VARIETY >> PAGE 7
SPORTS >> PAGE 8
Slacklining culture is taking the College by storm.
The men’s soccer team picked up its first win since Sept. 5 with a 2-1 win over UMBC
The other type of slacking
Vol. 104, Iss. 10 | Friday, September 26, 2014
Tribe breaks losing streak
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of The College of William and Mary
Acuna elected
student Assembly
Williamsburg
Occupancy up at Lofts Zoning district added aine cain Flat Hat News EDITOR
Jose Acuna wins freshmen presidential election with 207 votes total
MADELINE BIELSKI Flat Hat ASSOC. NEWS EDITOR
The Williamsburg City Council unanimously approved a new occupancy limit on the City Lofts, an apartment complex at 1400 Middle Street that largely functions as an off-campus housing location for College of William and Mary students. The building’s capacity has been increased to 256 residents, up from its original occupancy of 143. “Regarding City Lofts, the change of occupancy limits seems very appropriate for that project,” City Council member Judith Knudson said in an email. City of Williamsburg Planning Director Reed Nester said the City Council approved plans to adapt a former Quality Inn and Suites into City Lofts in 2012. According Knudson to the WilliamsburgYorktown Daily, the plans called for 94 one-bedroom rental apartments. Planners intended 49 of those apartments to house two students, while 45 were designated as singles. However, only 89 student apartments were ultimately completed, with 75 designated as one-bedroom apartments. To enact the change, the Council created a new zoning district, the Planned Development Urban District, which allows residential density to be based on the scale and character of the proposed project. The building’s student apartments currently include 75 two-bedroom apartments, 14 onebedroom apartments and one manager’s apartment. A “four-person-rule” is allowed for two-bedroom apartments, similar to Tribe Square. Nester said that the occupancy adjustment comes as a part of the Council’s attempt to increase local housing options for students. He cited the City of Williamsburg’s Comprehensive Plan, which covers the development of alternative student housing: “City regulations should encourage student-oriented housing in suitable offcampus locations to supplement the housing provided by the College, as demonstrated See COUNCIL page 3
Jose Acuna Moscoso ’18 was elected Thursday night by the Class of 2018 to serve as its president,
receiving 26 percent of the vote. Voter turnout for the freshman class election was 52 percent, marking a 5.5 point decrease in voter turnout from last year’s freshmen elections. “I am very excited and very happy
to accept the election,” Acuna said. “I will do my best to serve the Class of 2018.” Nicholas Perrone ’18 was elected Vice President, Kevin Nelson ’18 was elected Treasurer, and Peter
Kinton ’18 was elected Secretary. They will serve alongside Acuna on the Undergraduate Council. Annelise Yackow ’18, Danny O’Dea ’18, James Shaw ’18 and Alaina Shreves ’18 will serve as the Class of 2018 senators. Acuna, who ran against eight other candidates for the position of president, received a total of 207 votes. Runner-up Laurelle Jacques ’18 received 105, or 13 percent of the vote. Acuna said he enjoyed the campaigning process, as he was able to meet many new people by visiting freshmen dorms. He emphasized his desire to be receptive to his classmates. “I want to help as many people as I can. I want to make an impact on people. … I want to listen to people,” Acuna said. Kinton explained he took a serious, yet slightly humorous, approach to his campaign. He said he stuck to social media, as he felt that people do not pay much attention to flyers. Kinton would like to focus on organization within the Student Assembly and he emphasized creating a strong community. “It’s nice knowing I can serve my community and help build a really strong Tribe. I really just want to make this ‘One Tribe, One Family’ as much as possible,” Kinton said. Giorgio Caterini, treasurer of the Class of 2017 and chair of the Undergraduate Council, remarked that he was very impressed with the students who won the elections, as they had to deal with a lot of competition. Caterini plans to focus on enhancing cohesion within the Undergraduate Council and he thinks the new freshmen members can help build unity. “We’ve had problems the past years, I think, getting that down, getting everybody to work together,” Caterini said. “But I think, with the freshmen being involved and me, personally being a sophomore, so
MADELINE BIELSKI / THE FLAT HAT
See ELECTION page 3
Jose Acuna ’18 receives the news of his win. Voter turnout for the Class of 2018 presidential election was 52 percent, down from last year.
Board of visitors
Board of Visitors convenes, swears in new members
Committees review construction updates, class demographics, growth in number of applications to the College
Academic Affairs Committee
Committee on Administration, Buildings and Grounds Bailey Kirkpatrick Flat Hat Assoc. Variety EDITOR
During the Administration, Buildings and Grounds Committee Meeting, the Board of Visitors listened to a comprehensive update on all construction projects undertaken this summer and discussed the future of the College of William and Mary’s physical campus.. “Things continue to go well
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and since our last meeting, we have issued 11 building permits,” College Building Official Robert Dillman said. “Five were fairly major, such as the installation of the air conditioning in Barrett Hall, the renovations of Chandler, the installation of an ice plant to further assist in cooling buildings, and have begun to construct the third portion of the Integrated Science Center.” In addition to these projects,
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Abby Boyle Flat Hat Managing EDITOR
Dillman said electrical and sprinkler system updates were completed in One Tribe Place to ensure that students be allowed to return. The red garage beneath the building was opened at the start of the semester for student use. A change in the College’s dining services provider to Sodexo USA led to many changes in dining halls over the course of the See CONSTRUCTION page 3
The Board of Visitors’ Committee on Academic Affairs discussed incoming class demographic trends in their meeting Thursday morning at the College of William and Mary. In a presentation to the committee, Interim Associate Provost for Enrollment and Dean of Admission Tim Wolfe ’95 M.Ed. ’01 presented data
the selectivity factors and the strength of the incoming class, and keep it the same,” Wolfe said. The College has seen a growth in applications and an increase in size of each of the last three incoming classes, with the Class of 2018 at 1514 students. As a state school, Wolfe said the College’s goal is to ensure that 65 percent of each class See ACADEMIC page 4
Inside SPORTS
Inside Opinions
Understanding the importance of campus safety
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from the Classes of 2016, 2017 and 2018, comparing the numbers to those from the Class of 2008, whose students entered in 2004. Measurements included class size, the number of in-state students, as well as data on diversity among the students in each class. “I’m biased, but I think where we’ve done a fantastic job, in light of the growth of the [incoming classes], is that we’ve managed to maintain
In lieu of recent events at U.Va, students must realize no one is safe. page 5
Kicking off CAA play
After finishing its non-conference schedule with a 3-1 record, Tribe football gets ready to face Stony Brook in the first game of its Colonial Athletics Association schedule. page 8
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The Flat Hat | Friday, September 25, 2014 | Page 2
THE BUZZ
We are not standing on the side of a smooth lake deciding how to make the most graceful dive in. The fact is that this is a rushing river, it has been flowing and the dynamics are changing all the time.
Now it’s easier than ever to stay upto-date on all on-campus news.
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News Editor Áine Cain News Editor Rohan Desai fhnews@gmail.com
— Vice President of Student Affairs Ginger Ambler ’88 on the College’s sexual as task force
THE DIGITAL DAY
Snapchats from Students
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Check out our Facebook album of snapchats from students on The Flat Hat Facebook page.
The Blog Log ‘The Last Lap’
‘Stories from Abroad — Scotland’
Senior year blogger Rachel Brown discusses how she is handling her feelings of envy since she does not know what she wants to do post graduation. Read how she has learned to deal with the jealously of seeing her friends announce their jobs and graduate school acceptances.
Matt Heffernan has been getting adjusted to life at The University of St. Andrews. Something that has made the process easier has been making so many new and interesting friends. Read his blog to hear about how the tradition of “academic parents” has helped him feel comfortable at a new school.
‘Let’s Talk Sex with Marvin’
‘60 Second Stories’
Marvin Shelton wants you to talk dirty to him. Audrey Kriva / the FLAT HAT
The Flat Hat
In this episode of “Let’s Talk Sex with Marvin,” College students discuss whether or not they like pillow talk. Some students even share personal stories about what they like to hear. Go to The Flat Hat’s Facebook page to watch the newest episode.
