COLLEGIATETIMES
wednesday november 14, 2007 blacksburg, va.
www.collegiatetimes.com
news TECH TO HOLD SECOND TEST OF ALERT SYSTEM Virginia Tech will conduct the second university-wide test of their new VT Alerts system today, Nov. 14, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. The exact time will not be released to create the most realistic test possible. In three months, nearly 19,000 students have joined the program that will send university emergency information via text messaging, instant messaging, phone calls and non-VT e-mail. Following the first test, there were problems regarding the text message system, and since the initial test on Oct. 10, adjustments were made on the text message delivery system. The second test is being run to check the efficiency of the adjustments. Incoming text messages will read “TEST: VT Alerts” in the subject line. The message will start, “This is a test of the VT Alerts system…” The VT alert messages will be identified by the following senders: For text message: 89361 For phone call: (540) 232-1000 For an e-mail: alerts@vt.edu For an IM: (AOL): nnnalertp1a1 or nnnalertp1a2 (MSN): nnnalertp1a1@ 3nonline.com or nnnalertp1a2@ 3nonline.com (Yahoo): nnnalertp1a1 or nnnalertp1a2 At the end of the message, VT Alerts subscribers will be asked to confirm receipt, and all are urged to do so that the university will know the effectiveness of the test. For more information or to register for VT Alerts or adjust your account for the test, visit http://www.alerts.vt.edu. On Monday, Nov. 19 at 10 a.m., Tech will also conduct a routine, unrelated test on its outdoor siren system.
sports BASKETBALL RECRUIT COMMITS TO TECH The Virginia Tech men’s basketball team received a commitment from 6’11’’ center Gene Swindle of Miami’s Gulliver Prep. Tech has already received commitments from center Victor Davilia 6’10’’ and is looking to get one from guard Kendall Durant.
weather P.M. SHOWERS high 66, low 48
coming up ON THE WEB Check out the CT’s video featuring last night’s Laugh Riot at www.collegiatetimes.com.
index News.....................2 Features................4 0pinions................5
Sports....................7 Classifieds..............9 Puzzles..................9
An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 104th year • issue 169
Swardson performs to a (rescheduled) sold out crowd
KYLE SWANSON/SPPS
Junior cornerback Victor ‘Macho’ Harris addressed the media last night regarding the shootings into his apartment Sunday morning.
Harris addresses attack on apartment CAROLINE BLACK & CHARLES R. BARRINEAU
ct staff TRAVIS CHURCH/SPPS
Nick Swardson, star of “Grandma’s Boy” and “Reno 911,” performed last night in Burruss Hall, after rescheduling his first show from Sept. 25.
KERRY O’CONNOR
ct news reporter The annual Laugh Riot went on last night in Burruss Auditorium bringing forward Nick Swardson, a new up and coming comedian and his friend Bradley Lewis. Swardson was a choice for this year’s Laugh Riot due to his recently increasing popularity. Although he is probably best known for his role as actor and co-writer in 2006’s “Grandma’s Boy,” he has also had supporting roles in the movies “Blades of Glory,” “Benchwarmers,” and “I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry.” He also plays a blatantly homosexual rollerblading prostitute in the Comedy Central T.V. show “Reno 911.” “I had heard of him but I didn’t know his name,” said Dan Troha, senior biology major. “I thought all of his character he played were really funny.” Performing stand up for 15 years, Swardson is 27 years old. When he was 22, he became the youngest person to have his own half-hour special on Comedy Central. His young age helped him to connect with the audience at last night’s performance. Catering to a college-aged crowd,
