COLLEGIATETIMES OFF THE HOOK
thursday october 4, 2007 blacksburg, va.
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sports
MICHAEL VICK COURT DATE SET
A Surry County judge set a hearing for Michael Vick’s state trial yesterday. After Vick pleading guilty to federal charges of involvement in an interstate dogfighting venture last month, Vick was charged with cruelty to animals and dog fighting in the state of Virginia. Circuit Court Judge Samuel Campbell decided that a hearing to determine trial date on those charges would be held Nov. 27.
FRIENDTONES ALLOWS FACEBOOK USERS TO CREATE CUSTOMIZED RINGTONES
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acebook and customized cell phone ring tones have merged together, creating the opportunity for students to generate their own ring tones through a Facebook application called FriendTones. Bryan Antler and Scott Garber, two recent graduates of the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce, created the FriendTones application as an easy way for users to customize free ring tones from their own music and send them directly to their phones, and to the phones of other friends who also have the FriendTones application. “One day I just started thinking about ring tones and why you should be paying $3 for a ring tone that expires in 90 days, Garber said. “I thought, ‘There’s gotta be a better way to do this,’ and everything just snapped together.” FriendTones allows the users to browse through the music they have on their
WHITAKER TO MISS CLEMSON GAME Reserve wide receiver Ike Whitaker will not travel with the team to Clemson this Whitaker weekend, head coach Frank Beamer announced yesterday. Beamer met with Whitaker earlier in the week and gave him Monday off from team activities. After Whitaker missed Tuesday’s practice, Beamer and Whitaker met again on Wednesday, during which Whitaker was given the rest of the week off. “Ike was unsure about his situation and we are going to meet again Monday to discuss his future,” Beamer said.
word of the day zonk (verb) 1. to fall soundly asleep 2. to strike or defeat soundly After a long day at work, Kelly went home to zonk out on the couch.
weather P.M. SHOWERS high 83, low 60
coming up FRIDAY’S CT The Gym Class Heroes are playing in Burruss Auditorium tonight at 7:30 p.m. Read about the concert in Friday’s issue of the CT.
index News.....................2 Features................4 0pinions................3
Classifieds..............5 Sports....................6 Sudoku.................5
An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 104th year • issue 147
I li neve sp ke t r re ea k his ally Sp kn an ... is s he ew s h ma he computers, upload their favorite ke c songs, clip the song so it only plays the a ould ma portion they want as their ring tone, then send d n it via text message to their phones. The only cost is wa ance nt the price of the text message. to Friendtones has even catered directly to the Virginia Tech community. Users even have the option of selecting a clip of Nikki Giovanni’s memorial speech to use as a ring tone. Garber said that he and Antler decided to launch FriendTones on Facebook because they thought launching it on a social network would be better than launching it as a freestanding company. “The point of our product is to really create a true social network of people that you know — but more than that — so you can also feel or taste what your
see TONES, page two
Researchers tell pest to bug off VT Engage promotes healing and preserves memory through service BEN J. BYARD
ct staff writer
Virginia Tech forest entomology researchers are studying a beetle from Japan that may help save a species of trees native to the Appalachian region from becoming completely extinct. The beetle, named the Laricobius nigrinus, is thought to be a natural predator to the hemlock woolly adelgid that is destroying the Eastern and Carolina hemlocks in the region. “(The woolly adelgid) didn’t get identified until the ‘50s in Richmond, and really was an insect of little consequence until about the ‘80s when it started to spread,” said Scott Salom, professor of entomology. As it spread, the insect, known as woolly adelgid, literally sucked the nutrient, from hemlocks in this area, leaving a trail of dead trees wherever it went. “Most notably in Virginia was Shenandoah National Park, which lost a large amount of oldgrown hemlocks in the ‘90s,” Salom said. Salom said there were two options for eliminaCOURTESY OF THE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES tion: pesticides or biological control. However, Hemlocks grow in small pockets beneath the The Laricobius nigrinus tiny beetle from shade of other trees, and often near water sources, which ruled out pesticide since it would poison British Columbia is a natural predator of the hemlock woolly adelgid. many other things besides just the adelgid. “Biological control, on the other hand, presents order to better confront the adelgid infestation. a simple, effective solution,” said Salom. Currently, they are looking at a particular insect Salom found the small, Japanese beetle in in Japan, which was not named, preys solely on a British Columbia, and, after much testing, it was nigrinus that is genetically identical to that found released in several isolated areas in 2002. here in the United States. “I want to stress that this is not a risk,” Salom Gina Davis, a graduate student, is continuing said. “This is a very isolated problem, as both this research with a project that involves lookinsects live and die on the same tree for multiple ing at the dispersal and impact of the nigrinus in generations.” Virginia forests. “They are also highly suited to one another, and, Davis said she has plans to continue widening as lab tests have shown, do not attack other plants, and perfecting her sampling technique, as well as animals, insects, or people,” Salom said. following a few new release sites from day one, However, Salom and other researchers want to beginning in the spring, as follow-ups to the release several different predators into the area, in previous research.
