Thursday, October 29, 2015
Vol. 126, Issue 19
University student receives inaugural Hannah Graham memorial award Second-year student plans to study gastric cancer in Rwanda
Grayson Kemper, Senior Writer
The University has announced that second-year College student Claire Romaine is the first recipient of the Hannah Graham Memorial Award. The award was established in honor of late University student Hannah Graham, who disappeared Sept. 13, 2014. The award, sponsored by Graham’s parents John and Sue Graham along with other donors, seeks to “honor the spirit and impact that we believe Hannah would have had on the University and the world had she lived,” according to its webpage. Candidates for the award exhibit a love for French, a commitment to justice and sustainability, and the motivation to take on difficult problems. Romaine’s selection was based on her proposal titled “Epidemiological and Cultural Understanding for the Prevention of Gastric Cancer in Rwanda,” which outlines her plans to travel to Rwanda to uncover the cultural conditions behind the high concentration of gastric cancer cases in the Central African country. Romaine said she was incredibly honored to be the first recipient of the award and said her attraction to applying for it stemmed from her attendance of the press conference last year announcing the launching of the
award, which featured as speakers University President Teresa Sullivan and the Grahams. Romaine also referenced the cohesion among the University community which resulted from Graham’s disappearance as an inspiring force behind her decision to pursue the award. “I got to see Teresa Sullivan talk about the award and got to meet Hannah Graham’s parents, so I was very inspired to apply,” Romaine said. “I never met Hannah, but I remember how much [Graham’s disappearance] last year brought the University community together.” Romaine said she chose Rwanda because of the nation’s recent past remedying communicable disease, allowing health care professionals to focus on non-communicable diseases such as gastric cancer. Rwanda is also a traditionally French-speaking nation. “For whatever reason, there is something going on that is directly linked to gastric cancer in Rwanda, and hopefully we’ll figure out what that is,” Romaine said. Romaine created her project under the guidance of a group of mentors including Dr. Allison Martin and Dr. Anneke Schroen of the University School of Medicine, both of whom will be directly involved with the execution of Romaine’s research throughout the entire process. Also providing faculty support was Dr. Rebecca Dillingham, director of the
Courtesy University of Virginia
Second-year College student Claire Romaine said she was incredibly honored to be the first recipient of the award.
University Center for Global Health, who served as a faculty reviewer over all applications. Dillingham said Romaine’s work impressed the committee of faculty reviewers who were responsible for providing recommendations to the selection committee. “Claire's commitment to careful study of a global health issue in conjunction with her mentors and their vision for her how their work could lead to better cancer care in Africa impressed the committee,” Dilling-
ham said. Dillingham also said the award holds significance to the University community, claiming it provides motivation for students to develop their own course of study as well as explore issues of global health. “[The award] is also an incredible gift to the University. It challenges us to encourage students to develop rigorous programs of study and service that address some of the most [pressing] global health questions of today
and tomorrow,” Dillingham said. Romaine was selected from among two other finalists for the award, all of whom interviewed with the award’s board. Dillingham said the process was “highly selective.” Romaine’s work will extend for a full calendar year, as she is required to perform preparatory work next semester in Switzerland, research in Rwanda this summer and complete follow-up work upon her return to the University next fall.
ADAPT promotes safe Halloween One Less, Chi Psi fraternity partner to promote bystander intervention ADAPT Co-Chair Brittany Heck said the week long effort aims to reduce unsafe drinking during the holiday. “Because Halloween can be a time of excessive celebration in terms of drinking, we try to
combat the overindulgence in alcoholic products,” Heck said. During the week, students from the various groups will be on Grounds distributing cups, phone pockets and information sheets which include safety tips
for students in an alcohol related situations, and include the phone numbers for Safe Ride
The Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Team is holding its third annual Safe Halloween
Week to combat excessive drinking on Halloween weekend. This year, ADAPT is hosting Safe Halloween Week in partnership with Chi Psi Fraternity and sexual assault education group One Less.
‘MELC HAS HONOR’ VIDEO RAISES AWARENESS
SROBA DEMONSTRATES PASSION, DEDICATION
CAVALIERS FACE GEORGIA TECH: SPECIAL FEATURE
OPINION: BY THE NUMBERS
Q&A: ‘OH HELLOS’
Austin Goode Senior Writer
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Juliana Radovanovich, Devan Kaufman and David Schutte Staff Writers
The University community celebrated International Education Week this week with events organized by groups across Grounds. These include the Career Center, the Fralin Museum of Art and the Institute of World Languages. Erica Goldfarb, promotional coordinator at the International Studies Office, said the week is endorsed by the U.S. Department of State. Both colleges and high schools around the country participate each year. “It’s an opportunity to showcase the many different global and international events,” Goldfarb said. “We’re just trying to make sure they get their own special time to be really visible.” International Education
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U.Va. holds International Education Week Career fair showcases global careers, Fralin Museum features multilingual tours Week began with the Culture Fest Saturday, during Family Weekend at the University. This year, the theme is Arts and Technology, Goldfarb said. The Career Center is participating by holding global recruiting events. Dreama Johnson, associate director for public service community and global careers at the Career Center, hosted a Global Internship Panel and Resource Fair Wednesday. During the event, she said students are clearly interested in travelling abroad and the event fits perfectly with the spirit of International Education Week. “I think from our career counselling appointments we hear from students about their interest in wanting to either study abroad or volunteer or work abroad, so we knew that it was a point of interest,” Johnson said. The event consisted of a discussion panel, in which six University students who have previously done internships abroad talked about their experiences and answered questions.
After hearing from the panelists, attendees were given the chance to ask panelists and representatives from the various co-sponsors — such as Education Abroad and the University Global Internships Office — questions about their programs and experiences. Tammy Cavazos, a fourthyear College student on the panel who is graduating this December, talked about her time abroad in Guatemala. “As an intern, my project was building a solar water heater at a local publish hospital,” Cavazos said. “[We] had to find a way to use the available resources to fit the hospital.” Cavazos’s advised students planning on travel abroad was to be culturally sensitive. “Be open, and don’t be afraid of letting people correct you,” she said. “Don’t have cultural expectations because every culture is different.” Fourth-year College student Jelmer Nagtegaal said he hopes to intern overseas after he graduates. He said he wanted
to speak with someone who interned after they had graduated, but found the event helpful for the connections he was able to make and the resources available. “It was still useful,” Nagtegaal said. “For me it was more about getting in touch with the various organizations here.” A number of multinational companies and employers had booths at the career fair Wednesday, which will continue Thursday, Johnson said. Examples include the Peace Corps, POLITICO and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security. The Fralin is also participating in International Education Week through “Art Speaks! Docent Tours in World Languages,” an initiative created specifically for the week. Fralin Docent Coordinator Lauren Patton said student volunteers are giving tours in French, Spanish, German and Mandarin. “We’re trying to present as diverse a slate as possible to
really take advantage of the capabilities of our students and appeal to the variety of people in Charlottesville that speak languages other than English,” Patton said. The tours also allow the Fralin to build lasting partnerships with the University’s world language departments, ensuring the spirit of IEW lasts far beyond this week, Patton said. The Institution of World Languages will be participating in IEW for the first time this year. Many of their events occur as part of their Fall Symposium, including a lineup of speakers from various universities emphasizing the correlation between technology and language. Miao-Fen Tseng, the inaugural director of the Institute of World Languages, said the themes of art, technology and foreign teaching go hand in hand. “We hope to see as many people as possible to again not only to simply attend the talks, but to participate in interactive sessions,” Tseng said.
ADAPT
be an active bystander — as well as education for first-year students, Heck, a fourth-year College student, said “This week is very focused on active bystander intervention, such as PUBS, so students know what to do if one of their friends is unresponsive or passed out,” Heck said. “We just want to educate first-years, especially, on how to take care of their friends and drink safely.” ADAPT’s focus is not to prevent drinking on Halloween, Heck said, but rather to help create a safe and enjoyable experience.
“We totally want you to have fun, whatever that means to you,” Heck said. “We provide sober activities that you can do throughout the weekend, and actions you can take to make sure you drink in a safe measure and actions you can take to help someone who doesn’t drink in safe manner.” Sober activities sponsored by Safe Halloween Week include the Liberty Mills Farm Corn Maze, trips to Carter's Mountain Orchard, Trick-or-Treating on the Lawn and the Charlottesville Ghost Tours.
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Courtesy ADAPT
ADAPT, along with other organizations, are using the slogan “Be a Superhero this Halloween” to encourage students to drink safely and take care of their friends.
and Charge-a-Ride. ADAPT will also distribute fanny packs in memory of late organization co-chair and fourth-year College student Margaret Lowe. The group hopes to emulate how Lowe always carried a fanny pack stocked with water and food when she went out in case she came across someone who needed assistance. The week focuses on bystander intervention — offering students the ability to pledge to
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Governor announces $300,000 public sewer grant New system will improve septic transport, treatment in lower-income communities
Elizabeth O’Roark Senior Writer
Gov. Terry McAuliffe announced a $300,000 grant for the Sanitary Sewer Project in Albemarle County Tuesday. The project will provide a new public sewer service to the Oak Hill subdivision of Albemarle County. Engineers estimate the total cost of the project will be $900,000. The Commonwealth receives $17 million annually from the Federal Department of Housing to fund similar projects across the state. Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones said the process by which counties receive the grant is very competitive. For this particular fund, money is only given to projects ready for construction in communities with at least 60 percent low or moderate income homes.
Residents brought attention to the need for a new public sewer system in 2010 after the first part of the Sanitary Sewer Project had been completed. It connected approximately 54 homes in Oak Hill to the public sewer system after operating on individual septic systems from 1960, Jones said. “It’s a tribute to the power of community residents getting involved in and keeping their community healthy, viable, prospering and moving in the right direction,” Jones said. Ron White, chief of housing in Albemarle County, said the service authority could have worked to connect sewer systems to the Oak Hill subdivisions, but many residents would not have been able to afford the connection to their homes otherwise. Seventeen of the 20 households were of low or moderate income. “Without the grant, the service authority could have installed the sewer lines, but is un-
likely that many of those people could have afforded to connect to the system,” White said. The whole community will see environmental benefits, White said. The subdivision borders a waterway called Biscuit Run, which runs into Moores Creek and eventually into the Rivanna River. Failing septic systems could pollute the river. “Any time you can take efforts to minimize ongoing or future pollution in the [waterways] it’s a plus for the whole community,” White said. Construction will start around late winter or early spring and the project is expected to be finished within a year after the start of construction. Good infrastructure and public water systems are essential for the growth of a community, Jones said. “It is vital for every community to have a solid infrastructure in this area for the health of the citizens and the growth of the community,” Jones said.
