SPORTS >> PAGE 7
VARIETY >> PAGE 5
The College’s men and women protect their home turf by winning at Zable Stadium Saturday.
Diana Peloquin is the first College graduate to win “Jeopardy!”
Success at Tribe Invitational
Vol. 103, Iss. 42 | Friday, March 25, 2014
Alumna on “Jeopardy!”
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Student life
Campus raises Islam awareness End week with fast by TUCKER HIGGINS flat hat assoc. News editor
things easier, though, like my ability to communicate and write reports (something many of my peers with math/physics backgrounds weren’t very good at), and it also helped me look at problems in a different light,” Singer said. Another graduate of the program, David So ’13, found that the program allowed him to get the best of both worlds in terms of science and humanities. “While studying Chinese at William and Mary, I was fully immersed in the humanities and got to hone my creative thinking,” So said. “Now at Columbia, my classes are much more science and math based and so they require me to think logically.” So added that a background in the humanities provided him with invaluable skills that many of his peers in graduate school did not have. “I think my humanities background makes me
The Muslim Students Association will host a fast-a-thon tonight to conclude Islam Awareness Week, a series of events that began last Monday to spread knowledge of the Muslim faith and culture. The fast-a-thon will begin at 6:30 p.m. in Tidewater A and B in the Sadler Center. According to Yousra Aboulatta ’14, president of the MSA, the group has hosted this annual event approximately 20 times. This year, MSA added to the week a documentary about the Syrian Civil War as well as a charitable component, raising money for Syrian relief agencies. “We’d like to help explain to those who have untrue perceptions and ideas the reality of our religion,” Aboulatta said in an email. The events kicked off March 25, with the group hosting a discussion about Islam’s creation story. A more visible event happened March 26 when the group hosted the “hijab challenge,” a call for those who typically don’t wear the traditional Muslim headdress to wear one around campus. Approximately 35 students have participated in the activities so far. However, the group expects that more will come to the fast-athon, which is being held with assistance from the Student Assembly, the Lutheran Students Association, Oxfam and Stop Hunger Now. So far fundraising efforts this week have gathered about $120 for Syrian relief. Aboulatta said that after the fast-a-thon, which costs $2 to attend, she hopes to have raised $500 in total. Several professors have assisted the organization by offering academic credit to students who participate. Arabic professor John Eisele, who offered credit to his students, said that it is important for those learning a language to also learn about the culture of those they are studying, because in many ways the culture shapes the language. “Students and faculty are well aware that Islam is a big factor in world affairs. But many
See ENGINEERING page 3
See AWARENESS page 3
and
ENGINEERING
Students, faculty discuss dual degree partnership with Columbia by Rohan Desai flat hat news editor
For students interested in pursuing engineering at the College of William and Mary, a lack of a department does not mean a lack of options. For over a decade, the College has offered prospective engineers a combined degree program with Columbia University’s Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science. Students enrolled in the program spend either three or four years at the College and two at Columbia, graduating with a bachelor’s degree from each institution. Although admission to the program is guaranteed, students must complete prerequisite courses, maintain a 3.3 grade point average and submit two letters of recommendation from professors of required courses.
Applications for the program are accepted at any point during a student’s time at the College, and applicants are not required to major in fields related to engineering. In the past, students with majors as varied as Chinese and government have enrolled in the program, although students have expressed some difficulty in transitioning from a liberal arts background to an engineering school. “[Being] a non-engineering major at William and Mary made Columbia more difficult by not fully preparing me in terms of rigor and workload. … I’m sure if I had done a different major besides psychology like physics, math or computer science then I wouldn’t be saying this,” Michael Singer ’11, who studied mechanical engineering at Columbia, said in an email. Singer noted attending the College first came with its own benefits. “My liberal arts background did make some
Student Life
Trammell talks LGBT rights, politics First openly gay rector addresses politics, social acceptance by ZACH HARDY flat hat STAFF WRITER
The College of William and Mary’s first openly gay rector Jeffery Trammel ’73 spoke to student LGBT rights group William and Larry Thursday, March 20. During his talk, Trammell touched on a number of issues related to LGBT rights on local, state and national levels. After speaking, Trammell took questions from the audience. One student asked Trammel’s opinion on the best way to come out in a professional setting. Trammell responded by saying that in today’s increasingly accepting society, it’s best to explain one’s sexuality in an open and up-front manner. Another student asked about
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Trammell’s time as a gay man at the College and as a player on the basketball team. Trammell said that though he did not come out to many people, he still felt welcomed and encouraged by those he did tell about his sexuality. “Ever since Thomas Jefferson attended here, William and Mary has always been an institution with progressive ideas,” Trammell said. “It’s a huge privilege to be a part of and be involved in social change. … There’s no question we are going to be on the right side of history.” Newly elected House of Delegates Senator and alum Monty Mason ’89, D-93, attended Trammell’s talk. Mason — who ran with an LGBT-rights platform this fall — defeated Republican Mike Watson in November, and
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has since supported a marriage equality agenda during the Virginia Legislature’s most recent session. Mason said that he felt encouraged by the Legislature’s movement toward gay and transgender rights, which was most clearly evident in the new Attorney General Mark Herring’s refusal to support the state’s ban on same sex marriage. “One of my favorite moments of the General Assembly this year was when Bob Marshall stood up on the floor and railed against the Attorney General and the opinion of the judge who supported same sex rights,” Mason said. “And then the next person who spoke was my colleague Rob Kapricka, who had 8
College RankED Smartest Public School The College of William and Mary earned the top honor on Business Insider’s list of “The 20 Public Colleges with the Smartest Students,” published Monday. Following the College, the University of California, Berkeley, came in second, while Georgia Institute of Technology took the third slot. The University of Virginia finished fourth, and the University of California, Los Angeles, ranked fifth. Business Insider’s list was compiled using data from the website Niche, a site that provides reviews of colleges and K-12 schools. According to its website, the site’s data comes from reviews by students and parents, as well as from information from government databases and administrators. Niche Director of Marketing Erin Kelly said the criteria used to create the list were based on user reviews.
— Flat Hat Managing Editor Abby Boyle
See TRAMMELL page 3
Inside opinions
SPORTS
Don’t ‘‘diss the English major
Rain High 50, Low 27
“William and Mary is only one of six colleges on our site that received either an A or A+ in Academics grades,” Kelly said in an email. “Our Academic grades have extensive criteria, as does our data.” She said the Academic grades ranking is based on students’ ratings of their professors and the academic environment, and more open-ended reviews of specific majors. Academic grades also take into account the school’s retention rate, SAT scores and faculty among other factors. According to the Business Insider article, the site also used Niche’s lists of smartest girls and smartest guys in creating its list of smartest students. The College ranked fifth on Niche’s list of smartest girls, with a score of 9.85 out of 10. It ranked second in the category of smartest guys, earning a 9.93 out of 10.
