Thursday, June 4, 2009 Print Edition

COLLEGIATETIMES

june 4, 2009

what’s inside News.............2 0pinions........5 Features ........6 Sports ...........9 Classifieds ...11 Sudoku........11 106th year issue 60 blacksburg, va.

Board approves 09-10 budget PHILLIP MURILLAS

managing editor The Virginia Tech Board of Visitors approved the university budget Monday.

This includes the $1.032 billion university budget and a capital outlay plan to last from 2010 to 2016, plus a five percent increase in tuitions and fees to students.

According to a release from the university, “the total university

budget of $1.032 billion is slightly larger than the adopted fiscal year 2008-09 budget of $1.012 billion.”

These increases include building costs for the new residence halls under construction, a $2.5 million increase in financial aid, and a projected increase of about $17 million in sponsored research.

In the first paperless BOV meeting during which the Board honored several individuals and organizations, the BOV also approved the proposed Virginia Tech

Climate Action Commitment resolution.

The Climate Action Commitment resolution establishes a target of reduction of campus greenhouse gasses to 80 percent below 1990 emission levels by 2050. It also establishes an Office of Sustainability, sets a goal of 60 percent alternative transportation use in 2020, calls for the creation and support of a virtual Virginia Tech School of Sustainability, and offers several suggestions for

funding, which could include savings from reduced electricity and energy fuels, private sources, and a student Green Fee. The approved university budget is higher than the budget for 200809, originally set at $1.012 billion.

“Even though the university budget is slightly up overall, that’s because we frankly expect the spots in research to go up, the athletic income to go up, and the auxiliary income — the dorm

see BUDGET, page two

Developers of First & Main face unhappy tenants ZACH CRIZER

news editor Frustration is building faster than business in the First & Main development, as numerous planned tenants reconsider opening up shop.

Fairmount Properties, developer of the shopping center, currently faces a breach of contract lawsuit from tenant Blue Ridge Mountain Sports, as well as claims by Morgan Thalhimer Inc. seeking payment for recruiting tenants.

Blue Ridge Mountain Sports claims Fairmount owes them $262,000 in reimbursements for store construction. Of $312,000 due, Blue Ridge Mountain Sports received only $50,000.

The case also cites a clause in the contract that would add interest for late reimbursement.

Morgan Thalhimer helped recruit tenants such as Elderberry’s, SportsClips and Maggie Moo’s. The company said in court documents they are owed $50,000.

Diane Elder, an owner of the smoothie shop Elderberry’s, said the development has not produced the same business opportunities originally promised.

“A lot of what’s supposed to go in there hasn’t materialized,” Elder

said, citing “all the back and forth on the movie theatre, which really was the number one draw for us because of the foot traffic.”

Frank’s Theaters originally planned to put a cinema in the space adjacent to Books-aMillion. A company representative said they are no longer involved.

Restaurant chains Sonic and Arby’s have also pulled out of planned locations in the development.

DANIEL LIN/SPPS Blacksburg Partnership President Diane Akers Elderberry’s employee Ashley Schlafman mixes a smoothie at First & Main. said the weak economy Elder said shops such as likely led to national chains pulling as Classic Image Salon and Day Spa, as well as Beamer’s Steakhouse, have Elderberry’s and Maggie Moo’s had out of the development.

However, she also said there is delayed moving to the development. viewed the planned movie theater as Elderberry’s will first attempt a major part of business. hope for renewed interest in the “It’s really hard to gauge your development as the economy to make a new agreement with Fairmount, but could resort to a hours, because you stay open, and rebounds. then there’s not a theater, so there’s “Hopefully, as time goes on and lawsuit if those attempts fail.

“We currently are negotiating with not the foot traffic,” Elder said. the economy improves, some of Akers said the development is those things that have gone away them right now, renegotiating our will want to come back,” Akers said. situation and hope that it doesn’t experiencing the same troubles as “Maybe there will be a new person end up in litigation,” Elder said. the national economy.

“First & Main is similar to many or a new company that will bring in “Obviously, we would exploit that a movie theater, but I don’t think you option if we were forced to, but we’re retail developments across the counhopeful we can continue the negocan really predict that.” see FIRST & MAIN, page three Additionally, local businesses such tiations we’re in right now.”

GLC murder case moves to grand jury ZACH CRIZER

news editor A judge ruled Friday that sufficient probable cause exists to take the first-degree murder case against Graduate Life Center stabbing suspect Haiyang Zhu to a grand jury.

Two witnesses described the Jan. 21 stabbing of Chinese graduate student Xin Yang Zhu in detail.

Corey Cox, an Au Bon Pain

see ZHU, page three

Chipotle coming to Blacksburg Chipotle is coming to downtown Blacksburg.

The restaurant, which serves tacos and burritos, will be located in the building that runs from 308 to 316 N. Main St. Southview Development spokesman Victor Dritselis said the Denver-based corporate management of Chipotle had been eyeing a Blacksburg location.

“The location was sought after by their real estate department,” Dritselis said.

Dritselis said the company hopes to capitalize on the student population’s familiarity with the brand, as Chipotle has multiple locations in Northern Virginia and Richmond.

“They feel like Blacksburg and the Virginia Tech community is an excellent market to be positioned in,” Dritselis said.

The restaurant aims to open in early 2010.

“Construction has started,” Dritselis said. “The demolition process is underway.”

Two young residents aim to give Town Council Hokie viewpoint SARA MITCHELL

editor-in-chief Record numbers of Virginia Tech students stormed the Blacksburg voting booths for the 2008 presidential election. This November they’ll have the chance to check the names of two fellow Hokies.

Michael Sutphin, a 2006 Tech graduate, and Bryce Carter, a rising Tech senior, are both on the ballot for

Blacksburg Town Council.

The two began campaigning for one of the four council seats available in the coming election.

Carter, a 20year-old humanities major and former vice president of the Tech Sutphin Environmental Coalition, was inspired to form his

candidacy when Blacksburg Mayor Ron Rordam spoke this spring to students about making a difference in Blacksburg.

“The way he was talking, it really inspired me,” Carter said. “Here I am on the campus community and why not take the next step? That’s when it clicked for me.”

Sutphin, 25, graduated with a communication degree and now works for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences as a writer. He always

had an interest in local politics and finds himself “uniquely positioned as a graduate in 2006 and as a permanent resident in the area.”

One can’t deny the presence that Tech students have in Blacksburg, Tech Carter students put about $126 million into the local economy

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annually, according to the Blacksburg Partnership, and the 29,000 plus students hold a strong percentage of the town’s population.

Vice Mayor Leslie Hager-Smith doesn’t recall such a young candidate in the 26 years she’s been involved with Blacksburg.

“I think what we’re looking at is a new era in involvement and possible greater dialogue between the town

see COUNCIL, page three

collegiatetimes.com june 4, 2009

NEWS

2

Budget: BOV approves new plan BOV discusses alcoholic

issues in Sunday open session

from page one

and dining hall system — to go up,” said Larry Hincker, university spokesman. “But the educational enterprise is actually going down slightly.”

Tech’s funding for educational enterprise has been reduced from $482 million last fiscal year to $479 million, a drop that would have been significantly larger were it not for federal stimulus funds, Hincker said.

For the 2009-10 school year, Tech will receive $17.3 million as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which is expected to offset some of the shortfalls from reduced state funding.

“We’re receiving significantly less from the Commonwealth of Virginia in taxpayer support than we had before,” Hincker said. “This is the third year in a row that the university has lost state appropriations.”

The Executive Committee proposed a five percent increase in student tuition and fees to further offset cuts in state funding. The resolution was unanimously passed.

The BOV passed the 2009-10 Faculty Compensation Plan, which maintains the expected faculty salary average at $89,215.

