COLLEGIATETIMES
tuesday october 16, 2007 blacksburg, va.
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We remember SIX MONTHS AFTER A GUNMAN LEFT THE VIRGINIA TECH CAMPUS SHOCKED AND SPEECHLESS, TECH STILL REMEMBERS THE LIVES THAT WERE LOST AND THE EVENTS THAT TRANSPIRED THAT DAY
PHOTOS BY ERIC CONNOLLY/SPPS
Ross A. Alameddine Christopher James Bishop Brian Roy Bluhm Ryan Christopher Clark Austin Michelle Cloyd Jocelyne Couture-Nowak Kevin P. Granata Matthew Gregory Gwaltney Caitlin Millar Hammaren Jeremy Michael Herbstritt Rachael Elizabeth Hill Emily Jane Hilscher Jarrett Lee Lane Matthew Joseph La Porte Henry J. Lee Liviu Librescu G.V. Loganathan Partahi Lumbantoruan Lauren Ashley McCain Daniel Patrick O’Neil Juan Ramon Ortiz-Ortiz Minal Hiralal Panchal Daniel Alejandro Perez Erin Nicole Peterson Michael Steven Pohle, Jr. Julia Kathleen Pryde Mary Karen Read Reema Joseph Samaha Waleed Mohamed Shaalan Leslie Geraldine Sherman Maxine Shelly Turner Nicole Regina White
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ix months and a day ago things were a lot different at Tech than they are today. Few of us haven’t replayed the evening of April 15 over and over again in our heads. We were different then. We were selfish then. Things that didn’t really matter seemed to matter all too much. That big econ test the next day, the seven-page paper we hadn’t even started, consumed the minds of us all. We quickly learned how beautiful that day really was, without any worries. On Sunday evening, we were jovial, and though weighed down by the pressures of looming final assignments, we were happy. Six months later, none of us fully possess that same sense of happiness taken for granted that cold Sunday evening. An innocence and a sense of tranquility was stripped from us on that Monday morning. Families lost sons, daughters, and parents. Tech lost gifted professors and students, and we lost friends; friends who had become family. Every little conversation, every simple moment within that 48-hour period is forever branded in our minds and will be carried with us for the rest of our lives. And while that is a burden to bear, we are all more than willing to carry it. We are the people who were at Tech in its darkest hour. We are the people who fearfully watched ambulances transport our fellow classmates from Norris Hall. We are the people who had classes nearby and helplessly sat and waited. Some of us lost friends, some of us lost professors, but all of us lost that sense of peace. In the immediate aftermath of that day’s events, Tech received an outpouring of support from concerned universities, families and individuals all over the world. We will always be indebted to the good will and sincerest offerings of support shown to us in our time of need.
It still doesn’t feel like it has been six months, and even years from now will probably not feel like years. For those of us here, the events of April 16 will never really be more than six months in the past. Even though the outward signs have faded, very few of us have gone a day without thinking of that Monday. Looking back, it almost seems more like one long, drawn-out moment than a series of weeks spent attempting to come to terms with what happened. The following weeks were rather a continuous stretch of events; days and nights did not exist. We all still think about that moment, struggle with that moment, and bear the burden of acknowledging that moment, every day of our lives. Those not associated with Tech still hear our name and think back to what happened. While Tech is so much more than that one moment, it is a part of who we are. We are all stronger and better because of it. We would like to think we’re no longer as selfish, ries of those we lost on that day with us forever. We have started to move on, but we will never, ever forget.
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tuesday, october 16, 2007
KYLE SWANSON/SPPS
Best Buy, featured in a shopping center with other major chain stores, will open on Oct. 26 in Christiansburg.
Construction of New River Valley Center nears completion ROSANNA BROWN
ct news reporter Shoe Carnival and Bed Bath and Beyond are open for business at the New River Valley Center in Christiansburg. The two chains are the first in a string of stores opening as a result of the surge in development of the Christiansburg New River Valley Mall and its nearby properties. Shoe Carnival held a soft opening on Sept. 28 and had their grand opening on Oct. 6. Bed Bath and Beyond opened this past week on Oct. 9, said Mike Poldiak, New River Valley Mall manager. Allen George, general manager for Bed Bath and Beyond, said “it’s always challenging” to make sure the store is ready on its projected opening date. George said that the most difficult part of opening the store was dealing with the current construction in the area. “Dealing with people and communicating,” are key components for planning an opening of a new store, George said. Bari Fagin, director of public relations for Bed Bath and Beyond, said that they were not able to disclose any information associated with the costs and operations of opening the new store and was only able to say “that we
are happy to be there.” Most of the other stores on the strip will be open for business by the end of October. Old Navy, Staples, and Petsmart will all be opening the week of Oct. 22, Poldiak said. Best Buy will open for business at 10 a.m., said Justin Barber, Best Buy spokesperson. Barber said the store will offer 30,000 square feet of space and will employ 100 people. Banfield Pet Hospital is behind schedule and will be opening in November, Poldiak said. In addition to those postponing their opening, Ross Dress for Less has made the corporate decision to open around April of next year, Poldiak said. Panera Bread and Olive Garden purchased real estate in the same vicinity but have hired out separate contractors and are planning to open later than expected as well. Panera is scheduled to open on Dec. 14 and Olive Garden is slated to begin operations on Jan. 4. So far, the $25 million investment has enjoyed success; all of the space in the shopping center was leased out before the development broke ground last fall, Poldiak said. It is rare for shopping center to sell out its space filled immediately, Poldiak said. “This one was a bit
unusual,” he said. Poldiak said that when they purchased the land adjacent to the mall, architects were consulted and plans were drawn up to optimize the space. New River Valley Mall Management has been working with Richmond-based contractor EDC, which also built the new Regal Cinemas. One of the most beneficial aspects of the project is the increased efficiency of traffic flow within the mall, Poldiak said. He said that the six-lane entrance and exit to and from the new center and mall will help ease traffic in the area. In addition to the New River Valley Center, there will also be a new food court placed inside the New River Valley Mall, Poldiak said. The new food court will be located where the three screens of the older theater were originally located. The other eight screens were transformed into the New River Valley Community College, Poldiak said. The former theater area will be cleared out and an open seating, Poldiak said. The first vendor, China Wok, will be in place by the end of the month. Poldiak said the rest of the vendors within the food court will open for business by the day after Thanksgiving.
new river valley editor: kevin anderson email: nrvnews@collegiatetimes.com phone: 540.231.9865 office hours: mw 1 - 3 p.m.
