Vol. 108, Iss. 4 | Tuesday, March 20, 2018
The Flat Hat The Weekly Student Newspaper
of The College of William and Mary
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‘WE’RE GOING TO EARN THIS VOTE’ For first time in Student Assembly’s 24-year history candidates run unopposed in presidential race SARAH SMITH // FLAT HAT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF LEONOR GRAVE // FLAT HAT NEWS EDITOR
against them, the candidate list was finalized the Friday before spring break. After that, it was clear that the two were running unopposed. Campaigning for all positions officially began Monday, March 12. According to the team’s campaign manager Rachel Becker ’19, this is the first time since SA began that tickets for the top leadership spots have been unopposed. Becker said that when they first found out that the team was running unopposed, they were happy for two reasons. “One, it does make our lives easier and we also hated the idea of running against someone, because we knew our competitors, and they were people who ideas we supported and wanted to make sure their ideas were represented as well,” Becker said. “The second reason is that we can really focus on our energy now on preparing to govern. … Even though it is ‘easier’ the caveat is we have to prove ourselves now. … We’re really working hard to make sure our campaign time is used to spread our message.”
Sen. Brendan Boylan ’19 has been in SA for three years. Samir Tawalare’19 is an SA newcomer and is involved in Griffin School Partnerships, South Asian Student Association and Talk to Plants. Each year, the two weeks after spring break are filled with debates, campaign posters and the launch of new websites and Facebook pages as pairs of students prep for Student Assembly elections. The last two years, these election cycles have ended in narrow wins: both former SA presidents Eboni Brown ’17 and Elijah Levine ’18 won elections by less than 50 votes. This year, Sen. Brendan Boylan ’19 and his running mate Samir Tawalare ’19 face no opposition. According to Boylan, he wasn’t always sure that he wanted to run for SA president. He said that in previous years, he assumed he would run for re-election in senate, where he has served for the past three years, and potentially campaign for senate chair. “I figured there were going to be other people in the field or that it wasn’t worth the fight or that I wouldn’t be good enough, but through the influence of getting to know Samir more, I feel like we can have good people who know this stuff and who have direct connections to different circles on campus and we could build a cool team that could make a lot of change happen,” Boylan said. Tawalare, who Boylan first met freshman year, said that he first got the idea to run while serving as an Orientation Aide under Brown, who suggested that he get involved with student leadership. When Boylan asked him to run as his vice presidential candidate a few weeks later, he said the stars aligned. “I had that little extra confidence from Eboni’s support and Brendan was just someone who I had seen be very active, making his voice heard and speaking out about things,” Tawalare said. While Boylan and Tawalare said they were aware of different rumors that other students might run
See UNOPPOSED page 3
Candidates reach across campus for platform guidance Each year, candidates for Student Assembly president and vice president recruit a team of students from across campus. These students are responsible for influencing platforms, running campaign social media and adding new perspectives to the work of candidates. Historically, campaign members have also been seen later represented in a president’s cabinet as secretaries or in the role of chief of staff. This year the unopposed team of Sen. Brendan Boylan ’19 and Samir Tawalare ’19 have a team of 15.
The Flat Hat talked with members of their campaign, as well as individuals they’ve previously worked closely with, to gain insight on who they are, what matters most to them and what influenced their platform. Boylan and Tawalare’s campaign consists of individuals with a variety of experiences. Their manager, Rachel Becker ’19, first met Boylan freshman year and said they bonded about their shared backgrounds and values, shaped in part by the fact they are both the children of social workers. Some members of the campaign have served on the SA senate with Boylan, such as Class of 2018 President Laini Boyd ’18, Sen. Clare DaBaldo ’20 and Sen. Sikander Zakriya ’19. Others, like Gowri Buddiga ’18, were acquaintances of the team until they reached out leading up to the announcement of their candidacy. One of Boylan’s fellow SA members, DaBaldo, says that she views her role on the team as offering input on how they can reform the senate once in office, since she is also running for reelection. Who is Brendan Boylan? Boylan has served in SA since his freshman year, and now serves as both the senate historian and as the chair of the senate’s policy committee. Over these last two years, many of his projects have included reviewing the SA’s code and constitution, and he has sponsored several pieces of legislation aimed at cleaning up outdated code. Sen. Shannon Dutchie ’19, Sen. Alexis Payne ’19 and Zakriya have all served with Boylan since his freshman year. Payne, who is also running for re-election, said she believes issues such as Title IX, subsidizing transcripts, diversity and health and safety are all important to Boylan based on the legislation on which she has seen him work. She said that, in previous years, he has struggled with following through on bills, but that he has worked to improve this recently and that she considers him a great co-worker. See CAMPAIGN TEAM page 3
Engagement Boylan and Tawalare plan on creating a policy advisory committee to work with Katherine Rowe and student organizations.
