The Flat Hat November 7 2014

Bird Club lands at the College of William and Mary.

The Flat Hat

Vol. 104, Iss. 18 | Friday, November 7, 2014 | The Twice-Weekly Student Newspaper of The College of William and Mary

Residence Life

Warner wins early election

Students could see lights floating above the Sunken Garden Wednesday as the Chinese Student Association hosted a festival inspired by the traditional spring event. See more photos online at Flathatnews.com.

MOLLY MENIcKELLY / THE FLAT HAT

Residence Life

Boykin talks room charges

Virginia

$15,047 for key replacement LIZZY FLOOD The Flat Hat

At the end of the school year, students may find cleaning out their dorm rooms a good time to reminisce about the past year. A room charge, though, can put a halt to this reflection and give students one last task to complete before they can leave campus.

According to Deb Boykin, Associate Vice President of Student Affairs and Director of Residence Life, area directors inspect the buildings at the end of the year and assign room charges. Facilities Management is responsible for assigning a cost to the charge based on how much it will cost to fix.

In the 2013-14 school year, a total of $5,032 was charged to residents for room and common area damage. $1,551 of that amount was for repainting of rooms where there was wall damage. In addition to the room and common area damage, $4,715 was charged for cleaning and removal of personal belongings. $2,118 was charged for replacing furniture. For the most common charge of forgetting to turn in or losing a room key, $15,047 was charged in order to cover the cost of replacing locks.

“Most of the charges would be [for] cleaning the room and [for] people who don’t return their keys,” Boykin said.

Chris Durden, Director of Housing Operations, mentioned damage to the walls as another common reason for a room charge. Wall paint being removed from poster tape is one case of damage Residence Life often sees.

“We allow a responsible amount of wear and tear,” Boykin said. “When it’s beyond that — that’s when we charge.”

Durden said that Residence Life acknowledges there is no such thing as perfection when it comes to a dorm room that has been lived in for a year or longer, but they try to See CHARGES page 3

Williamsburg goes Wittman KAYLA SHARPE / THE FLAT HAT

ZACHARY FRANK / THE FLAT HAT

College Republicans (left) and Young Democrats (right) react to the midterms. The race for the Senate was closer than predicted. Republican Ed Gillespie has not yet conceded.

GOP secures U.S Senate majority; Warner wins Virginia by 1 percent Sarah RUiz The flat hat

Another midterm election has come and gone, and the results are clear: the Republican Party candidates have won this round.

At the end of Tuesday, Nov. 4, the GOP had successfully maintained their majority in the House of Representatives in addition to winning seven new seats in the

Senate. This puts them squarely in control of both houses of Congress for the first time in eight years.

Newton Family Professor of Government Larry Evans said that this kind of turnover in Congress is not uncommon for midterms in a president’s second term.

“I thought the race turned out fairly typically for a six-year-itch midterm election,” Evans said in an email. “The party of the incumbent

president lost a number of seats as expected.”

In Virginia, the race for the Senate was closer than predicted.

Incumbent Mark Warner (D-Va.) won the majority with a margin of less than 1 percent. Since the vote was so close, Republican opponent Ed Gillespie has not yet conceded the race and is waiting for a recount.

For voters in Williamsburg, the House of Representatives’

ballot offered a choice between incumbent Rob Wittman (R), Norm Mosher (D) and independent Gail Parker. Wittman won the race with a 63 percent majority.

According to Evans, voting in Virginia reflects the larger national trend of a divided electorate.

“The electorate continues to be deeply polarized along partisan See ELECTION page 3

Residence life

Faculty

Conference draws RAs across Virginia VACUHO features remarks from Ginger Ambler, programming, marketing

Married academics struggle with marital two-body problem

Amanda Williams The FLAT HAT

Prokhorovs discuss personal hiring experiences

Resident Assistants from colleges across the state gathered at the College of William and Mary over the weekend for the annual conference for the Virginia Association of College and University Housing Officers.

VACUHO, according to their website, is “dedicated to the education and professional development of housing and residence life staff.” The annual conference is a way for residence life staff from a variety of colleges and universities to come together, share ideas and learn as a community. This year, Head Resident Serena Saffarini M.P.P. ’15 helped organize the program

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with a certain goal in mind.

“It takes a lot of energy to be a good ResLife staff person to begin with,” Saffarini said. “[The conference is] kind of like a renewed energy to keep going for the rest of the semester.”

The conference began Saturday morning with a keynote speech by Associate Vice President for Health and Wellness Dr. R. Saffarini Kelly Crace and closed with an address by Vice President for Student Affairs Ginger Ambler ’88 Ph.D. ’06.

The bulk of the conference included

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programs that visiting RAs could choose to attend throughout the day.

These sessions were not only put on by the College’s ResLife staff, but by participants from visiting schools.

Topics ranged from easy programming for upperclassmen and freshmen to issues RAs may face in the future, such as how to successfully market the skills they learn.

Alba Evans ’15, another head resident and conference organizer, said Van Black’s ’75 presentation was her favorite. He asked the audience what RA skills they thought would carry over into the real world.

“A lot of people said leadership, See VACUHO page 4

The two-body problem refers to the difficulty spouses face when it comes to working at the same academic institution. Whether it involves working at the same university or simply within close proximity, it’s an issue that remains difficult to resolve despite the attention it receives.

It’s also a problem that is all too familiar to College of William and Mary film and media studies professors Sasha and Elena Prokhorov.

Both natives of Russia, Elena

Inside VARIETY

Inside Opinions

The truth behind the Myer-Briggs

The complexity of human beings makes it impossible to categorize ourselves. page 4 Partly cloudy High 61, Low 39

EMMA MAHONY THE FLAT HAT

and Sasha moved to the United States to attend graduate school at the University of Richmond. While raising a daughter, they searched for jobs, often competing for the same position.

Elena and Sasha both needed employment to acquire a green card.

Sasha was essentially a single parent five days a week. He updated Elena on his parenting skills via telephone as often as he could, but it still was not ideal. Elena accepted a two-year visiting professor position at the See MARRIAGE page 4

All you need is chocolate

Conference caters to hungry connoisseurs and scholars. page 7

newsinsight “

The Flat Hat | Friday, November 7, 2014 | Page 2

THE BUZZ

The electorate continues to be deeply polarized along partisan lines. In many ways, Virginia looks like the rest of the nation with pockets of deep red and blue.

— Newton Family Professor of Government Larry Evans on Virginia’s political climate

Now it’s easier than ever to stay upto-date on all on-campus news.

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News Editor Áine Cain News Editor Rohan Desai fhnews@gmail.com

THE DIGITAL DAY

Snapchats from Students

The Flat Hat

This week’s issue of Snapchats from Students shows that students at the College of William and Mary have been keeping busy.

Whether they’re fighting evil clowns in the battle to stay caffeinated or unearthing the undead in the crevices of their cello cases, students always remember to spend quality time with the four-legged friends in their lives. Don’t forget to share your adventures at the College with The Flat Hat by snapping The Flat Chat.

@theflathat

@theflathat

theflatchat

‘Flat Hat Sports Talk’

A THOUSAND WORDS

On Tuesday, Nov. 4, the College of William and Mary’s College Republicans and Young Democrats were out supporting their candidates for Virginia’s first congressional district, and the U.S. Senate. To see a video side-by-side comparison of the day’s activities, visit FlatHatNews.com and youtube.com/theflathat.

Hosted by The Flat Hat Sports Desk

“Flat Hat Sports Talk” enters its second week as sports editors Mick Sloan and Chris Weber discuss Cross Country’s impressive results at the CAA Championships.

Plus Tribe Football makes some impressive plays both on and off the field. Check out The Flat Hat’s Facebook page and soundcloud.com/flat-hat-online to listen to this and all other Flat Hat podcasts.

