VARIETY >> PAGE 7
SPORTS >> PAGE 9
Iolanthe enchants
Tribe loses sixth straight
Fairy play redifines a night at the opera.
Vol. 102, Iss. 27 | Friday, January 18 2013
The men’s basketball team ended its road trip with a 74-58 loss at Georgia State.
The Flat Hat
Reloaded
The Twice-Weekly Student Newspaper
DINING
Flathatnews.com | Follow us:
of The College of William and Mary
Dining
ANITA JIANG / THE FLAT HAT
katie demeria / THE FLAT HAT
College Dining Services introduced the Qdoba late night option, a hummus bar and a frozen yogurt machine this semester.
On-campus meal plan requirements finalized, frozen yogurt in Sadler by Meredith Ramey flat hat News editor
The beginning of a new semester welcomes another round of changes for Dining Services on campus. Frozen yogurt, hummus and the increase in Greenberry Coffee Co locations are just a few of the new additions alongside continued construction for the Sadler Center expansion project. The Sadler extention, an $8 million project, is being financed by increased funds resulting from the requirement of the Class of 2015 and below to purchase meal plans if they reside on campus. Some Class of 2015 students voiced
serious concerns about the requirement, especially when their options were limited to the Freedom, Gold 19, Gold 14 and Tribe 10 meal plan options. Next year, however, members of the Class of 2015 who reside on campus will also be able to choose the Block 125, Block 100 or Block 50 meal plans in addition to those offered this year. For the 2013-2014 academic year, juniors, sophomores and freshmen residing on campus will all be required to have a meal plan. “Current meal plan options will remain in place for next year’s sophomores, however, as part of the Food Service procurement process,
consultants will be on campus reviewing the overall dining program, including meal plans,” Dining Marketing Manager Faren Alston said in an email. “The review will continue through the next academic year.” Alston assures students that they will not be inconvenienced by the Sadler Center expansion project. “The only thing affecting students this semester will be the closure of the patio, external construction fencing and additional noise, however this will not affect the overall functionality of the facility,” Alston said in
Qdoba comes to Lodge 1 for new late night option by Meredith Ramey FLAT HAT NEWS EDITOR
Walks down Richmond Road to Qdoba are a signature part of life at the College of William and Mary. Beginning today, however, the Mexican grill will be much closer to campus with a new late-night location in the Sadler Center’s Lodge 1. According to College Marketing Manager Faren Alston, several concepts were considered for a late-night meal plan option on campus, and Qdoba was selected as the best.
See DINING page 3
See QDOBA page 3
Charter day
Charter Day
Chancellor is first to speak at the celebration two years in a row
Charter Day performance
Gates returns as Charter Day speaker Gavin Degraw to sing at
Concert to aid Global Flight Relief
by katherine chiglinsky flat hat news editor
chancellor and alumnus, Secretary Gates.” Gates was inducted as Chancellor of Chancellor Robert Gates ’65 will return the College during last year’s Charter to the College of William and Mary Feb. Day ceremony and is the first alumnus 8 to give remarks at the annual Charter in the modern era to fill that role. After Day ceremony celebrating the 320th graduating from the College, Gates began anniversary of the College receiving its a career in public service, becoming the only person in American history to serve royal charter. “It is a delight to be able to celebrate as Secretary of Defense for presidents the university’s birthday with some of its from different political parties. At the greatest friends,” College President Taylor end of his government career, Gates had Reveley said in a press release. “There is worked for a total of eight presidents. Gates is the first person to serve as the no better person to reflect about William [and] Mary than our distinguished Charter Day speaker two years in a row. As part of the effort to revitalize Charter Day, the College has sought dynamic speakers for the Friday ceremony. The final decision on the possible merger between “We are very Eastern Virginia Medical School and the College fortunate to have a of William and Mary will be delayed. In an email to Chancellor who is a great students, College President Taylor Reveley said it speaker and who agreed is too early to decide the outcome of the possible to serve in this role two merger. Instead, a two-step approach will be pursued. The process will begin with developing years in a row,” Director a pilot program between the College and EVMS. of University Relations Reveley stated that the first part of this process Brian Whitson said in will take 12 to 18 months. an email. “Sec. Gates was so well received
by claire gillespie flat hat assoc. news editor
EVMS Decision Delayed
Index
News Insight News News News Opinions Variety Variety Sports
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Today’s Weather
Sunny High 39, Low 25
Inside opinions
Mairika emmanuel / THE FLAT HAT
Gates will return to the College as Charter Day speaker for the second year in a row.
last year that the president welcomed another opportunity for the community to hear from one of America’s greatest statesmen.” See GATES page 4
The problem with generous parents
The more money parents contribute to their child’s education, the lower the child’s grades are, according to a new study. Columnist Matt Camarda argues that better communication is the key to fixing this discrepency. page 6
“I don’t want to be anything other than what I’ve been trying to be lately.” Gavin DeGraw’s lyrics will soon reach the ears of the College of William and Mary students at Kaplan Arena on Saturday, Feb. 9 for Charter Day Weekend. DeGraw, whose debut album “Chariot” went platinum, will perform with Philadelphia-based indie rock band Good Old War in a Saturday evening concert to benefit Global Flight Relief. Global Flight Relief is a Newport News-based operation that flies medical equipment and food to remote areas of the globe. “We’re a philanthropic campus, and I think that students are really interested in knowing that they are doing something that gives back to the community or those less fortunate,” Assistant Director of Student Leadership Development
Inside VARIETY
for Programming Trici Fredrick M.Ed. ’05 said. “You hear about groups in Haiti and Branch Out going all across the country and the world, so it’s cool to see that this company is almost directly impacting others [by delivering] medical supplies.” In past years, AMP and the Student Assembly have allocated funds to cover the cost of the concert. This year, a private donor, Tempus Jets, Inc., will sponsor the $100,000 show. “We are delighted to have such generous private support for our signature spring celebration,” Vice President of Student Affairs Virginia Ambler ’88 Ph.D. ’06 said through email. “The College benefits because we are able to host an outstanding evening of entertainment; students benefit because their fee monies that had originally been designated to pay for a 2013 Charter Day concert are See DEGRAW page 3
Thinking outside of the sandbox
New improve group prepares to take the stage, bringing a fresh comic style to campus and receiving support from veteran improve group. page 8
newsinsight “
The Flat Hat | Friday, January 18, 2013 | Page 2
THE BUZZ
All The News that’s unfit to print
The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported that state officials announced this week that youth smoking rates have dropped to their lowest points in a decade. Virginia high school students identified as regular cigarette smokers declined from 28.6 percent in 2001 to 13 percent in 2012. Middle school smoking rates also decreased from 10.6 percent to 3 percent during the same time period. Nationally, about 18 percent of high school students are regular cigarette smokers. Dr. Bill Hazel, Virginia secretary of health and human resources, attributed the decline to Virginia’s continuing campaign to prevent youth tobacco use.
“
THE PULSE
News Editor Katherine Chiglinsky News Editor Meredith Ramey fhnews@gmail.com
It’s perfect beacuse I always get out of practice late and the [Commons Dining Hall] is closed and now I have Qdoba. —Micky Green ’16 on the Qdoba late night option in Lodge 1
BEYOND THE ‘BURG
The Daily Press reported that Virginia’s Department of Taxation will no longer send tax refunds in the mail as paper checks. Taxpayers will have the option to have their state tax refunds deposited directly into their bank accounts or to receive the total on a prepaid debit card. This policy change came after the General Assembly voted to cut funding for paper checks last year. The switch is expected to save Virginia about $200,000. The Richmond Time-Dispatch reported that Del. Joseph Morrissey, D-Henrico held an assault style weapon on the floor of the House of Delegates. Morrissey is currently sponsoring a bill to ban sales of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, one bill among several that a House Militia and Police subcommittee will examine. One of the other bills being considered would allow certain trained school officials to carry concealed weapons on school grounds. James City County police have charged Michael Morris with burglary, grand larceny and misdemeanor property destruction for breaking into a Williamsburg Plantation timeshare and stealing a flat screen television. According to the Virginia Gazette, police used small tracking devices into the televisions that were installed after previous break-ins to track Morris. After police located his dwelling they recovered the TV set, along with other stolen property.
