Thursday, March 26, 2009 Print Edition

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thursday march 26, 2009 blacksburg, va.

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news REGISTRATION HAS OPENED FOR RUN IN REMEMBRANCE According to the Department of Recreational Sports, more than 140 participants have already registered for the event, which will take place on April 16. Recreational Sports oﬀers pre-registration on its Web site. While the ﬁrst 500 participants to register receive a free T-shirt, registration is accepted on the day of the event as well, beginning at 7 a.m. on Shultz lawn. The event is open to the public. The event will begin at 8 a.m. on the morning of April 16 on the Alumni Mall and conclude near the April 16 memorial.

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE HOSTS SPEAKER Tonight at 7:30 p.m. in Hancock 100, the physics department and the College of Science will present Mario Livio, a science author and astronomer from the Space Telescope Science Institute, who will give a seminar titled, “Is God a Mathematician?”

sports TECH-VCU BASEBALL The Hokies and the Virginia Commonwealth Rams’ scheduled match-up on Wednesday at English Field was canceled because of the forecast of heavy rain. No makeup date has been announced. Tech will next play in a three-game weekend series on the road against the North Carolina State Wolfpack.

Panel explores April 16 issues ZACH CRIZER

ct news reporter Provisions of the April 16 settlement are continuing to unfold. Families will soon begin making decisions for the use of the Charitable Purposes Fund, but many are still waiting for medical reimbursements and a second meeting with the governor. Board members of the Charitable Purposes Fund began a mission to improve society’s understanding of the events of April 16 on Wednesday, holding their first meeting via conference call. It is the most recent aspect of the April 16 settlement to take effect. Established as a $1.75 million sub-fund to be used for charity, the exact use of the money is to be determined by a 12member board consisting of family members and Virginia officials. Gov. Tim Kaine appointed the board members to oversee use of the money. “The money is in that fund,” Kaine said. “And they will start to dialogue about what they think the appropriate charitable uses of their dollars are.” Michael Pohle, whose son Michael Pohle Jr. was killed in Norris Hall, is a board member. He was pleased with cooperation and mindset of the officials on the board. “We agreed we should meet in person where we could clarify for everyone what the objective for our organization is going to be,” Pohle said. “They wanted it to be driven by what the families want.” Pohle said the meeting, overseen by attorney Larry Roberts, finally helped solidify the future of the fund, and was appreciative of the state officials participating. “It was an opportunity for us to go through some logistics and express our thanks for

finally getting it put together,” Pohle said. At subsequent meetings, the board will decide what to use the fund to accomplish. Pohle said he had three main objectives to propose. One is to promote efforts to improve campus safety, and another is to share the experiences of victims and improve victim outreach efforts in the future. He also wants to see

June 2008 Settlement written

“We also want to use this organization to begin the process of building a bridge with the school and others that have been on different sides of the fence,” Pohle said. The meeting is the latest condition of the settlement to come to fruition. Other portions are not yet complete. “A number of things have just now started getting going” Pohle said. “We are apprecia-

November 2008 Virginia Department of Criminal Justice begins receiving medical bills from April 16 victims

08 October 2008 Families meet with Gov. Tim Kaine

things we wanted to get some feedback on,” Pohle said. “One of the things is correcting the false and misleading information put in the panel report.” Suzanne Grimes, whose son Kevin Sterne was injured in Norris Hall, said some topics are still lingering from October’s meeting. “Considering the governor hasn’t answered all of our requests from the last meeting,

March 2009 Kaine says medical reimbursements are being distributed Early 2009 Settlement provides for a second meeting with Kaine

the organization expand and move forward. “I want to grow this foundation to make it stronger in honor of those who were killed,” Pohle said. “Create the means to provide ongoing support to those who survive.” He said he wants to aid the surviving victims throughout the rest of their lives. “As a parent, one of our main concerns is those surviving students,” Pohle said. “We consider them an extended part of our family. We care very deeply for them.” Pohle said he hope the board of the Charitable Trust Fund can mediate concerns of families and the university.

tive of that.” The settlement signed by 28 families and the state of Virginia guaranteed three meetings with Kaine by the end of his term. One was set for “early 2009.” Press secretary Gordon Hickey said the arrangements for the meetings are being worked out, and details would be relayed to families “sooner rather than later.” Pohle said it is important for families to follow up on the last discussion they had with Kaine. He wants to continue a push for the altering of the original state report on the events of April 16. “There were a number of

I would be interested in asking some of the same questions,” Grimes said. She said the correction of the panel report is still a topic of interest to her. In addition, Grimes said she would like to see the police reports from April 16 be released for the benefit and education of other law enforcement agencies. Another question Grimes will pose is related to reimbursement of medical funds. Pohle said the medical care funds were the number one reason the families settled. Some medical funds for survivors and families have been dispersed by the state. Kaine said the allocation of

GORDON BLOCK

ct news reporter

coming up DANIEL LIN/SPPS

From left: Brandon Carroll, presidential candidate for SGA4You, Shane McCarty, vice presidential candidate for SGA4You, Guy Sims, moderator for the SGA debate, interact during last night’s debate. McCarty is discoursing on sustainability.

KELSEY HEITER

ct news reporter

Classifieds.............7 Sports....................6 Sudoku..................7

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is any way to expedite the process. In addition to Kaine, Pohle said the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors will meet individually with families in May. “We wanted to follow up with the Board of Visitors because they had a number of responsibilities with their bylaws that were not fulfilled,” Pohle said. He hopes to address the document archive that has been made available to families and the public. Technical glitches have limited some from viewing all information. “There is a lot of important information that was not there,” Pohle said.

vote on new constitution

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News.....................2 Features................3 0pinions................5

Families were instructed to send all medical bills dated prior to November 1, 2008 to the state offices. Those bills dated after November 1, 2008 are sent to the Department of Criminal Justice. “I did receive a $10 co-pay from them,” Grimes said. Medical bills were initially covered by money from the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund. When each family used up their allotment of funds from the HSMF, they began sending bills to the state offices. Grimes said many generous care providers that served Sterne have not been reimbursed. “That was probably about

SGA candidates debate issues Students to

corrections

index

Late 2009 or early 2010 Settlement provides for a third meeting with Kaine prior to the end of his term as governor of Virginia

JOSH SON/COLLEGIATE TIMES

high 58, low 45

Look for a PDF copy of the proposed SGA constitution on our Web site.

Yesterday Board members for Charitable Purpose Fund hold first meeting

2010

PM THUNDERSTORMS

Read a Q and A with Michael Yuslan, the creator and producer of all the “Batman” movies.

a year’s worth,” Grimes said. “That was at the time when he was going through numerous doctor appointments.” Bills directed to the Department of Criminal Justice have already been reimbursed, however Grimes has not been reimbursed for bills sent to the state offices. She said she has contacted them on numerous occasions, and hopes to ask Kaine if there

2009

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TOMORROW’S CT

medical funds was a tough process, as state officials had to sort numerous claims and later make allocations. He said payments were processed in early March. However, Grimes said a large portion of medical costs have not been accounted for. “From the end of October 2007 to November 1, 2008,” Grimes said. “I have not been reimbursed for any of that.”

