The Flat Hat
Vol. 102, Iss.14 | Friday, October 19, 2012 | The Twice-Weekly Student Newspaper of The College of William and Mary
“ same
Fundamentally, we are the
human being.”
—His holiness the 14th dalai lama at kaplan arena oct. 10
Dalai Lama promotes human compassion His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama speaks to more than 8,000 at Kaplan Arena Oct. 10 bY katherine chiglinsky Flat hat news editor
His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso the 14th Dalai Lama spoke of compassion and world issues while donning a College of William and Mary visor at Kaplan Arena Oct. 10. The 1989 Nobel Peace Prize winner addressed a crowd of 8,200 students and community members at the College. An even larger audience tuned into the live streaming of the event which garnered 9,678 total views, according to the Office of University Relations. The Dalai Lama first spoke about the common threads of humanity. “Fundamentally, we are the same human being,” the Dalai Lama said. “I feel that many troubles we are facing are our own creation. There is too much emphasis on our differences — differences of religions, races, nationalities.” He explained that many of the troubles in the world come from the emphasis on these secondary-level divisions, when, as he pointed out, we are fundamentally the same. The Dalai Lama detailed a visit with former President George W. Bush in which he acknowledged the former President’s humanity while disagreeing with his use of force in the Middle East. “Really nice person on human level,” he said about the former President. “It was a very good motivation but never
use force.” He also noted that human intelligence forces our compassion for each other to a higher level. “Now, with the help of intelligence, we can extend our love, compassion infinitely,” he said. Recognizing and practicing compassion, he noted, would help communities coexist peacefully. “Happy life depend on rest of community,” he said. “Therefore, others
are the source of another’s future happiness.” Although he is the leader of Tibetan Buddhism, the Dalai Lama stated that compassion should go beyond the reaches of religion. “Please don’t think practice of compassion or love or kindness as some religious practice,” the Dalai Lama said. “We need secular way to approach human compassion.” Following the Dalai Lama’s speech,
associate professor of religious studies Kevin Vose read questions submitted by students, first asking His Holiness about the importance of multi-faith conversations. The Dalai Lama explained that the basic message of all religions encourages multi-faith conversations. “If you examine what’s the real message of these different religions, [it’s that] all deserve love, tolerance, compassion,” he said. “If you practice
sincerely, all have same potential to produce sensible human being.” The Dalai Lama warned the audience that if they ever choose to change religions, they should always respect their former religion. On the topic of technology, he felt that technology was a great improvement in recent decades but also told students to beware of choosing technology over their own brainpower. Mimicking a couch potato, the Dalai Lama’s impression of a technology addict induced laughter across the arena. Other students asked for the Dalai Lama’s advice on how to deal with feeling overwhelmed and about the Buddha’s role in modern society. After receiving a standing ovation, the Dalai Lama presented a khata, a Tibetan ceremonial scarf, to Vose, an act that is often a sign of blessing. Students led the charge to bring the Dalai Lama to campus. Collaboration among the Student Assembly, AMP and the International Relations club helped fund the event. “What makes the event especially significant is that [the College’s] students have been at the forefront of His Holiness’s visit from the very beginning,” Board of Visitors Rector Jeffrey Trammel ’73 said. Student Assembly President Curt
all photos by matt carpenter / THE FLAT HAT
See dalai lama page 3
All students on the waiting list were able to receive a ticket for the event and general public tickets sold out within 20 minutes.
campaign 2012
Williamsburg
City discusses pool’s future Students show support at Romney rally College asks for approval of renovation projects bY annie curran the flat hat
The future of a failing pool and renovations at the College of William and Mary were all on the table at the Oct. 8 Williamsburg City Council meeting. During a presentation of the proposed legislative properties for the 2013 General Assembly, the plans for renovation at the College were introduced. The College asked for approval for the renovation of Tyler Hall and Campus Residence Facilities. The projects would cost $16.4 million and $9.7 million, respectively. “The College asks that Williamsburg support William and Mary’s priority to
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secure a sustainable funding model that supports academic excellence, financial aid and faculty and staff compensation,” Assistant City Manager Jodi Miller said. Mayor Clyde Haulman discussed the goals he wants to pursue during the term, such as creating better signs for Prince George and Boundary Streets, incorporating new businesses into the tourism alliance, and encouraging community members to volunteer at elementary schools. Jason Saunders ’12 gave a presentation about the future of Quarterpath Pool. Saunders is a former city council intern and currently works as an intern at the Virginia
Today’s Weather 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
See city council page 4
Presidential candidate Mitt Romney outlines five-point plan
bY emily stone the flat hat
Members of the College Republicans weathered rain to hear presidential candidate Gov. Mitt Romney speak Oct. 8 in Newport News. Romney was appreciative of the crowd that showed up despite weather conditions. “People ask why it is that I’m so confident we’re going to win,” Romney said. “I’m confident because I see you here on a day like this, this is unbelievable.” The candidate touched on the recent debate and his platform,
Inside opinions
Preparing for Fisher v. Texas
Rainy High 75, Low 48
The outcome of Fisher v. Texas, a Supreme Court case on affirmative action, could potentially affect the College’s admissions process. If this happens, we should be ready. page 5
outlining his five-point plan to restart the economy. “Number one, I’ll take full advantage of our oil, our coal, our natural gas, our nuclear, and our renewables. Number two, I’ll make sure we get trade that works for us, open up new markets for trading, crack down on China if and when they cheat. Number three, I’m going to make sure our training programs work for the workers of today, that we get our kids the education they need. I’m going make sure that our kids, and their parents, and the teachers, they come first. And that the teacher’s
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union will have to come behind. Number four, I will get us on track to a balanced budget, and number five, I will champion small business. I’ll make sure our tax policies and our regulatory policies and health care, all these things come together to make it easier for small businesses to grow and thrive,” Romney said. Romney’s belief that the government does not effectively create jobs in the economy spoke to some College Republicans. “I joined the College See romney page 4
Dukes best Tribe in overtime
The College’s thrilling upset bid against James Madison falls just short as a result of a failed two point conversion attempt in the second overtime period. page 8
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THE PULSE
News Editor Katherine Chiglinsky News Editor Meredith Ramey fhnews@gmail.com
The Flat Hat | Friday, October 19, 2012 | Page 2
THE BUZZ
All The News that’s unfit to print
According to the Williamsburg-Yorktown Daily, two small private aircraft were intercepted this past Saturday after they entered airspace that had been restricted for the duration of President Barack Obama’s debate preparations in Kingsmill Resort. Two fighter jets escorted the airplanes out of the restricted area, and they were allowed to continue flying without further incident.
Encourage people to vote. Knock on doors, make phone calls. I can’t even tell you how fundamental your grassroots efforts are to our system of government.”
