The Flat Hat February 23 2021

Vol. 110, Iss. 13 ¦ Tuesday, February 23, 2021

The Flat Hat The Weekly Student Newspaper

of The College of William and Mary

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HB 1980 Enslaved Ancestors College Access Scholarship and Memorial Program Commonealth of Virginia 2021 Special Session

Legislature passes

Establishes the Enslaved Ancestors College Access Scholarship and Memorial Program, whereby Longwood University, the University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, the Virginia Military Institute, and The College of William and Mary in Virginia, starting in the 20222023 academic year and with any source of funds other than state funds or tuition or fee increases, are required to annually (i) identify and memorialize, to the extent possible, all enslaved individuals who labored on former and current institutionally controlled grounds and property and (ii) provide a tangible benefit such as a college scholarship or community-based economic development program for individuals or specific communities with a demonstrated

GRAPHIC BY CARMEN HONKER / THE FLAT HAT

university reparations

Virginia General Assembly creates new scholarship program for descendants of enslaved individuals ETHAN BROWN // FLAT HAT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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ending the signature of Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, new legislation will require the College of William and Mary to offer some type of tangible benefit to at least one matriculating student who can demonstrate a historical connection to slavery starting during the 2022-23 academic year.

The Enslaved Ancestors College Access Scholarship and Memorial Program was formally passed by the Virginia Senate on a 22-17 vote the afternoon of Monday, Feb. 22. The legislation compels five public universities in the Commonwealth — Longwood University, the University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, the Virginia Military Institute and the College — to identify and memorialize the enslaved individuals who built these institutions to the fullest extent possible.

The bill also requires that these universities provide some tangible benefit, such as a tuition scholarship, for individuals or communities within the Commonwealth who can prove a historical connection to slavery.

According to the bill, this provision is designed to help individuals and communities who are still experiencing ramifications of slavery to “break out of the cycle of poverty.”

All five institutions were erected before the Civil War, and they all benefited directly and indirectly from slave labor. State Delegate Mike Mullin, a Democrat whose district covers Williamsburg and portions of James City County, York County and Newport News, said that slavery is intrinsically linked to the historical legacies of these universities, especially that of the College.

“Slavery was part of the College from the very beginning,” Mullin said. “We have records of the College not just enslaving people on its farms but getting into the slave trade — hundreds and hundreds of people over the course of the 18th century were bought and sold by the College right outside of Bruton Parish church. It was a regular part of the College’s life for more than half of its existence.”

Building off those historical legacies, the legislation requires the five universities to continue offering benefits through the College Access Scholarship Program until one of two scenarios have been met: each university must offer benefits for at least as long as the institution used enslaved individuals, or it must provide tangible benefits to more individual recipients than the number of enslaved individuals cumulatively used by the institution. For context, the College used enslaved individuals for 170 years, and the Lemon Project has uncovered evidence of at least 188 named and unnamed enslaved individuals used throughout the College’s history. This means that the College can choose to either offer benefits through the program until 2192 or provide benefits to at least 188 future students.

Longwood, UVA, VCU, VMI and the College have until July 1, 2022 to coordinate and establish guidelines with the State Council of Higher Education for implementing the scholarship program. The bill also strongly encourages all private colleges with similar historical legacies in the state to opt into the program. The bill prohibits universities from using state funds or tuition revenue to fund any tangible benefits, meaning that

funding will likely have to originate from private sources or institutional endowments.

Mullin voted in favor of the scholarship program when it passed in the House of Delegates earlier this month. Mullin said that the bill was a small way of rectifying the injustices committed by Virginia’s oldest public institutions in their early history. He also said that the College has been a leader on this front relative to other colleges and universities in the state.

“It’s time that Virginia as a Commonwealth acknowledge that in a substantive way,” Mullin said. “While the College has been very good at it, we as a Commonwealth have been very bad. This is a small way of saying that someone whose ancestors were enslaved to build this institution are owed something by the institution.”

State Senator Monty Mason ’89, a fellow Democrat who represents Williamsburg in the upper chamber, voted yes on the bill yesterday. Republican State Senator Thomas Norment J.D. ’83, whose district includes portions of James City and York Counties, voted no.

The Virginia General Assembly’s decision to address slavery’s legacies within the state’s higher education system mirror existing trends in the College’s Student Assembly, which has conducted research into reparations at the university level since 2019. Ifeoma Ayika ’21, co-chair of SA’s Ad-Hoc Committee on Reparations, said that the College should interpret the scholarship program’s passage as a sign that the university needs to create its own reparations program to augment the provisions that will soon be enshrined in Virginia law.

“I would recommend the administration take the serious approach of listening to the experts, and the people who are doing this work,” Ayika said in an email. “Currently, the Lemon Project houses the experts on how to carry out what is outlined in HB1980, and their work has been instrumental for so many Black people in Williamsburg. … If this bill passes, the administration should bring the opinions and ideas around both entities, and create a comprehensive reparations plan.”

Ayika expressed her excitement with the creation of the new scholarship program, noting that it was a positive step forward for the Virginia’s ongoing reckoning with institutional racism.

“I couldn’t imagine the VA legislature making this legislation even when I was a freshman, and I am so excited to see further commitments to racial justice and equity come from our government,” Ayika said.

College spokesperson Suzanne Clavet declined to comment on the specifics of the scholarship program, instead pointing to the College’s existing efforts to address institutional relationships with slavery. These include The Lemon Project and the Mellon Foundation Grant, a $1 million grant given in 2019 to conduct community engagement initiatives and research into the legacies of slavery and institutional racism at the College.

“That legislative process is still underway,” Clavet said in an email. “We certainly track proposed legislation, but the university has a practice of not commenting until the legislative process is complete… William & Mary is dedicated to telling a fuller, more consequential account of our history.”

CAMPUS

College hosts Anthony Fauci for community conversation Fauci issues caution, warns against complacency as nationwide COVID-19 cases decline ALEXANDRA BYRNE FLAT HAT CHIEF STAFF WRITER

During a pandemic that has often been politicized, the nation’s public health officials have struggled to disseminate facts regarding COVID-19 amidst the multitude of fictions. One of those officials — White House Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci — has become a household name over the past year. His message is consistent: listen to the science.

On Thursday, Fauci joined College of William and Mary President Katherine Rowe and Student Assembly President Anthony Joseph ’21 for a community conversation on pandemic misconceptions and the role of universities in combatting them.

Fauci has served as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984. As Rowe noted in her introduction, Fauci was a lead researcher at NIAID during the HIV/AIDS and Ebola epidemics, for which he received both praise and criticism from activists. But Fauci has never seen a spotlight as he has during the COVID-19 pandemic, nor has he seen a public health crisis this dire.

“The COVID-19 pandemic is historically the worst pandemic of a respiratory disease that we’ve had in 102 years,” Fauci said. “This is a very

INDEX News Opinions Variety Sports News

unusual virus. In all the experience that I have had in dealing with emerging and reemerging infections, I’ve never seen a virus that is so contrary in what you would expect.”

Fauci’s frankness has led to scrutinization of his public statements and guidelines, many of which change as the scientific evidence evolves.

From mask-wearing to testing and vaccinations, Fauci made clear his advice — and likewise — his warnings. His honesty and impartiality have undoubtedly contributed to the public understanding of the severity of this pandemic.

“Right now, as you and I are speaking Madam President, it is the leading cause of death in the United States,” Fauci said. “That is absolutely extraordinary.”

Fauci pointed to the high mortality rates and a large number of asymptomatic cases as contributing to the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the United States, he said, never dropped below a reasonable baseline number of cases before many states began to reopen businesses and schools.

“The big issue that has permeated the situation in the United States, making it different from other countries, is that we never got below a reasonable baseline,” Fauci said. “Then, as you recall, we tried to open up

Inside Opinions 2 3-4 5-6 7 8

The Word on Reparations Part 2: Implicit

Alton Coston III ’23 writes the second installment of Student Assembly’s ongoing series, “The Word on Reparations,” about his experiences at the College. page 3

Inside Variety

the economy in the early summer of 2020. The problem is that many states did not abide by the recommended way of opening up, namely gateway, phase one, phase two, phase three. Then what we had was another surge, that when it finally peaked, it came down to about 70,000 per day, which is totally unacceptable — far greater than any other country in the world.”

