COLLEGIATETIMES
wednesday april 29, 2009 blacksburg, va.
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news NEVADA MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO APRIL 16 THREATS A Nevada man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court Tuesday to sending threatening e-mails to two Virginia Tech students on April 15, 2008. Johnmario Balasta Napa, a 28year-old of Las Vegas, sent emails from the address “seunghuichorev enge@yahoo.com.” The recipients have not been identified, but they are no longer students at Tech and did not know Napa. He will be sentenced on July 13 in Roanoke.
Dems gear up for tonight’s debate RILEY PRENDERGAST
ct news reporter Tonight, Virginia’s Democratic candidates for governor will descend upon the Virginia Tech campus to debate issues pertinent to college students. The push to focus on the younger demographic has moved to the forefront of campaigns after college students played a larger role in the last presidential election. “Students and young voters are leading the way for change,” said Jesse Ferguson, press secretary for candidate Brian Moran. The candidates all hail from years, often decades, of public service. State Senator Creigh Deeds served as a prosecutor in Bath County and drafted Megan’s
Law, which allowed for public access to Virginia’s sex offenders registry. Deeds was elected into the Virginia DEEDS State Senate in 2001, filling the seat of Sen. Emily Couric who died in office, and is currently working with Gov. Tim Kaine on a plan to cut greenhouse emissions in Virginia by 30 percent. Terry McAuliffe served as the Chairman of the Democratic National Committee and has major support for the grassroots movement in Virginia. McAuliffe has been working with a more “business” approach to politics in the state and is
working on plans to increase the number of green jobs in Virginia. B r i a n M o r a n served in McAULIFFE the Virginia House of Delegates, resigning in December 2008 to run for governor full-time, and has been a public servant for the past 20 years. In the House, Moran was a major advocate for increased salaries for teachers and helped in gaining the largest increase in investment in education in Virginia history. “Terry is very excited to be speaking at Virginia Tech,” said Liz Smith, press secretary for McAuliffe. “He is looking
forward to speaking about his plans to get the economy back on track in Virginia.” The problems of the MORAN economy in Virginia will be a large issue debated tonight, along with how students are going to be affected once they leave the security of their universities. “He (McAuliffe) realizes that there is no greater priority than ensuring that students have jobs out of school,” Smith said, “He has a plan to create jobs and make higher education more affordable.” McAuliffe’s plan for making student debt less of an issue for
graduates is currently named the “Scholars for Service Program.” The plan entails graduates serving as teachers in “high need areas” for two years after graduation in order to obtain loan forgiveness, Smith said. Moran’s focus will be more environmentally minded, along with a focus on gay rights in Virginia. “Moran is an environmental leader in the race and is the only candidate opposing the new coal plant,” Ferguson said. “It is also the students and young voters who are leading the way in cleaning up our environment.” The debate at Tech will be only one of the stops on the governor’s race as they lobby around the state for support culminating in the November 3, 2009 elections. The candidates
already participated in a debate in Williamsburg and dueled in Danville Tuesday night. “The debate will give people a chance to see who has been and who will be standing up for everyday Virginians,” Ferguson said, “He (Moran) has been doing this for 20 years as a prosecutor and a lawyer and has announced a host of support from young democratic leaders.” The debate will be taking place at 7 p.m. at the Lyric and will be hosted by the Collegiate Times and the Huffington Post, along with the Not Larry Sabato and Fire Dog Lake blogs. Tickets are free and available at the UUSA ticket office in Squires Student Center. A live stream of the event will be available on collegiatetimes.com.
sports
Blacksburg approves budget
MEN’S TENNIS QUALIFIES FOR NCAA TOURNEY The Tech men’s tennis team received a bid to the NCAA tournament for the third consecutive year and the Hokies (14-7) will travel to Athens, Ga., to play UNC Wilmington in the opening round. Last season, Tech beat Kentucky in the first round before bowing out against Old Dominion.
KAITLYN GLEASON
ct news staff writer
FORMER TECH PLAYERS SIGN FREEAGENT DEALS Several ex-Hokie football players who went undrafted following this weekend’s NFL draft still found their way into the professional ranks via free-agent contracts on Monday afternoon. Defensive end Orion Martin signed with the Miami Dolphins, quarterback Sean Glennon was acquired by the Minnesota Vikings, center Ryan Shuman inked with the Green Bay Packers and fullback Devin Perez was obtained by the Cincinnati Bengals.
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Dr. Paul Farmer came to Virginia Tech Monday night to talk about his public health organization, Partners in Health.
