VARIETY // The Flat Hat staff explores the ghosts of Tucker Hall, pgs. 4-5
Vol. 103, Iss. 18 | Friday, November 1, 2013
The Flat Hat The Twice-Weekly Student Newspaper
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of The College of William and Mary
VIRGINIA
THE FINAL COUNTDOWN
Student political groups host gubernatorial debate BY SANG HYUN PARK THE FLAT HAT
T
_he College Republicans and Young Democrats rolled up their sleeves to debate the upcoming gubernatorial election. Wednesday night saw the two organizations discuss the policy differences of Ken Cuccinelli and Terry McAuliffe and vie for voter support for each. Chancellor Professor of government Clay Clemens moderated the debate, which took place in the Tucker Hall auditorium. Each party made speeches and exchanged rebuttals before taking questions from the audience. The party representatives discussed economic issues in the first half of the debate and social issues in the second half. The College Republicans opened the debate by citing the record of economic growth under the leadership of Gov. Bob McDonnell. “Improving the economy is an issue that Republicans have successfully dealt with and continue to want to improve,” Chandler Crenshaw ’14, chairman of the College Republicans, said. “By keeping Republicans in control of the executive branch, we’ll continue to see economic growth in the Commonwealth.” Michaela Pickus ’14 of the Young Democrats responded by criticizing the economic approach of the Republican platform. See DEBATE page 3
The College of William and Mary gears up for the most contested gubernatorial election in the nation. In the last couple days before voters cast their ballots for Democrat Terry McAuliffe, Republican Ken Cuccinelli or Libertarian Robert Sarvis, students weigh in on the elections. WHERE DO YOU VOTE? Most students can vote in the Williamsburg Methodist Church on Jamestown Road, across from the Jamestown Dorms. Students who live in Brown Hall, Sorority Court, Tribe Square or One Tribe Place vote in the Williamsburg Community Building located at 401 North Boundary St.
Groups continue campus campaigning efforts
BY ARIEL COHEN FLAT HAT ASSOC. NEWS EDITOR
D
uring last year’s election cycle, the media dubbed Virginia “the swingiest” of swing states. The political divide continues in the upcoming gubernatorial election. Virginians will head to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 5 to cast their votes for the state’s next governor. Voting forecast polls project a close race, but candidates Terry McAuliffe and Ken Cuccinelli present two very different agendas for Virginia. Both candidates have also received a fair amount of criticism. “I lament the fact that we don’t have better people to vote for,” Adjunct Professor of government and public policy Colonel Lawrence B. Wilkerson said. McAuliffe, the Democratic candidate originally from New York, is making his second run for the Virginia gubernatorial seat after an unsuccessful campaign in 2009. In the most recent polls, he has edged out Cuccinelli by about four percentage points. Cuccinelli, the Republican candidate, has served as the attorney general of Virginia for the past four years. Before that, he was a member of the Senate of Virginia, representing Fairfax County. McAuliffe supports the Affordable Care Act and the expansion See ELECTION page 2
ts College a r c o Re p u b em D g n licans u Yo KATIE KELLENBERGER / THE FLAT HAT
ALUMNI
STUDENT ASSEMBLY
Reunion classes Students wrongly charged for STI tests smashes record Health center to resume subsidies, Reveley urges senators to pursue politics
$17 million raised in cash, pledges
BY CLAIRE GILLESPIE FLAT HAT ASSOC. NEWS EDITOR
BY ZACH HARDY FLAT HAT CHIEF STAFF WRITER
College of William and Mary President Taylor Reveley surprised senators and class presidents at the Student Assembly senate meeting Tuesday. Before attending the remainder of the meeting, Reveley encouraged SA members to pursue political careers. “Politics is a very noble and crucial calling to go into,” Reveley said. “I would love to see another governor of Virginia or — even better — president of the United States coming out of William and Mary.” During the meeting, Secretary of Health and Safety Alicia Moore ’14 provided a health center report informing the senate that, due to a miscommunication, the Student Health Center has been charging students the full price for STI testing, rather than the subsidized cost. “[Student Health Center employers] haven’t been billing us for the test; they’ve been charging [students] at the full price,” Moore
$
The College of William and Mary’s 2013 Homecoming weekend resulted in over $17 million in cash and pledged donations from class reunion gifts. Ten different classes, from the class of 1963 celebrating their 50th reunion to the class of 2008 celebrating their fifth, participated in the giving. All classes exceeded their monetary goals. According to Assistant Vice President for Lifetime Philanthropic Engagement and Annual Giving Dan Frezza, four records were also set for total dollars raised: 2008 set the record for dollars raised at a 5th reunion, 2003 for a 10th, 1983 for a 30th and 1978 for a 35th. “Our focus is still participation and not monetary amounts, even though individual classes set monetary goals,” Frezza said. The $17.25 million raised includes both cash and pledged gifts. Frezza said that while older alumni are more inclined to give larger amounts, gifts and participation from younger classes has grown in recent years. Planning for this year’s reunion class gift effort began in Sept. 2012, when gift committee members began contacting alumni about giving to the College. The class gift committees work separately from the planners that organize class reunion dinners See DONATIONS page 3
Index News Insight News Variety Variety Opinions Sports Sports
Today’s Weather 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
said. “That has since changed as of this week, the last week of October. They now will start billing at the subsidy price.” Last week, Sen. Caleb Stone J.D. ’15 and Sen. Patrick Johnson Ph.D. ’18 introduced the Student Development Act, which sought to amend the portion of the SA code outlining the makeup of the Executive Appropriations Committee by increasing the ratio of graduate to undergraduate students who sit on the committee. Stone and Johnson revised the
students from each class and two standing undergraduates to match the ratio of undergraduates to graduates,” Johnson said. As it currently stands, the EAC is composed of one undergraduate student from each class, two graduate students and one member-at-large. The Secretary of Finance serves as the Chair of the EAC and is a non-voting member. “We’re required by [the SA] code to make the EAC look like the See SA page 3
CLAIRE GILLESPIE / THE FLAT HAT
College President Taylor Reveley urged senators to pursue a career in politics, calling it “noble and crucial.”
Inside OPINIONS
Inside SPORTS
Governor’s race 2013
Rain High 73, Low 61
bill after its committee discussions last weekend, during which senators suggested that Stone and Johnson, the sponsors of the bill, withdraw it and send a revised version through committee discussion this weekend. “The current revision is to have a representative from each graduate program that doesn’t get all of their money returned by the school — that would be arts and science, law, business and education — to have a guaranteed voice along with undergrad[uate]
Opinions writers make cases for (and against) the three candidates running in the Virginia gubernatorial election. page 6
Liberian Dream
Senior center-back Will Smith’s summer internship with the State Department in Liberia led him to an introduction with a soccer legend. page 7
#TUckerghost @THEFLATHAT
The Flat Hat | Friday, November 1, 2013 | Page 2
THE BUZZ
[The College] offers so many things to students like research funding and scholarships, it only seemed right to give a gift.
—Joel McPherson ‘03 on donating during Homecoming
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newsinsight “
News Editor Abby Boyle News Editor Annie Curran fhnews@gmail.com
AROUND THE ‘BURG
COURTESY PHOTO / HAMPTONROADS.COM
The Commonwealth of Virginia allows for commercial harvesting of oysters on private property, but York County argues the activity requires a special permit.
