The Flat Hat October 3 2014 by The Flat Hat

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First College alum to reach National Football League broke racial barriers.

Virginia Fashion Week is coming to the College of William and Mary.

Calling all fashionistas

Remembering Art Matsu ’28

Vol. 104, Iss. 12 | Friday, October 3, 2014

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Policy

Revising the system, again

campus

‘TURN’ films on campus TV series shoots in Wren ABBY BOYLE Flat HaT MANAGING EDITOR

carol peng / THE FLAT HAT

The revisions to the Honor System add a three-person panel option and expand early resolution and tiered sanctioning programs to incorprate alleged lying and stealing cases.

Honor System underwent another round of changes this semester MEREDITH RAMEY Flat HaT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Revisions to the College of William and Mary Honor System continue with the implementation of three Honor System Advisory Committee resolutions at the beginning of the academic year. The revisions, introduced last spring, add a threeperson panel option and expand early resolution and tiered sanctioning programs to include alleged lying and stealing cases, rather than solely alleged cheating offenses. The HSAC, a committee created to continue the efforts of the Honor System Review Committee, dissolved last fall Clemens

following the implementation of their proposals. It HSRC began reviewing the Honor System in 2010 at the direction of College President Taylor Reveley. While the three new revisions — the first to be implemented at the HSAC’s recommendation — and the revisions made in fall 2013 at the HSRC’s recommendation, do not simplify the Honor Heeter System, Chancellor Professor of Government Clay Clemens ’80 said that they add needed flexibility within the system. Clemens is chair of the HSAC and previous chair of the HSRC. “There’s no question [that] the one-size-fits-all [Honor System] was simpler … and there is definitely

Student Life

virtue to simplicity,” Clemens said. “There are real drawbacks to that kind of simplicity, too, though — both in terms of how the system is viewed and how it is applied. The changes that we made beginning in 2013 and [this year’s] changes do add more arrows to the chart, in a sense, if you were trying to depict those things that were available to a student being charged with an honor infraction. … [We did] make it more complicated, but we do believe we made it more workable, both for students and faculty, and so it can remain something for people to treat as a point of pride.” Nate Heeter ’15, Student Assembly Secretary of College Policy and Student Rights and an advisor in the Conduct and Honor Advisor Program, agrees that the system is complex. Heeter emphasized the See HONOR COUNCIL page 3

Lights, cameras and a green screen surrounded the Sir Christopher Wren Building Wednesday, as AMC’s “TURN: Washington’s Spies” filmed an upcoming episode on the College of William and Mary’s campus and in the Williamsburg area. “TURN: Washington’s Spies” focuses on the Culper Ring, an American spy ring created in the late 18th century. The show premiered last spring and is currently filming its second season. William and Mary News reported that more than 100 cast and crew members were involved with production at the Wren Building, which will portray an English castle in the episode. More filming took place at the Governor’s Palace in Colonial Williamsburg. “The show takes place during the American Revolution, so we’re filming some in the historic village of Williamsburg, and we’re using that town as Philadelphia in our story,” producer Henry Bronchtein said. “We have several story lines. This show covers things that are going on in New York, things that are going on in Philadelphia, things that are going on in the battlefields and in Long Island, as well as other parts of the country, in the colonies at that time.” Bronchtein, a director, producer and production manager of the HBO series “The Sopranos,” said that the Wren Building was the most elegant of the locations producers selected as possibilities for this episode. He added that the College was gracious in allowing crews to be on campus. Some students had to enter and exit the Wren Building for class, while others stopped by outside to watch the filming in action. “The students seem interested and pleased that we’re here,” Bronchtein said. “There’s a lot of peoplewatching and we’re always glad for that, so it’s been a nice experience. We’re very grateful to be allowed to film here and grateful to be allowed to film in historic Williamsburg. We’re hoping we’re making a quality product that will interest people. We hope everybody watches.”

Student Life

Apps to promote safety Deeds talks mental health Two apps provide students with options to stay secure lizzy Flood THE FLAT HAT

In light of the disappearance of University of Virginia student Hannah Graham, the College of William and Mary’s Department of Student Affairs has been working to ensure that all students feel secure on campus.

One of their main goals is to increase awareness about two free mobile safety apps designed to promote campus safety. The “In Case of Crisis” app — designed to offer students advice on handling emergency situations and make them aware of whom to contact — has been offered for several years. The

Alludes to loss of son, focuses on new bill, mental health advice SARAH CASPARI FLAT HAT CHIEF STAFF WRITER

new “Rave Guardian” app was designed as a mobile version of emergency call boxes. The Guardian app also offers ways to send tips to the William and Mary Police Department and allows users to set timers that will alert selected contacts if they See SAFETY page 3

alumni

$1 million gift to fund economics Alumnus Tang donation to award professorship, salary supplement ABBY BOYLE FLAT HAT MANAGING EDITOR

Michael Tang ’76 has given the College of William and Mary a $1 million commitment to create a new professorship in the Department of Economics.

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Today’s Weather 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

The Tang Professorship will go to an accomplished faculty member, awarding him or her a salary supplement as well as research or teaching support. “We’re extremely grateful for Michael’s gift,” College President Taylor Reveley said See ECONOMICS page 3

See DEEDS page 2

Inside VARIETY

Inside Opinions

Facilitating safety

Foggy High 77, Low 66

COURTESY PHOTO / WM.EDU

Deeds spoke to students in Tucker Hall.

This November will mark a year since former College of William and Mary student Austin Creigh “Gus” Deeds took his own life and stabbed his father, state senator Creigh Deeds, D-Bath. Monday evening, Deeds spoke to a small audience about his efforts to reform mental health policy in Virginia. The audience’s knowledge of the history behind Deeds’s dedication to mental health legislation was assumed; he only alluded to the events that led to the loss of his son last year, and focused mainly on giving general mental health advice and explaining the basics of the bill that he is spearheading in the General Assembly. The bill, though broad in its scope, addresses specific problems Deeds said he believes to have cost Gus his life, such as the availability of beds in psychiatric hospitals and the time limit for holding a patient

in emergency custody. “I was dumbfounded that we didn’t have a bed registry for psychiatric beds online,” Deeds said. In addition to creating this online registry, the bill demands that if a private bed cannot be found, as was the case when Gus was brought to the hospital, then a public bed must be provided. The emergency custody time limit will also increase from 48 to 72 hours. “Mental illness is just like any other illness,” Deeds said. “The brain is just another part of the body. … If you go to the emergency room in cardiac arrest, they don’t turn you away because they don’t have a room. If you commit murder, the police do not turn you away from the jail because they don’t have room.” The bill also proposes to conduct a four-year mental health study, which he said would become more

First year iniatives should focus on how to handle emergencies on campus. page 4

Transcending minimalism and abstractness Jo Volley comes to Linda Matney Fine Art Gallery. page 6

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The Flat Hat | Friday, October 3, 2014 | Page 2

THE BUZZ

Mental illness is just like any other illness. The brain is just another part of the body. … If you go to the emergency room in cardiac arrest, they don’t turn you away because they don’t have a room. — Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Bath on mental illness

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

THE DIGITAL DAY

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Just in time for midterms season, this Tuesday, the Variety section of The Flat Hat will be running a feature titled “What Failure Taught Me.” Professors will share stories of times they failed in their professional and personal lives, and how they grew as a result of their faulure. “60 Second Stories” will be featuring a series of podcasts in which the professors tell the stories in their own words. To hear these stories and all other Flat Hat podcasts, check out The Flat Hat’s Facebook page and www.soundcloud.com/theflathat.

