The Flat Hat August 23 2019

The Flat Hat The Weekly Student Newspaper of the College of William and Mary Vol. 109, Iss. 9 | Friday, August 23, 2019 | Flathatnews.com

Finding your William and Mary

voice

In this Issue:

Introducing class of 2023

p. 3

New LGBTQ+ clothing locker Advice for freshmen p. 5 Diversity Fair p. 7 Index Profile News Opinions Variety

Sports

p. 4

Inside Opinions 2 3-4 5-6 7-8 9-10

Inside Sports

Adjusting study habits offers useful growth

Stormy High 87, Low 68

Lauren Cohen ’21 says that new students should put time into discovering time management and studying strategies that work for them best in a university environment. page 5

Cross country deserves more

Avery Lackner ’22 discusses the lack of attention towards cross country at the College of William and Mary, despite their winning record. page 10

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newsinsight “

News Editor Heather Baier News Editor Leslie Davis News Editor Emma Ford

The Flat Hat

| Friday, August 23, 2019 | Page 2

THE BUZZ

Currently, approximately half our $27 million budget comes from the student-fees, and strong consensus exists across the entire university that our focus should be on growing other sources of revenue.

— Senior Assistant Athletics Director Peter Clawson, discussing the intercollegiate fee paid by all students at the College.

Life as an OAD

Lyla Rossi stresses campus involvement VERONICA MANTHA // THE FLAT HAT

COURTESY PHOTO / WM.EDU

Class of 2023 students were first introduced to the College of William and Mary during Day for Admitted Students, and will make up the 327th College class.

New TWAMPs in the swamp

College welcomes 1,720 new faces, including Star Wars trivia champion, blacksmith NIA KITCHIN // FLAT HAT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Early Friday morning, 1,720 new students will arrive in Williamsburg from all across the world ready to begin their time at the College of William and Mary. Of these students, 1,540 will comprise the class of 2023, and 180 will have transferred from other institutions.

Of the 14,680 students who applied to join the class of 2023, 38 percent were offered admission. The acceptance rate was 35 percent in 2019, down from 37 percent in 2018. Transfer students had a 50 percent acceptance rate this year.

Of the accepted freshmen, roughly 1,000 were accepted through regular decision and 544 from early decision. This year for the first time, the College offered an additional binding application option called early decision II, which students could use to apply at the regular application date but receive their decisions in advance of the regular decision option. Of the enrolled freshmen, 461 were admitted through early decision I and 83 were admitted through early decision II. Additionally, 15 students deferred their admissions in order to take a gap year, and 15 students admitted with the class of 2022 who deferred last year will be entering with the class of 2023.

Another admissions change

this year was the addition of the Coalition Application as a way of applying for admission to the College. The application, which can be submitted by prospective students in lieu of the Common Application, was created by the Coalition for Access, Affordability, and Success, and is intended to provide a more transparent application process, especially for students coming from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Associate Provost for Enrollment and Dean of Admission Tim Wolfe ’95 M.Ed ’01 said that only five to six percent of applications were through the Coalition Application while 95 percent came through the Common Application.

Wolfe said the low frequency of Coalition Application submissions surprised him as admissions representatives expected more students to use the option.

Wolfe said that the College will continue to offer the Coalition Application as an option for the class of 2024, and observe the outcome by paying attention to overall numbers and noting any trends that may emerge if particular markets or states start preferring the Coalition Application over the Common Application. Wolfe said it may be helpful on the microscopic level even if in aggregate the Common Application is still

The Flat Hat ‘STABILITAS ET FIDES’ | ESTABLISHED OCT. 3, 1911

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Heather Baier News Editor Leslie Davis News Editor Emma Ford News Editor Zoe Beardsley Variety Editor Adithi Ramakrishnan Variety Editor Gavin Aquin Sports Editor Avery Lackner Sports Editor Anna Boustany Opinions Editor Chloe Folmar Opinions Editor Olivia Koenig Social Media Editor Kate Lucas Blogs Editor

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Fernando Castro News Assoc. Editor Sarah Greenberg News Assoc. Editor Karina Vizzoni News Assoc. Editor Suzanne Cole Variety Assoc. Editor Isabella Miranda Variety Assoc. Editor Lauren Cohen Opinions Assoc. Editor Anthony Madalone Opinions Assoc. Editor Alyssa Slovin Opinions Assoc. Editor

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overwhelmingly preferred.

Wolfe said that the class of 2023 is notable for many reasons, but that the students’ academic accomplishments are especially distinguished.

The incoming freshmen have an SAT middle 50th percentile of 1320-1510 and an ACT composite score middle 50th percentile of 30-34, which represent a steady rise over the past two years; in 2018, the SAT middle 50th percentile was 1310-1490, and in 2017 it was 1300-1480. ACT scores have risen over the past three years as well.

“From an academic standpoint it is an incredibly strong class; I certainly realize that SAT and ACT scores don’t tell the whole story, but in a big picture of a whole class they can kind of provide a little bit of an aggregate glance,” Wolfe said.

“Those numbers are higher than last year, and I think just simply reflect our feeling within the admission review process and the admission committee that this group was an incredibly strong group of students academically, but also in terms of how they we’re involved.”

The class of 2023 also represents an increase in students of color attending the College. A third of the freshmen are students of color and seven percent are international students.

These statistics are counted separately even though international students may also be students of color. In 2018, 31 percent of the freshmen were students of color, and in 2017, 30 percent were.

“We’re thrilled … that 40 percent of the students are either students of color or international students, so we think that that is an exciting part of the incoming class this year,” Wolfe said.

Overall, 55 percent of the freshmen are white, 11 percent are Asian, nine percent are Hispanic, seven percent are multi-racial, six percent are black, four percent are unknown, less than one percent are American Indian and Alaskan native and less than one percent are Pacific Islanders. Of transfers, 27 percent are students of color.

The seven percent of international students hail from 26 different nations, including China, South Korea and Canada. From inside the United States,

students represent 39 different states including Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico. Instate students comprise 62 percent of freshmen, and 38 percent are from out of state.

The most highly represented states besides Virginia in order are New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Illinois, North Carolina, Texas, Florida and California.

Of transfers, 72 percent are from in-state and 28 percent are from out of state, with half coming from fouryear institutions and half from two-year colleges or community colleges.

Meanwhile, the student gender imbalance continued to hover around an 18 percent disparity. Of freshmen, 59 percent identify as female while only 41 percent identify as male.

Among transfer students, 55 percent identify as female and 45 percent as male. Additionally, the number of first-generation students has stayed consistent with previous years at 10 percent of the freshman class.

There are 20 students enrolled in the St Andrews Joint Degree Programme, 150 Monroe scholars and eight 1693 scholars.

While these students have yet to enter the College, they already have accomplished a wide array of feats. Included in the class of 2023 are a pilot, a student who won a gold medal at a U.S. Sailing Junior Olympic Windsurfing Festival, a blacksmith, a student who twice placed in the top three at the World Series of Birding, a member of the Second City Teen Ensemble, a volunteer firefighter and a four-time Star Wars trivia state champion.

“We are very, very excited about this class and know that they are going to be a fantastic addition to the William and Mary community,” Wolfe said. “I think that stretches across campus involvement, classroom involvement and just making an impact here and beyond … We’re already working hard on the next class and beyond, but we will be delighted on Friday to see them move in and especially next Wednesday for Convocation.

That’s always one of our absolute best days of the year for us when we get a chance to see that class walk through the Wren building, and we take a lot of pride in that.”

Every fall, new students at the College of William and Mary step onto campus for orientation five days before classes begin. As they unload their parents’ cars, they are often met with cheering, yellowshirted students who will act as orientation aides for the freshman and transfer students. Although you won’t find her in a yellow shirt, Lyla Rossi ’20 will be among the many student volunteers greeting freshmen and transfers to the College. In previous years, Rossi served as a Transfer and More Orientation Aide, but she will instead don a black shirt this year as a Transfer and More Orientation Aide director.

“Orientation is definitely a huge part of my life at William and Mary,” Rossi said. “[Orientation] sparked my interest in continuing to contribute to the community we have here, because it’s special to me and has really formed who I am now and has made me into the person I am, so I kind of wanted to turn around the saber and continue trying to foster a community for people who necessarily might not be immediately welcomed at our school.”

Dubbing herself a “nerd for imperial culture,” Rossi is double majoring in anthropology and sociology at the College. Rossi’s focus on people-centered majors compelled her to complete research on Native American cultures, which was later featured at the College’s Muscarelle Museum of Art. Her research highlighted Native American rugs and ceramics and investigated the artifacts’ symbolism.

Rossi enjoys her work as an OAD because it allows her to work with her peers, both at the College and around Williamsburg. Transferring the skills she learned as an OAD to other aspects of her life, Rossi became involved in volunteer work with the Merrimac Mentors, an organization that works with residents at the local juvenile detention center. “[Merrimac Mentors] has become a real passion project of mine,” Rossi said. “I’ve learned a lot about how to connect to someone else, and relate to someone else, from very different backgrounds and places of privilege.”

In addition to Merrimac Mentors, Rossi also collaborates with the ARC of Greater Williamsburg, where she works with adults with disabilities. Rossi added that her volunteer work and her role as an OAD have been integral learning experiences in her life.

“I have found a community through them, learned to relate to another person, be present for another person, and just have fun with another person.”

Rossi interviewed to be an OA for her junior year partially so she could challenge the idea that there was only one type of orientation aide. To her, anyone can be an OA as long as they are comfortable openly sharing their perspectives.

“There was an idea that you have to be super loud and super personable and super bubbly to be an OA, and I kind of wanted to change that single narrative to say that any person that wants to be an OA can be one, because if you can impart knowledge or share a perspective to a new student, then that’s all you need to be an OA,” Rossi stated.

As an OAD, Rossi wants to make sure that transitions for incoming students go smoothly. She and other OADs have been working to prepare for the arrival of new students since February, when the process of hiring OAs started.

“These are the people who usher [new students] into the school year,” Rossi said. “OAs are half of the importance of orientation — the other half being the new students, of course — so the interviewing and selection of potential orientation aides is long and tedious.”

Throughout the summer, Rossi said that OADs have worked towards preparing for OA training, new student arrival, and “getting swag together” in expectation of the busy August orientation season. Rossi also stressed the importance of taking time for yourself outside of work and activities, both for orientation volunteers and new students alike.

