Vol. 108, Iss. 6 | Tuesday, April 3, 2018
The Flat Hat The Weekly Student Newspaper
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of The College of William and Mary
GRAPHIC BY NIA KITCHIN / THE FLAT HAT
STUDENT LIFE
Plaques to honor firsts First female, African-American residential students will be commemorated in Wren piazza SARAH SMITH FLAT HAT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
The Sir Christopher Wren Building piazza is adorned with plaques commemorating notable College of William and Mary firsts, from the first law school to the first honor code. At a public ceremony April 19, the College will unveil two new plaques honoring the university’s first female and African-American residential students. One of these tablets will include the names of the College’s first three African-American residential students: Lynn Briley ’71, Karen Ely ’71 and Janet Brown Strafer ’71, M.Ed. ’77. These three women have been honored throughout the 2017-18 academic year and will be honored once more during May’s Commencement ceremony. The other plaque will include the names of the first 24 female students who enrolled in 1918. Starting in the fall 2018 semester, the College will begin a year-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of having women in residence. “To have plaques honoring the firsts residential AfricanAmerican students and the first women in such a historical building on campus is a significant gesture toward the inclusion part of diversity and inclusion and hopefully will continue in other tangible ways,” English professor and 50th Commemoration Committee Chair Jacquelyn McLendon said in a press statement. This committee which McLendon chairs, along with the committee organizing the 100th anniversary celebration, sponsored the plaques. 100th Commemoration Committee Co-Chair Jayne Barnard said that both groups sought to create physical objects to honor women and African Americans as part of the anniversary celebrations. Barnard also said that College President Taylor Reveley, who will retire June 30, 2018, supported the committees in creating physical monuments. “This never would have happened without his support,” Barnard said in a press statement. At the public unveiling ceremony, Reveley and McLendon will speak, along with Director of Alumnae Initiatives and 100th Committee Co-Chair Val Cushman and Executive Director of Historic Campus Susan Kern. The unveiling ceremony will begin with the tolling of the Wren bell. A reception in the Sunken Garden will follow. “When these two plaques are installed, the Wren Building at last will contain the names of women and people of color, and those names will remain there forever,” Barnard said. Kern’s job has been to work with the committees to develop the content of the plaques and oversee their creation and installation. “The committees have worked long and hard on tweaking the language for those plaques and getting something that sounds for the ages but also of the moment,” Kern said in a press statement. In addition to the names of these students, both plaques will include the College’s official cypher and text honoring these first groups of women and African-American students. The plaque for the 50th anniversary will pay tribute to “those African-American students earlier denied full participation but who played a key role in the process of integration and who persevered through some of the most challenging moments in our nation’s history.” The plaque for the 100th anniversary says that the first 24 women “paved the way for the more than 50,000 women who have followed them as students and alumnae. They also laid the foundation for the inclusion of women in the fabric of William & Mary.” Similar to other plaques on the Wren Building’s piazza, the new plaques will be marble. The older plaques vary in size, but the two new plaques will be 42 inches wide, 60 inches tall and 3 centimeters thick. They will both be mounted on the piers facing the building. Kern said that while some people questioned the decision to hang the plaques outside of the building instead of on the inside, she believes that the location is appropriate. “The tablets that are inside are war memorials, so they’re marking people who are remembered because they died whereas out on the piazza we have tablets about William & Mary’s priorities and role in creating the U.S., so it’s really about people who are being remembered for what they did while they lived,” Kern said. In addition to the names of these students, both plaques will include the College’s official cypher and text honoring these first groups of women and African-American students. The plaque for the 50th anniversary will pay tribute to “those African-American students earlier denied full participation but who played a key role in the process of integration and who persevered through some of the most challenging moments in our nation’s history.”
Today’s Weather
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SA hosts inaugural symposium on race ‘Tending Our Roots’ discusses history of race in universities across Virginia SARAH SMITH // FLAT HAT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF This weekend, Student Assembly hosted “Tending Our Roots,” an inaugural symposium on race in higher education that reflected on the College of William and Mary’s history — and the history of similar universities across Virginia. This symposium was held Thursday, March 29, through Saturday, March 31. There were several events each day, including a film screening with Claudrena Harold, a discussion on the historical context of “hate speech” and a keynote address by Mayor of Richmond Levar Stoney. In fall 2017, outgoing SA President Elijah Levine ’18, outgoing SA Vice President Annelise Yackow ’18 and Chief of Staff Noah Ferris ’20 began brainstorming this statewide effort after reaching out to student government leaders at the University of Virginia. One impetus of this effort was the “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, last August. Another was the College’s commemoration of the 50th anniversary of AfricanAmerican students in residence. “All of it definitely comes back to our motivation, our two big anniversaries [for]our schools,” Levine said. “These are such salient topics that it seems very apropos to hone that energy
Rainy, High 73, Low 63
See SYMPOSIUM page 5
STUDENT LIFE
Website to display disciplinary history of organizations Eight out of 11 sanctioned organizations part of Fraternity and Sorority life SARAH SMITH FLAT HAT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
In an effort to increase transparency, the College of William and Mary began a new initiative April 2 to make public the disciplinary history of recognized student organizations through the Office of Student Conduct’s website. Although this information was available previously to individuals who requested it, it was not readily available to the general public. “This is an initiative we have been working on for some time,” Associate Dean of Students and Director of Student Conduct Dave Gilbert said in a press statement. “We want to make this information more readily available so that students and parents can assess the disciplinary history of organizations a student may plan to join and make informed decisions. This information will also provide greater transparency to the broader community regarding disciplinary outcomes.”
The published list will include all incidents that result in sanctions of disciplinary probation, and will also include case summaries and details on specific consequences. Individual case summaries will remain online for three academic years or until the sanctions are complete. According to Dean of Students Marjorie Thomas, one incentive for publishing this list is to hold students to a higher level of compliance with College policy and law. “Our students know that all organizations are expected to abide by the Student Code of Conduct and all applicable laws with the goal to provide membership experiences that are safe and affirming,” Thomas said in a press statement. “We hope this list will also serve as added impetus for greater compliance.” The initial list published April 2 contains 16 disciplinary outcomes involving student organizations. The earliest of these reported offenses dates to fall 2014. The website will be updated each time a sanction resulting
in disciplinary probation or greater is finalized. On average, the Office of Student Conduct sees four or five cases a year that result in such sanctions. Eight of the 11 organizations included on the website as of April 2 are members of the College’s Fraternity and Sorority Life. These organizations are Kappa Delta Rho, Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Beta Theta Pi, Alpha Epsilon Pi, Sigma Pi, Delta Phi and Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Inc. The other three organizations receiving such sanctions are the men’s rugby team, the club sailing team and the Queen’s Guard. The allegations resulting in these sanctions all dealt with either hazing or alcohol offenses. Some organizations are on the published list multiple times for similar offenses. Two reports were filed in August 2015 against Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity for hazing and providing alcohol to minors. The reports say that during a “clue week” activity, members of the fraternity hosted events and provided alcohol to minors. Additionally, the reports detail
a scavenger hunt where new members were asked to perform “menial” and “degrading” tasks. Some of these conduct reports, such as the ones for the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Inc., had previously been made public. All other conduct reports had not been released publicly, and no official university statement has been issued as a result of the reported actions. The organizations that are not a part of the College’s FSL also were reported for similar offenses. One of the reports, stemming from Nov. 2014, states that the Queen’s Guard, also known as the Society of Pershing Rifles, required its members to participate in significant physical activity from 8 p.m. to midnight. They then provided underage new members with alcohol at an off-campus house. As a result of this report, the group was required to identify and retain a faculty advisor and review its bylaws. It remained under disciplinary probation until February 2, 2015.
