Vol. 114, Iss. 12 | Wednesday, November 6, 2024
The Weekly Student Newspaper
of The College of William and Mary
flathatnews.com | @theflathat
HISTORY AND COMMUNITY
COURTESY IMAGE / COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG FOUNDATION
Standing before the Williamsburg Bray School, historian Rex Ellis leads the huge crowd gathered on the field in a libation ceremony. Established in 1760, the Williamsburg Bray School is the oldest surviving school for Black children in the United States.
Community celebrates Williamsburg Bray School opening, tours to be offered in Spring 2025 LORENZO SHORT AND PEERAWUT RUANGSAWASDI // THE FLAT HAT
Over a year after Colonial Williamsburg moved the Williamsburg Bray School from its Brown Hall site to its current location on the corner of Nassau and Francis Street, people from all walks of life gathered to witness the school’s dedication ceremony. Established in 1760 by the Associates of Dr. Bray, the Bray School is the oldest surviving school for free and enslaved Black children in the United States. At the start of the ceremony, the audience participated in a roll call activity, where organizers and children from the Bray School descendant community’s children choir sang “Sit Down.” Attendees were asked to stand up for the duration of the song then sit down when a word that describes them, like “mother” or “child,” comes up. Following the activity, President and CEO of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Cliff Fleet ’91, M.A. ’93, J.D. ’95, M.B.A. ’95, State Sen. Mamie Locke, Del. Cliff Hayes, College of William and Mary President Katherine Rowe and Chair of the
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Carly Fiorina gave remarks. Apart from remarks, former associate director at the National Museum of African American History and Culture Rex Ellis also delivered a libation. “I had a sanctified moment this morning,” Ellis said. “It wasn’t because Robert Carter Nicholas came to me. It wasn't because Benjamin Franklin, who was a supporter, came to me. It wasn't because Ann Wager, [who] spent all of her life teaching our ancestors. It was because of the knowledge that came about from who was there. I believe it was the parents, I believe it was the mothers, I believe it was the fathers, I believe it was the brothers, I believe it was the sisters, who wanted to say, ‘Here are my legacies. Here is why I existed.’” Ellis then led the crowd in the libation, uttering “ashe” after pouring water into the plant each time. The Yoruba word describes “power,” “authority,” “command,” “energy” or “life.” “Today, this is a day of histor y. It's
a day to remember scholars, a day to remember the challenge of slaver y and a day to remember the resiliency of people,” Secretar y of the Smithsonian Institution Lonnie Bunch L .H.P. ’24 said in front of a huge crowd gathered on the field before the Bray School. “And it's a day to remember that we have to embrace our histor y, no matter how complex or how contradictor y.” Bunch, who served as the keynote speaker, is no stranger to history. After serving as the founding director for the National Museum of African American History and Culture from 2005 until 2019, when he became the first African American secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. “At a time of extreme partisanship, we need not fear our history, but embrace the past and realize how much better we are made by that knowledge,” Bunch added. “And the fact that what the past tells us is that America is a work in progress and that there is a possibility to live up to the ideals of our founding fathers
and mothers.” Director of the William and Mary Bray School Lab Maureen Elgersman Lee shared her reflections on the event in an email to The Flat Hat. “As director of the William & Mary Bray School Lab, I could not have been more pleased with the turnout across all the events that made up the day,” Elgersman Lee wrote. “Friday represents the meeting of an important milestone, but it equally marks the start [of ] a new chapter of research and public engagement, including through genealogy and oral history, that will continue to build on the hard work we've put in thus far. There is still so much work to do on the intersections of race, religion, and education in the late 18th century-and we are excited for what lies ahead.” Presidential Liaison for Strategic Cultural Partnerships and Professor of Hispanic Studies Ann Marie Stock echoed Elgersman Lee’s sentiment. SEE COMMUNITY PAGE 3
CAMPUS
Raft debate marks return after four-year hiatus, physics professor wins
Winner Josh Erlich, Jessica Paga, Jennifer Stevens, Joshua Gert argue for their survival
REBECCA FUCHS AND MARGARET NORSWORTHY-EDGHILL THE FLAT HAT