CAROLINE BLACK
ct associate features editor The time that has passed since the events of April 16 have been full of reflection and regrouping, during which the Virginia Tech community has had a chance to reevaluate its mission in life, as well as the legacy that we and our school will leave behind. Like so many efforts since that day to help students and the community recover and repair, the new program VT Engage is encouraging students to work together, along with their families and all community members, to help heal and memorialize those who were lost. What makes VT Engage unique is the opportunity it provides participants to make a positive impact in the name of our school and our community, by redefining our motto, ‘Ut Prosim,’ as well as the chance to move forward, and turn grief into something positive. “The mission of VT Engage is to encourage and facilitate community service. It will connect the university with the community to help meet the needs of volunteer groups on campus and in the community at large,” said Karen Gilbert, the coordinator of VT Engage. The VT Engage program is a communitywide service initiative whose goal is to reach 600,000 hours of community service by April 16, 2008 in honor of the victims of the tragedy. Members of the university community, Tech alumni and even family and friends of Virginia Tech are encouraged to pledge as many com-
Survey shows MCAT, GPA are crucial MICHELLE RIVERA
ct news reporter Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions recently released the results of a survey of medical school admissions officers from 83 of the country’s top medical schools listed in the U.S. News and World Report annual ranking of graduate programs. The survey, performed from January to August, showed that Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT), and GPA are generally considered the two most important factors that admissions officers look at. The survey showed that 77 percent of those surveyed believe the MCAT score is one of the top two factors and 75 percent believe GPA is one of the top two factors. Megan R. Price, director of admissions of the Va. College of Osteopathic Medicine, said the science GPA best predicts the GPA that the student will receive at VCOM and is a good indicator of National Board Exam pass rate. To become physicians, medical students must take and pass three steps of the Board Exam. “As long as the science GPA is strong, it almost
nullifies the MCAT,” Price said. For those unfamiliar with the MCAT, it is similar to the SAT in that it is a standardized test, but it consists of four sections: verbal reasoning, biological sciences, physical sciences and a writing sample. Jessica Lin, president of the American Medical Student Association and junior biochemistry major, has been told that GPA is the most important part of the application process as well. “They pretty much say GPA is what they look at most,” Lin said. “GPA is even more important than it was in high school because in college, it’s what you learn and a direct reflection of how much effort you put into everything.” Most students remember the college admissions process as a grueling and stressful experience that is gladly left in the past. However, unlike the college admissions process, the process of applying to medical school doesn’t end with submitting GPA and MCAT scores; the process is much harder. It’s also three times longer. Price said the admissions process has four steps. A student first sends in a primary application which consists of a personal statement as well as the student’s MCAT scores and transcript with
the GPA. If admissions officers like the student, they request the submission of the second application, which consists of more essays. After that comes the interview and, finally, the acceptance. Price said that acceptance was considered the fourth step because not everyone who is interviewed is accepted. Andrita Shah, vice president of the Alpha Epsilon Delta pre-med Honor Society, is currently in the process of applying for medical school and is finding it to be very competitive. “It’s not like you’re learning the stuff for fun,” she said regarding the required courses to get into medical school. “It’s about the grades, because that’s all (admissions officers) see.” The survey also showed that 14 percent of medical school admissions officers feel that “relevant experience is the leading factor.” Also, 14 percent pay more attention to how a student performs during the required interview with the admissions committee. Price said that a student with a 4.0 GPA who scores a 35 on the MCAT (the average MCAT score for VCOM admission is 24) may be a great student academically, but that may mean that they are not doing anything but studying and haven’t had a lot of human contact or interaction.
munity service hours as they think they can fulfill in the memory of those lost on April 16. “Imagine the power of 600,000 hours of community service,” university spokesman Mark McNamee said in a statement announcing the initiative. “We can truly make a significant difference in communities around the world. We also hope other colleges and universities in the United States and abroad will join us by volunteering to honor the exemplary individuals we lost.” “The most important thing about (VT Engage) is the mission, and there is essentially a two-pronged mission,” said Susan Felker, communications manager for Outreach and International Affairs and member of the steering committee for VT Engage representing university relations. “First of all is to honor those we lost on April 16, many of whom were deeply committed to community service. Just reading their biographies, it was amazing what some of them had done at such a young age. “Secondly, we want to rededicate ourselves to the university’s motto, ‘Ut Prosim,’ and work on reviving that spirit of service to society that has been a part of Virginia Tech since its founding.” The initial goal of the program was for Tech students, faculty and staff to complete 300,000 hours of community service by the goal date. However, the Virginia Tech Alumni Association executive committee also decided
see ENGAGE, page five Four Steps to Medical School Acceptance: Student sends in a primary application consisting of a personal statement, MCAT scores and transcript with GPA. If admissions officers like the student, they request the submission of the second application, which consists of more essays. The student is interviewed. The student is then accepted based on all these factors.
Important Facts to Remember when Preparing for Med School: 14 percent of medical school admissions officers feel that “relevant experience is the leading factor.” 14 percentof medical school admissions pay more attention to how a student performs during the required interview with the admissions committee. The survey showed that 77 percent of those surveyed believe the MCAT score is one of the top two factors. 75 percent believe GPA is one of the top two factors. BEN MACDONALD/COLLEGIATE TIMES
“Looking at MCAT scores and GPA will give you great candidates that will give you great academic students, but not great doctors,” Price said. “We screen very heavily for those skills we believe will determine bedside manner.”
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new rivery valley editor: kevin anderson email: nrvnews@collegiatetimes.com phone: 540.231.9865 office hours: mw 1 - 3 p.m.
october 4, 2007
campus news editor: meg miller email: campusnews@collegiatetimes.com phone: 540.231.9865 office hours: mw 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Accreditation changes to affect students Professor honored with fellowship ROSANNA BROWN
ct news reporter
Some changes may be instituted in the near future for accreditation standards within the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Virginia Tech is accredited by SACS, and therefore, the changes may directly affect the student body. This potential change, indicated by om Benberg, vice president and chief of staff of SACS is to “put more emphasis on student learning outcomes.” “We are clearly focused on institutions identifying and measuring student learning outcomes at the program level, and taking those evaluation results and using them to make improvements,” he said. This change will go before the College Delegate Assembly in December. If the change is approved, it will be underway within one to two years of its passing, Benberg said. Benberg said that SACS will not be measuring the levels of student learning outcomes. Instead, universities
will be charged with determining a formula for measuring outcome, and evaluation teams from SACS will review the process the university uses. This evaluation will be used to determine if the methods used are clear and implementing improvements for each program within the institution’s curriculum. “We have, for about 18 years, been asking for outcomes for academic and administrative units. But we haven’t sufficiently focused on the student learning outcomes,” Benberg said. Benberg said that this program will help gather information on what students know, what skills they have, and what attitudes they possess in order to be successful in the world. David Ford, vice provost for Academic Affairs at Tech, said that the university has already been making accommodations for this change to take place. “We have looked into and we are making changes to ensure that we can respond to that standard,” Ford said. “And this is through an expanded office of academic assessment. And we are looking at a campus wide use
(especially for the undergraduate student) of the portfolio.” The portfolio will be a mechanism whereby a student can develop and electronically describe themselves as a student — what they do, what they know, and what they have learned, Ford said. By reviewing students’ electronic portfolios, Tech will attempt to determine what students are taking from their education, Ford said. Ford said that a random sample of the portfolios would be taken because of the size of Tech’s student body. “We are trying to come up with a way to be representative of the campus,” Ford said. The date for implementation of the e-portfolio concept has not been determined, Ford said. However, there are some pieces of the e-portfolio that are already in use. “We have students from an academic standpoint that are using the course of study planner, and that’s just the academic piece of the portfolio, the student will be able to store all kinds of information about who they are, the skills, and learning abilities they
have,” Ford said. Ford said that this portfolio could be a tool for the future employment of the student. Ford hopes that the student use of the e-portfolio would begin during freshman year — or even summer before their freshman year — and would extend until graduation. The e-portfolio has been discussed for the last two or three years in regards to making it a campus-wide assessment, Ford said. Ford said that maintaining institutional accreditation through SACS is an all-inclusive effort made by more than the 3,000 employees at Tech. This institutional accreditation from SACS does not cover individual programs. Programs at Tech are accredited by agencies specialized in those particular fields. “It’s a big job and it’s a university effort,” Ford said. Tech will undergo their reaffirmation of accreditation between 2009 and 2010. Tech was due for reaffirmation from 2008 to 2009; but, as a result of the April 16 shootings, it was pushed back.
