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Callie Harkins

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Students protest pro-ICE speaker on Ball Circle after Spirit Rock painting controversy

HORTENSIA NGANDU Staff Writer

Associate Editors

Emma Kingkeo

Grace Wagner

Thomas Jackson

News Editor Ky Huynh

Meaghan Van Dyke

Opinion Editor

Ella Cordle

Life Editor Chloe McCann

Sports Editor

Enya Cea-Lavin

Online Editor Sophia Tompkins

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On March 10, UMW students protested an event featuring Nick Freitas, a right-wing influencer and former Republican representative for the District 62 Virginia House of Delegates, who is outspoken about his support of the Trump Administration’s ongoing immigration crackdown.

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“It is definitely important to highlight people that have lost their lives, but when you do it in that manner, it feels as though you have outweighed the lives of innocents lost with the lives of other innocents lost.”

- Katherine Watterson

The protest was organized through social media platforms such as YikYak and Instagram. Students planned to convene during the same time as Freitas’s discussion. Signs in hand, they settled onto Ball Circle, in front of the building where the event was taking place.

In January, students painted the campus Spirit Rock as a tribute to those who were killed by federal agents during immigration enforcement operations, specifically those shot by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. The phrase “Victims of ICE” was painted onto the rock, along with the names of the deceased

In February, UMW College Republicans painted the rock with the phrase “Victims of Illegals,” advertising the speaker event with Freitas, who was to lead a discussion with UMW students and the Fredericksburg community.

According to senior English major Megan Rivera, the recruitment chair for the College Republicans, their ultimate goal was to “be a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves.”

Within a few hours after the repainting, the words were spray-painted over with the statement “In 2025 + 26, ICE murdered 73 people.”

As per the guidelines of the Office of Student Activities and Engagement, using spray paint on the Spirit Rock is prohibited. This urged students to unite and repaint the rock with approved materials instead. The outcome was a painting including the words “ICE OUT.”

According to freshman Katherine Watterson, who took part in creating the artwork, the painting of the rock was coordinated on YikYak, with around 25 people participating in the end.

“I think that’s probably the most important part about the whole event, it’s not a club, and it’s not just me, it’s just people coming together as a community for a purpose,” said Watterson.

Regarding the content of the “Victims of Illegals” message itself, Watterson explained that she found it disingenuous.

“It is definitely important to highlight people that have lost their lives, but when you do it in that manner, it feels as though you have outweighed the lives of innocents lost with the lives of other innocents lost,” said Watterson.

Students came to the protest eager to share their voices and stand up for what mattered to them.

“These are issues I feel very passionate about. I feel everyone truly deserves to feel safe where they live, and I truly believe everyone deserves to live in a safe place,” said freshman Max Haussermann when asked about being at the protest.

Another protestor, senior communications major Ryder Ward, shared a sign made for the protest that read ‘If one person lacks due process, no one has it.’

The UMW Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA) were present at the protest and had set up a booth with a sign saying “Socialism beats Fascism.”

According to Katie Dickinson, a junior international relations major and co-chair of YDSA, the club had done tabling prior to spring break to share information about ICE. They were also responsible for the painting of the original “Victims of ICE” tribute on the Spirit Rock.

“I think for the most part, taking any attention away from speakers like this is beneficial, as long as people aren’t attending the event and giving the speakers exactly what they want, I see that as an absolute win,” said Dickinson.

“I feel like there’s always been division on campus. I just feel like this strengthend, especially with students who disagree with who Mary Washington chooses to uplift and show as speakers.”

-

Ellie Owen

Junior Madailein McDonough, a political science major and president of UMW’s Turning Point USA Chapter—a conservative club—was present at Freitas’s discussion.

“Personally, I think we need more open debates regarding ICE on both political sides,” said McDonough. “I know he’s a Republican, but I’d like to hear both sides. I think we need more of that engagement on campus.”

Overall, many students felt as though the situation helped bring people on campus together who shared similar views, while simultaneously creating a divide between opposing opinions.