‘STABILITAS ET FIDES’ | ESTABLISHED OCT. 3, 1911
Being a member of the Spotswood Society involves more than giving tours of the Sir Christopher Wren Building. Members are required to staff official events and dinners for donors, and, as it turns out, alcohol, 86-year-old women and fur stoles don’t always mix. Hear Dana Holmstrand’s 60 Second Story on The Flat Hat’s Facebook page. To hear all of The Flat Hat’s 60 Second Stories, visit soundcloud.com/flat-hat-online.
“60 Second Stories” is The Flat Hat’s new podcast series dedicated to presenting stories of student life at the College of William and Mary. If you have a story that you would like to see featured on “60 Second Stories” email flathatonline@gmail.com.
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NEWS IN BRIEF Business school partners with NASA
Bradford appointed to Task Force
WJCC schools get iPads
The Mason School of Business signed an agreement with the NASA Langley Research Center to increase NASA’s technology transfer activities. Eight students at the College of William and Mary will work on this project for the entire academic year. The team will study business and commercialization, including financial analyses and business and marketing plans. The purpose of the partnership is to give the students business experience. The team will be working with three senior former NASA executives.
Associate vice president for government relations at the College Fran Bradford was appointed to Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s D-Va., Task Force on Combating Campus Sexual Violence. Bradford will be one of 30 people serving on this task force. These people include survivors, advocates, and student leaders. Bradford, who came to the College in 2003, monitors the College’s government relations efforts in Richmond and Washington. Before coming to the College, Bradford worked with the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia for 13 years.
According to the Williamsburg-Yorktown Daily, teachers in Williamsburg-James City County elementary schools will soon have iPads for classroom instruction. This technology is new for elementary schools; middle and high schools have been using iPads in classrooms for two years. Before upgrading to the iPad, WJCC schools had been using Interwrite pads in classrooms. These devices were portable desktops, which could run applications and annotate screen images. Over two years, WJCC has placed 1,140 iPads into classrooms.
Friday, September 26, 2014
The Flat Hat
Page 3
student assembly
Senate passes Mental Health Concert Act Concert to raise awareness of mental health on campus, $12,000 allotted for artist After debate and discussion, the Student Assembly Senate passed the Mental Health Concert Act at their meeting Tuesday night. The Mental Health Concert Act, sponsored by Sen. Elliot Theuerkauf ’17 and Sen. Nadia Ilunga ’15, allocates $20,000 toward a concert to raise awareness of mental health on the College of William and Mary’s campus. $12,000 will go to the artist, who has yet to be named, $6,000 will go towards logistics, and $2,000 was allocated for advertising the event. Some senators lauded the bill for its collaboration between several different organizations on campus that do not always work together, including AMP, Inter-Fraternity Council and Health Outreach Peer Educators. “What I think is beautiful about this bill is the collaboration happening,” Ilunga said. “We are going to be reaching a group of people that … are not [typically] involved in the conversation about mental health.” The idea for the concert originated within the IFC, according to IFC President Alex Greenspan ’15. Greenspan expressed his support for the concert, mentioning his support of the IFC’s partnership with HOPE for the event. He explained that the current ways mental health is promoted at the College doesn’t always reach Greek populations on campus. “This mental health awareness movement, which for a longtime has been promoted by the College, the Student Assembly, Residence [Life], in a way that I feel for many reasons has not been as effective in the Greek community,” Greenspan said. “That members of the Greek community are not as receptive to certain methods of programming. This is a way to get the Inter Fraternity Council back in this.” Vice President of the Mental Health Branch of HOPE Rachel Boykin ’15 said HOPE would support the concert, as long as the concert produces tangible outcomes. Boykin explained that the concert needs to be “progressive and logistical,” with a lasting impact on the student body. “We are in support as long as there are tangible outcomes and there is learning motivation before, during and after that event. We don’t want it to be an event that people go to and forget about.
It needs to be something that will be remembered in a way that is positive and has a positive impact and ripple effect,” Boykin said. HOPE has come up with several suggestions to produce the desired tangible outcome, including creating a website dedicated to the event with more mental health information, displaying information for the counseling center and other mental health resources on advertising and tickets for the event, or implementing an incentive program for students that complete Cognito at-risk training, an online module that teaches people to recognize at-risk signs. Sen. James Walker ’15 pointed out that the bill had increased its
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“What I think is beautiful about this bill is the collaboration happening. We are going to be reaching a group of people that … are not [typically] involved in the conversation about mental health.”
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Madeline Bielski flat hat Assoc. news editor
—Nadia Ilunga ’15 on the Mental Health Concert Act
allocations by $8,000 to a total of $20,000, when the previous week’s bill only allocated $12,000. Walker raised his concerns that the Senate was allocating too much without knowing whether the goal of the concert was to raise money or awareness. “I am worried that we are going to put $20,000 — yes that’s a high estimate, but we are authorizing that $20,000 [be used] on this concert — without having a clear idea of is it going to be a concert that raises money or is it going to be a concert that raises awareness,” Walker said. “I think we are trying to both and I personally don’t think it will be as successful with trying to do both.”
In response to Walker, senators explained that raising both awareness and money are the concert’s main goals. Senators pointed out that the $12,000 artist fee had not changed, but $8,000 was added to cover logistics and promotion. The bill constitutes 13 percent of the budget according to Sen. Yohance Whitacker ’16. Sen. Chase Jordan ’15 explained that the increase in allocation of money allows the SA a cushion to execute the bill properly without having to pass an emergency bill for more funding. A brief discussion also arose over if the artist was an appropriate pairing with mental health. The general consensus was that the notyet-named artist is appropriate and understands the nature of the concert as a function to promote awareness of mental health on campus. Ultimately, senators passed the bill. Sen. Walker chose to abstain. In new business, Ilunga introduced the Transfer Student Act, which allocates $250 to provide food, tables, and games for a field day Oct. 3. The field day will be open to everyone, but specifically targets transfer students as way to help them reconnect after being at school for a month. Ilunga explained that transfer students aren’t always able to connect with each other as easily as freshmen. “[Transfer students] don’t get to live in the same housing as the transfer group that they do orientation with. … This event will serve … as a connecting point for transfer students in the same orientation group to reconnect, catch up and have fun together,” Ilunga said. Sen. Tyler Brent ’15 also introduced the No H8 Campaign Act. The No H8 Campaign is an organization that advocates for the LGBT community through photographs portraying silent protest. Brent’s bill allocates $2,500 to bring members of the No H8 Campaign to campus, as well as an additional $2,500 to subsidize the cost of photos taken by the No H8 campaign at 50 percent of the regular cost for students. Unsubsidized, the photographs cost $40 per student. Ackerman assigned both the Transfer Student Act and No H8 Campaign Act to the Outreach, Finance and Student Life committees. Whitacker introduced the Charter Day Concert Act to allocate money for the annual Charter Day concert. The bill was assigned to the Finance, Student Life and Public Affairs committees. Homecoming grant applications are due today at midnight.