English degrees, though believed to be “pointless,” actually teach students valuable communications skills. page 4
Teddy Fish is not a typical story
Flat Hat Sports Desk editor reflects on “Tribe for Teddy” event and how eleven-month-old Teddy Fish flipped conventional sports writing on its head page 8
newsinsight “
The Flat Hat
| Tuesday, March 25, 2014 | Page 2
THE BUZZ
Students and faculty are well aware that Islam is a big factor in world affairs. But many do not realize how it is part of an individual’s life.
— Arabic professor John Eisele on the importance of the Muslim Student Association’s Islam Awareness Week
AROUND THE ‘BURG
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THE DIGITAL DAY
News Editor Áine Cain News Editor Rohan Desai fhnews@gmail.com // @theflathat
Tribe Tennis hosts event for teddy The William and Mary Men’s Tennis program hosted “Tribe for Teddy,” an event held to support alumni Alex and Mary Fish, whose son, Teddy, was diagnosed with Menkes disease when he was six months old. The event was held Sunday at the McComack-Nagelsen Tennis Center.
A THOUSAND WORDS
courtesy photo / hamptonroads.com
Researchers from the Center for Conservation Biology reported the highest concentration ever of bald eagles on the James River, with 220 breeding pairs.
audrey kriva / the FLAT HAT
Bald eagle population resurges in James River area
Auto Spa permitted to open in York County
The Virginia Gazette reported that the number of bald eagles along the James River has reached its highest concentration ever. As of March 5 and 8 — when Center for Conservation Biology researchers at the College of William and Mary conducted their annual survey flights —220 breeding pairs of bald eagles lived along the river. This number marks an increase from 205 from last year. Researchers are calling the resurgent population a great success, given that the bald eagle population in the river area had previously been 0 — likely due to pesticide use and river contaminants.
According to the Williamsburg-Yorktown Daily, the York County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to permit a MEGA Auto Spa to open along the George Washington Memorial Highway. MEGA Auto Spa, a James City Countybased company, offers car washes and detailing of cars’ interior and exteriors. The site on Route 17 was originally supposed to be home to a mini golf course, but after the plans fell through in 2013, the idea for the auto spa became reasonable. MEGA Auto Spa’s owner said he hopes it will be operating at the site by the third quarter of this year.
Colonial Williamsburg offers Salute to Virginia promotion
Williamsburg recognized among top towns to visit
The Williamsburg-Yorktown Daily reported that under the Salute to Virginia promotion, Virginia residents can now pay for a day’s visit to Colonial Williamsburg and return within the calendar year for free. The promotion allows residents to pay $43.95 for an annual pass, rather than the regular annual pass price of $64.95. The offer, which is valid through May 31, was popular with visitors last year. Salute to Virginia pass holders will be guaranteed unlimited admission to the area’s Revolutionary City, as well as access to its various stores and museums.
Williamsburg ranks third on Smithsonian Magazine’s list of “The 20 Best Small Towns to Visit in 2014,” according to the Williamsburg-Yorktown Daily. This year marks Williamsburg’s first inclusion on the list. The magazine mentioned Williamsburg’s various cultural attractions, including Colonial Williamsburg and the College of William and Mary’s Muscarelle Museum of Art, among others. Chautauqua, New York and Healdsburg, Calif. were the only two towns above Williamsburg in Smithsonian Magazine’s rankings.
CITY POLICE BEAT
March 21 — 23
CORRECTIONS A March 21 article in The Flat Hat incorrectly stated that Scott Foster ’10 J.D. ’14 and Douglas Pons had been reelected to Williamsburg City Council. While Foster and Pons are running unopposed for their positions, they technically still have to run in an election in May. The Flat Hat wishes to correct any facts printed incorrectly. Corrections may be submitted by email to the editor of the section in which the incorrect information was printed. Requests for corrections will be accepted at any time.
The Flat Hat
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Friday, March 21 — An individual was arrested for assault and battery on Jamestown Road.
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Saturday, March 22 — An individual was arrested for trespassing on Scotland Street.
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Sunday, March 23 — An individual was arrested for possession of marijuana on Richmond Road.
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Sunday, March 23 — An individual was arrested for eluding police on Richmond Road.
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NEWS IN BRIEFS Students Skype with Kerry Three College of William and Mary students traveled to the United States State Department to participate in a town hall meeting with Secretary of State John Kerry. The College is a partner in the State Department’s new Diplomacy Lab program, which launched in November 2013 and allows students to conduct research for policymakers. To open Tuesday’s town hall meeting, Kerry delivered a talk titled “Making Foreign Policy Less Foreign.” Following the talk, Kerry took questions from participants, discussing issues in the Middle East, Ukraine and the State Department’s efforts toward building international stability.
Chinese officials discuss education at VIMS Twenty-two officials from the State Oceanic Administration of China visited the College of William and Mary’s Virginia Institute of Marine Science March 14, focusing on VIMS’ outreach regarding coastal issues. SOA officials met with VIMS students and attended presentations on research and education. They also toured VIMS’ Teaching Marsh, a wetland used for VIMS demonstrations. The SOA group is scheduled to visit more sites, including the National Aquarium and the Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, before traveling to California to visit aquariums and institutes on the west coast.
Students participate in one-day leadership program Over the weekend, 41 students at the College of William and Mary participated in the Catalyst program, sponsored by the Office of Student Leadership and Development and facilitated by LeaderShape, Inc. The one-day program aimed to reinforce participants’ leadership skills by recognizing their own strengths as well as the strengths of others. One of OSLD’s goals in implementing the Catalyst program is to continue to build students’ leadership experiences and to allow them to see how their talents can be used to fulfill various needs, both at the College and worldwide.
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
The Flat Hat
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STUDENT LIFE
TEDx organizers look forward to April 6
Second annual event will take place in Kimball Theatre, to feature eight keynote speakers by VAYDA PARRISH THE FLAT HAT
TEDx is returning to the College of William and Mary April 6 for an afternoon’s worth of Forward” themed talks. The second annual event will take place in Colonial Williamsburg’s Kimball Theatre at 1 p.m. Eight different speakers will attend, including: Peter Atwater ’83, founder of Financial Insyghts; Karen Catlin, former vice president of Adobe Systems and former CEO of Athentica; Paul Dommel ’86, global Health and Human Services
sales leader for the IBM Government Industry; John Glick ’74, co-creator of the Gesundheit Institute; Tara Grove, an associate professor of law at William and Mary; Dan Murray, founder of WebFilings/WDesk; John Elder Robison, nationally renown author and speaker on neurodiversity and scholar-in-residence at the College; and Christopher Sprigman, professor of law at New York University. TEDx events are independently organized, yet linked to the flagship TED foundation, whose mission is to “make great ideas accessible and spark conversation.” This year’s talks will be
geared towards varying views on global progress. The lectures discuss “what is happening in the world today, what forces are changing our future, and how social media has particularly changed the way we relate to one another,” Alyssa Zhu ’14, publicity chair of the College’s TEDx conference, said. The effects of last year’s inaugural event can be seen through the University of South Carolina’s Page Prize winning course in sustainability that Mason School of Business professor Michael Luchs created and spoke about at the College’s March 2013 TEDx gathering.
