Thursday, September 8, 2016 by The Cavalier Daily

VOL. 127, ISSUE 7

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2016

WILL YOU GRADUATE IN FOUR YEARS? see GRADUATION RATES, page 4

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College Republicans endorse Donald Trump in near-tie Members vote 67-63 to back GOP nominee ANKITA SATPATHY | ASSOCIATE EDITOR The College Republicans voted to endorse GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump in a 67-63 vote at its meeting Wednesday night. The vote included absentee ballots. During the meeting, University College Republicans Chair Joanna Ro, a fourth-year College student, reminded members the organization’s bylaws state they may only endorse Republican candidates. Therefore, she said endorsing any other candidate, including Libertarian Gary Johnson — whom many individual members of the College Republicans support — was not an option for the group’s endorsement. When the College Republicans at Cornell University endorsed Gary Johnson, the national federation revoked their chapter. Following this announcement, members of the organization debated what their organizational stance should be and ultimately decided to endorse Trump. This decision follows statements from members of the College Republican executive board in recent weeks, which had noted that members of the organization were split over whether to endorse the Republican nominee. Each speaker was given two minutes to make a case for or against the group endorsing Trump. Several speakers who spoke in favor of Trump emphasized him as the lesser of two evils. One such speaker was Mary Talkington, a first-year College student. “I don’t think anyone likes Trump, but we don’t have an alternative,” Talkington said. “If we don’t vote for Trump and support him, Hillary Clinton is going to be the next president of the United States and I don’t think anyone wants that.” Talkington then rhetorically asked the group if they would feel safe from ISIS and other terrorist groups with Clinton as president, to which the overwhelming majority of students in the room answered out loud, “no.” However, other students in room, including second-year Curry student Peyton Lester, advocated for Trump on principle. “Hillary Clinton has screwed up, and done some crazy things, but the [University Democrats] are still going to endorse her,” Lester said. “Donald Trump has done some crazy things, but we should still endorse him. I believe 80 percent of our views probably align with him.” While several speakers claimed that the College Republicans had no obligation to endorse Trump because they do not view him as a true conservative, others felt that being the official Republican nominee was rea-

son enough. University Students for Trump Ambassador Sabrina Kim, a second year College student, was among the latter. “We owe, as our duty as the College Republicans, to endorse the Republican candidate,” Kim said. “I think it says a lot if we choose not to do so.” Joe Reigner, a first year College student, also highlighted the College Republican’s public image and ability to sway the opinions of others. “I think there’s a lot of people, Republicans, who are on the verge, who haven’t decided yet like a lot of us and by seeing this group, the College Republicans … decide together to back Donald Trump could be the push for them in the end to support our party in the election,” Reigner said. Students who did not want the organization to endorse Trump were concerned with the legitimacy and legacy of the College Republicans. First-year College student John Garza and third-year Engineering student Cameron Springer made points to this effect. “If we sacrifice all of our credibility by endorsing Donald Trump, what’s going to happen in four years?” Garza said. “We will be the laughingstock of U.Va.” Like Garza, Springer highlighted future elections, and said the College Republicans would need to make decisions well beyond the 2016 election. Springer cited polls showing Trump’s comparative lack of support amongst millennials, and said there were countless University students who stand in strong opposition to Trump and his candidacy. “You could chase away new members and people who may otherwise agree with our ideology,” Springer said. “No one really cares that much about what the College Republicans think of Trump. What they do care about is that there is a candidate almost unanimously hated by a generation, and an organization representing this generation ignored the thoughts of many people our age and on Grounds.” Members of the executive board also offered their opinions during the debate, although they emphasized the personal nature of their opinions and said they would honor the decision either way. Vice Chair for Campaigns Adam Kimelman, a second-year College student, said while being the lesser the two evils was a valid reason to vote for Trump, it was not a reason for the organization to endorse him. “The main case anyone here could make for Trump is that he’s not Hillary Clinton … but as an organization, we should hold ourselves to

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individual College Republican chapters around the country have been divided over whether to endorse the GOP presidential nominee.

a higher standard than that,” Kimelman said. “If just being better than Hillary Clinton is the standard, we could endorse the entire Democratic Party.” Alie Hiestand, vice chair of events and third-year College student, brought up the late Captain Humayun Khan, a former University student, and how Trump made unfavorable comments about his parents. “If we endorse Trump, we are saying we value the name of the Republican party over someone who very well could have been one of our friends,” Hiestand said. Ro did not take a stance during the meeting, but emphasized that not endorsing Trump did not mean the organization was explicitly anti-Trump. “Not endorsing him isn’t saying we don’t support him,” Ro said. Following the decision, Ro emailed the results to the College Republicans. “As indicated by the numbers, this was a very split, close decision,” the email read. “Therefore, although our

official stance will be to endorse Mr. Trump, we do not expect all of our members to publicly support him. Those who would like to show their support will be provided with the resources to do so, but as a group, we will likely be focusing more on congressional and senatorial elections in an effort to preserve Republican majorities in the legislative branch.” University Democrats President Sam Tobin, a fourth-year College student, commented on the endorsement in an email to The Cavalier Daily. “The College Republicans are probably going to try to frame endorsing Trump as picking the lesser of two evils,” Tobin said. “While our organization is incredibly proud of our nominee and thinks she will make a fantastic president, I can understand why a group of Republicans may not agree.” Tobin said the College Republicans did not take into account the damaging effects he believes a Trump presidency could have. “What I cannot understand

though is how anyone, regardless of party, can say with a straight face that they believe Donald Trump will not severely damage America's international standing, rule of law or security,” Tobin said. “The College Republicans had a chance today to make a statement by standing up to bigotry, hatred and incompetence. They failed spectacularly, and history will judge them accordingly.” The issue of whether individual College Republican chapters will choose to endorse Trump has been a contentious debate across the country for the past several months. The College Republicans at Harvard College and American University, for example, released statements this summer refusing to endorse Trump. The University College Republicans join the ranks of College Republican chapters at Yale University, Liberty University, Citadel College and the University of Alabama, among others, in endorsing Trump.

www.cavalierdaily.com • NEWS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2016

BOV considers future of Emmet/Ivy Corridor Proposal includes demolishing Cavalier Inn ALEXIS GRAVELY | ASSOCIATE EDITOR In the upcoming months, the Board of Visitors will be considering making changes to the Emmet/Ivy corridor. The discussion — which may begin as early as next week’s Board of Visitors meeting — will include plans to improve the area at the entrance of the University.

The project, which began about a year and a half ago with a board resolution, is taking a phased approach. The first phase primarily involves changes to the area south of the railroad tracks at the intersection of Emmet Street and Ivy Road.

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The BOV is considering creating additional green space in the corridor.

