SPORTS >>>> PAGE 8 7 SPORTS PAGE
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The College’s football season just short ofwith a playoff Laycock looks to7-5 lead the Tribe intoended the postseason a winberth. over Richmond.
Land Ho! screened at the Kimball Theatre with stars in attendance.
College hosts Spiders Not quite enough
Vol. 104, Iss. 23 | Tuesday. December 2, 2014
Global Film Festival kicks off
The Flat Hat The Twice-Weekly Student Newspaper
RANKINGS
College tops in study abroad
Students hold Black LIves Matter protest
Amanda Williams Flat Hat Staff Writer
See ABROAD page 3
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Student Life
School ranks first for public schools
For the second year in a row, the College of William and Mary has the highest participation in study abroad of all public universities, according to the Institute of International Education’s annual Open Doors report. The College ranked 20th overall with 45.8 percent participation for the graduates of the 2012-13 school year, a total of 674 students. That is an increase from last year’s 653 graduating students who went abroad while attending the College. Assistant Director for Study AbroadOperations Molly DeStafney said she DeStafney thinks that the various trips students at the College take are valuable. “I think our students are just curious for those opportunities and experiences,” DeStafney said. “I think that [the students] are all very strong, academically speaking, and have interests in a lot of different places that extend beyond the reaches of campus.” Any program abroad for credit counts toward this total, including research programs. Not all of the College’s opportunities for study or experience abroad are taken into account in this ranking because many students and organizations also go on trips that do not provide academic credit. William Plews-Ogan ’15 took advantage of an opportunity to study in Brazil during the spring of his junior year. Although he was living in a Portuguese-speaking country, Plews-Ogan ventured in with only a few years of Spanish. “Day one, I think I knew three words, and one of them was not what I thought it was,” Plews-Ogan said. “I wanted a unique, not Spanish, academic experience and language immersion, so Portuguese was close enough that it would work.” Plews-Ogan is one of many American students across the country who have participated in study abroad programs. Earlier this year, the College pledged to join IIE’s Generation Study Abroad initiative. As of the 2011-12 academic year, 295,000 American college students studied abroad. The initiative’s goal is to increase this number to 600,000 by 2019 by partnering with universities and other organizations. The College has committed to increasing student participation to
of The College of William and Mary
amanda Williams / THE FLAT HAT
Students gathered for a Black Lives Matter protest Nov. 25, which began with 4 minutes and 30 seconds of silence to commemorate murdered teenager Michael Brown.
Black Lives Matter protests in front of College bookstore Amanda Williams Flat Hat Staff Writer
A group in Williamsburg took part in a nationwide event Nov. 25, hosting a Black Lives Matter Protest. After several speakers addressed those gathered, the march began in front of the William and Mary bookstore, circled down to Richmond Road, and ended at the Sir Christopher Wren Building. Travis Harris, a first year American Studies Ph. D student, opened the protest with 4 minutes and 30 seconds of silence, just as the protests around the country did, to commemorate the 4 hours and
30 minutes that Michael Brown, fatally shot by an officer earlier this year, lay in the street. Harris organized the entire event with a future event in mind, tentatively planned for the spring. “My goal is to have a candid conversation on race here in Williamsburg,” Harris said. “My hope is that by having this conversation, each side is going to understand each other better. My end goal is racial reconciliation and peace.” The countrywide protest movement was sparked by the Nov. 24 St. Louis Grand Jury decision not to indict Darren Wilson, the white police officer who shot Brown, an unarmed, 18-year-old black male. The shooting occurred Aug. 9 in Ferguson, Mo., a suburb outside St.
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Louis. The Williamsburg protest was just one of hundreds from New York to Los Angeles, and stayed peaceful, unlike some others. In his remarks, Harris added that the prevalence of white privilege perpetuates the inequalities and barriers protested against. “I was devastated,” Harris said of the decision in an email. “But I found hope in the diversity of the crowd. The protest was a protest in and of itself that went against all of the barriers that are up in American society. Sadly, this country has a 400 year history of violence towards Blacks. From the brutality of slavery to lynching during Jim See PROTEST page 3
National
Students push for Portman in 2016 election Two-year grant Parkes, Longley receive national attention after forming Draft Rob Portman Committee Meilan Solly FLAT HAT ASSOC. NEWS EDITOR
Politicians such as Hillary Clinton and Chris Christie are often mentioned in discussions about potential candidates in the 2016 presidential election. Thanks to the efforts of two seniors at the College of William and Mary, Ohio Senator Rob Portman may soon enter the conversation. Earlier this year, government majors Trevor Parkes ’15 and Henry Longley ’15 filed papers with the Federal Election Commission to form the Draft Rob Parkes Portman Committee. Their efforts were recently covered by Bloomberg news. The committee, which is a nonconnected PAC that allows Parkes and Longley to build support and gather funds for Portman, is part of the pair’s efforts to encourage the Republican senator to run for office in the
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next presidential election. “We hope we can build up a following for Senator Portman on social media and have a grassroots movement ready for the senator in Virginia,” Parkes said in an email. “If the senator does decide to run for president, he will already have a following in a very competitive state and a leg up on his competition.” Thus far, Parkes and Longley have worked Portman to raise awareness for their campaign via social media, particularly through Facebook and Twitter. They have also gathered donations that they will hold in a secure bank account until, or if, Portman announces his intentions to run. The Draft Rob Portman Committee is not run by or connected with Portman or his staff and Parkes and Longley have not officially informed Portman of their campaign. Following the publication the Bloomberg article, however, a member of Portman’s
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staff reached out to the pair. “[They] offered to keep us in the loop with events the senator will be doing so we can help publicize them,” Parkes said. Parkes and Longley both have a background in politics — Parkes served as the College’s campus coordinator for the Ed Gillespie for Senate campaign, and he currently interns at the Virginia Senate Republican Caucus. Longley took a semester off to work as a field office director in Chesapeake, Va. for Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign. In addition to sharing political views and experience, Parkes and Longley share a fraternal bond — both are Delta Phi brothers. They live on the same floor of the Delta Phi Longley house. It was here that they began to discuss their mutual admiration for Portman.
$250,000 goes toward domestic violence Quentin Paleo FLAT HAT Staff Writer
The Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women gave the Marshall Wythe School of Law’s Domestic Violence Clinic a $250,000 two-year grant to expand its reach. The clinic offers legal services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault throughout southeast Virginia, a region home to more than 500,000 people. The grant will give third-year law students who work in the clinic experience handling sexual assault cases. Patricia Roberts, the director of the law school’s clinical programs, elaborated on how the Domestic Violence Clinic will use the grant money from OVW. “We will be hiring a full-time attorney who will work as a fellow with Darryl Cunningham,” Roberts said. Darryl Cunningham, the instructor of the Domestic Violence Clinic, detailed many of the additional problems that victims of domestic violence and sexual assault face. The grant will enable the clinic to help victims solve these problems.
See PORTMAN page 2
See GRANT page 3
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Thanksgiving in Ferguson
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Spending a holiday in a hub of national controversy sheds new light on the conflict. page 4
A touch of the East
Toshi Yoshida’s woodblock prints come to the Muscarelle. page 6
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The Flat Hat | Tuesday, December 2, 2014 | Page 2
THE BUZZ
Police break up black Greek parties all the time here, breaking up and sending people home early. That never happens to white Greek parties — at least definitely not as much.
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— Britney Harrington ’15 speaking at the Black Lives Matter protest march
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Snapchats from Students
On tonight’s episode of Snapchats from Students: A falsely bespectacled student ponders the big questions — namely, whether her glasses, coffee and clip art cigarette qualify her as an English major. Meanwhile, students affirm human beings’ capacity to change, and stack mallards in an idiomatically questionable manner. As ever, be sure to share your days at the College with The Flat Hat by snapping The Flat Chat.
