COLLEGIATETIMES
thursday november 1, 2007 blacksburg, va.
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news CHECKPOINT TONIGHT The Blacksburg Police Department will be conducting a sobriety checkpoint tonight between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. The checkpoint will be located within the Blacksburg Town limits. According to a Blacksburg Police Department news release, the checkpoint is an effort to reduce the number of alcohol and drug related traffic crashes. The police department is asking those who choose to drink on this night to use a designated driver.
ISV HOLDING INTEREST MEETING International Student Volunteers (ISV) is holding an interest meeting for students who want to travel overseas to participate in volunteer projects and adventure tours to either Australia, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic or Thailand. The meeting is being held today every hour on the hour from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Squires Student Center Room 342.
corrections Kimberly Hunter was misquoted in the story “Webb backs mental health bill,” (CT, Oct. 30). The quote should have been: “Hunter said that they will melt the two together, and then take that version back to the (respective) bodies to vote on it.’ She also said the (unanimous) vote for the amendment ensured its place in the final bill. “(We anticipate that) since this amendment was overwhelmingly supported, it will end up being in the final bill,’” Hunter said. The story “Computer cluster expands geophysics research,” (CT, Oct. 31) was not complete. The rest of the story is available at www.collegiatetimes.com. The Collegiate Times regrets these errors.
weather PARTLY CLOUDY high 61, low 32
coming up TOMORROW’S CT Check out the CT’s coverage of tonight’s football game at Georgia Tech. Also visit www.collegiatetimes.com following the game tonight to view photos from Atlanta.
ON THE WEB Where is Blacksburg headed? Will it retain the small town feel, or foster newer development? Check out a video on this topic today at www.collegiatetimes.com.
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Classifieds..............7 Sudoku..................7 Sports....................8
An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 104th year issue 162
07-08 Budget Board Allocations Virginia Tech Union $300,017 Black Student Alliance $137,038 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Alliance $36,123 Asian American Student Union $32,050 Council of International Student Organizations $28,319 Class System $26,873 Student Government Association $20,562 Latino Association of Student Organizations $11,056 Hillel at Virginia Tech $9,192 Skydiving Club of VT $8,635 Indian Students Association $8,437 Womanspace $7,472 Human Powered Submarine Team $7,088 $6,905 Homecoming Board Society of Indian Americans $6,520 Environmental Coalition $6,447 National Panhellenic Council $6,413 Impact Movement $6,385 Wildlife Society $6,140 American Society of Landscape Architects $6,099 $5,710 Ultimate Club at Virginia Tech Panhellenic Council $5,600 Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority $5,369 Filipino American Student Association $5,132 YMCA Student Programs $4,872 Latin Link $4,586 History Graduate Student Association $4,565 $4,453 International Relations Organization XYZ Student Art Gallery $4,234 Science Fiction and Fantasy Club $4,106 Sigma Delta Pi Hispanic Honor Society $4,082 Solely Swing $3,900 Chinese American Society $3,891 $3,828 Public Administrators of Virginia Tech Academic Competition Organization $3,536 Iranian Society at Virginia Tech $3,430 Graduate Student Assembly $3,283 French Circle $3,212 $3,177 Association for India's Development VTCC Athletics $3,076 Human Factors and Ergonomics Society $3,013 Urban Challenge Team $2,883 International Ground Vehicle Competition Team $2,731 Mexicanos $2,690 Construction Managers Association of America $2,650 $2,556 Rocky Horror Picture Show Fan Club Speedball Team at VT $2,426 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers $2,337 Graduate Philosophy Club $2,300 Omega Psi Phi $2,175 Science and Technology Studies $2,148 $2,063 National Agri-Marketing Association Rock Climbing Club at Virginia Tech $1,943 Muslim Student Association $1,728 Association of Chinese Students and Scholars $1,570 American Society of Mechanical Engineers $1,441 Blind Driver Challenge $1,127 Engineers Without Borders $1,120 Circle K at Virginia Tech $924 Communication Graduate Student Association $830 Black Graduate Student Organization $800 Intrafraternity Council $754 Outdoor Club at Virginia Tech $670 $379 National Organization of Minority Architecture Students Environmental Student Organization $120
Budgets revolve around board Median funding for 58 other allocations
$3,357
Student Government Association
$20,562 Class System
$26,873 Virginia Tech Union
story by
Michelle
$300,017
Rivera
Black Student Black Alliance
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grap hic b y
Ben
$137,038
Asian American Student Union
MacD onald
$32,050 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Alliance
$36,123 Council of International Student Organizations
$28,319
STUDENT FEE MONEY IS DISTRIBUTED BY THE BUDGET BOARD TO STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS SEEKING FUNDING FOR EVENTS, EQUIPMENT AND EDUCATION
T
his semester, students are paying $148.50 for a student activity fee listed on their bi-annual tuition bills. From the collective sum of this fee, the two student budget boards responsible for allocating money received $870,000 for the ‘07-‘08 academic year to distribute among the university’s student organizations. The Budget Board exists to dispense the student fee money in order for student organizations to contribute to the quality of campus life through special events and programs. The Board consists of two separate branches: the Registered Student Organization Budget Board and the Student Budget Board.