Inside Variety
Inside Opinions
Fewer spring deadlines beneficial for students
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into a very constructive conversation. I think that at the basis of it is a premise that we have a platform, have access to our wonderful faculty, a network of students both here and beyond in other Virginia schools — that we would be selling ourselves in the position short if we didn’t capture that and use it to, in the broadest way possible, make a conversation that involves promoting as many voices as possible.” The majority of the smaller discussion sessions, as well as the keynote address, were held at the College’s School of Education. The bulk of the events happened Friday, beginning at 10 a.m. These events included discussions of the history of civil rights, early Virginia history, cultural expression and immigration in the context of higher education. The keynote address also took place Friday, at 6 p.m. Ferris, who was one of SA members involved from this program’s beginning, said that he saw Friday’s events as a way of raising awareness about prevalent issues. “From the inception, we were talking about a more robust
Dylan Koury ’ 21 says that the spring semester’s course registration and housing deadlines generate unwanted stress for students. page 6
Laverne Cox speaks about politics, social change Well-known actress and transgender rights activist recounts her personal story as part of the annual Atwater Lecture Series. page 7
newsinsight “
News Editor Leonor Grave News Editor Madeline Monroe fhnews@gmail.com
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The Flat Hat | Tuesday, April 3, 2018 | Page 4
THE BUZZ
For me, graduating from William and Mary as a member of the LGBTQ community means understanding that my identity is often at odds with longstanding institutional barriers but that that doesn’t mean I need to be complicit or silent. The path of progress is long and slow but William and Mary has a strong group of people dedicated to never giving up or giving in. — Jacob Hopkins ’18 on his decision to participate in the College’s inaugural Lavender Graduation ceremony May 11
POLICE BEAT
March 28-April 1
1
Wednesday, March 28 — Damaging defacement: Destruction of property reported on York Street.
2
Wednesday, March 28 — Drunken debauchery: Kirk R. Evans was arrested on charges of public intoxication and swearing on Richmond Road.
3
Saturday, March 31 — Monetary mishap: A charge of credit card/ ATM fraud was reported on Page Street.
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Sunday, April 1 — Fool’s gold: Police recovered stolen property on Prince George Street.
From Conduct Council to City Council
Williamsburg Vice Mayor Scott Foster ’10, J.D. ’14 reflects on his time in office SARAH SMITH // FLAT HAT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
POLICE BEAT BY SARAH GREENBERG, KARINA VIZZONI / THE FLAT HAT
A THOUSAND WORDS
COURTESY PHOTO / SCOTT FOSTER FOR CITY COUNCIL
Scott Foster ‘10, J.D. ‘14 was the first student elected to City Council. Foster enjoys exploring Williamsburg’s running trails along with his wife and dog.
CORRECTIONS An article published last week, “College chained to VCE contract,” originally stated that the state of Virginia maintains a prison population of two million. The Virginia Department of Corrections actually reports it has around 30,000 inmates. Additionally, the article originally stated that Virginia has the fourth lowest felon recidivism rate in the United States. Virginia actually has the lowest recidivism rate in the country based on 45 states that provide three-year reincarceration rates for felons at 22.4 percent. The Flat Hat wishes to correct any fact printed incorrectly. Corrections may be submitted in email to the editor of the section in which the incorrect information was printed. Requests for corrections will be accepted at any time.
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about to graduate from the Marshall-Wythe School of Law and had a job lined up in Williamsburg after graduation. “There was still a lot of work to do in regards to public infrastructure, continuing the buildup and development of downtown and we had just hired a new city manager,” Foster said. “I felt like continuity was a good thing at the time.” In his last four years, Foster said he is proud of a controversial but important decision: the enactment of the City’s Tourism Development Fund. He said the fund has been part of a larger conversation about tourism, development and tourism promotion.
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I was the first student to get elected to City Council. After that happened we have made a conscious effort to get students on different boards and I am very proud of that and it’s been a big change. Williamsburg Vice Mayor Scott Foster ’10, J.D. ’14
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LEONOR GRAVE / THE FLAT HAT
All it took for City of Williamsburg Vice Mayor Scott Foster ’10, J.D. ’14 to decide that the College of William and Mary was the right school for him was a weekend football game during the fall of his senior year of high school. Two degrees from the College and two terms on Williamsburg’s City Council later, he’s looking forward to having more time to enjoy living in Williamsburg. “William and Mary ended up losing the game by a field goal at the end,” Foster said. “I woke up the next morning and was walking around campus and it was really quiet, but I was like, ‘Wow I could still see myself coming here.’ I submitted an application the last day it could be postmarked, and I got in. When I got the letter in the mail there really was no question about it.” Foster took his freshman seminar in the government department, and that class set him on his way to declaring his government major. Looking back on his time as a student, he said that one of his favorite experiences was taking a class about state and local government with former department chair John McGlennon. McGlennon later advised Foster during his senior year on an independent study. “I took full advantage of liberal arts, although I could have just as easily squeezed a second major in,” Foster said. “I took advanced psychology classes, advanced biology, English. I just spread it out all over the map. I am really glad I did that because I think it makes me an informed citizen and makes me curious about things I otherwise wouldn’t have been.” During his time as an undergraduate, Foster said that many of his favorite memories were created living in the Lodges, the set of on-campus houses that were torn down in 2016 to allow for the construction of the Integrated Health Center. He said he remembers hosting homecoming tailgates there and getting ready for the King and Queen’s Ball with his closest friends. Foster also played on several intramural sports teams and served on the Undergraduate Student Conduct Council from his sophomore to his senior year. However, his path shifted in the spring of his junior year when some of his fellow students encouraged him to run for City Council. “When I first came to William and Mary, students had just gotten the right to vote in Williamsburg,” Foster said. In 2008, he had seen Matt Beato ’09 run for a City Council seat but not be elected. After spending that summer taking classes in Williamsburg, Foster decided running for elected office in Williamsburg was something he wanted to try. “That fall, I was like, ‘I really love Williamsburg, I see some areas I can contribute,’” Foster said. “The City and the College had somewhat of an adversarial relationship and I thought I could make things better at that end.” During his first four years on the City Council, Foster said that he was proud to have worked on projects like overhauling the City’s comprehensive plan. Part of this plan was to reevaluate local land use. “This change led to a lot of the redevelopment of what is now the Amber Ox building and the Griffin Arms building,” Foster said. “It has really changed the game for that section of Prince George Street, which is now one of the coolest streets in the City. I am really proud — those comprehensive plan changes have really given a shot of energy to downtown.” Four years later, Foster decided that there was still unfinished business that he wanted to work on with City Council, so he chose to run again. At the time, he was also
In his last almost 12 years in Williamsburg, Foster said that he has seen a lot of changes in the City and on the City Council. One of those started with him. “I was the first student to get elected to City Council,” Foster said. “After that happened we have made a conscious effort to get students on different boards and I am very proud of that and it’s been a big change.” Foster said that he also noticed that the demographics of the City are also changing, as more young adults move in. “We’ve got a number of neighborhoods that folks are aging out of, as people are moving to retirement homes and that sort of thing,” Foster said. “Those neighborhoods are being backfilled with either young people with kids or young people without kids and I think that is a really good thing to see the revitalization of those neighborhoods. That is not something the City can take credit for specifically, but it’s good progress.” With elections for City Council coming up in May, Foster will soon be done with that set of his responsibilities. He also works as a real estate and small business attorney and is looking forward to focusing new energy on that job. Foster said he’s also looking forward to finding new projects and new things to do to fill his free time. “I spend a lot of time outside,” Foster said. “Williamsburg is a great place to be a fisherman, and my wife and dog enjoy all of the walking and running trails around town. I also really enjoy all the restaurants in the Williamsburg area. It’s a very nice, high quality, relaxed place to live, and it enjoys a quality of life that a lot of people don’t get.”
