The Flat Hat April 20 2021

Vol. 111, Iss. 4 ¦ Tuesday, April 20, 2021

The Flat Hat The Weekly Student Newspaper

of The College of William and Mary

Flathatnews.com ¦ Follow us:

Accidental email from public policy department falsely accepts denied and wait-listed students ALEXANDRA BYRNE // FLAT HAT

NEWS EDITOR

Sunday, Apr. 11, an email was sent to 346 high school students who had applied to the College of William and Mary, congratulating them on their acceptance and encouraging them to consider majoring in public policy. However, those who received the email were not actually admitted into the College’s class of 2025.

The email, sent on behalf of Director of Public Policy Elaine McBeth with a subject line of “Welcome from the Public Policy Department!” was not an official offer of admission. The Office of Admissions routinely sends emails on behalf of departments to accepted interested students. During this year’s virtual Day for Admitted Students, the emails were intended to give prospective students further information on programs that might interest them. Still, for those who were not actually admitted, the email granted a false sense of hope. For those who on the College's waitlist, the email seemed like an update to their status, sowing confusion.

“First, let me congratulate you on your admission to William & Mary!” the email said. “Since you have expressed an interest in Public Policy, as Director of the Thomas Jefferson Program in Public Policy, I wanted to send you an email to help you understand why a Public Policy degree from the College of William & Mary would be a great choice.”

When Admissions noticed the error the next morning, they sent a follow-up apology email. But for many prospective students who had interpreted the initial email as an offer of acceptance, the apology came too late. With the College’s May 3 enrollment deadline fast approaching, many prospective students are deep in the process of committing to schools.

“While we know this email will not make up for our mistake, we hope that it does convey our deep regret that this error occurred and our compassion towards all of those affected,” Senior Associate Dean of Admission David Trott said in the apology email.

Dean of Admission Tim Wolfe expressed similar regret.

“I think how we really feel about this in this office is obviously we’re incredibly sad that this happened,” Wolfe said. “We regret that this happened. We’re obviously sorry for any added confusion or stress it may have caused. I know that this process is a stressful, emotional one filled with uncertainty. It’s that way in any given year, but especially this particular year. If I may put a personal spin on it, as a father of a child who recently went through this college search process, I recognize that from both a professional and personal perspective.”

Wolfe said that after the Office of Admissions recognized the

346 undergraduate applicants incorrectly receive email intended for admitted students

error, they confirmed that the email was an isolated incident and that no other department emails were affected. College spokeswoman Suzanne Clavet explained the incident occurred due to a programming error.

“The query used in this case to select the students to include in the email did not include a parenthesis around the academic interest criteria, so despite having included filters for only currently admitted students, this expanded the result to include any applicant with an interest in Public Policy,” Clavet said.

Wolfe said that the Office of Admissions routinely saves basic contact information for all those who applied to the College — admitted or not — in a customer relationship management database. Universities use CRMs to keep track of prospective students’ contact information, including emails or phone numbers provided on visits and in applications. It is from the CRM database that the public policy email was launched.

"Within the CRM, we do store that basic contact information from a previous application cycle, in this case just one cycle—if

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someone applied last year, their address, phone number, email address would still, in theory, be in there," Wolfe said.

To prevent a similar mishap in the future, the Office of Admissions plans to clear out the CRM after an admissions cycle.

“That’s one of the things we’re looking to do,” Wolfe said. “One of the steps we’re going to take is to make sure that once an application process has completed for a student, that we basically deactivate the contact information to make sure that nothing accidentally gets sent to a student. You can bet we’re going to take all the measures we can to make sure it’s not something that happens again."

Ultimately, Wolfe hopes that the apology issued and changes made convey the Office’s commitment to compassion.

“We want this process to be a compassionate one,” Wolfe said.

“What we hope for is that no matter the outcome, students that apply to William & Mary know that we support and appreciate them. That’s why we’re in this profession. People in this office — that’s why they do this. They genuinely care about students. So you can imagine it’s impacted us. It’s definitely hit home.”

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College institutes new minimum wage for student employees New Virginia legislation implements state-wide $2.25 increase in minimum wage LINDA LI FLAT HAT VARIETY ASSOC. EDITOR

Saturday, May 1, Virginia will be increasing the minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $9.50 an hour, impacting many student workers at the College of William and Mary. The minimum wage will subsequently increase to $11.00 an hour Jan. 1, 2022, and then to $12 Jan. 1, 2023. If the General Assembly agrees to reenact the law before July 1, 2024, the state’s minimum wage may ultimately increase to $15 an hour by Jan. 1, 2026.

Although the College could claim some exemptions to the wage increase, the administration reports that it will not, meaning that all student workers will be paid $9.50 or more per hour starting this May. Originally passed in Apr. 2020, the law’s implementation was delayed until this year by Governor Ralph Northam due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The new law also removes previous worker exemptions from the minimum wage under the Fair Labor Standards Act, such as domestic workers, home caretakers, small businesses and individuals with disabilities.

However, public universities in Virginia may obtain a certificate from the Department of Labor to pay students no less than 85% of the minimum wage under the “Full-Time Student Program.” As for students participating in a federal work-study program, which is awarded as part of the student’s financial aid package,

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JAMIE HOLT / THE FLAT HAT

they face different restrictions on work hours and receive pay from separate channels.

The fight for a higher wage for student workers at the College is not new. The last raise in minimum wage in Virginia was from $6.55 in July, 2009. In 2010, the College's Living Wage Coalition demanded an on-campus wage of $15.

The College pushed back, stating that the $15 goal was not feasible given state funding.

Apr. 16, the College’s student employment office emailed students notifying them of the minimum wage increase.

“Effective May 1, 2021, the minimum wage for Virginia is increasing to $9.50 per hour,” the email read. “While the new law does include exemptions to some student populations, William & Mary is opting to raise your hourly pay rate to the new minimum wage level. All student employees in standard on-campus hourly positions making less than the new minimum wage, including students eligible for Federal Work Study, will receive an increase to their hourly rate beginning May 1.”

When asked for comment on the wage increase, Director of Financial Aid Joe Dobrota reiterated the assurance that no students would be exempted from the new provision.

“While there are some exemptions built into the new minimum wage law (students under a certain age, those involved in work study programs, students in a bone fide [sic] educational program, etc.), W&M will not be exercising those

Student workers of the College working at minimum wage will receive a pay increase from $7.25 an hour to $9.25.

Inside Opinions

Inside Variety

Join three Latinx members of the Reparations Committee to read their thoughts on how the Latinx identity is not homogenous, and by treating it as such, the College leaves out Black Latinx students. page 3

Pride Week’s LGBTQ+ and POC Art Gallery hosted by the Rainbow Coalition and Lambda Alliance showcases work from student, alumni artists page 5

The word on reparations

Art Imitating Life

See WAGE page 8

Inside Sports

Grad students talk tennis

Tennis graduate students Brenden Volk and Jill van den Dungen talk success on and off the court. page 7

newsinsight “

News Editor Alexandra Byrne News Editor Charles Coleman News Editor Molly Parks fhnews@gmail.com

THE BUZZ

I believe it s another example that further demonstrates how the College has managed to subdue cultural diversity and inclusion, especially towards the Chinese community. The Confucius Institute has played a critical role in supporting student-run Chinese organizations by sponsoring shows, hosting celebrations and most importantly, being an intermediary that brings together Chinese people and everyone else that has a genuine interest in China.

FLAT HAT NEWS BRIEF STUDENT VACCINATIONS AT COLLEGE PUSH AHEAD AMIDST NATIONAL J&J HALT Tuesday, Apr. 13, the College of William and Mary updated the community on the vaccination process for students. Of the approximately 3,900 students who have provided updates of their vaccination status to the College via Banner, 75% had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Beginning Sunday, Apr. 18, Virginia moved into phase 2 of vaccination, meaning all those 16 and older are now eligible to receive the vaccine. In Williamsburg, vaccine appointments are becoming more widely available.

Recently, extra doses have been reported at area hospitals and clinics due to appointment no-shows and extra supply. The Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center offered vaccines to anyone over age 18 Apr. 14.

Upon several reports of dangerous side-effects associated with the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccination, national administration of the medical shot was put on hold. These reports included six cases of potentially fatal blood clots out of 6.8 million Johnson & Johnson doses administered. All vaccine distribution centers within Williamsburg are now only using Pfizer or Moderna vaccinations.

