COLLEGIATETIMES
tuesday january 27, 2009 blacksburg, va.
www.collegiatetimes.com
sports DELANEY NAMED ACC PLAYER OF THE WEEK Tech sophomore guard Malcolm Delaney was announced DELANEY as the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Week for his performances last Wednesday at Wake Forest and Sunday on the road against Miami. In the Hokies’ upset win over the then top-ranked Demon Deacons, Delaney had 21 points, eight rebounds and a pair of assists. He then posted a career-high 29 points to go along with four boards as Tech claimed an overtime victory over the Hurricanes, 88-83.
news BLACKSBURG NO. 14 MOST EDUCATED SMALL TOWN Forbes Magazine ranked Blacksburg the No. 14 most educated small town, thanks to a population where 46.4 percent of citizens have an advanced degree, 31.6 percent have a bachelor’s degree, and 3.1 percent have an associate’s degree. Virginia Tech employs 1,371 full-time professors and 1,690 other faculty and research associates.
tomorrow’s weather RAIN/FREEZING RAIN high 37, low 35
corrections 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 Check out our features section for tips on how to fashion your old clothes into new styles. See our reviewers’ take on the Lyric’s latest film, “Slumdog Millionaire.”
index News.....................2 Features................3 0pinions................5
Classifieds..............6 Sports................4, 7 Sudoku..................6 An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 105th year • issue 116
Class will be in session on April 16, 2009 ZACH CRIZER
ct news reporter On the two-year anniversary of April 16, 2007 the university will hold classes on its regular schedule. University spokesman Mark Owczarski said scheduling issues prevent the university from easily adding a student holiday. “Classes will be in session,” Owczarski said. “It boils down to the academic calendar.”
Observances of remembrance for the tragedy will be held, but the university will be open on its regular schedule. Owczarski said academic calendars are created five years in advance, making changes difficult. Last school year, an SGA proposal written by senior mathematics major Monty Korpe and 2008 graduate Andy Koch helped cancel classes on the one-year anniversary of the shootings.
The holiday featured several memorial services, including a candlelight vigil on the Drillfield. Owczarski said he could not guarantee that the university would deny a similar proposal this year, but he said there is no holiday on the schedule. “At this point, we’re planning to have classes as usual,” Owczarski said. Colin Goddard, who was wounded in the shootings, was unsure of his stance, as he saw
both sides of the issue. “I understand the families and students want a chance to reflect and grieve on that day, but I also understand that eventually we need to move on,” Goddard said. Goddard said he would like to see a definite future plan for the day. “I think ultimately the decision needs to be made whether it is always going to be a holiday or always not going to be,” Goddard said.
After slaying, searches reveal little CALEB FLEMING
ct news editor The Montgomery County Sherriff’s Office executed search warrants on Haiyang Zhu’s University Boulevard Apartment and Xin Yang’s Donaldson Brown residence last Friday. Zhu, a 25-year old doctoral candidate majoring in agricultural and applied economics, was charged last Thursday with premeditated firstdegree murder for beheading Yang, a fellow graduate student, with an 8-inch kitchen knife in the Au Bon Pain cafe of the Graduate Life Center last Wednesday evening. Five days after the alleged slaying, new information has been released to indicate that Zhu and Yang did not know each other before attending Virginia Tech. Newly arrived international students at Tech are typically paired with other international students to help familiarize them with campus. Yang was assigned to Zhu, leading her to list Zhu as an emergency contact in university records. The search of Zhu’s apartment netted utility and chef’s knife papers, a digital camera, phone bills, multiple thumb drives, medical information pamphlets, and a paperback book titled “The Company of Strangers.” If Zhu owned a cell phone, officers did not seize it in his apartment, though the approved search warrant did give police the authority to do so. The phone may have been found on his person. A laptop computer was found in Zhu’s backpack at the scene of the crime, along with several other “edged weapons.” A resident of Zhu’s apartment did not identify himself and declined comment when reached by telephone Monday. Zhu lived on University City Boulevard with two roommates, both of whom are Tech students. Yang’s residence on the second floor of Donaldson Brown was also searched to elaborate on the relationship between victim and suspect. Police seized two cell phones, a laptop, bank receipts, a Canadian resident card, a People’s Republic of China identification card, a diary, a check to Zhu made out for $40 and an unmailed letter with a red “kiss” on the seal. Details on the destination address of the letter were not made available. And while police continue to process evidence and search for a motive in the gruesome attack, more information regarding both the suspect and victim has come forth. Yang, a 22-year old student from Beijing, established herself as a permanent resident of Canada after earning her undergraduate degree in business administration at Memorial University of Newfoundland. The process usually takes four years, but Sonja Knutson, Memorial University’s international student adviser, said that it is not uncommon for inter-
MARK UMANSKY/SPPS
Members of the Association of Chinese Students and Scholars erected a simple memorial to Xin Yang in front of the Au Bon Pain in the Graduate Life Center where she was killed Wednesday, Jan. 21 in a violent knife attack allegedly perpetrated by a fellow Chinese student. national students to work ahead. “They tend to do it like that more easily than the Canadians, who prefer to take the summer off,” Knutson said. “If you want to, you can study from May to August, so she did that and took an overload of courses. It saves their parents money.” Knutson was also Yang’s English teacher, noting that Yang did exceptionally well in her studies. “She was a ‘B’ student, and if you get a B in first-year English you are pretty smart,” Knutson said. “It’s not an easy grade to get, and she was in the top percentage of my class, if not the top. It’s rare that we give out ‘A’s.” But while Yang was intently focused on studies, she also established herself as an extremely approachable, enjoyable person to be around. “She was a lovely girl,” Knutson said. “She was very friendly and outgoing, really intelligent. She had worked at Costco for some time after graduation as a greeter. She was personable.” Yang, a master’s degree candidate in accounting through the Pamplin College of Business,
had been in the United States for less than two weeks when she was killed. Zhu had come to Tech from Shanghai Ocean University, near his home in Ningbo, China, before the fall semester. Will Segar, Zhu’s landlord, did not return calls to the Collegiate Times. However, Segar told the Washington Post that he had several personal interactions with Zhu. Segar said that Zhu had refused to turn the heat on in his townhouse because it was too expensive, and he had lost considerable amounts of money in the stock market. When pipes froze and neighbors began complaining of faulty plumbing, Segar installed a thermostat that was permanently set at 65 degrees in the townhouse. Zhu then turned the thermostat off at the breaker, Segar said. Tonya Spain, property manager at Sturbridge Square, wrote a comment on collegiatetimes.com that Zhu was never singled out, and that the complaints filed were for him and his roommates. “We opted to contact the police to find