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The Flat Hat
Tuesday, April 3, 2018
ACADEMICS
First Lavender Graduation to honor LGBTQ+ students BOV member to speak at inaugural ceremony May 11 as part of Commencement LEONOR GRAVE FLAT HAT NEWS EDITOR
For the first time in its history, the College of William and Mary will host a Lavender Graduation ceremony May 11 during Commencement Weekend to celebrate the accomplishments of LGBTQ+ and same gender loving, or SGL, graduates. The first Lavender Graduation ceremony took place at the University of Michigan in 1995, but now over 45 colleges and universities in the U.S. — including the University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University and Virginia Tech — host their own Lavender Graduation ceremonies. Lavender has historical significance for the LGBTQ+ community. Gay men and lesbian women in Nazi Germany were forced to wear pink and black triangles, respectively, and lavender represents a combination of the two colors. Associate Director for the Center for Student Diversity Roxie Patton said that the ceremony was designed to create a space for LGBTQ+ students to be honored for their accomplishments and resilience and to celebrate them as valued members of the College community. “The university itself has really embraced this as a new tradition for us,” Patton said. Although the details of the ceremony are still being decided, Patton said that it will feature a conferral of a rainbow-adorned stole to the graduates, followed by a reception and a ceremony to honor LGBTQ+ alumni. “This is a momentous occasion, and we want to make sure we’re recognizing the LGBTQ folks who came before us who have helped make the climate what it is now,” Patton said. The Lavender Graduation ceremony speaker will be Board of Visitors Member Doug Bunch ’02 J.D. ’06. Bunch is a co-founder of the Global Playground, a partner of a Washington, D.C. law firm and serves on the board of Virginia21, an organization that advocates on behalf of the interests of college and university students in Virginia. In 2011, Bunch received the Marshall-Wythe School of Law’s inaugural W. Taylor Reveley III award, which recognizes alumni who have demonstrated a sustained commitment to public service. “It’s beyond time to recognize our LGBTQ* students in a special way at Commencement, and I look forward to doing so,” Bunch said in an
email. “As a member of William & Mary’s Board of Visitors, I’m excited that the Lavender Graduation will acknowledge how much we value the contributions of LGBTQ* students on campus. And as a member of William & Mary’s LGBTQ* alumni community myself, I know how strongly our broader university community values diversity of gender identity and diversity of sexual orientation and stands ready to welcome our new graduates. I’m thrilled to be one of the first to do so.” Once the ceremony was officially approved by the university in January, a committee made up of faculty and staff, as well as student representatives from oSTEM — a group for LGBTQ+ involved in science, technology, engineering and math — and the Lambda Alliance, was assembled to jointly plan the ceremony. The three staff members on the planning committee are Campus Recreation Director Linda Knight, EqualityWM Co-chair and Assistant Director at the Office of Health Promotion Eric Garrison M.Ed. ’94, and Assistant Director of Student Leadership Development Joe Wheeless. EqualityWM, the LGBTQ+ faculty and staff organization, and the gender, sexuality and women’s studies department have donated funds to support the ceremony. “Our whole LGBTQ community has come together to make this happen,” Patton said. “It’s been a very exciting process.” Since the College does not collect demographic data on LGBTQ+ students specifically, the committee has relied on reaching out to LGBTQ+ activist groups on campus to spread the word about this event. Patton said that 13 students have already registered to participate, and over 60 people have RSVP’d to attend, and she hopes that number continues to grow in future years. Registration for the Lavender Graduation ceremony closes Friday, April 6, at 5 p.m. “All marginalized groups have so many obstacles to college retention and graduation,” Patton said. “It’s important to have a moment to respect and honor these LGBTQ students and for the institution to recognize the wealth of diversity they bring. It’s important for us to fully recognize that not only do we serve the students but the students bring something incredibly important to us.” Ifeoma Ayika ’21, the new student representative for the Lambda Alliance, is also a part of the Lavender Graduation planning committee and has served as a liaison between the Lambda Alliance and administrators.
