COLLEGIATETIMES
july 30, 2009
what’s inside News.............2 Features ........4 0pinions........5 Sports ...........9 Classifieds ...11 Sudoku........11 106th year issue 68 blacksburg, va.
Answers remain elusive August 19, 2009: Submissions for revised panel report due to governor's office.
KATE MAGRUDER
ct news reporter
July 28, 2009: Families ask Kaine to reconvene review panel. December 2005: SeungHui Cho visits Cook.
July 22, 2009: Kaine announces Cho's mental health records were located and returned by former Cook Counseling Center director Robert Miller.
September 2006: Cook Counseling Center director Robert Miller leaves position, and according to a statement by his lawyer, accidentally takes Cho's records to his home.
August 2007: Panel publishes final report on April 16 shootings. June 29, 2007: Heidbreder provides package of documents related to Cho, but says, “some categories of requested records do not exist, such as formal care team records.”
April 2007: Kaine forms Virginia Tech Governor's Review Panel to investigate April 16 shootings and suggest ways to prevent future incidents.
June 26, 2007: Sabrin seeks a “status update.” June 21, 2007: Panel legal counsel Amy Sabrin sends university legal counsel Kay Heidbreder written request for Cho's records.
May 16, 2007: President Charles Steger instructs all university employees to “clear June 15, 2007: and coordinate all responses to requests for TriData informs information” about April 16 with university McCoy of Cho's liaison Lenwood McCoy. missing mental health records.
AFTER LOCATION OF CHO’S RECORDS, VICTIMS’ FAMILIES SEEK TO REOPEN INVESTIGATION ZACH CRIZER
news editor Gov. Tim Kaine’s spokesman said the Virginia Tech governor’s review panel would not be reconvened, a request of many families of the April 16 shooting victims following the discovery of gunman Seung-Hui Cho’s mental health records. Over 60 family members signed a petition urging Kaine to revise the state’s official report after former Cook Couseling Center director Robert Miller located and returned Cho’s files. “While we appreciate the hard work of the Virginia Tech Review Panel, the report issued by the Panel contains grave errors, misinformation, and glaring omissions,” the statement said. However, Kaine spokesman Gordon Hickey said TriData, a private information systems management
DXpress put on a diet, renovated for efficiency
company that aided the Governor’s Review Panel in the initial investigation, would expand upon the report. Hickey said Kaine invited families and university personnel to submit new facts and information they think should be added to the report during meetings last fall. He said information related to Cho’s records would be included should the documents be released to the public. Cathy Read, whose daughter Mary Read was killed in Norris Hall, submitted an extensive compilation of proposed corrections to the governor’s office, according to e-mails obtained by the Collegiate Times. After receiving those documents, Kaine offered the opportunity on July 7 for the university and victims’ families to submit proposed corrections and additions. Submissions are due Aug. 19, at which time TriData will revise the report. Additionally, Hickey said Kaine
would meet with the families two more times before leaving office. The settlement signed by all but two of the families provided that Kaine would meet with the families three times, including once in “early 2009” and once more before leaving office. He has already met with the families once, in fall 2008. He has not yet met with the families in 2009. Suzanne Grimes, whose son Kevin Sterne was injured in Norris Hall, said families have been motivated to seek a revised version of the panel’s report. “I don’t understand why the families, especially families of the deceased, have to spend countless hours trying to figure out what happened,” Grimes said. Grimes also attempted to submit information for the report. She said her revisions were originally handed to Kaine’s former legal counsel Larry Roberts at the October 2008 meeting of families and state personnel. However, those papers were lost, and she sent new information this week.
DXpress is undergoing renovations with goals of meeting student desires for healthier menu items and repairing service lines to increase speed of service. The renovations were decided on by interest of the student body. The Dining Service has an electronic survey that is conducted year round from which they get feedback. Rick Johnson, Director of Dining Services, made the final executive decision to carry out the renovations for the DXpress, but worked with the Student Government Association to measure student opinion. “We helped create avenues for dining services to get valuable feedback,” said SGA President Brandon Carroll. He said a major focus was creating healthier choices for students. “DX will have healthier “grab and go” options, which is something great in terms of moving Virginia Tech forward in a progressive, positive way,” Carroll said. “I am glad that Dining Services listened to the students — it means a lot. There is a reason we have the best food in the country, one of them is the fact that Rick Johnson and
his staff actively listen to the student body.” Ted Faulkner, the Associate Director for Dining Services, said many students were eager to offer suggestions. “We do the table talk where we get feedback in all of our dining centers one day across campus where all of the students come up to tables and tell us anything and everything that is good or bad and what they would like to see change in dining,” Faulkner said. “The SGA has come to us. We had dinner with about 20 student leaders in the spring. They are the voice of the students, so to speak.” Faulkner said there was a general consensus. “We kept hearing from the students that they wanted to maintain the quick service in the DXpress that they enjoy but they wanted an extended menu,” Faulkner said. This is a new marketing platform called DX to Go. The plan is to extend the menu offerings by adding healthier items. There will be 29 new menu items. “With the DX to Go program that we are starting, we want to give students the opportunity to have a quick meal but with healthier options,” said Jenny Lindsey, Administrative Dietician for Dining Services.
see DXPRESS, page two
see PANEL, page two
Tech regains title, serves tastiest campus food ZACH CRIZER
news editor The 2010 Princeton Review College rankings were released Tuesday, and Virginia Tech reclaimed the top spot on the best campus food list. Tech topped other contenders, including Maine’s Bowdoin College,
Minnesota’s St. Olaf College and a fellow Virginia school--James Madison University. Tech was ranked number three in 2009, but held the top spot in 2008. The university was also ranked number five on the “Best Quality of Life” list and number 15 in the “Students Pack the Stadiums” section. However, Tech did make it onto
one negative list — ranking number 10 in the “Class Discussions Rare” survey. Wheaton College held the distinction of having the best campus food in the country in the 2009 Princeton Review rankings. Penn State was named the top DANIEL LIN/SPPS party school in the country, while Clemson had the best town/gown Panjea frontman Chris Berry entertains during his band’s set at relations. Floydfest. Turn to page seven for a photo essay on the local festival.
BREAKING NEWS, MULTIMEDIA, UPDATES AND MORE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT COLLEGIATETIMES.COM
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NEWS
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Panel: Investigators told mental health records did not exist from page one
She said the families felt it was important for an outside source to examine information related to the shootings. “We need a neutral party, unlike officials from Virginia Tech,” Grimes said. The governor’s panel, which consisted of officials who volunteered to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shootings, convened in April 2007 and published its report in August of 2007. Grimes said the panel did not have adequate information at the time. “We’ve discovered a lot of new information that the panel wasn’t given,” Grimes said. “That raises more questions.” No family members were interviewed during the initial investigation. Kaine does not plan to reconvene the panel. University spokesman Larry Hincker released a statement Tuesday afternoon, stating that a decision on the panel should be made only after viewing the files. “The decision to involve the Massengill Panel in future deliberations belongs to Governor Kaine. At this point, the only new information is the discovery of the counseling center records. We believe that their contents should drive a decision. It is for that reason that we strongly urge the Cho estate to approve release of the files,” Hincker said. University personnel did not interact directly with the panel investigation.