—Rep. Rob Wittman, VA-1
BEYOND THE ‘BURG
Colonial Williamsburg, the College of William and Mary and Preservation Virginia recently submitted a letter to the State Corporation Commission opposing a proposed power line crossing the James River, according to http://hamptonroads. com. Dominion Virginia Power has proposed two potential sites for the power line but has stated their preference for a line that will cross the James River from Surrey County to James City County. The three institutions cite the power line’s potentially negative effects on the area’s tourism industry, and the Historic Triangle’s goal of becoming a World Heritage site as their objection to the power line. A 19-year-old James City County resident pleaded guilty this past week to a felony charge of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, according to the Williamsburg-Yorktown Daily. The man was arrested this past spring after authorities raided his home and found 2.5 pounds of marijuana, a digital scale, a shotgun and a marijuana plant. The estimated street value of the seized drugs was about $25,000.
According to the Associated Press, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources released a report stating that the number of striped bass in the Chesapeake Bay has reached a record low. State officials said the decline mostly likely stems from unfavorable weather during spawning season. The agency said that while the fish are not being overfished, there are concerns that the reduced population may adversely affect Maryland and Virginia’s recreational and commercial fishing industries.
A THOUSAND WORDS
COURTESY PHOTO / PINKISTHENEWBLOG.COM
Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy’s statements condemning gay marriage prompted protests and a movement to ban the fast food chain from college campuses.
Elon removes Chick-Fil-A from campus
Berkley alters protest policy in wake of lawsuit
The student government at Elon University in North Carolina voted 35-11 to replace the on-campus Chick-Fil-A with an alternative restaurant, according to The Huffington Post. The university joins the list of schools calling for the removal of the fast-food restaurant from their campuses, after the president of the company, Dan Cathy, stated his opposition to gay rights. Cathy also affirmed that the company has donated millions of dollars to anti-gay organizations. St. Mary’s College in Maryland was ahead of the curve, having closed the campus Chick-Fil-A in September. Elon University administrators will make the final call on whether the on-campus location will stay in business.
The University of California–Berkeley is considering changes to the language of its policy regarding student demonstrations and protests after a lawsuit was brought before the school last year. The plaintiff in the suit was a member of a student Zionist organization at Berkeley, and she alleged that a member of an on-campus pro-Palestinian group attacked her during a demonstration. Although the suit was dismissed by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, Berkeley is considering changes in its policy regarding the blocking of entrances during demonstrations and the display of fake firearms.
Flyers propose white history month at Mercer
Kaplan reviews social media in college application process
According to The Huffington Post, a flyer declaring November and December to be “White History Months” has been popping up in Mercer University residence halls. The flyer, which calls for two months due to the overwhelming quantity of white history, has been met with strong condemnation from the Mercer University community. As quoted in The Huffington Post, Mercer University President Bill Underwood wrote that the flyer “demeaned efforts to promote education about people of diverse races and cultures and their contributions to our society.” In addition to its appropriation of a celebration of white history, the flyer criticized the lack of white student organizations at Mercer.
As printed in Georgetown University’s newspaper, The Hoya, Kaplan Test Prep has released new figures showing how great an effect Facebook and Google searches have on college admissions decisions. According to Kaplan, 27 percent of admissions officers use Google, and 26 percent use Facebook, to help in the decision process when choosing between prospective students. Of the admissions officers who used online media to research applicants, 35 percent reported that they found content that hurt their applicants’ chances of acceptance, including photographs of underage drinking and offensive posts.
Anita Jiang / the FLAT HAT
CAMPUS POLICE BEAT
CORRECTIONS
Oct. 1 to Oct. 8
In the Oct. 9 article, The Flat Hat incorrectly attributed the Building Tomorrow article byline to Katelyn Pryor. Eleanor Lamb wrote the article.
Oct. 1 — A laptop was reported stolen 1 Monday, from Room 118 in Swem Library.
The Flat Hat wishes to correct any facts printed incorrectly. Corrections may be submitted by e-mail to the editor of the section in which the incorrect information was printed. Requests for corrections will be accepted at any time.
Oct. 2 — A parking decal sticker was 2 Tuesday, reported stolen from a car parked at 100 Wake Drive. Oct. 2 — $60 was reported stolen from a 3 Tuesday, wallet in Sadler Center.
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The Flat Hat
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Oct. 3 — A bike was reported stolen 4 Wednesday, from 500 Ukrop Way. Oct. 6 — A burglary, simple assault 5 Saturday, and destruction of property was reported at Jamestown North.
‘STABILITAS ET ET FIDES’ FIDES’ || ESTABLISHED ESTABLISHED OCT. OCT. 3, 3, 1911 1911 ‘STABILITAS
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News in brief College benefits from Dominion’s grant
Research leads to marine parasite removal
Mysterious migratory pattern studied
The College of William and Mary received a $45,000 grant from Dominion Virginia Power and The Dominion Foundation for students to use in the planning, design and management of the EcoVillage project. The project will replace the 65-year-old Lodges with sustainable buildings that will be built to achieve a net zero environmental impact. Faculty with expertise across various subject areas will guide students throughout the course of the EcoVillage’s design and management. The project will support interdisciplinary education at the College and will continue the mission to move toward sustainability.
After 15 years of research, professor Jeff Shields and other researchers at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science have a complete understanding of Hermatodinium, a singlecelled parasite that runs rampant in blue crab populations and other aquaculture operations and fisheries across the world. Hermatodinium infects 50 to 70 percent of juvenile blue crabs that inhabit Virginia’s seaside bays. Research has led to the development of cost-effective techniques to limit its prevalence. It has been estimated that the removal of Hermatodinium may lead to up to a 50 percent larger harvest.
Biologist Fletcher Smith and a team from the Center for Conservation Biology (CCB) of the College of William and Mary and Virginia Commonwealth University traveled to the Mackenzie River in northern Canada to study the migration pattern of whimbrels, a curlew species of migratory bird. These birds have a relatively mysterious and unusual migration pattern that the CCB has been studying since 2008. Smith and his team trapped the whimbrels in their breeding areas and attached tracking devices to the birds, allowing them to understand the entire migration pattern.
