The Weekly Student Newspaper
Vol. 116, Iss. 11 | Wednesday, October 21, 2026
EVENTS
Liz Cheney gives fireside chat, discusses Trump Cheney reflects on career, work investigating Jan. 6
The College of William and Mary
flathatnews.com | @theflathat
WILLIAMSBURG RESIDENTS RALLY AGAINST TRUMP
LIAM GLAVIN FLAT HAT NEWS EDITOR Wednesday, Oct. 14, the College of William and Mary hosted former Congresswoman Liz Cheney for a fireside chat at the Music Arts Center. George and Mary Hylton Professor of International Relations and Director of the College’s Global Research Institute Mike Tierney ’87 moderated the conversation. Cheney served as the Republican representative for Wyoming’s at-large congressional district from 2017 to 2023. Cheney is known for her work investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, which alienated her from the Republican Party and led to her loss of the seat. Cheney’s visit followed her selection as the College’s 2026 Hunter B. Andrews Distinguished Fellow in American Politics. Through the fellowship, the College hosts scholars, journalists and politicians. College President Katherine A. Rowe opened the event with brief remarks and introduced Cheney and Tierney. “The Hunter B. Andrews Fellowship has honored William and Mary's commitment to preparing civic leaders for the past 25 years,” she said. “Each year, we invite distinguished, nationally known leaders and scholars who know a few things about leading positive change.” In response to a question from Tierney, Cheney said she regretted supporting President Donald Trump before the Jan. 6 attack and that she had expected the White House’s institutional structures to limit his actions. Cheney said she began questioning Trump’s actions during his first term, particularly after he threatened to withdraw from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. She described his false claims of voter fraud after the 2020 presidential election as a turning point. “You can challenge the results if you have evidence that there has been fraud,” she said. “But as the days went by, it became clear that the claims that were being made publicly were not backed by evidence.” Cheney also cited Trump’s handling of the Jan. 6 attack as a key factor in her decision to withdraw her support. Tierney asked Cheney why she thought only 10 House Republicans voted to impeach Trump. SEE EVENTS PAGE 3
PHOTOS BY LIAM GLAVIN AND ROBIN PERDUE / THE FLAT HAT
GRAPHIC BY / LIAM GLAVIN
Community Gathers for 'No Kings' Protest Ahead of Midterms ROBIN PERDUE // FLAT HAT NEWS EDITOR
Protesters question student participation, encourage voter mobilization before elections Saturday, Oct. 17, around 400 protesters gathered at the Williamsburg-James City General District Court for “No Kings 4: Vote Early,” the fourth No Kings action in Williamsburg. Event organizers combined political protest against President Donald Trump and his administration’s policies with opportunities for voter registration, early voting information and vaccinations. The protest featured no formal speakers. Participants were instead led in group call-andresponse chants by United States Marine veteran Jason Moulenbelt. Moulenbelt said the chants were drawn from a collection maintained by resistance group Williamsburg JCC Indivisible. He credited the selection to the predominantly older crowd. “These guys were young when they started protesting,” he said. “That remains the vast majority of people out here, fighting our fight.” Event organizers also collaborated with Walgreens Pharmacy to offer a COVID-19 and flu vaccination clinic, with vouchers offered for
uninsured attendees. Representatives from the League of Women Voters also assisted attendees with voter registration and early voting, and additional volunteers staffed tables to answer questions about various voting issues. Protester Mark Sullivan said unseating Rep. Rob Wittman, who represents Virginia’s 1st Congressional District, motivated him to attend. “Wittman, our beloved Congressman, rubber stamps everything he wants to do,” Sullivan said. “My main job is to get him out of here.” Sullivan also emphasized the significance of displaying the American flag at No Kings events. “I think it's very important to bring a flag every time you come to show that you know it doesn't belong to the right,” Sullivan said. Other protesters, such as Duncan Bradley, pointed to concerns about transparency and accountability among politically connected elites. Bradley cited transparency surrounding Jeffrey Epstein’s ties to powerful figures as a
reason for his attendance. “We have a tyrant in the White House,” Bradley said. “We have to get the numbers up of people out in the streets, nonviolently and peacefully protesting, in order to see change. We cannot have justice until the criminals at the top are held accountable for their crimes.” Williamsburg JCC Indivisible has served the region since January 2017, organizer Heather Meaney-Allen explained. “We’re not about hierarchy,” she said. “It isn’t about us. It’s about the results of what we’re getting on the ground.” Meaney-Allen expressed her distaste for the current Trump administration. “We are furious,” Meaney-Allen said. “We’re fighting for the future.” Some of the protesters said they were dissatisfied with the lack of undergraduate student attendance. READ MORE AT FLATHATNEWS.COM
POLITICS
Former James City County officer charged with Flock camera misuse
Williamsburg, William and Mary police respond, JCC Board of Supervisors chair acknowledges concerns NAMAN MISHRA FLAT HAT NEWS EDITOR Wednesday, Sept. 30, the James City County Police Department announced in a statement that former police officer Androu A. Eskandar had been charged with misuse of its Flock camera database. Flock cameras are AI-powered automated license plate readers that capture information about vehicles’ make, model and location. Eskandar’s charges, brought on by the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations, totaled to five felonies and eight misdemeanors. According to the James City County police statement, Eskandar used ALPR data for unauthorized purposes. “Eskandar, 30, is alleged to have used his position as a police officer to improperly access law enforcement information systems for non-law-enforcement purposes related to an internal matter involving coworkers,” the statement said. An unnamed coworker reported Eskandar’s alleged actions in March. Eskandar resigned Friday, April 17,
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after three years with the department. “Maintaining the trust of our community requires uncompromising accountability,” James City County Police Chief Mark Jamison said in a written statement. “When an officer misuses law enforcement systems, it is a serious breach of duty and the values of this Department.” John McGlennon, the chair of the James City County Board of Supervisors and Class of 1935 Professor of Government, stood by the benefits of ALPR technology while acknowledging community concerns. “Like others, James City County understands that finding the balance [is] between valuable function and violations of privacy,” he wrote in an email to The Flat Hat. “Whether it is Artificial Intelligence, data centers, and other new technology, we need to be aware of the concerns of our residents and proactive in explaining the actions taken by the county.” McGlennon argued ALPR cameras have proved helpful for James City County Police. “In our case, James City County police have been able to resolve over
500 crimes since 2021 when Flock cameras were authorized,” he said. McGlennon said James City County police are no longer using Flock cameras due to issues unrelated to the dismissal. Based on information from WMPD’s Flock transparency portal, at the time of the incident, James City County police had access to the data collected by Flock cameras operated by both the Williamsburg Police Department and William and Mary Police Department. WMPD no longer automatically shares Flock data with any other police departments. WPD Flock data is shared with all Virginia law enforcement agencies as part of a statewide network. NAMAN MISHRA / THE FLAT HAT WPD owns 32 Flock cameras, while Local police say they don't know whether their data was used in the alleged JCC misuse. WMPD owns 10. WPD Chief Sean Dunn said the We are in communication with James specific data accessed. State police did department did not know whether City County and the Virginia State Police not respond to a request for comment. data from its Flock cameras had been to ensure we are fully informed about any Dunn said WPD had not changed its illegally accessed in relation to this case. use of our data, as appropriate.” ALPR data-sharing policy in response “The Williamsburg Police Department WMPD Chief Don Butler also said to alleged abuse from Eskandar. has not been notified that its data was the College’s department didn’t know He said it had implemented annual accessed in this case,” Dunn wrote in of any data being accessed in relation retraining to ensure all Flock users an email to The Flat Hat. “However, the to Eskandar’s alleged ALPR abuse. legitimately utilized WPD’s system. matter is ongoing, and details shared with Butler said Virginia State Police outside agencies such as WPD are limited. could provide information regarding SEE POLITICS PAGE 4
Inside Opinions
Inside Variety
Inside Sports
Eva Jaber '28 discusses finding love, campusspecific pick-up lines page 6
Muslim Student Association holds annual Charity Banquet, unites for those in distress page 7
Dickerson Davis looks to Dance, Geddes for leadership on court page 10
Who's next to be William & Married?
Waves of unity event held in Sadler Center
Tribe women's basketball returns core from previous season
THE FLAT HAT | Wednesday, October 21, 2026 | Page 2
THE BUZZ
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newsinsight news insight
News Editor Liam Glavin News Editor Naman Mishra News Editor Robin Perdue fhnews@gmail.com
If you look at the history of higher education, the student voice has always been at the center of advancing knowledge, and that means challenging what we understand and know as current knowledge.
̶Associate Vice President of Student Engagement and Leadership Mike Patterson
FLAT HAT NEWS BRIEF
Students present petition to provostʼs office, demand reinstatement of two dining workers
Thursday, Oct. 15, students at the College of William and Mary gathered behind the Wren Building for a demonstration in support of two dining service workers who were released from their positions after serving undercooked chicken. UNITE HERE, the union representing dining service workers at the College, organized the gathering. The group previously held a demonstration in support of the dining service workers Friday, Oct. 2. Following that gathering, a petition calling on the College to reinstate the two dining service workers circulated. Jack Guilfoyle ʼ29, co-president of College Socialists and a student organizer for UNITE HERE, said the petition reached 259 signatures. The demonstrators walked to the Office of the Provost in Blow Memorial Hall and presented the petition to Administrative Operations and Project Manager Scot Procanin. “Removing workers does not address underlying issues in campus dining operations,” Guilfoyle said. “We believe the College and its dining services provider should pursue a fair, transparent and constructive process that prioritizes food safety, accountability and appropriate corrective action.” Procanin thanked Guilfoyle and the other students for their message and said he would share it with the Office of the Provost. The demonstrators then exited Blow Memorial Hall and dispersed without incident. LIAM GLAVIN / FLAT HAT NEWS EDITOR
A THOUSAND WORDS
COURTESY IMAGE / ELSA LADENSON After spending much of her upbringing abroad, Ladenson has taken every opportunity to use her voice for change in American politics.
Vox co-President Elsa Ladenson ’27 discusses political advocacy, fight for reproductive justice
Ladenson describes connecting activism to academics, contributing to local campaign
MONA GARIMELLA // FLAT HAT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
NAMAN MISHRA / THE FLAT HAT
CORRECTIONS The Flat Hat wishes to correct any fact printed incorrectly. Corrections may be submitted in email to the editor of the section in which the incorrect information was printed. Requests for corrections will be accepted at any time.
