Noise ordinances in Virginia’s college towns - page 8 Brafferton poised for renovation - page 2 Volume 5 An independent The Virginia publication at the College Issue 5 of William and Mary. October 21, 2009 2008 Collegiate Network Established 2005 Informer Paper of the Year www.VAInformer.com City Council to discuss possible noise ordinance changes Sarah Nadler Managing Editor The City Council will convene at the Stryker build- ing on Thursday, November 12 at 2 p.m. to discuss changes to the noise ordinance. This meeting, like all regular City Council meetings, will be open to the public. Mayor Jeanne Zeidler is particularly interested in the enforcement aspects of the ordinance. She is “interested in seeing a revision to the ordinance that would identify the hours of 11 pm to 7 am as the hours of enforcement in the section dealing with large parties.” The Mayor feels that would make the ordinance more consistent and, in her opinion, “elim- inate the unintended consequence of parties generat- ing a reasonable level of noise being shut down be- fore 11 p.m. if there was a complaint.” Alec McKinley In a recent interview, Mayor Zeidler mentioned, Power hour: Police respond to a power outtage that occured when a lamp near Barret ruptured. Most outtages around “Anyone who wishes to speak is welcome.” The campus have been planned, however. Mayor would like to see the community participate in the upcoming discussions. She recommends that suggestions or comments be made prior to the No- Power problems around campus vember 12 meeting at the city council work session on Monday, November 9 at 4 p.m. According to Ms. Zeidler, “there will be time set aside on the agenda lead to planned outages of that meeting to hear comments on the items for Thursday’s agenda.” Justin Duke million since last year – almost twenty percent. These The Mayor did not mention plans to change the Staff Writer expenses, coupled with recent power outages across decibel limits, fines or the severity of the violation, campus, have left some students wondering whether now punishable as a misdemeanor. She feels the Some students desperate for light to be shed on the or not the College is encountering power issues. change in enforcement as quoted above, “is a change recent power outages across campus may be surprised “Heading down [the path between Yates Hall and that is a reasonable accommodation for all citizens of to learn that they weren’t as random as they appeared. the Crim Dell] at night really scares me, even with Williamsburg.” The 2009-2010 academic year has seen energetic ex- lights on,” remarked Madeleine Aggeler (‘13). “With Editor’s Note:: The Informer encourages students pansion at William and Mary. Rising energy costs and to attend the meetings in order to make clear what the opening of the new business school have caused CAMPUS EXPERIENCES POWER OUTAGES changes are to make Williamsburg a more student the College’s operating expenses to increase by $1.4 continued on page ten friendly college town. Faculty, staff donate 16 times more to Democrats in 2009 Eric Ames tions. She contributed $82,400 for Congressman Mike McCor- Assistant Opinion Editor to Creigh Deeds for Governor, mack, was a co-founder of Quan- $22,500 to Jody Wagner for Lieu- tec Incorporated and plays a key Party Contributions Faculty and staff of the Col- tenant Governor, and $57,400 role on numerous Board of Visi- lege and its affiliated schools to thirteen different House of tors committees. have contributed over $302,708 Delegates campaigns, $37,400 of The largest faculty contributor to various political candidates which went to Greg Werkheiser. is law professor Jeffrey Breit who in the 2009 election cycle. Thus She also donated $5,000 to Brian donated $5,500 to Democrats, far, $281,248 has been given to Moran’s primary campaign when and $1,270 to the Virginia Trial Democrats, $17,490 to Republi- he sought the Democratic Party’s Lawyers Association. He gave cans, and $3,970 to non-partisan nomination for Governor. In $2,500 to Creigh Deeds, $2,000 to organizations and independent addition, she gave $20,000 to A Jody Wagner, and $1,000 to Brian candidates. Of the thirty-three Strong Majority PAC, $10,000 to Moran. Mr. Breit considered a individuals associated with the Moving Virginia Forward, $4,500 run for the 8th Senate District seat college who made large political to Sharon Bulova for Fairfax in a potential special election to contributions, twenty-two gave County Board Chair, $10,000 to replace Senator Ken Stolle, who only to Democrats, six gave only the Democratic Party of Virgin- recently announced his candidacy to Republicans, and five gave to ia and $2,500 to various primary for Sheriff of Virginia Beach. candidates of both parties. related grassroots organizations. The highest contributor to Re- The single largest contribu- Her contributions amount to publicans was Vice Rector John tor was Board of Visitors mem- roughly 72 percent of all dona- ber Suzann Matthews (’71), who tions given by faculty and staff of FACULTY DONATES MORE gave $216,800 to Democrats and the College. Matthews, in addi- TO DEMOCRATS $2,500 to non-partisan organiza- tion to having previously worked continued on page ten Shep Walker CONTENTS Want to get every issue of The Informer in the mail? News................................ 2 Special Rojas-Ruzic E-mail [email protected] with your name and address, and we will send you an order form and your first Features............................ 