COLLEGIATETIMES
tuesday april 1, 2008 blacksburg, va.
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bulletin board COLLEGIATE TIMES INTEREST MEETING The Collegiate Times is currently hiring. We will be holding an interest meeting on tonight at 5 p.m. in Squires 342 for anyone interested in a staff position. For more information on working for the CT, log on to www.collegemedia.com/join.
news WUVT TURNS 60 Virginia Tech’s student radio station, WUVT 90.7, will celebrate its 60th anniversary on the air this month. To commemorate the event, WUVT will be holding Radiothon, its semiannual pledge-drive. The fundraiser, which will last until April 6, will feature live around-the-clock DJs and will include remote broadcasts from the Drillfield, Squires Student Center and several other locations throughout the week. Like the Collegiate Times, WUVT’s parent company is The Educational Media Company at Virginia Tech.
sports WASHINGTON TO BE IN DUNK CONTEST Tech forward Deron Washington has been selected to participate in the 20th annual State Farm College Slam Dunk Competition. The Hokie senior gained national recognition for his explosive dunking style during his Tech career, several times being named to ESPN’s Sportscenter Top 10 Plays. Washington will be competing against James Gist of Maryland, J.R. Giddens of New Mexico, Patrick Ewing Jr., of Georgetown, Brian Randle of Illinois, Joey Dorsey of Memphis, Will Bullard of Texas A&M-Corpus Cristi and Sonny Weems of Arkansas
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CHARGERS
Today’s young adult’s lives are run by technology, and a few months is an eternity to go without a cell phone or laptop. Make sure you remember chargers for all of your electronics.
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CURRENCY
Money is tricky when traveling abroad. You can convert your dollars to foreign currency at most major airports. There is also the option to purchase travelers’ checks. Many major credit cards are accepted internationally, but you’ll need to check the specifics with your bank. Before leaving, alert your bank if you plan to use your account while abroad.
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OUTLET CONVERTER
Electrical outlets are shaped differently in different countries, but voltage or outlet adapters can be purchased at any electronic or general-goods store. If you plan on using electronics at your final destination, you’ll need an adapter that fits the outlets used in whatever country you’ll be visiting.
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MEDICATIONS
It may be difficult to obtain medications abroad, so if you regularly require a prescription, be sure to bring enough to last you while traveling abroad.
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COMMUNICATION
Most study-abroad residences or classrooms have Internet access, and many countries have Internet cafes where you can access the Internet, but be prepared to pay. You can also get an international calling card or cell phone package for your trip abroad.
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DOCUMENTATION
Don’t forget a camera or camcorder if you have one. Bring plenty of batteries, for many students; you’ll want photos and mementos you can reflect on for years to come.
SCATTERED SHOWERS high 64, low 42
corrections “Athletic success leads to admissions,” (CT, March 28) should have read, “Norrine Bailey Spencer, director of Undergraduate Admissions, said (she) feels as though the storied athletic program at Tech has helped to give the university exposure.” “Hokies pull off monumental upset of U.S. Team,” (CT, March 28) had several mistakes. Head coach Scot Thomas’ name was misspelled. The DePaul Blue Demons, not the Blue Devils, played the field before the Hokies. “Birth control prices settle down after skyrocketing,” (CT, March 28) was incorrect. The pharmacist’s staff places the birth control orders. The practitioners ask if there is a particular pill or other method patients want to try. The Collegiate Times regrets these errors.
index News.....................2 Features................4 0pinions................5
Sports....................6 Classifieds..............7 Sudoku..................7
An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 105th year • issue 41
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DOCUMENTS
Keep your legal documents, including passport, visa, identification and anything else with sensitive information at hand and close by at all times. Make photocopies of all of your documents to keep in your suitcase.