Graphs, Grades and Greeks “With approximately a third of the student body at the College of William and Mary involved in Greek life, we decided to take a look at some of the statistics surrounding this large and influential community on campus. Greek life at the College has been steadily growing since 2005, although the ratio of Greek to non-Greek students has remained at about 30 percent. The entire student body is growing, and evidently, the Greek community is growing with it.”

CAROL PENG / THE FLAT HAT

CAMPUS POLICE BEAT

Nov. 1—6

CORRECTIONS 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 ‘STABILITAS ET FIDES’ | ESTABLISHED OCT. 3, 1911

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Saturday, Nov. 1 ­— Student athlete charged with assault and battery of a police officer on Lafayette Street.

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Sunday, Nov. 2 — A case of larcency from a motor vehicle was reported on Merrimac Trail.

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Monday, Nov. 3 — A man was charged with being drunk in public on Richmond Road.

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Thursday, Nov. 6 — A hit and run was reported on Merrimac Trail.

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AROUND THE BURG #NoTitleNeeded coming to campus

Tack lecture draws crowd

This month, the College of William and Mary’s Office of Student Leadership Development will be running the #NoTitleNeeded campaign, which is designed to emphasize the importance of leadership for students involved in campus organizations and community life. The goal of #NoTitleNeeded is to recognize that leadership is available to everyone, not just those with specified positions. Throughout the month, the campaign will consist of events both on campus and on the internet.

Additionally, Student Leadership Development has prepared a campaign video.

Over 300 people crowded into the Kimball Theatre for Tack Faculty lecturer Adam Potkay’s talk on “Pity and Gratitude” Tuesday night. Potkay, who serves as chair of the English department and as the William R. Kenan Professor of Humanities, examined universal emotions in his lecture. The Tack Faculty Lecture Series, established by Martha ’78 and Carl Tack ’78, aims to bring the university and community together at least once a semester by inviting a professor to speak on a subject of general interest. The next Tack lecture will be held April 22 and is entitled “An American Prima Donna and Apple Pie Opera.”

Panel discusses Ebola misconceptions The College of William and Mary’s United Against Inequalities in Disease organization held a panel Nov. 5 to educate students and inspire discussion about the current global health crisis of Ebola. The panel was moderated by Molly Teague ’15. It was comprised of four professors and experts in their respective fields: kinesiology and health science professors Camilla Buchanan and Allison Scott, applied sciences professor Leah Shaw and economics and Africana Studies professor Admasu Shiferaw. The purpose of the panel was to dispel misconceptions about the virus and answer students’ specific questions.

Friday, November 7, 2014

The Flat Hat

Page 3

ACADEMICS

Film festival includes elementary students College film studies students mentor groups, educate them on movie production, recycling Talia Schmitt THE flat hat

This year, the College of William and Mary Global Film Festival’s theme is renewal. In the weeks leading up to the film festival, film and media studies assistant professor Tim Barnard and his students are putting on events for the College’s students and Williamsburg community.

Saturday, Nov. 1 marked the first of three Saturday workshop series, “Do-It-Young/Film-ItYourself,” for 3-12 grade students in Williamsburg. A collaborative effort between the Earl Gregg Swem Library Media Center, the Williamsburg Area Arts Commission, Canon Virginia, Inc. and the W&M Global Film Festival, the goal of the workshops is to teach kids how to make films.

Students are split into groups by grade with two College film students as mentors in each group. Throughout the three sessions, these College students teach the participants about the pre-production, production and editing stages of filmmaking. By the end of the third workshop each group will have created a short film.

“My favorite part is to see all these different age groups brought together by their love of film,” film and media studies major Alberta Kallon ’16 said.

“We, college students, go into the workshops thinking that we will teach these kids how to make a film, but I feel like I learn so much from the students. The beauty of this workshop is really the exchange of ideas.”

The assignment for the students is to create a film using the prop of a recycled wheel and the theme of renewal.

A group of juniors at Jamestown High School tied the idea of renewal into their film by talking about how a girl rediscovers her interest in photography.

“It represents renewing that spark of passion,” high school student Gabby Rente said. “I am learning a lot from this workshop.

It’s not like you can just pick

up a camera. I’ve learned it’s a problem-solving experience.”

Rente wasn’t the only student who got something out of the workshop.

High school junior Nick Rose has participated in the workshop twice before as a student, and managed to win prizes in The Global Film Festival Student Film for two years running.

This year he came back as the only high school, non-College student to work on the other end of the workshop as a mentor.

“It’s really cool to work with the kids and see how much creativity comes out of them,” Rose said.

“Little kids are the ones with the craziest ideas, so its fun to work with them and see what they come up with.”

This won’t be the last time these wheels are in use.

As part of their “Keep the Wheels Turning” project, Barnard’s Documentary Project class will distribute these tires to students at the College and to the greater community Nov. 9 at the Williamsburg Art Festival and Nov. 15 at “America Recycles Day” on the Sunken Garden.

Groups have until Jan. 23, 2015 to finish their projects and the winners will receive cash prizes both for themselves and for an environmental charity of their choice.

“It’s a way to engage [William and Mary] students creatively, and in environmental conscious ways,” Barnard said.

The wheels will be on display at the 2015 W&M Global Film Festival from Feb. 19-22. The festival will show documentaries ranging from French films to family matinees. All will incorporate the theme of renewal.

“We chose the theme of ‘Film and Renewal’ because we wanted to go with something that would reflect the issues of today,” Barnard said. “These environmental times are a seeming battle between pessimism vs. optimism, between giving up and stepping up. The combination of the “Re“ and “New” fit that bill. It embraces the past and the future and makes the two of them work together.”

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF TIM BARNARD

Younger students are split into groups by grade with College film students as mentors in each group. Each group is tasked with making a film using recycled material.

Midterm characterized by historically low voter turnout ELECTION from page 1

lines,” Evans said. “In many ways, Virginia looks like the rest of the nation with pockets of deep red and blue. One striking characteristic was generalized dissatisfaction with governing institutions and continuing concerns about the economic recovery. My guess is those trends will continue.”

This midterm was also characterized by the lowest voter turnout since the 1940s, with voters age 18 to 29 making up only 13 percent of the electorate. Evans said students should take more of an interest in

elections, which influence policies that directly affect them.

“Lurking behind the partisan polarization are deeper generational issues that affect students a lot, especially the structure of entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare,” Evans said. “Student loans and college financing also will be agenda items on Capitol Hill for a while. So there is a lot at stake for 18- to 22-year-olds in contemporary politics. Not to mention the entertainment value.”

Student interest groups on campus were active on Election Day, supporting their candidates, encouraging students to vote and closely monitoring the results. Chairwoman for the College Republicans Kathleen Gayle ’15 said the group was pleasantly surprised by the outcome of the Virginia Senatorial race.

“Everyone thought that Warner was going to walk away with the election, but [Gillespie] obviously showed that he could mobilize Republicans in Virginia, and I think that that’s promising for the future,” Gayle said.

President of the William and Mary Young Democrats Elise Orlick ’15 said that, although the overall election did not go their way, they are looking on the bright side.

“Obviously we are a bit disappointed overall with the races, but mostly we are just proud of our candidates,” Orlick said. “Mosher lost his congressional race, but I think he was a very strong candidate. He was

well qualified, and we are happy that he put himself out there for what was always bound to be a tough race.”

With the polls at a close, Orlick said attention will now turn to the next election.

“We are definitely looking forward to the next national elections in 2016,” Orlick said. “At the moment, though, we are looking to our state house elections. Delegate Monty Mason and our state senator John Miller will both be up for reelection in 2015.”

ALL PHOTOS BY / KAYLA SHARPE

Democrat Norm Mosher and Republican Ed Gillespie both lost their respective congressional races, much to the disappointment of student supporters.

Residents charged $5,032 in 2013-14 for room, common area damages CHARGES from page 1

get as close as they possibly can.

