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Author Mann a Hunter fellow

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The College recently named Thomas E. Mann the 2007 Hunter B. Andrews Fellow in American Politics.

p. Established in 1998 to honor the late state senator and College alumnus, the Hunter B. Andrews Fellowship has allowed the College community the privilege of interacting with distinguished public figures including U.S. Congressman and noted civil rights leader John Lewis, journalist, editor and author Walter Isaacson and Sandy Berger, national security advisor to President Bill Clinton.

p. Among the several activities planned for him, Mann is looking forward to the upcoming public forum, which will be held March 26 and 27 in Tucker 120 at 7:30 p.m.

p. “I will make an initial presentation on ‘Have the 2006 Elections Begun to Mend the Broken Branch?’ This will include assessing how well the new Democratic majorities in Congress are doing relative to the commitments they made prior to the election,” Mann said.

p. Mann majored in political science as an undergraduate student at the University of Florida. While pursuing his Ph.D. at the University of Michigan, He was granted an American Political Science Association Congressional Fellowship.

p. After the fellowship, Mann served a staff position at the APSA. There he later served as executive director designed and executed a poll for Representative James G. O’Hara, completed and defended his dissertation, collaborated with Ornstein on a Congress Project sponsored by the American Enterprise Institute and served as Director of Governmental Studies at the Brookings Institution, where he today serves as the W. Averell Harriman Chair and Senior Fellow in Governance Studies. The Brookings Institution is one of America’s premier policy think tanks. Mann’s current projects include studies on election reform, redistricting, campaign finance and congressional reform.

p. The political scientist and author embraces both scholarship and public affairs and sees his visit to the College as yet another interesting opportunity.

p. “I hope to make a case [to students] for serious engagement in public life — as citizens, public servants, politicians and public intellectuals,” Mann said.

Nichol delivers acceptance letter

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Darryl Stephens, a senior at Armstrong High School in the urban center of Richmond, will be a member of the incoming class of 2011.

p. Stephens, a foster-child who aspires to be a pediatric neurosurgeon, is on his way to earning a college education thanks to Gateway William and Mary.

p. Introduced by President Nichol Aug. 26, 2005, Gateway William and Mary offers exceptional in-state students who would otherwise not be able to financially afford college a way to attend the College without having to take out loans.

p. The program allows these students to graduate college debt-free. The aid package, worth $50,000, will cover tuition, room and board, textbooks and fees. About 45 incoming freshmen will receive similar packages, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

p. When Gateway William and Mary was first introduced, President Nichol told William and Mary News his goals for the program.

p. “William and Mary is determined to live up to its heritage to be both great and public,” Nichol said. To do so, we must ensure that Virginians from all backgrounds can enjoy the benefits of our programs. This innovative effort is in keeping with Thomas Jefferson’s aspiration that ‘worth and genius [be] sought from every condition of life.”

p. President Nichol presented Stephens, 17, with the full-aid package to the College.

p. “This is a very generous package from us,” Nichol said to the Richmond Times-Dispatch. “We’re investing in this young man.”
The College called Stephens at his high school for what he assumed was a college admissions interview. When he arrived to the conference room, however, he was awarded the financial aid package instead.

p. Among the many people to congratulate Darryl were Virginia State Senator Benjamin J. Lambert III and Louis W. Sullivan, George H.W. Bush’s Secretary of Health and Human Services, who had traveled from Atlanta to applaud Stephens, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Sullivan and Senator Lambert are chairman and vice-chairman of the Virginia-Nebraska Alliance, a group whose aim is to increase the number of minorities in the health-care profession.

p. With the help of the Virginia-Nebraska Alliance, Stephens was put in contact with Partnership for the Future, which first piqued his interest in the College.

p. Along with the distinguished guests who shared in the moment, Stephens was also greeted by familiar faces. An assistant principal who shared her home with Stephens before he moved into a group home last year and a director from Owens & Minor, a supply-chain solutions company that Stephens has worked for the past three summers were also present, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

p. “It’s a dream come true,” Stephens said as he clasped his letter.

p. According to William and Mary News, the applicant pool for the class of 2010 was the most diverse ever with 2,179 students of color applying to the College. This is an increase of over one hundred applicants compared to last year’s pool.

p. “[The College] is hoping that we can continue to be creative in terms of how we reach out to a variety of audiences and populations across the Commonwealth and across the nation,” Associate Provost for Enrollment Earl Granger said.

