Thursday, October 30, 2014

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Vol. 125, Issue 19 Armin Ghamari | The Cavalier Daily

Moore discusses student rights Commerce Prof. urges students to avoid police confrontation Henry Pflager News Writer

cruiters. While students said they were looking to gain employment, others said they were simply looked to make connections.

“For the last month, we’ve had a number of sessions going on in University Career Services,” Fortner said. “A lot of students take advantage of ‘How to build a resume’ [and] ‘How to do a 30-second Pitch,’ and then we have one that’s ‘How to work a career fair.’ It gives you tips on what you’re going to see and how to succeed.”

Students were also given the opportunity to attend panels during the fair.

Commerce Prof.

Sherri Moore hosted a “Know Your Rights” lecture in conjunction with the Student Council Life committee Wednesday, speaking to students about how they can avoid being taken advantage of when encountering police officers.

Confrontations between college-aged people and police officers are inherently asymmetric conflicts — but this discrepancy can be exacerbated when students do not know their rights, Moore said. When college kids are confronted by police officers, they believe they are obligated to stay. But Moore said police officers must have reasonable suspicion to detain a citizen.

When a police officer confronts a student, the first question that student should ask is “Am I being detained?”

“If the police officers tell you that you are not being detained [when they confront you], get out of there,” Moore said. “Move along. You don’t want to be sitting there trying to chit-chat.”

Although laws and rules guarantee the rights of citizens against unreasonable searches and seizures without consent, there are logistical concerns to

see CAREERS, page 2

see RIGHTS, page 2

University kicks off career fair Newcomb Hall welcomed 130 organizations this year, a 30 percent increase from last year

Grace Erard Senior Writer

Hundreds of students clad in business attire gathered on the third floor of Newcomb Hall Wednesday to meet with recruiters from 130 organizations at the Fall Job and Internship Fair.

Everette Fortner, the executive director for professional development in the Darden School, said event planners invited each of the businesses in the CAVLink database — between 400 and 500 companies. The number of companies represented at the fair increased 30 percent from the previous year.

Fortner stressed the importance of developing a game plan beforehand, to avoid becom-

Tools to navigate the course selection season PAGE 3

ing overwhelmed by the sheer number of employers at the fair.

“Take a look at the list of companies and pick the five or 10 that you want to see,” Fortner said. “Do some research on those five or 10, prepare questions for those five or 10, and then go straight to the companies that you know you want to see and you know something about. Then, you’ll make a better impression.”

Third-year College student Kim Gianturco, who found a summer internship at the Federal Reserve Board through last year’s fair and is is currently searching for a job for this upcoming summer, said she appreciated the quantity of potential employers at the event.

“There are a lot of booths

ISIS panel discusses crisis, gender violence PAGE 4

and companies, but I really view that as a positive because it allows you to touch base with a lot of businesses without having to travel very far,” Gianturco said.

“I’ve definitely had a number of leads today. I’ve talked with people who I really clicked with and felt like there was potential for employment at their businesses.”

On the type of recruiters represented, Fortner said University Career Services strives to “create a diverse set of companies across all sectors,” but noted “business is the largest recruiter of students.”

University Career Services provided students with a variety of resources to ensure they would come to the event with the skills necessary to make the best possible impression on re-

Virginia football set to face Georgia Tech PAGE 5

PATEL: Hoos got your Yak PAGE 12

Black Student Alliance hosts poetry slam PAGE 13

N news

Corrections In an Oct. 27 edition of The Cavalier Daily, a photo on page 12 was inaccurately attributed to Chanlee Luu. The photo was taken by Celina Hu. Additionally, two photos on page 13 were taken by Hannah Mussi, who was not credited.

The Cavalier Daily

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CAREERS Fair part of numerous UCS’ efforts Continued from page 1 “This year, we’ve added career panels to give students information about five different career options,” Fortner said. “While you’re here, you’re already in the career mindset, and it’s easy to go to a 30-minute panel and then go back out and work the companies. It takes a lot of energy and nerve to approach a company, so we think that going to one of these panels is a good opportunity for students to re-energize.”

The students at the fair were primarily third and fourth-year University students, which Fortner said is what companies expect to see. Indeed, Allen Warner, the

vice president of software technologies at Objective Interface Systems, came to the fair specifically looking for interns from the University.

“It’s a good school,” Warner said. “The intern from U.Va. that we have right now is fabulous, so that speaks a lot about the school, and we’re trying to get interns who are located close to where we are in Northern Virginia so we don’t have to worry about summer housing.”

However, upperclassmen from other schools such as Virginia Military Institute and Ferrum College were also in attendance.

“Every year, VMI looks at different career fairs and U.Va. has

one of the largest, so we opted to come to this one,” Major Dorothy Hayden said. “We’ve got 26 cadets here.”

One of the cadets, VMI senior Taylor Kennedy, said he enjoed the event.

“I’ve gotten a chance to talk to a lot of people, hand out resumes to a lot of people and get a feel for what kind of jobs are available in the market,” Kennedy said.

Some underclassmen also came to the event, much to Fortner’s delight.

“I teach a course for first years, and all of them are required to come, because I feel like developing that skill of networking is crucial,” Fortner said.

“If you come to the career fair as

a first year and get over the jitters of going to a career fair for the first time, then when you come as a third or fourth year, you’ll be much more polished in delivering your pitch and demonstrating in 30 seconds to two minutes the skills that you have as they relate to the companies’ needs.”

First-year Engineering student Hannah Zeidler said deciding to attend the event this year was a good learning experience.

“I wanted to gain experience so I know what to do for next year,” Zeidler said. “This year, I’m not really expecting to find anything, but I’ll know for next year how to dress and what to say.”

RIGHTS Professor advises caution in police interactions Continued from page 1 arguing with a police officer.

Moore said students should be cautious and polite when they have an encounter with the police officer.

“Reality—reasonable suspicion? [The police officer] can make it up,” Moore said. “When you are asking them why they are detaining you, be careful. Be

respectful. Because the minute you start trying to have a conversation with the police officers, you’re going to lose because they do have the badge, they do have the gun and they have the power.

Here’s the difference: they can make you go spend a night in the jail and the next day the charges get thrown out. So what? They got their pound of flesh.”

Second-year College student Craig Dougherty said he went to

the event as part of his duty to be an informed citizen.

“Should I ever encounter police and am in trouble, [I want to] know what rights I have so they don’t take advantage of me,” Dougherty said. “I think that [this topic] has been in the national spotlight a lot recently and, as part of my duty of being an informed citizen, I should know what rights every American has.”

Second-year College student Vijay Menon said the lecture was very helpful.

“Police officers don’t know everything and people often get flustered so it’s better to be informed to be just [waiting] around,” Menon said. “What I learned the most is that if you are aware of your rights you don’t need to submit to anything you don’t want to.”

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NEWS

Thursday, October 30, 2014

3

Students turn to outside sources in course selection Course Forum, Lou’s List provide alternative class information, course reviews for students to supplement SIS

Juliana Radovanovich Staff Writer

With the spring 2015 semester course catalogue available for students' perusal — and the beginning of enrollment just more than a week away for most students — a large swath of the University community will turn to non-University resources in deciding which courses to take.

Lou’s List, which allows users to scan entire lists of available courses by department and school, is one of the most prominent tools students will use.

The site was created by Physics Prof. Louis Bloomfield and aims to offer a more user-friendly experience than the University’s Student Information System.

“SIS is more appropriate in a context where you know exactly what you want,” Bloomfield said. “[Lou’s List] can be explored casually and without necessarily a destination in mind. With a liberal arts education, you don’t necessarily know what you’re looking for. … En route to finding what you think you want, you find other things. That was

a major motivation in creating Lou’s List.”

Lou’s List database scans SIS each hour, and the entire operation is supported by Bloomfield himself, without financial compensation. Bloomfield says Lou’s List provides services that no other system does.

“If you create a program from scratch — so a new major — they’re invisible on Grounds except if Lou’s List creates a program for them,” Bloomfield said.

“So when something new comes along that clearly looks like it would provide information that no one else can provide, I add it.”

Lou’s List does not update in real time, however, which can make it less ideal for students looking to gauge the length of waitlists and to check whether a course is open.

“It would take minutes, maybe even longer than minutes, to read all those course enrollment figures,” Bloomfield said. “It’s an hour behind because I read once an hour. That’s about as frequently as SIS will tolerate.”

For a more subjective overview of available courses, many

students also turn to theCourseForum, a site which ammasses student reviews and posts available grades for hundreds of University courses. The site was created by former University students and is managed by current students and alumni. Anyone with an University email address can create an account and use it to write and read reviews of professors and classes.

The site is currently paid for by fourth-year Computer Engineering student Brian Whitlow, head of theCourseForum.

“We don’t do this because we can sell data to advertisers or to make money by charging for the site,” Whitlow said in an email.

“This platform helps U.Va. Students develop real world skills in web development and data analytics. The cost of this site pales in comparison to the value that students get every semester and what we get out of it through professional development.”

About 85 percent of the student body logs into theCourseForum at least once per semester, Whitlow said. During peak scheduling time, theCourseForum has 700,000 page views and

an average of session time of nine-and-a-half minutes.

