Fall 2023 | Flat Hat Magazine

The Talking Heads Issue OVERSIZED STOP MAKING SENSE TALKING HEADS SUMMER MOVIE RECAP THE RISE OF GIRL DINNER LIVING IN WREN CRYPTS

volume 4

02

NEWS + ARTS + CULTURE

The Talking Heads Issue

Letter from the Editors This semester resembled the lyrics of “Once In a Lifetime” by Talking Heads. We found ourselves “in another part of the world,” shifting from our roles as creative director and executive editor to become co-editors-in-chief. And we asked ourselves, “well, how did [we] get here?”

While stepping into the role of EIC this semester was daunting, we were excited to team up and bring our individual design and editorial backgrounds to the job. We’ve been grateful for the opportunity to work with so many talented writers, section editors, designers, photographers, copy editors, our standards and practice editor, style editors, graphics editors, and all of the incredible people who have supported us through our semester at the helm.

Our theme, Talking Heads, takes on a double meaning, encompassing our love for journalism and new wave music (and David Byrne’s fashion and dance moves). Our writers tackled the death of the presidential debate and interviewed a student climate activist. Our graphics editors created Williamsburg-inspired political cartoons. Our style editors organized shoots inspired by new wave fashion and our photographers captured photos that tell stories though models’ faces. Finally, our staff playlist is composed of the songs that make us want to dance like David Byrne.

This issue wouldn’t have been possible without the guidance and wisdom of our chief of staff and former editor-in-chief, Ellie Kurlander. Thank you for answering our questions, spearheading the intern program, and showing us the ways of the EIC. This experience has truly been, as Talking Heads would say, “once in a lifetime.” Thank you for reading and we hope you enjoy.

Mary Beth Bauermann

Andrew Johnston Mary Beth Bauermann and Andrew Johnston Flat Hat Magazine Editors-in-Chief

TABLE OF 1

A Conversation with Emily O’Keefe

5

29

The Death of the Presidential Debate

33

A Conversation with Carmen Aponte

Changes to the Language Department

13

37

Oversized

No Time for Dancing

21

41

PR for the College: Interviewing the Senior Interviewers

Why Are We So Obsessed with Situationships?

25

45

The Curious Case of Neon Deion

Twamp Times

CONTENTS 47

61

Songs That Make Us Dance Like David Byrne

An Ode to OAs

Summer 2023 Movie Recap

It Does Get Better, But Hearing It From Someone Else Still Sucks

53

69

49

Talking Heads

57

Retro Treats and Good Eats

59

The Rise of Girl Dinner

65

Novel Freshman Housing

71

Defending Student Press Freedom

Flat Hat Magazine • Features

An Interview with Emily O’KeefeA‘24 ctivist Climate

Article by Mary Harvey ’27 Design by Marion Biondi ’24

Photos Courtesy of Unsplash 1

Flat Hat Magazine + Features

For Emily O’Keefe ’24, climate activism started with a lifestyle. She looked at her life and realized that there was a great deal of materialism. A large portion of environmental problems are attributed to waste, and she decided to change the way she was living. For a time, she pursued minimalism, reducing her impact on the world drastically.

“I went into really extremes of minimalism … I had shaved my head and then I was sleeping in a sleeping bag and wearing the same outfit every day...”

As she got more involved in the environmentalist movement, O’Keefe found solutions that went beyond individual choices. The Citizen’s Climate Lobby (CCL) at the College of William and Mary is a chapter of the International Citizen’s Climate Lobby nonprofit. They lobby Congress and spread awareness about the Carbon Fee and Dividend Policy. O’Keefe is a volunteer with CCL and the Founder and President of the Carbon Fee and Dividend Movement, a push to get the policy through Congress.

The policy would mandate that fossil fuel companies pay a fine when polluting the air with carbon.

This incentivizes them to lower their emissions, decreasing air pollution. In addition, the fee makes it more expensive to produce goods that have pollution as a necessity, thus encouraging companies to stop producing these products. Instead of focusing on one singular company or industry, the Carbon Fee and Dividend Policy tackles air pollution, using minimal government intervention and economic principles to encourage cleaner production. O’Keefe stresses that climate policy is so entwined with economics

that working with the economy is more effective than working against it.

“I feel like people underestimate the importance of economics in solving climate change,” said O’Keefe.

Working with the economy also makes the policy seem less intrusive, widening its appeal. Making the policy popular and well-received is key to getting it passed. O’Keefe also uses a resource called EnROADS, a simulator created by Massachusett Institute of Technology’s Sustainability Initiative.

It shows each potential policy, and how much it would limit the warming of the planet. One can experiment with deforestation tactics, renewable energy, and energy efficiency. Far and away, the Carbon Price policy has the largest potential to slow global warming according to the simulator.

“With a lot of them, you can see that they have kind of a marginal impact on their own,” she said. “But if we don’t utilize carbon pricing, we’re not going to get even close to our targets.” Tools like the EnROADS simulator help the public to visualize why the Carbon Fee and Dividend Policy is so critical.

O’Keefe believes that this understanding is key.

“It’s like the main crux of the problem [that] not enough people know about this and therefore … not a lot of people can advocate,” she said.

2

Flat Hat Magazine • Features

O’Keefe had hopes early on that her movement would spread quickly. She was inspired by Greta Thunberg and hoped that the ‘snowball effect’ Thunberg observed was something she could benefit from, too. But she faced a larger challenge. It is hard to exist in society today and not hear about climate change, regardless of one’s view. This made Thunberg’s message far easier to spread.

The Carbon Fee and Dividend Policy is more complicated and requires an explanation.

“We have to take that extra step in informing people about it,” O’Keefe says. Her movement takes a simple approach to this awareness: A sign that says “Most effective climate policy #Carbon Fee and Dividend” with the link to write to Congress.

O’Keefe argues that the simplicity of the message makes joining the movement that much easier.

“All you have to do is just make a sign and show it somewhere and people can see or, you know, follow the link on the sign… So, it makes that barrier to entry so low for something so impactful,” she said.

O’Keefe also recognizes that non-partisan efforts are key. CCL places an emphasis on cooperation between parties, and although polarization has been commonly cited as a barrier to climate change policy, O’Keefe is optimistic, stating that there has been change over the years.

As for the opposition, she sees their strength and takes it on. “Of course, there is the question of log lobbyists on the other side. Are they more powerful?

But I think one of the great things about this movement, too, is that it almost feels like, well, we’re working on shining a spotlight so hard on this policy that it becomes something that people are willing to come out and vote for,” she said.

To take a climate movement “If things get done in a nonpartisan way, they are much more sustainable,” she said. “The staffer from inception to popularity we talked to this time, they have a way different perception of what we’re advocating for. Like they’re takes effort and faith. O’Keefe way more supportive. So, I think the change really is possible to happen.” trusts the process, citing the feeling that change will take hold. “[H]aving that mindset that things are going to go well, I think that’s a prerequisite for things going well,” she says. “As the movement continues to grow, it feels like things are falling into place really nicely and I attribute a lot of that to this growing sense of faith… that it will work.” process, citing the feeling that change will take hold. “[H]aving that mindset that things are going to go well, I think that’s a prerequisite for things going well,” she says. “As the movement continues to grow, it feels like things are falling into place really nicely and I attribute a lot of that to this growing sense of faith… that it will work.”

3

Flat Hat Magazine • Features

Photo by Marion Biondi ’24 4

Flat Hat Magazine • Features

BEYOND BORDERS Story by Peerawut Ruangsawasdi ’26 Design by Hannah Sawyer ’27

Photo Courtesyof PICRYL 5

A Conversation with US Ambassador to Panama Mari Carmen Aponte

Flat Hat Magazine • Features

From Santurce, to Williamsburg, to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, to San Salvador, to Panama City, Ambassador Mari Carmen Aponte has had an avid career in diplomacy, law and education.

“It is wonderful news that Ambassador Aponte has been nominated to fill this critical role in United States foreign relations,” said President Katherine Rowe in October 2021, following the announcement of her appointment to the ambassadorship. “Her vast experience as a dedicated public servant and international diplomat has brought such value and perspective to the work and discussions of the Board of Visitors, including her role as chair of the Committee on the Student Experience. William & Mary warmly congratulates Ambassador Aponte on this nomination.”

Rector Charles E. Poston J.D. ʼ74, P ʼ02, ʼ06, who was appointed to the board at the same time as Aponte, reflected on her tenure.

“Ambassador Aponte was an engaged, dedicated, and enthusiastic member of the board of Visitors. As chair of the Committee on Student Experience, she demonstrated her keen interest in the education, welfare, and life of William & Mary students,” Poston wrote in an email to Flat Hat Magazine. “She came to the board with an understanding of complex issues and a willingness to work collegially to find solutions.

While we welcomed her appointment as United States Ambassador to Panama, we also regretted that her appointment required her to leave the board of visitors.”

Former Virginia Governor Ralph Northam HON ’18 appointed Aponte to the board in 2019. A year after stepping down from the board last year to take on her post in Panama, Aponte still misses the university and her colleagues.

“I enjoyed my time with the board tremendously,” Aponte said. “I learned an awful lot about the students, about the commitment of the administration, the commitment of the professors, and the challenges that face, well, just about every university in the United States these days.”

Aponte, who called herself an admirer of Rowe, Provost Peggy Agouris, and the administration, also cited students as her source of encouragement.

“I was, however, encouraged by students, their willingness to take risks, and by their willingness to think outside the box, and to be concerned about improving their critical thinking and critical analysis. I was always impressed by that, so I learned a lot from the young people.”

She said students at the university use their talents for purposes that are bigger than and outside of themselves, something that she says she still tells Panamanian youths about as an example to aspire to.

“I miss the board meetings. I miss learning about the challenges of education.The great equalizer in the U.S. is really education. The great equalizer, bar none, is how we prepare ourselves for the future,” Aponte added.

“And of course, when I joined the William & Mary board of visitors, there was always that reminder of continued learning, which I have forgotten sometimes in my life. I was so busy working on getting ahead. But it’s also about learning. It’s about giving, but it’s also about learning.”

But it hasn’t always been easy for this former student.

“For the grace of God and affirmative action, I went to law school. At a time when there were no names like mine in law school students, there were no accents like mine. I am forever grateful,” Aponte said. Before law school, she was a teacher in the New Jersey public school system, teaching in the city of Camden. “I left teaching to go to law school full-time and it was the absolute best decision because it absolutely changed the course of my life.”

Aponte, who served as the Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs under President Barack Obama, said going to law school gave her the resources to better serve her community.

6

Flat Hat Magazine • Features

“I became a lawyer, but that made me a better advocate of my community in Philadelphia, where I lived and worked and then became a White House fellow. I think it’s just one thing led to another. But law school is a great equalizer,” Aponte said. “I always felt that it put me on an equal footing with others, that I had the law degree, that I had passed the bar, that I had met the standards just like everybody, while I may have had an opportunity being accepted into law school.”

As she looks back, Aponte said she has traveled far, advocating for her communities through various public service efforts.

“I was measured by the same standards that everybody else was measured,” Aponte said. “And I am grateful that those were the standards I was challenged to meet, and was very proud to meet.”

The first female Puerto Rican ambassador, she served as ambassador to El Salvador twice under the Obama administration. Following her nomination by President Joe Biden to her current post, she has been heading the U.S. Embassy in Panama since Nov. 2022.

After graduating from the Temple University’s Beasley School of Law in 1979, she became a White House fellow under the Jimmy Carter administration in 1979, where she served as special assistant to the U.S. Housing and Urban Secretary Moon Landrieu. In 1984, Aponte was elected the first woman president of the Hispanic National Bar Association.

She has also served on the District of Columbia Judicial Nomination Commission, the American Bar Association’s Commission on Opportunities for Minorities in the Profession, the board of directors for the National Council of La Raza, and the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund. She is also a member of foreign policy think tank, the Council on Foreign Relations.

In 2001, Puerto Rico Governor Sila Calderón appointed her to be executive director of the 7

Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration. She would lead the agency until 2004.

Her experience doesn’t stop there. An advocate for women and the Latino community, Aponte also served on the Latino Advisory Council for the Smithsonian National Museum of Washington, D.C. “I work with Raul Yzaguirre on the report of Willful Neglect, which I still would like to see changed,” Aponte said, citing a report she completed with former Ambassador to the Dominican Republic Raul Yzaguirre, which recommends measures that would make the Smithsonian Institution more inclusive. “The course of the Smithsonian Institution is pivotal. We did a lot of research. We talked to a lot of people. When we started to dig into it, the only Hispanics at the Smithsonian were guards and people in the cleaning crews. We have come a long, long way. We have now an assistant secretary. We have a general counsel. We are everywhere.”

Aponte, along with other members of the Smithsonian Institution Task Force on Latino Issues, completed the report in 1994. Aponte also cited it during a hearing of a subcommittee of the House Natural Resources committee. One of the recommendations is the creation of a standalone Smithsonian National American Latino Museum.

