SPORTS>> PAGE 8
VARIETY >> PAGE 6
College fights hard, but struggles to move the ball in the second half..
Find out how do the new dining options fair.
Sodexo is in, Aramark is out
Tribe stumbles to 34-9 loss
Vol. 104, Iss. 3 | Tuesday, September 2, 2014
The Flat Hat The Twice-Weekly Student Newspaper
of The College of William and Mary
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Dining
ww
Selecting Sodexo Jack Powers Flat Hat ASSOC. Sports Editor
Sodexo USA became the College of William and Mary’s new dining services provider July 1 under a 10-year contract. To better understand the context of the administration’s selection of Sodexo and its significance for the future of campus dining, The Flat Hat requested official documents and emails related to the decision using the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). While students first learned of the College’s intent to award a new dining services contract from Vice President of Administration Anna B. Martin’s email announcement Feb. 4, the evaluation process began more than six months earlier. Among three bidders, the administration ultimately chose Sodexo, which at the time was facing protests for one of its laborcompensation policies.
Chosen amid controversy In August 2013, Sodexo changed its definition of a full-time worker, to whom the company would need to provide health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. The change classified full-time workers as employees who worked an average of 30 hours per week over a 52-week period and redefined thousands of college dining workers as part-time labor if they did not work during the summer sessions and other breaks, thus denying them company healthcare benefits. In March, one month after Martin announced the College’s selection of Sodexo and three months before Sodexo revised the controversial labor practice, members of the organization Living Wages at the University of Virginia protested the school’s consideration of Sodexo, citing claims that the company deprived low-wage employees of healthcare benefits, as reported in The Cavalier Daily. An April 3 article by the newspaper reported that Patrick Hogan, the University of Virginia’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, announced that Sodexo was not officially under consideration as the university’s new dining services provider because the company never submitted a bid for the contract. Sodexo revised the controversial policy in June after protests at the University of Virginia, the University of Vermont, and other colleges and universities. However, the protests were not cited as the cause for the revision. According to a June 27 article in
The Wall Street Journal, Sodexo also announced “it will provide a credit to employees who work at seasonal locations such as universities. So if such workers log an average of 30 hours when school is in session, they will be credited with similar hours for the weeks when school is closed, for the purpose of classification.” Though the labor policies have since changed, the manual given to new College Sodexo employees in May contained the protested labor practices. The benefits section of the document reads, in part, “Employees who are classified as full-time status are eligible for the following benefits. To be considered full-time, an employee must work an average of 30 hours per week for each 52 week measurement period from October to October.” During the fiscal year 2012-13, 73 percent of non-student campus dining workers at the College were listed as full-time under Aramark, the College’s previous dining provider. Many of these employees could have been reclassified as part-time under Sodexo because of the long breaks inherent in college dining. These labor practices were in place when the College announced its intent to award the dining contract to Sodexo, though Sodexo changed these policies after the contract was signed. Sodexo’s definition of a full-time worker was not specifically mentioned in any of the hundreds of email correspondences or pages of official documents obtained by The Flat Hat in relation to the decision. “This was not an area that was considered or scored as part of the procurement process. The College is not involved with how Sodexo, or any contracted service, interprets and responds to federal laws. However, the College did require that Sodexo hire hourly employees, who wanted to transition to Sodexo from Aramark, into a similar position and honor their accrued seniority for benefits and pay,” Director of Auxiliary Services Cindy Glavas, a member of the Dining Services Committee who made the eventual decision, said in an email last week. One of the questions in the College’s follow-up to Sodexo’s proposal references a drop in labor costs under the company’s projections. The College asked Sodexo’s representatives to clarify if their projected $1.48 million reduction in labor between last year and their first year of operation would affect the quality
Dining
of services. In its answer, Sodexo did not describe where these reductions were coming from. “It starts with leading by example,” Sodexo’s answer reads, in part. “Sodexo’s on-site leadership team is on the floor during peak hours working to motivate and inspire team excellence and to promote individual accountability. It is crucial that hourly employees understand the new vision for dining services and the role they play in bringing that very different vision to life. From day one, our operations team will provide each employee clear and definite expectations for service excellence. Each day, the resident district manager, executive chef, and members of the operations teams will conduct daily huddles with the hourly employees at each venue. These huddles occur at each service station and ensure the team is engaged and understands specials, promotions, menu enhancements, and service delivery expectations. Finally, employees will receive more than a 1,000 hours of training to help them enhance their skill sets and deliver outstanding customer expectations.” While The Flat Hat could not determine the original labor costs that are being reduced under Sodexo according to the proposal, the total labor projected for year one on the proforma was $5,911,000. In October 2013, Timothy Donovan, chancellor of Vermont State Colleges, told Sodexo that the company could not implement the full-time worker definition changes, citing the organization’s original contract with the company. The official contract between the College of William and Mary and Sodexo, signed May 6, two and a half months before Sodexo reversed its definition of a full-time worker, and less than a month before it took over operations, does not feature any provisions for Sodexo’s responsibility toward its workers after they’ve been hired. Sodexo announced the relaxation of its definition of full-time worker June 24, which the company said was part of a standard review of company policy. At the time of the change, frequent protests at campuses across the country and calls for unionization among cafeteria workers were occurring. See SODEXO page 3
CAROL PENG / THE FLAT HAT
The Flat Hat recounts the College’s vendor decision process, outlines proposals
Student Life
Tribe Square incorporated in meal plan Title IX brings changes Administrators explain decision to allow Dining Dollar use in Pita Pit, MOOYAH
College updates sexual assault policies
Aine Cain Flat Hat News EDITOR
Sarah Caspari Flat Hat Chief Staff Writer
The Tribe Square restaurants have been included on the meal plan as of July 1, following negotiations between owners, College of William and Mary administrators and the school’s new dining services provider, Sodexo USA. Last year, MOOYAH, Pita Pit, the Crust and Subway (which has since closed), complained that the College’s mandatory on-campus meal plan hurt their businesses. Vice President for Administration Anna B. Martin disagreed and said that a combination of circumstances led to last year’s decreased revenues. She explained that it was impossible to add the eateries to the meal plan in January at the beginning of a semester that saw the College choosing between renewing a contract with Aramark or selecting Sodexo instead. “What happed was that in the process of going through the RFP [request for proposal], the proposers [Aramark and Sodexo] were
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then told that we’d want them to take the Tribe Square tenants and put them under their umbrella as subcontractors,” Martin said. “When the contract was then awarded to Sodexo, they began working with those four tenants so that this could be initiated July 1 when they took over. If Aramark had still been the provider, on July 1 [the Tribe Square proprietors] would have been under the umbrella of Aramark as subcontractors. Had it been in the fifth year of a Martin ten year contract, we’d have approached it in a different way, but if you’re in a position when the RFPs have gone out, the proposals have come in, it just makes more sense to say, ‘we can do this but we have to do this in a more logical way.’ We’ll make it available to you in July.” Associate Vice President of University Relations Brian Whitson noted that the
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negotiations needed to happen between Tribe Square and the College’s dining service provider, not the College itself. “This was always an agreement that needed to be reached directly between … the university’s independently contracted dining services provider (Sodexo as of July 1) and the owners of the Tribe Square businesses,” Whitson said in an email. “We were delighted to help facilitate those talks between both sides and think this will be a positive step for everyone involved.” Pita Pit owner Kim Twine expressed her gratitude for the increased communication between the Tribe Square owners, Sodexo and the school administration. She noted that College President Taylor Reveley gave the Tribe Square proprietors an “open door policy” to contact him if they have any issues in the future. However, she explained that other local vendors have slim chance of ending up on the meal plan, going forward.