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When Elsa Ladenson ’27 first arrived on campus, she was navigating a country that, despite being her own, still felt unfamiliar. Having spent much of her childhood moving between countries as the daughter of two foreign service officers, Ladenson had grown accustomed to watching American political activism movements unfold from thousands of miles away. Growing up abroad, most recently attending high school in Germany, Ladenson witnessed the emergence of nationwide protests during the Black Lives Matter demonstrations of 2021 after the murder of George Floyd and the pro-choice protests that erupted when the Dobbs v. Jackson (2022) decision was leaked. Without citizenship in the country where she lived, participating in political demonstrations often came with additional considerations about her visa status. “Even in high school, I thought it was really difficult to watch from afar because I wasn’t a citizen of where I was living, so having a political voice felt a lot more difficult,” Ladenson said. Four years later, as a public policy and French and Francophone studies double major and co-president of Vox: Planned Parenthood, a student organization dedicated to reproductive justice, she has transformed that initial desire for political engagement into a defining part of her undergraduate experience. For Ladenson, the journey began almost accidentally. During her freshman year, she attended a Vox meeting without anticipating how deeply the organization would shape her understanding of political advocacy and social issues. “I went to a Vox meeting kind of randomly, and I really liked how they framed the world’s problems and talked about reproductive justice in a very holistic manner,” Ladenson said. “It was about more than abortion, more than birth control.” As she continued attending meetings, Ladenson found herself increasingly invested in both the organization’s mission and the broader political questions it raised. While her public policy coursework has provided a foundation for understanding American government and democratic institutions, Ladenson credits her French major with challenging her to think more critically about the systems that shape society. Through small, discussion-centered courses exploring French philosophy and political thought, she has encountered questions that extend beyond conventional policy debates. In one course, Politics and Nature, students were asked to think about the rights of animals and plants. “I think classes like that kind of push the boundaries of how I think,” Ladenson said. Her public policy classes have helped fill gaps in her understanding of American civic institutions, particularly given her upbringing outside the United States. “Public policy has given me skills that I take for granted now about how our government works and a civic education I didn’t really grow up with,” Ladenson said. “So I’m very grateful for that.” That double major has also informed her leadership within Vox.
“I’ve always been someone who’s very feminist, very outspoken about women’s rights,” Ladenson said. “And I think Vox just pushed me to think about why I’m that way, what it means to be a feminist, who it impacts.” Beyond campus, Ladenson also worked on Virginia Delegate Jessica Anderson’s campaign. This experience introduced her to canvassing, a form of advocacy that required her to translate the theoretical discussions she encountered in Vox into direct conversations with voters. “The Jessica [Anderson] campaign similarly was like a big formative experience because Vox at times is very educational, and it can be very theoretical, and going out and talking to voters was another method of advocacy I just wasn’t used to,” Ladenson said. Through canvassing, Ladenson discovered an interest in connecting with voters and encouraging civic participation, experiences she has since incorporated into her leadership of Vox. Recently, she helped organize a canvassing launch and led a meeting teaching members about voter engagement. These efforts have taken on particular significance as Virginia considers the Reproductive Freedom Amendment, a proposed constitutional amendment protecting personal decisions regarding contraception and abortion. For Ladenson, the amendment represents more than a single political issue — it has been a priority she has followed throughout her undergraduate career. Still, Ladenson recognizes that support for reproductive rights does not necessarily translate into participation in organized advocacy. Part of her work as Vox’s co-president involves helping students move beyond passive support through tabling, fundraising, educational programming and canvassing. Ladenson also hopes to challenge what she considers one of the most persistent misconceptions surrounding the organization: that reproductive justice is exclusively concerned with abortion. While abortion access remains an important component of Vox’s advocacy, reproductive justice also encompasses contraception and sex education, as well as the broader social conditions that influence people’s ability to make decisions about their lives and families, Ladenson said. “To me, it’s like a framework of how we view our world’s issues,” she said. While Ladenson has dedicated much of her undergraduate career to reproductive justice, she believes advocacy does not necessarily require joining an organization or participating in demonstrations. She encouraged students to also recognize the value of education and daily conversations within their communities. “I think I definitely forget how privileged I am to be getting an education, to be thinking about these problems in the way that I’m thinking about them with the people I’m thinking about them with,” she said.
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
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THE FLAT HAT
CAMPUS
Student organizations hold vigil for peace three years after Oct. 7 attack
Students for Justice in Palestine advocates gather in remembrance of those killed by Israeli military during siege
SUSANNAH POTEET FLAT HAT NEWS ASSOC.
Tuesday, Oct. 13, students organized a vigil in the Sir Christopher Wren Building courtyard to mark three years since the Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas and other militant groups in Southern Israel and Israel’s bombing and siege of the Gaza Strip. Students for Justice in Palestine, William and Mary Fighting for Immigrant Rights and Equity, the Muslim Students Association, the Middle Eastern Students Association and Wesley United Methodist Campus Ministry sponsored the event. Israel’s military response to the Oct. 7 attacks has killed more than 74,000 people, including thousands of children, according to Gaza health officials. The vigil was held in conjunction with the National Students for Justice in Palestine’s annual Oct. 7 vigil and week of rage. Over 90 people attended the event, which included testimonies by those connected to victims, a moment of silence for victims in Palestine and of other Israeli attacks and interfaith prayers. Candles were lit during the gathering in remembrance of those killed by Israeli attacks. Co-President of the College of William and Mary’s SJP chapter Aya Ezzahi ’27 opened the event by sharing the stories of several people killed in the Gaza Strip. “Do not let these lives, or any of the other ones, be reduced to numbers,” Ezzahi said.
Ezzahi also shared Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish’s poem, “Think of Others.” “As you think of others far away, think of yourself. Say, ‘If only I were a candle in the dark,’” she said. MSA co-Presidents Safa Taraouat ’28 and Aleezay Malik ’27 shared their perspectives and prayers. “We must remind ourselves that what is happening in Palestine is not normal and should never, and will never, be normal,” Taraouat said. “It is not normal to worry that every prayer could be [your] last, and it is not normal for us to watch a genocide happen right before our eyes with nothing but apathy.” MSA then held a Janazah, or funeral, prayer for the deceased. Attendees of all faith traditions were invited to remember, grieve and honor the lives lost in the Gaza Strip. The College’s Jewish Voice for Peace chapter has co-hosted the vigil and helped organize prayers in previous years. JVP was not present at this year's event and has been largely inactive over the past year, with its last event held in 2025. SJP Vice President Maryam Elgindy ’28 was disappointed by JVP's absence. “We tried to include everyone by inviting attendees in during the prayers,” Elgindy said. “But I’m disappointed we weren’t able to include a Jewish prayer.” Fellowship Chair Bryson Hetzel ’28 and Small Group Chair Turner Lott ’28 represented WCM. They shared a prayer written by Firas Abedrabbo from the Palestinian Roman Catholic
Church of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. “Protect especially the children of Palestine,” Lott said. “Protect also the children of Israel, who are exposed not only to dangers from without but also to the even deeper dangers of fear, dehumanization and hatred from within. Open their hearts and enlighten their consciences.” Hetzel said conversations of solidarity with Palestine do not belong to one religion or people group. “This is not just a ‘Muslim’ problem or a ‘Jewish’ people's problem,” he said. “It is everyone’s problem, and it includes Christians. Being Christian, we care about the injustices of the world.” Several attendees reflected on the importance of vigils as spaces for community grief and remembrance. Student Assembly President Nico Giro-Martin ’27 connected the vigil for Palestine with the J. Doe vigil hosted by Someone You Know and SA the previous week. “In holding these moments where we’re allowed to come together, it’s like a retrospective that allows us to think together,” he said. “It allows us to sit in a space and recognize that a lot is happening. It can be worrisome, it can be tiring, but we’re all in it together.” RJ Kloecker ’27 echoed a similar sentiment. “One thing that really touched me is just being able to look around and see all the burning flames and realize that each one of those is a person who deeply and meaningfully cares about not only the people on this campus, but the people across the world."
STUDENT ASSEMBLY
Student Assembly, Public Safety host workshop to encourage free expression
Administrators, student representatives discuss planning protests, safe exercise of First Amendment rights NAMAN MISHRA FLAT HAT NEWS EDITOR
Wednesday, Oct. 14, students at the College of William and Mary gathered for a protest workshop hosted by the College’s Student Assembly, Public Safety and Student Unions and Engagement in the Sadler Center. The event was designed to inform community members about ways to safely and responsibly exercise their First Amendment rights. The workshop opened with a presentation from Associate Vice President of Student Engagement and Leadership Mike Patterson and Associate Director of Student Unions and Engagement Simón Franco. Patterson began by emphasizing the importance of student advocacy and free speech in fostering an engaged academic community. “If you look at the history of higher education, the student voice has always been at the center of advancing knowledge,” he said. “That means challenging what we understand and know as current knowledge and also challenging and understanding your own perspectives on how the world works.” Patterson said he sees his job as an administrator as helping facilitate student free speech, including protests, while fulfilling obligations to protect both First Amendment rights and campus code of conduct rules. Franco described the legal restrictions on free speech the College can enact. “Those are in two broad categories: by content or by time, place and manner,” he said. Patterson said administrators want to help students utilize their free speech while highlighting why consequences may exist. Franco noted that, in addition to state and federal statutes on free speech, the College has its own rules for students and organizations that hold protests and other events. “It is not a mandate to tell the university in advance that you intend to do an expressive activity event,” he said. “We think you should.
We will help you navigate [laws and university policy], but it is not required.” Patterson said the primary College policy guiding responses to student-organized events relates to disruptions of the campus learning environment. This includes disturbing classes, students in their dorms or travel across campus. When students or organizations violate these policies, they may be subject to review from Student Accountability and Restorative Practices or further legal consequences. “Ultimately, if you're doing something that's going to break the law or if you do something that violates the rights of other students, that's going to put you in a situation where the behavior associated with free speech is now in conflict with conduct policy,” Patterson said. Patterson and Franco also discussed counterprotests and protests organized in response to campus events. Such protests may not interrupt or disrupt access to the originating event, nor can they overpower it via sound. “It feels constraining in some ways, but what we're really trying to start with is how to maximize your voice without getting in trouble,” Patterson said. “And if you choose to get in trouble, at least be informed that you are making a decision to get in trouble.” Director of Student Leadership Development Anne Arseneau ’89 M.A.Ed ’92 then described recent changes to Student Assembly’s referendum process. Under the new system, students may propose referendums either as a General Election Referendum or an Emergency Referendum. General Election Referendums must be submitted with 250 verified signatures at least 21 days before the fall or spring general elections. Emergency Referendums can be submitted at any time with 500 verified signatures and will be put up for a vote no earlier than 21 days after submission. New policies also allow SA’s Independent
NAMAN MISHRA / THE FLAT HAT
Administrators encouraged student organizers to coordinate with them before protests and other potentially disruptive events.
Elections Commission to work with petitioners to ensure referendum language is clear and unbiased. “Thinking about who's ultimately going to get the results of the petition, it's probably going to be university leaders that have been experts on how to ask research questions in an unbiased way,” Patterson said. “An unbiased question that is answered honestly will get you a lot further than a question that might be biased.” Arseneau clarified that referendums are intended for students to express their opinions and that they do not bind College administrators to a particular course of action. Mia Enriquez ’27 attended the event to better understand College protest policy. “I care deeply about a lot of issues, political issues, and so I always sort of have my ears open for what people are doing on and around campus,” she said. Enriquez said she found the event helpful. “I was pleasantly surprised that they
brought a lot of information to the table and went over a lot of the resources that exist for students,” she said. "And I do believe that these resources exist to help students.” The workshop was organized by SA Undersecretaries for Student Rights and University Policy Aya Ezzahi ’27 and Caroline Morris ’28. Ezzahi said SA planned the event to connect student advocates and administrators. “We had noticed a disconnect between admin and student groups that were planning protests,” Ezzahi said. “We were hoping to bridge that gap and mitigate future protests and events.” Morris described the event’s objectives. “Transparency, establishing channels of communication that were previously there and just improving communication between students and admin,” she said. Ezzahi and Morris said they felt the workshop achieved these goals.
