The Flat Hat September 10 2019

Vol. 109, Iss. 11 | Tuesday, September 10, 2019

The Flat Hat The Weekly Student Newspaper

of The College of William and Mary

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Dorian closes campus Second severe weather-related closure in two years sparks re-examination of emergency protocols ETHAN BROWN // FLAT HAT MANAGING EDITOR The College of William and Mary cancelled classes and closed administrative offices Friday, Sept.

6 due to expected severe weather conditions generated by Hurricane Dorian. Dorian, now a posttropical storm system impacting portions of Eastern Canada, threatened Williamsburg last week as it travelled north parallel to the East Coast after striking the Bahamas.

In anticipation of Dorian, the College announced Thursday, Sept. 5 that all universitysanctioned events and classes would be cancelled after 7 p.m. that evening and that the College would remain closed until 8 a.m. Saturday. In a TribeAlert message sent to staff, faculty and students Thursday afternoon, several expected weather conditions — including heavy rainfall, high wind gusts and sustained wind speeds of over 30mph — were referenced as contributing factors in the decision to temporarily close the College.

When the College publicized its decision to close campus Sept. 5, contingency plans addressing Dorian’s potential impact on southeastern Virginia had begun almost a week prior when the College’s emergency management coordinator first initiated contact with the administration’s broader emergency management team. Senior Associate Vice President for Communications Brian Whitson, among the members of the College’s EMT, said that Dorian became a topic of conversation days before the campus-wide message was distributed.

“The EMT started discussing the need for a campus message about a week ahead of the storm’s arrival,” Whitson said in an email.

As Dorian’s path drew closer to Williamsburg, the EMT met to discuss various options in responding to the storm, including closures and student evacuations.

In addition to holding two in-person meetings to discuss Dorian Tuesday, Sept. 3 and Thursday Sept. 5, the EMT listened into severe weather updates provided by the National Weather Service in informing the College’s decision-making process.

Vice President for Student Affairs Ginger Ambler ’88 Ph.D. ’06 noted that the EMT constitutes a diverse array of representatives from within the College community and indicated that the choice to include representatives from different swaths of campus maximizes the likelihood of making a well-

COURTESY PHOTO / WIKIPEDIA

informed decision on severe weather incidents like Dorian.

“The members of the EMT represent many areas of campus and the expertise needed to respond effectively in a weather emergency — eg. W&M police, facilities management, residence life, dining services and transportation, university communications, athletics, student affairs, Reves Center, academic affairs,” Ambler said in an email.

While the EMT is instrumental in guiding the College’s policy responses to severe weather incidents, the decision to cancel classes ultimately rests with the Provost. The EMT is then tasked with implementing her decision and publicizing it to members of the College community, as well as with providing updates regarding the storm’s progress.

One of these updates came Friday afternoon, when students, faculty and staff received an update from EMT Chair Sam Jones regarding the storm’s passage.

“Hurricane Dorian has moved offshore, and the William & Mary campus experienced relatively little impact from the storm,” Jones said in an email.

While Dorian’s influence in Williamsburg was limited mostly to intermittent thunderstorms, the decision to close the College came almost a year after Hurricane Florence’s landfall, which prompted a campus-wide evacuation last September.

In advance of Florence, classes were cancelled for three and a half days, and residence halls were closed for almost four days, requiring students to evacuate the area. According to Ambler, the differences in severe weather forecasts associated with both Dorian and Florence explained the rationale behind closing the College this year, rather than evacuating students as was done last fall.

Ambler noted that the College’s primary concern with severe weather events in Williamsburg is the possibility for widespread electrical power outages, which undermine the campus’s ability to function properly and limt the administration’s ability to provide a safe haven for students. When dealing with complex and unpredictable storm systems, Ambler said that the likelihood of power outages is a major consideration in determining the College’s course of action.

“Because many of our campus safety systems rely on electrical power (including door access and fire suppression systems), decisions to evacuate are frequently made with that variable in mind,” Ambler said. “That was the case with Florence last year. With Dorian, the predicted impacts were not nearly as extreme — as of last Thursday, winds in Williamsburg were no longer expected to exceed 45 mph and anticipated rainfall was down to 2 inches.”

EMT members stressed that the decision to close or evacuate the College is a case-by-case one and that there are no specific thresholds that must be met in order to pursue any given decision. Whenever severe weather threatens the area, the EMT reconvenes to address it as an individual incident and avoids categorizing it alongside past storms. According to Ambler, this holistic approach ensures that the College community is kept safe in the face of potentially dangerous weather-related activity.

“Each storm really is unique, and we look at all the variables known to us at the time when weighing our options,” Ambler said statement.

Lemon’s hall fee remains the same despite accessibility designations Higher Lemon room rates raise questions over role of socioeconomic status in shaping freshman dorm preferences EMMA FORD FLAT HAT NEWS EDITOR

Last spring, the College of William and Mary’s Residence Life announced several changes to housing for the 2019-2020 academic year. One of those changes included the reclassification of Lemon Hall from an upperclassman residence hall to a freshman one.

However, the College chose not to reduce the room occupancy price of Lemon Hall, which is currently set at $4,309, compared to the standard rate of $3,829 for a double. This decision makes it the first time that the College has had different price rates for freshman dorm options.

“Yes, this is the first time that a premium rate hall has been made available to freshmen,” Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Director of Residence Life Maggie Evans said in an email. “…We needed to provide assignment options for all students (not just upper-level students) that allow for full wheelchair/mobility accessibility throughout the building, yearround climate control, and single-use bathroom facilities.”

Lemon is among the residence halls whose singles, doubles, triples and quadruple rooms are priced higher than the standard room fees of other residence halls. Chandler, Hardy and Landrum Halls, as well as fraternity housing and the Colonial Williamsburg House, also are priced the same as Lemon. As a freshman dorm, Lemon double rooms cost $480 more per semester than the standard, main campus freshman double.

Evans explained that decision regarding the price of a certain dorm does not come down to the classification of the dorm, but

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instead relies more heavily on the operational costs that the College incurs for maintenance.

“The room rent rates don’t have anything to do with the designation of a hall as freshman or upper-level,” Evans said.

“Rather, it is based upon what is costs the university to build/ renovate/or maintain certain types of halls. Lemon, Hardy, Chandler, Landrum, Fraternities, and One Tribe Place cost us more to finance, and they have more expensive amenities such as HVAC systems that students can control year-round, access to more private bathrooms, and more common spaces and study lounges. Other (typically older halls that have not yet been renovated) have either no AC, or it if there is AC, it is only available during the summer months (such as Yates and DuPont) these buildings are in one of three modes- Heat On, Cooling On, or nothing on. As such, utilities in these buildings are less expensive.”

Evans also explained that for many of the dorms set at a relatively lower rate, the College has already paid off their mortgages, which makes them cheaper to maintain.

The decision to transition Lemon into a freshman dorm was rooted in increased demand from freshmen who require airconditioned rooms for accessibility-related purposes.

In October 2018, discussions between ResLife, Student Accessibility Services Office and the College’s Office of Compliance and Equity determined that there were not enough current freshman dorms that possessed sufficient heating and ventilation and air conditioning systems. They also decided that there were too few freshman dorms that included elevator access and accessible entrances for students who receive mobility-

Inside Opinions 2 3-4 5-6 7-8 9-10

See LEMON HALL page 5

Inside Sports

Student organizations offer valuable sense of community on campus

Sunny High 85, Low 67

based accommodations.

When asked for the percentage of Lemon’s population used for accessibility accommodations in comparison to other freshman dorms, Evans declined to comment. Instead, Evans said that the percentage of students is not a driving factor for the reclassification of Lemon.

“We are legally (and I believe ethically) committed to provide such accommodation when needed, and our previous freshman halls were not able to tick off all of those boxes outlined above,” Evans said. “The number/percentage of students with accommodations fluctuates in each hall each semester, and that total number is really not the issue at hand.

The key component is our readiness and ability to accommodate needs of incoming freshmen, regardless of the actual number accommodated. Whether we have 20 or 200 students in Lemon with accommodation needs is not the issue. The issue is that we are prepared to meet the needs of each of our students, whether they are a new freshman, transfer, senior, or graduate student.”

According to Associate Dean of Students and Director of Student Accessibility Services Lesley Henderson, a student’s socioeconomic status does not affect how a student’s accessibility requests are handled by SAS, despite Lemon’s increased room rates.

“I think that if a student ever reached out to us and say ‘I can’t afford this particular hall,’ and —there are maybe once or twice in the past and I’m sure it is a consideration — we might reach back out to Residence Life and say ‘is there any other residence hall that would meet this student’s needs?’” Henderson said. “When

Gavin Aquin ’22 discusses his thoughts about campus student organizations and their role on his college experience. He urges underclassmen to get involved while they still can. page 6

Cavaliers dominate Tribe

The Tribe was defeated 52-17 in London’s return to Charlottesville, as offensive falters doomed the College early and the defense allowed 511 total Cavalier yards. page 9

newsinsight “

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THE BUZZ

News Editor Heather Baier News Editor Leslie Davis News Editor Emma Ford fhnews@gmail.com

The Flat Hat | Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2019 | Page 2

We are, by design, bringing together folks from different parts of the institution to be able to focus on what it might mean to think as a whole institution, to set long-term twenty year goals, to set ambitious goals with the interests of the whole institution in mind, and to reinforce our sense of responsibility for cultivating the opportunities and addressing the challenges that we face.

— College President Katherine Rowe in her campus wide forum Sept. 4

THIS WEEK IN FLAT HAT HISTORY September 9, 2008 — News: Taylor Reveley becomes the College of William and Mary’s 27th permanent president after a decision by the Board of Visitors. After much debate, the BOV announced Reveley as the next president in order to replace former president Gene Nichol. 11 of the 17 members of the board voted unanimously to hire Reveley, with the other six releasing statements of support.

September 8, 2006 — News: Dean of Arts and Sciences Carl Strikwerda announces that the International Relations department is proposing a new set of requirements to make the major more competitive. Among the controversial choices was the increase in required economics classes that majors were required to take.

September 9, 2005 — Variety: Student Assembly took over the Sunken Garden for the College’s new cultural event: Mosaic, a diversity fair. With the help of 24 various student organizations, including the University Center Activities Board, Mosaic looked to be one of the largest student-hosted events of the time.