With the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines requiring two doses, some students are facing timing difficulties, since they may not be able to receive their second shot before returning home. Chief Operating Officer Amy Sebring assured students that they can present their vaccine card to other local health districts to receive the second dose.

The second dose of either vaccine can be administered up to six weeks beyond the first dose, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

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The Flat Hat ¦ Tuesday, Apr. 20, 2021 ¦ Page 2

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Fighting Menstrual Injustice

Suditi Shyamsunder 23 heads BLOT, advocates for justice in health professions PATRICK BYRNE // FLAT HAT ASSOC. NEWS EDITOR

BRIEF BY ALEXANDRA BYRNE AND CHARLES COLEMAN / THE FLAT HAT

A THOUSAND WORDS

COURTESY PHOTO / SUDITI SHYAMSUNDER

Suditi Shyamsunder 23 is the founder of BLOT, an organization on campus dedicated to collecting menstrual products and fighting for menstrual justice.

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.

Apr. 4, the article “Students unite in support of NTE language professors” falsely stated that the Italian Department has four fulltime faculty members, when one of the Italian faculty is actually adjunct. The article also falsely stated that the senior lecturer position comes with a three-year contract, which it does not necessarily.

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and Mary community is a big part of it and this was one event centered around that goal,” Shyamsunder said.

Beginning next week, BLOT is conducting a fundraiser in collaboration with Phi Sigma Pi to raise money for the Williamsburg House of Mercy to purchase menstrual products.

“We are posting a bingo board on our

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L earning more about the injustices and inequalities that surround these two topics really frustrates me, but this frustration is important because it fuels a desire to get involved in relevant activism.

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ZACH LUTZKY / THE FLAT HAT

Through her first two years at the College of William and Mary, Suditi Shyamsunder ’23 has been heavily involved in the local Williamsburg community. Whether it be as captain of Afsana, a Bollywood fusion dance troupe; volunteering at the Lackey Free clinic, a faith-based health care center which serves the uninsured; or as a confidential advocate at The Haven, Shyamsunder has wasted no time in becoming an active member of the College.

In addition to her participation in various existing on-campus groups, Shyamsunder has taken the initiative to create one of her own: BLOT. The name stands for “Bring Lots Of Tampons,” an initiative dedicated to the fight for menstrual justice.

“We collect donations and fundraise to provide menstrual products to places in Williamsburg that need them, such as free clinics and homeless shelters,” Shyamsunder said. “Additionally, we work to educate the community about menstrual health and justice.”

Her passion for activating menstrual justice began when she read an article regarding how many women in the United States lack access to basic hygiene products.

This phenomenon is known as “period poverty,” referring to the fact that many low-income women are unable to afford essential menstrual products. Period products are also subject to sales tax, often termed the “tampon tax,” which can be an additional financial burden.

Once she realized the number of people who lacked access to those necessary products, Shyamsundar wanted to see what the College community could do about the issue.

Despite being founded last year, BLOT members have already helped donate hundreds of dollars worth of menstrual products to local care centers. BLOT recently conducted a chalking event, to spread the word and start a conversation on campus.

“While a huge part of the club is fundraising, spreading awareness and educating ourselves as well as the William

̶ Suditi Shyamsunder 23

Instagram and encouraging members of the community to donate small amounts that we hope will accumulate and allow us to purchase plenty of products for the shelter,” Shyamsunder said.

Shyamsunder hopes that the group can continue its charitable work in the upcoming semesters while also spreading awareness to the public.

“I am hoping that in the future, BLOT will continue to have annual fundraisers and product drives so that we can donate

as many menstrual products as we can,” Shyamsunder said. “Additionally, I am hoping that we can engage in more education and destigmatization of periods in general.”

In addition to sending in donations, Shyamsunder says that students can become involved with BLOT by attending its bi-weekly meetings on Sundays or by following the organization on social media.

Shyamsunder connected her activism and her involvement in BLOT with her academic studies.

“Learning more about the injustices and inequalities that surround these two topics really frustrates me, but this frustration is important because it fuels a desire to get involved in relevant activism,” Shyamsunder said.

Shyamsunder is a data science major on the pre-med track and a 1693 scholar.

After completing her undergraduate studies at the College, she hopes to attend medical school.

Although she wants to become a physician, Shyamsunder also wants to continue helping those in marginalized communities.

“I want to continue to work at free clinics, so hopefully that would also be part of my career,” Shyamsunder said.

When she’s not engaging in extracurricular activities, volunteering or studying, Shyamsunder likes watching television shows and working on creative hobbies.

“In my free time, I like to watch shows like The Office, New Girl, and How I Met Your Mother,” Shyamsunder said. “I also enjoy knitting and procrastinating on schoolwork by hanging out with my suitemates.”

Because of the stressful environment at the College, Shyamsunder says that although it is important to find time to relax, it can often be difficult.

“It is important to remember to take time away from studying and make memories because college is meant to be enjoyable and not merely a stepping stone to another stage of life,” Shyamsunder said. “However, I know this is advice that I struggle to follow sometimes!”

Alexandra Byrne also contributed reporting to this article.

opinions

Opinions Editor Lucas Harsche Opinions Editor Alyssa Slovin fhopinions@gmail.com // @theflathat The Flat Hat ¦ Tuesday, April 20, 2021 ¦ Page 3

STAFF COLUMN

GUEST COLUMN

The Word on Reparations, Part 8: Homogenous Vanessa Cartagena-Clemente, Victoria Morales and Chance Jimenez FLAT HAT GUEST WRITERS

These are three independent thoughts from Latinx members of the Reparations Committee.

Vanessa: Latinx is not a racial category nor homogenous; it is an ethnicity that encompasses a vast array of identities descended from Latin America. Black Latinx identities are especially marginalized within Latinx communities. Due to Latin America’s colonial history, Black Latinx individuals still face colorism and racism by non-Black Latinx peers.

Representation within Latinx media is heavily skewed to favor white Latinx people, as they reflect idealized, Eurocentric standards. The lack of visibility of Black Latinx culture also perpetuates the stereotype that Black Latinx people don’t exist. This stereotype dismissed the history of slavery within a majority of Latin America which gave way to Afro-Mexican, Afro-Salvadorans, AfroDominicans, Haitians and many more Black communities. When it comes to the College of William and Mary, the College tends to categorize all Latinx identities into one group. The issue with homogenizing the Latinx community is that it dismisses and overlooks Black Latinx identities. So while more white Latinx students may classify themselves as Hispanic/Latinx, the study body ends up skewed to white Latinx instead of a diverse population. One of the most important ways to fix this issue is to disaggregate the data of racial categories (Asian American Student Initiative has a great post explaining the way the College does this).

Changing the way we see data can allow us 1) to accurately represent the College’s campus and 2) acknowledge the visibility of a minority group at a predominantly white institution.

Victoria: I first want to start by acknowledging that I am a white Latinx woman on campus and do not want to speak for the experience of others. This article is

based on my experience and what I have witnessed during my three years on campus.

Most Latinx students admitted to the College are predominantly white or white-passing, but Black and Brown Latinx students remain a small percentage of the Latinx students admitted. There is a lack of visibility of Black Latinx students and their experiences. It is not the student’s fault, but something those in the admissions process have overlooked and ignored. Just admitting a small percentage of Black Latinx students is not enough. Successful admission of more Black Latinx students is hindered by the lack of accessibility to resources.

Due to a lack of Black Latinx students on campus, it is difficult to incorporate this demographic of students into the few organizations we have on campus.

Another issue is the lack of awareness and education available to the campus community with regard to this population. The few discussions, speakers and classes available on Black Latinidad are mostly attended by Black and Latinx students on campus. As someone who has taken a few classes in the Latin American studies department, I am excited to see my non-POC peers taking classes there. A good amount of Latin American studies majors and minors are white students on campus. Outside of the classroom and required academic activities, some of these students never interact with multicultural organizations, donate to fundraisers supporting BIPOC communities and people, or immerse themselves within the communities they study.

Chance: I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been on the receiving end of furrowed brows, side glances, and outright confusion when I have shared my Latinx identity. My cultural pride was, more often than not, met with a bombardment of questions demanding that I prove myself. It got to the point where I wouldn’t check the Latinx/Hispanic box on a census or an exam. It was easier for me to deny myself of my culture before someone else did. If I asserted that I already didn’t feel like I deserved to claim my identity — no one else could take it from me.

