COLLEGIATETIMES MORVA FOUND GUILTY
wednesday march 12, 2008 blacksburg, va.
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pop quiz
HOW WELL DO YOU KEEP UP WITH NEWS?
1. Actor Patrick Swayze is being treated for what kind of cancer? A. Lung C. Pancreatic B. Liver D. Prostate 2. Former Cardinal catcher Ted Simmons will be a coach this year with what team? A. Cardinals C. Dodgers B. Royals D. Brewers 3. Besides Texas and Ohio, what other two states held primaries on Tuesday? A. Maine and Vermont B. Vermont and Rhode Island C. Rhode Island and Massachusetts D. Massachusetts and Connecticut 4. A gym at Harvard has banned what for a few hours each week? A. iPods C. Gatorade B. Men D. Cell phones 5. Which TV chef was fired because of an embellished resume? A. Rachael Ray B. Emeril Lagasse C. Robert Irvine D. Bobby Flay
ASHLEY OLIVER
ct associate news editor William Morva was convicted of all seven charges he faced, including three counts of capital murder, after a three-day trial in Abingdon yesterday. Morva, 26, was found responsible for killing an unarmed hospital security guard, Derrick McFarland, as well as sheriff’s Cpl. Eric Sutphin of the Blacksburg Police Department following his escape from Montgomery Regional Hospital. Morva was also convicted of an additional count of capital murder for killing two people within three years. On August 20, 2006, after complaining of a sprained ankle, Morva was taken to Montgomery Regional Hospital from Montgomery County Jail, where he was being held on charges of robbery. After using a restroom at the hospital, he overpowered the deputy guarding him with a toilet paper dispenser, shot and killed McFarland and fled from the hospital. His escape prompted a
36-hour manhunt by police in the area. On the following morning of Aug. 21, he killed Sutphin, who was on bicycle patrol while participating in the search for Morva on Huckleberry trail. During the hunt for Morva, Virginia Tech canceled the first day of classes and closed the campus. In addition to the three counts of capital murder, Morva faced two counts of use of a firearm in commission of a felony, one count of assault and battery of a police officer, and one count of escape with force, according to the Commonwealth Attorney’s Web site. It took the jury three and a half hours to deliberate before a verdict was reached. Morva’s trial, which lasted for three days, was moved to Washington County after an unsuccessful jury selection in Montgomery County. The defense was concerned that Morva could not receive a fair trial because of the case’s high profile in the area. Morva’s brother, Michael Akos Morva, was charged with conspiring to escape after allegedly plotting an escape with his brother in January
2006 while the two were in jail for robbery charges. According to the Associated Press, Montgomery County Commonwealth’s Attorney Brad Finch described Morva as a cold-blooded killer. The defense argued that Morva Morva suffered “mental problems and severe sinus and digestive difficulties” and “felt a building sense of frustration” while being held in jail for charges of theft. Testimonies from a number of witnesses aided the trial, including those from nurses Dawn Doss and Melissa Epperly who were working at the Montgomery Regional hospital on the day Morva escaped. Both said they attempted to save McFarland after he was shot. Epperly testifed that she experiences haunting memories whenever she walks down that particular hallway of the building. The jury will now begin the sentencing process MATT GENTRY/ASSOCIATED PRESS which will conclude with a sentence of either the death penalty or life in prison, the only two pun- William Morva watches juror questioning in a ishments for capital murder in Virginia. Montgomery County courtroom in the fall.
Greenberg’s got a pair
Concealed carry debate continues
ANSWERS: 1. C. Swayze is being treated for pancreatic cancer. 2. D. Simmons will be a bench coach with the Milwaukee Brewers. 3. B. Vermont and Rhode Island held primaries on Tuesday. 4. B. For a few hours each week, the gym will be open to women only. 5. C. Irvine was canned after his resume was shown to be padded. — St. Louis Post-Dispatch
CALEB FLEMING
ct news reporter The national officers for Students for Concealed Carry on Campus have called upon the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence board of directors to participate in an open debate on the issue of the right to carry concealed weapons on college campuses. Controversy arose between the two groups after Peter Hamm, communication director for the Brady Campaign, said that the SCCC was acting as a pawn of pro-gun lobbyists. The SCCC steadfastly denied the claim, issuing a press release to clarify that it is funded solely by donations of its members, but Hamm remains unconvinced. While he said he knows little about how it receives their contributions, Hamm noted several aspects of the SCCC campaign that are questionable.
sports TINCHER LOOKING FOR RECORD TODAY IN DOUBLEHEADER Senior pitcher Angela Tincher will look to break the school record for career victories when the Hokies (15-8) host UNC-Greensboro (9-13) for a doubleheader today starting at 5 p.m. Tincher, an All-American in 2007, is currently tied with Ashlee Dobbe with 93 wins. Tincher is 93-28 in her pitching career for Tech, and is 8-4 this season for the No. 24 Hokies.
