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Today’s Weather Inside opInIonsThe norms of low admission ratesProspective students put too much weight on college’s admission rates, causing colleges to try to reject as many applicants as possible. page 5

Inside VARIETYI am W&M week kicks offFor the third annual I am W&M week, the College is hosting a week of events to celebrate diversity. page 6

Honor Code overhaul advisedReview committee addresses ambiguities in code

cAMpus polIcY

AdMIssIons

The F lat HatThe F lat HatVol. 101, Iss. 46 | Friday, April 13, 2012 The Twice-Weekly student newspaper of The college of William and Mary Flathatnews.com | Follow us:

SPORTS // Tribe scores statement win, p. 8

See HONOR, page 4

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Class of 2016 most diverse

Newly admitted students are already making an impact on campus. The class of 2016 stands as the most diverse applicant group to the College of William and Mary, breaking applicant records for the eighth year in a row.

The College sent 4,250 acceptance letters for the class of 2016, anticipating a class size of 1,470. The Office of Undergraduate Admission handled 13,600 applications, a record number of applicants.

“We’re excited by all the possibilities that we see in this class,” Dean of Admission Henry Broaddus said. “Our job is about trying to look for glimpses of human potential, and those glimpses this year have been really exciting.”

The students admitted to the class of 2016 also set records as one of the most diverse classes. Almost 33 percent of admitted students are of color, which is an increase from last year’s 31.6 percent. Broaddus stressed that this will help increase diversity at the College, especially for underrepresented groups, and add to the experience of all students.

“In order for William and Mary to produce leaders and people who are going to [be influential] and to be sure that [students are] going to navigate an increasingly diverse world, we have to make sure that the college reflects that,” Broaddus said. “We want to seek talent from all quarters and all communities; the diversity that we see in this group is a very healthy indicator.”

International applicants, especially from western Asian nations such as China, also contributed to the growth in the applicant pool this year.

“We, and most universities, are seeing a growth in international applicants,” Broaddus said. “The emerging middle class in China is looking at universities in the United States, and we’ve found ways to attract that group.”

The Admission Office has found new ways to attract more applicants to the College, such as increasing the number of interviews available to potential students and, most recently, with their launch of the “Ampersand Box.”

“The Undergraduate Admissions office

bY EllIE kAuFMAnFlAt hAt chieF stAFF writer

Medical amnesty policies have been adopted widely at universities across the country, including the College of William and Mary. The annual review of

College policy has produced a proposal seeking to increase the policy’s reach.

The current medical amnesty policy allows students to seek medical assistance for fellow students or themselves without fear of repercussion with alcohol or drug

violations from the College administration. Student Handbook explains that while the policy does not preclude the Dean of Students from pursuing violations of the code of conduct and does not prevent the College police from taking action, its intent is to promote campus safety and encourage students to seek help when it is needed.

Vice President of Student Affairs Virginia Ambler ’88 Ph.D. ’06 released proposed changes to the Student Code of Conduct in an email to the student body April 11, and one of the six proposed changes

alter the current medical amnesty policy. The proposal consisted of three major changes:

clarity of the policy within the code itself, protection for organizations hosting events, and inclusion of the policy on a student’s record for a shorter period of time.

In order to change the code, the Student Assembly submitted its proposal to Dean of Students Patricia Volpe. Ambler then receives suggestions from Volpe and the student body before making final recommendations to College President Taylor Reveley.

SA Secretary of Student Rights Zann Isacson ’13 and Sen. Dallen McNerney ’14 submitted the changes to Volp on behalf of the SA.

Isacson believes organizations are an integral part of student life and should be protected under the policy in the same way individuals are.

“Considering how much an organization contributes to fostering a community within our school environment, efforts by an organization to foster retention and a family atmosphere should be encouraged,” Isacson said.

Those who seek organizational protection under the medical amnesty policy are pushing back against

SA proposes allowing medical amnesty for organizations

See MEDICAL, page 3

bY kAThERInE chIglInskYFlAt hAt news editor

sTudEnT AssEMblY

4,250 students accepted

See ADMISSIONS, page 4couRTEsY phoTos / Ariel cohen

Members of the student Assembly are sworn in for the 320th session of the student Assembly, including sA President curt Mills ’13 and Vice President Melanie levine ’13.

Medical amnesty policy reevaluated

check back with the Flat hat ...

for a breakdown of the proposed policy changes to the student

handbook next Friday.

bY chRIs MckEnnAFlAt hAt chieF stAFF writer

The Honor Code is one of the longest standing and most significant traditions at the College of William and Mary. Since its inception in 1779, the Code has seen numerous changes, alterations and additions to reflect the continually evolving interests of the College community — and it’s about to see more.

The President’s Honor System Review Committee published its findings and proposed changes last week in a draft report that, pending further review and the approval of College President Taylor Reveley, could mean major changes to the Honor Code as we know it.

At the center of the Committee’s inquiry was one question: Is the current Honor Code the best way of doing things? The answer, according to members of the HSRC, is no.

“I think that there’s a real misunderstanding of the Honor Code,” Law School Honor Council Chief Justice James Dougherty J.D. ’12 said.

A large part of this misunderstanding has to do with ambiguities in the current code — and its length.

“The code is so complicated; I don’t think that many students ever read it,” HRSC Chair professor Clay Clemens ’80 said. “The current one is really hard to read. It’s almost as bad as our undergraduate course catalogue.”

The Code as it stands today was introduced in 1997 but most of its wording is leftover from previous versions dating back to the 40s and 50s, with newer additions added on top of the existing framework, Clemens said. In response, the committee isn’t suggesting editing the current Code, but actually starting afresh.

“We’re proposing a new document,” Clemens said.

In addition to making the new system more efficient, the HSRC is proposing substantive revisions that will reach every corner of the College community.

Among the largest revisions is the

New SA sworn into office bY MEREdITh RAMEYFlAt hAt Assoc. news editor

The members of the new 320th Student Assembly were formally inaugurated Thursday at a ceremony in the Wren Chapel.

President Curt Mills ’13, Vice President Melanie Levine ’13 and the elected senators and class officers swore their oaths of office.

Mills followed the oaths with his first speech as president, speaking of the accomplishments of the last presidency and how he will work to continue improve the SA.

“[We will] build on this fundamentally changed SA,” Mills said. “[We will] form a new kind of government at the College.”

Mills also described how the SA should focus on reflecting as well as reacting during the new term.

“When I was in the Student Assembly, I felt like all we were doing was reacting,” Mills said. “I ask that all SA members reflect.”

Lastly, Mills closed with a statement about the coming term.

“The Student Assembly faces an absolutely historic term,” Mills said. “Let’s transform this organization.”

Outgoing SA President Kaveh Sadeghian ’12 and the keynote speaker, outgoing Senate Chair Noah Kim ’13, preceded oaths of office by recounting their tenure in the SA and the opportunities before the incoming SA.

In his opening speech, Sadeghian spoke fondly of his time in the SA and the amount of policies the organization was able to accomplish throughout his term.

“[Writing this speech] made me think a lot of how much the Student Assembly has done,” Sadeghian said. “You guys have done a tremendous job.”

The speech was not free of jokes, however, as Sadeghian described how the name of the SA has become synonymous with free massages, an accomplishment in his eyes.

Sadeghian also praised the various branches of the SA while focusing on its outgoing members.

“The senators have been incredible,”

Student Assembly members inducted at ceremony in Wren Building

See INAuguRAtION, page 3

“

ANITA JIANG / the FLAt hAt

A THOUSAND WORDS

newsinsightThe F lat Hat

News Editor Katherine Chiglinsky Associate New Editor: Chase L. hopkins

News Staff Writer: Ariel Cohenfhnews@gmail.com

ONLINE TODAYfLAT HAT INSIDER

This week’s Flat Hat Insider coverage includes the new Fraternity housing, and the activities of the Food Service Advisory Committee.

| Friday, April 13, 2012 | Page 2

THE BUZZ

“I can’t wait to see what you do after this — your future is as promising as your Gmail calendar is packed.

—Kaveh Sadeghian ’12 to Molly Bulman ’12

BEYOND THE ‘BURG

The F lat Hat‘STABILITAS ET fIDES’ | eStABLISheD OCt. 3, 1911

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In a public square near New York University, a crowd erupted into a massive pillow fight last Saturday, according to the Huffington Post. The event in Washington Square, organized by Newmindspace, was the seventh annual pillow fight to occur there. While

nobody was seriously injured, many present denoted the seriousness with which many participants approached the conflict. Many participants dressed in costume, and some even coordinated their pillowcases with their outfits. Post-fight interviews

revealed that most people present chose to fight alone, rather than unite in alliances. This lack of alliances seems to have caused the chaotic carnage that ensued throughout the fight, especially in regard to the destruction of many pillows of weaker constitution.