Oyster farmers present case before Virginia Supreme Court
Students evacuated York County school due to odor
Two York County citizens are bringing their case regarding the right to commercially harvest oysters on their properties before the Virginia Supreme Court, the Williamsburg Yorktown Daily reported. The state, which regulates all business on the water, has approved the operation, but York County argues that aquaculture is not technically agriculture and thus requires a special-use permit for the citizens to unload seafood on their properties. One of the residents’ attorneys, Michael Ware, emphasized that an oyster is technically an animal and therefore, livestock. The case first came to the court system after one of the residents began harvesting oysters in 2009. In 2012, the resident filed a case against the county after he was denied a special-use permit.
Faculty and students evacuated Magruder Elementary School at about 10:30 a.m. Monday following reports of a strange odor inside the building. The Virginia Gazette stated that the York County Fire and Life Safety department reported that medics transported eleven people to various medical facilities in the area after on-site treatment, but no one was injured. After scanning the building, fire officials found no abnormal air quality readings and later determined that the odor originated in a sewage line. The building remained closed Monday and students were transported to Bruton High School for lunch and warmth, according to York Schools spokeswoman Katherine Goff.
School districts create mobile apps Some Washington D.C. schools have created mobile apps to connect parents with teachers, lunch menus and their children’s grades, the Washington Post reported. Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun County and Alexandria schools have unveiled mobile apps while Prince George is expected to release their app soon. Fairfax spent about $90,000 on the new app. Features of the apps include lunch menus, calendars, links to emails and attendance records.
CITY POLICE BEAT
New political polls released for gubernatorial election The Daily Press reported that multiple university polls were released projecting the outcome of the gubernatorial election. A Quinnipiac University poll determined that Democratic candidate Terry McAuliffe is “clinging to a slight 45-41 percent likely voter lead” over Republican candidate Ken Cuccinelli, while Libertarian candidate Robert Sarvis holds 9 percent. Hampton University’s poll placed McAuliffe in the lead with 42 percent and Cuccinelli with 36 percent.
Oct. 29 1
Tuesday, Oct. 29 — A suspicious incident was reported on Monticello Avenue.
2
Tuesday, Oct. 29 — An individual was charged with being drunk in public on Richmond Road.
Oct. 29 — A suspicious incident was 3 Tuesday, reported at Sterling Manor.
4 VARIETY
FH
For full coverage of The Flat Hat staff’s search for ghosts in Tucker Hall as well as more info on Halloween in Williamsburg, see Variety, pages 4 and 5.
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Tuesday, Oct. 29 — An individual was arrested for being drunk in public and using profane language on Richmond Road.
Students keep campaigning to win over swing voters ELECTION from page 1
of Medicaid. Cuccinelli has been a long-time opponent of the ACA. If elected, McAuliffe plans to eliminate numerous business taxes and to increase local government taxes as compensation. In contrast, Cuccinelli plans to lower the individual tax rate from 5.75 percent to 5 percent across the state Commonwealth of Virginia. The candidates also maintain different stances in terms of higher education. McAuliffe hopes to improve Virginia’s community colleges and increase opportunities for financial aid assistance. Cuccinelli hopes to address issues in higher education through economic growth. He plans to keep Virginia on track to reach 100,000 degrees by 2025, as set by the “Top Jobs Act.” Cuccinelli also plans to increase college graduates’ employability by placing a renewed focus on the STEM curriculum, healthcare and other in-demand fields. “Cucinelli’s jobs plan hopes to create 55,000 jobs in Virginia,” College Republicans President Chandler Crenshaw ’14 said. “This is critical for students because, while the national unemployment rate is going down, jobs are still hard to find. Under Bob McDonnell the joblessness rate has improved. McDonnell’s administration has made Virginia a better state for jobs. I’m sure Cuccinelli will help bring business to Virginia.”
On campus, the College Republicans and Young Democrats have both been campaigning for their respective candidates. Young Democrats President Zach Woodward ’14 said that he and fellow club members have spent the past weeks calling voters through the “Get out the Vote” campaign. “We’ve gone into full ‘Get out the Vote’ mode,” Woodward said, “People have been pretty receptive at the doors and on the phones. So far people have been really excited that we were helping to get out the vote.” College Republicans have been campaigning for Cuccinelli around Williamsburg and in Northern Virginia. Last weekend, members of the club went up to McLean, Va., to volunteer in Cuccinelli’s Northern Virginia headquarters. “These types of elections are based on who turns up from your base,” Crenshaw said. “The primary purpose of these campaign trips is to contact Republicans in the area and make sure they turn up.” Cuccinelli and McAuliffe’s different positions on social issues have also received attention from the media and the public. A traditional social conservative, Cuccinelli plans to tighten restrictions on abortion clinics, has advocated Virginia’s anti-sodomy laws, and has publicly denounced homosexual acts. “Cuccinelli is a social conservative; there is no doubt about that. A lot of students are very compassionate about social issues, so it’s hard
to find a mix and sell their messages to him.” Crenshaw said, “Some of the issues have been misinterpreted and twisted through campaign ads.” In campaign advertisements, McAuliffe has used Cuccinelli’s conservative views as a point of contrast to his belief in marriage equality and pro-choice stance. “I think that young peoples’ views on social issues are the way of the future,” Woodward said. “McAuliffe’s interests serve our interests from a purely ideological standpoint, and they also will make Virginia a better place to live.” Woodward added that he feels McAuliffe’s more moderate stance may work in his favor. “Being a modern common sense candidate doesn’t necessarily make you the lesser of two evils,” Woodward said. “He brings a background of business and common interest rather than extreme ideology. Because one candidate is so extreme, many people set up the lesser of two evils scenario, but McAuliffe offers a lot on his own.” Voting in Williamsburg is Tuesday, Nov. 5 from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Most students can vote in the Williamsburg Methodist Church on Jamestown Road, across from Morton Hall. Students who live in Brown Hall, Sorority Court, Tribe Square or One Tribe Place vote in the Williamsburg Community Building located at 401 North Boundary Street.
Friday, November 1, 2013
The Flat Hat
Page 3
STUDENT LIFE
New club advocates LGBT equality
William and Larry works to raise awareness of LGBT issues in commonwealth By TYLER BRENT the flat hat
“Civil rights movements never come at the right time,” Hispanic Studies professor George Greenia said. The faculty advisor of the College of William and Mary’s newest student organization, William and Larry, Greenia was the guest speaker at the club’s fifth meeting Thursday, Oct. 24. He spoke about Virginia’s anti-gay legislation and about how it has affected the College community. The William and Larry constitution states, “The purpose of the organization is to be a gay-straight alliance that will raise awareness of existing discriminatory statutes against gays in the Virginia Constitution as well as the legal code at the College and the Williamsburg Community. The club will lobby the Virginia Assembly for gay rights and to repeal existing discriminatory statutes.” The group was officially registered at the College Sept. 6. An openly gay professor, Greenia married his partner 27 years ago in the Wren Chapel. His advice
for the new organization was straightforward. “We don’t want to be partisan, because this isn’t political,” Greenia said. “It’s a human right.” In 1994, Greenia garnered the support of the William and Mary Faculty Assembly to petition the Faculty Senate of Virginia to recognize benefits for same sex couples at all of Virginia’s universities. Co-founder and acting President Christian Bale ’14 explained his inspiration for the club. “I’m from Delaware and gay marriage recently passed, and we noticed that William and Mary had a hole among organizations; there wasn’t a group fighting for gay rights in Virginia,” Bale said. “My experience with William and Mary is that we are an incredibly open and accepting university and we should be one of the leaders in this.” The club’s Executive Board released an announcement to clarify the objectives of William and Larry at the College. “We are a bi-partisan issue area organization that wants to make sure that all Virginians are treated equally under the law,” the announcement reads. “Our goal is to make an impact in the legislature. We want the Virginia Assembly to
hear from Christian [Bale] about the state of gay rights in Virginia, it was just one state away and I was just shocked,” Wavering said. “That has been a motivation for me personally to say ‘come on William and Mary, come on Virginia.’ It’s time to bring equality to the College and the state.” In attendance at the William and Larry meeting for the first time, Lillian Fu ’16 commented on the new club’s atmosphere. “I felt like the environment was electric, there was so much dedication to the club and to the cause and you could just feel it in the air,” Fu said. “It was crazy to see how long Professor Greenia has been fighting for equal rights. I feel like this club, or at least the people in it, are going to change the world.” William and Larry also hosted General Assembly candidate Monty Mason ’89, who spoke on the importance of promoting LGBT equality in Virginia. The executive board already booked a speaker series for the rest of the semester. More information about William and Larry can be found on their Facebook page and meetings are every Thursday at 5:45 p.m. in Jones 301.