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october 16, 2007
Group to protest gun laws on April 16 anniversary ANDREA WOODS
ct news reporter At 5 p.m. today, on the south end of the lawn on the University of Virginia’s campus, 32 people will lie down in protest of lax gun laws on the six-month anniversary of April 16. The event is the latest of many nationwide protests put on by Protest Easy Guns, an organization that began as a group of 32 women in Alexandria, Va. who laid down in front of their town hall to express outrage over the tragedy on April 16. Protest Easy Guns was founded two days after April 16 by Abigail Spangler. Driven by lax gun laws, she began gathering together support for protests across the country. “Virginia Tech opened my eyes,” Spangler said. According to Spangler, Protest
Easy Guns is fighting for stricter gun laws with better background checks and licensing, not to take guns away totally. There is a large concentration on the issues surrounding gun show loopholes. In a research study done
“When people are together, their collective voice is louder than just one. We hope that people will be shocked, learn something, and speak up.” - DILLON HAUPTFUHRER PROTEST ORGANIZER by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research and the Terrance Group, 80 percent of Americans strongly favor
mandatory background checks for all people purchasing guns. At a gun show, private vendors can sell guns with no background checks, allowing criminals easy access to guns. “It’s a flea market for guns,” Spangler said. UVa’s protest is one of 30 demonstrations in 13 states and the District of Columbia in the months since the tragedy. Two families directly affected by the events of April 16 will speak at the protest: Andy Goddard, father of survivor Colin Goddard, and Randa Samaha, sister of victim Reema Samaha. Following the speeches made by the two family members, a triangle will sound, and the 32 protesters dressed in all black, adored with a ribbon in Virginia Tech colors, will lay down one by one. They will remain lying down for three minutes, symboliz-
ing how long it took for the shooter to buy the gun he used on April 16. Dillon Hauptfuhrer, member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority, will lead the protest at UVa today. “When people are together, their collective voice is louder than just one,” Hauptfuhrer said. Today, another protest will be held at Carleton College in Minnesota at noon, also in honor of the victims of April 16. According to a recent press release, at noon on Saturday, October 20, a protest will be held at the Richmond gun show “to call on state legislators to close the gun show loophole.” “We are mobilizing group after group after group to impact the legislative process,” Spangler said. “We hope that people will be shocked, learn something, and speak up,” Hauptfuhrer said.
“This problem needs attention.” Protest Easy Guns hopes to raise awareness of lax gun laws, bringing attention not only to Virginia’s lack of laws on gun control, but also to the 33 other states that lack these laws as well. Tina Gehring, mother of Virginia Tech senior Geneva Gehring, who has designed and made 99 percent of the ribbons used in the protests so far, is “desperate for more involvement.” “Virginia Tech students and alumni can help to move and increase the movement,” Gehring said. To become involved, visit Protest Easy Guns on their Web site, protesteasyguns.com or on their Facebook page. “All students and faculty that died deserve us, as Americans, to fight back on their behalf,” Spangler said.
University receives over 90,000 gifts after April 16 OVERWHELMED WITH GIFTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, TECH HAS ARCHIVED THE ITEMS, NOW MUST DECIDE WHAT TO DISPLAY KATIE MCLAUGHLIN
ct news reporter After the April 16 shooting, Virginia Tech received over 90,000 gifts of consolation from around the world. The archives are currently being held in the prevail archive room, located in the Corporate Research Center, but the university is trying to determine what should be done with all of the gifts received. The prevail archive room has its own staff working to organize and photograph all of the items. All of the archives must be moved out of the room by November; however, as of right now, they have nowhere to go. “When each item comes in, it is tagged, photographed and put into a database, but we are running
out of space and time,” said Steven Estrada, administrative assistant of University Unions & Student Activities, who is in charge of the prevail archives. “We have to be out of here by November and we’re by no means finished with the photography.” Tech has received items from across the country and around the world, including letters from Argentina and the ambassador of Jamaica, a U.S. Coast Guard buoy with signatures of Tech graduates from Puerto Rico and a jacket with signatures of University of British Columbia engineers from Canada. “Many people seem to think we received a few banners from other colleges. What they don’t know is that we received banners from practically every single college and university in every single state and U.S. territory,” Estrada said. “This
is one of the greatest displays on this campus.” Estrada said that they have received T-shirts from almost everywhere, all decorated with their own statements about the shootings. “We have every category. You name the category and we have it,” said Estrada. “Just for T-shirts alone we could have a museum.” Statues, plaques, quilts, stuffed animals, dolls, hats, wreaths and sporting goods are just a few of the categories of gifts received. Flags were a particularly large category, along with cards and candles. “We have a flag from the Talladega speedway, one from Afghanistan, one from both the Statue of Liberty and the capitol building, and also the flag that was flying on the White House on April 16,” said Estrada. “We have thousands of cards and we have a vast number of candles.” All of the candles from the candlelight vigil can be found in the prevail archive room as well. Estrada said that the Yankee Candle
Company also sent boxes and boxes of candles. Seth Powers, the prevail archives team leader and a 2007 Tech graduate, has been working with the archives since July 2. “You see the same objects over and over every day and your mind just kind of wanders, but then you’ll see something that kind of stands out and it hits you and you realize what they are here for,” Powers said. Powers said that they received letters from an alternative high school in Flint, Mich. that described the students’ own experiences with loss and tragedy. “It brought a tear to my eye thinking about all the support they showed us when they deal with tragedy every day,” Powers said. Many items from those affected by the Columbine shooting arrived, as well as items from those affected by Sept. 11. “It’s more interesting to a degree how much this tragedy touched
other people,” said Eric Norris, a junior apparel, housing, and resource management major who works with the archives. “Living in the area and talking to people here, I’ve gotten their reactions over time. But how it touched people from all over the world, and how they relate to it is really amazing to see through these gifts.” Though there have been many proposals for what to do with the — including a possible museum to house the collection — no decision has been made. “I hope we will have an opportunity next year to let this community see what the world sent us and that our items will be recognized not as condolences but as great tributes, art, artifacts and great symbols of peace, as peace has been the one lesson we are always trying to understand,” Estrada said. “It is not just the tragedy we are trying to remember; it is what the world did for us during that time that is just as, if not more, important.”
Town of Blacksburg receives multiple notices for possible lawsuits related to shootings KEVIN ANDERSON
ct new river valley editor A lawyer representing 20 of the families of victims who were either killed or wounded during on April 16 gave the town of Blacksburg notice that lawsuits may be filed against it and the state. Peter Grenier, a Washington, D.C. personal injury attorney, gave notice to Blacksburg Town attorney Larry Spencer on Friday stating that he may file lawsuits claiming negligence by the town and town employees. “This was not unanticipated,” said Tucker Martin, the spokesperson for Virginia’s Attorney General’s office. According Washington, D.C. based NBC news channel 4, the families of professor Liviu Librescu and student Henry Lee have also filed separate notices. These notices do not necessarily guarantee that lawsuits will be filed, but in order for the possibility of a filed lawsuit, a notice must be given before the six-month anniversary of the shootings. “It’s a step to preserve the option of filing suit,” Martin said. Attorneys have one year to give a notice for a lawsuit against Virginia Tech. Thus far, the university has not received any lawsuits.
