November 17, 2024

EagleEye

A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff

UMW Alumnus Donates Hollywood Memorabilia for Auction

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The University of Mary Washington Marketing Club is teaming up with the 2014 Executive-in-Residence, Dan Wolfe, to auction off a number of unique Hollywood memorabilia.   $_57 Donated by Wolfe, the auctioned items include a 25-movie box set of NBC Universal’s greatest hits, as well as T-shirts from many popular movies, including the recent box office smashes “Neighbors” and “Pitch Perfect.” The auction is being conducted through the eBay account of Professor Kashef Majid, the faculty advisor to the marketing club. The club is using these donations as an opportunity to practice marketing skills, and club president Lauren Strayhorn said they plan to promote the auction on their website and Facebook page. The auction ends Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. The collaboration is a part of the university’s Executive-in-Residence program, which unites students with career experts in business in order to gain knowledge and skills by interacting and working with professionals. Funds raised will go toward a club field trip in the spring to visit a Washington, D.C., ad agency. A 1984 UMW alumnus, Wolfe is currently the executive vice president of NBC Universal’s Worldwide Creative Operations, where he works to market the company’s movies in worldwide campaigns.

UMW to Host Tohoku Tomo Screening, Nov. 12

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The University of Mary Washington will host a screening of the documentary film “Tohoku Tomo”on Wednesday, Nov. 12 to bring attention to the ongoing efforts to rebuild the Tohoku region of Japan, which was directly impacted by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in northeast Japan. Philp Holbrook, a 2007 UMW alumnus, was cinematographer of the documentary.   Film ScreeningTranslated as “Friends of Tohoku,” the film is a story of friendship and commitment to Japan’s recovery following the earthquake. The screening will take place at 7:30 p.m. in Combs Hall, Room 139 on the Fredericksburg campus. Admission is free and open to the public. Wesley Julian, a graduate of Hampden-Sydney College, was in Japan on March 11, 2011, when the earthquake struck. Seeing the devastation first-hand and losing a close friend in the tsunami, he returned to the USA committed to helping bring attention to the ongoing needs in the areas devastated by the tsunami. In 2013, with funding from a Kickstarter campaign, Julian and a small team traveled back to Japan to interview individuals and organizations that have been working in the Tohoku region since March 11. Philip Holbrook joined him as director of photography. “It was important to me to not forget what happened, but also to tell the story of what’s happening now in Japan,” Julian said. “The film captures the stories of people who saw a need and did what they could to make a difference. My hope is that it will inspire others to visit the area and be a part of the rebuilding efforts in Japan.” The film includes over a dozen interviews, footage from the impacted areas, and features J-Pop artist Maynard Plant from the band “Monkey Majik;” Stu Levy, producer of the film “Pray for Japan;”and host of Tokyofoodcast, Etsuko Nakamura. Both Julian and Holbrook will attend the screening at UMW and will be available to answer questions and discuss the film. The event is sponsored by the College of Arts & Sciences Dean’s Office and the English, Linguistics, and Communication Department. For more information, contact Anand Rao at arao@umw.edu.

UMW Joins Battle Against Gender-Based Violence

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The University of Mary Washington is hosting several events as part of its “Yes is the Key” campaign, designed to halt gender-based violence. The week’s activities begin Monday, Nov. 10, and are free and open to the public. “UMW’s ‘Yes is the Key’ campaign will raise awareness of sexual assault and relationship violence on campus and help begin to prevent future instances of sexual assault,” said Leah Cox, special assistant to the president for diversity and inclusion.Sex Consent Postcard_FINAL-1 On Monday, Nov. 10, “Got Consent?” will highlight that consent is a necessity for all sexual encounters. Come to Campus Walk outside of Lee Hall between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to take the pledge to never condone, commit or stay silent about relationship or sexual violence. T-shirts are available for students who take the pledge. The White Ribbon Campaign takes place on Wednesday, Nov. 12. During this initiative, spearheaded by Campus Police, men are encouraged to wear a white ribbon to signify that they are pledging to never commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women and girls. In the concluding activity, from 9 a.m. to noon on Friday, Nov. 14, interested individuals can leave a hand print on Campus Walk outside of Lee Hall and join in the conversation about how to end gender violence. For more information on this campaign and the events, please visit www.umw.edu/yesisthekey.

