SPORTS>> PAGE 8
VARIETY>> PAGE 7
After four consecutive wins, the Tribe was outmatched by powerhouse No. 5 Virginia
Club takes off at the College for students with a passion for Electronic Dance Music
Lacrosse loses winning streak
Rave all night
The Flat Hat
Vol. 104, Iss. 36 | Friday, March 27, 2015
The Twice-Weekly Student Newspaper
STUDENT ASSEMBLY
Whitaker wins
Whitaker and Pinkerton elected to serve as Student Assembly president and vice president for 20152016 term
See ELECTION page 3
See INCIDENT page 4
ETHERIDGE
70.7% 29.3%
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AARON BUNCHER / THE FLAT HAT
Percent of the vote received by each respective candidate
AMeliA Lucas and Amanda Williams Flat hat Assoc. News Editor and Flat Hat Copy chief
— Yohance Whitacker ‘16
Alleged rape took place March 19
Yohance Whitaker ’16 and Catie Pinkerton ’16 have been declared Student Assembly president and vice president for the 2015-16 academic year after winning 1,667 votes in the election. Whitaker missed the initial call from elections commission chair Ryan Brophy ’15 and had to wait for a second. “[We feel] excited. We are glad that the voters thought that we were the best pick, [and] excited to get to continue working for the students,” Whitaker said. “It feels unreal.” Voter turnout for the election was 28.3 percent — a 17.2 percent decline from last year. Out of 8,338 eligible voters, only 2,359 participated in the election. Whitaker and Pinkerton won 70.7 percent of the vote, with the remaining 29.3 percent falling to Claire Etheridge ’16 and Marcell Crawford ’16. “We’ve been planning for so long,” Pinkerton said. “The plans were in place, we’ve just got to start doing it, that’s what I’m most excited for.” Runners-up Etheridge and Crawford declined to comment. Etheridge and Crawford won 692 votes. Whitaker and Pinkerton said that they are thankful for Etheridge and Crawford’s
Number of votes received per candidate
Everything that we promised in the campaign, in our platform, to connect, engage and inspire, we will get started immediately.”
Student reports off-campus rape Tucker Higgins Flat hat EXECUTIVE EDITOR
1667
692
WHITAKER
campus
A female student from The College of William and Mary reported being raped off-campus Thursday night, according to an email sent to students, faculty, and staff Tuesday afternoon. The email, sent by Ginger Ambler, Vice President for Student Affairs, indicated that the incident was reported to the Dean of Students Office and the William and Mary Police Department Monday night. Williamsburg Police Department spokesman Major Greg Riley said the police department was informed of the incident at 8 p.m. Monday night. According to Riley, the victim was returning home from an establishment on Richmond Road and Scotland Street when she met the suspect. According to Riley, the student returned to her residence with the suspect and was not abducted. “The incident is under investigation and we are taking this matter very seriously,” Riley said. Captain Ed Schardein of the William and Mary Police Department confirmed the information provided in the email. He could not comment on the specifics of the case, because it is still under investigation. “[The William and Mary Police Department] will play whatever role the Williamsburg police Schardein needs assistance with,” Schardein said. According to the email the student was at a local establishment the night of the incident. The email said the police have identified a suspect described as a thin white male, approximately 35 years old, over six feet tall, with brown hair, a goatee, and blue eyes. The suspect is not in custody. The Williamsburg Police Department said they plan to make contact with the suspect after interviewing witnesses. “The purpose of my email is two-fold,” Ambler said in the email. “First, you need to be aware that someone from outside our community may be looking for opportunities to prey on others.” Ambler also directed students to resources available for those affected by sexual violence. “In addition to the Counseling Center, the Dean of Students Office, the Title IX Coordinator and the recently opened Haven space in the
WHITAKER ETHERIDGE
Bomb Threat deemed Unfounded by FBI, Campus police Wednesday, Emergency Management Team Chair Sam Jones emailed students, faculty and staff stating authorities determined the bomb threats which had been under investigation since the beginning of the week were unfounded. Monday, Jones emailed the academic community reporting the College of William and Mary had received emails suggesting the possibility of a future bomb threat. The email also reported that the William and Mary Police Department was working with the Federal Bureau of Whitson Investigation to determine the credibility of these threats. In his message, Jones urged students to report any suspicious or unusual behavior to the police immediately. The last time the College received a bomb threat was in 2007. The threats stemmed from emails sent to email accounts belonging to the College’s offices, but were not sent to any particular individual. There was also no indication that the threat was immediate; the messages used the words “future” and “bomb.” Jones College spokesman Brian Whitson reported that four identical emails were sent to generic email addresses. The sender of these emails remains unknown. Jones said police efforts to identify the sender of these emails are ongoing. He also stated that the police force continues to work with the FBI and has conducted training exercises in preparation for such events. — Flat Hat Associate News Editor Eleanor Lamb
WILLIAMSBURG
Williamsburg to hold Harvest Celebration Event, centered around local eateries, expected to sell around 5,000 tickets Meilan Solly FLAT HAT assoc. news editor
Next fall, the greater Williamsburg area will host the Williamsburg Harvest Celebration, a five-day culinary festival designed to showcase
the region’s local restaurants and attract tourists from across the nation. The celebration, which is set for Nov. 1115, will feature events held in Williamsburg, Yorktown and Jamestown. In each municipality, restaurants will offer special dining experiences led by
KRISTA BRAUN / THE FLAT HAT
The Williamsburg Harvest Celebration aims to attract tourists to the Greater Williamsburg area.
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local chefs and focused on local products. Additional attractions will include an oyster roast; cooking demonstrations; wine, high-end spirits and beer tastings; live entertainment and colonial tavern dinners. Tickets to various events at the WHC will cost $25 to $100. According to Cindy McGann, executive director of the WHC, the celebration is expected to sell 5,000 tickets — 5,000 attendees are not expected, however, as some individuals will buy tickets to multiple events. McGann said that she hopes the event attracts wine and food enthusiasts of all age groups. “[The goal] is to increase awareness about what the greater Williamsburg area has to offer,” she said. In addition to highlighting Williamsburg’s culinary scene, the celebration will showcase the historical aspects of the city and work to increase overall tourism in Virginia. As part of the event, funds are also being raised for four charities — Meals on Wheels, FISH, Fresh Food Fund and Southern Foodways Alliance. McGann, who came up with the idea for
Former Secretary of State and Condoleezza Rice brings a wealth of political experience to her commencement speech this year. However, we must acknowledge the many sides of that experience -- especially its controversy. page 4
Tinker’s paradise
Small Hall Makerspace makes innovation open to all students at the College of William and Mary. page 6
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The Flat Hat | Friday, March 27, 2015 | Page 2
THE BUZZ
We’ve been planning for so long ... The plans were in place, we’ve just got to start doing it, that’s what I’m most excited for. — Catie Pinkerton ‘16, Student Assembly vice president elect
THE DIGITAL DAY
Snapchats from Students
In this edition of Snapchats from Students, even the inanimate objects objects are here to say hello. One sassy egg hangs out beside a bowl at a dining facility. One can only wonder what the reason for her sass is. A student has spotted Mother Willow on campus; keep an eye out as you walk around. Even guitar picks must be fresh and clean for their big nights out. Be sure to send your snaps to The Flat Chat.
theflatchat A THOUSAND WORDS
Alison cohen/ THE FLAT HAT
CORRECTIONS In the 3/17 print edition, a SA representative incorrectly stated the process for filling the fourth Senate seat for the Class of 2017. A special election will be held in the Fall of 2015 in conjunction with the freshmen elections to fill the seat. In the 3/24 print edition, James Shaw was misquoted in his election profile. His quote should have read, “I promise to dedicate myself and remain fiscally responsible by continuing to vote for bills that I believe benefit the Tribe. I will also try to increase the communication and cooperation between the Student Assembly and the student body.” 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.
