COLLEGIATETIMES
tuesday november 13, 2007 blacksburg, va.
www.collegiatetimes.com
news WOMAN ASSAULTED ON TURNER STREET A 21-year-old female Virginia Tech student was injured after being assaulted at the 200 block of West Turner Street at approximately 6:45 p.m. on Monday. Blacksburg police are investigating the attack and reported in a news release that she was walking when grabbed from behind and dragged into bushes along the sidewalk where she was then threatened and assaulted. She reportedly lost consciousness in the first few minutes of the assault and when she woke up, the suspect had fled. She was treated for facial injuries at a local hospital, and later released. The victim described the suspect as a six-feet tall male wearing all black clothing, gloves, and a mask. Anyone with information is asked to call Blacksburg Police at 540-961-1150.
ONE LANE OF SOUTH MAIN CLOSED
SGA forum focuses on addressing diversity KEVIN ANDERSON
ct new river valley editor Campus diversity served as a main topic addressed by students and faculty at the first student and faculty forum discussion held last night in the Graduate Life Center. In the first ever “THE Forum,” hosted by the Alliance of Concerned Students (ACS), students and faculty alike were able to address issues on campus. “If there is a concern, something should be done,” said Rianka Urbina, a junior finance major, director of ACS, and the director of diversity and multicultural affairs for the Student Government Association. Students and faculty were given several topics to discuss among themselves and take notes. Following the discussions, an open mic session gave everyone a chance to address whatever they did not have time to discuss in their groups. Students and faculty were asked to discuss why students on campus affiliated themselves with their own races in an environment where diversity is emphasized. “It’s all about the comfort zone,” said Adam Kress, a senior mechanical engineering and economics double major and director of technology for the SGA. “It’s a two-way street.” That two-way street, however, only exists in these types of forums.
“When you have a forum it’s having a known two-way street,” said T.J. Loeffler, a freshman business major. “But when you walk down Main Street you don’t know if people have the same belief you do.” Another reason for the lack of diversity discussed was friend circles formed when students first arrive at the university. “As a freshman coming to Tech, you don’t find diversity in all of the people you first meet,” Loeffler said. Students and faculty also spoke about how the university community could fix the diversity situation on campus. Programs like MOSIAC and forums like this were some of the solutions. “(Everyone needs) to take time for programs like these to catch on,” said Nathan Lavinka, a freshman marketing major. In addition, Kress said that a diversity credit needs to be incorporated in the university’s curriculum. These classes would be expected to broaden the minds of students on campus. The ACS usually holds separate forums for students and faculty to give students a fearless method of expressing their concerns without the pressures of faculty presence. However, after high demand for a combined forum, ACS, in collaboration with the SGA, decided to make a joint event. “This is a rare opportunity for the minorities and majorities on campus to speak in addition to students and faculty,” Urbina said.
SHAOZHUO CUI/SPPS
Jenn Vaziralli, a junior management and marketing major, co-director of community initiatives, hands out a comment card to participants in the SGA forum.
Shots fired into ‘Macho’ Harris’ apartment
A South Main Street lane will be closed temporarily in order to allow restoration of a sidewalk and the removal of vehicular entrances. The outside northbound lane of the 2100 block will be shut down through Friday, Nov. 16 from 9 a.m. to 3: 30 p.m. Drivers are being asked to use caution with the change in traffic patterns and construction that is currently present in this area.
ASHLEY OLIVER
ct associate news editor
sports UVA GAME TIME SET The time has been set for the Virginia Tech Hokies’ final regular season football game. Tech will take on the University of Virginia Cavaliers at noon in Charlottesville. The game will be televised by either ESPN or ESPN2.
weather FEW SHOWERS high 60, low 46
corrections The story “Habitat for Humanity to begin building once more” (CT, Nov. 8) was incorrect. The house design will be finished in the spring, but construction will not be finished until fall 2008. In the “Best of Blacksburg” (CT, Nov. 9), Delta Sigma Phi was listed third under the “Best co-ed Greek organization.” They are not co-ed, but a men’s social fraternity. The Collegiate Times regrets these errors.
coming up ON THE WEB Check out a new video featuring this weekend’s Dance of Nations at www.collegiatetimes.com.
index News.....................2 Features................3 0pinions................5
Sports....................4 Classifieds..............7 Puzzles..................7
An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 104th year • issue 168
DANIEL STEENECK/SPPS
The Board of Visitors convened Saturday to discuss topics ranging from April 16 to parking.
