August 5, 2026

EagleEye

A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff

Farnsworth Comments in the News

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Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science and director of the University’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

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:

Wish list for Virginia GOP will likely remain elusive, even after Republicans retake House of Delegates (WUSA 9)

The Virginia Redistricting Process (Red, White and Confused radio program WEHC 90.7 FM)

Governor.-elect Glenn Youngkin announces he will pull Virginia out of Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (Virginia Scope)

Redistricting plan proposes big changes to Fredericksburg-area congressional districts (The Free Lance-Star)

New draft Virginia legislative maps released (Virginia Mercury)

Draft maps redraw, renumber House, Senate maps in Fredericksburg region (Culpeper Star-Exponent)

Northam vows to raise teacher pay 10 percent. Will it happen? (The Washington Post)

New map puts Fauquier in 10th Congressional District (Fauquier Now)

Draft maps redraw, renumber House, Senate maps in Fredericksburg region (The Free Lance-Star)

Biden and Putin Speak (CTV News)

Rettinger Comments on Cheating for Inside Higher Ed Article

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Professor of Psychological Science and Director of Academic Integrity Programs David Rettinger

Professor of Psychological Science and Director of Academic Integrity Programs David Rettinger

Professor of Psychological Science David Rettinger, who is director of Academic Integrity Programs at UMW, weighed in on an article in Inside Higher Ed entitled, “Shades of Gray on Student Cheating”:

When David Rettinger, president emeritus of the International Center for Academic Integrity (ICAI), looked over the Student Voice data, he was drawn to the numbers that showed how much students realize certain actions would be considered cheating. “Some of [the unacceptable responses] are a little lighter for sure, but students generally would describe these behaviors as unacceptable,” says Rettinger, a professor of psychological science and director of academic integrity programs at the University of Mary Washington. “Their institutions talk about these things, and students know what they’re supposed to do, yet students cheat a fair bit.”

He can imagine a stressed-out student saying, “I know it’s unacceptable, mostly I don’t do it, but in this situation I’m going to do something I generally don’t believe in.” Read more.

Larus Publishes Book Chapter on Taiwan’s Military

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Professor and Chair of Political Science and International Affairs Elizabeth Freund Larus

Professor and Chair of Political Science and International Affairs Elizabeth Freund Larus

Elizabeth Freund Larus, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Political Science and International Affairs published her chapter “Taiwan’s Military Posture toward China’s Confrontational Stance,” with Agata Wiktoria Ziętek (Marie Curie-Skłodowska University) in Taiwan: Environmental, Political and Social Issues? Caleb M. Clark, Karl Ho, and Alexander C. Tan. The chapter employs defensive realist theory to analyze Taiwan’s military response to China’s threats. The chapter, based on Professor Larus’s field research in Taiwan, finds that domestic considerations, such as an economy that has already matured and is experiencing lower than previous growth rates, shifting demographics, and difficulties in implementing restructuring of the military all present nearly insurmountable challenges to Taiwan’s military modernization and defense capabilities. These domestic limitations are compounded by the hesitation of many countries to sell arms to Taiwan or to engage in weapons development with Taiwan. The book may be purchased through the publisher at https://novapublishers.com/shop/taiwan-environmental-political-and-social-issues/ or though Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Taiwan-Environmental-Political-Social-Issues/dp/1536198374

Read THE LOWLAND with the Mary Washington Mother of All Book Clubs

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Mother of All Book Clubs banner

We are beginning the next round of reading in our online literary group, the Mother of All Book Clubs! This club is open to anyone with a connection to Mary Washington–alumni, parents, donors, faculty, and staff. Join us!

Our next selection is The Lowland, by Jhumpa Lahiri. This book was a finalist for the National Book Award, among other honors, and appears on dozens of booklists.

From Amazon:

“The Lowland is an engrossing family saga steeped in history: the story of two very different brothers bound by tragedy, a fiercely brilliant woman haunted by her past, a country torn apart by revolution, and a love that endures long past death. Moving from the 1960s to the present, and from India to America and across generations, this dazzling novel is Jhumpa Lahiri at the height of her considerable powers.”

Pick up a copy of the book and start reading–we will begin posting discussion questions on Monday, January 10. You might consider supporting an independent bookstore, or you could try your local library system.

We look forward to reading with you!

All the best,
The Alumni Relations Team

Eagle Resource Closet Donations

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Eagle Resource Closet The Eagle Resource Closet is in need of these items for donation! Donations can be dropped off outside of the CCE office of the third floor of the UC, outside of the Eagle Resource Closet in Lee Hall (In the attic, take the elevator on the side closest to Monroe hall), and inside the Eagle Resource Closet if you have cold items!

Fernsebner Appears on With Good Reason Radio

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Professor of History Susan Fernsebner

Professor of History Susan Fernsebner

Professor of History Susan Fernsebner was interviewed on With Good Reason, which airs Sundays at 2 p.m. on Fredericksburg’s Radio IQ 88.3 Digital and at various times throughout the week on stations across Virginia and the United States. Check the website for show times.

Gift Wrapped America:

These days almost all toys are Made in China. But that wasn’t always the case. Susan Fernsebner says that most Chinese toys were made in America. So the Chinese government incentivized creating toys that reflected its own national identity.