Wednesday night, the 2009-10 executive Student Government Association candidates debated characteristics of a good leader, and the values and goals of each ticket. Guy Sims, assistant vice president for student affairs, was the moderator for the debate. “I would like to say welcome to the 2009 Student Government debate,” Sims said. “This debate presents you with an opportunity to educate yourself about learn more about the student government candidates.” Sims asked the candidates about the voting process, and said to all students that it is very simple. “All students should become

knowledgeable about the candidates and what they stand for,” Sims said. “Voting is easy, so everyone should take the time next week to do so.” The candidates were asked a series of questions throughout the debate dealing with various topics such as sustainability, vision, and ideas for the upcoming school year. UnitedSGA and SGA4You are the two tickets competing for the SGA offices next year. UnitedSGA candidates include Alex Miller, running for President, Kirsten Kube, running for Vice President, Ricardo Boulware, running for Treasurer, and Bobby Thomas, running for Secretary. SGA4You candidates include Brandon Carroll, running for President, Shane McCarty, running for Vice President, Joey Zakutney, running for

Treasurer, and Morgan Bradley, running for Secretary. As the candidates’ debate progressed, an issue that was continually brought up throughout the evening was “what characteristics make a great leader.” UnitedSGA presidential candidate, Alex Miller, said that prior experience plays a big role in what makes a great leader. “I serve on several leadership roles on campus, so I feel that those roles make me very qualified for this position,” Miller said. “I feel that moving up in a leadership position is a natural progression that I feel like I am ready to take on.” Brandon Carroll, SGA4You’s presidential candidate, said that he feels that he has the qualifications that would make a great leader.

“I have been involved with student government for two years,” Carroll said. “I care, and I am so passionate about the student body of this school. It is all about you. I care about your concerns and your needs, and yes, I feel that I have the credentials for this position, but I am really all about you, and your voice.” Shane McCarty, SGA4You’s Vice Presidential candidate, said that all members of the SGA4You ticket work together as a team on their ticket. “We all have strengths, and we all have weaknesses,” McCarty said. “Everyone brings something to the table, something that is unique to them. We play off of each other’s talents and weaknesses to make each other stronger.”

see SGA, page two

After heated debate and negotiations, the Student Government Association Tuesday evening passed unanimously a new version of its constitution and its election rules through the association’s Senate and House of Representatives. Those surrounded in voting in the constitution were happy with the finished product. “This is the best version of the constitution I’ve seen since I got here to Virginia Tech,” said Jeremy Sutherland, speaker of the SGA House of Representatives Those working on the constitution faced daunting challenges to create the finished document. The organization’s current constitution, drafted in 2002 and last amended in May 2005, was brought down through years of disorganization. “People were updating parts of the constitution but not the whole document,” said Erica Swanson, associate justice of the SGA. As a result, portions of the constitution were out of order. “Some of the policies and procedures that are in the old constitution do not exist any more,” said Alex Miller, speaker of the SGA Senate. The constitution also helps deal with organizational growth, including the rise of projects including The Big Event and Relay for Life. “The SGA has gotten much bigger over the past few years,” Sutherland said.

“This new constitution has grown to represent the size of the organization.” Also tackled in the new constitution is a balancing of powers between the organization’s legislative, executive and judicial branches. One major area addressed in the new constitution is the balance of power in the judicial branch. In the previous constitution, members of the legislative branch were also voted into judiciary positions, in essence allowing for single members to represent two branches of the SGA. In the new version, judiciary members are chosen separately from other branches. Collaborating with different student groups to create the document, the SGA’s judiciary went through countless drafts of the document before settling on a final version for the legislative branch to vote on. The new constitution was the product of months of intense work. “I am so relieved. We put a lot of work into putting this new constitution together,” Swanson said. The new draft of the constitution will now be voted on during the executive and senatorial elections Mar. 31. Miller hoped the new constitution would inspire the student body to action. “I hope students take the time to look through this constitution, and see how this organization runs,” Miller said. “I hope this gets students out and active in their student government.”

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editor: caleb fleming email: nrvnews@collegiatetimes.com phone: 540.231.9865 office hours: tth 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.

march 26, 2009

Hokie Nation Network links alumni and students RILEY PRENDERGAST

ct news reporter A new Virginia networking system for alumni and students will be released for alumni on April 1, and the site will be available to students at the end of the semester. The site — run by the Office of Alumni Relations — began as an idea fostered by Gwen Harrington, the young alumni coordinator for alumni relations, as she met with alumni coordinators at other universities to examine their programs for keeping their own alumni engaged. “We looked at universities that were successfully using this tool to engage students and staff and also help their alumni network, but we wanted to expand upon it;” Harrington said. The main focus of the newly introduced Hokie Nation Network will be for alumni to keep in contact to the Tech community and for students to look for posted job offers, post their resumes, and look for rental possibilities around town. It is being introduced as a social and professional networking site designed exclusively for Hokies, according to the official press release.

HOKIE NATION NETWORK APRIL 1, 2009: Launch date for Alumni MAY 2009: Anticipated launch date for students, faculty and staﬀ ACCESS SITE: www.alumni.vt.edu/hnn CAPABILITIES: Networking with Alumni based oﬀ of common interests, professions and geographic locations. View updates within the Alumni Association, colleges and departments, activities on campus, employment opportunities and student organizion news. “It is a combination of Facebook and LinkedIn, a professional networking site,” Harrington said. Career networking is not, however, the sole focus of the site. It will also be possible to post advertisements for housing in Blacksburg along with any other announcements going on in the local community. Alumni will be able to keep up to date on activities on campus and announcements within

specific colleges. “We were looking for a way to better engage young alumni and help them keep in contact with old friends, faculty, staff, and current students,” Harrington said, “We will have group pages just like Facebook for student organizations and we’re trying to get alumni chapters to create their own groups. We are also working with each college to create their own specific pages.” Alumni relations are publicizing HNN first to alumni in order for them to get acclimated to the site before it introduces the new program to the entire Tech community. They will be able to create profiles similar to Facebook. “We will be discussing Hokie Nation Network in the university magazine that comes out in April,” said Tom Tillar, vice president of Alumni Relation. May 2009 is the anticipated release for HNN to students, and at that point they can begin posting resumes and contacting members of their alumni chapters in search of internships or jobs for after graduation. “It is our hope that freshmen will use this site all through their time at Tech to network with alumni,” Tillar said.

editor: sara mitchell email: universitynews@collegiatetimes.com phone: 540.231.9865 office hours: mw 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

SGA: UnitedSGA looks to create 24-hour study area for students from page one

When the presidential candidates were asked how they would work to bring students together, Carroll and Miller stated their ideas for next year. “I feel like we do a lot of outreach programs to facilitate to students,” Carroll said. “ We are coming to you and seeing what you have to say and your voice and what you want to see out of the SGA.” Miller said that he wants to make sure that every student’s voice on campus is heard. “I think it is important to reach out to all of the students and make sure that every student’s voice is heard,” Miller said. “We want to create programs, such as our idea of ‘Hokie Connect’ program which would be a program for freshman who would have the chance to participate in service committees and many other leadership roles.” Carroll said that SGA4You wants to work to bring a new mentor program to Tech to help freshman

students with the transition into college. “We are working to expand the ‘Each One, Reach One’ program on campus,” Carroll said. “It will make the transition into college easier for freshman students and give them someone to look to who is able to help them along the way.”