out if we had any recourse, such as destruction to property, to force all the residents living in the townhome to maintain the heat at 68 degrees,” Spain wrote. “It was not because Mr. Zhu was exhibiting any behavior that would lead us to believe he was a danger to himself or others.” Spain wrote that the issues were essentially nothing more than residents not following their leasing agreements, and that International Affairs was also contacted. Segar also said that Zhu accused his staff of stealing his shoes, and that he had brought Yang into the rental office in search of an apartment. “Last week he came in and accused the staff of stealing his shoes,“ Spain said. “I said, ‘You have two roommates; are you sure it wasn’t one of them?’ But he was adamant that staff had stolen his shoes.” University Provost Mark McNamee met with representatives from the Chinese Embassy, Tech police, and other university officials Friday. McNamee said the meeting addressed a number of issues that needed to be explored, but the most important was of how her family would
see XIN, page two
Diversity summit turns focus to LGBT community, issues RYAN PETCHENICK
ct news staff writer Virginia Tech’s annual Diversity Summit originally focused on race relations since its creation in 1997. This year, the summit — scheduled to be held on Friday, Jan. 30 — will turn its focus to the issues facing the LGBT community and will engage students, staff, and community members in a two and a half hour interactive workshop-style seminar to seek ways to further advance the ideals of the Virginia Tech Principles of Community. The Commission on Equal Opportunity and Diversity, the Student Government Association and the Office for Equity and Inclusion will host the Summit in Squires Commonwealth Ballroom. Guy Sims, the assistant vice president for student affairs and member of the commission on equal opportunity and diversity explained, “a lot of times these (Summits) do focus on race, sometimes lesbian and gay issues get folded in with other issues.” Sims made the suggestion this year to “let it (LGBT) rise to the forefront.” The Summit aims to bring to the community an opportunity to discuss and challenge some of the issues of
interacting with others with a potentially different sexual orientation. According to Sims, the purpose is to “talk about something people might think uncomfortable, something people don’t encounter in their everyday lives.” Summit planners hope that attendees will take away “understanding of issues the community tackles on a daily basis are similar to the challenges others face,” according to Ray Plaza of the Office of Equity and Inclusion.
12TH ANNUAL DIVERSITY SUMMIT
DATE: Friday, January 30 LOCATION: Squires Ballroom TIME: 2p.m. - 4:30p.m. To register for free, visit www.ceod.org.vt.edu. Plaza has been working behind the scenes of the Summit to ensure that they have what they need to successfully run a forum that will engage the participants and further the realization that “race, gender, religion, social economic issues… all those things come into play.”
The summit will last from 2:30 p.m. until 4 p.m. and will kick off with an introduction by Training, Education and Outreach Program Manager. Daphne Rainey-Wittich. Then attendees will participate in group activities to get everyone comfortable with tackling the afternoon’s issues with each other before the panel discussions begin. Panel discussions will touch on issues such as Proposition 8 — legislation regarding the legality of gay marriage — as well as race relations and religion in the gay community. The last planned topic for discussion is on building alliances between the LGBT community and the entire Tech community. Sims pointed out that the majority of gay students who come to Tech arrive already having come “out,” and so the aim is to create open dialogue about the various lifestyles of students. Final activities for the Summit will include poetry readings and a conclusion by Kathy Lloyd, the Community Director of Oak Lane. President of the LGBTA Emily Mauger expressed excitement for the upcoming event. “I think it’s great that they are focusing on the community,” Mauger said. “(It’s) nice to see people taking it seriously.”
Campus looks to expel squirrels M.S. ENKOJI
mcclatchy newspapers SACRAMENTO, Calif. — If your life centered on foraging for nuts and neat places to hide them, wouldn’t the woodsy confines of a placid college campus seem divine? No natural enemies to speak of for miles around. Lots of trees to scurry up and down. Occasional tasty handouts from people, just for swishing your bushy tail and looking cute. That’s what about 400 Eastern fox squirrels must be thinking as they make themselves at home on the rambling campus of the University of California, Davis. “The population is exploding,” said Sal Genito, the school’s director of buildings and grounds. UC Davis has a scientific project under way to reduce the population -- the squirrels, after all, are pests -- and it won’t involve either firearms or poison. “Nobody gets hurt; everybody’s happy,” Genito said. The squirrels, unlike the Western gray squirrel, are not natives of the campus; they’re not even native to the West, hence the name Eastern fox. They have taken up residence in cities on the West Coast, though. In the past few years, on the Davis campus, they’ve multiplied so that they’ve worn out their welcome. Speed-racing up tree trunks is damaging bark on 100-year-old grand dames. On occasion, some of the emboldened varmints will saunter into campus buildings, causing a stir. One apparently zoomed across the path of a bicycle going full tilt, causing a nasty spill. Unchecked, a burgeoning population could upset the environmental balance, overrun the school’s research orchards and even injure people if the squirrels start grabbing for food. Wildlife experts at the school have launched a birth-control project that should reduce the population within a decade to a smaller, more manageable population. Scientists and students have set cage traps to capture the squir-
see SQUIRRELS, page two
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2 news Gift enables research on supersonic engine
editor: caleb fleming email: nrvnews@collegiatetimes.com phone: 540.231.9865 office hours: tth 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
january 27, 2009
WILL THOMAS