Mostly, Ayika said she would like to see this ceremony actually take place. “When something like this happens once, it’s hard to shake,” Ayika said. Ayika said that the adversity and personal struggles LGBTQ+ and SGL students face warrant the recognition the Lavender Graduation provides. “There are always going to be people who don’t accept who you are,” Ayika said. “To have a ceremony for people, to know that you’re being accepted, to know that you’re going to be with a group of peers who have struggled with you and have triumphed with you because of that specific part of your identity is important.” Ayika added that she thinks it is incredible to have the opportunity to be recognized and to celebrate LGBTQ+ students in an education system that has historically marginalized them. “It’s going to be very affirming to have an institution backing you, and saying, ‘This is who you are, not only do we accept that, but we want to celebrate who you are,’” Ayika said. One of the students who registered to participate in the Lavender Graduation this year is Jacob Hopkins ’18. “This is William and Mary’s first time recognizing the achievements of graduating queer students on campus, and I knew I wanted to be a part of this inaugural event,” Hopkins said. Hopkins added that a Lavender Graduation ceremony represents an important step in the College validating and supporting LGBTQ+ and SGL students. “My hope is that this recognition sustains momentum for other campus-wide initiatives meant to uplift and protect the lives and wellbeing of queer people on campus, not just when they graduate but from orientation all the way through,” Hopkins said. At the College, Hopkins said, he has found a community that has taught him the importance of standing up for his values, of learning when to talk and recognizing when to listen. “For me, graduating from William and Mary as a member of the LGBTQ community means understanding that my identity is often at odds with longstanding institutional barriers but that that doesn’t mean I need to be complicit or silent,” Hopkins said. “... The path of progress is long and slow but William and Mary has a strong group of people dedicated to never giving up or giving in.”
SA symposium features keynote address by Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney Professors, documentarian offer discussions of race in higher education March 29-31 SYMPOSIUM from page 3
way to bring these ideas to the forefront of campus,” Ferris said. “We talked about curriculum change but didn’t know if it was feasible. This conference seemed like a robust way to further discussion and bring student leaders from around the state and promote ideas and get these ideas on people’s radars.” While the events were open and free to all students at the College, the symposium was also open to students and faculty members at other colleges and universities in the commonwealth. Admission was $15 for students from other schools.
Speakers at the symposium included government professor Lenneal Henderson, the Muscarelle Museum of Art’s curator of Native American art Danielle MorettiLangholtz, Africana studies and linguistics professor Iyabo Osiapem and Dream Project Executive Director Lizzette Arias. These speakers were recruited to share their academic research as well as their backgrounds with activism and social change. Saturday morning, at the end of the symposium, Assistant Vice President for Student Engagement and Leadership Drew Stelljes and the Center for Student Diversity’s Assistant Dean and Director Kimberly Weatherly presented on the topics of
campus organizing and leadership development. Moving forward, Yackow said that this symposium will be adapted to fit with contemporary political and social themes. Levine, Yackow and Ferris applied for and received grants from the College and from UVA for this event. However, the team also introduced legislation before the SA Senate to allocate more money for anticipated costs. Class of 2018 President Laini Boyd ’18 and President-elect Brendan Boylan ’19 sponsored the Tending Our Roots Act, which allocated $3,586.75 for the symposium. $1,593.75 were allocated for the reception open to
the entire student body and invitees such as Stoney. $1,175 were allocated for a catered lunch Friday, $500 were allocated to reserve the rooms in the School of Education and $318 were allocated for Harold’s travel and lodging expenses. All fees associated with transportation and lodging for other student attendees were not covered by SA. This inaugural symposium was the first multi-day event sponsored by SA, and Levine and Yackow said they hope their successors, Boylan and SA Vice President-elect Samir Tawalare ’19, continue the initiative of hosting an event which acknowledges different elements of the College’s history.
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opinions
Opinions Editor Ethan Brown Opinions Editor Katherine Yenzer fhopinions@gmail.com // @theflathat
The Flat Hat
GUEST COLUMN
| Tuesday April 3, 2018 | Page 6
GUEST COLUMN
COLL class system flawed, disjointed
Robin Bradley
GRAPHIC BY KAYLA PAYNE / THE FLAT HAT
Fewer spring deadlines beneficial for students my classes will be. This jeopardizes the security of my schedule, at least for the classes I plan to take along with the business school core curriculum. If there are time conflicts, which I am quite certain there will be, I will have to start from near scratch at piecing together something that hopefully resembles a practical schedule.
Dylan Koury
FLAT HAT GUEST COLUMNIST
The spring semester appears to be going by much faster than the fall semester; I suspect this is because there are so many deadlines. One thing is due after another, so we just keep counting the days, checking off another box as something else gets turned in.For me, the two most stress-inducing dates are those of class registration and housing. As complex as these systems are already, I have been increasingly overcomplicating them due to future uncertainty. Despite creating backup plans for every possible contingency, there is still the possibility of everything going completely wrong. Of course, overpreparation and extreme stress appear to be traits of many students on campus. With regard to class registration, I was lucky enough as a rising sophomore to get some of the classes I wanted. Or, at the very least, I wasn’t forced to scour the open course list for literally any available COLL 200s. However, I essentially did that beforehand, so some of the classes I chose right off of the bat were backups because many classes that looked interesting were closed before registration for sophomores even began. Ultimately, I would say I was fairly conservative with my class selection, not trying to get the best teacher at the best time slot. That being said, by some miracle I was, however, able to get a spot in an Intro to Creative Writing class. I recall last semester that there were none available by the time of freshman registration, even though the description said that priority was given to freshmen. I sent my fair share of override emails, but often teachers say they cannot offer an override. I think it would be helpful for the open course list to include some kind of indication of whether an override will be offered and how many a teacher plans to offer. Perhaps the most pressing issue is my plan to apply to the business school next semester. The application for current freshmen is not due until June 1. This means that for a good few months I will not know whether I got in or, if I am accepted, when