“The Phase I planning that’s under consideration would create very significant green space at the intersection, would take down the existing Cavalier Inn and also significantly improve the traffic and pedestrian situation for the intersection, with the goal of improving the connectivity between Central Grounds and North Grounds as well,” Kevin Fay, the board’s Building and Grounds Committee chairman, said. At a board retreat in August, University architect Alice Raucher noted that over the past 10 years, the intersection of Emmet Street and Ivy Road has seen a “decrease in vehicular traffic” and an “increase in pedestrian traffic.” “What we want for the University environment is to make it friendlier for bicyclers and pedestrians,” Raucher said. The renovations will be a collaborative process with the city of Charlottesville, which has allotted $12.1 million out of the $33

million it received from a Smart Scale grant for improvements to the streetscape, bicycle traffic and pedestrian traffic, Raucher told the board. In addition, the number of University Transit System and Charlottesville Area Transit bus stops will be consolidated. Another aspect of the first phase involves creating more green space, which will be primarily achieved through the demolition of The Cavalier Inn, an idea which has been well-received by other members of the BOV, Fay said. “I think it creates a much more welcoming environment, a much more social environment, as well as a much greener environment in terms of utilization by the students of the University community as well as others in the Charlottesville community,” Fay said. The green space will also help create a better connection to North Grounds. “There’s very little to no con-

nectivity across the tracks into North Grounds,” Raucher said. “If we develop the central green, that in itself becomes a connection up to North Grounds.” Other goals of Phase I include shielding the Emmet/Ivy Garage with newer buildings. Suggestions for the new buildings range from new hotel space, conference space, academic space or a visitors’ center, Fay said. “The board is going to have to consider sometime this year and determine whether it wants to pursue Phase I proposal,” Fay said. “It’s possible that some of that can come up next week at our board meeting. If not, we certainly hope to have it on the agenda no later than the December meeting.” Money from the Smart Scale grant must be spent within the next five years, and Fay said it’s possible physical changes will be happening as soon as the next 12-18 months.

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Breaking down the four-year graduation rate Graduation rates by school and race; why some students graduate late ANKITA SATPATHY | ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students in 2015. However, in 2016, Hispanic students graduated at a rate of 92.4 percent — 1 percent higher than the rate for Asian students. This rate is also 2.8 percent higher than the rate for white students, 89.6 percent, and 11.5 percent higher than the rate for African American students, 80.9 percent.

100 6 year 5 year 4 year

1990

1995

2000

2005

2010

2012

Entrance Year

Graduation rates by school

MORGAN HALE | THE CAVALIER DAILY

Four-Year Graduation Rate for Students Entering in 2000, 2005 and 2012 based on Race 2000 2005 2012

100

Graduation Rate (%)

Graduation rates at the University are high across the board, but there is some variation when the number is broken down by school. Just over a decade ago, the fouryear graduation rate for the Engineering School was noticeably lower than other schools. In 2004, the College and the Architecture School both had an 83.5 percent four-year graduation rate, while the rate for the Nursing school was .2 percent higher. However, the rate for Engineering — at 78.8 percent — was 4.7 percent lower than the College rate. In 2009, Architecture and Nursing both had higher four-year rates than the College rate of 86.9 percent, with rates of 95.1 percent and 90.9 percent, respectively. However, the Engineering rate was still lower, at 83.5 percent. In recent years, the gap among schools has narrowed, and the Engineering school has had higher graduation rates than the College since 2014. For the class of 2016, the fouryear College rate was 88.5 percent, the Engineering rate was 89.1 percent, the Architecture rate was 90.4 percent and the Nursing rate was 100 percent. Although the numbers change when looking at the five- and sixyear graduation rates, similar trends and fluctuations are evident. The Engineering School has had some of the lowest rates over the past decade, while the Nursing school has had some of the highest rates. IAS did not provide historical data

percent of non-resident aliens graduated in 2004, 80.9 percent graduated in 2009, 86.1 percent graduated in 2014 and 79.2 percent graduated last May. Vicki Gist, the assistant dean of students and director of Multicultural Student Services, did not address causes of the general increase in graduation rates but did point out

Average Graduation Rates 1990-2012

Graduation Rate (%)

The University has one of the highest four-year graduation rates in the country. In fact, U.S. News and World Report cited a four-year graduation rate of 87 percent for the University, ranking it No. 30 in a list of peer institutions with the highest four-year graduation rates based on data from the class of 2012. According to data collected by University Institutional Assessment and Studies, 88.8 percent of students who enrolled at the University in the fall of 2012 graduated in May 2016, marking a .5 percent increase in the four-year graduation rate from the class of 2015. The rate has increased over the past decade, making it the highest in the University’s history. The four-year graduation rate was 82.7 percent in 2004, 86.7 percent in 2009 and 87.9 percent in 2014. The current rate is 8.5 percent higher than it was in 1992, the earliest year for which IAS has published data. While the University has seen a general increase in the four-year graduation rate, the numbers vary noticeably when compared across different schools and students of different races.

for the Curry School of Education. Graduation rates by race The overall increase in graduation rates over the past 12 years is also seen when the graduation rate is broken down by race. Although students who identify as African-American have had some of the lowest four-year graduation rates over the past 12 years — along

80 60 40 20 0

African American

American Indian/ Alaska Native

Asian

Hispanic

Non-Resident Alien

Race and Ethnicity Unknown

White

Total

Race *Data not found for Multi-Race and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander

CINDY GUO | THE CAVALIER DAILY

with American Indian and Native Alaskan students in 2004, 2014 and 2015 and non-resident alien students in 2016 — the rate itself for African-American students has increased by 5.5 percent since 2004. Similarly, the four-year graduation rate for Hispanic students has increased by 12.6 percent, the rate for Asian students has increased by 6.9 percent and the rate for white students has increased by 5.8 percent. Until last May, Asian students have consistently had some of the highest four-year graduation rates, along with American Indian and Native Alaska students in 2009 and

The four-year graduation rates for other races are far less stable. For instance, 70 percent of students who identified as American Indian or Alaska Native graduated in 2004, and this number increased to 100 percent in 2009. However, it fell to 66.7 percent in 2014 and was 85.7 percent last May. However, according to University enrollment numbers from the 2015-16 school year, American Indian and Alaska Native students made up just 0.2 percent of the student body. The rate for students who identified as non-resident aliens also fluctuated, but to a lesser degree. 82.5

that many schools within the University have deans of Diversity and Inclusion who focus on the educational experience of minority students. “Generally, I will say that several factors — such as academic support, first-year retention, early intervention and culturally relevant support services — play a role in this success, and there are many people and departments at the University who do great work in these areas,” Gist said in an email statement. “Within the Division of Student Affairs, the Office of African-American Affairs is a great example of this.” Moving forward, Gist says she and the Office of the Dean of Students hope to help sustain the upward trend. “One of many goals we have is to incorporate academic support initiatives into the already robust menu of mentoring, leadership and cultural programs offered through Multicultural Student Services,” Gist said. “The new Multicultural Student Center will be a great home-base for this.” Being a fifth- or sixth-year There are several reasons why a student may not graduate in four years. Hannah Guffey, a career counselor for the University’s Career Center, said many students choose to take time off for professional development. Guffey has worked with students who took leaves of absence from the University to pursue intern-