Senior blogger Rachel Brown muses on the difficulty of making decisions and the fact that, although sometimes it feels as though we are pedalling in place, life always moves on and we cannot stop the tyrannny of time.
Washington, D.C. study abroad blogger Daria Grastara offers her advice on interning from her experience in D.C. and how to make sure you get the most out of your internship and not just make coffee and essentially be exploited as free labor.
“But the funny thing about exercise bikes is that you don’t actually go anywhere, even when the machine says you’ve gone over 20 miles. Second semester has often made me feel like I’m riding a never-ending stationary bike. I keep pedaling—doing my homework and finishing up applications and such—but I don’t think I’m moving forward. I’ve worked up a sweat, but I don’t seem farther along in my journey. This week, I had my first opportunity to pedal forward in my journey after graduation. I went to an admitted students’ day at the graduate school I’m planning to attend, and I saw it as my first step on a bike that wasn’t stationary but would actually take me forward. I had a great time at the graduate school, meeting a few professors and students who will be in my program. The campus was great, and we got free food (always a plus). I was excitedly talking to some of my future classmates, and I knew I was ready to go home and pay my enrollment deposit.” Read the full post and more Stories from Abroad blogs on Flathatnews.com.
“Internship Advice #1: Apply to a work environment that is understaffed. Of course the big names of any work field sound appealing and impressive to showcase to friends, family, and future resume readers. More often than not, these bigger companies have something called ‘internship programs,’ advertising brown bag lunches, internship training workshops, and company sponsored internship events. This actually means the collection of interns cycled through the company every semester and summer will be doing the work that their distant, power hungry supervisor does not want to be bothered with. This work could range from fetching coffee, copying papers, doing clips, answering phone calls, writing letters and all the other cliché work interns typically expect. As one of our guest speakers advised my program: say no when a supervisor or person in power tries to take advantage of you as an intern. Interns deserve better. Seriously.” Catch up on all the student bloggers and their journeys abroad and more on FlatHatNews.com
CAMPUS POLICE BEAT
March 23-24 1
The Flat Hat
Monday, March 23 — An individual was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol on Lafayette Street.
2
Monday, March 23 — An incident of simple domestic assault occurred on Ernestine Avenue.
3
Tuesday, March 24 — An individual was arrested for shoplifting on Richmond Road.
March 24 — An individual was arrested 4 Tuesday, on a charge of concealment on Richmond Road.
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NEWS IN BRIEF Ifill comes to campus Journalist and news anchor Gwen Ifill was recently named the 2015 Hunter B. Andrews Distinguished Fellow in American Politics. She will come to the College of William and Mary March 30-31 to meet with students, faculty and staff. The fellowship was created in 1998 in honor of former state senator and alumnus Hunter B. Andrews. Every year, the fellowship program brings a journalist or politician to campus to speak with the campus community. Ifill has served as co-anchor of “PBS NewsHour” since 1999; she also works as managing editor and moderator of “Washington Week.” She has won numerous journalism awards and received more than 20 honorary doctorates.
Civil War Trust gains battlefield According to the WilliamsburgYorktown Daily, the Anheuser-Busch Foundation donated 65 acres of historic battleground to the Civil War Trust this past Tuesday. The plot of land, the setting of the Battle of Williamsburg during the Civil War, is in upper York County and runs parallel to Interstate 64. The donation ceremony was held at Kingsmill Resort and was attended by Governor Terry McAuliffe. The Civil War Trust, founded in 1987, announced in a press release that it will use the land to create the Williamsburg Battlefield Park, which will draw tourists and commemorate the 1862 skirmish.
College hosts 14th symposium The College held its 14th annual Graduate Research Symposium this past weekend in the Sadler Center. Graduate students in Arts and Sciences from the College and 16 other universities came together to share their progress on their respective projects. Two graduate students, Britanny St. Jacques Dowd and Jenna Carlson, chaired the event, entitled “Preparing Scholars, Presenting Excellence.” A total of 158 students participated in the symposium, delivering oral presentations and poster sessions. The event also included a presentation of awards to graduate students from the College and visiting schools.
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The Flat Hat
student assembly
Senate passes Medical Amnesty Reform Resolution Senators hear update on Student Assembly funds and Media Council, listen to representative from Virginia 21 AMELIA LUCAS FLAT HAT ASSOC. NEWS EDITOR
In its meeting Tuesday, the Senate received several special updates and passed two bills and a resolution. Secretary of Finance Thomas Obermeier ’15 provided the Senate with an update about the Student Assembly’s funds. The Reserves Fund, which held $169,879.19 at the beginning of the 322nd session, currently holds $15,372.19. The Activities and Events Fund currently holds $5,205 of its original $30,000.
Deputy Director of Virginia 21 James Morton ’12 spoke to the Senate about Virginia 21 and its efforts to increase student involvement in Virginia government. Virginia 21, originally founded by College of William and Mary students, has chapters at every public four year university in Virginia and informs students about state legislature that could affect them. Media Councilwoman Mia Wolfe presented the Senate with an update from the Media Council. The Media Council matched the SA’s funding of $6500 for the WCWM Fest. It also plans to create a new
Aaron buncher / THE FLAT HAT
Senators Chase Jordan ‘15, Seth Opokuh-Yeboah ‘16 and J.C. LaRiviere ‘17 sponsored the Medical Amnesty Reform Resolution.
conference fund policy for groups represented by the Media Council and to launch a podcast, which will be available on iTunes, called “In Media Res.” Secretary of Transportation Gabriel Morey ’16 shared his concerns about the decline in student participation in the Student Assembly airport shuttle program during public comment. “There are two routes that we could go,” Morey said. “We could either try to invest more in advertising and try to get more students to ride, as long as we are allocating $20,000 a year to it, or we can just say that this what students want…and save ourselves some money by re-allocating some of the $20,000.” Morey said he would update the Senate once he receives the number of students who used the program for spring break travels. Additionally, the Senate passed the Medical Amnesty Reform Resolution. The resolution received positive unanimous reviews from the Senate committees that discussed it and positive support from senators. “This bill clarifies to strengthen the protections for the students while also keeping the administration informed on student behavior,” Sen. Chase Jordan ’15 said. “I think this bill strikes a perfect balance between administration’s oversight and intelligence with students’ rights.” Secretary of College Policy and Student Rights Nate Heeter ’15 helped to draft the resolution. “Students should never hesitate to seek emergency medical care for themselves and their friends,” Heeter said in a press release. “Unfortunately,
the current Medical Amnesty Policy invites this dangerous hesitation. Students across the campus community have learned the troubling reality that any history medical amnesty can be held against students during subsequent Conduct and Honor proceedings. This reality puts student safety at risk and deprives students of the amnesty they thought they were granted.” The Equal Representation Committee Act to form a committee with members from the Graduate Council and the Senate to decide how to represent the Graduate Council better in the Student Assembly also passed unanimously. The chairman of the Senate and the chairman of the Graduate Council will determine the members and size of the committee. The committee must have its first meeting by March 29 and must be prepared to present its recommendations to the Senate by March 31. Sen. Danny O’Dea ’18 introduced the Money Switcharoo Act, which would allocate $2800 from the Reserves Fund to the Conference Fund, and motioned that the bill be moved to old business. The motion passed by unanimous consent. The senators then passed the bill unanimously. Sen. Nadia Ilunga ’15 introduced the I AM WM Week bill. The bill sponsors the event, which will be held from April 13 to April 18 and will feature a speaker from U.Va. to discuss the Martese Johnson incident, a culture night, and Table Talks. Chairman of the Senate Dan Ackerman ’16 assigned this bill to the student life, outreach, finance, executive, and public affairs committees.