A THOUSAND WORDS
COURTESY PHOTO / BOSTINNO.COM
American Career Institute’s two campuses were abruptly shut down due to financial issues. Students were notified on Jan 9. that the school was closing.
Anita Jiang / the FLAT HAT
Online courses fall flat in California
College sports spending gap uncovered
After the University of California system spent over $4 million on marketing costs to attract non-UC students to its new UC Online course system, the initiative ended up enrolling a mere five. The Huffington Post reported that the venture was funded by a $6.9 million loan from the university to UC Online that planners expected would be repaid by enrolling 7,000 outside students. These massive open online courses have been touted by education experts and higher education administrators as the future of affordable university education, but the shortcomings of UC Online have led to tension between university and state officials.
An independent report found that public university spending on athletes runs from six to twelve times as much as the amount they spend on students for academic purposes. CBS News reported that the information collected by the American Institutes for Research’s Delta Cost Project, in conjunction with the work of the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics, showed that universities belonging to six of the biggest conferences spend upwards of six figures on each of their athletes. The biggest culprits in the spending binges are identified as coaching salaries and athletic department staff increases.
College essay a major turn-off
For-profit school leaves students out to dry
Boston College reported that after adding an essay question to its undergraduate admissions application package, the number of applications fell by over a quarter. According to The Huffington Post, approximately 25,000 students applied this year as opposed to a record 34,051, to make a 26 percent drop. The essay addition was the only change in the application. Boston College stopped requiring a separate essay in addition to the Common Application personal essay in 1999, and an earlier focus group study by the college found that potential applicants would welcome an additional essay question as a better means of showcasing themselves to admissions officials.
The American Career Institute, which operated eight campuses in Massachusetts and Maryland, abruptly shut down without offering students any recourse. According to The Huffington Post, the Institute notified its students by mail Jan. 9 that its campuses would close immediately and went so far as to deactivate its website and phone numbers. The Institute’s owner and CEO Andree Fontaine stated that declining enrollment and lack of access to credit forced her to shut down the school on such short notice. Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley will be investigating ACI’s closing in her state.
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.
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Dec. 19 — Jan. 7
CITY POLICE BEAT
1
Wednesday, Dec. 19 — A bicycle was stolen from Ukrop Way. The estimated value is $50.
2
Wednesday, Dec. 19 — A case of larceny was reported on Landrum Drive after $50 worth of plants were stolen.
3
Thursday, Dec. 19 — A bicycle seat was stolen on Jamestown Road. The estimated value was $20.
4
Thursday, Jan. 3 — $3,600 worth of damaged property was reported on Ukrop Way.
5
Monday, Jan. 7 — A vehicle was reported as damaged in the Facilities Parking Lot at the College. The estimated value of the damage was $500.
News in brief Film festival details released
Shakespeare festival nominated
Republicans visit Williamsburg
The theme of this year’s Global Film Festival is “Film and Youth.” According to http://wm.edu, the sixth annual event will run Feb. 14-17 and will take place at Kimball Theater, where tickets and passes are now on sale. Scheduled screenings include “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” as well as youthproduced films alongside presentations and live performances. Supporters of the festival include the Wendy and Emery Reves Center for International Studies and the Roy R. Charles Center.
State Sen. Thomas Norment, R-3, has introduced legislation designating the Virginia Shakespeare Festival in Williamsburg as the official Shakespeare festival for the state in the hopes of increasing tourism after several years of decreasing revenues. According to http://virginiabusiness.com, the Williamsburg-based festival competes with similar Shakespeare-themed events in Richmond and Virginia Beach. The festival is presented by the College of William and Mary and is in its 34th year.
Republican congressmen arrived in Williamsburg in droves Wednesday morning for their annual two-day retreat and policy conference. Yahoo News reported that scheduled events included talks, seminars, workshops and roundtable discussions. The retreat comes at a critical time for U.S. House Republicans, who in recent months have battled internal power struggles and now must plan for forthcoming political battles with President Obama over a number of key issues.
The Flat Hat
Page 3
Friday, January 18, 2013
alumni
Alumnus passes away over winter break Vorhis remembered for her intelligence, wit and hard work while at the College by katherine chiglinsky flat hat news editor
Intelligent, enthusiastic and determined. Classmates and colleagues agreed that Brenna Vorhis ’12 M.P.P. ’14 embodied these qualities. Vorhis passed away unexpectedly Jan. 10 at the age of 23. After graduating from the College of William and Mary, she enrolled as a graduate student in the College’s Thomas Jefferson Program for Public Policy. During her time as an undergraduate,
Vorhis traveled to England with the 2011 Cambridge study abroad summer program, where she met Lauren Coleman ’13. The two bonded over their love of the movie “Singing in the Rain.” “We took the same flight over and instantly became friends as we navigated the Heathrow airport,” Coleman said in an email. “Brenna was such a kind friend during the trip.” When Vorhis returned to the College in the fall of 2012 as a graduate student, she served as a graduate assistant in
the Office of Economic Development. Director of the Office of Economic Development Leonard Sledge noted that her wit, warm personality and determination made her stand out during her interview. Vorhis “Anytime we hire a new graduate assistant in our office, we ask them a series of questions to get some brief responses,” Sledge
said. “Her responses made me laugh, chuckle and go ‘Wow.’” Due to her tireless work in the Office of Economic Development, she received an Outstanding Graduate Assistantship Award this past fall. Her intelligence and charm also impressed classmates in the Thomas Jefferson Program for Public Policy. “She was incredibility intelligent,” Jack Cooper M.P.P ’14 said. “She managed to always get that across without ever flaunting it. I think a lot of people liked and respected her for that.
She was also really funny. She had this wit that you never quite saw coming.” In her spare time, she played the flute and piccolo for the William and Mary symphony and took care of her cat, Heath. Vorhis is survived by her mother, Patricia Murphy, her father and stepmother, Richard and Sarah Vorhis, and her brother, Kevin. A memorial service for Vorhis will be held Friday, Jan. 25 at 3:30 p.m. in the Commonwealth Auditorium of the Sadler Center.
Singer-songwriter DeGraw to headline concert
Donor and student leaders collaborate to choose artist for Charter Day concert
DEGRAW from page 1
now available to support other student programming this semester; and the donor benefits because any proceeds from the concert will support that person’s primary philanthropic interest, Global Flight Relief.” AMP is still providing some funds for the concert in order to reduce student tickets to only $15, but is looking at hosting an additional concert for students later this spring. Student leaders chose the artist in collaboration with the donor. The Grammy Awards, which fell on Feb. 10, prevented some artists from being available for the Charter Day concert, but the administration and a committee of AMP and Student Assembly members eventually chose Gavin DeGraw. Student leaders chose the artist based on collaboration with the donor. “AMP and the Student Assembly have been supportive the whole time but the donor was able to provide us with a lot of the brunt work,” AMP Music Chair Philip Basnight ’13 said. “It turned out, as it often does in music, that Gavin DeGraw was the best fit. He’s been on the radio recently and fell in our price range.” Some negotiations with other artists fell through due to scheduling conflicts before DeGraw’s ultimate selection. Student opinion of the concert artist selection varies according to musical taste. “I wasn’t excited,” Alex McDorman
’13 said. “I don’t think I’ll go. I’m not really into country music, and I feel like most of the students here aren’t either.” DeGraw, a New York native who sings and plays piano and guitar, is known for his songs “Chariot,” “In Love With a Girl,” “Follow Through,” “Not Over You,” “Soldier” and “Sweeter,” in addition to his hit “I Don’t Want to Be,” which has been featured on American Idol and as the theme song for the television drama One Tree Hill. “I appreciate his mixing of styles — he’s rockish but he has some punk,” Dominique Jenkins ’16 said. “I like his music; he’s very unique and kind of flies under the radar. I think that because we’re a very diverse campus and everyone’s accepted, it’s important to get the people who fly under the radar, so Gavin DeGraw is a really good choice. I’m so excited [for the concert].” The performance, which will be held at 8 p.m. on Feb. 9, is part of a series of events that celebrates the College’s establishment by a royal charter from the British crown. “[The concert] definitely adds the exclamation point to the weekend, the grand finale,” Charter Day Co-Chair David Alpert ’13 said. “It’s one of the highlights for me and most students.” The Charter Day performer is usually announced at the Yule Log ceremony before winter break. “We were still in negotiations with Gavin DeGraw at that point,” Fredrick said. “Instead of making an announcement and then having to say it’s not happening, we wanted to make
Courtesy photoS / TOP: CONCERTLIVEWIRE.COM; BOTTOM: GAVINDEGRAW.COM
In 2005, Gavin DeGraw was nominated for a Billboard Music Award for Top Soundtrack Single of the Year with “I Don’t Want to Be.”
sure that it was actually confirmed. I think it was a little disappointing because it has become a nice tradition and it gets people interested, but it is better to be relaying the appropriate information.” Students can purchase tickets online or at the Kaplan Arena Box Office for $15. Floor seats are an additional $10.