All requests for statements or interviews were handled through specially appointed liaison Lenwood McCoy. Confusion arose in June 2007 over the whereabouts of Cho’s mental health records, as all university information was filtered through McCoy. McCoy, formerly university controller, returned to the university from retirement, and now serves as associate vice president for special initiatives. In a May 16, 2007, e-mail, Steger instructed all university employees to contact McCoy to “clear and coordinate all responses to requests for information relative to the events of April 16, including those that originate from individuals or groups other than the Panel.” The e-mail said in the event of receiving requests for information, university employees should “not respond directly; rather, forward the request to Mr. McCoy.” While university spokesman Mark Owczarski said last week that Miller was interviewed in the university’s internal investigation, the Governor’s Review Panel did not interview him during its investigation. The panel requested Cho’s records in June 2007, but did not receive any detailed mental health reports. After the panel viewed a package of records on Cho’s past, TriData investigator Hollis Stambaugh sent an e-mail to university liaison McCoy on June 15 asking about a lack of information in the documents.
“By the way, there was a big omission from the package of health/mental health records we received, basically, there were no records, other than the dates of encounter and the name of the practitioner, which I listed above,” the e-mail said. “Could you please let us know why?” Stambaugh asked to speak with several “doctors of particular interest” in the same e-mail. Maisha Marie Smith, Cathye Betzel and Sherry Conrad Lynch were the requested doctors from Cook Counseling Center, all of whom eventually spoke with the panel. None was available to speak with the Collegiate Times. University legal counsel Heidbreder asked panel legal counsel Amy Sabrin to provide a written listing of all documents sought by the panel. Sabrin sent the list on June 21, 2007. Heidbreder sent a response the next day that said it would “take a few days to determine the status of these records.” Sabrin sent another e-mail to Heidbreder asking for a “status update” on June 26, 2007. That e-mail asked that any documents that had been located be sent on a rolling basis. Heidbreder was out of the office at the time, and responded that she would send documents when she returned. A June 29 memo from Heidbreder to McCoy said, “some categories of requested records do not exist, such as formal care team records.” The memo was included in a package
of other documents sent to the panel. The panel’s final report said “ultimately all records that were requested and still existed were provided.” Current Cook Counseling Center director Chris Flynn, who replaced Miller in September 2006, said his only interaction with the panel was making a statement on mental health procedures at the center. He said the Virginia State Police were the main investigators at the center, and informed the panel of their findings. Flynn said he had little interaction with Miller, as Miller was transferred to the university human resources department before Flynn arrived. While he refrained from expressing an opinion on the specific situation, Flynn said all records “should remain on the premises.” Miller’s resume says he implemented an electronic filing system, but Flynn said detailed records were not changed to electronic form until fall 2006. Former patients records were not transferred to electronic form. Patients’ paper records are kept in the center for three years after their final appointment, at which time they are moved to a secure filing facility run by the university. Records are destroyed 10 years after the final appointment. TriData personnel will add information from the newly discovered records if they are made public. An Associated Press report indicates the records consist of approximately 10 pages of
information. Virginia Tech President Charles Steger released a statement to university employees Tuesday addressing the discovery of Cho’s records at the home of Miller, emphasizing a desire for the records to become public. “We strongly believe it is in everyone’s best interest that the records be fully disclosed, and we have communicated this directly to the attorney for Cho’s estate, Bernard DiMuro. We hope that sunshine into these records can illuminate some missing and important information about Cho in the fall of 2005,” the statement said. Cho’s estate must approve of the records being made public. Steger’s statement said the university was made aware of the discovery of Cho’s records on Thursday, July 16. “It goes without saying that we were greatly disappointed to learn that, over the last three years, the records were discovered to be in the possession of the former director of the counseling center, Dr. Robert Miller,” the statement said. “That Dr. Miller immediately returned the records to the University is to his credit. But that he had them at all is troubling. Dr. Miller’s removal of these records was unauthorized and is in opposition to standard university policy and operating procedures.” The statement continued to explain that Miller’s lawyer was unavailable on the following Friday, so the “legally correct course of action” was not determined until Monday, July 19.
DXpress: New arrangement aimed at increasing speed of service
collegiatetimes.com july 30, 2009
from page one
“We want to give them a healthier option, more whole grains, more vegetables, lower fat, and lower calories.” There will be new premade wraps available, including a fruit wrap, which has balsamic vinaigrette, strawberries, and spinach. “The things that are considered a meal, like a wrap or a sandwich, we want to make sure are 600 calories or less,” Lindsey said. DXpress will offer individual segmented fruit cups while still maintaining the mixed fruit cup. In the new menu options, there are no trans fats and little to no saturated fats. The fats will be healthier fats such as olive oil. The calories from fat must be no more than 30 percent of the total calories. To make room for the larger menu, shelving units had to be placed inside of DX. Some bottled drinks also had to be moved to another area. Meal plans will now be used to buy a token. That token will be used to buy carbonated beverages or water in a room off to the side of the seating area. This room will contain three vend-
DANIEL LIN/SPPS
DXpress renovations will replace serving units to create a more efficient customer flow in the store. ing machines that will only take the tokens. Renovations are aimed at increasing efficiency and decreasing the amount of time it takes a student to get food from DXpress. “We are converting from closed-in
refrigeration units to open-air merchandisers for easier access for our guests so that they can easily grab the items and go versus opening and closing refrigerator doors,” Faulkner said. Soda, PowerAde, and juice will now be held in open-air merchandisers
similar to the open-air merchandisers in Au Bu Pain. “We are going to do a similar thing for the hot grab-and-go items,” Faulkner said. “We are also changing the finishes in the seating area and in the server area. We are getting some
new cabinetries and serving counters in the DXpress.” Dining Services does not have a final budget yet because they are still in the process of renovating several facilities. DXpress is scheduled to be ready and open when the fall semester begins. “The target date to complete the renovations is Friday, Aug. 21,” Faulkner said. “We hope to have them 95 percent complete by then because we open at 7 p.m. that evening.” Other new dining features on campus will include a new granite counter in Deet’s place. Dining Services is looking at electronic menu boards to install over the holiday break. However, they plan to have temporary menu boards in DXpress for the better part of the fall semester. West End Market renovations are on target to start in Spring 2010. Dining Services is adding 100 new indoor seats, additional patio seating, new public restrooms, a freezer and cooler off the Sports Bar, and employee locker rooms. They hope to minimize the number of deliveries received every day to just once in the morning.