Council votes to increase Freshmen elect Acuna president occupancy at City Lofts Wins margin of 100 votes over other candidates CITY COUNCIL from page 1
COURTESY PHOTO / WILLIAMSBURGFAMILIES.COM:
Board of visitors
BOV emphasizes study abroad, safety Board reviews sexual assault prevention, importance of religious diversity Madeline Bielski flat hat Assoc. news editor
The Committee on Student Affairs met Tuesday afternoon to discuss a wide range of topics, from sexual assault on campus to diversity to studying abroad. Vice President of Student Affairs Ginger Ambler ’88 M.Ed. ’06 gave the committee an overview of the College of William and Mary’s efforts to address sexual assault and harassment on campus. Ambler serves as chair of the College’s task force for the prevention of sexual assault and harassment, which College President Taylor Reveley announced the formation of several weeks ago. The group is focusing on four major areas: campus climate, education and prevention, faculty and staff training, and investigation and adjudication. The task force will make recommendations to the College on continuing its mission to create a safe climate on campus. The task force is set to present its first report to Reveley at the end of June. Ambler said the group will continue to take action between now and the time the report is turned in. “We are not standing on the side of a smooth lake deciding how to make the most graceful dive in. The fact is that this is a rushing river, it has been flowing and
the dynamics are changing all the time,” Ambler said. “We are moving quickly.” In light of the disappearance of University of Virginia sophomore Hannah Graham, Ambler went on to discuss campus safety at the College. Board of Visitors member Ann Green Baise emphasized the importance of both students and the College being proactive when it comes to safety. She said that not only must the College be responsible, but students must be responsible as well. “The more that we can make our students safe, the better,” Baise said. “[The students] need to know that there’s support, but they’ve got to be responsible too.” Ambler also mentioned the importance of students being responsible for each other, as well as for themselves. “The best way for us to teach students to be active in reducing harm is helping them to see that they have Baise responsibilities for each other,” Ambler said. Ambler also discussed diversity at the College, sharing some highlights from the Campus Religious and Spiritual Climate Survey, which was sent out to
students last spring. The survey had a total of 850 respondents. Ambler shared that 38 percent of College students consider themselves both religious and spiritual, while 33 percent consider themselves spiritual, but not religious. Fo l l o w i n g A m b l e r ’ s presentation, student liaisons Megan Brew ’15 and Peter Rechter J.D. ’16 addressed the committee. They focused Ambler on making studying abroad more viable for more students. They explained that four major barriers prevent students from studying abroad, including athletics, expenses, internships and leadership. Brew and Rechter suggested offering study abroad programs that are more accommodating to student schedules by offering other options in January and May. They also suggested creating a formal mentorship program between students and College alumni who are abroad. Currently, 45 percent of College students study abroad at some point during their academic career. The College’s goal is to increase this number to 60 percent.
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47
43
35
Rohit Baskar
Ian Williams
94
Derek Trott
95
Alexander MacDonald
98
Cyrus Tidwell
105
Yousef Beidas
207
Anne Seo
being a little closer to them, I think that will be a good liaison that we can connect all the people together and make them work better as a unit.” Chairman of the Senate D a n i e l Ackerman ’ 1 6 , expressed h i s excitement to see what these Ackerman n e w l y elected members of the SA accomplish and add to the administration. “They seem to be really hardworking people and I’m excited
Laurelle Jacques
indicate a willingness to create flexibility with regard to student focused development that can reasonably handle higher occupancies,” Foster said in an email.
Jose Acuna
by the PDC Planned Development College District that allowed the development of Tribe Square, and the PDU Planned Development Urban District that allowed the conversion of an older hotel to the City Lofts apartments,” Nester said. Additionally, demand for two-bedroom apartments that could house more than one person per bedroom led to a situation where up to four people could be in an individual unit. City Lofts has a similar zoning designation to Tribe Square, and these changes
allow the building to be used in a similar way, granting additional flexibility for the tenants, according to Nester. C i t y Council member Foster S c o t t Foster ’10 J.D. ’14 said that the Council strictly reviews occupancy issues on a case-bycase basis. “This does not directly indicate Council’s willingness to change the ‘four person rule’ as a whole, but it does
Total number of votes: 1,522
CITY COUNCIL from page 1
Class of 2018 President Election Results
Data COURTESY OF student assembly election commission GRAPHIC BY AINE CAIN AND ROHAN DESAI / THE FLAT HAT
to see them put in a lot of hard work into the Student Assembly this next year, and hopefully maybe upwards of the next
four years for some of them,” Ackerman said. “There might even be a student body president in one of them one day.”
BOV talks Marketplace statistics Board will review comprehensive master plan in November CONSTRUCTION from page 1
summer. Marketplace had one of the most dramatic makeovers and conceptual changes. “Based on the statistics we had, Marketplace was the place where the fewest number of people ate, so we made some changes such as reducing the number of people preparing food and venues at which to buy food, and we removed meal swipes to make it Flex dollars only,” Vice President for Administration Anna Martin said. “However, then there is the question, did we swing the pendulum too far to the other side?” The College put about $1.2 million into Dining Dollars to make changes possible. However, after hearing the consternation of students, Sodexo and Auxiliary Services decided to put the meal swipes back in at the students’ request. This was also done in the hopes to reduce lines during mealtime rushes at the Sadler Center. “This was an experiment,” Martin said. We are going to continue to look at the changes and see how we might continue to adjust it to suit student needs.” Among the others changes to the Marketplace is the loss of Chickfil-a. The fast food chain left due to a miscommunication, but then refused to engage in another contract with the College until the College bought and installed a new hood in the
kitchen area. However, Martin said she is hopeful that Chick-fil-a will be back in the future. “We had a really productive meeting with Sodexo a few days ago,” Student Assembly President Colin Danly ’15 said. “We are really excited and thought it was a great meeting. From the student perspective, the Sodexo experience is a lot of improvement. What the students need to know now is ‘What’s next?’” Committee members also reviewed the plans for the new media center in the Earl Gregg Swem Danly Library basement. “It is a very dark place and we have really outgrown the space,” Dean of University Libraries Carrie Cooper said. “This new space will give us a chance to do more community events — it will give us a new multipurpose space. The media center is an integral piece for supporting the new curriculum and this is a way to support that initiative.” Fundraising for the project — which Cooper coordinated largely through private donors — has reached over $1 million and will change the area and allow the acquirement of new equipment for students. In November’s Board of Visitors meeting, the committee will look at the Master Plan, a comprehensive proposal of all future changes to the campus.
Page 4
The Flat Hat
Friday, September 26, 2014
Board of Visitors
BOV committees convene, discuss plans for College Committee on Athletics reviews NCAA changes, Title IX benefits, issues of inequality amongst students
Committee on Athletics College of William and Mary Athletic Director Terry Driscoll spoke to the Board of Visitors Committee on Athletics Thursday about changes being made in the NCAA governance that may negatively impact the College. Recently, the 65 universities that make up the Big Five conferences petitioned for greater autonomy within the NCAA, which would allow them to funnel more resources into areas like athlete healthcare, nutrition, financial aid and general expenses, such as travel costs for athletes’ families. Driscoll said that, while these policies would be classified as permissive legislation — meaning that not all schools would be obliged to adhere to them — they could still be harmful by virtue of the College’s financial inability to compete. “Once you drop down below these 65 schools, there are nearly 280 other schools in Division I with nowhere near the resources that these schools have,” Driscoll said. “So, although these Big Five schools won’t directly
impact William and Mary, when you move down to the 280-odd schools, you run into a situation where there are people who we currently compete against who, if they choose to utilize some of these elements of permissive legislation, they’ll have a recruiting advantage.” Although the legislation has already passed in the NCAA, it is now in the midst of an override period in which other schools in the Division can vote to strike down the legislation. The override period will extend through October and if the legislation passes — Driscoll said he expects that it will — it will take effect in November. The Big Five have alluded to their intention to secede from the NCAA if their autonomy to make these changes is not granted. College President Taylor Reveley, however, portrayed this not as a threat, but rather as an opportunity to expose the proposed legislation’s insolvency. “I, frankly, would love to see these five conferences go out on their own, at which point, I think, the system would be broken because they would be subject to enormous additional scrutiny and tax reforms … that we
Students hold vigil for hannah graham College of William and Mary students gathered Wednesday night to hold a prayer vigil for missing University of Virginia student Hannah Graham. While students sat on the floor of the Sadler Center’s Chesapeake A, several of Graham’s friends and former classmates spoke about her before leading the group in prayer. “It has been difficult for me, as I’m sure it has for many of you, to watch this case from afar and feel as though there is nothing you can do,” Rose Vita ’17, a friend of Graham’s, said in her opening remarks. Several students also performed “In Christ Alone.” The larger group then divided to allow for prayer and reflection in smaller groups. The 18-year old Graham, a sophomore at U.Va., has not been seen since early Sept. 13, CNN affiliate WVIR reported. Before midnight on Sept. 12, Graham attended a party and was later seen at a nearby apartment complex. Surveillance footage captured Graham walking outside of a pub around 12:45 a.m. on the 13th. Ten minutes later, she was seen Graham running past a gas station. WVIR reported that more footage shows Graham outside an Italian restaurant around 1:06 a.m. in an area known as Downtown Mall. Less than 20 minutes later, she texted friends saying she was lost. According to WVIR, some witnesses have reported seeing Graham with a man at a bar between 1:30 and 2 a.m. Jesse Matthew, the man charged with abducting Graham, was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon in Galveston, Texas. — Flat Hat Managing Editor Abby Boyle
would stop seeing this incredibly asinine amount of money being spent in these five conferences,” Reveley said. Reveley was also the first at the meeting to question the morality of dramatically increasing privileges for a single group of students. “I think there is a real philosophical issue too, that would be to create a cast of kids who get better treatment than everybody else,” he said. BOV secretary Thomas Frantz also brought up issues of inequality, but within the community of College athletes rather than among students overall. He said problems would arise with Title IX compliance if the College were unable to offer athletes of every sport the same kinds of benefits. “Title IX is going to drive those benefits home, and how in the world can the revenues cover all of those expenses for the non-revenue sports?” Frantz said. Before the meeting went into closed session, Driscoll briefly discussed plans for the renovation of Zable Stadium. He said construction will begin this winter and the stadium will be ready for the 2016 season.
