VARIETY >> PAGE 6
SPORTS >> PAGE 8
Does Miley Cyrus #GETITRIGHT in the controversial new album Bangerz?
The Flat Hat Sports Desk takes a look at the College’s fall sports programs.
Tribe midseason review
Twerk, Miley, twerk
Vol. 103, Iss. 14 | Friday, October 18, 2013
The Flat Hat The Twice-Weekly Student Newspaper
Flathatnews.com | Follow us:
of The College of William and Mary
CRIME
Former student accused of embezzlement
William Thompson, a former Tribe tight-end, allegedly provided discounts while working at a Nike outlet William Bradley Thompson, a former student at the College of William and Mary and member of the football program for the 2011 season, faces one count of embezzlement of more than $200 in the Williamsburg-James City County Circuit Court. Thompson’s felony count of embezzlement of more than $200 reached a grand jury, and the preliminary hearing occurred Oct. 8. A Nike Loss Prevention Thompson Manager testified in the hearing that Thompson gave discounts of up to 97 percent to select
customers, costing Nike more than $4,800 during the time in question, the Virginia Gazette reported. The original criminal complaint entered in the court cited current members of the College football program allegedly accepting discounts on merchandise at the Williamsburg Premium Outlets Nike Factory Store from Thompson, a former employee. Sports Information Director Pete
“
Clawson released a statement Oct. 11, acknowledging the College selfreported a possible violation to the NCAA. “As with any potential rules violation, we reported this incident to the NCAA as soon we were aware of it. The NCAA has detailed rules on compliance and reporting guidelines. William and Mary adheres strictly to those policies,” Clawson wrote in a statement. “The
Family Education Rights and Privacy Act prevents us from discussing the specifics of any individual student conduct case.” Emily Potter, associate director of public and media relations for the NCAA, implied that any acceptance of discounts would constitute a NCAA rule violation. “A student-athlete may not accept a discount unless the same discount is
I reiterate that we self reported the incident to the NCAA as soon as we were aware of it.
—Sports Information Director Pete Clawson on the possible NCAA violation
WILLIAMSBURG
Jimmy John’s set to open locally
“
BY CHRIS WEBER FLAT HAT SPORTS EDITOR
offered to the general student body or population,” Potter said to the Virginia Gazette. Clawson clarified his statement Wednesday morning. “I reiterate that we self reported the incident to the NCAA as soon as we were aware of it,” Clawson said in an email. “All I can add to the previously issued statement is that this incident is no longer an active issue with the NCAA and the matter is behind us.” According to Clawson, no charges have been filed against the three students listed in the report as allegedly receiving discounts from Thompson by either local law enforcement or the NCAA. The three students — tight-end Evan McGill ’16, tailback Mikal AbdulSaboor ’16 and quarterback Raphael See EMBEZZLEMENT page 4
STUDENT LIFE
“Guess Who’s Gay” event criticized Alumni react to ad campaign BY KATHERINE CHIGLINKSY AND MEREDITH RAMEY FLAT HAT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AND MANAGING EDITOR
ALL PHOTOS BY JERUSALEM DEMSAS / THE FLAT HAT
Currently there is a Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches in New Town (above). The new location will be modeled similarly and will fill the vacancy next to Brickhouse Tavern.
Restaurant will be located next to Brickhouse Tavern, offer delivery, online ordering BY JERUSALEM DEMSAS THE FLAT HAT
Come January, students at the College of William and Mary will add Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches to its list of dining options. Located on Scotland Street next to Brickhouse Tavern, the sandwich shop will offer delivery option and online ordering. The Jimmy John’s menu is straightforward: The sandwiches range from $3.95 to $5.95, excluding the establishment’s largest sandwich, “The J.J. Gargantuan,” priced at $7.95. Jimmy John’s also carries its own brand of chips and cookies, and sells pickles on the side. Sionne Olson ’15 has eaten at other Jimmy John’s locations often and is eager for the new branch to open. Olson resides in Brown Hall, which would put her in the radius of Jimmy
Index News Insight News News Opinions Variety Variety Sports
John’s delivery route. “The fact that they deliver makes it incredibly convenient for students, with their busy schedules,” Olson said. Nia Gibson ’17 said she is hesitant to visit Jimmy John’s. Although she has never tried the food, she has heard mixed reviews. “Some people swear by it while others say the sandwiches are subpar,” Gibson said. “I would have preferred Subway, Firehouse Subs or Jersey Mike’s over Jimmy John’s.” Michael Morris, the manager of Jimmy John’s in New Town and the future manager of the Scotland Street location, is optimistic. Jimmy John’s boasts two big draws for college students — “freaky fast” delivery times and latenight hours. The delivery area will be small, but Morris is sure that it should cover the entirety of the College’s campus. The Scotland Street
Today’s Weather 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
location will be open until 3 a.m. as well. For vegetarians on campus, Morris noted that his workers and friends have told him the vegetarian sandwich options are among the best they have sampled. He added that the ingredients in all of the sandwiches are top quality and that the bread is never more than four hours old. The meat and vegetables are sliced every morning. “Everything we do is really fresh,” Morris said. According to Morris, work schedules will be adjusted on a semester basis to accommodate student employees, whom he hopes will make up a large part of his staff. The store itself has neon signs, red walls and a number of booths. Morris stated that he hopes Jimmy John’s will be a place where students come to hang out and take a break from their studies.
Inside OPINIONS
See POSTER page 4
Inside SPORTS
Embracing interdependence
Partly cloudy High 72, Low 54
Posters throughout campus depicting three rubber ducks have stirred controversy among students and alumni, with comments lining up on the event’s advertisement on the Facebook page for Residence Life. The poster that advertises One Tribe Place Hall Council’s “Guess Who’s Gay?” event shows two yellow ducks next to a third duck that dons some pink coloring with a feather boa, while the words “Duck, Duck, Gay?” stand above the images. During the event, a panel of 12 to 14 students will answer questions from audience members while audience members determine whether they believe the panel members are straight, gay, pansexual or bisexual. OTP Hall Director Tyler Edwards M.A. ’14 participated in a similar event while an undergraduate at Arizona State University, serving on the panel and even as a moderator. He explained that the event’s goal is to educate audience members about reliance on stereotypes. “What we’ve found with the program is that people will try to use any resource available [to] them … so more often than not they resort to the stereotypical questions,” Edwards said. “The funny thing is not just stereotypes about the LGBT community, it’s also stereotypes about the straight community.” Some alumni reacted to the advertisement, citing that the poster left them with concerns about the program’s intent. “The first thing I saw was the picture, which was the ‘Duck, duck, gay?’ with the pink duck, and I was completely shocked and when I read the tagline under it, I was appalled,” Morgan Jenkins ’12, currently studying law at the University of Pittsburg, said. “At first glance it seemed like a very inappropriate program. … It seemed more like it was trying to point out stereotypes … and that’s not the William and Mary I went to.” Director of Residence Life Deb Boykin noted that Residence Life does not regulate Hall Council programs, unless in dire circumstances. “We would not censor a hall program unless it was against the law or put someone’s life in danger,” Boykin said. Assistant Director of the Center for Student Diversity Margaret Cook emphasized that students should note the intent of the program before reacting to the event and poster. “I think one important thing for people to look at is the intent of the program, and I think the intent of the program is to be educational,” Cook said. “We’re not really concerned that the program, on the face of it, is determined to be discriminatory.”
It turns out the old adage “no man is an island” is supported by scientific research. Students should embrace it in their daily lives. page 5
Women’s soccer continues to quietly dominate
Unbeaten since a loss Aug. 24, head coach John Daly has the program on the verge of another record season. page 8
newsinsight “ “THAT GIRL” WITH REBECCA SILVERSTEIN ’14
This week’s “That Girl” features Rebecca Silverstein ’14, a senior who is involved with many different aspects of campus life. Here’s some context: She participated in SOMOs and works extensively with the Office of Community Engagement. She’s involved in the young TedX program and is currently a senior interviewer for the Admissions Office.
“
THE DIGITAL DAY
News Editor Abby Boyle News Editor Annie Curran fhnews@gmail.com
The Flat Hat | Friday, October 18, 2013 | Page 2
THE BUZZ
I think it’s a question that doesn’t really have an answer. Is it an idea? Is it a set of practices? Is it a rights movement? What is neurodiversity? —History professor Karin Wulf on the College’s neurodiversity initiative
AROUND THE ‘BURG
THE BLOG LOG
FROM “CULTURAL ENCOUNTERS,” BY HUMZAH NASIR “When most Americans think of Moroccan food, they think of the iconic couscous. A dish called Tagine, which can consist of various meats, veggies with couscous or bread which is cooked in an indented bowl by the same name. ‘Rice is a no-no in Moroccan cuisine,’ said Mahdi.”