Those premature openings during the summer, as well as increased travel during the holiday season, led to exponential increases in cases.

During this time, hospitalizations nearly overran the system, Fauci said.

Though cases in the U.S. are declining, Fauci warned against complacency.

“Fortunately, now we have a dramatic diminution going down,” Fauci said. “But we can’t be complacent about that because there are variants, namely mutations, that could, in fact, turn it around again.”

For many students, the most pressing question is a very basic one: when will things go back to normal? The rapid emergence of effective vaccines, which Fauci labeled the only “roaring success” of the pandemic, has given the nation some hope. As more vaccines receive FDA emergency use authorization, many see the light at the end of the tunnel. But vaccine rollout has been slow, and herd immunity will require 85% of the population to be See FAUCI page 8

Inside Sports

Beauty Brains & Braids Bryana Moyler ’23 owns and operates a traveling Black hair company in the greater Williamsburg area. page 5

The NHL bubble

Lexie Hiestand ’23 says that the National Hockey League’s loose and unclear COVID-19 guidelines endanger players. page 7

newsinsight “

News Editor Charles Coleman News Editor Lulu Dawes News Editor Carmen Honker fhnews@gmail.com

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The Flat Hat ¦ Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021 ¦ Page 2

THE BUZZ

Many members of our student body are frustrated both by this event and by the lack of a response from the Law School administration at this point. Following the Black Lives Matter advocacy last year, William and Mary voiced its commitment to diversity this year, but it rings somewhat hollow when our administration has not responded to the concerns of this minority student group.

̶ Equality Alliance President Emily Milakovic J.D. 22

FLAT HAT NEWS BRIEF VDH launches vaccine preregistration system

BRIEF BY ALEXANDRA BYRNE AND CHARLES COLEMAN / THE FLAT HAT

A THOUSAND WORDS

COURTESY PHOTO / RILEY BUSBEE

CORRECTIONS The Flat Hat wishes to correct any fact printed incorrectly.

Corrections may be submitted in email 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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Pete Snyder founded the Virginia 30 Day Fund to help small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic̶now he is running to be the state s governor.

Alumnus runs for governor

Pete Snyder launches gubernatorial bid, hopes to take business experience to Richmond CLAIRE HOGAN // FLAT HAT DIGITAL MEDIA EDITOR When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States, Pete Snyder ’94 saw small businesses struggling to stay afloat. Using his background in business, he started the Virginia 30 Day Fund, aimed at providing short-term, forgivable loans to small businesses throughout the commonwealth. But as the pandemic raged on, the scope of the project grew, and with it, his ambitions. Now, the 48-year-old College of William and Mary alumnus is running for governor of Virginia, hoping to secure the Republican nomination in 2021.

At the College, Snyder was a walk-on wrestler, a member of Sigma Chi fraternity, class president and a government major who studied abroad in Moscow. Snyder speaks fondly about his time in Williamsburg.

“It was awesome,” Snyder said in a phone interview. “I absolutely loved being in the ‘Burg.

It truly changed my life, and I’m not being hyperbolic about that.”

After graduation, Snyder, at the age of 26, started New Media Strategies, one of the first social media marketing companies in the United States.

“I quit a decent paying job, for a 26-year-old, and when I gave notice and told them what I was doing, everyone thought I was insane, everyone thought I was crazy,” Snyder said.

The company was successful, and after 12 years, Snyder eventually sold the company to a larger firm. He then shifted his focus to his new startup: Disruptor Capital, an angel investment company that works directly with entrepreneurs.

Apart from his business ventures, Snyder also served on the College’s Board of Visitors and was a commentator on Fox News. But his latest venture, the Virginia 30 Day Fund, is different.

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck the United States, Snyder was on vacation at Disney World with his wife and daughter. After returning to Virginia, Snyder and his wife, Burson, realized that small businesses were in trouble.

“We took a look around for first day and we thought, ‘oh my gosh, what is going on?’”

Snyder said. “I’m a William and Mary guy, but I don’t have a medical degree, nor does my wife, so we were really kind of useless on the front lines there. But we do know something about small business.”

Snyder and his wife quickly founded the Virginia 30 Day Fund, a nonprofit dedicated to providing small, forgivable loans to small businesses throughout the commonwealth.

“Our mission was to save as many jobs and small businesses in Virginia as possible,” Snyder said. “When you’re dumb enough to name your nonprofit the ‘30 Day Fund,’ you think you’ll only have to be around for, I don’t know, a month?

Maybe 45 days? Nobody ever thought it would be 10 months, 11 months later.”

Though the Fund was meant to be a shortterm solution, it rapidly grew into a much larger enterprise, funding over 900 small businesses in Virginia. Snyder also helped to create 30 Day Funds in other states.

“We open-sourced what we do at 30 Day, to

allow others in other states, if they want to start a 30 Day Fund in their state, we would give them the nonprofit status and also our technology so they can accept applications and help them with the process,” Snyder said.

Two other College alumni serve on the board of the Virginia 30 Day Fund: Todd Stottlemyer ‘85 and Will Payne ‘01, both of whom have held positions on the College’s Board of Visitors.

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I m not a career politician, I ve never held elected office.

I wear that as a badge of honor. ̶ Peter Snyder 94

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The Virginia Department of Health launched a website Tuesday, Feb. 16 for Virginia residents to preregister for their COVID-19 vaccine. This registration system is available to full-time residents of Virginia, as well as students from outof-state attending universities in Virginia.

The COVID-19 response team has informed students at the College of William and Mary of the launch of this system and its applicability to students. Chief Operating Officer Amy Sebring encouraged the student body to preregister through VDH in a Feb. 16 email.

For those without internet access, VDH also launched a phone hotline with translation services in over 100 languages. Preregistration does not guarantee or provide a vaccine appointment, but rather provides registrants with information and updates on vaccine distribution.

Virginia is currently in phase 1B of vaccine rollout, which includes individuals over the age of 65, essential workers at high risk of contracting the virus and those with preexisting health conditions.

So far, more than 240,000 people have registered with the system. Not all parts of Virginia opted into the preregistration system—Fairfax County chose not to participate in the statewide effort. The system is not compatible with CVS Pharmacy’s national appointment system, so Virginians seeking to recieve the vaccine at CVS will continue to register through their website.

Virginia has vaccinated 13.9% of its population, with 6.1% having received both doses. Nationally, only Alaska has administered the first dose to over 20% of its population. Currently, the average doses administered per day in the United States is 1.61 million.

Preregistration is available at vaccinate.virginia.gov or 1-877-VAX-IN-VA.

Snyder says that Payne and Stottlemyer were critical in making the fund a success.

“What started as an itty-bitty idea between a couple of William and Mary people turned into the largest COVID-related charity in America, focused on small business,” Snyder said. “And we’re still going. We’ve helped save 2,500 small businesses in the past 10 months across America.”

From the 30 Day Fund’s success, Snyder was able to see the economic consequences of COVID-19 in Virginia.

“The economic devastation has nearly been as bad as the human capital,” Snyder said. “In fact, sometimes worse. We’ve lost over 6,000 lives in Virginia, but we have also lost tens of thousands of livelihoods and hopes and dreams.

And that’s intolerable.”

Snyder says that the economic repercussions of the pandemic, along with Governor Ralph Northam’s response, inspired him to run for Governor of Virginia on the Republican ticket.

“I decided to run for governor because we are in a horrible mess right now, in Virginia,” Snyder said. “I think anyone — whether you’re a Democrat, a Republican, or an Independent — you would say that Virginia has faced its worst crisis in at least the past 100 years.”

Snyder cites what he sees as mismanagement of testing, vaccine distribution and overregulation from Northam as critical problems in Virginian politics.

