COLLEGIATETIMES Gift TOP 10 gifts for mom & dad Guide
wednesday november 28, 2007 blacksburg, va.
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sports
SOCCER BEGINS NCAA PLAY TONIGHT AT HOME
After receiving a first round bye, the Virginia Tech men’s soccer team will host the No. 17 California Golden Bears tonight at Tech Soccer Stadium at 7 p.m. in the second round of the NCAA tournament. The No. 11 Hokies are playing in their third consecutive NCAA tournament the longest streak in the program’s history. Tickets are $10 for the general public, and $5 for students.
VICK’S TRIAL DATE SET IN VIRGINIA Surry County Court Circuit Judge Samuel Campbell set an April 2 trial date for Michael Vick yesterday, making it possible that the former Virginia Tech star could be convicted by the state in addition to his guilty plea in federal court. Vick is charged with beating or killing or causing dogs to fight other dogs, and engaging in or promoting dogfighting. Both offenses carry up to five years in jail. Vick is currently incarcerated in Warsaw, Va. and will face federal sentencing on Dec. 10.
PENN STATE TO HONOR APRIL 16 VICTIMS Penn State will honor the victims of the April 16 shooting at Virginia Tech before the men’s basketball contest between the two schools tonight. Among the victims last spring was Jeremy Herbstritt, a Penn State alumnus who was pursuing at graduate degree at Tech. Before the game The Family Clothesline will donate $110,000 to the victims’ fund, and one dollar of every student admission fee will be donated as well.
correction Katie McLaughlin contributed to the story “Swardson performs to a (rescheduled) sold out crowd” (CT, Nov. 14). The Collegiate Times regrets this error.
coming up TOMORROW’S CT See how the men’s basketball team fares against Penn State tonight in Thursday’s CT.
ON THE WEB Check out Barrineau’s Blog, a new sports blog, for updates on men’s basketball and this weekend’s ACC Championship game at www.collegiatetimes.com/blogs
weather MOSTLY SUNNY high 52, low 33
index News.....................2 Features................3 0pinions................5
Sports....................6 Classifieds..............7 Puzzles..................7
An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 104th year • issue 173
by rebecca taylor ct staff writer
hile most of us have been leading the cushy college student lifestyle, our parents have been hard at work. Whether mom and dad help keep you in college or simply send their love via monthly care packages, they deserve to be rewarded. Christmas is approaching, as quickly as exams, so why not take the hassle out of last minute shopping and pick up something thoughtful and original for your olds this year? Blacksburg has plenty to offer in the way of Christmas goodies, and the best part is that most Tech students won’t have to travel more then five minutes to reach the store. The lack of Christmas crowds in Blacksburg is an added bonus. Although department stores may seem like an easy way out, shopping at local, independent stores will help strengthen the economic state of Blacksburg and result in unique gifts for even the toughest names on your list. So ditch the Barnes and Noble and Home Depot gift cards and get mom and dad something to remember this year.
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GIFT GUIDE Today is the second installment in a four-part series featuring holiday gift ideas. The series includes: YESTERDAY: gifts for significant others TODAY: gifts for parents THURSDAY: gifts for siblings FRIDAY: gifts under $20
FOOD
JEWELRY
Cooking for each other day in and day out can get boring for your parents. Why not add some excitement to your family kitchen by picking up something a little different than milk and bread. Gourmet Pantry, on 401 S. Main Street offers food with a twist. Specialty teas and coffees will have your parents starting their days off with something out of the ordinary. For those who can survive without coffee, Gourmet Pantry offers gift baskets. The “best wishes basket” contains scrumptious imported products such as Belgian chocolatecovered cinnamon biscuits, ginger snaps, table water crackers, English breakfast marmalade, and gourmet nut chocolate mix for $39.99. Looking to step it up a notch? Pick up a “gourmet basket” containing a variety of exotic flavours, from Greek olive mix to cranberry horseradish, olive oil and spices for dipping for $79.99. Nothing pleases a sweet tooth more than fancy, handmade treats. For those of you with parents who enjoy the occasional sugar hit, The Chocolate Spike, located at 119 N. Main St. Suite 103 is an ideal place to find an interesting and undeniably sweet gift. Truffles start at $1.25 each, and fudge, toffee and solid chocolate are $16/lb. The Chocolate Spike also offers sugar-free treats as well as specialty orders. Customized flavors, packaging and labels can really make your parents feel extra special.
Originality is the key when it comes to giving gifts that mean something, and Capone’s Fine Jewelry at 101 N. Main Street specializes in custom designed jewelry. All jewelry is handcrafted, which creates a range of possibilities to design the perfect piece for a special parent.
