VARIETY // Dr. Jaws and Mr. Nicholls, page 7 Zach Nicholls ‘14 is going to need a bigger boat after publishing a nonfiction book on sharks, titled “Carcharhinus obscurus.”
The Flat Hat
Vol. 103, Iss. 8 | Friday, September 20, 2013
The Twice-Weekly Student Newspaper
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of The College of William and Mary
VIRGINIA
RANKINGS
Will Virginia’s top colleges go private?
See FUNDING page 4
See SALARIES page 3
administrators continue to search for new funding options.
COURTESY PHOTO / VIRGINIA STATE CAPITOL
In 1980, 42.8 percent of the College’s operating budget was supported by the state. By 2012, that decreased to 12.4 percent, forcing the College to search for new options.
BY Ariel Cohen and zach hardy // flat hat assoc. NEWS EDITOR and chief staff writer
$
commonwealth of Virginia and operate more like a private institution. “I think that it is highly unlikely that either U.Va. or William and Mary would go private,” Vice President of Financial Affairs Sam Jones said. “It is not something that you can decide unilaterally as an institution to do because you need state approval first.” The 11-page report describes difficulties facing higher education across the nation, such as student debt and decreasing federal and state aid. The report claims going partially or fully private would allow the school to retain faculty, to attract elite students from across the nation,
BY LAURA STERN THE FLAT HAT
and to continue to maintain its reputation internationally. “Reductions in state and federal support and stiff competition for outstanding students, faculty, and staff are a reality at UVA and placing increasing pressure on the funding model, programs, University leaders, and the Board of Visitors,” the report said. “UVA has the opportunity to be a leader in advocating for the value of higher education with a new model for excellence in public higher education.” Under the proposal, U.Va. would give up
12.4 %
The public ivies of Virginia, the College of William and Mary and the University of Virginia, continue to see the top of ranking lists year after year. Yet, both schools also continue to see decreases in state funding. Recently, a panel at U.Va. released a report recommending the school break many of its ties with the
Pay affected by starting careers
Last week, the College of William and Mary moved up in the U.S. News and World Report’s top universities list to tie for 32nd place. However, PayScale recently released a ranking of its own. The report lists colleges with the highest mid-career salaries for graduates, with the College rated 97th. PayScale’s rankings could be greatly affected by the fields that students enter upon graduation. Certain high paying concentrations, such as engineering, are not offered at the College. Universities like the Polytechnic Institute of New York University stand in 14th place, with salaries starting at $60,700 and mid-career salaries around $116,000. In comparison, PayScale reported that the College’s mid-career salaries average around $93,300 and starting salaries were $44,500. “William and Mary [graduates have] higher salaries longitudinally,” David Lapinski, a senior associate director at the Sherman and Gloria H. Cohen Career Center, said. “Over time, there is more growth within their careers.” Lapinski explained that the survey also does not take into account the fact that 30 to 35 percent of the graduates of the College enter graduate schools upon graduation, which often leads to an increase in starting salaries. “Our students are going out there and are more focused on making a difference in the world,” Wendy Webb-Robers, senior associate director at the Cohen Career Center, said. She says students are not as concerned about going into industries with high salaries. Instead, they care more about finding jobs in their specific field of interest. Kelly Buckley ’05, assistant director of Freshman and Sophomore Career Experience, chose the College for its quality of education. She wanted to attend a school where she would be prepared not only for a career following her study of English literature but also for graduate school and her personal life. “And all of that happened for me,” Buckley said. Many people might wonder how PayScale
With state funding for the College’s operating budget dropping to
College Funding Series
College ranks 97th in salaries
WILLIAMSBURG
Ten years later, reflecting on Isabel One of the Commonwealth’s most severe hurricanes caused power outages, damages BY RACHEL DENNENY ThE FLAT HAT
Ten years ago to date, Hurricane Isabel made landfall in Virginia and has since been hailed as one of the most severe storms in the history of the state. In the hours preceding the storm, the College of William and Mary urged its residents to evacuate, and it became a haven for the few who had no choice but to remain. “We ate lots of fried chicken,” Area Director Jenn Garcia said in reference to the food that was served at the Campus Recreation Center during the hurricane. The building served as a temporary home to 50 students who were unable to evacuate, as well as Residence Life staff, who remained at the College as necessary personnel during the 11 days the school was without electricity. The lack of electricity was not the only problem. A William and Mary News story from the time reported that a tree fell through a Lodge behind the Sadler Center, an unwelcome addition to the 22 trees found strewn across the Wren Yard. However, professor Marylou Zapf said she thought the school handled the disaster well.
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Today’s Weather 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
“There was clearly coordination in planning … most of the damage that could have been a threat to someone had been removed by the time we got back to campus,” Zapf said. After days of no electrical outages, the College was able to pull together a cleanup coalition manned by the inhabitants of the Rec, who began the process of restoring the campus as quickly as possible so classes could resume. Even today, ten years since the arrival of Isabel, Anna Martin, vice president for Administration, emphasized the College focused on bracing itself for the storm’s aftermath. “Evacuation really is not just about the incident itself but what’s going to be the consequence of that incident,” Martin said. In terms of readiness for future disasters, Garcia said she encourages residents to take an active role in campus safety. “Everyone can be a part of keeping the community safe,” Garcia said. “Considering our timeline, what we did, the way the school was able to pull together … it was a huge reflection on how community-oriented [the College] is.”
Inside opinions
Inside SPORTS
Are sororities deserving of criticism?
Partly cloudy High 82, Low 63
COURTESY PHOTO / BRYAN KOENIG
Ten years ago, Hurricane Isabel downed 22 trees along the Wren Yard as well as one near the Crim Dell Amphitheater.
Greek life is often maligned as being a way to buy your friends. Now more than ever, sororities seem to worthy of that criticism. page 5
Tribe nets overtime winner
Senior forward Dani Rutter scores in 97th minute to push College past Radford 2-1 page 8