There are varied opinions on the College’s unique orientation schedule, which consists of an intense five days before the first day of classes, compared to other universities that offer a standard one or two day orientation during the summer.

“It’s such an overwhelming time, both students and OAs are going from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.,” Rossi said. “For a lot of students hanging out with your hall 24/7 rushing from one place to the next is not a thrive zone; it’s just not what’s best.”

However, Rossi argues that the College’s method of orientation prioritizes community more than other university orientation programs and that bonding through hallmates rather than a random group of classmates that may never even see each other again is a special experience. Rossi noted that these aspects of the five-day orientation make it a superior system, despite the occasional bouts of stress that it may foster.

Rossi hopes that new students feel they belong at the College after orientation, just as she did after her own experience with the program.

She remembers interacting continuously with her 17 hall mates those five days of orientation and the friendships she formed during that time. Being with her hallmates so consistently, Rossi was left with the feeling of being part of something bigger and finding a community.

“Feel strengthened by who you are in the sense that your community will find you, and you will find your right community,” Rossi said. “You don’t need to be someone you’re not. You are in charge of your own happiness and don’t forget that.”

COURTESY PHOTO / LYLA ROSSI

Lyla Rossi ‘20 reading with a member of the ARC of Greater Williamsburg.

Page 3

The Flat Hat

Friday, August 23, 2019

Daily Grind closes after failure to pay rent

Employees cite mismanagement, discrimination from owner After 20 years of operating as an independent cafe on the campus of the College of William and Mary, The Daily Grind will be taken over by Michelle and Steve Seiling, owners of the coffee shop and cafe Aromas and restaurant The Hound’s Tale.

Daily Grind owner Eric Christenson announced that the closing was due to revenue loss. However, testimonies from other student employees attribute the closure to mishandling of payment, mismanagement and discriminatory behavior by Christenson.

Originally, a July 19 Facebook post entitled “...and we are closed,” included a video of a hand locking the front door to the Grind. The caption read “After 20 years of serving the W&M community as an independently owned and operated cafe, The Grind has closed it’s doors.”

In the post, which led to widespread confusion among students over the coffee shop’s fate, Christenson cited a 45 percent reduction in food revenue as a major factor in the Grind’s closing. Christenson said he believes the revenue loss occurred due to the Tribe Truck’s new policy of accepting meal swipes and dining dollars.

“Although this is a sad ending for the community which was the Daily Grind, it is new beginning (hopefully with a much needed renovation) for Lodge 2,” Christenson said in the post “As of now, it appears that a W&M supported vendor will be taking over the space.”

Later the same day, another message posted to The Daily Grind’s Facebook page revealed that new management may potentially take over the cafe. The message read, “It has been confirmed. SODEXO is now responsible for The Daily Grind and is contracting with Aroma’s to operate a business in Lodge 2.” The College later announced the change in management to the Seilings and the renaming of the Grind to the Aromas Daily Grind.

When Christenson first took over after the previous owner Scott Owen retired in 2018, he had a clear vision for what he wanted to do to give back to the community.

“This was an opportunity to do something that I really love,” Christenson said. “I love the culture [at the Daily Grind].”

In the first month after he took over, Christenson said the food revenue was up 30 percent. He also hired more student employees than had been hired in the past and discussed plans with the College for the Daily Grind to stay open until 11 p.m. as well as beginning renovations. However, the renovations were not completed and the extended hours did not result in an influx of students to the Daily Grind.

“Everybody expected us to be open by nine and closed by five and students weren’t coming in early or late,” Christenson said.

According to Christenson, his decision to hire more student employees also became a complication. Although he said it would have worked out in time, the need to provide new employees with training overextended the Daily Grind’s resources.

However, Assistant Vice President for Student Engagement and Leadership Drew Stelljes cites a different problem resulting in the Daily Grind’s closure — Christenson’s failure to pay rent to the College.

“Regrettably, Eric Christianson was not able to meet the contractual terms of the lease agreement to pay rent,” Stelljes said in a written statement. “It was never the intention of anyone at W&M to close the Daily Grind. I love the Daily Grind. It’s part of what brings the center of campus to life.”

In addition to Christenson’s failure to pay rent, student employees at the Daily Grind observed different reasons for the revenue loss and subsequent closure of the cafe.

Seven different employees all attested to experiencing, witnessing, or hearing about issues with the cafe’s management style. These included problems with pay, problems with scheduling, and mistreatment of customers and employees based on their race or LGBTQ+ identity.

Naz Shirazi ’20 said that several students, themself included, faced problems getting their wages.

“For [over] a month, I was not paid for my work,” Shirazi said in a written statement. “Some people had been venmo’ed … some people had been written a check, but me and two others were sort of just groveling for our wages. I also had to remind him to pay me two other times after that, it’s stressful having to hound people for money! I hated that!”

Sarah Harmon ’19 worked for the Daily Grind for a year before she graduated and said she also encountered problems discussing pay with Christenson and had to speak with Christenson several times until she was finally paid.

According to two employees, one who wished to remain anonymous because she depends on employment in the Williamsburg food industry and fears retribution by Christenson who employs students in that industry, Christenson did not pay new hires during their training, which is illegal in Virginia under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. “He refused to pay the new hires (there were a lot) for training hours, which is illegal,” one student, who wished to remain anonymous, said in a written statement. “When we spoke to him about it, he claimed he had okayed it with his lawyer. Additionally, there were regular delays in payment or issues with Eric automatically clocking people out before they were finished working and refusing to pay them for the undocumented time.”

The second student, Madelyn, who will be referred to by her first name only for this story for the same reason as the previous anonymous source, attested to the same issues — new employees were not paid during their training, and multiple employees were paid in different ways ranging from Venmo, personal checks from Christenson and direct deposit.

Madelyn also said that employees were often automatically clocked out at a certain time, regardless of when they actually stopped working and that it was difficult to confront Christenson about receiving pay for the hours not recorded in the system.

“He made it so that Homebase [the timeclock app the Daily Grind used] automatically clocked us out exactly at five,” she said. “To the point that, when you go over, you’re not getting paid for that ... So we would message him, and we would be like ‘Eric, Homebase shut me out, I was here an extra 45 minutes,’ and it would just not show up in our checks.”

Additionally, Madelyn said that she felt she had been misled in terms of what she could expect to be paid when she was first hired.

“I feel like I was hired under false pretenses,” Madelyn said.

“Because I was told that I was going to make eight dollars an hour, and when I came on, I actually made $7.25 an hour. And I was told — after a lot of us complained, because we were all supposed to make eight dollars an hour — we were told that we weren’t trained properly.”

Rachel Baldwin ’21 also said that Christenson misled her into believing her pay would be higher as her and other employees were

led to believe they would be making $8.25 an hour rather than the $7.25 she made when she started working.

“He told us he was going to give us raises when he thought we were ready,” Baldwin said.

According to Madelyn, when she and other students received a raise they only saw their pay increase by 25 cents — never reaching the full eight dollars they were promised.

When asked to comment, Christenson did not respond directly to any of the student statements about pay mismanagement at the Daily Grind.

Another student employee Lucy O’Hara ’22 already worked at Lokal — Christenson’s other restaurant — when Christenson took over the Daily Grind. She said he asked her to join the Daily Grind to help fill in gaps in the employee schedule at the start of the semester. According to O’Hara, Christenson interacted differently at Lokal than he did at the Daily Grind.

“There was another wonderful lady at Lokal, they kind of comanaged,” O’Hara said. “At Lokal, the woman co-managing handled many of the day-to-day tasks, whereas at the Grind, Eric was kind of doing everything himself. There was a lot he was kind of running from the top down. ... It felt like he was trying to be the owner and business manager, and also the shift manager. So there was a big difference.”

O’Hara did not experience any issues with compensation from Christenson, and she maintained the same pay rate she received working at Lokal.

Multiple employees also discussed how Christenson budgeted expenses for the Grind and indicated that his purchases occasionally exemplified his flawed financial management. According to the employees, rather than buying ingredients like milk in bulk as is typical for restaurants, Christenson would purchase individual cartons from grocery stores such as Trader Joe’s.

When asked whether he bought ingredients from Trader Joe’s, Christenson said he did buy items from the store, as well as other local stores like Aldi, but that he also bought items in bulk from stores like Restaurant Depot.

“The least expensive way to buy milk is to buy local in bulk,” Christenson said.

“

I believe Eric’s abrasive management style certainly impacted the appeal of the Grind for many people ...

For a ‘student run coffee shop,’ the Grind felt like a hostile environment where students needs weren’t heard.

— Sarah Harmon ’19

“

MAGGIE MORE FLAT HAT DIGITAL MEDIA EDITOR

Christenson explained that it was difficult to get items delivered in bulk due to roads near the Daily Grind being blocked off for construction.

Another issue students shared was the inconsistent hours they were given after Christenson assumed management. Another student, who also wished to remain anonymous, worked at the Grind under both Christenson and Owens and said they noticed the difference.

“Everyone’s hours were cut a ridiculous amount, as Eric brought in new, non-student workers for consistency,” the student said.

According to Shirazi, the scheduling issues often resulted in employees leaving.

COURTESY PHOTO / WM.EDU

The Daily Grind will undergo renovations before reopening on August 23.

“Then there was another issue that happened after spring break where he essentially ghost-fired people, simply by [never] giving them hours,” they said. “I worked maybe four hours in two weeks, and those were shifts I picked up from others. Eventually he started only scheduling me closings which is something I just put up with because I had things I needed to pay for. But a lot of people quit as a result of the lack of scheduling.”

Harmon said she experienced the other side of the inconsistencies in scheduling.

“I was scheduled for the same hours every week under his management but I did experience problems with matching shift assignments,” Harmon said. “There were several times I was accidentally scheduled to work alone or with untrained staff during a rush hour.”

In addition to the scheduling and pay issues, multiple student employees were uncomfortable with Christenson’s treatment of both customers and employees in what they considered to be a discriminatory manner. Employees said they either witnessed or experienced instances of racial tokenization of employees of color, and the repeated use of incorrect pronouns for transgender and nonbinary individuals.

“Eric stereotyped both employees and customers regularly,” the first anonymous student said. “Additionally, he repeatedly sought to capitalize on the ethnicities and cultural characteristics of people working for him, and regularly [said] we had a super diverse staff as if it were his achievement.”

Baldwin said that Christenson was transphobic to employees and customers and that she felt he focused heavily on her Jewish heritage.