September 8, 1995 — News and Opinions: After a disagreement with the College regarding her tenure and contractural status, Associate Professor of History Maryann E. Brink left her position as a faculty member. Due to allegations of flaws in the review process, Brink was able to appeal to receive a new review. However, the College did not honor its obligation to award her a temporary contract. Professor Brink later wrote to the editor apologizing for her abrupt exit from the College, due to its unwillingness to honor its own policies.

HISTORY BY GAVIN AQUIN / FLAT HAT SPORTS EDITOR

A THOUSAND WORDS

COURTESY PHOTO /MATT KIEHL

Kiehl hopes to support members of CCM during these formative years of their lives and work together to create a campus ministry that caters to students.

Priest fosters open community New Campus Catholic Minstry father hopes to welcome students at all stages of life

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KARINA VIZZONI // FLAT HAT NEWS ASSOC. EDITOR Father Matt Kiehl, the new priest at the Campus Catholic Ministry, is the new kid on campus. Before arriving in Williamsburg, Kiehl began his priesthood at a diocese in Richmond. After his stint in the state capital, he served as a priest at Roanoke, Virginia, where he primarily worked with regional high schoolers. His previous work with young adults will shape Kiehl as he begins his new position at the College of William and Mary.

“I was our school’s campus minister as well and the chaplain of our school, which was actually pre-K through 12,” Kiehl said. “So in a sense, I think it was pretty good preparation for moving into campus ministry. I was working mostly with juniors and seniors in high school, so they were saying when I found out I would be coming here, ‘Oh you’re graduating and headed to college!’”

Kiehl had suspected he would be reassigned from his Roanoke position, and sure enough, he was called to start a new assignment at the College by the bishop.

“I had suspected I would be getting a new assignment, but I would not in my wildest dreams have thought I would have landed here, but I was really thrilled; it was a very pleasant surprise, and, as I said, especially given some of the work I had been doing in a high school context, it felt in a way like a very natural progression,” Kiehl said.

Kiehl was raised Catholic, and religion was a major part of his life that he always enjoyed.

Once Kiehl headed to college at George Mason University, he became accustomed to going to mass regularly.

“It was over those years, while I was studying government, where my discernment took on a more intentional flavor,” Kiehl said.

Kiehl hopes that he will be able to relate to college students, especially given his age and his adeptness with social media, and his previous work dealing with his two younger students. He also acknowledges that his previous experiences with high schoolers will hopefully assist him in relating to the College’s population.

“I hope that some of my experiences will help me to relate more to the students, and also just my disposition of openness,” Kiehl

said. “Being new here, I’m just very interested in getting to know everyone, getting to know the culture, the

“When I got here in July, I got to know some of the folks who were here yearround, and was really affirmed by how excited they were to welcome the students back to campus,” Kiehl said. “There’s a very healthy and life-giving dynamic at work there between the students and other members of the community, so I’m grateful they enjoy worshipping together and collaborating together.”

Kiehl aims for the campus ministry to be a welcoming place for students. Whether rhythm of life it be a place for peace or togetherness, Kiehl on campus, so expresses his hope that he can create that hopefully I’m in space for students. a good spot to “I think on a college campus you encounter people have so many people that are seekers — in many different ways,” Kiehl said. and meet them where they are “People that are seeking wisdom and and serve them as knowledge and the tools that they need best I can.” to advance their careers, people who In discussing are seeking an encounter with God, the his goals for the transcendent, seeking companionship, Catholic Campus friendship, community.”

Ministry, Kiehl Kiehl enjoys walking around — Father Matt Williamsburg and getting to know the asserts that he did not come into breweries here, as a homebrewer himself.

Kiehl this role with a However, most enjoyable has been getting set agenda, but to know people throughout the area. instead wants to “The people have been fantastic, like pursue listening to student needs. the students have been so welcoming, the “I hope that in a sense I can bring my own community, the people at the university experience in that part of my life to the folks have been hugely welcoming and just here, you know to kind of recognize and affirm great support in navigating the transition,” the fact that this is a very formative time in Kiehl said. the lives of the student here, not only in an Ultimately, Kiehl anticipates being a academic sense, but in a vocational sense, resource for students, especially during such and just in the sense of developing as a human a significant period of their lives. being, and all the things that that entails.”

“There are very big consequential things Given Williamsburg’s diverse age groups, on the immediate horizon for you guys, and Kiehl prepares to use his previous experiences I want to really kind of be a resource and a with the demographics he witnessed in source of prayerful support in navigating Roanoke to manage the parish community in everything that comes with discerning what Williamsburg. Kiehl has witnessed firsthand the future holds, what God has in store for how intertwined the College’s community is them, that’s a real gift and something I look with the broader one Williamsburg, and hopes forward to developing as I get to know the to continue to facilitate that relationship. students here.”

...this is a very formative time

in the lives of the students here, not only in an academic sense, but in a vocational sense, and just in the sense of developing as a human

KARINA VIZZONI / THE FLAT HAT

CORRECTIONS An article in the August 23 issue, “Students each pay $1,192 towards athletics” incorrectly stated that students pay $1,192 towards athletic fees. Students actually pay $1,992 towards varsity athletics.

The Flat Hat wishes to correct any fact printed incorrectly.

Corrections may be submitted in email to the editor of the section in which the incorrect information was printed. Requests for corrections will be accepted at any time.

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being and all the things that that entails in the sense of developing as a human being.

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Carmen Honker Chief Features Writer Fernando Castro News Assoc. Editor Sarah Greenberg News Assoc. Editor Kim Lores News Assoc. Editor Karina Vizzoni News Assoc. Editor Isabella Miranda Variety Assoc. Editor Lauren Cohen Opinions Assoc. Editor Anthony Madalone Opinions Assoc. Editor Alyssa Slovin Opinions Assoc. Editor

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COURTESY PHOTOS / MATT KIEHL

Before coming to the College, Kiehl had prior experience as the Chaplain and as a campus priest for a preschool through 12th grade school in Roanoke.

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The Flat Hat

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

CAMPUS

Lemon Project fosters historical discussion

College initiative will enter ninth year, host symposium

CHARLES COLEMAN FLAT HAT CHIEF STAFF WRITER

As the new academic year begins, the Lemon Project is celebrating its ninth year of working towards discovery and reconciliation for African Americans enslaved by the College of William and Mary in the early days of its history. As it nears the completion of its first decade in operation, the Project continues to build scholarship and awareness of these untold stories through research, open dialogue and community engagement.

The Lemon Project will host a number of events throughout the year designed to increase community discussion and foster student participation. These include a series of dialogues titled Legacies Porch Talks, which allow students, faculty and guests to learn and discuss a variety of subjects concerning the College’s history with enslaved people. Along with these talks, at the end of every semester, the project hosts a Drum Circle to continue engagement and serve as an event of cultural exchange.

In March 2020, the Project will host its tenth annual symposium with the theme “When and Where They Enter: Four Centuries of Black Women in America.” This symposium aims to present various subjects associated with this theme and widen the Project’s scale of education and awareness, both on campus and around Williamsburg.

Lemon Project Director Jody Allen described the Project’s commitment to community engagement and its intention to continue the enhancement of education.

“From day one, the Board of Visitors’ resolution acknowledged the need to build a bridge between the campus and the great Williamsburg community, particularly the African American community … One of our goals is to actually get out and find out how we can better support K-12 education,” Allen said. “One of our goals is to begin next summer to offer a summer enrichment program for local students but also during the school year find ways to support the teachers and maybe get some of this information about the history we’ve been researching into the public schools.”

Allen shared how the Project is steaming ahead in its ninth year and indicated what the Project continues to strive for in its immediate future.

“The research is not finished; I believe that there is still a lot more for us to find, a lot more available resources out there,” Allen said. “We’ll be overseeing and making sure that we continue to keep moving forward, maintaining to involve the local community, and this coming March is our tenth Spring Symposium. Maintaining that we keep moving towards this idea of racial healing and real reconciliation, and that’s something that’s ongoing … you have to keep working at that goal.”

The Lemon Project Program Manager Sarah Thomas ’08 shared how the Project has begun to work with closely with students and cultivate broader acknowledgment and participation by the student body.

“The Lemon Project Society is our student volunteer group,” Thomas said in an email. “The 2019-2020 school year will be our first full year with our LPS members ... LPS members serve as ambassadors to the university community by spreading the word about our research, events, and programming; assisting in preparations for and during our events, including the annual Symposium; and helping us form connections throughout the college community. One of our members, for example, helped us begin a partnership with AMP. AMP is holding a Pop-Up event called “The Lemon Project: Uncovering William & Mary's Past,” to spread the word among students about our work.”

The Pop-Up event was originally scheduled for Sept. 6, but has since been rescheduled for Sept. 20 due to closures resulting from Hurricane Dorian.

Thomas also noted her aspirations for the Project in the upcoming year and expressed her desire to increase community engagement. Thomas wishes to connect with both members of the College and the Williamsburg community to help rebuild this aspect of the College’s history.

“I hope to continue to increase our community engagement efforts, as well as work towards establishing a research and

resource center on the study of slavery and its legacies at William & Mary,” Thomas said in an email. “While we have done much research on W&M’s long history of owning and benefiting from enslaved people, as well as its engagement in Jim Crow era practices, there’s always more work to be done. I look forward to doing that work alongside the Lemon Team, Lemon Project Society members, and our supporters throughout the college and surrounding communities.”

The Lemon Project received a $1 million grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, which is designated to improve genealogic research both on the College’s campus and at James Monroe’s estate, The Highland. The Project hopes to find direct ancestors of the enslaved people who helped build the College and work with them to continue the process of rectification and discovery. To facilitate this process, the Project will be hosting free workshops for community members to study and attempt to trace their lineage back to enslaved peoples who lived at the College.

Early last summer, the Project announced that they had chosen a design for a memorial dedicated the enslaved African Americans who lived at the College. The Project has met with three architectural firms who have presented plans for the chosen design, and they expect to announce their decision within the upcoming month. This memorial will be placed directly on or adjacent to Old Campus. Funding for the Project is forthcoming.

Throughout the year, the project will advocate for increased education by encouraging professors throughout the College to touch on the history and legacy of enslaved peoples at the College. The Project has a continuous stream of events and plans throughout the year and will continue to engage with the College and greater Williamsburg community to better address the school’s past.

Breanca White ’21 is a member of the Lemon Project who works to add student insight and direction in the Project.

