August 8, 2026

EagleEye

A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff

UMW update on outdoor crowd size gatherings

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The following message is from the Dean of Students:

As students at UMW continue to diligently practice our risk-mitigation guidelines and as the Governor of Virginia begins to increase allowable crowd capacities, we have decided to expand from 10 to 25 the number of people who can safely gather in an outdoor setting. Of course, masking and social distancing still will apply. Also, indoor gathering capacity remains at 10.

We are calling this MMDC 10/25. Our hope is that, as the weather improves, this will lead to more fun activities outside with friends. We also are looking at some organized entertainment, such as outdoor movies. We’ve all been cooped up too long!

Even so, it is imperative to remember that this pandemic is still rampant. Although the number of vaccinated individuals is on the rise, it remains critical to continue wearing a mask, maintaining a six-foot physical distance, and limiting indoor gatherings to no more than 10 people.

Our seniors who are on track to graduate are counting on the entire community being ultra-vigilant in the weeks ahead so that there will be the opportunity for in-person commencement events in May. To do this, we must avoid any spikes in COVID cases. Please commit to MMDC 10/25.

Thank you, and enjoy the balance of this semester.

Dean Rucker

A message regarding the violence in Atlanta

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A message from the Office of the President. 

Dear UMW Community,

I am saddened by, and we as a community mourn, the mass murder of eight people – six of whom were Asian-American women – in Atlanta last Tuesday. These horrific killings have increased the fears and concerns of our Asian communities. Asian Pacific Islander Desi Americans (APIDA) and Asian individuals have endured persistent acts of discrimination in American society for decades, but these communities have increasingly become direct targets of racism and xenophobia this past year.

The murder of these six women is a terrible reminder of this long history of anti-Asian violence in our society, as well as the tragic scapegoating and other racial and ethnic violence that has escalated, particularly during the pandemic.

We stand with our APIDA and Asian students, faculty, staff, and alumni, and we stand against the hate, discrimination, and intolerance these murders and other recent acts of violence against these communities represent.

Sincerely,

Troy Paino

COVID Vaccination Interest — Sign up now!

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A message from the COVID Co-Coordinators. 

All UMW Faculty and Staff,

Thank you for your patience. We have great news. Our local health district (RAHD) is getting ready to move into phase 1c and so has just asked us for a list of all UMW employees who are willing to get the COVID Vaccine, something we strongly encourage. Please fill out the linked form even if you have already registered at vaccinate.virginia.gov, but not if you have already received one or two doses of the COVID vaccine. Note that this access to the vaccine is because of your employment at UMW and so RAHD will offer a vaccine even if you live in another health district.

Please fill the brief form out ASAP so that we can go ahead and share this information with the Rappahannock Area Health District.

Jeff and Tim

 

Mathur Publishes Entry in the Encyclopedia of Global Shakespeare

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Professor of English Maya Mathur

Professor of English Maya Mathur

Professor of English Maya Mathur contributed the encyclopedia entry, “Twelfth Night (Dir. Tim Supple, UK, 2003),” to the Palgrave Encyclopedia of Global Shakespeare, edited by Alexa Alice Joubin and published online by Palgrave Macmillan in 2020. The entry examines the role of immigration in the production history and reception of Tim Supple’s Twelfth Night, a television adaptation of William Shakespeare’s play that was first broadcast in 2003 by the British television channel, ITV.

Larus Comments in Vietnam News on U.S.-China Alaska Meeting

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Professor and Chairman of the Department of Political Science Elizabeth Freund Larus.

Professor and Chairman of the Department of Political Science Elizabeth Freund Larus.

In an interview with Vietnam News on the eve of the Alaska meeting between U.S. and Chinese officials, PSIA Professor Elizabeth Larus indicated that the U.S. and China, as influential countries, need to talk face-to-face. Professor Larus indicated that the timing of the meeting was significant, following China’s “Two Sessions” and the Blinken/Austin trips to allies South Korea and Japan. Dr. Larus anticipated no breakthroughs on U.S.-China relations, and that the U.S. and Chinese media would differ in their accounts of the meeting. https://baotintuc.vn/the-gioi/gioi-chuyen-gia-my-danh-gia-y-nghia-tich-cuc-cua-doi-thoai-cap-cao-mytrung-20210320200349424.htm (English translation available.)