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Settlement deadline extended
pack your suitcase full
STUDY ABROAD MUST-HAVES
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ct news reporter Grant Gardner, a junior marketing major at Virginia Tech, and Matt Cortina, a junior at Rutgers University, often passed time at a coffee shop in their hometown of Flemington, N.J. In December 2006, they became tired of playing chess or Scrabble and decided to do something proactive and inspiring to people across the nation. On May 14, the best friends will begin their trek across America on bikes, planting one million trees along the way. Gardner said that they wanted to head a project in which everyone could take part. “We wanted to inspire people,” Gardner said. Gardner and Cortina met in sixth grade and have been close friends since. After growing up in the same town, the two went in different directions for college. As a marketing major, Gardner handles the business side of the endeavor, while Cortina, an English and linguistics major, is the project’s secretary. Although Gardner said he “wasn’t necessarily actively involved in environmental projects” before this one, he has been interested in bicycling for a while. He has played football since he was five and played several other sports throughout high school, but problems with his knees meant he needed to find a low-impact sport. “Bicycling became my new thing to take on as far as a challenge,” Gardner said. He has been training extensively to prepare for the journey, which will have he and Cortina cycling up to 120 miles a day. Last Wednesday, Gardner completed his longest route so far — the nearly 80 trip from Blacksburg to Roanoke and back. Cortina recently rode 50 miles from his
BOV discusses campus security
FROM EXCHANGING CURRENCY TO GETTING AN INTERNATIONAL CALLING CARD, PREPARATIONS FOR STUDYING ABROAD CAN BE CUMBERSOME. GRAB YOUR CHECKLIST AND MAKE SURE YOU’VE COVERED THE BASES ASHLEY OLIVER
ct associate news editor Before departing for their destinations abroad, students planning to study overseas encounter many clerical tasks involved with the preparations of their travels. The Institute of International Education reported that a total of 223,534 students in the U.S. studied abroad in 2007. This translates to several hundreds of thousands of students seeking details on passport arrangements, money-saving opportunities and class credit. One of the largest concerns for students are the expenses involved with going abroad, said Jeremy Billetdeaux, senior program coordinator for the Office of International Research, Education, and Development at Virginia Tech. He offered some general tips for students who desire to reduce their spending while on their international ventures. Billetdeaux advised for students to choose a destination where the dollar is doing well and to apply for scholarships. “There’s money through Virginia Tech and through outside sources,” Billetdeaux said. He also noted his surprise in how many scholarship opportunities are actually available to prospective travelers. A Web site, www.stu dyabroadfunding.org, created by IIE contains much of this information. Some students are also eligible to receive financial aid for studying abroad. LeToya Young, assistant for the Office of Financial
Bikers on a mission to plant one million trees CANDACE SIPOS
The deadline for the April 16 victims’ families who were offered the chance to take a settlement in exchange for waiving their rights to sue has been extended from its original date of March 31. The new date by which the families must respond to the offer is April 7. “The families have been given one more week to indicate their willingness to accept the proposed settlement offer,” said an anonymous source associated with the proposal. An attorney associated with the negotiations also suspected that the deadline for families to accept might be pushed back even further if necessary. The settlement itself includes giving $100,000 to each of the 32 families of those killed and up to $100,000 to everyone who was injured. If enough families accept the proposal by the current April 7 deadline, lawsuits for gross negligence, which at least 20 families have talked of filing by the April 16 cut-off date, will be avoided. Both sources spoke on the condition of anonymity because the settlement negotiations are still confidential. — Ashley Oliver, CT news staff
Aid, said that students could potentially receive money just as they would while at Tech provided they have a completed and valid FAFSA available. “It’s the same for study abroad, you make sure you have your free application for federal student aid on file,” Young said. Also, a U.S. passport is required for students to enter and leave most foreign countries; however, obtaining a passport can involve a long and costly process. The government states that it will usually take about six weeks for a passport, which costs approximately $100, to process. A visa, not to be confused with the credit card, is a stamp of approval, usually inside the passport. This is often an additional necessity for students to journey abroad for lengthier periods of time. As Billetdeaux explained, the requirements for a visa vary from semester to semester. Billetdeaux said that the Office of International Resource, Education, and Development is a source that has proved to be helpful to students when they are considering education abroad. “We’re very student centered, and we try to find programs that are going to match up with student’s personal and academic needs,” Billetdeaux said. Today, the most popular countries for Tech students to study abroad are Australia, England, France, Italy, Spain and New
ROY T. HIGASHI/SPPS
Provost Mark McNamee speaks during yesterday’s BOV meeting.
GORDON BLOCK
ct news reporter Faculty, administrators and staff gathered in Torgersen Hall Monday afternoon for the quarterly Virginia Tech Board of Visitors meeting. The discussion centered on the April 16 shootings, as well as Tech athletes’ academic success and the naming of the new medical school. One of the major points for discussion was plans and improvements involving April 16. President Charles Steger announced that the April 16 memorial on the Drillfield is a permanent installation. Steger also addressed the board on improvements inspired by the events of that day, especially in the area of school safety. Student support was a major focus for the upgrades in security. “It’s not going to be successful if it does not enjoy the support of the university community,” Steger said. “It doesn’t matter what changes you make, it will not work without community support.” New changes include LED signs in classrooms and closed-circuit television cameras strategically located around campus. The LED signs would just show the time and date on regular days, and then
see SUITCASE, page two
see BOARD, page two
Twice is nice
New Jersey campus to his hometown. The bikers will be stopping for a few days in 56 towns along their trail to set up workshops and teach people how to plant trees. They are working with many schools and local organizations, as well as requesting donations of seedlings from local and state nurseries. “Ideally, we would have already contacted some organization in the town to help sponsor the event with us,” Cortina said. “It’s not this huge, advertised event, but we hope through local media and volunteers, word will get out.” So far, the tactic has worked. Local media have covered the event, and the bikers received their biggest break when a producer from the Martha Stewart Show called offering airtime for the story.
“Bicycling became my new thing to take on as far as a challenge.” - GRANT GARDNER TECH JUNIOR “It’s a very key human interest story,” said Emily Flohre, associate producer of the Martha Stewart Show. “They’re young, and we love doing stories about the environment.” Gardner said that his nerves kept him up all night after he got the call about the show. “I was just laying in bed thinking of every embarrassing thing I could say,” Gardner said. Gardner said he usually finds himself fine talking in front of an audience, which will be about 200 for the show. The cameras, however, will present the problem. “As long as I block the cameras out, I’ll be fine,”
ROY HIGASHII/SPPS
Phil Vassar reaches down to shake the hand of an audience member during his concert last night in Burruss Auditorium. Vassar returned to Blacksburg after participating in the Concert for Virginia Tech in Lane Stadium last September. Visit our Web site to view a photo gallery of the concert.
see TREES, page two
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