The Weekly Ringer

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Weekly Ringer

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Editor-in-Chief

Callie Harkins

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Executive Editor

UMW quietly removes gender neutral bathroom designation in several buildings

ELLA CORDLE Opinion Editor

At the beginning of the 2025 Fall semester, Yzabel Ilao, a senior English literature major, walked to the basement of Combs Hall and went to the restroom before her class began.

gender-neutral bathroom in Woodard Hall, but it was converted to a men’s room instead.

Despite how significant changes to UMW’s gender-neutral bathroom landscape have been, there is no official confirmation on the architect of the changes. Professors and staff were not notified of any changes, and many hadn’t noticed them.

weeklyringer.executive@gmail.com

Associate Editors

Emma Kingkeo

Grace Wagner

Thomas Jackson

News Editor Ky Huynh

Meaghan Van Dyke

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Opinion Editor

Ella Cordle

Life Editor Chloe McCann

Sports Editor

Enya Cea-Lavin

Online Editor Sophia Tompkins

Photography Editors Anna Goodman

Violet Ayers

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Faculty Advisor

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Corrections

Due to writer error, a Feb. 6 article titled “UMW students protest use of excessive force by federal agents across America” incorrectly spelled Keely Butler’s first name. This has been corrected online.

Due to writer error, a Feb. 6 article titled “UMW students protest use of excessive force by federal agents across America” incorrectly identified the Young Democratic Socialists of America. This has been corrected online.

Bell tower logo designed by Bernadette D’Auria ‘22

Ilao knew there was a multi-stall bathroom available to her on that floor, so she made her way there and began to walk in when something caught her eye.

The sign outside the door that had once designated the restroom as gender-neutral now read “WOMEN,” accompanied by the classic icon of a stick figure wearing a dress.

While this new designation made no difference to Ilao personally, it did make her think about transgender students and whether UMW is as inclusive as it touts.

“Since our current administration has been doing some DEI rollbacks on college campuses, I wasn’t surprised that this was happening,” Ilao said. “Although it did feel a little unreal that they changed the sign because mostly everyone in the English Department wants everyone to feel comfortable and okay with their gender identity.”

UMW has long been considered a queer safe haven and is currently ranked as 21st in the nation by the Princeton Review for its support for the LGBTQ+ community.

This change is not exclusive to Combs Hall. Within the last year, UMW has converted many gender inclusive bathrooms into women’s bathrooms or family bathrooms.

“I know some people might think ‘It’s just a bathroom sign,’ but this is actively erasing the existence of gender-nonconforming students by not acknowledging their identities,” said Ilao. “Hopefully, UMW will do better by taking accountability for what they’ve done and improve as an institution for their students and faculty. I want to believe that this institution is better than that.“

Outside the professors’ offices on the third floor of Combs Hall, a list of all gender-inclusive bathrooms on campus compiled by Safe Zone, UMW’s LGBTQ+ ally program, is posted on a bulletin board. Recently, Mara Scanlon and Kate Haffey, both professors of English, wrote across the list in large red letters, “VOID,” to highlight that the inclusivity promoted on this list is no longer accurate.

The list, published by UMW’s Safe Zone, includes 12 non-residential buildings, each with at least one gender-inclusive bathroom. The list includes singular bathrooms that are either labeled as family restrooms or otherwise indicate they’re gender-neutral, as well as multi-stall gender-neutral bathrooms.

Today, six of these buildings have no gender-neutral bathrooms. Of the buildings with gender-neutral bathrooms, none are multi-stall and only two specify gender-inclusivity.

One is in the basement of George Washington Hall, which houses only administrative offices, and has a sign that says, “all gender restroom” and a wheelchair symbol, rather than gendered icons.

The other is on the fourth floor of Monroe Hall, and while the bathroom sign features gendered icons, it also reads, “unisex.”