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Flat Hat study abroad blogger Matt Hefernan reflects on how studying abroad in St Andrews, Scotland has taught him to say yes: Yes to asking questions in class even though it may make him look stupid, yes to taking weekend trips to the Isle of Skye, and yes to haggis pizza. By unlearning some of the caution he became accustomed to at the College of William and Mary, he’s coming to appreciate Scottish spontaneity. To read these and other “Stories from Abroad” visit www.flathatnews.com. “Studying abroad, as I mentioned last week, means a lot of putting yourself out there when you’d rather stay in with a cup of tea, warm blanket and your Netflix subscription. To add to that, it almost means knowing when to take off and enjoy yourself — often much more than back home. This is made a lot easier because of the style of homework in the UK; instead of being in Small Hall until 3 a.m. several nights a week working on the weekly problem set, we have two weeks to work on much shorter problem sets that can actually be finished during the day. A stack of reading makes up for the shorter problem sets, but this is much more manageable and can often be done by the beach while watching the tide come in and hastily googletranslating some words from German. ”

CITY POLICE BEAT

Sept. 28-Oct. 1 1

Sunday, Sept. 28 — An individual was arrested for assault on New Hope Road.

Monday, Sept. 29 — An individual was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol on Lafayette Street.

Wednesday, Oct. 1 — An individual was arrested for larceny from a building on Scotland Street.

NEWS IN BRIEF

ASHLEY RICHARDSON / THE FLAT HAT

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Law School holds review

Archaeology Center works in Kingsmill

Raft Debate sails Oct. 6

The Marshall-Wythe School of Law recently held the annual Supreme Court Preview, hosted by the Institute of Bill of Rights Law. The Supreme Court Preview is an annual event. This conference, which took place just before the Supreme Court will convene for its 2014 term Oct. 6, gathered lawyers, judges, legal experts, and legal journalists from across the country to examine the Court’s upcoming cases. The conference, which lasted two days, included a Moot Court session and panels led by expert on certain areas of law. The lawyers who held the panels debated each other on why their case was worthy of going to court. This year, 15 advocates debated at the conference.

This Saturday, according to the Williamsburg-Yorktown Daily, the College’s Center for Archaeological Research will host an open house in Kingsmill to unveil the site its staff has been working on. The staff believes the site was occupied in the 17th and 18th centuries, although records are spotty because many of them were burned in the Civil War. The site suggests that a farm or plantation building once stood on the land, and researchers have discovered ceramics and bricks in their excavation. The College’s archaeology team is working on this site because the land is being screened as a requirement for two companies that want to build cell phone towers in the area.

The Raft Debate, a College tradition that pits professors from different disciplines against one another, will take place Monday, Oct. 6. The professors, a scientist, a social scientist, and a humanist, will argue about which one should survive an imaginary shipwreck because their field is the most valuable. The debating professors are Associate Professor of Art and Art History Charles Palermo, Professor of Economics Rob Hicks, and Associate Professor of Physics Patricia Vahle. Professor of Computer Science Andreas Stathopoulos will serve as the devil’s advocate, and Dean of Graduate Studies Virginia Torczon will be the judge. The Office of Graduate Studies and Research will host the debate.

Senator Deeds speaks on mental health DEEDS from page 1

challenging as time goes on and the immediacy of the situation fades. Deeds said this problem came up after the 2006 Virginia Tech shooting. “There are desperate things that occur in our society, and we try to face them and then the urgency passes and we’re onto the next crisis,” he said. “This year, while I was sitting in General Assembly session every day with scars darker than they are now, with eyes red from crying, it was impossible for legislation not to pass. People wanted to respond. The hard work is going to be going forward. The hard work is going to be making sure that we maintain the urgency to address our inadequacies in mental health here.” The event, sponsored by Student Assembly, HOPE, Active Minds, AMP and NAMI, marked the beginning of the College’s Mental Health Awareness Week. Following Deeds’s talk, SA members spoke about mental health initiatives for the upcoming year. “It is important that we continuously discuss topics in the field of

mental health, not just in response to tragedy, but in our everyday lives,” Student Assembly vice president Kendall Lorenzen ’15 said in an email. “It is difficult at times to ‘maintain the urgency’ when we discuss mental health as an abstract topic as Senator Deeds addressed, but it is something that we must do to attain a true community of support and understanding.” In terms of advice for students, Deeds had three points: Do not worry about things you cannot control, always look forward to the future knowing that things will get better, and take care of yourself and your friends. His call to “be your brother’s keeper” resonated particularly with HOPE mental health branch vice president Rachel Boykin ’15. “When Sen. Deeds began to give the audience advice, it reminded me of the analogy of why the flight attendant always tells us to put on our Oxygen mask first BEFORE helping others: because how are we expected to fully and effectively help others if we are not receiving the necessary nutrients ourselves?” Boykin said in an email.

Friday, October 3, 2014

The Flat Hat

Page 3

Student Assembly

Senate sponsors NOH8, transfer field day SA swears in new Class of 2018 student officials, other members elected in September Meredith Ramey flat hat Editor-in-Chief

The Student Assembly Senate unanimously approved the Transfer Student Act and the NOH8 Campaign Act Tuesday. The newly elected Class of 2018 senators and other SA members elected in the Sept. 25 election were also sworn in at the meeting. The NOH8 Campaign Act allocates $5,000 from the Student Activities Reserve to sponsor bringing the NOH8 Campaign to campus as well as to subsidize student ticket costs by 50 percent. The NOH8 Campaign is a charitable organization established to promote marriage, gender and human equality following the 2008 passing of Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage in California. According to their website, NOH8 uses photographic silent protests to respond to the passage of Proposition 8, with photos depicting individuals with duct tape over their mouths. The photos are taken by celebrity photographer Adam Bouska and his partner Jeff Parshley. Senator Tyler Brent ’15 sponsored the act and attended a NOH8 Campaign event at Old Dominion University last year alongside Tayler Mack ’15, a resident

assistant and member of the Office of Community Engagement. “It would be a great fit for the College, and I think it would be incredible to have this internationally renowned group come to campus,” Brent said. In support of the act, SA Secretary of Diversity Hannah Kohn ’15 said she is hoping to turn I AM W&M Week into initiatives that occur throughout the year. The Transfer Field Act, sponsored by Senator Nadia Ilunga ’15 and unanimously approved by the Senate, allocates $250 from the Student Activities Reserve fund to purchase food and equipment for a field day event for transfer students. The event is scheduled for today. “[This is] meant to be a gathering for transfer students as a touching base point after orientation, … giving [transfers] a chance to reconnect,” Ilunga said. The Senate voted to table the Charter Day Concert Act. Senate Chair Daniel Ackerman ’16 suggested tabling the bill so that newly elected members of the SA could discuss the bill in Senate committee meetings Sunday. Ackerman cited the amount of funds potentially allocated in the bill as the major reason for tabling the bill. Before tabling the bill, senators

discussed the Charter Day Concert selection process. Student body vice president Kendall Lorenzen ’15, a twoyear member of the selection committee, said the chair of the AMP music committee creates a list of potential concert artists once funding is secured. Last year, the chair of the AMP music committee, two Charter Day at-large students and the senator who sponsored the Charter Day Concert Act ranked the artists. This year, Sen. Yohance Whitaker ’16 sponsored the bill and Lorenzen and Rory Park ’15 will continue to serve as the students in the selection process. Both served in the same role last year, and will be shadowed by Catie Pinkerton ’16 and Thomas Fergus ’16, who will participate in the selection process for the 2016 Charter Day. Arvin Alaigh ’15 is the chair of the AMP music committee. Election Commission Chair Ryan Brophy ’15 provided a presentation regarding the results of the Sept. 25 freshman elections. Voter participation dropped from 57 percent in 2013 to 52 percent this year. “[The] 57 percent last year was mostly attributed to elections going down [the year before] and we had a whole news story on that,” Brophy said.