Not being able to speak Spanish played a role in my exclusion; but, more than anything, it was how I looked. They’d look me up and down, seeing my brown skin and coily hair, and basically ask that I draw a family tree so they could “be sure” I was Latinx. My experiences, as well as those of other Black Latinx people, show how harmful it is to treat Latinx as a racial identity or a monolith when it’s neither. This misconception results in non-white Latinx people needing to jump through hoops just to be proud of who we are. Latinx’s obsession with homogeneity, questioning every person who doesn’t look like a J-Lo or a Sofia Vergara, separates an already divided community. The idea of homogeneity chooses who does and does not get to exist in the community.

I’ve said this many times before, but I will say it again: Latinx is not a race.

There is no singular way to exist as a Latinx person. I am an example of how Black Latinx people can struggle with their identity, but I want to be clear: that struggle is my journey and homogeneity enforced by anti-Blackness will no longer take a backseat.

Vanessa Cartagena-Clemente ’22 is double majoring in global studies with a concentration in Latin American studies and gender, sexuality and women’s studies. Vanessa serves on the community side for the Reparations Committee and is also the 2020-2021 secretary for the Latin American Student Union and the newest member of Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Inc. Email Vanessa at vcartagenaclem@email.wm.edu.

Victoria Morales ’22 is double majoring in government and kinesiology with a concentration in public health. Victoria is also a Class of 2022 senator serving on the Reparations Committee and is also the Membership Director for Phi Mu and member of the Latin American Student Union. Email Victoria at vmorales@email.wm.edu.

Chance Jimenez ’23 is double majoring in government and history with a concentration in African American studies. Chance serves on the community side of the Reparations Committee and is the incoming Outreach Coordinator for the NAACP as well as a member of the Black Student Organization, Camp Kesem and Mock Trial. Email Chance at cjimenez@email.wm.edu.

To view citations visit flathatnews.com.

Back-to-back Banner registration crashes

should be cause for alarm and change matter, are the employees at the Technology Support Center or Information Technology, who work tirelessly on the student community’s behalf within our flawed registration system.

There are far worse problems to have in the world than a faulty university registration system. But if the problem itself is so trivial, then why has it persisted? Why have countless years passed without any significant improvements to this crucial process? In my short time at the College, I have seen entire buildings renovated from beginning to end at the wishes of the administration. Too bad such effort does not seem to apply to our most basic necessities for academic achievement.

Lucas Harsche Seriously, not to beat a dead horse at this point, but it is only FLAT HAT OPINIONS EDITOR mildly ironic that the same College administration which decided I would love to say that I am prepared for the fall semester of upon no pass/fail policy out of paternalistic concern “for our best my junior year at the College of William and Mary. Under normal interest in the long-term” is woefully unprepared to handle course circumstances, I would be happy to tell you that I am scheduled registration while the vast majority of students are on campus — a to make good progress on my declared major and minor this situation that, fingers crossed, is what the College can expect in upcoming fall. Unfortunately, having suffered through not one, the long term. but two debilitating Banner crashes this past week, I am in no Moreover, the College is far from the only institution to use such position to do so. As of this piece’s publication, I am enrolled Ellucian Banner in its services; in fact, the number of institutions in exactly zero classes for the upcoming fall semester, and I know which use Banner worldwide is a whopping 1,400. Surely, not all that within my of these institutions suffer social class I am far from the same technical from the only one difficulties as the College? in this unnerving On the other hand, if Banner situation. At least works like a charm for these we all received an other institutions, then email apologizing what is it that the College for these abnormal is lacking which prevents circumstances. successful operations?

Oh, wait, I made The most informative a mistake. These are answer that the class perfectly normal of ’23 received thus far circumstances. for our Banner woes After all, who can was in an email from even remember a Edward Aractingi, chief registration period information officer, and where Banner did Sara L. Marchello, associate not crash while provost and university performing its most registrar. Their email stated important function? that last week, Banner Who can say that suffered “two different they felt completely system issues … starting assured that they Monday morning when the would be registered for the GRAPHIC BY SYDNEY KEHOE / THE FLAT HAT load on the system increased due to important classes they needed to the volume of registration, causing take, regardless of internet speed? Why am I still able to contribute instability and ultimately outages.” While this initially sounds to the mass of writings concerning an issue which dates as far like an infrastructure issue under the purview of the College, back as 12 years ago?

Aractingi and Marchello also wrote that “Information Technology You do not need me to tell you that using Banner has been a is working closely with Ellucian (the software provider of Banner) deeply flawed registration system. Last week’s struggle to register to troubleshoot.” not only the class of ’22 but the class of ’23 — twice at that — is There are only two options for the administration to take. certainly not the first warning bell in this regard. Frankly, I think Either invest in the infrastructure necessary to support Banner we would all appreciate a good reason for why it should not registration, or find a better-suited platform for this crucial be the last. process in the lives of the College’s students. If they wish to show And yes, you caught me, I am that opportunist who made a their support for us, now is the time. meme about it the whole affair. I confess that I profited off the Lucas Harsche ’23 is majoring in History. In addition to The sufferings of my student community. But you know what? I am Flat Hat, Lucas is also the treasurer for both Swim Club and Active told that it was pretty funny, and it so happens that a major source Minds, and plays violin in the Symphony Orchestra. Email Lucas of comedy is pain. Like it or not, I am not the one responsible at lmharsche@email.wm.edu. for the pain inflicted on the classes of ’22 and ’23. Nor, for that To view citations visit flathatnews.com.

INDEPENDENT GRAPHIC

Online classes, technology cause disconnect for students GRAPHIC BY RIEL WHITTLE / THE FLAT HAT

The Flat Hat

Tuesday, April 20, 2021

Page 4

STAFF COLUMN

STAFF COLUMN

Overextended students are just

Test-optional policy doesn’t increase diversity

trying to meet expectations

Ethan Brown

SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Alyssa Slovin

FLAT HAT OPINIONS EDITOR

As anyone connected to the College of William and Mary likely knows, students are up in arms about their administration.

Students want the administration to hear them, and yet, each new announcement from the College comes as a slap in the face. Most notably, students called for a modified pass/fail policy like they have received in the previous two remote learning-based semesters, and like other, similar schools are providing their students. Of course, the administration disagreed, so grading will depict this semester like any other semester, as if students are not in the middle of a pandemic, as if students are not learning outside of the classroom and as if students are not all fighting their own battles.

But this article isn’t about the pass/fail policy, because so many other students, alumni and professors have already spoken and written about those concerns. Instead, I’d like to address the minimization of what students do, are expected to do, and what that all means in this article. I found my inspiration in the Apr. 6 email from Eric Garrison, which he sent to the entire student body, in which he presents advice from other students about how to get through this tough semester.

Advice in the email ranges from telling students to find motivation within themselves to work instead of working with others in mind, to telling students to create a network of classmates and to always stay connected. Some of this advice is definitely easier said than done, and it isn’t exactly groundbreaking information that will counteract these working conditions, but there’s nothing wrong with them.

The final piece of advice is definitely multifaceted, and it has already caused a stir on the College’s meme-related Facebook page, Swampy Memes for TWAMPy Teens. The person advised that students should only be involved in one organization or activity at the College in order to focus on what’s most important and to be the most successful. She noticed that so many students overextend themselves, which is why students are so insistent on modifying the pass/fail policy this semester.

I was disappointed to see this paragraph in Garrison’s email, first because the student ignores the fact that so many of these clubs and organizations enrich our lives and educations in ways that the classroom does not. I ask, should we treat these organizations all as burdens or something we just do because we have to? No, I don’t think so. However, while I really enjoy everything I am involved in at this point in my educational career at the College, I cannot ignore her true point about students overworking ourselves.

I don’t want to completely speak out against her because she does touch on something very important. So many students push themselves too far, and I am definitely not innocent here.

Although I have learned throughout my college experience to prioritize the organizations and causes I value the most, I still find myself struggling to accomplish everything in the short 24 hours that make up each day. Overall, there’s this idea that we have to be involved in everything in order to be successful, and that stress is definitely not healthy or something we should continue to perpetuate. And being involved is never enough. We need elected and appointed positions because people tell us that being just a member is never good enough. I think this competitive way of collecting clubs starts in high school, when everyone tells us that colleges like to see us in multiple organizations and National Honor Society, which requires a minimum of three outside activities upon entry. We carry that attitude through college, and I cannot disagree with this student on this very point. Instead of joining organizations just for the sake of being involved, we should truly prioritize what we want the most in order to also be able to maintain good greats and an acceptable sleep schedule.