COURTESY PHOTO / KENNYSLIDESHOW.BLOGSPOT.COM
President John F. Kennedy rides through Dallas on the day of his assassination. The four shot theory surrounding his death was recently disproved.
twitter @THEFLATHAT
A THOUSAND WORDS
James City supervisor candidates face off Wednesday
Sabato debunks theory of fourth shot at JFK
Candidates vying for the James City County Board of Supervisors have a chance to voice their ideas. The Virginia Gazette reports the League of Women Voters of the Williamsburg Area hosted a two-hour candidate forum at the Williamsburg Regional Library. The first hour featured Jamestown District incumbent and Democrat Jim Icenhour debating challenger Republican Kevin Onizuk. The following hour, Democrat Bob Mandala debated Republican Michael Hipple.
The Richmond Times Dispatch reports that Larry Sabato, head of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, presented his conclusive findings surrounding one of America’s greatest mysteries: President John F. Kennedy’s assassination and the one-shooter theory. His team complied a comprehensive study of police radio transmissions from the day of the assassination, debunking the theory of the fourth shot, supporting the official account that Lee Harvey Oswald alone had killed the president.
Williamsburg Outlet Mall to be revamped There are plans for possibly reinventing the struggling Williamsburg Outlet Mall to host a Harris Teeter pharmacy, with at least one restaurant and additional retail and office space available, according to the Virginia Gazette. The site has a history of declining sales and assessment. It was first sold in 1989 for $16.87 million, dropping to $5.2 million by 2003. The current owners announced that the outlet mall will close by the end of this year. The designs for the new buildings will be modern — consistent with that of the neighboring Thomas Nelson Community College.
CITY POLICE BEAT KRISTEN ASKEW / THE FLAT HAT
CORRECTIONS The Flat Hat wishes to correct any facts printed incorrectly. Corrections may be submitted by email to the editor of the section in which the incorrect information was printed. Requests for corrections will be accepted at any time.
More Virginia students graduating on time The Daily Press reports that the Virginia Department of Education publicly released data revealing that more public students are graduating on time and fewer are dropping out. The state’s on-time graduation rate this year is at 89.1 percent, up from 88 percent in 2012. In 2011, 86.6 percent of students across the state graduated in four years. The state’s dropout rate is declining, reporting 5.9 percent in 2013. That’s an improvement from 6.5 percent last year and 7.2 percent in 2011. Locally, drop-out rates for 17 of the 23 public schools were lower than the state-wide average.
Oct. 13 — Oct. 15 1
Sunday, Oct. 13 — An individual was arrested for simple assault on Scotland Street.
2
Tuesday, Oct. 15 — An individual was arrested for a hit and run on Duke of Gloucester Street.
Oct. 15 — An individual was arrested for 3 Tuesday, forgery by check on North Boundary Street.
The Flat Hat
4
Tuesday, Oct. 15 — A mental subject was arrested on Armistead Avenue.
‘STABILITAS ET FIDES’ | ESTABLISHED OCT. 3, 1911
25 Campus Center, The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Va. 23185 Newsroom (757) 221-3283 — Advertising Dept. (757) 221-3283 / flathatads@gmail.com Editor flathat.editor@gmail.com Opinions fhopinions@gmail.com News fhnews@gmail.com Variety flathat.variety@gmail.com Sports flathatsports@gmail.com Photos flathatphotos@gmail.com Copy flathatcopy@gmail.com
Katherine Chiglinsky Editor-in-Chief Ellen Wexler Executive Editor Meredith Ramey Managing Editor Abby Boyle News Editor Annie Curran News Editor Aine Cain Variety Editor Jack Powers Sports Editor Chris Weber Sports Editor Zach Frank Opinions Editor
Rebecca Marshall Copy Chief April Smith Copy Chief Benoit Mathieu Chief Photographer Benming Zhang Online Editor Matt Camarda Editorial Writer Zach Hardy Chief Staff Writer
Samantha DeFlitch Copy Editor Veronique Barbour Assoc. News Editor Lauren Dybel Copy Editor Ariel Cohen Assoc. News Editor Quint Guvernator Copy Editor Claire Gillespie Assoc. News Editor Bobby LaRose Copy Editor Bailey Kirkpatrick Assoc. News Editor Emily Lowman Copy Editor Eleanor Lamb Assoc. News Editor Aryn Martin Copy Editor Matt Camarda Assoc. Opinions Editor Rachel Neely Copy Editor Andrea Aron-Schiavone Assoc. Opinions Editor Allison Ramage Copy Editor Karin Krause Assoc. Online Editor Richie Thaxton Copy Editor Ashley Hamilton Assoc. Online Editor Jenna Tan Copy Editor Rachel Brown Assoc. Variety Editor Lizzie Dabbs Cartoonist Devon Ivie Assoc. Variety Editor Dani Aron-Schiavone Cartoonist Emily Nye Assoc. Variety Editor Allison Hicks Cartoonist Emily Stone Assoc. Variety Editor Sarah Thoresen Cartoonist Mick Sloan Assoc. Sports Editor Lindsay Wade Cartoonist Carol Peng. Photo Editor Brian Kao Graphic Designer Ashley Richardson Photo Editor Kaitlin Kunowsky Business Manager
NEWS IN BRIEF Millie West to be grand marshal Millie West, a former coach and administrator at the College of William and Mary, has been named this year’s Homecoming grand marshal. Although not an alumnus of the College, West has dedicated 50 years of service to the Athletics Department. When she joined the College as a member of the physical education department, she began to fundraise in an effort to expand students’ choices in athletics and intramurals. Through her efforts, the school started hosting the Wightman Cup and the Plumeri Pro-Am, tennis and golf tournaments that provide a source of fundraising. The College’s tennis facility was named in West’s honor.
Ivory engages middle school class Jami Ivory, a graduate of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, recently helped make a middle school class more engaging by dissecting a mackerel in front of the students. Ivory is in the PERFECT/GK12 program, which pairs a graduate student with a K-12 teacher at a local school so they can work together and learn from one another. The program is in its fifth year. Students watched with fascination as Ivory took apart the fish in an effort to give them a more hands-on anatomy lesson. Tim Jones, the seventh grade teacher at B.T. Washington Middle School with whom Ivory is paired, brought the fish’s parts around the class so the students could have a closer look.
Law professor gets down to “The Wire” Marshall-Wythe School of Law professor Adam Gershowitz will offer a course this spring that will use the hit HBO show “The Wire” to discuss certain issues in criminal law. Gershowitz says the show, which portrays Baltimore’s law enforcement as it battles the local drug trade, is a realistic glimpse into the actual crime-fighting world. Homework for his students before the semester even starts is watching the first two seasons of the show. Gershowitz also wrote a textbook, titled “The Wire: Crime, Law and Policy,” to go along with his course. He believes his course’s sensitivity to popular culture will help his students to better grasp the reality of the law.