The EAC issued two warnings during the election process regarding postings. Brophy also cited efforts to run a sustainable, paperless election. Secretary of Finance Thomas Obermeier ’15 provided his monthly financial update to the senate. The SA Reserve started the semester at $169,879.19 and now rests at $150,079.19. The senate has allocated $12,808 from the conference fund, which started the year at $24,137. Secretary of Student Life Shannon Caietti ’17 updated senators on the Homecoming Grant Act. The SA awarded grants to six

have not arrived safely to a given destination at a set time. “The degree of interactivity is the difference. The Rave Guardian is for when you are in distress, or you have something to report,” Emergency Management Coordinator Kenton Towner said about the difference between the apps. Towner said that the Rave Guardian app also allows students to carry on direct text conversations with the Campus Police. “We know most students have their phones with them at all times,” Vice President for Student Affairs Ginger Ambler ’88 Ph.D. ’06 said in an email. “With the apps, crisis information and personalized support networks for students can now also be with them at all times.” Through the Rave Guardian app, students can add specific guardians to their list of contacts, ideally allowing those people to

know quickly if that student is missing. While the app provides more access to the Campus Police, Ambler and Towner said that students should not rely solely on their phones in dangerous situations. “We have to remember that the application doesn’t do anything magical to your phone,” Towner said. “If you’re in a place where you’re not getting a really good signal, you might not be able to take full advantage of the app. “ Towner said students can rely on the app in the same way they can rely on their phone in emergency situations. Ambler added that while the app can be useful, looking out for other students across campus remains key. “Apps can never be a substitute for everyday vigilance, nor will they replace the need for fellow members of the Tribe to watch out for one another’s well-being and to take personal responsibility for seeking help immediately when someone else needs

Meredith Ramey / THE FLAT HAT

Various new members of the Student Assembly were sworn at the Tuesday night meeting.

App promotes campus security APP from page 1

of the 17 applicants. Homecoming grants will fund the Black Student Organization’s BSO Annual Stompfest, scheduled for Oct. 18; HOPE’s Love on the Rocks — Consent is a Yes, which provides plastic red cups printed with relationship “red flags” that will be passed out during the Oct. 17 Homecoming parade; SEAC’s Groovin’ in the Gardens, scheduled for Oct. 17; Tribe THON and Campus Kesem at W&M’s roCKaTHON, scheduled for Oct. 16; Spotlight Show Choir’s Homecoming Concert; and William and Mary Black Law Student Association’s Movie Night.

it,” Ambler said. Though a sense of community is critical in promoting safety on campus, the Emergency Management Team and Department of Student Affairs expressed hope that the apps will help students feel more secure on campus. “We believe the app provides students with a swift connection to William & Mary police and offers them additional safety features that greatly help in circumstances where students may find themselves alone on campus,” Vice President for Administration and Ambler Chair of the William and Mary Emergency Management Team Anna Martin said in an email. “We urge all students to take a look at the app to learn how it might be of service to them.”

Tang donates funds to economics department ECONOMICS from page 1

in a press release. “This kind of support is vital for the university to keep recruiting and retaining splendid faculty members. The Tang Professorship will greatly assist our efforts to do this in economics.” The professorship is the fourth endowed position in the department, which is comprised of 20 people. Tang said that he wanted to establish the professorship in part to allow professors to work closely with their students, as several of Tang’s instructors did during his own undergraduate career. Department of Economics Chair David Feldman expressed the group’s gratitude for Tang’s gift. “My colleagues and I are enormously appreciative of Michael’s gift, which meets a real need in our department,” Feldman said in a press release. “Putting a high-quality faculty together with our excellent students is the William & Mary brand, and we hope his generosity will inspire others to pick up the torch of faculty support.” Tang and his daughter, Michelle Tang ’13, both earned degrees in economics from the College. Tang has served on the College’s Board of Visitors, the College of William and Mary Foundation Board, and the William & Mary Business School Foundation.

Honor system changed through September revisions HONOR COUNCIL from page 1

importance of educating students through CHAP guidance. “I think [the revisions] make a complex system slightly more complex. … I think the big thing for CHAP would be to understand the advantages and disadvantages of the new options so they can articulate those to the student,” Heeter said. Shahenda Helmy ’15, Chair of CHAP and a member of the HSAC, said she has been discussing the changes at general meetings and determining which routes are the best for advisors to encourage in different scenarios. “A member of CHAP is always part of the composition of HSAC, and that’s something I truly value because the more aware we are of those changes and revisions, the better resources we can be for students going through the process,” Helmy said in an email. Some aspects of the revisions, particularly the early resolution process for Level I, Level II and minor offenses, allow for shorter Honor System processes. “This change will provide a more efficient and timely process for the student, the community, and the Council,” Associate Dean of Students and Student Conduct Dean Gilbert said in an email. “We also hope it will allow the Council to apply its personnel resources to the reports that Chalko need them — those with complicated facts, multiple witnesses, or matters in dispute and needing resolution.” Undergraduate Honor Council Chair Caroline Chalko ’15 said the potential to shorten time spent going through the Honor System helps improve the experience for students navigating the process, as well as increases the consistency, clarity and relevancy of cases. “The amount of stress on students not knowing what is going to happen to them is awful. … We like to have it done, resolved, in a timely manner just so they have the peace of mind of knowing and if they’re found responsible they can then craft their appeal,” Chalko said.

New three-person panel offers alternative to typical six-person panels One fall 2014 revision introduces the option of a three-person panel, rather than the traditional six-person panel. “There are certain times of year, in particular, where posing a panel of six Honor Council members is very difficult, especially in the ends of the semesters or in the summers, and that has meant either that it has been incredibly complicated or that it has strung out the process,” Chancellor Professor of Government Clay Clemens ’80 said. Chalko said that, in summer Honor Council hearings, the College brings in nine members of the Honor Council for each case, including the six panel members, the member in charge

of the investigating committee, the procedural committee advisor and the chair of the council. With the revision, if an honor council chair determines that it is not possible to field a six-person panel, the chair may compose a three-person panel. If the charged student refuses the three-person panel and wants a six-person panel, the case is deferred until a six-person panel can be formed. The student’s request may be denied if delaying would jeopardize critical evidence or if witnesses would be made unavailable. If a student is denied a six-person panel, he or she may appeal the decision. “My issue [with this revision] is that the appeal is a post-hearing appeal,

versus an appeal before the hearing takes place,” Student Assembly Secretary of College Policy and Student Rights and an advisor in the Conduct and Honor Advisor Program Nate Heeter ’15 said. Post-hearing appeals require that a student demonstrate that a procedural error in the initial hearing resulted in the incorrect outcome. “I don’t see any situation where a student could actually show that. Even if it was the case, I don’t know how a student could show that to an appeal board,” Heeter said. Clemens said that reducing the size of the panel also reduces the percentage of the panel needed to find the individual responsible. In a six-

person panel, five panelists must find the accused guilty to enact sanctions, or 83.3 percent. In a three-person panel, two of the three panelists must find the accused guilty, or 66.6 percent. “That is a higher hurdle [in the sixperson panel], in a sense, and so … that might affect a student’s thinking of whether they might prefer a six- or a three-person panel,” Clemens said. “But it’s both a logistical issue and, in some cases, a [student] rights issue simply because the student doesn’t get a prompt hearing or an investigation if they can’t, literally, find enough people to serve.” This resolution applies to all Honor Councils at the College, including graduate school councils.