know that William and Mary wants change and we want to be the vehicle for that.” Co-vice President Rob Marty ’14 noted the group is proud of its reach on campus. After five meetings, the club has attracted membership from all social classes, as well as law, Ph.D., Master of Public Policy and VIMS students. “It has built momentum quickly because we filled a niche on campus,” Marty said. “If you want to get involved, you can carry the club how you want because you can take ownership.” One of the founding members and coordinator of campus outreach, law student Bryan Charles Moore ’13 informed the William and Larry members at the meeting of upcoming events. Future meetings will also feature speakers who will discuss LGBT issues from different perspectives. The club will soon be sporting T-shirts with the logo “William and Larry = William and Mary = Wilma and Mary.” The designer, graduate student Emily Wavering M.P.P. ’15, believes Virginia’s treatment of its LGBT citizens can and should be improved. “It was actually shocking for me to come and
ADMISSIONS
Application deadlines extended to Nov. 8 College works to accommodate prospective students dealing with Common App issues By KATHERINE CHIGLINSKY Flat hat EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
The Admissions Office extended early decision and spring transfer application deadlines by one week due to glitches in the new version of the Common Application. Administrators pushed the deadline, originally scheduled for Nov. 1, to Nov. 8, following deadline extensions by at least 42 other colleges and universities, according to the Washington Post. Common Application 4, the newest version of the online college admission
service, rolled out Aug. 1. Senior Associate Dean of Admission Tim Wolfe said that the College of William and Mary admission officials started noticing a larger number of prospective students encountering problems with the site around Columbus Day, Oct. 14. “Rest assured, we’re never going to have a technical difficulty be something that prevents a student from being able to apply or be fully considered,” Wolfe said. “We felt that there was a significant number of individuals … that we wanted to provide that added flexibility [for].” The College responded to inquiries
Republicans, Democrats debate Groups focus on upcoming election issues DEBATE from page 1
“If you want a state that is open for business, you are also going to need a state that is open and tolerant to all people,” Pickus said. Pickus also challenged the efficacy of the governor’s past policies in areas such as taxation, transportation and education, pointing out the importance of social equality. In the second round of the debate, the Democrats reinforced this point as they discussed the social policies of their side. “We need a highly educated workforce in order to be competitive and to have further economic growth,” Elise Orlick ’14 said. Orlick also emphasized the need to improve services Crenshaw
for women’s health and gender equality. Each side summarized its main points to end the debate. “Republicanism and pragmatic conservatism in Virginia is working,” Crenshaw said. “Vote based on utility and who you think will lead Virginia to a better place.” Young Democrats Woodward President Zachary Woodward ’14 made his side’s closing remarks. “I ask that you choose the more pragmatic and responsible candidate,” Woodward said. “Our side is putting forward real solutions in terms of creating jobs … and expanding educational opportunities in Virginia.” Gubernatorial elections will be held Nov. 5.
from prospective students, parents and high school counselors. “We’ve been trying to reassure people,” Dean of Admission Henry Broaddus said. “The stakes are high and people are nervous and that means things like this take on, sometimes, a larger proportion of fear than they truly warrant.” Common Application officials handled most of the inquiries because site administrators can fix an individual’s account under the hood of the website, Wolfe said. Common Application officials also released statements emphasizing their awareness of the site’s issues.
“The last few days have comprised the most difficult period in The Common Application’s nearly 40 years of service to the education community,” the statement reads. The Common Application now posts daily updates about any site malfunctions. As of Oct. 30, the site is still altering the formats of some essays. Users’ main complaints said the site did not include paragraph breaks. Broaddus emphasized that the Admissions staff remains committed to delivering notification letters to prospective students in early December,
even though that may require extra work and later hours. “These deadlines exist for reasons but ultimately the overriding interest in enabling those students who want to apply to William and Mary to do so and to do so not under duress is much more important,” Broaddus said. For now, administrators believe that Nov. 8 will remain the deadline. “At this point, we remain confident that this extension should serve the purpose and provide that added flexibility,” Wolfe said. “We’re always monitoring and keeping an eye on it.”
SA introduces expansion of EAC Proposal increases graduate representation on Council SA from page 1
school body at large,” Stone said. “The rest of the graduate schools each get one vote; we each get equal representation.” According to the College’s website, 6,171 undergraduates and 2,087 graduate students are enrolled, creating approximately a three-toone ratio between undergraduate and graduate students. The proposed EAC would have about a two-to-one undergraduate to graduate student ratio if the appointed Secretary of Finance is an undergraduate student. Undergraduate senators raised concerns over how accurately this ratio represents the student body. Associate Director of Student Leadership Development Trici Fredrick M.Ed. ’05 questioned whether five graduate
students would be willing to sit on the EAC before Stone and Johnson withdrew the bill. The senate will vote on the bill Tuesday, Nov. 5. Senator Seth Opoku-Yeboah ’16 introduced the Soccer Transportation Funding Act. The bill outlines a plan for SA and Tribal Fever members to drive students to the final men’s home soccer game using two SA vans. After moving the bill to old business, it passed unanimously. The senate also unanimously passed the Know Your Rights Distribution Act, which allocated $640 for SA members to distribute “Know Your Rights” cards to undergraduates, as well as the Constitutional Amendment Changing the Election Date Act. This act changes the code and allows the senate chairman,
SA president and Elections Commission Chair to change the date of the freshman or general election in the event of an unanticipated technical error or other emergency, such as those seen in this semester’s freshman elections. Soultanis updated the senate on the SA’s finances. The SA has spent $73,394.46 this semester, although some of this money is allocated and will be returned at a later date. The SA’s largest expense this semester is the $30,000 to be spent on the Charter Day concert. Class of 2016 senators introduced the Swem Snacks 3 Act. The bill allocates up to $400 for SA members to provide healthy snacks at 9 p.m. Sunday evenings in Earl Gregg Swem Library. McConnell assigned the bill to the finance, student life and outreach committees.
Ten classes participate in Homecoming giving, exceed College’s donation goals College hopes to continue reaching alumni, earns $17 million over Homecoming weekend in cash, pledged donations
— Joel McPherson ’03 on why he pledged a reunion gift to the College
$4,000,000 $5,520,279
DONATIONS AND GOALS FOR HOMECOMING CLASS REUNIONS Goal Amount donated
$3,260,829
$5,000,000
$4,000,000
1983
1993
CLASS YEAR
1998
2003
All of the reunion classes exceeded their monetary goals in donations this year.
$1,317,545
$1,068,000
$1,800,000
$1,258,840
1988
$1,000,000 $1,090,959
$1,000,000
$1,250,000
$2,000,000
$1,039,671
$3,000,000
$75,000
“
As I get older, I’m more thankful for how William and Mary prepared me for the real world.
