Vol. 108, Iss. 19 | Tuesday, November 13, 2018
The Flat Hat The Weekly Student Newspaper
of The College of William and Mary
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STUDENT LIFE
Law school talks lead to protests Waggoner, McGlothlin trigger unrest among student groups NIA KITCHIN FLAT HAT MANAGING EDITOR
CLAIRE HOGAN / THE FLAT HAT
Karl Palenkis ’21 said that his respect for the rule of law led him to take part in the protest on Duke of Gloucester Street, one of about 900 which occurred across the country.
‘No one is above the law’
Attorney General resignation elicits anti-Trump demonstration ANNA KRELOVICH // THE FLAT HAT Students, activists and concerned community members alike gathered on Duke of Gloucester Street Thursday, Nov. 8, in the wake of U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ resignation and President Trump’s installment of Attorney General Chief of Staff Matt Whitaker as acting attorney general Nov. 7. The protest, titled Nobody is Above the Law, was organized by Williamsburg resident Heather Kinser, alongside MoveOn Civic Action, a political advocacy group. “We believe that Trump has crossed — Heather Kinser a red line,” Kinser said. “The Mueller investigation is part of our right to know what happened. We are protesting tonight to make sure that [Mueller] is protected by the law, and send a message to Trump that he can’t stop Mueller.” The protest in Williamsburg was one of approximately 900 small protests organized through MoveOn taking place across the nation Thursday in response to Sessions’ removal, according to the organization’s website. Sessions, who recused himself from the investigation into Russian involvement surrounding the 2016 election, resigned after Trump asked him to, according to The New York Times. Sessions’ recusal caused U.S. Deputy Attorney General Rod
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We believe that Trump has crossed a red line.
Rosenstein to oversee the investigation in his place. However, after Sessions’ resignation, Trump tapped U.S. Attorney General Chief of Staff Matthew Whitaker as acting attorney general. As the new acting attorney general, one of Whitaker’s roles will be to oversee the investigation led by Mueller. In a 2017 column Whitaker wrote for CNN, he called Mueller’s investigation a “witch hunt,” leading to public concern for the future integrity of the investigation post-Sessions. On its website, MoveOn notes that Whitaker has publicly detailed ways in which to suppress the investigation and demands he immediately refuse to assume supervision of the investigation. Kinser estimated 60 people were in attendance at the protest, with more joining as the protest continued. Because the event was organized within one day, the organizers did not obtain a permit, which restricted groups to marching in packs of 15 through Colonial Williamsburg. Restrictions did not stop the protesters from expressing their voices as they chanted, “We are not a mob, let Mueller keep his job,” and, “This is what Democracy looks like,” as they made their way down Duke of Gloucester Street. Protesters carried signs reading “Save Our Democracy!” “Protect Mueller!” and “Trump — Enemy of the People.” Garrett Autry J.D. ’20 said he doesn’t see himself as a typical person who comes to a protest, but emphasizes that Sessions’ resignation is a bipartisan issue that should be a concern for all. “I’m not super liberal, but I still think it is important that this investigation isn’t [going to] be thrown,” Autry said. “It is important that people realize that the structures of our
government are being used to impede justice in this case. It’s a lesson we will have to learn the hard way, and I hope that this [protest] helps.” Jack Notar J.D. ’20 agreed with Autry, saying the appointment of Whitaker is a significant issue of concern. “We think what’s going on is important, with the appointment of Whitaker,” Notar said. “We knew there was all these rapid response protests planned around the country, so we looked up where this one was because it’s important to come.” Karl Palenkis ’21, who sported a shirt reading “Impeach Trump,” said his values are what drove him to join the protesters. “I came here because I value our democracy and I value the rule of law, and I don’t value anyone who tries to undermine it,” Palenkis said. Among the chants and cries, one group of protesters paused to sing “America the Beautiful.” As Sarah Sheridan M.Ed. ’18 observed young and old alike united in the protest, she felt inspired. “I think it’s powerful to get people of all ages together, united, to show that this cannot happen,” Sheridan said. When asked about her reasons for joining the protest, Sheridan said that she felt it was necessary to show the president that he must be held accountable for his actions. “[I]t’s important to show that people are watching what the president is doing, that his power is not absolute, and that no one is above the law.” Beth Cymerman M.Ed. ’18 corroborated Sheridan’s words. “I think the sign says it all,” Cymerman said. “No one is above the law.”