Still, some students are surprised by the cost of the charges. Nathan Britt ’17 remembers reading a list of the usual cost of room charges that was posted in his dorm at the beginning of the year.

“It seemed unreasonably high for simple things like moving furniture back,” Britt said.

Britt mentioned that when he participated in the William and Mary D.C. Summer Program, they handled room charges differently. He was charged a $200 security deposit at the beginning of the semester. If there were no charges, the amount would be refunded in full at the end of the semester, and if there were charges, they would be removed from the $200.

Residence Life handles the room charges by

directly charging the student’s account with the amount at the end of the year.

For any student who feels a charge is unfair, Residence Life offers an appeals process.

“Basically, the first step is the student would appeal to the area director who made the initial charge,” Durden said.

The appeal is usually resolved at that level.

Typically, if a student has made an appeal, it is more about the amount of the charge rather than the charge itself, Boykin said.

Students are allowed to fill out a report at the beginning of the year to indicate whether there is any damage in the room from a previous occupant.

If students forget to do this, they will end up with a charge.

Durden said the appeals process operates under the belief that students making appeals will always

adhere to the Honor Code.

“We always err on the side of the student,” Durden said. “If there is doubt, we’ll side with the student.”

If the Area Director rejects the appeal, the student can then appeal to Durden directly about the room charge. If Durden feels the charge is valid, students can then appeal to the Student Appeals Board.

The appeals board consists of three student representatives from the Residence Hall Association who will make the final decision. The student and area director will both go to make a case to the board. Durden also attends to act in a position of advisor to the appeal board, but he has no vote.

Most appeals never reach that level, though, according to Durden.

“A total of two people in two years have gotten to

my level with an appeal,” Durden said. “In my three years, I have not yet sat down with the appeals board.”

If an appeal is made, the charge is removed from the student’s account and goes into the Residence Life’s operation budget.

Boykin stressed that room charges are a necessary part of keeping Residence Life running smoothly and providing affordable oncampus housing.

“The Residence Life budget gets no money from the state,” Boykin Boykin said. “Over 99 percent of the budget comes from the rent you pay. If we didn’t charge individuals, everyone’s rent would go up.”

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The Flat Hat

Friday, November 7, 2014

Student Assembly

NYU’s Khalid Latif to speak on interfaith relations Washington, D.C. bus service extended over Thanksgiving; Ackerman clarifies SA attendance policy Sam Dreith The Flat Hat

The College of William and Mary’s Student Assembly Senate approved two bills during its Tuesday meeting, one of which was the Interfaith Speaker Act of 2014.

The bill, introduced by Sen. Chase Jordan ’15, arranges for Chaplain and New York University Professor Khalid Latif to speak at the College regarding interfaith themes.

The Student Assembly will work with the Muslim Student Association to facilitate the event.

Jordan The bill states that $1,000 will be taken from the Student Activities Reserve to cover Latif’s transportation, lodging and meal costs. Aside from these expenses, Latif is not charging to give the speech. Undersecretary of religious affairs Yussre El-Bardicy ’16 will be charged with assisting the MSA in coordinating the event.

“This is going to align with our goal of partnering with some other student organizations on campus,”

Jordan said.

President of the Muslim Student Association Maab Yasin ’15 spoke to the Senate regarding the bill.

“We’re hoping to give interfaith a little bit more of a conversation on campus,” Yasin said.

The Interfaith Speaker Act of 2014 passed unanimously and the event is set for a tentative date of Nov. 17.

Senators also discussed the Debt Limit Crisis Act of 2014, sponsored by Sen. Daniel Ackerman ’16, at Tuesday’s meeting. This bill amends the Code of the Student Assembly so that the executive appropriations committee will have three weeks after the first day of the spring semester to prepare its budget.

The code usually sets the deadline for the budget at the first day of February; however, due to the spring semester starting later this year, the amendment is meant to give secretary of finance Thomas Obermeier ’15 a few more days to prepare the budget.

The Debt Limit Crisis Act of 2014 passed unanimously.

“I think it’s a really well-written bill,” Jordan said.

“And I think it’s nice we show due diligence and respect to the code that guides this student body.”

Secretary of transportation Gabriel Morey ’16 and undersecretary of transportation Nate Sutherland ’16 spoke on Department of Transportation updates.

The department plans to extend its bus service to Washington, D.C. over Thanksgiving, after sending buses to D.C. over fall break. They are also planning to make changes to how the program is run, with the goal of making it more financially stable.

In the new system, Director of Parking Services Bill Horacio will contract out one of the College’s pre-existing contracts and students will buy their bus ticket at full price, rather than the Student Assembly renting out the buses themselves.

“It will most likely be cheaper than what [students] are paying so far, because Bill’s contracts are going to Horacio be cheaper than ours were,” Morey said.

The department is also working to send shuttles to GRE/LSAT test sites, seeing as the College’s campus itself is not a test site.

They also plan on continuing transportation to off-campus athletic matches in the spring semester,

including women’s lacrosse and men’s baseball games.

“These are going to be the only home games that are off campus,” Morey said.

Morey and Sutherland also discussed the Department of Transportation’s future goals, including increased disability access, international student cultural trips and the addition of one or two new undersecretaries.

At the opening of Tuesday’s meeting, Ackerman clarified the Student Assembly’s attendance policy.

After three absences — excused or unexcused — a member must go in front of the senate and explain why he or she was unable to attend the meetings.

There are special exemptions for graduate school senators. The same rule now applies for committee meetings.

“Every committee chair and committee secretary is aware that they are going to be a little more strict on [attendance],” Ackerman said.

The Dairy Vehicular Act was introduced under new business. Under this bill, the Senate would partner with the Admissions Office to provide an ice cream treat on the Sunken Garden on Day for Admitted Students.

Ackerman assigned this bill to the student life, finance and outreach committees.

UNDERGRADUATE COUNCIL DISCUSSES UPCOMING EVENTS The College of William and Mary’s Undergraduate Council met Nov. 4 to continue discussing event proposals raised in their Oct. 28 meeting.

Junior class president Mark Bland ’16 reminded council members about the class of 2016’s safety walk, which took place Nov. 6. During the walk, administrators from various groups — including the police and transportation — worked with students to identify safety hazards around campus.

Bland shared one safety-related fact not widely known among students: Individuals can place work orders for faulty bricks around campus just as they do for dorm issues.

Sophomore class president Phoebe Galt ’17 expanded on an earlier proposal for a Road to Richmond training event. In Road to Richmond, students visit the Capitol and ensure that issues they care about are heard. Galt said she plans to educate students about the program by inviting lawyers, lobbyists and professors to speak at the College.

Freshman vice president Nick Perrone ’18 discussed his class’ plan to host a Thankful Thursday event the Thursday before Thanksgiving Break.

The event will involve students writing what they are thankful for on a banner that will be displayed in the Sadler Center, as well as participating in a “what are you thankful for?” video that will be posted on Facebook.

— Meilan Solly, The Flat Hat

MADELINE BIELSKI / THE FLAT HAT

The College of William and Mary’s Student Assembly met Tuesday. Senators discussed the Washington, D.C. bus service, and reviewed their attendance policy with Daniel Ackerman.

ResLife hosts VACUHO conference on campus

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VACUHO from page 1

It takes a lot of energy to be a good ResLife staff person. ... [The conference] is kind of like a renewed energy to keep going for the rest of the semester.

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—Head Resident Serena Saffarini M.P.P. ’15

dependability, reliability — the big buzz words,” Evans said.

“It ended up being that he surveyed about 100 people or so who had been RAs in the past and almost all of them said one of two things: listening and … empathy.”

Other sessions involved more personal issues. Torey Stockwell, a hall director at Virginia Commonwealth University, gave a presentation that focused on coming out and how new gay marriage laws in Virginia could impact people at

any university. Another session included an activity with the “true colors” personality quiz.