“I feel like there’s always been division on campus,” said sophomore history and theatre major Ellie Owen. “I just feel like this strengthened, especially with students who disagree with who Mary Washington chooses to uplift and show as speakers.”

Bell tower logo designed by Bernadette D’Auria ‘22

“They’re just kidnapping people off the streets, and that means no one now has due process, even if you’re safe,” said Ward.

The Spirit Rock best captures campus discourse

JENNA ROBERTSON Staff Writer

Between university emails, social media, group chats and anonymous apps, students are constantly flooded with information. Important announcements get buried in inboxes, Instagram posts disappear within a day and text messages quickly add up into a stream of notifications no one fully reads.

The Spirit Rock is the single most important form of UMW communication. Not only is it the most effective, it also reflects the spirit of campus most accurately.

Unlike emails or social media posts that require students to actively check their phones, the rock sits directly in the path of everyday campus life. Students heading to class, walking to the dining hall or meeting friends will almost always pass by it. In that sense, the Spirit Rock functions like a campus bulletin board, except one that is much harder to ignore.

According to an article from The Weekly Ringer, the rock itself has been part of campus life for more than 20 years. In 2001, it was gifted to the university by a local quarry and placed on campus as a space where students could paint messages, promote events or celebrate campus achievements. At the time, it was probably just meant to be a fun tradition or creative outlet. Over time, however, it has become something much bigger. Layer upon layer of paint now covers the rock, each coat representing a different moment in campus life—whether that is a club advertising an event, students celebrating a sports win or a message supporting a cause.

Part of what makes the Spirit Rock so effective is how simple it is. If a student organization wants to promote an event happening later that day, they do not need to design a flyer or wait for a newsletter to go out. They can grab some paint and put the message on the rock themselves. Within hours, hundreds of students walking across campus will see it. The message feels immediate and personal in a way that official announcements often do not.

In the weeks preceding spring break, several murals appeared on the rock representing polarizing political viewpoints from multiple sides. These paintings were widely seen and discussed by students, a recent example of the Spirit Rock displaying the social pulse of UMW

and creating discourse.

That is not to say that other forms of campus communication are useless. The Sammy D. Eagle newsletter, for example, plays an important role in sharing structured information about university events and updates. But newsletters are easy to skim or skip entirely, especially when they arrive alongside dozens of other emails students receive each week. The Spirit Rock, on the other hand, does not rely on students opening an email or clicking on a link. It simply exists in front of them.

Anonymous apps like Yik Yak come closer to capturing the student voice, since they allow people to share

opinions or jokes about campus life. However, the speed of these platforms also works against them. Posts appear and disappear so quickly that most messages are forgotten almost immediately. One moment a post might have dozens of comments, and the next it is buried under a wave of new ones.

That shared experience is one of the most interesting things about the Spirit Rock. When students see a message online, they are usually alone with their phones. But when they see something painted on the rock, they know that everyone else walking across campus that day is seeing the same thing. It becomes something people talk about in passing—whether it is a clever joke, an announcement about an event, or something more serious.

“Layer upon layer of paint now covers the rock, each coat representing a different moment in campus life.”

- Jenna Robertson

There is also something refreshingly authentic about the Spirit Rock. In a digital world where everything can be edited, filtered, or carefully curated, the rock feels spontaneous. The letters might be uneven, the paint might drip in places, and the colors might clash—but that is part of its charm. The messages feel real because they are created by students, not polished for a screen.

Technology will keep changing the way students communicate, and new apps will continue to appear. But the Spirit Rock shows that not every form of communication needs to be digital to be effective. While platforms like Yik Yak might spread opinions quickly and the Sammy D. Eagle newsletter might organize information neatly, neither captures the everyday spirit of campus life quite like the Spirit Rock. Sometimes the best way to say something is simply to paint it where everyone can see it.