Robofusion first of its kind DINING from page 1
an email. “Work will begin on the interior of Sadler once the facility closes for the summer.” Dining Services also introduced Robofusion, a robotic frozen yogurt machine, outside the Student X-Change. The machine’s robotic arm serves Reis and Irvy’s frozen yogurt and will accept cash and Express. “Students have been asking for frozen yogurt in the dining locations so Robofusion is a perfect solution,” Alston said in an email. “We are also proud to say that Robofusion is the first machine [of its kind] on a college campus.”
Students Brittney Harrington ’15 and Brittany Reynoso ’15 tried the machine out Thursday afternoon. “It doesn’t taste like frozen yogurt,” Harrington said. Reynoso agreed, commenting on the choice of topping options. “The vanilla looks like orange,” Reynoso said. “The toppings are okay. … They’re more like ice cream toppings; there’s no fruit.” This spring, Aramark’s dining contract will be completed and the company will need to renew its contract with the school in order to continue operating as the College’s Dining Services.
Student influence led to new option QDOBA from page 1
“Qdoba was chosen because of the popularity of the national brand with students and they offer a variety of made to order menu items can be easily prepared in the Lodge space,” Alston said in an email. “Student have been asking for a late night option.” Micky Green ’16 could not agree more. “It’s perfect because I always get out of practice late and the [Commons Dining Hall] is closed and now I have Qdoba,” Green said. Manager for the Richmond Road Qdoba Mike Duffy said Dining Services approached him about coming to campus just as he was attempting to get in touch with them. “The school approached me which we were excited about because as you are aware a lot of the businesses are here because you guys are here,” Duffy said. “I continue to get comments from the students about whether or not we’re going to take the flex card and they’re always disappointed. … You guys are our bread and butter.” The new Lodge 1 establishment will accept dining dollars, express, cash and credit cards. There is no mention of a meal swipe option in the
announcement. According to College Dining Services, Qdoba will be offering its burritos, tacos, quesadillas and other menu items in Lodge 1 from 7:00 p.m. until midnight. Friday through Tuesday. Ingredients will be prepared at the Qdoba Mexican Grill on Richmond Road and then transported to Lodge 1, where menu items will be made to order. “Everything will be made fresh in front of the students,” Duffy said. “I think this is going to work out for us and I think that it really benefits the students. … The students are really excited.” Alston also expressed optimism for the incorporation of Qdoba on campus. “We hope that students will enjoy having Qdoba on campus and enjoy the addition of the late night option,” Alston said. Currently Qdoba is not open after 10:00. The incorporation of Qdoba as a late night option extends on-campus dining as well as the opportunity for students to dine at the Mexican establishment. As of now, there is no scheduled end date to the inclusion of Qdoba as a meal plan option in Lodge 1. “I think positive feedback from the students will help determine how long we’ll be here,” Duffy said.
Doug Bunch, W&M ’02 and ’06, will be joining William and Mary Catholic Campus Ministry’s Theology on Tap series to present an inspiring and animated talk on “Social Justice: Connecting the Children of the Developing World!” Doug serves as the chair of Global Playground, an organization dedicated to raising awareness and sharing resources to create educational opportunities for children in developing nations. Doug brings a unique perspective on how Catholic theology plays a role in his work with these children. Come out for good food, good drink, and, of course, good theology! When: 7:00pm January 22, 2013 Where: Paul’s Deli 761 Scotland Street Williamsburg, VA 23185
More info. on Global Playground at: http://theglobalplayground.org/ Contact Us!
maryranderson31@gmail.com
Join our facebook group!
Williamsburg Theology on Tap
Save the date! The next Theology on Tap will be on February 19th with Catholic Comedian Judy McDonald!!
matt carpenter / THE FLAT HAT
The Qdoba late-night option will officially open today and will operate from Friday to Tuesday, 7 p.m. until midnight.
Page 4
Friday, January 18, 2013
The Flat Hat
Board of visitors
faculty
McDonnell appoints alumnus Former professor passes away Gerdelman to Board of Visitors
Gerdelman previously served as chair of the W&M foundation
Engs consulted on Lemon Project
by katherine chiglinsky Flat hat news editor
by jill found flat hat Editor-in-chief
Gov. Bob McDonnell appointed alumna Sue Gerdelman ’76 to the College of William and Mary’s Board of Visitors, filling the seat left vacant after the resignation of former Board member Laura Flippin ’92 in September. Gerdelman has a diverse range of experience that includes teaching elementary school and working as an associate director of the National Economic Council. She also served as an executive assistant to the assistant to the president for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism. “This is great news for the university,” Rector of the College Jeffrey Trammel ’73 said in a press release. “Sue is a devoted alumna of William & Mary and cares deeply about its future. As the previous chair of the
Robert F. Engs, a former visiting professor at the College of William and Mary and consulting scholar on the Lemon Project, died Monday, Jan. 14. “He was one of the early historians of African American History, and his scholarship is a great model for all historians”, professor Jody Allen, who worked with Engs as the Managing Director and co-chair of the Lemon Project, said in an email. “For me personally, he was a great sounding board. He was also a dear friend and mentor. His support and confidence meant a great deal. He forced me to step out of my comfort zone; he challenged me, and I will always be thankful to have had him in my corner.” In an email to the students and faculty yesterday, Provost Michael Halleran Engs described Engs’ long-standing ties to the College, including serving as the Commonwealth Visiting Professor 20 years ago and as a Visiting J.P. Harrison Professor of History in 2008. “He was one of the early historians of African American History, and his scholarship is a great model for all historians,” Allen said. “He did a lot to help us understand the early years of freedom in this area. His legacy will also be apparent in the people he taught and mentored,
COURTESY PHOTO / WMNEWS
Sue Gerdelman ’76 has a background in public service, even working as a volunteer on the 2001 presidential inaugural committee.
W&M Foundation, she is highly respected by members of the Board. We look forward to working with her in this new capacity.” As an alumna, Gerdelman has
remained active at the College. She previously served as the chair of the William and Mary Foundation and received the Alumni Medallion in 2011.
Gerdelman will serve for the remaining two years of Laura Flippin’s four-year term and will be eligible for reappointment in 2014.