Aponte further emphasized the benefits of diversity.

“But not only Hispanics. I think that the beauty of opening those doors is it opens them wide for everybody. It’s more than Hispanics. It’s about diversity and how rich diversity makes us all and how it contributes even in our daily lives. And as we look at other countries and what they are going through,” Aponte said. “A lot of them are, well, some of them are similar. They are all similar backgrounds, similar language, and they can’t get along.”

Speaking as a guest lecturer at an event hosted by the First Generation and Low Income Student Organization and the Latin American Student Union at W&M in 2022, several students found her story special.

Flat Hat Magazine • Features

“She talked about her experiences growing up as a minority student and how she, as a Hispanic individual, came into law school through affirmative action,” FGLI Co-President Orley Estrada ’23 recounted. “And she said that when she grew up, she had a stigma — she thought she wasn’t worthwhile as an individual going to these prestigious schools that she went to. And all of the students in our organization identified with her because they’re the first people in their family to go to school — specifically college.”

Aponte highlighted that the university values diversity.

“And here in the states, how wonderful that, in the diversity in the diverse skin colors, in the diversity of all the diverse accents, the diverse pronunciations and all the names, there is learning and we are no longer surprised,” Aponte said.

“We are no longer scared of people who may be different from us. They are also Americans. And that is a very fundamental truth that I think we live with, we recognize, and that we certainly emphasize at William & Mary.

She laid out her philosophy in dealing with obstacles that stem from her personal background.

“I think that one of the greatest insights I have had was to recognize that rejection because people could not understand my accent or could not pronounce my name. I had a component of not understanding or not having insight,” Aponte added. “And that I could constructively ‒ instead of with anger ‒ constructively talk about my background and talk about my [values], which were, of course, usually the same as the people I was talking to. I just had a different name and I have a different way of saying some of the words.

But those are superficial.”

As ambassador, she has been leading various projects for the embassy. Education, immigration, economic development, improving the judicial system, the promotion of democracy in the region, trade, and cultural exchange are just some of the issues on which she has been focusing.

“We work on a whole broad gamut of projects.

Economic development is an important one, as is education. We are very active in the educational space in Panama,” Aponte said.

“We are always encouraging and trying to recruit young people to come and study in the U.S. and to try to help them find the resources or sometimes even help providing the resources for young people to spend time in the U.S.” Working to help vulnerable communities in Panama, Aponte, who holds a master’s degree in theater from Villanova University, also hopes to rebuild some of the cultural scenes in the country.

“We find that that is one of our best, absolutely best investments. Our work with the vulnerable communities here with the Afro descendants is very important for us, especially in cities like Colón, which is the second largest city in Panama,” Aponte added. “Colón is the center of trade and it used to be a city full of theaters and cultural heritage. It has downgraded. We are working with some leaders in that city to bring it back, where we are opening an American center in Colón.”

Aponte also highlighted the importance of the Panama Canal, which used to be owned by the United States but was given Panamanian control in 1999 after President Jimmy Carter signed the Torrijos–Carter Treaties in 1979, following negotiations.

“Panama is a great ally of the United States.

The canal is very important to trade and commerce in the U.S. 72% of all the ships that go through that canal,” Aponte emphasized. “It is by far a dominant percentage of the trade that goes through the canal, so the security of that canal is very important to it. We are bound to it by treaties of neutrality and protection of which we are very proud.”

The ambassador praised the Panamanian government for the canal’s administration.

“The Panamanians are doing a fabulous job of administering that canal, even in challenging times, such as climate change and lack of water,” Aponte said. “And water is Panama’s 8

Flat Hat Magazine • Features

greatest resource ‒ its rain, its rainforest, the canal. It all has to do with water, which is also one of the priorities of William & Mary, as I recall from my years on the board of visitors.”

Looking ahead, Aponte sees a bright future for the university.

“William & Mary, is a very special place. It is a place full of acceptance. It’s a place where the priority is critical thinking and the skills that will make students successful no matter where they end up and what career they choose,” Aponte said. “I think all of those tools are present. I think you all are very, very fortunate and I am rooting for all of you, all the way from Panama.”

Aponte points to the administration’s efforts to make the university a more diverse community as an ongoing process. As of 2023, the university’s student body is still overwhelmingly white.

“Education is like everything. You have to work at it. You have to work at perfecting. And trying to attract a broader and diverse student 9

body takes work and commitment. It’s a process and you do it gradually,” Aponte said. “I think the administration at William & Mary is doing an outstanding job and will absolutely make the university a better place. And they will work at it every day.”

She said she would love to see more students from the university working in foreign relations.

“I would love to see many students from William & Mary apply to the Foreign Service,” Aponte said. “I would love to see more women and a lot of diversity. I think one strength that Foreign Service has is its diversity. I think that when my Spanish, for example, has been an asset ‒ the ability of my being able to speak Spanish and to know the culture ‒ has been an asset here both in Panama and in El Salvador. It has led me to be more successful in transmitting the messages in ways that people can understand.”

Aponte said the Department of State, under the leadership of U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, understands the importance of diversity.

“This is exactly my dream: that our foreign service be so diverse that we have diplomats that sound

Flat Hat Magazine • Features

Photo Courtesy of Al Dia News and look like the people where they are posted.

That is quite an asset and something that I think this Department of State, especially under Secretary Blinken, fully understands,” Aponte said.

Member of the William & Mary’s board of visitors and former U.S. public delegate to the United Nations S. Douglas Bunch ʼ02, J.D. ʼ06, served alongside Aponte, and considers her a close friend.

“Ambassador Aponte is a dear friend. She was a cherished colleague on William & Mary’s board, and a fellow diplomat of the highest caliber at the Department of State,” Bunch wrote in an email to Flat Hat Magazine. “She exemplifies the degree of selfless, engaged public service — and a tireless commitment to cultivating human relationships — that we all aspire to hold.”

Aponte has one piece of advice for students who might find themselves in a similar situation as her growing up:

“Don’t ever give up, ever, ever, even for one moment, think of giving up. Always regroup.

Take a deep breath and come at it in another direction,” Aponte said. “You know, all the students at William & Mary are so intelligent.

They are so lucky to be in an atmosphere of being accepted. That’s an opportunity for all of you, and for me, and for all of us, to make sure that we don’t give up, and that we keep fighting for all the things we think are important. Things like the values that we live by ‒ education, democracy, you know, the fact that if we disagree it doesn’t make us [enemies]. It gives us something to talk about.

It gives us something constructive to talk about.

And if you view it that way, it’s easier not to give up.”

Community has always been important to her, even when she felt like throwing in the towel.

“I was fortunate that I am blessed to have people around me who would always encourage me.”

10

er si ov Flat Hat Magazine • Style

13

Z ed Flat Hat Magazine • Style

14

In true Talking Heads fashion, we wanted to incorporate oversized suits, similar to the one sported by lead singer, David Byrne, in the film Stop Making Sense. Recognizing the largerthan-life look and its ability to reshape reality through its distinctive silhouette, we decided on not just one oversized suit, but three. Each suit is featured in angular poses, playing with shapes to pay homage to the eclectic nature that made Talking Heads an avant-garde force in both music and style.

­— Grace Rivera ’26

15

Flat Hat Magazine • Style

16

Flat Hat Magazine • Style

Modeled by

Erin Brownlow ’25 Jak Roehrick ’25 Rachel Rofman ’24 Produced by

Ellie Kurlander ’24 Marion Biondi ’24 Grace Rivera ’26 Andrew Johnston ’25 Hannah McMinn ’26 Mary Beth Bauermann ’24 Adia Elcock ’27

17

Vision by

Inaya Mir ’25 Style by

Grace Rivera ’26 Hannah McMinn ’26 Photos by

Ryan Goodman ’25 Design by

Marion Biondi ’24

Flat Hat Magazine • Style

18

Flat Hat Magazine • Style

19

r e g r la n a th

Flat Hat Magazine • Insights

PR for the College:

Interviewing the Senior Interviewers By the time this article is published, a part of the Class of 2028 will begin celebrating their admission to the College of William and Mary. For upperclassmen, college applications may feel far removed from their lives by now, with the memories of standardized tests and Common Application essays paling in comparison to the demands of college curricula. But for high school seniors across the country, on Reddit forums and college application blogs, the “magic sauce” that will get them into their dream school remains as elusive as ever.

In recent years, many universities have begun offering an optional interview to prospective students in their senior year of high school, constituting another component of a student’s application to show demonstrated interest. This is typically conducted with an admission officer or alumnus, but the College — in what is a rare case — tasks a group of seniors to meet with students and help them round out their application. While an interview alone is unlikely to determine whether a student is admitted, a quick online search surfaces many articles from notable outlets espousing tips and strategies for nailing the 30-minute interaction. Google even has a quick primer for what to expect! Clearly, this is a big deal for many students — or is perceived to be.

I spoke with three interviewers, Natalie Bavos-Chen ’24, Paola Camara-Barraza ’24, and Max Beers ’24. In addition to their primary duties as interviewers , they perform logistical and communication tasks for the admission office — about the job, one that

Story by Linda Li ’24 Graphics by Zoe Davis ’25 Design by Andrew Johnston ’25

21

Flat Hat Magazine • Insights

22

Flat Hat Magazine • Insights

uniquely resonates more with students outside our campus than within.

Interviews are not typically considered fun or enjoyable, and many students would associate them with the finger-biting, armpit-drenching nervousness of saying the wrong thing or feeling unprepared.

Having a current student speak with prospective students is an intentional choice: conversing with a peer, a friendly face who was in their shoes not long ago, alleviates the pressure to perform a certain way.

“The students that I enjoy talking to the most are the ones who are really able to go off the set questions that we have and are excited to talk about their interests, and just kind of have a conversation with them about things they care about,” said Bavos-Chen.

Bavos-Chen and Camara-Barraza are both tour guides, which speaks to how much they enjoy representing a slice of student life to the public.

Their experience as tour guides complements the interview job, as both scenarios let them discuss their involvements on campus.

“What distinguishes the tours is that we all have different experiences and things we love that better our community that we get to talk about to prospective students,” said Camara-Barraza.

Tailoring the experience to each interviewee is a big goal for the interviewers. Each interviewer came up with their own “personality” question to elicit reactions that would drive the conversation in different directions. Often, these questions would catch interviewees off-guard for their whimsical nature. Bavos-Chen would ask which face they would add to Mount Rushmore; Beers would ask who they would send as the first person to the moon; Camara-Barraza’s question was about something the applicant felt pride in but wouldn’t include in their application.

“I wanted to make sure that any interview prep they did was thrown out the window because nobody’s

41 23

Flat Hat Magazine • Insights

going to prepare for that question,” said Beers.

“But more than anything else, it kind of puts people at ease right off that bat in that you know you are getting asked such a ridiculous question that can’t possibly have any bearing on your college decision.”

Lightheartedness aside, the interview is a crucial way for prospective students to imagine themselves as an active member of the William and Mary community, a mutually beneficial outcome. In their evaluations of the interviewees, the senior interviewers focus on what they learned about the student that could enrich campus life for others.

“I remember writing in my evaluations of some people, like this person is going to be a wellness ambassador, or this person is going to join this club and really love it. So my current involvements helped me realize how prospective students would probably get involved and what kind of stuff they would do,” said Beers.

The most rewarding moment is when a student is able to shine through the academic and extracurricular questions and demonstrate their intellectual curiosity. Whether your niche is food in movies, Dungeons and Dragons, or Disney (real anecdotes), the seniors — and admission committee — want to hear it if it makes you you.

This sentiment should not be lost on applicants, as William and Mary’s supplementary essays try to dig deeper and beyond what their resumes can offer.

Although you should ask your family and school counselors for advice, the journey is yours. What might not be recommended to do during your interview, then, is to have your parent(s) in the room.

“I think sometimes they were just nervous, or the parents wanted to hear it, which is fine, except that you want kids to be able to share their experiences and there might be something that they don’t want to say in front of their parents,” said CamaraBarraza.

to maneuver around communication barriers to complete the interview and provide a fair evaluation.

“Some of the students will feel nervous and it just doesn’t make for a very conversational interview, and it really is kind of pulling teeth,” said BavosChen. “I think what I learned from that would be to be reassuring when they’re answering questions.”

Beers also reflected on the challenge of guiding a tough conversation.

“I think the big thing is trying to decide if maybe you and the person just don’t click. It’s up to [our] discretion to figure out did this person give an answer that’s actually bad, or is it just that I don’t really know how to talk to [them] as a person, you know, not as an interviewer or anything like that,” said Beers.

After all, the seniors appreciate the students for traveling to our campus and want to make their time worthwhile.

“If you do it and have a great conversation, it can only help you,” said Camara-Barraza.

For students who interview and further their interest in coming here, the seniors are more than thrilled to guide you through the process.