“I feel like we do a lot of outreach programs to faciliate to students.” - BRANDON CARROLL PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE Miller introduced a new idea for next year that would give students on campus a place to study that would be open all hours of the day. “UnitedSGA is working with Provost McNamee to start a 24 hour study facility for students on campus,” Miller said. “We were talking about where to hold this 24hour study facility, and our idea was to have it in D2. This is a large open space that would allow students to spread out and work.”

Many new ideas and visions were introduced at the debate last evening, and as the discussion died down, the candidates stated why they decided to run on their respectful tickets in the first place. “Both tickets really do want what is best for the students,” Miller said. Kirsten Kube, UnitedSGA vice presidential candidate, said that she is committed to upholding the traditions at Tech. “The four of us on this ticket love Virginia Tech,” Kube said. “ We have had great experiences here, and we want to work diligently to ensure that these experiences are kept and enhanced for all of our fellow students to come.” McCarty closed the debate by saying that he wants to make Tech the best university that it can possibly be. “If better is possible, good is not enough,” McCarty said. “SGA4You believes and knows that it should and can be better for you.” Executive and senator elections are on March 31 and April 1.

Women’s month highlighted by ‘Take Back the Night’ VANESSA WILLIAMS

ct news staﬀ writer During Women’s Month, the Women’s Center at Virginia Tech coordinates a variety of campus and community events that promote women’s issues, achievements, and diversity. One event is the Take Back the Night Rally tonight at 7 p.m. “Take Back the Night is one way in which students participate in an event that protests against women and are empowered by participating. There is music, stories, march, and support,” said Women’s Studies professor Dr. Suchitra Samanta.

The event begins on the Drillfield to raise awareness about violence against women and instigate change in the community and concludes with a march through campus and downtown Blacksburg. “I hope that it raises awareness about women’s issues. It’s a great way for the community to come together and for people to get involved,” said Women’s Month coordinator Kathy Lokale. This week started off the White Ribbon Campaign. Throughout the week, men wear white ribbons as a sign of support for women who have experienced violence. Men also pledge that they will never participate in abuse against women.

On Monday, March 30, Rosa Githiora will present her research on female genital mutilation at 3 p.m. in the GLC Meeting Room B. The presentation will discuss FGM that occurs in Africa, specifically Somalia where 98 percent of girls experience FGM. “It’s a controversial issue. People need to respect different cultures and why these rituals take place. Many see it as a humans’ rights violation. It’s not about taking a side, but about raising awareness and being culturally sensitive,” Lokale said. Tuesday, March 31, the documentary “Who Wants to be Porn Star?” and “The Price of

Pleasure” will be shown at 7 p.m. in 30 Pamplin Hall. The event includes a documentary and a slideshow presented by Sharon Kearns. “Because of the internet, it (porn) has been really able to explode. Like any other kind of media including shows geared toward children and adults, we learn from those things. Women are reduced to their sexual parts, dehumanized and are submissive,” said Kearns. The presentation illustrates the negative effects of pornography on the public and on porn stars and discusses the violence, sexism, and racism that porn conveys. “A lot of porn is headed toward vio-

lent behavior and shows non-intimate relationships. People are going to be shocked, angry, and it’s probably not something that is going to make people happy, that’s for sure.” The planning process for Women’s Month included a committee of 15 people from around campus who review women-related events that are submitted from various organizations. This committee reviews the proposal to make sure events meet various requirements such as diversity. Once the events are approved, they are included on the Women’s Month calendar and Women’s Center Web site.

“Everyone who submits an event is responsible for their own expenses,” Lokale said. Certain on campus organizations have a large budget; however the Women’s Month Advisory Committee is able to contribute a certain amount of money to groups that express a need for it. Women’s Month events conclude on Saturday, April 4 with a service day of volunteering around the New River Valley. Activities include landscaping and painting playground equipment. Virginia Tech’s Women’s Center is located near the intersection of Washington Street and Draper Road.

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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.

march 26, 2009

DIY: How to give clothing an edge with dye, bleach As the temperature slowly creeps up, drugstores display aisles of pastel-colored candy, glossy magazines boast the newest trends, and it MARY ANNE becomes apparent that spring is finally CARTER upon us. features Delving into the reporter depths of my closet to retrieve my springiest duds, I am greeted with a slew of faded, stained and lifeless clothes from seasons past. In the spirit of spring, it is this pile I reach for, hoping to bring new life to these once-forgotten garments now fertile with potential. Armed with RIT Dye and bleach, I set out to dye, tie-dye, and bleach old trends, livening up my wardrobe with all the fun of dyeing Easter eggs.

^^ Step One

TO DYE OR TIE-DYE: SUPPLIES: 1 cup of salt 1 packet of RIT Dye 1 gallon of hot water 1 large bucket Rubber bands for tie-dye Access to a sink or bathtub Old clothes you want to dye

with rubber bands if necessary. If you want to create a spiral, clench the middle of the garment and twist until it is a small bunch and then fasten it with rubber bands. Step Two: Prepare a dye bath by combining 1 cup salt, 1 packet of RIT dye and 1 gallon of hot water in a large bucket. Stir until the powder has dissolved. Step Three: Soak your garments in the dye bath. If you are tie-dyeing, you can make a second dye bath for dual colors or just use one. The longer you leave your garments in the dye, the darker they will be. Remember that they fade once the dye is washed out, so leave them in longer than the desired color. To dye something a bright, solid color, leave it in for at least 15 minutes. Step Four: After your garments have soaked, remove them and let them air dry. Allow tie-dye to dry still held together. Step Five: After they are dry, unravel tie-dye and rinse out any remaining dye until the water runs clear. If you have a washing machine, wash them after you rinse them and then dry on high. Your garment is freshly dyed! Be careful to wash it alone the first few times, though; RIT dye is pretty color safe.

^^ Jeans before bleaching; VV Step One for the bleached jeans

BLEACHING ^^ Step Three: Let garment soak in dye bath

SUPPLIES: 1 container of bleach Access to a bathtub and washing machine An old pair of darker jeans To bleach jeans: Step One: Wet your jeans in a bathtub and lay them flat. Step Two: Pour bleach directly on the jeans. For an acid-washed appearance, splatter it on irregularly and rub it in with a washcloth or kitchen brush. For an overall bleached look, pour it on evenly. Every pair of jeans will react differently with the bleach â&#x20AC;&#x201D; some begin to fade immediately, others need to sit. Always wash them too soon and pour on more bleach rather than risk them being too bleached (because if

To dye or tie-dye: Step One: (Skip this step if you are just dyeing) There are a number of techniques you can use to tie-dye, but the simplest is to twist your garment and then form a ball, holding it together ^^ Step Three; Rinse tie-dye until clear

^^ Bleaching step Two

you soak them long enough, they can start to fall apart). Step Three: Rinse out jeans until the water runs clear and the jeans are slightly darker than the desired color. They will lighten up even more in the washer and dryer. Repeat if

needed.