Council introduces early resolution system, tiered sanctioning process Two revisions enacted this year extend fall 2013 changes, such as the introduction of an early resolution system and tiered sanctioning, for cases of alleged lying and stealing, rather than solely for alleged cheating cases. “[These two revisions are] remedying issues that were more or less created by gaps in the newly revised code that took effect in the fall of 2013. … In a way, [these revisions] both extend revisions that were made and patch — I call them ‘patches’ — what was implemented in the fall of 2013,” Chancellor Professor of Government Clay Clemens ’80 said. These revisions only affect the Undergraduate Honor Council and do not apply to graduate honor councils. Before the 2013 revisions, all cases entered the Honor System with the automatic, base sanction of suspension. The 2013 revisions introduced a threetiered system of sanctions for alleged cheating infractions — Level I, Level II or Level III — while the latest revisions enact a two-tiered system for alleged lying and stealing infractions: major infractions or minor infractions.

“I have definitely felt a lot more comfortable Gilbert also said the codification should lead to having the different levels of cheating, for example, more consistent results in Honor Council sanction since last August,” Undergraduate Honor Council decisions. Chair Caroline Chalko ’15 said. “[It’s] something The early resolution system allows accusing that I think gives the students clarity, so I’m really faculty members to opt for a shorter Honor System happy that we were able to bring that to lying and process in cases of alleged stealing. … We can always move up or down based Level I or Level II academic on aggregating or mitigating circumstances. We’re cheating. Faculty members may not locked into a particular sanction. It’s just nice report an infraction and his to realize that different offenses do have different or her suggested level for the infraction. If the student accepts impacts on the community.” The Dean of Students office determines the level responsibility for the actions in of each alleged infraction. Major cases enter the question, the case enters the early resolution process and Honor Council with the original potential sanction Gilbert of suspension. the student receives a penalty as “The Levels of Sanctions for Lying and Stealing determined by the Dean of Students. allow for some flexibility for the Council in This process allows certain cases to bypass sanctioning more ‘minor’ violations, those that the lengthier Honor Council investigations and are not large in amount, scope, or impact on the hearings. Students have the right to turn down this community, while allowing for the Council to option in favor of a full investigation and hearing. The new revision extends the early resolution continue to respond strongly to more egregious violations,” Associate Dean of Students and Student process to include minor cases of alleged lying and Conduct Dean Gilbert said in an email. stealing.

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Friday, October 3, 2014

The Flat Hat

STUDENT LIFE

CCM Mass returns to Sir Christopher Wren Building Catholic services occur on Wednesdays, Fridays; resume to answer Pope Francis’s message of evangelization NICOLE WALSH THE FLAT HAT

After a ten-year hiatus, Catholic Campus Ministry has brought Mass back to the historic Wren Chapel. The move to Wren provides additional Catholic services on Wednesdays and Fridays at 12:05 p.m. and offers a more central location for students and faculty than St. Bede’s Parish, which is located on Harrison Avenue. CCM resumed Masses in this venue due in part to Pope Francis’s objective of new evangelization. According to Father James Glass, Chaplain, all community members are welcome to attend these services. “One of the things our new Pope Francis has encouraged Catholics to do is to come out from behind the walls of the church and bring the faith to the people, part of what is called a new evangelization. This is one way of celebrating that, by bringing the mass closer to the people, closer to those we’re trying to serve,” Glass said. Since the addition of these Masses at the beginning of the semester, CCM administrators and students said that those within the organization have reacted positively. CCM Director of Programming Mary Ellen Pitard said she appreciates the convenience of holding Catholic services in Wren, where the community can come together. CCM President William Gibson ’15 echoed this sentiment. “It’s nice to … finish up with class and walk across campus and celebrate Mass and get to pray, and also to be on campus and be in one of the most historic Chapels in the state, and in the country, too,” Gibson said.

Glass said he values the way holding Mass in the Wren Chapel impacts his congregation. “I love being at Wren because of its location in the center of historic campus, because of the incredible tradition and history that it has. And it has great acoustics … when we pray or sing, it rings,” Glass said. Although the College of William and Mary has historical ties to Anglican and Episcopal faiths, use of the Wren Chapel is open to any religious organization. The College’s website states that its connections with the Church of England and American Episcopal Church ended after the American Revolution and when the College became a state institution in 1906, respectively. CCM is not the only religious group to hold services in the Wren Chapel. For example, Bruton Parish offers Episcopal services on Tuesday evenings. Other religious organizations, such as Unitarian Universalists, the United Church of Christ, Orthodox Christian Fellowship and Hillel have held services within Wren Chapel in the past, said Assistant Director of Historic Campus Kimberly Renner ’06. “The Chapel is a special space, so we want to make sure it’s more serious things that happen in that particular space,” Renner said. Whereas the Historic Campus Office limits student organizations — like honor societies and music groups — to one event within Wren Chapel per semester, religious groups with an officially recognized ministry have more options. Renner also said that the Chapel remains available to students who wish to pray, meditate or even study in Wren.

AINE CAIN / THE FLAT HAT

Religious organizations with an officially recognized campus ministry have the opportunity to arrange chances to reserve the Sir Christopher Wren Chapel.

opinions

Opinions Editor Daria Grastara fhopinions@gmail.com // @theflathat

The Flat Hat | Friday, October 3, 2014 | Page 5

EDITORIAL CARTOON

STAFF EDITORIAL

Honor revised

More than just an SAT score Tyler Shaw THE FLAT HAT

The phrase “test-optional college” tends to carry a negative stigma. People seem to believe that, in some way, a college’s decision not to judge applicants based off a miserable four hours on a Saturday morning make it a worse institution. Yet this is not the case. A college’s prestige does not deserve to be impacted just because it does not mandate applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores. Over 850 universities are already test-optional, including many highly ranked universities such as the College of the Holy Cross, Wake Forest, Bowdoin College and Texas A&M. As more and more colleges follow this trend, it would make sense for the College of William and Mary to become a test-optional institution. The biggest advantage of standardized tests is that they are a quick and easy way to compare a large group of applicants. But as a small school with a liberal arts core, the College has the time and ability to evaluate all applicants individually and to define them as more than just a test score. The College could focus more on applicant interviews, essays and teacher recommendations to evaluate students. By ignoring standardized test scores, the College would be able to get a better feel for its applicants and incoming class. Standardized tests are poor predictors of a student’s collegiate success. A study at Bates College found that there was almost no correlation between students’ standardized test scores and their college GPA and graduation rates. Other metrics, such as courses taken or GPA, were shown to be better judges of applicants. The SAT and ACT do not show how well a student will perform in college — they only show

