On September 22, 2022, the College of William and Mary revealed its intentions to explore a new school for computing, data, and applied sciences. The announcement comes at a time when technology is the buzzword of the century, with the College seeking to cement its place as a data-driven destination for higher education.

Artificial intelligence is transforming countless industries across the globe — higher education is no exception. Continue reading to explore how professors at the College of William & Mary are adapting to a world with ChatGPT.

If there’s one thing Flat Hat Magazine staff is good at, it’s gossiping. So, buckle up, y’all: we’ve got major tea to spill. The craziest, funniest, and most chaotic true stories we’ve heard, all in one place.

Since arriving at the College of William and Mary in 2016, Visiting Assistant Professor Jessica Stephens has become a well-loved and core member of the Classical Studies department, and her infectious energy and enthusiasm have attracted students across disciplines to the department. Over the past few years, Stephens has pioneered new courses that connect ancient history to contemporary issues, widening the scope of what has traditionally been considered “Classics.” Read on to hear about Stephens’ novel approach to this corner of academia as well as her efforts to foster community with students.

I have aphantasia, the complete inability to visualize.

In this semester’s staff-curated playlist, we’re celebrating all that is reflection. The following is a collection of songs that make us think, evoke nostalgia, relive moments, and see things from new perspectives. Join Flat Hat Magazine staff in our trip down memory lane by scanning the code below.

Coffee in hand, Georgia Thoms ’23 sat down with student entrepreneur Celeste Phillips ’24, owner of The Crochet Chameleon, a small business that sells crochet plushies and patterns. The quiet chatter of students in Earl Gregg Swem Library provided the backdrop to Phillips’ story about her business journey from small-time seller to friends and family to business owner of a popular Etsy store with over 36,000 Instagram followers and 2,600 sales. This conversation has been edited for concision and clarity.

As part of our “Reflection” theme, we wanted to take a closer look at the increasingly popular return of Y2K fashion. As if we’ve traveled back in time to the early 2000s, our daily wardrobes are populated with low-rise jeans, tracksuits, tiny sunglasses, chunky shoes, and more. We wanted to capture current interpretations of Y2K style by Gen Z in this photoshoot, so we incorporated iconic cultural staples, including the Burn Book from Mean Girls, a flip phone, and a Juicy Couture purse. Because Y2K is not solely an American or Western tradition, we wanted to portray cultural diversity in our representation of Y2K and thus incorporated jhumka earrings as a way to recognize the presence of heritage and tradition in an individual’s style — mainstream media often westernizes Y2K fashion, erasing the multicultural backgrounds of the individuals wearing these clothes. The bright colors, funky patterns, and blast-from-the-past outfits that we pieced together served as a fun way of depicting an aesthetic that is both modern and nostalgic, reflecting the evolution of fashion trends and culture.

Our “Reflections” shoot was an incredible day of exploring perspective. We captured the models’ reflections on a grand piano, which, given their clothes, makeup, and poses, fashioned an elevated elegance. We assembled three outfits, each giving off similar, yet unique auras, ranging from sophisticated and simple to dramatic and glamorous, from Taylor Swift’s “reputation era” to New Year’s Eve style. Each look was classy in its own way, embodying society’s understanding of beauty and formal attire, important given the theme, as most people try to reflect the best version of themselves — physically and intellectually — when presenting themselves to the world.

In this “Alter Egos” shoot, multiple versions of each person represent alternate personas, showing how self-complexity is reflected not only through style but also through art.

Meet Brandon and Hannah Wagster, the husband-and-wife team working to make Williamsburg magical. Together, they own the Wagsters Magic Theatre — Williamsburg’s one and only magic venue on Olde Town Road — that has captivated thousands since it opened in June 2022. Continue reading to learn about the Wagsters’ journey to magic, Williamsburg, and each other.

In 2017, TIME Magazine featured William and Mary alumnus and Wikipedia editor Steven Pruitt ’06 on the list of the Top 25 Most Influential People on the internet. Others on the list included pop culture personality Chrissy Teigen, former President of the United States Donald Trump, and media personality Kim Kardashian. The magazine recognized Pruitt as one of the internet's most "prolific guardians of fact." With over five million Wikipedia edits to his name — more than any other English language editor — Pruitt strives to uplift stories nearly lost in history and maintain the integrity of one of the world's most notable encyclopedias.

Hip-hop is the perfect embodiment of movement in both its nature and history. With roots in the 1970s Bronx, what started as block parties of various Black, Latine, and Caribbean-American communities quickly became the start of a genre — one that was unapologetically new and vibrant. Since its birth, hip-hop has undergone many evolutions, but its power, energy, and conviction remain unchanged, hence why we chose to feature Syndicate in our “Movement” issue. Their eccentric poses, intuitive improvisation, palpable enthusiasm, and fierce synchronicity masterfully contribute to the enduring legacy of hip-hop. 

Have you ever seen a ghost tour on campus or around Colonial Williamsburg at night? Are you curious what it’s like, but don’t have room in your budget after your latest Wawa run? Join your Flat Hat Magazine ghost tour guide, JR Herman ‘24, as she tells all.

Sir Isaac Newton popularized the phrase “standing on the shoulders of giants,” attributing his accomplishments to the intellectual foundations laid by scientists who came before him. I am no scientist, and I did not come to Poland to study natural science, yet Newton’s phrase has sprung to mind every day I have spent here.

On June 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 case that guaranteed a constitutional right to abortion. The debate regarding abortion, however, is not a new one and has made its presence known on college campuses around the country. But how exactly does the debate function amongst students and faculty at the College of William and Mary?

It’s rare that we encounter protest without sound. This sound can take many forms, whether it be that of swelling reverberations of vocal chords, groups chanting mantras of revolution, or voices singing in solidarity. We hear marching, flashes of cameras, chatter, and even intentional silence. Perhaps no sonic medium captures the spirit of protest, however, quite like music.

If you’ve seen a girl around campus whose style gives off “if Cleopatra had been a goth/emo vampiress party girl” vibes, that’s probably JR Herman. Continue reading to join JR on her makeup journey as she explains why she does her makeup the way she does — and why it’s probably not for the reason you might guess.

The College’s approach to mental health has been an ongoing discussion across the campus community for years. Opinions of concerned students can be traced through media history long before the creation of the Wellness Center and continue today, with questions surrounding the College’s management of mental health concerns in articles extending to national news outlets like The Washington Post. But the campus debate is not yet resolved; while many students and faculty members lend their support to the College’s mental health resources, others voice concerns over the lack of assistance offered.

The Flat Hat Magazine celebrates their “Baroque” Issue with a delectably divine, gluttonous feast.

At 9 p.m. on Friday, February 28th, around 600 sophomores and juniors received an email informing them that they had been placed on a waitlist for on-campus housing for the next academic year. The email from Residence Life advised waitlisted students that they could not be guaranteed on-campus housing and directed them to resources for finding off-campus housing.

Ah, yes, the Regency Era. Such a fleeting period of British history — only about nine years in length (1811 to 1820) — and yet it still occupies our fantasies over two centuries later. We daydream of the frills and ornate gowns and waltzes and witty banter, but why? It’s been over 200 social seasons … what are we holding onto?