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During the spring semester, I believe many students, or at the very least myself, would benefit from these deadlines being spaced out far more evenly instead of being clustered in the final weeks of the school year. While these issues alone may seem manageable, when combined with every other deadline that the spring semester has to offer, it can be easy to get lost in the hundreds of emails in your inbox, every single one seeming to be equally as pressing as the last. My friends and I are trying to get a 10-person housing block, and because I have the best time slot, as nice as that is, I have automatically become the group leader. This has brought me an additional responsibility packaged with a plethora of extra due dates. During the spring semester, I believe many students, or at the very least myself, would benefit from these deadlines being spaced out far more evenly instead of being clustered in the final weeks of the school year. A big issue is the degree of uncertainty, and it would make things a lot easier if more information was released about availability of housing options and course desirability. Personally, my schedule would be more secure if there was more coordination between the business school and the liberal arts school. I know deadline stress cannot be completely eliminated, but we could at least try to lessen it. Email Dylan Koury at dbkoury@email.wm.edu
FLAT HAT GUEST COLUMNIST
What do you want out of a liberal arts education? If your answer included an abundant knowledge of unrelated fun facts concerning academic subjects in which you otherwise have no education whatsoever, then the College of William and Mary’s College Curriculum might be right up your alley. While liberal arts colleges strive to — and usually succeed in — molding well-rounded and informed students, our confusing and idiosyncratic COLL system has been hindering student progress since December 2013. COLL 100 and 150 classes chiefly influence freshmen’s first perceptions of the College’s academics. The bizarre, stilted titles of these classes ensure that freshmen have absolutely no idea what they’re getting into. Because of the small quantity of seats available, classes with intriguing titles and highly rated professors fill up instantly. Unfortunately, all COLL 100 and 150 classes are four credits. These random classes that students decide to take freshman year exert too much influence over their fragile, burgeoning GPAs, especially since these classes are likely irrelevant to their majors and possibly even their interests. Despite the criticism I’ve spewed, I can say without guilt that one of the best classes I have taken here was a COLL 100 (shout out to Professor Prado). This class’s excellence was due to the prowess and passion of the professor, not the strange guidelines and contrived manifesto to “cultivate intellectual growth” that is imposed on COLL 100s and 150s. The success of a class is dependent on the professor, rather than the COLL system. COLL 200 classes are the strongest element of the College Curriculum enigma. Really, the whole COLL system should just be COLL 200 classes. There are a ton of interesting and diverse courses that fulfill the ALV, CSI, and NQR requirements and lots of great professors to choose from. However, four COLL 200 classes is too many in conjunction with the math, arts and foreign language requirements, along with other COLL classes. This is especially true if your high school didn’t offer many AP/IB credits, or if you’re trying to double major. The COLL 300 portion of the College Curriculum strongly encourages students to study abroad. Generally, study abroad teeters on a thin line between a culturally enriching, genuinely educational experience and a shameless display of socio-economic privilege. Some study abroad programs are glorified vacations, allowing you to pump out a couple of easy credits to pad your GPA and tell everyone you make eye contact with about how totally different and crazy things are over in western Europe. Other study abroad programs are rigorous, intensely academic and skillfully compel adjustment to a foreign society and standard of living. If for whatever reason a student does not choose to study abroad, the COLL 300 requirement can be fulfilled on campus. Unsurprisingly, these classes are subjected to a nebulous “theme” that changes every semester. Next fall’s theme is mysteriously titled “Bodies that Matter.” Good luck to all rising juniors. COLL 400 courses are typical senior capstones required by pretty much all colleges. Why a capstone course has to be part of the College Curriculum, and not an independent requirement (like math, arts and foreign language proficiencies), is a mystery that only the malevolent elder gods who first crafted the COLL system can answer. While general education requirements typically associated with liberal arts colleges are crucial for the development of competent students capable of cross-disciplinary literacy and scholarship, the College Curriculum is a disjointed and impractical system that serves as an obstacle to students rather than a boon. Email Robin Bradley at rwbradley@email.wm.edu
Try to remain positive in the face of registration disappointment
Anthony Madalone
FLAT HAT OPINIONS ASSOC. EDITOR
When I first decided I was going to write a column about registration, I was ready to be as optimistic as possible. Last semester, my initial schedule for this semester was completely rearranged due to spotty reception during registration. After about 10 minutes of deliberation during registration, however, I not only ended up eventually having all of the courses I originally wanted to take, but also managed to form an 18-credit schedule sans any class on Fridays, a feat that I would not have even dreamed of if I hadn’t missed out on some of my initial course
options. With the hope of a similar occurrence in mind, I went to bed the night before registration for next semester with visions of perfect schedules dancing in my head. It was a hazy morning. All I remember was being told to shut up from the next room over because of my raw, uninhibited anger. When I regained my composure, I looked at my computer screen to see a schedule composed of two courses. The time was 7:30. My roommate had already fallen back to sleep, having immediately secured his classes, including the elusive COLL 200 Stage Lighting that I had wanted so dearly prior to telling him about it. By 7:50 a.m., I had drowsily written several pleading emails and gone back to sleep, awaiting my wake-up a little more than an hour later. I looked over at my happy, sleeping roomie one last time and felt a potent tinge of loathing at his success. I went into my class still riding the frustration I had felt earlier and preparing to greet a group of chipper students who had managed to get their perfect schedules. Once there, however, I was immediately reminded that everyone
goes through the same hell. Only one person had actually secured their perfect schedule. In fact, multiple people actually had it worse
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Once there, however, I was immediately reminded that everyone goes through the same hell. than me, having only gotten into one class. My early frustration had certainly been warranted, but it was not an isolated experience. Later
pn, walking back to my dorm after my final class of the day, a friend of mine and I both received emails alerting us that we had gotten overrides for that stage lighting course. Overjoyed, we high-fived each other, with our mutual contempt for my roommate shifting to excitement at the prospect of the three of us having a class together. During registration, it is extremely easy to lose sight of the fact that some way, somehow, full-time students who begin their time at the College of William and Mary have a 90.8 percent chance of graduating in four years. The requirements will regardless of any original failures during registration, and anger toward the success of others should not dampen your day. Not only will those others eventually feel some scheduling pain as well, but their success does not come from them, but from the system they somehow got lucky enough to succeed in. When it rains, it may appear to pour. But it eventually pours on everyone, and at the end of the day, the weather clears up for everyone. Email Anthony Madalone at asmadalone@email.wm.edu.