^^ After: Bleached jeans

Step Four: Wash and dry your jeans alone, as you normally would with a little bit of detergent. If they are the wrong color, you can always repeat the bleaching process â&#x20AC;&#x201D; or RIT dye them!

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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.

march 26, 2009

Professor Hoﬀman: ‘This kind of life is not an after-school special’ It’s spring of 2006, and I’m looking inside my own brain. A drawing of multiple neurons is projected on the mammoth RYAN screen in Squires Colonial Hall. The ARNOLD neurons are shaped ct features like leafless winter staﬀ writer trees, their roots and branches nearly identical with a flexible trunk dividing the ends. I eagerly follow a red dot DAY IN THE LIFE as it highlights one neuron’s trunk. With the steady precision of a geometric compass, the dot circles the myelin sheath, a component that insulates the trunk to speed up the flow of electrical impulses from root to branch in our nervous system. My eyes are two of hundreds darting side to side like Kit-Cat clocks as we imagine the lightning-fast current. I then zoom out to pinpoint the red dot’s source. At the right corner of the stage — well, six-inch platform — stands my introductory psychology professor. He leans his right shoulder gently against a wooden lectern, his eyes intent upon the screen as he speaks. My gaze slowly falls to the floor where I find the answer to my inquiry. My professor’s heel is firmly planted on the carpet, and he is smoothly maneuvering a laser pointer confidently cradled between two toes. Before bidding neurons adieu, the professor empathized with us students that endless PowerPoint text can be monotonous; he hoped that his personal ink sketch had enlivened the lecture. I believe it did. Kurt Hoffman, director of undergraduate studies in the department of psychology, certainly appears different. Originally from Allentown, Penn., (about an hour north of Philadelphia) Hoffman was born with no arms, a half-formed right leg, and an unaffected left leg. His right shin is directly connected to his hip because of a missing thigh bone. The general medical term for this condition is phocomelia, which translates to mean “seal limb.” In Europe during the mid-twentieth century, thousands of mothers gave birth to children with phocomelia. While pregnant, all the mothers had taken an anti-nausea drug called

Thalidomide, which was subsequently banned from the medical market. Hoffman, on the other hand, does not know how he acquired phocomelia. It could have been genetic, something in the womb, or another cause. With quiet modesty, he is rather dismissive of the origin’s importance in his case. “I really have no interest (in its origins),” Hoffman said. “In a way it’s almost like trivia. If there is a real consequence — like if I ever want to have children — I want to know what might happen with that. But otherwise, to me, it’s like, well, a cause is a cause. Who cares?” Hoffman sat with me in ghost-town Squires on Friday of spring break. I asked him to guide me through a typical weekday — delving into the past along the way — to uncover what “different” means to him and hopefully enlighten my own perspective. Hoffman wakes up around 7 a.m. to his biological alarm clock; he needs no repetitive, obnoxious beeping. He executes his morning routine with fluid coordination between his foot and mouth. He’ll enjoy coffee and cereal — Grape Nuts mixed with fresh blueberries. After he washes those dishes, he’ll often top off his birdfeeder and water plants before ducking into the shower. He dresses himself and is ready to stroll out the door by 9 a.m.

“Physically, I don’t think there’s any way I could argue that I’m normal, and the way I go about things is normal, I think, like everybody else, I am normal in that my attitude is normal.” - KURT HOFFMAN PSYCHOLOGY PROFESSOR By the age of three, Hoffman was walking with a prosthetic limb. He has been told that he was quite an obstinate learner. “I was a little bit of a momma’s boy,” Hoffman said, “and the therapist couldn’t get me to do what they wanted because I kept paying attention to my mother. They sent her away, and I got upset, so they bribed me with Oreos. That seemed to work. That did the trick.” Hoffman stressed the impassioned support of his parents. From the time he was one week old, Hoffman’s doc-

tors encouraged his parents to immediately develop the sensitivities of his left foot. They treated it like a hand; they touched it and put things in it. Hoffman first attended school alongside students with a variety of differences, most of those being physical. It was only in second grade that he was “mainstreamed” into public school. Those shifting contexts increased Hoffman’s awareness of his supposed disparities, although the effects weren’t drastic. “Other than for being in school or other situations where you notice that people are looking at you differently,” Hoffman reflected, “I’m not sure there really was much of a recognition of ‘Oh, I’m different.’ You are what you are, and you’ve always been that way.” The garage door rises to greet the sun’s early rays, and Hoffman heads toward campus piloting a modified 1992 Ford Econoline full-size van that was named Mothra by a friend (brush up on your “Godzilla”). To enter the vehicle, 38-year-old Hoffman presses a code with his shoulder on the rear passenger panel that opens the central door. Once situated in his seat, Hoffman cycles through and selects commands using a row of buttons on his headrest. These buttons communicate with a labeled interface of LED lights directly before him on the dashboard. Click, click — ignition on. Click, click, click — radio on. Mothra’s mobility is dependent upon Hoffman’s foot, which he uses to operate a joystick on the floorboard. Pull it back to accelerate, push it forward to brake, and tilt it left and right to turn. It sounds like the rigid “Electric Slide” choreography, except Hoffman utilizes remarkable finesse. At a young age, Hoffman recalls meeting a minister who had no arms. The minister encouraged Hoffman to contact him if he wasn’t driving when he was older. Hoffman’s father, though, was adamant about his son sliding behind the wheel. His father did most of the automotive research, exploring the logistics of getting an already very self-sufficient Hoffman on the road. Eventually, the Ahnafield Corporation in Indianapolis developed his current system and installed it on his Econoline in Harrisburg, Penn. Once in his office in Williams Hall, Hoffman juggles administrative tasks as well as student inquiries related to his courses or the psychology curriculum. He does most of his work

DANIEL LIN/SPPS

Kurt Hoffman teaches in his Intro to Psychology class in McBryde 100. through e-mail. For brief interactions, Hoffman will manually type with his foot. Recently, he received voice recognition software called Dragon Naturally Speaking that he uses for lengthier exchanges. “It is sweet,” he said. “It is, I’d almost say, mistake free.” Hoffman’s day is segmented by a late morning introductory psychology class and a late afternoon environmental psychology class, with maybe a meeting or two sprinkled in between. He presents his material predominantly using PowerPoint. Once plugged into the projection unit, his laptop rests on the floor where he’ll cycle through slides with brisk toe taps upon the arrow keys. “Technology, I think, is great for me,” he said. Hoffman’s career began with an early interest in animals. He attended

Bucknell University in Pennsylvania where he received a degree in animal behavior. Next he pursued his doctorate in animal behavior at the University of California at Davis. Hoffman explained that animal behavior splits its time between biology and psychology. While out west, his mentor professor worked in the psychology department. She asked Hoffman to teach an introductory course, and he obliged. “It somewhat surprised me that I liked it,” Hoffman said as a selfdescribed introvert. “It’s more like performing.” Beyond a reticent personality, though, I asked Hoffman whether he ever resisted the aesthetics of being a lecturer. Like all of his prior challenges, teaching was a headlong endeavor, and he didn’t worry about his image before a classroom.