EVENTS
Liz Cheney discusses American political division, student civic engagement
Former congresswoman reflects on Republican party changes, support for Trump impeachment, father's legacy EVENTS FROM PAGE 1
“I was surprised that there weren’t more people who did the right thing in the House,” she said. Cheney also emphasized the importance of studying the past to move forward, as well as supporting strong leaders. She noted she keeps
a photo of former President George H.W. Bush, former National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft and Dick Cheney, her father, who served as secretary of defense and vice president, in her office. Cheney said it will likely be challenging for the Republican Party to rebuild its image under its
LIAM GLAVIN / THE FLAT HAT
Cheney reflected on her time in government and the state of American politics as the election nears.
current leadership. “The Republican Party has lost its way much more than the Democratic Party has,” she added. “The American people deserve a better set of options than the ones that they do now.” Cheney highlighted the significance of free expression for U.S. institutions of higher learning. “You’re not at college to have your views reaffirmed. You’re there to learn and to have your views challenged,” she said. “That’s crucially important for our colleges and universities to remember.” Cheney encouraged students to actively participate in civic life. “Remember that any important change that has ever been made throughout history only gets made because people stand for it and fight for it,” she said. “Not only can you be involved and make a difference, you have to be, because you just don’t have a choice. There isn’t anybody else.” Tierney then opened the floor to
questions from the audience. The Flat Hat asked Cheney whether she felt her involvement in the Harris-Walz presidential campaign hurt the Democratic Party’s chances of winning. “In terms of the 2024 election, I’ll leave it to others to assess the impact,” she said. “Even though [former] Vice President Harris and I had policy disagreements, my decision to support her was borne out of the fact that I understood the threat that Donald Trump posed.” In response to another audience question, Cheney said she sees the national debt, national security and civic education as some of the country’s biggest future problems. She said she has reflected on the ways she can build bridges across partisan divides. “It would be really nice if we could get back to the days when we argued about tax policy,” she added. “Because if we’re arguing about that, it means we aren’t having to worry about democracy itself.”
Cheney did not rule out the possibility of running for national public office again. “I will not sit here today and tell you that I know that I’m done with political office,” she said. “I don’t know what the future will hold.” An audience member asked Cheney about her relationship with her father. “I’m tremendously blessed to be his daughter,” she said. "To have had the opportunity to watch how he served and to have watched in particular the decisions made in the aftermath of 9/11 that in my view kept us safe [and] prevented another mass attack.” In response to the final audience question, Cheney expressed uncertainty about what may happen at the end of Trump’s term. “Although we have never been through this before, we have proven time and time again that when we have faced crises, we have come through them,” she said. “Our republic has survived.”
THE FLAT HAT
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Page 4
CAMPUS
Former JCC police officer charged with five felonies, eight misdemeanors Williamsburg Police Department, organizers respond to alleged unauthorized data use POLITICS from page 3
“We are continuously assessing and finding best practices to balance the effectiveness of our tools with the privacy concerns of our community,” Dunn said. At a moderated conversation on public safety Wednesday, April 29, Butler said WMPD had narrowed the list of law enforcement agencies that had access to its Flock data from over 100 to just 16. He indicated the College restricted who it shared its data with in response to student and community concerns about ALPR technology. “We have professional and personal relationships with these agencies, knowing that they are following the law if they’re accessing our data,” he said at the time.
The James City County Police Department was included on this restricted list. Friday, Aug. 28, Associate Vice President for Public Safety Cliff Everton ’96 announced WMPD would no longer automatically share Flock data with any police departments and that all requests for data access would need to be approved on a caseby-case basis. Butler said the changes to WMPD’s data-sharing policy were not in response to Eskandar’s alleged misuse of Flock systems. “We were neither involved in the investigation nor notified about it. As such, it did not affect our decision-making,” Everton wrote in an email. “The changes we made earlier this year were based on a number of factors as part of our continuous review of
NAMAN MISHRA / THE FLAT HAT A Flock technology surveillance camera is located on Richmond Road near Wawa. The camera is one of 10 operated by the College on campus.
processes and protocols related to the technology we use.” It remains unclear whether the former James City County officer chose to utilize any of the College’s Flock data during his alleged misuse. Charlie Goodman ’27 is an advocate against AI-powered surveillance technologies in Williamsburg. He said he was not surprised to hear about the James City County violations. “This was bound to happen,” Goodman said. “There have been documented instances of abuse for the past two years.” Goodman noted Eskandar’s alleged misuse related to coworkers and that ALPR abuse may be harder to discover when it involves private citizens. He said current audit systems do not provide sufficient security. “There could be other instances of stalking that they’re not picking up on,” Goodman added. “That’s a lot of data, and you’re pushing the entire onus of data security onto these departments that just don’t have the manpower to review the data that thoroughly.” Dunn said the response to Eskandar’s alleged ALPR misuse in James City County should reassure the public that police departments are dedicated to transparency and accountability. “In this instance, the outcome reinforces with our staff that abuse of these systems has significant consequences,” Dunn said. “The community should take comfort in knowing that we have robust audit tools that allow us to identify misuse and abuse, and will take action when abuse occurs.” Goodman said commitments to transparency are untenable with such a large-scale surveillance system. He criticized how Virginia law prevents the public from accessing Flock usage audit logs through Freedom of Information Act requests. “In every instance of misuse or abuse, the police departments come out and say afterwards that they’re dedicated to transparency, and yet this trail of [audit logs] is not accessible by FOIA request,” he said. “There’s really no way for the public to keep the police accountable except [to] just trust the police are keeping themselves accountable.” Goodman described what he views as the only solution to police misuse of Flock. “Cancel the contracts,” Goodman said. “Time has shown that this technology is kind of built to be abused. Hopefully this wakes police departments up to that.”
ACADEMICS
College invited to participate in 2026-27 Entente Cordiale Challenge Students given opportunity to participate in multinational academic competition, summit MELANIA FRYE FLAT HAT NEWS ASSOC.
The College of William and Mary is one of six inaugural U.S. universities invited to participate in the Entente Cordiale University Challenge. The annual academic competition brings together students and alumni from universities to develop research papers following a challenge-wide theme. The Entente Cordiale University Challenge was designed to commemorate the signing of the 1904 Entente Cordiale, a series of agreements between the United Kingdom and France that significantly improved their relations. The Entente Cordiale Day initiative was launched exactly 120 years after the signing of the agreements with the support of King Charles III and President Emmanuel Macron. Associate Director of International Communications Kate Hoving is supporting those who choose to participate. Hoving described the challenge as multifaceted, with a focus on the intersection between academics and global challenges. “Entente Cordiale Day aims to become a forum where current students and future leaders meet annually in April to present to today’s global leaders their ideas, recommendations and innovative solutions to tackle the most pressing global challenges,” Hoving said. The challenge includes a select group of leading U.S. universities this year to celebrate France’s pivotal role in the United States’ fight for freedom.
“[The U.S. universities’] purpose is also to show how alliance, sacrifice, diplomacy and shared purpose helped shape America’s birth and the Declaration of Independence itself, lessons that remain essential at a time of profound global uncertainty,” Hoving said. Students at the College of any degree level can register as teams for the challenge, provided they meet the handbook’s requirements. To facilitate this process, each university appoints a liaison to coordinate with the challenge’s leadership in the United States, United Kingdom and France. Sasha Rinkevich ’27 fulfills that role as the College’s challenge branch president. Participants will work in teams of three to write and submit their paper. They can choose to consult the advice of a faculty advisor, but the work must be entirely their own. The theme of this year’s challenge is “Artificial Intelligence, Power and Ethics.” “Students can approach the topic from any discipline or take an interdisciplinary approach,” Rinkevich said. Each theme has three tracks that target different disciplines. Participant Joseph Nicholas Valdecañas, a doctoral candidate at the College’s School of Education, said the wording of these prompts will yield a wider variety of interpretations. The finalists’ summit, scheduled for April 2027 at the University of Oxford, will bring together the top 10 teams from the United Kingdom, France and the United States, respectively, to
present their proposed solutions to a grand jury. The five best teams from each country will then be awarded the Entente Cordiale Prizes. Hov i n g e m p h a s i z e d t h e ro l e o f f a c i l i t a t i n g international connection. “ I’ m e x c i t e d t h a t s t u d e n t s w i l l b e a b l e t o s h o w h o w s m a r t a n d c a p a b l e t h e y a re a n d a l s o h av e a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o h e a r s o m e
Eu ro p e a n p e r s p e c t i v e s,” Hov i n g s a i d . Va l d e c a ñ a s e c h o e d a s i m i l a r s e n t i m e n t . “ I t h i n k i t ’s q u i t e f a s c i n a t i n g t o h av e t h i s c o m p e t i t i o n t h a t c o n n e c t s b o t h Eu ro p e a n a n d A m e r i c a n t h o u g h t ,” h e s a i d . “ I t h i n k re a l l y e x p l o r i n g t h e d i f f e re n c e s a n d o p i n i o n s o n t h e s p e c i f i c t o p i c a n d h o w d i f f e re n t higher education students will view it is
COURTESY IMAGE / WOJTEK SKORA The spring 2027 summit for the finalist research groups from each nation will take place at the Univeristy of Oxford.
STUDENT ASSEMBLY
Student Assembly swears in new graduate student representative
Members approve 10th annual Sankofa Gala, increased Busch Gardens Day funding NICOLE ZAJAC FLAT HAT NEWS ASSOC.
Tuesday, Oct. 13, the College of William and Mary’s Student Assembly Senate passed two bills. The senate approved additional funding for Busch Gardens Day and the 10th annual Sankofa Gala. Senators also swore in a new graduate student representative, and Attorney General Tom Chesnut ’27 presented on parliamentary procedure. The senate swore in Nton Kirkland MBA ’28 as the new Raymond A . Mason School of Business senator. Chesnut then delivered a presentation outlining proper parliamentary procedure. He emphasized the importance of maintaining order, allowing members to participate in fair debate and ensuring senate meetings run smoothly. Chesnut highlighted several guiding
principles, including respecting the presiding officer’s authority, upholding procedural flexibility and ensuring each senator has input. “It allows for flexibility, but you have to go through the motions to do things,” he said. “It’s flexible but not flax.” Chesnut also distinguished between points and motions. Senators can request factual information or clarification on procedural rules, raise concerns about meeting conditions and challenge procedural errors, so long as they are not asserting a partial opinion. Senators can also amend motions, appeal decisions made by the presiding officer or request different voting methods. Chesnut clarified the circumstances under which unanimous consent may be used, typically for procedural matters. He concluded by encouraging senators to contact the attorney
general’s office with any questions or concerns. The senate passed the Increasing Funding for Busch Gardens Day Act, following discussion about the event’s costs and future attendance projections. In response to a question about additional costs, Anne Arseneau ’89 M.A.Ed ’92 said the administrative allotment available to Student Leadership Development staff or other funding resources would cover any remaining expenses. “This gives us a much better ability to project costs next year,” she said. Arseneau also recommended that future organizers plan for approximately 1,000 attendees, explaining that the estimate would help balance ticket affordability with the risk of overstating demand. Arseneau added that organizers could have offered 660 tickets for $29
each while charging additional students full price. Arseneau also suggested organizers should explore other sponsorship options to fund and offset future costs. She said the deal the College received this year was more favorable than anticipated, which likely will not occur next year. The senate subsequently passed the new legislation. The senate also approved the 10th Annual Sankofa Gala Act, following discussion about the event’s accessibility and funding history. The yearly celebration honors Black history and culture on campus. Class of 2028 President Devaughn Henry ’28 highlighted the importance of promoting the gala to the broader student body. “I want to emphasize that it’s open to everyone,” he said.
