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Tuesday, September 8, 2009
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COLLEGIATETIMES 106th year, issue 80
News, page 2
Features, page 3
Opinions, page 5
Classifieds, page 6
Sudoku, page 6
Sports, page 7
Tech Jewish community honors Librescu ZACH CRIZER ct nrv news editor A restored Torah that survived the Holocaust was dedicated to the memory of April 16, 2007 shooting victim Liviu Librescu, who blocked the door for his students to escape Norris Hall. Virginia Tech’s Chabad chapter dedicated the Jewish religious document Sunday outside the Librescu Jewish Student Center, already named in the late professor’s LIBRESCU honor.
The Sandra Brand Foundation donated the Torah to the group following the shootings. Chabad at Virginia Tech Rabbi Zvi Zwiebel said the dedication of a Torah is a high honor. “It’s a very rare event,” Zwiebel said. “Whenever we read the Torah, it’s going to be in his honor.” Zwiebel said the Torah donated was special because Librescu was also a Holocaust survivor. He said scribes handwrote the document on parchment. The document is kept in a wooden cabinet with a curtain hanging in front of the door. It will be used for services and programs at the Librescu center.
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chabad
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Visit the Librescu Jewish Student Center at 301 Wall St. or contact 540.808.2006
Engineering and science mechanics department head Ishwar Puri, a close friend of Librescu, spoke at the event. Zwiebel said Puri gave Chabad piece of a plant in memory of Librescu. “The first present he received here at Tech was a plant from the Librescus,” Zwiebel said of Puri. Marilena Librescu, Librescu’s widow, requested Chabad, an organization based in Brooklyn, N.Y.,
become active at Tech. “She encourages us in everything we do,” Zwiebel said. Zwiebel said the chapter began in 2007, but was largely inactive until last fall. He arrived to assist the program in April 2009. Tech’s chapter plans to send a delegation to a Chabad conference in New York City in November. Tech has not sent any students to the conference in the past. Zwiebel said the group hopes to carry on the spirit of Librescu. “The way he ended his life shows his selflessness,” Zwiebel said. “He gave his life away for his students. That’s the legacy we are trying to continue here at Tech.”
COURTESY OF ZVI ZWIEBEL
Rabbi Zvi Zwiebel holds the newly dedicated Torah under a canopy.
Crimson Tide rolls Hokies
Institute narrows candidate search COMMITTEE SELECTS CANDIDATES WITH DESIRE FOR COOPERATION CLAIRE SANDERSON ct news staff writer
MICHAEL MCDERMOTT/SPPS
Virginia Tech fans begin to show their dismay during the fourth quarter when Alabama scored 18 points after a scoreless third quarter.
Decisive fourth quarter drowns Atlanta Hokie hopes BY ALEX JACKSON | sports editor he Hokies proved they could compete with the Southeastern Conference’s best Saturday night, but they didn’t prove they could win. No. 7 Virginia Tech fell to No. 5 Alabama to open its season, 34-24, in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff game in Atlanta. The Tide rolled over the Hokies with its rushing game, compiling 268 yards on the ground, much in thanks to sophomore running back Mark Ingram, who racked up 191 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries and three catches. Ingram and Tide senior running back Roy Upchurch, who ran for 92 yards and a touchdown on seven carries, wore down the Hokies defense all night and eventually proved to be too much for the Hokies to handle. Hokies head coach Frank Beamer hoped the game would be a learning experience and help the Hokies in the long run. “I thought at times we showed some good stuff, at times we just need to keep working,” he said. “You’ve got to understand, I think that team on the other side — they’re about as good as it gets.” Beamer found some positives. “I thought we fought our way back and did a good job going down field,” he said. “Our plan is to be a better team next week.” “I see things within our program to work on. We are just a little too young now, but we will be a little bit older next week,” he said. Alabama out-passed the Hokies, outrushed the Hokies and in doing so, outgained the Hokies, 498-155, but it wasn’t all bad on Saturday night. Beamer spoke encouragingly after the game about the performance of redshirt
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on the web For a photo gallery of Saturday’s game, visit www.collegiatetimes.com
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freshman starting running back Ryan Williams’ appearance in his first collegiate game even though he fumbled his first punt return attempt. “The way Williams ran the ball there at times kind of gives you hope,” Beamer said. Williams rushed for 71 yards on 13 carries, caught two passes for 42 yards and scored two touchdowns in Saturday’s game. Williams started slowly but picked up his game as Saturday night went on. “I was down a lot,” after the fumble, Williams said, “but Jason Worilds came up to me and said ‘do you want to be good or do you want to be great?’ I decided that I wanted to be great and had to start making some plays.” Despite Williams playing well, the bottom line is the Hokies simply came up short Saturday night. “We wanted to come and go out to make plays,” sophomore wide receiver Dyrell Roberts said. “There were doubts about us. We wanted to go out and play hard but we just came up short today.” Alabama jumped on the board first and eventually went up 6-0 on the Hokies when senior place kicker Leigh Tiffin was good from 49 and later 34 yards out early on in the first quarter. The Hokies quickly struck back, however. After Tiffin’s second field goal, Roberts returned the ensuing kickoff 98 yards for a score. The return was Tech’s fifth longest in program history. “Once I got the ball and I saw the