“There are no raises for faculty

Virginia Tech Budget Comparisons 2009-2010 University Budget Educational Enterprise (Money for Academic Expenses)

$1.032 billion

$1.012 billion

$479 million

$482 million

State Appropriations (Taxpayer Funding) American Reinvestment and Recovery Funds

$150.8 million

$178.5 million

$17 million

$0

this year,” Hincker said. “All state universities are having this problem. The state is not appropriating any money to us to provide salary increases and it wouldn’t be fair or appropriate if other state employees are not receiving salary increases either.”

Tech was in the 35th percentile of its peer group in faculty salary averages for 2008-09.

The meeting opened with a resolution honoring the late President Emeritus William E. Lavery and resolutions of appreciation for the Virginia Tech Police Department and the Virginia Tech Rescue Squad.

Members of Lavery’s family, Virginia Tech Police Chief Wendell Flinchum, and members of the

PHILLIP MURILLAS

2008-2009

police department and rescue squads were present to accept the honors.

The BOV then went on to present resolutions for approval, unanimously passing approvals for a Master of Public Health Degree and demolition of off-campus university buildings.

At the end of the open session, President Charles Steger made a point of comparing Tech’s commitment to environmental sustainability to the need for fiscal sustainability.

“We’re going to have to go through and rethink how we do our business,” Steger said, “which will enable us to contain our costs without sacrificing the quality of what we do.”

managing editor THANDIWE OGBONNA/COLLEGIATE TIMES

page

The Virginia Tech Board of Visitors discussed constituency reports and alcohol-related problems at the university on Sunday in an open information session.

Representatives from the Campus Alcohol Abuse Prevention Center, Judicial Affairs, Residence Life, Fraternity and Sorority Life, Student Affairs, and the Virginia Tech and Blacksburg police departments took turns presenting a slideshow displaying statistics and reports on alcohol-related incidents at Tech. The data focused on incidents relating to underage drinking, alcohol-related arrests, and student binge-drinking.

Steve Clarke, director of the Campus Alcohol Abuse Prevention Center, reported that Tech students consistently rank slightly lower than their peers at other institutions in behavior exhibiting alcohol abuse or misuse, despite the high risk factors for alcohol-related problems, including popular athletics, a rural location, and a mostly male population.

Tech Police Chief Wendell Flinchum reported on alcohol-related arrests in the past year, noting that most arrests occurred off-campus and in public

areas. Flinchum also noted that alcohol-related incidents spiked during football games, especially games held on Thursday night. He emphasized that only 36 percent of those arrested at football games were students.

Capt. Bruce Bradbury of the Blacksburg police department corroborated that alcohol-related incidents spiked on football game weekends.

Vice President of Student Affairs Ed Spencer closed with a brief report on the Amethyst Initiative, an organization of college presidents and chancellors calling for a discussion about the minimum drinking age.

Amethyst Initiative reports included in Spencer’s portion of the presentation asserted “irresponsible drinking by young people continues despite the minimum drinking age at 21.”

Spencer then commended university President Charles Steger for his commitment to the drinking age discussion and the support shown by signing the Initiative statement.

“It appears to me that there is a conscious decision to not enforce underage drinking,” Board member Freddy Cobb said after the presentation’s conclusion. “I’m not saying we should … but, in my mind, it’s clear that we’re not going out.”

Climate Action Commitment passes BOV First & Main: managing editor With the passing of the Climate Action Commitment resolution by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors on Monday, Tech has incorporated 14 points into university policy regarding environmental concerns such as greenhouse gas emissions, energy efficiency, and recycling.

“It’s not just a university-driven effort,” said Angie De Soto, a sixth-year environmental policy and planning major. . “Every single student and person on this campus is going to need to participate for this to be successful.”

The resolution has its roots in the broader national environmental initiative, the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. The student-led environmental coalition brought the PCC to President Charles Steger, who

ON THE WEB Check collegiatetimes.com for a copy of the Climate Action Committment

urban affairs and public policy, chaired the summer subcommittee, composed of students, faculty, and staff.

“Every corner of the university had a chance to comment and participate in it,” Randolph said.

According to him, changing student and staff culture will be the next step in achieving the climate control goals.

De Soto says that students can help make this a reality by adopting small habits, like turning off lights, actively recycling, and using less hot water. “If you break it down, the carbon footprint of America is my footprint, plus your footprint, plus his footprint. It’s all of our individual impacts and our actions.”

Another contribution students may make to the environmental cause in the near future is a Green Fee, suggested in the CAC resolution and lobbied by the Environmental Coalition.

“We’re asking for $2 - $5 a semester per student that would go into a fund.

Next year, the Environmental Coalition will run another campaign, involving

Major CAC Initiatives - Tech will add an Office of Sustainability - Tech will reduce greenhouse gas emission to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050 electronic surveys and a referendum during SGA elections to display student support for a Green Fee,” DeSoto said.

From start to finish, the Climate Action Commitment was a year’s worth of work on behalf of the faculty, staff, and students who were involved.

Implementation, according to DeSoto is a “whole new game.”

“The reason this happened is because of students,” DeSoto said. “And if people think that students don’t have power to do anything on campus, they’re wrong.

Because we made this happen and now we’re going to help implement it.”

Zhu: Judge rules case sufficient for grand jury hearing from page one

employee who called 911 in response to the incident, testified that Zhu made an aggressive growling sound that drew his attention.

“He had lunged at her and was already attacking her with the knife,” Cox said.

Cox testified that he “jumped down behind the counter to call for 911.” He remained on the phone with emergency services until police arrived.

“Each time I’d peer over at him, he was just staring at her face, cutting

away at her,” Cox said.

He said the initial growl was the only sound he heard from Zhu, a Tech graduate student who was listed as Yang’s emergency contact.

Yang was “not putting up much of a fight,” Cox said. “Not making a sound.

Nothing.”

Virginia Tech police officer Nicole Irvine was the first to arrive at the GLC. Cox testified that he noticed Yang’s remains as he crawled out of the café after ending his call with

Council: Candidates hope to add Tech connection to Blacksburg government from page one

Mike Rosenweig, and Al Leighton don’t plan to run again, leaving room for at least three fresh faces.

“With a student on the ballot and a recent graduate it’ll be interesting to see what happens with it,” said Randy Wertz of the Montgomery County registrar.

Hager-Smith said the town would welcome some “fresh blood” but that “it’s important to have someone who has a future in our town.”

“I think the best decisions would be made by who is making them for the long term,” Hager Smith said.

Sutphin stayed in Blacksburg after graduation and has worked for CALS since then. His father’s side of the family is from Blacksburg.

Upon graduation, Carter hopes to find a job in the Blacksburg area regarding humanities or environmental policy. He recently accepted the role as Blacksburg liaison for the SGA Sustainability Committee for the upcoming year.

her weapon. Zhu also informed her of other weapons in his nearby backpack.

Irvine testified that at the magistrate’s office later that night, Zhu commented in the present tense that Yang was not his girlfriend yet.

An autopsy report indicated Yang had defensive wounds on her hands and upper body. Cox testified the knife was not from the café, which the prosecution argued showed premeditation.

from page one

try in this economy right now,” Akers said. “Developers are not building right now. There’s not the demand, and then retailers are leery of opening stores. So I think what is happening here is pretty typical of what is happening across the country.”

Elder said some obstacles are to be expected when moving into a shopping center, and hopes to find success at First and Main.

“We’re just trying to move forward in a positive way,” Elder said.

“Basically, when you go into any center there’s always all kinds of issues.”

A real estate firm hired by Fairmount to find tenants for the development pursued Elder’s business.

“They begged us to come in there,” Elder said. “They solicited me for two years, and I just think that in the end they’ll do right.”

Akers said the Blacksburg Partnership, which helps recruit businesses for the Blacksburg area, still has interested businesses, but most are hesitant to open up shop in the current economic conditions.