ships, work experience and positions abroad. However, Guffey also said some students leave the University because of unforeseen personal or financial difficulties. “We work really intentionally with those students to provide that support in developing personal plans and narratives for how they can figure out how to reflect what this time looks like for them as they transition back into an academic environment,” Guffey said. The University Career Center provides individual counseling and career support for those students and connects them to other helpful resources such as the Office of the Dean of Students, Guffey said. “I understand, from a student perspective, how [not graduating in four years] can be perceived as a challenge because they don’t have a similar or the same cohort of students that they’re kind of measuring themselves against, so their story and their path is going to look a little bit different, so inherently I feel like it’s going to feel harder,” Guffey said. “From a career counselor perspective, I don’t see that as a negative by any means. It by no means should be or is a deterrent to employers who are looking to recruit students for different positions.” Like Guffey, fourth-year Engineering student Christina Lee does not view staying at the University for more than four years as a disadvantage. Though Lee never took time off from school, she transferred to the University in the spring of her second year and began her studies in the Engineering School the next fall. After her transfer, she would have had to take 21 credits per semester in order to graduate in four years, so she decided to stay for a fifth year. “I decided that I wanted to have extra time to be able to pursue research interests as well as get the opportunity to be a teaching fellow,” Lee said. “It ended up being advantageous for me because I have a very broad interest in things not only in engineering but also in the College, so it’s given me a lot of opportunities to take classes that if I had decided to graduate in four years, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to take.” She also said she was able to form strong relationships with her peers, including students in the class of 2017 and the class of 2018. Lee will graduate with the class of 2018, and she intends to pursue graduate school. All data for this article was compiled by Ron Pack, a systems analyst for IAS, and sent via email to The Cavalier Daily from Christina Morell, associate provost and director of IAS.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2016

Virginia has tough road test against Oregon Cavaliers can hit restart button with win ANDREW BENVENUTO | STAFF WRITER This offseason for Virginia fans was filled with levels of excitement which had been absent from the program for years. Newly-hired coach Bronco Mendenhall was bringing a proven track record that brought hope to a downtrodden Cavalier fan base. Virginia (0-1, 0-0 ACC) fell in its first test in the Mendenhall era, suffering a 37-20 loss to in-state FCS powerhouse Richmond. Mendenhall repeatedly stated that a program turnaround wouldn’t happen overnight, but Virginia fans were nonetheless stunned after the loss. Junior quarterback Kurt Benkert’s play was promising, as he completed 26-34 passes for 264 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Despite a solid air attack, the Cavaliers’ running backs failed to establish any ground game. Senior running back Taquan Mizzell had seven carries for seven yards, senior running back Albert Reid had six carries for 28 yards, and Benkert rushed eight times for three yards. Mendenhall said he believes scrimmage and camp play could have had a role in the lack of pro-

t is hard to look past Virginia football’s deflating 37-20 loss to FCS opponent Richmond last weekend — and I’m not saying that we should. However, amidst the defensive struggles and offensive blunders, there are a few key things that may go overlooked in assessing last Saturday’s in-statematchup. The Cavaliers committed zero penalties the entire game Of course, without forcing the Spiders to punt until the second half, it was difficult to notice Virginia wasn’t flagged for a penalty all game. The silver lining, though, is that the Cavaliers were the only FBS team in week one to play a full 60 minutes without a penalty. Virginia hasn’t been able to do that since 2004 against Maryland. During the Mike London era, penalties were a factor that often plagued the Cavaliers. Is this truly a positive though? Coach Bronco Mendenhall may argue it isn’t. “I think [there is] another really interesting statistic — and you might view this one way or the other — but I don't remember a penalty being called on our team in the game,” Mendenhall said. “And that to me is not necessarily a positive thing.” Mendenhall’s teams at BYU were actually known for committing pen-

duction for his running backs. “We kept Smoke [Mizzell] out of all the scrimmages,” Mendenhall said. “We didn’t tackle him live through fall camp. I think players play as they’re prepared.” This Saturday, the Cavaliers will travel 2,800 miles to face No. 24 Oregon, which is tied for the second-longest trip in school history. This is just the second time that these two teams will have faced off, after the Ducks (1-0, 0-0 Pac12) handed Virginia a 59-10 loss in 2013 at Scott Stadium. Oregon is coming off a 53-28 victory against the UC Davis Aggies. The Ducks looked sharp both throwing and running the football. Graduate transfer quarterback Dakota Prukop completed 21 out of 30 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns. Four Ducks rushed for over 30 yards and three receivers had three or more receptions. Oregon is known for its fast style of play that overwhelms its opponents. Virginia players are confident that its style of play in practice will help prepare them for Oregon’s pace. “We’ve got fast guys on our team

too,” freshman defensive end Eli Hanback said. “With the speed of how we practice, I think we will be prepared for their speed.” This matchup for the Cavaliers could give Virginia fans hope for the rest of the season if they pull off the upset. Oregon opens up as 25-point favorites, and Autzen Stadium will be packed with Ducks fans. “They will have most of the fans and the crowd,” Reid said. “It’s a big moment for us.” Obviously the odds are stacked against them, but if the Cavaliers want to have any hope in a hostile environment they will have to limit careless mistakes. Virginia turned the ball over four times — three fumbles and one interception — with three of those turnovers committed in Richmond territory. “It’s not the end of the world,” senior offensive tackle Michael Mooney said. “A lot of things can change from week one to week two.” A 0-2 start for Virginia, however, would confirm that the Cavalier faithful are in for yet another long, difficult season. Kickoff will be Saturday at 10:30 p.m. on ESPN.

CELINA HU | THE CAVALIER DAILY

If junior quarterback Kurt Benkert can repeat last week’s stellar performance, the Cavaliers could potentially rewrite the rocky start to Bronco Mendenhall’s tenure.

WHAT WE MISSED SATURDAY alties, notably averaging almost nine penalties per game in 2014, good for 124th in the nation. Mendenhall has been known to coach teams that play just within the rules — meaning his teams are just aggressive enough without going overboard — and that often comes with some flags. “There is a line where the rules are, and John Wooden actually used to say that he thought the team that made the most mistakes would win, because they were pushing the envelope right to the border of what the rules would allow,” Mendenhall said. “They were aggressive, they were assertive, they were confident and I believe this is the first team I'd ever coached where there were no penalties.” While stopping short of calling his team’s play tentative, Mendenhall noted this may have to do with the team’s culture that he has tirelessly been attempting to change. “This is just a reflection of just where we are,” Mendenhall said. “Here's the line, and they're certain they don't want to go over it, and it's not allowable to kind of get close, and so I'm finding myself encouraging the confidence and the position mastery and the fundamentals that actually require them to be right next to that line.”

