August 30, 2012 by The Cavalier Daily

Volume 123, No. 4 Distribution 10,000

Serving the University of Virginia community since 1890

The WEEKEND Cavalier Daily Dai EDITION Thursday, August 30, 2012

President holds rally

Students and community members gathered on the Downtown Mall Wednesday afternoon to see President Barack Obama.

7,500-strong crowd greets Obama at Charlottesville Downtown Mall By Donald Sensabaugh Cavalier Daily Associate Editor

More than 7,500 Barack Obama supporters flooded the Downtown Mall Wednesday afternoon to see the president speak at the nTelos Wireless Pavilion. Obama covered a breadth of campaign issues, including the economy, his signature health care bill, the war in Afghanistan and gay marriage in a speech meant to appeal to the same kinds of young voters who in 2008 flocked to the polls in large

numbers to propel him to victory. “I want to speak to the young people here,” Obama said. “I know that when you get into that voting booth, the decision you will make will affect the next decades ... you gotta vote.” Among the speakers who preceded Obama were former Rep. Tom Perriello, D-Virginia, and former Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine. Kaine is currently running against Republican George Allen in the highly competitive Virginia Senate race.

Thomas Bynum| Cavalier Daily

Fourth-Year College student M a t h i a s Wo n d w o s e n w a s chosen to introduce the president. He met Obama backstage before the event. “He was so calm and relaxed and made me feel very relaxed,” Woodson said. “[He] took all the burden out of trying to create conversation and did it all himself actually.” Virginia is a major swing state in the presidential elecPlease see Obama, Page A3

Tweets about Obama

The Cavalier Daily @cavalierdaily Obama: “If we win Virginia, we will win America.” #ObamaCville

Fred Bosserman @APR_Architects @cavalierdaily @BarackObama UVA promotes civic engagement every day of its operation as a public university, without any need for Obama The Cavalier Daily @cavalierdaily #Obama says, “Don’t just chant; you gotta vote.” #ObamaCville Catherine Craig @catherinec8 @cavalierdaily Obamacare versus RomneyDoesn’tCare

Local Tea Party gathers Conservatives organize protest, criticize Obama’s jobs record, economic plan By Kelly Kaler

Cavalier Daily Associate Editor

Thomas Bynum | Cavalier Daily

The Jefferson Area Tea Party staged a counter-rally at Lee Park near the site of Obama’s speech Wednesday afternoon to denounce the president’s policies.

Hours before President Barack Obama addressed a crowd gathered on the Downtown Mall Wednesday afternoon, the Jefferson Area Tea Party staged a rally a couple streets away to show Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s commitment to the youth vote. The Republicans assembled at Lee Park Wednesday expressed confidence in the GOP’s chances in November. But Del. Rob Bell, R-Albemarle, speaking at the

event, said the Republican Party has a number of hoops to jump through before November rolls around, especially in overcoming Charlottesville’s strong blue history. “The Charlottesville area is challenging [for conservatives], but we are not seeing the same Obama enthusiasm from students that we did four years ago,” Bell said. Bell wasn’t the only Republican to note the significant challenges Charlottesville poses for the party, but Carole Thorpe, media relations director and former chair of the Jeffer-

son Area Tea Party, said the Tea Party exists to provide an alternative for Charlottesville voters. Thorpe said her main concern is protecting the next generation. “The Class of 2016 should talk to the graduating class who don’t know how they’re going to pay their [student loans],” she said. “If they think it’s bad now, wait four years and that’s when it’s going to be really bad.” Please see Republicans, Page A3

Students react to lab fee State extends bonus to faculty Bremer says $32 per-credit-hour charge will pay for state-of-the-art technology By Lizzy Turner

Amid four-year salary freeze, academic employees to receive three percent bonus in November By Grace Hollis

Cavalier Daily Associate Editor University faculty are eligible to receive a three percent bonus from the state of Virginia with their November paychecks this year, University Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Susan Carkeek announced Tuesday. Faculty salaries have been frozen since December 2007. Using a $448.5 million surplus from last year’s budget Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell announced in an Aug. 15 email he had decided to offer a bonus to state employees. “Thanks directly to additional efforts by you and your fellow state employees to save rather than spend down year end balances, the Commonwealth has saved enough to provide for the $77.2 million general fund share of the 3% bonus,” McDonnell stated in the email. Carkeek’s announcement came the same day University President Teresa A. Sullivan met with the Faculty Senate at the Darden School to discuss the issue of fac-

Please recycle this newspaper

ulty retention in light of the fouryear faculty salary freeze. The University will offer the bonus to full-time and parttime University staff but not temporary staff, said Alexandra Rebhorn, a spokesperson for University Human Resources. It will apply only to employees hired before April 1, 2012. To be eligible, employees must also earn a performance evaluation of “meets expectations” and have no disciplinary actions on file. Physics Prof. Lou Bloomfield said arbitrary bonuses will have no lasting effect on an employee’s motivation to excel in his or her field. “The University won’t be able to craft or keep excellent faculty,” Bloomfield said. “Throwing a few thousand dollars people’s way at random moments is a waste of the money. It doesn’t motivate. It is not a response to anything — it’s just ‘here’s money.’” But McDonnell’s office said Wednesday that it was more than just “money,” noting this year’s bonus could be the start of Please see Bonus, Page A3

Cavalier Daily Senior Writer Students taking courses in the Engineering School now pay an additional $32 per credit hour to cover lab expenses, even if the Engineering courses they take don’t have lab components. The fee, instituted this semester, applies to Engineering students and also students in other schools who enroll in

Engineering courses. The University has considered implementing a similar fee for years, said Bob Bremer, the Engineering School’s associate dean for management and finance . Revenues from the fee will cover the cost of new technology in the Engineering labs. “Compared to 10, 20 years ago, technology is rapidly changing and needs to be refreshed more

frequently,” Bremer said. “[The fee] became necessary.” An operating budget draft by Michael Strine, the former executive vice president and chief operating officer who resigned earlier this month, calculated that approximately $6.1 million of revenue will come from additional fees, Please see Science, Page A3

The Academical Choirs

Thomas Bynum | Cavalier Daily

University community members stood on the Lawn’s newly laid grass Wednesday evening to take in “Rotunda Sing,” an end-of-summer tradition.

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NEWS

Thursday, August 30, 2012 | The Cavalier Daily

Three-Day Weather Forecast

Provided by the Cavalier Weather Service

TODAY High of 87˚

TONIGHT Low of 65˚

TOMORROW High of 90˚

TOMORROW NIGHT Low of 64˚

Patchy fog clearing before 9am, but mostly sunny skies with a light wind becoming south around 5 mph.

Mostly clear skies with a light southwest wind. Temperatures drop into the mid 60s.

Sunny skies with a continuing southwesterly wind around 5 mph.

Mostly clear skies with a westerly wind around 5 to10 mph.

SATURDAY High of 88˚ Mostly sunny with temperatures reaching the upper 80s.

A high pressure system will move through the Mid Atlantic region through this weekend, bringing temperatures in the middle 80s and sunny skies. Dewpoints in the 50s and 60s will keep the humidity low, making it feel much more comfortable than the past few days. Hurricane Isaac seems to be moving slowly along the southern coast, so we may or may not see some rainfall at the beginning of next week.

To receive Cavalier Weather Service forecasts via email, contact weather@virginia.edu

Obama | President’s speech targets liberal youth vote Continued from page A1 tion with 13 electoral college votes, University Center for Politics spokesperson Geoff Skelley said. “Virginia was the closest race for Obama with the narrowest margin of victory,” Skelley said. “It was a bellwether in 2008.” Pundits say population growth in Fairfax County and other regions in northern Virginia will give the Democrats a fighting chance come election time. “Northern Virginia was onethird of the vote in 2008 and tends to vote democratic,” Skelley said. “We are looking at three counties in Virginia to

decide the election: Henrico, Louden, and Prince William.” Obama’s stop in Charlottesville occured as the Republicans continued hosting their national convention in Tampa, Fla . The latest Gallup poll on the presidential race shows 46 percent of Americans supporting Mitt Romney and 47 percent throwing their weight behind Obama. Romney may be benefiting from momentum generated by the Republican National Convention, Skelley said. “The way conventions work, they boost the political party hosting it,” he said. “Mitt Romney gets a bounce from

the convention in Tampa, and Obama will get a boost from the convention in Charlotte. The poll will then even out towards election day.” University College Republicans President Christopher Wertman said he thinks that this initial bump is only the beginning for Romney. “I think that we will see Romney pull ahead in the coming weeks and stay there as election day draws near,” Wertman said. Obama focused on outlining the differences between himself and Romney, particularly on social issues, but by focusing on social issues rather than the economy the president could be

trying to secure the Democratic base in the historically blue Charlottesville, Skelley said. “Obama wants to focus on the economy but seems to be focusing on what we would call ‘red meat’ issues for dyed-inthe-wool liberal voters in Charlottesville, issues like gay marriage, restrictions on voting,” he said. “Younger voters tend to be the least conservative socially.” Aware of the largely collegeage crowd he faced, Obama also spoke at length about college tuition and federal education grants. “I think that we should help more Americans go to college like the one you go to,” Obama

said. “But we also need to help Americans go to more community colleges ... we shouldn’t be making it harder for young people. We should be making it easier. Education is not just a right; it’s an economic necessity.” Given the number of undecided voters in this election, getting already-decided voters to the polls is crucial for both sides this year, Skelley said. And Virginia could be the best example of this fact. As the president said Wednesday afternoon, “If we win Virginia, then we will win this election.” — Operations Manager Greg Lewis contributed to this story

Republicans | Obama support has declined, Obenshain says Continued from page A1 To lively cheers and clapping from the audience, Kate Obenshain, the vice president of Young America’s Foundation, a conservative youth organization, delivered a fervently anti-Obama speech encouraging young Americans to “break through the meanness of the

left, the lies, and the fear-mongering” to win the election. “ S o m a ny p e o p l e i n t h i s country [four years ago] were e m b ra c i n g t h e c o n c e p t o f equality of outcome,” she said. “That should send chills down our spines. If young people believe socialism is the way of the future, then we will lose everything we treasure

about the United States. We will cease to be the greatest country in the world.” Later that afternoon, Obama also expressed concern for the future and for America’s path in a speech designed to mobilise youth voters. Attacking Romney for his stance on social issues and criticizing his opponent’s tax plan as

“another millionaire’s tax cut” at the expense of the middle class, Obama attempted to show his dedication to collegeage Americans. “I tell you: on almost every issue he wants to go backwards, sometimes to the last century,” Obama said. Obenshain said this year’s presidential contest was about

more than winning. “It’s about a way of life,” she said. While Tea Partiers waved signs saying “one and done” and “November is coming,” gates a block away on the nTelos Wireless Pavilion opened to the public. As Obenshain ended her speech, the line to hear the president was already stretching down the street.