“Any time a student emails me and is like, you’re the reason why I’m applying early decision, or you’re the reason why I want to go here, is truly one of the most rewarding experiences, just because I know how big of a choice it is…. I’m glad that I get to be a part of your choice…whatever that looks like,” said Bavos-Chen.

In addition to surprise guests, the seniors invariably encounter a difficult conversation and have

24

Flat Hat Magazine • Insights

The Curious Case of Neon Deion

Story by Rebecca Altman ’25 Design by Sam Beirne ’25 and Abigail Freund ’27 Photos Courtesy of Pexels 25

Flat Hat Magazine • Insights

How Deion Sanders, two-sport extraordinaire and celebrity icon, has changed the coaching landscape — and what might be next for college football.

“Do you believe?”

With those three words, the power shifted in the press room.

Deion Sanders, the head coach of the University of Colorado-Boulder football team, called out a doubting reporter after a victory against Texas Christian University on September 2, 2023. TCU’s Horned Frogs were heavy favorites to win the match; they played in the national championship game the previous season, whereas Colorado posted a pitiful 1-11 record. Before kickoff, the spread stood at TCU -21, and given a plentiful number of returners to their roster, it should be no surprise that Colorado was a three-touchdown underdog.

But you would not realize these odds if you turned your gaze to Boulder. Or to any sports channel on television.

News of Sanders’ hire at Colorado circulated throughout the sports world, with some commentators calling this season’s development the “biggest story in all of sports.” In college and professional sports, coaches rarely get the spotlight for their respective teams. This attention is typically thrust onto the players; coaches merely receive praise or criticism depending on how their players perform. Given Sanders’ reputation within sports culture and media, though, it’s hard not to see why he is the star of UC’s Buffaloes.

Sanders was a professional football and baseball player from the 1980s to the 2000s. His athleticism, attention to detail, and attitude turned him into an icon, his popularity oozing into celebrity culture.

Sanders’ penchant for flashy jewelry, high-stepping into the end zone, and flaunting his famous friends — most notably MC Hammer — aided in

cultivating his famed nickname “Prime Time.”

Sanders previously served as the head football coach at Jackson State University, a historically Black university (HBCU) and a member of the Football Championship Subdivision. Schools in either category scarcely receive national attention or big-name athletes, but Coach Prime’s presence at JSU changed this. Most notably, in the 2022 recruiting class (i.e., leading into the 2022 college football season), Sanders flipped Travis Hunter, a wide receiver/cornerback and five-star recruit, from Florida State University to JSU. This decision marked the first time a five-star recruit has signed with an FCS program. And from Hunter’s writings on social media following his announcement, it was clear that playing at an HBCU held a great deal of weight: “I am making this decision so that I can light the way for others to follow, make it a little easier for the next player to recognize that HBCUs may be everything you want and more: an exciting college experience, a vital community, and a life-changing place to play football.”

Sanders led JSU to a combined 27-8 record over three seasons, culminating in back-to-back Southwestern Athletic Conference titles. His success at JSU prompted attention from Football Bowl Subdivision programs needing strong coaching, and Colorado won the lottery.

After being hired in December 2022, Sanders publicly encouraged many Colorado players to join the transfer portal, citing his desire to overhaul a lackluster roster. Since the National Collegiate Athletic Association enacted the transfer portal in 2018, no singular team has seen more movement than this year’s Colorado squad, with 61 players leaving the program since the hiring of Sanders.

Despite this historically large outflow of players, Sanders brought in numerous other talents, including Hunter and his two sons, Sheddeur and Shilo.

The roster was not the only overhauling Sanders spearheaded at the beginning of his Colorado 26

Flat Hat Magazine • Insights

The incessant offseason action resulted in a projected three-win season for the Buffaloes in 2023. Sure, three wins is a marked improvement from one. But with all offseason acquisitions, with all discussions of Sanders’ success at JSU, one could reasonably expect a higher ceiling than this.

Further, an underlying assumption some perceive is that FCS programs — and HBCUs in particular — are inherently inferior in skill level, and Sanders’ switch to superior programs with superior coaches would sharply dull the sparkle that shone so brightly at JSU. Another layer to the skepticism surrounding Coach Prime’s debut at Colorado is the mold that college coaches have created for themselves through the years. The players are the focus, and the coaches are merely there to do their jobs. With the exception of a brutal scandal or intermittent feuding across programs, the spotlight typically shines on the starting quarterback, if not the running back, wide receiver, or the occasional defensive stud. This idea is often even more rigid for Black head coaches, who are historically not offered opportunities to hold positions of power and feel as though, because of their race, they have to reach an even higher standard. Sanders guts that construct entirely, sticking with his flashy roots, talking some smack, and being unapologetically himself.

This makes Sanders’ postgame press conference following Colorado’s upset over TCU all the more satisfying. Sanders explained that he read the aforementioned reporter’s comments on Colorado’s low odds of success for the season, calling it “bull junk.”

The reporter then asked, “Can I ask my question?”

“Do you believe?” Sanders repeated.

“Believe what?”

“You don’t believe. Next question.”

Call it arrogance; call it egotistic. Hell, call Neon Deion an asshole. But it is impossible to deny 27

his confidence in his players and the program’s future.

After a fiery 3-0 start, including a tense double-overtime game against Colorado State, Sanders and the Buffaloes faced their most formidable opponent yet: the Oregon Ducks. Ranked 10th, Oregon had established itself as a perennial PAC-12 powerhouse over the past decade. Dan Lanning, Oregon’s head coach, despite being outspoken like his opponent, differs significantly from Sanders. He rose through the ranks of college football coaching conventionally: he started as a graduate assistant, then eventually landed higher roles in national powerhouses such as the University of Georgia. As the defensive coordinator for the Bulldogs, Lanning won the College Football Playoff National Championship in 2021. Now, in their pregame huddle, Lanning inspired his players with words oozing contempt for Colorado’s hype train.

Flat Hat Magazine • Insights

“Rooted in substance, not flash.”

“They’re fighting for clicks, we’re fighting for wins.”

“This game ain’t gonna be played in Hollywood, it’s gonna be played on the grass.”

With every successive phrase, the Ducks didn’t just look more ready to play — they looked more than ready to eat the Buffaloes alive.

Oregon went on to defeat Colorado 42-6, holding the Buffaloes to just 199 yards of offense. The matchup drew in 10.03 million viewers, the most of any game this season, meaning millions across America saw the Cinderella story end right before their eyes.

The momentum and the subsequent hype steeply curtailed after that, and at the time of this writing, Colorado stands at an even 4-4 going into the home stretch of the season.

Even if the college football season ended today, Colorado has already exceeded numerous expectations; they are above three wins, after all. But their triumphant victory over

TCU gave Sanders the confidence to boast his players, and to force people to pay attention to a once-middling program. But what should we pay attention to? Should we strictly look at on-field performance, their .500 record, and inconsistent play? Should we direct our gaze to the off-the-field action, the historic scene of the transfer portal, or how Sanders composes himself around reporters?

Or, at the end of the day, does it really matter?

Coach Prime represents an interesting case study in the coaching profession, not just because of his unconventional approach to the position but also because of who he was before taking the reins at JSU and CU. Sanders is a star, an idol to millions in sports and entertainment contexts. Only a few professional athletes can boast Hall of Fame status and an appearance as a host of Saturday Night Live. But with the numerous ways former players can retain recognition after hanging up their cleats, Sanders may not be the last of his kind. Travis and Jason Kelce produce a successful podcast; Eli and Peyton Manning help run a Monday Night Football program on ESPN2; and Pat McAfee, once known for recovering his onside kick as a placekicker for the Indianapolis Colts, now hosts a highly successful talk show licensed through ESPN networks. Everyone has the opportunity to operate a platform of their own design: many opt for social media or YouTube commentary, and others get lucky enough to be picked up by major television networks.

Sanders took an alternative route, launching himself into head coaching duties and righting the ship of two athletic programs within five years.

Establishing himself as a reputable coach at the highest level of college athletics may pave the way for others to follow in his stead, which could result in fascinating impacts on how college sports are marketed, viewed, and perceived. Only time will tell what Sanders’ total impact on college football will be.

28

Flat Hat Magazine • Insights

The Death of the Presidential Debate Story by Hannah Sawyer ’27

Graphic by Arianna Stewart ’24 Design by Ellie Kurlander ’24

Photos Courtesy of Getty Images 29

Flat Hat Magazine • Insights

According to CNN, 73 million people watched the first presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden in 2020. The final debate between Trump and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton saw 71.6 million viewers just several years prior. Talk of what goes on in the debates will dominate the news cycle for the following days. However, the coverage is becoming less about policy and more about the insults thrown at their fellow candidates.

Presidential debates have always garnered a large amount of viewers, but the era of Presidential debates may be waning.

Google search. William & Mary Republicans Vice Chair Jay Schilk ’26 said that taking advantage of these new developments has allowed candidates to gain advantages over their opponents.

The first presidential debate was held in Chicago, Ill., in 1960, and saw then-Vice President Richard Nixon and Massachusetts Senator John F. Kennedy debating domestic policy. However, it wasn’t until the 1976 presidential elections that debates would become a regular feature of the election cycle.

“Recently, the candidate that utilizes the new medium is the one that wins. If you look back, [Franklin Delano Roosevelt] won his first and second elections. His personal popularity was part of it, but also his use of radio, something that they didn’t utilize before … And then Obama was the first President ever to utilize grassroots online organizing, and he won,” Schilk said. “There’s a sense in which you can say that Trump in 2016 utilized social media, social networking, Twitter in a way that no president used it before. It definitely in part contributed to his victory. We’re in a whole new age. Now, more than ever, social media is a battlefield and another place for political skirmishes.”

William & Mary Young Democrats Vice President Emerson Rosenthal-King ’25 said that original televised debates played a large role in allowing voters to both see and hear from candidates. He added that the televised debates offered a new medium that allowed voters to connect with politicians.

Social media is increasingly becoming a place where candidates can post photos from the campaign trail, but also address the beliefs of other candidates. William & Mary Young Democrats President Malise Foss ’24 said that debates have the interpersonal element that social media oftentimes lacks.

“I think that televised presidential debates are important because, prior to [them], people might have not had any interaction with the person they were voting for. They would just hear through the newspaper what policy they were supporting. They’d maybe see a ‘D’ or an ‘R’ next to their name and vote for them,” Rosenthal-King said. “I feel like the televised debate gave you a better chance to know who the candidate was and what they stood for.

And for a long time, that made a difference.”

“I think the debates have something that most social media doesn’t because it gives a candidate a chance to talk to each other about their issues,” Foss said. “But if they start using these social media platforms [for debates], in my mind, they’d just be duet-ing each other on TikTok.”

With the improvements in technology and the rise of social media, candidates and their platforms are accessible by doing a

With this upcoming year being an election year, the cycle of primary debates have begun to determine the frontrunner for the Democratic and Republican presidential nominees. As of Nov. 2, the Republican Party had hosted two primary debates with another scheduled for Nov. 8. Although the debates

30

Flat Hat Magazine • Insights

only saw 12.8 million viewers and 9.5 million viewers, respectively, many clips from the debate were featured on social media and news outlets the morning after, in spite of the decline in viewership.

William & Mary Government Professor John McGlennon said that many candidates, regardless of party identification, use televised debates as a chance to get a slogan out there in hopes of boosting their campaigns. McGlennon also said that the candidates rely on the media to select highlights of the debates to give more publicity to their campaign.

“I think the real purpose that most of the candidates approach the debate with is that they’re looking for an opportunity to stand out, and that means that they want the ‘gotcha’ moment or they want to have some way of distinguishing themselves. That increasingly means that they have to say something outrageous, or that they feel will be a real catchphrase,” McGlennon said.

“I think at one point, the presidential candidates did use debates as a way to propose different policies and show how they were different from their opponent. But at this point, it really is mostly a PR stunt. When Chris Christie had that rehearsed line about Donald Trump being Donald Duck, that’s not policy related,” Rosenthal-King said. “They’re trying to have a breakout moment that gives them a polling boost.”

As of Oct. 31, former President Trump leads most of his Republican counterparts in the polls by 48%.

He has been absent from the past two Republican primary debates but has been hosting more in person rallies and campaign events across the U.S. McGlennon says that Trump’s standing in the polls has allowed him a circumstance where his media attention isn’t sacrificed by not being on the debate stage.

“I think what he’s trying to do is to say that none of these other candidates really have a chance of beating him and that he’s just gonna go on to start promoting himself for the “They want to be the 30 seconds of airtime that the general election. He does manage to control the networks will devote to it. Whether we’re talking agenda to a greater degree by doing that, you know, about the presidential debates in the nominating and the seven or eight candidates were competing process or in the general election, most Americans for 15 minutes of time or even less than that. Some will not probably watch the debates very carefully of the numbers I saw indicated the candidates were or at all, and they will get their views on what only actually getting four to six minutes each to happened in the debate from watching the news speak about their candidacies during the debates,” broadcasts afterwards.”