His talk serves as a precursor to topics that will be discussed next month. TEDx volunteers have swathed the campus with flyers; newly designed ones will begin to surface as April 6 approaches. The campaign also has a growing presence on the Internet, including Atwater a Facebook event page and an upcoming Instagram contest featuring unrevealed incentives for participants.
“We want there to be some mystery around TEDx to stir excitement, because each event is completely different,” Rebecca Silverstein ’14, T E D x C o l l e g e o f W i l l i a m a n d Ma r y ’s curator, said in an email. The TED Confernce provides guidelines for how TEDx conferences are to be organized, but all TEDx conferences are independent, selforganized and run. Tickets to TEDx will be sold exclusively in the Sadler Center beginning Wednesday, March 19, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 5-8 p.m. They are $10 for students, $15 for faculty and staff, and $35 for the general public.
college
Richard Bland College to guarantee qualified students transfer options New Council of Independent Colleges agreement grants option to transfer to Virginia public schools by DALE WOLF the FLAT HAT
The Richard Bland College signed a Guaranteed Transfer Agreement with the Council of Independent Colleges March 18, granting automatic admission for qualified RBC graduates into eight of the CICV’s 29 schools. “We are honored to partner with Richard Bland College and look forward to sharing in the success of future students,” CICV President Robert Lambeth said in a statement. In December, RBC became the first two-year college that is not a community college to enter into an arrangement with the CICV, a group of private academic institutions. RBC President Debbie L. Sydow said she hopes this partnership will enable students to fulfill their goals. “I’m a first-generation college student, and I can tell you that education meant everything to me in terms of being able to achieve the ‘American dream,’” Sydow said in a promotional video for the school. The agreement and its expansion have received backing from Virginia Secretary of Education Anne Holton, wife of Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), who expressed her enthusiasm for the agreement. “[I support] anything that gives students more opportunities. … I’m not aware of any downside and I think there’s a lot of upside,” Holton said.
Described on its website as “the vanguard of learning-outcomes based liberal arts education for university transfer,” RBC lists schools to which its graduates receive automatic admission, including Virginia Wesleyan College, Mary Baldwin College and Roanoke College. “Richard Bland College students will have a tremendous advantage by having a clear transfer pathway to any CICV college or university [covered by the Guaranteed Transfer Agreement],” Sydow said in a statement. “From acceptance to degree completion, our students can seamlessly map their journey, choosing from a diverse array of CICV institutions and programs.” In addition to the 21 CICV schools covered by the Guaranteed Transfer Agreement, qualified RBC students receive automatic admission and junior class standing at 15 public universities in Virginia. The 15 schools include Virginia State University, James Madison University, Radford University and Virginia Tech. Sydow said in December that she feels the agreement will be beneficial. “[It will] make a big different for so many Virginians,” Sydow said in a statement. “We must do a better job of making higher education available, and I believe that that’s exactly what we’re doing here.”
First openly gay rector speaks at College TRAMMELL from page 1
people in the gallery from Equality Virginia, and spoke in favor of rights for all gay, lesbian, and LGBT people. It was just great to see the juxtaposition of old and new ideas.” Mason said that Trammell balanced optimism and realism with regards to the national progression towards equal treatment of gay and transgender rights in the United States’ legal codes. “He did a great job of emphasizing how far we’ve come and how far we have to come,” Mason zach hardy / THE FLAT HAT said. Regardless Trammell ‘73 spoke to students Thursday.
courtesy photo / VAGAZZETTE.COM
Under a new agreement, qualified students at Richard Bland College will gain admission to fifteen public schools in Virginia.
of that, it’s a very exciting time for equality issues.” William and Larry, formed last year by Christian Bale ’14 M.P.P ’15, hopes to continue attracting speakers and building a presence on campus as an active, bipartisan advocate for LGBT issues during the spring semester. Bale said the group plans to visit the Americans Civil Liberties Union of Virginia later in the semester to talk about the Bostic v. Rainey case, which found the prohibition against same-sex marriage unconstitutional in federal court. Bale also said William and Larry will launch a new campaign called “If You Can Play, You Can Play,” which will focus on LGBT rights in relation to athletic teams. They hope to work in conjunction with the admissions office on the project. “It’s a video campaign, and the idea is that different varsity athletes at the school will say something like ‘if you can shoot a basketball, you can shoot a basketball,’” Bale said. “Basically if you come here to come here to play on our team you should be able to without any problems.”
FEATURE PHOTOS
Columbia provides option for prospective engineers at the College ENGINEERING from page 1
really stand out among other engineers, because I now have skills that students who only study engineering might not have. … Now that I am looking to start my career, I find that having these skills is enormously helpful, even in the field of engineering,” So said. Graduates of the program also reap the benefits of having two alumni networks. “The program definitely opened up more doors careerwise, as well as an entire new alumni network that actually helped Mikhailov me get an internship at a startup and my current full-time job,” Singer said.
Among undergraduates and prospective students alike, interest in the program is high. “Right now my mailbox has about 200 emails from students, parents and high school students asking [about the program],” assistant professor of physics and advisor for the program Eugeniy Mikhailov said. Yet, despite high interest in the program, Mikhailov said few students choose to apply. “It all boils down to about three applicants per year,” Mikhailov said. He said he believes undergraduates at the College choose to not apply for the degree because the College prepares graduates to be competitive in the market. While the program may appeal to students interested in careers in engineering, both Singer and Mikhailov advised students studying science or math at the College to consider attending graduate school after graduation.
MSA debunks common myths about Islamic culture AWARENESS from page 1
do not realize how it is part of an individual’s life,” Eisele said. Aboulatta’s sister, Raghda Aboulatta ‘16, is also a member of MSA.
Audrey kriva / THE FLAT HAT
In an effort to expose campus to hip hop culture, the SMILES Crew performed hip hop dance routines at the Origins Hip Hop Show
She said that she often encounters ignorance toward Islam, although it is seldom malicious. “Most of the time the misunderstandings are humorous. One of my close friends wanted to know if my
mom wore the hijab in the house,” Raghda Aboulatta said. She added that hijabs, which are worn in response to the Koran’s call for modesty, are typically not worn around family members.