ct news staff writer Aeronautic research conducted by a Virginia Tech and University of Virginia team hopes to lead to a more dependable, efficient and faster operation of aircraft with the help of a recent $50,000 gift from Tech alumni through the Aerojet Corporation. The members of the Hy-V Program (named for its operation at hypersonic speed, and the state of Virginia) have been using prototypes to collect data in wind-tunnel simulations. Their goal is to advance the development of a new type of propulsion system operated at hypersonic speed, known as a scramjet. Unlike the propulsion systems of most current turbine jet aircraft, a scramjet engine (or supersonic combustion ramjet), uses almost no moving parts. It instead uses high velocity to compress air for combustion via a tapered inlet. This type of engine would allow more dependable, efficient, and faster operation of aircraft. “In the future,” said Jack Kennedy, a Gov. Tim Kaine-appointed member of the Virginia Aerospace Advisory Council, “a scramjet could be used in many applications, both commercial and military.” The more than two million dollars in funding needed for this program comes from many sources, including private corporations, NASA, the Virginia Space Grant Consortium and the Department of Defense. Recently, Aerojet Corporation, a government aerospace and defense contractor, made its sixth overall donation to Hy-V. “Aerojet has been very generous,” said Joseph Schetz of Tech’s Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering. “They have aided our research in high speed propulsion.” John Sparks, a representative of Aerojet Corp., member of the Virginia Tech College of Engineering Advisory board, and three-time Virginia Tech alumnus said, “There are not many programs in universities today studying this type of propulsion. … We like to encourage it.” In addition to mon-
editor: sara mitchell email: universitynews@collegiatetimes.com phone: 540.231.9865 office hours: mw 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Xin: Family to visit Tech from page one
come to the United States. “We discussed how to extend the invitation and how to work through the embassy so they could obtain visas,” McNamee said. Yang’s family will likely arrive in Blacksburg later this week. McNamee added that this was not the first time Tech had met with representatives from the Chinese Embassy. “We’ve always had a good relationship with the Chinese Embassy,” McNamee said. “They like the fact that we’ve been very supportive of the Chinese students that come here.” Police explained to the Chinese representatives how the police process and court system works in the United States, and explained that a lawyer had been appointed to Zhu, McNamee said. Under Virginia law, Zhu’s conviction would carry a maximum penalty of life in prison. He is currently held in the Montgomery County Jail without bond and has a pre-
liminary hearing on March 5. Stephanie Cox, Zhu’s court appointed attorney, did not return calls from the Collegiate Times. McNamee added that Yang’s family speaks only Chinese, so all of the communication has been done through a faculty member who speaks both Chinese and English. Y.A. Liu, adviser of the Tech Association of Chinese Students and Scholars, has been responsible for this translation thus far, and has spoken with Yang’s family numerous times. Liu declined comment to the Collegiate Times Monday. “At the request of the suspect and also the victim’s family I cannot speak to the news media,” Liu said. “If I do, the university will lose the Chinese speaking person.” Though a small temporary memorial was constructed in front of the Au Bon Pain in the Graduate Life Center, nothing further will be planned until the
victim’s family has arrived in the United States, McNamee said. If the family approves, the university will hold an official memorial service for her. Knutson added that Memorial University has not had any discussion with Yang’s family, but does plan to establish a memorial. In an e-mail to VT-ACSS members, Liu explained the makeshift memorial in the GLC. “With the support from the University, VT-ACSS is setting up a station within the GLC in memory of Ms. Xin Yang with flowers and books to write your words of condolences at the GLC (last) Sunday evening,” Liu said. “We will give the signed books to Ms. Yang’s family members when they arrive on our campus in the near future.” Kim Beisecker, Cranwell International Student Center director, was unavailable on Monday and did not return calls to the Collegiate Times.
Squirrels: ‘Too comfortable’ from page one COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
UVa mechanical and aerospace engineering graduate student Daniel Le works with a supersonic flame during testing of the scramjet in the University of Virginia Supersonic Combustion Wind Tunnel. etary donations, including a recent gift of $50,000, Aerojet has made its corporate aeronautic resources available to the program. Current development underway in the program includes a basic layout of the scramjet for its future test flight attachment on a NASA Terrier-Orion rocket from NASA Wallops Test Flight Facility on Virginia’s eastern shore. Since scramjets have a minimum operational speed, they must be given a supersonic boost by a rocket. Once the minimum speed is attained, the scramjet payload detaches from the rocket and fuel is introduced, causing the continued acceleration and propulsion of the scramjet.
After a recent Tech/UVa collaborative meeting, the Hy-V Program’s principle investigator and director of the Aerospace Research Laboratory at UVa, Christopher Goyne said, “NASA is interested in this technology due to its efficiency. They are looking to replace conventional rockets with scramjets for high speed flight in the atmosphere and access to space.” Goyne, a graduate of the University of Queensland in Australia, has been conducting research on scramjets for 15 years. “The scramjet will operate at five times the speed of sound at an altitude of 80,000 to 90,000 feet,” Goyne said. “We’re planning for a flight in late 2010.”
rels, mark them with black dye and release them. To understand how the squirrels behave, scientists are observing the marked squirrels as they romp across lawns. In the summer, the squirrels will be recaptured. Some will be injected with a hormone to stop reproduction, and others will get a placebo. If the hormone works without problems, the squirrel population will taper off and
a new method will be born to use on other mammal pests. Genito, whose duties make him something of a park director, is familiar with every creature on campus. Aboard a golf cart, he motored down walkways canopied by trees this week in search of those twitching, auburn tails. A fifth of the 5,000-acre campus is essentially parkland, complete with streams, meadows and, of course, nut-bearing trees.
Stopping before a thick-waisted redwood, he pointed out deep furrows in the bark caused by squirrel traffic. He passed under heavy branches where, at times, some of the culprits would peer down, watchful, but relaxed. Clearly, they’re too comfortable in their adopted home, Genito said. So are bats, rabbits, mice, rats and feral cats. They could be next.
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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 27, 2009
Animal Collective Eastwood shines in otherwise dull film boasts innovation
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But it’s a highly competitive business, and it appears that indie groups with little background have brought some confusion to the balance sheet. As these industries try to realign and reinvent their book business approach to recapture today’s market, the demand for new avenues of promotion grows ever so eager. But more importantly, the industries seek to recapture the voice of today’s generation. This means to stay afloat, you have to must innovate. For starters, all Greatest Hits records should be live recordings (with the exception of posthumous releases). Do people really want to purchase singles they’ve heard over and over again?