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Friday, October 19, 2012
The Flat Hat
college policy
SA approves five Homecoming Grants
Honor Council Advisory Committee formed to evaluate Honor Code yearly by claire gillepsie the flat hat
The politics of the country at large played into the politics of the College of William and Mary last Tuesday when the Student Assembly kicked off its senate meeting with a video parodying a presidential candidate. Yet, the approaching Homecoming festivities and the Honor System Advisory Committee quickly took precedence over national politics. Homecoming grants were given to Sigma Phi Epsilon, Sigma Pi, Pi Beta Phi, Kappa Alpha, and Alpha Epsilon Pi for festivities, including a carnival in the Sunken Garden, a campus-wide costume party Oct. 24, “Tribal Beats” Oct. 25 and “Illumination” Oct. 26. “Tribal Beats” and “Illumination” will both feature a DJ in the Sunken Garden. The grants totaled $10,126. “I am very glad the Student Assembly has had this opportunity to work closely with campus organizations to plan events that will really enhance the homecoming experience,” Senate Chair Kendall Lorenzen ’15 said in an email. Noah Kim ’13 and Zann Isacson ’13 were unanimously appointed to the newly created
Honor System Advisory Committee. Both students served on the Honor System Review Committee, which led a review of the Honor Code last year. The Honor System Advisory Committee will continue to evaluate the Honor Code to ensure that it is functioning efficiently. “This will protect the community of trust we all hold so dear while ensuring fairness so that every student is treated fairly in the system,” Kim said. “This year, the Honor System Advisory Committee will be charged with implementing and codifying several proposals of the Honor System Review Committee.” The SA also proposed allocating $40,000 for a concert during I AM W&M diversity week. “The Student Assembly has a great opportunity to expand the scope of I AM W&M week on campus. I AM W&M week has been a successful initiative for years that students have thoroughly enjoyed,” the SA bill states. The finance, outreach, student life and executive committees will review the proposal. Additionally, the outreach committee is looking for ways to ensure that students’ voices are represented through the SA, perhaps through the institution of public surveys. The “What else can the
michelle gabro / THE FLAT HAT
The SA approved grants to fund a campus carnival, a costume party and a DJ for homecoming weekend at their weekly meeting.
SA do for you?” campaign was launched officially last Thursday. SA Vice President Melanie Levine ’13 also discussed the possibility of a Spooktacular event, which would involve College students as well as
Williamsburg families, and which would provide an afternoon of service opportunities for SA members. The outreach committee discussed the possibility of the SA working with the Berkeley Middle School student government.
CITY COUNCIL
Williamsburg analyzes new goals and initiatives Community members raise concern that healthy communities not included in list by veronique barbour The flat hat
The Williamsburg City Council sat down to examine and revise the city’s goals, initiatives and outcomes at its meeting last Thursday. Williamsburg has implemented broad goal statements since the early ’90s, but every two years the council analyzes whether they have met the goals it has set for the community. “They are designed to cover a two-year
period. … In some cases, it is looking at what the city needs to work on, or a longterm goal,” City Manager Jack Tuttle said. “So desired outcomes are measured for each of the goals, and they are matched to observed results, which is evidence of how well we are progressing or not progressing.” Thus far, the Council has eight goals: the culture of the city, economic vitality, transportation, public safety, human services and education, culture and recreation, environmental sustainability,
citizen engagement and city governance. However, John Whitley, a citizen of Williamsburg, felt that a goal was missing: healthy communities. Vice Mayor Paul Freiling ‘83 first brought up this goal in a previous work session. “Vice Mayor Freiling, I really appreciated your thought about [adding] something that deals with [a] healthy community and healthy city, and I had another piece: healthy citizens,” Whitley said. “We [should] grab that piece and look at expanding that concept into a
more holistic approach to assure that all people are protected, recognized, respected and accepted.” Whitley explained that the city of Williamsburg should focus on the groups of people that are being subjugated by certain laws and how community programs can help them to become healthy citizens. “There are laws that violate the rights and dignities of women, suppress voter registration and deny LGB folk the right to adopt,” Whitley said. “I call these laws
acts of hatred because they deny the respect and dignity of these people.” In an attempt to revise the city’s goals, Freiling suggested that the Council include healthy communities in nearly all of its goals. “We [may] decide that it is worth creating a separate category for healthy communities [as] another level of reaching our objective … but we [may] also find a way of connecting each of the specific items within the other categories,” Freiling said.
Dalai Lama packs Kaplan Arena Presents khata to community members DALAI LAMA from page 1
Mills ’13 worked to coordinate the event. The event was often compared to the Queen’s visit to the College in 2007, due to the magnitude of operations. The crowd for the Dalai Lama’s visit, however, greatly outnumbered the 6,000-person crowd for the Queen. “The provost said it himself — this just blew that out of the water,” Mills said. Mills noted that the event ran smoothly with few problems due to either parking or ticket sales. He stated that the total budget for the event increased slightly by the end, due to an uptick in the costs of security. Mills also introduced the Dalai Lama and gave a College visor to the influential religious leader. “It’s the combination of who he is and his comic appearance that just creates a magnetism around him,” Mills said. After Mills introduced his Holiness, the Dalai Lama placed a khata on Mills’ shoulders. “This is no doubt an exciting day, one we will remember for the rest of our lives,” Mills said.
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ALL PHOTOS BY MATT CARPENTER / THE FLAT HAT
Nearly 8,000 showed up to hear the Dalai Lama speak while the live stream of the event garnered 9,678 views.
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The Flat Hat
Friday, October 19, 2012
CAMPUS ORGANIZATIONS
Rob Wittman visits campus to rally voters
Representative addresses College Republicans, discusses national issues central to campaigns
bY aine cain THE FLAT HAT
Rep. Robert Wittman VA-1 addressed the College Republicans Thursday Oct. 11, about the pertinent national topics of taxation, energy and civic responsibility. Wittman, who assumed office in 2007, recognized the listless economy and criticized the current tax system’s lack of clarity. Dismissing the “tax-the-rich” rhetoric as counterproductive, Wittman charged the current tax system with driving jobs overseas. The congressman’s meeting with the late Steve Jobs, who blamed a repatriation tax for the sluggish growth of Apple U.S., served as an example for Wittman of the consequences of further taxation. “Apple Computers was a wildly successful company,” Wittman said. “But while the company was still growing internationally, Apple U.S. was stagnant in terms of revenue. Jobs said to me, ‘If you want to help, do away with repatriation taxes.’” Wittman sits on the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs as a member of the House Committee on Natural Resources. The
congressman, who has an extensive background in environmental health, proposed a holistic approach to domestic energy development. “Virginia has the opportunity to be a leader in terms of offshore energy,” Wittman said. “I’m also a believer in alternative sources of energy. We have to look at everything: fossil fuels, nuclear energy and renewables.” First Vice Chairman of the College Republicans Chandler Crenshaw ’15 expressed hope that the Congressman’s multifaceted platform will inspire more political action as the election year wanes. “Rob Wittman is one of the most pro-environment Republicans in Congress. Hopefully his speech will fire people up and encourage involvement,” Crenshaw said. “It’s just about getting involved.” Wittman concluded his presentation by imploring students to participate in the upcoming election. “Be involved, get your friends and families involved. Encourage people to vote,” he said. “Knock on doors, make phone calls. I can’t even tell you how fundamental your grassroots efforts are to our system of government.” Director of the College Republicans’ Mitt Romney for President campaign Evan Maraist ’15
MICHELLE Gabro / THE FLAT HAT
Rep. Wittman encouraged students to vote in the upcoming November elections during his visit to the College last week.
answered Wittman’s call for political participation. “It’s crunch time, especially for us in a battleground state,” Maraist said. “My team and I
are going to be focused, full-steam ahead, right until November 6th. We are definitely looking forward to Election Day.”