Framed in terms of problem solving, the RAs defined themselves by colors — gold, blue, green or orange — and learned how to deal with the colors with which they may clash.

Evans said she understands how this exercise could be useful for RAs. “If you’re one thing and if you’re clashing with another person, just [by] being able to assign them a color, you might be able to understand them a

COURTESY PHOTO / architecturerichmond.com

According to its website, VACUHO is dedicated to the education of housing and residence life staff members at higher education institutions in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Its members include the College of William and Mary, Hampton University, Hampton-Sydney College, James Madison University, Liberty University, Virginia Commonwealth University and Washington and Lee University, among others.

VACUHO’S VALUES Inclusion Diversity Professional Excellence Resident Focus Collaboration Growth Spirit JOANNA WANG / THE FLAT HAT

Married professors discuss experiences with two-body problem MARRIAGE from page 1

Sasha and Elena Pokorhov attended graduate school at the University of Richmond. Elena later returned to teach there, while Sasha was employed elsewhere.

little bit better,” Evans said.

Connecting on an individual level is one action Evans said she thinks RAs at the College do well, even better than staff at larger schools.

One-on-one interaction is something residents value as well. Nathalie Moore ’17, a first year RA in the Eco-House, joined ResLife for that reason.

“I really care about creating an environment where someone feels like they’ve been at home because I think that William and Mary was my first home, and I want it to be a safe place for a lot of people,” Moore said.

ABOUT VACUHO

College before returning to teach at The University of Richmond.

“It was a tough gig, but we needed to do it,” Sasha said. “We both required a job to be able to stay in the states. So she would drive down on the weekends and head back to D.C for the week. From Monday through Friday, I was calling her telling her about the parenting choices I made, whether good or bad.”

Sasha discussed a time when Elena received an offer from George Washington University for which he was next in line. Elena took the job at George Washington and Sasha received an offer from the College. Sasha said the situation was rough but necessary, not only to support their family, but also to obtain residency.

The two-body problem exists not only in academia, but in all jobs that limit people geographically.

Due to the shortage of academic jobs, some spouses face a challenge deciding between

unemployment for one or living separately to support each other. The two-body problem only exists when a partner doesn’t want to or financially can’t afford to stay home.

According to The Journal of Higher Education, 89 percent of female faculty members have full-time working spouses, while only 56 percent of male faculty members do. Women in academia are also more likely to be married to a partner in an academic profession than men are. Solutions to this problem are considered increasingly important, the article reported, as they could potentially keep women present in the academic realm.

During Elena’s two-year period at the College, she said the Prokhorov family experienced a normalcy to which they were unaccustomed. She then returned to Richmond, facing an exhausting commute, until she eventually got lucky and accepted a full time position at the College.

“Our colleagues who work at separate

places from their spouses constantly tell us we won the lottery,” Elena said. “We know we are very lucky. If I have a question about my work or anything, I don’t need to call him. The communication line is shortened.”

Sasha credits the size of the College, as well as the closeness of colleagues, for Elena’s job offer. At a smaller university like the College, the faculty is closer and more aware of situations such as the Prokhorovs’. When the job was opening up, Elena knew right away.

Sasha said he believes that at a larger university, this would not have happened.

Nationwide actions have been taken to address this issue, including the creation of the online database HERC, which is geared toward dual career searches for couples. Elena said she sees the database as a way for couples to find their ideal situation.

“It’s a great way to solve a bad situation,” Elena said. “I mean, we have it great now, but before we definitely would have used a resource like this.”

opinions

Opinions Editor Daria Grastara Assoc. Opinions Editor Kaitlan Shaub fhopinions@gmail.com // @theflathat

The Flat Hat | Friday, November 7, 2014 | Page 5

EDITORIAL CARTOON

STAFF EDITORIAL

Get out the vote W

BY BRIAN KAO, FLAT HAT GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Categorizing your personality become over-stimulated and like quiet nights. So, this means I can’t understand your problem? What if I consider myself a scientist, an inspirer and a nurturer? What if you do? In reality, I think the greatest manifestation of these categories in our daily lives is the extrovert/ introvert split. It’s not like people are saying to each other, “You never get me! You sense and judge too much!”

The danger of these types of tests is that it becomes yet another category to place people in. How can we possibly quantify the essence THE FLAT HAT of a person into four neat little boxes, distilling the complexities of humanity into a simple formula?

INTJ. ESTJ. ENFP. ISFP. ESFJ. INFP. I am in no way trying to discount the study of personality. The real No, I didn’t just lose control of my keyboard; these are actually different Myers-Briggs test is much more comprehensive and the results are personality types determined by the well-known Myers-Briggs test. The measured on a spectrum, allowing for variation within the categories. Its test categorizes personality type through four indicators: introvert versus function is to provide insight into people’s personalities so that they may extrovert, intuitive versus sensing, thinking versus feeling, and judging understand themselves and the world better. These are certainly noble versus perceiving. Each profile has a fun goals. But I think we can get too caught up in how But I think we can get too name, like “the nurturer,” “the inspirer” or nice it feels to understand, just for a moment, the caught up in how nice it feels to “the scientist.” I had heard of the test before mysterious intricacies of the human psyche.

— who hasn’t — but it came to my attention Still curious, I did a general search on personality understand, just for a moment, again in the form of those ever-entertaining profiles. I stumbled upon a website that explained the mysterious intricacies of the Facebook quizzes. You know the ones that which personalities made the best match. It said human psyche. people share and send to the friends as a things like “what’s your sign?” and “what’s your public demonstration of their procrastination from homework? personality type?” I can see the Tinder pages now: “INTJ looking for a So I took the quiz. It had maybe 20 questions and didn’t take more fun-loving extrovert!” It appears like not only have we figured out how than 15 minutes. In the end, a nice four letters popped out, elaborating minds operate, but also how to find love. If this is the case, why date? All exactly what type of person I was: ENFP. “The Inspirer.” Not bad. But the we need to do is declare our personality types and find a match. Maybe more that I thought about it, the more I realized that I didn’t like this this example is a little ridiculous, but it further highlights the reliance on presumptuous quiz hanging a sign around my neck. categories to make sense of what we cannot understand.

Maybe it’s from my own vehement dislike of being labeled, but it got We are complex human beings, and it is impossible to categorize me thinking. On many different occasions, I’ve had friends tell me, by ourselves. While personality profiles may help us comprehend the brain, way of explanation, “It’s because you’re an extrovert.” Ok. I’m loud, I’m they certainly don’t define us. enthusiastic, and I love to talk to people. But I also need to be alone. I Email Shannon Fineran at sefineran@email.wm.edu.

Shannon Fineran

“

“

hen our generation remembers the 2014 election, many of them will remember not voting. One recent estimate put millennial voter turnout at 21.3 percent. We don’t know the voter turnout for students at the College of William and Mary specifically, but the fact is that many of us did not vote. What’s worse is that many of us had good reasons not to — the political system has become so nasty and unproductive that it didn’t seem worth it. The problem is that regardless of whether we vote, the decisions our elected officials make still affect us.

Politicians are motivated by reelection. While this is obvious, it is worth noting because it means that politicians will do what gets them votes.

Constituencies who vote receive more attention, and that is why most lawmakers pay little attention to the needs of college students. Problems desperately important to us, including student loan debt and unemployment, matter less to politicians because we do not vote. We can protest for action on climate change and immigration all we want, but we mean nothing to them if we do not vote.

Not voting squanders our power and our ideas.

Our generation is more ethnically and racially diverse than any generation before it. We are intensely committed to public service and changing the world. We have come of age during a time of unprecedented technological and social change; many of our concerns are unique and unfamiliar to our elders. Voting is only one form of political action in our democracy, but it is essential.

Furthermore, it is fairly easy to register and vote.

Through the year, the Student Assembly and other campus organizations present students with many opportunities to register, and filling out the form takes only a few minutes. Receiving an absentee ballot is just as simple. Most students need only walk five or 10 minutes to find their polling site, and the process of voting usually lasts no longer than 20 minutes.

