December 2013
The DoG Street Journal Est. 2003
EDITORIAL STAFF Editors-in-Chief Jeffrey Knox Christine Shen Managing Editor Molly Michie News Editor Eliza Scheibe Associate News Editor Sydni Scrofani
Actors pose backstage at La Cage aux Folles. Photo by Lauren Su. December 2013, Volume 11 Issue 4 www.dogstreetjournal.com
Style Editor Molly Earner Associate Style Editor Chelsea Pittman Opinions Editor Sean Sweeney Sports Editor Alex Cook Associate Sports Editor Scott Guinn Photo Editor Lauren Su Business Manager Melissa Goitia Web Editor James Szabo
What’s Inside? Editorial > Some Perspective
News > The Deloitte Case Competition
Style > West Wing Thanksgiving
COVER IMAGE Tribe men’s soccer takes on James Madison in a regular season match at Albert-Daly Field. Photo by Sam Girdzis.
Opinion > Separation of Church and State
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Talk to us! The DoG Street Journal The College of William & Mary Campus Center Basement Office 12B Williamsburg, Virginia 23185 (757) 221-7851 dogstreetjournal@wm.edu
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Sports > Men’s Soccer Year in Review
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Editorial
Save the Date
Some Perspective
Dec. 6
What: Registration Advice Where: Swem Library, Learning Center, 1st Floor When: 2 - 3:30 p.m. Why: Get advice on registering for classes if you’re having trouble.
What Will You Remember Most? As we finish this Fall 2013 semester, I’m blown away by how quickly my entire college experience has flown by. It seems like just yesterday (to borrow a hackneyed phrase) that I stepped into Spotswood as a freshman Sharpe scholar, knowing nothing of the experiences that would shape who I am today. In three and a half years, I’ve experienced so many firsts. My first roommate. My first serious relationship. My first bombed exam. My first executive position in a club. My first paycheck. My first community service abroad. My first all-nighter in college. My first rejection from a job application. My first research experience. My first interview as a reporter for the DoG Street Journal! In this time, I’ve tried a lot of things. And doing all these things has given me perspective on what is really important in my life. When I started college, I wanted to break out of my shy shell and become the social butterfly that I had always dreamed of being. In freshman year, I fully embraced that dream. I had a few hundred new friends. I went out every weekend. I still studied a lot and made decent grades. I joined way too many clubs. I was fully devoted to being a pre-med student and I wanted the full college experience, too. But as freshman year ended, I realized I wasn’t really happy. All these new friends were nothing but mere acquaintances. I only hung out with them at parties on the weekends. Talking to all these new people all the time was exhausting. Organic Chemistry I, while easy the first time around, was much harder in the second semester (Organic Chemistry II). Did I really want to spend the next 15+ years of my life in school and medical residency? Which clubs were really important to me? Neuroscience, while interesting to me, didn’t really suit my abilities. I realized I was better at problem-solving than at declarative memory. So I picked up a second major in computer science. I found true friends in the people that would walk home with me to my dorm late at night after a party rather than in the people I would take shots with. I realized I couldn’t change the innate introvert that I am, but that it’s better to only have a few close friends rather than a hundred acquaintances. And while I don’t remember all the material I was studying on those many all-nighters before exams, I do remember the people I spent those all-nighters with and the numerous post-midnight runs to Wawa. And most of all, I realized that I really enjoyed writing, if only as a hobby. I was a staff reporter for the DoG Street Journal my freshman year, covering everything from the Roots concert to the W&M Global Film Festival. Although I didn’t write very much as a sophomore, I was brought back by Morgan Barker (Editor-in-Chief 2011-2012) as a style editor for the next year. As a style editor, I learned how to manage a staff of writers and how to come up with my own story ideas. I learned how to layout the magazine and how to communicate with my fellow editors. I learned how to work on a team to produce a great magazine. So in these final moments of the semester, take a step back from studying once in a while to hang out with your friends for just an hour or two. Remember what is really important to you. Don’t do things just because someone else wants you to or because of what other people might think; do things because you want to do them! Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t make that first job interview or fail that one exam. It’s not the end of the world. Learn from your mistakes and nail it next time. And don’t take yourself too seriously, because it’ll all be over so very fast. What will you remember most from your time here at the College? Jeffrey Knox and Christine Shen DSJ Co-Editors-in-Chief
Dec. 14
What: Yule Log Where: Wren Courtyard When: 6 - 8 p.m. Why: Toss a sprig into the Yule Log fire, enjoy cider and cookies, and listen to President Reveley read “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”!
Dec. 19 - Jan. 14
What: Winter Break Where: Your home When: All day, every day Why: Catch up on sleep and enjoy your break!
OUR MISSION The DSJ is a monthly student magazine and online multimedia outlet which strives to provide an entertaining, thought-provoking, and interactive resource for the William and Mary community.
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» NEWS
The Battle of the Beltway
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The Deloitte Case Competition Comes to William and Mary
tyler brent, dsj staff reporter
As I sat on my Williamsburg-bound Amtrak train returning from Fall Break, I checked my phone after restlessly trying to study for my midterm that fell on the first day back from break. I saw that one of my brothers from Alpha Tau Omega (ATO) had texted me with an interesting proposition. Paul Atienza (’15) wanted to know if I would join him, along with Alan Takasugi (’15) and Marcus Starman (’16), all fellow brothers, to compete in the Deloitte Case Competition. This was something that I had thought about as a way to get some real-world experience but had never pursued as a non-business major. While ecstatic to try my hand at consulting, a common job prospect for business and humanity students, I was hesitant to tack on another time commitment. In the end, I decided to take the plunge and try to solve this case as a consultant, whatever that meant. Due to the nature of the competition, I did not hear much from the group or Deloitte for a couple of weeks. The student who had organized the group, Takasugi (’15), simply signed the four of us up as a team online, and we waited for more information. The only stipulation for entering the competition was to form a team of four students, either sophomores or juniors, regardless of major. Our team included majors in Marketing, Economics, Physics, and Government. Once registered as one of the teams in the competition, we received an email about the kickoff event for the competition. On Friday, November 1, we were to meet in the Career Center to hear about the case we would be solving. The description simply stated, “This tournament is a great opportunity for students interested in consulting to gain exposure to the problems that we tackle daily, demonstrate their problem solving and logic skills, and network with Deloitte Practitioners to gain a better understanding of our Federal Practice.” Once kickoff day came, all nine teams were met by two William and Mary alumni who now work for Deloitte, Lauren Hoy (’12) and Maggie Fletcher (’12). These Deloitte consultants gave the nine teams of four a brief overview of the company that we would be “consulting” for and the problems they needed solved. As Deloitte consultants, we were to find solutions for an “independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States.” This company wanted to be a sustainability leader in the industry, so our job was to come up with solutions to make them more sustainable. All of the teams were provided with basic information about the company’s logistics including types of vehicles in their fleet, travel costs, and number of routes by delivery type.
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The Deloitte representatives said that all of the information needed to come up with solutions was in the PowerPoint slides, but that outside research was allowed. The teams were then given a short PowerPoint outlining the process of approaching a case. The rules for the competition included 15 minutes for presenting and 10 minutes of question-and-answer, and every team member was allotted speaking time. Using professors or other outlets for help regarding the case was prohibited. In regards to some of the students’ worries about addressing a case as a non-Business major, Deloitte consultant Hoy said, “We really try and stress the liberal arts education. We look for people that can do creative problem solving, who are creative thinkers who can come up with unique solutions, communicate those solutions clearly, and just think out the problem.” The format of the case seemed straightforward enough, despite my ignorance of environmental sustainability initiatives, stakeholders, supply chains, or how to address the Chief Financial Officer of a company. Although initially nervous about being thrown into such unknown territory, I had already made a commitment to my group. We decided to have our first meeting after Sunday’s ATO chapter meeting. Our de facto group leader, Takasugi, suggested that we all look over the information and come prepared with notes. After flipping through PowerPoint pages during chapter, I didn’t have a clue how to even begin addressing the problems. At our first meeting, the four of us analyzed the materials and discussed possible solutions to the multi-faceted problems. Ideas such as introducing more hybrid vehicles into the fleet, trimming the company’s labor force, and instituting better training programs for drivers to drive more fuel efficiently were among some of the initial ideas discussed. Atienza echoed my sentiments when he said, “At first, I felt that I had no idea what I had gotten myself into after seeing what Deloitte expected from my team. But as my team met up, discussed, and planned the case throughout the week, the work became more and more feasible.” Feeling inadequate in my participation at the initial brainstorming stage, I was glad when we were all assigned subject areas to research for further consideration because I knew my role in the group. I was to look into how competitors in the field achieved sustainability, and how they market this to their customer base. Our group met every night this week in the basement of Swem, running to and from meetings with to-go boxes from Sadler, to touch base on progress and integrate our ideas into one large business pitch. With his science background, Starman would look into instituting hybrid vehicles into the fleet, Takasugi helped to optimize the supply chain of the company, and Atienza was going to analyze the financial situation of the company to see how to optimize revenue. Preparing for the actual presentation as a group did not take place until the night before
» NEWS
The Deloitte Case Competition team, pictured from left to right: Tyler Brent (‘15), Alan Takasugi (‘15), Paul Atienza (‘15), Marcus Starman (‘16) Photo courtesy of Tyler Brent. the competition. On Thursday, our group found a study room in the Business School and finalized our PowerPoint. At this point, I came to the realization that I wouldn’t be able to pretend to know what I’m talking about and would have to perform competently for my group. We walked through the presentation, initially with notes, and would add on relevant statistics along the way. Competition day arrived much sooner than expected. Most of the butterflies from the night before disappeared, and I felt much more prepared after adequate practice. After donning my suit and feeling more like a “consultant,” my team practiced one last time in a Swem study room. We walked straight over to the Career Center and were directed upstairs to a conference room where the judges awaited. The four of us presented our 15-minute solution to the company’s problems just as we had done in the Swem practice room. Listening to our pitch were two William and Mary professors along with Deloitte consultant Peter Wakefield, who was acting as the company’s Chief Financial Officer. After talking about ways to make the company more sustainable, we were questioned about the ways in which we would measure success, how we planned on phasing out non-hybrid vehicles, and the sources of some of our data on consumer research. Originally the most apprehensive about the question-and-answer section, I am proud of my team for how we handled these experts’ questions. Although in the end we did not win the competition, my
teammates echoed my sentiments that we gained a lot from the experience, professionally and personally. Starman said, ”I thought the competition was a great opportunity to explore something in which I had absolutely no experience. I have never participated in a mock consulting competition, or even really considered consulting as a possible career. I’m glad that I was able to participate in something like this, and hope to do it again!” One member of one of the two winning teams, Song Yoon (’15) talked about his team’s effective strategy. He noted, “Basically, because it is a 15 minute presentation, we realized the idea had to be simple and it was all about how you made the panelists understand your idea in a clear way. We tried to avoid all of the complicated stuff when we did our research and focused on the main point which was sustainability in this case and focus on how we were going to get up to that point and what ideas we have for that sustainability initiative.” The two winning teams from William and Mary are now moving on to the final round of competition, which takes place on November 18 in Washington, D.C. These two teams were given a brand new case to work on in the week leading up to the final presentation and will be competing with teams from up and down the east coast.