“I think it’s really important for students to be involved to know the history of William and Mary… adults and professionals alone don’t always see the full picture,” White said.

STUDENT LIFE

Orientation alters diversity conversations, registration times Incoming class receives revised orientation experience to reflect differing backgrounds Stories,” an event aimed to discussing the diversity and different lived experiences of the College’s community.

In the ever-changing social, political and educational landscapes of college campuses across the country, it is customary that universities continue adapting to changes while simultaneously preparing their students for success. At the College of William and Mary, following this trend meant offering a more inclusive orientation experience, one that offers opportunities for people varying backgrounds to come together in more ways than they had ever before.

These changes began affecting students before they even arrived at campus. For the first time, the College opened up class registration windows over the summer. Students had the chance to register for up to 12 credits before even stepping foot on campus.

“This year, we had the chance to register for classes earlier,” Diego Cruzado ’23 said. “I think this took a lot of unnecessary stress off of our shoulders when there is already a lot going on with the whole orientation process. It was great only having to worry about the experience and not the stress of registration.”

The next step in altering orientation was supplementing existing conversations on an assortment of undiscussed subjects, including depression, cultural identity and issues of sexual misconduct.

This step took form in the open discussion and performances of “One Tribe, Many

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A couple years ago, when my sister went through William and Mary orientation, she really emphasized how the experience had prepared her for the academic piece of life here at the College.

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GRACE OLSEN FLAT HAT STAFF WRITER

— Diego Cruzado ’23

“[This year,] additional performances were added to ‘One Tribe, Many Stories’ to be

increasingly inclusive to the diverse experiences that many incoming students can relate to,” Orientation Aide Blair Houska ’21 said. “Not only were these performances extremely moving, but they provoked dialogue conversation on topics that normally either aren’t discussed or are difficult to talk about.”

The performances were done through film and live interpretation. Following the performances, Orientation Aides led their independent halls in private, confidential conversations.

“The ‘One Tribe, Many Stories’ segment of orientation definitely had a well-rounded, allencompassing feel to it,” Cruzado said. “I not only feel like I grew closer to my peers, I also feel like we have all grown as people, through listening, empathizing and sharing.”

These open discussions allowed for the new peers to not only learn from each other, but to also learn more about themselves, according to several new freshman.

“Both of my parents attended William and Mary and so I’ve grown up knowing about the ‘One Tribe, One Family’ mentality,” Annie Tuttle ’23 said. “It wasn’t until I got to go through these sessions and orientation process until I gained a genuine understanding of what they meant, and honestly I couldn’t be any happier.”

During orientation, new students compared their experiences to those of their family members, who learned about different topics and participated in unique conversations during their orientation period.

“A couple years ago, when my sister went

through William and Mary orientation, she really emphasized how the experience had prepared her for the academic piece of life here at the College.

While I feel like I now have a better understanding of the academic side of school, I also have a pretty good sense of belonging,” Cruzado said.

Alongside the positives of these orientation changes, the five-day experience came with a matching amount of lows for some students, according to OAs, students and staff.

“I think the most difficult part of orientation was the long days and strenuous schedules,” Tuttle said. “But, knowing that we were all going through it together made me feel closer to my class and only offered more perspective.”

As perspectives changed and connections formed, OAs got to watch as the students they first led through icebreakers found their sense of belonging at the College.

“I always talk about how much I love this school because of how strong the William and Mary community is, but I don’t think I’ve ever fully realized how impactful it can be until being an OA,” Houska said. “Between my co-Orientation Aides, staff, amazing OAD and the office of First Year Experiences, there is so much passion, care and commitment put in to ensuring the well-being of the incoming class as well as the well-being of each other. It’s definitely a tiring five days, but so extremely fulfilling to see a group of students go from trying to learn each other’s names with a first day icebreaker to walking out of Wren together during convocation, becoming a part of the William and Mary community themselves.”

Lemon Hall addresses accessibility needs, but price raises concerns Freshman students required to consent to an additional $960 residency fee before occupying hall LEMON HALL from page 1

one becomes available, they can move them into that residence hall. So, if they let us know, we can address it but if we don’t know if that’s an issue, then we don’t know that it needs to be addressed. … We wanted to make sure that we are providing equitable access, and I think it would be the case that if they had a financial issue and needed a different sort of housing that we would look to find them housing in the reduced rate area.”

According to Henderson, SAS works with ResLife by meeting with students, discussing students’ housing needs, and submitting ADA requests to ResLife that highlight the certain accessibility needs of that student.

ResLife then uses that information in determining room assignments.

Henderson stressed that any students who are concerned with their

accommodation needs as well as their economic needs should speak to SAS so they can work with students and ResLife to provide them with the most accommodating housing option for them. She also explained that if a dorm is not working out for a student due to accommodations, SAS could assist them in finding a better option.

Evans also emphasized that students were made aware of the higher price point before preferencing their dorm choices and could select the dorms that worked best for them.

“Incoming freshmen, including those who have accessibility needs, were able to request Lemon, and were informed that it was a higher price point,” Evans said. “All freshmen in Lemon, whether or not they have an accessibility accommodation, were made aware of the higher price point, and could choose another location if the price point was unacceptable to them. No one was

placed there and required to pay a higher rate against their will or without their knowledge. Lemon Hall is not the only freshmen residence hall for those with accommodation needs, so there are less expensive options if needed or desired.”

Evans added that in the past, students receiving accommodations for a single room were able to receive their single at the lower doubles rate.

Lucia Eovino ’23 was placed in Lemon after she submitted an accommodation request for Type I diabetes. Eovino said that after requesting Lemon as her third choice, she was required to acknowledge on her housing form that Lemon was priced differently than the other dorms.

“There was something where you had to acknowledge that Lemon does cost more,” Eovino said. “It was like a ‘click here’ that was like ‘yes, I will pay the extra thing.’”

Eovino also described difficulty in knowing whether her accommodation

request had been processed through SAS and if she would receive a dorm that would fit those accommodations, as she never had direct contact with SAS. However, Henderson explained that in some cases, interviews or direct discussion with students are not necessary as some accommodation needs are straightforward and do not require additional follow-up. According to Henderson, SAS would like to meet with all students, but the lack of time often requires them to spend time on troubleshooting specific cases.

“We would love to have the bandwidth to sit down and meet with every single student who registers,” Henderson said.

“That is not always a reality for us, so we have to be careful about what we promise. But we do want students to reach out. And that’s a lot of what we are doing is troubleshooting or figuring out which student feels like they didn’t get their needs met and addressing

whatever that is if that’s the case.”

Eovino said that since she has been on campus, SAS has been helpful in assisting with her accommodations and that she is grateful for all the help from SAS. She also explained that Lemon has been beneficial in meeting her accommodation needs.

“After I have been on campus Student Accessibility Services has been a really big help,” Eovino said. “I don’t want to make it seem like they don’t contact the students or they’re not in touch. I was able to meet with someone on campus and get a full list of accommodations, get everything written. I think everything over the summer, there’s a lot going on. … We didn’t have a specific conversation like ‘oh, how is Lemon working for you?’ I feel confident that if I was having a problem in Lemon and this is like, not the right dorm and I need to change, they would be able to help me make that.”

The Flat Hat

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Page 4

WILLIAMSBURG

College pursues new medical building Off-campus medical facility to be staffed by third-party provider NIA KITCHIN FLAT HAT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Students at the College of William and Mary may soon have the option to receive medical care at an off-campus facility, contingent on the Real Estate Foundation’s planned acquisition of 332 North Henry Street.

The Foundation, which exists to purchase, sell and manage properties on behalf of the College’s educational goals, made an offer on the building after the owner publicly dropped the price.

The building has been on the market for the past eight years and has stood empty for the past 10. It was originally built for business executives in the medical industry and is equipped for medical care.

The Foundation plans to lease the building to the College, where it will be used to provide additional medical care for students through a third party.

William & Mary Real Estate Foundation Executive Director Sean Hughes said that the Foundation had always had an eye on this building due to its built-in infrastructural quality and proximity to the College.

“We are generally aware of the university’s needs and wishes for future facilities and it made sense to pursue the property purchase for a number of reasons,” Hughes said. “Mostly because it’s a rare thing when a building that size that well built in that close to the university becomes available. It just doesn’t happen in Williamsburg that often.”

According to Hughes, the College had put a public request for proposal for additional health services out into the Williamsburg area, and this building fit those specifications. He said that there are a few things that a building meant to be a medical facility needs that other buildings would lack, like an appropriate amount of power and compliance with medical codes. This was one of the compelling reasons that led the Foundation to make an offer on the building.

“The building has the appropriate amount of power going to it which is not always the case, it has a full building generator so that the generator kicks on if the building were ever to lose power,” Hughes said. “And it met at the time in 2009 all of the current medical codes which can be expensive to comply with in a plain old building. It just made sense for us to purchase it. And with the RFP out there it seemed like a great spot for to potentially have some of these services located.”

Vice President of Student Affairs Ginger Ambler ‘88 Ph.D. ‘06 said that the College was looking for increased health services in order to offer students a more complete health care experience. Currently, students are referred off campus for a number of specialized services and health care required on a more routine basis.

“We’re looking at the kinds of things that we currently already refer students to local providers for, for example specialized services,” Ambler said. “If students go to the health center and they need an X-ray, or they need to see an orthopedist, or they need to see a specialist of one variety or another. Our position is currently ‘make referrals to providers in the community.’ We also, as you probably know, have a pretty robust network of partners in the mental health field for students who need health services that can’t be provided on a routine basis through our current counseling center. Again, there are things that we don’t currently offer.”

The College will contract with a third-party provider who will staff the building and provide the medical services. While the McLeod Tyler Wellness Center is staffed by the College, this new facility would act as a nearby built-in referral for health needs that arise at the College. Ambler said that one of the benefits of this model is the reduced operational costs.

“Well the benefit of using and having this kind of partnership model is that the third party is hiring and paying for the staff who are providing the services,” Ambler said.

Currently, the College is in the process of evaluating proposals from different third parties and deciding which would be the best fit to contract with. The specific services that will be provided at this building are currently unknown. They could span anything from orthopedics to counseling.

