The Virginia Volume 5 Issue 7 November 18, 2009 Informer www.VAInformer.com Mayor Zeidler engages with campus critics Garret Girmus Mayor questions about community issues Staff Writer impacting them, and the role that Mayor Zeidler plays in them. Several dozen interested William and After the Mayor spoke for about 30 min- Mary students braved the Wednesday night utes, the floor was opened for questions, rain to in order to hear and speak with Wil- which were directed almost immediately at liamsburg Mayor Jean Zeidler. The event the City’s Three Person Rule, and lingering was organized by Students for a Better Wil- thoughts on the controversy surrounding liamsburg, and served as the finale of sev- 711 Richmond Road. However, the ques- eral such events hosted by the student-led tions themselves were not as striking as political action committee that advocates the responses that the Mayor gave. Asked for William and Mary students. It gave about the continuing problems surrounding students the chance to hear Mayor Zeidler the Richmond Road dispute, Mayor Zeidler Courtesy of Samantha Casey speak about her own accomplishments, responded by saying “I don’t know the de- some of which have had a direct impact tails,” and appeared to suggest that the City on students living in the city. In fact, Ms. Manager was largely at fault. However, she Zeidler made it clear that “great strides” have been made in city-student relations. MAYOR ZEIDLER DEBATES The event also allowed students to ask the continued on page ten W&M student competes for Miss Virginia - page 5 Decibel levels, punishments unchanged in noise ordinance revision Kiersten Hoffman Staff Writer Williamsburg City Council passed corrective amendments to the noise control ordinance during their meeting on November 12th. There were two major corrections to the noise ordinance. The phrase “Plainly Audible” had previously been defined as “Any sound, other than unamplified human conversation taking place between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m.” The amendment changed this definition by removing the hours of applicability. Further changes included adding the time restriction of 11 p.m. to 7 Bert Mueller a.m. for large party nuisances. Each prohibition specified in Secret football dining room?: According to team insiders, football players dine well (like king the noise ordinance now has a time of applicability where ap- crab legs and filet mignon) in this private dining hall beneath the Caf for some pre-season meals. propriate. However, the definition of “Plainly Audible” no longer has any time restrictions. Council member Judith Knud- son commented “I think it is much more reasonable and I’m Private dining room under the Caf glad somebody noticed no times had been specified.” City Council has been working on this noise control ordi- serves football players nance since the Virginia Supreme Court overturned a law in Virginia Beach stating that excessive noise be defined as noise Dan Fischer questions regarding the private dining ex- that would offend a “reasonable person”. The term was found Contributor perience versus the experience of students too ambiguous and therefore unconstitutional. Vice Mayor and in the Caf upstairs. College professor Clyde Haulman said, “This [noise ordinance] Would you believe anyone if they told A football player who wished not to be is in reaction to the previous law being overturned. I believe you that there is a gourmet dining facility named stated, “It’s really only as good as this new ordinance makes things fair.” located on site at the Commons? It seems they want to treat you. You can’t just go No further changes were made to the noise control ordinance, unlikely. But such a place does exist. It is there, you have to be invited, but when we and the sound decibel limits and punishments have remained located in the basement behind a sign la- do, man, we eat like kings.” the same. Off-campus student Taylor Harveycutter (’11) said, beled “Private Dining.” According to Commons Director, Larry “I think that the problem is that we have completely different Functionally, it’s similar to the dining Smith, “It really isn’t an exclusive place, if schedules with other Williamsburg residents. I feel that it’s ri- facilities located upstairs. There are Coca- you want to eat there with an organization diculous that they have set the decibel limit at 10 decibels over Cola dispensers, buffet style dining, and or group, all you have to do is ask, and you a normal conversation. We can’t even have music playing from Formica tables. The only difference is the can eat there free of charge.” posters of the football, volleyball, and soc- DECIBEL LEVELS, PUNISHMENTS REMAIN SAME cer teams that adorn the walls. Despite its DINING HALL BELOW CAF