The Flat Hat 02-26-13

Page 1

SPORTS >> PAGE 8

out in his Sophomore guard Marcus Thornton has broken journey to the top is unexpected.

Vol. 102, Iss. 38 | Tuesday, February 26, 2013

second year, but his

The Flat Hat The Twice-Weekly Student Newspaper

of The College of William and Mary

BRAFFERTON REFURBISHED

Second oldest building under construction BY BAILEY KIRKPATRICK FLAT HAT ASSOC. NEWS EDITOR

The Brafferton, constructed in 1723 to serve as an Indian school during the colonial period, is the second oldest building at the College of William and Mary. The building is currently under renovation in order to house the offices of the College president and the provost by August 2013. As with the Tucker Hall renovation, members of the Virtexco construction team are paying attention to the original shell of the building during the renovation process in an attempt to preserve the historical facade of the structure.

“The renovations are going to bring the building up to code, bring the systems up to modern, safe standards but will also preserve as much of the original fabric of the building as possible,” Wayne Boy, director of facilities planning, design and construction, said. The renovations include a new staircase, a small kitchen, space for file storage and a mechanical room in the basement. The basement had to be dug out by hand before workers could begin construction because the ceiling was too low for machinery to fit. See BRAFFERTON page 3

Flathatnews.com | Follow us:

CAMPUS

Students lose Banner access Computer glitch causes campus-wide problems BY CLAIRE GILLESPIE FLAT HAT ASSOC. NEWS EDITOR

Students at the College of William and Mary temporarily lost access to Blackboard, Banner and the College web servers last week due to the failure of two of the College network service’s load balancers. The load balancers, located in Hugh Jones Hall and Blow Memorial Hall, control network systems, including the College’s website, faculty emails and applications for students such as Banner and Blackboard. According to the College’s Chief Information Officer Courtney Carpenter, these are not the first issues the load balancing units have had this year. The backup load balancer in Blow Hall experienced problems and was eventually replaced Thursday, Feb. 14. “The manufacturer finally just sent us a whole new unit. … It was supposed to be fully functional, and we put it online, and it seemed to be working fine,” Carpenter said. “[Then] the primary load balancer went bad. It had some failure in it, and I don’t know what the failure is. It could have been a hard drive failure; it could have been an interface. It’s electronic, so these things do go bad. When [the system] went over to the backup load balancer, that had some bad code in it.” The Information Technology department fixed the primary load balancer Thursday, Feb. 21, allowing the College’s network to operate normally. Citrix, the manufacturer of the College’s load balancers, has engineers working to fix the bad code in the recently-replaced backup load balancer. Students experienced inconveniences due to last week’s network problems caused by the load balancers. “During a typical day, I probably access [Blackboard] at least four or five times throughout the day,” Andrea Blazanovic ’15 said. “[I use it] to get the articles I need

ALL PHOTOS BY HAYLEY TYMESON / THE FLAT HAT

See IT page 3

A new staircase (left) will be added to the Brafferton. Members of the Vitrexco Construction Company (above) have paid special attention to perserve the original shell of the building.

CRIME

RESIDENCE LIFE

Student arrested for credit card fraud

Botetourt handles rodent infestations

Unattended item stolen

BY ANNIE CURRAN FLAT HAT NEWS EDITOR

BY KATHERINE CHIGLINSKY FLAT HAT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

A student was arrested last Thursday for allegedly committing credit card fraud. Police apprehended the suspect at 3:44 p.m. near Landrum Drive. The student faces criminal charges on four counts of credit card fraud and three counts of fraudulently receiving goods or services. According to Chief of Police Don Challis, the student allegedly committed opportunity theft by taking a card that was left unattended and using it to make several small purchases. The case has yet to reach the courts.

ONGOING

FH

Check back with The Flat Hat for more on this developing story.

Today’s Weather

Index News Insight News Opinions Variety Variety Sports Sports

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Residents find multiple mice in traps throughout Dinwiddie Hall in single nights

Breezy with rain High 55, Low 34

Elizabeth Gardner ’16 woke up at 3:30 a.m. to the sound of squeaking. Looking toward her feet, she was met with a sight she described as “horrifying” — a mouse was crawling on her bed. She knew from the noise that there were more than one in her dorm room. Gardner, a resident of Dinwiddie Hall in the Botetourt Complex, has caught as many as four mice in humane traps in her dorm room in one night. “They’re not terrifying looking,” Gardner said. “They’re actually pretty cute, but still — that was too far.” According to Director of Residence Life Deb Boykin, Facilities Management sent pest control to the

Inside OPINIONS

VERONIQUE BARBOUR / THE FLAT HAT

Students use humane traps in Gooch Hall l in the Botetourt Complex to catch mice.

Botetourt Complex Feb. 5, 6 and 8 to curb the mice infestations. Door sweeps were installed on exterior doors to prevent any penetrations from outside. “According to Area Director Terry Fassanella and to Work Control, there

have been no additional reports or requests for pest control since then so we have assumed the problem has been solved,” Boykin said in an email. Gardner first noticed droppings in her room after returning from winter break. For two weeks, she caught

Inside VARIETY

Merit aid for the unmerited

Aid serves an essential role in college admissions. However, when it is given to students who don’t deserve it, the money is wasted and it hurts campus culture. page 4

an average of three mice per week in humane traps, and she released them near Lake Matoaka. Then she and her roommate started catching one mouse per night. The night she woke up to see a mouse on her bed was not her breaking point, however; that moment occurred when Gardner and her roommate caught four mice in one night. Finally they decided to call the exterminator. “We didn’t want to kill them, but it just got to a point where it was too much, and it was causing an issue with our living,” Gardner said. According to Dinwiddie Resident Assistant Sarah Carroll ’15, wildlife infestations are fairly common since the Botetourt Complex is surrounded by woods. Even though the buildings See MICE page 3

Flat Hat staff members face off

The news team suffers defeat at the hands of the sports team during Campus Golf last weekend. page 5


newsinsight “ FROM “MARCH OF THE LITERATE,” A NEW BLOG BY CLAIRE GILLESPIE ’16 “Chicago is a proud city; architecture, presidents, great crime organizations, lying politicians, will continue to be wrought in its wretched, beautiful limits. We will continue to breathe in the cities in which we live and hope, perhaps, that we ourselves may have the gusto necessary to

create something as beautiful (or as terrible) as Erik Larson describes in “Devil in the White City”. That inherent thrill of well-written nonfiction is that the events described not only could happen, but they did. So of course they could happen again.”

The Flat Hat

ONLINE TODAY

News Editor Veronique Barbour News Editor Annie Curran fhnews@gmail.com | Tuesday, February 26, 2013 | Page 2

THE BUZZ

We didn’t want to kill them, but it got to a point where it was too much, and it was causing an issue with our living. — Dinwiddie resident Elizabeth Gardner ’16 on the mice problem in the Botetourt Complex

BEYOND THE ‘BURG

THIS WEEK’S “THAT GUY” WITH KEVIN MAHONEY ’13 INTERVIEWED BY CHIEF STAFF WRITER ZACHARY HARDY Kevin Mahoney ’13 is a Finance/Chinese double major who breaks down his college experience into three parts: as a rugby player, as Chief Financial Officer of the school’s Honor

Council, and as a brother in Kappa Sigma fraternity. Check out this week’s “That Guy” to hear more about Mahoney’s experiences at the College.

FROM “CULTURAL ENCOUNTERS,” A BLOG BY HUMZAH NASIR ‘15 “Here in America, it is often hard for us to understand the diversity that pervades the Middle East: The beliefs that all Arabs are Muslim and all Israelis are Jews unfortunately rest comfortably in the mind of the average American. The

Arabic House tutor, Raneen Abou Khadra, is here to first and foremost clarify that the aforementioned statements are untrue, and secondly, to provide us with insight on what it is like to be an Arab in Israel.”

A THOUSAND WORDS

COURTESY PHOTO / BLOG.SPOT.COM

Instead of models this year, aspiring filmmakers applied through a nationwide contest to present the Oscars to Academy Award recepients.