That’s where the erratic music collective known as Animal Collective comes in. The eighth studio album, “Merriweather Post Pavilion,” is a 55minute nod to a venue in Columbia many of us have been. The psychedelic lineup combines melodic trips with watery electronics, ecstatic vocal interplay all grounded with a techno anchor. While their lineup in not uniform, the Baltimore, Md., natives have inevitably built up some hype. Dubbed “one of the finest American records of our generation” by music magazines two months before its release, the press had Portland punks biting their nails. Categorizing “Merriweather Post Pavilion” is a balancing act on its own. Experimental? Freak folk? Indie rock? Neo-psychedelic? The cover art based on Japanese psychologist Akiyoshi Kitaoka work says it all — they’ve already made sure to catch your eye. An Animal Collective record is a journey, and it’ll be a treat for urban tribal fans. The opening, “In the Flowers,” feels like kicking before you enter sandman. “A dancer who was high in a field from a moment, caught my breath on my way home, couldn’t stop that spinning force,” resonates singer Avery Tare. “I fell into you, everything drowns you to giggle, you are up with the flower and I care.” It’s sappy, but the spectral electronics and color mold the message into a viscous whole. “My Girls” has infinite spine-tickling electronics compromising with sonic hallucinogenic vocals. The song is proof that Animal Collective has created a foundation based on linear progressions and song structure. Yeah it’s linear, but it’s become tangent long ago. The Dead would be proud. Animal Collective still has the same familiar conviction shown in “Taste” and a juicy exotic vibe in “Brother Sport” but struggle to conjure up some sort of definite progression throughout the record. Shortcomings in “No More Running” and “Lion in a Coma” characterize the lucid murkiness that’s decidedly off putting. When they’re at their best, Animal Collective provides a phenomenal show of visual metaphors that will surely impress those on the international stage. But no one said this batch was as fresh as the ones we got last time.
this year’s “Changeling,” which hints at his versatility. He has proclaimed this is final acting role — though he said the same for “Baby” — and it’s fitting that he should go out with a bang that harkens back to his “Dirty Harry” days. Eastwood is at the top of his game delivering zingers with the panache of a crusty, equal-opportunity racist telling jokes such as, “A Jew, a Mexican and a colored person walk into a bar, and the bartender looks up and says, ‘Get the fuck out of here.’” He can also scowl like nobody’s business, playing Korean War veteran and retired Detroit autoworker Walt Kowalski. The packed theater I saw it with gobbled it up, laughing uproariously every time the 78-year-old referred to any minority with a rotating wheel of racial epithets. Politically correct, this film is not. Following his wife’s death he realizes how much the landscape is changing: Mexican and Asian gangs have overtaken the streets and a Hmong family (read: Asians) have moved in next door. On top of this, his family shows no respect toward him or his
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DUBLIN PHILHARMONIC THE
There was a time when rock stars and music industry executives were commanding the cultural agenda. As the Boss, Prince and JONATHAN David Bowie were once the engine of YI popular culture, features the music indusreporter try has since been juggling digital downloads and social networking outlets that have leveled the playing field. The recession has hardly left anyone untouched. EMI (Electric & Musical Industries Lt.) reportedly had a 20 percent decrease in CD sales and slashed more than 2,000 jobs in the last year. The music industry was previously considered the biggest payoff in entertainment outside of film, but all five of the major labels are in trouble, either losing money or barely breaking even.
In the following days and weeks after I initially saw Clint Eastwood’s latest film, “Gran Torino,” I thought I PETER fell into some bizarro world VELZ where evil twins multimedia are indicated by reporter mannered dialogue and a stylish goatee. Problem being, I was the one with the goatee. Everyone I talked to afterward proclaimed it the best movie they’d seen in ages. The audience I saw it with cheered and applauded over the credits. I, on the other hand, was left in my seat stunned. Never has a film’s conclusion so befuddled me to the point where my mouth was agape with confusion and disbelief. More on that later. First, let us discuss what’s good here. Clint Eastwood not only directs, but returns in front of the camera for the first time since 2004’s Oscarwinning “Million Dollar Baby.” He has since directed two war films and
ORCHESTRA
COURTESY OF WARNER BROS.
Clint Eastwood directs and acts in Warner Brothers’ “Gran Torino.” wife’s loving memory. The audience knows this because his grandson shows up to his wife’s funeral wearing a Lions jersey. The family next door includes Thoa and Sue, a brother and sister duo facing ongoing pressure from a gang. This leads to Walt thwarting Thoa’s gang initiation of stealing his prized ’72 Gran Torino. Thoa must cleanse the disgrace he has brought to the family by working for Walt, creating a budding sensei-grasshopper relationship. Lessons include ways to pick up girls and telling the barbershop owner off. This is where the film stumbles. Not only is the relationship trite and predictable, but first-time actor Bee Vang plays Thoa with the passion of a 2-by4. A little harsh, yes, but it’s downright painful and disappointing to see a pro such as Eastwood play against an actor who could learn a lesson or two from a 4-year-old’s temper tantrum. Sue, played by Ahney Her, is better, but a scene where she is forced to tell off a couple of pushy thugs is among the film’s most cringe-inducing. Nothing wrong with that, but Walt’s characterization, and by and large the film’s humor, amounts to him calling Thoa’s family “gooks.” The dull screenplay is largely to blame as his veteran past is largely underutilized. Tender and funny scenes such as Walt eating lunch at his neighbor’s house take a backseat once the film hits melodrama-overload in the third act. And what a strange third act it is. Following a drive-by-shootingcum-rape by the gang, Walt takes it upon himself to enact some hardcore vigilante justice. The film takes a dramatic 180-degree turn as Walt’s presence in the world fades allowing him to improve his newfound
friends’ lives. If there is a word not found in Clint Eastwood’s directing handbook, it’s “subtle.” The over-the-top finale knocks you over the head with blatantly obvious symbolism and dramatic camera push-ins that resulted with an audience member, in a fit of amazement, exclaiming, “He’s like Jesus!” My groans of aggravation soon turned to stunned silence once Eastwood started singing the film’s theme song over the closing credits. Eastwood the actor, not the director, remains the redeeming quality of the film. The film is worth watching for fans of Eastwood, but it’s too flawed to recommend to everyone. I know this review is going to ruffle plenty of feathers, but with so many superior films currently in theaters, including “Revolutionary Road” or “Slumdog Millionaire,” “Gran Torino” is better saved for a weekend rental.