COURTESY PHOTO / CFNeWS13.COMtwo Chinese students at the University of Southern California died Wednesday in a fatal carjacking, whose perpetrator has yet to be apprehended.

University of Pittsburg receives multiple threatsA total of 57 bomb threats have been made against

the University of Pittsburg since February, according to CBS News. Threats were initially made against a single building on campus, but have since spread to others. The University Police, U.S. Secret Service and Federal Bureau of Investigation have a person of interest in their investigations. However, threats continue to be made, with 12 occurring this Monday alone. Many professors have resorted to holding their classes outside in an attempt to prevent repeated evacuations from impeding their academic schedule. A $50,000 reward has been announced for any information pertaining to persons making the threats against the university.

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New AVAdventure in Williamsburg

Today the statues at the College of William and Mary will come alive as part of an AVAdenture production sponsored by the Office of Student Affairs, the President’s Office and the Student Assembly. AVAdventures are based around audio dialogues that allow participants to engage in live-action stories together through synchronized audio tracks.

The theme is based around the legend that statues at the College can come alive on momentous occasions, this event marks the 250th anniversary of Thomas Jefferson ‘1762 completing his studies at the College.

Jefferson graduated with highest level honors, having studied law and British Empiricism, among other subjects.

College names two local ospreys

After a long debated contest, the College of William and Mary’s Virginia Institute of Marine Science recently picked out names for two local ospreys.

Ospreys Coleman and Bridget will be featured on the VIMS OspreyCam for breeding observation.

In an online survey, Gwen Gorham of Western Virginia suggested the winning names to the VIMS.

She said the name Coleman seemed fitting, considering VIMS’s close proximity to the Coleman Bridge.

VIMS professors and students will observe the ospreys for the next few months as they breed, in order to better understand their behaviors and interactions.

New emphasis on STEM education

The College of William and Mary Director of Laboratories Linda Morse has spent the past year directing “Geology on Wheels,” a College-based program that sends geology majors into the local school systems. College students introduce young students to the wonders of Earth science as well as the general sciences. The program aims not only to enrich the younger students’s overall knowledge, but also to help prepare them for the Standards Of Learning annual test.

The program is part of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Outreach initiative, a College program that aims to reach beyond the walls of campus to increase understanding of science and mathamatics for younger students.

NEWS IN BRIEf

fROm “SImPLY SUSTAINABLE,” A BLOG BY TAYLOR CHAmBERLIN ‘13

NEW ONLINE vIDEOS

Most people consider organic food to be a luxury good. Costs associated with more workers and the administrative costs of getting the label can make the prices seem steep, but consider a comparison to the Gold 19 meal plan. For a cool $1,830 per semester, you get 19 meals

worth of food each week. That translates to over $100 dollars per week on dining, which is more than you would need to spend to eat organically. For example, through Dominion Harvest, a Richmond-based food program, you can get 10-11 types of produce, meat, cheese, bread, and eggs for $67 dollars.

For our weekly “That Girl” video column, Zara Stasi ‘12 speaks about her tenure as chief justice of the honor council and her time as a freshman RA.

CORRECTIONSIn an April 10th article, The Flat Hat incorrectly defined gender neu-tral bathrooms. Gender neutral bathrooms are restrooms without a gender designation.

Facebook acquires Instagram for $1 billionFacebook has recently acquired popular photo-sharing

tool Instagram, according to the Wall Street Journal. The Facebook Corporation spent approximately $1 billion to acquire Instagram, a popular tool used to modify images before sharing them on social network sites such as Facebook. The Facebook Corporation has made many headlines in the last few months, as it prepares to make an initial public offering, taking the company’s stock public on global markets. Many analysts support the acquisition, noting that while newly increased revenue will likely never match the purchase price, it will enable Facebook to retain critical control over social networking in a market that often changes quickly and unexpectedly.

Liz McGlynn Copy Editor

CAmPUS POLICE BEAT

March 26 to April 21

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Monday, April 2 — A cellular phone and identification card were stolen. The value of both items was estimated to be $200.

Tuesday, April 3 — A parking decal was wrongly removed from a vehicle, at a loss of $225.

Wednesday, April 4 — A person who is not a member of the College community was arrested for indecent public exposure.

Saturday, April 7 — A student was arrested for driving under the influence, and for driving without functioning headlights.

Sunday, Arpil 8 — The fraternity sign at Unit F was vandalized. There was no substantial damage.

New Yorkers errupt into mass pillow fight in Washington Square

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Fatal Carjacking at the University of Southern CaliforniaA pair of students at the University of Southern California were killed early Wednesday morning in a lethal carjacking,

according to the Los Angeles Times. Both students were Chinese. They died from gunshot wounds in a late-model BMW 3-series close to the USC campus. Police investigators believe the deaths were caused by a car theft gone awry. Both students were pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital. While USC is in an urban setting that often sees gang activity, many local residents claim an unfortunate incident as as this has not occurred in many years.

Elizabeth DeBusk Editorial Writer

Streaming coverage of Tribe Athletics press conferences, including postgame interviews, press conferences and game recaps from @FlatHatSports.

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by vanessa remmersflat hat managing editor

Faced with the reality that those who graduate with some degree of debt have become the majority, banks have begun pushing more offers to recent college graduates. Experts, however, are advising graduates to strap on goggles in order to become adept at reading the fine print before plunging into the murky waters of private lending.

The newest offer is the SmarterBank Visa debit card, with a reward program which supposedly would allow borrowers simultaneously to drink beer and to pay their student loans. Under the card’s rewards program, purchases of over $100 merit a 1 percent reward, while borrowers receive a 0.5 percent reward on other signature-based purchases.

The company behind the card, SimpleTuition, works as a loan comparison company. Its executives include former student loan lenders, according to the Wall Street Journal.

SimpleTuition’s offer is not unlike others from private lenders waiting to catch the eye of recent college graduates.

Almost immediately, economic experts began to strip the glossy shine from the deal, invoking images of a world of predator versus prey.

“I am leery of these bank plans in general. ... Banks have a history of preying on students who go into financial arrangements without knowing the consequences,” Assistant Dean to the Mason School of Business Accounting Programs Tom White said. “They [students] are a prime customer market to use this kind of debit card plan.”

Profit incentives, not altruistic motives, are the driving forces behind the banking world, according to adjunct lecturer and accountant in the Mason School of Business James Carleton.

“[The banks] have a product, the debit card, that is very profitable, and because of the Frank Dodd bill, some will say that they are losing money on them,” Carleton said. “They have probably done

studies and concluded that it advantages them in the long-run by attracting new accounts at a minimal cost. I don’t think they would be doing this for altruistic reasons. That’s just not the way business works. They’re not always going to take advantage of students, but they will make offers where they make money, and students get a little bit back too.”

Such motives make it necessary, according to loan lenders and accountants, for students to scrutinize deals offered to banks.

“They need to be looked at really carefully; it would make a payment on the loan, but you would have to buy so many expenses, it won’t probably be worthwhile,” Director of Financial Aid at the College of William and Mary Ed Irish said.

White wondered whether even he, probably spending at a higher rate than most recent college graduates, would see any significant reward return under such a plan. Carleton agreed.

“It sounds like a great idea, but go back and look at a bank statement and you could probably count your larger purchases on one or two hands,” Carleton said.

Besides the large purchases necessary to see rewards, a second catch economists and accountants have pointed to is the fees. This card holds an ATM fee 0.60 cents higher than the average comparable fee, and also charges for statement copies and account reviews, for which most other banks do not charge.

“If students are doing enough of their research and homework to know all of the strings attached and are reading the fine print, and they need to weigh it with the fees that are going to charge you with the debit cards and credit cards,” Assistance Director of the Financial Aid Office Jennifer Meier said.

In some cases, other avenues for banking such as credit card or government options, may be the better way to go.

“There is no right answer,” Carleton

said. “If you can manage your money, a credit card will much better off than a debit card. The advantage is that you have these legal rights with a credit card.”

While financial and loan professionals note that banks may not have college graduates’s best interests at heart, they are not completely ready to say that private lenders should throw in the towel.

“I’m not saying there are not some potential benefits … students just need to think about commitment of having to repay,” White said.

Some recommended that perhaps private lending would do better if transparency became the necessary order of the day.

“I believe that there can be a benefit if all parties are transparent; that is, banks need to be transparent about the fees involved, and students and parents need to be aware of the risks and the small benefits that will probably only offset them a little bit,” White said.