“We continue to talk to businesses that are interested in being in Blacksburg,” Akers said. “It’s slow, because whether it’s a national retailer or a local business, people are just worried about opening businesses right now.”

Fairmount did not return calls from the Collegiate Times.

Running for council 101 The deadline to be on the Blacksburg Town Council ballot for the November 2009 elections is June 9.

In order to run for the town council of any town in Virginia, the applicant must be at least 18 years old, and a resident of the town as well as registered to vote in the town.

Randy Wertz, the Montgomery County general registrar, described the application process as “tons of paperwork,” including a financial report and campaign financial reports once the applicant becomes a candidate.

Additionally, the candidate must secure 150 signatures from Blacksburg residents who are registered to vote. These signatures must be notarized and then the Montgomery County registrar checks that all of the names are legitimate.

Visit collegiatetimes.com to see a copy of the forms necessary to apply for candidacy.

collegiatetimes.com june 4, 2009

and the campus community,” HagerSmith said.

Currently, the most tangible connection between Blacksburg and Tech is the Blacksburg-Virginia Tech Liaison Committee, which is made up of the mayor, vice-mayor and various citizens. Additionally, Council Member Susan Anderson is a Tech math instructor.

However, both Carter and Sutphin intend to increase the communication between the university and the town. Carter hopes to create a student advisory committee consisting of Tech students, and Sutphin wants to add more student voices within the current liaison committee.

Carter and Sutphin are among the six candidates who were on the ballot as of June 3. The deadline for declaring a candidacy is June 9. There are four open seats on the Town Council for this election.

Anderson is defending her seat, and Hager-Smith said that Tom Sherman,

emergency services.

“All I saw was her, fully decapitated in a pool of blood,” Cox said.

Irvine also testified about her arrival at the scene.

Irvine described seeing Yang’s body on the ground. “And I saw a gentleman walking toward me carrying a head in his hand.”

She said Zhu was holding the head by the hair with his left hand.

Irvine said Zhu complied with her requests, and she did not fully draw

Still a work in progress

3 NEWS

PHILLIP MURILLAS

declined to sign on, suggesting the creation of a more achievable option.

The PCC “would require institutions to purchase huge, huge carbon offsets,” said Larry Hincker, university spokesman. “That would be millions and millions of dollars a year that would not be going to education at all … Instead, the president wanted something that was achievable, doable, and had a real impact that we could track.”

Steger gave the Environmental Coalition a deadline to come up with a practical plan specific to Tech by the end of the fall 2008 semester. Over the summer, a subcommittee of the sustainability committee devoted itself to the development of a sustainability plan. Dr. John Randolph, professor in

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Lewis discusses first-year experiences at Tech SARA MITCHELL

editor-in-chief Viginia Tech named Mary Ann Lewis the director of first-year experiences.

Lewis is the current associate dean of undergraduate academic affairs within the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.

Lewis sat down with the Collegiate Times to discuss her role in implementing the first-year experience plan.

CT: You received your bachelor’s and masters at Georgia Southern, then came to Virginia Tech for your Ed. D. And you’ve Q&A been here for 33 years now.

What made you stay in Blacksburg?

ML: Never had a better offer, this is a great place to be. And Virginia Tech and the Blacksburg area and whole New River Valley has been a wonderful place to raise a family and have wonderful careers. We never wanted to leave and we feel blessed that we were able to stay and make some contributions.

CT: Why do you want a greater role in working with first-year students?

ML: I think that all these years with working with students has made me realize even more the importance of their first experiences. It’s true. The first

time we moved into a community, the first time we get a job, kindergarten, preschool … I mean, those first experiences, in whatever the transition that might be in life, are really critical and I’m exited the university has chosen to focus on the first year … there’s a whole body of research and literature that supports the first year.

CT: How much extra actual student interaction is expected with your new position?

ML: Probably less and that’s a downside I see because a large part of my responsibility will be to provide direction and support to the colleges, for them to LEWIS do unique first-year experiences that work for them in their particular context. I anticipate having some advisory groups that include students but I don’t think I’ll be much hands-on for students. I think that’s going to be, so far, the only downside. I’ll be one more step removed from working directly with students.

CT: Then what kinds of faces do you expect students to see more in the year?

ML: I hope they’ll see more of the person who’s assigned as their official adviser or something in their depart-

ment or college whose responsibilities are to work more closely with first-year students.

The first-year experience is the university’s response to accreditation by the Southern Assocation of Colleges and Schools ... If you’re going to do it and do it right you have to prove that you’re devoting resources to it. I’m a resource, you know, putting somebody in the position who’s responsible is one way to demonstrate that you’re providing resources to it. But there also has to be real dollars put into it. So yeah, there might be new faces ... there could be different approaches ... there won’t be a one size fits all at Virginia Tech.

CT: What are some other ways you hope to improve the first-year experience?

ML: With respect to the first year experience we focused on … thoughtful academic planning, which is an important part of the whole advising process. So it’s not just what students need to do; it’s what we, as a university, need to do to advise students in terms of that helpful planning.

It’s that whole academic experience.

What we’d like to do is get freshmen to the point where at the beginning of their experience they think, “what do I want to have accomplished besides getting that piece of paper? What kinds of experiences do I want to have?”

The first-year experience must provide a draft of the proposal to SACS, which will then visit Tech in March to evaluate and pass the proposal.

Then Tech has five years to show the plan is in effect for all students.

The implementation team will provide the colleges with guidelines necessary to improve the first-year experience. This revolves around increased and improved advising to develop student curiosity, motivation, independence, transferability and self-reflection. Colleges will propose specific programs to implement the first-year experience plan and the committee will approve and create funds for them.

Less than $500,000 is allotted in the 2009-10 budget for the first-year experience, but Jones predicts that there will be over $1 million for the program each year for five years.

“We have a lot of unique things that students don’t get involved in and let them prepare themselves for lifelong learning,” Jones said.

“You can tell advising is a major tool we have to beef up. That’s what the students have asked for.”

As part of the accreditation process with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Virginia Tech must develop a Quality Enhancement Program. Two years ago Tech devised an implementation team to develop a QEP that involves the improvement of the first-year experience.

Previously, SACS required all schools within its region to create a self-study, which evaluated the strengths and weaknesses of their academic programs. In response to the self-study, SACS then created the QEP requirement so that schools could act on the findings of their self-studies.

Every 10 years SACS evaluates the schools and passes or puts them on probation.

“We’re not afraid of accountability,” said Robert Jones, department head of biological sciences and part of the implementation team. “We want strong pressure to be accountable.”

The 2009-10 school year is considered a planning year, and the initiatives will go into effect the following year. In December the committee

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If they haven’t already, those paying attention to Blacksburg local politics will notice two young candidates vying for Blacksburg Town Council votes. Michael Sutphin, 24, is a writer with the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and a 2006 Tech communication graduate. Bryce Carter, 20, will be a senior majoring in humanities, science, and environment. Both will attempt to represent nontraditional town council demographics: youth and recent status as a Tech student.

The question is whether they should.

Some Blacksburg natives refer to the students as a tide that ebbs and flows. This hardly makes them sound like integrated members of the larger Blacksburg community.

So, is it really fair for students or recent graduates to take up as much as two-fifths of the decision-making body for the town?

Consider that voters aged 18 to 29 have steadily increased their voter turnout and more than half of the demographic participated in the election last November. On Monday, Tech passed the Climate Action Commitment resolution, a plan with its roots in the student-led environmental coalition. The college-aged and recently graduated are getting more and more accomplished.

During a time of economic crisis hurting small communities and raising student expenses, it may not just be

fair for Tech youth to be represented in the Blacksburg town council, it may be necessary.

If Sutphin and Carter’s participation in the Town Council race demonstrates anything, it’s that the disengaged college student stereotype is increasingly inaccurate.