However, I don’t think that this pressure is our fault as students. She acknowledges those stressors we all feel, but she misplaces the blame. If we feel as if we have to overexert ourselves in order to make an impression on employers and the admissions offices at institutions of higher education, how can we just stop being involved in activities? That’s like purposefully making yourself a worse candidate in an already extremely competitive market that is only exasperated by the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s not enough to just tell us to stop overcommitting and then everything will be fine — that’s just as unrealistic as thinking we can throw ourselves into everything.

The most concerning part of the advice from this student is how she goes out of her way to put herself above all of her fellow classmates and how she belittles the struggles that apparently everyone but her faces. She writes, “I see that most of my classmates are in nine different things AND an orientation aide AND president of this AND recruitment chair for that… it literally makes me cringe that they are screaming for a Pass/Fail option.

They did this to themselves and now want [the Provost] to literally save them from their poor choices.” Here, she is not only blaming students for existing in this highly competitive environment, but she is also acting as if everyone’s problems would disappear if only they were less involved. That completely ignores how this semester is different from previous, fully in-person semesters.

Initially, I suspected that since this student and Garrison himself are so willing to help students, they would actually want to offer support to the student. Instead, this message reads as boasting to other students and shaming classmates for trying to do what they think is best — whether those organizations align with their passions or if they are trying to learn new skills to use after college.

Overall, I definitely think that as students, we should reassess our involvements and try to only attend meetings for organizations that we care about. But we are a passionate generation. So many of these organizations benefit our campus as well as our community at-large. Don’t stop caring just because someone made you feel as if all of your problems are your own fault.

Alyssa Slovin ‘22 is an English and marketing double major.

Besides her work at The Flat Hat as opinions editor and Flat Hat Magazine as editor-in-chief, she is involved in Sinfonicron Light Opera Company, The Gallery and Active Minds. Email Alyssa at amslovin@email.wm.edu.

HEADSHOTS BY KAYLA PAYNE / THE FLAT HAT

Each spring, thousands of applicants to the College of William and Mary receive word about whether they will join the College’s incoming class that fall. While arduous, the rollout of test-optional policies at many institutions has made the college admissions process somewhat more tolerable for students in the last year. These policies allowed students to opt out of submitting ACT and SAT results, and in the short term, were wise in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, many universities, including the College, have considered making test-optional policies permanent, stating that they improve accessibility and positively contribute to diversity. But is that true?

First, I fully acknowledge that standardized testing is far from a perfect gauge of a student’s academic potential. Countless studies suggest that exams like the SAT and ACT are biased in favor of white, wealthy test takers.

The positive correlation between family income and SAT performance is incredibly stark; according to The Washington Post, students in families earning above $200,000 received, on average, a combined SAT score of 1,714 out 2,400. Students in families making less than $20,000 score almost 400 points lower on average than their wealthier peers, receiving an aggregate score of 1,326.

In an ideal world, standardized testing would gauge an applicant’s aptitude and their aptitude alone. Clearly, this is not the world we live in.

Some families, particularly those who are white and affluent, have access to better schooling and more test preparation resources. Their children are disproportionately more likely to attend schools that offer the PSAT, an excellent (and free) opportunity for prospective college applicants to get comfortable with college entrance exams. They also have the luxury of paying for multiple test administrations if their child fails to meet his or her target score on test day, something that isn’t feasible for millions of families.

Unfortunately, I struggle to see how making standardized testing optional fixes these problems. Consider the other parts of the college application besides SAT, ACT and Advanced Placement scores: extracurricular activities, personal essays and letters of recommendation.

How on earth are these application components any more equitable than standardized tests? If anything, they seem even more biased towards rich, white kids.

Being able to participate in extracurricular activities in high school is a luxury. Can a student who has to take care of his or her little siblings, work a part-time job, or who lacks transportation comfortably spend two hours after school each Thursday participating in speech and debate?

I sincerely doubt it. Clubs demand time, flexibility, dues payments and transportation. As we all know, access to these resources is not equitably distributed, so it seems suspect for universities to rely more on clubs and activities as a way of gauging student potential — because we all know some students are likelier to possess these privileges than others.

The same logic applies for personal essays. There is a lucrative industry

of professional “coaches” who counsel families and students through the college admissions process, and many of them specialize in giving advice for applicants’ personal statements. Some families will shell out hundreds of dollars to help their child craft the perfect essay response, and I know firsthand how deeply admissions officers value personal statements when they review applications. Here is yet another arena where white, wealthy families can manipulate the system even more effectively than they can with standardized testing, shoving resources into their child’s application until it is in pristine condition.

Setting aside these issues, test-optional policies also have contributed to explosive application growth at elite universities while simultaneously undermining the universities that have traditionally best served underrepresented groups. When many institutions announced testoptional policies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the College, many prospective students completely changed their application agendas.

Applicants whose SAT or ACT results may have precluded them from even being considered for admission at schools like Harvard or UC Berkeley suddenly had a “way in” without having to submit standardized test scores. As a result, these students applied to more “reaches” — and fewer “safeties” — resulting in massive application increases for the nation’s most elite institutions. Having high application rates and a low acceptance rate is the dream of any elite institution, and fortunately for many selective schools, test-optional policies made this fantasy a reality.

On the other end of the spectrum, less-selective universities experienced sharp decreases in applications this year, and many of these universities have historically been some of the best at enrolling, matriculating and graduating minority students. The New York Times reported that the California State University system, one of the largest public college systems in the country, had to extend its application deadlines at several campuses in an attempt to attract more applicants. Sluggish application rates can be dismal for universities, foreshadowing low matriculation, dampened student life and financial drain.

This relationship is troubling. Elite, wealthy and predominantly white schools unveil test-optional policies, claiming it bolsters access for marginalized groups. Their application rates explode to the detriment of less selective institutions, which subsequently struggle to attract students and receive funding. And all throughout this process, privileged families have an even higher leg up in making sure that their child’s application is in perfect condition, ready to be admitted with or without test scores.

I know that tests are not the best representation of aptitude or capability for many students; I think I’m a much stronger essay writer than a testtaker, too. I think we need to change how we think about standardized testing, but with the goal of improving the College’s diversity in mind, we must consider other ways to make sure that we are recruiting and matriculating all types of students, not just those who can afford the luxuries inherent in varsity sports, extracurricular activities and fancy personal statements. Whether by reforming standardized testing or by adding a more rigorous “adversity index” to our applications, something must be done to prevent test-optional policies from becoming lip service to historically underrepresented students.

Ethan Brown ‘21 is an economics and government double major from Manassas, Va. He served as The Flat Hat’s 110th editor-in-chief and is involved with the American Bosnian Collaboration Project and the International Relations Club. Email Ethan at ewbrown@email.wm.edu.

To view citations, visit flathatnews.com.

STAFF WRITER

Reinventing the wheel: new ideas for traditional pass/fail JR Herman

FLAT HAT ASSOC. VARIETY EDITOR

Let me first preface this article by saying this is not in direct response to the Mar. 29 email to students announcing the College of William and Mary’s final decision to not implement an expansion of the pass/fail policy in spring 2021, as advocated by the Student Assembly due to the challenges of remote learning and COVID19 conditions. Rather, I am suggesting a slight modification of the current, traditional policy to improve the pass/fail system in the long run — perhaps students should have the option to revert a pass/fail class back to standard letter after seeing their final grade. I am not advocating for students to be able to declare a course on a pass/fail basis after seeing their final grade but rather to revert a class taken pass/ fail to standard letter, an important distinction.

I believe this change could be relatively noncontroversial in that it has the potential to help both students and professors alike and help mitigate concerns that the administration voiced in the Mar. 29 letter — taking a class pass/fail, in some cases, can negatively impact potential applications to graduate and professional schools.

As I was browsing the College’s Academic Regulations section of the Undergraduate Catalog, I discovered that, traditionally, academic juniors and seniors (or any student with more than 54 credits) may take an Arts and Sciences or Education course pass/ fail during each semester of the school year (excluding summer sessions). Not surprisingly, limitations apply — the course taken on the pass/fail basis must be an elective course. It cannot satisfy COLL requirements, proficiencies (language, math, arts, etc.), or count toward major or minor requirements.