Whitaker and Pinkerton receive 70.7% of vote, 28.3% voter turnout ELECTION from page 1
participation in the campaign. “Thanks for running an excellent race, we very much enjoyed that you pushed us, and Student Assembly elections are better when we have two candidates that care about William and Mary, so thank you,” Whitaker said. The class of 2016 elected incumbents Seth Opoku-Yeboah ’16 and Daniel Ackerman ’16, as well as newcomers Ivanessa Staykova ’16 and
Quetzabel Benavides ’16 for representation in SA senate. Benavides won the fourth seat by a margin of 7.6 percent. Mark Bland ran unopposed for class of 2016 president; this will be his second term. With only three candidates for the four senate positions, the class of 2017 senators are Eboni Brown ’17, J.C. LaRiviere ’17 and John Yoest ’17. Katherine Ambrose will serve as president, winning by a margin of 147 votes — 62.6 percent. In the most competitive election, Danny O’Dea ’18, Alaina Shreves ’18, Annelise Yackow ’18 and Colleen Heberle ’18 — the only
newcomer — will serve as the class of 2018 senators. Jose Acuna ’18 won the presidential position with 415 votes for his second term. The class of 2018 had the highest voter participation this year — taking the title from the class of 2016 — with 686 voters turning out. A spokesman for White Girl and Black Guy, a parody ticket that ran an unofficial campaign this season, shared some final words. “We would like to thank all 17 people who came out vote,” the spokesman said. “We promise to promise to stick to our campaign promises, that we promised: Inspire. Leadership. Syntax.”
Aaron buncher / THE FLAT HAT
SA President-Elect Yohance Whitaker ’16 (right) celebrates with SA Vice President-Elect Catie Pinkerton ’16 (left) after receiving the phone call that confirmed their victory over Claire Etheridge ’16 and Marcell Crawford ’16 on Thursday night.
Class of 2016
Vote Breakdown by Class Class of 2017
SA Presidential election Voter turnout by year
Class of 2018
No. eligible voters: 1537 Vote count in 2015 election: 553
No. eligible voters: 1501 Vote count in 2015 election: 585
No. eligible voters: 1537 Vote count in 2015 election: 686
Senate *Seth Opoku-Yeboah: 410 *Daniel Ackerman: 366 *Quetzabel Benavides: 330 *Ivanessa Staykova: 365 Jakob Stalnaker: 192 Adam Nowicki: 162
Senate *Eboni Brown: 481 *John Yoest: 418 *J.C. LaRiviere: 405
Senate *Danny O’Dea: 321 *Alaina Shreves: 311 *Colleen Heberle: 280 *Annelise Yackow: 274 Nathaniel Sutherland: 259 James Shaw: 252 Jonah Abraham: 218 Madison Fox: 158 Annie Oelberg: 143 Luke Maclay: 97 Chris Shen: 55
*denotates winner of respective election
Class President: *Jose Acuna: 415 Peter Kinton: 271
60 50 40
% turnout
Class President: *Mark Bland: 553
Class President: *Katherine Ambrose: 366 Augustine Haam: 219
70
%
36%
45.5 %
34.7
% 28.3
30 20 10
0
2012
2013
Election Year
2014
2015
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The Flat Hat
Friday, March 27, 2015
Student Assembly
Student Assembly focuses on racial climate SA launches Table Talk series, bias reporting system to be disucussed with administration amanda williams flat hat copy chief
The College of William and Mary’s Student Assembly plans to focus on the racial climate of the College through a bias reporting system and various programming throughout the semester. “We’ve been working hard to design programs that we believe will provide opportunities for conversations surrounding the diversity of identities, experiences, and perspectives on campus, based on the results from the racial climate survey and conversations with various members of our community,” Secretary of Diversity Initiatives Hannah Kohn ’15 said in an email.
This semester, SA has focused on their Table Talk series set to begin Mar. 25, but the bias reporting system is still to come. The senate unanimously passed the One Family Resolution, which included the proposed reporting system to more easily allow students to report issues of discrimination and bias in the community. Sen. Yohance Whitaker ’16, an SA presidential candidate, cosponsored the resolution with Whitaker Sen. Chase Jordan ’15
because it supports a goal of providing for a more inclusive and comfortable College community, he said. According to Whitaker, the resolution grew out of students’ response to SA’s racial climate survey and their requests, and that it was intended for all types of bias, not just those related to race. The resolution passed Feb. 24, but plans for the bias reporting system have not progressed, according to Whitaker. “Before there will ever be any movement of [the system], both the administration and the Student Assembly would look to have more input from the student body, especially in regards to the old system and making sure that the faults and issues that people had with the previous system
were not part of whatever new system would develop,” Whitaker said. Vice President Elect Catie Pinkerton ’16 said a big part of the pair’s campaign focuses on Student Assembly’s responsibility to ensure all students feel comfortable and like they belong on campus, which includes race. Pinkerton declined to comment on the concern over mixer themes earlier this semester involving her sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta. Table Talks are the first SA-hosted programming since the resolution. This series has been planned as part of the I am W&M long-term diversity initiative. According to Kohn, the plan is to create a space where students can have honest conversations with
their peers, assisted by facilitators. There are four topics, one for each conversation, including assumptions and stereotypes, appropriation versus appreciation, and privilege. The fourth and final talk is related to the College climate and is open to all community members. The series will run through April 15, which is the middle of this year’s I am W&M Week. The SA Department of Diversity Initiatives is not only planning for the present, but also have long-term ideas so the College can grow from this year’s progress, according to Kohn. Flat Hat Associate News Editor Amelia Lucas contributed to this article.