A growing number of Tech students and alumni come to identify more with their adopted Blacksburg community than with their hometowns. And, for the many students who pay rent and support the downtown economy, Blacksburg may be the closest thing to a home that they have.

So, for all of those who are eligible to vote in Blacksburg this November, and especially to those students who registered as Montgomery County residents, pay attention to what these candidates promise to do. not only for current students and young Blacksburg professionals, but for Blacksburg as a whole.

Both candidates reference bringing the university community and the town together in their talking points and, should they get elected, they would succeed best by considering native citizens’ needs equally with those of Tech students. Because with more representation, comes more responsibility.

The editorial board is composed of Sara Mitchell, Phillip Murillas, Thandiwe Ogbonna, Daniel Lin, and Geri Roberts.

corrections “Tech buildings awaiting new names,” (CT, May 28) must be corrected. A building in the Veterinary Medicine Facility is named for former President William Lavery.

“Hiking and camping attractions in the NRV” (CT, May 28) also needs correction. Venture Out, located in Squires, is open during the summer.

The editorial “As Vick moves on, so can we” (CT, May 28) also contained an error. Virginia Tech lost to Florida State in the 2000 Sugar Bowl.

The Collegiate Times regrets these errors.

As we enter this summer period at Virginia Tech, we are certainly enjoying the nice weather – even though we had to endure several RAY rainstorms over the past weeks.

PLAZA For some, there regular is the sense of columnist relief that the spring semester is over, for some it is the start of summer vacations, and for others it is a time to take that last course needed so that they can graduate, while some are finally able to catch up on projects. However, summer at Virginia Tech is also so much more, as it is an essential time for the campus on many levels.

My first experience at Virginia Tech actually took place in summer 1995, as I was a student delegate from the University of Florida attending the National Association of College University Residence Halls conference that was being held in Blacksburg.

I can still remember the bus ride as we accessed I-81 and entered the New River Valley. My group stayed in Pritchard Hall, and we walked all over the campus for three days from places like Squires to Cassell to McBryde to the Field House. I never imagined that three years later, I would be starting my professional career at Tech in July 1998 and, coincidently, being in charge of Pritchard Hall. If it had not been for that earlier experience and exposure to Tech, I might not have even considered the opportunity and would not be here today.

Right now, we have individuals on the campus going through similar conference experiences as they participate in various sport camps, educational conferences, or training institutes.

Participants vary in age levels, backgrounds, and where they’re from. Here at Tech, they’ll experience programs such as College Bound for students with disabilities, additional certification training for foreign language instructors, or the annual FFA and 4-H conferences, where students from the Commonwealth attend and participate in a wide variety of competitions.

These and other experiences not only have a short-term impact, but also a long-term impact, as they help introduce the campus to prospective students, future employees, and future allies/supporters of the university.

Even now, you may come across these individuals in the dining hall, see them walking around in groups, or bump into them in the library or in Squires. It is important to know that these individuals are here for a reason and that it is impacting them, as well as the university.

It is crucial for us as students, faculty, and staff to be ambassadors of the university for these individuals and to treat them accordingly.

In addition, there are college students from other universities doing research at Tech. Rather than stay at their home campuses, these students have decided to seek undergraduate research opportunities at Virginia Tech, working with interested faculty and staff.

One such program that provides these experiences is the Multicultural Academic Opportunities Program.

MAOP is just one of several experiences provided by different departments for summer research opportunities. This summer research experience can be a tremendous springboard for these students to get hands-on research experience and exposure to Tech. This exposure could potential lead them to consider graduate opportunities or other experiences at Tech.

While we have spoken about the impact on people, we can’t forget the importance of the summer on the university infrastructure. The physical shell of the campus is just as important, as we would not want to visit a campus with broken sidewalks, falling doors, or potholes in the roads.

Summer provides an opportunity to take care of needed maintenance work throughout the campus, whether it is on the roads, in the actual buildings, or on the actual grounds. We may think it is an inconvenience, but without the summer period, this work would happen during the academic year and cause greater inconveniences.

Unfortunately, funding and other pressures don’t allow for all of the projects to be done in the summer, so they have to be prioritized. Without the summer, we would face a campus in disrepair.

In the end, summer provides an opportunity for the entire atmosphere to slow down. While it used to be said that the summer was a slow period, behind the scenes in administrative/ academic offices, summer is not only the time to take care of those projects and efforts that were not done in the academic year, but also the time to plan ahead for the next one. Without summer, this needed planning time would be lost.

While we enjoy the less hectic nature and pace of the summer in Blacksburg, it is important to remember the valuable role that the summer period plays for the university and the community. The summer will be gone before we know it; soon it will be August and the start of another academic year.

Ray Plaza serves as the Special Projects Coordinator in Academic Support Services.

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Tech youth could give back to town

Summer at Tech is essential for growth

OPINIONS

Collegiate Times Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief Sara Mitchell Managing Editor Phillip Murillas Production Manager Thandiwe Ogbonna News Editor Zach Crizer Features Editor Matthew Artz Sports Editor Josh Parcell Head Copy Editor Geri Roberts Photo Editor Daniel Lin Online Director Sam Eberspacher

EDITORIAL

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Weekend Movie Preview A look at summer movies coming to theatres this weekend

MATTHEW ARTZ

MATTHEW ARTZ

features editor

features editor MCT Campus

‘Land of the Lost’ ‘My Life in Ruins’ The latest Will Ferrell movie, is based on the popular 1974 television series.

In the movie, Dr. Rick Marshall (Will Ferrell) travels through space and time to an undiscovered land. Accompanied by his research assistant (Anna Friel) and a survival guide (Danny McBride), he must find a way back to tell everyone of his discovery.

Of the three comedies being released this week, this is the safe pick for a family film. With Will Ferrell as the lead and a PG-13 rating, this movie will cater to kids who will appreciate its goofy and ridiculous humor. Fans of Will Ferrell can’t go wrong by seeing this movie.

Friday Showtimes 11:30, 12:30, 2:10, 3:20, 4:50, 6:30, 7:30, 9:10, 10:10 p.m. at Regal New River Valley Stadium 14

collegiatetimes.com june 4, 2009

Celebrate wine weekend at Tech

Nia Vardalos, the writer and lead actress of ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding”. returns this weekend in My Life in Ruins. Set appropriately in Greece, Georgia (Nia Vardalos) moves there to find herself but finds a depressing new life. Through the film, she learns to throw away her old life and embrace a new, more fulfilling one.

In a weekend full of comedic releases, “My Life in Ruins” is the only romantic-comedy. If you enjoyed “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” there is a good chance this movie will appeal to you. Much like its Greek predecessor, it would also make a great date movie.

Friday Showtimes 11:40, 2:20, 5:00, 7:40, 10:05 p.m. at Regal New River Valley Stadium 14

MCT Campus

A Virginia Tech alumni organization will be coordinating another large, multiple day event. Next weekend, the local Alumni Association and the New Four men go to Las Vegas to have a River Valley Alumni Association are bachelor party. What could possibly go putting together a wine weekend here wrong? They wake up the next morn- at Tech. ing having no recollection of what took place the night before, and worse still, Savor the Flavor on Friday the groom is missing. What follows is Next Friday, June 12, the Virginia the adventure to find out what exactly Tech Alumni Association will be holdhappened the night before. ing their first Savor the Flavor event.

“The Hangover” has an all-star com- This wine tasting and art exhibition is edy cast including Justin Bartha, Zach sponsored by CommunityArtsWork Galifianakis, Ed Helms, and Bradley and Vintage Cellar.

Cooper. Add these men to an R-rated The event will take place at The Inn at film set in Sin City and you get possibly Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference the funniest movie this summer. If you Center. Cost for the event is $35 per enjoy movies like Old School and then person with online registration. The this movie will be worth watching. event starts at 7:00 p.m., with the art exhibition running until 8:00 p.m.

