November 7, 2012

Serving the University of Virginia community since 1890

The Cavalier Daily Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Partly Sunny. High 49, Low 33 See A3

www.cavalierdaily.com

Volume 123, No. 39 Distribution 10,000

ANOTHER FOUR YEARS President Barack Obama squeaks past Republican candidate Mitt Romney, earns second term

By Krista Pedersen and Joe Liss Cavalier Daily News Editor and Senior Associate Editor

By 11:20 p.m. Tuesday, the major media networks declared Presid e n t B a ra c k O b a m a the winner of Ohio and the 2012 presidential election. Obama will be sworn into his second term Jan. 20, 2013.

Obama won Virginia in an exceptionally close race, which major networks did not call until well after midnight.

Obama took the City of Charlottesville with 76 percent and won Albemarle County by 10 points. Obama also won comfortably in Manassas, Fairfax, Henrico and Prince William counties.

Shortly after the major networks announced Obama had won Virginia, the networks announced Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney had called Obama to congratulate him on his victory. Romney said the nation was at a “critical point” in his concession speech.

“I just called President

which Obama carried as well in the previous election.

Democrats also retained control of the Senate, picking up seats from controversial Republican candidates in Missouri and Indiana. The GOP still controls the House.

Once his victory was secured beyond doubt, Obama came onstage to the familiar tune of S t e v i e Wo n d e r ’s “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I ’ m

Romney made a lastminute play for Pennsylvania with events in the state for the first time since September, but Obama’s overwhelming victory in the southeastern part of the state gave him a comfortable margin o f

Obama to congratulate him on his victory,” Romney said during his concession speech around 1 a.m. “I pray that the president will be successful in guiding our nation.”

Romney was unable to win his home state of Michigan or the state of Massachusetts, where he served as governor.

Obama barely won Ohio but held Iowa, Nevada and New Hampshire by comfortable margins and took Wisconsin, the home state of former Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan, by a few points.

Despite not winning R y a n ’s h o m e s t a t e , Romney spoke glowingly of his running mate’s role in the campaign.

“I want to thank Paul Ryan for all that he has done for our campaign and our country,” Romney said. “Besides my wife Ann, [Ryan] is the best decision I ever made.”

Obama did 10 points better among women and won about 60 percent of the youth vote.

more than five points.

Romney won multiple states Obama had carried in 2008, but it was not enough.

In 2008 Obama won 365 electoral votes to Republican John McCain’s (R-AZ) 173 electoral votes. This year Obama had earned at least 303 electoral votes to Romney’s 202; by press time Florida had not been called.

Romney won by nearly 10 percent in Indiana, which Obama carried by 1 percent in 2008, and won North Carolina,

Yours,” and addressed a large crowd of supporters in his home city of Chicago.

“Tonight, more than 200 years after a former Please see Obama, Page A3 Thomas Bynum | Cavalier Daily

Students tune into election

Students pose with University President Teresa Sullivan, who dropped by a viewing party in Newcomb Theater hosted Tuesday night by Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and other student groups.

University communities come together, follow results using interactive social media, broadcast news

By Kelly Kaler and Lizzy Turner Cavalier Daily Associate Editors

Dillon Harding Cavalier Daily

A week after the University got an unexpected two days off from Hurricane Sandy, it celebrated an unofficial election day holiday at bars and various watch parties across Grounds. Those watching political returns, like many across the nation, spent Tuesday evening gathered anxiously around televisions and laptop screens, constantly refreshing pages.

Interactive media largely shaped students’ responses to

A colorful display at a Corner watch party encouraged students to cast votes Tuesday.

Dillon Harding Cavalier Daily

Sea of red belies blue tide A bloc of Southern states went red and the popular vote was tight, but President Barack Obama’s electoral lead against Republican challenger Mitt Romney held Tuesday night. The incumbent secured a second term.

Oregon

Minnesota South Dakota

Nebraska

California

Arizona

R.I. Conn.

New Jersey

Ohio

Indiana

Md.

West Virginia

Delaware

Virginia

Kansas

Missouri

Oklahoma

Kentucky North Carolina

Tennessee

Arkansas Mississippi

Texas

N.H.

Mass.

Pennsylvania

Illinois

New Mexico

New York

Iowa

Utah Colorado

Vt.

Michigan

Wisconsin

Wyoming

Nevada

Independent Angus King, who graduated from the University’s Law School in 1969, Tuesday evening won the U.S. Senate seat vacated by retiring Republican Olympia Snowe. King served as Maine’s governor from 1995 to 2003.

Maine

North Dakota

Idaho

Please see Reactions, Page A3

University alumnus takes Maine

Washington

Montana

the election results. Students tweeted commentary throughout the night, many checking Nate Silver’s FiveThirtyEight blog on the New York Times website.

Less than an hour after the West coast polls closed at 11:14 p.m. EST, President Barack Obama tweeted to followers: “This happened because of you.

Thank you.” The news was met by ecstatic cheering and chants of “Four more years!” at some watch parties — and gloom at

Alabama

Georgia

South Carolina

Louisiana

Alaska

Florida

Rebecca Lim Cavalier Daily

Please recycle this newspaper

Courtesy of Angus King Campaign

Editor-in-chief (434) 924-1082 Ads 924-1085 CFO 924-1084

News Sports Life

924-1083 924-1089 924-1092

Graphics Production

924-3181 924-3181

Additional contact information may be found online at www.cavalierdaily.

C M Y K

Cyan Magenta Yellow Black

Health & Science Opinion Sports Life Classified Comics

A2 A4 B1 B2 B4 B5

A2

Health&Science Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Team receives silver in genetics conference University students’ diagnosis kit offers cheap, efficient whooping cough diagnosis; earns competition recognition

By ELISSA TRIEU | Cavalier Daily SENIOR WRITER

Courtesy of U.Va. Biology

A group of University College and Engineering students traveled to the East Regional iGem Jamboree in Pittsburgh to showcase its efficient, cost-effective diagnosis kit for whooping cough.

By Elissa Trieu

Cavalier Daily Staff Writer The University’s International Genetically Engineered Machine team in October earned a silver medal in a Pittsburgh science competition for a project to de te c t who o ping c o ugh, a respiratory disease that causes uncontrollable coughing, faster and more accurately than existing methods.

At the East Regional iGem Jamboree, the team — made up of students from the College and Engineering School — presented its project to leading biological engineers. The

team went on to compete in the world championships earlier this month but lost to a team from the Netherlands. iGEM is an international competition that encourages students to combine engineering and biology. The students have to design a synthetic system and operate their project in living cells.

The highly contagious early symptoms of whooping cough — a disease that is responsible for around 300,000 deaths per year— are difficult to diagnose.

Existing tests are fast but are costly and have a high falsepositive rate. Blood tests can

only confirm diagnosis two to eight week after the onset of the cough, third-year Engineering student Joshua Fass said. Culturing, a process that cultivates microorganisms in controlled conditions, takes a week to generate a diagnosis, he added.

The team used bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacteria, and took advantage of the antibody design in pregnancy tests to develop a rapid diagnostic test.

“In the clinic, a patient would basically cough into a tube containing the diagnostic phages, the sample would sit long enough for hCG [human chorionic gonadotropin, a hormone

produced during pregnancy] to be produced and then the sample would be added to a pregnancy test, which would only be positive if the patient had whooping cough,” Fass said.

This test would provide a same-day diagnosis, Fass said.

Quick and cheap, he said this project has promising potential worldwide in minimizing the spread of the disease.

The other five students involved in the project — fourthyear College student Jacqueline Grimm, third-year College student Syed Hassan, fourth-year College student Joseph Muldoon,

third-year College student Omar Raza and fourth-year Engineering student Alexander Zorychta — took a seminar in the spring that led to a synthetic biology project during the summer.

At that point fifth-year College student Shaun Moshasha and fourth-year Engineering student John Hubczak joined the team.

The team received its award based on the fulfillment of requirements rather than specific placing within the group of teams presenting, Fass said. Virginia also won a regional award for best experimental measurement approach.

University, Virginia Tech butt heads in “bloody” battle Inter-Fraternity Council, Virginia Blood Services host blood drive, pit local rivals against each other

By MONIKA FALLON | Cavalier Daily HEALTH & SCIENCE Editor

By Monika Fallon

Cavalier Daily Health and Science Editor The lines have been drawn in the sand. This week the University has waged a “Crimson War” against Virginia Tech to outraise its rivals’ blood donations.

The blood drive, sponsored by Virginia Blood Services and organized by the Inter-Fraternity Council, has historically been a competition between the University and the University of Maryland, but this year the IFC decided to get a little more personal.

“The idea is to save lives

in Virginia with blood collected in Virginia,” third-year Commerce student Stephen West said. “We thought it would be more meaningful to do it against Virginia Tech while working strictly with Virginia Blood Services.”

Students who participate in the blood drive will receive a T-shirt and a chance to win one of roughly 40 raffle prizes, ranging from a football signed by head coach Mike London to a gift card to a store on the Corner, West said.

Although the rivalry is strictly Virginia-related, the relief the donated blood will

C M Y K

offer doesn’t have to be. “Virginia is starting to send the blood to help victims of Hurricane Sandy,” West said.

