Richard Jewell - From Hero to Villain

On July 27, 1996, spectators of the Atlanta Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Ga. hectically scrambled away from the terrorizing sound of a nearby explosion, screaming.  Dark smoke rose from one of the buildings. 

The explosion, which caused two deaths and 111 injuries, quickly became the focus of media attention.  The press thus found and “mobbed” Richard Jewell, a security guard who has helped minimize the number of fatalities and injuries by clearing the surrounding area of spectators after he noticed the suspicious bag containing the bomb.

Initially praised as a hero, the stories took a turn for the worse as the search for a suspect intensified.  For the next few months, Jewell would be recognized as the bomber by the public, due to suspicion and interrogation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, but also because of the lack of skepticism and objectivity practiced by the media, which had an unfortunate lasting impact.  The stigma that was forced upon Jewell would follow him for the rest of his life.

In a public statement by Jewell that we saw in the 20-minute documentary “Judging Jewell,” he declared that the media and the FBI acted irresponsibly “in a rush to fulfill their own personal agendas.”  Other journalists remorsefully agreed with Jewell in the documentary.  For example, Tom Brokaw said he could not say the media was ever skeptical enough in covering the Jewell case.

Because of the faulty conduct of journalists, which was highlighted in the documentary, an innocent man earned the reputation as a terrorist.  The documentary is a reminder of the power that the media has to influence the topics and the lives of the people that they report on, an influence that can leave both positive and negative impacts.  For Jewell, the impact of media coverage was highly negative and could not be erased.

Unfortunately, even after the actual bomber, Eric Rudolph, had been convicted, people still remember Jewell not as a hero, but as a man who was suspected of being the bomber.  His wife said that some people continued to suspect the Jewell was in fact the bomber, but had gotten away with his crime, an opinion which she said emotionally hurt Jewell very much.

Jewell was also unable to find employment in law employment for over a year following the incident.  One of the reporters interviewed in the documentary commented that he “basically lived in the dark” for the time that he was considered the main suspect, because the media “had cameras trained on every window of his apartment.”

What is worse is that the American media were not the only participants.  Because the event was so significant, it received coverage by foreign media as well, such as the BBC, giving him a poor reputation across the globe.

Given how much the coverage of him changed his life, it seems that the headline “Suspicion may stain Jewell’s life for years,” completely came true.  Although the power of the media can be beneficial to our country, acting as a watchdog over selfish politicians and making people aware of problems that need to be changed, Jewell’s case illustrates the idea that many people in the public believe, that the media rushes to get a story to the point that they are careless as to whether their facts are straight.  The media essentially convicted him regardless of his potential innocence.

His case should be viewed as a reminder to follow good journalistic principles.  The media must focus on maintaining objectivity and skepticism, no matter how tempting it may be to want to find an answer right away. 

Furthermore, Jewell’s story illustrated what we learned about covering criminals from Amherst Police Detective Jamie Reardon.  The press shouldn’t report on someone until after they have been arrested or arraigned in court and charges have been filed.  Otherwise they put themselves at risk of damaging the reputations of innocent people and can also face the accusation of writing libel.

In the future, we can only hope that the press will practice good, fair journalism so that innocent people like Jewell don’t become victims of an institution originally designed for the benefit of the people.

By Shelby Ashline

Info graphics from police visit

by Lauren McArdle

Trail by Media

The Summer Olympics in Atlanta, GA in 1996 would have been remembered as a tragedy, had it not been for one man, Richard Jewell. While a concert was going on, he found what he thought might be a bomb, and tried to clear out the area as much as possible, saving more than 100 lives. Instead the pike bomb killed only two and injured more than 100 people. However, Jewell is not remembered as a hero, but instead as a man accused of planting the bomb in the first place.

The police, when a situation like this occurs, must consider all options. They were investigating everyone and had received a tip that Jewell like attention from a former boss. However, because of their inability to keep the name under wraps, journalists knew that something was up with the guy they had been praising as a hero. The Senior Managing Editor of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution allowed an article to be printed saying that Jewell was in fact the bomber although there was no proof of this and they were unable to attribute this information to anyone conducting the investigation.