CAROL PENG / THE FLAT HAT
New Board of Visitors members were inducted in the Blue Room of the Sir Christopher Wren Building.
Academic Affairs Committee talks demographics ACADEMIC from page 1
is comprised of students from Virginia. When the students initially entered, the Class of 2008 hit that number, while the Classes of 2016, 2017 and 2018 were made up of 64, 64 and 63 percent in-state students, respectively. However, Wolfe noted that these numbers didn’t take into account transfer students, 75 to 80 percent of whom hail from Virginia. In terms of out-of-state students, Wolfe said each entering class typically has students from between 45 and 48 of the U.S. states. New J e r s e y , Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York and Massachusetts are the most c o m m o n states from Wolfe which out-ofstate students apply. The only state unrepresented in the last four years is North Dakota. “I was hoping to find some amazing, interesting trends, but I’m not sure I did,” Wolfe said. “I think what we see is that certainly there remain some usual suspects in terms of the states that we see students coming from, but there are always fluctuations in any given year. We
are seeing some growth in areas like California. There’s no doubt that we’re doing our best to make sure there’s an international search.” The number of international students rose from 69 to 115 in the Classes of 2017 and 2018,
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incoming class as they walk through the Sir Christopher Wren Building during the Convocation ceremony. “I’ve made so many presentations and we always talk about numbers, and indeed, I think our class looks great on paper,” Wolfe said. “Dare
... I think our class looks great on paper. Dare I say it, they look even better in person.
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Sarah Caspari FLAT HAT Chief Staff writer
— Interim Associate Provost for Enrollment and Dean of Admission Tim Wolfe ’95 M.Ed. ’01 on the Class of 2018’s arrival on campus
respectively, Wolfe said. That number is up from 24 in the entering class in 2004. The number of Asian students has also risen over the years, from 87 in the Class of 2008 to 143 in the Class of 2018. The percentage of students of color has also increased: 20 percent of the entering Class of 2008 to 30 percent in the entering Classes of 2016, 2017 and 2018. Wolfe mentioned the benefits of actually meeting members of the
I say it, they look even better in person.” Other members of the committee, including Vice Rector Robert E. Scott J.D. ’68, also discussed the success of this year’s Convocation ceremony. Following Scott’s opening remarks, Provost Michael Halleran delivered a brief presentation on the recent U.S. News and World Report rankings. He noted that this year the College’s spot on the list has not changed
much, and that the rankings do not yet take into account the effects of the William and Mary Promise, approved in Spring 2013. After Halleran’s presentation, Faculty Assembly liaison and Associate Professor of Law Eric Chason spoke about the assembly’s plans for the year. Among other goals, the Assembly hopes to allow non-tenure eligible faculty to run for positions. That measure will go up for several votes this fall. Chason also discussed the Faculty Assembly’s resolution on gender climate, which recommends to the College that various faculty members serve as liaisons to the assembly, reporting on the general gender climate on campus, as well as any incidents of sexual assault. “One thing the Faculty Assembly will start working on is the war on gender climate and sexual assault, which at this point is also being pushed for by the Department of Justice Office of Civil Rights investigation, which us and [63] other colleges and universities are a part of,” Chason said. “At this stage now, we’re hoping to work with the rest of the university with efforts in this area.” Following Wolfe’s presentation, the committee entered closed session and adjourned.
Board of Visitors
Board of Visitors convenes for Omohundro Institute, VIMS vessel audits New Director of Audit Kent Erdahl describes in-process, completed reviews of College, Richard Bland College MEREDITH RAMEY FLAT HAT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
CAROL PENG / THE FLAT HAT
Board of Visitors members are appointed by the Governor of the State of Virginia and serve four-year terms on the 17-member board.
The Board of Visitors Committee on Audit and Compliance introduced the new Director of Audit Kent Erdahl ’83. Erdahl described the in-process audit and completed audits of the College of William and Mary and of Richard Bland College. Erdahl said that he is working to identify where internal audits will be of most value given the internal audit department’s limited resources. He plans to have updated policies and procedures by the first quarter of this year. The internal audit department recently completed the audit of the Omohundro Institute and the VIMS vessel review. “This was the first time Omohundro was audited and, not surprisingly, there were a number of audit issues found. … From my perspective, the new director has taken an active role in addressing [these audit issues],” Erdahl said. The VIMS vessel review evaluated the costs of the vessels to set vessel recovery rates, which, according to Erdahl, had not been updated for many years. Erdahl also discussed the review of Procurement cards, or Pcards. Pcards
are charge cards used by employees to purchase items with College funds. “As charge card use increased, so has internal audit time,” Erdahl said. Another area Erdahl plans to address is that of increasing audit department hours. The department is pushing 60 hours used in reviewing the use of Pcards. Erdahl suggested making use of technology to work “smarter.” “For example, we can use the system to help us search the entire database using keywords such as ‘gift cards’ and ‘alcohol,’” Erdahl said. Erdahl introduced his plan to review the 404 Conflict of Interest forms submitted each year and the cash handling procedures across campus. The committee members also discussed the review processes in place at Richard Bland College. Chief Compliance Officer Kiersten Boyce presented on the College’s Compliance and Ethics program at the meeting, including training to prevent compliance problems. “William and Mary doesn’t have a strong history [of training], [but] it’s a new age and a new day and we’re trying to respond to that,” Boyce said.