$6,000,000
TOTAL
and activities. Frezza said the College aims to continue reaching out to alumni in order to encourage regular giving. “The direction we’re heading in is continuing to work with those class volunteers every year, even in off years to make sure they’re reaching out to classmates — those that didn’t give and those that did — to encourage the conversation about philanthropy,” Frezza said. Joel McPherson ’03 said that he pledged a gift for the class of 2003’s 10th reunion gift because of his appreciation for how his time at school prepared him for his career. “As I get older, I’m more thankful for how
William and Mary prepared me for the real world,” McPherson said. “[The College] offers so many things to students like research funding and scholarships, it only seemed right to give a gift.” Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing, Promotions and Ticket Services Spencer Milne reported that attendance at the football game exceeded that of previous years at 12,259 persons, representing 30 percent of total home football game attendance this year. “I can’t specifically say how many of those people are alumni, but it’s likely there were more on campus for the game than in years past,” Milne said. “Athletics are a good way to keep alumni involved and close to the school.”
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DONATIONS from page 1
2008 gRAPHIC BY ZACH HARDY / THE FLAT HAT
variety
Variety Editor Áine Cain flathat.variety@gmail.com
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f you ever hear nails scraping a chalkboard on the third floor of Tucker Hall, your best bet is to drop your books and run. The Tucker ghost is one study buddy that you can do without. “She’s one of the most popular ghosts on campus, and frequently finds her way as a subject into student short films and other creative works over the past 20 years,” former independent ghost tour guide Adam Stackhouse ’04 said in an email. “Haunts supposedly come in the form of windows opening and the sound of fingernails on the chalkboard.” Campus lore paints a blurry picture of the academic phantom. Stackhouse’s tale involved the alleged suicide of a female student in Room 301 during the 1980s. Even darker versions of the story include multiple suicides, with subsequent victims leaving notes reading, “She made me do it.” Supposedly, if she catches you studying in Tucker Hall, she might ask you how you’re doing. Be careful; an affirmative
— DOT diehard Mikey Kimtantrum. ’14 response will likely prompt a violent ghostly Tucker Hall is one of the stops on the College Company’s Halloween fundraiser tour. Company President and ghost tour guide Caitlin Hartnett ’15 isn’t too worried about confronting a potentially dangerous ghost. “A few other tour guides and I are fans of TV shows like Buffy and Supernatural, so anyone who knows those [shows] knows what that means,” Hartnett said. Compared to the older phantoms of Colonial Williamsburg and Ancient Campus, the Tucker Hall ghost is one of the College of William and Mary’s younger specters. “Since the building was built in 1909 and put to so many uses, I wouldn’t be surprised if something occurred there that left a lasting impression,” Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Research Historian and Associate of the Omohundro Institute for Early American History and Culture Dr. Taylor Stoermer said. “I doubt it would be haunted by its namesake, St. George Tucker,
who was rumored to have been as dull as dishwater. You’d have one boring ghost on your hands.” One account involved students completing a video project in Tucker in 2007. Supposedly, they picked up ominous and disturbing footage with their equipment. Long-time guide with the Original Candlelight Ghost Tours of Williamsburg Heidi Hartwiger speculated that unfinished business might be the reason for the ghost’s alleged haunting of Tucker. “She probably didn’t get to say goodbye to her parents,” Hartwiger said. “She may have had a broken heart or unrequited love. Maybe the object of her affections didn’t even acknowledge that she was around. She might have missed a chance to spend time with him ... or even a brief chance just to say hello.” Tucker Hall’s renovations have left the ghost’s third floor haunt virtually unrecognizable. Perhaps this change has given her an opportunity to drift away and move on. Or maybe it’s just made her angrier.
LING BESEICKER / THE FLAT HAT
a
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The ghostly horror lurking above the English Department Individually, you might not be able to see that impact, but once you start pulling all these things together, you can.
Trick-or-treating in the Burg Local kids discuss best strategies, techniques for candy-gathering on Halloween
BY ARIEL COHEN FLAT HAT ASSOC. NEWS EDITOR
For fourth grader Ashley Williams, a successful Halloween is a matter of nuanced strategy. “The best candy in my neighborhood would have to be the people across the street’s house,” Williams said. “They give out a huge goody bag with soda and candy, and I think some games in it.” Williams, a girl scout of Junior Troop 1110 and local expert on the matter, is from the Williamsburg area and likes to trick-or-treat in the neighborhood of Powhatan Shores. She is familiar with the details of the business. An experienced candy-seeker, she takes pride in her past successes. “My neighborhood is the best because it’s, like, five different neighborhoods all connected, so you can go to a lot of places,” she said. “The basic candies you have are Nerds, Three Musketeers, Snickers and M&Ms. People give out plenty of candy. Last year I think I got, like, fifty pieces.” There is no consensus among experts, however, on which local neighborhood will turn out the largest profit for trickor-treaters. Rebecca Delbos, also a fourth grader
in Girl Scout Troop 1110, prefers trickor-treating outside of Jamestown in her friend’s neighborhood, Chanco’s Grant. According to Delbos, the neighborhood’s appeal comes not just from its number of streets, but from the number of houses where candy-givers are present. Houses that are empty or unresponsive are not conducive to candy collecting. “There’s one lady whose only rule is that you have to take a handful of candy,” Delbos said.
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The basic candies you have are Nerds, Three Musketeers, Snickers and M&Ms.
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e d y e y
— Fourth-grader Ashley Williams on trick-or-treating in Williamsburg
There are a slew of local rules, however, with which the area’s trickor-treaters must comply. Cities in the Hampton Roads area implement strict regulations for trick-or-treating: In Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk and Suffolk, trick-or-treating is held from
dusk to about 8 p.m. for children 12 and younger. In some cities, it is a Class Four Misdemeanor to break this rule. Older trick-or-treaters can receive a fine up to $250. The city of Williamsburg allows for trick-or-treating from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. for candy lovers 12 and under. The city strongly encourages parents to accompany their children. Rachel Delbos, mother of Rebecca Delbos and College of William and Mary statistics instructor, says people take the county ordinances very seriously and stop handing out candy exactly at 8 p.m. “I remember when I was a kid, our parents would let us go around by ourselves,” Delbos said. “It’s a different world now; I wouldn’t let Becca or her friends go out alone. But I do believe that Williamsburg is a safe neighborhood for trick-or-treaters.” Even though the city of Williamsburg prevents older candy lovers from trickor-treating, College students can still trick-or-treat in at least one location. This year, College President Taylor Reveley will continue the annual tradition of giving out candy at the President’s House. “Since I’ve been president, we have always celebrated Halloween at the President’s house,” President Reveley
said in an email. “Much candy has been handed over to roving bands of trick or treaters.” According to Reveley, opening the house for trick-ortreaters has been the practice of past presidents, too — and the students are always persistent. Last Halloween, the President’s House received many visitors despite the bad weather. Actually, due to the building’s history, celebrating Halloween at the President’s House is practically a matter of decorum. “After all, three ghosts live in the President’s House,” Reveley said. “Due regard for them dictates proper observation of Halloween. And, of course, it would [not] be prudent to excite them by ignoring their special day.”