To comply with Title IX regulations regarding schools’ procedures for dealing with sexual assault and harassment, the College of William and Mary has updated its policy on discrimination, harassment and retaliation. The new policy gives details on reporting cases of sexual harassment, as well as how employees of the College must handle them. One stipulation of the policy is that any case of sexual harassment reported to a College employee involving a student must be referred to the Office of Compliance and Policy and the Dean of Students’ Office. “What we now have is greater clarity from [the] Office of Civil Rights in [the] Department of Education,” Director of Compliance and Title IX Coordinator Kiersten Boyce said. “If [employees] have any kind of role in the conduct process, any role in enforcing conduct rules, then they’re considered responsible employees. That means that if they become aware of sexual assault, then the institution becomes aware of sexual assault and we have an obligation to respond. … That means that an anonymous report, once they’re aware of it, they’ve got to pass it on.” In the investigation that ensues, however, it may be impossible
See TRIBE SQUARE page 3
See POLICY page 3
Inside VARIETY
Inside opinions
Sororities are bumpin’
The rush tactic of bumping is as superficial as a Tinder relationship. page 4 Clear High 100, Low 73
MKTO fails to impress campus The pop duo make some noise at Lake Matoka Amphitheater. page 5
newsinsight “
News Editor Áine Cain News Editor Rohan Desai fhnews@gmail.com
The Flat Hat | Tuesday, September 2, 2014 | Page 2
“
THE BUZZ
Nobody thinks that it’s really going to make a big difference in our sales, but we are determined to show them that this mandatory meal plan really hurt everyone and our sales can only go up from here.
— Pita Pit owner Kim Twine on adding the Tribe Square venues to the meal plan
THE DIGITAL DAY
Snapchats from Students GRAPHIC BY MOLLY MENICKELLY / the FLAT HAT
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A THOUSAND WORDS
60 Second Stories The Flat Hat is beginning a podcast show called “60 Second Stories,” where students and professors can tell a quick story about their life at the College of William and Mary. Next week, “60 Second Stories” will be running a special series on 9/11. We are looking for students from all over the country and globe, as well as faculty and staff to share their memories of the day. If you have a story you’d like to share about 9/11, email flathatonline@gmail.
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The Blog Log
The Flat Hat
“Last Lap” Blogger Rachel Brown takes readers through her last year at the College of William and Mary “As I drove down Jamestown Road last week to pick up my dorm keys, I’ll admit I held back tears thinking about how I was about to start my last year of
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college. (And I’ll admit that I was driving right on my dad’s bumper, hoping he would go a little faster so that I could get to campus more quickly.)”
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CITY POLICE BEAT
Aug. 26-29 ashley richardson / the FLAT HAT
The Flat Hat
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Tuesday, August 26 — A case of fraud was reported on Richmond Road.
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Friday, Aug. 29 — An individual was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol on Monticello Avenue.
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Friday, Aug. 29 — An individual is was arrested for public drunkenness at the Graduate Complex.
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NEWS IN BRIEF Sen. Kaine visits VIMS U.S. Senator Tim Kaine visited the College of William and Mary’s Virginia Institute of Marine Science Aug. 25 as part of his two-week tour of Virginia sites. While at VIMS, Kaine discussed sea-level rise, blue crabs and oysters, three issues affecting the state. Meeting with professors and VIMS researchers, Kaine said that he feels scientific institutions are key to the state’s success. He noted that science helped inform his policymaking during his term as governor of Virginia. While in office, Kaine closed a dredge fishery for blue crabs and decided against introducing a non-native oyster.
Senator Warner encourages state to name Puller Clinic ‘Center of Excellence’
Graduate student elected to American Physical Society
Senator Mark Warner wrote a letter to Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert McDonald Aug. 27. In the letter, Warner encouraged McDonald to designate the Marshall-Wythe School of Law’s Puller Veterans Clinic a Veterans Benefits Center for Excellence. The change would allow the College of William and Mary to help more military veterans get disability claims submitted and processed more efficiently. The Puller Clinic serves veterans by providing pro bono legal services, and assists injured active duty servicemen and -women.
College of William and Mary graduate student Valerie Gray is the new chairelect for the American Physical Society Forum on Graduate Student Affairs. Gray received her bachelor’s degree at St. Norbert College. FGSA’s aim is to facilitate and encourage graduate students’ involvement in the American Physical Society and the general scientific community. Gray has continued her work in physics as a graduate student since her arrival at the College in 2011, and will begin her term with the American Physical Society in January.
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
The Flat Hat
Page 3
Construction
Pi Phi house undergoes series of renovations Sorority Court house receives hazmat remediation in crawl space, asbestos clearing in foundation Bailey Kirkpatrick flat hat Assoc. Variety editor
andrew cavell / THE FLAT HAT
The Pi Beta Phi sorority will move into a renovated house on Richmond Road later in the academic year.
The Virginia Gamma chapter of the Pi Beta Phi sorority at the College of William and Mary will move into a renovated house later this year. The house, located in Sorority Court on Richmond Road, recently underwent a hazardous materials remediation in its crawl space. On Wednesday, the crew completed the preparation work for renovations to begin on the house. “The past 10 days they’ve been prepping the
foundation of the house,” Director of Planning, Design and Construction Wayne Boy said. “We are adding an addition to the house, and are expanding it, so we needed to clear the foundation of asbestos to be able to work down there.” While the foundation was being prepped, project management received its permit. The contractor will begin work Tuesday, with the goal of completing the project in the last week of February. Students who intended to live in the house this year will be relocated to House 11 in Sorority Court until the renovations are completed.
“The first floor of the house will be receiving a major facelift,” Boy said. Specifically, the kitchen will be expanded. Other first floor renovations include the addition of an ADA-capable room, or a room accessible by wheelchair. On the second floor, above the kitchen, a new bathroom will be installed. The third floor bathroom will also be renovated. “We are also going to install new windows, insulate the outer walls, and install an HVAC [heating, ventilation, air conditioning] system,” Boy said.
Rationale behind Sodexo decision College adds off-campus dining options SODEXO from page 1
“I think that all organizations over the past two years, since that change came in the ACA, private and public organizations are all trying to figure out,” Martin said last week. “For example, it took us a year to figure out how we were going to treat adjuncts under that circumstance, and you had to wait for the IRS to give you some definitions and those sorts of things. So I think it was just because you were in the middle; it wasn’t like it was already established and they were working it out in the middle of that. So I don’t think there’s anything there other than they were figuring out how to do it under the new conditions we are all working under.” In its initial proposal, Sodexo stated, “Financial agreement will be adjusted to reflect additional costs incurred by Affordable Care Act.” However, this stipulation was not made in the official contract, and Martin said Sodexo’s recent switch would not affect the financial projections of the partnership. “It all fit together,” Martin said. “We knew at the end what it would be so we know in the end what the finances are.”
Sodexo had a larger composite score in all five categories in the final selection process, receiving a total of 603 points to Aramark’s 527. Though the largest discrepancy by percentage was in the SWaM section, Sodexo’s 25-point advantage in the cost category was instrumental in its selection as outlined in the table below. It is not clear whether the company’s redefinition of fulltime workers had any effect on the competitiveness of Sodexo’s financial agreements with the College. Sodexo’s proposal gave the College a 12 percent commission rate, over Aramark’s 8 percent, of net revenue. The daily rate for meal plans charged to the College is cheaper under Sodexo than its competitors with Freedom Unlimited, Gold 19, Gold 14, Block 125, and Block 100 all at least $1.50 less. The projected total cost to the College for meal plans under Sodexo was $13,071,510, compared to Aramark’s estimate of $14,320,669. The year one pro forma projections made by Sodexo included total revenue of $16,251,353 with $5,911,349 in labor cost, $6,161,951 in product
costs, and an operating cost of $935,944. Sodexo’s initial proposal from the evaluation sheets stipulated a $250,000 annual commission for the first five years of the contract term, though that number increased to $600,000 over the course of the negotiation process. Jan. 28th, six days before the email announcement, Sodexo agreed to the following term: “The reasonable compensation for the dining services at the College of William and Mary is $600,000 for the first year. If the total compensation received or retained by Sodexo in any fiscal year is more than the Reasonable Compensation, Sodexo shall refund the amount of any such excess to University within thirty days of the end of such year.” Sodexo projected a $7,493,201 revenue increase between year one and year ten and an overall revenue total of $198,852,444 over the ten-year period. William and Mary’s projected profits from Sodexo’s operations were redacted in the official documents received by The Flat Hat, and how much the College stands to potentially gain from the agreement remains unclear.