He shared efforts to increase awareness of the event, including additional advertising and collaboration with various student organizations. Henry outlined a plan to incorporate a fashion show that would feature other campus groups. Vice President Sophie Kennedy ’27 addressed the level of criticism funding for the gala has faced in previous debates. Kennedy emphasized the overall goals of SA. “The role of Student Assembly is to uplift marginalized communities and marginalized voices, and this is a great way to do that,” she said. The executive encouraged SA members to voice their opinions on Williamsburg Tomorrow, a comprehensive plan update for the City of Williamsburg, at a community workshop Wednesday, Oct. 28.
opinions STAFF COLUMN
Eva’s Apple #26: William & Married
Opinions Editor Michael Gabriel Opinions Editor Ava Gravina fhopinions@gmail.com // @theflathat
THE FL FLAT HAT | Wednesday, October 21, 2026 | Page 5
STAFF COLUMN
YouTube is ens—tifying itself Geronimo Ritcheson FLAT HAT OPINIONS ASSOC.
Eva Jaber
FLAT HAT OPINIONS ASSOC.
GRAPHIC BY ISABEL VOLDEN / THE FLAT HAT
My favorite part of every romantic comedy movie is always the meetcute. Nothing gives me more hope than watching a protagonist’s embarrassing mishap become a convenient introduction to the love of their life. Although, I need someone to explain to me why my aura losses around campus don’t turn into meet-cutes. Unlucky moments for me come in spades, and you expect me to just accept that not one of them will lead to my happily ever after? Let me give you an example of a particularly unfortunate series of events that happened to me this week, and I’ll point out all the unrealized opportunities for a meet-cute throughout. A few days ago, I was studying on Sadler Terrace and eating a bagel from Bake Shop when a bee started circling me. After many unsuccessful attempts to gently shoo it away, the little bully landed on my hand and started shaking its booty. I wanted to avoid getting stung at all costs, so I jumped up and blew it away, an ordeal that caused me to drop my pen. This was, of course, an opportunity for meetcute material to pick up the pen for me. Nope. I picked it up myself and, in the process, dropped what was left of the top half of my bagel on a table. There was no potential love interest in sight with a handful of napkins. As I moved to clean up the table bagel alone, the remainder of my bagel slid out of the parchment paper in my hands and onto my pants. Covered in veggie schmear, I let out a sigh of exasperation only to notice fresh bird poop on the sleeve of my sweater. I wish I was making this up. Anyone who saw me shamefully carrying a balled-up Cleftomaniacs crewneck to the laundry can attest to the truth of this embarrassing event. And, might I add, there was no soulmate waiting around the corner to offer me their jacket after my own sported a splatter of avian fecal matter. Bummer. My point? Anyone can turn anything into a meet-cute. In that twominute sequence of mishaps, there were at least three clear opportunities to do so. Plus, it’s almost too easy to come up with good, or at least mediocre, pick-up lines. Like, when I dropped the bagel, someone could’ve
said, “I guess that bagel and I have something in common: we both fell for you.” Or when bird poop got on my sleeve someone could’ve said, “Oops, looks like that bird got your arm. Can I get first dibs on your heart?” Dear reader, you are worthy of someone who can turn your misfortunes into memorable quips. It’ll be worth the wait. And now, time to turn to the question of the week, which is as follows: “Pick-up lines. Give me some, please.” I guess this question is more of a request, but I’m okay with that. It got me thinking about the lack of campusspecific pick-up lines at the College of William and Mary. There is so much material to work with, and people aren’t doing anything with it! Fear not. I’ve compiled 10 of my best Eva-original William and Mary pick-up lines below. Feel free to use them liberally. 1. Are you the Halal Shack wait time? ’Cause when I look at you, I see forever. 2. You must be an easy COLL 200 NQR the way I want to add and never drop you. 3. Wanna know what you have in common with Kim Van Deusen’s Step class at the Rec? You both make my heart pound over 180 bpm. 4. A tour guide asked me what my favorite part of the College is. I said, “It’s you.” 5. If our relationship were a transcript, I’d pay $7 to the University Registrar. It’s time to make us official. 6. I think I might be turning into a campus squirrel, because I’m nuts about you. 7. William and Mary? More like me and you. 8. Call me your Williamsburg Wawa the way I’m here for you day or night. 9. I know the College was ranked as having the friendliest students in the U.S., but I want to be more than that with you. 10. Are you the ice cream machine that Dining Services moved from Sadler to Caf? Because I’d walk the extra mile for you. See? A little situational specificity goes a long way. I’m confident that you will be successful with these. Try them out, and let me know your favorites. Better yet, come up with some of your own. One day, when you’re at the altar getting William and Married, you’ll have me to thank. So I’ll leave you with an anticipatory “you’re welcome.” See you in two weeks. Eva Jaber ’28 (she/her) is a prospective English or international relations major. She is a member of the C leftomaniacs, an a cappella group, an ESL tutor and hopes to encourage peace-minded advocac y on campus. Contact her at ehjaber@wm.edu.
GAMES
CROSSWORD MAEVE MEYER FLAT HAT GAMES EDITOR VERTICAL
HORIZONTAL
1. Presidential Protest 3. Weekend goal 4. Somber kind of party 6. Close companion 7. SJP remembrance 13. Speedy study 14. Serpentine sound 18. Holiday head 20. Freeway gateway 21. Administrator title 22.. Travelerʼs house 23. Element of charge 25. Accredited in Business
2. Singular dorm 5. Fictional giant 8. Colorful carp 9. Student Staff 10. Laughter 12. Wyoming speaker 15. Dangling jewerly 16. Artistsʼs cloth 17. Exam emotion 19. Lowers (as lights) 21. Protested profession firing 24. Criminal justice teachers 26. Potassium plant 27. Storage capsule 28. Syrup source
Check our instagram, @theflathat for the solutions!
COURTESY IMAGE / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
YouTube is one of the largest social media platforms on the planet, and many people, including many students on the campus of the College of William and Mary, use the platform for everything from education to entertainment to even content creation. And in spite of the vast trust many have placed in YouTube to be a reliable service, the platform is plagued with issues stemming from ens—tification, a term coined by Cory Doctorow to describe the gradual decline in quality of services on a platform to better serve the interests of shareholders and maximize profit. These issues are plentiful and directly harmful to online content creators, as well as indirectly harmful to consumers of YouTube content. In regard to content creators, channels on YouTube, especially those pertaining to anime, such as cawcawTV, have been subject to hundreds of strikes within a short period of time from automated systems and malicious actors abusing the copyright system. This phenomenon generally hits smaller channels harder, with little ability to reverse strikes or restore monetization due to the also-automated nature of YouTube’s appeals system. Leading to another point of contention for YouTube, demonetization has become another particular problem for YouTubers. More channels have seen either some or all ad revenue for their videos disabled, including PhantomStrider. A channel with over 730,000 subscribers specializing in discussing animation, PhantomStrider had his entire catalog demonetized (although it has since been restored) due to a video discussing “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood” being flagged as “misleading family content,” despite the video not being spe-
cifically targeted to children. With this channel being relatively well known, not even larger channels are necessarily safe from this kind of demonetization, with smaller channels standing less of a chance given their smaller influence. As previously stated, there has been an uptick in the growth of bad actors that seek to exploit the algorithm for monetary growth. In particular, content farms, which produce a large amount of content and use keywords and algorithms to ensure high placement on social media platforms or search engines, have become especially common. Content farms push out low-quality content that predominantly targets children, incorporating media from games like “Poppy Playtime” and “Minecraft.” Their generally nonsensical storylines and mindless entertainment, as well as the abundant use of generative AI to create such videos, tarnish the reputations of media featured in content farms and risks the development of the young children consuming this media by exposing them to violent, disturbing or even sexual material that would get smaller channels wiped off the platform. However, these violations are excused for low-quality slop that attracts millions of subscribers and thousands of dollars in ad revenue. Finally, relating to generative AI, YouTube as a platform has been increasingly embracing the usage of AI for almost every system and service, from video creation to automation. As alluded to before, moderation, especially regarding copyright material, is largely automated. This places an unfair disadvantage on smaller creators who have to work
harder to convince algorithmic systems trained on keywords and other metadata that their content is suitable for the platform. Furthermore, moderation focuses on smaller issues, like specific content in videos like in the case of PhantomStrider, while larger issues like sexualized kids’ content and other content that violates terms of service guidelines are ignored due to the limitations of automated moderation. Other areas where YouTube has embraced AI include auto-dubbing, brain rot games with heavy assistance from generative AI and more recently A/B testing for videos, thumbnails and titles. Overall, YouTube has become a much more hostile platform t owa rd s c re at o r s t ha n e ve r before, and while the vast majority of students at the College only engage with the platform as viewers and not active creators, this ens—tification will negatively impact the student community. Some students are content creators and will face greater hardships as a result of these changes, including a recent view ership change to adopt an exposure-based model similar to short-form platforms like TikTok. View numbers for long-form content now double due to views now counting from the first frame. Meanwhile, casual viewers among the student community will likely be recommended fewer smaller channels with authentic content and more larger channels that churn out slop that has no rightful place on YouTube. Geronimo Ritcheson ’29 is a freshman eyeing a major for government or public policy. He’s involved in various organizations such as William and Mary Young Democrats, Theodore Roosevelt Society and Apologetics Club. Contact him at gritcheson@wm.eduwm.edu.
THE FLAT HAT
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
STAFF COLUMN
Walkability: What could be
Page 6
STAFF COLUMN
Boss Trump: Recreating the political machine
MICHAEL GABRIEL
CARSON BURCH
FLAT HAT OPINIONS EDITOR
FLAT HAT OPINIONS ASSOC.