variety
Variety Editor Heather Baier Variety Editor Carmen Honker flathat.variety@gmail.com
The Flat Hat | Tuesday, April 3, 2018 | Page 7
LAVERNE CHANGE talks gender and
The Big Win
Case closed: Mock Trial on to Nationals JULIA STUMBAUGH // FLAT HAT SPORTS EDITOR
Actress recounts personal journey MAGGIE MORE FLAT HAT VARIETY ASSOC. EDITOR
By 6:28 p.m. Wednesday, March 28, a line of students at the College of William and Mary stretched from the doors of Phi Beta Kappa Memorial Hall, down the stairs, around the corner, across Barksdale Field and all the way to the walls of Integrated Science Center 1. The reason for the line was the arrival of well-known actress and transgender rights activist Laverne Cox, most famous for her role on the Netflix original series, “Orange Is the New Black.” Cox came to the College as part of the annual Atwater Lecture Series, co-sponsored by Alma Mater Productions and Student Assembly and made possible by the Jane and Peter Atwater Endowment. Past speakers include co-creator of “Scandal” Judy Smith, as well as director Spike Lee. “I had no idea who was going to come for the spring speaker, but to hear this, it was the very happiest surprise, to have an activist like this on campus who has such an incredible background and has made so many strides,” Kyle Parker ’19 said of the event while waiting. “I mean, how could you not come to this?” While the lecture series is always popular, this year there seemed to be an added layer of excitement, with free student tickets selling out mere hours after AMP announced their availability for pickup February 28. The energy was tangible as students waited for doors to open on the evening of Cox’s appearance. “I’m just excited; I’m excited to be here,” Sylvie Joyner ’21 said before the lecture. After the doors to PBK closed at 7 p.m., Hasini Bandara ’18 gave a brief introduction. Cox then walked onto the stage to deafening, extended applause from the crowd. “If I’m having a bad day, I should just take you all with me,” Cox said as she took the podium. The actress and activist thanked everyone involved with the event before launching into an hour-long speech that combined statistics about the transgender community, landmark ideas from authors in psychology and gender studies and riveting autobiographical stories. “I stand before you tonight a proud, African-American, transgender woman, from a working-class background, raised by a single mother,” Cox said at the beginning of her talk. She used the example of her life to discuss the varied issues facing different minorities and the intersection of those issues in the transgender community. Cox cited several statistics to illustrate the problems the community faces. The homicide rate against trans individuals in 2017 was higher than in any previous recorded year, while the unemployment rate in the transgender community is three times the national average, and four times the national average for transgender people of color. 47 percent of transgender people experience sexual assault in their lifetime. Justice Department guidelines put in place during the Obama administration were repealed in 2017, and legislation is currently in place in federal and state governments that would
further damage legal rights for transgender people. Despite all this, Cox remains optimistic about the future. “But in the face of all this, we are a resilient people,” Cox said. “In the face of all of this, we continue to pursue our dreams. In the face of all this, we continue to assert and fight for our right to exist in our truth in public space. And ain’t I a woman?” Sojourner Truth was one of many figures that Cox stated gave her guidance as she grew comfortable in her identity. Other figures included bell hooks, who wrote on intersectionality, Judith Butler, who wrote on the difference between being a woman and being female, Simone de Beauvoir, who was an early writer on gender roles and Renee Brown, who researched internalized shame. “Brown defines shame as the intensely painful belief … that one feels that they are unlovable, and unworthy of connection and belonging,” Cox said. Cox told the audience stories of her life, many of which were uplifting or even funny. Others were about bullying and hurtful incidents with her classmates, teachers and occasionally her family. At one point, her fear of disappointing those around her was so unbearable that she attempted suicide. When she survived, she decided to work hard in all areas of her life, eventually throwing herself into a love of performance she has held onto since childhood. “I really believe that because I had something that I loved to do as a kid, something that I was truly passionate about, that that saved my life,” Cox said. The actress emphasized empathy as a way to heal. Tying it into intersectionality, Cox pointed out that often the shame one person feels about a part of their identity will cause them to react against other similarly struggling people, which can lead to problems like harassment and violence. “Hurt people, hurt people,” Cox said. For Cox, empathy is an antidote that reverses the problems caused by internalized shame. Cox’s lecture ended on a note of outreach, acceptance and understanding of those who are different. While she recognized the importance of drawing lines for one’s own safety, the actress also said that there are several people she is glad are in her life, whom she has a relationship with because of empathy and patience. “We got there by being willing to have very uncomfortable conversations across difference,” Cox said. “I would like to end this by encouraging you to go out into your communities and have those difficult conversations across difference.” Audience questions ranged from topics like public policy protecting the rights of transgender kids, to the origin of Cox’s recently released single, “Beat for the Gods.” The most notable question, asked by audience member Holden Mershon ’20, was, “how do you respond to rude, transphobic questions and comments?” In response, Cox simply said that she does not respond. “She takes the negativity and tries to turn it into positivity,” Merson said of Cox’s answer after the lecture ended. “I found that to be really inspiring.”
PHOTOS BY CARMEN HONKER / THE FLAT HAT
Actress and transgender rights activist Laverne Cox addressed the College Wednesday, March 28 as part of the annual Atwater Lecture Series.
What do Margot Robbie’s character from “Wolf of Wall Street,” a bank robber who gave up a life of crime to become a criminologist and a busker who flexes his muscles as performance art have in common? Here’s a hint: they’re all roles that students on the College of William and Mary Mock Trial team have played on their way to this year’s pinnacle accomplishment. For the first time since 2005, the William and Mary Mock Trial team is headed to the American Mock Trial Association’s National Championship Tournament after placing fifth in the Opening Round Championship Series. In 2018 March Madness terms, the College was the University of Maryland, Baltimore County to the rest of the country’s University of Virginia in terms of bracket busting. “Every single team that we hit was expected to beat us, and we didn’t lose two ballots to anybody,” Jacob Hill ’19 said. The College might know and embrace its status as the dark horse of Mock Trial, but the team’s success at ORCS has been a long time coming. The Mock Trial team has been preparing the performance that won it third place in the regional competition and fifth at ORCS since the beginning of the school year last September, when it was first assigned the case. Building a case is an arduous, year-long process full of research and story-building. The Mock Trial team prepares both the prosecution and the defense in order to put on a three-hour “mini-trial” in which it presents opening and closing statements, cross-examines other schools’ witnesses, and tries to create a compelling story to get the tournament judges on its side. That involves corroborating every witness’ story to ensure everything slots together to tell a cohesive narrative. Establishing that big picture takes a lot of contentious conversation. “After all,” Mock Trial team President Kat Mail ’18 said. “You can’t find what the best arguments are without arguing.” The Mock Trial team spends the first half of the year getting its members comfortable with this process. The team will call up new members to give impassioned two-minute speeches on random words — the members could be assigned anything from socks to dinosaurs — in order to build up confidence in public speaking. They then send these sock or dinosaur experts to invitational tournaments across the country. This practice gives team members the kind of confidence they’re going to need when they step up to the witness stand and assume a character. “There’s a lot of backstory that goes into this that they don’t really provide for us,” Vice President of Outreach Dana Florczak ’18 said. “But it’s really fun for us to take the materials we’re given and sort of expand beyond that.” Different schools will portray the same assignments very differently. For instance, a character witness who saw a murder was described in the assignment as a “street performer.” The College portrayed him as a professional muscle flexer, while another school brought a Victorian-era Dickens reenactor up to the stand. Portraying these characters takes more than just being able to say their lines confidently — you have to be able to roll with the punches and ad lib answers to cross-examinations. Members must keep a cool head whether the opposition is asking them about their criminal background or they’re insinuating that they’re a racist. The ability to not only stay in character and stick to the story, but also to have fun while doing so, is something the team has developed as it has become a more cohesive unit over the past few years. “We finally have a consistent identity of being capable,” Mail said. “For the first time, we started getting more successful because we had awesome coaching, and then you begin to self-identify as a contender. And when you’re a contender it makes people feel like this is worth dedicating their time to, so you break that self-fulfilling prophecy of being a bad team.” The seniors on the team have done a lot to build their contender identity. The College had only made it to the national competition once before in its history, in 2005, when a different structure made it easier for teams to qualify. It has taken the leadership of both undergraduates and law students to get the College to qualify for ORCS in consecutive years for the first time ever. There, the College beat the 12th-ranked Mock Trial team in the country, won an award for sportsmanship, claimed an individual award for the character witness portrayed by Alex Love ’19 and, most importantly, qualified for the national-level championship. To find the energy to achieve all of this, the College has a unique pretrial hype-up routine. “Partly to intimidate other people, we get in the middle of the hallway where we meet outside the classroom where we’re competing, and we’ll rap about Mock Trial,” Mail said. In a huddle in the hallway, a team member will drop the beat and Hill will jump in to spin an original freestyle full of confidence, in-jokes and plenty of legal jargon. Now energized, the team members adjust their ties, dresses and handcuffs as they file into the classroom to convince the judges of who exactly committed this murder. Once the trials are completed, AMTA announces which teams have qualified to go to the National Championship. To build suspense, it starts by naming the shoo-ins in the highest places and then continues down the list all the way to sixth, announcing the winners with agonizing slowness. The College was named fifth. “We were all sitting there, bent over, holding hands really tight,” Vice President of Tournament Grayce Angle ’19 said. “When we won, it was like this guttural scream from the entirety of William and Mary just echoed across the auditorium. I fell down and skinned my knee. We all just started sobbing unanimously.” But really, no one was too surprised, given that they’d just listened to Hill’s rap. After all, it ends with this line: “Dark horse coming at you with full speed, the College of William and Mary.” And now that dark horse is headed to the national competition, where it will be putting on a bank robbery trial — and most likely having a lot of fun while doing it.