Crunching the numbers During the selection process, the seven-person selection committee rated Aramark, Sodexo and Chartwells/ Thompson — a vendor who was removed from the process by the final decision — on SWaM utilization (the utilization of small businesses and businesses owned by women and minorities as vendors), responsiveness, experience, cost and product capabilities. The last two categories were weighted the most. The group’s aggregated scores decided the selection and, of the seven committee members who ranked the vendors, one student, Colin Danly ’15, was included. At the time, Danly was a Student Assembly senator for the Class of 2015.
TRIBE SQUARE from page 1
“We know for a fact we will never be allowed on swipes,” Twine said. “We can’t really go into much detail, but it’s part of [Sodexo’s] business model. They don’t offer that to anyone, ever. … Sodexo isn’t allowed to add any other places. … No places like Brickhouse will ever be allowed on the meal plan; that’s what the College has told us.” Twine said she is most excited to implement Pita Pit’s on-campus delivery option. She said she believes revenues will increase dramatically this semester. “Nobody thinks that it’s really going to make a big difference in our sales, but we are determined to show them that this mandatory meal plan really hurt everyone and our sales can only go up from here,” Twine said. Despite looking forward to implementing a new online ordering system and potentially extending store hours, MOOYAH owner Alpen Patel expressed some disappointment in being excluded from meal swipes. “After we talked to Ms. Martin
and President Revelely back on Jan. 22, we were under the impression that they would negotiate with Sodexo to get us on the meal swipes — all four restaurants were under that impression,” Patel said. “But when it came to negotiating with Sodexo, we later found out that that wasn’t on the table; it was either take Sodexo’s offer or take no offer. Going into this new semester, I’m borderline satisfied and borderline unsatisfied.” Martin refutes the charge that meal swipes were ever up for negotiations. She explained that including subcontractors on meal swipes would go against standard industry practice. “What’s true even on campus is that you don’t use meal swipes in Swem; you use Dining Dollars,” Martin said. “We increased the amount of Dining Dollars in the meal plan, because that’s what students want. We added another $1.6 million worth of Dining Dollars every year. I think the struggle is with the tenants understanding what it means to be part of the meal plan.” MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes Vice President of
Operations and Franchise Development Michael Mabry explained that MOOYAH has also been included on meal plans at Baylor University, University of Texas San Antonio, Southeastern Louisiana University and University of Central Arkansas — all Aramark locations. “[The mandatory meal plan at the College] almost put us out of business,” Mabry said in an email. “We are ecstatic. Our brand fits perfectly with the college age student.” Pita Pit Vice President of Brand Marketing Kevin Sanders also noted that a number of Pita Pits across the country are included on university meal plans. Universities own some of the eateries, while others, like the restaurant at the College, are independent franchises. “Providing students with more choice and better access to healthier food options is never a bad thing,” Sanders said in an email. “We understand that these decisions take time and appreciate everyone’s perseverance. In the end, we believe it was the right decision for everyone involved — especially the students.”
CAREERS at the NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY
NSA IS COMING TO YOUR CAMPUS andrew cavell / THE FLAT HAT
A dining services committee assessed vendors on a range of criteria, in which Sodexo had the best score.
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For screenshots of the documents, check flathatnews.com.
RAs may be required to disclose names in certain incidents of sexual assault POLICY from page 1
to maintain the student’s anonymity. Employees, including RAs, can continue to make reports that keep the parties involved anonymous, but may be required to disclose the names at a later point if the survivor’s identity becomes critical to the investigation. Cases in which names would have to be disclosed involve those, for example, in which the safety of the student body at large is endangered. Dean of Students Marjorie Thomas emphasized that the purpose of this is only to offer resources and assistance to the student, not to push the student to take any further action. “As an institution we have to make sure that we’re looking out for the individual who’s trying to maintain their privacy, as well as protect the safety of that individual and the community at large,” Thomas said. However, she made a distinction between confidentiality and privacy. While the disclosure of a student’s identity in a report compromises confidentiality, the student’s name will not be revealed to a greater audience without his or her consent. The new policy lists several resources that will continue to offer students the promise of complete anonymity. Donna Haygood Jackson, Senior
Assistant Dean of Students and CARE Services & Sexual Assault Response Services, is available to provide students with what she calls a “safe space” to talk through problems and explore possible courses of action — without worrying that their cases will have to be reported. “It’s a place for students to still feel some empowerment,” Haygood Jackson said. “We can just talk about it and help them decide what would be best for them.” The Office of Compliance and Policy is also working to make survivors of sexual discrimination more aware of their options. They have printed informational pamphlets to distribute to faculty and staff about how to help a student who has experienced harassment. The pamphlets come with inserts printed with information on resources to give to students. Boyce and Thomas both said that striking the balance between what Title IX requires the College to investigate and respecting students’ wishes for privacy can be tricky, but that the ultimate goal is to offer students the best information and care possible. “It’s beyond just checking the boxes to make sure we do what the government said,” Thomas said. “It’s about making sure we’re all on the same page about expectations, and knowing that harming another member of our community is not going to be tolerated.”
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opinions
Opinions Editor Daria Grastara Assoc. Opinions Editor Kaitlan Shaub fhopinions@gmail.com // @theflathat
The Flat Hat | Tuesday, September 2, 2014 | Page 4
editorial cartoon
Staff Editorial
Sodexo slump L
By Brian Kao, flat hat Graphic Designer
Sororities should not be bumpin’ the country practice it. It makes sense: Sororities are big, and bumping, I’m sure, makes getting to know PNMs much more efficient. But that this process has a name, and that sororities spend time practicing their bumping, is a bit discomforting, even though it is not entirely surprising. It feels like something taken out of “The Stepford Wives.” Besides the chill that the word sends up my spine, the problem with bumping and, more generally, with intricately planning flat hat opinions columnist social interactions, is that it doesn’t leave much room for the spontaneity in which the magic of friendships lies. Rather, It’s week two at the College of William and Mary, meaning bumping is indicative of the part of Greek life that I most dislike: fraternities are mid-rush, and this coming Friday, sororities will the commodification of friendships. Abstractly, rush is a period in which each Greek organization be too. Regardless of whether you’ve been through the whole rush ordeal or not, you’re probably aware that much of the process is aims to make more new friends and friends who are in some very superficial — looks, attire, ability to make meaningless small nebulous way better than the new friends every other Greek organization is making. Bumping strikes me as a commonly held talk: they’re all taken into consideration. business practice in which PNMs become I’m in a fraternity, and the point of this anonymized objects, spinning along a article is not to disparage Greek life in its Bumping strikes me as a paisley — or perhaps better read as “pasty” entirety or even the rush process in its commonly held business — conveyor belt. And the irony is that the entirety. practice in which PNMs process is one with a purported purpose of After all, many of these same become anonymized objects. getting to know individuals who might be superficialities are how we choose our right for the club. friends, regardless of circumstance. But how is it possible to get to know someone if you can only However, there is one aspect of sorority recruitment that I just recently became aware of, and which makes me uncomfortable: talk to them for minutes before someone bumps you out of the conversation? Why not just digitize the whole process? It could be “bumping.” like Greek Tinder, where sisters look through a few high quality According to Sororitygirl101.com — which I hopefully will mirror selfies, read a bio, chat a bit and ultimately either swipe never again have to use as a source — “bumping is a process used left or right. during formal recruitment to allow a smooth transition between Besides being more efficient, Greek Tinder would spare the sorority girl who initially has picked up the PNM [potential sororities and PNMs all the uncomfortable parts of rush, from new member] at the door and the next sister who has come into dressing up to remembering names. And perhaps best of all, as the conversation.” long as each sister has the app, there would be no need to bump Basically, Sorority Girl B bumps into the conversation that another sister out of a conversation; instead, each sister could Sorority Girl A is having with the given PNM, allowing Sorority have autonomy over her own swiping. Girl A to talk to another PNM. Bumping is not exclusive to the College, as sororities all over Email Max Cea at mrcea@email.wm.edu.