From there, other news agencies took it as fact and ran with it. All over the world, Jewell became known as the bomber. Part of this was due to the want of the FBI to find the bomber while the world spotlight was still on the United States, and so they continued on this lead. With the amount of journalist crowding around him constantly, he was forced to stay indoors or face accusatory questions from journalists. This made him look more guilty, and lead to more journalists and more stories about how he was guilty of this terrible crime. He was under surveillance for 88 days. After that time, it was decided, upon looking at the facts, that he was not a suspect in the investigation and was instead the hero of the story. It wasn’t until 2005 when Eric Rudolph plead guilty to the bombing that he was cleared completely. Some people still believe that he is the bomber.

The media has yet to learn that even under tense situations that claiming someone is a bomber without having proof is damaging to someone’s reputation. When people look up the people who were accused of  this crime, these are the stories that are going to pop up. It might be harder for them now to get a job, to have a life that isn’t in the shadow of being accused of something that they are innocent of. Richard Jewell had trouble finding a security job even after he was cleared of being the bomber. It took him over a year and he was paid only eight dollars an hour.

The sad thing about this story is that it still happens. In April 2013, while the investigation for the Boston Bombers was happening, a number of people were accused of the being the bombers. One was a Saudi national who was actually wounded by the blast.  He fit the image that American had of a Middle Eastern terrorist but it was proved that he was not the bomber. His picture was found online and put in many new stories. The next victim blamed was a 17 year old high school track star and his coach, who happened to be wearing baseball caps and have backpacks. Due to Reddit, an online website that created a forum, a theory went viral and the media picked it up. But the boy was innocent and not even under investigation.

I think what journalists need to learn from this story and from the accusations made during the investigation of the Boston Bombing is that people are innocent until proven guilty. If the courts of the United States holds that to be true, why is it that the media of the country cannot also do so? How can the media hold its head high and claim to report the truth, when they make accusations about innocent people  that damage them in the moment and for years to come. The media also has to understand the sway it has on people, especially in tense and uncertain times. In times like this, people want to know what is going on, if there is a suspect, and what is being done to catch the person. By throwing names out to the public, the media is creating a dangerous environment for the person and is slowing down the investigation. It is also not holding by their motto of reporting the truth. These people are not collateral damage on the road to catching a bomber or killer. They are innocent people with lives. The real criminal will be put on trial, we do not need the innocent suspects to have a trial by media.

by Lauren McArdle

Detective Jamie Reardon Mini-Article

     Thirty-eight-year-old Amherst Police Detective Jamie Reardon met with 12 journalism students from the University of Massachusetts on Wednesday to discuss the complicated details of his position.

     

     The small audience, who had gathered at the Amherst Police Department, questioned Reardon about the varying responses by police to individual cases and different local festivities, such as Blarney Blowout, a pre-St. Patrick’s Day celebration, and Extravaganja, a festival created to raise awareness about the push to legalize marijuana.

     

     Reardon, who has been a police officer for 14 years, told his listeners that although there are plenty of regulatory procedures he follows every day, all cases are unique and therefore require different treatment.

     

     “In this job, in this field, nothing’s ever black and white,” Reardon said.  “I hate to say it.”

     

     Reardon explained that even though there were only four police officers on bicycles at Extravaganja in comparison to the massive gathering of 6,000 people, the police were not less prepared for the event than they had been for Blarney Blowout, a situation some people – particularly UMass students – feel the police handled brutally.

     

     In fact, Reardon estimated that the riot squad could have arrived at the Amherst Town Common, where Extravaganja took place this year, in a matter of 5 to 10 minutes.  He emphasized that the police “plan for the worst,” but “pray for the best.”

     

     Given the large number of people and the potential for rioting and other misconduct, Reardon said it only makes sense that the police staff themselves the best they can for events like Extravaganja, but that it’s also nice to have the riot squad and not to need them.