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In her latest blog, Flat Hat senior year blogger Rachel Brown discusses the anxieties and questions surrounding the grad school applicaiton process. To read the full post, go to FlatHatNews.com.
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CORRECTIONS The Flat Hat wishes to correct any facts printed incorrectly. Corrections may be submitted by email to the editor of the section in which the incorrect information was printed. Requests for corrections will be accepted at any time.
“I submitted my first application to graduate school this week (after only a minor freak out that I had forgotten a component). Filling out the application was not the best part of my Thanksgiving break, but it was necessary. Truthfully, the entire graduate school application process is daunting, even more so than that of undergraduate schools. One of the main reasons I applied to the College of William and Mary for undergrad was because I knew that I would receive a great education no matter what subject I picked as my major. But graduate school is different. A school may have a great program in one subject but not in another, so I had to carefully research which graduate schools would be best for what I want to study. “The problem is that I’m not sure I chose the perfect program to pursue. As a double major, I saw lots of options for what I could study in graduate school, but narrowing them down was difficult. Even when I decided that I wanted to pursue a graduate degree in counseling, I had to decide specifically what type of counseling degree I wanted.”
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Saturday, Nov. 29 — An individual was arrested for fraud on Ashwood Drive.
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Saturday, Nov. 29 — An individual was arrested for a hit and run on High Street.
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Saturday, Nov. 29 — An individual was arrested for being drunk in public and using profane language on Richmond Road.
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Sunday, Nov. 30 — An individual was arrested for trespassing on Lafayette Street.
Parkes, Longley promote Portman Politically active Delta Phi brothers campaign for Republican to run in 2016 PORTMAN from page 1
“We chose Rob Portman because he has the experience needed to lead this country. His record shows he cares deeply about Americans’ well-being,” Parkes said. “His experience includes serving in both the executive and legislative branches for many years, and he has a positive record writing policy to improve the economy and protect American jobs.”
Currently, the pair said their largest goal is to increase their following on social media. Despite positive responses to the campaign, its supporters remain limited largely to individuals in Parkes’ and Longley’s communities. “At some point, we will reach a saturation point and need people we don’t know to follow the committee,” Parkes said. Given the fact that numerous strangers have already sent
messages of encouragement to Parkes and Longley, the pair said they remain positive about their chances of building a large support base. “Right now, we are using social media to increase visibility, engage people, and drive traffic to our website,” Longley said in an email. “After winter break, we are going to begin meeting with local and regional organizations to build a grassroots network.”
Parkes and Longley have already completed several steps in their long-term plan: Start a draft committee? Check. Build a grassroots network through social media and donations? In progress. But as for the final goal to pave the way for Portman 2016 and play a pivotal role in the election of America’s next president? For the answer to that question, check back in a year or two.
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
The Flat Hat
Page 3
Student Life
Trading spaces: the College’s exchange students Over five years, 230 students have studied abroad in Williamsburg; 58 percent are from Europe Jenna Staub THE FLAT HAT
The College of William and Mary was recently ranked first among public universities for student participation in study abroad by the Institute of International Education. Similarly, the College is also a destination for students studying abroad from foreign institutions. In the past five years, 230 students have studied abroad at the College with the largest percentages coming from Europe, at 58 percent, and Asia, at 27 percent. The courses they enroll in vary widely, but the most frequently studied subjects in order of percentage enrolled are English, government, business, history and economics. Annabelle Wright, an exchange student from the University of Nottingham in England, said that she was limited in her choice of study abroad programs due to her American Studies and English majors, but she chose the College because of its small size, unique history and location. Wright said that, for her, the most rewarding elements of
her American study abroad experience have been the places she has traveled to, the people she has met, and the classes she has taken at the College. “I have had so much scope to be able to pick what I want to do,” Wright said. She added that academics at the College are very different from those at her English university, which presents most courses as “compulsory.” In general, Wright said she views her time at the College positively. “[The experience] has made me think about things in a different way and has made me more open-minded about the ways different people approach school and their lives,” she said. Eugène Achterhof, an exchange student from Leiden University in the Netherlands, is pursuing a government major and chose his study abroad destination in part for academic reasons. “I looked into the courses and programs offered, and the government faculty is pretty big here, which, for me, with an international relations background, is really interesting,” Achterhof said. He added that the structure of American university education is
different from his experience in the Netherlands, because the College offers a sort of “interactive lecture,” combining the European mode of separated large lectures and smaller, discussion-based tutorials. “This [structure] forces you to broaden your horizons and think out of your comfort zone,” he said. Unlike other students studying abroad, Jimmy Eriksson did not begin his studies at another university but instead received the Borgstrom Scholarship Endowment from the College, which provides fees for one semester to an incoming study abroad student from Sweden. Through this experience, Eriksson said he sought to get out of his comfort zone by focusing on his academics during the week, but saving his weekends for fun, memory-making experiences — ranging from skydiving to his completion of the famed campus “triathlon.” Eriksson said he has been successful in this regard, fulfilling his intention to explore different experiences and meet new people this semester. “If I fail or if I succeed … that doesn’t matter too much right now,” Eriksson said. “At least I will have a good story to tell my grandchildren one day.”
Dining
Sodexo reintroduces reusable to-go boxes in dining halls Dining Services starts trial ‘Choose to Reuse’ campaign; official launch scheduled for Dec. 1-17 eleanor Lamb FLAT HAT Assoc. News Editor
Students use approximately 4,000 to-go boxes from the dining halls every week, according to a recent press release from Dining Services. Sodexo’s newly instated “Choose to Reuse” program aims to decrease that amount. Dining Services began a trial run for “Choose to Reuse” Monday, and the trial will last the rest of the semester. The program is scheduled to officially launch Jan. 21, 2015. Sodexo representatives have been working with their sustainability team to plan “Choose to Reuse” for over a month. “Choose to Reuse” offers students a reusable plastic container instead of a disposable container.
Students can check out a reusable box by swiping their card twice: once for their meal swipe, once to register them into the program. From there, students sign a waiver stating that they will return their box or pay a $5 fee. The boxes are clear, green-tinted plastic and contain three food compartments. The system for drinks and utensils will remain the same — only disposable options will be provided. On the first day of the trial run, Resident District Manager Jeff McClure noticed the reusable boxes were a popular option. “It’s gangbusters. It’s off the charts. [By lunch,] Sadler had 50-100 gone already,” McClure said. McClure said that the program was meant to enhance sustainability in the dining realm since
the dining halls rely on resources such as paper products and water consumption. “Sustainability is important to us, and we’re part of you guys,” McClure said. “We’re excited about [‘Choose to Reuse’]. We’ll continue to drive sustainability on campus. It’s not a race. It’s a marathon.” Julia Varoutsos ’16 said she accidentally picked up a disposable to-go box before she noticed the “Choose to Reuse” display, but said that she will check a reusable box out next time. “I think they’re great. They’re reusable and you don’t have to wash them,” Varoutsos said. “I would have [taken one], but my hand already touched [a disposable one]. Varoutsos is not the only student who finds the system beneficial. Sara Bellakbira ’15 chose to
reuse on the first day of the trial run. She said that she liked the system and that the reusable box was better than the kind Dining Services has tried to implement in previous years because it seals more tightly. “It’s a new and improved design. It’s a lot more roomy and spill-proof,” Bellakbira McClure said. “I support the reusable to-go boxes. I will definitely keep using them. I don’t even want to turn mine in. I want to keep it and wash it in case they run out.” Dining Services made to-go boxes available in previous academic years, but this is the first time they have been offered this semester.