opinions
Opinions Editor Daria Grastara fhopinions@gmail.com
The Flat Hat | Friday, September 26, 2014 | Page 5
EDITORIAL CARTOON
STAFF EDITORIAL
Living large
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GRAPHIC BY BRIAN KAO / THE FLAT HAT
Safety after Hannah Graham used to be uncommon for me. I will admit that I slipped right into the Williamsburg safety bubble; after my first week on campus I stopped taking my pepper spray out with me under the illusion that I would never need it. Our safety bubble is exactly what causes us to find ourselves in potentially dangerous situations. This paradoxical “too-safe” mindset becomes even more critical when incidents do occur in our community. Stories of assault, among other incidents, become the glaring exception in a community where everyone thinks they are naturally safe. FLAT HAT ASSOC. OPINIONS EDITOR Victims are scrutinized for the circumstances of their situations. They shouldn’t have been drunk. They shouldn’t have been alone Just over a week ago, I was at a friend’s house for movie night, looking like that. They should have known better. But the truth of about a 10 to 15 minute walk from my dorm. By the time our movie the matter is that their only offense was being inculcated with the had ended, it was a little past midnight. It was a weeknight, and not idea that they live in a safe community, where incidents of assault many people were out and about. Not wanting to walk home alone, won’t happen to them. I asked one of my friends to walk with me. He jokingly replied that What makes this mindset so dangerous is that there is no it was a far walk, and he didn’t feel like it. real source of blame for its creation. It follows naturally that in a Normally, this wouldn’t bother me, but community with low crime people are more likely given the gravity of recent events at U.Va., to feel safe. Achieving a low crime rate, however, Achieving a low I felt personally offended that someone I doesn’t mean a community should stop being crime rate, however, considered a friend would allow me to walk proactive. doesn’t mean that a home alone in the middle of the night. When People need to be reminded to prioritize their community should I voiced this concern, he countered me: safety, but whose job is it to remind them? If there stop being proactive. is no single party to blame for this insidious safety “This is Williamsburg. Are you really that worried?” bubble, then whose job is it to fix it? The answer is The striking part of this story is that prior to Hannah Graham’s just as frustrating as the problem. disappearance, I would have agreed with him. As much as I would like to say that everyone needs to remind There are things we trick ourselves into blindly believing: We everyone else to remain aware of their personal safety, I’m not are safe. It won’t happen to us. This is a safe community. Even ignorant enough to find that to be a sufficient response. The if these statements are 99.9 percent true, there is never absolute response I can offer is not much better. All I can say is to be an certainty in their value. In light of recent events, it is inevitable that active bystander. Intervene in what you think could turn into a as individuals, and as a community, we need to recognize that we dangerous situation, and be persistent even when the threat of cannot continue to take our safety for granted. danger is small. We are, in a sense, too safe. We are so well-padded by the idea Don’t allow yourself to fall in the blindness of the safety bubble, of a low community crime rate that we seem to have forgotten the because it’s always better to make a little extra effort to be safe than very basics of personal safety. It’s not uncommon on any given to take the chance, no matter how small it is. night to see a student walking alone on or off campus. It didn’t Email Kaitlan Shaub at kcshaub@email.wm.edu.
Kaitlan Shaub
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n a major victory for students and landlords, the Williamsburg City Council unanimously approved City Lofts’ request to increase its occupancy limit. A former Quality Inn and Suites, City Lofts will now be able to house an additional 92 students. This is a good first step to providing more student housing; other off-campus apartment complexes should make similar requests, which the City Council should strongly consider. The result would only benefit the Williamsburg community and foster greater trust between students and residents. City Lofts may not be the only apartment complex that could increase its occupancy limit. Residences like Griffin Arms Apartments and King and Queens Apartments could determine if their physical capacities are significantly higher than their occupancy limits. If such discrepancies were discovered, the establishments could make the same type of request as City Lofts. Increasing occupancy would benefit landlords, students and local businesses. When more students can live together, the rent per student decreases. Additionally, with more students living off campus, the waiting list for on-campus housing will be shorter. It also gives the College the opportunity to take residence halls offline and improve them throughout the year. Thus, campus life would improve in both the short and the long term. Last year, establishments complained about a loss in revenue that they attributed to the new required meal plan for students living on-campus. If a student has a required meal plan, he or she is likely to purchase an Aromas coffee from the new Mews location with non-taxable Dining Dollars. In contrast, an off-campus student with a smaller meal plan, or often no meal plan, would opt to purchase a taxable coffee from Aromas’ Prince George Street location. When students frequent local businesses, what they pay in sales taxes helps fund the city government. On another note, students trust Williamsburg — its bus system, its roads, its hospitals and its public officials. Yet, many Williamsburg residents deeply distrust students, which the city’s housing laws reflect. (The city originally enacted the three-person rule to prevent women from operating brothels inside their homes.) But expanding off-campus housing could change this mentality among Williamsburg residents. More students living off campus could breed trust between students and residents by engendering mutual respect. Students would be grateful to the city for giving them more and cheaper housing options. With that freedom, they would have a greater respect for the city and its residents and they would demonstrate that respect through their behavior. Students and Williamsburg residents would reciprocate this respect and eventually build trust. Granted, this will be a long process, but it starts with the realization that increasing occupancy for off-campus housing would improve the lives of Williamsburg residents and the College’s students. Hopefully, other apartment complexes near the College will follow City Lofts’ example and the City Council will seriously considers their proposals. 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, Zachary Frank, 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.
Taking a stand against casual racism in a post-9/11 era Lathem Koerner THE FLAT HAT
One often remembers the events of years through national disruption and tragedy. When asked, students often respond with memories of Hurricane Katrina, the Virginia Tech Shooting, or in some cases the financial crisis of 2007. However, the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks offer the most poignant, evocative example of a moment that typifies our generation’s perspective of the world and our place in it. With “Proud to be an American” playing on repeat, our generation tentatively took its first step into adolescence, the world slightly darker than first anticipated. Now, here is a quick aside about the universal concept of guilt. My grandmother is German, very German. Like bratwurst and lederhosen German. She bears her scars for it: During the American invasion of Germany during World War II, the boarding school she lived in to avoid the fighting was bombed, killing eight of her classmates and leaving her blind in her left eye. The only feeling she has towards the Germany of that era is guilt, no idealistic notion of a bucolic homeland, just the concept of a national hatred that destroyed her home. It has been 60 years and the pain still resonates within our family. Like my father before me, I was raised with the sins of our forefathers, who
allowed hatred to obscure their dream of the future. The guilt remains. No word carries more weight within the media than “Nazi,” insulting everyone from politicians to pundits. The only contender is “terrorist.” Both words have become synonymous with evil, injuring the reputation of anyone unfortunate enough to be labeled as such. However, this vilification extends beyond those directly responsible, trickling into the conscious psyche and leaving those ethnically related to bear the brunt of the pain. No case resonates more clearly than the plight of Muslim Americans in the post 9/11 era. The media coverage and declaration of a war on terror have created a hazy atmosphere of mistrust and ignorance in which, to students, Jihadist and Muslim are synonymous. This cloud penetrates in subtle ways — not in distinct moments of racism, but in presuming that innocent Muslims are guilty for the actions of a few violent men. In one of my classes, a Muslim student explained that he was beaten on 9/11 for the actions of jihadists. Reflecting later, he was happy to alleviate even a small amount of pain for the victims of this terrorist attack. Progress never ends, and our generation is the most progressive and open-minded in human history. This journey does not end with laws passed to guarantee equality, but instead is reflected by our daily actions. Acceptance of cultural difference, forgiveness and education guarantee a world where hated slowly erodes into understanding. The College of William and Mary community possesses an opportunity to lead a future of tolerance and acceptance. An atmosphere of hatred could leave us blind, much like my grandmother. Email Lathem Koerner at lpkoerner@email. wm.edu.
GRAPHIC BY DANI ARON-SCHIAVONE / THE FLAT HAT
variety
Variety Editor Tucker Higgins Variety Editor Devon Ivie flathat.variety@gmail.com // @theflathat
The Flat Hat
| Friday, September 26, 2014 | Page 6
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TUcker higgins / THE FLAT HAT
Take a break from the cafeterias and get a taste of other campus cuisine Olivia Flynn The flat hat
This week, I decided to explore the alternative and often neglected options of the College of William and Mary’s dining scene. I visited BBQ 1693, Argo Tea and Boehly Grill. Like the closet hipster that I am, I enjoyed visiting the unconventional tea and lunch options. I was surprised by the overall quality these three dining choices offered. In comparison to the “food factories,” aka the Center Court at the Sadler Center and the Commons Dining Hall, each of these small places had a distinct character outside the dining hall norm. Overall, their niche-like qualities complimented Argo Tea and Boehly Grill, but unfortunately for BBQ 1693, that was not the case.
From a monetary perspective, Argo Tea’s prices are pretty much the same as the drink prices at Aromas. And they accept Dining Dollars, which means that it’s possible to spend all of this “Monopoly money” at places besides Aromas and Dominos. Overall, Argo Tea is a great cafe tucked away in the Business School.