KATE MAGRUDER
ct news reporter The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute concluded drivers who text are over 20 times more likely to crash than those driving while not using a phone. VTTI conducted several large-scale, naturalistic driving studies, using cameras and instrumentation in participants’ personal vehicles. Combined, these studies continuously observed drivers for more than 6 million miles of driving. A new bill to ban texting or sending emails messages while driving was introduced into Congress a day after the release of the results from VTTI’s results. According to the Washington Post, the bill would force states to write laws to prohibit messaging in vehicles or risk losing 25 percent of their annual federal highway money. Federal lawmakers have used similar strategies to force states to curb speeding and pass seat-belt laws. The new legislation would also set deadlines for regulators at the U.S. Department of Transportation to
devise minimum penalties for states to implement. States would have two years to enact their own laws. The District and 13 states, including Virginia, already have driver texting bans in place or scheduled to become effective his year. Maryland’s ban takes effect Oct. 1. Text messaging on a cell phone was associated with the highest risk of all cell phone related tasks in the VTTI study. Through the study, text messaging was shown to have the longest time where eyes are off the road--4.6 seconds over a 6 second interval. This equates to a driver traveling the length of a football field at 55 mph without looking at the roadway. The study also showed drivers using headsets are just as likely to be involved in traffic accidents as drivers using a handheld device. According to VTTI’s study for driving light vehicles or cars, dialing a cell phone increases risk of crash or near crash event by 2.8 times compared to non-distracted driving and 5.9 times as high for heavy vehicles or trucks. For light vehicles or cars, talking or listening on a cell phone raises the risk of a crash or near crash event 1.3 times
over non-distracted driving and 1.0 times over for heavy vehicles or trucks. Reaching for an object such as an electronic device causes drivers to be 1.4 times more likely to crash or nearly crash as non-distracted drivers in light vehicles and 6.7 times more likely for heavy vehicles or trucks. Drivers of heavy cars or trucks engaging in texting as they drive are at 23.2 times the risk of a crash or near crash event as truckers who do not text message. VTTI’s results show that a real factor for significantly improving safety is keeping eyes on the road. In contrast, “cognitively intense” tasks such as emotional conversations can have a measurable effect in the laboratory, but the actual driving risks are much lower in comparison. According to VTTI’s study, teens are four times more likely go get into
a phone-related crash or near crash event than adults in similar situations. Te e n s tend to engage in cell phone tasks much more frequently, and in much more risky situations than adults. Based on the finding from research studies, VTTI recommends that drivers should always avoid texting and dialing while on the roadway. They also recommend that text messaging should be banned in moving vehicles for all drivers and all cell phone use should be banned for newly licensed teen drivers.
3 NEWS
Tech study quantifies danger of texting, WANTED using phone while behind the wheel
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News in Brief
Candidates spar on gun control In the first Gubernatorial debate of the general election, Republican Bob McDonnell and Democrat Creigh Deeds sparred on economic plans
and addressed issues of education and gun control. Moderator Rod Smolla, dean of law at Washington & Lee University, posed a question to Deeds, asking about his specific ideas on the role of guns in Virginia in light of the April 16 shootings. Deeds voiced support for the Second Amendment, attributing his values on guns to the rural part of the state in which he grew up. However, Deeds also expressed support for the gun show loophole bill supported by many April 16 families. “These people poured their grief into the gun show loophole bill to close that loophole,” Deeds said. “I got that bill out of committee for the first time.” It was voted down in the full Virginia House of Delegates in March. He said he has “become convinced” that the bill should be passed. McDonnell focused on a different side of the shootings. “I think the way Gov. [Tim] Kaine handled Virginia Tech and mental health legislation after that was his finest moment at governor,” McDonnell said.
collegiatetimes.com july 30, 2009
Arrest made in shoplifting case Two suspects were arrested Sunday in connection to an incident where a man brandished a firearm while shoplifting a case of beer. Joshua Lyle Martin, a 24-yearold from Pearisburg, and Doris Ann Oliver, an 18-year-old from Christiansburg, were arrested and sent to Montgomery County Jail. According to a press release, a man entered a store in the 900 block of University City Blvd. with “a female accomplice” and attempted to leave the store with a case of beer. The female distracted the clerk in the self check out line. However, the clerk approached the male as he left with the case of beer. He showed the clerk a handgun, pointing it at the ground and was able to escape. Martin has been charged with shoplifting, brandishing a firearm and carrying a concealed weapon, while Oliver was charged with shoplifting, underage possession of alcohol and drunk in public.
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FEATURES
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Monday, August 3
LooP In the
Wondering what's going on around the 'burg? Check out the events of the upcoming week.
Friday, July 31 What: Garden in the Classroom Workshop When: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Where: Hahn Horticulture Garden Cost: Free What: Friday Night Out presents Summer Musical Enterprise When: 6 p.m. Where: Drillfield Cost: Free What: Music on the New presents the Lost Time Band When: 6 p.m. Where: Glencoe Museum Cost: Free
What: Performance by Sally Walker, Flip Shoemaker and Tom Floyd When: 7:30 p.m. Where: Cafe del Sol Cost: Free
Saturday, August 1 What: Ruritan Fun Day When: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Where: Rosa Peters Park Cost: Free
What: Fundraiser for the Foster and Adoptive Parent Program When: 6 p.m. Where: Wendy's, Christiansburg Cost: Donations accepted What: Performance by Upland Express When: 7:30 p.m. Where: Oak Grove Pavillion Cost: Free
Sunday, August 2
What: Animal Show When: 11 a.m. Where: Meadowbrook Library Cost: Free
What: Al Coffey performance When: 1-4 p.m. Where: Chateau Morrisette Cost: Free
What: Presentation of Coraline When: 1 p.m. Where: Jessie Peterman Library Cost: Free
What: Sunken Garden Sundays presents New Riders of the Purple Sage When: 5 p.m. Where: Sunken Garden Amphitheatre Cost: $18
What: American Red Cross Blood Drive When: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Where: Christiansburg recreation center Cost: N/A What: Talking about movies presents “Defending Your Life” When: 2p.m. Where: Christiansburg Library Cost: Free What: Radford Fiddle and Banjo Jam When: 7 p.m. Where: The Coffee Mill Cost: Free
Wednesday, August 5
If you would like an event featured in our calendar, e-mail features@ collegiatetimes. com.