“There’s a huge need, and this blood is being moved as far north as New York and New Jersey. It’s important to remember that not only are we participating in friendly competition, we are also saving lives.”

Virginia Tech’s drive, which was held last week, was a success, said Anthony Malizia, a fourth-year

finance student Virginia Tech student. “The drive was supposed to start on Monday and Tuesday, but the hurricane caused some distress,” Malizia said. “We may not have reached some of the quotas, but it was awesome to see everyone get together for [a good] cause.”

The University’s drive will be held from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Chemistry building, Clark Hall and Westminster Church on Rugby Road all week.

Cyan Magenta Yellow Black

A3

NEWS

Wednesday, November 7, 2012 | The Cavalier Daily

Three-Day Weather Forecast TODAY High of 49˚ Partly sunny skies with a chance for afternoon rain.

TONIGHT Low of 33˚

Provided by the Cavalier Weather Service

TOMORROW High of 55˚

Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers.

Partly cloudy skies with gradual clearing.

TOMORROW NIGHT Low of 32˚ Mostly clear skies with temperatures dropping into the low 30s.

A coastal low pressure system brought clouds and rain to the East of Charlottesville last night, as it moves up the coast. We can expect the effects of this low to come out way this afternoon and into the evening, moving out tomorrow. High pressure will build in again Friday for a beautiful weekend.

FRIDAY High of 59˚ Sunny skies with temperatures rising into the upper 50s.

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

Obama | Kaine bests Allen; Douglass falls to Hurt Continued from page A1 colony won the right to determine its own destiny, the task of perfecting our union moves forward,” Obama said. “We rise and fall together as one nation and one people.”

He spoke of bipartisanship and referenced his cooperation with New Jersey’s Republican Governor Chris Christie and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg,

an independent, during Hurricane Sandy.

“Our economy has recovered.

A decade of war is ending. Our long campaign is now over,” Obama said. “With your stories and your struggles I return to the White House more determined than ever about the work there is to do and the work that lies ahead.”

The status quo reigned Tuesday night in Virginia and Albe-

marle County, with Republican Rep. Robert Hurt retaining his House seat and voters passing the retiring Democratic Sen. Jim Webb’s seat to former Gov. Tim Kaine.

Albemarle demonstrated high voter turnout, continuing the trend from 2008, when record numbers showed up to elect President Barack Obama to his first term. Nearly 50,000 voted in Albemarle Tuesday.

Albemarle County spokesperson Lee Catlin said in an email at 4 p.m. voter turnout was about 55 percent, or four to five points lower than the previous year.

In the fifth district, about 190,000 people voted to return Hurt to the House. He easily defeated Democratic challenger John Douglass. Statewide, Kaine bested Republican challenger George Allen, another former

Virginia governor, by a margin of more than 100,000 votes.

Allen, who conceded the race soon after it was called by news networks, praised his own campaign for advocating fiscal responsibility but criticized Kaine’s platform. “It would be nice if we had a government that was on the side of entrepreneurs and small business owners, and those ideals did not prevail,” Allen said.

Reactions | ‘It’s fun to watch these nailbiters,’ Sanders says Continued from page A1 others.

The University Democrats met upstairs at the Biltmore on the Corner to watch the results in real time. Students trickled in at about 7 p.m., but it wasn’t until an hour later that tables filled. Music blaring from the speakers competed with the election coverage streaming on the TVs. Many students who voted for Obama expressed concern for gay rights and women’s rights, among other issues. “I’m socially liberal – I support equal rights in terms of LGBT and

women’s reproductive rights,” fourth-year College student Anna Lewis said. “And in terms of foreign policy, I don’t trust Romney.”

University Democrats President James Schwab, a fourthyear College student, said he had been optimistic about Obama and Kaine winning before the results were announced. He said he thought most University students voted for the Democratic ticket. “There were so many more Obama stickers today,” Schwab said. “I mean, that’s anecdotal evidence, but anecdotal is better than none.”

Nearby, the College Repub-

licans rented out the second floor of Trinity Irish Pub. Students hoped Romney’s plan for rejuvenating the economy would be successful.

It wasn’t all party politics, though. College Council hosted a bipartisan watch party down the street at Boylan Heights.

Free appetizers and good spirits drew crowds of excited voters.

“One hundred years ago people were campaigning in the streets, especially women, just to have the right the vote,” second-year Nursing student Mary Harrington said. “It’s our duty, just out of respect for them, to vote.” Student loans,

health care and women’s rights topped Harrington’s list of concerns.

Now that Obama has earned another four-year term, College Council President Tyler Crown, a third-year Commerce student, echoed much of the sentiment expressed by both Republican candidate Mitt Romney and Obama — the time for partisanship has past.

“A lot of us right out of college need jobs, and we’re going to need our voice to be heard,” Crown said. “Honestly, I just want whoever wins, for the county to unite behind them, and hopefully from here we can

take the next step.”

OpenGrounds, a community studio space on the Corner, held a viewing party open to students and the general public.

Television sets stretched wallto-wall with CNN broadcasts, and computers flashed updates from the New York Times and other polling websites.

“It’s fun to watch these nailbiters,” Assoc. Politics Prof.

Lynn Sanders said Tuesday evening on CBS19, before saying she was glad Virginia GOP Senate candidate George Allen conceded his race early so everyone could go home and enjoy a beer.

Faculty Senate chair addresses Student Council Law Prof. George Cohen clarifies governing body’s role, Board of Visitors relationship given increased attention during summer months

By Emily Hutt

Cavalier Daily Associate Editor Law Prof. George Cohen, chair of the Faculty Senate, addressed Student Council’s representative body Tuesday evening, clarifying the Faculty Senate’s role in University governance after a summer in which its visibility increased.

The Faculty Senate is a representative body consisting of an executive council of 17 members and several standing committees and task forces led by faculty from the University’s different schools. It has been active in matters of strategic planning and providing University information and advice to Board of Visitors committees, Cohen said.

The Senate can approve or terminate degree programs but

lacks the authority to approve curricula. “We have almost no official power to do anything,” Cohen said.

Though much of the tumult surrounding the summer ’s failed ouster of University President Teresa Sullivan has ceased, Cohen said some uncertainty remained — even among faculty members — about the Faculty Senate’s role. “We were very active in the events of last summer, and many people saw that as a positive thing,” Cohen said. “Not everyone, but many.”

During the events of the summer, Cohen said the Faculty Senate chose to take action to provide a voice for faculty members who could not speak publicly because they lacked tenure and, consequently, job security. Because many members of the Senate are tenured,

the executive council saw an opportunity to act as a catalyst in efforts to reinstate Sullivan.

“In the beginning it was somewhat risky to speak out the way we did, but because some of us have that protection, if you have the ability to speak out, you should,” Cohen said.

Council members asked Cohen about whether the Senate had considered pushing to add a voting student member to the Board. He said the body had focused more on improving existing governance structures.

“I think there’s a lot of reasonable discussion about how that could be done,” Cohen said. “But I think we should keep our eyes on the real goal which is we want to improve the governance structure of the University.”

Council President Johnny Vroom said students need to

C M Y K

Thomas Bynum | Cavalier Daily

Student Council members questioned the Faculty Senate’s relationship with the Board of Visitors Tuesday evening.

be aware of ongoing dialogue between faculty and the Board because of its centrality in the University’s future as an institution. “At times [this summer]

Cyan Magenta Yellow Black

I wasn’t even sure what was happening, and I think students should definitely pay attention because it has the potential to affect the value of our degrees.”

A4

Opinion Wednesday, November 7, 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

Campaign supernova A political initiative at Occidental College allowing students course credit for political campaigning would be a good addition to the University Newly re-elected President Obama — before he was the incumbent or U.S. senator — was a student.

He attended Occidental College for two years before transferring to Columbia University, and it is the first of his alma maters that is now making headlines.

An educative program at Occidental allows students to earn course credit for campaigning in political elections, with their grade independent of the electoral result. The “campaign semester” initiative at Occidental is another example of the Californian experimental spirit providing a template, in this case for peer institutions.

Occidental College is a liberal arts school of about 2,000 students located in a suburb of Los Angeles.

The school is well-known for its famous alumnus: President Obama attended the school between 1979 and 1981. It was only when its former student had become president that Occidental decided to incorporate its “campaign semester,” in what has become a nifty opportunity for students.

The “campaign semester” is a program in which students can enroll during the fall. Occidental students — of any political ideology, background or major — are able to earn a full semester of college credits for working on a political campaign for the length of the semester. The campaign could be for a candidate of any party in a presidential or national congressional election, or the election for the state’s governor. This political flexibility allows “campaign semester” to occur on all even years. Nineteen students participated in 2008, the program’s inaugural year, with nine students taking advantage in 2010’s midterm elections. For the 2012 “campaign semester,” 32 students enrolled.

All interested students must do is get pre-approval for the campaign on which they will work. Some concerns could be raised here, since there seems hardly

a robust measure to ensure that students campaigning in-state or abroad are doing requisite work. Plus, there could be concerns that only those campaigns that accord to a certain ideology are approved.

Occidental College is predominantly Democratic and thus a majority of the campaigning students work for Democratic candidates. Besides criticizing the college for more strongly helping one party — by virtue of encouraging a certain campaigning demographic — there is also the problem that the professors entrusted with approving requests may favor specific candidates. Indeed, Occidental’s website says that Democratic or Republican campaigns will be accepted bar none, but students wanting to campaign for a “minor party” will need more extensive approval.