Final candidates have been announced to fill the vacant director position at the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute. VBI, located on Washington Street, is a full time research institute that works closely with Virginia Tech and also provides research opportunities for students. VBI will play an important role at the upcoming Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute in downtown Roanoke. Kenneth Tew and Harold “Skip” Garner have been selected by a university search committee as the final candidates to fill the director position for VBI. In the past month, both have held public forums on campus to talk about their research and vision for the future of the institute. Garner said he aims to integrate VBI with university initiatives. “The VBI is a rather unique and large institution in the area (of bioinformatics) compared with anything else in the world,” Garner said. “I would like to make it more collaborative with the campus as a whole.” He said a better relationship with Tech would compliment the research at VBI. “VBI has tremendous science, faculty and capabilities,” Garner said. “It’s time to partner with the university.” Garner holds a doctorate in plasma physics and is a professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. He is enthusiastic about working with the other science departments at Tech to create an interdisciplinary approach to medical research. “I am an engineer and a physicist,” Garner said. “Virginia Tech is a delightful place, and clearly a fantastic school with a very bright future ahead of it.” Tew is a professor and researcher at the Medical University of South Carolina, where his work involves drug discovery and cancer research. He shares with Garner the vision of a VBI that is more closely partnered with Tech. “I met a lot of deans and vice presidents on my visit to campus, but my goal would be to talk to the professors and researchers in the university, because My goal would be to talk I think that they to the professors and are a tremendous researchers in the university. resource here that can be tapped KENNETH TEW into,” Tew said. CANDIDATE FOR DIRECTOR Paul Knox, a POSITION AT VBI former dean of the College of Architecture and Urban Planning is I would like to make it currently serving more collaborative with the as interim director of VBI, as well as campus as a whole. chairman of the HAROLD GARNER search committee. CANDIDATE FOR DIRECTOR As interim POSITION AT VBI director, Knox is mainly involved in management and setting policy, but is not directly involved in the actual research that goes on at the VBI. He has held this position since March, when former director Bruno Sobral resigned. The search committee conducted an international search for experts in the emerging field of bioinformatics who shared their vision of closer cooperation with researchers in the university. In addition, the new director will be working with the new Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. “We’ve taken an international approach, looking for top quality scientists with the ability and capacity to lead the VBI into the next generation,” Knox said. Sobral expressed a hope that he will be “competent, happy and visionary.” Sobral, who is now a full-time researcher and professor at VBI, said that it has hardly been noticeable that there is no official director. “I’m so consumed and involved with my research, which takes up all of my time,” Sobral said. “The lights are on and the building’s not burning.” No date has been set for a final announcement on the director position. “We’re in an advanced stage, but it’s up to President (Charles) Steger to make the final decision,” Knox said.
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MICHAEL MCDERMOTT/SPPS
Tyrod Taylor gets sacked in the fourth quarter by Rolando McClain. way my kick return team had it set up, I knew something good was going to happen,” Roberts said. “I didn’t know if I was going to take it all the way or not, because as I was running I saw people coming and things like that. I knew I had my man beat and I pulled a move on him and I actually went ahead and broke a tackle and I actually got to the end zone.” Tiffin later hit his third field goal of the night after the Williams fumble at the Tech 16 yard-line and put the Tide back up 9-7. In the second quarter, Tech regained the momentum when defensive tackle Antoine Hopkins picked off a pass by Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy. Hopkins intercepted McElroy after he was hit by Hokies redshirt junior defensive end Jason Worilds and threw a wobbly pass aimlessly into the center of the field. Afterwards, Tech field goal kicker Matt Waldron hit his first career field goal, giving the Hokies a 10-9 lead. Alabama was hardly finished, though. Despite intense pressure by the Tech
defense and some vicious hits, McElroy and the Tide offense finally got their act together in the second quarter, putting together an 11 play, 76 yard, five minute and 24 second drive capped off with a 19 yard touchdown run by Upchurch. The Hokies were not ready to lie down yet. With just under two minutes remaining in the game, Hokies quarterback Tyrod Taylor found Williams wideopen down the sideline for a 43-yard pass and catch. On the next play at the Alabama five, Taylor fumbled a pitch backwards, and while he recovered, he lost 14 yards on the play. After the play, Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain initiated contact with Tech guard Sergio Render and then subsequently pushed an official for two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, which put Tech back at the four yard line despite the fumble. A few plays later, Williams scored his first collegiate touchdown to put the see ALABAMA / page two
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AFGANISTAN
Afgan resident Karzai closer to win election KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghan President Hamid Karzai edged closer to a second term in office on Sunday as updated polling results gave him nearly enough votes to avoid a run-off election. Karzai’s closest challenger, Abdullah Abdullah, now has 31.7 percent of the vote, according to the new results announced by an Afghanistan election commission Sunday. To gain a first round victory, Karzai needs 50 percent of the vote and results reported on Sunday put him just more than one percentage point away from the needed threshold. The Afghan election has been marred by allegations of widespread election fraud. A separate election commission is reviewing some 600 high-profile allegations of fraud. The election too is being closely monitored by U.S officials here, while President Barack Obama in Washington reviews Pentagon requests to increase the number of combat troops in Afghanistan. Later this week, the election commission is expected to release a final vote tally. By then, a Karzai supporter predicted, the president would be able to claim more than 50 percent of the vote. The Aug. 20 election was held amid scattered insurgent attacks that at some polling places dramatically reduced turn out. In a press conference Saturday, Abdullah accused Karzai supporters of trying to rig the election, and the commission of colluding in that effort. To bolster that claim, Abdullah has cited some polling places where 100 percent of the votes went to Karzai. The polling took place at more than 6,000 sites spread across this rugged nation. by hal bernton, mcclatchy newspapers. mcclatchy special correspondent hashim shukoor contributed to this report.