Bonus | Single payment sidesteps larger issue, Bloomﬁeld says Continued from page A1 more efficient government and more surpluses in the future. Vir-

ginia’s proposed budget for 2013 includes a two percent salary increase. “This is conservative governing

in action, providing public-sector employees with incentives to save and manage taxpayer dollars more efficiently and effec-

tively,” Tucker Martin, director of communications for McDonnell, said on the Virginia governor’s website Thursday.

Members of the Faculty Senate’s executive council did not respond to requests for comment.

Science | University, other colleges introduce similar fee model Continued from page A1

Thomas Bynum | Cavalier Daily

All students enrolled in Engineering courses must now pay a $32 per-credit-hour lab fee, whether or not their courses have labs.

including the new Engineering fee and new clinical fees in the Nursing School. But to some fourth-year Engineering students without labs the fee is unfair, said fourth-Year Engineering student Maria Rode, who has no required labs left. Without the fee, though, others think the Engineering School wouldn’t have been able to keep up with changing technology. “I think the Engineering fee is all about providing the best hands-on education that we can for our undergraduate students,” Engineering Dean Jim Aylor said. “Basically, to be a successful engineer you have to experience the analysis of the product you’re designing. [You have to experience] state-of-the-art technology.”

ers t i s r r e rs W n e g h i p s De gra o t rs o o t i Ph d E

The Engineering School is not alone in demanding such fees. Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth University charge fees by the credit hour and charge engineers additional tuition. “Differential tuition and laboratory fees have grown as accepted ways to address the higher cost of engineering programs at the top public engineering schools,” according to a statement on the Engineering School’s website. Although Rode agreed that some labs she had taken in her first three years had been underfunded, she said students deserve more information about what the fees are going to be used for. And her classmates agree. “I’m still kind of in the dark,” fourth-year Engineering Student Matt Mahoney said. Third-year Engineering student

Carolyn Jensen said in an email that the fee could be detrimental to students who are already struggling to pay tuition. “The difference could end up approximately equivalent to the cost of a new textbook in a three- or four-credit lab course,” she said. “However, I think students in that position will find ways to pay the extra fees.” Rode said the additional fee would not have made her second-guess her decision to attend the University — as an out-of-state student she already pays more — but she opposed the blanket, per-credithour fee. “I would have preferred if, instead of by credit, it was charged to people taking labs,” Rode said. — Joseph Liss, Senior News Associate Editor, contributed to this story.

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Opinion Thursday, August 30, 2012

The Cavalier Daily “For here we are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead, nor to tolerate any error so long as reason is left free to combat it.” —Thomas Jefferson

Matthew Cameron Editor-in-Chief Aaron Eisen Kaz Komolafe Executive Editor Managing Editor Gregory Lewis Anna Xie Operations Manager Chief Financial Officer

Imperfect engineering The University’s new engineering fee is necessary, but it could have been implemented more equitably Beginning this semester any student taking an engineering course must pay an additional $32 per credit. The fee, applied to both Engineering School students and others taking engineering courses, will cover costs in the laboratory. Though we understand the need to raise funds for lab resources the fee could have been better implemented. The fee mirrors similar initiatives adopted at other schools of engineering, including several in the state of Virginia. With state funds on the wane, public institutions all share a need for lab resources. To solve this, various schools have taken different measures to raise money. A comparison of their methods shows that the University could have chosen a more appropriate template. The University’s plan to charge $32 dollars per credit resembles the $30 per credit fee adopted at Virginia Tech. Its college of engineering, however, phased in the transition to ensure the process was more equitable. At the University, upperclassmen

have complained for having to pay the fee even though many have finished their labs. And phasing in the fee would have allowed existing students to pay under their original agreement of their costs for tuition. Old Dominion University and George Mason University tailor lab fees per individual course, according to the Engineering School website. This user-fee approach most adequately captures the varying use of laboratory resources across different classes. The University will charge not based on the class, but per credit hour — yet hours spent in an engineering course are not always a very good indicator of how much equipment will be used or cost. Plus, the type of technology involved should count as much as the additional hour spent with a tool. The University’s fee is necessary and appropriate but it could have adopted a model similar to those at other schools to ensure it would raise revenue more fairly.

Editorial Cartoon by Peter Simonsen

Featured online reader comment “Terrible editorial. Maybe the students the people of Virginia (and likely your parents) are paying to attend UVA should be in class, not travelling downtown to hear a campaign speech. And make no mistake, this is pure stumping by Obama. If the speech were at almost any other time of his 4 year term, I would be far more sympathetic to those wishing UVA hosted him. However it is late August of a presidential election year. 2 months until the election. This is pure politics, a politician speaking to his voters, NOT a president speaking to the citizenry. UVA is right to decline Obama’s visit, given these circumstances. A state university can NOT even APPEAR to take sides in a political matter. The fact that Romney certainly wouldnt have visited Grounds (as the writer says) would GUARANTEE that appearance. When you add that to the issue of Obama ONLY wanting locations that are smack in the center of Grounds, sure to interrupt nearly 200 classes, on only the 2nd day of classes for the year, UVA simply HAD to decline. Is the University’s mission to educate or to facilitate the election of politicians? In closing, I feel it relevant to mention my political allegiances, or lack thereof. I dislike both parties, and have no party with which I identify.”

“The_Superhoo,” responding to the Managing Board’s Aug. 29 Lead Editorial, “Mic check”

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STAFF Assistant Managing Editors Charlie Tyson, Caroline Houck Associate Copy Editors Asma Khan, Andrew Elliott News Editors Krista Pedersen, Michelle Davis Associate Editors Abby Meredith, Joe Liss, Sarah Hunter, Valerie Clemens, Kelly Kaler, Viet VoPham,

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OPINION

Thursday, August 30, 2012 | The Cavalier Daily

A professional grudge

There is nothing personal about the Republican National Committee’s decision to stop supporting Todd Akin

WEEK and a half after his ures from both the Democratic controversial remark on and Republican parties calling ra p e a n d p r e g n a n c y, for Akin to pull out of his senate Missouri Representative Todd race. Akin’s latest claim that he Akin is attempting to make is some sort of himself into a victim should not more pitiable ALEX YAHANDA fool anyone. Even figure. Akin SENIOR ASSOCIATE EDITOR though Akin lost recently declared support from his he has become the target of a “personal vendetta” own political party, there is by Republican National Com- no way that the RNC’s actions mittee (RNC) Chairman Reince constitute a personal vendetta. Priebus. Akin’s statement fol- In fact, they seem a reasonable lows the RNC’s decision to not consequence for Akin’s stategive any money to the Missou- ments. Akin established a misrian’s senatorial race against guided stance on a controversial incumbent Democrat Senator issue — a stance which was Claire McCaskill. Since his ini- found offensive by both sides tial remark, Akin has fallen of the political spectrum. Morebehind in the race, which he over, attempting to distinguish between pregnancies caused previously led. In a political gaffe which will by legitimate and illegitimate not soon be forgotten, Akin, rape was a foolish move which when asked about his stance on highlighted major flaws in the permitting abortions for rape potential senator’s decisionvictims, stated that victims of making process. Akin’s notion “legitimate” rape rarely become that the female body can biopregnant. The reason for this, logically determine whether or explained Akin, was that the not a pregnancy was the result female body knows if the rape is of rape is blatantly incorrect legitimate and “has ways to try (though Akin claims that he was to shut that whole thing down.” given that idea by doctors). If The comments were widely Akin bases some of his political condemned, with prominent fig- stances on shoddy or false back-

ground information, perhaps he ity. The RNC, however, is refusing to turn a deaf ear to Akin’s is not fit for the Senate. So one cannot find it surpris- comments, even though it could ing that Akin would attempt come back to haunt them later. Though some to shift negacould argue tive attention “...the fact that it is that the GOP to the RNC in willing to let a key Senate is halting its an attempt to support of make himself spot slip away may kin only look better. demonstrate the belief that A as a way to Akin is refusing to drop winning the Missouri Senate preserve its out of the seat is not worth trying to image in light of his offenrace against garner support for a sive remarks, McCaskill candidate who has made the fact that and is now a t t e m p t i n g such unsettling comments.” it is willing to let a key to emotionSenate spot ally appeal to the public by characteriz- slip away may demonstrate the ing himself as suffering under belief that winning the Missouri superfluous political animosity. Senate seat is not worth trying According to Akin’s campaign, to garner support for a candiPriebus and the RNC are “put- date who has made such unsetting party power and political tling comments. On the other hand, one cannot games ahead of the good of the be totally sure if the RNC is country.” On one hand, the RNC is per- only pulling funding from Akin forming admirably by ceasing because his chances of winits public support of Akin. The ning have become slim. It may GOP only needs to gain four turn into a terrible blunder if seats in the upcoming Senate the GOP ultimately attempts elections to gain a majority, and to push a similar anti-abortion Akin was considered a major stance to that taken by Akin, player in regaining that major- one that is simply devoid of the

distinction between legitimate and illegitimate rape. Though Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney says that his political stance permits abortion in the case of rape, incest and preserving the mother’s life, some Republicans share Akin’s views, and are against abortion altogether. For them, even if a woman were raped and became pregnant, she should not be able to have an abortion. If the GOP goes down that route, it will run into almost the same outcry that has occurred with Akin’s comments and will show that its ostracizing of Akin was not so much because it found his comments offensive as it was to prevent bringing objectionable aspects of its abortion stance into the public eye. That would make Republicans look very hypocritical. Either way, the RNC’s actions toward Akin are not motivated by a personal vendetta. His comments just made him too controversial to be supported. Alex Yahanda is a senior associate editor for The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at a.yahanda@cavalierdaily.com.

