COLLEGIATETIMES
august 13, 2009
what’s inside News.............2 Features ........6 0pinions........5 Sports ...........9 Classifieds ...11 Sudoku........11 106th year issue 70 blacksburg, va.
The Collegiate Times has ceased publication for the summer. Fall publication will begin Monday, Aug. 24 for a special first-day issue, and then the CT will return to its regular schedule of Tuesday-Friday publication.
Evans’ season over before it began ALEX JACKSON
ct sports staff
FILE/SPPS
Darren Evans, the Orange Bowl MVP, is expected to sit out for the 2009 season because of a torn ACL.
Because of a knee injury, Darren Evans will not grace the field this season. “Darren Evans suffered a left knee ACL tear,” head athletic trainer Mike Goforth said in a release from the athletics department. “He was evaluated by Dr. Marc Siegel and Dr. Gunnar Brolinson and received an MRI at Montgomery Regional Hospital that showed the ACL tear,” “He will be re-evaluated later this week to see when the ACL reconstruction surgery will take place. Our hope is to be able to repair the knee prior to classes starting so that he can get started on his rehab and continue his course work,” Goforth said. Evans sprained his knee in practice on Friday and was limited until Tuesday, when he cleared to practice at full speed. “Obviously we are all saddened by the results of this MRI,” Goforth said.
“But we all know the type of young man Darren is and we have no doubt that he will come back stronger than ever.” Evans entered the 2009 campaign as the projected starter at tailback for the Hokies, but his loss means one of three younger backs will have to step up. Redshirt sophomore Josh Oglesby, freshman David Wilson and the flashy redshirt freshman Ryan Williams seem to be the most likely candidates. Most consider Williams the favorite to carry the Hokies at tailback in the future. Williams drove up his stock by turning in ten carries for 85 yards and two catches for 66 yards and a touchdown in the Maroon-White game this spring. However, Williams explained Saturday that he was shocked at the beginning of the summer when head coach Frank Beamer placed him fourth on the depth chart at tailback. “I came back a little out of shape. I
see EVANS, page twelve
Prices Fork parking garage construction will slash spaces ZACH CRIZER
news editor Many students and faculty members will be forced to deal with reorganization of parking lots as construction begins on a new parking garage in the commuter lot. Contractors officially began the construction process Wednesday by putting up a fence to mark the construction area, and restrict the parking area in Perry Street and Prices Fork lots. Bo Frazier, assistant manager of parking services, said other parking lots would be used to compensate for the loss of parking. Spaces in Perry Street Lot three formerly used for commuters are now designated faculty/staff to compensate for “several hundred spaces” lost in Perry Street Lot two, according to a university press release. Commuter students displaced by the construction are being directed to the Duck Pond overflow lot. More resident students will be encouraged to park in the lower Chicken Hill lot, which Frazier said would open up the Duck Pond lot for commuters. Commuter spots have replaced
several rows of the Duck Pond lot. The gates will be open for easy access. Frazier said studies were conducted to plan the most feasible means of compensating for the loss of parking. There are less faculty/staff spots available in the area, but Frazier said many of the spots were unused at any given time in the previous arrangement. He said the parking situation near Prices Fork needed to be addressed now. “It’s already very tough to find parking spots over there now,” Frazier said. He said plans are already in place for a new engineering building that would occupy a space currently filled by parking spaces. The parking garage being built over the next 16 months will contain 1,200-1,300 spaces. Although construction dates are not set, another parking garage is also planned for the Collegiate Square area, near Turner Street. The price of a year long commuter pass will be $136 for students, up from $114 last year. Faculty commuter passes will cost $179 this academic year.
PARKING SERVICES
Construction of a parking garage has closed a portion of commuter parking lots. Commuter and faculty/ staff spaces have been moved within the area, and overflow will be offered near the Duck Pond.
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NEWS
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After fighting for promising life, Dao succumbs to cancer ZACH CRIZER
news editor Emily Dao, 20, who was the subject of a short series in the Collegiate Times last year chronicling her diagnosis of late stage colon cancer, died Aug 12. Dao, who had been stricken by a cancer that is extremely rare in women her age, underwent a vigorous and debilitating chemotherapy regimen to combat the tumors and granted a series of interviews to the Collegiate Times to follow her journey through attempted recovery, and ultimate acceptance. “I have so many people that care for me, and that is truly the most important thing to me,” Emily wrote in a February e-mail. “I wouldn’t be able to get through all of this without my sisters, friends, faculty and all the other goodhearted people (random people that contact me because they’ve heard about my situation even though I don’t know them; they do it just because they care so much) that have been giving me such strength and encouragement.”
In the early part of a promising year for the accounting and information systems major, Dao said she had stomach pains over the span of several weeks so she sought a medical examination. She learned in November 2008 she had Stage IV Colon Cancer. Her doctors described her case as “terminal.” Dao immediately left Tech to have surgery to remove a large portion of a five-inch diameter tumor that had blocked her colon and trapped dangerous toxins inside her body. After recovering from the operation, Dao then started a long series of potent chemotherapeutic treatments. The sessions exhausted her and she slept 20 to 23 hours a day. She developed large dark blotches on her skin and lost a significant amount of weight off her already slight frame. She initially took the treatments in stride and kept up a high level of optimism, and even had an exclusive internship at Ernst & Young where she worked with major clients including Marriott. “I’m currently on a huge client that they have -- Marriott International,” Emily wrote
in February. “It’s a busy season right now, so I’ve been working overtime every week, but I love it.” Bad news from her doctors caused her significant alarm. They told her the treatments had been useless. The tumors had metastasized to her lungs and liver, and had grown in size since starting the drugs. In the spring of 2009 Dao started experimental treatments at Georgetown Medical center. Her sorority held a series of philanthropic events in her honor under the banner of “Down for Dao.” They had a concert at the Lyric, sponsored a Relay for Life team, and campaigned for donations to help with the bills from her medical expenses. Dao, who later embraced her plight, expressed thanks to her sorority sisters for their help, and enduring compassion. “Nothing makes me happier than being at Virginia Tech, and it’s really the greatest school on Earth,” Emily wrote in February. “Nowhere else would I meet such great people that are so supportive and helpful.” Survivors include her parents, and a sister.
FILE PHOTO
Emily Dao and boyfriend Steven Chiang in Washington shortly after she began treatment for colon cancer.