Tones: Ringtones now easy to make from page one
friends like in music,” Garber said. “That’s how you get exposed to music; the only way to really have that connection is if you have those social network ties.” Jason Tice, franchise owner of the Blacksburg Verizon Wireless store, said that he sees the importance of cell phones to college students everyday when they come into his store upset that their phones are broken and they might be without it for a day. He also knows the importance of a customized phone. “Personally, I think it’s a good thing in
the market for my customers to be able to customize their phones,” Tice said. “However, the advantage to spending a couple bucks on a ring tone through Verizon is it’s secure, it’s safe, and it’s guaranteed.” One concern FriendTones faces is copyright infringements. While Garber admitted he anticipates these issues to arise, he insists it is perfectly legal to use your own music as a ring tone. Garber said that when you upload a CD you have purchased onto your computer, you are essentially ripping that music from one medium to another. He compared ring
tones to this concept, saying instead of ripping it to your computer, you are instead ripping it to your phone. “I would use something like FriendTones,” said Jeff Howell, a sophomore engineering major. “It sounds like a good idea for anyone so they can distinguish calls. Like if your mom’s calling you don’t even have to answer the phone you can just silence it.” Since it’s Sept. 20 launch on Facebook, FriendTones has amassed over 3,100 users who have created over 1,000 ring tones. The creators continue to hold very high hopes for its growing success.
MACARTHUR FELLOWSHIP HONOREE MARC EDWARDS WILL RECEIVE A $500,000 PRIZE TO BE PAID OUT OVER FIVE YEARS GORDON BLOCK
ct staff writer A Virginia Tech professor has been awarded a MacArthur Fellowship, a major award that also comes with an unconditional $500,000 prize to be paid out over five years. Marc Edwards, a professor in civil engineering, earned the award for his work in improving water safety and in researching water delivery systems. The prize came as a huge surprise to the professor. “I was in a period of shock for some time,” Edwards said. “I thought somebody was playing a practical joke.” The MacArthur Fellowship rewards people from all walks of lives. In addition to scientists, other winners include doctors, writers, geographers, and musicians. Edwards’ colleagues were quick to praise his work. “A number of the things Marc works on are current or public issues. Many things he researches are used extensively,” said Paolo Scardina, a postdoctoral associate in civil and environmental engineering. Edwards has spent almost twenty years observing how piping affects the quality of water. “I worked on a corrosion prob-
lem in homes, and at the time we flew some ‘experts’ in, and they didn’t have any answers,” Edwards said. “It was then I realized nobody was studying this effect.” His efforts have had long reaching effects, and his work has been chronicled by many major journals and publications. His research also brought major changes at many Washington D.C. area schools, where it was discovered that water there had high levels of lead. Though the $500,000 MacArthur Foundation check could inspire some to go on vacation or buy a new car, Edwards is putting the money right back into his work. “It’s a great example of Marc’s character,” Scardina said. “Instead of splurging, he’s putting it back into his research to fund things that might otherwise not get looked into.” For Edwards, it is a chance to continue important research. “What I plan on doing is emphasizing some of my research, and in particular water contamination in public schools, which is a major problem that is being overlooked,” Edwards said. “There is a very promising future for me with this research,” Edwards said. “It’s good for society, and it’s like a hobby to me. I hope to be doing this for the rest of my career.”
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opinions 3
editor: laurel colella email: opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com phone: 540.231.9865 office hours: mw 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
october 4, 2007
Excessive consumption of resources in the U.S. This month’s issue of National Geographic magazine contains an article on the pros and cons of various biofuels. The obvious JONATHAN advantages of all MCGLUMPHY biofuels are that they emit less carregular bon dioxide than columnist fossil fuels and can be produced on farmland rather than extracted from remote or war-torn regions of the earth. There are some drawbacks, of course. The amount of energy required to produce ethanol from corn is nearly the same as the energy you get from burning it. Ethanol can also be produced from sugar cane, as is done in Brazil. The drawback to that is manifest in deforestation in the Amazon as cane growers use more and more land for producing fuel. Then there are near-zero emissions energy sources such as solar and wind power. (I say “near-zero” because it does take energy to produce the wind and solar equipment). In any case, we are developing a diverse plethora of alternatives to fossil fuels. Alternatives to fossil fuels are certainly one part of the solution to reducing carbon emissions. However, the pressing issue in the United States is not
the type of fuel we use, but excessive consumption of resources in general. The bottom line is that we collectively consume a disproportionate amount of resources on a per capita basis. We are by far one of the largest emitters of carbon dioxidevia fossil fuels (though China and India are catching up pretty quickly). If we are genuinely concerned with carbon emissions and other environmental damage, then it is imperative that we address the problem of overconsumption in the United States. The question then becomes how to do it.
Alternatives to fossil fuels are certainly one part of the solution to reducing carbon dioxide emissions. However, the pressing issue in the United States is not the type of fuel we use, but excessive consumption of resources in general. Many would automatically answer that we need the government to intervene. One example of government intervention is a “carbon tax,” whereby business and consumers pay an additional tax on fossil fuels beyond the excise taxes that are already in place.
While this sounds good on paper, all it will really do is put more money into the already-bloated pockets of bureaucrats who care more about keeping their make-work jobs than the environment. I contend that the government would not be very effective at reducing excess consumption in the U.S., especially since in some instances it has actually contributed to the problem. So I propose several ways to give people a financial incentive to consume less by downsizing the government. First, deregulate the power industry. A number of states have deregulated electrical utilities in recent years, and the general trend is for consumer prices to go up. The cause could be that utilities are seeking higher profits, or they are simply now able to charge the full cost of resources. In either case, consumers in those states are now paying closer to the natural market value of electricity. So now the only way people can keep their bills from going through the roof is to reduce electricity use, which is not hard to do. Turn off lights and appliances (like the TV and stereo) when they’re not in use. Speaking of lights, compact fluorescent bulbs use roughly one-quarter of the power as their incandescent counterparts. On a larger scale, people may seriously reconsider those 2,000-plus square foot houses that suck up a lot of
juice for heating and cooling. Maybe it would be more sensible for only two people to live in a smaller place. Second, end government subsidies to the oil industry. Right now the major oil companies receive tax breaks that are not necessarily offered to other industries. I have no love for taxes in general, but if we’re going to have taxes then they should at least be uniform. Giving the oil companies tax breaks discourages them from pursuing alternative energy sources. As long as it’s cheap to do business the way they’ve always been doing it, why would they change? Furthermore, unsubsidized gasoline would likely cost more at the pump. The more people have to pay for gas, the less inclined they will be to waste it. Bear in mind that fuel efficiency diminishes rapidly for just about any vehicle above 65 mph. If you don’t believe me, next time you drive home keep it at 65 mph the whole way. Yes, it might take you 20 extra minutes to make a 300 mile trip, but you will see a noticeable difference in fuel consumption. At the same time you’ll be emitting fewer pollutants per mile traveled. Last, privatize major roads and let the owners collect tolls. As it stands right now, most of the arterial roads are funded by state and federal fuel taxes. Let’s do away with the fuel tax and install toll booths on the major roads.