Three local artists will be exhibiting Friday Showtimes their works for those interested in 12:00, 1:00, 2:30, 3:50, 5:10, 7:00, viewing and supporting local art.

8:00, 9:30, 10:30 p.m. at Regal New The wine tasting begins at 8:00 p.m. and runs until 9:00 p.m. There will be River Valley Stadium 14 six Virginian wines and six comparable European wines.

The wine list was chosen very carefully through close work with Keith Roberts, manager at the Vintage Cellar, to really bring out a variety of wines to compare Virginia to Europe.

“Keith and I worked really closely picking a broad list of types of wine.

Typically at a wine tasting you’ll have three or four types and in this one we’re going with six and we’re going with six pairs. That’s twelve wines that you are going to get to taste and really run the gamut,” said Sara Guerry, program coordinator for the Alumni Association.

The main purpose of the evening is to compare Virginia’s growing wine industry to old world traditions.

“Virginia wines are well flavored and very strong. You’re going to see the comparisons between Virginia and Europe and really see how we are competing. Virginia is really competing in the wine market,” Guerry said. There is also a large emphasis on showing guests just how close to home good wine really is.

John Boyer will be present as the guide for the evening. Boyer is a world regions instructor, as well as geography of wine teacher here at Virginia Tech.

“John Boyer’s going to bring a great spin to it to help everyone understand what they’re tasting and why it’s so good and where the differences lie between Virginia and Europe, as well as the similarities,” Guerry said.

The event also stresses that all levels of wine tasting experience can come out and enjoy this event. Accrding to Guerry, experts and complete nov-

‘The Hangover’

ices alike can participate and enjoy the sampling.

This is a great opportunity for college students who have just recently turned 21 to sample a variety of wines without purchasing whole bottles.

People with prior tasting experience can come out to learn something about how the geographical locations of wine make a difference in its taste.

The idea for this type of event isn’t new, but its execution has changed.

“We did a similar type of event last year.

But we’ve actually completely remodeled for this year,” Sara said. “Last year’s was a weekend long event and we felt like we could get more of a punch in going with a shortened event.”

Light snacks will be available throughout the evening. A fruit spread will be served during the art exhibition and, during the wine tasting, crackers and two types of cheese will be available to clean patrons’ palettes between wines.

“It’s important to have the cheese because the fat content helps to cut through the stronger reds and helps to really cleanse the pallet,” Guerry said.

Online registration is currently open for the event, but is not required. Those who do not register will be charged $40 at the door, so be sure to sign up early.

ON THE WEB For more information and to register online visit www.alumni.vt.edu/wine

Wine Festival on Saturday The second part of Tech’s wine weekend is the Virginia Tech Wine Festival.

The Wine Festival is set to take place on Saturday, June 13 from noon to 5:00 p.m. The festival, which is being hosted by the New River Valley chapter of the Virginia Tech Alumni Association, will be on the lawn at The Inn at Virginia Tech.

Admission is $20 in advance and $25 at the door. With the price of admission, you get a wine glass to sample wines from all the featured wineries.

Tech Wine Festival will bring six wineries including Chateau Morrisette to sample from and purchase wine.

There will also be 16 merchandise vendors and four food vendors present at the event. Food is not included in the ticket price, but both food and merchandise will be available for sale. Two bands will also be playing throughout the event so come out and enjoy the wines of Virginia.

ON THE WEB For more informaton and to register early online visit www.nrvhokies.com

Hokie House: Varied atmospheres on both floors MATTHEW ARTZ

features editor During the summer, a lot of establishments cut their hours, but Hokie House, located at 322 North Main Street between Mike’s Grill and Sharkey’s, is open from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. every day.

The atmosphere of Hokie House in the summer can vary greatly. The downstairs is always a low key, nice place to be. The bar in the summer is a “little slower, not terrible” said Matt Ivy, the bartender downstairs. Hokie House is “more like Cheers” Ivy said.

People downstairs will remember your name if you go there regularly.

If how friendly and inviting the employees there were about being interviewed is any indication, bartenders at Hokie House are nice and very easy to strike up a conversation with, so long as they aren’t busy.

Upstairs at Hokie House is usually livelier. Larger groups tend to go upstairs, giving it much more volume, similar to bars like Sharkey’s or Top of the Stairs.

Upstairs bartender Kristin Hoyt does not see the crowds disappear in the summer.

“I usually make more money in the summer than I do during the school year,” she said.

She also pointed out that the upstairs is the only place you can smoke in the Hokie House, so it also forces smokers upstairs. This makes the downstairs that much more hospitable to the non-smoking crowd, as well.

Now to the important part of a night out: drink specials. Hokie House offers a variety of specials.

Thursday night is pint night, offering low prices on pint drinks, and there are pitcher deals on Friday nights.

For those who live it up during the week, there are also daily drink specials.

The food is also being switched up a little in the summer. “We are trying new menu items this summer,” said General Manager Brian Palmer.

Every day the Hokie House has a special on particular food items.

These include specials on wings Sunday and Monday, as well as deals on sandwiches and fries every Wednesday.

Also every Wednesday, the Hokie House has a trivia contest. “The trivia usually consists of 2-3 rounds,” Ivy said. He went on to discuss how

it was very laid back. Patrons keep record of their answers on pieces of paper, which are collected at the end of each round. The questions are presented through a Powerpoint presentation. For people who score well, gift certificates are handed out

HOKIE HOUSE Location: 322 N. Main St. between Mike’s Grill and Sharkey’s Promotions: 50-cent pool Events: Triva Wednesdays at 6 p.m.

Drink Specials: Thursday night pints for $1-2. Friday night pitchers $4-7.

Different specials every day.

Food Specials: Specials every day. Wednesday: $4.95 burgers/ sandwiches with fries. Thursday: $2 burgers, $1 fries.

Contact: (540)552-0280 after scores are tallied. The trivia, Ivy said, is “not too hard. Depending on the night, winners can leave with up 20 to 30 dollars in Hokie House money,” Ivy said.

Another promotion at Hokie House is 50-cent pool games all summer.

This makes tables at Hokie House

7 FEATURES

THE CT TAKES A LOOK AT BARS IN THE ‘BURG

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DANIEL LIN/SPPS

Bartender Tara Hensley serves customers one Wednesday in Hokie House.

The bar has 50-cent pool and on Wednesdays it hosts trivia contests. more inviting and provides entertainment that’s lighter on the wallet.

The biggest draw is the night and day differences between the upstairs and downstairs.

It has a combination of both a relaxed and popular bar. Upstairs usually has a large group of college students that will appeal to people looking to go downtown and

socialize. On the other hand, downstairs caters to smaller groups and locals in a more relaxed environment.

It’s much easier to find a seat or play a game of pool downstairs than it is upstairs. If you plan on barhopping this weekend, or just want a different place to eat, be sure to check out Hokie House.

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‘Up’ shows Pixar has serious side movies, is great on its own merits and appeals to both young and old.

Unlike previous Pixar films, though, this movie has deep-seated emotional meaning.

Similar to the point of how pollution was the overall theme to Wall-E, missed opportunities and the end of a person’s life seem to set the overall theme to this film. It builds MOVIE REVIEW you up in the beginning, only to be very depressing fairly quickly. The movie rapidly picks back up again with adventure, but I am sure most parents taking their kids to this movie won’t expect the emotional rollercoaster.

Having said that, the majority of the movie isn’t gloom. There are plenty of funny scenes to offset the seriousness of the film, however, don’t be surprised if the film makes you cry.

MCT Campus

collegiatetimes.com june 4, 2009

The next installment in Pixar’s vastly popular movies is “Up”.

The movie follows Carl Fredricksen (Edward Asner), a decrepit old man who seeks the thrill MATT of adventure he ARTZ and his wife never features achieved during editor their youth.