RESIDENCE LIFE
Yates residence hall plagued by frequent fire alarms Over a dozen alarms prompt increased fire education policy efforts; causes vary in location and type by eleanor lamb THE FLAT HAT
Many students dread the thought of a fire alarm pulling them out of bed or forcing them to sprint out of the shower in nothing but a towel. For the inhabitants of Yates Hall, these interruptions have become a part of daily life. Since its residents moved in in August, Yates has had 11 fire alarms. Last year the dormitory did not have an alarm go off until final exam week. Although there has been a significant increase in these disturbances, it is not because of a faulty alarm system. “All of the fire alarms are working and they’ve all passed annual inspections,” Fire Safety Inspector Brad Meirs said. “In the fire alarm world, that is a big deal.” All of the deafening alarms result in students swarming toward the exits to escape the noise, but they were each activated by very different causes. Four resulted from people cooking, two from people pulling them, and two more from hair styling tools, like straighteners or product chemicals. Another two resulted from botched
popcorn-making attempts. The last one was caused by steam from a clothes steamer. The increase caused changes in fire education. In order to avoid a situation like the one in Yates in other dorms, Meirs is tackling the educational side of fire safety. Meirs is going to create a fire safety brochure that will be sent to students’ homes as a part of the orientation packet for next year’s incoming class. The brochure will allow students to familiarize themselves with the causes and procedures for fire alarms early on. In addition to training the Resident Advisor’s on fire safety, he will have the RAs train their residents. “We’re going to take it one step further,” Meirs said. Although students acknowledge that fire alarms are necessary for safety, they admit that they are inconvenient no matter what time they go off. “It’s really annoying, especially if you’re busy [sleeping] or in the bathroom,” Yates RA Mary Grech ’14 said, who experienced only two of the fire drills. The residents sympathize with Grech on having to respond to these alarms at inopportune times. “One night we were put to bed and woken up by
a fire alarm,” Brendan McNamara ’16 said. McNamara was referring to a series of alarms, the first of which occurred on a Saturday morning at about 10:45 a.m., followed by one the next morning at 3 a.m. “[The worst part] is finding your shoes in the middle of the night without contacts in and in the dark,” Rebekah Koch ’16 said. Although it is impossible to know when the alarms will go off, some of the residents plan in order to avoid another evacuation. They have taken extra steps to be cautious even in normal activities. One such resident is Kristin Ritchey ’16, who acts very carefully when using the kitchen. “It’s just very frustrating,” Ritchey said. “We baked cookies one time, and we were fanning the fire alarm like it was our job.” Though many of the Yates residents are irked by the high frequency of fire drills, Grech maintains a positive outlook. She remembers how the alarms went off during finals last year; they pried residents from their textbooks and forced everyone to take a break and hang out. “Maybe if our epidemic continues, we’re all going to be best friends by springtime,” Grech said.
Romney campaigns in Newport News
john anderson / THE FLAT HAT
Since move in, Yates residence hall has suffered 12 fire alarms.
College Republicans recognize contentious November election in Virginia
Council discusses community pool
ROMNEY from page 1
CITY COUNCIL from page 1
Republicans because I think it’s essential for the future of our nation to reduce the national debt and overall reduce the size of government because it’s really not good for the state of the nation,” Ryan Corocan ’16 said. The College Republicans are focusing their efforts on campaigning for Mitt Romney in addition to local candidates such as Rep. Scott Rigell and former Senator George Allen. “Every Saturday we go out door knocking, and Wednesday nights we make phone calls for Mitt Romney for President, and I think both [of] those [activities] really help a lot in the long run,” Corocan said. The College Republicans noted that campaigning in Virginia is especially important for this election year. “Particularly in Virginia — it’s a crucial swing state, so every vote is going to count here,” Marcell Crawford ’16 said. “Through persuasion
courtesy photo / CHANDLER CRENSHAW
Members of the College Republicans wait to shake hands with Mitt Romney.
and providing voters with literature and other information about the candidates, primarily Mitt Romney for the Presidential side, we’re giving these people an opportunity to know a bit more about the candidates and be able to make an informed decision come the election on November 6.”
Resource Authority. “The pool at Quarterpath Park is facing several challenges that the city will need to address before the next season,” Saunders said. In 2012 the pool had a 12 percent cost recovery, which was 4.5 percent less than 2011. Competition is very steep; there are at least 42 local pools. With Water Country USA offering swim lessons last summer, the competition is threatening the pool’s financial future. Memberships also decreased, only 13 families or individuals paid for membership for the entire summer. “It’s rather to see that usage has gone down, but competition is rather significant,” City council member Douglas Pons said. Saunders presented three options. The first is to perform needed maintenance. This could cost $184,350 next year and $73,760 annually. The second option is to close the pool. The demolition would cost $100,000. The third and final option is to create a community partnership with a local pool and provide swimming lessons. This option would cost $150 next year and $6,500 annually. The Williamsburg Community Pool is one possible partner. Saunders and his staff members recommended pursuing the third option. The council members want to continue the discussion with community members. “I’m interested to see, since this is the first time this has been publicly discussed, what the public sentiment is,” city council member Scott Foster ’10, J.D. ’14 said. Council member Judy Knudson expressed her belief that the pool was important to public safety. “I think we have to maintain at least the swim lessons for city residents, because that is really important,” Knudson said. “I’m glad that this is on the table now.” There were brief presentations on the Purchasing Manual Review and city council communications. The county’s purchasing procedures manual was updated due to a new state law. The updates will give the council more money to spend in a few areas before they have to make a formal proposal. These presentations were given by Purchasing Agent Julie Phares and mayor Haulman, respectively.