Only drivers who actually use that particular road will pay for it. More to the point, the price of those tolls will likely be higher than the current fuel taxes because drivers will be paying the full market cost of using the road. If it costs more to drive on the road, then maybe people will take carpooling or mass transit a little more seriously. Better yet, maybe people will decide that it’s not worth it to live in Winchester and commute (by themselves) to Dulles or D.C. each day. Think of the greenspace that could be saved from development. All of these non-government solutions will encourage us to use fewer of our very limited resources and will definitely help reduce harmful emissions. Those who wish to continue living an over-consumptive, unsustainable lifestyle are free to do so — if they’re willing to pay the full cost of that lifestyle. Nobody is entitled to have everything convenient and cheap. And that’s what many of these regulations and subsidies have done: made it cheap to live unsustainably. It comes down to a basic choice: we can ask “someone else” to deal with over-consumption, that someone else being the government that helped cause the problem in the first place, or we can individually make the small sacrifices that will allow future generations to live a healthy life.
local issue
College Media Solutions Staff Advertising Director Xavier L. Herrera Ads Production Manager Anika Stickles Asst Production Manager Ashley Shoemaker Ads Production/Creation Kristin Claeys, Sarah Ford, Kaiesha Morgan, Alyssa Peltier, Catherine Worsham Assistant Advertising Directors Ashley Culbreth, Patrick Fitzgerald, Katelynn Reilly National Account Executive Robbie Zayas Account Executives Jenna Given, Don Janocha, Beau King, Katy McCall, John Welch Assistant Account Executives Kayla Clements, Blythe Dalton, Tara Darby, Amy Guzewicz, Ashlee Goodwin, Jennifer Himlich, Kelli Lyman, David Ross, Mike Walsh, Suzanne Watkins Marketing Manager Devin Armstrong
Service honors victims share personal volunteering experiences. Students can get involved as individuals or as groups. The point is, it is important to simply become involved. “You can participate as an individual, you can participate as a group, and that doesn’t mean it has to be a formal student group, just a group you decide to volunteer with,” Gilbert told the Collegiate Times. While this is the first year of VT Engage, it will hopefully become an annual thing. If students, faculty, friends and family of Virginia Tech can pull together and complete 600,000 hours of community service in less than a year, making this an annual event would bring in more than 1 million hours of service in two years. While this is an amazing number and an amazing contribution, it is an even better way to make sure those we lost on April 16 are never, ever forgotten. By memorializing them through acts of kindness and service, we are honoring their memory and continuing the countless hours of community service many of them gave in their own lives. It is also a way for friends, family and alumni who pledge hours of service as part of VT Engage to pay back those all over the world who reached out to us in our time of need. This is an opportunity for us to push for a bigger change on a grander scale of people doing something powerful for the community. Attend the kickoff event on Oct. 16 on the Drillfield, and define what it means to be a Hokie, now more than ever. The editiorial board is composed of Amie Steele, Joe Kendall, Saira Haider and Laurel Colella
Student Publication Photo Staff Director of Photography Shaozhuo Cui Business Manager Jim Dickhans
Voice your opinion. Readers are encouraged to send letters and comments to the Collegiate Times.
Have an opinion? write a letter to the editor at opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com
Letters to the editor What it really means to be a space explorer You don’t call rich people who buy a plane ticket to space a ‘space explorer’, you call them what they are. Wealthy passengers. It gives me great hope that one day I could be a space explorer like Ms. Ansari, as long as my relatives in an oil-rich state send me to the U.S., pay for George Mason and George Washington Universities with all expenses paid — this borderlines $500,000 in expenses, folks. Then provide start-up capital for my tech venture. Ah, it must be great to be the daughter of some Iranian oil magnet. Passenger, yes. Space explorer? No, no way, never, hardly worth mentioning. Robert Michaels grad student, computer operations
Moe’s in Blacksburg is overrated I think a more appropriate headline for your Sept. 28 issue, instead of “Moe’s Opens for Business”, would have been “Bland Chain: Only Business that can Afford Downtown Rents.” I’m not a city planner, but it seems like sometimes Tech and downtown realtors are going to have to work something out or downtown Blacksburg is going to end up looking like a Northern Virginia shopping mall instead of a charming and unique university town. Matt Ames Ph.D student, instructional design and technology
Collegiate Times Editorial Staff Editor in Chief Amie Steele Managing Editors Joe Kendall, Saira Haider Production Manager Claire Craft Public Editor Colleen Webster News Editors Kevin Anderson, Meg Miller News Reporters Rosanna Brown, Michelle Rivera, Peter Hurley, Ashley Oliver, Andrea Woods Features Editor Sharon Pritz Associate Features Editors Caroline Black, Drew Jackson Features Reporter Katelyn Lau Opinions Editor Laurel Colella Sports Editor Ryan McConnell Associate Sports Editor Charles Barrineau Sports Reporters T. Rees Shapiro, Torrey Smith, Bryan Wright Head Copy Editor David Harries Copy Editors Mary Hardbarger, Kati Ann Leonburger, Cate Summers Photo Editors Sally Bull, Kyle Swanson Layout Designers Josh Son, Krystal Stevens, Melanie Welzel, Jenna Wolfe Graphic Designer Ben MacDonald Online Director Christopher Ritter Multimedia Editor Colin Smith Multimedia Producer Christina Pfeifer Senior Web Producer Tim Tutt Web Producers Jon Boblitt, John Edstrom, Gabreil Martinez Community Content Editor Sean O’Mara Web Staff Timothy Lee Collegiate Times Business Staff Business Manager Robert Bowman Marketing Manager Whitney Ludvik
Editorial In the wake of the events of April 16, there is a huge push from the Blacksburg community to memorialize the victims through 300,000 hours of community service performed collectively by students and faculty. Beginning Oct. 16, a community-wide service initiative known as VT Engage will track the number of community service hours performed by members of the university community and family and friends of Virginia Tech. “The mission of VT Engage is to encourage and facilitate community service. It will connect the university with the community to help meet the needs of volunteer groups on campus and in the community at large,” said Karen Gilbert, the coordinator of VT Engage. Since the announcement of the VT Engage program, the Virginia Tech Alumni Association and graduates all over the world have also pledged an additional 300,000 hours, making the grand total for the Tech community 600,000 hours of community service, to be completed by April 16, 2008. That equates to about ten hours per person, which is a realistic task when you think about how capable we all really are of donating our time and efforts. Getting involved in VT Engage is a great way of making something good out of something extremely bad that affected all of us. It is also a powerful way of reconnecting with our school’s motto, “that I may serve.” Students wishing to get involved in the program should access www.engage.vt.edu to get more information about volunteering, log their volunteer hours online, and