Friday, October 18, 2013
The Flat Hat
Page 3
VIRGINIA
Candidates debate at College
Watson, Mason describe plans, advocate positions in on-campus event
BY ARIEL COHEN FLAT HAT ASSOC. NEWS EDITOR
During last Wednesday’s debate between candidates for the 93rd House of Delegates, held on the College of William and Mary’s campus, Monty Mason ’89 and Delegate Mike Watson, R-93 both stuck to party lines while attempting to appeal to college voters. Virginia21 and the Student Assembly sponsored the debate held in McGlothlin-Street Hall. The oncampus debate was the first and only debate held between Watson and Mason. Candidates took questions fielded by representatives from the SA, The Flat Hat, the Young Democrats and the College Republicans. Throughout the 70-minute debate, both candidates focused on education and job creation in Virginia. Mason, the Democratic candidate, graduated from the College with a degree in government. Since graduation, Mason has remained active at the College by serving on the Challenge 1 Strategic Planning Committee. He is also chairman of the Williamsburg Economic Development Authority and serves on the Greater Williamsburg Chamber and Tourism Alliance Board, the Historic Triangle Collaborative Economic Diversity Task Force and the development committee of Child Development Resources, as listed on his campaign website. While outlining his platform, Mason emphasized the need to focus on education in Virginia. He also spoke about the state’s political climate. “I’ve watched as [the Virginia General Assembly] has swung wildly to the right, particularly in the House of Delegates,” Mason said. “I believe that Virginia is a moderate state, and that pendulum will swing back in to the middle, but we have to have competent,
qualified people to do it.” Watson, the Republican candidate, has served as delegate in Virginia’s 93rd District since 2011. He reminded the audience of his history in the House of Delegates and his renewed focus on job stimulation and creation. “I ran for office to use my experience as an entrepreneur and a job creator to encourage companies to move here, to expand here, and to create jobs in the commonwealth. I’ve done that,” Watson said. Both candidates took the opportunity to appeal to voters at the College by outlining their plans for higher education funding. Both Watson and Mason cited the William and Mary Promise in their remarks. Watson focused on reducing debt for recent graduates and said that he has spoken with College President Taylor Reveley about increasing the number of out-of-state students. Mason replied with the opposite opinion. “This is a Virginia school, this should be a Virginia-oriented student body. But I am against the legislature applying a hard and fast percentage to higher education,” Mason said. “Every one percent of students, out of state versus in, represents about three million dollars to William and Mary.” Both candidates went on to describe their plans to re-build Virginia roads, especially the Hampton Roads section of I-64. They agreed that improving the interstate was a top priority. Although the candidates agreed on transportation, they spent the rest of the debate emphasizing what sets them apart. “One stark difference [between me and Mason] is one of us talks about creating jobs and one of us has done it,” Watson said. Watson cited the multiple jobs bills he has created and passed while in
office. The delegate plans to continue fostering a supportive environment for small business creation in the district. Mason focused on innovation in creating jobs. He stated that Virginia needs to look to industries such as cyber-security, environmental development and tourism. Watson, a hard-line conservative, took a strikingly different stance than his opponent in discussing reproductive rights. “One dominant difference between my opponent and myself is that I believe that men should not be telling women what to do with their bodies,” Mason said. In response, Watson defended his support for the Personhood Bill and spoke about his previous support of
over-the-counter birth control. The candidates also discussed their opposing views on healthcare. Watson stands in firm opposition to the current law, whereas Mason looks forward to expanding coverage to citizens across the commonwealth. “Everyone wants folks to be able to go to the doctor, but we have to do it in a way that won’t crash the system,” Watson said. The candidates concluded by discussing funding in higher education. Both candidates spoke to the importance of economic development within the state in order to help Virginia’s public institutions. “Going into November, I’m very optimistic about [the Democratic] party’s chances,” Young Democrats President Zachary Woodward ’14 said. “The
government shutdown has underscored why the Tea Party candidates that the Virginia GOP has nominated are not fit to govern, and student turnout in Williamsburg will go a long way toward putting Monty Mason in the House of Delegates.” Other students at the College stand behind the Republican candidate and alumnus. “[Watson] successfully pushed for budget amendments to allocate funds toward the Brafferton Renovation and the construction of the fraternity houses,” College Republicans President Chandler Crenshaw ’14 said in an email. “He’s been a constant presence on campus, attending meetings such as Virginia21.” Elections for the Virginia House of Delegates will be held Nov. 5.
COURTESY PHOTO / WILLIAMSBURG YORKTOWN DAILY
Virginia21 and the College of William and Mary’s Student Assembly hosted a debate between House of Delegates candidates Monty Mason ’89 and Delegate Mike Watson R-Va., Oct. 9. The on-campus event was the only debate between the two candidates.
FACULTY
John Elder Robison to teach neurodiversity course Author will serve as scholar-in-residence, work with College’s Neurodiversity Initiative BY ZACHARY FRANK FLAT HAT OPINIONS EDITOR
Neurodiversity advocate and author John Elder Robison will serve as the College of William and Mary’s scholar-in-residence this year and will co-teach a class on neurodiversity at the College during the spring 2014 semester. The class is being taught and developed by Robison, professors Josh Burk, Cheryl Dickter and Janice Zeaman of the psychology department, Karin Wulf of the history department and Dr. Warrenetta Mann, the director of the Counseling Center. Robison, who was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome at the age of 40, is not new to the College; he spoke on campus in 2012. For Robison, neurodiversity means the
reclassification of mental conditions that have historically been seen as illnesses. According to Robison, some of these illnesses are not illnesses at all. “I believe neurodiversity is the idea that neurological differences like autism and ADHD are the result of normal, natural variation in the human genome.” Robison said in an email. Robison “This represents a new and fundamentally different way of looking at conditions that were traditionally pathologized.” Wulf asserts that neurodiversity eludes
concrete definition and is a multifaceted issue. “I think it’s a question that doesn’t really have an answer,” Wulf said. “Is it an idea? Is it a set of practices? Is it a rights movement? What is neurodiversity?” Robison will teach at the College as a result of efforts of the College’s Neurodiversity Initiative, which Wulf started in 2011. Wulf, whose 12-yearold son lives with autism, noticed that some of her students shared traits with her son and wanted to see what the College was doing to help its students live with autism spectrum disorders. According to Wulf, the results were less than desirable. “We didn’t have a campus climate where students might speak openly about autism,” Wulf said. Although the College’s Neurodiversity Initiative has mainly focused on autism, Wulf stressed that
the Initiative’s aim is not geared solely toward students living with autism. “We’re always talking about how things we’re discussing about autism apply to ... forms of brain difference,” Wulf said. “We have been more focused on autism, but many of the things we talk about and work towards ... really have much, much broader application.” Danielle Thomas ’14, head of the neurodiversity student group, believes Robison’s stay at the College will also prove beneficial to students not on the autism spectrum. “He can provide another perspective of being in the world,” Thomas said. “He brings another level of thinking to what he does, and that can be very important and influential to people who are not autistic.”
STUDENT LIFE
Initiative aims to makes College a more bike-friendly campus
Parking Services looks to implement changes, improvements on campus in three-phase project THE INITIATIVE’S PHASES Phase 1: Policy change, logistical work Phase 2: Promoting sustainable transportation on campus
ANNIE CURRAN / THE FLAT HAT
Phase 3: Opening a bike shop in One Tribe Place, making bike rentals and maintenance available
BY CAROL PENG THE FLAT HAT
Bike riders on campus may soon find it more convenient to cycle at the College of William and Mary. Parking Services, as a stem of Auxiliary Services, is implementing a new Parking Services bike initiative which aims to make the campus more bike-friendly and address issues with abandoned bikes, bike parking and unregistered bikes. Penny Mayton, assistant manager at parking and transportation, encourages students to secure their bikes on the bike racks throughout campus. She noted that bikes locked to stairways, light poles or left on sidewalks pose safety hazards because they are less secure. Repeatedly locking bikes in these locations could cause bike confiscation. “We have had bike tripping-over injuries happen on campus, which could have been avoided. By regulating random bike parking, we hope to eliminate such injuries,” Mayton said. Lucy King ’15, an Auxiliary Services
intern assisting with the new bike initiative, said the project will undergo three phases over the next year and a half. The first phase will feature policy change and logistical work. According to Mayton, in August, the bike program began transitioning from the jurisdiction of Campus Police to the Parking Services Office. Parking Services will now organize the clearing of bike racks, gather data on bikes on campus, and enforce annual bike registration. “We want to put this program in place to make William and Mary a more bikefriendly campus, to encourage students and faculty to be more inclined to ride and to improve the College community as a whole,” King said. While completing repair and continuing construction on parking facilities, the office also expects to hold events like Bike Day to promote sustainable transportation on campus as the initiative’s second phase. Cycling lanes will also be identified and marked on new campus maps. Lyzzie Golliher ’17, who bikes on campus, said she thinks the bike system is fairly adequate, but has room for improvement.
“A really good addition that would improve my personal bike experience would be to install more bike racks around campus, as the ones we have now are often overcrowded,” Golliher said. The initiative outlines the opening of a Tribe bike shop in One Tribe Place as its final phase. Parking Services also hopes to make bike maintenance and rentals available. Students and faculty who wish to borrow bikes will also have such opportunities, because the project also incorporates a bike-sharing program. In addition, safetyriding classes will be offered for cyclists at the same location. The bike initiative, as a joint effort of the Parking Service office, aims to help the College qualify as a Bike Friendly University with the League of American Cyclists and fundamentally to benefit members of the community. “Through this program, we hope to bring cultural and philosophical change of views on bike riding, not just as a means of transportation or an alternative to cars, but also an integrated part into our lifestyles,” King said.
