Tribe drops fourth The Flat Hat’s Columnist: Vote no on game in last five Oscar picks Honor Code changes SEE BACK PAGE SEE PAGE 6 SEE PAGE 5

The twice-weekly student newspaper of the College of William and Mary — Est. 1911 VOL.98, NO.34 Friday, February 20, 2009 FLATHATNEWS.COM Honor Mr. William and Mary State Code charges up for Pilchen Former SA President revision arrested on embezzlement Referendum will be charges in January

put to a vote Monday By Miles Hilder Flat Hat News Editor By IAN Brickey Flat Hat Staff Writer Former Student Assembly President Zach Pilchen ’10 was arrested last month in connec- Proposed changes to the College of William tion with his widely publicized personal spend- and Mary’s Honor Code are drawing controversy ing spree last September, in which he used an among students, with some calling the alterations off-campus SA account to buy cigarettes, movie significant and damaging. But members of the Hon- tickets and other items. or Council argue that the proposal makes the code A Commonwealth of Vir- H at clearer and more student friendly. ginia warrant for Pilchen’s ar-

Similar alterations failed in a referendum vote rest on a Class 1 Misdemean- F lat

last semester after a last-minute push by students or charge was filed Jan. 9 by T he and members of the College of William and Mary Student Assembly who Police Lieutenant John Cole- Inside argued students were man. Pilchen was arrested by

View last semester’s list not fully informed on campus police at 1:40 p.m. Jan. file photo — of Honor Council cases the changes. 21. He posted $2,000 bail later Pilchen ’10 and the complete list One policy change that day. of candidates for the that has come under Pilchen resigned from his position as vice Honor Council. harsh criticism is the president of the SA Sept. 2, 2008. His resigna- Page 3 right of the chair to tion came shortly after he admitted to making deny requests for an purchases with the SA off-campus account debit open hearing with card amounting to $138.51 between April 28 and “good cause.” Council of Chairs President Matt Di- May 12 of last year. nan ’09 defended the amendment, stating that the Pilchen declined to comment for this story.

“good cause” change is being made at the requests Jasleen Singh — the flat hat He allegedly violated Section 18.2-111 of the of the College’s legal counsel and the attorney gen- Greg Collins ’09 was elated to win the title of Mr. William and Mary Wednesday night, beating out contestants Code of Virginia, according to the arrest war- eral of Virginia. The aim of the clause, Dinan said, such as Kevin Dua ’09, Dan Gormally ’09 and Brian Terrill ’12. The contest was judged by Interim Vice rant filed with the state. The warrant describes is to empower the chair to successfully handle indi- President for Student Affairs Ginger Ambler ’88 Ph.D. ’06, government professor Clay Clemens ’80 and Associ- Pilchen’s offense as an embezzlement of money viduals who may be exceedingly disruptive during ate Director of Student Activities Anne Arseneau. The event raised funds for the Alan Bukzin Memorial Bone the course of a trial. Dinan stressed that if a “good Marrow Drive, which will take place April 15. See Pilchen page 3 cause” decision were invoked during a trial, the de- cision would be open to appeal. Another contentious change is the proposed abolition of student-wide referendums to enact pro- cedural change. These referendums can take as long as two years to successfully be approved and Antique phone system hangs on by wire See Honor Code page 3 By Austin Wright The phone system is 20 years old, installed pus that’s always under construction. Flat Hat Editor-in-Chief before many students were born. It’s an energy- Dorm phone lines — now free of charge — guzzler, requiring up to twice the electricity of will likely cost $50 starting next semester. The Last November, the College of William and modern systems. It also costs more to run. College’s Information Technology department Res Life policy Mary’s phone system short-circuited, shutting And the system cannot expand. That’s be- projects that most students will gladly give up down every campus line for about 10 minutes. cause the company that made it discontinued the their campus lines, since the vast majority rely Since then, there have been no more black- product about a decade ago. The system is now on cell phones. The result: new campus build- outs. maxed out, with 7,135 ports. New phone lines ings can use the phone lines students no longer change could Consider the College lucky. cannot be added, which is a problem for a cam- need. The flashy new School of Business building will be fully equipped with the 1980s phone sys- push frats out tem. Future buildings could be out of luck. “Ultimately, something will have to be done,” said Chris Ward, IT’s director of systems and support. “We’re now just starting to work on a Frats may drop campus request for a proposal so we can get some bids on what a new system would cost.” housing over new rules Officials expect a new phone system to cost around $2 million, plus monthly operational ex- penses. A new system would cut down on energy By Kevin Liptak use by as much as 50 percent, Ward said, and Flat Hat Staff Writer would have more advanced 9-1-1 technology, such as better location information and graphic From the moment he set foot on campus, Brian display capabilities. Apkarian ’11 knew he wanted to be in a fraternity. “Old electronics suck down the power like no- Some of that enthusiasm has been dampened, how- body’s business — it’s very costly from that point ever, by a dilemma he and other fraternity members of view,” Ward said. “This is really old technol- are dealing with: enlisting enough students to fill ogy. You can tell by just looking at it.” on-campus housing units, as dictated by the College He’s right, you can tell. In the College’s switch of William and Mary’s residence standards. room, the technology hub in the basement of “Every semester has been a hassle filling the Blow Hall that houses the College’s phone sys- house,” Apkarian said. “Now they’re taking away tem, Courtney Carpenter has to yell over the buy-outs, and it’s going to make it even harder.” rumble of an industrial air conditioning unit. It’s The task was made more difficult recently, needed to blow cool air at all times on the mas- Apkarian said, after the College’s Residence Life sive machines that make up the College’s phone department ended the popular buy-out policy for system.

Greek organizations housed in the Fraternity Maral Noori-Moghaddam — the flat hat Without the air conditioning unit, said the The basement of Blow Hall serves as the hub for the College of William and Mary’s telecommunications network. See Fraternities page 3 More than 15,000 telephone wires converge here, in a room cooled with an industrial air conditioner. See Phones page 4 Page 2 Friday, February 20, 2009

News Editor Alex Guillén News Editor Miles Hilder NEWS INSIGHT [email protected] Beyond the ’burg This Week in Flat Hat History ‘Stabilitas et Fides’ 1925 25 Campus Center, The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA. 23185 Newsroom (757) 221-3281 —­ Advertising Dept. (757) 221-3283 — Fax (757) 221-3242 John Barton Payne, the The Flat Hat — [email protected] News — [email protected] Variety — [email protected] president of the American Red Sports —­ [email protected] Opinions — [email protected] Cross, contributed $25,000 to ADVERTISING — [email protected] the William Barton Rogers Austin Wright, Editor-in-Chief Science Hall. This was the first Jeff Dooley, Managing Editor — Alice Hahn, Executive Editor Brian Mahoney, Online Editor individual donation made to the Alex Guillén, News Editor Taylor Martindale, Copy Chief new hall. At the time, Rogers Miles Hilder, News Editor Vanessa VanLandingham, Copy Chief Hall was the largest and best- Ashley Morgan, Variety Editor Caitlin Fairchild, Photo Editor Andrew Pike, Sports Editor Maral Noori, Photo Editor equipped building on campus. Russ Zerbo, Opinions Editor Alexander Ely, Chief Staff Writer Kelsey Weissgold, Business Manager Tom MacWright, Web Director Mike Crump, Assoc. News Editor Amanda Goodman, Copy Editor Maggie Reeb, Assoc. News Editor Logan Herries, Copy Editor 1940 Sam Sutton, Assoc. News Editor Megan Keeling, Copy Editor Isshin Teshima, Assoc. News Editor Cory Chapman, Copy Editor Alexander Weddell, the Summer Finck, Assoc. Variety Editor Katie Lee, Copy Editor Rachel Rudebusch, Assoc. Variety Editor Jack Hohman, Chief Photographer U.S. ambassador to Spain, Pam Snyder, Assoc. Variety Editor Liz Horne, Production Assistant founded the Weddell Matt Poms, Assoc. Sports Editor Meredith Nall, Production Assistant Chris Weidman, Assoc. Sports Editor Michael Kirby, Senior Sales Representative Fellowship, which offered a Alexa McClanahan, Assoc. Opinions Editor Reggie Gomez, Local Sales Representative student the chance to go to Ameya Jammi, Insight Editor Matthias Jamora, Local Sales Representative Bertel King, Jr., Insight Editor Jessica Dobis, Accountant Spain and study the political Catherine Anderson, Copy Editor Juae Son, Accountant courtesy PHOTO — www.wikipedia.org atmosphere of the country Chelsea Caumont, Copy Editor Jin Woo, Accountant Leah Fry, Copy Editor St. Williams Hall at Boston College. Recent moves to place crucifixes in all the classrooms have upset professors. under its new Nationalist government. Corrections Crucifixes cause controversy The Flat Hat wishes to correct any facts printed incorrectly. Corrections may be submitted by e-mail to the section editor in which the incorrect information was 1959 printed. Requests for corrections will be accepted at any time. BC professors protest placement of crosses in classrooms The Board of Visitors By AMEYA JAMMI people; we’re not there for devotional purposes. modified the curriculum Weather Flat Hat Insight Editor The crucifixes just come with the territory.” for undergraduate studies Other professors felt placing crosses in the by increasing the foreign Friday Saturday Sunday Some professors at Boston College have been classroom was against the Jesuit principle of language requirement. They speaking out against crucifixes placed in every tolerance. also authorized the president classroom over winter break. Officials at the Jesuit “Placing iconography in classrooms undermines to implement reduced institution say this is part of a program started successful efforts of Boston College to be a requirements for students who by the university’s president, William Leahy, to university that welcomes all students, faculty and took foreign languages in high High 46 High 54 High 45 Low 26 Low 41 Low 28 promote campus-wide Christian art. staff,” Paul Davidovits, a chemistry professor, said school. “As a Jesuit, Catholic university, the effort to to BC Heights. Source: www.weather.com promote Christian art reflects our pride in and our Dunn told the Associated Press that students commitment to our religious heritage and the role it have not been complaining about the new 1971 plays in fostering the Catholic intellectual tradition crucifixes. Quote of the Week that we celebrate as a university,” Boston College “At the end of the day, we are still a Jesuit, The Virginia State Senate spokesman Jack Dunn said to BC Heights, an Catholic university and that is a core part of our considered a resolution to Considering it’s an old clunker, independent student newspaper at the university. identity,” BC student Patrick Fouhy said to The restore standards of public what it’s doing today is remarkable. Boston College’s student population is 70 percent Boston Herald. “Putting crucifixes up is a nice decency and morality to state But at some point, [you’ve] got to Catholic. reminder of that.” universities by re-examining “step up and say, enough’s enough. Although some classrooms already had According to the AP, some faculty members open house regulations. The crucifixes, the crosses placed in the remaining unsuccessfully petitioned for the removal of the resolution urged university