“In general he just brought up my Jewishness every single time we spoke in a way that made me very uncomfortable,” Baldwin said in a written statement. In the statement, Baldwin claims that Christenson would often bring up Israeli politics even though she never initiated such discussions as Israel can be a difficult topic to talk about.

“He had me contact a rabbi to see if he would put a mezuzah in the Grind (mezuzahs don’t even belong in businesses, they belong in homes),” Baldwin said in the written statement. “He asked me to bring back a specific type of fish from a Jewish deli. I mean these are all examples I can think of but really every time I saw him he would bring up something about Jewishness. It was just super weird and uncomfortable.”

Shirazi also had interactions with Christenson that focused on their race.

“In terms of racism though, he did corner me one time and request that I get my mother’s Iranian recipes and I was a bit startled,” Shirazi said in a written statement. “He asked because he wanted to sell a special at the grind and it just sorta made me uncomfortable.”

Madelyn attested to a similar situation.

“He would just also be kind of inappropriate with customers?”

Madelyn said. “Like, one of his quotes that we all just are in awe about… he once asked an Indian customer ‘Do you want that your spicy, or white boy spicy?’ And we were all just sort of standing in shock…. We would all just sort of see these interactions and be like ‘Oh my god — you can’t say that!’”

Madelyn also said Christenson misgendered transgender and nonbinary employees even after being corrected by herself and more than one of the other employees.

She also had an interaction where she confronted Christianson about times he was misgendering employees. During a conversation, Madelyn recalled Christianson referring to a nonbinary employee with the incorrect pronoun. Despite Madelyn’s attempts to correct Christianson, he would continue to misgender employees on other occasions.

When asked if he wanted to respond to comments about student’s statements regarding instances of racial tokenization and transphobia, as well as issues with pay, wages and scheduling hours, Christenson supplied the following statement.

“I am saddened by the end of our relationship with the College of William & Mary to operate the Daily Grind at William & Mary in Lodge 2,” Christenson said in a written statement. “The decision was not taken lightly and based solely on the economics of the business environment at the college. I enjoyed serving the students, academic community and staff as customers and in offering employment to students and community members. At no time did I or any other member of our team show or demonstrate bias against customers or team members based on race, color, religion, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or age.”

More than one student employee said that the change in treatment of employees made the overall atmosphere of the Daily Grind feel different. “...he created a truly toxic work environment; he made several employees cry, regularly criticized employees in an unprofessional manner,” the first anonymous student said.

The student also had doubts about the food truck's overall role in the closure of the Grind.

“The reduction in revenue did not come from the food truck, but rather from Eric not understanding how kitchens and cafes operate,” the first anonymous student said. “He refused to order food supplies from bulk suppliers, instead buying from Trader Joe’s every day. He changed recipes on a whim; menu items that had been longtime favorites were changed and tasted worse, so if any reduction in business caused the reduction in revenue, it was caused by his changes to the food.”

Shirazi also doubted the Tribe Truck’s involvement in the closure of the Grind. Rather, they credit the Daily Grind’s closing to its high food prices, recalling that on Tribe Truck days, she often found that the day ended with the same amount in the register as on normal days.

Harmon said that she thought Eric’s managing style changed the atmosphere of the Grind.

“I believe Eric’s abrasive management style certainly impacted the appeal of the Grind for many people,” Harmon said. “For a ‘student run coffee shop,’ the Grind felt like a hostile environment where students’ needs weren’t heard. I ended up quitting my job before the end of the semester for several reasons, but most importantly because the Grind stopped being the place I loved to visit every day.”

When contacted about whether the administration knew about the issues with racism and transphobia that the student employees discussed, Stelljes said that third-party contractors cannot be investigated for discrimination by the College but that their contract may be reexamined in these cases to ensure that they are complying with the College’s anti-harassment policies.

“We cannot speak about specific cases, but in general, employment issues with a third-party contractors are not within the university’s jurisdiction to investigate. However, in the case of such reports, W&M’s Office of Compliance can help students navigate any process the company or employer may have. In addition, if discrimination is happening with a third party contractor, the university may look at the contractual agreement to determine if they are complying with W&M’s policies in their employment practices.”

According to Stelljes, the renovations to the Grind are almost complete, and reflect changes to both equipment and decor.

“It’s looking great,” Stelljes said. “The whole place is painted and new equipment has been delivered. New furniture has been delivered as well for both inside and back patio. The space to the right when you walk in will be more of a lounge area with comfortable seating.”

According to a news release from the College, the Daily Grind will reopen Aug. 23, in time for students returning to campus. It is now under the management of Big T RSL, Inc., owned by Michelle and Steve Sieling, the owners of Aromas. Its official name is now “Aromas Daily Grind.”

Christenson, who also owns and runs Lokal on Prince George’s Street, said he is still invested in the Williamsburg community, despite his leaving the Grind.

“I finally made a business decision,” he said of the Grind’s closing and the Aromas takeover. “You’ve got to be able to support the business.... Everything has to sustain itself.”

The Flat Hat

Page 4

Friday, August 23, 2019

ATHLETICS

Students each pay $1,192 towards athletics College generates 54 percent of athletic budget from student fee CHARLES COLEMAN

corporate sales, and other sources.”

While it may seem common to pay an athletic fee to support a large and intensive part of the As the new school year begins, students and College's community, this fee differs from a number parents throughout the College of William and of other Virginia schools. The University of Virginia, Mary’s community fill out and sign a multitude of for instance, also charges an annual intercollegiate forms that indicate what their tuition will go towards. athletic fee to each student of around $700.

While there are numerous fees a that continuously However, for UVA this money on generates around raise tuition and other school fees, some students 14 percent of their athletic budget from this fee, have begun to question the intercollegiate athletics while the College generates around 54 percent of its fee that all students pay and have expressed interest athletic budget from this fee. UVA generated over in where the College allocates the money. $100 million towards the athletic program in fiscal For the 2018-2019 academic year, every student year 2019, compared to William and Mary's $28 paid $1,192 for the intercollegiate athletic fee, which million in revenue. earns the varsity athletic programs over $15 million Another notable concern of the College’s in funding. The fee increased by $92 from the 2018 athletic expenses can be seen when comparing fiscal year, and students enrolled for the 2019 fall with Virginia Tech. Virginia Tech, which boasts semester will make an initial payment of $1,001. It one of the largest student bodies and athletic has not yet been determined what the full payment programs in the state, had a total of 217 faculty will be for the 2020 fiscal year. and staff working for their athletic program The fee itself is currently broken down to cover during the 2018-2019 school year according to multiple aspects of the College’s athletics needs. their annual budget. While Virginia Tech has The largest portion of the fee is apparently sent to approximately 726 student athletes listed on its student scholarships, webpage, the College followed by personnel only has 500. Tech, expenses, coaching however, is able to staff fees and employee create much more compensation, with competitive teams the rest going into and programs with operational costs. a 2-7 faculty-toThere is little specific athlete ratio while information on what the College has a 1-5 is included in this faculty-to-athlete broad operations ratio. This suggests category, and while that the College could it could encompass reduce athletic staff in material, clothing, an effort to decrease stadium and building spending and focus costs, there is no on programs that exact breakdown could gain legitimate — Peter Clawson indicating where success. every cent goes.

Clawson also spoke Senior Assistant Athletics Director Peter Clawson on what the student fee goes towards, as well as conveyed the purpose and goals of the student how the College compares to other FCS schools. athletics fee in an email. Clawson highlighted the “Compared to our peers, W&M Athletics role athletics plays in community building and is far less reliant on student fees than other suggested that a strong athletics department adds FCS institutions in Virginia," Clawson said. to the College's overall success.

"This is largely due to the generosity of alumni “In boldly pursuing excellence, we expect to and donors who continue to invest in our mirror the university’s academic achievements program. At W&M, student fees go directly through championship athletics," Clawson said. into operational costs of the department, "In other words, winning the William & Mary way particularly for sports that are less able to ... Currently, approximately half our $27 million generate revenue. ... our top priority will budget comes from the student-fees, and strong always be funding scholarships for our studentconsensus exists across the entire university that athletes though we also expect a great deal of our focus should be on growing other sources of fundraising emphasis on revitalizing Kaplan revenue. Slightly less than half of W&M Athletics Arena into a fitting home for the department budget comes from private funding, ticket and and better resource for the university.”

FLAT HAT CHIEF STAFF WRITER

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In boldly pursuing excellence, we expect to mirror the university’s academic achievements through championship athletics. In other words, winning the William & Mary way.

COURTESY PHOTO / WM.EDU

For the 2018-19 academic year, varsity athletic programs earned over $15 million in funding from the $1,192 student fee.

Chancellor Professor of English Emeritus Terry Meyers is the former chair of the Athletic Advisory Policy Committee, an avid campus voice against unspecified tuition fees. Meyers recently wrote an article for the Virginia Gazette which expressed his views on the future of the College’s athletic programs. Meyers believes that the student required intercollegiate athletic fee is far too high and encouraged the College to look towards becoming a Division II school.

In written statement, Meyers stated that amount of this fee is unnecessarily high and how it can be an issue for students. Meyers mentioned how he finds both positives in athletics and negatives that could leave some students disadvantaged.

“I’m not against having a good and well-run athletics program — there are benefits in terms of school spirit and identity and alumni loyalty and benefactions,” Meyers said. “To me, though, the issue is the cost of those benefits and who should pay them. I think right now something close to 50 percent of the costs are covered by the $2000 per annum fee each student pays. Some $8000 over four years. That’s a lot of money, especially if you have to borrow some part of it to come to William and Mary.”

Meyers mentioned ways to reconfigure spending and increase fundraising. He believes that by decreasing the athletic programs budget through reducing this fee’s amount, more pressure would be placed on fundraising, which would actually create a more viable revenue stream for the athletic programs.

As a means to reduce athletic spending while still encouraging strong programs, Meyers detailed the possibility of becoming a Division II

school instead of Division I. “I think Division III has more schools more like us in terms of academic quality. I think it’s possible but unlikely,” Meyers said. “It may be in Division III we wouldn’t attract students with quite the athletic caliber we presently do.

But I also think attracting those doubly-gifted students may be harder in the future anyway— they’re relatively rare and the pool I think will be getting smaller, especially in contact sports where participation may be declining at the secondary school level as parents and students understand more about concussive impacts.”

Joanna Di Scipio ’22 offered her perspective as non-athletic student on the College’s transparency and athletic fees. Di Scipio stated that she felt as if the College wasn’t clear in its intentions and that the information should be portrayed more clearly.