Encroached upon by land developers seeking his piece of property, he makes a fatal mistake that costs him his residence and forces him into a retirement home. Shortly before retirement home workers can take Carl away, he executes his plan of stringing thousands of balloons to his house and escapes.

Joining Carl accidentally on his adventure is Russel (Jordan Nagai).

Russel is a wilderness scout attempting to help the old man achieve his last merit badge and is unfortunate enough to be on his front stoop when the house takes off.

This movie, just like so many Pixar

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FEATURES

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LooP In the

Wondering what's going on around the 'burg?

Check out the events of the upcoming week.

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Thurs, June 4

What: “Celtic Women” Singers Where: Roanoke Civic Center When: 8 p.m.

Cost: $31.50 and up

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Fri, June 5

What: Virginia Tech’s Summer Art Series presents “Material Fabrications” Where: Perspective Gallery When: 5 p.m.

Cost: Free

What: Rum Runners Performance Where: Jabo’s Coffee House, Christiansburg, VA When: 7 p.m.

Cost: Price of food

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Sat, June 6

What: “Friday Night Out” Concerts: Island Pan and the Panjammers Where: Virginia Tech Drillfield When: 6 p.m.

Cost: Free

What: South American Food and Wine Benefit Auction Where: YMCA Center, Blacksburg, VA When: 6 p.m.

Cost: $30 in advance, $35 at the door

What: 4th Annual Spring Showdown Custom Car Show Where: Roanoke Civic Center When: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Cost: Free

What: “Just say Cheese” Wine and Cheese pairing Where: Chateau Morrisette When: 3:30 p.m.

Cost: $50

What: “First Saturday Dance” Ballroom, Latin and Swing dancing lessons Where: Fine Arts Center of the New River Valley Annex Building When: Beginners start at 7:15 p.m.

Cost: $8 per person, $15 per couple

Sun, June 7

What: Sunday Strawberry Social and Fashion Show Where: Smithfield Plantation Lawn When: 2 p.m.

Cost: $15

Mon, June 8

What: Tai Chi Where: Art Pannonia When: 7 p.m.

Cost: $35 month

Tue, June 9

What: Edgar Allan Poe Comes Alive!

Where: Radford Public Library When: Noon Cost: Free

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collegiatetimes.com june 4, 2009

Wed, June 10

Coming Soon

What: Backpacking Class Wilderness Safety Where: Blue Ridge Mountain Sports When: 7 p.m.

Cost: Free

What: Cooking Classes Where: The Gourmet Pantry When: 6 p.m.

Cost: Varies by type of cooking ($45-$55)

What: WWE presents Smackdown ECW Where: Roanoke Civic Center When: Tuesday, June 16 at 6:45 p.m.

Cost: Varies by seat ($17 -$64) Get tickets: roanokeciviccenter.com

What: Wednesday Night Salsa Where: The OC When: 9:30 p.m.

Cost: $3 What: Red Carpet Gala Where: Hahn Horticulture Garden When: Saturday, June 13 at 6:30 p.m.

Cost: $50 Get tickets: (540) 231-5970

JOSH PARCELL

sports editor

“... it would be a dream. Everyone who plays the sport dreams of playing for their country. Growing up and seeing those guys supporting our nation shows me what it means to the people of Ghana. It would be the ultimate, beyond my wildest dreams, to be a part of it.”

- PATRICK NYARKO CHICAGO FIRE team head coach Milovan Rajevac watched Nyarko play. Coach Rajevac is in the process of scouting players to potentially join the national squad as it prepares for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Rajevac reportedly liked what he saw from the young forward. Only time will tell whether Nyarko will be called up to play for his nation in the World Cup qualifying matches, but the idea of playing for his nation excites him.

“It would be great to play in a World Cup, but I need to make the team first and help them qualify before that,” Nyarko said.

The spectacle that is the World Cup is the pinnacle of the soccer profession, and Nyarko would be the first Hokie to ever participate.

“If Ghana does get there and I am lucky enough to be selected, it would be a dream. Everyone who plays the sport dreams of playing for their country. Growing up and seeing those guys supporting our nation shows me what it means to the people of Ghana.

It would be the ultimate, beyond my wildest dreams, to be a part of it,” Nyarko said.

It would be a great statement about how far the soccer program has come under now former coach Oliver Weiss to have an alumnus participate in the great international tournament, but Nyarko is very level-headed about the possibility, a sign of great maturity.

Nyarko is just one example of many players from overseas that have bolstered the Hokie’s program.

With his expanded role on the Fire this season, Nyarko has faced some tough opponents — none tougher than the midfield of DC United, led by Ben Olsen, the 32-year-old

veteran.

“Olsen is an older player, but his touches are still great and nothing fazes him. He may have lost a step from his younger days but he’s definitely still got (great ability).” Nyarko said.

Not only is playing against great players improving his skills, but his spectacular teammates are playing a large role in developing his deep potential. USA national player Brian McBride is one of a handful of star cohorts on the Fire’s roster.

“I look up to a couple guys, like McBride, Logan Pause, and Chris Rolfe. They have been playing here for a while. McBride’s experience in the World Cup is great; he has played at such a high level, and playing with him is pretty special,” Nyarko said.

The opportunity to play with a world-class player like McBride can do wonders for any player’s confidence and morale, not to mention help rapidly improve his teammates’ abilities.

Nyarko points to those leaders as his driving motivation to become a great professional player and to follow in their footsteps.

Having leaders like that can also help develop the mental strength to play through tough, long, grinding games.

Earlier this season, the Fire battled the New York Red Bulls to a fierce 1-0 victory, in which Chicago lost a man to a red card early in the first half, yet still managed to win the game.

“I liked our dedication, to come out with a victory despite being a man down for so long. It was a special win in front of our home fans, and it most importantly kept our unbeaten record intact,” Nyarko said.

JOSH PARCELL

sports editor Quite a few Hokies shined at the NCAA East Regional Track & Field Championships in Greensboro, N.C., this weekend.

A handful of athletes won its events, while a few others still qualified for nationals with strong performances.

Sophomore thrower Dorotea Habazin tossed a 207-11 in the hammer throw to win the women’s title. Senior Brittany Pryor took the discus throw on the women’s side, as well, hurling a 171-01, which shattered her own school record.

Kristi Castlin blasted her way through the 100-meter hurdles in 12.89 seconds to claim the regional championship.

On the men’s side, freshman Marcel Lomnicky continued the Hokies’ history of hammer throw excellence with a first-place finish,

COURTESY OF ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT

Kristi Castlin clears a hurdle in this weekend’s Regional Meet.

Rhodes earns All-American honors JOSH PARCELL

sports editor

JAMES LANG/SPPS

Patrick Nyarko took Virginia Tech soccer to new heights in his career.

throwing 232-05.

Freshman Matthias Treff finished in third place in the javelin with a 212-10 performance, which was good enough to qualify him for the NCAA Championships.

Hunter Hall, the sophomore pole-vaulter, clinched third place overall in his event with a 16-11 showing. Also qualifying for nationals in the pole vault was junior Yavgeniy Olhovsky.

Overall, nine Hokies qualified for nationals. Natalie Sherbak and Asia Washington also qualified for the women. Sherbak qualified provisionally in the 10,000-meters, which is not run at the regional meet. Her time of 34:11.50 is the 22nd best time in the nation.

Washington claimed an at-large berth in nationals in the 400-meter hurdles.

The NCAA Championships will take place from June 10 until June 13.

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Senior softball outfielder Jenna Rhodes was named to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-American third team on May 27.

This selection came at the end of an incredibly successful season for the Hokies leader. Rhodes was known for her prowess as a spectacular contact hitter and her ability to whip around the base paths.

She led the Hokies in hits, batting average, stolen bases, and on-base percentage.