Once campus traffic settles down, Hoffman might fly Mothra by Kroger where he fills a duffel bag with groceries before heading home. If it’s Thursday night, Hoffman will undoubtedly watch “30 Rock,” otherwise he’ll surf for sports. When television disappoints, he’ll open a book or likely skim through the next day’s slides before descending upon his pillow. Maybe he dreams of an Egypt littered with Maslow’s pyramids. For most of us, I presume, our default response to Hoffman’s means would be that of awe. Our impulse might be congratulatory, but a pat on the back is not on his wish list. When strangers occasionally extend those sentiments — that he’s amazing or an inspiration — Hoffman is slightly jarred. “All I know,” he said, “is that they saw me cross the room or something like that — like existing or breathing is somehow inspirational.” Hoffman, though, understands the attention is blameless. “Physically, I don’t think there’s any way I could argue that I’m normal, and the way I go about things is normal,” Hoffman said, adding, “I think, like everybody else, I am normal in that my attitude is normal.” During my time with Hoffman, we enjoyed a breakfast at Gillie’s. I couldn’t deny that the way his foot directed silverware was impressive, but I quickly realized his spoon bore into grits just as confidently as my fork plunged into potatoes. When I sat inside his van, I didn’t doubt he could parallel park Mothra better than I could my sedan. He simply knows his own methods. “This kind of life is not something of an after-school special,” Hoffman said, “where there is this sort of poignant moment where someone’s crying, ‘I can’t do it,’ and someone else says, ‘Yes, you can. You can do anything.’ It’s really about the work that’s involved and setting a goal.” “My opinion,” Hoffman later said, “is that most people — maybe almost everybody, if they were in the same circumstances — would deal with it in very much the same way because the alternative is to be somewhat helpless.” And although he isn’t helpless, Hoffman remains patient when approached sympathetically. He fondly recalls a pointed remark scribed by a classmate in his high school yearbook. “Pity is a hard thing to take, but friendships start with kindness.”

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opinions 5

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

march 26, 2009

EDITORIAL

Heading off a crisis: Obama confronts gray, impending recession The following editorial appeared in the Chicago Tribune on Saturday, March 10: As if he didn’t have enough crises to deal with. Now President Barack Obama is confronted with one of the most daunting of all: What to do about his suddenly, noticeably graying hair? To the world at large, a sprinkling of salt and pepper at the temples lends an air of distinction and seriousness. But to the man on the inside of the rapidly graying head, the man who knew this was coming but didn’t expect it so soon, there’s a certain jolt every time he passes a mirror. Soon, he will be wondering who that geezer in the reflection is. He may try to grow a goatee to prove he’s hip, but it will come in so gray (and white!) that he will look twice his age. He will shave immediately. We urge the president not to be distracted by this ... huge distraction. We don’t want to see any YouTube videos, a la John Edwards, fussing endlessly over his coif. Please. Once the gray starts coming in, the average man starts to panic. If his hairline has not already retreated, he now starts examining his scalp for signs of

an imminent recession. And unlike the economy, there’s no bouncing back. Many American men have spent decades waiting for the scientific breakthrough that will easily regrow the stuff that has so cruelly disappeared. They’re still waiting, impatiently. They don’t care for the cue ball look, no matter how many times actors Bruce Willis and Patrick Stewart are trotted out as sexy role models. If it comes to that for Obama, if gray is followed by decay, he may study the hair-plugged cranium of his vice president and judge for himself whether hair transplant technology has really come of age. We’re confident that he will decide that it hasn’t. Obama has his hands full. He’s trying to lead a health-care overhaul and restore America’s confidence. He’s pumped hundreds of billions into the economy, including fresh funding for all sorts of scientific research. There’s gobs of money to be spent. So he might be tempted ... As far as we know, the $410 billion spending bill going through Congress doesn’t have an earmark directed to Just For Men. Don’t even think about it. Mr. President, stay calm.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Health care should be our own responsiblity Does everyone deserve the right to necessary medical treatment? Is this a fundamental right of all people? When our forefathers wrote the Declaration of Independence, did they cite that inalienable rights included life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness and health care? I should hope not. Much of what has made America great is threatened by this kind of thinking. America wasn’t built by people who woke up and thought about how much more they deserved and how others should provide it. Instead they realized that through hard work and wise living (spending and staying healthy), they could have more things, including health care. I agree that health care is very expensive, but that is because we entrust our health care to professionals who have gone to school and spent a lot of time and money to become properly trained. Also, the government’s role is to protect its citizens. This was the main reason democratic governments were formed. However, it is obvious that government has evolved and is taking on more and more roles. If Americans are willing to let the government fully take over their health care system, where are limits placed to keep the government from interfering further? If I as a taxpayer am providing health care to others because of my “wealthier” status, I would be interested in having healthier citizens. Interestingly enough, firemen are required to restrain from use of any

form of tobacco products because of the harmful effects on their health and, in turn, increased health costs. How long after a public health care system is enacted will it take for the government to start placing similar restrictions on the unhealthy habits of all Americans? Also, there is already a system set up that guarantees treatment to patients regardless of their inability to pay. It was passed in 1986 by U.S. Congress and is called the Federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act. This is the current system used to treat any patient in dire need. Now, back to the “right to health care” and the heart-wrenching examples of people who lost their life savings to health care costs, they chose to spend their money on health care. Most people don’t realize that without health, everything they have is worthless, so it makes sense to spend all of your resources trying to stay healthy. To say that a doctor/country should provide you health care because otherwise you would have to spend your money on it is like saying that you should be provided food by restaurants/government for free. I have a much higher chance of dying without food for a month than I do without health care. In summary, if the government is going to take its role of protecting its citizens to the level of providing health care for them, at what point will we as citizens lose all responsibilities for ourselves? Joseph T. Sexton IV sophomore, building construction

Your letter could be here. E-mail us at: opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com