Former college official found dead

Emory University President faces criticism

Former Chief Financial Officer for Southern Vermont College James Beckwith was found dead Feb. 20 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Earlier this month, Beckwith resigned from his position amid allegations that he embezzled $440,000, USA Today reported. Beckwith allegedly directed college officials to pay $440,000 to Merrill Lynch in late 2012 to settle legal claims involving a dormitory construction project, but according to an FBI agent’s affidavit, Beckwith deposited the $440,000 into his personal account with Merrill Lynch and used the money to pay the mortgage on his home. He reportedly told the student newspaper at Southern Vermont that his resignation was merely a necessary transition in leadership at the college.

Emory University President James Wagner faced sharp criticism from members of the University’s community for a column he wrote in the university magazine. The column praised the 1787 Three-Fifths Compromise because it demonstrated that polarized people could find common ground. Wagner later stated that he regretted those statements. He presented at a conference at the University Friday and stated that he and the nation have a long way to go with regard to race relations. Around 45 students showed up at the conference to protest Wagner, holding signs reading, “This is 5/5 outrageous,” and “Shame on James.” Earlier in September, Wagner was criticized for sweeping cuts that some say target programs popular among minorities.

Applications to Harvard College increase

Academy Awards choose students over models

Harvard College received 35,022 applications for the class of 2017, according to Harvard Magazine. The total was an increase of 2 percent from the number of applications for the class of 2016. Dean of Admissions William Fitzsimmons credited the large amount of financial aid offered by Harvard as an incentive for students to apply. Alumni donations for the past year provided a total of $172 million for undergraduate financial aid. The applicants showed more economic diversity than the previous year, with a 37-percent increase in the number of students requesting a fee waiver that generally indicates an applicant is from a low- or modest-income background.

This year’s Oscars did away with the traditional Oscarcarrying models, instead selecting six aspiring filmmakers to present the awards. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences chose the students through a nationwide contest earlier this year. “This tradition of the buxom babe that comes out and brings the trophy to the presenter to give to the winner seemed to be very antiquated and kind of sexist, too,” Neil Meron, co-producer of this year’s Oscars said to The Associated Press. More than 1,100 college students submitted essays and videos for the contest. Meron spoke in favor of making student presenters the new tradition.

CAMPUS POLICE BEAT

Feb. 14 — Feb. 17

ALLISON SHOMAKER / THE FLAT HAT

CORRECTIONS The Flat Hat wishes to correct any facts printed incorrectly. Corrections may be submitted by e-mail to the editor of the section in which the incorrect information was printed. Requests for corrections will be accepted at any time.

The Flat Hat

1

Thursday, Feb. 14 — A damaged door lock was reported at 540 Landrum Dr.

2

Friday, Feb. 15 — An overhead projector with an estimated value of $800 was stolen at 300 James Blair Rd.

3

Saturday, Feb. 16 — A bicycle was stolen at 313 Jamestown Rd.

Feb. 17 — A bicycle was stolen at 313 4 Sunday, Jamestown Rd.

‘STABILITAS ET FIDES’ | ESTABLISHED OCT. 3, 1911

‘STABILITAS ET FIDES’ | ESTABLISHED OCT. 3, 1911 Va. 23185 25 Campus Center, The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Newsroom (757) 221-3283 — Advertising Dept. (757) 221-3283 / ads@flathatnews.com

25 Campus Center, The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Va. 23185 Newsroom (757) 221-3283 — Advertising Dept. (757) 221-3283 / flathatads@gmail.com Editor editor@flathatnews.com Opinions opinions@flathatnews.com News news@flathatnews.com Variety variety@flathatnews.com Editor Opinions fhopinions@gmail.com Sportsflathat.editor@gmail.com sports@flathatnews.com Photos photos@flathatnews.com News fhnews@gmail.com Variety flathat.variety@gmail.com Sports flathatsports@gmail.com Photos flathatphotos@gmail.com

Mike Barnes Editor-in-Chief Becky Koenig Managing Editor — Jill Found Executive Editor Katherine Chiglinsky Editor-in-Chief Ellie Kaufman Chief Staff WriterManaging Editor Ellen Wexler Executive Editor Meredith Ramey Katherine Chiglinsky News Editor Veronique BarbourNews NewsEditor Editor Vanessa Remmers AnnieArnold CurranVariety NewsEditor Editor Hailey BoyleVariety VarietyEditor Editor KatieAbby Demeria Aine Cain Sports Variety Editor Editor Jared Foretek Jack Powers Sports Editor Chris Weber Sports Editor Ariel Cohen Assoc. News Editor ZachHopkins Frank Opinions Chase Assoc. NewsEditor Editor

Elizabeth DeBusk Opinions Editor Rebecca Marshall Copy Chief Stephanie Hubbard Copy Chief April Smith Copy Chief Katherine Hoptay Copy Chief Benoit Mathieu Photo Editor Michelle Gabro Photo Editor HayleyHickey Tymeson Photo Editor Walter Online Editor Benming Zhang Online Editor Matt Editorial Betsy Camarda Goldemen Copy EditorWriter Zach Claire Hardy HoffmanChief CopyStaff EditorWriter

Colleen Leonard Copy Editor Ken Lin Assoc. News Editor Liz McGlynn Copy Editor Matt Esporrin Assoc. News Editor Lauren Becker Copy Editor Maggie Kern Assoc. News Editor Rachel Steinberg Copy Editor Bailey Kirkpatrick Assoc. News Editor Megan Elmore Copy Editor Meredith Ramey Assoc. News Editor Betsy Goldemen Copy Editor Eleanor Lamb Assoc. News Editor Meredith Luze Copy Editor Rob Marty Assoc. News Editor Tyler Minnich Copy Editor Claire Gillespie Assoc. News Editor Rachel Steinberg Copy Editor Chris McKenna Senior News Writer Richie Thaxton Copy Editor Matt Camarda Assoc. Opinions Editor Allison Hicks Cartoonist Chris Weber Assoc. Sports Editor Emily Lowman Copy Editor Max Cea Assoc. Opinions Editor Molly Adair Cartoonist Abby Boyle Assoc. Variety Editor Allison Ramage Copy Editor Ashley Hamilton Assoc. Online Editor Rachel Brooks Cartoonist Bailey Kirkpatrick Assoc. Variety Editor Jenna Tan Copy Editor Rachel Brown Assoc. Variety Editor Rachel Pulley Cartoonist Sarah Caspari Assoc. Variety Editor Lindsay Wade Cartoonist Sarah Caspari Assoc. Variety Editor Alex Cooper Editorial Writer Sophie Mason Assoc. Variety Editor Lizzie Dabbs Cartoonist Natalie Ferenbach Assoc. Variety Editor Nara Yoon Business Manager Ellen Wexler Assoc. Opinions Editor Lizzie Alarcon Cartoonist Emily Nye Assoc. Variety Editor Karin Krause Social Media Manager Elliott Hay Assoc. Opinions Editor Genevieve Franco Cartoonist Emily Stone Assoc. Variety Editor Anita Jiang Assoc. Photo Editor Alex Bramsen Copy Editor Karin Krause Social Media Manager Colleen Leonard Copy Editor Patricia Radich Graphic Designer Garrett Hendrickson Copy Editor Jared Fortek Production Assistant

NEWS IN BRIEF

Azerbaijani ambassador visits College

BOV member performs at Carnegie Hall

College launches broadcast facility

Republic of Azerbaijan Ambassador Elin Suleymanov visited the College of William and Mary Feb. 14 to discuss international affairs. During his visit, he met privately with Reves Hall residents to discuss the role of Azerbaijan in Eurovision and its relationship to Europe. Students also questioned Suleymanov on his ideas about the country’s relationships with Israel and Iran, as well as the country’s view on environmentalism. During his conversations, Suleymanov encouraged students to consider studying abroad or serving in the Peace Corps.

College of William and Mary Board of Visitors member Judge John Thomas recited his original poetry at a performance in Carnegie Hall Feb. 23. Music professor and jazz piano instructor Sophia Serghi, harmonica player Harris Simon and piano instructor Anna Kijanowska accompanied Thomas. During the performance, Thomas, the first AfricanAmerican judge on the Virginia State Supreme Court, began writing poetry as a child after his grandfather made him recite lines from William Cullen Bryant’s poem “Thanatopsis.” At the performance, Thomas recited 11 poems with music performed by faculty.

The College of William and Mary opened its remote broadcast studio this past week. The studio will be used for media outlets to conduct live or taped interviews with the College’s faculty and staff. Distinguished Adjunct Professor of Government and Public Policy Lawrence Wilkerson was the first to use the new set-up for an interview on the Feb. 18 broadcast of MSNBC’s “The Ed Show.” Located at the Discovery II office complex near the College, the facility features a ReadyCam system that can transmit video and audio signals over the Internet.