These caveats aside, the idea is intuitively good.

Many students working on campaigns are not typically given compensation. Moreover, working for a political campaign isn’t afforded the same status as an internship — the inherently political bent of advocating for a supporter could dissuade future employers. Students with a regular class schedule hoping to help a campaign are often restricted to working on campus without the logistical resources of travel and time necessary for an active campaigner.

What “campaign semester” allows is an immersive experience — similar to a semester abroad. Just as activism had been in prior decades, for today’s students invested in politics there could be nothing more educative than working on a campaign. The University already provides integrated programs that combine internships and study abroad in financial or service-based contexts. Given the Jeffersonian mission of this school, adopting a campaigning program such as that at Occidental could help train a future politico.

Featured online reader comment “The far left always depends heavily on the votes of teenagers completely detached from the economy, and completely dependent on their parents. The ones in the military cancel out their votes anyway.”

“Julian,” responding to the Nov. 6 lead editorial, “Decision day”

Is business slow?

Advertise with The Cav Daily and reach 10,000 potential customers every day!

Editorial Cartoon by Stephen Rowe

Call 924-1085 THE CD

HAVE AN OPINION?

The Cavalier Daily is a financially and editorially independent newspaper staffed and managed entirely by students of the University of Virginia.

The opinions expressed in the Cavalier Daily are not necessarily those of the students, faculty, staff or administration of the University of Virginia. Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of the Managing Board. Cartoons and columns represent the views of the authors. The Managing Board of the Cavalier Daily has sole authority over and responsibility for the newspaper’s content.

No part of The Cavalier Daily or The Cavalier Daily Online Edition may be reproduced in any form, in whole or in part, without the written consent of the editor-in-chief.

The Cavalier Daily is published Mondays through Fridays during the school year (except holidays and examination periods) and on at least 40 percent recycled paper.

The first five copies of The Cavalier Daily are free, each additional copy costs $1.

The Cavalier Daily Online Edition is updated after the print edition goes to press and is publicly accessible via the Internet at www.cavalierdaily.com. © 2011 The Cavalier Daily, Inc.

The Cavalier Daily welcomes letters to the editor and guest columns. Writers must provide full name, telephone number, and University affiliation, if appropriate. Letters should not exceed 250 words in length and columns should not exceed 700. The Cavalier Daily does not guarantee publication of submissions and may edit all material for content and grammar. Anonymous letters, letters to third parties and pieces signed by more than two people will not be considered.

Submit to editor@cavalierdaily.com, http://www. cavalierdaily.com/, or P.O. Box 400703, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4703.

QUESTIONS & COMMENTS To better serve readers, The Cavalier Daily has an ombudsman to respond to questions and concerns regarding its practices. The ombudsman writes a column, published every week on the Opinion pages, based on reader feedback and his independent observations. He also welcomes queries pertaining to journalism and the newspaper industry in general.

The ombudsman is available at ombud@cavalierdaily.com.

STAFF Assistant Managing Editors Production Editors Rebecca Lim, Sylvia Oe, Charlie Tyson, Caroline Houck Meghan Luff Associate Copy Editors Senior Associate Editors Andrew Elliott Olivia Brown, Caroline Trezza Associate Editors Stephen Brand, MaryBeth News Editors Krista Pedersen, Desrosiers Michelle Davis Senior Associate Editor Sports Editors Joe Liss Ashley Robertson, Ian Associate Editors Rappaport Emily Hutt, Kelly Kaler, Grace Senior Associate Editors Hollis, Monika Fallon, Lizzy Fritz Metzinger, Daniel Weltz Turner Graphics Editors Opinion Editors Peter Simonsen, Stephen Rowe George Wang, Katherine Ripley Business Managers Senior Associate Editor Kelvin Wey, Anessa Caalim Alex Yahanda Associate Business Managers Kiki Bandlow Health & Science Editor Monika Fallon Financial Controller Mai-Vi Nguyen

C M Y K

Cyan Magenta Yellow Black

Advertising Manager Sean Buckhorn Life Editors Abigail Sigler Caroline Massie Photography Editors Thomas Bynum, Will Brumas Associate Photography Editors Jenna Truong, Dillon Harding

tableau Editors Caroline Gecker, Conor Sheehey Senior Associate Editor Anna Vogelsinger Associate Editors Erin Abdelrazaq Kevin Vincenti Social Media Manager Jesse Hrebinka

A5

OPINION

Wednesday, November 7, 2012 | The Cavalier Daily

Pants on fire

I

The Edenbridge Bonfire Society’s burning of a Lance Armstrong effigy is a decision that should be taken lightly

T HAS BEEN a rough few and media personalities.

While the Bonfire Society weeks for cyclist Lance Arm s t r o n g . T h e f o r m e r maintains that burning a giant seven-time Tour de France caricature of Armstrong is not winner was recently stripped of motivated out of spite, they claim that the all his Tour victoALEX YAHANDA bonfire ceremony ries and banned represents “our from competitive SENIOR ASSOCIATE EDITOR impression of who cycling forever because of his history of illegal [Armstrong] is and what he is.” doping while competing. Fol- Additionally, a spokesperson for lowing the ban came a loss of the Bonfire Society remarked major sponsors as well as a great that Armstrong was fitting for deal of public scorn toward the ceremony because he is Armstrong. But while the anger “certainly the biggest villain directed at Armstrong for doping in sport.” Thus, burning Armmay be justified, some of the strong’s effigy certainly seems insults that are currently being to be a way to denounce Armdirected his way have really strong as a result of his cycling scandals. And while judging incensed people.

To give an example, a giant Armstrong based purely on his effigy of Armstrong was recently sporting career decisions is not set alight as part of the Eden- entirely fair to him as a person, bridge Bonfire Society’s annual it is true that he was a cheater 5th of November ceremony. and liar for a period of many The society, which burns effi- years. So, those who are upset gies in remembrance of Guy about the effigy burning should Fawkes’ failed attempt to blow realize that it really is nothing up Parliament in 1605, usu- especially noteworthy, especially ally selects a celebrity figure to when Armstrong is reasonably immolate as part of its celebra- being torn down for deceiving tion. Armstrong was selected as the public for so long and will this year’s celebrity, beating out doubtlessly experience a quick other sports figures, politicians rebound in popularity.

In reality, Armstrong has done Tiger Woods both endured perimuch good outside of the cycling ods of intense hatred by fans, yet world. Specifically, his work have since seen major rebounds in supporting the fight against in popularity. So while it is cancer affirms that even if he is unlucky for Armstrong to have been chosen to be castigated this year, his for doping, he “The mistakes that title of sport’s should not be Armstrong made with biggest villain characterized as regards to cycling will will soon fade. purely villainArmstrong’s ous. To even say have little bearing on the rebound will that Armstrong undeniable good he has be fueled by is the biggest vildone elsewhere.” the ways in lain in sport is which he has valid only during benefitted a brief timespan.

Armstrong is perhaps the biggest society beyond his former sucvillain in sport of the last month. cesses in the sporting world.

And even if that month is enough Though he stepped down as to push Armstrong to the fore- chairman of his Livestrong Founfront of this year’s most hated dation, Armstrong will remain sports figures, someone will soon on its board. All doping conviccome along and replace him. tions aside, Armstrong’s impact Doping continues to be a prob- on the spread of cancer awarelem in numerous sports all over ness should be what he is most the world. At one point, steroid remembered for. Not only did users Barry Bonds and Marion Armstrong persevere through Jones were being castigated as metastatic testicular cancer — much as Armstrong. Given the for which his odds of survival criteria of the Bonfire Society, were less than 40 percent — but these other figures could have his Livestrong band campaign reasonably faced denouncement has passed on a message of in the form of burning effigies, awareness of and opposition to too. Similarly, LeBron James and cancer to millions. Overall, more

than 80 million Livestrong bands have been sold.

The mistakes that Armstrong made with regards to cycling will have little bearing on the undeniable good he has done elsewhere. Thus, the Bonfire Society’s choice to burn a giant depiction of Armstrong is nothing more than a superficial stab at a public figure who has made poor decisions. To give context, their other possibilities for the celebrity effigy have also been unworthy figures — soccer players and British TV personalities are often considered each year.

In the end, those who were against the effigy burning should not be angry or believe that Armstrong was castigated at an unnecessarily high level. Hopefully, seeing an exaggerated portrayal of Armstrong while burning will remind people that the Bonfire Society’s decision does not really carry all that much weight.

Alex Yahanda is a senior associate editor for The Cavalier Daily.

He can be reached at a.yahanda@cavalierdaily.com.

The morning after

D

A student writes a letter to the winner of this year’s presidential election to give him a student’s perspective

E A R P R E S I D E N T - the costs of higher education.

If college is to continue as the ELECT, I do not know who “Great Equalizer” and the best you are yet — I’m writing this opportunity for improving our column the Saturday before you stations in life, then it has to be affordable. were elected — but ROLPH RECTO Providing stuwhoever you are, dent aid in the congratulations on OPINION COLUMNIST form of grants your victory. It sure has been a long road to get to and loans is commendable, this point, president-elect. Make but recent measures such as sure to send the other guy a extending the low interest rates consolation Hallmark card, at on Stafford loans is but a tempoleast. It will be your first act of rary measure that only attacks the symptoms of the larger presidential statesmanship.