Meier and Carleton both agreed that it also would not hurt to see lowered interest rates for students.

Others were hesitant to say that the government should cast too wide a safety net for loan lenders, such as Sen. Durbin’s, D-Ill., recent proposal that would erase loans for borrowers who declare bankruptcy.

“From my perspective, anyone who enters a loan agrees to pay it. They are borrowing from everyone else in the country,” Carleton said. “You have a legal and some would say a moral, obligation to pay that loan. Somebody gets in really bad shape, declares bankruptcy, and by law you are clear, and that’s the way the world works, but that bankruptcy-filing will follow you for the rest of life.”

In the end, accountants and financial aid educators agreed that staying educated about financial aid options and how deep one’s personal pocket goes is the best way to erase debt.

“We do counseling sessions for seniors who are about to graduate, teaching them about how to contact loan services,” Meier said. “We also have a student loan repayment webpage, and we try to push the government links as much as we possibly can … we

want students to know the government services that are out there.”

Even though the median cumulative debt among graduating bachelor’s degree recipients at four-year undergraduate schools was $19,999 from 2007 to 2008, according to the National Postsecondary Aid study conducted by the U.S. Department of Education, the College has comparably higher student repayment rates than other state universities.

Irish believes this has something to do with the College itself.

“Students are doing a superlative job at repaying their loans,” Irish said. “If people are happy with their end product—their college experience, then they are much more likely to repay their loan.”

Yet with 66 percent of graduates across the nation leaving college with some kind of debt and college costs continuing to rise, the issue does not seem to be going anywhere.

“It is a very serious financial issue for a family unit … I think cost is becoming an issue even for those who are independently wealthy,” White said.

Economists and accountants warn consumers to be wary of potentially predatory institutionsStudent debt prompts new pitches from private lenders finances

The F lat Hatfriday, april 13, 2012Page 3

graPhic by katie demeria / the flat hat

the part of the policy that, according to the Student Handbook, leaves the organization open to violations when medical amnesty is sought for an intoxicated person attending the organization’s event.

“In circumstances where an organization is found to be hosting an event where medical assistance is sought for an intoxicated guest, the organization (depending upon the circumstances) may be held responsible for violations of the Alcohol Policy or Drug Policy,” the Student Handbook reads.

Within the existing policy, there are some ways that organizations can still redeem themselves.

“However, the organization’s willingness to seek medical assistance for a member or guest will be viewed as a mitigating factor in determining a sanction for any violations of the Alcohol Policy or Drug Policy,” the Student Handbook reads.

Volp did not agree that organizations should be included under protection of the code.

“The current policy already provides an adequate amount of support to an organization to do the right thing because the current policy says the organization’s willingness to seek medical assistance will be viewed as a mitigating factor in determining a sanction for violations,” Volp said. “I believe the current policy provides a sufficient balance between responsibility and mitigation and does not necessitate further changes.”

However, Volp agreed with the SA’s proposal to clarify the medical amnesty policy and to shorten the period of time the use of medical amnesty appears on a student’s record to one year. This information appears on a student’s College record only, instead of a criminal record. The incident could appear on an application for an on-campus job.

The proposal to clarify the

code results from past student confusion about whether they can seek assistance without being punished.

“[The current policy] makes it difficult for students when they are deciding whether or not to make the call because they aren’t sure if they will be charged,” Isacson said. “This is a situation we never want students to be in. You should always make the call if someone’s life is at risk.”

Ambler will submit her suggestions to Reveley over the summer after taking into consideration Volp’s response, student comments and SA recommendations on the policies.

“The Dean of Students Office forwards recommendations to me, and then they are put out for student comment,” Ambler said. “Nothing is final until I make recommendations to President Reveley and he approves them over the summer. Lots of people have an opportunity to make comments.”

SA seeks to broaden scope of protections

320th SA transitions into officeSadeghian said. “I mean, Noah. Noah, Noah, Noah. Noah kind of sums it up … His stride of justice [is] completely propelled by passion.”

Sadeghian continued with descriptions of the outgoing undergraduate council, praising outgoing Senior Class President Stephanie McGuire ’12.

“[She is] one of the single nicest [people] I have ever met,” Sadeghian said. “[She’s] done a great job aligning [the SA] with what we really care about in the end.”

Sadeghian also praised his cabinet and outgoing Vice President Molly Bulman ’12.

“I can’t wait to see what you do after this,” Sadeghian said. “Your future is as promising as your [Google] calendar is packed.”

Lastly, Sadeghian closed with a message to the incoming SA, asking them to view everything with a bird’s eye perspective and not get caught up in their immediate problems.

“If there is one way to make all this happen, it’s by laughing,” Sadeghian said. “Celebrate the

quirks. Celebrate the laughter.”Kim followed, recounting his earliest memories

of the SA and the times he enjoyed working within the organization.

“It can really become a family if you let it. I’ve grown so much,” Kim said. “I’ve met some of the most brilliant and capable people through this [organization].”

Kim went on to describe the opportunities of the new SA.

“The 320th Student Assembly will be a profoundly new organization,” Kim said. “I don’t know when the last time it’s been this new, and that’s a major opportunity to define what it will be for the next several years. … You have the power to make the college experience better for people around you and who come after you. … You have an amazingly blank slate.”

Kim closed his speech by calling the separate branches of the SA to take this opportunity to work together.

“Work closely with those sitting next to you,” Kim said. “You all have common goals … This can be something special if you want it to be.”

HONOR from page 1

MEDICAL from page 1

smarterbank visa debit card Developed by SimpleTuition Every purchase of at least $100 merts a 1 percent reward 0.5 percent rewards are given on certain purchases All rewards can be used toward paying off student loans

What to keep in mind

rundowntheon loan cards

“They need to be looked at really carefully; it would make a payment on the loan, but you would have to buy so many expenses, it won’t probably be worthwhile.” —Ed Irish, Director of Financial Aid“I believe that there can be a benefit if all parties are transparent.; that is, banks need to be transparent about the fees involved.” —Tom White, Assistant Dean to the Mason School of Business

....

The F lat HatFriday, April 13, 2012Page 4

launched a few new initiatives this year. They expanded the summer on-campus interview program. They launched the popular ‘Ampersandbox,’ a new interactive view book. They continued to be active through social media, including blogs, Facebook and Twitter,” Director of University Relations Brian Whitson said in an email.

The increase in applications resulted in an increase in competition at the College. The admittance rate fell from 34.6 percent last year to 31.1 percent this year.

“The increase in the applicant pool has outpaced the growth in class size,” Broaddus said. “It does create challenges for our committee. We’re

seeing more and more really high-achieving students, and we’re put in the decision of having to make more difficult choices between highly competitive students. It leads to a great deal of disappointment, and we’re greatly sympathetic to that. They were still exceptionable, and they will go on to have great college careers.”

The class of 2016 boasts strong academic achievements. Approximately 88 percent of admitted students finished in the top ten percent of their graduating class. SAT scores remained similar to previous years — the 50th percentile for SAT Critical Reading and Math scores was 1300 to 1510, as compared to 1300 to 1490 for the class of 2015. The median score was 1400, equivalent to that of the class of 2015.

“We’re just delighted that we continue to see as strong a pool as [we] have,” Broaddus said. “If you have the strongest pool, you’re going to have the strongest class.”

Broaddus credits the number of strong resumes from applicants to the quality of education at the College.

“It’s the idea that at William and Mary you can get an academic experience that is on par with any that you can get nationally and superior to the vast majority,” Broaddus said. “You get that through the combination of access to a first-class faculty and the kind of human scale here — the fact that we continue to be so appealing has everything to do with how strong the experience is.”

With the increasing number of applications, the jobs of the admissions

staff have become significantly harder. No additional staff members have been hired, yet the staff still stands by their promise that each application will be read in its entirety by two members of the admissions staff.

“It strains what we do,” Broaddus said. “It has meant that assistant deans in this office are working longer hours and doing more reviews than ever before. But what is really great, is that the team that’s here in the Admission Office is very committed both to William and Mary and to the students who entrust us to make decisions on their college applications. We’ve got a staff here who works hard and doesn’t take short cuts despite the fact that we have so much volume.”

Broaddus emphasized that the extra

work only signals great potential for the future at the College.

“That’s the very challenge that we have to embrace,” Broaddus said. “It’s the challenge that means we’ll bring that much stronger of a class through the [Sir Christopher] Wren building in the fall.”

The work will continue for the admissions staff as they prepare for the Day for Admitted Students, which will be held for the class of 2016 tomorrow. Approximately 3,000 visitors are expected to attend.