The Flat Hat

Page 3

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

FINANCES

College strives to get student financial suppport State funds diminish, College works to encourage students to donate money for next year BY MATT ESPORRIN FLAT HAT ASSOC. NEWS EDITOR

The commonwealth of Virginia funds 12 percent of the College of William and Mary’s operating budget. Chancellor Robert Gates ’65 addressed the lack of educational funding from the government in his Charter Day address, citing this number. With this in mind, the Development Ambassadors conducted the first Student Philanthropy Week at the College last week. Due to low levels of state funding, the College relies heavily on private donations. Student Philanthropy Week is designed to build a community of giving, which students of the College will maintain after graduation. Erin Spencer ’14 of Development Ambassadors explained the week is a building block for the future.

“This was our first year doing Student Philanthropy Week,” Spencer said. “It is working as a public-relations campaign and we are trying to educate, engage and excite the student body by starting the discussion on giving back to the College.” Student Philanthropy Week focused on creating a visible image on campus, evident in the “Phil the Pig” signs posted around campus. “Branding is very important to us,” Spencer said. “This will continue with piggy banks being put into all of the freshman halls next fall.” Coordinator for Student Philanthropy and Recent Graduate Programs Dustin Evatt thought the week was very successful. “This week created a buzz around campus about students giving back,” Evatt said. “We started the conversation

about paying it forward. It is important for students to realize that their current experience is possible because of alumni donations, and that the next generation will need them.” Evatt also wants to create an environment of giving that begins for students during freshman year and continues for the rest of their lives. “We want to build upon the excitement of Student Philanthropy Week,” Evatt said. “It is important to create a continuum starting when new students arrive and materializing with the senior class gift.” Students did seem to take notice of the signs and activities of Student Philanthropy Week. Patrick Tremaglio ’16 didn’t realize the importance of donations until he started reading the signs around campus. “I knew that Virginia only funded part

of William and Mary, but I had no idea that they only contributed 12 percent of what it takes to run the school,” Tremaglio said. “I didn’t realize that important buildings like the [Sherman and Gloria H. Cohen] Career Center were only

possible because of donations. Also, I thought that the ‘Phil the Pig’ mascot was very clever and it was a great way to connect with the student body.”

COURTESTY PHOTO/ BABYSAVERS.COM

CONSTRUCTION

Sadler construction moves toward expanding dining area Workers avoid weather delays by using gravel to keep water out; projected completion slated fall 2013 BY BAILEY KIRKPATRICK FLAT HAT ASSOC. NEWS EDITOR

While the plans for the Sadler Center addition have been in the works for some time, set up and construction did not begin until January. The construction team, led by Jurgen Korb, has been working on the early stages of the expansion project. Behind the stretch of green fence between the Sadler Center and the lodges is a large hole, completely dug out to make room for the addition. The expansion project, adding 300 seats to the Sadler Dining area, will also house a new area for

late night eating after the dining hall is closed. This area will replace what is now a lounge area with a large television in the main Sadler Center foyer. Within the confines of the current Sadler Dining area, new stations will help organize queues and keep waits to a minimum. Dining also plans to completely replace every piece of kitchen equipment with brand new appliances. At this stage of construction, the construction crews are beginning to build the steel framing. This will later be filled with concrete to create the outermost walls of the new addition. Crews will

continue to construct the walls and floors until it reaches the existing Sadler Center. In May, after graduation, the construction crews will break the outer skin of Sadler. Currently, the College hopes to complete the addition by the start of the 201314 academic year. While the rain at the beginning of the semester affected some of the construction, Korb put down gravel stones to help keep the water out and give the construction crews harder ground to work on. This will support the base for the basement and will form the platform for the second floor where the new seats will be added.

HAYLEY TYMESON / THE FLAT HAT

Construction workers break ground on Sadler dining hall .

Brafferton under construction Wildlife infest Botetourt Complex

Workers add new staircase, conference room, windows BRAFFERTON from page 1

In the 1930s, John D. Rockefeller led the renovation of the interior of the Brafferton as well as the Sir Christopher Wren Building and much of Colonial Williamsburg. This renovation left wall chases, or hollowedout areas of the wall housing ductwork, which have already been built out to the second and third floors for heating and pipes. Within these chases, new piping and building systems such as fire alarms and sprinkler systems will be added to bring the building up to code.

Additionally,the construction team will turn the separate kitchen, called the dependency, into a conference room and upgrade it to meet American Disabilities Act (ADA) standards so that members of the administration will have a cozy yet modern place to adjourn for conferences and meetings. Construction crews will reroof both the Brafferton and the kitchen using the same tiles from the 1930s renovations. In addition, each large window will be restored to its original features. Most of the construction work on the windows will either fix damage

to the frames or panes or replace them entirely. Hand-blown glass will replace the individual panes, making the windows look similar to the original ones Due to the age of the building, the age of the brick and the peculiarity of the masonry, historical building repair specialist Peter Post was responsible for repairing cracks or damage in the walls. Post worked in the basement, where there were large cracks in the existing wall . The project should be concluded in time for the 20122013 academic year.

IT looks to purchase load balancers Students set up humane traps to catch mice in dorm rooms IT from page 1

need to read that professors have posted and then to check due dates for things and get worksheets I need.” According to Carpenter, over 4,000 separate students log in to Blackboard during a typical day. “Blackboard is the course management system we have on campus, so it is extremely important,” Coordinator of Instruction and Assessment Paul

Showalter Ed.D. ’14 said. “It was frustrating and slow [when it went down], but that’s the nature of the beast when it comes to technology—sometimes it goes down.” The average lifespan for a load balancer is 4.5 years. Since the load balancers are four years old, the Information Technology department was already planning to replace them by August. “We are actively looking at replacing the boxes,” Carpenter

said. “We’re looking at other vendors. We’re looking at different architecture. Maybe we might have three with the new architecture rather than two. We might be able to do some virtual machines with the software, too. … If we have a failure like this, we can convert to the code running in a regular computer. We have to get the current ones working, but the plan is to get the new ones up and running by Aug. 1 for the new school year.”

MICE from page 1

are older, she says the structures and residents are “fine.” “They seem to pick a building and stay in it,” Carroll said. “Gooch has the beginnings of [a Dinwiddie] infestation.” Carroll and Gardner said Dinwiddie residents debated

whether to continue using humane traps or to seek assistance from pest control. “Rodents are carriers for diseases, so we decided to go ahead and put down some blue pellets that slowly dehydrate them,” Carroll said. In addition to mice, Carroll said that residents in Dinwiddie found a snake earlier in the year. Another snake was found residing in the

ventilation system of Spotswood Hall. The Spotswood snake was so popular there was a competition among residents to name it. Boykin said that if residents have problems with wildlife in their dorms, they should report it through the work-order system. Gardner was relieved they received help from the school. “We did our best, but they did come, thankfully,” Gardner said.


