December 22, 2024

EagleEye

A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff

President Responds to Club Sport Conduct Code Violation

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I would like to provide additional information related to the email I sent yesterday.

At an off-campus party at the close of the fall 2014 semester, several members of the UMW men’s rugby club engaged in a chant that contained sexually explicit, derogatory, and violent language. Some students have now been exposed to those offensive and lurid lyrics due to posting by others on social media.

No student on this campus should feel unsafe, ostracized, or threatened. Understanding that the offensive chant is antithetical to UMW values, and will not be tolerated, the University pursued action against the men’s rugby club.  At the beginning of the current semester, sanctions were imposed on the rugby club for willful violations of UMW’s code of conduct for club sports.

After an appeal by the accused, the disciplinary process concluded on March 18 with this ruling: All rugby club activities have been suspended indefinitely. Further, each member of the men’s rugby club is required to participate in education and training sessions regarding sexual assault and violence.  UMW’s Statement of Community Values informed the process and response to this situation.

As I stated yesterday, the University will not stand for such behavior. It not only violates our community values, it is not how members of this collegial campus live, and it is not reflective of the Mary Washington we all know and love.

University policies prohibit discrimination, harassment, threats, and derogatory statements of any form. We pride ourselves on being a diverse, accepting, caring community, and we must live up to that ideal.

I urge anyone on campus who feels unsafe, ostracized or threatened to immediately contact campus police or Dr. Leah Cox, Special Assistant to the President for Diversity and Inclusion. She may be reached at lcox@umw.edu or 540-654-2119.

Richard V. Hurley
President

 

Message to the UMW Campus Community

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Our Statement of Community Values is a powerful document. It embodies the principles and ideals toward which we all strive. More than 107 years in development, these values have become a part of the fabric of the Mary Washington experience, and they are at the core of what contributes to that special, intangible feeling people get when they become a part of this university.

I write today to encourage the university community to continue efforts to uphold these values and to end sexual assault, violence against women, and other forms of discrimination and harassment that prevail in our society. There is no room at the University of Mary Washington for such behavior. Gone are the days of accepting the status quo and continuing inappropriate actions cloaked in the auspice of tradition or business as usual.

Achievement of excellence doesn’t come without struggle; and even at Mary Washington, we have moments of pause to reevaluate and assess our own actions and to support a higher level of accountability. Sadly, I am aware of recent situations in which our own students (groups and individuals) have engaged in behaviors that I find repugnant and highly offensive to members of our community. While I am disheartened by the poor choices of some, I am renewed with the fervor to take action to ensure accountability that will help to bring about change in our culture. I have worked directly with our administrative team to enforce our policies and, more importantly, to uphold our community values. While the outcomes may be painful for some, the message to all is clear: At UMW, we have a right and responsibility to take appropriate action to address unacceptable behaviors.

I believe it’s in these moments of struggle, even within our own family, that we are able to gain a greater clarity of our values and what we believe is important. As many of you are aware I have directed a task force to deal with many of these issues directly. I am pleased with the group’s progress and look forward to its recommendations. We will continue to systematically approach these issues and create processes that instill confidence and direction within our community.

Ultimately, though, much of this comes down to individual choices. I will continue to lead the way and encourage each member of the Mary Washington community to make a difference by standing up against injustice and to holding true to the values we believe are vital to a healthy community.

Richard V. Hurley
President

President Hurley Is Taking the Two Dollar Challenge, Will You?

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That’s right – our own president is taking the Two Dollar Challenge April 6-10 to raise awareness of global poverty. The question is – will you?

Hurley $2 ChallengeNow a national educational movement, the Two Dollar Challenge was founded at UMW in 2006 and is run by eight UMW students and Professor of Economics Shawn Humphrey – all on $50 and volunteer support.

The 5-day awareness program challenges college and high school students across the United States to live on just two dollars a day. Participants buy food, hygiene products and other necessities out of two dollars a day while following other rules designed to simulate obstacles faced by people living in poverty.

At UMW, students will spend the week living and sleeping in make-shift shelters built from cardboard boxes and tarps as part of an experiential learning experience.