GRAN TORINO DIRECTED BY: Clint Eastwood STARRING: Clint Eastwood, Christopher Carley, Bee Vang, Ahney Her RATED: R PLOT: Walt Kolwalski’s formally peaceful neighborhood is now home to gangs and foreigners who have moved in next door. Initally apprehensive, Walt learns to love them for who they are and must reconcile his inner struggles before finding the solace for which he strives. GRADE: C+ SHOWTIMES: 1:40, 4:30, 7:20, 10: 10 p.m. at Regal New River Valley Stadium 14
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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 27, 2009
Thompson rebounds from surgery to reinvigorate Tech RYAN TRAPP
ct staff writer Thirteen minutes left in a contest against Columbia University, sophomore forward J.T. Thompson hits a two-point jumper and pumps his fist as he hustles back on defense. It may have just been one basket in a comfortable win over the Lions, but for Thompson it was the ultimate payoff for what had been a frustrating season on the Tech sidelines thus far. On Nov. 14, Thompson underwent surgery to correct an inguinal hernia. As a result, he was sidelined for the first 10 games of the season. “I was upset that I had to miss those games,” Thompson said. “But I just had to follow the doctors’ treatment; I didn’t want to push my return and re-injure myself.”
All members of the team took the news hard. Thompson had been one of Tech’s most pleasant surprises in the 2007-08 campaign, showing steady growth throughout the season and performing his best in several big games. “We all knew that we had to play harder to make up for the void created without J.T.,” said senior forward A.D. Vassallo. “He plays great on the boards and on defense, but he also he brings a lot of toughness to the team. He doesn’t care who’s in front of him; he’ll knock them back and score in transition or traffic.” The forward’s rebounding ability and tough mentality were severely missed in the early portion of the Hokies’ season, as they lost three games by a combined four points. “It was rough watching those
one-point losses from the bench,” Thompson said. “I couldn’t help thinking maybe a rebound could have made a difference and won us the game.” Since his return on Dec. 20, Thompson has brought back a muchneeded intensity to the Hokies and their season. Since his return to the court, Tech has won eight of its last nine contests. “With his toughness and enthusiasm for the game, we can match him up with almost any player on the court and play him at any position,” said Head Coach Seth Greenberg. “He gives us a flexibility which has been so key the past few games.” Over the past few weeks, the Hokie Nation has started to see the basketball team that came on strong during the latter stages of last season. With
Thompson’s insertion back into the lineup, the Hokies hope to continue their success and make an impact in the Atlantic Coast Conference yet again. “He’s given us a lot,” Vassallo said. “He’s done a great job with us so far, and we’ll need all of our players to click for us to get the success we want in our division.” And Thompson wants to do all he can to make sure they do get that success, not wanting his surgery to be what defines his sophomore season. “I’m still trying to be explosive and get to the glass,” Thompson said. “There hasn’t been a big drop in my game, and I think I’ll keep improving on my points and rebounds throughout the season.” The Hokies have seen a great deal of success in the ACC this season and currently trail only Duke in the conference standings. But the season is far from over, and there are several tough conference match-ups looming on the horizon. Even still, confidence in the locker room is very high. And now with the return of one of the team’s most intense players, things are looking up for the maroon and orange. “I’ve always said the hardest playing team wins,” Greenberg said. “The mentality he brings gives us the ability to play hard game in and game out, which has helped us out a great deal since his return.”
MICHAEL SHROYER/SPPS
J.T. Thompson launches a long jump shot over forward Al-Farouq Aminu of then-No. 1 Wake Forest in the Hokies’ upset road win on Jan. 21.
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editor: laurel colella, david mcilroy email: opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com phone: 540.231.9865 office hours: mw 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
january 27, 2009
EDITORIAL
Out of respect, classes should be canceled on April 16 Virginia Tech plans to hold classes on April 16, 2009, the second anniversary of the deadliest shooting spree by a single gunman in United States history. University spokesman Mark Owczarski said scheduling issues prevent the university from canceling classes this year, as the university creates academic calendars five years in advance. Given the gravity of the events of April 16, 2007, the university canceled classes on the one-year anniversary. However, this year they do not see it as a priority. Using scheduling as the reason behind the decision is flawed. April 16, 2007, wasn’t something that anyone could have ever planned for or seen coming, especially those in charge of putting together our academic schedule. While this wasn’t a day that the university intended for us to have off when it made our schedule years ago, events that have transpired since then warrant the cancellation of classes. Last year’s remembrance events were extremely well thought out. A variety of planned on-campus activities were offered to students, faculty and staff, and those not wishing to participate were given the day off to reflect or even just relax and hang out with friends. The candlelight vigil on the Drillfield was a chance for us to gather as a community and remember the lives of our friends and professors who
had tragically lost their lives the year before. Even though this spring will be the two-year anniversary, for the students and teachers on campus two years ago, the memories of that time are still very real. Faculty and staff don’t graduate: they were here before April 16, during the shootings and continue t o serve. Even those students who were still in high school during that time feel connected to the events that happened that day. They are a part of our community and identify with our loss. An SGA proposal helped cancel classes on the one-year anniversary of the shootings last year. The university should also continue to cancel classes until students who were freshmen during April 2007 graduate from Tech. After that happens, the university should evaluate whether April 16 should become a perpetual holiday. We know that the university might argue that the schedule is already set and that we need to move on from that day and go about business as usual, but for so many of us, April 16, 2007, is still all too clear in our minds. It is important for many of us to have that day off. Not to drink, party, sleep the day away or goof off, but to remember and reflect on a day that has forever changed us.
