COLLEGIATETIMES
wednesday october 29, 2008 blacksburg, va.
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Remembering Zenobia —BY T. REES SHAPIRO AND ASHLEY OLIVER
ZENOBIA HIKES COULD RALLY THE TROOPS, CONSOLE THE WOUNDED AND INSPIRE THE INTELLECT – ALL WITH A SMILE.
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Z
news BOARD OF VISITORS TO MEET THIS WEEKEND
enobia Hikes’ tremendous absence a day after failing to
Hikes, former vice president for
recover from multiple heart
student affairs, died Monday fol-
surgeries has reverberated among
lowing complications suffered after
her friends, colleagues and fellow
multiple heart valve repair surgery
Hokies who described hers as the
performed on Oct. 7. She remained
warmest personality on campus.
in Johns Hopkins hospital’s inten-
She could also maintain an uncan-
sive care unit for her entire stay, and
nily pristine appearance under pres-
underwent multiple procedures
sure, even in the
There will be a Virginia Tech Board of Visitors meeting at 1:15 p.m. Monday, Nov. 3, in room 2100 of Torgersen Hall. The board will be considering matters on faculty compensation at the new Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and also progress toward renovation projects for McComas Hall and Ambler Johnson Residence Hall.
most messy of circumstances. “She
attempting
“She really embodied the Hokie spirit and what ‘Ut Prosim’ stands for.”
comes
back with this
sports
perfectly ate a chilidog.”
to
stop the valve’s “severe” leaking.
- BRANDON CARROLL JUNIOR, FINANCE MAJOR
She was 53. Tech president
chilidog; I can’t even describe the
Charles Steger has named associate
condiments that were on top of that
vice president for student affairs
thing, because I’m pretty sure there
Ed Spencer interim vice president
might have been some coleslaw,
while the university conducts a
as well,” said Arlane Gordon-Bray,
“nationwide” search for her perma-
undergraduate Board of Visitors
nent replacement.
TECH WOMEN’S TENNIS PLAYERS OUSTED IN PHILLY
representative, of a recent football
Steger said Hikes had the enlight-
game she attended with Hikes in
ened outlook to lead Virginia Tech
the President’s box. “Fork and knife,
to stellar aspirations, and her enor-
The remaining Hokie women’s tennis players, including the doubles team of Jessica Brauwer and Holly Johnson, were eliminated on BRAUWER Monday at the Wilson/ITA East Regional tournament on the campus of the University of JOHNSON Pennsylvania. The team concludes their fall schedule with the Hokie Fall Invitation from Oct. 31-Nov. 2.
(she) eats this chilidog, not a stain to
mous contributions to Tech’s repu-
be seen. I don’t think she even used
tation cannot be easily replaced.
weather
Hikes characterized by caring I was shaken when I checked my inbox to see that Zenobia Hikes had died of heart complications Monday afternoon. Although I never met Hikes, I always respected her. I often saw her around campus, and I could tell that she cared for every student at Virginia Tech by the way she carried herself. After reading all of her accom-
Meet some of the most friendly people on campus — the employees at Au Bon Pain. See a video tribute to Tech’s recently passed Zenobia Hikes, vice president for student affairs.
index News.....................2 Features................5 0pinions................4
Classifieds..............8 Sports....................7 Sudoku..................8
An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 105th year issue 97
John Stevens Junior, mathematics education
Hokie Camp experience Zenobia Hikes was a truly inspirational and supportive leader for all students at Virginia Tech. As a senior undergraduate, I can attest to Hikes’ commitment to the success of our university. Last summer, I participated in Hikes’ inaugural Hokie Camp as a Hokie Camp counselor. Hikes traveled to Smith Mountain Lake on the second day
ct news reporter
MARK UMANSKY/SPPS
Former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore speaks in the Republican headquarters in downtown Blacksburg Tuesday afternoon. Day. “Young people should vote for me because I’m talking about policies that will protect their future. I understand the position students are in. I understand how their families feel,” Gilmore said. Gilmore also said that the recent financial bailout will end up being taken out on students and their families in the form of higher taxes and higher tuitions. “When their family’s household taxes go up, it’s harder to pay tuition. And they’ll come up for financial aid, and maybe they’ll get it and maybe they won’t. Or maybe they’ll end up with a big debt. Or maybe they’ll end up working at night instead of studying. These are the direct impacts the bailout will have on people’s lives,” Gilmore said. While Gilmore’s visit came and went largely under the radar, Warner shared a stage with Google CEO Eric Schmidt in front of a packed house at the Lyric on Oct 23. While Judi Lynch, an administrator in the college of veterinary medicine and faculty advisor to
the Tech College Republicans, was quick to point out that the low turnout was a result of students and faculty having academic responsibilities during Gilmore’s visit, she said that the Alumni Association, which sponsored Warner’s event, had contacted her previously about putting on an event similar to Warner’s. “We were sponsoring the Warner program and would extend the same courtesy to the Gilmore people for a similar program,” said Tom Tillar, vice president for alumni relations. “Because we were involved in the sponsorship of a program that involved a current senatorial candidate, we wanted to make it clear that … we were not endorsing Warner’s campaign and we wanted to make sure that the Gilmore campaign knew that that was the case.” While Tillar offered the Gilmore campaign sponsorship of a similar, non-rally event, the Gilmore campaign declined, Lynch said. “When Gilmore wins, then we’ll take Tom up on his offer,” Lynch added.