According to Steve Burrell, assistant director of student organizations and the chair of the RSO Budget Board, VTU and BSA are the two organizations whose primary responsibility is to provide programming for the campus throughout the year. With $437,055 combined, VTU and BSA are allotted more than half of that total amount taken from student fees. “VTU and BSA are solely responsible and charged by the university to provide entertainment and educational programs for the campus,” said Monica Hunter, associate director of campus programs and chair of the SBB. “This mostly means national artists, and this type of performer and these types of events are expensive.”
VTU received $101,280 for concerts alone, and received a total of $300,017 for the year. BSA received $137,038. “Our allocation process at Tech is pretty sound,” Hunter said. “For the most part, I think we have a very fair system.” When looking at the budgetary amounts categorically, Burrell said that the contract/ performer fees category is the most expensive. This year, $478,476 was allotted to student organizations for such fees. This amount covers expenses for creating a contract for performers to come to the university. Not included are performer lodging, meals, and airfare fees. Also not included in the grand total of
see BUDGETS, page two
SGA proposes day of remembrance on April 16 CALEB FLEMING
ct sta writer The Student Government Association at Virginia Tech, under the guidance of two of its members, has gained enough support to create April 16, 2008 as a university sanctioned day of remembrance. Monty Korpe, a junior philosophy major and Andy Koch, a senior management major, wrote and presented the SGA’s House of Representatives with the legislation. “An extremely traumatic event happened here at Virginia Tech that affected most, if not all of us,” Korpe said. “We will all be feeling it; it’s going to be on all of our minds, and I think that this is the best way for the community as a whole to deal with it.” The resolution is now out of their hands, and will be placed in front of SGA President Adeel Khan. If endorsed by Khan, it will then
be approved as the official voice of the student body, and be forwarded on to the university’s administration for final review. The legislation specifies that the Tech administration should label April 16, 2008, as a campus-wide day of memorial, where no classes, meetings, or organized events should meet, unless deemed directly related to the tragedy, in honor of the victims. However, Koch said this memorial is not planned to simply give students a break from academic work. “We hope that people will do service on that day and participate in memorials,” Koch said. “It is going to bring back a lot of memories for people. To Monty and I, the vision is not a day off, but a day of remembering those lost through our service.” Korpe noted that the legislation was first drawn up last year, towards the end of the spring semester, but did not have enough
Getting high could cost recipients of financial aid ROSANNA BROWN
ct news reporter Students who are convicted of marijuana possession could lose their federal aid, and in some severe cases, have their aid revoked indefinitely. Barry Simmons, director of scholarships and financial aid at Virginia Tech, said that only one student in the past five years has been affected by this policy. Finding students who may be affected has become less common with time. “We had to dig to find the one that we had,” Simmons said. He explained that there are several exceptions to the policy. “You have to be convicted while enrolled, and that’s been a recent change,” Simmons said. Also, in some cases, a student may be enrolled and still have their financial aid unaffected. “If a student is a freshman and convicted with possession in May after filling out FASFA in February, and FASFA has already found the applicant eligible, then their federal aid goes unaffected,” Simmons said. In addition to these loopholes in the system, there is also no requirement by the university financial aid department to perform any background checks. Simmons said that because of this, the department must rely on the student’s honesty in telling the school they were convicted of marijuana possession. The courts can, however, step in and reveal a student who was convicted if they see fit. “There is a drug abuse hold file that a judge can activate on an individual when they apply for FASFA; but this doesn’t appear to happen that often,” Simmons said. A student undergoing their first conviction for possession of marijuana will lose eligibility for federal aid for a year. A student who is convicted of intent to sell marijuana for the first time will lose their eligibility for two years. A second conviction for marijuana possession will cause students to lose two years federal
to time to pass. Since its original authors are no longer members of the SGA, Korpe decided to reintroduce it after making several changes to its language. The original resolution called for an annual April 16 holiday, whereas Korpe’s bill only specifically mentions April 16, 2008. “I thought it was pretty important,” Korpe said. “I realized that when we do things at the end of the semester they tend to collapse because of all the people moving through. I asked the speaker of the house earlier this year, and took it up after he said we didn’t need a sponsor.” After Korpe had drawn up the idea and gained the support of Koch, a survey of approximately 1,000 students was conducted. “The results showed 1,000 people for it and 70 against it,” Koch said. “It took a while for us to pass it, because some say it could be better for us to go to school and be with people and move on.”