continued on page ten similar appearance, speculation has led to continued on page ten • Students are able to • English department • Find out what your • Review of • Extended change their own race has largest Arts and professors make: student-directed Orientation should and ethnicity on banner. Sciences budget play Twelth Night include student voting Page 3 Page 6 Page 8 Page 12 Page 14 Page 2 The Virginia November 18, 2009 News Informer Decoding the medical amnesty policy No instances of drug-related amnesty yet Chelsea Sisson student for violations of the Alcohol are looked at on a “case-by-case” basis. ed, “Yes, the amnesty would extend to Staff Writer Beverage policy or the Drugs policy While all of this seems straightfor- others present, although they would of the Code of Conduct.” Instead, the ward, Alcohol Amnesty begins to get also still be required to meet with a Sometimes an intended fun night student in question meets with some- a bit complicated when one explores member of the Dean of Students out with friends can turn dangerous. one in the Office of the Dean of Stu- the fine print. It appears that Alcohol staff and may receive educational re- In these cases, the College wants a stu- dents, who discusses the problem and Amnesty is not a one-time deal for stu- quirements.” Gilbert insists the Col- dent who is under the influence to seek possible solutions. dents. “In theory, there is no limit…” lege wants to encourage students to medical attention without According to Dean Gilbert, Dean Gilbert stated when asked if a help other students when the need is worries of punishment by the “Educational requirements student could receive alcohol amnesty present. College for illegal drinking or may include completion of more than once. “However...my office Dean Gilbert said, “We have not use of other substances. As Alcohol.edu for Sanctions; may issue progressively more compre- had an instance of drug-related am- it is stated on the William the Back on Track program; a hensive strategies to address the mis- nesty,” so the main intoxicant of stu- and Mary website, “Student referral to Courtney Dowell, use of alcohol or drugs so a second dents seeking medical treatment thus health and safety are of pri- the Substance Abuse Educa- or subsequent referral for medical am- far is alcohol. “We have had 87 appli- mary concern at the College tor; or referral to an off-cam- nesty would elicit a different response cations of amnesty for alcohol since of William and Mary.” It is GILBERT pus counselor with certifica- than a first instance…” Dean Gilbert Fall 2007,” Dean Gilbert revealed. due to this concern that Al- tion in the area of drug and said. As Dean Gilbert said, “I believe the cohol Amnesty was introduced. alcohol treatment.” Basically, instead Students who accompany the in- policy has been a success, particularly Ultimately, according to the Wil- of punishing a student for the prob- toxicated student seeking help and now that students are generally aware liam and Mary website, if an “intoxi- lem, the sanctions in this program are assist them (and who are also under of it. I believe it encourages students cated” student “actively” seeks help, aimed at fixing the problem in the first the influence) are eligible for Alcohol to reach out for help for themselves “the Dean of Students Office will not place. Dean Gilbert states there is no Amnesty as well. When asked if this or others when it is possibly needed.” pursue conduct sanctions against the standard sanction and that instances would be the case, Dean Gilbert stat- Briefly... Voter drive comes up short Rain causes classes to be canceled The Student Assembly’s voter registration drive The College was forced to cancel classes Thursday Compiled by Hart Moore, News Editor has so far come short of expectations, registering afternoon when rainy conditions began to deteriorate. only 300 students to vote in the area prior to the The decision came after a number of roads in the Wil- Nov. 4th elections. This number pales in compari- liamsburg area were closed to traffic. Swem Library Suicide victim found in the son to the nearly 1,000 student voters who regis- was also closed early, shutting its doors at 8 pm. The College Woods tered last fall before the presidential election. The College opened two hours late on Friday, and students low registration turnout is indicative of the poor were alerted via the emergency alert system, as well as Police have uncovered the body of Michael Allen youth voting turnout across the state, despite the by e-mail. Grimes, 47, within the College Woods off of Jamestown national spotlight cast on Virginia’s gubernatorial Road. Mr. Grimes, who was last seen in New Town Shop- election. ping Center in mid – October, was reported missing on Oct.