Vol. 108, Iss. 15 | Tuesday, October 2, 2018
The Flat Hat The Weekly Student Newspaper of
The College of William and Mary
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any students trek to and from class across the paths around the Earl Gregg Swem Library’s sundial. Now, this sundial and its well-traveled connecting walkways have a new name: the Mary-Cooke Branch Munford Plaza. When the College of William and Mary’s Board of Visitors met Friday, Sept. 28, one of its final resolutions was to honor Mary-Cooke Branch Munford, the first woman appointed to the Board. This resolution officially renamed the area between the Earl Gregg Swem Library, Andrews Hall, Small Hall and the Integrated Science Center. “It’s an area that’s traveled by just about every person that comes to William and Mary whether you’re on a visit or a student in the area,” Board Secretary Sue Gerdelman ’76 said. Gerdelman introduced the resolution, which was a product of the 100th Anniversary Committee, led by law professor Jayne Barnard and Director of Alumnae Initiatives Val Cushman. Gerdelman said that Barnard and Cushman considered several possible ways to honor Munford, and decided on renaming this plaza because of its symbolic significance. Gerdelman said that she finds this area fitting for the tribute because it connects social sciences, performing arts and science buildings, which were all disciplines Munford supported. “On the William & Mary campus, at the heart of the new campus, there is clearly defined ‘diamond within a square’ … This area connects – physically via brick walkways – the fine arts, the sciences, literature, history, social sciences and more,” the BOV resolution says. “These were opportunities that MaryCooke Branch Munford longed for as a young woman and fought for in her advocacy for co-education.” Previously, the College had named a building at the Dillard Complex in her honor, but because those buildings are now only used for active shooter and firefighter training, her name has been removed.
Sundial renamed for BOV pioneer SARAH SMITH // FLAT HAT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Mary-Cooke Branch Munford was women’s rights advocate, first female Board member
“None of us realized that we had a building named for her out at Dillard [that is now] used as the fire department’s training facility, so her family had asked for her name to be off that building,” Gerdelman said. “Her name has now been off that building.” Munford was raised in Richmond, Virginia, and is often cited as a prominent women’s rights advocate. She was also passionate about educational reform. She helped found the Richmond Education Association in 1901 and held various leadership positions in the Cooperative Education Association of Virginia, which was founded in 1903. Munford supported Virginia General Assembly legislation that allowed for co-education at the College beginning in 1918, and in 1920 she was appointed to the College’s Board, becoming the first woman to serve in that seat. She also supported legislation to allow co-education at the University of Virginia, but was not successful at the time. In 1926, she was appointed to the UVA Board of Visitors. “Throughout her life, Mary-Cooke Branch Munford was an advocate for women and for women’s education,” the BOV resolution says. “She was a founder of the Richmond Women’s Club. She advocated universal public education (K-8), traveling and lobbying with an interracial team throughout the South. She was a founder and leader of the Richmond Education Association, which lobbied for education for both black and white children. Under her direction as president, this organization worked for such goals as rural high schools, improved teacher training, agricultural and industrial education, and the establishment of local school improvement leagues.” The resolution also declares that the Board will be responsible for presenting a copy of the final resolution to Munford’s family, and for sharing the College’s appreciation for the work that Munford did during her life.
CAMPUS
Business hatches: Students coop up in Tribe Square for Chick-fil-A opening Fast-food chain Chick-fil-A returns to campus after construction, equipment issues delayed opening
MADELINE MONROE FLAT HAT NEWS EDITOR
Monday, Oct. 1, Chick-fil-A officially opened its doors to students, faculty and community members — the first establishment in Tribe Square to do so in over a year since previous tenants The Crust and Pita Pit closed in 2017. Originally, Chick-fil-A was situated in the College of William and Mary’s Marketplace dining hall but was closed because of renovations in 2014. Chick-fil-A’s new location, which fills the vacancy left by Pita Pit, underwent its own renovation. Sodexo Resident District Manager Jason Aupied said that an issue with the equipment’s exhaust system, along with other construction challenges, caused delays. Aside from those problems, Aupied said that construction went well, and he is excited to see how students utilize the space. “Chick-fil-A is a highly recognized brand synonymous with high customer service and quality products,” Aupied said in an email Friday. “Our hope is that students will find great value in these aspects as an extension of their meal plan. The location of the restaurant at Tribe Square is also likely to appeal to the local community, off-campus population and visitors as well.” The location allows students to use Dining Dollars and Express from their meal plans, and Aupied said that they expect to accrue 60 percent of its sale in this way. “While the community will see many of the same menu items that appear at a full-service location, the campus menu will feature top selling items such as the Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich, Waffle Potato Fries, fruit cups, lemonade and treats like Icedream,” Aupied said in an email. “The menu will exclude soup, strips, breakfast burritos and bagels. Additionally, only one entrée salad will be offered.” Operations Manager Jason Vercammen said that after preparations
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late last week, Monday’s grand opening went well and saw students line up outside the door. “We did like a little fun run on Friday, so we invited the residents who were above us and some other student groups on campus and some of the administration on campus to come by and give a little test out on the register,” Vercammen said. “Then on Saturday we did an open house. We gave out 250 sandwiches to passersby and brought the cow out and took some pictures to just get everybody ready for today’s opening.” Chick-fil-A Grand Opening Trainer Charvis Mills said that the establishment is still trying to work out some issues from opening day but hopes to resolve them by the end of the week. Aupied said that Dining Dollars were not processing Monday morning, but the staff has since fixed the issue. “We’re still working some things out, but we’re so much further along than what I anticipated, which is a good thing, especially on the first day,” Mills said. Aupied said that while it will take some time for the establishment to learn customer traffic patterns, the current flow of traffic aligns with predictions made by looking at other areas of campus. “We know on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, we’re going to see those rushes right at 11, at noon, 1, 2 and then tomorrow [and Thursdays], I’m guessing it’s going to be about 20 minutes later,” Aupied said. “There are going to be some lines, but we’re getting people through quickly.” Robert Metaxatos ’21 said that he wished for outdoor seating, which was absent from the restaurant’s grand opening. Currently, the establishment has 42 seats inside the restaurant, with staff intending to add 47 seats outside if the Williamsburg Architectural Review Board approves the plans to do so, according to Aupied. Metaxatos said that the addition of Chick-fil-A suits the College’s current phase of construction and expansion. “If [the College] is trying to increase revenue, commodities and also [the employment of] more staff, it seems important to have this kind of satellite
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MADELINE MONORE / THE FLAT HAT
Chick-fil-A opened Monday, Oct. 1 to a flood of students, community members.
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Additional flashing beacons needed on crosswalks around campus to promote safety
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thing,” Metaxatos said. “I hope that this is almost something that urges more satellite kind of places like Chick-fil-A.” Cameron How ’20 said that he was glad to see the vacancy left by Pita Pit filled. He also said that his experience at Chick-fil-A so far had been positive, with the managerial staff being friendly and efficient. “I’m very excited to have Chick-fil-A here,” How said. “I think it’ll be an awesome space to bring the community together, which is good. Obviously, the students are super, super, super excited. I’m also glad that I can use Dining Dollars and that it’s another outlet to use that money. … Having something that fill that space is awesome.”
Jack Bowden ’19 says that crosswalks on Richmond and Jamestown Roads need greater safeguards for pedestrians. page 6
Lights, camera, action
Isaac Davis ’20 talks about his passion for filmmaking and quest to grow Identity Production Studios, the company he started himself. page 7