Of course, this doesn’t necessarily mean that teams with more penalties make the most successful football teams, and Mendenhall recognizes that too. “That doesn't mean I want penalties for the sake of penalties,” Mendenhall said. It will be interesting to see if the Cavaliers see the flag a few times this Saturday against No. 24 Oregon. Sophomore Wide Receiver Olamide Zaccheaus’ 30 minutes of play Zaccheaus was held out of the first half of the game for a violation of team rules — something that Mendenhall noted showed responsibility on the sophomore’s part. “So [Olamide] made a mistake in violation of the team rules,” Mendenhall said. “But to his credit, he acknowledged it before I found out from anyone else and called me and said what had happened. It cost him the first half of the game, as well as a few other things, and he handled it really well and maturely and would have helped our team the entire game.” Zaccheaus made it clear the Cavaliers could have used his speed and shiftiness in the slot and on special teams all game, leading the team with five catches for 75 yards in just 30 minutes of play. Last year, he had a

bigger role on special teams, where he led the team with 541 yards on kickoff returns. Junior quarterback Kurt Benkert had praise for the sophomore. The two appeared to work well together once Zaccheaus entered the game. “He’s a good player,” Benkert said. “He’s explosive. He’s good at catching balls, and he breaks away from people. He’s fast.” Zaccheaus will certainly be a player to look for in upcoming games, as his chemistry with Benkert will be an important factor in his development, especially when he is able to play a full 60 minutes. The obvious: junior quarterback Kurt Benkert’s big debut It would be hard to miss Benkert’s strong performance Saturday. Despite having attempted just 10 passes at the collegiate level prior to Saturday, the East Carolina transfer went 26-for-34 for 264 yards and three touchdowns. Benkert’s completions and touchdowns tie for the best in any Virginia quarterback’s debut. Despite getting sacked three times and throwing one interception, Benkert appeared to be comfortable steering the Cavaliers’ new air raid offense. Benkert’s performance made many Cavaliers fans confident in Mendenhall’s choice for starting

quarterback. He was pleased with his performance too, but realizes that there is plenty of work to be done in the offense. “I feel like I did pretty well,” Benkert said. “There were just a few throws in critical situations that I needed to make to get the first downs and we needed to be better on third down and that starts with me, decision making. We’ve got a lot to correct.” What this means Virginia will only be tested more and more as the season goes on. While it seems the team is currently back to square one, Mendenhall is hopeful these bright spots can carry the team through. “I am positive that [success] will happen and that the scheme, strategy and coaches that are here will be able to pull that off,” Mendenhall said. “But lots and lots of work ahead, steep learning curve still to come.” It will be interesting to see how these positives hold up when Virginia travels to face nationally-ranked Oregon in Eugene this Saturday.

MARIEL MESSIER is a senior associate sports editor for The Cavalier Daily. She can be reached at m.messier@ cavalierdaily.com

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SPORTS • www.cavalierdaily.com

THE DUCKS FIT THE BILL T

he first Virginia football game I watched was when the team took on the Oregon Ducks at Scott Stadium in the second week of the 2013 season. With my brother being a firstyear at the time and the team coming off an impressive win over Bronco Mendenhall’s BYU team, I wanted to see what all the hype in Charlottesville was about. The game served as an ominous indicator of Virginia’s play for the remainder of the 2013 season. Giving up a 71-yard rushing touchdown to then-Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota in the first quarter, the Cavaliers eventually lost 59-10 and finished the year with a 2-10 record, last in the ACC. When the Cavaliers played the Ducks in 2013, it could not have come at a worse time for this perennially downtrodden fanbase. The team had some momentum by besting a formidable BYU squad only to have all of that momentum quashed with the its biggest loss of the decade. This isn’t to say anybody expected Virginia to win the game — after all, Oregon was ranked No. 2 at the time while Virginia, unsurprisingly, was

unranked. Nonetheless, fans expected the Cavalier offense to score more than 10 points and certainly not give up 59. While nothing good came out of playing Oregon in the second week of the 2013 season, the No. 24 Ducks are the perfect opponent for Virginia in week 2 this year. That statement may initially sound outlandish. Oregon has one of the fastest teams in college football. Their home record over this past decade is impeccable. They beat UC Davis by a score of 53-28. Some of you may be thinking, how could they possibly be the ideal opponent for a team that just lost to an in-state FCS rival? There are several ways in which this matchup is beneficial for Virginia. First, it is impossible for the team to fall short in the expectations game. Against Richmond, a team that the Cavaliers hadn’t lost to since 1946, Virginia was expected to win handily, going in as 12.5-point favorites. Yet, the reality is that they lost. If misery lies in the gap between expectations and reality, then it makes sense why the Cavalier faithful were miserable

after losing to Richmond. Against Oregon, the expectations for success could not be lower. Demoralized after the loss to Richmond, Virginia fans enter Saturday’s primetime matchup with an extremely pessimistic mindset. Thus, even if the Cavaliers lose by under 20 points, it will be a victory for the team. No matter how the game goes, the result will not leave the team nor fan base as deflated as it was last week — giving the Cavaliers a better chance to turn their season around. Also, it is safe to say that, with the potential exceptions of Clemson and Miami, the Ducks have the most powerful offense the Cavaliers will face this season. From dual-threat graduate transfer quarterback Dakota Prukop to junior wide receiver Darren Carrington II — who racked up 117 yards and a touchdown in the first game — the aerial attack of the Ducks offense is a force. Considering the Cavaliers gave up 337 passing yards last week and did not force a single turnover, this week provides the secondary with a chance to learn and improve going forward. The same goes for bolstering the

run defense. For each of the past nine seasons, the Ducks have had a 1,000-yard rusher — the longest active streak in the country. This year, Oregon has two chances at continuing that streak. Junior running back Royce Freeman and sophomore running back Tony Brooks-James are reminiscent of the 2011 season when the team touted the one-two punch of LaMichael James and Kenjon Barner at the position. Undoubtedly, these two will pose a threat to the Virginia defense. Yet, again, the task will push the defensive line and linebackers harder than before, providing help for the rest of the season. Luckily, in contrast to its high-octane offense, Oregon does not have the best defense. As evidenced by giving up around 40 points per game last season, Oregon does not win games by slowing opponents down but rather by scoring more points than they do. Here is where Virginia has its best opportunity to gain momentum coming out of this game. While junior quarterback Kurt Benkert moved the ball relatively well against Richmond, going 26-34 with 264 yards

and three touchdowns, the Cavaliers’ ground game was relatively non-existent. Luckily, last week, Oregon gave up 96 rushing yards and three touchdowns to UC Davis senior running back Manusamoa Luuga. Not only will Oregon’s fast-paced offense potentially lead to a high-scoring affair, pushing the Virginia aerial attack, but also its weak rush defense will allow senior running back Taquan Mizzell to take advantage and gain momentum on the ground. Virginia is not going to beat Oregon this week, and nobody expects them to. But if the Cavaliers play their cards right and try to put their ducks in a row, they may be able to use this game to gain momentum heading into a must-win game at Connecticut next week.

BEN TOBIN is a weekly sports columnist for The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at bjt5ed@virginia.edu or on Twitter at @TobinBen.