“We’re delighted with this group of admitted students,” College President Taylor Reveley said in a press release. “As usual, William and Mary has attracted an extraordinary group. This is an exciting time to be part of the College community.”

Each year, approximately 2,000 students from universities around the world gather together for the week-long World Model United Nations conference. Included among them this year were 14 students from the College of William and Mary’s International Relations Club.

Model UN is a series of conferences in which participants are assigned to represent countries, organizations or leaders in order to debate pressing international issues, such as outdated laws of war, sovereign debt and global management of water resources. This year, IR club stayed in North America, traveling to the host city of Vancouver, Canada.

The conference serves as a simulation of international organizations such as the United Nations and the World Health Organization, by means of committee debate. There are various committees; some resemble existing UN committees and focus on current events, while others are historical and debate issues of the past. The goal is for each committee to present a resolution for its issue by the end of the international conference.

With over 100 members, IR club is one of the biggest organizations on campus, but the team selected for the WMUN trip is the most competitive team of the club.

Since WMUN is the its most important and anticipated event each year, the IR club does much more than simply prepare for it.

“We bring in lots of speakers; and host two MUN conferences here every year,” Vice President for Model UN in the IR Club Anushree Banerjee ’12 said.

In order to succeed at WMUN, the entire club helps in researching the topics and fundraising. Meanwhile, the students on the competitive team

have their work cut out for them in ensuring that they are well-versed in current issues specific to the committee they will represent.

“We prepare for five weeks, working ten hours a week to get ready for the world competition,” Banerjee said. “Honestly, the best Model UN delegates are people [who] are charismatic, confident and incredibly friendly. We pride ourselves as the team that makes the most friends at conferences, and I think that is the real key to our success.”

This year, most of the College’s team represented the United Kingdom, winning all five double delegations in which they participated. Repeating the success of last year’s competition team, 11 out of the College’s 14 participants walked away with awards.

“MUN is privy to some of the most interesting people you will ever meet, and IR club is such a fun and inclusive environment,” Jeff Rohde ’14 said.

Even so, the conference isn’t solely about the competition: numerous social events are held throughout the week. These range from sight-seeing trips through the host city to Global Village, where delegates bring food, music and traditions from their homes, and Cabaret, a global talent show.

“It’s truly an amazing experience,” Banerjee said. “You get to go to another country with your best friends, people who you’ve trained so hard with and gotten to know really well, and you get to meet people from all over the world.”

Aside from developing negotiation and leadership skills, WMUN also allows many to create friendships that extend across borders and beyond the conference, resulting in a better understanding and appreciation of other cultures and perspectives.

“On the one hand you get to meet people as interested in IR as yourself, but there’s also the aspect where, in general, the people are just really

great,” Rohde said. “They are so funny and bold — it’s just a blast.”

While only 14 members of the IR club traveled to Vancouver, club members at the College showed strong support for the competitive team at the worldwide competition.

“We take it really seriously, a lot of preparation goes into WMUN and it is a huge time commitment,” Alison Roberts ’15 said. “I have such respect for the WMUN team and all the hard work they put into it — that’s what makes it so successful.”

Group wins 11 awards at international competition held in Vancouver, Canada IR Club wins big at annual World Model UNSTudenT organizaTionS

by Sarah kleinknechTFlAt hAt stAFF writer

courTeSy PhoTo / ANUshree BANJAreethe College’s 14 wMUN participants display their awards from the conference in front of the Vancouver Olympics torch.

ADMISSIONS from page 1

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Admitted

limit applications of the Honor Code to academic settings for undergraduates. Under the current system, a student caught lying to his Resident Advisor could be cited for an honor violation and subject to the Honor Council’s full range of punishment — including expulsion.

While this may have made sense when the Code was first written, the creation of the undergraduate Student Conduct Council has produced an overlap in the reach of these two organizations, the HSRC says. The proposed Code will attempt to limit these redundancies by limiting its scope.

“That’s a pretty big change and that would be perceived as one of the biggest proposals in the entire report,” Student Assembly Finance Committee Chair and HRSC member Noah Kim ’13 said.

Other proposals include making an attempt to gain an unfair advantage — even if unsuccessful — a punishable infraction and clarifying what steps professors can take to prevent cheating without violating a student’s rights under the Code.

The committee has also suggested changes to the ways in which these infractions are settled. For example, under the new system, students and faculty would be able to resolve issues without going to the Honor Council, not unlike an out-of-court settlement.

Currently, any student found in violation of the Honor Code must go through an extensive investigation and review process before sanctions are issued, even after admitting guilt. The HSRC is proposing a way for students who plead guilty to go directly to this final step.

Reveley established the Honor System Review Committee in 2010, comprised of undergraduate and graduate students,

faculty and administrators, with the purpose of reviewing and revising the existing Honor Code. Although deliberations were only originally planned to last only for a semester, the entire review process lasted over a year.

“The process took a little longer than we anticipated,” Clemens said. “We had an interesting year and a half.”

The main reason for the extension was the scope of the project. For example, the committee reviewed honor codes from 30 other universities, as well as the Code’s importance. Although the HSRC has reached a consensus, the process wasn’t without its fair share of debate.

“You’re never going to have people entirely happy,” Dougherty said. “It’s a tough issue especially because the stakes are so high.”

The list of proposals is extensive and far-reaching, and the committee acknowledges that students, faculty and administrators

may have some objections. This is why it has released its full 32-page report, along with a two page summary, on the College’s website, so that community members can review and comment on the report before it is sent to Reveley.

Committee members say they encourage students to read the report before making judgments.

“I hope students and faculty will at the very least read the [summary] before firing shots at the system,” Clemens said.

Kim stressed the importance of getting the community to believe in the system in which it lives.

“I think that a fundamental part of the honor system is dependent on the buy-in of members of the community, that we all feel invested and see the system as credible and legitimate and something that we’re all benefiting from,” he said.

The committee has a survey online that students can fill out at forms.wm.edu/4416.

HONOR from page 1

Possible Honor Code changes announced

Class of 2016 sets new record in number of applicants

graPhic by kaTherine chiglinSky / the FlAt hAt

Honor System Review Committee’s proposals

Limiting applications of the Honor Code to academic situationsLimiting scope of Student Conduct CouncilAllowing for resolutions between faculty and students outside of the system.

Created by President Reveley in 2010, the

committee spent over a year revising the honor code. The committee

was comprised of both undergraduate

and graduate students, faculty and

administrators.

Dear Fellow Students, Alumni, Faculty, Administration and residents of the City of Williamsburg,

I am writing to thank you for a gift I received this year. On day one of that hot, un-air-conditioned hell known as Orientation, I was given a wristband emblazoned, “One Tribe, One Family.” I unthinkingly slipped it onto my wrist, where it has remained ever since. I apologize for the tardiness of this note, but it has taken me a full year to begin to understand the special gift that I received.

When I underwent the college selection process, it was a game of numbers. I tried to develop a metric to evaluate the merits of location, reputation, cost, academic rigor and social scene. The College of William and Mary suffered from the severe disadvantage of being only an hour from my house if my parents drove — 45 minutes with me at the wheel. Honestly, I didn’t have any interest in staying in Virginia, but my parents cajoled me into attending Admitted Students Day.

When I stepped onto campus, it was unlike anything I had expected. I had been told there was a lot of brick, but I don’t think anyone could have prepared me for the sheer quantity. Other aspects that exceeded my expectations were the love of learning and the sense of community. I felt both the second I arrived.

The College is strong on academics and hard on GPAs, as anyone here will tell you. This, while absolutely deserving of praise, is not what makes this university unique. There are many places where one can study under esteemed faculty. who probably grade more generously. Here, amid what College President Taylor Reveley calls “the sacred confines of William and Mary,” people really care about the pursuit of knowledge. Sure, we

sometimes get fixated on grades and exams, as demonstrated in the Earl Gregg Swem Library finals-invasion video, but I think this stems from an intense, campus-wide desire to understand things as deeply as possible. It is this passion that I sensed during Admitted Student’s Day. I have grown to more fully understand it during my freshman year.

Another attribute of the College that I think is praiseworthy is our sense of community. Despite our students’s extreme desire to do well, the campus dynamic is one of collaboration, not competition. Numerous friends have spent countless hours coaching me through my 300-level Roman Art and Archeology class, and without their help, I wouldn’t have stood a chance of passing. This atmosphere of support pervades not just the classroom, but all activity here.

Earlier this year, I explored the possibility of running for Williamsburg City Council. While I decided against it, the process brought me into contact with a wide range of people, including members of the Government Department, administration, Student Assembly, other campus organizations and Williamsburg residents and elected officials. Although

the advice I received was not always what I wanted to hear, it was invaluable to the development not just of a potential campaign, but also of me as a person.