Students weigh in at Board of Visitors meeting PETER HURLEY
ct staff writer The Virginia Tech Board of Visitors convened for their quarterly meeting in Torgersen Hall yesterday to hear reports on the individual meetings of the committees which took place over the weekend. The 2007 to 2008 Board of Visitors is composed of six different committees that lobby and do research for their own needs and goals of the current year. The committees range from Student Affairs and Athletics, Academic Affairs, and Buildings and Grounds, to Finance and Audit, Executive, and Research. In his report on the Student Affairs Committee, board member Michael Anzilotti described his meeting with 13 representatives from the student body. According to Anzilotti, the university is “in good hands,” from the level of understanding the students exemplified. Anzilotti asked the 13 student representatives to grade president Charles Steger in several areas, including his post-April 16 initiatives. According to Anzilotti, Steger’s “report card” showed 12 A’s and one B. Steger gave his own short presentation concerning several university initiatives such as new
security measures and VT Engage. “It has been enthusiastically received,” said Steger of VT Engage. “It’s a great way to bring the community together, and I’m very encouraged about it.” Executive Vice President James Hyatt gave a presentation highlighting several of the new security measures instigated since spring, including VT Alert, which now has 18,679 subscribers, and the new 35,000 sq. ft. Public Safety Building. There was also a report from the Buildings and Grounds Committee meeting in which the committee reviewed plans for a new Basketball practice facility and the ICTAS II building. In the Academic Affairs Committee report, they cited diversity as a key academic initiative, describing a new system of “inclusive excellence.” “Inclusive excellence re-envisions quality and diversity, linking them very closely together rather than seeing them as competing and possibly contradictory priorities,” said board member James Smith. The Academic Affairs Committee also passed resolutions to honor the Department of Apparel, Housing, and Resource Management; the Grado Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering; and the University Academic Advising Center for their work in undergraduate or graduate advising.
Police are currently investigating a shooting that took place in the northwest section of Blacksburg on Sunday. Multiple shots were fired from two guns at the exterior of a Virginia Tech football player’s apartment in the 700 block of Appalachian Drive in the Chasewood Downs apartment complex. According to Blacksburg Police, Tech students were inside at the time; all males ages 21, 22 and 23. A football player, who wished to remain anonymous, confirmed that junior cornerback Victor “Macho” Harris lives in the apartment. The source also confirmed that senior football players Justin Harper and Xavier Adibi lived in the same building but not that apartment. Police were notified of the incident after residents of the area reported hearing gunshots, and they responded to the scene at 3:49 a.m. No one was injured, but structural damage occurred, including a shattered glass patio door and bullet holes in the wall and ceiling, police said. Capt. Bruce Bradbery of the Blacksburg Police Department said that no names are officially being released at this time. Bradbery confirmed that seven shots were fired with a 9 mm handgun and that one shot
at the face of the building had come from a shotgun. At least two bullets went into the apartment. Because the investigation is ongoing, the police department has not released any further information. “It is still active, so we are going to let the detectives run through it a little bit before we release any information,” Bradbery said. One of the residents of Chasewood Downs, where the 700 block of Appalachian Drive is located, said she did not hear about the shootings within her complex, but a friend had called to make sure she was OK. “Chasewood didn’t tell us anything,” said junior and animal science major Jessica Romine. “We didn’t know until we saw it on the news. But close to home; that is really scary.” Romine said she didn’t see anything unusual the next day except for a maintenance man replacing a glass door of a third floor apartment in the complex. Bryan Johnston, associate director of athletics communications did not confirm any details related to the incident. Calls to Dave Smith, assistant director of athletics for media relations, John Ballein, associate director of football operations, and Jim Weaver, athletic director, were not returned. The Blacksburg Police Department requests that anyone with information about the incident call 540-961-1150.