opinions
Opinions Editor Daria Grastara Assoc. Opinions Editor Kaitlan Shaub fhopinions@gmail.com // @theflathat
The Flat Hat | Tuesday, March 25, 2014 | Page 4
Staff Editorial
editorial cartoon
Can we build it? Y
The fraudulence paradox about sex and religion (and religious sex, and sexy religion), this odd taboo had been hiding just behind a wall waiting to be breached. If my friend hadn’t, for whatever reason, brought up what she was feeling, there is a chance that someone else would have asked the same exact question. But more likely, despite the enthusiasm, it never would have been brought up the flat hat at all. This could read as an endorsement for talking about death at parties. That’s not quite the recommendation here; I am A few weeks ago I was at a party with some friends when sure there are better pick-up lines. What’s more compelling is one of them asked if any of us were thinking about dying. Had that a subject that held so much interest could have very easily she phrased this differently, it would have been no less blunt: never come up, despite everyone thinking about it — and no Were any of us, at that particular moment — notwithstanding one knew why this was. the inapposite context of the loud Top 40 and red solo cups — As the night went on, we attempted to sort this problem contemplating the inevitability of our own death? Depending on what type of kindly Flat Hat reader you out. The conversation turned to a related subject: the disparity are, there are a variety of possible reactions here. If you are between what we tended to think about and what we tended to say publicly. It has become anything like me, you would pretend not to a cliche to say that millennials hear, poke around your empty pockets, and We might as well measure their self-worth by pretend you can dance (poorly). A smoother be honest while we’re “likes” or “followers.” Although person might attempt to guess the punch line: here. Wouldn’t that be this construction is simplistic, There wasn’t one. And another might ask if it’s true that many of us mold my friend needed help: She doesn’t. impressive? what we say — and how we Before you begin to take things so seriously, however, — and believe me, we’ll get there — I present ourselves — based on what we believe makes us look have a disclaimer. The gathering was what you might call a impressive, well-adjusted or interesting. This is what the writer David Foster Wallace, in his short “comedy party.” That is, the guest list wasn’t the typical random smattering of friends and friends-of-friends, but included the story “Good Old Neon,” calls “the fraudulence paradox.” In various comedy groups here on campus. I’ll go out on a limb that short story, he wrote: “The fraudulence paradox was and say that while people in this group might therefore be a bit that the more time and effort you put into trying to appear more awkward and a little less filtered than your typical College impressive or attractive to other people, the less impressive of William and Mary student, their general personality is, if or attractive you felt inside — you were a fraud. And the more anything, true to form. People dedicated to comedy tend to be of a fraud you felt like, the harder you tried to convey an a tad obsessive and a little odd, but we aim to please and we get impressive or likable image of yourself.” But this doesn’t have to be a paradox. The paradox breaks off on attention. In short, comedy often attracts and cultivates down as soon as we realize that “likability,” like comedy, is the personality of a TWAMP. often just a reflection of honest and difficult self-reflection. Behold, then, the actual response. My friends were It’s true; we’re all going to die. We might as well be honest enthusiastic: Drinks were set down, chairs brought out, life stories were rehashed. Turns out, my friends had been waiting while we’re here. Wouldn’t that be impressive? for this to happen. In a group of people who freely bantered Email Tucker Higgins at jthiggins@email.wm.edu.
Tucker Higgins
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The staff editorial represents the opinion of The Flat Hat. The editorial board, which is elected by The Flat Hat’s section editors and executive staff, consists of Abby Boyle, Áine Cain, Matt Camarda, Meredith Ramey and Ellen Wexler. The Flat Hat welcomes submissions to the Opinions section. Limit letters to 250 words and columns to 650 words. Letters, columns, graphics and cartoons reflect the view of the author only. Email submissions to fhopinions@gmail.com.
Staff Editorial
Street Beat
What makes the College the No. 1 smartest public college?
104 3 “The faculty really work with students and motivate them to succeed.” Megha Vipani ’17
“Students here are very dedicated to school work.” Shweta Kumar ’17
“Not only are the students naturally driven, but everyone likes to work.” Erin Hennessey ’17 — photos and interviews BY kaitlan shaub
Number of colleges that participate in the Columbia program
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NUMBERS
BY THE
By Brian Kao, flat hat Graphic Designer
ou wouldn’t know it from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, but the College of William and Mary has a place for engineers. Although the College lacks an engineering major, students seeking to obtain an engineering degree can apply for a joint program with Columbia University: Students attend the College for three or four years and Columbia for two years, earning a degree at the College and an engineering degree at Columbia. With a mere three applicants a year, the College should further promote this program to prospective and current students. Students would benefit from a liberal arts and engineering background. Sciences and humanities students often separate themselves into two academic camps with increasingly specialized knowledge, lacking the overlap necessary for a well-rounded education. Engineers should be able to write well and government majors shouldn’t have to wince while recalling the three laws of thermodynamics. Students with liberal arts and engineering degrees will not only know more about the world, but will have a greater capacity to appreciate its wonders. They will not only have more useful skills, but will be able to think critically, logically and, hopefully, creatively. Graduates with dual degrees in liberal arts and engineering from the College and Columbia would also be valuable to employers. According to US News and World Report, the unemployment rate for engineers was below 2 percent. The unemployment rate for college graduates in other professions is double that at 3.9 percent. While enrollment is still low, the College should recognize that there is interest in the program. Professor Eugeniy Mikhailov, advisor to the program, told The Flat Hat he had received nearly 200 emails from students, parents and high school students requesting more information about it. Yet, it remains obscure. The College shouldn’t lose prospective students who are attracted to its quality liberal arts education because they are deterred by its lack of an engineering program. If the College touted its joint program with Columbia, it could reel in some of those students. A student’s involvement in the program isn’t predetermined the way the St. Andrews program is: Students can apply as late as their junior or senior year as long as they have taken the necessary course requirements. Math and science professors could inform their students about this program, and advisors could encourage advisees interested in engineering to consider the program. Presenting this option to students throughout their college careers might make them more likely to pursue it. Of course, students would rightfully have some reservations about participating in the program. While students would earn two separate degrees, it would require at least one additional year of undergraduate study. The financial cost might be too much for some students, especially for out-of-state students and those planning to attend graduate school. It all depends on students’ priorities and, for some, it may not be worth it. The College would be doing itself and its students a disservice if it didn’t better publicize the program. Being a TWAMP and being an engineer need not be mutually exclusive.
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Out of the 104 colleges, only three are in Virginia
The College of William and Mary is the only Virginia public school in the program
graphic by ellen wexler
Why the English major is one of the most valuable degrees Samantha Farkas
flat hat opinions columnist
“So, do you want to teach?” Almost 90 percent of the time, that’s the response I get when I tell someone I’m an English major, and I’m sure most English majors can relate. While we may take pride in the number of classics we’ve read, pages we’ve written and words in our vocabulary, it hurts that much of the student population thinks those classics, pages and words are utterly useless when it comes to the real world. After all, why does it matter if we can spot the central theme of “For Whom the Bell Tolls”? After philosophy, English majors probably get more heat than anyone. While most of campus (even the philosophy department) spends its time searching for truth, we have our heads
buried in fiction, sometimes known as the made-up stories some old, dead guy decided to write down a million bajillion years ago. When you look at it that way, there isn’t much you can do with an English degree, except teach others about made-up stories and their old, dead authors. Teaching is great, but (surprise!) it’s not the only option. Many (most?) English majors want to be writers, although admitting that is even worse than the initial “I’m an English major” confession. These days, saying “I want to be a writer” sounds like the equivalent of “I want to be a rock star.” People look at you, blink a few times, and say, “Well, good luck with that.” But being a writer does not necessarily mean you have to write the next great American novel. In fact, you don’t even have to be published. Being a writer is, well, writing, and unfortunately, that’s a vanishing art. As high schools continue to teach to the test — that is, push the five-paragraph essay — fewer and fewer
students take writing seriously. It’s a formula, and while it might suffice in academia, it’s not the type of writing employers want to see. That’s why, despite common belief, English majors often do very well when it comes to the job market. A recent article in The Huffington Post points out that English majors only have around 9.8 percent unemployment directly after graduation, whereas “practical” majors such as economics and political science have 10.4 and 11.1 percent unemployment, respectively. And no, those jobs aren’t only in teaching, or even the other “typical” English major jobs, such as journalism, publishing and copywriting. Many English majors enter media, politics and business, where communication skills are crucial. In addition, those careers require that one understands people, and no major, except perhaps psychology, does that better than English. A study at Emory University showed that reading fiction improves empathy,
imagination and visualization abilities. It also “improves cognition and mental health, helping us to destress, sleep better and even help you stay sharp.” I’ve even heard it said that readers tend to unconsciously emulate their favorite characters: Whether they realize it or not, they’re likely to adopt Scarlett O’Hara’s resilience, Harry Potter’s courage, or Samwise Gamgee’s loyalty. Then there’s the argument that English majors don’t study literature, necessarily; rather, they look at what it means to be human. Nobody says it better than Robin William’s character in the film “Dead Poets Society”: “We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering — these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love — these are what we stay alive for.” I might also point out that literature is one of the oldest disciplines, and there’s
something to be said for the adage “tried and true.” Humans have been telling stories for centuries. For the longest time, they have been a critical element of learning. Stories teach us morals and values, both when we are young and as we grow older. No, a degree in English won’t help cure cancer, or improve clean energy, or discover life on other planets. But it will help us understand humanity, and if that’s not practical, what is? Email Samantha Farkas at sbfarkas@ email.wm.edu.