There are multiple gender-neutral bathrooms in the Cedric Rucker University Center, all of which have a male and female icon on the sign and no wording.

Every other building on the Safe Zone list has gender-neutral bathrooms labeled as family restrooms, many of which also include icons of a man and woman holding hands with a child between them. However, the family restrooms in Mercer Hall are both indefinitely closed, leaving another building without any gender-neutral restrooms.

There are multi-stall women’s bathrooms that were previously labeled as gender-neutral in at least Combs Hall, Monroe Hall and Jepson Hall. In all three instances, the sign reading “Women” does not match the sign for the men’s restroom, and an outline on the wall where the old sign used to be is visible. There was also a

The chairs of both the English and historic preservation departments, located in Combs Hall, said they were unaware of any changes to bathroom signage. The office manager and building coordinator of Combs Hall, as well as multiple professors housed in the building, mentioned that they had noticed the changes but had not been informed of them and had no information about them.

Currently, the Safe Zone flyers featured across campus have not been updated and fail to properly communicate recent changes to bathroom signage and staff contacts.

“Hopefully UMW will do better by taking accountability for what they’ve done and improve as an institution for students and faculty.”

- Yzabel Ilao

Laura Wilson of the psychology department is listed as the contact for an outdated version of the Safe Zone list, but stated she stepped down from Safe Zone last May to focus on other service work across campus. Therefore, she has not been involved in any discussions or decisions regarding the changes.

In the early 2010s, there was a growing movement to install gender-neutral bathrooms on university campuses. Around 2014 and 2015, cities across the U.S. began issuing laws that required gender-neutral signage on single-occupancy restrooms. In response to that, several states began to introduce bills that required transgender people to use the bathrooms that correspond with the gender they were assigned at birth. As a result, cities and states, including Philadelphia and Washington State began to double down with laws that supported transgender people.

According to a 2016 article published by The Weekly Ringer, UMW has had gender neutral bathrooms across campus for at least a decade.

When President Donald Trump took office in Jan. 2025, he issued a series of executive orders designed to target diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Among these was a statement that only recognizes two genders and denounces gender ideology. As a public university, UMW is subject to government decrees.

Many students and staff alike have speculated that the changes to UMW’s bathrooms reflect the changing political landscape.

Scanlon believes it is UMW’s responsibility to continue supporting gender-nonconforming students.

“In my opinion, we never had adequate gender neutral bathrooms for the population of our school as it was, and I think it disrespects our trans, nonbinary, and queer population, and puts them in a very uncomfortable position, to close the ones we did designate,” she said.

She also brought up UMW’s recent recognition of LGBTQ+ support by the Princeton Review.

“How can we take pride in that excellent fact when we make it difficult for some people to even take care of basic bodily needs in our buildings?” Scanlon said.

Celia Golden, a senior communication and digital studies and religious studies double major, expressed similar sentiments.

“It hurts everyone for those bathrooms to not be openly advertised as gender neutral,” Golden said. “But especially as a university with such an outspoken queer population, I feel like it doesn’t reflect UMW’s values.”

UMW needs more school spirit and student unity

ANN KARR Staff Writer

Students at the University of Mary Washington are passionate, but not always about the same things. Everyone has their own group, their own schedule, their own little corner of campus.

Sometimes it feels like we are all just walking past each other instead of actually being one community. The place where that separation stands out the most is between student-athletes and non-athletes.

UMW has a strong sense of pride within each clique: athletes, performers, student government and all sorts of other clubs and majors. But we do not have many things that bring the whole community together. Even though there are exceptions to this divide, it does not change the fact that this separation has caused confusion about whether we even have a true sense of school spirit.

As a student athlete, when I attend sporting events like a rugby or basketball game, I look around and get excited because there are so many people I know. In my mind, I feel as though I am branching out so much. I recognize so many people, and maybe it’s because I am just shy, and that is why I feel like that, but it will not really hit me until I am sitting in the University Center or walking on campus, that I am surprised at all the new faces.