“It’s possible — if additional psychiatry could be offered with this facility, again, that would expand our ability to meet student need,” Ambler said. “Also, other kinds of therapies as well. We don’t currently have, for example, intensive outpatient for eating disorders in Williamsburg. So that would meet a need. So, we’ve really tried to lay out in the request for proposal a wide range of things that would be beneficial, medical services to have close to campus in partnership with university to meet the campus community needs. And it’s also possible to expand services for faculty and staff through this facility.

So, we’ve really painted a wide picture with what’s possible. And

we’re anxious to see what the bids look like when they come in.”

Director of Procurement Services Erma Baker said that the names of firms submitting proposals to be considered by the College will only be released after the notice of intent to award a contract. While there was a preproposal conference held for interested firms, it was optional and some firms are still eligible to submit proposals even if they did not attend the conference.

Previously, College spokeswoman Suzanne Clavet had said that this facility would be used for “specialty health care needs for student athletes participating in varsity and club sports.”

However, Ambler said that since the RFP was first issued, athletics has hired a full-time physician to be their chief medical officer, negating the need for varsity athletic care at the North Boundary Street facility.

“Essentially we’re looking for these private partners to join us in thinking creatively about what we can do to really build up the strongest possible local support network for our students,” Ambler said. “So, it will be it’ll be exciting to see what is in the proposals.

They’ve had a chance to hear the variety of needs we have, and we certainly don’t expect that somebody will come in and be able to meet all of our needs. To be able to enhance what we have currently would be wonderful.”

However, before the Foundation can buy the building and the College can move forward with staffing plans, the Williamsburg city boards must approve a special use permit for the building to be able to operate as a medical facility. Even though the building was approved for this use in 2009, the building must be approved again. There will be a planning commission meeting mid-September followed by a council meeting mid-October. According to Hughes, any hang-ups or request by the city for additional information could delay this process by an extra month. Therefore, the Foundation could be approved to officially occupy the building and move to close on it at any point after that meeting in mid-October. Beyond that timeframe, there are no major renovations planned, just cleaning and general maintenance before the College’s chosen third party can begin staffing the facility. “... I think it’s a great purchase,” Hughes said. “And I think it’ll be really beneficial to the students and the university community at large. … This is one of the reasons the Real Estate Foundation exists.”

CAMPUS

Rowe holds first campus forum; discusses future goals Forum explores College’s four-stage process for the new administration’s policy agenda AVERILL MEININGER FLAT HAT CHIEF STAFF WRITER

College of William and Mary President Katherine Rowe held the first campus forum of the semester Sept. 4, where attendees received an outline of a drafted university values statement and discussed the College’s future goals. The forum was the first of a series that will run throughout the academic year, allowing students, staff and faculty to interact with the College’s current and future initiatives.

“I am filled with excitement, in part because of the discovery process that we have ahead of us, in part because this room is so full, and I see an incredible journey for us in doing that discovery together and in part because of the experience of last year,” Rowe said. “We convened in rooms like this to think together, collaboratively, across the different places we sit at William and Mary about the ten to twenty-year future of our core domains of work and mission, the future of knowledge, the future of work and the future of service to our communities in the world.”

“

I am filled with excitement, in part because of the discovery process that we have ahead of us, in part because this room is so full, and I see an incredible journey for us in doing that discovery together and in part because of the experience of last year.

“

— College President Katherine Rowe

Rowe described how some of the forum’s allotted time was devoted to conveying valuable information regarding the College’s progress with the discovery process and stated that other components of the forum allowed for greater interactivity. She applauded those who were in attendance for the impact they would be able to

have on the campus’s future.

“We will be sharing information in these rooms, and we will also be doing active work together,” Rowe said. “There will be outcomes from the conversations that we have here in these rooms; there will be other realms of engagement for the campus as a whole, but typically the folks who convene for open forum are going to be at the leading edge of exploring ideas.”

After welcoming participants to the forum and before turning the floor over to the College’s Chief of Staff Jeremy Martin and Provost Peggy Agouris, Rowe introduced the Strategic Planning Steering Committee. The Committee is tasked with prioritizing the College’s goals and progress as the discovery process moves forward.

“By this time next year, this is what we hope to come out with, by this time next year, to have drafted the strategic plan that answers to these two goals: to advance our distinct excellence, nationally and globally, and to align our financial model with our academic model,” Rowe said.

After this introduction to the forum, Agouris explained how the College aimed to move forward, recognize its ambitions, and advance the values it cares most deeply about.

“As you can see, what we have here is a process that is cyclical,” Agouris said.

The provost referred to a four-stage process that is designed to be used continuously, starting with evaluation, moving to environmental analysis, then developing strategies, followed by implementation. From there, Agouris recognized, evaluation would begin again and the cycle of steps would repeat.

Agouris also acknowledged the importance of refreshing and relearning the College’s vision, mission and values, a move which has been spearheaded by Ginger Ambler ‘88, Ph.D. ‘06, vice president of student affairs and Fanchon Glover, chief diversity officer.

“What we are doing is we are changing, not for change’s sake, but to advance what we value most,” Agouris said. “And, what we value most is described by our vision, mission and values. Now, we have those, but I think that it is about time that we really take another look and see how well aligned these values and vision and mission are to who we are today and where we want to be in the future.”

After Agouris’ presentation, Martin delved into what the terms vision, mission and values truly mean in reference to the College’s future.

“Vision being the institution we aspire to be, mission being how we realize our vision, so what we do and how we pursue that vision, and finally the values statement, who we strive to be as we’re fulfilling that mission,” Martin said.

Martin then introduced Ambler and Glover, who have both diligently worked on drafting the values statement. Glover brought up the fact that the College was not alone in its lack of a clear values statement, and noted that many

institutions reference their values without having a specific statement to cite that lays out these values. Both Ambler and Glover shared their appreciation and excitement that steps were being taken to formulate an official statement.

“We wanted to make sure that the values that we set up were not ‘buzz’ words, because those ‘buzz’ words change, and this is something that we wanted to be long-standing,” Glover said. “We also wanted to make sure that the values that we chose resonated with every member of this community.”

Ambler and Glover also explained that in conjunction with developing this values statement, they examined the College’s mission statement. Ambler described that they are continuing to work with the mission statement in the evolving quest to clarify the College’s primary objectives and values.

Following all of these speakers, Martin turned the attention back to the room and asked each table to look at one of three categories: teaching and learning, research and innovation or engagement and flourishing. Each table then had a breakout discussion on their chosen topic and used post-it notes to write down what would be crucial for the College to consider in the next ten years within these categories.

After this breakout period, Martin collected the room and asked tables to share their ideas. Representatives from each table took turns presenting their thoughts, including the emergence of technology in all job fields, the impact of technology and the internet on physical institutions providing education, how

we establish measures of success, how we support the College’s alumni base, the continued issue of affordability as well as accessibility for students of all different socioeconomic backgrounds.

Information Technology Business Services Manager Kathleen Smith came to the forum and expressed her appreciation of Rowe’s approach to change.

“I think this is more of a process of ‘let’s see what we can build together,’ which I find appealing,” Smith said.

Abhi Chadha ’20, who has previously worked in Student Assembly, welcomed new points of view contributed by individuals outside of his peers.

“I really got to understand a lot of perspectives that weren’t just student-based,” Chadha said.

“With the work that I’ve done, especially with Student Assembly, I’ve had the change to hear a lot of student input, but it was interesting to see how a lot of the other stakeholders in this process view the issues that we have in the short and longterm future.”

Both Smith and Chadha highlighted what Rowe deemed most important to the forum: the importance of including everyone in the College community in the process of discovery.

“We are by design bringing together folks from different parts of the institution to be able to focus on what it might mean to think as a whole institution, to set long-term twenty year goals, to set ambitious goals with the interests of the whole institution in mind and to reinforce our sense of responsibility for cultivating the opportunities and addressing the challenges that we face,” Rowe said.

opinions

Opinions Editor Anna Boustany Opinions Editor Chloe Folmar fhopinions@gmail.com // @theflathat

The Flat Hat| Tuesday, September 10, 2019 | Page 5

GUEST COLUMNS

Students react to issues raised by hurricane Complaints about hurricane ultimately pointless, undermine College staff’s safety

Hurricane showcases potentially devastating effects of climate change

Hallie Feinman

Maddie Belesimo

FLAT HAT GUEST WRITER

If you haven’t noticed, I like to express my opinions about campus life through my many, many posts on “Swampy Memes for Twampy Teens.” But, all jokes aside, I would like to give my thoughts on the hurricane situation that has now happened two years in a row.

I have seen the posts, both this year and last, totally dunking on Emergency Management Chair Sam Jones for canceling classes. I have also seen the posts generally made six to eight hours prior about how Sam Jones is stupid for not evacuating earlier and how we’re all going to get stuck in the swamp and die from severe weather. As opposed to this common theme, I want to think my memes are more focused on the actual hurricane itself. There will always be a little flavoring of insubordination against the authority figures known as “TribeAlert Systems.” This is my burden to bear. However, this was not my intention. Hurricane Dorian deserves to be bullied for its wishy-washy behavior.

Sam Jones has a thankless job. His team has to decide how to handle the safety of all of us.

And when I say all of us, I mean everyone — faculty and staff included. The people who work here have to spend obscene and odd hours here and have to deal with some pretty rude people on campus. They are just as important as any student. There are more lives at stake than those of students. If you haven’t noticed, throughout any emergency there are still employees here to man dining halls and clean-up crews for campus damages. While we have hurricane parties, they’re working very hard. I was honestly hoping for evacuation so everybody, and I mean everybody, could go home and stay safe.

It’s easy to laugh and say that Sam Jones was a clown man for canceling school, but are you telling me you didn’t fall asleep Thursday night just a little bit scared? I did. I wanted to cry, like, all night. But I didn’t. I did my reading for class because I’m a good student. It’s easy to say it’s a false alarm now and pin it on him, but are you telling me you would have preferred this to be a disaster?

Do you want to die in the swamp, my guy? Do

FLAT HAT GUEST WRITER

you want mold? No thank you, dude, I’m happy for a rainy day in my dorm with Netflix and my cookie butter.

It’s also easy for alumni to point and laugh, saying something along these lines: “Look at those loser students, they can’t even handle a hurricane.” To any alumni saying that: stop, listen to yourselves, and take a minute to realize how horrible you sound. Let’s get practical here: climate change is a reality, and climate change makes storms more powerful than ever before.