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4 features
editor: sharon pritz email: features@collegiatetimes.com phone: 540.231.9865 office hours: mw 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
october 16, 2007
Little glimmers in Kapur’s sequel, ‘Elizabeth: The Golden Age’ In 1998, director Shekhar Kapur took on a film written by Michael Hirst that chronicled the early reign of the virgin queen, EVAN Elizabeth I. LUZI “Elizabeth” starred Cate Blanchett regular in the title role, columnist Geoffrey Rush and Joseph Fiennes. The resulting film was nominated for seven academy awards, including a nomination for Remi Adefarasin’s cinematography. Now, almost 10 years later, the same team of Kapur and Adefarasin has created “Elizabeth: The Golden Age,” with Blanchett, Rush and MOVIE REVIEW Fiennes all returning in their same roles. “Golden Age” is the epic sequel that begins where the other left off. “Elizabeth: The Golden Age” opens with an ominous prologue that lays the groundwork for a foreboding holy war between King Philip II of Spain (Jordi Molla), a Catholic, and Queen Elizabeth I of England (Cate Blanchett), a Protestant. The film follows the life of Elizabeth, hence the title, and her court during England’s rise of power. Early on, it is apparent that Elizabeth is a strong and smart woman, evidenced by her quick wit and sarcastic humor. She is advised by Sir Francis Walsingham (Geoffrey Rush), who tries quite frequently to find a suitor for the queen so she can give birth to an heir. Francis is also irritated that the Queen won’t persecute Catholics in
England, even if their loyalties lie with the pope. While the film has an overarching plot concerning the impending war with King Philip, most of the time is spent exploring the relationship between Elizabeth and an English explorer, Sir Walter Raleigh (Clive Owen), who founded the Roanoke Colony in the New World. Originally, Raleigh befriends Elizabeth’s most trusted lady friend, Bess (Abbie Cornish), in an attempt to get closer to the queen and learn how to win her favor. However, Raleigh’s intentions are not to court the queen, but to gain permission from her to return to the New World and rule over the colony. Elizabeth, intrigued by Raleigh’s passion and sense of adventure, asks instead that he stay in England and asks Bess to befriend the man. Elizabeth finds herself vulnerable around Raleigh and begins to love him, but must distance herself to retain her power and duty over her country. The result is a love triangle between the three, all with different intentions behind their love. Meanwhile, a plot to assassinate Elizabeth is being formed between Spain and Elizabeth’s Catholic cousin, Mary Stuart of Scotland. Sir Francis discovers the plot and sets into motion a series of events that could ultimately lead to the rise of Spain. “Golden Age” can easily be called an epic. Its sets are spectacularly large, including castles and palace rooms, even down to Elizabeth’s thrones. Equally grandiose are the costumes; in an age where the more you wore the more you were worth, Cate Blanchett is often hidden within large, blooming
ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE DIRECTED BY: Shekhar Kapur STARRING: Cate Blanchett, Clive Owen, Geoffrey Rush, Abbie Cornish, Jordi Molla RATED: PG-13 for violence, some sexuality and nudity SYNOPSIS: Set in the 1500s, the virgin queen Elizabeth of England becomes vulnerable from love towards a charismatic explorer while dealing with the threat of holy war against King Philip of Spain. GRADE: C+ SHOWTIMES: 1:40 p.m., 4:40 p.m., 7:25 p.m., 10:25 p.m. at Regal New River Valley Stadium 14 dresses with hair pieces reminiscent of Queen Amidala in the first Star Wars prequel. And like “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace” did, “Golden Age” spends a lot of time boasting about the design of the production through the camera work and composition of its scenes. Oftentimes, the film seems to focus more on how it looks than the story it is telling, causing the film to fall flat. There are many scenes where the camera is very far away from the characters, presumably to have a wideangle shot of a magnificent setting, distancing the audience from the basic human element. It’s hard to get to know the characters when you can barely see their face, which is a shame because there is a great deal of brilliant acting in the film. Cate Blanchett is superb in the title
role. Blanchett understands Elizabeth’s internal struggles: the urge to marry and seek adventure with Raleigh knowing whole-heartedly that she just can’t do it. Blanchett’s acting is most powerful in her subtleties; just watch her hands in any scene. She also has a presence on the screen that commands attention from those sharing it with her. The other actors managed to make the best of their screen time. Clive Owen and Geoffrey Rush, who are both charismatic enough on their own to lead a movie, don’t try to overpower the story with their characters. They blend in naturally and freely. Most surprising, however, was Jordi Molla as King Philip II. Molla takes control of Philip and makes him the most intriguing character of the film, who unfortunately spends only a few minutes on screen. There are few lines to be spoken by Philip, but it’s Molla’s ability to create mystique that had me rooting for Spain at times. While the acting was great, the soundtrack was somewhat lacking. Though powerful at times, the score comes off as mostly trite and unoriginal. Like much of “Golden Age,” it’s trying so hard to impress the audience that it comes off as cheesy. Clive Owen might as well have come in to sweep Cate Blanchett off her feet and carry her away during some of the score. It wasn’t a film score that I hadn’t heard before. Though that usually isn’t a problem in most movies, it doesn’t work here because it doesn’t try to be subtle. The biggest problem with “Golden Age” is that it always seemed confused with itself. I never knew which plot
You might also like. . .
“Elizabeth” Directed by Shekhar Kapur, this film is prequel to “The Golden Age.” Kapur uses Cate Blanchett and Geoffrey Rush effectively in the same roles.
“Marie Antoinette” “Mary, Queen of This biopic about the the Scots” young queen, played by Kirsten Dunst, chronicles her time ruling the nation of France. The film is directed by Sofia Coppola.
to be following, the war or the love story. The beginning of the movie seems more concerned with the war and then it dives into a love triangle among Raleigh, Bess and Elizabeth. However, the film then abandons the love triangle with very little resolution and comes back to focus on the war. There wasn’t a great concept of plot to sub-plot relation. “Elizabeth: The Golden Age” is just as epic as it is a disappointment. To give credit where it’s due, Kapur does man-
Directed by Charles Jarrott, it follows the life of Mary Stuart, who was arrested in an assassination plot against Elizabeth I.
age to compose some beautiful shots along with cinematographer Remi Adefarasin. But the whole time I was watching the movie, I kept wishing they would let the story take precedence over the set pieces, costumes and music. The characters were interesting, the story is full of love and war, and the acting was wonderful. Much like the queen herself, though, the movie’s true personality is hidden beneath baroque dresses, ornate decorations and a façade of makeup.
‘Married’ takes top spot at box office JOSH FRIEDMAN
los angeles times HOLLYWOOD — In a competitive weekend at the box office, “Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married?” outsold films featuring stars George Clooney, Joaquin Phoenix and Cate Blanchett and knocked “The Rock” out of first place. Perry, an Atlanta-based filmmaker with a growing grass-roots following, scored his third No. 1 hit in four outings as his latest release took in a surprisingly strong $21.5 million, distributor Lionsgate Films said Sunday. “Why Did I Get Married?” pushed Walt Disney Co.’s family comedy “The Game Plan,” starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, to No. 2, with $11.5 million at U.S. and Canadian theaters. Based on Perry’s hit play, the PG-13 comedy drama about relationships and
With his enthusiastic fan base, Perry’s films have been highly “front loaded,” doing a big percentage of their business in the first weekend. And while many of his movies have been solid hits domestically, they have done almost no business overseas. fidelity features a cast including Janet Jackson and the filmmaker himself. “My strong hunch is that this is the last time anybody will underestimate Tyler Perry,” said Lionsgate President Tom Ortenberg. “Tyler’s message of family values and personal redemption speaks very strongly to people who are not frequent moviegoers.” The thrillers “Michael Clayton,”
starring Clooney, and “We Own the Night,” with Phoenix and Mark Wahlberg, were in a tight race for No. 3 at an estimated $11 million each. The highbrow historical drama “Elizabeth: The Golden Age,” starring Blanchett, placed No. 6 with $6.2 million in a mildly disappointing premiere. Box-office analysts, many of whom predicted Perry’s new film would open in the $10 million to $15 million range, relied on consumer tracking surveys that continually underestimate the filmmaker because his audience is composed of nontraditional moviegoers, Ortenberg said. Perry’s base is rooted in black churches, especially among black women, although it continues to expand. Close to 90 percent of ticket buyers for the new film were black , Ortenberg said. But the percentage of non-black ticket buyers was the highest yet for a
Perry film. With his enthusiastic fan base, Perry’s films have been highly “front loaded,” doing a big percentage of their business in the first weekend. And while many of his movies have been solid hits domestically, they have done almost no business overseas. If “Why Did I Get Married?” follows the pattern of his two biggest successes, “Diary of a Mad Black Woman” and “ Madea’s Family Reunion,” it will end up closer to a $50 million hit than a $100 million blockbuster. Even so, Ortenberg said he was optimistic that the new film would show legs and that with the right marketing the filmmaker could start to make inroads abroad. “Why Did I Get Married?” received an A-plus rating in exit polls taken by CinemaScore, and in Lionsgate’s own surveys 98 percent of patrons rated it “excellent” or “very good.”