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Regarding the truth about immigration The author of “The Truth about Immigration” (CT, Oct. 3) may have meant to make an important point, but distracted by his own arrogance and irrationalism, botched the article and made himself look like an uneducated jerk. After the author accused Americans as a whole for being less knowledgeable, for not working as hard as immigrants, and for not even dreaming, I was left with the same feeling I get when I see someone push a “pull” door … for the second time. It got worse when he accused Americans of “being too scared to face the truth about their own race, so they have to make assumptions about other races,” and failed to see that’s precisely what he was doing. To humor him, I looked at the tags of some shirts of mine. The first few were Nicaragua, El Salvador, China, Sri Lanka, India, and Madagascar. What he said is true, these countries are taking jobs from America. But not the kind of jobs that make them millionaires. All of those companies are owned by Americans or Italians; they are the ones making the millions. But what do I know, I can’t even dream of the designer clothes he owns. It’s a shame that as an American I am unable to dream, because I would love to dream of being him in daddy’s Audi with my designer clothes, impressing myself and being all trendy. The point the author wanted to make (I think) is a good one. I have the utmost respect for all of our foreign students. Leaving your country, coming over to America and successfully assimilating into one of the best universities in the country is an achievement I wish I was talented and courageous enough to do.
Many students here, myself included take for granted that we don’t have to work as hard as so many people in this world to live a successful and happy lifestyle. I take the lack of necessity to work hard and work less, and that’s not the way it should be. I’m only hurting myself by doing it, and I have no right to complain. If that’s the point you meant, it’s a good one. But if you are going to say something, say it right. Otherwise you can take your Armani, arrogance and Audi somewhere else where it’s appreciated, like UVa. Tim Jacobs junior, mining and minerals engineering
Investigating the truth in Christianity Christianity has come to enjoy a unique position in university culture as the premier subject of ridicule. From modern literature to biology to South Park reruns, no other world-view is so popularly criticized, satirized, and marginalized. Ancient mythology and tribal mysticism is allowed a place of reverence, while the cultural narrative central to Western philosophy, art, literature, and science is made laughable. Our limited version of scholarly tolerance tells us: No one knows which (if any) philosophy is true, but of this we can be certain, Christianity is not. Check it off the list of plausible theories. Unless you’re a kindergartner at vacation Bible school, Jesus is moot. Been there, done that. The glorification of novelty and the rejection of obsolescence is one of the highest ethics of our day. We find this particularly apparent when last year’s iPod is so grossly outdated that we’re embarrassed to show it in public. We ship our grandparents off to remote villages to
wrinkle and complain. We buy new cars and fashions for the allure of their newness despite their lack of proven quality. We are constantly on the lookout for new romantic opportunities and can’t seem to love the one we’re with. The same is true for the way we think about ideas. One might argue that Christianity has held an unfair monopoly in the Western world for several thousand years and has long overstayed its welcome. This may be the case, but to simply discard it like last week’s milk without looking at the expiration date could be just as irresponsible. Ideas are not dairy products, nor are they trendy electronics, nor must they inevitably grow old and decrepit. This Tuesday and Wednesday night, in Burruss Hall and Cassell Coliseum respectively, there will be an open discussion with internationally distinguished lecturer Ravi Zacharias. As a native of India who has studied world religions and philosophies at length, Ravi will speak and answer questions from the audience about the plausibility of the Christian faith. He strongly believes that the discussion about faith has too long been a one-way conversation. For those who haven’t given Christianity serious investigation, this forum will lay all the chips on the table. Bring questions and objections. At the end of honest investigation, if it is still inadequate, move on to something better (Jesus granted his students the freedom to arrive at their own conclusions). The tragedy would be to naively check his ideas off the list because of the prevailing winds of popular criticism. David Williams alum, class of ‘00
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editor: sharon pritz email: features@collegiatetimes.com phone: 540.231.9865 office hours: mw 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
october 4, 2007
Cheers! Fall beer varieties KATELYN LAU regular columnist The cliché goes that “beer is an acquired taste,” but even more than the taste, knowing the differences among all the varieties of beer is an acquired knowledge base. Hundreds of beers that profess to be blonde, brown, golden, amber, pale, stout, draught, ice, porter, lager, malt, dry, bitter … the list goes on, make choosing a beer tougher than learning to enjoy the taste. Very basically, a beverage is a beer if it is made from malted grain, hops, yeast and water, and then brewed by slow fermentation.To begin understanding the dozens of labels that distinguish one beer from another (but which mean little to most people), the broad term, beer, is broken down into two basic categories or types: ale and lager. The differences between ale and lager lie in the temperature of fermentation and the type of yeast used dur-
ing the fermentation process. Ale is fermented at higher temperatures than lagers, ranging from 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Ales also use top fermenting yeast, which means that the yeast floats on the surface for a few days before settling to the bottom. New River Pale Ale, Rolling Rock and Sierra Nevada are a few examples of ales. Lagers are fermented at lower temperatures, generally ranging from 45 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit, and use bottom fermenting yeast, which does not float before settling on the bottom. Budweiser, Coors, Corona, Samuel Adams and Yuengling are all examples of lagers. Ales encompass the largest variety of beers and are typically sweet, fullbodied, and sometimes have a fruity or buttery taste. Pale ales traditionally have a more hoppy, bitter taste, while brown ales are maltier and sweeter. Lagers can be sweet or bitter; they’re usually highly carbonated and have a medium to strong hops flavor. Hops
are what give beer a bitter taste, balancing the sweetness from the malt. “You can have a light ale and a heavy lager,” said Keith Roberts, who has sold beer for more than 20 years and owns the Vintage Cellar in Blacksburg. “Variety is the spice of life,” Roberts said. “There’s a different beer for every occasion, every price range, every air temperature, and so on; so by trying different things you can zero in on what you’re in the mood for.” Some other terms that distinguish one beer from another are things like ice, dry, porter, draught and light. “Some of those terms have meaning and some of them don’t,” Roberts laughed. “Things like, draught beer is supposed to be on tap. So, to have a bottle draught, it’s obviously not; but they’re trying to make it a draft style.” In fact, draught is another way of saying draft. Some bottled beers are called draught, but the word is used mainly to simulate the idea of beer served straight from the cask. “Some bottled beers do have wid-
KYLE SWANSON/SPPS
gets, with a nitrogen bubble in them that make it more of a draft style, incredibly creamy with a thick head,” Roberts said. When a beer has the word ice in its name, it means that the temperature of the finished beer was lowered until the water in it froze. Since water freezes before alcohol, the ice crystals were then filtered out, leaving behind beer with a higher alcohol content. A dry beer is made using genetically altered yeasts that cause the beer to ferment more completely. Dry beers are supposed to have less residual sweetness, or less of an aftertaste. Porters, which evolved from mixing ale and the strongest beer available (stout), are generally dark and have a strong hops flavor. Extra strong porters also came to be called stout. Light beers tend to be lower in calories and alcohol content. “It has to do with the ratio of ingredients to water,” Roberts said. “And that does significantly lower your alcohol content. They still charge you the