ISRAEL
White House blasts Israeli construction plan JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to approve the construction of hundreds of new homes in the occupied West Bank before he considers a freeze on building new Jewish settlements. The White House, which has called on Israel to halt all settlement construction in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, which Israel seized from Jordan in the 1967 Six-Day War, swiftly responded Friday with an unusually blunt statement. “We regret the reports of Israel’s plans to approve additional settlement construction,” President Barack Obama’s press secretary, Robert Gibbs, said in a statement. “As the president has said before, the United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued settlement expansion and we urge that it stop. We are working to create a climate in which negotiations can take place, and such actions make it harder to create such a climate,” the statement said. Obama reportedly had been hoping to announce a resumption of IsraeliPalestinian peace talks when he travels to the United Nations later this month. The Israeli move appears to undercut that goal, although Netanyahu and his aides have been discussing curbs on future settlement activity with Obama’s special envoy, former Maine Sen. George Mitchell. According to the aide to Netanyahu, the negotiations have progressed. “We’re getting close,” he said. He also said that Netanyahu had mentioned the need to allow normal life in the settlements to continue, which has been interpreted as code for continuing construction to accommodate what Israel calls “natural” population growth. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has demanded that Israel halt all settlement construction as a precondition to Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. by cliff churgin, mcclatchy newspapers
U.S.
Farmers warned to prepare for high temps RALEIGH — Even if global temperatures rise slowly, climate change could slash the yields of some of the world’s most important crops almost in half, according to a new study co-authored by an N.C. State University scientist. “There are some caveats, but this is a real cause for concern,” said Michael Roberts, an assistant professor of agricultural and resource economics at NCSU. The study, recently published online in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, looked at three frequently used scenarios for global warming. It found the average U.S. yields for corn, soybeans and cotton could plummet 30 percent to 46 percent by the end of the century under the slowest warming scenario, and 63 percent to 82 percent under the quickest. Roberts collaborated with Wolfram Schlenker of Columbia University on the study. They used massive amounts of data on crop yields and weather from 1950 to 2005 to look at yields from nearly every U.S. county. They focused on swings in temperature on individual days. Many earlier studies examined temperature changes averaged over longer periods, such as a month or a growing season, Roberts said. That can mask the effects of extreme temperatures on crops. by jay price, mcclatchy newspapers
Alabama: Hokie defense falls in fourth quarter, Alabama cinch win from page one
Hokies up 17-16 and after Tiffin missed a 36-yard field goal on Alabama’s ensuing drive, the first half ended with Tech in the lead. The Hokies were out-gained 22068 in the first half and ran 13 fewer plays than the Tide, but they took advantage of every opportunity they were given. Alabama, on the other hand, left three points on the board at the end of the first with Tiffin’s miss. The second half was just as exciting as the first. With just under five minutes left in the third quarter, Alabama appeared ready to score. Upchurch took a handoff from McElroy and broke into Tech’s secondary, but Tech linebacker Cody Grimm followed with one of the more athletic plays of the night, chasing Upchurch down from behind and stripping the ball with his right hand. The fumble was recovered by Tech senior cornerback Stephan Virgil at the Hokies’ 11 and shifted momentum when it seemed the Tide rushing game was tiring the Hokies defense out. Unfortunately, Tech could not capitalize on the turnover and again punted back to Alabama. With just over 12 minutes left in the final quarter, McElroy capitalized on a defensive miscommunication and hooked up with sophomore wide receiver Marquis Maze over senior free safety Kam Chancellor for a 48-yard completion to the Hokies’ six-yard line. “There was supposed to have been help over the top, but I mean, I can’t always rely on my teammates,” Chancellor said. “Sometimes I’ve got to make plays myself but it happened already so you can’t take it back. “It was frustrating at times, but I just had to go back and slow it down a little bit, get the calls right, get all the checks right, get together as one.” Ingram handled the rest, scoring on the next play with a six-yard touchdown rush. To get the lead to seven, the Tide made good on a pass to senior tight end Colin Peek for two points after the touchdown, advancing its lead to 24-17. On the ensuing kickoff, Tech started to unravel. Hokies junior rover Davon Morgan was stripped on the return, handing the ball right back to Alabama on the Hokies’ 21yard line. While the Tide was unable to acquire another seven points, Tiffin put three on the board, this time from 20 yards out to put Alabama up 27-17. The Hokies, like they did so many times Saturday night, answered right back. Dyrell Roberts returned Alabama’s kickoff on the next play, adding 47 yards to his team’s 48-yard line. After the play, 15 yards were added onto the return with a personal foul call on Alabama to put Tech at the Alabama 37-yard line. Two plays later, Ryan Williams struck again. With just under 10 minutes remaining in the game, Williams took a handoff from Taylor 32 yards up the right sideline and dove for a touchdown, breaking the plane and putting the Hokies within three
MICHAEL MCDERMOTT/SPPS
Above: Dyrell Roberts fields the kickoff that he returns for a touchdown in the first half. Below: Virginia Tech pregame huddle.