“Virginia was near the bottom of the barrel when it came to testing,” Snyder said. “And

the executive order to shut down, the kind of ham-handed regulation up and down from the governor, have crushed our economy and truly destroyed hundreds of thousands of businesses across Virginia.”

In his run for governor, Snyder’s platform rests on three key ideas: aiding small businesses, promoting civil liberties and opening schools.

Though some view opening schools as risky, given the high COVID-19 case numbers in Virginia, Snyder points to sources who say safe reopening of schools is possible.

“Follow the data and follow the science,” Snyder said. “President Biden’s very own coronavirus task force says that it’s perfectly safe for teachers to be teaching in the classroom with kids right now. The CDC has said several times that it’s perfectly safe to have our teachers, and our teachers should be back in the classroom now.”

The Biden administration’s COVID-19 taskforce did indeed make reopening schools a priority, pledging to reopen the majority of K-8 schools within the first 100 days. But elementary and middle schools are not the only elements of Snyder’s agenda: he also has policy ideas that would impact higher education. Snyder says one of his goals would be reducing tuition at public universities across Virginia due to online learning.

“If you walked around campus, I don’t think anyone that you talked to would say that they had the true William and Mary experience over the past year,” Snyder said. “And what are you paying for that? I don’t think you had massive discounts. The product that you’re getting is very different than what was promised to you, and you’re still paying full rate. I think that’s absolutely wrong, and if I were governor, we would be having $2,500-a-semester universities.”

Though Snyder recognizes the problem of rising student loan debt, his solution is to lower the cost of college, rather than eliminate the debt entirely. He says that throughout his time on the Board of Visitors, he noticed the steady increase in tuition with little change in the College’s curriculum.

“Over the past 30 years, costs have gone up by four digits — thousands and thousands of percent,” Snyder said. “That’s wrong. We need to get costs under control. I would want freezes on tuition, especially if we’re still in some sort of COVID environment, I would want drastic discounts. If you’re only getting a third of the offer, you ought to only pay a third of the price.”

Though Snyder ran for lieutenant governor in 2012 and ran Republican Ed Gillespie’s campaign for governor in 2017, he has never held public office. However, Snyder sees this as an advantage.

“I’m not a career politician, I’ve never held elected office,” Snyder said. “I wear that as a badge of honor.”

Overall, Snyder believes his business background qualifies him for the role of governor.

“I am an innovator, I’m a disruptor — I’ve disrupted industries — and I’m also a problemsolver, and I think we need all three of those things,” Snyder said.

opinions

The Flat

Opinions Editor Lucas Harsche Opinions Editor Alyssa Slovin fhopinions@gmail.com // @theflathat Hat ¦ Tuesday, February 23, 2021 ¦ Page 3

GUEST COLUMN

GUEST COLUMN

T h e Wo r d o n Spread the Word: End the Use R e p a r a t i o n s , of the “R-word” on Our Campus Part 2: Implicit Alton Coston III FLAT HAT GUEST WRITER

Implicit. As I reflect on my time at the College of William and Mary, I often ponder over the sleek, implicit ways that discrimination has held me in its clutch. Similar to the serpent in the Garden of Eden, it slithers in and feeds off the complex conditioning of one’s ignorance. Despite it often being invisible, discrimination is an ominous force that you always know is there, no matter how much others attempt to deny its existence.

Freshman year, I was ignorant. I was exultant to be in a place where our founders’ presence was felt, where their names echoed among the ages. I went from my home community — where gunshots rang out like New Year’s Eve on the daily — to a community where life-altering opportunities were at my fingertips.

It was as though I belonged to two worlds, but never fully belonged to either. At first glance, the College seemed capable of anything but mal-intent. Despite the grandeur status that the College held, day-by-day I began to notice things the College neglected to show me during my acceptance visit. I realized that just my presence among the campus would make ole’ Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe turn over in their graves, much less how their heads would have been blown had they heard the music that blasted from my headphones — Stevie Wonder to India Arie — while I walked the grounds that they once called home.

As I matured, I began to hear the subtle melody of discrimination that was playing — almost inaudible, but always there. Even the most mundane tasks became stained by underlying tones of bias and implicit racism. I’ve heard it from those who claim to be color blind, ultimately denying my Blackness to avoid uncomfortable conversations. I’ve heard it from those who claim to be “allies,” yet only advocate when convenient. I’ve heard it from those who claim that I’m only here because of affirmative action, not my grit and academic pertinacity.

More opportunities presented themselves to me on campus — conducting research in the public policy department, speaking frequently with Rector Littel and President Rowe and hosting the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Commemoration Ceremony. These opportunities were inconceivably amazing chances for me to better myself and the world around me. It was when I spoke at the annual Charter Day dinner that implicit discrimination came to a crescendo.

At the annual Charter Day dinner, I was invisible. No one knew me. No one knew my name. No one knew my face. I didn’t have an ounce of deference in that room full of old money and big shots of the College — lawyers, doctors, bankers, politicians, entrepreneurs and even pastors — their movements all aristocratic and pompous.

All alien to me, just as I could tell I was alien to them.

It wasn t until they heard me speak ̶ the sophistication of my words and intellect ̶ that I stopped being opaque and became visible to them.

My demeanor stolid, I ensured I spoke with fervor and was fastidious in my vernacular — understanding I was not bound by what I said, but rather the repercussions of the words. In the speech, I told the story of the other world to which I belonged; the world I felt somewhat estranged from, especially in the room full of the College’s old money and hierarchical system. Ironically, the audience gave a standing ovation to my speech that described the overcoming of my struggle, even though it was something they could never relate to. This made me wonder: were they applauding my truth or applauding themselves for giving this nappy-headed Black boy an opportunity to tell his truth? It wasn’t until they heard me speak — the sophistication of my words and intellect — that I stopped being opaque and became visible to them. After the dinner I received emails, cards, letters in the mail, even further opportunities — only after when they heard the eloquence with which this Black man spoke.

My ambition was blinding. I didn’t recognize that the opportunities I received were innately linked to the potential exploitation of my talents and the color of my skin. Aware of this now, I refuse to be tokenized or viewed as a mere ambassador of this College; the same College that, 100 years ago, wouldn’t have given me the opportunity to be here, never mind tell my truth in front of an audience of rich white folk. I no longer make others comfortable at the expense of my own comfortability — it’s crippling. I wear my durags in the dorm around my white counterparts, blast my Donny Hathaway albums with cocoa butter aroma in the air, and make assertions as opposed to mere suggestions in meetings in order to keep William and Mary’s “acclaimed” hierarchy on its toes. I now unapologetically exist.

This form of discrimination is the most dangerous because it’s the most deceitful, like an ominous shadow behind you. To describe it in one word: implicit.

Alton Coston III ‘23 is studying public policy and Africana studies at the College. He currently serves as the president of the African– American Male Coalition, is a winner of the Hulon Willis Association Memorial Scholarship, and conducts research in the government department. He also serves on the Highland-Student Advisory and Reparation Committees. Email Alton at acoston@email.wm.edu.

Ella Schotz

FLAT HAT GUEST WRITER

for stupid or idiotic. Clearly, linking people with disabilities with insults is harmful and dangerous, and these individuals understand just how derogatory the term is. They make up some of our campus employees in the dining hall and mailroom, as well as students in some of your classes. Unfortunately, this term is still used at the College, so we are working to completely eliminate the “R-word” on our campus by having individuals and campus organizations pledge to not use this word any longer. Additionally, students will pledge to spread inclusion within our campus, Williamsburg and their own lives.

Why is inclusion so important? Hear it from one of our buddies with a disability, Juan Serrano: “Treat others like you want to be treated. We all have gifts to bring to the table that are important, and we should always be there for one another especially during hard times.”

In the hard times that have come with the pandemic, Best Buddies is the only social interaction some of our buddies have due to being elderly, immunocompromised or in group facilities. Making sure that this group is integrated into the community is essential to create a more inclusive and rich campus.