Graphic by dani aron-schiavone / the Flat hat
variety
Variety Editor Sang Hyun Park flathat.variety@gmail.com // @theflathat
The Flat Hat| Tuesday, March 25, 2014 | Page 5
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Diana Peloquin tops past faculty, alumni and student contestants on the show BY HALEY ARATA FLAT HAT ASSOC. VARIETY EDITOR
Post-college plans for the typical College of William and Mary student include attending graduate school, trying not to panic about finding the perfect career and beating an 11-time “Jeopardy!” champion. Wait, what? For graduate Diana Peloquin ’08, all of this rings true. Peloquin competed in two games of “Jeopardy!” which aired in early March. A long-time trivia enthusiast and fan of the show, Peloquin reveled in the overall experience. “Having watched the show for so many years, it was really cool to turn the corner and see the set,” Peloquin said. In addition to being exciting and “absolutely nerve-racking,” Peloquin appreciated the effort of the production staff to create a friendly and encouraging atmosphere. Sitting out the first day also allowed her to observe from the audience and to calm her anxiety. “Luckily, having the first night off really allowed me to recharge and gain the confidence to take the stage the next day,” Peloquin said. Peloquin still looks to her days at the College as influential in her game-show success and postcollege life. “William and Mary definitely gave me this
attention of always wanting to learn new things, and that has definitely continued for me after I graduated,” Peloquin said. As a political theory and history major, synchronized swimmer and musician in the orchestra, both academics and electives contributed to her well-rounded expertise. A true TWAMP, Peloquin cited rigorous study habits and an attentive attitude toward classes as crucial to her achievements. “I studied a lot and paid attention in all of my classes, which was really helpful, and taking electives outside of my department also helped,” Peloquin said. Peloquin studies law and social work as a graduate student at the University of Michigan. Her time on “Jeopardy!” was both thrilling and eye-opening; returning to school from her minicelebrity moment reaffirmed her current careerpath plans. A proud graduate of the College, Peloquin encourages others to participate in the game show. “I would love to see other William and Mary students and graduates make it on ‘Jeopardy!’” Peloquin said. Zach McDonnell ’15 and associate professor Colleen Kennedy have already fulfilled this aspiration. Both appeared on “Jeopardy!” in the past.
McDonnell, known to carry around a huge atlas as a child, has delighted in studying disparate facts since he was young. It was only natural that he became obsessed with “Jeopardy!” after watching marathons of the show with his family. “I have been watching ‘Jeopardy!’ with my mom and sister for about seven years; it’s hard not to fall in love with [the show] after watching Ken Jennings,” McDonnell said. In high school, his interest in trivia grew after becoming a member of the scholastic bowl team senior year and when, with encouragement from his mother, he applied to appear on the college edition of “Jeopardy!” during his freshman year. McDonnell studied popular topics such as the Bible, classical music and opera in preparation for the show, but mainly attributes his advancement to his long-term commitment to watching the television show. Along with the monetary benefits, McDonnell loved the traveling and found personal meaning in the experience. “It broadened my horizons. I grew up without money, and all of a sudden, because of this dumb passion for trivia, I was in Los Angeles and meeting Alex Trebek and being on national television,” McDonnell said, “The doors of life seemed way more open to me.” English and film studies associate professor
Colleen Kennedy also competed in 2010. Kennedy applied to be on the show when tryouts went online in the early 2000s, but it wasn’t until after her second attempt in 2010 when she received the magic phone call notifying her that she was accepted. Utilizing the almanac as her main source of study material, Kennedy recalls the night before she went into the studio. She was sitting in the hotel lobby reading the almanac, drinking a glass of wine, when she looked over and spied a fellow contestant also reading the almanac and enjoying a glass of wine. “[Reading the almanac] sounds like a bizarre thing to do, but it’s really a condensed place for a whole lot of information like lists of presidents and Oscar winners,” Kennedy said. Drawing on her experience in film studies, Kennedy also noted the logistics of the show: the surprisingly low-tech set, the amount of prep time before the filming and the requirement that all of the contestants appear the same height on television. Kennedy continues to enjoy playing in pub quizzes here and will not forget her time on “Jeopardy!” when she goes abroad for the College’s joint program with St. Andrew’s. “It was fun,” Kennedy said. “I’m really glad I did it, although I wish I would have won.