A MOOC point

The University is right to pursue online education and the tremendous opportunities it presents

O L L O W I N G i n t h e are also offered on a non-credit footsteps of Stanford basis and will be established U n i v e r s i t y, t h e with the help of Coursera. University of Michigan and Coursera is a for-profit company P r i n c e t o n U n i v e r s i t y, t h e which has helped established online programs U n i v e r s i t y FARIHA KABIR to enhance learnhas recently OPINION COLUMNIST ing and provide announced its greater academic plans to offer online courses. The adoption opportunities in more than 190 of online learning appears to countries. While there is a lot of skeptibe one of the new reforms University leaders plan to imple- cism regarding online courses, ment in order to ensure that the I think it might be a wise deciUniversity remains on par with sion for the University to pursue other high caliber universities. online learning in order to In fact, one of the motivations expand the academic opportubehind adopting such a program nities at the University. Online was that other universities, such learning can offer a wide range as the aforementioned ones, of academic benefits. In order adopted online courses as a part to take full advantage of online learning, however, the Univerof their academic objectives. Clearly, such online programs sity must eventually be willing are still at their preliminary and for online classes to count for experimental stages, and the credit. At the moment, the UniUniversity appears to be some- versity refuses to offer academic what cautious in this pursuit. credit for the class because part As of now, there will be a total of the logic behind the program of four courses offered in areas is to make knowledge more such as physics, philosophy and freely and widely available. It history. They are free and at the is undeniably a noble cause, very most require a computer but there is little moral harm in and Internet access. The courses offering some of the classes for

academic credit. To allocate cer- Today, J. Milton Adams, the vice tain classes for academic credit provost for academic programs, would be advantageous for the argues that online courses can students, and at the same time, be designed in such a manner would not necessarily distract where students can do preliminary work the Univer“Online courses are not via online sity from its lectures and noble objecperfect, nor should they activities tives. completely replace a prior to class, Ye t t h e r e traditional classroom and then the are still some i m p o r t a n t setting. That said, there is a i n s t r u c t o r s can use the concerns lot of potential...” actual lecture regarding for greater online learninteraction ing. One concern is the often reduced and/or with the students. Currently, minimal interactions between many professors do require stuprofessors and students. Some- dents to prepare certain material times the online courses are prior to class, but online learndesigned in such a manner ing could enhance that concept. that does not allow for signifi- At the University, where many cant face-to-face interaction. of the classes are large and In some cases, there really is professor-student interaction no solution to this problem can be difficult, this could be because in classes where stu- an opportunity for there to be dents might be from anywhere greater discussion between proin the world, face-to-face inter- fessors and students. Other concerns include the action is impractical. Though online learning is by no quality of online courses. Can means perfect, it could be used to an online course be as effecsupplement what is taught in the tive as the traditional method classroom. For example, in UVa- of teaching? Whether or not an

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online course is effective really depends on the program itself, and how it is designed. At the beginning, there might very well be technical problems or other flaws, but as the technology improves and online courses becomes more common the quality of the program will likely improve. Because the online program is still in its initial stages, my ideas may appear far-fetched, and it is difficult to know anything certain. Online courses are not perfect, nor should they completely replace a traditional classroom setting. That said, there is a lot of potential with online learning which could significantly enhance education not only at the University, but all over the world. It is certainly an interesting and important avenue for the University to explore in its endeavor to continuously improve the educational experience for students. Fariha Kabir’s column appears Thursdays in The Cavalier Daily. She can be reached at f.kabir@cavalierdaily.com.

Thursday, August 30, 2012 | The Cavalier Daily

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Football Edition B

SECTION

Thursday, August 30, 2012

The Cavalier Daily

www.cavalierdaily.com

INSIDE: Comics B2 | Arts and Entertainment B3

Season kicks off against Richmond Looking to erase memories from last year’s blowout bowl loss, London welcomes alma mater to Scott Stadium

By Chanhong Luu

Cavalier Daily Senior Writer Football returns to college campuses across the nation this weekend, and Scott Stadium opens its gates as Virginia hosts Richmond Saturday afternoon. The Cavaliers open the season exactly as they did two years ago with a matchup against in-state rivals Richmond. This time two years ago London came face to face with his alma mater and the team he led to the 2008 FCS National Championship in his first-ever game at Virginia. London said he hopes defeating his former team will provide more than just personal gratification. Virginia lost in resounding fashion to Virginia Tech and Auburn at the end of last season. With TCU and Georgia Tech looming on the schedule, Virginia could

Coach Mike London played linebacker at Richmond and led the Spiders to an FCS National Title in 2008 before joining Virginia. Jennifer Cashwell | Virginia Athletics

use an uplifting start to 2012. “We haven’t won a game in two games ...,” London said. “ [We’re] looking to get that feel that comes with victory again and kind of start off with what we hopefully feel will be a productive season.” A lot has changed for both teams since they met in 2010. Two years ago, junior quarterback Michael Rocco was a freshman who had limited playing time under veteran starter Marc Verica. In his first season at starting quarterback last year, Rocco became the youngest Cavalier quarterback to win his first two starts. He also threw for 2,671 total yards, the most in Virginia history by a first-year starter. As he rose in prominence last year, another Rocco also entered the spotlight. Danny Rocco, Michael’s uncle, will be coaching his first game as the Spiders’ head coach. The Virginia quarterback attributes his

presence at the University to his uncle. “My uncle was one of the big helpers in getting me to pursue Division-1 football at the highest level,” Rocco said. Despite the family connection, both Danny and Michael Rocco are treating this matchup like a regular game. “It’s just like talking to another coach,” Michael Rocco said. “He’s my uncle, and we’re able to talk about a lot of things, but at the end of the day this weekend the goal is to win the football game. So giving him clues is not what I’m trying to do, and he’s not trying to pry anything out of me.” Danny Rocco was hired as Richmond’s head coach last December after the Spiders suffered their first Please see Richmond, Page B6

Dissecting the 2012 Cavs Squad resolves Vaunted running game, pass rush key to another bowl-worthy season By Fritz Metzinger and Daniel Weltz

Cavalier Daily Senior Associate Editors As we barrel toward opening day of the 2012 season, two countervailing forces shape expectations for the Virginia football team: optimism stemming from the Cavaliers’ first bowl appearance since 2007 and anxiety about the significant roster turnover. Though several vital components of last year’s 8-5 squad return for 2012, 11 new starters will grace the field against Richmond this Saturday. More than anyone, coach Mike London comprehends the magnitude of the task ahead of his team on the heels of an uplifting season. “We’ve been trying to prepare for that since spring practice, since early part of camp, talking about not only do you have to win your games at home, you got to be able to win tough

games on the road,” London said. “Last year was last year.” Here are four huge factors in Virginia’s quest for a second consecutive winning season for the first time since 2004-5: 1. Well-grounded offense Despite the hoopla surrounding the competition for starting quarterback, Virginia’s stable of dynamic running backs represents the true catalyst of the team’s offensive attack. Virginia’s electrifying duo of diminutive speedsters, senior Perry Jones and sophomore Kevin Parks, will spearhead Virginia’s ground game after amassing a combined 1,624 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns in 2011. Given that senior left tackle and ESPN preseason All-American Oday Aboushi and junior right tackle Morgan Moses highlight the offensive line, expect offensive coordinator Bill Lazor to depend heavily on Jones and

Parks on the edges in both the running and passing games. “Perry and Kevin Parks can run your zone plays — you put them in the game at the same time and use them as pass-rushing threats,” London said. The task of countering the “lightning” Jones and Parks provide to the running game will fall largely on the shoulders of thunderous sophomore Clifton Richardson. A formidable threat in spot-duty last season with a team-leading 5.1 yards per carry, Richardson will need to pound the middle of the defense to open lanes on the outside for Jones and Parks. And with another running back, sophomore Khalek Shepherd, shining in this month’s fall camp, Virginia will be spoiled for choice in the backfield. “Running back is a deep posi-

position battles Beyond scrutinized quarterback pick, other depth chart decisions shape team’s outlook By Daniel Weltz