Mary Washington’s walls are Kirkwood Hall’s canvas

ELLA CORDLE Opinion Editor

Recently, in Building Two of the UMW Apartments, plumbers cut a large hole in the bathroom ceiling to fix a leak. The result was a functioning pipe and a ghastly, nearly foot-wide opening above the toilet. A work order was placed, and the hole required extensive repairs. A large piece of drywall was cut to size and inserted over the hole, held in place by large amounts of joint-compound mud.

The entire area was re-mudded several times over the next few days, building up the surface and letting it dry and repeating the process until it could be sanded, primed and painted. The end result left the ceiling looking better than it has in years.

That lengthy process is an everyday event for UMW’s Lead Carpenter and student Paint Crew Supervisor Kirkwood Hall. His main job is to maintain the UMW campus, preserving each and every room that requires attention, and passing on his trade to students.

Having been open for over 100 years, many aspects of UMW are considered historic. Several buildings on campus feature particular quirks that make repairs challenging, such as plaster molding. Molding refers to sculpted decorative details around the corners of walls, which in this case is constructed from plaster.

Last March, Hall was requested to repair a large hole in the main entrance of Ball Hall, which was built in 1935. The process involved tediously sculpting the plaster manually, building it up to match the original work.

“The important part was fixing the molding without having to tear it out completely,” said Hall.

The entire room has the plaster molding, however. Tearing it out of one area, no matter how well it was fixed afterwards, would have ruined the effect of the space, which was clearly built with beauty in mind, between the skylight and the spiral staircase.

Hall spent approximately two weeks in Ball Hall, sculpting the material, letting it dry and coming back the next day to do it all again. The end result was something that blends in with the original work.

“I’d rather repair it in the way that it was built, which is kind of a historic preservation,” he said.

Robyn Jackson, archivist and data analyst for Facilities Operations on the UMW campus, spoke about the value of the kind of work done by Hall:

“Historical preservation is an important consideration for Facilities Operations […] Whenever possible, we aim to use materials and methods that match the original design,” Jackson said.

“Kirkwood’s deep knowledge of historic painting and finishing techniques further enhances the quality of preservation work, making him an invaluable contributor to the university’s long-term stewardship of its architectural heritage,” said Jackson.

Hall first began at UMW in 2018 as a carpenter. Having lived in Fredericksburg on and off for the last 28 years, he was aware that UMW was a good landing spot.

“I decided I needed a real change,” Hall said. “So I applied for a job. I got it. I figured it’d be a good place to grow and maybe take classes.”

Hall is a student at UMW as well as an employee, taking courses in business management part-time.

He began taking trade classes at 15, inspired by his father, a carpenter, and his uncle, a bricklayer.

Since then, he has accrued various skills in the trades wherever he goes.

Hall began painting while working for a realtor in downtown Fredericksburg. He learned his plaster work from Michael Dean, an Adjunct Professor of Studio Art at UMW who’s also a seventh-generation plasterer.

However, out of all the work Hall does, his passion lies with supervising the student paint crew.

“I’m passing on a trade,” Hall said. “Not just the painting part, but taking pride in what you do, leaving a space cleaner than you found it.”

“He brings a lot of patience and understanding that is really important, especially when working with students,” said Sarah Rudd, a senior art history and English double major.

Rudd began working on the student paint crew in May, working full-time over the summer and continuing part-time during the academic year.

“Especially this semester we’ve gotten a lot of one-on-one advice and training, where he really spends time with us and teaches us,” she said. “Kirkwood is really great.”

The student paint crew is currently working to repaint the main corridors of Woodard Hall, which haven’t had a refresh in about a decade.

“The University of Mary Washington is my community,” Hall said. “I don’t just work here, I live here. I take great pride in what I do here.”

A glimpse from Grace: St. Patrick’s Day parade in Cork

GRACE WAGNER

Associate Editor

For St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland, forget green dyed beer, tacky shamrock suspenders and fake ginger beards. Okay, well, it still happens, but it has never been the main focus of the celebration.