These aren’t the storms you dealt with in your undergraduate years. The storms happening now, hurricanes or blizzards, are never going to be as bad as the ones coming in the next five to ten years. Dorian and Florence may not have been the worst here, but have you noticed the crazy upticks in Category Fives in the past decade? It’s just going to keep getting worse.

Personally, my one complaint is that if you close the campus, you should allow people to park their cars in whatever lot they want. Aren’t most of these lots reserved for faculty and staff parking? If the faculty and staff are home, why not let us use the lots? While I did not risk parking my car somewhere else, I can imagine the WMPD ticketing cars in the middle of a hurricane. What happens if those tickets blow away in 65 mph winds? I do not know.

I am a big fan of safety. Nobody has ever regretted staying cautious when we’re talking about a crazy-powerful storm that has tornadoes shooting out of it at every angle and has left thousands of people without power or homes. So to Sam Jones, I say thank you.

Email Hallie Feinman at hjfeinman@email.wm.edu.

If you haven’t noticed, throughout any emergency there are still employees here to man dining halls and cleanup crews for campus damages. While we have hurricane parties, they’re working very hard.

When my classmates and I were evacuated because of Hurricane Florence in the beginning of the fall 2018 semester, I carpooled with friends out of the path of the storm and enjoyed the unexpected break from classes. But when the College of William and Mary closed again this year in preparation for Hurricane Dorian, I started to reflect on what it meant for me to watch these kind of weather events intensify. It was only my education that was interrupted because of these storms; for other individuals, it was their homes, jobs, communities and lives that were facing disruption. I knew that the damage caused by hurricanes has increased over the past few decades and that the intensity of large storms was a predicted effect of climate change, but all I could see to do was feel useless in the scope of a worldwide disaster. What was one angry college student against the status quo of fossil fuel companies buying out politicians?

I felt that way until a few months after the initial “Hurrication” last year, when I went to my first meeting of the newly formed Williamsburg Sunrise Hub. I dreaded hearing a pitch about raising money, putting up flyers, or hosting events that promoted “zero waste” living. What I actually found was a small group of students who were just as angry as I was about the lack of initiative taken by our political leaders but who also impressed me with their knowledge and organization. I learned about how the hub was planning action, however small, to make tangible change in the form of something called the Green New Deal, a transformative plan to stop climate change by shifting

dependency on fossil fuels to renewable energy, protect clean air, foster safe food and water, and create sustainable jobs. At the town hall we put together, I spoke to people who are afraid of what climate change will mean for them and who are actively educating themselves and taking action.

They were people who don’t wait to take responsibility for the change they want, and to take the initiative to work towards it.

However, the truth is that not everyone is affected by climate change the same, a fact evidenced by the recent devastation in the Bahamas. While some of us contemplate where and how we would live in a world affected by climate change, communities getting hit the hardest are living it now. Part of the Green New Deal is prioritizing a livable future for everyone and achieving that will require taking responsibility, individually and collectively, for protecting that future. It is less inspiring to think about the corporations and politicians who are complicit in allowing the climate crisis to happen, but who refuse to act or take responsibility. Fossil fuel executives, lobbyists and the politicians they fund have chipped away at the chance my generation has at a future where people can eat food, breathe air, drink water, and have a safe place to live.

None of my generation made this mess, but if we don’t take responsibility for cleaning it up now, we won’t get another chance.

This month, people around the world will walk out of their workplaces, classes and homes to demand politicians respond to the emergency as a part of a Global Climate Strike. Sept. 20 at 3 p.m., I will be walking out of class to join fellow Sunrisers on the Sunken Gardens to demand that our local politicians support the Green New Deal and swear off donations from fossil fuel executives. To members of the College community, all I ask is that you take responsibility for doing whatever you can do, whether that’s coming to the strike, calling your representatives, voting, or sharing a post. Mike Mullin, Monty Mason and Elaine Luria, in the words of environmental advocate Greta Thunberg, “I don’t want your hope. I don’t want you to be hopeful. I want you to panic. I want you to feel the fear I feel every day.

And then I want you to act. I want you to act as you would in a crisis. I want you to act as if our house is on fire.”

Email Maddie Belesimo at mnbelesimo@email.wm.edu.

... If we don’t take

responsibility for cleaning it up now, we won’t get another chance.

GRAPHIC BY SUNNY AHN / THE FLAT HAT

INDEPENDENT GRAPHIC

Cancellation for Dorian unnecessary, disrupted students’ schedules, plans GRAPHIC BY JORGE CONDA / THE FLAT HAT

The Flat Hat

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

STAFF COLUMN

Student organizations offer sense of community, fulfillment on campus

Gavin Aquin

FLAT HAT SPORTS EDITOR

It’s about the time of year when we all start receiving way too many emails from clubs who added us to their listservs eons ago — and well, who do we have to blame but ourselves? After all, you did voluntarily sign your email address to the 86 clubs you deluded yourself into believing you would join freshman year.

Oh, it makes me chuckle, just the slightest bit, because I did the exact same thing.

I say what I just said in complete jest — extracurricular activities can be very enriching, if you do them correctly. But what does “correctly” actually mean?

I spent all of freshman year trying to figure that out. I went to every single interest meeting that I could and did all of the silly ice breakers you’re forced to do — often I even feigned extroversion for the sake of peer acceptance.

Having lived in one of the smallest freshmen dorms on campus last year, I very quickly learned that I was not going to become best friends with every single person I lived with and that if I was going to have a fulfilling social experience at the College of William and Mary, I was going to have to try a little harder. I refused to become an anecdote like “every other person” from Las Vegas who tried to make it out in the East Coast but became disillusioned and moved back.

Luckily for me, I stumbled upon the perky people at The Flat Hat and was convinced by former Editor-in-Chief Sarah Smith ’19 to give the newspaper a chance and it paid off. It was in this

damp death trap of a basement where I finally felt like I was a part of this campus, that I was finally making an impact, even if it was minute.

Since joining The Flat Hat, I have dabbled with other clubs here on campus — at the Latin American Student Union where I was reminded that I was not alone, as a part of a community service organisation that had me serve shrimp to people in the rain — I have a deathly phobia of both crustaceans and precipitation, but it was for a good cause. I got sunburnt into oblivion on the first day I joined Tribe Sailing, and I even made an ill-fated attempt to join Mock Trial, but I regret none of it.

Without trying each one of these things, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Without cutting out what I didn’t enjoy and sticking with that I liked, I would have been lost.

So for the new students and even us upperclassmen who don’t have everything figured out, I implore you to go try everything that interests you — knowing that you’ll ultimately settle onto two or three things that you have a deep passion for, whose members become a “second family” to you by welcoming you with open arms.

If you find out that a club really isn’t for you, then leave it. There’s no shame in it at all, and the worst that can happen is the awkward small talk you will inevitably have with current members, but nothing is ever mean spirited; they are likely just curious about what you’re up to.

My poor tortured saint of a freshman Resident Assistant reassured me that my guilt over leaving clubs was purely irrational and that completely changed the trajectory I was on. There’s no reason to be miserable — yet. During freshman year you have blank slates and easy classes, so make the best of it and get involved in things.

Just remember though, if extracurriculars are causing your grades to slip, you might need to take a step back. You did after all pay extortionately and criminally high tuition rates to have the privilege of attending classes — so please do so.

Email Gavin Aquin at gaaquin@email.wm.edu.

You’ll ultimately settle onto two or three things that you have a deep passion for, whose members become a “second family” to you by welcoming you with open arms.

STAFF COLUMN

Tribe Truck provides welcome dining changes through refreshing, diverse food options

Anna Boustany

FLAT HAT OPINIONS EDITOR

Every time we return to the College of William and Mary, I am hesitant to enter dining halls again, wondering what will have changed with no notice. Will the plates be even smaller? Where will the vegan section be randomly relocated to? I have soliloquized about dining hall changes many times before, so today I’ll give it a rest and highlight the food that has actually improved this semester: the Tribe Truck.

Last semester, the new ability to use meal swipes at the Tribe Truck led to my near-permanent residence on the terrace. I still think about those jackfruit tacos from the first week, which were perhaps the most delicious meal I’ve had while on campus. Coming back to campus, I had low expectations for the Tribe Truck, assuming that everything would be changed in a negative way.

Yet when I returned to my terrace home and gave the Tribe Truck a shot for a few days ago, I was pleasantly surprised. The only change I have noticed so far is that the lines, notoriously long last semester, are much more reasonable as the novelty has worn off.

What I have appreciated most about Tribe Truck is that there is a consistently good vegetarian option. I’ve been vegetarian the entire time I’ve been a student at the College, so I’ve occasionally dealt with the struggle in our main dining halls of eating the same thing over and over again when it’s the only reasonably edible option. Through Tribe Truck’s weekly changes, I appreciate knowing that there will be a new exciting vegetarian option to try that I’ll probably really enjoy.

The Tribe Truck’s location is also a key component of its success. I have slowly but surely become one of the infamous terrace dwellers, and swiping into Sadler is not the most satisfying option. The awkward encounters of going back and forth from the Terrace and Sadler involve a delicate balance of holding food on plates and avoiding tabling friends. The Tribe Truck, on the other hand, is easy to access, and you can wait for your food at your table.

One of my other favorite things about the Tribe Truck is how universally well loved it is. Other dining halls have die-hard fans and vicious haters, while the Tribe Truck is near totally adored. When I ask a friend to the Tribe Truck, I don’t have to worry about whether they’ll be willing to accept or be able to find something to eat.

While I have heaped praise on the Tribe Truck, I do think that they need to continue to make strides in making their options accessible to everyone. I would love to see more gluten free, vegetarian and vegan options because a large part of our community has such dietary restrictions and deserves to have just as varied options as those who don’t have dietary restrictions.

Email Anna Boustany at aeboustany@ email.wm.edu.

GRAPHIC BY ANGELA VASISHTA AND HEADSHOTS BY KAYLA PAYNE / THE FLAT HAT

Page 6

STAFF COLUMN

College plan to rebrand as “university” fails to serve goals of progress

Ethan Brown

FLAT HAT MANAGING EDITOR

I’ll start this article with a series of quirky facts: I’m onequarter Canadian. I have an irrational fear of horses. One time I met former Second Lady Jill Biden while drenched in sewer waste. Lastly — and most unexcitingly — I am currently a student at the College of William and Mary.

