The Flat Hat, August 21, 2015

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The Flat Hat |Friday, August 21, 2015 | Page 2

THE BUZZ

I was not a party animal. But it was kind of hard to be a party animal.

We were all boys. There were pretty strict rules as to when girls could be in the dorms. But some guys were party animals.

— College President Taylor Reveley on his undergraduate experience at Princeton

Now it’s easier than ever to stay upto-date on all on-campus news.

Meet President Reveley President talks freshman year, ghosts, small white dogs

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Page 2 Spotlight College of William and Mary President Taylor Reveley said that he was the type of person to read every book on the syllabus when he was an undergraduate at Princeton University.

“I was not a party animal. But it was kind of hard to be a party animal,” Reveley said. “We were all boys. There were pretty strict rules as to when girls could be in the dorms. But some guys were party animals.”

After overcoming a brief, intense bout of homesickness upon first arriving at the Ivy League school, Reveley said he threw himself into his studies and several extracurricular activities. He joined a service group that organized visits to a local reformatory, rowed on the lightweight crew team freshman and sophomore year, and eventually earned Phi Beta Kappa status.

As a student, he said he most enjoyed history and political science classes. Reveley praised Princeton’s liberal arts approach, which required that he take courses in music and art history.

“All of a sudden, you see how much else is there in the world that you’d never really even begun to wrap your brain around,” Reveley said.

Not all of his classes went so well. As a longtime Latin student, Reveley felt that learning to speak, write and understand French would be wonderful. However, he struggled with the language and did not get along with the professor.

“He found my accent absolutely appalling,” Reveley said. “It grated on his fine Parisian ears.”

Reveley said he worked hard to overcome his difficulties in learning French. In the end, it didn’t even matter. He still received a terrible grade.

“I had never gotten a bad grade on anything in my life,” Reveley said. “I didn’t get bad grades.

And it wasn’t for lack of effort. I was trying hard but I just didn’t do very well, initially. “ Reveley noted that most incoming students at the College of William and Mary maintained excellent grades in high school. He advised that students should not expect to constantly succeed in an academically rigorous environment like the College and should be prepared to cope with stress, as mental health and wellbeing is ultimately more important than grades.

“Every now and then give yourself permission to take a break,” Reveley said.

“Which may just mean sitting on a bench and admiring the beautiful campus, or taking a walk, or taking a nap, or reading a book for the sheer pleasure of it. It’s okay to do that, even if your peers all seem to be running around doing something else. Give yourself permission to take a break.”

Aside from his struggles with French, Reveley said the low point in his college experience came while working as a student waiter freshman year. The dining halls operated like all-you-can-eat restaurants, with student waiters serving groups of ten or so classmates seated at large, oak tables.

According to Reveley, the quicker waiters could clear tables, the sooner they could leave.

Because the lake where his team rowed was far away from the campus dining facilities, Reveley couldn’t reach it in time to serve during normal hours.

“All I could do was get there in time to serve the freshman football players who had just finished practice and were as hungry as wolves,” Reveley said. “Of course, my reaction to that

AINE CAIN // FLAT HAT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF was, ‘What on Earth is going on here?’ I’ve been involved in just as demanding a sport as they, I’ve walked all the way back from the lake and now I’ve got to feed these jackasses while I wait to eat? So I wasn’t … wildly cheerful about it.”

The breaking point came one day when he carried a tray of pork chops, green peas, gravy and mashed potatoes over to the table of football players.

“And as I’m coming in for a landing with this tray actually stuffed with food, I slipped and ended up with pork chops all over the floor, green peas all over the floor — I don’t know where the potatoes went,” Reveley said.

“Gravy had run into my shoes. It was not a good scene. So I picked the pork chops back up off the floor put them on the plate and said, ‘Here.’ … They ate the pork chops. I didn’t give them much alternative … They snarled a little bit. I wasn’t in a receptive mood.”

He did replace the green peas and gravy.

“I must have preserved the mashed potatoes because I don’t have any memory about that,” Reveley said. “But here you are with your peers, fellow freshmen, football players, and you’ve just gone down with this tray. You got gravy in your shoes … That was probably the low point.”

Reveley only stayed on as a student waiter for one year. Later on, he became a research assistant for a politics professor, a job he said he enjoyed.

His father, Walter Taylor Reveley II, was

that’s where you’d be when they carted you away,” Reveley said. “That is not the expectation now at all … A change in incarnation every now and then is invigorating.”

This charge in incarnation came for Reveley when he became dean of the Marshall-Wythe School of Law in 1998. Ten years later, the College became embroiled in the Wren Cross controversy, which resulted in the resignation of College President Gene Nichols. Reveley was then appointed interim president, but continued to teach law courses.

“Teaching is an enormous amount of fun and intellectual stimulation, if you prepare, so you really feel like you’re going in and engaging the students effectively and delivering a lot of useful lore to them,” Reveley said. “Then it’s great. But if you’re running around like a headless chicken being president with an unpredictable schedule, then it’s just not good.”

Reveley advised students to learn from his mistake and avoid getting involved in too much too soon.

“Give yourself the opportunity to get used to your roommate, to find food, to know where your classes are, and get a handle on what’s expected from college classes,” Reveley said. “Begin to get a feel for extra curricular activities, but don’t feel like you’ve got to join ten to twenty of them. Just give yourself a chance to adjust and learn the feeding habits

COURTESY PHOTO / WM.EDU College of William and Mary President Taylor Reveley became the College’s 27th in the wake of the Wren Cross controversy.

president of Hampden-Sydney College from 1963 to 1977, but he hadn’t considered a career in education. However, his first year out of the University of Virginia School of Law — where, he asserted, he did not read everything on the syllabus — Reveley took a job as an assistant professor of law at the University of Alabama Law School. The next year, he clerked for Supreme Court Justice William Brennan. U.Va. subsequently offered him another teaching job, but, eventually, Reveley decided that he needed to get more experience in the field of law before he could continue teaching.

He then joined Hunton & Williams, a Richmond law firm where he remained for 28 years.

Reveley said that his ideal career path would have taken the form of a recurring cycle — three years working in a large, sophisticated law firm, three years working in a senior government position, and three years of teaching and writing. Government was the only thing he missed out on, aside from his brief stint clerking for Justice Brennan.

Reveley noted the current generation of college students will likely tackle a number of different roles throughout their professional careers.

“The expectation when I got out of school was, you get a job … and if that went well then

CITY POLICE BEAT

of William and Mary. Give yourself a chance.”

The Board of Visitors officially appointed Reveley as the College’s 27th president on Sept.

5, 2008. He is currently in the process of sitting for a portrait that will hang in the President’s Gallery in the Sir Christopher Wren Building one day. He said that the long portrait process makes him feel silly.

Reveley said that he finds other perks of the College president’s office more appealing, like getting to live in the President’s House.

The Georgian building has housed all of the school’s presidents except Robert Saunders, a 19th century College alumnus who served as president from 1846 to 1848 and apparently preferred his house on the Palace Green. Reveley described the President’s House as elegant and beautifully furnished, yet comfortable.

“When no one else is there, you can put your feet wherever you want to put your feet,” Reveley said. “The furniture doesn’t squeal on you.”

However, according to Reveley, he and his wife Helen might not be entirely alone in the house.

“You always have to be careful when people visit the President’s House that they sign the guest book, because the ghosts definitely want to know who’s been in the house,” Reveley see REVELEY page 4

Aug. 15 1

Wednesday, Aug. 15— An individual was arrested for a charge of assault and battery on N. Boundary Street.

2

Wednesday, Aug. 15 — An individual was arrested on a charge of assault and battery on N. Boundary Street.

3

Wednesday, Aug. 15 — An individual was declared dead on arrival on Christopher Wren Drive.

4

Wednesday, Aug. 15— An individual was arrested on a charge of threats to bomb a building on Merrimac Trail.

Page 4

The Flat Hat

Friday, August 21, 2015

CAMPUS

College to install solar charging stations on campus Sustainability project will allow College students to charge electronics at Sadler ALLISON ROHRER THE FLAT HAT

The College of William and Mary is installing a solar electronics charging station on the Sadler Center Terrace funded by the College’s Committee on Sustainability.

The Committee on Sustainability awarded a total of $80,850 for its 2015 Green Fee Awards. The awards were developed by students in 2008 to fund projects that increase sustainability on campus.

