Tuesday, January 20, 2009 Print Edition

Look on collegiatetimes.com for a digital archive containing newly-released April 16 documents. Selected excerpts may be found on page B1.

COLLEGIATETIMES

tuesday january 20, 2009 blacksburg, va.

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VT ENGAGE OFFERS AID TO IOWANS As part of the VT Engage program, members of the Iowa Chapter of the Virginia Tech Alumni Association will pass out goodie bags today to students on the University of Iowa campus to show support to the state that endured summer floods in 2008.

sports MARTIN PLAYS IN EAST-WEST SHRINE GAME Tech defensive end Orion Martin, who just completed his senior season, took part in the 84th Annual East-West Shrine Game – an annual showcase for college all-stars. The Martinsville native was the lone Hokie on the East - which won 24-19 on Saturday in Houston.

tomorrow’s weather SNOW SHOWERS high 25, low 13

Young speaks on MLK’simpact, youth GORDON BLOCK

ct news reporter On Monday evening, Andrew Young, an adviser and close friend of Martin Luther King Jr., spoke in Burruss Hall as the keynote speaker for Virginia Tech’s fourth annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration. Young achieved numerous successes in his political career as a three-term senator while also having been selected by President Jimmy Carter as American ambassador to the United Nations, becoming the first African American to hold that post.

As mayor of Atlanta, he was instrumental in bringing the Summer Olympic Games, one of the most successful Olympics in recent history, to the city in 1996.

Before speaking, Young took a few minutes to sit down with the Collegiate Times.

COLLEGIATE TIMES: Today would be Martin Luther King Jr.’s 80th birthday. What do you think he would say about the progress African Americans have made in America today?

YOUNG: I think he would be awestruck. We couldn’t see clearly how fast we could go once we got started. If I had said to him walking from Selma to Montgomery in 1965 that I wanted to be a congressman or a mayor and an ambassador to the UN, he would’ve said ‘It won’t happen that easily. Maybe our grandchildren, but not our generation.’ Because of his life and his death, I think we made this progress. He’d be very well pleased.

Young pointed out similarities between King and newly elected President Barack Obama.

BRIAN CLAY/SPPS

YOUNG: He and Barack Obama are the same kind of folk. They Andrew Young speaks in Burruss Hall’s auditorium last night in honor Martin Luther King Day. Young regaled the crowd don’t take themselves too seriously, they’re good scholars. with stories of King’s youth and exploits at the YMCA as well as more traditional MLK themes.

That connection also extended to the hardwood.

YOUNG: We (King and Young) ended up in a basketball game, and it turned out that he was a pretty good basketball player. Though he was only 5’7”, he could shoot with either hand. And I thought about it, when Barack made that long three point shot in Iraq, I thought to myself, ‘Uh oh, God is with this man.’ Michael Jordan couldn’t just walk onto the court and make a shot like that.

CT: Over this past weekend, with Barack Obama about to be inaugurated into the presidency, there’s been a lot of comparisons between him and Martin Luther King and his legacy. Do you worry that we’re setting our expectations too high for President Obama?

YOUNG: I don’t. He’s as well trained and he has so much more to

work with. Martin Luther King had $600,000 a year, that’s the most we ever had, and that was right after Selma. He (Obama) had $600 million to run for president. We didn’t have telephones, much less cell phones. Television was brand new. The means of communication that were at Martin Luther King’s disposal were primitive.

CT: At Virginia Tech, African Americans make up about 4 percent of the student body, while nationally African Americans make up about 13.5 percent of the population. Are universities nationwide doing enough to spur diversity in the classroom?

YOUNG: Well … they’re not. It’s probably one of the things that probably can’t be done on the university level. It could be done if you take some of your young graduates and put them in public

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.

coming up TOMORROW’S CT Look to see how Tech students and area residents celebrated President Obama’s inauguration.

Peruse April 16-related documents recently released by the CT on our Web site.

MLK Vigil Date: Tuesday, January 20 Time: 5:30 - 6 p.m.

Location: In front of War Memorial Chapel

News.....................2 Features................4 0pinions................5

Classifieds..............6 Sports....................8 Sudoku..................6

An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 105th year • issue 112

YOUNG: He grew up in the YMCA, so he could shoot pool, play ping pong, swim, baseball, basketball. He was pretty fast on his feet.

The other thing was he thought he was short and ugly, and that he had to compensate for this by working hard in school.

RILEY PRENDERGAST

CT NEWS REPORTER

Date: Wednesday, January 21 Time: 1:30 - 4 p.m.

Location: Squires Info Booth A

Service Activity: Making a Difference for Children Date: Thursday, January 22 Time: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Location: Squires Info Booth A

Service Activity: Giving Back to Create a Sustainable Community Date: Friday, January 23 Time: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Location: Squires Info Booth A

Virginia Tech began its annual celebration of the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. with a presentation coordinated by the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. The presentation featured a performance by Shyrah Thomas, speeches by Nana “T-chee” Kum, President of the Theta Iota Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and Michael Goode, student co-chair for the university MLK celebrations.

Also featured was world-renowned keynote speaker Ambassador Andrew Young. Young was a major part of the civil rights movement, working closely with King, but also served as a Congressman, mayor of Atlanta, humanitarian, as well as being an ordained minister.

“Young is not only an accomplished man, but also a dear brother,” Kum said in his greeting from the brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.

Young’s keynote address deviated from the normal format of speech relating to the life of King. He did not so much focus on the icon that King represented for so many, but more on the man, the friend and the closet skilled basketball player.

“Most people don’t know this, but Martin went to college at

15 … through the Ford Foundation. He also received a C in public speaking,” Young said.

“He was only 5’7” and he though that he was ugly, so he needed to learn lines to try and talk to girls,” Young joked, “He memorized Shakespeare and developed his public speaking skills just trying to get a girlfriend.”

After King gained a degree in theology and continued on to his PhD., he moved his family to Montgomery, Ala., which at the time was just a “sleepy town,” Young said.

While acting as a young minister of only 25, King was named the leader of the coordination of churches within Montgomery.

“They chose him because he was young and new and nobody knew him yet,” Young said, “He didn’t have any enemies yet.”

But as he regaled the crowed with personal memories of the man he knew as a close friend, he established the parallels between the famed civil and human rights activist and President-elect Barack Obama.

“Obama won the nomination on the anniversary of the “I have a dream” speech. Coincidence? You can decide, but I don’t believe it was. I believe coincidences are just a way for God to remain anonymous,” Young said. “Barack will be sworn in while we celebrate the life of Martin Luther King,

see MLK, page 2

SARA SPANGLER/COLLEGIATE TIMES

Diverse community groups gather to celebrate King’s legacy GORDON BLOCK

ct news reporter

index

CT: What’s something an average college student may not know about Martin Luther King?

Young: ‘Martin would have been so proud’

MLK Events

Service Activity: The Power of Words

corrections

schools in poor areas to teach math in 4th grade. In Georgia we have maybe 6 percent, but we do pretty well in the universities because we have a Hope scholarship. Any student who has a B average in high school can go to a Georgia college for free.

Local community groups were out in full force to celebrate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Tech hosted its fourth annual MLK Community Breakfast Monday morning. The breakfast, which recognized winners of a local poster and essay competition, also featured a speech from Elaine Dowe Carter, executive director of the recently re-established Christiansburg Institute. Carter focused on the importance of education in the civil rights movement.

“That didn’t come to Martin because he was Martin,” Carter

said of King. “He learned it through the institutions, the churches, the schools, the academies. He grew into being what he was.” Carter also called for students to strive to be more like King. Carter noted many students downplay their ability to contribute due to King’s legacy.

“Because of your very human nature, you are equal to Martin Luther King,” Carter said.

On Sunday Christiansburg High School’s auditorium was nearly full despite the cold weather for the annual NAACP Community Celebration, sponsored by the Montgomery County, Radford City, and Floyd County branches of the NAACP. The ceremony marked the 100th

anniversary of the organization’s founding.

After inducting its new officers and a number of musical performances from local groups, the stage was given to Rev. Robbie R. Morganfield, pastor of the St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Laurel, Md. Morganfield focused on turning the symbolism of the inauguration of Barack Obama into action.

“We cannot afford to get so caught up in celebrating the milestone that we fail to graduate from celebration to actualization,” Morganfield said.

“We cannot afford to deify this moment by embracing the symbol as God while rejecting

its ideas.” Morganfield called on audience members to support the newly elected president.

“We elected the man, but that man should not solve all our problems alone,” Morganfield said. “We must become active participants in this problem solving endeavor.” After the event, Rev. Glenn Orr, newly inducted President of the NAACP branch, thanked students who were involved with the Obama campaign.

COURTESY OF OFFICE EQUITY AND INCLUSION “Students made a difference Students from Christiansburg Middle School display their in getting Obama elected,” Orr awards from the fourth Martin Luther King Jr. essay contest. said. “Any student who can’t see their connection to a NAACP The university will continue ending with the 12th Annual agenda, if they’ll just remain connected to Barack Obama’s its celebration of Martin Luther Diversity Summit Friday, Jan. King Jr. throughout the week, 30. agenda, they’ll see the overlap.”