VT Desktop Alert not a flawless execution SARA MITCHELL
collegiatetimes.com august 13, 2009
editor-in-chief Virginia Tech’s VT Desktop Alert was launched to the university community Wednesday, but not without some troubleshooting. The VT Desktop Alert notifies participating computers connected to the Internet of any campus-wide alerts. According to a university release, “When an important message is posted, the desktop application will activate and notify the user with audio and a message window that provides the details of the alert.” The alert would be the same message sent through other VT alerts, such as cell phone or e-mail notifications. The application works like a Web browser that only opens up when it is changed — when an alert is created. Its icon stays permently next to the clock on both the Mac and PC. VT Desktop Alerts can be downloaded at to any desktop or notebook computer running a supported version of Microsoft Windows XP, Vista or 7, and Apple Mac OS X 10.5. While this may limit who is able to download the application, university spokesman Mark Owczarski said that the goal is to create a broad range of communication devices. “If you don’t have a cell phone, you can’t get an SMS message,” Owczarski said. “We have about ten ways to receive things now.” Some issues arose with initial attempts at installation. An update was created, and in the course of the day, some users had to download the application and then immediately install an update. “One should keep in mind that this is an opt-in application for VT Alerts — one of many,” wrote 4HELP manager Robert Sprague on
Top: The introduction installation page for the VT Desktop Alert. Bottom: A test page shows how an actual alert would look on the screen. the Tech support list serv. “If you don’t feel comfortable with it, then you dont have to install it.” Tech had announced the development of the application earlier this year. The cost of the alert is entirely inhouse, said Owczarski, which means that the creation of the alert is through university employees. This makes the VT Desktop Alert the cheapest
alert system at Tech. Other alerts use outside entities — for example, a company called 3n is responsible for our text message alert system.
ON THE WEB Visit collegiatetimes.com for a video of the test message, with audio.
Preparing for
Parking permits
All 2008-2009 parking permits expire Friday, Aug. 14. Purchase an 09-10 permit at Parking Services or online at www.parking.vt.edu. A license, registration, and completed form is required to purchase any permit, and two licences and registrations are required for any carpool pass. The Bike, Walk and Bus program is available again, which offers 15 free day passes for a semester or 30 day passes for a semester, under a car that is not registered under any other permit .
h c t i w s e th Permit Type Year Permit Semester Carpool Year Carpool Semester Daily Permit Motorcycle Year Motorcycle Semester Motorcycle with Hangtag
Faculty/Staff $179.00 $90.00 $120.00 $60.00 $15.00 $90.00 $45.00 $15.00
3 NEWS
MAKE THE TRANSITION FROM SLEEPY SUMMER TO FRENZIED FALL WITH OUR MOVE-IN GUIDE
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Student $136.00 $68.00 $90.00 $45.00 $15.00 $68.00 $34.00 $15.00
Dining hours The dining venues that were open during the summer — D2, Au Bon Pain, and Sbarro — will have limited hours before movein begins. All other dining centers will have individual open dates. Dining dollars from summer sessions can carry over. “If you don’t spend all of your summer flex dollars, they roll over to the fall as long as you have purchased a dining plan,” said Associate Director of occupancy Management Kenneth Belcher.
Dining halls
Resi
eh c n e d
alls
Move-in times and dates for on-campus housing Oak Lane Tuesday, August 18 Graduate Life Center Sunday, August 16th from 12 -5 p.m. Undergraduate housing Early move-in is Wednesday, Aug. 19 and Thursday, Aug. 20, from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Regular move-in is Friday, Aug. 21 and Saturday, Aug. 22 from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. No accomodations need to be made for the early move-in.
Opens Wednesday, Aug. 19 West End Market Deets Place Opens Friday, Aug. 21 Schultz DXpress Opens Saturday, Aug. 22 Owens Food Court
collegiatetimes.com august 13, 2009
Items sold/rented at Cassell Colliseum lot Hutches Lofts Linens Electronic safes Matress pads
Open all of next week Sbarro Au Bon Pain D2
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FEATURES
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CRC awarded economic development grant PHILLIP MURILLAS
managing editor Virginia Tech’s Corporate Research Center has received a $1.98 million federal grant to expand its facilities and nearly double its size. Phase II of the CRC will expand the center northward toward Tech’s campus on property that is owned by the university. The first stage of expansion is currently expected to cost around $4 million and is aided by the grant from the Economic Development Administration, an agency of the Department of Commerce. Virginia Tech Foundation, Inc., the nonprofit organization that handles private university assets and owns the CRC will match the grant’s funds to begin the expansion. Ray Smoot, chief operating officer and secretary-treasurer of the Foundation said university funds would not be used toward the expansion. The initial $4 million will go toward infrastructure development, roads, and utilities. The Foundation spent a total of $120 million on the construction of Phase I, an amount similar to Smoot’s expectations for the cost of the CRC. “I think it’s safe to say that when all is finished, we will have spent at least $250 million in the development of the CRC,” Smoot said. Phase II of the CRC received one of about 1,200 grants to be given this year. EDA grants are provided to economically distressed areas of the country to fund projects that could stimulate job
growth and the local economy. “Virginia Tech is a major contributor to the economy in the New River Valley region,” said Bryan Borlick, acting director of public affairs for the EDA. Borlick said the EDA recognized the CRC as a creator of 2,000 jobs and home to 140 high-tech businesses. This is the third EDA grant provided for CRC development. “That is certainly one of the largest, if not the largest single initiative that has increased employment in southwestern Virginia over the past five years,” said Smoot. The most recent grant was provided in 2002 for construction of new facilities in Phase I and totaled $2 million. Borlick said Montgomery County remains qualified as an area eligible for grant consideration because the per capita income is 35 percent below the national level. Regions qualify for a grant if their per capita income is 80 percent or less of the national average. “We’re jut really excited that the federal government had the confidence in us to give us all this money,” said Joe Meredith, president of the CRC. Meredith said Phase II would have a quality over quantity focus. “What I would like to see accomplished next is more focus on the sophistication and quality of the research, as opposed to just stacking up more buildings and more jobs and more companies,” he said. Borlick said Blacksburg and the surrounding community could benefit from this expansion. “It’s critical in the 21st century for regional economies to
ILLUSTRATION BY DANIEL LIN/SPPS
Plans for Phase II of the Corporate Researh Center extending west along the US 460 Bypass, toward campus. tap into what universities offer,” he said The CRC, launched in 1986, houses over 100 private research companies and is also used for university research programs. Meredith, a Tech alumnus, said the Phase II expansion will provide new job opportunities not only for outside researchers, but for Tech students and graduates as well.