Swardson and Lewis created their jokes around issues many young students could relate to. Some issues seemed taboo, and it was not uncommon to see friends turn to each other with wide eyes wondering if the comedians were allowed to be on stage in front of 30,000 students advising them to use caution when eating marijuana. “We don’t have a certain program or a list of the jokes he is going to tell,” Redden said. “We are allowed, however, to tell him to keep his act within a certain level of appropriateness.” Redden revealed although they had that authority, Virginia Tech Union did not put a limit on the content of the jokes. Many of the risqué jokes were met with applause and comments from the audience, to which Swardson and Lewis often responded. At one point during the show, a chorus of girls screamed out “Will you marry me?” “All four of you?” responded Swardson. “What, are we in Utah?” Crowd interaction coupled with well-received jokes made for an entertaining atmosphere in the auditorium. Swardson would intermittently drop a few of the movie quotes
he is known for such as “s---’s weak.” Swardson also gave the audience a behind the scenes glimpse into “Grandma’s Boy”, revealing although the script was contrived, he really does have an obsession with monkeys and he and his friends really do smoke a lot of marijuana. “I’ve never seen a comedian here, just concerts and stuff,” Troha said. “I thought the show was pretty good.” Laugh Riot, which was originally supposed to be held during Homecoming week, was postponed until last night due Swardson’s unforeseen illness. “Laugh Riot is an annual program that we do, co-sponsored with the homecoming board,” said Ben Redden, director of Special Events for the Virginia Tech Union. “Every year we go looking for comedians.” The event was put on by VTU which brings concerts, comedians, speakers, and other lively art events to Tech. VTU will be sponsoring many other events until the end of the year. Their next event will be bringing Brand New to Tech on Nov. 29. Tickets to this, and other events, can be purchased through the Student Activity Box Office located on the first floor of Squires Student Center.
Virginia Tech Football player Victor ‘Macho’ Harris made a statement yesterday, addressing the shooting that occurred at his apartment early in the morning of Nov 11. Following yesterday’s football practice, Harris addressed the media with a single statement about the incident, after which he would only accept questions concerning football and his upcoming game against Miami. “The incident that took place at my apartment was a random situation,” said Harris in the address. “I don’t have any enemies or nothing like that. Like I said, the shooting was very random and the police are looking into it right now. That’s all I got to say about it.” In addition to yesterday’s statement by Harris, head coach Frank
Chairman of review panel advocates to strengthen gun laws MASSENGILL, CHAIRMAN OF GOV. KAINE’S REVIEW PANEL, HAS ANNOUNCED HE SUPPORTS STRENGTHENING BACKGROUND CHECKS MEG MILLER
Greek ambassador speaks at Tech MALLIAS SPOKE LAST NIGHT ON WHY GREECE AND THE U.S. SHARE INTEREST IN EUROPE ASHLEY OLIVER
ct associate news editor Greek Ambassador to the United States, Alexandros P. Mallias, visited the Virginia Tech campus last night to participate in an open forum concerning the “Greek-U.S. Strategic Partnerships in Southeastern Europe and Beyond.” The Ambassador, along with Tech students and faculty, area residents, and visitors from as far as Richmond and North Carolina, engaged in the long-awaited forum for approximately one hour. “My goal is to underline why the U.S. and Greece share common interests in Europe,” Mallias said before the discussion. He also discussed his eagerness in attending college campuses. “I want to try to make students, and those who are involved here, more familiar with our issues,” Mallias said. During the discussions, audience members asked many questions relating to Greek diplomacy and its involvement in the world. Glenn Bugh, a professor in the history department, inquired about a region in Yugoslavia lobbying to be named Macedonia. Greece had presented an argument to the United Nations explaining how the name Macedonia of ancient Greece should not be used elsewhere, and the argument was strong enough that the region was instead temporarily labeled “the Former Yugoslav Republic Of Macedonia.” Greece must now agree to any permanent name that will be
SHAOZHUO CUI/SPPS
Ambassador Alexandros P. Mallias spoke last night in the Squires Haymarket Theater about common interests between the U.S. and Greece. given to this region. Bugh asked if there was a name the region could be given that Greece would be willing to live with.