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tuesday, january 20, 2009

page 2

New system eases stub swapping between hoops season ticket holders JUSTIN GRAVES

ct news reporter The athletics department has introduced a new program to fill more seats in Cassell Coliseum with the student body and Blacksburg community.

The month-old Hokie Share aims to fill Cassell to full capacity during all of the home basketball games.

After many fans expressed disdain at the former system where some season ticket holders wouldn’t make the trek to Blacksburg to support the basketball team, leaving Cassell noticeably empty, Hokie Share hopes to safely and effectively transfer tickets to those who will be able to make it to the game.

Through Hokie Share, season ticket holders who cannot attend a particular game have the opportunity to electronically pass their single-game tickets to those who can in just five steps.

First, the season-ticket holder logs onto his or her account on hokietickets.com. Students are familiar with this because it is the same Web site used to enter both the football and basketball lotteries for student section tickets.

After logging in, there is an option to select “Hokie Share” while managing tickets. Under this menu, there are various games available to “Hokie Share.” After the game is selected, the ticket holder must fill out and submit minor details before the process is complete.

When tickets are transferred, the original barcode on the ticket is changed to a new one that is issued electronically as the ticket is being shared. The recipient then receives a real-time e-mail notification that a ticket has been offered, at which time they can use print their newly barcoded ticket.

Perhaps one of the most exciting options that the new program gives Tech is the opportunity to share tickets with local charities. Local branches of organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club, the Salvation Army, the Agency for Persons with Mental Retardation, the YMCA and NRV Cares all have contact information listed on the Hokie Tickets Web site as options to share tickets.

Contrarily, some have already expressed disdain with some of its procedures. For example, there is no open sharing process, and thus a Hokie fan picks exactly who they would like to receive their ticket. The transfer process can only happen once, and if that person is not able to attend the game then the ticket goes unused. If a canceled ticket is used for admittance after the transaction has been completed, ticket privileges will be revoked by the athletics department.

Also, a $4 fee is charged for each Hokie Share transaction. This is charged to the credit card that one must have on file in order to register for Hokie Share.

The ticket sender can either decide

to pay the fee themselves, or pass it onto the person with whom they are sharing their ticket.

Through the program, season ticket holders are permitted to transfer tickets up to nine hours before the game.

However, the entire transfer must be completed, meaning the individual must accept and print their new ticket, no less than six hours before the game.

Also, if season ticket holders change their mind about sharing the ticket, they can cancel the share before the recipient accepts or after they reject the ticket transfer.

And while the Hokie Share program will fill the seats, Hokie Effect is another facet that seeks to increase school spirit at the basketball games.

Most students are familiar with the Maroon and Orange effects from the football season in Lane Stadium, and now there are similar initiatives for the basketball teams.

Stephen Gillett, Hokie Effect director, is known for helping finalize design of the T-shirts and other initiatives that the program has.

“I think that our basketball team certainly has the potential to reach the same level of recognition as our football team. If you examine the history of Virginia Tech football, our team was hardly a national contender prior to the mid-90s,” Gillett said.

“It took a dedicated and talented coach paired with great athletes to achieve the level of recognition that our football team now has,” he added.

“I think that Coach Greenberg has

the ability to enhance our basketball program in much the same way and has demonstrated this ability in the successes of the past few seasons.”

Jack Chatham has been assistant ticket manager for Tech athletics since June of 2007. As a department, it is their job to make every Tech sporting event a dynamic experience and one that portrays the university in a positive light.

“I see no reason why we cannot reach the same level of success in basketball that we currently enjoy in football,” Chatham said. “I think you’ll see us have much success in the ACC in the coming years, especially after construction on the new basketball facility is complete. Don’t forget, last year we were one shot away from defeating UNC and advancing to the ACC title game. Winning that game likely gets us into the NCAA Tournament. Success breeds success, and I think you’ll see that in the coming years.”

“The Hokie Share program has great potential. It seems a simple and effective way to put as many fans in Cassell for every game as possible,” Gillett said. “I have always been bothered by the fact that students were unable to get tickets to a game, and then when I showed up there were dozens of empty seats.

[The] program will make it easier for students to enjoy Hokies Basketball and will help our program by showing competitors that we have just as dedicated and energetic fan base as any other NCAA school.”

MLK: Young speaks from page one

coincidence? Again, you decide.”

One instance that stood out as a major link between the two was a childhood experience of Obama’s mother. His grandparents had originally been from Texas, but “their daughter used to play with a little black girl in the neighborhood.

Their white neighbors began to throw rocks at the two girls. They decided that they did not want their children growing up in that kind of a place. Barack was raised in a family who had stood up against racism in a time when that was not normal behavior,” Young said.

But he also focused on the glaring disparities between the two.

“Barack Obama has an international birthright, something that Martin Luther King never had,” said Young, “The truth of it is, the religious and cultural influences in his (Obama’s) life were almost all, non-black.”

He also pointed out the financial disparity.

“Obama can do so much more with what he has. Martin had a budget of $600,000 for a year even after Selma. Obama has a budget of $600 million,” said Young.

Young did openly admit, however, that he was not an instant supporter of Obama.

“I had known Hillary since her college days, she is a close family friend. I would not support a candidate based only on his race, and I wanted to support a friend. I feel that I was following what Martin was teaching,” Young said.

But he has come to change his

mind, talking about how he will be at the inauguration, just as proud as anyone else.

“I’ve never had any romance about inauguration. I would much prefer to celebrate this moment prayerfully in private. Martin would have been so proud … He would have been in awe of how far we have come,” Young said, as he lost his poise for a brief moment in the press conference.

“Martin’s life was about service, but he never wanted to be the “Good Samaritan” figure,” Young said, “I remember he told me one time, ‘I admire the Good Samaritan, but I don’t want to be one. I don’t want to pick people up on the crooked Jericho road after they have been beaten and robbed. I want to straighten out the Jericho Road.’”

His answers took a more somber turn in the press conference when the topic came up of how he came back from witnessing the assassination of King.

“He used to say that ‘We’re not going to come out of this alive,’ he wasn’t afraid to die,” Young said, “He would say, ‘You have no choice, you’re going to die. The thing is what are you going to die for? I’d rather die for what I believe in.’”

Since that day that shaped helped shape the history of our nation, Young believes America has finally hit what he called the “final stage.”

“I couldn’t believe that America, not just the youth and African Americans, but America voted for Obama. It shows that we have finally stopped allowing race to guide our decisions,” Young said

look down.

pick up.

page 3

tuesday, january 20, 2009

Family, friends remember Greg Weiner SARA MITCHELL

ct university editor The family of a Virginia Tech student who died from injuries sustained from a skateboarding accident on campus has created a foundation in his name to promote helmet safety.

The Gregory Weiner Foundation honors the freshman engineer who fell off a skateboard on Monday, Dec. 15, while riding down Aggie Quad the road that WEINER Lane, leads from West End toward Slusher Hall.

According to his friends who witnessed the accident, Weiner was riding around the corner when the skateboard slipped from under him and he fell backward, hitting his head. Weiner was not wearing a helmet. His friends called Virginia Tech police, who were at the scene with the rescue squad within

minutes.

After being airlifted to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, Weiner underwent various surgeries to his head. By Saturday evening — Dec. 20 — he was pronounced dead.

Friends and family of Weiner are quick to call him “ridiculous.” His sister Erin, a sophomore IDST major at Tech, called him “appropriately inappropriate.” Weiner wouldn’t hesitate to break into dance, dress up in costumes, challenge his hall to a Super Smash Brothers tournament, or comb the beach for “mayhem” with his friends at Virginia Beach, his hometown.

“Gregory: self proclaimed ladies man. Pretty sure he’s asked every one of my friends on a date,” Erin said with a laugh.

“Just to make you feel awkward,” added Erin’s friend Karli Kegerreis, sophomore public and urban affairs major.

Weiner made friends wherever he went, which included a wide variety of locales. From a military family, he was born in Monterey, Calif., and has since

lived in South Carolina, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

“He’d walk in somewhere, and leave, and everyone would love him,” Erin said.

Weiner swam and played water polo in high school, and became one of two freshmen to travel with the Tech men’s water polo team.

A memorial service was held on Jan. 10 in Virginia Beach, but the family hopes to set up a second memorial service on the Tech campus for friends who couldn’t make it. Friends have their own way of honoring Weiner.

“We retired his N64 controller,” said John Fatigate, freshman biology major and Weiner’s hallmate from Miles Hall.

Those who want to contribute to the Weiner family are encouraged to donate to the foundation.

Additionally, the Alpha Delta Pi sorority has an event in the works for the weekend of March 20 and March 21 that will involve a fundraising dinner Friday evening and a 5K run Saturday, where all proceeds will go toward the Gregory Weiner Foundation.

“He can’t be doing it, so we’ll do it for him, we’ll do it with him,” Erin said.

She feels confident that Weiner was happy from birth to his last days.

“My mom asked if I thought Greg was happy at Tech. Hands down,” she said.

Freshman natural resources major Eric DeMatt, Weiner’s hallmate, agreed.

“I never saw him unhappy. In every decision he made, no matter the outcome, he never regretted anything. …

It doesn’t get any better than that, and I think that’s a great example for us to live by.”

TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE FOUNDATION – The Gregory Weiner Foundation c/o Navy Federal Credit Union 1952 Laskin Road Suite 513 Virginia Beach, VA 23454

COMMUTER STUDENTS & FACULTY/STAFF - SAVE MONEY ON GAS AND PARKING - Join the Commuter Alternatives Program* (CAP). There are 2 different CAP permits to choose from: THE FREE BIKE, BUS & WALK (BB&W) PERMIT

CARPOOL PERMIT A Carpool Is:

BB&W is available to Virginia Tech faculty, staff, and commuter students who use alternative transportation methods as their primary means of commuting to campus (i.e. riding BT or the Smart Way bus, bicycling , and/or walking).

BB&W participants receive: • 15 Free daily permits/semester or 30 Free daily permits/year. Additional daily permits are available for $1/day.

• Access to Emergency Ride Home service. All CAP participants receive a ride to their vehicle, or local address, in case of an emergency.

* CAP Participants are not eligible to purchase any other permits, except for additional daily permits.

Two or more commuter students or Faculty/ Staff (with offices on main campus)who choose to ride together and share one permit.

Please note that each applicant must provide proof of separate vehicle ownership.

LEAVE YOUR CAR AT HOME

Carpool Participants receive: • A Carpool Permit - less expensive than a regular permit.

• Reserved carpool parking areas located in parking lots throughout campus.

• 5 free daily permits/participant/semester.

Additional permits are available for $2/day.

• Access to Emergency Ride Home service.

All CAP participants receive a ride to their vehicle, or local address, in case of an emergency.

Register for CAP at Parking Services - 455 Tech Center Dr. or at the Student Services Building.

For more information about alternative transportation at Virginia Tech, visit www.ot.vt.edu or call Debby Freed 1-1787

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editor: bethany buchanan email: features@collegiatetimes.com phone: 540.231.9865 office hours: w 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., f 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.

january 20, 2009

The Killers show off creativity with new release So what if The Bravery’s lead singer Sam Endicott called Mark Stoermer (The Killers’ bassist) a “little Dutch girl with a beard — a nine-footJONATHAN tall, Dutch-girl YI mutant?” features Well, maybe reporter Endicott had a point.

If the eyeliner and Britpop tuxes don’t do it for you, I don’t know what will. While Endicott describes The Killers’ lead singer Brandon Flowers as “a poor little guy” having “no personality or sense of humor,” 12 million copies say otherwise.

The ever-so-decent Las Vegas natives have ridden “Hot Fuss” to indie-pop stardom. Add a little synth to perplexed lyrics and it’ll seem that the best thing for this hangover is another drink.

With a botched taste of the Vegas strip lingering on the tip of our

tongues, their sophomoric sag “Sam’s Town” was a showboat of over-the-top unsettling symphonies. I got soul, but I wasn’t going to buy what Flowers claims is “one of the best albums of the past 20 years.”

Regardless, we’re watching them sparkle more and more each day.

Contrary to Endicott’s comments, I feel Flowers’ personality does more than shine in their larger-than-life, glittery anthems. But to Flowers, ambition and expansion is first while making sure his words color himself bold. You can catch The Killers at George Mason University on Jan. 28.

“Day & Age’s” first single, “Human” is a trippy light show waiting to happen. Reminiscent of “Mr. Brightside,” “Human” has been described by Flowers as “Johnny Cash meets the Pet Shop Boys.”

“Pay my respects to grace and virtue, send my condolences to good, give my regards to soul and romance, they always did the best they could,” coos Flowers. “And so long to devotion, you taught me everything I know, wave goodbye, wish me well, you’ve got to

let me go.”

New Order perhaps?

Even more strikingly, even when you push aside the theatrics, “Human” still boils down to a great song.

Flowers reflects on his childhood and maintains his lyrical consciousness in “A Dustland Fairytale.” The nostalgic barren lands in the outskirts of Nevada seem to have dried out any room for error.

“A change came in disguise of revelation, set his soul on fire, she said she always knew he’d come around and the decades disappear like sinking ships but we persevere,” sings Flowers. “God gives us hope, but we still fear what we don’t know; your mind is poison.”

The heroic tale translates dismal piano into an epic finale of orchestral sounds.

“Day & Age” has amazing tracks but lacks a cohesive lacquer. Tracks such as “A Dustland Fairytale,” “Human,” “Joy Ride” and “Neon Tiger” hold their own, but the rest of the record is musty and unmemorable.

But even when “Day & Age” buckles at its knees, The Killers’ self-assurance

preserves composure. Flowers’ ability to reflect anguish into a creative and classic outlet gives me hope that there is more personality hidden beneath his hasty mascara.

Grade: B You might also like...

THE CURE “Three Imaginary Boys”

MGMT “Oracular Spectacular”

Vampire Weekend “Vampire Weekend”

The Strokes “Is This It?”

Coldplay “Viva La Vida”

COURTESY OF THE KILLERS

Killers lead singer Brandon Flowers describes his band’s third studio album “Day & Age” as the group’s “most playful record.”

page

opinions 5

editor: laurel colella, david mcilroy email: opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com phone: 540.231.9865 office hours: mw 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

january 20, 2009

EDITORIAL

Publishing April 16 documents benefits the general public The Collegiate Times electronically published approximately 450 documents released by the university to families of victims and victims of the April 16 shootings on Dec. 17, 2008.

These documents were released

by Virginia Tech as a condition of the settlement between victims and the university that required Tech to create an electronic archive accessible to victims and their families.

Tech spokesman Larry Hincker said at that time that the documents would subsequently be released to the general public through computers in Newman Library and the Library of Virginia in Richmond in February before their full rollout online some time in the indeterminate future. Hincker said that questions about the technological capability of the database (constructed by the software company Servient to the tune of $440,000) to handle a massive influx of traffic also required the slower release schedule.

Hincker also cited the need for those directly affected by the shootings to review the documents first as a reason for the non-public disclosure.

According to a news release at that time, the initial delivery to the families “will allow them time to use and inspect the materials and to ensure that they are satisfied that no otherwise protected information (unique to them or their loved one) is exposed.”

Everyone who initially received passwords was able to review a core collection of documents alongside documents reserved for the password holder’s eyes only. Hincker said that this was to make sure that families were able to ask the university to remove sensitive information

from the archive before making it public.

The CT decided to publish these documents for a number of reasons. First, we were not convinced by the university’s argument that the documents needed to be released on a slow schedule. If there was enough ability to prevent families within the system from viewing one another’s sensitive material, why couldn’t the university have simply released the core collection of documents and removed the sensitive material for individual review?

Further, while we believe that the university was right to take into account the thoughts and feelings of the families, we believe that the CT’s archive of organized documents is much more useful than the 13,700 page-jumble in the university’s system. By organizing information thematically, the CT has created an opportunity for interested parties to access the information in a way that a simple database does not.

We have not published any documents relating to individual families; instead, we focused on the workings of the Virginia Tech policy group, a collection of top administration officials, on April 16 and in its aftermath as well as documents from before April 16 concerning university faculty and Seung-Hui Cho. At this time we believe these documents are the core revelation of this new archive.

Media’s great purpose is to inform and thus create better conversations about issues great and small. We believe this archive serves that purpose.

Inauguration reveals the greatness of America DELEGATE DAVE NUTTER guest columnist As a Republican elected official, many people have asked me what I will be doing at noon on Jan. 20, when Barack Obama is sworn in as our nation’s 44th President. Their question implies that as a leader in the opposition party, I will be dreading that moment. In actuality, nothing could be further from the truth.

While I did not vote for President Obama, his inauguration and the transfer of power that accompanies a presidential transition reinforces in me the unique and quintessential greatness of America and its system of government. I pray for President Obama’s success as our nation’s chief executive because now his success is America’s success.

Our two political parties and their nominees fought a tough but fair campaign. While the campaign played out longer than many of us thought necessary with party debates beginning more than a year before the general election, the process gave Americans unfettered access to the candidates and their views on any number of issues.

But the campaign is over and now it is time for the new president and Congress to govern. Our nation faces

enormous challenges — a faltering economy, U.S. troops in harm’s way in two foreign lands, and the search for a safe, affordable and environmentally benign source of energy that remains a futuristic dream.

President Obama takes office with an enormous reservoir of good will from an overwhelming majority of Americans. The economic news since the election has only brought more dark tidings for the nation and the new president. Stimulus packages have been passed, but still an evergrowing number of Americans are afraid for their economic futures.

The problems confronting our nation will not be solved overnight.

I think the American public understands this and is prepared to give President Obama time to pursue the policy options he thinks necessary to turn things around. Ironically, the dire state of the economy may be a mixed blessing for the president.

With the economy being the top issue on the minds of more than 80 percent of the country, he will likely find the public willing to give him the time to produce real results. Consequently, President Obama may have the longest “political honeymoon” in our nation’s history.

So far I have been heartened by President Obama’s appointments and his willingness to focus on goals that

have real meaning to the nation. By eschewing efforts to investigate the past, the new President has kept his and the country’s sights set on the real problems of real Americans.

As the President-elect began his train ride from Philadelphia Saturday, he noted correctly that “the American Revolution was and remains an ongoing struggle in the minds and hearts of the people.”

Today this great experiment in democracy is facing a new struggle that will require the same sense of commitment and sacrifice as our founders shared 233 years ago. But it is up to each of us, as citizens of this great nation, to show that America is more than a mere coalition of self-interests. The coming days and years ahead will challenge all of us to answer whether we are worthy of the trust placed in our hands.