Page 4
The Flat Hat
Friday, October 18, 2013
STUDENT ASSEMBLY
Student Assembly rejects T-shirt fund proposal SA turns down Hark Upon the Ballot Box Act, reviews election day protocol BY MADELINE BIELSKI THE FLAT HAT
During Tuesday’s Student Assembly meeting before Fall Break, senators rejected the Hark Upon the Ballot Box Act after a lengthy debate arose surrounding the bill’s cost, time sensitivity and effectiveness. Following senators’ concerns during the Oct. 1 meeting, particularly on the inclusion of the T-shirt funding clause, Sen. Jimmy Zhang ’15, sponsor of the former Voting Rights Act of 2013, implemented major changes. Zhang divided the clauses of the original bill into three separate bills for voting Oct. 8 — the Hark Upon the Ballot Box Act, the Exec PA Reimbursement Act and a revised Voting Rights Act of 2013. The rejected Hark Upon the Ballot Box Act included the proposal to allocate $477 to purchase 50 “Hark Upon the Ballot Box” T-shirts through the SA’s Department of Public Affairs to publicize the Nov. 5 Virginia House of Delegates election and the spring City Council elections. For the last two years, the Hark Upon the Ballot Box T-shirts were included in the SA’s “Get Out the Vote” efforts. “Last year all T-shirts were sold … and all money was returned with a little bit on top to the Student Assembly,” Secretary for Public Affairs Zach Woodward ’14 said.
Despite a few senators’ attempts to argue in favor of Hark Upon the Ballot Box, the proposal was voted down. “I don’t know if it’s necessarily the Student Assembly’s responsibility to be a T-shirt distributer,” Sen. Daniel Ackerman ’16 said. “This isn’t a do or die thing.” Zhang’s changes to the Oct. 1 Voter Rights Act of 2013 also included removing the clause concerning the reimbursement of Brady Meixell for the voter registration forms he paid for out of his own pocket. This clause became a separate bill — the Exec PA Reimbursement Act — and went to the Finance, Executive and Public Affairs committees for review. The Voting Rights Act of 2013 in its new form still includes printing Election Day posters and brochures and encourages SA members to write “Thank You” notes to the Voting Registrar’s Office. The SA passed the bill unanimously. SA Chairman Will McConnell ’14 introduced the constitutional amendment Changing the Election Day Act during new business. The bill addresses how the SA should respond in the event that the VoteNet service should fail, as it did with the elections originally scheduled for Sept. 26 and later rescheduled for Sept. 30. “We had to call two special sessions of the Senate Sunday [Sept. 29]. It was a pain for many of us,” McConnell said.
LEXI BRASCHI / THE FLAT HAT
The Student Assembly rejected the Hark Upon the Ballot Box Act, which included the proposal to allocate $477 to purchase 50 T-shirts.
The bill dictates that if Election Day must be moved, it can be moved to any date before the next senate meeting, not including Saturdays or Sundays. Moving Election Day requires a threeperson consensus of the chairman of the Elections Commission, the SA president
and the chairman of the senate. “The bill is not designed to take power away from the Senate,” McConnell said. The Finance Committee allocated $14,591 of the $15,000 in the Homecoming Grant Act’s budget to
student groups. Two student groups — Kappa Alpha Fraternity and the National Panhellenic Council — are unable to put on the Homecoming events for which the SA gave them funds; therefore the SA will have $5,825 of the $14,591 allocated funds returned to them.
LOCAL
Dominion Power Virginia awaits final decision on project Proposed power lines pends approval by state agencies; plan faces criticism from area institutions BY ZACH HARDY FLAT HAT CHIEF STAFF WRITER
Dominion Virginia Power is still waiting for approval from two state agencies for its plan to build a 500 kV power line over the James River after having announced the project last fall. The power line would span from Surry Nuclear Power Plant to James City County. If constructed, the towers would be visible from Jamestown Island, Kingsmill and Colonial Parkway. James City County allocated $200,000 to pay for legal expenses related to the State Corporation Commission’s process of approving Dominion’s project. Several area institutions spoke out against the power lines including the College of William and Mary, Colonial Williamsburg and a Kingsmill Citizens group, Save the James. The SCC Hearing Examiner Alexander Skirpan recommended approval of the project in early August. In the report released, he acknowledged there would be some negative impact related to the project, but affirmed the need for the line, as it is the most effective way to supply the peninsula region with power in the coming decades. “The visual impacts of the Proposed Project are mitigated by locating the line where it will not be seen from most areas of the Historic Triangle
COURTESY PHOTO / DOMINION POWER VIRGINIA
If approved, Dominion Power Virginia’s 500 kv power line would stretch from Surry Nuclear Power Plant to James City County, and would be visible from the Colonial Parkway.
likely to be visited by the public,” the report said. “Moreover, the added capacity of the 500 kV transmission line, over time, should serve to reduce overall impacts on historic, scenic, and environmental assets by reducing the need for additional transmission projects.” In September, over 2,000 people signed a petition created by the Army Corps of Engineers,
which asked the federal agency to hold a public hearing on the project. The project will consult organizations labeled ‘consulting parties,’ such as other government agencies like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. According to an Oct. 1 article by the Virginia Gazette, the Army Corps of Engineers is still working on the case, but experienced delays
after closing temporarily due to the government shutdown. “We can assure everyone that a final decision will be a balanced decision that takes into account the need to preserve our historic and ecological treasures with the energy infrastructure needs of the nation,” Army Corps Environmental Scientist Randy Steffey said to the Virginia Gazette.
Former College football player arrested “Guess Who’s Gay?” event causes controversy William Thompson accused of embezzlement at Nike EMBEZZLEMENT from page 1
Ortiz ’15 — remain on the football program’s roster and are able to play. McGill has appeared in one game this season, while Ortiz continues to recover from an injury. Abdul-Saboor leads the team with 500 rushing yards and has scored a career-best six touchdowns. Claire Leatherwood, the Athletic Department’s Director of Compliance, declined to comment. Thompson, meanwhile, is charged with one count of embezzlement of more than $200. Court documents list Nov. 1, 2012 as the offense date. Thompson was arrested June 17, 2013 on one count of embezzlement and one count of conspiracy to embezzle. Following continuances June 25 and Aug. 20, prosecutors declared nolle prosequi to the count of conspiracy to embezzle. Nolle prosequi, translated “unwilling to prosecute,” marks the prosecution’s inability to prove
COURTESY PHOTO / FLICKR.COM
William Bradley Thompson, a former Tribe tight end, allegedly gave away merchandise from Williamsburg’s Nike Factory Store.
the charge, flaws in evidence, or the prosecution’s belief of the defendant’s innocence. James Milton Goff, Thompson’s defense attorney, was not available for comment despite multiple attempts being made to reach him. While court documents list Thompson’s address in the Williamsburg area, Director of News and Media Suzanne Seurattan confirmed Thompson is no longer enrolled at the College. Thompson, originally a member
of the class of 2015, played on the Tribe football team as a scout team tight end his freshman year but did not return to the program for the 2012 season. Nike, citing “private information as far as employee information goes,” could not verify whether Thompson still works at the Nike Factory Store in the Williamsburg Premium Outlets. Thompson’s next hearing is Nov. 20 at 9 a.m. in the Williamsburg-James City County
POSTER from page 1
Edwards said the OTP Hall Council has received questions about the poster, a flyer that Edwards has used for previous events at various universities without receiving much negative reaction from students. The posters lack a description of the program in order to attract an audience that might not normally attend the event, Edwards said. “If we were to make a flyer that were to say ‘This is going to turn out to be a conversation on stereotypes,’ the audience we’re trying to reach is not going to show,” Edwards said.