In the process of writing this letter, I showed it to several friends. “That’s everyone’s William and Mary story,” was

the typical complaint, but, far from being an argument against writing this letter, it is the biggest reason to do so. The College is home to a wide variety of students with a wide variety of interests, but they share one thing: The ability to flourish.

Perhaps it is premature to be writing this letter after only a year here, but I sincerely feel that the College and the City of Williamsburg have become my home. I really can’t thank everyone involved with this experience enough. This is not to say that improvements can’t be made, but I am beyond excited for the years ahead.

“One Tribe. One Family.”Email Felix Schapiro at fhschapiro@email.wm.edu.

““

Great news from the Office of Undergraduate Admission — The class of 2016 is by far the best class ever admitted. There’s a NASA astronaut-in-training, a girl who braided the Queen of England’s hair and the son of Christ.

Wait. Didn’t we admit an astronaut last

year? I’m pretty sure I heard that somewhere. Come to think of it, there is a guy who wears a robe and sandals in my Introduction to Religion class.

My point is that the College of William and Mary continues to be more selective every year. It doesn’t seem to matter just how impressive this year’s freshmen are,

because next year’s class will somehow, inevitably, top this year’s. It’s not just the College either, it’s a sweeping epidemic: Colleges and universities are bending over backward to appear more selective.

Look at the ever-so-prestigious Harvard University, where an excited group of admission officials hurriedly announced they had set a new all-time low acceptance rate: 5.9 percent. What they don’t tell you is that Harvard’s number of applicants dropped 1.9 percent from a year ago, and that Harvard handed out 100 fewer acceptances.

Not only are universities trying desperately to reject as many applicants as possible, but they are willing to manipulate data so as to bring that all-important acceptance rate to an all-time low. Why? All for the sake of reputation.

This new trend has negative consequences. These impossibly low admittance numbers force applicants to burn themselves out in high school in

order to be that perfect applicant. More dangerously, some applicants judge universities solely on admission rates.

Let’s say John Doe from Indiana is looking at the College and at Harvard. He’s done all he can in high school — I’m talking AP classes, participation in about 20 clubs (nine of which he currently runs), single-handedly saving the community from a coal plant and owning a key to the city. He’s a prime candidate.

John Doe chooses Harvard over the College for one reason — Harvard’s 5.9 percent acceptance rate. What John Doe doesn’t realize, and can’t realize while he’s still in high school, is that once he’s settled down in his cramped dorm, all his past achievements don’t matter.

Our wonderful, prime-example, perfect applicant finds himself completely unhappy — his key to the city does no good in a school full of people who all have similar keys. John Doe is unhappy because he didn’t have

the foresight, and because the college admittance process denied him the foresight, to see what really matters: What college life is actually like after the admission letter.

As universities strive to look selective, applicants lose sight of the importance

of choosing a college for its worth. They choose for a number, not for the Sunken Garden and President Reveley and the Green Leafe. Don’t let your friends be like John Doe from Indiana.

Email Chris Weber at cmweber@email.wm.edu.

Staff Editorial

Reexamining rights

It has taken me a full year to begin to understand the special gift that I received.

The current amnesty policy at the College of William and Mary attempts to function as an umbrella that will protect individual students from excessive punishment if they

call for emergency assistance after binge drinking. A recent movement by the Student Assembly has pointed out that this umbrella has several leaks, particularly where organizations are concerned. The SA would like the policy to protect not just individual people from penalty after reporting an incident, but also entire organizations. While the administration seems hesitant to endorse this approach, we believe that organizations should be rewarded for being responsible and working to ensure the safety and well-being of their members. We understand the administration’s concerns, and we want to be clear that hazing should not be tolerated on this campus; however, individual incidents beyond the organization’s control will happen, and this needs to be taken into account.

The police officers responding to the incident must be held responsible for investigating the incident and writing a thorough report. While members of organizations most likely will stick together to defend the organization, it is important that each of their voices be heard so that blame is not assigned unfairly.

As it stands, the current amnesty policy is not fair toward organizations reporting an incident. The actions taken against organizations for a single incident should be equivalent to those taken against individuals who fall under the medical amnesty policy. They should be required to complete the alcohol education courses and to form a plan to prevent such incidents in the future, but the current plan is much harsher and frequently results in a probation sentence for the organization. This policy does not encourage members to report incidents, and the punishment is extended to all members, many of whom may not have been involved.

The recent actions taken against fraternities at the College are prime examples of how excessive this punishment can be. In the case of Kappa Sigma, members of the fraternity did call for help, which resulted in the fraternity losing its housing, and all members were put on social probation for a semester. There is no excuse for the incident; however, it is fortunate that there was no lasting damage because someone acted responsibly.

All organizations on this campus, be they Greek, athletic, service-oriented or academic, should take the safety of their members and guests seriously. To ensure total accountability, records must be kept, not just for a year, but throughout the collegiate career of each student to keep track of repeat incidents and to identify potential problems. The incident report must remain on the students’s college records, and on the records of organizations, in order to ensure that the College is able to hold all students accountable. Both students and organizations deserve the opportunity to explain their record, but erasing the incident from the record does not mean that it did not happen.

At the end of the day, each of these organizations is a group of individuals who would otherwise be covered by the amnesty policy. The problem is a simple matter of assigning organizations the same rights as the individual members.

Graphic by Molly adair / the Flat hat

Accept it: Colleges do everything they can to reject as many applicants as possible

opinionsThe F lat Hat

opinions Editor ellen Wexlerfhopinions@gmail.com

| Friday, april 13, 2012 | page 5

Editorial cartoon

Chris WeberFlat hat StaFF ColumniSt

by rachEl brookS, flat hat cartooniSt

GueSt ColumniStFelix Schapiro

A student reflects on a year at the College

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.

“The homecoming step show and after party that the Black Student Organization puts on.”

cheryl Williams ’13Shawn burley ‘13

“The football game. Go Tribe!”

Sam Meadows ’12

“I want him to be a strong advocate for the students, very representative of the majority.”

Mariam diallo ’14

What do you expect of the new SA president? StrEEt bEat

“One of the biggest weaknesses is communication. One of the most essential things is to build connections with the student body.”

keenan kelley ’14

“My expectations for someone elected into any office would be to listen to the questions, complaints [and] concerns of anyone.”

kaitlin Jones ’13

lEttEr to thE Editorold Dominion electric Company in state politics

To the Editor:In response to your article, “New Regulations Could

Doom Surry Coal Plant,” I would like to address some of the issues associated with Old Dominion Electric Company. You described many of the environmental impacts of building a new coal fired power plant in Surry, which are vast and daunting. But something not discussed is Old Dominion Electric Company’s influence and control within the political sphere of Virginia.

The 2012 General Assembly considered a bill allowing residential and commercial solar energy installations, and although Dominion wasn’t directly threatened by this leg-islation, the company used its substantial clout to kill the bill while it was still in committee. Similarly, Washington and Lee received a cease-and-desist letter from Dominion when it sought solar panels. A few years earlier, the General Assembly passed a bill (2007) to encourage the development of clean energy sources such as off-shore wind. In essence, it called for power companies in

Virginia to produce a certain amount of renewable energy (the Renewable Portfolio Standard). However, Dominion’s lobbyists decapitated the bill by persuading legislators to make the goal merely voluntary and accompanied by a bonus for meeting them. In a cruel twist, Dominion is earning $76 million in bonuses over the next two years by using old energy from old, out-of-state plants.

On VPAP.org, you can examine how much money political candidates receive, where they get this money, and what they do with it. Tim Kaine, for example, has received $248,829 from Dominion since 2000. The Wise County power plant, originally approved by then-Gov-ernor Kaine, is coal-powered in an era when fossil fuels are known to be dangerous for the environment and human health. Considering that Kaine has stated that “we’ve got to reassert leadership” in renewable energy, it’s not much of a leap to then question why he would support an investment in obsolete dirty energy. Given Dominion’s role in state politics, why do we trust it to power our homes?

— Colleen Swingle ’14 — photoS and intErviEWS by EllEn WExlEr

Creative When spoken-word poet Phil Kaye told his friends

he was coming to Williamsburg, they assumed he was talking about the neighborhood in Brooklyn.

“Pick me up some hipster cupcakes,” one friend said.

“No, dude,” Kaye replied. “This Williamsburg has bonnets.”

Kaye was joined at the College of William and Mary Saturday by partner Sarah Kay at One Tribe,

Many Voices, a spoken-word poetry performance and workshop hosted by Alma Mater Productions, the Student Assembly, the Center for Student Diversity, the Filipino-American Student Association and the Office of Student Affairs.