And these numbers, Whitlow said, are only increasing.

Some professors have embraced theCourseForum, creating accounts to read their own reviews, which can serve as a supplement to formalized course evaluations. Whitlow

said not all professors appreciate the review system, however.

“There are professors who do not agree with our philosophy for unfiltered reviews,” Whitlow said. “We believe in unfiltered, unbiased reviews so we don’t require people to write reviews nor do we monitor reviews.”

Porter Dickie| The Cavalier Daily

Physics Prof. Lou Bloomfield created Lou’s List (above) to make it easier for students to browse courses from various departments.

Honor Public Summary: Trial 7 October 5, 2014 A student in the School of Continuing and Professional Studies was accused of cheating on an online discussion by misrepresenting an outside document as his own work. The case was reported by a student in the class.

The Community argued that the Accused Student copied language from the outside source, without citation, and pledged the work as his own, which proves beyond a reasonable doubt that he committed the Act of cheating.

The Accused Student acknowledged that his response came directly from the outside source, but that this type of comment was permissible within the framework of the class. Further, the course professor testified that the student worked in accordance with the course Honor policies.

A panel of both randomly-selected students and Honor Committee representatives found the Accused Student not guilty on the basis of Act and Knowledge.

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NEWS

The Cavalier Daily

University creates Lewis Leadership Institute

Private donor-funded program to take 25 students, include Summer involvement, third, fourth year events Elizabeth O’Roark and Yash Shevde Senior Writers

The University is starting a new student leadership program titled The Meriwether Lewis Institute for Citizen Leadership.

Patricia Lampkin, the vice president and chief student affairs officer, started to work on the program two years ago with Margaret Grundy, the assistant to the vice president. Through this program, the two hope to foster leadership skills in students who will in turn apply these skills within the University community.

Lampkin said the program, which is not affiliated with any one school, is aimed to approach leadership with a wide lens. “[It is] directly in support of student leadership in an interdisciplinary manner, both in terms of academics and extracurricular

activities,” Lampkin said.

Students in the program will enroll in the course “Leadership Across the Disciplines,” or COMM 2600, in the spring semester of their second year. They will use this class as the foundation for their learning experience in this program.

In the summer after their second year, the students will start a participate in a six to eight week intensive program on Grounds, learning “hard skills,” such as how to put together effective presentations, and “soft skills,” such as how to maintain interpersonal relations within a company and excel at public speaking. The program is meant to be rigorous and incorporate applying leadership outside the classroom.

To ensure students of all financial backgrounds can participate, Lewis Fellows will stay on Grounds at no cost to themselves, receiving a $2,500 stipend.

In their third and fourth years, students will have the opportunity to apply their knowledge to solve key University issues with the help and guidance of faculty advisors and other local mentors. During their fourth year, students will participate in a leadership seminar and, during their fourth year will attend enrichment events led by guest speakers, faculty and alumni.

Because the program is new, Lampkin said this schedule is subject to change.

Grundy said the program has several major goals.

“One is protecting our system of self-governance and another is providing students with a really outstanding leadership opportunity,” Grundy said.

“This program assures that the University has a base of capable student leaders over the summer to deal with issues that can’t be dealt with during the academic year,” Grundy said.

Second-year College student Abraham Axler, president of the Class of 2017, said he agreed with the motives behind the initiative.

“During the school year, we are ambushed by academic and other commitments,” Axler said. “I am really interested in the prospect of taking time over the summer to contribute to the University.”

After two years of planning, the Institute finally received a grant from a private donor so that the program could be put into action.

“It was a dream that has become a reality,” Lampkin said.

Jason Carrier, a second-year College student, said the program offers a number of opportunities which piqued his interest.

“I love the opportunities this program provides to acquire leadership skills in the classroom and apply them outside the class-

room to further the goals of organisations here at the University,” Carrier said. “It will help me become more deeply involved in the University.”

Since this year will mark the inaugural Lewis Fellows class, the program will include only 25 students this year.

Selections for the inaugural class will be made by mid-November.

“By the time you leave, you will then have three classes, [and] 75 students to interact and work with,” Lampkin said during an information session for potential students. “You will graduate as a class of Lewis fellows.”

Commerce Prof. Gary Ballinger said he was excited about the program as a University alumnus. “[It] is connected to the way the University is run, through student leadership,” Ballinger said. “I don’t want this place to change in this regard.”

S

sports Grant Gossage Staff Writer

As it entered last Saturday’s game against North Carolina, the Virginia football team found itself in a mustwin situation.

The Cavaliers needed to get back to their early season form, which saw them knock off Louisville and Pittsburgh. They needed to show the previous week’s deflated performance against Duke was an exception and not the rule, and that this team really is a Coastal competitor. They needed to prove to the Homecomings crowd — at 45,200, the largest this season — that this was a bandwagon worth jumping back on.

And with a 14-0 lead just 12 minutes into the game, it looked like Virginia would succeed. Unfortunately, it was downhill from there.

The Cavaliers gave up 28 points the rest of the way, including a late fourth quarter touchdown pass from UNC redshirt freshman backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky. Meanwhile, the offense could only tally one more touchdown in the final three quarters against a Tar Heel defense that is verifiably one of the worst in the nation.

At the end of the day, Virginia found itself at the hands of a 28-27 defeat at home, and the Cavalier faithful emptied out of Scott Stadium with heads hung low, knowing another opportunity had been squandered.

The Cavaliers (4-4, 2-2 ACC) have veered onto the rocky path of 2012 and 2013 and face an uphill

Thursday, October 30, 2014

5

Cavaliers seek rebound in Atlanta After loss to North Carolina, football team travels south to face Georgia Tech, triple option in key Coastal contest climb to reach a bowl game, let alone aged 18.5 yards per reception. like clockwork. … This is going to be contend for the Coastal Division title.

Sporting these three qualified a grind it out type of game, and we The most direct challenge will come wideouts, along with hard-nosed have to be ready for it.” this weekend, however, on the road senior running back Kevin Parks, Sophomore quarterback Justin against ACC opponent Georgia Tech who has rushed for an average of 118 Thomas, who has rushed for more (6-2, 3-2 ACC). yards in the past three games, and than 700 yards and thrown anVirginia’s first concern is the loss gritty sophomore quarterback Grey- other 1,100, will act as the Ramblin' of senior wide receiver Miles Gooch, son Lambert, Virginia can move the Wreck’s main offensive weapon. His who suffered a knee injury after an pigskin and put points on the board athletic ability and autonomy as a awkward landing in the second quar- in Atlanta. signal caller are dangerous when put ter of the North together.

Carolina game.

“Georgia “It’s a very Tech is an ofdifficult situafense that if tion for him,” you're poor on coach Mike your assignLondon said. ments, execu“Our thoughts tion of your asand prayers are signments, they with him as can hurt you,” we try to make London said. some headway “What adds to into where he is that element and the evaluais [Thomas]. I tion of his knee. heard Coach We won't know [Paul] Johnson ‘til the swelling say he's the fastRyan O’Connor | The Cavalier Daily goes down a bit.” est they've had at wide receiver Miles Gooch, the Virginia leader in receiving yards this season at 371, suffered Gooch add- Senior the quarterback a knee injury in Saturday’s game and is expected to miss substantial time. ed some good position.” size at the reThomas and ceiver position, and leads the team Ranked 87th at the FBS level in his backfield wingman, senior runwith 371 receiving yards this season. total defense, the Yellow Jackets are ning back Zach Laskey — who has Fortunately, senior Darius Jennings, allowing 429.4 yards per game and tallied 595 yards on 120 carries — junior Canaan Severin and redshirt surrender an average of 28.3 points. force defenses into overloading the freshman Andre Levrone have prov- But their offense, much like the Tar edges and gaps. And this, all too puren themselves capable of breaking Heels’, compensates for this defensive posefully, sets up play-action passes free from defenders and hauling in weakness. downfield. passes.

Operating under coach Paul For years, Georgia Tech has con“We're deep in the receiver posi- Johnson’s signature triple-option sys- sistently produced gifted receivers, tion,” London said. “We're going to tem, the Georgia Tech attack, which including Peyton Manning’s current have to have some of these guys step averages 326 yards on the ground go-to-target, Demaryius Thomas, up.” per contest, fourth highest in the na- and the player who is arguably the Jennings is second to Gooch in tion, has been running around and NFL’s finest pass-catcher, Calvin total receiving yards with 345, while through opposing defenses all sea- “Megatron” Johnson. Senior wideSeverin leads the team in receiving son. out DeAndre Smelter is likely to join touchdowns with three. And, though “They just run,” London said. these talented alumni and compete limited in action, Levrone has aver- “They do what they do. They do it on Sundays in the near future.

Smelter, a load at 6-foot-3-inches and 222 pounds, has snatched 20 receptions for 462 yards and 5 touchdowns. And when Smelter is not running deep routes downfield, he is sealing lanes on the flanks for Thomas or Laskey.

Overall, Georgia Tech’s blocking scheme is as effective as any in college football — especially as receivers, like Smelter, are also unafraid to block.

And the team’s offensive linemen are agile, physical and disciplined.

“Paul teaches his linemen to block within the confines of the rules,” London said. “One of the things they do is predicate [blocking] on getting you down on the ground, not only on the inside, but the outside, the perimeter.