So I have to sleep in a tent on Ball Circle?

Not at all. Start small with the beginner level – 3 days and 2 nights with $6 total to spend and you can sleep in your own bed and take hot showers in your own home.

Want to sign up or learn more?

  • Visit the challenge’s website at twodollarchallenge.org.
  • Come to an information session Thursday, March 19 at 5 p.m. in the ITCC’s Digital Auditorium.
  • Use #2DollarsADay to join the conversation on social media.

Hurley Receives Prince B. Woodard Leadership Award

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University of Mary Washington President Richard V. Hurley received the Prince B. Woodard Leadership Award at the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Gala, Friday, Jan. 30. Rick Hurley The annual award is given to an individual who has provided a lifetime of service to the Fredericksburg region. “Since assuming UMW’s presidency in 2010, he has overseen a period of robust growth that includes construction of the Anderson Center convocation and athletics arena, the opening of the Dahlgren campus and development of the Eagle Village mixed-use development,” according to a release from the Chamber of Commerce. “In addition, he is active in the community, having served on the Chamber’s board of directors, the boards of Rappahannock United Way and Fredericksburg Regional Alliance, and established the Town and Gown Committee to strengthen relations between the University and the City of Fredericksburg.” Hurley is UMW’s ninth president. Prior to being named president, he served Mary Washington for a decade in various positions, including executive vice president, chief financial officer and acting president. The Chamber also honored a variety of other business leaders during the event, including Entrepreneur of the Year and Small Business of the Year. For more information, visit fredericksburgchamber.org.

UMW Launches $50 Million Fundraising Campaign

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The University of Mary Washington has publicly launched its $50 million Mary Washington First fundraising campaign. The announcement was made at a news conference on Friday, April 25, in the Jepson Alumni Executive Center. The Mary Washington First campaign aims to secure private funds for various initiatives, including for student scholarships. The goal of the comprehensive campaign is to raise funds to advance President Richard V. Hurley’s vision: for University of Mary Washington to become one of the nation’s premier public liberal arts and sciences universities. “The pace of change in higher education accelerates daily, and the fiscal challenges faced by colleges and universities are daunting,” Hurley said. “In order to remain at the forefront of our competitors, affordable for our students and families, and able to attract the best and brightest minds, it is imperative for UMW to have the resources necessary for success.” Among the fundraising initiatives, the university strives to secure private funds for endowment of scholarships, restoration of the campus amphitheater, support for the university’s three colleges, enhancement of the Fund for Mary Washington, and development of key program initiatives. These initiatives are: the arts, athletics, leadership, study abroad, the Chappell Great Lives lecture series, libraries and instructional technology. A rendering by Train & Partners Architects shows what the amphitheater might look like after renovation. The amphitheater, located in a grove of trees near Sunken Road on the Fredericksburg campus, has been home to many significant UMW traditions since it was constructed in 1913. The planned $3 million restoration would return the site to its 1952-1953 appearance by repairing and reconstructing damaged and missing pieces. It would provide seating for approximately 600 people on weather-resilient benches and chairs while incorporating accommodations for ADA accessibility. Over the past three years, in the non-public phase of the campaign, the university has raised a total of $29.2 million. Represented in that amount are seven gifts and pledges of $1 million or more. Out of a total of about 13,000 donors, more than 120 have made campaign commitments of $25,000 or more. Significant gifts include:
  • More than $7.5 million in estate gifts for student scholarships, including one full-tuition Washington scholarship and one Alvey Scholarship, which covers tuition costs for an  out-of-state student
  • More than $3 million in estate gifts to support students studying abroad
  • Nearly $1.4 million in gifts to support restoration of the amphitheater
  • A $1 million estate gift to create special professorships in the three colleges
  • More than $600,000 in pledges and gifts to support the unrestricted Fund for Mary Washington
  • More than $500,000 to support the Great Lives Lecture Series.
The campaign will secure funds for the development of key program initiatives, including for study abroad opportunities. Anne Marie Thompson Steen ’83 and Daniel K. Steen ’84 of Arlington, Va., serve as national campaign chairs. Both said they are eager to move the campaign forward. “We are fortunate to be able to partner with other Mary Washington alumni, parents, and friends,” said Dan Steen, a former rector of the UMW Board of Visitors. The Steens join members of a Campaign Cabinet, membership of which represents a cross-section of UMW constituents from varying career paths, affiliations and locations across the country. “Together,” Steen added, “we all are committed to the $50-million campaign goal.” For more information about the campaign or to donate, visit http://marywashingtonfirst.umw.edu. The University of Mary Washington is a premier, selective public liberal arts and sciences university in Virginia, highly respected for its commitment to academic excellence, strong undergraduate liberal arts and sciences program, and dedication to life-long learning. The university, with a total enrollment of more than 5,000, features colleges of business, education and arts and sciences, and three campuses, including a residential campus in Fredericksburg, Va., a second one in nearby Stafford and a third in Dahlgren, Va., which serves as a center of development of educational and research partnerships between the Navy, higher education institutions and the region’s employers. In recent years, the university has seen its academic reputation garner national recognition in numerous selective guidebooks, including Forbes, the Fiske Guide to Colleges and the Princeton Review’s 2012 edition of 150 “Best Value Colleges” and the 2014 edition of “The Best 378 Colleges.”