Law School domestic violence clinic to partner with Avalon Center Students take legal, non-legal issues into consideration when assisting victims of domestic violence GRANT from page 1
“Often when people are getting out of a bad relationship or have been abused, there are also housing issues, job issues, [and] credit issues. Abusers often will control all of the money — or, as an alternative, they will get credit cards out in the victim’s name, run up massive bills and then not pay those bills — so they have no credit, so they can’t get an apartment, they can’t get a car,” Cunningham said. “They [also] have transportation issues, medical issues, and custody issues. So there’s a lot of legal and non-legal needs that they have, so what we’re hoping to get as many of those needs as possible met or find referrals for other attorneys or outside sources.” In addition to supplementing Cunningham’s expertise with a new
attorney to address those problems, the Domestic Violence Clinic will work with several organizations at the College of William and Mary and in the Williamsburg community to achieve its goals. “The law school and its clinics are partnering with Legal Aid [Society for South Eastern Virginia] and Avalon, a local domestic violence shelter, and we will be providing expanded legal services to [southeastern Virginia],” Roberts said. The clinic will also partner with the College’s Initiative on Gender, Sexuality, & the Law and the College’s Family Law Clinic to broaden its reach. Director of Outreach Services at Avalon Juanita Graham assists the Domestic Violence Clinic in directing victims to the clinic for legal services, in housing and counseling victims, and in educating
the public. Graham discussed the work she does with the Avalon Center. “Some of [issues we address are]: child support, protective orders, trying to get one person or another out of the house,” Graham said. “Some of the other non-legal issues are finances, finding housing, [and] those are some pretty big barriers we have to overcome.” The law school will host an education session in January. While undergraduate students cannot volunteer at the law clinics, Graham said that Avalon offers many opportunities for students to help victims of domestic violence. If students are interested, she said that Avalon may later establish a program for undergraduate students, which will instruct them on how to educate others on sexual assault and healthy relationships.
Protesters: ‘Black lives matter ... all lives matter’ College promotes NAACP members, religious community leaders address student, local marchers PROTEST from page 1
Crow. Our contemporary problem is the shooting of Blacks while the White cop or security guard get away with it. State sanctioned violence, simply put. White college students can experience White Privilege and go on with their lives but this issue is colorblindness or a lack of awareness will lead to perpetuating the problem. The College students of today will be leaders tomorrow. Hopefully they will not make the same mistakes.” Following the moment of silence, Harris energized the crowd with call-and-response chants including “no justice, no peace” and “show me what democracy looks like,” while the crowd responded, “This is what democracy looks like.” The most commonly repeated phrase was “black lives matter,” with Harris adding the response: “all lives matter.” In addition to Harris, multiple speakers addressed the crowd. They varied from members of the religious community, College students and NAACP members. While the protest was peaceful, a senior from the College of William and Mary stood alone nearby with two signs, “stop race baiting now” and “police lives matter.” A few protestors engaged the man in conversation but the focus remained on the speakers. Harris said that the turnout for the protest encouraged him, that it was a movement. At multiple points he highlighted the diverse array of people present. There was representation from many different age, race and ethnicity brackets. Some participants traveled for the protest, including Sarah Hogg, a senior from James Madison University. “I think it’s really important to be here to support the countless number of young men and women, boys and girls, specifically black men and women and black boys and girls who are being murdered senselessly by police,” Hogg said. “It’s definitely racially charged, I think anyone that says that it’s not is very blind.”
Brittney Harrington ’15, who spoke during the protest, noted the effects of police brutality on students at the College, saying that many students have been victims of police brutality and violence. She also said that this violence is reflected in the culture of race relations at the College, particularly in regards to Greek Life. “Police break up black Greek parties all the time here, breaking up and sending people home early. That never happens to white Greek parties — at least definitely not as much. But Black parties here — there is always a ton of police and they get closed down all the time when there’s definitely a lot less illegal stuff happening,” Harrington said. “Greek organizations here don’t have palaces where they keep a ton of alcohol and drugs, but guess who does and happens to be white and doesn’t get busted? It’s very racial.” Nia Ladson ’15 also participated in the march. “One of the reasons I did this is just because instantly with the responses I was moved,” Ladson said. “I have black brothers and a black father and cousins and I’m hurt and I’m shocked and I’m angry, and something needs to be done about it.” Family was a driving factor for many of the protestors. One sign, held by an older white woman, read, “he was my son too.” Hampton, Va. resident Marci Williams made her stand because of her son, also present at the protest. “I have a biracial son,” Williams said. “One day he’s going to grow up to be what the world will see as a black male and basically I want the world to stop seeing his blackness as a weapon. I’m just really interested in getting the word out that this isn’t a black problem, this isn’t a white problem, this is an everybody problem.” Harrington noted, however, that the protest on Tuesday signified hope for change at the College. “I think students here are definitely in a position of privilege … we have access to the kinds of jobs that people need to be in to change policies and create
policies that will hold police and the justice system accountable,” she said. “We have the obligation to use our privilege to do that, especially for people who do not have access. People need to be in the streets with us to show their support — that was something beautiful that I saw in the protest that happened here. It was a huge mix of people, many of whom have never had experiences with racial profiling or police brutality and probably never will, but they stood in solidarity with us.”
AMANDA WILLIAMS / THE FLAT HAT
Pat Griffith and Dr. Marshall Barry ‘61 joined the protest.
learning abroad
ABROAD from page 1
60 percent over the next five years. The Wendy and Emery Reves Center for International Studies plays a large part in enabling students to take part in these opportunities. According to DeStafney, there is currently almost $400,000 allocated toward student study-abroad scholarships, a number the Reves Center hopes to increase substantially. One of the two most common reasons students decide not to study abroad is a monetary barrier. The other is a fear that they cannot fit study abroad into their plan of study. The Reves Center works to overcome this challenge by creating new programs specified toward majors without other options, like the new summer 2015 health sciences program in Antigua. Some students turn to other schools or organizations for a program that fits their needs. Plews-Ogan chose his program for several reasons. “It was social justice and sustainable development and that really fit with my major,” Plews-Ogan said. “I also thought it would be timely with the World Cup being there and all of the social justice issues with that.” Grace Fernandez ’15 studied in Chile, also through an outside program, because of its international business focus. She said she thinks that the students are the reason the College has such a high participation rate. “[The students] want to push themselves to take advantage of the full spectrum of what the school can offer and study abroad is definitely an experiential part of that,” Fernandez said.
opinions
Opinions Editor Isabel Larroca fhopinions@gmail.com // @theflathat
The Flat Hat
EDITORIAL CARTOON
| Tuesday, December 2, 2014 | Page 4
STAFF EDITORIAL
Defying apathy
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GRAPHIC BY MADELEINE KING / THE FLAT HAT
Keystone XL: It’s common sense down. And frankly, America’s not the only game in town. Consider the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline. This pipeline proposal, put off for years since Keystone provided the better option, has regained new significance in the wake of the Keystone controversy (which has been pigeonholed by the current administration for the past six years. The Senate was only allowed to vote upon the project this month.) The Northern Gateway Pipeline runs from Bruderheim to British Columbia. This is on the west coast of Canada, meaning the oil from tar sands could be shipped straight to, you guessed it, China. FLAT HAT OPINIONS COLUMNIST Where would that leave the United States? Roughly 42,000 jobs behind, according to the State Department. To top it off, the In response to a recent Flat Hat column concerning the Keystone environmental impact of that pipeline could be even worse. Pipelines XL pipeline, I think it’s important to consider why as many as 14 actually have the best track record of transportation of oil. The other Senate Democrats supported the bill along with all 45 Republicans, options, trains and tankers, have accidents far more frequently. The which, considering the polarized political environment of today, is Washington Post reports that four times as much oil was spilled from quite the display of bipartisanship. The trains this year as opposed to the previous four reason is simple. Keystone XL just makes decades. It is irresponsible to deny the sense. More in 365 days, than in 40 years. If SEAC American people good jobs in a protested Among the reasons cited against the oil transportation by rail, I’d support time of economic harship for a that in a heartbeat. pipeline was the environmental impact of developing tar sands. It’s true, developing tar common-sense project. Finally, the State Department review of the sands can release carbon dioxide emissions, project has ruled that the construction and although only three times that of conventional oil as opposed to the 17 operation of pipeline in the US will have “little to no environmental times cited in the article. impact.” It even states that there would be “greater safety and However, this isn’t a case of “yes” or “no” to developing tar sands. environmental risks from not building the pipeline.” Canada is going to do it regardless of what the United States does. “With With the country facing economic troubles including near-record the pressure to avoid a decision that is such a no brainer, it’s all the lows in the labor-participation rate, this project has rightly received more reason Canada should be looking towards trade diversification bipartisan support from Virginia Senator Mark Warner (D) and other and particularly diversification of energy exports,” said the Canadian senators. Environmental concerns regarding tar sands are certainly Prime Minister in September. Translation: This oil is getting developed legitimate, but these resources are going to be developed by Canada whether Keystone is built or not. whether we like it or not. If we don’t approve this project, then Canada will find other It is irresponsible to deny the American people good jobs in a time buyers. And not just this one time either. Canada stands only behind of economic hardship for a common-sense project which reduces the Saudi Arabia and Venezuela for most proven oil reserves worldwide, risk of oil accidents. From a bipartisan perspective, we need Keystone thus a refusal of Keystone now could be a detriment to CanadianXL. American energy business in the future. That’s a lot of business to turn Email Sumner Higginbotham at sshigginbotham@email.wm.edu.