President Obama, if this is problem: skyrocketing tuition. you, good luck with four more There are a large number of facyears of Congressional gridlock. tors involved with this increase Governor Romney, if this is you, in cost — waning state support welcome to the big time. This is for public universities, a drive no Winter Olympics, I’m afraid. to increase spending to attract You face great challenges ahead, students and increase prestige and I am writing this letter — and to neglect this growing because I thought you would concern would be tantamount like to have the perspective to abandoning the prospects of of the youth. Though we may future generations.

Coupled with our concern for be inexperienced, we’re still the ones who are going to run the cost of college also comes the country after you leave, so our concern for employment perhaps you might like to know after we graduate. We expect where we want the Ship of State that after working hard to get a diploma, we can find good to be sailing.

First and foremost, we share employment to use the skills the common cause of reforming we have fostered for the last

four years. That more than half STEM degrees are a start. Mr. of all recent college graduates president-elect, you would do are working in jobs that do not good to continue the president’s require a degree or are outright current plans, if not in letter unemployed is a travesty. If left then at least in spirit.

F i n a l l y, u n c h e c ke d , w e aside from will become a gen“I am writing this letter economic eration crushed because I thought you issues, we under the burden the youth of insurmountwould like to have the also care able student debt because we perspective of the youth.” about social issues. cannot acquire jobs that would allow us to pay Though we as a group may dissuch debts. A recent report by agree on many disparate matthe Associated Press suggests ters, we converge on the topic that the rising number of people of gay marriage. A study by the attending college — and the Pew Research Center found that lack of a corresponding rise in an overwhelming majority (58 jobs — has made the traditional percent) of young people ages liberal arts degree less of a 18-29 support gay marriage, and credential as it has been in the an even greater majority (68 past and that more training in percent) support civil unions. technical fields such as science This is not just because young and health care is needed for an people are more likely to be edge in the employment market. liberal and therefore DemoIf that is the case, expanding crats; many young Republicans such technical education is are at least moderates in social most naturally the best plan. issues and are Republican only President Obama’s efforts to because of economic issues. A expand aid for community col- piecemeal approach of legalleges and foster STEM education izing gay marriage through the by hiring more teachers and states is inefficient and allows encouraging students to take up gay couples in conservative

states to suffer the privation of legal status. A federal effort spearheaded by the chief executive — with a little cooperation from Congress — would make short work of giving rights to such couples. President Obama’s recent endorsement for gay marriage is a step in the right direction; again, Mr. president-elect, you would do well to follow the footsteps of your predecessor.

A long and arduous four years await you, Mr. president-elect.

You will face many challenges in many different domains. We, the youth, ask not for your full and undivided attention, but rather only a small part of it.

These are the issues that matter to us; all we ask is for you to give a bit of your effort to make our hopes for the future — a future where college is affordable, where we can acquire gainful employment and where fellow citizens can freely marry whomever they love — a reality.

Rolph Recto’s column appears Wednesdays in The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at r.recto@cavalierdaily.com.

Political forecasts

B

Hurricane Sandy had a negligible effect on this year’s election

ECAUSE OF the extent chances are, they may not vote. of the damage caused by Many people are living in tem Hurricane Sandy, there porary shelters at local schools.

Because of the transportahave been concerns among many about the implications tion and general communication disrupof the hurricane on FARIHA KABIR tion caused by the general electhe hurricane, tion. States like New OPINION COLUMNIST there has also York, New Jersey and Connecticut have been been some problem with delivdevastated and are still trying ering mail efficiently and effecto obtain some form of nor- tively. As a result, absentee malcy, which may not happen ballots may not arrive at the within a short period of time. appropriate location within the Many of the polling sites have appropriate amount of time. been flooded or destroyed, and This may cause difficulties in still do not have power. In New determining an accurate count York, many of the voting loca- of absentee ballots.

In terms of the presidency, tions have changed to accommodate for the disaster. In there most likely will not be addition, there were problems any significant change in the with the Internet servers in outcome than what was premany counties making it diffi- dicted prior to the occurrence cult to inform the public about of Hurricane Sandy. States that location changes. Such sce- have suffered the most damage narios will certainly decrease such as New York and New Jersey have been predomithe number of people voting.

Other individuals are prob- nately Democratic, and those ably more concerned with electoral votes will still be Presensuring the welfare of their ident Obama’s regardless of families, especially people voter turnout.

Yet, it must be noted, that the who have lost their homes or still do not have power. For hurricane has impacted the them, voting is not going to be image of both candidates. The their primary concern, and so, hurricane may have benefited

President Obama. The response FEMA that is attempting to to the hurricane has been rela- deal with the consequences of tively quick, especially in com- Hurricane Sandy. The extent parison to Hurricane Katrina. of this comment on voter deciIn addition, Republican New sion is hard to measure, but it most cerJ e r s e y G o v. tainly does Chris Christie has publicly “In terms of the presidency, not put him there most likely will not in a positive complimented President be any significant change light.

Hurricane Obama on his in the outcome than what S a n d y m ay handling of was predicted prior to the h a v e e v e n the situation, more influthough he has occurrence of ence on endorsed Mitt Hurricane Sandy.”

Senate and Romney for House elecpresident. tions. For the On the other hand, the hurricane may have Senate and the House, voter actually hurt Romney. For turnout would be much more example, President Obama can- crucial especially in regions celled his campaigning plans in where it is a close race between Florida and returned to Wash- the candidates. Such is the case ington D.C. to better deal with in Connecticut between DemoHurricane Sandy. Romney, due cratic Congressman Christoto his position, was less capable pher Murphy and Republican of political action. Romney has candidate Linda McMahon, also stated during his campaign where there has been concern that he would be willing to among Democrats for the recut off funding for the Fed- election of Murphy because of a eral Emergency Management lack of voter turnout in certain Agency (FEMA) and let each areas. How the hurricane has state have the right to handle been handled and the current emergency situations on its condition of a region could own terms. This is the same impact an election, especially

for an incumbent senator or congressman. An incumbent could have gained or lost votes in these final days based on his or her response to the political test of a hurricane.

The extent these individuals attempt to get in touch with those who bore the brunt of Hurricane Sandy may shift which candidate they vote for.

While obviously we have no control over mother nature, the timing of Hurricane Sandy has been interesting in terms of elections. The consequences of Hurricane Sandy on the presidential and congressional race is hard to foresee, but the chances of it impacting national elections is rather minimal. Rather, if the hurricane does affect the election, it would be for Congressional elections rather than the presidential election, although both Romney and Obama have made efforts to weather the storm.

Fariha Kabir’s column appears Wednesdays in The Cavalier Daily. She can be reached at f.kabir@cavalierdaily.com.

Cavalierdaily.com | MAKE IT NEWS

C M Y K

Cyan Magenta Yellow Black

A6

The Cavalier Daily | Wednesday, November 7, 2012

CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE!

WWW.CAVALIERDAILY.COM US ON

MULTIMEDIA, PHOTOS AND VIDEOS!

FOLLOW US ON

C M Y K

Cyan Magenta Yellow Black

Sports

SECTION

INSIDE: Life Classified Comics

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

B2 B4 B5

B

www.cavalierdaily.com

The Cavalier Daily

FOOTBALL

QBs embrace new rotation

London plans to deploy dual quarterback attack again after Sims, Rocco thrive against N.C. State

By Daniel Weltz

Cavalier Daily Senior Associate Editor

Dillon Harding | Cavalier Daily

Sophomore quarterback Phillip Sims finished 8-for-10 for 115 yards with one passing touchdown during last Saturday’s 33-6 romp against N.C. State. It was Sims’ first game without an interception since becoming a starter Oct. 6.

SPORTS

As the losses mounted, the smile never faded from the face of gregarious sophomore quarterback Phillip Sims. The cool confidence never wavered from junior quarterback Michael Rocco as he watched from the sideline. With three games remaining in a 2012 season defined largely by a quarterback competition that has seemingly lasted as long as the presidential election,

the Virginia coaching staff believes it may have reached a verdict: too close to call.

For the first time this season during last Saturday’s 33-6 road drubbing of N.C. State, the Cavaliers relied on a true rotation at the game’s most important position, alternating between Sims and Rocco every few possessions. The results were unequivocally positive.

Virginia notched its highest Please see Football, Page B3

IN BRIEF

Cavs escape Wake Forest The sixth-seeded Virginia men’s soccer team Tuesday earned a 2-2 upset victory against third-seeded Wake Forest on penalty kicks, 5-3, to advance to Friday’s ACC tournament semifinal matchup against No. 2 seed North Carolina.

In a game with little reprieve in action, the Cavaliers (10-6-2, 4-4-1 ACC) overcame two separate deficits to force overtime.

The Demon Deacons (11-4-4, 4-2-3) took the early lead in the 22nd minute when sophomore forward Sean Okoli fed freshman forward Michael Gamble a through ball that Gamble promptly slipped into the corner of the goal.