sports
Sports Editor Brendan Doyle Sports Editor Julia Stumbaugh flathatsports@gmail.com // @FlatHatSports
The Flat Hat
THE EXTRA POINT
MEN’S GYMNASTICS
College claims second at Nationals Senior Griffin Antle, coach Bo Morris receive individual honors COURTESY PHOTO / TRIBE ATHLETICS
Tribe athletes earned USAG all-America honors in all six individual events.
EMILY CHAUMONT FLAT HAT SENIOR STAFF WRITER This weekend, William and Mary traveled to Colorado Springs, Colorado, to compete in the USA Gymnastics Collegiate National Championships, hosted by Air Force. The team competition and the all-around were held Friday, resulting in a second-place team finish and two College all-around athletes earning USAG allAmerica honors. Saturday, in the individual competition, at least one member of the Tribe earned USAG all-America honors on each of the six events. The College took second place at the USAG team competition for the second year in a row, scoring 388.75 points. The Tribe was beat out only by the host, the Falcons, who put up a score of 396.4. The Tribe bested Navy (388.7) and Springfield (371.9) to finish in the top two for the seventh time in the last nine years. By the end of Friday, the College had advanced eight gymnasts to the individual finals and had posted the best team score on the floor exercise, with a season-high score of 68.9. The all-around finals occurred Friday and the Tribe had strong representation at the top of the leaderboard. Junior Jack Hasenkopf posted a score of 74.9 to take third place and sophomore Nate Winneg put up a score of 72.8 to place fifth. Saturday, the gymnasts returned to Air Force to compete for the individual finals. The top six gymnasts in each event were awarded
USAG all-America honors and the College received honors on all six events. Junior Peter Makey was the strongest competitor for the Tribe Saturday, putting up a 13.55 on rings to take first place on the event. He was awarded all-America honors on rings at the USAG competition all three years he competed for the Tribe, taking sixth his freshman year, fourth his sophomore year and now holding a national title. Junior David Watkins also competed on rings and placed fourth with a score of 13.2. On high bar, junior David Allen took second place with a score of 13.25, while senior Mitchell Campbell put up a 13.5 for fourth place. Campbell also received all-America honors on parallel bars, where he placed sixth, scoring a 12.6. On pommel horse, junior Jacopo Gliozzi placed third and put up a score of 12.95. Sophomore Tim O’Neill took fifth on floor, scoring a 13.4. On vault, freshman Collin Lillie scored a 13.85 to tie for sixth place. In addition to the overall success in competition, a couple members of the Tribe took home additional individual awards. Senior Griffin Antle was named 2018 USAG Collegiate Senior Athlete of the Year and Bo Morris was awarded Assistant Coach of the Year. The College will continue competing next weekend, participating in the Eastern College Athletic Conference Championship April 7 at Navy.
BASEBALL
Tribe falls 2-1 in UNCW series
College picks up first conference victory of season Friday JULIA STUMBAUGH FLAT HAT SPORTS EDITOR William and Mary put up two runs in each of the final two games of its weekend series Saturday and Sunday, but neither effort was enough to best Colonial Athletic Association foe North Carolina-Wilmington, as the Seahawks (19-8, 4-2 CAA) put down the Tribe (10-18, 1-5 CAA) twice to take the weekend series 2-1. Friday, the College put up five runs before the Seahawks could get on the board, giving it an early lead that it held comfortably for the rest of the match on the way to its single win of the weekend, a 7-3 victory. “It definitely helps getting a few runs in that first inning and just jumping out to the lead,” senior outfielder Ryan Hall said. “Definitely helps being able to play with a lead, pitch with a lead, hit with a lead.” The Tribe once again opened scoring in the game Saturday, when an early tally from Hall in the bottom of the third put the College up 1-0. Both teams were held off the board for the next two innings, until freshman infielder David Hogarth put up another run to put the Tribe up 2-0 going in to the top of the sixth. Junior pitcher Bodie Sheehan threw a stellar first five innings, in which he only allowed three hits and saw no runs. But the Seahawks finally cracked him in the sixth, when he gave up three hits — two singles and a double — that got a UNCW runner home, cutting the Tribe’s lead to 2-1. The College attempted to find an answer in the bottom of the inning, getting junior outfielder Owen Socher to second with only one out on the board, but neither of the College’s final two batters could find a clean hit, sending the Tribe into the seventh still up by only a single run. After a scoreless seventh inning, things fell apart for the Tribe in the top of the eighth. It looked like the inning would be another brief one as the first UNCW batter struck out, but the next two players up to bat each hit doubles, getting one runner home to tie the score at 2-2. The next batter intentionally walked. The next hit, a single, sent another runner home, giving UNCW the lead at 3-2 — all with just one out still on the board. A groundout got yet another UNCW runner to third, and then another walk
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| Tuesday, April 3, 2018 | Page 8
College down 5-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth. Junior catcher Hunter Smith put his fifth home run of the season over the wall of Plumeri Park in the bottom of the sixth to cut the UNCW lead to 5-2. But that was it for the Tribe’s comeback attempt. One hit in the last three innings was not enough to save the College, and the Seahawks added on two more to pad their lead and ultimately defeat the College 7-2. Despite the 7-3-win Friday, the Tribe conceded the series to UNCW. Freshman pitcher Jacob Haney recorded his fifth loss Sunday to go 1-5 on the season. Hall, Zach Pearson and senior outfielder Brandon Raquet were the only players to tally multiple hits in a game Saturday and Sunday, as College batters struggled to find offense. “We feel good about our bullpen at this point. We got some guys, we got some offense and some depth,” head coach Brian Murphy said. “I think our defense has been good and our pitching has been adequate. It’s kept us in games. We just haven’t swung out bats enough to give us any margin for error in winning them.” With this loss, the College falls to 10-18 on the season, while it has still tallied only one victory in conference play, sitting at 1-5 after last weekend’s sweep by Charleston and this weekend’s loss to the Seahawks. It faces its next CAA opponent Friday in another home series. “This weekend we — junior infielder Zach Pearson got Towson at home, that’s another important weekend,” Murphy said. “I think there’s some stat that says we’re [5- “Hopefully we can gain some traction and try 1] when we score in the first inning, and I think to play well for an extended period, because that’s a really big indicator of how our season’s that’s obviously what we’re going to need at been going,” Zach Pearson said. “Scoring in this point.” The Tribe is currently seeded last in the the first inning is a big energy-getter. I think when we are able to do that, as our stats have conference, something that could change with shown, it’s helped with the confidence of the some wins at home next weekend. “Every conference game’s important, just whole team. That needs to be a goal for us one more win towards the win total,” Zach every single game.” The Tribe found an answer to the Seahawks’ Pearson said. “Obviously we would’ve liked early tally in the bottom of the third, when Zach to get more than that this weekend and last Pearson got all the way to third on a triple, and weekend, but every game matters, so we just was then helped home on a sacrifice fly from gotta go with that mindset every single game. It Hall to tie the score at 1-1. The College’s relief was nice to get one in the win column, finally. was short-lived, though, as the Seahawks put But we’re hopefully looking for more next up four runs in the next three innings to put the weekend.”