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opinions 5
editor: laurel colella email: opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com phone: 540.231.9865 office hours: mw 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
october 16, 2007
Public policy does not reflect general public interest Over and over again in national discourse we hear about liberals versus conservatives. These two positions are heralded as the only BRETT two acceptable MORRIS forms of thinking and are presented regular as diametrically columnist opposed (i.e., red states versus blue states). Pundits harp on about a “divided America” between democrats and republicans. In fact, it has been well known for some time that public opinion in the United States is well to the left of both major political parties. The “division” of the United States is not between democrats and republicans, but between the population and the political establishment. If we’re serious about democracy, our representative political bodies should at least roughly follow the will of the people, which thus far, they have refused to do. A major study conducted by the Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) shortly after Bush’s re-election in 2004 found that the vast majority of Americans were opposed to his federal budget. In general, where the Bush administration wanted spending to increase, the public wanted it to decrease, and vice versa. Given the opportunity, the public would substantially increase or decrease the amount of
spending on all federal programs. The “most dramatic changes were deep cuts in defense spending, a significant reallocation toward deficit reduction, and increases in spending on education, job training, reducing reliance on oil, and veterans.” Despite the attempts of evildoers and terrorists surely lurking behind every curtain, “defense spending received the deepest cut, being cut on average 31 percent — equivalent to $133.8 billion — with 65 percent of respondents cutting.” In addition, the second largest cut was supplemental for the wars on Iraq and Afghanistan, with two thirds of Americans cutting. The majority of Americans would cut “the capability for large-scale nuclear wars, the number of nuclear weapons and spending on developing new types of nuclear weapons.” This stands in direct opposition to Bush administration plans to expand our nuclear weaponry. Fifty-eight percent of Americans would reduce “capabilities for large-scale naval wars and large-scale land wars,” which would include spending cuts on new types of naval destroyers, bombers and submarines. Americans would sharply increase spending on domestic programs. Spending on job training and employment would be increased by 263 percent if it were up to Americans. The majority also favor increasing spending on education, medical research, and veterans’ benefits. Seventy percent of Americans would increase spending on
“conserving and developing renewable energy” by 1,090 percent. Spending on the environment would also increase. In addition, 63 percent would roll back Bush’s tax cuts for the wealthy. This study on Americans’ views on the federal budget corresponds to other public opinion studies conducted over the past 30 years. In general, Americans want to increase spending for domestic social programs and decrease defense spending (though Americans would increase spending for the United Nations and U.N. peacekeeping). Public opinion, then, is inversely related to public policy. It is an interesting phenomenon. Why, for so long, have Americans’ wishes been ignored by our representatives? We’re supposed to be a democracy, after all.
Why, for so long, have Americans’ wishes been ignored by our representatives? We’re supposed to be a democracy after all. The answer is that the government no longer represents us, but represents big business and rich people. The Republicans, of course, have consistently pursued a corporate-friendly and fascist agenda, so it is no surprise that they don’t pursue these matters. On the other hand, the democrats are supposed to be the party of “special interests.” They recently gained
control of both houses of Congress and are likely to win the presidency in 2008. The public is disgusted with Bush. Given all these opportunities, the democrats should be hammering away at the supposed agenda and be serving the public as a true opposition party. The democrats do not serve the public interest because, essentially, they serve the same interests that fund the Republican Party: big business. Any look at campaign contributions reveal this fact. Multinational corporations give money to candidates who back corporate interests. Any candidate who makes it clear they will not serve the interests of big business will not get any funding, and thus that candidate’s messages and ideas will not be transmitted to the public. The population is then left with a field of candidates with minor differences who mostly argue about technicalities. For example, the public has strongly supported a national health plan for some time. A Pew Research Center study found that 64 percent of Americans favor the “U.S. government guaranteeing health insurance for all citizens, even if it means raising taxes.” Every other poll on the matter reveals the same results. Yet, the democrats continue to pander to the insurance companies because these insurance companies would lose profits if a real health care plan were implemented. The health care plans of Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards still preserve the role of insur-
ance companies; thus, it’s okay to fund their campaigns. But Dennis Kucinich, a candidate who offers a plan that is more in line with what Americans want and dissolves the role of insurance companies, gets no corporate funding. The media ignores and marginalizes him, portraying him as an unserious, far-left candidate. More troubling is the fact that the three major candidates for the Democratic nomination (Clinton, Obama and Edwards) have all proclaimed their willingness to become international terrorists and war criminals upon entering office. All three have refused to rule out the use of force against Iran. The act of attacking Iran would be a war crime. International law is clear in this regard; the threat or use of force against another is illegal. Perhaps even more bizarre are Obama’s threats to bomb Pakistan to assassinate Al-Qaeda leaders, a move that would be flatly illegal. The correct procedure is to seek extradition and try the criminals in an international court. In other words, to utilize diplomacy — something else Americans have said should be used over military options in the “war on terror.” These policy positions reflect the opinions of the ruling elite, who are hell-bent on creating a world order based on U.S. hegemony while creating a worldwide market conducive to corporate interests. The general population of the U.S. feels quite differently. It is our duty, not to mention in our own interests, to take our government back.
Free speech is ineffective in the world today We, as students born in the United States, live in an age of utmost failure with nobody to blame but ourselves. Born with DEVIN the right to vote, STONE protest, bear arms and freedom of regular the press, we have columnist been raised to believe that we have the tools to control the destiny of our nation. Yet Fallujah burns, Baghdad is raped and Uncle Sam funds both sides of the civil war while the occupation continues. Freedom isn’t free, nor is the free market. They’re both simply purchased by the highest bidder. As the chaos kills more of the innocent outside of the green zone, more money flows into firms with strong political connections. It is an age of insanity that we have the rights of “freedom” and “liberty” in a “democracy” and yet we are guilty of allowing our government to commit a war of aggression. This reality becomes more depressing considering that there is no better
time than now to end the war. As a country, we are united in our hatred of the over-privileged village idiot draft dodger who never learned how to speak properly without embarrassing himself. Even the conservative right has abandoned ship to engage in the new patriotism of Bush bashing, while top-ranking military officials have learned that concepts of “loyalty” and “unity” should not prevent them from speaking out publicly about the failures of this administration. The question then becomes: If public consensus is ripe for change with so many voters expressing their desire to bring the troops home, then why is it that this country still has no control over its own government? The reason is simple: free speech is ineffective. The tragedy of the world we live in is not a result of a lack of ideas or a failure of brainpower. The ideas necessary for fostering equality, freedom and liberty in an anti-racist, anti-sexist, anti-homophobic, antiimperialist world have and will always exist. No idea is original, no truth universal; it’s simply a question of picking the intellectual framework that is best for oneself and then working to bring
that dream into being. If we really wanted to end the occupation in Iraq and prevent a war with Iran, we could. It’s simply a question of raising the stakes for the businesses profiting from the bloodshed and the leaders beholden to those corporate interests. The key is to pull the plug that powers the system. This logic was lost after the Vietnam War. Students back then were known to slash the car tires of military and CIA recruiters, destroy the property of chemistry buildings that had extensive contracts with the department of defense, or to find creative ways to hurt the profit margins of the businessmen who lead us to war. Our generation simply signs online petitions or joins Facebook groups. The difference is that actions speak louder than words, and the medium of expression is often more important then the message. Writing for a newspaper is seen as something that is “official”; the underlying idea is to encourage going through the institutions and official channels to promote change. This is why any idea, no matter how revolutionary or radical, expressed in this newspaper (or
Letters to the Editor Lack of media coverage is upsetting I am writing to address the article written about the two student deaths this past weekend. Personally, I found the articles to be impersonal, listing streamline facts. It didn’t seem to me that the author took the time to really find out who either of these fellow Hokies were. I was fortunate enough to be friends with Lauren Smith, and I consider my time with her a small privilege. What the article failed to relay was that Lauren was both strongly dedicated and fun loving. Lauren had a smile that was contagious; you could not be around her and be upset. On weekends that she didn’t have drill, she could be found around town enjoying college life. Lauren was the type to be ready at any instant for coffee at Starbucks or French toast at Joe’s. She was the type to crack a joke and cheer you up instantly. Lauren’s passion was to live by this university’s motto, “Ut Prosim.” When she decided to go Army, she threw everything she had into advancing her involvement and training. She always said Army was her best class. Lauren was more than just a good solider; she was a