    

     Despite the 73 arrests made at this year’s Blarney Blowout, Reardon acknowledged that the majority of UMass students don’t encounter the police and he is content with that.

     

     “I honestly don’t like seeing college students arrested,” Reardon said.  “I have much bigger problems.”

    

     Reardon believes that the hype over Blarney Blowout that made the police subject to scrutiny was caused by the increased publicity in comparison to calmer events like Extravaganja.

    

     “Let’s face it: bad news sells,” Reardon said.  “Sometimes it sells better than good stories.”

     

     One of the highly regulated procedures in Reardon’s line of work is communicating with the press.  Reporters from The Massachusetts Daily Collegian, The Daily Hampshire Gazette and The Republican regularly seek media logs from the Amherst Police Department.  However, only certain information can be given to reporters.

     

     Although information on physical arrests is free for reporters to access, summons arrests are kept confidential until the person is arraigned at court.  In other words, data regarding citations issued is off limits to reporters.  However, it is possible for determined reporters to get a list of arraignments from the Eastern Hampshire District Court, which is located in Belchertown, Mass.

     

     Reardon further explained that several laws protect the privacy of victims, and even some criminals.  Due to what Reardon called the Rape Shield Law, the names of sexual assault victims are not released to the press.  No information on juvenile offenders is released either.

     

     Although Reardon and the other police officers must be versatile to combat crime in all of its varying shapes and forms that cannot completely be planned for, he recognizes the limitations in his line of work.  It is impossible to be on the scene of every crime and catch every criminal, many of whom are adept at hiding their behavior.

    

     “It’s like fishing,” he said.  “You’re not going to catch them all.” 

By Shelby Ashline

The Influence of Technology on Children

     The use of technologies such as iPads, iPods and iPhones has become mainstream in recent years.  However it’s not just the adult world who has been influenced by the modern age.

     

     Children have become so involved with technology that new products have been designed to enable their screen play.  Not only are there drool-proof tablet covers to protect the devices, but since just last year parents can purchase a toilet training potty with an attached stand for an iPad, appropriately called an iPotty, for just $40.  The model was even adapted into a bouncy seat by Fisher Price, which they call an “Apptivity Seat,” according to a Washington Post article.

     

     Children’s prominence in the technological world at a very young age has led psychologists like Dr. Daniel Anderson, professor emeritus in psychology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, to study how their mental capacities, social skills and physical health might be affected. 

     

     In Anderson’s experience, he has found that media can both foster and inhibit learning depending on the content, although he said that touch screen technologies allow children to learn more than television because of their interactive qualities.  He also believes that advertisements can encourage unhealthy behavior and that frequent technology use contributes to obesity.

     

     During his 40 years working at UMass before retirement, Anderson primarily studied the effects of television viewing on children.  He also served as an educational advisor in the production of television shows such as “Blues’ Clues,” “Dora the Explorer” and “Sesame Street,” among others, for over 20 years.  As an educational advisor, Anderson gave producers his input regarding how to make the shows mentally stimulating for children.

     

     From his experience, Anderson said the effect of television on children mostly depends on their age, the content of the shows and then to a lesser extent, the amount of time they spend watching.  He does not condemn TV-watching by children.

     

     “Television can be a very effective educational medium,” Anderson said.

    

     As an example, Anderson explained a study of “Sesame Street” that he and other professors at UMass had participated in in collaboration with professors at the University of Kansas, where they observed the progression of 560 kids from Springfield, Mass. and Topeka, Kan. from preschool through high school graduation.

     

     “We found that the more they had watched “Sesame Street” as a preschooler, the better grades they got in high school in English, math and science,” Anderson said.

     

     Parents take notice of the educational quality technology can have.  Dawn Kennedy, a resident of Leverett, Mass., has found that watching television and playing on the iPad has helped her 22-month-old daughter Anika learn to speak clearly.

     

     “Anika’s clearest vocabulary is words that she’s learned from apps or TV,” Kennedy said.