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Christening the USS Gerald Ford »
The Most Advanced Aircraft Carrier Ever Built
chandler crenshaw, dsj staff reporter
Although Williamsburg may claim to be the historic capital of Virginia, history occurred just down the road at the Newport News Shipbuilding dry dock on November 9, 2013. Nearly 20,000 people were on hand to witness the christening ceremony of the USS Gerald Ford (CVN-78). Distinguished guests included former Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Senator Carl Levin, Governor Bob McDonnell, and Susan Ford Bales, the daughter of the late president. Newport News Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc., employs over 23,000 shipbuilders. The company began building ships at this location on the James River in 1886, and they continue to supply the U.S. Navy with a majority of its vessels. All nuclear Governor Bob McDonnell, Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Senator Carl Levin, aircraft carriers, battleships, and submarines and Susan Ford Bales were all on hand for the ceremony. originate at these dry-docks in Newport News. namesake,” said Mulherin. Nearly 5,000 shipbuilders exclusively worked on the Ford. “Today is a time and a place bookended by the past and future “The thousands of shipbuilders whose hands and hearts have of nuclear aircraft carriers,” said President of Huntington Ingalls touched this vessel—it is truly remarkable,” said Newport News Industries Mike Petters. “To the south [in Norfolk] rests the USS Shipbuilding President Matt Mulherin. Enterprise, the first nuclear power aircraft carrier ever built. To Upon commission, the USS Gerald Ford will serve as the largest the north, a new aircraft carrier of her time is christened today. A aircraft carrier in the world. The flight deck expands five acres in ship designed for the president.” size, and it weighs over 100,000 tons. Nearly 47,000 crewman and 75 The USS Gerald Ford replaces the USS Enterprise in the navy’s planes will be housed on the most efficient aircraft carrier ever built. fleet. Last summer, the USS Enterprise returned to Norfolk. “When the USS Gerald Ford joins the fleet in 2016, she will Commissioned in the 1960s, the ship will be scrapped after 52 reign the seas for 50 years. She will stand as a symbol of sovereign years of service. U.S. territory wherever she sails, she will represent the man of her “We cannot predict what missions Ford will accomplish nor the dangers she’ll face nor what the sailors who sail her, many of whom are not even born, will have to endure,” said Petters. He indicated that nobody knew what trials the USS Enterprise would face upon commission in the early 1960s. Throughout its lifespan, the ship remained a key vessel in United States strategy, especially during the Cuban Missile Crisis. She protected the United States in the wake of September 11 and served in both Gulf Wars and Afghanistan. Enterprise was also deployed to assist Americans in the wake of many hurricanes. Similarly, the USS Gerald Ford will surely go down in the history books as a ship that helped resolve disputes not yet known. “President Ford was the first president to serve on an aircraft carrier,” said Naval Director John Richardson. During World War II, Gerald Ford served on the USS Monterey. While on combat duty in the Pacific front, Ford and his crew almost died when a typhoon nearly capsized the ship. The typhoon took out three destroyers and 150 other Naval vessels. For seven long hours, Ford battled to keep the ship afloat. “Upon entering [the office of the presidency], the White Over 20,000 people came to witness the christening ceremony of House was what you might call a listing ship. In what the USS Gerald Ford. Photos by Chandler Crenshaw. followed in the decisions and conduct of his presidency
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» NEWS explains why we are here today,” said former Vice President Dick Cheney. “Becoming president, especially by accident of history, does not automatically get a man’s name on a carrier…no one can doubt the difference one good man can make.” Both Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld were two of President Ford’s closest advisors. Both of their speeches focused on Ford’s integrity. They believed that Ford was fit for his time—a man of integrity who could heal the wounds of a nation plagued by the Watergate scandal. For this reason, the ship carries the following motto: Integrity at the helm. Senator Carl Levin from Michigan delivered the keynote address. He served on the Armed Services committee in the Senate when Congress approved the construction plans for the ship. Along with former Senator John Warner, he passed the amendment to name the ship USS Gerald Ford. “In the twilight of his life, dad learned that the Navy was planning on naming the CVN-78 the USS Gerald Ford,” Susan Ford Bales recalled. “Dad wrote a letter to a personal friend. As we realized with dad’s death one month later, it had special significance. This
letter was my dad’s last.” In his letter, President Ford wrote, “I have received countless honors in my life… but none was greater than that of lieutenant commander in the United States Navy… thus, it is a great source of boundless pride and humility to know that an aircraft carrier bearing my name will be forever connected to the valor and patriotic service of men and women of the United States Navy.” The ceremonies closed with Ms. Bales, the ship’s sponsor, christening the ship by smashing a bottle of champagne against the hull. A christening ceremony indicates that the ship is now seaworthy. The ship will soon begin sea trials, and it will be placed into active service in 2016. When the USS Gerald Ford returns home to be decommissioned in the late 2060s, some current William and Mary students will be planning their 50-year class reunion. The ship will protect students for a majority of their life spans, and she will lead a class of nuclear aircraft carriers ready to serve. With the christening of the USS Gerald Ford, the Navy sent a message to all Americans that they are committed to the long-term security of our country.
Chancellor Gates
S ta y i ng Co nne c t e d to Willia m a n d Ma ry »
rebecca heine, dsj staff reporter
The position of Chancellor at William and Mary has a long and venerable history. Established by the College’s Royal Charter in 1693, the office has been held by such illustrious names as George Washington, John Tyler, Margaret Thatcher, and Henry Kissinger. Present-day Chancellor Robert M. Gates is fully deserving of the honored title with a long and distinguished career in public service. During his time acting as U.S. Secretary of Defense from 2006 to 2011, Gates became the only person in American history to serve under two presidents from opposing political parties. He served for many years in the CIA, rising from an intelligence office to agency director, and has been decorated many times for his exceptional service, having received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civilian honor, as well as the National Security Medal and the Presidential Citizens Medal, to name a few.
Chancellor Gates gives a few remarks during ceremonies for Charter Day 2012. Photo courtesy of wm.edu.
In an interview upon his appointment to the post of Chancellor, Gates described how his undergraduate years at William and Mary inspired him with “a calling to serve—a sense of duty to community and country that this college has sought to instill in each generation of students for more than 300 years.” With the post of Chancellor, Gates has been devoted to giving back to his alma mater. He has returned frequently to campus, hosting forums with students and speaking at major events such as Homecoming, Commencement, and Charter Day. Just recently, Gates even donated his personal papers to the Swem Library Special Collections Research Center, along with a generous gift of approximately $1.5 million in support of the Robert M. and Rebecca W. Gates Scholarship, which allows for students studying international relations or global studies to study abroad and gain a global perspective. Rachel Faith (‘14), was the first student to receive the Gates scholarship. With a double-major in Chinese language and literature and Global Studies with a concentration in Russian and post-Soviet studies, Faith applied the scholarship toward a semester in China. “One of the things I was looking for (and did find),” Faith said, “was not only an understanding of Russia and China from their own perspectives, but an understanding of each one in the context of the other.” Faith acknowledged that both Russia and China are frequently featured in U.S. news, but only through the filter of a Western point of view. The immersive experience of viewing these countries from within was both intriguing and enlightening. “As I hope to eventually work as an interpreter between Russian and Chinese,” Faith added, “I think this experience trying to think outside of a Western mindset will be very useful.” With this gift to the College, Gates is leaving behind inspiration for the generations of students to follow. “Over the years, my appreciation for our college has only increased,” Gates said. “I expect you will find this true as well. The combination of people and place, moments and memories make coming home to William and Mary a great thing. I hope you, too, will stay connected to the College long after your four years on campus conclude.” T H E D S J - de c e m b e r 2 0 1 3
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Teach for America Presents “Ed Talks” Impact Worth Spreading
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eliza scheibe, dsj news editor
After Thompson’s talk, current William and Mary Law student Devin Bates spoke about his experiences as a dean of students and a school director for TFA, and how they made him want to get involved in public policy. In both of his positions at TFA, Bates observed students who were “falling through the cracks” because of the poor quality of their education. It was then that Bates realized that more educators need to be influencing policies that affect education, and not just leave it up to legislators who are removed from the field. That is why Bates is currently pursuing a law degree at William and Mary, so that one day he will be making laws that impact education and prevent kids from falling behind in school. The final speaker was Lena McAfee, a Brown University graduate who is the current Managing Director of Recruitment at TFA. Her talk was mainly focused on what it means to be a teaching corps member of TFA. The reason McAfee joined TFA was so that she could give back to her community by being an educator. Through TFA’s teaching corps program, McAfee learned to foster leadership and diversity in a classroom setting by building relationships with her students, influencing them to make good decisions, and understanding their unique perspectives. If there was one thing that all of the Ed Talks speakers agreed on, it was the fact that the education gap between low-income and high-income students needs to be bridged. For the majority of low-income students, education is the only path to success. Without dedicated teachers such as TFA corps members, none of them would acquire the academic and leadership skills they need to succeed in a modern economy. Although McAfee was initially nervous about entering the field of teaching at age 22, she gained a lot of confidence while working for TFA and found the experience worthwhile. She encourages all students who have a commitment to service and education to consider applying for Teach for America because there’s no better way to prepare themselves for jobs in education than a real-life, challenging teaching experience.
