Name: Áine Cain
Class: Senior – Class of 2016
Major: History
Hometown: Bronxville, NY
Activities: I’m the Editor-In-Chief of The Flat Hat, an intern at the Muscarelle Museum Museum of Art and a member of the Spotswood Society.
What is it like being the Editor-In-Chief of one of the College’s oldest institutions? Some of my most memorable experiences have come through The Flat Hat. I’ve had the chance to interview some really cool people and explore interesting parts of the College. The most challenging aspect of being Editor-In-Chief is definitely knowing that you’re the last line of defense and that it’s your responsibility if something gets past you and goes to print. Another challenge is that this job is very demanding and can consume your life, but to me that’s also a reward because I really love it. The truly rewarding part is getting to work with so many bright and interesting people. Even though we don’t get paid or get any class credit, we still work together to make a great product because we want to inform campus.
What’s one thing you’d want the entire student body to know about The Flat Hat and its staff? I’d want them to know that everyone’s free to write for us. I think the newspaper’s a really great platform for student voices so if you have something you’d like to write about or you’d like to get off your chest, there are so many ways to get involved with us. We’re a resource that people can use in that regard. Also, just because something appears in our opinions section or as a column, that doesn’t mean that everyone on the paper endorses that specific opinion.
How has going to college in Colonial Williamsburg effected your experience as a History major? I always loved history in high school and going to school in such close proximity to so many historical sites has made me addicted to history. Even though history is a science and an art, I sometimes like to approach it like a soap opera and always want to know what happens next. I love reading and researching history and the wonderful faculty here have really helped me develop that interest. This summer, when the news about the discovery of the founders of Jamestown came out, I was sitting at my internship in Washington D.C. trying not to scream out loud. That was definitely a big deal for me, but it was hard because nobody in my office knew what I was talking about. Being on campus is great because you can meet other people with similar passions and you have a real community here.
If you could give a gift to the entire College what would it be? I would give every student $50 of extra flex, but I would wait until finals week. I’ve been at that rock-bottom moment when you try to flex coffee at 12am in Swemaromas and you’re out and I don’t want anyone to ever have to experience that again.