Thomas Bynum | The Cavalier Daily
Gov. Terry McAuliffe announced Tuesday the grant, which will create a new public sewer system in the Oak Hill subdivision of Albemarle County.
Middle Eastern Leadership Council releases short film Collaborative video with Honor Committee highlights Muslim, Middle Eastern diversity, raises stereotyping awareness Caitlyn Seed Associate Editor
The Middle Eastern Leadership Council released a video in conjunction with the Honor Committee titled “MELC has Honor” to highlight the diversity of Middle Eastern and Muslim students on Grounds and raise awareness about the challenges they may face. Attiya Latif, a second-year College student and MELC’s ambassador, is one of six members of the organization featured in the video. The belief that all Muslims are Arab, and vice versa, is a hurtful stereotype which automatically categorizes and labels individuals in an unfair way, Latif said. “It’s important for me to express to people that you can’t categorically stereotype people to be a single identity and thereby silence their voices,” Latif said. The organization worked hard for over three weeks to collaborate on the video project, MELC President Adrianna Taweel, a third-year College student, said. “Given the presidential election going on and the comments by Ben Carson, we decided it might be a good time to show our support of Middle-Easterners on
Grounds and throughout America,” Taweel said. In September, Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson said he would not support a Muslim leader in the White House. At a time when the political atmosphere tends to group all Muslim and Arab Americans together, it is crucial to remind people of the diversity of the Middle Eastern community, Latif and Taweel said. “We are trying to prove a point,” Latif said. “You don’t get to judge us. You don’t get to lay claim to our identities. You have to let us define ourselves.” In creating the video, MELC and the Honor Committee also hope to raise awareness and promote tolerance and diversity specifically on Grounds and in organizations like the Honor Committee, Latif said. “It’s really on the first level a way to raise awareness especially at a place like U.Va.,” Latif said. “Working with [The Honor Committee], it’s a way to encourage the students who are stereotyped to feel like they can take control or can be involved in organizations that normally seem very homogenous.” Honor Chair Faith Lyons, a fourth-year Commerce student,
Courtesy Middle Eastern Leadership Council
MELC and the Honor Committee hope to raise awareness and promote tolerance and diversity on Grounds.
said the film was a good way for Honor Committee to hear the concerns and experiences of University students. “During the filming and the creation of the script, it was really cool to hear about the different students’ experiences, at U.Va. in general but also particularly with Honor,” Lyons said in an email
statement. Lyons said she thinks the most important step from here is follow-up. “We want to make sure it’s not just a one time thing,” Lyons said. “While the video is [a] good starting point, it’s important to keep up with these communities like MELC.”
In November, the Middle Eastern Leadership Council and the Student’s Association will co-sponsor a dialogue about minorities in the workforce. “There is still a lot that needs to be done and a lot that needs to be changed,” Taweel said. “The battle is never over.”
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Honor Committee holds popular assembly Approximately 100 students attend, provide feedback
Gaston Arze News Writer
The Honor Committee held a popular assembly meeting Monday evening for students to discuss the future of the honor system. The conversation focused on what students valued most about Honor in its current form. The assembly attracted a handful of graduate students in addition to undergraduates, which helped give the Honor Committee an idea of what honor means outside the undergraduate experience. Honor Chair Faith Lyons, a fourth-year Commerce student, said more than 100 students showed up and it “was a more diverse group
than we were expecting.” Currently, the Honor Code operates under a single-sanction system of discipline, but there has been discussion in recent years on changing this system to be more accommodating of individual circumstances. Alternatives discussed at the meeting include the dual-sanction system, which would limit students to two honor offenses before expulsion, and the multi-sanction system. Although the Honor Committee is required to propose a constitutionally binding referendum in February, Lyons said Honor still has work ahead of them. “If the system is going to change we’ve got a lot more learning to do,” Lyons said.
Marshall Bronfin | The Cavalier Daily
Lyons said the Honor Committee has more learning ahead of them before they could propose a referendum in February.
UJC Awareness Week to address concerns about representation Events include collaboration with BSA, Sustained Dialogue, Mock Trial
Ankita Satpathy Senior Writer
The University Judiciary Committee kicked off its annual UJC Awareness Week Monday with the aim of giving the University community a look at how the committee works. The week consists of a series of events, ranging from a Sustained Dialogue discussion to an open invitation to join UJC during Trick-orTreating on the Lawn. Jordan Arnold, a first-year College student and co-chair of the FirstYear Judiciary Committee, said the week is primarily educative. “For example, tomorrow we’re having a mock trial where students can come and just observe how a UJC trial would take place,” Arnold
said. Mason Brannon, a third-year College student and UJC senior educator, said the committee wants to highlight that they are diverse, educational and relevant. One of the primary organizers of the week, Brennan said there have been concerns about inter-committee diversity and the disproportionate number of charges against minority students, also known as spotlighting. The committee is co-hosting an event with the Black Student Alliance in part to address these issues, he said. In addition to working with BSA, UJC also collaborated with mental health group Active Minds to plan a discussion about how psychological factors affect UJC offenses. “The biggest misconception is that we’re punitive,” Brennan said. “I think a lot of people are frustrated
and are not likely to bring up UJC charges because they’re worried about kicking someone out or just having someone punished, when in fact, the vast majority of the time they’ll be writing an essay or doing community service.” Brennan also discussed a new UJC initiative in which support officers will be assigned to different CIOs and attend meetings once a month in an effort to gather feedback from the community. The Sustained Dialogue event held Tuesday was the first step in this process. “I thought the sustained dialogue was sort of just to figure out people’s opinions about UJC and what they think the role of UJC should be in the U.Va. community,” Arnold said.
(Trick or)
TREAT YOURSELF
Lauren Hornsby | The Cavalier Daily
The dialogue held Tuesday aimed to gather feedback from the University community.
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Thursday, October 29, 2015
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Will Shortz to deliver Law School commencement address New York Times crossword editor, University Law alumnus will return to Grounds in May
Kristen Cugini Senior Writer
New York Times Crossword Editor and well-known puzzlemaster Will Shortz will deliver the commencement address for the University Law School this spring. Shortz received his undergraduate degree in enigmatology — the study of puzzles, a major which he created himself — from Indiana University at Bloomington in 1974. Also a graduate of the University Law School, Shortz dedicated his life to puzzles rather than pursuing a career in law. Morgan Lingar, third-year Law student and president of the Student Bar Association, said Shortz was selected because of his unique career path. “Students graduate and go into
a broad array of professions,” Lingar said. “One thing that U.Va. grads have in common is that they often go on to become strong leaders.” Both his status as an alumnus of the University and strong student interest in previous years made him a compelling choice for commencement speaker. “We wanted someone who would be engaging during graduation and interesting to listen to,” Lingar said. “He has an interesting form of intellect.” In 1993, Shortz became the New York Times Crossword Editor and has written countless puzzle books since. In addition, he wrote riddles featured in the 1995 film “Batman Forever” and has guest starred on popular television shows such as “How I Met Your Mother” and “The Simpsons.” The commencement ceremony will take place May 22.
Courtesy University of Virginia
Although Shortz graduated from the University Law School in 1997, he has forged a career in puzzles.
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Julia Sroba, a model of passion, perseverance for women’s soccer
guided the Cougar soccer program to VISAA State Championships in 2008 and 2010. She also starred on the cross-country and track teams and excelled in the classroom. When college-decision time rolled around, Sroba was quick to make up her mind. midst post-game craziness, Grant Gossage: Can you talk fifth-year defender Julia Sroba about your decision to walk on the stood behind a row of media person- Virginia soccer team? nel. My boss Bill Bunting, assistant Julia Sroba: Sure, so basically athletic media relations director at the in high school I was a runner and a University, has already told her she’s soccer player. I knew I wanted to do got to stick around. something. I also knew I wanted to All of her Cavalier go to the University of teammates — besides GRANT GOSSAGE Virginia, so I had talked junior midfielder Alexis to [coach] Steve [SwanSports Columnist Shaffer and junior goalson] for a while. And he keeper Morgan Stearns, said, “If you get in, you who finish up interviews with fidgety can be on the team.” So I was like, reporters — were in a corner of “Let’s do it!” Klöckner signing autographs and Sroba spent her first season in taking photos with young fans. 2011 training with the team, but Then there was Sroba, waiting didn’t dress out for a single match. patiently near midfield and probably In her three subsequent seasons, she wondering who in the world want- has started in only one game, proed to ask her questions. She looked duced only one shot and never tallied beyond surprised, when I — a lanky an assist or a goal. Her 2014 ACC college kid without a microphone or Honor Roll membership reveals a video camera, and sadly, not even a thing or two about her grit, though. press pass for the occasion — introGG: How do you find the expeduced myself. I told her I was writing rience rewarding? Because you’re a feature for The Cavalier Daily. not getting a lot of the playing time; “Wait, really?” Sroba asked with you’re not getting the whole scholara meek smile. “About me?” ship benefit. What is driving you? I smiled back. “Yeah, is it okay if JS: My teammates. Like, how I ask you a few questions?” hard they work every day. I love see“Of course,” she said. ing myself improve. I love helping We had some initial nerves to get them improve. It’s just a give-andover, given both of us aren’t very take kind of thing. The whole atmosused to media interviews. I fumbled phere of this team, the way Steve around for a decent question, while runs this team, the way everyone is Sroba likely fretted about providing so determined and so motivated to be a quotable answer. the best they can be, is amazing. Eventually, we relaxed and had Coach Swanson talked to me fun. I learned Sroba is enthusiastic, about how most people equate an humble, devoted and sincere, and increase in playing time with “Have that the story of her Virginia journey they improved?” With that misguided is just as heartwarming. view, it’s hard to see Sroba’s developSroba attended the Collegiate ment as a player over her five years. School in Richmond, Va., where she Swanson was quick to point out that
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over his 25 years of collegiate coaching, “Julia has been one of the most improved players.” GG: What have been some of your favorite moments? You’ve probably got a lot, because I’d say it’s been a pretty successful four-plus years. JS: Yeah jeez, this is a hard one. Definitely, when we beat UCLA last year that was really fun. And just whenever like my friends or teammates do something awesome [laughing]. Sroba supports her teammates every day in practice and in games. This might seem trivial, but it's rare among athletes to not slow one’s clap or hush one’s cheer when playing time is cut short. Sroba is so likeable because of her constant positivity and empathy. Over my months covering the team, I’ve always seen a smile on her face and a buddy by her side. GG: Who have been your closest friends on the team? JS: Well of course, my class from last year they’re all my best friends — and a lot of them have been back, Morgan [Brian] and Danny [Colaprico]; Campbell [Millar] comes back sometimes, so that is really fun. This year Kaili [Torres] and I have been kind of hanging on to each other, Tina [Iordanou] as well. She lives with us, and she’s just so whole-hearted about everything. On the Lawn last May, Sroba and her pals Brian, Colaprico and Millar had worn the honors of Honor and graduated from the University. Brian and Colaprico continued to play for professional soccer clubs in Houston, Texas and Chicago, Ill., respectively, while Millar moved out of Charlottesville to follow a new path. With a year of NCAA eligibility remaining, Sroba chose to stay on Grounds. GG: What are you studying? JS: I’m studying higher education and athletics administration.