And if they do pitch the ball, they have a lead blocker out there.”

The Cavalier defense, led by senior captain and preseason first team All America safety Anthony Harris, will need to quickly identify the football, shed blockers and bring down ball carriers.

“I think the key is executing, believing in the other guy, … staying alive, getting off blocks and just running for the ball and making plays,” Harris said.

Virginia understands that Saturday is as important a game as any thus far. The Cavaliers need two more wins to become bowl-eligible, and a victory this Saturday would go a long way in restoring confidence for the team.

“We just need to focus on this week right now — focus on Georgia Tech, getting a win and then seeing where we stand,” Harris said.

Kickoff between Virginia and Georgia Tech is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, and will be aired on ESPNU.

Women’s soccer hosts Pittsburgh in regular season finale Virginia will celebrate seniors before Saturday night home game, looking for seventh-straight victory against offensively-minded Panthers Jacob Hochberger Associate Editor

After a three-game road trip spanning eight days in which the No. 3 Virginia women’s soccer team went undefeated, the Cavaliers will return home for their final game of the regular season this Saturday.

Virginia (16-1, 8-1 ACC) is finally able to come home to the familiar confines of Klöckner Stadium, where the Cavaliers have tallied a 10-0 record, for the first time in nearly three weeks. They will be joined in Charlottesville

by Pittsburgh (6-11, 2-7 ACC), who is currently reeling after hav-

ing lost five games in a row. But this year — the Panthers’ second in the ACC — has been a marked improvement in comparison to last season, when they went 0-13 in conference.

“We don’t consider any team in the ACC weak, and they’re going to come at us hard,” coach Steve Swanson said. “But for us, it’s just nice to be home after playing three games like that in eight days.”

Saturday night’s game, which is senior night for the Cavaliers, represents a pivotal moment in what has at times seemed like a season of destiny. While it represents the end of Virginia’s regular season, the game is also a welcome tuneup in preparation for intense post-

season matchups. After Saturday, the Cavaliers will have almost a week before the beginning of the ACC tournament in Greensboro, North Carolina.

“Every game’s important, and we have the chance to do something special,” Swanson said. “The Pitt game is important to us and it’s our last ACC game.”

The game also promises to be an emotional evening for the team’s graduating athletes, marking their last regular season game in a Virginia uniform.

“You’re bittersweet about it because it’s not the end of the season, and in many ways, I feel like our season’s just beginning,” Swanson said. “But at the same time, you

want to honor your players and all they’ve done for our program over the last four or five years. On the one hand, you’re sad because you’re not going to have them in the coming years, but the sweet part is that we had them.”

Throughout this season, the Cavaliers have shown remarkable resilience, fortitude and skill following last season’s heartbreaking conclusion. Though this may have driven the initial motivation in 2014, the combination of upperclassmen leadership and the seamless integration of new talent is what has made this season one to remember.

Though Virginia has already clinched a spot in the ACC tour-

nament, Saturday’s matchup is integral for the Cavaliers’ postseason success as they look to reintegrate star senior midfielder Morgan Brian, who has been away playing for the U.S. Women’s National Team duty since Oct. 15. The ACC powerhouse should not have too much trouble getting Brian back in sync with the team — as she not only kept pace, but excelled on the international level, scoring her third goal for the United States against Haiti on Oct. 20.

“Having Morgan being in and out presented so many challenges, but I think we came through that well,” Swanson said. “I think we have a lot more fine tuning to do between now and Pittsburgh and

6

SPORTS

The Cavalier Daily

Cross Country aims for ACC Championship Friday morning Men’s and women’s teams host conference title race at Panorama Farms, seeking improvement on 2013’s fourth, second place finishes Matthew Wurzburger Associate Editor

Sixty-two days ago, Virginia began its cross country season at Panorama Farms. Those 62 days saw the men and women sweep the home invitational and take to the road to test their abilities against the nation’s best.

Now, none of that seems important.

The Cavaliers will kick off the part of the year with real implications — the post-season — this Friday, with the ACC Championships also to be held at Panorama Farms.

There, the Virginia men and women, both ranked No. 13 nationally, will battle with conference foes for ACC supremacy.

An ACC title is not the only thing on the line this Friday, with two huge Commonwealth Clash points in play between the Cavaliers and rival Virginia Tech. For each the men and the women, the team which finishes highest in the overall team standings receives the point.

Women’s coach Todd Morgan will be without the services of sophomore Maria Hauger once again.

Hauger — the reigning ACC freshman of the year — has been battling an injury all season and will redshirt the 2014 campaign.

“We do look forward to having [Hauger] with us for an extra year down the road,” Morgan said.

Virginia has remained a competitive squad even in Hauger’s absence. She was the team’s projected top runner entering the year. Sophomore Sarah Fakler responded to the opportunity to lead the team in the field, and earned her first collegiate victory at the Panorama Farms Invitational.

Two graduate students who transferred into the program have also made immediate impacts. Morgan Kelly — a 2013 All-Ivy runner from Harvard — was the first Cavalier to cross the finish line at the Wisconsin adidas Invitational and placed 21st overall.

Kelly and Fakler said they have formed a close relationship in their short time together on the team.

“I love training with [Fakler],” Kelly said. “We run together during workouts and we help each other out. It’s anybody’s race, but I could see us working off of each other.”

Additionally, Iona Lake, a transfer from the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom, moved directly into the Virginia scoring five with a fourth-place finish at the Panorama Farms Invitational.

The Cavaliers will need contributions from all runners in the field to improve their runner-up finish from

2013. No. 12 Florida State remains the team to beat and has a virtual monopoly of women’s ACC titles, having won the last six — but the Seminoles edged out Virginia by only seven points last year.

“We need to [perform] to the best of our abilities, everything we can control,” Morgan said. “We’re still the underdogs until someone beats Florida State. We’re running with everything to gain and nothing to lose.”

But the Cavaliers are not the only threat to Florida State. For the men’s teams, four other ACC schools are ranked in the top 30, including No. 15 North Carolina and No. 16 Syracuse.

The Virginia men did not produce the result they desired at last season’s conference championship, where, led by Kyle King’s seventhplace finish, they managed only fourth place, with 108 points. Thirdplace Notre Dame squeaked by Virginia with 105, while Syracuse and UNC finished first and second, respectively. However, the Cavaliers were able to right the ship and advance all the way to the NCAAs, where they placed 13th.

Coach Pete Watson’s team started the season on the right foot. They claimed victory at the Panorama Farms Invitational and emerged in fourth place at the Washington In-

vitational — a tough meet with five of the top nine teams in the country.

This early-season success is somewhat surprising for Virginia, as past teams have taken their time rounding into shape before the postseason.

“We have a group of guys that don’t typically hit it well in September or October,” Watson said. “Being able to race so well while shouldering a heavy workload was a huge boost in confidence for us.”

The Cavalier men will enter the ACC Championship healthy and fit,

but a stiff challenge will await — in the form of No. 3 Syracuse. After winning the championship meet last season, the Orange returned three of their five scorers from 2013.

“We’re going to go in there and compete,” Watson said. “Obviously, the goal is to win, but most importantly we want to run better than we have all year. I want all of my guys to hit it on the same day, and it looks like we’re headed in that direction.”

Friday’s race will begin at 10 a.m. at Panorama Farms in Earlysville, Virginia.

Marshall Bronfin | The Cavalier Daily

An All-ACC honoree in 2013, sophomore Sarah Fakler finished seventh in the 10,000m at the spring ACC Championships and earned first place at the Panorama Farms Invitational in September.

Paring the paranoia

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eidi Murkoff — author of book, titled "What to Expect When "What to Expect When You’re Expecting: Virginia FootYou're Expecting" — has appeared ball." Like Murkoff 's original, this on The New York iteration could serve to Time’s Bestsellers KRISHNA KORUPOLU fuel paranoia among Sports Columnist list every week for the Virginia fanbase nearly two decades. through a hyper-fixaShe was even named tion on the negative. of the 100 most influential people Last weekend, Virginia honin the world by Time magazine. ored its decade-long tradition of Murkoff 's book catapulted her snatching defeat from the clutches to worldwide fame, but it also cre- of victory on homecoming weekated controversy about what some end as the Cavaliers lost in consaw as a paranoid tone on preg- founding fashion. nancy. The manual earned nickYes, it is incredibly easy to benames such as “What to Freak Out come paranoid about how the About When You Are Expecting” Cavaliers will finish the season or “What to Expect if You Want to against formidable foes such as Develop an Eating Disorder”.

FSU and Georgia Tech. Yes, we are After last Saturday’s debacle all worried the Cavaliers will end against North Carolina, I think their season the same as they have Murkoff would be well equipped in each of the last 10 years, with a to write another edition of her loss against the hated Hokies.

It is easy to fall into the cynicism, into the same sense of mounting disappointment which has plagued the football program for as long as we can remember.

However, it is incredibly important to remember that Virginia went 2–10 last year, lowlighted by a nine-game losing streak. Few programs can rebound from such a dreadful showing.

The real question we must ask ourselves before falling into the pit of paranoia is, “Are the Cavaliers playing bad football?”