“Considering that I’m a sophomore and had no idea I was spending $2000 on [the athletic fee], they should be more transparent,” Di Scipio said.

Di Scipio also spoke on other ways she believes the athletic department can find revenue, and emphasized why this fee may seem overbearing for students to pay.

“First of all there are donors, and I know the donors are paying a lot of money for the athletics department,” Di Scipio said. “Considering that athletics are such a small part of the student bodies participation, that’s ridiculous.”

Overall there seems to be some clear confusion on the direct intent on the athletic fee and how each student's tuition dollars are being spent.

It is difficult to determine more on how the fee will change in the upcoming years or where the College’s athletic programs will go.

“

CAMPUS

CSD project provides free clothing to LGBTQ+ students 'Trans Locker' opens at the start of fall 2019 semester at the Campus Center FLAT HAT STAFF WRITER

The Center for Student Diversity at the College of William and Mary is unveiling a new project aimed to assist transgender, nonbinary and gender non-conforming students in acquiring clothing items that correspond with their gender identity. The “trans locker” is located in the basement of Campus Center and will be available to students at the start of the fall semester.

The clothing locker will serve as a safe haven for transgender students to shop for clothes that otherwise may be difficult to obtain, due to difficulties shopping publicly, financial burdens or certain home situations. Director of the Center for Student Diversity Kimberly Weatherly noted that LGBTQ+ students may face prejudice and feel unsafe when shopping in public places like malls, especially because of limitations incurred by the store forbidding them to try on clothes in a dressing room adhering to their identity.

CSD Summer Intern Kirstin Byrd said that the new locker will be a safe space for expression.

“When a trans student wants to shop in a mall or a department store, there is always an issue of finding a fitting room [and] there is always an issue of being in an area that is not your gender area,” Byrd said. “There are burdens everywhere they turn, so we wanted to have a place that’s home so that they can express themselves.”

Over the summer, Byrd helped accept locker donations and organize the items. She said that the locker offers an opportunity for the center to further support transgender students on campus who face more challenges than others when it comes to everyday tasks like purchasing clothing.

“With their gender identity, a lot of times there are pitfalls and obstacles that the normal college student does not face on campus,” Byrd said. “That leaves our LGBTQ students, especially transgender students, it is pretty hard on them sometimes, so we want to support them, make them know that their campus more than supports, but loves them and supports who they are. … We are acknowledging that they go through extra troubles than average students, so we want them to feel comfortable.”

For Weatherly, the summer months were full of preparation for the locker’s anticipated opening. In June, the center advertised their clothing drive on William and Mary Digest for faculty and staff members, and Weatherly said that the response to this advertisement was overwhelming. The story soon got picked up by the Virginia Gazette and ABC’s 13 News Now as donations poured in from staff, alumni and community members

throughout the Williamsburg area.

“It’s just been awesome,” Weatherly said. “I’m so humbled by the kindness of people within the community, within the William and Mary community and outside.”

Research conducted by the CSD led to the implementation of a transgender clothing locker. Weatherly said that the center wants to be in alignment with the best practices nationally conducted at universities to ensure that all students feel welcomed.

College is often a time for students who are not out at home to freely be themselves, and Weatherly said that the office strives to aid students in their pursuit of a happy, healthy university experience during their time in Williamsburg.

“

Clothes reflect what we think our place in society is, and for a trans person to wear clothes that tell the world ‘hey, I am of this gender or this gender expression,’ it really is a boost to their self-confidence and their well-being.

— Jonathan Newby ’22

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CARMEN HONKER

“Students normally are successful when they are happy, when they are evolving in a positive manner,” Weatherly said. “A lot of students who are on the LGBTQ spectrum sometimes they are not out at home to their parents and friends. Therefore, when they come to college, it is an opportunity to finally live their authentic self.”

The locker is currently full of hanging clothes and has a large selection of items, all of which are either gently worn or new. The clothing will rotate seasonally.

“We have a couple formal, professional things … but mostly t-shirts, jeans, sweaters and slacks and things like that,” Byrd

said. “Just simple things, nothing really out of the ordinary.

Some of the stuff is really nice, leather jackets and different, really unique items which I think the students will love. It’s a good representation of everything.”

Weatherly added that items including accessories like jewelry, makeup and chest binders are still needed to complete the locker. Discussions regarding its operating hours are still underway, but current plans are that the closet will be open a couple days each week, and that students will be able to schedule private appointments.

While the response from the surrounding College’s community and faculty was widely supportive with hundreds of donations being received so far, the CSD awaits student input.

“My first reaction was that I was pleasantly surprised,” Lambda New Student Representative Jonathan Newby ’22 said. “I wasn’t expecting them to open up a trans locker, but when I found out that they did, I think it will be a really positive thing for trans and non-binary people on campus to have clothes that reflect who they rightfully are.”

Newby suspects that the trans locker will be utilized. He said that he does not expect there to be much student opposition, and that the locker is an encouraging resource for transgender and non-binary students.

“As far as the LGBT community overall, … I would say that the campus environment is fairly positive,” Newby said. “There could be some improvements, and I think that the locker can go a long way in making the LGBT community seem more open to certain people.”

Looking forward, Weatherly said that she hopes to transition the locker into a newer, larger space that is more accessible. In addition to the trans locker initiative, the CSD is expanding its efforts to help all students feel comfortable and embraced on campus. The CSD will hold a coat and blanket drive this fall for international students and those from tropical areas who may not be adequately prepared for the winter or who may not have the financial capabilities to purchase such items. The center also partners with the Cohen Career Center in their work to lend professional wear to students for job interviews. Weatherly said these projects offer students the opportunity to be prepared in all capacities, regardless of socioeconomic status, gender identity or ethnicity.

“Clothes reflect what we think our place in society is, and for a trans person to wear clothes that tell the world ‘hey, I am of this gender or this gender expression,’ it really is a boost to their self-confidence and their well-being,” Newby said. “It validates them as not only a trans person but a human being in society, not some other.”

opinions

STAFF COLUMN

Opinions Editor Anna Boustany Opinions Editor Chloe Folmar fhopinions@gmail.com // @theflathat

The Flat Hat | Friday, August 23, 2019 | Page 5

GUEST COLUMN

Upperclassmen offer advice to incoming freshmen Adjusting study habits offers useful growth Lauren Cohen

FLAT HAT OPINIONS ASSOC. EDITOR

So you’ve gotten into the College of William and Mary, you’ve taken the Advanced Placement classes, passed the SAT and ACT with flying colors, and written the essays. The hard part is over, right? In a way, yes; but that doesn’t mean that the College is a cakewalk.

This article isn’t meant to scare you, new incoming freshmen, but quite the opposite.

Here is your cliche “survival guide” to navigating the rough waters of academics at the College. Consider this a life vest of sorts.

Here’s a timeline of academic success, from an incoming junior who took a while to figure it out themselves.

Academic success starts on the first day of classes. I know the last thing you want to be doing during syllabus week is kissing up to your professors, but believe me, it’s the best time to do so.

After each class on the first day, I recommend sneaking up to the professor with a smile, shaking their hand, and introducing yourself to them. Coming from experience, it also never hurts to mention your enthusiasm for the subject or your interest in the class.

In doing this, you become a familiar face in the lecture hall.

Additionally, if you ever end up in their office hours, they will be more willing to help you out over other students who may be making a lastditch “please save my final grade” effort the week before finals.

Speaking of office hours, go to them!

I cannot stress this enough. Going to a professor’s office hours has helped me so much in my endeavors at the College. Not only can you receive one-on-one help with assignments, but you also build a personal connection with professors along the way. On many occasions, this has helped me in the future, whether I needed recommendations or, even in two cases, wanted to find a major advisor.

It doesn’t hurt to mention that I’ve also known professors to bring their dogs to office hours, and have had a few friends even score babysitting gigs. If these added bonuses don’t help you with the decision of whether or not to visit your professors in office hours, I don’t know what will.

If help from your professors in office hours isn’t cutting it, there’s absolutely no shame in making an appointment with a tutor at the Learning Resources Center. The tutors are all fellow students at the College, and are eager to share their knowledge with you. The Writing Resource Center is also very helpful, for reading over papers, but make sure to book your appointments in advance. They fill up quickly, especially around midterms and finals.

Personally, I am a Swemromas gal for writing and a second floor fan when I’m working on more intense stuff. Luckily, Earl Gregg Swem Library offers four floors of different quietness levels, as well as a coffee shop. Also on campus are the Daily Grind, the Sadler Center study room, lounges in dorms, classrooms, academic building lobbies and countless other options for you to study the day away! I suggest trying out some different spots in the first few weeks of school to find the perfect study spot.

I’m sure you have all heard this a thousand times, but when it comes to studying, it’s important to find the method that works best for you.

It’s important to note that this may not be the same studying tactics that you had in high school. For me, my collegiate study grind is completely different. You could be a flashcard person, study guide guru, group studier or a number of things in between. I suggest trying out different methods, which can be a frustrating but ultimately fruitful process.

As a heads-up, I feel obligated to tell you that you may not do as well as you hoped on your first round of midterms. This is an entirely normal learning curve that almost every student at the College goes through.

You live and you learn, and your GPA will be fine. I promise.

These are just a few ways our community can provide you with academic assistance.

Don’t forget that your peers will be your number one support network, and Orientation Aides, Resident Assistants and essentially anyone you can think of on campus are always there to lean on.

Email Lauren Cohen at lhcohen01@email.wm.edu.

When it comes to studying, it’s important to find the method that works best for you.

Enjoying community key part of freshman year Hallie Feinman FLAT HAT GUEST WRITER

To the dear class of 2023, Welcome to the swamp. In two weeks, you will arrive hot, sweaty and ready to unpack your things in a slightly-too-small dorm room. You will soon meet the joys of Sodexo, and you’ll learn what exactly a “Wawa Water” is. Your elders will recount the legends of the Jefferson Squirrel, and you might even master the art of eating paper.

You will learn about both triathlons and maybe participate in our newest phallic phenomenon.

Maybe, just maybe, you’ll attempt posting your first Swampy Meme. Woah.

Your first week at school will be filled with highs, lows and many, many in-the-middles.

Accept the fact that you will be exhausted. For the first about two and a half days, you literally will not catch a break. Orientation throws so much information at you that the start of classes will be a relief.