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Farmer speaks on health
corrections
RYAN TRAPP 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. In yesterday’s paper, Dr. Paul Farmer was misidentified. The Collegiate Times regrets this error.
coming up TOMORROW’S CT Read about faculty findings on ways to improve the quality of education at Virginia Tech.
index News.....................1 Features................2 0pinions................3
Classifieds..............4 Sports....................5 Sudoku..................4
An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 106th year • issue 54
ct news staff writer On Monday night, doctor, professor, philanthropist and humanitarian Paul Farmer came to Virginia Tech to promote the work of his public health organization, Partners in Health. His presentation covered some of the projects PIH is currently involved in and discussed his treatment of tuberculosis and AIDS in Rwanda and other parts of Africa. The following day, the Collegiate Times was able to sit down with Farmer to talk about his feelings on Virginia Tech and about what he’s been able to accomplish so far.
CT: What brought you here for the presentation? PF: I had a number of reasons to come here. I have some friends who are students here and some who are alumni. Also some people from VT have reached out to help us with some issues in Haiti so it was for them as well. I was also drawn by the mission of the university itself and the work that VT Engage is doing. It was definitely an overdue visit.
CT: When did you discover Mountains Beyond Mountains would be Virginia Tech’s common book? PF: I’m very embarrassed to say, but it was quite recently.
CT: Was this your first visit to
CT: What did you think
Virginia Tech? PF: It was my first visit, my very first, and it was a real delight. I was very impressed with the students and with the mission of the university.
about that? PF: I thought it was great. I think it’s a book really about teamwork, people pulling together for a difficult but attainable set of goals. A lot of the work described in the novel was started by students when they were students so it applies really well to the university.
CT: What did you think of it? PF: The campus is very beautiful. It’s obviously beautiful seeing the image of it, but the really beautiful aspect was the people. Seeing the students working on the various projects and seeing them fulfill the mission of Virginia Tech was great. Its real beauty was the human architecture of it all.
CT: Do you still have a relationship with Tracy Kidder? PF: Oh sure, he’s a friend of mine. We have a better relationship now than when he was writing the book, and we’ve become very good friends.
He’s very interested in the work we’re doing with Partners in Health.
CT: Any further advancement in Partners in Health or the Zamni Lasante clinic since the book? PF: If I had to choose one thing it would be the expansion of our work in the public health sector all across Haiti. Of course since it was written we’ve become very involved in Africa as well. CT: What do you consider your greatest accomplishment? PF: I’m very happy to be a doctor, professor, scholar, but what I’ve been able to do with Partners in Health is the answer. CT: Why is that? PF: Because it’s not just Partners in Health itself — a lot of people in the field of public health and service have taken notice in what we’ve been able to do and become involved as well.
CT: How active are you on college campuses? PF: I actually teach undergrads at Harvard, and I would say for a medical school professor I’m very active. I visit other colleges all the time as well. CT: What are you hoping to
bring about from your college visits? PF: Making sure that you guys are my retirement plan. This next generation in college campuses now is going to make sure this work, which is very much needed, goes on and on.
CT: What projects are you working on most avidly right now? PF: Building a sound research and teaching architecture to compliment the service work I described last night. By doing so it will make sure that this work will continue. It’s all about the long-term survival of this work; teaching and research can make sure the service gets better and goes on. CT: Are you working on any
Blacksburg Town Council approved the budget for 2009-10 fiscal year Tuesday, but not before making amendments in an attempt to lessen the blow on restaurants. Establishments in Blacksburg currently receive a 6 percent waiver on meals tax collection, and a 3 percent waiver on lodging taxes. The original proposal decreased both waivers to 2 percent. Public sentiments expressed at Tuesday’s meeting and town council work sessions led to an amendment to the budget allowing restaurants a 3 percent waiver. Some worried that with the decreasing waiver, restaurants would struggle to make ends meet with a diminishing restaurant patronage in Blacksburg “This budget cut has been the most painful to me,” said vice-mayor Leslie HagerSmith. “Meal tax is critically important to this town.” Last year the meal tax waiver was increased from 5 percent to 6 percent in order to bring improvements to the downtown and officer additions to the police department. The 6 percent meal tax, although on par with Christiansburg, is high for the state of Virginia, Sherman said, making it an easy target to provide extra revenue to Blacksburg. “The cuts and the shifting priorities do hurt,” said council member Tom Sherman. “We’ll have less public services, and no doubt the restaurants will suffer.” This meal tax cut came as a direct result of a $600,000 shortfall. Members agreed this was a smart area to retain
some of the lost revenue. This ordinance increases the tax received to 3 percent, providing some extra financial support to Blacksburg restaurants. Blacksburg will experience fewer public services and obvious restaurant business declines as a result of diminishing business. Sherman stated that Blacksburg already has shown this by the loss of popular restaurants such as Pee Wee’s Barbeque, Crumb & Get It, as well as a new establishment up for sale, The Daily Grind. “Nobody is happy with these cuts,” Sherman said. “They don’t need to be cut but increased. But we have less income than last year, and the budget has to be balanced.” In order to compensate, council member Don Langrehr urged the public to keep the its money within the town and to spend money exclusively in Blacksburg . “Stay off the bypass and go to the restaurants off Main Street,” Langrehr said. When you take your dollars outside of town, Langrehr said, you’re shorting the business of Blacksburg. Council members stressed that if the town of Blacksburg’s money is spent within the town, businesses will thrive and restaurants in particular will not feel as much of a burden from the meal tax waiver cut. “I have never had a meal outside of this town. I challenge all of you to keep your money within the town,” said council member Mike Rosenweig. The town’s overall budget will decrease by over 24 percent. Other budget eliminations involved eliminating the town council and making brush collection a semiannual service as opposed to a bi-monthly service.