CONFUSION CORNER
Fight the spring semester slump: Step outside
Sometimes it’s hard to carry on without taking a much-needed break from everything
Zach Hardy
Confusion Corner Columnist
For me, the spring semester always presents more challenges than the fall. The warm weather and prospect of summer always induce a lazy attitude toward school work, but I’ve come up with a few different strategies over my three years at the College of William and Mary which can help cure this lull in academic enthusiasm. My first piece of advice is obvious, but I should mention it anyway: Take a few moments to enjoy yourself and the beauty of your surroundings. Lie out on the Sunken Garden in the afternoon instead of retreating to the harshly-lit library or your over-crowded dorm room. Walk in Colonial Williamsburg
before you start your day. Catch up with friends on the terrace or at the Daily Grind. Basically, what I’m trying to say is that you need to have fun once in a while, instead of feeling guilty because you’re not dazzling the world with your super-human productivity. Allowing yourself to take a day off to enjoy the great outdoors will help your mood immensely and give you the energy to finish the semester strong. Williamsburg has a great number of places to “get out there,” Lake Matoaka being the most obvious place to start. Miles of trails run around the lake, and can be accessed by Dupont, behind Botetourt and on Compton Road past the Campus Recreation Center. You can also rent canoes on various days throughout the week. Trust me, I can think of few activities more therapeutic than gently paddling across a calm lake. If you or a friend has a car, use it to spend a day at Yorktown or Jamestown beach. Both have sandy
beaches to relax in the sun, although the water might not be warm enough to swim in for several more months. If you demand a more serious beach experience you can get to Virginia Beach in less than an hour. If biking’s your thing, the Virginia Capital Trail near the Jamestown Settlement and Waller Mill Park offer great flat terrain for leisurely rides. The Colonial Parkway also makes for a wonderful bike route. Up for a challenge? Cycle out to the historic Jamestown Island; it might take a while but it makes for a very rewarding experience. The College and the Williamsburg area can feel claustrophobic sometimes, particularly during the cold winter months, so taking a day or overnight trip might also prove worthwhile. After all, the fall semester boasts two breaks, whereas the spring only has one with two long stretches of school in between. In just an hour you can get to
downtown Richmond, which has a huge number of sights to see including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the James River and Carytown — a fabulous shopping district filled with restaurants, bookstores and thrift shops. If you really crave an escape, rent some camping gear from the Rec and retreat to the mountains. You can reach some great campsites and trails around Charlottesville in about three hours. It might also prove prudent to simply go home for the weekend; you can rest up, get work done in a place with minimal distractions and let your parents take you to the grocery store or do your laundry. I also suggest lowering the expectations you have for your grades by a marginal amount. This may be hard to swallow for many people who attend the College, myself included, but it seems totally normal to suffer from a burnout at the end of an
academic year. There is a limited number of truly well-written and wellthought-out papers you can write, or ideas and concepts to understand, in one semester. It doesn’t help that absolutely everything seems to be due on the same day. Still, don’t compromise your standards and settle for low-quality work; just acknowledge that a grade that’s a bit shy of perfect won’t ruin your entire future. As a final word of advice, I remind everyone to try to lighten up. It’s understandable that persistently massive piles of schoolwork and strings of sleepless nights can totally get you down, but having a good attitude can work wonders. Oh, yeah, and don’t forget to have a great spring Blowout. Zach Hardy is a Confusion Corner columnist who will most likely be found walking through Colonial Williamsburg, enjoying the great outdoors.
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Page 6
The Flat Hat
Focus: n. a main interest or purpose; a new dance club at the College. Two students form a new streetdance group combining jazz and freestyle BY BAILEY KIRKPATRICK FLAT HAT ASSOC. VARIETY EDITOR
It was during Syndicate tryouts that Bo Li ’16 and Joyce Fan ’17 met for the first time, sizing up one another while auditioning for the same performance group. However, these two international students were unaware at the time that they both really wanted the same thing: to start their own dance group at the College of William and Mary. Because of their shared interest in dancing, and their inability to find a dance club that offered them the freedom of interpretation that they craved, these two international students decided
to create and sponsor the group Focus. “When we first came to school we didn’t find a single group that matched our style of jazz and freestyle,” Fan said. While there is already a breakdancing club and many hip-hop clubs to peruse, the girls said they like to dance jazz and freestyle, a mix they call “streetdance.” Jazz, they explained, is not about groundwork like breakdancing, but is a more fluid style of dance. They like to combine this style with hip-hop, which is not to be confused with breakdancing. This group intends not only to be an outlet for learning new dance steps and practicing routines, but also to become a service to students interested
ALL PHOTOS BY BAILEY KIRKPATRICK / THE FLAT HAT
Leaders of Focus, Bo Li ’16 and Joyce Fan ’17, and member Yuffie Gong ’16 are currently planning future events for the club.
in learning how to dance. “None of the clubs on campus teach people who don’t have dance experience. In those clubs you dance for fun but no one teaches you how to warm up, the basic elements of dance, or how to dance a series of movements,” Li said. “Many of the other clubs require that you have a high level of dancing skill, but we want to teach people who want to learn how to dance, too.” Yuffie Gong ’16, a member of the club, added that they are always looking for experienced dancers to help teach their members once the club garners interest. “We welcome everyone with or without experience,” Gong said. “For me, I like to dance for fun. I only have two months of experience dancing [with Li] but I love to dance. The feeling you get while you dance is really amazing and great exercise.” Originally, the group was going to call itself “Ant,” but they decided that this terminology made it seem like a biology club. “Focus” was the name that stuck. “When you are trying to perform on the stage, you are the focus of all the people in the room,” Li explained. “And we just want to make sure that our group is the focus, and we want our members to know what it feels like to be the center of attention.” Right now, club members are still trying to recruit interest, members and tutors, and intend on making every effort possible to get their name into the public. They have been busy at work ensuring they will be represented at multiple upcoming school events.
“First, we are going to be dancing in the admitted students fair, then we are going to perform at a benefit performance, and then we are going to have a movie night with the executive board of the club and watch movies related to dance,” Fan said. The club also plans to host dance competitions among the many dance clubs in order to encourage exercise and practice. They also plan to have mixers that will help connect them to other groups of students on campus who are as passionate about dancing as they are. They are hoping that their inclusion in these events will help garner interest in the club for next semester, even if help comes from other organizations. “Once we have members, we want to try to practice at least once a week and hopefully finish teaching one whole three-to-five minute dance for each semester,” Gong said. “If they learn fast, then maybe we could complete two dances.” Many of the members on the executive board have dance experience already, including Li, who has been practicing dance for eight years, and Fan, who has four years of jazz experience. However, each member has his or her own reason for wanting to dance. “I love dancing because it really makes me a more confident person,” Li said. “When I dance I feel like I am more confident and more attractive. That’s why I love dancing so much, it just makes me think, ‘I am beautiful and I love the way I dance.’” Fan explains that she wants everyone to feel as happy as she does when she is practicing and performing, and to know that they are the central focus when they are on stage.