In an election no one thought would be close, Virginia’s senate seat was decided by less than 20,000 votes — around 0.8 percent. In an election year when enthusiasm is lacking, we commend students who encouraged their peers to vote, as well as those who voted. Despite a pervasive sentiment of apathy and cynicism that was entirely justified, there was still a loud spirit of civic engagement at the College, if not a widespread one. That said, voters our age need to do better. Our future, and the future of our country, depends on our active participation in the democratic process.

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, Matt Camarda, Zachary Frank, 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.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR “The Flat Hat” article on “Denying Women” quoted Gul Ozyegin’s compelling argument for diversity in the classroom: that it is essential for preparing individuals for the diversity found in the workplace.

While I respect Meredith Ramey’s passion for women’s equality, I feel it might be equally, if not more productive to ask why the College of William and Mary isn’t receiving equivalent numbers of male and female applicants. Is it solely due to no offerings in engineering, or are there other factors at work here? Has this low rate of male applications been unduly influenced by a preponderance of female teachers in elementary and middle schools, some of whom may be shifting their teaching

styles toward empowering females while leaving males behind? Is it because the College already caters more to programs that attract women?

If Ms. Ramey gets her wish for equal acceptance, whose seats would be lost to these undeniably worthy women? Would admissions feel compelled to take the seats of those of us who are not of a traditional age for college students? Would they trim numbers from programs for deserving male athletes whose time commitment to their sport is over and above their hard work as students? (Do we really want admissions turning away another Mike Tomlin because of a gender quota?)

Would they have to take away seats of friends

graduating with the help of the Gateway program?

Perhaps they could find more seats by reducing the number of exchange students or out-of-staters? In all fairness, the cuts would likely have to be made across the board in order to favor women by the numbers.

The bottom line here is that statistics do not tell the entire story, and if the College wants to produce alumni who are prepared for social and professional interactions within demographics found in the working world, then we need to stay the course on admission of males. Having once been the only female in a male work environment, I see great educational and social value in balanced numbers of male

and female students and employees.

I also believe that there is just as much to fear from a female-dominated community as there has been in a male-dominated one.

For example, Ms. Ramey’s suggestion that her opposition go “to hell” smacks of a new social dictatorship rather than true reform.

Therefore, the equitable solution is for genders to work together in equivalent numbers within a reasonably well-balanced college and work community. So perhaps it’s about time to start asking why more men aren’t applying to the College and what can we do about increasing their numbers.

Mary-Grace Rusnak ’15

The unavoidable and inescapable world of advertisements Emily Chaumont THE FLAT HAT

“Continue watching: next episode playing in 14 seconds.”

I’ve been in this position many times. Do I let the next episode play or do I stop and actually get some work done? Netflix seems to be designed for the procrastinating college student. Episode after episode plays automatically with no commercial breaks to interrupt the binge.

No commercial breaks.

Watching TV this way is a pleasant diversion from the advertising-ridden norm. It allows viewers to

avoid the approximate eight minutes of advertising shown during the average 30 minute TV program.

Many college students choose to watch TV using Netflix, which is advertisement-free. For shows that Netflix doesn’t provide, many turn to services like Hulu, which shows about a minute and a half of advertising during a 30 minute program — still less than what is shown on TV. Students who have TVs in their dorm rooms sometimes use them as just a larger platform for watching their shows through online services, rather than live TV. YouTube’s pre-roll ads last between 15 and 60 seconds, with ads longer than 30 seconds giving the option to skip after five seconds. The free version of Spotify often plays a one-minute ad segment in the middle of a listening session but offers Spotify Premium to those users who will pay a fee each month to avoid hearing advertisements. Sitting through an entire 30-second video ad without the option to skip straight to content or having your music interrupted by an ad spot seems almost

torturous, but people all over the country sit comfortably on their couches devoting an average of two years of their life watching commercials on TV. The average American spends a higher percentage of their life watching commercials than they spend in the bathroom.

Yet, when some students at the College of William and Mary hear the advertisements for local companies at football games they are annoyed and jolted by their sheer commercialism. They are indignant and bemoan the necessity to run an ad after ever play.

Students at the College, while active in many spheres beyond this campus, have the potential to feel almost completely sheltered from commercial advertising. When we do encounter it, we are often shocked and angry that commercial interests could invade what we often see as our personal space.

Since I’ve been at the College I have not once felt bombarded by commercial advertising. I hear the Spotify ads and the announcer at the football

game mention a local business, watch the YouTube pre-rolls, and see signs, but I don’t feel suffocated by the commercialism. Although the influence of commercial advertising seems ultimately unavoidable, life at the College can come pretty close to commercial-free and that makes me think: If the College can do it, why can’t America try?

Email Emily Chaumont at emchaumont@email. wm.edu.

GRAPHIC BY BRIAN KAO / THE FLAT HAT

sports

Sports Editor Mick Sloan Sports Editor Chris Weber flathatsports@gmail.com @FlatHatSports

The Flat Hat | Friday, November 7, 2014 | Page 6

FOOTBALL

COURTESY PHOTO / TRIBE ATHLETICS

Freshman wideout DeVonte Dedmon hauls in a touchdown reception against James Madison last week. Dedmon and the offense look to dominate against Elon Saturday.

College welcomes Elon

Tribe, Phoenix meet for first-ever game as Dedmon, receiving corps look to excel MICK SLOAN FLAT HAT SPORTS EDITOR William and Mary’s season took a serious setback with a 31-24 loss to James Madison in Harrisonburg, Va. last weekend. The College held a 24-13 lead in the fourth quarter but surrendered 197 offensive yards to the Dukes in the final quarter.

Now the Tribe is forced to pick up the pieces. That process begins in earnest when Elon comes to Zable Stadium Saturday afternoon.

The Tribe’s postseason hopes are very much in doubt. At 5-4, with a 2-3 record in the Colonial Athletic Association, the College sits at eighth in conference standings, far from the heights it much reach to even hope for berth in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. The Tribe is nationally ranked at No. 24, however, so not all is lost.

In addition, Elon (1-8, 0-5 CAA) is not

an intimidating opponent. With a scoring average of 13.1 points per game and the CAA’s 10th ranked scoring defense, it’s unsurprising that opponents outscored Elon by an average of 16.5 points per contest in the Phoenix’s nine games.

The trouble for the Phoenix starts with its run defense, which has surrendered 198.3 rushing yards per game and 4.8 yards per carry. That plays directly into the hands of the Tribe, which features junior running back Mikal Abdul-Saboor.

Abdul-Saboor, who is second in the CAA in rushing yards per game, has proven time and time again that he can be the focal point of the College’s offensive game plan. Expect the Tribe to run early and often and for Abdul-Saboor to exceed 100 rushing yards for the third straight game.

In turn, the Tribe’s rushing attack should generate opportunities for sophomore quarterback Steve Cluley and the receiving corps. Last weekend, the College returned to a more aggressive

passing game plan that saw Cluley run more play action passes, designed rollouts and deep shots on first and second down.

Last week also saw freshman receiver DeVonte Dedmon and tight end Andrew Caskin combine for 99 receiving yards, showing that the Tribe’s diverse group of receivers can punish secondaries who focus intently on star senior receiver Tre McBride. Between Abdul-Saboor, McBride, Dedmon, Caskin and senior receiver Sean Ballard, the College has a deep stable of offensive weapons ready to exploit Elon’s struggling defense.

The Tribe’s defense also has something to prove this weekend after surrendering 98 points in the College’s three CAA losses to New Hampshire, Villanova and JMU. Elon’s offense is not imposing, but the Tribe cannot rest on its laurels. It will need senior defensive end Mike Reilly — who’s been sharp this season with nine sacks in as many games — to lead the pass rush to pressure Elon quarterback Mike

Quinn. If the Tribe can do that, it will take pressure off the College’s safeties, senior Ivan Tagoe and junior Jared Velasquez.