Sumner Higginbotham
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The staff editorial represents the opinion of The Flat Hat. The editorial board, which is elected by The Flat Hat’s section editors and executive staff, consists of Abby Boyle, Matt Camarda, Zachary Frank, Meredith Ramey and Ellen Wexler. The Flat Hat welcomes submissions to the Opinions section. Limit letters to 250 words and columns to 650 words. Letters, columns, graphics and cartoons reflect the view of the author only. Email submissions to fhopinions@gmail.com.
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Penspen Integrity in 2013 investigated corrosion levels of diluted bitumen and determined “the Dilbit and Synbit are no more corrosive than comparable conventional crude oils.” The study also went on to point out that crude oil pipelines have been carrying diluted bitumen for more than 20 years, and there has been no discernible increase in corrosion failure incidents. The claims that the Keystone Pipeline has had 14 leaks are wholly untrue. The Keystone Pipeline itself has had zero leaks since coming into operation in 2010, and has safely transported more than 700
million barrels of oil. In January of this year, the U.S. Department of State released the FSEIS. This was the fifth report stating the Keystone XL Pipeline would have no significant impact on GHG emissions. Since 2011, 28 surveys have averaged more than 60 percent public support. The majority of people of the United States want the Keystone Pipeline to be built. They want to get back to work and they want to increase North American energy independence.
— Adam Johnson, TransCanada
Pretty weak explanation as to how Ferguson relates to college students. Seems like you just wanted to talk about the debate? You added very little to discussion and missed its most glaringly obvious relation to W&M — black students here are subject to profiling and oppression, too.
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LETTER TO THE EDITOR After reading an editorial that appeared in your paper on Friday, I wanted to correct a number of inaccuracies. In acknowledging the benefits of Canadian oil over current Middle East imports, the author fails to recognize the actual impact of emissions from oil sands production. Oil sands are responsible for 0.13 percent of global GHG emissions. It is also important to note that oil sands product emissions are slightly higher than other sources of oil — and less than some of the heavier oils currently produced and refined in the U.S. today. An extensive study published by
oung adults are finding increasingly little to be excited about in the world of politics — only about 21 percent of those under the age of thirty voted in the last election. In defiance of a cynical and apathetic political culture, students Trevor Parkes ’15 and Henry Longley ’15 formed a political action committee to draft Senator Rob Portman to run for president. Their enthusiastic drive to effect political change is commendable. While there is no shortage of student activism at the College of William and Mary, much of it focuses on issues directly pertaining to students or to the Williamsburg community as a whole. Williamsburg can easily become a bubble, leaving students ignorant or uninterested in events on the outside. Decisions made in Washington affect us all and, as President Obama’s most recent executive order showed, the president arguably has more power than ever before. For good or for bad, this makes our participation in the electoral process more pivotal as well. To see students so actively engaged in the larger political world is inspiring. Although Portman has been considered a potential vice presidential candidate for years, he has never run for president, nor has he announced plans to do so. Parkes and Longley’s efforts to encourage Portman to run demonstrate a passion for politics that this generation desperately needs. Both students have worked for politicians and political organizations, and it is exciting to see them using their knowledge and experience independently while in college. Furthermore, Parkes and Longley have shown that student activists have real power — to inform their peers and to interact constructively with elected officials. Until now, Portman may not have realized his appeal among young people, and many young people may not have heard about him. Due to Parkes and Longley’s efforts, this is beginning to change. The Draft Rob Portman Committee could spark an energetic campaign for him at the College. The committee is currently only in its early stages, but Parkes and Longley are building a strong foundation for the next two years; with a Facebook and Twitter presence, and a website that is already taking donations, this organization could make a significant impact on the 2016 election conversation. Of course, Parkes and Longley will need to recruit heavily from outside the College if they are to entice Portman, and this will likely take a full-time commitment. Even if they fail, we applaud their ambition and idealism. Students may not agree with Parkes and Longley’s choice of candidate, and that is fine. But they have done more than most students ever would: In forming the Draft Rob Portman Committee, Parkes and Longley have started a conversation, one that we hope will involve the full student body, long after they have graduated.
— Ral Ortes on “Why college students should care about the Ferguson debate”
Spending Thanksgiving at the heart of Ferguson’s conflict Jack Powers FLAT HAT ASSOC. SPORTS EDITOR
The chain stores guided me. Left turn after the Steak and Shake, past the Shop and Save, right turn in front of the Jack in the Box, roll through a few more strip malls before reaching a quiet cul-de-sac. Welcome to Ferguson, Mo. Happy Thanksgiving. Every year, my family travels from around the Midwest to this suburb of St. Louis, where my aunt and uncle have lived in the same mid-sized ranch house for over 30 years. Thanksgiving is usually an event unto itself, separated from a specific time and place by the
simple joy of getting together with people you rarely see but have known your entire life. In many ways, this year’s festivities weren’t much different. The conversation flowed as it always does. We talked about sports, movies and our lives. The post-grads held up in gushing tones the egalitarian god of “logistics,” while the Baby Boomers wanted to know how to pronounce “Zach Galifianakis.” Amidst it all, however, there was a sense of unease — an air of frustration knowing that the town outside was still burning. Full disclosure: My extended family is far from wealthy, but we are white. Even so, you could see the emotional toll the past few months have taken on my relatives. They aren’t protesters, but their neighbors are. They aren’t cops, but their neighbors are. They aren’t black, but their neighbors are. As the traditional meal of turkey and Bud Heavy died down, Darren Wilson and Michael Brown came to the fore. The same conversation was held this Thanksgiving all around the nation,
I’m sure, but with less urgency and pain. For a family that prides itself on progressivism, one whose former patriarch integrated the area’s schools as superintendent, parsing out the issue was a struggle. Most everyone agreed that “change” is needed, but they were unsure of their own implicit role in the protests. The “I Love Ferguson” sign in the front yard was a plea for normalcy. Newsreels, Facebook statuses and on-campus debates have stamped the town into different factions based on their own interests. None of it fit with my personal experience of it. Ferguson is, above all, not much. A faceless suburb dominated by open, unending roads, whose main attraction is its proximity to other places. When you talk about Ferguson, you’re really talking about St. Louis County as a whole. And when you do that, you’re evoking patterns of discrimination that affect most every district and ward from sea to shining sea. You could even be talking about Williamsburg.