New IR curriculum emphasizes research

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Beginning this fall, students who declare an international relations major will tackle a new curriculum. Created by faculty in May 2006, it will also serve as a framework to eventually establish the College as the nation’s premier institution for undergraduate IR studies.

p. “Part of it is building on what we already have [of] undergraduate research,” Director of International Relations Michael J. Tierney said.

p. The original curriculum placed a strong emphasis on government: three of the four core courses were from that department. Changes include two more core classes from the economics department and one each from history and international relations. There is also an addition of social and cultural contexts, methods and capstone components.

p. Current and prospective IR majors have only until the end of this semester to decide between the two curriculums before the new requirements are enforced.

p. Junior Lauren Triner likes the revised standards and welcomes taking both international trade theory and policy and international finance.

p. “I know this sounds ridiculous, but I really am looking forward to the advanced econ classes. That is the part that most people are dreading, but I think that it really is a crucial part of the major,” Triner said.

p. Her opinion mirrors the department’s aim to have a more global perspective.

p. “It’s difficult to understand IR without a strong grasp on international economy,” Tierney said.

p. History courses make up the bulk of the social and cultural contexts portion of the curriculum. As resources become available in the future, the IR department hopes to give history the same emphasis that economics will have.

p. The methods requirement is designed to familiarize students with the methodological tools of disciplines contributing to the IR major. Coupled with a Capstone independent research project, students will be equipped to succeed in whatever path they choose after graduation.

p. “Research is important. Skills you learn by going through that process are applicable whether you want to go be a professor or work for the World Bank, the CIA, State Department, Green Peace or go to law school,” Tierney said.

p. “Research has never really been my thing, but at the same time, it is a great skill to have. And I know that I will be glad that I took the class once I finish it,” Triner said.

p. Another student, sophomore Maham Akbar, found a more attractive option.

p. “I think I can do the same with the government and middle eastern studies majors as I would have with the IR and Middle Eastern studies majors,” Akbar said.

p. However, Akbar also had to make a concession. “Economics and trade are a huge part of international relations and it is nice to see the IR curriculum reflecting that. However, it is just something that would not suit me,” Akbar said.

p. Like students, professors also expect to benefit from the improvements. An economist, historian and political scientist will simultaneously teach INRL 300, which all IR majors will take. This offers students and professors alike three different perspectives for various contemporary IR issues.

p. The new IR curriculum parallels the College’s stated commitment to remaining competitive through research. Faculty including Tierney and Reves Director Laurie Koloski join Director and Dean of Honors and Interdisciplinary Studies Joel Schwartz to bring about a stronger IR department. Support from the IR Club and lectures by practitioners such as Vice Provost for International Affairs Mitchell Reiss, former Chief of Staff Larry Wilkerson and General Anthony Zinni play crucial roles in the concerted effort to benefit both the students and IR program at the College.

Global warming affects temperatures, breakfast condiment

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We have all heard enough dire predictions about global warming to expect the consequences at the gas pump or in the heating bill if fossil fuel costs continue to rise in an attempt to reduce high consumption. But have you realized that those consequences may even reach your breakfast table? Pancakes and waffles are potentially at risk for being served solo, as maple syrup producers and their trees struggle to adapt to the warmer winter weather in New England.

p. Producers across Vermont have suffered drastically reduced syrup production in the past few seasons, which, according to scientists, is a symptom of the maple trees not experiencing the normal cold winter season to which they are accustomed. The trees respond to climate cues, which instruct them when to flower, when to drop leaves in the fall and, most importantly for the syrup industry, when to begin spring sap production.