On October 22 at 7 p.m., several William and Mary alumni gathered in Sadler’s Commonwealth Auditorium to speak about their experiences working for Teach for America (TFA) at an event titled “Ed Talks,” modeled after the popular online talk series “TED Talks.” In 2012, William and Mary was announced as one of the top 20 mid-sized schools for producing teaching corps members for TFA. This says a lot about William and Mary students’ commitment to public service, and the alumni who spoke were no exception. After Tom Milteer (’09) introduced the speakers, a live Google Hangout was set up with the first alum to speak, Sarah McHenry (’13), since she is currently living in North Carolina. Despite a few sound distortion problems at first, the live Hangout proved to be a successful alternative to her being there in person. McHenry began by describing how TFA taught her what teaching really involves. It’s about waking up early and constantly interacting with students, parents, and teachers all day long. In other words, teaching is a stressful and busy life, which is something that can only be learned by experience. If there’s one thing that McHenry’s experience with TFA made her realize, it’s that, unlike college, teaching is not about you. “It’s never about you trying to get ahead. It’s advocating for your kids,” said McHenry. If you don’t make it about the kids, she argues, they will never achieve their full potential—which is exactly what McHenry hopes her students will attain. In order to prepare her eighth graders for the future, she is “working relentlessly” to get them caught up to an eighth grade reading level before they move on to ninth grade. “It’s not about you anymore, but it’s worth it because those kids need you,” said McHenry. Up next, Milteer showed everyone a previously recorded talk by Bailey Thompson (’10) from William and Mary’s TEDx event hosted this past spring at Miller Hall. Since Thompson now lives in Johannesburg, South Africa, she was unfortunately unable to make it to the event to answer questions. In her talk, Thompson discussed how her experience with TFA made her become aware of the severe inequalities between the education received by high-income and low-income students. According to Thompson, there is almost a 50 percent achievement gap between white and minority students. Despite these daunting statistics, Thompson was able to get 90 percent of her students (mostly low-income students learning English as a second language) to pass their standardized math tests. Thompson believes that achievement is a product of innovation, which is just “creativity channeled effectively.” If she can teach students to see, speak, solve, and serve others in a creative and effective way, she argues, she can help her new South African students to succeed, despite the country’s stagnating A Teach for America corps member examines a paper with a student. economy and low levels of achievement.
Photo courtesy of Google Images.
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» NEWS
Analyzing McAuliffe’s Win
Of the eight William and Mary students (five women, three men) I spoke with, seven expressed that women’s issues were of significant Although the results were closer than polls were projecting, importance in selecting a candidate. Although obviously not a Virginia voters elected Terry McAuliffe (D) to be the representative sample from which to make any generalizations, Commonwealth’s next governor (48 percent to 45.5 percent). there was a prevailing sentiment about the role women’s health McAuliffe’s victory breaks a long-standing trend as he became the issues played in students’ decisions. As Jillian Bates (’16) aptly put first candidate since 1973 to win Virginia’s gubernatorial race while it, “My body is my issue.” Said one student who wished to remain representing the same party as the sitting U.S. President (1965 for anonymous (’15), “If I have an unplanned pregnancy, unless the Democrats). The 2013 campaign was acclaimed for its particularly state plans to pay for the expenses of that child, don’t tell me that hostile smear ads and flaw-ridden candidates. McAuliffe outspent I have to have this child.” Emily Nalker, a member of Vox: Voices Ken Cuccinelli (R) approximately $33 million to $21 million for Planned Parenthood at the College, was not a fan of Cuccinelli’s according to the Virginia Public Access Project. McAuliffe received stance, saying that women seeking abortions would eventually have significant funds from the NextGen Climate Action PAC led by to go to Maryland. All five women stated that on a scale of 1 to 10, billionaire Tom Steyer, who sought to use this election as a case women’s issues were either a 10 or a 9. study on the impact of making climate change a key election issue. Men were also concerned. Alex King (’17) emphasized equality On the other hand, some Tea Party supporters have questioned for men and women to make decisions about their own bodies. the Republican party’s support King said that Cuccinelli’s policy for Cuccinelli, who challenged would set women’s rights in the presumed 2013 Republican Virginia back 30 to 40 years; candidate, Lieutenant Governor an anonymous male student Bill Bolling. The Republican echoed a similar opinion saying National Committee spent $3 that although the environment million for Cuccinelli compared to was the most important issue $9 million in the 2009 governor’s for him, Cuccinelli’s positions election. on women’s health were One voting block that McAuliffe symptomatic of his backwardness. can thank for his narrow victory Students used words such as over Cuccinelli (R) is the unmarried “absurd,” “backwardness,” and electorate, particularly unmarried “hypocritical” in describing women. According to CNN’s Cuccinelli’s stance on women’s exit poll data, unmarried people issues. accounted for 33 percent of voters The election results show and overwhelmingly favored Young Democrats deliver remarks during the student debate. that a Republican candidate McAuliffe over Cuccinelli, 62 could potentially win a statewide Photo by Sam Gardner. percent to 29 percent (67 to 25 for election in Virginia with such women; 58 to 33 for men) while married people preferred Cuccinelli conservative stances on women’s issues, as the margin of victory 56 percent to 38 percent. There was a similar breakdown among was quite small. However, it is pretty apparent that Cuccinelli’s married and unmarried voters in the 2012 presidential election, but opinions on women’s health were detrimental to his cause. In the what is driving this trend? One seemingly reasonable explanation is debate between the College Republicans and Young Democrats on that unmarried young voters are more liberal than their parents and October 30 moderated by Chancellor Professor of Government Clay grandparents. The results support an age effect, but with a caveat: Clemens, the two groups of four students each made cases for their The only age cohort with more than a six percent margin was not respective candidates and took up their positions. 18- to 29-year-olds but 30- to 44-year-olds was 56 percent to 37 The Republicans emphasized economic issues while the percent (the other two cohorts being 45 to 64 and 65 and older). Democrats focused on social issues. In response to criticism of Numerous studies have found that the marriage rate in the United Cucinelli’s women’s positions, the Republicans described certain States has steadily declined over the last 50 to 100 years, and there women’s health regulations as precautionary against poor medical is little reason to believe that the trend will not continue. practice as opposed to restrictive. In addition, Cassie Black (’14), Another key factor in unmarried people’s support for McAuliffe a member of the Republican team, cited Cucinelli’s proposal to seems to be his progressive stance on abortion and women’s health double the number of women in science and engineering programs issues. While voters most often cited the economy as their number- as evidence of his support for women. one issue (45 percent), of which Cuccinelli won 49 percent to 43 After the debate, Ryan Corcoran (’16) of the College Republicans percent, voters who had abortion as their number-one issue (20 talked about business and jobs as a central issue for voters to percent) favored McAuliffe 59 percent to 34 percent. McAuliffe consider, while Michael Payne (’15) of the Young Democrats noted ran particularly critical ads about Cuccinelli’s anti-abortion and that although many people, regardless of party affiliation, may favor anti-birth control stance, to which Cuccinelli never seemed to McAuliffe’s abortion policies over Cucinelli’s, it is imperative that sufficiently respond. He did state that he would not legislate voters hold Cucinelli accountable for his positions with their ballots. against contraceptives, but his strong pro-life views and history In the end, the women’s health debate seems to be one of the key of supporting such legislation hurt him greatly among those who factors that tilted the scales and helped send Terry McAuliffe to prioritized abortion. take over in Richmond. T H E D S J - de c e m b e r 2 0 1 3 9
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sam gardner, dsj staff reporter
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style
The Religious Communities molly earner, dsj style editor
Religion has been, historically, a fierce topic of debate. Differences in religious belief and questions about the separation between church and state have led to violence and hate speech, and really, when on a secular campus like William and Mary, sometimes students would rather just not think about it. But sometimes it is important to remember the similarities, not the differences, in what lies at the heart of every religious group—a sense of community and love. Muslim Student Association—Maab Yasin “We’re people like everyone else and we enjoy talking to other people so it’s nice when we get to do that.” I sat down with Maab Yasin (’15) to talk about her experiences in the Muslim Student Association (MSA). She serves as the vice president of the club, and describes her job as “helping to keep everything running smoothly.” MSA is a club that is open to all students. The club tries to do several campus-wide events open to all students, the biggest of which are the Eid festival in the fall semester and Islamic Awareness Week in the spring. Both events are opportunities for the campus to come together to learn more about a religious experience they may not have had the background to understand. For example, at the Eid festival, there was a presentation on the five pillars of Islam, the story of Abraham, and essentially, said Yasin, “why Eid is important to us.” When asked what it’s like being a religious student at a secular university, particularly as a Muslim in a western environment, Maab had some wonderful insights: “I think we’re a lot more open than people would originally think,” said Yasin, “… we want more people to be a part of us; they don’t have to even be interested in the religious aspect but just in knowing what Islam is in general, what it’s about just so people make the effort to know it’s not this crazy religion that the media tries to depict it as; it’s peaceful, by definition, and we want
people to understand that for sure.” “There are challenges especially with Islam, especially with the cultural references attached to it, when in a Western environment simply because it is non-Western. Going to a liberal school helps in understanding where people come from, simply in understanding other walks of life, and it’s great that people here are more willing to let you do what you want to do, or like ask questions and want to know rather than being abrasive or anything like that. Overall, a good experience.” Catholic Campus Ministry—Lizzy Cross “We’re all like a family and just want to interact with everyone!” I sat down with the head of Outreach for Catholic Campus Ministries (CCM), Lizzy Cross. When asked to describe her job, she said it was “to make sure the campus community knows that we exist!” CCM doesn’t have a set number of people in its community, but rather a large population defined by different parameters. “It’s really just a wide range of people doing a wide range of things that they like to do,” said Cross. She continued, “If we’re talking about those who come to mass, that’s a lot of students. Then, there are different sections of people who are involved in different things. We have our board positions, and we have many different ministries which cover a wide range of topics: we have Spirituality, which focuses on prayer and growing in your faithlife, but then we also have Fellowship, which is focused on having parties and hanging out! Or we have hospitality which makes food and is great!” CCM has done a number of outreaches with other groups, as well as held campus-wide events, such as the Barnyard Dance. They are in a covenant with the Episcopalian group on campus, Canterbury Association, in which they come together at the start of every year to plan activities to do together. CCM also tries to interact with other schools, such as when they did a corn maze with Christopher Newport’s CCM: “We just want to interact with everyone!”