COURTESY PHOTO /TRUECOUPONING.COM
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Page 7 Friday, November 1, 2013
The Flat Hat
Page 5
For whom the
BY AINE CAIN FLAT HAT VARIETY EDITOR
GRAPHIC BY DANI ARON-SCHIAVONE / THE FLAT HAT
Immortal drama BY MEG OSBORNE THE FLAT HAT
Slow and mournful, the Sir Christopher Wren Building Bell tolled through the cold winter night. The ringing startled John Blair in his home on Duke of Gloucester Street. “Last night the college bell tolled they say about an hour, very slow and regular, till some went up and stopt it, who saw nobody,” reads his February 2, 1751 diary entry. Nephew of College of William and Mary founder James Blair — and a graduate of the College — John did not offer speculation about the cause of the mysterious ringing. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Research Historian
GRAPHIC BY DANI ARON-SCHIAVONE / THE FLAT HAT
bell tolls
Virginia Gazette, 13 October 1738
It is reported from Vienna that the ridiculous Opinion of Vampires which was so much talk’d of four or five Years ago, is again reviv’d. The common People’s Notion of Vampires is this, that dead Bodies rise out of their Graves and suck the Blood of People asleep; after which they conclude, that the Persons suck’d become in their turn Vampires ; and to prevent any ill Effects from Bodies that are suspected to be of this Sort, they drive a Stake through the Heart and cut off the Head. These superstitions Follies are suppos’d to arise not only from the Ignorance of the Inhabitants of the Banner, but to the Calamities is at present suffers, which occasions Panicks to prevail.
and Associate of the Omohundro Institute for Early American History and Culture Dr. Taylor Stoermer explained that most educated 18th-century colonists looked down upon such superstition. Many of the currently popular urban legends in Williamsburg actually date back to the 19th century. “The few supernatural stories printed in the Virginia Gazette are almost always from foreign — usually French — sources,” Stoermer said. “This was done to show how crazy the French were. Seriously. Just as a way to show how superior the English are. ‘These French will believe in anything.’” Williamsburg, in addition to being a college town, was the capital of Virginia after 1699, and its citizens were more likely to possess urbane views influenced by the Enlightenment. For example, murder cases based solely on the “ordeal of touch,” the supernatural belief that a murdered body would react if touched by its killer, were thrown out in Williamsburg courts. Blair and his contemporaries had little time for such nonsense. His diary entry does, however, describe a rather unusual incident. According to Stoermer, while the Wren cupola stood a story higher in Blair’s time, there was still only one way up and down. It would have been impossible to sneak past the individuals coming out to check on the bell, which would have sounded “slow and regular” only if rung deliberately. “Blair’s got no response to that whatsoever,” Stoermer said. “He doesn’t write, ‘Wow. OMG, spooky.’ He’s just like, ‘That happened.’”
John Blair, 2 February 1751 Last night the college bell tolled they say about an hour, very slow and regular, till some went up and stopt it, who saw nobody.
Virginia Gazette, 21 March 1751 ...I had the Courage to rouze myself upon my Pillow, and to draw the Curtain just as I heard my Chamber Door Open, and saw a fuint glimmering Light enter my Chamber. Of a blue Colour, no doubt , (says the Bishop). Of a pale Blue (answers the Justice)...the Light was followed by a tall, meagre, and stern Personage... Soon after the Spectre had entered my Room, with a hasty, but somewhat a stately Pace, it drew near my Bed, and star’d me full in the Face ... he was a Watchman of the Night, and came to give me Notice, that he had found the Street Door open; and that unless I rose and shut it, I might chance to be robb’d before Break of Day. The Moment these Words were out of the good Judge’s Mouth, the Bishop vanish’d with much more Haste than did the suppos’d Ghost , and in as great a Surprize at the Justice’s Scepticism, at the Justice was in at the Bishop’s Credulity. INFORMATION COURTESY / DR. TAYLOR STOERMER
Dancing with the devil 18th century murder and mayhem BY AINE CAIN FLAT HAT VARIETY EDITOR
Some of the ghosts on campus at the College of William and Mary are more involved in extracurricular affairs than you’d expect. One specter in particular isn’t quite ready for her final curtain call. Meet Dr. Althea Hunt, professor of English and director of the College’s theatre department for over 30 years. The College has not forgotten Dr. Hunt’s dedication to the College. Hunt Hall — located behind the Campus Center and across the street from Colonial Williamsburg — is named in her honor. Having served as the director of the theatre department from 1926 to 1957, Dr. Hunt’s spirit recognizes the amount of work required to put on an excellent performance. Supposedly, Dr. Hunt still makes her opinions on current productions at the College known. According to legend, Dr. Hunt will attend rehearsal, sit in the balcony of the theater, and leave once she is satisfied with the students’ performances. Students in the theatre department are assured that Dr. Hunt’s presence is only an indication of a job well done — one that meets her ghostly standards. “Rumor has it she’s a really nice ghost who hangs around [Phi Beta Kappa Hall], complimenting students on arts-related work, playing with lights, moving costumes to the main auditorium, singing, things like this,” Adam Stackhouse ’04 said by email. Dr. Hunt’s presence does not frighten students or faculty members. Most people involved with College theatre even appreciate a little paranormal help from her. So, if you’re ever rehearsing in PBK late at night, don’t be alarmed if you hear a faint applause from the back of the theater after your scene — Dr. Hunt may just want you to give her an encore.
Ghoul Watch
If the devil challenged you to a dance-off, would you accept? An early 17thcentury Virginian legend sought to explain the name of Dances Point, a strip of land extending into the Chickahominy River near the James River. Colonist Philip Lightfoot was surveying the land one day when he met the Devil himself, who claimed the land for himself — or so the story goes. Unperturbed, Lightfoot offered to sell Satan the property but refused to relinquish his claim. Sensing Lightfoot’s vanity, the Devil proposed an interesting wager: a dance contest for Virginia.
“Lightfoot declared himself to be the best dancer in all of Virginia,” Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Research Historian and Associate of the Omohundro Institute for Early American History and Culture Dr. Taylor Stoermer said. “The devil said, ‘Well it’s on. We’ll have a dance-off.’” Early colonists used this story to explain why a certain spot of land at Dances Point remains forever clear of trees and vegetation. The Faustian danse macabre ends happily for Lightfoot. Impressed by his adversary’s moves, the Devil declared himself beaten and immediately withdrew his claim on the property.
GRAPHIC BY DANI ARON-SCHIAVONE / THE FLAT HAT
BY AINE CAIN FLAT HAT VARIETY EDITOR
On quiet Friday nights, bored students might derisively label Williamsburg a ghost town. That moniker may not be far from the truth, if you believe in the possibility of ghosts. “Williamsburg’s got a long, interesting history with many twists, turns, unique locations, and horrifying truths,” independent ghost tour guide Adam Stackhouse ’04 said in an email. “With a place that’s been around so long and through so many crazy things, stories are bound to emerge.” Williamsburg has seen its fair share of disaster — from the physical destruction of the town to the personal calamity of its inhabitants. Colonel John Chiswell, a
member of the House of Burgesses in the 1750s, created a scandal one night after drinking too much in a tavern out west. “My ancestor, Chiswell, started calling [another patron] names, like, ‘a ruddy Scotch Presbyterian,’” Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Research Historian and Associate of the Omohundro Institute for Early American History and Culture Dr. Taylor Stoermer said. “Them’s clearly fighting words. They both happened to be wearing swords. There’s a lesson for you, swords and alcohol don’t mix.” The incident prompted a political scandal and one of the first ever crime scene drawings, published in the Virginia Gazette. The controversial Chiswell case was set to be tried in
Williamsburg. “The night before his trial was to start, his wife found him dead,” Stoermer said. “The way the newspaper explained it the emotional strain was too great for him to bear. The family story is that he committed suicide. Exactly how he did it, no one really knows. Too graphic for 18th-century newspaper.” His disgraced specter may still haunt the Chiswell-Bucktrout House in Williamsburg. While he does not believe in ghost stories, Stoermer appreciates the historical truths that they often reveal. “It’s not just talking about Thomas Jefferson and James Madison and the distinction between religious freedom and toleration,” Stoermer said. “You can actually get into the real essence of these people’s lives.”