Blacksburg's Shrinking Budget Fiscal Budget
24%
'08-'09 $74,211,207 '09-'10 $56,246,994
projects with Virginia Tech or Tech students? PF: Yes, I am. We’re working on a bridge project with a grad student at Virginia Tech, and we’re also working on a project with Engineers Without Borders Virginia Tech chapter. I’m sure we’ll work more with them in the future as well.
Adjusting brush collection from monthly to semiannually $117,000 savings
CT: Think you’ll come back to Virginia Tech anytime soon? PF: Yes, I do. It’s a very special place. It’s like I said last night, I’m a Hokie now. I have my Virginia Tech hat on as we speak.
Meals tax discount decreased 6 percent to 3 percent
Eliminating town calendar $16,000 savings
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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.
april 29, 2009
Pet Shop Boys echo ’80s vibe with new album ‘Yes’ As the Pet Shop Boys and Ellen DeGeneres have proven, sexual orientation has no effect on ratings — perhaps even boosting them. JONATHAN The English elecYI tronic dance duo Neil Tennant and features Chris Lowe offer reporter their 10th studio album, “Yes,” which is a swirling adventure to the underground. The origins of electronica are unclear. While some may attribute its beginnings to Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville’s tinkering of the phonautograph, and others have stayed alert on the smooth texture of Daft Punk, there is no denying that electronica has been quickly progressing throughout the decades. It offers a unique genre that is always reinventing itself — a niche for futurists to scoff at the establishment. Formed in London in the early ’80s, the Pet Shop Boys achieved crossover status with their synthesis of skepticism and technique. They earned their place on both the charts and the dance floor. “Yes” is a well
deserved return. While radically different from albums that “pet heads” have grown accustomed to with previous albums such as “Fundamental” or “Release,” “Yes” proves that Tennant and Lowe have never lost their terms with music. The record reifies how they can transform themselves without losing any integrity or status that the Pet Shop Boys have earned over this past decade. Kicking off with the phenomenal lead single, “Love Etc.,” the Pet Shop Boys offer an itchy electronic polish and melodic, flamboyant (no pun intended) beginnings. It makes me wish I could reminisce the early ’80s, but after thinking more about it, I’m not sure if I want to. “Yes” is dancepop at its best — catchy tunes with intelligent lyrics (often a delicacy). “Pandemonium” is one of the best Pet Shop Boys tracks I’ve heard in years — many, many years. “Yes” shows that the boys have endured relaxation within their own aesthetic. This sentiment spills over into the Tchaikovsky-filching, stately electro-pomp of “All Over the World.” “It’s something, that look in your eyes tonight, like magic it’s chang-
ing everything in sight, I hear it all around me every day in the music that you play. This is a song about boys and girls; you hear it playing all over the world,” Tennant spiritualizes. Bear the redundancy; this is electronica. While the Pet Shop Boys have shaped a hefty legacy unto themselves, “Yes” is an album that has the ability to reach out beyond the die-hards. At first listen, the fluttering synth and electro squiggles might be initially off-putting, but Lowe’s trademark orchestral accompaniments make you realize that their sensibilities are still there. Because of the circumstances of my generation, it’s hard to truly understand the nostalgic experiences that older generations may sense listening to “Yes.” It’s difficult to comprehend an album that doesn’t reintroduce a world of texture and beams of sound that others experienced in the late ’80s. Nevertheless, the fact that I can enjoy it fresh off the bat is testimony that the Pet Shop Boys have the ability to harness an audience of multiple demographics.