Cook noted that the marketing strategy of the event might have sparked concerns among students. “[OTP Hall Council is] making a play on stereotypes and identity, and anytime you do that it’s a little risky because people are going to have different perspectives on that,” Cook said. “I think there’s an opportunity here for it to be a constructive conversation if people are willing to share how the marketing or program impacted them … to help people understand other people’s point[s] of view.” OTP Hall Council responded to criticism that there was no link to find out more information
about the event on the poster, so members added the website to posters. “We’re definitely being responsive to what we’re hearing,” Edwards said. Jenkins said she hopes the event will not encourage stereotypes. “I will say that it would be my hope that their goal for this event would be to break down stereotypes … not to amplify those stereotypes or to make anyone feel uncomfortable,” Jenkins said. The event will be held in Commonwealth Auditorium in the Sadler Center today from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
COURTESY PHOTO / FACEBOOK.COM, “GUESS WHO’S GAY?” EVENT
The event’s marketing strategy — which included this photo on Facebook — may have contributed to student concern.
opinions
Opinions Editor Zachary Frank fhopinions@gmail.com
The Flat Hat | Friday, October 18, 2013 | Page 5
STAFF EDITORIAL
EDITORIAL CARTOON
Respect neurodiversity
W
We need to recognize our need for others brightens my outlook and energizes me. After engaging positively with my loved ones, the stressors I am experiencing feel less intense, leaving me feeling rejuvenated, centered and ready to work through the tasks at hand. When we perform acts of kindness, we often think in terms of a dichotomized giver/receiver relationship. Yet FLAT HAT ASSOC. OPINIONS EDITOR when discussing the expression of gratitude, I realized how mutually beneficial human interaction often is. Psychologist Martin Seligman found that participants who each wrote a 17th century poet John Donne wrote, “No man is an island.” letter of gratitude and delivered it to someone who they had Over 300 years later, we are continuously striving for just that: never properly thanked experienced both immediate and to be completely autonomous and self-reliant. Especially as long lasting increases in happiness scores. Compared to other students at the College of William and Mary, we take pride in positive psychological interventions employed in the study, our self-sufficiency, independence and solo accomplishments. this one — writing and delivering letters of gratitude — had I am one of the stubborn, proud islands; at least, I thought I the longest-lived benefits for the participants, lasting for a was. I didn’t like the idea of relying on other people, burdening whole month afterwards. The people giving thanks positively them with my needs. Yet during a lecture in my social psychology class, I was impacted not only those they were thanking, but also their own mental well-being. reminded of how much I depend on We often don’t want to admit our people without even realizing it, and how It amazed me that a reliance on other people, perhaps because my benefitting from interactions is not we fear it will make us feel weak or necessarily a burden to others. gesture as seemingly needy. This should not be so. Our ability Our professor began by stating small as holding a to help and be helped by other humans that humans are a group species hand can have such a is not something to be ashamed of, but “fundamentally dependent on other significant effect on something to celebrate. “Man,” John people.” While skeptical initially, I became someone in distress. Locke wrote, is “a sociable creature, convinced during the discussion that made … with an inclination, and under interdependence is ingrained in human a necessity to have fellowship with those of [his] own kind.” nature, and that it is nothing to be ashamed of. You have immeasurable power to positively affect and be We discussed a 2006 study by psychological researchers affected by those around you through even the simplest acts James A. Coan, Hillary S. Schaefer and Richard J. Davidson of fellowship. that examined the impact of holding someone’s hand when We are not islands independent from one another. We anticipating a painful procedure. The study found that holding make up a beautiful archipelago: distinctly individual, yet another person’s hand prior to the procedure — even the hand sharing the same human experience. Our interdependence of a stranger — correlates with less activation to threat on the can co-exist with our independence without eclipsing it. Our part of the patient (shown using fMRI brain scans) compared mutually beneficial, interdependent interactions with others to the control patient. The experimental group experienced a are a large part of what makes us human. Especially in a calming effect where the control patients did not. community as tightly knit as ours, we need look no further It amazed me that a gesture as seemingly small as holding a than our dorms, our organizations, our friends and ourselves hand can have such a significant effect on someone in distress. for an invaluable and plentiful health resource: the power of I recalled how actions of people I love have improved my people. mental well-being. During a particularly busy or hectic week, I have found that eating dinner with a friend, laughing with a Email Andrea Aron-Schiavone at acaronschiavon@email. housemate at a funny YouTube video, or Skyping my parents wm.edu.
Andrea Aron-Schiavone
“
“
The staff editorial represents the opinion of The Flat Hat. The editorial board, which is elected by The Flat Hat’s section editors and executive staff, consists of Abby Boyle, Matt Camarda, Katherine Chiglinsky, Meredith Ramey and Ellen Wexler. The Flat Hat welcomes submissions to the Opinions section. Limit letters to 250 words and columns to 650 words. Letters, columns, graphics and cartoons reflect the view of the author only. Email submissions to fhopinions@gmail.com.
COMMENTS @THEFLATHAT
“
It’s no wonder we keep losing professors in our more successful departments (some to much lower ranked schools, even). What incentive is there to stay when some of your students are making more right out of undergrad than you can hope to make in 10 years?
“
BY BRIAN KAO, FLAT HAT GRAPHIC DESIGNER
e love to talk about diversity at the College of William and Mary. It is how we promote ourselves to the world; it is how we welcome and engage with different people. When we think of diversity, we usually think of nationality, socioeconomic background, ethnicity, race, sexual orientation and political and religious beliefs. What most people do not consider and what no one considered until the late 1990s is the concept of neurodiversity, which encompasses mental disorders such as autism and Asperger’s. Instead of treating people with these disorders as necessarily sick and in need of treatment, we should seek to better understand and appreciate their unique abilities and perspectives. Part of accepting neurodiverse students is realizing they perceive the world in ways that can alienate them from others. The website www.autismspeaks.org states one of the main characteristics of autism “is a tendency to engage in repetitive behaviors” with a focus that often surpasses that of the nonneurodiverse person. People with autism have difficulty communicating verbally and reading social cues, making it harder for them to connect with people. Many have difficulty looking at things from another’s perspective and thus have trouble predicting other people’s behavior. Often, people with autism struggle with controlling their emotions and may have outbursts at inappropriate times. Those who do not understand their condition may misinterpret them as mean or indifferent. To a lesser extent, people with Asperger’s, an autism spectrum disorder, have similar difficulties with social interaction and empathy. One significant difference is that Asperger’s is extremely difficult to diagnose, with many people, including the College’s scholar-in-residence, John Elder Robison, learning of it later in adulthood. Neurodiversity can hinder one’s ability to function in an educational environment that values social interaction and jumping from one activity to another. It would be a shame for the College to lose these students; their conditions aside, their capability for intense focus has enormous potential in all fields. Many of the greatest contributors to science, literature, music, industry and politics were neurodiverse or highly suspected of being neurodiverse. Albert Einstein, Mark Twain, Beethoven, Henry Ford and Abraham Lincoln, for instance, all fall or potentially fall into the neurodiverse spectrum. We commend the College for leading the Neurodiversity Initiative through the Neurodiversity Working Group, a network of students, professors, administrators and alumni that raises awareness for neurodiversity and advocate for neurodiverse students. As a public ivy, it is our responsibility to recognize and cultivate ability, even if it does not fit society’s traditional mold. Working to accommodate neurodiverse students while helping them reach their full potential will benefit them, the College and all of society. Non-neurodiverse students should respect both the struggles and the incredible talents of neurodiverse students. Because it is highly unlikely someone with autism or Asperger’s is going to announce to you that he or she has a disorder, be sensitive to people who appear to have difficulty socializing or behave in ways that seem to deviate from the norm. Until you find out why, you really don’t know what’s going on in their mind and what battles they may be fighting.
—nahhh on “Faculty pay remains low”
GUEST COLUMN
If the College builds the Arts Quarter, it must be funded responsibly
William Gaskins FLAT HAT GUEST COLUMNIST
There are justifiable concerns regarding the College of William and Mary’s finances. With the introduction of the William and Mary Promise, speculation over the school going private and the continual decreases in state funding, there is imminent uncertainty. As I was reading the article on the proposed Arts Quarter in the Oct. 4 issue, I began to question how the College could feasibly fund the vast $150 million project. The College’s endowment is under $700 million, rather small for a school of William and Mary’s caliber, and the majority of the money has a designated purpose and could not be used to fund building projects. While there is the possibility of the College receiving a state grant to cover the cost of the building project, this is unlikely due to the tightening
of state funds for higher education. If the College received any state funding for the Arts Quarter, it would not cover any sizeable amount of the cost of the project. Alumni donations could fund the building project, similar to how the new fraternity housing was funded. However, the vast majority of donations to the College go into designated endowments or into general operations. The money coming in for the fraternity housing was earmarked specifically for that project. Almost all of the building projects and renovations on campus over the past decade were financed through bonds and loans. The Arts Quarter would likely be funded in the same manner. The College currently has about $200 million in long-term debt as stated in the most recently published annual report by the Financial Reporting department. In order to finance the debt of the College, about $650 in fees is added onto every student’s tuition bill. If the Arts Quarter is financed through bonds like the other recent building projects, the College’s total debt would nearly double, causing fees that every student must pay to rise.