As President Obama said, while the problems before us are new, the answers to them are not: They require the same perseverance and idealism that our founders displayed.

It is up to each of us to show we are worthy of the challenge.

Dave Nutter, an economic development specialist at Virginia Tech, is also a Republican delegate from the seventh house district, representing Christiansburg and parts of

The editorial board is composed of David Grant, David Harries and Laurel Colella.

WRIGHT/TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES

With the election over and our president decided, I am deeply amazed and more so, excited about the future of the Obama presidency.

In roughly two years, a man largely unknown in the broader political arena set out to change the direction of America as we know it: and change it he did.

Running a campaign of hope and change, Barack Obama captured the hearts of millions and ascended to the highest executive position in our nation with little more than a dream and a promise to serve the American people. His challenge — correct the mishaps of the former president who leaves behind him the confusion of an unpopular overseas war, an economy in recession and a global approval rating worse than any U.S. president in history.

Personally, I am excited about the challenges ahead and the boldness of a president intent on carrying out his promise. Already his promises have been attacked by the skeptics and equally supported by the apprehensive, and as promised, he has taken steps toward silencing the skeptics and reaching out to those less willing to hold their president accountable to his word.

Simply put, Obama’s election has restored personal accountability in the minds of many Americans whose complacency over the past five decades led to the decline of progressive social politics and programs. The days of the Civil Rights have been revived to take on a new spirit of civil responsibility.

As an active citizen, I have no doubt that Obama’s first term will be about change, and that change will have to start with “We, the People.” President Obama made it clear to me that my participation as a responsible citizen will determine his success.

Like his own, it will take progressive voices and sincere leadership from the public to motivate, inspire and drive social critics and political skeptics toward the honest vision of a hopeful and active citizenry.

It began with a belief that the American people could change, daring to confront the failing system of self-serving politics reflective of the past eight years. That belief grew into hope as Barack Obama took center stage as the charismatic, intelligent and progressive nominee for change, attracting Americans from all walks

of life, especially many young and first time voters.

The morning after the election carried a light air of accomplishment as I overheard frequent congratulatory remarks from members of the community, many of whom may have never normally acknowledged one another before Obama. I learned three important lessons that historic morning. The first restored a belief that the American people can positively influence the course of their national and local politics.

Secondly, the Obama victory reaffirmed my faith in doubt being easily overcome by hope. Finally, and most important of the three lessons, I saw the American people assume responsibility for the changes occurring in this country. Without the support of the people, not even the greed and bribery of self-serving agendas and lobbyists will prevail, as long as “We, the People” vocalize our consternation and unite to support the just causes.

The future and legacy of the Obama presidency will mark the reshaping of social and political values, a shift toward progressive and effective educational programs, on all levels, and also create an economic agenda in support of greener environmental practices and increased financial awareness and intelligence, especially among those in middle and lower “class” financial brackets.

This presidency will also reform the legacy of oppressive foreign affairs and unjust warring. Globally, the Obama presidency may reignite a resurgence of Nationalist ideals and Civil Rights groups seeking to undo the oppression of colonial influence. I know that this first term will ultimately lead to better foreign relations, but only after the woes of the homeland are relieved and resolved.

Critics say it will take a miracle, but regardless of the change, I know the final result will be a reflection of the work done by the American public.

Some can only hope for change, but I’ve learned better. Change starts with a thought and manifests through action. Obama needs help to live up to his promise, which guarantees that he will achieve that goal, because of you, because of me, so says “We, the People.”

Bakar O. Bey is a senior aerospace engineering major. Check back in tomorrow’s CT for Bey’s poem regarding the election of Barack Obama.

Collegiate Times Editorial Staff Editor in Chief David Grant Managing Editors David Harries, Sara Spangler Public Editor Cate Summers Special Sections Editor Meg Miller News Editors Caleb Fleming, Sara Mitchell News Reporters Gordon Block, Zach Crizer, Gabe McVey, Riley Prendergast, T. Rees Shapiro, Rebecca Thomas News Staff Writers Shannon Aud, Justin Graves, Ryan Trapp Features Editor Bethany Buchanan Features Reporters Topher Forhecz, Teresa Tobat, Jonathan Yi Opinions Editors Laurel Colella, David McIlroy Opinions Staff Sally Bull, Jackie Peters Sports Editors Thomas Emerick, Brian Wright Sports Reporters Joe Crandley, Justin Long, Ed Lupien, Melanie Wadden Sports Staff Writers Garrett Busic, Matt Collette, Lindsay Faulkner, Hattie Francis, Alex Jackson, Mike Littier Copy Editors Erin Corbey, Thandiwe Ogbonna, Kristen Walker, Michelle Rivera Layout Designers Go-Eun Choi, Leila Green, Kelly Harrigan, Christine Fay, Josh Son Illustrator Mina Noorbakhsh Multimedia Editor Phillip Murillas Multimedia Producer Matthew Langan, Becky Wilson Multimedia Reporters Candice Chu, Bryce Stucki, Peter Velz Online Director Christopher Ritter Web Developer Jeff Klassen Collegiate Times Business Staff Business Manager Ryan McConnell College Media Solutions Staff Advertising Director Patrick Fitzgerald Asst Advertising Directors Sarah Ford Jenna Given, Katelynn Reilly Ads Production Manager Anika Stickles Asst Production Manager Alyssa Peltier Ads Production/Creation Breanna Benz, Alllison Bhatta, Lisa Hoang, Kaiesha Morgan, Mike Payne, Lindsay Smith, Lara Treadwell National Account Executive Joey Mazzei Account Executives Libbey Arner, Oran Duncan, Tyler Ervin, Jennifer Heimlich, Kavish Hemrajani, Jimmy Henderson, Dustin Hurst, Alex Iskounen, Kelli Lyman, Marcello Sandoval, Amanda Sparks, Jennifer Vaughn, Amanda Whitt Assistant Account Executives Alexandra Boddie, Lauren Klooster, Kaelynn Kurtz, Carissa Nichols, Molly Vaira Marketing Manager Robert Zayaz III Office Manager Joey Mazzei Student Publication Photo Staff Director of Photography Sally Bull Business Manager Paul Platz

Inauguration comes to Washington, D.C. BAKAR O. BEY guest columnist

The Collegiate Times is an independent student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903

Obama represents the change we all want to see in America DAN GEROE guest columnist Well, we did it. Barack Obama is the 44th president of the United States of America. By “we,” I mean our generation. College students overwhelmingly voted for Barack Obama in November, claiming to be drawn to his message of hope and inspiration while rejecting the politics we grew up around.

This isn’t in the least bit surprising.

Let’s face it, anybody who paid at least some kind of attention to the political atmosphere in the past 20 years or so has had to deal with constant partisan bickering, so much so that it is rare for anything to actually be accomplished in our nation’s capital. Politics is, frankly, distasteful for many people who expect responsibility from those in power.

With Democrats holding very large majorities in both houses of Congress, it won’t take much persuasion on the other end of the aisle to pass most of Obama’s agenda. The real challenge will be that essential promise made to our generation — the fundamental difference between him and his opponents, both Hillary Clinton and John McCain. It was on every poster and bumper sticker, on every leaflet.

We heard it on the radio and saw it on the television. Change.

Not just a change of policy from George W. Bush, but a change in the very fabric that holds politics-asusual in Washington together. This will be far more difficult than closing Guantanamo Bay or ending “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.” These changes, while part of Obama’s promise to

America, are not without a price. In Washington, it is far easier to make concessions or deals with other politicians or lobbying groups than to engage in long, tedious, likely pointless battles that could possibly reinforce the concept of partisan gridlock in the minds of the America people.

Will Barack Obama truly be able to deliver the change he has promised us? One can only hope so. We need to believe, as a people, that our government is about something more than backroom deals and shady agreements.

From what we have seen so far, there is reason to believe. The transition process has been more open than ever before, allowing citizens unprecedented access to the details of the incoming administration.

Obama has had meals and conversations with both liberal and conservative journalists, listening to the arguments of those he agrees with and disagrees with alike.

Continuing with the concept of inclusion, he has placed former rival Hillary Clinton in his top cabinet position, while Republicans such as Gen. Jones, Secretary Gates and Representative LaHood are also featured. The Obama Administration will not be made up of “yes-men.”

For Energy Secretary, rather than rewarding a loyal supporter, Obama chose a Nobel Laureate. Important positions are filled by qualified individuals, not big donors.

In his stimulus package, Obama devotes a significant amount of its proposal to tax breaks, typically a Republican focus. This seems to suggest Obama is willing to work

on ideas that may not typically fit in with his party’s ideology in order to do what he feels best advances the situation. His bipartisan, conciliatory nature seems to go against Washington’s partisan, combative modus operandi.

These examples lead me to believe that Obama is on the right track at the start of his inevitably historical first term as president.

President Obama appears to be, as President Lincoln would’ve put it, “appealing to the better angels of our nature.” He has put partisan battles behind him, and has instead focused on the monumental task at hand: an economic crisis, two wars and a growing energy problem.