You don’t come to Ferguson for answers, but you can’t come to Ferguson without asking questions. These questions are not simple, partially because folks like my relatives are not evil. Thanksgiving in Ferguson reinforced the root problem at the heart of modern America: a hollowing out of the American Dream largely along racial lines, which well-intentioned men and women can only watch. The only easy answers at the dinner table were for more food and less violence. Email Jack Powers at jbpowers@email.wm.edu.
GRAPHIC BY VIRGINIA STROBACH / THE FLAT HAT
variety
Variety Editor Tucker Higgins Variety Editor Devon Ivie flathat.variety@gmail.com // @theflathat
The Flat Hat | Tuesday, December 2, 2014 | Page 5
Collaboration at Global Film Festival “Film and Renewal” at the Kimball Theater Isabel Larroca // flat hat Opinions editor ALL PHOTOS COURTESY WILLIAM AND MARY GLOBAL FILM FESTIVAL
Directed by Martha Stephens and Aaron Katz and starring Paul Eenhoorn and Earl Lynn Nelson, “Land Ho!” was chosen to encapsulate and introduce “Film and Renewal.” The film follows two elderly ex-brothers-in-law as they embark on a trip to Iceland for a bit of fun and adventure.
“This is what it’s all about: a full house at the Kimball Theatre. Did everybody have some good Icelandic hot dogs?” So said Timothy Barnard, professor of film and media studies and director of the William and Mary Global Film Festival, to the crowd who braved the cold to attend the festival’s fall theme launch event Nov. 21. Students and Williamsburg residents alike gathered at the Kimball to taste traditional Icelandic food, sip beer and view this year’s theme launch film, “Land Ho!”. “It’s usually something broad that allows us to pick films from a lot of different genres, from as many different countries as we can pull together,” Barnard said. Barnard helped launch the first William and Mary Global Film Festival in 2008, said regarding this year’s theme of “Film and Renewal.” Past film festival themes have ranged from “Film and
COURTESY PHOTO / WILLIAM AND MARY GLOBAL FILM FESTIVAL
Students and Williamsburg residents alike gathered at the Kimball to taste traditional Icelandic food, sip beer and view this year’s theme launch film.
Music” to “SUPER/natural.” Directed by Martha Stephens and Aaron Katz and starring Paul Eenhoorn and Earl Lynn Nelson, “Land Ho!” was chosen to encapsulate and introduce “Film and Renewal.” The film follows two elderly ex-brothers-in-law as they embark on a trip to Iceland for a bit of fun and adventure. While there, the pair reflect on their lives and seek out their youth. “That movie sort of lends itself pretty well to being shown at our festival and really fits well into our theme of renewal,” Jan Huebenthal, Ph.D. candidates in the American studies program and assistant director of the film festival, said. “Sort of the idea of going on a road trip, exploring new and foreign lands, and really finding back yourself and renewing your lease on life, so to speak.” And yet, exhibited in numerous aspects of the festival itself is a subtler theme: collaboration. Between directors, actors and students, each step of putting the festival together was a group effort. The festival and its launch event, while directed by Barnard and Huebenthal, was largely run by students. “The event itself is sort of an integral part of the class called ‘Film Festival History and Production,’ which we’re teaching this semester, and all of the students from that class are helping put together the event,” Huebenthal said. Students in the class took on a variety of responsibilities, including planning events within the festival, researching films, contributing to the event website and designing promotional materials. “The class is divided into a creative team, a public relations team, and an events and logistics team, and everybody’s in one of those three committees,” Barnard said. These committees planned for months in addition to running festival events such as the theme launch event. Mary Kate Connors ’15, a student in Barnard’s class, was on a committee dedicated to events and logistics. “So essentially I create community contacts to get sponsorship for food — this evening we actually cooked our own food to cut on
costs,” said Connors. “But in the main event we have sponsorships from local businesses like The Blue Talon, The Dog Street Pub, Nawab — so we coordinate all of that. We also create the staffing sheet to ensure that everything runs smoothly and we set up everything; we’re kind of the behind-the-scenes handlers of the film festival.” This collaboration between participants in the class was mirrored in the launch event itself. Following the screening of the film, actors Eenhoorn and Nelson, along with directors Stephens and Katz, fielded questions from the audience via Google video chat. Attendees recieved insight into the teamwork involved in filmmaking, as well as a new perspective on the film from those who worked on it. Nelson expressed his views on the film, describing the common ground that both young and old viewers could find in its message. “People think that this movie is about problems with old people, and I don’t think that you realize that people in their twenties, thirties, forties and fifties can lose a loved one, can get divorced and lose their job, and they have to go on with life,” he said. “I just want y’all to know this is a movie not just about that age group, but it’s about life.” Both directors and actors were also awarded the William and Mary Global Film Can Award, an award meant to recognize “inspiring and unique accomplishments in global film production and collaboration,” according to Barnard. The evening, from conception to execution, was a celebration of this ideal: It was made possible through collaboration between students working on the event, between directors and actors on the film, between audience members in experiencing their work, and in viewing and discussing the film and its theme. “I think, for film festivals especially, it’s a great cultural atmosphere where you get to engage with the media of a film and right afterwards, you go have a pint with the actor,” Connors said. “So I think that’s a really great experience, and I think it’s something that’s very unique to our organization.”
CONFUSION CORNER
Observing the twamp in its natural habitat: Finals week
Do you know why I love finals week? For once, no one can judge you, because we are all just as disheveled.
Zoe Johnson
Confusion corner columnist
Welcome back from Thanksgiving Break, the period when you spent a lot of time, energy and money to get home and then come back for only five days of classes. Was it worth it? Totally, because this is my absolute favorite time of the year. Yes, I truly cherish finals season at the College of William and Mary, and so should you. To be clear, this is not sarcasm. I realized the beauty of finals season during my first semester of freshmen year and my opinion hasn’t changed. Sure, it’s challenging and stressful, but really no more than any other week at the College. Let me explain. Finals season brings with it an air
of realness to our campus. People pay less attention to their personal hygiene and overall appearance to focus on schoolwork, which means we can finally see people for who they really are. This isn’t to say that I think dressing up for class and showering daily is fake — I do the same, I swear; however, there is something pleasant about seeing someone you see every day in a completely new light. It’s like Halloween, except it lasts for two weeks, and everyone’s costume is a version of themselves on an episode of Survivor. It’s a way to get to know the campus on a more personal level as we are all seeing each other at our worst. Additionally, if you’re the type of person who dresses in business casual every day, feel free to let your freak flag fly, so to speak, and dress like no one’s judging. Because we really aren’t. The sweet camaraderie of suffering during finals season is as satisfying as the lack of care for our appearance. At other times throughout the semester you may
be that one person on campus who has three essays, an exam, a presentation, and your first born child due to the same professor over the course of one week. While you’re suffering alone, your friends are out drinking at the Greene Leafe, going to midnight premieres of the Hunger Games, and calling you a twamp for studying like you should be. Your fear of missing out is at an all-time high and support for your suffering is at an all-time low. This does not happen during finals season. During finals, everyone is hurting, everyone is suffering, yet everyone supports each other. Late night study breaks to Wawa? Check. Group study sessions with friends you rarely had time to catch up with throughout the semester? Yes, please. Walking through Swem, giving an understanding nod to everyone you know on a random Tuesday night? You bet. As much as finals tear us apart with competitiveness, I would argue that they bring us together. We’re all on campus, present and focused on a common goal of achieving. It’s an intense
but great environment in which to grow together. Lastly, the College pulls out all the stops for finals. Faculty, staff, organizations and clubs put on event after event for us — throwing free coffee and food our way just to make sure that we’re happy during finals. Be thankful for this, because many other schools don’t have the resources or the wherewithal to pull this together. My favorite events come from Earl Gregg Swem Library. Ice cream, coffee, donuts, games and puppies? Is this finals week or a weekend at Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch, am I right? The school also opens literally the entire campus to adapt to the influx of students studying. This means you can walk into almost any building on campus, at almost any time, and get comfortable because no one is going to kick you out. Between study sessions, pull up Netflix on a projector in your room in Washington and catch up on your favorite television show. Invite your friends, order a pizza, do whatever you have long desired to
do in an academic building after hours. Because, technically, the school allows it during finals season. Whatever you do, make sure you clean up after yourself. Don’t be the reason the College revokes these privileges for future generations — that being said, enjoy it while it lasts. Remember, staying calm and happy during finals week is all about changing your mindset and finding the silver-lining to every situation. As silly as some of them may seem, I hope you can find a connection with my reasons for loving finals season and think of some of your own. You have time to study, you have resources for help, and you have made it this far, so don’t quit now. This is, after all, the end of the semester. As bad as finals may seem, when they’re over, we won’t have to deal with the College for another four weeks. Praise the good Lord Beyonce. I wish you all much success during finals season. Godspeed. Zoe Johnson is a Confusion Corner columnist who will be spending the next week at Swem, people-watching.