The committee chooses projects based on their feasibility and their ability to reduce energy costs, as well as the College’s carbon footprint according to Chair of the Committee on Sustainability Calandra Waters-Lake.

The station will be similar to the current picnic tables, but instead made out of recycled plastic with four solar panels located on top of the umbrellas.

The umbrella pole will provide two electrical outlets with 110 volt plugs, four USB connections and LED to allow use of the table at night.

“Although the charging stations will not produce any large amount of power, sometimes it’s about

what power can be produced in the minds of students who are inspired by this sort of project, and that’s the kind of power that can really make a difference in the world,” Waters-Lake said in an email.

The committee takes proposals from both students and faculty.

Director of the Keck Environmental Lab Randy Chambers submitted the project proposal last spring and was awarded $7,500 for the solar charging stations idea.

“The notion of charging stations was creative, eye catching and educational in the sense of introducing photovoltaics to the general campus crowd of students, faculty and staff,” Chambers stated via email. “If [students] end up using the solar charging stations someday, perhaps they will be interested in the use of solar energy on other projects. In turn, perhaps the college will be more receptive to large-scale photovoltaic projects.”

Ben Olinger ’16, co-facilitator of the Student Environmental Action Committee, said many in the group believe this is a good idea.

“Most people are excited about it and see it as

a small step in the right direction,” Olinger said via email.

The charging station is expected to be installed during the fall 2015 semester.

Although there are no plans to purchase additional charging stations or solar panels, Waters-Lake said there is a study under way to determine if certain campus buildings are exposed to enough light to make installing solar panels sensible.

According to Chambers, there is an opportunity to generate electricity with solar panels at the College, but these projects are currently considered too expensive.

“Promoting solar panels for electricity is just one piece of the bigger puzzle of reducing our demand for electricity from fossil fuels. The great thing about COS is that students/faculty/staff are encouraged to figure out ways to keep William and Mary sustainable for another 322 years,” Chambers said.

Flat Hat News Editor Amanda Williams contributed to this article.

COURTESY PHOTO / WM.EDU

The artist’s rendering shows how the charging stations may appear.

Students contribute to former judo instructor’s fundraiser

Faculty, students reflect on Horvath’s devotion to College students after lung cancer diagnosis JUDO from page 1

that the two got to know each other best after Horvath was diagnosed with cancer, because they had to discuss how his sickness would affect his teaching abilities.

Deschenes said that Horvath was determined to continue teaching despite his health setbacks, and he was able to make it through the entire fall semester before his cancer forced him

to stop.

“He was stubborn to the end,” Deschenes said. “It’s a real travesty. It’s rough to see.”

Horvath persevered with his classes, even as his illness worsened.

Deschenes recalled that the two met at the end of fall semester to discuss his teaching future.

His cancer had started to visibly affect him; Deschenes remembered how getting up the stairs for their

meeting was a difficult feat for him.

Horvath had been using the prospect of teaching in the spring to incentivize him to continue with his work.

However, during their late fall meeting, Deschenes stated that Horvath’s health had gotten too bad to allow for this possibility.

Due to his failing health, Horvath had to miss the spring semester of 2015. However, he told Deschenes to keep his courses on the schedule for

COURTESY PHOTO /GOFUNDME PAGE Horvath’s students at the College of William and Mary discussed how their judo instructor taught them about self-defense and life lessons.

the fall semester of 2015. Last spring, Horvath called Deschenes to tell him his cancer had worsened and that he could no longer teach in the fall of 2015. Deschenes stated that it has been difficult to see his colleague struggle, and that he admired Horvath’s desire to teach self-defense.

On the fundraising page, students have contributed donations and posted notes offering support to their professor. While Deschenes

acknowledged that this movement spoke to the cohesiveness of the student body, he said that Horvath’s devotion to his students was remarkable.

“The take home message is the way he was dedicated to his students,” Deschenes said. “He really, really enjoyed teaching these courses. He always felt that it was something students needed to learn. He was really dedicated to the idea that these students should protected.”

COURTESY PHOTO /GOFUNDME PAGE College students, faculty and Horvath’s loved ones contributed to his online fundraiser to pay for his stage four lung cancer treatment.

Reveley reveals favorite College traditions REVELEY from page 2

said. “As long as they know who’s in the house, they’re at peace. If they don’t know who’s in the house, they get very restive, so you sign the book. “ Three ghosts are said to haunt the President’s House. Reveley said he finds the legend of the French soldier most plausible, as the French army did occupy — and accidentally burn down — the house after the Battle of Yorktown. The two other alleged phantoms are said to be a vaguely unhappy maiden and a skeleton with an unusual resting place — a story Reveley said he finds unlikely.

“After they had shuffled off their mortal coil, after they were as dead as a doornail, and their bones had time to dry, that person’s bones were interred in the wall of the third floor [of the President’s House], to which I said, ‘Oh, come on,’” Reveley said.

The Reveley household used to be more crowded, with four children, several springer spaniels and some cats. The children have moved away — today, Taylor Reveley IV serves as president of Longwood University — and the only pet left is Lillie, a Coton de Tulear who Reveley refers to only as the “little white dog.”

Coton de Tulears are somewhat rare and were first bred to sail on ships as ratters. Lillie was born in Spain and taken to Washington D.C. then later Seattle. There, the Reveleys’ neighbors in Richmond purchased her. They brought the small white dog back to the East Coast, where they hoped she would take to their new boat.

According to Reveley, becoming separated from her mother as a young puppy and being constantly confined in a traveling bag left Lillie somewhat “psychotic”. The small white dog’s new owners found that she hated being at sea and offered her to the Reveleys.

“Even though I said, when they offered the dog to our daughter, ‘No, no a thousand times no, we already have four children and three domestic animals, we don’t

need another mouth to feed’… Of course, we got this dog,” Reveley said. “And we’ve had it now for twelve years. At one point I was reasonably sure she’d outlive me but I don’t think so anymore.”

This year, Reveley said he is looking forward to Convocation, when new students march through the Sir Christopher Wren Building. It is part of his favorite College tradition, which sees those same students reverse their path upon graduation.

He said that he hopes students will leave the College with the ability to think rigorously, a breadth of perspective, and an interest in lifelong learning.

“But I also hope people have made at least a few friends for life,” Reveley said. “People who they really want to stick with for the rest of their lives, who will stick with them. And that they have developed a genuine love of William and Mary itself. And if all that happens, then it’s a whole lot.”

opinions

Opinions Editor Annie Sadler fhopinions@gmail.com // @theflathat

The Flat Hat | Friday, August 21, 2015 | Page 5

STAFF EDITORIAL

Thriving in the Tribe

BY MADDY KING / THE FLAT HAT

GUEST COLUMN

Registration: college’s Hunger Games Lexi Godfrey

FLAT HAT GUEST COLUMNIST

When I was in your place, exactly one year ago, I thought I was special. I thought that I was the certain exception to all of the nervous buzz and stress about registration. I was sure that it was going to be a breeze, and I was going to get all of the classes I wanted without any trouble whatsoever. I remember smiling smugly to myself as I color coded my new schedule, looking up my professors’ reviews, and chattering excitedly with my roommate about my awesome course list for the semester.

Fast forward to seven in the morning the next day, and I was shrieking in frustration, calling out to every god in existence for a miracle, suffering the end of the world alone and panicking in my twin XL bed. What I’m trying to tell you is that while you are not special (I’m sorry, don’t shoot the messenger), you can make your life a little easier.

The first place you want to start is the Open Course list, which you can find at courselist. wm.edu/courselist. You’ll want to select the Fall 2015 term and the open status. Then you can search for courses based on their attribute (the GER or course type), level and/or subject.

Whatever you’re looking for, I’ve found that this outlet is the easiest to maneuver and understand.

Also, please trust me when I say that you are going to want to pick several classes that could fit your schedule.

Whether it be according to times or subjects, you are going to want many options for when the inevitable occurs and your first choice gets filled. It sounds time consuming and obnoxious, which it is, but you will thank yourself when you have a backup plan that doesn’t include you ending up in a random freshman seminar like Caribbean Literature (that’s an article for another time).

Another helpful site for finding courses with more detailed entries

is on Banner. If you log into your Banner account, go to the Student tab, then the Registration tab, and then Class Schedule, you can do a more thorough search for courses. And once you find something that piques your interest, you can “view the catalog entry” to find out who teaches the course, where it meets, and other useful information.