This is because, in many cases, when I look around the stands at a game, the reason I recognize so many people is that the majority of them tend to be athletes or friends of athletes, just like me.

UMW President Troy Paino described this dynamic as something that affects every corner of campus.

“It’s a two-way street,” he said. “We should encourage non-athletes to support athletics, and we should also encourage student-athletes to be more visible in campus life beyond their team.”

In other words, both groups tend to stay within their comfort zones, and breaking that pattern requires intention from both sides.

This is because on the occasion that I am able to go to more on-campus activities, when my school and athletics schedule gives me a break, when I do see athletes at things like Devil Goat Day or Bingo, it’s when some are getting the free items the event is giving out and then leaving. There is not much time for building new connections or trying new things.

In many cases, the only times I might talk to non-athletes are during small talk before or after classes, because my schedule simply does not allow me to attend all these events. Although I am a part of two clubs and have been able to branch out while attending them, many of the other clubs are happening during practice games, and I know it is worse for a lot of other sports. Having to balance

“Support through all aspects of Mary Washington is one of the pinnacle points that we need to highlight in order to bridge this gap and gain some true school spirit.”

- Ann Karr

classes, work and a sport is not an easy feat. When I get done with all of my work, I do not have the energy to go to many school-sponsored events. Many students know what they like and do not want to change that.

It is also difficult for many non-athletes to attend, as many sporting events are farther away from campus. The Battlefield, although not very far, is still enough to cause an inconvenience that makes someone think they could

just do something else. And unless you’re someone who truly has a passion for watching sports or a friend on the team, there is no true incentive for you to go.

Increasing attendance at both athletic and non-athletic events would result in a more connected UMW, as Paino describes; a campus with more school spirit results in a better community.

“I’d love to see more outward expressions of pride, larger student sections, stronger turnout at games and performances and more acknowledgment of what’s happening beyond our own little corners of campus,” said Paino. “I want to walk around and see more students wearing our colors, not just here but out in the community. That’s the kind of excitement and pride that turns a campus into a true community.”

Athletes need to make more of an effort to join in on campus events once our seasons end. Join some new clubs. It is never too late. There is more time in the day than we think. We can make time for something that really matters.

For non-student athletes, if there is an athlete in one of your classes, stop by a game to support. You truly do not know how much that support can change the course of a game. And that connection and effort can foster more new connections.

Heads of departments like athletics can also make more of an effort to push athletes to go to new events and create a joint event like Devil Goat Day. Have a booth there selling team merch, spirit wear and bringing awareness to other events. Or even host things like karaoke nights or sports bingo nights, bringing the usuals to the events, but more and more others as well.

These connections will foster a pride in our school that, honestly, we just do not have right now. Creating a more unified student body will increase our support on both sides, something we desperately need.

Because if we all stick in our collective cliques, that is all the school will be: divided. And if that is the case, we are not making the most out of our college experience.

Support through all aspects of Mary Washington is one of the pinnacle points that we need to highlight in order to bridge this gap and gain some true school spirit.

UMW hard launches its first ever dating show for students

IZZY SCHEFERMANN Staff Writer

It was official, cuffing season had arrived, and brought with it cold temperatures, making it even more essential for students to find a cuddle buddy.

For couples, situationships and even besties, UMW organized the perfect event for students indulging in the festivities. On the eve of Valentine’s Day, the Office of Student Activities and Engagement hosted “Hard Launch: the situationship showdown,” a fun, low-pressure and irrestiably watchable gameshow.

“If this event makes you nervous, you don’t have to get on stage,” said Lilly Lester, Assistant Director of New Student Programs. “Just come and enjoy it from the crowd. Watch your friends be silly, that’s the whole point.”

The event was split into two parts. The first half was modeled after the classic Newlywed Game—four pairs of students were pulled straight from the audience. Once on stage, the pairs sat back-to-back with whiteboards, answering questions about each other like, “what’s their favorite color?” or “what’s your favorite thing about them?”