From Mar. 1-5, we will be having daily events in which individuals and student organizations can take part. All money raised through profit shares at Blaze, Aromas, Lokal and more will be going to the Arc of Greater Williamsburg, a day program providing services for our buddies. The event will also have daily virtual and/or in-person events that students and campus organizations can take part in.

These include banner decorating, listening to buddy speakers and tie-dyeing Best Buddies shirts that students can get for free by filling out our Spread the Word bingo board. Make sure to follow @ wmbestbuddies on Instagram for event times, zoom links and to sign the pledge.

Ella Schotz ’23 is a public policy major at the College.

Before becoming president of Best Buddies, she spent nine years involved with the IDD community. Around campus, she is also a fellow for the Sharpe Community Scholars program and a member of Active Minds. Email Ella at eeschotz@email.wm.edu.

Walking around the College of William and Mary’s campus, it’s not uncommon to see a “woke” T-shirt or a poster for an upcoming environmental protest.

Our campus has been labeled as a liberal space with students who are committed to social justice and making the world a better place. However, a community often forgotten by our activists are those with disabilities. I remember during orientation seeing the “accessible” seating in Kaplan Arena lopsided and filled with backpacks as Orientation Aides and students carelessly tossed their stuff into the area. I think about the unnecessary barriers that are imposed on students with physical disabilities each time I walk on the uneven brick paths and go up seemingly pointless one or two steps to get to dorms and academic buildings.

Through a previous lack of opportunity and a campus culture lacking respect for the group, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, such as autism and down syndrome, have not been completely accepted into our community. The College’s Best Buddies group is working to change that through a week-long event called Spread the Word.

Best Buddies is a nonprofit organization that promotes friendship between individuals with disabilities and students.

Here on campus, you can find our club cheering on the football team at home games and having monthly events in Tidewater with an occasional impromptu dance party. In the hustle and bustle of college life, Best Buddies aims to just have fun.

Spread the Word aims to eliminate the use of the “R-word,” an offensive and outdated term to describe people with disabilities that is often used as a synonym GRAPHIC BY RIEL WHITTLE / THE FLAT HAT

INDEPENDENT GRAPHIC

Chinese New Year: ear of the x GRAPHIC BY TARA VASANTH / THE FLAT HAT

The Flat Hat

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

STAFF COLUMN

COVID-19 interrupted all plans in 2020, Fauci should not make promises for 2021 struggling malls. In no way is New Jersey’s system perfect, but Virginia does not even have those megasites, which is likely a cause of the underwhelming rollout of vaccinations.

The vaccination process has two key components: having enough vaccines for the public and having enough resources — such as employees, facilities and other materials — to use the vaccines before they expire. While the latter seemed to be the main concern at the start of the vaccination process, now it seems that many states are struggling to even receive enough vaccines in the first place.

I cannot help but wonder if geographically larger states with more communities that lack convenient access to health FLAT HAT OPINIONS EDITOR care facilities are struggling more, considering the disparity in the statewide organization, or lack thereof, that I have seen If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it’s to in Virginia. For example, my roommate lives in southwestern live with constant disappointment. As the months have flown Virginia, and the only hospital close to where she lives is about by, countless events, jobs and other activities to which we have a half hour away, and the next closest hospital is about an hour looked forward to have all been canceled or greatly changed in away. Although she is in category 1b, she has been on the waitlist some way. We used to use phrases such as “when this is all over,” for over a month without hearing about an appointment date. but that end date has been postponed so many times, what does As a current junior, I’m dreaming of a normal senior year. that phrase even mean anymore?

With big personal growth plans that I want to see through Before this semester started, the College of William and before graduation, I’m paying attention to all available dates Mary announced that we would be welcoming Dr. Anthony and COVID-19 related estimates. More importantly, I want to Fauci to our campus be able to graduate virtually to speak and know that about the pandemic, companies will be recommended hiring. There are so college practices many unknown factors and vaccine rollout and the idea of all throughout the students at the College year 2021. We being vaccinated were supposed to before next semester host him Jan. 26, begins even feels like however, due to a a generous estimate last-minute conflict, considering what we’ve the Zoom call took seen of vaccine rollout place Feb. 18. thus far. When trying The conversation to register in New about vaccine Jersey last week, the rollout expectations earliest date available both piqued was September. my interest and Of course, President confused me.

Joe Biden has ordered Fauci said that he increased production expected college of the vaccine and students without other companies are GRAPHIC BY SYDNEY KEHOE, HEADSHOT BY KAYLA PAYNE / THE FLAT HAT any underlying coming out with their conditions, who are part of the final group to get vaccinations, own versions, but Fauci’s estimate that healthy college students to be able to get at least the first vaccine by May. Immediately, will be able to get their vaccines starting in May seems to be this date shocked me. Virginia has barely started vaccinating a best-case-scenario prediction instead of one that is actually people in the 1b category, which includes people over the age realistic, especially nationwide. Every state is handling the vaccine of 65, people ages 16-65 with underlying conditions, front line rollout differently, which has clearly caused each state to be at workers and people living in “correctional facilities, homeless drastically different points of progress — and that’s not even shelters, and migrant labor campus” (VDH COVID-19 Vaccine). considering states that are struggling even more than these two.

I have a few friends from Virginia whose grandparents have Fauci already previously estimated that healthy college gotten vaccinated, but besides that, these other high-risk students would be vaccinated by April, and that date was groups remain on the waiting list, helpless until they receive a pushed back due to changes with Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine’s phone call with the available date. production schedule. Unfortunately, I do not anticipate that If the end of phases 1b and 1c are not even in sight, how being the last setback. Just like everything else right now, this are college students without underlying conditions only a few hopeful date for us here at the College will continue to be months away from receiving their vaccines? Of course, that pushed back, likely through the summer. I recommend taking would be wonderful, however, it doesn’t seem realistic — at least Fauci’s predictions with a grain of salt and using pencil instead not nationwide. of pen in your calendar through at least the end of this year.

I live in New Jersey when I’m not at the College, and the Alyssa Slovin ‘22 is an English and marketing double major. differences in vaccine rollout are clear. In New Jersey, medical Besides her work at The Flat Hat as Opinions Editor and Flat Hat professionals are currently vaccinating people categorized in 1b Magazine as Editor-in-Chief, she is involved in Sinfonicron Light every day at sites state-wide. Some appointments are at hospitals Opera Company, The Gallery and Active Minds. Email Alyssa at while others are at “megasites” such as MetLife Stadium and amslovin@email.wm.edu.

Alyssa Slovin

STAFF COLUMN

I was on campus last semester, but now I’m remote Bushra Bablu THE FLAT HAT

My alarm woke me up for my first class, but I did not want to get out of bed. It was cozy, and I was living at home, away from Williamsburg. During the fall 2020 semester, I was on campus, but I decided to be a remote student for the spring 2021 semester. I made this decision mainly because all of the courses I signed up for were going to take place online. Predicting that positive COVID-19 cases would rise in Williamsburg, I knew it would be better for me to be a remote student.

While on campus during the fall semester, there were only a few positive cases. This made me feel secure because it felt as if the College of William and Mary had done a good job at containing the spread of COVID-19 to the best of its ability. However, this changed during the following spring semester. I personally think this could be due to people wanting to go outside more, not wearing masks or properly washing their hands. This has been a major issue all across the United States.

Although being a remote student gives me a sense of security as this unpredictable disease continues to spread, it can also negatively impact my academics and create an absence of social interactions in general.

To ensure that all my classes were remote, I emailed all of my professors to confirm that they would take place online, since there were some disparities between the open course list’s classifications and reality. My COLL 150 course

gives students an opportunity for in-depth analysis and interpretation, which is strange to take online since it is discussion-based.

I enjoy having discussions and meeting people online, but sometimes my internet connection disconnects, which leads to many complications.

In a way, I am very happy that I am keeping myself safe during this pandemic.