yards. Trailing 27-24, the Hokies needed a stop. Unfortunately, the defense seemed too tired. McElroy and the Tide struck again with six minutes, 35 seconds remaining in the game. This time, McElroy hit Ingram on the right side and Ingram did the rest, running 18 yards after the catch for a touchdown. This left the Tide up 34-24 giving McElroy his first passing touchdown as Alabama’s starter.
On the Hokies’ next drive, Tech ran out of answers for Alabama. The Hokies started the drive with a false start and punted after three plays, cueing the “SEC” chants by the Alabama fans. Despite the fact that the Hokies went into the fourth quarter with the lead, Alabama controlled time of possession by a wide margin. The Hokies’ 22 minutes, 58 seconds of possession paled in comparison to Alabama’s 37 minutes, 2 seconds with the ball. Those numbers finally caught up
to the Hokies when it looked as if Ingram and Upchurch were running in no-contact drills late in the fourth quarter. In addition to the loss, bad news continued to roll in for the Hokies. Redshirt senior tight end Greg Boone sustained a right sternoclavicular joint sprain, the connection between the breastbone and the clavicle. The severity of the injury is unknown. Tech’s next game will be at home Saturday, Sept. 12 against Marshall University (1-0) in Lane Stadium.
Corrections -In “How is campus any different?” (CT-Sept. 3) regular columnist Samuel Stephens was listed as a philosophy major. He is actually a senior in the Civil Engineering Department. -In “Beating a scientifically dead horse” (CT-Sept. 4) regular columnist Brian Roper was listed as an astrology minor. He is actually an astronomy minor. -The AP college poll (CT-Sept. 4) showed Oklahoma State and Penn State ranked at nine and 10, respectively. The teams are actually tied at number nine, both with 989 poll points each The Collegiate Times regrets these errors.
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DIY: Security and style for your laptop W
rap up your goods. It seems obvious enough, but statistics suggest an alarming number of Virginia Tech students forgo protection on a daily basis. The excuses are as bountiful as cleavage at a frat party and include everything from “it’s too expensive” to “it makes it too bulky.” It turns dorm rooms, bars and even classrooms into breeding grounds for disaster. This widespread trend has already left thousands of students suffering from mysterious pockmarks, unsightly scratches and broken equipment that fails to be turned on while thousands more tempt fate by leaving their junk exposed. Students, professors, family and friends: It is time to stop this cycle of inevitable destruction and live without the stress of scares or regrets the morning after. With your own two hands, no partner required, you can create an inexpensive, eco-friendly solution to protect the piece of equipment you use the most — your laptop.
YOU WILL NEED: - Outside Fabric: A sturdy, fabric such as upholstery, canvas, or wool that is at least a two inches bigger than your laptop on each side. I used two different pieces of upholstery for each side to add variety, but this is optional. - Inner Fabric: A thick, soft fabric such as an old sweatshirt or polar fleece blanket that can cover your laptop three times. It is purely for insulation and protection, so you can mix and match different types of fabric if you do not have enough of one kind. -Needle and thread, or sewing machine -Adhesive Velcro -Scissors COST: I used materials I had lying around so I only spent about $3 on Velcro. By recycling old upholstery, skirts or dresses for the outer fabric and old sweatshirts and blankets for the inner fabric, you can clean out your closet for free or spend about $5 at the thrift store. TIME: One to two hours
STEP ONE: Using your laptop as a measuring tool, cut two panels from the upholstery (outer fabric) that have at least two inches of room on each side, but three or four inches is desirable. Also cut six panels from the fleece (inner fabric) that have at least one inch of room on each side. STEP THREE: (shown at left) Lay three panels of fleece on top of each other on the interior of each side of the upholstery so that they touch at the bottom and leave room on the sides and top. Pin in place.
STEP FOUR: (not pictured) Fold down the unhemmed side of the upholstery to the same length as the fleece. Tuck and pin under the fleece.
STEP FIVE: (not pictured) Sew the fleece in place. You will end up with one long panel of upholstery lined with fleece.
STEP TWO:: Lay the panels of upholstery together with the inside facing out and sew along one side to create one long panel. Hem one side, which will be the closure flap.