STUDENT LIFE
Muslim Student Association hosts Muslim Voices event
Participants share poetry, spoken word and stories, reflect on their experiences with Islam
KJ MORAN FLAT HAT NEWS EDITOR
Members of the College of William and Mary community gathered in Commonwealth Auditorium Wednesday to hear the Muslim Student Association’s presentation of “Muslim Voices: Sharing the Experiences of William & Mary Muslims.” The event marks the start of the celebration of Islam Awareness Month. “By listening to these stories, we hope to reach a greater understanding for us all,” Muslim Student Association President Maab Yasin ’15 said in a statement from the MSA. “You may find commonality, you may find difference, and we offer a hand to all of you seeking more knowledge.” Fifteen William and Mary Muslims shared their stories on the Commonwealth Stage at a single microphone, lighted only by a single spotlight and ten lanterns. Their stories — which were presented in both narrative and poetry — ranged from the wrong assumptions made about Muslim culture to the discrimination faced both in and out of the classroom and the diversity of experiences for Muslims growing up in the United States. Zaid Kahn ’18 read from an anonymous submission by an Indonesian male of the class of 2016. “William and Mary is a wonderful place,” Kahn said. “Coming from a country that has a majority Muslim population, I find it’s a bit challenging during this first month. It’s hard for me to find a place to pray — there’s no break for salat, so sometimes I have to perform two or three salat together.” Many stories also focused on the assumptions made about women who choose to wear the hijab, sometimes referred to as hijabis. The speakers emphasized that it is a misconception that hijabis are oppressed. “Why can’t you see there’s a colossal difference between what’s on my head and what’s inside of it?” Yussre ElBardicy ’16 said. “I didn’t get into this school because of what’s on my head, I am not defined solely by what’s on my head. What is wrong with me if I all I can see when I look at a hijabi is a single identity? What is wrong with me if I see nuns as holy sisters with their tunics and habits, but I see oppression when I see a Muslim woman of a similar status? What is wrong with me if I separate my experiences from yours on the basis of your clothes, because you look too different to share anything with me? Let me remind you that I am not oppressed — I choose the way I dress. So don’t go around trying to liberate me, because you can’t liberate the free.” ElBardicy discussed her encounters with discrimination and assumptions at the College. She said that once, while walking past Swem, a person yelled at her from a car, screaming that he could not see her hair and asking what was wrong with her. A professor also remarked that ElBardicy’s English was quite good. She was being born and raised
in Northern Virginia. “‘You almost sound like an ordinary, average American.’ I’m confused, so I ask him to explain … he laughs. ‘It’s the shoes,’ he jokes,” ElBardicy said. “And as I look to my boots, I realize that to him, my religion negates my nationality, to him I can only have one identity.” Zaynab Irshad ’16 expressed her decision not to wear the hijab and the backlash she felt in her community. “Was the reason for the scarf to avoid the gazes of men?” Irshad said. “Why couldn’t men control themselves? At the age of 19, I took off my headscarf. There is no place for me in the Islam community if I am perceived for being an infidel for not following the religion exactly as it is stated. For the future women of the world, may we create an environment where they may prosper despite any flaws or inflictions others put onto them.” Saif Faiz ’17 discussed the discrimination he and his family faced as one of the few Muslim families in the Williamsburg community. During his junior year of high school, Faiz’s car was defaced by a senior who spray painted his car eight times with the numbers, “9/11.” Students also talked about how their multiple identities affect how the College community perceives them and how they sometimes feel boxed in by the stereotypes of others.
“You don’t know me – you judge me from what you see, and you probably assume I’m dumb, just like any other ‘n –.,” Omar Ahmed ’16 said. “All you hear in the news is Boko Haram and ISIS, but don’t you see right in front of you is a crisis? As bullets tear in our brothers, and tears shed by our mothers …you still don’t know me.” Ayat Elhag ’16 echoed Ahmed’s concerns about her multiple identities and how they are portrayed and perceived by others. “A woman, a person of color, a Muslim — I am all of those things, a trifecta of oppression, if you will,” Elhag said. “I mourn the deaths of my multiple identities each morning. The pain rips through me as if I were the one shot, tortured and suffocated. But I can never show this pain. As a woman of color, if I show any passion for anything, I’m molded into the ‘angry black girl.’ I can never shed this burden, and I’m thrown in this cycle of self-hatred, living up to the stereotype of having my voice silenced by this scream of how my life matters, how black lives matter, Muslims matter.” This was the first of many events held by the Muslim Student Association for Islam Awareness Month. There will be a lecture entitled “And the Man is not like the Woman: Feminist Interpretations of the Quran” by Saadia Yacoob March 31, a lecture on Islamophobia by Professor Sheehi April 7 and Fast-a-Thon to stand with Syria April 15.
COURTESY PHOTO / MUSLIM STUDENT ASSOCIATION
15 students shared stories discussing their experiences as Muslims, the stories were shared as part MSA’s “Muslim Voices: Sharing the Experience of William and Mary Muslims.”
5 day Harvest Celebration planned by greater Williamsburg area HARVEST from page 1
the festival, initially discussed her vision for it with Patrick Duffeler, founder of the Williamsburg Winery. “I had always wanted to have a celebration like this,” she said. “I thought this would be the perfect location to do this kind of event … Duffeler said, ‘It won’t be as easy as you think because there’s three municipalities here.’ [He] was very instrumental in laying the groundwork for getting the three municipalities together.” In order to plan the event, the WHC has a founding committee, an advisory committee and an honorary committee. Individuals such as Mayor of Williamsburg Clyde Haulman, Duffeler and McGann make up the founding committee, while President of the
College of William and Mary Taylor Reveley serves on the honorary committee. Students at the College are also involved in planning for the WHC. In mid-January, Duffeler met with the executive board of the Student Marketing Association to gain student insight into the celebration. Alicia Howard ’16, president of the SMA, serves as the student representative to the WHC. She leads a group of students heading the festival’s social media campaign. The campaign will include promotion on typical social media outlets such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, as well as a possible geofilter for Snapchat. According to vice president of events Paul Warren ’16, the SMA is also working to create a memorable hashtag for the event.
In addition to promoting the WHC, the SMA is working to engage students by hosting events at the Blue Talon and Busch Gardens, seeking feedback regarding the festival and offering incentives such as discounts and social media deals. “I would say to definitely keep on the lookout for an exciting student event,” Warren said in an email. “We are exploring options currently to create an event that students will be able to Warren participate in because it’s mainly a food and wine festival.” Students will be able to participate in the festival by volunteering for events and attending portions of the actual festival.
“I truly believe [the WHC] will be a great, memorable experience filled with not only top Virginia chefs, but also a real chance for residents and non-residents alike to reflect on why this city and community is so special,” … Patrick Duffeler said something during our first Howard meeting that really stuck with me – ‘The problem is, history is no longer fascinating.’ Williamsburg offers something so unique compared to other cities and food and wine festivals. We are coming together in a place where our founding fathers came together in community as well.”
Williamsburg police investigating rape INCIDENT from page 1
Campus Center, the university has a comprehensive website that gives quick, easy access to information,” she said. A spokeswoman from The Haven, an on-campus resource for students learning about and recovering from sexual assault, said that The Haven was available for students. “We are here to support anyone in the William and Mary community who is affected by sexual violence,” she said. “We are a confidential resource for anyone
that was affected by this incident.” A Freedom of Information Act request submitted by The Flat Hat determined that there have been four forcible rapes reported to the Williamsburg Police Department since 2009, and four reports of sexual assault. All the victims have been female.
News Editor Madeline Bielski contributed to this article.
FH
For more on this developing story check back with The Flat Hat.
Courtesy photo / WM.EDU
A spokeswoman for the Haven stated that the on-campus resource, located in campus center, is available to students.