     

     In fact, Kennedy said her daughter’s most-clearly pronounced word is “map,” which she learned from watching “Dora the Explorer.”  Kennedy believes this may be because even though she spends a lot of time having conversations with her child, she isn’t saying the same words repetitively as is often the case in children’s television shows, so Anika doesn’t learn the words as quickly.

     

     Sue Kelly, coordinator at the Amherst Family Center in Amherst, Mass., agrees that technology “could definitely be an educational tool,” but that socializing is equally, if not more important.  For this reason, she doesn’t use any technology at AFC.

     

     “They need to practice being with each other, not being with a mouse,” Kelly said.

    

     As it is, the effects of technology on children aren’t entirely positive.  Anderson recognizes limitations, saying that “there’s plenty of junk on television and in the digital media,” that can harmfully affect children, such as violent programming that can cause children to act more aggressively and impulsively.

    

     In fact, the study of the 560 “Sesame Street” viewers demonstrated some of the effects of viewing television violence at a young age, as the researchers had very detailed information about the children’s television viewing habits.

    

     “The more they watched action and violent programming, the worse they did in high school,” Anderson said.  “This effect was particularly true for girls.”

    

     Furthermore, Anderson explained that the content of commercials is key in triggering unhealthy behavior.

    

     “Spending too much time watching television, because it’s inherently sedentary can be bad for kids’ health, but also the food advertising on television really tilts heavily towards foods that aren’t very healthy, so it can contribute to obesity and other health problems,” he said.

    

     Because of the often sexual content of media, Anderson said that some advertisements encourage premature sexuality.  Still other ads, which focus on alcohol and tobacco, encourage kids to experiment at much earlier ages.

     

     The content of advertisements is one of the reasons why Cameron Carey and his wife Sarah of Hadley, Mass., don’t allow their four-year-old son Devin to watch any television at all.  Carey said he doesn’t want Devin to hear bad language or watch adult-level content, whether it’s from an advertisement or a television show.

     

     “He picks up bad language or bad behavior if he happens to see something in a cartoon,” Carey said.

    

     When Devin was allowed to watch television, Carey said he saw his son try to duplicate in real life what he had watched on television.  Even the violence of older cartoons, that can seem innocent to adults, like hitting someone on the head with a frying pan, can have a negative impact on children’s behavior, Carey said.

    

     Nonetheless, in today’s high-tech world of touch screen devices, television isn’t the only form of media affecting children.  Anderson is continuously broadening his area of study to include newer technologies.  However, he said that the health risks are the same as with watching television, since for the most part interactive media remains sedentary and advertising is still prominent.

      

     Yet because technology such as tablets and other touch screen devices are still so new, their long-term effects on children are not fully understood since in-depth studies can take years to complete.  Anderson said he’s currently working with another faculty member and one of his graduate students to develop a proposal to study the effects of touch screen devices.

     

     All the same, Anderson spoke of one of his former students, now a professor at the University of Wisconsin, who is just finishing up an essay about her studies of children and touch screen devices.

     

     “She’s basically found that babies learn more from touch screen media than they do from TV,” he said.  He explained that this could be because touch screen media is far more interactive than television, allowing children to learn certain mental skills that are not fostered by television.

     

     As a recommendation, Anderson cites the advice of the American Academy of Pediatrics: no screen time should be allowed before the age of two, then from the ages of two to five about one hour of screen time a day can be permitted, and after the child is older than five, two hours a day is acceptable.

     

     Local parents like Phoebe Hazzard are setting limits on screen time that coincide with Anderson’s recommendation.  Hazzard says her five-year-old daughter Stella and her three-year-old son Sidney are only allowed 30 to 60 minutes with all forms of technology each day.  They often watch a show on PBS in the afternoon and are given some time before bed to watch a YouTube clip or play on a drawing app called Doodle Buddy.

     

     Hazzard has found that allowing her children to use technology too much can negatively affect them because she said it has “a very addictive quality.”  When Stella was younger, Hazard allowed her to use the tablet for short periods four times a day.  Her daughter began to ask to use the tablet so frequently that she minimized her screen time.