Defender Julia Sroba, a fifth-year senior, earned her first career start Sunday on senior day. As a career backup, she has been a model as a student and teammate on the team.
Lauren Hornsby | The Cavalier Daily
Definitely in the future, the goal is to be an elementary school teacher. I definitely want to explore jobs next year … GG: My dad is a head of school in North Carolina. I interjected, not wanting to sound like too much of a salesman. I also decided not to tell Sroba my dad holds a 2-0 record against her father, who starred at Virginia during the same years my dad played at Vanderbilt. JS: Oh really? It’s definitely a goal to be a teacher. Like I love kids and helping them. I don’t know what I’ll do next year yet, but I’ll figure it out. Sroba’s parents, who’ve always been her rock, have shown her how to care for children. On senior day — a couple hours before my post-game interview –— Mr. and Mrs. Sroba walked out onto the field with their oldest daughter. All three paused teary-eyed to take in that moment. Less than 10 minutes later, Sroba made her first collegiate start against No. 1 Florida State. GG: What was it like to get the
start tonight? How emotional was it for you? JS: Well actually, I was pretty nervous. But I think the first years put on a really good show for us, decorated our lockers and everything. The nerves went away. I was just so pumped to be out there, super excited. And I had a great time. Like, I have prepared four years for this, five years, whatever you want to call it. Virginia ousted Florida State 1-0. In the ensuing celebration, Coach Swanson embraced his fifth-year player and praised her eleven minutes of fight. When asked how happy he felt for Sroba, the coach replied, “You couldn’t not be happy for someone like her. It’s not easy for coaches not to play players who tug at their hearts, you know. And Julia does.” I thanked Sroba, and we went our separate ways. Soon, I was well outside the confines of Klöckner, fed up waiting for one of those elusive Green Route buses. I texted my mom about how awesome it will be to write a column for a player who has never been featured before. I then made the walk home.
In a high-pressure environment, Cavaliers rely on lightheartedness
eing a student athlete is not an you are trying to pursue, but really easy task. When you are a part enjoying it and having fun,” Bennett of a NCAA Division I men’s basket- said. “If you can’t have a joy about ball program, especially yourself and what you one that was recently are doing, you probably PORTER DICKIE ranked 6th in the nation aren’t doing the right Sports Columnist in the USA Today’s prething.” season coach’s poll, the When asked about stress only worsens. The who the jokesters were, Virginia men’s basketball team fac- he said that although they had quite es high expectations from others, a few, “[senior forward] Anthony national attention and scrutiny and [Gill] is great that way … and has a potential NBA careers resting upon great personality, and his teammates their performances. enjoy it, but I think that shows you However, last Wednesday at the that he loves the game and loves Cavaliers’ Media Day, coach Tony to have fun. I think that definitely Bennett said that the ability to en- brings the right kind of attitude and joy themselves is one of his play- what we want.” ers’ most valuable skills. “We really Gill, more commonly referred to demand a lot of our guys [and] try by his teammates as “AG”, is a North to be purposeful and intense, but I Carolina native and former transfer think it is a great example that you from the University of South Carolican be that way and pursue what na who is always keeping the spirits
of the team up. “He is always smiling, always up, always happy,” junior guard London Perrantes. “It definitely helps, it definitely keeps everybody light, lighthearted. It helps off the court and on the court.” Gill is not the only one. Perrantes spoke on the off-court attitude of senior guard Malcolm Brogdon. When asked how often he saw Brogdon laugh he responded, “All the time. He is always laughing. There is always something funny he finds out of everything … on the court, he is laughing, doing everything we do.” Generally known for his strong academics, his work on his master’s degree in Public Policy through the Batten School, Perrantes said Brogdon “has people fooled. He is definitely really serious as well, but he is
definitely a jokester … if you were in the day of the life with him and our team, you guys would definitely be like, ‘This is not the guy that we thought it was.’” However, Perrantes stated that Brogdon’s no-nonsense attitude is very important when it came to competing on the court. “It is just that once he steps up between these lines, there is no game, there is nothing funny, and we respect him for that,” Perrantes said. “But I feel like we all have that different mindset towards the game.” Perrantes himself was laughing and joking with the press. When asked about his teammates and their off-court attitudes, he was making fun of Gill’s haircut and saying with a smirk, holding laughter back, “I have seen Malcolm dip his
whole hand in buffalo sauce and just eat that so … yeah, just for a little snack.” When asked about the story Gill had recently told about Brogdon eating an entire onion at 3 o’clock in the morning, he said, “Oh no, that is a fact. That is not a story, that is a fact. Ain’t that right, Malcolm?” he yelled over to his teammate. Whether any of the stories about these bizarre eating habits of Brogdon are true, one thing is certain: these Cavaliers are not afraid to have a little fun. The lighthearted Cavaliers are ready to set their jokes and laughs aside and get serious for their game against Morgan State when their kicks off the season Nov. 13 at John Paul Jones Arena. Until then, let the jokes abound.
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The Cavalier Daily
TAQUAN MIZZELL
Mizzell led the charge against North Carolina Saturday. The junior tailback gained 117 yards on the ground, and all 24 of his rushes went for positive yardage. It was a breakout performance of sorts for Mizzell, but it came against a Tar Heel rush defense that ranks 108th in the NCAA in total rushing yards allowed. Mizzell and the other Virginia running backs will have the chance to build on Saturday’s performance as they face a Georgia Tech rushing defense that allows more yards per carry than North Carolina — 4.73 to 4.61.
MATT JOHNS
Johns will likely wish to forget his fourth quarter performance against North Carolina. Virginia entered the final 15 minutes trailing the Tar Heels 16-13, but Johns torpedoed any hope of a comeback victory with four interceptions. The Cavalier signal caller has struggled with decision making over the course of the year — he is tied with Maryland sophomore quarterback Caleb Rowe for the most interceptions in the FBS with 12. However, Johns remains a crucial cog to Virginia’s offense, and he is capable of putting together big games. This Saturday, Johns will face a Yellow Jacket pass defense that is 56th in total yards allowed and has recorded seven interceptions this season.
MICAH KISER
Marshall Bronfin | The Cavalier Daily
Mizzell is coming off a career-high 117 rushing yards last week against North Carolina.
Kiser is emerging as Virginia’s star on the defensive side of the ball. Just a sophomore, Kiser is 15th in the nation with 71 tackles and has five sacks to his name. The Baltimore native saw action in in last year’s meeting with Georgia Tech, and his exposure to coach Paul Johnson’s triple option will be of great value to an otherwise inexperienced linebacker corps. Kiser will have to have a big game if Virginia has any chance at defeating the Yellow Jackets.
JUSTIN THOMAS
Thomas is the heart and soul of Georgia Tech’s triple option. As a quarterback, he leads the team in carries with 107 — 26 more than the next closest Yellow Jacket rusher. The Prattville, Ala. native averages 3.7 yards per rush, but also has a big play potential — his longest rush this season was 60 yards. The burden of executing the offense falls squarely on his shoulders as it is his decision to hand the ball off to the A back, keep it for himself or pitch it to the B back. Like most triple option quarterbacks, Thomas does not excel at the passing game. The redshirt junior has a career 48.8 percent completion percentage, but if Georgia Tech’s offense is on schedule then Thomas should not have to throw the ball often.
MARCUS MARSHALL
Marshall is Georgia Tech’s homerun playmaker. A B back, Marshall often receives pitches from Thomas on the perimeter and can gain big chunks of yards at a time. The true freshman is averaging a gaudy 8.9 yards per carry average and is the team’s leading rusher at 508 yards. Marshall disappeared a bit after a big opener against Alcorn State, but he burst back onto the scene with 159 yards and two touchdowns against Pittsburgh, for which he garnered ACC Rookie of the Week honors.
P.J. DAVIS
Davis is Georgia Tech’s leading tackler with 54 combined tackles. Davis is also adept at getting into the opponent’s backfield with 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN
Courtesy John Nakano
Marcys Marshall leads the Georgia Tech triple option with 508 rushing yards this season.
SPORTS
Thursday, October 29, 2015
CONTAIN THE YELLOW JACKET LIMIT TURNOVERS: Last week, Virginia threw away GROUND GAME: an encouraging first half against
KEYS TO A VIRGINIA VICTORY
Georgia Tech is churning out 282.6 rushing yards per game thus far in 2015 — a figure that ranks eighth nationally — and last week racked up 261 against Florida State, the nation’s 35th-stingiest rushing defense. Virginia’s run defense, meanwhile, ranks 10th in the ACC and 66th in FBS. Stopping the run might be the Cavalier defense’s biggest challenge come Saturday.
North Carolina with five second-half turnovers, including four interceptions. Georgia Tech has come up with 14 takeaways through eight games — eight more than the Cavaliers through seven — and will likely monopolize the clock by running the ball, making Virginia turnovers especially costly.
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GIVE TAQUAN MIZZELL THE BALL — A LOT: Mizzell picked up a career-high 117 rushing yards against the Tar Heels, also finishing with a teamhigh six receptions for 57 yards. The junior running back is on a roll — he also paced Virginia in both rushing and receiving Oct. 17 against Syracuse — and the Cavaliers will likely look to give him plenty of touches against Georgia Tech.