Cavalier Daily Senior Associate Editor Coach Mike London’s decision to reinstall junior Michael Rocco as starting quarterback made headlines. His other roster choices may make or break his third season as head football coach. London delivered the highly anticipated announcement that Rocco would start the season opener against Richmond instead of sophomore transfer Phillip Sims when he released the team’s first depth chart Monday. He also revealed the winners of several other positional battles. For example, he

named junior Drew Jarrett the place kicker rather than redshirt freshman Ian Frye , anointed senior Paul Freedman the starting tight end ahead of senior Colter Phillips , placed sophomore Drequan Hoskey opposite sophomore Demetrious Nicholson at cornerback rather than freshman Maurice Canady and gave sophomore Henry Coley the starting strongside linebacker spot instead of handing it to sophomore Daquan Romero. The decision to put the enticing wildcard Sims — the No. 1 quarterback prospect coming out of Please see Depth Chart, Page B6

Please see Preview, Page B6

A strange loss The Wes Anderson -directed the nation’s sports scene thanks Moonrise Kingdom was my to its passionate competition, favorite film of the summer. As compelling on-field action and is characteristic of Anderson’s rabid fan support. But college footfilms , Moonrise Kingdom offered FRITZ METZINGER b a l l h a s a l w ay s been a strange both a charming, animal. If the quirky brand of humor and a thought-provok- fervent, conference-driven ing central theme, all the while regionalism and gimmicky unapologetically embracing its offenses didn’t distinguish college football from other sports, weirdness. Once upon a time, college foot- the NCAA’s long-time refusal ball was the Moonrise Kingdom to designate a sensible playoff of big-time American sports. system certainly did. Throw Though technically featuring a in the occasionally sloppy lower quality of football than play and the uneasy balance the NFL, the college game nev- between academics and sports, ertheless remained a staple of and you had a sport that was

Home:

both endlessly captivating and remarkably odd. The astute reader — or anybody that’s still awake — will note I wrote the preceding paragraph in unexplained past tense. My explanation for that choice begins with a college football off-season that went about as smoothly as the average Ryan Lochte interview. In the span of a few months, the NCAA PR department has had to cope with such cheerful developments as a drug bust involving TCU players; conPlease see Metzinger, Page B6

Edric San Miguel | Cavalier Daily

Senior tailback Perry Jones, listed as Virginia’s No. 1 running back, is among the players who will help mold the offense this season.

What to Watch for this Weekend Friday, 3 p.m. Field Hockey vs. Towson Friday, 7 p.m. Men’s Soccer vs. California Friday, 7 p.m. Volleyball vs. Kentucky Saturday, 1 p.m. Volleyball vs. Lehigh Saturday, 3 p.m. Football vs. Richmond Saturday, 7 p.m. Volleyball vs. Delaware Sunday, 1 p.m. Field Hockey vs. Old Dominion Sunday, 7 p.m. Men’s Soccer vs. UCLA

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Away:

Friday, 6 p.m. Cross Country at Virginia Tech Friday, 8:30 p.m. Women’s Soccer at Texas Sunday, 2 p.m. Women’s Soccer vs. SMU

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Comics Thursday, August 30, 2012

GREEK LIFE BY MATT HENSELL

OROSCOPES

ARIES (March 21-April 19). There are always opportunities to be noble, but most people don’t see them. You’ll be in touch with your nobility today, though. You’ll see a chance to do good and act immediately. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t be you.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You have the best ideas, though it’s still difﬁcult to get others to implement them. Concentrate on communicating simply. Put forethought into your presentation. Libra and Aquarius will be most receptive.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). When you are alone, you are not lonely. You do not fear loneliness. It drives you toward a deeper purpose than you would ﬁnd otherwise. Your great discovery is made in solitude.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You do not need rescuing. You are not a victim, nor are your circumstances perilous. And yet there is someone in your world who insists on jumping in with heroic intentions. Kindly assert your independence.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). There’s a kind of humor that brings people together. And then there’s a humor that hurts too much and divides people. The ﬁne line between those two kinds of humor gets even ﬁner.

DJANGEO BY STEPHEN ROWE

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). What you want will not be available everywhere. You may have to travel or ﬁnagle your way into a situation. Your resolve will be tested by the circumstances, and you’ll have to decide whether what you desire is worth it.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). You have no idea what someone is thinking of you. You might be surprised by how much this person adores you. Take a moment to consider all of your friends and reciprocate their fondness.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Snap up social opportunities. Go where you’re invited. You’ll ﬁnd out the information you need to help your ﬁnancial situation. An Aries is involved in future business.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). A barrier to your optimal performance has been lifted. You no longer see a reason to resist work. You dive in and embrace all aspects of the job at hand. You are joyfully productive.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). The pace slows in the afternoon. If you can ﬁnd a patch of nature to park yourself in, you’ll be completely recharged. The beauty of the land brings peace to your heart and restores your sense of wonder.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You’ll ﬁnd a purpose for the things that don’t ﬁt in any conventional way. Keep an eye out for all things weird, unusual or obsolete. Also, you’ll get a charge out of talking with those who march to a different drummer.

THE ADVENTURES OF THE AMAZING <THE> A-MAN BY EMILIO ESTEBAN

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Aug. 31). You don’t have to think long and hard about your direction in life. You know where you’re going, and this year a detailed and formally written plan will help you get there. A new alliance in September is helpful all year. Invest in equipment or real estate in November. December brings a show of affection and respect. Libra and Capricorn people adore you. Lucky numbers are: 49, 4, 28, 41 and 30.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You’ll arrest the attention of someone new. Make the most of your moment. The relationship could develop in many useful ways. It could be a potential friend or client for you, or a connection you can share with someone you know.

(NO SUBJECT) BY JANE MATTIMOE

A BUNCH OF BANANAS BY GARRETT MAJDIC & JACK WINTHROP

OSCAR WILDEBEEST BY BETTY LUO

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9.

BEAR NECESSITIES BY MAXIMILIAN MEESE & ALEX STOTT

LAST SOLUTION:

The New York Times Syndication Sales Corporation 620 Eighth New York, N.Y. 10018 Solution, tipsAvenue, and computer program at www.sudoku.com For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 For Thursday, August 30, 2012

MOSTLY HARMLESS BY PETER SIMONSEN

Edited by Will Shortz ACROSS 1 White-robed figure of Greek mythology 5 Many an ad buy 11 Hindu scripture 15 1975 Tony winner for Best Play 16 Bring back on 17 Target of some sprays 18 Ones coming from the Arc de Triomphe? 19 Situated somewhere between two extremes 21 It orbited Earth 86,331 times 22 Brief promises? 23 Urge to attack 24 Forever 28 European blackbirds 30 Home of Literature Nobelist Sigrid Undset 31 Give approval 33 Station

ONE MORE THING

34 73-Across units: Abbr. 36 “Family Guy” wife 38 Goofus 39 “Capeesh?” 44 Torque symbol 45 Echelon 46 Plastic surgeon’s concern 47 Lead-in to boy 49 1894 opera set in Alexandria 52 Jackson 5 features, slangily 55 Gymnasium floor choice 57 Will-o’-the-wisp 60 Lottery picks 62 They may be drawn from a 63-Across 63 See 62-Across 64 Like some bags of food 67 Tea party attendee in “Alice in Wonderland” 68 “Ah, yes” 69 Ceremony for a newborn

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE A B D O S U R V A S S E R J I L T U R I L E S S E N T E S E S T H S A N T H A I R E D D A R I E W O R D

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M I S O

E V A C U B E E E R E T T S S H I E R T T S

N E S S I P D E S E O V S E

D E C I

E S H K O L L A T S T A A V E R I I A D E E R A R U L E

T H R E B E E R S S E A A L T E S O R T S E E L A L L O T E S T Z I T C E O B U E R R E N S O U T T E R

E S S A Y S Y S T S D T S

70 Colorful dress 71 Hideout 72 Rays’ home, informally 73 Figure in Newton’s second law DOWN 1 Unit of length that’s roughly the diameter of a proton 2 Time’s 1986 Woman of the Year 3 Jerks 4 Poet’s ending? 5 Go together as a group 6 Music halls, e.g. 7 California county 8 Shot 9 “El tiempo es ___” (Spanish proverb) 10 Beauty marks? 11 Bass and soprano 12 Best pal in a 1950s sitcom 13 Many a modern purchase 14 Gulf of Finland vis-à-vis the Baltic Sea 20 QB Tebow 22 Pioneering 1950 Isaac Asimov book 25 ___ May Clampett of 1960s TV 26 Noah of “ER” 27 Heath 29 Lotion letters 32 Meet face-toface? 35 “M*A*S*H” Emmy winner 37 Mans

No. 0726 9

21 25

31 34

36 41

38 43

46 49

56 60

29 33

28 32

57 61

62 65

63 67

Puzzle by Joel Fagliano

39 Researcher’s electronic tool 40 Surpasses 41 “M*A*S*H” drink 42 Bummer 43 Locale in “Slumdog Millionaire” 44 Top for one who says “Top o’ the mornin’”? 48 Totally wrong

50 How Perry Mason often caught the guilty 51 Not providing any hints, say 53 River to the St. Lawrence 54 Has a hive mentality? 56 American ___

58 Water chestnut, e.g. 59 Expels forcibly 61 Identity theft targets: Abbr. 64 Sportscaster Scully 65 Parent’s order 66 Stage item 67 “I wonder …”

For answers, call 1-900-285-5656, $1.49 a minute; or, with a credit card, 1-800-814-5554. Annual subscriptions are available for the best of Sunday crosswords from the last 50 years: 1-888-7-ACROSS. AT&T users: Text NYTX to 386 to download puzzles, or visit nytimes.com/mobilexword for more information. Online subscriptions: Today’s puzzle and more than 2,000 past puzzles, nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year). Share tips: nytimes.com/wordplay. Crosswords for young solvers: nytimes.com/learning/xwords.