loaded the bases for the Seahawks. The College paused, regrouped and switched out pitchers to put bullpen veteran senior Charlie Fletcher on the mound, who calmly struck out the final batter. But the damage had already been done, and the Tribe was down by one heading into the final inning. Although Fletcher kept the Seahawks from finding any hits in the top of the ninth, the Tribe, which has struggled to come back from deficits this season, couldn’t get any closer than a double from junior Jason Waldman to tie the game up. The final score of 3-2 stood. Sheehan recorded his third loss to go 1-3 on the season. “I think one thing [to improve on] is just the energy early, and trying to continue that throughout the entire game,” junior infielder Zach Pearson said. “Another big thing is just confidence, just going up there knowing and expecting what you’re gonna do and that you’re gonna have success.” The College looked to redeem itself, win the weekend series and pick up an alwaysimportant conference win in the third game of the series Sunday. But the Tribe didn’t get the start it was looking for when a homer from UNCW’s Ryan Jeffers put the College down 1-0 in the top of the first.
We’re [5-1] when we score in the first inning, and I think that’s a really big indicator of how our season’s been going.
Burchfield shines in longawaited national spotlight
Josh Luckenbaugh FLAT HAT SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Playing under the spotlight of the National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament remains an elusive goal for the William and Mary men’s basketball program. Making an improbable run to the Final Four like Loyola-Chicago has this March? Nothing more than a pipe dream. But after so many years of the Tribe coming painfully close to earning a place in the madness, senior guard Connor Burchfield’s victories in the Great Clips Men’s 3-Point Championship and Samsung Straight Talk Battle of the Champions Friday give College fans a chance to celebrate one of their own triumphing on a national stage. After leading the country in three-point shooting percentage once again this season, knocking down 52 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc, Burchfield was invited to show off his sharpshooting abilities at the State Farm College Slam Dunk and 3-Point Championships in San Antonio, Texas, the host city for this year’s Final Four. Broadcast live on ESPN2, the event gave Burchfield a chance to prove he deserved the title of “best shooter in America,” and the Concord, North Carolina native did not disappoint. Burchfield didn’t put up the top overall scores in the first two rounds of the men’s competition, but his consistency earned him a spot in the final against Jonathan Stark of Murray State. Demonstrating the deadeye accuracy from deep which Tribe fans have become accustomed to seeing over his four years in Williamsburg, Burchfield put up 21 points in the final round, and the victory was sealed when Stark recorded just 14. Burchfield then went on to defeat Michigan’s Katelynn Flaherty, who won the Marine’s Women’s 3-Point Championship, in the Battle of the Champions. “It was a lot of fun to be able to put on the jersey one more time, and what a way to go out bringing home the championship, bringing it back to Williamsburg,” Burchfield told Tribe Athletics after his pair of wins. “It was just a nice reward for a lot of hard work that’s been put in over the years.” And if there was anyone Tribe supporters wanted to see succeed on this stage, it was Burchfield. I wrote in this space several weeks ago about the impact senior guard David Cohn (who was also invited to San Antonio, Texas, to participate in the 3X3U National Championship) had on Tribe basketball, and his backcourt partner Burchfield certainly influenced the culture of the program in a positive way as well. Burchfield started just five games during his first three years in a Tribe uniform, coming off the bench when the College needed a scoring spark or to ensure those above him on the depth chart got a chance to rest. His sophomore season, Burchfield led the nation with a 56.3 percent shooting percentage from behind the arc, but his astounding range did not translate to a large increase in playing time. However, while others in his class, such as Greg Malinowski and Jack Whitman ’17, transferred to larger programs, Burchfield stayed at the College and thrived in a senior season that saw him finally become a regular member of the Tribe’s starting five. He averaged 12.6 points per game, starting 28 contests and forming a lethal backcourt tandem with Cohn. “For three years, he was a role player … a very valuable member of our team, but didn’t play as much as he wanted to play,” head coach Tony Shaver said of Burchfield back in November, after the shooting guard knocked down a schoolrecord 10 threes in a win over Marshall. “And most kids today quit. They’ll transfer, go somewhere else and find supposed happiness. But he’s stuck it out, and just so thrilled for him that he’s done that but that he’s reaping the benefits of that right now.” Burchfield’s collegiate career comes to an end with him topping both the College’s and the Colonial Athletic Association’s rankings in career three-point shooting percentages. While his brilliance from beyond the three-point arc may be unparalleled, his younger teammates and future members of the Tribe can certainly learn from Burchfield’s example that hard work and patience pay off. “First couple of years here at William and Mary, I wasn’t playing as much as I would have liked,” Burchfield told Tribe Athletics Friday night. “Never thought that after my senior year, I’d be shooting here on a national stage … and bringing home the trophy.” It may not be the trophy the College wants most of all, but Burchfield’s accomplishments this weekend should not go ignored, either. If nothing else, Burchfield’s meteoric rise from minor role player to best shooter in America proves that Shaver and his staff are developing players the right way, shaping individuals into a team that can accomplish the program’s ultimate goal: to win the CAA and earn the College’s first NCAA tournament bid. Watching as Burchfield swished three after three in front of a sold-out crowd in San Antonio, Texas, made that day feel not so far away. Email Josh Luckenbaugh at jluckenbaugh@email.wm.edu.
COURTESY PHOTO / TRIBE ATHLETICS
Senior Connor Burchfield won the three-point competition at the Final Four.