Monday, Nov. 12, Kristen Waggoner entered a packed classroom at the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William and Mary to find desks draped with gay pride flags and students handing out ribbons in support of LGBTQ individuals. Waggoner was brought to the College as part of the Dunn Speaker Series to present her lecture entitled, “The Free Speech Clause and the Defense of Religious Liberty.” Waggoner is the senior vice president of legal services and senior counsel at the Alliance Defending Freedom, a legal advocacy and training group. The organization aims to fund cases, train attorneys and advocate in court for what it perceives to be key issues of religious freedom, including marriage, family and the sanctity of life. The Southern Poverty Law Center has designated the ADF as a hate group because they use constitutional guarantees of religion and free speech as a basis to deny rights to LGBTQ people. The ADF’s presence on campus was met first with a statement from the William and Mary Equality Alliance, with signatures from the Law School’s chapter of the American Constitution Society, Lawyers Helping Lawyers and the Law School’s chapter of If/When/How, Lawyering for Reproductive Justice. Members of these organizations then staged a protest during the event itself, motivated by their belief that Waggoner’s espoused values are damaging to students. “We believe there is a line between speakers whose ideas challenge our own opinions and preconceptions, and those whose ideas directly harm students,” the Equality Alliance said in a written statement. Law students from these organizations raised concerns about Waggoner’s lecture in the wake of controversy surrounding statements made by Jim McGlothlin, a significant donor to the Law School, during the McGlothlin Leadership Forum Wednesday, Oct. 31. According to Mathew Snarr J.D. ’20, McGlothlin made remarks disparaging children from single-family homes, victims of police shootings and activist and former NFLathlete Colin Kaepernick. According to what Snarr heard online and from friends, faculty members instructed a table of students to clap following McGlothlin’s remarks. Snarr attended a second session led by McGlothlin not of his own volition but because he was specifically instructed by Law School Dean and jurisprudence professor Davison Douglas that he must attend the event, or find someone to attend in his place, in order to create a large turnout. “We were told we had to be welcoming because Mr. McGlothlin was a big donor to the law school and, … if we couldn’t be there, we had to find someone to fill our seat because every seat needs to be filled,” Snarr said. When reports of this behavior surfaced online, including on the Gadfly and “Discourse” Facebook pages, they created public outcry and contributed to the protest against the Law School’s decision to host Waggoner. After distributing ribbons, students hung a large gay pride flag over the desks closest to Waggoner as well as in the back of the room. They did not interrupt her planned lecture but sat up front and used the question-and-answer portion of the event to express their discontent with Waggoner and See LAW SCHOOL page 3
NEWS ANALYSIS
Elaine Luria wins 2nd Congressional District seat following close race Democrats win majority in House of Representatives while Republicans maintain Senate stronghold REID CHAMPLIN FLAT HAT STAFF WRITER
In the first major election since U.S. President Donald Trump’s victory in 2016, Democrats took back the majority in the House of Representatives, and Republicans maintained their hold on the Senate amidst a flurry of close races, upsets and history-making firsts. In Virginia, it was the Democrats’ night to celebrate. Incumbent senator and former vice-presidential candidate Tim Kaine cruised to victory over Corey Stewart, the Prince William County supervisor with hardline conservative beliefs that distanced him from the national Republican establishment. Kaine was widely expected to win and was announced as senator within an hour of polls closing. In the House races, Democrat Jennifer Wexton defeated long-time incumbent Barbara Comstock in the 10th District, the first Democrat to hold Congressional office in that district since 1980, and Abigail
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Spanberger defeated Republican Dave Brat in the 7th District, the first Democrat to hold that seat since 1971. However, none of these elicited such effusive excitement on campus as the result of the congressional race in the 2nd District. Elaine Luria, a former Marine pilot who flew combat missions in Afghanistan and Iraq, entered Tuesday as a three-point underdog to Scott Taylor, the Republican incumbent. FiveThirtyEight Editor-inChief Nate Silver gave her only a 33 percent chance of winning. But as the night progressed, Elaine’s early lead held strong. Taylor resurged toward the end, casting the result into question, but Luria was declared the victor before midnight. It was a shocking win, and along with Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey the first time female graduates of the Naval Academy have been elected to Congress. The College of William and Mary played a part in this result, as many members of the William and Mary Young Democrats interned and volunteered for her campaign by knocking on doors and phone
Rainy, High 58, Low 38
See ELECTION page 4
Inside Variety
Inside Opinions
Griffin statue represents College well
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banking, and organizations like NextGen led voter registration efforts. Each party emerged with genuine claims to victory. Democrats emphasized their reclamation of the House for the first time since 2008 and the governorships of swing states Wisconsin and Michigan, and Republicans highlighted their continued control of the Senate and a gubernatorial win in Ohio, along with a tentative gubernatorial win in Florida, which is still contested due to claims of voter suppression. Democratic enthusiasm, coupled with a record turnout among women and racial minorities, produced what many have termed a “blue wave” of Democrats taking office. “I personally think [the blue wave] happened,” Young Democrats President Cody Mills ’20 said. “The turnout of Democratic voters was overwhelming. … It turned out to the best we could have expected.
Christian Borio ’22 thinks that the new griffin statue in front of Zable Stadium is a good representation of the College’s athletics. page 5
A capella group releases album Past members continue to influence the current success of all-male a cappella group The Stairwells. page 7