p. To make matters worse, it’s not just the trees that are confused. The producers are struggling to understand the subtle changes in the trees’ rhythms in order to modify their practices. Traditionally, trees were tapped in early March when the sap began to flow and left to collect for up to six weeks. The early sap is widely considered the higher quality, so there is a downside to missing the start of the season, but it is also dangerous to too soon. The trees can only handle a tap for so long before bacteria invade and make the sap unusable.

p. Barrett Rock, a professor of natural resources at the University of New Hampshire, talked to the New York Times about the difficulties of adapting syrup production to a changing environment.

p. “It’s a real conundrum the sugar producers face,” Rock said. “Do I tap early to catch the early sap flow, or do I wait until the regular season and maybe not get the highest quality syrup, but the tap flow remains open until the first buds on trees in April?”

p. The warming trends of the past half-century correlate with an overall trend of declining syrup production in Vermont in the past 40 years. There have been good years with cold snaps and bad years without, but the trend does not look good for Vermont. The state has pride and tourist money invested in the maple syrup industry, from family farms to festivals. Now, instead of Vermont producing 80 percent of the world’s maple syrup in New England A they did a half century ago, our Canadian neighbors to the north have taken over, leaving the US with only about 20 percent of the market.

p. Many scientists and producers believe that this shift in production is aligned with temperature increases. Canada’s climate is becoming what Vermont’s used to be, and the maple trees are responding accordingly. Dr. Tim Perkins, from the University of Vermont’s Maple Research Center, told the Times that global climate change will have dire consequences to Vermont’s maple syrup industry.

p. “One hundred to 200 years from now there may be very few maples [in Vermont], mainly oak, hickory and pine. There are projections that say over about 110 years our climate will be similar to that of Virginia,” Perkins said.

p. Burr Morse, whose family has been making syrup for generations, told the Times that he has seen the trees starting to produce sap early for the past decade. He is still producing, but his yields have declined from 1,000 gallons of syrup to only 700.

p. “How many winters are we going to go with Decembers turning into short-sleeve weather before the maple trees say, ‘I don’t like it here any more?’” Morse said.

Horoscopes (March 23)

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Scorpio: Oct. 23 – Nov. 21

You will be spooked this week when you envision a zebra playing a harpsichord with Levon Helms at William and Mary Hall — until you realize that it’s awesome.

Taurus: April 20 – May 20

March Madness pools have you hopeful, but I don’t think the College will be happy when you charge students $500 for courses in “Bracketology 101.”

Sagittarius: Nov. 22 – Dec. 21

It is about time you take a break from the everyday pains of waking up and living the same boring, predictable life. You will die this week.

Gemini: May 21- June 21

Although you may not think MTV’s “Wild ’N’ Out” is a quality program, it still confirms your belief that Nick Cannon is really good at freestyle rap.

Capricorn: Dec. 22 – Jan. 19

Crime investigators think that they can catch any criminal, but putting the gun in your stuffed ALF doll’s hands will definitely throw the forensics team off your case.

Cancer: June 22 – July 22

Eager to kick some ass with your newly acquired karate moves, you will learn an ancient lesson in humility this week when you burn your finger on an iron.

Aquarius: Jan. 20 – Feb. 18

Live your life. If American Eagle, the great philosopher-jean company, has taught you anything, you will never forget to do this one simple task.

Leo: July 23 – Aug. 22

As the fun of spring break wears off and students settle back into classes, it will take you a long time to learn how to live with the Clap.

Pisces: Feb. 19 – March 20

The deeper, political intonations you’ve always suspected in “If You Give A Moose a Muffin,” solidified when you see Mussolini’s signature on the last page.

Virgo: Aug. 23 – Sept. 22

Ending a relationship is never easy, even if it means parting from the creep who may or may not be a student who stalked you for eight months.

Aries: March 21 – April 19

Fresh off an all-nighter after procrastinating on a long paper, you resolve to be smarter about your work next time by taking more Adderall.

