COLLEGIATETIMES
wednesday september 19, 2007 blacksburg, va.
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Vitamin Water and Diet Coke Plus promise an extra boost of vitamins and nutrients. Are 50 Cent and Kelly Clarkson’s products fulfilling their claims?
Morva jury selection continues
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IS VITAMIN WATER ALL IT’S CRACKED UP TO BE?
AFTER 26 YEARS OF COACHING, 21 AT TECH AND FIVE AT MURRAY STATE, BEAMER REACHES THE MILESTONE OF 200 CAREER WINS
ATTORNEYS CONTINUE TO QUESTION POTENTIAL JURORS; TRIAL BELIEVED TO BEGIN THURSDAY MORNING
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MEG MILLER & ASHLEY OLIVER
ct news staff
news
Jury selection for the William Morva vs. the Commonwealth of Virginia trial continued yesterday during which seven additional citizens were chosen from the 14 questioned. The court has seated a total of 16 jurors, and will continue questionMorva ing until it reaches 24. William Morva is being charged with three counts of capital murder. One count for killing security guard Derrick McFarland, one for killing police corporal Eric Sutphin, and one for killing two people within a three-year period. Potential jurors were questioned by both the defense and the Commonwealth concerning impartiality and their personal feelings on the death penalty. The court is taking abundant precaution in order to assure that jury members have an open-mind and no preconceived notions about the case as they enter the trial. Also, any individuals strongly supportive or opposed to the death penalty are excused from being seated for the jury. Pending the seating of eight more jurors today, the testimony is set to begin at 8:30am on Thursday.
SIMPSON CHARGED WITH 11 FELONIES TIED TO ROBBERY O.J. Simpson and three co-defendants were officially charged with 11 felonies stemming from an alleged robbery last week. Simpson and his co-defendants are accused of entering the Las Vegas hotel room of Michael Fromong and taking several items of memorabilia from the room at gun point. Fromong suffered a massive heart attack Monday and was listed in critical condition Tuesday.
POLICE PLACED ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE Two University of Florida police officers were placed on administrative leave Tuesday as the university investigates an incident where a student was tased during a forum featuring Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.). After he had asked several questions to the former presidential candidate, police approached Andrew Meyer to take him away from the microphone. When Meyer protested, police allegedly dragged him away and upon further resistance
PHOTOS COURTESY OF DIGITAL LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES, UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES, VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE AND STATE UNIVERSITY
Frank Beamer, adressing his team from the mid-90s (above), speaking with Michael Vick (lower left), standing with Texas coach Mack Brown and the Sugar Bowl trophy in 1995 (lower right) and coaching Keion Carpenter (bottom right), reached milestone win 200 over the weekend against Ohio.
BRIAN WRIGHT
ct sports reporter Consistent success has helped Frank Beamer obtain remarkable accomplishments in his 26-year tenure as a head coach. On Saturday afternoon, Beamer reached another milestone with Tech’s 28-7 triumph over Ohio: win No. 200. “I can’t say that I’m not proud,” Beamer said after the game. “I understand very clearly that I’ve b e e n
news MEN’S SOCCER JUMPS UP TO NO. 15 The men’s soccer team leapt to No. 15 in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America Poll after two weekend wins over Tulsa University and Oral Roberts. The Hokies (5-1) will take a five-game winning streak into their weekend match against the William & Mary Tribe in Williamsburg.