It can be very difficult at times, since my video will lag during Zoom meetings with my classes, which makes it difficult to participate and listen. Some of my professors also forget to record their lectures, which does not allow me to view what happened in class while my internet was out. This problem only happens sometimes, but it could be a bigger issue if it was constant. I also think weather can play a major role in this situation. Lately, it

has been super rainy with a little snow in my area, which can affect my connection differently than those students who are on campus. However, I am still hopeful that my internet connection will get better.

Being a remote student has also taken a toll on my social life. I would see people post with their friends on social media and it would remind me of how difficult it is to hang out with others while social distancing. In a way, I am very happy that I am keeping myself safe during this pandemic. However, it has been slightly difficult to meet other people, especially since I am a freshman still trying to make friends with others. Even though it is challenging to physically meet other people from the College, I can make connections with others through joining different organizations. This way, I was able to meet not just freshmen, but upperclassmen as well who share similar interests and passions as me.

I did not picture my first year of college like this, but it is the best that it can be during these difficult circumstances.

Overall, I think I made the right decision for myself even if there are some negative effects when it comes to remote learning.

Bushra Bablu ‘24 is a remote student planning to double major in government and economics. Bushra serves as an Associate Opinions Editor for The Flat Hat Newspaper and the Business Manager for Flat Hat Magazine. Outside of The Flat Hat, Bushra is also involved with One for the World and Women in Business. Email Bushra at bebablu@email.wm.edu.

Page 4

GUEST COLUMN

We should hold everyone accountable for their problematic voting past Dylan Koury THE FLAT HAT

About three years ago, I wrote an article for The Flat Hat about not judging people for their political party or whom they voted for in the election without first knowing what they believe in. At the time, this was meant as an encouragement to foster discussion among people with differing opinions in a divided nation.

I was wrong.

In that article, I used Donald Trump supporters as an extreme example of judging someone in such a way that you isolate them from wishing to foster a constructive discussion. And maybe some of that is still true; these people are still part of our countr y and they will not be going anywhere — even if some of them mention moving to Canada despite criticizing Democrats four years earlier for saying the same thing — not to mention their views on immigration.

Oh wait, I just did.

President Joe Biden has made it clear that he does not want to isolate these voters in his administration. And while I admire his drive to heal the divide in our nation that has been exacerbated by a man who over the past four years has spread nothing but fear, hatred and misinformation, I personally can no longer excuse anyone who voted for Donald Trump when he has made it ver y clear what he stands for. And I can no longer excuse the Republican Party for standing by him as he attempted to undermine the democratic institutions that make up the ver y foundation of this countr y. I’m sorr y that I ever did so in the first place. The sad part is that I wrote this article a few months ago, long before the Jan. 6 insurrection or the second impeachment trial.

A vote for Donald Trump is a vote against freedom. It is a vote against peace, and it is a vote against truth. Racism and xenophobia, a disregard for women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, democracy and science are deal breakers. Over 200,000 Americans dead because of an administration’s failure to act is a deal breaker.

This election was not a bipartisan issue; it was a battle for ever ything we stand for as Americans and as human beings. The values of Trumpism cannot and should not be legitimized with open discussion. What happened in this presidency should never be allowed to happen again.

I can no longer excuse the Republican Party for standing by him as he attempted to undermine the democratic institutions that make up the very foundation of this country.

Im sorry that I ever did so in the first place.

That being said, we must be kind. We must not make this a fight against the Republican Party, but rather a fight for the people of this countr y who have rights that deser ve to be upheld. And that includes the right to vote. Former — that was a fun edit — President Trump cannot ignore the voice of the people. His desperate and baseless legal Hail Mar y to uncover widespread election fraud and maintain his grip on the presidency will only continue to shine a light on the lack of ethics that the supposed leaders of our countr y have in continuing to stand by him.

Over my four years at the College of William and Mar y, I have grown as a person — well, not literally, I am still kind of short — and I hope people reading this can do the same. It’s okay to be wrong, but instead of losing dozens of legal cases tr ying to prove other wise and not paying your lawyers, you should own up to it.

We need to be better than the ugliness that the American name has invoked over the last four years. That being said, if anyone wants a video of me hitting a Trump piñata with a bat, I think my email is somewhere below.

Dylan Koury ‘21 is a finance and economics major with a concentration in business analytics. He’s Vice President of Logistics on the Mock Trial team and occasionally performs stand up comedy on campus.

Email Dylan at dbkoury@email.wm.edu.

variety

Variety Editor Matthew Kortan Variety Editor Gavin Aquin flathat.variety@gmail.com

The Flat Hat

| Tuesday, February 23, 2021 | Page 5

BEAUTY, BRAINS & BRAIDS Bryana Moyler '23, student entrepreneur, provides Black hair care services to community LINDA LI // FLAT HAT STAFF WRITER Bryana Moyler ’23 is the Throughout the year 2020, everything, and that has definitely founder and owner of Beauty Moyler spent a considerable helped me," Moyler said. "It is, I guess,

by Bri, a hair salon operating amount of time honing her craft and a lot of trial and error. I knew that I between Williamsburg and evaluating her goals. In January, couldn't find confidence externally; Norfolk, Virginia. she created an Instagram page to I had to reflect and, pinpoint exactly “Basically, you look good, you advertise her business. From then what I needed to feel comfortable feel good," Moyler said. on, hairstyling transformed from and confident."

Moyler runs her creative side- being a personal routine to a fullA little more than a year since hustle while simultaneously fledged service for other women creating her Instagram page, attending kinesiology classes and a steady stream of income.

Moyler is eagerly envisioning and juggling college life.

“My [New Year’s] resolution was Beauty by Bry's future. Realizing She began styling Black like, you know, just take myself that moving back-and-forth women's hair during her seriously, take my skill set seriously between Williamsburg and her senior year of high school but [and] build my confidence,” Moyler hometown, Norfolk, cost her didn't consider expanding her said. “I made a hair page, which I customers, Moyler began branching skill set into a business until guess when you hear, oh, hair page, out into wig-making to reach a she arrived at the College of you might think that’s no big deal. But broader customer base.

William and Mary. to me, it really was because I really "My thought process was, okay, “Once I came to school, at first had no confidence in myself.”

I need to think of something I can I wasn’t going do anywhere — to advertise,” and that's the Moyler said. “But wig,” Moyler said. people always “Black hair to me means a lot “I could sit in my ask in the group dorm; I could chats like, 'oh, because when you see someone, make a wig. I who does hair could stop. I on campus?' the first thing you pay attention to could go do my And nobody homework. So else would is their hair and as a Black woman, I took a class ever say, 'oh, I online. I'm still do hair'. I was I think, especially in a place like in the process like, 'okay, it of learning, I seems like I’m Williamsburg, it can be very hard to feel like I know the only one how to do them." that does hair.'” find places that will accommodate H e r M o y l e r game plan is understands your hair.” multipronged why there’s such — and wiga demand for — Bryana Moyler ’23 making is only an independent the beginning.

Black natural Moyler is hair stylist.