“They will see internships, co-ops, summer hires, and the ability to start working with these companies during their studies,” Meredith said. Approximately half the researchers working at the CRC hold degrees from Tech, Meredith said. The success of the first phase continues to drive the CRC to pursue the expansion optimistically.
“I think Phase I’s success answered the question ‘can you start a company in Blacksburg and have it amount to anything?’” Meredith said. “I worked somewhere else for 22 years. I wish there had been something like the CRC that had attracted me back to this area. For those people who want to live and grow in Blacksburg, this is a great place to do that.”
Q&A: Ruth Waalkes ANDREW GADDY
collegiatetimes.com august 13, 2009
ct staff writer The face of the Virginia Tech campus is always changing and adapting to suit the needs of the university and its students. While there is much construction going on currently, more is on its way. With the Arts Initiative, Virginia Tech plans to build up the Arts in Blacksburg and better incorporate the Arts into the everyday life of the average student and resident. Students may have already noticed one of the first steps of this movement with the new Black Box Theatre (Theatre 101), located adjacent to Squires on the Henderson Lawn. The grand opening for the theatre will occur October 30th of this year. The next step of the Arts Initiative will be the continuation of planning on Virginia Tech’s Center for the Arts, part of what is now Shultz Hall, and a 1,300 seat performance hall which is to be added on. On July 14th, Ruth Waalkes was named the executive director for the center, which is scheduled to open in
June of 2013. Waalkes will be begin her position in late September of this year. She will aid in the center’s design and layout. She is currently working at the University of Maryland’s Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center as the Director of Artistic Initiatives. Waalkes has held the position since 2002. Once the center is opened, “Waalkes will have overall responsibility for the programming and operation” according to a Tech press release naming her as the new Executive Director. The actual design of the center falls under the international architecture firm Snohetta, from Oslo, Norway, who has worked on such prestigious projects such as the Library of Alexandria in Egypt and the September 11th Memorial Pavilion in New York City. The article on the Arts Initiative in the Virginia Tech Magazine’s Spring 2009 edition states that STV Architects, Holder Construction Co, and Arup, “a global engineering and acoustics firm,” will also be joining the project. The converted area that is now Shultz Hall will include a Visual Arts Gallery, a
see WAALKES, page eight
page Your friends call you a hothead.
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 Reporter Kate Magruder Head Copy Editor Geri Roberts Photo Editor Daniel Lin Online Director Sam Eberspacher
We’ll call you a columnist.
The Collegiate Times is looking for columnists for the school year, including student organization representatives.
5 OPINIONS
The Collegiate Times is an independent student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903
E-mail opinionseditor@collegiatimes.com
Collegiate Times Business Staff Business Manager David Harries College Media Solutions Staff Advertising Director Tyler Ervin Asst Advertising Director Judi Glass, Kendall Kapetanakis Ads Production Manager Allison Bhatta Creative Services Staff Adam Sexton, Kyle Waldrop Account Executives Briana Bishop, Nik Bando, Carly Siegel, Wade Stephenson, Jared Thompson Asst Account Executives Morgan Holt, Devon Steiner
Voice your opinion. Readers are encouraged to send letters and comments to the Collegiate Times. 365 Squires Student Center Blacksburg, Va. 24061 Fax: (540) 231-9151 opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com Letters must include name and daytime phone number. Letters must not exceed 300 words, and should be in MS Word (.doc) format if possible. Letters, commentaries and editorial cartoons do not reflect the views of the Collegiate Times. We reserve the right to edit for any reason. Anonymous letters will not be printed. To order a reprint of a photograph printed in the Collegiate Times, e-mail spps@vt.edu. Collegiate Times Phone Numbers News/Features 231-9865 Sports/Opinions 231-9870 Editor-in-Chief 231-9867 College Media Solutions Phone Number Advertising 961-9860 The Collegiate Times, a division of the Educational Media Company at Virginia Tech, was established in 1903 by and for the students of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.The Collegiate Times receives no funding from the university.
© Collegiate Times, July 12, 2009. All rights reserved. Material published in the Collegiate Times is the property thereof, and may not be reprinted without the express written consent of the Collegiate Times.
MCT
Spirit makes Hokie Summer endings are new beginnings fans the sixth man BRANDON CARROLL regular columnist
As Hokies, we each fit in many circles that define our college experience. Some of us are undergraduate researchers, others are involved in a multitude of activities, and still more content themselves with late nights at Deets preparing for the next morning’s exam. Yet, despite these varied interests, there is one aspect of our shared experience where we all come together: Hokie sports. While we can all agree that football season leaves us with hoarse throats from yelling cheers and memories that will mark our college years, undoubtedly the rising success of our Hokie basketball program has made Cassell Coliseum a force to be reckoned with, as well. In my role as SGA President, I have had the pleasure of speaking with many students about the athletic legacy we want to leave. From these conversations, one student in particular, Connor Forman, had a phenomenal insight. “Brandon,” Forman said. “We have the best fans in the nation for football. We could easily have the best atmosphere in the nation for basketball, too. There is just something missing.” Forman’s observation left me wondering what that elusive “it” factor is. However, after spending hours contemplating a solution, I found myself no closer to an epiphany. Then it hit me — this is
not a task for just one Hokie sports fan. If our student government is truly all about the students, why not ask all of you? So I pose this question to you: What can we, as students, as the SGA, as athletes, and ultimately, as Hokies, do to create the best possible basketball environment here at Virginia Tech? We could make cheer cards to switch our chants when moving from offense to defense, or create an official student section called the Cassell Guard to support Hokies on Fire spirit initiatives or maybe we need to re-evaluate our student seating arrangement. But I know you have ideas too! In an ACC comparison, Virginia Tech and Miami are the sole schools that have their student section behind one backboard. Quite possibly, all we need in Cassell is a seating adjustment, but this is not the only suggestion we can consider. We can create the environment we envision if we use the creativity of the collective. It’s us, the fans, who are the irreplaceable sixth man that the team needs and it’s up to us to figure out what will make us the greatest asset possible. This is our challenge. Let’s make Cassell the loudest arena in the nation. Come by the SGA office (321 Squires), e-mail us at sga@vt.edu or call us at 540-2008-SGA and tell us what you would like to see changed at basketball games this year. Simply put, this is our fourth quarter countdown and we can win — all we have to do is beat the buzzer.