Virginia responded quickly, earning the equalizer in the 33rd minute off a long free kick from freshman midfielder Scott Thomsen. Thomsen served the ball into the Cavaliers’ box from the opposite side of the half-line for freshman defender Zach Carroll to finish the play by winning a scuffle in front of net. The goal

marked Thomsen’s sixth assist of the year.

At halftime Wake Forest held a 9-7 shot advantage, but Virginia’s strong pace and form was evident in the team’s 5-1 corner advantage.

Just six minutes into the second period, Wake Forest reclaimed the lead when junior defender Chris Duvall hooked a cross into the box from the right flank. Okoli met the ball with his head and redirected it past sophomore goalkeeper Spencer LaCivita for a 2-1 lead.

In the 56th minute the Cavaliers again demonstrated their resilience by tying the game 2-2.

Freshman winger Marcus Salandy-Defour finished his speedy run down the left line by firing a low, hard cross in front of goal.

Sophomore midfielder Eric Bird came streaking in from the top of the box and, while fighting off a defender, managed to careen the ball off the left crossbar and into the net.

The teams ended regulation

knotted at 2-2 and failed to convert several opportunities in the two sudden-death overtime periods before the penalty shootout began.

Senior forward Will Bates commenced the penalty kick period by placing his shot perfectly in the upper-left corner, which kicked off a series of seven consecutive successful penalties.

As the Cavaliers held a 4-3 advantage in penalties, Demon Deacon sophomore Teddy Mullin attempted a nifty hesitation move on his approach and pushed his shot just to the left of goal, the first and only miss.

Redshirt junior defender Shane Cooke then put away the fifth and decisive penalty for Virginia, sending the players pouring onto the field and the team on to the next round in the ACC tournament.

The Cavaliers play North Carolina 5:30 p.m. Friday in Germantown, Md. —compiled by Ben Baskin

Dillon Harding | Cavalier Daily

Senior attacker Will Bates buried the first shot of the penalty kick period in the ACC quarterfinal clash against third-seeded Wake Forest.

WOMEN’S SOCCER

FIELD HOCKEY

Scorching squad earns No. 2 seed despite ACC tourney win; will open vs. La Salle

hosts first round

Virginia preps for NCAAs Veteran team Senior midfielder Julia Roberts aims to conclude her collegiate career by earning the women’s soccer program’s first ever NCAA national championship.

Lax New Jersey gambling law moves tournament’s first two rounds from No. 2 Princeton to Turf Field

By Matt Comey

Cavalier Daily Associate Editor The No. 6 Virginia field hockey team enters the final chapter of its season this weekend as it hosts the first and second rounds of the NCAA tournament. The seventh-seeded Cavaliers (15-5, 4-1 ACC) drew Iowa in the first round and will likely see No. 2 seeded Princeton the

following day. Any loss at this point would spell the end to a magical 2012 campaign.

“I love tournament time,” redshirt senior midfielder Michelle Vittese said. “It’s a lot more fun than the regular season because the stakes are higher and the pressure is on.”

Please see Field Hockey, Page B3

Jenna Truong Cavalier Daily

By Michael Eilbacher Cavalier Daily Associate Editor

After a stunning victory in the ACC tournament, the No. 3 Virginia women’s soccer team sets its sights on the opening round of the NCAA tournament Friday evening.

The 64-team field for the tournament was set Monday night, with Virginia (16-4-1, 6-3-1 ACC) securing a No. 2 seed and a first-

round home matchup against La Salle. Some of the players bristled slightly at the team not receiving a top seed, especially after the squad defeated three top-10 teams in the conference tournament — including Florida State, who garnered a No. 1 seed.

“I think [it] motivates us a little bit, just because we thought we should have [gotten a top seed],” sophomore midfielder Morgan

Brian said. “Going into this tournament getting a No. 2 seed is just great.”

The Cavaliers are riding a fivegame winning streak, all against ranked opponents, and have averaged almost four goals a game during the stretch. The team has looked almost unstoppable since a late-season 1-0 loss Courtesy of Virginia Athletics

Please see W Soccer, Page B3

Nearing the denouement of a legendary career, Olympian and redshirt senior forward Paige Selenski hopes to earn her first national title.

A league apart

MATT COMEY

Last week’s media buildup to the annually over-glorified LSUAlabama game restored one of the most asinine premises in all of sports: the idea that a college team could legitimately compete against an NFL team. It is time to put that assumption to rest.

Steve Spurrier, the highly

respected South Carolina coach, embarrassed himself by saying if Alabama played an NFL bottom-dweller, “a lot of the oddsmakers out there that usually know what’s going on, I’d guess Alabama would be favored by a little bit.”

Sounds like a good way to lose

C M Y K

a lot of money.

To make matters worse, a SportsCenter reporter asked two Alabama defensive starters whether the Crimson Tide defense could keep up with the struggling Jacksonville Jaguar offense. One of the players dismissed the question by claiming

Cyan Magenta Yellow Black

they were focused on LSU, but his answer should have been a flat “no.” Anyone who argues otherwise is showing a lack of respect for the men who have fought hard and sacrificed to Please see Comey, Page B3

B2

Life

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Charlottesville’s Cultural, Commercial Core City Council project transforms Downtown Mall’s 1959 image

By Meredith Wadsworth

Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

I

Birthday bombardment

’ve never really been a birth uphill from here until I reached the hallowed two-one? day person.

It’s mostly an attention issue for In the past, the event has been riddled with enough anxi- me. I don’t like to make people ety to make it generally unpleas- feel like they have to be especially nice ant. Take singing to me. The “Happy BirthReality Check sort of sickly day,” for examniceness that ple. What is it comes about if not an occais, of course, sion to see what appreciated funny shade of — but there’s purple your face only so many will turn this times that I year, or how can hear “I closely you can hope today is examine your as wonderful shoelaces? as you are” The whole without going party aspect of it ballistic. This is weird, too. I’m is a phrase at an odd juncEMILY CHURCHILL that I, myself, tion in my life employ when — do I go for the semiformal dinner? Or go to a greeting every single one of my bowling alley and get a novelty friends on their birthdays.

Then you hit the odd impasse: cake, only pretending I’m being ironic? Is it a faux pas to even I was trying to tell my friends celebrate at all, though? Is that to not worry about it this year assuming I’m still at the stage until one took offense and told where birthdays mean something other than the continuing Please see Churchill, Page B6 descent into the void? Or is it all

The Downtown Mall is one of Charlottesville’s great attractions. The brick-paved outdoor strip is adorned with stores and restaurants, such as the chic boutique Bittersweet, the high-end sushi spot Ten and the beloved ice cream shop Chaps. Next time you visit, try taking a step back from the

indoor attractions. Enjoy your ice cream on the go and take a look at your surroundings. Many of today’s shops are housed within original and restored buildings from the pre-mall years, back when this business hub of the City was just a continuation of old East Main Street.

In the late 1950s, City officials realized maintaining the downtown area as a strong business center was vital to Charlottesville’s economic growth. Hit hard by the relocation of department stores to

suburban retail centers, the downtown area became less popular than other areas of Charlottesville such as Barracks Road.

With the aim of drawing attention back to Main Street, the Charlottesville Chamber of Commerce in 1959 proposed the creation of a downtown pedestrian mall. City Council and Central City Commission met with the Atlanta-based engineering firm Lawrence Halprin & Associates to come up with a plan for a new and improved downtown. “There was a legitimate fear that the core of the city was going to end up like ... so many cities that had just given way to the Please see Downtown, Page B6

Dogmatically undecided

I

’m apt to loathe politics. It all seems to be happening so far away — in some other time, on some other planet.

Mary Scott cannot relate, at least not the Mary Scott I think I am; the sensitive, yet critical, empathetic yet astute artist-intraining. Politics seems phony, frankly, and the investigative reporter in me is dying to bust open the next Watergate scandal. I don’t believe in all the president’s men, but I do believe in the likes of Woodward and Bernstein. I can’t help but be highly suspicious of any human being who wants to represent the ideals of an entire nation.

I’d rather side with those who can see through the facade of fairness, right down into the depths of the avaricious human soul.

As I’m writing this, election day is looming. As I reread this article in print and as you read this for the first time, the presidential race of 2012 will be finished, if all goes smoothly.

And it won’t really matter that on the afternoon of Nov. 5

a 21-year-old, white, middle- that turn so easily to dogmaclass college girl sat on her bed tism. Someone always has to and wrung her hands because be right. Because, in the end, there is a right and she so loathed polia wrong way, espetics. It won’t matter Trial and Error cially with politics. that this same girl Good versus evil. who usually rolled Sane versus insane. her eyes at raging Appropriate versus liberals and radical inappropriate. And conservatives and people love to pick loony independents sides. was having, for the I don’t want to be first time, to sort out on any side. “I’m all of these different socially liberal and views and platforms fiscally conserand people. It won’t vative,” I scream matter that she was silently in my head conflicted. Because not really knowing the race will be over.

MARY SCOTT what I’m saying or I’ve always believed HARDAWAY to whom. “The twothat engaging in a party system is too conversation with strangers about politics, sex, reductive,” I urge my father money or religion was tasteless, and mother as we sit down to silly, a one-way street lead- dinner. “It insists on binaries ing to screaming and accusing and I can’t accept it.” My father and guilt-tripping. Even with tells me that he has no idea friends and loved ones, unless what I’m talking about, but he you’re both thick-skinned and assures me that, for now, I’m well-mannered, it is difficult and often painful to engage in Please see Hardaway, Page B6 these kinds of conversations

MODEL STUDENTS ashley brown third year foreign affairs major

What’s your favorite item in the closet?