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The Flat Hat
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Tavern eating: tasty, authentic
Time to dine like the gentry OLIVIA FLYNN FLAT HAT STAFF WRITER
The absurdity of sitting in Aromas and seeing a woman in a hoop skirt, bonnet and reading spectacles does not faze most College of William and Mary students. Reenactors, along with the entire Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, are part of the College’s culture. We go on cider runs, run through Colonial Williamsburg, and climb the wall of the Governor’s Palace. An essential part of the symbiotic relationship
COURTESY PHOTO / MUSCARELLE MUSEUM OF ART
“I thought the art itself was impressive, and unique and different from what I was used to seeing,” said Adam Siegel ’15. “That was the first time I had been inside the Muscarelle, and I thought it was pretty cool.”
A sense of movement Toshi Yoshida’s woodcarvings on display at the Muscarelle MAX CEA // ASSOC. ONLINE EDITOR
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Notably, the first two prints in the series, “Hirosaki Castle” and “The Chion-in Temple Gate,” were not made by Yoshida; they were made by his father, Hiroshi Yoshida, who played an integral part in reviving
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It was crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside. The chicken was not dry, but was flavorful and warm.
COURTESY PHOTO / MUSCARELLE MUSEUM OF ART
The difficulty and technicality of woodblock printmaking is conveyed to patrons through a video explaining the process, and through a series of sketches at the center of the exhibit, highlighting the different steps of the process.
traditional Japanese woodblock printing. “He was a real staunch, controlling patriarch, and he was really trying to have Yoshida produce prints that fit his design,” Kitamura said. “Toshi had really ambivalent feelings about his father. On the one hand, he learned everything — the nuts and bolts of printmaking — from his father; but he also rebelled against him.” The arrangement of the prints — grouped semi-chronologically, by subject matter — makes the progression of Yoshida’s rebellion easy to see. His father’s prints are followed by his own Japanese scene prints, animal prints and then foreign scene prints. “What I really liked was the attention he paid to the work his father had done. But he also, you know, broke away from it, especially in terms of subjects,” Aidan Selmer ’17 said. “I think he liked to acknowledge that his dad lived mostly in Japan, but he also went overseas to Africa. And he really tried to apply the techniques of his father and put them in a new setting.” In a town that can feel stuck in the past and in a museum with a predilection to the West, “Tree to Mountain” is an escape from time and from place. “My favorite compliment I got that night,” Wood said of the Kabuki to Sushi event, was that “someone said ‘This is great. I don’t even feel like I’m in Williamsburg.’”
On the one hand, [Toshi Yashida] learned everything — the nuts and bolts of printmaking — from his father; but, he also rebelled against him.”
— Associate Professor Hiroshi Kitamura
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“Tree to Mountain,” an exhibit showcasing over two dozen woodblock prints by Japanese artist Toshi Yoshida, opened at the College of William and Mary’s Muscarelle Museum of Art Oct. 17. The exhibit’s journey from Japan to the College is an unlikely one: associate professor of history Hiroshi Kitamura grew up living next door to the Yoshida family in Kamakura, a small city just north of Tokyo. Two summers ago, Yoshida’s son Takashi told Kitamura that one of his father’s woodblock prints, “Baobabu and Rhino,” had been purchased by the Muscarelle. Kitamura suggested that the Muscarelle host an exhibit of Yoshida’s work, and use “Baobabu and Rhino” as the feature image. Both Takashi and the Muscarelle were very supportive of the idea. “What I wanted to do was introduce Japanese and East Asian cultures to William and Mary, which has a long tradition of European influence,” Kitamura said. “And while I think the Yoshida family is known in art circles, they deserve more opportunities to be showcased.” The obscurity of the Yoshida name presented a potential obstacle to the Muscarelle, which has had trouble attracting students to exhibits of more well-known artists’ work in the past. To elicit interest, the museum hosted “Kabuki to Sushi: An evening of Japanese Culture at the Muscarelle Museum of Art” Nov. 7. On a typical day, the Muscarelle might attract five or six students. But “Kabuki to Sushi” was quite a happening. “We ended up getting 562 students to come, and 491 of them actually went into the museum — which is a great ratio. It’s better than we had for, I think, Caravaggio last year,” said Internal Affairs Coordinator and Special Events and Advancement Fellow Laura Wood ’16. The greater turnout for an exhibit of works by a lesser known artist can probably be attributed to the free sushi at the event. The $5 wine likely didn’t hurt either. But while most of the students in attendance were drawn to kabuki by sushi — rather than the opposite order insinuated by the event’s title — it seemed like most of the 491 students who made their way into the museum were pleasantly surprised by the art itself. “I thought the art itself was impressive, and unique and different from what I was used to seeing,” Adam Siegel ’15 said. “That was the first time I had been inside the Muscarelle, and I thought it was pretty cool.” The exhibit was curated by Kitamura, art history professor Xin Wu and a small group of students enrolled in a one-credit course on Japanese woodblock curation taught by Kitamura and Wu. “Students and I — we actually got together in the spring, met to conceptualize the exhibition and choose the prints,” Kitamura said. “We wanted to show how technical this art is. Because you have the original sketch, and you have to carve that in to create a master image, and then the more colors you add, the more carvings you need. So if you have 20 colors, each print has to go through like 10 or 20 print processes. So this is a tremendously labor-intensive, elaborate technique.” The difficulty and technicality of woodblock printmaking is conveyed to patrons through a video explaining the process, and through a series of sketches at the center of the exhibit, highlighting the different steps of the process. However, the video and the sketches are contradicted by the finished pieces hung on the walls. Yoshida’s work spans nearly 50 years, and makes printmaking look easy. The prints are animetic, director Hayao Miyazaki’s animators study them, according to Kitamura, and adventurous with a sense of movement. Yoshida was a world traveler and his prints depict areas as close as San Francisco, as far as the East African plains, and as forbidden as Havana.