Max Cea
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Street Beat
What do you think of being able to use Dining Dollars at Tribe Square restaurants?
“I like the idea a lot because I only have the Block 125 meal plan so I have plenty of extra Dining Dollars to use there.”
“It makes things really for convenient to avoid the long line at Sadler, plus with Block plans we get a ton of Dining Dollars.”
Andy Russell ’15
Brian Garland ’16
“I haven’t used it yet, and I’m excited, but I’m kind of disappointed about Marketplace only taking Dining Dollars too.” Tyler Ricchetti ’17 — photos and interviews By kaitlan shaub
ast year, the College of William and Mary awarded Sodexo USA a ten-year contract. The Dining Services Committee made this decision while students at other colleges were protesting the corporation due to controversial labor designation changes. After the Affordable Care Act stipulated that employers would need to provide health benefits to full-time workers who worked 30 hours a week, Sodexo reclassified its fulltime worker status to an average of 30 hours a week over a 52-week period. Essentially, this change would allow Sodexo to deny health benefits to thousands of employees, previously considered full-time, who worked in dining halls that close for summer and winter breaks. In the documents we obtained relating to the decision, no one mentioned the controversy. Also, the Dining Services Committee began considering options six months before Anna B. Martin announced the College intended to give Sodexo the contract. Where was the student input? Where was the opportunity for lively, passionate debate over worker fairness? The only student serving on the Dining Services Committee was current Student Assembly President Colin Danly ’15, and as far as we know, he was the only student involved in the process of awarding the contract. The Dining Services Committee should have included more students in the selection process and provided public forums for students and administrators to discuss dining proposals. A dining contract isn’t just a business decision — it affects the livelihoods of hundreds of dedicated workers who serve us every day. Since the College requires every campus-residing student to be on the meal plan, any changes to dining services affect us all. But the members of the administration aren’t the only ones at fault in the Sodexo selection process. One month after Martin emailed students about the intent to award the College’s contract to Sodexo, students at U.Va. involved in the Living Wages group on campus rose up in protest against the possibility of Sodexo at their campus. These protests occurred before the university even announced its new dining vendor — and later, the chief executive officer would state that Sodexo never provided a proposal and was not in consideration. So how is it that a month earlier, when the College announced Sodexo would be our new dining vendor, the decision was met with near silence? Where were the protestors defending the dining service workers we care about and interact with every day? Students should direct their passion for fairness toward campus dining. It’s worrisome that we did not show widespread skepticism earlier in the process. Students are at fault because they did not respond to the change, and we are at fault because we did not report on protests occurring at other universities. Though Sodexo has since reversed its controversial policy, the silence on campus following the original announcement is disconcerting. But there are more questions regarding the selection of Sodexo, and The Flat Hat attempted to use documents we obtained through the FOIA to discover specifically why Sodexo was chosen. While the documents provide data related to each potential vendor, including our previous vendor, Aramark, they do not provide information on the College’s reasoning behind its decision. When we asked members of the administration to explain the reasons behind the decision, they gave only evasive answers. The documents we obtained suggest that Sodexo was the most cost-effective option. Three of the seven Dining Service Committee members gave it a 30/30 aggregate score for cost effectiveness, which the committee used to make its decision. Did Sodexo’s full-time reclassification make it the most cost-effective option? That remains unclear, and we will probably never know. Sodexo’s controversial reclassification policies were revised in June shortly after the College signed its contract with the dining provider. The Dining Services Committee needs to explain to students why it awarded Sodexo the contract. Further, students should demand greater involvement in deciding future contracts. Too many people are affected by these decisions to accept such a blatant lack of transparency. 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.
To the (not so) broke college student: Think before you speak Brandy Adkins the flat hat
Who among us has not at some time or another called ourselves ‘poor college students?’ Some of us are, of course, but that number is realistically a mere fraction of those who claim the title. Before we decide that we want to be seen as poor college students by those around us, maybe we should consider what it feels like actually to be in a state of financial turmoil and doubt. Perhaps we should consider those around us who may be among the approximately 31 percent receiving need-based aid
(according to the College of William and Mary’s financial aid statistics from 2011-2012). Are you really a poor college student, or perhaps are you a young adult making poor decisions in regards to your finances? We have all heard the myth that college students live on Ramen noodles and mac and cheese. Is this really a myth? I am obliged to say yes, because this stereotype does not apply to all college students, and applies to far fewer on our privileged campus. Most of us probably do have these staples in our dorm rooms or kitchens, but it is not our main source of sustenance. Some students actually are living in such tense financial situations that a 12-pack for just over $2 is the best they can do. If you are, then you probably understand the struggle of balancing a job, maybe even for 20 or more hours a week. You may even be taking 16-18
credits in an attempt to graduate a year earlier and save yourself the expenses associated with an extra year at the College. Let’s do the math: 20 hours of work, 16 credit hours, plus an average of 44 hours of study — that equals 80 hours a week! If you are someone who understands the struggle of living below the poverty line, then I congratulate you. Despite the hardships and sacrifices it means for your life right now, you are fighting the good fight being here at the College. I really do hope things only get better for you from here. If you are not certain whether this is you, however, then I can assure that it is not. If you have ever walked into a grocery store and claimed that the name brand was worth it because it was better, then you are not a poor college student. If you have ever accepted an invitation to go out without a second thought to
your budget, then you are not a poor college student. If you have ever called your parents to replenish your empty bank account, then you are probably not a poor college student. If you have ever complained about being a poor college student, then I will tell you this: You are almost certainly not a poor college student. Here is my challenge to you. Be responsible. Think about the future. Consider the money you have, and ask yourself whether you really need to spend it on this or that. Have fun while you are young and spend what you feel is right, but please consider the possibility that your limited funds come from your own decisions — and that there may be students around you who struggle every day to make ends meet while they pay for their education. Email Brandy Adkins at bbadkins@ email.wm.edu.
Graphic by Montana cone / the Flat hat
variety
Variety Editor Tucker Higgins Variety Editor Devon Ivie flathat.variety@gmail.com // @theflathat
The Flat Hat | Tuesday, September 2, 2014 | Page 5
Make some noise, please, Williamsburg
MKTO delivers lackluster performance GREG TAYLOR THE FLAT HAT
Let’s talk about numbers. More specifically, let’s talk about the numbers 25 and 22. During the concert at the Lake Matoaka Amphitheater Friday night, the vocal duo that fronts MKTO commanded the crowd to “make some noise” 25 times and said “Williamsburg” 22 times. This fact may describe MKTO’s performance better than anything else I will say in this article. It was clear from the beginning that this was a group well-versed in clichés from pop and rock music, and shameless in its overuse of such crowd pandering techniques. Just a few of these techniques included opening the show with an indulgent, hair metal-esque guitar solo, a drum solo performed by their singer, a token rapper who had absolutely no flow and, of course, the absurd repetition of the overused “make some noise.”