JUSTIN GRAVES public editor
Getting ready to get back to Blacksburg is always exciting, and getting ready to make the first trek to college is probably even more exciting for the Class of 2013. No matter what position you’re in, fall is almost upon us, and it’s once again time to hit the books, get decked out in your school colors for football games and start deciding what your plans are for each subsequent weekend. As everyone prepares themselves, the Collegiate Times staff also partakes in these tasks, amongst others. Although the newsroom is a little lonely right now and it’s been a slow-paced kind of summer, there’s only one short week until the whole staff returns and production resumes. Personally, I’m almost as excited for this as I am for seeing whether or not starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor has eliminated the hitch in his throwing motion. The summer staff has been hard at work planning a week of training and the CT masses will return on August 18 when our “bootcamp” begins for the entire staff. We’re trying hard to set up a lot of things and are giving out all kinds of information to make this year one of the best for our newspaper. This issue is our last summer publication, and we will resume publication on Monday, Aug. 24 for a special back-to-school issue. After that, we’ll follow our regular schedule of publishing Tuesday through Friday. Beyond reading the CT, there are
some opportunities to work with us, or to just get a feel for how we operate. The Educational Media Company at Virginia Tech will hold a Hokie Hi! Open House on Friday, Aug. 28 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., on the same day as Gobblerfest — how convenient! If you’re interested in any division of EMCVT — be it newspaper, radio, literary magazine, TV, yearbook, photography or advertising — we want you to come by. You’ll get a lot of great information here, and maybe even find out which section of our newspaper you would be most interested in. Want to know another way to get great information about the CT? Facebook, of course. We’ve already set up a Facebook interest group — so join our “Collegiate Times Interest Group.” It has some dates for training sessions. During the second week of classes, news, sports and features — whatever section tickles your fancy — will be having training sessions should you like to see how reporting goes for the Collegiate Times around our campus. Sure, it will be a lot of information to digest, but we’re not going to leave you out in the cold. Yours truly, the good old public editor (and a reporter last year – so I know how this load of information feels, and how intense it is to interpret), and all of us on staff are going to make it our personal job to ensure that anyone who wants to work for us can work for us. Now, whether or not you decide to take on that task — that’s up to you. Now go enjoy the rest of your summer and I’ll see you in Blacksburg in a few weeks! Any questions? E-mail me at publiceditor@collegiatetimes.com.
collegiatetimes.com august 13, 2009
Subscription rates: $65 semester; $90 academic year; $105 full year. The first copy is free, any copy of the paper after that is 50 cents per issue.
or swing by 365 Squires during Hokie Hi! on August 28 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to find out how you can get off your soapbox and get published.
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Steppin’ Out
FEATURES
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DANIEL LIN/SPPS
A firespinner performs in the intersection of Roanoke and Main Streets.
DANIEL LIN/SPPS
collegiatetimes.com august 13, 2009
Bob Rode explains the benefits of his salt lamps to a customer.
DANIEL LIN/SPPS
A view of Main Street from the corner of College Avenue. Steppin’ Out, Blacksburg’s annual street festival, took place this year August 7th and 8th.
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LooP In the
Thursday, August 13
Saturday, August 15
What: Family Night at the Movies When: 6 p.m. Where: Jessie Peterman Library Cost: Free
What: Saturday Jazz Brunch When: 10 a.m. Where: Our Daily Bread Bakery Cost: Free
What: Coffee with Town Council Candidates When: 7 p.m. Where: The Easy Chair Coffee Shop Cost: Free
What: Bluestock When: 12-9 p.m. Where: Maison Beliveau Cost: $15
Friday, August 14
What: Nascar Wheelen All-American Series When: 2 p.m. Where: Motor Mile Speedway Cost: $5, free for students with I.D.
What: Bluestock When: 5-9 p.m. Where: Maison Beliveau Cost: $10 What: Radford After Five When: 5:30 p.m. Where: Farmer’s Market Lot, Radford Cost: $5
What: Classic Movies presents “North by Northwest” When: 3 p.m. Where: The Lyric Theatre Cost: Free What: Awful Arthur's presents The Ignorant When: 9 p.m. Where: Awful Arthur's Cost: Free
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If you would like an event featured in our calendar, e-mail features@collegiatetimes.com.
FEATURES
Wondering what's going on around the 'burg? Check out the events of the upcoming week.
Monday, August 17 What: Reel Fun Movies for Kids and Families presents “Race to Witch Mountain” When: 6 p.m. Where: Blacksburg Library Cost: Free
Wednesday, August 19 What: Classic Movies presents “North by Northwest” When: 3 p.m. Where: The Lyric Theatre Cost: Free Stop by Squires Haymarket Theatre for Summer Musical Enterprise's presentation of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, August 13-16. Evening performances at 7:30 and Sunday matinee at 2:30 p.m.
“Joe” pleases the masses, disappoints fans The first departure from the source material is the focus away from “The Real American Hero,” idea that the toy line and television show created. In the film, G.I. Joe is a secret military force supported by the majority of world governments. This task force is comprised of the best soldiers from each country’s military forces. This move feels less like an idea to modernize G.I. Joe for the sake of globalization and plot opportunities and more of a corporate move MOVIE REVIEW to sell tickets in expanding foreign markets. The American characters still play the important roles while the nonAmericans seem to be added in as an after thought. The film should have either had the smaller characters play a larger role or stayed more true to the source and have G.I. Joe remain a secret American military force. This movie is also as cheesy as they come. The dialogue reads like one cliché after another but still manages to entertain and make audiences chuckle. Here it seems that the filmmakers didn’t make too many compromises from the cartoon, which was full of corny lines.
The film also forces G.I. Joe catch phrases into places they don’t belong. In “Transformers” the catchphrase usage was kept to a minimum and came off as acceptable dialogue. In “G.I. Joe,” the first time Dennis Quaid says “Knowing is half the battle,” there is a sense of satisfaction for Joe fans in the audience but it is repeated several times throughout the film and just feels awkward, adding to the film’s corniness. Purists of G.I. Joe storyline, who grew up watching the television show, will complain about the drastic changes in several characters’ background information. The back-stories behind Cobra Commander, The Baroness, and Duke have been completely revamped for the film. Their characters share previous interactions to the events of the film that those uninitiated will just accept as the story but cause fanboys to cry foul. In all fairness to the film, it manages to make the outlandish world of G.I. Joe more palatable to general audiences. Some characters did manage to escape the film’s changes though. Thankfully, the past between Snake Eyes and Stormshadow is kept relatively intact and the story makes up some of the better scenes in the film.
