The University of Mary Washington’s Independent Student Newspaper Serving the community since 1922
The
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Ringer
VOLUME 98 | ISSUE 10
November 15, 2024
UMW SGA President signs letter to governor in favor of DEI
ALEXA DELACONCEPCION Staff Writer On Oct. 22, student body presidents from 10 Virginia public universities, including the University of Mary Washington, devised a letter to the Governor of Virginia, Glenn Youngkin, to address recent concerns regarding the longevity of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs at public institutions. UMW Student Government Association President Will Thompson, a senior international business major and signatory to the letter, emphasized that working with the Coalition of Student Body Presidents is an opportunity for Mary Washington students to converse with other universities and with the Governor about topics that students care about. “I have learned a ton from my experiences as a student-athlete and representative to programs all across campus, and constantly look forward to the opportunity to learn more about the programs we offer and how they benefit our students every day,” he said. The letter’s signees also included representatives from the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, George Mason University, James Madison University, Longwood University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Norfolk
SEE SGA LETTER, PAGE 2
Concerns regarding the longevity of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs have been raised.
Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer
Professors discuss environmental sustainability minor EMMA KINGKEO News Editor
Professors from the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences speak on upcoming course offerings related to environmental sustainability. Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer
News | 7 INSIDE Alumni
THE
RINGER
return to discuss careers in sustainability
Opinion | 3
Students deserve a longer Thanksgiving Break to travel home
Starting next semester and continuing into the fall 2025 semester, the UMW Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences will offer several courses relevant to the environmental sustainability minor, including one that has not been taught since before the COVID-19 pandemic. On Nov. 6, professors and alumni convened for a panel discussion to outline the upcoming course offerings and emphasize the importance of sustainability education. Next fall, Associate Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences Melanie Szulczewski is bringing back “Sustainability Issues in South Africa”—a class that has not been taught at UMW for nearly five years. The course provides students with the opportunity to study abroad, as it is taught in tandem with a UMW Faculty-Led Program. “We will go to South Africa for two weeks over winter break for hands-on learning about sustainability and conservation in the developing countries,” Szulczewski said. Every fall semester, Professor of Biology Alan Griffith teaches “Conservation Biology,” an upper-level biology class that also familiarizes students with the law and the value of the environment. He says that the contents of the course apply to real-world careers in sustainability. “At the end of the semester, my students also write a conservation management plan,” said Griffith. “That is a real practical experience that you get in that class that you could take in all kinds of different places if you were to go into sustainability, conservation
SEE SUSTAINABILITY, PAGE 7
Life | 4
A look through the eye of the needle for Nunsense
Sports | 8
UMW men’s soccer soars through Coast-to-Coast tournament