November 26, 2024

EagleEye

A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff

Al-Tikriti Speaks at Displacement Meeting Hosted by IF20 and IRUSA

by

Professor of Middle Eastern History Nabil Al-Tikriti

On 27 March 2024, Professor of Middle East History Dr. Nabil Al-Tikriti joined a panel entitled “The Roots of a Nation to Forced Migration: Contravention of International Law,” jointly organized by Interfaith G-20 and Islamic Relief USA. Panelists included: Cynthia Lange (Senior Counsel, Fragomen), Anna Greene (Senior Protection Officer, UNHCR), Parisa Dada (Program Officer, USRAP Capacity Building Resettlement, Asylum, and Integration, International Rescue Committee), and Alia Boltakke (Founder & Attorney, The Boltakke Law Group). 

The panel description:

“Over 130 million people are expected to be affected by displacement in 2024. This is a staggering figure, with widespread implications. In response to the recent trend of increased displacements, there has been renewed conversation on the rights of stay for asylum seekers, who arrive in new countries because of conflict and displacement. Though the 1951 Refugee Convention outlines the right of asylum seekers to legally seek asylum in their country of presence without fear of removal, recent cases such as the UK and Denmark have seen the attempted relocation of asylum seekers to third countries. In 2023, similar policy interests and discussions took shape in the midst of the conflict in the Middle East. These renewed cases are reminiscent of historical examples, bringing to light the increased need to review and advocate for the rights of those seeking asylum. This panel event will bring together legal experts, humanitarian workers, and global advocates for an engaging discussion on the historical and present day state of asylum affairs in an ever-complex world.”

UMW Theatre to End 2023-24 Season With ‘Twelfth Night,’ April 10 to 21

by

UMW THEATRE TO END 2023-24 SEASON WITH TWELFTH NIGHT

UMW Theatre will close its 2023-24 season with William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.  Performances will be April 11-13 & 18-20 at 7:30 p.m., and 14 & 21 at 2:00 p.m. in Klein Theatre, duPont Hall at the University of Mary Washington. Guests may also attend the Pay-What-You-Can Preview performance on April 10 at 7:30 p.m. The box office opens at 5:30 p.m. and tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis. AfterWords, a post-show talkback with the cast, will take place after the matinee performance on April 14. Tickets are $28 for standard admission and $23 for students, senior citizens, and military. Groups of ten or more can receive a discount as well.

William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night is a romantic comedy focusing on twins, Viola and Sebastian, who are separated in a shipwreck and find themselves in the strange new land of Illyria. Stranded and alone, Viola must disguise herself as a man to survive and decides to find work with the Duke of Illyria, Orsino. Under the guise of manhood and against her better judgement, Viola finds herself falling in love with the duke. Orsino quickly appoints Viola as his right hand “man,” sending her to court another woman again and again in his stead, the grieving Countess Olivia. The situation grows more complex as a long triangle forms between Viola, Orsino, and Olivia, leading Viola to make a choice between her duty and her heart. As the story progresses, another parallel plot unfolds in Olivia’s court involving a quartet of pranksters seeking revenge on one haughty stewardess. All of this comes to a head when the characters are forced to confront each other and their true identities. At its core, Twelfth Night is a story about love, loss, and how we find our identities.

Twelfth Night, also known as Twelfth Night, or What You Will is believed to have been commissioned around 1601 as part of the Twelfth Night celebrations by Queen Elizabeth I held at Whitehall Palace. The play’s title is believed to be a reference to the Feast of Epiphany, a festival held on January 6th, the twelfth night of the Christmas Celebration. In the 1600’s, the festival was a festival in which everything was turned upside down. For example, men would dress as women and women men. This theme is shown in Shakespeare’s writing. The earliest recorded public performance of Twelfth Night took place on February 2nd, 1602, at Middle Temple Hall in London, England. The play was published in Shakespeare’s First Folio in 1623. The show has gained popularity over the centuries, with some more memorable productions including The Globe’s 2002 and 2012 production, the 2017 production at the Royal National Theatre, and the 2017-2018 run at the Royal National Theatre. The story has continued to prove popular, being adapted into movies like She’s the Man, starring Amanda Bynes and Channing Tatum.

William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night is directed by Marc Williams, assistant professor of theatre. Scenic design is by assistant professor Michael Benson and costume design is by associate professor Kevin McCluskey. Lighting design is by guest designer Max Doolittle and student Rylie Vann. Sound design is by student Madeline Berger. For further information, call the Klein Theatre Box Office at (540) 654-1111 or visit www.FredTix.com.

# # #

Buy tickets!

Mackintosh Shares Fredericksburg Reflections on ‘Town Talk’

by

Associate Professor of History and American Studies Will Mackintosh

Associate Professor of History and American Studies and at-large member of Fredericksburg City Council was interviewed on WFVA Radio’s Town Talk with Ted Schubel. On the show, Mackintosh talks about his first few months on council, the budget, growth and life in Fredericksburg. “I had to learn a lot of local history, but I love that,” he said. The ability to see the local history in a broader national context is what my professional training is about,” said Will Mackintosh. Listen to the interview.