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how well a student does on standardized tests, making them a poor method to judge applicants. Not only do standardized tests fail to show the strength of a student, they are also biased and often do not accurately display intelligence. Different ethnic groups’ average scores vary by as many as 100 points per section. A similar gap can be seen between genders, especially in regards to men outperforming women in the math section. Plus, some students simply aren’t good test takers and will perform poorly on tests despite being bright. Standardized tests often unfairly represent a student’s true intelligence. One common fear is going test-optional will reduce the College’s academic standing. This is simply not the case, as going test-optional could potentially improve the prestige of the College. Often, a college sees a sharp increase in applicants after choosing to make its application test optional. For example, after going test optional, Ithaca College saw an increase of about 2,000 applications. Admittedly, many factors may have played a role in the rise of applications, so it is hard to definitely say how much of this growth can be attributed to the decision to go testoptional. But many other colleges experience a similar increase in applications after going test-optional. Thus, by making tests optional in the application process, the College could become more selective, helping to improve its ranking in many publications. Additionally, should the College ever decide to expand and increase enrollment, having more applications would allow it to do so without sharply increasing its acceptance rate over the current level. In life, it is better to be proactive rather than reactive. So, rather than watch idly as the ranks of test-optional colleges continue to grow, the College should get aboard early. That way, the College can gain an application boost and reap the benefits of becoming test-optional before many other schools do. The SAT and ACT are unfair, archaic methods that do not accurately measure students’ intelligence. Instead of relying on these outdated metrics, the College should focus on other data, such as information gathered in interviews and an applicant’s high school GPA, to gauge whether a student is a good fit to become a member of the Tribe. Email Tyler Shaw at tjshaw@email.wm.edu.

Some students simply aren’t good test takers, and will perform poorly on tests despite being intelligent.

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.

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COMMENTS @THEFLATHAT

Why didn’t you just call campus escort? I don’t think your friend has an obligation to walk you home. We have safety mechanisms in place, but students choose not to use them.

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BY PATRICIA RADICH, FLAT HAT GRAPHIC DESIGNER

he Honor System is one of the oldest institutions at the College of William and Mary, but even it needs periodic updates and revisions. Continuing last year’s modifications, three revisions went into effect this semester. Two of these extended the early resolution option and tiered punishment levels to include cases of lying and stealing, rather than only cheating cases. Additionally, the third revision introduced a three-person panel option, instead of a sixperson panel, to adjudicate cases. Overall, we believe these changes will help students accused of infractions and make the Honor Council’s duties easier. This year’s revisions, like those enacted before them, were unrushed and their implementation was delayed for one year after last year’s extensive revisions. In waiting, the committee could speak to Honor Council members and others about how the original revisions affected the system before extending them to more Honor Council cases. Additionally, while the Honor System Advisory Committee’s revisions make the system more complex, they provide more options for students going through the process, as well as for faculty coming forward with cases and for time-crunched Honor Council members. Shorter processes alleviate stress for all parties involved. The new, tiered sanction system gives the Honor Council more leeway when punishing minor infractions which may not warrant suspension. Ultimately, the Honor Code derives its strength and effectiveness from our willingness to engage with the Honor Council. This greater flexibility is also seen in the optional three-person panel. When suggested by the chair, this option allows the council to meet more effectively during breaks. The faster adjudication process allows students to move forward with their cases if they, and the chair, see it as the best option. However, one problem with this option is that some accused students who would prefer a six-person panel are denied it due to extenuating circumstances. While this will most likely occur rarely and will affect a relatively small number of students, it is still disconcerting that some students may face a three-person council rather than the traditional six-person one if they request the latter. Overall, the Honor Council should not prioritize convenience over student choice and should opt for the three-person panel as rarely as possible, rather than making it the norm. HSAC’s revisions will ultimately benefit accused students and the Honor Council, creating flexibility, better protecting student rights, and strengthening the Honor Code. Discussions regarding the Honor Council election process are just beginning. Although no proposals or suggestions have formally been made, the parties involved are looking forward, unafraid to modify an institution swaddled in tradition. While our institution prides itself on tradition, change is good, and the recently-introduced revisions and continuing discussion are moving in the right direction. Keep up the critical eye. Meredith Ramey recused herself from this staff editorial to remain unbiased in her reporting.

— Bobby on “Safety after Hannah Graham”

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Orientation should increase campus safety education

Isabel Larroca THE FLAT HAT

U.Va sophomore Hannah Graham went missing over three weeks ago. While the search continues, each day brings greater dismay over the likelihood of her safe return. With that concern comes the shocking reality of the dangers we often ignore in our daily lives. None of us expects to be “that person.” As a college freshman taking on a significant level of independence for the first time, Hannah’s story has been especially unsettling — even more so after considering how ill-prepared I feel to face a similar situation. As a supplement to the material presented during orientation, freshmen are required to take

part in four First Year Initiative sessions. Of these four, the session titled “Healthful Relationships” focuses the most on sexual assault and general campus safety. This would have been an ideal time to provide information about resources and strategies to help students stay safe. However, these topics felt rushed in order to make room for a lengthy group discussion about the definition of consent. I don’t deny the importance of such discussion, but in light of recent events, I wonder if it should have taken precedent over information that is directly applicable in emergencies. Hannah Graham appears to have been the target of a calculated individual who took advantage of her confusion and vulnerability, a person who had no regard for her consent or well-being. That’s what makes her story so terrifying. And that’s what, unfortunately, necessitates a more in-depth discussion of campus safety — a topic that deserves as much emphasis as the meaning of “when no means no.” The First Year Initiative sessions are an invaluable opportunity to go over with freshmen well-known strategies, such as not leaving your

drink unattended, going out with a group of people, and not walking home alone. Additional approaches to safety could also be discussed — like keeping someone updated about where you are and when you leave. Even more importantly, they offer the chance to explain in detail resources available to students such as Steer Clear, Campus Escort, apps such as Rave Guardian and the Emergency Call Boxes. These are instruments of safety on campus, and it is critical that every student have the ability to confidently use them. This past week, the office of Student Affairs and the Student Assembly sent emails outlining some of these resources. Given the tragic situation at U.Va, it was important information to get out to the College of William and Mary community. Hopefully, students will take the time to open and read the emails. But more needs to be done in the future. Discussing campus safety should be a priority for all incoming students, not an afterthought following a horrific event — or a footnote in a discussion of “Healthful Relationships.” Email Isabel Larroca at imlarroca@email. wm.edu.

GRAPHIC BY BRIAN KAO / THE FLAT HAT

variety

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

The Flat Hat | Friday, October 3, 2014 | Page 6

A minimalist’s delight at the Linda Matney Fine Art Gallery COURTESY PhoTO / LEE MATNEY

To artist Jo Volley, art doesn’t end at the end of the canvas. “I thought about how I could somehow animate that mysterious space that is always ignored. Why isn’t the back of a painting as beautiful as the front? It has another life, another kind of world” she said.

VAYDA PARRISH Flat hat staff wtier

f you visit the Linda Matney Fine Art Gallery at 5435 Richmond Road, you will find that its primary exhibition room is fairly empty. The white walls are dotted with colored circular hangings that oppose the relatively dull concrete floors. However, this aesthetic is intentional. Running through Nov. 16, the exhibit currently on display is “New Works for the New World,” an exploration of measurement, light, space and color by British artist Jo Volley.