5 mid-semester report issue FREE! Arts & Culture.................. 11 Page 15 Opinion............................ 14 Page 2 The Virginia October 21, 2009 News Informer Five million in funds proposed for Brafferton, adjacent kitchen renovation plan Garret Girmus clude work to enhance “security, fire Contributor suppression, roof repairs, drainage improvements, HVAC, electrical, and The Brafferton, built in 1732 as an plumbing.” The renovation may also Indian school and currently used for include some modification to the floor administrative offices, might soon be plan of the Brafferton, and the addi- the subject of a substantial renova- tion of a ramp to the kitchen, which tion. On April 17, 2009, the College will help the College obtain a waiver Board of Visitors approved the Col- for ADA modifications. In proceed- lege’s 2010-2016 Capital Outlay Plan, ing with the renovation, it is hoped which included a proposed 5.1 million that the renovation will “…enhance dollars to renovate the Brafferton and the safety, comfort, and convenience nearby kitchen. of the occupants without damaging Anna Martin, Vice-President of Ad- the appearance or early fabric of the ministration for the College, justified building.” the current renovation proposal by Currently, a feasibility study is be- stating that “The Brafferton has not ing conducted to better determine been renovated since the early 1930’s the condition of the Brafferton when the Rockefeller restoration of building and adjacent kitchen, and Colonial Williamsburg began.” In ad- the potential costs of restoration. dition, according to a document from Although private funds are likely to Louise Kale, Executive Director of the be used in the restoration of the two Historic Campus, the buildings also buildings, as was done with the Wren suffer from moisture-related problems Building and the President’s House, that could potentially damage the in- public funding sources have not Source: wm.edu tegrity of the soft historic brick-work been ruled out. In any case, given Built to last: Many of the Brafferton’s bricks date from the 1700’s. The building was and exterior, which could be corrected the current economic conditions, it not heavily damaged by fire as the Wren building and President’s House were, and is now with renovation work. may be difficult to find funding for scheduled for significant renovation. According to the Capital Outlay the proposed project. Plan, the proposed renovation will in- McGlothlin courtroom renovated is favored to win. The alumni website has over 50 events scheduled for all sorts of reunions, organizations, and as- Briefly... The McGlothlin Courtroom has been renovated by sociations, many including both current and former stu- Compiled by Michael Young, Assistant Features Editor a joint project that involved the college as well as the dents. There will be a Friday Night Fest, a children’s car- Center for Legal and Court Technology and the Na- nival, a family picnic, as well as the homecoming tailgate. tional Center for State Courts. Chancellor Professor Students and alumni alike have a lot to look forward to. Reveley encourages financial of Law and the director of the Center for Legal and Court Technology, Frederic Lederer described the new College receives prestigious Green independence from state courtroom as a “world pilot for court technology” At a cost of about $1.8 million, which was mostly provided Light recognition College President Taylor Reveley made a campus- by private companies, the courtroom showcases what wide announcement about the state of the university, the future will look like. These companies are showcas- The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education but the most pertinent issue that many students focused ing their products for possible future use in courtrooms (FIRE) has “green lighted” the College after several on was the financial portion. President Reveley was around the globe, but also get feedback from those using years of rating William and Mary a “red light” univer- quite frank, stating: “The financial model that served it about how it can be improved. The new technology sity. This change occurred after the College agreed to the College reasonably well since 1906, when William includes a system for the jury box that makes jury duty drop regulations on e-mail as well as what FIRE saw & Mary became a public school, no longer works ex- easier for both the hearing and visually impaired as well as vague examples of harassment.