opinions
Opinions Editor Ellen Wexler fhopinions@gmail.com
The Flat Hat | Friday, October 19, 2012 | Page 5
Staff Editorial
One speech’s value I
Prepare for the results of Fisher v. Texas also noticeably skeptical of the University of Texas’s position during last week’s oral arguments in the Fisher case, which may suggest that they are inclined to rule in favor of restricting or banning the use of race in college admissions. But the court is inherently unpredictable, and a wide range of options are possible, from upholding the current standard to Flat Hat Staff Columnist completely outlawing any kind of affirmative action program at public universities. The College’s current admissions policy, which takes race into consideration in addition to numerous As the Supreme Court gets its new term underway, the eyes other factors when considering applicants could be affected of college administrations are on Fisher v. Texas, a case that significantly under a number of these possible rulings. If the could have wide-reaching implications for how colleges use court were to issue guidelines that conflict with the current affirmative action in their admissions policies. Although the policy, the College would be forced to quickly conform to court’s decision likely won’t be issued in time to affect the the newly established guidelines, or else risk of a flurry of admissions process for the Class of 2017, a decision could discrimination lawsuits from prospective students. necessitate immediate and significant changes to the way the It’s important to note that while the Fisher case is only College of William and Mary operates. Because of how fast concerned with race, the College’s overall efforts to meet its the legal requirements of admissions could change, it would behoove the College to start making preparations now instead of goal of a diverse student body are much broader. The College likes to brag about its visible efforts to increase the enrollment scrambling later. of minority students, but true diversity also encompasses The case involves Abigail Fisher, a white student denied geographical, socioeconomic, cultural and experiential admission to the University of Texas, who argued that differences. With all the possible admissions policies that give an ways to bring together different types advantage to minority students on It would behoove the College to of students, it’s sometimes hard to the basis of race are unconstitutional pinpoint exactly where race should because they violate the Constitution’s start making preparations now fit in. The task becomes even more guarantee of “equal protection instead of scrambling later. difficult when the legality of policies under the law.” Texas argued that the that help to increase enrollment for policy is valid because its program is particular racial groups comes into question. “narrowly tailored” to meet a “compelling interest” of diversity, Having policies that promote diversity is a goal toward which is the current standard established in 2003 by Grutter v. which the College should strive. However, putting together a Michigan. So far, two lower courts have upheld the University’s multidimensional policy that truly encapsulates everything policy as meeting that standard. that is diverse is tough, and it takes a lot of time. That’s the risk However, the Supreme Court may view the case differently. of waiting to act on this issue — having to revise the policy The court is now viewed widely as being less amenable to in such a short time frame that it wouldn’t be as thorough affirmative action programs than it was in 2003. Justices Antonin as we would expect from a high-quality school. The College Scalia, Clarence Thomas and Anthony Kennedy all voted to rule can’t possibly know how exactly the Fisher case might change unconstitutional certain race-based admission policies in the the boundaries in which its admissions policies operate, Grutter case. Justices John Roberts and Samuel Alito, who have but it should be examining a number of possible legal since joined the court, are seen as sharing similar judicial views, outcomes, how they would change the current policy and and those five votes would be enough to change the Grutter what adjustments best represent the school’s commitment to standards or overrule them entirely. These justices combined diversity. Otherwise, it could find itself behind the eight ball in to form a majority in Parents Involved in Community Schools v. one of its most important goals. Seattle, a 2007 case whose ruling placed significant restrictions on school districts’ use of race in school assignments. They were all Email Carter Lockwood at crlockwood@email.wm.edu.
Carter Lockwood
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The staff editorial represents the opinion of The Flat Hat. The editorial board, which is elected by The Flat Hat’s section editors and executive staff, consists of Katherine Chiglinsky, Elizabeth DeBusk, Katie Demeria, Jill Found and Vanessa Remmers. The Flat Hat welcomes submissions to the Opinions section. Limit letters to 250 words and columns to 650 words. Letters, columns, graphics and cartoons reflect the view of the author only. Email submissions to fhopinions@gmail.com.
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I appreciate that for many, particularly in the US, the term ‘evangelical’ is weighted with some heavy stones. I just wish they could look wider and see a more global picture. I don’t mind them wanting to change the term, but I don’t think that’s going to solve their problems.
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Photo by Matt Carpenter, Graphic by Ellen Wexler
n case you missed the flood of emails, the College of William and Mary played host to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama Oct. 10. The College should be proud to have recruited such a notable speaker, and the Student Assembly, International Relations Club and AMP all deserve praise for coming together to help raise the funding required to host the Dalai Lama. The price tag for security and hosting the Dalai Lama’s visit was not cheap for any of these organizations. However, the money was well spent; students benefited from a cultural learning experience, and the College improved its public relations. Students were able to attend the event for free, and while they initially entered a lottery to receive a ticket, all students on the waiting list were able to attend the event. The conglomeration responsible for bringing the Dalai Lama to campus managed to achieve its goal of mobilizing the entire College community to get excited for the event. Furthermore, “The Dalai Lama @ William and Mary: A Preview,” an event cohosted by the Religious Studies Department and the IR club, gave students an opportunity to learn about the Dalai Lama beforehand in order to gain a deeper appreciation for seeing him. The only slight hitch in the plans for making the Dalai Lama event open to all students was the College’s decision not to cancel classes Wednesday afternoon. Students were excused from class with permission from the Dean of Students and most professors cancelled classes anyway, but the College administration should have taken a more united stance to ensure that all students felt that they could attend the event. By hosting such a prestigious speaker, the College was able to gain a significant amount of press from surrounding areas. Tickets for the general public sold out in 20 minutes, and the high demand brought a large number of people to campus. By opening the event to the public, the College was able to engage with the community and benefit the city of Williamsburg. High-caliber speakers further enhance the College’s appeal to high school students by garnering more press for the school. Prospective students will appreciate that, even though the school is relatively small and largely known for academics, the College can still host big name speakers. Finally, this event could help the College set a precedent for hosting prestigious figures. Based on the huge reception the Dalai Lama received from the College, other speakers may be more enticed to visit the College in the future. There is nothing new or exciting about the College bringing impressive figures to campus; however, as a well-known speaker, the Dalai Lama gave the College the opportunity to unite the entire student body and improve public relations. Student organizations should build on this momentum and continue working together in order to host more events of this magnitude. Editor’s Note: Katherine Chiglinsky recused herself from this editorial in order to remain unbiased in her reporting.
— Spencer Bentley on “Why I am (not) evangelical”
The reason why rate-my-professor type of evaluations are a failure is that most students are being subjective about their evaluations and therefore do not consider ... the real aptitude of the teacher in question.
— bookgatorweb on “The right way to rate professors: Removing bias and collecting information effectively”
Why the Dalai Lama was right: Overusing technology isolates us from each other Kristen Hill-Clemons The Flat Hat
Equipped with a smile warm enough to melt a cold heart and a laugh so vivacious it would lighten up the depths of any soul fortunate enough to hear it, the Dalai Lama enraptured an audience of 8,200 students, faculty, staff and non-affiliates of the College of William and Mary with a speech that focused on compassion — “not only nation to nation and human to human, but also human to other forms of life.” In order to be compassionate to each other, we must first learn how to communicate. However, because we live in a society where communication via modern technology is prominent, many people are incapable of
communicating face to face. When answering questions submitted by students, his Holiness was asked his opinion on modern technology and its effects on the spiritual lives of those who use them. Although he praised technology as one of the “great achievement[s]” of the 20th and 21st centuries, he believes there is an overwhelming dependence on it. “[We should] occasionally open the television or use technology, but should not totally rely on these technologies,” the Dalai Lama said, holding firm that an extreme use of technology wastes “our ability and potential.” This confirms my belief that as technology advances, we as a society lose “our ability and potential” to form compassionate relationships with one another. My relationship with technology — from Facebook and Twitter to email and text messaging — is comparable to my addiction to anything that is
sweet and caffeinated. Much in the same way I don’t like to admit that my daily chocolate chip scone and Columbian coffee are not the healthiest breakfast choices, I also hate to admit that our culture’s dependence on modern technology has made human interaction isolated and less compassionate. With the touch of our fingers, we silently hold conversations with the person next to us. We go about our days with headphones plugged into our ears, failing to acknowledge those who pass us. And more often than not, we find ourselves sitting alone, surfing the web or “connecting” to friends and family via the Internet. The time we spend text messaging, tweeting and messaging friends through social media outlets not only discourages face-to-face communication, but also isolates us from one another. What’s even more impersonal than building and maintaining relationships through technology is
when people use electronic devices to avoid the awkwardness of faceto-face confrontation. According to Psychology Today blogger Alex Lickerman, many people choose to use the Internet and other forms of technology to address difficult issues because, “it blocks us from registering the negative emotional responses such messages engender, which provides us the illusion we’re not really doing harm.” Unfortunately, using technology to communicate requires little to no emotion, which can lead to ambiguous messages and cause more damage than necessary. There are, of course, benefits to living in today’s technological world. Educational tools, computers, smart phones and tablets allow us to communicate efficiently with each other and our professors and are also beneficial to those entering the workforce. The Internet, along with today’s modern technology, is an amazing tool that continues to
bring the world closer together. But as advances in technology bridge the physical distances between us, I can’t help but feel that as a society we are slowly drifting apart. Email Kristen Hill-Clemons at kehillclemons@email.wm.edu.