Do lost graves and forgotten lives still reverberate in the world of the living? BY AINE CAIN FLAT HAT VARIETY EDITOR
Students strolling through Colonial Williamsburg have no doubt trampled over a few forgotten graves. “In the road, behind the houses. Wherever people are living, there [are] going to be graves,” Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Research Historian and Associate of the Omohundro Institute for Early American History and Culture Dr. Taylor Stoermer said. “People have been living in this couple of square blocks since the 1630s. It is a little crazy. So you can’t run around the
corner without bumping into a potential ghost story.” Ghost stories with historical foundations include that of Rachel Warrington, lover of the young Viscount de Rochambeau, who was staying in the Sir Christopher Wren Building at the end of the American Revolution. After Warrington became pregnant, Rochambeau coldly refused to recognize the child. Rachel’s son, Lewis Warrington, attended the College of William and Mary and went on to become a naval hero in the War of 1812. However, Stoermer noted that some people have claimed to
hear Rachel weeping for her lost love — and honor — on the Palace Green. “Sometimes we catch a glimpse, hear an echo, or simply feel their presence. Sometimes people capture them on their cameras,” Original Candlelight Ghosts of Williamsburg Tour guide Claire Britcher said. “They were here before we were born and will still be here after we are gone. The ghosts of Williamsburg are not just part of the history, they are part of the future as well.” College Company President and ghost tour guide Caitlin Hartnett ’15 also believes that the experiences of the dead can
continue to impact the living. “One of my favorite ghosts is the French soldier haunting the President’s House,” Hartnett said. “His story is really sad, but its nice to think that he’s responsible for the children reporting warmth as if someone is hugging them because he misses his own children that he had to leave back in France.” Despite Williamsburg’s haunted reputation and colonial restoration, the area has undergone much physical transformation since the Revolutionary War. A DMV now exists where 18th-century gallows once stood. Tourists snap photos of colonial re-
enactors on their smart phones. However, some will claim that the ghostly echoes from the past can still be heard, from trumpet blasts by long dead redcoats to the warmth spread by the lonely French soldier in the President’s House. “Every square foot of this place bears the weight of the extraordinary people and events who made history here,” Stoermer said. “It’s a place where one can really feel that 200 years have gone by in just the blink of an eye, that the people here then have simply disappeared around the corner and you might still catch them if you try.”
MISSING: Flat Hat newspaper staff disappears On Halloween night, the Flat Hat staff camped out to investigate the ghost of Tucker Hall. On Friday, the paper made it to the printer as usual, but the editors and reporters have yet to be found.
GRAPHIC BY SARAH THORENSEN / THE FLAT HAT
Follow @theflathat on Twitter to discover what happened in Tucker Hall on Halloween night.
GRAPHIC BY DANI ARON-SCHIAVONE / THE FLAT HAT
opinions
Opinions Editor Zachary Frank fhopinions@gmail.com
The Flat Hat | Friday, November 1, 2013 | Page 6
Four days left to decide the next four years McAuliffe offers tireless energy
3 1 20
Cuccinelli will fight overreach
Virginia Governor’s Race
Tucker Higgins THE FLAT HAT
In a different political environment, it might have been enough to say that Ken Cuccinelli did not believe in climate change. It might have been enough to say that he was one of three attorney generals in the country who withheld support for the bipartisan Violence Against Women Act; that he still believes marriage is exclusively for heterosexual men and women; that his career is rife with more scandal than policy; or, worst of all, that he attended U.Va. But somehow the man is still running for governor. Admittedly, anyone who has managed to watch the sausages being made this campaign season knows that none of the candidates on the ballot are perfect. Terry McAuliffe has serious issues that voters should continue to question, and Robert Sarvis, the Libertarian candidate, has remained so far outside the focus of the press that it is hard to know what he would look like as a viable candidate. However, this discussion must begin with Ken Cuccinelli for the simple reason that his victory, in a telling off-year election, would bring more harm to the citizens and students of Virginia than the other candidates could muster if they tried. Luckily, his election does not appear likely. Cuccinelli has been behind in the polls since the government shutdown caused a predictable public backlash against the Republican Party. According to a recent poll conducted by The Washington Post, he is down against McAuliffe in the category “issues of special concern to women” by 27 points. On other categories he hardly fares better: Cuccinelli is down 19 in “healthcare,” nine in “the economy” and eight in “energy and the environment.” The only spot he leads — by one point — is in “transportation,” yet even that is within the fourpoint margin of error. If the poll results indicate anything, it is that the public is paying attention. No one with a government job ought to support a candidate affiliated with those who shut down the federal government, and no one with a mother or a vagina should support a man who would force rape victims to carry their pregnancies to term after denying them emergency contraception. What hope is left can be found in the notion that Cuccinelli’s candidacy represents the tail-end of a movement within the Republican Party in the throes of its terminal decrescendo. This struggle is evident in Cuccinelli’s attempts to defend the indefensible by deferring dogged questioners to the Republican Party of Virginia, an organization still struggling to answer questions like: “Why did Romney lose the unmarried female vote in Virginia by 29 percent last year?” A victory for Cuccinelli would prolong a reckoning that must eventually come: the acknowledgement that the national Republican Party has split and let itself be carried by a radical fringe further and further to the edge. The Republican Party faces a choice: appeal to emerging constituencies or die with aging supporters. A loss for Cuccinelli would serve as yet another impetus for this badly needed reform. A victory would assure fringe Republicans around the country that backwards social policy will not be punished at the ballot box. Yet a vote for McAuliffe is not simply a vote against Cuccinelli and his rights-limiting ilk, even though that presumably would be enough. It is also a vote for responsible social, economic and environmental policy. Although McAuliffe’s background in business leaves much to be desired in the way of experience in government, it has provided the former Democratic National Committee chairman with relentless energy and a practical approach that will serve Virginia residents well. For instance, McAuliffe not only attributes climate change to humans, but also has plans to curb its effects with offshore wind farms. He understands that Virginia public schools need more funding and has plans to increase education spending. Finally, as stated on his website, McAuliffe believes that “women should be able to make their own healthcare decisions without interference from Washington or Richmond.” McAuliffe is no one’s ideal candidate. He has his own share of scandal and reached his current status largely because of his wealth, but he understands something Cuccinelli does not: The political climate, like the global climate, is changing. While Cuccinelli would take Virginia backward, McAuliffe looks forward. That should be enough. Email Tucker Higgins at jthiggins@email.wm.edu.