She becomes the second Tech softball player to be named an All-American, after the legendary Angela Tincher earned the honor in her final three years at the school.

Previous accolades Rhodes has garnered include 2nd team All-ACC and 1st team all-ACC tournament team

in 2008.

She had at least three hits in 12 games and had four hits in four games this season, tops on the team.

Rhodes concluded a stellar four-year career with a batting average of .384, 95 runs, 161 hits, six extra-base hits, and 114 stolen bases.

Rhodes was a regular starter as an outfielder and designated player as a junior and senior, starting 120 of the team’s 124 games.

One of her best performances came against Boston College on April 11, when she had four hits, including one double, and scored 4 runs.

Against Maryland on April 25, she stole an astonishing 4 bases, a career high.

Rhodes ended her career on a 15game hitting streak, the longest of her tenure with the Hokies.

She was also named to ESPN the Magazine’s Second-Team Academic All-American team.

collegiatetimes.com june 4, 2009

Sophomore slump? What sophomore slump?

In just his second season as a professional, Patrick Nyarko has become one of the better players in the MLS, and is leading the Chicago Fire on a tear throughout the league.

Through 12 games, the Fire led the Eastern Conference with a record of 5-1-6, and Nyarko played a large role in the successful start. As a rookie, he played in only 9 games, starting just two. He scored just one goal in that time.

This season has been a different story. Nyarko has scored two goals, and has two assists while appearing in all 12 games. He has started nine of them, and is well on his way to establishing himself as a formidable forward in the MLS. Not only has the former Hokie adjusted to life as a veteran on the field, he is getting pretty used to that life off the field.

“It’s pretty great not being a rookie, obviously you don’t have to do any of the rookie duties,” Nyarko said.

In the world of professional sports, one of the most long-lasting and famous traditions is the hazing of rookies. This can be anything from practical jokes to forcing the rookies to carry the veterans’ luggage on away trips. It wouldn’t be hard for the young player to relinquish those duties.

Nyarko said the biggest problem he faced in his initial season was battling injuries, and his biggest goal for this year was to remain healthy.

“If you are healthy you can do everything: improve your game, help the team, and do whatever you can.”

He has already spent 600 more minutes on the field this season than last, and hopes to remain on the field as much as possible the rest of the way.

Life on the road has not been too difficult for Nyarko, who attributed much of the smooth transition to the pros from college to Virginia Tech’s athletic department.

“They definitely prepared me well.

The administration’s set-up is of a higher standard. They made it so easy for a student-athlete to have the peace of mind to study and still compete,” Nyarko said, “from the pitch we played on, to the locker room, to travel schedule…everything is so close to what we have in the pros so the adjustment was not hard.”

Nyarko is most famous for earning All-American honors on the first team in 2007, and leading Tech to a Final Four appearance in the NCAA Tournament, before bowing out to Wake Forest in the semifinals.

He is widely considered to be the best player to ever come through the Hokie soccer program, which has seen recent unprecedented success under now former coach Oliver Weiss, who recruited Nyarko from Ghana, in western Africa.

Earlier this season, Ghana’s national

NCAA track regionals result in several Hokie national qualifiers

SPORTS

Nyarko now feels at home in MLS

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Hokies in the pro leagues KEEPING UP WITH PAST TECH ATHLETES JOSH PARCELL

sports editor There are several former Virginia Tech athletes playing professionally across the country. Every week, there will be a special section with updates of these players as their seasons unfold.

Joe Saunders Saunders went toe-to-toe with Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay in Toronto on Tuesday, and came out on the wrong end for his third loss in four starts.

The Angles lost the game 6-4, to fall to 25-25 on the season. Saunders

Top young player comes to Salem ZACH CRIZER

news editor One of the top prospects in the Boston Red Sox organization has joined the Salem Red Sox. Casey Kelly, the 30th overall pick in the 2008 Major League Baseball draft, was the first pick for the Red Sox in the draft. He is known as a dual threat player, excelling at both shortstop and pitcher at Florida’s Sarasota High School.

gave up six runs and nine hits in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out four batters and did not allow a walk. His next start is on Sunday, June 7, at the Detroit Tigers.

against the Washington Mystics, where Gardin is expected to be in the starting lineup.

Patrick Nyarko

In preseason action, Gardin and the Connecticut Sun defeated the New York Liberty on May 22, 74-62. Gardin played 25 minutes, scoring 9 points and grabbing 7 rebounds. On May 27, the Sun fell to the Atlanta Dream on the road 76-73. Gardin played only seven minutes and failed to score. She grabbed two rebounds in the limited action. The Sun wrapped up its preseason schedule at home against the Los Angeles Sparks, with Gardin seeing the floor for 18 minutes and scoring 3 points. Connecticut opens up the regular season on June 6 at home

On the road against Chivas USA on May 28, Nyarko scored one unassisted goal in the 89th minute to lead the Chicago Fire to a 3-2 win. Nyarko’s goal late in regulation tied the score at 2 apiece, sending the match into overtime, where Cuauhtemoc Blanco’s second goal of the match came in the 96th minute to win the game. On Sunday the 31st, Nyarko started, but his comrades fell to FC Dallas 3-0 in front of the home crowd. It was the team’s third game in eight days. The loss was the Fire’s first of the season, after beginning the year 5-0-6, one game short of the league record for longest unbeaten streak to start the season.

So far, the Red Sox organization has not made a decision on his permanent position. Kelly has worked as a starting pitcher this year, and made his first start for Salem on Saturday.

However, once Kelly reaches 90 innings pitched for the season, he will transition into the lineup as a shortstop. He has already pitched 54 innings, most of them for the Red Sox’ low class-A team, the Greenville Drive.

In nine starts for Greenville, Kelly logged a 6-1 record and an ERA of 1.12. He struck out 39 batters while only walking nine. He gave up only 32 hits and no home runs.

Kelly’s first start in Salem was plagued by poor defense. The Frederick Keys, an Orioles affiliate, scored 8 runs over five and two-thirds innings.

However, only three of the runs were earned.

Kelly struck out four while walking one. However, he did allow his first home run of the year.

After completing his pitching season, Kelly will have a chance to show off his bat. In only 32 at-bats in the shortseason New York Penn League, Kelly hit .344.

Kelly is ranked as the 6th best prospect in the Red Sox organization. His $3 million signing bonus is the largest in Red Sox history for a rookie out of the draft.

Kerri Gardin

Men’s soccer coach Weiss quits JOSH PARCELL

sports editor Oliver Weiss, the head coach of the Virginia Tech soccer team for the past seven seasons, resigned from his post Tuesday. Weiss cited “personal reasons” as his justification for departure. Weiss may be in hot water stemming from overseas recruiting trips.

He was 72-52-7 in his time at Tech, and is best remembered for leading the Hokies to the 2007 NCAA Final Four, where they were defeated by Wake Forest.

Last season the Hokies fell to the botom of the ACC, going winless

National sports in brief May 28 Memphis basketball is facing allegations from the NCAA of academic admission fraudulence during former coach John Calipari’s tenure at the school. The accusations state that an unnamed player competing in the 2007-08 season used a stand-in to take his SAT test, and used the score from that test to gain admission to Memphis.

The player allegedly only competed in that season for the team.

A hearing is scheduled for the investigation in Indianapolis on June 6.

Calipari, who left Memphis in April to take the head coaching position at the University of Kentucky, is required to be present at the hearing.

The description of the “unnamed player” sounds in-line with Derrick Rose, the former number one overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft, who led the Tigers to an NCAA-record 38 wins and a final four appearance in his only season with the team.

May 29

collegiatetimes.com june 4, 2009

in eight games, after losing eight starters from that Final Four squad.

There is no immediate word on who WEISS may take the head coaching position next, but either of the assistant coaches Kevin Doyle or Michael Brizendine could assume interim head coaching duties.