opinions
Opinions Editor Isabel Larroca Assoc. Opinions Editor Annie Sadler fhopinions@gmail.com // @theflathat
The Flat Hat | Friday, March 27, 2015 | Page 5
STAFF EDITORIAL
EDITORIAL CARTOON
Amending amnesty
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GRAPHIC BY BRIAN KAO / THE FLAT HAT
Confronting Rice’s legacy on Iraq Michael Payne
FLAT HAT OPINIONS COLUMNIST
March 3, the College of William and Mary announced that the class of 2015’s commencement speaker will be former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Outside of a few murmurs of discontent, the student body’s general reaction appeared to be mild excitement over landing such a high-profile speaker. Indeed, it has been several years since the College has brought a speaker with such an accomplished political legacy. But there is another legacy that hangs over her whole career: the Iraq War, which began 12 years ago on March 20. Rice was instrumental in convincing Congress and the American public that the Iraq War was necessary. On Sept. 8, 2002, Condoleezza Rice stated in an interview on CNN that the Iraqi government possessed aluminum tubes that “are only really suited for nuclear weapons programs” and famously declared that “we don’t want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud.” Yet according to The New York Times almost a year before that interview, “Ms. Rice’s staff had been told that the government’s foremost nuclear experts seriously doubted that the tubes were for nuclear weapons.” Perhaps factual accuracy was never the purpose of Rice’s media campaign: when a deputy raised concerns about the accuracy of Rice’s claims, Rice told the deputy, “Save your breath. The president has already made up his mind.” To this day, investigators have failed to find evidence of an Iraqi nuclear weapons program. In addition, in 2003 The Guardian reported that Condoleezza Rice used her position as National Security Advisor to personally request that the National Security Agency wiretap members of the United Nations Security Council. According to an internal
NSA memo, the purpose of the surveillance was to “give U.S. policymakers an edge in obtaining results favorable to U.S. goals or to head off surprises.” The event caused an international scandal, but Rice never stopped believing that it was the correct course of action; in a 2005 interview with Wolf Blitzer, she defended the decision as a necessary part of President Bush “using his constitutional authority to protect the country.” As we know, the United States ultimately went to war in Iraq. A Brown University study estimates that the Iraq War has cost the United States over $2 trillion; counting interest, the cost could grow to $6 trillion over the next several decades. More tragically, a 2013 study published in the academic journal PLoS Medicine estimates that the Iraq War caused almost 500,000 deaths due to violence, population displacement and health infrastructure issues; the majority of those killed were civilians. Countless more have suffered post-traumatic stress disorder, severe injuries or forced migration. Yet 12 years after the start of the war, Iraq does not have a well-functioning democratic government, over a quarter of Iraq’s population lives in poverty, Iraqi citizens do not have reliable access to electricity or clean water, and the region is less stable than before the war began. There will be some who say that Rice’s speech will not be political and that we should not concern ourselves with her political legacy. Indeed, there is some truth to this claim. Rice’s commencement speech will undoubtedly skirt controversy and stick to the motivational platitudes characteristic of the topic. And I hope she is not prevented from giving her speech, as she was at Rutgers University. Rice has every right to speak, and we can learn quite a lot by reflecting on her legacy as a public official. But Condoleezza Rice is coming to the College because of her political career. As a public official, Rice made concrete decisions that had real effects on real people’s lives. If we ignore this fact and suspend all judgement due to some vague sense of awe over an individual’s power and political accomplishments, we do not deserve to consider ourselves members of a vibrant democratic society. Ultimately, history will judge the consequences of the decisions Condoleezza Rice made while in office. Will we? Email Michael Payne at mkpayne@email.wm.edu.
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As a public official, Rice made concrete decisions that had real effects on real people’s lives.
uesday, March 24, the Student Assembly Senate passed the Medical Amnesty Reform Resolution, which prevents the administration from using a student’s history of medical amnesty against them in a conduct hearing. In its own words, the resolution “strongly urges the Dean of Students and Vice President for Student Affairs to revise the Medical Amnesty Policy to specify that medical amnesty may only be considered in the Conduct system for the assignment of bona-fide educational or treatment requirements.” The resolution highlights the misleading nature of the College of William and Mary’s current medical amnesty policy, and seeks to make amnesty meaningful and effective. It currently allows the Office of Student Conduct to consider a student’s previous medical amnesty history during any later proceedings with either the Conduct or Honor Councils. These considerations could lead to punitive action against the student, which directly contradicts any sort of amnesty the student may have thought he or she had. In response, the resolution calls for medical amnesty history to only be used in deciding “bona-fide educational or treatment requirements,” while simultaneously listing all punitive actions that should not be sanctioned against students for having a medical amnesty history. It also calls for the inclusion of a clear list of every possible educational and treatment requirement — a great start to a programming initiative. The resolution also fully acknowledges and seeks to correct the negative implications of the current policy on student safety, and claims that medical amnesty first and foremost should promote student health. Because of the possible repercussions of a medical amnesty history on subsequent proceedings of College policy violations, students hesitate to call for help and invoke medical amnesty. Rather than invite students to seek help during alcohol crisis situations, the current amnesty policy forces students to make a decision between their health and their record, and student safety may be sacrificed as a result. The resolution speaks to the Student Assembly’s genuine concern for student health and is a productive and meaningful step towards its promotion. Too much is at risk in matters of alcohol poisoning for the school to continue with a misleading and ineffective amnesty policy, and the Senate’s resolution would go a ways toward solving this problem. The senate’s Medical Amnesty Reform Resolution is a clear, well-researched and purposeful resolution. It not only addresses the extremely pertinent problem of student health on campus, but also provides a well thought-out solution for a revised policy. The senate leveraged its limited power towards a necessary goal that will hopefully be well-received by the administration for the betterment of student life and health. 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 Madeline Bielski, Áine Cain, Tucker Higgins, Kaitlan Shaub and Kat Turk. 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.
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COMMENTS @THEFLATHAT
I thoroughly enjoyed this production of Crowns and reading your highly detailed and colorfully written review took my imagination back to the theater to enjoy the piece once again. — “L.C.” on “College’s performance of ‘Crowns’ is dynamic , powerful and impassioned”
Undermining women’s issues with misleading statistics
Sumner Higginbotham FLAT HAT SPORTS EDITOR
Take a cursory glance at any social media platform and you’re just a click away from an article titled something like, “Women still make 77 cents to the man’s dollar” or “Gender wage discrimination: Women make 23 percent less than men.” From Hollywood to the White House to Williamsburg, 77 cents to the dollar is a firmly entrenched statistic. But there’s a slight issue. Simply put, this statistic is misleading. Yet it has become widely accepted as common knowledge. It was cited in the 2013 State of the Union, popped up in internet memes and online articles and, yes, made its way to the College of William and Mary. The wage gap has shown up in classes (hopefully not introduced by any professors) and sometimes within our own feminist groups. So why is 77 cents to the dollar misleading?
The statistic was found by taking the median of all men’s jobs and dividing it by the median of all women’s jobs without any distinction whatsoever between professions. It is definitely illegal for a company to pay a female employee 23 percent less than her male coworker simply based solely on their genders: “equal work for equal pay” has been law since 1963, thanks to the aptly named “Equal Pay Act.” The law explicitly addresses the fact that women and men working in jobs requiring similar skills, effort and responsibility should be paid the same amount. The statistic also implies that the wage disparity it claims is somehow guaranteed. One must question theis logic: after all, if women were always paid 23 cents less than their male coworkers, why would any business bother hiring a man? It needs to be acknowledged that men and women statistically differ in their career choice, as measured by college major. According to a Georgetown University Center For Education and the Workforce study, men outnumber women in nine of the 10 most lucrative majors. 90 percent of mining engineering majors, 87 percent of petroleum engineering majors and 72 percent of chemical engineering majors are male. Conversely, women outnumber men in nine of the 10 least remunerative majors: 88 percent of social work majors, 97 percent in early childhood education majors and 81 percent of human services
and community organization majors are female. Comparisons such as male petroleum engineers making $120,000 annually averaged against female teachers with early education degrees earning $37,000 lead to a serious over exaggeration of the wage gap between the sexes. Some have countered that society values women-dominated professions more, but it’s not unreasonable to suspect that an aerospace engineer major (88 percent male) will likely make more than a visual or performing arts major (77 percent female). The College’s student body is clearly passionate about women’s rights, as evidenced by groups such as VOX Planned Parenthood, Wait, That’s Not Funny, Hope and Someone You Know. Besides the fact that the 77 cents statistic is based on intellectually bankrupt assumptions, continued usage of the figure has the potential to damage the feminist movement and all the work that these groups have done by giving people a reason to distrust and write off feminism. Of course that’s unfair, but why hand a cynic ammunition to use against you? What if someone disbelieved campus rape statistics from a feminist group because they lost trust in feminism due to misleading wage statistics? There are legitimate, important questions that need to be answered. Why do women make up majorities in lower-paying professions? It’s not an easy inquiry and is harder to put forward than a
simple bogus statistic. Some point to the cultural socialization of women as passive and domestic. How do we fix that culture? How do we change the fact women are four times less likely to negotiate for pay than a man? I don’t know the answers, and I hope the feminist movement can provide them. But we as a community need to stop using 77 cents to the dollar. Feminism is about real problems and it deserves real statistics. Email Sumner Higginbotham at sshigginbotham@email.wm.edu.