Graphic by Rachel Brooks / the Flat hat
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to punch someone,’ and of course he was like, ‘Punch me, punch me,’ because once you get a stunt credit, you get a lot more money, and you get a SAG card,” Sophia said. “It worked out that he had to get punched. He had to act part of it, of course, because they don’t actually hit people, so you have to fake it. I saw the movie and I actually thought he did a really good job.” She added that she was excited to see her brother in the movie and that she was very impressed with the entire production of “Perks of Being a Wallflower.” “Just the whole premise of being a wallflower and being active in your own life versus watching people live their lives and kind of living through them — it was just really interesting,” she said. “The acting was so good; it was also obviously really exciting to see my brother. I was with three of my friends, and we were all like ‘Oh my gosh, look, look, look,’ and we were bouncing up and down in our seats, and everyone around us probably thought we were crazy.” Joe agreed that being part of the film was an exciting experience. “I met Emma Watson, and she was nice,” he said. “It’s a fun job. You just follow instructions, be quiet, give the director what he wants, be willing to
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to climb a ladder, they have to have a stunt double and people supporting the ladder. If there’s a water scene, they have to have people in wetsuits below the actor and people making sure that nothing happens.” Joe added that the job is not always easy, depending on what kind of scene is being shot. “It got pretty hard when I was working on ‘Lincoln’ because it was a Civil War battle scene and we were fighting in knee-deep water pits and just kind of falling all over the place,” he said. “It was just really messy and really wet and cold.” At the same time, he said he prefers longer work days. “I always hope that I work as long as possible because once you go over eight hours, you start getting paid time and a half and then double time.” Receiving a stunt credit for your work is another way to increase the amount of money you make on a given project. When Joe was approached about “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” he didn’t know if he would be able to receive stunt credit but ended up with the credit as well as a Screen Actors Guild card. “Basically, they were like, ‘We need
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has worked on so far — which were shot in Pittsburgh, Richmond, Staten Island and Baltimore, respectively — were completely different, each with its own specific tasks. “It’s been different every time,” he said. “I’ve played a cop, I’ve played a football player, and I played a Confederate soldier in ‘Lincoln.’” In addition to portraying different roles, stuntmen can have very diverse jobs depending on the nature of the set and on what the actors are doing; they often handle scenes with cars, bikes, heights and water. Sophia Corrigan ’13, Joe’s sister, explained that both she and her brother have learned from their father and uncle that more work goes into planning the scenes with these elements than the typical audience member may recognize when watching the action on screen. “For instance, when you have a driving scene, even just a normal scene where you’re getting into a taxi, you have to plan out every car that’s driving by,” she said. “So my dad used to take the little toy cars, like the Hot Wheels you’d play with on the tracks when you were a little kid, and he’d map them out on the sidewalk. ... If someone has
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or Joe Corrigan ’15, the entertainment business is a family affair. With various relatives who have worked on movie and television sets as stuntmen — and more recently as stunt coordinators — for years, he has essentially been learning the ins and outs of the film and television industries since childhood. “My dad is a stuntman, as well as my uncle, so as I’ve been growing up, they’ve been telling me what it’s like when they work and they give me tips on how to behave on set,” Joe said. “I’ve learned through them.” This knowledge came in handy when Joe was given the opportunity to work as a stuntman on “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” which was released in September. “My uncle was the stunt coordinator, and so I was hired through him, and he fit me into a cafeteria fight scene,” he said. “I haven’t seen the movie yet, but what we did when we were shooting it was that I kind of wrestled a guy off, and I got punched in the throat. I just followed my uncle’s instructions and was under his guidance. I got a stunt contract, so that allowed me to join the Screen Actors Guild Union.” After working on the movie, Joe was hired for several other shoots: he will appear in the film “Lincoln,” which will be released toward the end of the year and in episodes of two television shows — “Made in Jersey” and “House of Cards.” He emphasized that the projects he
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do things multiple times over and over until you get it right, and just be able to change on the fly or change quickly and follow instructions.” Along with working on sets and trying to get hired for more projects, Joe has also been learning the ropes at the College of William and Mary, where he transferred this fall after a year at Old Dominion University. He explained that because his major is still undecided, he’s taking whatever classes interest him and playing basketball in his free time. “I like my professors, and everyone here is very friendly,” he said. “[After college] I want to continue to work in New York and continue to play basketball and travel.” Sophia said that in her opinion, Joe is definitely a more unique student at the College. “He’s taking classes that he’s interested in, not necessarily classes that are leading him toward a major, and I think that’s different from most students here,” she said. She said he stands out because of his experiences and his ideas. “He’s not your average William and Mary student,” she said.
