COLLEGIATETIMES
tuesday november 27, 2007 blacksburg, va.
www.collegiatetimes.com
news LIBRESCU FINALIST FOR NATIONAL HONOR Liviu Librescu, a victim of the April 16 shootings and Holocaust Librescu survivor, is one of 10 nominees for Beliefnet’s 2007 Most Inspiring Person of the Year Award. He was selected due to accounts of how he risked his own life to save others on the morning of April 16. Students and community members are invited to visit www.Beliefnet.com to vote for Librescu or any of the other nine nominees this year. The results will be available on Dec. 12.
sports FOOTBALL PLAYERS NAMED ALL-ACC Ten members of the Virginia Tech football team were named to various all-Atlantic Coast Conference teams. Four Hokies were named to the first team, three to the second team and three others were honorable mention. Xavier Adibi (LB), Victor “Macho” Harris (CB), Eddie Royal (specialist) and Chris Ellis (DE) were all named to the first team. Barry Booker (DT), Duane Brown (OT) and Brandon Flowers (CB) were second teamers while Vince Hall (LB), D.J. Parker (S) and Carlton Powell (DT) rounded out the honorable mention selections.
corrections The story “Swardson performs to a (rescheduled) sold out crowd” (CT, Nov. 14) was incorrect. Nick Swardson is 31 years old. Burruss Auditorium has a maximum capacity of 2,927. The story “Facebook introduces divisive ads” (CT, Nov. 15) should have had Jane Machin saying, “This boils down to a fundamental principle of marketing. (If you are not truly addressing a consumer need, then the commercial [and ultimately the product or service] will fail, no matter how the message is delivered). Offer the consumer something he or she desires.” The Collegiate Times regrets these errors.
coming up TOMORROW’S CT See how many people received messages from VT alerts and whether students thought they were necessary.
weather PARTLY CLOUDY high 47, low 27
index News.....................1 Features................2 0pinions................3
Sports....................4 Classifieds..............5 Puzzles..................5
An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 104th year • issue 172
Gift ❄ Guide ❄
by katelyn lau ct associate features editor
hen it comes to buying gifts for significant others, there’s often one big issue: you’re trying to think of something to get the one person you probably know, love and want to please most — no pressure. What can I get her that she doesn’t already have? What can I get him that he’ll actually like? Ideally, every year, you’d completely surprise them with that most thoughtful gift that’s exactly what they wanted — again, no pressure. Now, no one’s saying you can’t achieve this or something close to it every year, but more often than not, these gifts are rare, which is also part of what makes them so special. But, there are also some gifts that will almost always please your significant other, and these gifts too can involve the thoughtfulness and creativity that your loved one probably appreciates most.
❄ TOP 10 gifts for that special someone ❄
for her ❄ JEWELRY
❄
WINTER WARMTH
VIDEO GAMES
No matter what anyone tells you, jewelry is classic, not cliché. This could be the fifth time you’ve given her jewelry, and she’ll still love it because it’s one gift that can be different every time. For truly one-of-a-kind pieces, visit Kent Jewelers on Main Street in Blacksburg.
Scarves, gloves, hats, coats and blankets all make for good seasonal gifts. Each time she puts them on she’ll think of you. Blankets can be a more interesting gift than it may seem. Places like Joanne Fabrics have fleece in different prints. If she loves snowflakes or “Starry Night,” a fleece blanket sporting either design can be a warm accent for her room.
Whatever game he’s into can essentially become your background music when you’re over at his place; here’s your opportunity to get a game you might like too.
PICTURES
DINNER & A MOVIE
❄
As cliché as it sounds, time is a hugely underrated gift. Take her to one of the nice local restaurants Blacksburg is so full of and just have a nice night together. A place like Zeppoli’s has fantastic Italian food and a large wine selection.
W
Today is the first installment of a four-part series featuring holiday gift ideas. The rest of the week will be: WEDNESDAY: gifts for parents THURSDAY: gifts for siblings FRIDAY: gifts under $20
Giving him cologne works about the same way
CLOTHES Most guys will never put clothes on their list. In fact,
SWEETS something really different, make a photo mosaic,
If she has a sweet tooth, assorted chocolates, toffee, flavored truffles and fudge from the Chocolate Spike could make a different yet delicious gift.
ADD TO HER COLLECTION arranges them in the form of another picture. The Andrea Mosaic Web site will help you make your mosaic for free, and a copy store will print the picture to almost any size.