The answer is decidedly, “No.” Virginia is the fifth-ranked offense in the ACC in terms of total yards. Last year, the Cavaliers finished 13th out of 14 teams in that category. Throughout the season, even with changes at the quarterback position, the team

has improved its overall offensive efficiency, and players converted 50 percent of their third-down attempts in the last four games, compared to just more than 40 percent in the first four games.

Across the board, the Cavaliers outplayed the Tar Heels at their Homecomings matchup this weekend.

For 55 minutes Saturday, the Cavaliers were the best team on the field. They landed on the unfortunate end of a gutsy gamble by UNC coach Larry Fedora. Virginia is playing the right way and doing the right things. Mistakes happen in sports, but it's unfair to evaluate this team’s performance solely on the outcome.

The wins for the program will come. Virginia continues to play solid football — albeit with the oc-

casional boneheadedness — and continues to recruit remarkably well.

The Cavaliers are in a position similar to one the Miami Hurricanes were in the early 1980s, a young team built on high quality in-state recruiting. The Hurricanes of that time were defined by their hard-hitting defense and constant flow of top defensive recruits, much like Virginia in the last two seasons.

It took the Hurricanes five years to build that team into a national powerhouse. If Virginia can continue to recruit the 757 area the way that it has in recent years, and the young defensive core can continue to improve, there is no question the Cavaliers will transform into a top tier program in the very near future.

W SOCCER Cavaliers prepare to contain Arvas, Pitt attack Continued from page 5 down the road. I think we’d be fine even if Morgan hadn’t practiced with us, she’s just that kind of player.”

Though Virginia has plenty of internal dynamics to address, the team cannot forget that the Panthers boast one of the best offensive talents in the ACC, specifically in Finnish international junior forward Roosa Arvas. An elite

scorer, Arvas ranks sixth in the ACC in goals scored — one spot ahead of Cavalier junior forward Brittany Ratcliffe — with nine to her name.

Virginia boasts an incredibly strong offense which should more

than match up, ranking first in the ACC in goals and goals per game — but it is the team’s defense which will prove to be its strongest asset against Pittsburgh and in the games thereafter. The Cavaliers rank third in the ACC, allowing

just 0.65 goals per game, and are particularly stingy at home, where they have yet to lose this season.

Kickoff between the Panthers and the Cavaliers is set for 7 p.m.

Saturday night at Klöckner Stadium.

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Thursday, October 30, 2014

THE ADVENTURES OF THE AMAZING <THE> A-MAN

graphics MOSTLY HARMLESS BY PETER SIMONSEN

NO PUN INTENDED BY CHARLOTTE RASKOVICH

MORE AWKWARD THAN SOME

BY CHANCE LEE

BY EMILIO ESTEBAN

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The Cavalier Daily

Thursday, October 30, 2014

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LEAD EDITORIAL

A stronger protective force

opinion

Virginia law should be amended to include emotional abuse as grounds for a protective order

Comment of the day

“The article reaches.”

“John Carr” responding to Lily Patterson’s Oct. 28 article “Donald Glover’s ‘STN MTN/ Kauai’ shows moments of brilliance among flawed effort.”

The University Women’s Center and Sigma Psi Zeta sorority have co-sponsored Domestic Violence Awareness events throughout the month of October, including a panel yesterday titled, “A Survivor’s Guide to Relationship Violence.” Members of the panel included fourth-year College student Sandra Menendez, a survivor of intimate partner violence, Associate Dean of Students Nicole Eramo, and Henrico Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court Judge Maggie Deglau.

College students may not be conscious of how relationship violence can affect them or their peers, because the commonly used term “domestic violence” is typically associated with married couples. But dating violence is actually extremely common among young women. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, women ages 16 to 24 experience the highest per capita rate of intimate partner violence. It is essential for college students to know what resources are available to them if they experience violence in relationships.

Menendez discussed her experiences with getting a protective order

against her abuser, and with Dean Eramo issuing a no-contact order when Menendez came to the University. These are two options which may be available to students looking for protection from an abuser.

Eramo said she has a lot of liberty to issue no-contact orders — which mandate students not attempt to contact each other during their time at the University and have disciplinary consequences within the University if either student breaks the order.

But protective orders which are procured through the court system and impose heavier restrictions on the abuser can sometimes be more difficult to obtain.

The legal system has become more receptive to survivors who are seeking protective orders by training judges to be aware of the cycle of violence and by changing the laws to expand what qualifies as domestic violence or intimate partner violence. Physical violence or stalking are grounds for a judge to grant a protective order, but there are still forms of abuse which do not fall into those categories. Deglau said she has had experiences with women who

have asked for protective orders because their partners are emotionally abusive — which includes shaming, alienation and excessive jealousy — but she has not been able to grant those requests because there was no physical violence or repeated attempts to frighten them.

A definition for emotional abuse could be difficult to establish. Incidental name-calling and insults would not qualify, because such actions would not be significant enough. Deglau said the definition would have to stipulate repeated behavior that has a significant impact on well-being, and these semantics could take a long time to sort through. Developing the language of the legislation would be a lengthy process which would have to involve extensive input from medical experts on the effects of emotional abuse.

All forms of relationship violence can have a negative effect on someone’s health. Dr. Terri Babineau, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs at Eastern Virginia Medical School, who also spoke on the panel, said she has found survivors of domestic vio-

lence are more likely to have hypertension, asthma and arthritis, among other medical conditions. And the abuse does not have to be physical to cause physical side-effects.

Not only can emotional abuse be damaging in and of itself, but it can also be a precursor to physical violence. Abusive partners use physical or sexual violence to control someone when other non-violent methods of control are ineffective. If a woman recognizes her partner is emotionally abusive and realizes she may be in danger in the future, she should have legal resources available to her so she can leave before the situation escalates to physical violence.

Most of the panelists expressed that the legal options available to survivors and the receptiveness of the justice system have improved immensely over the years. But there are still shortcomings within the law which need to be addressed. Such changes will require greater education about the cycle of violence and the impact of all kinds of abuse, and the system will hopefully continue to improve until all survivors can be protected.

Break the boycott

or the past decade, Palestinian academic freedom, they are not a civil society groups have been just or effective way to bring about calling for people around the world political change, especially within a to boycott Israeli institutions and democracy. corporations, including To boycott Israeli Israeli universities and academic institutions other academic instiis to generalize. Many tutions. The academic Israeli scholars support boycott is part of a the views championed larger movement called by boycotters. By boyBDS, which stands for cotting all Israeli acaBoycott, Divestment, demic institutions, we and Sanctions. Israeli don’t hear the opinions cultural and academic of those who otherwise institutions, accordmight be voices of reaing to the BDS website, son within this conflict.

MARY RUSSO “directly contribute to In addition, the boycott Opinion Columnist maintaining, defending does not address the or whitewashing the oproot cause of the issues pression of Palestinians.” cited by Palestinian civil society.

This movement reached Those issues are results of governGrounds recently, when Univer- ment and military policies, over sity anthropology professor Rich- which the vast majority of academard Handler joined over 650 other ics have little or no control. anthropologists in the International In her essay, “Against Academic Anthropologist Boycott of Israeli Boycotts” Martha Nussbaum, a Academic Institutions. philosopher and professor at the Palestinian civil society groups University of Chicago, draws the draw a direct link between Israeli distinction between direct liability academic institutions and Israeli and implication. The academics in military and political policies. They question should not be held directly also point to the restriction of the liable for human rights violations in academic freedom of Palestinians Palestine. Thus, boycotting them is a under Israeli occupation as justifi- slanted way to get at the root of the cation of the boycott. However, due problem: government policy. to the threat these boycotts pose to A superior approach would be

to focus on lobbying efforts, both rael. Instead of closing lines of comwithin Israel as well as the United munication between American and States. Rather than simply refusing Israeli academics, the focus should to engage with any Israeli academ- remain on increasing the number of ics, American academics would do scholars willing to confront the difbetter to use their positions of in- ficult questions of this conflict. fluence to lobby for change within While I do not believe acaAmerican policies towards Israel. demic boycotts are an effective or The American government is vul- just method of political change, I nerable to changes in public opin- recognize the validity of these efion, and public opinion can be influ- forts. Palestinian civil society groups enced by convincing arguments from academics.

According to Daniel Lefkowitz, a professor in the University’s Jewish Studies Department who has chosen not to take part in the boycott, “the kinds of Israeli actions that boy- To boycott Israeli academic institutions cotters disapprove of exist largeis to generalize ly because of support from the American government.”

Lefkowitz also emphasized the difference between boycotts in have sought solutions for decades to fields such as anthropology versus little avail. It is hard to condemn any technology and scientific fields. nonviolent efforts when considerSince scientific and technological ing the futility of past movements. It fields are much more entwined with would also be naive to say that Israeli economic prosperity, they are far academic institutions are completely more likely to influence policy in devoid of responsibility, especially Israel. since academic institutions are pubThe academic boycotts are a lic in Israel, and some work closely purely symbolic gesture. If there is with the government. any effect at all, it will be isolating acThe United States’ ties with Israel ademics that have the most power to are not strictly political. “It’s almost influence public opinion within Is- like a family betrayal,” said Manuel

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Academic boycotts of Israeli universities and educational institutions are unfair and ineffective Trajtenberg, an economics professor at Tel Aviv University in response to the American Studies Association’s endorsement of the academic boycott. While the academic boycott will likely be futile, as many other efforts to influence this conflict have been, it signifies that Americans are more willing to question their conception of Israel and the United States’ role in the conflict.