By the numbers
GEORGIA TECH
TOP RECEIVERS
TOP TACKLERS
TOP PASSER
TOP RUSHERS
Virginia: Junior quarterback Matt Johns (61 completion percentage, 1,580 passing yards, 12 touchdowns, 12 interceptions)
Virginia: junior running back Taquan Mizzell (371 rushing yards, 4.1 yards per carry, two rushing touchdowns) and sophomore running back Daniel Hamm (169 rushing yards, 4.8 yards per carry, zero rushing touchdowns)
TOP PASSER
TOP RUSHERS
TOP RECEIVERS
TOP TACKLERS
Georgia Tech: Junior quarterback Justin Thomas (44 completion percentage, 915 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, six interceptions)
Georgia Tech: freshman blocking back Marcus Marshall (508 rushing yards, 8.9 yards per carry, four rushing touchdowns) and Thomas (400 rushing yards, 3.7 yards per carry, six rushing touchdowns)
Georgia Tech: sophomore receiver Ricky Jeune (15 receptions, 319 receiving yards, three receiving touchdowns), junior receiver Micheal Summers (eight receptions, 120 receiving yards, two receiving touchdowns) and freshman blocking back Mikell Lands-Davis (seven receptions, 69 receiving yards, one receiving touchdown)
Georgia Tech: Junior linebacker P.J. Davis (54 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks), senior strong safety Jamal Golden (36 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, zero sacks) and sophomore defensive end KeShun Freeman (34 tackles, 3.5
Virginia: Mizzell (41 receptions, 466 receiving yards, three receiving touchdowns), senior receiver Canaan Severin (33 receptions, 458 receiving yards, three receiving touchdowns) and senior receiver T.J. Thorpe (10 receptions, 187 receiving yards, one receiving touchdown)
Virginia: sophomore linebacker Micah Kiser (71 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, five sacks), sophomore free safety Quin Blanding (60 tackles, one tackle for loss, zero sacks) and junior strong safety Kelvin Rainey (47 tackles, one tackle for loss, zero sacks)
tackles for loss, two sacks)
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SPORTS
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Virginia to host Tar Heels Friday night No. 5 Tar Heels close out Virginia’s regular season
Spencer McDonald Staff Writer
The toughest game of the season could not have come at a more dramatic time as Virginia faces North Carolina at home in its final regular season game Friday night. Virginia looks to not only get a win on senior night, but also to take advantage of its last opportunity to move up in the ACC standings. The No. 25 Cavaliers (9-3-2, 4-2-1 ACC) come into this game having won their last two games. While these wins have helped Virginia gain confidence, the No. 3 Tar Heels (14-1-1, 6-1-0 ACC) should prove to be a more difficult test. North Carolina’s high-pressure style has led them to top of the conference, and a win on Friday would solidify that spot going into the ACC tournament. Both players and coaches know that beating a team as talented as the Tar Heels never comes easy, even at home. The
Tar Heel press has been nearly unstoppable this season, causing the opposition to crumble under the constant pressure. Virginia coach George Gelnovatch said he hopes his team can counter North Carolina’s dominating style and take advantage using their speed and one-on-one talent. “They’re going to play like they always play,” Gelnovatch said. “They’re going to come out and press. However, we’re different than anyone they’ve played. I think we’re good enough to pick our spots to play through it. If we catch them at the right time, we can make them pay for it unlike other teams.” A Cavalier win on Friday would put Virginia in a top-four seed in the ACC, guaranteeing home field advantage in the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament. With Notre Dame close behind, anything other than a victory on Friday would likely drop the Cavaliers out of the top four and force them to navigate an already challenging ACC tournament on
the road. In past years, Virginia has not relied on home field advantage in the playoffs to bring success. Experienced players, such as senior midfielder Scott Thomsen, know that while playing at home can be an advantage, good teams can always find a way to win on the road — that is part of what makes them good teams. “Any time on the road in the ACC, you know you’re going to play in tough places,” Thomsen said. “Over my four years here, we haven’t had the home field advantage, and we seemed to have done alright. We’re ready to play wherever we have to go, but it would be nice to get a game at home.” Virginia hopes senior night will not be the final time this Cavalier team plays under the lights in Charlottesville, but now is not the time to worry about the postseason. Virginia must focus on the game at hand. “They’re going to be one of the best teams we’ve played all season,” Thomsen said. “If we
start looking at anything else, that’s the wrong mindset to have.” North Carolina has won three straight coming into the matchup, including a 1-0 victory Tuesday night against Northeastern. Virginia, which has not played since Friday, hopes that its extra practice time during the week will help its performance. “We purposely don’t have a midweek game to have some meaningful training sessions and preparation,” Gelnovatch said. “We’ve been through this before. We just have to stay focused down the stretch.” It’s clear that a lot is riding on this game, and playing against one of the nation’s top teams does little to relieve tension. Senior midfielder and captain Todd Wharton invites the pressure. “I love playing in games like this,” Wharton said. I’d rather have the hardest game than the easiest game to score five goals.” The matchup is set for Friday in Klöckner Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Sarah Dodge | The Cavalier Daily
Midfielder Scott Thomsen hopes to defeat North Carolina in Virginia’s regular season finale.
Virginia second at Operation Basketball The Virginia men’s basketball team was picked second in the ACC Operation Basketball 2015-16 Preseason Poll. Senior guard Malcolm Brogdon was selected the ACC Preseason Co-Player of the Year alongside North Carolina senior guard Marcus Paige. The Tar Heels top the preseason poll after receiving 60 of the 89 first-place votes. The Cavaliers received 18 first-place votes, while third-place Duke received eight first-place votes. Notre Dame and Miami round out the top-five. Both Brogdon and Paige
were selected to the Preseason first team along with Florida State sophomore guard Xavier Rathan-Mayes, Duke freshman forward Brandon Ingram, and Notre Dame junior guard Demetrius Jackson. Ingram was also tabbed the ACC Preseason Freshman of the Year. Fifth-year senior Anthony Gill was Virginia’s other representative on the Preseason AllACC team. He was a second team selection. Paige led a deep North Carolina team in scoring in 201415. With the exception of wing J.P. Tokoto, who declared for the
NBA one season early, the Tar Heels return all key pieces of the team that reached the Sweet Sixteen last season. Brogdon led a Cavaliers squad that lost in the round of 32 to Michigan State in scoring with 14 per game. Virginia begins their season Nov. 13 with a home game against Morgan State. —compiled by Matt Wurzburger Porter Dickie | The Cavalier Daily
Senior guard Malcolm Brogdon was tabbed with first-team All-ACC honors Wednesday. Brogdon led Virginia to the team’s second consecutive ACC regular season championship a year ago.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN
PU ZZLES
October 29, 2015
Thursday, October 29, 2015
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WEEKLY CROSSWORD SOLUTION By Sam Ezersky
UPCOMING EVENTS Thursday 10/29 Latino Student Alliance Presents: Latinos on the Lawn, 10:30 a.m. - 2 p.m., Lawn Room 30 Women in Economics Panel, 4-5 p.m., Monroe 116 UJC Presents: Green Dot Presentation, 5 p.m., Newcomb 480 Virginia Anthropology Society Presents: Coming Back from Death - Native Language Revival, 5-6:30 p.m., Holloway Hall Zeta Tau Alpha Presents: Dine Out for Pink Out, 5-8 p.m., the Corner Black Student Alliance Presents: Race, Class, and Politics, 7 p.m., Minor 125 Latino Student Alliance Presents: Saved by Lou’s List, 7 p.m., Chemistry Building 303 University Guide Service Presents: Ghost Tours, 8:30 p.m., Pavilion VIII Asian Student Union Date Auction, 8 p.m., Maury 209 UJC Presents: Active Minds Discussion “Psychological Services and Mindfulness”, 8 p.m., Newcomb 480 UPC Presents: Open Mic Night, 10 p.m. - 2 a.m., Open Grounds Friday 10/30 Trick or Treating on the Lawn, 4-6 p.m., The Lawn Middle Eastern Leadership Council MELC Friday, 4 p.m., Lawn Room 41 Phi Sigma Pi & Dance Marathon at UVA Present: Fall Fest Benefitting UVA Children’s Hospital, 4-6 p.m., Amphitheatre Final Fridays, 5:30-7:30 p.m., The Fralin
Museum of Art Black Student Alliance Presents: Good Clear Sound Poetry Slam, 6 p.m., The Chapel University Guide Service Presents: Ghost Tours, 6 and 8 p.m., Pavilion VIII Men’s Soccer vs. North Carolina, 7 p.m., Klöckner Stadium Volleyball vs. Wake Forest, 7 p.m., Memorial Gymnasium UPC, Chinese Student Association, and Vietnamese Student Association Present: Costume Karaoke, 10 p.m., O’Hill Forum Saturday 10/31 Football vs. Georgia Tech, 3 p.m., Scott Stadium Volleyball vs. Duke, 7 p.m., Memorial Gymnasium UPC Presents: The Whethermen Movie Roast: Paranormal Activity, 7 p.m., Newcomb Theater UPC Presents: Shaun of the Dead, 10 p.m., Newcomb Theater UPC Presents: Free Late Night Breakfast at Pigeon Hole, 12-2 a.m., The Pigeon Hole
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WEEKLY SUDOKU PUZZLE
Sunday 11/1 Virginia Dance Company Presents: Shut Up and Dance!, 8 p.m., Old Cabell Hall 2015 Charlottesville Heart Walk, 1 p.m., UVA Research Park (Lewis and Clarke Drive) Wednesday 11/4 Virginia Anthropology Society Presents: Professor Damon, 5-6:30 p.m., Newcomb 389
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14
LEAD EDITORIAL
By the numbers
opinion
As October comes to an end, the Managing Board recounts some notable numbers
Comment of the day “The competition you experience at UVA is just a warm-up to the decades of competition you will experience after college -- for jobs, promotions, dates, spouses, investment capital.”
3 MILLION
The number of dollars for which Martese Johnson is suing the Alcoholic Beverage Control, its director and the three agents involved in his arrest.
40 MILLION
The number of dollars for which Elizabeth Daly sued ABC following a false arrest in 2013.
13
982,400
14
The number of refugees Charlottesville accepted in 2014-15.
The number of dollars Gov. Terry McAuliffe will provide via federal grant to Virginia’s Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.
The number of dollars for which Daly settled her lawsuit in 2014.