Students must make the decision whether or not to elect pass/fail grading for a course by the end of the Add/Drop period, which is about a week and a half after classes first begin. Based on current official policy, students are unable to change grading options after Add/Drop ends. However, by the end of the Add/Drop period, students have only a very basic understanding of the course and have almost no insight as to their performance (or ability to perform) in the class, as in almost all cases, by the end of the Add/Drop period, there have been no graded

assignments, due to the possibility of students still joining the course.

Pass/fail grading in higher education is very controversial, but the College, evidenced by current policy, sees the merit in allowing a limited number of elective courses to be taken on a pass/fail basis. Traditionally, the main purpose of pass/fail grading is that courses can be taken without fear of negatively impacting one’s GPA. Pass/fail grading thus serves as a protection for students wanting to go out of their comfort zones and explore different academic departments (e.g., physics majors taking classics classes, or classics majors taking physics classes, etc.) and for those taking non-required classes just for fun. In many cases, students may not have the bandwidth to take these extra, exploratory classes standard letter due to a rigorous course load and/or work schedule.

It is important to note that the system is intentionally designed so that students cannot wait until the end of the semester, see a low final grade and then change the grading option.

Perhaps an unintentional result of trying to prevent this from happening is that students who elected to pass/fail a course by the end of Add/ Drop, upon seeing a high final grade, also cannot elect to change the grading option. Reforming this would be beneficial for all involved.

To begin with, it must be noted that students who elect to take a class pass/fail are most likely only going to do the bare minimum — this is one of the strongest arguments against pass/ fail, generally speaking. Students will work hard enough to pass the class, but there is no incentive to do A-work because at the end of the day, there is no difference on the transcript between an A and barely passing. Ideally, students in a perfect world would work just as hard regardless of the grading modality.

However, busy students do not have unlimited time, and devoting more time than required to one course poses a risk. A fundamental principle of economics (and life) is scarcity — resources are limited and must be allocated as efficiently as possible. For students, time is one of the most valuable resources. There is simply not enough time to study as much as we need as well as participate in activities as much as we desire, all while working, socializing and getting involved in community events. Sacrifices must be made — at some point, studying for one class takes time away from studying for another or takes time away from working, socializing, or volunteering. For those students taking a class

pass/fail, it is not rational to devote any more study time to that course than what is required to ensure a passing grade. After all, sacrificing the study of another subject or taking time away from work has a high opportunity cost. The cost is greater than the benefit because there is no tangible benefit — in the end, even if students work hard and obtain grades they like, even if they end up with As, they will only see “P” on their transcript. Thus, if students eventually decide that they do, after all, have the ability to do well in the elective course they chose to pass/fail, there is simply no incentive to put in the time required, other than just personal satisfaction which, often times, is not practical enough to justify sacrificing precious time that could be devoted to other classes, organizations and professional development.

This situation could be remedied easily by allowing students to revert back to standard letter at the end of the semester. The College’s pass/fail policy is set up almost like an insurance policy for those students who want to get out of their comfort zone and learn material without worrying about getting grades that could negatively impact their GPA. This way, students could have another safety net — one which encourages hard work. This amendment, additionally, could even reduce the number of courses taken pass/fail since students can revert back, thus helping mitigate concerns of negatively impacting future applications.

By recognizing that students likely will not work as hard if they know they can pass/ fail a class at any time (most particularly, after seeing the final grade), the College has partially considered incentives. I believe the time has come to expand upon this. The slight, proposed adjustment would likely result in professors seeing increased work ethic and engagement from those students who elected to pass/fail the course by those who still hope to excel and achieve a high grade (without the pressure and the anxiety). I believe that we should promote hard work as much as we can, even (and especially) in pass/fail situations.

JR Herman ‘24 is planning on double majoring in classics and marketing. JR serves as managing editor of Flat Hat Magazine and as an associate variety Editor at The Flat Hat. Outside of The Flat Hat, JR is involved with the Miller Entrepreneurship Center, Colonial Echo, Classics Club, Women in Business and The Gallery literary magazine. Email JR at jcherman@email.wm.edu.

variety

Variety Editor Ashanti Jones Variety Editor Grace Olsen flathat.variety@gmail.com // @theflathat ¦ Tuesday, April 20, 2021 ¦ Page 5

COURTESY IMAGE / S--! My Glasses, by ANTA GUEYE

The Flat Hat

Pride week s queer and POC art gallery showcases work from student, alumni artists ADITHI RAMAKRISHNAN // FLAT HAT CHIEF FEATURES WRITER

The sky is orange. The sun comes up behind the tall spires of a building covered in shadow, and a thick fog obscures almost everything in view.

No, these are not the first few lines of a dystopian novel. It’s the scene set in Anta Gueye ’23’s photograph, titled “S—! My Glasses.” Gueye took the photo through her dorm room window during the fall 2020 semester. She was inspired to get the shot after constantly being woken up by the sun filtering through her window early in the morning.

“I stood up on the little banister that’s by my window, took it through the glass, and I love how foggy and hazy it is,” Gueye said. “It looks like this would be in a fantasy look, and I’m just proud of that.”

“S—! My Glasses,” as well as more work by Gueye and various other artists and photographers, was featured in the Queer and POC Art Gallery held virtually Monday, Apr. 12 through Saturday, Apr. 17. The College of William and Mary’s Rainbow Coalition and Lambda Alliance put the gallery together as part of their 2021 Pride Week celebration.

In lieu of an in-person gallery due to COVID-19 restrictions, Rainbow Coalition and Lambda Alliance’s Pride Committee put together a virtual gallery that both in-person and remote students could view on the platform Gathertown. Gathertown mimics an in-person gallery by allowing visitors to “walk” through an interactive, animated gallery as an avatar, stop in front of different artwork, and press “X” on their keyboards to enlarge the image and see additional information about the artist and medium.

“In a way, it was easier to set up an art gallery virtually, especially with the pandemic, because if we had done it in person, I would have had to find time to meet with all the artists, and it would have been hard to feature alumni because I wouldn’t be able to get physical copies of their work,” Pride committee member Vincent Sheaberry ’22 said. “With the virtual adaptation, I was able to email the entire art department, students and alumni to see if they’d be able to virtually send me their art so I could format it to be posted onto the Gathertown.”

Submissions for the gallery were open to anyone who identified as LGBTQ+ or people of color, and were not limited by medium or theme. Sheaberry spoke to the variety of pieces featured in the gallery, including photographs of Glenn Close and Allan Ginsburg taken by John Gilbert Fox ’72 and photography pieces created by Liv McCarthy ’23 on a camera they built themselves.

“It doesn’t have to be this elaborate masterpiece that took you 43 days to complete,” Sheaberry said. “As long as you are doing something to express yourself in a creative outlet, I think that’s the most important. All of these artists did that, and it’s very beautiful to see.”

Rebecca Shkeyrov ’20, one of the alumni whose work is featured in the gallery, drew parallels between the experience of walking through a physical gallery and viewing the virtual gallery on Gathertown.

“It emulated the experience of walking around,” Shkeyrov said. “It was interesting that you walk up to a piece and it showed a little snippet of the work and you have to click ‘X’ to see the whole thing. That’s kind of like how, if you’re walking through a gallery, you would see

something out of the corner of your eye, and then you’re like, ‘Oh, what’s that?’ You go look at it.”

Shkeyrov is often inspired by surprising colors and light patterns in her work. One of their pieces in the gallery, titled “Martha lounges,” features an older transgender woman relaxing in a room filled with vibrant colors, shapes and patterns. Shkeyrov created the work as a commission, and emphasized the importance of representing figures that often don’t find their way into so-called traditional art galleries.

“Most of the paintings of nude women you see in museums are, first of all, done by men,” Shkeyrov said. “I want to see, you know, a graceful older woman. A figure like this, I feel like, is so hard to come by in an institution.”

For Gueye, art is a way to capture visual stories that get people’s attention.

“America is not great at making the voices of minorities heard,” Gueye said. “I feel like art is a good way to express ourselves in a way that’s more likely to be heard, because a picture speaks a thousand words.”

As a child of immigrants, Shkeyrov felt that becoming an artist was never an option growing up. They discussed the importance of pursuing their passions despite their upbringing, and hope that gallery visitors identify with their experience.

COURTESY IMAGE / Martha Lounges, by REBECCA SHKEYROV

It s harder when you grow up hearing about your parents struggles, to choose a career path that is less lucrative and even seen as unimportant by many people.