GRADE: B+
TOM MINOGUE features reporter
It’s difficult for me to think about the Pet Shop Boys in a contemporary context. With the resurgence of a synthesizer-drenched pop environment, however, it’s only natural that this is when the band would stage the release of its new
album, “Yes.” The disco-beat magic the group is remembered for is still here in a big way, but it lacks the heaviness featured so prominently in songs such as “West End Girls” and “What Have I Done to Deserve This?” This lack of a sound might not bother the Boys’ more die-hard fans but will definitely be noted by new listeners. Instead of the pop hooks being grounded, in the lead single “Love, Etc.” the music feels featherweight, as if you could turn it off and not notice a thing. Similar to elevator music but probably constructed with a dance floor in mind; I can’t really see hipsters getting down to this. What they lack in thematic complexity is easily forgettable when the band
hits its stride, though. The antithesis to “Love, Etc.,” “More Than a Dream” hits all the right notes, and it will probably bring the listener back to a dance floor they’ve never been on. The song is an example of how much the group can get right when they hone in on a certain sound: ’80s club music. I found the time of this release to be especially worth consideration. Depeche Mode just released their new album a couple of weeks back, and along with the Pet Shop Boys we seem to be having a massive resurgence in the late ’80s/early ’90s synthesizer-powered pop. How has this all changed in the 2009 context? The curious thing is that it really has not; fuzzy synth dance music that was good yesteryear is still good today, but demonstrates a disappointing lack of evolution. Don’t let this deter you from either record, though, if you are a fan of the aforementioned type of music. My bone to pick as a critic, however, is that both the Pet Shop Boys and Depeche Mode aren’t maturing with the times; they’re just taking the same approach as they always have. What I was looking for in the record was progressive motion, and I didn’t manage to find any.
Maybe they’re just playing to the same audience they always have. Maybe they’re just doing it for the retirement fund. Whatever the reasoning behind the record is, it didn’t leave me with much sense of musical satisfaction, and I don’t think it will for many others … unless “Love Comes Quickly” sends you back to the days of Day-Glo clubs in London.
GRADE: C
RECOMMENDED: DEPECHE MODE Violator
ERASURE Pop! 20 Hits NEW ORDER Power, Corruption and Lies COCTEAU TWINS Treasure THE CURE Wish
DIY: Channel your inner Twiggy with denim miniskirt As classes wind down, the days grow longer and the temperature hovers in the ’70s, students across campus seem to sacrifice fabric and dignity alike as an homage MARY ANNE to Mother Nature. CARTER Like beasts shedding features their fur after a harsh reporter winter, guys often forgo shirts and cut off their pants, while girls squeeze into suffocating shorts, diminutive tops, scanty dresses and the famed miniskirt. Throughout this ritual, two trends dependably emerge each season: flesh and denim. The lovechild of Twiggy and Daisy Duke, the denim miniskirt classically epitomizes this season’s trends while boasting versatility, style, ruggedness and practicality. With just a needle and
thread and an old pair of jeans, anyone can partake in the trend and seasonal festivities at no cost and the ability to perfect the length, wash and fit to your liking, with the assurance that it will be completely original no matter how many denim skirts flood the Drillfield. Materials: One pair of jeans, needle and thread, scissors Time: 45 minutes Cost: Free or $3-$5 for jeans at the thrift store Step One: Lay jeans flat and cut off the legs a little bit longer than the desired length. Put legs aside, you will use the material later. Remember that you can easily take more off when you are done, but if you cut it too short now you are stuck with it. Cut along inner leg seams and crotch until the jeans resemble shorts with no inner seams or a skirt with a triangle cut out of the front and back.
Step Two: Cut along the crotch seam to the zipper and pin it over so that it is flat. Repeat in the back, cutting until you can make it flat and pinning in place. Step Three: Take the excess leg material you put aside and cut two panels big enough to cover the triangle shaped gap in the front and back of skirt. Pin in place. Step Four: Sew along the pinned areas and cut away excess material. Step Five: Try on skirt and decide desired length. Cut accordingly. It will fray a bit in the wash, so leave a little bit of extra length. Style Tip: Although a cursory glance around campus will suggest that flip flops, bikini tops and oversized shades are the only accessories necessary, I recommend pairing a denim skirt with flats and a feminine blouse for a classy contrast, or worn brown boots, a rugged T-shirt and slouchy cardigan for disheveled perfection.