What: Melissa Reaves Performance When: 9 p.m. Where: The Cellar Cost: Free
Recent Album Releases ANDREW GADDY
staff writer
collegiatetimes.com july 30, 2009
Regina Spektor Far Sire Records Rating: 4.25/5 The Russian-born classically trained piano-playing anti-folk songwriter returns with her most Spektor-esque album to date. Not only does she give us her own brand of wonderful melodies and arrangements with mouth filling vocals, but Mrs. Spektor gives us lyrics that carry emotional MUSIC REVIEW weight and wisdom while remaining youthful, a task not to be taken lightly. MCT It’s impossible to talk about this album, or Regina Spektor in Jeff Tweedy of Wilco performs at a school benefit in Mountain View, general, without mentioning her California. His band recently released Wilco (the album). voice. She commands an incredible Feist even makes an appearance on amount of vocal control, and her Wilco the track “You and I,” a perfect blend rhythmic style of singing adds an Wilco (the album) of the two voices. entire new layer to the songs. The lyrics on this album, while She does however cross over to Nonesuch simple, really hit the spot. her strange side from time to time Rating : 4.75/5 That, combined with the flow (walrus noises in “Folding Chair” and her low-tone mechanical voice Wilco (the album), which opens and swing of the whole thing, just in “Machine”), but that’s really just up with Wilco (the song), by Wilco works. While the band doesn’t take any Regina Spektor being, well, Regina (the band), is a great collection of Spektor. sing-alongs, head-bobbers, and toe- leaps or chances with this album, its If you love her already, you’ll love tappers. This is, simply put, a very easy going nature makes it perfect this album. If you’re checking her fun record to listen, air guitar, dance, for hardcore Wilco-ers, Wilco (the fans), as well as any casual listener. out for the first time, you might or sing to. I cannot think of any reason anytry listening to some of the singles The Chicago-based group has before delving deeper. honed its songwriting ability for its one would not like, nay, love this Overall, this album is a strong sixth album. Each song keeps pull- album unless they have a serious addition to her already impressive ing you along into the next, hooking aversion to rocking out or having repertoire. deeper and deeper along the way. fun.
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Since that horrific day-April 16, 2007, Virginia Tech has implemented new security systems and policies, and the school is to be commended for that. But, Tech has not done all it can do. I have yet to see or hear Virginia Tech issue a statement that any threat or menacing acts will not be tolerated. At SUNY-Oneonta, the chief of police has the authority to immediately remove any person from the campus who he deems a threat. At Wright State University in Ohio, I was told the same is true. In fact, if there is a question of the individual’s mental stability, the individual is put in a squad car and taken to the hospital for a psychiatric evaluation. There is no pondering, no calling of policy groups, no bureaucratic mumbo-jumbo. The individual will not be allowed back on campus until that evaluation is complete, and he or she is deemed safe and not a threat. There are so many aspects to school safety beyond an electronic or any warning system. Part of the problem may be that school presidents are hired for their ability to raise money, not their ability to react in a crisis. Perhaps the hiring profile for the leaders of our colleges and universities should be changed to help ensure safety. Or, perhaps a change of rules is needed? For example, Chief Flinchum should have the authority to close the campus without consulting the president. I keep going back to the human factor in the problem, and the poor
decisions made on that day and in the days following the tragedy. For example, less than six weeks after the shootings the school signed an agreement with one of the nation’s largest public relations firms, Burson-Marsteller, to spin the story of the tragedy in such a way as to do minimal damage to Virginia Tech and its administration. The school paid $663,000 to that public relations firm. Virginia Tech has an office that deals with public relations, the school has some of the best minds in the country, yet it spent nearly $700,000 on public relations. That money would have been better spent on improving campus security; and when you compare it to the $100,000 that the victims’ families received, the $663,000 becomes shameful. Virginia Tech should be in the forefront of organizing better campus security. Virginia Tech’s emphasis on “emergency notification systems” is only a small part of the problem. In fact, this emphasis on “systems” has diverted attention away from other, serious aspects of the problem our schools confront. Virginia has been the site of two of the nation’s worst school shootings, yet Virginia politicians and academic leaders have been sluggish in responding to the threat. I am afraid the real problem is: protecting careers, unwillingness to allocate funds, and poor leadership. David Cariens is a retired CIA officer and a teacher of Intelligence and crime analysis. See his full guest blog post at collegiatetimes.com/blogs/news.
Usually we think of productivity and organization as mainly about getting things done. They are also important in issues of focus, multitasking, and KEN procrastination. I recently read STANTON “Getting Things regular Done, ” by David columnist Allen, one of the best-known productivity books on the market. One of his key points was that you must create an organizational system that you trust completely, or else your mind will inevitably worry that you’re forgetting things. How many times have you been trying to focus on something and then worried that something else important needed to be done? For some people, this can clutter the mind so much that even a simple conversation can be polluted by trying to keep a mental task list. If you have an organization system that you trust, this distraction can be minimized. Allen’s book calls for an “inbox” to collect things that pop up in your mind that you then process when you finish the task at hand. I found this to work well, and if I am reading and think of something I need to do, I just jot it down and process it later and the focus stays on reading. Further, in that processing stage, a definite decision is made on what to do with the contents of the inbox, leaving nothing lingering in the mind. Multitasking has become very common, especially with the complexity of modern life. However, many studies have shown that humans are actually not good at multitasking and cannot
effectively focus on two things at once. This probably doesn’t come as a surprise, but don’t underestimate the impact this can have; at times, multitasking can be deadly. Just a few years ago, a study on driving safety was conducted right here at Virginia Tech’s Transportation Institute, recording over 8,000 incidents. They found distractions, inattention, and fatigue were the biggest predictors of accidents. You probably know that texting while driving was recently outlawed in Virginia – agree or disagree with the new law, this is the reason. In my last article on procrastination, I talked about how it arises as a defense mechanism when fears arise of being overwhelmed, failing, or not finishing something. Organization and productivity efforts can have a severe impact on these fears, especially in terms of the confidence required to succeed on these tasks. Regardless of whether you are a professor or student, you know that waiting until the last minute to do things is not a good way to produce your best work. Together, these all make a strong case for getting productivity and organization in order, and now is a good time. When the semester starts, it will be hard to pick up new habits in the midst of new classes, a new schedule, and the like. Strengthening these skills could be a big advantage, too, as college enrollments are increasing while the job market is in turmoil. Being able to focus, avoiding multitasking on key tasks, and avoiding procrastination can create opportunities and a competitive advantage for you and your goals, regardless of what they are. Ken Stanton is a Ph.D. student and graduate teaching assistant in engineering education.