Plus, if the Tribe controls the line of scrimmage on defense, junior linebacker Luke Rhodes and senior linebacker Airek Green will have room to make plays on the ball carrier.

So far, all of the College’s losses have been reasonable. New Hampshire appears to be the strongest team in the conference, Villanova employs the CAA’s best player in quarterback John Robertson, and James Madison has not lost to the Tribe in Harrisonburg since 2004. Facing Elon in Zable should not provide as stiff a test, and the College has playmakers on both sides of the ball to secure victory.

Elon faces the Tribe Saturday at Zable Stadium, with kickoff set for 3:30 p.m.

This will be Elon’s first matchup with the Tribe, as the Phoenix is currently in its first CAA season.

CARPENTER DONATES Senior kicker John Carpenter recently donated stem cells as part of the Be the Match organization. Carpenter, one of 50 football players to register for the program, was matched with a recipient in August. Carpenter missed the past two games for the College but is expected to return to the lineup against Elon Saturday.

— Flat Hat Sports Editor Mick Sloan

COURTESY PHOTO / TRIBE ATHLETICS

FIELD HOCKEY

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Tribe set to face Northeastern College travels to CAA semifinals

Huskies host College in semifinal round of CAA finals JACK POWERS FLAT HAT ASSOC. SPORTS EDITOR William and Mary came into its Sept. 26 matchup against Northeastern fresh off of a 4-match winning streak, sporting a clean 6-1-1 record, and seemingly primed for a big conference season.

The Huskies edged the Tribe 1-0 that night in Williamsburg and have since secured the No. 1 spot in the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament.

The No. 4 College (12-5-1, 5-4 CAA) gets another crack at the Huskies (12-4-3, 7-1-1 CAA) Friday at the semifinals of the CAA Tournament. Though the first match showed very little separation between the two teams, both have taken divergent paths to reach this point. The Tribe comes in as the clear underdog, having lost three of its final four matches before the tournament and losing junior forward Samantha Cordum to injury.

While Northeastern blitzed its way through the regular season CAA schedule, the College stumbled its way into the tournament on the strength of an early four game conference win streak. Ever since the streak was snapped in an overtime home loss against Drexel, the Tribe’s offense has been largely dormant, scoring five goals over four matches.

The loss of Cordum, who led the team in shotson-goal, has limited the College’s offensive firepower, and it will need to largely rely on senior forward Emory Camper for points going forward. Camper has led the team in goals each of the last two years and contributed another score in Sunday’s 2-1 quarterfinal victory over Drexel. Junior forward Leci Irvin will likely join Camper on the front lines against Northeastern.

After Sunday’s match, Irvin spoke of a new mentality coupled with a more aggressive offensive format. If the Tribe’s two scores renewed hope in the

team’s offense, the defense’s surrender of just one goal to the Dragons was plain routine for a perennially strong unit.

The College has allowed 20 goals over the course of 18 games, an especially impressive number given that the team’s often-anemic offense has notched 35 goals.

The Tribe’s defense is capable of a shutout, something it has achieved six times this season. However, Friday’s semifinal matchup will see the Tribe face a defense even more daunting than its own.

Northeastern’s defense has only allowed six goals the entire season for a per-game average of 0.3.

Though the Huskies have scored only 19 goals, their defense has made their offensive struggles irrelevant.

With the two teams relying on similar strengths, namely defensive prowess and control at midfield, expect Friday’s semifinal match to be a long slog.

The battle-of-attrition style of the match will make set-piece conversions even more important than usual. The Huskies’ 80th minute corner-kick goal separated the two teams in their earlier contest.

Something similar could occur Friday. Which way will the ball bounce this time?

The match is scheduled to start Friday in Boston at 6 p.m.

COURTESY PHOTO / TRIBE ATHLETICS

Senior forward Emory Camper looks to lead the offense Friday.

Tribe looks to down Delaware in rematch of last season

CHRIS WEBER FLAT HAT SPORTS EDITOR William and Mary heads back to Dedham, Mass. a week after a snow-delayed regularseason finale loss to No. 18 Northeastern.

With the regular-season crown out of reach, the College looks to advance to the Colonial Athletic Association title game this weekend.

Delaware (11-8, 4-2 CAA), last season’s conference champion, stands in the way.

The winner of Friday’s semifinal advances to Sunday’s conference championship to face either James Madison or Northeastern.

Despite matching conference records, the Blue Hens hold the higher seed ranking thanks to an Oct. 5 5-3 win over the Tribe (711, 4-2 CAA). The Blue Hens have won three conference titles dating back to the turn of the century. Only James Madison (3) and Old Dominion (7) have won more championships since 2000.

The College, meanwhile, has not won the conference since 1991. The Tribe did, however, finish as runner-up in 1991 and 2002, falling to Old Dominion both years.

A strong offense will fuel the College’s 2014 run. Over 18 games, the Tribe has averaged 2.28 goals on 14.4 shots per game.

Senior Emma Clifton leads the College’s offense. The five feet, three inches midfielder holds the school’s all-time assist record (25) and ranks second in points (20), goals (6), assists (8) and shots on goal (26) this season.

Clifton leads the Tribe with 49 shots — 12 more than the next closest player.

Clifton, who was named a CAA All-Rookie team honoree in 2011 and ranked among the

program’s best in both points and assists in 2012 and 2013, became one of only two conference players selected to play in the Victory Sports Tours/ National Field Hockey Coaches Association Senior All-Star Game. Only 38 players were selected to play in the Nov. 22 game, which will be held at the Hennessey University of Maryland.

Aside from Clifton, the College also boasts standout junior midfielder Pippin Saunders. A constant threat offensively, Saunders leads the College in points (21), goals (9), shots on goal (28) and game winning goals (2) over 18 games this season.

The first indigenous Australian to ever attend the College, Saunders also runs the 100-meter and 200-meter dash for the Tribe’s track and field program.

For Clifton and Saunders to continue their seasons, the College will need to find a way to down Delaware. The Blue Hens cut down the Tribe in the conference semifinal round in both 2012 (3-2) and 2013 (4-2).

The semifinal will air on CAA.TV, with live statistics available at CAAStats.com. The game is slated to begin at 5 p.m. Friday.

SOCIAL MEDIA Follow @FlatHatSports for updates of the entire Tribe post-season, from women’s soccer to field hockey.

The Flat Hat

A romantic, a scientist,

Friday, November 7, 2014

Page 7

and not

nearly enough

chocolate

Sights and tastes at the $295 chocolate conference held in Colonial Williamsburg TUCKER HIGGINS // flat hat Variety editor Tucker Higgins / THE FLAT HAT

Allegedly, Colonial Williamsburg pastry chef Ronald Diehl was able to diagnose a fever within a tenth of a degree with only a kiss on the forehead.

Chocolate is for lovers Few people will ever be loved as purely as Colonial Williamsburg pastry chef Ronald Diehl loves chocolate.

“Chocolate is pure. It’s natural. It is what it is,” he said. “You can’t make it do what you want, but you can understand how it reacts.”

For a pastry chef, chocolate can be hard to predict and even harder to work with. But if you treat chocolate right — and Diehl nearly always does — you will be rewarded. The finished product, served ideally (in its solid form) at 85 degrees Fahrenheit, is a thing to behold.

“You should put the chocolate into your mouth and wait, let it sit there. You should wait until you can’t wait any longer. Let it heat up.”

The flavor, Diehl said, will explode in your mouth.

Tuesday, Diehl demonstrated the idiosyncrasies of a special chocolate — called American Heritage — developed by world-renowned Williamsburg chocolatier Jim Gay. Held at the Williamsburg taste studio, this was the closing event of “400 Years of Chocolate: Aztec to Artisan,” a chocolate conference that lasted from Nov. 2 to Nov. 4 and drew guests from all over the country.