In 2004, Kaye and Kay founded the movement Project VOICE, which encourages self-expression through poetry. They travel to schools worldwide to spread this message.

“We have a three-point goal, which is entertainment, education and inspiration,” Kay said.

As the first event of the week, One Tribe, Many Voices promoted expression and diversity at the

College itself.“It really got the hype up for ‘I am William and

Mary Week,’” SA Undersecretary for Multicultural Affairs Amalhyn Shek ’13 said. “When they [the audience] all saw the [promotional] video, saw Sarah Kay and really got excited about the performance and really got excited about the collectivity that makes up the Tribe … it definitely gave us a great start.”

Colorful With over 300 years worth of history, it would be

naive to assume that the College’s record is flawless. It is not a secret that the College owned slaves nor that racism was once prevalent on campus.

The Lemon Project, named for a former slave at the College, aims to preserve the legacy of slavery and combat the lingering effects of racism in the community. Members of the Lemon Team and several students conducting research on racism at the College discussed these issues in a panel Tuesday.

“One of the goals of the Lemon Project is to better understand, chronicle and preserve the history of blacks at the College, and so much of this history affects campus life today,” Denay Morrison ’12 said.

Ultimately, the panel recognized the College’s history of racism, and also acknowledged that racial equality is a goal that has not yet been fully met.

“One of the things that I think is so important about the early seeds of the Lemon Project is that undergraduate students really led the way,” Lemon Project Managing Director and history professor Jody Allen said. “So, those of you in here who are undergrads, don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t make a difference.”

DiverseAcronyms like IFC, NPC and NPHC are Greek

to many students, but at a panel on Wednesday about diversity in the social realm, representatives from various fraternities and sororities shared their experiences with these national organizations.

The six student panelists discussed issues of discrimination within Greek life on both a national and the university level. A main point of conversation was the divide between the Greek organizations of the Interfraternity Council and National Panhellenic

Council and those of the historically African-American National Pan-Hellenic Council.

“Let’s say you were left-handed and you could do calligraphy, and you would just write and draw with your left hand, but then one day you go to an environment where they say, ‘No, you can’t write with your left hand. You have to be right-handed,’” Alpha Phi Alpha president Jerome Carter ’12 said. “You are skilled, you are proficient in calligraphy … but this system says, ‘No, it’s not valid here. This is not what it is.’ And all of a sudden, you become lesser.”

This analogy conveyed the marginalization that many of the NPHC organizations on campus feel and elicited a strong reaction from the other panelists.

“Under no condition do I ever want anyone to feel like my organization, my country, my anything, is making you write with your right hand,” IFC president Ishan Bardhan ’13 said.

Caring Over 90 percent of successful applicants to the

College list community service as an activity that they have been involved. This emphasis on volunteering was reflected in “A Celebration of Service,” yesterday’s I am W&M event.

“I never thought of it as service,” Doug Bunch ’02 J.D. ’06 said. “I never thought of it as that seven-letter word, it was just sort of what you did because William and Mary trained us, maybe subconsciously, to do that. I think it’s important that we see it not as a painful obligation, not as a burdensome duty, but as something that should be an expectation of everyone.”

Community service at the College first jumped after Sept. 11, when an increase in interest led to the College’s first international service trip, the Global Village Project in 2002. This trip was quickly followed by the Sharpe Community Scholars program and the Branch Out program.

For the panelists, one of the most important aspects of community service is the motivation behind it, which fuels lifelong involvement.

“If we can give students both the emotional and affective connections and the intellectual capacity to then work for a lifetime to solve problems … [they] take their talent base, their knowledge, their skills, and then they do something pretty unique with it.”

varietyThe F lat Hat

Variety Editor Abby BoyleVariety Editor Sarah Caspari

flathat.variety@gmail.com

| Friday, April 13, 2012 | Page 6

BY SARAH CASPARIFLAT HAT VARIETY EDITOR

With April now upon us, it is time for those students who like to think weather doesn’t make a difference in their days to eat their words. If it were legal, I would personally like to make human sacrifices a la Montezuma just to make sure it never dips below 70 degrees ever again. However, and on a slightly lighter and less sacrificial note, thinking about the variable spring weather has brought to mind all of the quirky behaviors that come out of the woodwork at the College of William and Mary once the sun starts shining. So

here are a few observations — the good, the better and the just plain best.

The Good: The First Day of Temperatures in the 80s

The entire campus goes from one dark and huddled mass into a massive cocktail of bright colors. The girls, in a die-hard competition to wear the sundress with the largest flowers, proudly strut all over campus implicitly asking for compliments. The boys also think it’s time to make their fashion sense known, and do so by wearing bright yellow, teal or pink shorts, paired with even brighter blue, green or orange T-shirts. Ray-Bans once again become a dress code staple. Although free plastic AMP sunglasses are a great budget-friendly alternative (and a personal favorite). Basically, if you’re not wearing at least three colors and some awesome shades, prepare to feel out of place.

The Other Good: The College Frisbee Obsession

It’s a great activity — unless, of course, you do not actually own a Frisbee. In fact, not long ago, after deciding that I could not live another year in jealousy, my friend and I purchased a professionally-certified Frisbee so that we could finally take part. Unfortunately, it turns out that certification makes no difference if you lack all throwing and catching skills to be even remotely decent at the sport. On that note, sincerest apologies to the couple I kept hitting during what was intended to be a romantic Sunken Garden make-out session — while it could have been on purpose, my constantly hitting you with the Frisbee was actually just honest and pure luck.

The Better: The Terrace LivesIf you’ve been waiting all day to be

shamed into buying another melted cupcake you never wanted in the first place for some cause in some country where people have no cupcakes at all (although after the last one I bought on the Sadler Center Terrace, I think they might just be better off ), you finally have the chance. AMP also joins in on the fun by showering us with Fridays at Five, Homebrews, comedians and 1,000 candy-filled Easter eggs. I don’t care if you don’t like music or comedy — plastic eggs filled with Three Musketeers and Starbursts are the best. Last but not least, to have a place where you can sit for hours, within 20 feet of the Daily Grind and a major dining hall, and see all of your friends, without ever having to move an inch from your seat? That, my dear ladies and gentlemen, is a jackpot.

And now The Best: People are Happy

Just to Be HereNo, I don’t mean that people rejoice

in each minute by happily skipping to their 9 a.m. classes — that’s mainly reserved for 4/20 participants. I mean it in the sense that the magical or lovely things that every person loves about the College, if forgotten during the long months of January and February, are back in full force, whether a midnight streak or an early morning run floats your boat — and with this weather, and this campus, I’m starting to think anything seems possible. Unless it involves Frisbee skills, of course.

Dasha Godunova is a Confusion Corner Columnist and has been practicing her Frisbee-throwing skills and hunting for sundresses with only the largest flowers in preparation for the upcoming warm weather days at the College.

CONFUSION CORNER

Warm weather highlights redeeming qualities of the College

Dasha GodunovaCOnFuSIOn CORnER COLumnIST

Celebrating diversity at the College through a week-long program of events

Upcoming events:

Today at 3 p.m., an LGBTQI Pride Festival is being held on the Crim Dell Meadow to promote diversity in the realm of sexuality. The event will feature entertainment including drag performances and live music.

To commemorate the 250th anniversary of Thomas Jefferson’s presence at the College, the Office of Student Affairs, the President’s Office and SA will be hosting a TJ-themed AVAdventure tonight at 8 p.m.

Tomorrow at 7:30 p.m., SA will be hosting a Mosaic concert for current students as well as students who have been admitted to the class of 2016. The concert will feature performances from various student groups.

Open-minded

Adventurous

Musical

Student panelists took part in a discussion about discrimination within Greek life Wednesday, April 11. The panel was part of a week-long series of events in the College’s third annual “I am W&m” week, which continues over the weekend.

RAQUEL PHILLIPS / THE FLAT HAT

The term TWAMP, although thrown around on campus with high frequency, remains incredibly vague. Depending on context, its meaning could range anywhere from a terribly derogatory insult to a compliment. However, another word shrouds itself in even more ambiguity: hipster. Depending on your definition, hipsters can range from left-leaning, ensemble dressing, over-read college students to the dregs of youth counter-culture that pollute the world with their cigarette smoke and perceived elitism.

WCWM Fest 2012 attempted to destigmatize hipster culture by bringing indie music talent to the College of William and Mary for a full weekend of concerts, movie screenings and social events.