When you finally get all of your class research organized, playing with different schedule options is always a good idea. You never know what classes will fill up faster than others, so creating a few different choices can diminish the possibility of a living nightmare. Banner never allows you to enlist in courses that have overlapping times, even if you just want a placeholder in one course. It’s a hellish game of enlisting in one class and removing another to make sure everything lines up correctly, but you end up figuring it out in the end.

I never paid much attention to the professors teaching the courses while I was choosing, but a lot of people really value a respected professor over someone with a less than favorable reputation. One way to check that out is to visit ratemyprofessor.com and look up the professor teaching the course for honest reviews by previous students.

They even have a hotness scale which was of more interest to me than anything else.

Whether this is something you want to pay attention to is completely up to you, but know that it is not mandatory if you are running short on time.

After you have everything properly researched and formulated and you have met with your advisor, the dreaded day comes where you have to wake up before the early bird and participate in an academic Hunger Games.

It’s stressful and fast, but it’s over in about 2-3 minutes, like a roller coaster of death. Banner is not very reliable and is notorious for crashing, so if that happens to you, take a deep breath, scream into your pillow, and wait. Just take comfort in the fact that someone is suffering the same pain as you somewhere across campus (you may be able to hear their cries), and calmly keep trying to register.

If you don’t get the classes you want, you can always e-mail the professor for an override request or show up for the first day of class to show that you’re really dedicated to getting in.

And if you are lucky enough to get every single one of your first choices, please for the love of God, do not say a word, for your own personal safety. Good luck and happy hunting. You can do this.

Email Lexi Godfrey at algodfrey@email.wm.edu.

“

It’s a hellish game of enlisting in one class and removing another to make sure everything lines up correctly, but you end up figuring it out in the end.

It’s official, you’ve made it to the beautiful College of William and Mary. Upon your arrival to this wonderfully humid campus, we thought it fitting to congratulate you on your admission with a short but relevant list of declassified college survival tips.

The first and by far most important thing you need to do is think up a sweet adjective to pair with your name for the aggressive amount of icebreakers you will encounter throughout orientation.

As you will learn during your time here, this adjective has the power to define your college nickname for the rest of the year. If you want to play it safe, we recommend choosing something generic and generally positive, like “awesome,” “nice,” or “great.”

If you want to be the immortal god of all freshman nicknames, go with something obscure and/or weird (we recommend any part of speech that isn’t an adjective).

While you sit in a lima bean-shaped circle of awkward icebreakers, understand that you won’t have a Cinderella moment where your whole life comes together just because you’ve arrived on campus. You might feel awkward and out of place for a little while, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Chances are most of your hallmates feel the same way, and, once you accept that you won’t feel immediately situated, you will all start to connect in a more honest way.

In addition to feeling out of place, feeling stupid in comparison to everyone else is going to crop up every once in a while. You’re here, so it’s obvious that you’re not actually stupid. Some kids’ hobbies just happen to include classic Greek tragedies, and it’s okay if you feel totally lost the second you engage them in conversation. Be humbled by the vast amount of knowledge around you, and focus on honing your personal skills in subjects that are important to you.

A big part of college is self-discovery, and the nice thing about that is that no one has time to care about what everyone else is doing. We’re not in the middle school cafeteria anymore, so trust us when we tell you that no one is watching your every move. You can let go of the idea that you have to be on your toes lest there be a rumor about you. That being said, don’t be a jerk who gets into arguments on the Overheard at William and Mary page — that’s the sort of thing people will probably judge you for.

For fear of beating a dead horse about living with a roommate, we will keep this simple: Be direct, but be reasonable. If your roommate has a new sexual conquest every night that’s preventing you from sleeping or simply uses all the paper towels without buying new ones, be direct about your problem or else it will drag on. But if your roommate cracks their knuckles one too many times for you, realize you have to live with it and move on.

We can’t stress enough that you need to take responsibility for your health. Believe it or not, you cannot survive on Natty Light, cereal and all-nighters.

Your body will hate you. Your mental health is an even more delicate balance to maintain, and it trumps nearly everything. Going to class will not always be the most important thing, especially if you’re so out of it that you can’t pay attention or participate. Take the time to check in with yourself. Being healthy matters more than a grade.

Finally, accept the fact that things will go wrong and you will make questionable choices — it’s part of the experience. How you handle your mistakes is more important than the fact that you make them. In time, embarrassment will yield to a quirky anecdote, another part of how your time here has made you who you are.

The staff editorial represents the opinion of The Flat Hat. The editorial board, which is elected by The Flat Hat’s section editors and executive staff, consists of Madeline Bielski, Áine Cain, Emily Chaumont, Kaitlan Connor and Isabel Larroca. The Flat Hat welcomes submissions to the Opinions section. Limit letters to 250 words and columns to 650 words. Letters, columns, graphics and cartoons reflect the view of the author only. Email submissions to fhopinions@gmail.com.

The importance of not forcing freshman hall friendships Matt Camarda FLAT HAT BLOGS EDITOR

If you are at all like I was during your first week of college, you probably feel anxious about meeting so many people so quickly during orientation — particularly your hallmates. Right now, they’re complete strangers with different views, habits and temperaments. But be open and kind to them, and you’ll go a long way toward building a home for yourself.

The first week will be awkward, and that’s okay. Most of your hallmates aren’t used to being away from home, and nobody knows what version of themselves they should present. Remember you are all new and desperate to make a group

friends, and that can influence actions. You’ll likely witness some of your hallmates saying and doing incredibly stupid things. Resist the urge to judge them too quickly.

Once the frenzy of orientation ends, take the time to get to know your hallmates. Get dinner with them; go to sporting events with them (yes, the College does have sports teams). Sometimes, the best way to socialize with your hall is to bring your work into the lounge and chat with whoever is there. Similarly, leave your door open as often as possible; when your neighbors walk by, say hello.

Letting others see you, if only for a little while, is essential to building trust with your hallmates and getting to know them overall.

But don’t feel pressured to do everything your hall is doing. If everyone is going to a frat party, and you want to spend the night in, do that. At the same time, don’t just burrow into your room; those nights when your hall is seemingly empty are ripe with opportunity. Explore your building and you may find pajama clad students watching Wes Anderson films, playing Super Smash Bros. and Mario Kart or talking politics and philosophy.

Passing by open doors can lead to unexpected conversations — even lasting friendships.

As your orientation aides will tell you, your freshman hall will be a tightly knit community, more so than any of your future halls. However, that doesn’t mean you have to be friends with everyone in your hall, or that you need to like everyone. You probably won’t. Everyone will start to show their true colors after the first few weeks, and that will give you a clear idea of who could be your next best friend or the person you only see on your way to your room. Let friendships develop naturally and don’t try to force anything. Above all, be honest and treat your neighbors with respect; it’s the way you would want them to treat you.

At its best, your freshman hall can be an effective support system — in the beginning as clueless, frantic and enthusiastic peers — and later as experienced college students with many of the same aspirations and woes. For many, the comfort and safety that hallmates provide is indispensable.

It’s important to acknowledge that some freshmen don’t connect with their hallmates through no fault of their own. For those students,

it’s worth it to seek friends elsewhere in your building, if it’s big enough; having friends nearby, even in other halls, can help fight off homesickness and enrich your college life.

That said, during the first month of freshman year, you’ll probably feel limited to the people in close proximity to you. Whether or not you fall in love with your hall, remember that most people at the College are not in your dorm. If I can offer one piece of advice, it’s to branch out; find people who share your interests and care about the things you care about. Give yourself space to find a niche outside your hall, be it with a student publication, Greek organization, club or a political or religious group.

The relationships you build at the College will define your time here, but freshman hallmates can be great friends – whether you keep them for only this year or continue to stay connected with them throughout your life. Smile and be enthusiastic; having a friend just a door away is worth more than you think.

Email Matt Camarda at mjcamarda@email. wm.edu.

Friday, August 21, 2015

Page 6

The Flat Hat

GUEST COLUMN

Academic intermission

Sierra Anderson

FLAT HAT GUEST COLUMNIST

It is no secret that College of William and Mary has a reputation for being an academically rigorous school attended by students who have the tendency to place a huge emphasis on their GPA. And it is difficult not to develop this attitude as well, especially as an impressionable freshman.

However, while grades are important, there is more to your freshman year and to the College.