I do not deny that the current arts buildings need renovation and/or replacement. Ewell Hall, Phi Beta Kappa Memorial Hall and Andrews Hall all need attention so that they can better meet the needs of the art, music and theater departments. Better practice spaces, art studios and performance and music halls are needed to keep the College competitive when it comes to the arts. However, I believe this can be done without an extraordinary increase in the College’s debt. The College was ranked 114th in the nation in terms of financial resources by the U.S. News and World Report, and as College President Taylor Reveley said in a Sept. 12 forum, the College needs to focus on securing its financial state and building up the endowment. I believe that going significantly further into debt to build the proposed Arts Quarter would be detrimental to the financial future of the College. This would undermine the efforts of programs such as the William and Mary Promise to move the College to a more secure financial status as state funding ebbs away. Email William Gaskins at wcgaskins@email. wm.edu.
GRAPHIC BY DANI ARON-SCHIAVONE / THE FLAT HAT
variety
Variety Editor Áine Cain flathat.variety@gmail.com
The Flat Hat
| Friday, October 18, 2013 | Page 6
It’s not the Hoedown Throwdown, but it is Miley BY ABBY BOYLE FLAT HAT NEWS EDITOR
+
Say what you will about Miley Cyrus, but she knows how to produce some catchy music. Marking a new step in Miley’s selfdescribed “movement,” her latest album, “Bangerz,” is full of songs that — for better or for worse — will likely be stuck in your head for the next few weeks. Miley’s intent with “Bangerz” is clearly to emphasize her transformation from a child star into an adult musician. Presumably, it is this transformation that inspired her to rap some bizarre and explicit lyrics — my personal favorite is “It’s bananas like a f***in’ ’rangatang, b****” from “Do My Thang,” a song that would probably make Hannah Montana cringe. The lyrics may not encourage listeners to take Miley seriously, but luckily for her, even the most inexplicable rhymes and references often end up thrown into catchy verses and choruses.
It’s difficult to discern any deeper meaning behind “Love Money Party,” for example, but listen to it once and you’ll likely find yourself chanting the chorus under your breath by the track’s end. The fact that Miley can take such bizarre lyrics and sing or recite them seriously, let alone leave the rest of us listening to them on repeat, is undeniably impressive. However, “Bangerz”’s best tracks are those in which Miley foregoes rapping and just sings. “Adore You,” “Maybe You’re Right,” “Wrecking Ball” and “Someone Else” all give us the sense of a more mature Miley without as much contrived effort. These songs are also reminders that Miley is actually a talented singer; remember “The Climb” or “When I Look at You” back in the good old days before she cut off all her hair? Miley’s strength has always been her powerful voice. She really shows it off in “Bangerz,” and the results are impressive. The album is certainly eclectic:
“FU,” one of the most dramatic songs, is followed by the very aggressive “Do My Thang,” which leads right into “Maybe You’re Right,” one of the only songs that would have fit in on Miley’s previous albums. “Bangerz” is certainly a musical experiment, but its wide-ranging nature makes for an entertaining listen. Overall, “Bangerz” is a pleasant surprise, especially following the train wreck that was Miley’s VMA performance. By now, we all understand that Miley would rather twerk than teach her audience the moves to the Hoedown Throwdown, but the album goes beyond simply emphasizing her transformation; it conveys her willingness to push the envelope musically. For a second, let’s forget the twerking, the haircut and the tweets, and focus on the music. She is just being Miley, after all, and judging by this album, there’s no telling where her whirlwind career will take her next.
“Bangerz” is a wrecking ball to the ear drums BY ARIEL COHEN FLAT HAT ASSOC. NEWS EDITOR
Maybe we should have seen this coming long ago. At the mere age of 17, she told the world she “can’t be tamed.” Early in the summer she told us that she “can’t stop.” Then on Saturday Night Live she told us that Hannah Montana has been murdered. But for all the twerking and foam fingering, we really expected a bit more out of Miley Cyrus’s first album since she cut her hair. Even collaboration with all-time favorites like Nelly, Britney Spears and Ludacris couldn’t save Cyrus’ recently released album, “Bangerz.” Let’s start off with her recent music videos. When “We Can’t Stop” came out this past summer, I saluted Miley. She was doing something different and innovative. Isn’t that what art is all about? But then she appeared naked on a demolition ball and mimicked sexual relations with inanimate objects. Musicians can and should express their inner creativity, but they should also know their fan base. Cyrus began her career as a role model for millions of young girls, who are easily influenced by the media. Just because her definition of growing up involves drug use, head shaving and twerking, doesn’t mean the rest of her impressionable,
youthful fan base should make the same decisions. Her latest tracks range from repulsive to just plain boring. The album has pop undertones reminiscent of the “old” Miley, but her overuse of auto-tune, rapping and curse words cancel it all out. “Bangerz” opens with her strongest track, “Wrecking Ball,” a song that is actually powerful and beautiful — if you don’t watch the music video. It feels like Miley is trying on a few different costumes. In “#GETITRIGHT,” a poetic coming-ofage ballad, Cyrus asserts that she has in fact gone through puberty and is a grown woman. She also talks about her tongue a bit: “You’re sexy sexy I got things I want to do to you Make me make me Make my tongue just go do-do-do” She gets soulfully intellectual in the ballad, “FU,” in which we can actually hear hints of her country voice: “I got two, ooh letters for you. One of them is F and the other one is U” Congrats, Miley. You understand acronyms. Unfortunately, you don’t understand much about music. The problem is that Miley is capable of so much more. While Cyrus pushes her artistic boundaries in this album, she should probably return to her old ways. Maybe she could actually regain her fan base in the process. GRAPHIC BY SARAH THORESON / THE FLAT HAT
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
Who’s the man? Don’t go there, gramps An unsexy Behind Closed Doors column on awkward dinner encounters and gender role assumptions
Kalyn Horn
Behind Closed Doors columnist
Last weekend, I met real life adult lesbians. I’d never met lesbians past their mid-twenties before, and it was an experience akin to spotting a unicorn in an urban jungle. Obviously unicorns aren’t found in the middle of, say, New York City — just as a lesbian couple, complete with a wide-eyed infant, doesn’t quite fit in at a crazy family dinner, where half
of the attending members are deeply conservative, the other half are slightly conservative, and all are heterosexual. I drove my family crazy during dinner with my excited wiggling and whispered exclamations of, “They’re real! Look, look. Real life lesbians!” all while too terrified to actually approach them where they sat at the other end of the table. Eventually, I managed a nervous conversation with April and Dawn, the lesbians in question. Later, after the waitress delivered the salads and I’d been dragged back to my seat to pick unhappily at mine, my grandfather approached me, eased himself down into one of the seats, and tapped his bronze cane against the leg of the table. “So tell me, girls,” he said,
addressing my cousin Nicole and me, as he leaned forward conspiratorially. “Those ladies—” he indicated April and Dawn with an inclination of his head. “They’re together, huh?” Nicole and I hummed affirmation and exchanged a glance, wondering what bomb our grandfather was about to drop. “So which one of ’em’s the lady?” I was torn. Should I give my 80-year-old grandfather a lecture on heteronormativity or just tell him that April, the stay-at-home mother of the pair, was most likely the “lady?” “I was thinking it’s the blonde, because she’s a little better dressed,” he added, referring to Dawn. Nicole and I shared another look. Lecture it is, I decided.
“There is no lady,” Nicole and I said in near unison. Our grandfather grinned. “No, I mean, which one of ’em’s the man?” he amended. “Neither of them!” I bit my lip to hold in my laughter. “They don’t need a man. That’s why they’re lesbians. They’re both ladies.” The conversation soon derailed as my grandfather turned his attention to Nicole and referenced her sex life with her boyfriend, which left everyone in hearing distance choking for breath between bouts of laughter. This humorous exchange highlights a rather unfortunate paradigm in our culture: A relationship has to be composed of a man and a woman, or at least a masculine force and a feminine
force. My peers under the age of eighty are guilty of this, too. I’ve had friends ask me, only half-teasing, “Who’s the girl and who’s the guy?” in reference to my relationships, even when both my partner and I were “femme” or “lipstick” lesbians, as though a woman’s preference for dressing up or down necessitates a label and category. So, from this decidedly unsexy edition of Behind Closed Doors, take to heart that same-sex relationships don’t function in the same way that heterosexual relationships do, and please, for the love of God, don’t ask your queer friends who’s the man and who’s the woman in their relationship. Kalyn Horn is a Behind Closed Doors columnist who loves her crazy grandpa.