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august 30, 2012 arts & entertainment

Summer 2012: Not dressed to impress This season’s hot-weather wear saw women choose unflattering cuts, prints; fashionistas impress each other, forsake classic trends, items by sofia economopoulos There are some summer fashion trends that never get old and others that are forgotten as soon as fall rolls around. New trends in women’s fashion will, I hope, be of the latter, more fleeting variety, since many recent looks have traded attractiveness for the sake of the high fashion. The perfect example of this phenomenon is this summer’s hottest trend : harem pants . Led by Spanish clothing label Zara and followed by many lowerscale (and a few upscale) brands, silk harem pants in busy, colorful prints were the surprise hit of the summer. Usually paired with a simple white tank top, they draw attention to a woman’s bottom half and are meant to look fashion-forward . Although the fabric and print is a visual delight — I was tempted to buy a pair myself — the style of the pant fails to flatter the female

frame. Unless you want to hide your legs and make your derriere look wider than it really is, there is no reason for a woman to buy them. Women who were wearing these pants this summer were dressing to impress other fashionable women this summer, and few others. The jumpsuit can have the same devastating results to the female form. With the jumpsuit, however, the shopper at least has the choice between many different cuts (wide leg for those with bigger legs , skinny cut for the more petite ) so doesn’t become a slave to the trend and is able to manipulate the look . Tellingly, it is the more enduring trends that manage to be both fashionable and flattering. For example, wedges with heels made of both cork and rope continued the long-standing summer tradition of replacing the

closed-toe stilettos and platforms of the past winter . People may not notice the wedges themselves, but they will likely appreciate their effects on the total product: the illusion of a longer , skinnier leg, the perkier derriere and the added height. Similarly, when you choose high-waisted shorts — “in” since at least 2010 — most will appreciate the illusion of a smaller waist and the added amount of leg on display. In summer style, high fashion and popular fashion are often at odds. But if being fashion-forward means you sacrifice looking good, just say no. The versatility of a garment to fit any shape or size is what makes a trend become a classic . Both men and women appreciate what looks good on you, so next summer, look for pieces that make sense for your shape and personal style, and not just what you see others wearing.

‘Grey’ Area: hot or not? The hottest book of the year — in more ways than one — makes for the ultimate guilty pleasure, lacks literary merit, compelling heroine

arts & entertainment

Courtesy Zara

INSIDE

Gaslight Anthem PAGE B4

by mimi montgomery I must have been living under a rock for the last six months, because I didn’t find out about E.L. James’ Fifty Shades of Grey until a month ago. Unbeknownst to me, the novel detailing the torrid sexual relationship between Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey had evolved from a piece of Twilight fan fiction into a work with a notable cult following , tucked into the beach bags and backpacks of moms and teenage girls the world over. After I learned about the book’s plot and characters, I saw no shades of grey in its formulaic narrative. The

novel sounded like a run-ofthe-mill bodice ripper with a predictable ending. The main characters and basic plot structure are as typical as they come. Grey, a cool and aloof billionaire with emotional issues, falls for a sheltered and bumbling young student, Steele, who would rather read 19th-century British novels than go out and party with her contemporaries. He pursues her; she reluctantly submits, and they embark on a series of wild sexual escapades. What distinguishes this novel from others of its genre, though, are its explicit descriptions of the

Courtesy Warner Bros.

Where did tableau go? Not to worry, readers: we’re still here, but we have decided it’s time for a permanent name change: the Arts & Entertainment section will now be called The-Section-Formerly-KnownAs-tableau. Just kidding. We are now simply and straightforwardly “Arts & Enter-

BDSM (bondage, dominance, sadism and masochism) relationship between Grey and Steele. It turns out Grey is one freaky dude with a strange penchant for whips and chains — yet he is a wounded, misunderstood freaky dude, which leads Steele to believe she can rid him of his attachment to his red-walled “playroom” (yes, he has a “playroom”) and embark on a more conventional relationship with him. But, of course, Grey is too attached to mouth-gagging and (literal) ass-whippings to relinquish his ways and (spoiler alert!) Steele eventually has to leave him. Steele’s initial sexual submission is mildly unsettling (my first impulse upon encountering a bed with iron handcuffs would be to run, not stay and try it out), but the domination that dictates her emotional relationship with Grey is downright unnerving. He forbids her from looking him directly in the eyes, demands she call him “Sir,” and draws out a contract dictating her diet, beauty and exercise routine. Throughout, I found myself annoyed with Steele’s character. I wanted to shake her and implore her to grow a spinal cord. It wasn’t the

bondage and domination that bothered me (whatever floats your boat) so much as Steele’s inability to pull herself together and act like an adult, instead of acting like a 5-year-old lost in an adult superstore. Many have credited the e-reader for James’ success. The book was initially released as an online publication, which allowed bashful readers seeking erotic escapism to download and consume the book in public without suffering the knowi n g g l a n c e s o f c h e c ko u t cashiers or the withering disapproval of elderly women on the subway next to them. But ultimately James’ book is a success because she promises her readers an enthralling, sexy story — and she delivers. James’ writing skills may not put her next on the list for a Pulitzer and her plot may lack a sense of originality, but it is perfect for those seeking a capricious escape through a passionate story. Coming across as something like Beauty and the Beast with a lot more leather and riding crops, Fifty Shades of Grey takes the age-old plot of the unlikely couple and refurbishes it into something that pushes boundaries, leaving its devotees captivated and reaching for the next installment in the series.

Letter from the Editors tainment.” This move is designed to increase the accessibility and visibility of our section because we believe that what we write about is important. Maybe not Teresa-Sullivan-ouster important, or Barack-Obama-at-theDowntown-Mall important, but more of the that-new-TaylorSwift-single-is-so-ridiculouslycatchy, How-did-that-movie-win-

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Best-Picture important. And to be honest, there is an undeniable, but often under appreciated value, in the latter brand of relevance. The arts and entertainment communities are often the best at bridging cultural gaps: Even the most contentious debates about art tend to bring people together in their passion for the medium, be

‘Teen Wolf’ PAGE B5

ONLINE www.cavalierdaily.com “Arts & Entertainment”

NEXT WEEK Fall TV Preview ‘Suits’ ‘Pretty Little Liars’ ‘Lawless’

it film, music, art or otherwise. Additionally, we are thrilled to be re-launching our daily blog next week, a resource that will keep you up to date on both mainstream and underground entertainment news. But enough about us. You’re probably already out buying your copy of Fifty Shades of Grey, anyway. Carry on.

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Thursday, August 30, 2012 | The Cavalier Daily

Courtesy Resist Records

National ‘Anthem’: Brian Fallon and company’s latest record creates instant American rock-and-roll classic by caroline gecker The American music industry has not been kind to rock stars in the new millennium. Look no further than Maroon 5, who went from Songs About Jane to “Payphone” in seven years flat, to see that the most well-intentioned bands struggle in a world where candy-coated hooks out-chart blistering riffs every time. The rock and roll our parents knew — the hard-hitting, straightforward variety marked by grown men wearing their guitars across their chests and their hearts on their sleeves without a hint of irony — has long been replaced in the popular consciousness by the sub-genres for which it paved the way: punk-rock, alt-rock, pop-rock and countless variations featuring the word “electronic.” Enter The Gaslight Anthem, a New Jersey foursome who might change the way our generation thinks about the dusty old Bruce Springsteen or Tom Petty record in our dads’ collections. Handwritten, the band’s fourth full-length album, hit number three on the Billboard 200 and is undoubtedly their most mature and accessible record to date. The July 24 release has been met with a collective sigh of relief from the stingiest

rock purists (Alternative Press, Absolute Punk) and hailed as a breath of fresh air in the mainstream trades (Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone). The overarching consensus underlying the hype: American rock and roll is back in fashion, and Brian Fallon will gladly accept your handwritten thankyou notes for the favor. The frontman’s heartfelt delivery coupled with the insistent guitar of Alex Rosamilia produced a record that easily could have been released in the glory days of rock and roll but somehow manages to provide exactly what modern music has been missing. The band’s unapologetic sincerity makes up no small part of its appeal. Fallon is not afraid to display his emotions. The first single “45” starts the album off with a question: “Have you seen my heart? / Have you seen how it bleeds?” Fallon’s lyrics weave together glimpses of blue-collar Americana (“We drink on the job, and we go home early / And I remember she used to look so good in that dress”) and poetic ruminations on modern life (“Now everybody lately is living up in space / Flying

Courtesy Lifetime

through transmission on invisible airwaves”). Tales of romantic success and failure permeate the album. Fallon is never more at ease, or more captivating, than when he is at his most vulnerable. His emotions range from defiant on the midtempo jangler “Here Comes My Man” (“You know, I think I will grow my hair back out / Never mind what you think, never mind what you like”) to resigned on the achingly beautiful ballad “Teenage Rebellion” (“And if you’re gonna break my heart / Might as well be tonight”).

Album Highlights “HANDWRITTEN” “HOWL” “MULHOLLAND DRIVE” “MAY”

The title track is another standout, a hard-driving romp on which Fallon, his once distinctive throaty growl sounding more like The Boss with every “Whoa-oh!”, professes, “There’s nothing like another soul that’s been cut up the same.” But the band does just as well out of Springsteen country, exploring west of the Jersey Turnpike on the slow-burning “Biloxi Parish” and the gloriously staccato “Mulholland Drive.” By the end of the 14-track album, it’s clear that one of the most obviously derivative records in recent memory is also one of the most fresh and exciting. I was fortunate enough to be at The Gaslight Anthem’s concert in New York City on the night of Handwritten’s release. A few songs into the set, Fallon quieted the crowd before bashfully telling us that when checking iTunes earlier, he saw that his “dumb little record is number one on the whole thing.” It struck me then that this band wouldn’t be playing venues like the standing-room-only Webster Hall very much longer — these guys are destined for, and deserving of, stadium arenas that sell out in a day. Hey, a girl can dream.