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fortunate to be in some good schools. I’ve had good coaches with me and I’ve had a lot of good players. I sincerely mean that. I head up the organization, but the pieces in the organization are really good.” Among active coaches, only legends Bobby Bowden of Florida State and Joe Paterno of Penn State have more victories. “It’s just great to be a part of history,” said linebacker Vince Hall. Even with his enormous notoriety both locally and nationally, Beamer has always remained level-headed. “I’ve never seen a guy that has had so much success while he’s been here and not change,” said associate head coach and running backs coach, Billy Hite. “He’s the same guy that I met 21 years ago.” Hite was already a part of the Tech coaching staff when Beamer took the reigns from the departing Bill Dooley back in 1987. Beamer previously was the head coach for the Murray State Racers for six seasons, where he finished with a record of 43-23-2. In his final season, he guided the Racers
to a share of the Ohio Valley Conference championship. When Beamer made the trek to Blacksburg, it was nothing new to him. He started at cornerback for the Hokies from 1966 through 1968. Four of his first six campaigns ended with a losing record. However, the 1993 season started a remarkable stretch of 14 consecutive bowl appearances. That year, Tech beat Indiana 45-20 in the Independence Bowl. In 1995, the Hokies struggled out of the gates. After a 0-2 start, which included a 16-0 defeat at the hands of the lowly Cincinnati Bearcats, the other Tech coaches thought their season — and their jobs — might be in jeopardy. “When he walked into the coaches meeting that Sunday night, I was thinking ‘He’s liable to fire all of us,’” Hite said. “He could have coached both sides of the ball better than what we did.” Although the Hokies were playing a Miami team that they had never beaten in their history, Beamer — as always — remained even-tempered. “Guys, our kids want to win. Put them in a
Bowen charged with three felonies FORMER TECH STUDENT CHARGED WITH DUI AFTER ALLEGEDLY CRASHING HER CAR INTO BIG AL’S AND INJURING EIGHT PEDESTRIANS position to win,” Beamer said to his coaches. He then exited the meeting room. The following Saturday in Lane Stadium, the Hokies defeated the vaunted Hurricanes for the first time. “The rest is history,” Hite said. The rest of the 1995 season went without a loss, either. Tech finished 10-2 and beat Texas in the Sugar Bowl. Four years later, the Hokies completed a dream season. They went through the regular season without a loss and reached the BCS national championship game where, once again ithey played in the Sugar
KYLIE STURGEON
ct staff writer Mary Elizabeth Bowen, a former Virginia Tech communication major, accused of driving under the influence in a downtown Blacksburg accident that resulted in the injuries of eight pedestrians, is facing additional charges. Bowen The 20-year-old Bowen is scheduled to appear in Montgomery General District Court on Dec. 5 for a deposition on the DUI charge. The misdemeanor DUI offense occurred at 2:02 a.m. Saturday, June 16, when Bowen’s 2001 Toyota RAV4 swerved onto a downtown Blacksburg sidewalk in front of Big Al’s Grille and Sports Bar, injuring eight pedestrians. Bowen is also scheduled to face a preliminary hearing on the three felony charges that have since been brought against her in Montgomery County General District Court. Court records reveal that Bowen is charged with three counts of maiming while driving intoxicated. According to state code, the injuries must result “in permanent and significant physical impairment” in order for her conviction. After the incident, six of the pedestrians were sent to Montgomery Regional Hospital and two were sent to Carillion Medical Center in Radford. All victims were released from the hospital shortly after the incident. Though Bowen was uninjured during the incident, some
see BEAMER, page eight
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see BOWEN, page two
see POLICE, page three
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See what students are saying about the quarterback conundrum between Tyrod Taylor and Sean Glennon in the CT’s latest video.
Starting in mid-August, the student body descends upon the town of Blacksburg to begin another semester. With the increase of college students also comes the increase of parties, alcohol, noise and law enforcement. More than 5,800 of Virginia Tech’s undergraduates live off-campus; therefore, it isn’t a wonder that many of these college parties are found in apartment complexes, condominiums and town homes located within five miles of the campus. While the Blacksburg police don’t seek out parties in apartments or townhouses, there’s one huge party factor that will give them a reason to come to the door. “The number one reason that we respond to complexes is noise,” said Sergeant Steve Taylor, a 15-year member of the Blacksburg Police Department. Many loud parties are bound to attract attention and elicit complaints
Condominiums, tend not to see a lot of law enforcement action. However, students who choose to drink more alcohol than they can handle often find themselves in a state of belligerence, and aggressive behavior can easily lead to a party bust, no matter which complex it’s in. Russell Culberson, a sophomore economics major, recalls attending a party in Berryfield that got out of hand very quickly. “A keg was out on a balcony, and a guy threw it over the railing and it hit a car,” said Culberson. Places that are more condensed and packed with mostly college students, such as Pheasant Run Crossing Townhomes, see a lot of partying and subsequently, a lot of law enforcement. “I’ve seen a party bust here,” said Heba Elahwal, a junior management major and Pheasant Run Crossing occupant. “And it probably happened because everyone was just out in the street being loud.”
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ON THE WEB
ct news reporter
from neighbors, especially those located in the largest complexes: Foxridge Apartments and Terrace View Apartments. With occupancy rates in these complexes nearing 90 percent, more students are going to be present at any given time. “I haven’t been to many parties outside of this complex yet,” said Ryan Bell, a sophomore building construction major and Foxridge occupant. “But here, there have been busts on two different weekends already and we’re hardly into the school year.” Bell agreed that noise was the main reason for the police officers’ visits. “One of the parties that I was at that got busted was so loud, I almost expected them to come,” said Bell. Penalties for partying too loudly can vary. “Usually officers give a warning on the first violation, and if they have to come back again, they’ll issue an ordinance citation to appear in court,” Taylor said. Quieter places located closer than most to campus, such as Berryfield Condominiums and University Terrace
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Look for continuing coverage of the William Morva capital murder trial as jury selection continues today.
ASHLEY OLIVER
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TOMORROW’S CT
Certain apartment complexes draw more police than others
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