CONFUSION CORNER
There’s no place like the ‘Burg and no home like the College Spending time at another school provides a renewed appreciation for the Tribe community
Dasha Godunova
confusion corner columnist
Over the glorious Fall Break that should have never ended, I had the chance to visit a school with a population nearly eight times larger than that of the College of William and Mary, where a Saturday morning fundraiser had more runners in attendance than our entire undergraduate body. I was amazed at the sheer size of it all — a 40,000 student body population could not have been more impressive at first sight. Unfortunately for the Penn State University Nittany Lions — after four wonderful years at the College — the most valuable lesson this member of the Tribe learned from her visit is that she loves her future alma mater above
any and all others. Don’t get me wrong — Penn State did have wonderful qualities. After seeing an efficient and timely bus system, a glorious Waffle House and an incredible football stadium, I could imagine how exciting a school like that could be. With a student on every corner and more Panera restaurants and pizza places than I could count, Penn State appeared to have huge possibilities. But within the first day on their campus, I was also able to see how my own small, quirky and loosebricked college — filled with historic traditions and colonial carriages — was better than any other campus I have seen. At no other school is the student population quite as close and as open as ours. From Fridays at Five and the Sadler Center Terrace to the wee hours of the morning in Swem during exam period, the spirit of the College could not be stronger, and our student body could not be kinder. We can stop any student at any time and know that we can
count on him or her for help no matter the situation. I know and trust my fellow Tribe Members, and I could not imagine a better environment in which we could spend our college years. I know that upon graduation, I will be able to take the College with me no matter where I go: The alumni will welcome me with open arms no matter the circumstances and many employers love reading “the College of William and Mary” on any resume. The experiences I have had and the lessons I have gained during my time here could not have been more incredible. From undergraduate research to study abroad opportunities to the 400 student and sports clubs, no other college could have offered us the same breadth of passion and opportunities. My everyday experience here has made me realize how lucky I am to have called the College my home for the last four years. There has not been a single day when I have woken up and doubted my decision to come here. Instead, each morning, I choose to smile at the fact that I still have another glorious — and
potentially rainy — day to spend in the City of Williamsburg. My only other hope is to have many more Saturday and Sunday mornings and fewer 8 a.m. mornings to enjoy in the future. Despite its quirks and our witty jokes about the College, we are one unified student body, one group of incredible and passionate individuals; we are the Tribe. We are the College, and what we do with our time here will resonate for years with future members of the Tribe. Most importantly, there is no other group of
6,000 individuals who I would have rather spent the past four years with. Now go forth, my little ones. This article may have had no humor, no facts and especially no logic, but if it inspired just one person today to love our school a little more, I would consider my time here a success. Dasha Godunova is a Confusion Corner columnist and hopes that you can convince your Penn State friends that the College is older, wiser and will one day be superior in all facets, even football.
GRAPHIC BY LIZZIE DABBS / THE FLAT HAT
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Special Collections project recalls anniversaries of Civil War and Civil Rights movement BY KYRA ZEMANICK FLAT HAT STAFF WRITER
The dreary midterms season may have dawned upon most College of William and Mary students, but Hannah Metheny ’13 arrived at Earl Gregg Swem Library excited to see the latest exhibits housed in Special Collections. A history major conducting honors thesis research on Civil War pension records, she immediately inspected the exhibit entitled “The Best Care: Civil War Hospitals.” The exhibit displays a plethora of primary source documents, including a Confederate surgeon’s manual opened to a page illustrating how to properly amputate an ankle. Metheny’s eyes, however, were drawn to the saw. “The saw is morbid,” she said, considering its previous usage in surgical procedures. This exhibit is one among many research ventures associated with “From Rights to Rights: The Long Road to a More Perfect Union,” a project sponsored by Special Collections to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the Civil War and the semicentennial of the Civil Rights movement. The project
was first conceived in 2010 when Bea Hardy, then interim Dean of University Libraries, suggested that Swem follow Williamsburg’s chapter of the Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission’s lead in researching this area of history. Hardy set up a task force of library researchers and faculty to design and implement new educational events. After researching historical programs at other universities, the group came up with a way for Swem to have its own exhibition. “We came across in the literature how, especially within professional organizations, they were not doing exhibits just about the Civil War — they were doing exhibits about bringing it up to the present for people,” Amy Schindler, University Archivist, said. “And so, part of what they were doing was making that connection between the Civil War and the Civil Rights movement and the present. That’s the present in the United States, but it could also become a global focus, too.” Excited about this link between historical periods, Schindler, a selfdescribed twentieth-century historian, and the rest of
the task force decided on a multi-year project. Although they first envisioned a series of exhibits to rotate in the Marshall Gallery at Swem, they wanted to expand the project to include more outreach and speakers. Furthermore, they wanted to engage with the many primary source documents that are currently housed in Special Collections. “One of the things we realized more and more with the nineteenth-century materials from the 1861 to 1865 period is it’s written by everyday people,” Schindler explained. “It’s not written by someone whose job was essentially to be a scribe, so they had perfect handwriting ... So [the written accounts are] in really small journals and diaries and letters, so the handwriting is difficult to read. We decided to do a project to digitize everything in the collection from 1861 to 1865, whether it’s battlefield accounts or someone’s account ledger from a store.” For the past 18 months, over 300 student, faculty and community volunteers have been transcribing materials to be posted on a public website. Among the first documents made available on the website was the diary of Asa John Wyatt, a Confederate officer in the 21st Virginia regiment.
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I think what often really connects people to history ... is when you can make that personal connection for them.
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Amy Schindler, University Archivist of Earl Gregg Swem Library The diary details Wyatt’s participation in the Shenandoah Valley Campaign in 1862, as well as his bouts of typhoid fever and jaundice. Schindler hopes that this “transcription initiative” will lead to the digitization of all 5,000 to 7,000 documents dating to this period. Similarly, the task force began to digitize honors theses, master’s theses and dissertations related to the Civil War and Civil Rights eras. “We sent out 200 emails mostly and some letters [to alumni who partook in these theses], and we got a response rate back of over 50 percent,” Schindler said. Combined with work on exhibits to be displayed in Special Collections, including those on the Battle of Williamsburg and Massive Resistance, the FFTR project has succeeded in bringing students and scholars together to commemorate these two divisive periods of history. Plans are already in the works to collaborate with the College’s “The American Civil War at
Home” symposium by hosting events leading up to the April conference. Moreover, Schindler anticipates hosting a panel discussion of the surviving African American students from Robert Russa Moton High School, who on April 23, 1951, walked out of their school to protest their poor educational environment. Ultimately, Schindler said she hopes the visitors’ engagement with this history will ultimately make the whole project worthwhile. “I think there are people who dig history and they’re Civil War buffs or historical buffs, but I think what often really connects people to history who maybe don’t think of themselves as liking history is when you can make that personal connection for them,” Schindler said. “So in the case of this program it might be that here’s what people your age were doing during the war, or here’s what happened in your hometown, in Prince Edward County where you grew up: did you know that this was one of the Brown vs. Board cases? And so, making people aware of that and connecting them to that, I think that is really exciting.”