Push to further diversity initiatives on Tech’s campus BURKE THOMAS regular columnist Virginia Tech has the least representative African-American student population of any flagship state or land grant university in the former Confederacy (because of space constraints, I only included a representative sample). According to Peter Wallenstein’s “Higher Education and the Civil Rights Movement,” this has been the case at least since the 1990s. Virginia Tech’s minority policy is only designed to diversify the pool of potential Hokies. The pool itself is then certified by the Office for Equal Opportunity. Tech’s diversity efforts do not necessarily increase the diversity of the student body, nor are they required to. A member of the Commission on Equal Opportunity and Diversity who wished to remain anonymous explained this distinction to me. “When you look at the admission numbers — students from underrepresented backgrounds are applying and getting admitted to Virginia Tech. The challenge is that they are not accepting the offer for a variety of reasons — one factor being money (i.e. access to financial aid).” In addition, according to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, all other characteristics being equal, Tech does not favor racial minorities over racial majorities. As Wallenstein points out, “It’s not a coin flip, because you have 19 on one side and one on the other,” as evidenced by our historically extreme underrepresentation of blacks. Virginia Tech’s proportional desegregation ranking — dead last when sized up against comparable institutions — is shameful. Another example is that for the 15th consecutive year, among public universities, the University of Virginia graduated the highest percentage (86 percent) of its black students, according to the Journal of Blacks in Higher Education. It gets worse. The most underrepresented minorities here are poor whites from Appalachia. The most underrepresented race is Latinos. “Some would argue that VT could have been more aggressive with its recruitment efforts but it has chosen not to be. It tends to be fairly conservative in its approach. Some schools are doing some innovative things that we could be doing,” said the commission member. Nevertheless, a recent CT editorial “Faculty shouldn’t be solely responsible for campus climate” (CT, March 25) correctly argues against a viewpoint of diversity based solely on race. Socioeconomic status is a much better gauge of hardship and accomplishment. Professor Hayward “Woody” Farrar, former president of Tech’s Black Caucus, suggested that Tech guarantee admission and full financial grants to the top 10 percent of the graduating class of all Virginia high schools serving poor communities, regardless of race. He asserts that this would counter any reverse discrimination complaints and meet the scrutiny of the Commonwealth Attorney General’s office. “High-achieving students in

poor-serving high schools can succeed at Tech because they have shown the courage, perseverance and expertise needed to overcome their dysfunctional environments,” he said. He suggested this plan could even be extended to outof-state high schools serving the poor; the top 10 percent would receive a deep discount on their out-of-state tuition. He said that his suggestions would go a long way to promoting the racial and socioeconomic diversity the school requires. Furthermore, he said that “poor white and minority students admitted under this program would not likely feel that one group had an unfair advantage over the other and would then bond together more easily. This would greatly improve race relations.” Remarkably, every faculty member to whom I spoke, whether supportive or critical of Tech’s policies, said that they believed more socioeconomic scholarships needed to be made available. Tech needs to put its money where its mouth is. The upcoming effort to direct 50 Presidential Scholarships toward those with economic need will help alleviate these problems. But why doesn’t President Steger call up principals at poor state high schools and ask them to send us their top 20 students for a visit? Why don’t diversity efforts include football coach Frank Beamer’s strategy of visiting students’ homes and assuring parents their kids will succeed? Vestiges of institutional racism should be consigned to history’s dustbin. Modern revelations about Lee Hall demonstrate official reticence to address simple issues with straightforward reforms. In 1997, the New York Times reported that a Tech student discovered an 1896 yearbook depicting Claudius Lee as a member of the Ku Klux Klan club. Lee is listed as the “Father of Terror” (e.g., the president). After earning this honor, he remained at Tech for more than 50 years as an engineering

professor. Lee Hall received his name in 1968. Furthermore, O.M. Stull is listed as the “Right Hand of Terror.” The Times reported that “Mr. Stull, as a student, coined the school yell, ‘Hoki, Hoki, Hoki, Hi!/ Tech, Tech, VPI!’ from which the nickname for Tech students, Hokies, is derived.” The yearbook page contains a drawing of a lynching in the background. In the 1990s, the University of Oklahoma faced a very similar situation with its own naming skeletons. OU rightly took steps to redress this problem where and when it belonged, in the 20th century. Similarly, the University of Mississippi’s plantation owner mascot, Col. Reb, was retired permanently in 2003. In response to this revelation, Tech convened a commission headed by Wallenstein, who is a professor of history here. The report recommended further diversity efforts in addition to changing the name of Lee Hall. Wallenstein told me he felt “our report was not taken seriously.” Tech’s Web site notes that “After a thorough investigation in 1997, it was determined that there was the potential that the organization was a hoax and that the hall name would not be changed.” Wallenstein contends, “I think people who write it off as a hoax find it comforting to do so. This is not the kind of joke you want to identify with your institution.” The University must address the despicable actions Lee took as a student leader with more than a plaque. Renaming Lee Hall will be largely symbolic, but it is a much better symbol than what stands now. “When?” is a question of how intolerable we find the notion that a residence hall is named for a selfdescribed “Father of Terror.” Similarly, increasing minority representation is a question of how disgusted we are with the state of Tech compared to our peer institutions.

black population: state vs university

university

% of university % of state

Alabama

11.1

25.4

LSU

8.9

31.6

Mississippi State

20.9

35.6

UNC

10.8

20.4

Virginia

8.7

18.3

Virginia Tech

4.3

18.3 JOSH SON/COLLEGIATE TIMES

Thorough coverage of news should also include the positive LIZA ROESCH regular columnist News is what people need to know and what people want to know. At least that’s what I learned in a high school journalism class. There’s a lot of truth to that definition, but it’s obviously more important to report on what people need to know. As much as we love hearing about the Octomom, it’s not imperative that we stay informed about her every move. It is imperative, however, to hear about peanut butter recalls, the latest medical breakthroughs and bills discussed in Congress that could possibly affect us. So where does news we want to hear come into the picture? One thing’s for sure — recent news isn’t telling us anything we’re dying to hear. In response to that, NBC’s Brian Williams said he’s tired of delivering depressing news to a depressed audience. He asked viewers to send him stories about people doing good — about kindness, generosity and hope in these hard economic times. The response he got was overwhelming, and he shares some of the thousands of stories he’s received on NBC Nightly News. Stories range from people volunteering to drive cancer patients to their appointments to landlords helping tenants make rent. I even remember hearing a story about someone putting $50 in an envelope and sending it up a long check-out line in a grocery store. If they needed the money, the envelope instructed them to take it. If they didn’t, they were told to pass it along to the next person. The envelope went through many people, with some even adding

money before continuing to pass it. The person who shared this story with NBC was dumbfounded and humbled by that kind of random generosity. I think most of us are. Despite the warm feeling we get after reassurance that the world isn’t full of Bernie Madoffs, critics say NBC’s attempt to raise spirits takes up valuable time that should be used for real, pressing issues. That may have been a valid point before online news and 24-hour news networks became part of our everyday lives. And I don’t think anyone can completely agree on what NBC or any nightly newscast should cover during just 23 minutes of airtime a night. Also, when considering the countless available news outlets, there is very little information we don’t have access to. So if you think generosity and kindness aren’t worth covering, you don’t have to watch it. Maybe a segment on a man giving away old ice skates to kids doesn’t stir up any controversy. But it’s still newsworthy. And stories about managers sending employees to work in soup kitchens at full pay may not warrant a heated debate, but it’s still a story worth telling — not because they sedate us from the reality of the current state of the world, but because they remind us that there’s always a silver lining and that other people share in our pain. Most importantly, it reinforces that fact that we are all capable of similar generosity. Take, for example, the Same Café in Denver. Featured on NBC, the café gives patrons the option to pay what they want/can for menu items. Customers range from the affluent to the homeless, and while some people leave only pen-