“My inspiration for this show surfaced when I began to think about the space between the back of a painting and the surface that it hangs on,” Volley said at the opening reception for the exhibit. “The

idea came about after reading a book that I was given. It was a collection of the backs of paintings at the National Gallery in London. Some had smaller, sketch-like paintings on the back; some had inscriptions. I thought about how I could somehow animate that mysterious space that is always ignored. Why isn’t the back of a painting as beautiful as the front? It has another life, another kind of world to explore.” “New Works for a New World” delves into the relationships between pigments, light and the shadows that the two create when brought together. Each wall hanging has been colored using old-world pigment-creating techniques that Volley employed herself. The introduction of artificial lighting into each circle adds a depth to the seemingly simple pieces by giving them an air of subtle complexity. Volley’s inclusion of soft light and saturated hues helps the exhibition area avoid seeming plain. Gallery director Lee Matney is excited about his space’s newest artistic endeavor. He expanded on the correlation between Volley’s pieces and the way they are displayed. “Jo’s exhibit is unique because the gallery space is actually an integral part of the art,” Matney said in an email. “The walls, including the space behind the paintings as well as the lighting, are important here. The exhibit traverses territory beyond what might be obvious to the eye on a casual glance. I have

seen first hand with early visitors that this exhibit has slowed down the process of looking at art. The gallery has been transformed into an experience that is much more about the interaction of the art with the space. I hope more viewers will question their own process of looking and recognize how this exhibit challenges their preconceptions.” Matney also noted the gallery’s relations with the College of William and Mary and particularly with its art students. “Jo Volley’s installation within the walls of the Linda Matney Gallery reaches out and demands the viewer’s attention,” Kristin Lied Peyton ’12, a former studio art and Latin American Studies major, said. “Volley creates a delicate tension within the room that I could not escape. I was caught between the desire to step forward and look closely at the texture and intricacy of color across each piece/element, yet at the same time stand in the center of the room and take in the full presence of the circular colors and lines against the tall breath of the white walls. She reaches far into the viewer’s sense of sight, demanding contemplation, thought, and reference.” Volley is from across the Atlantic, so her travels to Williamsburg add even more layers to the show’s sense of adventure and detachment from reality. “One of the things that’s exciting about the show here is that I made the pieces in my studio in

London,” Volley said. “I’m so anxious to see how they show here. How are they going to light up? What are they going to do? I want to see how people react to this funny, disembodied world behind the paintings that I’ve created.” The Linda Matney Fine Art Gallery was founded to serve as a host for contemporary art in the Williamsburg area. Lee Matney’s decision to showcase “New Works for the New World” was made in an effort to modernize the gallery’s repertoire even further. “It is a commercial gallery as well as research based contemporary space where we collaborate with guest curators to produce projects we feel have cultural significance,” Matney said. “We try to strike a balance between the commercial and the experimental without undermining the integrity of our purpose. We have branched out into artists from other regions of the United States, as well as international ones, and we feel that the Jo Volley exhibit is a great jumping off point to study other international contemporary projects.” Matney and Volley both hope that the arresting nature of the exhibit will stir the emotions of all its viewers. “The pieces are more about what you invest in them and how contemplative they can be rather than their appearance,” Volley said. “I want to draw people’s attention to paying attention.”

Not just about football, tailgates gather crowds under big tent AMANDA SIKIRICA FLAT HAT Staff writer

On a small campus of fewer than 7,000 students, it can be difficult to create the same tailgating culture that is so iconic at larger “Big 10” universities. The College of William and Mary may not have the numbers to accomplish this, but what the College lacks in size, it makes up in community. “Most schools have tailgating, especially bigger schools who have a lot of spectators,” said Tori Rice ’15, co-captain of the cheerleading team. “I hope tailgating will get students more engaged with the game and increase attendance.” In April 2013, the Student Assembly passed a bill to reintroduce student tailgates for the 2013 football season. The bill outlined requirements for serving alcoholic drinks, designated areas for organizations and graduate students, and set aside money for security and trashcans. Organizations were awarded tailgate spots via a raffle. “The Student Assembly-sponsored tailgates began last year, and they were an instant success,” said Daniel Ackerman ’15, the Senate chair. “By the third tailgate, attendance was higher than I could have ever imagined. This year we moved the tailgates to the other side of Kaplan to save a bit of money, while also allowing for greater attendance and student organization participation.” In addition to Greek organizations, groups such as the International Relations Club and Tribal Fever have taken advantage of the tailgate spots. Students are not the only ones who enjoy tailgating; pre-game events have annually been a draw for alumni, and not just during Homecoming. “Tailgates allow a time for alumni to reconnect; it is also a place where you have a common bond across generations,” said Carol Dyke, Director of Alumni Events. “Students, parents, grandparents — all come together. My dream is to have the entire Tribe community come together in one location, similar to what we try to accomplish during Homecoming.” Morgan Dronen ’14, co-captain of the cheerleading team, has also

seen a great improvement in student participation. “Over the past year, I have watched the William and Mary community become much more involved in football tailgating,” Dronen said. “In the past, tailgating has largely been made up of alumni and the surrounding Williamsburg community. The student tailgate held at William and Mary Hall has been a great way for students to become more active on game days. Not only has this created a fun and safe activity for students, it has also helped increase the number of fans attending the football games.” The cheer team has its own tailgate, in addition to visiting all the surrounding tailgates before the game, accompanied by the pep band. “This procession allows us to spread excitement and anticipation among those attending before they even set foot in the stadium,” Dronen said. “Our ultimate goal is to prepare the fans for an exciting game full of chanting, cheering and an overall great day of football.” Ackerman thinks that the tailgates have been successful in improving student attendance. “The tailgates often bring out students who would not have attended a football game,” Ackerman said. “Once the tailgates end at kickoff, these students are more likely to attend the football games than if they never attended a tailgate.” Dyke has observed that fans are better connected before entering a game when they tailgate. The Homecoming game against Villanova is expected to bring an even larger turnout of both students and alumni. “We will continue to build on the All-Alumni and Reunion Tailgate which takes place in the Sunken Garden on Saturday afternoon,” Dyke said, “Under the large tent, we will have areas for the traditional reunion years to gather and in addition the tent holds a place for all alumni and friends to go and be with one another. We also have a Children’s Carnival, class reunion photos and WrenStock, which is comprised of alumni bands that want to get together and play at Homecoming. These bands were big on campus when they were here.”

COURTESY PhoTO / WM.EDU

Global Film Festival participant mingle at the 2012 Homecoming tailgate.

The Flat Hat

Page 7

Friday, October 3, 2014

New York, London, Milan, Paris...

Williamsburg?