The Winter’s Tale: Nonsensical ramblings and saxophonist sheep Impressive acting makes Shakespeare in the Dark play worth seeing, despite tonal inconsistencies BY BRIAN BOLT THE FLAT HAT
“A sad tale’s best for winter,” a character explains near the beginning of “The Winter’s Tale.” That doesn’t mean that the play is necessarily a sad story — in fact, in Ben Lauer’s ’13 minimalist production of the Shakespearean tale in Phi Beta Kappa Memorial Hall’s Studio Theatre, there’s more than enough jocularity to go around. However, the frivolity is mixed with a
deep emotional heft, which makes the character’s admission both accurate and false. The statement, much like the play itself, has the intent of heightening the audience’s expectations before thrashing them to the ground and ripping them to shreds. To begin with, the play doesn’t fit neatly into a single dramatic genre. It is neither entirely a comedy nor a straightforward tragedy. Rather, it has elements of both and divides more or less neatly in the middle: The events prior to intermission take place in a wintry Sicily and have a tragic slant, while the second half is set in springtime Bohemia and is more comedic. This means that for the frugal theatergoer, the purchase of a ticket actually pays for two totally different tales, each with its fair share of unique strengths and weaknesses. To widen the narrative chasm, the two strands of the story are temporally separated by about 16 years. Moreover, the play is a bit like a thaumatrope, a popular Victorian optical illusion. The two sides of the story, tragedy and comedy, spin side by side, desperately trying COURESY PHOTO / BEN LAUER
Catherine Strycharz ‘14 and Will Hart ‘16 play Perdita and Prince Florizel in Ben Lauer’s ‘13 production of Shakespeare’s “The Winter’s Tale.” The performance draws elements from various dramatic genres, including tragedy and comedy.
to appear as if they are on the same plane, but they never quite make it to the same level. This might be a problem on the Bard’s end, but for the audience, it just means that they get a paranoiasoaked tragedy on one hand and a bawdy, preposterous farce on the other. Jamie Ellis ’13 anchors the tragic portion of the production. He shines as the unreasonable King Leontes, convinced that his gracious wife, Erin McIntyre ’15, has conceived a child with another man. In a fit of anger, the king charges his wife with treason and banishes the newborn to the coast of Bohemia, despite protestations from the queen’s ally Pauline, played with impassioned fervor by Sunny Visnavich ’15. The comedic second half picks up after a kindly shepherd, an absurdly in-character Robin Crigler ’14, promises to raise the exiled infant. Sixteen years have passed, and the infant is now the bright, smiling youth Perdita, played with infectious elasticity by Catherine Strycharz ’14. This section is anchored by Perdita’s romance with Prince Florizel (the charismatic Will Hart ’16) and highlighted by the nonsensical ramblings of the ludicrous pickpocket/musician/ trickster Autolycus (an exceptional Christine Jacobs ’16). Although the latter half of the play gets bogged down in tonal difficulties and implausible Shakespearean plot twists, it clearly shines as the stronger of the two. A certain sheep-shearing celebration featuring a staged swordfight and a saxophonist sheep — only in a college production, right? — has an energy unmatched anywhere else in the production. This raucous scene utilizes the space to its full potential. It engages the audience in a unique and interesting way in an environment that’s neither too
cramped nor too spacious. In other words, it simply wouldn’t have worked as effectively on the PBK main stage. This production strives for a sense of audience inclusion. Characters enter and exit scenes from a gap in the middle of the seating area, creating a world in which the audience is a part of the action, not merely seated outside or around it. The actors themselves feed off the audience’s gaze, successfully forging an emotional connection across the abyss between thespian and theatergoer. In addition, there are many instances in the play when actors directly involve various members of the audience in the show. At one moment, Jacobs strums Autolycus’s ukulele suggestively at a an audience member; at the next, the Clown — Daniel Burrass ’16 — asks someone for the correct pronunciation of the name of a plant. The actors seem excited by the prospect of audience participation, and the effort feels remarkably genuine. Overall, however, the biggest weakness of “The Winter’s Tale” is its tonal inconsistency. The narrative experience is reminiscent of eating an entree and dessert at the same time. Separately, they would be delicious, but together, they are not nearly as satisfying. Nonetheless, this production is rendered memorable by the uncompromising performances of the actors and the bold staging decisions of the director. I heartily recommend seeing it, if only to have fun with the actors as they perform a tale of “sprites and goblins.” “The Winter’s Tale” opened last night and will run through this Sunday. Be sure to get there early in order to hear the contemporary musical stylings of the cast members themselves.
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Double trouble
COURTESY PHOTO / TRIBE ATHLETICS
Ortiz, Tribe nearly upset No. 4 James Madison, falls on two-point conversion in double overtime BY MIKE BARNES FLAT HAT SPORTS EDITOR After nearly 3 hours and 13 minutes of momentum shifts, questionable calls and lead changes, Saturday’s contest between William and Mary and No. 4 James Madison came down to one final play — and one final play call. After matching a JMU touchdown in the second overtime period, head coach Jimmye Laycock elected to forgo the extra point — thereby eliminating the possibility of a third overtime — and instead opted to put his offense back on the field for a two-point conversion attempt, the game hanging in the balance. Sophomore quarterback Raphael Ortiz dropped back, scrambled around in the backfield, and let go on a ball intended
for sophomore wide receiver Tre McBride in the back of the end zone. The pass fell incomplete, and suddenly, the College began to digest a heartbreaking 27-26 double overtime loss to JMU. “It was a situation where we had gone back and forth in the overtime and our defense had been out there so much; if we kicked the extra point, they were going to have to go back out there again and play defense and I just kind of [had a] gut feeling,” Laycock said. Even before the final overtime period, the contest featured a series of significant momentum shifts. The College started well and enjoyed a 14-0 lead until midway through the second quarter, when the Dukes rattled off 17 straight of their own to take the lead. Junior kicker Drake Kuhn knotted a 39-yard field goal with 7:57 left
in the last quarter to tie the game at 17 and eventually send it into overtime. The Tribe had a chance to avoid overtime and walk away from Harrisonburg with a win in regulation, but Kuhn was unable to connect from 31 yards as time expired. “I thought he would make that field goal. I didn’t have any reservations whatsoever, especially when we got that first down there; I thought he would make it, but he didn’t,” Laycock said. Regardless of the final result, the College played admirably against one of the best teams in the FCS realm. Ortiz went 14 of 23 for 177 yards, two passing touchdowns and a rushing touchdown, a solid day for the first-year starter. Ortiz’s favorite target, McBride, turned in another impressive performance; he nabbed seven receptions
for 79 yards and two touchdowns. With redshirt sophomore tailback Keith McBride sidelined, the College split carries between three backs Saturday. Sophomore running back Darnell Laws led the group with 61 yards on 17 carries, while Ortiz added 54 and redshirt freshman Mikal Abdul-Saboor rushed for 50 yards on 16 attempts. Laycock thought the Tribe’s ground game was instrumental in the squad’s second half performance. “We got things going, made a couple of runs, we started running the football a little better and we started stringing together some runs and once we started stringing together some runs, we started moving it,” Laycock said. Defensively, the Tribe held James Madison quarterback Justin Thorpe and
the Dukes offense in check throughout the game. Thorpe, a dangerous dual threat quarterback, managed just 157 yards and one touchdown through the air. In particular, sophomore defensive lineman Stephen Sinnott forced a Thorpe fumble, which senior cornerback B.W. Webb promptly recovered at the JMU 27yard line. Later in the contest, junior safety Jerome Couplin made a beautiful, leaping interception in the first quarter, likely saving a JMU scoring opportunity. While the Tribe failed to pull off the upset against the Dukes, Laycock was quick to point out the positives and was proud of his team’s effort. “To come up and play the No. 4 team in the nation at their place … for our guys to battle like they did, I think they deserve a heck of a lot of credit,” Laycock said.