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Born and bred a Cavalier, Morgan Stearns leaves her mark Amidst all the pressure, women’s soccer continues to dance their way to victory HUNTER OSTAD | ASSOCIATE EDITOR Senior goalkeeper Morgan Stearns has seen it all. She has been through all the ups and downs that one could possibly experience on the soccer field, although for her, they have mostly been ups, as indicated by her program-record 60 wins. In addition to that, she has been like a brick wall in net, going nearly 800 minutes of game time since a ball has rolled into the back of her net, another program record. Stearns has etched her name into Virginia women’s soccer lore, but it’s unfamiliar, and even uncomfortable, territory for her. “It’s kind of weird because it’s such a huge honor and so cool to be able to have,” Stearns said. “But it’s also a weird feeling because I don’t deserve all the credit at all. Especially when there are games when we have no shots on goal thanks to my stellar defense. So it’s weird to have these records under my name, especially when so many people put work into this as well.” Etching her name into the Virginia record books is only fitting for Stearns, who has Cavalier blood

coursing through her veins. “My grandfather came here and played lacrosse,” Stearns said. “He actually played a little soccer as well, which was kind of funny, but he was primarily a lacrosse player. My dad played football here, and [my] mom went here and was on the dance team. Now I’m a student-athlete here… Basically, from the day I was born I knew that I was going to come to U.Va., so it’s great to be here.” Results and accolades Morgan has drawn don’t come easy, however. In practice, coach Swanson has the team always thinking and practicing their execution. “We do a lot of simulation… If we know that an opponent does certain things, we work on that in practice,” Stearns said. “If they do a lot of long ball or if they’re known for attacking the wing, we work on those live scenarios. We get in a ton of good work in scrimmages and do a lot of work with the shape of our back line, which I think has really helped us” Through it all, a major key to

Stearns’ success is just the ability to stay loose and play with a clear head. “On game days I’ve kind of got away from superstition and putting too much ritual in it,” Stearns said. “The biggest thing I do is dance the whole time … in all meetings, when I’m on the field… The best way to get all the nerves out is by dancing.” Indeed, Stearns has danced her way to two all-time Virginia records — wins and consecutive shutout minutes — but is not yet satisfied. “I’m motivated by all the women who played here before me,” Stearns said. “They have done so much for this program, and I was close with many of them… I’m really driven, of course, by winning titles, but especially this year with the people who came here and did so much for our program. We really want to finish the job and benefit the program, and I really want to win for the team and gather some hardware for all of our efforts and to further boost our program.”

The next step in Stearns’ and the No. 3 Virginia (6-0-0) women’s soccer team is to host Richmond (4-10) at 7 p.m. Thursday at Klöckner Stadium. Off to a dominating start to the season and having yet to concede a goal, the Cavaliers will remain confident, but know not to overlook a Virginian opponent. “It’s an in-state rivalry, so anytime you have that I think you’re going to have to focus on the team coming in and coming in hard,” Stearns said. “Everybody is going to want to come in and beat us, especially on our home turf.” “The Spiders are a great team,” senior forward Morgan Reuther said. “I grew up playing against some of their players. Obviously, it’s an in-state rivalry, and I think we expect them to come ready to play. And we’ll be ready too.” Hopefully, Stearns and the entire team will show up ready and will continue to “dance” their way to victory against Richmond, just as they have so far this season.

HANNAH MUSSI | THE CAVALIER DAILY

Senior goalkeeper Morgan Stearns and the Cavaliers have had plenty to celebrate thus far, and may be dancing again Thursday night at Klöckner Stadium.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2016 COMMENT OF THE DAY “With a big enough government one can create utopia. It is a naïve, elitist conceit.” “rufus” in response to Ryan Gorman’s Sept. 1 article, “Understanding Gary Johnson and the Libertarian Party.”

LEAD EDITORIAL

U.Va. is restricting free speech — and no one’s noticed Finals Weekend protest limitations undermine core University values Over the summer, the University updated an existing policy restricting public demonstrations such as protests to designated areas during Finals Weekend, including Valedictory and Final Exercises. The policy is intended to ensure free expressive activity has a “reasonable time, manner and place.” While the restrictions may be intended to ensure Finals Weekend runs smoothly, they go too far in limiting student speech. Reasonable time, manner and place restrictions make sense in certain situations. But protests at Finals Weekend could leave a positive impact on the University. Moreover, the policy denies stu-

dents a forum at one of the most public events of the academic year — according to John Whitehead, a constitutional attorney and president of Charlottesville’s Rutherford Institute, the Finals Weekend regulations “pose a threat to basic First Amendment freedoms.” Limitations on free speech during Finals Weekend open the gates for free speech restrictions during other events. Furthermore, while the administration aims to “avoid disruption of University operations,” it must recognize that protests are, by nature, disruptive. Since the policy pertains to an invitation-only event, only those

invited to graduation — students and their guests — would be able to protest, which means they would likely protest about something that matters. While graduation is typically a time of celebration, there are circumstances in which students may wish to use the occasion to further a meaningful message. Had President Teresa Sullivan’s ouster occurred closer to graduation, students certainly may have felt the need to protest the removal during the weekend’s ceremonies. If push came to shove and the University ever had to enforce this policy, it could prove to be a

public relations nightmare for the administration. Hypothetically, if Sullivan’s ouster had happened during Finals Weekend, how could the University reasonably shut down student protests? It’s hard to imagine how the optics of such a situation could possibly be good. The lack of widespread student response regarding the policy is disconcerting. Peaceful and disruptive protest on the Lawn, particularly during the Vietnam War era, has a rich history on Grounds which students value and should not be treated as disposable. Finals Weekend should be no exception.

THE CAVALIER DAILY THE CAVALIER DAILY The Cavalier Daily is a financially and editorially independent news organization staffed and managed entirely by students of the University of Virginia. The opinions expressed in The Cavalier Daily are not necessarily those of the students, faculty, staff or administration of the University of Virginia. Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of the editorial board. Cartoons and columns represent the views of the authors. The managing board of The Cavalier Daily has sole authority over and responsibility for all content. No part of The Cavalier Daily or The Cavalier Daily online edition may be reproduced in any form, in whole or in part, without the written consent of the editor-in-chief. The Cavalier Daily is published Mondays and Thursdays in print and daily online at cavalierdaily.com. It is printed on at least 40 percent recycled paper. 2016 The Cavalier Daily Inc.

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MANAGING BOARD Editor-in-Chief Dani Bernstein Managing Editor Kayla Eanes Executive Editor Nazar Aljassar Operations Manager Jasmine Oo Chief Financial Officer Lianne Provenzano EDITORIAL BOARD Dani Bernstein Nazar Aljassar Ella Shoup Gray Whisnant Carlos Lopez JUNIOR BOARD Assistant Managing Editors Jane Diamond Michael Reingold (SA) Evan Davis (SA) Lillian Gaertner (SA) Trent Lefkowitz (SA) Ben Tobin (SA) Carrie West

News Editors Tim Dodson Hannah Hall (SA) Hailey Ross Sports Editors Robert Elder Jacob Hochberger (SA) Grant Gossage (SA) Mariel Messier Opinion Editors Gray Whisnant Hasan Khan (SA) Matt Winesett Humor Editors (SA) Nancy-Wren Bradshaw Focus Editor Allie Jensen Life Editors Kristin Murtha Margaret Mason Arts & Entertainment Editors Candace Carter Noah Zeidman (SA) Sam Henson (SA) Ben Hitchcock (SA) Flo Overfelt

Health and Science Editor Meg Thornberry Production Editors Sean Cassar Charlotte Bemiss Danielle Dacanay Graphics Editors Cindy Guo Kriti Sehgal Kate Motsko Photography Editors Celina Hu Lauren Hornsby Video Editor Courtney Stith Online Manager Leo Dominguez Social Media Managers Malory Smith Ads Manager Kelly Mays Marketing & Business Managers Grant Parker Andrew Lee