MONA GARIMELLA / THE FLAT HAT
When I got to campus as a freshman, walking came naturally. I grew up in Brooklyn, New York, so I could walk to the park, the grocery store, my friends’ places, church, etc. Walking to and from the dining hall and classes felt about the same. College campuses really are great in terms of their walkability, but outside of them and some of the nation’s larger cities, the walkable city or town is somewhat nonexistent. Even in really urban places like Brooklyn, cars still tend to dominate. Now for what it’s worth, Williamsburg is pretty walkable, especially when you realize that most of the city is made up of our campus and Colonial Williamsburg, but I can’t help but imagine what it could look like if we put a greater emphasis on walkability. Williamsburg is also home to so many local businesses (especially if you’re into pancake houses), which is great, but you really do need a car if you want to explore them all. Merchants Square at the start of Duke of Gloucester Street, while tourist-centered in nature, speaks to the benefits of walkable areas. There is a mix of storefronts, restaurants and community spaces all within close proximity to one another. Yeah, you may not be looking to buy a Christmas ornament in April or a Scottish kilt for your student org’s formal, but it’s possible (there really are some random stores there). Now, imagine if some of those more high-end and niche businesses were replaced or supplemented by ones catered towards students and members of the greater Williamsburg community, rather than tourists? Imagine too that that sort of urban planning scheme extended down Richmond Road and Jamestown Road and up the random side streets. The farmers market and Second Sunday both set up shop in those side streets of Williamsburg, drawing huge crowds of tourists, students and locals alike. Yes, part of the reason they’re so well attended is the novelty of outdoor street fairs. People choose to take time out of their weekends to make the trip to Williamsburg just for that reason. If we were to have more year-round businesses in this area, we’d need more foot traffic to support them, and in order to have more foot traffic, we would need more people to live here. The Midtown apartment complex in particular does a good job incorporating apartment housing with businesses, allowing its
residents, largely students, to be able to just walk downstairs and pick up some food or take a quick walk over to the adjacent shopping centers. The issue is that it is a little bit of a trek from campus, so many students still rely on their cars to get to class in a timely manner. It is also just more convenient to drive. I believe that the perfect combination would be to have more storefronts right off campus with apartment housing above and behind. Of course, it should be tasteful, fitting in with the architecture of the surrounding areas. There are already examples of this here in Williamsburg. Following Prince George Street from Armstead Avenue to North Henry Street, you’ll see multiple restaurants and stores with apartments above. The Aromas café and Oishii sushi restaurant, both located on this stretch, are popular establishments among students and locals alike. They are also extremely accessible to the College of William and Mary’s underclassmen who don’t have cars to drive to the places off campus. They are also more than convenient for the people who live upstairs. The College itself has also made an attempt at replicating this format with Tribe Square, which opened in 2011 with space for four restaurants and housing for 56 students. Today there is just the Chick-fil-A and the William and Mary Entrepreneurship Hub, but the bones are there. Now, I’m not saying we should start building modern high-rises and turn Williamsburg into a metropolitan city. That would mess up the whole character of the city and would probably send a colonial reenactor into shock. However, I do think there’s something to the tree-lined main streets, packed with bustling storefronts and people living their lives. This whole line of thinking has just been a thought experiment. We are really fortunate to go to school in such a unique environment that encourages us all to walk and explore. At the end of the day, I guess any place is walkable. It just depends on how far you’re willing to walk.
Michael Gabriel ’28 is a history major. Besides writing and editing opinion pieces, he contributes an issue of his Willy and Mary comic almost every edition. He is a big baseball fan, likes the outdoors and is always happy to talk to anyone about anything. Contact him at mdgabriel@wm.edu.
COMIC
Willy & Mary #22 COMIC BY MICHAEL GABRIEL / THE FLAT HAT
GRAPHIC BY MICHAEL GABRIEL / THE FLAT HAT
In the 10 years that Donald Trump has monopolized American political culture, much ink has been spilled trying to put his activities and the state of our nation in a historical context (a trend which I myself have contributed to). However, there is one way to make at least partial sense of his presidency I feel has not yet been explored: machine politics. For those who have not studied Gilded Age politics or taken Political Parties with professor John McGlennon at the College of William and Mary, a big influence on the political system in the 19th and early 20th centuries were political machines, or networks of special interest groups and political officials that worked together to benefit themselves through the political process. The most famous was undeniably Tammany Hall, which, under the leadership of men like Boss Tweed, worked to assure Democratic dominance in New York City by courting the votes of non Anglo-Saxon whites. This form of political organization was not unique to the Big Apple, however. Virginia was once under the thumb of a machine known as the Byrd Organization, and Richard Daley in Chicago had his own operation until his death in 1976. Although the most famous were Democratic organizations, Republicans made use of political machines as well: former President Chester Arthur rose to prominence in the GOP through his role in New York Sen. Roscoe Conkling’s operation. One notable similarity between Trump and a machine boss is the love of patronage in the civil service. In the 19th century, most government jobs were subject to
at-will employment, and the winning party would often dispense jobs to cronies. This “spoils system” defined politics at the time to a level unimaginable today. Former President James Garfield was even assassinated for refusing to hire a man who felt owed a federal job after working as a speechwriter during the 1880 campaign. Afterwards, the idea of civil service reform caught on, and the bureaucracy was increasingly run by professionals chosen for merit rather than their partisan loyalties. It’s hard to not see an attempt to undo this reform in the Trump administration’s actions, such as efforts to fire civil servants and make them more subject to at-will employment. In replacing these workers, the administration has made personal loyalty a key aspect of obtaining employment in the government, just as machines prioritized party affiliation above all else. Using the government itself to assist in campaigning is also classic machine politics. Many machines required government employees to contribute their salaries, funded by taxpayers, or their time to campaign activities. Trump has done something similarly outrageous by using public money for campaign ads. This almost certainly violates federal laws which emerged partially to stop machines from abusing New Deal agencies, but Trump did it anyway, showing a plain contempt for good government. Another key aspect of machine politics was borderline electoral bribery. Tammany often provided Irish-Americans with social support and jobs in return for their votes in election season. Trump’s
promise to write a $5,000 check to all Americans if his party wins in November is something Boss Tweed would have probably regarded as a brilliant campaign strategy, as it similarly serves as a financial inducement to encourage a particular form of voting behavior. The use of government to enrich both oneself and aligned special interests was also a key machine tactic we see replicated today. A big part of political machines was construction firms, which received grossly inflated contracts for public works projects in return for providing employment to loyal voters and contributing to campaigns, as well as land speculators who engaged in insider trading on property (one Tammany official even described this activity as “honest graft”). Similarly, southern machine leaders like Virginia Sen. Thomas Staples Martin relied heavily on clientelistic relationships with railroads. In today’s world, public office sure has been profitable for Trump and his associates: The Trump family has made billions of dollars since the 2024 election. Allies of Trump have also made a lot of money, with contracts for vanity projects such as the botched Reflecting Pool renovation conveniently going to Trump donors. I doubt that Trump consciously set out to recreate Tammany Hall, mostly because it would require him to read books (a thing he is notoriously averse to doing). But I do think the political behaviors of his administration have resulted in him recreating the machine model as if by convergent evolution due to the opportunities for power and wealth it provides. Regardless of how exactly Trump settled on this method, the consequences will be very bad. If you think the government is corrupt now, imagine how much worse it could be when partisan affiliation is the main basis for federal employment and politicians openly bribing voters for support is normalized. The only thing that can stop it is for us, as citizens, to refuse to fall for these tactics and not let our votes be bought. I hope we can find the strength to keep going forward rather than “Make America Great Again” by reverting to an old form of corruption.
Carson Burch ’27 is a government major from Chesapeake, Virginia. He is a member of the History Club, Public Policy Club, Lutheran Students’ Association and Theodore Roosevelt Society. Outside of his studies and social life, he enjoys reading about historical and current events in addition to dinosaurs. Contact him at ceburch@wm.edu.
variety
Variety Editor DevYani Thakare Variety Editor Emma Beelner flathat.variety@gmail.com // @theflathat
THE FLAT HAT | Wednesday, October 21, 2026 | Page 7
‘Waves of Unity’
Muslim Student Association hosts annual Charity Banquet, raises money for those in distress ASIRA ABUAGEEL // THE FLAT HAT
CAROLYN REID / THE FLAT HAT
Every fall, the College of William and Mary’s Muslim Student Association partakes in Charity Week, a fundraising campaign to support children in need across the globe. The Charity Banquet concludes a week of fundraising with food, student speakers and live performances. “We’ve been fundraising for countries around the world in need including orphans and water efforts in countries like Africa and Asia,” MSA co-president Safaa Taraouat ’28 said. “The purpose is just made to unite and come together for these people in need and just to raise money for those efforts. In Islam, our faith, it’s very important to give charity.” This year’s theme is “Waves of Unity,” emphasizing a mission to unite the Muslim community through charity. “One of our five pillars of Islam is zakat, which means charity,” co-president Aleezay Malik ’27 said. “It’s the obligation of every Muslim to partake in charity at one point in their life. And not only that, but as Muslims, we should be conscious about helping people in need whenever we can because we live a very fortunate life, alhamdulillah. We go to school, a very expensive school in the United States. So just being conscious of how other people are living and helping them out any way we can.” The donations from the week’s events and the Charity Banquet will be allocated to countries across the globe. “The money will be donated through Islamic Relief,” Taraouat said. “Islamic Relief goes to countries in South Asia and Africa, Palestine, just countries in need, whether that be relief efforts or clean water efforts.” The crises across the Middle East — specifically Palestine and Sudan — played a huge role in impacting attendees. Lema Suleiman ’29, a Palestinian member of MSA, attended this event not only for the social aspect, but also to show solidarity. “The crisis in Palestine and Sudan definitely influenced my
decision to attend the MSA Charity Banquet,” she said. “It is important that people contribute as much as they can to support the people going through many injustices. Especially as a Palestinian, it is vital to me to stand up and show out for those communities.” The Charity Banquet welcomes people of all backgrounds to eat, listen and socialize. Muslim or not, the doors are open to everyone. “It’s open to the entire William and Mary community just to get involved,” Taraouat said. “We encourage everybody, no matter your background, affiliation, just to get involved.” Israt Farah ’27, an attendee at the banquet, touched on the diversity at the event. “It wasn’t just Muslim people here today, or Middle Eastern people,” she said. Though not a member of MSA, Braeden Dobson ’28 attended the Charity Banquet to learn more about the community. “You can get to learn about people, their customs, their culture, a different way of thinking,” Dobson said. For many MSA members, on the other hand, the event helped them feel more connected to students with shared and diverse backgrounds.
Although the banquet was officially hosted by MSA, the event involved many other student organizations. Members from Students for Justice in Palestine, Middle Eastern Student Association and African Cultural Society each gave speeches. “The speeches made me feel empowered and hopeful,” Suleiman said. “It was an important reminder that I can support the communities going through crises even if I’m far away.” In addition to the speeches, the event showcased performances from the Middle Eastern Music Ensemble. Farah came to the event to support a friend who is in the ensemble. “My favorite part about this event was definitely hanging out with my friends and seeing everyone have fun together, taking pictures, food,” she said. The ensemble’s performance began with a famous song of which they performed three linguistic versions: Turkish, Arabic and Greek. “I liked listening to the music, especially the first song that the Middle Eastern Music Ensemble played where it showed how the song sort of traveled through the different nations and different languages, and it was pretty interesting to hear each culture’s rendition of the song,” Dobson said. For some Middle Eastern attendees, the ensemble’s performance transported them back home. Suleiman, who lived in Palestine, especially felt this connection. “The music performance made me feel at home,” said Suleiman. “The instrumental tunes and vocals reminded me of the music my family would play in the mornings back in Palestine.” The mission of this banquet, according to co-presidents Taraouat and Malik, was to leave attendees with a feeling of gratitude and generosity. Taraouat elaborated what she hoped attendees would take away. “Always give back when you can,” Taraouat said. “To be grateful for the things that they do have and be conscious of those who aren’t as privileged as you, and just making sure to give back to communities in need.”
CAROLYN REID / THE FLAT HAT
“The MSA Charity Banquet makes me feel hopeful seeing so many people from different backgrounds join together to support an important cause,” Suleiman said. “It connects me to the Muslim community because it is our duty as Muslims to be the voice of the Ummah that’s hurting. Seeing other Muslims uniting together for that duty brought me closer to them and Islam.” This event provides an opportunity to spread awareness regarding Islamic culture. “Some people, when they’re ignorant of other people’s cultures, they fear it,” Dobson said. “And when you get rid of ignorance, you get rid of fear and hate and all that.”