Gates selected as speaker two years in a row GATES from page 1
Student Assembly President Curt Mills ’13 noted that the chancellor’s ability to connect to students as an alumnus of the College made him a great speaker for Charter Day. “The last five have included a prime minister of England and a Supreme Court justice,” Mills said. “It’s pretty big, steep company for the chancellor, but he’s very impressive.” Additionally, Lois Critchfield, former CIA employee and dedicated volunteer at the
Wendy and Emery Reves Center for International Studies, will be awarded an honorary degree at the event. She received the College’s Lord Botetourt Award, presented to non-alumni friends of the College, in 2005, and was named an honorary alumna of the university the following year. Working closely with the Reves Center, she created the James H. Critchfield Memorial endowment for Middle East Studies in 2003 and helped establish the Critchfield Conference on Middle Eastern Studies, which is held every two years at the College.
john lee / THE FLAT HAT
Gates was inducted as Chancellor of the College at last year’s Charter Day.
formally and informally.” Engs spent much of his career at the University of Pennsylvania where he served as the undergraduate director of the history department and co-chair of the Afro-American Studies Program. After retiring, Engs began to work with the Lemon Project, which aims to reconcile the College’s offenses against African Americans through scholarship and by building bridges between African Americans at the College and in the Greater Tidewater area. “I teased him and called him the father of the Lemon Project, and he would always laugh,” Allen said. “In fact, it was true. He did the work that convinced the Board of Visitors to take action.” Engs’ work focused on the post-Civil War American South. His written works include “Freedom’s First Generation: Black Hampton, Va., 18611863,” which is about the African American experience of Reconstruction in Hampton, Va. Many historians consider it a groundbreaking work. “His youthful spirit, humor, and iconoclasm, along with his unwillingness to settle for tokenism or can’t, made his company ever a pleasure,” former Provost Geoff Feiss, who graduated from Princeton in 1965 with Engs and College President Taylor Reveley, said in Halleran’s email. A family visitation will be held tonight at Bucktrout Funeral Home from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. The Funeral service will be Saturday, Jan. 19 at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church at 10:00 a.m.
W&M in Washington INFORMATION SESSION Thursday, January 24
Blair Hall 229, 6:00pm
Spend the Fall semester with The W&M in Washington Program! Fall 2013 Theme: “The International Economy and Deepening Globalization in the 21st Century” Taught by Berhanu Abegaz of the Economics Department
Apply Online: www.wm.edu/wmindc
The Flat Hat
Page 5
Friday, January 18, 2013
virginia
McDonnell plans to bring TFA to Virginia Legislation suggests incorporating program into Virginia schools by 2013-14 school year by Ellie kaufman flat hat chief STAFF WRITER
Gov. Bob McDonnell recently announced plans to pursue legislation that would allow Teach for America corps members to work in Virginia schools. Teach for America currently operates in 46 regions and 36 states across the country, placing recent graduates in high-need schools. “Virginia is blessed to be so highly ranked in public education, but there are pockets of concern, and we see TFA as a vehicle to begin building the advocacy pipeline,” Virginia Deputy Secretary of Education Javaid Siddiqi said. “While the commitment is two years we see this as a sustainable model to bring in advocates.” 25 graduates from the College of William and Mary joined the 2012 Teach for America corps, making the College one of the top 20 producers of TFA corps members. A Virginia chapter of TFA would offer some interested students job opportunities closer to home. Siddiqi believes that adding a TFA chapter in Virginia would begin changing the education culture that exists in some parts of the state. “We believe that these TFA candidates can be helping to support vacancies in harder to staff schools and begin changing the culture [to one] that says all kids can learn and we are going to do whatever it takes to make sure they are learning,” Siddiqi said. McDonnell hopes to pass legislation that would allow TFA to begin working in Virginia by the 2013-14 school year. TFA already actively recruits recent graduates from Virginia public universities, with the College as one of its top producers of new corps members. Career Center Assistant Director and TFA Campus Liaison Holly Klenk has not seen the lack of availability for TFA sponsored jobs as a hindarance to senior applicants interested in joining the corps.
“I don’t know if it would have an effect because I have never heard a student say that they [would] want to apply but [won’t because] there is no chapter in Virginia,” Klenk said. “I think it can only help.” Teach for America corps members come from a variety of backgrounds at the undergraduate level and agree to teach at a school for two years. TFA sends corps members to a five-week summer teaching education institute and provide them with support throughout their years of teaching. Faith Le ’12 is currently working at a charter school in Chicago as a TFA corps member. Before beginning her work as the only science teacher in a new charter school with a freshman class of 180 students, Le participated in the five-week summer institute at a Chicago public school. “It is a crash course in education, and it doesn’t align at all with what you are teaching in the classroom, for me at least,” Le said. “It gave me experience with things I have to deal with emotionally every day.” The students at Le’s charter school are selected by a lottery system. The school will continue to grow until it is filled with four years of students and the first class of graduates moves on to college. “Charter schools are funded independently, and they tend to target TFA members,” Le said. “They like that we have a high turnover rate for teachers because they pay them less and they work really hard, which is not as sustainable [with] regular teacher.” Once selected by TFA, Le applied to Chicago area schools that agree to hire TFA teachers. Corps members apply for their own jobs and must be hired independently of TFA at a school in their given region. “My experience with TFA itself has not been what I expected,” Le said. “At its core, I agree with its mission statement, but at the same time I think TFA out of
All photos courtesy / FAITH LE
Faith Le ’12 teaches science at a charter school in Chicago as a part of TFA. Her students are part of a freshman class of 180 students in the new school.
Chicago is very political. I feel like my classroom is very successful, but I know that TFA wants to do certain things.” In addition, corps members must complete a teaching certification while working as corps members, and are also able to pursue a masters degree in education. By the end of two years, corps members have teaching experience, a teaching certificate and a network currently of 28,000 corps alumni spread out nationwide in a wide range of career fields. “I think if students are interested in making a difference by closing the achievement gap, it is definitely something they should look into, but it’s challenging,” Klenk said. “It’s not an easy job, so students should definitely come to the information sessions or talk to alumni who have done it, but I think it can be a really positive opportunity.”
Mimi Laycock ’14 first learned about TFA when her older sister joined the corps after college in Atlanta. She is now working as the Campus Campaign Coordinator at the College, where she attempts to increase awareness about TFA on campus for potential applicants. “Basically our jobs include a lot of social media, so we do a lot of Twitter and Facebook and publicizing for TFA,” Laycock said. “I really liked that TFA doesn’t expect you to stay a teacher. They want you to take those experiences and go be a lawyer, go be a doctor, go be in politics, which is something I can get behind.” Laycock believes that implementing TFA in Virginia would only increase senior applicant interest. “I think the opportunity to teach in their home state could entice more people to apply,” Laycock said.
opinions
Opinions Editor Ellen Wexler fhopinions@gmail.com
The Flat Hat | Friday, January 18, 2013 | Page 6
Staff Editorial
Dining: Small steps G
By Patricia Radich, Flat Hat Graphic Designer
After Newtown, reforming a violent culture Andrea Aron-Schiavone
Flat Hat Opinion Polls What was the biggest highlight of the Fall 2012 semester? r: Othe 6%
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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 Katherine Chiglinsky, Elizabeth DeBusk, Katie Demeria, Jill Found 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.
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someone who has blurred the distinction between reality and fantasy, this desensitization can be dangerous. Additionally, many improvements can be made regarding our understanding of mental illness, as well as our treatment of it. Certain laws currently make it difficult to institutionalize a mentally ill individual until it is too late, and limited funding for such institutions sometimes only provides for a few days Flat Hat Staff Columnist of hospitalization, when in reality, weeks are needed for Although this past Monday marks exactly one month since the medication to take effect. To many Americans, receiving help for a mental illness is viewed as weak, and those who are Newtown tragedy, the shock and pain continues to reverberate mentally ill are often referred to as “crazy.” through our national conscience. As a country, we have realized We must not despair nor sit idly by. As college students, our that we cannot make sense of this horrific event; we can only role in improving the future of our culture is more crucial than attempt to prevent such a terror from happening again. Of course, this is much easier said than done. Although writing we may realize. We are the next generation of psychologists tougher gun control laws is an easier, more convenient answer, and psychiatrists, screenwriters and media producers, lawyers it is not the one our country needs, nor is it logical to pursue. and legislators, and ultimately, the next generation of parents. Unfortunately, the facts show us that criminals who are determined Students at the College of William and Mary are creative, to get guns will use whatever means necessary to acquire them. bright and compassionate people dedicated to bettering our After tightening gun laws in Chicago and Washington, D.C., world. These are the qualities necessary to start a “cultural revolution” of sorts in American murder rates actually increased society. significantly. We have the innovation and In the wake of the pain and suffering We aren’t fazed when our tenacity to pursue reforms, develop the Newtown community has endured, friends pull the trigger on treatments, create movies and we owe this town and future generations digital guns in Call of Duty video games, conduct research, and more than ineffective, politicallyfor hours on end, nor do we establish movements that cultivate motivated, divisive measures — we bat an eye when we see kids new, healthier attitudes toward the need something around which we can re-enacting aggressive scenes entertainment industry and the all unite to create a safer America. mentally ill. As future parents, and We must initiate deeper conversation from television shows. even today as older siblings, cousins, in order to acknowledge and ameliorate tutors and mentors, we can have the shortcomings of our culture in two significant areas: our entertainment industry and the stigma and educated conversations with children about mental illness and about peaceful conflict resolution. We can instill in them challenges related to the treatment of mental illness. empathy and respect. We can serve as positive influences, Violence has become an integral part of our entertainment. watching and engaging in more age-appropriate, educational, Last month, Quentin Tarantino’s “Django Unchained,” a movie enriching media with them; we can let them remain innocent essentially glorifying violent acts, broke the record for the topand unexposed to images of aggression and violence as long grossing, R-rated movie released on Christmas Day (and the fact as possible. that such a movie was even released on that day is somewhat This is not an overly optimistic outlook, and it is an disturbing in and of itself). Yet, this exemplifies the larger attainable goal. A less violent, more sensitive and empathic problem: We aren’t fazed when our friends pull the trigger on culture is within reach, and we can be the ones to grasp it and digital guns in Call of Duty for hours on end, nor do we bat make it a new reality. an eye when we see kids re-enacting aggressive scenes from television shows to produce laughter from their friends. We may Email Andrea Aron-Schiavone at acaronschiavon@email. find ourselves relatively desensitized to media violence, and to wm.edu.