THE CAVALIER DAILY

OPINION • www.cavalierdaily.com

CHARLOTTESVILLE POLICE HAVE GONE TOO FAR The recent crackdown on student social events is unnecessary and counterproductive

n April 18 of this year, Al Thomas was named the new Charlottesville police chief, replacing his predecessor Tim Longo. Since this transition, many of my peers and I have noticed a troubling trend: policing in popular Corner bars, house parties and fraternity parties that had otherwise been left mostly alone by Longo’s staff. In my experience, traditionally, many University students have felt the relationship between the police and the student body was positive, as the police intervened primarily in cases that involved true student danger. Yet now, police appear to be cracking down in places where they never before have, and this trend is unnecessary and ultimately works against the desired goals of the force. Of course, Thomas’ police force is increasing its presence because he feels that this is the best way to ensure student health and safety. For instance, Lt. T.V. McKean commented in regard to this year’s Block Party that “if we’re able to send a clear message that [underage drinking] won’t be tolerated at all, we may be able to push that student to

make better choices.” By virtue of cracking down on parties and bars that serve underage alcohol, the logic follows that there will simply be fewer opportunities for students to jeopardize

rules on IFC fraternities with the hopes of ensuring student safety. At parties, fraternities must now provide food to their guests, serve only canned beer and have at least three sober brothers on

The role of the police then ought to be to assist young adults when they have made a mistake too grave to deal with themselves, not to prevent the mistake from occurring in the first place.

their health while they are out. Likewise, since bars and house parties are often crowded and unregulated, underage drinkers will likely relocate to a safer location if they are to drink, such as in their dorms or apartments. Even if this is the logic guiding the police’s actions postBlock Party, it is faulty because bars and house parties are much more regulated than the police might realize. For instance, in the aftermath of the Rolling Stone debacle two years ago, the University imposed a series of

call all night long. Yet perhaps the most dramatic and effective change is the institution of security guards at the door because they reserve the right to allow or disallow entry into a party, especially if they suspect someone of being underage. While these safeguards are not foolproof, they nonetheless serve a vital role in addressing the serious risks of underage and excessive drinking. Thus, this should minimize the burden of the police force because they can feel more confident

that risks are being reduced substantially at fraternity parties. Yet, the opposite has happened as the police have become more aggressive, as demonstrated by McKean’s comment, while risk the factors that often necessitate their presence have decreased. As a result, this has left students baffled and incredibly frustrated. In one sense, this frustration is a byproduct of the infringement of individual sovereignty. My intention is not to condone underage or excessive drinking. However, when someone makes a decision to drink underage or excessively, that individual has effectively chosen to take a legal or health risk that they must face consequences for should an unfortunate incident transpire. While I understand the police find it hard to stand idly by while students break the rule of law, I maintain that it is the role of the individual to learn for themselves what risks they feel are worth taking. If the Charlottesville police eagerly shuts down any party they issue a noise complaint for, then it is depriving students of a chance to learn for themselves

how to act appropriately when consuming alcohol. Likewise, it is inhibiting the very process of becoming an adult because the force is essentially acting as overprotective parents who are wary of seeing their children get into the slightest degree of trouble, a tendency many university administrations have also moved toward recently. As a young adult, getting into trouble every once in awhile is not necessarily a bad thing because you can learn from your mistakes and shape your behavior more positively in the future. The role of the police then ought to be to assist young adults when they have made a mistake too grave to deal with themselves, not to prevent the mistake from occurring in the first place. Thus, I anxiously encourage the Charlottesville police to reconsider its current tactics and consider whether or not this is the best way to move forward this school year. JESSE BERMAN is an Opinion columnist for The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at j.berman@ cavalierdaily.com.

DEMOCRATIZE THE MCAT

or the prospective doctors who make up a significant portion of the University population, one of the most formidable obstacles on the road to medical school is the Medical College Admissions Test, or the MCAT. This grueling seven-and-a-half hour long exam, split into four sections of 95 minutes each, is one of the key factors in determining whether a student will move one step closer to being a doctor or if they will see their dreams, and future career, wither away. The cost of medical school itself is staggering: the median cost of private medical schools was $50,309 in 2012-2013, and in 2012 medical school graduates graduated with a median $170,000 in debt. This cost often forces doctors away from primary care and towards more lucrative specialty fields. But before attending medical school, one must deal with the surprisingly high cost of taking the MCAT itself. While scholarships and government help are available for medical school itself, little to no financial assistance can be gained for test preparation. For those students already paying for college and working to do so, the time and income required to take the exam along with an expensive preparatory course may be

The costs of preparing for medical school are too high

unattainable. The cost of taking the MCAT, beyond the time put into studying and practicing, skyrockets when the price of preparatory materials is

costs that go into preparing for it may be responsible for the shortage of minority doctors in the workforce. The high costs of preparation can manifest themselves in racial

The high cost of medical school and the unexpected costs that go into preparing for it may be responsible for the shortage of minority doctors in the workforce.

considered. In addition to a registration fee of $305, the AAMC provides practice materials for around $200 that give students essential experience in the layout of the exam before taking it. Even more incredible is the price that private companies charge for services that range from online classes to one-on-one tutoring. For Kaplan, online classes are provided for $2,099, and private tutoring for $3,799. Similar courses for Next Step and Princeton Review cost $1,299 and $2,399 respectively. Unfortunately, the high cost of medical school and the unexpected

and ethnic differences in MCAT scores, which ultimately bear partial responsible for the underrepresentation of minority physicians in the healthcare workforce. Inequality in standardized testing is nothing new; for years, the SAT has faced accusations of being racially and socioeconomically biased. The racial makeup of the doctor population may seem to be a secondary concern when compared to the quality of care they provide. But the diversity of the medical profession goes beyond idealism and has a sizable impact on the quality of

care itself. Part of the reason this is so important is the considerations of the doctor-patient relationship. The effects of this relationship may not be as clear as those of surgical and chemical treatments, but they have a huge effect on the efficacy of care a patient receives. The personal experiences and biases of doctors are inextricably entwined with doctor-patient communication and with the quality of care they provide for their patients. In fact, recent research from the University has revealed African-Americans are often undertreated for pain due to bias on the part of the physician. Beyond the issue of quality of care by race and socioeconomic divide, a bias against those of lower economic status also affects social mobility, since as a profession doctors represent some of the most well-paid professionals, a fact that is no doubt used to justify the cost of preparation. The numerous financial barriers to entry in this respected field, and the fact that applicants must already possess considerable resources if they are to continue on this path, propagates further inequality through different generations. The AAMC is not ignorant of the need to clear the playing field, having made strides toward mak-

ing the MCAT more accessible by partnering with Khan Academy, which now provides free online videos and practice questions for the MCAT exam. However, there is still much that can be done to ensure that individuals entering medical schools are truly those who are most capable of caring for their patients. Though the University already has a pre-health advising center, more aggressive advertising in addition to a central location would ensure that it is fully utilized. Beyond this, pre-health advising can adopt an increasingly personalized and in-depth approach, guiding students towards inexpensive resources and classes that cover material emphasized on the MCAT. Universities can and should go further in providing advice and resources to their students who are interested in the medical field, to ensure that the true test is of their abilities, not their privilege.