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CVC Spotlight: United Way

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“Giving to the United Way is an excellent way to support organizations that rely on grants and donations and other fund raising efforts to exist.  The agencies recognized by United Way undergo a rigorous evaluation to ensure they are properly managing the funds they receive and are having an impact in their communities.  Many of these agencies are “safety-net” in nature meaning they are the last resort for assistance for some members of our communities.” –President Rick Hurley

Whether you give to the United Way or any of the other qualified organizations listed in the Directory of Charities, please consider supporting the CVC as it is for a very worthwhile cause.

 

Action from Board of Visitors Retreat

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Election of officers was held Sunday, July 22, at the Board of Visitors retreat.  By unanimous vote, the following members were elected to serve on the Executive Committee of the Board of Visitors:

Rector:  Pamela J. White ‘74
Vice Rector:  Holly T. Cuellar ’89
Secretary:  Xavier R. Richardson

At Large Members:
Daniel K. Steen ‘84
Joseph R. Wilson

The Rector, Vice Rector and Secretary will serve two-year terms from 2012 to 2014. The at-large members will each serve one-year terms from 2012 to 2013.

By unanimous vote, President Hurley’s contract was extended through June 30, 2015.

Etiquette Dinner with President Hurley Next Week

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President Richard V. Hurley and his wife, Rose Hurley, will join students at an etiquette dinner on Wednesday, April 4. The dinner, sponsored by the Office of Career Services and the Office of Alumni Relations, will give students the opportunity to enjoy a six-course meal and discuss dining and professional etiquette.

Several alumni, including Mary E. White ’99, Lloyd Backstrom ’61, Chris Fines ’99 and Barbara Williams ’95, plan to attend the dinner.

Students who would like to attend need to register through the Office of Career Services. More information is available at http://academics.umw.edu/careerservices/2012/03/27/etiquette-dinner-with-president-hurley/.

President Hurley Receives National Recognition Award

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The College Orchestra Directors Association has recognized UMW President Richard V. Hurley for his support of the university’s collegiate orchestra program. UMW Philharmonic Director Kevin P. Bartram presented Hurley with the national award during the orchestra’s “March Musical Mix” concert on Saturday, March 17.

The College Orchestra Directors Association (CODA) is the largest professional organization of collegiate orchestra conductors across the country. The award honors individuals within member colleges and universities who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to support the work of college and university orchestras.

National CODA President Anthony Holland said that Hurley “surpasses expectations as a supporter of the Arts and of his community. It is apparent that President Hurley has demonstrated extraordinary faith in the ability of the UMW Philharmonic to promote the institution as a community partner. He sets an example for all of us.”

The honor, given every two years at the association’s national conference, is the organization’s most significant award. Past recipients have included major financial donors, presidents of institutions, board chairs, department heads and fellow college, university and community musicians.

For more information about the award, read the full news release from Saturday, March 17.