STEP SIX: (shown at left) Fold the panel inside out. The fleece should be even, leaving the hemmed side of the upholstery a few inches longer than the other for the closure flap. Slide your laptop inside and pin around it so that the fit is snug with a little bit of room to make up for lost space on each side when you turn it right side out. STEP SEVEN: (shown at right) Sew along pins and then trim away excess fabric along the fleece until you get to the closure flap.
STEP NINE: (show at far left) Turn your bag right side out. Your laptop should fit in snugly. STEP TEN: (shown at left) Stick Velcro with adhesive along the closure flap and on the front of the bag where it matches up. Sew along the sides for durability. Alas, fashionable protection for your delicate apparatus at a fraction of the price — a choice even your mother would be proud of.
MARY ANNE CARTER -ct features reporter -senior English major, biology minor -young Democrat
FINAL: FRONT VIEW
FINAL: BACK VIEW
STEP EIGHT: (shown above) Instead of cutting away the excess fabric of the closure flap, fold and pin it in place and sew along the pins.
september 8, 2009
page 4
Experience shapes speaker TED GREGORY chicago tribune CHICAGO Born with a disorder that would leave him 3 feet tall and so brittle that coughing could fracture a rib, Sean Stephenson could not walk as a child. He was wracked with pain. People stared at him all the time. Except on Halloween. On Halloween, everyone looked different. His distinct physical appearance, the consequence of osteogenesis imperfecta, helped him blend in, and he loved that. But on Halloween morning 1988, he broke his leg after catching it on a door frame. His favorite day became an agonizing one. He was hysterical until his mother asked him the question that would change his life: “Is this going to be a gift or a burden?” Two decades later, the man who at birth was supposed to survive only 24 hours is doing his best to convert what would seem to be an insurmountable challenge into a gift to himself and others. Stephenson, 30, is a psychotherapist and inspirational speaker. His selfhelp book, “Get Off Your ‘But,’” was released last week, and on April 25 he finished filming a TV documentary pilot for A&E. A college graduate pursuing a PhD in clinical hypnosis, he’s toying with the idea of running for Congress, after he opens orphanages for kids with disabilities and a summer camp aimed at eliminating “self-sabotage” in children. “I embrace my life,” he said one morning from his 17th-floor office in the Oakbrook Terrace Tower. “I’ve lived the life of a rock star.” Like any motivational speaker who has clipped on a microphone, Stephenson weaves similar quips into every conversation. “Self-sabotage is the biggest problem on the planet” is one. “If someone is telling you no, you’re talking to the wrong person” is another. “Compare leads to despair” and “fairness is an illusion” are other favorites. He also stresses that “connecting,” which he defines as “an exchange of our humanity,” is vastly different from communicating, the simple exchange of information. Understanding that difference can be one of the most powerful tools in changing people’s lives, Stephenson maintains. Given where he came from, it’s difficult to dismiss Stephenson as another entry in a seemingly endless supply of self-helpers in bookstores, at business seminars and online.
Born in Chicago and raised in LaGrange, Ill., Stephenson endured more than 200 bone fractures by the time he was 18. His genetic disorder, which also can stunt growth, left him with arms so short he is unable to scratch the top of his head. “You lose your ego pretty fast,” said Stephenson, who weighs about 47 pounds and is among about 50,000 people in the country with some form of osteogenesis imperfecta. “There were things that I was pretty uncomfortable with.” In cars he travels in a child seat. He needs a stick to press elevator buttons. His father routinely carries Stephenson, who, without a wheelchair, must scoot along the ground “like a penguin,” he said. He is quick to credit his parents, Gregg and Gloria Stephenson, who live with him in Oak Brook, Ill., and his sister, Heidi, with developing his inner strength. Apart from that fateful Halloween lesson and the daily, physical support they give their son, the Stephensons emphasized a few basics: They made him focus on what he can do and dismiss what he cannot. They used an egg-timer to contain his episodes of self-pity to 15 minutes a day. During his frequent bouts of pain, they would ask him to visualize pleasant memories. And they refused to hide him. “You decide to face the music,” Gloria Stephenson said. “He was a child first. The O.I. and the wheelchair come next.” Added Gregg Stephenson: “We tried to instill a lot of positive things in his life, but he took it and ran with that. It all comes down to what someone does with what they have.” Sean Stephenson soon found that sharing his vulnerability led people to open up to him. He realized he could use that effect to help, he said, and became a motivational speaker at 17, although he served as a spokesman for osteogenesis imperfecta at 11 years old. Majoring in political science at DePaul, Stephenson worked as an intern for President Bill Clinton_who gives a video endorsement of Stephenson on his Web site_and U.S. Rep. William O. Lipinski before graduating with high honors in 2001. While working as a motivational speaker, Stephenson would be approached by people who wanted to share personal problems in hopes he could provide answers. That led him to earn a degree in psychotherapy and a practice in “breakthrough therapy,” in which Stephenson sees a