ART If you’re looking for something truly unique, AJ’s Antiques and Art is the place to visit. AJ’s is a family owned antique and art gallery located at 3635 S. Main Street. Maybe dad would like a vinyl record or some sports memorabilia. AJ’s also stocks vintage jewellery for mom. Prices start at $4.99. The Matrix Gallery, located at 115 N. Main Street, also has arts and crafts to suit a range of tastes. The gallery offers pottery, candles, jewelry, wood and more. The Matrix Gallery prides itself on offering superb creativity and workmanship with each piece, which can help you ensure that your parents will get something made with care and commitment.
TECH MERCHANDISE Remind your parents what they’re spending thousands of dollars on every semester, with a high-quality Tech gift. Coffee mugs and car decals are easy gifts for those on a budget. And for those looking to splurge, consider some serious tailgating supplies, such as a canopy or Tech folding chairs. Don’t forget to check downtown campus emporiums if the bookstores run out of Hokie items during the holiday season.
HOMEMADE CRAFTS Show your creative side this Christmas and design something original. Nothing says “I care about you, but spent all my money partying,” as a homemade card. Mish Mish, located on 125 N. Main Street has all the arts and crafts supplies to get you started. With a range of papers and craft supplies, a homemade Christmas card with a personal touch isn’t far from reach, and you can bet it will stay on the fridge until next year. If you’re up for taking it one step further, a drawing or painting is another possibility to consider.
WEEKEND GETAWAY
Though you probably can’t afford to give them a second honeymoon in the Bahamas, a weekend trip to the scenery-rich Smith Mountain Lake or the Inn at Riverbend can provide mom and dad with a chance to get out of the house and spend some time together. If you’re a little worried about the steep investment, consider collaborating with grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc., to give your parents the gift of relaxation after the hectic holiday season. See smithmountainlakerentals.com or theinnatriverbend.com for pricing and availability.
PORTRAITS Second grade isn’t the only time parents like photos of you with your siblings to put on the mantle. Worried about the cost of a professional photographer? Wal-Mart has a portrait studio for those on more of a budget.
OFFICE GOODS Some parents may appreciate an Earthfriendly gift this Christmas; it may sound strange, but in today’s consumer culture it’s necessary for some activism. Homebody, which specializes in “retail activism,” stocks only sweatshop-free, environmentally sound products. Pick up a handmade notebook or purse for the environmentally conscious parent.
WINE With the price of college these days, your parents are probably drinking wine that costs the same price per gallon as milk. Rescue them from college student-quality wine; splurge and get them a bottle of the finest Pinot Noir your budget will allow. The friendly staff at the Vintage Cellar, 1340 S. Main Street, can even help you choose a delicious, high-quality wine.
GIFT CARDS IN PAIRS If all else fails, gift cards can save you from stressing over what to get and still be a creative and thoughtful gift. If you know your parents like going out for dinner and a movie, get them a pair of gift cards to their favorite restaurant and a nearby theater so that your parents can enjoy a night out at your expense. Many restaurants allow you to order a gift certificate online, so check out a restaurant’s Web site for more information.
Glitches persist in second test of VT Alerts Pritchard fall Monday night ruled intentional THE UNIVERSITY PLANS TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE SYSTEM WITH FURTHER TESTS IN EFFORTS TO BEEF UP COMMUNICATIONS KERRY O’CONNOR
ct news reporter
After two test runs of the new VT Alerts system, users voiced complaints claiming they did not receive any form of alert. This prompted users to ask themselves why some did not receive an alert and what would happen if another emergency situation were to occur on the Virginia Tech campus. “I can understand that if a person believed they were to get a message and they did not how that would raise concern,” said Mark Owczarski, director of Tech’s University Relations. “You want to know if there is an emergency, you will get the message.” The survey following the first test conducted on Oct. 10 reported that out of the roughly 18,000 Tech community members who signed up to VT Alerts, approximately 1,000 did not receive an alert of any kind. “I think the system is a really good idea, so I was disappointed when I didn’t receive a text message during the first test,” said Monica Kelly, a junior marketing major. “A lot of other people I talked to didn’t receive the message either, but it seems they’ve worked things out, because I got the text during the second test.” Owczarski insists this problem was caused by problems such as bad service and incorrect data entries. One of the largest problems was caused by users who signed up to have the first alert sent to members outside the community, such as parents and spouses. Those people outside the community then sent a confirmation to VT alerts acknowledging they received a message,
so the second alert was not sent out to the community member. VT Alerts is actively trying to make students and faculty more aware of how the system works, so they can have a higher level of user satisfaction. The negative feedback in the surveys drastically decreased following the second test conducted on Nov. 14. Only 300 users reported they did not receive any form of alert. The University of Delaware is a campus that also recently experienced a situation involving a gunman this September. James Flatley, director of Public Safety, said the events of April 16 expedited the need for an alert system, and because of this, it were able to use the system during the emergency. “I decided to sign up for the alert system because I want to be informed if something like Virginia Tech happened at UD,” said Stephanie Machacek, junior English and art history major . “It’s scary to think there’d be no way of knowing if there was an attack.” Similar to VT Alerts, the UD alert system runs tests on the first Wednesday of every month. Though Flatley insists the tests have been successful, he admitted to similar problems in reaching every person who signed up to receive the alerts. The University of Maryland alert system reported many of the same problems. SALLY BULLI/SPPS “They did need to tweak the system a little after the test,” said Paul Dillon, a spokesperson Approximately 1,000 users of the 18,000 for the UMD Police Department. “One of the who have signed up did not receive an alert things we found out was you can only have 160 in the system’s second test run. characters in a text message. Some were receiv“We are confident the system is working well, ing the message in 2 parts and some were receivwe are confident the university knows how to ing the second part first.” Though no system can be perfect, the Tech use it correctly, and we will continue to have community hoped to recover a sense of safety tests every semester for no other reason but to after the events of April 16. VT Alerts is one tool make sure you are in touch with what it looks like,” Owczarski said. in regaining some of that safety.