It might sound cliché, but college really is one of the best times to get out of your comfort zone. To make the most out of your freshman year, you have to put yourself out there, and one of the best ways to do that is through the College’s many clubs and organizations. We have anything from ballroom dance to Quidditch. During my freshman year, I signed up for a ton of different clubs, but I never went through with attending the meetings because the thought of stepping into a room full of strangers by myself was terrifying. If that thought also terrifies you, do not let it. Go anyway, because you might really find your niche.

Although the freshmen dorms aren’t the nicest on campus, they provide a sense of community like no other, where you and your hallmates will bond over the unfortunate lack of AC and abundance of creepy crawlers. Again, if you are anything like I was, social interaction will be a battle. Forcing conversations with your hall might be scary, but it will be one of the best decisions of your life. Two of my closest friends at the College are both from my freshman hall and I could not imagine my college experience thus far without them.

One of the most underrated tools for non-academic activities are the student happenings emails. These list multiple things to do around campus, such as concerts, stand-up comedy shows, Screen on the Green and other cool events that cater to the broke college student, because they are usually either free or cost a couple of dollars. If you find yourself with nothing to do and want to take a break from studying with something other than Netflix, come out to one of these events.

In an academically intense environment, it is easy to put too much pressure on your academic achievements and put aside your social life.

However, you can only experience your first year of college once, and it is crucial to make the most of the non-academic side of college. So, even if your GPA is not as high as you wanted it to be, remember that you will still have three more years to bring it up. Also try to get out of your comfort zone and most importantly, have fun.

Email Sierra Anderson at snanderson@email.wm.edu.

GUEST COLUMN

Life should not lack leisure time Virginia Ambler VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS

COMMENTS @THEFLATHAT

“

BY MADDY KING / THE FLAT HAT

As a graduate alumnus... and as director of the James Monroe museum in Fredericksburg, Virginia, I am very happy that the College is putting greater emphasis on Monroe’s legacy. Monroe was arguably the most experienced public servant to serve as President of the United States, having been a Revolutionary War hero, state and national legislator, governor, diplomat and cabinet secretary.

A full and frank conversation about his legacy is the right way to approach the bicentennial of his presidency, which begins with commemoration of the election of 1816 next year.

— Scott Harris, ‘88, on “Making Monroe: College emphasizes legacy of famous alumnus”

To each of you who is joining this incredible William and Mary family — welcome! I am thrilled that you are here and I join you in all the emotions that come with new beginnings: feelings of anticipation, wonder, hope, uncertainty, adventurousness and promise. As a member of the College of William and Mary Student Affairs staff for more than 20 years, and now as vice president, I have been a part of many move-in days, orientation programs and trainings.

So when I was asked by The Flat Hat staff to share a few words of advice with you, I really had to pause (in fact, I’ve pondered this column for several weeks). What amazing gem of wisdom might I have to offer? What would be helpful? What might you actually remember? What could I tell you that you won’t hear from others in the coming days — RAs, OAs, faculty, administrators and classmates, all of whom have wisdom to share from their own experiences and perspectives?

I decided that I would greet you with just one word of advice as you begin your college career — ­ leisure. A strange choice of words coming from the Vice President for Student Affairs? Perhaps. But I hope you will take the word to heart, for I believe leisure is critically important to your flourishing here. There is no doubt in my mind that you will strive for excellence in the things you undertake — your academic pursuits, your leadership experiences, your contributions to athletic teams and interest groups, your artistic expressions, your volunteers

commitments. A commitment to excellence is what has brought you to the College, and being around others who also give the best of themselves to things that matter is what will make these among the best years of your life.

But, I want to challenge each of you also to think about what leisure time might look like for you in the coming year.

Is there something you can choose to do while you are at the College that you have absolutely no expectation of ever mastering? How will you honor the need to balance striving with time for rejuvenation, exhilaration, rest and joy? What will it look like for you to seek and value leisure time in your busy student life? How might you savor the moments of your William and Mary days — the smell of cut grass in the Sunken Garden, the laughter of hallmates, the clip-clop of horses’ hooves on DoG Street? What will you do simply for the enjoyment of it, and how can you encourage one another to meaningfully answer that same question?

I’ve taken this question to heart myself, and I am committed to valuing leisure in my own vice presidential life even as I offer that advice for you. Starting this fall, I will be hosting Leisure Lunches once a month in my conference room, and I invite you to consider signing up for one of them. Not only will we have a chance to get to know one another better, but we can share in one of my own favorite leisure activities — playing board games!

Stay tuned to Student Happenings for information about how to sign up. Cheese Shop sandwiches and board games provided.

There is a sign that hangs just inside my office door. It reads: Time is Precious — Waste it Wisely. It serves as a daily reminder to me that how I choose to spend my leisure time really does matter. It also reminds me that while some activities may not reflect the most efficient use of time, they can be invaluable to the way I do my work and to my sense of well-being and connection to others. I, too, am learning that leisure is not an interruption to productivity, but an essential ingredient to my living and working optimally.

Whatever your leisure time looks like this year, savor it.

Email Virginia Ambler at vmambl@wm.edu.

“

But, I want to challenge each of you also to think about what leisure time might look like for you in the coming year. Is there something you can choose to do while you are at the College that you have absolutely no expectation of ever mastering?

GUEST COLUMN

Should I stay or should I go: finding a home in the College

Devin Logan

FLAT HAT GUEST COLUMNIST

If you wonder whether you made the right college decision, know that there are many others struggling with that same question. I doubted my college decision. In the weeks leading up to move-in day, I became increasingly pessimistic. I convinced myself that my rooming situation was going to be horrible, registration would be stressful, orientation would be awful, and I wouldn’t make any friends. During the first few weeks, I made friends, successfully completed a stressful registration period, withstood orientation and adjusted to living with a roommate.

Things started going right, but it wasn’t perfect: I was overwhelmed by the onslaught of newness.

It’s normal to have fears, and it’s normal to have trouble adjusting. But slowly, you will start to see a change. I did.

Still, I would be hard-pressed to say that I’m “in love” with William and Mary. Yes, I like it. Yes, I think this is the place for me. But nevertheless, this school was never and will never be a peerless deity in my mind.

You don’t have to fall headover-heels for your school, now or ever, to realize that it’s the place for you. Maybe it isn’t love at first sight with you and William and Mary.

But if you decide to stay here, and if you decide that William and Mary is the place for you, you have to make a daily commitment to your relationship with

this school. It can take a lot of effort, but your time at the College will be over before you know it; you might as well make the most of it.

When you made your initial decision, you made an initial commitment to William and Mary. Think about the reasons behind that choice: academic strength, in-state tuition (if you’re from Virginia), a vibrant student body, small size, access to professors and research opportunities, location.

Remember those reasons in your first few weeks. If the reasons for which you chose William and Mary start to manifest themselves, you’re probably at the right place, immediate love or not.

I chose William and Mary for its size, academic strength and opportunity, and close-knit sense of

“

But if you decide to stay here, and if you decide that William and Mary is the place for you, you have to make a daily commitment to your relationship with this school.

community. During my first few weeks, I saw both vague hints and overwhelming confirmations that the things for which I chose William and Mary were indeed present at this place. Do not let anxiety and negativity be blinders; look past your initial hard feelings to see if you can find the things that made you want to attend the College in the first place.

Once you commit to making things work with William and Mary, find a niche. You don’t have to overtly identify with a specific organization — be it a sorority, sports team, club, academic department, friend group or volunteer program — to find your place, but it’s a good idea to branch out of your comfort zone. Talk to your professors and fellow students, but not just about where you’re from and what you’re studying. Try new things, but also cultivate the ability to quit. Being too committed can inadvertently hurt your view of the College.

I never fell in love, in the clichéd sense of the phrase, with William and Mary. However, I made a commitment to this school, and in the end, that’s the best kind of love.

Email Devin Logan at dalogan@email.wm.edu.

variety

Variety Editor Emily Chaumont Variety Editor Sarah Ruiz flathat.variety@gmail.com // @theflathat

The Flat Hat

| Friday, August 21, 2015 | Page 7

Orientation Survival Guide

Don’t let bonding and icebreakers break you

Brace yourselves, registration is coming

EMILY CHAUMONT FLAT HAT VARIETY EDITOR

SARAH RUIZ FLAT HAT VARIETY EDITOR

From the name game to “speed dating,” icebreakers and bonding activities are an integral part of orientation. As much as you try to avoid them, you will more than likely have to think of an adjective that starts with the same letter as your name, come up with two truths and a lie, go on a scavenger hunt or untie a human knot with people you have only just met. If this seems daunting to you, you’re not alone.