Monday, Oct. 28, William and Mary’s Raft Debate returned to the Commonwealth Auditorium after a four-year hiatus, drawing nearly 1,000 attendees eager to experience a lively academic showdown filled with humor and intellectual exchange. Three professors from different academic disciplines competed for the one-person life raft, aiming to prove their field’s value in saving humanity. Arts and Sciences Assistant Dean for Graduate Studies Trey Mayo Ph.D. ’22 served as both judge and emcee, while a Devil’s Advocate challenged everyone’s cases, arguing that no one should leave the island for humanity. Since its inception in the 1960s, the Raft Debate has been a beloved campus tradition. Faculty representatives from across disciplines compete, often with humor and creativity, to demonstrate their academic field’s necessity in the survival of civilization. Associate professor of classical studies Jessica Paga began by asserting that humanities provide
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the foundation for civilization by fostering a sense of connection and happiness. “The thing that brings us together is community,” Paga said. Professor of physics Joshua Erlich, representing the sciences, emphasized the role of scientific progress in combating global challenges like climate change and advancing public health. “There’s a reason you remember the names Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, Charles Darwin and Shantá Hinton,” Erlich said. “You remember their names because of the great work that they’ve done.” Associate professor of psychological sciences Jennifer Stevens advocated for the social sciences, highlighting their role in improving quality of life through insights into human behavior. “If we are to save humanity, it feels so obvious we must save ourselves, and the social sciences, being the study of ourselves, quickly becomes the only choice,” Stevens said.
To demonstrate her point, Stevens performed a “La La Land”inspired dance, drawing laughter and applause from the audience. The D e v i l ’s Advocate, L e s l i e a n d Na o m i L e g u m Distinguished Professor of Philosophy Joshua Gert, encouraged the audience to consider the importance of balanced academic discourse. “The sad truth is, if we are going to have academic disciplines at all, we need all of them working together, and that is no longer an option,” Gert said. In the rebuttal round, Paga referenced Socrates’ trial and its consequences for Athens as a cautionar y tale about the danger of rejecting a humanist approach. According to Paga, determining the winner was about ensuring humanity not only sur vives, but thrives. “Choose the option that actually makes you happy, the thing that you actually really want to do with your life, with the amount of time you have left here,” Paga said. Erlich countered Paga’s argument by illustrating the practical ways science enables
modern society to thrive, arguing that scientific innovation provides the foundational tools that civilization relies on. “Without me, you don’t survive. You need to vote for me for your kids and for your future,” Erlich said. Citing research on altruistic behaviors in rats, Stevens built on Paga and Erlich’s arguments. She asserted that social sciences bridge scientific understanding and human fulfillment, equipping people with knowledge to live enriched lives both individually and collectively. “We need to understand how humanity can build a culture of community and support and belonging,” Stevens said. In response, Gert critiqued the contributions of each discipline, suggesting that while the sciences often create crises they must later solve, the humanities and social sciences focus primarily on interpreting behavior rather than actively ensuring sur vival. “Advanced study in the absence of other fields of study presents the greatest danger,” Gert said. “Let people thrive. Keep these guys on
the island.” Following these exchanges, the audience posed questions on discipline-specific strengths. Paga explained that even infrastructure has roots in the humanities, stemming from early societal needs for order and public health. Stevens responded to questions about psychology’s replicability, defending its scientific rigor despite occasional critiques. When asked how they’d maintain sanity on the raft, Paga proposed stor ytelling, citing Homer’s Iliad. Stevens pointed to cognitive-behavioral strategies, while Erlich confidently asserted that his knowledge of astronomy could guide him back to civilization. Audience responses varied widely, from laughter and applause to thoughtful nods, reflecting the debate’s engaging nature and the audience’s investment in the discussion. Olivia Webster ’26 believes that collaboration between all three disciplines would be necessary for survival. SEE CAMPUS PAGE 4
Inside Opinions
Inside Variety
Inside Sports
Isabella McNutt '27 offers her opinion on the electoral landscape ahead of the 2024 United States elections page 5
Alma Mater Productions hosts Puppies & Pumpkins event with furry friends, games on Sunken Garden for campus community page 7
Earl plans to improve offensive pace of play, introduces marquee newcomers page 10
Election Day Behind Screens
Im-paw-sibly fun
Head coach Brian Earl enters first season with optimism