‘TOTAL’ COPYCAT: ‘RECALL’ REMAKE LACKS ORIGINALITY

MODEL BEHAVIOR: ‘PROJECT RUNWAY’ STILL STRUTS, SHINES Courtesy Columbia Pictures

by katie cole

by emily benedict In the dog-eat-dog world of high-end fashion, designers fight it out to be the best. And as Project Runway, the fashion competition reality show, enters its 10th season, its contestants look to do the same. This season builds on the successful elements of the show’s past, starting with 16 talented designers and whittling the field down by one each week with tough and creative design challenges. In each episode the contestants typically have a day to create a look to present to the judges. The stakes are high: the winner receives a number of prizes, including $100,000 to start his or her own fashion line. With only the sage yet honest advice of mentor Tim Gunn to guide them, the budding designers must be quick on their feet to wow the judges. The show’s strength has always been in its stellar casting and this season’s cast of zany contestants never fails to disappoint. The most entertaining aspect of the series is not seeing the contestants’ designs but learning their true characters as they are forced to cope with high-pressure situations. This season’s cast certainly mirrors previous seasons, featuring the flamboyant gay man, the kind and quirky woman over 50, the class clown, the eccentric and the quiet yet talented underdog, to name a few. Placing so many strong personalities in the same small work space is bound to lead to some entertaining brawls. And just a

few episodes in, the season has already laid the ground for some heated rivalries that will no doubt lead to more drama in a workroom made up of flying needles, lost tempers and downto-the-wire designs. The competitors’ designs ultimately end up on the runway in front of the judges, where things get even more heated than in the workroom. From the show’s inception, host and surprisingly quick-witted supermodel Heidi Klum has judged the looks along with Marie Claire fashion director Nina Garcia and fashion designer Michael Kors. Their uncensored criticism continually provides laugh-out-loud moments, especially when competitors who have felt the sting of the judges’ sharp tongues attempt to defend their design choices. The verbal sparring never ends in the contestants’ favor, but it makes for the most entertaining portion of the show. Project Runway’s major flaw is its length: the first few episodes of the season are an hour-and-a-half long to give each designer adequate airtime. The 90-minute time commitment is a turnoff for many viewers, but if audiences can get through the lengthy initial episodes, Project Runway will in no way disappoint its tried and true fans. And even in season 10 it is still fresh enough to appeal to new viewers as well. Project Runway airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. on Lifetime.

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Even for a diehard sci-fi junkie like myself (I swear I’m still cool), Len Wiseman’s remake of the 1990 film Total Recall, although exhilarating at times, leaves much to be desired. Colin Farrell stars as Douglas Quaid, a blue-collar laborer who lives in an alternate universe where there are two countries connected by “The Fall,” a metro-like transportation unit that runs through the Earth’s core. The world’s two countries, The United Federation of Britain (The UFB) and The Colony, can be likened to The Matrix’s two alternate realities: one (The UFB) is obviously better than the other, and this ‘superior’ realm seeks to destroy the more gritty and less privileged one (The Colony). This setup is a drastic change from the original film’s setting on Mars. The movie’s troubles begin, as they so often do in the cinematic world, with the film’s casting. The original blockbuster version stars the endlessly entertaining Arnold Schwarzenegger as Quaid, but the new, action-packed movie has opted instead for the bland-as-cardboard Farrell. Overreaching is the film’s next pitfall. In a year full of movies with political slants, even a seemingly silly sci-fi adventure film like this one has morphed into a sociopolitical project. In addition to the movie’s obvious critique of colonialism and its simplistic commentary on the polarization of power and wealth, issues of environmental protection and nuclear arms proliferation dominate virtually every frame. Total Recall displays a world uninhabitable because of nuclear warfare, with only The UFB and The Colony remaining as uncontaminated locations. Although this devastating vision seems like an intriguing premise, I could not help but identify portions of other big-hit movies appropriated by this mediocre remake. Instead of a little blue and red pill, Quaid stumbles upon his own transcendental worldview through Recall, a store of fantasy memories that you can install into your brain. This appropriated device, of course, leads me into a tirade about stolen sets. The machinery that gives Quaid a new and potentially false sense of reality looks like something out of Minority Report, and the same could be said of the machinery’s location. Even the cars used to get around are almost identical to those used by a young Obi-Wan Kenobi to move through an eerily similar metropolitan environment in the second Star Wars prequel. “The Fall” contraption is basically an updated version of ships from Star Trek. Beyond the film’s sets and props, Total Recall has a plot that might as well have been cobbled together from pieces of much better scripts. After entering Recall, for example, Quaid is completely unaware of who he is, and he uses his new-found expertise to find a bank with a safety deposit box full of passports and keys to an apartment after employing superhuman strength and agility to escape from his assailants. And, of course, the movie makes sure to pull from the cliched cast of action-movie ‘types,’ from the vengeful Bride (à la Kill Bill) to the tough yet gorgeous secret agent (à la 007’s Bond girls). Throughout the film, you ask yourself, “Is this a dream or not?” At the same time, you don’t really care, and you’re constantly conscious of the fact that you’ve seen this all before (what’s up, Leonardo DiCaprio — did the spinning top ever stop?). All in all, I cannot say I slept through Total Recall, only because I was too busy relating it to every other sci-fi action movie I’ve ever come across. Unfortunately, unlike those films, Wiseman’s movie has nothing to offer but stolen — and damaged — goods.

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Thursday, August 30, 2012 | The Cavalier Daily

‘Teen Wolf’ makes for howling good time MTV’s supernatural TV saga scores; boasts stellar cast, spine-chilling story When MTV opted to reboot the critically skewered ‘80s film franchise Teen Wolf as a television series, few could have predicted the program would go on to become one of the most gripping dramas to hit the TV airwaves this decade. Although the show hasn’t yet garnered the massive main-

stream attention awarded to lesser supernatural series like HBO’s True Blood and the CW’s The Vampire Diaries, MTV’s Teen Wolf offers a hipper script, stronger storyline and more compelling cast of characters than any of the program’s counterparts in the supernatural creature subgenre. At the center of the show’s story is Scott McCall, played by Tyler Posey. Scott is a ho-hum high school student and lackluster lacrosse player whose life changes irreparably when a mysterious animal bite transforms him into a teenage werewolf. Season one focuses largely on Scott’s initial transformation and his ongoing struggle to control his newfound powers on the lacrosse field, in the classroom and in the bedroom. But in season two — which began early this summer and concluded in mid-August — the show kicks it up a notch, focusing on

conflicts with higher stakes. Rather than simply resisting the urge to sprout fur and fangs during class and evading the wrath of his girlfriend’s werewolfhunting parents, Scott must now face off against a vicious shape-shifting monster and a world-renowned werewolf killer, who also happens to be his girlfriend’s grandfather. Teen Wolf has not abandoned its fun and easygoing roots in its second season, however. Much of the pleasure of watching the program derives from the sex appeal of the series’ actors, and season two never disappoints in this regard. Only drop-dead gorgeous women and men with razorsharp cheekbones, six-pack abs, and swoon-inducing smiles attend Scott’s school, which could well be an undercover training camp for Abercrombie models. The show takes every opportunity it gets to display its chic cast members in as little clothing as possible. But sexiness can only go so far as a means of appeasing fun-starved viewers. The show’s heart resides more in its moments of witty comedy and high tension than in its shots of scantily clad

20-somethings posing as 16-year-olds. Most of Teen Wolf’s best scenes revolve around Stiles Stilinski, played by Dylan O’Brien. Stilinski is Scott’s goofy best friend and confidant, who shirks sex appeal in favor of clever quips and charming incompetence. As the show aims to strike a steady balance between quirky comedy, steamy sensuality and high-octane action, characters like Stiles help stabilize the program’s surprisingly complex tone. Apart from Posey, who fails to imbue Scott with any depth or charisma, all cast members perform well. Although O’Brien’s terrific turn as Stiles overshadows some of the show’s slighter supporting performances, Crystal Reed and Colton Haynes more than hold their own as Scott’s lover and rival, respectively. The series’ older actors also fare startlingly well as the parents and teachers of the primary players. Whereas other shows of the same ilk struggle to strike a stable tone, set up a coherent mythology and pack a punch, Teen Wolf excels in every area, overshadowing the franchise’s earlier failures.