client for an intense, 12-hour session to transform the client’s life. “He just had this compassion about him,” said client Jamie Coombs, 26, of San Diego. Coombs was trying to break free of drug abuse and the emotional scars from two rapes. Stephenson had her close her eyes, place herself in those nightmarish moments, then asked Coombs to comfort herself, forgive herself. “I don’t know what happened to me, but I was just in this euphoric place after,” Coombs said, adding she’s been clean since the 2007 session. “It’s like I don’t even know the person I used to be.” A year earlier, TV producer Bryn Freedman was impressed with an interview of Stephenson she’d heard and contacted him. She started working on a TV project. About the same time, Stephenson had been pitching a self-help book, which he considered a natural next step. Last year, he found a publisher and wrote the 225-page book aimed at telling readers, as the cover states, “how to end self-sabotage and stand up for yourself.” A few months ago, Freedman put together a deal for a pilot that condenses Stephenson’s life into 44 minutes. The 86 hours of shooting culminated with Stephenson throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at the White Sox game April 25. “I am so moved and impressed by how peaceful he is and how insightful and how joyful he is and how he has this extraordinary back story,” Freedman said, “but he doesn’t focus on that.” Instead, he is able to “take the meaning of that experience and codify it for other people,” to help improve their lives “in a very insightful, systematic way,” she said. His message typically elicits three reactions: inspiration; self-loathing among those able-bodied folks who struggle to keep up with mundane everyday tasks; and criticism from those who see him and attention given to him as skewing an honest appraisal of life for people with disabilities. He occasionally is heckled at speaking events and in phone messages, but mostly in e-mails, by people with disabilities “because they say I don’t identify with my disability enough,” he said. “These are people who are not living out their dreams. “Being 3-feet-tall and in a wheelchair is about 2 percent of who I am. I’m more than able. I’m playing large.”
Hillsville gun show attracts thousands
DAN WAIDELICH/COLLEGIATE TIMES
Bill Davis, manager of the event and commander of VFW Post 1115, stands in front of the VFW tent.
PEOPLE LINE THE STREETS OF HILLSVILLE FOR THE ANNUAL LABOR DAY GUN SHOW AND FLEA MARKET DAN WAIDELICH ct features reporter Hundreds of tents line the main road into the village. Men walk proudly down the street with guns slung across their backs and their families by their side. Local vendors have set up shop to take advantage of the momentous occasion. Despite the heavily armed population and the parade-like atmosphere, the South is not rising again. This is the annual Hillsville Veterans of Foreign Wars Labor Day Gun Show and Flea Market. Every Labor Day weekend, hundreds of thousands of people stroll along the steep streets of Hillsville, going from vendor to vendor, enjoying good deals, friendly conversation, and the lure of the aromatic scents of the many food stalls present at the show. It seems surprising to imagine half a million people, many of them tourists, would descend on a small, quiet town in Southwest Virginia, but every year the citizens of Hillsville prepare for what has been affectionately called “the largest Flea Market east of the Mississippi.” The tiny Carroll County town has played host to the Gun Show and Flea Market since 1967, when some local men set out to host a small gun show that would attract the community.
With the sponsorship of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1115, that first show was an immediate success. From those humble beginnings the Flea Market has grown tremendously. In recent years, the VFW and the town have expected more than 500,000 visitors. When faced with the prospect of half a million patrons, the men at the VFW keep a cool head about the popularity of their event. “I don’t know exactly how many will be here,” said Bill Davis, the manager of the event and commander of VFW Post 1115 on Friday. “We just count up the money from the tickets and that’s how we get a number.” The sheer size of the tent city that takes over Hillsville is intimidating. Visitors who have trouble deciding where to start their adventure might want to buy a ticket to the gun show, held in the VFW hall that sits roughly in the middle of the market. The crowded hall is home to tables holding hundreds of guns, knives, and other firearm accessories. Patrons peruse the merchandise leisurely, stopping to chat with dealers and other firearm enthusiasts. For shoppers who see something they like, firearms sold by the many private dealers at the show can be purchased on the spot. Virginia has no law on the books prohibiting the private sale of firearms at a gun show.
If the crowds and the guns are not up a visitor’s alley, they can simply move on to the expansive and always intriguing sprawl of the flea market. The VFW’s parking lot and an adjacent field are home to over 700 tents. The rows of vendors, which seem endless, contain a vast assortment of goods. Antiques, clothing, tools, and furniture can be found throughout the market. Every vendor has a unique offering to prospective buyers and there are plenty of stones for an adventurous visitor to uncover. It would be impossible to see the entirety of the market in one day and the event is planned accordingly. Visitors have the whole Labor Day weekend, from Friday to Monday, to enjoy the market at their leisure. Attendance is usually impressive. Christopher Harris, a parking lot attendant for the event, said Friday’s turnout alone was one of the largest he has seen at the Market. “It feels like it’s Saturday night,” he remarked. “That’s usually when the crowds come out.” The unique drawing power of the 2009 event was not lost on VFW members. “This is a surprise,” said Daivs, “I guess gas is cheaper and it is just hot enough that people wanted to go out, but stay close to home. So they came here.” The event also drew some curious Hokies to Hillsville. “I wasn’t really sure what to expect,” said Becca Smoot, a sophomore business major. According to Smoot, the variety of antiques and home decorating was a highlight of the show. Despite skipping the gun show, Smoot was impressed by the event and Carroll County. “There was a lot to do,” said Smoot. “It was very scenic.” The VFW Gun Show and Flea Market is a unique experience that highlights the culture of Southwest Virginia in an enjoyable, enticing way. Spending Labor Day among friendly vendors and delicious food is an experience that should not be missed. The Hillsville VFW Labor Day Gun Show and Flea Market is over, but visitors who cannot wait another year have the springtime to look forward to. The Market returns on Memorial Day when the VFW hosts a smaller version of the event.