1,000 The number of students who have come in for appointments at the University Career Center this year.
The percentage of University students who smoke cigarettes.
The national percentage of college students who smoke cigarettes.
13
The number of points by which the football team lost to North Carolina Saturday.
1.9 MILLION
The number of dollars awarded to U.Va. researchers to study heart failure.
200,000 “EPluribusUnum” in response to Carlos Lopez’s Oct. 15th article, “We need a less cutthroat UVA.”
241
15
The number of days until the first basketball game of the season against Morgan State.
45
The number of minutes it took for University Programs Council’s Murder Mystery dinner to sell out.
0
The number of Sabre reward points leftover from last year that students can use to increase their chances to get into basketball games, in keeping with the athletics department’s policy.
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 managing 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. 2015 The Cavalier Daily Inc.
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MANAGING BOARD Editor-in-Chief Julia Horowitz Managing Editor Chloe Heskett Executive Editor Dani Bernstein Operations Manager Lianne Provenzano Chief Financial Officer Allison Xu JUNIOR BOARD Assistant Managing Editors Thrisha Potluri Mitchell Wellman (SA) Harper Dodd (SA) Kathryn Fink (SA) Courtney Stith (SA) Jane Diamond (SA) Michael Reingold News Editors Owen Robinson Katherine Wilkin (SA) Ella Shoup
(SA) Kayla Eanes Sports Editors Matt Morris Ryan Taylor (SA) Robert Elder (SA) Matthew Wurzburger Opinion Editors Conor Kelly Gray Whisnant (SA) Mary Russo Focus Editor Sara Rourke Life Editors Allie Jensen Victoria Moran Arts & Entertainment Editors James Cassar Candace Carter (SA) Noah Zeidman (SA) Flo Overfelt Health and Science Editor Meg Thornberry (SA) Vanessa Braganza Production Editors
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OPINION
Thursday, October 29, 2015
15
Introducing the Clean Power Plan L
The state has a chance to revolutionize its energy use
ast month the Obama admin- percent of 2009 levels by 2025, any istration released the finalized clean-up attempt at the supply source Clean Power Plan — the first ever constitutes a collective win. carbon emissions standAlthough the federal ard for existing power policy will not directWILL EVANS plants and arguably the ly influence our energy Opinion Columnist most significant piece of policy here on Grounds, U.S. legislation addressthe costs of compliance ing global climate change to date. for major utilities could cause an inThe CPP aims to reduce carbon di- crease in market price. The Universioxide emissions to 32 percent of 2005 ty, which, according to Paul Zmick, levels by 2030 — a promising feat for senior associate director of energy a government that has otherwise and utilities, purchases all of its elecshown reluctance in addressing the tricity from Dominion Power, can issue on both domestic and interna- buffer against market price instability tional fronts. by strengthening its internal producThe policy serves as Obama’s tion capacity, i.e., by installing energy centerpiece claim going into Paris in technologies that displace grid enerDecember for the 21st Conference of gy supply with that of its own. Curthe Parties — a massive convergence rent University momentum toward intended to achieve international internalizing energy supply, however, consensus on global greenhouse gas shows this shift is occurring irrespecreductions. The United States has tive of potential CCP price effect. certainly lagged behind its European As Zmick and Jeffrey Sitler, ascounterparts, earning a “poor” rank- sociate director for environmental ing of 44 on the 2015 Germanwatch resources, point out, a greater appeal climate change performance scale to bolstering internal production ca(a minor setback since 2014). That pacity is the projected savings that ranking, which is evaluated based on come with more efficient energy emissions, efficiency, renewable en- practices. For instance, Zmick has ergy and aggregate data pulled from organized an effort to identify ecoover 250 climate policy assessments, nomic opportunities for cleaner enstands a fair chance of improvement ergy reliance such as combined heat if the CPP goals are fully realized. and power along with alternative While Obama’s flagship energy generation on Grounds, beginning policy bodes well for the nation’s with natural gas as a necessary (albeit committed leadership in climate far from ideal) transition fuel. change mitigation, its immediate By exploring opportunities in implications at the state level are still heat recovery, geo-exchange, solar largely unknown. This piece grasps thermal and other forms of comat these uncertainties by exploring bined heat and power, Energy & what the CPP entails for the Univer- Utilities hopes to generate significant sity and Virginia at large, addressing savings while further decoupling obstacles the state faces in fulfilling the University from the grid. One its federal requirements. Of equal combined heat and power method, importance is the role our Univer- for example, would harness “waste sity can play in the state compliance heat” generated from our own plant process. in order to more efficiently meet And finally — as stakeholders in the Health Center’s year-round high a cleaner, more efficient energy econ- heating demands. In contrast, Doomy, University students ought to be minion’s power generators are often attuned to this discussion moving isolated and thus poorly positioned forward. to similarly channel excess heat into What are the policy’s implica- neighboring facilities — dependtions for University energy prac- ence on the conventional centralized tice? model comes with more costs than The CPP applies strictly to ma- one would expect. jor existing power providers such as That 55 percent of our own emisDominion Power and Appalachian sions derive from the dirty inefficienPower, which will have to hasten cies of the conventional Dominion their shift to cleaner alternatives such model provides real incentive for us as solar and wind in order to meet to break away from the grid and start the federal quota. producing our own, cleaner megaIn developing its plan due by Sep- watts here at home — especially givtember 2016, Virginia can choose en our own carbon reductions goals. between rate-based and mass- The strategic and integrated efforts of based emissions reductions targets, our Sustainability and Utilities offices amounting to 934 pounds of CO2 unquestionably position the Univerper net megawatt hour or 27,433,111 sity as a leader in the ongoing statetons of CO2 from fossil fuel-fired wide shift towards a greener energy electricity units, respectively. Given economy. that the latter option directly targets What does that energy transithe fossil fuel-laden technologies tion look like under Virginia CPP most stifling our state’s progress to- compliance? ward a greener energy economy, it When it comes to the CPP, Virmerits our support. After all, with ginia is better off than the vast maour own commitment of reducing jority of other states. As a recent University emissions down to 75 analysis from the World Resource
Institute concludes: “Because of the flexibility of the CPP framework and planned changes to Virginia’s power mix, Virginia is well-positioned to meet — and beat — the carbon pollution standards for the state’s power plants.” Virginia, for instance, is positioned to tack on nearly 40,000 energy efficiency jobs under the CPP. Even within the next five years it could augment its solar capacity by nearly 1000 percent, generating over 14,000 jobs in that sector alone. Yet there is hope for states that have yet to begin adapting to alternative energy technologies. William Shobe, director of the Center for Economic and Policy Studies and an environmental economics professor, points out that optimally positioned states such as Virginia can help disadvantaged states more smoothly meet their quotas. Such help can be given through either regional trading regimes or a federal allowance auction that converts reduced emissions into “trading ready” assets. Coal dependent states can voluntarily purchase reductions from those with low compliance barriers, affording the former more time to adapt local power plants. If our own compliance measures lead to an increase in market price, then revenue from emission exports in turn could be rebated to Virginia consumers, namely low income families facing the brunt of higher costs. The federal interstate trading regime happens to be the default rule for states that fail to comply, and interestingly, the most economically efficient option. “Trading works best the more states participate,” Shobe said. “So setting the default to be trading has the greatest potential for saving money in achieving the standards.” Non-compliers thus win out either way; the bill effectively allows politically opposed actors to achieve optimal outcomes without having to wave their political views. Ultimately all states must comply, either by their own means or through the federal default route. According to Deputy Secretary of National Resources Angela Navarro, who is charged with coordinating the implementation of the CPP, it is within the state’s interest to devise its own path to compliance. A strong plan would bolster the current statewide momentum toward cleaner energy and help make Virginia a national leader under these new regulations. But if the economic efficiency of compliance hinges on states’ participation in emissions trading, then states will have to be cognizant of its economic benefits and properly equipped to fit that model into their proposed plans. Several obstacles prevent Virginia from realizing this truth. What obstacles does Virginia face? When Del. Ron Villanueva,
R-Virginia Beach, introduced his Virginia Coastal Protection Act in 2014, the bill stalled at the General Assembly. That severe threats of coastal flooding failed to impel the General Assembly into taking climate mitigative action bodes poorly for the Governor’s final CPP plan. Virginia compliance developers will therefore have to make their proposed route more palatable to our state representatives if CPP implementation is to roll out smoothly. Will Cleveland of the Southern Environmental Law Center, who shared a panel with Navarro at the Law School last Wednesday, emphasizes the importance of consulting major energy providers such as Dominion because these firms will ultimately have to bear the greatest cost of compliance. Given Dominion Power’s immense political clout, one would think any proposal to the General Assembly buttressed with its support would stand a fair chance of making it through the state legislature. The company’s short-term interests in expanding state natural gas and nuclear infrastructures, however, suggests its cooperation with left-leaning agencies such as the Southern Environmental Law Center will not come without contestation. An initial cost assessment report produced by the Virginia Center for Coal and Energy Research, however, suggests the effects of political opposition at the legislative level run deeper than the Senate floor. In his corrective analysis, Shobe states, “... the report is almost certainly worse than no study at all because it misstates likely costs, analyzes irrelevant options, and gives short shrift to the cases that really matter.” While VCCER is the logical go-to for the Virginia Department of Mines Minerals and Energy, the General Assembly’s request for a strictly cost-based analysis delivered a result that nevertheless aligned with its own anti-CPP agenda. In other words, because Virginia’s conventional mechanism for analyzing energy policy effectiveness remains tightly tethered to the coal industry (hence the name), its results were inevitably biased. The predominant legal apparatus for approving cleaner energy investments is also stacked against implementation of an efficient CPP plan. Just last week the Virginia State Corporate Commission denied Dominion’s request to construct its first utility-scale solar project in Virginia, claiming the proposal failed to factor in cheaper market alternatives such as natural gas. If the ultimate aim of the CPP is to eliminate carbon emissions by facilitating a transition away from all fossil fuels, then the corporate commission clearly lacks the incentive structure necessary for meeting these goals. To prioritize pipelines over solar cells is to miss the core purpose of the federal bill.