great friend to many. In this article, I can’t help but show my bias toward the loss of Lauren being a loss for the student body. In this big university there are few superstars; our Blacksburg world is made up of whom you’re closest to. I know that in the grand view of things the passing of Lauren and Can Geyran were not campus shattering, but to those close to either it was a shocking blow. Jill Weikert senior, animal science
Disappointment in the aftermath “Ut Prosim” translated to “That I May Serve” is the motto of Virginia Tech, but it seems to me that a number of members of the Tech community have decided to change this to Ut Peto — That I May Sue. I am disheartened that some of the families of victims of the April 16 shootings feel the need to sue anyone and everyone who may or may not have been involved. The final straw for me was reading that the Town of Blacksburg and its employees has been named in the suit. What possible responsibility could the town have had in this occurrence? Over two decades ago, my broth-
er, David Reid, was killed on the campus of Concord College (now Concord University) in Athens, W.Va. The person who committed this act is currently serving a life sentence with mercy in the West Virginia Penal System. My family had to deal with not one, but two, trials. He has a parole hearing on Nov. 5 that I will be attending in an attempt to deny parole for the fifth time. When this act of murder occurred, my family did not try to blame the school or the town for one person’s actions. We realized that one twisted individual committed this act and he is now paying the penalty. Suing everyone possible would not have changed the fact that my brother had died. I think it is time to stop pointing fingers at everyone other than the one person responsible for this tragedy. Only one person pulled the trigger. He took his own life. Those who lost loved ones in the shooting can take heart that they do not have to continually fear this person coming after them or their family in the future. Trust me, it’s not a nice feeling to live with. Jonathan Reid Virginia Tech research technician
even The New York Times or The Washington Post, for that matter) will always become diluted once in print. Illegal tactics make an initiative a more direct approach; this is why spray paint is more effective than most of what is written in the Collegiate Times. The ideas presented in this column are not new. What is being advocated has traditionally been stereotyped as the naïve belief that we hold the potential to change the world. The belief that we can stand for the freedom of all
The tragedy of the world we live in is not a result of a lack of ideas or a failure of brainpower. people to live without the threat of violence from our own government and that we can fight to make that dream a reality by any means necessary. The greatest enemy is the internal sense of powerlessness and a tendency towards apathy. Moral failure is to choose tactics or strategies that are unsuccessful. The youth of our generation has been lost. A liberal arts education
simply means sitting in a classroom learning a couple of ideological frameworks to analyze the world so that we can become proficient in debate during our recitations or writing essays to meet a deadline. The most important decision we make as students is the selection of course electives that fit our particular academic tastes. Boredom and apathy have become the key ingredients in higher education. What has been lost is the focus on experimenting in the real world with multiple forms of action to see what works and what doesn’t. The methods, tactics and strategies that have been used by the bold fighting for social justice throughout history can only be taught outside the classroom. Instead, we live in a world best characterized as intellectual masturbation, with newer and faster ways to communicate with one another and to spread information and ideals without ever taking action. This may be expected though, because to be successful in ending our nation’s empire would mean to end the imperial privileges we enjoy. Such a discussion, though, will never be debated in the “free” press.
Editorial local issue
A campus changed, a campus stronger To an outsider looking in, life on the Virginia Tech campus appears to have returned to normal. As students, we know it is anything but. While classes have resumed, the parties have commenced and Hokie football is in full swing, there is still that certain sense of lingering sadness ubiquitous in the minds of us all. Small inconveniences throughout the day serve as constant reminders of the events of April 16. While these things can be seen as inconveniences, they are rather what the administration deem necessary for keeping our student body safe. Since April, significant changes have been made all over campus, serving as persistent reminders of the way things once were. Six months and a day ago, students didn’t need to swipe their Hokie Passport to enter dormitories, and students couldn’t get JRs for allowing someone to follow through the door behind them. Academic classroom doors didn’t lock automatically from the inside, requiring teachers to manually open the door for each student coming in late. None of us knew what a VT campus alert was. There was no governor-appointed Virginia Tech investigative panel, and students attended classes on all floors of Norris Hall without even thinking twice. In the immediate aftermath of the events of April 16, a flood of support came in from all over the world. Memorials covered the Drillfield, everyone wore maroon and orange, posters from all over the country were displayed and everyone donned memorial ribbons. Our campus was the focus of media from all
over the world, and we graciously cooperated, showing what it truly meant to be a Hokie. With the start of a new school year, things have regained some sense of normalcy, but life is not as it once was. We are all different. We have all been forever changed. While the vision of posters and ribbons and memorials has since faded, the memory of what happened in April has not. Those left behind are reminded everyday by things that are different, of how things have changed. Whether it be walking by the Hokie Stone memorial on the Drillfield, or passing by Norris Hall on the way to class, day-today activities in our lives serve as permanent reminders. Many of us can recall a time sitting in class, when our innocent daydreaming was frantically interrupted by the sound of a police siren blaring from a nearby cop car. It is in small moments like these, that we know things will never be the same. We will never live with that same peace we possessed only a little more than six short months ago. We are all still coping; all still dealing with what happened, each in our own individual ways. So much is different now, glossed over with the illusion of normalcy. We’d like to think of our campus as being safer, and in turn each and every one of us, being stronger and more resilient. We are Virginia Tech, forever changed, but for the better. The editorial board is composed of Amie Steele, Joe Kendall, Saira Haider, Laurel Colella and Sara Mitchell.
The Collegiate Times is an independent student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 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, Caroline Black Associate News Editor Ashley Oliver News Reporters Rosanna Brown, Michelle Rivera, Peter Hurley, Andrea Woods Features Editor Sharon Pritz Associate Features Editor Drew Jackson, Katelyn Lau Opinions Editor Laurel Colella Editorial Assistant Sara Mitchell 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, Alexandra Mandzak 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 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 Tara Darby, Jenna Given, Don Janocha, Beau King, Katy McCall, David Ross, Suzanne Watkins, John Welch Assistant Account Executives Kayla Clements, Blythe Dalton, Amy Guzewicz, Ashlee Goodwin, Jennifer Himlich, Kelli Lyman, Mike Walsh Marketing Manager Devin Armstrong Student Publication Photo Staff
Voice your opinion. Readers are encouraged to send letters and comments to the Collegiate Times. 365 Squires Student Center Blacksburg, Va. 24061 Fax: (540) 231-9151 opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com Students must include name, year, major and phone number. Faculty and staff must include name, position and department. All other submissions must include name, residence, and if applicable, relationship to Virginia Tech (i.e. alumni, parent, etc.). Letters should not exceed 300 words, and should be in MS Word (.doc) format if possible. Letters, commentaries and editorial cartoons do not reflect the views of the Collegiate Times. Editorials are written by the Collegiate Times editorial board. Letters to the editor are submissions from Collegiate Times readers. We reserve the right to edit for any reason. Anonymous letters will not be printed. To order a reprint of a photograph printed in the Collegiate Times, e-mail spps@vt.edu. Have a news tip? Call 231-9865 or e-mail: tips@collegiatetimes.com Collegiate Times Phone Numbers News/Features 231-9865 Sports/Opinions 231-9870 Editor-in-Chief 231-9867 College Media Solutions Phone Number Advertising 961-9860 The Collegiate Times, a division of the Educational Media Company at Virginia Tech, was established in 1903 by and for the students of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The Collegiate Times is published every Tuesday through Friday of the academic year except during exams and vacations. The Collegiate Times receives no funding from the university. The Collegiate Times can be found online at www.collegiatetimes.com. Except where noted, all photographs were taken by the Student Publications Photo Staff.The Collegiate Times is located in 365 Squires Student Center, Blacksburg, Va. 24061. (540) 231-9865. Fax (540) 231-9151. Subscription rates: $65 semester; $90 academic year; $105 full year. The first copy is free, any copy of the paper after that is 50 cents per issue. © Collegiate Times, October 16, 2007. All rights reserved. Material published in the Collegiate Times is the property thereof, and may not be reprinted without the express written consent of the Collegiate Times.