Here’s hoping Obama backs up his words with real action KEVIN GILLISPIE regular columnist I went to the opening inaugural ceremony. I performed for the collecting masses. And the magnitude of the moment possessed me: Across the frozen Potomac our buses rode in a convoy of two. Into an increasing sea of citizens we pushed with celebratory, finger-pointing awe. Above us the Washington Monument transected the pale, clouded sky. From a mile away the gravitas of a great, seated figure glowed green from within the American Parthenon we call the Lincoln Memorial. And I, overshadowed by the enormity of marbleized history and transcended by Martin Luther King Jr.’s prophesy fulfilled, played with the Highty Tighties on the National Mall for any who might listen. We honored the occasion and in return were honored by the occasion. A little over a week later and the artistic fervor bled off and a more scrupulous disposition hit me: If merchandizing happened to be a first ambassador that day, then any stranger to our democratic turnings would believe the occasion was wholly dedicated to adulating Barack Obama — and to a much lesser degree Joe Biden. But the quadrennial event a week ago must never be about any one person. It must never mutate into the coronation ceremony of anyone, especially if anyone else might be moved to refer to this person as “the one” — ala Oprah Winfrey (or worse, Farrakhan’s “messiah”). The Presidential Inauguration is the highest celebration of the greatest political ideology this planet has
ever known: democracy. Not to put too grandiose a point on it. Once a cult of personality replaces individual responsibility, we fall. We fail. But I must concede that the inauguration is also a celebration of individual achievement. That one man (and very soon I’m sure, woman) can fight for the hearts and minds of the nation and take responsibility for its economic and social health is sublimity unparalleled. And as I stood with the Highty Tighties facing the World War II memorial, I felt it. I felt the ecstasy of one more peaceful transfer of power. A transaction of regrettable exception in world history. I felt the ecstasy of living within the borders of a country that is strong enough to ensure we don’t bleed when someone decides he wants the Oval Office. In his inauguration speech, Obama said, “Our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.” Are we to believe that our enemies fear us because we have “justness” on our side? This is asinine in the highest. “Our security emanates from” the strength of our military and the willingness of this country’s people to use it. It is tyrannical to believe that “might makes right,” but it is naive to believe that those in the right don’t need might. Justness is an inanimate political, social, spiritual ideal that “emanates” no power of its own. It is those who revere it who propagate it. They carry it with them when they face down the enemy in battle — both intellectually and physically. And what of this “example” business? Does Obama believe that if we stand tall and live a life of justness
then evil will retreat to and cower in the dark distances of our world? The last in this vacuous triplet is Obama’s invocation of “humility and restraint.” If I’m understanding this correctly, he’s saying that our characters, tempered by these two qualities, deter misfortune. Perhaps it does in our daily lives. No one could convince me that “humility and restraint” are not admirable attributes. But our enemies want to kill us, not take us to finishing school. Nevertheless, Obama is a master rhetorician, and it is foolish to take any of this as more than the sounds an academic man makes when he finds great pleasure in the colors language creates. (Even William Ayers calls the police when harassed.) So I’m left ambivalent with respect to how and what Obama says. I want him to use his silver-tongued talents to elevate and secure this nation, but I’m afraid he’ll start believing (or already does believe in) his own hype. His presidency is but a week old, and I reserve the right to hope. I hope that behind his overwrought rhetoric (and yes, I recognize the heat from my own linguistic foundry — I speak not from unacknowledged self-loathing or a sneer of jealousy, but an intimate appreciation for the dangers surrounding talent without earth-borne values) lies a mind immune to the flash and dazzle of his own linguistic presentation. Despite my worry and apprehension, the performance the Highty Tighties gave will forever be a cherished moment. This democracy is ours and only we are responsible for it. We own it, we run it, we defend it. And that — along with our president — is worth banging my drum for again and again.
The editorial board is composed of David Grant, David Harries and Laurel Colella.
Last week was a good week for Virginia Tech basketball. Our road wins at No. 1 Wake Forest and Miami have created a great deal of excitement and energy for our program. The reality is that last week is in the past and we must prepare for the present: Clemson, Thursday night. When you compete in the ACC, college basketball’s best conference, you can not live on memories! You must work everyday to get better because your next game is your most important. Cassell Coliseum will be rocking with the Cassell Guard in black and the General, Robert Montgomery Knight, in the house. Please let Coach Knight know how much we appreciate him being at Tech. Our players appreciate everyone who came out late at night to meet our team after returning from Wake Forest. Now the challenge is to be there early Thursday to set the tone for our game against Clemson. Your energy, your passion and your ownership make a difference. The stage is set for another great game. Let’s show the nation how Virginia Tech has embraced basketball — Lane Stadium has moved to the Cassell for the winter. See you Thursday! Seth Greenberg Head basketball coach
We must come together in the face of tragedy In the wake of a fellow Hokie’s heinous murder there has been an outpouring of condolences, sympathies, and immense feelings of loss. But, sadly, there has also been a torrent of senseless bigotry from other Virginia Tech students. On the CT Web site, where there are hundreds of comments listed under the news release of Xin Yang’s stabbing death, some of my peers have gone so far as to suggest that because Yang’s killer was Asian, Virginia Tech should prohibit Asians from enrolling in the university. Similarly, students have declared the two most recent acts of violence on campus as a cultural phenomenon and state that Asians should be avoided. One “concerned parent” wrote that she has advised her two daughters, who attend Virginia Tech, to avoid Asian friends at all costs. Another commenter posted that “if another Asian commits a homicide, I suggest a ban.” Others have expressed far more graphic and derogatory terms that not only make themselves look extraordi-