(on left) The Muslim Student Association’s Islamic House of Pancakes event. Photo courtesy of the Muslim Student Association. (on right) A photo from I-Faith’s most recent service trip. Photo courtesy of Interfaith Club.
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of William and Mary
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A group photo of the Catholic Campus Ministry’s New Students Retreat. Photo courtesy of CCM. “There are honestly hundreds of people in CCM and the level of involvement we have from people is simply whatever they want it to be,” Cross said, smiling. She took care to emphasize not only the breadth of the CCM community, but its depth. “We’re all like a family!” For Cross personally, that was what was especially important. When asked what her life was like as a religious person in a secular university, she responded, “CCM has been so important for me. My dad’s a deacon, my mom’s a music minister, and Catholicism is something I’ve always had in my life. To be able to find a family within my faith group that would just support me in my beliefs and my morals—and help me grow closer to God, which is my ultimate goal—that was just so special. I just constantly have a group of people who are here to support me.” Cross concluded, “I think the most important thing is to have that community when in a college environment.” Interfaith Club—Emily Kelly “You can just talk to other people to understand their views and how they are different from yours.” Last of all, I talked with Emily Kelly (’15) of Interfaith Club, a religious group on campus that celebrates all the religions at once, with an emphasis on dialogue and fellowship. It is exactly what it sounds like: a group that celebrates fellowship between many different religions. “The purpose of the club is to bring together people of different faiths, or non-faith backgrounds, to come together to have a conversation, work together for the same goals, celebrate the diversity in religion, while at the same time finding common ground between them,” said Kelly. “Most of our events are open to the entire campus, since Interfaith is really a club that anyone can try and connect to—
anyone could come to the service trips, Interfaith conference, or the club meetings.” They discuss a religion and the specifics of it: for example, I-Faith had a representative from CCM come in to one of their meetings, so that people who didn’t know much about Catholicism, or misunderstood it because of stereotypes, could learn better what it was really about. This is really the gist of the whole group, after all. At the moment, there are Hindus, Catholics, Agnostics, and Protestants in the group. “It’s not a place where people try to come to the same belief about something,” said Kelly. “There’s really no consensus. But the assumption we have is that whether you have a faith or non-faith, whatever you are committed to, that’s fine. You can just talk to other people to understand their views and how they are different from yours. It’s not trying to get to a single agreement, but it is a celebration of diversity.” Whatever your belief system may be, it is essentially this—the fellowship and the dialogue between peers—that makes religious groups on campus so invigorating and important. I-Faith is holding a conference in the first week of February, part of UN-designated Interfaith harmony week, called the Role of Religion in Conflict Resolution. It is open to the whole campus. A tree representing the different ‘branches’ of faith. Photo courtesy of Google Images. THE DSJ - December 2013
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Best Of’s
A Random Assortment of the Five Best Things best of: Winter Reads » sloane
nilsen, dsj staff reporter
1. The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood Preparations for The Waterless Flood have begun. The rooftop garden continues to be cultivated, the society of God’s Gardeners grows. Yet when the man-made plague finally strikes, will humanity prevail? Ren, a young girl questioning the norms of teenage culture, is trapped in a trendy sex club, “the cleanest dirty girls in town.” On the other hand, Toby remains on the rooftop garden, waiting for what is to come. In 2009’s The Year of the Flood, Margaret Atwood explores themes of environmental destruction, religion, and feminism. She describes a future dystopian society, one that eerily resembles our own. Visionary and clever, Atwood’s portrait is an exact prediction of the sexually driven and materialistic humanity that we are seeing today. 2. The Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal Two hundred and sixty four Japanese netsuke: small, wooden miniatures collected, hidden, and brought back into the spotlight. In The Hare with Amber Eyes, ceramicist Edmund de Waal provides a sweeping story of his family, the Ephrussi, and their history—the powerful and prosperous Jewish banking family. Stretching from pre-Victorian age Paris to the domain of the Nazis, de Waal uses these netsuke, and their journey, to propel an astonishing portrayal of twentieth century art history and the foundations of Aryanization. A powerful memoir, one that remains interesting and informational throughout—a balance not achieved by many modern-day writers. 3. Let the Great World Spin by Column McCann The seventh of August, 1974. Philippe Petit prepares to walk between the Twin Towers on a tightrope. At the same time, a New York City prostitute faces her looming trial and a Catholic religious leader seeks refuge amidst the same prostitution ring
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steeped in drug abuse. Encompassing multiple other story lines, such as a sonless mother and a dysfunctional police force, emerging author Column McCann searches for a glimpse of meaning in the most brutal of situations. Infused with small, yet powerful short stories encompassing the larger plot line of the tightrope walker, McCann is one of the only current writers able to blend multiple characters into an enticing literary phenomenon—and perhaps will make you question the many plot lines of your own life. 4. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern It appears without warning, departs without notice. It’s open from sunset to sunrise: the Circus of Dreams. Acrobats and no nets, illusionists and no secrets, a tent where clouds rise above, providing an excellent opportunity for jumping up and floating back down. But something more sinister lies underneath this magical premise. The heir and heiress of The Night Circus, Celia and Marco, enter a contract neither of them fully understands, ending in a relationship that could ultimately halt a necessary competition—one to keep the circus alive. Erin Morgenstern’s debut novel provides the true escape we sometimes need, but the most spectacular places hide the biggest secrets. 5. Misery by Stephen King Annie Wilkes is a retired nurse, and the biggest cockadoody! fan of the author Paul Sheldon, author of the romantic Misery novels. But he has killed off his star character, ending the series. Sheldon, whilst driving intoxicated through the mountains, ends up crashing into a snowbank. But Annie is his savior -- she rescues him. Waking up in a strange bed, in a foreign house, Paul is incapable of moving anywhere. Trapped to the bed, Wilkes gives him a choice: he can live and write a specially published Misery novel for her, in which the heroine comes back to life, or can die in agony like a cockadoody brat. Easily one of Stephen King’s most terrifying novels, Misery is a quick page-turner, one that ultimately defines the clever writing, and horror, of King’s capability.
best of: Healthy Foods » cindy
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centeno, dsj staff reporter
Welcome back, fellow classmates! I’m sure you all enjoyed your somewhat restful and definitely well deserved Thanksgiving Break. The best part of it all was eating loads of food, am I right? Though now you’re maybe feeling a bit queasy thinking of that food baby. Luckily for you all, I have a quick list of the best healthy foods you can get your hands on (while you try to forget about the huge amounts of food you had over break…): 1. KIND Bars Was I the only one who got KIND bars in my mailbox when I ordered my textbooks at the beginning of the semester? I hope not, because they’re unbelievably delicious. If you’re one of those people who hates knowing how healthy something is, then no need to worry. You can completely forget all of the great and nutritious ingredients (gluten-free!) in KIND bars and just enjoy and take great delight in their taste! They come in assorted types ranging from Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate, to Cranberry Almond (my personal favorite), to the simplest of them all, Fruit & Nut. So, there’s one for everybody! Best part is that you can find them absolutely anywhere on campus.
3. Fresh, Whole Fruit Bananas, apples, strawberries, peaches, pears…so much goodness! Some of you might find it hard to actually find fresh fruit on campus, but it’s there! Although, if you’re really picky, take a trip to Food Lion or Target and pick up some fresh fruit. I’m not going to bore you with all the nitty gritty stuff and go on about how nutritious fresh fruit is but trust me, it’ll keep you feeling energized for your all-nighters. 4. Fruit Smoothies Smoothies are one of the most amazing things to have ever been created on Earth. If you don’t like to eat whole fruits, then this is definitely the solution for you folks! Although I haven’t seen some of the dining areas serving smoothies these days, they’re easily available at the Rec Center. And if, like most of us, you don’t want to go that far, then invest in a good blender and buy some fresh fruit. Add ice, water, the blend, and voila! You now have a beautiful, healthy, and unbelievably satisfying fruit smoothie.
2.Leafy Greens Some people hate salads and I totally understand. But, there are so many ways you can overshadow the “tasteless” leafy greens…I always make sure to have a good salad at least 3 times a week. For those who like meat, add some grilled chicken or bacon bits on top of lettuce, spinach, carrots, broccoli, cucumbers, etc. and then top it off with a little dressing of your choosing. And if you’re not a meat-eater, then just put your favorite dressing over it, and enjoy!
5. Water & Tea Water is amazing and tasteful. Don’t agree? Sue me. But seriously, water is unbelievably refreshing. Forget about the highly-caffeinated juices and soda and try some tea instead. (I would definitely recommend green tea.) I know finals are just around the corner and you all need high dosages of caffeine in your system but if you actually take some time to eat some of these healthy foods and drink more water and tea, I guarantee you’ll feel invincible. For all you coffee lovers: fine, drink some coffee. But please try to minimize it to 2 cups a day…max.
