T HE F LAT H AT
Vol. 114, Iss. 6 | Wednesday, May 1, 2024
The Weekly Student Newspaper
of The College of William and Mary
flathatnews.com | @theflathat
BOARD OF VISITORS
Board members criticize cost of College Tuition raised 2.5% for in-state, 3.3% out-of-state for next two years PEERAWUT RUANGSAWASDI AND SAM BELMAR THE FLAT HAT
Wednesday, April 24 to Friday, April 26, the board of visitors of the College of William and Mary convened for their last meeting of the academic year to raise tuition fees, create a marine science major, approve the next operating budget and discuss other matters pertinent to the College. At the full board meeting Friday, the board voted 15-1 to raise the College’s in-state tuition by 2.5% and out-ofstate tuition by 3.3% for fiscal year 2025 and 2026. Thomas Norment J.D. ’73 was not present at the meeting. The discussion followed a public hearing on the tuition increase Thursday, which was mandated by the Virginia Code. Two Williamsburg residents and two students spoke. Williamsburg residents Ruth Kaiser and Sabrina Fairbanks shared their thoughts on the tuition increases, saying the College did not supplement plans to use the increased fees for more housing. Kaiser added that many at the College desire to have a residential college experience. Fairbanks also said while a large portion of tuition goes to supporting student experience, not increasing housing is the opposite of such an action. However, the College’s 10-year comprehensive housing and dining facilities project aims to add more on-campus housing, with the first new student housing slated to open in fall 2025. Additionally, the first phase of the plan will deliver new housing for 935 students on the west campus, as well as housing for 269 students in a new facility adjacent to Lemon and Hardy halls along Jamestown Road. Camille Villa ’25, a transfer student, shared with the board her experience being an out-of-state student and emphasized the importance of scholarships. “I was [surprised] when I saw the goals of [William and Mary], and for the wrong reasons,” Villa wrote in an email to The Flat Hat, saying that scholarships should get prioritized over campus wellness improvements such as dining and campus safety. Somkar Dey ’25 said while he applauded the College’s budget as being well-rounded, he wanted the board to still take into consideration the impact that the tuition increase would have on students, urging the board to reconsider its decision. “I truly appreciate the work that the Rowe administration, the Board, and the W&M Foundation for their initiatives to halt tuition and fee increases for the past few years to address the pandemic’s economic uncertainties,” Dey wrote in an email to The Flat Hat. “I also give immense thanks to their efforts to balance the budget for FY2023, in light of these policies. However, I believe that the pandemic years are still not behind us. Although consumer sentiment is strong across the nation, high inflation still persists. The Federal Reserve’s plans to cut federal interest rates early this year have been shattered, and we still have the highest interest rates seen in my lifetime. It proves that we are still living in an economy defined by the COVID-19 pandemic’s fallout. If anyone is going to feel the effects of these problems, it will disproportionately be young adults like me and my peers, especially those who don’t have a defined income of their own.” SEE BOARD OF VISITORS PAGE 4
GRAPHIC BY JAMIE HOLT AND PEERAWUT RUANGSAWASDI / THE FLAT HAT
Special status students navigate fear, isolation with limited resources ANNA ARNSBERGER // FLAT HAT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Editor’s Notes: The Flat Hat has decided to honor the requests of several sources and keep their identities anonymous out of protection of their identities. The umbrella term “special immigration status” is used to describe those without permanent protected status, including undocumented, DACA, TPS, DED and refugee students. Nov. 15, 2023, representatives from the College of William and Mary Student Assembly and William and Mary Fighting for Immigrant Rights and Equity met to discuss improving information for special immigration status students on the College’s website. While not the first student-led initiative to increase resources for students without permanent status, the Online Resource Committee’s work over the past six months is a recent effort to highlight this underrepresented community on campus. Due to the private nature of their identities, there is no official data on the number of special status students at the College. However, the College is home to a notable population of students with a wide range of immigration statuses including undocumented, Temporary Protected Status and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. Although these students face unique challenges in applying to the College, receiving financial aid and being in an unprotected position, resources for them are decentralized and under-promoted. A primary concern for students with precarious statuses is the need to hide their identities for their own safety. Many struggle with the isolation of being part of an invisible community. WMFIRE Co-Director and DACA recipient Katherine Fernandez ’24 explained how she wishes she knew more DACA students to connect with.