of Hokie Camp to participate in the sessions concerning Tech customs and campus involvement. As my co-counselor, Bryce Ferrara, and I led our group of seven freshmen in a discussion on Tech traditions, Hikes joined our circle on the floor of the 4-H Center’s outdoor theater. She was incredibly eloquent and she spoke exceptionally highly of
see IN MEMORY, page two
‘Forum’ gives students voice BECCA THOMAS
After attending Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s rally in Salem Monday night, former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore stopped by Blacksburg’s GOP headquarters yesterday as part of his campaign for the United States Senate. It was the second time that Gilmore has visited Blacksburg during the campaign season. He had previously attended the Obenshain-Dalton Gala on Aug. 22 at the Inn at Virginia Tech. Gilmore spoke on issues from energy independence, taxation and forced unionization, three issues on which his stance, Gilmore said, would eventually tilt the election in his favor. Gilmore spoke to a crowd of 12 supporters, half of which were students. While a recent Washington Post poll staked Gilmore at a chasmesque 30-percentage-point polling deficit to former Virginia governor and Democratic senate candidate Mark Warner, Gilmore said such polling numbers were produced by the “liberal media” to intimidate his supporters. “I’ve seen the polling. You’ve seen the polling. Everybody has seen the polling. … The polling right now is overpowering the issues,” Gilmore said. “And that’s not good. If the public understand where we stand on the issues, we will certainly win.” Gilmore later touted his record in higher education, saying he reduced college tuition across Virginia by 20 percent, and his vision for the future as the top reasons that students should turn out and vote for him on Election
TOMORROW’S CT
It is impossible to replace someone such as Hikes, but her spirit of service should act as an example that all of us must embrace. She will be truly missed, and I thank her sincerely for her passion and desire to help create a stronger community. That passion will live on in all of us.
DAVID GRANT
high 49, low 28
coming up
plishments in the CT yesterday, I cannot help but be more appreciative of what Hikes did for this world. Most importantly, I want to share my deepest gratitude for everything she did for this campus after April 16. The convocation service on April 17 did much to bring this community closer together, and I cannot thank her enough for making that event possible.
Gilmore stops in Blacksburg editor-in-chief
If you see something in today’s paper that needs to be corrected, please e-mail our public editor at publiceditor@collegiatetimes.com, or call 540.231.9865.
see HIKES, page two
in memory
SUNSHINE
corrections
a napkin on her mouth at all. Just
JIM DICKHANS/SPPS
Zenobia Hikes’ desired to create a campus environment where major university decisions were not carried out by distant administrators, but would instead be inspired by the leadership of its outstanding students, said interim vice president for student affairs, Ed Spencer. Upon her arrival, Hikes moved to create open forums for conversation, where students and faculty could voice their concerns and opinions freely. One such event that she proposed occurred last night in the Graduate Life Center where more than 100 people packed the multi-purpose room brimming with ideas and suggestions to better the Virginia Tech community. The forum, sponsored by SGA and the Alliance of Concerned Students, met Tuesday to discuss five issues that concerned the Tech community. The forum continued with five topics being discussed at tables. Each topic was given a 12-minute period of discussion. Facilitators were present at each table to transcribe suggestions and concerns students and faculty members had. The five topics were whether forums for open discussion and students’ thoughts existed on campus; the status of the principles of community at Tech; the environment for Tech’s LGBT students; the growing numbers of each incoming freshman class; professors’ research and whether it has an adverse affect on students’ education; and finally the students’ overall perception of Tech. Students touched on the issue with classroom time and how professors were using the time. “Professors should leave room at the end of class because (usually) they have a set lesson plan,” sophomore biology major Chelsea Bradley said. “They don’t really leave time to answer questions and some students are left in class with many questions.” Another topic that sparked many students’ interest was the growing numbers of incoming freshman classes, including the
class of 2012, the largest in the university’s history. One table discussed the possibility of students choosing Tech over other schools because of the April 16 shootings. Sophomore math major, Danielle Bernabe, was a part of class 2011 — the first incoming freshman class after April 16. “I was a part of the first incoming class after 4/16 and accepted my admittance before” the shootings, Bernabe said. “My mom offered to send me to another school but I wanted to come to Tech for the bond that I would share with the incoming class.” Students also discussed the overcrowding of dining halls and bus system. Sharing their horror stories waiting in line for absurd amounts of time at West End dining hall and Au Bon Pain. The topic concerning professors and whether their research had adverse affects on students’ learning drew much discussion. “Their research affects students when they put it ahead of their classes, cutting down on office hours and sometimes even canceling class,” said senior English and political science major Danny Tinsley. After the five topics were discussed at the round tables, the discussion was then turned over to the entire group. Assistant director of the SGA initiative Hokies on Fire and junior finance major Brandon Carroll, addressed the group. “There is disconnect with faculty members and students and we should set up lunches or meals on campus or downtown to build relationships because we are a community,” Carroll said. The ACS and SGA plan to hold the forum every year, and have monthly meetings for students in the spring. Taris Mullins, senior English major and executive board member for the Alliance of Concerned Students, said they wanted to have the forum to discuss campus issues and concerns the student body is dealing with, and establish an environment with open discussion between students and administration. “The Alliance of Concerned Students was founded in fall 2006 to address issues on
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