between students and Colonial Williamsburg is eating at one of the four colonial taverns. Eating at the King’s Arms was a fantastic dining experience. Epitomizing the historical accuracy of the Colonial Williamsburg tavern experience, the restaurant has great service, rustic interior design, and a cozy ambience. When I arrived at the King’s Arms, I was greeted and directed to a seat by a hostess in colonial attire. My server was friendly and attentive to my needs during lunch and I adored the traditional table setting. The silverware consisted of a standard plate, fork and knife combo, however, the other decorations, such as the candles and embossed china, emphasized the authenticity of the dining experience. The beautiful interior had rich red walls and gorgeous tables and chairs, making me feel like I was a member of the gentry back in the 1770s. The general vibe in the room was cheerful and cozy; everyone seemed to be relaxed and enjoying their food. Patrons ranged from children to senior citizens, but the tavern and its staff accommodated everyone. After a short 15 minutes, I received my food; it smelled heavenly. Following the recommendation of a friend, I tried the homemade fried chicken. This fantastic entrée, called Mrs. Vobe’s Fried Chicken, came with three sides — a broiled tomato, potato skins and a rasher of salty ham — each of which complimented the chicken perfectly. The chicken was flavorful and warm — crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside. The meal was a wonderful fusion of tavern fare and southern cooking. The lunch menus at the King’s Arms are reasonably priced and within the same $10 to $17 range of the other Williamsburg tavern lunch menus. The dinner
prices, however, are expensive. A standard dinner entrée at the King’s Arms is $30, which, in comparison to the Trellis and the Blue Talon, isn’t unreasonable. From a student’s perspective, a nice lunch at a tavern is an affordable option. The experience is wonderful and the food is delicious. I would, however, recommend finding an alternative location for dinner. Each of the four Colonial Williamsburg taverns has a distinct character evident in its menu, dining experience and title. The King’s Arms is the gentile tavern with southern specialties. Shield’s Tavern is the comfortable and homey place to grab a bite. Patrons sit on beer hall benches and join together to enjoy a meal selected from traditional dishes and modern day sandwiches. Chowning’s Tavern is the brewing tavern, which crafts its own beer. It has live music and games called Gambols at 9 p.m. every night. The fourth tavern is Christina’s Campbell’s. Colonial Williamsburg claims Christina Campbell’s was George Washington’s favorite place to eat seafood and the entire menu pays homage to the Virginian seafood dishes. Some of the famous dishes, like Christina Campell’s sweet potato muffins, are available outside the taverns. In Merchants Square, for example, I recommend going to Everything Williamsburg for a collection of easy, step-by-step recipes. Everything Williamsburg has cooking sauces, drinks and paraphernalia from all four taverns.
SARAH PERRY / THE FLAT HAT
Each of the four Colonial Williamsburg taverns has a distinct character evident in its menu, dining experience and title.
sports
Although William and Mary stood in second in the Colonial Athletic Association with a 10-2-1 record in early October, the College’s final 126-1 mark can hardly be viewed as a disappointing late-season collapse. The 2014 season marked head coach John Daly’s NCAA-record 34th straight winning season, which ended in the semifinals of the CAA tournament after a combination of bad luck and injuries halted the Tribe’s midseason momentum. In the first two months of the season, the Tribe repeatedly steamrolled comparable opponents. Firing on all cylinders, the Tribe attack stood among the CAA’s elite, led by junior forward Samantha Cordum and senior forward Emory Camper. The explosive pair combined for 17 goals and eight assists on the season, Camper leading the total point category with 23. However, Cordum’s injury eleven minutes into the 3-2 Oct. 12 overtime loss against Drexel cost the Tribe one of its most valuable weapons. Although junior midfielder Leci Irvin and freshman Sami Grasso stepped up admirably, the Tribe couldn’t find its previous productivity on offense, managing only three goals in the final three regular season games en route to a 1-2 slide. Daly’s adjustments to formation and personnel seemed ineffective. For a team that had racked up a 37-24 goal differential, a one-anddone in the playoffs looked to be a very possible reality after such a promising start. Defensive mistakes, such as the accidental ricochet goal in a 1-0 loss at James Madison, further complicated the College’s postseason hopes. However, the fourth-seeded Tribe overcame Drexel in the first round of the CAA playoffs with a 2-1 victory. Daly’s adjustments paid major dividends as the Tribe racked up 16 shots to Drexel’s eight. The playoff victory also featured junior goalkeeper Caroline Casey’s best performance of the season. Casey repeatedly denied the Dragons, intercepting multiple crosses in the final minutes. ONLINE Casey finished with a 0.712 save Flat Hat Assoc. Sports percentage. Editor Nick Cipolla Defensive mistakes doomed reviews the season that the Tribe’s upset bid against was for Tribe football. Northeastern, as the Tribe fell to the eventual CAA champion Northeastern by a 4-0 margin. The future looks bright for the Tribe, as freshman midfielder Rachel Moore and classmates forward Sami Grasso and defenders Elysee Branton and Haley Kent all contributed to the Tribe’s season. Moore and Branton received All-CAA rookie team distinction. Experienced leadership complemented the freshman performance, as the Tribe had four upperclassmen draw postseason recognition. Camper and senior back Emily Frederickson earned second-team All CAA honors, along with Cordum and Moore. Casey received thirdteam All-CAA distinction. — Flat Hat Staff Writer Sumner Higginbotham
FH
COMMENTARY
The Flat Hat | Tuesday, December 2, 2014 | Page 8
Fall ’14
in review
Women’s soccer
FEATURE
Sports Editor Mick Sloan Sports Editor Chris Weber flathatsports@gmail.com @FlatHatSports
The Flat Hat sports desk takes stock of the fall 2014 programs. More to come Friday.
William and Mary sprinted to another successful season, as the men’s and women’s teams each captured a Colonial Athletic Association Championship. The women went on to capture the first National Collegiate Athletic Association Southeast Regional Championship in program history and finished 17th in the NCAA National Championship. The men’s team also advanced to the Southeast Regional, finishing 12th, but failed to qualify for the NCAA finals. Junior Carolyn Hennessey was the College’s standout performer. The Herndon, Va. native finished first overall at the CAA Championship and second overall on the Southeast Regional to lead the pace the Tribe to victory. Hennessey also won the Tribe Invitational and was named CAA runner of the week three times. Junior Emily Stites managed to stand out among the Tribe. After missing most of the season due to an injury, Stites returned for the Southeast Regional, finishing 25th, then, placed 36th in the NCAA finals. In the process, Stites earned the fifth All-American honor of her career. Stites is the fourth woman in the Tribe’s history to garner five or more All-American awards. Freshman Regan Rome had a sharp first season for the College,
finishing 10th among all rookies in the NCAA final and leading all rookies with her fourth place finish in the CAA Championship. Rome also won her first race of the year with a victory in the University of Richmond’s Spider Invitational. Likewise, senior Dylan Hassett performed well, placing 15th in the Southeast Regional and earning All-CAA honors for the third consecutive season. Junior team captain Ryan Gousse led the Tribe men, finishing second overall at the CAA Championship and leading the College with a 47th overall finish at the Southeast Regional. Sophomore Trevor Sleight also played a crucial role, earning All-CAA honors with a ninth overall finish in the CAA Championship. Sleight finished first among all Tribe runners in the College’s first four meets, opening the year with victories at Richmond’s Spider Invitational and the Tribe Invitational. The College’s successful cross country season followed what has become a regular pattern for the Tribe runners. The men’s team’s title was its 15th straight, and the women’s title was its third consecutive and 20th overall. The College will look to build on its success next season, where it will attempt to defend its dual titles for the fourth straight year. — Flat Hat Sports Editor Mick Sloan