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tuesday, october 16, 2007
Virginia 2-1-1 lends a hand to VT Engage ASHLEY OLIVER
ct associate news editor Along with the VT Engage kickoff event being held this evening, Virginia 2-1-1 is offering its assistance in providing community service opportunities for students seeking involvement. Virginia 2-1-1 is an online database of community resources separated into five regions across the state. It contains information for more than 3,500 community service organizations in the southwest region alone. “Our database has information on services that exist throughout the entire state of Virginia,” said Miyoshi Petty, a call specialist for Virginia 2-1-1. VT Engage was designed for all members of the Virginia Tech community to reaffirm the university’s motto, ‘Ut Prosim,’ and honor the
victims of the April 16 tragedy by completing 600,000 hours of community service by April 16, 2008. Students, faculty and staff members are all invited to participate in accomplishing 300,000 of the service hours. The Virginia Tech Alumni Association has agreed to have its members around the world match that number, bringing the total to 600,000 hours. At the VT Engage Kickoff event, there will be booths for most of the organizations involved to provide an opportunity for students and faculty to choose the organization they want to volunteer with. Virginia 2-1-1 also provides this opportunity through their Web site at www.211virginia.org. “Basically, Viginia 2-1-1 is another volunteer database that we are aware of, and we want to give people that option,” said Michelle James-Deramo, director of the Service Learning Center.
“Our database has information on services that exist throughout the entire state of Virginia.” - MIYOSHI PETTY VIRGINIA 2-1-1 CALL SPECIALIST On the Virginia 2-1-1 Web site, students can search for an organization devoted to a cause of their choice, such as child abuse, cancer, domestic violence, etc. “The benefit of having Virginia 2-1-1 is that it is statewide, so commonwealth members can use it,” said James-Deramo. “And it allows people in any part of the country to search for opportunities.” This may prove especially useful for alumni who wish to be involved but are not living in the Virginia Tech area, James-Deramo said. Virginia 2-1-1 will enable them to find community service opportuni-
Political platform
ties in their own region. During the kickoff event, banks of computers will be set up on the Drillfield for students to access Web sites, including United Way, Volunteer NRV and Virginia 2-1-1. “What we’re trying to do is provide several different ways for (participants) to find out how to volunteer,” James-Deramo said. She also clarified that students who are already in service learning courses or other service organizations can still pledge the hours they complete through their own projects. People will be able to pledge their service hours during the Kickoff Event or on the engage.vt.edu Web site starting Tuesday and continuing on through December. After April 16, 2008, those who pledged will be asked to revisit the Web site and confirm the completion of their service hours. BERT GREEN/SPPS
Two co-defendants agree to testify against Simpson ASHLEY POWERS
los angeles times LAS VEGAS — Two of O.J. Simpson’s co-defendants in an armed robbery case have agreed to testify against him, increasing pressure on the former pro football star and his legal team. Walter Alexander and Charles H. Cashmore each had faced 10 felony charges — including kidnapping and assault with a deadly weapon — in connection with the alleged theft of about $80,000 in sports memorabilia from two collectors at the Palace Station Hotel & Casino. Alexander and Cashmore each will plead guilty to a single felony count during a hearing scheduled for Oct.
23, their attorneys said Monday. Alexander could face up to six years in prison for conspiracy to commit robbery; Cashmore could face up to five years for an accessory-to-robbery charge. The men’s attorneys said they would ask for probation. Simpson, 60, and three other men who were charged in the incident are scheduled to appear at a preliminary hearing in November. If convicted on the 10 felony counts, Simpson could face life in prison. “O.J. is the big fish,” said Laurie L. Levenson, a Loyola Law School professor and former federal prosecutor, “and I think prosecutors are trying to line up everybody to point the finger at him.”
Simpson’s attorneys could not be reached for comment Monday. Alexander, 46, is an Arizona realestate agent and longtime Simpson golfing buddy. His lawyer declined to comment as to what his testimony might include. At the time of the incident, Simpson and some friends were in Las Vegas for a friend’s wedding. They attended a pre-ceremony dinner Sept. 13 where Cashmore, 40, was working as a cook and bartender, said Cashmore’s attorney, Edward Miley. Afterward, Cashmore reportedly had a drink with Simpson and codefendant Clarence J. Stewart Jr., 53, of Las Vegas, with whom Cashmore had worked in the mortgage industry.
According the Miley, Simpson asked Cashmore to help him move some things, and the men drove to the Palace Station, where Simpson had been told that some memorabilia belonging to him was being offered for sale. Cashmore, his attorney said, can testify that Alexander and co-defendant Michael F. McClinton, 49, of Las Vegas, were armed during the alleged robbery. He also can testify as to who was in the room and what they said, possibly lessening prosecutors’ reliance on an audiotape that one of the men in the room recorded. Cashmore and co-defendant Charles B. Ehrlich, 53, of Florida, were captured on video surveillance carrying boxes out of the hotel room, police said. When he was taken into custody, Cashmore turned over some of the missing memorabilia to police. In a statement Monday, Cashmore apologized to his family, friends and “anyone else who may have been hurt by my actions.” “Coming (to court) today is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do,” the statement said. “But as my mother proudly taught me, doing what’s right isn’t always the easiest thing but is always the right thing to do.”
Dan Geroe, a junior political science major, participates in the Great Debate last night in Squires Student Center. As vice president of the Young Democrats, Geroe represented his organization in the annual student debate.
news in brief Course Request now available; changes to contact info made for spring semester Course Request for the spring 2008 semester will begin today, Tuesday Oct.16 and run until the following Tuesday, Oct. 23, at midnight. The process will be different this semester, however, as effective immediately, all Virginia Tech students will be required to submit or confirm their current emergency contact information in Hokie SPA prior to registering this and every following semester. This change is part of Tech’s continuing review of policies that support the health and safety of the university community. The new requirement will ensure that in the event that a student is in any way endangered, the univer-
sity has updated information and can reach an emergency contact as soon as possible. Students will be blocked from accessing Course Request until they have either provided or confirmed emergency contact information on Hokie SPA. Students may choose to register any person or persons as an emergency contact, and they are strongly encouraged to notify whomever they select should the person ever be contacted by the university. Students may submit their emergency contact information at any time by updating their student record in Hokie SPA.