How can our University help? Many of the barriers to a smooth CPP compliance process boil down to politics. But as Shobe’s findings demonstrate, the current avenues within Virginia for assessing federal energy policy are as outdated as conventional energy practice itself. In order to generate a compliance plan that facilitates a transition away from dirty energy while minimizing costs involved, the state needs to bring in the proper expertise. That the Department of Mines Minerals and Energy published the VCCER analysis despite its improper methods and erroneous conclusions makes this point clear. According to Shobe, "You need people trained in how to build environmental markets, how to do cost benefit analysis, how to look at the tradeoffs we make when we decide whether to do it ourselves or buy the emission reductions from other states.” University faculty who have dedicated their careers to understanding the complexities of these sorts of environmental economic challenges are an invaluable resource to Virginia’s compliance board. Other academic institutions across the state such as George Mason, William and Mary, Virginia Commonwealth University, Washington and Lee, University of Richmond, Virginia Tech and Old Dominion are similarly equipped with untapped technical expertise. Incorporating Virginia faculty into compliance analysis would also allow for the political and methodological diversity crucial for a more balanced assessment. There currently exists no independent organization in Virginia serving to reinforce state compliance with an economically rigorous evaluation of different analyses. Universities, however, could help fill that role. Finally, students can and should participate in this discussion. Acute awareness of the ongoing transformation of our energy economy has the power to replace attitudes of indifference with more proactive forms of engagement, be they through modifying daily consumptive decisions to penning letters to editors and public representatives. Electricity is something most of us too often take for granted. When our daily energy usage becomes a recurring reminder of a far more fascinating shift in our wider political and economic systems, then the world just becomes that much cooler. Light bulbs after all are not magical orbs, but outlets of a vast interconnected electrical infrastructure that can either serve to protect our biosphere or continue to tear that earth apart. Will’s columns run bi-weekly Wednesdays. He can be reached at w.evans@cavalierdaily.com.
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OPINION
The Cavalier Daily
The problem with GPAs ssessment grades are immense- certain minimum GPA. ly important in the sphere of A simple alternative can be emAmerican education, but the way ployed to mitigate the problems arismany students are curing from “grade points” rently scored in their representing a range of RYAN GORMAN courses is an inadequate values: the 100-point Opinion Columnist and detrimental proscale, which eliminates cedure. Specifically, the the unnecessary process four-point grade point average sys- of converting number grades to lettem and in-class grading policies of- ter grades to “grade points.” High ten succeed in victimizing students schools across the country have alrather than bolstering their educa- ready made this switch, and institutional experience. tions of higher learning should follow Under the four-point GPA sys- suit, as the 100-point scale allows for tem, slight differences in the number a more accurate representation of the grades students receive on individual scores students receive in individual assessments often culminate in large- courses. scale discrepancies in the amount Yet, while a 100-point GPA scale of “grade points” they receive for a succeeds in more accurately repreparticular class, as the letter grades senting the grades students receive in designated to evaluate “grade points” individual classes, neither this system usually derive from a range of values nor the four-point GPA address one (an “A,” for example, may encompass of the greatest flaws in the American the values 93-97). In other words, a grading system in general: subjectivfour-point GPA shows no difference ity. between a student who missed the A substantial portion of college next highest letter grade in a class by and high school courses require asa mere point and one who missed it sessments that cannot be graded by four points. These discrepancies easily; essays and short answer remay not have substantial impacts sponses, for example, require graders on some students, though they can to determine the degree to which a cause significant impediments to question has been answered, not simothers, as countless majors, academ- ply whether the answer is “right” or ic programs and internships flat-out “wrong.” This form of grading natudeny applicants if they do not meet a rally invokes the academic preferenc-
es of the respective graders, which is not exactly a “solvable” problem (students should expect higher grades if they cater their responses to the material the teacher focuses on the most). The bigger issue stemming from this form of grading — and the issue that can more easily be solved — involves the biases teachers pos-
boys and girls of that age. While this issue in gender discrimination likely does not exist at higher levels of education, the takeaway from this study is clear: in-class student behavior impacts teacher-graded assessments. Law schools across the nation have unilaterally addressed this problem by invoking anonymous grading policies, from Georgetown University to the University of Alabama to Columbia University. Anonymous grading essentially removes the possibility of in-class behavior Students should not be expected to ‘suck up’ bias (unless a teacher somehow memorizor pretend to enjoy certain activities in the es the handwriting of classroom simply to impact the scores they each student), and, receive on teacher-graded assessments.” according to a study from the University sess toward individual students. of Kentucky, it allows perceptions of Perceptions of students absolutely students’ personalities, behaviors and impact the grades they receive. Ac- aesthetic features to be independent cording to a study on academic per- of the grading process, which should formance in elementary schools, boys focus solely on students’ abilities to who exhibit the same standardized process and synthesize the course intelligence scores as girls generally material. receive lower grades on teacher-gradEveryone learns differently. Some ed assessments than their standard- students may have an ideal methized intelligence scores would pre- od of learning that aligns with that dict, a result of biases formed by the of their teachers, though countless discrepancies in behavior between others prefer alternative methods,
“
A
Major reforms are needed in higher education grading systems such as independent review, which can create rifts in the student-teacher relationship and lead to negative biases. Students should not be expected to “suck up” or pretend to enjoy certain activities in the classroom simply to impact the scores they receive on teacher-graded assessments. They have the right to be evaluated anonymously; their personal relationship with a teacher should not correlate to the grade they receive in a particular course. GPAs and subjective grading are only two of the numerous problems that exist within the current climate of American education. That being said, it is imperative that high schools and institutions of higher learning address these issues so students can begin to break the chains of educational inadequacy — so students are no longer repressed by the systems in which they are practically forced to participate. One hundred point scales and anonymous grading must be implemented in institutions where test scores actually matter — otherwise the classroom will continue to be a conduit of deception, not learning. can Ryan’s columns run Thursdays. He can be reached at r.gorman@ cavalierdaily.com.
Private prisons are breaking family ties P
An extortionate system of charging for phone calls is just one example of exploitation in the criminal justice system
risoners made mistakes. ily member. Telecommunications That’s a given. Having violat- corporations have used this praced laws, our prison population is tice to recoup the commissions filled with the violent they pay to prisons and nonviolent breakin exchange for teleBEN YAHNIAN ers of the so-called sophone contracts. Thus, Opinion Columnist cial contract between companies who used the state and individual. to charge upwards of However, we must not $14 per minute creatforget that prisoners are humans, ed a roadblock deterring prisontoo. In response to private prison ers from maintaining meaningful companies charging $14 per min- relationships with loved ones or, ute for phone calls, the Federal if they choose to do so, incurring Communications Commission significant financial costs. As The has placed restrictions on this ri- New York Times Editorial Board diculous practice. With rancorous states in a recent editorial, “there’s uproar from the private prison in- little doubt that inmates who keep dustry decrying the government’s in touch with their families have relentless attempts to illegitimately a better chance of finding places regulate business, prisoners need in their communities and staying support from citizens to resist the out of jail once they are released.” profit-mongering wishes of those The FCC has acknowledged the oppressively taxing a direct con- often unheard voices of inmates nection between prisoners and burdened by an old and maniputheir families. lative system. As FCC CommisReducing the cap to 11 cents sioner Mignon Clyburn notes, no per minute, “while providing one should pay “$500 a month for tiered rates for jails to account for a voice-only service where calls are the higher costs of serving jails and dropped for seemingly no reason, smaller institutions,” the FCC has where fees and commissions could ensured prisoners are not over- be as high as 60 percent per call charged for simply calling a fam- and, if we are not careful, where
a four-minute call could cost a whopping $54.” Private companies have long recognized they can extort significant profits from economically inelastic inmates simply trying to have basic human conversations with their families. Just take Securus Technologies, a for-profit prison technology company whose entire business model is based off unreasonably high phone call rates. It’s no surprise then that in response to the FCC’s decision to prevent the manipulation of phone call prices, the CEO has threatened to organize a collective lawsuit with others in the industry against the FCC. To these companies, the FCC has signaled an unambiguous message: bring it on. Prisoners messed up — but does that mean they should forfeit their basic humanity? Some are quick to dismiss the plights of prisoners, claiming those in prison had their chance but chose to violate the law. The ferry scene in “The Dark Knight” cleverly features this perspective. This prevalent view, albeit incorrect, is a function of the stereotype that prisoners are
violent, irrational marauders. In fact, roughly 72 percent of federal prisoners are nonviolent offenders with no history of violence. Thus, prisoners can be anyone from cash-strapped debtors to someone caught smoking a joint. Our prison system needs to focus on rehabilitation and reconnection with society, not isolation and financial burden. Low-income families have struggled to pay anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000 per year to stay in touch at a fraction of the time they’d like. That is a heartbreakingly large amount of money. But, naturally, it gets even worse. In efforts to further swell their profits, prison companies have turned to video-visitation services. Contrary to the free, high quality video services that might have popped into your head such as Skype, prisoners have been lured into signing unbelievable contracts for “video-visitations.” Seventy percent of these contracts require that video-visitation is only available to prisoners who forfeit their rights to in-person visitations. Thus, if an inmate who signed a video contract has a fam-
ily member come visit him in prison, he is contractually forbidden to meet in person, even if only one room apart. That’s just immoral. The Washington Post notes “Securus Technologies has made a lot of money” in a system which once guaranteed free visitation, yet “now costs family members about a dollar per minute to utilize the new video system.” Companies continue to reap rewards from the vulnerable and voiceless in our prison system. Will we stand in support with our government or bow before an unfiltered invisible hand? The FCC’s restrictions on phone call price-gouging is a truly positive step, yet the path to a fair and rehabilitative prison system is certainly incomplete. Prisoners are humans who violated the law. It is crucial we resist the urge to forget their humanity and allow the exploitation of their pocketbooks. Enough is enough. Prisoners are people, too. Ben’s columns run Thursdays. He can be reached at b.yahnian@ cavalierdaily.com.