Tech has a recruiting class of 11 players coming in this fall, and due to the timing of coach Weiss’ resignation, it may be hard for those players to be released at this point.

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Denver Nuggets 119-92 in game six of the Western Conference Finals, clinching the series 4-2.

The Lakers will make their sixth appearance in the NBA Finals this decade, and their second in a row.

Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 35 points and 10 assists. Bryant is still seeking his first NBA championship ring without Shaquille O’Neal as a teammate, a feat much of the media has deemed near impossible.

May 30

The dream NBA Finals matchup between Bryant and Lebron James will have to wait another year. James and the Cavaliers fell victim to the Orlando Magic in game six Saturday night, 103-90.

Dwight Howard led all scorers with 40 points, easily his best performance in the series. His excellence in the post proved to be too much for Cleveland to handle the entire series.

James made headlines after the game was already over when he immediately left the arena without shaking the hands of the Magic, as well as skipping the postgame media conference and heading straight for the team bus.

May 31 Rafael Nadal, the top-ranked tennis player in the world and renowned clay-surface dominator, lost his first ever French Open match in the fourth round. Robin Soderling, seeded 21st at the tournament, took down Nadal in four sets to advance. It was the first loss for Nadal on clay in 48 best-of-five matches in his career.

The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-1 for the second straight night to take a 2-0 lead in the Stanley Cup Finals. Chris Osgood made 31 saves as the Red Wings try to win their second straight NHL Championship over the Penguins.

June 1 Joba Chamberlain threw a careerhigh eight innings and the Yankees played their MLB-record 18th straight errorless game en route to a 5-2 victory over the Indians. Nick Swisher and Alex Rodriguez had two RBI apiece, and New York held on to a one game lead over the Boston Red Sox in the American League East.

June 2 Sergei Gonchar’s goal midway through the third period proved to be the game-winner in game three of the Stanley Cup Finals, giving Pittsburgh its first win in the series.

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SPORTS

12

Even with unexpected matchup, NBA Finals game could prove to be very memorable Last month, Nike released commercial ads to air during the NBA playoffs featuring muppet-like Kobe Bryant and Lebron James characters.

JOSH Those ads spoke PARCELL for the entire NBA fan base that presports maturely declared editor the two superstars as destined to meet in the NBA Finals starting June 4.

Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic had other plans. The team that faced elimination down 3-2 in the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Boston Celtics — the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics — battled back from that deficit to move on and eliminate the Cavaliers in six games.

So much for 66 wins, a league MVP, coach of the year, and a nearperfect home record in the regular season, which is what the Cavaliers attained this season. The Magic used out-of-this-world perimeter shooting and a dominant inside game from Howard to shock top-seeded Cavaliers.

On the other side, the Lakers continued the Jekyll-and-Hyde persona they developed throughout the 2009 playoffs against the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals.

The top seed in the west couldn’t quite seem to put two consecutive successful performances together, and the doubts began to rise about their chances of winning the NBA championship, as they had been widely predicted to do since the beginning of the season.

They were able to finally play a strong game on the road in game six in Denver to close out the series and move on to the NBA finals, where they get to meet the surging Magic.

Both teams could make a strong case as to why the other is the one team they don’t want to face right now. Orlando’s reward for knocking off the Celtics and Cavs is the star-studded, hall of fame coach-led Lakers, who are capable of making even the mightiest of teams look like a Lottery squad. However, the Lakers have the task of slowing the hottest, most confident team in the league right as it is peaking.

Sometimes, peaking at the right time is all that matters. Orlando finished in third place in the Eastern Conference, and although it was always viewed as a viable team, not too many people believed it would knock off either Boston or Cleveland, let alone in succession. Sporadic coach Stan Van Gundy has this team on a dead-set

path to do one thing and one thing only: win a championship.

One of the biggest advantages Orlando had on Cleveland was its ability to create severe matchup problems for the Cavs’ defense. With Rashard Lewis lining up at power forward, he created a great mismatch for Anderson Varejao and Joe Smith with his ability to knock down shots from the outside and drive to the basket.

This will also play to Orlando’s advantage in this series, although probably not to the same effect. When Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol are both in the game for Los Angeles, they will have difficulty guarding Lewis.

However, Lamar Odom, with a 6’10’’ frame and good mobility, can provide the perfect defensive match on Lewis.

The trick with Odom is getting him to be a consistent contributor on the offensive end and on the glass. If he can play like he is capable, Lewis will find it hard to have the same impact on the NBA finals as he did in previous rounds.

Gasol and Bynum will have a tough time inside with the herculean Howard. The Orlando center’s strength and power is beyond what Gasol or Bynum can equal. The bugaboo all season for the Lakers has been getting their two 7-footers to play with tenacity around the rim. Howard is the very essence of tenacity, and unless the Lakers’ big men can step up their own, Orlando will have a decisive edge in the paint all series long.

The point guard matchup is very intriguing. Rafer Alston was traded from Houston to Orlando in February to replace the injured all-star Jameer Nelson. That trade kept the Magic competitive, because Alston has given the Magic a legitimate scoring threat and spectacular ball-handler in the backcourt.

He will line up across from Derek Fisher, the consummate veteran leader of the Lakers who has been to the finals four times already in his career. He has a knack for hitting clutch jump shots when needed, and provides a calming factor for Los Angeles that could prove extremely useful as the series plays out.

This is Alston’s first go-around in the final round of the NBA playoffs, and how he reacts to the pressure both on the court and surrounding the games from everywhere else could determine Orlando’s fate. If recent history is any indication, he should keep his team in good shape. He has already outplayed all-stars Rajon Rondo and Mo Williams in consecutive series, and both of those opponents were more dangerous than the veteran Fisher.

All of these previous matchups seem to be leaning slightly toward Orlando from the outset, but Los Angeles still

has the man who can take any team at any disadvantage and carry it all the way to victory: Kobe Bryant. The former MVP and Olympic gold medalist must be at the top of his game for the Lakers to feel comfortable in this series.

Bryant has the ability to drop 50 points on any opponent, but his team is always most successful when he scores 30-40 points a game and has seven or eight assists. He must run the offense through his teammates and keep role players like Trevor Ariza and Sasha Vujacic involved and scoring for the Lakers to be most successful.

Hedo Turkoglu has arguably been the best player on Orlando in the playoffs, with a versatile skill set that makes him difficult to defend. If he can get to the rim with the drive and knock down mid-range jumpers as he has done over the last two months, it will force Los Angeles to be very active on the defensive end, something it doesn’t always tend to be.

The final matchup that could be most important is from the sidelines.

Phil Jackson, looking for his 10th NBA

championship ring, squares off against Stan Van Gundy, the once-proclaimed “Master Of Panic.” Jackson’s legendary playoff experience should be able to manage this ambiguous Lakers squad.

Van Gundy, whose teams have been known to crumble at the most unfortunate moments, needs to keep his team playing at a high level as it has in these playoffs, even when it hit the biggest stage in the sport against the most storied franchise in the sport.

The matchups appear fairly even across the board, with each team holding advantages in its respective areas of the game. Even if this isn’t quite the matchup most people expected, we could be in for a classic, seven-game thriller that nobody will forget any time soon.

Both teams have proven they can win on the road, and everyone knows both are very tough in their home arenas.

This could make for an unpredictable series. As for a prediction? Los Angeles will battle back from a 3-2 deficit and win the final two games of the series at home to clinch the franchise’s 15th NBA title.

Date Time

Location

6/4

9 p.m.

Los Angeles

6/7

8 p.m.

Los Angeles

6/9

9 p.m.

Orlando

6/11

9 p.m.

Orlando

6/14

8 p.m.

Orlando *

6/16

9 p.m.

Los Angeles *

6/18

9 p.m.

Los Angeles *

NBA Finals Schedule * if necessary THANDIWE OGBONNA/COLLEGIATE TIMES