That being said, I would be able to look past the lack of originality in performance if there was even a hint of originality in their music, but MKTO fell short in that department as well. Their songwriting is wholly one-dimensional, and while most of these songs are meant for the dance floor, the band’s inability to write a catchy melody will likely prevent most of their songs from ever reaching a wide audience. I recognize the idea of a one-hit wonder and can appreciate that most people were there for the sole purpose of listening to “Classic,” but by the end of the show, I wanted to ask people if it was worth sitting through an hour and a half of disinteresting dance music just to hear one song that you probably played on repeat for a week last summer. From what I could tell, most students seemed to be enjoying the concert. Many people were dancing, and the crowd certainly made some noise all 25 times that they were asked to do so. I can’t help but think that most people were simply sucked into the concert atmosphere. I know that some of my friends certainly were. When asked what they thought, most
The MKTO duo, Malcolm Kelley and Tony Oller, urged the crowd to “make some noise” 25 times at the Welcome Back Concert Friday night.
of them said, “The music sucked, but I had fun.” I understand that the whole point of the Welcome Back Concert is to book a fun band that will put on an exciting show to make people forget how hard this semester is going to be. I also understand that AMP is not exactly working with unlimited resources.
“It was clear from the beginning that this was a group well-versed in clichés from pop and rock music,” said reviewer Greg Taylor.
to be a hub for incredible music. Right now, not too many bands are marking Williamsburg as a stop on their upcoming tour, but if organizations like AMP, the Student Assembly, WCWM and the Front Porch Society can bring in high quality bands at the cusp of success, we might just breathe life into Williamsburg’s music scene.
MKTO is famous for the song “Classic,” which was released in June 2013, six months after releasing their debut single “Thank You.”
EAT
SHOP
Fans of sustainable dining won’t want to miss this dinner. Chef David Everett, in collaboration with the Blue Talon Bistro, DoG Street Pub and The Trellis Restaurant, is hosting his fourth annual “farm to table” dinner on Sept. 5 in Merchants Square. Expect a hearty sampling of locally sourced meats, vegetables and beers served in an alfresco environment, complete with lantern-lit tables. Call 757-229-8619 for ticket information.
Now might be the best time to pick up that shirt or pair of shoes you’ve been needing in your closet — on Sept. 5, 6 and 7, nearly all stores on Merchants Square will be participating in an end-of-season sidewalk sale to segue between the summer and fall fashions. Expect discounts at up to 75 percent off a variety of spring and summer merchandise through the day-long events.
COURTESY PHOTO / GOTOFIRSTCLASS.COM
LAUGH Get off campus with friends, grab some beer, and enjoy some raunchy laughs with comedians Al Ducharme and Alli Breen, who’ll be performing at the Williamsburg Comedy Club on Sept. 5 and Sept. 6. Ducharme is best known for his roles in Next Stop Wonderland on Miramax and Original Sin on CBS, and is a frequent guest on Comedy. TV. Breen has contributed to programs such as TV Guide Network’s Stand Up In Stillettos and AXS’s Gotham Live. Tickets are priced at $21. COURTESY PHOTO / WM.EDU
PERFORM
COURTESY PHOTO / WM.EDU
However, there are plenty of upand-coming bands that could put on a great show, and just might contribute to a legitimization of the Williamsburg music scene. If you giggled at the words “Williamsburg music scene,” you are not alone, but if you think about it, our little colonial town has the potential
ALL PHOTOS BY ASHLEY RICHARDSON / THE FLAT HAT
Have a knack for creating original prose? Are you a secret wiz at the French horn? Have a penchant for singing opera in the shower? Show off your talents at Aromas’ Open Mic Night on Sep. 4, starting at 7:30 p.m. Even if you don’t have anything to show off (but that’s probably not true), come and enjoy the talents of both college students and Williamsburg residents. The event is free for all connoisseurs of entertainment.
COURTESY PHOTO / FLICKR
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
The Flat Hat
Page 6
THE CLASSICS
REVISITED
HOW
Olivia flynn // the flat hat
TUCKER HIGGINS / THE FLAT HAT
New signs and a restaurant, in progress, were added to the Commons.
A
fter being abroad for the last two years, I have returned to the College of William and Mary. In the land of haggis and deep fried Mars bars, I embraced the local cuisine and tried not to think about what parts of the sheep were used. On a few occasions, I reminisced about my favorite treats at the College, like Marketplace flatbread and Commons Dining Hall cookies. It’s with those memories I excitedly signed up for my meal plan — which is strange, considering I’m a senior. But after two years of cooking for myself, I was ready to have someone else worry about the meal schedule.
THE SADLER CENTER I was initially enthused by the College’s new dining vendor. I liked the food from freshman year, but I hoped it could still improve. After a few meals in the Sadler Center, I accepted that Sodexo’s food quality is the same as Aramark’s. And by that, I mean the food is a bit better than my mother’s infamous turkey tacos slathered in ketchup and microwaved cheddar cheese. The meal options, categorized by weird sub-headings such as “Chef ’s Choice,” are mediocre at best. The menus have exciting names and meal descriptions, such as “Ancho Lime Marinated Chicken,” but these names are more for show and pomp. While I was unimpressed by the meals, there were a lot of classic entrees that tasted great. The pizza has that “fresh out of the oven” taste. I thought it was a notch just below pizza from The Crust. The pasta with “tomato bits,” while labeled strangely, was what it should be: cooked pasta with tomato sauce. The deli selection was expansive with a few more options than I remember. The desserts were plentiful and the chocolate chip cookies were gooey and delicious. The cereal selection was good and the drink machines work most of the time. I haven’t woken up for the Sadler Center’s breakfast yet, but when I do, I promise to provide a full account of my impressions. I never expected brilliance from the Sadler Center, considering the company is feeding thousands of students. I did hope I would enjoy my meal rather than be satisfied. This food adventure was acceptable, but not enjoyable.
SADLER, THE CAF AND AROMAS IN MEWS STACK
UP
Devon Ivie / THE FLAT HAT
The Aromas in Mews Cafe has a more limited food selection than the Prince George Street location, according to Flynn.
THE COMMONS DINING HALL After a week of living on Old Campus and refusing to venture south, I finally visited the Commons. Once I maneuvered past the groups of freshmen, I found a spot and began to peruse the options. I was impressed by the bounty of fresh food options now available — there was a great stack of fresh fruit in the front of the building and a multitude of smaller containers throughout the food stands. During freshman year, I used to pillage the Commons for bananas and oranges. The added stacks and variety will make my fruit acquisition much easier. Ironically, the former dessert stand has now been taken over by an expanded salad and vegetarian table. I sampled the variety of salads, from pico de gallo to curried vegetable salad. I enjoyed the various vegetarian side options, which I made into a gigantic salad. My food experiment turned out to be delicious. I had hoped for better entrées, but the Commons’ options were just as mediocre as the Sadler Center’s. I assume Sodexo believed we are meant to survive off of “SPP” — sandwiches, pastas and pizzas. The SPP selection was nice but not inspiring, effectively identical to the Sadler Center’s. The dessert selection was smaller than before but the quality was the same. After my final lap around the Commons, I realized it was essentially the same as it was freshman year.
AROMAS IN MEWS
DEVON IVIE / THE FLAT HAT
The Sadler Center has expanded its pasta and pizza selection.