GRAPHIC BY BRIAN KAO / THE FLAT HAT
variety
Tech CORTESY GRAPHIC / OPEN CLIPART.COM
Not your average woodshop: Makerspace provides the tools to invent and innovate AMANDA SIKIRICA FLAT HAT STAFF WRITER
Where can you make a shaving kit holder, a 3D-printed prototype of an idea you’ve always had and an experimental device to provide reliable power to those in need? Where can you be the creator of the next tech startup born on a college campus, a mad scientist of music and a problem solver? Students looking for these opportunities have found the tools to achieve them in the Makerspace of Small Hall 143. Physics professors Wouter Deconinck and Josua Erlich don’t seem to care much whether students’ inventions will be silly or serious. As founders and managers of the College of William and Mary’s own Makerspace, they simply wish that students try, learn and make. An idea that emerged from a conversation at a party, the Makerspace launched in January 2014 with strong support from administration and input from students about what gadgets they would want in a new tech lab. “That was the point where I started seriously considering establishing the Model Rocketry Club as well,” Karin Lehnigk ’16, who eventually did found the club, said in an email. “The two main barriers to starting the club were finding lab space and funding, and the Makerspace resolved both of those.” The Makerspace is equipped with a range of surprisingly unintimidating tools, including a 3D printer, the Ultimaker2, a laser cutter and walls of cabinets filled with specialized kits and devices to toy with. Like Lehnigk, Eve Chase ’17, publicity chair for the Robotics Club, said that her interests and activities wouldn’t have a physical outlet without the Makerspace. While Chase described 3D-printing parts for the quadcopter that Robotics Club is working on, she emphasized that there are many less complicated projects to be done. “Makerspace is a really great resource for the whole community,” Chase said. The professors responsible for the Makerspace’s existence said they want the space to be open to all students with all manner of ideas for creations. “The idea is that students will come here, often with their own ideas of things to do, but we’re hopeful that students discover things and just say ‘hey, I want to make a hologram,’” Erlich said. “All of the consumables are meant to be consumed and used.” Physics graduate student Andrew Rotunno ’20 made an analogy to the Harry Potter series, likening the Makerspace to the wizards’ playground that is the Room of Requirement. “The Makerspace is the tinkerer’s version of the Room of Requirement, where whatever you need will appear, or where what you need is already there,” Rotunno said. Any student can use the Makerspace for a personal or class project. If a student has a project that requires a device the Makerspace doesn’t yet have or a project that would need funding, they can submit a project proposal on a rolling basis to the Makerspace User Board, composed of three undergraduate and two graduate
Variety Editor Emily Chaumont Variety Editor Sarah Ruiz flathat.variety@gmail.com // @theflathat
The Flat Hat
| Friday, March 27, 2015 | Page 6
is what you
make of it students who have been active in the space. “This procedure [of the User Board] is in the spirit of letting the Makerspace users govern the space and the funding to some extent,” Deconinck said in an email. “Project proposals are reviewed … on their individual merit (this doesn’t mean that they have to lead to a “product” but they should have a specific goal and timeline).” The space isn’t just for goal-oriented work. It is open for general experimentation and is well supplied with kits to make a hologram, program a smartwatch and more. These kits can be used to make a particular invention or can be fiddled with during a lazy afternoon.
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Makerspace is a really great resource for the whole community.
— Eve Chase ’17
“I’m working on research in human perception through signal processing. I’ve had this particular idea floating in my head for a while, but only after I heard about the Makerspace could I actually put it into action, since it’s somewhat out-of-scope for my normal field of study,” Quint Guvernator ’17 said in an email. “Wouter urged me to submit a research proposal for the idea even though I didn’t have specifics at the time, and a few weeks later, a big box with my name on it full of equipment was sitting on a desk.” To Michael Kopreski ’18, the value of the Makerspace goes beyond the materials it offers; saidhe believes the Makerspace’s atmosphere inspires innovation. “[In the Makerspace,] collaboration happens organically … [it’s] intensely valuable to someone working on problem solving,” Kopreski said. Deconick said Makerspaces are in schools and communities internationally, and represent modern do-it-yourself, open source and internet culture. “We can design something and we can make it here,” Deconinck said. “That’s what I like about the Maker Movement, there is no limitation on actually producing things. Just like the internet and libraries have for a long time taken down these restrictions on getting access to knowledge, now it’s taking down these restrictions on actual production techniques.” The people who use the Makerspace most were careful to stress its openness to the student body as a whole. “If it occurs to you that it might be useful to make something, to have something tangible, the space is here, meant for you,” Erlich said.
AMANDA SIKIRICA / THE FLAT HAT
The Makerspace is equipped with a variety of easy-to-use engineering tools, including a 3D printer that allows students to print anything from robot parts to experimental pototypes.
The Flat Hat
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Friday, March 27, 2015
d a e R
e v a R , t e S , y COURTESY PHOTO / WIKIPEDIA
EXPLORE The amusement park Busch Gardens will reopen for the season this Friday. Busch Gardens not only has multiple rollercoasters
and rides, but also puts on several shows throughout the day. Its new rollercoaster, Tempesto, will open in April. The park is open from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m.
COURTESY PHOTO / MANI9FLORES
Members of the College’s EDM club meet to discuss upcoming concerts and events, plan trips and reserve vans for concert.
Passionate students start new EDM club MARIE POLICASTRO FLAT HAT STAFF WRITER
Started in the fall of 2014 by Daniel Sutherland ’16 and Ronnie Cutler ’18, the Electronic Dance Music club is helping to foster awareness of the underground EDM music scene on campus. “Dan always wanted to start [a club], so I just kind of pushed him to do it,” Cutler said. Before the club’s formal recognition, the EDM scene at the College of William and Mary was very much underground. While some students were interested in EDM, there was never a group on campus in which people could express this interest.
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[makes people think] ‘I’m too scared to go to a rave,’” Cutler said. The club takes lots of precautions when it comes to safety at concerts and events, ensuring they keep an eye out for each other and stay together as a group. In addition to providing transportation and awareness of events, the EDM club is looking forward to holding workshops that would teach willing learners or existing DJs on campus more about EDM. This February, the club had their own rave on campus, giving local student DJs a platform to perform and promote their art.
There is no better conection with someone than after you’ve raved with them. — Ronnie Cutler ‘18
As an organization, EDM holds meetings where they discuss upcoming concerts and events, plan trips and reserve vans for concerts garnering the most interest. Though the club does have trouble at times finding these covert concerts, several of its members are promoters for a promotional company called Steez Promo. This connection not only allows the club to hear about upcoming events, but also to give out free tickets to members. According to member Harshita Netala ’18, a large part of the EDM club’s mission on campus is to dispel the misconceptions many have about the EDM genre and the raging at raves that go with it. “No, we’re not going to a rave to do drugs,” Netala said. Cutler said the club wants to make EDM accessible to more people. “We’re trying to break down the barrier that
The mantra of the EDM culture is peace, love, unity and respect, or “PLUR.” There is a handshake that accompanies this mantra and symbolizes each aspect. At raves, people will do the handshake and exchange “kandi,” or handmade beaded bracelets that rave-goers swap at events. According to Cutler, EDM culture’s main focus is simply enjoying the rave experience. “You go to a rave to be a kid again and meet a lot of new people,” Cutler said. Member Timothy Myers ’18 said raves are great places to foster new friendships. “There’s no better connection with someone than after you’ve raved with them,” Myers said. According to Cutler, the EDM scene is very inclusive, allowing everyone who has an interest to participate. “Anyone can learn to be a DJ. Anyone can rave. All you have to do is try, ” Cutler said.