narily uneducated and without compassion for humanity, but they reflect poorly on this incredible institution that we are so privileged to attend. More importantly, I’m also surprised that people in an academic environment are ignorant in areas of diversity and the crucial necessity for ethnic appreciation. These statements of hate represent the antithesis of what so many people of our generation have worked toward, of creating a world where race will no longer determine a person’s merit or worth. We at Virginia Tech are pursuing a higher education to invent the future and better our world — how then can you possibly attribute senseless bigotry to that cause? To my fellow Hokies who expressed such hateful responses — your words of malice and bitter revulsion make you no better than a person who physically perpetuates hate. One student posted that, “‘Multiculturalism’ and ‘diversity’ are ruining this country, just as Western Europe is being ruined by the Jew-hating mass-murdering Mohammedans.” Another anonymous poster urged for the more “red-blooded Americans” to take action. As a matter of fact, according the Bureau of Justice Statistics, Asians are 10 times less likely to commit a homicide than whites. As a white female, I find it unbelievable that people are wasting their time in making such vile, ignorant comments in the midst of such a horrific and undeserved tragedy that could have been committed by any person, regardless of race, religion or ethnicity. We should be more focused on how we can give to the community, not what we can take from it. Though I realize that the sentiments expressed online represent only a small fragment of the student population, it causes me to fear that these students would prefer a regression in our society towards intolerance. I have experienced Virginia Tech and the Blacksburg community as wonderfully accepting of many races, ethnicities, and cultures as evidenced by the magnificent array of organizations that this institution offers to students from diverse backgrounds. Furthermore, our international student base is testament to how fortunate we are to be learning and living in such an openminded environment. Hopefully our community’s sense of strength can overlook such hateful bigotry to deal with this tragic event and educate our fellow Hokies on the value of diversity. Caty Gordon Sophomore, English
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, Riley Prendergast, T. Rees Shapiro, Rebecca Thomas, Justin Graves News Staff Writers Shannon Aud, 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, 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 Sam Eberspacher 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
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letter from men’s basketball coach
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VT Alerts get the entire campus on the same page in 30 minutes It is a daunting task to write about an oncampus murder — especially when the entry will be posted in the Virginia Tech BEN campus newspaWOODY per. Still, there are things to point out regular that still keep me columnist quite unsettled about last week’s tragedy. I have the greatest job on campus: I flip burgers at The Fighting Gobbler in West End Market with the best coworkers imaginable. And I was working Wednesday night. The management at West End has implemented numerous policies to facilitate optimal performance from its employees. These policies range from maintaining a tucked-in shirt to refraining from snacking at work to keeping cell phones on silent. These rules keep employees focused on their work and guests satisfied with one of the nation’s top dining facilities. Aside from the obvious, classrooms and dining halls have one subtle, yet enormous, difference: There are no warning message boxes in the dining halls. Let’s paint the picture now: I am standing at the grill, preparing 16 Old Hickory burgers, completely oblivious to the world. Per usual, Gobbler’s large screens are showing the Hokies beat down Wake Forest in true upset fashion, and the last couple orders for Monterrey burgers are rolling in. It’s 8 p.m., and we’re closed. It generally takes about an hour for the grill to get cleaned thoroughly, and by 9:30 p.m. I’m back at my car. “Fifteen texts? Whoa,” I say in confusion. Usually I come out of work with three or four texts — two of them from my girlfriend who texts me out
of boredom, and one from either my brother or my roommate. The breakdown is as follows — nine from VT Alerts, one from a friend who recently graduated, one from my roommate, one from my sister, one from my brother, and the obligatory two from my girlfriend. I am in a hurry to get out of town for a court appearance in Louisa County, but I decide to check my e-mail while the shower warms up. Two e-mails from VT Alerts. Even Google Alerts got in on the action, as I received an e-mail from them about the stabbing death also. To be honest with you, I had learned about the incident around 8:15 p.m., when a coworker checked his phone and informed the rest of us. I phoned my family to let them know about what happened and that I was safe, and they weren’t aware that there was a stabbing death on campus. My mother thanked me for informing her and told me she was glad to know I was safe. I showered and left for my girlfriend’s home, which put me much closer to the Louisa County courthouse than my apartment on Roanoke Street in Blacksburg. When I arrived at the courthouse the next morning, the officer operating the metal detector asked me to keep my phone in the car. I went through the metal detector, entered the courtroom, and sat down on a pew, waiting for the judge to try my case. “Excuse me,” the young woman whispered next to me. “Are you a student at Virginia Tech?” “Yes, ma’am.” I had an orange VT lanyard with my keys hanging from my pocket. “What happened last night? I got a text message from VT Alerts saying there was a murder on campus. I used to go there — I graduated last spring, and I guess I’m still subscribed to VT
Alerts.” I told her everything I had heard about it. She seemed shaken by the news, and rightfully so. One of the woman’s most painful memories had to have been learning of the Cho massacre on 4-16. Roland Lazenby, professor of communication here at Virginia Tech, mentioned his gratitude for the evolution of information gathering: “We are so fortunate to live in a world where we can have whatever we want delivered to us at a moment’s notice.” In this age of immediate information, we are lucky to have warning messages sent to our phones and email. VT Alerts has made great strides since the Pritchard nail gun incident, and it is almost flawless. VT Alerts is designed to be a pervasive messaging system. It is the most useful product Virginia Tech developed and helped duplicate to campuses across the country, and it works brilliantly — under proper circumstances. The only design flaw it has is its assumption that all individuals on campus have either or both cell phone and Internet access. Granted, you would be hard-pressed to find someone on campus without a phone, but it’s not impossible. Rumor has it there’s a loud siren, but I was out of broadcast range, I suppose. I could not hear anything. The truth of the matter is that tragedy can strike at any moment. What good are the message boxes in classrooms if class is over for the day? These message boxes must be anywhere a student, faculty member or staffer can go, including dining halls, gyms, restrooms and recital halls. Though they typically carry their phones everywhere, on-campus residents should not have to depend on them for warning. That will make me feel safer.