Farnsworth Lectures on Disinformation in Poland

by

Stephen Farnsworth, professor of Political Science and director of the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, recently presented a lecture, “Disinformation, the News Media, and U.S. Presidential Elections,” at the University of Warsaw in Poland. The talk was derived from portions of Dr. Farnsworth’s recently published co-authored book, Producing News in a Time of Disinformation: Information Evaluation Strategies for Journalists and News Consumers. Dr. Farnsworth is serving in Poland as a Spring 2024 Fulbright Distinguished Scholar.

‘Bipartisanship’ fizzled in General Assembly this session

Another point of contention among lawmakers is establishing a regulated cannabis market. Democrats may have to wait for a new governor before making progress on cannabis, according to Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor and director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington. “This governor hasn’t shown much interest in coming up with a cannabis plan … and the Democrats in the legislature may very well wait it out for a subsequent governor’s cannabis plan,” Farnsworth said. Read more.

‘Bipartisanship’ fizzled in General Assembly this session

 

Although the North American economy is in good condition, this does not translate into support for Biden (Cronicas)

The fact that both have previously been heads of state is something quite peculiar. According to Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington, this “levels the battleground quite a bit, because they both have experience campaigning for the presidency.” However, this has the downside that “it will be very difficult for campaigns to persuade new voters,” since “people already have a very clear idea of which candidate they prefer.” Read more.

 

‘Bipartisanship’ Fizzles as General Assembly Session Ends (Williamsburg Yorktown Daily)

Another point of contention among lawmakers is establishing a regulated cannabis market. Democrats may have to wait for a new governor before making progress on cannabis, according to Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor and director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington. “This governor hasn’t shown much interest in coming up with a cannabis plan … and the Democrats in the legislature may very well wait it out for a subsequent governor’s cannabis plan,” Farnsworth said.

‘Bipartisanship’ Fizzles as General Assembly Session Ends

 

These City Councils Are Changing Their Public Comment Rules as Gaza Ceasefire Debates Dominate (Next City)

Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington, says the new restrictions highlight the “difficult balancing act” facing municipalities. “The bigger question for these cities is, do they really want to be making it more difficult for citizens to engage with elected officials?” Farnsworth says. “It’s a key measure to get a sense of the public’s pulse, so to speak, if you can have these vibrant comment periods.” Read more.

 

The unknown of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to amplify his presidential campaign

“Third party candidates always perform better in the polls than on election day,” however, notes Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington, contacted in Virginia. He assures in passing that the announcement of Ms. Shanahan’s candidacy should not change the dynamics of this race, which, like almost all elections in the United States, pits candidates from the two dominant parties against each other. “Voters like the idea of having more choice, but ultimately they almost always fear Democrats or Republicans enough to avoid voting for a third party,” he adds. People who don’t like Joe Biden and people who don’t like Donald Trump have such a strong feeling that they will do anything to make sure that the candidate they hate doesn’t win.” Read more.

 

Amid calls for Gaza ceasefire, Richmond City Council restricts public comment (VPN)

Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, told VPM News/Next City the new restrictions highlight the “difficult balancing act” facing municipalities. “The bigger question for these cities is, do they really want to be making it more difficult for citizens to engage with elected officials?” Farnsworth said. “It’s a key measure to get a sense of the public’s pulse, so to speak, if you can have these vibrant comment periods.” Read more.

Join #TogetherUMW on This Year’s #MaryWashDay

by

MWD challenge matches logoWe will hold our seventh Mary Wash Day, previously known as Mary Wash Giving Day, April 4. This 24-hour celebration brings the UMW community of alumni, faculty, staff, parents, students and community members together to support areas across campus. We’ve set ambitious goals this year: 2,500 gifts, including 1,000 alumni donors and 250 first-time donors. Throughout the day there will be chances to unlock over $300,000 in sponsored challenges and matches, including a faculty and staff participation challenge to benefit the Gwen Hale Resource Center (see details below).

There are  many ways to help celebrate #MaryWashDay:

  • Sign up to be a Mary Wash Day ambassador to help spread the word and inspire others to give. Make a gift with your unique ambassador referral link and get two other gifts and we’ll send you a UMW bento box!
  • Access the Mary Wash Day toolkit to download social images and exclusive Zoom backgrounds.
  • Wear your Mary Wash gear on April 4.
  • Stop by the CRUC patio from 7:30-9 a.m. April 4. Pick an Eagle and win a prize! The first 50 faculty/staff will also receive a free grab-and-go breakfast.
  • Visit the MWD Headquarters from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. April 4 on the patio of the CRUC to take part in the fun with students.
  • Increase your impact: If 200 faculty and staff members make a gift of $5 or more to any area of the University on April 4, you will unlock a $1,000 gift to the Gwen Hale Resource Center from faculty and staff members Anand Rao, Kashef Majid, Sarah Dewees, and Miriam Liss.

