November 27, 2024

EagleEye

A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff

Faculty, Staff, Students Attend MLK Prayer Breakfast

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From left to right: James Farmer Multicultural Center Assistant Director Chris Williams, Vice President for Student Affairs Juliette Landphair, Student Kaylah Lightfoot, Associate Provost for Equity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer Shavonne Shorter, UMW grad Cameron Washington, Center for Prevention and Education Director Marissa Miller, and Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Director of Multicultural Affairs Marion Sanford

From left to right: James Farmer Multicultural Center Assistant Director Chris Williams, Vice President for Student Affairs Juliette Landphair, Student Kaylah Lightfoot, Associate Provost for Equity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer Shavonne Shorter, UMW grad Cameron Washington, Center for Prevention and Education Director Marissa Miller, and Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Director of Multicultural Affairs Marion Sanford

Representing the University of Mary Washington at this year’s MLK Prayer Breakfast were:

– College of Education Dean Pete Kelly
– Vice President for Student Affairs Juliette Landphair
– Student Kaylah Lightfoot
– Center for Prevention and Education Director Marissa Miller
– Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Director of Multicultural Affairs Marion Sanford
– Associate Provost for Equity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer Shavonne Shorter
– James Farmer Multicultural Center Assistant Director Chris Williams
– Student Nahjah Wilson

Lightfoot and Wilson spoke at the event, hosted by the NAACP Fredericksburg Branch on Monday, Jan. 15, at the Fredericksburg Convention Center. Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine presented the keynote address.

Frankel Shares Opinion on Pollution in ‘Inside Climate News’

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Assistant Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences Tyler Frankel

Assistant Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences Tyler Frankel

Assistant Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences Tyler Frankel contributed to an article titled “Advocates Celebrate a Legal Win Against U.S. Navy’s Staggering Pollution in the Potomac River. A Lack of Effective Regulation Could Dampen the Spirit” in Inside Climate News. “There is a distinct lack of field studies designed to confirm these predictions through the collection and analysis of water, sediment and fish tissue samples from the upper, middle and lower ‘danger zones’ as designated by the Naval Surface Warfare Center,” Frankel said. Read more.

Johnson-Young Publishes Research on Birth Trauma Experiences

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Assistant Professor of Communication Elizabeth Johnson-Young

Assistant Professor of Communication Elizabeth Johnson-Young

Elizabeth Johnson-Young, Associate Professor of Communication, published her work regarding birth trauma experiences in the journal, Qualitative Research Reports in Communication. Stemming from research conducted as part of her Jepson fellowship in 2021, this article reports on the results of qualitative in-depth interviews of women who defined their births as difficult or traumatic. With the increased attention on the still rising maternal mortality rates in the United States and issues such as postpartum depression, this research is an important contribution to the very limited published research in communication on the topic. Themes from the data focused on perceptions and definitions of experiences, as well as the consequences of those perceptions. These findings are then discussed through the lens of Muted Group Theory and the concept of rhetorical ingenuity in uncertainty management, and practical implications for practitioners are briefly discussed, as well.

The article is currently available online and will printed in the next issue. https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/9BFUGKRZRUACHYD6YDNG/full?target=10.1080/17459435.2024.2307054

Farnsworth Lectures on Disinformation

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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 Rising Threat of Disinformation” to the Lake of the Woods Forum in Locust Grove, VA. 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.

In addition, recent media appearances by Farnsworth include:

Here’s how long Haley’s big donors could keep funding her 2024 campaign (MorningStar, MarketWatch)
“People always say they’re never going to back down until they back down,” University of Mary Washington Professor of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth told MarketWatch. “The reality is the next several days for Haley are going to be daunting. Donors will be less interested. A lot of Republican elites will say that this process is over.”
https://www.morningstar.com/news/marketwatch/20240124325/heres-how-long-haleys-big-donors-could-keep-funding-her-2024-campaign
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/heres-how-long-haleys-big-donors-could-keep-funding-her-2024-campaign-5eda03a1

Trump beats Haley in New Hampshire — here’s how quickly he could lock up the nomination (MarketWatch)
“Trump has all but sealed the deal by going 2-0,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington in Virginia, referring to the former president’s wins in both New Hampshire and Iowa.
https://www.marketwatch.com/livecoverage/nhprimary/card/trump-beats-haley-in-new-hampshire-here-s-how-quickly-he-could-lock-up-the-nomination-222ZZxAv3DTuKDD1AKmM

Iowa GOP caucuses: Haley now 2nd in most recent polls, while Trump has a key support level to hit (Morningstar)
“There’s an incentive to stay in the race because of the possibility that Trump may be convicted of a criminal offense,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington in Virginia. “It isn’t just about what the voters in Iowa and New Hampshire think. It’s also what the jurors in various courtrooms around the country think.”
https://www.morningstar.com/news/marketwatch/20240110264/iowa-gop-caucuses-haley-now-2nd-in-most-recent-polls-while-trump-has-a-key-support-level-to-hit

Desantis and Haley Go Head-to-Head (CTV News)
“Poll after poll shows that Donald Trump is way ahead Iowa, ” said Stephen Farnsworth.
What’s next for Ron DeSantis? (CTV News)
“Yes, it is pretty clear that DeSantis has not had a way forward politically for quite some time,” said Stephen Farnsworth.
Virginia’s presidential primary isn’t until March 5th. Early voting’s already underway…but many Virginians will be holding off for now. (WMAL)
“Candidates drop out. Some of the names on the ballot will be trivia questions,” said Stephen Farnsworth.
All eyes are on New Hampshire’s presidential primary Tuesday. But if you live in Virginia, you can also get in on the primary action. (WMAL)
“At a minimum, some people might be tempted to wait until after the New Hampshire primary,” said Stephen Farnsworth.
BEYOND LOCAL: 1 good thing about the Iowa caucuses, and 3 that are really troubling (Longmont Leader)
Every four years, the Iowa caucuses find new ways to become a problematic part of the presidential nomination process.