It will be tempting to be an edgy edgelord and act like “This is all stupid, I’m an adult, and this is so dumb, dumb orientation for dumb dumb doo-doo babies.” While it’s easy to be too cool for school, this is your introduction to the College of William and Mary, and while orientation is intense, it is also still supposed to be fun. You don’t have to be the super-serious high schooler fighting to get into college. You’ve made it — so it’s okay to celebrate.

It is in my humble opinion that orientation is actually a good thing. As editor-in-chief of the Botetourt Squat, my opinion is correct and should be treated as law. What is the Squat, you say? Ask your Orientation Aides.

Speaking of OAs, I’ve seen plenty of people treat OAs like they are untouchable gods for whom we shall not interact with after orientation is over, or authoritarian figures for whom we must usurp. I’ll let you in on a little secret: the OAs are people. If you have a question about clubs, student life, academic building locations or even the best cheap eats around Williamsburg, these are your people. The first weeks of school you will have questions that you might not feel comfortable asking your RA. OAs got you, and it’s nice to know someone older on campus.

My OAs had my back since day one. They’re the ones coming to my concerts. They’re the ones gassing up my memes. When I had food poisoning from Oishii, they brought me saltines and Pedialyte.

I will impart some advice that I wish someone gave me during my orientation. It’s alright if you don’t get into every club, every play, every team, every music group. You’ll live. Don’t join everything. The moment clubs go from fun to frustrating, that’s an issue — quality over quantity, dude. I hate to break it to you, but your AP credits don’t really do anything. Unless you’re trying

to graduate early or get out of some intro-level courses, they’re pretty much just filler. You’re not really an academic junior. Whoops.

Students here have a bad tendency of making everything a competition. Nobody cares if you studied the most, got the least amount of sleep, drank the least amount of water, or had three more mental breakdowns than the rest of us. If you’re making yourself suffer to win at suffering ... don’t do that.

You’re a freshman, but don’t let people treat you like fresh meat.

Don’t try to become a big name on campus (BNOC). Consciously trying to raise your social status doesn’t work like that. BNOC-ness will be thrust upon you. Also, being a BNOC does not matter and honestly, it’s pretty weird to have strangers feel a sense of hyper-familiarity and even comradery just because you’re a BNOC. It makes group projects awkward. Not that I know anything about that...

You’re a freshman, but don’t let people treat you like fresh meat. See what I did there?

Things that mattered so, so much during high school might not anymore. It’s okay if you fall out of touch with high school friends. You might become friends with someone from your hometown you didn’t know before. I have done both. If there’s someone you don’t want to see, you probably won’t. Or maybe you’ll see them every day, but it doesn’t matter because you are you and they are them. As long as you keep doing your thing, everything’s fine. If they make things an issue, that’s on them. College is like that.

Lastly, if you need help, get it. There is everything from tutors to counseling to student support groups. It is easy to feel stuck, but there are resources ready to help and people who want to support you.

For better and for worse, you’re a twamp now. Best of luck, freshies.

Email Hallie Feinman at hjfeinman@email.wm.edu.

STAFF COLUMN

Marketplace offers consistent, dependable dining to students amidst chaotic semester Ethan Brown

FLAT HAT MANAGING EDITOR

For those students arriving at the College of William and Mary’s stunning campus for the first time this fall, prepare yourselves. Over the next few weeks, you will be utterly and entirely inundated with advice, tips, life hacks, bits of wisdom and nuggets of knowledge from students just months older than you in well-intentioned but desperate displays of undergraduate hierarchy.

In all the fray the next few weeks, you’ll likely learn of the best spots on campus to study, you’ll uncover the tastiest drinks at Swemaromas (iced coffee with almond milk, no exceptions), and you’ll pursue (or avoid) classes and professors based on recommendations and harrowing horror stories alike. But lost in the haze of new discovery, you’ll grow hungry.

When pangs of hangriness seize you, you’ll hastily think back to orientation and remember those weird meal swipes your orientation aides mentioned.

Your beleaguered memory serves you well. Every freshman at the College has a certain number of meal swipes that they can use to eat at our three on-campus dining halls, but since I’m not walking backwards and regaling you with bad puns right now, it’s clear we aren’t on a campus tour.

As such, I’ll spare you a lengthy chat about the intricacies of our dining system. What I will do is implore you to visit

Marketplace, the College’s best dining hall, and make it your culinary place of residence for the next four years.

Marketplace occupies an otherwise unimpressive place in the first floor of Campus Center that more closely resembles an assisted living facility than an undergraduate dining hall. Don’t let the subdued interior decor turn you off. Inside Marketplace’s doors lies an oasis compared to the other dining establishments across campus

— Sadler and the Caf — which are far less reliable options for the busy life of a college student.

Every day, Marketplace features rotating entrees and side dishes.

However, my favorite part of the dining hall is not this variability but its consistency regarding other choices on the menu. I know that Marketplace will have a mozzarella caprese sandwich, a spinach salad with pickled beets and carrots, and a Granny Smith apple with my name on it every night of my college career should I desire it.

As someone who values reliability, Marketplace’s well-established and well-prepared meals are a comfort blanket, and they’ve been an invaluable aspect of my past two years here (so long as I don’t consider the gargantuan amount of mozzarella cheese that I’ve consumed).

While Sadler and the Caf sometimes have wonderful meals, other days their offerings are remarkably lackluster.

On challenging, long days here in the ‘burg, why waste a dinner catching up with friends eating subpar food? Why spend a relaxing lunch decrying inadequate pasta when you could march five minutes across Old Campus and get a trusty, tried-and-true sandwich? As a newly minted young adult, these options are yours to make, but to add to the cacophony of advice, I’ll say it upfront: just go to Marketplace.

Email Ethan Brown at ewbrown@email.wm.edu.

GRAPHIC BY ANGELA VASISHTA / THE FLAT HAT

The Flat Hat

Page 6

Friday, August 23, 2019

STAFF COLUMN

STAFF COLUMN

Embracing Virginia as an out-of-state student

Orientation must emphasize resources available to pregnant, parenting students

Alyssa Slovin

Chloe Folmar

FLAT HAT OPINIONS ASSOC. EDITOR

Starting anything new will always come with its challenges, but those challenges can be especially overwhelming when everyone involved has different experiences and backgrounds. As new students begin their time in Williamsburg this August, I want to tell you some pretty unconventional, yet important information for life here in the swamp we call the College of William and Mary.

First thing’s first: you have to know what “Nova” means. As an out-of-state student, when I first heard people using this term in conversation and on Facebook, I was so confused. To me, Nova could refer to a supernova in space or Villanova University located near Philadelphia. Or in a slightly more obscure reference, Nova is also the name of a secondary character in the “Sharknado” movie franchise. However, Nova actually refers to “Northern Virginia,” which is apparently an important geographical differentiation for many Virginians. Nova is right outside of Washington D.C., and that part of Virginia tends to be comparable to northern states instead of southern states. Students from Virginia expect everyone to know this terminology, and they may laugh if you misidentify a city as inside or outside of the Nova region.

Speaking of location, an important part of the campus here at the College is the Wawa on Richmond Road. Wawa is not a national chain, but everyone on campus assumes that Wawa’s greatness is common knowledge nationwide. I would describe it as a nicely appointed convenience store that inexplicably has a devoted cult following. I have grown up around Wawas my entire life, and not even I can explain why everyone loves it. It is just a fact, and you must acknowledge and accept it.

Another important difference could be the food, depending on where you are from. As a whole, I would say that the food in the dining halls is generically American, but sometimes there are some southern specialties. One meal that I had never eaten before was chicken fried steak. It is breaded and fried steak. No chickens are harmed in the making of this dish; it is just fried in a similar way as chicken. I won’t lie, this surprised me as much as when I learned that craisins are just dried cranberries in the style of raisins and that they are not genetically modified hybrids of cranberries and raisins.

Now that I have gotten the jokes out of the way, I want any new, out-of-state students who are reading this to realize that differences are part of the reason why everyone values their college experience. I want you to know that differences do not create insurmountable barriers, but instead, they create interest and lead to new connections with others. I promise that you belong here, no matter where you are from, how you speak, what culture you are used to, or what you eat. Each year, we become one student body, and thus, one tribe.

Email Alyssa Slovin at amslovin@email.wm.edu.

FLAT HAT OPINIONS EDITOR

Students should know where diaper changing stations and accessible routes within buildings are located. I wouldn’t know that there’s a Lactation Room in Swem Library Room 308 unless I had walked past it. There are local centers such as HOPE Pregnancy Care Center that provide diapers, baby gear and maternity clothes completely free of charge. These resources need to be made known to women and accessible to them.

Title IX rights — when it comes to pregnancy and parenting — should be broadcast around the College.

Every woman should be aware of her legal entitlements.

For example, pregnant women are entitled to continue participating in all classes and extracurricular activities. If a woman is going to school on an athletic, academic or other scholarship, she is entitled to retain that scholarship upon becoming pregnant.

She also cannot be discharged from her on-campus residence. The College is required to provide accommodations, such as larger desks and elevator use, to pregnant students, as well as academic instruction services like homebound instruction and independent study.

Any university must allow a pregnant woman to return to the exact same academic and extracurricular status if she goes on medical leave, and they must require that the woman is given sufficient time and resources to make up any missed work. Also important are the anti-harassment and antidiscrimination rules for pregnant and parenting students. Legally, pregnant women have rights, and students at the College should be aware of those rights.

When it comes to resisting the stigma around student pregnancy, changes in freshman orientation are vital. But that should only be the start of what we do here at the College. There needs to be a greater movement of comprehensive education for women on their resources and rights.

Not only that, but we need to provide an abundance of resources for our pregnant and parenting community members, to ensure that we protect student rights. Last year we celebrated women having attended the College for a century.

Let’s start the second century off right by ensuring that all women have the help and guidance they need at crucial times in their collegiate lives here.

Email Chloe Folmar

Freshman orientation last year helped me in a number of different ways. It familiarized me with the people and places I would regularly encounter at the College of William and Mary. It taught me about many of the resources our campus has to offer. I appreciated that sexual assault was treated seriously, and we were provided with detailed guidance on these situations. However, there is one area where freshman orientation fell far, far short: pregnancy and parenting on campus.

Pregnancy and parenting on campus were left unmentioned during my freshman orientation week, and that is a serious problem.

I am sure that the vast majority of women at the College would not even have a clue about where to start if they were confronted by a positive pregnancy test. I know no information about what accommodations the College could provide to parenting students. We weren’t even told what our rights are under Title IX. Right now, pregnancy on campus is uncomfortable to discuss. For the sake of every woman at the College, that needs to change. Orientation should clearly and unashamedly educate new college students on all of their options.