Six months in, Obama tackles issues MICHAEL SAGE regular columnist Upon assuming office in January, President Barack Obama was faced with a set of challenges rarely seen by previous presidents. The country had been fighting two separate wars. The image of the country was damaged as more and more nations grew wary of the hegemonic spread of American military might. And, worst of all, we had to face the worst economic downturn in the world since the Great Depression. From the very moment of his inauguration, Obama’s plan to guide the country through these difficult times has been quite clear: attack our obstacles as quickly and aggressively as possible. This has manifested in numerous measures that will put to test many theoretical ideas of political philosophy. A $787 billion stimulus package to try to curb the economic dive, and get us on a path to recovery; the decision to
close Guantanamo, and immediately change our course of action in foreign policy by traveling and meeting with the representatives of foreign governments who are not traditional allies; and the insistence upon building a more sustainable long-term future for the United States, which has included investment in infrastructure and transportation, and decisions about energy regulation. In the wake of his immediate and aggressive actions to alleviate our pressing issues, Obama has received his share of criticism. Fiscal conservatives in Congress, and on the airwaves, have vehemently opposed the President on many of these important issues. And to be fair, their arguments often have strong theoretical foundations. The president’s opponents have pointed to unnecessary spending within the stimulus package, the short-term economic damage of increasing emission standards, and the pledge of Obama and the House Democrats to pass an
enormously important Health Reform bill before the end of the year, as evidence that this administration may be trying to do too much, too fast. However, these are not the times to sit by idly and watch the storm reach its apex. Storms are natural, and will always eventually pass, but a President cannot afford to take chances on what the damage will look like in the aftermath. If we didn’t pass the stimulus package, states would be cutting funding to schools, programs, and services, and laying off employees more than they already have. If Obama hadn’t embarked on diplomatic trips to the Middle East, and hadn’t forwarded a new general policy of diplomatic reasoning and commercial interests, our image in the eyes of the world would be no more elevated than the unilateral arrogance and arguable recklessness of the Bush years. And if we didn’t at least start the process of hearty congressional debate on how to contain the
unsustainable costs of our health care system, every passing day, month, and year would make our thinning thread of financial stability even more vulnerable. These are the kind of dilemmas that a president faces. Most often, decisions are not made between the choice of a good and a bad, but merely between the lesser of two evils. The reality of conditions that a president faces at any given time are often so fluid and circumstantial as to render theoretical principles and political doctrines almost useless. And this is especially true when a president assumes office in times of national suffering and uncertainty. The thing we need most from our leaders right now is action and energy. It will take time to work out all of the details into the most preferable form, but that will never happen if we refuse to try to apply new remedies to our new and very serious problems. Thank goodness we have someone in office who will.
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FEATURES
6
‘Ugly Truth’ just misses Movie Preview MATTHEW ARTZ
MATTHEW ARTZ
features editor
features editor “The Ugly Truth” is a romanticcomedy that stars Katherine Heigl and Gerard Butler. In the film, Abby (Heigl) is a news show producer. She is looking for the man of her dreams that fits her “10 criteria” but can’t seem to find him. Her character is a mishmash of all the characterisMOVIE REVIEW tics a man doesn’t like in a woman, packaged inside a very attractive frame. She is a stereotypical online dater’s nightmare. On her first date with Columbia Pictures someone early in the film she pulls out paperwork about her date and Katherine Heigl and Gerard Butler sit down for dinner in one of the a list of talking points she wants to funnier scenes in “The Ugly Truth.” discuss with him. station’s ratings. During this period, The premise of the story starts as relationships. He describes men as simple crea- Abby meets the man of her dreams her career is threatened by the low ratings her news show is receiving. tures only interested in one thing who conveniently ends up living In response to the less than satis- while women are complicated, across the street. Despite her attempts at getting a factory ratings, her boss hires the control freaks that are looking for host of an edgy public access show some idealization of perfection that date, he seems uninterested until Mike intervenes. doesn’t exist. named Mike (Butler). The pair reluctantly works togethHis show is basically something see “Ugly Truth,” page eight found on Spike television about er on the show, which improves the
Liddell Entertainment
“Funny People” director Apatow.
“The Collector”
remove the little invaders with the help of one of the aliens who turns on his evil comrades. The plot and idea of the film seems to come straight from a Saturday afternoon television special, with little to no originality. This won’t deter families from seeing it though as it stars several Disney and Nickelodeon regulars such as Ashley Tisdale and Austin Robert Butler. The larger movie production budget will make the film’s quality better than a made for television version but don’t count on this movie catching the attention of anyone above the age of 12.
Burglaries are usually smooth, calculated affairs where the power of fear is in the controlling hands of the burglar. Imagine Arkin’s (Josh Stewart) horror as he discovers he has entered a home that is already beset by another criminal. The family he intended to rob is being held captive by a masked killer who has created and placed traps all throughout the house. Arkin is faced with a moral dilemma of attempting to flee the home or save the family he came to rob. This film is directed by Marcus Dunstan and co-written by Dunstan and Patrick Melton. Melton and Dunstan are two of the minds behind the continued installments of the “Saw” series and several other well-known horror films. The movie has influences from their experiences with “Saw” as the house is full of lethal traps that the killer has setup similar to “Saw”. The interesting twist of the burglar becoming the hero gives the story a unique perspective.
“Aliens in the Attic”
collegiatetimes.com july 30, 2009
MCT
The “Collector” opens July 31.
“Aliens in the Attic” is a children’s film about a small group of aliens terrorizing a family at its vacation home. The Pearson family decides to take a family vacation to escape the busy lives to spend more quality time together. The parents and two kids travel to their vacation home in Maine and invite over the extended family to stay with them. Shortly after their arrival, four small meteorites strike the roof of the house and four pint-sized aliens spring forth. Utilizing mind control devices, they take control of the adult minds in the house. The kids figure out they are immune to the devices and attempt to
“Funny People” Writer and director Judd Apatow, famous for “Knocked Up” and ‘Superbad,” returns with another comedy staring Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen. In the film, George Simmons (Sandler) is an aging comedian with health problems. He meets up-andcoming Ira Wright (Rogen) at a comedy show where they both perform. Simmons is so impressed that he asks Wright to work with him. Simmons also runs into ex-girlfriend Laura played by Leslie Mann. She is the girl who got away for Simmons and he attempts to restart a relationship with her, despite her marriage to Clarke (Eric Bana). The movie has a large list of recognizable actors including Jonah Hill, Leslie Mann and Eric Bana in its supporting roles. “Funny People” takes a more serious approach to comedy and will attempt to have the same heart and meaning of “Knocked-Up” with its underlying messages of love and mortality. Early reviews are not as positive as Apatow’s previous films but the movie should still be enjoyable to most who have enjoyed his works.
DANIEL LIN
photo editor
Grace Potter performs Friday night on the Dreaming Creek main stage. Her band played an extended set, despite starting an hour late.
