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Shakespeare in the Dark takes on the Bard’s violent Scottish play this semester.
After tying the school record for 3-pointers, the Tribe’s shooting stalls.
College falls in Charleston
Fair is foul, foul is fair
The Flat Hat
Vol. 103, Iss. 36 | Friday, February 21, 2014
The Twice-Weekly Student Newspaper
DINING
MOOYAH and the meal plan?
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Moving toward marriage equality Court votes against marriage ban BY WILL EMMONS THE FLAT HAT
contract with Sodexo sometime in the next few weeks. “We are hoping to be able to offer meal swipes here,” MOOYAH owner Alpen Patel said. Although he has yet to talk to Sodexo about the matter, Patel said he looks forward to furthering the business’s partnership with the College. “There are benefits on two parts. It helps the business in volume, and it also gives the students more options,” Patel said. Currently, a meal plan swipe costs approximately $12.00, and a burger, fries and soda from MOOYAH costs about $11.50. In January, Patel estimated that MOOYAH sales dropped $10,000 since the same time in 2013. At the time, Patel attributed the revenue loss to the College’s introduction of a mandatory on-campus meal plan for freshmen, sophomores and juniors that was put in place two years ago. By partnering with Sodexo and the College, Patel said he hopes the restaurant will increase its revenue, especially among student customers. “We are looking for three things from See MEAL PLAN page 4
See SAME-SEX page 3
BY ARIEL COHEN // FLAT HAT CHIEF STAFF WRITER
Y/ AME
VIRGINIA
For Federal Judge Arenda L. Wright Allen of the Norfolk Division of the Federal District Court in Eastern Virginia, the question was simple: Do Virginia’s bans on same-sex marriage violate Virginians’ rights to equal protection of the law? Her answer, resoundingly, was yes. Feb. 13, Allen handed down a decision that invalidated not only the two same-sex marriage bans in question, but also any bans on same-sex marriage within Virginia’s borders. Arguing that the Constitution was “designed to evolve and adapt to the progress of our citizenry,” Allen ruled that same-sex couples are just as entitled to marry whom they wish as opposite-sex couples are. Thus, any ban on same-sex Allen marriage must be struck down. “We the People have become a broader, more diverse family than once imagined,” Allen wrote. Some student organizations at the College of William and Mary are supportive of the decision. Young Democrats President Zach Woodward ’14 said he is encouraged by the implications it has for samesex couples. Woodward praised Allen’s wording of her opinion and said students can play a role in court battles by raising awareness about the issues at stake. “There is very little we can do to actively affect the [court’s] outcomes,” Woodward said. “What we can do is cheer on those that are in the courtroom, fighting on behalf of justice, liberty and equality.” Christian Bale ’13 M.P.P. ’15, who founded William and Larry, a student group that supports same-sex marriage, said the court rulings are important because of the conversations they spark about the topic. “The best mechanism for helping people overcome their prejudices is dialogue,” Bale said. While a victory for same-sex couples, the District
Tribe Square vendors to negotiate with Sodexo to join College meal plan Tribe Square vendors have entered into discussion with next year’s food provider, Sodexo, about joining the College of William and Mary’s meal plan. Vice President of Administration Anna Martin said that when the issue of Tribe Square came up in discussions, the College asked Sodexo if the school could work with Tribe Square to make them subcontractors in a partnership similar to the relationship Aramark has with Einstein Bros. Bagels. If the deal goes through, the four businesses in Tribe Square — Pita Pit, The Crust, MOOYAH and SUBWAY — would work with Sodexo on an individual basis to create a customized plan. “This allows them to figure out some way that the retailer fit[s] in the meal plan,” Martin said. “That can happen in a variety of ways — either with Flex points or something else, like the equivalent of a meal plan.” Martin noted that Sodexo has not begun conversations with the businesses in Tribe Square, and will not do so until the College finalizes its
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STUDENT ASSEMBLY
SA proposes merging Undergraduate Council positions
Undergraduate council to vote on merger proposal Senate funds upcoming events, passes Respect Act BY MADELINE BIELSKI FLAT HAT ASSOC. NEWS EDITOR
The College of William and Mary’s Undergraduate Council met with several Student Assembly senators Tuesday night in a meeting focused on reforming the council’s role and composition. The council will officially vote on whether or not to merge the Vice President of Advocacy and the Vice President of Social Affairs into a single position in their meeting next week. “This would accomplish more efficiency, make it more of a competitive race between people … [and] establish the prestige that it is to be in the Undergraduate Council,” Chairman of the Undergraduate Council Brett Prestia ’14 said. To support the legitimacy of merging these two roles, SA Chief of Staff Drew Wilke ’15 said it is more difficult to get juniors and seniors to run for these positions, so combining these roles may reduce that problem. These reforms came at the recommendation of the Code Revision Committee, Wilke which met Saturday and suggested making significant changes in the function of the council. A discussion arose amongst council members concerning if the merger between the positions
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would indeed be more efficient. Most council members were in agreement that the merger would be a good change to make; however, the senior class officers showed some hesitation. Senior Class President Grace Martini ’14 explained that the senior class officers must deal with additional programming at the end of the year due to Commencement, which adds extra work. Martini said her concern is that one fewer officer would only increase the workload already placed upon senior officers. To remedy that concern, it was suggested that the senior class could appoint a specific Commencement liaison to help with the planning and organization of Commencement. After some discussion, Class President Brianna Buch ’15 suggested that the council consider pushing up the merger of the vice president positions, effective this coming election. Wilke, who worked on the concept of merging of these positions last year as a senator, encouraged the council to pursue Buch’s suggestion of moving up the merger. “[The idea of ] merging the two VP’s was brought up last year … but it just didn’t work out in time,” Wilke said. “If you guys all feel that it should happen, why not do it now? The rest of the Student Assembly is definitely in support of this. … It’s really not going to affect that much. See COUNCIL page 4
BY CLAIRE GILLESPIE FLAT HAT ASSOC. NEWS EDITOR
The Student Assembly senate passed bills addressing rape culture at the College of William and Mary, changed the SA code and constitution, and funded the 2014 TEDx William and Mary conference and I Am W&M Week events at its their meeting Tuesday night. The Respect Act, which senators wrote in partnership with several other student organizations, is the SA’s statement in reaction to the Sigma Chi email, which prompted a campus-wide discussion of rape culture over the past few weeks. “Resolved, that the Student Assembly will sustain involvement in initiatives that oppose the persistence of sexual aggression and rape culture in our community … the Student Assembly pledges to be cognizant of the language and definitions used in Student Assembly bylaws and governing documents. … The
Inside OPINIONS
Student Assembly will actively partner with any individual student or student organization to empower members of our community and work toward the aforestated goals. … The Student Assembly will continue to represent the voice of the student body and serve as a resource to all members of the William and Mary community,” the resolution reads. The bill passed unanimously. After voting to move the VP Code Act and the VP
Constitutional Amendment from new business to old business and taking a 10 tenminute recess, the senate approved the two bills that which merge the position of Vice President of Social Affairs and Vice President of Advocacy into one position. “This bill just goes through the code; every time it says VP of Social Affairs or VP of Advocacy, it changes to Vice President,” See SENATE page 4
Inside SPORTS
Seeing humanity on both sides of the abortion debate Thunderstorms High 63, Low 35
TAYLOR HORST / THE FLAT HAT
Sen. Daniel Ackerman ’16 expresses support of the undergraduate merger.
Both pro-life and pro-choice advocates are motivated by a respect for human life. page 5
Previewing track and field
The Flat Hat Sports Desk assesses director Stephen Walsh’s men’s and women’s squad as it heads into the outdoors season. page 8