Matching answers earned points and the pair with the highest score won a $50 Chili’s gift card for dinner and a movie date night of your choice.

The second half shifted into full dating-show mode. One pre-selected student sat behind a curtain while three potential matches, chosen from the audience, answered personality-based questions. At the end, the curtain rose, a match was made and the two were once again rewarded with Chili’s and a movie.

Everyone who participated on stage also received a free steak dinner from the Top of the Cedric Rucker University Center, thanks to a partnership with Dining Services.

Students didn’t need to sign up in advance. In fact, showing up spontaneously with energy was probably the best strategy for pairs.

“If people bring good energy and are hyped in the crowd, we’re more likely to pick them,” said Lester before the event.

Jo Lent, a junior finance major and the social chair and event coordinator for the UMW women’s rugby team, said the show felt exactly like the kind of chaotic, community-building event students needed in mid-winter.

“Everyone’s been cooped up from the snow, so something goofy and low-stakes like this is perfect,” Lent said. “I think it goes back to participation numbers, the more people that are there, the more fun it will be.”

Sophomore political science major Maddison Kryszon agreed, saying the event stood out because it’s not just another dance or movie night.

“It’s different and that’s why people are excited,” Kryszon said. “I think students want events that feel interactive and unpredictable.”

The co-hosts, Lester and senior class officer Josiah Schlechty, an accounting and economics double major, opened the night with a few scripted jokes and rule explanations, but after that, the show became mostly improvised. Audience reactions helped settle close calls and maintained the light, playful and communal.

Behind the scenes, the event was the product of collaboration between New Student Programs and SAE, who helped with logistics, marketing, decorations and space reservations. Lester credits the teamwork at SAE for bringing the idea to life.

“It’s been very collaborative,” she said. “SAE plans most of the campus events, so they really know what they’re doing.”

The spark for Hard Launch didn’t come from a planning meeting or a brainstorming session, it came from a cruise ship.

Lester was on a Thanksgiving cruise with her family when she attended Carnival Cruise Lines’ Love and Marriage Game Show, a spinoff of the classic Newlywed Game. Sitting in the audience with her aunt, she had a moment of recognition.

“We looked at each other and were like, ‘This would be so fun to bring to a college campus,’” she said.

The simplicity of the questions, the mix of long-term couples and brand-new ones and the way the show encouraged people to learn about each other all stuck with her. When she returned to campus, she pitched the idea and it landed.

Although this is the first time UMW is hosting Hard Launch, Lester hopes it won’t be the last.

“I’d love for it to continue and for other people to get a chance to host it,” said Lester. With Schlechty graduating this year, future versions of the show could be co-hosted by students, staff or a mix of both. Lester imagines the event evolving, growing and becoming a staple of UMW’s Valentine’s season.

For now, though, the focus was on Feb. 13 and on making the inaugural show a night that students could talk about long after the prizes were claimed.

“It’s something fun to do on a Saturday night, especially after being snowed in,” Lester said.

Crowd prizes made it so that even if students didn’t want to participate on stage, there was still a chance for them to leave with a prize.

Whether you’re hoping to win a date night, cheer on your friends, or simply witness the delightful chaos of UMW’s newest event, Hard Launch promised a night of laughter, surprises and maybe even a few love stories.

UMW’s “Hand to God” leaves audiences in unexpected awe

CLAIRE LEATHEM Staff Writer

Sex, violence, scandal, religion, grief and vulgar language, all wrapped up into one comedy show that brought the audience into a frenzy. People were laughing and screaming throughout, glued to the edge of their seats.

“This show was absolutely phenomenal, a real hoot and holler,” said Regan Bailey, a sophomore theatre major.

Bailey wasn’t the only student to enjoy the production.

Rayne Hatton, a junior theatre major, had already made plans to see it again.