CAROLYN REID / THE FLAT HAT
Reel Talk: ‘You Can See Everything’ Fielder, Oppenheim documentary provides look into Elizabeth Holmesʼ post-Theranos world NEHA BASKAR, LIAM GLAVIN AND NAMAN MISHRA // THE FLAT HAT “You Can See Everything” is a three-hour, genre-bending documentary directed by Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim. It follows Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes and her partner, Billy Evans, starting 34 days before Holmes begins an 11-year federal prison sentence. Holmes founded Theranos, a health technology company, in 2003 as a 19-yearold Stanford dropout. Holmes, along with her 38-year-old business partner and boyfriend Sunny Balwani, built the company around a medical device that claimed to be able to run over 1,000 tests on just a few drops of blood. In reality, the machine ran only 12 tests, and the results were riddled with errors. Investors and venture capitalists, unaware that the company was a scam, poured over $700 million into Theranos. At its peak, the company was valued at $9 billion. Holmes became the youngest female self-made billionaire in history. In 2015, it all came crashing down. Whistleblowers raised concerns about the company’s technology, leading to Theranos’ collapse and federal fraud convictions for Holmes and Balwani. Holmes completely stopped speaking to the media in 2016 — until now. Nathan Fielder is an unlikely candidate to document the life of Elizabeth Holmes. Why would one of the most elusive entrepreneurs of all time pick a man known for creating poop-flavored frozen yogurt to tell her story? But it is exactly this absurdity that makes him perfect for the job. Just as Fielder maintains a deadpan facade in his docu-comedy shows “Nathan for You” and “The Rehearsal,” Holmes, too, never breaks character, maintaining that she is completely innocent throughout the film. At one point, she claims that she has never told a lie in her life, leaving Fielder incredulous. They make an odd pair: two people playing characters in a piece that presents itself as honest, vulnerable nonfiction. From the film’s opening moments, cinematographer David Bolen creates an uncomfortable intimacy between the audience and the film’s subjects. Claustrophobic tightness
frames nearly every scene. Far too close-up angles show every pore and crease; to maintain this proximity, the camera moves frantically, rarely allowing a moment of ease as it obsessively tracks its subject. Even in wider compositions, the shots are always crowded by walls and objects, trapping the viewer and forcing their attention inwards. Bolen’s cinematography suggests familiarity between the viewer and Holmes. Why would she deceive us — or, as she says, how could she
in a never-ending staircase. The energy climbs but does not peak, rarely providing a moment of satisfaction where the viewer can revel in what they have seen. Even when a scene seems to climax, the score pushes forward, implying that there is something yet to be revealed (even if we never find out what that thing is). Balouzian’s compositions feel more wellsuited to horror, and they can make a simple shot of Holmes’ family on the beach feel just
deceive us when we’re watching her from inches away? But the closeness doesn’t convince us that she’s being honest; even as we see tears welling up in her eyes, something feels inauthentic. Gradually, we no longer feel like guests invited into Holmes’ life. Instead, we feel stuck, and the walls around everything we can see begin to draw our attention to everything we cannot see. The film’s score, composed by Ari Balouzian, is just as anxiety-inducing. The piano pounds rhythmically, and chords build on themselves
as disturbing as anything from “The Exorcist.” The film will make you question what you think you know about Holmes. Is she a delusional visionary who genuinely believes in Theranos? Or is she a pathological liar and manipulator obsessed with power and influence? You also begin to doubt Fielder’s reliability as a narrator. You wonder whether he is being truthful or bending the narrative to protect Holmes — someone he clearly comes to care about. Fielder changes impressions and
COURTESY IMAGE / STUART ISETT
interpretations retroactively, spiraling internally, seemingly Stockholm-syndromed by his subject. Fielder’s self-doubt in his narration creates unease within the viewer: If he doesn’t believe himself, how can we believe anything? Fielder approaches conversations with Holmes and Evans in an awkwardly disarming way, weaponizing something he has mastered in his other works: silence. The documentary comprises scenes of Fielder and Holmes staring into each others’ eyes, waiting for one of the two to speak, to admit, to probe or to elaborate. Holmes’ fierce, doe-eyed, unblinking, blue gaze creates an indecipherable front. This impenetrability extends to Holmes’ relationship with her partner, Evans, who opens the film. The couple met in 2017 after Theranos was exposed as a fraud; Evans claims that he fell in love at first sight despite knowing about Holmes’ professional history. The two trust each other to the point that it is unclear whether one party is manipulating the other. Was Evans duped by Holmes’ charade of innocence, or is Evans taking advantage of Holmes’ notoriety to further his own agenda? We found this to be one of the most compelling components of the documentary. While Evans described his relationship with Holmes, the three of us were literally at the edge of our seats, leaning forward, mouths agape. For a three-hour-long documentary, “You Can See Everything” doesn’t resolve much. We were left with more questions than answers, not knowing what to believe or who to trust. In an initial interview, Fielder himself tells Holmes that the evidence points overwhelmingly towards her guilt. In spite of this, we found ourselves wanting to believe her. After days of thinking and talking about this movie, we still disagree about her character. One has to wonder what Holmes’ intentions were in pursuing this documentary. Is she reclaiming a narrative? Proving her innocence? Is she just narcissistic? We can’t say. We didn’t see everything.
THE FLAT HAT
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Page 8
Tolstoy me et s to b a c c o
Theatre and performance department stages production of ʻAnna in the Tropicsʼ MAYA SAKAI-CHEN // FLAT HAT VARIETY ASSOC
Thursday, Oct. 15 to Sunday, Oct. 18 in Phi Beta Kappa Memorial Hall’s Studio Theatre, the College of William and Mary’s theatre and performance department put on the play “Anna in the Tropics” in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. The show featured slow, syncopated rhythm and brass in its opening score that transported audiences back to the world of one 1920s Cuban immigrant family’s life in Tampa, Florida and their cigar rolling factory. Cynthia Santos DeCure, a former associate professor at Yale’s David Geffen School of Drama and an expert in Latine theatre and dialect work, served as guest director for the play. DeCure said she always begins the creative process with a playlist to step into the imaginative world. DeCure used extensive character, physicality and dialect work to create the world of “Anna in the Tropics.” She said she would always start rehearsals with a warm up to help students embody their characters.
Preparation included table work where actors did text analysis, searching for subtleties compared to what’s literal on the page. Amanda Sobrado ’27, a theatre and performance major who played the eldest daughter Conchita, highlighted how important it was that her physicality be accurate to the time period. “Physicality is how you carry yourself when you are in character. My posture has to be completely up the whole time,” she said. “There are certain ways where I can conduct my hand movements or ways that I can talk and walk that would be in period and not in period. It’s a completely separate physical language.” Not only was physicality important, but dialect and linguistic identities were a key element of stepping into the characters. DeCure’s approach was to work with each actor’s linguistic identity and develop their dialects to be most natural for them. “It allows each actor to not just put on some sound shifts, but find a
COURTESTY IMAGES // CONOR FARAH
nuance and rhythm. And once you find that grounding architectural rhythm of your character, it’s like you find that character’s soul,” she said. This rhythm starts with understanding the difference between Spanish and English, as well as the Cuban English dialect. “Spanish is a syllable time, where all of the syllables have something closer to equal weight. On the other hand, English is a stress time. You usually have a single stressed syllable, or a phonological peak of a sound in each word. The Cuban English dialect has a richness in pitch, and sentences end in the pitch going up,” DeCure said. The play’s central family hand rolls their cigars, a tradition and practice that is characterized by a romantic, slower-paced work ethic. Cigars have a spiritual significance in Cuban culture, and hand rolling them is a craft brought over from the home country. DeCure discussed how cigars represent tradition. “What are those things that are important to us, that we want passed up to our children, that are meaningful to us?” she said. “I think when families have to leave their home country and are living in exile or as migrants or immigrants, you’re trying to bring a little piece of home with you. And why do we hold on to it? Families need tradition, music, food and reminders of how we grew up.” As workers roll cigars, the lector, traditionally well-dressed and wellspoken, reads books such as “Anna Karenina” to educate and entertain the workers. While the owner’s half brother, Che Che pushes to modernize the factory, the family opposes modernization because it would replace their roles with machines and there would be no need for a lector. Kiran Behr ’27, a government major who played Palomo, Conchita’s husband, read about machismo culture from the time and took a class on “Anna in the Tropics” in order to create his macho, jealous and suave character. Behr emphasized the importance
of Palomo’s characterization shifts throughout the play. In the first act, Palomo is having an affair and is fed off of Conchita’s jealousy. Then, in the second act, the roles flip and he is the one ridden with jealousy as he interrogates Conchita. He is not only jealous but curious of what she does with the factory’s new lector, Juan Julián. “He says, ‘show me.’ And it’s not an act of aggression; he says that, it’s truly curiosity. And that’s when he becomes willing to drop this façade of the macho man,” Behr said. “He is willing to step into the shoes of someone who wants to learn from his partner. He goes from being someone who’s concerned about his image to being concerned about pleasing his partner and to be better.” Sobrado underscored how Conchita’s sexual liberation leads to more confidence and power for her character. “She has a lot of scenes that are intimate with other people. Creating that enjoyment and pleasure has been her biggest goal: trying to show her as a strong woman who is doing something she likes for herself,” she said. Behr also explained how the conflict between two opposing characters symbolizes relevant issues in the present day. Che Che represents mechanization, while Juan Julián represents intellect, art and knowledge. “Those machines, to me, just represent lack of care,” Behr said. “It takes away the art from, in this case, cigar rolling, which is a beautiful art form because of the care that is taken by the craftsman. You can make the connection that a lot of culture and the care and beauty has been stripped away by mechanization and AI.” The play’s last scene showed a behavior change in Palomo again, as he steps up to the lector’s chair
to finish reading “Anna Karenina” after C h e C h e sho ots and kills Juan Julián. “In my mind, Palomo, though he really despises Juan Julián, also idolized him,” Behr said. “He also wants to be sophisticated like him. He absorbed his influence and wanted to step up in a way that Juan Julián did.” When Palomo goes to read “Anna Karenina,” the play leaves the audience wondering how Palomo and Conchita’s marriage will end up, and what Palomo had been meaning to tell his wife. DeCure hoped audiences would leave with the central themes of modernization and the power of literature. “Our most prevalent questions have to do with modernity: what do we hold on to? Do we hold onto old systems because this is what we know, or do we adapt to new technology? And I think we’re grappling with that right now,” DeCure said. “It’s also the power of literature. The spoken word has the power to transform human beings, and when we really allow ourselves to learn from history, to learn from literature, to learn from different languages and dialects from across the globe, then so many things can happen.”
Tradition you can t aste FASA holds annual Kamayan event in honor of Filipino American History Month TESSA DARKE // FLAT HAT VARIETY ASSOC.