COURTESY PHOTO / PIXABAY
LISTEN The Water Street Grille’s live entertainment nights will wrap up this Friday and Saturday. Americana and Folk musician Nathan Lienard
will be performing Friday night and Saturday the Grille will feature Chrisman Creek. The restaraunt offers seafood entrees and tapas.
COURTESY PHOTO / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
PARTICIPATE The Kimball Theatre will be hosting a fairytale trial, where the audience decides the verdict, this Friday.. The show will host the
PLAY The Parrothead Club of Williamsburg will be hosting a cornhole tournament benefiting the Wounded Warriors Project and Guitar for Vets
trial of Jack Pigge (the eldest of the three pigs), who is accused of the attempted homicide of Mr. Wolfe. The event will cost $4.
COURTESY PHOTO / FLICKR
at the Ramada Inn this Saturday. Registration for the tournament begins at 1:30 p.m. and will cost $40. Food will be available for purchase during the tournament.
CONFUSION CORNER
The ups, downs and in-betweens of being a young adult Halfway to independence, the things our parents used to say are beginning to make sense
Jillian Bates
CONFUSION CORNER COLUMNIST
You know spring has arrived when you find yourself at the Farmers Market in Colonial Williamsburg on a Saturday morning. While I made my way through a herd of diverse dog breeds to the pastry tent to check out a pineapple upsidedown cake that was calling my name, I found myself noticing all the signs of new life that come with the season. I noticed the blossoming petals on the tree branches that framed Merchants Square, but as I walked even further into Colonial Williamsburg, I saw a much less
graceful example of natural life making an appearance that morning. It came in the form of a three-year-old boy attempting a sprint for about five steps, falling and then getting back up to start the process all over again while his pants and diaper rested snugly around his ankles. Behind him, his mother made the situation even more conspicuous by running after him in horror, whispering as loudly as can reasonably be called a whisper, and scolding him for his actions over and over, as if her voice would cover his plump, pale butt cheeks. I gave the kid a score of a perfect ten for the duck and weave he managed between each toddle to dodge Mama Bear. Walking on and observing the other fully clothed toddlers, elementary schoolers, tweens and melancholy teens, I began to feel my age. Living in an environment where I am
constantly surrounded by and interacting with students who are my age or older, I cannot help but see children as a foreign species. They simultaneously intrigue and worry me because I have to wonder if I looked or acted like them at their age. As a young adult, I am young enough to remember my childhood, but now, I can also understand why my parents, and people my parents’ age, looked and
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My understanding of my parents has strangely increased[.]
continue to look at me like I am crazy. While I may sometimes have urges to streak the Sunken Garden in the snow, I also hear my mother’s voice telling me to wear shoes while I do it. It can be annoying at times, but then again, wearing shoes while streaking in snow makes so much sense. My understanding of my parents has strangely increased, and every day I believe more and more that they do understand me. I no longer have to stare out of my window on a rainy night with Celine Dion’s “All By Myself” playing in the background. I actually have urges to pick up the phone, call one of my parents and ask them to tell me a story about when they were my age, or to just talk about life. It seems like being a young adult is about having a consciousness that is able to build a bridge between
different age groups, young and old, providing a better understanding of people and life. To be a college student is so much more than getting a bachelor’s degree and figuring out the path you are going to take for the rest of your life. It is also the time when most of us are young adults. As a young adult, I feel a need to bask in my age. This is my prime. There is a slim chance I will be this physically and mentally awesome in years to come. I need to take time to understand myself, and the people around me, through my current age. Perspective emerges from our beginnings, our experiences and the places we are in our lives at the moment, as well as the age that we are. Jillian Bates is a Confusion Corner collumnist who streaked the Williamsburg Farmers Market as a child.
sports
Sports Editor Nick Cipolla Sports Editor Sumner Higginbotham flathatsports@gmail.com @FlatHatSports
The Flat Hat | Friday, March 27, 2015 | Page 8
BASEBALL
College extends losing streak to five against Richmond Struggles at plate, field, prolongs road difficulties as rival Spiders trounce Tribe 4-2 TYLER SHAW FLAT HAT STAFF WRITER After starting its season 10-5 with wins over then No. 18 Mississippi and in-state rival Virginia Tech, William and Mary entered a slump. After losses to Connecticut and Kennesaw State, the Tribe extended its losing streak to five Tuesday with a 4-2 loss at Richmond. The Tribe (10-10, 2-1 CAA) is dealing with both offensive and defensive struggles throughout this losing streak. In three of the games it lost, the College surrendered at least 10 runs, and in four of the games it scored two
or fewer runs. These statistics are not a recipe for success, and the Spiders (10-8, 2-1 Atlantic 10) were able to take full advantage of this fact. Though the defense and pitching were better this game, only giving up four runs, the Tribe’s offense continues to struggle. After a scoreless first inning, Richmond got on the board first with a two-run second inning. The Spiders’ Brandon Johnson hit a two-run homer, giving Richmond a 2-0 lead. After a scoreless third inning, the College was able to get on the board in the top of the fourth inning. The fourth inning started off strong for the Tribe as junior first baseman Charlie
Gould hit a double as the first batter of the inning. A sacrifice fly by sophomore infielder Tim Hoehn allowed Gould to score, cutting the College’s deficit to one. Neither team made progress in the fifth and sixth innings, as the two teams combined for six hits but neither saw any players come across the plate. The Tribe had a few missed chances, as it left men on base at the end of both innings. Richmond opened up the scoring again, bringing in one run in the bottom of the seventh. The Tribe responded immediately as senior catcher Devin White hit a solo home run in the eighth inning to once again bring the teams within one run of one another. It was
White’s first home run of the season. However, Richmond scored a run of its own in the bottom of the inning, making the score 4-2 with just the ninth remaining. Unfortunately for the College, it failed to get a hit in the final inning and was unable to tie the score or take the lead. The Tribe took the loss 4-2. Senior infielder Willie Shaw led the way for the Tribe, going 2 for 3 on the day. He was the only player for the College that finished with multiple hits. White and Hoehn both earned a run batted in each. The Tribe finished with seven hits and struggled to gain any offensive momentum. Junior right-handed pitcher Aaron
Fernandez started the game and gave up six hits and three runs over 6.2 innings. He struck out a career-high nine batters and walked just one batter. The loss drops him to 1-2 on the season. Freshman right-handed pitcher Christopher Lohr did his job as the closer, pitching one inning and allowing only a single hit and no runs. The Tribe will try to break its slump over the weekend as it plays a three game home series at Plumeri Park against Colonial Athletic Association foe Elon. The series is scheduled to begin Friday with first pitch at 7 p.m. Saturday’s game is at 4 p.m., and Sunday’s game will begin at 1 p.m.
COMMENTARY
LACROSSE
Reality checks
Rethinking lax schedule
Sumner Higginbotham FLAT HAT SPORTS EDITOR
COURTESY PHOTO / TRIBE ATHLETICS
Sophomore midfielder Shannon Quinn advances on the Cavalier offense in hopes of intercepting the pass. Quinn completed a hat trick for the College in Wednesday’s home loss.
