COLLEGIATETIMES
wednesday october 10, 2007 blacksburg, va.
www.collegiatetimes.com
bulletin board BRAD PAISLEY TO PLAY IN ROANOKE Country star Brad Paisley will play a concert at the Roanoke Civic Center on Thursday, Nov. 8. The concert is part of Paisley’s Bonfires and Amplifiers Tour 2007. Tickets are being sold for $31.75 or $47.00 depending on proximity to the stage.
VOTE FOR COACH OF THE YEAR Votes for the 2007 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year are currently being taken at www.coachoftheyear.com. The award, which recognizes dedication and responsibility in coaching, is given to one football coach in each of the NCAA’s four divisions. Fans can vote once a day, as many days as they choose.
Sex offenders work on campus ct news staff There are currently 24 registered sex offenders in the 24060 ZIP code, according to the Virginia State Police Public Notification Database, a Web site that facilitates access to public information about those convicted of violent and sexual offenses. The information on the Web site also shows that two sex offenders work for Virginia Tech, one at the Virginia Tech Power House, the power plant on campus, and one for Virginia Tech Parking Services. While the university does have a policy on criminal background checks for considering employment, it does not have a specific policy related to hiring individuals convicted as sex offenders, said Vice President of uni-
versity relations, Larry Hincker, in an e-mail. Hincker said that when hiring university employees, the university may consider how recent the conviction was, the frequency and severity of the crimes, the honesty of the candidate in disclosing the information and the candidates subsequent work history. An employee at the Virginia Tech Power House was convicted in West Virginia of sexual abuse in the third degree in June of 2004. The individual employed by Virginia Tech Parking Services was convicted of aggravated sexual battery, one count of sodomy and five counts taking indecent liberties with children in 1996. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Virginia is a private, non-profit organization that seeks to protect con-
Two sex offenders work for Virginia Tech, one at the Virginia Tech Power House, the power plant on campus, and one for Virginia Tech Parking Services. stitutionally mandated freedoms and advance the rights that are stated in the Constitution. Kent Willis, executive director of ACLU of Virginia, said that the organization usually takes the position that once offenders fully pay their debts to society, they should not be discriminated against. “The ACLU of Virginia is not opposed to
Hokies defeat Cavaliers
ARRESTS FOR LIQUOR VIOLATIONS IN 2006 INCREASED MORE THAN 90 PERCENT OVER 2005 IN THE VIRGINIA TECH AREA ROSANNA BROWN
MEN’S SOCCER TOPS VMI ON THE ROAD
news GUARDS OPEN FIRE IN BAGHDAD BAGHDAD, Iraq — Guards from a private security company opened fire Tuesday on a car that they said ignored commands to stop, killing two women and unleashing new Iraqi rage toward the convoys that protect many foreigners here. The shootings in Baghdad’s Karada neighborhood, coming less than a month after Blackwater USA guards were accused of shooting to death as many as 17 Iraqis in the capital, brought an immediate response from Iraq’s government. —Los Angeles Times
ct news reporter
MIKE SHROYER/SPPS
Jen Albrecht (6), Felicia Willoughby (15) and Sara Munoz (10) defend Tech’s side of the net on Tuesday night as Virginia’s Sarah Kirkwood looks on. Read the whole story on pg. 6.
Renowned theologian speaks to campus BEN J. BYARD
ct staff writer Last night, students and community members all looking for answers gathered in Burruss Auditorium to hear one theologian’s point of view. “I believe God has a plan for Virginia Tech,” began Ravi Zacharias in a one-hour open forum. His presentation, called “Finding
DANIEL STEENECK/SPPS
word of the day lily-livered lil • y • liv • ered (adjective) 1. lacking courage 2. weak or cowardly Kelly was so lily-livered that he was unable to come up with a solution.
correction The story “New doctorate program announced for engineering” should have been credited to Andrea Woods yesterday.