That last tidbit probably doesn’t come as a shock, but you’d be surprised to learn that certain individuals in Williamsburg would be quite upset to see me designate our school as a “college” rather than as a “university.” In its 326 year history, the College has been privy to extensive destruction and expansive development. Our dorky, swampy home is a fundamental component of Virginia’s history, and in its three centuries of evolution, the College has gone by a myriad of different names. More than three centuries removed from its initial founding as the “College of William and Mary in Virginia,” this institution is now regularly referenced by brief monikers including “W&M” and “the College.”

Upon arriving in Williamsburg two years ago, I never thought that a school’s name would matter for anything beyond being plastered on tacky T-shirts. I was clearly mistaken. Any student who was on campus last year probably remembers former College President Taylor Reveley’s bizarre tirade about the College’s naming traditions in March 2018. In a mass email sent to staff members, faculty and students, Reveley argued that the College should be known as “William & Mary” in official communication, and insinuated that the College may be better referred to as a “university” to reflect our community more holistically.

The notion that I need to be told how to reference my own school is vaguely insulting.

The College’s current brand guidelines echo this sentiment, stipulating that students, staff members and faculty should use “William & Mary” in speaking about the school on first reference. Then, individuals referencing the College — note that I’m calling it “the College,” not “William & Mary,” because I’m prioritizing conforming to The Flat Hat’s century-old style guide over blindly following an arbitrary brand campaign — are supposed to follow up by calling the College a “university” on second reference. Additionally, beyond illustrating which monikers are acceptable, these branding guidelines condemn certain names that apparently should never be used to describe the College. These unspeakable terrors include “WM,” “College of William and Mary” and “College of William & Mary.”

While I’ve never heard of anyone in their right mind referencing this institution as “WM,” it’s awfully silly that so much time and effort have been devoted towards shedding our reputation as a “college” and shifting towards being known as a “university.” The College’s branding guidelines, coupled with the administration’s insistence on designating our institution as a “university” as we enter a series of bold fundraising initiatives, project an image of deep insecurity.

I love the College with every fiber of my being and I cherish every day I have here, so the notion that I need to be told how to reference my own school is vaguely insulting. I recognize that an overwhelming majority of universities have formal branding guidelines, and they’re certainly helpful in standardizing and harmonizing communication. But students should in no way feel compelled to alter their speech patterns to appease administrative officials who grow concerned that calling the College a “college” is somehow a turnoff to prospective students. The College has technically been a university since 1779 when the Marshall-Wythe School of Law was first created. Do we really need to waste effort convincing prospective students that we’re a university when we obviously attend one? We have several graduate schools here, ranging from our law school to the Raymond A. Mason School of Business. Our status as a university materialized just three years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence; I don’t feel particularly compelled to start changing how I reference the College when we’ve been making things work just fine since then.

At the end of the day, an institution’s name shouldn’t matter much — what clearly matters more in ensuring a positive campus environment is the quality of student life. The best way for student life to thrive is for students to feel empowered to talk about the qualities that make them unique, whether it be their Canadian heritage or their horrific encounters with influential politicians; we sure shouldn’t have to waste air calling ourselves anything different than what makes sense to us.

Email Ethan Brown at ewbrown@email.wm.edu.

variety

Variety Editor Zoe Beardsley Variety Editor Adithi Ramakrishnan flathat.variety@gmail.com

The Flat Hat | Tuesday, September 10, 2019 | Page 7

A tale of two singers Energy levels differ but concert still manages to impress

CLAIRE HOGAN // FLAT HAT ONLINE EDITOR

U

nder the stars on the shore of Lake Matoaka, among patches of empty seats and bare grass, a few hundred students waited for this year’s fall concert to begin. The headliner Max, a pop musician from New York, was performing along with Shaboozey, the multi-genre musician from Northern Virginia. Nobody seemed to know what to expect, and a low murmur of conversation rustled through the crowd as canned pop music blared from the speakers. A few students stood at the base of the stage, but most stayed in their seats, waiting to gauge the energy of the acts. It turned out to be a wise move on their part.

The night began when Shaboozey sauntered out onstage to a recorded version of “A Horse With No Name,” bobbing and swaying to the music. This was the first of many peculiarities in his idiosyncratic act. He played his first song, “Drip Drip Splash,” which certainly made more of a drip than a splash, with students half-heartedly clapping along to the pounding beat.

“This is gonna be a legendary night,” Shaboozey said. It was not.

As his first song faded out, an awkward hush fell over the crowd, waiting for the next track. After a beat or two, Shaboozey, looking confused, turned to talk to his DJ. “The songs I came with aren’t working,” Shaboozey said apologetically. Fortunately, his next song, “Start a Riot,” worked fine.

The track, a collaboration between Shaboozey and fellow musician

Duckwrth, was featured in the soundtrack of “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.” As the beat dropped, students began to bounce up and down, propelled by the energy of the music. Shaboozey threw water into the roaring, pulsing crowd. Finally, there was something worth dancing to. Until, of course, the music faded out again.

From then on, either due to technical difficulties or a short attention span, Shaboozey’s DJ only played brief clips of songs, punctuated by long periods of silence. Shaboozey, making the best of the situation, chatted about his love of Virginia and appreciation for his fans. His attempts to crowd surf turned into an awkward lean onto students in the front row, most of whom looked extremely uncomfortable. After only 20 minutes onstage, Shaboozey exited to lackluster applause.

Next up was a performance by Max, whose high-energy mix of covers and original music dispelled Shaboozey’s awkward energy.

Students got to their feet as he began to sing “Ms. Jackson” by OutKast, his presence shining bright from the stage. He kept the energy going, urging the crowd to sing along to the chorus of “One More Weekend.” As voices rose, spirits soared, and Max soaked up the energy.

He started to sing “Basement Party,” one of his characteristically upbeat pop songs, bouncing and dancing acrobatically across the stage. Hands raised in the air, students swayed side to side,

mouthing along to the chorus.

Breathing heavily, Max brought the crowd’s energy back down to a gentle murmur before his next song, “Still New York,” where he professed his love for his hometown. Singing soulfully, his lyrics described his deep connection to New York and its unique features.

The audience swayed side to side, the crowd at the front of the stage growing larger as students got up from their seats to join the masses.

Over the next hour, Max’s infectious mix of emotional tunes and upbeat party songs kept the horde of students entertained. Clapping, snapping and singing along to the wcatchy music, the crowd’s energy peaked.

As the pinnacle of his performance, Max performed his bestknown tune “Lights Down Low,” a song he said he wrote for his wife.

The crowd sang along with the verses and the chorus, vibing with the heartfelt lyrics and powerful melody. Max professed his love for the energy of the crowd, winked and exited the stage, returning only for a brief encore performance.

Max’s ability to hype up the crowd perfectly matched his musical talents, creating an unforgettable atmosphere. Lifelong fans and new listeners bonded together over his music and charisma. Although the concert started off uninspiring, Max was able to turn it around, truly showcasing his strength as a performer. And Shaboozey? Well, at least he made Max look good.

CLAIRE HOGAN / THE FLAT HAT

The Flat Hat

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Page 8

FINDING FAITH Hindu Sikh Jain Association highlights tradition, promotes safe space for students

ADITHI RAMAKRISHNAN // VARIETY EDITOR ADITHI RAMAKRISHNAN/ THE FLAT HAT

The glow of an electronic flame illuminates the wooden table frame. Three small idols sit on the surface, each one a different material and color, each one a couple inches tall yet representing something much larger. One by one, students approach the table, holding a silver platter with the battery-powered candle on it. They slowly move the platter in a circle around the gods as the attendees recite a slokam, or chant — crossing their fingers for good fortune and luck for the year to come.

This is aarti, a Hindu religious ritual that the College of William and Mary’s Hindu, Sikh, and Jain Students Association performs every month. Some elements differ slightly from what priests might perform in a temple — the electronic candle, for one — but the club has adapted a traditional religious ceremony to the College setting.

HSJA held its first monthly meeting and aarti ceremony Sept. 4 in the Sadler Center’s York Room. HSJA co-President Manasi Deorah ’20 spoke to the significance of aarti in Hindu culture.

“Traditionally, aarti is done a couple times a day for Hindus, and that’s not super feasible at college, but it’s just a small moment to connect with what’s larger,” Deorah said. “The whole idea is that you give prasad, or an offering, you light a flame, and you have murtis, or statues, of the gods because we believe that, in moments of worship, the statues actually embody the presence of God.” The chant sung by students at the aarti is a devotional song that connects the students to the deities represented by each idol.

“The whole aarti that we sing is a show of

reverence and acknowledgement that there is an ultimate divine out there, and I am a small member of it,” Deorah said. “I respect that, and I respect that it’s out there. I find it very comforting; I like it quite a lot in a hectic world, and hopefully it brings that same kind of comfort to other people.”

For Vibhav Badrish ’21, the aarti ceremony serves as a way to stay connected with religion while far from home.

“Back home, me and my family would visit the temples basically every week, and you can’t really do that when you go to college,” Badrish said. “HSJA is a place where I can really engage with my religion and be in touch with that side of my life.”

The proximity of places of worship to Williamsburg has affected HSJA’s purpose and mission in providing Hindu, Sikh and Jain students a safe and welcoming place of worship on campus.

“The nearest Hindu temple is in Newport News,” Deorah said. “There’s a lot of other faith groups that have places of worship nearby, and that allows them to have adult mentors sometimes, but we have just kind of been on our own, and that definitely affects how we run and how we function, but also gives us a bigger motive to have this space, to continue to build this space.”

HSJA member Nakul Dar ’21 has several goals for HSJA’s upcoming year.

“I really want to create a space where students of the Hindu, Sikh and Jain faith may be able to practice their religions, discuss their feelings, and find a sense of continued community

away from home, especially on conversations or discussions that may be difficult to have away from whatever religious background or upbringing they received prior to their time at the College,” Dar said.

Dar feels that religion can provide a sense of constancy that can be helpful for students, especially when getting used to life at the College.

“College can be a very isolating place; it can be a place that is difficult to transition to,” Dar said. “It can be a time of great change, but I think it’s also important to have a sense of continuity, and religion is a great way to do so.”

Deorah’s relationship with her Hindu faith has shifted over time. For a long time, Deorah believed that she wasn’t religious, but coming to college allowed her to rediscover her religion in a new light.