— James Fields, an on-site technician at the College, about its classrooms were collected by students during crucifixes. administrators to take a greater phone system overseas service trips. “I think it can be healthy to have a legitimate, initiative instead of suggesting “There was never any formal consultation on academic debate on the subject,” physics professor any specific guidelines. Parents ” the issue [among the faculty], but I thought it was Michael Naughton said to the BC Heights. and alumni had pushed for the See Phones page 1 a good idea,” history professor James O’Toole “Perhaps this will happen ... In an open academic resolution. said to BC Heights. “The crosses don’t matter in environment, diverse views are welcome, including News in Brief my classes because we’re not trying to convert dissenting ones.” —by Ameya Jammi College professors honored by Kaine Street Beat Two professors at the College of William and Mary were among the 12 Virginian educators honored yesterday by Gov. Timothy M. What do you think about the Honor Code referendum? Kaine as recipients of the 2009 Outstanding Faculty Award for ex- cellence in teaching, research and public service. Biology professor Lizabeth A. Allison and government and public policy professor Christopher Howard were the two recipients from the College. The faculty members from two and four-year colleges and uni- versities across Virginia will be recognized during an awards cer- emony at the Jefferson Hotel as part of the annual OFA program administered by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia and sponsored by Dominion. “As long as they’re not “Besides the guy I know on “I believe it brings us into the “I love the Honor Code. I don’t Faculty and staff fundraise money for CVC weakening it, it’s fine. It’s good Honor Council, I don’t know new age ­— not so colonial.” really care how it’s worded as to have like things that easy anyone who has read it.” long as the principle is still the The faculty and staff of the College of William and Mary raised to understand when they were same.” $109,421.82 from Oct. 1 to Dec. 15 for the annual Commonwealth of written in legal terminology.” Virginia Campaign this year. Tracey Jenkins ’12 Chris Bennett ’10 Anika Armstrong ’09 Lindsay Hundley ’12 “This was the first time that we exceeded our participation goal — photos and interviews by Bertel King, Jr. for the CVC,” College CVC coordinator Carla Costello said. There were 368 donors, surpassing the goal of 350. CAMPUS Police Beat The fundraising campaign is held among state employees and asks for donations of any size. Employees can choose from about 1,300 charities. No overhead was charged for the contributions, so Feb. 10 to Feb. 15 100 percent of the donations went directly to the charities.

— by Bertel King, Jr.

Online-Only Content 1 Tuesday, Feb. 10 — An individual reported a stolen sign at the Jimmye Laycock Football Center. The Student Assembly Bulletin estimated value is $20. After short hiatus, SA unanimously passes two acts 2 — An individual reported a stolen bicycle on the 200 by Russ Zerbo block of Jamestown Rd. The estimated value is $110. The Student Assembly seemed rested after last week’s hiatus, 3 Thursday, Feb. 12 — An individual reported a unanimously and vigorously passing the Know What You Are bicycle stolen from the Morton bike rack. The estimated Voting for Act and the Preventing the Finance Code from Expiring 1 6 value is $100. Act. 3 2 — An individual reported an iPod stolen from The Know What You Are Voting for Act allocates $109 to print 4 Jefferson Hall. The estimated value is $150. informational flyers to be placed in all undergrad CSU boxes detail- 4 Friday, Feb. 13 — An individual reported two ing the changes proposed in the 2009 honor council referendum. incidences of missing items from the post office. The estimated value is $80. The Press Box 5 Saturday, Feb. 14 — An individual was arrested for Women’s Basketball: Tribe strays from game plan public drunkenness at the Wren Building. by Jack Pollock 6 Sunday, Feb. 15 — An individual reported a The College of William and Mary lacked composure Thursday vandalized vehicle on Harrison Ave. The estimated night against Northeastern University, playing a reckless game that value is $300. had little resemblance to the fast-paced play Head Coach Debbie Tay- lor envisioned in the preseason. The College’s usually reliable three- 2 5 — compiled by Bertel King, Jr. point game and relentless defense proved to be its downfall, costing them a crucial conference game heading into the closing stretch. FLATHATNEWS.COM Friday, February 20, 2009 Page 3 Honor code changes spark debate Units to lose frats? FRATERNITIES from page 1