The Flat Hat

Constructive funds I

%

29

te f

n

fell by more tha

1980 and 2012 Between , st a

By Zachary Frank and Ellen WExler

The danger of giving needless merit aid colonial history. Students at the College appreciate walking into Wawa to see a colonial woman at the ATM, a college student buying Easy Mac, and a townie just hanging around. Each student, upon closer look, has some sort of passion or talent that sets him or her apart from others. This semester alone, I’ve learned that among my good friends are two — yes, Flat Hat Staff Columnist two — undercover bagpipists, a cartoonist and a beat boxer. I may be biased, but it seems that the sense of genuineness that pervades our student body is unique. It’s difficult to Each college has its own distinct culture as a result of the describe, but anyone who goes here knows that, in general, it’s organic culmination of its school history, leadership, campus, more important to have good friends and interests than to be academic standards for admission and countless other factors. in the best sorority or fraternity. When schools give merit scholarships to students who The point is that a school’s integrity is a real thing, bring no redeeming value except their parents’ checkbooks, something that both defines and is defined by the student those schools are not only compromising their own social and academic integrity, but they are also diluting their campuses with body. And it has nothing to do with how new and shiny its buildings are. non-contributors in exchange for funds. The College has three merit scholarships, all of which The definition of the word “merit” is just vague enough that many — but not all — schools can get away with using it as a cover require legitimate academic achievement. According to the for recruiting wealthy, less-than-average high school students College’s website, William and Mary Scholars is a small group of academically successful students who have “overcome whose parents are more likely to donate to the College. Unfortunately, according to New America Foundation Director unusual adversity and/or are members of underrepresented of Education Kevin Carey, “Catering to children of privilege is a groups who would contribute to campus diversity.” The Monroe Scholarship and 1693 Scholarship growing trend.” are very selective in terms of academic Doing so might help ensure a school’s Tossing unqualified students success and extracurricular and financial support, but consider the longinto the mix corrupts the intellectual engagement. term effects. The problem isn’t just that distinct, intangible character of This school might not have three gyms, scholarship money is going to mediocre each school. sorority mansions or fountains on the students of already rich families instead of lawns, but it holds its students — both hard-working, smart students who need current and recently admitted — to a high it: It’s that these scholarships reinforce the negative behavior of some of these slacker students. These standard that is reflected in the character of the student body. I understand that schools need money and that it is students will graduate with a degree from a respected university, get a job, and slack off there as well. If this really is a growing tempting to make sacrifices in order to bring in more funds, trend, think of how these students will affect the economy post- but there is no point to merit scholarships if schools choose not to award it on the basis of merit. graduation. Ideally, the college experience allows students to get a good There’s also the dilution of campus culture to consider. Tossing unqualified students into the mix corrupts the distinct, intangible education, be challenged and inspired, make true friends, and contribute something back to the school. Each university character of each school. No one consciously decides what that leaves its mark on its students, and students should strive to culture is, and it’s usually difficult to express in one sentence. do the same for their universities. The real merit is in pursuing Take the College of William and Mary: We’re dorky but fine that goal. with it. We make fun of Williamsburg for being a tourist trap, but we are secretly proud of the fact that it is entrenched in America’s Email Emily Kelley at emkelley@email.wm.edu.

Emily Kelley

?

f you look at the ongoing construction of the fraternity complex near Yates Hall and the Commons Dining Hall at the College of William and Mary, you will notice that a considerable amount of progress has been made. Conversely, anyone walking past Tucker Hall will find renovations that have taken much longer than initially expected. One significant difference between the two construction projects is that while the College funds the fraternity complex with bonds to be paid back through room fees, it relies on partial funding from the state for the reconstruction of Tucker. To secure state funding for construction, the College must request funds in a long, drawn-out process, frustrated by political tension. Looking to future construction and renovation projects, the College should take note: Projects funded by the state often move less efficiently than projects that are not. While we appreciate the funding the commonwealth of Virginia provides the College for its construction projects, we need to acknowledge that it is not enough and that the difficulty in obtaining funds can hurt or delay the completion of important projects, as seen with Tucker Hall. In order for the College to take on construction projects and renovate buildings in desperate need of repair, we must look to non-state sources of funding, including self-supporting projects, student philanthropy and alumni donations. The College must make a greater effort to connect alumni with students, not just through organizations like Student Phonathon, but also through more industry-based alumni groups like the Arts and Entertainment Council. The council currently helps students find jobs in their fields but could also be tapped and courted for donations. The College should encourage students and alumni in other fields of study to form similar networks for the dual purposes of career assistance and fundraising for the upkeep, renovation and construction of buildings in their respective lines of work. The Arts and Entertainment Council, for example, could fundraise for the establishment of an arts complex, and alumni in the sciences could donate money and fundraise for the upkeep of Millington Hall and the Integrated Science Center. We know how expensive college is for families, especially those paying out-of-state tuition, and that many students are borrowing money to pay for it. However, with state funding rapidly becoming scarce and more difficult to obtain, student and parent generosity is essential to maintaining high educational and structural standards. Whether it’s donating some of your own money or participating in fundraising activities, every bit counts. In the coming years, when Residence Life and Facilities Planning, Design and Construction begins its renovations of Chandler, Landrum, Barrett and Tyler, they should learn from the construction of the fraternity complexes and the renovation of Tucker Hall. State funds can be useful for construction, but the process of acquiring such funding can often impede necessary improvements to the College’s infrastructure. External sources of funding are and will continue to be the better alternative.

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 Abby Boyle, Matt Camarda, Katherine Chiglinsky, Meredith Ramey and Ellen Wexler. 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.

Flat Hat Opinion Polls

Street Beat

Last week was Student Philanthropy Week. How do you feel about the College asking current students to donate?

| Tuesday, February 26, 2013 | Page 4

Staff Editorial

g in

un

d

opinions

Opinions Editor Zachary Frank fhopinions@gmail.com

In order to increase efficiency, should the Undergraduate Council and the Student Assembly merge?

No.

“I’m a little bit conflicted ... I feel that it isn’t too taxing on students, but on the other hand we’re already paying tuition.” Andrew Walker ’14

“[It’s] a bit insulting because most of us are already paying thousands of dollars in tuition, and some of us can’t even pay that much.” Alyssa Jerrell ’15

“It’s a good idea to ask them to donate, but I think it’s a bad idea to push them to donate, especially ... [when] you don’t know their financial situation.” Megan Crotty ’16 ­— photos and interviews BY Zachary frank

25%

Yes.

75% Poll By Zach Hardy

To get the most out of college you’ll have to make yourself uncomfortable Gabriella Hafner the flat hat

Today, I am going to issue a challenge. I challenge each student at the College of William and Mary to experience something different. I’m not talking about taking a different route to one of your classes, and I’m not talking about going to the Commons Dining Hall instead of the Sadler Center Dining Hall for lunch today. I mean something truly different, something out of your comfort zone. In fact, pick something you ordinarily would be least likely to try. Then do yourself a favor and go experience it. Sometimes, Williamsburg can make you feel like you’re living in an isolated bubble. It’s not exactly one of the cultural centers of the world, which

in some ways offers a certain comfort — there is a familiarity to all of it. But the College has over 100 different clubs and organizations constantly hosting events to showcase the fascinating activities their members engage in on a regular basis, not to mention the variety of lectures routinely put on by each department. The key to experiencing something different is deciding for yourself exactly what stepping out of your comfort zone means. This past weekend, I attended a concert at the Williamsburg Regional Library to watch a performance by Simon Shaheen and the William and Mary Middle Eastern Music Ensemble. I was required to attend for a course I am taking, and I honestly was gearing up for a boring night. However, the concert completely surprised me. Everything I had originally thought would be negative about the concert turned out to be positive. I was hesitant because the event was being held at the Williamsburg Regional Library Theatre, a small venue, but I found I

really enjoyed the intimacy. Shaheen, who was virtually unknown to me, blew me away with the speed and dexterity with which he played his instruments. He quickly proved he was not at all as unknown as I had thought and demonstrated why he was well known in certain parts of the country and around the globe. What I attended at first only out of duty turned into a rather pleasant surprise and inspired me to seek out the unfamiliar more often, which is why I now present you all with this challenge. Find what stepping out of your comfort zone means to you. Maybe you are not the most athletic person but have always wanted to try out for a club team or join an intramural sport. Go out and do it. Whatever the idea of experiencing something different means to you, embrace it instead of shying away from that new frontier. Challenge accepted? Email Gabriella Hafner at gmhafner@email.wm.edu.

Graphic by Genevieve Franco / the Flat hat


variety

Variety Editor Abby Boyle Variety Editor Áine Cain flathat.variety@gmail.com

The Flat Hat

| Tuesday, February 26, 2013 | Page 5

Flat Hat staff competes in campus golf BY JACK POWERS / FLAT HAT SPORTS EDITOR

ALL PHOTOS BY LAUREN CHUNIAS / THE FLAT HAT

College of William and Mary students dressed in costumes and putted tennis balls around campus to raise money for the Avalon Center for Women and Children.