opinions 5
editor: debra houchins opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865 COLLEGIATETIMES
september 8, 2009
Your Views
The Collegiate Times is an independent student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903
[letters to the editor]
CT needs other perspectives The recent piece on “Utilizing Opinions” (CT-Sept. 4) was a well-thought out and modest effort to better connect with the readers. However, I would like very much to see some fire to match this smoke. The Collegiate Times is a well organized, thought out, informative, and overall entertaining newspaper, and yet there is much to be done. The opinion pieces are written by level-headed, hard-working students here at Virginia Tech. By publishing these types of articles, you are neglecting an opinion that is ripe for the plucking. I am talking about angry, hardworking delusional students whose vast ludicrous thoughts could easily fill a small section of your paper on a weekly basis. The opinions of the deranged are as untapped as Middle East oil fields. Let me clarify that I do not want the CT to be The Onion. Keep using facts and reporting on real stories. However, there is much opportunity to give a voice to the muttering incoherent thoughts of overworked students. Tech is an extraordinary place with a multitude of fringe thought that needs to be harvested for the good of
the simple balls of mush that come here year after year in an attempt to be molded into adult human beings. Forget stories titled “Do we Spend Too Much Time on Facebook?” We know the answer to that (as long as we remember the name of our country, then the answer remains no). Try these titles on for size, “Why D2 is the Key to World Peace,” “Units of Hate: Converting O’Reilly’s to Olbermann’s” and “Vladimir Lenin: Prince of Fashion.” To some, the idea of these pieces may seem humorous, and to others, it is gospel. If opinion is what the CT is seeking, then it is just a matter of will. Campus dialogue of this degree will shake the very foundation of university newspapers countrywide. It can be a true exploration of Tech and what it means to be a Hokie. Not every guy parties and sleeps in. Not every girl wears goofy sunglasses, fake tans and shows more cleavage a than Newsweek cover. It’s an ocean of opinion in Blacksburg. I hope these thoughts help to improve your newspaper. I enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy using it to block the streetlight from entering my window.
Vincent Guida sophomore, Industrial Systems Engineering
Return to old work ethic could benefit our current society B
enjamin Franklin once said, “Life’s tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late.” Our generation is under the impression that its own wisdom far surpasses the aptitude of those before it. Decaying in nursing homes and assisted living facilities are some of the greatest untapped resources of advice and guidance for our rising young adults, yet we are either too busy or simply hold a general ambivalence toward these people to appreciate their value. Presented with the tasks of surviving the Great Depression and uniting to fight a world war, the people that comprise what Tom Brokaw refers to as, “The Greatest Generation” are now dying and carrying with them the passion and spirit of what it once meant to be an American. The mantra of modern society, “How can I get something for nothing?” is the mentality that has led to the cataclysm that is our economy, our health care system and our government budget because Americans have forgotten that our country was founded on work. Now, work has become passe. Those individuals who work for a living, who are dedicated to their daily tasks without expecting assistance and who are rewarded with only what they actually earn in return are perceived by contemporary society as somehow abnormal or naive. Yet these people, these “working” people, were the norm at one time. From the turn of the 20th century to around the time of the 1950s, everyone knew without question that nothing came for free and whining about it was futile. Coincidentally (or perhaps not), around the time that the credit card was introduced, society began encouraging the concept of something for nothing. The public thought that just because Mr. Jones owned a 5,000-square-foot house, they should too. That’s when it began — the slippery slope that has led to our present state of financial and ethical chaos. Talk to a survivor of the Great Depression. They remember that it took more than just work to eat and maintain shelter. Survival also required a cooperative effort and a mutual understanding that no
one could mooch off one another. Everyone pulled their weight, without exception. If the Great Depression happened today, we would all fall victim to natural selection. Surely most Americans cannot fathom trading the BlackBerry and the Gucci sunglasses for a shovel and cow manure. America is viewed as a weaker, less compassionate, and more selfish nation than it was sixty years ago. It goes without saying that we have achieved tremendous social goals, yet we have regressed in other areas. We need a wake-up call. I believe it has come in the form of skyrocketing unemployment levels and countless bankruptcies of what we believed to be solid companies when, in fact, they are products of creative accounting with the charlatan’s “smoke and mirrors.” What is the solution to this increasingly desperate circumstance? How can America rebound and regain its former vitality? We as a country must not tolerate the sector of our society that has resolved to achieve the minimal to survive. Our livelihood as a nation in such a precarious state rests not on government bailouts or stimulus packages, but on our unrelenting dedication to fight through the hard times so that we might appreciate the fruits of our success. We must have fiscal discipline, both as individuals and as citizens of the United States of America. We must spend less than what we earn, and we must not spend it until we earn it. Deficit spending only leads to larger deficits. We cannot spend our way back into prosperity. Our citizens must rediscover that passing the buck is not an option. We must usher in a new era — our renaissance of individual responsibility.