COURTESY PHOTO / FLICKR
There’s only one reason I’m at Earl Gregg Swem Library on the first day of classes: Aromas’ coffee. It’s my favorite institution in Williamsburg. I missed its amazing baked goods, delicious scramblers and awesome (and affordable) dinner entrees. It was even the first place I visited when I returned to the College last Wednesday. I was desperate for brunch after a night out and could only fantasize about a delicious Aromas scone. All these reasons, coupled by my caffeine addiction, explained why I was at Swem at 10 a.m. on the first day of classes. I walked through the doors, entered the line, and ordered my favorite sugar-filled latte. After a five-minute wait, my coffee was ready. I took that first sip and was reminded of all the reasons I missed Aromas: It was magnificent. After my second and third visit, I was surprised by the seemingly limited food options. I assumed the food options would be like the original Aromas on Prince George Street, but alas, not so. Also, I thought the Aromas staff struggled for the first couple of days trying to complete orders and find space in their small barista station. But, after having visited the “mini-Aromas” over five times, I can tell they are improving. The staff is managing the constant flow of students as well as adding more food options. Today, I tried their homemade parfait — it was delicious. I can safely say Aromas in Swem is all that it should be: a delicious blend of ground coffee, warmed pastries and friendly service.
CONFUSION CORNER
Who is Williamsburg really named for?
While avoiding the roving “HoWMie” photographers, find what makes our little colonial epicenter so special
Zoe Johnson
Confusion corner columnist
Welcome back to the College of William and Mary, everyone! I would say that I hope all of you who spent summers at an internship of your dreams impressed the socks off their bosses, but I’m a senior this year and the job applicant pool is big enough, so I’ll keep it simple. I hope your summers were great, and I genuinely mean that. Well, here we are in Williamsburg, Va. — the only place in the world where Wawa is a social scene for the 18-21 age bracket. Seriously, if you plan on dining,
shopping or living at Wawa this year, you better be dressed to impress because your reputation at the College depends on it. Not only should you worry about your reputation, but these days Humans of William and Mary is always watching. Right, HoWMies? I plan to always enter Wawa while “smizing” just in case a HoWMie is looking to snap a picture. The other grand thing about Williamsburg, and Virginia in general, is that the entire state shuts down after two centimeters of snow. It’s such a folly that it might actually be genius. When it begins to snow in November — or potentially in early September (thanks to global warming) — Williamsburg becomes as non-functional as my brain after an accounting exam. The only difference is at the tail end of each snowstorm, Williamsburg emerges stronger than ever, just as I do not
after an accounting exam. Indeed, snow storms in Williamsburg are one of the highlights of the year — mostly because getting that “College closed” email from Anna B. Martin is easily one of the best feelings in the world. Another unique trait of Williamsburg? There are always people walking around in historic colonial garb. These people are reenacting moments from the oppressive, yet historical, colonial days of Williamsburg, and I promise if you’re an upperclassman you’ve taken them for granted. Instead of squeezing through the stacks in Earl Gregg Swem Library, take a gander down Duke of Gloucester street and ask this motley crew about the history of the town — they know more than is socially appropriate about Williamsburg. However, I believe that they’re telling people that Williamsburg is named
after King William III of England, which is demonstrably false. I would like to set the record straight: Williamsburg is named after an American hero with geometrically gifted hair named will.i.am and we are honored to live in a town dedicated to his name. Lastly, Williamsburg is special because the humidity makes its residents suffer in unison, crossing Confusion Corner has given us all a near-death experience, the outlet mall makes Madison Avenue look like your brother’s hand-me-downs, our Cook Out stays open until 3 a.m., and because it’s home to our beloved College. Whether this is your first year or your last year at the College, I urge you to experience Williamsburg in every way possible. It has a lot to offer and surprises me every single day. Remember to be respectful to this town’s current residents and be
mindful of the legacy of those who lived here before us, many of whom never had the opportunity to receive a higher education. And with that respectful mindset, don’t forget that you are just as an important to Williamsburg as anyone else. That means you can feel free to run naked down DoG Street, but don’t be surprised when the Williamsburg police happily arrest you, because you are a resident, after all. Williamsburg has a certain charm that’s difficult to find anyplace else, even when you aren’t looking for it. Even though you should be, because I just told you to a few sentences ago. Welcome back to school, everyone. Let’s make this year one to remember. Zoe Johnson is a Confusion Corner Columnist who has spent an obscene amount of money buying sandwiches at Wawa and rues the day that Wawa Pam left us.
sportsinside MEN’S SOCCER
The Flat Hat | Tuesday, September 2, 2014 | Page 7
CROSS COUNTRY
Tribe cruises at first tourney
The College’s men, women each take first at Spider Alumni Open MICK SLOAN FLAT HAT SPORTS EDITOR On a balmy Friday evening at the University of Richmond, William and Mary dominated the Spider Alumni Open. The men’s and women’s teams each earned first place in the event, with each team placing multipe runners in the top ten of its respective races. The Tribe’s performance in the tune-up marks an ideal start to the cross country season. The women’s team, currently ranked No. 25 in the nation, got a boost from senior Carolyn Hennessey, who finished second overall in the two-mile tune-up. The Herndon, Va. native finished with a time of 10 minutes, 37 seconds,
COURTESY PHOTO / TRIBE ATHLETICS
Senior forward Josh West and the Tribe lost to ETSU, but earned a first win with a victory over Farleigh Dickinson.
Tribe gets the split
Starts off season with 1-1 mark after tournament SUMNER HIGGINBOTHAM FLAT HAT STAFF WRITER
Tribe soccer turned in a mixed weekend, with a 3-2 loss against East Tennessee State University in the season opener and a 2-1 victory over Farleigh Dickson University. Both games, which took place Friday and Saturday, were held at Martin Family Stadium. William and Mary (1-1) and East Tennessee State (2-0) played competitively right from the start and were tied 1-1 at the half. The even matchup didn’t come as a surprise, as both teams qualified for the NCAA playoffs last year and had similar records, with the College finishing 11-5-3 while the Bucs finished 10-6-4. The Tribe struck first only three minutes into the match, as senior midfielder Marcus Luster and sophomore forward Reilly Maw threaded the Bucs’ defense with a giveand-go, and Maw sent the ball in for the first goal. The Tribe had an exhilarating series of shots at the 24th minute as senior midfielder Chris Albiston’s attempt was saved, then rebounded to senior forward Josh West, whose shot was also saved. The third time was not the charm as junior midfielder Ryan Flesch sent the final rebound just high of the net. In the 32nd minute, ETSU’s shot narrowly escaped senior Albiston goalkeeper Bennett Jones to knot the game up. Jones finished the game with three saves. The second half proved to be the Tribe’s undoing, as ETSU stormed out of the locker room with two goals in just four minutes. A goal kick soared over the entire Tribe defense and was shot into the net by East Tennessee State’s Joao Romalho. Then, at the 50th minute, the Bucs found the goal again with a crossing kick from the left back post, earning a 3-1 lead over the College. The Tribe fought back, and 33 minutes later, the team’s efforts paid off as senior forward Zachary Montebell headed in a score off a corner kick from Albistion. Despite a 17-11 shot advantage, the College’s offense came up just short in the waning minutes, and the Tribe fell 3-2 to start the weekend with a loss.