weather SUNNY high 77, low 44
index News.....................2 Features................4 0pinions................3
Classifieds..............5 Sudoku..................5 Sports....................6
An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 104th year • issue 151
see OFFENDERS, page two
Statistics show Tech needs to sober up
sports The men’s soccer team trounced VMI on Tuesday, winning 8-0 in Lexington. Eight different players scored goals for Tech, and the Keydets only managed one shot on goal. With the win, the No. 8 Hokies extended their unbeaten streak to 10 games, tying the team record set by the 2005 team. Tech, 7-1-3 (1-0-2) travels to Maryland on Saturday to take on the Terrapins.
monitoring of former sex offenders, but lobbies that they should not be discriminated against in employment housing or any other way,” Willis said. Willis said that if a sex offender is marginalized, it reduces the chances that they will be reintegrated into society, and might be more likely to commit a second offense. Sara Stevens, senior English major, was not aware that there are sex offenders employed by the university. However, she also feels that it is beneficial to those convicted to get back into society and for others to accept them. “Our system is to rehabilitate people and get them back into society,” Stevens said, “So
Ravi Zacharias spoke to the community last night, sharing his religious views.
Answers Amid Life’s Greatest Losses,” targeted dealing with the pain of the events last April through a heavily Christianity-based process. “Pain is a very real thing,” Zacharias said. “Humans are the only creatures that spell pain with a context.” After stating that he would lead everyone on a journey to answers, without providing steadfast answers, Zacharias intricately wound together a number of stories, from the Book of Job to episodes in his own life. A hushed, anxious listened intently as he explained his view of using trust in God to make one’s own life better. Although a mostly reverent, eloquent speaker, he often cracked quick one-liners that, catching the crowd off-guard and eliciting auditorium-wide laughter. Many people on campus, including Dean Bork, an assistant Architecture professor, had listened to Zacharias in the past and wanted to bring him here. Bork said that just hearing the way Zacharias spoke, and the feelings he engendered, easily drove home his messages of healing. He also mentioned that it was the business of the university to search for truth, and gave this as a reason he invited Zacharias here. A recent graduate of Virginia Tech, Dave Williams, was likewise impressed with Zacharias’ messages, and worked alongside Bork to bring Zacharias to Tech. He
said that Zacharias is a brilliant theologian who understands numerous worldviews, and was delighted that he made time for Tech. “What if you’re willing to trust God? Will it make a difference?” Zacharias asked at the end of his forum. Afterwards, he led a short question-andanswer period that drew many questions from students seeking additional guidance, and he was happy to answer. During that time, some filtered out of the auditorium, but many remained until the very end. Zacharias will begin the second half of his talk tonight at 7:30 in Cassell Coliseum. All of the Virginia Tech community is invited to come hear Zacharias’ message of healing. Born in India before immigrating to the United States, Zacharias has spoken at the United Nations, several individual governments, and numerous university campuses across the world. Right after the April 16 shootings, he wanted to speak at Virginia Tech, and managed to squeeze the campus into his schedule in five months, instead the usual five years it takes to have him scheduled for a presentation. Zacharias said last night that he was very honored to speak here at Tech, and enjoyed himself during the forum.
Film strikes a chord with Hip-Hop community LAUREN MORRISON
ct staff writer The audience erupted in applause as the credits rolled on Byron Hurt’s documentary, “Hip Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes” last night in Squire’s Commonwealth Ballroom. The 56-minute film was shown last night at 7 p.m. to a packed room. The film, produced, directed and written by Hurt, was made in an attempt to bring to light the misogynistic and discriminatory nature that dominates today’s hip hop culture. Throughout the presentation, clips of rap star Nelly’s “Tip Drill” music video flashed across the screen. Members of the audience sang along to Fat Joe and Busta Rhymes. Hurt, an ex-athlete turned antisexism activist, spent two years and several hundred thousand dollars in pursuit of his final cut that would address the objectification of women in music videos and in rap lyrics. Throughout the film, Hurt stressed that from an early age, men are exposed to women portrayed only as objects. “They have become desensitized
to these images as young men,” Hurt said. “ Hip-hop is trapped in a box.” It is part of a cyclical problem in our society that condones the actions of television stations like BET to extort women and give men a sense of power over each other with violence, Hurt said. Many of the rappers and activists featured in the video such as Fat Joe and Talib Kweli, stated that they felt that BET only offers one dimension of the rappers’ lives. Hurt explained that these controversial rap videos and songs equate manhood with power, violence and heterosexuality. “It is important for the students to understand the difference between the words that (the rappers) say and the meanings behind them,” said Jennifer Underwood, vice services coordinator for the Women’s Center that helped to sponsor the event. “I felt that his message was timely for today’s culture,” Underwood said. “We are all exposed to the language and images that Hurt explained in his film and it is important for us as community to dissect it.”