The transition from personal considering releasing new products, “Initially, I started doing hair passion to formal business was far as well as potentially creating a because I just wanted my hair from smooth. Hair braiding, Moyler’s YouTube channel for hair advice. done, basically, and I couldn’t primary service, is a physically “I kind of like to label myself as really afford to always go to the demanding job. Traditional box a naturalist — I'm all about natural shop,” Moyler said. “Certain braids take six hours to complete, hair as well," Moyler said. "I want to styles are kind of expensive, and more complex styles like soft locs branch off into selling natural hair like, you could pay up to $200 and goddess braids can take seven care products, and I think what for certain braids.” and eight hours, respectively. my plan right now is to make a Determined to find a “When my business first started, separate business for that." workaround to salons’ hefty I would try [to braid] in one sitting For Moyler, hair care and price tags, Moyler scoured and braided with no breaks,” Moyler hairstyling represent more than the internet for tutorials and said. “So I just [stood on my] feet for a simple beauty routine. While recommendations, practicing eight hours plus braiding. I started Beauty by Bry helps her gain selfon her younger sister's hair. to get carpal tunnels in my wrist. I confidence, Moyler’s more affordable She has come a long way since started getting really sick because I services also uplift Black women who watching her first YouTube wasn’t eating.” have limited options in Williamsburg. tutorial in middle school. Still, Moyler has since adjusted her “Black hair to me means a lot Moyler admitted that building up practice to incorporate breaks in because when you see someone, the the confidence to promote her between braiding, and the past year first thing you pay attention to is their services and work with unfamiliar allowed her to take some time off and hair,” Moyler said. “And as a Black clients was a laborious process. reorient the direction of her business. woman, I think, especially in a place “My family, even my friends, “As my skills have grown over time, like Williamsburg, it can be very hard told me, 'oh, that looks good', I can kind of find enjoyment,” Moyler to find places that will accommodate it really didn't mean that much said. “Once quarantine happened, I your hair.” to me sometimes because of couldn’t take on as many clients…and Moyler is proud to enrich a course, they're going to be I just had time to really evaluate what I component of her clients’ identities positive,” Moyler said. “But I wanted to do. I got to practice different and brighten up their days. would definitely say, once I skills, different styles. I was able to "If you're not good at doing hair, started getting clients that I broaden my selection of styles.” if you don't know how to do your really didn't know and they Though Moyler has been braiding hair…I just know how it feels — would come back, and also if hair since middle school, she doesn’t you know, you feel really bad about you look at my hair page and you regard herself as an expert, but rather yourself," Moyler said. "I definitely go from the beginning to now, I a seasoned enthusiast. As such, she feel a lot of people, when their hair just feel like even the aesthetics always strives to improve her work. isn’t done, they’re not gonna look in of the page have improved — "I take pictures of all my work, the mirror and feel like oh, yeah, I'm that definitely motivates me.” so I'm able to literally compare capable of anything.”

CO UR TE ER SY YL IMA GES / BRYANA MO

The Flat Hat

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

Page 6

TIME GOES BY

Williamsburg, virginia 8:00 AM

london, united kingdom 1:00 PM

shanghai, china 9:00 PM

SO SLOWLY International students at College reconcile remote learning with time zone disparities JR HERMAN // FLAT HAT STAFF WRITER

Students often lament 8 a.m. classes, but for many international students, having an 8 a.m. class in their time zone would be considered a luxury. A 12 or 13-hour time difference can force international students to take a Zoom class as early as 1 or 2 a.m..

For Kenzie Evans ’24, Zooming in from Jakarta, Indonesia, the 12-hour time difference required him to completely rework his daily schedule for the entire fall 2020 semester.

“My schedule was basically I do nothing all day long and then at night I’d have one or two classes before 12 a.m.,” Evans said. “But one day I’d have a physics class at 2:30 a.m. and that ruined my sleep schedule.”Luckily, international students are given a priority registration time slot to help mitigate the chances of ending up with such a grueling schedule.

But in some cases, a difficult schedule is unavoidable, especially for those with required classes for their major or minor.

Sailor Miao ’24 spent the fall semester Zooming in from Beijing, China.

“Of course, I tried to build [my schedule] around my time zone, and it worked out pretty well except for one class at 2 a.m. local time,” Miao said.

“But sometimes we all have to make some sacrifices in order to get what we want. One of the more serious problems around that is that we needed to take midterms and finals with you all. For instance, I had to take my gov final from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. in China. I understand it is crucial to ensure the integrity and fairness of the process, but we need to find a way to help those that are still abroad to have a better schedule.”

Miao decided to live on campus for the spring 2021 semester and is enjoying no longer having to take classes at such difficult times.

While remote asynchronous classes can help international students, since coursework can be completed at any time, they often come at a cost. Many students experience decreased focus as well as loss of social interaction with their classmates and professors.

This problem is further exacerbated by international students’ limited ability to participate in various extracurricular activities. Many afternoon and early evening meetings conflict with international students’ alreadyproblematic sleep schedules, preventing many from getting as involved in the community as they would like or forcing them to completely alter their schedules to participate.

Joanne Hu ’24, Zooming in from Nanjing, China during the fall and spring semesters, has been able to get involved in clubs by completely rearranging her schedule.

“It’s about 12 or 13-hours difference, which means I have to live an ‘upside down’ schedule if I want to stick to the normal EST time . . . I can choose classes fitting for my regular schedule, but I can’t decide club activity time,” Hu said. “Most of the clubs hold activities at a time when it is nearly the later half of the night like 3 a.m. or 5 a.m. And I have to say I changed my daily schedules simply because of the timing of clubs and school events. I really want to engage with our community more and get more experience . . . it’s an important part of college life.”

For Evans, joining the community virtually from Indonesia has greatly impacted his ability to connect with fellow students.

“Well, honestly I don’t even know how socializing works,” Evans said. “I haven’t really reached out or met anyone new . . . I think what affects the most here is that I just don’t think I can make many good friends through online. So that just demotivates you.”

In addition to its making it difficult to meet new people, difficulties due to time differences limit the extracurricular exploration typical of freshman year, when new students normally scope out different clubs, attend meetings and decide which ones are their best fit through experimentation. Since so many club activities take place at difficult times, many international students end up skipping club meetings altogether.

Back-and-forth communication, after all,

can only occur at certain mutual hours — though time zone inclusivity, if planned for, is possible. According to Miao, some clubs resolved the problem of finding mutual meeting times by the end of the fall semester, allowing him to attend.

“Sometimes, I had no choice but to dodge some of the club meetings (I just simply couldn’t have a meeting after three hours of early morning classes),” Miao said. “But we have online networks created by members of clubs like the remote students club where they organized mutually compatible times for all of us to meet.”

For those international students whose first language is not English, Zoom audio glitches during lectures are even more anxiety-inducing than they are for native speakers. The experience is reminiscent of listening comprehension tests where the audio is intentionally muffled, forcing the listener to piece together a conversation. Note-taking is difficult enough for students without audio lapses, so glitches only add to the hassle for many already-exhausted international students Zooming in during the middle of the night.

For Hu, whose first language is not English, the language barrier has been a challenge, both in club meetings and class.

“It’s hard to listen and comprehend, especially when there are glitches,” Hu said. “It’s so hard . . . But for some remote asynchronous classes we have videos and there are some auto generated captions for the whole video — that helps me a lot ” Online learning is certainly far from ideal for everyone, both on-campus and remote students alike, but international remote students face a very unique set of challenges.

Luckily, our entire international community will eventually be welcomed to campus and these problems will cease to exist. Until then, the College’s international students will continue to adapt and rise to the challenges that time differences often pose, and hopefully more clubs will be able to implement mutual meeting times to accommodate international remote members.

sports

Sports Editor Zoe Beardsley Sports Editor Nathan Seidel flathatsports@gmail.com @FlatHatSports

The Flat Hat ¦ Tuesday, February 23, 2021 ¦ Page 7

The NHL bubble: safe or sorry?

Loose NHL COVID-19 safety guidelines prove problematic There has been plenty of discourse in the sports media world about teams following proper COVID-19 restrictions before starting a season. Limiting fans, playing in a bubble and restricting interactions with other teams all seemed necessary for any sports to resume play back in 2020.

However, this January, the NHL suspended four Russian players from the Washington Capitals as an example of what happens when players do not follow proper guidelines. After players were seen kibitzing in a hotel room without masks on, the NHL made them unavailable for play for a two-week quarantine period and fined the Capitals $100,000 for breaking COVID-19 restrictions. Three players returned to practice in early February and played in their first games this week, and questions about restrictions, risks and playing in the COVIDera have resurfaced.

The current safety regime of the NHL is riddled with holes, at best. At worst, it is a calculated, thinly-veiled appeasement to local government officials in order to keep game profits high. In the NHL’s COVID-19 protocols, there is an extensive list of reasons to quarantine, including trades to new teams and travel, but also an acknowledgement of the game’s reliance on close-contact play.