Libra: Sept. 23 – Oct. 22

Being the cool customer Libras tend to be, you will not fret when you are kicked out of the five items or less line at Ukrop’s this week.

Heroman

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Editorial Cartoon (March 23)

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Disappointing end to tourney run

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__Tribe loses to Hofstra in second round of CAAs after defeating George Mason 79-69__

p. The Tribe opened its 2007 CAA tournament performance by defeating George Mason University 79-69 for the third time this season. The victory helped improve the College’s overall record to 19-11 (10-8 in conference play), which is just one win short of the school’s all-time win record established during the 1993-1994 season. Unfortunately, the Tribe suffered a crushing 46-71 defeat to Hofstra University in the next round of the tournament and was unable to reach its 20th win or get a bid to the NCAA tournament.

p. In the contest against George Mason, the Tribe out-shot the Patriots 45.1 percent to 38.7 percent and held a 40-28 advantage on the boards. Junior Kyra Kaylor led the College with 17 points and 14 rebounds, recording her 11th double-double of the year. Kaylor also set the record for made free-throws, reaching 149 this season. Junior Devin James helped key the victory as well, adding 19 points to the total. The game was a strong overall team performance as sophomore Courtney Portell added 12 points, freshman Tiffany Benson recorded nine and seniors Sarah Stroh and Katy Neumer each tallied eight points.

p. The College started out with a three-pointer by Neumer, but the Patriots retaliated, taking a quick 8-3 lead. With 14:38 on the clock, Neumer sank another three to bring the Tribe within one point of GMU. The Patriots again answered back and pushed the lead to 19-13. The Tribe responded with a 9-2 run to take a slight lead for the first time since the opening minutes.

p. At intermission the Tribe trailed 26-24 and the score stayed close in the beginning of the second half. At the first media timeout, the score was knotted at 31 points. In the next five minutes, Kaylor, Neumer and James each knocked down three-pointers to keep the Tribe tied with the Patriots at 42 points at the next media break. With 11 minutes showing on the clock, the College scored seven unanswered points followed closely by an essential 10-2 spurt, holding a 63-50 advantage with a little more than four minutes remaining.

p. GMU closed the gap to eight points in the final seconds of the game, but the Tribe’s composure and respectable free-throw shooting helped the College seal the deal.

p. In the CAA quarterfinals, the fifth-seeded Tribe fell to the fourth-seeded Hofstra University by a score of 71-46. James led the College with a game-high 21 points. With 994 points, James is just six points away from being the College’s 12th 1,000-point scorer. Kaylor added 12 points and Stroh broke the single-season record for most minutes played with 1,131 minutes this season.

p. During the first five minutes, the Pride held a 12-5 lead over the Tribe. While the College cut the lead to three, Hofstra responded with a 9-0 run, leading 21-9 with just under 10 minutes remaining. Although the Tribe cut the lead to eight points shortly thereafter, the Pride outscored the Tribe 15-5 in the next eight minutes to hold a sizable 36-18 advantage with less than two minutes remaining in the first. The College trailed Hofstra 36-21 at halftime.

p. In the second half, the Tribe fought hard but could not narrow the margin. At the first media timeout, the Pride still maintained a 15-point lead. With 13:06 showing, Hofstra held a substantial 48-28 lead over the College. Three minutes later, the Tribe cut the lead to 16 points via a jumper by James; however, the College was unable to cut the lead any more for the remaining 10 minutes of the game.

p. Although the College did not get a bid to the NCAA tournament or the WNIT, a few of the players received prestigious CAA postseason awards. Kaylor was selected to the All-CAA First Team for the second consecutive season and the Richmond Times-Dispatch All-State First Team. Stroh earned All-Academic First Team distinction, while freshman Tiffany Benson was named to the All-Rookie Team.