As a UMW student studying abroad in Cork, Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day has been an event I have been looking forward to for quite some time.

Each Irish city, town and small village participates in community gatherings and parades to celebrate the day. In Cork city, where I have spent St. Patrick’s Day as well as the last three months, the community put together their 124th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The theme this year was Marsh, Myth and Magic and the parade marchers did not disappoint.

Corkonians wore handmade costumes to appear as

Irish traditional music was played through the streets of Cork by high school marching bands and large community bands. Children wore hats and masks made of straw to showcase Ireland’s Pagan roots.

Different community groups, like the Cork Puppetry Company and the Cork Community Art Link, showcased their craftsmanship in handmade creations for the parade viewers. The Cork LGBT+ group had by far the largest flag of the celebration and a huge welcome from a massive group of women drummers. By far the cutest component of the parade were the grand marshals, the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind.

Cork wouldn’t be Cork without its vast international presence and the largest section of the parade was focused on them. Many different countries from around the world, including China, Poland, Ethiopia, Brazil and more, were highlighted by their communities in Cork with beautifully decorated banners, music and dancing, massive flags and traditional clothing being worn.

However, the celebration didn’t just start on March 17. On Feb. 1, Ireland’s St. Brigid’s Day and the first day of spring, the locals became giddy over the bettering weather and preparing for the upcoming parade. I’ve had friends in different countries planning trips to Ireland for this special day for months and heard whispers of St. Patrick’s Day plans ever since my arrival in January. Even mother nature knew the significance of this day, waiting until the last float crossed the finish line to start a deluge of rain.

The celebration didn’t end with the rain, however. The wet weather had locals packed like sardines into pubs to continue the festivities while trying their best to avoid the tourists. Traditional bands brought their instruments into what seemed like every pub in a threemile radius, with songs spilling out onto the streets. Riverdancers skipped from pub to pub to show off their signature moves.

The festivities continued late into the night here in Cork and remnants of the holiday still remain in the days after with green confetti and a few leprechaun hats littering the city streets. The tourists are making their way out of Ireland, but the spirits of the locals and long-time visitors, like myself, are far from gone.

In my time here, I feel as though every week has been something to celebrate. Whether it is a local Gaelic Football club taking home a trophy, Cillian Murphy returning home to Cork, or even just a full day of no rain, this small city turns on its charm and gives me something to cheer for.

Cork’s St. Patrick’s Day parade did not disappoint and neither has my time here in Ireland. St. Patrick’s Day has been such a wonderful way to celebrate during my study abroad and I know I will be looking back on my time here very fondly. I have had an exceptional time in Cork and could not recommend a better place to spend your next St. Patrick’s Day.

Friday, March 20, 2026

Crime Column

MEAGHAN VAN DYKE News Editor

The Crime Column is based on UMW Police reports from Feb. 25 to March 18

Vandalism

On Feb. 18 at 10:30 a.m., there was case of vandalism at Eagle Village Suites. This case is pending.

Frequent fire alarms disrupt campus living

Stalking x2

On Feb. 18 at an unknown time there was a case of stalking on Campus.

This case was referred to Title IX.

Residents in Jefferson Hall—an upperclassman dorm—have experienced similar circumstances, causing them to stand in the cold late at night when a false alarm goes off.

Vesper Padgett, a junior classics major, shares her experience as a current resident in Jefferson Hall.

“I live in Jefferson Hall on the first floor. I’ve experienced about three to four fire alarms happening within about a week and a half of each other,” said Padgett.

She also noticed a pattern with the recent alarms.

“I’ve noticed that they either go off in the early-to-mid afternoon or in the evenings,” she said.

Just like the residents of Willard Hall, those in Jefferson Hall have been affected by the frequent alarms.

“They disrupt my sleeping, my showering, and my studying. It makes it hard to focus on studying and taking care of myself when there’s the possibility of a fire alarm going off,” Padgett said.

The sound of the alarms bothers some of the residents, like Padgett.