On paper, the NHL seems to be taking every precaution: limiting mask-less interview segments, making quarantine part of the schedule and limiting contact between team bubbles. In reality, players sit practically on top of each other on the bench, practice as a team without masks and interact with other teams and referees also mask-less. Though the two are not mutually exclusive — teams can both quarantine and still play mask-less — the internal logic of the rules begins to show its faults. The NHL seems to be stringent about how players can stay healthy — even including policies for fining teams based on failure to comply — but actually promotes high-spreader events on almost a daily basis.

That is not even to mention the bizarre insistence most coaches have on shouting instructions without a mask. So many times, I have watched a coach gesture at his players only to remove his mask a second later and repeat the same thing. Or, conversely, the mask slips below his nose and he fails to correct it. This is not a problem limited to the NHL — the Super Bowl immediately comes to mind — but the NHL, where coaches stand directly behind the mask-less players on the bench, exhibits it particularly well. Most organizations have failed to rebuke coaches for improper mask wear, despite having lengthy COVID-19 protocols about wearing masks outside of competition.

The NHL on paper seeks to protect players’ health. In practice, it seeks to play as many games as possible before players and coaches get sick.

That all being said, the best thing about the NHL COVID-19 protocol in particular is certainly its “bubble” principle, which seeks to mitigate risk between the most at-risk groups and the least.

As mentioned above, the NHL acknowledges the dangers

that come with playing hockey, so it tries to limit mask-less time to only when players are on ice. The highest risk groups, such as athletes, coaches and refs, are also kept segregated from lower risk groups, like coordinators, maintenance personnel, etc. In the locker room, everyone is expected to be properly masked and distanced. I like the idea of protecting the essential staff from players who are constantly interacting with other teams and each other, without masks.

“

What I am trying to say is, if the priority is to keep the players safe, these rules are not doing enough. Players exposure to other teams and members of their own team ̶ indoors, maskless, and breathing heavily ̶ is well outside Center for Disease Control guidelines.

“

LEXIE HIESTAND FLAT HAT SPORTS ASSOC. EDITOR

However, the “bubble” principle is why I found the recent restrictions of Alex Ovechkin, Dmitri Orlov, Evgeny Kuznetsov and Ilya Samsonov problematic. Their ban further exemplifies the hypocrisy of the NHL’s rules. I have shown why the internal logic of the rules prioritizes gameplay over players’ health. I have also shown how the NHL assumes a team “bubble” of its mask-less players and coaches, segregating them from the other personnel to protect those personnel.

But these four players are all part of the same group — they’re all players, and players on the same team, nonetheless.

They practice together, mask-less. They sit on the bench together, mask-less. But when they leave the ice and eat dinner together, they are suddenly in violation of COVID-19 protocols. By the NHL’s own logic to the COVID-19 protocol, (that because they are all a part of “Group 1” and on the same team, they are safe to play), they should be able to associate outside of hockey-related activities as well.

I understand the NHL making an example out of them.

They were technically in violation of the rules. The NHL wants to make sure its protocols are being followed — or demonstrating that it is willing to follow through when they are not — but this ban calls the very basis of the rule into question. It makes no sense. These players are just as much at risk when they sit and play together — indoors — for three, 20-minute periods as they are hanging out outside of the rink.

Though I do not personally believe they should have been mask-less, I do believe the logic of NHL rules should have allowed them to behave in this manner.

If the priority is to keep the players safe, these rules are not doing enough. Players’ exposure to other teams and members of their own team — indoors, mask-less, and breathing heavily — is well outside Center for Disease Control guidelines. But, if the priority is to have all professional sports leagues play games as if everything is normal, the rules only stunt normality. The NHL’s COVID-19 protocol does not fulfill either goal: health or gameplay. It is fundamentally flawed.

So why does the NHL have these protocols in the first place?

I argue that, similarly to other major leagues, the protocol was necessary for the league to return to gameplay. Without intent to quarantine, or intent to wear masks, or intent to segregate affiliated groups based on risk, government officials would not allow games, especially in the NHL where coordination between Canada and the U.S. is required.

Maybe it’s cynical to believe the rules are in place only for the organization to make money, but with all the risks to players, it seems logical. After all, the Caps played two games in two days against two different teams just this week. The NHL punished four players for associating outside of the rink but expected the entire Caps roster to associate inside the rink with the entire Rangers’ and Devils’ rosters.

The NHL is not the MLB. Players board their opponents, screen the net in a scrum and sit in tight quarters on the bench. There is so much close contact that, even with the rules in place, health gets cast to the wayside. To operate with 100% safety during the pandemic, the NHL would have to fundamentally change the rules of the game.

Of course, I want my favorite players safe and healthy. I love watching the games, but if health is on the line, I would prefer no gameplay to dangerous gameplay. However, because the NHL has deemed it safe enough to return to the ice — for whatever reason, profit-based or not — it must be consistent with its rules and punishments. If it is safe enough for the players to compete together mask-less and un-distanced, it must also be safe enough for them to take public transportation together and spend time together outside of the rink as well.

COURTESY PHOTO / NHL.COM GRAPHIC BY CLAIRE HOGAN / THE FLAT HAT

Page 8

The Flat Hat

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

LAW SCHOOL

Christian Legal Society hosts controversial religious lawyer Law school event featuring religious liberties lawyer Kevin Snider sparks outrage, fundraiser GEORGIA THOMS FLAT HAT NEWS ASSOC. EDITOR

Wednesday Feb. 17, the Christian Legal Society of the College of William and Mary’s MarshallWythe School of Law hosted religious liberties lawyer Kevin Snider, stirring controversy among the law students due to Snider’s work at the Pacific Justice Institute, a legal defense organization that is known to support anti-LGBTQ+ notions.

“The speaker event is so controversial because of the organization the speaker works for, which has taken strong anti-LGBTQ stances for decades, including lobbying against same-sex marriage and hate crime protections,” Equality Alliance President Emily Milakovic J.D. ’22 said in an email. “Whatever the personal beliefs of the speaker himself or the CLS board, both are willing to be associated with this organization, showing that the organization’s beliefs aren’t deal breakers for them.”

In response to similar concerns, the College sent an email regarding the speaker and the event. The message chastised students as they referred to actions opposing the speaker as bullying conduct.

“After hearing reports about bullying conduct among some of our students related to the recent invitation of a speaker, I write to express in the strongest possible terms that such conduct must have no place at our Law School,” the email said. “In alignment with the university’s policy on freedom of expression, W&M

Law School is committed to an environment in which members of the community and invited guests are encouraged to speak freely and express themselves.”

During the Zoom event, about 30 of the 95 students attending displayed backgrounds with pride flags or symbols supporting the Black Lives Matter movement.

After Snider’s initial introduction to his work as a religious liberties lawyer, many students asked questions to clarify the position of his organization and personal beliefs. Snider, during his speech, spoke about how he believed Christians are a discriminated group.

“I have seen some violence against believers in forms of difficulty in speaking their mind as a high school student and maintaining jobs in civil service, but it can escalate...to go along to get along is not American and goes against the Christian faith,” Snider said.

Snider also explained that there is “spiritual division” among people causing many rifts in the political scene.

Due to this conflict, he believed each side of the aisle will not come to terms, using the words of Jesus Christ as his reasoning.

“He comes to bring a sword to divide father and son and mother and daughter,” Snider said. “We see that division in our own lives, and it was prophetic what Jesus said is percolating into our society.”

Snider continued to emphasize that being a Christian is no longer popular, making his work as a religious liberties lawyer difficult. Despite this, he remains an advocate for those who feel they are being disadvantaged because they are Christian. Snider listed

a number of examples in which this discrimination occurs, including property use for churches, creating Christian groups in high schools and maintaining jobs in civil justice.

“I tended to skew to the left politically because that’s what they teach in school,” Snider said. “Then I saw what the real world was like and the importance of our Bill of Rights...from my perspective as a Christian, I was a pacifist when I was younger. My views evolved where I believe there is such a thing as ‘moral violence… The trajectory of the LGBTQ community is going up but being a Christian is going down.”

