A star-crossed semester

In our "Reflections From the Classroom" series, seasoned teachers talk about their experiences walking with students and guiding their learning.

“Tell me what a feminist looks like,” the woman at the microphone chanted. Obediently and enthusiastically, we responded, “This is what a feminist looks like.” It was a beautiful, if chilly, April afternoon, and several hundred students, faculty members, and administrators had gathered in front of the University of Mary Washington’s administration building to mourn the murder of Grace Rebecca Mann and celebrate her life. Another student—her housemate—was under arrest, charged with abduction and first-degree murder.

The events of the last few weeks of UMW’s spring 2015 semester capped an academic year filled with debate and demonstrations. In many ways the situation mirrored events at other American universities.