Against FDU (0-2), neither team could manage a fast start, and the first half ended scoreless. The Tribe offense suffered a case of deja vu in the sixth minute, with another rebound series failing to score right at the goal. Freshman forward William Eskay’s shot was narrowly saved, the rebound shot by Albistion also met the goalkeeper, and junior midfielder Jackson Eskay’s final shot sailed wide. Though Jones the half ended 0-0, the Tribe controlled the half with an 8-2 shot advantage and a 3-0 advantage in shots on goal. Finally, in the 65th minute, the College pulled ahead off of a header from senior defender Michael Tieman, set up by a corner kick from Flesch. FDU rallied back with a pair of shots on goal, both stopped by Jones. “Bennett’s been the most consistent all through the preseason,” head coach Chris Norris said. “He’s earned the opportunity to start ... and he deserved a shut-out today.” In the 82nd minute, Flesch added his second assist on a long pass to Albiston, who juked out the FDU keeper for a 2-0 lead. However, the Tribe wavered some in the final stretch. FDU finally scored on a wide-open cross just a minute after the Tribe’s second goal, cutting the Tribe’s lead to 2-1. The College held off the comeback bid and secured the first victory of the season. The Tribe outshot FDU 13-10, with a 6-5 advantage in shots on goal. “It was a good performance, relatively patient and, up until the last 15 minutes, it was relatively mistake free,” Norris said, “We didn’t do a good job killing the game off, and the kids are well aware of that.” Up next the Tribe finishes the home game streak with a Sep. 5 match-up against Pittsburgh (1-0). Pittsburgh struggled last season with only a single victory in a 1-11-4 campaign, including an October 2-0 loss to William and Mary. However, the Tribe is focused solely on improving, Norris said. “College soccer is not about who plays the prettiest soccer, but it’s about who makes the fewest mistakes,” Norris said, “[Reducing mistakes] will be our theme going forward.”
COURTESY PHOTO / TRIBE ATHLETICS
Sophomore forward Reilly Maw notched a goal to put the Tribe on the board against ETSU, but the College fell, 3-2.
COURTESY PHOTO / TRIBE ATHLETICS
Sophomore Trevor Sleight won Friday’s 5K in Richmond.
identical to the race’s winner — the unattached Regan Rome. Hennessey’s teammate, junior Meghan McGovern, finished third with a time of 10 minutes, 44 seconds. Senior Dylan Hassett also finished in the top 10, taking eighth place with an 11 minute, four second run. Freshman Molly Applegate finished 11th, clocking in at 11 minutes and 23 seconds in her official Tribe debut. Overall, the performance was enough to edge Richmond, 27-29, with Christopher Newport finishing a distant third with 83 points. Though Hennessey narrow, the victory marked a triumphant defense of the Tribe’s national ranking. The Tribe’s men gave an equally impressive performance with their victory in the fivekilometer run, placing four runners in the top six. Sophomore Trevor Sleight led all runners with a 15 minute, five second time, earning his first career cross country victory. Tribe junior Ryan Gousse finished right behind Sleight, earning second place with a 15 minute, eight second mark. Two more Tribe runners, sophomore Faris Sakallah and junior Nathaniel Hermsmeier, finished with identical 15 minutes and 10 second runs. Sakallah claimed fifth place and Hermsmeier settled in at sixth. Tribe freshman Cavender Salvadori finished 10th with a 15 minute, 21 second time, making him the fifth member of the Tribe to place in the top 10. Overall, the College finished with 17 points, placing the team far ahead of Richmond’s 42 points and Christopher Newport’s 73 for a dominant victory. The Tribe men’s and women’s teams will take a much deserved weekend off, as they gear up for the 56th Annual W&M College Open. The event will take place at 10:35 a.m. on Sept. 13 in Williamsburg, Va. From there, the Tribe will travel to Charlottesville for the Panorama Farms Invitational Sept. 26.
sports
Sports Editor Mick Sloan Sports Editor Chris Weber flathatsports@gmail.com
The Flat Hat | Friday, September 2, 2014 | Page 8
FOOTBALL
COMMENTARY
New opponent, same play calls
Out reach of
Frustration builds as game closes
Chris Weber
Flat Hat Sports editor
COURTESY PHOTO / TRIBE ATHLETCS
Junior wide out Christian Reeves contests a jump ball in Satuday’s season opener. Reeves, a transfer from Virginia Tech, finished with two catches for 12 yards.
Tech tops College, 34-9, in season opener at Lane Stadium MICK SLOAN FLAT HAT SPORTS EDITOR The day started with such promise, with William and Mary searching for a validating win against Football Bowl Subdivision opponent Virginia Tech. The College has pursued such a win for years and many of the Tribe’s fans dared to dream that this would be the year. The Tribe fell to the Hokies 34-9 in Blacksburg, Va. Saturday. The Tribe (0-1) showed flashes of promise early, and even held the ball in Virginia Tech territory while trailing 7-6 in the second quarter. But a fumble by sophomore quarterback Steve Cluley and a few unfortunate penalties crushed the Tribe’s hopes by the middle of the third quarter. “I thought we played very hard,” head coach Jimmye Laycock said. “I would have liked for us to have played better and not made some mistakes. It came down to some major mistakes that we knew we couldn’t make going against a team like Virginia Tech, but we gave it our best shot.” The Hokies outgained the Tribe 488 yards to 193, picking up eight of 15 third down conversions and holding the College to just 12 first downs in the game. Senior receiver Tre McBride finished with four catches for 62 yards, but left the game with an ankle injury at the end of the third quarter. Junior running back Mikal Abdul-Saboor showed his mettle with 85 yards and an 8.5 yards per carry clip. Things were ominous from the College’s opening possession, a three-and-out that ended with senior tight end Bo Revell being carted off the field after a failed third down pass. The poor first possession put pressure on the Tribe defenders from the onset. For its part, the College’s defense put up an impressive fight against the Hokies early in the game. The Hokies converted four third down attempts, though, finally reaching the end zone on a 13-yard pass to receiver Isaiah Ford. Hokie quarterback Michael Brewer, who finished with 251 passing yards and two touchdowns, completed six passes on the drive to put the Tribe in a 7-0 hole. The Tribe responded to the touchdown by taking brief control of the contest, starting with a 40-yard scamper by Abdul-Saboor that
pushed the offense into Hokie territory. Even though the Tribe offense stalled soon after, senior kicker John Carpenter’s field goal cut the deficit to 7-3. The College’s defense responded in kind by forcing a turnover on Virginia Tech’s next drive. Sophomore defensive lineman Chris Donald tipped Brewer’s third down attempt to senior linebacker Airek Green, who made a diving interception. It was one Green of several sharp plays from Green, who finished with seven tackles and a fumble recovery. Cluley immediately took advantage of the turnover, lobbing a rainbow of a deep ball to McBride on the next play. Although the College again fell short of the end zone, the 43-yard gain set up another field goal and cut the Hokie lead to 7-6. After the Tribe defense forced a Hokie punt, the College’s offense drove the ball to the Virginia Tech 39, briefly threatening to take a first half lead. Momentum immediately shifted, however, when Hokie linebacker Chase Williams flattened Cluley and forced a fumble. Virginia Tech’s Derek DiNardo scooped up the ball and charged all the way to the Tribe’s two-yard line, striking a damaging blow to the Tribe’s chances. “We knew going in that one mistake can always change the game, so we try to prepare, try to be on our p’s and q’s. And we let a couple plays go the other way,” Green said. The Hokies soon scored on a tough catch by tight end Bucky Hodges, who faced tight coverage from Green, still managing to give the hosts a 14-6 lead. The College went three and out on its ensuing possession, and the Hokies responded with a 70-yard drive, a field goal and a 17-6 lead just before halftime. The Hokies received the ball to start the second half, going on a 74-yard drive that took seven minutes off the game clock. The Hokies benefited from a running into the kicker penalty on a fourth and five punt from their own 11, but otherwise played sharp offense en route to a 27 yard field goal and a commanding 20-6 lead.