Paramount Pictures
The Joe’s plan their next move against their mysterious enemy. The director even stayed true to the original character by keeping the character silent throughout the movie. Much of the movie is also special effects driven. The secret bases, fictitious vehicles and weapon animations are all done using computer animation. Parts of the computer generated scenes look great while others could use some work. The large budget on the film prevent-
ed scenes from looking like something found on the SyFy channel but they weren’t that far off. “G.I. Joe” fared well in theaters over the weekend, raking in a respectable $54.7 million. The solid performance has almost guaranteed a sequel but if the film doesn’t up the ante and make serious advances in dialogue and plot development it will most likely end what could be a lucrative franchise.
collegiatetimes.com august 13, 2009
Hasbro and Paramount Pictures have teamed up to bring another action-figure line to the big screen. “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra” is a MATTHEW mediocre film that ARTZ still manages to features entertain despite its editor obvious flaws. The film stars many recognizable names including Channing Tatum, Marlon Wayans and Dennis Quaid. Neither of them offers anything special in the way of performances but neither of them seriously hinders the film either. Tatum plays Duke, a Special Forces operative who is one of the best soldiers in the United States military. He and his friend Ripcord (Wayans) are on assignment to transfer a new prototype weapon from a weapons manufacturer to a military base. The convoy is attacked by an unknown force with superior firepower but is rescued by the special ops team designated “G.I. Joe.” From here the film goes through the motions as the pair joins the squad and attempts to defeat the mysterious enemy that destroyed the convoy.
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FEATURES
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This weekend in movies
Waalkes: Center will be a ‘catalyst’ for the arts in the ‘burg
MATTHEW ARTZ
features editor
from page four
“District 9” Aliens have been portrayed in film as either monstrous conquerors or peaceful allies for decades. They attack Earth in the hope of taking its resources and destroying humanity, or they visit with the intent to bring peace and prosperity to the planet. “District 9” looks to change all that with a fresh take on how the first contact with aliens might happen. In the film, aliens contact our planet several decades before they arrive. The world wonders how our first meeting will transpire, but no one predicts what actually happens. The aliens arrive as refugees from their planet looking for a place to rest before they venture further into space. The world governments quarantine the aliens in District 9, a small area near Johannesburg, South Africa. There, the aliens are kept segregated from humans and are forced to live in shacks like poor refugees. Control over District 9 is eventually contracted out to a private corporation when the aliens refuse to provide information to the world governments on their technologies.
Creative Technologies Lab, and support space for the performance hall. The university hopes to begin construction in 2010. The CT caught up with Waalkes while she was in town for several meetings earlier this month. CT: When the interview was set up, you said that you would be in town for meetings. Who all did you meet with and how did it go?
MCT
“District 9” opens in theaters this Friday, August 14. “The Time Traveler’s Wife” In this romance film, Eric Bana plays a Chicago librarian with an interesting genetic disorder. Every time he experiences extreme situations of stress his body vanishes into thin air and he ends up at a different period in time. Despite his inability to stay at any
point in time for long, he meets a young girl (Rachel McAdams) and becomes her friend before vanishing. He meets her again later when she is older and they fall in love. The film follows their life together as he reappears intermittently and explores the hardships of falling in love with someone that is rarely around.
Ruth Waalkes (RW): Yesterday, we had a series, all day long, of meetings. This included the primary architect who is working on the Center for the Arts’ design, and consultants who are working on the interior of the center. So the theatre consultants are the folks who actually look at the design of the large performance hall itself, what will go in there, the types of staging, equipment, and access, and all of those considerations that we’ll need. Then there are acousticians, who are looking very specifically at the hall in terms of sound: how sound moves in there, what the experience will be for audience members in any area of the hall.
collegiatetimes.com august 13, 2009
CT: What role will you play while the center is being planned and built? Will you be working with Snohetta on construction and planning? RW: I will very much be an active part of the conversations about the building’s design and use; working with Snohetta, working with theatre projects, the acousticians, as we start to more clearly define the types of programming we envision and what the implications are then for the needs of the hall. CT: When were you originally approached for the position as Executive Director of the Center for the Arts? What led you to accept the position? RW: I actually heard that Virginia Tech was going to be building a center and there was an interesting project bubbling up here. Sometime later in the fall there was a search firm that was looking for candidates and they contacted me. I think the first conversation I had was with the search people at the end of January. Then I made two visits down to Blacksburg, at the end of March and then again at the end of April. They even put together a group of undergraduate students that I got to meet with which was really wonderful to hear. To hear their questions and their experiences here on campus, all the students involved with the arts to some degree. CT: What have you taken from your work at the University of
Maryland’s Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, or past work, that you plan to apply to your post here? RW: It’s a very different place and a very different center. That’s part of what’s exciting about coming in and discovering fresh opportunities. One of the real key successes there has been the love of collaboration that we have been able to build, through my work directly with programming at the center, the collaborations we have with our performing arts departments there certainly. But in the past couple of years we’ve also been able to expand that to other parts of the campus. Just as an example this past spring we did a series of events in April, a couple of them ticketed performances with visiting artists. We were talking about how artists impact or advocate on behalf of environmental issues. It was so nice to be able to reach in process of developing that whole series. I actually went out to faculty members to see what kinds of issues they were working on, what might be interesting, who should we reach out to if we wanted to use the Arts as a catalyst for a larger conversation, in this case about the environment. I’m hopeful that we can create those kinds of connections, get people thinking as much about the ideas as the art here. CT: What do you hope to achieve in Blacksburg in respect to the community as a whole? What sort of impact do you wish this new center to have? RW: In one of the meetings yesterday, it was with the building committee and the architect, and he was walking through how they’ve approached their process here. He had a diagram of the campus and showing the drill field and the green space and where the Center for the Arts will be. As he was talking about the drill field, he said “Well now here, this isn’t a building, it’s actually a place, but it’s a very iconic image for this campus.” I jotted that down because ultimately, the Center for the Arts also won’t just be a building, but I want it to be a place too for the community, where ... people feel comfortable there, feel at home there. It would be great if it’s an anchor for other activity on campus, in the town. I think that’s the beauty of the location for the Center, is that it’s right on the edge of town. It’s close to the new Black Box Theatre and the Lyric. You have such a nice set of complimentary places for people to hang out and be. I hope the Center for the Arts can be a focal point for that, maybe a catalyst for other arts and festivals that we can all do together. I hope it’s a hub for that sort of continuing Arts Initiative.