     

     Hazzard also commented on how absorbed her children become when they’re given the tablet.

     

     “They’re totally sucked in.  You can’t even talk to them,” she said.

     

     Carey noticed this addictive quality of touch screen devices with his son.  Carey said he used to allow Devin to play a language-learning game on the Kindle where he could match pictures to Spanish words, but Devin started to become overly involved with the game.

    

     “He quickly became demanding.  Almost like an addict,” Carey said.

    

     Because of Devin’s behavior, he hasn’t been allowed to play the game in a year.  Instead, he is allowed to watch YouTube videos for 20 to 30 minutes a day, which his parents choose for him.  Even then, Carey said it is necessary to give his son several warnings before taking the tablet away or he will push to watch more.

     

     Though there are parents like Carey who are highly restrictive concerning their children’s media use, Anderson has noticed that parents often seem proud of their children for their savviness with technology.

     

     “It is funny that parents take great delight in their babies’ media use,” Anderson said.  “When babies really pay attention or get excited by something they see on the screen, parents get extremely interested in that.”

    

     Carey would argue that he’s not proud, but impressed by Devin’s versatility.

     

     “I am very impressed and surprised at how quickly children can adapt to what’s going on on the screen,” he said.

     

     This feeling of bewilderment is a common theme among parents, Kennedy included, who said she’s “so amazed” that Anika can turn on the tablet and find her apps at 22-months-old.

     

     Elianis Gautier of Amherst said her two sons, four-year-old Boqian and two-year-old Kendrick are very adept with their children’s tablet, which allows for more parental blocks and is more durable than an adult tablet.

     

     “They’re really fast learners with technology,” Gautier said.  “I’m slow, but you give them an iPhone, they know how to use it.  You give them a tablet, they know how to use it.”

    

     Gautier also puts restrictions on her children’s media use, limiting it to an hour a day, although she admits she sometimes lets them go over the time limit.  For many parents, if they need to keep their children occupied or need a break from watching them, they allow them to use technology longer than usual.

    

     For example, Kennedy limits Anika’s media use to an hour a day, like Gautier, but says that if they’re on a road trip, the tablet is used to keep them occupied.

     

     Carey also said his son’s tablet use is often “purpose-oriented.”  The tablet is used to keep Devin quiet and immersed long enough to let his younger brother, Cameron Jr., fall asleep.

     

     Surprisingly, Kelly believes that this use of technology to keep children distracted can actually be a good thing.

     

     “There’s not a way to get a break and when a parent gets a break, they’re a better parent,” Kelly said.

     

     However, Anderson argues that there can be negative effects to utilizing technology as a distraction, even though it gives parents some time for themselves.

     

     “In two studies now, we’ve found that when kids are with their parents and there’s a TV going on, the parents’ behavior is really affected and it’s affected negatively as parents are less caregiving and less responsive to their kids,” Anderson said.

    

     In fact, Anderson found in his studies that when children are occupied with technology, parents talk less with them, with an average reduction of 315,000 words a year.  He cautions against parents getting too distracted themselves and not spending enough time talking with their children.

     

     Overall, Anderson thinks it’s necessary for children to have well-balanced lifestyles where screen time, creative play with toys and traditional education, particularly reading, can all play their roles in positively developing cognitive functioning.

By Shelby Ashline

UMass Western Equestrian Team Feature

     University of Massachusetts junior Neha Deshpande, a member of the Western Equestrian Team, circled the indoor arena at the Hadley Farm Equine Center on a recent afternoon atop a gleaming chestnut-colored horse named Chico. 

     

     Underneath her black cowboy hat, her expression was serious: if she placed first or second in her advanced-level class at the regional qualifying show, she would move on to the semi-finals.

     

     She directed her mount around the outside of the ring in both directions and at three different speeds, cued by the announcer, whose instructions bellowed out over the loudspeaker.