That there exists a Williamsburg taste studio — much less a local, world-renowned chocolatier or a national chocolate conference — might seem surprising. For students, the cacao-based event was all but unknown, lost in the background somewhere behind Halloween and the nation’s midterm elections. By all accounts, the conference, which cost $295 a ticket and lasted three days, was for adults.

the massive food company behind M&M’s, Shapiro loves chocolate for its mystery and promise. To Shapiro, chocolate is a science experiment with the power to improve lives around the world.

Shapiro is most well known for his work in sequencing the cacao genome, a project he launched in 2008 and completed in 2010. Sequencing the genome and releasing it into the public domain was a “shock to the world,” Shapiro said, noting that within a minute of the genome’s release, West African farmers were already using the findings to improve their crop yields. In five years, Shapiro predicted, all cacao trees will be quality trees; in a

sequencing of the cacao genome.

Mars also has ties to the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Forrest Mars Jr., one of the wealthiest men in the world, donated $15 million to Colonial Williamsburg between 2008 and 2010 and currently sits on its board of trustees. In addition, American Heritage chocolate, which was developed by a Williamsburg chocolatier and played a large role in the week’s conference, is a Mars Company product.

A rumor spread around the convention that John Mars, one of three heirs to the $60 billion Mars fortune, has fond childhood memories of visiting Colonial Williamsburg.

Chocolate is all you need

Let’s talk about the choc’

As four school buses unloaded middle-schoolaged children outside the Colonial Williamsburg Art Museum Monday, between 60 and 70 adults congregated in the Hennage auditorium on the inside of the museum. The children played on the grass eating delivery pizza, while inside the adults gathered to discuss and learn about America’s favorite sugary dessert food.

Howard-Yana Shapiro, a chocolate researcher and scientist who sports a long white beard and refers to himself as a “gene jockey,” kicked off the event.

Shapiro loves chocolate as much as Diehl — but his love for chocolate manifests itself in a different way. As the chief agricultural officer at Mars, Inc.,

had an aneurysm and sustained brain damage.

Unable to use her Ph.D., she became an interpreter in Colonial Williamsburg. However, McKinney’s interest in food production, specifically chocolate, endured.

Dale Schmitt and his wife Karen Hyder-Schmitt, both teachers from Johnsonville, Tenn., came to the conference because they enjoy attending conferences. Though they live almost 800 miles away, “400 Years of Chocolate” was, they said, their fifth or sixth conference in Colonial Williamsburg.

Attendees spoke of enjoying the lectures that took place during the day. But at times — during a tangent on rodent involvement in the cacao supply chain, for example, while Dresser could be seen sleeping quietly in a back row — it was clear that a powerful reason for attendance was meal time.

DEVON IVIE / THE FLAT HAT

The chocolates at the conference were made with a 63 percent cacao chocolate developed by a Williamsburg chocolatier.

dozen years, we will have healthful chocolate.

And then there are the humanitarian benefits.

“I was so mad at myself,” Shapiro said, speaking of the moment he learned that more than a third of children living in areas where cacao plants are grown suffer from malnutrition and stunted growth.

Improving the quality of cacao beans through genetic modification, he said, could free up farmland to grow crops for local consumption.

Shapiro is cacao’s “gene jockey”, but he describes the Mars Company as chocolate’s “champion.”

The company funded much of the research that uncovered the health benefits of flavonoids and other cacao compounds, as well as Shapiro’s

Sweet, sweet memories

So, who comes to a chocolate conference?

One attendee, Mary Elizabeth Dresser, attended the College of William and Mary in the late ’50s and early ’60s. She lives in College Station, Texas with her husband, who also graduated from the College.

Jane McKinney, another attendee, graduated from the College in 1985 with a Ph.D. in American studies. She wrote her dissertation on Marxist applications to salt production in the Caribbean, and for her research she visited cacao plantations.

Several years after receiving her Ph. D., McKinney

An open bar, a large chocolate statue and entrees with ten-word titles like “Sugar Cane Smoked Pork Loin Corn Crema with Tobacco Onions” were what you noticed at the “400 Years of Chocolate” signature dinner before you got to the desserts. Once you got to the desserts, what you noticed were the truffles.

Diehl, who prepared all of the desserts, said that the 150 truffles he had prepared were eaten almost immediately. After he sought out 150 more that were waiting in a nearby kitchen, those, too, were devoured.

In addition to the truffles, another chef made chocolate French toast with a berry compote and white chocolate sauce; there was chocolate crème brûlée; cakes, cookies and other confections were spread throughout.

Diehl, who started baking at 14 years old, is an “expert’s expert” with an eye for detail and contrast.

He claims to have once diagnosed a fever, gauging the temperature within a tenth of a degree through only a kiss on the forehead. His desserts show a comparable degree of precision.

While eating Diehl’s treats it was easy to forget that, for all the hype built around it, chocolate is merely a delicious food product. But for many attendees at the “400 Years of Chocolate,” chocolate is more than that.

Chocolate, to them, has the potential to bring people, even whole communities, together. Some see chocolate in the roots of American democracy, while others talked about its power to heal and improve mental health. For others, like Diehl, the love for chocolate is simple and pure — because it’s chocolate.

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

To be naked or not to be naked, that is the question

Whether you’re looking for a quickie or a full-fledged leather-wrapped orgy, sex doesn’t have to be nude

Mallory Walker

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS columnist

When you really start to think about it, we all started our lives butt-naked.

We are introduced into this world with our bare bottoms displayed for all to see. Even if you’re thinking of our beginnings in the Christian creationist sense, Adam and Eve, too, started out in their birthday suits. But sometime between those humble beginnings and the 21st century, we lost our love for the nude. Even as I sit and write this,

I am clothed, everyone around me is clothed, and if I were to see someone here on the second floor of Swem buttnaked, I’d be a little confused.

When one thinks about sex in relation to nudity, it’s natural to associate being naked with getting hot and heavy. As the great poet and philosopher Nelly put it, “It’s getting hot in here, so take off all your clothes.”

Though these truly are words of wisdom, there are a few things Nelly didn’t really think about. Sometimes there is no need, or want, for full on nudity. Whether to strip completely down while engaging in sexy times is a matter sensitive to the time and space in which you are having sex.

Take the quickie, for example.

As the always-trustworthy Urban Dictionary puts it, a quickie is “fast

sex with little foreplay.” Quickies are often spontaneous, taking place in the most unexpected places at the most surprising times. When it comes to the quickie, who has time to take it all off? Belts, zippers and bra straps suddenly become too complicated when you’re trying to get some quick pleasure in between classes or before your roommate is due home. In these instances, there is no need to get naked; get to the good stuff instead of worrying about trying to take your shirt off.

With this clothes on vs. clothes off debate, one must not overlook the idea of lingerie and costumes. Fancy lingerie is unnecessary to many for one particular reason: Why would I want to pay so much money for underwear that someone is going to

rip off anyway? But if Victoria’s Secret or La Perla, whether it is a full-on ensemble complete with thigh highs or just a banana hammock, makes you feel more confident in the sack, it should definitely be considered a go-to. Costumes work in a similar way.

Though I don’t exactly understand why someone would choose to wear leather during sex (leather plus sweat plus friction does not amount to a fun time), it’s totally dependent on whether it gets you and your partner feeling some type of way. The only form of sexy clothing I am totally against, though, is the infamous edible underwear. Ditch the cherry-flavored thongs and choose instead to go with the classic whipped cream or chocolate sauce.

On the other hand, when you’re dealing with more intimate sexual

experiences, taking your clothes off is an entirely different story. Getting nude with your significant other can add a lot to the experience. Stripping down can be a way for you to bond more closely with your partner. Getting naked with a partner, not to mention having sex with them for the first time, can be a nerve-wracking experience.