“I am absolutely blown away by the humor and I am so incredibly proud of all my classmates in the show. I’m seeing it again tomorrow and I’m so excited,” she said.

As the curtain drew, most students were left at a loss for words.

Sophomore theatre major Ben Klein, who played Tim in the show, was very pleased with how everything turned out.

“I think the cast and the crew for this show were such a wonderful combination of people and we all worked very well together,” he said.

Similar to the fellow audience members I, too, was blown away by the talent of the cast and the advanced sets that changed quickly with each new scene.

The student cast members handled the intense scenes with a professional manner, creating an incredible performance that showcased their talents.

I have to admit, however, that this show is not for everyone.

If you don’t know what you’re getting into, then this show will certainly catch you off guard with its R-rated scenes that caused me a bit of discomfort.

I am an outsider to all things theatre, and after watching this performance, I found myself left with two lingering questions: why and how did the school put on a production that contained extreme adult content? And how did this weird, quirky show end up on the table for UMW productions?

According to Gregg Stull, chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance and producing director of “Hand to God,” this play has been under consideration for around five years now.

“We needed sort of a smaller cast to show up against Henry the Fifth which has a very large cast,” Stull said, Henry the Fifth being the final show for spring 2026.

Lots of consideration went into the reasoning for UMW’s “Hand to God” performance.

“When we balance the season based on content, we try to look at periods and styles and comedy versus serious plays and it just seemed like the right time to reconsider it,” Stull said.

“This show was absolutely phenomenal, a real hoot and holler.”

- Regan Bailey

When it comes down to adult content, UMW doesn’t put any sensory limitations on the productions.

“They trust us to make strong artistic decisions,” said Stull. “We will do a play because we feel like it has amazing opportunities for student growth and learning.”

The process of choosing productions is not too different from other entertainment platforms.

“There’s very little on that stage that you don’t see on Netflix,” said Stull. “It just seems more immediate when it’s right in front of you with real human beings.”

Shows at UMW are selected by a committee of staff and students who, according to Stull, meet regularly to discuss options, including student representatives elected by their peers who serve as the student voice in choosing productions.

“In any given season, we’re looking at a four year span, because our students are here over four years to have an experience in all different kinds of genres, periods and styles,” Stull said.

Personally, after seeing the immense talent in Hand to God I will definitely be a returning audience member.

While the adult content was extreme, that didn’t stop this production from being an overall hit.

YDSA makes emergency contraceptive free for students on campus through the Student Health Center

ONNOLEE SLATEN Staff Writer

The Young Democratic Socialists of America UMW Chapter, a political activist organization on campus, has made the emergency contraceptive “Levonorgestrel” available for free at the UMW Student Health Center on the first floor of Lee Hall.

Levonorgestrel—which is more commonly associated with its name-brand counterparts such as Plan B, My Way and AfterPill—is a contraceptive pill used to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex or failure of another birth control.

Kimba Pasch, a sophomore biomedical science and psychology double major, is the treasurer of the YDSA and spearheaded this project.

According to Pasch, the new initiative was inspired by fears that the contraceptive would be harder to access under the Trump administration policy.

“After the Trump election, I knew a lot of people who were scared about their access to contraceptives,” Pasch said. “Fulfilling that need for people is what sparked this project.”

Before this program was able to cover the cost, receiving emergency contraceptives from the Student Health Center would cost about $12 per pill. Name-brand Plan B from an off-campus pharmacy would cost between $40 to $50 per pill.

Pasch shares their excitement to implement this plan on campus.

“It’s a very new kind of concept for a lot of universities,” Pasch said. “There aren’t very many campuses in the entire country that have completely free Plan B programs.”

“Every student that finds out we’re doing this initiative has been super excited. No matter what side of the political aisle you’re on, generally, most people identify pregnancy protection as important.”