JASON WHITLOCK
mcclatchy newspapers
ALEX JACKSON
sports staff The Virginia Tech men’s and women’s basketball programs moved into their new $21 million dollar practice facility next to Cassell Coliseum on Monday. According to a release from the athletics department, “the 49,000 square-foot facility, designed by Cannon Design out of Baltimore and built by Whiting Turner out of Charlotte, was started in April of last year.” “It has a weight room for men’s and women’s basketball, it has a training room… it has the offices for the coaches of both sports, it has locker rooms, lounges and classrooms for both sports and a two court practice facility,” said Associate Director of Athletics for Internal Affairs Tom Gabbard. The training room, according to hokiesports.com, has “two examination rooms, two therapy tubs and six reclining tables (for taping treatment, etc.).” Gabbard said the basketball courts in the facility are modeled to be similar to the court in Cassell Coliseum.
“Across the board, from a practice facility standpoint, the floor in there is very similar to the Cassell floor, so that’ll help … they’re going to get the same kind of a feel that you get in the Cassell,” Gabbard said. Gabbard said the facility is impressing possible future Hokies as well. “From a recruiting standpoint,” Gabbard said, “we’ve already had some early success with future prospects looking at it and getting really excited about the possibility of considering Tech higher up on their list of schools than perhaps we might have been without it. “It helps us there. A lot of the schools like North Carolina, Duke and Florida State all have very nice practice facilities,” he said. In 2008, Duke opened the Michael W. Krzyzewski Center, a three story, 56,000-square-foot facility which, like Tech’s new facility, includes two full length basketball courts modeled after their home court, Coach K Court in Cameron Indoor Stadium. “We didn’t have anything that would compete with those. Now, some would say we’re better, some would say we’re equal, some would say we’re pretty close,” Gabbard said.
“But, in any event, we know we made a vast improvement in that area. So, I think overall – It’s been very beneficial across the board – recruiting, practicing, support services for them and so on.” Gabbard said it was tough for Tech to compete for prospects with the ACC’s basketball powerhouses prior to opening the new facility. “Schools that are outstanding schools to begin with, basketball wise – the North Carolinas, the Dukes and so on,” he said. “When they have a facility that is comparable to their national standing and then you go after the same athlete with a facility that is not to their equal… then I think you’re at a disadvantage going in.” Now, however, Tech hopes the new facility will make it easier for prospects to consider being Hokies before they run off to another school with better facilities. “If you can level that playing field, there’s no assurance you’re going to win. But,” he said, “at least you start off a little more level.” The facility is currently not open to the public, but the university will allow tours as final millwork is still being completed.
collegiatetimes.com august 13, 2009
The NFL owners Jesse Jackson accused of colluding against Michael Vick are members of the same group that made Vick the No. 1 pick of the 2001 draft and handed the poor-passing quarterback more than $100 million in contracts. In a New York Times column written by one of my favorite human beings and columnists (William Rhoden), Jackson compared Vick to Jackie Robinson and insinuated that Vick’s exclusion from training camp was a crime against the American way of life. “Democracy does not guarantee success,” Jackson told Rhoden in a phone interview. “Democracy guarantees an opportunity. It’s not fair to de facto try to lock (Vick) out of his right to compete. If he can’t make the team, don’t let him play. If he can, let him work.” Most places on the globe, $100 million is one hell of an opportunity. Vick blew that one by intimately involving himself in an illegal dogfighting ring. He spent two years in the joint for that mistake. I am an on-the-record, enthusiastic supporter of his re-entry into society and professional football. The possible six-game suspension/conditional reinstatement imposed by commissioner Roger Goodell struck me as excessive, unnecessary and counterproductive. But Vick is not a martyr or a victim. And any comparison to Jackie Robinson simply strains credibility and introduces a racial component to the Vick debate that will prove to be unhealthy for the QB. There are logical, sound reasons for NFL teams to exercise restraint before offering Vick a roster spot. And I’m not even talking about the fact he may not be eligible to suit up for a game until Halloween. He plays quarterback, the most difficult, highest-profile and influential position in all of sports. Last I checked, nothing about Leavenworth Penitentiary prepares a person to play quarterback in the National Football League. Seriously, did he touch a football the 23 months he was incarcerated? If he did, I don’t believe Rae Carruth was available to run routes. Before entering prison, Vick was a mediocre passer, the primary skill for an NFL quarterback. There isn’t one reason to believe he’s a more accurate thrower now. More problematic, Vick’s incarceration cemented his persona as the Tupac Shakur of football. Vick is an iconic figure in the hip-hop world. He’s Vick Doggy Dogg. There’s already a video circulating the Internet showing Vick kicking it with gangsta rapper Young Jeezy. Vick, sporting a white do-rag, proclaims on camera that Jeezy has always been his “N-word.”
It’s not a crime to hang with rappers (I’m guilty) or use racial epithets (I’m guilty). But Vick seems painfully unaware of his situation and the responsibilities that go along with being a professional quarterback. A QB has to be a leader. And while professional and college sports teams give Snoop D-OhDouble-G sideline passes and invitations to practice, no coach in his right mind wants to install a wannabe Snoop as the leader of his team. When an NFL franchise signs Vick, he instantly becomes the most popular and charismatic player in the locker room. Whether he’s first, second or third on the depth chart or solely the Wildcat QB, Vick will have incredible influence over a locker room filled with 30 to 40 young AfricanAmerican players. How will he use that influence? Where will he lead? To the strip club? To the kennel? To Young Jeezy’s house for a “Thug Motivation” party? There’s no collusion against Michael Vick. Teams are doing proper due diligence. Executives and coaches want to find out what impact 23 months in the pokey had on Vick’s personality. Did it harden his commitment to foolishness? Or did it open his mind to a new, more mature outlook on life? When Vick was a member of the Falcons, he wasn’t “reachable.” He had a huge contract and a base of fans ready to brush off any criticism of his inconsistent play, defiant attitude and sloppy preparation as bigotry. What coach wants to be bothered with that? And now it appears Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are going to Monday-morning quarterback Vick’s second NFL career. Seriously, agents, posse members and newspaper columnists are enough of a hassle. We’ve never seen this kind of circus act. Jesse’s involvement makes it OK for Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck to spew their opinions. Look, I’m all for Vick re-entering the workforce. It’s important. Ex-cons have a difficult transition back into society. I’m extremely sympathetic. But the truth is, there were early reports that the upstart United Football League was prepared to pay Vick more than $1 million for its six-game season in October and November. That would be a tremendous halfway house before Vick re-enters the NFL Big House. America is the land of opportunity. Jackie Robinson, Doug Williams, James Harris and countless others suffered a lot of indignities so that Vick could enjoy the $100 million opportunity he tricked off financing a gambling/dogfighting operation. Before we start charging collusion and racism, let’s see some proof that Vick wants to be a successful NFL quarterback as much as we want him to be and as much as he wants to be Vick Doggy Dogg.