     

     Thus far, the regional qualifying show, held on March 15, had been no different than the several other shows Deshpande had competed in throughout the semester across Massachusetts and Connecticut.  Members of the Western Equestrian Team compete in only one class per show where they are judged on their form and their ability to control their horses.  They always wear the same entirely black outfits, with the exception of burgundy silk scarves around their necks, with the goal of looking uniform.

     

     But the regional qualifying show would offer a rather unfamiliar challenge to the competitors.  After having circled the arena, the riders lined up at the end, near the crowd of spectators – friends, family members, teammates and coaches – that stood on the sidelines, and one by one, rode through a pattern.

     

     Consisting of a series of circles, figure eights and sudden turns, the patterns are made clear to the competitors at the start of the show.  Each rider receives a paper with the pattern on it, although the difficulty of the pattern depends on the level the rider is competing at.  Large orange cones mark transition points, where the riders must cue their horses to change speed or direction.

     

     Every competitor is expected to memorize their pattern.  Some of the riders are so serious, that they can be seen before the start of their class practicing the pattern on foot in the parking lot, using cones that are just a few inches tall.

     

     Deshpande had done just that, minus the cones, and she skillfully directed Chico through the series of twists and turns.  Then she waited anxiously to hear the judge’s decision.

     

     Finally, the anticipation broke and the final placing was announced.  Cheers from Deshpande’s coach and teammates echoed around the arena when they heard that she had placed second and would move on to the semi-finals on March 28-30 at the University of Findlay in Findlay, Ohio.

    

     Deshpande was one of three UMass riders who qualified for the semi-finals, along with open-level rider Emily Messing and novice-level rider Alissa Baldarelli.

     

     This semester, the team’s roster includes 17 people: two men and 15 women.  The majority of the group participated in local shows, and whether first or last place, whether at a home show or regionals, the UMass Western Equestrian Team supports all of its members.  It provides them with an environment conducive to improving their riding ability where they not only have the opportunity to ride many different horses on a regular basis, but can find encouragement and helpful advice from their teammates and coach.

     

     Deshpande, who started riding when she was eight-years-old and has been a UMWET member since her freshman year, appreciates the opportunities being on the team has given her.  In particular, she likes being able “to ride a variety of different horses, which really helps your overall horsemanship.”

     

     The horse that a given rider will use each practice is a mystery to them.  Coach Michele Carver, a slim 37-year-old woman who rarely stands still and typically sports a baseball cap, selects mounts for each person based on the rider’s experience and whether or not they have ridden the given horse before.  Because mounts are picked randomly at the shows, the riders must be prepared to handle any kind of horse, whether energetic or lazy, and cannot grow accustomed to regularly riding the same horses.

     

     Sophomore Katie Flanagan, an animal science major from Wellfleet, Mass. agrees with Deshpande.

    

     “I like riding a variety of different horses because it helps you improve as a rider,” Flanagan said.   “Also, showing on a horse you have never ridden is a great way to test your ability.”

    

     Flanagan said she learned about the team when considering which college to attend.  While on a tour for animal science at UMass, a now former member told her about the Western Equestrian Team.  UMass was the only university of the ones she was considering attending that had such a team.

    

     Like Deshpande, Flanagan is a longtime horse enthusiast.  Because her mother had always had horses, Flanagan started riding when she was three-years-old.  She now has a golden brown mare named Daisy, which she keeps at home in Wellfleet.

     

     Junior Maylin Crouss, a hospitality and tourism management major from Pelham, Mass., said she wanted to join the team because she was a member of 4H when she was younger and used to love competing with the 4H team in horse shows.

    

     “I also am always looking for new techniques to use with my own horses,” Crouss added.

    

     Senior Caroline Eng, an animal science major from Westhampton, N.Y., said she only heard about the team last year from a friend who was a member.  She was interested in joining because she was familiar with riding but missed having the opportunity to ride during the school year.  She explained that riding is one of the ways she’s able to stay active.