All photos courtesy of Google Images.
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A West Wing Thanksgiving A Special Tradition in the Williamsburg Community
A photo of the festivities from last year’s West Wing Thanksgiving. Photo courtesy of the West Wing boys.
» danielle
rutter, dsj staff reporter
Are you a William and Mary student who’s not sure what you’re doing for Thanksgiving? Are you unsure of a good place to meet new people? Are you wondering how to get a warm, homemade turkey dinner? Even if you’re just looking to celebrate a great holiday twice, the boys at West Wing house have the perfect solution for you! That is, you plus 349 other wonderful people around town! West Wing Thanksgiving began with a vision to be both a celebration and an outreach to the Williamsburg community. Dubbed “West Wing Thanksgiving” after the house in which the boys live, the festival has united the Williamsburg community over fellowship and food for the past six years. The celebration occurs on the Thursday before Thanksgiving, allowing students who have plans for break to attend. Last year the feast served over 300 students, and this year the plans are in motion for over 350 guests! On top of the delicious, traditional Thanksgiving food found at West Wing, you can also find sofas, tents, and a fire pit to gather around. West Wing even invites a local band to play each year! And the best part for college students? THE ENTIRE EVENT IS FREE! Are you wondering who exactly masterminds this extraordinary celebration? Our local turkey heroes are the very boys who live and have lived at West Wing house. When asked why the tradition has continued, Isaiah Thomas, a sophomore at the College, explained, “It’s two-fold: it is such a bonding experience for everyone in the house. Plus, the main reason is that we all get to have such a great time with the Tribe community.”
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The logistics for such an event may initially seem overwhelming. However, Nick Mercer, a junior at the College, told me they have it all covered. “We start planning things about three weeks out, assigning each upperclassman a task.” Some of these tasks include securing the shuttle buses, gathering the food, cleaning the house, setting up the outside area, alerting the local police about the anticipated number of people, and getting the word out to students. This year they boosted their marketing by creating a Facebook page (Event name: 6th Annual West Wing Thanksgiving!) as well as a Twitter account. The boys are always brainstorming and implementing new ideas for West Wing Thanksgiving. A shuttle van making stops on campus, a guest book, 30 turkeys instead of 25 (yum!), and a potluck-themed Google doc are just several of this year’s innovations. To top it off, the event could not be any easier for students to attend! The West Wing boys arrange shuttles from the local Williamsburg Chapel to pick students up from Martin’s or from campus. And again, everything is free! Thomas worried that some students may be off-put by the Chapel and Tribe Fellowship’s involvement. As encouragement he explained, “Christian outreach is an undertone for the event, [but] the main focus is on having a good time with lots of different people.” Speaking of different people, Mercer told me that there is a huge diversity of groups that attend each year, ranging from Greek organizations, varsity and club sports teams, small groups, neighbors, and lots of students who are just looking for a good time.
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Neurodiversity: A Parent Panel
Parents of Children with Disabilities Discuss Challenges, Opportunities, and Routines
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chelsea pittman, dsj associate style editor
When out to eat, at the grocery store, or in any public venue, you may have seen a child having a temper tantrum or meltdown and you may have thought to yourself, “What is wrong with that child?” or “What is wrong with those parents who can’t control their child?” It is easy and often impulse to project fault upon the child or parent in these types of situations without taking a step back to think and understand that there could be another reason why the child is acting that particular way other than being “spoiled.” Also, when a person is recognized as having a disability, it can be our first thought to assume they are helpless or need our help, and although helping is nice, those who live with disabilities are not always incapable of helping themselves. Without education and experience it can be difficult to understand and know how to interact with those who have disabilities. It has been only a little over 20 years since the Americans with Disabilities Act became law, allotting the resources and rights present today, and it is still an ongoing battle for the proper accommodations and resources needed to ensure that those living with disabilities are able to reach their full potentials. Campus Buddies, an organization dedicated to partnering with the disability community through art, sports, and other engagements, invited three mothers to talk about their experiences and share their thoughts on having a child with a disability, as well as the challenges and rewarding moments that they share with their children. These mothers explain how their lives have changed and what they go through each day not only in caring for their children, but also in dealing with other people who are not privy to their circumstances or do not fully understand the disability community. Karen Bodett, Dorsey Orlowski, and Susan Radosta are all mothers of children with disabilities, and each of their daughters participates in the Campus Buddies programs. Bodett’s daughter
A Campus Buddies pair works on arts and crafts. Photos courtesy of Campus Buddies.
Campus Buddies volunteers pose with artwork. has an acquired disability from a car accident at a young age, and Orlowski and Radosta both have daughters on the autism spectrum. Maggie Skorup, from the Campus Buddies organization, led the panel by asking a series of questions. The first question asked, “what is the best part about having a child with a disability, and what is the most challenging?” Bodett responded by explaining that her daughter’s strength in all that she has been through since the accident, all of the surgeries, is one of the best parts. Her daughter is able to fight and pull through each time. When asked about the strength and challenges of their children, Orlowski and Radosta both explained that their children’s strength is in their innocence. They seek to make others happy and to see others be happy, and although that can allow for others to take advantage of them, they are able to see the world in a positive light. Radosta says, “Sometimes I wish I could see the world through her eyes.” As for challenges, Radosta says that the biggest for her is other people. At one point in her job, her boss had said to her when she needed to attend to her daughter, “Well, some of us have normal children.” Boddett also talks of times when she is at the grocery store and people offer her help only to seem offended when she declines. Each of these women on the parent panel have three very different daughters with varying needs, and therefore they each go through different challenges each day; however, one commonality between them is their strength to just get through one day. They may not be able to say what the future holds for their children, but they know getting through each day is a victory all on its own. The panel’s first-hand accounts of parent experiences in daily routines and in dealing with the outside world was an eyeopening experience. Although they are dealing with a different set of challenges than those who are living without disabilities, these women showed their strength and their optimism and how resilient both they and their daughters are despite their circumstances. This panel discussion showed that in seeking an education about persons with disabilities and talking to those who are a part of the disability community, people can make a difference by fostering a connection and lessening the communication gap between the two communities. T H E D S J - de c e m b e r 2 0 1 3
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opinion
What’s in the Rankings?
What Prospective Students Can Learn about Student Life »
sam gardner, dsj staff columnist
Last month, William and Mary received two #1 rankings: the College had the highest percentage of graduates working in public service (government, education, and nonprofit jobs) among national universities and the highest percentage of undergraduates who studied abroad among public universities according to Washington Monthly and U.S. & World News, respectively. While college rankings can often be overstated, these two rankings reveal essential aspects of student life at William and Mary. I am not surprised that William and Mary is ranked number one in public service jobs. Whether it be tutoring at a local school, volunteering at the Campus Kitchen, selling cupcakes to raise money for a charity in Uganda, or participating in Kappa Delta’s Campus Golf, students are constantly involved in local and global service activities that aim to make a difference in the world. The Washington Monthly article cites William and Mary’s designation of funds to community engagement grants and post-graduation fellowships as keys to its high ranking. The Office of Community Engagement connects students to service opportunities throughout the school year and leads Branch Out Alternative Breaks and summer trips. The office also hosts the annual William and Mary Active Citizens Conference, to which people come from all over to make presentations and discuss how to make a difference in service to the community. The Sharpe Community Scholars Program offers students the opportunity to submit a community-based research proposal, and approved students receive a $3,000 summer grant to pursue their topics. These grants allow students to engage with the community that interests them while covering student costs. Another reason I am not surprised by this ranking is the strength of William and Mary’s Government Department. William and Mary’s Washington Office runs a number of D.C. summer programs that allow students to study or intern in the city and connects students and alumni to others working in D.C. to help in finding jobs or internships in the area. The College’s strong network in D.C. allows government students the chance to pursue valuable opportunities and experiences.
A tour guide shows prospective students and their families around campus. Photo by Sam Gardner.
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Military service members make up a significant part of the William and Mary community, doing one of the ultimate public service jobs. The Registrar’s Office provides up to 250 service members per semester with GI Bill Certification. The College was recognized by Victory Media as a “Military Friendly School” in 2014, along with the Mason School of Business. Nine ROTC graduates entered the military in 2013. In addition, the Lewis B. Puller, Jr. Veterans Benefits Clinic was created at William and Mary Law School earlier this year and helps veterans file claims for disability compensation. The Clinic has partnered with VCU’s Center for Psychological Services to provide a range of services to help military service members.
Experiencing life on campus is the only way to know the true value of William and Mary’s strong public service and global outlooks. William and Mary also serves as the headquarters for the AidData Center for Development Policy, where students and faculty are doing cutting edge research to help advance our understanding of foreign aid and how it can be made more effective. Headed by the International Relations faculty, the AidData Center exposes students to global issues and shows how these problems can be addressed. William and Mary students are not just researching international issues from the comfort of their dorm rooms here in Williamsburg, but they are going out and interacting with communities around the world. The Global Education Office in the Reves Center is a great resource for students thinking about studying abroad and provides support for students to pursue their global interests. As with community service, William and Mary offers a number of scholarships for international study, incentivizing students to explore the world outside the friendly confines of William and Mary. In today’s Information Age, the vast array of college rankings lists like the two discussed above can be overwhelming and confusing. For example, the Princeton Review lists William and Mary as the fourth best value for a public university, while William and Mary was not even included in Washington Monthly’s 75 Best Bang for the Buck public universities. Unfortunately, the Washington Monthly’s public service ranking does not necessarily use the best criteria for measuring public service. A better measure may be Washington Monthly’s community service participation and hours served ranking, which has William and Mary ranked 24th. I cannot say with much confidence that William and Mary is “the best” school for public service, but I do know that the culture of service at the College is evident on a daily basis. While it is always good to see William and Mary recognized positively in rankings lists and there is definitely value in these lists as they have an effect on prospective students, experiencing life on campus is the only way to know the true value of William and Mary’s strong public service and global outlooks. Sam Gardner is a staff columnist for the DSJ. His views do not necessarily represent those of the entire staff.