“Reaching out to people [about the event] on campus was frustrating because of the hipster thing,” WCWM Concert Director Todd Van Luling ’13

said. “Hipster has just become another word for culture nerd. Everyone’s a hipster, because everyone wants to be able to recommend something.”

Plans for WCWM Fest 2012 kicked off back in February when the WCWM Fest Concert act, sponsored by Noah Kim ’13, allocated $30,000 to fund an alternative music festival. Posters sprouted up on bulletins all over campus, and a video featuring outgoing Student Assembly President Kaveh Sedaghian ’12 eating grass promoted the event.

Acclaimed singer-songwriter John Darnielle, the primary and oftentimes sole member of The Mountain Goats, was one of the show’s headliners. Despite the fact that he has never received considerable mainstream attention, he has received numerous awards and accolades from several prestigious publications. One writer from The New Yorker declared Darnielle “America’s best lyricist,” and music magazine Paste listed him as one of the “100 Best Living Songwriters.”

The other headliner, indie rock band The Walkmen, has received similar praise. Their studio records consistently place high on critics’ year-end and decade-end lists of best music.

“These are what people call buzz bands, bands that don’t get mainstream attention but get a lot of attention on the Internet,” WCWM DJ Philip Basnight ’13 said.

To draw attention to the event and featured bands, members of the National Public Radio music department and Buzzfeed.com attended the event.

“The internet is changing music, and we get to see it in action with these two bands that have been working for over ten years and haven’t gotten major attention,” Basnight said.

WCWM also contacted radio stations in and around the Richmond area about the event.

“Whenever the Mountain Goats or the Walkmen go to Richmond, people just flock to them, and it’s not usually free or outdoors,” Luling said.

The Mountain Goats entertained the audience with their quirky lyrics and creative acoustic instrumentals. Darnielle paused for several minutes between each song to shed light on an individual lyric, tell the audience about a TV show a song was featured on, or explain a background story that inspired a song.

“I thought it was cool that he accepted a lot of the songs that were requested. The lyrics he writes are really meaningful and emotional, and I know they have helped some of my friends who have been in bad places,” long-time Mountain Goats fan Shaan Sharma ’15 said. “It was great, he was a genuine and nice guy that cares about his fans.”

The Walkmen focused less on directly engaging with the audience between songs, but instead opted to play a continuous stream of songs to get the audience’s heads banging and feet stomping.

“The Walkmen were really awesome live,” Mike Crumplar ’15 said. “It was

very representative of [the band’s] studio music.”

Jolyn Carter, a Richmond resident who came to see the show praised the venue in addition to the music.

“I’ve always been a fan of outdoor venues, especially when it’s indie music, because it really brings you closer to what’s being played,” Carter said.

Luling agreed.“The Sunken Garden is a beautiful

space and I think it is very underused,” Luling said. “It’s a perfect spot to have things.”

WCWM Fest staff expressed hopes that the event will grow into an annual Virginia music festival and inject new life into the radio station.

“We [WCWM] have a lot of really talented people,” Luling said. “We had AMP ask who was designing things like the posters and T-shirts. It’s been a really great collective effort. Unfortunately our listening base keeps shrinking, but this has been an amazing experience for the radio to bond over and [has helped] reshape our role on campus.”

Disappearance performance disappointsAdaptation of Japanese play suffers poor execution, but some actors deliver

As this, the final year of my college career and my tenure as theater critic for The Flat Hat, winds to a close, I have been able to look back and question what I’ve written: “Was I too harsh?” “Did I give shows a pass?” And “Why did I review modern dance?” While hindsight rears its ugly head, there is a certain retrospective clarity when it comes to performances that truly stood out these past four years. The triumphs — “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie,” “Bones,” “The Shape of Things” — seem more auspicious, their success bolstered in comparison to their weaker counterparts. Although there have been some pieces with more misses than hits over the years — “Rhinoceros,” “Table Manners,” “Thoroughly Modern Millie” — it’s been a rare occasion when there wasn’t something to like about what’s been put on stage.

Leave it to the cruelties of fate, then, to saddle me with one hell of a farewell gift.

Francis Tanglao-Aguas’s adaptation of Keralino Sandorovich’s “Disappearance,” being performed this week in Phi Beta Kappa Memorial Hall’s Studio Theatre, has outdone all opposition. Unless “Ruined” is an unmitigated disaster — which seems highly unlikely — I can say without reservation that

“Disappearance” is the worst theatrical production I have ever seen on this campus.

Why the bluntness? Well, after upwards of 150 minutes spent watching an incoherent, inconsistent parade of poor characterization and even poorer execution, I have little patience left. Taken on its own, “Disappearance” is an occasionally insightful synthesis of a panicked post-war malaise and its resultant psychotic attachments; but in this production, the bastard child of Japanese Noh drama and the high modernism of Samuel Beckett, the decent becomes the defective and the good, grotesque. Noh plays traditionally use movement and dance to display states of high emotion, but “Disappearance” has plenty of words, despite its pretensions to the contrary. The dialogue not only lacks emotional resonance, but it also presents a bizarre rendering of simple phraseology, creating glaringly inept readings of lines that would get a symphony of groans in impolite company. I would love nothing more than to write these off as moments of theatrical experimentation, but when most other dialogue is spoken in a naturalistic manner, incompetence is the only diagnosis.

Some in the cast are truly dedicated to their performances, despite quite obviously struggling under the ponderousness of the whole affair: Shaan

Sharma ’15 acquits himself well enough as the simpleton living under the benevolent dictatorship of his brother Chaz, played by Abhay Ahluwalia ’12, and Grace Mendenhall ’13 does much with her brief periods of focus as the renter in this house of horrors. Mendenhall has come a long way since her performance in Shakespeare in the Dark’s “The Tempest,” and perhaps someday she’ll be in a production worth her development. She and Rebecca Turner ’14 are one of two pairs of actors playing their roles on alternating nights; needless to say, I won’t be checking in again to see how the others fare. I wish them the best of luck.

What else is there to be said about this unfortunate exercise? The ensemble? Effective enough, although they rarely act as a true chorus. The lights? Well, just how important is lighting when your head is in your hands? The music? Fine, when it happens. That just about covers it. If anyone wants to know more about the specifics of the play, I’ll be drinking somewhere.

If “Disappearance” succeeds in one thing, it is in helping the audience to understand Chaz’s motivations for selectively deleting his brother’s memory. Never have I wished more that such a device existed than after being subjected to this dramaturgical torment. Where’s Lacuna, Inc. when you need it?

BY ZACH HARDYFLAT HAT ONLINE EDITOR

BY IAN GOODRUMFLAT HAT STAFF WRITER

ALL PHOTOS BY ZACH HARDY / THE FLAT HAT

Acclaimed indie rock bands The Mountain Goats (top right) and The Walkmen (left, bottom right) headlined the 2012 WCWM Fest on Saturday. The WCWM staff hoped that the groups’ style would ameliorate the stigma surrounding the hipster culture.

Mountain Goats and Walkmen perform at the music festival

WCWM Fest rocks out

MICHELLE GABRO / THE FLAT HAT

An adaptation of Keralino Sandorovich’s “Disappearance” is playing in Phi Beta Kappa Memorial Hall this weekend.

Friday, April 13, 2012 Page 7The F lat Hat

sports The F lat Hat | Friday, April 13, 2012 | Page 8

Sports Editor Mike BarnesSports Editor Jared Foretek

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No. 36 VCU too much for Tribe in RichmondMEN’S TENNIS

Guthrie and Pietrucha score only College victories as Tribe falls to Rams, 5-2BY MIKE BARNESFLAT HAT SPORTS EDITOR

In order to be the best, you have to beat the best. William and Mary, fresh off a dominating win over Delaware, traveled to Richmond Wednesday to face perennial conference powerhouse No. 36 Virginia Commonwealth. The Rams have won the CAA championship 12 out of the last 16 years and have made appearances in the NCAA tournament 18 of the last 19 years.

The College, seeking to improve its conference position before the upcoming CAA championships, played well but ultimately could not hang with VCU. The Rams got off to a quick start and never

relinquished their lead, posting a 5-2 victory over the Tribe.

The loss drops the College’s record to 2-2 in the conference and 10-14 overall. The Rams improved to 18-4 while maintaining their perfect 4-0 conference record.

Things started slowly for the College, with the squad dropping all three of the doubles matches, allowing the Rams to easily claim the doubles point. VCU’s No. 50-ranked doubles tandem of Alexis Heugas and Antoine Baroz powered past senior Jacob Braig and junior Anton Andersson in the No. 1 spot, 8-4.