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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 27, 2009
sports in brief HOKIES GET ACC ROAD WIN OVER HURRICANES The men’s basketball team earned an important ACC road win against the University of Miami Sunday evening as the Hokies defeated the Hurricanes 88-83 in overtime at BankUnited Center. Sophomore guard Malcolm Delaney led all scorers with 29 points, and senior forward A.D. Vassallo contributed with 28 points. Down by one at halftime, the Hokies (14-5, 4-1 ACC) produced an 11-0 run in the latter part of the second half, but Miami (14-5, 3-3) was able to keep pace as forward Dwayne Collins scored 13 points in the final 20 minutes of regulation. A jumper from Vassallo with 54 seconds left in the second half gave Tech a 77-74 advantage, but that was answered by Miami’s Brian Asbury, who knotted the game with a threepointer. The game ventured into the extra session, where the ’Canes would quickly run up a lead of seven, 81-74, with four minutes to go. But then Tech outscored Miami 102, highlighted by a deep three-pointer by Delaney. That was followed by six successful free throw attempts in the final two minutes — enough to seal the victory. As a team, the Hokies shot 49 percent from the field and grabbed 33 boards. Sophomore forward Jeff Allen led the team with six rebounds in addition to his 17 points. Coming off the bench, sophomore guard Hank Thorns aided his teammates with eight assists. Miami was led by a trio of 20-plus point producers. Collins had 23, Asbury netted 21 and the team’s top scorer, Jack McClinton, posted 20. The win puts them in sole position of second place in the ACC. Tech next plays host to No. 11 Clemson on Thursday at 7 p.m. in Cassell Coliseum and will be televised on ESPN2. The Tigers, 3-2 in the conference and 17-2 overall, are coming off a Sunday night victory over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. – Ed Lupien
SWIMMING AND DIVING SHINES ON SENIOR DAY Senior day was a huge success for the H2Okies on Saturday. Both the men’s and women’s swimming and
diving teams swept all of the day’s events. Trouncing both UNC Wilmington and ACC rival Georgia Tech, the H2Okies closed out their final meet in War Memorial Pool this season — with several athletes rewriting the record books in the process. The men’s team combined to win nine events, led by freshman Blake Trabuchi-Downey who won the 100meter freestyle and 200-meter fly. Senior swimmer Sara Smith broke the pool records for both the 50 and
ley relay team of Jordan McHorney, Megan Newell, Sara Smith and Jessica Earl broke the pool record with a posted time of 1:40.95. Mikey McDonald held Tech’s ground in the diving arena, taking home wins in the 1-meter and 3meter events. The H2Okies look to carry Saturday’s success with them when they travel to Pittsburgh on Jan. 31 in one of the final meets before the ACC Championships in February. – Ryan Trapp
jumped out to a 10-point advantage early in the first half. Midway through, a jumper by freshman Shanel Harrison would put Tech up by 16, its largest lead of the game. The Hokies walked into halftime up by nine, 39-30, with a perfect clip from the line and 50 percent from the field. During the second half, the Hokies allowed the Lancers (5-12) to close within three after a lay-up by Longwood's Becky Fernandes. The guard ended the game with 10 points, four rebounds and shot 50 percent from the foul line. Despite a sloppy win including 21 turnovers, junior forward Utahya Drye had a double-double — posting 12 boards and 14 points. Senior guard Laura Haskins obtained a career high of 11 assists and contributed seven points. As a team, the Hokies finished with 44 rebounds while shooting 60 percent from the charity stripe. However, the Lancers limited the Hokies to just four three-pointers. Tech's leading three-point shooter guard Lindsay Biggs scored three of those four, giving her a total of 13 points with three rebounds and three assists. Tech sits last in the ACC standings (0-5) and will try to get its first win in league play when it visits the Clemson Tigers on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in South Carolina. – Hattie Francis
MEN'S TENNIS ON WINNING TRACK IN AUBURN LUKE MASON/SPPS
Senior James Aitken peforms in the backstroke event at War Memorial Pool. Tech beat both Georgia Tech and UNC Wilmington on Saturday. 100-meter freestyle events in posting times of 22.18 and 50.06, respectively. Freshman Erika Hajnal made a splash in her first meet for the H2Okies as she took home record wins in both the 500- (4:51.81) and 1000-meter (9:47.12) freestyle events. Teammate and senior Megan Newell also swam the 100 meter fly in a record time of 49.50. The relay teams saw success as well, with both teams winning their respective 400-meter freestyle events. In addition, the women’s 200-med-
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SNAPS SKID AGAINST LONGWOOD After five consecutive losses, the Virginia Tech women's basketball team returned to Cassell Coliseum on Sunday to defeat Longwood , 73-57. Despite two early fouls by Tech guard Nikki Davis, the Hokies (9-10)
The Virginia Tech men’s tennis team competed in the Auburn Spring Classic and won nearly two-thirds of their matches throughout the weekend. The Hokies went into the event ranked No. 28 nationally and were competing against No. 19 Louisiana State, No. 46 Arkansas and No. 29 Auburn. The matches were scored on an individual basis, rather than the usual team-based scoring. The Hokies made a great showing, winning seven of their 12 matches on Friday, going 9-3 on Saturday, and finishing off the weekend by claiming seven of their 12 Sunday matches. The Hokies only lost three of their 12 doubles matches throughout the weekend combined. This has been
an ongoing feat for the Hokies as their doubles teams played well during the off-season. They look to keep their doubles domination going as they have started to gain national attention for their work in doubles matches. One of the top performers of the weekend was Luka Somen, who won all of his singles matches. The team of Patrick Daciek and Corrado Degli Incerti Tocci also played well together, never dropping a doubles match. – Garrett Busic
WRESTLING MAKES MORE HISTORY BEFORE FIRST LOSS The Virginia Tech wrestling team set another record this season as they became the first squad in the program’s history to beat a nationally ranked team — which they did twice. Tech (15-1) first upset host school and No.17 Michigan on Saturday. Then on Sunday, it came up with a win over No. 6 Central Michigan before falling to fourth-ranked Nebraska. The team opened up the weekend in Ann Arbor, Mich., with a 37-3 win over Binghamton, where its only loss came in the 184-pound bout as Tech sophomore Tommy Spellman fell to ninth-ranked Josh Patterson.
With that 13th win of the season under their belts, the Hokies took to the mat against the Wolverines. Things got off to a good start with a near fall by true-freshman Jarrod Garnett who put the first points up for the Hokies. Things kept rolling as Michigan coach Joe McFarland substituted back-ups for his starters in the 141-, 149- and 157-pound bouts. Tech took advantage, outscoring the Wolverines 13-0 in those rounds. Even with a pair of losses in the ending rounds, the Hokies held onto their lead for the win. On Sunday, Tech traveled to Mount Pleasant, Mich., for another day of duals. First up were the No. 4 Cornhuskers, which handed the Hokies their first loss of the season. Although Garnett, Chris Diaz and Pete Yates won their respective matches, it wasn’t enough for the team to overcome the highly-ranked Huskers, falling 26-11. The Hokies were able to recover and beat Central Michigan 19-12. Garnett, Diaz and Yates all went 4-0 on the weekend. Tech will embark on their Atlantic Coast Conference match-ups as they take on Virginia’s Cavaliers this Saturday in Glen Allen. That will be followed by a match-up in Chapel Hill, N.C., against the Tar Heels of North Carolina. – Lindsay Faulkner
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