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opinion
The Siege of Troy
The Separation of Church and State on College Campuses »
elizabeth edmonds, dsj staff columnist
Forgive me, but I begin this article with a bit of a non-issue. Keeping religion out of public institutions, specifically public universities? Done a hundred times. Separation of church and state requires adherence if any university wishes to call itself public and receive funding from the state. Even on our own campus in 2006, President Gene Nichol attempted to recreate a secular environment in the Wren Chapel by removing the cross. Great controversy and dozens of articles followed, the large majority of the latter supported Nichol’s observance to constitutional matters. Beginning in August, however, the revealing of a new Catholic residence hall at the public Troy University has opinion columns beating the rather deceased horse, if I may. Financed by and named after the Newman Connection, a Catholic foundation dedicated to building centers for predominantly college-age Catholics, the Newman Center of Troy University caters mainly to Christians. Clearly, this directly contradicts the separation of church and state. Which is why I surprise myself by supporting Troy University— or at least not condemning them. Is the decision to allow a religiously affiliated residence hall on a public campus violation of the constitution? Perhaps. But perhaps critics ought to consider the university’s honest perspective for a moment. If the state of Florida treats public universities remotely like the state of Virginia, then at minimum Florida shirks much of the financial responsibility of public secondary education. On top of this, more students than ever are applying to college, especially public universities, as in-state tuition makes higher education vaguely affordable. I have little doubt that Troy, as well as nearly every university in the country, struggles to find the room for these new students. It’s a tempting offer—and one worth the controversy—for anyone: a brand new residence hall, 376 beds large, fully funded. According to Troy’s website, there are no religious qualifications to living in the Newman Center. Maintenance of a 2.5 GPA, semiannual community service, respect towards diversity, and adherence to the standards of the “Trojan Way” are all required. I do apologize, but I simply cannot find fault with those requirements. Many public institutions have honors dorms entailing similar obligations, and nothing beyond the name of the residence hall lends itself towards any religious affiliation whatsoever. Reading the various critiques of Troy University, one might have easily concluded that the main requirement were that “Students must love Jesus.” It’s just not so. Multiple publications and organizations, including the Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF), cry discrimination. Public universities should not have residence halls on campus requiring particular affiliations with specific groups—especially not religious groups. This is a logical outcry, an expected and commendable reaction. Until, of course, we acknowledge separate residence halls for men and women. Or language dorms, and transfer-student halls, and Greek life. Are these exceptions? For instance, is it not discrimination to deny me residence in the new fraternity housing on William and Mary’s campus? The Newman Center at Troy does not deny me residence for being non-religious.
What’s the fuss over religious-themed housing? Illustration by Abigail Kahler. Isn’t diversity acknowledging and accepting the differences among us? Isn’t the elimination of religiously affiliated dorms and language halls and frat houses more a suppression of uniqueness and community than an encouragement of acceptance—the very value so stressed by criticisms of Troy University? My point is simple: those who criticize Troy University for the Newman Center on the basis of hyper-identification are rather extreme. So determined to equalize and deter discrimination on the premise of diversification and acceptance, they risk ignoring benefits of mildly exclusive groups. For example, I experienced a thoroughly negative freshman dorm situation, one that eventually nudged me to transfer from my previous institution to William and Mary. Had dormitory assignments not been entirely random, and had the university allowed me some selection into a dorm with people from similar backgrounds and values, this could have been possibly avoided. While too much separation among college students can lead to an unfriendly environment, a school insisting upon absolute equality and refusing to allow any self-segregation by students risks the same effect. It’s easy to view the Newman Center as a residence hall catering exclusively to Christians. It’s harder to admit the Newman Center could be a friendly gathering place for like-minded individuals to get the most out of their education. But it is unconstitutional! And a clear basis of discrimination against non-religious people in an environment that ought to be strictly secular, setting a precedent of hyper-identification in a diverse, public institution. Yes, we have all heard your war cry. Now go get back to your fraternity or sorority house (brand new and paid for by private funding, how nice) and give yourself a pat on the back. You are a champion of true diversity. Elizabeth Edmonds is a staff columnist for the DSJ. Her views do not necessarily represent those of the entire staff. THE DSJ -
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opinion
Clearing Up Confusion Corner A Guide to Williamsburg’s Most Famous Intersection
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charlie perkins, dsj staff columnist
In three years of driving around campus, I’ve found one constant that I’ll never understand in the Williamsburg road system—that people can’t seem to figure out the poorly laid-out junction between Richmond and Jamestown Roads best known as Confusion Corner. Every day, tourists, college students, and townies alike misuse this intersection, resulting in frustration, near-collisions, and the same general thought: why would someone build this driving hazard, regardless of the aesthetic value it provides, and furthermore, why don’t people understand simple road signs—the same ones they had to know in order to get driver’s licenses in the first place? Hailing from an extremely remote mountain town, I had never even encountered a roundabout until my second A Confusion Corner crosswalk glistens in the rain. Photo courtesy of Google or third year behind the wheel of a car, Images. and yet I quickly understood the layout of Confusion Corner. So why do so many in an infuriating and mind-boggling traffic tango. Perhaps the people fail to figure it out? reason the city hasn’t made it any less confusing is because there For those who don’t frequent Confusion Corner, it can be an haven’t been too many collisions—not a good reason to leave embarrassing experience. It’s difficult to understand who has the Confusion Corner alone. Streamlining the corner with clearer right of way, who needs to yield, and what to actually do when signage may speed up the slow area at least to the point of keeping someone comes to a dead stop for five minutes in an attempt to drivers from having to sit in traffic at 5 p.m. simply because there figure it out. I’ve seen people turn in the middle of the corner, are too many “nice” people trying to let other drivers pull out drive up the wrong side of the road, and seemingly every day ahead of them—just shut up and drive, already! I’m confronted with that bonehead who doesn’t understand the And pedestrians need to stop ignoring the two explicitlydifference between ‘Stop’ and ‘Yield,’ pulling out into traffic and placed crosswalks for traveling from Ancient Campus to Colonial nearly getting t-boned. Williamsburg. Don’t cross in the middle, because then it’s your The worst part is, most of the offenders don’t even express fault if you wind up crawling out from under an SUV. You’re the remorse to the honking horns and middle fingers that are presented one who decided to give up your right of way in the cross walk to them as they pull out in front of someone ‘in the know;’ they because five steps to the left or right are such a time-drain—and stare on, dumbfounded as to why someone would be mad because definitely don’t expect people to stop for you, because you’re still they barely looked both ways and darted out into traffic. jaywalking. Virginia state law requires pedestrians to use marked As much as I’d like to blame this on the older drivers and crosswalks if available, including a provision against walking tourists who populate the Colonial Williamsburg area, the city across streets where drivers’ vision may be obscured by something itself should take some of the blame. With such a perplexing like a bend in the road. traffic intersection, better, more visible road signs are more As rage-inducing as the drivers in Confusion Corner can be, the important. Rather than having to stare up at the poorly-placed city itself doesn’t provide enough of an explanation for people to signs in the corner, drivers should be confronted with a very clear understand it at 10-25 miles an hour. I’m not cutting the drivers explanation: “Keep moving except for pedestrians” if you’re on any slack, though. A little awareness and some common sense Jamestown and traveling to Richmond Road or vice versa—these when driving goes a long way, and it could save some folks and drivers have the right of way, as if they were just driving through possibly their young children from the experience of being horna regular roadway corner, and that right of way should not be blasted and given the finger by those who look for signage and relinquished whatsoever, lest even more confusion occur. If know simple right-of-way laws. Being ignorant doesn’t excuse there’s a stop sign, suck it up—wait until traffic clears, and maybe you from not being safe, even if you are just pulling out in front of next time you should consider how you approach this disgusting someone in a slow-moving traffic area. excuse for a traffic interchange. Charlie Perkins is a staff columnist for the DSJ. His views do not The low speed of the area keeps traffic collisions to a minimum, necessarily represent those of the entire staff. even if countless people violate common courtesy and traffic laws
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The Last Chapter
sports
A Lakers Fan’s Reflection on Kobe’s Last Years »
charles lampkins, dsj staff writer
At thirty-five years old, Kobe Bryant doesn’t rank on the list of the five, ten, or even fifteen oldest players still active in the NBA. While he has been in the NBA since his 1996 draft day, both fellow Laker Steve Nash and Miami Heat guard Ray Allen have matched his longevity; in fact, Kevin Garnett of the Brooklyn Nets was drafted in 1995 right out of high school, and has played one more year than Kobe. But when you combine playoff and regular season games, there’s no contest: Kobe Bryant has played more games in the NBA than any current player alive. And that’s just his day job. When you think about the Olympic Games of 2008 and 2012, the stories of the 3 a.m. training sessions, and the summer weeks of shooting 15,000 shots a day, it might just be the case that no one person in the NBA has put in more hours of pushing his body to the limit than Kobe Bean Bryant. T h a t v e r y f a c t Kobe Bryant’s trademark intensity is what made last on display. The all-time Laker season’s injury to has won five NBA championships, his Achilles’ tendon earned one regular season MVP so shocking. For the award, and has been voted eleven man who has played times to the All-NBA first team. through an injury to Photo courtesy of zerictv.wordpress. virtually every body com. part possible, it seemed unfathomable that something so devastating could happen to the one they call Black Mamba. And yet it did. And while the Lakers rallied last season to win four straight games without Kobe and even make the playoffs, watching the team play only cemented the truth that was evident since that night in April when Kobe limped off the court: without Kobe, the Lakers simply aren’t the Lakers. Kobe Bryant has been playing basketball for longer than the lives of most high schoolers. His presence and dominance throughout the past two decades has been more than just a great player doing work; he has literally permeated society to become a cultural staple. For basketball fans, he is one of the most polarizing players ever, in the same vein as Allen Iverson, Carmelo Anthony, and Kareem Abdoul Jabbar. For Kobe fans, his scoring skill is unparalleled. The ability to score from anywhere on the court combined with his Jordan-like will to win makes not only for entertaining basketball, but also championship caliber teams. For detractors, his ball-hogging ways disrupt the flow of offenses, tear into the fabric of team chemistry,
and show young players just exactly what can go wrong when confidence manifests itself in overabundance. Even for casual fans of the game, or people uninterested in the broadcasting of professional basketball, Kobe’s influence is undoubtable. From personal experience, I can’t remember the last time I balled up a piece of scrap paper and threw it into the wastebasket without an obligatory “Kobe!” call as the makeshift ball left my hands. Instead of calling people ballhogs during pickup games, you can substitute “Kobe” without much confusion. It’s ironic that one of the most commonly known and joked about players is also the most intense. It’s such trivial fun to be had from a man who takes his craft so seriously. As a Lakers fan, I can recall an instance in which an opposing player thrusted the ball towards Kobe’s face on an inbounds play, acting as if he intended to hit Kobe in the face; Kobe didn’t even blink. While his effect on team chemistry is still up for judgment, it has always come from a place of inspiration. He clashes with teammates who don’t live up to their full potential, or who seem as if the game doesn’t hold the utmost importance that it wields in Kobe’s universe. See Shaquille O’Neal, Andrew Bynum, and Dwight Howard for more evidence. What to make of his polarizing career? What do we want to remember most? His early years backing up a now-unknown Eddie Jones? Or do we define him by his time three-peat with Shaq that reminded us just how dominant a team could be, a lesson long forgotten after Michael Jordan’s reign? Do we remember him for those years of individual dominance, of 81 points and playoff disappointments? Maybe we remember him for showing us that you can never count Kobe out by winning two more championships after years watching other people lift. Or do we remember him for the way his play spawned and influenced a generation of Rudy Gays and Nick Youngs who shoot first and ask questions later. No matter what we remember him for, this much is certain: The NBA will never be the same once the Black Mamba retires.