“I had a really difficult relationship to faith, and I was not religious for a long time, mainly because I believed that because of who I was, I was not compatible with these communities and that it just wasn’t for me to be a part of the Hindu, Sikh or Jain communities,” Deorah said. “It occurred to me that in this space at William and Mary, this is the time where I can actually be part of a Hindu community. I can figure out my relationship to faith, see what’s going on there, and be accepted for who I am.”

According to Deorah, the college environment offers an opportunity for students to determine their levels of religiosity independently of their family upbringing.

“The Hindu, Sikh and Jain religions are very much cultural; they’re very much a heritage.

You were raised that way, you were raised with a lot of it,” Deorah said. “A lot of times, when students come to college, that’s their first experience to be able to figure out for themselves what they believe in, what they feel.”

HSJA encourages all students to attend t h e i r m o n t h l y a a r t i s a n d m e e t i n g s, regardless of their level of religiosity or connection to faith.

“One of the fundamental aspects of Hinduism is acceptance, and recognizing the eternal nature of the universe,” Dar said. “I think something that we strive to do is that no matter what level of religiosity a student feels, they will always have a space here where they will be welcomed and accepted.”

In addition to their monthly aarti meetings, HSJA also plans two larger campuswide events every year: a Diwali celebration in the fall, and a Holi festival in the spring.

The group hopes to collaborate with other campus organizations to put on these events, as well as continue to cultivate a safe and productive space for students.

“We’re just trying to build an inclusive, relaxed community where anyone, regardless of your relationship to the Hindu, Sikh or Jain community or tradition, can feel welcome,” Deorah said. “Join one of our monthly aartis, engage with us — you don’t have to necessarily be involved or practicing, you can just hang out or maybe come with us to dinner afterwards and get to know us; and just have a space where you can feel like you can exist without judgement, because we’re all small pieces of a bigger force that’s much larger than all of us.”

ADJACENT POSSIBLE

Muscarelle’s newest exhibit creates meeting place for science and art VERONICA MANTHA // THE FLAT HAT

COURTESY PHOTOS / WM.EDU

Finding a common thread between two topics that have seemingly no involvement with one another may seem difficult to accomplish, but at the Muscarelle Museum of Art’s newest exhibit, “The Adjacent Possible,” art and neuroscience meet in order to create an art collection that stimulates the mind and piques interest in the meaning of the artwork.

Professor of art and art history at the College Elizabeth Mead was the curator for this exhibit. Working in conjunction with professor Jennifer Stevens, a professor in the department of psychological sciences and the neuroscience program at the College, Mead was able to create this neurologically exciting exhibit.

“We have this idea sometimes, those of us who aren’t trained or versed in abstract or modern art, and people often feel like they’re supposed to get the message,” Mead said.

“These things take time to reveal themselves.”

The pieces that were chosen for the exhibit are all abstract, in order to play towards Mead’s goal of creating an exhibit that would stimulate the mind. The exhibit stresses the concept that art cannot always be understood in an instant. It can take time and patience to find the deeper meaning that the artist intended.

“What I’m hoping is that students learn that it takes time,” Mead said. “There are

relationships to complex systems ... everything moves simultaneously.”

Mead emphasizes the idea that with abstract works, it can be especially challenging to understand the piece.

“Work is not necessarily linear, each of the artists in this exhibition sort of go where the work needs to go for the work to arrive where it needs to arrive,” Meade said. “You never know that you were going to end up over there until you started down the road.”

Many of the artists that Mead chose to include in the exhibit create pieces using unusual mediums, whether they work with unorthodox materials or simply use art styles in an unusual form. These different styles help to create Meade’s desired effect, where it is impossible to understand the meaning of a piece immediately after walking in.

“What I was looking for were people who didn’t pay attention to boundaries,” Mead said. “Their works sit on a shelf, and it’s made of constructed wood, but Helen O’Leary thinks of herself as a painter. Michelle Benoit has the Lucite-acrylic pieces, but they’re built up.”

One such artist is Pamela Farrell, who doesn’t work within standard forms of art.

“I am invested in abstract and painterly sensibilities, and water, light, and time; all themes that are important to me,” Farrell said in an email. “The work Elizabeth chose for

Adjacent Possible, oil on panel, and digital photo-based prints, reference water in several ways. The prints are made from photo imagery of photo-flash illuminating water spray at a dam spillover not far from my house. The paintings are more reflective of the slow flow of the canal water from which flows the water into the spillover.”

By combining her artistic methods with things she finds in her everyday life, such as the water and light in her backyard, Farrell adds a personal touch to her artwork. Farrell is also a psychotherapist in addition to being an artist and attributes a lot of her work to her interactions with clients.

“So much of the emotional energy that comes and goes from the dynamic interactions with clients seems to find its way into my work, though not necessarily by intention,” Farrell said. “So many internal experiences cannot be expressed with words, but rather are a felt sense. I believe this is what tends to show up in my work.”

The artists involved in the exhibit have all poured personal emotion into their works, which creates more of a mystery towards their meanings. The Adjacent Possible exhibit aims to stress this feeling of mystery in order for students to gain more of an understanding towards what it means to ‘get’ art.

Diane Englander, another artist whose works

are currently in the exhibit, was able to fully embrace the combination of art and neuroscience.

“I want, always, to end up with a piece that both calms and invigorates simultaneously, but how I get there depends on what my material of the moment is,” Englander said in an email.

Me a d s a i d s h e wa nt e d t o c u rat e a n exhibit that left guests wondering, while simultane ously giving them the tools to understand art better.

Th e Ad ja ce nt Po ssi ble i s o n ly i n th e Mu s ca re l l e u nt i l S e p t. 2 7 , bu t Mea d i s hoping to have it reopen next fall with a new collection of artists. There will be a talk with Susan York, one of the artists in the exhibit, Sept. 20 from 4:00-5:30 p.m. in Andrews Hall. After wards, a reception will be hosted with York and some of the other ar tists, and the y w ill be available to talk more about the meanings of their artworks and what this exhibit meant to th e m. S e p t. 2 6 , Ch r i sto p h e r D e lau re nti , a music professor at the College, will be putting together and performing a piece that is a response to the exhibition.

Englander spoke to the ability of art to keep her on her toes, constantly providing new experiences and inspiration.

“I’m always wondering, what will happen next?” Englander said.

sportsinside

The Flat Hat | Tuesday, September 10, 2019 | Page 9

VOLLEYBALL

JAMIE HOLT / THE FLAT HAT

Senior Autumn Brenner and junior opposite hitter Kate Dedrick were able to bring thr College to a 3-0 victory in the first game of the Xavier Invite Friday afternoon against Akron. Brenner added 26 assists and 10 digs, Dedrick with five kills.

College defeats Akron, falls to Wright State in double header Tribe exhibits stellar play in spite of Raiders victory, looks to triumph in last Xavier game NATHAN SEIDEL FLAT HAT ASSOC. SPORTS EDITOR William and Mary (2-2) split its opening two games of the Xavier invite Sept. 6, shutting out Akron in the morning session before falling 3-0 to Wright State in the afternoon.

Senior setter Autumn Brenner and junior opposite hitter Kate Dedrick carried the Tribe to the 3-0 victory in the morning, with Brenner recording 26 assists and 10 digs and Dedrick adding five kills. After cruising to a 25-16 win in the first set, the College narrowly captured the second 28-25 thanks to two of Dedrick’s kills in the tiebreaker. The Zips kept it close for the majority of the third set before an ace from Brenner put the Tribe in the driver’s seat for good, completing the sweep with a 25-22 victory in the third.

In addition to Brenner and Dedrick, freshman libero Anna Porter chipped in 12 digs to help close out the tighter sets. Head coach Tim Doyle stressed the importance of staying focused late in sets when each point was critical.

“We were really strong out of the gate on offense,” Doyle said. “We weakened at times throughout the match but pulled through and played tough when sets got close at the end.”

After the morning session, the Tribe returned to battle the Raiders in the afternoon. The teams traded points through the better part of the first set and the College took the lead 16-15 but faltered late and lost 25-20. The Raiders built on their momentum to crush the College 25-15 in the second set despite amped-up defense from the College forcing a .179 hitting percentage.

The defeat was not without select stellar play, with junior middle blocker Julia Brown tying her high mark on the year with five blocks and Brenner dishing out another 24 assists. Dedrick earned a .364 hitting percentage to post her second game with a mark better than .350, and freshman middle blocker Kaitlyn Ferguson recorded seven kills in her first start for the Tribe.

The Tribe will look to regain the form it showed against the Zips in its final match in the Xavier Invite Saturday, when it takes on Xavier at 11 a.m in Cincinnati, Ohio.

WOMEN’S SOCCER

“

The Raiders built on their

momentum to crush the College 25-15 in the second set despite amped-up defense from the

College forcing a .179 hitting percentage.

FIELD HOCKEY

College ties Knights in double OT Tribe shuts out Long Island, 2-0 Knights take early lead, unable to solidify lead BELLA SMALL FLAT HAT STAFF WRITER Sunday, Sept. 8, William and Mary faced off against Fairleigh Dickinson at Martin Family Stadium in Williamsburg, Virginia. Coming off a 1-0 win over High Point the preceding week, the Tribe was looking to establish a winning streak. However, the game ended in a 1-1 tie between the Knights (1-2-3) and the Tribe (2-3-1).

The Knights were able to establish an early lead in the game with a goal off a corner in the 15th minute by sophomore defender Christa Waterman, assisted by freshman midfielder Maja Skansberg. However, the Tribe did not leave this goal unanswered for long. Ten minutes after the Knights struck, the Tribe was awarded a corner and redshirt junior defender Lauren Kelly found the back of the net. The Tribe goal was assisted by junior forward Courtney Miles to tie the game at one.

The first half was by far the more fast-paced of the game, with eight shots on goal for both sides and a total of three corners, two for the Tribe and one for the Knights.

A promising corner at the end of the period for the Tribe came up short, and the first period ended 1-1.

The Knights had four more corners in the second period. Due to some intense play and good goalkeeping by the Tribe, none of these corners resulted in a Knights goal. This stanza featured less intense play than earlier in the game, though there were some good chances from both teams, including six shots for the Knights and

four for the Tribe. Ultimately, neither team was able to put up a second goal. Throughout the game, senior goalkeeper Katelyn Briguglio had an impressive eight saves that kept the Tribe in the running despite some strong shots by the Knights.

At 1-1, the game went into an overtime period.