“It's very much an invisible identity. Anybody on campus could have no status and you not know because they're doing the same things you are or are limited in ways that you don't know,” Fernandez said. An undocumented student at the College elaborated on how his unprotected status makes it harder to be an advocate. “What feels isolating is just the pressure of like, how much am I allowed to talk about this and how much I have to keep this for myself. And just debating if I should just shut up or if I should just keep kind of advocating. And at the same time, [there’s] just a challenge that comes with advocating for the community and for myself being under the status,” he said. Others have pointed out how diverse programming is also more accessible for different student groups. “Because of the office that I've worked in here on campus, I was able to get a really unfiltered view of the administrative priorities of the college,” a formerlyundocumented student who now holds DACA said. “I obviously don't know everybody. I haven't spoken to everybody in depth, but just from the glances I got from working in that office for two and a half, three years, I would say that the types of programming that's offered and resources that's offered is geared towards a lot more traditional, diverse identities. It sort of kind of falls flat when it comes to people who are dealing with some form of undocumented status.” This dearth of community programming is not for lack of need. Many students expressed how fear is inherent in their precarious status. For undocumented students, there is the possibility
of deportation, and for TPS or DACA students, their protections may be revoked at any time. Additionally, young people with DACA typically have undocumented family members who could face deportation. Professor and chair of sSociology and WMFIRE advisor Jennifer Bickham Mendez explained that the College’s infrastructure is not set up for students with precarious home situations. “That kind of family instability and threat to one's security, whether or not you're going to have your parents there — I think that William and Mary is very much constructed as our students have supportive families at home who support them and are the ones paying the bill. And that is not the case for many student groups, and among those student groups for whom that's not the case are often students who have precarious immigration statuses,” Bickham Mendez said. Many students find it difficult to handle the stress of their statuses on top of their regular responsibilities as a student. “This is a school where everybody's always doing a lot of things that are outside of the classroom as well. So you're expected to receive very high grades in the classroom and then also get an internship. And then, you know, we love doing research here. I've personally done research a lot of times. And doing all of that is exhausting and difficult in itself. But I think having an extra layer of almost existential fear of what your situation might be the next day, really just makes difficult things even more complex,” the DACA student said. SEE CAMPUS PAGE 3
AROUND THE 'BURG
Wesley Foundation bids Max Blalock farewell after 14 years of service Beloved activist, campus minister to leave campus after Virginia Annual Conference ordered sudden departure LILA REIDY AND CLARE GIFFORD THE FLAT HAT
Sunday, April 28, the United Methodist Church-sponsored Wesley Foundation at the College of William and Mary hosted a farewell party for Reverend Max Blalock after his 14 years of service at the College. Current and former students as well as local church members gathered on the Wesley front lawn to celebrate Blalock with a dinner and parting speeches. Last month, the Virginia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church informed Blalock that the Rev. Ryan LaRock is to be appointed in his place as campus minister and director of the Wesley Foundation starting July 1, 2024. The Conference’s online announcement
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mentioned that this change is part of a broader “season of renewal and joy” for the Church. LaRock will additionally serve as a chief visionary for the New Town UMC and the Mission Rivers District. “The appointment offers an opportunity for ministry innovation that enhances the connection between the Wesley Foundation and new ministries at New Town, while continuing to strengthen ministry with other Williamsburg-area churches and across the Mission Rivers district,” the Conference’s announcement read. Elizabeth Lundy ’23, who grew up in the UMC, is aware of on-going financial struggles in the church as well as a more-recent schism over LGBTQ+ identities.
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Humanities: their fading future and former glory
Avi Joshi '26 and Tom Mooney '24 say the College is neglecting the liberal arts. page 4
“I knew that there’s a lot going on with those churches in regards to the split, and I know that the churches I was in back home are struggling with funding and keeping ministers and such, and there’s been a lot of movement of pastors,” Lundy said. “But it’s shocking to me that this move was taken because he’s been here so long and he’s so embedded in the community.” The news of Blalock’s departure came unexpectedly and much of the community has experienced shock and disbelief. Sadie Vaughan ’27, a Co-Fellowship Chair for the Wesley Foundation, still struggles to understand the Conference’s reasoning. “So, being on the board, I am aware, like, I do know the reason,”
Vaughan said. “It’s for financial reasons and as much as I understand it, I don’t.” For the past few weeks, Wesley Foundation members and nonmembers alike have felt deeply affected by the sudden loss. “I am, of course, quite upset by Max Blalock's termination,” CoPresident of the Wesley Student Leadership Team Annamarie Warnke ’25 said. “He's a pillar of the Wesley community and the W and M community at large. His termination certainly wasn't something we were expecting or hoping for. It also brings a lot of hurt for all the current students and alumni who have worked with him or relied on him through difficult times.” For the latter half of his
farewell party, community members spoke on how Blalock will be remembered. His influence on the community brought many to tears. In an prior interview, the Wesley Small Group Chair Helen Tiffin ’26 was overcome with emotion when describing what Blalock and his tenure has meant to her. “Something I've been saying a lot is Max Blalock is the definition of and lives out William and Mary's 'When you're here, you're home,’” Tiffin said. “Of course, he's the Wesley campus minister and he helps with everything there and he helps run Food for All, the campus food exchange. He helps with MSA, Hillel and Jewish Voices for Justice.” READ MORE AT FLATHATNEWS.COM
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Tea Society promotes relaxation, spotlights regional teas for students at the College to peruse, enjoy and destress from academics. page 7
April 20 dedication ceremony honors Ellis, 1987 women’s soccer team. page 10
Cozy cup of culture: Tea Society shares tea
William and Mary unveils field named after Jill Ellis ʼ88