Braving the cold drizzle that descended upon the makeshift golf course on the Sunken Garden, members of The Flat Hat Campus Golf team competed lackadaisically against each other in one of the most embarrassing displays of athletics in school history. This year’s Campus Golf marked the first time that members of the Sports section and members of the News section played together on the same team — with predictable results. The idea of using scorecards to tally each player’s number of shots was thrown out amid the mud and merrymaking, which made it impossible to decide a victor. The only certain outcome of the match, besides a sense of collective shame, was that the Sports section trounced the News section. Saturday’s match doubled as a coming-out party for the next generation of Campus Golf greats. With the storied paragons of the sport, Jared Foretek ’14 and Mike Barnes ’13, both unable to play, Chris Weber ’15 and Jack Powers ’15 represented the Sports section and consistently outperformed their opponents throughout the long course. While most of the News section players didn’t show much enthusiasm for the match and, in truth, seemed

T

generally confused about the concept of sports, Weber and Powers smelled blood in the water. After the match, Weber spoke frankly about his intentions for future dominance. “Having Mike and Jared there helps a lot; veterans have a lot to share,” Weber said. “Of course, I want to exceed them — that’s what every rookie dreams of. Today was a step in that direction.” While most of the News team was paralyzed by horrid memories of high school gym class, there were a few standout performers who were able to give the Sports section a run for its money. Jill Found ’13, smartly bedecked in rolls of toilet paper, wanted to go out on top in what was surely the final round of her storied Campus Golf career. Benming Zhang ’16 played an admirable round of golf — as was befitting of a man wearing salmon-pink pants and a blue blazer. However, Weber and Powers were able to extend their leads each round. “I didn’t let the lead get to my head,” Weber said. “When you’re out there competing, it doesn’t matter how big of a lead you have — you gotta keep competing, especially with the field that was out there. Zach Hardy [’13] was

he conditions were far from ideal, but then again, so were the golfers.

strong out there, along with Benming Zhang. Jill Found — she was out there.” The sloppy, rain-drenched condition of the course turned out to be a smaller obstacle to the Sports section players than the numerous errant tennis balls hit by confused News section players, as the contest devolved from something resembling a golf match to something resembling Woodstock. The infamous final hole outside McLoughlin-Street Hall is a challenge for even the most confident of golfers. A misguided shot here could spell doom. “Coming into that last fairway, I knew I had to get it on the bricks,” Weber said. “Anywhere else and you’re spraying mulch. First shot was alright, but then it took a funny hop and ended up in the bushes. Asked for a hazard, but those KD’s were having none of it. So I had to take the chip from the bushes.” After the match mercifully finished and Weber and Powers proclaimed themselves champions, the News section players quickly erased any memories of the match and the Sports section players decided to write about their victory.

Faith organizations give students on-campus religious outlets Diverse groups, along with religious studies and philosophy departments, contribute to spiritual dialogue BY ZACH HARDY FLAT HAT CHIEF STAFF WRITER

For some students, religion may be a relic from their lives before college — beliefs their parents or grandparents subscribed to, but something they didn’t take up for themselves. Some students never may have had an affiliation with an organized religion. On the opposite end of the spectrum, many students choose to make religion a central part of their daily lives. Campus Ministries United at the College of William and Mary currently consists of 22 different religious organizations of all different faiths and denominations with the goal of helping students pursue their chosen faith. The goal of most religious organizations is to help students maintain their faith during the busy and hectic school year. One of the most basic ways they help facilitate active church membership is by directly engaging students through intimate, student-led groups. The Baptist Collegiate Ministries, for example, is comprised of four “families,” which are each led by two students. The families meet once a week for small group bible study,

prayer and discussion. “I lead [a family group] called the Inklings named after Tolkien and C.S. Lewis’ group. We have families called Rebuilding Berea, a women’s group and a graduate’s group, so we play to every major type of person on campus,” Graham Bryan ’13 said. “We call them family groups because the goal is to get people together in a more personal environment where we can really invest in each other’s lives. … It helps you grow more as a Christian.” Other ways religious organizations engage their members is through campus ministers. Many of these groups have non-student staff to help students — every month CMU has a different minister on call to help students with any issues they might be facing. Some smaller groups, such as the Hindu Student Alliance and the Sikh Student Sangat, don’t have any kind of campus minister, but many groups are involved with local churches and places of religious worship and provide transportation to such places. “We try to have [as] many resources as possible for students to use,” Matthew Baker ’13, president of William and Mary Balfour Hillel, said.

“That could be by connecting with Temple Beth El. We work very closely with them by letting students know about all the services that go on there. We also put on our own religious services and dinners. For example, at the end of March, we have Passover, and that includes a large dinner called the Seder. … We hold a Seder for the Williamsburg community at large.” Students can engage their interest in spirituality through a number of different course offerings on campus. The religious studies department offers a variety of classes, from surveys of different religions like “Religion in East Asia,” to more abstract courses like “Theory of Religion.” The philosophy department teaches courses on the philosophy of religion and ethics. Judaic studies is an interdisciplinary major that combines religious studies, Hebrew and history courses. However, most members of campus religious organizations don’t major in their specific faith. “There are people who take philosophy classes or religious studies if they’re interested in that, but that’s definitely not the primary major of those involved with CCM,”

Dan Johnson ’13, fellowship chair of Catholic Campus Ministries, said. “I’d say we’re much [more of a] widespread organization. We have a lot of people who are involved in government, history, bio, econ; I myself am a psychology major.” Despite all of the resources available to those of different faiths, the college environment can still challenge both the historical and moral facets of religious belief. Some parts of history may contradict history as it is portrayed in holy texts. Many religions also condemn indulgence in alcohol and sexual promiscuity, both of which can be prevalent in a modern college environment. “I think being in the college social environment has both challenged and strengthened my faith,” Johnson said. “It’s challenging to live in a culture where people don’t share the same beliefs as you. … It can be challenging [to have] a friend [who] may or may not share your same beliefs. It’s hard learning how to approach that and how to share a certain discourse with them across two conflicting beliefs, but on that same note it helps strengthen my faith. … Being challenged helps me reflect more on it and think about

what I’m doing instead of just blindly going along with it.” Despite the different beliefs students have, Bryan feels such differences make the College what it is. He thinks many people make the false assumption that most students at the College are unaffiliated because the school is a secular institution. “I wouldn’t say the campus is exceptionally secular,” Bryan said. “I have never at William and Mary, with or without BCM, felt like an outsider.” Despite the generally tolerant and accepting nature of the College’s student body, diversity efforts are still an active part of many campus religious organizations. Hillel, the Hindu Student Alliance and the Muslim Student Association are all affiliated with the Center for Student Diversity, which strives to foster cultural understanding and discourse within the campus community. Hillel, for example, has worked with Dining Services in order to create awareness of religious dietary restrictions. “Hillel has worked with Dining Services to ensure meals … adhere to the Jewish laws,” Baker said. “We are grateful they were responsive to us. … In general we feel very supported by the College.”


Page 6

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

The Flat Hat

perfect pair x

E / THE FLAT

ABBY

BOYL E/

THE F LAT H AT

ABBY BOYL

HAT

o

Have a great day roomie! See you tonight for movie night!

COURTESY PHOTO / ANGELA

TRAN

o x

4-year roommate lunch with Reveley Friday at noon DON’T FORGET

COURTESY PHOTOS / HAPPYHOMECHILDCARE.ORG, THEBRIGHERSPARKS.BLOGSPOT.COM, PSDGRAPHICS.COM, WORDSFROMSONOBE.WORDPRESS.COM, CLKER.COM

The

Four-year roommates discuss the keys to making their relationships work BY ABBY BOYLE FLAT HAT VARIETY EDITOR