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editor: laurel colella email: opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com phone: 540.231.9865 office hours: mw 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
april 29, 2009
EDITORIAL
Attend gubernatorial debate to learn more about candidates Tonight at the Lyric, the Blacksburg community has a unique opportunity to get to know the Democratic candidates for governor, Creigh Deeds, Terry McAuliffe and Brian Moran, as they take part in a debate beginning at 7 p.m. The debate, sponsored by the Collegiate Times, Huffington Post and blogs FireDogLake and Not Larry Sabato, is free of charge — tickets are available at the UUSA box office in Squires Student Center. Fall semester is just around the corner, along with the gubernatorial election that will decide the executive who has most impact on the Commonwealth of Virginia. The November governor’s election offers students a chance to take an active role in their local government and to be a part of choosing their representative for the next four years. Last fall’s presidential election is widely regarded as one of the most historic elections of our time, partly because of the fact that the issues addressed were so applicable to young voters. The issues addressed in the gubernatorial elections will have an even more direct impact on us as the winner will have the power to affect not only the state laws, but also university funding. Citizens and students should consider the ways in which Gov. Tim Kaine has used his position to enact laws that directly affect the citizens of Virginia — everyday things such as dining out have been affected by a bill that restricts smoking in restaurants. Kaine also vetoed a bill that would have allowed concealed carry permit holders to bring concealed weapons into restaurants. Other important decisions during Kaine’s term include cutting the budget for mental health by $6.6 million, the launch of his
Renew Virginia initiative, which aims to pass legislation that will put Virginia at the forefront of energy conservation and efficiency. Kaine’s successor will undoubtedly affect the tuition increases in the years to come. This year the Board of Visitors raised tuition 5 percent, and the future governor’s priorities dictate the budget and increases in tuition and spending. While Obama approved the stimulus, Kaine is ultimately the one who decides how the money is distributed, including how much goes to fund higher education. Because of this, students should tune into the gubernatorial debate to find out how these issues have the potential to directly impact them in the immediate future. The effect that the localized government has on students’ daily life is almost immeasurable, ranging anywhere from taxes and tuition to firearms and intoxication. Elections on a state level are just as important as national ones, if not more so, because they are more pertinent to each of us as individuals. Regardless of political affiliation, students should take the opportunity to attend tonight’s debate to learn more about not just the issues but also the person who may be the next governor. If you haven’t put thought into the impending election, tonight is certainly a good time to start. The debate is a good opportunity to come out and learn about what’s going on in Virginia government as it is both local and free. The debate will be aired — live — on collegiatetimes.com.
President Obama should better portray patriotism Unlike many of my fellow conservatives who have made their voices loud and clear, I do not wish President Obama failure. In TOM fact, I wish quite the opposite. I MINOGUE hope he improves regular the state of the columnist economy, secures our borders and restores the dignity of America abroad. In the case of that last point, however, it’s the manner in which he performs this restoration that concerns me. At the end of the first 100 days of the Obama presidency, we can safely say that America’s diplomatic involvement on the international stage is changing, but at what price to our image as Americans? We can acknowledge that the Bush administration made mistakes, but we cannot and should not acknowledge shame in being Americans for those reasons. My problem with President Obama so far is that there’s been a failure on his part to foster any pro-American sentiment. On the contrary, it seems as if he’s been an apologist for America, speaking about previous transgressions abroad without the bipartisan nature he promised in his campaign. Instead of showing pride in his country, the president has shown only regret for our past actions. This attitude combined with increased cooperation with countries seeking the downfall of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is probably the root of my frustration. I was born and raised a military brat. In the situation created by that, interacting with people outside of the U.S. whose perspective differs completely from Americans, it’s easy to become ambivalent about the foreign affairs
of our country. Because I grew up overseas during the Bush years, the downfall of America’s international reputation was quite apparent during my family’s travels. Friends of my family outside the military would often remark about how our previous president was a monkey, a buffoon and an ignoramus. It would’ve been all too easy to say that he was, but nonetheless George W. Bush was commander in chief, fairly elected and in service to his country. If there was one thing I can say I absolutely liked about George W. Bush, it’s that he was unapologetically American. When he went overseas, the mission was to protect American interests and values and not to attempt to preserve some aesthetic of America’s international reputation. The reason why I’m bringing up George W. Bush is because we’re failing to see the same idea of America preserved by President Obama. Instead of being firm with leaders of a firmly anti-American mindset like Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez or Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, he’s shaking hands, smiling and taking photo opportunities with them. I’m not saying that we shouldn’t take up diplomatic relations with these countries and their leaders; what I’m trying to say is that we’re giving them too soft of an impression of America on the international stage. When Chavez shakes Obama’s hand with a smile one day, giving him a socialist manifesto as a gift, then turns around the next to verbally chastise him, not only does the president look foolish, the American people do as well. Handshake diplomacy is a suitable tactic for fostering relations with our allies, not for countries proceeding with plans to build nuclear weapons with enriched uranium or allowing the Russian navy to park their ships in South America.