Sophomore John Banks and graduate student Robert Pietrucha hung close to VCU’s No. 2 doubles

team of Max Wennakoski and Filip Svensson, but ultimately fell in an 8-5 final. With the doubles point already in hand, VCU finished off the Tribe with a victory in the No. 3 spot, as sophomores Ben Guthrie and Ben Hoogland fell to their VCU counterparts by an 8-2 count.

After VCU secured a 1-0 lead, the action shifted to singles play. Junior Adrian Vodislav faced a steep challenge in Heugas, the No. 88-ranked singles player, at the No. 1 spot. Heugas breezed through the first set, 6-0, and then dropped just one game in the second, winning 6-1 and sending the Tribe into a 0-2 hole.

The No. 2 match pitted Andersson against Wennakoski. The first set was tightly contested, as Wennakoski eked out a 6-4 victory. Wennakoski continued to apply pressure in the second set, polishing Andersson off with a 6-3 second-set victory.

VCU’s Jaime Vazquez then downed Banks in the No. 6 spot in a 6-1, 6-1 decision. From there, things began to look up for the Tribe.

Guthrie bested Svensson in the No. 3 spot by a convincing 6-3, 6-1 margin. In the No. 5 spot, Pietrucha breezed past VCU’s Alejandro Argente in the first set, 6-3, but encountered some resistance in the second set. Argente battled Piertucha in the second set, but Piertucha ultimately prevailed in a tiebreak, 7-6. With the win, Piertucha recorded his 20th victory of the season and continues to lead the squad with a 12-7 dual-match record.

In the No. 6 slot, Hoogland narrowly missed a chance to steal another point from the Rams. VCU’s Antoine Baroz edged Hoogland in two tiebreaks, winning a narrow 7-6, 7-6 match. With Baroz’s victory, the Rams sealed the 5-2 final margin of victory.

The College will conclude its regular season schedule Saturday when it faces Old Dominion in another CAA battle in Norfolk. Junior Anton Andersson lost 6-0, 6-1 in his singles match with No. 88 Alexis Huegas after falling 8-4 in doubles play.

JARED FORETEK / THE FLAT HAT

Freshman first baseman Michael Katz touches home after his second three-run home run of the Tribe’s 17-4 win over Richmond Tuesday. Katz went 3 for 4 with 7 RBIs and two runs.JOHN LEE / THE FLAT HAT

BASEBALL

College bounces back from close loss with 17-4 beatdown of RichmondBY JARED FORETEKFLAT HAT SPORTS EDITOR

William and Mary did everything it could to erase the memory of a painfully close conference-series loss Sunday, scoring six runs in the first inning en route to a 17-4 manhandling of visiting Richmond Tuesday.

The Tribe (23-11) was led by freshman first baseman Michael Katz, who had his second two home run game against the Spiders this season, going 3 for 4 with seven RBIs and two runs. The College effectively put the game out of reach by the end of third, slugging its way to six runs in the first, five more in the second and three in the third, good for a 14-0 lead going into the fourth.

“There was definitely a lot of frustration coming off the weekend,” Katz said. “Those were two winnable games and today we came out really focused all the way down the lineup.”

All but two College starters picked up hits on the day while each starter reached base safely at least once as the Tribe totaled 15 base hits against the Spiders. Junior center fielder Ryan Brown also had a big game in the two-hole, going 3 for 5 and scoring four of the College’s runs.

Brown said that by simple virtue of getting more at bats, the Tribe’s lineup is looking more dangerous by the day.

“It’s midseason, we’ve seen a lot of pitches and we’re confident, we’re playing loose,” he said. “We know we had it in us, it’s just a matter of getting it

done.”Richmond also provided some assistance, helping

the Tribe with sloppy play in the first inning. After junior second baseman Kevin Nutter singled and reached second on an error, Brown moved him to third with a base hit. Brown then stole second and took third on a wild pitch that scored Nutter. After senior right fielder Stephen Arcure walked, Katz cleared the bases with a three-run shot to give the College a 4-0 advantage. But the Tribe wasn’t done there. Senior left fielder Tadd Bower drew a walk and sophomore third baseman Ryan Lindemuth followed with a single up the middle. After the two runners advanced a base each on a ground out, senior catcher Sean Aiken scored them both on a single into center field.

The Tribe’s pitchers also were able to keep Richmond’s bats from climbing back into things. Senior starting pitcher Cole Shain improved to 4-2 on the year, going five innings and allowing one earned run on two hits and two walks.

When the Spiders finally got on the board with a run in the top of the fourth, the College — almost on cue — immediately responded with Katz’s second home run of the night, a three-run blast to deep right-center in the bottom of the inning, putting the College up 17-1.

“In warm-ups, the wind was blowing out to right field pretty well, so I was just trying to stay through the ball and square it up,” Katz said. “I got two curveballs that were up in the zone [on the home runs].”

Leoni was pleased to see such impressive

production in the four-hole from a freshman.“He’s only a freshman but has games like this

where he looks like a veteran. It’s a neat thing to watch,” Leoni said.

Aside from the eighth, when Richmond roughed up a wild freshman relief pitcher J.T. Castner for three runs (two earned), the College’s pitching staff made it through nine innings nearly unblemished. The Spiders finished with just eight hits and two walks. Nutter, Lindemuth, freshman designated hitter Josh Smith and Aiken all logged two base hits for the College.

The win does nothing for the Tribe’s conference standing, but it could give the team a boost heading into a tough road series at CAA-foe Georgia State this weekend. The Panthers are two games behind the sixth-placed Tribe. While sixth may sound low, the College is just a game back from a cluster of three teams tied for third.

“We’re in a good position. We’re right in the thick of things and right where we want to be,” Brown said. “We just have to win series, not worry about getting a sweep. Just win every series and we’ll put ourselves in a good position.”

The series-opener with the Panthers is Friday.

RICHMOND SPIDERS

4 17

Hitting it

JARED FORETEK / THE FLAT HAT

W&M TRIBE

BY JARED FORETEKFLAT HAT SPORTS EDITOR

It took over four hours, but the outcome was scarcely in doubt as William and Mary stumbled to a 6-1 home defeat to Virginia Commonwealth Wednesday.

The Tribe (5-15, 1-2 CAA) notched just two victories all day, the second coming when sophomore Maria Belaya scored an impressive 6-2, 6-0 win over VCU’s Ana Bara at the No. 1 singles position. The win made the overall score 2-1 in favor of the Rams, but VCU was simply too much for the College, sweeping the remaining singles matches.

Only at the beginning did the Tribe look like it had a real chance. The No. 24 doubles team in the nation, Belaya and sophomore Jeltje Loomans, opened the day with a dominant 8-2 win in the No. 1 spot over Bara and her sister, Alex Bara.

From there, things began rolling downhill for the College. VCU’s No. 3 duo of Alena Gerasimova and Salome Kvitashvili topped senior Katie Kargl and junior Nina Vulovich, 8-6. Finally, with the doubles point hanging in the balance, sophomore Hope Johnson and junior Anik Cepeda fell at the hands of Daria Yakauleva and Olga Terteac in the No. 2 position.

With its 1-0 lead, the international Rams squad — all eight of the team’s players are European-born — then proceeded to roll over the College in the singles portion of the match.

Finishing first was the No. 3 battle, in which VCU’s Olga Terteac downed Johnson in straight sets, 6-2, 6-0 giving the Rams a 2-0 advantage. Then, after Belaya dropped Bara in the No. 1 slot, the Rams extended their lead to 3-1 with Marketa Placha’s 6-2, 6-1 win over Kargl in the No. 6 position.

VCU’s clincher came from the No. 5 battle between Cepeda and Kvitashvili. Cepeda took an early lead, winning the first set 5-7. But Kvitashvili quickly turned things around, and in a drastic way. The freshman handed Cepeda a 6-1 win. Finally, Kvitashvili cruised to a third-set win by the same score, guaranteeing victory for the Rams.

Loomans fought hard in the No. 2 position, winning the first set of her match with Alex Bara, 7-5. But Bara flipped the switch in the last two sets, winning 6-3, 6-2 to give VCU a 5-1 lead.

The day ended when Vulovich fell in the No. 4 position to Gerasimova in three sets. Vulovich dropped the first set, 7-5, before battling back for a 6-4 victory in the second set. But the junior was overcome in the final set, falling 7-6 in a tiebreaker.

The College is running the risk of backing into the CAA Tournament, which kicks off April 19 in Norfolk. The team’s final regular-season match is Saturday, when the Tribe will host Boston University for Senior Day.

Rams cruise past College

WOMEN’S TENNIS

Tribe overpowered by No. 42 VCU, 6-1 at home

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Junior Anik Cepeda fell in both her matches Wednesday.