Complex. The change in policy may prompt fraternities to lose over students’ rights, open trials their housing due to excess available space. HONOR CODE from page 1 to The Flat Hat. Nelson has also been For the past four years, fraternities were allowed three critical of the Honor Council’s reason- selected Honor code amendments buy-outs — a tool that allowed fraternities to purchase the implemented, according to Dinan. The ing behind the changes. vacant half of a double-occupancy room for $1,100, rather than Allows graduate students to serve as Student proposed change would expedite the “According to the Council of incurring the $2,300 vacancy fee. Members said the prospect Council representatives for accused students process, mandating that the Council Chairs, the changes are to streamline of a single room created an incentive to live in the units and of Chairs and College President the bylaws and allow the council to reduced the financial strain of vacancies. Grants accuser right to be present throughout Taylor Reveley sign off on changes be operated more efficiently,” Nelson After much discussion, Residence Life and Student judgment portion of Honor Council hearings before they are put into place. said. “Many students are skeptical of Activities determined earlier this semester that buy-outs were The alterations, which effect near- this justification, and suspect that the leading fraternities further into housing trouble. Residence Formally recognizes Honor Council practice of ly every aspect of the existing Honor changes are being made to strength- Life determined that the vacant spaces seemed unfair to non- recalling witnesses for further testimony Code, must be approved in a student en the power of the council, particu- Greek students who were denied housing on campus. referendum Monday. larly the chairs of the councils.” “We can’t afford to have openings when people want to get Chair reserves right to close an open hearing for Dinan said the main alterations Nelson said that Dinan has been on campus,” Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Mark “good cause” deal with cleaning up the structure reasonable and fair as chair, but that Constantine said. “It makes it tougher for an independent and language of the Honor Code. might not always be the case. person get into the units. The decision was made that the buy- “The major [change] is going to Before any changes can be made, outs thing had gotten bigger than it ever should have been.” be structural,” Dinan said. “Legal ter- the proposal must be approved by a Every year many College fraternities, whose memberships minology was removed [so] words vote of students at the College. Honor Council Election Ballot average around 45, struggle to find enough men to satisfy the mean exactly what they mean. [For A similar referendum conducted College’s occupancy standards. Each chapter is obliged to fill example,] the term reckless appears on the Student Information Network Class of 2012 Class of 2011 its 36-man facility with at least 33 people. Each vacant spot gar- several times in the code — that in November of 2008 failed to win Diedra Denson Sarah Cameron ners a $2,300 charge. Members of the fraternity must occupy has a very specific legal definition, approval from students in an election Seth Drewry Hojune Chung 29 of the spots, and non-members can occupy the rest. that means a certain thing to lawyers that suffered from low turnout. Jacob Evans Justin de Benedictis-Kessner Apkarian said convincing non-members to move into a fra- and that’s not the same was what it’s The election was criticized due to a ternity house has proved difficult. With brothers going abroad meant to mean in the code.” lack of student awareness. Matt Feresten Brian Focarino or leaving campus for medical or academic reasons, even Currently, the Honor Code is orga- “Last semester, [turnout] was pret- Tom Flaherty Skyler Halbritter reaching the 29-member requirement has been a challenge. nized in a traditional writing style ty disappointing,” Dinan said. “I think Jason Gangwer Will Perkins Without buy-outs, frat presidents say they will have an even rather than a legal or governmental it was just over 500 people throughout Melissa Gomez Jake Perkinson harder time meeting standards by the March 4 deadline. style. The proposed changes would the entire university.” Dimelza Gonzales-Flores John Pothen “Several fraternities have been forced to cancel their reorganize the code into a more offi- In an effort to boost turnout, the Margaret Ann Hazelton Andy Rudd leases this semester to avoid these vacancy charges,” former cial layout. vote on the proposal has been paired Will Hoing Tyler Rutter Lambda Chi Alpha president Ross Sheil ’09 said. “That means “It’s basically prose,” Dinan said. with next week’s undergraduate Lindsay Hundley Jo Sandager they are no longer living in a frat house and will probably not Another reason for the changes is Honor Council election. Rachel Johnson Kathryn Stuart be back in the unit next year. Obviously that’s not good for the to allow students who are unfamiliar Both votes will be held online with Jessica Kyle individual fraternity, the Greek community in general, and I with the code to understand its defini- Opinio. am not sure how good it even is for Residence Life.” Max Lazar tions and procedures. “Because we paired it with under- Class of 2010 Pi Kappa Alpha president Will Decamps ’09 is well acquaint- “Lying, cheating and stealing are graduate Honor Council elections, James Morton III Astrid Broady ed with the results of falling short of the College’s occupancy all very lengthy definitions,” Dinan I’m not that worried about turnout,” Matt Muller Michael Castellano standards. Recently, his fraternity determined that they would said. “The definition of plagiarism … Dinan said. “Everyone will be e-mailed Kathryn Murphy Christine Dang be unable to meet the housing requirements for next semes- is almost half a page. The proposed at 8 a.m. with a link inviting them to Diana Ohanian John Donehey ter. In response, the chapter was compelled to give up their revisions would bring simple defini- vote … I think we might break our Jackie Pembleton Chase Hathaway unit rather than risk financial ruin. tions that convey the everyday mean- previous turnout high.” “We couldn’t handle it financially,” Decamps said. “I think Bonnie Roane Ann Elyse Hicks ings of lying, cheating and stealing.” To further raise awareness about Eric Robinson this semester alone we were facing close to $12,000 in vacancy However, the possible changes the referendum, on Tuesday the Jay Jones charges.” Zara Stasi Nishant Kishore have not been met with with univer- Student Assembly approved flyers to Marquis Stokes Options for fraternities in Pi Kappa Alpha’s predicament sal approval. be placed in students’ CSU mailboxes Dawson Lindauere are varied. Like all students, fraternity brothers are prevented SA Sen. Steven Nelson ’10, who describing the changes and remind- Mobbie Tazamal Andrew McCartney by Williamsburg’s three-person ordinance from establishing has not stated his support or opposi- ing them to vote. Paul Tucker Kristen Pantazes large houses off-campus. tion to the changes, criticized the Proposed changes to the Honor Michael Vereb Kevin Salinas Nonetheless, Decamps said location is critical to organiza- new language as too far-reaching and Code can be viewed at the Dean of Lina Yeh Brandon Thompson tions that rely on visibility and centrality. without justification. Students website www.wm.edu/offic- Bailey Thomson “Kids are naturally drawn to the Units since that’s where “The entire document will be es/deanofstudents/services/student- Alexandra Whitehead the fraternities are,” Decamps said. “Now we’ll have to actively restructured,” Nelson said in an e-mail conduct/honorrevision/index.php. seek them out and bring them to us, whereas before they knew where to find us.” According to Associate Director of Student Activities Anne Undergraduate honor council cases, Fall 2008 Arseneau, an on-campus house is not the definitive factor in a successful fraternity. “I think the facility helps, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be Allegation Charge(s) Plea(s) Verdict(s) Sanction(s) a high functioning chapter without it,” she said. To avoid losing their units, Arseneau believes fraternities Collaborating and sharing answers on Cheating Not Guilty Not Guilty N/A need to take preventative measures, like diligently increasing a final exam chapter size and instituting polices that mandate brothers live in the unit. She also feels individual organizations should Misrepresenting oneself Lying Not Guilty N/A Not Guilty genuinely consider whether the Units are the best housing Stealing Stealing Not Guilty Not Guilty N/A option. “It’s important to ask if entering into a lease agreement Plagarizing and not properly citing Cheating Not Guilty Guilty Probation through Spring 2009 every year is in the best interest of your organization,” sources Recommended ‘F’ on Assignment Arseneau said. “Every chapter wants space made available to Recommended Writing Resource Center meetings them. Unfortunately we don’t have excess space.” In an ideal world, Arseneau said that fraternities would live Lying to a College official Lying Guilty Guilty Probation in houses similar to those used by the College’s 10 sororities. Recommended Written Apology These chapters, which average close to 90 members, live in facilities that house a maximum of 18 sisters. Using unauthorized materials during an exam Cheating Guilty Guilty Suspension through Summer 2009 “The current size of the facilities is not the perfect fit for Lying to a College official Lying Guilty Guilty Probation for one semester upon reinstatement our organizations,” Arseneau said. “I get that. Those spaces Recommended Written Apology were built in a time and place that isn’t necessarily meeting the Recommended ‘F’ in Course needs of our organizations right now.” As fraternity presidents continue to struggle with filling Plagiarizing from online sources Cheating Guilty Guilty Suspension through Spring 2009 their units, all expressed a desire for some kind of change that Recommended ‘F’ in Course Recommended Academic Planning would lessen the yearly angst. “I have met with the Res. Life people many times and have found them to be accessible, fair, and consistently clear about Forging documents Lying Not Guilty Guilty Probation through Graduation the rules,” Sheil said. “My only gripe is that it sometimes Lying to a College official Lying Not Guilty Guilty Recommended ‘F’ in Course seems that Res. Life and the fraternities are not on the same team and I think that’s a mistake.” Former SA president Pilchen could face fine, jail time after arrest PILCHEN from page 1 Seurattan said. nesses in the trial were issued A letter filed with the state to SA President Valerie Hopkins belonging to the College’s SA indicates that Pilchen is repre- ’09, SA Sen. Caroline Mullis and having a value of less than sented by Richard H. Rizk, an ’09 and Deborah Cartwright, $200. attorney at the Williamsburg- an employee at the Henry Pilchen’s hearing is sched- based firm of Geddy, Harris, St. branch of SunTrust Bank. uled for April 2. If convicted, he Franck, and Hickman, LLP. SunTrust manages the SA’s off- faces a maximum of 12 months Calls to Rizk and the campus account. jail time to be served in a coun- Commonwealth Attorney’s Office Upon being reached, Hopkins, ty jail or a fine not exceeding were not returned Thursday. Mullis and Cartwright declined $2,500. Both penalties may be Subpoenas to appear as wit- to comment for this story. assessed. According to College Spokeswoman Suzanne Seurattan, the campus police began investigating Pilchen after reports surfaced that a crime had occurred. Over the course of the inves- tigation, the office worked closely with the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office. “The College takes any crime seriously, especially one involv- ing the theft of student funds,” Page 4 Friday, February 20, 2009 Senate passes bill on Alum explores universe Honor Code referendum to establish firm penalties for Senate also passes bill renewing, violations of the finance code, including misappropriation and reforming finance code withholding information. According to Ruzic, the code By Mason Watson forward.” in its current form is ambiguous Flat Hat Staff Writer The senate responded pos- on the matter of penalties. The itively; the bill passed unani- bill would detail “specific conse- After last week’s light meet- mously. quences” for infractions. ing, the Student Assembly sen- The Preventing the Finance The Acronymapalooza Act, ate reconvened Tuesday to pass Code from Expiring Act, spon- sponsored by Sen. Betty Jean two new pieces of legislation. sored by Sen. Caroline Mullis Manning ’12, is an effort to facil- The Know What You Are ’09 and the other members of itate communication between NICHOL from page 1 Voting For Act, sponsored by the finance committee, makes the Residence Hall Association Sen. Stef Felitto ’12, seeks to several changes to the finance and the SA. It would require the inform students of the changes code governing SA funds. sponsors to “to investigate and to the Honor Council bylaws Specifically, the act will require establish a working relationship proposed in Monday’s referen- that all purchases over $200 pro- combining members of RHA and dum. The bill allocates $109 for posed by the SA president be SA,” in an attempt to achieve the printing of half page fliers described in an e-mail sent via “heightened communication.” detailing the aforementioned the finance committee’s listserv The Printer Allocation Act, changes for distribution to all at least 12 hours before the pur- also sponsored by Manning, is undergraduate CSU boxes. chase. intended to address the “the Felitto argued that the fliers The bill was passed with extreme disparity between print- are a worthy SA project. unanimous consent. er usage on campus.” Noting that “Although the Honor Council Several new bills were pre- several printers on campus con-