For women, this means education on pregnancy and parenting resources and rights.

On the College’s website, there is information on free pregnancy tests provided by the Student Health Center, but there’s not much more that is easily accessible online.

Women should be given the information of the Title IX Coordinator, Dean of Students, Student Health Center, Counseling Center, Student Accessibility Services, Registrar’s Office and Residence Life so that they have resources for any challenge they might encounter being pregnant.

This information should be shared specifically with pregnancy in mind.

GRAPHIC BY KAYLA PAYNE / THE FLAT HAT

at csfolmar@email.wm.edu.

STAFF COLUMN

Finding our way: Welcome to the Class of 2023 Gavin Aquin and Anna Boustany FLAT HAT SPORTS EDITOR, FLAT HAT OPINIONS EDITOR

GRAPHIC BY ANGELA VASISHTA / THE FLAT HAT

So you’re finally here! While you may have seen some parts of campus on your tour or on Day for Admitted Students, there’s a lot of important parts of the College that you may not have seen yet. Take it from two (technically) upperclassmen, it’s worth exploring both on and off campus once you are free from the chaos of orientation.

First and foremost, make sure to go to Colonial Williamsburg to get free samples. You might have to wander through some horse poop, and you may cry, but you might have some wonderful moments with both friends or post a cute Aroma’s coffee date. If you aren’t terribly afraid of mycelia (as one of the authors may be), you can always try Mellow Mushroom, a recent addition to Colonial Williamsburg.

When wandering back to campus, make sure to stop by some of the very climbable trees in ancient campus. You may get judged by families who are also coming from Colonial Williamsburg, but it’s worth it as long as you don’t fall. As you head back onto main campus, make sure to stop on the Sunken Garden. During the day, you can picnic and frisbee with friends, and once night falls, it is the perfect time to complete one third of the triathlon. Of course, you can go to the Crim Dell to continue completing the triathlon, or you can walk across with the love of your life (you’ll probably break up, or never find one to begin with).

Our advice is to wait to walk across the Crim Dell until you’ve been married for 10 years and have eight children, but it’s still a risky decision.

Then you will come across the Sadler Center, formally known as Baddy Saddy. Come here for food, nothing else. Don’t get sucked into AMP activities, grab your food and make sure to look at the ground when entering/exiting to avoid all your “friends” tabling. Save your dining dollars for finals, trust us.

If you need to study, go to Swemaromas. Just be honest with yourself that you are going to socialize just as much as you are going to study.If you make it all the way to Matoaka, take advantage of the free canoes and kayaks. It’s also a lovely place to make out in order to avoid disturbing your roommate, unless you hate them. Speaking of roommates, you’ll either love them or you’ll hate them, so make sure you have other friends.

While campus is lovely, make sure to take advantage of friends who live off campus. From kitchens to laundry to parties, it’s always a plus to know someone who lives in a place that has no RA. If you’re looking to adventure a bit further away from campus, take some time to venture to College Creek or Jamestown — ­­ but let’s be real — you might have to go a little further to find something of actual substance. Maybe try corralling some friends with cars to take you to the actual beach. Also, the College of William and Mary has sports teams, but we know you aren’t going to go to their games. Go Tribe.

Enjoy campus, or don’t, but we’re glad you are here!

Email Gavin Aquin at gaaquin@email.wm.edu and Anna Boustany at aeboustany@email.wm.edu.

variety

Variety Editor Zoe Beardsley Variety Editor Adithi Ramakrishnan flathat.variety@gmail.com

The Flat Hat

| Friday August 23, 2019 | Page 7

GAVIN AQUIN // FLAT HAT SPORTS EDITOR

R IDENTITY F L E C T

COURTESY PHOTOS / UNDOCUTRIBE, LATIN AMERICAN STUDENT UNION

Student organizations preview Center for Student Diversity Activities Fair,

C

share vision for better College support of underrepresented campus groups

ommunity. One of the most soughtafter aspects of a college experience.

It is a concept that makes a completely new environment feel like home. Some students find it in their freshman dorms. Some find it in fraternity and sorority life. And for some, that sense of community and belonging comes from within: from identity. In order to help incoming freshmen find community through their identity, the Center for Student Diversity will host its yearly Activities Fair Aug. 26 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

The College of William and Mary’s community has been fostering growth in its organizations that represent underrepresented cultural and identity groups. Whether advocating for more representation from administration or creating a safe social environment for people identifying or allying with a certain group, students can find a home away from home on campus.

The Latin American Student Union seeks to create a safe place for the Hispanic/Latinx community. For LASU Secretary Destiny Hodgson ’22, the club has created a familiar environment that can help stave off the isolation that can come from being in an unfamiliar place.

“Getting adapted to a new environment can be challenging for anyone, especially when you’re doing it alone,” Hodgson said.

“That’s essentially what freshmen do when they go away to college. It becomes even more difficult when you’re a minority attending a [Predominantly White Institution]. I feel like cultural organizations play a huge role in making one not feel so isolated. It’s where a group of people who share the similar cultural experiences can get together and remember that they’re not alone. It can also be nice to see a group of people that look like you. In my experience, LASU brought me some of my first college friends, people who I consider my second family.”

Despite the burgeoning success it has now, things were not always so smooth for the Latinx community on campus.

“In all honesty, I feel like the Latinx representation on campus is on the lower side when it comes to minority groups," Hodgson said. "For decades, Latinx organizations have struggled with low turnouts to meetings and events, which evidently lead to the organizations being dormant. Thankfully, since the revamp that occurred almost five years ago, membership and turnouts have been steadily increasing. Our hope is to keep increasing those numbers. Better funding from the college can definitely [help with that], because it will allow us to host bigger events which give us a bigger outreach.”

UndocuTribe’s deputy director Ashley Hernandez Estrada ’21 emphasized that everyone is welcome to join multicultural and identity organizations, as UndocuTribe’s deputy director Ashley Hernandez Estrada ’21 emphasizes.

“I want to stress that cultural organizations should not just be an exclusive experience to what we consider ‘multicultural’ people,” Hernandez Estrada said.

“When we hear that term, there are definitely certain demographics that comes to mind. … It’s important that everyone share in any type of event or experience that exposes them to new people and new cultures. ... In a world that is becoming so polarized, so compartmentalized, and so isolating, I think it’s more important than ever that we try to get to know ourselves and one another and to start conversations and I think an REBECCA KLINGER / THE FLAT HAT understanding of different

cultures is a good place to start.”

UndocuTribe is an advocacy group for undocumented students at the College — a group whose educational environment Hernandez Estrada said she feels that administration has been slow to support openheartedly.

“As far as I can say, I think that William and Mary can always improve in its representation of [people of color] and minority groups on campus,” Hernandez Estrada said. “Nowadays, it’s becoming easier and easier to represent certain kinds of groups as they become more broadly accepted, a true testament to their own struggles and achievements. But there are still groups, like the undocumented community, that the college still struggles to publicly represent and support for fear of backlash or criticism.”

For students without official citizenship status, the road towards a safe campus has been bumpy.

“I will say that there have been many instances in which we have seen hateful comments and messages posted around campus that do not deserve any specific mention and in that sense, I can’t imagine that would make anyone feel any safer,” Hernandez Estrada said. “Though the school has taken measures to protect students, especially during the announcement of the termination of DACA, there is always more to be done to make students feel more openly welcome.”

The Black Student Organization also believes that there is still much to achieve for Black students on campus, according to Jeremy Simmons ’20. Though they have made progress on campus, it feels to some as if the College flaunts Black and other minority students as tokens for representation.

“Since first attending W&M, I have had my eyes opened more to the issue of representation and there just isn’t enough to support the claims that administration makes at times,” Simmons said in an email. “Whether that be featuring diverse students on the website or inviting cultural organizations to partner during inclined presence of prospective students, sometimes it feels forced. W&M has done a better job at trying to have minority identities recognized, but it can do much more to make our presence feel appreciated.”

Co-president of the Lambda Alliance Anna Bi Ledwin ’21 expressed concern for representation of LGBTQ+ people on campus, with Lambda and Rainbow Coalition pushing for more recognition.

“The creation of Rainbow Coalition to expand LGBTQ+ outreach was a great move, but we still need more, starting with a full-time faculty

member that exclusively deals with LGBTQ+ affairs,” Ledwin said. “I know many people have expressed interest in an LGBTQ+ Center, and we are currently taking steps to make this a reality.”

For incoming students looking for events put on by these clubs, there is much to be excited about. BSO and many other organizations like to celebrate Homecoming with a bash for students and alumni alike — while Lambda and Rainbow Coalition work tirelessly for W&M Pride in the Spring.

“Our biggest events, our Stomp Competition and Stompfest, [occur] during Homecoming,” Simmons said. “We always have a welcome back event in which we partner with the Center for Student Diversity. In addition, we have our Fall Festival in late October, which gives the students a break to enjoy fall festivities. And within BSO itself, we tend to throw smaller events during meeting time, on or off campus to bond and enjoy each other’s company.”

For any incoming students who remain unconvinced — or tempted to forgo social involvement or self-discovery in their crucial first year in college — Hernandez Estrada has some words of encouragement.

“If I could send a message to my freshman self, it would be to dive deep into discovering my own identity and find groups that can help me do that,” Hernandez Estrada said. “It’s your first year of college on your own and it might sound cliche, but it’s the perfect time to explore who you are.

All my life, I felt culturally repressed, growing up in a place that didn’t quite understand or accept who I am. But to rediscover my identity in college through getting involved with cultural groups has been one of the best experiences of my life.”

According to Ledwin, you really have nothing to lose by going to a club and feeding your curiosity — it’s possible that you’ll end up finding your tribe here at the College, and it will make all of the difference.

“Take the leap; attend that meeting that you’re trepidatious to approach," Ledwin said.

"You never know the people you’ll meet and the way they’ll change your life. Going to college gives everyone this new but terrifying element of agency, and it’s okay to be uncertain of what you want to do and join, but don’t let that fear prevent you from embracing clubs/resources.

I wasn’t actually planning on even joining Lambda Alliance until my roommate dragged me to a meeting, and I’ve never looked back since. Step out of your comfort zone, because the results will likely be good.”