BY BRIAN KAO, FLAT HAT GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Spencer Chretien THE FLAT HAT
In the bitter and sometimes depressingly negative race for governor, one candidate stands out: Ken Cuccinelli. Cuccinelli is the only candidate with an established record of putting Virginians first — always. It is one thing to talk a good game like they do in Washington, D.C., but in Virginia, the empty promises of Cuccinelli’s opponent do not cut it. Especially for students, Cuccinelli is the best choice for governor. As a state senator from Fairfax County, Cuccinelli worked with both parties to improve education by supporting parents and students in choosing the schools that fit their needs. Cuccinelli directed valuable tax dollars to the classroom, created jobs and reduced the traffic congestion that is much too familiar to anyone from northern Virginia. He was recognized as a leader on mental health issues both in the state legislature and in private practice, where he often represented those suffering from mental illness. Since he was elected Attorney General four years ago, Cuccinelli has reliably defended and upheld the rule of law in the commonwealth. He has locked up sex traffickers and child predators and has worked to combat gang violence. He has delivered on his promise to make fighting fraud a top priority of the Attorney General’s office. Cuccinelli’s efforts to fight Medicaid fraud have returned billions of dollars to Virginians and his good stewardship of Virginia resources led him to cut his own office’s budget significantly. Cuccinelli has spent more time standing up to governmental excess than it takes to log onto the Obamacare website. Throughout his career, he has consistently stood with Virginians against overreaching government. Without fail, Cuccinelli has opposed job-crushing tax increases on families, small businesses and young people. He understands the importance of a strong economy that creates the jobs of the future. When the out-of-control Environmental Protection Agency tried to regulate storm runoff as a pollutant, Cuccinelli challenged the federal government in court and won, saving Virginia taxpayers over $300 million. Cuccinelli also wrote the landmark property rights amendment that passed with an overwhelming 74 percent of the vote last November. Many career politicians stood in the way, but that did not stop Cuccinelli. Unlike some prosecutors, Cuccinelli did not storm into the Attorney General’s office looking to secure as many convictions as possible. It is because of his willingness to take on their cases himself that four innocent men who were imprisoned for crimes they did not commit are now free. Cuccinelli’s opponent, longtime political hack and failed businessman, Terry McAuliffe, has no real plans for Virginia and no particular devotion to our commonwealth. He previously toyed with the idea of running for governor of New York or Florida. A true crony capitalist, McAuliffe views the governorship as a position from which he can hand out state contracts and jobs to his fundraising buddies. When he was not making money for himself by investing in shady schemes that preyed upon the terminally ill, McAuliffe was busy bragging about himself as “the guy who jumps out of planes and falls through burning buildings to raise money.” A dedicated liberal extremist, McAuliffe supports practically unlimited abortion funded by taxpayers. He has promised a Washington-style government shutdown by refusing to work with Republicans on the state’s Medicaid program. Virginia does not need an ideological fanatic for whom money is everything as its governor, and Robert Sarvis, the allegedly libertarian candidate who favors a vehicle mileage tax enforced by a government GPS in your car, has no chance to win. As governor, Cuccinelli will continue to put Virginians first. On the issues that matter, Cuccinelli is the candidate who fights for our future. Under Cuccinelli’s leadership, Virginia will be the best place to work, attend school, start a business and raise a family. Cuccinelli understands that a good education is essential to life and believes that children should not be sentenced to a failing school just because of where they live or their parents’ income. That is why he will empower families through school choice and reward both teachers and schools that demonstrate improvements. He will work to rein in the tuition increases that plague Virginia’s college students each year and he will always be a voice for those fighting to achieve the American dream. The choice is clear: Vote for Cuccinelli Nov. 5. Email Spencer Chretien at sjchretien@email.wm.edu.
Libertarian candidate Robert Sarvis will protect civil liberties and keep Virginia fiscally responsible
Ricky Tischner THE FLAT HAT
Tired of big government, big taxes and big spending, Virginia? Look no further than the 2013 Libertarian Party candidate for governor, Robert Sarvis. In the midst of an ugly, disappointing campaign filled with political mudslinging, 37-yearold Sarvis is the candidate Virginians have been so desperately searching for. With two mediocre candidates both racked with personal scandal and unsatisfactory past performance, Virginians are being forced to choose between the lesser of two evils. According to a Washington Post article published in May, over 40 percent of Virginians
stated they wished “someone else was running” in the governor election other than Ken Cuccinelli and Terry McAuliffe. Don’t take my word for it — look to Sarvis’ stance on the issues. Sarvis is a staunch fiscal conservative, something this nation as a whole desperately requires. He proposes a total overhaul of crony capitalism in Virginia, ensuring law enforcement protection of economic rights and an end to government regulations that have prevented small and local businesses from entering the marketplace. Additionally, Sarvis advocates an end to government subsidies that favor certain industries above others, as well as the termination of federal discretionary funds. It’s the taxpayers’ money, and they deserve to have it back. Sarvis also tackles the issue of taxes, proposing a significant reduction of the income tax. As college students, taxes may not be foremost in our minds as we head to the ballot box. Civil liberties, however, do seem to always strike a particular chord with the youth, and rightfully so. As
a libertarian, Sarvis will champion our constitutional rights of religion, speech, press and assembly. First and foremost, Sarvis pledges to direct his efforts against federal overreach, made most evident by the National Security Agency’s Big Brother-esque spying programs. He also vows to defend Internet freedom, to protect Virginians against unlawful searches and seizures, and to end the draconian law enforcement policies regarding non-violent drug crimes. Speaking of drugs, Sarvis firmly believes in the legalization of marijuana and in the right of American citizens to make their own choices. He is a strict guardian of the Second Amendment in that he fully supports gun rights and freedom to carry, as well as a crackdown on gun crime and gang-related violence. Sarvis also proposes a fresh campaign to attain marriage equality in Virginia. Regarding primary and secondary education, Sarvis intends to reintroduce school choice for students and to create a competitive market for education. Such action will also empower parents
by placing them, rather than politicians, in charge of their children’s education. But aren’t the Libertarians just a fringe party? How can Sarvis possibly get elected? Although election is certainly ideal, the main intent of the Libertarian campaign is to raise awareness about government overreach into our lives and show Virginians there are political options that exist other than just more of the same incompetence. This November, the answer isn’t the big government policies of McAuliffe or those of Cuccinelli, but instead, it is the common sense fiscal responsibility of Robert Sarvis. Email Ricky Tischner at rstischner@email. wm.edu.
ONLINE
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For this issue’s staff editorial about the new group William and Larry, visit Flathatnews.com
sportsinside
The Flat Hat | Friday, November 1, 2013 | Page 7
MEN’S SOCCER
The Fresh Prince of Liberia
COURTESY PHOTO / LMWINLIBERIA.BLOGSPOT.COM
Monrovia is the capital of the West African country of Liberia and the site of senior center-back Will Smith’s U.S. State Department internship at the U.S. Embassy. The city is home to approximately one
Will Smith’s passion for soccer shines through during his summer internship BY JACK POWERS FLAT HAT SPORTS EDITOR
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COURTESY PHOTO / TRIBE ATHLETICS
The fact that I could play soccer made me a friend right away.
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— Senior center-back Will Smith
With 35,000 screaming, chanting fans surrounding the soccer pitch, worldfamous legends of the game jostle for position, and you’re right there with them. But you’re also an ocean’s length away from home. What is a fantasy for most collegiate players became a reality for senior centerback Will Smith. For Smith, it was just another exhilarating moment in his whirlwind summer-stay in Liberia — an experience that without the borderless joy of the beautiful game would not have been the same. Smith, a government major, worked as a State Department intern in the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia, Liberia, over the summer. He was tasked with writing speeches for the ambassador, attending important events, and writing reports about domestic issues that were sent to the Pentagon. The starkly foreign environment presented by the West African nation, and the stressful nature of his work, startled Smith at first, but then the familiar edge of athletics kicked in. “I remember when I got off the plane and I landed in Liberia, I was just like, ‘Where am I?’” Smith said. “I had that moment where I freaked out, but I just used everything that I’ve learned through soccer in pressure situations to relax.”