is advertising the election … the sented for future consideration. sume resources while remaining Maral Noori-MogHaddam — the flat hat Student Assembly claims to be The Changes Necessary to largely unused, Manning recom- University of Chicago physics professor Evalyn Gates ’80, the assistant director of the Kavli Institute for Cosmological an unbiased organization,” she Enforce the Finance Code Act, mends that low traffic printers Physics, spoke last night in Small Hall about how scientists are using space itself as a telescope to reveal the dark com- said. “I think as such this would sponsored by Mullis and Sen. might be redistributed to higher ponents of the universe. The lecture was based on Gates’ new book, “Einstein’s Telescope: The Hunt for Dark Matter be a great initiative to bring Ryan Ruzic J.D. ’11, is intended traffic areas. and Dark Energy in the Universe.” For coverage, see flathatnews.com. College hopes to replace aging phone system, but faces funding issues PHONES from page 1 College chose to keep the old officials fear the system may now replace it — this system’s bought to $22,510 at the College, a slight- does have some redundancy, system. be unstable — that it’s only a mat- and paid for,” Carpenter said. “But ly larger campus. an “A” side and a “B” side. If College’s chief information offi- Since then, a third-party ven- ter of time before it shuts down there’s going to come a day when Last weekend, a contractor one side shuts down, the other cer, “the room would overheat in dor, Ensource, has maintained again, possibly for much longer this vendor runs out of parts, and working on a road next to CNU’s keeps the entire system running. a matter of minutes.” the College’s system, which con- than 10 minutes. we want to be off of it before that campus severed a vital cable, In November, both sides shut Machines with flashing lights sists of thousands of phones and What happens when the phone happens. That’s the kind of dan- knocking out the school’s internet down. connect calls. A large box stores phone lines, along with the large system shuts down? No one can gerous game we’re playing by not for three days, along with many of The industrial air conditioning voicemail messages. Internet machines in the switch room. call in, and no one can call out, replacing it.” its phones. But the hall directors unit continued roaring, cooling the cables, television wires and about The Florida-based third-party not even to 9-1-1. This danger is Nearby universities are using in the university’s dorms have two rows of 10-foot-tall machines 15,000 tiny phone lines — two vendor buys up old systems that small, of course, because virtu- more advanced technology. phones that connect to the sys- that make up the College’s phone from each port on campus — all are being replaced, then uses ally everyone on campus carries Old Dominion University in tem using different cables, an system. Using today’s technology, meet here in the switch room. those parts to fix its clients’ out- a cell phone. Norfolk is currently transition- intentional technology overlap the machines would be replaced Modern phone systems simply of-date systems. In November, the same month ing from a two-decade-old sys- meant to keep those phones run- by a single box, about the size of route their connections through “Considering it’s an old clunk- the phone system short-circuit- tem like the College’s to a newer ning even if others shut down. a microwave. already existing internet cables. er, what it’s doing today is remark- ed, the College’s vice president system like the one Carpenter is The College’s system lacks “You hate to spend money But the College’s phone system able,” said James Fields, an on- for administration, Anna Martin, testing. such an overlap. All campus on something that’s working,” predates campus-wide internet. site technician at the College who mentioned the aging phone sys- Christopher Newport phone lines use the same tech- Carpenter said as he examined Installed in 1989, the system is works for Ensource. “But at some tem in a speech at the quarterly University in Newport News nology to travel to the same place the 1980s technology upon which now one of four left in the United point, you got to step up and say, Board of Visitors meeting. already relies on such a system. — the switch room. the College relies. “We’re tight States. Many clients upgraded to enough’s enough.” “Component failures become The newer, more efficient tech- It is there, where about 15,000 around here, but I think we’ve more advanced systems in the The company estimates it can more frequent,” she told the nology costs the school $8,175 colorful telephone wires connect, gotten our money’s worth out of mid-1990s, when the manufactur- continue relying on spare parts to board. “And we don’t know how per month to operate, compared that Carpenter said the system this one.” er, Intecom, announced it would maintain the College’s phones for long we can continue to operate.” discontinue the product. But the another four years, but College The 10-minute November blackout convinced Carpenter it’s time to actively seek a new system. He now has two phones on his desk: a yellowish College phone and a black Aastra-brand phone that he’s testing. The Aastra phone plugs direct- ly into Carpenter’s computer, connecting to a server through his internet cord. It allows him to view missed calls online, and it even sends voicemails to his e-mail account as sound-file attachments. Carpenter hopes to have a new phone system selected and pur- chased next year, but whether that’s possible depends on fund- ing. The College faces millions of dollars in state budget cuts and endowment losses, and replacing a system that appears to work

just fine is low on the College’s Maral Noori-MogHaddam — the flat hat priority list. The College of William and Mary’s telecommunications hub is located in an air conditioned room in the basement of “There’s no business drive to Blow Hall. The room contains 15,000 different phone wires and other equipment such as the voicemail technology above. Friday, February 20, 2009 Page 5

Opinions Editor Russ Zerbo Associate Opinions Editor Alexa McClanahan [email protected]

OpiniStaff Editorial ons Vote down Honor Code referendum ur honor system, the oldest in the country, is a testament to the character of this institution and its students. Its Oguiding document, the Honor Code, is woefully organized and rife with unnecessary legalese. For the last two years, the Honor Council has worked diligently to address these problems by drafting a new, more-accessible version of the code that will be put to a student referendum on Monday. While we fully support the intentions behind these changes, we find some language in this proposed draft so objectionable that we cannot encourage students to vote for this version of the document. With something this important, it’s better to wait and get things right the first time. The majority of the proposed draft’s welcome changes are organizational in nature, made with the worthy goal of clarity in mind. This revised version transforms an unwieldy document into a more understandable set of rules, rights and obligations. By all accounts, the Honor Council has done a superb job here. The draft also features more substantive revisions, ones that would streamline the process for making procedural changes in the future. Under the new code, students accused of honor offenses would have the right to have a student representative from a school within the College of William and Mary other than their own. All of this sounds good to us. But there is also new language that could potentially limit the rights of students in very real ways. For instance, under the current system, the right to an open trial is unqualified. In the proposed draft, this right could be trumped by the chair of the Honor Council if there is “good cause,” a standard we find unacceptably vague. In a completely rewritten 20-page document full of minutia, there could well be more cases like these, but without extensive knowledge of both the original draft and the revised draft, students can’t be sure. Although the Honor Council made efforts to inform students, they failed to sufficiently highlight all of the rights-related By Ol i v i a Wa l c h , Fl a t Ha t Ca r t oo n i s t changes. If, as we hope, the council submits the new code to students in the fall, they must deliver a comprehensive document addressing point-by-point the rights that would be added or removed. Only once students are aware of all of these changes can they cast a fully informed vote for or against this Honor Code doesn’t deserve second chance referendum. when considering the consequences of such an act. To allow a single person to thwart the accuser’s difficult The staff editorial represents the opinion of The Flat Hat. The editorial board, which is Brian Kargus decision with no recourse to the accuser will only serve to elected by The Flat Hat’s section editors and executive staff, consists of Austin Wright, flat hat guest Columnist Jeff Dooley, Alice Hahn, Ashley Morgan, Andy Peters and Andy Henderson. The Flat chill otherwise legitimate accusations. Hat welcomes submissions to the Opinions section. Limit letters to 250 words and col- Marshall-Wythe School of Law Honor Council Chief umns to 700 words. Letters, columns, graphics and cartoons reflect the view of the Justice Bishop Garrison, regarding the revisions, told a author only. E-mail submissions to [email protected]. On Monday, students at the College of William and town hall meeting that, while the code in its written word Mary will vote on the revisions to the Honor Code. Again. places the initial triviality determination in the hands of In the fall, the College voted against the proposed the chief justice, chairs will talk with other chairs in order LETTER TO THE EDITOR revisions to the Honor Code. Now, with no changes to to make a decision. I have complete trust in Garrison to the code rejected by the previously failed referendum, conduct such deliberations. In fact, there is no one at the Reforms streamline Honor Code or the accusing party has asked for help the Honor Council is trying to force the changes upon law school I trust more to oversee our Honor Council. To the Editor: interpreting the code in some way or the College by redoubling “efforts at publicizing the However, the revised code does not require any chair to The intent and goal of the revisions another. referendum.” With this simple phrase, the Honor Council conduct any deliberations and makes the chair’s decision to the Honor Code are simple: to The second benefiting party would be takes the position that the initial referendum didn’t count. of triviality unquestionable. What is to prevent future make the code more accessible. The the chair of the Undergraduate Honor This is an insult to all of us who voted in the fall. chairs from abusing this power? strategy devised to achieve this goal Council. The ability to quickly and easily Unfortunately, this redo is going to happen despite its Dean David Gilbert, Director of Student Conduct, involve correcting grammatical errors, cite the rights and duties of the accused, gross unfairness to those of us who indicated that such a change was improving the organization of the code, the accuser and members of the Honor already participated in the process. necessary to allow expedited closure promoting brevity and simplicity, and Council, as well as procedural matters, Therefore, the College needs to The College needs to speak with to cases where students use the Honor purging any legal terminology. We firmly will simplify the chair’s job by ensuring speak with one voice and again reject one voice and again reject the Code to harass those with whom they believe that these steps have created the words of the code are meaningfully the revisions to the Honor Code. revisions of the Honor Code. have a non-honor-related dispute. a code that, if adopted, would greatly applied to an honor case. One of these changes alters However, the Student Code of Conduct benefit three important groups. The final benefiting group would the determination of triviality. already adequately addresses this The first — and most important be the five graduate schools and their According to the current code, the Honor Council must concern. Furthermore, accusers who are reluctant to — group of beneficiaries would be respective honor councils. Because the conduct an initial evaluation of whether an accusation make an accusation under the revisions could fear that members of the community who have Honor Code was primarily written and involves a trivial matter. The term “council” indicates that an adverse triviality determination will subject them to direct contact with the honor process. designed with undergraduates in mind, there will be a deliberative process, where the council is disciplinary procedures under the code of conduct, further Accused students and accusers will find the proposed revisions to the code give bound to discuss and apply the code’s test for triviality. chilling valid accusations. that the revised code would facilitate the the graduate schools more flexibility by Under the revisions, however, this power lies solely within It is particularly telling that neither Dean Gilbert nor process itself; the language in the revised allowing individual councils to publish the authority of the office of the chair of each of the six the law school Honor Council could provide statistics code is readily understandable, and the supplementals. These supplementals Honor Council jurisdictions. regarding how many trivial cases are brought to their most important part of the code — the would describe how the code applies to This change places too much power in the hands of a attention, nor could they indicate how many harassing definitions of lying, cheating and stealing the specifics of each individual school. single person. While an accused student can challenge the accusations were made. That should lead every student to — are brief and intelligible. Matt has — Matt Dinan ’09 council’s jurisdiction at any stage in the proceedings, the ask whether this change is really necessary. been involved in numerous honor cases Chair, Undergraduate Honor Council accuser has no recourse if this single person deems the Therefore, I encourage every student to turn out to vote (actual or potential) in various roles as an Valerie Hopkins ’09 accusation to be trivial. The code, both in its current and Monday and indicate that the Honor Code revisions still need Honor Council member, a member of the President, Student Assembly revised states, places a significant burden upon an accuser. work before they are ready for student approval. Again. student council, and chair of the council. This letter was edited for space. Read the This burden is both procedural and psychological — it is Brian Kargus is a third-year law student at the In nearly every case, the accused student full version at flathatnews.com. not easy to refer someone to the Honor Council, especially Marshall-Wythe School of Law. To create safe social environment, College must work with frats