The Flat Hat

Friday, August 23, 2019

Page 8

Knowledge is power Investigating some of the best study spots at W&M SAM SUSLAVICH // THE FLAT HAT

The Docks

Tyler Garden Just west of James Blair Hall, in the shadow of two towering redwood trees, you can find the Tyler Garden. Provided that you are able to overcome the temptation to distract yourself with the echo wall, the Tyler Garden can be a wonderful spot to get some work done. The curved brick bench can be quite convenient for group seating, making the space particularly useful for collaborative projects and group study. Unlike most outdoor study locations on campus, the Tyler Garden has a consistent Wi-Fi signal from Blair Hall, making the garden useful no matter what sort of project you are looking to get done. If you pass by the garden and find the stone bench occupied, make sure that you wander past the western wall of the garden to the wooden bench between the two redwoods. Moreover, the Tyler Garden has a fairly central location on campus, making it an excellent place to study briefly in between classes. The area around the garden can get a little noisy when classes are let out on old campus or when tour groups are passing, but the area is quiet for the most part. The Tyler Garden is undoubtedly a superb option for short, relaxed study sessions.

COURTESY PHOTO S/ SAM SUSLAVICH

COURTESY PHOTO S/ SAM SUSLAVICH

If you are looking to disconnect for a bit and really focus on your reading or writing, the docks on Lake Matoaka are a promising choice. There are docks behind both the Mason School of Business and the Botetourt Complex.

Both areas are roughly equivalent in terms of their appeal as study locations. The docks are nicely shaded, and with a fairly consistent breeze off the lake, the docks tend to be cooler than other areas on campus. As soon as the last of Williamsburg’s summer heat departs, the docks can be comfortable for many hours on end. If you cannot study with other people nearby, this is one of your best options outside of your own dorm room. The ambient noise can be quite soothing and can even be helpful for focusing during long periods of studying. Keep in mind though, that it is highly advisable that you apply bug spray before heading to the docks to ensure that your studying goes uninterrupted. If you do need an internet connection to get your work done, the docks help to blur the line between work and relaxation. Naturally, to get the full effect of the location, it is essential that you dangle your feet into the lake.

Second Floor of ISC

COURTESY PHOTO S/ SAM SUSLAVICH COURTESY PHOTO /SONY DSC

The area immediately around the Starbucks inside the Integrated Science Center 3 is frequently packed with students. The well-cushioned, high-backed seats are inviting, and therefore, often occupied. However, if you climb the stairs to the second floor of the ISC, you will find multiple windowed nooks in which to study.

All of them feature incredibly comfortable seating with convenient tables and plenty of natural light from the floor-to-ceiling windows. Sadly, these windows also give several of these nooks their most significant flaw: there is often glare and uncomfortable heat from the afternoon sun. While most of the nooks are designed for individual or paired study, some areas feature tables for groups. The stark, contemporary appearance of the ISC is conducive to focusing, but there is a decent amount of foot traffic through the hallways which the areas face. If you find yourself easily distracted from studying by the prospect of socializing, this may not be the spot for you. As far as noise goes, you can talk freely in the ISC, but if you are hoping to enjoy some silence, the nooks closer to the faculty offices will be quieter. You also will not find the area lacking the amenities necessary for multiple hours of studying. There is strong Wi-Fi signal throughout the building — this, coupled with the ISC’s usually being nearly empty before 8 a.m., can make it a rather appealing location for class registration as well. The Starbucks is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, meaning that if you were so inclined, you could manage to eat all of your meals without leaving the building and have a steady supply of caffeine to boot. If you need a full-service study destination outside of Swem, ISC3 is your best option.

Botetourt Gallery

On the ground floor of Earl Gregg Swem Library, just outside the door to the Reeder Media Center, you can find the Botetourt Gallery, a study area featuring permanent and rotating art displays. The gallery is divided into two levels. The upper level has several hightop tables, while the lower level offers more comfortable lounge seating. Completed in the 1960s, the gallery is a delightful example of the very best mid-century architecture has to offer. This style is accented by the furniture, with Barcelona chairs comprising the majority of the seating in the lower level. The original statue of Norborne Berkeley which once stood in front of the Wren Building stands in the center of the lower level.

The Botetourt Gallery provides several advantages to the other study areas in the library. Most importantly, there is usually plenty of available space. Additionally, the library permits talking at an appropriate volume in the gallery, just as is the case on the first floor. Because the gallery is inside Swem, you can expect excellent Wi-Fi signal and air conditioning. Unfortunately, no large tables are present in the gallery, so it is not optimal for group studying.

Furthermore, while talking is permitted, the space is usually far quieter than the first floor, and due to its location, the gallery can fill up quickly during exam seasons. If you are looking for a relaxed and atmospheric place to study, the Botetourt Gallery is an excellent choice.

Off the beaten path Zoe Bowen Smith ’21 uses unique experiences to fuel passions EMILY MCNAIR // THE FLAT HAT

The game entitled “Get the Cheese” might not be familiar to most, but for Zoë Bowen Smith ’21, it taught her a lesson she will always carry with her. During her five weeks spent at Vassar College’s Powerhouse Theatre training program, her favorite memory was a blindfolded journey to obtain a water bottle located fifteen feet across the room.

“It sounds incredibly easy, but what we learned very quickly is that you get to a point about five feet away from it and you get really scared,” Smith said. “Don’t try to figure it out or quantify it, or don’t get scared when you hit the vortex of fear where you think it’s there and then tip-toe around feeling around for it — just go and pick it up.”

The vortex of fear is something Bowen Smith has dealt with during her theatre auditions at the college of William and Mary and the other activities she engages in both on and off campus as a Theatre and Public Policy double major. She hopes to apply the lessons she learned from “Get the Cheese” to her upcoming year at the College.

“You really have to trust yourself,” Bowen Smith said. “The whole lesson we got from doing this exercise was [to] just walk there and pick it up. That is a lesson that I carry with me all the time now.”

The reason why Bowen Smith ended up at the College with a unique combination of majors traces itself all the way back to one

special project she completed in high school.

“My [cumulative senior] project was on drama therapy as a practice to help veterans and survivors of trauma,” Bowen Smith said. “Theatre is a perfect environment where addressing trauma is done in a way that is constructive, and you can create something positive from it.”

Currently, Bowen Smith hopes her studies will help her address two important questions that she has been pondering for a while.

“I am always wondering: where does art fit into society and how can our institutions promote it?” Bowen Smith said.

Taking part in William and Mary’s theatre program has left Bowen Smith excited to learn, grow and expand her interests even further.

Last year, she had a role in the school’s production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” She also wants to encourage incoming students or any student even a little bit interested to get involved with theatre or dance. “[Theatre and dance are] really great program[s]; there are both main stage productions, and then the department will also sponsor a senior directorial project,” Bowen Smith said. “There are also a lot of different classes, and the beginning classes aren’t closed to nonmajors, and also anybody can audition for mainstage productions, which I think is really nice.”

Bowen Smith was one of 50 participants in a summer theatre program sponsored by New York Stage and Film and Vassar College which focused on three key areas: acting, directing and playwriting. She took six classes, acted in two productions, completed workshops and attended question-and-answer sessions with industry professionals.

“It was intense,” Bowen Smith said.

Bowen Smith is also a member of the student-run improvisational comedy group IT. While at Vassar this summer, Bowen Smith learned about sound painting, a concept that integrated her love of both theatre and improv.

“Sound painting is a language that a man named Walter Thompson invented; he is a jazz musician and composer. He invented it so he could communicate with his improvising musicians while they were doing the show. So, it’s like a live, gestural composing language,”

Bowen Smith said. “It is kind of like sign language, but it can influence the performance while it is happening.”

Through sound painting, Bowen Smith essentially combined the elements of theatre and music in what she describes as “one of the coolest things [she has] ever done in [her] entire life.” Smith has a vision of how sound painting could become a part of IT. “We used [sound painting] to, in real time, create scenes and songs that were completely improvised but were being directed by our director while he was sound painting us,” Bowen Smith said.

One of the biggest lessons Bowen Smith has learned from her experience in theater, both at Vassar and at the College, is how to deal with rejection.

“I know it’s really easy to get discouraged when somebody tells you no, and I think the thing to remember at the end of the day is that you know what’s right to you and somebody else’s no can be somebody else’s yes,” Bowen Smith said.

Bowen Smith has learned to take pride in her hard work, knowing that it will resonate with the right person in time.

“You have to think, ‘Okay, what I am putting out there doesn’t work for them,’” Smith said.

“But it will work for somebody else, and I am going to stand by it, and I am going to own it.”

COURTESY PHOTOS / Zoe Bowen Smith

sportsinside

The Flat Hat

| Friday, August 23, 2019 | Page 9

VOLLEYBALL

Tribe drops preseason match 3-1 to VCU

College makes valiant effort, ultimately unable to trump Rams’ early offense

JAMIE HOLT / THE FLAT HAT

Freshman prove to be crucial new additions to volleyball squad despite loss to VCU Rams. Coach Doyle views loss as a positive outcome as freshmen were able to test their mettle against a championship-winning team and will improve.

GAVIN AQUIN FLAT HAT SPORTS EDITOR William and Mary hosted Virginia Commonwealth at Kaplan Arena Aug. 16 in an exhibition. Starting off the new season with a scrimmage, the Tribe ultimately fell 3-1 to the Rams — though all 14 rostered players were able make their debut.

In the first set, the College kept a close score against VCU, trailing 21-20 in the frame. However, VCU eventually took a 25-21 openinground win despite four Tribe players registering three kills each.

In the second set, the Tribe continued to falter 25-20 and subsequently 25-19 in the third set, although sophomore outside hitter Lauren Merrill proved she was a skilled attacker — racking up five kills in each of the two stanzas.

Merrill lead the Tribe to a 25-18 win in the fourth set with five more kills, giving her 18 that evening.

Junior opposite hitter Kate Dedrick

AUTUMN BRENNER

and sophomore outside hitter Claire Farrell each were able to contribute four rally enders, as sophomore setter Zeyanna Dhalla dished out 11 assists with the Tribe hitting .324 in the final frame.

“We really started to find our groove late in the match,” head coach Tim Doyle said to Tribe Athletics.

“VCU is a championship team, so it was a good test for us to see the level we need to bring to a game. We had six freshmen play in their first college match so that comfort level will only continue to rise. I was happy with our ability to pass and keep our offense running. Finishing the way we did certainly generates some momentum moving forward.”

The Tribe will have the rest of the preseason to focus on the seasonopening doubleheader against Quinnipac and Morgan State Aug. 30. Subsequently, the Tribe will visit Xavier for a two-day tournament before hosting the Colonial Classic at Kaplan Arena Sep. 13-14.