Boehly Grill
On my next stop I ate at Boehly Grill, the main dining option in the Mason School of Business. For lunch, I ordered a simple meal which consisted of
a turkey sandwich and salad. I enjoyed choosing all of the fixings for my sandwich and creating my custom-made salad. The Grill also has a decent burger selection for those times when you don’t want a sandwich. Frankly, my lunch tasted like something I could get at the Sadler Center. On the other hand, the burgers looked fantastic and the service was great. Everyone was helpful and warm. The seating area is beautiful — I felt like a poser sitting in this fancy cafeteria in my handcut jeans while eating my sandwich and chocolate chip cookie. Overall, I enjoyed my lunch at Boehly
Argo Tea
Hours
When I was assigned to review Argo Tea at the Mason School of Business, I had to try their pumpkin spice chai tea. Their pumpkin chai is rooibos-based with notes of pumpkin, cinnamon and chai spice. It’s caffeine-free and a healthy alternative to those sugar-filled indulgent pumpkin spice lattes at Starbucks. For pumpkin spice haters, I would recommend trying Argo Tea’s Earl Grey Vanilla Creme. It’s a sweet twist on the traditional Earl Grey breakfast tea. Argo Tea also has fantastic sandwiches and tasty baked goods. I tried their pistachio macaroon and was enchanted by the bite-size desert. While it might not be Laduree quality, it was certainly delicious. In addition to their delicious drinks and treats, the service was great. The baristas were friendly and efficient — I appreciated their fast pace because I was running late for class.
Grill. I would not definitively insist that every person I know eat there, but in a land of greater evils, Boehly Grill was a great alternative to the Sadler Center’s food.
BBQ 1693
On my final stop, I visited BBQ 1693. At first, this elusive place was a mystery. It actually exists? Where? I walked around and around the Campus Center, creeping on every construction vehicle hoping it was the food truck. In the end, I finally found it in the back of the Campus Center. It was quiet — there were no large crowds, just a food truck with a giant generator. For a sandwich, you choose from BBQ Pulled Pork or BBQ Chicken option. You can make your entree into a combo, such as adding chips and a soda. The server was a kind woman who recommended the “special of the day,” a brisket sandwich. My sandwich was simple: a few pieces of brisket, two squirts of BBQ sauce and a hamburger bun. The brisket was sweet but tough. I ended up spending more time chewing it than enjoying. The experience was underwhelming and lifeless. It’s disappointing, as I’m an ardent food truck follower back home. Overall, I was dissatisfied by the lack of dressings and the limited options from the truck.
Courtesy photo / CYNTHIA GLAVAS
The BBQ 1693 truck, located on the back terrace of the Campus Center, is now open for a few hours every weekday.
Boehly Grill
Argo Tea
Monday — Thursday: 7:00 a.m. — 6:00 p.m.
Monday — Thursday: 7:00 a.m. — 6:00 p.m.
Friday: 7:00 a.m. — 4:30 p.m.
Friday: 7:00 a.m. — 4:30 p.m.
BBQ 1693 Monday — Friday: 11:30 a.m. — 2:00 a.m. Tucker higgins/ THE FLAT HAT
Above, the terrace behind Argo Tea, which accepts Dining Dollars and serves sandwhiches and coffee drinks.
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
Lube. Every 2,000 miles — or tonight? Step 1: Incorporate some lube into your routine. Step 2: Hours (yes, hours) of frictionless fun
To be honest, I really only have one main thing to say about lube: It’s great and you should be using it. If you’re not convinced, read on. A lot of college students have entirely the wrong idea about lube. You might think it’s dated, or a little gross, or that only old people need it. I have to admit, I was a little hesitant to try it at first. That was mostly because an exflame’s mother once suggested to us that we try “spermicidal lubricant,” but cautioned us to be careful because of my sensitive skin. Seriously, that really happened to me, and I still get
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causing breakage. You may be tempted to try Vaseline, lotion or other products that you have on hand, but you’re much safer going to the drug store and dropping a few dollars on a bottle of KY Jelly. At first, it might seem awkward to incorporate lube into your routine, but it can serve to enhance the experience for both partners. For when you’re warming up, give Durex’s “Massage and Play”’ a try. It doubles as a body massage gel and personal lubricant, making both the build-up and the action that much more enjoyable.
Several brands make warming varieties if you’re looking for a slightly different feel. These can also be incorporated from start to finish. A word of caution about warming lube, though: nobody ever enjoys Fire & Ice. Seriously, just don’t do it. No matter your level of experience, you could do with a little lubrication in your life. If you’re just starting out, you can avoid some of the initial discomfort many people experience. If you’ve been at it for a while, you know that sometimes you need a little help, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
If you’re just starting out, you can avoid some of the initial discomfort that some people experience. If you’ve been at it for a while, you know that sometimes you need a little help, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
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Catherine Mahoney BEHIND CLOSED DOORS columnist
uncomfortable when I think about it. Once I got past that trauma, however, I realized that a little lube can be a great thing for both partners. If you’ve never used it before, here is your crash-course in lubing up. In the vast majority of cases, use only water-based products. They are much more convenient to clean up, and are significantly easier to get out of your clothes and sheets than oil or silicon-based varieties. Even more importantly, water-based lubricants are safe to use with condoms, while oilbased varieties can weaken the latex,
Sometimes a little water-based assistance means you can go longer or more frequently without the usual wear-and-tear. To paraphrase a friend, you can avoid the situation where another round sounds great, but you think the friction might make you cry. Using lube is not admitting defeat; it’s simply a great way of getting your body on the same wavelength as your brain. Whatever reservations you may have about trying lube, let them go, go to the drug store and buy a tube. You probably won’t need it every time, but it never hurts to have the option. There isn’t really a wrong way to use it, so start out sparingly and experiment a little with your partner to see what works for you. No matter your style in the bedroom, lube is worth a try. I have yet to hear of a couple that was disappointed. Catherine Mahoney is a behind closed doors columinst who is working on an endorsement deal with durex.
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Friday, September 26, 2014
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tudents at the College of William and Mary form clubs to do everything from salsa dancing to playing Pokémon to eating cheese. While all of these clubs seek to have fun and explore a common interest, many others focus their efforts specifically on social involvement and change. Whether raising awareness or working within the community to help others, Forks, Campus Kitchens, Amnesty International and People for Animals are among the activist groups currently on campus.
Forks
STANDING UP FOR SOCIAL
Whereas Forks is a community of students concerned with active engagement with food, the Campus Kitchens group at the College provides food for those in need. Campus Kitchens delivers meals to underprivileged families in Williamsburg. Members of the club repurpose food donated from grocery stores and restaurants into nutritious meals through three steps: receiving the donated food (“recovery”), preparing the meals (“cooking”), and distributing the meals to those in need (“delivery”). Coordinator Anne Hefele ’15 manages all logistics of the club. One of the main goals of the national branch of Campus Kitchens, which is implemented in the College’s group, is to make sure that those who receive the meals are not simply getting a handout, and that they are being taught useful skills and feel like they are also part of the community. Volunteers not only prepare meals, but also teach families how to put together their own meals using the resources they have. Many of the volunteers also get to know those families on a personal level. Hefele joined the club her freshman year and stressed the importance of integrating oneself into the community while a student at the College. “We live in Williamsburg for four years, and you’re part of the community whether you would like to be or not,” Hefele said. “Make it your home; don’t just live there.”
Amnesty International
As Campus Kitchens gets students involved within the community, Amnesty International concentrates on civil rights and liberties within all communities. Amnesty International works internationally and domestically for any issue pertaining to human rights. The club not only works with students at the College, but with other students at regional conferences and meetings. Group Coordinator Thibault Vermeulen ’16 got involved with the club because he was interested in studying international theories and events on a human level. “We really try to affect change from the bottom by focusing on cases around the world and meeting with other students on different campuses,” Vermeulen said. Students not only discuss issues at the conferences, but brainstorm ways to campaign on behalf of certain initiatives. Samuel Steed ’18, Student Activist Coordinator, has been involved with Amnesty for four years. Intrigued by the human side of international and domestic issues, Steed got involved with the club because of the impact and broad nature of its initiatives. “There’s no organization like Amnesty International in the world. The way we do human rights work on a global scale and a grassroots level is unprecedented in human rights work,” Steed said. This year, the club is geared toward more discussion-based meetings. Members will also be attending regional conferences, hosting paneldiscussion events with professors from the College, and participating in their Rights for Rights campaign to raise awareness on campus about human rights issues.