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editor: ryan mcconnell email: sportseditor@collegiatetimes.com phone: 540.231.9865 office hours: mw noon - 2 p.m.
october 26, 2007
Despite injury to Taylor, Tech demolishes Duke 43-14 EDWARD LUPIEN
ct staff writer The Virginia Tech football team defeated the Duke Blue Devils on the road in Durham, N.C. on Saturday by a score of 43-14. The win gives the Hokies an overall record of 6-1 and a conference record of 3-0, while Duke falls to 1-6 (0-4 ACC) on the season. On a day when the Hokies matched up against the second-worst pass defense in the conference, starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor managed to pass for 88 yards and a touchdown to redshirt senior wide receiver Josh Morgan before sustaining a second quarter right ankle sprain that ended his day. Taylor is currently listed as questionable for the Boston College game in a week and a half. The departure of Taylor set the stage for backup quarterback Sean Glennon, who statistically played his best game of the season. In a little over two quarters of work, Glennon threw for 258 yards and two touchdowns. “We haven’t been able to move the ball like that at any other times in the season. I think it’s the best two quarters of offense we’ve had all season,” said quarterbacks coach Mike O’Cain. Glennon’s longest pass came on a 40-yard touchdown throw to Josh
Morgan late in the third quarter that put the Hokies up by 36. “Thank goodness Sean Glennon was a Hokie today because we needed him in there,” said Tech head coach Frank Beamer. “I thought he did a fantastic job for this football team.” Taylor and Glennon combined to throw for 346 yards, a season high for the team. Six different offensive players caught passes, including wide receiver Eddie Royal, who hauled in his first touchdown of the season and doubled his season total of reception yards with 90 in the game “It feels good to be one of the playmakers on offense. Glennon did a good job of spreading the ball around. All of us got touches,” Royal said. “We feel good about it going into the Boston College game. We needed a good game and we got that today.” Despite the aerial assault, the Hokies only managed to rush for 99 yards. Only East Carolina and LSU have held the Hokies to fewer yards on the ground this season. Branden Ore lead all rushers with 37 yards and a touchdown, averaging just 2.2 yards on his 17 carries. Tech’s defense remained staunch, allowing 194 offensive yards and sacking Blue Devil quarterback Thaddeus Lewis five times. In place of the injured Vince Hall, inside linebacker Brett Warren led the team in tackles,
racking up 11. Warren also posted an interception, a sack and three tackles for a loss. Tech’s strong play on special teams led to advantageous field position for the Hokies all day, and Eddie Royal contributed another impressive return, only to have it called back on a block in the back. “That was a shame,” said Beamer of the return. “It just seems to come together for us. If you can block kicks on defense, you can return them on offense.” Cornerback Stephen Virgil was also able to block a Blue Devil punt in the middle of the second quarter. The blocked punt gave the Hokies the ball at the Duke two-yard line and allowed running back Branden Ore to punch it for a touchdown on the next play. Jud Dunlevy made three of the four field goals he attempted. His sole miss, a 42-yard kick at the beginning of the second quarter, was his first miss on the season. Later in the game, Dunlevy pushed an extra point wide right in the third quarter after a Josh Morgan 40yard touchdown reception, which was thrown by Glennon. Despite allowing the Hokies the massive amount of 445 yards of total offense, the Blue Devils’ defense was able to record eleven tackles for losses and four sacks. Junior linebacker
KYLE SWANSON/SPPS
Stefan Virgil goes airborne to block Kevin Jones’ punt attempt in the second quarter. The block set up a Branden Ore touchdown that put the Hokies up 34-7, and was the Tech’s first blocked punt of the season. Michael Taulilli led all defensive players with 13 tackles. In addition, Taulilli managed to intercept the first pass attempted by Hokies’ third string quarterback Cory Holt early in the fourth quarter. “They hang tough,” Beamer said of
the Blue Devils. “They play hard in the fourth quarter. I really think they are getting better.” The win was the Hokies’ seventh straight over the Blue Devils. Duke has not defeated Tech since 1981. “Overall, I thought it was a good win
for this program,” said Beamer. “Now we get a little time off and get ready for a huge game.” Virginia Tech will resume play when they host the No. 3 Boston College Eagles on Thursday, October 25 at 7:30 p.m.
Glennon could be the best option against Boston College
JACKIE PETERS/SPPS
Sean Glennon came up big in relief of Tyrod Taylor against Duke. The former starter finished with 258 yards passing and two touchdowns.
What a roller coaster ride it’s been for Sean Glennon. He’s been up, he’s been down, he’s been celebrated, and he’s been maligned. You name it, and RYAN he’s probably experienced that emoMCCONNELL tion in regards to ct sports his football career. editor He came in ranked as the No. 10 pro-style quarterback in the country, according to the recruiting service Rivals, behind guys like Brian Brohm, Anthony Morelli, Chad Henne and Nate Longshore. He backed up Bryan Randall as a true freshman while Marcus Vick was suspended, then redshirted during Vick’s lone year. It appeared as if he might never see the field, figuring Vick would
play the next year as well and the highly regarded Ike Whitaker, a freshman at the time, would take over after that. Of course if you plan things, they rarely ever go the way you think. Vick was soon gone, and Whitaker didn’t live up to those initial expectations. All of a sudden, Glennon was the leader of Tech’s offense. While he wasn’t spectacular last year, Tech finished with a 10-3 record. But the lasting image of the off season was his dismal second-half performance against Georgia in the Chik-fil-A bowl. In the mind of many Tech fans, Tyrod Taylor couldn’t have come soon enough. In the second quarter at LSU, he finally arrived. In the aftermath of the switch, Glennon was the bane of all Tech fans. His comments after being demoted led to him becoming the most reviled Tech athlete. His image on the JumboTron
during the Ohio game was met with a chorus of boos. But even after the fan base has turned their back on him, it might be time to reconsider. If Glennon had left the program right after losing his job, much like Demetrius Jones at Notre Dame, Tech would have been between a rock and a hard place after Taylor left the Duke game with a high right ankle sprain. The options at quarterback would be Cory Holt, who’s thrown 19 career passes in mop-up duty, and Ike Whitaker, who is, at best, unpredictable. But since Glennon chose to stay through the criticism, and with Taylor’s status unsure for the Boston College game (he says he’s playing), Tech has a better insurance policy at quarterback than almost any other program in the country. Offensive coordinator Brian
Stinespring can turn to someone who has started and has big game experience. He’ll also open up the downfield passing game. When Glennon came in against Duke on Saturday, Tech’s offensive options greatly expanded. Suddenly, big passing plays became common as Glennon threw for 258 yards and two touchdowns in a little more than two and a half quarters. Taylor is still extremely young, and his knowledge of the playbook is relatively small compared to Glennon’s. It’s a small step forward every time Taylor is able to sit back in the pocket and complete a long pass. For Glennon, it’s his strength. It might “just” be Duke, but Glennon got the ball downfield with relative ease. He did the same thing against North
see GLENNON, page eight
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tuesday, october 16, 2007
Glennon: Capable of the job from page seven
Carolina a couple weeks ago in his lone snap. Coming in after Taylor injured his groin, he completed a 10 yard pass to Josh Morgan that set up a field goal that proved handy in the 17-10 win. Glennon is going to get sacked a few times in situations where Taylor might have been able to turn a collapsed pocket into a few yards. But before railing about his incapabilities as a scrambler, keep in mind that Glennon is going to hit receivers downfield in spots where the young Taylor would take off and get only a few yards instead of a big gain. Boston College’s pass defense ranks
candidate to instantly boost the passing game. Glennon’s been known to make the occasional bonehead play, and Taylor is definitely better in the long run, but in a game where Tech will need its downfield passing game more than ever, Glennon could be suddenly reembraced by the Tech faithful. There’s no question that when Taylor is back to full speed he should be the starting quarterback. He’s adequate for the present, and best for the future. But if it comes down to a healthy Sean Glennon or a hampered Tyrod Taylor, the nod has to go to Glennon against the Eagles on Thursday night.