When asked if he could beat today’s superstars oneon-one in a recent interview, his Airness Michael Jordan replied, “I don’t think I would lose...other than to Kobe Bryant because he steals all my moves.” Photo courtesy of Google images. THE DSJ - DECEMBER 2013
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sports
Triumph of the Underdog A Year in Review for Men’s Tribe Soccer
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alex cook, dsj sports editor
A regular season record of 9-4-2, two away wins against the number one team in the country at the time, the most shutouts in the CAA this season, and a berth to the CAA finals—what more is there to say about this year’s men’s soccer team at William and Mary? Chris Norris and the boys have put together a season of stellar performances that speak for themselves. A stalwart defense, a platoon of scorers up front, and a freshman wunderkind tending the goal have been the Tribe’s signature this fall. In a season that began with a sixth place pre-season rank in the CAA and stinging memories of a 2012 campaign that saw doubledigit losses, to say that William and Mary has merely turned things around would be a sinful understatement. The team has paid its dues, grinding out tough victories against the country’s best with tenacious defensive play and opportunistic offense. The Tribe is without a shadow of a doubt one of the best college teams in the States and has restored the William and Mary soccer team to the place of prominence that Williamsburgians have come to expect from the boys in green. Before the season even began, head coach Chris Norris set an ambitious schedule for the 2013 campaign, with eight NCAA tournament teams and three ACC opponents, to go along with the always-challenging CAA conference schedule. In an August interview, the coach had these words to say about the seventeenmatch docket: “We are really excited about our 2013 schedule,” Norris said. “It is our goal each year to challenge ourselves with a demanding schedule. We aspire to be back in the NCAA Tournament and to do that through an at-large bid, you must play a strong schedule and win games. Nearly half of the teams on our regular-season schedule were in the NCAA Tournament in 2012, including three seeded teams that all reached the Elite Eight.” In the last regular season coaches’ poll, the Tribe was voted to the 21st spot in the nation, and ranks tenth in the NCAA RPI, a quantitative rankings system that incorporates wins, losses, and strength of schedule. It’s almost safe to say that Norris and the Green and Gold have their name penciled in for the Big Dance in November, no matter what the result of the CAA finals turned out to be. Though the Tribe players now find themselves in a favorable position, there’s no doubt that the season didn’t have its early hitches and miscues, starting the season with a loss to St. Francis, 0-1. After dispatching with ODU fairly easily, the Tribe returned to Williamsburg to face the N.C. State Wolfpack from the ACC. In a game that came right down to the wire, a free kick in suddendeath double overtime sealed the game for N.C. State. However, the tough loss sparked a fire for the Tribe that has yet to go out. Since, the Green and Gold have lost only thrice, shutting out opponents eight times on a tear that boasts ten wins and two ties. Only two games after the loss to the Wolfpack, William and Mary found itself slotted to play the top team in the nation, the Creighton Bluejays. With the game knotted up at 2-2 in double overtime, Ben Coffey was streaking down the sideline when fellow redshirt senior Chris Perez found him with a beautiful ball. Coffey sent in a low cross that freshman Jeff Bombelles slammed home on his first
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THE DSJ - DECEMBER 2013
touch, giving the Tribe its first victory over an NCAA number-one since 2004. Over the course of the next eight days, the Williamsburg side was scheduled to play No. 24 Elon, and the team that took Creighton’s place atop the national rankings, the North Carolina Tarheels, in Chapel Hill. For the fourth straight match, the cardiac kids of Williamsburg found themselves in sudden-death double overtime against the Elon Phoenix, but a timely header from senior captain Roshan Patel finally ended the match in the 108th minute. With two wins against ranked opponents under their belt, the boys from Williamsburg entered the game against the Tarheels playing with tremendous confidence. In a game where chances were few and far between, Jackson Eskay was able to poke a ball past the Carolina goalkeeper after a miscue from the Tarheels’ back line. Ultimately the standout junior’s opportunistic finish would give the Tribe the winning edge in a hotly contested match, and its third straight win against a nationally-ranked team, a feat never before accomplished by William and Mary. Though that three-match stretch was likely the highlight of this year, the Tribe still churned out a strong CAA campaign, only just ending in heartbreak in the CAA championship match against Drexel. Not counting a likely NCAA tournament run, the Green and Gold have picked up the pieces after a disappointing year, concluding the season ranked 21st in the nation, at an overall record of 11-5-2. In front of a defense led by CAA defensive player of the year Will Smith and freshman phenom Mac Phillips in goal, sophomore Jackson Eskay leads the scoring sheet for the Tribe, just edging out junior Chris Albiston and assist-leader Chris Perez. With seven separate individuals garnering all-conference recognition (only two of whom are graduating), it’s clear the respect the Tribe has earned within the CAA, and across the country. They may not win the NCAA championship this season, but on any given day this William and Mary side has the ability to beat any team in the country. And who knows, when you don’t let goals in, you tend not to lose games. We’ll see where the chips fall, but I wouldn’t be surprised if this group of young men make a deep run in the postseason this year, and for a few years to come.
Tribe men’s soccer defeated JMU on November 6th by a score of 1-0. Photo by Sam Girdzis.