Activities that can be nerve-wracking on their own can be even harder to participate in when adjusting to a new environment like college. But the infamous orientation icebreakers can actually be a great way to get more familiar with your freshman hallmates.

The great thing about the orientation activities is that you are almost certainly not the only person feeling awkward — you can rest assured that nearly everyone else is wishing they were somewhere else.

Even for people who excel at small talk and make new friends easily, participating in these types of games can be less than desirable.

So if introverts and extroverts alike agree that icebreaker activities are unpleasant and awkward, how can the average freshman expect to survive them and maybe even come out of the experience with a few new friends? Well, since you can’t avoid orientation games and bonding altogether, there are a few things you can do to make them a bit more enjoyable.

Imagine dragging yourself out of bed in the early morning, before the sun has poked its head above the horizon, and, with your laptop ready, watching the clock count down and waiting for the floodgates to open and unleash three to four minutes of Hunger Games-style panic and chaos. That is registration.

It is widely accepted that starting college is accompanied with heightened levels of stress.

Course registration, however, has the potential to be the singular most stress-inducing event of a freshman’s first week. There is so much at stake in such a small window of time that just the idea of registration can be terrifying.

However daunting, registration is unfortunately unavoidable.

The most essential step to registration preparedness is research. Each semester, the College offers several hundred undergraduate courses, so, when planning the upcoming semester, students have a lot of information to sift through.

Course offerings can be found on the official Course Catalog, the Open Course List, and on Banner under the “registration” tab. With factors like professor ratings, prerequisites and availability to consider when selecting classes, surviving registration is nearly impossible unless you’ve done your research well before registration day. The Open Course List provides continuously updated information on class availability, allowing students to see the seats available for desired classes and plan accordingly.

Even the best researched plan can go awry on registration day, however; so it is always advisable to have a backup plan and, if possible, a backup plan for that backup plan. Websites such as MyEdu can help you organize your classes and plot out possible schedules. Even though you may be dying to take that “Ethics for Aliens” seminar, registration is all about compromise, so stay flexible. If you first choice is full, don’t waste precious seconds moping.

Take action and dive straight into your Plan B. As the fated day moves closer, it is important to plan for every worst case scenario. Check Banner to ensure there are no holds on your account that would prevent registration. If there are, get

Embrace your unique side...

While Enthusiastic Emily and Amazing Aaron are all well and good options for the name game, nobody says you have to stick to a common adjective. More creative options like Jolly Jeremiah, Lurid Lydia and Colloquial Claire show off your vocabulary a bit and make you more memorable to your peers who are meeting hordes of new people every day of orientation.

When you’re playing two truths and a lie, you can play it safe and talk about your favorite color or the number of dogs you have. But why not keep your hall mates guessing with crazy stories about the ridiculous number of times you’ve been to Disney World, the time you tripped and knocked over the shelf of dog food at the pet store or the reason there’s a rule named after you at your elementary school? Not only does this make the game more interesting and less painfully awkward, it helps your OA achieve their goal of helping your freshman hall get to know each other on a deeper level than who is from NoVa and who isn’t. Don’t be afraid to share things about you that are more out there — that’s what the activities are for.

...Or don’t.

That being said, some people just aren’t up for the challenge of coming up with creative responses and fun facts on the fly, and there is nothing wrong with that. Whether you have social anxiety, are still learning English or would rather expend your energy on something other than thinking of unusual responses for icebreaker games, your response is entirely up to you. To some people, icebreakers seem like a situation in which you must put forth a carefully crafted, marketable image of yourself to try to convince people to become friends with you. While this definitely doesn’t have to be the case, it’s okay if you feel this way and there’s nothing wrong with being Amazing Anna whose fun fact is that she loves her dog. Nobody will think any less of you for it — and if they do, they aren’t worth worrying about.

It’s just a game

No matter how you choose to present yourself during your orientation icebreakers, don’t stress about it.

Even though first impressions are important, you don’t have to make all of your friends during orientation or in your freshman hall. All the upperclassmen on campus survived the name game and you will too.

them taken care of immediately by contacting the Registrar’s office. Set several alarms the night before to make sure there will be no sleeping in. Find a secure internet connection at all costs. Ethernet cables are the only way to guarantee a connection, as the Wi-Fi on campus is dubious even on good days. Those who gamble on wireless run the risk of dashing to the nearest academic building in their pajamas in an attempt to regain a signal moments before registration begins.

That being said, with the sudden influx of anxious students overloading the system at the same time, expect some technical difficulties or signal sluggishness. Once an add/drop request has been submitted, let the system do its job. It can be agonizing to wait, watching the loading symbol loop as the seconds tick by, but panicked clicking and refreshing will only cause more problems as the computer tries to process the request.

With every possible disaster short of a meteor crashing into the wireless router accounted for, the only thing left to do is to make sure you have all your course registration numbers (CRN’s) on hand and hope for the best as the countdown reaches zero.

As the dust settles after the battle, a well prepared student will often find that even the worst case scenario is really not that bad. Professors at the College understand the struggles of registration, so don’t be afraid to ask for an override code, which will allow you to register for a class that is technically full. A well written, flattering email to a professor detailing the reasons — both exaggerated and sincere — why you would be a good fit for their class will often do the trick. However, have possible emails drafted and ready to send out at a moment’s notice, because most professors grant overrides on a first come, first serve basis.

Although registration is undeniably harrowing, the most important thing to keep in mind is that you are not alone. Every freshman is suffering the same anxieties in that moment. Everyone is cursing at their computer screens as the website crashes or the best lab times fill up. Grab a group of hallmates and friends and go through the ordeal together.

With the right group of people, registration day might even become one of those moments you look back on and laugh at down the line.

how to survive...

CAROLINE NUTTER // FLAT HAT PHOTOS EDITOR

n o i t a t s e f Ant in

A roommate fr om hell

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Exclusive hallmates

Home sicknes s

Page 8

The Flat Hat

Friday, August 21, 2015

Bust ing college myths

Investigating college’s biggest urban legends BRANDY ADKINS FLAT HAT STAFF WRITER

Myth 3: “The freshman Myth 1: “I took 15 is inevitable.” eight classes in high It is entirely possible to indulge a little too much, school, so I should especially if your freshman year is the first time you’ve been completely in charge of your own diet, but that take at least five or doesn’t mean you have to resign yourself to overeating. With options like salad bars and sandwich six during college.” stations in the dining halls, it is definitely possible In reality, college is a lot different from high school.

For one thing, most high schools offer a curriculum over nine months, whereas the college curriculum only spans about four. It is less important how many classes you take and more important how many credits you take. At the College of William and Mary, for every credit hour, you will spend about one hour in class and three hours doing work or reading outside of class per week. Therefore, if you take a three-credit class, you will spend about three hours in class and about nine hours doing assignments out of class in a typical week. A freshman should only be taking about 12-15 credits, so there’s no need to panic about your “smaller” course load.

Myth 2: “Everyone goes to parties and drinks all the time.”

In fact, a large portion of the student population doesn’t drink at all, and the party scene isn’t for everyone. If you’re more comfortable spending Saturday night in your dorm room with a few friends playing games, watching movies and eating popcorn, nobody will judge you. Never feel pressured into a situation with which you don’t feel comfortable.

Consider other options that fit your style better.

Programs planned by your resident advisor or Thursday Night Open Mic at Aroma’s on Prince George Street can be good alternatives to a party.

“

to eat on the healthier side. You can also spend your Dining Dollars on more than just late-night Domino’s pizza. Consider options like sandwiches from the Aroma’s café in Swem or Pita Pit in Tribe Square for something a little less artery clogging.

Myth 4: “I heard you can just skip class… or wake up five minutes before and go in your PJ’s!”

This is actually correct, but it’s definitely not a recommended habit. If you oversleep, it is better to dash off to class in pajama pants than to not go at all, but most professors consider it rather rude for you to not even make the effort to slip into some jeans. There is no need to dress to the nines every single day, but changing out of the sweat pants most days is a good idea. Exceptions to that rule are big lecture classes, as nobody cares what you are wearing in a class of 150 people.