“It’s harder when you grow up hearing about your parents’ struggles, to choose a career path that is less lucrative and even seen as unimportant by many people,” Shkeyrov said. “Shows like this also validate art careers’ importance in society, especially when they are made so accessible.”

Sheaberry’s favorite part of the gallery is that there is no one message to take away. Rather, the showcase was about creating a space for queer and trans artists, artists of color and queer artists of color to express themselves however they saw fit.

“Showcasing the work of those that are not represented, like trans folk, queer folk and people of color is incredibly important,” Sheaberry said. “I wanted to make sure that I created a platform for them to be seen, specifically

COURTESY IMAGE / Goodwill Boy, by REBECCA SHKEYROV

Kamariitan Tuesday, April 20, 2021

Page 6

The Flat Hat

Filipino American Student Association s 2021 Culture Night performance, Kamariitan showcases Filipino culture, student stories NINA RANESES // FLAT HAT COPY CHIEF

COURTESY IMAGES / NINJIN GANKHULEG, SANIYA HAN, & MARCUS BENGZON

T

he sense of joy and relief was palpable Saturday, Apr. 10, as over 90 College of William and Mary students, faculty, alumni and family alike gathered over Zoom to celebrate the premiere of the Filipino American Student Association’s 2021 Culture Night performance, “Kamariitan.”

Culture Night is FASA’s annual pride and joy. In normal circumstances, FASA’s Culture Night cast and crew would perform live on-stage to a packed auditorium, a culmination of months of theme and script development, along with marketing, acting, production, singing and dancing. In light of the pandemic, FASA and its Culture Night team made necessary adjustments to the development and debut of this year’s performance, which meant, among a number of other COVIDcompliant changes, watching the pre-taped “Kamariitan” as a live premiere on the organization’s YouTube page. In place of in-person applause, the Zoom chat function served as a way for the team and their audience of faculty, family and friends to react to this year’s cultural showcase.

Culture Night allows FASA to showcase aspects of Filipino culture in all of its forms, centered around one annual theme and message with which they tell their story. Through a range of artistic expressions, they hope to educate their audience on pertinent issues surrounding the experiences of Filipino people and the diaspora. Culture Night’s efforts are led by culture chairs, elected members of FASA’s executive board. This year’s culture chairs, Zeta Atoigue ‘22, Jorge Conda ‘22 and Isabelle Tan ‘22, have worked tirelessly on creative and logistical fronts to make this year’s Culture Night a reality.

“We really wanted to touch on a lot of different political topics,” Tan said. “We were thinking a lot about the anti-terror bill in the Philippines and different moments like that, that have arisen in Filipino culture. We thought the best way to do that without overwhelming our scripts was to express them through mythology and through the different gods that we included. Each of them had a specific aspect — imperialism by the U.S. in the Philippines or even the environment. Each deity had one thing they were passionate about.”

The theme and title of this year’s performance, “Kamariitan,” is an homage to ancient Visayan (a region of the Philippines) mythology, in which “there were three divisions of the world: Kahilwayan, the sky; Kamariitan, the earth; and Kasakitan, the underworld,” as the play’s script describes. Without spoiling the play, the performance can best be described as a journey in self-discovery and personal growth for young Filipino Americans visiting the Philippines.

The performance presents the conflict of intergenerational and cultural differences, as well as themes of reckoning, and weaves in ancient Visayan mythology to showcase these lessons. In between, viewers are treated to a mix of modern and traditional Filipino dance, from original numbers choreographed

by FASA members to Filipino cultural staples such as Tinikling, a folk dance that uses bamboo poles, Maglalatik, an indigeneous folk dance that uses halved coconut shell halves, and singing and traditional fighting performances.

The culture team emphasized the importance of Culture Night as a way for FASA’s members to bond and hoped that despite the pandemic, the organization’s current freshmen would be able to have unforgettable experiences working on the performance in the same ways they once did as freshmen.

“So there’s what we call the freshman lead actor to culture chair pipeline,”

Atoigue said. “My freshman year, I was in Culture Night, and it was me and three other women who were a part of the show. After that, it’s what really got me into FASA and cemented my place in this organization.”

Despite the flashbacks the culture chairs experienced by reliving the realities of COVID-compliant Culture Night rehearsals and meetings, they found that their biggest concern was ensuring that they could use this time to allow their newest members to have a sense of normalcy and socialization despite the circumstances.

“These new members were seniors in high school and didn’t get their graduation and didn’t get a normal introduction into what college is supposed to be like your freshman year,” Tan said. “Giving them the space to have a good time with rehearsals and having a group of people they were seeing every day, and doing our best to be safe in doing that, means the world. It’s really rewarding to see the aftermath of the relationships they’ve created within the show. That’s the biggest reward for me.”

As a cultural organization, FASA members’ bonds with one another are nearly familial. And while the pandemic has created some obstacles to the club’s ability to allow members to socialize, the organization’s sense of community has persevered. Among so many other moments, Tan remembered one instance that truly captured their resilience. Traditionally, table reads with the newly-selected Culture Night cast members and the newly-revealed script are done at one of FASA’s general body meetings, where friends gather and bring food to share for a potluck dinner. Instead, the pandemic forced FASA to adapt this tradition virtually.

“We had a mass Zoom call,” Tan said. “I just remember being so overwhelmed and so fulfilled at the same time for all the work Jorge, Zeta and I put into the script, and hearing our actors say the lines out loud really brought it to life. That was really surreal for me — hearing what we wrote for half a year and having our actors picking it up so easily and really taking on the characters like it was their own personalities.”

And for what FASA lost in a live performance this year, they gained in their ability to foster connections with the greater FASA community. 2021 marks the 30th anniversary of FASA at the College, and the virtual watch party presented a unique opportunity to gather together a number of FASA alumni who may not have been able to see the performance live otherwise.

“I remember it meant a lot that they took the time to show up, even if it was virtually,” Conda said. “Because I even remember seeing culture chairs from years past, and their reactions and support meant a lot.”

Despite the added pressures of technical difficulty, the culture chairs experienced a special, pandemic-era kind of relief once they were able to successfully premiere the Culture Night performance, as the video uploaded to YouTube and the number of viewers quickly climbed.

“Boy, that night, as stressful as it was trying to upload the video, right when I got on the Zoom and saw 90 people come in — lolas, titas, friends from high school who wanted to see our show and our creation was so fulfilling in that moment, like I couldn’t breathe,” Atoigue said. “It was rewarding to get to see it all compiled together.”

sports

Sports Editor Lexie Hiestand Sports Editor Nathan Seidel flathatsports@gmail.com @FlatHatSports

The Flat Hat ¦ Tuesday April 20, 2021 ¦ Page 7 COURTESY PHOTOS / TRIBE ATHLETICS

FEATURE

Holding Serve n Volk e d n e r B s e t urts le o h t c a e t h n t e f f d o u d t d n s n a e a el on c x Graduat e n e g n u D Jill van den

Tight-knit Tribe tennis players create community, lasting relationships beyond the court love winning with one of my brothers beside me.”

The relationships formed in tennis last beyond the court for both van den Dungen and Volk. From academics to professional Tennis is a lesson in perseverance. Grit, drive, and time networks, the team provides lifelong connections. management are all skills players must quickly pick up if they are to For Volk, his relationships with his teammates push him to be succeed at a collegiate level. On top of the hours spent on the court, a better student. student athletes battle injuries and taxing academic schedules.

“Sometimes, some of us take classes together. The team Graduate students Brenden Volk and Jill van den Dungen always pushes you,” Volk said, laughing. “We’re so competitive have given their all to the game, starting competitions as early that we even compete to see who will do the best in the class, as twelve years old. Despite facing injuries throughout their score the best on this exam. And they’re always reminding you to careers, from low-level tendinitis to thoracic outlet syndromes, turn in your assignments and do your work, too. I couldn’t stay and despite tackling more class work than ever before at the as motivated as I am without them helping me along.”