JIGGLYPUFF CARTOON
GRAPHIC BY THE JIGgLYPUFF ARTIST / THE FLAT HAT
sportsinside
The Flat Hat
| Tuesday, March 25, 2014 | Page 7
TRACK AND FIELD
Men, women dominate field at Tribe Invitational
College’s runners, throwers, jumpers dominate Richmond, George Mason; easily capture overall victory at Zable Stadium BY SOFIA ANDREOLI FLAT HAT STAFF WRITER William and Mary kicked off the outdoor season with a victory at the Tribe Invitational at Zable Stadium Friday and Saturday. The Tribe women easily outpaced Richmond and George Mason with a total of 137 points, and the men’s team mirrored the women’s with a decisive win, scoring 88 points to top George Mason’s 31. Sophomore Rochelle Evans began the individual wins on the field, finishing first in the hammer throw and the shot put. She threw the hammer 42.74 meters for the win, then notched a distance of 13.70 meters in the shot put, good enough for another 10 points for the Tribe. Sophomore Katie Johnson won the javelin competition with a throw of 40.12 meters and threw a personal record of 38.50 meters in the discus. Freshman Susan Philbrick came first in the triple jump with a jumping distance of 11.02 meters. On the men’s side, freshman D e r e k O’Connell placed first in the pole vault with a height of 4.90 meters. His impressive O’Connell score also allowed him to qualify for the Intercollegiate Association of
Amateur Athletes of America Championships. Freshman Lucas Wratscho followed O’Connell, placing third overall with a h e i g h t of 4.65 meters. Freshman Dominic Burkett won the Burkett long jump e v e n t with a distance of 6.60 meters. Sophomore Taylor Frenia earned back-to-back wins in shot put and discus, throwing 16.15 meters and 46.13 meters, respectively. Sophomore Bob Smutsky won in the javelin event, throwing 64.38 meters. Following Smutsky in the placing, freshman Tucker Rizzi threw a distance of 54.58, his personal best. While the throwers and jumpers thrived on the field, the runners won points on the track. Senior Olivia Harding finished in first place in the 800-meter race with a time of 2:19.68. Junior Brittany Biagi finished first in the 400-meter race with a time of 1:05.51. The Tribe swept the top three spots in the 1500-meter race; sophomore Megan McGovern won with a time of 4:32.87, followed by junior Carolyn Hennessey and sophomore Erica Amatori. The male athletes also excelled on the track. Burkett won the 100-meter dash with a
time of 11.35 seconds. Smutsky ran a time of 22.78 seconds in the 200-meter dash, good enough to claim the win in the finals. In his first outdoor meet, freshman Ryan Thomas finished first in the 400-meter dash with a time of 54.77 seconds. In the long distance races, redshirt-sophomore Nathaniel Hermsmeier ran a time of 8:28.28 in the 3000-meter run. Finally, in the relay races, the team of sophomore Jomar Aryee, senior David Gunnerson, freshman Alex Hedrick, and freshman Troy Sevachko finished the meet on a strong note, with a first-place finish in the 4x400-meter race with a time of 3:27.82. Sophomore Emily Stites and senior Elaina Balouris took 6th and 14th, respectively, in the 5,000 meters at the National Collegiate Athletic Association Indoor Finals the prior weekend, but did not compete in the Tribe Invitational. The two probably won’t return to action until the Colonial Relays. The Tribe will head to Richmond, Va. this weekend to compete in the Fred Hardy Invitational, seeking to build on its momentum from the Tribe Invitational. The Tribe will return to Zable Stadium April 3 for the 49th Annual Colonial Relays. Last year, the meet brought in 31 teams. The Tribe women’s team finished sixth, while the men’s team finished seventh.
COURTESY PHOTO / TRIBE ATHLETICS
Freshman Susan Philbrick won the triple jump Saturday with a score of 11.02 meters, edging out four other competitors.
WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS Tribe tie for ECAC title Building on a banner season, William and Mary earned a share of the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference title Saturday in Philadelphia. The Tribe tied Brown with a score of 193.000, narrowly edging out Cornell (192.30), Temple (191.775), Penn (191.275) and Yale (189.850). Head coach Mary Lewis’ team claimed the program’s fifth league title. Sophomore Brittany Stover was awarded the league’s Gymnast of the Year title and won the individual vault title. Her sister, junior Brandy
Stover, was awarded the league’s Specialist of the Year and tied for fourth on the beam. The Tribe earned a season-high 48.80 points on the bars, tying its eighth-best score in school history. Freshman Olivia O’Connor led the team and took second in the event with a score of 9.800. The Tribe’s next competition is April 5 in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Regionals in Athens, Ga. -Flat Hat Sports Editor Jack Powers
sports
Sports Editor Jack Powers Sports Editor Chris Weber flathatsports@gmail.com // @FlatHatSports
The Flat Hat | March 25, 2014 | Page 8
TENNIS
COMMENTARY
Teddy tells more than just a story
Tribe serves up even weekend
Fish defies typical reporting norms
Chris Weber
Flat Hat Sports editor
COURTESY PHOTO / TRIBE ATHLETICS
Junior Aaron Chaffee, a First-Team All-CAA doubles selection in 2013, has helped the College’s doubles program to wins in 15 of its 19 matches this season.
College balances losses with wins over James Madison, Hampton BY JEREMY RELLOSA THE FLAT HAT The William and Mary women’s team (311, 1-1 CAA) fell 4-3 to Old Dominion (8-4) Friday evening at the Folks Stevens Tennis Center. The men’s team (12-7, 1-0 CAA) suffered a 4-1 setback to No. 34 Dartmouth (9-3) Saturday at Millie West Tennis Facility, but walked away with a pair of dominating wins Sunday, defeating in-state foes James Madison (4-8, 0-2 CAA) 6-1, and Hampton (26, 0-1 CAA) 7-0 at the McCormack-Nagelsen Tennis Center. On the women’s side, Old Dominion started the match by taking the early doubles point with two wins at the No. 1 and No. 3 spots. The College lost an early doubles match 8-1 at the No. 3 position. While the No. 2 pair of freshman Melanie Roy and senior Sidney Smith fought to 7-7 in a tiebreaker, the Monarchs solidified the point at the No. 1 spot, 8-6. In singles, the Tribe racked up two wins in the No. 2 and 4 positions. At the second spot, sophomore Leeza Nemchinov earned her fifth straight win, beating Ingrid Vojcinakova, 6-2, 6-0, and improving to 16-11 for the year. At the No. 4 spot, freshman Nabila Farah beat Ivana Vukovic 6-1, 6-1, only dropping a game each set, en route to her 12th win of her career. Old Dominion won at the No. 1, 5, and 6 spots. At the No. 1 position, senior Maria Belaya lost the first set 2-6, but claimed the second 6-2. Nikol Hirstova of the Monarchs took the third set 6-2, clinching the win for Old Dominion. The men took the courts Saturday against Dartmouth and suffered a 4-1 loss to the Big Green. The Tribe had a solid start, securing the doubles point with a pair of wins at the No. 1 and 2 positions. At the No. 2 spot, the team of freshman Addison Appleby and senior Ben Guthrie rolled to their fourth straight win, topping Chris Kipouras and Diego Pedraza 8-2. Junior duo Aaron Chaffee and Will Juggins picked up an 8-5 win against Brandon DeBot
and Brendan Tannenbaum. The College suffered in singles play, as Dartmouth won at the No. 1, 2, 4, & 6 positions, stopping play at the No. 3 and 5 spots. Playing at No. 1, Guthrie won the opening set 6-4, but lost the following 2-6, 4-6. Freshman Damon Niquet won his opening set tiebreaker at the No. 5 spot, 7-6 (4), and had a commanding lead of the second at 4-1. However, by then play had stopped and Dartmouth had solidified their win. During Sunday’s doubleheader, the program celebrated the “Tribe for Teddy” event, in support of former player Alex Fish’s ‘06 infant son, Teddy, as well as his family. Teddy suffers from Menkes disease, a rare disorder causing copper deficiency in the body. In its morning match, the Tribe took on CAA foe James Madison, yielding a 6-1 win over the Dukes. The Tribe swept the doubles matches with a pair of 8-4 wins at the No. 1 and 2 spots, and an 8-6 win at the No. 3 position. After earning their doubles point, the College went on to dominate singles play, winning at almost all spots, except at No. 2, where Guthrie retired in the second set. The
Tribe racked up 6-0 set wins: Juggins beat Brett Moorhead 6-0, 6-1, Niquet defeated Milkan Ruzic 6-0, 6-0, and senior John Banks won his match against Niels Kathol, 6-0, 6-1. “Tribe For Teddy” was met with even more home wins after the morning matches, as the Tribe swept Hampton 7-0. Following a pair of 8-3 wins in doubles, the Tribe went on to win all six matches in singles play. The College didn’t give up a set, as all players won their matches in straights. At No. 6, freshman Austin Davidow double bageled Henry Drakeford, 6-0, 6-0, marking a solid victory for the Tribe. The men’s team continues action at the Millie West Tennis Facility, Saturday, March 29 at 4 p.m., when it hosts CAA opponent Delaware for Senior Day. The Tribe will honor its three seniors, John Banks, Ben Gurthrie, and Ben Hoogland during its home match against the Blue Hens. The women’s team will return to action next weekend at Millie West Tennis Facility when it hosts No. 23 Rice and No. 53 Yale, March 28 at 3 p.m., and March 30 at 11 a.m., respectively.