- Kimba Pasch

To fund this initiative, YDSA tabled in the Cedric Rucker University Center for a week to ask for donations.

YDSA Secretary Shane Maguire, a sophomore philosophy: pre-law major, said tabling was hugely successful for the club.

“We managed to completely shatter our expectations of fundraising,” he said. “On our own, we managed to raise about $3,500 from tabling. For a week, anytime I had free from working and class, I was at the table.”

Along with these funds, the organization had received $500 from Eagle Funding.

“We could fund this easily with the money we had,” Maguire said. “This would be a service for students on campus.”

Once the money was received, it took YDSA more than

a year to launch the project.

“It was wishful thinking that this should be a generally smooth process, but sometimes there can be bumps in the road. There were a lot of different back steps in this, that is why it took so long,” said Pasch.

According to Pasch, the general response from the student body has been positive.

“Every student that finds out we’re doing this initiative has been super excited,” they said. “No matter what side of the political aisle you’re on, generally, most people identify pregnancy prevention as important. Emergency contraceptives are a really important part of pregnancy protection.”

Maguire added that the support from students was what made the fundraising so successful.

“You know what really enabled this was the amazing outpour of support from the community when they heard about what we were doing,” he said.

The YDSA collaborated with Dr. Nancy Wang, director of the UMW Student Health Center, in order to make this possible.

“A lot of what we do is about accessibility. We want Plan B to be accessible 24/7 for as cheap as possible, which means free.”

- Shane Maguire

“She’s an amazing doctor, and a lovely person,” Pasch said. “We worked with the Student Health Center to see the legal statutes of doing a project like this. We made sure to have their support in order to ensure security and that people are getting their medication properly.”

“There are many benefits of making Plan B more accessible, e.g., the provision of cost-free emergency contraception at the SHC addresses affordability, which in turn, addresses health inequality,” Wang said.

Students can access the contraceptives during the health center’s operating hours, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

“It’s a very simple process of going through that, so it’s fully open to anybody at this point,” Pasch said.

Pasch and the YDSA aim to make this process even easier and more accessible by installing a vending machine for these products available to students outside the Student Health Center’s operating hours.

When asked about what to do when emergencies occur outside of the Health Center’s Office hours right now, Pasch explains, “with emergency contraceptives, the sooner you can get it and take the medication, the better. Generally, after 24 to 72 hours depending on the medication, it can start dropping in effectiveness very quickly.”

“A lot of what we do is about accessibility,” Maguire said. “We want Plan B to be accessible 24/7 for as cheap as possible, which means free. If something happens on a Friday night, you’re not locked out of anything.”

Beyond emergency contraceptives, the Student Health Center and the self-care room on the first floor of Lee Hall have free health products, including condoms.

“I really hope this can benefit a lot of people on campus and help people have more security in their day-to-day lives, especially in more troubling times that people face,” Pasch said.

Friday, February 20, 2026

Trader Joe’s to open future location near UMW campus

IZZY SCHEFERMANN Staff Writer

Trader Joe’s, known for its unique snacks, affordable prices and loyal fan base, will open a new store location for the first time in Fredericksburg. After years of rumors and wishful thinking, Trader Joe’s has officially announced its opening on Fall Hill Avenue, near Mary Washington Hospital.

“I think tons of people will shop there. If people are willing to drive to Wegmans, which is literally like a five-minute drive anyway, people will definitely shop at Trader Joe’s.”

- Gabby Ayala

A local realtor, Brittney Draghia, posted the news on TikTok and within days gained 80,000 views and hundreds of comments from people in Fredericksburg.

The news spread through campus, with students eager to fill a long-standing gap in the local grocery landscape.

Sophomore psychology major Gabby Ayala first heard the news from a friend before seeing it blow up on TikTok.

“I saw it on TikTok and was like, oh, that’s gonna be a good addition,” she said.

For Ayala, the appeal is quite simple, considering Trader Joe’s affordability and range of snacks.