Also on the show: It’s all about the power of the almighty dollar. Meredith Katz (Virginia Commonwealth University) says that from From the Boston Tea Party to the Don’t Buy Where You Can’t Work, consumers have long known that. What companies are you avoiding this year? Who’s getting your hard-earned money instead? Also, for months, companies and experts have been suggesting that we hurry up and buy our Christmas gifts. It’s almost judgement day… will they arrive in time? Erika Marsillac (Old Dominion University) says that while it may be tempting to blame this on COVID-19, the reality is that we import almost everything and it’s adding up. Plus, Stefan Duma (Virginia Tech) spent the 1990s through the early aughts researching how to prevent face and eye injuries in the military. After publishing his findings, he started getting calls from popular toy companies to test their products.

Audio files of the full program and its companion news feature are posted on the WGR website: https://www.withgoodreasonradio.org.

Fernsebner to Appear on With Good Reason

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Professor of History Susan Fernsebner

Professor of History Susan Fernsebner

Professor of History Susan Fernsebner will appear on an upcoming episode of With Good Reason entitled “Gift Wrapped America,” premiering on Dec. 11 and running through Dec. 18.  Dr. Fernsebner, whose expertise focuses on modern Chinese history, will discuss her research on toys, childhood and Chinese identity with host Sarah McConnell.

Summary: These days almost all toys are Made in China. But that wasn’t always the case. Susan Fernsebner (University of Mary Washington) says that most Chinese toys were made in America. So the Chinese government incentivized creating toys that reflected its own national identity. 

Experts from Virginia Commonwealth University, Old Dominion University and Virginia Tech will also be featured.

The show airs Sundays at 2 p.m. on Fredericksburg’s Radio IQ 88.3 Digital and at various times throughout the week on stations across Virginia and the United States. Check the website for show times.

 

Davidson’s Book Reviewed in Digital International Relations Publication

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Professor of Political Science and International Affairs Jason Davidson with his book, "America's Entangling Alliances: 1787 to the Present."

Professor of Political Science and International Affairs Jason Davidson with his book, “America’s Entangling Alliances: 1787 to the Present.”

Professor of Political Science and International Affairs Jason Davidson’s book, America’s Entangling Alliances: 1778 to the Present, recently received a positive review essay in H-Diplo, a well-respected digital international relations publication.

Teachers of United States foreign relations know that the myth of isolationism is strong among their students. The axioms of presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson about steering clear of permanent and entangling alliances hold great power in the discourse of U.S. history. Modern scholarship, though, shows clearly that the U.S. has long engaged in active and often complex foreign relations with the wider world in pursuit of real or perceived national interests: from war and peace with indigenous peoples in North America since the colonial era to missile strikes in the Middle East under modern Republican and Democratic administrations. Many of these actions were often unilateral, but alliances and other agreements with other countries like France in 1778 or Latin American states in 1823 or the United States’ twentieth century coalitions were not unusual. For scholars today, the question is not so much ‘did the U.S. entangle itself with others’ but ‘how’ and ‘why.’

Jason W. Davidson’s America’s Entangling Alliances: 1778 to the Present is a useful addition to this scholarship and a good tool for teachers and researchers alike. Written from a decidedly political science perspective. Davidson engages in a meaningful way with the more recent standard U.S. foreign relations historiography, especially surveys by scholars and writers like George Herring, Walter McDougall, and Walter Russell Mead. Refreshingly, Davidson makes use of a variety of published primary sources and online archival resources to ground his analysis in an evidentiary record historians will appreciate. Read more.

UMW Choirs Holiday Sing-A-Long, Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m.

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You are cordially invited to an informal holiday sing-a-long with the UMW Choirs, this Saturday, December 4, from 7:00-8:00 p.m. outside of George Washington Hall. We will be singing holiday favorites for those passing by, and for those that will be arriving to attend the UMW Philharmonic Holiday Concert at 8 p.m. You are also welcome to bring family and friends, including furry friends. We will finish in plenty of time to find seats for the concert, for those who would like to attend.

If you’re interested, just be there at 7:00 on Friday, and dress warmly. We will have lyric sheets for you. Feel free to wear festive holiday attire. We’d love to see you!

Best,

Dr. Christopher O. Ryder ‘89
Associate Professor of Music
Director of Choral Activities

Al-Tikriti Presents Research at Istanbul Conference

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Professor of Middle East History Nabil Al-Tikriti presented a keynote address entitled “Revisiting “Yavuz Sultan Selim Nasıl Padışah Oldu”: The Selimşah-Korkud Correspondence” on Thursday, November 4. Presenting his 20 minute address entirely in Turkish, Prof. Al-Tikriti summarized and commented on the secondary literature and primary source correspondence between Prince Korkud (d. 1513) and the future Yavuz Sultan Selim (d. 1520) for the “Yavuz Sultan Selim ve Dönemi Sempozyumu / The Symposium on Yavuz Sultan Selim and his Era.” The symposium was hosted by Istanbul Üniversitesi (University) and Türk Tarih Kurumu (Turkish Historical Foundation). This was an invited appearance.

The symposium website includes further information, and photos. The conference proceedings should be published in the next few months.

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