But where does this all stem from? Why can our president not show pride in being the leader of the free world? There’s a difference between humility and being shamefaced, and for the first 100 days it’s been a tightrope that our new president has walked very carefully. Though numerous members of the press have declared him savior for the United States already, I fail to see anything beyond a politician doing the best to fulfill the office he’s sworn an oath to. Decisions like shutting down Abu Gharib prison and opening up the idea of prosecuting Bush administration officials have not only hurt the idea of national security in our country, but also virtually destroyed the chance of bipartisanship of Washington as well. If the wish of the Obama administration is truly to unite the country as they promised to try to do during their campaign, their number one interest should be protecting American priorities overseas. This means maintaining the missile shield in Poland. This means allowing our navy to traverse the same waters they always have. This means continuing the fight against terrorism in Afghanistan. These priorities of America abroad translate into American security domestically, and our president and government should not have to apologize to anyone for upholding these priorities. I guess what I’m trying to say is I’m sick of hearing Americans bemoaning the actions of their United States. We live in the best country in the world, and we should do everything in our power to preserve it, overseas and back stateside. If Obama wishes to kowtow to our opposition and give it a warm smile, that’s his decision, not mine. I will apologize to no one for being who I am, who we are. I’m not ashamed to admit I’m American, and neither should you.
The editorial board is composed of David Grant, David Harries, Laurel Colella, Sara Mitchell and Debra Houchins.
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, Rebecca Smeenk, Lindsay Smith, Katie Sonntag, Lara Treadwell National Account Executive Kaelynn Kurtz Account Executives Nik Bando, Brandon Collins, Chris Cunningham, Lee Eliav, Judi Glass, Kendall Kapetanakis, David Morgan, Marcello Sandoval, Arianna Rouhani, Jennifer Vaughn Assistant Account Executives Madeline Abram, Katie Berkel, Diane Revalski, Devon Steiner Marketing Manager Amanda Sparks Office Manager Kaelynn Kurtz Student Publication Photo Staff Director of Photography Sally Bull Business Manager Paul Platz
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Legal marriage should come separate from religion This letter is in response to Kevin Gillispie’s column, “Gay Marriage Does Not Accurately Depict Equality” (CT, April 28). What may be most astounding about Kevin Gillispie’s column on gay marriage and family structure is that, while inveighing against homosexuality, single-parent homes, and households with extended family, he never actually provides any legitimized study, statistic, or fact to back his rigid Regime of Truths. What is also surprising is how this author (like so many others against gay marriage and atypical family structures and relationships) hides behind a so-called objectivism that is no less Western than anti-gay views are derived from strictly JudeoChristian values. Michel Foucault would have a field day. If we were to use Rush Limbaugh as the spokesman for the conservatives, just as Gillispie has arbitrarily elected Perez Hilton as ExemplarIn-Chief for the gay community, we would be forced to wonder how someone who has been through three divorces could discuss the sanctity of marriage seriously. This is the usual conservative line of thinking — proclaimed objectivism while subjectively charging their arguments and accusing liberals of being too emotional. The attack is not just on gay couples as it may seem — it’s also on single parent households and all other families that do not fit rightly into the one-father-married-toone-mother, heterosexual norm. This is not surprising when we examine America’s history of family standards. Not long ago it was expected that you married within your race and religion and that anything outside of this was both
socially unacceptable and ungodly. Had we kept to these rigid parameters our current president, raised by a single woman and grandparents in a biracial household, would never have come to be. Another interesting point in this column is Gillispie’s comment on polygamy. According to his column, polygamy at least has “historical precedence;” this obfuscates the centuries of embraced gay unions and relationships found among cultures on all but one continent before the extension of Christendom. In the latter half of the column Gillispie feigns recognition that access to opportunities and resources is not equally distributed and that some people deserve access to these resources more than others. Yet, at the same time, he neglects to recognize that marriage has become a social and legal institution in this country, granted to both the religious and non-religious indiscriminately, bestowing anything from joint custody of children to benefits of annuities, pensions, Social Security and Medicare. According to Religioustolerance.org, there are, in fact, 400 state benefits associated with marriage and more than 1,000 federal benefits. The real core of the gay marriage argument is simply that there is more to marriage than the religious context and that if people wish to maintain its exclusivity then they are going to have to do one of two things to be consistent: they will either have to give up the social and legal benefits that come attached to it and make it a strictly religious affair or they will have to allow civil unions to gay couples which grant all the same legal and social rights. Anita Nankam, sophomore, biochemistry John Driessnack, sophomore, biology