remote, where the inevitable noise and drivers leaving this location and have a the College and all of its students However, it all comes down to the destruction can be self-contained. greater chance of stopping them before individually or through the Student administration’s actions. Ed Innace The current frat row serves this anyone got hurt. A single location Assembly. If they continue to ferociously flat hat staff Columnist purpose well. Far away from residents, would also be easily serviced by bus The administration can impose attack institutionalized drinking on its cinderblock walls, sparse furniture transportation or Steer Clear, providing incentives and punishments on campus through the inflexible housing and utter lack of beauty render it an easy alternative to the temptation to organizations that it cannot enforce regulations explained in another article, The battle between the immune to most damage. An even drive home. on individuals or the student body as “Fraternities fight ResLife changes,” administration and the fraternity better location would be the Botetourt a whole. For instance frats could be there are two possible results. Either system rages on. The two sides are Complex, which is farther removed rewarded for letting the school know most students will stop drinking natural enemies. One is bound by from civilization and even less attractive It is in the school’s best interest when events would be held, practicing and partying, or social life will move law to enforce underage drinking on the inside. Who knows, keeping for the majority of partying to responsible self-policing, or even off campus, where it will annoy the regulations, and the other has adopted more frats on campus might even lead be located in a single place, holding a high GPA average. townies, endanger students, and move drinking of all sorts as its raison d’être. to an improvement of student-resident Conversely, they could be punished the College’s social life completely It seems that the administration has relations, as the number of off-campus preferably remote, where noise — with the proceeds going to other outside of the administration’s control. the upper hand and is gaining ground, parties would decrease since more and destruction can be contained. frats that are rewarded — for members As it is naive for the administration using probation, suspension and house could take place on campus. drinking and driving, or for damages to believe that the disappearance of occupancy policies as its weapons of A large fraternity complex would also to their buildings. Through these fraternities will cause the underage choice to force fraternities off campus. create a safer environment for students A new fraternity system would also measures, the administration could drinking problem to vanish as well, But do they really want to destroy the and Williamsburg residents. Less allow the administration a measure of exercise limited control of student let us hope that they will reconsider institutionalized system of drinking driving to off-campus parties would control over the College of William and social activities that would not be their course, look at the big picture, embodied by the frats in favor of an mean less drunk driving back from off- Mary’s social life. Negotiations could possible without the institutions with and begin to accept that perhaps insurgency of individual drinking cells? campus parties. Furthermore, as the more easily occur between institutions which they are now at war. fraternities can be used to everyone’s It is in the school’s best interest for police would know where a majority with existing relationships — such as These are some clear benefits advantage. the majority of drinking and partying to of alcohol was being consumed, they the one between chartered fraternities of having the fraternities in a Ed Innace is a sophomore at the be located in a single place, preferably could be on the lookout for drunk and the administration — than between concentrated location on campus. College. Page 6 Friday, February 20, 2009

Variety Editor Ashley Morgan Variety [email protected] Flat Hat Editors’ Picks Actor in a Leading Role Austin: Mickey Rourke — “The Wrestler” Going Oscar wild Jeff: Sean Penn — “Milk” Alice: Mickey Rourke —­ “The Wrestler” By MAGGIE REEb Curious Case of Benjamin Button” is Downey Jr., who plays Kirk Lazarus Alex: Mickey Rourke —­ “The Wrestler” Flat Hat Assoc. News Editor interesting, but in a year with such in Ben Stiller’s comedy “Tropic Miles: Mickey Rourke —­ “The Wrestler” strong contenders, it will probably be Thunder,” also deserves attention. The 81st annual overlooked. Though a movie of this ... um ... Ashley: Brad Pitt — “The Curious Case of Academy Awards will genre rarely ever gets a nod from Benjamin Button” air Sunday at 8 p.m. Best Actor the Academy, Downey’s portrayal of on ABC. This year’s Will win: Mickey Rourke, “The Wrestler” an Australian method actor playing Andrew: Mickey Rourke —­ “The Wrestler” nominations are full of Should win: Sean Penn, “Milk” a black soldier crosses just enough surprises and glaring The Academy has two choices: lines to merit an Oscar nomination. Russ: Mickey Rourke —­ “The Wrestler” overlooks. The Acade- Honor come-back kid Mickey Rourke Downey’s performance changed what my thoroughly snubbed for “The Wrestler” or take a stand by could have been another Jack Black “The Dark Knight,” this giving the Oscar to Sean Penn for his movie into a potential cult classic. Had Actress in a Leading Role year’s cinematic mas- performance in “Milk.” Ledger not been nominated, Downey Austin: Kate Winslet — “The Reader” terpiece, as well as “The Former sex symbol Rourke makes would have had my vote. Duchess,” Kiera Knight- his comeback to serious acting as a Jeff: Kate Winslet — “The Reader” ley’s epic period piece. self-destructive wrestler who vows to Best Supporting Actress The same four or five movies make good after a serious accident. Will win: Viola Davis, “Doubt” Alice: Kate Winslet — “The Reader” are nominated for award after Sean Penn lights up the screen as Should win: Penelope Cruz, “Vicky Alex: Anne Hathaway — “Rachel Getting Married” award, but names like Robert storeowner-turned-gay-rights activist. Cristina Barcelona” Downey Jr. (“Iron Man”) and Pe- Though Penn already clinched the First-time nominee Viola Davis, Miles: Kate Winslet — “The Reader” nelope Cruz (“Vanlla Sky”) have SAG Lead Actor award, there is who plays a mother whose son has Ashley: Kate Winslet — “The Reader” wrestled their way onto the list. nothing the Academy likes more than been abused by a priest, manages to One of these repeat nominees is a comeback story. The Academy will steal the spotlight from Meryl Streep Andrew: Kate Winslet — “The Reader” dark horse “Slumdog Million- no doubt give the Oscar to Rourke. in “Doubt.” Her moving performance : Anne Hathaway — “Rachel Getting Married” aire,” and it is likely to sweep gives her an edge over strong Russ the Awards. Best Actress contender and fellow “Doubt” actress Will win: Kate Winslet, “The Reader” Amy Adams. Adams plays Sister Best Picture Should win: Kate Winslet, “The Reader” James, the nun who catches on to the Directing Will win: “Slumdog Millionaire” Ever since Winslet, nominated for priest’s abusive behavior, but Davis Austin: Danny Boyle — “Slumdog Millionaire” Should win: “Slumdog Millionaire” her performance in “Titanic,” lost outshines her. Since the movie hit the an Oscar to “As Good As It Gets” However, the nominee who may Jeff: Danny Boyle —­ “Slumdog Millionaire” theatres, I couldn’t go a week actress Helen Hunt in 1997, a number deserve the Oscar — and is worth Alice: Danny Boyle ­— “Slumdog Millionaire” without someone raving about of people have been pissed at the mentioning — is Penelope Cruz who “Slumdog Millionaire.” The low- Academy. There was a lot of Oscar plays Maria Elena in Woody Allen’s Alex: Stephen Daldry — “The Reader” budget film about a pair of star- buzz around Winslet after she won a latest flick, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona.” crossed Indian lovers has swept Golden Globe for her performance in However, the Academy has a history Miles: Danny Boyle ­— “Slumdog Millionaire” previous award shows, winning the movie that reunited her with Leo of nominating Woody Allen films and Ashley: Danny Boyle ­— “Slumdog Millionaire” a Golden Globe for Best Drama (“I’m the king of the world”) DiCaprio, subsequently denying them their well- and the Motion Picture Ensemble in “Revolutionary Road.” The fact that deserved awards, so Cruz may be out Andrew: Danny Boyle ­— “Slumdog Millionaire” Screen Actors Guild award. And the Academy nominated Winslet for of luck this year. My vote is still for Russ: Gus Van Sant — “Milk” what better way to consummate Best Actress came as no shock, but Davis. America’s love of reality shows instead of honoring her performance than with a movie centered on the in “Revolutionary Road,” the Academy Best Animated film: popular game show “Who Wants surprisingly gave her a nod for her Will win: WALL-E Best Picture to Be a Millionaire?” Let’s just be role in “The Reader.” An interesting Should win: WALL-E Austin: “Slumdog Millionaire” thankful that this version of the game change that makes one wonder if the Honestly, this category is a no- show is not hosted by Regis Philben. Academy just likes going against the brainer. “Kung-Fu Panda” has absolutely Jeff: “Slumdog Millionaire” ‘Slumdog’s’ biggest and only com- status quo. no substance, and the only thing Alice: “Slumdog Millionaire” petition is “Milk,” the biopic about separating it from any other bad Jack gay rights activ- Best Supporting Actor Black film is the computer animation Alex: “Milk” ist Harvey Milk, Will win: Heath Ledger, “The Dark and lack of curse words. “Bolt” did Miles:“Slumdog Millionaire” which is up for a Knight” moderately well at the box office, but bunch of awards Should win: Health Ledger, “The Dark that’s what happens when 7-year-olds Ashley: “Slumdog Millionaire” including Knight” have birthday parties. Best Ac- Even before his tragic death, “WALL-E,” on the other hand, is a Andrew: “Slumdog Millionaire” tor (Sean Heath Ledger had movie critics abuzz piece of art. The computer-generated Russ: “Milk” Penn), Best with his performance in the most panoramas of an abandoned earth Supporting Ac- recent installation of the Batman film have the same seductive effect as tor (Josh Bro- franchise, “The Dark Knight.” His a spread in National Geographic. lin), Costume portrayal of the Joker as a deranged Though the plot momentarily fades Meet the editors Design, Film lover of absolute chaos penetrated from an adorable robot love story Editing and the American psyche, resonating to a Green Party advertisement, the Austin Wright, Editor-in-Chief Musical Score. with audience members long after movie quickly recovers and will no Jeff Dooley, Managing Editor The concept they left the theater. Ledger’s death doubt become another Disney/Pixar Alice Hahn, Executive Editor of “The compounded the Joker’s power, classic. making an already outstanding Alex Guillén, News Editor performance the front-runner for the Best Director: Miles Hilder, News Editor Oscar. Ledger has already won the Will win: Danny Boyle, “Slumdog Ashley Morgan, Variety Editor Golden Globe for Best Supporting Millionaire” Actor, and few believe he won’t also Should win: Danny Boyle, “Slumdog Andrew Pike, Sports Editor grab the Academy Award. Millionaire” Russ Zerbo, Opinions Editor Call me crazy, but the Academy Award’s dark horse nominee Robert See PRedictions page 7