As the conflict in the region continues, the depth and significance of the existing divisions become increasingly evident. As the international community looks for solutions, it is vital that communication lines to Israeli academics remain open. We should look to academics and experts on the conflict, both in Israel and Palestine and around the world, for solutions.

That being said, encouraging individuals to participate in economic rather than symbolic boycotts of Israel may have tangible results.

Within democracies such as Israel and the United States, emphasis on individuality promotes a sense of ownership of topical issues.

Mary’s columns run Thursdays.

She can be reached at m.russo@cavalierdaily.com.

OPINION

Thursday, October 30, 2014

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Polling prejudice

Voter ID laws are discriminatory and ineffective t is election season yet again I and the issue of voter identification laws has reared its head once

ing a partisan purpose. At the very least, the Texas case should serve as a wake-up call for voting rights. more. Texas’s new photo ID law will The rapid expansion in strict remain in effect for this voter ID laws, seen in fall’s elections, despite other states such as a previous ruling by a North Carolina and federal district court Ohio, seems to be only that found the law had the beginning in a line been passed with “disof consequences resultcriminatory purpose” ing from the Court’s deand would likely have cision last year in Shelby a disproportionate and County v. Holder. In a adverse impact on micontentious ruling, the nority and poor voters.

Court effectively disTexas Attorney General mantled Section Four CONOR KELLY Greg Abbott, who just of the Voting Rights Act Opinion Columnist so happens to be the of 1965, which required leading candidate in most Southern states the state’s gubernatorial election, ap- to go through the Department of pealed the decision, asking for a stay Justice before enacting changes in of the lower court’s ruling. The Fifth state election law. It should hardly Circuit granted that appeal, as did be surprising that Texas lawmakthe Supreme Court. ers were able to draft a remarkably The debate over voter ID laws severe law in the absence of review has followed familiar strains of ar- from the Justice Department. The gument in recent years. Proponents fact that a photo ID from an in-state argue that they decrease voter fraud four-year college does not serve as and promote confidence in the elec- an acceptable form of identification toral system, while opponents con- under this law only begins to reveal tend that voter fraud is practically the extent of its severity. nonexistent and that such laws disIt is truly disturbing for the fuparately affect minorities, thus serv- ture of voting rights that although

the federal district court in this case had proven discriminatory intent, the Supreme Court was unwilling to interfere and granted the motion for a stay. The Court’s ruling appears to be based essentially on a precedent that the proximity of the election means that courts should refrain from effectively changing the law.

The Court’s consideration of the case shows that the more pervasive issue is its strong tendency to defer to state legislatures whenever possible, even in matters where civil rights are at stake. In conceding to the legislature’s expressed interest of avoiding voter confusion and inefficient election administration, the Court has allowed a law that has officially been deemed racially discriminatory to go into effect.

Of more importance, however, is the issue of whether photo identification is even necessary. Proponents of voter ID laws commonly cite voter fraud as a justification for enforcing strict photo identification measures; it would not be too much to ask, they also argue, for individuals to acquire photo identification. Beyond the fact that minorities and the poor face disproportionate difficulties in obtaining such identification,

in practice voter ID laws are rarely — if ever — about fraud. Though the lawmakers who passed the Texas measure argue it is designed to prevent people from impersonating eligible voters at the polls, the law itself does not address mail-in absentee ballots, where alleged fraud is more common than in any other type of voting. According to election statistics, allegations of absentee ballot fraud account for 24 percent of all election fraud allegations since 2000, more than any other type of fraud.

And that twenty-four percent figure represents only 491 allegations of mail-in fraud over the span of the last fourteen years.

Opponents of strict voter ID laws are quick to claim that such laws purposefully discriminate. This argument is undoubtedly crucial in the fight against such laws, yet if opponents truly wish to catch the ear of lawmakers, who are all too accustomed to responding to claims of discrimination, then they should perhaps pivot toward demonstrating that the law itself doesn’t even meaningfully address what it seeks to prevent. Simply put, if legislators honestly wish to prevent voter fraud, then this law is nothing less than an

example of incompetent lawmaking.

At its worst, the law is an attempt

by Republican lawmakers to suppress minority votes, perhaps in reaction to the dramatic demographic changes occurring in the state. Now a majority-minority state, Texas faces an interesting political future that could see it become a battleground state. Given this context and the rapid push for new voter identification laws, the arguments offered by lawmakers and government lawyers alike begin to fall apart. Current restrictions have already created a political environment that has led to low Hispanic turnout in the state.

The recent wave of Supreme Court rulings on election law, including a decision that affirmed restrictions on same-day registration and voting in North Carolina, does not bode well for the future of minorities’ civic engagement in other states.

Whether in purpose or effect, these voter identification laws amount to nothing less than voter suppression.

Conor’s columns run Tuesdays.

He can be reached at c.kelly@cavalierdaily.com.

Enemies at the door The true threats to our health and well-being are far more banal than the threat of Ebola Ebola. I argue that two threats in particular — one infectious, one noninfectious — are overlooked: the flu Ebola. It’s a scary thought: in one of and depression.

America’s most densely Let us look at the populated metropolitan numbers. In 2011, the centers, someone on the most recent year in verge of becoming inwhich comprehensive fectious roamed the city public health data is just last night. available, there were But while specialists 53,826 influenza- and retrace Dr. Craig Spenpneumonia-related cer’s steps in New York, deaths. For suicide, I put a question to Uni39,518 were lost. By conversity students: have trast, only one person in you had your flu shot?

America has died from GEORGE KNAYSI New York Times columEbola (Thomas Eric Opinion Columnist nist Frank Bruni asked Duncan, who originally the same question last contracted the disease week, when he argued in Liberia). Our Ebola that we are fixating on a relatively numbers reflect the Centers for Disremote threat (Ebola) while ignoring ease Control’s conclusion that “Ebola our basic public health needs. poses no substantial risk to the U.S. I argue a similar point in the con- general population.” Rather, it would text of our University community. seem our greatest health threats are The prominence and sheer scale of those we understand well but fail to the Ebola epidemic should encourage take action against. the international community to take The American panic over Ebola action in West Africa. But back here — the endless news coverage, the anin America, it should also spur com- ecdotal evidence, the misinformation munities to self-reflect: what public — is disproportionate to the threat. health threats must we address? If The American Psychological AssociUniversity students fear for their ation, for one, has taken notice: they personal well-being, certainly safe just released an article titled “Managsex, protection from assault, and re- ing your fear about Ebola.” Their recsponsible alcohol consumption take ommendation? Keep your perspecprecedence over the remote threat of tive intact and stay healthy through

diet, exercise, and hand-washing. ray, Student Health’s associate direcThe Ebola panic is also present in tor of administration and director of our well-educated college bubble. I nursing. was working in the emergency room As generally healthy young the night the University Medical adults, students need not be conCenter had its first potential Ebola cerned about dying from the flu case (a false alarm). “I’m 99% sure the (people younger than 5, older than test will be positive,” one nurse said to 65, or pregnant are most at risk). Still, me, eyeing the room where we’d iso- influenza can cause severe vomitlated the patient. Even then, feet away ing and diarrhea, dehydration, diffrom our Ebola suspect, her certainty ficulty breathing, confusion, and seseemed inappropriate — hadn’t there rious complications for anyone with been dozens of false alarms in the United States? I also see the irrational fear among students. “No,” I recently clarified to a friend after class, “the U.Va. hospiIf University students fear for their personal tal is not keeping well-being, certainly safe sex, protection from any secret Ebola patients.” But have assault, and responsible alcohol consumption take you had your flu precedence over the remote threat of Ebola. shot?

Last week, the University held its annual all-day flu a pre-existing illness. Concerning shot clinic, providing free shots for your personal health, the flu poses a students on the University Aetna much higher risk to safety and wellhealth plan, and $23 shots for any- being than Ebola. And that justifies a one else. “We never know how per- change in attitude. vasive the flu season will be, which is But unfortunately, students face why we encourage the best method a risk of death from another illness: of prevention, which is to get a flu depression. According to the state’s shot and to follow the guidelines for chief medical examiner, Virginia’s healthy behaviors,” said Sandra Mur- suicide numbers have gradually

“

s I write, news is just breaking A that New York City diagnosed its first (and hopefully only) case of

risen since 2003. And in the most recent year for which data is available (2011), Virginia had 1,067 self-inflicted deaths — our highest suicide rate in 13 years.

Suicide is commonly cited as the second most common cause of death among college-aged students, even outnumbering alcohol-related deaths (vehicle accidents are the top cause).

We are reminded of this by the recent suicide of second-year student Connor Cormier. Here, statistics and anecdotes converge on the same conclusion: as a University or state-level public health issue, depression and suicide deserve greater attention and concern than Ebola.