McGlennon said. “On the other hand, he’s all by himself in the other venue, and because of the fact Rosenthal-King said that debates have become that he is leading so much in the polls, and because less about talking policy and more about gaining of who he is, there does tend to be a lot more publicity for one’s campaign. He added that this is media attention on him.” apparent in the recent Republican primary debates.

31

Flat Hat Magazine • Insights

William & Mary Republicans Social Media Coordinator Fletcher Nunnelley ’25 said that even the bad publicity that has come out of the debates or other events, like former President Trump’s criminal indictments, has brought more attention to some candidates.

“Any press is good press,” Nunnelley said.

In addition to his in-person events, Trump has maintained a presence on his social media platforms, advertising his presidential bid and campaign rallies. Foss said the rise of social media is indicating less of a need for the publicity that comes from debates.

“No matter where you are, in this new digital age, everybody knows where these people are, everybody knows what they’re doing. I feel like no matter if you don’t have to get up on stage and for people to hear what you’re going to say.

People don’t have to tune into a TV. They have to open their phones. It’s so much easier,” Foss said. “I definitely think that that could be like a new way of campaigning.”

On the other hand, John Pastorelli ’24, secretary of William & Mary Independents, said debates, instead of being less relevant, are a necessary supplement to the use of social media by candidates and their campaigns.

“We’ve been having televised debates since the 1960s, and I think it’s important to see and hear from [candidates].

They have a website and they have the facts on there, but like seeing them in person you need to look at them and just see how they answer these questions,” Pastorelli said. “I think there’s things

to pay attention to, like the character or the quality of the candidate. Can they stand up on the debate stage and show their views?”

With arguments arising as to whether or not debates should continue, many people are having to weigh the pros and cons of continuing to hold debates during both the primary and presidential election cycles.

McGlennon said while debates allow more accessibility to the candidates, the low viewing numbers mean that debates don’t play much of a large role in helping voters choose a side.

“There may not be an overwhelming advantage to having debates, but it can often provide this kind of narrative to voters about the accessibility, the willingness to talk about issues, and the entertainment value of these events. But since most voters are probably not going to pay close attention to the debates, it’s probably not a deal breaker for the voters as to whether or not to participate,” McGlennon said. “So, will they continue? I think at some point, when we maybe move past the level of polarization we have in the electorate today, people might find it useful to hear from the candidates about their differences on issues.”

For Schilk, the debates will always be a necessary part of the American political climate, despite the changes in election strategies. He said they will always be the main stage for candidates exchanging words with one another.

“The debate is like the foremost arena in which political warfare happens,” Schilk said. “I wouldn’t say that, over time, the debates will go away. I always think that will be a place for them even though they are silly.”

Flat Hat Magazine • Insights

changes to the

language department Story by Rose Anderson ’27 Design by Abigail Freund ’27 On September 15, 2023, West Virginia University announced the elimination of their entire World Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics program, sending a shock through the world of higher education in the United States.

Just one state over, the impact of this decision has been felt strongly by both students and professors at the College of William and Mary, with Head of the Modern Languages and Literatures Department Francie Cate saying “[we] are ever cognisant of, and often deeply troubled by, the ongoing debates— within the academy and beyond— about the work we teacher-scholars do in the Humanities: What is its market value?; What is its relevance in 21st century neoliberal societies?; What is its legitimacy of place in the “real world”, beyond the scholar’s desk and the teacher’s classroom?”

33

Cate emphasized that this devaluation of modern language education was not an isolated incident. “West Virginia University is not a stand alone,” Cate continued. “There are universities all over the country that are cutting programs, eliminating departments, eliminating majors, including but not limited to language programs.”

Dropping enrollment in language programs, subsequent defunding and, in some cases, cutting of these programs is a widespread issue, even affecting the Modern Languages department at the College. Over the past few years, several unpopular changes have been implemented in the College’s Modern Languages and Literatures Department.

The first of these occurred in February 2020, when the College notified four non-tenure-eligible faculty members that their contracts would not be renewed for the 2021-22 academic year, following a 5% budget cut to the College of Arts and Sciences. “It’s sad because there’s such a demand for our classes,” said Assistant Professor of

Flat Hat Magazine • Insights

Chinese Studies Paul Vierthaler. “It’s just awful to see your colleagues be let go because of budgetary concerns.”

This trend continued in February 2023, when the College announced the discontinuation of the German Studies major, effective in the Fall. This decision, however, was largely made by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), rather than the administration at the College. One of the functions of SCHEV is to track and approve projected enrollment in Virginia’s universities; in Spring 2023, the projected enrollment in the German major did not meet SCHEV’s standards, guiding the College’s decision to discontinue it. At the time, there were 15 students with a declared German Studies major, making it the smallest major at the College.

The discontinuation of the German major was a surprise to both students and faculty in the department.

German Studies Program Director Jennifer Taylor said, “The German major had been under pressure for a while. We had certainly defended it for many years to SCHEV, which is the state board. But I did not expect them to get rid of the major.”

German Studies students were also given little notice about the change, allowing minimal time to adjust and alter their plans before declaring a major. “I was upset, because it was definitely a reason I

decided to come here: that I would have a German major and have that opportunity available to me,” said Tommy Kilroy ’26. “I was planning on taking the major and I’d taken a lot of German classes to get there. And now I’m like a class away from the minor and kind of running out of things to do.”

The common thread connecting these events is the continual drop in interest in language courses both at the College and nationwide. However, the cause of this falling enrollment is hard to pin down.

There are several possible factors behind it; a common explanation is the historical rise and fall of interest in modern languages in response to current events and international conflicts. “There was a sense, particularly in public school systems, where you are to an extent answerable to the state government, that there’s value brought to the state by learning these languages,” said Vierthaler. “And then I think as tensions decrease and there’s a less clear-cut value proposition, then in turn funding decreases for these sorts of things.”

Another outlook is that, because of the student debt crisis, many undergraduates face financial pressure to enter a high-paying career field directly after graduation. “For some people, the anxiety of having a stable job is more important to them than doing something that they like,” said Olivia Benson ’25, a German Studies teaching assistant at the

34

Flat Hat Magazine • Insights

College. Taylor expanded on this, saying “I think it’s that the humanities in general are not viewed by some people, including administrators and legislators, as careers that the students want to go into.”

Because of this, many students opt for majors that are more likely to garner higher salaries directly after graduation, such as business, STEM, and data science. The College’s recent projects have reflected this, with the completed construction of the Integrated Science Center IV scheduled for August 2025, introducing an engineering and design major to the college, as well as providing new facilities for the computer science and data science majors. The College’s “Vision 2026” is also highly centered around the growth of data science at the College, with one of its main tenets being to “lead the evolution of the liberal arts and sciences by integrating computational thinking and data fluency into a bold and dynamic learning experience that advances inquiry, discovery, and innovation.”

To many, this rise of STEM at the College seems to be at the expense of the College’s liberal arts identity. “I think William and Mary wants to see itself as a liberal arts university,” said Taylor. “On the other hand, these changes are big…

It could mean that we’re going to have a very different profile in 20 years, ten years.”

However, it is a common sentiment among many professors that, rather than diminishing the presence of the liberal arts at the College, the introduction of STEM could provide new directions in the study of humanities and modern languages.

35

“There are all sorts of new opportunities that kind of emerge from this emphasis on the sciences,” said Vierthaler. “And I think it’s very tempting to think of it as a zero-sum game, where sometimes a lot more funding that goes to the harder sciences means less funding that comes to the humanities. And, to an extent, that’s true. But I think it’s something that will hopefully be good in the long run, that we will be able to not abandon what makes us unique as a university, and particularly the stellar programs we do have in the humanities. I think they can co-exist quite fruitfully.”

Professor of English and American Studies Liz Losh also emphasizes the importance of not setting the sciences up against the humanities. Losh said, “I do feel like these extinction narratives that we’re hearing a lot about [the humanities] are harmful, and I think they have a tendency to become self-fulfilling prophecies.”

The general message from the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures is that, although there have been funding cuts in the department that have led to unfortunate consequences, the College’s language department is nowhere near a fate like WVU’s. Even within the German department, there are still a multitude of cultural and language classes being taught, an array of study abroad opportunities, the remaining German Studies minor, and the option of a self-created German Studies major. “I cannot conceive that William and Mary would do what West Virginia University just did,” said Taylor. “If they do, it would be a terrible mistake.”

PROVIDING SALT THERAPY TREATMENTS SINCE 2008 1111 Old Colony Lane, Williamsburg, VA 23185 Reservations: 757-229-1022 www.williamsburgsaltspa.com

2012-2019

2014-2018

AWARDS 2022

BEST MASSAGE/SPA WINNER

Salt Cave AWARDS

Are you having a stressful week?

Does your body still hurt after the last workout? We can help!

ENJOY INDIVIDUAL SERVICES OR BOOK OUR

BEST SPA

2022

Ultimate Salt Spa Experience 4 Hours of Total Relaxation*

HEAT UP | INFRARED SAUNA | 30 MINUTES Our Sunlighten™ sauna is constructed with the safest Solo Carbon 3-in-1 sauna heaters that can provide all three wavelengths in one place. Relax and reduce mental stress. Infrared therapy soothes your mind by enveloping your body in relaxing warmth. Our sauna is designed for maximum comfort, allowing you to not only loosen your body but loosen your mind.

COOL DOWN | SHOWER | 3-5 MINUTES

Infrared Sauna AWARDS

BEST MASSAGE

RELAX | FLOAT TANK | 60 MINUTES Step into one of the private float tanks filled with less than a foot of warm soothing water and saturated with almost 900 pounds of Epsom salt.

Floating increases circulation to extremities, promotes greater elimination of metabolic by-products, decreases the forces of gravity to help promote greater muscular relaxation, and can prevent adrenal fatigue.

2022

COOL DOWN | SHOWER | 3-5 MINUTES MELT | SWEDISH MASSAGE | 60 MINUTES Our experienced massage therapist will help to relieve pain and discomfort in congested areas within muscles, tendons, and ligaments due to stress or overuse, leaving your body in a state of relaxation and gratitude. Let your muscles melt under warm, handcarved Himalayan salt stones that deeply penetrate tense muscles, releasing tension and toxins, leaving the body totally relaxed and renewed.

Massages AWARDS

BEST ALTERNATIVE HEALTH

REBALANCE | SALT CAVE | 45 MINUTES Healing the body from the inside out, you will relax and breathe easily in the Zenlike salt environment. Breathe in the salt air and refresh the lungs with this clarifying treatment, which provides a great place to unwind and meditate. All you have to do is sit, relax, and breathe while listening to beautiful calming music.

2022

Special includes a Salt Spa water bottle with electrolytes, aromatherapy nose ring, and shower body scrub.

While supplies last. The price is subject to change, for current pricing call 757-229-1022. * Including the shower and transition time.

Services at Williamsburg Salt Spa are not a substitute for professional medical advice. Williamsburg Salt Spa, LLC makes no representations or warranties with respect to any information offered through its office regarding any treatment or action.

Float Tank

Relax, Recharge, Rejuvenate Gift Certificates available!

Flat Hat Magazine • Arts + Culture

NO TIME FOR D NCING: A

The Choreographic Genius of

Stop Making Sense Story by Mary Beth Bauermann ’24 Design by Ellie Kurlander ’24

37

Flat Hat Magazine • Arts + Culture

In the weeks since A24’s recent 40th-anniversary re-release of Stop Making Sense, videos of Talking Heads frontman, David Byrne, experimenting with choreography for the performance have gone viral on TikTok. Those moves made their way from Byrne’s living room to Talking Heads’ wildly successful 1983 tour, which director Jonathan Demme famously documented in the concert film to rule all concert films: Stop Making Sense.

In the year preceding the 1983 release of their Speaking In Tongues album and its subsequent tour, Talking Heads decided to embark on a year-long creative break. During this time, Byrne collaborated with dancer and choreographer Twyla Tharp, an icon in the world of popular dance choreography. Byrne composed an album, The Catherine Wheel , that accompanied Tharp’s Broadway dance project of the same name. The result? Byrne was inspired to incorporate dance and choreography into the band’s stage show for their 1983 tour. The distinctive choreography and movement style are a major contributing factor to what makes Stop Making Sense unequivocally Talking Heads.

The band had already experimented with dance in 1981 when they collaborated with Toni Basil, who worked with Byrne’s home video choreography to stylize and direct the music video for “Once In a Lifetime.”

A dancer on the popular 1960s music variety show Shindig!, and assistant choreographer for the legendary T.A.M.I. Show, Basil, like Tharp, is an icon in the world of influential dancers and choreographers of 20th-century popular dance. Basil danced and choreographed routines — oftentimes set to popular music — for television, Broadway, film, music videos, and more.