Also, attending class is vital. The downside to the smaller class sizes at the College is that most professors do take attendance and will notice if you only attended class one day the whole semester — on syllabus day. It will bring your grade down. You only have to be in the classroom for 12-15 hours a week — just go.

Never feel pressured into a situation with which you don’t feel comfortable

Counting down the College’s top traditions Ten events to look forward to this year 5. Charter Day

SAMUEL DREITH FLAT HAT ASSOC. VARIETY EDITOR

10. Grand Illumination Though the sound of 18th century cannons can be heard ringing across campus throughout the year, the loud bangs are accompanied by a fireworks display for the Grand Illumination event.

On the Sunday of the first full weekend in December, the Grand Illumination fireworks show lights up the sky over the Governor’s Palace in Colonial Williamsburg. Tourists and townies alike come running for this spectacular show, but it is definitely worth wading through the crowds to see..

9. Cider Runs Each year students migrate down to Duke of Gloucester Street to purchase the souvenir refillable mug sold by the cider shop in Colonial Williamsburg. Packs of cider-lovers flock back to the store again and again in order to get their free refills on cider or hot chocolate. Though typically a winter tradition, Colonial Williamsburg also serves their cider iced, so the fun and drinks can be enjoyed year-round.

8. Raft Debate Not your typical college tradition, the raft debate pits faculty members from different academic fields against one another in a hypothetical debate.

Each faculty member, after supposedly surviving a plane crash, must convince the audience that he or she should be the chosen one sent back to civilization.

A rowdy and entertaining night, the raft debate is a perfect representation of the College’s quirky atmosphere.

7. King and Queen Ball To celebrate the end of the academic year, the College throws a formal ball known as the King and Queen Ball.

Students get an opportunity to dress like kings and queens for an evening and enjoy a night of music and dancing on the Sunken Gardens.

6. Campus Golf Organized by the College’s Kappa Delta sorority, campus golf is a charity event supporting Avalon and Prevent Child Abuse America. In small teams, students dress up according to a theme they have chosen and play a round of golf across old campus. The hysterical outfits and pitiful puts are enough to land this event on any student’s list of the College’s traditions.

Basically the College’s birthday, Charter Day celebrates the creation of the College by Royal Charter. The entire campus celebrates with festivities such as the annual Charter Day concert, which has featured artists like Wiz Khalifa, Ludacris and Andy Grammer.

4. Last Day of Classes Often referred to as LDOC, or blowout, the last day of spring semester classes rarely involves serious lectures or rigorous amounts of classwork. Students still attend their classes, but the majority of the College utilizes this day to blow off steam from a semester’s worth of work before finals. With special meals at the dining halls, and even a pancake dinner at night, students look forward to LDOC all year.

3. Yule Log The holiday season just isn’t complete without President Taylor Reveley in a Santa suit, reciting a personalized rendition of How the Grinch Stole Christmas to a hushed gathering of students. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and at the end of it all you’ll have a chance to toss a sprig of holly into the Yule log fire while enjoying the Gentlemen of The College’s a capella twist on classic holiday jingles.

2. Triathlon One of the most popular right-ofpassages many students complete during their time at the College is known simply as the triathlon. Perhaps one of the more scandalous traditions at the College, the triathlon involves streaking the Sunken Gardens (preferably under cover of night), jumping the wall of the Governor’s Palace and swimming across the Crim Dell. If this doesn’t sound challenging enough, try the Ironman by attempting the triathalon completely in the nude – just don’t get caught.

1. Convocation Of all the traditions the College of William and Mary has to offer, convocation holds the most meaning for many students. After a tiring week of orientation, the freshman class receives a truly warm welcome on behalf of the entire student body as, after a short ceremony they walk through the Wren Building to the Sunken Gardens. The overwhelming feeling of acceptance that hits students while walking out into a mass of their peers, hands poised for endless high-fives, will go unmatched by any other experiences the College has to offer.

CONFUSION CORNER

More than a cliche, ‘One Tribe, One family’ rings true From awkward moments to serious homesickness, Tribe members will always have your back

Cameron Murphy CONFUSION CORNER COLUMNIST

Dear freshmen, You may have noticed upon your arrival to campus that a certain phrase is the particular favorite of College of William and Mary students.

No doubt the Orientation Aides shouted it at you while they offered candy and gave you an early start on the Freshman Fifteen. It is “One Tribe, One Family.”

It’s one of the many unique catchphrases at the College, and seems to be applied to virtually any situation. Accidentally put your shirt on backwards, and a kind soul points it out? One Tribe, One Family. A classmate empathizes after you don’t receive the result you wanted on Buzzfeed’s “Which British Hunk Should You

Marry?” quiz? One Tribe, One Family. Your roommate tolerates hours of your obsessive tirades about The Bachelor? Most definitely One Tribe, One Family.

You’re probably going to get tired of hearing the phrase­—perhaps you already are after that last paragraph—but either way, my dear freshmen, its underlying meaning holds true.

It’s the best expression we have to signify how wonderful and loving the College of William and Mary’s community is.

To explain it succinctly, the Collegeis like

“

Canada, only instead of moose, we have squirrels. Here, people will look out for you.

Ladies, when you inevitably forget your iPhone 6+ at a frat house because there are no girl pockets in existence big enough to hold it, do not be alarmed. Rather than steal it, another member of the Tribe will post about it in the Facebook lost and found page and return it in pristine condition.

Fellas, when you leave your super fly fedora in Swem after a late night study sesh, you too will receive the Tribe lost and found treatment.

[Tribe Pride] is one of the many unique catchphrases at the College, and seems to be applied to virtually any situation.

Unless I see it, in which case, I will keep it and wear it ironically.

“One Tribe, One Family” exists for more serious matters too — if you’re homesick, or stressed, or lonely, rest assured that you will always have shoulders to cry on and ears ready to listen. Being a student at the College means being a member of the Tribe family, for better or worse. And in this family, you freshmen are the snot-nosed, little siblings we pretend are annoying when in reality, we already love you unconditionally.

This family will push you to make it through that statistics final you think you’re going to fail; it will encourage you to consume copious amounts of WaWa mac and cheese; it will dissuade you when you convince yourself that cutting your own hair is a great, economical idea. (No, you can’t pull off Taylor Swift’s bangs, and yes, a real haircut is worth the forty bucks.)

Most of all, the Tribe family will help you grow into the person you’re meant to be, and we’re so happy you’ve joined us here in Canada…I mean Williamsburg.

Cameron Murphy is a Confusion Corner columnist whose favorite activities include watching The Bachelor and all of its spinoffs while eating WaWa mac and cheese.

sportsinside

The Flat Hat

FEATURE

| Friday, August 21, 2015| Page 9

COMMENTARY

Why to watch Five reasons to love Tribe Sports

What to watch ALL PHOTOS COURTESY PHOTO / TRIBE ATHLETICS

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Tre McBride ‘15: Jill Ellis ‘88 coached the USA Women’ soccer team to a world cup. Senior Terry Tarpey shoots. Men’s Tennis CAA champs.

Anticipation builds for Tribe after triumphant summer JOSH LUCKENBAUGH FLAT HAT ASSOC. SPORTS EDITOR From the soccer pitch to the basketball court, to the baseball diamond to the gridiron, past and present athletes at William and Mary have garnered a lot of attention and recognition over the last calendar year, and are set for another record-breaking, awe-inspiring year in 2015-16.

Let’s recap some of the highlights, starting with Tribe alumni. Jill Ellis ’88 led the United States Women’s National Soccer Team to its first Women’s World Cup trophy since 1999, capturing American hearts with its suffocating defense and lethal attack.

Tribe star wide receiver Tre McBride ’15 was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the NFL Draft and has had an immediate impact, returning a kickoff 29 yards in his first preseason game. After shattering the NCAA’s longest-held scoring record and leading the basketball team to their first regular season conference championship, Marcus Thornton ’15 was drafted by the Boston Celtics and dropped 21 points in a win over the Miami Heat in the summer league.

Not to be outdone, First-Team All-CAA catcher Ryan Hissey ’15 was picked by the Toronto Blue Jays in the MLB Amateur Draft and is currently playing for the Vancouver Canadians, Toronto’s Single-A short season farm team. The 2015 draft selections make William and Mary one of 17 schools, and the only school outside the Power Five Conferences, to have a player drafted in all three major sports drafts.

