Class of 2011 arrives at UMW FRESHMEN >> 980 first-year students arrive on campus
UMW students recommend what to do (and avoid) in Fredericksburg
BY JEFF BRANSCOME
Date published: 8/23/2007
BY JEFF BRANSCOME
University of Mary Washington junior Stephanie Rzepka says she often complains about Fredericksburg.
But on freshman move-in day yesterday, she struggled to think of things in the city the new coeds should avoid.
"I feel ridiculous," she said with a laugh. "I can't think of things."
The Free Lance-Star solicited advice yesterday on behalf of UMW freshmen: What should they seek out and stay away from in the Fredericksburg area?
Like Rzepka, some seemed stumped at first. But after a couple minutes of thought, the dos and don'ts materialized.
The dos: Trips to the Rappahannock River, antiques shops downtown, Carl's (and Lee's Homemade Ice Cream on Caroline Street), Central Park, The Bourbon Room on Thursday nights, Hyperion Espresso, etc.
Don'ts: FREDericksburg Regional Transit buses and off-campus walks at night.
"There's not really that many bad places in Fredericksburg," said senior Kyle McLean.
But he and others called FRED buses unreliable. Some said the system has left them stranded at Central Park and the Spotsylvania Towne Centre.
"It picks you up on campus and then you get left at the mall at 11 at night," said junior Mary Hester.
Still, the FRED bus may be unavoidable because freshmen aren't allowed to bring cars. That's why they should save a taxi number in their cell phones, one student said.
"We've had issues with timeliness," Acting President Rick Hurley acknowledged. "We've been talking with FRED and working with them."
The school is installing a FRED station on campus and may put up a message board that tracks the status of buses, he said.
Administrators also want to add routes that take students directly downtown and back.
In addition to FRED, students advised against late-night strolls on Sunken Road--which has no lampposts--and the Fredericksburg Canal Path.
"You can get attacked at any point," junior Madeleine Hawks said of Sunken Road. "We've had people follow us, and it's been really scary."
The Canal Path, however, is a great place to bike during the day, said junior Bobby Durrette.
The dos are pretty self-explanatory. Thursday college nights at the Bourbon Room on William Street are open to students 18 and older.
Anyone under 21 who tries to get a beer will be escorted out, one student said. She's seen it happen.
Another future hangout will be a UMW shop moving into the former Chords Restaurant on Caroline Street. It's set to open Sept. 15 and will eventually include an Internet cafe, Hurley said.
For the more adventurous students, particularly those with access to a car, a trip up the road might be in order.
"I think you absolutely have to go to Richmond or D.C., just to change the pace a little bit," said McLean.
Incoming freshman Leslie Holt, 17, had already picked out some Fredericksburg destinations, including Carl's and Central Park.
She said she'd even walk to Central Park: "I'd risk my life to go shopping."
Jeff Branscome: 540/374-5402
Email: jbranscome@freelancestar.com
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980 freshmen: 668 females, 312 males
25 identify as multiracial
27 identify as African-American
3 identify as Native American/Alaska Native
58 identify as Asian/Pacific Islander
37 identify as Hispanic/Latino
596 identify as white
234 did not identify race or ethnic group
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Date published: 8/23/2007
Most recent reader comments:
Schedule
(posted by
SpockVA
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
Personal opinion is that if the persons had read the schedule, maybe they would not have missed the last FredEx bus that runs only on Friday and Saturday night that late into the evening. Seems to me that the SCHEDULE is the whole problem, and people need to READ IT!
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