by conor sheehey

Courtesy MTV

‘F’ for Fantastic: Feminist book makes grade Courtesy Seal Press

Courtesy USA

‘ANIMALS’ FINDS SOAPY SUCCESS AT POLITICAL CIRCUS by alexa allmann

by alexa allmann At a time when our country is preparing for yet another cutthroat presidential contest, USA Network has provided ample fodder for our election-crazed minds with Political Animals , a new six-episode miniseries . The show stars Sigourney Weaver as Elaine Barrish , a former first lady and Democratic governor of Illinois who serves as secretary of state . You may recognize Weaver from her other starring roles in films such as Ghostbusters , the Alien franchise and Avatar . The veteran actress lives up to the high standards set by these performances with her work in Political Animals, which is one of Weaver’s meatiest roles to date. The miniseries, which first aired on July 15 and ended Aug. 19 , follows Barrish as she struggles to juggle her relationships with her cheating ex-husband , former President Bud Hammond (played by Ciarán Hinds ); her son and chief-of-staff, Douglas Hammond , (played by James Wolk ) and Douglas’ drug-addicted and openly gay twin brother T.J. Hammond (played by Sebastian Stan ). And all that while helping to run a country. Political Animals aims to represent both the highs and lows of life in the Oval Office — from combatting the schemes of the invasive and unrelenting press corps to coping with the high-stakes responsibilities of international diplomacy. Much of the story’s poignancy arises from the parallels between the show’s

characters and real-world political figures. Barrish bears an uncanny resemblance to Hillary Clinton, as a Democratic secretary of state and former first lady forced to deal with a philandering husband, an unfairly hostile public image and a major loss in a presidential primary election . The miniseries imbues Bud Hammond with a number of Bill Clinton’s trademark traits and mannerisms, from his easygoing Southern demeanor to his unexpected intellectual power. But the show departs from this mimicry in certain areas for the sake of dramatic interest. Unlike the Clintons, Barrish and Hammond have divorced by the time the miniseries begins, although they still function as a political power couple, enveloped in waves of sexual tension. And rather than present its viewers with fictionalized versions of the Clintons’ offspring, Political Animals draws a connection between T.J. Hammond and Mary Cheney, the openly gay daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney. The USA miniseries may seem like a close relative of NBC’s landmark series The West Wing, but Political Animals lacks the intensity that made The West Wing so great. Although creator Greg Berlanti intended to make a hard-hitting drama, the series lost many of its viewers by its final episode. All told, Political Animals more closely resembles a soap opera than a smart political drama . Maybe that’s why it is so addicting.

Julie Zeilinger may not be a household name, but this 19-year-old is making a name for herself in feminist spheres. Zeilinger has written articles for many progressive sites, including Feminist.com, The Frisky, Skirt Magazine , Feministing.com and the Huffington Post . Zeilinger also writes a successful blog and recently took the next step in her budding career by penning a book entitled A Little F’ed Up: Why Feminism is Not a Dirty Word. In her first novel, Zeilinger provides a raw and realistic interpretation of the state of feminism in the 21st century, showcasing maturity and insight well beyond that of your usual 19-year-old. The book provides a concise view of feminism for beginners, opening with a summary of the feminist movement throughout history before transitioning into present-day applications and explanations of what being a feminist really means. Zeilinger calls for a continuation of the feminist movement among the teen and young adult population, which she identifies as the key demographic for instigating societal change. As its title references, A Little F’ed Up comes at a time when feminism is often depicted as a negative and outdated relic rather than as a positive and necessary movement for equality. A self-professed fourth-wave feminist , Zeilinger is marketing the book to young women in their teens and early twenties, citing the demographic’s dearth of knowledge of the history of feminism and its current state in society. The book succeeds in large part because Zeilinger clearly understands her intended audience and went to great lengths to include input from other young women in her creative process. For example, she let her blog followers submit ideas for the book’s title, from which she chose A Little F’ed Up. A Little F’ed Up gives the reader a clear explanation of why the fight for women’s rights still matters. Considering the recent national debates about abortion and contraception rights and the accusations that Republicans are waging a “war on women,” the fight for women’s rights is as relevant today as ever before. Whether you already consider yourself feminist or pro-feminist or simply want to know what all the fuss is about, this book is a must-have.

Harrowing ‘House’ ﬁnale just what doctor ordered for anxious audience

television

by haden cross After eight harrowing seasons Fox’s House M.D. hung up its cane for good this May. As with any popular show’s conclusion, the series finale was highly anticipated, as viewers wondered if the program’s ending would live up to the quality of the preceding seasons. “Everybody Dies” was more than able to deliver, with the prickly diagnostician not only facing jail time for violating his parole but also having to deal with the terminal cancer of his best friend Wilson. Although the series is at its core a medical drama, the heart of the show lies outside the hospital exam room, as the finale made clear. Though there is a case to be solved, most of the episode is spent revisiting past plot lines as House discusses his current case

with hallucinatory figures in an abandoned, burning building. But these are not just hallucinations — they are also the ghosts of House’s past, characters who have died traumatically or left his life, reaching all the way back to the time of the show’s second season. House’s talks with ghosts from his past about cases he’d rather forget reveal House’s trademark insecurities that have cropped up throughout the show’s run, such as his self-destructive tendencies and his fear of being alone. Despite this emphasis on themes and episodes from seasons past, the show’s finale never feels like a simple rehashing. The concerns may be the same as always, but in House’s final hour, after addressing nearly every source of his internal drama and then

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going so far as to convince his peers as well as the viewers he was dead , House moves past much of his former emotional baggage. When he reappears to Wilson after his funeral, he is not only smiling but is also lacking his trademark cane. His mental and physical pains have finally dissipated. The finale could have taken a completely different turn. House could have actually died instead of faking it, and the narrative arc would have still made sense. From the beginning of the series, his life had started to unravel: people he loved left him or died, his addictions grew worse and he spent time in both a mental hospital and in jail. The overall plot seemed to set House up as a tragic figure, whose slow fall from prominence would result in

Courtesy Fox his death. But that would have been overly dreary. House had been struggling to recover since episode one, and to merely show him fail to do so would have been far too bleak, especially for the show’s most devoted fans. “Everybody Dies” managed to forge a middle ground between

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hopelessness and what could have been an uncharacteristically cheerful ending. Though Wilson’s eventual death looms in the distance, it appears House is growing into the person he has long wanted to be, making the episode feel less like a conclusion and more like the beginning of a new chapter.

SPORTS

Thursday, August 30, 2012 | The Cavalier Daily

Richmond | Rocco’s uncle serves as Spiders’ head coach Continued from page B1 losing season since 2004, going 3-8. He previously coached Liberty for six years, leading the Flames to a 47-20 record. Liberty was 1-10 before Danny Rocco took over the helm and led the team to a 6-5 season. He earned the Big South Coach of the Year Award three years in a row from 2006 to 2008. The Spiders are hoping Danny Rocco can engineer a similar turnaround in Richmond and add stability to the head coach position, which has seen five different coaches in six years. London also has a relationship with Danny Rocco. He knows him from their time together on

former Virginia coach Al Groh’s staff from 2001 to 2004. “We do [keep in touch],” London said. “We haven’t talked here lately. I was glad that Danny could get the Richmond opportunity, because of course that’s where I graduated from and I have fond memories as a player and as a coach. Danny’s a good man and a good coach, and he’ll do well with the program for sure.” The Virginia-Richmond connection stretches beyond London and the Roccos. Richmond quarterback John Laub, a redshirt senior, beat out Virginia transfer Michael Strauss for the starting job after spending four seasons as a backup to Eric Ward and

Aaron Corp. Laub has started for Richmond in three games, going 2-1 in 2010 after Corp suffered an injury earlier in the season. Laub will look for a strong performance from his fellow captain, senior fullback Kendall Gaskins. Gaskins was named a preseason All-American and had a strong performance against the Cavaliers in 2010 when he totaled 123 all-purpose yards, including 89 yards on the ground and two catches for 34 yards. Seventy of the 89 yards came from a touchdown run that tied the game up in the first quarter. Richmond’s battle-tested offensive line should play a big part in protecting Laub and allowing Gaskins and other running backs

to find the hole and the Cavilers knows it. “They have a lot of really good players,” senior middle linebacker Steve Greer said. “They have a lot of offensive linemen returning. They have some really good running backs that are really talented, and their quarterback’s been there for a while. He can run and throw. We’re going to have to bring our A-game.” The Spiders’ offense has many returning starters, but perhaps the most important player on the Richmond team is redshirt senior defensive back and team captain Cooper Taylor. Taylor was one of just 29 players from a non-Football Bowl Subdivison

school named to the Senior Bowl Watch List last Friday, reserved for the nation’s best seniors and potential future NFL players. In eight games last season, Taylor recorded 63 tackles. Taylor transferred from Georgia Tech after the 2010 season, so he was not present during the 2010 matchup. If Virginia hopes to improve on last season’s 8-5 record, London knows his players will have to focus on defeating a potentially dangerous in-state opponent. “All we’ve talked about is Richmond ... getting that taste back in your mouth is all about winning,” London said. “I think that’s the driving factor right now.”

Preview | Drew Jarrett to play pivotal role as kicker Continued from page B1 tion where you have a lot of guys that can get it done,” London said. 2. Rocco’s modern life? In his first seven appearances last season, then-sophomore quarterback Michael Rocco played with the tentativeness and inconsistency of a first-year starter, often shying away from big-play opportunities and throwing needless interceptions. But in the final six, Rocco emerged as one of the steadiest gunslingers in the ACC, buying into his own skills and brandishing the swagger and leadership that effective NCAA quarterbacks exude. By all accounts, the now reappointed starter Rocco has improved both his physical abilities and his intangibles in the offseason. ”Over the summer I trained hard,” Rocco said. “As a quarterback you’re looked at as a leader, and if you’re not in great shape it’s hard to look at a guy as a leader.”

And his teammates agree. “He’s more comfortable right now,” wide receiver Tim Smith said. “He really took a stronger role in leadership.” Although Rocco has shown the requisite signs of maturing into a top ACC quarterback, Phillip Sims’ physical talents necessitate that he see at least some playing time. London and Lazor must maintain a delicate balance between trusting in Rocco and using him as a back-up enough to positively impact a game — the same balance that, with Rocco and David Watford sharing snaps, largely failed the team last year. Rocco, then, will wield a momentous impact on the Cavaliers’ offensive attack. If he excels, he’ll need to remain confident while yielding several snaps a game to Sims and his rocket arm. If Rocco struggles, London will have to decide between weathering the storm with his original starter or handing full reign over to the enthralling Alabama transfer.