iven the notoriously bad reputation of dining services at the College of William and Mary, students did not meet the announcement that all students in the class of 2015 and every class onward who live on campus would be required to have a meal plan with much enthusiasm. Since that announcement, however, we have been pleased to see Dining Services has stepped up their game. Requiring on-campus students to purchase meal plans is not rare. Colleges known for their dining services, such as Virginia Commonwealth University and Virginia Tech, require on-campus students to have meal plans. The guaranteed money coming into dining services allows these campuses to boost the quality of students’ meals. The College is merely attempting to follow the model set by schools with top-notch dining services. Furthermore, the recent announcement that students will be allowed to select block meal plans means that dining services will better be able to accommodate students who want fewer meals, such as those students living in the Ludwell apartments or Tribe Square. We cannot praise Dining Services enough for asking for student feedback and trying to respond to what students want. Through the Text and Tell program, Dining Services not only can receive student feedback on the food, but also can make immediate improvements. Students have more options, such as Qdoba late night at Lodge 1 and the Robofusion frozen yogurt machine outside the Student Exchange. Despite these changes, many students are not pleased to be shelling out money for a meal plan. Even with these new additions, Dining Services at the College is still in a transition phase. The most prominent setback facing Dining Services is the bad reputation attached to its food. Students simply should not be required to pay for doughy pizza, wilted salads or stale bagels. As Dining Services continues to raise the bar for food at the College, we want to see direct improvements to the recipes or ingredients used in preparing the food. The College must strive to improve the quality of food for all students at the College, especially students with special dietary needs. If gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan students are required to purchase meal plans, dining services must provide varied and high quality options for these students. While serving the needs of all students has been difficult in the past due to a lack of funding, we are optimistic that Dining Services can better provide for all of the students at the College by requiring all students to purchase meal plans. We want to say thank you to Dining Services for all of the new improvements we have seen on campus. We also want to encourage it to evaluate its current methods for food preparation. These improvements, while very basic, are needed in order to change the student attitude toward the dining halls on campus. The College’s dining services should be on par with those of other state colleges. We support Dining Services in its current efforts to improve the dining experience on campus, and we hope that it will use its resources to continue to improve the quality of the food served on campus.
Gettin g #1 schranked Harry ool for Po fans: 1tter 2%
l entinas: d i s e Pr lectio 8% e 1
Dalai Lama visit : 56%
Poll By Zach Hardy
Why students aren’t appreciative of parents’ financial support, in one statistic Matt Camarda
Flat Hat Assoc. Opinions Editor
I’d be willing to guess the majority of students at the College of William and Mary are a product of the American Dream. At some point in your lineage, your ancestors — maybe your parents, grandparents, great-grandparents or even further back — came to this country with little means and worked. And worked. And worked some more — in many cases becoming victims of the same oppression they were fleeing in the first place. Yet somehow, they made it through unreasonable circumstances to improve life for their children and their children’s children. Now that their dreams have been realized, and their descendants, even if it’s a century later, attend expensive, prestigious
institutions of higher education, some of them would be pretty disappointed. According to a new study published in the American Sociological Review, the more money parents contribute to their children’s college education, the lower their grades. This is embarrassing. No one likes being told how lucky he is and what a great opportunity he has. It doesn’t change the fact that, for students attending the College with their parents’ help, both of those things are true. The study’s findings don’t mean that students are the only ones guilty of not recognizing how lucky they are. Parents who casually shell out hundreds of thousands of dollars on their children’s education — without making their expectations and the magnitude of their contribution clear — risk seeing lower achievement, complacency and a false sense of entitlement in their kids. To everyone’s credit, however, this isn’t always easy, especially during freshman year. It’s difficult to communicate expectations about grades
and performances while simultaneously saying goodbye to one’s child. Neither is it easy for the student, who must live up to his or her parents’ expectations while also trying to establish themselves in a new life. But this process should get easier as college life becomes more of a reality for both students and parents, and it’s necessary for success, especially for those students whose parents are paying the full price tag. Examining my own experience as a current freshman, I consider my parents, who generously agreed to pay for all four years of my out-of-state tuition — a large amount of money. In some ways, it’s a relief that their expectations are that I work hard and get help when I need it; they trust me with the former, not as much with the latter. However, knowing when I’ve fulfilled their expectations can sometimes be difficult. My dad often says something along the lines of, “This is good, but I bet you can do better” in reaction to my grades. While I love that he believes I’m capable of greater
achievement, I want him to be satisfied. Let me be clear: I’m not suggesting helicopter parenting. We’ve earned our autonomy. But if parents and students don’t communicate about their financial and academic expectations,
everyone will lose sight of what a great opportunity college is and the past toils that made the opportunity possible in the first place. Email Matt Camarda at mjcamarda@ email.wm.edu.
Graphic by Lindsay Wade / the Flat hat
variety
Variety Editor Abby Boyle Variety Editor Sarah Caspari flathat.variety@gmail.com
The Flat Hat
| Friday, January 18, 2012 | Page 7
Stars of Iolanthe shine in show
Acting, music, choreography excel in Gilbert and Sullivan’s fantasy opera BY BRIAN BOLT FLAT HAT STAFF WRITER
COURTESY PHOTO / JARRETT LEY
Lauren Harrington ‘13 plays the title role in Sinfonicron Light Opera Company’s production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Iolanthe,” which opens tonight.