But therein lies the greatest danger; because of Barack Obama’s desire to deliver on these key issues as soon as possible, will he sacrifice those principles of change that he promised to deliver? Will he revert to the politics of yesterday if put under pressure to change policy quickly? Will he become a partisan warrior as Clinton did and claim a right-wing conspiracy? Will he ignore the opinions and ideas of the opposition as Bush did?

Obama spoke a lot about hope; my hope is that Barack Obama will be able to deliver a lasting change to our system. If in four years our government is more open, our process cleaner, and our international reputation restored, Barack Obama will have kept his word to our generation.

Maybe after that, politics will be more palatable for us all.

Dan Geroe is a senior political science major and is also president of the Young Democrats at Virginia Tech.

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january 20, 2009

Students aid local daycares BETHANY BUCHANAN

RA

ct features editor Sophomore international studies major Gertrude Okyere scurried down the corridors of Newman Hall, carrying with her just a flier and a pen.

She approached the door of a friend – and later the doors of many other friends – and confidently knocked on the door. When greeted by a familiar face, she asked, “Have you heard about this?”

It was an information sheet about an upcoming community service endeavor, the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Childcare Facelift service project, where students come together to help local childcare facilities by cleaning and carrying out various other chores to honor King’s service on the day of his namesake.

“I explained to them that basically you give the daycare a facelift, you might sweep, you might paint, you might clean … Pretty much everybody that I asked came because I knew people would want to do it,” Okyere said yesterday as she folded children’s clothes with her Newman Hall friends at the Valley Interfaith Child Care Center at the Good Shepherd Church of the Brethren on Heather Drive.

“People are willing to help, you just have to find the project and the right time frame.

“When I saw the list of things we had to do, like putting up shelves and such — and I’m not really good with that, I’m more like organizing things or sweeping up or wiping things down — but I was more excited because I knew ... there was somebody in there who knows how to sand, somebody in there who knew how to do a mural even if I didn’t know how to do it. So we have a really good mix of people who are willing to do different things.”

The project was run by VT Engage and the newly founded Center for Student Engagement and Community Partnerships, which, according to director Jim Dubinsky, “incorporated two existing entities: the VT Engage and the service learning entity.”

He said that their job is to institutionalize the concept of engagement in all facets of student life through volunteer projects and service learning courses.

The center applied for and received a $1,000 grant in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day from the Corporation for National and Community Service to fund the facelifts. “[Helping daycare centers] seemed like an idea that might energize students … We were able to get 200

See Yourself as an RA

COM PAUL PLATZ/SPPS

Freshman HNFE major Monique Johnson adds some artistic touches to the daycare by painting a door. students to come and work at about 18 different sites,” Dubinsky said. “That’s a pretty phenomenal turn-out. We only anticipated a hundred and we got double that.”

“It feels like a good way to start the semester,” said Amanda Davis, graduate assistant for the center. “I’m a graduate student (working on my master’s in public administration), my life gets pretty hectic and pretty busy after classes start so I think it’s great that the first day of the semester we don’t have anything else to worry about, just to be here.”

When asked about the relevance of volunteering on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, freshman HNFE major and Newman Hall president Monique Johnson replied, “I think it’s even better that way. It’s all about coming together and working together.

We’re all friends, we’re all from different places. We’re all just coming together for a greater good … I can’t think of anything better to do with my time.”

“Here is a man that dedicated himself to creating a better world for everybody, trying to create a world full of equality and to recognize everybody’s common humanity,” said Dubinksy, who came back from his vacation from Myrtle Beach a day early just to be there.

“That’s one of the whole purposes of a land-grant university and our motto at the university is ‘that I may serve.’

Here we are doing good work for people who do good work. The child care centers and head start centers across the New River Valley operate on a shoestring, they need as much support as they can get, and this is one way we can help give back to people who have given all their time.”

Corrine Barton, site director of the Valley Interfaith Child Care Center,

was definitely grateful for their help.

“It’s been crazy, busy, but it’s been fantastic,” Barton said. “They’re doing projects that we’ve wanted done, but we haven’t had the resources or the time to do them so it’s been very helpful.”

This childcare center provides their services to low-income working families who otherwise couldn’t afford to pay for their children to attend a daycare.

“It’s why I do what I do, because I want to help families be able to support themselves and provide for their children and that’s what they need,” Barton said. “I want to be here to provide a safe and loving environment where these children can learn while their parents are at work, and that their parents can go to work and not worry about their children. I just really appreciate the program that these students are participating in.”

“For me, I really believe in our motto at school, ‘that I may serve,’ and I felt that I hadn’t been doing that enough,” Okyere said. “Basically, I had been focusing on my economics — a lot — and I thought, my mom works in a daycare, they always need help with these things, so I pretty much figured that this is something that I should be doing.”

“In a nutshell, one of the things I hope students will come to understand is that college and Virginia Tech in particular, is not a way station,” Dubinsky said. “You’re not here for four years on your way to somewhere else, you are somewhere, and you are a member of a larger community, and while you’re in a community the best thing you can to is be an active member of that community and give back, learn who the people are, find out what the world around you is involved in and cares and find a way to participate.”

M U N ITY R E S P E C T U T P R O S I M D U TY L E A D E R S H I P S E R V I C E R E S I D E N T A DV I S O R S E L E C T I O N 2 0 0 8 - 2 0 0 9 Want to be an RA for the 2009-2010 academic year? All interested RA applicants must attend one of the info sessions in order to apply. Check out the resident advisor selection website at www.studentprograms.vt.edu/reslife for instructions, information, and to apply.

INFO SESSIONS All sessions are located in the Payne Seminar Room at 9:00 P.M.

January 20 January 21 January 22 These are your last chances to enter the application process!

January 28: Deadline for Spring Process Applications Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of race, gender, age, veteran status, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, or political affiliation.

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8 sports

editor: thomas emerick, brian wright email: sportseditor@collegiatetimes.com phone: 540.231.9865 office hours: w 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.; t 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

january 20, 2009

sports in brief

LUKE MASON/SPPS

Tech’s David Marone pins down Rutgers’ D.J. Russo to clinch the Hokies’ overall win over the Scarlet Knights on Sunday and improve to 12-0.

WRESTLING REMAINS UNBEATEN WITH WEEKEND SWEEP The Virginia Tech Wrestling team continued its unblemished season — moving to 12-0 — with a pair of victories this past weekend.

Tech traveled to Boone, N.C., this past Friday to take part in a dual meet on the campus of Appalachian State University.

The Hokies first competed against the home team, going 36-4 with an easy win over the Mountaineers. Following that contest was an even better performance, where Tech shut out Campbell by a tally of 47-0.

Freshman Jarrod Garnett had a strong showing as he left Boone with a pair of technical falls, while Sophomore Chris Diaz also went 2-0, adding another pin to his record this season.

Freshman Tommy Spellman was another of the many Hokies who went 2-0 on the night, picking up a pin in just one minute.

With its effort on Friday, Tech set the school record for match wins in a single season. That broke the previous mark, held in the 2004-05 season, when the team garnered 264 total wins.

Cassell Coliseum played host to Tech’s second match-up for the weekend where the team faced Rutgers. VMI was scheduled to participate, but was unable to make it because of icy road

conditions on I-81.

With three match ups remaining, the Hokies’ hopes for a perfect season seemed out of reach as they were down 21-12 to the Scarlet Knights.

However, after an impressive pin by sophomore D.J. Bruce, the team was able to pull together for a close win with strong performances from Spellman and sophomore David Marone. In the end, the Hokies edged out Rutgers with a 24-21 final score.

Still unbeaten, Tech looks to continue its record-breaking season next weekend in Michigan for four separate matches, which include three nationally-ranked squads: the host No. 17 Wolverines, No. 6 Central Michigan and No. 4 Nebraska.

– Lindsay Faulkner

MEN’S BASKETBALL GROUNDS EAGLES Virginia Tech finished up its trio of consecutive Cassell Coliseum clashes with an ACC match up against Boston College. Seth Greenberg guided the Hokies to a 79-71 victory over the Eagles, notching his 100th win as Tech’s head coach.

The Eagles came into Saturday on a three-game losing skid, including a home upset at the hands of Harvard.

The group from Chestnut Hill had also dropped its last three contests against the Hokies.

Tech got off to a slow start, falling behind as much as eight points due in part to an 8-2 BC run in the span of a minute and a half.

Following a timeout, the Hokies went off on a 17-4 run sparked by a three-point shot from guard Malcolm Delaney.

Tech was aided by the strong play of Jeff Allen and A.D. Vassallo, both of whom broke into double-digit point totals in the first half to pull out to a four-point advantage at halftime.

Delaney supported the forwards’ effort with strong free-throw shooting, going 11-for-12 from the line and putting up 19 points altogether.

Both the Hokies and Eagles started the second half trading basket for basket. Tech couldn’t build on its slim lead thanks in large part to BC's Joe Trapani.

The forward put up his fifth doubledouble on the season with 23 points and 10 rebounds.

Midway through the second half, Tech stepped up its defense and did not give up a single field goal to the Eagles for six minutes, but the Tech’s foul trouble kept Boston College within striking range.

Hanging tough, BC pulled to within two at the three-minute mark.

The Hokies took charge behind Allen, who led all scorers with a career-high 30 points and bounced back from a struggling performance against Virginia, where he failed to notch a single field goal.