When Abby Acio ’13 filled out a roommate preference survey on Facebook a few months before her freshman year at the College of William and Mary, she wasn’t anticipating a response. “[The survey] was just more detailed than the four questions the College puts out on Banner,” Acio said. “So for me, at least, I was not really expecting anything out of this, but I was kind of bored, so I just filled out this survey and posted it on the thread and that was that.” Little did Acio know that her questionnaire would connect her with Angela Tran ’13, who read Acio’s responses and reached out to her. “One day, I just went on kind of a college spree, and I went to the William and Mary Class of 2013 page for the first time,” Tran said. “I saw this thread and I’m just scrolling through the responses, and then I came across Abby’s. Most of her preferences were very similar to mine, so I just decided to message her, and we kind of started ‘roommate dating,’ so to speak.” After their initial correspondence on Facebook, Acio and Tran decided to request each other as roommates. Four years later, they still live together in an off-campus apartment numbered 201, the same number as the room in Fauquier Hall where they lived as freshmen. Acio and Tran are two members of a relatively small group at the College: students who remained roommates for

all four years. Four-year roommates are uncommon — it’s unusual for two students to begin their freshman year in the same dorm room and to continue living together through senior year. The College recognizes this accomplishment by hosting a special event for four-year roommates living both on and off-campus in the spring, when qualifying pairs get to eat lunch with College President Taylor Reveley. For Acio and Tran, who have never had any major conflicts with one another, making it through four years together hasn’t been incredibly stressful. The two emphasized that their similar living habits allowed their relationship to work in the first place. “We’re both neat people; we can’t live in constant mess,” Acio said. “I remember one day I came home super late because I was out at meetings or something. It was past midnight, and I was expecting to have to sneak in quietly and do my bedtime routine while she was sleeping, but the lights were all on, and she was scrubbing the sink with a toothbrush.” Jake Lewitz ’13, who also has lived with his roommate Wes Stukenbroeker ’13 for four years, agreed that cleanliness was one quality he prioritized when he entered the roommate search. “On my survey, I wrote ‘incredibly neat’ as one of my characteristics, and Wes is neater than I am,” he said. Lewitz and Stukenbroeker were randomly paired together as freshmen and quickly became

friends, living together in a corner room in Barrett Hall. Stukenbroeker explained that, even early on, the two had a similar vision of what they wanted their room to be like. “We sort of established guidelines freshman year when you do the roommate agreement, and we’ve pretty much stuck with those for four years,” he said. For Lewitz, this sense of continuity has been one of the best parts of living with the same roommate for four years. “It’s easy and stress-free,” Lewitz said. “Not only is [his] stuff the same, but I know what to expect. There are no surprises.” In addition to consistency, forming a long-term friendship can be another benefit of having the same roommate throughout college. PJ Judge ’13, who has lived with his roommate Frank Enriquez ’13 since his freshman year in Nicholson Hall, said their shared interests contributed both to their friendship and to their relationship as roommates. “Whether it’s just coincidence or mutual influence, a lot of our interests coincide,” Judge said. “We both enjoy video games, but I definitely play more. We both love folk music. We like the same TV shows. We have, I think, as time has progressed, similar political and religious views, the same kind of humor.” Although the two were paired randomly, Enriquez said that their similar interests made them an ideal match. “It really wasn’t a matter of opposite

personalities coming together and forming an unlikely fusion,” he said. “It turns out it was almost a ready-made pair.” At the same time, Stukenbroeker said striking a balance between being friends and roommates was helpful in making his relationship with Lewitz work. “There’s no defined recipe for success, I think, but one of the things that has worked really well for Jake and I is that we’re very good friends, but we’re not best friends, so it’s not like our relationship hinges on that,” Stukenbroeker said. “I feel like a lot of people come into college, and they want to live with their best friend from high school. That might work out great, but I’ve also seen it not work out. … If they have a falling out [or] if they were spending all their time together — that’s a big hit to the friendship.” All three pairs emphasized the importance of being open-minded, not only to having a roommate, but also to new people in general, especially at the start of your college career. They also acknowledged there is a natural element to making any roommate relationship work. “It doesn’t really apply to us, but if you’re a freshman, you shouldn’t go in expecting to have the same roommate for four years. … You can’t force a friendship to work,” Acio said. “We actually really did get lucky. By [the] same token, if you happen to get a random roommate, and that’s what happens, more power to you. It makes for a great college experience.”

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

The politics of cuddling: When intimacy becomes complicated Reflecting on the psychology of sex, making a statement, emotional letdowns

Elaine Bevington

BEhind closed doors columnist

Why do I want to have sex? Do I actually want these random, awkward encounters as much as I convince myself I do? Because every time I have sex now, it’s great in the beginning, and then I get bored, or over it, or unhappy halfway through, and I just want to be done. Then I mostly can’t wait for the other person to get the hell away from me. Although I’m not good at post-coitus, it actually might be what I miss most about my past relationship. When I think about it, it’s not that I actually miss the sex with my ex-boyfriend that much. Thinking back to sex with my ex, one of my biggest hang-ups is that I

never knew what to do halfway through — keep going with enthusiasm? Is he ready to be done, or does he want to keep going? But after sex, it was never as awkward. He was good at cuddling, and I liked cuddling with him. I guess a lot of the time it was because we had makeup sex after a fight, and then the cuddling was the emotional release we needed. It’s like the nap after a big meal that gives you a chance to digest. But for me, cuddling is even more physically difficult than the sex itself. It’s just hard to know what the other person wants. I don’t want to be heartless and not cuddle at all, but I’m so paranoid about seeming the teeniest bit clingy, because clingy is so uncool. I just want to play it cool, man. The question becomes, “Do I have sex because I am sexually liberated or because I want to be sexually liberated?” Am I fulfilling the stereotype of a woman who sleeps around because she doesn’t value herself enough, or do I do it as a statement of power — that I am more

valuable than the idea of virginity? Am I having sex as a statement — to point out that the consequences and reality of sex are given too much importance in our society? Are we a prudish society at heart? Very voyeuristic, I would say. The American attitude toward sex is like that of a peeping Tom — obsessed, repressed, giddy and turned on, but filled with shame at our own desire. I like to tell myself that I’m beyond that need for shame — that I talk about sex and do it wantonly sometimes because I can intellectually remove myself from it and physically throw myself into it at the same time. I want to be both id and superego about it. I want to cave to my physical desire and also acknowledge that I am caving, and I want to allow myself to do so in a rebellious act that challenges why society would ask me to repress the id in the first place. I want to prove that I can have responsible casual sex and screw all the hang-ups that society has taught me I should have about being too slutty, too

emotional, too fat, too self-conscious and so on. But do I actually want to have casual sex? Maybe I would want to have casual sex more if casual sex were better. Is it actually good for some people? Is it my fault that my casual sex isn’t great because I’m bad at expressing what I want? My hang-ups are still there despite my determination to get rid of them. Is a political statement

worth having only semi-enjoyable sex? Is having political-statement-sex a bad thing to do? Is casual sex actually pleasurable enough to be worth making a political statement about? These are questions that every sexually active person must answer for him or herself. Elaine Bevington is a Behind Closed Doors columnist and would prefer to have a paranoia-free cuddle session.

LINDSAY WADE / THE FLAT HAT


sportsinside

The Flat Hat | Tuesday, February 26, 2013 | Page 7

BASEBALL

Tribe bats explode in College’s sweep of Siena College revitalizes offense and scores 26 runs against Saints BY JACK POWERS FLAT HAT SPORTS EDITOR William and Mary’s big bats came alive over the weekend to propel the Tribe to a three-game sweep of Siena over the weekend at Plumeri Park and to jump to 4-3 this season. If tremendous pitching was the story of last year’s squad, tremendous hitting looks to be the story of this year’s. The Tribe scored 26 runs over the threegame weekend series against Siena (1-5) to inflate its season average to nearly six runs per game. The College won Friday’s contest 9-3, Saturday 4-2, and Sunday 13-2. Sophomore third baseman Michael Katz, junior second baseman Ryan Lindemuth and senior first baseman Kevin Nutter, all of whom are batting .400 or better, continued their blazing start to the season by each notching at least one hit per game. Although the batting statistics may be more eyecatching, the Tribe’s pitching against Siena was just as brilliant, surrendering just seven runs over 27 innings. Senior pitcher Brett Koehler earned his first win of the season in Saturday’s game, giving up three runs over seven-and-one-third innings, and striking out five Siena batters, increasing his season strikeout total to eight. The fifth inning of Friday’s contest provided the blueprint for the rest of the series. The Tribe batted through the order, racking up six runs on five hits. Senior right fielder Derek Lowe ignited the run, earning a walk to set up senior center fielder Ryan Brown’s RBI single two batters later. Koehler let the Saints pop back into the game the next inning, giving up three runs on two homers

to put the Tribe’s lead within striking distance. However, the College’s bullpen ended the Saints’ run, providing two scoreless innings to solidify Koehler’s 9-3 win. The first part of Sunday’s doubleheader proved to be the weekend’s toughest test for the Tribe. The College’s batters lacked their usual fire, but senior starting pitcher John Farrell picked up the slack, only allowing two runs in a complete game to solidify the 4-2 win. The Tribe scored all of its four runs in the first two innings against Siena pitcher Matt Gage, giving the game the early makings of a blowout. But the College’s bats fell silent, notching just four hits and zero runs over the final six innings, the quietest period in the series. Farrell kept the Siena batters from overcoming the four run deficit despite the Saints’ small comeback in the waning innings of the game, narrowing it to a 4-2 ballgame with one out left in the ninth and a man on second. Head coach Jamie Pinzino let Farrell pitch himself out of the jam, showing his faith in his star senior pitcher. And Farrell delivered, striking out the final Siena batter, stranding the runner on second, and adding an exclamation point to his 4-2 complete game victory. The second game of the doubleheader heard the return of cracking balls as the Tribe bats battered the Siena pitching staff to the tune of 13 runs. Sophomore pitcher Jason Inghram provided some consistency, producing more solid starting pitching Nutter started off the game in style, singling up the middle then stealing second base. Three runs quickly scored with no outs. Siena pulled its starting pitcher Jake Werdesheim before he could retire a single Tribe batter, but the irreversible momentum