No. 105 in the country. If Tech’s revamped offensive line, with Ed Wang holding down right tackle and Nick Marshman solidifying left guard, can hold back the Eagles pressure, Glennon should be able to pick apart that secondary. Taylor was sitting at 88 yards passing against Duke before he left with his injury, but as the starter, he has yet to throw for more than 100 yards in a game. Granted, he’s added valuable rushing yards, but Tech needs a strong passing game if they want to revive a struggling offense. Especially now more than ever, seeing that Branden Ore has proved ineffective. And Glennon is the best
injury update Tyrod Taylor, Cam Martin both questionable for Boston College game T. REES SHAPIRO
ct sports reporter This past Saturday, Tech’s highly acclaimed rookie quarterback Tyrod Taylor sustained a high ankle sprain in the second quarter against Duke. On third and six, from the Duke 21 yard line, Taylor’s Saturday afternoon jaunt down in Durham came to a crashing halt when the 6’1” 206 pound freshman was sacked by 6’6” 310 pound Duke defensive tackle Vince Oghobaase.
Boston College on Thursday October 25th at 7:30 pm in Lane Stadium. Whether Taylor will be among the eleven on the field that night remains to be discovered, as high ankle sprains are many coaches, trainers, and players’ nightmares. Cedric Humes, a former running back for the Hokies, sustained a high ankle sprain in 2004 that was so severe it required surgery and three months of rehab. Should Taylor’s injury be deemed as serious as Humes’ on Saturday during his re-evalution, the versatile quarterback would not lace up for the rest of his freshman season. With the status of Taylor in doubt, the hopes of the team could rest in the right arm of redshirt junior Sean Glennon, who has led the Hokies to 11 wins in his career as a starter, and at Duke went 16 for 21, with 258 yards passing and two touchdowns. Last season Glennon was sacked 28 times in his 13 outings as Tech’s starter. Taylor, despite his quick stepping in the pocket, has been taken down 15 times behind the line of scrimmage this season in just six games.
The sack resulted in a loss of 5 yards, a missed field goal, and a questionable return for Tech’s star rookie. In a teleconference on Monday afternoon, director of athletic training Mike Goforth commented on Taylor’s injury status. “From the game at Duke, Tyrod Taylor has a high ankle sprain,” Goforth said. “It will be in a cast until at least Saturday. At that time, we’ll take the cast off and we will re-evaluate him.” The Hokies line up against No. 3
Homa Hejaz Formerly of Tivon Salon
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Cam Martin Questionable Redshirt sophomore linebacker Cam Martin has mononucleosis and is listed as questionable for next Thursday’s game against Boston College said Bryan Johnston, Tech’s associate director of athletics communications, in an e-mail. If Martin, the team’s seventh leading tackler, is unable to play, fellow redshirt sophomore Cody Grimm will start in his place.
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weekend recap VOLLEYBALL After losing just their second home match of the season Friday night against North Carolina, the Virginia Tech volleyball team rallied Saturday at Cassell Coliseum, defeating North Carolina State three games to one. Following the N.C. State game, senior Amanda Cloyd sits only 11 digs shy of becoming the first Tech player to ever register 2,000 digs in a career. Cloyd also moved into a tie for tenth place in career aces. Freshman Felicia Willoughby also had a standout weekend and moved into second place on the school’s all-time list for blocks by a freshman. After a hard-fought loss to the Tar Heels a night earlier, the Hokies bounced back from a loss in the opening game of the match against the Wolfpack to win the next three and improve their record to 11-9 overall with a 5-5 conference mark. The Hokies now must prepare for a four-game conference road trip, starting with a match at No. 13 Duke University on Friday.
MEN’S SOCCER
SHAOZHUO CUI/SPPS
Amanda Cloyd argues a call with the referee during Friday’s game
The No. 8 Virginia Tech men’s against North Carolina. The senior is closing in on 2,000 career digs. soccer team set a new school record unbeaten streak Saturday the best time for the Hokies in 1 singles consolation final, where in their 1-1 tie with the University the women’s 6K race and finished he defeated South Carolina’s Joe of Maryland. The Hokies are in fifth place with a time of 20:56. Veeder 7-5, 6-2, while Corace beat undefeated in their last 11 contests, Junior Tasmin Fanning finished third-seeded Omer Abramovich going 7-0-4 in a span dating back one second behind Sherbank and before later being eliminated in the came in sixth. Sophomore Kelly A-1 Flight. to Sept. 2. The men’s tennis team will hit Senior midfielder Georg Zehender Clark and juniors Erin Redden and Jessica Fanning also scored points the courts again October 18 to 23 capitalized on a cross from junior for the ITA Mideast Regional in forward Patrick Nyarko just over for the Hokies in the event. The men’s team also finished Charlottesville, Va. 22 minutes into the game for his third goal of the season. Zehender third behind Abilene Christian and recorded his twelfth point of the host No. 5 Arkansas, who won the season with the goal, which ties him event. Sophomore Devin Cornwall Virginia Tech beat out 14 with Nyarko and Robert Edmans was Tech’s top finisher, coming in other teams to win the Bank of for the team lead. Maryland tied the game in the twenty-third in the 10k race with Tennessee Intercollegiate at the 64th minute after Jeremy Hall a time of 30:57. The men’s team Ridges in Jonesboro, Tenn. this received a cross and snuck it past placed five runners in the top 50 in weekend. The team recorded a final threeTech goalkeeper Markus Aigner, the 36-school event. The Hokies will travel next day score of 852, 12 under par. who was making his fifth consecuto the University of Virginia on North Carolina scored 852 strokes tive start for the Hokies. Virginia Tech returns to action October 27 to take part in the ACC as well, but because the Hokies had a non-counting score of 73 on Friday to take on the North Championships. the final day compared to the Tar Carolina Tar Heels in a home Heels’ non-counting score of 74, contest. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Virginia Tech Soccer Sebastien Jacques continued Tech took the title. Drew Weaver led the Hokies, Stadium. his impressive freshman season, advancing to the A-2 Flight shooting a 211 over three days on semifinals at the USC Men’s Fall the par 72 course, good for seventh Invitational in Columbia, S.C. this place. Aaron Eckstein placed 13th, In their final meet before past weekend. and Jurrian van der Vaart placed the Atlantic Coast Conference Jacques, winner of the A-2 Flight 18th to help Tech’s effort. Championships, both the men’s at the Southern Intercollegiates Eight other teams that competed and women’s cross country teams earlier in the season, suffered in the event also competed in the finished third at the Chile Pepper the first singles loss of his career 2007 NCAA Championships, Invitational in Fayeteville, Ark. over after dropping a 6-3, 6-4 match making it one of the toughest tourthe weekend. to East Tennessee State’s Predrag nament fields of the season. The No. 19 women’s team finished Burmazovic in the semifinals. Tech will play its last tournament behind two other ranked teams, No. of the fall season on the weekend of Virginia Tech’s Eduardo Pinto 5 Arkansas and event winner No. and Brandon Corace also had Oct. 26-28 at the Landfall Tradition 24 Texas Tech. a strong tournament for the in Wilmington, N.C. Senior Natalie Sherbank posted Hokies. Pinto advanced to the B—Torrey Smith CT Sports Reporter
GOLF
MEN’S TENNIS
CROSS COUNTRY
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tuesday, october 16, 2007