    

     Eng also commented on the team’s spirit, adding that she loves “how nice and easy going everybody is and how everyone helps each other out.”  This helpfulness can take many forms, whether it be giving each other pointers on how to handle a horse or doing each other’s hair in preparation for a show.

     

      The shows, at all levels, are organized through the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association.  According to the IHSA website, www.ihsainc.com, almost 400 colleges throughout the United States and Canada are IHSA members, sending more than 9,000 riders to competitions.

     

     The UMass Western Equestrian Team regularly competes against Mount Holyoke College out of South Hadley, Mass., Sacred Heart University out of Fairfield, Conn. and the University of Connecticut out of Mansfield, Conn.  The schools are qualified under IHSA as competing in Region 1.5, Zone 3, according to UMWET President Emily Messing.

     

     There are six divisions at which riders can compete, ranging in difficulty: beginner, intermediate, novice, advanced, open and open reining.

     

     To prepare for shows, UMWET practices once a week in groups of five or six under Coach Carver.  Two groups ride Tuesday evening and a third group rides Friday afternoons.

     

     Practice is held at the Hadley Farm in two hour intervals.  However because the riders must groom and tack up their horses before practice, they only spend about an hour to an hour and a half of that time riding.

     

     Members of UMWET are also required to travel to Carver’s personal stable in Broad Brook, Conn. once a month for a private lesson.

     

     The Hadley Farm also is the home of two other riding teams: the UMass Equestrian Team and the UMass Dressage Team.  They ride and show separately from the UMWET because they specialize in different disciplines.

     

     Whereas UMWET uses Western equipment, like what is used on the horses in old Western films featuring cowboys like John Wayne, the other two teams use English equipment which is usually lighter and less bulky.

     

     When the Equestrian Team shows, they participate in classes similar to that of the Western Equestrian Team, where they are judged on their form and their ability to handle the horses.  However, the style of their disciple calls for them to encourage their horses to go slightly faster at each gait and they must position themselves differently in the saddle.  The riders on the Equestrian Team also guide their horses over jumps.

     

     The Dressage Team guides their mounts through intricate patterns, which they must have memorized, using large black letters located on the sides of the arena to pinpoint exactly where in the arena they should be.  Each member on the team rides separately in front of the judge, saluting him or her before and after their ride, which lasts about three to four minutes.

     

     Although the three teams practice different riding styles, they frequently help each other out.  When one team hosts a home show at the Hadley Farm, members of the other two teams will volunteer to help clean the barn or hold horses at ringside throughout the day.

    

     Because the upkeep of horses is costly, Hadley Farm requires that each member of UMWET pay $200 at the start of each semester to help fund the facility. 

    

     In addition, Carver receives $25 per lesson from each member in exchange for her instruction.  This $25 fee carries over to horse shows as well, where Carver advises her students from the sidelines.  A $36 entrance fee is required from each competitor in order for them to participate in a show.

     

     On an organizational level, UMWET functions similarly to many other campus teams and clubs with a president/captain, a vice-president/co-captain, a treasurer and a secretary.  This year, Deshpande holds the position of secretary and Messing, a senior, is president.  Senior Katie Rinaldi is vice-president and senior Alex Raftopoulos is treasurer.

    

     According to the team officers, there is a possibility that the team will relocate from the Hadley Farm in the upcoming semester. 

     

     Such a change wouldn’t be new to UMWET.  Founded in 2008, UMWET originally practiced at the Crimson Acres Equestrian Center in Orange, Mass.  In 2011, they made the transition to the Hadley Farm, according to Messing.

     

     The team will most likely begin holding all of their practice sessions at Carver’s facility.  Though it is a lengthy drive from campus, it would save the team money compared to practicing at the Hadley Farm.

     

     After this semester, five senior team members will graduate, leaving several open positions.  According to Deshpande, who has already been voted in as next year’s president, anyone who is interested in trying out for the team should like the UMass Western Equestrian Team page on Facebook.  Deshpande says information about tryouts will be posted on the page early next semester.

By Shelby Ashline