Irrational fear has no place in the public health arena. Certainly, the Ebola outbreak is an international emergency; West Africa deserves vastly more attention and resources than it has been receiving (particularly from wealthy Western countries with the means to help). But here in Charlottesville, Virginia, it is not Ebola but rather the familiar, banal risks — the flu, sexually transmitted diseases and anxiety — that pose the most immediate threats to our personal health.

George’s columns run bi-weekly Tuesdays. He can be reached at g.knaysi@cavalierdaily.com.

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The Cavalier Daily

Reform is required

OPINION

The same problems have plagued Honor for decades; reform is the solution and Committee-proposed solutions of ten years ago illuminates a continuous malaise surrounding “Apathy is the biggest threat to the the system. Until Honor thinks University’s honor sysmore imaginatively tem.” Citing statistics about its systemic isof only two percent of sues, the University is Honor offenses being fated to hear the same reported, Harvey armessages and to see gued that absent major similar outreach efreforms, the system forts that never fully was doomed to fail mend the Community its ideals. In another of Trust. piece titled “Stopping On one hand, Honor’s decline,” Harthe Honor Commitvey noted the need to tee’s efforts to crowdGRAY WHISNANT regain the trust of prosource fixing Honor Opinion Columnist fessors to ensure the with events like the system’s continued viaHonor Congress and bility. The following year, this paper “Everyone Is Honor” are laudable published an article about Honor moves that illustrate the sincerity launching outreach efforts to “pro- of Honor leadership. At the same mote honor awareness,” including time, continuous airing of grievmultiple roundtables, promotional ances without major reform risks materials, and a week dedicated to further alienating the University correcting misconceptions about community. As concerns become the Honor system. more publicized, the perception of Fast forwarding to 2013, in a Honor as willing to take criticism piece titled “Future of Honor hangs but unable to implement solutions in the balance,” Joseph Liss detailed will be solidified. In a recent forum the Honor Committee’s plans for with the Minority Rights Coalition, “promoting a dialogue” among Vice-Chair for Community Relastudents in an effort to “bridge the tions Martese Johnson stated that gap” between the community and his goal was for minority students the Committee. From one perspec- “to be angry” about “issues and distive, the Honor system has man- parities [in] their communities” in aged to survive and endure despite order to motivate them to initiate persistent institutional problems. change. While students should cerLooking at it a different way, the tainly be more engaged with one of continuity between the problems the most consequential institutions

on Grounds, it is still ultimately up crucial, but it needs to be recato the Honor Committee to signal librated to include those UVa stuto students and faculty not only dents outside of the social circles unity in concern but also unity in tangential to Honor.” action. University NAACP PresiIt also appears the majority of dent VJ Jenkins argues, “Minority Honor’s focus this year has been students can no longer victimize on creating programs or polithemselves and cry out that their cies which extend off-Grounds, interests are not served,” claiming such as those to deal with Corner instead, “It is the responsibility merchants and rent disputes. As of both students and members of a Managing Board editorial said Honor to close the disparaging gap last week, “The Committee’s focus in disproportionate representation should remain on the flaws within on the Honor Committee.” the University community, before Under the current leadership, it begins to look too far outside it.” there have been serious efforts Whatever the merits of the new to reform the composition of the organization through community member evaluations in interviews and greater diversity of support ofUntil Honor thinks more imaginatively about its ficers.

Despite systemic issues, the University is fated to hear the these positive same messages and to see similar outreach efforts steps, Honor Support Officer Katie that never fully mend the Community of Trust.

Deal points out that the students Honor included in its interview policies, vociferous debate around process were nearly exclusively these issues at the possible expense from L2K, a student-leadership of others suggests a concerning imnetwork handpicked by the Uni- pulse to expand a troubled system versity. Citing success in reaching rather than first shore it up. the broader student body through The point of this column is recent Lawn Chats, Deal suggests, not to attack Honor or argue for “Using outside sources in our re- the system’s abolition. As long as cruitment process is absolutely there is a University, there will be

“

n 2003, The Cavalier Daily ran I an Opinion piece in which writer Patrick Harvey argued,

an Honor system with significant institutional power and impact on the lives of real people. Furthermore, this Honor leadership team appears as honestly committed, if not more so, to making the system better as any other in recent memory. That said, what Honor needs is radical thinking, not in the political sense but in the Latin meaning of the term — examining inherent or root causes of a problem. Hopefully, the upcoming Open Dialogue on the Single Sanction on November 5th can in fact be a stepping stone to more radical action. If we are to end the inertia that has been plaguing the system for decades, we need to look more honestly at a single sanction which around 80 percent of the student body either does not support or approves with reservations, as columnist John Connolly points out. If the single sanction is not in fact the root cause of Honor’s problems, it is up to the Committee to discover what is and make every effort to address it. Outreach efforts may help bridge some of the gap between Honor and the broader Community of Trust, but being aware of a problem is far from fixing it.

Gray’s columns run Wednesdays.

He can be reached at g.whisnant@ cavalierdaily.com.

Hoos got your Yak Yik Yak is a valuable opportunity for the voices of the University community to be heard Viewpoint Writer

In a recent column entitled “Having the Last Yak,” Brennan Edel decries the use of Yik Yak, a popular app used by people within a certain radius of a college campus to post anonymously. However, Yik Yak is what people make of it, and it is a symptom of — maybe even a potential cure for — the ills facing our university.

Edel begins by claiming that the University community is in trouble because of high enrollment and the loss of traditional University culture, but the tradition of the University isn’t constrained by any one place or person or idea; it belongs to the students and is shaped by them. If the tradition changes due to increasing enrollment, this simply means that more people can learn from our community and contribute to it. There is no one way to present Mr. Jefferson’s ideas, and Yik Yak allows us to share our individual interpretations of them.

Edel continues by saying Yik Yak is violates the Community of Trust. The logic behind this is that not stepping up and taking credit for one’s thoughts is a form of deception. However, anonymous posting, even for apparently trivial reasons, is still useful because it allows opinions that would have not

is made aware of these thoughts because of Yik Yak, without which the community would have otherwise remained ignorant.

Yik Yak further strengthens the community by allowing us the opportunity to recognize and respond to criticisms. Edel claims that an inflammatory and bigoted Yak shames all of us and the anonymous nature of Yik Yak prevents us from adequately responding. In actuality, an inflammatory and bigoted Yak lets obHowever, anonymous posting, even for servers realize that apparently trivial reasons, is still useful because there are cowards in it allows opinions that would have not otherwise our community, and promotes dialogue been made public to be made public. about that topic in the hopes that the author or someone otherwise been made public to be who shares that opinion will learn made public. Whereas Edel implies from the dialogue. that Yik Yak is the cause of these Yik Yak goes beyond commuopinions, I argue that it is the ef- nity-wide issues and addresses fect of thoughts that exist indepen- those that are important to each dently of Yik Yak. The community individual. Countless Yaks have

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Sawan Patel

been posted about how lonely a student is or how he is struggling, and it is always uplifting to see how the members of our community — even though they will never get credit for it because it is anonymous — respond to that person with kind words of encouragement. Yik Yak provides such a means of informal advising, like an anonymous RA, as a place one can go to with problems or issues or questions when too afraid or embarrassed to use traditional means of advising such as CAPS or an academic advisor.

Most importantly, Yik Yak provides a distraction. For every bigoted Yak, supportive Yak or mean Yak there are dozens of funny oneliners that have a negligible impact on the world outside of Yik Yak. They will live out their time on the feed and then fade away into oblivion without having made a difference in anyone’s life. These are the Yaks that people look for when they need a break from a paper or assignment they are struggling with. It gives them a break and

they get to reestablish themselves as part of the community, if only for 5 minutes. They can go on the app and laugh and temporarily feel good. The app lets people know, whenever they need it, that they are part of a larger community, and it allows people to feel the presence of the community. Edel claims that because the posting is anonymous, all students take some credit for every yak. So, by Edel’s logic, we all deserve recognition for our part in the 1/15000 of yaks that make someone’s day better.

This is the fundamental nature of Yik Yak that Edel ignores.

The high minded assumptions he makes look and sound terrific, but in the end Yik Yak is just an app, and as such is what people make out of it. So we can either see what people in our community are thinking and try to understand it, or we can pretend nothing is wrong. Regardless, it all boils down to the fact that we use Yik Yak to amplify our own individual voices, simply to make more people laugh.

Thursday, October 30, 2014

A&E arts & entertainment

Candace Carter Senior Writer

Charlottesville singer-songwriter Peyton Tochterman returned to The Southern Oct. 25 with his band, Man on a Horse, after his stint as an American cultural ambassador to Afghanistan where he spread goodwill through Americana folk music.

Arts & Entertainment sat down with the talented local to discuss his overseas experience.

Arts & Entertainment: What are you most excited about in returning to a Charlottesville stage?

Is there more pressure here than when you’re in another area, or do you feel more relaxed onstage?

Peyton Tochterman: I have been doing this for a while now, and I still get a little nervous when I walk on stage. But that’s the fun part, … the pressure is everywhere because this is how I put food on my table. But I love playing Charlottesville. This town has been really good to me.

U.Va has been really good to me.

This is a GREAT place to live and be based out of…I am doing a special deal for the Southern Show. If you order advance tickets or you present a U.Va ID at the show, you will get my entire back catalog for just the price of the ticket.