UMW to Host Jewish Cultural Awareness Events

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The University of Mary Washington will host two events as part of the Jewish Cultural Awareness Celebration, sponsored by the James Farmer Multicultural Center. Both events are free and open to the public. The Kristallnacht Commemoration will take place on Monday, Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. On this day 76 years ago, tens of thousands of Jews awoke to find their stores, businesses, homes and synagogues destroyed. Immediately after, more than 30,000 Jews were arrested and sent to concentration camps, marking the beginning of the Holocaust. The event, which features talks by Marcel Drimer, a Holocaust survivor, and Porter R. Blakemore, associate professor in the Department of History and American Studies, takes place in Lee Hall, Room 411. Vanessa Ochs, author of “Inventing Jewish Ritual,” will give the keynote lecture on Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. in Lee Hall, Room 411. Ochs won the National Jewish Book Award in 2007 and was awarded a Creative Writing Fellowship by the National Endowment for the Arts. A professor in the University of Virginia’s Department of Religious Studies and Jewish Studies Program, she teaches Judaism, spiritual writing and anthropology. For more information on either of these events, please visit students.umw.edu/multicultural or call (540) 654-1044.

UMW Presents Fall Concert, Nov. 7

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The University of Mary Washington Concert Band will present its fall concert on Friday, Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m. in George Washington Hall’s Dodd Auditorium. The concert will include a performance of UMW’s new fight song “Soar, Eagle Nation Soar!” The piece, written last spring, already is a valuable addition to UMW’s spirit and community. The concert is free and open to the public. UMW Concert Band The UMW Concert Band, conducted by Kevin Bartram, is comprised of both UMW students and community musicians who present two concerts a year. Membership is open to all UMW students regardless of major. Also on the program are Gustav Holst’s “Second Suite in F, La belle Hélène” by Jacques Offenbach, “Salvation” by Robert W. Smith, and “Where Never Lark or Eagle Flew” by James Curnow. In addition, Bartram included a piece entitled “Wearing of the Green,” referencing the upcoming March tour of Ireland that will include several members of the band along with the Philharmonic Orchestra and the President’s Tour Club. For more information, call the Department of Music at (540) 654-1012.

Belmont to Open Historic House

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Gari Melcher’s Home and Studio at Belmont will open the historic Fannie Roots House to the public for the first time on Sunday, November 9.   Fannie Roots House Dating back to the 1880s, the house is a rare example of a post-civil war workman’s cottage. A presentation on the history of the house and restoration work will begin in the Studio Pavilion at 2 p.m. before tours of the house. The event is free and open to the public. In 1912, the building was purchased by Willie Roots, an African-American laborer who did occasional work for Gari Melchers.  Roots’ daughter Fannie, a well-known citizen of Stafford County and a civil rights activist, was born in the house and lived there her entire life. The building did not have running water, so Fannie relied on an outhouse and well. There was electricity for phone and lights, but she used a wood stove for heating and an oil stove for cooking. Restoration on the house began in 2008 when Belmont became the steward of the property. With support from private citizens, businesses and volunteers, the house is receiving a new roof and a rebuilt kitchen chimney, among other restorations. Work was made possible with grants from the Fredericksburg Savings Charitable Foundation, the Duff McDuff Green Jr.  Fund of the Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River Region and the Marietta M. and Samuel T. Morgan, Jr. Foundation. The house still requires pest control, landscaping and other projects. For more information on the restoration project, contact Beate Ankjær-Jensen, Site Preservation Manager, at (540) 654-1839.

UMW Hosts 2014 Homecoming Events

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Approximately 3,000 alumni, students and guests converged on the Fredericksburg campus on Saturday, Oct. 25 for the University of Mary Washington’s 2014 Homecoming Weekend celebration.

UMW Homecoming 2014Festivities included UMW’s second annual tailgating event that hosted more than 450 fans who gathered at the Battleground Athletic Complex for an afternoon of sports competition. The UMW Eagles enjoyed three wins, including women’s soccer that took a 3-1 victory against Penn State Harrisburg, and women’s volleyball that scored 3-0 in two games against Penn State Harrisburg and Virginia Wesleyan College. The men’s soccer team lost 3-2 in overtime against Wesley College.