SHAOZHUO CUI/SPPS
Byron Hurt screened his Hip-Hop film for the Tech last night. Patricia Lovett, who sponsored the event on behalf of the Athletic Department is said he hoped that Hurt’s message as an ex-athlete will inspire the athletes of Virginia Tech
to become more aware. “It is important to get this message across to our minority athletes so that they can begin to make a difference,” Lovett said.
According to the 2006 crime statistics released by the Virginia Tech Police Department, the most common offense in the Virginia Tech community is liquor law violations referred for disciplinary action. Including on-campus, non-campus and public property violations in the vicinity of the Tech campus, there were a total of 872 liquor law violations as opposed to only 563 in 2005. In addition, there were 376 liquor law arrests, representing a more than 90 percent increase from the previous year. “Most of our crime on campus involves alcoholism in some shape or form or another,” said Wendell Flinchum, VTPD chief. Geoff Allen, community outreach officer for the VTPD, also felt alcohol related crimes were most prominent on campus. “Alcohol is one of the biggest contributing factors to crime … unfortunately,” Allen said. An alcohol violation may also lead to other serious crimes. “People do things they don’t normally do when they’re consuming alcohol,” Allen said. Other crimes often in association with an alcohol offense include vandalism, destruction of property and assault, Flinchum said. “The abuse of alcohol is related to a lot of different crimes that occur on this campus,” Flinchum said. In addition to the drinking violations, there was one murder/non-negligent manslaughter in 2006, and 11 forcible sex offenses. There were also two robberies, one instance of aggravated assault, 51 documented burglaries, two motor vehicles thefts, and two accounts of arson. There were also eight arrests for possession of illegal weapons.
“Alcohol is one of the biggest contributing factors to crime ... unfortunately.” - GEOFF ALLEN COMMUNITY OUTREACH OFFICER FOR VTPD The statistics were released on Oct. 1 in concordance with the Jeanne Clery Act, which requires that crime rates for universities funded by the state are obtainable by the public. Allen said the Clery Act started in Pennsylvania when a girl was raped on a street adjacent to her campus. Several acts of sexual assault continued on this street without any collaboration between the university and town police. The Clery Act was set up to reinforce interaction between the two sectors of police. “(Tech police have) an excellent collaborative relationship with Blacksburg police,” Allen said. Flinchum said that public crime statistics for public universities are beneficial to parents and students who may be going through the application process. “I think it is important for the public to see what kinds of crimes are occurring on college campuses,” Flinchum said. Allen agreed with Flinchum and said it is important for parents to know the crime statistics in the area of the university or college. He also mentioned that the best way to resolve this issue is to promote education and awareness to students of what the law is and what the possible consequences are. “If students are aware that they’re not supposed to do something, but they do it anyways, then enforcement is the only other action that can take place,” Flinchum said. Allen is highly involved in the community outreach program for the VTPD, which allows him to give presentations regarding responsible drinking. In 2006, the department gave over 150 presentations regarding safer alcohol consumption. This year, Allen has given 130 presentations on the topic of alcohol alone. Other organizations on campus are also trying to reduce the amount of alcohol-related crimes in the Tech community. Allen said that a liquor law violation basically comes from underage drinking. Other statistics involving alcohol, such as a drunk in public offenses, are not required to be published. This is because many alcohol charges are often assessed to the same individual. “The good thing is that they try really hard not to double up with things on that list,” Allen said.
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