Page 7 Friday, October 18, 2013
The Flat Hat
Brafferton’s
Page 7
The Flat Hat investigates the
Ghosts of Williamsburg
Running
Check back next week for more haunting features
Boy A kidnapped child’s tragic fate
BY BRIANNA COVIELLO THE FLAT HAT
Have you ever heard a child’s faint laughter on Old Campus late at night? Ever feel someone run past you when you walked through the Sunken Garden but, to your dismay, saw no one there? Maybe you have had a run-in with one of the Brafferton’s past alumni, one who tragically never graduated from the former eighteenth-century Native American school. The College of William and Mary’s Ancient Campus is located near Colonial Williamsburg. Today, Colonial Williamsburg recreates the eighteenth century lifestyle for tourists and students alike, honoring deceased shadows of American history. While the original historical figures may be dead, they may not necessarily be gone. Built in 1723, the Brafferton is the only building on Ancient Campus that has not been destroyed in its 290-year history. It is now used by the College’s president and provost. The Brafferton was home to the Indian school from 1723 until the Revolutionary War, when the College lost its funding. It was originally built as a school for young Indian boys, many of whom were kidnapped. The Brafferton’s purpose was to indoctrinate the Indian boys with English religion and culture in hopes they would become ideal
British subjects. Since the American Revolution, the Brafferton has been used as a dining hall, faculty residence, dormitory, hospital and guesthouse, as well as an office for student activities, the alumni house and the bursar. Every inhabitant has needed to work around the building’s original purpose of housing the Indian school. Clare Britcher, a ghost tour guide with the Original Ghosts of Williamsburg Candlelight Tour, emphasized the dire situation surrounding many of the Brafferton’s students. “[Living in the Brafferton,] the children suffered greatly from homesickness, disease and an inability to easily learn lessons of an alien culture,” Britcher said. Britcher noted that one of the homesick Native American youths found comfort in running. “Every night he would sneak out of the Brafferton and run free through the darkness,” Britcher said. “During one evening run, the Indian boy dropped dead in the woods on what is now the campus of the College perhaps from disease, perhaps from feelings of desolation. The reason doesn’t really matter, because dead is dead.” Though the young Indian boy passed away in the eighteenth century, don’t be alarmed if you hear his faint voice late at night. He just wants you to go on a nighttime run with him.
GRAPHIC BY DANI ARON-SCHIAVONE / THE FLAT HAT
Exploring the Institute beneath Swem
Since World War II, Omohundro has published scholastic literature on American history The scope of the College of William and Mary students’ knowledge of the Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture probably extends to the fact that it exists — maybe. This is surprising because the Institute is housed in the basement of Earl Gregg Swem Library. It is even more surprising given that the Institute has published over 200 books, many of which are now regarded as classics, since its inception. The Institute also publishes the historical journal “The William and Mary Quarterly.” The Institute is dedicated to researching and publishing scholarly literature on North American history between 1500 and 1820. It was brought about through collaboration between the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and the College. The presidents of both Colonial Williamsburg and the College feared that interest in early American history was waning and hoped to expand their organizations’ scopes and reputations. The Institute was founded during
the latter part of World War II. Dr. Fredrika Teute, editor of publications for the Institute, says the founding of the Institute concerned national interest, as well. “A wider understanding of democracy was desirable,” Teute said. In conjunction with the University of North Carolina Press — a partnership that has lasted nearly since its beginning — the Institute publishes three to five books per year. Brett Rushforth, a professor in the history department at the College, published his book “Bonds of Alliance: Indigenous and Atlantic Slaveries in New France” through the Institute in 2012. His book has gone on to win three literary awards and has been declared a finalist for a fourth award. “A lot of [the books] get picked up and used in classroom adoption,” Teute said. While the Institute is adamant about the quality of its scholarship, one internal point of contention is the Institute’s name. In 1996, the Institute’s name was amended to include “Omohundro,” in honor of a donation from benefactors Mr. and
Mrs. Malvern H. Omohundro, Jr. Before 1996, its staff referred to it as “the Institute,” but since 1996 the informal name has been amended to include “Omohundro.” Almost nobody refers to it by its acronym, OIEAHC.
“
It’s actually quite fortunate the Omohundros have an unusual name.
“
BY ZACHARY FRANK FLAT HAT OPINIONS EDITOR
— Institute Assistant to the Director and Digital Editor Martha Howard
“It’s only the real cognoscenti who understand if you trot those letters out,” Teute said. “The ‘A’ is impossible to pronounce.” Martha Howard, assistant to the director and digital editor at the Institute, believes the name change was fortuitous, as it made the Institute sound memorable. “It’s actually quite fortunate the Omohundros have an unusual name,” Howard said.
In addition to publishing scholarly works, the Institute collaborates with the National Endowment for the Humanities to offer two-year postdoctoral fellowships to promising young scholars. The fellowship program gives recent Ph.D. graduates the opportunity to flesh out their dissertations into fulllength manuscripts. Allison Bigelow, who received her Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in August 2012, is one such post-doctoral fellow. She believes the Institute has been instrumental in her scholarly success. “I’ve been extremely lucky,” Bigelow said. “I gave four invited lectures last year. I published two articles, both by editors of the two top journals in my field, and what started as a dissertation has now become two separate book projects.” Bigelow, who began her fellowship with the Institute in 2012, has been hired for a tenure-track position in the Spanish department at U.Va. Again, she credits the Institute for her professional success. “With the market this tight, there is no way I could have gotten hired at a
school like U.Va. without the Institute,” Bigelow said. The Institute is widely respected within its discipline. Paul Polgar, another post-doctoral fellow at the Institute, says history students learn this soon after beginning their scholarship. “You learn very early on when you see a book with the Institute imprint on it, you pay very close attention to it,” said Polgar. “Just being included in that series is a privilege and an honor.” In addition to their writing, postdoctoral fellows at the Institute also teach two undergraduate courses at the College during their fellowships. But, as Dr. Teute explains, that’s where the Institute’s relationship with undergraduate education stops. “The only relationship is the teaching,” said Teute. “That’s all there is.” Despite the Institute’s more scholarly and esoteric goals, it doesn’t shy away from what Bigelow calls the “nitty gritty” of the writing process. “I have never heard so many debates about direct object pronouns,” Bigelow said.
sports
Sports Editor Jack Powers Sports Editor Chris Weber flathatsports@gmail.com
The Flat Hat | Friday, October 18, 2013 | Page 8
MEN’S SOCCER
COMMENTARY
Tribe tops Pitt 2-0
Taking care of business
Phillips impresses with CAA-best sixth shutout BY YONNIE IYOB FLAT HAT STAFF WRITER
COURTESY PHOTO / TRIBE ATHLETICS
Head coach John Daly has the Tribe four matches away from the CAA tournament with a 7-1-4 (4-0 CAA) record, having clinched another winning season and a four-game winning streak.
Head coach John Daly’s squad is on a roll, with no sign of slowing
Mick Sloan
FLAT HAT ASSOC. SPORTS EDITOR
Dominance in sports takes all forms. Most people think of dominant teams as crushing all opponents, marked by gaudy offenses and easy victories. But the best teams do not always announce themselves with huge victories and dazzling statistics. Sometimes dominance means having patient forwards who methodically attack defenses and measure success not by shots, but by goals. William and Mary (7-1-4) does not rely on high shot volumes; in fact, it has been out-shot 163 to 174 over its 12 games up to this point. Still, the Tribe has racked up eight more shots on goal and nine more goals scored than its opponents. This
is accomplished with a balance of precise offense, challenging defense and the superb sophomore Caroline Casey in goal. Casey stands five feet, seven inches tall and appears perfectly normal at first glance, but when positioned in the net, she might as well be a shot-stopping monster with lightning reflexes and four arms. Five times this season Casey has left teams scoreless. Eight times, she has fought through one-goal wins or ties, with four of those games going into overtime. She has surrendered more than one goal only once through 12 games, in the Tribe’s sole defeat to No. 18 Georgetown in the season opener. The sophomore has been under constant fire against powerful offenses all year long and has been nearly unbeatable. She has 55 saves and an average of 0.61 goals allowed per game. Above all else, Casey herself brushes off the pressure she faces. “In the moment you have to put it away and think about what’s coming
ROUND UP
next because you’re constantly under fire,” Casey explained following the Tribe’s recent win over Delaware. Casey’s confidence spills over to the entire team. The defenders in front of her, led by senior sweeper Ali Heck, pressure opponents with vigor and defend their goalie at all costs. They often are engaged for a majority of games as opposing offenses dominate the ball. Although they allow a fair number of shots, they have done exceedingly well to ensure that just 36.8 percent of opposing attempts are even on frame. That confidence in turn goes to the offensive players, who know they typically need just one goal to avoid a loss and no more than two to seal a win. As mentioned, patience is the word for the Tribe offense. It does not worry about mustering a fast and furious attack — its leading scorer, the exciting junior Emory Camper, does not even check into most games until the 20-minute mark. The offense wears its opponents down
with smart passing, and it rarely shoots too early in a possession. When opposing defenses begin losing focus as games stretch on, the Tribe strikes — 12 of the Tribe’s 17 goals have come after halftime. With four games left, the Tribe has a clear identity. Head coach John Daly’s squad is not the type of powerhouse that averages three goals a game and runs opponents off the pitch. It is a more subtly dominant machine — it breaks opponents down over time, allowing teams to stay competitive until the final whistle comes and they realize they never really had a chance to win. The College relies on methodical facilitators like senior Dani Rutter; precise snipers like Camper; smart, dedicated defenders like Heck and a goalie who never seems to falter. The players know who they are, they know they are great, and with four games to go until the Colonial Athletic Association tournament, their track record says they’ll make sure everybody else knows, too.
