SPORTS // Tribe scores statement win, p. 8
Vol. 101, Iss. 46 | Friday, April 13, 2012
The Flat Hat The Twice-Weekly Student Newspaper
of The College of William and Mary
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Student assembly
Admissions
Student Assembly members inducted at ceremony in Wren Building
Class of 2016 most diverse
New SA sworn into office by meredith ramey FLAT HAT ASSOC. news editor
The members of the new 320th Student Assembly were formally inaugurated Thursday at a ceremony in the Wren Chapel. President Curt Mills ’13, Vice President Melanie Levine ’13 and the elected senators and class officers swore their oaths of office. Mills followed the oaths with his first speech as president, speaking of the accomplishments of the last presidency and how he will work to continue improve the SA. “[We will] build on this fundamentally changed SA,” Mills said. “[We will] form a new kind of government at the College.” Mills also described how the SA should focus on reflecting as well as reacting during the new term. “When I was in the Student Assembly, I felt like all we were doing was reacting,” Mills said. “I ask that all SA members reflect.” Lastly, Mills closed with a statement about the coming term.
“The Student Assembly faces an absolutely historic term,” Mills said. “Let’s transform this organization.” Outgoing SA President Kaveh Sadeghian ’12 and the keynote speaker, outgoing Senate Chair Noah Kim ’13, preceded oaths of office by recounting their tenure in the SA and the opportunities before the incoming SA. In his opening speech, Sadeghian spoke fondly of his time in the SA and the amount of policies the organization was able to accomplish throughout his term. “[Writing this speech] made me think a lot of how much the Student Assembly has done,” Sadeghian said. “You guys have done a tremendous job.” The speech was not free of jokes, however, as Sadeghian described how the name of the SA has become synonymous with free massages, an accomplishment in his eyes. Sadeghian also praised the various branches of the SA while focusing on its outgoing members. “The senators have been incredible,”
4,250 students accepted bY katherine chiglinsky
Flat hat news editor
Newly admitted students are already making an impact on campus. The class of 2016 stands as the most diverse applicant group to the College of William and Mary, breaking applicant records for the eighth year in a row. The College sent 4,250 acceptance letters for the class of 2016, anticipating a class size of 1,470. The Office of Undergraduate Admission handled 13,600 applications, a record number of applicants. “We’re excited by all the possibilities that we see in this class,” Dean of Admission Henry Broaddus said. “Our job is about trying to look for glimpses of human potential, and those glimpses this year have been really exciting.” The students admitted to the class of 2016 also set records as one of the most diverse classes. Almost 33 percent of admitted students are of color, which is an increase from last year’s 31.6 percent. Broaddus stressed that this will help increase diversity at the College, especially for underrepresented groups, and add to the experience of all students. “In order for William and Mary to produce leaders and people who are going to [be influential] and to be sure that [students are] going to navigate an increasingly diverse world, we have to make sure that the college reflects that,” Broaddus said. “We want to seek talent from all quarters and all communities; the diversity that we see in this group is a very healthy indicator.” International applicants, especially from western Asian nations such as China, also contributed to the growth in the applicant pool this year. “We, and most universities, are seeing a growth in international applicants,” Broaddus said. “The emerging middle class in China is looking at universities in the United States, and we’ve found ways to attract that group.” The Admission Office has found new ways to attract more applicants to the College, such as increasing the number of interviews available to potential students and, most recently, with their launch of the “Ampersand Box.” “The Undergraduate Admissions office
See inauguration, page 3
courtesy photos / ARIEL COHEN
Members of the Student Assembly are sworn in for the 320th session of the Student Assembly, including SA President Curt Mills ’13 and Vice President Melanie Levine ’13.
See ADMISSIONs, page 4
campus policy
Honor Code overhaul advised Medical amnesty policy reevaluated Review committee addresses ambiguities in code
by Ellie kaufman
by chris mckenna flat hat chief staff writer
The Honor Code is one of the longest standing and most significant traditions at the College of William and Mary. Since its inception in 1779, the Code has seen numerous changes, alterations and additions to reflect the continually evolving interests of the College community — and it’s about to see more. The President’s Honor System Review Committee published its findings and proposed changes last week in a draft report that, pending further review and the approval of College President Taylor Reveley, could mean major changes to the Honor Code as we know it. At the center of the Committee’s inquiry was one question: Is the current Honor Code the best way of doing things? The answer, according to members of the HSRC, is no. “I think that there’s a real misunderstanding of the Honor Code,” Law School Honor Council Chief Justice James Dougherty J.D. ’12 said. A large part of this misunderstanding has to do with ambiguities in the current code — and its length.
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SA proposes allowing medical amnesty for organizations
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“The code is so complicated; I don’t think flat hat chief staff writer that many students ever read it,” HRSC Chair professor Clay Clemens ’80 said. “The current Medical amnesty policies have been adopted one is really hard to read. It’s almost as bad as widely at universities across the country, including our undergraduate course catalogue.” the College of William and Mary. The annual review of The Code as it stands College policy has produced today was introduced in a proposal seeking to 1997 but most of its wording increase the policy’s reach. Check back with the Flat Hat ... is leftover from previous The current medical versions dating back to the amnesty policy allows for a breakdown of the proposed 40s and 50s, with newer students to seek medical policy changes to the Student additions added on top of assistance for fellow Handbook next Friday. the existing framework, students or themselves Clemens said. In response, without fear of repercussion the committee isn’t with alcohol or drug suggesting editing the current Code, but actually violations from the College administration. Student starting afresh. Handbook explains that while the policy does “We’re proposing a new document,” Clemens not preclude the Dean of Students from pursuing said. violations of the code of conduct and does not In addition to making the new system more prevent the College police from taking action, its efficient, the HSRC is proposing substantive intent is to promote campus safety and encourage revisions that will reach every corner of the students to seek help when it is needed. College community. Vice President of Student Affairs Virginia Ambler Among the largest revisions is the ’88 Ph.D. ’06 released proposed changes to the Student Code of Conduct in an email to the student body April 11, and one of the six proposed changes See HONOR, page 4
Inside opinions
See MEDICAL, page 3
Inside VARIETY
The norms of low admission rates
Sunny High 68, Low 45
alter the current medical amnesty policy. The proposal consisted of three major changes: clarity of the policy within the code itself, protection for organizations hosting events, and inclusion of the policy on a student’s record for a shorter period of time. In order to change the code, the Student Assembly submitted its proposal to Dean of Students Patricia Volpe. Ambler then receives suggestions from Volpe and the student body before making final recommendations to College President Taylor Reveley. SA Secretary of Student Rights Zann Isacson ’13 and Sen. Dallen McNerney ’14 submitted the changes to Volp on behalf of the SA. Isacson believes organizations are an integral part of student life and should be protected under the policy in the same way individuals are. “Considering how much an organization contributes to fostering a community within our school environment, efforts by an organization to foster retention and a family atmosphere should be encouraged,” Isacson said. Those who seek organizational protection under the medical amnesty policy are pushing back against
Prospective students put too much weight on college’s admission rates, causing colleges to try to reject as many applicants as possible. page 5
I am W&M week kicks off
For the third annual I am W&M week, the College is hosting a week of events to celebrate diversity. page 6