Email campusrec@umw.edu to be highlighted as a Human of CREC!
Davidson’s Costs of War Project Cited in Article
Professor of Political Science and International Affairs Jason Davidson
Professor of Political Science and International Affairs Jason Davidson’s Costs of War project was cited in an article on EUReporter.com entitled, “Afghanistan Insurgency: Cost of War on Terror.” Read more.
Banned Books Read-Out
In 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
GMHS Education and Communications Manager Michelle Crow-Dolby
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
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)
UMW poll shows Youngkin with slight lead in Governor’s race (WINA)
University of Mary Washington Poll Finds Tight Race For Governor (WVTF)
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)
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 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)
Cultural Awareness Dining Events Make National News
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.
New Civil War Trails Marker
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/.