I have this amazing grey sweater that’s chunky with braided material on the arms from some thrift store in Staunton. It’s so soft, and as soon as it’s cold out it’s the only thing I want to wear.

What’s your go-to item?

Scarves; I am always wearing a scarf, whether it’s around my head or my neck.

Who is your style icon?

I draw inspiration from the people around me. I take ideas from others and make them work for me.

Where are your favorite places to shop?

Goodwill. I love going thrift shopping because you can find clothes that are so unique and different. You can find things other people don’t have.

What are you wearing in this picture?

Skirt - boutique in Athens, Ga.; top - Anthropologie, scarf - Urban Outfitters, jewelry - from all over the place, flats - Urban Outfitters, sunglasses - Fred Flare photo by Kristin Ulmer

C M Y K

Cyan Magenta Yellow Black

B3

SPORTS

Wednesday, November 7, 2012 | The Cavalier Daily

Quote of The Week “They’re not first years anymore. They’ve played a bunch of snaps, they’re playing with a ton of confidence, and I mean they’re really great guys. They have a lot of energy, and it’s great to have them on the team.”

—senior defensive tackle Brent Urban on the influx of freshman defenders who have propelled Virginia to a series of stout defensive performances in recent weeks.

Football | Sims, Rocco accept complementary roles Continued from page B1 point total in a conference game this season and rolled to the largest victory against an ACC opponent since 2008.

“After winning, everything is that much better,” Sims said.

“It’s sweeter, the whole team is energized and everybody is back to normal ... it’s good to see smiles on guys’ faces when they come in the door instead of everybody frowning like, ‘how are [we] gonna turn it around.’”

In his weekly press confere n c e M o n d ay, c o a c h M i ke London added another chapter to the ongoing saga that is the Cavaliers’ quarterback battle. The third-year coach said the team would return to the series-by-series approach it used against the Wolfpack as Virginia tries to keep its longshot bowl odds alive against M i a m i S a t u r d ay. V i r g i n i a must win its final three games against Miami, North Carolina and Virginia Tech to qualify for a bowl appearance.

“Both guys have things that they do, different skill sets that they bring to the table,”

London said. “Michael is a guy that’s been in the offense, knows the offense. Phillip has a strong arm and is kind of learning on the job so to speak, and he has some skills himself that we like, and he can get the ball to some of the other playmakers.”

Sims used the bye week to develop a stronger rapport with his receivers and improve his sometimes sporadic accuracy and inconsistent timing on passes. His production as a starter had waned in losses to Maryland and Wake Forest as defenses learned the tendencies of the first-time starter.

Sims and Rocco split snaps during the bye week as London and offensive coordinator Bill Lazor mapped out an unlikely game plan to try to spark the listless offense.

“As practice went on, and looking at the things that they do well and trying to game plan and fit plays that fit their skills, whether it’s based on arm strength or using the ball to run out of pocket scenarios with them, we just looked at it as, here we have two guys that … have run the offense and

they both bring something to the table for us,” London said.

Enter — or reenter — Rocco, whose dink-and-dunk style has both kept the Cavaliers competitive and left plenty to be desired during the past two seasons. Rocco’s experience and offensive knowledge helped him regain his starting job entering the season. He was coming off a season in which he set the school record for passing yards by a sophomore with 2,671 yards while leading Virginia to an appearance in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

Sims, who had transferred from Alabama in search of a starting role, took the decision in stride.

“Both of us have got to realize that the team comes first over any individual no matter who you are,” Sims said. “So I think that’s something that we both realize and we’re comfortable with and we’ll do whatever we’re asked to do.”

There was never any doubt that Sims was the flashier alternative to Rocco. A fivestar recruit coming out of Oscar Smith High School — where he was teammates with

Cavalier offensive stars senior running back Perry Jones and junior wide receiver Tim Smith — Sims set the Virginia high school record for career passing yards and was the topranked quarterback prospect in the nation in 2010, according to ESPNU. After Sims impressed in cameo appearances during each of the team’s first five games this season — demonstrating his powerful arm and play-making ability — he was tapped for his first career start against Duke Oct. 6. Three games later, Sims was still searching for his first win as a starting quarterback.

After completing 61 percent of his passes with five touchdowns and no interceptions in five games as a backup, Sims looked far less spectacular in a leading role. In his first three starts, Sims threw just two touchdowns with four interceptions, and the offense averaged less than 16 points per game. The bye week has helped Sims regain the dynamic ability he displayed while backing up Rocco.

“It was just getting reps with

different guys when you don’t necessarily have to worry about a defense that week, you don’t have to game plan against anybody, just focusing on the little things that your team has to do to get better,” Sims said. “I think that’s what really helped me over the bye week, just really being able to hone in on the small things.”

Both quarterbacks appeared revitalized against the Wolfpack. Sims completed 8-of-10 passes for 115 yards and a touchdown and rushed for another score. Rocco connected on 12-of-23 passes for 83 yards, a touchdown and a season-high 36 rushing yards.

For the first time since the season-opening win against Richmond, neither quarterback threw an interception.

“I just really think we were clicking on all cylinders the other day,” Sims said. “And no matter who was in at quarterback, everybody else fell in together and we just moved the ball all day long. I’m not sure if it was the quarterback system or what it was that sparked it, but we’ll keep doing whatever it was.”

W Soccer| Swanson demands improved performance Continued from page B1 to Florida State Oct. 14, a game the players credit as a turning point.

“I think we had a talk that we really needed to come together when we were down at Florida State, playing them the first time,” senior forward Caroline Miller said. “I think that really had an effect, because after that, everyone just started going harder and harder.”

As good as the offense has been, the defense has been even better.

Maryland managed just three shots on goal in a 4-0 defeat to Virginia in the ACC tournament final and was unable to create consistent offensive chances.

“I think the last couple of weeks we’ve been working a lot more with defense,” junior defender Morgan Stith said of the success. “[We’re] doing more functional stuff, not just clearing the ball and making better decisions, but really stepping and dropping as a unit together.”

Even with the weekend’s momentum behind them, the

players are trying to improve even more in training to position themselves for a deep run in the tournament and improve upon last year’s exit in quarterfinals.

“I still think we can get better,” coach Steve Swanson said.

“We’re doing a lot of things really well right now, but we can fine tune some things. To me, that’s the motivation: to make our team as good as we can going into this game.”

Virginia Friday evening faces La Salle (17-4-1, 8-0-1 A-10), an unfamiliar opponent for the

Cavaliers. The Explorers are the A-10 conference champions and enter the game with only one loss in their last 16 games. Their 18.6 shots-per-game average indicates they should present an opening challenge for the Cavaliers despite coming into the game as underdogs.

“They’ve had two good years that they put back to back, and they’re got some good players,” Swanson said. “They’ve got a quality coach, and they played a tough schedule. It’ll be a good game, and a good test for us

early on.”

Though the Cavaliers are not overlooking the Explorers, they are preparing for a long road to the title.

“We know that in the NCAA tournament you’re in it for the long haul, so you can get caught up in [unnecessary] things or you can just concentrate on yourselves, and control things you can control, and play the one game you have in front of you,” Swanson said.

The action kicks off at Klöckner Friday at 6 p.m.

Field Hockey | Experienced stars pace Cavaliers’ title quest Continued from page B1 Playing at Home It was sheer luck that Virginia was selected to host at all.

Princeton (17-1, 7-0 Ivy) would normally be the rightful host of these opening-round games, but loose gambling laws in New Jersey caused the NCAA to disallow the state from hosting officially sanctioned tournaments.

“I’ve been in this game long enough to know you can’t expect anything,” coach Michele Madison said. “The [tournament] committee does the best job it can in doing pairings and keeping all the various parameters in check.”

The last two times the Cavaliers were selected to host the opening rounds resulted in trips to the NCAA semifinals.

The selection gives the Virginia senior class, including Olympian redshirt seniors Vittese and forward Paige Selenski, another opportunity to leave their home field victorious. As luck would have it the seniors’

last game at Turf Field may also be against the same team, Princeton, that beat the Cavaliers 2-1 to end the regular season.

The Lead Up Virginia is currently reeling from consecutive losses to Princeton and sixth-seeded Maryland. The Cavaliers have not suffered back-to-back losses at any other point in the season. Sophomore forward Rachel Sumfest is confident the team can get back on track.

“Something we’ve really been focusing on is not taking our bad momentum into the next game,” Sumfest said.

“Right now we’re focused on just getting our team chemistry together and working as a unit and hopefully we’ll be able to push the tempo and the momentum in the next game.”

The 5-1 loss to Maryland in the ACC semifinal was particularly heartbreaking, as the Cavalier defense conceded its highest goal total all season despite stellar defensive play

in months leading up to the game. Three of Maryland’s five goals, however, came off penalty corners.

“We thought the score was worse than the game actually was,” Vittese said. “Defensive corners were a problem though. [Junior back] Elly [Buckley] and I had some complications in that role and we didn’t really do our jobs four times. We gave up four goals on penalty corners, and that just has never happened to us.”