“They make these horrible, purge siren-like sounds that can really shake a person. I used to be incredibly scared of fire alarms when I first moved into Jeffy, but now they’re more annoying than anything else,” she said. “I don’t even associate them with danger anymore, just a very old building and careless students.”

Lots of responders and resources are deployed when a fire alarm goes off. Hall describes what happens when an alarm goes off.

Stalking

On Feb. 20 at an unknown time there was a case of stalking on Campus.

This case was referred to Title IX.

Stalking

On Feb. 23 at an unknown time there was a case of stalking on Campus.

This case was referred to Title IX.

Since the start of the Spring semester, there has been an increase in the number of fire alarms going off in residence halls, many reportedly triggered by students accidentally burning food or by maintenance issues. Several buildings have been affected, including freshman dorms and upperclassmen housing.

“In January and February of 2024, we had 36 fire alarms campus-wide, and in January and February of 2025, we had 32 fire alarms campus-wide. Now, in 2026, we had 45 fire alarms go off campus-wide, so it was about 10 additional ones from previous years,” said UMW Chief of Police and Associate Vice President of Public Safety Michael Hall. “I would contribute that from extended time in residence halls due to the snowstorms.”

David Flemming, dean of Residence Life and Housing, acknowledges the recurrence in alarms.

“More often than not, alarms sound due to cooking-related smoke,” said Flemming, “Occasionally, alarms are due to prohibited conduct in the halls.”

For students living in the affected residence halls, the alarms have become a frequent disruption.

Freshman Atticus Shear is a resident in Willard Hall, which has experienced two fire alarms at 11:30 p.m. this academic year.

“We had two alarms go off a week apart, so I got really suspicious, but I go to bed at like nine to ten o’clock, so I was asleep when they happened, and I woke up and I heard a noise and saw the fire alarm clicking,” Shear said.

The frequency and timing of the alarms have disrupted students’ routines.

“It definitely affected my sleep because I had to wake up in the middle of the night for like 30 minutes because then I also have to get back to sleep, so it’s like I have to calm down from being outside,” he said.

Shear says the repetition has made it difficult to respond with urgency.

“Neither time was I like, ‘I’m in danger, I need to get out.’ Both times it was a major inconvenience because I had to get up, put proper sweatpants on because it’s extremely cold outside, and shuffle outside and then stand in the cold for like 15 minutes,” he said.

Shear explains that even though the alarms have impacted his sleep schedule, he hasn’t been stressed about them.

“They didn’t stress me out too much, it was just more annoying than anything because neither time was an actual emergency,” he said.

“The alarm comes in to dispatch, and when we get the alarm, we contact the Fredericksburg Fire Department. They send the response, and we also send the police officer, and during the

“They disrupt my sleeping, my showering and my studying. It makes it hard to focus on studying and taking care of myself when there’s the possibility of a fire alarm going off.”

- Vesper Padgett

day, if the safety officer is working, they respond also,” said Hall. “Then the professional on call or the RA responds also.”

Although multiple agencies respond to each alarm, Hall said the role of campus police extends beyond emergency response to include education and prevention.

“The reason campus police get involved is to document the situation and to try to keep it from happening again, from an education standpoint, not a criminal standpoint,” said Hall. “We have to report on anything that happens on campus, not to get people in trouble, but to educate them to make better choices.”

Hall also said that relatively minor mistakes or equipment issues are the cause of the fire alarms, rather than dangerous behavior.

“We try to identify what the problem was, and we work with Dave Flemming so they can make sure it’s not the same student making the same mistake,” said Hall. “Sometimes the alarms go off due to a mechanical issue or human error. Cooking popcorn is a prime suspect, but we don’t see negligence or anything like that.”

In response to the recent incidents, Residence Life is considering additional prevention measures. Flemming gives some helpful reminders to students living in residence halls.