The opera is generally considered a pretentious pastime. It’s a place where monocles and top hats flourish, where performers seem to have a somewhat supernatural ability to achieve both the highest and lowest ends of the singing spectrum, and Italian-encrusted sentences like, “The operetta’s libretto was magnifico!” thrive with peculiar regularity. Popular American culture seems to look down on the art form as a hopelessly upper-class European diversion. However, upon watching Sinfonicron Light Opera Company’s production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Iolanthe,” directed by Kelsey Schneider ’14, I was struck by how entertaining a night at the opera could be. There are no traces of tragic melodrama, merely a genuinely comedic tale of true love across a social — and mystical — divide. At the outset of the tale, the audience is introduced to a group of fairies who form the female ensemble. It’s made clear at once that they are flighty, sprightly creatures who retain their youthful beauty and grace forever. Enter the Queen of the Fairies, played with a powerful self-assurance by Christine Jacobs ’16. The fairies plead to her to summon Iolanthe, a member of their party who has been cast into isolation for the past 25 years for marrying a mortal. The Queen ultimately relents, and Iolanthe (Lauren Harrington ’13), summoned from her stream of frogs, reunites with her fairy kindred. The pardoned fairy reveals that she has produced a son, Strephon (Sky Jarrett ’16), who is now on the cusp of manhood, seeking to marry the lovely Phyllis (Addie Schafer, ’13), the
Lord Chancellor’s ward of court. Iolanthe, despite being the eponymous character, has little to do with the central conflict of the play. The story is mostly concerned with the relationship between Strephon and Phyllis, as well as with the many obstacles in the way of their marriage, the most obtrusive of which is the Lord Chancellor himself, played with a surge of unrivaled bombastic energy by Chris Richardson ’13. The Lord Chancellor, believing Strephon to be a lowly Arcadian shepherd, disapproves of the engagement and may or may not have an interest in Phyllis himself. Backing up the Lord Chancellor is the male ensemble, a motley collection of lords, counts, earls and barons, who cry out “Bow, bow, ye lower middle classes!” so often it might as well be their creed. In this ensemble, Lord Tolloller (Andreas Moffet ’15) and Lord Mountararat (Ethan Roday ’14) serve as a unique comic duo, each vying for the affections of Phyllis. Adding to his distress, Strephon is faced with the singular problem of being only half- fairy. He is blessed with immortality from the waist up, but his lower half remains disappointingly mortal. Although he is treated with tenderness and affection from his mother and fairy “aunts,” Strephon is subject to derision and contempt from the Lord Chancellor and his peers. The remainder of the play deals with various romantic misunderstandings and unraveled secrets that could only be plausible in a narrative already stuffed to capacity with prancing palace guards and a variety of fairyhuman love connections. A higher conflict in the narrative, however, lies with the distance between the fairy culture and the members of Parliament. The strongest sections of the
play occur whenever the male and female ensembles are both present on stage, battling each other with their vocals and eccentric dance moves. Although Gilbert and Sullivan wrote the play in the late 1800s, the setting has been shifted to 1960s swinging London. It’s a conceit that isn’t expressed entirely clearly as fairy fashion doesn’t necessarily change over the millennia and upper-class Parliament members wear dark suits that could belong to any modern decade — some skinny ties and mod dresses would have been fun. However, the stylistic decision was definitely evident in the choreography that included quirky ‘60’s dance staples like “The Twist” and “The Monkey.” The featured dancers, Megan Tatum ’15 and Mallory Tucker ’15, shone exceptionally as two fairies with a bit more confidence in their abilities, flitting across the stage with an inimitable effervescence. It’s absolutely certain that the show wouldn’t have possessed a tenth of its appeal without a talented orchestra, which often blended into the background, enhancing the actors’ performances, but sometimes walloped the audience with a thunderous authority. An added pleasure comes after the curtain call when the orchestra performs familiar ‘60s songs such as “Happy Together,” a treat that could serve as a show unto itself. All in all, “Iolanthe” is an unexpected delight. The ability of everyone involved, both onstage and off, is distinctly evident and serves as a reminder of what can be accomplished when individuals with different talents band together to deliver an intensely watchable product. “Iolanthe” plays Jan. 17-20 in Phi Beta Kappa Memorial Hall.
New Model Arab League team recruits for spring competition
Debaters to develop skills, immerse themselves in current Middle Eastern issues BY AINE CAIN FLAT HAT ASSOC. VARIETY EDITOR
From genocide in Syria to political tangles in Egypt to crises in Palestine, students at the College of William and Mary will have the chance to address and learn about a wide range of problems facing the Middle East through the Model Arab League’s new competition team. The league is currently seeking 10 students for the team, and selections will take place by Feb. 1. Religion and humanities professor Tamara Sonn will be the group’s advisor. Once the
recruitment process is complete, the Model Arab League encourages all students to attend and participate in its bi-weekly practices, held in preparation for upcoming national competitions. Model Arab League Director and Arabic House Tutor Raneen Abou Khadra was inspired by her time with the State Departmentsponsored Middle East Partnership Initiative and hopes to draw from this experience in order to establish the new team. Abou Khadra, a Fulbright scholar, is optimistic that her undertaking will attract enthusiastic debaters. “At this early stage of the process, I’m mainly hoping that we’ll have enough candidates that are all [as] passionate and excited
Starstuck at the College Members of the College community entertained over break Actress Glenn Close ’74 attended the Golden Globes on Jan. 13 and received attention for her participation in an on-screen bit with hosts Amy Poehler and Tina Fey. At one point during the broadcast, Poehler and Fey took the stage with drinks in hand, calling out stars in the audience. Fey said “look how drunk Glenn Close is,” then the camera cut to a shot of Close convulsing in her seat. Close was nominated for her role in the television show “Damages.”
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Reigning Miss Virginia 2012 Rosemary Willis ’14 traveled to Las Vegas to represent her state in the Miss America 2013 pageant earlier this month. Mallory Hagan, Miss New York, ended up winning the competition. Willis, a Chesapeake native, majors in government and minors in kinesiology at the College and won the state crown with a healthconscious platform. COURTESY PHOTO / NEWSGAB.COM
Vangelis Dimopoulos ’13 advanced to the next round of “American Idol.” Dimopoulos auditioned for the singing competition show at the end of last year in New York City. On Jan. 16, the show’s premiere episode showed Dimopoulos as one of 41 recipients in New York City of a “golden ticket” to go to the Hollywood round.
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as I am about this project,” Abou Khadra said in an email. “I hope that the group will work together and enjoy being a part of the Arab League and be able to share their knowledge with others.” According to Undersecretary to the Head Delegate Torey Jackson ’16, the team is registered for a conference in South Carolina in March. The team hopes to eventually participate in national-level competitions in Washington D.C. Jackson cites the success of the College’s International Relations Club as inspiration. “I’d like to see the team grow in the future and form a really strong base of members,” Jackson said. “I’d also like to see us win a lot. I guess I’d like for the Model Arab League to attain a level of notoriety in competition. Like, ‘Fear us, we’re awesome.’” The club aims to instill diplomatic skills in its members, including fluency in various Middle Eastern topics, social networking proficiency and assertive debating abilities. According to Middle Eastern Student Association Co-President Teymour Moinzadeh ’14, the new group will leave participants with a deeper understanding of the Middle East and will allow them to form their own opinions about pertinent issues in the region. The league emphasizes the importance of including participants with personal connections to the Middle East. These members will allow the team to draw from real-life experiences, opposed to simply reciting views based on media sources or classes. Students are encouraged to learn from one another. In the future, the group aspires to host competitions on campus. “I feel that the Model Arab League provides an amazing medium for students to discuss and meet other students around the country on these issues and produce a national dialogue for the youth,” Moinzadeh said. “The Model Arab League can be used to [supplement] the College’s Middle Eastern Studies program and host reputable scholars and leaders from the region. Most importantly, we want the Model Arab League to give every student the opportunity to voice their opinions without feeling [victimized] for their views.” Attending competitions will allow the league to connect with similar groups from other colleges. According to Jackson, a prominent team may also facilitate networking with Middle Eastern dignitaries and scholars. She added that the team’s competitive but friendly environment will make for an excellent social outlet. “Model Arab League is a great way to hone your debate skills and show off your knowledge,” Jackson said. “It’s also a great way to learn about other people’s perspectives. You need to learn how to tailor your debates in order to get things done. That’s what Arab League is about.” As the application deadline draws closer, Abou Khadra remains confidence about the group’s potential. “A great leader is one that leaves behind him a group stronger than he is,” Abou Khadra said in an email. “I’m hoping to leave behind future ambassadors to the Middle East.”