Red-brick buildings, cobblestone streets and outsized tourists are noticeably absent in Monrovia to the Williamsburgaccustomed eye. Instead, pungent fishmarkets, beat-up cars and approximately one million people sardine the city and lend it a pulsating shimmer. Not an easy place for a foreigner to assimilate. Thankfully for Smith, camaraderie came in the form of a white-and-black ball. Soccer is a cultural passport, a path into the hearts of players around the globe. In Liberia, soccer is a way of life, one to which Smith is thoroughly attuned. For Smith, soccer was the gateway to connect with native Liberians with whom he had little else in common. “The fact that I could play soccer made me a friend right away,” Smith said. “I would see a little kid kicking a soccer ball, and I would tell him to pass it. I would juggle, and it was immediate respect.” Smith’s passion for soccer and desire to hone his skills during the offseason led him to search out games and move out of his comfort zone. He started playing pickup games against first division Liberian players and national team players, which resulted in a personal introduction to George Weah. Voted the 1995 FIFA European Player of the Year, Weah is the most famous man in Liberia and beloved by soccer fans everywhere. “One thing led to another and one of the national team players introduced me
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to George Weah,” Smith said. “I ended up playing with George Weah a few times, going to his house, and becoming friends with him.” It didn’t stop there. Weah invited Smith to participate in an exhibition “peace match” held in Monrovia to promote reconciliation in Liberia, where an ethnic civil war claimed 250,000 lives a decade ago. Smith played alongside retired African legends J.J. Okocha, Patrick M’Boma and Roger Miller, among others, with 35,000 fans in attendance. There are few larger, more glamorous stages for a player Weah to perform, this one being thousands of miles away from the Tribe’s Martin Family Stadium. Smith credits the experience he gained in the match, and throughout his stay in Liberia, as a catalyst for his strong play this season as the captain of the No. 21 Tribe. “I’ve used that so much this year when I step onto the field, especially in the wins against the No. 1 teams, UNC and Creighton,” Smith said. “There’s a lot of pressure in those games. But when I can draw upon that experience with 35,000 eyes watching me, it helps so much because you just say, ‘I know I can perform.’” Head coach Chris Norris was not at all
surprised at Smith’s decision to pursue his interest in African politics by living in Liberia for three months. It is just another indication of the qualities he has helped nurture in Smith. “Will is unquestionably one of the best leaders we’ve had in our program, and that goes back to my playing days,” Norris said. “He’s continued to grow and mature as a leader and has been an example for other guys to step up in leadership roles, as well. He has been a great guy for us to build our program around over the past four years.” Success in sports is about finding calm in the midst of chaos. The lessons Smith learned playing soccer and the leadership skills he developed through playing helped make the rewarding experiences he gained in an alien environment like Liberia possible. Norris, again, is not surprised by the edifying effect athletics has had on his captain. “Sports can further your ability to work with other people, be a productive member of a team, to accept your role, to maximize your strengths, and minimize your weaknesses within a group,” Norris said. “All of those things that make individuals an important part of our team, I think, are important in other walks of life.” You don’t need to go to Liberia to prove that. But it certainly makes a good story.
sports
MEN’S SOCCER
Upset in Delaware Tribe allows two first-half goals, can’t catch up on road BY YONNIE IYOB FLAT HAT STAFF WRITER After winning seven of its last eight matches, No. 21 William and Mary skidded to a halt in Delaware Wednesday night, unable to overcome the Blue Hen’s three goals. Senior midfielder Chris Perez scored the College’s lone goal in the 3-1 loss. Delaware (12-4-0, 3-3-0 CAA) controlled most of the match from the onset. The Blue Hens jumped to an early 1-0 lead eleven minutes in, when the Blue Hen’s midfielder Jamie Martinez found forward Roberto Gimenez, who set up midfielder Vincent Mediate. Mediate ripped a goal from about 10 yards out, good for Perez the early advantage. Delaware wouldn’t relinquish the lead the rest of the game. Before the Tribe (8-4-1, 3-2-0 CAA) could respond, the Blue Hens doubled their lead. Martinez was active once again, stealing a pass in the 33rd minute before streaking down the right side of the field. Just outside of the 18-yard box, Martinez banged a shot into the left corner of the net, making the score 2-0. With things looking bad and getting worse, the Tribe finally showed some resiliency just before halftime. In the 34th minute, shortly after the Blue Hens’ second goal, Perez scored off a free kick to half the advantage, taking a 2-1 deficit into the locker room. Perez’s third goal of the season ties him for third among team leaders. The opening of the second half evaporated any momentum the College had. The Blue Hens scored in the 53rd minute, as midfielder Guillermo
Delgado played a cross in the box that found Gimenez for a one-touch redirect to defensemen Mark Garrity. Garrity did the rest, powering the ball into the right corner of the net, making the score 3-1. With the Blue Hens leading by two goals, the College began to increase its offensive pressure, but to no avail. In the 57th minute, Perez attempted to cashin on another free kick, but sent his shot into Delaware’s goalkeeper Borja Barbero. Midfielder Chris Albiston came close in the 75th minute, firing a header just over the crossbar. On the night, the Blue Hens held a 12-8 lead in shots, while the Tribe dominated in the corners, 12-6. Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Mac Phillips recorded four saves on the match. The College heads to the University of North Carolina at Wilmington Nov. 2. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Sports Editor Jack Powers Sports Editor Chris Weber flathatsports@gmail.com
The Flat Hat | Friday, November 1, 2013 | Page 8
FOOTBALL When: 1:30 p.m. Nov. 2 Where: Zable Stadium, Williamsburg, Va. What: After a 17-7 Homecoming win over No. 19 James Madison last week, William and Mary (5-3, 2-2 CAA) faces another ranked opponent in No. 16 New Hampshire (4-3, 3-1 CAA). Head coach Jimmye Laycock has the College playing well at home, as the Tribe are unbeaten at Zable this season. Overall, the College has won 17 of its last 23 home matches. Defensively, the Tribe boasts the nation’s second best scoring defense, allowing 14 points a game. New Hampshire enters the game looking to challenge the Tribe defense with the Colonial Athletic Association’s second best offense, averaging 35.4 points a game. The Wildcat’s sophomore quarterback Sean Goldrich leads the conference with a 157.5 quarterback efficiency rating. The Tribe enters Saturday with injuries at the tail back and quarterback slots. Senior Michael Graham left injured before senior quarterback Brent Caprio finished the James Madison game. Senior quarterback Brent Caprio — Flat Hat Sports Editor Chris Weber // @FlatHatSports COURTESY PHOTO / TRIBE ATHLETICS
RANKINGS NSCAA RANKS COLLEGE NO. 21 William and Mary earned national recognition for its 8-4-1 overall record, as the National Soccer Coaches Association of America ranked the College 21st in the country in its poll released Tuesday. The ranking is the Tribe’s first top-25 selection since October 2011. The College earned the ranking by winning seven of its last eight games, including road wins over then No. 1 Creighton, No. 1 North Carolina and No. 24 Elon. The Tribe is also 3-2-0 in conference play and has two games remaining until the Colonial Athletic Association tournament. — Flat Hat Assoc. Sports Editor Mick Sloan
TRIBE! VOTE ON NOVEMBER 5! Got something to say about politics? Speak up! Vote on November 5! Virginia students have a chance to make decisions on important issues facing the country. Here is what you need to know to vote this year: Check Your Voter Registration: Confirm whether you are registered at your school address or back home at www.sbe.virginia.gov. Make a plan: Find your polling place at www.sbe.virginia.gov. Virginia residents registered back home should apply to that county board of elections for an absentee ballot by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 29. What ID is needed to vote: Student IDs from a Virginia college or university can be used as voter ID if it has your picture or your name and address. A list of acceptable IDs can be found at www.sbe.virginia.gov.
VOTE! POLLS ARE OPEN FROM 6:00 A.M. TO 7:00 P.M. ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5. Find your polling location at www.sbe.virginia.gov. For questions or more information, call 1-866-OUR-VOTE or visit 866OURVOTE.org. *The William & Mary Student Assembly supports the content of this advertisement; our endorsement should not be understood as an endorsement of any other organization sponsoring this ad.