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Politicians should value education of average American children DAN LIPS and LINDSEY BURKE guest columnists Politicians value the power of choice in education, at least when it comes to their own children. If only they were more willing to give ordinary parents the same opportunity. For Education Secretary Arne Duncan, finding a quality school for his kids was his top priority when he moved to Washington, D.C., in January. He decided to live in Arlington, Va., because of its highly rated public schools: “My family has given up so much so that I could have the opportunity to serve; I didn’t want to try to save the country’s children and our educational system and jeopardize my own children’s education.” Choosing a good school was also a top priority for the First Family when they moved to Washington before the Inauguration. Michelle Obama visited multiple schools before enrolling their daughters in the private Sidwell Friends school — the same choice the Clintons made for Chelsea in 1993. Members of Congress also value the power to choose a good school. The Heritage Foundation recently surveyed Congress to find out where members’ children went to school. The survey found that 38 percent had at one time enrolled a child in private school. Senators (44 percent) were slightly more likely to have chosen a private school for their children than representatives (36 percent). Nationally, only 11 percent of all students attend private school. Of course, paying private-school tuition — after paying taxes to support the public schools — is much easier to do on the
six-figure salary of a federal lawmaker than on the more modest incomes of most Americans. The survey found that many members of Congress are passing on what their parents had chosen for them by choosing private schools for their kids. Members are about twice as likely as the general public to have attended a private school. President Obama, Vice President Biden and Secretary Duncan also attended private high schools. Of course, no one should fault our elected officials for receiving a good education, or for ensuring their kids go to great schools. But American families should question why Congress and the Obama administration are actively working to deny families the same power to choose a good school for their kids. In February, President Obama signed into law the “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act,” the so-called stimulus package that included an unprecedented $90 billion in new funding for education. But the legislation included a provision stating that not a dime of that funding could be used to give parents the power to choose the best school for their children. Weeks later, Congress passed a new $680 billion spending bill that included more than 9,000 in earmarks for programs like tattoo removal in California and combating the Mormon cricket problem in Utah. But some Democrats quietly inserted language into the bloated bill to discretely terminate the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship program — a $14 million initiative that helps lowincome student escape Washington’s low-performing public school system by enrolling in private schools. When the federal government was
spending money faster than it could print it, why would Congress cut this tiny program helping poor families in D.C.? After all, the Opportunity Scholarship program is very popular with families. At least four children have applied for each available scholarship. Participating children are also improving academically. A federally-mandated testing evaluation found that students in the scholarship program now have higher reading test scores than their peers who remained in public school. Kids who have been using the scholarships the longest have made the equivalent of nearly two years’ worth of learning more than their peers who didn’t get scholarships. Yet despite this encouraging evidence, powerful special-interest groups like the National Education Association and their allies on Capitol Hill continue to press to end the scholarship program. Why are they so insistent on ending a program that is popular with parents and helps low-income children? One likely reason: fear. Once other parents see that giving families the power to choose the best school for their kids can improve students’ performance, they might demand to have school choice for their children. That would be very good for kids across the country — but bad news for special-interest groups committed to defending the status quo. Enough. It’s time for Congress to put kids first. All families deserve the same power that politicians take for granted — the power to choose a great school for their children. Dan Lips is Senior Policy Analyst and Lindsey Burke is a research assistant in domestic policy at The Heritage Foundation.
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april 29, 2009
Despite rough ACC past, Tech lacrosse turning a corner THOMAS EMERICK
ct sports editor Virginia Tech sputtered into its 2009 season with a depleted hand and experience stacked against them. After losing four crucial senior leaders to dismissal in the fall, the Hokies hit spring with only three upperclassmen on a roster of 23. February suggested an even bleaker forecast when Tech dropped its first four games. As the season’s opening month neared a close, it became a question of whether this would be a rebuilding campaign or, perhaps, a “lost year.” The team then bounced back with four straight victories and forged its most successful season since Katrina Silva took over as head coach prior to 2007. Sophomore Allie Emala didn’t liken her youthful team’s early outlook as it was against the world, but she did admit outsider expectations could be
used as ample fuel to surprise some people. “I just thought we should use it as fire,” Emala said. “It wasn’t like we thought everyone was hating on us … but I, personally, used it as motivation, and I know a lot of other people on the team did as well.” Emala, who finished this season second on the team in both goals and points, is one of 22 currently on roster whom Silva recruited to the team. The only remaining player from previous coach Tami Riley’s team is Rachel Culp, a 2009 All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection. The senior tallied a goal and an assist in her final college game on Thursday as Tech fell to archrival Virginia. “I think (Silva), and all three of the coaches, really, have put me in a position where I need to step up bigger and bigger each year,” Culp said, “and it’s made me grow that much faster.” Culp etched her mark in the Tech record books by racking up 119 career goals, good for second in school his-