Williamsburg Muster Wargame Convention Historical, RPG, Sci-Fi games and more! February 1-3, Holiday Inn Patriot, Williamsburg VA 25$ for the weekend, less for GMS and early reg.
http://wbconventions.org/
Friday, January 18, 2013
Page 8
The Flat Hat
CONFUSION CORNER
Being a new you is overrated Dasha Godunova
confusion corner columnist
GRAPHIC BY PATRICIA RADICH / THE FLAT HAT
New group on campus adds to comedy community BY TAYLOR SCHWABE THE FLAT HAT
In the sandboxes of our childhood, there were castles to build, worlds to imagine and, for some, an ill-conceived snack to try. Sandboxes were all about play, creativity and fun. Sandbox Improv, the College of William and Mary’s newest improvisational comedy group, is no different. Sandbox Improv formed last semester and currently includes six students: Margot Pleasants ’16, Carly Machlan ’16, Zak Goldberger ’15, Robert Torrence ’15, Richard Sutherland ’14 and Claire Favret ’14. Favret — who Goldberger called an “improv-ologist” — is away this semester studying improvisation in Chicago, but without her the group wouldn’t exist. Favret met the group’s other members at callbacks for the College’s more established improv group, Improvisational Theatre. Following the auditions, Favret reached out to Torrence with the idea to form a new group. The members spent last semester practicing, and their semester culminated in their first show at the end of 2012. Even though the Sandbox Improv group came together because of I.T. and both perform improvisational comedy, the two organizations are supportive of one another. “We have a good relationship with them,” Torrence said. “They all came to our first show; they hugged us.” Ryan Warsing ’15, a member of I.T., responded in kind.
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“They are very talented,” he said. “It is interesting to see improv done from a different perspective, to see how they blended some of the stuff [I.T.] does with the Chicago style.” The two groups joke around about an epic rivalry existing between them, but at the end of the day, they want the best for each other. “I love them,” I.T. member Nathan Sivak ’13 said of Sandbox Improv. Apparently, the feeling is mutual. “I secretly love [I.T.] more than anything,” Goldberger said. Comedy lovers can keep their fingers crossed that the two groups may eventually perform together. Warsing suggested that collaboration might occur in the future. The main difference between the two groups is the style of improv they use. Sandbox Improv presents long-form improv, as opposed to the short-form that dominates I.T.’s performances. Short-form improvisation, according to Pleasants, consists of games that have rules and are relatively structured. Longform improvisational sketches focus less on the punch lines — as a result, there might not be as much immediate or uproarious laughter — and more on building a story. “There’s a little bit more depth to it,” Goldberger said. “We try to put more into each scene.” Group members strive to establish relationships and create some degree of a narrative throughout their show, all off the top of their heads. Each member has a different level of
experience and knowledge. Torrence and Sutherland joined the group without any background in improvisation. Goldberger, like Pleasants and Machlan, did improv in high school but feels he is still learning. Members practice by doing improv exercises, similar to those performed during a show and occasionally studying online videos. Their humor comes from the ease with which they interact. Their scenes are littered with pop culture references, nods to the College’s “Twampy” tendencies and wit, however the way they play off one another is what gets the laugh. Warsing, having seen their show last semester, was particularly impressed with Sandbox Improv’s ability to work together. “All of them seemed extremely confident on stage,” he said. “They worked well as a group, and each member had a unique personality and added something different to the show.” Even though the group is working to set up performances and gain new members, its attitude is quite low key. “We are just out to have fun and make some friends,” Torrence said. “We don’t call it rehearsal, we call it playing.” Although definitive dates have not been set, Sandbox Improv is planning to perform a show and hold a workshop and auditions by the end of January. Torrence encourages people to come if they have any interest at all. “The world is full of funny people,” Sutherland said. Because of Sandbox Improv, students at the College may get to see a few more of them.
LEARN
This Saturday, Ronald D. Utt, former senior The first week of classes can be stressful. Going over syllabi and ordering textbooks research fellow at the Heritage Foundation in can feel like a reminder of the work that is Washington, D.C., will sign copies of his latest to come over the course of the semester. book, “Ships of Oak, Guns of Iron: The War of Prepare yourself to jump back in by learning 1812 and the Forging of the American Navy,” on to relax with Laughter Yoga, a style of yoga the first floor of the College Bookstore. The book follows the War of that incorporates 1812’s naval battles, the physical and describing how the psychological American fleet of benefits of 17 ships was able to laughter. Bharata take on the British Wingham will Royal Navy. Utt, be instructing a who also served class this evening in the Reagan from 6-8 p.m. at Administration and the Williamsburg appears frequently Lodge. Tickets on C-Span and are $10 and may Fox News, will be be purchased at available from noon the door or in COURTESY PHOTO / DELAWARELIBRARY.ORG to 2 p.m. advance.
If even half of us stuck to our New Year’s resolutions, we would have a campus filled with perfect human beings who strut around with six-pack abs, have bank accounts overflowing with savings and can speak articulately about every political event, social issue and novel known to man. However, the beauty of being a college student is that in the eyes of the world, we are not yet adults, which allows us to wear sweatshirts three days in a row, sleep until lunchtime and watch every show available on Netflix. So this time around, instead of thinking about resolutions that would make me a better person, I began by re-evaluating the entire resolution scheme. Since I typically cannot remember 90 percent of my resolutions after February, I decided that maybe the tried and true resolutions our parents encourage us to adopt are not applicable just yet. For example, look at the “take better care of yourself” plan. In theory, it seems wonderful to eat healthier food, walk more instead of driving, go to bed earlier — these are lifestyle choices that many adults dream of making into habits. Unfortunately for the typical college student, most of the other 4,995 students at this school have been bent on abandoning this lifestyle since leaving their parents’ nest after high school graduation. Just as most fish avoid swimming upstream, we must realize that our current environment doesn’t encourage success in such ventures, and act accordingly. Going to bed earlier, while significantly increasing the number of “5 Hour Energy” shots available to the rest of us during exams, would also lead to a significant college-wide decrease in GPA averages, particularly since the bulk of papers and problem sets are completed well past midnight. Walking more would just give you less time to watch TV and play frisbee or Call of Duty: Black Ops in between classes — and may I remind you that, until retirement, college is our last chance to nap after lunchtime? Let’s also consider the “save money” conundrum. Whether you are an in-state student or not, your family is probably already dishing out thousands of dollars every semester that you have next to no hope of repaying. With that in mind, saving an extra 100 dollars per month seems not only fruitless, but almost counterproductive when compared to the massive loans we will have after graduation. Instead, we should adopt a “spend it while you have it” philosophy and at least wait until we enter the real world to become economical. Never again will that new video game or Starbucks frappuccino seem as desirable or as necessary as at this very moment. A Google search provided a few other popular resolution options, such as “drink less alcohol,” “lose weight,” “take a trip” or “volunteer,” all of which are wonderful on paper but are almost impossible to accomplish while on a college campus. Now that everyone has decided that January will be the month of regular gym attendance, the Student Recreation Center has become so packed with students that finding an empty treadmill or kettle bell becomes next to impossible. Taking an interesting trip also presents a problem, as the next break we have is Spring Break in March, the majority of which is spent trying to achieve a better tan than our friends. Volunteering, the most feasible option on the resolution list, also becomes an issue when class, homework, working out, lunch dates and sleep start to take precedence. But please don’t take this too seriously — if even .05 of a New Year’s resolution works out for you, your life is already .05 times better than before. I only encourage you to keep in mind that there is no rush to grow up. Instead, let January be a time to enjoy life back on campus, not a time spent worrying about who you want to be in the future. We have the rest of our lives to become geniuses, to bench press 200 pounds and to wake up just in time for a 7 a.m. run, but we each have only one college experience with which to delay entrance into the grown-up world for just a little longer. Dasha Godunova is a Confusion Corner columnist and can list every show available on Netflix off the top of her head.
WATCH
MOVE
Did you miss “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” while it was in theaters, or just want to see it again? Either way, AMP is screening the movie at 7 and 9 p.m. tonight and Saturday in Commonwealth Auditorium. Based on the book by Stephen Chbosky, “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” follows a shy freshman, Charlie (Logan Lerman), who becomes friends with two seniors (Ezra Miller and Emma Watson) after dealing with mental health problems. The film, which was released in September, won a 2013 People’s Choice Award for Favorite Drama Movie. Admission to each screening COURTESY PHOTO / M-EDIA.ME is $3.