nies for a meal, some make hefty donations in support of the café’s cause. Unfortunately, most television news organizations don’t think they have time to report on such uplifting stories. They are businesses, after all. And they’re more concerned with covering stories that will create debate and increase ratings, therefore increasing profit advertisers’ interest. They cover stories that will be read, if only for the horror factor. For example, the American public is kept up-to-date on every abandoned baby and every eight-year-old who commits murder or has sex with their teacher. But I don’t understand why. We know these awful things occur, but we don’t need to hear about them every night. The worst part of this situation is that some people believe the news they see on TV mirrors reality. That belief leads to the development of a dismal and inaccurate worldview. Studies have even shown that people who watch excessive amounts of news exhibit a more negative outlook on society and have a greater tendency to show signs of depression. If we aren’t happy with the news mainstream media outlets choose to report, we should seek out other sources of information. We should read stories from more than one Web site or blog, and we should always remember that we’ve lost a lot of valuable information through another person’s filter. Because the truth is there’s a world of good deeds occurring that deserve attention. That’s why I don’t think NBC’s plea to viewers is simply a call for something to uplift us. It’s a call for more thorough news.

The Collegiate Times is an independent student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 Collegiate Times Editorial Staff Editor in Chief David Grant Managing Editors David Harries, Sara Spangler Public Editor Cate Summers News Editors Caleb Fleming, Sara Mitchell News Reporters Gordon Block, Zach Crizer, Justin Graves, Kelsey Heiter, Riley Prendergast, T. Rees Shapiro News Staff Writers Debra Houchins, Phillipp Kotlaba, Gabe McVey, Will Thomas, Ryan Trapp Features Editor Bethany Buchanan Features Reporters Topher Forhecz, Teresa Tobat, Jonathan Yi Features Staff Writers Ryan Arnold, Mary Anne Carter, Drew Jackson, Tom Minogue, Alex Pettingell Opinions Editors Laurel Colella 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, Velechia Hardnett, Kelly Harrigan, Rachel McGiboney, Mina Noorbakhsh, Josh Son Illustrator Mina Noorbakhsh Multimedia Editor Phillip Murillas Multimedia Producer Candice Chu Multimedia Reporters Kevin Anderson, 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 Tyler Ervin Jenna Given, Katelynn Reilly Ads Production Manager Anika Stickles Asst Production Manager Allison Bhatta Ads Production/Creation Breanna Benz, Jennifer DiMarco, Lisa Hoang, Rebecca Smeenk, Lindsay Smith, Lara Treadwell National Account Executive Account Executives Libbey Arner, Aaron Brock, Maggie Crosby, Brandon Collins, Oran Duncan, Judi Glass, Alex Iskounen, Kendall Kapetanakis, Marcello Sandoval, Amanda Sparks, Jennifer Vaughn Assistant Account Executives Carissa Nichols, Diane Revalski, Tyler Terhune Marketing Manager Sayali Shirgaonkar Office Manager Kaelynn Kurtz Student Publication Photo Staff Director of Photography Sally Bull Business Manager Paul Platz

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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.

march 26, 2009

Young Gunnaz, Quan Dynasty, Kryptonite claim crowns MELANIE WADDEN

ct sports reporter BLACKSBURG, Va., — March 17, 2009, the ultimate showdown: the 2009 5-on-5 Intramural Basketball Championships. The season, which played host to a whopping 240 teams, began in early February and culminated a little over a week ago within McComas Hall. After three weeks of regular season competition, the playoff brackets opened up. Just as in the NCAA tournament, there were upsets and landslide victories. True competitors emerged, while others fell by the wayside. The men’s A Division champion, Young Gunnaz (7-0), won its first two regular season games by a margin of 89 points. “We were kind of challenging ourselves,” said Young Gunnaz captain Daniel Lee. “We wanted to see where our team was at.” It then defeated all challengers en route to claiming the men’s advanced championship on March 17. They did encounter a few bumps in the road, however. In its second playoff contest, the team struggled early before pulling away against the Blue Mustangs. “We overcame a bad performance in that one,” Lee said. “We took a step back and realized that we had to play better if we were going to win the championship.” They, of course, did just that — fulfilling a yearlong mission. “Our goal was to win in everything we played,” Lee said, who was a part of the 50-44 title game triumph. “To live

KYLE MOIR/SPPS

Pike’s Amy Sarver scans for a teammate behind a Quan Dynasty guard. Pike co-rec rebounded from an early blemish to surge into the finals. up to that expectation is a great feeling.” The women’s A division champion, Kryptonite (5-0), is no stranger to victories. Many of the basketball team players were also members of the Kryptonite Cru-league powder-puff football team that won that championship this fall. “(In basketball) most of our games weren’t that close,” said Kryptonite captain Angela Slater, a senior psychology major. “We just went out there and played. We had two club players, and a lot of the girls played varsity in high school.” Kryptonite found its talent within each player, with no one in particular having to lead the show. “Our team was pretty equal,” Slater said. “All of the girls were great because they had experience and were really good at keeping the

game under control.” Despite the suggestion of crazy dunks and half-court shots, Slater said, “No, no windmill dunks this year; our girls were pretty good at three-pointers, though.” To all those who might challenge Kryptonite and its reigning victory next year, the team had words of advice: “I’ll be leaving, but they’ve got to watch out for the girls that are coming back from Kryptonite,” Slater said. One intramural craze that students really enjoy is the idea of co-rec sports. In intramural basketball, girls’ points are worth more. Mike Paleos, captain of Pike’s corec squad (6-1), who won the co-rec A division for 5-on-5 basketball this spring, had a very strong team. “Pike played with two girl club players and some friends in Kappa Delta,”

Paleos said. “It was the first time Pike had ever played co-rec, but I’d say it worked out.” Despite a strong finish to the regular season, including a win over last year’s reigning champion, Quan Dynasty, Pike co-rec did not finish the year undefeated as most champions do. “We lost our first game because a lot of people couldn’t show up that night, and they put us in the B bracket,” Paleos said. “The day before the playoffs started, we were scrambling around to get switched up to A. Intramurals told us we couldn’t do it at first, and then we actually had to find a team in the A bracket that wanted to be in B and switch with them.” Because of the high-level of basketball experience on the team, a seating in the B bracket for the playoffs would have ended badly for everyone. “I told them (Intramurals) it really wouldn’t be fair if they put us in B,” Paleos said. “I’m on the club basketball team, and all of the guys played in high school and are good; it wouldn’t have been fair to anyone.” Even though Pike co-rec lost its opening contest, most of its games were blowouts …until the finals. Quan Dynasty, as many have heard, is a team of super-athletes that play a variety of intramurals at Tech. It boasts more than 20 intramural championships over the past five years and is very competitive. “Supposedly they had won the last couple years,” Paleos said of Quan. “My team actually played their team in the flag football championships and lost on a last second play this fall. I’d say it was a nice redemption.”