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Peyton Tochterman’s unity music Local musician serves as cultural ambassador to Afghanistan

A&E: You’ve stated that you don’t think artists are discovered in bars anymore. What makes you believe this, considering your career started in the Charlottesville bar scene?

PT: … Not that long ago, record labels and management companies … would discover these people in bars or wherever and sign them and give them an advance and help develop them. That doesn’t happen much anymore. You have to go out on your own and somehow afford to build a national audience on your own. … No labels are investing in ground floor artists because they have figured out people will buy what is put in front of them. … It makes perfect business sense. But it makes no artistic sense. That’s why there are nine-year olds like Bieber running the show.

A&E: Your music has been called wholly “Virginian.” What do you think makes it Virginian rather than Appalachian or Americana?

PT: Because I use words like “‘merica” rather than America. And I say “wooter” rather than water.

“Toosdee” rather than Tuesday. … I just feel that there is a lot that comes from being Virginian in my lyrics. … We are so rich in tradition. … I wouldn’t say our music is roots music. I would just say it stems heavily from the study and appreciation of American and specifically Southern roots music. Our sound is basically

Courtesy Peyton Tochterman

Peyton Tochterman and his band Man on a Horse headed to the Southern last Saturday with songs and stories dripping with multinational experience.

what we learned from those guys and tossed into our pot and cooked it up.

A&E: Can you tell us exactly what your job was overseas and how you executed it?

PT: Sure. This is an excerpt from my journal while I was over there. It pretty much sums it up. … The U.S. State Department invited us here as “cultural ambassadors.” What I didn’t know until we arrived was that I was THE spokesman, representing the United States and showing how diplomacy can be shaped by the musical arts — even in war-ravaged Afghanistan.

… We have already met thousands of Afghans and found them to be kind, generous, hospitable, talented and honorable. They take great pride in their heritage and culture, but they also have a thirst for American folk music, for the stories we tell, our instruments and the way we play. … One of the State Department officers … said our visit did “more for diplomacy between Afghanistan and the United States than any diplomat had done, more than any road that was built or any power plant that was constructed in the last year.”

If nothing else, we are returning

home reassured that music really is a universal language which can unite diverse peoples. … We are all connected through music and we must continue to celebrate this connection, this language which is so important not just to our own culture, but also to cultures around the world.

A&E: Do you think your mission was successful?

PT: Well, here is another excerpt from my journal. It answers the question. … Some Afghan men arrived by foot and presented their invitation to the guards. And then off in the distance I saw a dust cloud and in the midst of it, dozens of blue burqas scuttling down the side of the road.

Surely, Afghan women, covered from head to toe ... couldn’t be coming to this concert. … When we came on-stage, I immediately searched for the blue burqas. They are frightening and beautiful all at the same time — much like Afghanistan itself. … I noticed way in the back right corner, about 50 women in Western dress, smiling and intently listening to our songs and watching us on stage. … The women had taken off their blue burqas. They were at a Western concert, surrounded by accepting Afghan men. … They were taking a chance, a risk, but they were here to listen to American music, eyes glowing, faces showing, like everyone else in the room: equal.

The Last Bison’s return to central Virginia Hot off the heels of their latest record’s release, eccentric folk band returns to the Southern

Noah Zeidman Staff Writer

Following the release of ambitious last album "VA," Virginia natives The Last Bison will bring their uniquely, folksy sound to The Southern Cafe & Music Hall Friday, Nov. 7.

Arts & Entertainment caught up with frontman Ben Hardesty to discuss the band’s sound, the new album and what to expect from their current tour.

Arts & Entertainment: What genre best describes The Last Bison? Given the eclectic sound showcased on "VA," a label like "folk" seems overly general.

Ben Hardesty: We used to describe the music as “mountaintop chamber” — mountaintop describing its roots feel, and chamber describing the classical nuances. I definitely still think this is an adequate description. However, just the other day I was having a conversation

with someone, and they described it as “anthemic American stomp.” I thought that was pretty awesome.

AE: Have any other artists influenced the band’s sound, especially as it evolved on the new album?

BH: Some of us are die-hard U2 fans, some of us mostly listen to classical, some listen and hunt for music no one has heard of. For me, as a songwriter, I know my influences are far more steeped in experience than in hearing other people's music. A moment which is truly awesome to witness affects me more than hearing an incredible song. I tried to reflect on those moments in my life when we wrote this album.

A&E: What are some themes you explore lyrically on "VA"?

BH: We explored freedom in both the literal and figurative sense.

Some songs actually reference being set free from bondage such as slavery. Other songs are more along the lines of being set free from guilt, or a vice. Also, there are songs from the

other side of freedom, from a yearning or longing for freedom not yet realized. Sometimes, a message that needs to come out is just inside you and you don't yet know it, and when you start writing it just comes out.

A&E: You recorded "VA" in a cabin in rural Virginia. How did that setting contribute to the album’s sound?

BH: I grew up surrounded by swamp, forest and marshlands, as did several other members of the band. I felt like putting us in a familiar and close-to-home environment would inspire creative freedom.

We could step out of the A-frame structure we recorded in and be surrounded by trees. We could walk 100 yards and be on the riverbank. That safety and familiarity is comforting, and causes less tension throughout the recording process. When there's less negative tension, there's always more life in a project.

A&E: This album has some very complex arrangements. Has that presented any difficulties for the

tour?

BH: We try very hard to craft songs we can pull off both on the recordings and in the live show.

We practice our parts and songs over and over again until they are ingrained in our heads. We truly want the live show to sound like the recording, so we think about that going into writing and into how that translates to our concerts.

A&E: What kinds of sets can we expect to hear on this tour?

BH: People should come to the shows expecting to hear lots of new music. We are playing a lot of songs off "VA" and even some stuff that didn't make it in the record. However, we will definitely be leaving old favorites in the set as well. As far as covers, you will just have to come to the show and see, but expect some classic rock.

A&E: What have you been most looking forward to about the tour?

BH: Certain places on tour become like homes away from home.

Friends, family and fans all around

the country have welcomed us into their homes. They have let us crash on their couches, in their beds, on their floors, and have made us delicious home-cooked meals. Seeing those people, reconnecting and catching up — that's always my favorite part of tour. Oh, and of course getting to play our songs and interact with everyone who comes out to dance and sing along is an absolute blast.

A&E: What’s your favorite song off the new album to play live?

BH: I think you would probably have to ask each band mate individually. I enjoy playing “Cyprus Queen” because of the thick beat and energy.

I enjoy playing “Endview,” because it always has a way of sweeping me up into some feeling I can't describe.

Different songs connect to me in different ways, and for that reason depending on where I am that day, any song could be my favorite.

Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

The Cavalier Daily

St. Paul and the Broken Bones return Alabama-based group bring unforgettable soul music to the Jefferson last Thursday

Courtesy St. Paul

Catherine Jessee Senior Writer

Alabamian seven-piece soul band St. Paul and the Broken Bones played for a sold-out crowd at the Jefferson Theater Thursday night. With a crowd amassing early, the energy was palpable in the pit.

Jessica Hernandez and the Deltas, a rock and soul band from Detroit, opened the evening, feeding off the crowd’s energy. Hernandez, whose voice was both playful and forceful, carried far. She was not, however, without her own sizable

crowd — a rare thing for an opening act at a mid-size concert venue. The growing audience danced along to her compelling fusion of jazz, rock and soul in anticipation of St. Paul himself.

Before leading St. Paul and the Broken Bones, Paul Janeway had been “normal” in every sense — an Alabamian bank teller born singing in the church, fair skinned with a gut and wide-rimmed glasses. He appears exactly this way on stage, donning a khaki suit with a pastel handkerchief. He is no less ordinary — except instead of loafers, he wears white patent leather boxtoed shoes, and instead of working

as a bank teller, he is selling out consecutive shows up and down the East Coast.

The set was full of energy from the very beginning. Janeway seemed to be on every inch of the stage at once, a tour de force both in body and voice. The strength of the band came in its remarkable ability to pull the weight of this energy. In “Don’t Mean a Thing,” hornplayers Allen Branstetter and Ben Griner demonstrated this skill, improvising and occasionally embellishing the rest of the instrumentals.

Most exciting was the unforeseen cover of David Bowie’s

“Moonage Daydream.” More memorable, however, was “Grass Is Greener” from album “Half the City,” a song which seemed to grow increasingly louder and faster without overwhelming. The pieces also featured the subtle but masterly melody of organist Al Gamble, an esteemed musician and member of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.

The band was particularly good at unraveling energy contained in slower soul songs, especially in a particularly powerful cover of Otis Redding’s “Try A Little Tenderness.” Janeway repeated the last verse six additional times to tease

the audience, even pausing the band to lie prostrate on the floor between repeats.

While nobody will ever truly compare to the original Otis Redding, Janeway comes eerily close.

Perhaps it is his history with the gospel tradition or his bank-telling job from a previous life, but Janeway’s talent seems to lie largely in his sensitivity to the happiness of those around him — in his attention to the crowd and the customer.

“We got two more songs, if ya know what I mean,” Janeway said, winking. Two songs later, the audience roared for an encore anyway.