Allen and the Hokies play next on Wednesday night during a matchup against the undefeated and No. 2 ranked Wake Forest Demon Deacons.

The North Carolina tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

— Ryan Trapp

WOMEN’S HOOPS EDGED OUT BY DUKE, BLOWN OUT BY TERPS The Virginia Tech Hokies women’s basketball team fell short against two formidable ACC opponents this weekend, losing to No. 10 Duke, 57-52, and No. 16 Maryland, 96-79.

Against the Blue Devils, the Hokies found themselves down 16 points with

only nine minutes left in the second half.

Tech started the half by missing 16 of its first 17 field goals.

After the cold streak ended, the Hokies went on a 9-0 run and pulled within three of the Blue Devils after sophomore guard Nikki Davis hit a three-pointer with just over a minute remaining. Despite the furious comeback, Duke managed to hold onto the victory and hold off an upset-minded Tech club by sinking clutch free throws in the end.

The Hokies finished the game shooting 21-for-68 (31 percent) from the field compared to the Blue Devils’ 21-for-46 (46 percent).

The leading scorer for the Hokies, sophomore forward Utahya Drye, was held to just four points on 2-of-13 shooting. Davis helped pick up the slack by contributing 16 points and seven rebounds in the losing effort.

Following the tough loss, Tech traveled north to College Park, Md., to take

on the Terrapins. This one wouldn’t be as close. Tech was mostly done in by the Terps’ Kristi Toliver, who scored a season-high 29 points. Toliver finished the game hitting 8-of-10 shots from beyond the arc while Maryland as a team shot 46 percent from three-point land.

The Terrapins’ largest lead of the game was 24, but the deficit was cut in two thanks to a breakout scoring performance of junior guard Lindsay Biggs who had 25 points. Forward Utahya Drye bounced back from the Duke game with 20 points and nine rebounds.

The Hokies will look to gain their first victory in ACC play when they take on another top-25 foe — the No. 12 Virginia Cavaliers. Tech will host the Cavs on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the friendly confines of Cassell Coliseum.

– Matt Costello

WASHINGTON SHINES AT HOST EVENTS The Hokie men’s and women’s track and field teams kicked off their 2009 home indoor season by hosting consecutive weekend meets at Rector Fieldhouse.

The first, the Virginia Tech Invitational, took place on Jan. 9 and Jan.10. Participants included three ACC squads and seven other collegiate teams.

The opening day was a successful one for the Hokie women, highlighted by junior Asia Washington — who set a school record by winning the 500-meter run with a time of 1:12:23. Washington broke the record of teammate and 2008 Beijing Olympic-participant Queen Harrison, who also ran in the race and

see BRIEFS, page B2

page pageB11

tuesday, january 20, 2009 The documents below were among those released to victims and families of victims of the April 16 shootings in December 2008.

Archive unveils Cho’s electronic correspondence ENGLISH PROFESSOR CHERYL RUGGIERO RECOUNTED, VIA E-MAIL, A MEETING BETWEEN SEUNG-HUI CHO, THEN-ENGLISH DEPARTMENT HEAD LUCINDA ROY AND HERSELF ON OCT. 19, 2005.

From: Cheryl Ruggiero Sent: Wednesday, Oct. 19,2005 To: Roy, Lucinda I am struck immediately by Seung Cho’s physical aspect—he has a choice of seating, the chair opposite mine close to Lucinda’s desk or the sofa, and he chooses the sofa, as far as possible from either of us—understandable. When I’m introduced and shake his hand, his hand is very sweaty and remains straight, does not clasp my hand.

When he sits, his arms are splayed unnaturally down at his sides, on the armrest and a pillow, open, stiff, hands not resting on the surfaces.

He hardly moves at all, his face or his body, either when listening or speaking.

He wears a baseball cap pulled very low and reflective sunglasses.

His voice is so very low that it’s difficult to hear. Throughout, Cho’s responses come more slowly than in a normal conversation, and most are monosyllables—“no, yeah, sure.”

I’ve indicated some places where there are even more strikingly long pauses before he responds.

I missed some comments, certainly. Lucinda repeated some things several times, especially about what the independent study option could be like. Her tone was friendly and encouraging throughout.]

L: asks, referring to an earlier exchange, if he really thought she was going to “yell at” him, that she certainly wasn’t going to.

Cho: [noncommittal, gesture, not quite a shrug] L: says “you probably know why you’ve been asked to come today,” asks about the piece he read in class.

Cho: says it was a joke, satire.

L: suggests it may be like Swift’s “A Modest Proposal” ?

Cho: agrees.

L: asks about Cho’s taking photos of the students in the class Cho: says it is “just a hobby,” that he takes pictures of “trees, sky . . .”

L: explains that taking unauthorized photographs, without permission from the subjects, and especially publishing them on a website, is something the University is taking very seriously, and that it could be something that could get a student into trouble, and she wouldn’t want that to happen to Seung, asks if Seung understands.

Cho: “yeah.”

L: asks whether Seung was offended by the class discussion on eating animals.

Cho: “I wasn’t offended. I was just making fun of it . . . thought it was funny, thought I’d make fun of it.”

L: asks if he is a vegetarian.

Cho: no.

L: asks if he has religious beliefs about eating meat or animals.

Cho: no.

L: asks if he is finding the class helpful, if he’d rather be taking another class.

Cho: says when things are assigned, like a poem, “I do it” L: notes that the assignment was to be on dogs, asks if the piece was relevant to the assignment.

Cho: Professor Giovanni “says we can write on anything—” the assigments are just to help get started . . .

L; proposes alternative of working independently with herself and Fred D’Aguiar.

Cho: doesn’t want to lose credits . . . if not “kicked out” will stay [I noted some emotion on the words

“kicked out,” a small spark of anger or resentment.]

[At this point, Lucinda asks if he’d remove his sunglasses. She makes a bit of a joke of it, about not wanting to go on seeing her own reflection.

Cho takes a long time to respond, but he does remove them. It is a very distressing sight, since his face seems very naked and blank without them. It’s a great relief to be able to read his face, though there isn’t much there. Lucinda asks if taking off the sunglasses has been terrible for him. He shakes his head.]

L: says he doesn’t seem like himself, like the student she knew in the Intro to Poetry class, and she asks if anything terrible or bad has happened to him.

FOR MORE INFORMATION See page 5 to read the CT’s rationale for publishing these documents.

Go to collegiatetimes.com to view the rest of the collection.

Cho: [waits a long time to answer, but says] “no.”

[I lost track of Lucinda’s next question] Cho: “No—I’m just, like, real quiet and shy.”

L: “So giving a presentation or something would be like torture for you?”

Cho: no.

L: Or working one-on-one, say with someone like me, maybe that would be hard for you?

Cho: no.

L: explains a choice to (1) stay in the class, explain to students that the piece was satire, assure the students that he will not take any more pictures of them, or (2) work independently with herself and Fred—what does he want to do?

Cho: takes a long time to answer, says “I don’t know.” Asks if it’s OK for him to think about it.

L: says yes, certainly, asks him to email her with a decision by Friday, since there’s no class tomorrow (Thursday.)

Cho: indicates OK—just barely audible.

L: asks how his grades in the class are going.

Cho: says he hasn’t really gotten any yet.

L: asks what he wants to do . . . he’d said he was writing a novel . . .writing?

Cho: takes a while to answer, says “Write. It’s the only thing I really... [trailed off to inaudible.]

L: mainly fiction?

Cho: “I started out writing poems,” started writing fiction later.

L: asks about the Jeff Herman book [on publishers and agents] she’d recommended back in the poetry class.

Cho: says he did get it.

L: says that if he chooses to work independently, she and Cho can work on that aspect of writing, too, publishing, agents, etc.

[Cho is a little more animated for a moment or so while Lucinda is saying this.]

L: “Have you ever worked with a counselor? Would you be comfortable doing that?”

Cho: says shyness can sometimes develop to become overwhelming, can get in the way . ..

Cho: no answer.

L: continues a little asking again whether he would consider talking with a counselor.

Cho: [long wait, seems just a little more open, more unhappy, if possible, but then says] “I don’t know.”

L: says she has the name of someone, and she’ll send it to him, asks “Would you consider going?”

Cho: [long wait, very quiet response, very neutral] “Sure.”

L: “Are you happy here, at Virginia Tech?”

Cho: [long wait, very neutral] “Sure.”

L: “What is it that makes you happy?”

Cho: [long wait] “Not sure.”

L: “Do you have a lot of friends?”

Cho: no response.

L: “You have some friends?

People close to you?”

Cho: says he has some friends from around where he lives [I couldn’t hear all of what he said, couldn’t tell whether he said dorm or apartment or something else.]

L: “Do you have brothers and sisters?”

Cho; “sister.”

L: “Is she in school here?”

Cho: “no.”

L: “Is she working?”

Cho: “Yes” L: “What does she do?”

Cho: [takes some time] “Not sure.” [pause] says the sister works somewhere around DC. L: asks about famiily, where they are from.

Cho: says they live in DC. L: asks if they came from someplace else before.

Cho: from Seoul.

L: asks when they came to this country, how old Seung was, middle school?

Cho: 12 years ago—he was in elementary school.

L: shares a little about difficulties she experienced immigrating from Britain, asks if it was tough for Seung to adjust.