361 days of the year, empty stages sit in a field straddling the Floyd-Patrick county border, but for four days in July, the hills are alive with the sound of music. This year, from July 23-26, an estimated 12000-plus people were in attendance, with many camping through the duration of the festival. Others stayed for a shorter period, and many did not camp, opting instead to come for a day, usually to catch a particular act. Hailed by the coordinators and staff as the most successful FloydFest to date, it did not come without its share of troubles. On Friday night, at approximately 8: 10, the power to most of the festival went out, due to a blown fuse on a power pole less than a quarter mile away. Bands that had their set interrupted adapted quickly, employing generators, or switching to an acoustic setup. By 9:40, power was restored almost an hour after Grace Potter and the Nocturnals were due to start, already having arrived slightly behind schedule and worn out from the road. Their set began around 10, with a spark of newfound energy that may or may not have been associated with restoring power to the festival. FloydFest was not also without its share of rain, Known to festival veterans as “FloodFest� after the torrential rains throughout most of the first FloydFests, traditionally, it rains at some point during the festival. In recent years, however, the weather has been sunnier and sunnier, but this year had patches of rain on Saturday during the afternoon and evening. For now, though, the stages return to their dormant state, the mountains and hills are filled again only by the sounds of nature, and FloydFest 9 is already in Sansa Alexander Asylum III performs with the Yard Dogs Road Show late the works. Friday night into Saturday morning.
7 FEATURES
FloydFest 8
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collegiatetimes.com july 30, 2009
Hoopers were a common sight around the clock throughout the festival.
Mark Bearly, owner of Bearly Edible, prepares a Pesto Mozzadilla. His stand is best known for its $1 grilled cheeses.
A firedancer performs at the Global Village. Dance Afire was the headlining troupe, but other dancers joined in.
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FEATURES
8
Bull and Bones impresses with unique qualities MATTHEW ARTZ
features editor For the longest time, the only steakhouse in Blacksburg was Bogen’s. The alternative for eating a good steak required a trip to Christiansburg to go to either Outback or Texas Roadhouse, two chain restaurants noted for their steaks. Now that Bogen’s is closed the relatively new Bull and Bones Brewhaus & Grill is poised to fill the gap left behind by Bogen’s in the Blacksburg area. The Bull and Bones is located in the new “First and Main” shopping center on S. Main St. The restaurant is relatively large, capitalizing on the space provided by the new shopping center that is located a mile away from the crowded downtown businesses. The atmosphere resembles a highclass sports bar. Even though the restaurant is over a half a year old it still has that very new look that is absent in most of the seasoned downtown locations. The facility is clearly divided into two sections. The left side of the restaurant is a large bar littered with several bar style tables. This area also has billiards tables and several large projection televisions for sporting events. Billiards tournaments occur regularly on the bar’s nine tables. The bar even comes complete with a chilled strip running the entire length of the bar to keep drinks cold. To the right of the entrance is the dining area seating. The nice part about the floor plan is
the dining section is far enough away to enjoy a quiet meal without hearing too much of the noise coming from the bar section. The food on the menu is a standard fair for this type of restaurant. Steaks, burgers, ribs and sandwiches form the bulk of the menu. The pricing for the items is also competitively matched with places like Outback and Texas Roadhouse. The restaurant boasts a barbeque smoker, a distinc t ive RESTAURANT c o o k i n g method that no restaurant REVIEW in the New River Valley has. This slow cooking method adds flavor to chicken and ribs. They also offer party packs for tailgates and holiday meats that have been prepared in the cooker. The appetizers provide generous portions to feed several people. The game day nachos are sufficient for a party of four or more. The chili nachos in particular are piled high with chili and cheese that terrified the party of three I was with the idea of actually finishing it. The bread that is served is also different for the area. The bread is actually a pretzel shaped like a small dinner loaf of bread and is served with mustard. The steak was cooked as per requested and was full of flavor. The claim of almost being able to cut it with a fork is an accurate description of how tender it was. The Bull and Bones is also unique because it also manufactures its own beer. The restaurant offers an appetizer sampler of several of its creations
DANIEL LIN/SPPS
A shot of the bar inside Bull and Bones Brewhaus and Grill. The brewing area is located directly behind the bar for patrons to see. for patrons to get a feel for what they will like and dislike. The beer sampler was varied providing about four dark beers and four light beers. As some one with distaste for dark, heavy beers I gravitated towards the light beers. The All Nite Light and Lunch Pale Ale have become personal favorites. The beers served are also available to take home in a Bull and Bones
growler. The growler is a small jug about the size of a two-liter soda bottle. The overall experience at Bull and Bones is positive. The service is prompt and courteous. They did all the little things right by providing drink refills promptly and new baskets of bread while managing several tables. The only problem with the restaurant is the menu isn’t very friendly to
people on a budget. The portions are generous but even the cheapest sandwich is $8.50. The restaurant is also located a decent distance from the college apartments so taking a car is a must. This provides less flexibility for venturing other places on a night out without a designated driver. Bull and Bones is a fun, new place with great food that requires some evening planning
‘Ugly Truth’ falls short
collegiatetimes.com july 30, 2009
from page six
The pair agrees to a deal that if Mike helps her win the neighbor, Mike can do what he wishes on the show and if he can’t help her, he will quit. Butler’s character is the highlight of the film as he makes it enjoyable to watch and takes away from the constantly annoying Abby. His witty insights in to a man’s psyche and ability to convince those around him prove some truth to his often chauvinistic ideals. The level of hopelessness that Heigl’s character seems to have early in the film is unparalleled and completely unbelievable. If she were as inept at social interactions as the film makes her out to be, it is doubtful she could become a news show producer. As the film progresses her character seems to gain self-confidence
and slowly becomes more tolerable. There is little character development through the film, which is mostly comprised of scenes that are set up for the laughs the film provides. Despite my hatred for the character, Abby is the only character that grows in any way during the film. She learns that her idealistic man isn’t as perfect she thought and worse yet she has to be someone she isn’t in order to stay with him. Butler’s character is fun to watch but needed to show progressive changes in his feelings. The only indicators he is falling for Abby are the long looks he takes toward where she exits at the end of each scene. It’s in these attempts at being a touching love story the movie fails at delivering. It never conveys how a man like
Mike would fall in love with a controlling, psycho like Abby. It was better off remaining the full-blown rated-R romantic comedy it was meant to be. The film is still humorous, though, and deserves credit for attempting to blend a touching love story and a perverted rollercoaster into one cohesive story. The additional level of grit makes it feel more genuine than most romantic comedies but the character stereotypes kill its credibility. The rating also makes it more accessible and bearable to a male audience that would normally write this type of movie off from the moment it watched the trailer. This film makes a great date movie on Friday night or a good rental for a rainy day but doesn’t hold a candle to the other comedies of the summer like “The Hangover.”