same amount, but they just give you more water.” “People also tend to think ‘Oh, it’s light, so I can drink more,’” Roberts said. “But it really is mostly water; so no matter how much you drink, you probably won’t be satisfied.” Nevertheless, once you understand some of the terminology, fall happens to be a great time to drink beer, with so many seasonal varieties to try. Roberts pointed to Oktoberfest beers, which are popular each year, but also mentioned a new trend in fall beers. “People are getting into vegetable beers,” Roberts said. “Now they have pumpkin beers, and they use pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice, so they have cinnamon and nutmeg and all sorts of spices in the beer.” Roberts said the Vintage Cellar tries to buy every seasonal variety available. Dogfish Head Pumpkin Ale, Blue Moon Pumpkin Spice Ale, Flying Dog Scottish Porter, Sam Adams Oktoberfest and Sierra Nevada Celebration are a few of the seasonal
What’sfridayGoing On saturday sunday today
beers out for fall. Of those, I’ve tried Blue Moon Pumpkin Spice ale, which isn’t very strong and lacks the flavor I expected from something called “pumpkin spice;” Flying Dog Scottish Porter is strong (as are most Scottish beers!); Sierra Nevada Celebration has a strong hops flavor; and Sam Adams Oktoberfest is probably one of my favorite fall beers — good flavor without too much bitterness. “They’re fun, and they’re different,” Roberts said of fall beers. “Very often they’re only there for a week or two or three and then they’re gone. They’re a flash in the pan; they sell like hotcakes for a couple of weeks, and then they’re gone for another year.” But no matter which beer you choose, Roberts had one piece of advice to offer. “Tasty beers need a glass, because part of the drinking experience is putting it in the glass and letting it breathe to make sure you experience all the flavors and aromas.”
monday
10 a.m. All Day VT Majors Fair, 8 a.m. Tech Cassell Coliseum Virginia Community Dog Geosciences 10 a.m. Wash fundraiser, Centennial Fall Break, no UUSA job fair, Rear of Veterinary Celebration classes Johnson 3rd College Complex All Day 1 p.m. floor in MDL-2 Women’s Tennis 9 a.m. women’s soccer 7 p.m. 2 p.m. Hokie Fall Flag raising vs. Florida State, Women’s Soccer Rally for Smart Invitational, ceremony for Virginia Tech vs. Miami, Growth for Soccer Stadium National Four-H Virginia Tech Burrows/Burleson Blacksburg, Tennis Center week, university Soccer Stadium Henderson Lawn 7 p.m. flagpole in front 7 p.m. 6 p.m. Men’s Soccer vs. of Burruss Hall African Roots in Wake Forest, football at Latino culture, Clemson Virginia Tech Multicultural Center, Squires Soccer Stadium
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11 a.m. 6 p.m. Chili Challenge, Hokie D2 and Shultz Gobblers/ Dining Center Foxridge 7 p.m. Apartments IM Hip Hop: Beyond Soccer Beats and Rhymes Champion(film), Squires ships, SRA Commonwealth Fields Ballroom 7 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Sisterhood Finding Answers Banquet, Amid Life’s Squires Old Greatest Losses Dominon (open forum), Ballroom (RSVP Burruss Hall required) Auditorium
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october 4, 2007
Engage: Community challenged to honor victims with service from page one
to extend the challenge to its members, as well as Tech alumni all over the world, asking them to match the outreach with another 300,000 hours. The initiative estimates that if each member of the community pledges at least 10 hours of community service before the goal date, it should be no problem to reach the goal and beyond. In order to organize the program and help match volunteers with the right kind of service for them, whether it is community service, service-learning, or another volunteer opportunity, VT Engage has established a Web site (www.engage.vt.edu) that has information for potential volunteers. On that Web site, students can log and keep track of their volunteer hours, and post information about
their experiences if they wish to share their stories. The Web site also has registration
“We want to rededicate ourselves to the university’s motto, “Ut Prosim,” and work on reviving that spirit of service to society that has been a part of Virginia Tech since its founding.” - SUSAN FELKER OUTREACH AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS forms for service groups who are looking to recruit volunteers through VT Engage and/or set up a booth at the Drillfield kickoff. There are countless ways to get
involved with the program, and the organizers want to stress that no matter who or where volunteers are, they can get involved. “You can participate as an individual, you can participate as a group, and that doesn’t mean it has to be a formal student group, just a group you decide to volunteer with,” Gilbert said. “Another way that students can use VT Engage is to recruit volunteers for things they’re already doing.” “VT Engage is there as a connector between groups and volunteers and assistants who are looking for a way to serve their community,” Gilbert said. “As of right now, we have 60 service groups (registered to participate in VT Engage) and that number is still growing.” The service groups are ones all over the community and Gilbert estimates that about 35 percent of those groups
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are student organizations that are looking for volunteers through VT Engage. “There is an amazingly wide variety of groups that will be attending, they are community groups, nonprofit groups, and student organizations who are looking for volunteers,” Gilbert said. Right now, there is information on the Web site under “Find Volunteer Opportunities” that can give students an idea of what kind of service groups will be recruiting volunteers through VT Engage. Student groups and service groups, aside from listing their volunteer needs, can also list items that they may need, such as building supplies or transportation funds to travel somewhere like New Orleans. Another way volunteers can serve is to do a fundraiser for the item that
group needs. Volunteers with limited time can donate funds for someone else’s service project. On the kickoff day on Oct. 16, there will also be simultaneous kickoffs of the program at five different Virginia Tech outposts throughout Virginia, as well as some of our locations abroad, including an outpost in Switzerland. “The Tech community has been challenged to produce 300,000 hours, and alumni have said they’re going to match that. The other group we’re calling ‘family and friends of VT,’ which is the Tech community around the world, and I expect there will be 300,000 hours or more pledged from that group, because it is potentially the largest group of all,” Gilbert said. This is its inaugural year, but the organizations running and promoting VT Engage are going to try to
make it an annual event. “This is an ongoing project to encourage community service and to help everyone realize it’s good for the community to do community service and especially for everyone right now doing the service in the memory of the people lost on April 16 is something that can help us all heal,” Gilbert said. “There are already several projects underway being organized by the families of victims that are service projects we’re going to let people know about when the families are ready, so that students can participate if possible.” Anyone interested in registering a service group or learning more about VT Engage and the volunteer opportunities offered can visit the group’s Web site, www.engage.vt.edu, or attend the kickoff event on the Drillfield on Oct. 16.