OPINION
Thursday, October 29, 2015
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Next steps for the pro-life movement L
Advocates are correct to focus on common misconceptions concerning Planned Parenthood
ast week, after Hoos for Life individual denying that fact. Howhosted an event called “The ever, even the most ardently proPlanned Parenthood Project” on choice individual must acknowlGrounds, my fellow edge that Planned columnist Alyssa Imam MATT WINESETT Parenthood is not as suggested the pro-life wonderful as its supOpinion Columnist movement should “shift porters claim. There are its narrative away from two common misconPlanned Parenthood and restrict- ceptions that Hoos for Life should ing access to abortions.” Instead, address. First, the claim that only Imam argued, pro-life advocates 3 percent of Planned Parenthood’s should “acknowledge and focus on services are abortions is, as Slate other factors that lead to increas- Senior Editor Rachael Larimore es and declines in abortion rates calls it, “the most meaningless while fostering a more welcoming statistic ever.” The claim’s purpose atmosphere.” On the latter point, is to obfuscate the importance of Imam is surely right. To garner abortion to Planned Parenthood’s more support for its cause and re- business model by pretending that duce the amount of abortions, the a $5 pregnancy test is identical to pro-life movement should focus a $1,500 abortion. Rich Lowry, a less on publicly shaming individ- fellow Wahoo and editor of the uals considering abortion — i.e., National Review, highlighted the stop plastering the infamous pho- absurdity of this claim by placing it tos of aborted fetuses everywhere in the context of other industries: — and devote more energy to “Major League Baseball teams reducing unwanted pregnancies could say that they sell about 20 in the first place. But this does million hot dogs and play 2,430 not mean the pro-life movement games in a season, so baseball is should stop educating the public only .012 percent of what they about Planned Parenthood. On the do.” Regardless of the convoluted contrary, as the largest abortion method used to arrive at the 3 perprovider in the country and an- cent statistic, abortion is an intenual recipient of 500 million tax- gral part of Planned Parenthood’s payer dollars, Planned Parenthood revenue stream, accounting for at should remain in the forefront of least a third of its clinic income, the abortion debate. and even its supporters must recPlanned Parenthood does a ognize this fact. lot of good, and there is no point Another oft-stated defense is in even the most ardently pro-life that Planned Parenthood provides
HU MOR
mammograms. This is categorically false. While they do offer referrals to other sites that provide mammograms, this is not a strong argument in favor of Planned Parenthood receiving tax subsidies. The mammogram argument is used to further the narrative that pro-life congressmen are waging a war on women by seeking to deny them cancer screenings, but in fact recent pro-life bills propose maintaining current funding levels for women’s health; they would merely reallocate funds from Planned Parenthood to other women’s health providers that do not perform abortions. But as the old adage goes, lies repeated often enough eventually become the truth. Thus if the pro-life movement wants to reduce the over 300,000 abortions Planned Parenthood performs each year, they should start by eroding Planned Parenthood’s popular support by loudly and consistently rebuking the 3 percent and mammogram myths. However, Imam is right to argue that focusing exclusively on Planned Parenthood and abortion restrictions is not the best way to reduce overall abortions. There are certain political realities — such as Roe v. Wade, or Democratic filibusters — that will prevent even the most fervently pro-life politicians from enacting their agendas. Pro-life advocates recently learned
this lesson when Senate Democrats blocked a bill seeking to ban abortion after 20 weeks (except in cases of rape, incest or health of the mother), despite only six other countries in the world allowing elective abortions after that point. Clearly, the pro-life movement must rely on other methods to lessen the number of abortions per year. One strategy for doing so is replacing abstinence-only policies in public schools with comprehensive sex education. While many social conservatives are weary of such an approach, evidence has shown that a more comprehensive approach to sex education does reduce teenage pregnancies. If the pro-life movement is serious about reducing abortions, they must attack the problem at the root, even if it makes their more socially conservative allies uncomfortable. Another tactic is to allow birth control to be sold over the counter. When paired with the current contraceptive mandate in the Affordable Care Act, such a law could cause unwanted pregnancies to plummet by up to 25 percent. Many pro-life politicians are pushing for over the counter birth control right now, from presidential candidate Carly Fiorina to Sen. Cory Gardner, R-CO. Interestingly enough, the stiffest opposition to this recent push comes from none
other than Planned Parenthood, likely because of its major financial stake in birth control sales. Thus, the pro-life focus on Planned Parenthood is not counterproductive to the greater goal of reducing abortions. Many people are simply unaware of Planned Parenthood’s reliance on abortion revenue and believe the tropes that their supporters spout. Spreading awareness that erodes Planned Parenthood’s popular support will lessen its influence, increasing the likelihood that popular measures like over the counter birth control will pass, and Hoos for Life would be wise to continue “Planned Parenthood Project”-like events. However, the CIO should also follow Imam’s advice and seek to broaden its appeal by moving beyond simply advocating abortion restrictions. Even those who don’t consider themselves pro-life can likely agree that all else being equal, less abortion is better than more abortion. Thus, to include more individuals under the prolife tent, and to truly show their commitment to reducing abortion, pro-life advocates should also push policies that will decrease unwanted pregnancies in the first place. Matt’s columns run Tuesdays. He can be reached at m.winesett@ cavalierdaily.com.
Just for wits.
I’
Enumerated thoughts on feminism
m not a feminist because I bad and now it’s your problem.” hate men. I’m a feminist be- Usually it isn’t even requisite to make some girl feel responsible cause I hate my dad. for your nonsense. Be 1. The idea the beauty industry CHARLOTTE RASKOVICH kind of distant and she’s already got her sells us an ideal of Humor Editor fourth extracurricular unattainable beauactivity. She’s spreadty is a ruse and a puzzle piece of a larger con- ing herself thin but she’s comspiracy. The whole point is it’s mitted to organizations and, if attainable. If you didn’t think you play your cards right: you! it was attainable, you wouldn’t What’s she getting out of it? Maybe she’s bored. Maybe buy the stuff. The whole “beauty standard” thing was probably she wasn’t raised into a baseball invented by a 1980s executive card mentality of intelligence who was setting the stage for like her male counterpart, and a wave of self-esteem oriented doesn’t have the framework of marketing strategies 20 years in collecting facts and books and the future. The goal isn’t to be an the status that comes with the ideal but to be a version of you facts and books. So instead that that’s that much closer to being mental energy goes to wondering about you. Just like how Matworthy of love. 2. Emotional manipulation ilda moved things with her mind is generally a blunt instrument because she was bored with the when wielded by boys: “I feel first grade. Of course, y’all aren’t
as smart as Matilda Wormwood from Roald Dahl’s classic novel, “Matilda.” Boys wouldn’t be telekinetic if they weren’t so busy telling me “the thing” about the Israel-Palestine conflict. So maybe she’s bored. Or maybe she’s tricking you. Girls are wily. Boys can be tricked — and boy, are they. Dude, you’ll get in over your head and six months after the fact you’ll bolt up in your bed: “I’ve been had!” after some other girl tells you. 3. Mainstream feminist discourse dictates the man you should be afraid of is the dumb macho man, steeped in toxic masculinity. You fools, it’s the tricksters you need to keep an eye out for. If you know a boy heavily involved in social justice and feminist activism: RUN. They tell you it’s the guy who
refuses to talk about his feelings that you should worry about when really it’s the one who will selectively reveal his feelings. Be doubly wary around your friend’s ex-boyfriend, who expresses his profound sympathy for women and their emotional labor. Or maybe you hate all your friends’ boyfriends, ex and otherwise. Of course you do! They’re taking valuable resources away from you. 4. When looking back on history, it’s incredible to think the pioneers of second-wave feminism made so many gains, and it would seem the main gain was earning the right to work. The first thing I would have asked for would have been the right to free stuff. Working? Let’s ignore the fact that women were already working, socioeconomic divides, Intersectional Femi-
nism 2010, etc. Let’s think about the narrative of archival women with middle parts asking to go into the workforce. It can’t be. This has to be some kind of rewriting of history done by the Illuminati. The faction of the Illuminati that was originally planning to put Hillary Clinton in power and then ended up settling for building an industry around Tina Fey. Maybe someday feminism will complete its ultimate mission in my mind: somebody’s got to mess up Woody Allen. It’s not that he married his ex-girlfriend’s adopted daughter (although: fair). It’s that “Annie Hall” is vastly overrated and I don’t like his face.
The Cavalier Daily
A&E arts & entertainment
Lindsay Wilkins Senior Writer
Comprising Texas folk rock duo The Oh Hellos, Maggie and Tyler Heath are making their way to The Jefferson Nov. 3 shortly after the release of their highly anticipated new album “Dear Wormwood.” Arts & Entertainment had a chance to speak with them before their Charlottesville debut. Arts & Enter tainment: What can you tell us about your new album, “Dear Wormwood,” which draws inspiration from C.S. Lewis’ popular apologetic Christian fiction work “The Screwtape Letters?” Maggie Heath: It kind of began as a fan fiction, but as it developed
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The Oh Hellos make headlining debut Folk rock band talks tour, new album before show at Jefferson
and came into fruition, it became less of a direct adaptation. In the Screwtape Letters, the central story device is writing letters from Screwtape [a demon,] to his junior tempter in the field [his Nephew Wormwood]. We took the device and changed who was writing the letters: [our album offers the perspective of] this person who is being tempted or tormented. As the album progresses, the more he is removed from the person he is in love with, the more toxicity of the relationship he can see. A&E: Was there one band member who was particularly inspired by the novel or was it more of a collaborative work? Tyler Heath: I wrote not all, but a good portion of the songs on “Dear Wormwood… ” I read “The Screwtape Letters” four or five times [...and] had read it again sometime right around the first tour. [However, the album] was collaborative ... When I showed [Maggie] what I had been working on, [she] had been writing stuff along the same lines …
follows the release of “Dear Wormwood.” Can you tell us about why you chose to play in Charlottesville? TH: This is our first time to actually headline in Virginia. MH: We’ve Courtesy the Oh Hellos never played in New album, “Dear Wormwood,” showcases members’ songwriting abilities. Charlottesville, but [have done So we just decided to write together some shows and make it a new project. It has been at Lockn’ Fest] and FloydFest. [We growing, developing and evolving also] opened for Needtobreathe in for two years. It happened right after Norfolk last fall. We’re excited bewe released [2012’s “Through] The cause in the second half [of the tour] Deep, Dark Valley,” so we let it perco- the new album will actually be out. late and develop. At the very beginA&E: What are you most excited ning of this year, we really buckled for regarding both the new album down in January to start writing and release and for playing in Charlottesthen in July we made the last track. ville? A&E: This stop on the tour closely TH: I’m eager to see what people
think about the album. I’m particularly interested because as we were writing this album, my suspicion was that people who already knew us decided they would love us forever or hated us and decided to never listen again. [However,] this album isn’t a different direction — it’s everything we were doing before, just more so. We just expanded. We want people to connect to it, feel like it’s us and still enjoy it. A&E: What can we expect at your show on November 3? TH: If you haven’t come to one of our live concerts before, the show takes what’s on the record and intensifies it; the big moments on the record are just multiplied in the show. The show is energetic and enthusiastic. There’s going to be some bad jokes — a lot of climbing things. Get your tickets early for The Oh Hellos’ Charlottesville debut Nov. 3 at The Jefferson Theater. The show begins with openers Cereus Bright and Family and Friends. Doors open at 7 p.m.