Cho: says yeah, it was a little tough ... [some comments I didn’t write down] L: asks if he is or was very angry with other students in the class.

Cho: “No—why would I be angry?” says he doesn’t see anger in what he wrote.

L: reads some passages from the piece, asks if he can see why other students might have seen it as angry.

Cho: says he can see anger in it.

L: speaks again about the counselor, says she will send the information, reaffirms that she hopes to hear from him by Friday, and that it could be very nice working together, that she felt they worked well together in the previous class, that no one will kick him out of the class, that it’s up to him, some benefits of working independently . . . and maybe they’ve talked enough for now.

[Cho stands up and is collecting his things.]

L: also stands to walk to the door, asks in a friendly way, “You don’t feel as if you’ve been yelled at here today, I hope?”

Cho: indicates no.

L: says good-bye, hoping to hear from him by Friday.

[Cho leaves. Lucinda decides to follow him and give him her book Hotel Alleluia as a gift.

When she comes back, she says that when she spoke with him in the hall, he seemed near tears and his hand, when they shook hands, was trembling, and that his hand remained straight, did not grasp hers.]

AFTER THE MEETING, CHO RESPONDED TO ROY’S E-MAIL WITH A LONG MESSAGE. THE CT HAS EDITED THIS MESSAGE FOR LENGTH AND CLARITY. At 02:54 PM 10/19/2005, Roy wrote: Dear Seung: Thank you for taking the time to meet with me today. Your characterization of the piece you wrote as a satire was helpful in my understanding of the work, and I am glad that you have agreed not to take anymore unauthorized photos of classmates or professors.

I’m glad that you can understand why the professor and your classmates were surprised by the tone of the work. It did seem as though the anger in the piece was directed at them. I understand what you’re saying about the use of a persona, but both Cheryl Ruggiero and I think that a note to them would be really helpful in easing their discomfort about the piece.

Please let me know by Friday if you would like to take me up on the offer I made to work with you. I’d be happy to do so, and I think we could devote time to both poetry and fiction. I may be able to help you with your novel. The independent study with me and Professor Fred D’Aguiar would substitute for the course you are currently taking with Professor Giovanni, so you’d still have the same number of credits, and we’d make sure it counted towards your Creative Writing option.

I hope you enjoy reading the novel of mine that I gave you. Please don’t feel obliged to read it if you’re too busy.

There’s no hurry.

If you would like to return to Professor Giovanni’s class, let’s work on a note together that would explain the piece you read aloud to them, and would respond to their concerns about the unauthorized photos.

Most importantly, please consider seeing a counselor at the Counseling Center on campus. The one I’d recommend is Dr. Cathye Betzel. You can let her know that Professor Roy suggested you contact her. It really does seem to me that you are struggling with some issues, and I am genuinely concerned about you. It’s always good to seek assistance when you’re facing really tough situations, and counselors can be wonderfully helpful. Almost all of us have benefited from speaking with them at some time or other.

I look forward to hearing from you, Seung.

Professor Roy From: sc2@vt.edu [sc2@vt.edu] Sent: Friday, Oct. 21,2005 3:26 AM To: Roy, Lucinda Subject: Re: Our Meeting I think I’ll go with the independent study.

I understand that some people were offended by what I wrote (although it may be because they may feel guilty about what they did--eating those poor animals--and not about what I wrote and trying to transfer the blame on me), but it was supposed to be like ha-ha and a response to what people were talking about in class. I had no anger when I wrote it—it was merely a satirical response, just like Swift’s suggestion of eating babies as the solution to the famine in A Modest Proposal. I purposely made it grossly over-the-top (mostly because satires usually are) to make a point, like Water’s characterization of school teachers in Another Brick in the Wall part 2 video.

I don’t mean to be criticizing Professor Giovanni, and I really don’t want to say this but since the situation has gotten out of hand (and I know it’s mostly my fault), she doesn’t seem, to me at least, to be taking enough time reading students’ work. She says that she wants to help me with my writing yet that seems to be mere words: I get virtually

no helpful feedback on my poems that I write for the class. On some of them I don’t even get a grade. For example, on one it said “please rethink this I do it again” with no grade (I can show you if you want), which I assume is zero, but she didn’t specify what she didn’t like about it or why I should rewrite or what’s wrong with it. I understand if it’s an A, there isn’t much to say, but if I get a zero, I expect some kind of explanation why I got a zero so I can try to improve. Giving written feedbacks on turned in papers is the most common form of communicationin a writing class, but she gives almost none that are of help yet she says she wants to help. That’s like turning in a four page essay in a literature class and getting back the paper with an F without any explainations other than “I don’t like it” at the end...

And I think that if she spent the time required to understand the piece that I wrote (or have an opened-mind about it), she would have understood what I was saying, because I do not believe it’s something that requires that much thinking. Sure, if people out the class read it, like you or Cheryl, they would probably think I’m serious, but if they were in class the day of that particular discussion, it’s clearly obvious that I, without doubt, exaggerated many things. I thought that a professor of english, not just any professor but a distinguished professor would be able to pick that up and understand what the poem is really about and not just glance through the words.

It’s not just this poem but previous poems as well. The second and third poems that I wrote were about girls, and when I read the third one, she yelled at me. She said something along the lines of “this is immature; i thought we would be past that by this age; and it’s ‘young women’ not ‘girls!’. No more poems about girls!”

Who uses that term, young women, in real life anyway? Even if they do, Professor Giovanni herself used “girls” right after saying that “young women” is the correct term. She made a total ass out of me in front of everyone in class. She doesn’t seem to appreciate anything I write. The whole class is so vague--there are no set standards, and Professor Giovanni seems to do whatever she feels like doing. For example, she sometimes gives letter grades and sometimes writes “good”, “I love it”, or “please rethink this I do it again”. It’s relatively hard to “good” into a letter grade.

Even in the syllabus there are close to zero information that is of value or help.

All there is are a poetic piece of writing about what poetry is, how to lose points, the midterm and the final (She never collected the midterm)...

Even in class half the time (I may be exaggerating but that’s what it seems like to me) we talk about things that have nothing to do with anything with the class or anything that anyone was talking about. For example, after she showed us the book about the dog that get tossed out, she started talking about eating (and there was nothing about eating in the book). We probably spent 20 minutes on the book and for the rest of the class we talked about eating different sorts of animals. Nobody complains about it (as far as I can tell) because most people like to talk, and talking in class instead of doing work, most students would cheer. That’s the way the class runs more than half the time--about 20 minutes of poetry and the rest, talking about things that have absolutely nothing to do with anything, just whatever she or someone brings up, although if you ask her I’m sure she’ll somehow make some elusive

connection, but nevertheless no direct connection.

I was simply making a point that we seem to spend more time talking about random things than on anybody’s poems in a poetry class, and it was certainly not an attempt in any way to offend anyone. That would be like a math teacher spending half the class teaching math and half the time talking about cricket and badminton players or something, or a history teacher spending more time talking about her favorite musicians. Now I’m not saying that she should change the way she runs the class because it’s her class and she can do whatever she wants to do, and I don’t care that much about it because the classis only a semester long, and I don’t want to be hated by the teacher for being overly critical; and I certainly don’t mean to be disrespecting Professor Giovanni, but since she evidently talked trash about me to you or to whomever else, I think I deserve some trash talking of my own (although it probably wouldn’t be fair to call it trash talking).

In the letter Professor Giovanni wrote, she wrote, “You usually have a ball cap pulled over your eyes as if you are asleep and when I have asked, as I did several times,. [sic] for you to al [sic] least push it back a bit, you did not comply.” First of all I never fell asleep in the class. I listen, I pay attention, and do what is required. I can easily not come to class like half the class (literally) but I choose to come to class (I’ve missed only two classes which is significantly less than most people in that class).

There are so many people in the class who don’t participate because either they’re not present or they refuse to, but I do. Okay, I might not say much after I read, but neither do many people. After a student reads, Professor Giovanni usually offer small amounts comments (and critiques if you can call it that although I remember she did do that in one or two meetings) about the poem and usually veers off into another subject for who knows how long. I can think of three people at least who have read their poems only once or twice, but Professor Giovanni doesn’t seem to have much problems with them-She just says something like, “you guys need to start reading” and they laugh it off (and they still don’t read).

I don’t feel comfortable reading in front of people (or anything for that matter) and it feels like hell when I do, but do it.

I do what is required of me to the best of my abilities but Professor Giovanni has problems with me, but people who don’t or refuse to participate she don’t have much problems with.

I don’t understand why that is. It seems to me as a personality issue.

Because I’m the most quiet and unobtrusive guy in class and have a bad personality, she doesn’t like me or my poems (my poems stem up from my personality) and get punished...

Third of all, she wrote, “From the beginning of this semester I have had the impression that you did not wish to be part of this class.” I know it’s all my fault because of my personality, but during the discussions in class, it’s not like many people are involved in it.

Only five people talk for the majority of the time, although most people say something at one point or another and I never say anything. Being quiet, one would think, would repel attention but I seem to get more attention than I want (I can just tell by the way people stare at me) ...

I know all this mess that I’ve made with the class is all my fault. I don’t know what to say...sorry, sorry. I’m not sure if I fully or appropriately responded to your concern with me...sorry if I said something wrong.