Like two sides of a coin, William and Mary and Pittsburgh’s seasons look nothing alike. While the Tribe (6-3-1, 1-1 CAA) has won 4 of its past 5 games, the Panthers (0-7-4) have sunk to a win-less record. Unlike a coin flip, the outcome was predictable. The Tribe defeated the Panthers 2-0 Tuesday night at the Peterson Sports Complex in Pittsburgh, Pa. Redshirt freshman keeper Mac Phillips delivered his sixth shutout of the season, the highest number of shutouts in the Colonial Athletic Association. Phillips, who has recorded a shutout in back-to-back matches, has not allowed a goal in 240 minutes of game play. The Panthers began the match on the offensive. On an early corner kick, Panthers midfielder Chris Davis got a shot off on goal, but a Tribe defender knocked it away from danger. Pittsburgh took advantage of a tame start for the Tribe, recording two early corners. The Tribe eventually responded in the 24th minute. Junior midfielder Chris Albiston received a long pass from senior defender Will Smith and proceeded to move to the left side of the box. Albiston then fired a shot back across the face of the goal, up into the far right corner of the net to make the score 1-0 in favor of the Tribe. The goal was Albiston’s third of the season. The rest of the first half was relatively quiet, as the Tribe maintained its commanding 1-0 lead. The Tribe held a 4-2 advantage in shots in the half, including a 2-1 advantage in shots on goal. When the second half began, the Tribe continued where it left off. In the 51st minute, senior defender Roshan Patel threaded a pass to Albiston, who passed the ball quickly to sophomore forward Jackson Eskay. On his first touch, Eskay placed the ball perfectly into the top-right corner to score the Tribe’s second goal of the match, good for the team-lead in goals. After scoring the decisive second goal, the Tribe continued to build chances. Junior forward Josh West and freshman forward Reilly Maw each had attempts on frame, but the Panthers goalkeeper was there to hold them off on each try. The Tribe dominated statistically, outshooting the Panthers 12-7 over the course of the match, controlling the pace of play throughout. The Tribe faces defending CAA Champion Northeastern Saturday, Oct. 20 at Martin Family Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Fall 2013
An update on the College’s athletic progams FOOTBALL 4-2 (1-1 CAA)
VOLLEYBALL 7-12 (2-3 CAA)
Head coach Jimmye Laycock entered the season with a bevy of unanswered questions, especially concerning the quarterback position. Newhire offensive coordinator Kevin Rogers, however, has molded senior Michael Graham into a dependable signal caller. Sophomore tailback Mikal Abdul-Saboor has led a dominant run game, recording 500 yards through five games. Defensive coordinator Scott Boone’s defense has not allowed more than 20 points.
William and Mary has been through an uneven season on the volleyball courts. After a 3-1 win to open the season, the Tribe lost its next five matches and 12 of its next 15. Although it recently notched two conference victories in four contests, the team still stands at 7-14 with just 10 games left in the regular season. With a comparatively favorable 2-3 record in the Colonial Athletic Association, however, the Tribe still has a chance to turn around its season.
WOMEN’S SOCCER 7-1-4 (4-0 CAA)
SWIMMING Men’s: 1-0 Women’s: 1-0
William and Mary has not lost in eleven games. The College has won its first four games in the Colonial Athletic Association and stands alone at the top of the CAA standings, after its 2-0 victory over Pittsburgh. Junior forward Emory Camper has scored seven of the Tribe’s 17 goals, and the squad has allowed just eight scores in twelve games. The Tribe has four games left until the CAA Tournament and is gunning for the top seed.
For the ninth season in a row, William and Mary won its season opener with a 20556 victory over visiting Mary Washington October 12. Senior Andrew Strait won both his events to lead the men’s side — Strait hasn’t lost in his last 13 events. The women’s program downed Mary Washington 203-58 Oct. 12 to open the season. Winning 13 of the 14 events, the women won the season opener for the first time since 2005.
MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY 3rd, 1st, 8th
FIELD HOCKEY 6-7 (2-1 CAA)
MEN’S SOCCER 6-3-1 (1-1 CAA)
WOMEN’S GOLF Three 1sts, two 2nds
Three tournaments into the season, William and Mary is off to a strong start. The Tribe opened with a third place finish at the Spider Alumni Open, followed by a first place finish in the W&M Cross Country Invitational and eighth place at the Panorama Farms Invitational. Junior Rad Gunzenhauser is having a stellar season, having finished first in the Spider Alumni 5K and a team-high eighth at Panorama Farms.
Though William and Mary struggled early with five straight losses, the team appears to have righted the ship with four wins in their past six games. The Tribe recently shocked No. 5 Virginia 2-1 in Charlottesville to demonstrate that their recent resurgence is not a fluke. The Tribe has defeated Colonial Athletic Association opponents James Madison and Towson to start off 2-1 in the CAA. Sophomore forward Pippin Saunders leads the College with 19 points.
Knocking off No. 1 Creighton was just the beginning. In the next ten days, William and Mary downed No. 24 Elon and the new No. 1 team in the nation, North Carolina. The three consecutive upset wins helped boost the College’s reputation — the Tribe, still unranked, has received votes for seven straight weeks. Sophomore forward Jackson Eskay leads the team in goals scored with four, while two others have scored three times to help fuel the College’s potent attack.
The program has made up for its youth with confidence. William and Mary dominated the Bucknell Invitational, finishing first and second in each round. The success continued during the William and Mary Invitational, as the team tied for first and finished within the topfive each round of the weekend. The Nittany Lion Invitational and Lady Pirate Intercollegiate tournaments proved tougher. The Tribe’s best finish came in the Nittany Lion Invitational, ending the day in fifth place.
WOMEN’S TENNIS ---
MEN’S GOLF One 2nd, three 3rds
William and Mary’s season has been highlighted by the stellar campaign of senior Maria Belaya. Belaya recently notched four consecutive victories to qualify for the Riviera/ITA All-American Championship. Belaya defeated three consecutive ranked opponents, including No. 7 Yana Koroleva of Clemson, pulling her record to 7-4. Belaya and senior Jeljte Loomans teamed up for seven consecutive victories in doubles play and are now ranked No. 7 in the nation.
Junior Alex Hicks has led William and Mary so far, recently capturing the individual title at the Joe Agee Invitational here in Williamsburg with a school record 132 in his first 36 holes. Hicks’ dominant performance pushed the Tribe to a third place finish at Joe Agee. The Tribe also placed sixth in the Marshall Invitational to open the season and is still in the early stages of the season. Hicks has won two CAA Golfer of the Week awards so far.
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY 1st, 2nd, 2nd William and Mary has started the season in fine form. The Tribe captured first place in the Spider Alumni Open, following that victory with second place finishes in the W&M Cross Country Invitational and the Panorama Farms Invitational. Senior Elaina Balouris has placed the College, recently running the nation’s second fastest 5K this season for a win at Panorama Farms. For this feat, she was named CAA Runner of the Week.
MEN’S TENNIS --After struggling through a tough opening tournament at the Duke Fab Four Invitational, William and Mary rebounded with a sharp performance at the U.Va. Fall Invitational. The Tribe finished 20-10 in singles matches at U.Va. and 8-4 in doubles play to rebuild the Tribe’s confidence after a 5-19 finish at Duke. The Tribe travels to the UNC Invitational next.
— Flat Hat Sports Editors Jack Powers, Chris Weber, and Assoc. Editor Mick Sloan