Strike a pose: Virginia Fashion Week to strut in Sadler Center ALLEE LIZAMA THE FLAT HAT

he Fashion Week cycle, which began with Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York in September, finally came to a close this past Wednesday in Paris, much to the disdain of the fashion-forward people of the world. But for any fashion mavens at the College of William and Mary, another opportunity for entertainment is coming up soon in Williamsburg. Exclusively on campus during fall break, Virginia Fashion Week events will be held in the Chesapeake Room of the Sadler Center Friday Oct. 10 from 7-10 p.m. and Saturday Oct. 11 from 5-10 p.m. College alumna Ann Leister, owner and director of Splash Model Management, founded the event. Leister, who arrived to the interview wearing oversized electric blue glasses, an array of costume jewelry and an oversized gold statement necklace, explained her inspiration for VAFW. “I wanted to bring New York-style fashion shows to the Hampton Roads area and to spotlight the design talent, models and creative talent that call this region home,” she said. “It felt like a natural progression for my agency to help distinguish itself from others.” This year the event will include a model catwalk competition and an emerging designer competition Friday. Saturday, there will be a Style Lounge with Beauty Bar, as well as pop-up shops. VAFW is a chance for emerging and smallerscale designers, many of whom hail from Virginia, to showcase their work. The designers participate in hopes of selling their pieces to stores and boutiques or finding an investor to back their designs. Time will soon tell if 1970s aesthetics, tactile layering, slouchy shapes, transparent garments and other major spring/summer 2015 trends will be reflected in the collections of these fashion hopefuls. On Saturday, Mikasa La’Charles ’07, a contemporary ready-to-wear designer, will debut her newest collection. La’Charles won the VAFW emerging designer competition in 2009 and went on to claim a spot in the Top 20 Emerging Fashion Designers on the East Coast at Charleston Fashion Week in South Carolina. Another collection is Ayvazyan & de Beauvoir Couture by Gohar Ayvazyan Beaver, whose show will

be the event finale Saturday night. Beaver, who lives in Charlottesville, was born and raised in Armenia. Her designs have been showcased in Moscow, Armenia, America and Paris. Beaver is inspired by a mix of her Armenian heritage and other cultures to create pieces that are modern yet unexpected, with clean lines and edgy features. Lee Matney, the owner and director of Linda Matney Fine Art Gallery on Richmond Road, shot the promotional photos and lookbooks for many of the designers. He is also hosting the event’s after-party at his gallery. Matney was approached by Leister to help with the event when his gallery opened in 2010 and immediately agreed to get involved. “I was very excited about connecting art with fashion because it has interesting potential and synergy,” Matney said. “After the recession in 2008, a lot of people doing creative projects hit a snag. People support the art scene and what is happening here. It brings people together.” This year, the photo shoot for the event took place at the Cedar Inn in Williamsburg. Matney shot it inside the garden and the sitting room. The shoot was styled by Ann Leister’s daughter, Jennifer Leister ’15, and has an upscale Colonial-meets-Victorian-era aesthetic. Matney cites his inspirations as legendary photographers Irving Penn and Richard Avedon, as well as Tony Richardson’s 1996 film “Mademoiselle.” “I am really inspired by the psychology of the image,” he said. “Photography changes and manipulates reality, and I can project my psyche onto the photograph.” VAFW has had fairly successful attendance throughout its eight year run, although it has struggled to gain broad public awareness. The event has received little support from the cities of Virginia Beach and Norfolk, but found encouragement last year from the city of Williamsburg, and subsequently moved a weekend of the event here. J. Leister encourages students of the College who will be on campus during fall break to attend the event. “Even if you’re not a super ‘fashion-y’ person it will be entertaining,” she said. “On the flip side, if you are a fashion person it is a great opportunity to put on one of your fun crazy outfits and a pair of heels … [and] to meet really fashionable and cool people that are going to compliment your outfit.”

Courtesy photo / MARIA ROCK

“I wanted to bring New York-style fashion shows to the Hampton Roads area,” said Ann Leister, the event founder.

COURTESY PHOTO / MARIA ROCK

Virginia Fashion Week is a chance for emerging and smaller-scale designers, many of which hail from Virginia, to showcase their work. “People support the art scene and what is happening here. It brings people together,” Lee Matney said.

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

This season, here’s how not to get (razor) burned

Attention ladies: Embrace your freedom to put down those razors and vajazzle your way into your boo’s heart

Bodies are a weird thing. Sure, that statement alone might seem weird, but think about it: Bodies are made up of tissues and lumps and bumps. We’re full of imperfections. Our bodies are covered with scars and beauty marks, and don’t forget about hair — we have a whole lot of hair in a lot of weird places. Hair on your arms, your upper lip, your knuckles and hair covering your crotch. Pubic hair is just a weird thing. We all have a nice layer of hair covering our privates, yet the mere mention of pubes strikes fear and embarrassment for everyone within ear’s reach. Putting all of this weirdness aside, we

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are plenty of options out there: shave it all, shave some, or in the immortal words of the Beatles, “let it be.” When asking yourself, “to shave or not to shave, that is the question,” here are a few things to keep in mind. Does pubic hair gross you out on another level? Are you prepared to bring a shaving razor that close to your baby makin’ parts? Do you have the time to commit to a full landscaping plan (so many fun potential designs!) or would you rather keep it simple? Are you prepared to deal with the potential razor burn or the pain of waxing? Would you rather forgo the traditional grooming

and maybe add a bit a bling to your coochie? These are all important questions to consider, but one particular question deserves some commentary: What do folks find attractive? The simple answer is that it depends on who you’re gettin’ freaky with. Some people like zero hair, while others don’t mind a bush. Who wants a simple answer? I’m here to bring to you my grand theory on pubic hair. Whether you shave, wax or don’t do anything at all — whether you have chosen to pierce your privates or prefer to vajazzle, it’s all about werkin’ it. If you’re just hooking up or getting

Are you prepared to bring a shaving razor that close to your baby makin’ parts? Do you have the time to commit to a full landscaping plan or would you rather keep it simple?

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Mallory Walker

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS columnist

need to talk about pubic hair. Yes, pornos display hairless men and women; ads present us with images of women with hairless bikini lines (thanks, Nair!) and men void of happy trails; and stores are shelved with product upon product aimed at removing this “unsightly” hair from our bodies. With all of these images of perfectly hairless people, it’s no wonder we all share insecurities about how things should look downstairs. You might be thinking to yourself, “Why is this girl getting so analytical about shaving my pubes?” But there are so many things worth discussing. There

intimate with a partner, it’s what’s on the inside that counts. No, I’m not talking about your personality (though I’m sure you’ve got the best personality ever); it’s the fact that you are about to rock that person’s world in sexual ways they did not think possible. Even if you feel a little insecure because you slept in this morning instead of pulling out your shaving cream and razor, having confidence in yourself is all around more important than whether or how you “mow the lawn.” As many as my friends say, “you do you.” Whether you want to shave everything or create an elaborate design of the Eiffel tower in your pubes, it’s totally up to you. The moral of the story? Pubic hair, like life, is what you make of it. Whether or not the curtains match the drapes, nothing should be the be-all and end-all of your sex life. What really matters is that you’re taking care of yourself and having fun. Mallory Walker is a Behind Closed Doors columnist, who wasn’t kidding about that Tower. C’est la vie!

sports

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

The Flat Hat | October 3, 2014 | Page 8

Arthur Matsu: Hero amidst hatred First Asian-American student remains one of College’s most inspirational historical figures