Forks is a group of students that promotes active engagement with food and food sources. The group meets every Sunday for a potluck dinner and discussion about food. A couple of members are in charge of bringing a main dish each week, and along with the meal, they prepare a topic of conversation for the group. Discussion topics include current food news, new technology, food policies, farming rights and the philosophy of eating — for example, whether we should eliminate meat from our diets completely, or only source foods from locally sustainable farms. Club members also take trips to farmers’ markets, attend talks on pertinent issues, watch food documentaries, and promote social awareness of food issues. Forks founder Katie Caudle ’14 began the club in hopes of fostering a community of active citizenship. “[Forks is] an all-inclusive space for people interested in food not only as a fun thing, but a space in which you’re a moral agent making certain philosophical decisions,” Caudle said. Caudle also emphasized how getting involved with food decisions mirrors ways in which it is important to be involved in other aspects of the community. Forks is not specifically oriented toward creating big events, but it does produce small projects, such as a pocket guide for sustainable food in Virginia and a recipe blog.
Campus Kitchens
Plans for this year include the weekly meal preparation, the Fun at Five program where students play with kids, a spring barbeque, a “turkey palooza” event and a mentoring program.
Students across campus are getting together to change the world in ways big and small HALEY ARATA // flat hat STAFF WRITER
PHOTO BY TUCKER HIGGINS / THE FLAT HAT
Courtesy photo / Thibault Vermeulen
“There’s no organization like Amnesty International in the world. The way we do human rights work on a global scale and a grassroots level is unprecedented in human rights work,” Samuel Steed ’18 said.
People for Animals
Transitioning from human rights to animal rights, People for Animals is a new group dedicated to animal rights activism. The group addresses a wide variety of topics, including vegan and vegetarianism lifestyles, sustainable farming and wildlife protection and awareness. Made up of students with varying interests, the club discusses and campaigns on behalf of specific animal rights issues, and raises awareness about the impact humans have on animals and the rest of the world. The club does not only focus on vegan and vegetarian issues; one of its biggest initiatives this year is to get dining services to provide more options for those who don’t eat meat or animal products. One of the club’s founders, Meagan Phillips ’17, is excited about the growth of the club and its emphasis on the importance of student involvement in issues they are passionate about. Phillips hopes having a support system for those with the same goals — whether that is avid animal rights, veganism or more dining options — will create change within our community. “Before you come to college, you have to submit to your family’s ways whether you agree with them or not,” Philips said. “And now you’re here, with a chance to think about how to increase a positive influence on the world.” Although the club is young, there are many plans for group activism. As education is a key component of social activism, People for Animals hopes to go into local schools to talk to kids about sustainability and animal rights issues. Movie screenings, guest speakers and a vegan potluck are also on the horizon.
Courtesy photo / WM FORKS
Forks members take trips to farmers’ markets, attend talks on pertinent issues, watch food documentaries, and promote social awareness of food issues.
Because you’re mine, this club walks the slack line Bailey Kirkpatrick flat hat Assoc. Variety Editor
What happens when walking on air, cloth webbing and jumping tricks seamlessly combine? Slacklining, obviously. If you’ve ever walked through campus and seen groups of people walking on what appear to be tightropes set up between trees, then you have witnessed this phenomenon in action. Slacklining is a cross-training exercise which involves anchoring a narrow stretch of webbing between two anchor points — usually trees — and walking from one end of the other while balancing and completing skilled tricks. This exercise is not to be confused with tightrope walking, a popular circus activity. “Slacklining is an athletic activity that involves stretching webbing between two anchor points and trying to walk across it and do tricks,” Ryan Shintani B.A. ’12 M.S. ’14 said. “The material is elastic so you can stretch it, jump on it, and so on.” According to Shintani, who started an informal slacklining club at the College of William and Mary, slacklining was a sport invented by “some bored rock climbers” to incorporate cross and core-training into their workouts, thus improving their athletic performance. Shintani is an avid rock
climber himself. Shintani first discovered the sport at Dominion Riverrock, an outdoor festival in Richmond, Va., which he attended to watch a professional climbing tournament. While there he spotted a slackline tournament simultaneously occurring. Shintani said that at first it looked like gymnastics but on webbing. He was hooked. So inspired, in fact, that he bought a slackline and has been doing it ever since. Caitlin Jamison ’16 is also living the double life of a rockclimber and slackliner. “I like it because it’s very zen,” Jamison said. “You can concentrate without actually thinking about it and it requires a lot of focus and determination.” Every Sunday on the Colonial Williamsburg side of the Sir Christopher Wren Building, the group meets, weather permitting, to practice. Over the years, the group has grown. “I was always really curious about it and it was a great excuse to get outdoors,” Ian Hernandez ’17 said. “It is a time where I can focus on something other than what is going on around me, which is something you can never really do at school because of all the deadlines you are worried about.” While slacklining may look deceptively easy, it actually requires a great deal of mental and physical patience and strength. “You always have to fight yourself a little because
your body is doing something it is not accustomed to,” Jamison said. “You normally have a safety [net] underneath you and with slacklining you don’t, so you have to mentally push past your fears. You become completely self aware and learn how the tiniest shifts of your bodies can affect the line.” Slacklining is a recreational activity, but it’s one often used to hone in on your body and learn to focus. “I love the focus aspect and really like the thrill of doing something a lot of people don’t do,” Shintani said. “It is so fun when you finally walk backwards and forwards and backwards, spin, or jump.” Shintani has been practicing for a few years and has reached the level where he can spin on his knee and also jump along the rope. Both Jamison and Hernandez have been working toward doing tricks on the line. However, like other physical activities, progress is easily measurable. “Every time you get back on the rope you are actively progressing,” Jamison said. “Each time you get a little better and you can measure your progress in steps. Eventually you reach one side and then you start coming back.” Shintani and Jamison welcome any student interested in trying slacklining out for the first time to join them for a club gathering on Sundays. They stress that no experience is necessary to try the sport.
Courtesy photo / RYAN SHINTANI
Above, Caitlin Jamison ’16 slacklines on campus. “You normally have a safety [net] underneath you and with slacklining you don’t, so you have to mentally push past your fears,” Jamison said.
sports
Sports Editor Mick Sloan Sports Editor Chris Weber flathatsports@gmail.com @FlatHatSports
The Flat Hat | Tuesday, September 26, 2014 | Page 8
VOLLEYBALL
College drops eighth consecutive with 3-0 loss to Rams Tribe shares lead only five times, leads once in second set as season ledger reaches 4-10 SUMNER HIGGINBOTHAM FLAT HAT STAFF WRITER William and Mary (4-10) failed yet again to hit its stride, dropping their seventh straight loss to VCU (6-7) Tuesday night in Kaplan Arena. VCU won the match by a set score of 3-0, marking the third straight loss in which Tribe volleyball has not won a set. The College’s last set victory was Sept. 19 against Howard and the Tribe’s last win was Sept. 6 in a 3-1 victory over Lehigh. The Rams dominated throughout the match, winning the first set 25-16 without giving up a single lead change or even tie score to the Tribe. The College kept errors down for the most part, but VCU still claimed the category with a 4-5 advantage in the first set.