Offensively, the Tribe barely posed a threat for the rest of the game. The College’s large deficit stripped it of any opportunity to rely on its running game and the Hokies blitzed constantly, overwhelming Cluley and his offensive line. After completing five of nine passes in the first half, Cluley missed on five straight tries to start the second half and finished with just eight completions in 21 attempts. Although a Virginia Tech fumble gave the Tribe the ball at the Hokies’ 39, the College’s drive stalled at the 28 and resulted in another Carpenter field goal. Despite the kick cutting the lead to 20-9, the game continued in favor of the Hokies. Virginia Tech’s Shai McKenzie sprinted for a 39-yard touchdown and a 27-9 lead on the next possession. The Hokies eventually added a fourth quarter touchdown to provide the final score of 34-9. The Tribe ran the ball well when given the opportunity, but its passing offense struggled for much of the game, and Cluley, despite a game effort, had no time to throw downfield. “[The Hokies] were playing cover one and challenging us to beat them,” Cluley said. “We had a couple of big plays in the beginning, but we left some plays out there that could’ve been made.” The Tribe will work to regroup Saturday, when it travels to Hampton, Va. to take on Hampton. The Tribe make its home debut Sept. 13, when it hosts Norfolk State at 7 p.m.
COURTESY PHOTO / TRIBE ATHLETCS
Senior recever Tre McBride hauls in a catch Saturday.
I started to believe somewhere in God country. Between Country Cookin’ and Mama’s Kitchen, I convinced myself it could happen. William and Mary could cover the spread. Challenging a top-flight Football Bowl Subdivision team wasn’t new. The College (0-1) led at halftime before collapsing in the second quarter at Morgantown, W.Va. a season ago. A miserable game against Maryland mercifully ended in the Terps’ favor, 7-6, in 2012. Winning was different, though, and that wasn’t going to happen Saturday afternoon. Even with an unproven quarterback and Ohio State looming next week, picking the Tribe over Virginia Tech (1-0) was laughable. A twenty-point spread was fair. The College would need its defense to limit Hokie possessions; all-conference senior lineman Mike Reilly would need to find a way to pressure Tech quarterback Michael Brewer. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Steve Cluley would need to play mistake-free football, trusting a young offensive line to give him time in the pocket. Above all, senior wide out Tre McBride would need to prove his value on special teams and offense. For most of two quarters, the College did just that. Despite losing senior tight end Bo Revell in the opening drive, senior John Carpenter’s leg kept the Tribe close. Even when a strip-sack turned into a Hokies possession at the Tribe’s two-yard line, the College held for five plays. That’s five snaps against an Atlantic Coastal Conference team, a series that nearly ended with an interception. William and Mary could cover the spread. Down 11 toward the end of the third, I felt good. The spread was intact and a big play was past due. That play came just before the end of the third, as McBride was carried off the field. With its most potent playmaker nursing an ankle injury, the College unraveled. What had been ignored in light of a relatively close scoreboard became all too clear. The defensive line couldn’t pressure Brewer, registering just two hits. Second and third-level defenders couldn’t shed blocks, and the secondary was forced to cover for what seemed an eternity. Cluley spent as much time avoiding sacks as he did backpedaling, turning short losses into unmanageable second and third downs. The running game found limited success, struggling to create any daylight for junior tailback Mikal Abdul-Saboor. With 6:11 remaining and the spread all but ruined, Laycock called for junior quarterback Christian Brumbaugh. If there was ever a time to take a chance, it was now. Brumbaugh was in and the spread was possible. Eighty yards to score, trailing 25 and a defense playing contain all pointed to Brumbaugh airing it out. It was a chance to see a quarterback who, supposedly, lost a close offseason competition. Air it out, coach. Six plays, four runs. William and Mary couldn’t cover the spread. Laycock and the Tribe aren’t strangers to rotating quarterbacks. Last season alone saw three quarterbacks take snaps. Seeing Brumbaugh wasn’t a shock; Shadesof48.com Editor-in-Chief Jared Foretek ‘15 called it somewhere on the drive between Lynchburg and I-81. Seeing Brumbaugh hand the ball off four times, though, was a shock. While Brumbaugh did connect on a roll-out to junior wide out Christian Reeves for nine yards, he didn’t have a chance to prove himself as a passer. It’s clear that Brumbaugh can manage running plays, but that conclusion doesn’t justify his number being called. If anything, Brumbaugh should have had a chance to showcase his skill. There was another throw, an incompletion on a third-and-long set up by a handful of rushes. I have no issue with playing Brumbaugh — I was surprised he didn’t enter the game earlier. In an out-of-reach game with nothing to lose, Brumbaugh should have been given the calls to prove himself. By running the ball, Cluley and Brumbaugh both suffered. Cluley didn’t finish his first collegiate start, while Brumbaugh’s first collegiate appearance amounted to a stalled drive thanks to conservative playcalling. And, on top of it all, William and Mary didn’t cover the spread.
FIELD HOCKEY
Tribe opens season with losses as U.Va. rolls, Spiders dominate Smith scores first collegiate goal in loss to Richmond after College drops season-opener, 9-0, Friday at home SAM COHEN FLAT HAT STAFF WRITER William and Mary suffered two losses during its opening weekend. No. 6 Virginia shut out the Tribe in an agonizing 9-0 loss Friday, before Richmond defeated the College 2-1 Sunday. UVa. (1-1) scored the first goal of the season six minutes into Friday’s game after Virginia striker Riley Tata tipped the ball in from the far side. The Cavaliers continued to score at a regular pace despite fairly even possession. “Obviously [it is] a very disappointing result, especially for our opening weekend,” senior forward Emma Clifton
said. “There was a lot of even possession … we were really careless with the ball — gave it up way too much — and that’s just really what cost us the game.” Senior defender Jesse Ebner left the game early in the first period after an Clifton injury, forcing the Tribe to recalibrate its defensive play. “[Ebner] is our main fallback, so that hurt us a little bit and I was playing fallback, which I don’t usually play, so we had a bit of change in positions,” Clifton said. Head coach Tess Ellis noted Ebner’s
injury as a key factor in the loss. “Losing [Ebner] in the first ten minutes of play took the wind out of our backfield, so we sort of had to rally and drop back our other captain Emma Clifton,” Ellis said. Virginia capitalized on the vulnerability, scoring four goals off of three assists in the first period, and five goals off four assists in the second. Three goals came off corners. The Tribe ended the game with just a single shot on goal, while UVa. ended with 25. Despite allowing nine goals, junior goalkeeper Meredith Savage did save 12 shots. “To have a goal keeper who’s making 12 big saves against a No. 6 team in the
country, that’s a positive sign for our defense,” Ellis said. “We’ve just got to get a couple of the young kids on board really quick, so we can get a little bit more unity in the backfield and get up into our forwards. We’ve got speed in our forwards — we’ve just got to do a better job of getting it to them. “ At Richmond on Sunday, junior defender Peyton Smith scored her first collegiate goal, putting the Tribe ahead 16 minutes into the first period. Ten minutes later, however, Richmond forward Allison Siegal answered with a goal to tie the game after 26 minutes. Richmond dominated offensively during the second period, tallying six shots on goal to the Tribe’s one. Overall,
the Spiders totaled 12 shots on goal while the Tribe managed five. Eight minutes into the second period, Richmond gained the lead and would not lose it for the remaining 27 minutes. Savage came up with four saves. Looking forward, the College aims to regain momentum from the preseason. “We just talked about keeping positivity strong, just really keeping possession of the ball,” Clifton said after Friday’s loss. “We keep getting it and then giving it away, and it’s just not really what we usually do at practice and what we usually do in our other scrimmages.” The Tribe, now 0-2 on the season, faces Central Michigan Friday and No. 17 Michigan Saturday.