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B2sports

editor: thomas emerick, brian wright email: sportseditor@collegiatetimes.com phone: 540.231.9865 office hours: w 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.; t 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

january 20, 2009

All gone a bit too Favre (redux) Though, I have to admit that the I sat in a dark old vet returns to the NFL gridiron room the other next season doesn’t matter to me, blow forcing Willis McGahee to be day in front of just as long as the Wrangler gridiron taken off the field in a stretcher did more to subdue the animalistic foottelevision, VCR returns.

If it must be, I’ll even live with the ball energy in my living room. and film of the Though, not so much in the room Brett Favre glory commercial retaining the usual condays. They seem ventions — shots of Favre’s Gluteus that controls the Heinz Field PA sysWranglerus and editing to suggest that tem, apparently. centuries old.

THOMAS While the Ravens’ running back lay Dropping back this is somehow extremely American, EMERICK from center with Favre being followed around by about motionless for more than 10 minutes sports unlimited con- 19 dogs, random watering holes — I following a helmet-to-helmet hit, the fidence and the just need something to replace what speakers jovially boomed “Down on editor exuberance of a has usurped it in absurd worship the Corner” followed by the Carlos newborn, Favre always wore a smile, but is on the other hand killing my Santana/Rob Thomas collaboration “Smooth.” certain that his bullet pass would split football buzz. the defense and find his Wranglerclad friends.

He looked comfortable in the pocket. At times, real comfortable.

But that was before Favre’s Jets dropped four of their last five games and missed the playoffs. Now even his dogs won’t look at him.

Now, more significant than Favre’s nine-interception part in sending Jets fans down into another spiral of depression, the Wrangler commercials have practically disappeared. I’m in dire straits here.

I know Favre’s not as on top of the PAUL J. BERESWILL/SPPS world like he used to be, and ESPN may now find rooting against Favre to New York Jets quarterback Brett Favre is distraught after a fumble. be slightly better than rooting against Moments later I looked up from As far as I know, CBS’ “The America, but the show must go on!

Heck, maybe we just have to devise Mentalist” is a show about Simon to see James Brown telling me I was about to enjoy an episode of “The a more contemporary, realistic look at Baker smiling.

Identify the misfit here: Steelers- Mentalist.” the Wrangler Blog.

For some horrible reason, I decided Maybe Favre shows up to the pick Ravens, AFC Championship, Ray up football game with his boombox Lewis, a smile montage of Simon to stick around for the first two segments. As it turns out, it’s basically just and Bachman-Turner Overdrive Baker.

During one commercial break in a sexed up version of “Monk”. albums, but they’ve already picked I’d had enough. Disillusioned with teams because he showed up late. the third quarter of Sunday night’s Or maybe he arrived just in time to game, my roommate and I counted the after-game aftertaste, I put on choose teams, but first captain picked 11 different shots of Baker flashing my overcoat and wandered out into the younger quarterback who showed that patented grin. Wow, this really Blacksburg’s bitter cold, wondering helps me get psyched to see Ed Reed what happened to real, tough, comup to warm-ups on time. fortable programming decisions.

Whether or not the grayed 39-year or Troy Polamalu hit a receiver.

Tech track feels right at home from page eight

finished third in 1:13:12.

Along with Washington, two other Tech women took first place. Junior Kristi Castlin topped the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.25 seconds, earning her an NCAA Indoor provisional-qualification. Freshman Abigail Schaffer closed out the first day by claiming her second consecutive victory in the pole vault.

Last weekend, Tech hosted the VT

Hokie Invitational, which brought together 19 collegiate squads — seven of which reside in the ACC. Once again, the women stole the show and Washington set another school record.

With the 500-meter mark in her back pocket, Washington took the 600-meter record from Heather Mullis.

Washington not only won the race by a full three seconds (1:31:84), but smashed Mullis’ record — set in 2006 — by almost six seconds.

Not to be outdone, Schaffer made it

3-for-3 in her freshman season on the pole vault, winning with a clearance of 12-11.75.

Freshman Aunye Boone and junior Erika Schroeder added two more wins.

Boone, in her first ever race, won the 300-meter dash with a time of 38.64.

Schroeder opened her season with a victorious toss in the shot put. Both the men and women will next participate at the Penn State Invitational on Jan. 30 and Jan. 31 in State College, Pa. – Matt Collette

tuesday, january 20, 2009

page B3

Hokies are primed for ’09 Many venture to Miami for the warm weather, the beaches and any other form of entertainment.

But for the Virginia Tech BRIAN Hokies, this was strictly a business WRIGHT trip. And the sports objective was simeditor ple: Make amends for last year’s disappointment.

They had plenty of stakeholders, too.

Most importantly, the entire Atlantic Coast Conference — whose bowl ineptitude was no mystery. The league had dropped its previous eight Bowl Championship Series contests.

Even more critical was Tech’s own reputation of post-season struggles.

For the time being, both were solidified with the Hokies’ 20-7 triumph over the Cincinnati Bearcats on New Year’s Day in the 75th edition of the Orange Bowl at Dolphin Stadium.

Tech’s serious nature was noticed even before it made the trip south.

The practices were more frequent and more intense. When the team landed in Florida, the curfew was set earlier. Beamer and his coaching staff made sure that his players didn’t veer from the task at hand.

Message sent. Message received.

The quick opening strike by Cincinnati — one that resulted in a touchdown pass from quarterback Tony Pike to wide receiver Mardy Gilyard — could have adversely affected the Hokies.

A sense of “here we go again,” recalling memories of a 17-0 hole against Kansas in last year’s Orange Bowl instead might have been motivation to make sure that déjà vu would not be the theme of this game’s plot.

Instead, the main characters that most affected the outcome of the game were dressed in maroon and orange.

One of those was Darren Evans — the redshirt freshman running back who was participating in his first bowl game. Not a bad opening act.

He finished with 153 yards, including the six-yard, fourth-quarter score that sealed the victory. All told, Evans competed his season with a Tech freshman record of 1,265 yards rushing.

Evans is just one of many players — 18 from Thursday’s starting lineup — returning to the Lane Stadium field next season. And for those players, this win did not only cap an improbable season, but also set the tone for an even better campaign in 2009.

And the one player who could be ready to establish himself in the new year is quarterback Tyrod Taylor. His effort against Cincinnati showed his

usual running ability when he scampered 17 yards on a third-down situation to find the end zone.

For the final three games — against Virginia, Boston College and Cincinnati — Taylor is finding out what it’ll probably be like in 2009. It’s his team, with nobody sharing the snap load. And as the lone ranger, he’s improved and, more importantly, matured.

Taylor had plenty to do with the success this year, one that ended in Tech’s first Orange Bowl win as well as the program’s fifth consecutive year of 10plus victories.

That streak — barring injury — should run to six by the time the next bowl season concludes. The Hokies have a great chance to start September with their highest preseason ranking ever (certainly in the top 10).

Even though the summer polls don’t carry much stock, optimism has every right to be high.

At the Orange Bowl, Tech dressed 64 players, but only 12 seniors. A whopping 51 percent — 17 starters — were either freshmen or sophomores.

The only major reconstruction that will need to be done on offense is with the line. Center Ryan Schuman and guard Nick Marshman — who missed the Cincinnati game because of academic ineligibility — are departing.

All the skill positions are in place and will be bolstered by newcomers. The most significant is redshirt freshman Ryan Williams — a formidable backup to Evans.

On the surface, the defense looks to

be losing a fair share of talent. Victor “Macho” Harris is headed to the professional ranks. Say goodbye to defensive end Orion Martin as well as linebackers Purnell Sturdivant and Brett Warren — the team’s two leading tacklers.

But as defensive coordinator Bud Foster has shown during his tenure in Blacksburg, his scheme always succeeds, no matter who’s in place. Still, it doesn’t hurt to have safety Kam Chancellor reprise his role in the Hokie secondary for one more year.

He, Cody Grimm and Jason Worlids will anchor another solid group.

Tech looks to be the class of the ACC yet again, but not without a strong challenge from Georgia Tech.

The Yellow Jackets have an improving offense with quarterback Josh Nesbitt and are guided by second-year head KYLE MAXEY/SPPS coach Paul Johnson. The two will face off in Atlanta in a major Coastal Tyrod Taylor uses fancy footwork to avoid the diving Andre Revels in the Hokies’ 20-7 Orange Bowl victory.

Division battle.

Georgia’s capital is also the site of the Hokies’ opening game, which will come against Alabama — who was ranked No. 1 for most of 2008.

Taking those two showdowns into account, nine wins — at least — looks very likely. Certainly, it’s way too far Key departures Key returnees Key returnees Key departures in advance to be thinking about it.

Things can change both for better and -CB Victor “Macho” Harris -S Kam Chancellor -QB Tyrod Taylor -C Ryan Schuman for worse.

-DE Orion Martin -DE Jason Worilds -RB Darren Evans -G Nick Marshman But what many of these young -LB Purnell Sturdivant -LB Cody Grimm -WR Dyrell Roberts players learned over the course of a -LB Brett Warren -WR Danny Coale challenging season that required a vast amount of remarkable resiliency is that -G Sergio Renderr) the Hokies should be ready for any JOSH SON/COLLEGIATE TIMES challenge that’s ahead of them.

2009 Look Ahead

offense

defense

page B4

tuesday, january 20, 2009