After the 2013 squad garnered a ranking of 22nd in the nation with an impressive 11-5-3 record, William and Mary hoped to build off of last year’s performance heading into 2014. However, with a final record of 6-11-1, including a 3-4-1 record in the Colonial Athletic Association, the College regressed from championship contender to the bottom of the conference, finishing seventh out of nine. The free-fall was hardly expected on paper. Six seniors graduated after the 2013 season, including two backs and a goalkeeper, although the offense stayed mostly intact on roster — returning eight starters. Pre-season polls ranked the Tribe as third in the conference. A drop from a bid to the NCAA tournament to not even making the conference tournament seemed unthinkable. However, the College lost standout defenders Will Smith and Roshan Patel to graduation, and relied upon a defense that was decimated by graduation. This year, the Tribe’s defense declined,
allowing 26 goals over the course of the season. Similarly, the offense underperformed, scoring just 20 goals on the season — a 36 percent drop-off in production. Some season positives shined through, however. Despite initial questions regarding the starting goalkeeper, senior Bennett Jones stepped up to the occasion, finishing with a 0.712 save ratio. Senior defender Michael Tieman received second team CAA honors for the Tribe, leading an inexperienced backline by example. Senior forward Chris Albiston earned third team honors, while freshman midfielder William Eskay garned CAA All-Rookie team distinction. While 2015 appears daunting as the Tribe graduates nine seniors this year, head coach Chris Norris hopes to get the Tribe back on course. He’s done it before — 2012’s four wins became eleven in 2013 — but this year’s disappointment leaves some room for doubt. — Flat Hat Staff Writer Sumner Higginbotham
Cross country Men’s soccer
College falls just short, again
SCOREBOARD: FALL SEASON RECAPS Football (7-5, 4-4 CAA)
Fell one win shy of postseason play, finishing with identical record to 2013 team Colonial Athletic Association
Mick Sloan
Flat Hat Sports editor
When the lights shut off in Zable Stadium and Richmond finished off William and Mary’s playoff bid for the second consecutive year, I can’t say I felt positive about the season’s conclusion. From a big picture standpoint, the parallels between this season and last year’s campaign stood out. Once again, the College opened its season with wins over weak opponents such as Hampton and Lafayette. Once again, the Tribe suffered tough losses in the midseason but shook off those defeats with a late season run to the cusp of the Football Championship Subdivision postseason. Once again, the Tribe accumulated one loss too many, with the deathblow coming from Richmond on the season’s final day. To its immense credit, the College performed admirably against Richmond this year. Though last year’s battle ended 31-21 in Richmond’s favor, and this year’s finished 34-20, anybody who watched both games knows that this year’s team came closer to winning. But I don’t know if I’ll remember that as time passes. I’ll probably remember that for my last two years at the College, the Tribe just couldn’t beat Richmond when its playoff fate depended on it. It’s bizarre that the 2013 and 2014 Tribe seasons ended the same way, because the teams were so different. This year, the Tribe outscored last year’s team by 51 points. It featured a fiercer offense, powered by the undying energy of junior running back Mikal Abdul-Saboor and the consistent brilliance of senior receiver Tre McBride. But it also fielded a defense that sorely missed graduated safety Jerome Couplin and lost superb junior cornerback DeAndre Houston-Carson for its final two games. The unit surrendered 272 points this year after allowing only168 last season. Houston-Carson’s injury added to a string of disappointments that partially defined this season. Houston-Carson was a crucial defensive player, a shutdown cornerback who allowed the Tribe so much creativity in its pass coverage. His presence was sorely missed against Richmond. The College also suffered devastating injuries to its offensive line, which was particularly glaring as sophomore quarterback Steve Cluley faced blitz after blitz against the Spiders. Of its opening day starters, only freshman guard Connor Hilland made it to the season finale. Had the College not lost so many key contributors, perhaps it would’ve beaten Richmond last weekend. The words “if only” appear all over the story of the
College’s season: If only the College had mustered one final stop in a 35-31 Homecoming loss to Villanova. If only the Tribe had hung on to its 11 point lead in Harrisonburg against James Madison. If only the College, depleted as it was by injuries, had managed to play turnover-free football against Richmond rather than surrendering the ball three times and allowing the Spiders to gain the upper hand. I’ll always remember those near misses, the tiny gaps between victory and defeat, between postseason and elimination. But despite all the disappointment, the College kept absorbing the back breaks and blitzing forward. I’ll remember how Cluley grew as a passer over the course of the season. Even with a decimated offensive line, Cluley threw for 240 yards and two touchdowns against Richmond, a sign of how far he came over the course of this season. Cluley is the immediate future of the Tribe at the crucial quarterback position, and his progress this year is a great sign. I’ll remember Abdul-Saboor, who faced heavy focus from opposing defenses all year and still had a historic season. His 115.1 yards per game led the Colonial Athletic Association and his 1317 rushing yards are the third highest single season tally in Tribe history. AbdulSaboor molded himself into the College’s unflappable workhorse, a strikingly durable player who kept grinding out first downs as his offensive line crumbled and opposing defenses closed in on him. I’ll remember all the Tribe seniors, who anchored the team on both sides of the ball. They celebrated the victories humbly and took the losses hard, but they never surrendered until the final whistle sounded. They deserved to compete in the FCS postseason, and they gave everything they had to get there. It just didn’t work out. There’s no telling what will come next season for the Tribe. The team must replace playmakers all over the roster, and hopefully key players such as Cluley, AbdulSaboor, Houston-Carson and junior linebacker Luke Rhodes will lead the College in another competitive year. But for now, I keep coming back to those seniors who ended their Tribe careers without a playoff appearance in four years. I will remember watching them compete, and I will remember that I wished better for their last ride with the College. I hope they can be proud of what they did here.
New Hampshire (10-1, 8-0).........0.909........W10 Villanova (10-2, 7-1 CAA) ...........0.833..........W3 James Madison (9-4, 6-2).............0.692...........L1 Richmond (9-4, 5-3).....................0.692..........W2 William & Mary (7-5, 4-4)............0.583............L1 Delaware (6-6, 4-4).......................0.500...........L2 Maine (5-6, 4-4)............................0.455...........L1 Stony Brook (5-7, 4-4)..................0.417............L1 Albany (7-5, 3-5)...........................0.583..........W1 Towson (4-8, 2-6).........................0.333...........L3 Rhode Island (1-11, 1-7)..............0.083..........W1 Elon (1-11, 0-8).............................0.083...........L9
Cumulative Statistics Through twelve games Sophomore quarterback Steve Cluley 164 of 287, 2,048 yards, 11 TD, 4 INT Junior tailback Mikal Abdul-Saboor 249 rushes, 1,317 yards, 12 TD Senior wideout Tre McBride 64 receptions, 809 yards, 4 TD Senior defensive end Mike Reilly 41 tackles, 12 TFL, 11 sacks
Cross country
Tennis
Women: 20th overall CAA championship; first-ever NCAA Southeast Regional. Men: 15th consecutive CAA championship; did not advance past NCAA Southeast Regional.
Men: Nov. 7-9 Tribe Invitational Williamsburg, Va. Women: Nov. 7-9 Kitty Harrison Invitational Chapel Hill, N.C.
Golf
Volleyball (7-24, 3-13 CAA)
Women: Highest finishes at William and Mary Invitational, Lady Pirate Intercollegiate Men: Highest finishes of year at Marshall Invitational, Georgetown Intercollegiate
Freshman Sara Zumbach earned CAA All-Rookie honors after leading the freshmen class in digs (306). Senior Liz Brown earned CAA All-Athletic recognition.
Men’s Soccer (6-11-1, 3-4-1 CAA)
Women’s soccer (12-6-1, 5-4 CAA)
Senior defender Michael Teiman earned AllCAA second team honors, while senior forward Chris Albiston was a All-CAA third team selectee. Freshman midfielder earned All-Rookie honors.
All-CAA second team: senior forward Emory Camper, senior defender Emily Fredrikson, junior forward Samantha Cordum and freshman midfielder Rachel Moore.
Field hockey (7-12, 4-2 CAA)
Social Media
Junior midfielder Pippin Saunders was named to the NFHCA All-Region second team. Head coach earned CAA Co-Coach of the Year honors, while six athletes were also recognized.
Basketball in December The Flat Hat sports desk will post game recaps for both the men and women’s programs online. From the men’s game against the University of North Carolina to the women’s matchup with longtime rival Richmond, the Flat Hat sports desk has Tribe fans covered.
Follow @FlatHatSports for the latest analysis and coverage of the Tribe. Check out Flat Hat Sports Talk, the Flat Hat sports desk’s podcast, online at flathatnews.com The Flat Hat
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Tuesday, December 2, 2014
The Flat Hat