tory. “(The coaches) put me in a position where they expected me to do certain things, and so I want to meet those expectations,” she said. “I’m not satisfied unless I do meet them and go above.” Though this Hokie squad lost in the first round of the ACC tournament — which was held in Blacksburg at Thompson Field — it can take solace in having captured its best ACC record since joining the league in 2004. Granted, that record was 1-4, and its record on the season finished at a seemingly pedestrian 7-10, but this comes off powerful in comparison to the previous Silva seasons. Tech posted records of 5-12 (0-5 in the ACC) and 4-14 (0-5) in 2007 and 2008 respectively, failing to achieve the school’s first conference win in each season. By far, its closest attempts came against Boston College: a 10-9 loss in Chestnut Hill last year and a 16-15 heart-wrencher in Blacksburg
two seasons back. On March 14, Tech battled to a 1614 overtime victory over BC at home, finally ripping the monkey off its back and relegating the Eagles to the bottom of the six-team conference. Judging by the numbers, this type of early faltering followed by rapid progression mirrors Silva’s experience at her former job, a seven-year tenure at Colgate University that started with the 2000 season. In upstate New York, Silva’s teams failed to scratch double digit wins until her fourth try, then she never looked back. Silva’s Colgate squads amassed a 46-31 record from 2003 to 2006, including two Patriot League Tournament titles. This twice earned her Patriot League Coach of the Year honors and Colgate Coach of the Year once. While her beginning-of-tenure records may suggest that she struggled somewhat with adapting to the recruits of the previous coach — as 16 of the 17 leftover Riley recruits of the 2009 and 2010 classes left the team before their senior seasons for reasons that include cuts, quits, transfers, dismissals and injuries — the ensuing success conveys that she has done wonders with her own group. “I think the chemistry off the field is starting to show on the field,” Emala said. Something also important to keep in mind is that the Patriot League is no ACC, and the latter is regarded by many as the elite conference in women’s college lacrosse. Presenting the new challenge for Silva are teams that produced incredible success this year, such as Maryland (18-0), North Carolina (13-4), Duke (13-5) and, to a lesser extent but still impressive, Virginia (11-7), the team that ended Tech’s season in the ACC tournament. Even Boston College, the Hokies’ lone ACC victim, finished with an overall winning record. In a conference that really beats up on one another, the Hokies — who entered varsity level in 1995 — are no longer the youngest sibling, at least not this time. “I think that we’ve gained a lot of experience,” Culp said. “We’re playing a lot more consistently than we have, like stringing together more consecutive minutes in a game, which is our goal — 60 full minutes. And I don’t think we’re there yet, but we’re playing a lot better, and we know each other a lot better.” Freshman Jessica Nonn grew up quickly in 2009, finishing third on the team with 33 goals and placing her exclamation point on a crucial late-season goal. With the Hokies tied with Old Dominion in overtime, Nonn scorched the net to end Tech’s three-game losing streak, which in turn sparked a three-game tear into April. “I think now, since we know each other a lot more, and we’ve gotten a lot more comfortable passing the ball and trusting each other,” Nonn said, “I think it’s had a big impact on the way we play, because before we were all just trying to get to know one another, like, ‘Are you ready to catch this?’ And now, it’s just like, ‘Here (is the ball).’” Culp, Nonn and Emala combined for 122 of the teams’ 178 goals this season, marking just the third time in school history that a squad featured three players with 30 or more goals in the same season. “I think when you rely on one or two people to score all the goals, that’s when you have problems, when it’s not their day or something isn’t going right for them,” Emala said. “I think it’s great to have three, four, five kids that always score.” Six players on Tech recorded double figures in goals on the season. “(Silva) also emphasizes that it’s not just who scores,” Emala said. “It’s who does the stuff to make the goal hap-
BRIAN CLAY/SPPS
Senior Rachel Culp sprints downfield with Maryland defenders in pursuit.
NICK JEREMIAH/SPPS
Jessica Nonn looks for open Hokies against Old Dominion. The freshman scored four goals that game, helping Tech start a three-game win streak. pen. It’s a team effort.” Often, Culp’s the one doing the scoring. In the offseason, she qualified for the second round of tryouts for the U.S. Women’s National Team. She kept the momentum into spring by notching 54 goals and leading the ACC in scoring at 4.27 points per game. Her season reached its pinnacle as the team really started to hit its stride in early March, and on the tail end of a four-game winning streak she was named Nike/Inside Lacrosse Player of the Week for March 17. Equally important to the team’s improvement is the play on defense, especially that of goalie Kari Morrison.
The senior is Tech’s all-time leader in ground balls and led the ACC in saves per game in 2007. It’s hard to tell whether the team would’ve been better this year if it still had some of its proven, wouldbe seniors on roster, but one thing is certain: This squad compiled a pretty impressive season for a lacrosse team with 23 players and just three upperclassmen. However, Tech will still lose the most critical components of its offense and defense in seniors Culp and Morrison and must now look for increased numbers and leadership among its vast pool of experienced underclassmen.
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