9 SPORTS
Vick not a victim New facility a huge benefit
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Evans: Big shoes to fill for younger runningbacks from page one
went up ten to 15 pounds, so it wasn’t just like I was sitting home on my butt all day. So, I still worked hard and I think I got on coach Hite’s bad side a little bit because I didn’t pass the 110 test,” Williams said. The 110 test is a conditioning test. “Tailbacks run 110 yards EVANS 16 times, with a 45-second break between each rep,” the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported. “They must complete at least 15 of the reps in 15 seconds,” an article said. “If they can’t do it, they must attend the make-up test. During that, Williams completed just 13 reps, so he had to show up for extra conditioning.” “Things happen. I’m not going to sit here and dwell on it,” Williams said. “I’m not going to sit here and mope around about
it. I’m just going to continue to work hard and perform to the best of my abilities, because that’s all I can do.” For now, redshirt sophomore Josh Oglesby is first on the Hokies depth chart at tailback. Oglesby moved in as the backup tailback for the Hokies midway through last season after WILLIAMS Kenny Lewis, Jr. was injured. Behind Oglesby, freshman tailback David Wilson also will compete with Williams for the starting spot. Wilson committed to Tech last year as a Rivals four-star recruit from George Washington High School in Danville, Va. In his senior season, Wilson rushed for 2,291 yards and scored 35 times. Redshirt freshman Zac Evans and senior Kenny Lewis, Jr. are also listed at tailback on the current Hokies roster.
UNC study brings the heat ROBBI PICKERAL
mcclatchy newspapers CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — At first, it was hard for University of North Carolina football player Kendric Burney to swallow. They handed him a pill containing a battery, thermometer and radio transmitter and told him it would lodge in his intestine, where it would stick around for one to two days to measure his core body heat. “I’m not going to lie. The thought of putting that in my stomach was just plain weird,” the junior cornerback said. But by gulping down the vitaminsized CorTemp capsule Tuesday morning, Burney and 17 other Tar Heel football players began sweating out data that will be used later this season to help determine whether higher body temperatures increase the possibility of concussions. UNC’s coaches also plan to use the data to better regulate drills during practice and during games in heat that often reaches the high 90s through the early stretch of fall games. “That allows us to monitor as coaches, ‘How long to we want to do that particular type of drill?’” coach Butch Davis said. “ What’s appropriate for a receiver might not be appropriate for an offensive lineman. So I think it’s brilliant.” The CorTemp pill — a white, silicone-coated capsule big enough “that it feels like you’re swallowing a gummy bear,” according to offensive lineman Alan Pelc — was originally developed by NASA to measure astronauts’ body
temperature in space. But over the last six years, scores of football teams — including those at Duke, Virginia Tech, Texas, the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles — have used the $40-per-pop doses to better learn how to beat the heat on the field. It works like this: Players ingest the pills about five hours before practice; the removal of an attached magnet activates the battery. A device that looks like a remote control, held within six inches of the player, records the temperature via radio transmitter. (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit is normal, around 104 degrees is the danger zone). What’s left of the pill is expelled within 24 to 48 hours; with most of it dissolved. “Of course you can’t feel it inside you once you swallow it, I guess it’s like food,” said running back Shaun Draughn. “The only way I really remember it was there is when people were reaching around me with that little thing, trying to get the reading.” The information gathered Tuesday can be used immediately to adjust the length of drills and water breaks, as needed. A broader, Gatorade-funded study, which still needs to be approved by UNC’s Institutional Review Board, could supplement information gathered by other teams using the pill. For six years, Kevin Guskiewicz, chair of UNC’s department of exercise and sports science, has inserted sensors in players’ helmets to research how much G-force it takes in different impact locations for a player to sustain a concussion. But symptoms of concussions, such
as dizziness, headaches, nausea and blurred vision, overlap with heat-related illnesses, such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke. And there’s long been a theory that dehydration could make concussions more likely, Guskiewicz said. “Occasionally, during a two-a-day practice, we’ll have a player come in complaining with symptoms, and we can’t tell if he’s dehydrated or if it’s a concussion,” Guskiewicz said. “When we don’t know for sure ... we go back to the data from the helmet system, and if there’s no registered impact of greater than 50 or 60 Gs, it’s unlikely that it’s a concussion. “Now, we’ll also be able to look at the data from the thermometer pill, and see how hot he got. And we’ll also be able to compare the G-forces to the temperature, and try to correlate whether they get higher when the body temperature is hotter.” It could make for an important educational tool for coaches all over the country; according to National Center for Catastophic Sports Injuries at UNC, there were 10 brain-related football fatalities (all high school players) nation-wide over the last two seasons. To that end, Tar Heel players of different weights and positions plan to ingest the pills one more time during training camp, and twice more during this season. Burney said he thinks the research is important, so he’s willing to continue participating, even if it taxes his esophagus. “They told me it was going to be the size of an Advil,” he said of the pill, laughing. “But it was huge.”
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collegiatetimes.com august 13, 2009
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Hokies in the pros this week Patrick Nyarko Nyarko and the Fire endured a tough loss on Sunday, falling 3-2 to the Dynamo in Houston. Houston’s Stuart Holden successfully blasted a penalty kick in the 83rd minute to lift the Dynamo over the Fire. Nyarko had a big impact for the second straight game in MLS play, assisting on a Chris Rolfe goal in the second half, which cut the Fire’s deficit to 2-1 with 40 minutes to play. Nyarko made the pass to set up Rolfe’s goal, but was not credited with an official assist. The Fire now sits at 8-4-8 for the year, after the loss broke a five-game unbeaten streak.