Sweet predictions for the round of sixteen

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__Editor’s Note: Graham Williamson’s column was completed prior to the start of last night’s Sweet 16 matchups.__

p. With the first two rounds in the books, this year’s NCAA tournament can be described as anything but mad — in fact, this year’s tournament has been downright predictable. For the first time since 1995, a team seeded in the double digits has not qualified for the Sweet 16. Even more surprisingly, not a single team outside of the top half of the field of 65 still remains. Seventh-seeded University of Nevada-Las Vegas stands as the lowest ranked team remaining. There are no George Masons toppling formidable UConn squads, no University of Alabama-Birmingham teams shocking top-seeded Kentucky Wildcats. Not even VCU, behind the stellar play of Eric Maynor, could ride their wave of momentum into the round of 16. Although grumblings can be heard across the nation about the lack of a “feel good” Cinderella squad to rally behind, both fans and analysts should not be so hasty in voicing their complaints. With the most talented teams in the country still remaining, the Sweet 16 promises to be more competitive and thrilling than ever before.

**Midwest Region**

p. After the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels pulled off arguably the most surprising upset of the tournament by defeating the second-seeded Wisconsin Badgers, the Midwest region is open for Florida’s taking. Look for the Gators to easily cruise past a feisty but outmanned Butler squad. However, the Gators will be challenged in the Elite Eight by Aaron Brooks and the Oregon Ducks. The Ducks will attempt to catch the Gators off guard with their relentless defense and pinpoint shooting from behind the arc. Nevertheless, the inside presence and physical play of center Al Horford and forward Corey Brewer will prove to be too much for Oregon, as the top-seeded Gators will squeak by the Ducks and reach the Final Four for the second consecutive year.

**West Region**

p. Easily the hottest team in the nation, the Kansas Jayhawks stand as the consensus favorite to cruise through the Western region and into the Final Four. However, as the heralded analyst Lee Corso would say, “Not so fast, my friend.” In the round of 16, the spirited Salukis of Southern Illinois will provide the biggest upset of the 2007 tournament. Holding their opponents to a miniscule 49.5 points per game this season, the Salukis play the most stifling defense of any team in the nation. Talented point guard Mario Chalmers will be forced into numerous turnovers by both the pesky press of SIU and the tenacious defense of resilient guard Jamaal Tatum.

p. Meanwhile, look for persistent guard Tony Young to create just enough offense for the Saluki’s to sneak past the heavily-favored Jayhawks and into the Elite Eight. However, that is where the Salukis’ magic carpet ride will come to a screeching halt. Led by Pac-10 player of the year Arron Afflalo, the UCLA Bruins will give the Salukis a dose of their own defensive medicine and advance to the Final Four, hence setting the stage for a rematch of last year’s national title game between UCLA and Florida.

**East Region**

p. With Kevin Durant and the Texas Longhorns out of the way, it would seem as if Tyler Hansbrough and the UNC Tar Heels will easily glide into the Elite Eight. However, the Heels must be sure not to overlook an underrated USC squad. I expect the Trojan post players Taj Gibson and Nick Young to slow down the dominant Hansbrough just enough to pull out a narrow overtime upset. Although the Trojans will be able to shock the Tar Heels, I believe the Trojans will fall short against the balanced attack of the Georgetown Hoyas. Arguably the best post presence in all of college basketball, the massive 7’ 2’’ center Roy Hibbert gives the Hoyas a dominant force looming in the paint. Although Hibbert can own the glass on his own, the Hoyas also possess another beast in the post in oft-overlooked forward, Jeff Green. With his clutch play, Green almost single-handedly lifted the Hoyas past the Boston College Eagles and into the Sweet 16. Look for the triple threat of Hibbert, Green and speedy junior guard Jonathan Wallace to propel the Hoyas into the Final Four for the first time since 1996.