ALEX MINK is an Opinion columnist for The Cavalieri Daily. He can be reached at a.mink@cavalierdaily. com.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2016

www.cavalierdaily.com • OPINION

THE MANY BENEFITS OF THE STRATEGIC INVESTMENT FUND The administration is right to direct resources towards the long-term vitality of the University as a research institution

n a Washington Post oped, Former Rector Helen E. Dragas accused the University of hiding a “slush fund” of $2.3 billion in order to bypass the Board of Visitors. According to Dragas, the University willingly chose not to disclose any type of information regarding the fund in order to approve a tuition increase. This distorted depiction of the fund and groundless attack on the University failed to highlight any real issue of illicit activity within the administration — however, Dragas’ arguments present an opportunity to point out the fund’s role in improving our education’s value. The “pot of reserves” Dragas refers to is the University’s Strategic Investment Fund, which was authorized by the Board of Visitors last February. Despite being oversimplified by the former rector, it is in reality a fund that shows significant educational promise to Virginia students and families. With a payout of more than $100 million

a year, the fund uses the money to invest “in initiatives with the highest promise to significantly improve the University and enhance quality and access for students.” According to Dragas, the

their tuition. While tuition prices are an essential concern for mediumand low-income Virginians, it is unreasonable for Dragas to argue that reducing tuition pressure for Virginians should be the

Yet, focusing all of the available funds towards increasing affordability will mean sacrificing an opportunity to increase the quality of education students will receive today and in the years to come.

problem lies in the lack of information the Board of Visitors had on the fund prior to a vote on a tuition increase. Dragas argued that had the Board shared information with the public about the fund’s payout, it might have decided to use those resources to ease the cost burden on undergraduates instead of raising

University’s and the Fund’s top priority. In UVA Today, William H. Goodwin Jr. argued the fund was designed to continue the University’s longstanding tradition of “producing citizen leaders” through strategic investments in projects that enhance quality and access for students. If the University’s goal is to pro-

vide the best public education in the nation, lowering tuition is not going to be its only priority. Instead, in order to offer the best education to its students, the University should focus on other determinative factors best highlighted by the Cornerstone Plan, which interacts heavily with the fund. The plan will focus mainly on investment in technology infrastructure and financial incentives created to attract top researchers to Grounds. University spokesman Anthony de Bruyn told the Daily Progress that the fund will “allow the administration to pay for the Cornerstone Plan at minimal cost to students,” emphasizing the idea that higher education comes from strategic planning and investing — not from tuition decreases. The University’s recent efforts to focus on providing for low-income Virginians — such as the recently approved financial program Affordable Excellence — show affordability is

a priority. Yet, focusing all of the available funds towards increasing affordability will mean sacrificing an opportunity to increase the quality of education students will receive today and in the years to come. Nowadays, an increase in tuition seems inevitable for colleges around the nation. While Dragas might argue the fund’s payout could be used to ease the pressure on undergraduates struggling to pay tuition, it ensures that their educational value is maximized while minimizing any necessary increase on their tuition.

CARLOS LOPEZ is an Opinion columnist for The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at c.lopez@ cavalierdaily.com.

ON THE RELUCTANCE OF A SYRIAN INTERVENTION No easy foreign policy solutions exist for the conflict in Syria

wo weeks ago, New York Times columnist Roger Cohen wrote a scathing critique of the Obama administration’s failure to hold Syrian President Bashar al-Assad accountable for committing crimes against humanity. Throughout the article, Cohen compares President Obama’s inaction to President Bill Clinton’s initial reluctance to intervene in the Yugoslav Wars. Despite the horrific conditions unfolding in Syria, one can understand the Obama administration’s reluctance to expand its involvement in the conflict. Striking the Assad regime in 2013 would risk immersing the United States in another intractable military conflict that the American public would be unwilling to support to its conclusion. Cohen’s argument is not without merit. United Nations Ambassador Samantha Power voiced similar concerns while she was a member of the National Security Council, arguing the Syrian rebels deserved the United States’ support. One may even argue that such actions would be in keeping with provisions listed in the United Nation’s Responsibility to Protect Agreement, which the United States endorsed. While it is easy to sympathize with Cohen’s desire to evoke this commitment, one might question whether the

United States should apply this principle to rebel forces as well. According to international observers, several Sunni Islamist opposition groups have engaged in torture, kidnapping and ethnic cleansing. Dismissing these incidents would undermine the

of stabilizing Syria, his inability to defeat the rebels — despite military assistance from Russia, Hezbollah and Iran — casts doubt upon this assertion. Furthermore, the outbreak of civil war in Syria is widely attributed to Assad’s intransi-

The Syrian Civil War is a case with no easy solutions, a quagmire in which the effects of sectarianism, authoritarianism and fundamentalism have finally come to a head, with no end in sight.

purpose of a humanitarian intervention; however, responding militarily would place the United States at odds with these rebel groups and their foreign patrons, such as Saudi Arabia and Turkey. The latter event could diminish relations with a key NATO ally and endanger U.S. oil interests in the region. This is not to say the United States should have supported the Assad regime, which appears to disprove the notion that autocratic governments are stable bulwarks against Islamic fundamentalism and political instability. While some argue Assad is the only figure capable

gence. Unlike Abdullah II and King Mohammed VI, who made partial concessions to de-escalate anti-government protests, the Assad regime primarily relied on its security forces to repress political dissidents. As this continued, many Syrians decided to take up arms against the regime. As one would expect, groups allied with Al-Qaeda and its affiliates have managed to exploit the subsequent instability and expand their influence. Indeed, many of these groups have earned widespread recognition for their performance on the battlefield. Recently, Jahhat Fateh al-Sham (a self pro-

claimed “former” Al-Qaeda affiliate) has been applauded for breaking a government siege on the rebel-controlled districts in Aleppo. Ultimately, the Obama administration’s options in Syria were limited. In the past, the U.S. military has used no-fly zones to protect ethnic minorities and deployed troops to support multinational peacekeeping operations. However, there is reason to question the efficacy and feasibility of both these options. A no-fly zone would have likely raised tensions with Russia and Iran and would not stop the Assad regime from using non-aerial means of targeting civilian populaces. In regard to the latter option, few international actors expressed interest in taking action against the Assad regime. Additionally, 68 percent of Americans opposed U.S. military involvement in Syria. Despite these constraints, the Obama administration should press Congress to allocate funding to address the ongoing refugee crisis, which could provide additional food, water and quality health services to those living in refugee camps. Supplying humanitarian aid would remind refugees of Americans’ continued interest in their well-being and promote goodwill towards the United States. The adminis-

tration should also continue to resettle refugees into the United States, which would undermine the notion that the Islamic State is an ideal society for Sunni Muslims. While critics may allege Syrian refugees undermine the country’s national security, I would argue this risk is negligible, as most refugees considered for resettlement to the United States are women and children. The Syrian Civil War is a case with no easy solutions, a quagmire in which the effects of sectarianism, authoritarianism and fundamentalism have finally come to a head, with no end in sight. The White House’s reluctance to involve itself in this conflict is likely a result of this regrettable fact. While it is easy to sympathize with Cohen’s call for action, expanding the United States’ role in Syria would entrench it in a costly, prolonged war that becomes increasingly hard to justify to the American public, especially to U.S. military families.

BRANDON BROOKS is an Opinion columnist for The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at b.brooks@cavalierdaily.com.