Former William and Mary soccer standout Jon Stewart ’84 closed out his magnificent run on “The Daily Show” a few weeks ago, while Super Bowl champion head coach and ex-Tribe wide receiver/tight end Mike Tomlin ’95 prepares the Pittsburgh Steelers for another NFL season.

The Tribe has plenty to build off of coming into this new season, having taken home the Colonial Athletic Association championship in five sports in 2014-15. Cross Country continued its domination over conference foes, as both the men’s and women’s teams won the CAA title. The men took the crown for the 15th straight season while the women earned their third consecutive championship.

The men’s swim team earned its first

conference title, ending UNC-Wilmington’s 13 year reign over the CAA (the women’s team took third), while in tennis the men’s and top-seeded women’s teams completed their respective seasons with conference trophies.

William and Mary’s two most high-profile teams, football and men’s basketball, look to improve on solid campaigns last year.

Senior linebacker and preseason AllAmerican Luke Rhodes ’16 leads an experienced Tribe squad gunning for a spot in the NCAA Football Laycock Championship Subdivision playoffs in Coach Jimmye Laycock’s 36th season at the College.

Starting in November, senior forward Terry Tarpey anchors a youthful, talented basketball team still seeking its first NCAA Tournament berth in school history after an emotional run in the CAA Tournament, including junior guard Daniel Dixon’s double overtime buzzer beater against Hofstra. Not to be forgotten, the women’s basketball D. Dixon team made history of its own last season, earning its first postseason tournament invite in program history.

After Ellis’ success on the global scene, all eyes are on Tribe soccer to follow in the former third-team All-American’s footsteps and win a title. The women’s squad boasts a bevy of senior leadership, including goalkeeper Caroline Casey and forward Leci Irvin, both preseason AllCAA team members. A young men’s team seeks to make progress following a six win season, headlined by brothers sophomore midfielder William Eskay and senior forward Jackson Eskay, both recipients of preseason All-CAA honorable mention nods.

Tribe baseball is seeking redemption after an uncharacteristically sub-.500 season in 2015. The team has no shortage of talent, featuring three players who earned All-CAA honors last year. Senior first baseman Charley Gould looks to add to his legacy after leading the team in

FALL SCHEDULES

Volleyball hosts first home matchup Aug. 29

Fans will have to wait to get their first glimpse of the Tribe this year as the majority of teams spend late August through early September away from Williamsburg.

Football doesn’t play at home until a September 26 matchup against Stony Brook for Family Weekend.

Homecoming is October 24.

Volleyball is the first fall program with the home court advantage,

ONLINE

FH For in-depth recaps of the Tribe’s action-packed summer—including NFL, MLB and NBA draft stories, the World Cup, and a glance at all Tribe alumni currently playing sports professionally—check out the Flat Hat online at flathatnews.com.

For live updates, including game analysis, follow us on Twitter @FlatHatSports and like the Flat Hat on Sports on Facebook.

Football

Tribe hits the road early and often SUMNER HIGGINBOTHAM FLAT HAT SPORTS EDITOR

batting average, home runs and runs batted in during the 2015 campaign.

After earning a spot in the CAA Tournament last fall, field hockey looks poised to make a push for the conference title. Three team members earned preseason All-CAA honors, including senior Pippin Saunders, who ranks sixth in school history in assists and 12th in goals scored.

Both volleyball and lacrosse only managed Saunders single-digit win totals last year, but with an infusion of youth and returning veterans, either team can take a positive step-forward in 2015-16.

While not as talked about on campus as some of the other sports, William and Mary boasts successful golf, track and field and gymnastics programs. Men’s golf, men’s track and field and women’s track and field finished second in the CAA last year, while women’s and men’s gymnastics finished first and third respectively at the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference championship in March.

2015-16 should be an eventful, exciting year for Tribe athletics. Make sure to come out to the games with friends and show your Tribe pride.

hosting the two day Tribe Invitational Tournament over the weekend of August 28. The Tribe will compete against Garner Webb, La Salle and Norfolk State.

Women’s soccer begins the home schedule with the Colonial Athletic Association opener in a home matchup against Elon on August 28. This is only conference matchup of any Tribe program in August, as most teams ease into the fall season with nonconference opponents.

Women’s Soccer

Sept. 5: 6 p.m. at Lafayette Sept. 19: 3:30 p.m. at U.Va Sept. 26: vs Stony Brook Oct. 3 at Delaware Oct. 10 at Villanova

Aug. 21 at JMU Invite

vs. Seton Hall Aug. 23 at JMU Invite

vs. Georgetown Aug. 28: 7 p.m. vs. Elon

Field Hockey

Men’s Soccer

Aug. 28-30: At Lockhaven Invitational Sept. 4: 7 p.m. vs Ohio

Aug.28: 7:30 p.m. at Louisville Sept .1: 7 p.m. vs Liberty Sept. 4: 7 p.m. at UNC

Volleyball

Cross Country

Aug. 28-29: Tribe Invitational

vs. Garner-Webb, La Salle, and Norfolk State Sept.1: 7 p.m. at VCU

Women’s Cross Country: Sept. 5 at Richmond Men’s Cross Country: Sept. 5 at Richmond

Sumner Higginbotham FLAT HAT SPORTS EDITOR

Five Reasons to Love WM and Mid-major Sports We’ll call this “Sports Orientation” — prepare yourself to receive loads of information in a short span of time. This is just like regular orientation, minus the screaming OAs. As the newest additions to the William and Mary family, there are a few things to know about rooting for the College. We want you to know when to scream in victorious ecstasy or weep in mourning after a defeat. And, most of all, we want you to appreciate the unique aspects of being a Tribe fan. Write this stuff down, it’s important.

Or, you know, just keep this article, since I already wrote it down.

Quality of Play The College’s 23 varsity sports are all NCAA Division I athletic programs. Yes, it’s true. This small liberal arts college of roughly 8,000 students nestled in the cozy confines of scenic Williamsburg recruits and trains Division I student-athletes. In short, these athletes are good. If you go to Kaplan Arena and see junior guard Daniel Dixon of the men’s basketball team sink a three pointer, that is a Division I shot. If you are cheering on the women’s soccer team and senior forward Samantha Cordum fires top-corner for a goal, that’s also a Division I play. Tribe sporting events are truly a special opportunity to bond with classmates and support our sports programs while watching high-quality collegiate athletics. If our student-athletes appear talented, that’s because they are. This year, the Tribe was the only school outside of the Power Five conferences with players drafted by the NFL, MLB and NBA, further showcasing the skills of our student-athletes.

Upsets Though William and Mary is Division I, our football program has the additional distinction of Division I-AA, whereas bigger schools such as Virginia Tech and University of Virginia are simply Division I-A. In short, the Tribe is part of the Football Championship Subdivision rather than a Football Bowl Subdivision team. For those of you who possess some degree of football acumen, this should resolve any confusion about how William and Mary received votes to be in the preseason Top 25. No, the College did not receive votes over Tennessee or Mississippi State. We are just in different polls.

On the plus side for football, we are the major underdog in every game that we play against a FBS team. A victory is a one-way ticket to an ESPN special report and national recognition. Division I-A schools generally don’t have that hype. If Division I-A member University of Illinois is having a terrible season, a victory over another Division I-A team won’t receive any national recognition unless that team is ranked, and ranked teams tend to be pretty good.

There are only 25 ranked teams to upset; the Tribe has its choice of 125 FBS teams to upset. Do the math and cross your fingers, the College plays UVA on September 19 in Charlottesville.

Upset opportunities are plentiful outside of football as well.

The College competes in the Colonial Athletic Association, which is commonly referred to as a mid-major conference. Major conferences include the Atlantic Coast Conference and South Eastern Conference. CAA William and Mary defeated No. 1-ranked University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill of the ACC in men’s soccer in 2013. When the CAA beats an ACC team, you’ve got yourself an upset. And it’s an even bigger deal when it’s over the top-ranked collegiate squad in the nation.

Fewer Scandals Remember the whole crab-leg theft at Florida State? Or how about that massive cheating scandal at UNC-Chapel Hill with the fake classes? At William and Mary, the seafood is always paid for and the classes are always real (though occasionally obscure).