COURTESTY IMAGE // ERIN JOYA
Sunday, Oct. 18, the College of William and Mary’s Filipino American Student Association hosted its annual Kamayan event in celebration of Filipino American History Month. Attendees enjoyed a tinikling performance, a Filipino folk dance. FASA also served traditional Filipino foods placed on banana leaves that were eaten by hand, providing a taste of important elements of Filipino culture. Kamayan derives its name from ”kamay,” the Tagalog word for hand, and refers to a tradition of eating by hand. Caitlin Samella ’29, FASA’s external director and the lead organizer this year, said the club always holds the event on October 18 to commemorate the date Filipinos first arrived in the United
States. “Kamayan is a big community feast, and it’s supposed to bring people together; it’s supposed to encourage conversation and connection,” she said. For Samella, the meal acts as a trip home. “When I go back to the Philippines, that’s exactly what it’s like for me,” she said. Not every member grew up with the tradition, though. Jordan Ignacio ’28, FASA’s internal director, shared that although both her parents are Filipino, she has not yet traveled to the Philippines, and events like these help her feel connected to her heritage. “It brings us back to all of our roots, and it connects us all in a really deep way,” she said. The menu featured traditional foods such as chicken adobo, rice, vegetable pancit, vegetable lumpia, pork lumpia, corn and sweet tea. Almost every item was homemade by a member this year, and each of these dishes carried stories for the students who cooked it. For Samella, it was adobo. She shared that, although her mother grew up in the Philippines, she never learned how to cook. After moving to the United States, though, adobo became a trusted remedy whenever her mother felt homesick. “My favorite memories are her calling her mom from the Philippines and just us trying to figure out how to cook it together, the phone lagging and everyone trying to figure out how to cook adobo,” Samella said. Meanwhile, Ignacio prepared the pancit. Watching the stir-
fried noodle dish come together while cooking took her back to cherished childhood memories and family parties. “My parents loved to host a family party, so I would always come down, and they would make me help them chop up the food,” she said. “It tied in a piece of my heart from my childhood.” For Kayly Jacobs ’27, FASA’s culture chair, it was lumpia. Her mother taught her how to properly roll lumpia, and, as the oldest of four, she was tasked with passing this knowledge on to her three younger brothers. She harnessed these skills this year when it came time to teach fellow members. “It just reminds me of home and just being around my siblings and my mom,” she said. “It was really nice and sweet to teach other people how to do it too, because I felt the maternal love.” The Kamayan event had been months in the making: Samella reached out to two prior external directors over the summer to ensure that she could hit the ground running with planning as soon as she returned to campus this fall. She planned the menu first, then broke it down into an ingredient list for each dish. In past years, the event has leaned on catering for a helping hand. However, Samella envisioned something more handson and an opportunity for each FASA member to get involved. She organized a cooking day to prepare dishes for the event. The event enjoyed a full turnout, which Samella said reflected the work of the whole executive board. “We have a really good exec team.
PR was very on top of promoting it,” she said. For many members, Kamayan is one of the many events that represent what they love most about FASA: belonging and community. Several described joining the organization at moments when they otherwise felt out of place on campus. Jacobs, a spring transfer, nearly stayed away from the group. “I was afraid at first to join the org because I did have this mindset that I wasn’t Filipino enough, but FASA really is so welcoming to everyone, and it is really just a second home to explore my culture,” she said. For Ignacio, not speaking Tagalog used to also make her feel out of place. Since coming to the College and joining FASA, however, she has noticed a shift. “I grew up very in touch with my culture, but also there were a lot of different smaller traditions and things that my parents didn’t necessarily teach me, and I just didn’t have as much exposure to when I was growing up,” she said. “I think being here shows that there are so many different ways to be Filipino.” Samella, also a spring transfer, said she arrived at the College knowing only her roommate. FASA gave her a chance to create new connections and a greater sense of belonging. “FASA was my first point to go to,” she said. “As soon as I got here, I wanted to join FASA, and it really, I think, made William and Mary feel like a home.” Kamayan’s organizers stressed that the invitation for any FASA
event extends well beyond the club, particularly for newcomers. “We’re not an exclusive club, so I want people to know that they can be welcomed into this area, and our culture as well,” Jacobs said. Jacobs also shared her joy in seeing her own American relatives learn about her Filipino culture by attending FASA’s events. “I love seeing them explore it and seeing them try what they’re not used to,” she said. Kamayan marks one of many events FASA is sponsoring this month for Filipino American History Month. Others include a folklore night about Filipino creatures, a Masskara Festival craft night and Isang Kwento (which translates to “one story”), which is a talent show of dance and poetry. Additionally, club historian Erin Joya ’29 curated an exhibit on FASA’s history, which will be on display in Swem Library through mid-November. Students who are interested in FASA can follow them on Instagram @wmfasa or attend monthly general body meetings. Ignacio also hosts game and karaoke nights to promote casual involvement. “People can just pop in, even if it’s for thirty minutes or less, just to see what’s going on,” she said. Samella shared her hope that people’s biggest takeaway from the event would be as simple as an opportunity to explore and try new things, which other members echoed. “Being Filipino means community,” she said. And Filipino or not, FASA is excited to welcome you into theirs.
sports
THE FLAT HAT | Wednesday, October 21, 2025 | Page 9
GOLF
William and Mary golf teams record mixed results
Men, women finish fourth, tied-13th at respective tournaments NATE ROSS FLAT HAT COPY CHIEF
Friday, Oct. 9, Saturday, Oct. 10, Monday, Oct. 13 and Tuesday, Oct. 14, William and Mary men’s and women’s golf found mixed success across two tournaments in Virginia and Pennsylvania. Women’s golf fell short at the Evie Odom Invitational at Princess Anne Country Club in Virginia Beach, Va., finishing tied-13th in a 14-team field. Men’s golf, competing in the West Virginia Nemacolin College Invitational at Mystic Rock Golf Club in Farmington, Pa. took home fourth in a 16-team field. The first round of the Evie Odom Invitational ended with a 303 (+23) finish for the Tribe, with two 74 (+4) scorecards by junior Jennifer Osborne and sophomore Reagan Garnsey and a pair of 75 (+5) finishes for freshmen Abigail Avallone and Srihitha Mandava. The second round saw the Tribe bounce back, carding an impressive 291 (+11), helped in large part by a 68 (-2) from
Mandava and a 69 (-1) finish by Avallone. Garnsey and sophomore Lily Reed Black both recorded a 76 (+6), while Osborne carded a 78 (+8). The final round ended with a reversal of the Tribe’s momentum, with the team scoring a 308 (+28) to finish the invitational. Avallone ended the tournament with a 75 (+5) to achieve a 219 (+9), tying for 35th individually. Mandava also finished in the top 40, with a 220 (+10) finish that put her tied for 39th. Osborne recorded a 226 (+16), earning her an individual placing of 63rd, while Garnsey carded a 228 (+18) for the tournament, placing her tied for 65th. Black finished 237 (+27), 74th individually, for the tournament, while senior Faith Garcia ended tied for 77th with a 243 (+33). The Tribe men got off to a quick start at the West Virginia Nemacolin College Invitational, recording a 293 (+5). Seniors Preston Burton and Luke Walmet and freshman Whitty Richardson led the team with a 71 (-1), 73 (+1) and 74 (+2), respectively.
The second round brought another 293 (+5) scorecard for the Tribe. Sophomore Talon Dingledine scored an impressive 68 (-4) for the round, while Burton and Richardson recorded a pair of 74 (+2). The Tribe’s momentum continued into the final round, and the team finished with an impressive 284 (-4). This gave William and Mary an 870 (+6) and solo fourth place. Burton, who carded another below-par round of 69 (-3), finished with a 214 (-2) and tied for sixth individually. Both Richardson and Dingledine recorded a 54-hole total of 217 (+1), earning 11th-place finishes. Sophomore Eli Felty scored a 225 (+9) for the tournament and tied for 41st individually, while Walmet finished 228 (+12) and tied for 58th individually. Both teams returned to action Monday, Oct. 19, with the women competing in the two-day, 36-hole Spider Invitational at Independence Golf Course in Midlothian, Va. The men traveled south for the three-day, 54-hole Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate at Blackthorn Golf Club in Jonesborough, Tenn.
FOOTBALL
Tribe football braces for end-of-season stretch
Head coach Mike London emphasizes teamʼs keys to success JACOB TOBMAN FLAT HAT SPORTS EDITOR
Seven games into its 2026 campaign, William and Mary (3-4, 1-3 Patriot) finds itself in a precarious position. After a strong start with back-to-back wins over Villanova (3-4, 2-2 Patriot) and Delaware State (4-3), the Tribe climbed into the top 20 of the Football Championship Subdivision coaches poll. What followed, however, was a steep fourgame slump, with each loss coming by 20 points or more. The downward spiral culminated in a players-only meeting following a 41-14 loss to Holy Cross (2-5, 2-2 Patriot) — a streak finally snapped by a narrow 17-14 win against North Carolina Central (2-5) Saturday, Oct. 10. While head coach Mike London has consistently taken responsibility for the team’s struggles, injuries have undeniably defined the Tribe’s season. William and Mary entered the 2026 campaign needing to replace over 1,600 rushing yards between junior quarterback Tyler Hughes and graduate student running back Rashad Raymond. Junior running back Andrew King and sophomore running back Jah’kei Chavis, both transfer portal additions, were tasked with filling that void. However, both players have battled persistent
injuries. King missed the Tribe’s game against Duke (4-2, 1-2 ACC), while Chavis has been limited to just four of seven games this season. The presence of both backfield threats in King and Chavis made a paramount difference against North Carolina Central. The Tribe’s running back duo combined for 112 rushing yards, well above the team’s season average of 94.7 yards per game. “We have got to make sure that both he [Chavis] and King have a chance to run that ball downhill because they have been a highly productive force,” London said. The Tribe has been equally depleted on the defensive side. Junior linebackers Harrison Johnson, Clayton Dobler and Stephon Hicks have missed a combined eight games, leaving noticeable gaps in the Tribe’s run defense. Through seven games, William and Mary ranks dead last in the Patriot League against the run, surrendering nearly 80 more rushing yards per game than ninth-place Fordham. While Johnson missed the trip to North Carolina Central, Dobler and Hicks returned to the lineup, helping hold the Eagles to just 14 points. With the Tribe surrendering more than 37 points per game, the continued availability of top defensive players will be crucial to stringing together wins in the Patriot League. Regardless, injuries have also opened the
door for freshmen to make an immediate impact across the roster. Two of the Tribe’s three leading wide receivers this season are freshmen, with Khylil Johnson and Luke Vanantwerp becoming top targets for junior quarterback Winston Watkins. On defense, freshman defensive back Cade Ellis has recorded two interceptions and 2.5 tackles for loss. “There’s so many different things that these young players bring to us that we are going to need, particularly going down the second half of the season,” London said. “They have gotten game reps now, so we will see how things continue to move forward for us.” Several freshmen have shown a knack for delivering in high-leverage moments. In the season opener against Villanova, Ellis sealed the game with a fourth-quarter interception, setting up the game-winning field goal. Against North Carolina Central, freshman safety Ryan Vail blocked a punt that was returned for a touchdown. The team’s potential midseason turnaround will also hinge heavily on quarterback play. While Watkins has shown flashes of brilliance, he has failed to consistently move the ball down the field. Watkins’ 59.87% completion percentage has led to many drives ending preemptively. The upcoming Homecoming game against
Georgetown (2-4, 2-2 Patriot) Saturday, Oct. 24 offers an ideal opportunity for Watkins to turn the corner. The Hoyas’ defense ranks third-last in the Patriot League, allowing an average of 245.7 yards per game.
LIZZIE NOWELL / THE FLAT HAT
Watkins has thrown eight touchdowns this season.