Randolph A. Mason School of Business, they return to the courts In addition, his bond was one of the deciding factors in his for their fifth years, since the shortened 2019-2020 season gave return to academia after undergrad. Before the pandemic, Volk them an extra year of eligibility. had a job in finance lined up, but he left it behind to play tennis for It was not even a hard decision to make for them. one more year. In doing so, he realized he could pursue his dream Their devotion to the sport and their teams job with another year of schooling under his belt. is evident in the way they reflect back on their “One of the things I wanted to do since coming careers. Tennis is truly interwoven in every aspect to William and Mary was bring the school a of their daily lives at college—from friendships, to championship. We were really close last year, before free time, to academics. everything shut down, and we have a great team,” “You have to plan your schedule around tennis. For he explained. “I actually had a job at Citi Bank lined me, I have class from 8-11. It’s early, but at least I’m up before I called it off after getting the call from done early. Take a few hours break to do work, then Kader. I know I was super lucky to have a job offer head over to practice at 1:30,” said van den Dungen. in the pandemic, but I just couldn’t give up another “After practice, you’re so caught up in work that year and another chance with my brothers.” some days, you even forget to eat,” Volk added.

During the first quarantine, tennis even affected “They’re busy days, but we’re used to it. We’ve been the types of hobbies both players tried out. doing it—balancing—since high school.”

“For me, in the Netherlands, it was hard because On game days, they can lose up to a day of work. everything was shut down for a while,” van den But they do not even bat an eye at how rigorous Dungen said. “We went on a lot of hikes, exploring, their schedules seem to the lay-person. that sort of thing. All over like the nature and the In the hour between course work and tennis trails. When the courts opened again, I played a lot practice, Volk and van den Dungen showed up to of one-on-one outside with my family.”

Aroma’s to talk about their tennis careers. They “I was lucky enough to live near two of the guys, wear matching Tribe Athletics apparel, but order Danny and Finbar,” Volk explained. “So, when opposite beverages. Volk sets down a caramelI got the call, I was able to keep working out and drizzled, iced whip-creamed concoction, while practicing before coming back.”

COURTESY PHOTO / TRIBE ATHLETICS van den Dungen quietly sips a warmer beverage, Brenden Volk sits next to longtime doubles partner sophomore George Davis during a break in the action.

The decision to return to school and play one topped with frothed milk. more year of tennis was not difficult for van den The two’s trajectories mirror this first impression. At first “When you’re able to form a strong relationship with your team Dungen, either. But, graduate school is much more involved glance, their careers are eerily similar: both transferred after year after year, you become so much more comfortable playing than the undergraduate public policy and international business freshmen year, returned to get masters’ degrees in Business with them.” degrees Volk and van den Dungen received, respectively.

Analytics, and won awards for doubles play and academics Together, the duo performed on a national level, taking the Putting in time and effort is not new to van den Dungen, throughout. However, small differences riddle their careers, Bearcats to their division championships both years and the thanks to tennis. However, for her one-year, accelerated starting with even how they chose their first colleges.

NCAA central regional championships in the 2018-2019 season. program, balance is critical.

Now in his fourth year at William and Mary, Volk is no Volk, on the other hand, could not play immediately for the “It’s challenging because it’s completely different than what I stranger to stepping up and leading the Tribe. The team looks Tribe after his decision to transfer. studied undergrad. But, I like the challenge. I like the challenge to two-time captain Volk as the most experienced player and “I lost a year of eligibility, which was really hard because for to get out of my comfort zone; getting out of your comfort loudest voice on the court. But before Volk played for William that first season, I couldn’t really contribute anything to the zone always pushes you,” said van den Dungen. “It’s lots of and Mary, he first attended Northwestern. team. I wanted to prove myself to my teammates on the court. programming and data. It takes a lot of time, effort, and practice.”

Volk committed to Northwestern in the winter of his junior But, I’m really happy with my decision. I’m so glad to be here.”

After her degree, she will go back to school one last time. year of high school.

However, in his junior year, he found success in doubles as “I think I will try to go back and get another degree next “I always wanted to play college tennis,” Volk said. “That was well. Though he started his doubles career with now-senior year with supply-chain,” van den Dungen said. “I have always always my goal.”

Chen Ruo, his longest held partner is sophomore George dreamed of owning one day my own company or getting very But tennis was not his only priority. Volk emphasized that he Davis. All three years with the Tribe, Volk has been nominated high up in a company, something like that.” worked hard in high school in order to find a program with great to the VaSID All-State team in doubles. Volk and Davis are Volk hopes to lend his propensity and eagerness to win academics as well as a strong tennis program. five-time winners of the Colonial Athletic Association doubles to professional sports teams: “I would love to break in to “My heart was just set on Northwestern: top ten academic pairing of the week. sports analytics. I love winning, and I’d love to apply my school, top ten tennis program at the time. It seemed like a “We’ve played together so long now that I can anticipate him degree to help pro teams find the people and gameplay they great fit,” he explained. “I was at Northwestern for a year and exactly,” Volk said fondly of Davis. “I know exactly where he’ll be need to win.” a half, and then, when it didn’t work out at Northwestern, I on the court, where he’ll place the ball. Having him by my side, Though they only have one more year playing, tennis will wanted to make sure that I would go to another great academic giving me energy throughout the matches, is a great feeling. He always have some sort of influence in their lives. Whether it school and found myself here at William and Mary. I’ve loved it complements me so well.” be the relationships, the mindset, or the sport itself, Volk and here ever since.”

The complementation in question is Volk’s unique playstyle van den Dungen will always remember the time they spent as a While Volk’s decision to attend Northwestern matched the that he developed through the years. He’s grown from being a student athlete. stories of many U.S. Division I athletes, Netherlands-born van flashy, bold player to one that’s more strategic, self-described “I hope tennis will continue to be in my future,” van den den Dungen had a very different high school experience. as “annoying.”

Dungen said. “Back in the Netherlands, I would like to continue “For us, it’s a unique way, as Europeans, to combine school “I want to do anything I can to get under my opponent’s skin. playing with the league, if not competition, then still exercise. I and athletics, because for us, it’s either/or, once you’re done I won’t make flashy plays, but I see my opponent’s style and I have put so much time and love into playing tennis.” with high school. So, for me, I made it like a pretty fast decision,” adapt in the most annoying way possible to win,” he said. “I don’t For Volk, tennis is more than the sport itself. He may not be van den Dungen explained. “I didn’t want to give up academics think I have the most powerful shot on the team, or the flashiest able to play at the same level for much longer, due to various at a young age and come back to it later, at like 25. And I didn’t moves, but I can create different spins to keep my opponent on bouts of elbow and shoulder tendinitis, as well as lower back want to give up the sport I was playing for so long, with so many their toes. I want them to adapt to me, not the other way around.” injuries, but the relationships he built will last. hours, so this was the perfect opportunity for me.”

He has always had winning in mind, but the way to go about Volk said, “I’ve made some lifelong friends—brothers— Van den Dungen heard many stories about the U.S. sports winning has changed.When asked about which type of tennis he through playing tennis. We’re all really close to each other scene from her classmates who had committed and had great preferred, he laughed and answered, “I would like to consider and the women’s team, too. I’ve really found a family here at experiences. But, her first year was not as idyllic as she expected. myself both a doubles and singles player. I love winning, but I William and Mary.”

LEXIE HIESTAND FLAT HAT SPORTS EDITOR

“For me, I really chose Louisiana Tech for the coach.

Unfortunately, before everything started, a month before that, in August, he told the team that he was going to leave,” she said. “I already knew after 2 months that I wanted to transfer because I really didn’t like the new tennis environment. For me, the transitioning only meant something good. I would be more relieved, looking for something that fits me better.”

She settled on Southern Baptist, a well-established Division II program, where she finished out the rest of her undergraduate career. At Southern Baptist, van den Dungen quickly found community and her stride. Van den Dungen ranked, nationally, no. 25 in singles and no. 3 in doubles. She picked up her first ITA All-American award in doubles—an award that she would win all three seasons playing for the Bearcats.

“My first two years, I played with this Australian girl,” van den Dugen said, naming her long-time Bearcat partner Klara Vickov.

Page 8

The Flat Hat

Tuesday, April 20, 2021

CAMPUS

Confucius Institute to close following contract non-renewal College decides to not renew contract of Confucius Institute, CAS Global Studies will fill Rowe House PATRICK BYRNE FLAT HAT NEWS ASSOC. EDITOR

Wednesday, June 30, the College of William and Mary’s Confucius Institute will close, following the College’s decision to not renew its current five-year contract with the Institute. Rowe House, the current location of the Institute on Jamestown road, will become the site of the College’s Arts & Sciences Global Studies program.