FRESHMAN FOOTBALL PLAYER ARRESTED SUNDAY A Virginia Tech football player, freshman defensive end Steven Friday, was arrested Sunday morning on Draper Road. Capt. Bruce Bradbery of the Blacksburg Police Friday Department confirmed that he was arrested for disorderly conduct at approximately 2 a.m. Bradbury said that along with Friday, “30 to 40 people actively engaged in the fights.” Others were also charged with misdemeanors.
The fights started in Oge-Chi Restaurant and Lounge and then moved out into Draper Road. Nearly 100 people were gathered in the street at the time. Bryan Johnston, associate director of athletic communications did not comment on the arrest. The shooting incident that occurred approximately two hours later in Chasewood Downs apartments has not been linked to the fighting. Bradbery said that there is “no indication of that right now.” — Ashley Oliver, CT news staff
Hokie Effect T-shirt sales break records, rake in money SGA TOPPED LAST YEAR’S TOTALS, INCREASING SALES BY ALMOST $20,000 ANDREA WOODS
ct news reporter This year Virginia Tech Student Government Association shattered all previous record sales for Hokie Effect shirts with 95,000 shirts sold. Last year, the SGA sold 76,000 shirts. Support from alumni, students, university bookstores, Frank Beamer and Bill Roth, the “Voice of the Hokies,” all helped in creating an extremely successful Hokie Effect year. The Hokie Effect Shirts were also on the cover of the 2007 to 2008 Hokie Collection Catalog produced by the bookstore.
“We can’t thank (Beamer) enough,” said Margo Eggeling, Hokie Effect director. The SGA presented Beamer with both Effect shirts in frames. Effect shirts were sold individually for $6 for the Maroon Effect shirt and $10 for the Orange Effect shirt, but if purchased together, the shirts cost a total of $12. Shirts could be purchased online or at the bookstores. This year, the Maroon Effect shirt is shortsleeved and the Orange Effect shirt is longsleeved, a deviation from previous years. According to a recent press release from the SGA, the change in sleeve lengths is partially due to the fact that Virginia Tech alumni tend to wear maroon more than orange. By changing the Maroon Effect shirts to short sleeves and having Maroon Effect day on Homecoming, it ensured the success of the shirts across the entire
stadium. “Having alumni for maroon effect helped,” said Eggeling. The Maroon Effect shirt was worn at Virginia Tech’s homecoming game on Sept. 29 against North Carolina. The back of the Maroon Effect shirts are adorned with a clipboard with the “VT Game Plan” and “Beamerball” across the bottom and “Homecoming 2007” across the front. Long-sleeved Orange Effect shirts have the phrase “Welcome to Blacksburg: Small Town, Big Sound” written on the back, with “Orange Effect” written diagonally across the front. “The design changes fit the excitement of the year,” said Steve Glosh, executive division assistant director and university treasurer. Advertising for the Effect shirts was widespread.
Sophomore finance major Chelsea Wright said she had no problem purchasing Effect shirts. “There were signs everywhere, flyers and they were in the bookstore,” she said. Despite the cold on Nov. 10 in the game against FSU, many Hokie fans came out wearing their Orange Effect shirts and helped to create a very successful Effect game. Next year, the SGA hopes to break the record again, selling more than 95,000 shirts. They also hope to gather support from the football team to wear the colors on the Effect days as well. “The SGA is really happy and pleased with the outcome of Orange and Maroon Effect, and we couldn’t have done it without the support of students and alumni and we are happy to be part of one of the traditions at Virginia Tech,” Eggeling said.
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