Tech recognized for community outreach ROSANNA BROWN
ct news reporter The National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC) recognized Virginia Tech for its involvement with the community, giving the university a $20,000 donation at the opening plenary session of its annual national meeting in New York City. The Peter Magrath Community Engagement Award was given to Tech by other universities and land grant colleges on Nov. 11. John Dooley, vice provost for outreach and international affairs, said that NASULGC first launched this award last year through the Kellogg Foundation, which is the largest philanthropic organization in the country. Mort Neufville, executive vice president for NASULGC, said that this is the first year that universities were competing for the award Neufville said the award was created to provide
incentive and encouragement for public universities to become more engaged with their community. Neufville said the main criteria for the award was the ability to “demonstrate the extent to which they are engaged in their constituents” and “show how they are committing to economic developments or social developments,” along with exhibiting “how the partners are benefiting from engagement of the universities.” “Tech’s nomination centered around a very ambitious project that the university has been leading in Southside, Virginia over the last six years,” Dooley said. “This is a comprehensive initiative that is focused on helping restore the economy of Southside, Va. through distributive research.” Four major research initiatives were created with the intent to build economic capacity around the projects including polymers, high value forestry and horticulture products, robot-
ics, and high performance engines and motor sports. “I think this reflects very well on the university and its commitment to its outreach efforts,” said university spokesman Mark McNamee, who accepted the $20,000 donation and trophy at the ceremony. McNamee said he had no idea that Tech was going to win the competition and that this award is a milestone for the university. Approximately 34 institutions were competing this year and the presidents of the University of Cincinnati, North Carolina State University, Lincoln University of Missouri, University of Wisconsin, and Oregon State University selected the winner from the top five institutions. The other finalists competing against Tech were Portland State University, Ohio State Universty, University of Connecticut, and University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
THE UNIVERSITY CONFIRMED A FALL FROM THE SEVENTH FLOOR OF PRITCHARD HALL ON MONDAY NIGHT WAS INTENTIONAL, CITING UNDISCLOSED EVIDENCE. KEVIN ANDERSON
ct new river valley editor The death of Virgina Tech student Jonathan Jones on Monday night is said to have been an intentional jump based off of associated evidence. Jones had fallen from the seventh-floor lounge of Pritchard Hall resulting in his death soon after reaching Montgomery Regional Hospital. Larry Hincker, the university spokesperson said that certain pieces of associated evidence “point to an intentional jump.” These pieces of evidence have not yet been released. However, they generally include specifically placed items on the scene that indicate the person’s intentions. However, whether or not the jump itself is suicidal has yet to be officially confirmed by the medical examiner who will be running toxicology tests. A date or time for this confirmation has not yet been set. Owen Puffenberger, a freshman general engineering major at Tech, and a friend of Jones’ from high school said that he was positive, quirky person not capable of such an act. “He was never down or upset about anything,” Puffenberger said. Puffenberger rode back to campus with Jones on Sunday and said that Jones acted the same as he always does. “He was just his normal, quirky self,” he said. Puffenberger also stated that Jones was not the type of character to pull daredevil-type stunts that could cost him his life and that he never expressed anything that suggested he was having problems with anything. Jones was a graduate of Courtland High School in Spotsylvania County. He was the editor-in-chief of his high school newspaper and frequently wrote for the youth sections of his local paper the Freelance Star in Fredericksburg, Va. The investigation of the fall will continue. If anyone has any further information they are urged to call Officer Henley at the Virginia Tech Police at (540) 231-8121.
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