A CAREER IN NUMBERS SENIOR PLAYED IN EVERY MATCH SINCE 2017 ASSISTS: 1736 DIGS: 535 ACES: 59

MEN’S SOCCER

College sinks the Midshipmen 1-0 in exhibition match Sophomores John Eberle and James Bradley collaborate to score lone goal, eight freshmen make their debut GAVIN AQUIN FLAT HAT SPORTS EDITOR

COURTESY IMAGES / TRIBE ATHLETICS

James Bradley and John Eberly connected midfield to score epic lone goal for the College surpassing Midshipmen.

William and Mary travelled to Virginia Beach, Virginia Aug. 17 to compete against Navy in an exhibition game. In the scrimmage, the Tribe defeated the Midshipmen 1-0.

The lone goal was made possible by a combination from sophomore midfielders John Eberle and James Bradley. The returning Colonial Athletic Association All-Rookie team combo connected in the 24th minute when Eberle spun in the midfield — advancing past his defender and crossing the ball to the middle so that Bradley could finish into the left corner from six yards out.

After its first of three exhibition matches in 2019, the College has been able to continue its exhibition unbeaten streak to eight matches (40-4). The College is 12-1-8 in its exhibition record dating to 2006.

Throughout the exhibition 22 different Tribe players saw action — including three redshirt freshmen: goalkeeper Miro Everaert, back Theo Biddie and midfielder Campbell Brickhouse along with five freshmen: midfielder Alfredo Bozalongo, forward Diba Nwegbo, midfielder Nathan Messer, forward Alexander Levengood and midfielder Marcos Villeda.

The Tribe continued on to play an exhibition game at Sport Backers Stadium in Richmond, Va. against Virginia Commonwealth Aug. 20, but inclement

weather ended the game early. The College will host its lone exhibition at home Saturday, Aug. 24 at 7 p.m. at Martin Family Stadium. The regular season will begin on Aug. 30 at High Point.

“

After its first of three

exhibition matches in 2019, the College has

been able to continue

its exhibition unbeaten streak to eight matches (4-0-4). The College is 121-8 in its exhibition record dating to 2006.

sports

Sports Editor Gavin Aquin Sports Editor Avery Lackner flathatsports@gmail.com @FlatHatSports

The Flat Hat |Friday, August 23, 2019 | Page 10

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Tribe narrowly bested by Lancers 2-1 in scrimmage Pair of Longwood goals four minutes apart causes College to falter, lose early lead

COURTESY PHOTO /TRIBE ATHLETICS

Sophomore midfielder Renee Kohler appeared in all 17 games during her freshman season and started in 13. Kohler’s stat line from last season includes two goals, one assist and five overall points put her in a tie for second place on the team.

GAVIN AQUIN FLAT HAT SPORTS EDITOR

William and Mary hosted Longwood Aug. 17 at Martin Family Stadium in its only scrimmage. Losing to the Lancers, the Tribe made a valiant effort but ultimately fell 2-1.

Taking an early lead in the 40th minute, freshman forward Kayleigh Shackford unsuccessfully directed a cross on target before being saved by Lancers goalie Mary Kate Levush.

However, the rebound found junior midfielder Colleen Norton, who was able to send the ball straight into the net.

Trailing 1-0, the Lancers rebounded by making two goals four minutes apart to hold onto the victory. In the 47th minute, Lancers forward Kennedy Culbreath was able to get behind the

Tribe’s defense and take a shot from the left of the 18-yard box into the lower right corner of the net.

Four minutes later, Lancers forward Emilie Kupsov assisted Lancers forward Emily Mothersbaugh to score one last time to ensure victory for the Lancers.

Individual successes showed promise, and represented a bright spot despite the College’s ultimate defeat. If the match had counted, Norton would have earned her second career goal and fifth career point, along with Shackford’s first career point for the College.

The Tribe will open its regular season Aug. 22 when it hosts George Washington at Martin Family Stadium at 7 p.m. The opening weekend will continue as the College starts a threegame road swing at South Carolina Aug. 25.

THE NUMBERS LANCERS

TRIBE

GOALS 1 2 2 AT TEMPTS 3 1 2 SAVES

WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS

COMMENTARY

Brings over a decade of coaching experience

64 CAA championships warrant recognition

Hinton to helm Tribe this fall Cross country deserves more AVERY LACKNER FLAT HAT SPORTS EDITOR Kelsey Hinton, former William and Mary assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, was named head coach Aug. 8.

“I am honored to step into the position of head coach for the women’s gymnastics team,” Hinton said. “I look forward to engaging with our alumni and fans as well as continuing the growth and excitement of our program.”

Hinton boasts a unique resume with diverse coaching experiences prior to her four-year tenure with the College. Her previous job saw her serving as the class program manager and girls team coach at Kidsport Gymnastics Academy based in Burlington, North Carolina.

While at KGA, Hinton earned the award for North Carolina Coach of the Year in 2015.

Hinton spent eight years shaping the girls program at the academy and honing her own leadership skills through the creation of practice plans, management of the building, and providing oversight for various special projects. She also evaluated talent for the academy, which gave her the tools necessary to step into her job as recruiting coordinator for the Tribe.

Hinton has repeatedly made it clear that she believes strong recruitment to be the foundation of the program, and she emphasizes her determination to continue to attract talented student athletes to her budding program.

“It all starts with our student athletes, and we will recruit the best and brightest to represent William and Mary,” Hinton said. “I can’t wait to get started.”

Hinton will be stepping in to replace former head coach Mary Lewis, who announced Dec. 5 that the 2019 season would be her last with the Tribe. Prior to her retirement, which took effect in June, Lewis was the longest tenured women’s gymnastics coach in school history, with 25 seasons at the helm of the program.

“It’s been an incredible journey and retiring will be bittersweet,” Lewis said. “… I’ve had the pleasure and honor to coach so many remarkable young women. I have loved getting to know them as people, not just as athletes, and I will miss that more than anything else.”

Lewis and Hinton have worked closely together since Hinton joined the coaching staff four years ago. Since then, the College has earned three top-three finishes, including two runner-up finishes, at the Eastern College Athletic Conference Championships. On the individual level, Hinton’s recruitment efforts have certainly helped propel the Tribe to new heights. During her tenure with the team, the College’s individual gymnasts have posted seven ECAC individual titles and 24 allconference honors.

Additionally, the women’s program has shone academically under Lewis and Hinton’s combined leadership; the female gymnasts at the College have garnered more academic honors than almost any other program. During Hinton’s tenure, the team has earned 34 National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches Scholastic All-America honors.

Athletic Director Samantha Huge announced Hinton’s promotion, while reaffirming her faith in Hinton’s leadership potential and acknowledging her previous success with the team.

“Kelsey is an outstanding gymnastics coach and an even better person,” Huge said.

“Having had the chance to watch her up close and speaking with colleagues and student athletes, it was clear that not only could Kelsey maintain out momentum in women’s gymnastics but take us to even greater heights. We are thrilled that she will lead our program forward.”

As the regular season doesn’t start until December, Hinton will have time to adjust to her role-change before competitive meets begin. The roster she will have to work with, however, is markedly different than last season’s, as the College lost a handful of talented seniors to graduation, including Madison Dwyer, Sophie Harris, Regan Sindelar, Katie Webber and Anna Weiskopf.

However, the strong leadership of rising seniors Caroline Caponi, Erika Marr, Evan Pakshong, Elizabeth Snoddy and Taylor White combined with talented underclassmen recruited by Hinton herself should be more than enough to provide the College with a dominant lineup heading into the fall preseason meets.

Avery Lackner

FLAT HAT SPORTS EDITOR

Let’s be honest: most of William and Mary’s athletic programs tend to underperform. Current students have rarely had the chance to cheer on the Tribe in the playoffs, and when that opportunity does arise, it’s usually followed by a demoralizing defeat.

So, why on earth do we continually ignore cross country, the one sport that has brought in more championships than any other program at the College? That’s right: championships. Not playoff appearances, not early eliminations, but Colonial Athletic Association championships. The men’s and women’s cross country teams have combined for a whopping 64 CAA titles.

In October, the men’s team earned their 19th consecutive CAA championship and their 41st overall. Not only does this mean that the Tribe has been dominating the CAA for longer than some of its athletes have been alive, it also puts the College in possession of the third-longest winning streak in National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s cross country history and the second-longest active streak in the nation. For their part, the women’s team has garnered a first-place finish in six of their previous seven postseasons, including the 2018 season, for a grand total of 23 CAA titles. This latest victory vaulted the team into a tie for third all-time titles in NCAA Division I history.

So, why haven’t these incredible records attracted more attention? Well, cross country is undeniably less glamorous than football and volleyball, which occur during the same season. Packs of runners traipsing through fields and forests, in and out of view of the crowd, makes poor entertainment for potential spectators. But while the limited attendance at meets may be understandable, the lack of recognition the teams receive for their victories is not.

And while I understand that the monetization of college athletics means that not all sports are created equal, that profits and media attention will

always decide which athletes receive recognition, the College’s cross country team is the perfect example of how flawed that system can be. Cross country runners are far and away the winningest athletes the Tribe has seen in decades, yet many students are barely aware the program exists at all and that’s a crying shame.

While monetary concerns undeniably play a role, so does the Tribe’s own media relations department. If the football team ever manages to scrape more than a handful of wins together in a season and somehow brings a championship back to Williamsburg, you can bet that Athletic Director Samantha Huge and the rest of Tribe Athletics would broadcast that far and wide. Why haven’t they done the same every single year for the past 19 years for cross country?

Perhaps that’s because the football team winning a CAA title is far more uncommon, and therefore may deserve more coverage due to the sheer novelty of the event. It’s kind of like how landing a man on the moon got more media attention than a regular airplane flight; one feels miraculous while the other is an everyday occurrence. And so it is with the football and cross country teams, respectively.

However, as a student, I find it alarming that the College has allowed such consistent displays of excellence to go unrecognized. So instead, I propose that the student body take matters into its own hands. We may never be able to control how much money is funneled into each sport, but we can insist that on this campus, hard work and good results aren’t overlooked.

No, college sports aren’t all about winning, but when a single program has 64 titles to its name, someone should notice. The athletics department may value some athletes more than others, but we as a student body don’t have to do the same.

Email Avery Lackner at aelackner@email.wm.edu.