Run the Jewels’ latest project is not to miss A&E chats with American hip-hop duo about upcoming Charlottesville appearance Carson Newman Senior Writer

In anticipation of Run the Jewels’ appearance at The Jefferson Theater this Sunday, Arts & Entertainment sat down with American hip-hop duo Killer Mike and EI-P to discuss the musicians’ latest project and their upcoming performance.

Arts & Entertainment: When did you get the idea for the Run the Jewels project?

Killer Mike: We enjoy hanging around together. We really just enjoy generally rocking together, so this was a great opportunity to continue that and make something great.

AE: Killer Mike, you put a big emphasis on family. How does that impact the work you guys produce and how you perform?

KM: From a family aspect it makes it not hard or bad, but my oldest boy is 20 now, and my youngest daughter is seven.

When I’m home, I just try and do regular dad [stuff]. Just 'cause your dad is a rapper doesn’t mean you don’t get to do normal child things. And it’s worth it knowing that they are clothed and fed

when I’m on tour.

AE: Do you ever sense a North/South divide between the two of you? Was that something you had to overcome when first working together?

El-P: I can tell you this: when we do our Civil War reenactments, we’re on the same side. I think we feed off each other. Our differences are exciting. I think that we each bring something that is specific to us, because of the way we grew up. Neither of us can predict what it’s going to be. That’s one of the most exciting things about working with Mike. It’s going to be different from the sum of its parts.

AE: What is the dynamic like in the studio? How do you get your best work done?

El-P: We do it together, always in the same room. Always together.

AE: Has your approach to "RTJ2" been different than that of your first album?

KM: We wanted it harder and we wanted it darker. We knew we wanted a more intense version of what you were used to.

AE: What are you guys working on outside of the music

industry?

KM: Opening another barbershop. I really wanna get into more photography. I take pictures of cars and stuff, but I want to take pictures of nude women. I need to check with my wife on that one. I think I just got my first picture published in some magazine.

AE: Any up-and-coming artists you would recommend?

KM: Rara out of Atlanta.

You can get four different producers from the South, and they’ll all have a different style.

Houston, New Orleans, Atlanta and Memphis — they all have different styles. That’s what’s so great about the South. [Rara] took what Goodie Mob and Outkast did and expanded on it, took it a whole new direction.

AE: Who do you want to call out as the softest rapper in the game, and why?

KM: I can’t really say. Twenty years ago, MC Hammer was considered soft, and he would beat your ass. He was from Compton, you know what I’m sayin’? I can’t say, ‘cause I’ve never been in a fight or flight situation with another rapper. And I hope that I never am, outside of El.

Courtesy Flickr Daniel Patlán

The dynamic rap duo comprised of El-P and Killer Mike head to the Jefferson this Sunday to promote their sophomore record “RTJ2.”

CD: What is your favorite non-rap album?

KM: "Led Zeppelin I" and "[Led Zeppelin] II" for the tie.

Honorary mention to Black Sabbath.

CD: Do you have a standard pre-show meal?

KM: Right now we’re trying to get in shape for shows. Drinking a lot of water and [eating] salad. … I think for El it’s a cigarette.

CD: And what would you do

if you were not making music?

KM: If I wasn’t doing music, I’d definitely be doing the same [stuff] from a business standpoint. This is all I ever wanted to do, and I’m so lucky that it happened. I don’t really have a Plan B at this point.

Run The Jewels will be performing this Sunday, Nov. 2 at the Jefferson Theater Downtown.

Their album is available for free from their website.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Thursday, October 30, 2014

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‘Once Gone’ offers interactive performance art Collaboration destined for New York proves best suited for artistic-minded viewers Lauren Dozier Staff Writer

“Once Gone,” a collaboration between choreographer Abigail Levine and composer Erik Deluca, was featured at the Open Grounds Corner study Friday. There, the small scale performance venue set the backdrop for an intimate, interactive work of art.

This “work in progress,” set to be performed at St. Mark’s Church in New York City on Nov. 11, offers an interactive experience in which viewers are invited to stand and change positions in the room — and, thus, perspectives — in the room, emphasizing the performance’s focus on change and disappearance.

While conceptually beautiful, the piece Levine defines as “dance” errs more towards the side of modern performance art and has starkly minimalist visual aesthetics. The performance

features Levine as a solo performer, striving to extend the life of her work of art. She repeatedly marks a large piece of paper while simultaneously executing slow methodical choreography focusing on imperfect repetition.

Levine enacts her performance with the grace and precision of traditional dance, carefully positioning her form to create the intended visual effect with deliberate positions and physical lines.

Deluca’s musical composition proved an intriguing companion to Levine’s choreography, with Levine queuing the music throughout her performance by clicking various tape players. The music began as a grainy blend of tumultuous sounds ranging from heavy breathing to an Alaskan glacier, gradually moving towards more hauntingly beautiful tones until maturing to a more melodious accompaniment.

Despite Levine’s gradual

journey from one end of the room to the other, the repetitive nature of her physical performance was somewhat static. The progression of the music into a euphonious sound, however, added a necessary dynamism to the production.

Although Levine’s movements intentionally did not mirror or interpret the accompaniment, the relationship of motion to sound created a greater depth than if one piece of the performance were to have stood alone.

The rejection of performance art in “Once Gone” is somewhat detrimental, however, presenting a jarring deviation from artistic expectations. The piece is initially disorienting.

Levine immediately drops to the floor, acting out slow, deliberate motions. Rather than enacting a fluid string of multiple movements, Levine presents something more akin to the gradual progression of a single pose. Although she meticulously

creates graceful choreography, citing the influence of Greek sculpture, Levine’s act soon grows rather tedious in its lack of major developments.

Levine and Deluca explained their respective work during the open discussion following the performance. The duo’s desire to prolong the existence of dance — which lacks the immortality of visual art, which can more easily outlive its creator — is touching, although the work itself is aesthetically monotonous.

Aided by sheer unexpectedness, Levine’s slow progression across a room lined with a slew of identical, evenlyspaced tape players is initially engaging. However, once the shock factor diminishes, the glacial pace of the piece does little to contribute to the lack of surprise.

Additionally, Levine rarely turns towards her audience, creating a barrier which feels unnatural.

If the piece had been tailored more closely to the idea of

performance art, this disconnect would be less off-putting.

“Once Gone” is perhaps best reserved for viewers who are extremely well-versed in modern art, as it is a far cry from traditional dance and lacks a wide breadth of visual expression. The piece sets the stage for a thought-provoking display — however, the sudden disconnect prevents any sort of emotional impact.

Of the two, the audio accompaniment is the stronger component of the entire work.

Erik DeLuca’s melodies are comparatively more equipped to stand alone without explanation, their metamorphosis throughout the piece offering grounds for interpretation. “Once Gone,” while intriguing, is heavily reliant on the viewer’s previous knowledge and understanding of its conceptual background.

Thus, this piece falls short as a performance for a common audience.

‘A Tribute To Our Stars’ can’t be B.E.A.T.(S) Last event of Black Culture Week unites personal experience with historical significance

Attiya Latif Staff Writer

At 9 p.m. Friday, the lights in Ern Commons dimmed and the loud chatter became a hush as the culminating event of Black Culture Week was set to begin. The poetry slam, “A Tribute To Our Stars,” showcased the talent and passion poets from B.E.A.T.S., or the Black Expression Awareness and Thought Society, and Nauhtal, an award winning slam team from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Poets spoke about the daily struggles of minorities which often go unrecognized. Topics ranged from appreciating and accepting one’s skin color to defying gender labels. Each poet delivered an outpouring of emotion — and the crowd snapped, cheered and clapped as popular topics and wellknown concerns were brought to light.

Among performing artists was Phen Bowmin, a recent graduate from VCU who received a bachelor’s of fine arts in photography and now coaches Nauhtal. Bowmin performed several original pieces, one of which served as a commentary on the racism in small towns where minorities are scarce

Courtesy BSA

and tolerance is limited. The most beautiful aspect of slam poetry, Bowmin said, is the truth within each piece.

“Everyone has a story and wants to hear other people’s stories,”

Bowmin said. “Yeah, we make change, but all of that comes from talking to one another and being honest.”

A goal for many of Friday night’s performers, Bowmin said, was to

say powerful things on race and to put modern racism into context for those who do not regularly experience it.

“Hearing people tell their stories gets people interested in pushing

forward and making change in the world,” Bowmin said.

Other pieces were more personal, including a poem by VCU junior Shavontae Patrick titled “Target Practice,” which discussed police brutality.

“When I think about the injustices against minorities, I think of my father,” Patrick said. “And that scares me. It was important to write that poem, because this could apply to anyone.”

Patrick, who is planning to double major in English and African American studies, said the poetry slam was an effective way to end Black Culture Week.

“Poetry is probably one of the greatest black arts, stemming from a time period of innovation where arts such as blues arose,” Patrick said. “It became a movement so now everyone does it, but it’s definitely a part of black culture. It helps to talk about how issues directly affect us using such a historic art.”

Spoken word poetry, Patrick said, allows the speaker to convey emotion in a way other art forms cannot.

“When you get on stage, there is a certain vulnerability in someone’s face,” Patrick said. “The performance aspect is displaying something you can’t read.”

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