This semester, Flat Hat Magazine held a short story contest open to all students at the College of William and Mary. Participants were asked to write a short story based on the song “Movement” by Hozier. William Zurborg and Mateus Krauss Dutra wrote stories connecting readers to imaginative spaces. Zurborg’s interpretation will take you to “João’s Eatery and Bar,” where you will hear about the enchanting voice of a mysterious singer. Dutra, on the other hand, was inspired by the willow tree of the chorus. Congratulations to the winners, and thank you to everyone who submitted!

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.

In the spirit of Marie Antoinette, the Flat Hat Magazine staff humbly presents our collection of guilty pleasure songs. These are the songs that we can’t quite get enough of. However, we run the risk of getting sentenced to the guillotine with each listen. Check out our complete playlist by scanning the Spotify code above. We invite you to indulge with us...if you dare.

Hello, fellow material girls. Like many of you out there, I eat food. So today, I’d like to take you on a journey chronicling what I eat in a day as a full-time college student. I feel this is an important topic to cover as many students have difficulty maintaining a balanced diet while away at school.

Flat Hat Magazine partnered with on-campus thrift business T-Swap to bring this vision to fruition. T-Swap provided us with 16 second-hand garments of various sizes and tastes to create 12 different looks for six models. We then challenged three innovative student stylists to mix and match a small capsule of second-hand garments into outfits worth framing in gold.

Facebook has evolved to become a vital tool in the transition process from high school to college for parents and students alike, and the community at the College of William and Mary is no exception. Well into their children’s college years, parents flock to whatever social media resource they can find to get the quick answers they desire. Today, the W&M Family Group on Facebook fills this need, and it is known within the College community as a hotspot for parental drama. Some say that any perceived cattiness in the group’s discourse is a feature, not a bug. But this melting pot of hot takes had humble beginnings.

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.

Over the last decade, higher education institutions have made great strides in fostering LGBTQ+ inclusivity. The College of William and Mary is no exception, with the campus receiving a 4 out of 5 stars rating by the Campus Pride Index. Yet, conversations about LGBTQ+ visibility tend to leave out asexuals — a small but significant group. Asexual students at the College enjoy the same umbrella of welcoming sentiment from the student body, but entrenched misconceptions about desire and romance prevent asexuals from achieving full recognition.

This semester the Flat Hat Magazine held a short story contest open to all William & Mary students. Participants in the contest were asked to write a short story based on the phrase “Stylish Gluttony.” The two winners, Kat Vanbourgondien and Taylor Wilson, wrote compelling and unique stories based on their own interpretation of the prompt. Both stories provide a unique and thought-provoking commentary on how people at any stage in their lives can be affected by the expectations of others, and how those expectations can become a toxic and all-encompassing lifestyle. When put together, these stories paint a heartbreaking picture of stylish gluttony.

The pressure to look a certain way is a feeling most individuals have experienced at some point in their lives, but how does such pressure affect people of color even more so? Georgia Thoms ’23 interviewed students in multiple cultural organizations as well as professors in an attempt to answer this question and, along the way, gain insight into the world’s flawed beauty standards.

2019 marked the 40th anniversary of Colonial Williamsburg’s commitment to African American interpretation. Explore Colonial Williamsburg’s efforts to uncover African American history and share it with visitors to Colonial Williamsburg and beyond.

With housing close to campus at a premium, it’s natural for people’s curiosity to be piqued at the sight of three houses nestled between Wawa and the College Delly on Richmond Road. Two of these are student apartments for the College of William and Mary, the other serving as the college’s Archaeological Center. 333 and 331 Richmond Road, or “the Threes,” as they’re called, have something of a reputation.

Review of Lost Days, otherwise known as the Damned, and known in some quarters as The Last Days of Marie Antoinette in the Euphoric Eroticism of Revolutionary France

A little ways away from the hubbub of Merchants Square is a large barn where sheep, chickens, and horses are kept in between driving shifts. There, Georgia Thoms ’23 met with some of the crew members who take care of these beloved Colonial Williamsburg animals. Continue reading to learn about the history behind the Rare Breeds program and its role in livestock conservation. 

The Flat Hat Magazine highlights personal hobbies turned businesses. From handmade jewelry to crotched goods, the talent of the College’s students is limitless.

With the growth of Squishmallow notoriety, one question prevails: how does this trend resemble previous stuffed animal collecting trends, such as Beanie Babies?

With its warm string lights and quaint decor, The Daily Grind is an ideal place for students to relax with a signature green mint mocha and listen to chill, alternative music while reviewing for exams. Swemromas, on the other hand, is the perfect place to grab a latte and refuel before heading back to Swem to hit the books. My friends and I were curious. Between the two, which one is more popular?

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.

Back home, whenever my family and I missed the taste of pho, we’d get into the car and make the 30-minute drive to Pho 75. Over the years, very little has changed in the restaurant.