The WMCI was established in 2011 on a five-year contract, which was renewed in 2016. WMCI was tasked with promoting a better understanding of both Chinese language and culture throughout the College’s community.

WMCI frequently collaborated with Chinese student organizations on campus, putting on plays and other events which promoted knowledge of Chinese culture and traditions.

However, the relationship between the College and the Confucius Institute was not without controversy. WMCI was criticized for its connections to the Chinese government, with Jerry Hu ’22 accusing the Institute of “host[ing] events to brainwash students at the College and give a deceptive image of China” in a 2020 Flat Hat opinions piece.

Critics of the WMCI focused on the relationship between Hanban, the nonprofit organization that administers the worldwide network of Confucius Institutes. Hanban is closely affiliated with China’s Ministry of Education, and former Politburo member Li Changchun referred to the international spread of Confucius Institutes as “part of China’s overseas propaganda set up” in a piece from The Economist.

However, some students see the Institute as an example of cultural diversity on campus. Sean Zhou ’22, former vice president of the Chinese Student Organization, criticized the College’s choice, taking issue with the justification for the administration’s decision.

“I believe it’s another example that further demonstrates how the College has managed to subdue cultural diversity and inclusion, especially towards the Chinese community,” Zhou said in an email.

“The Confucius Institute has played a critical role in supporting

MATT LOWRIE / THE FLAT HAT

CAS Global Studies set to move into Rowe House after close of Confucius Institute.

student-run Chinese organizations by sponsoring shows, hosting celebrations and most importantly, being an intermediary that brings together Chinese people and everyone else that has a genuine interest in China. I hope the administration could have a less perfunctory reason behind the termination of this contract.”

When asked for comment on the College’s decision to not renew the Institute’s contract, Director of the Reeves Center Stephen Hanson, who also serves as the chair of the WMCI, emphasized the continuity of the College’s approach towards Chinese language and cultural programs on campus.

“William and Mary remains firmly committed to international

partnerships with leading universities around the world, including in China,” Hanson said in an email. “Such academic partnerships remain in the mutual interest of both sides, even in times of geopolitical tension, as they open opportunities for global research and education to faculty, students and members of the community alike.”

Hanson further explained that the College would continue to offer Chinese language and cultural programming. In addition, Hanson stated that the College, despite no longer receiving money from Hanban or any of its successor organizations, would continue its decades-long partnership with the Beijing Normal University, which long predates the College’s contract with the WMCI. John Littel, rector for the Board of Visitors, struck a similar note when asked about the College’s decision.

“The BOV is very supportive of the perspective and commitment William and Mary brings to global education and to providing the widest range of programs for our students and faculty for language and cultural studies and research opportunities,” Littel said in an email. “The Confucius Institute is just one of many ways in which W&M offers Chinese language and cultural study opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students and faculty.”

Littel went on to mention that the College would continue its partnership with BNU, as well as seeking to explore its other independent collaborations with universities in China.

Hanson spoke on the debated connection between the controversy over the WMCI’s funding and the College’s decision to not renew its contract with the Institute. Hanson said that the contract was not renewed in order to standardize the way the College approaches international partnerships.

“The decision to change the way in which William and Mary supports these Chinese language and culture programs allows us to bring them into closer alignment with the way we organize other international partnerships at W&M, which are typically also built on direct university-to-university relationships,” Hanson said.

STUDENT ASSEMBLY

SA passes accessibility resolution, increases meeting transparency

SA prepares for end of semester with Closing of Session Act, wellness initiatives, transparency legislation EMMA FORD AND KIMBERLY LORES FLAT HAT SA REPORTERS

Tuesday, Apr. 13, the College of William and Mary’s Student Assembly prepared for the transition to the 329th Senate by passing the annual Closing of Session Act. Additionally, senators passed five bills ranging from wellness initiatives to senate transparency.

Sponsored by Sens. Owen Williams ’23 and Maheen Saeed ’23, senate unanimously passed the Accessibility Regardless of Ability Resolution with minimal discussion. The resolution aims to address disparities caused by the COVID-19 pandemic towards students with disabilities by condemning the understaffing of Student Accessibility Services at the College and other inadequate responses by the College towards students who need accommodations.

The resolution calls on SAS to create a Disability Ambassador program to provide insight into the different needs of students.

Additionally, the resolution asks the College to hire more staff members for SAS, introduce courses centered around Disability Studies and evaluate buildings to improve accessibility. The resolution also calls on student organizations and Fraternity and Sorority Life to evaluate the accessibility of their recruitment processes.

Senators unanimously passed the Recording and Broadcasting Act, sponsored by Sen.

EMMA FORD AND KIM LORES / THE FLAT HAT

Student Assembly met April 13 via Zoom to prepare for transition to the 329th Senate and close of semester.

Rory Fedorochko ’22. The act calls for the SA secretary to record all meetings of the 329th senate, and for the SA historian to make all of these recordings available to the general public after each meeting. The legislation also charges the historian with keeping digital records of senate proceedings and with digitizing past senate documents. The historian must ensure that all of these documents are added to Special

Collections at Earl Gregg Swem Library.

Previously, this bill had included language that would solidify these changes in the SA code. However, after an unfriendly amendment from Senate Chair and President-Elect Meghana Boojala ’22, the senate voted to implement this recording procedure as a trial run during the 329th session and to revisit the idea of codification at a later date.

Lastly, Senators debated passing The Wellness Bag Act which allocates $1,170 towards 400 bags containing different wellness items ranging from tea bags to wellness calendars to give away to students on the final spring break day Apr. 26. Class of 2021 President Aria Austin ’21 proposed eliminating lavender incense sticks from the bags, due to dorm limitations on candles and incense.

Senators ultimately voted to pass the bill, with only Sen. Eugene Lee ’23 abstaining.

Also at this week’s meeting: Chair of the Independent Elections Commission Will Ryu ’21 delivered a presentation on the results of the Apr. 1 elections, noting that voter turnout was about average for an uncontested presidential election.

Senate unanimously passed the Seize the Awkward Campaign Act, which allocates $40 from the SA Reserves to fund the purchase of a banner, snacks, and flyers in order to publicize the upcoming mental health awareness campaign and encourage students to support one another.

Senators unanimously passed the Graduate Council Communication Act, which amends the SA Constitution to include clauses inviting the Graduate Council President to attend meetings with the SA Executive Branch and charges the Outreach Department with improving outreach to graduate students.

CAMPUS

Minimum wage for student workers to increase from $7.25 to $9.50

College raises student employeee minimum wage to $9.50 from $7.25 after law passed by VA senate WAGE from page 1

options,” Dobrota said in an email.

For Sydney Johnson ’23, the minimum wage increase is a welcome change that she has never before experienced.

“I have been used to the $7.25 minimum wage for so long, as I had a parttime job in high school,” Johnson said in a text message. “When I heard about the $2.25 increase, I was very excited!”

Johnson believes the new law will help alleviate some of her financial burdens as a college student.

“For me, I am paying back student loans on my own, so the increase in pay for my on-campus job will be extremely helpful in paying these back as much as possible during college!”

Johnson said. “Especially next year, I will be paying for gas, groceries, and rent for the fall semester, so this increase again will be extremely helpful in paying for these.”

Moreover, she expressed relief that the College chose to withhold permissible exemptions.

“I also read — although I don’t know if this is true — that colleges did not have to adopt this new wage increase, so when I heard W&M chose to, I was initially surprised, yet very

JAMIE HOLT / THE FLAT HAT

appreciative of course,” Johnson said.

Beginning this summer, the College is also increasing wages for its fulltime and part-time employees from $10.61 to $12 an hour.

“This is an important step as we continue to look for opportunities to improve the wages of our employees, particularly our lowest-paid employees,” Sam Jones said in a press release Apr. 26.

“It’s also recognition of our staff’s hard work and valuable contributions to our students and campus. William & Mary is grateful for all that our personnel offer to the university.”

Currently, 29 states and the District of Columbia have minimum wages above the federal level of $7.25 an hour. The federal minimum wage has remained unchanged since 2009, but in recent years, support for raising it to $15 by 2025 has quickly gained traction among progressives, as well as some conservatives.

President Biden weighed in on the debate during the 2020 presidential election when he backed a similar proposal. Virginia’s minimum wage hike reflects a nationwide shift in policy toward the $15 goal, as CNBC reports that half of U.S. states will hike their minimum wages this year.

For now, the $15 wage remains a goal rather than reality for students.