“Eat Local” comes to University Dining

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University Dining is launching an “Eat Local” promotion this week that will bring a variety of new culinary experiences to dining guests and also help support local businesses. Once or twice a month, a local restaurant or local provider of food and beverages, will serve some of their most popular items in the Restaurants at the Top of the CRUC as part of the regular meal service. The Dining team reimburses the local business for the products served, and also provides a little bit extra to help cover some of the labor costs.  The restaurant prepares the food in their own kitchens with their own staff so that the dishes will be a true representation of the food they serve in their restaurants. They’ll then be given a platform in the dining room where they can serve their dishes and talk with guests about their food and dining establishments.

Many local eateries are hidden gems, just waiting to be discovered by our University community. The “Eat Local” promotion will help them get noticed! It will also bring some new and very distinctive tastes and flavor profiles into our campus dining program.   The first “Eat Local” event is Thursday, January 25th, and features Better4You Juices, owned by Claudia and Patrick Barnes.  Patrick’s personal experience with serious health issues inspired Claudia to experiment with a variety of cold-pressed juices, until she came up with all-natural juice blends that would meet Patrick’s nutritional needs, be easy to swallow, and, most importantly, taste great! Her juices were so successful that they eventually decided to open a business so they could share their Better4You juices with everyone.

Claudia and Patrick will be serving several of their juice blends at the Showcase station at the Top of the CRUC between 11am and 1pm on Thursday.  The next “Eat Local” event will be on February 21st, featuring Cool Cat Cupcakes during lunch. Several other local eateries will be coming to the Top of the CRUC throughout the semester.  Details will be available on the Dining website, or by contacting Dining@UMW.edu.

Eagles in Recovery Recognized by VHESUAC

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The University of Mary Washington was among the first five campuses in Virginia recognized by the Virginia Higher Education Substance Use Advisory Committee (VHESUAC) for its commitment to furthering student substance use education, prevention, recovery, and intervention efforts.

The University of Mary Washington, along with Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), Longwood University (LU), James Madison University (JMU), and Wytheville Community College (WCC) are the first to receive the recognition through a program launched this year by the advisory committee.

Cub Scout Pinewood Derby Revs Up Dahlgren Campus

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More than 70 competitors gathered at the University of Mary Washington's Dahlgren Center for Education and Research on Saturday, Jan. 20, for the annual Cub Scout Pinewood Derby.

More than 70 competitors gathered at the University of Mary Washington’s Dahlgren Center for Education and Research on Saturday, Jan. 20, for the annual Cub Scout Pinewood Derby.

Over 70 competitors gathered at the University of Mary Washington’s Dahlgren Center for Education and Research on Saturday, Jan. 20, for a showcase of creativity, innovation, and friendly competition. The occasion was the annual Cub Scout Pinewood Derby, now in its illustrious third year at the center. In 1953, the Cub Scout Pinewood Derby was instrumental in fostering creativity, teaching essential life skills, and promoting friendly competition. The competition, which involves crafting miniature wooden cars from regulated kits and racing them in a heat-styled event, had attracted a colossal crowd composed of zealous young aspirants willing to take on the challenge and supportive families cheering them on. Crafting a Pinewood Derby car involves ingenuity, creativity, and patience. Each participant starts with the same basic car kit, ensuring an even playing field for all, but the ultimate design, decoration, and fine-tuning are up to the individual competitor. This process provides a hands-on lesson in physics, engineering, art, and patience. Additionally, the event fosters a sense of community and camaraderie. It’s not just about the resulting miniature cars or even winning the race; it’s about the journey each scout embarks upon with friends, siblings, and parents. Working closely with their immediate community allows these young Cub Scouts to forge strong bonds, enhance their social skills, and create lifelong memories. Even amidst a digital age characterized by technology, video games, and virtual realities, the tactile and enduring appeal of the Pinewood Derby remains strong. Behind its traditional exterior lies the essence of numerous skills finely woven into the fabric of the event, rendering it an indispensable part of the Cub Scout program. The Cub Scout Pinewood Derby isn’t just a race but a crucible for character development, skill acquisition, and community strengthening. The burgeoning popularity of the event at the University of Mary Washington captures the spirit of the Pinewood Derby, mirroring its impact in over 110 countries encompassing the Cub Scouts community worldwide.

Fallon Presents at History of Language Science Meeting

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Associate Professor of Linguistics Paul D. Fallon

Associate Professor of Linguistics Paul D. Fallon

Associate Professor of Linguistics Paul D. Fallon presented his research to the North American Association of the History of Linguistics (NAAHoLS) on Jan. 5, 2024. His talk, “The undead nature of the term ‘Hamito-Semitic’,” presented qualitative and quantitative research over the decades on the varying names of the Afroasiatic phylum of languages.

Associate Professor of Linguistics Paul D. Fallon presented research at the Centennial Annual Meeting of the Linguistic Society of America, held in New York City, on Jan. 6, 2024. His poster, “Where Do Central Cushitic Ejectives Come From?,” documented that contrary to previous scholarship, the majority of ejective sounds in the Central Cushitic languages Blin (63%) and Xamtanga (75%) are found in native roots, not in borrowings from EthioSemitic languages. This finding makes it more likely that ejectives may be reconstructed for Proto-Central Cushitic.