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6 sports
editor: ryan mcconnell email: sportseditor@collegiatetimes.com phone: 540.231.9865 office hours: mw noon - 2 p.m.
november 26, 2007
Clemson’s Korn and Tech’s Taylor share Hokies fare well in similar experiences as young quarterbacks role of underdog THOUGH JUST TRUE FRESHMEN, BOTH TYROD TAYLOR AND WILLY KORN FACE HIGH EXPECTATIONS AS QUARTERBACKS FOR THEIR PROGRAMS RYAN MCCONNELL
ct sports editor When the summer camp you attend boasts distinguished alumni such as Matt Leinart, Vince Young, Tim Tebow, Chris Leak and John David Booty, and your counselors include JaMarcus Russell, Tyler Palko and Troy Smith, you probably aren’t attending just any ordinary camp. But then again, if you’re chosen to attend, you probably aren’t just any ordinary kid. True freshmen Tyrod Taylor and Willy Korn, who now attends Clemson, experienced it in July 2006, participating in the EA Sports Elite 11 Quarterback Camp, designed to give the nation’s best high school quarterbacks the chance to refine their skills and learn from some of the top quarterbacking minds in football. “We threw a lot of passes, probably over 500 passes when we were there. We learned a lot of drills that I keep doing myself now,” Taylor said. The camp is held in Orange County, Calif., and run by Bob Johnson, one of the top quarterback coaches in the country. Johnson’s son, Rob, played at Southern Cal and for several NFL teams as well. Along with distinguished coaches, current star quarterbacks in college serve as camp counselors, mentoring the next generation. Before each summer, the Elite 11 staff selects the 11 best junior quarterback prospects in the country and makes a wild card or “project” pick, bringing in 12 participants for the three day camp. Their strengths as quarterbacks vary, as some are strong armed gunslingers while others are mobile and shifty dual threats. Regardless of their similarities or differences, it’s an opportunity for the prep stars to meet and practice alongside the peers they’ve kept track of from afar. It’s where Korn and Taylor met for the first time. Korn, who played his high school ball at Byrnes High School in Duncan, S.C., and Taylor, who played at Hampton High School in Hampton, Va, have a similar pedigree. Korn and Taylor were both high pro-
file dual-threat quarterback recruits. Both had played for coaching legends at high schools with a track record of winning state championships and both came into college competing for the starting spot with redshirt juniors. The camp gave them an opportunity to talk about their similar situations. “We compared each other’s high schools, compared our experiences, talked about our hometowns, told each other about our experiences in high school, what our teammates and coaches were like in high school, and just about playing at the next level,” Korn said. When it came time to make their college choices, both decided to stay close to home, with Korn choosing Clemson, and Taylor giving the nod to Virginia Tech. The Tigers were more than eager to welcome Korn, who passed for over 10,000 yards and rushed for nearly 1,500 more in his career at Byrnes High School while leading them to three state championships. Many, including Elite 11 counselors who voted him “Most Likely to Start First,” expected Korn to immediately replace Will Proctor, who graduated after last season, at the helm of the Clemson offense. Instead, redshirt junior Cullen Harper has played with an unexpected level of sharpness, keeping Korn waiting in the wings a little while longer. “I was just expecting to come in and compete. That’s what I did, I competed. My thinking is one of the reasons Cullen is playing so well is because I’m putting pressure on him, and when I got here I busted my butt and made sure he had to play at a high level if he wanted to play. “He’s been doing a great job for us, taking care of the football and putting points on the board. It kind of gives me a sense of pride that he’s doing so well, because I feel like with me coming in and competing I gave him that much more motivation to do the job,” Korn said of Harper. Although limited in his playing time, Korn has made the most of his opportunities, throwing for 100 yards on 8 of 11 passing and adding 30 yards rushing. Korn and Taylor have been able to see other camp brethren called into
MARK CRAMMER/CLEMSON ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT
After putting up prolific numbers as an All-American quarterback at Byrnes High School in Duncan, S.C., true freshman Willy Korn has been heralded as Clemson’s quarterback of the future. action this season as well, including Peter Lalich at Virginia and Ryan Mallett at Michigan. While at the Elite 11 camp, Korn roomed with Mallett, who helped lead the Wolverines to wins over Notre Dame and Penn State while senior starter Chad Henne was sidelined with an injury. Watching Mallett deliver on the big stage served as motivation for Korn to do the same. “Ryan went in there and he competed, and he helped turn the season around. He got a couple wins at quarterback, and it’s just really good to know I was out there competing with that guy and I was in there making the same throws at Elite 11,” Korn said. “Now he’s leading his team to victory, so it kind of gives you a step of confidence that, ‘Hey, I can play at this level too.’” Although both are heavily immersed in trying to learn a new offense, Taylor and Korn still talk to each other on a regular basis about grasping a college offense, their families, and their respective teams squaring off against one another. “He said they can’t wait to play us, and I told him the same thing,” Taylor said. But regardless of how much preparation and talent both players possessed leading up to their first
Class of 2007 Elite 11 Quarterbacks & their colleges John Brantley- Florida Aaron Corp- USC Stephen Garcia- South Carolina Logan Gray- Georgia Willy Korn- Clemson Peter Lalich- Virginia Jarrett Lee- LSU Ryan Mallett- Michigan Brock Mansion- California Keith Nichol- Oklahoma Tyrod Taylor- Virginia Tech Rontrell Bailey*- Will play basketball at Ouachita Baptist University
*12th man/ “wild card” selection BEN MACDONALD/COLLEGIATE TIMES
season of high level college football, the 24/7 mentality requires even the most highly touted recruits to adjust quickly if they want to be successful. “It’s a different animal compared to high school,” Korn said. “If you’re not in class or in the film room you’re out there practicing. If you’re not practicing, you’re lifting. If you’re not lifting, you’re in the training room trying to get ready for the next game. But, overall, it’s been a good experience.”