**South Region**

p. After a second-round overtime scare against ninth-seeded Xavier, analysts across the nation jumped off the Ohio State bandwagon, claiming that the Buckeyes lack the experience needed to advance to the Final Four. Although the Buckeye roster is filled with freshmen and the Bucks needed a little luck to escape the second round, many forget that Ohio State is still riding a 19-game winning streak and once in a while even championship teams need to win ugly.

p. Hence, I expect the Bucks to ride the wave of momentum from their narrow victory and extend their winning streak for at least two more games. The Bucks shouldn’t have a problem taking care of Chris Lofton and the Tennessee Volunteers, but the match-up between Ohio State and Texas A&M (if the Aggies can slip by an extremely talented Memphis squad) looks to be one of the most intriguing of the entire tournament. The Aggies undoubtedly possess more experience than the youthful Bucks, but the A&M offense revolves far too much around one person: phenomenal point guard Acie Law IV. Though Law is one of the most versatile and probably the most clutch player in college basketball, the Buckeyes boast a multi-dimensional attack that A&M will not be able to contain. With shot-blocking machine Greg Oden patrolling the paint, the uncanny poise of freshman guard Mike Conley and the late game antics of Ron Lewis, the Bucks will slip by the Aggies to capture a berth in the Final Four.

__Graham Williamson is a columnist for The Flat Hat.__

Tribe on four-game winning streak

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__College sweeps Towson, defeats Norfolk State, will travel to James Madison today__

p. Tribe baseball is on its second four-game winning streak of the season after recently sweeping a series against Towson University 4-3, 6-0, 15-8 and defeating Norfolk State University 6-4.

p. After Friday’s scheduled contest was postponed due to rain, the Tribe faced the Towson Tigers March 17 and earned the 4-3 win in 12 innings. Junior Pete Vernon (2-2) earned the win in relief with junior starting pitcher Sean Grieve and senior Warrik Staines both supplying solid pitching performances. Junior first baseman Greg Maliniak started the scoring for the Tribe with a homer in the second inning, 1-0. After the Tigers put two on the board in response, the College took back the lead in the bottom of the sixth, 3-2. Sophomore second baseman James Williamson singled and sophomore shortstop Lanny Stanfield hit a double to left field. Williamson touched home on a single by junior centerfielder Paul Juliano and Stanfield scored stealing. A double by senior third baseman/short stop Greg Sexton equaled Brendan Harris’ school record for career doubles (59) in the bottom of the tenth. Towson scored to knot it up and the teams battled through three more innings until the Tribe scored to win in the bottom of the twelfth, as senior designated hitter Brent McWhorter advanced from third to score on a Maliniak single to left field.

p. Sunday, the Tribe battled the Tigers in the rescheduled doubleheader, winning both contests, 6-0, 15-8, to sweep the series against Towson. In the first game, freshman Kevin Landry (3-2) provided sound defense and pitched the shut-out in seven innings, striking out three and allowing only four hits and two walks. The Tribe snatched the game in the bottom of the third, as sophomore catcher Jeff Wera, junior designated hitter Tim Park, Stanfield, McWhorter and Sexton all scored to reach 5-0. A homerun to right center by sophomore right fielder Robbie Nickle gave the Tribe a 6-0 finish. Head Coach Frank Leoni recorded his 300th career victory with the win.

p. Vernon (3-2) earned his second win of the afternoon, entering in relief of junior starting pitcher Pat Kantakevich and Staines, and not allowing any runs in the final three innings. The College began strong offensively, as both Park and Sexton homered in the bottom of the first. Both Park and Maliniak totaled three RBI, and Sexton and Nickle numbered two. The Tribe scored big in the sixth and eighth, totaling four in each inning, and finished with a total of 17 hits.

p. After dominating in the Towson series, the Tribe faced Norfolk State Tuesday and stretched the its winning streak to four, taking the contest 6-4. Freshman Tyler Truxell (3-2) recorded the win, with freshman Max Axelrod and Staines providing firm relief. The College collected the day’s runs within the first four innings, scoring half in the bottom of the first. Park launched the Tribe offensive with a single through the left side and advanced on a sacrifice bunt from McWhorter and a ground out from Sexton, scoring as Sheridan smacked a double to left field. A single from Nickle scored Sheridan, and a run from Nickle later in the inning gave the Tribe a sound start.

p. The Tribe is back in action this weekend as the team faces James Madison University in Harrisonburg.

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