Byrne’s unique movement style in the “Once in a Lifetime” video physically embodies the music, shaped and supported by Basil’s style and expertise.

By the time Byrne was choreographing the tour that would be documented in Stop Making Sense, he had a signature movement style influenced by

38

two choreographic innovators, which is what audiences see in the film.

Byrne declares, “No time for dancing,” in “Life Before Wartime,” the kinetic centerpiece of Stop Making Sense. The performance of the song very clearly suggests otherwise. Swiveling his knees and jerkingly rolling his shoulders, the music flows through Byrne’s body.

Breaking out into a stationary jog, Byrne and his band members escalate their unified movement into a steady, pounding run. Leaning their torsos forward while running, creating the illusion of nearly falling over, and extending their arms in a swimming motion, the band members’ movement emulates trenches, an American vernacular dance step popular in tap dance. Byrne takes off into a series of sprints around the stage, but all of the band members embark on a serious cardio workout, running for the duration of the song to the tune of post-apocalyptic lyrics set to frantic instrumentation.

The whole band — Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth, and Jerry Harrison — in addition to percussionist Steve Scales, keyboardist Bernie Worrell, guitarist Alex Weir, and backup singers Ednah Holt and Lynn Mabry were invested equally in the music and the dancing.

It’s difficult to take your eyes off Byrne, but Holt and Mabry are the backbone, dancing for the duration of the show. The aerobic choreography that takes up space and catches the eye, while being uniquely Talking Heads, undeniably draws clear inspiration from the energized, stylized choreography of Twyla Tharp and Toni Basil.

Later in the show, although the band ditches the aerobic routine in favor of an effortless, stationary groove for “This Must Be the Place,” Byrne initiates a duet with a lamp, scurrying toand-fro, pushing and catching the lamp as it wobbles, searching for its center of gravity. Byrne’s lamp duet is, like “Life During Wartime,” highly stylized, and yet, easy and playful, illuminating the subdued role dance can play in a live performance.

The most popular of all the Stop Making Sense dances is, of course, the big suit routine, which appears during “Girlfriend Is Better.” Bobbing his head forward and back while emerging on stage in a comically oversized gray suit, Byrne captures the groove in the movements exaggerated by the big suit. Throwing his shoulders forward, flapping his arms, and shaking in a signature walk, Byrne surrenders to the

39

Flat Hat Magazine • Arts + Culture

music, whose lyrics plead, “stop making sense,” a sentiment reflected in his nonsensical, unconventional dance moves. He turns and runs to Holt and Mabry, all three of them flailing their arms in complete surrender to the music. As synthesizers wail, Byrne allows the music to direct his entire body, shaking his head and wiggling his shoulders and hips.

The suit bleeds into the final two songs of the film, a cover of “Take Me To The River” and an original song, “Crosseyed and Painless.” In “Take Me To The River,” Byrne throws open his suit, loses the jacket, and shakes his hips in oversized pants. Holt and Mabry throw their hair forward and back in sync with the music during “Crosseyed and Painless,” while Byrne and his bandmates contract into their instruments in rhythm with the downbeat.

So long as the music is going, not a single member of the band is able to refrain from dancing throughout the performance, thus driving home the symbiotic relationship of music and dance in Stop Making Sense.

Unsurprisingly, the IMAX stage of the 40th anniversary Stop Making Sense re-release has spurred videos of moviegoers dancing up and down the aisles of the theater. Stop Making Sense is a widely successful concert film and the most beloved of its kind because of the emotional and kinesthetic effects that the performance - the result of the music, the costuming, and the choreography all working together cohesively - have on audience members. Stop Making Sense makes you want to sing along, get up out of your seat, and dance. That’s the choreographic brilliance of Stop Making Sense – it’s natural and isn’t trying to impress. It makes us want to dance like David Byrne, moving to the music in a way that’s unique to ourselves.

Photos Courtesy of A24 Productions

?

Flat Hat Magazine • Arts + Culture

a

we s o o b s e s s e r e

Wh y

41

h wit

Story & Design by Marion Biondi ’24 Graphic by Syeda Safdar ’25

d

situationships situationships situationships Our generation has always lamented the situationship as a source of anguish and defeat amidst today’s already discouraging world of dating.

Despite all odds, however, it is here to stay, and—I believe— for good reason.

Flat Hat Magazine • Arts + Culture

The subtle rise of the (sometimes) dreaded “situationship.” Defined by Dictionary.com as “a romantic or sexual relationship that is undefined and noncommittal,” I laugh every time I remember this term popping up during my literature review for one of my psychology classes. It is so relevant that it has even penetrated scholarly academic journals. I say “dreaded” because the popular discourse around these quasi-relationships tends to be overwhelmingly negative, with valid outcries of, “Why won’t they just commit!” and “I can’t keep doing this.”

Relationships lacking proper communication and commitment can be some of the most frustrating experiences for people wanting more, especially for us anxious-ambivalent types, you know.

However, you’ll also notice that I threw in the “sometimes” caveat, not because we need to be more grateful or something awful like that, but instead because the implications of situationships dominating our dating sphere may bode well for the direction society is moving (bear with me).

way a little bit, which grants everyone permission (and encouragement) to pursue a life of independence, self-sufficiency, and contentment.

What we are learning is how to make our single lives genuinely fulfilling so that being in a relationship is not so dire a need. The sad reality is that many people avoid being single so intensely that they will settle for any person or experience, even if it does not add to their quality of life. We are discovering life outside the obsessions of love.

The process of giving attention to other aspects of our lives is known as building our self-complexity.

This can come in a multitude of forms: working toward a career or lifestyle, cultivating our hobbies and interests, or even simply taking care of our health and well-being. As we nurture our lives to be peaceful and satisfying, we let go of this dependency on romantic relationships, and the stakes begin to lower.

?

Our generation’s trend toward situationships is no coincidence—I would even go so far as to claim that it has been a shift of collective intention. We are getting a little sick of dating, and our reaction is to simply…not. This speculation could be a moment of cognitive dissonance on my part, trying to make myself feel better about never having had a serious relationship. And this is not to say that no one is dating because that is, of course, not true. However, I really do believe that more and more young people are beginning to make the conscious intention to stay—relatively— single. And I don’t think it has to be a bad thing.

What we are witnessing is a societal shift in our conscious priorities. Finding love, starting a family, white picket fence, et cetera, et cetera is not the only thing we have going for us anymore. Love can be something we let fade into the background while we pursue other ways of making ourselves happy. I think about our parents’ generation and how their search for love was much more needbased than ours. Consider the famous words of Amy March from the 2019 adaptation of Little Women (ignore that it takes place a hundred years before our parents), “Don’t sit there and tell me that marriage isn’t an economic proposition, because it is.” The gender roles are starting to give

Enter: situationships. We are now “obsessed” with a new type of relationship that is loosely defined and based on exploring, being present, and accepting whatever outcome finds us. We can enjoy the process of learning about ourselves through someone else and acknowledge the value of self-growth as the only result. I will concede that it is a tricky line to walk in practice. We are fickle creatures who like having control, so we force everything to be black and white. Dating or not. Committed or not. Romantic or not. I’m quite proud of us for learning to embrace the gray.

Humans are too complicated to be shunted into categories, which is naturally manifesting itself today in the form of situationships.

Now, part of the valid frustration of situationships is that missing sense of, well, love. If we do start desiring more, these types of relationships can begin to sting with unrequitedness. How are we still tolerating this, then? What is protecting us from loneliness? The answer lies in an unexpected blessing of downplaying the importance of romantic relationships, which is that we now have room for love of other kinds that exist all around us.

Situationships compel us to find the emotional intimacy we usually crave from romance in other settings, particularly our platonic friendships.

42

Flat Hat Magazine • Arts + Culture

In the most hopeful sense, romantic love becomes more sacred, while non-romantic love becomes more abundant. The coinciding rise of situationships and queerness are right on par for our generation: yet another example of the beauty of rejecting arbitrary boxes we are told to fit into.

As we strengthen our platonic bonds, the line between romantic love and platonic love can begin to blur, giving way to a beautiful type of closeness that doesn’t quite fit within our heteronormative construction of love.

?

43

So, while the journey can be fraught, situationships are just one of the most visible examples of our generation getting comfortable with the unknown. They might not be our enemy after all. Rather, they may be setting us free—free to explore, free to fall, and free to love.

Flat Hat Magazine • Style

The Twamp Times THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2023.

WILLIAMSBURG, V.A.

“DEATH BY SWEM THIRD FLOOR” Cartoon by Grace Cohen ‘25

45

Flat Hat Magazine • Style

TALKING HEADS

Cartoon by Isabel Li ‘25

Design by Marion Biondi ‘24

“THE APEX PREDATOR OF ACADEMIA”

CARTOONS

“FRESHMAN HOUSING SELECTION”

Cartoon by Arianna Stewart ‘24

46

Flat Hat Magazine • Arts + Culture

Songs That Make us Want to Dance Like David Byrne What better way to celebrate our “Talking Heads” issue than with a staff-curated playlist dedicated to the iconic dance moves of the one and only David Byrne? Jam out to this groovy backdrop on your daily walk to class, but you may find that you start doing the wave. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Story by Flat Hat Magazine Staff Design by Marion Biondi ‘24

47

Flat Hat Magazine • Arts + Culture

“Happiness (Dance Floor Edit)” by The 1975

This song is a no-brainer candidate. Matt Healy’s dance moves are eerily similar to Byrne’s, now that I think about it. And if you think Healy is a problematic individual, I recommend you get off Twitter (or X) and do some fact-checking.

— Linda Li ’24

“Mariana” by The Royston Club The song has such an energy to it that it’s difficult to keep yourself from moving (or at least bobbing your head) when it’s on! It also does a good job at capturing the feeling of liking someone but simultaneously feeling that you can’t do anything about it, so you might as well have fun!

— Emelia Marshall ’25

“Looking for Somebody (To Love)” by The 1975

You wouldn’t guess behind the energizing 80s synth-pop that this is a song about toxic masculinity and guns and whatnot. Devastating vocals behind the most fun boogie of your life: The 1975 Special.

— Marion Biondi ’24

“Genius of Love” by Tom Tom Club This song felt particularly appropriate, considering it was created by Talking Heads’ Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth. With over 170 samples, the upbeat, robotic melody has solidified itself in the pop culture lexicon.

It’s no wonder the 80s dance and club scene quickly accepted this groovy tune. You can’t help but break out into an unencumbered boogie.

— Ellie Kurlander ’24

“Dirty Dreamer (XXX)” by Hot Flash Heat Wave I rarely hear songs with as groovy of a drum pattern as this one. I fight the feminine urge whenever this song comes on during my walks through campus to dance like an absolute baffoon.

— Rebecca Altman ’25 “Low (feat. T Pain)” by Flo Rida I like Low by T Pain bc the catchy beat always gets me in a good mood and makes me want to hit the floor — Arianna Stewart ’25 “Memory Machine” by The Dismemberment Plan The song starts off sounding like the erratic machinations of a huge computer, sounding a tad unnatural but also fast-paced and catchy.

Then it explodes into an exhilarating chorus that makes me want to bust some moves like Byrne. (Fun fact: Travis Morrison, the lead singer, is a William and Mary alum!)

— Lena Smith ’24 “Kamikaze” by Carly Rae Jepson This song has perfected the iconic pop song with low synth beats that can’t help but make you want to dance. Her vocals and melody are catchy enough to instantly recognize while still adding her unique flair to the mix.

— Danielle Seay ’25

Photo Courtesy of Unsplash

“Mary Jane” by the Copper Children Who is Mary Jane? I don’t know, but she makes me wanna dance!

— Portia Dai ’26 “Voulez -Vous” by ABBA There’s something about 70’s music that can always get me out of my seat and doing disco moves.

— Hannah Sawyer ’27 48

Flat Hat Magazine • Arts + Culture

Story by Jane Valadakis ’27 Graphic by Isabel Li ’25 Design by Marion Biondi ’24

Summer 2023 Movie Recap Summer 2023: A summer that gave us Barbie Dreamhouses and abounding “Kenergy,” along with the origin story of nuclear weaponry. This past summer was one for the books in the movie industry, with many highly anticipated films simultaneously hitting the big screen. It was predominantly defined by the widespread “Barbenheimer” phenomenon fueled by the shared release date of the two strikingly dissimilar blockbusters, yet countless other movies made a trip to the theater worthwhile this summer. Below is a list of the top five highest-grossing movies of the summer in the United States, followed by a few honorable mentions (warning: contains spoilers).

49

Flat Hat Magazine • Arts + Culture

1. barbie Unsurprisingly, Barbie was the highest-grossing movie of the summer, coming in at $612 million at the domestic box office and setting the record as Warner Bros’ highest-earning release of all time. The film was directed by acclaimed writer and director Greta Gerwig and featured a star-studded cast adorned with big names like Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Kate McKinnon, and Will Ferrell. The film was an instant hit around the globe.