3. Secondary: a primary concern The Virginia defense is a study in contrasts. On the one hand, veteran studs such as senior middle linebacker Steve Greer and senior weakside linebacker LaRoy Reynolds imbue the squad with veteran moxie. On the other, Virginia joins Florida State, North Texas and LSU as the only four FBS schools with no seniors in its secondary. Sophomore cornerback Demetrious Nicholson should hold his own in his second year as a full starter, but the rest of the secondary has a lot to prove. Sophomore Drequan Hoskey, a former track star who Smith said “has gotten a lot better since he got here,” is nevertheless sure to be isolated and attacked by opportunistic offensive coordinators. In addition, sophomore safeties Anthony Harris and Brandon Phelps may struggle to emulate graduated seniors Rodney McLeod and Corey Mosley. Playing in front of an untested

secondary, the front seven will have to generate more than the 20 sacks it mustered in 2011. Defensive coordinator Jim Reid and the players have gushed about the pass rush all throughout fall camp, but unless the down lineman and linebackers prove their mettle on game day, opposing coaches will dissect an inexperienced trio of defensive backs. If the back four hold their own and the front seven supply a consistent pass rush, as Greer believes they can, Virginia can once again contend for a prominent bowl selection. “There’s a lot of potential,” Greer said. “We’ve got some really good athletes, some really good young guys ... as long as we stay focused and execute the game plan, we could do some special things on defense.” 4. Special delivery London and special teams coordinator Anthony Poindexter know they have a kicker in Drew Jarrett. Jarrett can make kicks in

practice. But London and Poindexter are still waiting to see if he can do the same thing with a racing heartbeat, a pursuing defense and tens of thousands of screaming fans staring straight at him. “Both of them have hit 50-yarders and both have missed 25-yarders, and I think the telltale of that will be in a live game with the crowd yelling and screaming and with the implications behind every miss or every make,” London said of his two kickers, Jarrett and redshirt freshman Ian Frye. In close games, a clutch place kicker can be the most important player on the field in his 30-second cameo. Then-senior Robert Randolph was just that in the Cavaliers 34-31 Sept. 11 win against Indiana last season, going 4-for-4 in field goals including the game-winner as time expired. If Jarrett can provide a similar lift when called upon, his leg and composure could make the difference in a few nail-biters.

Depth Chart | Hoskey joins Nicholson at starting cornerback Continued from page B1 high school in 2010 according to ESPNU — in a supporting role reflects London’s belief that the roster features enough depth, experience and hunger to thrive without spectacular displays from the quarterback position. What London needs from his signal caller is consistency and know-how, two traits Rocco embodies. “To start a game, he’s the guy we feel most comfortable with right now because of what he knows — knowing the systems, the schemes and knowing the players that he’ll be throwing the ball to or handing the ball off to,” London said. Rocco will have plenty of support on offense from a number of returning starters whose experience should give the unit chemistry from the first snap. Offensive tackles senior Oday Aboushi and junior Morgan Moses — who London recently said were in the discussion as the best pair of tackles in the nation — will provide time to throw.

Senior running back Perry Jones will likely be the focal point of the offense once again, forcing opposing defenses to respect Virginia’s ground game. Meanwhile, speedy sophomore wide receivers Darius Jennings and Dominique Terrell give Virginia two viable deep threats to stretch the defense. “We’ve just got playmakers,” Rocco said. “We’re confident in our playmakers to make plays for us ... Really, my job is to study the game plan and get them the ball.” The most significant change on offense from last season will be in philosophy, not personnel. Virginia unveiled a more aggressive downfield passing playbook in this year’s Spring Game in the hopes of taking advantage of the athleticism and pass-catching ability of several tight ends. “I think the tight end position is one that has more versatility in it than in the past,” London said. “We’re excited about using them as part of an arsenal to stretch the field, point‑of‑attack blocking, do some things we haven’t

been able to do before.” Although Freedman is listed as the top tight end on the depth chart, Phillips, junior Jeremiah Mathis and sophomore Jake McGee all figure to see some role in the passing game. Freedman led Cavalier tight ends with 11 catches and 112 yards whereas Phillips caught just three passes for 15 yards. Only Mathis found the end zone, however, as Virginia failed to produce any of the “explosive” plays on which London hopes to capitalize this year. Despite the added focus on creating big plays, the ground game will still be the Virginia offense’s bread and butter. Jones leads a tailback position that features four returning players from a solid 2011 season, including sophomores Kevin Parks, Clifton Richardson and Khalek Shepherd. Virginia rotated running backs frequently last season, giving Jones, Parks and Richardson more than 70 carries apiece. “Running back is a deep position where you have a lot of

guys that can get it done,” London said. “We try to be more specific about what menu of plays they have to be more successful at. You would see a lot of that shuffling in and out, sometimes two tailbacks, sometimes one, a variation of things based on their ability.” While the Cavaliers offense will rely on continuity, the defense looks to a new core of players to contribute. Perhaps no departure looms larger than that of cornerback Chase Minnifield, who finished with three interceptions and a teamhigh eight passes defended last season. Virginia will now turn to the athletic Hoskey — who ran hurdles on the track team last year — to join the standout Nicholson at cornerback. “[Hoskey]’s got the vertical speed,” London said. “He’s got the quickness. He’s playing behind some pretty good corners that we had last year.” Like Hoskey, the starting strongside linebacker Coley spent much of last season as the

understudy to an entrenched veteran starter awaiting an opportunity to earn playing time. His first real chance came in the most important game of the season. An injury to then-senior Aaron Taliaferro made way for Hoskey to make his first career start in the Chick-fil-A bowl against Auburn. The early audition made Hoskey a training camp favorite to earn the final linebacker spot beside senior stars Steve Greer and LaRoy Reynolds. Like much of the Virginia defense, Hoskey is young but has experience with the program. His transition to the starting role will test London’s philosophy of rewarding veteran players who remained committed to the University without assurances of immediate playing time. “We talk about a maturity level,” London said. “ ... You develop that over the course of time with lifting, understanding the academic obligations. You grow up a little bit.”

Metzinger | Big-time college football loses lovable quirkiness Continued from page B1 tinued fallout from the Miami, North Carolina and Ohio State improper benefit/contact scandals; the dismissal of Tyrann “Honey Badger” Mathieu from LSU for putting the “High” in “Heisman candidate”; and, of course, the Sandusky trial and subsequent Freeh Report on Penn State’s misconduct, a catastrophe that to many disaffected fans epitomized the reckless and unscrupulous largesse of big-money college football. Meanwhile, conferences and programs continued to pursue aggressive realignment, with the Big East reduced to a shell of its already unimpressive former self. Somehow, while all else was going haywire, university presidents, conference officials and the NCAA finally buckled under public pressure and installed a four-team playoff system to go into effect for the 2014 season. This summer’s trials expose a fundamental truth: somewhere

along the quest to enlarge and enhance the game, the powers that be in college football sacrificed some of the eccentricity that made the sport special. College football has evolved during the past decade. The players and teams are bigger, faster and smarter, to the point that betting on a hypothetical Bama-Indianapolis Colts matchup last season gave many football fans more pause than it ever should. And some of the most enthralling games in the history of the sport have occurred in the last few seasons, bolstering the argument that college football trumps the professional league in sheer excitement. What’s more, those gargantuan TV contracts ensure that more and more fans can enjoy the action. In addition, as any fan website or forum will show, supporters of college football remain as fervent and invested as ever. But all that growth came at a steep cost. Obviously, Sandusky’s victims paid an incal-

culable, unimaginable price. Members of the Penn State community have paid the cost of losing a winning and profitable program. On a broader level, however, the more resources major programs committed to the all-important goal of winning, the further college football drifted from its quirky underpinnings and into an iffy gray area between intercollegiate competition and semi-professionalism. Improper violations and academic shortcuts are nothing new to college athletics — just ask any SMU football or Michigan basketball fan — but their increased frequency indicates that for many coaches and athletic directors, the incentive to build programs into superpowers far outweighs any noble impulse to protect the sanctity of amateurism. And for all the rhetoric players hear about being student-athletes, they still must resist the overwhelming temptation to reap the financial benefits of their talents and

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prioritize their NFL chances ahead of their education — a temptation often enabled by greedy, self-interested agents and boosters. Realignment and the demise of the BCS reflect the transformation of college football to a watered-down professional league. Yes, the current conferences are horribly imbalanced, and it will be nice to see a national championship solution that doesn’t require quantum physics to comprehend. Nevertheless, those shortcomings helped define college football’s character. Without them, the college game closes the gap on the NFL but loses some of its distinctive peculiarity. What does any of this have to do with Virginia and the ACC? Considering the conference functions as a microcosm of college football, everything. As previously discussed, our conference already features its share of flagrant rule violators in North Carolina, Miami and Florida State. It also includes

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members — like Virginia — that are good but not traditionally great programs and faced with a sinister choice: continue emphasizing the importance of the student-athlete, or buy into the cynical notion that only treating players as athlete-students can allow a team to taste true glory. Fortunately, we seem to be blessed with a coach in Mike London who has his priorities in order. I just fear that the shift in the game is rapidly rendering coaches like him the exception to the rule, and turning what used to be an inspiring game into merely a very effective business enterprise. Thousands of fans will join me Saturday in celebrating the return of college football. But it bears wondering whether the “perfection” of the game has sapped some of the humanity out of a sport whose greatest quality was showcasing the human spirit. As this offseason showed, the game is now more of a Michael Bay blockbuster than a Wes Anderson oddity.