“Our position is the same as it always has been; we don’t believe that guns belong in the classroom.” - LARRY HINCKER UNIVERSITY RELATIONS
MOSTLY SUNNY high 56, low 36
corrections “Committee assists Tech with April 16 research,” (CT, March 11) had a mistake. Jack Finney is the Associate Dean of Science at Tech. The Collegiate Times regrets this error.
coming up TOMORROW’S CT See how Angela Tincher and the softball team fare against UNCGreensboro today in tomorrow’s CT.
index News.....................2 Features................3 0pinions................5
Classifieds..............6 Sports....................7 Sudoku..................6
An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 105th year • issue 30
main concern is how we’re going to find a way to win more games.” Greenberg is 85-68 during his tenure in Blacksburg, which dates back to 2003. In the six years prior to his arrival, the basketball program went 69-101. “I’m just delighted that coach Greenberg is our men’s basketball coach,” said director of athletics Jim Weaver. “He’s done an outstanding job in his five years at Virginia Tech … (He has) communi-
see COACH, page eight
see CARRY, page two
MIKE SHROYER/SPPS
Seth Greenberg talks with players during a preseason practice in November. Greenberg was named ACC Coach of the Year yesterday.
MEN’S BASKETBALL HEAD COACH SETH GREENBERG WAS NAMED THE ACC COACH OF THE YEAR YESTERDAY FOR THE SECOND TIME CHARLES R. BARRINEAU
weather
“They seem to have money to spend,” Hamm said. “They claim to be funded by their members, but when I was in college I had a hard time finding money for Friday nights. Yet, they have fancy press conferences. They must have really good class schedules, because they always have time to go on TV.” Hamm noted that the donations to the SCCC prove that they have received funding from the gun industry, but he does not view this as a negative aspect of the SCCC campaign. “(SCCC media coordinator) W. Scott Lewis has already conceded that they are taking things for free from the gun industry, so the question is how much,” Hamm said. “The point I made, he has already confirmed. There is nothing wrong with that though, because this is America. If the gun owners of America want to offer free advice to young men who agree with them on policy, they are entitled to that.” Lewis maintained that his organization is not funded by gun lobbyists, but rather American citizens who are supportive of their cause.
ct associate sports editor Virginia Tech head basketball coach Seth Greenberg was named Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year Tuesday afternoon. It was the second time in Virginia Tech’s four seasons as a league member that Greenberg has received the award. He also received it after the 2004-05 season when his Hokies also exceeded expectations and finished fourth in league play. “There are a lot of great coaching staffs in our conference this year,” Greenberg said. “It’s flattering that people would think our staff maximized our team’s potential.” Greenberg says that success is not an instantaneous thing. It takes time. “It’s been a process of changing culture and then creating a new one,” Greenberg said. “Having the community and student body embrace us and to
GREENBERG’S RESUME
develop a relationship with our students and the community has been key ingredient … We work extremely hard to develop that relationship.” The Hokies were picked to finish No. 10 in the league by members of the media, and lower by many basketball publications, but fought their way to a 9-7 conference record and a bye in the first round of this week’s ACC Tournament. Although Coach of the Year is an individual award, Greenberg is the first to state that it takes a team for him to be recognized. “It’s a testament to our players, our coaching staff and our sports staff,” Greenberg said. “There’s a lot of people that go into that thing.” Despite the accolades, Greenberg acknowledges that his work this season is far from complete and that he can’t afford to rest on the award. “The most important thing is trying to win as many games as we can — that’s the goal,” Greenberg said. “These type of things are a byproduct of your players playing well and winning games and my
2007-08: 18-12 (9-7) 2006-07: 22-12 (10-6), third in ACC, NCAA tournament appearance 2005-06: 14-16 (4-12) 2004-05: 16-14 (8-8), NIT appearance 2003-04: 15-14 (7-9, Big East) CAREER AT TECH: 85-68, ACC coach of the year 2005, 2008
Industrial Design students develop HydroSpine rescue device THE HYDROSPINE TEAM MEMBERS PLAN TO PRESENT THE RESCUE DEVICE THEY DEVELOPED IN MAY AT THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SEARCH AND RESCUE CONFERENCE KERRY O’CONNOR
ct news reporter Flood safety acted as the inspiration for four College of Architecture and Urban Studies students who created a swift-water victim-transport harness used for victims of flood injuries. They were able to test their design in both the War Memorial and McComas pool facilities. The HydroSpine harness was created by
senior industrial design majors Liz Varnerin, Kyle Schumaker and Matt Zacherle, as well as Tech alumnus and industrial design major Brian Sandifer, as a class assignment in a fourthyear industrial design studio that focused on disaster solutions. “We definitely got some really weird looks,” Varnerin said. “This lady came over to us and said ‘uh, what are you doing?’ because we had somebody in the pool with foam duct taped to their body.”
The group of students began thinking about flood situations and decided to come up with a product to assist the rescue process. The HydroSpine is designed to address a serious problem: neck and spinal injuries are the most difficult to handle because further movement of the neck or spine could result in long-term injuries. “Any time you’re dealing with flood water, you’re dealing with moving water with tremendous amounts of power,” said George Lewis, a swift-water rescue instructor and owner of Rescue3 Virginia in Front Royal. “Usually, you’re then dealing with trauma. After checking the ABCs (airway, breathing, and circula-
tion), the first thing we check is cervical spine control.” The team went to Front Royal to watch Lewis instruct a boat operation class and obtain more knowledge of the rescuers’ job. Schumaker actually participated in the class, while the others watched to find ways they could improve their prototype. “We never expected the feedback we got,” Varnerin said. “When we brought it to Front Royal, that’s when we realized we really had something going for us.” Other research included a survey sent to
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see HARNESS, page two