PAMPERING You still open the door for her, you offer to pay, you buy her roses — you’re a downright gentleman. But a gift certificate for a beauty treatment, hair styling, manicure, pedicure, massage or facial will truly pamper her.
PERFUME
GIFT GUIDE
COLOGNE
There might not be a local gem of a shop that offers unique perfumes, but it’s one of those gifts she’ll like even more because she can be sure that you like it. When the scent comes with your approval, she’ll feel that much better wearing it.
CLOTHES You might not know the difference between a cowl neck or a v-neck, wool or tweed, polyester or cashmere, but you know what she looks good in. If you think she looks killer in red and you can’t keep your hands off fuzzy sweaters, try a red cashmere sweater.
Everyone has a favorite theme, motif or collection they love to supplement. Kari’s Keepsakes in Christiansburg has things such as candles, Boyds Bears and Willow Tree collectibles.
VIRGINIA TECH STUFF Most students never tire of Virginia Tech items. Local company Initial Thoughts can monogram Tech-themed bags, keychains, robes and more.
❄ for him
JERSEYS
❄
hates clothes you buy him, try something simpler, such as boxers. The Web site Skiviez is something of a Victoria’s Secret for men.
TOOLS Every store has sales on tools right now. From local hardware stores, such as the TrueValue in Blacksburg, to Lowe’s and Home Depot, you can spend as much or as little as you want on a t h ou s an d different tools for every job.
ELECTRONICS If you’re in the mood to really splurge, TVs, iPods, and cameras make great gifts. Accessories such as cases, cords, and memory cards are cheaper and still make great gifts. Scotty’s Audio and Video is a local store for electronics with its emphasis on service.
❄
Football, hockey, basketball, baseball, it doesn’t matter. Size isn’t much of an issue with jerseys, so they’re virtually guaranteed to look good and still be comfortable.
TICKETS While he might love to listen to his favorite band on his iPod or watch his team on TV, he’ll probably like seeing them live even more. If it’s something you both enjoy, it might even be something you can do together.
HOBBY-RELATED ITEMS
MOVIES/CDS
VIRGINIA TECH STUFF
Movies and CDs might seem generic, but they actually require you to know what he likes. If you’re looking to avoid Wal-Mart or FYE, Crossroads is a good local option to try.
Most students never tire of Virginia Tech items. Sweatshirts, T-shirts, key chains, glasses, mats, car decals, flags, clocks and bags in maroon and orange are all things Tech fans covet, but often don’t want to spend the money on.
Giving your guy hobby-related items achieves two things: it contributes to an activity you know he enjoys, and it tells him that you’re okay with him spending time with his hobby.
Student dies after fall from window T-shirts to
aid wildfire victims
TECH STUDENT FALLS FROM SEVENTH STORY STUDY LOUNGE IN PRITCHARD HALL; ANNOUNCED DEAD AT THE HOSPITAL CT NEWS EDITORS A Virginia Tech student died last night after he “fell or jumped” out of a seventh floor window of Pritchard Hall, said Larry Hincker, university spokesman. He has been identified as Jonathan David Jones, 19, a freshman communication major. Emergency response teams reached the scene immediately after a call was placed at 7:04 p.m. Blacksburg rescue transported Jones to Montgomery Regional PHOTOS BY MARK UMANSKI & JOSHUA MILLER/SPPS Hospital. Jones was proBlacksburg emergency officials arrived at Pritchard Hall last night after a call that a student Jones nounced dead at the hospihad fallen from a seventh-story window (above), while police officers stand outside of tal last night. He resided in Barringer Hall, according to the Pritchard last night (below). The student, Jonathan Jones, was pronounced dead last night. Tech Web site, and was a graduate of Courtland running down the hall as I tried to go out the High School in Spotsylvania, Va. After the preliminary investigation, the fall door by Lee said, ‘you don’t want to see.’” Other students have fallen out of Tech’s dorm has not yet been determined to be intentional windows in past years. Ryan Edmund Evans or unintentional Hincker said. Hincker said “all the loose ends need to be tied committed suicide on Oct. 26, 2002 after falling from the seventh-floor window of Lee. up” in the investigation. In 1990, a student survived a fall from the Details regarding the cause of the fall will be third floor of Lee. Another student died in 1997 released following further investigation. Mark Umansky, a freshman university studies after falling from the eighth floor of Slusher Tower. major, was in Pritchard at the time. Anyone with additional information is encour“I was sitting in my room and I saw like four or five cop cars and an ambulance go by and park aged to call Officer Henley of the Virginia Tech outside the dorm,” Umansky said. “An R.A. Police Department at (540) 231-8121.