Vittese hopes to draw as many positives out of the game as possible. “I think what it did was show our younger players a high-stakes game,” Vittese said. “I think as a team we can really learn from it. It shows us how to keep our team chemistry when things get really hard.”

Skill and Experience Selenski earlier this week was named the ACC Offensive Player of the Year. Selenski’s success this season has mirrored Virginia’s success. The

forward has enjoyed one of the top individual seasons in Cavalier history. With postseason games on the horizon, her 64 points already rank third in a single season in program history, and her 26 goals are good for fifth.

Virginia looks to the leadership of its star players to guide the team through these grueling tournament games.

Selenski, Vittese, Buckley and sophomore goalkeeper Jenny Johnstone were all selected to the All-ACC team, and junior midfielder Katie Robinson was named to the All-ACC tournament team. Selenski, Vittese and Buckley represent three of 13 Cavaliers who participated in Virginia’s latest NCAA semifinal run in 2010.

“I think the older players really know what’s at stake,” Madison said. “Paige and Michelle have a lot of experience under pressure at the world, national, and collegiate level, and we have three classes of players here that have been to the final four, so that really helps.”

The Field Connecticut, Penn State and North Carolina round out the other four top seeds, with the Tar Heels earning the top seed overall. With Maryland also making the field, the ACC and the Big Ten each have three schools in the tournament.

An ACC school has won the national championship in each of the last 10 years.

The team this week will find it comforting to play on its own turf. “It’s nice to play at home again,” Madison said.

Virginia opens play Saturday with a game against Iowa (14-6, 5-2 Big 10). The Hawkeyes most recently fell 3-2 to Penn State in their conference tournament, a team that also beat the Cavaliers 3-2 at the end of August. Iowa has appeared in the tournament 21 times and have advanced to the final four 11 times.

“When we see a team from the Big Ten, we know the hockey is different, but we just have to stick to our game,” Sumfest said. “They have their system and we have our system.”

Comey | Alabama would stand no chance against worst NFL squads Continued from page B1 make it to the NFL. First, let’s frame the question in a better light. Could teams splitting time between playing and schoolwork outplay ones that devote their entire lives to football? Could teams with some players who could someday play in the NFL outplay teams where every player, obviously, currently plays in the NFL? Those questions highlight the first flaw in Spurrier’s argument: preparation. The NCAA limits practice time for college players to 20 hours per week.

Why? Because these players are

— or at least should be — students before they are athletes.

College teams must worry about passing classes, adjusting to college life, adhering to NCAA regulations and developing football fundamentals. NFL teams have to worry about winning.

That’s it.

On the field, NFL players have exponentially more experience playing the game and playing against the best players in the world. Even Alabama spends its season playing teams where the vast majority of players are only partially defined by football, not the finest athletes in all of the country.

This leads to the second flaw in Spurrier’s premise: athleticism. Only the strongest and fastest can make it in the NFL. That is why the NFL Combine exists. Alabama may find — if it is lucky — that 10 of its players will be strong and fast enough for the NFL next year. It may have some younger players who will become strong and fast enough for the NFL eventually. But every single NFL roster includes 53 players who are strong and fast enough to play in the NFL right now — even the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The final omission in Spurrier’s premise — one he conve-

C M Y K

niently ignores — is coaching.

Nick Saban, coach of the Crimson Tide, is a college idol. But remember what happened when he went to the NFL? He finished his career 15-17, failed to make the playoffs twice and abruptly left because the experience tarnished his reputation. Even our friend Spurrier, a bona fide college coaching legend, spent two years in the NFL and went 12-20 before resigning. Good coaches make it in college football. Great coaches make it in the NFL. NFL coaches are like mad scientists. They devise elaborate offensive and defensive schemes and fit them into playbooks the

Cyan Magenta Yellow Black

size of dictionaries. If a college team faced an NFL team, it would be too busy being outmuscled to deal with being outsmarted. The results would be humiliating.

The Alabama defense ultimately gave up 17 points to a not-so-heralded LSU offense.

The Jaguars, widely held to have the worst offense in the NFL, averaged 19 points a game playing defenses where every single player is stronger and more experienced than Alabama’s best.

So someone make this game happen and find me that oddsmaker who would predict Alabama. I could use the money.

B4

Classified

Purchase classified online at www.cavalierdaily.com

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Daily Rates

$6.00 for 15 words or less $0.50 each additional word.

Deadlines All advertising is due one working day before publication.

All ads must be prepaid.

How to place an ad Pay online at www.cavalierdaily.com

No Refunds for early cancellations Payments by credit card only

University Notice Holiday & Everyday $25.00 rate Yellow Cab Airport Cab (family owned and operated) serving the area 24/7 since 1933.

Compare our rates and remember... with us, 4 can ride for the price of 1, from dorm to airport $25.00 - 24/7- 295-TAXI (8294) 434.295.4131 and visit our website at www. cvilleyellowcab.com Nervous about kenneling your pet(s) while you’re away? Call Erin. Price is only $10 a day! 434.249.5456

C M Y K

Cyan Magenta Yellow Black

Comics

B5

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

H

DJANGEO BY STEPHEN ROWE

GREEK LIFE BY MATT HENSEL

OROSCOPES

ARIES (March 21-April 19). You get a glimpse of a lifestyle upgrade and your brain is suddenly spinning with thoughts about having this for yourself. You’re not sure how you’ll make it happen, but you’re sure this is for you.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). There’s so much activity during the day that you really need quiet and relaxation tonight. Turn off your brain and revel in a relationship that is filled with tenderness and affection.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You’re almost positive that a decision a loved one is making is the wrong one. However, it’s detrimental to comment at this point unless you’re asked.

Relationships thrive when you observe personal boundaries.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You’re in a mischievous mood and could pull a few pranks. You could also apply your cleverness to finding new ways to make or save money. There’s an opportunity worth pursuing that involves Aries.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You wake up with different eyes. What satisfied you yesterday is no longer acceptable. You’ll notice at least 10 things that need to change before you finish your breakfast and you’re confident you can change them.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You’re in fanciful mood and will get carried away with your own thoughts. For blissful moments, life is like one of those old musicals where lovely dancers fan pink ostrich feathers as bubbles and harp sounds fill the air.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). You’re not in the habit of questioning your reality, however when a loved one has such a vastly different view of recent events from yours, it seems like the only thing to do. Toy with this idea: you might both be right.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). People may comment on your work, but you do not take this as criticism. It’s all information that can help you get better at the thing you want to master. You’re grateful for all input.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Life requires you to be “on” and you rise to the occasion.

You’re mentally sharp, verbally astute and physically graceful. Maybe you’re not required to work late, but you certainly have the stamina to do so.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You don’t mean to send mixed signals, but you do anyway.

Maybe subconsciously you realize that you’re more interesting to the object of your affection when this person doesn’t know quite what to expect from you.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (NOVEMBER 7).

You blend into whatever scene you choose to be a part of, but once you’re there, others start to see that you have special and unique talents to offer. December brings great responsibility and you are well compensated for it. February brings a kind of love quest and relationships quickly get closer. Capricorn and Taurus adore you.

Your lucky numbers are: 47, 4, 20, 14 and 33.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Life is supposed to be easy for you today, so stay away from those pressured situations that don’t feel right. Instead of pushing to make something happen, back up a few steps. Nothing is urgent.

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

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You’d like to believe that a relationship is etched in destiny and was always meant to be, but it’s not.

SOLE SURVIVOR BY MICHAEL GILBERTSON

CHICKEN STRIP BY SORCHA HARTMAN & SAM NOVACK

A BUNCH OF BANANAS BY JACK WINTHROP & GARRETT MAJDIC

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

The New York Times Syndication Salesthrough Corporation BEAR NECESSITIES BY MAX MEESE & ALEX SCOTT

LAST SOLUTION:

620 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 Solution, tips andCall: computer program at www.sudoku.com For Information 1-800-972-3550 For Wednesday, November 07, 2012

MOSTLY HARMLESS BY PETER SIMONSEN

Edited by Will Shortz 1 5 9 14 15 16 17 19 20 21 23 24 25 26 28

OOOOH, TIMELY PSA...

Across Harness horse’s gait Light bluish green Reading chair accompaniers Tennis’s Mandlikova It’s just under 8: Abbr.

Intensely passionate Athlete’s booster One of many on a monitor Ving of Hollywood Subject of a Car and Driver report It was transferred to China in 1999 Sleek, briefly Detergent with a glass in every box, long ago Where to paint a model Pea or peanut

31 Mormon church, for short 32 D.C. team since ’05 34 Kind of colony in “Papillon” 35 & 37 Leave quickly … or what both words in 17-, 21-, 26-, 49-, 56and 61-Across could be?

39 Not live 42 “Uh-huh” 44 N.Y.C. commuters’ inits.

47 “Yippee!”

49 Catholic remembrance 52 Tokyo, formerly 53 Word after e or G 55 Mitchum rival 56 Tipoff 59 See the light of day 60 Virus that arose in the Congo 61 ×

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE R I C H E C H O F E A T R I M I S P O K T A R E A L A S P A L H U B B R W H E E E A S E D I T Z S L A Y

C M Y K

T A C S K P O E N D C E R L E A W L C U T S

O L A Y

D I R K

O S L O

S T A R E W O R D A B E A R E P T A S E T E L E P O M P O N I O N E L L Y A L E M

I N J S A P I A L M S A U S C A K N E D U P

63 Bags with handles 64 Indigo plant 65 Ready to be driven, in golf 66 ___ attack 67 ___ Pop, 2010 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee 68 Lat. and Lith., formerly Down 1 Kind of blanket 2 Mounted a fierce campaign 3 Works without a break?