Dr. Larus also commented on the sparks that flew between the U.S. and China at their March 17 Alaska meeting on In Focus South Asia. She indicated that Washington was likely surprised by the vehemence with which China responded to U.S. criticisms of Beijing’s actions on a number of hot button issues. Professor Larus’s comments begin at six minutes into the program. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKIJFQeL2mI

A Climate of Change: An Earth Day Mini Series

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A Climate of Change FlyerCLEAR (Climate Environment and Resilience) is presenting “A Climate of Change,” an Earth Day mini-series of public sessions to talk about environmental issues facing the Fredericksburg region. They will happen every Tuesday in April, at 4 p.m. via Zoom. After the presentations, College of Arts and Sciences Dean Keith Mellinger will moderate a Q&A with Rebecca Rubin of the Fredericksburg-based environmental firm Marstel-Day.

Climate and Environmental Justice, 4/6

  • Delegate Josh Cole – Virginia House of Delegates, District 28, President of Stafford County NAACP
  • Qasim Rashid – Human Rights Lawyer and Author
  • Kendyl Crawford – Virginia Interfaith Power and Light, Director, Member of the Virginia Council on Environmental Justice

Register in advance for this webinar:

https://umw-sso.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_pGRsvTvsRGWXxJd_nLwXDQ

 

Climate and Clean Energy, 4/13

  • Dr. Matt Eberhardt – Deputy Superintendent, Fredericksburg City Public Schools
  • Mayor Katherine Greenlaw – Fredericksburg City Mayor
  • Robert Courtnage – Fredericksburg Clean and Green Commission
  • David Cooper – The Brisben Center

Register in advance for this webinar:

https://umw-sso.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vOzVORiLQm6D4owhPW9LtA

 

Climate and Conservation, 4/20

  • Daria Christian – Executive Director, Friends of the Rappahannock
  • John Tippett – Professor, UMW
  • Alan Rowsome – Executive Director, Northern Virginia Conservation Trust

Register in advance for this webinar:

https://umw-sso.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_TAyJ4rEXRji3ySenNOVIKg

Farnsworth Delivers Online Lecture on Political Humor

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Stephen Farnsworth, Professor of Political Science and Director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies.

Stephen Farnsworth, Professor of Political Science and Director of the 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 delivered an online lecture, “Political Humor and the American Presidency,” to the Dartmouth Club of Philadelphia. Dr. Farnsworth, a Dartmouth graduate, drew upon his recent book, “Late Night With Trump,” for that online conversation.

Dr. Farnsworth also commented on the following news stories:

Still barred from major platforms, Trump weighs launching new social network (KIMA CBS 29; NBC 15; abc6onyourside.com)

Cuomo crisis recalls Northam’s; supporters say no comparison (The Washington Post; Star Tribune; WSB-TV2)

Seeing Double (The Connection; WVTF)

American Rescue Plan (CTV News Channel)

OPINION: America was woefully unprepared for the pandemic (The DePaulia)

The Never-ending Gun Debate (CTV News Channel)

McClellan vies for governor seat after 15 years in legislature (NBC12; Fauquier-Times)

Free virtual screening and panel discussion of ‘Belly of the Beast’ on March 29 at 6PM

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Belly of the Beast image Dear Colleagues:

I am writing to bring to your attention a public screening of the documentary “Belly of the Beast,” an exposé of human rights abuses in women’s prisons, highlighting modern-day eugenics and reproductive injustice. Please encourage your students to attend both the screening and the Q&A session that follows the screening.

To attend the screening, please sign up on this page: https://tinyurl.com/bellyofthebeastexpo. After signing up, you will receive information on how to watch. Please tell your students that once they register, they can watch the documentary any time Tuesday, March 23 now until Monday, March 29 with the password that comes with the registration – they don’t need to wait till next Monday’s public screening.

The public screening on Monday, March 29,  at 6pm will be followed by a Q&A session scheduled for 7:30pm-8:30pm with Cynthia Chandler, the lawyer-activist who played a key role in bringing this issue to light. Here is the link to register for the Q&A (this link is also available on the Community Foundation page).

The event is co-sponsored by UMW Women’s and Gender Studies Program, the departments of History and American Studies, Political Science and International Affairs, Sociology and Anthropology, the Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River Region and Germanna Community College.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Surupa Gupta
Professor, Department of Political Science and International Affairs
Director, Women’s and Gender Studies Program

“Popcorn to Porn: How to Hack ‘Pandemic-Fostered’ Habit Loops” on March 30 at 5PM

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Flyer for Dr. Linda Hancock eventConcerned about stress eating, overusing alcohol, nicotine, or even porn? Tired of excessive anxiety, binge-watching, or gaming away your time but can’t seem to change? This interactive, practical discussion will review how our brains work and how we can disrupt “trigger-behavior-reward” patterns. Join us for viewing a fascinating 10 minute video and a nonjudgmental, skills/solution-focused discussion to create more exciting futures. Dr. Linda Hancock, FNP is a very engaging speaker on mental health topics, and she has spoken before at UMW’s New Student Orientation.