“Trader Joe’s is pretty affordable for college students. They have a ton of good snacks and fun treats you wouldn’t find elsewhere,” she said.

Ayala believes Trader Joe’s will quickly become the go-to grocery store for students.

“People will definitely shop there over Giant and Wegmans,” she said. “Those tend to be more expensive. Trader Joe’s is very affordable and reasonable.”

Sophomore political science major Maddie Kryzon agrees and says she has the mileage to prove it.

“There is no Trader Joe’s anywhere near Fredericksburg, and the closest ones are about an hour away,” she said. “I’ve driven to them multiple times, even from school.”

Kryzon says she and her friends have been waiting for this.

“It’s small quantities and easy freezer meals that students really like,” she said. “It’s just a more affordable shopping experience.”

While the new store may have caught students by surprise, many say it makes perfect sense. When Kryzon heard the location, she was excited for the closer drive.

“Oh, that’s really close,” she said. “Worst case, it’s a five-minute drive.”

Ayala had a similar reaction once she realized where Fall Hill Avenue sits in relation to campus. The area is already a frequent route for students heading to the hospital, nearby apartments or the shopping centers just beyond it.

“I think tons of people will shop there,” said Ayala. “If people are willing to drive to Wegmans, which is like literally only a five-minute drive anyway, people will definitely shop at Trader Joe’s.”

Kryzon pointed out that some of the closest grocery options, like Giant, are also among the most expensive, and the cheaper stores, like Walmart, are much further away. Trader Joe’s, she says, hits the sweet spot of being close enough to reach and cheap enough to prioritize.

“I think it’s kind of important for college students because not everyone has cars, but I think sometimes when you’re closer to a place, sometimes it can be more expensive,” said Kryzon. “Giant is a lot more expensive than somewhere like Walmart or Target, which is a bit further away.”

However, the store’s arrival means more than just a new place to buy frozen foods. Draghia explained in her

TikTok that when Trader Joe’s chooses a location, it often signals something bigger in the community, such as population growth, rising demand and increased interest in nearby neighborhoods.

“There is no Trader Joe’s anywhere near Fredericksburg, and the closest ones are about an hour away. I’ve driven to them multiple times, even from school.”

- Maddie Kryzon

“More people want to live here, which means higher home values, higher interest, future development,” she said.

For some, it’s even a sign that Fredericksburg is inching closer to becoming a true college town. Kryzon isn’t convinced it will transform the city’s identity overnight, but she does think it will become a student hub.

“It’s going to be a spot that college students definitely go to,” she said. “It’ll make it feel more like a college town because it’s better than what we have with Giant.”

The store’s opening date has not yet been announced.

Crime Column

MEAGHAN VAN DYKE News Editor

Poss. of Marijuana

On Feb. 11 at 5:30 p.m., there was case of Poss. of Marijuana in the UMW Apts.

This case was referred to O.S.C.A.R /Gen. Dist. Court.

The Crime Column is based on UMW Police reports from Feb. 5 to Feb. 18

Poss. of Marijuana

On Feb. 12 at 8:06 p.m., there was case of Poss. of Marijuana at Suken Road Lot.

This case was referred to O.S.C.A.R.

UMW lacrosse faces a loss during their home opener against Roanoke

AYA OGAWA Staff Writer

On Feb. 14, the UMW men’s lacrosse team faced No. 20 Roanoke College in Fredericksburg for the season’s home opener.

With a young roster and a new coach, the Eagles entered the game wanting to prove they could compete with a ranked opponent. Despite a 17-8 loss, this game allowed the Eagles to execute new plays and build on their capabilities.

“We want to show that we can hang with teams that are ranked above us,” said midfielder Reece Stone, a senior accounting major. “We know we’re just as good as them, and we don’t get the respect that we deserve.”

Ahead of each game, the team holds regular practices, workouts, and discussions to assess the best way to approach opponents.