Oscar gossip Soaking UP the Oscars

Invitation for you Not part of his character By Pam Snyder As other hosts cancel their Oscar Though the Academy tries to Flat Hat Assoc. Variety Editor parties left and right, Prince is keep presenters under wraps, in denial about his own. The we assure you of one who isn’t. Despite the buzz around the Academy Awards every year, the partyman reportedly didn’t realize Sacha Baron Cohen won’t show ceremony itself is hardly as entertaining as the films that it honors. he was having one until it showed up onstage — unless his film Most of us undoubtedly watch for the big wins — Best Actress, up in the press, according to US wins the category for which Best Actor, Best Picture — that aren’t announced until the end of Weekly. Reluctant at first to make he’s nominated, according to the show. To make the moments leading up to the final hour of true on the rumor, Prince finally E! Online. The site notes that the ceremony bearable, bust out the booze, look for the following decided to party like it’s 1999 after the Borat star isn’t comfortable highlights and play the Oscars 2009 Drinking Game. French actress Marion Cotillard speaking in public unless he’s Jason Wu – After Michelle Obama donned two of this lesser- RSVPed to The Purple Party. A in character. Other comics known designer’s creations for the Inaugural Ball and the cover film crew will record the bash to who’ve signed on as presenters, of Vogue, a Wu dress is expected to appear at least once on the post footage on Prince’s upcoming according to rumors, include red carpet. Take a drink for every “Who are you wearing?” that website, lotusflow3r.com. Will Ferrell and Jack Black. is answered with “Wu.” Heartbroken Mickey Rourke – Best Actor nominee Mickey Friends? Sensibility Rourke may be solo and lovelorn at the awards after having lost his Check out the red carpet for the Known for her confident, usual red-carpet date, his chihuahua-terrier mix, Loki. Often referred real drama on Oscar night: the demure acceptance speeches, to as the love of Rourke’s life, Loki died Monday night. Take two upcoming reunion of former Kate Winslet doesn’t think drinks and shed a tear for all the Lokis lost in your own life. Hollywood power couple Brad Pitt awards-show season is any White Ribbon – Best Actress nominee Anne Hathaway and and Jennifer Aniston. The pair will holiday. The heavenly creature Best Actor nominee Sean Penn may sport white ribbons to show presumably be accompanied by told Rueters that she is their support for same-sex marriage. The ribbons, which were first their new flames, Angelina Jolie “useless” during the season. seen at the Grammy Awards, were created to advocate the repeal and John Mayer, respectively. Snubbed by the Academy so far, of Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage in California. Jen has attracted attention for she’s nominated for her role in Supposedly, 500 ribbons have been distributed for the Oscars, so her bitterness and desperation in “The Reader.” The actress feels take it easy and only take a sip for every ribbon you see. terms of men, and Angie for her she’s too emotional when she Fully clothed Kate Winslet — After having built her career cruelness in stealing the good loses, but worries she’s also too baring skin in films like “Titanic” and “Iris,” Kate Winslet says girl’s man. Team Aniston versus emotional when she wins, too. Team Jolie? Try Team Over. — by Alice Hahn See Drinking Game page 7 Page 7 Friday, February 20, 2009 Rent Watch Download High School Musical 3 Late Night With Conan O’Brien Crack a Bottle Eminem, Dr.Dre and 50 Cent Zac Efron and Corbin Bleu return to Conan O’Brien walks away from star in the third installment of the the late- night scene after bringing Right Round Disney phenomenon High School humor to households nationwide for Flo-Rida Musical. ‘Senior Year’ made its 15 years. After 2,724 shows his final Ulysses debut on the big screen last October. episode airs tomorrow night. Franz Ferdinand SUDOKU Coraline the dark ‘Alice in Wonderland’

By Virginia Butler it simply can’t compare to the sheer ambi- things a bit too far by occasionally blurring The Flat Hat tion of Selick’s latest undertaking. Notable the line between homage and imitation. Seri- scenes include a theater audience of over ously, stop me if you’ve heard this one: an evil Neil Gaiman transcribes his twisted chil- 200 individually moving dogs and a jumping queen, impromptu tea parties, an enchanted dren’s novella of intrepid youth and bizarre circus 61 mice strong (which took as many garden, and a magical cat. “Coraline” certain- fantasy in stop-animation splendor in “Cora- days to shoot) that had me ooh-ing and aww- ly earns an A for effort, but it’s still cheating line.” After moving to a new town, Coraline — ing right along with the spunky seven year off of Alice’s test. horribly voiced by Dakota Fanning (“Uptown old seated to my right. However, “Coraline” Though slightly flawed by heavy-handed Girls”) — finds herself neglected by her busy does not sacrifice standards for scale; even in allusions and obnoxious voice-acting, these parents and unimpressed by her lackluster these grandiose scenes, the film still boasts minor imperfections fail to mar “Coraline’s” surroundings. While exploring her benign, if stunning animation and color palette that puts unquestionable charm. This dark fairy- boring, new home, Coraline stumbles upon reality to shame. tale still offers a whimsical and somewhat a hidden door that opens onto a world more Though breathtakingly beautiful, the sinister experience. From the unsettling, wonderful and terrifying than the one she left film fails to create an immersive experience. slightly stilted animation style to the all-too- behind. She then meets her other mother and Rather than have the Other World slowly re- understandable escapist fantasy, “Coraline” is her other father, the doting, vibrant parents veal its true colors, Coraline receives blatant, marked by the undeniable traces of humanity, she never had. They look just like her real and frequent, warnings almost immediately. and is certainly one of the more unique films parents, with one disturbing difference: Their This robs the audience of the chance to be this season. eyes have been replaced with empty, black seduced by the dark fantasy side-by-side with buttons. The result is an imaginative, caution- the heroine. Instead viewers are forced to ary tale, the very embodiment of the senti- assume the position of frustrated spectators, ment be careful what you wish for, with a bite inwardly screaming “don’t go in there!” when- of unexpected malice for a PG feature. ever she approaches the closet door. Directions: Fill in the blank squares Fans of “The Nightmare Before Christmas” While the numerous red-flags effectively so that each row, each column and should recognize the handiwork of writer/ defang the Other World, the film is truly director Henry Selick (“Monkeybone”). His startling for the eerie sense of familiarity. each 3-by-3 block contain all of the expertise in stop-motion animation (a pains- From Coraline’s first tumble down the rabbit digits 1 through 9. taking process that involves moving three- hole, the movie never escapes the shadow of dimensional models frame-by-frame) shines “Alice in Wonderland.” While nods to Lewis through in “Coraline.” While ‘Nightmare’ Carroll’s beloved tale would have been fine Source: krazydad.com Solution was certainly a work of animation artistry, and perhaps even endearing, “Coraline” takes Courtesy Photo — movieweb.com that guy Golden man Grind barista serves up chai with a side of life finds new homes

