The University Faculty Council, the Staff Advisory Council and UMW’s student leaders have adopted the following resolutions:

The University Faculty Council of the University of Mary Washington offers solidarity with the students, faculty, and staff at the University of Virginia and with the citizens of Charlottesville in strongly condemning the bigotry, hatred, violence, and intimidation exhibited by supporters of the “Unite the Right” event.  Consistent with the values of the academy, we encourage responsible, civil, compassionate, and mutually respectful discourse on the difficult topics of race, identity, and history.  We utterly condemn the ideologies espoused by white supremacist, white nationalist, and Nazi groups, which stand for violence, intimidation, and the marginalization of members of our community.  We affirm our commitment to diversity and inclusion and to the protection of respectful civil discourse.  We, too, “stand ready to defend those values against any who seek to undermine them.”

The Staff Advisory Council of the University of Mary Washington strongly condemns the hateful violence and acts of bigotry that occurred in Charlottesville during a “Unite the Right” event earlier this month.

The Staff Advisory Council stands in solidarity with our student leaders and the University Faculty Council condemning these acts of intimidation, bigotry, and hatred.  We support the First Amendment rights of free speech and peaceable assembly, however acts of violence and terrorism are not protected by this amendment.  We support and encourage respectful civil discussion of varied viewpoints, opinions, and differences.  The Staff Advisory Council is committed to UMW values and to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment of mutual respect for students, faculty, staff, and community of all backgrounds and identities.

We extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to the families and friends of Heather Heyer and state troopers H. Jay Cullen and Berke M.M. Bates whose lives were lost.  Our thoughts are also with the dozens who were injured, the University of Virginia, and the Charlottesville community.

UMW United: We, as leaders of the student organizations at UMW, want to express our sorrow at the events of civil unrest and violence that broke out over the weekend in Charlottesville, Virginia. The past few days have seen us bear witness to a white supremacist rally marching through the University of Virginia’s campus, and propagandizing racism and hatred.

Here at the University of Mary Washington, our core principles of equal opportunity and diversity are not only practiced but celebrated. We, as a community, do not condone this behavior of discrimination or violence.

Additionally, our thoughts and prayers are with the dozens who were injured as well as the friends and families of Heather Heyer and state troopers H. Jay Cullen and Berke M.M. Bates who lost their lives in the fight against bigotry and hatred.

If anyone on campus witnesses discriminatory behavior or injustice, do not hesitate to reach out and report them. Please utilize the following resources that are here to promote diversity and inclusion: James Farmer Multicultural Center, Title IX Office, Talley Center, UMW Police, and the Diversity and Unity Coordinating Committee.

Together, we are one UMW. Together, we are UMW United.

The following new faculty were introduced at the opening faculty meeting on Aug. 22:

Nicole W. Barnes, Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of English, Linguistics, and Communication, Ph.D. earned at Georgia State University

Michael G. Benson, Assistant Professor, Department of Theatre and Dance, M.F.A. earned at the Pennsylvania State University

[Susanne] Brenta Blevins, Assistant Professor, Department of English, Linguistics, and Communication, Ph.D. earned at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Michael A. Bratt, Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Music, D.M.A. earned at the Cleveland Institute of Music

John D. Burrow, Lecturer, College of Business, D.M. earned at the University of Maryland University College

James B. Collins, Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematics, Ph.D. earned at North Carolina State University

Julia A. DeLancey, Professor, Department of Art and Art History, Ph.D. earned at the University of St. Andrews

Alexandra M. Dunn, Assistant Professor, College of Business, Ph.D. earned at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Pamela R. Grothe, Assistant Professor, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Ph.D. earned at the Georgia Institute of Technology

Chelsea K. Hampton, Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of English, Linguistics, and Communication, Ph.D. earned at North Carolina State University

Christy K. Irish, Assistant Professor, College of Education, Ph.D. earned at George Mason University

Suzie Kim, Assistant Professor, Department of Art and Art History, Ph.D. earned at the University of Maryland

[James] Brooks Kuykendall, Professor, Department of Music, Ph.D. earned at Cornell University

Lauren K. McMillan, Assistant Professor, Department of Historic Preservation, Ph.D. earned at the University of Tennessee

Patrick R. Rich, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychological Science, Ph.D. earned at Kent State University

Kyle T. Schultz, Associate Professor, College of Education, Ph.D. earned at the University of Georgia

Melissa S. Wells, Assistant Professor, College of Education, Ph.D. earned at the University of South Carolina

Robert L. Wells, Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Music, Ph.D. earned at the University of Rochester

Wake up early Friday morning to watch our own Cedric Rucker deliver the day’s weather forecast on Washington’s Fox 5 News from the Fredericksburg campus. Join the bow-tied Dean of Student Life by the Jepson Science Center fountain for his 6:35 a.m. and 6:45 a.m. broadcast, or tune in to Fox 5 News at those times for his live weather prognostication.

The segment, which airs on Friday, is part of the news team’s Fox 5 Zip Trip summer on-location weather excursions to showcase broadcast sites within the D.C. area.