A chat with Family and Friends Georgian septet to open for the Oh Hellos in early November Henry Harris Staff Writer
Family and Friends, a seven-person folk-rock outfit from Athens, Ga. that suggests its audiences start dancing and never stop, will take the stage at the Jefferson Nov. 3 in support of the Oh Hellos. Arts & Entertainment got the chance to chat with five of the m e m bers to hear about their music and lives in such a unique band. Arts & Entertainment: How would you describe your new EP, “XOXO,” to someone who has never listened to you all before? Mike MacDonald: Having six-plus members, stylistically we all come from different musical backgrounds and each bring a little something different to the table. At the heart of what we do there’s a folk rock element, but there’s a conscious effort to attempt to expand on that. The EP itself deals with the theme of nostalgia and takes listeners on a journey exploring that fine line involving the bittersweet recollection of a memory. Musically speaking, the dueling drummers provide syncopated energy amidst dynamic strings, collective harmonies, group chants, stomps,
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claps and an all-around emphasis on good times. A&E: Talk about the dynamics of a seven-person band. What is the songwriting process like? Are there ever any contentious moments? JP McKenzie: Being in a [seven-person] band is one of the most rewarding and fun things I could imagine, especially with the people in this band. It is like being assigned a group project with all of the smartest kids in the class. The songwriting process generally begins with Mike bringing the skeleton of a song to the band and we just take it piece by piece adding our own instruments and changing the dynamics as we go. The actual writing of the song is very much a conversation amongst the band, and some songs will have a completely different feel and emotion when we finish with it. We really try our best to hear every idea out as we go so that there is no contentious moments; however, sometimes Ryan wants me to make a whip sound with my guitar in a chorus, and sometimes that just is not going to work. A&E: Is the band name “Family and Friends” supposed to describe your group dynamic, or where does the name come from? Ryan Houchens: It is supposed to describe our dynamic. We set off with the initial goals for this band to break down that barrier between artists and fans. We'd much rather
see what we do in this band and outside to work towards a greater goal of uniting people within our communities rather than to be championed upon a stage. The name is a derivative of that idea. A&E: Who are some of your musical influences? Alejandro Rios: Each of us listens to a different wide range of music which is great because I think it helps us draw inspiration from everywhere and listen to ourselves with a unique ear which really comes out in the songs. Personally my favorite band is Modest Mouse, but I’ve also been listening to a lot of Rubblebucket, Lord Huron, Typhoon, The Oh Hellos and a lot of funk music. Gotta have that funk! JM: Right now I have been listening to a lot of Alt-J, but my musical influences range from ambient/ post rock artists like Explosions in the Sky and Lowercase Noises to Brand New and Foxing. Two albums that I can always come back to and feel at home are Ben Howard’s “I Forget Where We Were” and The Republic of Wolves release “Varuna.” Manchester Orchestra and Into It. Over It. are amazing too. Music is just good. I love listening to new music, but I also love nostalgia so you might find me listening to mid2000s pop punk a lot too. A&E: If you all decided that Family and Friends was now going
to be a cover band for one artist, who would you chose and why? David “Tuna” Fortuna: We have actually already talked about this. We would cover Weezer. Specifically “Say it Ain’t So”. Really we would just play “Say it Ain’t So” for however long the set was. I think it has more potential as an idea that Family and Friends does as a band. I honestly don’t know why we haven’t dropped everything and started pursuing our real dreams … A&E: What makes a Family and Friends concert special? AR: To me what really makes a Family And Friends concert special is all the positive energy that we try to exuberate throughout the show. I think we all try to live each day with positive energy in us, but when it’s time to play a show I think we dig deep and step it up a notch. It’s just
Courtesy Family and Friends
New album “XOXO”wows fans.
really great to be able to share our love feelings with people, and it’s even better when it’s reciprocated. JM: I think what makes a Family And Friends concert special is the interaction between us and the crowd. We really try to make it as interactive as possible. Music has always been a wonderful way to bring people together, and one of the main reasons we pursue music is to connect with others. So aside from the pyrotechnics and acrobatics … A&E: What are your dreams for your future? JM: Touring is the most fun thing in the world, especially when it is with The Oh Hellos and Cereus Bright. There is nothing more fulfilling than waking up laughing at a joke someone has made, driving through beautiful scenery, playing music with people you love and then going to bed tired and happy. I also love writing and recording music. I have always had dreams of having a beautiful family and a house with a recording studio in it. I also would love to own a coffee shop or a cafe/ brunch place someday. I feel that coffee, like music, does a wonderful job of bringing people together. But whatever the future holds, I never want to stop creating and pursuing a life on the road with Family and Friends.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Thursday, October 29, 2015
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Around the world in one week
U.Va. Global Lens photography exhibit displayed during International Education Week Dhwani Yagnaraman Senior Writer
Throughout September and October, photographers across Grounds have hunted through their archives in search of original pictures of places around the world or those that highlight the global character of the University. These were the only two conditions which had to be met in order to submit to the U.Va. Global Lens Photography Exhibit. Arts and Entertainment sat down with Teasha Jackson, one of the organizers of the U.Va. Global Lens Photography Exhibit, to understand the increasing relevance of global photography and to talk about highlights of the exhibition. Arts & Entertainment: Why do you feel it is important to show photography from around the world? Teasha Jackson: U.Va. Global Lens Photography Exhibit endeavors to promote understanding through photography. Photogra-
phy is a very accessible medium that allows us to document history, tell a story and communicate across cultures and languages. Each photo in its own right is beautiful, personal and has a story behind it that can transport us to the time and locale where it was taken. The photographer has the opportunity to share their experiences and perspective with the U.Va. community. A&E: How did you get the idea for this event? TJ: This event is an initiative of the Global On-Grounds Committee. Many international students, scholars and staff come to U.Va. to study, teach and contribute to the personal growth of the UVa family. At the same time, U.Va. students, faculty and staff travel around the world enriching their lives and the lives of others. With that in mind, the committee pursues numerous ways to engage the UVa community and tap into to their special skills and talents. It allows us to highlight our participation in the global community and to promote
photography appreciation. All members of [the] committee have a passion for global perspectives, and it influences all that we do. A&E: What do you hope U.Va. gets out of this event? TJ: The committee wants U.Va. to take a trip around the world during International [Education] Week, Oct. 24-30. We want to stimulate conversations about cross-cultural experiences across Grounds and offer photographers the opportunity to share their story with the UVa community. We would like attendees to the exhibit to gain a new perspective on global experiences and the subjects of the photographs. Learn something new about themselves and the world around them. To become more engaged as global citizens. A&E: What do you think is the best way to appreciate the exhibit? TJ: There isn’t one correct way to appreciate the exhibit. One way
Courtesy University of Virginia
to appreciate it is to examine each photo first, then read the description that will accompany each. After using the description for context, then look in more detail at the piece. Attendees can also find the photos that they are drawn to, try to understand it and discuss it with others. A&E: What is something everyone should look out for at the exhibit?
TJ: Everyone should look out for photos that make them stop and think — that great photo that has the power to change the way you view the world and U.Va. Selected photographs will be displayed as an exhibit in Newcomb Hall, 2nd floor from Oct. 24-30.
Should ‘Gilmore Girls’ really be revived? Looking into the costs and benefits of resurrecting beloved TV shows
Virginia Blount Staff Writer
Last week, talk of new episodes of “Gilmore Girls” coming to Netflix spread across the internet faster than Lorelai and Rory’s coffee-fueled banter. “Gilmore Girls” is one of the great wonders of modern TV: an endlessly rewatchable, cross-generational dramedy packed with lovable characters, sharp wit and infinite pop-culture references. The show ended in 2007 after an unceremonious final season, the result of failed contract negotiations with Amy Sherman-Palladino, the show’s creator and central voice. “Gilmore Girls” is now set to return with four 90-minute episodes. Each episode will represent a different season over the course of one year and take place in the present — roughly eight years after the events of the final season. Amy Sherman-Palladino will return to write each episode with executive producer Daniel Palladino. Many of the show’s primary characters — Lauren Graham, Alexis Bledel, Kelly
Bishop and Scott Patterson — are poised to return. However, actor Edward Hermann died last year, and there is no word yet on the return of now-megastar Melissa McCarthy. Reviving shows that ended years, and sometimes decades, before has become a popular TV trend. Over the course of the next two years, we will see new episodes of “The X-Files,” “Prison Break,” “Heroes,” “Twin Peaks,” “Full House” and ironically, “The Comeback.” These are not “reboots,” which are reinventions of old shows and movies with n e w casts. I n -
stead, these are resurrections, bringing back the old cast and premise. In an op-ed for the Guardian, Demi Adejuyigbe, host of the podcast “Gilmore G u y s ” wrote: “Why
raise the dead and risk birthing a Frankenstein?” Though comebacks risk being tinted with nostalgia, shows are generally revived out of cynical motivations. Netflix has a deep understanding of viewer habits and saw the potential in a Gilmore Girls revival through the enduring popularity of old episodes. The show is “pre-sold” to a fanbase who is, according to viewer data, guaranteed to tune in.
Courtesy Warner Brothers
Fans, mostly made up of live-tweeters, forum-posters, podcasters and recap writers, are louder and more connected than ever. Though “Gilmore Girls” existed before the rise and ubiquity of Twitter, the fans have convinced executives it is worth returning to Stars Hollow. However, if the comeback is motivated by fans, is it merely pandering? TV revivals are often controversial. “Veronica Mars” returned as a movie, and received mixed reviews. The “Arrested Development” Netflix revival polarized fans of a once universally-beloved show. “Heroes,” returning to NBC, has been criticized for being uninspired. “Gilmore Girls” is set in a distinctly 2000s-era bubble — a time before Facebook and iPhones, allowing the show to operate quietly. The question of whom Rory should date was more pressing than any social or political issue, and technology could neither make nor break a story. To retain the authentic charm of the show, “Gilmore Girls” must tread carefully to merge itself with the present day.
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