Hokies in pro action this week Patrick Nyarko at Kansas City 8/16 Kerri Gardin at Washington 8/14 vs. New York 8/19
Kerri Gardin Gardin’s lack of playing time over the last month continued this past week, playing only ten minutes in two games combined. The Sun fell to the Minnesota Lynx, 95-88, where Gardin played seven minutes with three points. Two days later, the Sun blew away the Washington Mystics, 96-67. Gardin hardly played in this game, failing to score a basket in three minutes of action. After going 1-1 this week, the Sun remain one game above .500 at 11-10, but they still trail the Indiana Fever in the eastern conference by six games at 17-4.
Joe Saunders Saunders took the heat in his shortest and probably worst outing of the season on Aug. 7 against the Rangers. Texas won the game 11-6, with five runs coming off of Saunders by the second inning. The former Hokie pitcher did not make it out of the second frame, giving up the five runs on five hits before being pulled by manager Mike Soscia with two outs. In the first inning, Saunders gave up back-toback home runs to Josh Hamilton and Hank Blaylock for the first time in his career. In the official box score, it says Saunders was pulled due to tightness in his left shoulder, and was placed on the 15-day DL by the team Friday. It is his first trip to the DL in 2009. He now has a 5.33 ERA after the poor outing, and is 9-7 on the season.
collegiatetimes.com august 13, 2009
Wyatt Toregas As the newest Hokie to the major league, Toregas saw more
Weaver continues success, makes Walker Cup team
THANDIWE OGBONNA/COLLEGIATE TIMES
action this week behind the plate, catching for the Cleveland Indians. On Aug. 6 against the Twins, Toregas went 0-3 in his second appearance with the team. He fared much better three days later in Chicago against the White Sox, with his first career multi-hit game, going 2-3 with three RBI in the Indians 8-4 win.
Chris Ellis/Vincent Fuller In the first preseason game of the 2009 NFL season, the Bills and Titans met in Canton, Ohio for the annual Hall of Fame Game. Two Hokies played in the game, Bills defensive end Chris Ellis and Titans safety Vincent Fuller. The Titans won the game 2118. Their first touchdown came on a noteworthy trick play where backup punter A.J. Trapasso faked the kick and ran 40 yards for the score. Eliis led the Bills with six tackles, four of them unassisted. Ellis is hoping to crack the playing rotation this season with Buffalo in his second year in the league. Ellis appeared in only seven games in 2008, making three tackles on the year. The veteran Fuller made three tackles for Tennessee, although he is already an established player and does not have the pressure to make the same impression as Ellis does this preseason. Fuller had the best season of his career in 2008, playing in every game and making 47 tackles for the Titans.
Angela Tincher After a rough start in her first game of the Pan-American Qualifier in Venezuela, former Virginia Tech softball star Angela Tincher rebounded to contribute to a win. Tincher’s first start of the qualifier came against Canada. After Canada’s lead off hitter advanced to third base in the bottom of the first inning, Tincher threw a wild pitch that allowed a run to score. Though the U.S. tied the game in the second inning, the bottom of the third brought more problems. Tincher gave up a home run to Canada’s Danielle Lawrie, and after another batter reached base, she was taken out of the game in favor of Brandice Balschmiter. The US would go on to lose the game 3-1. However, the US would have no problems picking up a win in Tincher’s next start. It took only three innings for the team to dispose of Panama 22-0 in a game ended by the tournament’s mercy rule. Tincher pitched all three innings, recording six strikeouts in the process of winning the game. She played alongside members of the US National team. Tincher will return to her current professional team, the Akron Racers of the National Pro FastPitch league.
JOSH PARCELL
sports editor The best things in life are always worth waiting for. Drew Weaver can surely attest to that phrase, because after a summer’s worth of hard work and playing the waiting game, he has been named to the United States Walker Cup team. Since graduating from Virginia Tech in May, Weaver set out this summer to play in some of the biggest tournaments in the country, in an effort to be noticed and selected to this team. He braved the elements at Bethpage in June, finishing 40th at the U.S. Open, turning many heads throughout the week with his charismatic aura as he marched through the rain-soaked course. He did not stop with the satisfaction of playing well on golf’s biggest stage, however. One month later, Weaver was back in tournament play, this time finishing in a tie for eighth at the Porter Cup in Niagra Falls. Once again, Mother Nature did her best to keep golfers away with all the rain, but Weaver’s consistently strong play kept him at the forefront of one of the most notable amateur tournaments in the world. At the conclusion of the Western Amateur, it was the moment of truth for Weaver: the Walker Cup team announcement. When his name was among the eight announced for the team, it came as a moment of relief for the former 2007 British Amateur Open champion. The Walker Cup, the amateur equiva-
lent to the Ryder Cup, is the most prestigious amateur team golf competition in the world. The Walker Cup will be played this season at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, PA. It will be the weekend of September 12-13. Weaver’s teammates will be Rickie Fowler, Brendan Gielow, Adam Mitchell, Brian Harman, Bud Cauley, Morgan Hoffman, and Nathan Smith. Two final members of the team will be selected after the U.S. Amateur Open, which is in Tulsa, Okla., from August 24-30. Merion Golf Club has held 17 USGA championships, more than any other course. The club will host the 2013 U.S. Open. Weaver will be there, going for his second major amateur championship in three years. Having the pressure of making the Walker Cup off of him could give him a huge boost and a chance at winning the tournament. The biennial Walker Cup Match consists of 16 singles matches and eight foursomes (alternate shot) matches. The U.S. team has won the last two Walker Cup matches, posting one-point victories at Chicago (Ill.) Golf Club in 2005 and Royal County Down in 2007. The USA leads the series overall, 33-7-1. The captain of the U.S. team is Buddy Marucci Jr., of Villanova, Pa. He was a playing member of the 1995 and 1997 U.S teams, as well as the captain of the victorious 2007 U.S. team at Royal County Down in Newcastle, Ireland. Marucci is the reigning USGA Senior Amateur champion, though he will not be able to defend his 2008 title due to a scheduling conflict with the Walker Cup Match.
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