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sports
For the Good of the Game »
The Long Putter Debate
jeffrey knox, dsj co-editor in chief
Golf is a gentleman’s game. It takes pride in its ancient history, traditions, and strict adherence to the rules. For these reasons, the general public often perceives golf as being elitist and snobby. With the recent debate over the legality of the anchored stroke (employed by users of long and belly putters, which are longer than conventional putters), golf’s rule-making bodies have yet again showcased their reluctance to change with the times. Instead, they proved stubborn, clinging to the refrain of “preserving the integrity of the game.” The decision made this past summer to outlaw anchoring the putter has, in my opinion, severely compromised the long-run growth of the game and its enjoyment at all levels. Since their inception, long putters were regarded as crutches for old men. Only a handful of PGA Tour professionals actually used extended-length putters, whereas they had a notable prevalence on the senior tours. Thus, for a few decades, long putters flew under the radar, mostly because they were deemed a last resort for players on the back-end of their careers. But then the inevitable occurred. In August of 2011, on a steamy day in Atlanta, Keegan Bradley won a major title—the PGA Championship—using a belly putter. But the tempest didn’t stop there. Webb Simpson and Ernie Els won the U.S. Open and British Open in 2012, both with belly putters. Adam Scott finished off the “Grand Slam” in 2013 by using his long putter to sink two clutch putts and win the Masters. The newfound success of the anchored stroke was unsettling to certain members of the golfing community. Suddenly, players using long putters were labeled as cheaters. In response, Els stated: “As long as it’s legal, I’ll keep cheating like the rest of them.” Els used to be vehemently opposed to long putters, even advocating for them to be banned. Both Els and Scott rose to the top of the game using short putters early in their careers, but subsequently encountered struggles with the flat stick. In such a slump, players begin to tinker and experiment until they find something that works. For golfers, “different strokes for different folks” is the central maxim. Still others, especially those with recurring back problems, such as Rocco Mediate and Fred Couples, use longer putters in order to avoid having to bend over. But most contenders called foul play with players like Bradley and Simpson, who began using long putters during their college days. Golf traditionalists began to fear that junior golfers might pick up long putters on a more regular basis. In essence, those in opposition wanted to put an end to the long putter “fad” before it really took hold. It’s clear that the debate arose as a direct result of the success of the long putter on the big stage. The rule-making bodies, the USGA and R&A, began an investigation into the issue. They solicited input from manufacturers, professionals, amateurs, and golfing associations like the PGA of America. They consulted the statistics to determine whether the long putter actually afforded a quantifiable advantage on the greens. Despite the fact that all of this research pointed to the conclusion that anchoring should remain legal, the decision was made to ban the anchored stroke. The ban will take effect in 2016 when the newest edition of the Rules of Golf is released. Let me elaborate. Sure, there were numerous outspoken players who wanted to see an immediate ban, most of whom came from the professional ranks. But the wide majority of golfers, especially those who use long putters, were opposed. The PGA of America stated
Adam Scott sinks a crucial putt on the 18th hole en route to a 2013 Master’s win in Augusta with the help of his long putter. Photo courtesy of foxnews.com. that they were “disappointed” by the final verdict by the USGA and R&A, claiming it would have a “negative impact on both enjoyment and the growth of the game.” Manufacturers will also take a hit to their final sales figure, as long putters will soon be off the market. Further, anybody who is familiar with golf knows that long putters do not provide a competitive advantage. Only Carl Pettersson, an experienced user of the long putter, consistently ranks as one of the top putters on the PGA Tour. Many other players, such as Scott and Els, are still mediocre, at best, on the greens. In addition, becoming a proficient putter requires hours of practice and dedication, regardless of the putter’s length. For this reason, many long-time users of the long putter may find the new anti-anchoring rule to be detrimental to their career. Tim Clark, the diminutive South African who needs an anchored putter due to a disability in which he can’t supinate (rotate) his forearms, stands out in particular. On a practical level, the ban will damage many professionals’ ability to find continued success in the game that is ultimately their job. I’m also speaking from personal experience, as I used a long putter for more than a year but have since switched back to a short putter. Believe me, though, when I say that I never would have even considered using a long putter had I not experienced real tough times on the green. I believe that the anchoring ban will drive a good number of people from the game, simply because they can’t play well with a short putter. Golf is an extraordinarily hard game that has seen minimal growth in recent years. Limiting the number of options in how to play will not reverse this trend. I believe that the foremost concern facing golf these days is not short vs. long putters, but the ridiculous distances that golf balls can travel. Sure, hitting 300+ yard drives is sexy. But frankly, I’m tired of watching professionals tearing up par 5’s, and reaching 600-yard holes in two shots. That’s more of an affront to golf’s integrity than anything else. At the end of the day, rules are rules. Like any good law-abiding citizen, we have to live with them, for better or for worse. In the case of long putters, I think the latter will hold true. THE DSJ - DECEMBER 2013
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sports
Unlikely Heroes Fenway’s Fun-Sized Idols
and trying to climb up through the minor-league system.” Pedroia has always been that way—determined. He wouldn’t quit until he Big Papi wasn’t always big. And Dustin Pedroia never will be. had proven wrong all those who doubted him. In 2007 he became But these two ballplayers are huge in the hearts of every Boston fan. the regular second basemen of the Boston Red Sox. The same year Dustin Pedroia first got his hands on a bat when he was still in he would go on to win AL Rookie of the Year as the Red Sox beat diapers. Since then, he has never stopped swinging. He grew up in the Rockies in four games to win the World Series. Success was not everlasting though. In 2012, the Boston Red Sox northern California, played college ball at Arizona State University, and was drafted in the second round by the Boston Red Sox in 2004. finished the season 69-93, the worst in the American League. They But many people are drafted and never play a game in the major had become a joke, a perfect example of how a team could utterly leagues. For two years, Pedroia fought through the farm system collapse. Manager Bobby Valentine, hired in December 2011, was subsequently fired. He went and struggled to prove to on to criticize the play of everyone that he had what Ortiz. It wasn’t only him it takes to play big-league though; everyone seemed ball. Everyone could see that to be questioning the value he had incredible talent. He of Ortiz. In 2013, Ortiz was a natural baseball player. answered those questions. But there was one thing that At 2:49 p.m. on April 15, held him back, one thing the city of Boston shook. that coaches, scouts, and Two bombs exploded near his fellow players always the finish line of the Boston doubted in him. One thing Marathon, leaving three he couldn’t change. dead and 264 wounded. David Ortiz was signed by Four days later the city the Seattle Mariners in 1992. was locked down as a Like Pedroia, he did not find his way to the major leagues Boston’s best celebrate an Ortiz homer. Photo courtesy espn.com. daylong manhunt unfolded, culminating in one dead for quite some time. In 1996 he was traded to the Minnesota Twins as a no-name: Literally the bomber and another in custody. David Ortiz watched this unfold trade agreement included David Ortiz as “a player to be named as he rehabbed an Achilles injury he suffered in 2012. Days later, later.” He played his first major league game in September of 1997 Ortiz emerged as the face of the Red Sox fight against terrorism and for the next five years would split time between the Twins and when he took the mic at a pregame ceremony honoring the bombing their minor league affiliate, the New Britain Rock Cats. Over the victims. “This is our f—— city! And no one is going to dictate our course of six seasons and 455 games, Ortiz recorded 58 home runs freedom. Stay strong!” he said. Ortiz has a way with words. Boston knows it, and so do his and 238 RBIs. He was then cut by the Twins organization. Not teammates. In game 4, down 2-1 against the Cardinals in the World good enough, they said. Dustin Pedroia is 5’7” tall. That’s a fact he’s never been able Series, Ortiz gathered his teammates in the dugout, reminding to escape. Sure, he’s been playing with (and dominating) bigger them that this was the game they had dreamed of playing in. This players since age seven. Sure, he can get on top of just about any was the culmination of all those years of hard work. This was their fastball thrown his direction. But try telling that to the hundreds opportunity to prove themselves, and to show the world exactly of collegiate scouts who overlooked him. Or to the security guard who Boston was. The Red Sox went on to win game 4, game 5, and game 6. Over who wouldn’t let him through the players’ entrance at Coors Field. the course of the series, Dustin Pedroia recorded five hits, five runs, This kid is short. But too short? Not a chance. In 2004, David Ortiz became Big Papi. Well, technically, Ortiz a walk, and an RBI. David Ortiz recorded two home runs, six RBIs, was signed by the Red Sox in 2003. He split time with Jeremy eight walks, and batted an unprecedented 11/16 (.688). This would Giambi and rumor has it that he had trouble remembering his be his third World Series win in less than 10 years. The Red Sox, in many ways, brought Boston back to life. Fenway teammates’ names, so he just called them all “Papi.” Eventually he learned their names, probably around the time he earned the Park, arguably the most historic park in the country, has become starting DH spot. So his teammates began to call him “Papi,” and a symbol of strength, perseverance, and struggle. Not only for the the “big” part is pretty obvious. But it wasn’t until 2004 that “Big people of Boston who saw their mantra, “Boston Strong,” carved into center field, but also to the players, who have dreamed for Papi” came to mean something more than size. Pedroia watched the 2004 Boston Red Sox win the World Series, years of one day stepping up to home plate and sending a ball over breaking the Curse of the Great Bambino, on a television set from the Monster in left field. Baseball in Boston is more than a game. his minor league clubhouse in Sarasota, Florida. Sure, he was a Nobody understands this better than teammates Dustin Pedroia part of the organization, but as he says himself in his book Born and David Ortiz. For them, this World Series is much more than to Play, “I would try to follow the Red Sox, but it wasn’t my main a trophy. It’s proof. It’s recognition. It’s enough to show everyone objective to watch the big team. I was more worried about myself who doubted them just how wrong they were.
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scott guinn, dsj associate sports editor
THE DSJ - DECEMBER 2013
Across 2. This fraternity's new house on Ukrop Dr is the closest one to the Caf 3. The name of one of the three ships that successfully made the transatlantic voyage in 1607 to Jamestown 6. An aircraft carrier named after this U.S. president was recently christened at the Newport News Shipyard (see page 6-7) 8. This Colonial Williamsburg tavern is the only one not located on DoG Street 12. This famous actress, a W&M alumnus, had a costume exhibit in the Muscarelle Museum this semester 13. This graduate school of marine science is a part of W&M and is located in Gloucester Point (give the acronym) 14. This newly elected state delegate from the 93rd District graduated from W&M in 1989 16. This modern dance company performed pieces choreographed by dance faculty this semester at Dancevent 17. The signature building on campus, it was constructed in 1700 and has been burned down multiple times
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An Editor’s Last Words
sean sweeney, dsj opinion editor
People always say that your college years fly by, but I never realized just how quickly they would go. Seemingly just a few months ago I was starting out as a freshman in Barrett Hall, filled with anxious anticipation for what the next four years would bring and completely unaware of how much I would come to despise Morton. With graduation looming at end of December, I was asked to reflect on my experiences. I originally thought about writing a chronological review of my time here in Williamsburg, highlighting the most significant events from the past few years. However, I realize that most students would have no clue what I was talking about, having still been in high school during the days of the Living Wage Coalition and the Hurrication. So instead of reminiscing about bygone times, I’d like to offer a few pieces of advice that I’ve gleaned from my time here at the College: 1. Study abroad. You’ll never have a better opportunity to live in a foreign country and experience another culture up close. Take advantage of it while you can. 2. Don’t worry about grades so much. Yes, it’s important to do well, but college is about a lot more than memorizing formulas and concepts. 3. Develop a close relationship with at least one professor. Talking with someone during office hours is nice, but take the next step and grab lunch together. 4. Do the Triathlon early in the fall or late in the spring. That water can get really cold in between. 5. Savor the experience. It’ll be over before you know it. I’d love to offer a longer list, but my time remaining here is short…as is the remaining space on this page. So I’d just like to say thanks for the memories, William and Mary. It’s been a blast. Sean Sweeney is the outgoing opinion editor for the DSJ. He has been on staff for the past 3.5 years as a writer, editor, and business manager.
Down 1. The DoG Street Journal office is located in the basement of this building 4. The most popular major at William and Mary 5. This Tribe team advanced to the College World Series for the first time in over ten years 7. The Law School is named after this scholar and judge who once taught Thomas Jefferson 9. This school is a traditional rival of W&M's, and the annual football matchup is called the Capital Cup 10. This golfer became the first Australian to win the Masters Tournament (see page 21) 11. The last name of the Tribe soccer player featured on the magazine's cover 14. TJ's residence near Charlottesville and a street name in Williamsburg 15. The last name of the current SA Student Body President
THE DSJ - DECEMBER 2013
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Backstage at La Cage Aux Folles >> Lauren Su, DSJ Photo Editor