The second set was much closer, as the score knotted up on five different occasions. Early on, the match was highly competitive; however, the Tribe was only able to take the lead once, which was not enough to stave off a 25-15 defeat. At one point, the College only trailed 8-9, but the Rams’ 9-1 run killed any momentum the Tribe had hoped to build. As in Brickerd the previous set, VCU held the advantage for errors, committing only six as compared to the College’s nine. VCU finished the final set as it had started, jumping to a 4-0 lead on the Tribe. The Rams never looked back as the team cruised to a final set
victory of 25-10 including an 11-0 run right in the middle of the set. However, the College showed grit with the game well beyond reach, as the Tribe notched three straight points to close the deficit while VCU sat poised at the edge of victory with 23 points. In the end, the Rams stopped the Tribe’s comeback effort with two points to close the game. The Rams’ senior middle blocker and junior outside hitter each racked up 11 kills for VCU, as the College was unable to match the two players’ dominant performances. Both junior outside hitter Mallory Brickerd and freshman outside hitter Maddie Sanford played well, garnering four kills apiece for the Tribe. Brickerd also added a team-high 29 attempts. Another bright spot in an otherwise dismal matchup, junior outside hitter Dessi Koleva recorded 24 attempts.
MEN’S SOCCER
Up next for the Tribe is Colonial Athletic Association conference opponent and in-state rival James Madison University (8-5) at home in Kaplan Arena. The Tribe will look to get back on track for the season; however, the Dukes are riding a three-game winning streak entering the match. Start time is set at 7 p.m. on Friday night.
UPCOMING Football: at Stony Brook, Saturday 6 p.m. Women’s Soccer: vs Northeastern, Friday 7 p.m. Men’s Soccer: vs UNC-Wilmington, Saturday 7 p.m.
FOOTBALL
Tribe traveling to face Stony Brook In search of first CAA win MICK SLOAN FLAT HAT SPORTS EDITOR
COURTESY PHOTO / TRIBE ATHLETICS
Senior forward Chris Albiston logged a team-leading fourth goal of the season in the 97th minute against UMBC — the goal secured a 2-1 win heading into the CAA schedule.
Golden goal
Albiston scores game winner as Tribe snaps four-game skid JACK POWERS FLAT HAT ASSOC. SPORTS EDITOR William and Mary’s 1-0 deficit against University of Maryland–Baltimore County seemed insurmountable halfway through the second period, especially given the College’s recent offensive futility. But, after four scoreless games, the Tribe’s long-dormant offense surged to a 2-1 overtime victory in Baltimore, Md. Wednesday night. Senior forward Chris Albiston nailed a golden goal in the 97th minute to snap his team’s four-game losing streak. The Tribe improved to 3-5 with the overtime win, while the Retrievers fell to 3-3-2. The outcome belied a steep deficit in shots, as the Tribe produced seven to the Retrievers’ fourteen. UMBC held possession and looked more dangerous on the offensive end for most of the game, but in the last 20 minutes of regulation and overtime, the College increased its offensive pressure and scored both of its goals. “We are pleased to get a win,” head coach Chris Norris told Tribe Athletics. “We’ve had a tough stretch and it’s been testing mentally, but we hung in there tonight, and despite going a goal behind, managed to keep fighting. Most importantly, we made timely plays in both penalty areas that enabled us to win.” Although junior midfielder Jackson Eskay took the first shot on goal of the game in the fourth minute, UMBC goalkeeper Phil Breno saved it. UMBC notched seven shots in the first half compared to the College’s three. Both teams headed into halftime without a goal, largely due to senior goalkeeper Bennett Jones’s two
saves and Breno’s three. Sophomore forward Reilly Maw provided the Tribe’s final chance of the half, but Breno turned away Maw’s shot on-goal in the 38th minute. The Retrievers broke through in the 65th minute off a free kick following a Tribe foul. Midfielder Mamadou Kansaye played the free kick over the College’s back line and into the goal box, where defender Oumar Ballo headed the ball past Jones’s outstretched hands for the first goal of the match. After not having scored in the previous 450 minutes of gameplay, the College needed to find an answer quickly. In a twist, the Tribe tied the game just 10 minutes later. Freshman midfielder William Eskay — who has started every match this year alongside his brother, Jackson — gave his team the boost it needed with his first career goal. After a UMBC turnover, Eskay received the ball at the top of the box and took advantage of an open angle to
fire the ball just over Breno’s reach. Neither team threatened during the final 15 minutes of regulation, setting up the Tribe’s first overtime period of the season. The College needed just seven minutes to end it on its own terms. Streaking down the right side of the offensive third, senior Josh West crossed the ball to Albiston in the box. Albiston then fired a shot past Breno into the right side of the net. The golden goal was Albiston’s fourth of the season, a team high. After finishing as the runner-up in last year’s Colonial Athletic Association tournament, the Tribe will begin its conference season this Saturday against North Carolina-Wilmington (6-1-1). UNC-Wilmington earned wins over three ranked teams this season, most recently against No. 23 Duke. The match will be held at Martin Family Stadium and is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
COURTESY PHOTO / TRIBE ATHLETICS
Freshman midfielder William Eskay, brother of junior midfielder Jackson Eskay, scored his first collegiate goal.
William and Mary’s season has unfolded with surprising drama through four games. The Tribe is still forming an offensive identity as sophomore quarterback Steve Cluley acclimates to his new starting role. The College has suffered injuries to key players across the roster, with senior receiver Tre McBride, senior tight end Bo Revell, senior linebacker Airek Green and junior running back Mikal Abdul-Saboor each missing time. Despite the uncertainty and injuries, the College rode a wave of heroics from McBride, its backs and a seemingly endless flow of timely turnovers by the defense, picking up three consecutive double-digit wins and a 3-1 record. Adding to the chaotic success, Cluley surprised fans by rushing for 111 yards in last weekend’s comeback win over Lafayette. The Tribe’s season is still in its early stage, and the team appears to be discovering its own capabilities as it moves forward. The College needs to operate at full capacity Saturday, when it travels to New York to face Stony Brook (1-3). The game marks the opening of the Tribe’s Colonial Athletic Association conference schedule, a sequence of eight games that will determine its fate. Although Stony Brook has struggled so far this year — averaging just 11.5 points over its first four games — the College cannot afford a stumble so early in its CAA slate. Offensive creativity will once again be important. The Tribe piled up 210 rushing yards against Lafayette, proving once again that its offense starts from the ground. But the College will be unable to rely on simple rushes between the tackles all season long, explaining its diverse attack over the past few weeks. Head coach Jimmye Laycock and his staff have remained committed to throwing downfield, with modest success so far. McBride has corralled long passes, which immediately led to Tribe touchdowns in the past two games, but the College needs to be more efficient on those plays to keep defenses fearful of a deep threat. Establishing a more INJURIES potent passing game has been a top priority since OUT: senior the beginning of the year linebacker Airek and is all the more critical Green, sophomore as CAA play begins. Stony punter Hunter Brook is a less intimidating Windmuller. conference opponent and QUESTIONABLE: the Tribe can afford to senior wideout experiment offensively in Sean Ballard, junior this matchup. tailback Mikal Abdul Another storyline to Saboor, freshman watch this week concerns lineman Chris Cluley’s newly-revealed Durant, freshman rushing ability. Cluley’s Connor Hilland. 60-yard run on a designed read-option rush was a crucial play in the win over Lafayette and the College needs to decide how to incorporate the weapon into its arsenal. Read-option rushes with a mobile quarterback can be difficult for unsuspecting defenses to combat, and using Cluley as a runner gives the Tribe another offensive outlet as it continues to straighten out its passing game. Defensively, the College must focus on Stony Brook’s running game. The Seawolves have leaned heavily on their rushing attack this season, controlling the time of possession in three out of their four games by running the ball and keeping opposing offenses off the field. Notably, the Seawolves rushed for 300 yards and attempted just two passes in the team’s sole win of the season, a 20-3 rout of American International. To win, the Tribe must stop Stony Brook’s rushing attack and force the Seawolves to throw. As has been the case for the past three weeks, Saturday’s game gives the Tribe another chance to show early season adjustments and build offensive confidence. The College has a week off following its contest against Stony Brook, so a win would allow it to carry momentum into the rest of the season. The game kicks off at 6 p.m.