By LAUREN BILLINGSLEY complain about parties and student renters. It ’91. So my ringtone is actually a Jim Jones song Predictions from page 6 Flat Hat That Guy Columnist should not really be a surprise that we have an ‘Ballin,’ a remix for the Giants. undergrad population. What talent to you wish you had? Danny Boyle creates a beautiful storyline through Sporting rectangular black-rimmed glasses So when you have free time or are bored, I wish I could dance. I lived with Kevin Dua flashbacks and game show answers in the Academy Award and a dark sweater, Dave Johnson is understated, what sort of stuff do you get into? sophomore year. Everyone loves Kevin Dua, favorite “Slumdog Millionaire.” Every question protagonist well-spoken and right at home in the Daily Grind My roommate has an arcade machine, so we but I can’t because he’s such a good dancer. It Jamal Malik answers on “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” — both a place of employment and leisure here at have a whiteboard out there that all six of my seems like most people would rather just go to a spurs a flashback (all of which occur in chronological order) the College of William and Mary. After slipping apartment mates try to keep high scores on. It’s club and dance, but I’d prefer to find a quiet pub to Malik’s childhood in the slums. The last question closes behind the counter to make himself some ginger been pretty intense lately. I also like sitting out with my friends. the circle, resolving the love story. tea with honey, he explains his roots in a “too on the balcony there [in the Randolph Com- Who do you look to for inspiration? There is no competition. small to register” town near Albany, NY and tells plex]. I have a nice camping chair and I like to I’d actually say Harry Truman. I don’t know Some things at this year’s Oscars are certain, like me he’s given up trying to correct people’s assump- go out there and read. if it’s because I just read his biography by David ‘Slumdog’s’ enviable takeover of categories like Best Picture tions that he’s a short-tempered Manhattanite Any hobbies? McCullough, but it seems very fitting. He grew and Best Director. Some things, however, are very uncertain, with a penthouse. All assumptions aside, Dave I also like to cook. I guess I do more Italian, up a similar way I did. I have a big problem with like who will take him the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress and I sit down to talk about the New York Giants, Greek or maybe Mexican food. I don’t really do the belief that unless you go to an Ivy League and who will be more upset after going home empty handed: Fuck My Life, and why we should all be jealous of recipes, I just make something. I’m not a painter, school or born to the Kennedys or some other Angelina Jolie or Brad Pitt. No doubt the biggest tragedy is Kevin Dua’s skills. I’m not a writer, I’m not a singer, I used to play aristocratic family, you’re not going to be a part the Academy’s nearly complete snub of “The Dark Knight.” What’s been your best job? trombone, so cooking is my creative expression. of anything special in D.C. or national politics. Whatever happens, the show will be worth watching just to This place [the Daily Grind] is by far my What are some cool meals you’ve made It’s not to say that I will be, but it’s nice to see see if Robert Downey Jr. makes history for being the first favorite place to work. It’s really a community lately? that it’s possible. He never bullshits people, he’s Ben-Stiller-esque comedic actor to take home a statue. environment. I like enjoying where I work and I actually made a full English breakfast on really honest. I think it’s nice to see that in mod- seeing customers and knowing them and strik- Sunday. Not very creative — just time consum- ern America, you can try to do the best thing ing up a conversation. Even when I’m stressed ing. I also made a Mexican soup with tomatoes, possible and still succeed. out, if I come in for a shift, I enjoy seeing a chicken, hominy; it’s really spicy and really Who is your favorite hero of fiction? Warning: Oscar buzz professor come in and knowing exactly what good. Definitely Indiana Jones. He fought Nazis and they want and already having it done for them. Are you into any blogs or podcasts? Soviets, always gets the girl and the funny side- may be felt morning after There are a few history professors that get their I got into a new one this week. Fuckmylife. kick, and yet he is college professor that loves medium skim lattes and some biology profes- com. I’ve never read anything funnier. archaeology. I mean have you ever heard anyone Drinking Game from page 6 sors who get their tea. What’s your favorite FML post? else angrily exclaim that something belongs in a What’s the best thing to order from the “Today, I was talking to my parents about museum while they were beating people up? “The Reader,” for which she received a Best Actress Daily Grind? feeling insecure with my ‘beach body’ as spring Do you have any nicknames? nomination, will be her final film with nudity. Drink for Everyone get’s the raspberry chais, but what break keeps getting closer and closer. My dad Barefoot. I'll always answer to that name, but the amount of time you predict it takes Winslet to walk I really like are the chai teas with half water, half proceeded to warn me by saying, ‘Don't wear a I'll never explain where it comes from. the red carpet. milk. Delicious. And the “Jimmy Carter” muffin: gray swimsuit. People will try to roll you back Dave “Barefoot” Johnson soon resumes his post Matilda Rose Ledger — If Heath Ledger wins his peanut butter, chocolate powder and banana. into the ocean’. FML.” behind the counter at the Daily Grind, his favorite posthumous Best Supporting Actor award, the statue will go Do you operate the music in here, too? What is your ringtone? campus spot. On an average day that’s probably to his daughter, Matilda. But don’t expect the 3-year-old to Yes, when you’re working you get to choose. I’m a big New York Giants fan. Anyone who where you’ll find him. That is — unless he’s check- crawl onstage to accept the award in her father’s place: She What are some of your favorite things to really knows me, that’s the first thing they’ll say. ing the side room computer for the day’s latest will only receive the Oscar at the age of 18, after signing a play? One of my first memories is the Super Bowl in posts on FML. contract promising not to sell the statue. Take a break and I have a playlist I use: Beatles, classic rock, drink some apple juice. Girl Talk. When it’s time to close, I try to be Zac Efron — Although award presenters are kept secret subtle about it and play “Closing Time.” I’ve only in an effort to boost show ratings, “High School Musical” been asked to change the song once, and it was heartthrob Zac Efron is speculated to be presenting the award for Snoop Dogg’s “Gin and Juice.” for Best Original Song. Take a drink if Zac Efron shows; take How else do you spend your time aside two if Vanessa Hudgens presents the award with him. from going to classes and working here? Jack Nicholson – Invariably, the cameras find Jack I’m doing an internship three days a week in Nicholson — wearing sunglasses and his creepy grin made Richmond working with Senator John Miller, a famous in “The Shining” — in the audience of every televised freshman [state] senator from Newport News. award show. Take a shot, and hope you’re going to be too I’m working for his legislative aid on new media drunk to have any “Here’s Johnny!” nightmares tonight. things like Facebook to get them started. It MIA – Despite the fact that MIA gave birth less than a means waking up at 6:30 a.m., which hurts week ago, Oscar organizers are reportedly so eager for her because it means I have to miss Mug Night. But to perform her Best Original Song nominee “O Saya” from it’s really interesting seeing how the General “Slumdog Millionaire” that they’ve offered to provide her Assembly works. with a bed from which to sing onstage. Take three drinks — You say you’ve always had a soft spot for she hasn’t been drinking for nine months, and you need to politics and actually have a taste of local make up for her lost time. Blackout word: Paper Planes. affairs here as a member of Student As- Less Lavish Awards Parties — Out of respect for the sembly. As the undersecretary for Public ailing economy and the loss of jobs that is sweeping the Affairs and a liaison between the College country, Award show party-organizers promise to tone down and the city, can you comment on the seem- their typically over-the-top, super ritzy parties. Bust out the ingly never-ending issues? champagne — Andre, that is. It’s a recession. It’s been tough. I think people on both sides Robert Downey Jr. — Award show predictions indicate get pretty overworked and I don’t think we’re a slight competition between Heath Ledger in “The Dark going to see any progress until the extreme Knight” and Robert Downey Jr. in “Tropic Thunder” for Best people calm down. I think it's kind of ridiculous Supporting Actor. However, if Downey were to upset Ledger, for people to move to a city that has been a etiquette may dictate he hand the award to Ledger anyway. college town since the 17th century and then Caitlin Fairchild — the flat hat Whether he holds on to the award or not, finish your drink. Sports Editor Andrew Pike [email protected] Friday, February 20, 2009 Page 8 sportsmen’s basketball Sp o r t s in b r i e f women’s tennis Tribe earns first doubles Taming the Tigers point of season in victory The College of William and Mary (3-2) edged the Uni- Schneider’s 26 points lead Tribe rout over Towson versity of Maryland (1-5) 4-3 Wednesday afternoon in Col- By ANDREW PIKE field and 2 of 3 from three-point range in the lege Park, Md. The Tribe swept Flat Hat Sports Editor second, to finish with a game-total of 16. the doubles matches before “Quinn has played phenomenal as a fresh- seniors no. 95 Katarina Zoricic TRIBE 76, TOWSON 54 man,” Schneider said. “I have more confidence and Klaudyna Kasztelaniec and When the College of William and Mary in him now than I’ve ever really had. It’s been freshman Katie Kargl recorded (9-17, 4-12 CAA) played Towson University building as the season has gone on.” singles victories. Zoricic defeat- ed Michal Amir 6-4, 6-1 in the Jan. 28, junior guard David Schneider sat out In the first half, the Tribe raced out to a top singles spot claiming her with an ankle injury while the Tribe commit- 16-4 lead before Towson guard Josh Thornton 90th career victory for the Tribe ted 22 turnovers in a 69-59 home loss. brought the Tigers back into the game with his while Kasztelaniec improved Fast-forward three weeks to Wednesday three-point shooting, hitting 3 of 6 from deep her spring record to 4-1 beating night’s rematch with Towson: Schneider for 11 first-half points. Thornton’s third three Karin Lundmark 6-2, 6-3. Kargl scores 26 points, grabs 9 rebounds and plays of the half cut the Tribe’s lead to 29-25, and the clinched the match for the Col- 31 minutes in the College’s 76-54 win. College entered the half leading 31-27. lege with a 6-3, 6-4 win. In dou- “It was one of those games where once you Junior forward Danny Sumner and sopho- bles, junior Ragini Acharya and get in a good rhythm and good flow it was kind more forward Marcus Kitts chipped in with 9 senior Barbara Zidek combined of easy,” Schneider said on the Tribe Radio and 8 points, respectively. to clinch the doubles point with postgame show. an 8-5 triumph. Schneider punished the Tigers (9-19, 4-12 CAA) with dribble-drives, pull-up jumpers and men’s golf CAA Standings his trademark long-range shots in leading the Hurson leads College to Tribe to its first win at Towson since 2005. Rank and Team CAA Overall ninth place at Rice He capped off the team’s 23-7 second-half 1. VCU 12-4 19-8 run with 8 consecutive points, including two T-2. George Mason 11-5 18-8 Senior Doug Hurson (+1) re- old-fashioned three-point plays on drives to corded a sixth-place finish at the the basket. The College continued to pull away T-2. Northeastern 11-5 16-10 Rice Intercollegiate in Houston, after that, shredding the Towson defense for Tex. to lead the College of Wil- T-4. Hofstra 10-6 18-9 easy baskets and building the lead to 73-47 – liam and Mary to a ninth-place its largest of the game with 3:55 remaining. T-4. Old Dominion 10-6 17-9 showing. Senior Brent Paladino Over the game’s final 15:23, the Tribe out- (+5) and junior Conor O’Brien T-4. Drexel 10-6 14-11 (+11) rounded out the top three scored Towson 34-17. 7. James Madison 9-7 17-11 for the Tribe taking 18th and 36th “We’ve been playing well,” Head Coach places respectively. For Hurson, Tony Shaver said. “Our execution tonight was 8. Georgia State 7-9 9-18 the sixth-place finish was the se- as good as it’s been all year long.” 9. Delaware 5-11 11-17 nior’s tenth top-ten finish in his The Tribe shot 53.3 percent from the floor career. The College’s +27 was 17 in the second half as Schneider and freshman T-10. Tribe 4-12 9-17 strokes behind victor University forward Quinn McDowell combined for 29 T-10. Towson 4-12 9-19 of the Pacific but also 73 strokes kyle mcmahon — the flat hat second-half points. McDowell, who scored 12. UNC-Wilmington 3-13 6-22 ahead of 15th (and last) place Junior guard David Schneider, pictured here against UNCW Feb. 11. only 2 points in the first, went 5 of 10 from the Southern University of Texas. lacrosse lacrosse Huether named to 2009 U.S. World Cup team The College of William and College opens season with convincing victory Mary’s volunteer assistant coach Meg Huether was select- ed as one of 18 players to join Holofcener, Zulty lead Tribe with five goals each in rainy contest the 2009 United States World By JAMISON SHABANOWITZ was cause for sloppy play on both range at the 20-minute mark. Cup team. Huether was a four- year starter at Duke University Flat Hat Staff Writer sides early on. The 9 goal advantage was in- where she collected a first-team The College was able to beat the creased to 10 when Holofcener found all-American honor in addition TRIBE 19, LONGWOOD 6 elements, controlling the first-half the mesh with an assist from junior to being selected as the Na- The College of William and Mary tempo by tallying 23 shots and forc- midfielder Katie Rees. tional Goalkeeper of the year wasted little time in proving itself ing 7 turnovers, while slicing through Key second-half stops by pre- by the Intercollegiate Women’s worthy of its preseason no. 2 confer- the Longwood zone waiting for the season all-CAA goalie Geary silenced Lacrosse Coaches Association ence ranking, crushing Longwood opportune moment to shoot. the Lancers, who only managed 24 in 2005. Huether also garnered University Wednesday, 19-6. On one such offensive trip, sopho- shots to the College’s 37. two All-ACC selections during Sophomore attacker Ashley Ho- more defender Molly Wannen found “Our defense forced low-percent- her tenure with the Blue Dev- lofcener and junior attacker Mary Zulty in front of the net at the 14-min- age, low-angle shots, which made my ils. Zutly each notched 5 goals to lead ute mark. Zulty spun to her right and job easier,” Geary said. the College, while sophomore goal- jumped, firing the shot above Lancers The Tribe is now 16-1 all-time — By Chris Weidman keeper Emily Geary collected 12 goalie Eliza Coughter’s right shoul- against Longwood and has won sixth saves for her eleventh career win. der for one of her 4 first-half goals. straight home opener. “We were able to make in-game “I just happened to be in the right The College’s next match will not adjustments with ease, which is good spot,” Zulty said. be as easy as the Tribe travels to Dur- Sc h e d u l e when facing an unfamiliar opponent With a comfortable 13-3 lead at the ham, N.C. to face no. 3 Duke Univer- and when we need to prepare for our half, the running clock allowed the sity tomorrow at 3 p.m. Fri., Feb. 20 next game Saturday,” Head Coach Tribe to ice the game. Several early “We just want to play our hardest track and field Christine Halfpenny said. second-half possessions prevented [on Saturday],” Halfpenny said, who @ Virginia Tech Invitational — Not only did Halfpenny have to Longwood from mounting a come- worked as an assistant for the Blue