“The day before, we just walk through stuff, like rides and carries and stuff like that,” said freshman midfielder Logan Klinger.

Roanoke built an early lead, and UMW’s second-half push was not enough to change the result.

Roanoke took control early in the game, scoring four unanswered goals in the first quarter.

By halftime, UMW was behind 8–3, and the mood among the Eagles’ supporters reflected the tough start.

In the second quarter, with just under three minutes remaining, Klinger scored on an assist from Stone. Just over a minute later, sophomore midfielder Tucker Bradley, a business administration major, added another goal, again helped by Stone, narrowing Roanoke’s lead.

New Head Coach Kyle Hofstaedter mentioned the importance of game-time deci-

sions and decisive action on the field.

“Be ready to adjust,” he said.

True to his words, the Eagles finally took flight in the third quarter.

Klinger scored at 10:55, and again only 47 seconds later, at 10:08, senior midfielder Jackson Rhodes, a business administration major, found the net from an assist by freshman Joe Novak.

UMW kept up their efforts in the fourth quarter, with Dave Votapek, a senior business administration major, scoring at 14:40 off an assist from Jacob Fowler, a senior marketing major.

With 2:55 remaining, UMW scored its eighth goal, which brought the crowd to its feet again, even though the team was still behind.

Even in the final seconds, Fowler won the faceoff at 00:05, showing the Eagles’ spirit to compete until the end.

University of Mary Washington Spring Sports Schedule

ENYA CEA-LAVIN

Goalkeeper Ryan D’Angelo, a senior applied economics and computer science major, whom Coach Hofstaedter indicated was a player to watch, recorded 11 saves and stood strong in front of the net throughout the game.

Although it wasn’t the outcome the team hoped for, the game demonstrated the strong potential of this new-look Eagles.

Klinger emphasized the excitement of a new team.

“We have a young team with a lot of young guys, including me. We’re just trying to go out there and execute,” he said.

Stone also expressed his dedication to working with his new team.

“Learning the offense, learning the defense is kind of learning each other’s tendencies. I think we’ll be ready to go,” he said.

Stone and Klinger have a dedication to their team, noticing the support from their teammates and how helpful their team is to them.

“We have good players, Tanner and then Dave, an older guy. So I think we’re gonna look good going out there,” he said.

The commitment the players have alongside the dedication they are putting into performing together shows their desire to push for their next game.

Coach Hofstaedter reflected on Saturday’s game, acknowledging the team’s mistakes and his belief in his players.

“We made too many uncharacteristic mistakes against a very strong opponent. Those errors proved costly as they were able to create separation in the fourth quarter,” he said.

However, he said the team is focused on correcting those issues this week.

“If we take care of the details and play to the standard we’ve set for UMW lacrosse, we’re confident it will be a competitive and exciting contest versus Randolph-Macon College,” he said.

Hoping to showcase their new team and continuous determination, UMW men’s lacrosse will compete at home on Feb. 20 against Randolph-Macon College.

Men’s Baseball (0-0) Feb. 20 vs John Carroll University Feb. 21 vs John Carroll University Feb 24. vs Eastern Mennonite University

Men’s Basketball (19-3) Feb. 7 at Randolph-Macon (74-85) Feb. 24 at University of Califronia

Men’s Lacrosse (0-0) Feb. 20 vs Randolph-Macon

Men’s Rugby (4-4) Feb. 1 at Lindenwood

Men’s Tennis (0-0) Feb. 21 vs Washington College Feb. 22 vs Virginia Wesleyan

Equestrian (0-0) Feb. 21 Regional Show at Sweet Briar

Winter Track and Field Feb. 20 at Coast-to-Coast Conference

Women’s Basketball (9-12) Feb. 21 vs RV Christopher Newport

Women’s Tennis (0-0) Feb. 22 at Haverford

Games are available to watch via livestream on the UMW Athletics webpage www.eagles.com/composite