KYLE MOIR/SPPS

The Young Gunnaz crank up their transition offense and run the court. The squad captured the men’s advanced championship on March 17. The final score was no blowout, however. “It was pretty close throughout,” said Paleos. “We were up five or six points the whole game. They kept trying to come back — a girl from their team actually threw up a four-point shot that would have tied it at the end of the game, but it rimmed out.” The stars of Pike Co-Rec were Amy Sarver, a member of the women’s club

basketball team, and John Salamone, who Paleos said threw up some big dunks this season. As fun as co-rec can be, there are some things that Paleos recommends to push any future team over the edge from good to great. “The key is getting good girls,” he said. “We played teams with better guys than us, but the girls really carried us through.”

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march 26, 2009

ACC men’s basketball: Prestige preceding performance The juggernaut that used to be Atlantic Coast Conference basketball perhaps never seemed so hollow as when Memphis made one of its preTHOMAS mier players look EMERICK downright foolish. In the week leadsports ing up to Maryland’s editor merciless beating at the hands of the Conference USA champions, Terrapin team leader Greivis Vasquez told the media that Memphis would have a losing conference record if it played in the ACC. Granted, the Tigers sport a No. 2 seed while the Terrapins crawled in as a mere No. 10, so Memphis’ 89-70 victory doesn’t mean the ACC has fallen into a bit of a rut. Still, somebody should’ve told Vasquez that, in each for the past four years, the Tigers have found more success in the NCAAs than all the ACC teams combined. This brought me to wonder whether Vasquez’ notion of ACC men’s basketball elitism remains valid right now. It certainly did during a span from 2001-05 in which the ACC claimed national championship hardware in three of five seasons thanks to Duke, Maryland and North Carolina. But long gone are the days of Jason Williams, Juan Dixon and Sean May. I woke up Monday morning realizing the conference at which I attend school had seen all of its National Invitational Tournament bids vanish, but took comfort in knowing the ACC had indeed advanced two Big Dance squads to the Sweet 16. A cold sweat then overcame me at the thought that this had become a relatively good year for the ACC. So far, it’s as good a postseason as any for this conference since 2005. Following his team’s claiming of the 2009 ACC Championship, Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewksi argued the merits of his league for NCAA tourney bids. “I love the Big Ten, but I can’t believe people are saying seven or eight teams, and they’re not saying nine or 10 from our conference,” Krzyzewksi said. “In (the ACC), count how many teams have been ranked in the top 10.” Following his squad’s close victory over Virginia Tech on Feb. 28, Coach K would lobby for the Hokies’ candidacy

JOHN SLEEZER/MCT

Clemson guard K.C. Rivers covers his head as he leaves the court after losing to Michigan, 62-59, during the first round of the NCAA tournament. Only two of the seven ACC teans that received Big Dance berths remain. as an NCAA tournament team. Tech would continue its skid to drop six of the final seven regular season games, head to the second round of the NIT, and get taken out to the woodshed of its own house against the Baylor Bears of the Big 12. So has the ACC just become part of the major conference pack? Is it high time it gets off its high horse? I devised a system to figure it out. Since North Carolina won the NCAA championship in 2005, the ACC hasn’t so much as sent a team to the final round, so its drop shall be charted from the 2006 season. Am I a math expert? No. Have I ever been invited to any ACC media committees? No. I just have the assumption that the

NCAA tournament is important. Using a simple formula that values Sweet 16 entries as one point, Final Four entries as two points and championship winners as four points, statistics found that ACC men’s basketball has actually lagged behind every other major conference except the Big Ten — and barely — since 2006. Including the current tournament, here’s how it shakes out: The SEC racks up 20 points, Big East nabs 16, Pac-10 snaps up 15, Big 12 garners 14, the ACC limps in with eight and the Big Ten is in last with seven. Heck, and let’s throw in Memphis, by itself. The Tigers pulled down six. Through two rounds this March, the ACC posted a record of 5-5 and lost four of its seven NCAA tourney squads

before the second round. Most analysts considered the Big East and ACC a class above the rest, but one must remember that East Coast bias is a potent and sneaky syndrome. Duke has received what could be perceived as generous seeding over the past four years, constantly falling short of the Elite 8 despite earning two No. 1 seeds and a No. 2 seed. Maybe it wasn’t smart to discount the Big 12 this March — it certainly wouldn’t have been a good idea last year when Kansas won the national championship. Nor is it good to forget how spectacular a program John Calipari has built in Memphis, though it may be tucked in the crease separating Tennessee and Arkansas and the obscurity of Conference USA. After all, the Tigers tore into the Elite 8 in 2006 while the ACC couldn’t push through the Sweet 16. In 2007, Memphis did it again, but North Carolina followed suit before losing to Georgetown in the regional final. The tiebreaker here goes to the Tigers as they lost to Ohio State, which felled Georgetown in the ensuing weekend at the Final Four. As in the previous season, the Tar Heels received a No. 1 seed in 2008 — but this time surged to the national semifinals before Kansas slammed them. Memphis wins again, as it took a Mario Chalmers’ miracle three and overtime to knock it from claiming a championship. Had Chalmers’ shot clanked from the rim the Tigers, with 10 points, would sit above both the ACC (8) and the Big 10 (7) on the TERS (the Thomas Emerick ratings scale). Though, it’s still admirable that Coach K would use his powers for the good of the ACC. It’s nice to know that the coach of Team USA, a man who’s not afraid to critique Mr. President’s bracket decisions, and the leader at the head of — considering academics — arguably college basketball’s most successful program will still stick his neck out for his comrades. But now that 10 ACC teams have hung up their shoes for the year, Duke and North Carolina must carry the conference’s weight on their shoulders. Unless this tandem comes up with a big finish, it’s time to stop belittling powerhouse programs and comparable conferences, and start winning.

ACC TEAMS IN THE NCAA North Carolina (South No. 1 seed) First round: 101-58 win over No. 16 Radford Second round: 84-70 win over No. 8 LSU

Duke (East No. 2 seed) First round: 86-62 win over No. 15 Binghamton Second round: 74-69 win over No. 7 Texas

Wake Forest (Midwest No. 4 seed) First round: 84-69 loss to No. 13 Cleveland State

Florida State (East No. 5 seed) First round: 61-59 (OT) loss to No. 12 Wisconsin

Boston College (Midwest No. 7 seed) First round: 72-55 loss to No. 10 Southern California

Clemson (South No. 7 seed) First round: 62-59 loss to No. 10 Michigan

Maryland (West No. 10 seed) First round: 84-71 win over No. 7 California Second round: 89-70 loss to No. 2 Memphis LINDSEY BACH/COLLEGIATE TIMES