Though these results are lopsided, Koch noted that legitimate concerns were presented through the comments of the 70 opposed. He expects the administration to express similar apprehensions. “They could think this will just be another day off for students to go do whatever they want,” Koch said. “A lot of people are going to remember with us, though some have said they would rather have class on that day and deal with it. Others feel we should go on and not admit defeat. We are looking at everyone’s interests.” Meredyth Kenney, the SGA’s public relations representative, said that the SGA as a whole is in support of this legislation. “The SGA feels strongly about making April 16th a school-wide day of remembrance,” Kenney said. “That cold and tragic morning will always remain a vivid memory in every
see REMEMBRANCE, page three
Trick or treat
Possession Consequences for Marijuana First conviction Second conviction Third conviction
Lose eligibility for federal aid for a year Lose eligibility for federal aid for two years Lose eligibility for federal aid indefinitely
BEN MACDONALD/COLLEGIATE TIMES
aid. Those who have been convicted of intent to sell marijuana for a second time will lose their federal aid indefinitely. A third conviction for marijuana possession will also result in the loss of federal aid indefinitely. Simmons explained that if a student’s eligibility has been suspended indefinitely, they are able to regain eligibility by enrolling in an approved drug rehabilitation program. The changes in policies have fluctuated so much recently that the policy is gaining a futile reputation. “It’s changed so much over the years that it’s almost meaningless for the most part,” Simmons said. Geoff Allen, Virginia Tech community outreach officer, said that in 2004 there were 34 arrests for the possession of marijuana. In 2005 there were also 34 arrests, and, in 2006 there were 20. Simmons said though arrests have declined, it may be due to less regulation rather than fewer students using the drug. “The way the tide has been flowing, each year this regulation has been softened a little bit,” Simmons said. “Unless there is a major change in Washington, I really don’t see it being strengthened or tightened down on.” Kris Reinertson, a senior political science and sociology major, and president of Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP), agreed with the new development in regulation. “Kicking students out for academic failure is one thing, but kicking successful students out for drug use rather than guiding them toward better health is
see HIGH, page two
SHAOZHUO CUI/SPPS
Accompanied by his parents, Daniel and Kiah Ferrell, Parker Ferrell peeks inside his pumkin on his way into TOTS. Downtown Blacksburg businesses opened their doors Wednesday evening, hosting trick or treating for local children.
news in brief NEW FCC REGULATIONS GIVES STUDENTS CABLE OPTIONS For most Virginia Tech students, decisions made by the Federal Communications Commission may seem irrelevant. That may have changed Wednesday, however, when a rule spearheaded by the FCC was approved that will change the way many people choose their cable television providers. The new rule ends thousands of contracts between independent cable companies and apartment buildings, potentially cutting the cost of cable television and Internet access by introducing competition. This change will hit home in Blacksburg for residents in many apartment complexes. Terrace View Apartments, Collegiate Suites and several other complexes in Blacksburg had exclusive
contracts with cable companies and will now be required to offer students other choices for cable access. According to an FCC news release, “the use of exclusivity clauses in contracts for the provision of video services to (multi-dwelling units) constitutes an unfair method of competition.” Options for consumers will include other cable companies and satellite providers, such as Comcast, AT&T and Verizon Communications, which have begun offering their own cable services. It’s the hope of the FCC that competition between all of these providers will reduce cable prices for apartment residents.Terrace View declined to comment for this story. -Liza Roesch, CT News Staff
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