Menʼs soccer continues pursuit of postseason play MENʼS SOCCER
Freshman forward Brown Huffard records three goals in crucial two-game swing JACOB TOBMAN AND KATIE KILGALLEN THE FLAT HAT
the Tribe welcomed Navy for its penultimate nonconference match of the season. William and Mary took early control, dictating play deep inside the Midshipmen’s half of the field. Senior defender Evan Rabush proved pivotal in the opening stages, delivering several precise cross-field passes to set up the Tribe wingers in goal-scoring positions. Sophomore midfielder Beckham Harris frequently found space in the attack. In the 8th minute, Navy senior goalkeeper Dylan Carmody parried Harris’ attack before he slipped a clear-cut opportunity to freshman forward Brown Huffard. After weathering the Tribe’s fast start to the match, the visitors mounted a double-barreled threat in the 23rd minute. Junior midfielder
Duncan Sullivan, Navy’s leading scorer, unloaded two shots from deep within the penalty area that demanded emergency blocks With under two weeks remaining in its from the Tribe’s backline, including sophomore regular season campaign, William and Mary defender Damen Burney. men’s soccer is in the midst of a razor-tight “I was disappointed with conceding those race to secure a spot in the Coastal Athletic two chances,” head coach Chris Norris ’95 said. Association tournament. “When they got into our final third, they were The Tribe’s postseason push comes on the definitely dangerous.” heels of a 4-0 win against Navy (4-6-4, 2-3Just two minutes after nearly surrendering the 1 Patriot) Tuesday, Oct. 14 at Martin Family opening goal, William and Mary broke through. Stadium in Williamsburg, Va., followed by a Rabush fired from a distance, forcing a save from 1-1 draw against Charleston (7-3-4, 2-2-3 CAA) Carmody. However, the Navy goalkeeper failed Saturday, Oct. 17 at Ralph Lundy Field in Mount to clear the rebound, allowing an onrushing Pleasant, S.C. Huffard to bury the ball from close range. Fresh off a dominant 4-0 win against Howard “He has a striker’s mentality,” said Norris of (3-10-1, 1-3-1 Northeast) Thursday, Oct. 8, Huffard. “He is kind of sniffing around areas where the ball might fall.” Although the remaining 20 minutes of the first half yielded no further scoring, the Tribe firmly established its dominance, holding 61% possession and generating four shots on goal to Navy’s one. Despite its best defensive efforts before halftime, Navy failed to keep the floodgates closed in the second half. William and Mary doubled its lead in the 57th minute off a corner kick, allowing Harris to poke the ball in nearly standing on the goal line. Five minutes later, senior midfielder/forward Gabe Ruitenberg found Huffard unmarked in the Midshipmen box, with the latter heading the ball past Carmody to extend the Tribe’s lead to 3-0. “Heading is a little bit of a lost art, and for him to score that goal was exceptional,” Norris said. Huffard’s brace Tuesday night boosted his team-leading mark for the 2026 campaign to six goals. With the game firmly in hand, the Tribe attack reached the four-goal mark for the second ETHAN DE GUIA / THE FLAT HAT consecutive match. Sophomore forward Alex Sophomore defender Damen Burney made a crucial block in the first half when Navy came close to opening the score. Garrison evaded one Navy defender before
shooting past an outstretched Carmody in goal. With his team gearing up for a three-game road swing, Norris expressed confidence in his squad’s recent form. “We have been pretty efficient lately when it comes to clean sheets and scoring goals,” he said. The Tribe’s matchup against Charleston was the second this season between the two conference foes, with the Tribe securing a 2-0 home victory on the back of a strong secondhalf performance. Saturday afternoon, the Cougars came out firing on all cylinders, earning the first corner kick of the game less than two minutes into play. The Tribe struggled early against Charleston’s high press, but an intercepted pass quickly flipped the field, springing Huffard into a one-on-one breakaway against Cougars junior goalkeeper Marten Brink. While Charleston dictated tempo for much of the opening period, the Tribe gradually found its attacking rhythm. In the 24th minute, Charleston broke the deadlock when graduate student midfielder Arnau Ollé launched a powerful strike into the top-left corner from outside the box. The Tribe quickly rebounded, completing passes and building a strong push to the Cougars’ end. This yielded strong scoring chances without the ability to find the back of the net. In the 33rd minute, however, Huffard onetouched a cross from Harris. Huffard’s goal was his seventh of the season, marking a team high both in total and shot accuracy at 50%. After the break, the Tribe attack came out strong and pushed Charleston deeper into its own defensive half. However, the away team failed to find the back of the net, keeping the score at 1-1. William and Mary will return to action Saturday, Oct. 24 against Campbell (0-11-2, 0-6 CAA) at Eakes Athletic Complex in Buies Creek, N.C.
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THE FLAT HAT | Wednesday, October 21 , 2026 | Page 10
MENʼS BASKETBALL
Tribe menʼs basketball looks ahead to start of season
Head coach Brian Earl welcomes 11 transfers, expresses optimism JACOB TOBMAN FLAT HAT SPORTS EDITOR
Following a season-ending 92-61 loss against Hofstra in the Coastal Athletic Association tournament quarterfinals, William and Mary men’s basketball returns to the court looking nothing like the team that left the floor in March. With roster turnover far beyond anything he faced in his first two offseasons at William and Mary, head coach Brian Earl must rely on a wave of newcomers to keep the Tribe’s momentum alive. Only two players return to the team that recorded 20 wins during its 2025-26 campaign: senior guard Ethan Connery and junior guard Colin Ndaw. To make Earl’s job harder, the pair combined for just 2.4% of the Tribe’s scoring average last season, with Ndaw appearing in four games and Connery missing the whole season due to injury. With over 80 points per game lost to graduation and the transfer portal, Earl and his staff turned almost entirely to transfers to complete the roster. Of the 13 newcomers, only freshman guard Nick Byrd and freshman guard/forward Chris Richards are arriving straight from high school. “Everything is sort of [like] speed dating when you are recruiting,” Earl said. “We are hoping we made some of the right choices.” Earl added he was not just chasing talent.
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McIntosh is one of 11 transfers recruited by Earl and his staff after last season.
“ Everything is sort of [like] speed dating when you are recruiting. -Head coach Brian Earl
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Flipping a roster on the court is hard enough, but building chemistry off it brings its own challenges. For Earl, however, it is not a cause for concern. “There is nothing like going out there and playing with friends and going through good times and bad times to get you closer,” he said. “They live together, they are around each other.” The nonconference slate features a marquee road test Sunday, Nov. 15, when the Tribe will travel to Ann Arbor, Mich. to face defending national champion Michigan. It is a tall task, but neither Earl nor Blassingame are backing down from the challenge. “The score will take care of itself, but I think our guys will be excited to go out there,” Earl said. In the preseason CAA poll released Thursday, Oct. 15, coaches selected the Tribe to finish sixth — matching its final standing from last season. Despite being picked in the upper half of the league, no William and Mary players were named to the Preseason All-CAA First, Second or Honorable Mention Teams. The Tribe opens the season at home Monday, Nov. 2 against Division III Bridgewater at Kaplan Arena in Williamsburg, Va.
“We do a lot of work to make sure we are bringing in the right caliber player but also [right] character kid to the university,” he said. Among the incoming transfers, graduate student guard Tre Blassingame brings a wealth of experience from his previous campaigns at Idaho and Fairleigh Dickinson. During his freshman year at Fairleigh Dickinson, Blassingame was part of the 16-seed Knights team that stunned top-seeded Purdue in the first round of the National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament. After entering the transfer portal again following his senior year at Idaho, Blassingame said William and Mary’s recent success made it an easy choice. “Based on the schools that I was talking to, William and Mary was a winning program,” he said. “Something I wanted to do with my last year was be in a position where we are actually going to win games.” Blassingame highlighted his new teammates and the program’s positive energy. “It is a bunch of high-character dudes who do not have a lot of ego, who want to win,” he said. Sophomore guard Jesse McIntosh also brings experience after representing Australia at the U-18 level internationally. A major obstacle for Earl is teaching a new group his fastpaced playing style. Earl said he feels his team has been quick to learn up to this point in practice. For Blassingame, that high-tempo pace of play was another major selling point. “Adapting to the style has been fun,” Blassingame said. “Some bumps in the road, coach telling me that I need to go faster, but it is all things out of love.” Defensively, Earl said he is excited about how the new group’s length fits his high-pressure system. “I think we are maybe a little longer and more athletic than we have been in the last few years and so we are going to stick with some of the principles we have had in pressing and COURTESY IMAGE / WILL FEAGLES The Tribe will travel to defending national champion Michigan in nonconference play. defense,” he said.
WOMENʼS BASKETBALL
Tribe womenʼs basketball returns core from previous season
Dickerson Davis looks to Dance, Geddes for leadership on court CARA KING FLAT HAT SPORTS EDITOR
William and Mary women’s basketball is set to open the 2026-27 season under head coach Erin Dickerson Davis with an established roster. Unlike the men’s team, which brought in a sweeping group of transfers, 11 players from last year’s squad will return to William and Mary women’s basketball. The returners include senior guard Cassidy Geddes, who earned Preseason All-Coastal Athletic Association First Team honors and averaged a team-high 13.9 points per game in 2025-26, and senior guard Monet Dance, the Tribe’s primary distributor with 3.4 assists per game last season. Freshmen guards Denver Carlton and Skyla Mastronardi
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Geddes led the Tribe in scoring during the 2025-26 campaign.
also joined the squad. For Dickerson Davis, who is entering her fifth season in Williamsburg, bringing back a battletested roster has allowed the Tribe to hit the ground running in practice. “One thing we talk about is the process it is going to take for us to reach our goals in the end,” Dickerson Davis said. “I think to be able to have experience come back and people that have gone through it — that know what it takes to win in this league, that know what happened when we lost — has been very impactful for us.” The Tribe’s identity will once again revolve around its high-pressure defense and length inside. Junior forward Natalie Fox, who started all 30 games last year and averaged 9.3 points per game, expects William and Mary’s experience on the floor to pay immediate dividends. “The summer was really helpful for me as well as the rest of the team,” she said. “It helped me see how impactful I can be on the floor and how that works with my teammates I have currently.” Fox highlighted the team’s evolution since her freshman season. “We’ve really grown into the offense where we’re sharing the ball, looking around, looking for the next pass, supporting our teammates that way, and for me personally, I think that’s such a great thing because I’m a post player,” she said. Dickerson Davis said she expects the two newcomers to contribute immediately. “The team has a lot of respect for them and what they do, and it started outside of just basketball,” Dickerson Davis said. “All these little things showed their work ethic, who they are and what they stand for.” Dickerson Davis said the graduation of former guard Alexa Mikeska, a four-year contributor on the court, made Carlton and Mastronardi’s arrivals all the more important. “Being able to find freshmen that are going to come in and be able to contribute makes me feel a lot better knowing that I was going to be losing
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After leading the Tribe in assists during the 2025-26 season with 3.4 per game, Dance looks to step up again.
such an important piece to who we are, what our culture stands on,” Dickerson Davis added. Coaches selected the Tribe to finish fourth in the preseason CAA poll. Dickerson Davis said she remains focused on ensuring the Tribe maintains high standards in its daily preparations. Geddes and Dance’s leadership will be central to the team’s dynamic this season. “I think that Cassidy [Geddes] and Monet [Dance] need to bring other people with them,” Dickerson Davis said. “It’s easy as seniors to just worry about you and how good you can be in this league or what you have shown in this league.”
The non conference portion of the Tribe’s schedule will provide several tests for Dickerson Davis’ team. Sunday, Nov. 8, the Tribe will travel to John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, Va. to face Virginia, which advanced to the Sweet Sixteen in the 2026 National Collegiate Athletic Association women’s basketball tournament. The Tribe opens its season at Kaplan Arena in Williamsburg, Va. Monday, Nov. 2 against Chowan. “It’s been an exciting summer,” Dickerson Davis said. “I just can’t wait to play games so that we can really learn about who we are.”