COURTESY PHOTO / TRIBE ATHLETICS

Senior pitcher John Farrel allowed just two runs in his first complete game of the season, earning the win Sunday.

had already begun. Siena would eventually employ 10 pitchers against the Tribe, but none would prove effective. The College held a 13-0 lead at the end of the fifth inning, which prompted Pinzino to pull several of his starters for some much-deserved rest. Inghram

Thornton improves in second season THORNTON from page 8

committed, it was hard for bigger programs not to take notice when the worry-free senior began to dominate the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference. Rumors started to swirl that he could find a way out of his commitment and jump to a power-six conference team. “It was just something I heard because I had officially signed, so I didn’t know if there was much to do anyway,” Thornton said. “But being a high schooler and hearing I could go higher [than the CAA] definitely sparked my interest a little bit, but I didn’t give it much thought. It was a credit to William and Mary. I wasn’t upset about signing because they recognized it early, and I appreciated that. They spent the time to get to know me and I just thought of it like, ‘Well, other schools lost out [for] taking so long to figure it out.’” Once with the Tribe, the adjustment to college-level basketball wasn’t easy for Thornton. Besides dealing with a higher level of physicality and talent, he had to figure out his role in the Tribe’s motion offense. Thornton can break most defenders down with his quickness and explosive first step, but the offense doesn’t lend itself to as much one-on-one play. Completely buying in to the system was a challenge, and his freshman year — while showing off his incredible talent — was plagued by inconsistency. This season, a lot has changed for Thornton, both in terms of attitude and consistency. The star guard hasn’t scored fewer than 10 points in any of the Tribe’s 27 games. “His attitude’s gotten a whole lot better

five of George Mason’s three-pointers, including two crucial three-pointers in the second half. Holloway nailed a three from the right corner to put the Patriots up 51-50 to cap the comeback with just 4:36 remaining. “I was disappointed twice that we didn’t guard him tightly enough,” Shaver said. “He’s a player on the scouting report — our kids know that we want to make him put it on the floor, and he got two open looks. … I think him making some shots allowed them to open up and relax a little bit on the offensive end.” With the Patriots back in the game, the College easily could have faltered, but Shaver’s group continued to fight. George Mason forward Jonathan Arledge sank two free throws at the 1:28 mark to put the Patriots up by five, but the Tribe responded.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Drexel drops College 62-47 First-half lead fails to hold as Dragons run away in second half BY MICK SLOAN FLAT HAT STAFF WRITER

COURTESY PHOTO / TRIBE ATHLETICS

Sophomore guard Marcus Thornton is second in the CAA in scoring, averaging 18.6 points per contest.

… toward the game, toward the team,” junior guard Brandon Britt said. “Defensively he’s gotten a lot better, and the way he just approaches things … he’s progressed a lot from last year.” At the behest of coaches, Thornton’s quiet on-court demeanor has begun to abate as well. He’s more vocal now, especially on the defensive end, but he is still more of a silent leader than anything. Standing in stark contrast to that is his personality on Twitter. Thornton is an incessant tweeter and the unofficial all-time school record-holder in tweets sent, totaling 94,086 as of press time. He says almost everyone in his hometown of Upper Marlboro, Md., and at his high school has a Twitter and that he was surprised to find out it wasn’t as ubiquitous here at the College. “He loves Twitter… it’s like a hobby with

him,” Britt said with a laugh. “He stays with that phone.” Thornton says he’s like your average college student. He enjoys going to parties on occasion and hanging out with friends. But it’s easy to tell from talking to him that his focus is basketball. Even on the court, rather than celebrating or lamenting what just happened, it seems like Thornton’s always thinking about the next play. He’s one of the best in the league and only a sophomore, so really, everyone is wondering the same thing: What’s next?

ONLINE

FH

Read an extended version of this story at Flathatnews.com

Tribe defense breaks down in last second M. BASKETBALL from page 8

was taken out after pitching six one-run innings and claimed his first victory of the season. The eventual 13-2 final score demonstrated the dominance of the Tribe in their weekend sweep of Siena. The College will look to capitalize on this newfound momentum when it hosts Penn Friday.

Sophomore guard Marcus Thornton sank a three-pointer on the other end to cut the Patriot lead to two. George Mason’s Marko Gujanicic made a free throw, and Thornton landed two before Allen was fouled on the other end with the Patriots up 57-56. Allen missed one of his free throws, opening the door for the College. With the shot clock off, Thornton found Rusthoven under the basket for an easy layup, tying the game at 58-58 with just 14 seconds to go. “I’ve been over here for 10 years now, and I’ve seen a lot of teams crumble in that situation, and our guys didn’t crumble, and that’s really important for me, and it’s really important for them,” Shaver said. “Maybe a month ago we wouldn’t make that stand. We didn’t get a lot of breaks down the stretch, we didn’t get a lot of whistles, we didn’t make a lot of free throws, we didn’t make a lot of open shots, but we stood our ground and tied that ballgame up down the stretch, and that

was really important to me.” Thornton, who was instrumental during the College’s late rally, led the squad with 22 points on a 7 of 16 shooting night. Rusthoven scored 10 and junior guard Brandon Britt, who played a major role in the College’s three-game winning streak, struggled Saturday with just seven points. Despite the loss, Shaver was encouraged by his team’s late rally and heart — a trait that will serve the Tribe well in next month’s Colonial Athletic Association tournament. As of Tuesday, the College holds the No. 6 seed in the conference tournament. “To come out here and play that hard on the road and to not win - it’s tough,” Shaver said. “We’ve had a lot of games this year that way, three double-overtime games. The key to me is that our basketball team is playing with a lot more confidence right now and we’ve improved immensely and we play with great heart.”

William and Mary suffered a decisive loss at the hands of Drexel Sunday in Philadelphia, Pa. The Tribe (6-20, 4-11 CAA) led early in the second half before getting overwhelmed by the conference powerhouse Dragons in a 62-47 battering. Drexel dominated from the onset, jumping to a 14-6 lead within minutes. Senior forward Emily Correal scored the Tribe’s first nine points, buoying her team early to keep Drexel from turning the first half into a rout. The Tribe relied on a 17-13 rebounding advantage in the first period to keep the contest competitive. Senior guard Janine Aldridge also played well, scoring five points on consecutive possessions to cut Drexel’s advantage to 30-27 at the half. Although the Tribe struggled mightily with shooting in the first period, missing all but one of its eight three-point attempts, the defense performed well, holding Drexel to 28.6 percent shooting from the field in a hard-fought opening half. Aldridge began the second half with a hot hand, notching four points in the opening minute to pull the College into the lead, 31-30. The Tribe advantage was short-lived, however, as the Dragons roared to life to take over in the second half. Drexel shot 52 percent from the field in the second half, going on a 20-6 run to build a double-digit lead over the Tribe. The Dragons, holding the Tribe to seven rebounds and keeping them 1 for 7 in three-point shooting, slowly pulled away as the College slipped further behind. The Tribe experienced a brief burst of hope when senior guard Taylor Hilton hit a jumper to close Drexel’s lead to 43-37 with just under nine minutes remaining. Drexel quickly reasserted itself, however, holding the Tribe scoreless for over three minutes, building a doubledigit advantage. Aside from Alridge and Correal, who contributed a collective 32 of the College’s 42 points, no Tribe players exceeded five points for the game. The team was thoroughly outplayed on the boards in the second half, surrendering 17 total second-chance points to Drexel and another 14 points off turnovers. After scrapping through a close first half, the Tribe proved to be unable to compete with Drexel in the final 20 minutes. As has been the case in many of this season’s losses, the Tribe’s trouble with rebounding and three-point shooting proved to be fatal. Rebounds weren’t falling, and the long ball wouldn’t hit. This game marks the Tribe’s third consecutive double-digit loss in seven days. The Tribe will have little time to recover from the loss, as they return home to Kaplan Arena to host Georgia State Tuesday at 7 p.m. They hope to build momentum there and end the regular season on a high note.