The Virginia Tech football team is in quite a unique situation as it enters Saturday’s top25 contest at Clemson — it’s CHARLES R. the underdog. Head coach BARRINEAU Frank Beamer’s regular club is not columnist a c c u s t om e d to not being favored, especially in an Atlantic Coast Conference game. The Maroon and Orange is generally picked by the odds makers in Las Vegas and elsewhere to beat its opponent, and often to do so handily. But not this week … Saturday the Hokies will make their second trip this season to “Death Valley”, but their first ever for an ACC showdown. Virginia Tech heads down to the Palmetto State as a five-tosix point underdog — depending on which odds maker’s lines you subscribe to. “A lot of people believe they’re going to win and win big,” said Beamer at his weekly press luncheon Tuesday. When you’re an underdog as infrequently as the Hokies, you tend to get excited when you’re labeled such. With some added energy and motivation, in addition to the plethora of talent on the Tech sideline, the Hokies have the means to beat the favored Tigers on the road this weekend. That said, there are a few things that look like the key to Tech’s success. Scoring first is a must. The Hokies have won 32 straight games when getting on the board first — that’s an impressive statistic. It’s always a good thing to shut up the home crowd when on the road, especially when it’s one as raucous as the one seen at Clemson. Beamer said that scoring first could go a long way in building the momentum in favor of his team Saturday evening. The Hokies must also hold the Tigers to field goal attempts. Clemson’s kicker, Mark Buchholz, is 7-13 on the season, but his numbers drop to 3-8 on kicks of 30 yards or more, which means Tech could be in good shape if it can keep Clemson’s offense from getting inside the 13-yardline. Buchholz is likely Tech’s biggest asset Saturday who will not be
wearing the visiting white jersey. It’s decently well known that kickers can sometimes be head cases. I don’t know if Buchholz is, but splitting his time between two fall sports, football and soccer, can’t be good for the guy’s focus. Better yet, the redshirt junior may also be lacking some confidence after a 1-5 performance last Saturday in a 13-3 loss at Georgia Tech. He played a soccer game the night before the game and he’s doing so again. Clemson is at Maryland Friday for a soccer game, after which, according to the Clemson sports information staff, Buchholz will board a school plane and fly back to Clemson ahead of the team’s commercial flight Saturday. If I were Tiger head football coach Tommy Bowden, I think I’d want my kicker to give up soccer so that he’d have his legs come game time on Saturday.
Scoring first is a must. The Hokies have won 32 straight games when getting on the board first - that’s an impressive statistic. On the flip side, things look much better for Tech kicker Jud Dunlevy who built his confidence along the way this season after some terrible preseason scrimmages. The redshirt senior is 5-5 on the year after hitting a 52-yard attempt last weekend in the win against Carolina. “It feels good to get out there and have a longer attempt under my belt and get that type of experience ‘cause you never know when we’ll need it again,” Dunlevy said. “I’ll be ready for (a pressure kick), if that is the case.” It may well be. The Hokie nation may be looking to Dunlevy as the clock winds down this Saturday to pull out the win for Virginia Tech. Another reason I’ve got some confidence in the Hokies to cover the spread this weekend is Beamer’s history against the Tigers. Beamer has beaten Clemson the last four times the two teams have played, dating back to the 1998 season. Tech figured out how to stop a Clemson team on a roll and in the top-10 last season. What makes you think it won’t be able to do the same to the Tigers this season?
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Check Out All VT Rec Sports Has to Offer!! What’s Your Game? “Win a Getaway Trip” with Rec Sports Incentive Contests Take the Songer Whitewater Splash Challenge Jump in the Rec Sports pools and keep track of your time spent exercising in the pools to be eligible for GREAT prizes!† Swimming, water aerobics, water jogging, and any other physical water activity completed in the pool counts.† To be eligible for the Dec 7th grand prize drawing for an “Overnight on the New” Songer Whitewater Rafting trip for two, participants must spend at least 15 hours “splashing” in the pool.† Four runner-up winners will be chosen this semester from the eligible participants, each will win a $25 Dick’s Sporting Goods gift card. Program is free and open to Virginia Tech students, faculty, and staff. Registration forms available online. Start splashing today!
Carlson Wagonlit Travel Fall Fitness Challenge Attend McComas Hall fitness classes and accumulate points to win prizes. Grand prize awarded on 11/13 is a 4-Night Marriott Stay, PLUS a $50 Exxon gas card & a $50 Red Lobster gift card. Free for valid fitness pass holders.
Special Events Oct 10, Wed: Hokie Gobblers/ Foxridge Apartments Intramural Sports Soccer Championship Night, Lower SRA, 6:00pm: Check out the footwork! Come and join the Hokie Gobblers marketing staff as competing soccer teams battle it out for the Soccer Championship honors. There will be FREE prizes, contests and giveaways for everyone! Cosponsored by Foxridge Apartments, Coca-Cola and Pizza Hut. Oct 23, Tues: TurboKick, McComas Gym, 6pm: Kick your way into the next Jackie Chan movie, but this time you are your own stunt double. Join in the kicking event of the year that will have calories burnin’ off your body. First 100 participants get a FREE t-shirt and Subway coupon. Free and open to VT patrons. Sponsored by Subway and Sayre Promotional Products.
Oct 28, Sun: VTcrew 5K, VT Duck Pond, 9am: This fundraising race is open to all runners and walkers of any age and experience. Reg forms available at www.crew.org.vt.edu .
Intramural Sports Want $$$? Or Need a FUN & FLEXIBLE JOB? IM Sports is hiring student officials for 07-08. NO experience is necessary Training Dates: Volleyball---Oct 14-17, 6pm, 124 War Memorial Sport Clubs Cheer on your Club Hokies – FREE Admission! Sponsored by Hawthorn Suites & Coca-Cola. Ice Hockey vs NCSU 10/5 Roanoke Civic Center Basketball (W)Tment 10/13 War Memorial Hall Soccer (W)Tment 10/5-6 Upper SRA Fields Volleyball (M)Tment 10/13 War Memorial Hall Volleyball(M) Tment 10/6 War Memorial Hall Ice Hockey vs UNC 10/13 Roanoke Civic Center Rugby (M) vs Kutztown 10/6, Upper SRA Fields Rugby (M) vs Navy 10/13 Upper SRA Fields Tennis vs Michigan 10/14 Washington St. Tennis Cour Dates and times subject to change, check recsports.vt.edu.
For more information visit recsports.vt.edu or call (540) 231-6856.
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