“I want to try to make students, and those who are involved here, more familiar with our issues.” - ALEXANDROS P. MALLIAS GREEK AMBASSADOR “We don’t like to impose solutions,” Mallias said. “We need to agree with our northern neighbors.” Other questions during the forum concerned Turkey joining the European Union, reception of Greece’s surrounding countries, the Balkans view on terrorism prevention and the decreasing of “Hellenization” (the
spread of Hellenistic culture, mainly under Alexander the Great) after the 12th century. He addressed the ongoing ethnic and religious problems with Kosovo when he said, “I don’t want to make a prophecy (about resolving the issues),” but that Greece hopes to “try to make a solution by Dec. 10.” One member of the audience questioned if Turkey’s ignoring of Assyrian genocide created a “stumbling block” in welcoming the country to the European Union. “Greece is a strong advocate of Turkey’s European Union membership,” Mallias said. Mallias also addressed human trafficking. “Greece started from a very low point, but progressively we have
see AMBASSADOR, page two
Beamer held his regular midday press conference that occurs every Tuesday before a football game. In the earlier conference, Macho also refused to answer questions regarding the shooting. “I know kind of what you know, and I’ve talked to some people here,” Beamer told the crowd in his opening statements at the earlier conference. “Shots were fired into his apartment late at night. From what I know, I don’t think any of our people are at fault here, and it’s under police investigation, and that’s the last I’m talking about that until the police investigation is done.” Capt. Bruce Bradbery of the Blacksburg Police Department said there were no updates in the case, including a possible motive in the shootings, as of yesterday afternoon. The incident has not been linked to the fights that started earlier that same night in Oge Chi’s restaurant and bar, and continued out onto Draper Road, where police made several arrests.
ct campus life editor The chairman of the state Virginia Tech panel of investigation for April 16 spoke at a meeting Monday with the Virginia Center for Public Safety, a gun control advocacy group. W. Gerald Massengill spoke supporting the strengthening of background checks for purchasing guns, an issue that has been brought forth by many in the aftermath of the shootings. Messangill said that with the upcoming Virginia General Assembly session approaching, two different discussions about guns will likely be addressed. “I think you will see legislation being proposed to allow (people) to carry guns on campus and I think you will also see another bill that will require background checks on all purchases,” Massengill said. Although Massengill said that the shootings have raised the issue of gun control in the potential assembly discussion to a new level, he also said that the issue has not been favored in past sessions. “Whether or not that will happen this year or not is really anybody’s guess,” Massengill said. Philip Van Cleave, president of the Virginia Citizens Defense League said that the VCDL will oppose these proposed legislations as they have done in years past. “This comes up every year and every year we crush it,” Van Cleave said. “We are not taking it for granted and we will crush it again.” The recommendations in the panel’s report included requiring background checks for all firearms sales in Virginia, including gun shows. Currently in Virginia, a background check is not required by private sellers who make occasional sales at gun
shows. Abby Spangler, founder of Protest Easy Guns, a group that has held 34 protests across the nation in light of April 16, said that they support Massengill’s lobby for tightened background checks for gun purchasers.
“This comes up every year and every year we crush it. We are not taking it for granted and we will crush it again.” - PHILIP VAN CLEAVE PRESIDENT OF VCDL, ON GUN CONTROL LEGISLATION “It is a complete outrage that criminals and dangerous individuals have easy access to guns in Virginia,” Spangler said. However, Van Cleave disagrees. He said that he is disappointed in Massengill because he was supposed to be part of an unbiased Tech panel and he wasn’t unbiased on this issue. “The panel was told by the governor to just look and see what went wrong,” Van Cleave said. “None of this proposed stuff had anything to do with what happened at Virginia Tech. Van Cleave referred to the fact that Cho Sueng-Hui was never entered into the database that licensed gun dealers use to do instant background checks before any sale, though he was judged mentally ill by a court in 2005. Cho purchased his weapons from a licensed gun dealer, not a private owner. Gov. Timothy M. Kaine has since closed a loophole that had allowed Cho to buy the guns. Massengill said that had Cho been denied the gun it would have been very easy for him to go to a gun show or private dealer and buy one.
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