Tech to host 2007 Water Research Symposium KERRY O’CONNOR
ct news reporter The Virginia Water Resources Research Center, based at Virginia Tech’s College of Natural Resources, in conjunction with the West Virginia Water Research Institute, will put on the 2007 annual Water Research Symposium Nov. 26-30 in the Skeleton Conference Center at the Inn at Virginia Tech. This year’s symposium theme is “Connecting Management to Aquatic Communities” and will provide information regarding recent water research pertaining to Virginia and West Virginia. It is the first joint-venture symposium conducted by the two water research facilities. “This is a way we can get information about water resources to a broad audience,” said Steven Schoenholtz, director of the Virginia Water Research Center. “It also provides a great opportunity to get developing information to the public quickly, as opposed to the publication process, which can take many months.” Open to the public, the symposium is aimed at informing state and local government decision makers about recent water issues affecting our
local and state regions. While this is the symposium’s primary focus, students, faculty, experts and anyone with an interest in water research are encouraged to participate. Many Tech professors, as well as water resources experts, will be conducting five workshops and over 80 presentations at this year’s symposium. The highlight will be a plenary session titled “Water for Wildlife: Emerging Issues in the Virginia and West Virginia Waters,” hosted by Dr. Donald J. Orth, department head and professor of fisheries and wildlife sciences at Tech. “I have assembled a group of speakers to talk Thursday morning about some emerging water issues in the commonwealth as they relate to how water quality affects wildlife,” Orth said. “This brings experts from around the region who have studied water issues that decision makers have to be familiar with.” David Gruber, president of Biological Monitoring, Inc., and host of one of the workshops, explained when the symposium organizers asked if anyone was interested in contributing, his company offered to put together a workshop on the regulatory process of total maximum daily load, which deals with watershed.
Participation is expected to be around 120 people, including government officials, students from various universities, regulators, citizen groups and many more. Schoenholtz insisted these are good numbers considering there were budget cuts made this year and said it was very important because the symposium topics being addressed are relevant to contemporary social, economic and political issues. “You don’t have to be a scientist to know we are having water issues right now,” Schoenholtz said. “We are in a draught; everyone probably knows that.” The Virginia Water Resources Research Center is directly affiliated with Tech’s College of Natural Resources, currently ranked among the top five in the nation. The U.S. Congress established the research center in 1965 and is one of 54 water institutes located in the U.S. The center’s mission is to provide information to officials, water scientists and students who are interested in water research. “Well, we all want clean water — at least from my perspective,” Gruber said. “We want to keep it around for our generation and the next generations.”
LAUREN MOORE
ct staff writer Hokies United has joined forces with the Student Government Association in an effort to raise money for the victims of the Southern California wildfires. With their efforts, the two organizations are hoping to inspire other fundraising groups and raise awareness of the wildfires. The two groups have begun raising money by selling ‘Hokies on Fire’ T-shirts. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the shirt sales will go to the American Red Cross to support their aid of the wildfire victims. “The whole country helped us out incredibly last year. It is our duty to help others, and we felt that we should give back,” said Meredyth Kenney, public relations representative of SGA. The goal of the T-shirt campaign is to raise $20,000 by the end of November. In the first three days after the shirts went on sale on Nov. 9, approximately 1,300 shirts were sold. The shirts sell for $7 each, and are tie-dyed orange. “We are hoping to at least get the entire student section filled with students wearing the ‘Hokies on Fire’ shirts. The tie-dye design will have a cool effect because when students jump up and down, it will look like a big flame in the audience,” said Adeel Khan, president of SGA. Similar to the Orange and Maroon Effects at football games, the ‘Hokies on Fire’ shirts are supposed to intimidate opponents. “You are supporting those in serious need of help in California as well as a growing basketball culture here at Virginia Tech,” said Matt O’Leary, director of ‘Hokies on Fire.’ ‘Hokies on Fire’ shirts will be sold at the University Bookstore, Volume Two Bookstore, Dietrick General Store, GBJ, Student Services Store and the New Coliseum Hokie Shop. They are also available online for purchase at www.bookstore.vt.edu.
MATT BOONE/SPPS
Sales of ‘Hokies on Fire’ T-shirts are underway for $7 at campus bookstores.
have a news tip? want to see something in the CT? e-mail tips@collegiatetimes.com