Intentionality The pair has said they will support proposals for a COLL 199 class focusing on social justice and equity, although they do not have a specific plan to do so.
Joy As both candidates are in campus music groups, they plan on supporting the arts.
STUDENT LIFE
Students, professors walk out during classes March 14 to protest violence Feb. 14 shooting in Parkland, Florida sparks over 3,000 coordinated walkouts across the country NIA KITCHIN FLAT HAT MANAGING EDITOR
A procession of students, professors and community members stretched across the Sunken Garden March 14 at 10 a.m. to protest gun violence in the wake of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The walkout officially lasted 17 minutes, one in memory of each of the victims of the shooting, but participants lingered on the Sunken Garden long past the designated time to sign a banner to express support for students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and to get their hands stamped with a black ribbon to spread awareness of gun violence prevention. This walkout was part of a nationwide effort. There were 3,000 registered school walkouts March 14 across the country, according to ENOUGH National School Walkout. As participants arrived they formed a long line in order to sign the banner and the organizers also used the event as an opportunity to provide information about Students Demand Action, a club they are starting on campus to advocate for gun sense and effect change in the area of gun
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policy. The signed banner will be sent to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. The College of William and Mary’s chapter of Students Demand Action falls under the umbrella of a national organization called Everytown for Gun Safety. The organizers of the walkout, Samyuktha Mahadevan ’19 and Matthew McCauley ’20, said they decided to start the club in response to the onslaught of school shootings that occur in the United States. An interest meeting for Students Demand Action will be held this Friday, March 16 from 3-4 p.m. in Washington Hall Room 201. “Our goal is to create an organization here on campus for students to engage with their representatives, with each other and with the greater community,” Mahadevan said. Many students walked out of their 10 a.m. classes to participate in the walkout; however, other students came to the Sunken Garden in solidarity despite not having class. Class of 2020 President Kelsey Vita ’20 falls in the latter group; she came even though she did not have a class until noon. “It’s just so important to show solidarity with the millions of people who are affected by gun violence each year and also just to show that lawmakers that enough is enough,” Vita said. The political statement was not limited to students: professors
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participated in the walkout too. Russian studies professor Bella GinzburskyBlum participated in the walkout and allowed her students to leave class for the designated 17 minutes if they chose to as well. “I’ve been upset for many many years, I’ve made many phone calls and many donations for this cause already,” Ginzbursky-Blum said. “I think it’s wonderful that students are finally organizing and voicing their opinions very strongly.” Dalton Lackey ’20, who was taking photos for the event, said he chose to participate because he is passionate about gun control. Lackey also said that he was participating because he felt the very real risk of violence as a student on a college campus today. “Right now I think students are recognizing that lives are at risk,” Lackey said. “Even if [stricter] gun laws take away the risk of one or two children dying, it’s worth it. I think these students are recognizing that, as of now, they’re at risk on college campuses of having weapons used against them. So this is something really important and easy for students to be a part of. It doesn’t require too much effort, but it definitely makes a statement.” To McCauley and Mahadevan, the event’s turnout, in spite of the cold weather, is a heartening symbol that the College community is engaged in this issue.
Mackenzie Neal ’18 says the College should introduce courses that discuss Native American tribal laws and policies. page 6
Curtains rise on student choreography
The Orchesis Modern Dance Company is putting on their annual spring performance, “An Evening of Dance,” featuring student choreography. page 7