The Weekly Student Newspaper
Vol. 116, Iss. 1 | Wednesday, February 18, 2026
The College of William and Mary
flathatnews.com | @theflathat
RICHARD CHILDRESS / THE FLAT HAT
College celebrates Charter Day at event featuring Ken Burns, Abigail Spanberger BROOKE LEWIS // FLAT HAT VARIETY ASSOC. Acclaimed documentary filmmaker, newly-inaugurated governor awarded honorary degrees at ceremony
Friday, Feb. 6, the College of William and Mary celebrated its 333rd Charter Day with a ceremony held in Kaplan Arena. This year’s event featured addresses by Gov. Abigail Spanberger D.P.S. ’26 and awardwinning filmmaker Ken Burns Art.D ’26. The celebration began with a video of the College’s land acknowledgement. A second video featured a voiceover reading of the College’s original charter issued by King William III and Queen Mary II of England in 1693. President Katherine Rowe spoke first. She highlighted the College’s progress in working toward its goals set out in Vision 2026, the school’s long-term strategic plan. Rowe mentioned the opening of a new School of Computing, Data Sciences and Physics, the Campus Comprehensive Plan,
increased investment in the Batten School of Coastal and Marine Sciences, the Better Arguments Curriculum and the installation of 531 new geothermal wells to power buildings and classrooms as positive accomplishments from the groundwork of Vision 2026. “We are adapting our classrooms for today’s teachers and learners, stewarding our campus for the next 100 years,” she said. Rowe officially announced 2026 as the Year of Civic Leadership. This year will emphasize service and community leadership for the common good.“I hope everyone will join us as we honor our community’s foundational role in establishing US democracy,” she said. The Charter Day ceremony also commemorated Chancellor Robert M. Gates ’65, L.H.D. ’98, who was recently reappointed
for a third term. Gates is now the longest-serving chancellor in the College’s history. Student Assembly President Zoe Wang ’25, MPP ’26 and Graduate Council President Quinn Girasek ’26 presented Gates with an illuminated manuscript of the Board of Visitors resolution reappointing him as chancellor. College Rector Charles E. Poston J.D. ’74, P ’02, ’06 read aloud from the resolution. Gates addressed the audience. He emphasized the hope that civic action gives him for democracy. “As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding, the good news for America is that even though we have a lot of work to do, and serious obstacles ahead of us, we also have the power and means to
overcome them,” Gates said. Following Gates, Poston returned to the podium to present Burns with his honorary degree. Throughout his career, Burns has won two Grammy Awards and 17 Emmys. Burns’ newest documentary centers on the American Revolutionary War. Burns addressed the contemporary challenge around accurately representing the American Revolution. “Today, our founding story, the most important event in world history since the birth of Christ, runs the danger of being smothered in fife and truck treacle, bloodless, sanitized, youthless,” he said. SEE NEWS PAGE 4
CAMPUS
Students raise privacy concerns around Flock, WMPD explains policy Students advocate for policy change against AI-powered surveillance cameras on campus LIAM GLAVIN FLAT HAT NEWS EDITOR Tuesday, Feb. 10, students from the College of William and Mary gathered in Washington Hall to discuss how to organize against Flock surveillance cameras in Williamsburg, Va. Charlie Goodman ’27 led the meeting, outlining the group’s effort to persuade the Williamsburg City Council to cancel its Flock contract over privacy concerns. In doing so, the students hoped that the College would follow suit and end its own agreement. “Appealing to Williamsburg City is a lot simpler than the path toward appealing to the William and Mary administration,” he said. Ella Forlin ’27 helped Goodman organize the student meeting. “We know that as students, they might not listen to us,” Forlin said. “If we get a coalition of people involved, they’re much more likely to hear our concerns.” Goodman explained how automatic license plate readers, such as Flock, operate. “ALPRs are automatic license plate readers, and they record every
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license plate that passes by them, no matter what,” he said. Flock uses artificial intelligence to record additional vehicle characteristics, such as type, color, unique alterations and whether a car frequently passes by any of its cameras. This information is stored on the FlockOS software system, allowing law enforcement to search for vehicle details. FlockOS allows police to put license plates onto hotlists, where Flock sends a notification each time a particular vehicle drives by a camera in its network. According to state laws, all data gathered from these cameras must be automatically purged from the Flock system after 21 days. Police can extend the retention period for this information only if they have probable cause to believe that the data would be necessary for law enforcement purposes. FlockOS also lets its customers enroll in its state and nationwide network, enabling local law enforcement agencies across Virginia or the country to search and access data from Williamsburg. SEE CAMPUS PAGE 4
KIMBERLY M C CANN / THE FLAT HAT
One of the College's FlockOS security cameras is located adjacent to Landrum Drive, just outside the ISC and Hardy Hall.
Inside Opinions
Inside Variety
Inside Sports
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