Again, Briguglio was able to make two saves to keep the Tribe alive. However, the Tribe was unable to maintain possession of the ball near the Knights goal, and without being able to establish any sort of solid scoring opportunities, the Tribe only got one shot in that went out right.

With the score still resting at 1-1, the Tribe pushed on into double overtime. Six seconds in, Miles, who was coming off an early assist, had a shot that went out top. The Knights were later awarded a corner which provided a valuable opportunity for them to seal a victory, but junior midfielder Sofia Albertsson sent the kick wide left and kept the game at 1-1. A few minutes later, the Tribe was given the same opportunity when it was awarded a corner, but ultimately ended up not being able to get a shot on goal.

Overall, the Knights and the Tribe played a long and evenly matched game, as both teams were continuously able to keep up and defend against their opponent’s level of play. This marks the Tribe’s first tie of the season, as they travel to next play No. 5 Virginia on Thursday, Sept. 12, at 7 p.m. in Charlottesville, Virginia.

ONLINE

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College defeats Sharks despite stormy weather

JAMIE HOLT / THE FLAT HAT

After a scoreless first quarter, the College stepped up and quickly found its footing against the Sharks, assisted by penalty.

COLLIN ANDERSON FLAT HAT ASSOC. SPORTS EDITOR William and Mary (1-1) shut out Long Island (0-3) at home Sunday, 2-0. Despite a few days of stormy weather, sunny Williamsburg quickly became a beautiful setting for this early season matchup. Sunday’s game marked the first-ever matchup between these two schools as well. The Tribe entered this game sitting at 0-1 on the season after dropping their season opener to No. 3-ranked Duke last Sunday and looked to gain some momentum heading into a busy week of games.

The 25th-ranked Tribe quickly took control of the game, and never looked back en route to a dominating performance. After a scoreless first quarter in which the Sharks only attempted one shot, the Tribe finally found the back of the net in the 27th minute of regulation. Senior forward Woodard Hooper took a pass from junior forward Ashley Drum and flicked it past the goalkeeper to open up the scoring on the afternoon. The Williamsburg, Virginia native is now tied for 13th on the school’s all-time scoring list. The goal marked the first of the season for the Tribe as well. Just 10 minutes later, the Tribe earned a pivotal penalty shot and senior midfielder Christie van de Kamp came up big to effectively shut the door on the Sharks. The captain made no mistake with the penalty, putting the Tribe ahead 2-0.

The Tribe dominated in the afternoon, outshooting the Sharks 26-6 and holding an 11-3 advantage on shots on goal as well. Despite attempting six corners throughout the match, the two Tribe goals did not come off of corner shots. Likewise, the Tribe committed zero fouls on the afternoon, key to their effective defensive play.

Up next, the Tribe heads south for a key in-state matchup against Old Dominion Tuesday, Sept. 10, at 5 p.m.

That game marks the first in a four-game road trip in which the Tribe travels up and down the east coast, with games against Virginia Commonwealth, North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Monmouth before returning home to face Vermont Sept. 29. The UNC matchup will be a rematch of last season’s National Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament first round game, in which UNC dominated the Tribe 4-0. UNC is currently ranked first in the country, and the Tribe will surely look to change that next Sunday at Chapel Hill, North Carolina. But first, the Tribe will look to continue their winning ways against the Monarchs in Norfolk.

sports

Sports Editor Gavin Aquin Sports Editor Avery Lackner flathatsports@gmail.com @FlatHatSports

The Flat Hat | Tuesday, September 10, 2019 | Page 10

FOOTBALL

Cavs rock College, 52-17

JAMIE HOLT / THE FLAT HAT

The Tribe gave up four touchdowns on its first four defensive possessions and gave up 511 yards of total offense. Offensively, the College was unable to get anything going until the second half, going into the break down 35-3 to Virginia.

Defensive errors, faltering offense fail to keep pace with Cavaliers COLLIN ANDERSON FLAT HAT SPORTS ASSOC. EDITOR Friday evening in Charlottesville, Virginia, William and Mary (1-1) came up short against a tough Virginia (2-0) squad, 52-17. The game pitted two in-state rivals, both of which had won their Week One matchups, with the Cavaliers having defeated Pittsburgh last Saturday 30-14.

The matchup also marked the return of head coach Mike London to Scott Stadium. The Tribe’s first-year coach previously led the Cavaliers from 2010 to 2015.

Coming off a momentum-building win at home against Lafayette last Saturday, the Tribe looked poised to challenge the Cavaliers and become just the second Football Championship Subdivision team to knock off a Football Bowl Subdivision squad this season in this battle of instate rivals.

Ten years ago, the Tribe thundered into Scott Stadium and shocked the Cavaliers with a score of 26-14, backed by B.W. Webb’s ’13 three interceptions. That victory, still fresh on the minds of some savvy alumni, was hopefully a preview of Friday night’s festivities.

However, the Cavaliers came out swinging in the first half, scoring 35 points right away. After gaining a school record 127 yards on the ground last week, freshman quarterback and reigning Colonial Athletic Association rookie of the week

Hollis Mathis struggled throughout the night, failing to complete a pass and rushing for just 10 yards. Despite multiple talented quarterbacks, the Tribe has yet to find a consistent starter, with multiple players splitting time under center.

While Williamsburg was left relatively unscathed by Hurricane Dorian, the Tribe endured a storm of their own on Friday: the Cavalier offense. The Cavaliers racked up 511 total yards of offense including 216 rushing yards. The Cavaliers offense went the entire game without

punting as well, and scored 28 points on their opening four drives. That quickly put the Tribe in a hole and built a virtually insurmountable lead. A 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by wide receiver Joe Reed put the Cavaliers up 35-3 with just under nine minutes to play in the second quarter, essentially squandering all hope of a Tribe upset.

Senior quarterback Kilton Anderson came off the bench and gave the Tribe offense some muchneeded support, racking up 103 yards through the

2019 SEASON SO FAR OFFENSE

DEFENSE

TURNOVERS FORCED: TACKLES: SACKS: YARDS AGAINST:

8

TURNOVERS:

2

153

PASSING YARDS:

293

6

RUSHING YARDS:

318

TOTAL YARDS:

611

879

air on four of eight passing. Like Mathis, the senior transfer from Coastal Carolina will continue to search for playing time in offensive coordinator Brennan Marion’s new “Go-Go” offense.

Senior running back Albert Funderburke led in the ground game with 50 yards rushing. The high-powered Tribe offense finished the game strong, scoring 14 points in the second half, just three points behind the Cavaliers.

The Tribe defense, despite surrendering 52 points, forced four turnovers on the night against a very good Cavaliers offense that will certainly make an impact in the Athletic Coast Conference this season. Senior linebacker Arman Jones led the squad with eight tackles and an interception that was returned 47 yards for a touchdown in the second half. So far, the Tribe defense has forced eight turnovers in just two games on the year.

Up next, the Tribe will return home to Zable Stadium to host Colgate, which currently sits at 0-2 on the season. The Raiders defeated the Tribe 23-0 at home last season on Parents Weekend, and the Tribe will look to bounce back from a tough defeat against the Cavaliers when they face off against the Raiders.

This will be the third non-conference game of the 2019 slate, with the Tribe headed back out on the road next weekend against a second FBS opponent, East Carolina. That precedes the beginning of Colonial Athletic Association play with a road showdown against Albany Sept. 28.

THE EXTRA POINT

Tribe football fans should not despair, Virginia loss not fatal The College’s defense showed promise against ACC foe, could buoy postseason aspirations

Brendan Doyle

FLAT HAT EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Friday night, William and Mary headed to Charlottesville, hoping to upset Virginia. If the Tribe pulled the stunner, it would have been its first win over a Football Bowl Subdivision team since 2009, when it beat — wait for it — the Cavaliers.

Alas, it was not to be. The Cavaliers are a good team and are projected to make some noise in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Even against mediocre or bad FBS teams, it generally takes some semblance of luck to pull off such an upset as a Football Championship Subdivision team like the Tribe. There’s just a gap in skill and athleticism that comes from playing a team in a higher division (unless you’re North Dakota State or James Madison. Hi, Carson Wentz and Jimmy Moreland).

That isn’t to say that we couldn’t glean anything from the game Friday night — sure, it might not have been the best barometer of where the team is in terms of how successful they could be this season, but it could give us an idea of where this team’s strength comes from.

That, pretty obviously, seems to be the Tribe’s defense. Sure, many people, including me, have focused on the “Go-Go” offense and the breakout potential of certain players. But there will continue to be a learning curve, especially if head coach Mike London and offensive coordinator Brennan Marion continue to trot true freshman quarterback Hollis Mathis out onto the field.

While the dividend of that decision will pay off later, the defense may have to step up in the interim. And by the looks of it, the Tribe’s defense is up to the challenge.

So far, the Tribe has given up 439.5 yards per game, but that number is skewed by the 511 yards of total offense the Cavaliers gained Friday night. More telling are the eight turnovers that the Tribe has forced through just two games. Currently, the Tribe is first in the country in turnovers forced and tied for second in turnover margin, which also speaks to how good a job the Tribe has done in holding onto the football so far this year.

Sure, turnovers are a fickle thing. But it’s not like defensive coordinator Vincent Brown’s unit feasted only on the Cavaliers’

backups; the Tribe forced three fumbles in a crucial third quarter against Lafayette and picked off the Cavaliers’ starting quarterback Bryce Perkins — who received votes before the season for Preseason ACC Player of the Year — twice.

However, the Tribe does have to show that it can stop people even when the turnovers aren’t coming. The Leopards gained 254 yards through the air in the season opener against the Tribe, which isn’t great when you consider they averaged just over 170 last year.

They finished 3-8 last year, and they aren’t projected to be much better this season, although their freshman quarterback, Keegan Shoemaker, has started to break out.

The philosophy of “bend, but don’t break” is dangerous for defenses, as it often relies on a statistical anomaly like a turnover to be the strength of the unit. Giving up truckloads of yards but hoping for an interception or a fumble does not make for winning football. The Tribe defense should know this; they returned about nine starters from a beleaguered but solid group last season.

This week’s home matchup with Colgate should be a good measuring stick for the Tribe. The Raiders have bounced around the bottom of the FCS top-25 poll but have since dropped out as they started their season 0-2. A victory could be a sign that the Tribe, and its defense, is here to compete for a playoff berth.

Email Brendan Doyle at bpdoyle@email.wm.edu.