During the event, audience members asked questions in a formal, respectful manner, adhering to the language of the College’s email, which stated that in order to become a successful lawyer, one’s speech must be conducted with civility. However, many students still feel that the College did not uphold their prior commitment to inclusion and diversity by welcoming a speaker with ties to an anti-LGBTQ+ organization.

“Many members of our student body are frustrated both by this event and by the lack of a response from the Law School administration at this point,” Milakov said. “Following the Black Lives Matter advocacy last year, William and Mary voiced its commitment to diversity this year, but it rings somewhat hollow when our administration has not responded to the concerns of this minority student group.”

According to Milakovic, seven other student organizations and more than 150 students signed

Equality Alliance’s official statement regarding the events.

Maria Safronova J.D. ’23 also agreed that the College is falling short on their prior claims to supporting diversity and minority representation.

“First of all, the school created a reputation of being inclusive and caring about diversity,” Safonova said in an email. “This was very important for me when I was considering my application, and I know it is important to many other applicants from minority groups as well.

When a representative of a recognized hate group is invited to campus, and the administration doesn’t even issue a letter supporting LGBTQIA+ students, I feel betrayed and unsafe.”

Safronova continued that not only would these decisions deter possible future applicants, but it also made her question if she was welcome at the school.

“It is not an issue of different views, it is an issue of human rights,” Safronova said. “I’ve personally experienced hatred from people not tolerating my existence before, I regularly hear about hate crimes committed, and I don’t want to debate my right to life. That being said, I do not condone any bullying or personal attacks, but expressing concerns and asking people why did they invite a person spreading such hurtful ideas is not bullying.”

The Christian Legal Society of College Law School did not respond to an email requesting a statement in regard to the event.

DINING

Dining Services reports increase in non-food waste, composting The College s initial takeout-only policy led to a high increase in plastic cutlery, to-go boxes NICHOLAS REEDER AND LEIF MCCOY THE FLAT HAT

Upon their phased return to campus, students at the College of William and Mary were greeted by a change in policy for the new semester: takeoutonly dining. Statewide COVID-19 restrictions led the College to suspend indoor seating in dining halls until Feb. 10, coinciding with the start of inperson classes.

The Flat Hat examined the environmental impacts of takeout-only meal options, and how the College struck a balance between keeping the community safe and minimizing adverse effects of increased waste. According to data from the College’s Dining Services and W&M Sustainability, there was more waste produced from plastic cutlery, to-go boxes and other essentials for takeout food during the opening weeks of the spring semester than in the first two weeks of the fall semester.

Comparing the first two weeks of the fall and spring semesters, there has been a 40% total increase in takeout meals served across the College’s dining halls. In the first two weeks of the fall semester, 55% of meals across the College’s dining facilities were takeout, compared with the 100% mandated

by the College during the phased move-in for the spring semester. At Marketplace, the percentage of takeout increased by 19.6% of meals from last semester; however, meals at Marketplace are always packaged for takeout. One possible reason for this growth is that two different sets of students moved in during the fall and spring semesters. College Dining Services Resident District Manager Jason Aupied said that because different groups and social classes of students were allowed back on campus within those time frames, it is difficult to make a direct comparison.

“You won’t quite have an applesto-apples comparison, because in the fall, the university brought back half of the on-campus students for the first two weeks; then the other half of the students returned,” Aupied said.

“In the spring, we saw new students, student athletes and freshmen return to campus, with seniors returning a week later than the rest of the on-campus student body returning this weekend.”

The College has taken some steps to mitigate this increase in waste by purchasing compostable flatware, togo containers and straws, as well as increasing the number of receptacles for these items. Dining fellow Samuel Laveson ’20 said there has also been

an increase in compost bin usage. In the first two weeks of this semester, there have been almost 3,000 more pounds of waste in the College’s compost bins than in the first two weeks of the fall semester. Laveson also said that he’s seen an increase in composting at Commons Dining Hall, Marketplace and outside of Green and Gold Village.

Director of Sustainability Calandra Waters Lake has also noted the increase in waste and composting.

“In response to the increased takeout, the outdoor bins for compost collection have gone from two bins to eight and counting,” Waters Lake said. “This waste is transported to a facility in Waverly, Virginia, where it is composted at an industrial scale. Some of that compost is used on campus and at KelRae Farm, whom W&M partners with on growing food for the dining halls, along with educational and team-building activities.”

With the takeout-only policy, dining hall employees were no longer required to clean the tables after each use. Some employees, like Commons Dining Hall employee Stanley Charity, felt that the takeoutonly policy was beneficial.

“For everyone’s purposes, I feel it was a good thing,” Charity said.

CAMPUS

Rowe conducts community conversation with Anthony Fauci Fauci predicts students will not have access to vaccines until May, encourages listening to the science vaccinated, a level that Fauci has increased from early estimates of 60 to 70%.

Students who do not qualify for earlier priority groups will likely not be vaccinated until May, due to delays in the production of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

“If you consider not the college students who have an underlying medical condition, but an otherwise healthy 20-year-old college student, the chances of that person getting a vaccine—it likely will not be until early May, mid-May or late May,” Fauci said. “I thought it was going to be April, and in fact, I was on the record saying it would likely be open season somewhere in April. One of the disappointments that made me change that estimate was that the Johnson and Johnson vaccine — which we anticipated would be coming in significant quantities in March and April — we learned that they will not have significant quantities until likely May and June.”

Fauci assured that the vaccine

is safe, including for those who are immunocompromised.

He also acknowledged the mistrust of the vaccine among the Black community, which is rooted in past unethical health studies conducted by the federal government. Most notably, the Center for Disease Control’s Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment, which concluded in 1972, failed to provide readily available treatment to subjects and caused the death of 128 participants, all of whom were Black sharecroppers.

“That gets passed from generation to generation,” Fauci said. “You were not born during the Tuskegee, but I’m sure you heard about it from your grandfather and your father and your mother — no doubt. So what you’ve got to do is first, respect the hesitancy that relates to that, because that’s a good reason to be skeptical. But at the same time, to explain to people that since then, ethical constraints have been put into place in the form of institutional review boards and data and safety monitoring boards that would make that type of unethical behavior completely

“

If you consider not the college students who have an underlying medical condition, but an otherwise healthy 20-year-old college student, the chances of that person getting a vaccine̶it likely will not be until early May, midMay or late May. I thought it was going to be April, and in fact, I was on the record saying it would likely be open season ̶ Dr. Anthony Fauci

“

FAUCI from page 1

impossible to happen.”

Addressing concerns about the vaccine’s short timeline for development, Fauci said it is a reflection of 10 to 15 years of scientific advancement. The determination of whether the vaccine was safe was made by an independent review board, preventing government or private intervention. More scientific research is required to determine how long the vaccine will be effective and when a booster shot might be required.

Rowe highlighted local efforts at preparing for vaccination.

“I am incredibly proud of this town-grown partnership and the other leading institutions in our localities,” Rowe said.

“We have built together — led by the City of Williamsburg and James City County — the ability to vaccinate about 3,000 people a day. So we can move through fast — really, really efficiently — when the vaccine supply is ready. We are ready.”

Joseph asked where the U.S. will be a year from now, to which Fauci responded that the outbreak will likely be under

control and will no longer be a major threat to the country. Still, Fauci said the U.S. must then look outward.

“I believe we’re going to get there within this calendar year in the United States,” Fauci said.

“But the problem is that a global pandemic requires a global response. If we don’t participate as the other developed nations in the EU and in the UK and in Canada and Australia in a program — it has a name, it’s called COVAX — to provide vaccines for the developing world and those regions of the world that don’t have the resources to be able to make and distribute vaccines on their own, then our problem will never go away. It will always be a threat. Because as long as you have COVID and SARS-CoV-2 circulating throughout the world, it will continue to evolve and to mutate and develop new variants, which will always be a threat to us. So, it’s a two-phase thing: get it under control in the United States and be an important part of the effort to control it globally.”