While most expected the movie to be a lighthearted watch, many were surprised to find it embedded with many emotional themes about womanhood.

The story follows Barbie and Ken’s journey to the real world, where Barbie quickly discovers that she is viewed much differently in this male-dominated reality. Contrarily, Ken is inspired by the patriarchal values he witnesses and proceeds to take over the Barbie Dream World, renaming it “Kendom.”

The Barbies and Alan (Michael Cera) band together to reclaim the Dream World by pitting the Kens against each other. A particularly unforgettable part of the film is America Ferrera’s monologue about the countless expectations that come with being a woman, pulling the heartstrings of viewers around the world. Meanwhile, comedic relief is provided by Ken’s unforgettable musical number, “I’m Just Ken.” Aside from its vibrant cinematography and clever writing, Barbie’s incredible soundtrack contributed to its massive success. Songs like “Dance the Night” by Dua Lipa and “Barbie World” by Nicki Minaj, Ice Spice, and Aqua became the songs of the summer.

“What Was I Made For?” by Billie Eilish played over a montage of home videos portraying motherhood from the women who worked on the film. Overall, Barbie undeniably defined summer 2023. The public response to it was overwhelming, with moviegoers decked out in glamorous pink outfits flooding theaters everywhere.

2. spider-man: ACross the spider-verse A sequel to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, this film was the second highest-grossing release of the summer, accumulating $381 million at the box office. What makes this saga so mesmerizing to moviegoers is its incredibly unique animation style.

The animators utilize a “2.5D” style of animation, drawing influences from both 2D and 3D styles, and creating nontraditional visuals unlike any movie made before. Across the Spider-Verse went above and beyond the original film with its six different animation styles. Considering that the vast majority of animated movies only feature one animation style, it’s no surprise that this movie was a massive hit.

The film continues the story of young Miles Morales, who, in the last film, was bitten by a spider, which gave him superpowers. This time around, he learns about “canon events,” which are events that must occur for the multiverse’s timeline to unfold properly. In a major plot twist, it turns out that Miles was never supposed to become Spiderman, as the spider that bit him was from a different universe. What’s more, a second plot twist occurs in a mixup during Miles’s attempt to change the canon event of his father dying wherein he accidentally ends up teleporting to Earth-42 instead of his own reality. He finds that his dad has already died in this universe, and the alternate universe version of himself is the notorious villain, the Prowler.

Ending on this ominous note, the movie leaves fans wondering what’s in store for the SpiderVerse’s main protagonist. The cliffhanger ending is undoubtedly a setup for a third installation of the saga, which was initially expected to hit the big screen in March 2024 but now is indefinitely delayed as a result of the writers’ strike. In the meantime, fans wait in anticipation for the return of the comic book-inspired multiverse they love so much.

50

Flat Hat Magazine • Arts + Culture

3. guardians of the galaxy: volume 3 The third addition film added to Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy series, this film had many Marvel fans leaving the theater with tears streaming down their faces. Vol. 3 was a huge success for Marvel, taking home a whopping $358 million at the box office.

Unlike the other films in the series, this recent release explores the origin story of the beloved character, Rocket the Raccoon, amidst a perilous mission to save his life.

In the film, Rocket ends up wounded when Adam Warlock tries to capture him for the High Evolutionary, a scientist who seeks to create a utopian world by reengineering different life forms.

It is eventually revealed that the High Evolutionary created Rocket through a series of cruel experiments, along with many other animals, although Rocket turned out to be the most intelligent. Some of these animals became Rocket’s friends, but they tragically were killed by the High Evolutionary during an escape attempt by Rocket. Ultimately, the Guardians defeat the High Evolutionary, rescue his test subjects, and save Rocket’s life. Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), the leader of the Guardians throughout the series, decides to go back to Earth and make Rocket and Groot the new leaders of the squad.

While the movie has a happy ending, with its final scene set to the tune of “Dog Days are Over,” MCU fans will forever have a new view of the unapologetic Rocket. With Rocket and Groot officially being the new leaders of the group, many are hopeful for a Volume 4 of the Guardians saga to watch this new dynamic play out.

4. Oppenheimer Fourth in the rankings with a global gross of $310 million, Oppenheimer hit theaters with a bang (literally). The film was written and directed by Christopher Nolan and had an extensive run time of just over three hours. It starred Cillian Murphy as the famous scientist Robert J. Oppenheimer, who created the atomic bomb, along with other wellknown Hollywood names such as Matt Damon, Florence Pugh, and Emily Blunt.

The film follows Oppenheimer through the works of his ingenious mind as well as his messy personal life, which all culminate in him leading the topsecret Manhattan Project and the successful creation of the world’s first atomic bomb. One of its most memorable scenes portrays the suspenseful test drop of the atomic bomb in the remote deserts of Los Alamos. With the potential threat of the bomb igniting the atmosphere and resulting in a fullblown destruction of the world within seconds, the harrowing sense of impending doom leaves viewers on the edge of their seats. After the bomb drops, there is a long moment of deafening silence followed by a sudden roaring implosion. Oppenheimer’s struggle with agonizing guilt is depicted following the weapon’s use in Japan to end World War II. Additionally, the film portrays Oppenheimer’s complex legal trials in which he faced accusations of being a communist and colluding with the Soviets.

Oppenheimer rivaled Barbie for the movie of the summer with its brilliant cinematography and immersive telling of a story that forever changed the course of history. As is the case of most Christopher Nolan films, it was indisputably a booming success.

51

Flat Hat Magazine • Arts + Culture

5. the little mermaid Thirty-four years after the release of the original classic tale, Disney’s live-action rendition of The Little Mermaid brought a new life to the magical adventures of Ariel. It was massively successful, with a domestic gross of $298 million, making it the fifth most popular movie of the summer. Halle Baileyerry’s charming on-screen presence combined with her angelic voice perfectly captured the essence of Ariel as she starred alongside other Hollywood names, including Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, Daveed Diggs as Sebastian, and Awkwafina as Scuttle.

The Little Mermaid mostly remained true to the original plot, although a few additions were made.

This rendition added a layer of depth to Ariel and Prince Eric’s relationship that the original version lacked, creating a more sensical and less superficial dynamic between the two. Four new songs were also incorporated into the film, which were co-written by Alan Menken (one of the songwriters for the original Little Mermaid) and Lin Manuel Miranda. Among them were a Prince Eric solo, “Wild Uncharted Waters,” and a rap song by Sebastian and Scuttle, “The Scuttlebutt.” Despite initial controversy about the hyper-realistic character design of Sebastian and Flounder, this new take on the classic tale was a hit among moviegoers.

until next summer...

Overall, this summer contributed some massively successful films to the world of movies that will likely go down in history for their creativity and powerful impacts. Looming in the background of all this, however, was a 148-day writers’ strike that will leave the future of the film industry with much uncertainty. It is likely that the effects of the strike’s production delays will catch up to us at some point, but in the meantime, we can continue to appreciate the brilliance of this summer’s additions to the big screen.

52

Flat Hat Magazine • Style

53

Flat Hat Magazine • Style

Talking Heads

The first inspiration for this shoot was, of course, the band Talking Heads. The fashion drew from the 1970s band, as we created a nostalgic series, reminiscent of old high school yearbook photos. The second inspiration was derived from the term “talking head,” which refers to television anchors. In order to best capture this concept, the models conveyed stories through their facial expressions, as talking heads do while reporting the news.

— Inaya Mir ’25

Modeled by Gwen Sargent ’24 Julia Varner ’25 Inaya Mir ’25 Marion Biondi ’24 Makeup by Julia Varner ’25

Vision by Inaya Mir ’25 Design by Andrew Johnston ’25 Photos by Ryan Goodman ’25 54

Flat Hat Magazine • Arts + Culture

41 55

Flat Hat Magazine • Arts + Culture

42 56

Flat Hat Magazine • Food + Drink

Good Ea

ts

R

And

ts

T r o e r a t e

tric, ainly eccen rt e c e il h fresh to see. W is fun and k o lo d e z ry li the sty 17th centu e th to f the compared ark much o m t a th s g e. furnishin rant scen u a st re illiamsbaturg TheWservice Shorty’s is no-nonsense but Williamsburg may boast the greatest ois ncrowded rty’sof the o h kind. After being sent outside S number of pancake houses per square t a ice sent ing way, The sesorvwe bethe er in restaurant wouldn’t we . Aftbe d mile, but finding a breakfast spot during in k t u b nt ra u sense a n st o n re d e wd minutes before only had to wait about Family Weekend is no easy feat. The classic e crofive y, we tside oftotha tablee and ubrought o e wamugs th in being given b options on Richmond Road tend to host ’t n ld wou Toppy t five minutes e“Sloppy w And of course, there’s so the u solid coffee of what I would consider lengthy on a typical Sunday morning, wait abovery Story bylines Kasey Pataki ’24Sandwich”: d to country hawith ly n table and a brioche filled o athroughout to t h (which was refilled many times g u and I feared the amalgamation of full ro b g re beingravy, nsider Design by Ellie Kurlanderfried ’24 befo cheese, sausage I would cowe t meal).

The only real challenge faced a h hotels and hungry relatives. So, for onesteak, last egg, our w f o s g mu filled n re e s iv a g lettuce, and tomato. w h ic In addition fare, Shorty’s h throughout the meal my parents (wwhen Williamsburg feast, I took my parents away e breakfast ewas coffto eal). y soliad huge roffers erequested ur m v o t u o h list of sandwiches (and, g naively skim milk for their creamer, u from the colonial-themed classics to gthe ro th st s te e rea these adventurous tim I decided ge we faced y n e a th m Despite choices, st n a eof “no healthy theirpolitely to whichdespite they were “Sorry, challinformed, retro gem that Shorty’s ay boDiner. alclaims rgis m square n my eI’m e only re h h w T classic breakfast dish: s a w Williamsbu ancake houses ptoeropt forinag more l a options,” even some salads). we don’t havehany Half-ailk the meoptions.” im outahealthy duar fried egg, f p t o m g o u r ro sp e b sk th st bacon, and cheese on biscuit. m d fa e u n fan ofcreamer their Cristo” reak only 3 classic and-halfpersonal quest“Monte b is the default at Shorty’s, so re a Located ont Merrimac Trail, ly g e in iv a d n n ts bacon was hich they were he did not disappoint. nThe T re a t. , bu fi p a e Shorty’s fe il m sy a w sandwich, isalternatives. served on French expecting The no e is a quirkyto host don’t arrive er, to miles from campus, d isShorty’s amany rewhich n’t eir cand nd greasy, and crispy;fo r thegg te we dosugar. ily Weeken d thick, the cheese y, m a r a r o F o R S “ toast and dusted with powdered d , waitress, however, returned with a kiddie cup n d o e establishment modeled on the classic ’50s , m m g r h in fo ic n in buttery, or ly lite ” isHaalfay mperfect. owas pOn nisdwere The biscuit flaky, tions on Rdiner.tyThe ons.after u ti S opAmerican p l o a the side of the restaurant ic y full of the 2% milk used in the grits, p h lt style joint filled a ll e of fuon the outside, ny hand er at ve adense y lines on a tioncrispy aand hparties creamSide,” ngthbooths, lgamaand ult Sweet amenus, fa window called “Shorty’s e m d which all were satisfied. a e withlered checkered and a e e th n th o lf is for the inside. The entire So, on I feared expecting and-haserves s.fluffy combination ve cream, and statue arriice which soft-serve relativethe ’t n y o r life-size of Elvis playing guitar. d ts g n n e u so r h a , ’s absolutely ress, yp and ortyan waitsnok mperfectly Shdon’t proportioned for toowas otels looks he options, I T , st sundaes, milkshakes, floats, and a s.

While they have any healthy e fe v s Thehdécor like it is straight from a ti g r a ic class altern liamsbu y Shorty’s annot emed culinary kiddie cup experience. st Wilconsisting h ita all. nial-thdivine witShorty’s balls. truly does lo d options are something that e o c n thriftlastore, of vintage signs, old r. r e e tu in th re D ts, om however,to an array Shorty’s d in the gri away fr is se u t a k il th lacks.

In addition of omelets, m Coca-Cola bottles, and toys, including an m e 2% o ge satiitssfied. full of th place was3certainly crowded, but never to the retr s wereby ie rt Shorty’s is well encapsulated a platters, breakfast sandwiches, pancakes, p interestingly-placed old baby doll.The A ilbright, ll a h ly hic of on of discomfort.aThe fter w Trathe, point three ac to website’s motto: “It’s notsome fancy… and french toast, Shorty’s boasts trulyIt’s rrimoutside esits y antique-styledyellow car and k M ir u n q o is a devoured our meals, and my healthy y ’s n cate ty a o us happily r L e o v h a S h not fat free…

It’s just the way it used s, ’t unique creations like “The Hangover”: eggs u n s o p boasts the Shorty’s logo for all passersby to 0 d m ’5 a ic ile they hsatisfaction. mething Wbeef soclassic, the class iles from c odeled onparents t testified their definite o m n re a to be!!”