Questions about Mary Wash Day? Contact Director of Annual Giving Shelby Orlando ’14 at sorlando@umw.edu or 540-654-1361.

Participate in the Fund for Mary Washington Impact Grants Program

by

The following message is from the Office of Advancement and Alumni Engagement:

Dear Faculty, Staff, and Students,

I am writing to announce an exciting opportunity to secure funding for your projects through the new Fund for Mary Washington Impact Grants. Through this pilot program, donor-funded grants of $500 to $5,000 will be awarded to support projects and initiatives that advance programs, lead to professional/academic growth, and/or exemplify the University’s ASPIRE values.

The application form is now open at alumni.umw.edu/impactgrants, and the deadline to apply is March 29. Proposals will be accepted from faculty, staff, and student leaders applying on behalf of recognized student organizations. UMW’s Alumni Association Board of Directors, with input from the Young Alumni Council, will evaluate proposals on the criteria outlined here. Finalists will be announced by April 15 and will be invited to present their proposals on the morning of April 20, when final funding decisions will be made. Grants will support projects and initiatives to be completed between May 2024 and May 2025. The attached flyer provides an overview, and answers to FAQs are available here.

Please reach out to Executive Director of Development Beth Hunsinger ’01 with questions: ehunsing@umw.edu or (540) 654-2068.

Katie TurcotteVice President for Advancement and Alumni Engagement

Rao Speaks to NC State Faculty About AI in Education

by

Professor of Communication and Chair of the Department of Communication and Digital Studies Anand Rao

Professor of Communication and Chair of the Department of Communication and Digital Studies Anand Rao

Anand Rao was invited by NC State University’s Campus Writing and Speaking Program to speak with faculty about AI in education. He gave a presentation on Monday, March 18, 2024, titled “Argumentation, Communication, and Critical Thinking: Teaching Durable Skills to Prepare Our Students for Success in an AI-World” and then ran a faculty workshop on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, titled “Building Chatbots for AI Literacy.” Both presentation and workshop built upon work that Rao has done over the last two years on AI in education as he works to develop models for student AI literacy and how to incorporate AI technology into classrooms in a responsible way.

Williams Comments on Disney World and the American Identity

by

Assistant Professor of Theatre Marc Williams

Assistant Professor of Theatre Marc Williams

Assistant Professor of Theatre Marc Williams appeared on an episode of the With Good Reason radio show titled “Spring Break.” During his segment, which kicked off the show, Williams, who teaches an FSEM on the topic, talked about the 80% of Americans who have visited Disney World in Florida and how it has both shaped and been shaped by American identity. Listen to the segment.

Spotsy Fifth-Graders Tour Campus, Meet Current Students

by

A group of fifth-graders from Lee Hill Elementary School in Spotsylvania County toured campus on Wednesday, March 20, 2024. The elementary-schoolers arrived at George Washington Hall’s Dodd Auditorium in the morning to meet with current UMW students. They then toured campus, including the Anderson Center, where they spoke with Mary Washington student-athletes.
“The fifth-graders were very excited to be on campus and interacting with our community!” UMW Chief of Police Mike Hall said to those who helped organize the event. “Thank you for doing what we do best.”

Farnsworth Lectures on U.S. Presidential Election at the University of Warsaw in Poland

by

Professor of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth

Professor of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth

Stephen Farnsworth, professor of Political Science and director of the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, recently presented a lecture, “The State of the U.S. Presidential Election,” as part of the University of Warsaw’s American Studies Program Spring Colloquium. Dr. Farnsworth is serving in Poland as a Spring 2024 Fulbright Distinguished Scholar.

Other recent media mentions for Farnsworth include:

So, Is the Potomac Yard Stadium Deal Dead? (Washingtonian Magazine)
In order for the deal to progress this year, Youngkin would need to propose an amendment to the budget bill, which the chambers would then vote on at the April 17 session or call a special legislative session. But Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington—and a longtime Virginia General Assembly watcher—said it was unlikely such a move would be successful. “Trying to add the stadium deal to the legislature’s budget plan only means that the Senate would reject that project again,” Farnsworth told Washingtonian. “The governor wants a legacy, and the Democratic majorities can just wait him out—he only has one more session as governor after this year’s session concludes.” Read more.

Trump Wins Prince William: Examining his decisive victory in the deep-blue county (Potomac Local)
Donald Trump won his first victory in Prince William County during a dual Presidential Primary on Super Tuesday, March 5, 2023. Read more.

Biden, Trump Look to Secure Party Presidential Nominations (CTV News)
“Absolutely, the obstacles of the nomination and renomination of Trump and Biden are settled, so the delegates should add up to fifty plus one by the time the counting is done tomorrow,” said Stephen Farnsworth. Read more.