sports

MEN’S BASKETBALL

COOL, & CALM,

Sports Editor Jackson Powers Sports Editor Chris Weber flathatsports@gmail.com

The Flat Hat

| Tuesday, February 26, 2013 | Page 8

D E T C E L L O C

e r o m o h p o s s a l ia t n e t o p g in ll lfi u f n o t n r

Tho

ER AT STAFF WRIT H T LA F // K E T E most BY JARED FOR ll feats seem al azing basketba all

e am ested three are ornton can mak and even a cont ard Marcus Th rim e gu king th e or at h om is ph fin So – is he even brea a wild ectator wonder ating crossover, st sp a va es de A ak . m ss at tle th effor ess look same emotionl casual is as followed by the e things look so ak m to ty ili ab Anybody who nton’s a sweat? effortless. Thor rs while playing. r ea ve w ne — he s it’ on , si se es Of cour a lack of tools ted expr Not because of ingly disinteres . sy em ry se ea ve t e , th bu ry as ve ng e is prove deceptiv en anythi he puts in to im k ll you that it’s be of or l te w ve ill e le w th a e m ng hi us s know ed, hidi but beca hing but detach nt in spades — yt le an ta s s e’ ha H on t? nt ur Thor on the co . detached look of the best have William and hard. And the e that so many nc in high school,” de ve nfi ha t co n’ d do an e ds fir s junior and lot of ki competitive ornton during hi osiveness that a pl Th g ex d tin as ha ui y cr sl re ou on cting “He obvi t he really had w Shaver said, refle e, Md. “But wha ny ill s To tv er h rs m ac Fo m co in su s ad ol h Scho e, and hi Mary he McNamara Hig e loves the gam H op . ol sh Bi ho at sc ar gh ye hi senior t have in etball.” a lot of kids don’ working ng better at bask tti ge t a work ethic that en sp ly ent last summer al sp re on as nt w e or Th tim t d. douts whose s change and off the cour er college stan none of that ha , rm ge fo lle , co ge In to n ng ia ant and the and Br Since getti der’s Kevin Dur Keith Williams rs un ne Th ai tr ity C ed a as with D.C.-b of the Oklahom o clude the likes basically go tw past clients in sins. ornton said. “I Th DeMarcus Cou e ” s’ s, lik ng ou el Ki fe or I to rig … en . by little Sacram er is very r every day little over the summ tte ut be ko ng or tti w ge e “Th t repetition, … It’s just abou r.” numbers sessions a day. g to getting bette nton is putting up in or th y Th ke e, n or ai m om e ph onial Athletic . As a so repetition is th orer in the Col s to be paying off sc ar g in pe ad ap k -le or nd w e e seco pointers made So far, th a senior. He’s th league in threem e th fro s e ad se le to e ct H d Matt Rum for r game. you’d expe with senior guar g 18.6 points pe d in tie ag is n. er he av d n, an io rcent, at Old Dominio Associat entage at 43.6 pe -high 32 points rc er at re pe t ca on in a nt po or ed eor Th re sc and th followed e recently ho H w e. e m os ga th r pe to s e an st st year d a surpris eleventh in assi man team his fir e as much of sh m fre co e t n’ th ld on ou g graduation s, playin But this sh a junior. But by bloomer of sort as te ity la rs a va as w ng e hi H ly reac the Maryland McNamara. ore before final on and winning om as ph se so or a ni as se s ity junior vars ints during hi eraging 23.4 po not ball program is he was a star, av e Year award. , whose basket th ge e le of Th ol . er C se ay e el Pl th e ng at Gatorad wound up lty as anythi ya on lo nt or of lt Th e su re lik uch a ams had How a player y when other te talent, was as m rit ip io ch pr a ue e bl lik g el in nton fe . Mary’s and known for land rly, making Thor ominion, Mt. St ea D st ld re O te e, in ar ed aw d), Thornton m Del College show . With offers fro as later rescinde w es at ud th tit at d on ed m itt he had already m Rich less comm a brief offer fro on. Even though as as l se el or w ni s se (a s ss hi Holy Cro lege before intent to the Col page 7 signed a letter of e THORNTON

COURTESY PHOTO / TRIBE ATHLETICS

18.6 43.6 36.6 75

Points per game, 2nd most in the CAA

3-point field goal percentage, best in the CAA

Minutes played per game, most on the team

Season assists, tied for the most on the team with Matt Rum

It was a credit to William and Mary. I wasn’t upset about signing because they recognized it early and I appreciated that. They spent the time to get to know me and I just thought of it like, ‘well, other schools lost out taking so long to figure it out.’” — Sophomore guard Marcus Thornton on signing with the College

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Last-second shot sends Mason past Tribe College’s three-game CAA winning streak ends in Fairfax BY MIKE BARNES FLAT HAT SENIOR STAFF WRITER

COURTESY PHOTO / JOHN POWELL

GMU’s Erik Copes hits the game winning shot Saturday.

Forget that George Mason faltered in the first half. Forget that William and Mary blew a 13-point lead in the second half. This game, like so many others this season, came down to the final seconds. With 14 seconds on the clock, junior center Tim Rusthoven found a wide-open lane under the basket and tied the game at 58, giving a frantic, upand-down game a bit of clarity. The momentum shifts and big shots scored during the previous 39:46 faded into the background. Only one thing mattered: nearly 40 minutes of basketball came down to one last George Mason possession. With the shot clock off and the game hanging in the balance, George Mason guard Bryon Allen drove into the paint, ran under the basket, and kicked the ball out to forward Erik Copes. Copes, who was initially guarded by junior forward Kyle Gaillard, suddenly found himself opposed by sophomore guard Marcus Thornton. Copes exploited the mismatch and drained a silkysmooth jumper to send a raucous Patriot Center crowd of 6,215 to its feet with a 60-58 George Mason victory. “From where I sat, it looked just like a screen, roll and replace. I don’t really know exactly what happened defensively,” head coach Tony Shaver

BY THE NUMBERS

Se

said. “Obviously he was a little open right there, but we’d like to see Copes taking a jump shot instead of a lot of other weapons that they have.” After Copes’ shot went in, the Tribe (12-15, 6-10 CAA) had just enough time for a final inbound, but the Hail Mary heave went awry, snapping the College’s three-game winning streak. The Tribe held a 13-point lead with 11 minutes, 14 seconds remaining in the game but only scored one point during the next 10 minutes, allowing the Patriots (17-11, 10-6 CAA) to creep back into the contest. After shooting 47.8 percent in the first half, the College went ice cold in the second, shooting 28 percent from the field. The Tribe shooters took a few contested shots in the second half, but a barrage of missed open threes and free throws doomed the team down the stretch. “We had a couple good shots that we missed; other times we let their defense take us out of our offense,” Rusthoven said. The College was able to keep two of George Mason’s formidable guards, Sherrod Wright and Bryon Allen, largely quiet, but it was a third guard, reserve Patrick Holloway, who keyed the Mason comeback. Holloway finished with 15 points and scored all See M. BASKETBALL page 7

FOOTBALL Longtime radio broadcaster Sheeran passes away Bob Sheeran, the long-time radio voice of Tribe football, passed away Saturday at age 68 due to complications resulting from a stroke. Sheeran proudly Sheeran represented William and Mary for nearly 50 years, first as a student, then as a broadcaster. He worked on radio broadcasts of Tribe football and basketball from 1971-85, before focusing on football broadcasts. He held the post as Tribe radio broadcaster until this fall. “I lost a great friend this afternoon,” William and Mary Head Football Coach Jimmye Laycock said in a press release. “Bob’s passion for Tribe football was unsurpassed. He made an extraordinary commitment in so many ways with his time and talent over the last four decades. Bob always did everything he could to suport our program, and he had been doing it for as long as I knew him. My thoughts go out to his family during this difficult time.” A memorial service for Sheeran will be held Sunday, March 3 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the Sadler Center Commonwealth Auditorium. Sheeran is survived by his wife Anne, his sons Rob and Billy and his granddaughter Neva.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.