Get started on your New Year’s resolution and work off all that delicious holiday food. Join the College of William and Mary Student Recreation Center in kicking off Fitness Free Week by sampling some free fitness classes. This Sunday from 2:306:30 p.m., the Rec Center will be offering shortened 30-minute versions of its regular classes for students and faculty to try. Challenge yourself with Body Combat, learn some Latin-inspired moves in Zumba or try something new with Spinalates — a combination of spinning and Pilates. The adrenaline will surely get you ready to tackle the semester.
sports
Sports Editor Mike Barnes Sports Editor Jared Foretek flathatsports@gmail.com
The Flat Hat | Friday, January 18, 2013 | Page 9
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Bad trip NOAH WILLARD / THE FLAT HAT
Sophomore guard Marcus Thornton finished with 13 points on 5 of 12 shooting, four assists, two blocks and three rebounds but the Tribe shot just 37.7 percent from the floor, dropping its sixth straight in a road loss to Georgia State Wednesday.
Another second-half collapse leaves Tribe looking for answers at 7-9 WILLIAM AND MARY TRIBE GEORGIA STATE PANTHERS
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BY CHRIS WEBER FLAT HAT ASSOC. SPORTS EDITOR It’s been 26 days since William and Mary last won a game. Victory has eluded the Tribe ever since its 33 point rout of Salisbury University Dec. 21 and eluded the squad again Wednesday night. The College (7-9, 1-4 CAA) saw a slim halftime lead disappear as Georgia State (7-11, 2-3 CAA) dominated the final minutes to win 74-58. The loss pushes the Tribe’s losing skid to six games. In what has become a recurring trend, the College failed to produce defensive stops and offensive output late in the contest. Down by 12 with under a minute to play, the Tribe saw any chance of a rally vanish as Georgia State compiled a 6-0 run to effectively put the game out of reach. The first half told a different story, however. With 14 minutes and 28 seconds remaining in the first,
sophomore guard Marcus Thornton hit a fast break jumper to ignite an 8-0 Tribe run, including back-toback Thornton buckets. Thornton finished an active night with 13 points, four assists, two blocks and three rebounds. At the 3:01 mark, sophomore forward Tom Schalk scored a lay-up to extend the College’s lead to 13. Both the offense and defense ran efficiently and effectively, and coach Tony Shaver appeared to have his squad in good shape. Georgia State clawed its way back into the contest before the half, however. A 10-1 Panther run was punctuated by Kevin Shaw’s threepoint shot with less than 12 seconds before the half-time buzzer. Clinging to a five-point lead heading into the half, the College’s inability to put away opponents became painfully clear in the second half. Georgia State hit eight of its first 10 shots of the second half, as the College’s lead quickly evaporated. The Panthers pulled into the lead as Rashaad Richardson hit a jumper with 14:40 remaining in the contest. Georgia State never relinquished that lead, using a 10-0 run to push
its lead into double digits. The Tribe fell behind as the game slipped out of reach, culminating in a 16 point defeat. Georgia State shot 43.1 percent from the field, while the College converted 37.7 percent of its shots. The Panther’s missed only two free throws en route to shooting 92 percent from the free throw line. Six consecutive losses since the win over Salisbury have soured an otherwise impressive start to the 2012-13 campaign for the Tribe. In that span, the College has suffered unbalanced scoring and poor bench play. Junior forward Tim Rusthoven, who recorded his second doubledouble of the season and ended with 20 points and 10 rebounds, has partnered with junior guard Brandon Britt and Thornton to account for the vast majority of the College’s offensive output during the six-game skid. In each loss, the trio has accounted for at least half of the College’s scoring. Rusthoven, Britt and Thornton score an average of 44.16 points per the last six losses. On five occasions, the trio has
accounted for more than 61 percent of the Tribe’s points; three times the trio has scored over 72 percent of the team’s points. While Rusthoven, Britt and Thornton have all increased their production, the bench players have seen a vastly different trend. During the six-game losing streak, the bench has averaged a meager 5.6 points per game. The nine eligible bench players have scored just two points on two occasions, and only three in another game. The College’s bench has not been alone in its unproductiveness. Starters not named Rusthoven, Britt or Thornton, have also struggled. The lone starting senior, guard Matt Rum, has averaged only 5.5 points per contest in the slide. Junior forward Kyle Gaillard has scored an average of 8.8 points per game. Rusthoven, Britt and Thornton have scored 265 points during the six game span. In contrast, the rest of the team has produced just 120 points. The College will look to sort out its unbalanced scoring as they next take the court against Drexel at home Saturday.
men’s BASKETBALL
Former star McDowell ’12 heads down under Former William and Mary captain Quinn McDowell signed with the Willetton Tigers of the States Basketball League in Perth. Australia Monday. The 2012 CAA Men’s Basketball Scholar Athlete of the Year, McDowell averaged 12 points per game in four years with the College. “Quinn is coming off a stellar college career,” Tigers head coach Matt Foster said in a press release. “Having averaged double figure points for the last three years of his college career, at a NCAA Division 1 level, Quinn will be one of the better credentialed players we have seen in the SBL.”
COURTESY PHOTO / TRIBE ATHLETICS
McDowell averaged 12 points per game in college.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Tribe outclassed by JMU for ninth straight loss, 82-52 College still winless in conference play, 2-13 overall
BY JACK POWERS FLAT HAT STAFF WRITER William and Mary suffered its ninth straight loss Thursday night, falling at James Madison in an 82-52 blowout. Now at 2-13 overall, the College is still seaching for its first conference win of the year to go along with its four CAA losses. The Dukes wasted no time taking control of the contest, scoring the first eight points and taking a double-digit lead on a Tarik Hislop jumper with 13 minutes, 11 seconds to play in the half. Head coach Debbie Taylor took a timeout, but things only got worse for the Tribe from there. On its next possession, sophomore forward KaitlynMathieu coughed it up and JMU’s Jasmine Gill converted a layup on the other end to put the Dukes up 23-10. The only standout performance for the College was that of senior forward Emily Correal. Correal — who became just the 16th player in school history to reach the 1,000-point mark back in December — was the only player to score in double-figures for the College, finishing with 21points on 8 of 19 shooting and 11 rebounds, another team-high. After the Dukes took a 41-31 lead into halftime, the College cut the deficit to eight when sophomore guard Anna Kestler connected on a layup. But JMU began to pull away in earnest when Crystal Ross responded with a layup of her own, kicking off an 11-0 run. Finally, when sophomore guard Kyla Kerstetter broke the College’s five minute, 46 second scoringdrought, the Tribe was down 54-37. The Dukes shot better all night, but especially in the second half. While JMU converted 50 percent of its field goal attempts in the second, the College shot just 26.7 percent from the floor.
Overall, the Tribe shot just 35 percent on the night as the Dukes shot 42.5 percent and a startling 53.8 percent from three. Another area that JMU dominated was the glass. The Dukes outrebounded the Tribe 50-33 and pulled down 24 on the offensive glass. All the offensive rebounds ultimately turned into 16 second-chance points for JMU. Turnovers also plagued the College all night as the Tribe turned it over 17 times and only forced 10 on the other end. The Dukes would finish with 21 points of turnovers to the Tribe’s six. After Kerstetter stopped the bleeding temporarily, though, the Dukes didn’t let up, launching another 6-0 run that put them up 6037 with 11:08 left. The College would never pull itself back within 20. As the College returns home to play just its third game at Kaplan Arena in two months, the Tribe must ponder another sub-.500 year. Barring a fantastic finish in which the College takes 11 of its final 14 regular season, all four of the team’s seniors — two of whom are in their fifth years — will graduate without having finished above .500. The team is even in danger of failing to crack the 10-win mark for the third straight year, despite Taylor saying she expected this team “to be the best team William and Mary has ever had on the women’s side.” Of course, regular season records only matter for seeding in the conference tournament in March, and the College will get a chance to get comfortable at home for its next three games. But that doesn’t mean the road ahead will necessarily be easier, as two of those three are against Drexel and Old Dominion, the first and third-place teams in the conference, respectively.
COURTESY PHOTO / TRIBE ATHLETICS
Senior forward Emily Correal was the only Tribe player to score in double-figures, finishing with 21 points and 11 rebounds.
The Flat Hat
Friday, January 18, 2013
Page 10