Tribe breaks streak College falls to No. 5 Cavaliers 16-6 Wednesday
SUMNER HIGGINBOTHAM FLAT HAT SPORTS EDITOR William and Mary called a timeout with eight minutes remaining in the first half, as the Tribe trailed the No. 5 Virginia Cavaliers by a 7-4 margin. The song of choice on the loudspeakers at Martin Family Stadium, aptly enough, was Bon Jovi’s “Living on a Prayer.” The College (4-5, 0-0 CAA) required far more than a prayer to pull off the upset, ultimately losing to its in-state rival by a 16-6 margin, losing control of what started as a competitive game. “We competed really well in first half … defensively we were phenomenal,” head coach Hillary Fratzke said. “You play a team like U.Va, if you create a hole for yourself, they are going to capitalize on it.” Off the opening whistle, the two teams matched up well, though U.Va (74, 1-2 ACC) claimed the first draw. Sophomore midfielder Shannon Quinn matched an early Cavalier goal with a free position shot ricocheting into the net at 26:35. However, the Tribe momentum proved to be short-lived, as U.Va continued to dominate time of possession right from the draw, eventually finishing with a 17-7 draw advantage. Despite rarely having a break due to Virginia’s high time of possession and crisp passing, the Tribe defense fought intensely early in the game, at one point facing five consecutive shots on a single possession. However, the Cavaliers found quick goals with passes from behind the net to the wings, and the Tribe trailed 3-1 six minutes in. “We were pretty scrappy today [and] came up with groundballs and turnovers when we needed them,” senior defender Allison Henry said. “They were backdooring us pretty well … but we learned a lot about what we need to work on.” The College offense relieved the defensive pressure with a goal of its own at 23:00 as freshman Abby Corkum rolled out behind the goal and located Corkum junior midfielder Zoe Boger breaking towards the net. Corkum launched a pass straight to Boger, who shot instantly on the run, providing the U.Va keeper with no chance to react. Anticipation built as the Tribe trailed by a narrow 3-2 margin. The College scooped up the next contested draw control, but the offense wasted the rare first possession on a pass into heavy traffic at the crease. “We struggled with keeping to the game plan,” Fratzke said. “We knew they were great inside and we still tried to feed it to the middle. When we
were taking them one [versus] one, it was working.” Sophomore goalie Alex Lista made a reflex save on a Virginia cross to the crease, but a Tribe turnover down the field led to a one-on-one fast break for the Cavaliers. U.Va didn’t miss, and the College’s deficit increased to two. A defensive stand lasting over four minutes provided the Tribe with an opportunity to catch up, a chance gladly seized by Quinn. After drawing the slide, the Tribe attack rotated the ball quickly to find a quick chance to dodge in. Corkum caught a low pass at her shoelaces and managed to pass off to Quinn. With a one-on-one, Quinn juked out her defender and ducked under the slide for her second goal of the game. At 16:28, the Tribe was hanging on, down just 4-3. However, teams ranked among the best in the nation are usually ranked for a reason. Virginia showed off its blazing speed and flawless passing in a textbook four-on-three fast break on the heels of a common clear for the fifth Cavalier goal. Most teams consider clearing the ball to midfield successful, but the Cavaliers routinely fired 30-yard passes to attacks for fast breaks just instants after playing defense. Sophomore midfielder Lindsey Jenks took matters into her own hands, racing down the field after a U.Va penalty straight to the Cavalier net and slipping a shot past multiple oncoming defenders for a College goal at 12:51. Once again, the Tribe trailed by just a point, converting four of five shots. The upset bid then began to slip out of the College’s grasp. Virginia sent three more shots into the back of the College net to end the half; the Tribe only managed three shots to end the first down 8-4. “We need to do a better job of not going rogue on ourselves,” Fratzke said. “They went on a six-goal run and … that was the moment we thought we had to do things on another level … we went outside of the discipline we needed.” Out of the locker-room, the Cavaliers tacked on another goal with an attack cutting from the wing. Junior midfielder Michele Goss broke away from her defender on a spin move to add the College’s fifth goal three minutes into the second period. The Cavaliers held the Tribe scoreless for the next ten minutes, adding five more points in that time. One of the lone bright spots of the game, Quinn completed her hat-trick with the usual ducking under defenders inside at 15:24. The game grinded to a close as U.Va began the running clock at 12:21 in the College’s 16-6 loss. The Tribe faces another in-state foe as it travels to Blacksburg, Va., to take on Virginia Tech Sunday at 1 p.m.
Usually teams like to use the non-conference schedule to expose their squads to new offenses, new looks and higher competition that they normally would not face. Sometimes these games turn into incredible upset — William and Mary football defeating U. Va back in 2009 comes to mind. Most of the time, the favored team easily claims the expected victory and the underdog goes home, brushes off the lopsided defeat and moves on to their comparable competition. Except for Tribe lacrosse. In what can only reasonably be called an addiction, William and Mary has scheduled and faced 18 teams ranked in the top 20 since the 2012 season. The Tribe’s record: 0-18. Not a single one of those ranked opponents plays in the Colonial Athletic Association—meaning the College volunteers for the routine defeats. This scheduling effectively marks an average of 47 percent of the nonconference schedule as losses. Eight of those 18 teams ranked in the top five, including No. 5 U. Va Wednesday night. Three teams actually ranked as No. 1, two of which went on to win the national title. So why is this a problem? From 2012 up to the present, the Tribe won a total of 17 games. In other words, the College played more games against top 20 teams in the past four years than games that they’ve won. Furthermore, the average score in those games: Ranked Team 16.55- Tribe 6.67. For perspective, the running clock, the equivalent of a mercy rule, begins when a team leads by 10 or more goals. Not only does the Tribe consistently lose to top ranked teams- the average defeat is by a mercy rule. Wednesday’s 16-6 loss to No. 5 U. Va is no different. Not to mention, these premier teams often substitute in the backups once they get ahead. Essentially, the lopsided score still may not reveal the true depth of the trouncing. No. 8 Duke led the Tribe 14-0 before ending the game at 17-7. In the four games against ranked teams this season, the Tribe has been down by 10 or more for roughly 94 out of 240 minutes; approximately 39 percent of total time. I’m all about facing better competition makes a team better, but it’s clear the College has been playing teams well out of its league far too often. With so many major losses to nationally ranked teams, one can’t help but wonder about the impact on team morale. Training and practice is undoubtedly taxing, but when all the hard work from a tough week disappears in a ten-point loss, it may be difficult to see the benefits of those efforts. So what’s the solution? Plain and simple: the College needs to start playing comparable competition. Make no mistake, the Tribe’s team has plenty of talent, spanning across the classes. Senior midfielder Ellen Shaffrey has consistently been a matchup nightmare for defenses, and is likely to break the College’s draw control record. Freshman attack Abby Corkum has been an offensive force with lighting fast cuts. However, the College still has work to do to build the program. Rather than reaching for multiple blockbuster upsets, the Tribe should aspire for more reasonable goals. Competitive games against Virginia Tech and Richmond underline the point. Not that the Tribe should never face ranked teams: in-state matchups are welcome. But four is just too many. What if the Tribe subbed No. 8 Duke with a game against Temple? Or traded No.1 Maryland for Rutgers or any other teams in the College’s position: better than conferences like the Atlantic 10, but just outside the top 20. The games would certainly challenge the team—and provide a realistic measure for the success of a season.