JOSH PARCELL
sports editor The Atlantic Coast Conference held its annual Football Kickoff event this past weekend in Greensboro, N.C. The event consisted of two players from each of the conference’s 12 teams. Eighty-seven members of media covering the ACC this season flocked to Greensboro to talk with those players as well as to hold press conferences with each head coach. On the final day, the media writers voted for preseason conference player of the year, and predicted order of finish in the ACC. Virginia Tech was picked by an overwhelming margin to win the ACC for the third straight time, and the fourth time in six years. The Hokies received 78 first-place votes and 512 points in divisional balloting. Georgia Tech claimed the other nine first-place votes and 415 points for second. North Carolina and Miami followed the Hokies and Yellow Jackets. The Coastal predictions were wrapped up with Virginia at fifth and Duke at sixth. Florida State was predicted to win the Atlantic Division and meet the
Hokies in the conference championship game, which will be held at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. The Seminoles, who once won nine consecutive ACC titles in the 90’s and early this decade, earned 56 first-place votes, and 479 points total. Clemson was picked second in the Atlantic Division, with 387 points and 14 first-place votes. The rest of the Atlantic division went NC State, Wake Forest, Maryland, and Boston College. Boston College has played in the past two ACC Championship games, falling to the Hokies both times. Last year the Eagles were picked fifth in the Atlantic Division, and blew such low expectations out of the water. This season the Eagles enter with as much uncertainty and turmoil as any team in the nation. They fired head coach Jeff Jagodinski for interviewing with NFL teams, and promoted longtime assistant Frank Spaziani to the head job. Within the next two months, it was made public that ACC Defensive player of the year Mark Herzlich, a linebacker for the Eagles, has Ewing’s sarcoma, and is fighting for his life. Following that tragic news, Dominique Davis, the lone Eagles quarterback to ever take a snap in a
2009 ACC Predictions Atlantic Division
Coastal Division
1. Florida State 2. Clemson 3. NC State 4. Wake Forest 5. Maryland 6. Boston College
1. Virginia Tech 2. Georgia Tech 3. North Carolina 4. Miami 5. Virginia 6. Duke
ACC Championship Game
9 SPORTS
ACC Football Kickoff 2009: Media picks Hokies to take home third straight ACC title
page
Virginia Tech over Florida State
ACC Player of the Year Jonathan Dwyer (RB), Georgia Tech THANDIWE OGBONNA/COLLEGIATE TIMES
collegiate game, was suspended for violating team policy and subsequently left the school. That being said, even though the Eagles have beaten the odds in the past, another ACC championship appearance appears very unlikely according to the media. To no one’s surprise, Georgia Tech running back Jonathan Dwyer was named preseason player of the year in the conference. Dwyer was named player of the year in 2008, averaging a leaguehigh 107 rushing yards per game in
coach Paul Johnson’s triple option attack. C.J. Spiller, the running back from Clemson who has Heisman aspirations in his senior season, was second among leading vote getters for player of the year, with 28 votes. N.C. State quarterback Russell Wilson, the 2008 ACC Rookie of the Year, was third with 16 votes. Hokie quarterback Tyrod Taylor was among four players who each received a single vote. Among the 87 votes cast for ACC champion overall, Tech received
69. The 79 percent share of first-place votes is slightly less than the 83 percent share it had in 2007 when it was last picked to win the conference. The next highest vote getter was Florida State with seven. The Hokies and Seminoles met once before in the ACC Championship game. The Seminoles won the conference’s inaugural championship matchup in 2005 in Jacksonville over Tech by a score of 27-22.
Hokies in the Pros Patrick Nyarko Nyarko and the Fire went into one of the toughest places to play in the MLS and stole a point in the standings with a 0-0 tie against the Seattle Sounders FC. The Fire was without three starters, including Brian Pause, who was away playing with Team USA in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Furthermore, John Thorrington was ejected with his second yellow card of the match in the 54th minute, leaving Chicago with 10 men the rest of the way. Nyarko started, but did not have much impact on the game statistically.
Joe Saunders
Kerri Gardin On July 22, Gardin played a seasonlow five minutes as the Sun came from behind to beat the Sacramento Monarchs 83-75. Connecticut was down 11 at halftime before a thirdquarter outburst, outscoring the Monarchs 30-13 in that period alone. Gardin did not score in her time but did grab two rebounds.
collegiatetimes.com july 30, 2009
On Wednesday, July 22, a recently struggling Saunders took the mound for the Angels on the road against the Kansas City Royals. Saunders earned no decision in the Angels’ 9-6 win. The former Hokie pitcher went five and two-thirds innings, allowing six earned runs on nine hits with two strikeouts. With that performance, his ERA approached 5 at 4.94. Just over a month ago, his ERA was close to 4.0. Monday, July 27, Saunders faced
the Cleveland Indians. He went five innings, allowing four runs on 10 hits with two walks and two strikeouts. He left the game with the Angels winning 5-4, but the Indians scored four runs in the ninth inning to win 8-6. Saunders earned another no decision, but his ERA crept to 5.02. Saunders’ name has been floated around in trade talks concerning the Blue Jays’ ace and defending Cy Young award winner Roy Halladay. The Angels have been considered one of the darkhorses to land Halladay in a deal before the July 31 trade deadline. The Blue Jays reportedly wanted either Los Angeles pitcher Jered Weaver or Saunders as well as other prospects in return for Halladay.