JACK POWERS FLAT HAT ASSOC. SPORTS EDITOR The College of William and Mary met its ancient rival Richmond on Thanksgiving Day 1926. Football Captain Arthur Matsu ’28 lined up under center in front of 7,000 spectators as the star of a school and state that would not fully accept him. Matsu, the College’s first alumnus to enter the National Football League, was a four-year starter at quarterback. In 1928, 35 years after the founding of the program, The Flat Hat described Matsu as “the greatest quarterback that ever represented William and Mary and one of the best who ever played in the state.” Matsu’s athletic achievements were national news, as was his ethnicity. Born in Glasgow, Scotland to a Scottish mother and a Japanese father but raised in Cleveland, Matsu was the first AsianAmerican student admitted to the College. Matsu’s race set him apart from the rest of the student body, as did his abilities both on and off the football field. Voted the “Student who has done the most for the College” as a senior in the 1928 Colonial Echo, Matsu was a member of the Seven Society and two honors fraternities, and presided over the Varsity Club his senior year. In addition to football, Matsu played baseball and basketball and ran track for the College. While Matsu was a star athlete, club leader and student scholar, those titles disguise the extreme environment in which Matsu lived and, astonishingly, thrived. While setting records and earning accolades both on and off the field, his state and school were actively denigrating mixed-race people. In 1924, Virginia passed the Racial Integrity Act, which divided the state into two categories — white and non-white — and legally forbade interracial marriage. The law read: “It shall hereafter be unlawful for any white person in this state to marry any save a white person, or a person with no other admixture of blood than white and American Indian. For the purpose of this act, the term ‘white person’ shall apply only to the person who has no trace whatsoever of any blood other than Caucasian.” The law made it illegal for Matsu to marry any of his classmates and effectively criminalized his parents’ marriage. Prejudice in Richmond was mirrored on campus in school publications and organizations. Though the vitriol was directed primarily at AfricanAmericans, all non-whites felt the brunt of white supremacist sentiments. An April 17, 1924 Flat Hat editorial ran near the end of Matsu’s freshman year, supporting the new law and railing against inclusive racial views. “We cannot overlook the teaching of social equality, which can have but one ultimate result — intermarriage — unless the whites of the country are taught the meaning and priceless heritage they possess in a pure white race,” the editorial reads. The editorial lambasted states that had not taken similar measures against miscegenation, which would “result in the lowering of the higher race to the level of the lower.” John Powell, a contributor and spokesman for the Racial Integrity Act, helped found a chapter of the Anglo Saxon Club of America at the College in May 1923. The club operated on campus for at least part of Matsu’s tenure. Twenty students attended the club’s first meeting. A 1924 Flat Hat article listed a section of the club’s constitution: “This organization stands … for the wise limitation of immigration and the complete exclusion of unassimilable immigration … for the preservation of racial integrity; for the supremacy of the white race in the United States of America.” All of this occurred while the College’s star quarterback was a mixed race Asian-American man who was routinely praised for his intelligence and athleticism. Though Matsu’s ancestry was unacceptable in an environment of rampant racial hysteria, his feet, arms and mind were celebrated.

COURTESY PHOTO / PRINCTON ATHLETICS COURTESY PHOTO / EARL GREGG SWEM LIBRARY SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

COURTESY PHOTO / EARL GREGG SWEM LIBRARY SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

A four sport athlete, Matsu overcame a harshly prejudicial environment to excel both on and off the field at the College.

Football was a central part of life at the College in an era when games were dramatized as Homerian epics and cheering sections were vital to the reputation of the school. In a rule that defines the time, freshmen were required to attend all home games and stay the entire time. Students’ hypocritical acceptance of their team captain, at least as captured in records and publications, testifies to Matsu’s skill. A child prodigy, Matsu’s athletic prowess was noted early on. At age 13, Matsu was the subject of a nationally syndicated column by Bismarck Tribune sportswriter Paul Purman, who detailed Matsu’s early athletic accomplishments. His maturation set off a recruiting battle between Princeton and the College, an established northern power versus an upstart southern program. Matsu committed to the College and, in the course of his four-year tenure, helped build the Tribe — then called the Indians — into one of the strongest teams in the South. The College enjoyed a 24-12 record against an improved schedule over Matsu’s four years. The Indians had compiled a 1619 record over the previous five seasons. Listed at 5-foot-7 and 145 pounds, Matsu was the heart and soul of the College’s offense. Campus publications commonly called him a “triple threat man,” referring to Matsu’s speed, kicking strength and throwing ability. Matsu’s teams played larger, more renowned northern squads and often threatened an upset. The cover story headline of the Nov. 1, 1925 New York Times sports section read, “Harvard wins 14-7; W&M surprises: Matsu Amazes Crowd.” The 1926 Colonial Echo detailed Matsu’s appeal: “Matsu has demonstrated his ability as one of the cleverest field generals ever at William and Mary. Aside from his precision and direction of the team on the field, ‘Art’ is a sensation in the passing medium.” While Matsu’s importance to the team was evident, his relatively reassuring biracial appearance may have contributed to the student body’s tolerance. Professor Francis Tanglao-Aguas, director of Africana Studies, took inspiration from Matsu’s story in trying to build an Asian-American studies program at the College. He advances a theory for Matsu’s acceptance along this logic. “In a way, his excellence in sports coupled with good looks prefaced the notion of the model minority syndrome that many Asian Americans (and possibly

COURTESY PHOTO / EARL GREGG SWEM LIBRARY SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

Matsu, far left, led the College to a 24-12 four-year record as quarterback, including a 1926 bowl victory over Chattanooga.

other people of color) face today,” Tanglao-Aguas said in an email. “To be precise, yet without taking any of his achievements from him, Art Matsu may have been able to successfully navigate the racist period of American history because he presented an image closer to the likeness of the pervading identity coupled with his extraordinary athletic abilities in sports clearly deemed as ‘American.’ ” Later descriptions of Matsu portray a smart, tough and likable man. Matsu’s on-campus popularity was such that he even participated in a farcical ballet show with teammate Meb Davis ’28. Fifty-four years later, Davis recounted the scene

in the April 1980 edition of the Alumni Gazette. “Bow-legged Art in white stockings and fluffy dress falling in my arms!” Davis told the Alumni Gazette. “I carried him offstage over my shoulder!” That “Art” became a hero for students, many of whom professed belief in the inferiority of his heritage, is undeniable and helps explain why 800 College students cheered on their team against its rival in Richmond on Nov. 25, 1926. The College, under head coach Joshua Wilder Tasker, had become a state powerhouse by 1926. Matsu’s senior season was the finest campaign to date. The Indians came into the game against the Spiders with a 5-3 record, having dominated regional competition, falling only to national powers Harvard, Syracuse and Columbia. Matsu and go-to receiver Davis were selected to the all-state eleven by the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Matsu had not lost to the Spiders in his first three years, flattening them by a combined score of 6112 and reversing the College’s prior series record of 7-24-2. Matsu and the Indians were the heavy favorites over the Spiders in 1926. Richmond kept the game scoreless until the fourth quarter, when Matsu and company’s offensive firepower broke through for two scores in the final minutes. The Indians amassed 471 total yards on the day in a 14-0 victory. The win sent the College to a bowl matchup with Chattanooga, which had tied for first in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association. The Indians triumphed 9-6 thanks to Matsu’s decisive 47-yard field goal. In covering the Richmond game, The Flat Hat reported, “It was just a case of a weaker team, with its back to the wall withstanding the attack of a more powerful machine for three grueling quarters only to be subdued and beaten in the closing minutes of the contest.” The article went on to state, “Captain Art Matsu, playing his final game on Virginia soil, was in a great way responsible for the Indians’ showing.” Matsu became a pioneer upon his entry into the College, and as he walked off the field victorious on Thanksgiving Day, he was a star in his own right. The College would not truly appreciate what Matsu did that day until decades later. A man of a “lower race” had beaten the Spiders and become a legend.