COURTESY PHOTO / TRIBE ATHLETICS
Junior Will Juggins returns a serve in Sunday’s 6-1 win over conference foe and in-state rival James Madison.
LACROSSE
Tribe suffers setback in Richmond
Offense stays potent, but failure to convert penalties hampers squad
BY SUMNER HIGGINBOTHAM THE FLAT HAT In only its second road contest of the season, William and Mary dropped to 1-7 on the season in a 13-7 loss to Richmond (4-3) Friday night. The game marked the third game in seven days for the Tribe. The College competed well early in the contest, scoring first with a goal by senior midfielder Taelor Salmon. Twelve minutes into the half, the Tribe held a 4-3 lead on the Spiders. However, Richmond regained momentum with a 6-0 run to end the half with a 9-4 lead. The Spiders racked up 16 shots during the first half against the College’s six. The Tribe came back strong in the second half with a 3-1 run off goals by junior midfielder Ellen Shaffrey, junior attacker Kaleigh Noon, and Salmon to bring the score to 10-7 with over 15 minutes left in the game. The draw control battle was evenly matched at 11, meaning each team had equal possession in the competitive matchup. However, Richmond dominated down the stretch with a 3-0 run to seal the victory for the Spiders at 13-7.
Richmond capitalized on College penalties, scoring on four of its five free position shots. The Tribe managed to score on only one of its free position shots. The ability to turn penalties into points continues to be an area of inconsistency for the team. Although the Tribe’s defense again succeeded in forcing 14 turnovers, the team as a whole still struggled with ball control, giving up possession 16 times. The past week has seen turnovers remain a major hindrance to the Tribe, as it also gave up 16 against Albany. Salmon now leads the team with 11 goals. Noon, Shaffrey, freshman midfielder MC Curren, senior defender Hannah Clarke and junior attack Alexi Farmakis also scored. The College’s attack Salmon continues to be a threat with a wide variety of players scoring in each contest. This multi-faceted offense bodes well for the Tribe’s conference matchups later this season. Up next is a home contest at Martin Family Stadium against Longwood (2-5) at 3 p.m. today.
Teddy Fish wore a white shirt, blue bowtie and, for the most part, slept. Alex Fish ’06 leaned against the cinderblock wall at the McCormack-Nagelsen Tennis Center, alternating between shaking hands and watching William and Mary play Sunday morning. Mary Fish ’07 proudly held Teddy, snapping photos and taking in the scene. If not for a hundred “Tribe for Teddy” t-shirts and a scoreboard that read “Once a part of the Tribe, always a part of the Tribe,” the Fish family wouldn’t have appeared all that different from any other young family taking in their alma mater’s tennis program. If not for Teddy’s diagnosis, this wouldn’t have been a story. Whether paid professionals or college students slaving away in a dusty basement four days a week, journalists ONLINE look for content that attracts readers and Check Flathatnews.com justifies the effort behind for a video of Sunday’s production. The story of a “Tribe for Teddy” event, married couple revisiting including reactions Williamsburg with their from organizers and 11-month-old son doesn’t supporters. fit those criteria. Like many stories, the story of Teddy Fish has a twist. Unlike most stories, this twist doesn’t wrap up the story neatly. Teddy suffers from Menkes disease, characterized by deficient copper levels and no known cure. Children diagnosed with a typical case don’t survive past age three. Teddy has a typical case. Now it’s a story. Add in details like the outstanding social media presence of Teddy’s cause and men’s tennis head coach Peter Daub’s attendance at the Fish wedding and the story becomes compelling. Daub organized the “Tribe for Teddy” event in hopes of raising awareness of Menkes disease and showing support for Alex Fish, his former player. Now the story has a platform, an end goal. From an editor’s desk, this story wrote itself. All the elements were present, and they fell in line more neatly than a box score. A little crafting here and there and the story would be ready to print. Easy. Then something happened and the story became something more than a story. It was more than Teddy’s fight with Menkes and it was more than Alex Fish returning to the program that he helped win the 2005 Colonial Athletic Association championship. Sifting through the details became a little tougher — a simple analytical approach wouldn’t cut it. It’s one thing to cover Tribe sporting events dispassionately from a press box or cold bleacher, but it’s something entirely different to write a piece on a kid you’ve only ever heard cry over the phone. That’s the crux of journalistic problems. To report requires analysis, unbiased coverage and a shrewdness to cut through to find what matters. It’s impossible to remain cold, to stay aloof of the emotion surrounding Teddy’s story. Turning a player into a statistic is commonplace. Highlighting an athlete for his or her latest accolades is routine; ignoring the individual is second nature. Teddy didn’t fit these habits. The story was written and printed. Copies were delivered to McCormack-Nagelsen, coming in after the caterers and before the crowd. Volunteers found their stations and longtime playby-play announcer Jay Colley started off the event. All the right people said all the right things. We proudly hailed by the dawn’s early light and the doubles began. Teddy was in his mother’s arms, standing among family and friends by the cinderblock wall. Having written the story, having memorized the story and having it run through my mind, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to meet the Fish family. I knew them as words on a page and a voice over the phone. That was enough. That was what was needed for the story. This was more than a story, I reminded myself. This wasn’t a time where an athlete could turn into a line of text. This wasn’t a situation where a name becomes a preceding clause before an overused cliché. This was clear. This was Teddy; this was a community showing its proud support. This was something human and tangible. I waited until after doubles, after the College had virtually guaranteed itself the win, before approaching Alex and Mary Fish. I shook hands with them and introduced myself as the one who wrote the story. That’s all I wanted and all I had in mind. I wanted to keep Mary and Alex Fish from turning into words on a page. I knew Teddy would not — I knew that Teddy would remain more than just his story. It’s clear in my mind. Alex Fish standing alongside the cinderblock wall. Mary Fish glancing at their son. Teddy Fish lying in the stroller, in a white shirt and blue bowtie. This was more than a story. This was a story worth telling for all the right reasons.
FH