Homecoming also served as a reunion for UMW’s alumni, with graduates from classes ranging from 1969 to 2014 represented at the tailgate. The weekend was the fifth year reunion of UMW’s Class of 2009. Forty alumni from 2009 celebrated their anniversary with a class party at J. Brian’s Irish Pub and Restaurant in downtown Fredericksburg that evening. The Alumni Association’s Washington, D.C. Network also hosted a brunch at the Sunken Well that brought in 35 alumni.

This year’s Homecoming concert, which will feature DEV, will take place Thursday, Nov. 22, at 7 p.m. in the Anderson Center. For more information, please contact the Office of Student Activities at (540) 654-1061.

UMW to Host Ghost Walk, Oct. 24-25

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The University of Mary Washington Historic Preservation Club will host the 30th annual Ghost Walk on Friday, Oct. 24 and Saturday, Oct. 25. The haunted tours of downtown Fredericksburg will leave every 15 minutes from the James Monroe Museum at 908 Charles St. The tours run from 6 to 10 p.m. on Friday IMG_0018and from 5 to 10 p.m. on Saturday. The hour long tours stop at about a dozen sites throughout historic Fredericksburg, including the Masonic Cemetery, Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop and Kenmore Plantation. Members of the Historic Preservation Club and other UMW students act out stories based on the book “The Ghosts of Fredericksburg and Other Environs” by L.B. Taylor Jr. Reservations are highly recommended for groups over 8 and can be made in advance by email at umwghostwalk@gmail.com, or tickets can be purchased the night of the tour at Market Square. The cost is $6 for adults; $4 for UMW students, UMW staff, and military; $3 for children ages 6-12; free for children age 5 and under. For more information or to register, call the Historic Preservation Club at (540) 654-1315.

University Jazz Ensemble to Perform Benefit Concert, Nov. 8

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The University of Mary Washington Jazz Ensemble will perform a charity concert to raise money for UMW music scholarships, as well as for Rappahannock Legal Services, a local nonprofit that works to bring civil legal aid to low-income individuals. The concert will be held on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 7:30 p.m. in Dodd Auditorium, and tickets cost $5 for students and seniors, $10 for adults. The proceeds are split between the UMW Jazz Ensemble and Rappahannock Legal Services. The students of the UMW Jazz Ensemble will play jazz standards, followed by an informal “jam session,” in which any musicians in attendance are invited to join the Jazz Ensemble. President Rick Hurley will be conducting the performance. “It’s always great to present some music and educate the students to the different styles of playing,” Doug Gately, director of the Jazz Ensemble said. “But probably more important, this event is to help the legal services in the Fredericksburg area for folks who do not have access to legal aid, and, two, it is to help the students to raise money for scholarships.” The University is hosting the event along with the Fredericksburg Bar Association.

Movie Executive Shares Expertise As UMW’s Executive-in-Residence

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NBC Universal executive Daniel R. Wolfe urged local community leaders and students at the University of Mary Washington to strive for innovation in their businesses and their careers. Wolfe, a 1984 alumnus and executive vice president of NBC Universal’s Worldwide Creative Operations, spent two days this week at UMW as the 2014-14 Executive-in-Residence.

Dan Wolfe '84 talks with UMW students.

Dan Wolfe ’84 talks with UMW students.

“Maintaining the status quo is not a strategy,” said Wolfe, sharing his motto for business and a concept he strives to live by. According to Wolfe, businesses can either hold onto their success model until it becomes irrelevant, or continuously look to change and innovate.

What is the secret to innovation? Wolfe encourages business leaders to look to their consumers for answers.

“The biggest thing is – are we listening to our consumer?” asked Wolfe. “The ability to ask questions, the ability to let your guard down and say ‘let me ask what would be a better way to do this’ is so important for any business and for any individual to keep growing,” said Wolfe.

After graduating from UMW, Wolfe said he moved back home to Virginia Beach with his parents. A few years later, his college roommate, a movie fanatic, died in a car accident. The incident got Wolfe thinking about his passions and purpose, and he ended up moving to Boston for grad school before heading out to Los Angeles.

With all his success, Wolfe still credits his time as Mary Washington for the balance he is able to keep in the Hollywood industry.

College is “really where you build your foundation,” he said. “And I think that’s what’s really served me well.”