4 Landing strip 5 Life’s pleasures 6 The 9-Down might put one out, briefly 7 Salutation in an old-fashioned love letter 8 Foul-up

1

U N R I P

M 13 Fizzy water A 18 Hydrologist’s T field: Abbr.

T 22 IM pioneer E 24 Japanese brew

N O N O

T R A I X P E

12 Suppose

27 “Taking Woodstock” director Lee

29 Inventor Whitney

6

8

9

10

24

33

36

37

41

42 48

52

53

56

57

45

46

25 28

32

40

13

22

27

47

12

19 21

35

11

16

18

31

39

7

15

23

29

30

34 38

43

44

49

50

54

51

55

58

59

60

61

63

64

65

66

67

62

68

Puzzle by Gary Cee

30 Bath ___

40 Birders’ magazine 50 ___ Club 51 Peaks 41 Plug 54 ___ Mountains The Doors’ “Love 43 Come up ___ (Asian range) ___ Madly” 44 Puts one and one 57 Heartfelt request together?

Mrs. Morgenstern 58 Soak up some on “Rhoda” 45 Set off rays D.D.E. opponent 46 The 1 and 2 in 59 Snakelike 1 + 2 = 3 Meadowlands 62 Korean War 48 Soprano Sumac fighter team

33 Fantastic bargain

36

B R O D O

5

26

11 Screwy in the head

O N T V

4

20

35

S O S O

3

17

9 “Colors” org.

10 Throw ___

P E E K

2

14

No. 1003

38 39

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.

Cyan Magenta Yellow Black

B6

LIFE

Wednesday, November 7, 2012 | The Cavalier Daily

Downtown | Initially controversial plan overhauls area Continued from page B2 suburbs,” said George Gilliam, a member from the 1974 City Council that approved a $4.1 million venture to develop the downtown area.

Despite public criticism of this costly undertaking, especially from downtown merchants whose businesses would be affected by all the construction’s traffic restrictions, City Council approved the plan.

Halprin’s plan was also an attempt to heal divisions from a period of racial tensions and segregation, especially prominent during urban renewal projects such as the demolition of Vinegar Hill. An AfricanAmerican neighborhood and business center, Vinegar Hill was deemed more of a nui-

sance than an attraction, and in the mid-1960s, City officials ordered its destruction. Consequently, the displacement and eradication of the City’s African-American institutions left a bitter taste in the mouths of the neighborhood’s former residents.

Halprin sought input from Charlottesville residents to devise a space that would improve the City’s tense social relations.

“Even with the loss of business, not too many local people liked the idea of changing the character of downtown that much,” said Jane Myers, a Charlottesville native and volunteer at the Charlottesville Historical Society.

Halprin’s community involvement provided him with a

better understanding of the aspects of the downtown space that were most important to the public. His plans incorporated and preserved a cultural and historical landscape specific to Charlottesville, local historians said.

Features of his plan are seen at the Downtown Mall today: outdoor seating, towering willow oak bosques, metal squat planters, brick pavement and plenty of open walking space. In 1979 the University awarded Halprin the Thomas Jefferson Medal in Architecture, another addition to his list of accolades.

Things got worse for the downtown area before they got better, local historians said. For the first decade after its 1976 opening, the newly constructed social business center was sub-

ject to harsh criticism.

University alumni can recall the sad state of the mall during its debut. “The only place we went down there was a restaurant called ‘The Hardware Store.’ We are talking 1978 to 1984 time frame,” University alumna Gina Mallon said.

“Besides that it seemed to be a dead zone. I didn’t like going down there because it seemed depressing.”

The original lack of entertainment, decent restaurants and vacancies of the Paramount and Jefferson theatres detracted from the mall’s appeal. In addition, the commute downtown was an inconvenience even before the mall’s construction.

“The parking problem was the main issue, you just could not get a parking spot,” Myers

said. The addition of a parking garage and the establishment of Fridays after Five, a free concert series, in 1988 helped bring the Downtown Mall to its rightful position as one of Charlottesville’s major attractions.

With “live music, beer, wine and food, it was very family friendly and fun,” said Mallon.

“The place to see and be seen on nice Friday nights with guys and girls on the prowl, performers,” she added. “It wasn’t like that at all back in the late ‘70s and ‘80s...it really has transformed!”

This is the final feature in a series of four articles about Charlottesville history, commemorating its 250th anniversary this year.

Churchill | Friendly wishes, birthdays bring embarrassment Continued from page B2 me that, fine, she wouldn’t make me her ridiculously wonderful red velvet cake balls as she was planning to.

My instinct told me to start groveling on the floor and begging, making no attempt to hide my enthusiasm. But I’d already been so adamant. What now?

Casually make a sly, “Well, I mean, it’s whatever you want, really...” thing, then nonchalantly turning away as if I didn’t

really care, sneakily wiping the saliva off my chin?

I ended up somewhere in the middle, admitting it would be lovely but telling her not to worry about it. The entire time I was sending her “do it, do it” brain waves, in case she actually knows how to read minds.

Facebook adds another interesting dynamic. I can’t say I’ve ever written a “happy birthday” message on anyone’s wall, believing myself to be not shallow enough for this, opting instead to send a

dispassionate text, or to pursue another 15 minutes of mindless scrolling.

I always try to convince myself it doesn’t mean that much to have a Facebook birthday message, but every year I am surprised at how warm my heart grows when I see notifications from all the well-wishers. Maybe it’s shallow and maybe it’s not, but looking at what people have sent me — no matter if they are my best friends or kids I knew years ago ­— makes me feel

unbelievably fuzzy inside. Then it turns into the crazed stalking up and down my wall, reading and rereading and crazily giggling to myself.

In the end, birthdays are the only holidays that are exclusively personal. You have no choice: You are the center of attention whether you like it or not. Though that’s a hard pill to swallow, at least for me, there really is nothing as heartwarming as the people around you spending their time to pass on

Hardaway | First-time voter’s decision incorporates head, heart Continued from page B2 allowed to question what it all means. Daddy quotes Churchill, one of his favorites: “If you’re not a liberal at 20 you have no heart,” the first part of the quote reads, and then quickly leaps to what is of course my father’s greater point — “if you’re not a conservative at 40 you have no brain.” My father tells me he understands my leanings, that he’s been there, but he’s not there any more.

So, faithful daughter and recalcitrant college kid, where am I supposed to stand? What does it come down to? Does every vote count? Or should we just scoff and leave it all up to the electoral college? Am I a critical element because I am a resident of a swing state? Is anyone a critical element?

Maybe it’s the one-ofmany thing that gets to me. I want my voice to be heard! But above the clamor of politics I become not even a whisper. What do I know about foreign policy and the debt ceiling and space exploration? I know I am a woman and that anything to do with decisions concerning my body should not be left up to narrow-minded men in business suits. But can these same men in business suits open up my mind

to the world of foreign and domestic issues with which my feeble mind cannot grapple? I’m the authority on my body, but who gets to be the authority on an entire nation’s welfare?

One man? A man surrounded by advisors and lobbyists and members of Congress and the Supreme Court and on and on and on? I suppose I fit in there somewhere, but I certainly don’t want anyone to listen to me. What do I know about someone else’s struggles? I know my father supports one candidate because he tells me it will be better for my family. But I cannot in my heart of hearts support the same candidate who might better serve my family but who will never serve to satisfy my moral compass.

I’m dogmatically undecided. I’ve done my research and I’ve taken quizzes but I’m mired in a gray area. Not mired even, because that would imply that I’m stuck and that I want to escape. Maybe I don’t want to escape.

Maybe my indecision will lead me to the right decision, whatever it may be, whatever choice I make behind that curtain in the polling booth. It will be my own. Maybe it will be right or wrong, sane or insane. Maybe it will result in the fall of the nation.

Who knows? Whatever the result, I know I won’t be running down the street screaming in joy or rage either way. I’ll accept the winner, be he incumbent or newcomer. And then I’ll keep thinking, because Churchill authored one of my own favorite quotes: “Never, never, never give up.” I’ll never give up my gray, as unpopular as it may be. Maybe no one candidate embodies all that I want; most of us have to compromise in some way when we vote. I’ll never give up, because in the end, I don’t agree with Churchill and my father’s sentiment: I think I’ll keep faithful to both my head and my heart.

M a r y S c o t t ’s c o l u m n runs biweekly Wednesdays. She can be reached m.hardaway@cavalierdaily.com.

cavalierdaily.com C M Y K

Cyan Magenta Yellow Black

their love.

So, it’s my turn now. Thank you to everyone: old friends, best friends, acquaintances, family near and far. I am the luckiest girl ever for knowing all of you and for being able to spend another year with you. Your love is what makes birthdays bearable, no matter how embarrassing they may be.

Emily’s column runs biweekly Wednesdays. She can be reached at e.churchill@cavalierdaily.com.