If you are looking for over corned hash with biscuits and s see. While certainly eccentric, the stylized ed ption is fillof ion ns, oand ofries lishment m joint some optidiner In adinditthat staband tasted Shorty’s home hIethe T s. k r. c e greasy fare, Shorty’s excels la in gravy that claim to be “A SURE CURE!” d a ’s look is efun fresh compared to 17th y an ort s, andwere also delightful. latters, that ShWhen ts, pthat d menuwhich yle Americ elefood ereomelet, mof o ckmuch e department.

It’s the kind h f for the ailment.

Also notable is “Shorty’s c o r. centurystfurnishings that mark of the a s, y it th ra u r o g a and an there g the were akes,but to that yinplates nacnap, ith red bo aand la our clean, I found is w p p s, is e h lv makes you feel like you need ic E Garbage Plate”: hash-browns, eggs, a w a f d Williamsburg restaurant n tue o scene. me t from ighendorsement reakfast sa b asts so strano boyour for a restaurant quite life-size sta ’sgravy. y it istruly rt e o k you fall asleep with a smile on face. h li choice of meat covered in sausage S s, s , n k g st o a si lo enchbilltowith intageyour frthe like “The father look atbiggest The décor of vseeing ationsShorty’s ing like re My complaint about st c si t, n h e o u ig c r iq f , b n e u A that’s what happens ulyat Shorty’s. tris corn6ed bee nd toys.but thrift stor r from adelight, e v s, o le s Diner that it is only open tt g o g d e b n a : ola e gover” Ha2np.m. old Coca-C ellow car sits outsid sby a.m. to As a loyal fan of the y r e le ss ll pa a r fo antique-sty o g establishment, I truly regret that I can’t Shorty’s lo boasts the return for dinner.

A T rip to S horty ’ s D iner

57

Flat Hat Magazine • Food + Drink

hash with biscuits and gravy that claim to be “A SURE CURE!” for the ailment. Also notable is “Shorty’s Garbage Plate”: hashbrowns, eggs, and a choice of meat covered in sausage gravy. And of course, there’s the “Sloppy Toppy Sandwich”: a brioche filled with country fried steak, egg, cheese, sausage gravy, lettuce, and tomato.

Despite these adventurous choices, I decided to opt for a more classic breakfast dish: bacon, a fried egg, and cheese on a biscuit. Shorty’s did not disappoint. The bacon was thick, greasy, and crispy; the egg and cheese were perfect. The biscuit was flaky, buttery, and crispy on the outside, and dense and fluffy on the inside. The entire combination was perfectly proportioned for an absolutely divine culinary experience.

The place was certainly crowded, but never to the point of discomfort.

The three of us happily devoured our meals, and my parents testified their definite satisfaction. I tasted some of Shorty’s home fries and omelet, which were also delightful. When our plates were clean, I found that there is truly no endorsement for a restaurant quite like seeing your father look at the bill with delight, but that’s what happens at Shorty’s.

In addition to breakfast fare, Shorty’s offers a huge list of sandwiches (and, despite their claims of “no healthy options,” even some salads). I’m a personal fan of their “Monte Cristo” sandwich, which is served on French toast and dusted with powdered sugar. On the side of the restaurant is a window called “Shorty’s Sweet Side,” which serves soft-serve ice cream, sundaes, milkshakes, floats, and sno-balls. Shorty’s truly does it all.

Shorty’s is well encapsulated by its website’s motto: “It’s not fancy…

It’s not fat free… It’s just the way it used to be!!” If you are looking for classic, greasy diner fare, Shorty’s excels in that department. It’s the kind of food that makes you feel like you need a nap, but you fall asleep with a smile on your face. My biggest complaint about Shorty’s Diner is that it is only open from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. As a loyal fan of the establishment, I truly regret that I can’t return for dinner.

58

>

.

Flat Hat Magazine • Food + Drink

(( The Rise of

.

Girl Dinner

. ) )

.

Photos by Flat Hat Magazine Staff Graphics by Danielle Seay ’25 Design by Sam Beirne ’25

(( 59

<

.

.

>

))

Flat Hat Magazine • Food + Drink

> 60

Flat Hat Magazine • Narratives

AN ODE TO OAS Why i keep coming back to don that eye-catching shirt

“Mom, do not ask her for directions,” I pleaded from the passenger seat as we passed the girl holding the unmissable “GREEN ROUTE” sign for a second time.

My mother indulged my fantasies of success as we looped around the campus once more, under the illusion that we were finally heading in the right direction — until we stopped passing Green Route signs entirely. On our third go, I resigned myself to the mortifying ordeal of being known as I rolled down my window to ask the neon-clad student where, exactly, the Green Route was. I stifled a scream when she informed me that she was standing in front of it and had been the entire time.

Story By Emelia Marshall ‘24 Graphics by Aggie Rigo Saitta ‘25

Flat Hat Magazine • Narratives

We pulled into the makeshift parking space abutting Lion L in Green and Gold Village — affectionately referred to as GGV — and were met with an even larger group of these highlighter-hued helpers. Dripping with sweat from a mixture of nerves and Williamsburg weather, I struggled to pull myself together enough to leave the safety of my car.

Meanwhile, these people were dancing like their lives depended on it.

I couldn’t help but wonder, What are they on?

The following week was filled with similar questions, as my Orientation Aides (OAs) showcased a seemingly endless amount of energy regardless of the occasion. My bewilderment peaked at “Cheers to Your First Year,” where they, along with all the rest of the GGV OAs, performed some sort of song-and-dance routine that left us new students equally as confused as we were proud. My freshman friends and I shared a good bout of laughter at the scene, but I looked them in the eyes and asserted, “I could never do that, I’d be so embarrassed.”

Considering I had already made up my mind that I would never be capable of being an OA, I’m not sure why I applied to be one. Maybe it was the rose-tinted glasses I would throw on every time I reminisced on Orientation or the striking similarity between being an OA and my summer job as a camp counselor.

There is also a nonzero chance that it had to do with the Orientation Area Directors (OADs) being some of the coolest people I’ve ever seen, but that seems only tangentially related. The main driver, most likely, was the false sense of confidence I had when I went home for winter break after having thrived in my first semester at college. I can show other people how to do this, I probably thought to myself as I filled out the application.

Over the summer between freshman and sophomore years, I largely forgot about the imminent terror that was “Cheers to Your First Year.” The online modules that Student Transition and Engagement Programs (STEP) assigned for OAs over the summer were strangely reminiscent of those I had completed as an incoming student. From the look of the Blackboard page to the assignments submitted through Google Forms, I could have almost mistaken myself for a freshman. However, the reality of my new position as both a sophomore and an OA became abundantly clear when I arrived on campus to begin formal training.

On our first night together, the smiles and energy of the Returning OAs (ROAs) were a blend of contagious and intimidating. Running to each other as if it had been years since they last spoke, ROAs hugged, squealed, screamed, and caught up with one another. Overwhelmed is an understatement when I recall the stress of finding my co-OAs among the bubbly crowd and subsequently meeting every single one of their friends and former-staff mates.

One of the first things I noticed as a New OA (NOA) was that returners wore the number of their former students who applied to be OAs like a badge of honor. The bigger the number, the bigger their bragging rights. Every OA shares an unspoken goal throughout their tenure: Do a good job, but not only a good job.

62

Flat Hat Magazine • Narratives

Rather, do such an incredible job that your students want your job. I had never been in an environment where you so badly wanted others to want your job that you even encouraged them to apply for it. Yet, that is the modus operandi in the Orientation Aide program at the College of William and Mary, and I have come to love it.

I love it because it pushes people to do better and to care more. I love it because of how invested you become in your students as a result, and how it makes you feel about your co-OAs. I relish the sense of community that we build around this common goal of doing the best job possible, and although the motivation at first sounds selfish, I promise it isn’t.

Of course, bragging rights hold more power on the William and Mary campus than they might in other places, and I would be lying if I said that I don’t enjoy social validation as much as the next person.

However, when I reflect on how OAs talk about it, it doesn’t sound selfish. If you listen hard enough, you just might catch a hint of school pride, which they are often chock-full of, but you’ll never hear them admit it. I think we, as Orientation Aides, simply love William and Mary and want the absolute best for its future.

Maybe not every decision the college makes is met with resounding applause, and you will certainly encounter students that you wish were not students here. But “those who come here belong here,” as they say. Helping a fresh-faced group of new students acclimate to the campus entails showing them that they do, in fact, belong here, but we wouldn’t be able to show them that without already feeling it ourselves. Considering we work unpaid for up to 16 hours a day, it would be immensely difficult to lie through your teeth for the duration of that time without concrete motivation. So, we don’t — and we don’t have to. We love this school, and we hope the new students love it as much as we do. If we do our jobs well, they just might; if we do our jobs to the absolute best of our ability, they’ll become OAs. I also can’t speak about being an OA without mentioning the people who make it so incredible. I have met some of the bubbliest, funniest, and most loyal people through my time on the Botetourt staff, and I would probably never have met them otherwise. The constant, stomach-pain-inducing laughter that echoes throughout the Botetourt Complex during Orientation makes the work entirely worth it. My downtime is filled with racing rolling chairs across the lounge, making memes about niche comments from our students, and fostering friendly rivalries with the other floors and staff. I would love to recount my favorite stories, but you wouldn’t get it because you had to be there. Believe me, though, if you were, you would understand why, on my worst days, I only want to see my fellow OAs around campus to bring the light back into my life.

I feel silly reminiscing on my second performance at “Cheers to Your First Year,” when my freshman-year self was so determined that there would never be a first. But here I am, and when I do remember that night in Zable Stadium, I can still feel lingering remnants of the energy and excitement that radiated from the Botetourt staff. Jumping around to Bot-themed renditions of Rihanna, Taylor Swift, and Barbie, I didn’t want it to end. The togetherness and joy and pride, all blending in the beautiful

Flat Hat Magazine • Narratives

summer night and punctuated with cheers from our first years … revisiting it is bittersweet. I love it, I miss it, and it’s a punch to the gut that it’s over.

At Opening Convocation, the last official obligation for OAs, all of our students walk through the Wren Building to officially begin their careers at the College. I have cried each time, and I understand how my parents must have felt when they sent me off to school: I’m worried you won’t need me anymore, but I’m proud because I don’t think you do.

Then comes the hard-to-swallow truth that I will now watch my students grow into themselves from afar, hearing the latest news through quick chats in Swem Library or posts on Instagram. I’m always here if you need me, make good choices, and stay safe, whispers the parently OA in me. But alas, I have returned to being just another student, with my neon shirts tucked away in the closet until next year, when my favorite week rolls around again.

64

Flat Hat Magazine • Narratives

It Does Get Better, But Hearing It From Someone Else Still Sucks Story by Linda Li ’24 Graphic by Arianna Stewart ’24 Design by Marion Biondi ’24 65

Flat Hat Magazine • Narratives

I owe an apology to my therapist: she suggested that I try journaling, and I retorted that it was silly. But here I am, 280 days after my mom passed away, channeling my grief in print. Since that day, I have become a different person, and this is my attempt to elucidate the meaning of losing her, reflect on the coping choices I made, and chart a path forward.

I am hesitant to discuss her death not because of death itself but how she dropped out of my life without warning. It was the first week of the spring semester; I was still riding the high of my previous semester abroad. Then came the hospitalization: a grim diagnosis. Roughly a week later, she was gone.

She was gone before I could even arrange travel back to China, pause my academics, and situate my swirling mind. You see, I thought I still had more time—however limited—to make a drastic adjustment. Instead, it was like riding my favorite rollercoaster to the very top, expecting a safe and measured thrill, only to have the tracks suddenly disappear and find myself dangling precipitously midair.

was crying before, between, and after classes. I cried so much and so regularly that it triggered frequent nosebleeds—and that, my friends, is not fun.

To make matters worse, I convinced myself to continue with a research assistant job that demanded intense reading and writing. The pay was great (maybe the best at the College), but my mental state? You can surmise.

With more deadlines and expectations came an increasingly limited capacity to reckon with my new reality. I found myself in a state of “floating,” as the semester felt never-ending, and support manifested fleetingly. (When I mentioned a grief support group I had heard about to my therapist, she replied that they no longer offered it due to lack of interest. I suppose that’s a positive thing, but terrible for me.)

And there was considerable uncertainty: I am no longer a Chinese citizen, and my visa had College is an extremely inconvenient conveniently expired. The saying “desperate times call place to grieve. Your professors may for desperate measures” had never been more apt.