It may seem trivial, but when stupid stuff happens at one’s alma mater, the students are affected. At worst, employers may question the value of a recent graduate’s degree; at best, the new hire will be asked awkward questions by awkward coworkers who just learned about where the person went to college. As one of eight “Public Ivy” schools, the Tribe recruits student-athletes based on character as well as talent. The Tribe graduates 100 percent of our athletes in 12 programs, 91 percent of football players (compared to 65 percent nationally) and 92 percent of our basketball players (compared to 62 percent nationally.) Our student-athletes are students first and athletes second. We do college athletics the right way.

Pricing and Seating Every home athletic event is free for students. If you’re looking for something to do on the weekend, Student Assembly funds a van to provide free rides to go watch free Division I soccer games.

Zable is free, Kaplan is free and transportation to home games is free. There is no points system like at UVA; you don’t have to order football tickets months in advance like at Virginia Tech. With all the college expenses already stacking up (books and laptops and….I’m forgetting a minor one…. tuition), the Tribe does not want to extend your financial burdens to include your fanhood. And you will never have that experience of ordering season tickets for football and then realizing you have to take a Saturday class at 1 p.m. That must be terrible.

Tradition The College has been here for a long time. The Tribe and the University of Richmond share a rivalry dating back to 1896, and even back then, the Tribe was 203 years old. School records still get broken, though some have stood for over half a century. From a national title in men’s tennis in 1948 to five CAA championships in 2015, William and Mary athletics sustain the tradition of excellence on the fields and courts, while maintaining the integrity of the classroom. It’s a special kind of tradition. Welcome to the Tribe.

sports

Sports Editor Nick Cipolla Sports Editor Sumner Higginbotham flathatsports@gmail.com @FlatHatSports

The Flat Hat

FEATURE

ZABLE STADIUM Built in 1935, Zable Stadium is the home of Tribe football in the fall, and track and field during the spring. In its current state, Zable holds a maximum of 11,686 people, and consists of a brick exterior with bleacher seating and extended temporary bleachers during the football season. The turf field is surrounded by an eight-lane, 400-meter rubber track with sand pits for jump events on the outside of the track, plus pole vault runways and high jump areas on the inside semicircles. Throwing events for track a n d field (hammer toss, for example) are the only track events held in another location; these are held at the Stimson Throwing Events Area next to the Green and Gold COURTESY PHOTO / TRIBE ATHLETICS Village. Zable hosts the largest outdoor sporting events at William and Mary, including the annual homecoming football game and the Tribe’s largest track event of the year: the Colonial Relays, which brought in over 40 collegiate squads and 30 high school teams in April 2015. The stadium is attached to the Laycock Center, the central hub of Tribe football.

In 2014, the College presented a plan to renovate the 79-year-old facility. The addition of an upper deck on the western seating area will include additional general seating, a new press box and a concourse level between the old and new seats, suites and elevators. These changes are currently under construction. The project is slated to be completed by the beginning of the 2016 season. Currently, foundational work, steel outlining beams and elevator shafts are present.

MARTIN FAMILY STADIUM In 2004, construction wrapped up on Albert-Daly Field, providing the soccer and lacrosse teams a grass field to compete on, instead of the turf of Busch Field. In 2010, the facility was improved and made into a proper collegiate stadium, the Martin Family Stadium. Sitting next to Plumeri Park, the stadium sees action throughout the fall and spring seasons. Martin Family Stadium contains a 1,000 seat permanent installation on the eastern side, consisting of concessions and a press box, as well as temporary bleachers on both sides of the field. The grass field allows the College to host NCAA playoff matches, most recently in 2013 men’s soccer hosted George Mason in a devastating first round loss after double overtime and penalty kicks.

Martin Family Stadium is the College’s newest facility and fully up-todate, making it a low priority for renovation.

¦ Friday, August 21, 2015 ¦ Page 10

Where to watch the Tribe NICK CIPOLLA // FLAT HAT SPORTS EDITOR

Supporting home athletic events is one of the best ways for incoming freshman and transfers to quickly acclimate to the William and Mary community. The Tribe competes in several places on and off campus, with new renovations and developments popping up nearly every year. This guide provides background to the facilities where both old and new fans of the Tribe gather to cheer on the 23 NCAA Division I sports programs at the College.

KAPLAN ARENA

COURTESY PHOTO / TRIBE ATHLETICS

PLUMERI PARK Nearby, off Ironbound Road and next to Martin Family Stadium, stands Plumeri Park, the home of Tribe baseball. Opened in 1999, the park has a capacity of 1,000 and consists of the field, a lit scoreboard, a mix of bleacher and stadium-style seating, a lowerconcourse concession area, an upper-concourse grandstand, press area, and batting cages. Since games start in mid-February, concession workers often provide free hot chocolate during the cold nights, providing incentive to support the Tribe despite the fickle Williamsburg weather.

The College doesn’t have an indoor practice facility for the COURTESY PHOTO / TRIBE ATHLETICS crucial preseason months of winter. Plans were drafted, approved and are currently being implemented to correct this disadvantage. In July, the facility was in foundation stages, but will eventually provide a 5,700-square-foot space, including batting and pitching areas in addition to specialized areas for players to work on different skill areas. The additional facility is projected to be completed by the end of the summer.

MILLIE WEST TENNIS FACILITY / MCCORMACK-NAGELSON TENNIS CENTER The Millie West facility consists of eight outdoor courts between Busch Field and the Campus Recreation Center. The facility has functioned as the site of the Colonial Athletic Association championships for the past two years, allowing both the men’s and women’s teams the rare o p p o r t u n i t y to claim CAA conference titles at home—which both programs did in 2015. The facility opened in 2001 and contains bleacher seating around the outermost courts. The McCormackNagelson Center is the indoor home of Tribe tennis and is located near the Law School on South Henry Street. It holds six courts, 362 seats and the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Women’s Tennis Hall of Fame.

These facilities are unlikely to be changed, as they are up-to-date, and there are currently no plans for renovations.

Located between Zable stadium and the Student Recreation Center, Kaplan Arena can’t be missed while on the western edge of campus. The home of five different programs, the Arena is used through most of the year. Originally opened inthe early 1970s, Kaplan, housed within William and Mary Hall, is home to the Tribe Athletics offices, weight rooms, locker rooms and medical areas, as well as a gymnasium space. New students will quickly become familiar with the arena, as several orientation events take place in Kaplan.

Capacity ranges from 8,600-11,300 depending on the COURTESY PHOTO / TRIBE ATHLETICS type of event. Beyond sports, the space is used for concerts, commencement and occasionally speeches by distinguished guests of the College.

While some components are outdated, plans of a large-scale renovation are not likely for a couple of years.

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COURTESY PHOTO / TRIBE ATHLETICS

STUDENT RECREATION CENTER

COURTESY PHOTO / WM.EDU

The College does not have its own swimming facility as of now, so instead it uses the recreation center’s pool for home competitions. The pool is on the lower level of the building and possesses no diving area; thus, the Tribe has no diving squad.

However, this disadvantage did not prevent the men’s team from claiming a CAA title last winter.

In the Committee for Competitive Excellence Report, a new swimming facility was discussed as a long-term need, citing the lack of a proper practice area as well as interest in bringing back the diving program. This will likely come in the form of a larger multi-sport facility, and is high priority among large structural expenditures, according to the committee report.

BUSCH FIELD Located behind the Commons Dining Hall and Kaplan Arena, this turf field seats 2,271 for field hockey games in the fall and is the home of many intramural sports throughout the year. The field opened in 1990 and was renovated with new lighting and turf in 2012. In inclement weather, lacrosse also uses the facility for competition.

Since it was updated in 2012, it is a low priority for further renovations.

OTHER

Get more information on our website, Berrybody.com or the berrybody Facebook page. We participate in Pocket Points and have Frequent Guest offers for greater discounts COURTESY PHOTO / TRIBE ATHLETICS

The cross country and golf teams both use off-campus courses for annual events. Men’s and women’s cross country holds the William and Mary Invitational, a joint meet, at the Eastern State Hospital course off Ironbound Road each fall. The course is accesible to the public and students can use the WATA Red Line to reach it. The men’s and women’s golf teams hold their respective iterations of the Middleburg Bank Invitational on separate weeks in the spring at the River Course at the Kingsmill Resort, an LPGA Championship course near Busch Gardens. Kingsmill is accessible along the WATA Gray Line.

Where To Find Us 445 Prince George Street (757) 229-1464 askme@berrybody.com