“Read the prohibited items list and be sure to abide by it. The items listed are on it for a specific purpose,” said Flemming. “Avoid burning any items in the residence halls, including candles, incense, cigarettes, cigars, cannabis and vapes. Be sure all safety equipment is in working order- call in an emergency work order for malfunctioning equipment.”

Sports

Men’s basketball team kept the ball rolling in the DIII NCAA Tournament

ANN KARR Staff Writer

On March 14, the UMW men’s basketball won against the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse at home by a score of 73-68 and made the quarterfinals.

The Ron Rosner Arena was packed with supporters cheering on the team throughout the game and the postseason run.

“Having the opportunity to play here at home and then advance to the Elite Eight is huge.”

- Jadon Burgess

“It’s electric, and it means a lot having all these people come out and show support for us,” said freshman forward Preston White.

This game was a mirror image of last year where they fell against Emory University in the Sweet 16. This is only the second time the men’s basketball team has made the Elite Eight, with the first time coming during the 2013-2014 season.

Junior international business major and forward Hasan Hammad emphasised how impactful the energy in the arena was.

“Having everybody come out, both in the school and the community of Fredericksburg, it’s just, it means a lot to see that the community is supporting us,” he said.

The energy in the arena carried into the first half, with both teams trading early baskets.

La Crosse secured an early lead, but UMW responded and pushed the intensity further to achieve a 41–35 lead at halftime.

In the second half, La Crosse continued to apply pressure and briefly regained the lead. With just under six minutes remaining and the Eagles trailing late, sophomore guard and business administration major Kye Robinson scored nine straight points, shifting the energy back in UMW’s favor.

The final five minutes were tense. With both teams battling it out and remaining neck and neck In the end, Robinson sealed the win with two free throws at 20 seconds left.

Junior guard and psychology major Jadon Burgess reflected on the impact of this intense win after the previous season’s run.

“Being on the team last year, the Sweet 16 was the round we lost in,” he said. “Then having the opportunity to play here at home and then advance to the Elite Eight is huge, as well as kind of put Fredericksburg and UMW on the map, on a national stage.”

“We’ve gone so far, we’re just keeping trying to go forward.”

- Jadon Burgess

This victory displayed a significant step in the team’s progress, as they were eliminated in the Sweet 16 in the previous season, and the team continues to grow and build on their nine-game winning streak.

With the continuous advancement of the team, it is necessary to recognize their development especially with such young players.

“We’ve got such a young team that being able to produce the way we are at this level just shows a lot of what the guys are, what the university can provide to us, and overall, just means what it means to be a UMW Eagle,” Hammad said.

Burgess emphasized the team’s unity and mindset as the main focus of the team’s success.

“For us, it’s all about sticking together as a team, no matter who we’re playing or where we’re playing, and just winning the day and winning each possession,” he said.

Making it into the Elite Eight, the Eagles are already one of the eight best DIII basketball teams in the country, outlasting 56 other teams. Instead of White reminiscing on how far they have come, he is letting how many games they have won motivate him.

“We’ve gone so far,” he said. “We’re just keeping trying to go forward.”

At the time of publication, the Eagles have not yet played the University of Chicago. Following a win, the Eagles’ next game will be against the winner of Trinity College (CT) and Tufts University in Fort Wayne, IN, on Saturday, March 21.

ENYA CEA-LAVIN Sports Editor

Men’s Baseball (13-4) Mar 25. at Eastern Mennonite University

Men’s Basketball (27-3) Mar 14. vs #14 University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (73-68)

Men’s Lacrosse (4-3) Mar 21. at Marymount University

Men’s Rugby (4-6) Mar 28. vs Penn State University

Men’s Tennis (11-1) Mar 20. vs Kenyon College Mar 21. vs Grinnell College

Track and Field Mar 19-20. at Fred Hardy Invitational

Women’s Lacrosse (4-4) Mar 25. vs Roanoke College

Women’s Softball (10-10) Mar 21. at Gettysburg College Mar 25. vs Randolph College

Women’s Tennis (11-1) Mar 21. vs Grinnell College