Upon realizing that visa appointments at the Chinese cut you some slack, but the workload embassy were extremely backlogged, I booked the will catch up with you eventually. earliest appointment possible, Photoshopped the Then there’s the fear of alienating your confirmation, and took the train to DC with my friends and, worse, watching them “updated” timeslot. It worked. (Please, don’t tell the move on with their lives while I was embassy staff.)

It’s so funnily cruel, isn’t it? Yet those are the clearest details I remember, among a couple more. When I try to explain the feeling of spring semester, I can only muster that, after the death, it was a blurry void.

I took two weeks off and returned to school. The numbness had overpowered any other way to cope with my mom ceasing to exist. I bolted for the option that I thought would enable my running away from facing reality. Besides, I thought to myself, why would I have wanted to sit around in my childhood home, walk by the bedroom where she was slowly dying without anyone’s knowledge, and have no friends to visit? In retrospect, I erred. Heavily.

This is not an advice piece, but if you are or find yourself dealing with grief, take as much time off as possible. My pride held me back from the idea of graduating a semester late; instead of having a designated time and space to sit with my emotions, I

still dangling from that rollercoaster.

Forcibly re-immersing myself into a typical college student’s life still carried the concomitant expectation of socializing—and it brought great disappointment. My friends knew what was going on, but the way they responded varied drastically.

Nobody our age is prepared to comfort somebody in great distress; we merely know to deploy trite reassurances that shield us from truly listening and understanding someone’s pain. A close friend remarked that one of the worst things you could say to comfort someone was, “I don’t know what to say.” Absolutely. As a culture, we don’t know how to talk about death, and saying those common phrases makes it more difficult to have an honest dialogue about grief and loss. In those conversations, it felt like the onus was on me to dump my tragedy or not be able to talk about it at all. And that is inherently 66

Flat Hat Magazine • Narratives

unfair. Hence, the initial numbness gradually morphed into intense, sustained anger. This fact rendered a suffocating loneliness that turned college into a constraint, a place that could not successfully help me cope with the debilitating physical and mental aftershocks of losing a loved one. Although I had a handful of people who could offer solace and temporary detachment from grief, the toughest lesson of all is that you will have to persevere through such hardship alone.

How do I begin to describe the sensation of losing a parent? I couldn’t, and I still can’t. Picking the push-forward-with-school option forced me to contend with bitter disappointment, deep guilt, and inadequacy head-on—for better or worse. To put it lightheartedly, I involuntarily signed up for some serious character-building that involved tearing my life apart and having to mend it back together.

But to see it plainly, I may have been blindsided by overwhelming stress and inadvertently placed more stress on myself.

I intend for this narrative to mark the immediate aftermath of grappling with her loss—sifting through the whirlwind of events and emotions that threatened to wreck me last semester.

Rather than conceptualizing my mom solely around her death, as time passes, I hope to attain what some researchers on bereavement have articulated: grief is a process whereby it “gradually moves from preoccupying the mind to residing comfortably in the heart.”

There is still plenty to discover about my mom for who she was before becoming my mom. The negative emotions have mostly settled down, serving as the impetus for a more heartful reckoning about myself and what family means to me.

67

want more

FLAT HAT MAGAZINE? follow us on

@flathatmagazine 68

Flat Hat Magazine • Narratives

Novel Freshman Housing Story and Design by Andrew Johnston ’25 Graphics by Zoe Davis ’25 69

Flat Hat Magazine • Narratives

Note: This article is satire. The events and people described in it are completely fictional (for now)...

Freshman housing is certainly a memorable experience for many students at the College of William and Mary. The ongoing expansion of the College has had many adverse effects on the student body, including the lack of available housing caused by the closure of several dorms. But fear not! The administration has been hard at work to ease the transition before the completion of the new buildings. Two new temporary housing options have been opened across campus, including the Sunken Tent and, my personal favorite, the Wren Crypts. I was fortunate enough to be allowed to tour these “new” locales alongside several members of the administration who were kind enough to provide me their thoughts on the developments.

Students were also asked to give comments, as no article on William and Mary housing would be complete without student opinion.

Despite my initial skepticism of them turning a place once used as a burial ground into a housing complex, the representative that I spoke to, who would prefer to remain anonymous, said that they had removed at least 70% of the coffins and vacuumed the whole area! Makeshift walls dividing rooms were installed using shower curtains to avoid making the place feel too claustrophobic. I personally found the Hello Kitty shower curtains to be a nice touch.

Brian ʼ27 described his experience so far of living in the crypts as mostly positive, stating, “You know, I had my reservations when they told me I’d be living in a 16th century dirt tunnel, but after seeing GGV, frankly, this is a clear upgrade. I’ve made so many new furry friends and the lack of windows gives the place a real rustic feel.” Another student described it as “a unique college experience unlike anything you could find anywhere else” before promptly calling her parents and asking to go home. Many of the more long-term residents, bony and furry alike, however, declined to express their feelings regarding their new neighbors.

The Tent takes a “killing two birds with one stone” approach to the housing crisis. First, it saves money by avoiding disassembly of the infamous event tent, frequently present on the Sunken Garden. Second,

it provides a housing option for incoming freshmen.

I was told that another goal of the Tent was to provide a fun housing experience for some of our more outdoorsy students ‒ or so the administration claims. Their argument: “The Tent really has it all.

I mean, first of all, it’s literally a tent. How does it get more like camping than that? We even had the kids bring their own sleeping bags. I heard deer and squirrels manage to work their way in there every once in a while, too. It’s really like one big yearround camping experience, and we love that.”

Maddie ʼ27, expressed her dissatisfaction with a certain aspect of the Tent life, specifically the hike she has to make to McGlothlin Street Hall every morning. “It’s one thing to have to go to an academic building for class - I’m fine with that - but the lab showers being repurposed as actual showers is a major deal breaker. Walking across the Sunken Gardens and seeing everyone you know, while holding a shower caddy, is low-key humiliating.”

She continued, “I’m pretty sure one of the guys in my hall hasn’t showered since we got here, and I’m not sure if that’s just normal for him, or if it’s because of the Tent. Either way, it’s gross.”

The tent is very centrally located on campus, which stands out as a huge plus, especially when compared to some of the other freshman housing.

In the same vein, Mark ʼ27 commented, “When I saw that my housing assignment in the portal said ‘Tent 42,’ I really thought I was on one of those hidden camera shows. But honestly, it’s been great!

It has air conditioning, and it’s right next to the dining hall. It even has hardwood flooring!”

These housing expansions mark the start of an effort by the administration to fix the dreaded housing waitlist. When asked for comment about the waitlist, admin responded with a simple “ayo, my bad, man.” While these new housing options are certainly… well, unorthodox… they managed to turn previously underutilized parts of campus into efficient accommodations for the rapidly expanding student body. Time ‒ and YikYak ‒ are the only things that will tell us how students and families will view these moves in the long-run.

70

Flat Hat Magazine • Narratives

DEFENDING STUDENT PRESS FREEDOM Story by Hannah Sawyer ’27 Photos by Zachary Lutzky ’24 Design by Marion Biondi ’24

Newspaper Photo Courtesy of Unsplash 71

Flat Hat Magazine • Narratives This year’s yearbook production started just as my two previous ones had, but this time, I was Editorin-Chief. I was in charge of overseeing every story and photo assignment, the 130 staffers on the yearbook, and reviewing every spread. We were behind schedule as we entered our usual scramble around late March and the beginning of April.

We still had most of the book to design, and my co-EIC and I were finishing our story spreads. The theme of our book was “What are You Working On,” and each spread focused on a word that students and staff were working on. These words connected to themes of legacy, innovation, and expectations for the future.

One spread, titled “Expression,” featured multiple stories, including one about a transgender female student. We received her consent to include her chosen name next to her quote. During the final verification process, our source editors reached out to the school’s guidance counselors to verify the accuracy of each student’s name. This factchecking process was necessary to make sure the index was accurate and that every student was portrayed as they identified at school.

However, while we were moving forward with the production of the book, questions about our name verification process reached the desks of school district lawyers. One day during our yearbook class, our advisor pulled my co-EIC and me into her office to explain we had received a directive

that we weren’t allowed to publish any student’s chosen name. Instead,we had to refer to each student by their legal name. For us, this meant altering our entire name-verification process and changing names for transgender students and those who used nicknames.

According to the administration, under Illinois law, they were able to do this, as the yearbook is classified as a school record. We felt that this directive was a violation of our student press rights, so we decided to keep working on the book and began exploring legal options.

For hours on end, my co and I sat behind the closed door of our advisors’ office, making phone calls to lawyers and student press freedom advocates, inquiring what could be done to help our case. Accurate representation of our student body was our primary focus, and giving in to their directive was something we knew violated our rights as student journalists and infringed upon our fellow students’ right to expression.

Under the Illinois Free Voices Law, which protects the rights of student journalists, students are granted the ability to make editorial choices in regard to what is published, which includes how names are presented. We emailed multiple school board members and spent late nights continuing to work on the book under constant fear of further action from the administration.

72

Flat Hat Magazine • Narratives

In April of 2023, our yearbook editorial board attended the National High School Scholastic Journalism Conference in San Francisco. While most of our fellow editors attended sessions on graphic design and journalistic writing, my co and I were in the lobby of our hotel, meeting with a representative from the Student Press Law Center. That weekend, we were awarded a national Pacemaker, the highest award in high school journalism, for our work on the prior year’s yearbook.

A few days later, when I was walking into class, the principal’s assistant announced to the entire hallway that I needed to follow her to the principal’s office. I knew I was about to be confronted by her without my advisor or co to support me. She proceeded to interrogate me about our name verification process, and why we were fighting the administration on this, and she kept driving her point about the yearbook being a school record. I explained that we were protected under the Illinois New Voices Law. Eventually, the school administration backed down and told us we could continue to publish using students’ chosen or preferred names and the layout was published in the final book. The layout was published in the final book. It’s easy to think that something like this was an isolated incident, but for many student journalists, the fear of intimidation or censorship is an everyday experience.

73

I never thought of censorship being a thing that would happen in a blue state, much less Chicago, but the effects of censorship are being felt across the nation. According to the Student Press Law Center, in Florida, education officials are shutting down student newspapers and yearbooks featuring LGBTQ+ students. Attacks on journalists impair the right to free expression. Many people see journalists in a negative light, but they do a lot of work behind the scenes that isn’t always visible.

Working in student journalism is a time to explore the stories and narratives of others while simultaneously growing your writing and reporting skills. But more importantly, it’s an opportunity to uplift marginalized voices and bring previously unheard stories to light, especially in a day and age where these voices are often silenced. Throughout my three years in high school journalism, I talked to students I would have never met otherwise, but I also became more aware of the legal obstacles that many journalists face. As a result, I want to become a lawyer specializing in first amendment constitutional law and hope to reduce the legal loopholes that journalists face. In my current and future journalistic work, I’m working to keep the importance of equitable and inclusive journalism in the forefront of my mind. Doing high school journalism has been one of the most formative experiences in my life, and I will forever recommend it to people who hope to make a difference.

“Working in student journalism is a time to explore the stories and narratives of others while simultaneously growing your writing and reporting skills. But more importantly, it’s an opportunity to uplift marginalized voices and bring previously unheard stories to light, especially in a day and age where these voices are often silenced.”

74

Join the

Flat Hat Magazine is looking for writers, page designers, copy editors, videographers, graphic artists, style editors, web designers, models, business editors, photographers, and more! If you’re interested in joining our team, email fhmagazine.chiefofstaff@gmail.com for more information about how to get involved for our Spring 2024 issue. No prior experience required.

Staff!

flathatmagazine.com

Flat Hat Magazine • Narratives

CONTRIBUTORS EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Mary Beth Bauermann Andrew Johnston CHIEF-OF-STAFF Ellie Kurlander CREATIVE DIRECTION Marion Biondi Katie Fitzgerald India Turner MANAGING EDITOR Anu Desai DEPUTY EDITOR Linda Li EDITOR-AT LARGE Rebecca Altman COPY CHIEF Emelia Marshall STANDARDS & PRACTICES EDITOR Ethan Kula COPY EDITORS Rachel Bardon Hannah Sawyer Portia Dai Lena Smith DESIGN EDTIORS Hannah Sawyer Abigail Freund Sophia Rossen Aggie Rigo Saitta Sam Beirne Aya Yu

PHOTO CHIEF Zachary Lutzky

PHOTO EDITOR Ryan Goodman STYLE DIRECTION Inaya Mir STYLE EDITORS Hannah McMinn Grace Rivera Adia Elcock GRAPHICS EDITORS Syeda Sadfar Grace Cohen Zoe Davis Arianna Stewart Danielle Seay Isabel Li BUSINESS MANAGER Madeleine Childs WRITERS Mary Harvey Peerawut Ruangsawasdi Jane Valadakis Rose Anderson Kasey Pataki

©

© Flat Hat Magazine 2023. All Rights Reserved.