THE CAVALIER DAILY

H I

want you to understand. Imagine it’s 1:45 a.m. on a Saturday night. You left a house party on JPA 15 minutes ago and you are walking to your friend Walter’s house. If you don’t have a friend named Walter, that’s fine. You can substitute your friend’s name for his name. Or you can imagine my friend Walter for the purposes of this story. He’s great; you would like him. As you finally approach the University’s beloved Corner, you realize just how hungry you are. You also realize you lost your friend Matt somewhere around New Cabell. More importantly, you’re very hungry (he’ll be fine). What are you going to eat? Dumplings? Pizza from Christian’s? A confusingly sweet sandwich from Littlejohn’s?

ny fan of Virginia football who witnessed the loss that new head coach Bronco Mendenhall and the Cavaliers suffered this past Saturday at the hand of the Richmond Spiders must, at the very least, feel disheartened. A season filled with such promise (optimism buoyed by Mendenhall’s reputation of instilling discipline and accountability) already seems deflated just one game in. While it’s terribly early in the season to make any predictions, I want to prepare the Wahoo faithful for the fact that we might just have to accept this as a rebuilding season. In sports, a typical rebuilding season would include giving younger players more playing time, testing different offensive and defensive schemes and accepting losses for the sake of developing the coaching staff ’s system. However, if we’re going to truly embrace a rebuilding season and invest in the future, let’s do it the right way: let’s demolish

I MISS YOU, TWO GUYS TACOS Exactly. You don’t know what you want to eat on the Corner. But I know what I want. For me, it was Two Guys Tacos. It was always Two Guys Tacos. I spent countless nights in that enchanted taqueria. I re-

friends. Not close friends, but friends. Like how you’re “friends” with your first-year roommate, or your dad. In warmer months, when the sun beat down on that brick patio, my friends and I would split a

You guys didn’t want tacos. I hope you’re very happy with your expensive salmon and rice.

member it so well. I would order my tacos and wait for them at the awkwardly positioned counter. I would smile at the employees who so clearly did not want to be there. Sometimes they jokingly forgot about my order and I would remind them. That’s the kind of friendly rapport we had. Sure, they were employees and I was a customer. But we were also

large order of nachos outside. We also did that during the winter but it was sort of miserable. It didn’t matter to us. We were home. People across the street would yell at us to join them and we would solemnly shake our heads. Beer? Pizza? No thank you. I’m eating tacos covered in sour cream even though I told the cashier I didn’t want sour cream.

I’m not arguing that Two Guys Tacos was perfect. I’m not even arguing it was good, necessarily. But it was absolutely my favorite late-night spot. Nowadays, I am an outsider on the Corner. What am I supposed to do, eat at Poke Sushi Bowl? I will not do that! I would love to because it looks delicious and the location is very convenient, but honestly I cannot use chopsticks and I’m not going to eat Japanese food with a fork because I know it looks dumb! Sue me! I could complain about how much the Corner has changed since my first year or lament the fact that the class of 2020 will never know the taste of my favorite tacos. I could even mention the closings of the bookstore and Dunkin Donuts in previous years. However, I’m not going to do that. I don’t want to sound like an old person freaking out about the development of grain-based salad bowls. Obviously, the taste preferences of the University have changed. You guys didn’t want ta-

cos. I hope you’re very happy with your expensive salmon and rice. Years from now, when I bring my cool robotic grandkids to U.Va. and give them a tour, I will stop on the corner of 14th Street and University Avenue and tell them about Two Guys Tacos. I’ll tell them, “This was once a taco place and it was pretty good.” Of course, they won’t understand me because Charlottesville will be underwater and we’ll be wearing scuba suits. And universities won’t exist anymore because we’ll all just insert knowledge chips directly into our brains.

NANCY-WREN BRADSHAW is a Humor editor for The Cavalier Daily. She can be reached at n.bradshaw@cavalierdaily.com.

REBUILDING SEASON and rebuild Scott Stadium. I know that seems like an extremely counterproductive measure to take, but bear with me. First of all, Scott Stadium can finally get a long overdue

Obviously, in the spirit of streaking the Lawn, all games will be played in the nude. Larger student audiences than ever will be attracted to this game, less because of the nudity and more

So let’s toss whatever pride you’ve managed to cling to aside, and let’s make this the season of rebuilding.

renovation; installing comfortable seating, building less appalling restrooms and having just one legitimate restaurant would make watching the “football” games a much more pleasant experience. During the construction, the football games will instead be hosted on the Lawn, with one end-zone being located on the steps of the Rotunda and the other the steps of Old Cabell.

because now students won’t have to leave during the first 45 seconds to return to their tailgates. But we’ve only just started. We’re going to rebuild Old Dorms, too. That’s right — every last one of them. They’re going to have air conditioning, non-infested walls and the bathrooms are going to resemble the Chamber of Secrets. We’re going to rename each of them after cool

people, like Brogdon, Morgan and Fey. Bonnycastle is going to be an actual castle, complete with a dragon and a talking donkey. We’re going to construct the world’s least efficient metro station, ending the entire concept of “walks of shame.” Wheelie kid gets his own ramp. That all sounds like enough winning for one day, right? Wrong. We’re going to tear down the Rotunda AGAIN, and you know what we’re going to build there? A Shake Shack. Just think of how incredible the tours would be if you began (and probably ended) your University Guide tours with a Shake Shack burger? We’ll even go to a new level. We’ll build a Walmart AROUND the Shake Shack, and you’re just going to hate how convenient that is. And that’s all we’re going to rebuild. SIKE. Gooch-Dillard? Burned to the ground. Steam tunnels? Underground slip-nslides. Trinity? Converted into a three-story Forever 21, and

it’s going to be way more ratchet than before. Hell, we’re getting rid of Clem 2 anyhow. Let’s convert that entire space into an interrogation dungeon for Honor. Bodos? We’re actually just going make it so you can get toasted bagels — that’s all. Obviously, we all want our football team to succeed. However, too easily do we forget it’s just a game, and it’s not about whether you win or lose the game, but how much revenue you can generate from it. So let’s toss whatever pride you’ve managed to cling to aside, and let’s make this the season of rebuilding. Given the pace of construction at the University, these projects are estimated to be finished by the Class of 2230’s graduation.

BRENNAN LEE is a Humor writer for the Cavalier Daily.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2016

WEEKLY CROSSWORD SOLUTION SAM EZERSKY | PUZZLE MASTER

EVENTS Thursday 9/1 Student Council Interest Meeting, 7-8pm, Maury 209 UPC Presents: Open Mic Night, 10pm-2am, OpenGrounds Friday 9/2 Women’s Soccer vs. Oklahoma, 5pm, Klockner Stadium Field Hockey vs. Rutgers, 5pm, University Hall Turf Field Men’s Soccer vs. Xavier, 7:30pm, Klockner Stadium UPC Presents: Dancing Under the Stars, 8-11pm, Amphitheater UPC Presents: Shake and Bake, 10pm-2am, Newcomb Game Room Saturday 9/3 Football vs. Richmond, 3pm, Scott Stadium UPC Presents: Outdoor Screening of Zootopia, 8:30pm, Amphitheater Sunday 9/4 Field Hockey vs. Delaware, 1pm, University Hall Turf Field Women’s Soccer vs. Pepperdine, 2pm, Klockner Stadium

*NEXT WEEK’S PUZZLE CAN BE FOUND IN MONDAY’S ISSUE