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collegiatetimes.com july 30, 2009
SPORTS
10
Weaver finishes well in Porter Cup, on to Chicago JOSH PARCELL
sports editor Former Virginia Tech golfing great Drew Weaver wrapped up a strong performance last weekend at the Porter Cup in Niagra Falls. Weaver finished tied for eighth in the three-round amateur event with a final score of 3-under. This was the first of two tournaments Weaver had scheduled to play before the Walker Cup team is selected. The Walker Cup is the amateur version of golf’s Ryder Cup, which pits a team of 10 golfers from both the United States and Europe against one another for match and stroke play. Weaver started his week at Niagra Falls Country Club by firing a 2under 68, putting him in a tie for
sixth place after round one. The High Point, N.C., native went out in 1-over par on the front nine before hitting three straight birdies on holes 13 through 15 to finish at 68. Not only was Weaver playing with a potential spot on the Walker Cup team on the line, he was playing alongside this year’s captain, Buddy Marucci. “Being paired with the Walker Cup captain was a lot of pressure,” Weaver said. “I needed to play solid, and I did.” Similar to the U.S. Open in June, in which Weaver finished 40th, mother nature made her presence felt all week. “The weather was fine the first day,” Weaver said, “but we knew the rain was coming.” Being an older golf course, it does not have an advanced draining sys-
tem. That was cause for concern for the players as the forecast showed heavy rain. And heavy it was. It poured overnight and into the morning Thursday, cancelling play early, with many players not even making it out to the course. “It was nice to have a day off, the rest was important,” Weaver said. The tournament committee then made the decision to cut the tournament from 72 holes to 54. That put much more pressure on the players down the leaderboard, meaning they had 18 less holes to make a move to the top. Weaver came back on day three for round two and shot another impressive score, this time an even par 70. It was a very consistent second round in which he made two birdies, two bogies, and 14 pars. “The course was soaking wet, and the winds were swirling,” Weaver said. “I had to really grind it out to play a par round.” That performance left him in striking distance heading into the third and final round. He started the day with three birdies and a bogey on the front nine, putting him at 4-under par for the tournament with nine holes to go. Holes 10 and 11 were not kind to Weaver, however. He bogied both of those holes to put him back to two under par and with much more ground to make up and little time to do so. After the front nine, he had been within two shots of the lead. Despite the fact that many golfers were still on the course behind him, he still had an idea of what he needed to do to stay in contention. The bogies on consecutive holes tested Weaver’s resolve. “I was disappointed to make those bogies, they were both pretty sloppy on easy holes,” Weaver said. He recovered to make par on the next six holes. “I made a great par save on the twelfth hole, going up and down with a 7-foot putt that was practically sideways,” Weaver said. “After that I steadied things out.” The tournament championship was out of reach heading up to the 18th hole, but Weaver birdied the par three-final hole to wrap up a threeround total of 207. That birdie came from a 15-foot putt that made the plane ride home much more enjoyable. “Finishing strong with a birdie always leaves a good taste in your mouth.” Weaver said. It was a tough week for all players, and Weaver’s consistent scoring spoke to his ability to play through difficult conditions. “We had a lot of challenges with the weather, but I feel that I managed myself around the course well all week,” Weaver said. The tournament was won by
FILE PHOTO
Drew Weaver is looking to make the Walker Cup team next month with strong performances at the Western and US Amateur Opens in August. Brendan Gielow, who chipped in for birdie on the 18th hole to clinch the tournament in thrilling fashion. He finished 6-under par for the week, three shots ahead of Weaver. “Anytime you are near the winning score, you’ve played well,” Weaver said. Overall, the course proved to be fair, yet not overwhelmingly difficult. Scores on day one, with great weather conditions, were significantly lower than the last two rounds. “The course was pretty simple overall,” Weaver said. “Nothing really stood out as being too difficult. The stretch of par-four’s on the front nine was tough, but I played those well all week and I am glad about that.” The next step for Weaver is the Western Amateur in Chicago on August 3-8. It is a grueling tournament that consists of 72 holes of stroke play in the first three days, followed by three days of match play. On Saturday, August 8, the first eight players for the Walker Cup team will be selected on site. “That was part of the reason I scheduled to play this event,” Weaver
said. “It would make being selected that much sweeter to be there when I find out.” That tournament will be the perfect stage for players trying to prove themselves worthy of a roster spot. Since the Walker Cup consists of both stroke and match play, the USGA committee in charge of selecting the team will get to see the players handle the pressure in both styles of play. A hard worker, Weaver knows that he needs the right combination of practice and rest to be at his best in Chicago. “That tournament will be a marathon, but I am getting some much needed rest now, and I should be ready to go in a week,” Weaver said. “I have to keep going out and always be improving. I have a few swing adjustments I need to get grooved in, and just practice with a purpose.” The former Hokie is coming in both focused and hopeful that his great summer will come to an end by reaching the goal he set for himself from the beginning. “I’ve got my fingers crossed.”
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SPORTS
12 Ballyhack offers revolutionary golf experience JOSH PARCELL
sports editor When Lester George first began to design a new golf course just outside Roanoke in 2005, he knew it would bring a new concept to the average country club. Ballyhack golf club and retreat, opened for play June 26, offers something very few courses in American can match: a private golf club with no proximity requirements, as well as countless activities besides golf to make it a highly desirable getaway. Not only is it unique for all it offers, but Virginia Tech head football coach Frank Beamer is a partial owner. Jonathan Ireland, the General Manager of Ballyhack, could see exactly why coach Beamer would want a part of this great investment. “It is such a great place for people to travel to,” Ireland said. “The beautiful weather all four seasons, and our proximity to Blacksburg, he fell in love with it.” Ballyhack is part of a growing nation wide concept called “Destination Golf.” It consists of a private course built in a remote location, with several other outdoor experiences on site for the whole family to enjoy. Unlike most regular country clubs, you do not have to live in any specific place to be a member; it is designed to be a vacation spot.
“We will ultimately have 300 members, and most of them will come from elsewhere,” said Mark Leslie, the media consultant for Ballyhack. “Guest cottages we have mean a great number of people can stay here, play, eat, enjoy their time, and go home happy.” Why is it called Ballyhack? “The property was named 100 years ago by the man who bought the property,” Leslie said. “It had nothing to do with golf, despite how much it sounds like an old Scottish course.” The ownership is still working on establishing connections with many of the outdoor amenities in the area to create a great vacation experience. “We are 25 minutes from Smith Mountain Lake, where we would like to tie in fishing there with us,” Ireland said. “There is a shooting club close by with trap shooting and skeet shooting. We also feel it is great to have the downtown Roanoke market close by, with the Art Museum and much more that makes our retreat such an attractive place to stay.” The membership fees are hefty, as expected, but for what it offers, it makes for an amazing experience. Initiation fees are $15,000, with $2,500 dues each year. Included in those fees are lodging and five-star cooking. George, the architect for Ballyhack course, is based out of Richmond and is very well known across the state and nation for his abilities. He designed
Kinloch Golf Course in Richmond, now ranked as the ninth-best modern course in America. The course itself is a links-style course different from others in this area. “It plays differently than any other course around,” Ireland said. The greens at Ballyhack feature a new type of grass, called Tyee grass, that many people familiar with it feel could change the way greens are designed in the future. “It is brand new in the world of grass. It is difficult to keep in this part of the world, but it is much sturdier and more disease-resistant than other bent grasses,” Ireland said. “Many people have commented that the greens, for their age, are the best they’ve ever seen.” The course pro is Aaron Dooley, son of legendary golf coach Joe Dooley of Nicholas County High School in Summersville, Md. The Class-A pro Dooley is very highly regarded amongst his peers. Even though it has only been around for one short month, the brass at Ballyhack has its eye on the future. “We would absolutely love to host tournaments at some point. I want to be clear that we are not in the market for PGA events,” Ireland said. They are looking at events like the MARK LESLIE/BALLYHACK GOLF RETREAT Virginia State Amateur Open, and the Walker Cup. The 10th hole at Ballyhack Golf Retreat epitomizes the picturesque “It wold be great to host those tourna- setting the course offers. With five sets of tees, it is playable for anyone. ments at some point,” Ireland said.