There are uncertainties and lots of awkwardness. When it comes to what to take off and what to leave on, go with what you personally feel comfortable with. Anyway, I’ve heard that keeping your socks on during sex increases the likelihood of an orgasm, and there’s only one way to find out.

Mallory Walker is a Behind Closed Doors columnist who reminds you not to wear leather for your vegan boyfriend.

variety

Variety Editor Tucker Higgins Variety Editor Devon Ivie flathat.variety@gmail.com // @theflathat

The Flat Hat

| Friday, November 7, 2014 | Page 8

“

We were all doing

‘butt jumps’ synchronized.”

— Abigail Harrison ’18, Jump Rope World Champion

Jump!

Jump rope is the coolest sport you never knew was a sport.

This freshman is a world champion.

CHRIS MORRISON // THE FLAT HAT COURTESY PHOTO / PAM SHARMAN

The winning three-person Double Dutch routine that Harrison and her teammates performed involved multiple original and unusual tricks for the sport.

W

ith jump ropes in hand, tall postures and wide smiles, Abigail Harrison ’18 and her two double Dutch teammates opened their winning jump rope routine at the National and World Jump Rope championships this past summer.

Harrison and her teammates in the Bainbridge Island Rope Skippers won the championships for both the USA National Championship and the World Jump Rope Championship in the three-person double Dutch 18-22 age bracket.

“It was really stressful, but it was worth it,” Harrison said. “It was the last year we were going to be ultra competitive in [jump roping], so … it was our last chance to win.”

At the tournaments, Harrison and her teammates competed in multiple circuits including single rope, pairs synchronized jumping and three-person double Dutch.

“It’s different than most sports because you do events by yourself, so you do single rope stuff, but then you also do events with other team members, like double Dutch,” Harrison said.

She started jump rope when she was five years old through small after-school classes, and she quickly

developed a passion and skill for the sport that led to her joining the Bainbridge Island Rope Skippers when she was seven.

“There were girls on the team that I looked up to who were role models for me in the sport and other aspects,” Harrison said, “and I think when I first started going to competitions I just fell in love with it.”

Located in Bainbridge Island, Wash., the team is made up of members from elementary school through high school.

Unlike seasonal sports, jump rope takes up most of the year with only a very brief off-season.

“You train starting in September [and go] all year … then competitions don’t start until March,” Harrison said. “You only have one big competition a year, which is really stressful because you train all year for one minute.”

From September to March, Harrison and her teammates spent their months of training developing their routines and perfecting tricks.

“We would normally practice four days a week, and we go 11 months a year,” Harrison said. “So that part of it is a big time commitment.”

The winning three-person double Dutch routine

that Harrison and her teammates performed at the tournaments involved multiple original and unusual tricks for the sport.

“We had a trick, it was the very last trick, and the two people turning the ropes, me and Sarah, were in the splits … We did this trick called ‘butt jumps’ where you jump and the rope goes under your butt so you are on your butt jumping,” Harrison said. “The turners were jumping the ropes, and the jumper was jumping the ropes, so we were all doing ‘butt jumps’ synchronized.”

Along with performing in Long Beach, Calif. for the National Championship and Orlando, Fla. for the World Jump Rope Championship, Harrison and her teammates were able to travel and participate in other jump rope workshops outside of Washington state.

“Starting two or three years ago, we were old enough and had a certain skill level where we could staff the workshops and get to teach younger jumpers,” Harrison said.

The ability to teach jump rope to younger jumpers, according to Harrison, shows a strong sense of community within the sport.

“The jump rope community is really cool because I

was once the little jumper who looked up to the older jumpers, and now there’s little jumpers that I role model for,” Harrison said.

According to Harrison, high school graduations mark the departure of “graduating” teammates as they go elsewhere for college.

“It’s a lot harder to organize groups. but I’m hoping that we’ll be able to still jump for one or two more years,” Harrison said. “It is hard to practice away from them.”

According to Harrison, her participation in jump rope may have influenced her academic interests.

“I’m thinking about majoring in kinesiology, and that is probably because of jump rope and how it has affected my life,” Harrison said.

“I think it has taught me about working with others, and there has been such a big leadership aspect in jump rope that I think has been really valuable to me.”

FH

ONLINE For a video of Harrison’s routine, check Flathatnews.com

And now let’s go hand in hand to ‘A Comedy of Errors’ KAYLA SHARPE FLAT HAT ONLINE EDITOR

With a sharp rap of his cane, the esteemed Duke Solinus (Jason Via ’15) steps upon his pedestal and casts a sweeping gaze over the expectant crowd as an eerie silence fills the circus tent.

His long coat sways hypnotically as he addresses the audience, only to turn and disappear into the wings as gracefully as he appeared. Thus begins Shakespeare in the Dark’s production of “The Comedy of Errors.”

One of the shortest and earliest works of the great playwright William Shakespeare, “The Comedy of Errors” takes place in the city of Ephesus as two sets of twins who were separated at birth find themselves caught in the midst of a farcical case of mistaken identity. Hysteria ensues as Antipholus of Syracuse (Henry Hines ’17) and Antipholus of Ephesus (Matthew Spears-Heinel ’18), along with their respective slaves Dromio of Syracuse (Bruno Del Alamo ’16) and Dromio of Ephesus (Max Sorger ’16), find themselves

mixed up in scorned women, unpaid debts and perilous combat as they come closer to reconciling with their long-lost families.

Student director Erin McIntyre ’14 presents a dynamic and expressive cast in a whimsical and playful manner. The avant-garde circus theme allows the actors to fully immerse themselves in their roles and perform Shakespeare’s complex verses with ardor and conviction. While some high-octane sequences seem a bit overdone and several lines were lost to the actors’ backs, the immersive staging in Commonwealth Auditorium was precise and polished, making for playful interactions between actors and audience members. An apt sprinkling of colorful balloons across the stage enhances the circus setting and washes each fast-paced chase, fight and tumble in a flurry of floating multi-colored ornaments.

Costumes designed by Stacey Loveland ’17 and Abigail Simon ’17 vary from classic and traditional to detailed and elaborate while still allowing the actors to retain their full

range of movement. A distinct color scheme distinguishes between the two sets of twins, while evident accessories — ranging from delicate parasols to looming top hats — serve to personify each character. Despite the fact that some actors’ makeup doesn’t quite hold up under the heat of the action, the subtle intricacies of each character’s makeup are alluring without seeming harsh at close proximity.

The cast demonstrates the contrasting personalities of the characters to create several enticing foils. Isabel Steven ’17 plays Luciana, the capricious acrobatic sister of the fierce whip-wielding Adriana (Catherine Strycharz, a first-year grad student). Both Steven and Strycharz express great emotional depth, as Luciana hopes to experience love, but not at the expense of her sister’s marriage, while Adriana’s furious temper recedes to reveal a woman whose only wish is to be loved and respected by her husband.

Hines, Spears-Heinel, Del Alamo and Sorger all give impressive physical performances with well-defined

chemistry, propelling the show with well-timed comedic gestures. The actors convincingly play against his or her counterpart in a way that highlights each of their unique talents while lending depth to their motivations.

The ensemble contributes greatly to the spice of the performance by taking on multiple roles. Standouts include Hayley Wenk ‘18, who portrays the Russian goldsmith with a respectable accent, as well as Libby Miserendino ‘15, the sassy courtesan whose compelling mannerisms and interactions with other characters accentuate each scene.

A must-see show for the weekend, “The Comedy of Errors” showcases impressive physical comedy, unyielding stamina, well-rehearsed comedic timing and well-developed characters, all wrapped up in a theme that allows the audience to become fully immersed in the madness and mayhem of the stage.

Shakespeare in the Dark proves that low-budget theatre does not translate to low quality at the College of William and Mary.

COURTESY PHOTO / SHAKESPEARE IN THE DARK

Libby Miserendino, pictured, played Luce and Aemilia in this week’s production.