Blacksburg, Va. deal with an unfamiliar opponent, back, though the Lancers’ Dee Ware- Devils before joining the College in Andrew pike — the flat hat baseball but the rain-soaked field conditions hime was able to dial one in from long 2006. Sophomore attacker Maggie Anderson BUFFALO — 4 p.m. Sat., Feb. 21 track and field women’s basketball @ Virginia Tech Invitational — Blacksburg, Va. women’s tennis Huskies’ aggressive play engulfs struggling Tribe @ Wake Forest — Winston-Salem, N.C. — 12 p.m. baseball Poor shooting and 18 turnovers hinder College against Huskies IONA — 12 p.m. BUFFALO — 4 p.m. By JACK LAMBERT was supposed to be forced the other way. We left three- men’s basketball Flat Hat Staff Writer point shooters wide open. MANHATTAN — 2 p.m. We just did not play well enough defensively to win.” TRIBE 58, NORTHEASTERN 68 The Tribe’s offense suffered as well. men’s gymnastics The College of William and Mary’s lack of intensity Senior forward Dani Kell had a game-high 18 points @ James Madison — Harrisonburg, Va. — 6 p.m. led to its 68-58 loss to Northeastern University (10-15, and junior guard Kelly Heath had 15 points on 6-15 7-7 CAA) Thursday night. While neither team made shooting, but the Tribe spent most of the night missing Sun., Feb. 22 many shots, only one, played with the required urgency threes and failing to establish an offensive identity, while women’s golf to win. starting point guard sophomore Katy Oblinger sat on Kiawah Island Intercollegiate “Our lack of intensity, until the last 10 minutes where the bench due to a knee injury. — Kiawah Island, S.C. it really didn’t matter, killed us,” Head Coach Debbie “We never got into the offense,” Taylor said. “With or men’s tennis Taylor said. “Northeastern does a good job of pressuring without [Oblinger], we shouldn’t struggle any time we BOISE STATE — 10 a.m. the ball full court, which kind of made us panic a little bit get played full court like that.” JAMES MADISON — 4 p.m. on offense, and they made the game ugly, and we didn’t Junior forward Tiffany Benson, who leads the team make plays.” with 12.2 points per game, only scored 8 points despite women’s gymnastics @ George Washington — She continued to list the issues she had with the repeated looks inside the paint. Washington, D.C. — 1 p.m. evening’s play, but to those who watched the game, the Northeastern guard Brittany Wilson led her team women’s basketball team’s failings were self-evident. with 17 points — one of four Huskies in double figures. @ UNC-Wilmington — When the Tribe’s defense floundered late in the first Taylor praised her team’s effort in the last 10 minutes, Wilmington, N.C. — 2 p.m. half, the Huskies reeled off 12 unanswered points to but ultimately called it “a day late and a dollar short.” lacrosse break an 18-18 tie and take a 30-18 lead into the half. The “I said to them, ‘Look at our intensity in the final 10 @ Duke — Durham, N.C. Huskies consistently drove through the Tribe’s zone for minutes … In the last 10 minutes, the tide turned a little — 3 p.m. easy layups and hit 4 of 7 threes in the second half. bit. You saw this new energized group that started to baseball John quinn — the flat hat “We couldn’t closely follow the defensive game plan,” play hard’,” Taylor said. IONA — 3 p.m. Freshman guard Taysha Pye Taylor said. “We’d let a player drive to the basket that “That’s what this group’s going to have to do to win.”