Brooke Leonard -regular columnist -sophomore economics major
part of a student org and want to speak your voice? write a column for the CT. send an e-mail to studentorg@collegiatetimes.com for more information
MCT CAMPUS
Ignore others’ vices: Choice to smoke is a personal one T
his year will be better than the last. I used to wake up every morning last year at about 8 a.m. Two scoops of coffee grinds cascade into a filter as cold water fills up the chamber. I flick the switch, turn on my laptop and surf the news sites for the juicy tidbits that materialized overnight. Class for me began at 9:05, so I had plenty of time to pound down a bowl of oatmeal, drink two cups of Maxwell House French Roast and smoke two Camel Filters. My girlfriend at the time didn’t mind my smoking habit. Then again, she wasn’t in Blacksburg. This year, I plan on starting my day off the same way, save the smoke. My girlfriend convinced me to try to quit smoking this year, citing that she was concerned for my health. Realizing that I could afford to bottleneck my smoking, I found myself spreading a pack of cigarettes out over the course of a week, then two, then eventually one pack a month. Now, you’ll rarely catch me smoking. It’s not so much that I am worried about that post-cigarette hint of tobacco that lingers on my jacket or the seemingly cartoonish disapproval for smoking I receive from my coughing, hacking and gagging peers whose lungs are so overwhelmed by my oppressive storm of second-hand smoke. It’s that it has gotten too expensive. I’m just no longer comfortable with spending five bucks for a pack of cigarettes that will cause a fight with my girlfriend, lead me to coughing up debris and my roommates to drown out that wonderful scent of stepping outside for a smoke with a half-bottle of Febreze. Living in a society that holds a prejudice for smokers is quite taxing these
days. We have heard the comedy bit from Denis Leary complaining about how smokers are allocated a portion of a restaurant but recently have even lost, or the bit from Dave Chappelle about looking forward to having to smoke on the moon. With New York City’s trendy bans of vices like smoking in buildings (and trans-saturated fat), the complaints of the air-hoggers have become the majority voice in the court of public opinion. Hell, even at work the smokers are discriminated against. Non-smokers felt smokers received better treatment with permission to take short cigarette breaks. The complaints led my boss to permit “fresh air breaks,” where the non-smokers could sit outside for four minutes whenever they felt like it. But the last thing I need as I get off my shift is to have the obnoxious health-conscious kids, who are just as preachy as Jehovah’s Witnesses, inform me that smoking is going to result in my forthcoming early death. I concede that smoking tobacco is one of the least healthy choices I make whenever I light up. Not to mention, I understand that some asthmatics out there are greatly compromised with their air supply. To my less-fortunate friends — don’t stand downwind. But I understand the risks I take, as well as the damages I do to my body whenever I do anything else. I risk skin cancer whenever I sit by the New River without sunscreen. My other friends (here’s looking at you, ladies) expedite that risk whenever they microwave their bodies in tanning beds. I risk heart disease whenever I consume cheese and sour cream baked potatoes and deep-fried Milky Ways
(they’re really good), even though I pass up fruit and vegetables more frequently than I care to admit. I risk tooth decay and gingivitis whenever I forget to brush my teeth after a night of drinking. The fact is we all make decisions that impact our health. Some of us opt against a morning jog or a pre-dinner hour at the gym. Some of us choose to sneak in a fourth or fifth meal in the form of dollar menu favorites. Almost all of my friends have forgone a night of sleeping to catch the entirety of some late-night program or to squeeze in a few extra hours of cramming. The trite quote from statesman Benjamin Franklin encourages the people that early to bed and early to rise will, in fact, make you a better, stronger and faster person, but the importance of a good night’s sleep is overshadowed by the danger of remaining in bed all afternoon. To start off this academic year, I have budgeted some changes in my life. Smoking next to nothing. Drinking one night a week instead of four. Exercising regularly three times a week. And bottlenecking my irritating cynicism. So put down that cigarette, but do so if you choose. Do not let someone heckle you into something to which you do not subscribe. Be yourself, treat yourself right, and relax — they say these are the best years of our lives.
BEN WOODY -regular columnist -junior English major
Liberal education more than classes; it’s community thought T
oday’s column is a continuation of my last, in which I discussed the value of a liberal education to a fully functioning democracy. By liberal education I mean that which provides knowledge of a broad range of traditional disciplines and is more related to the quality of the human life, experience, intellect and politics than it is with job training or a particular career. A liberal education contributes to all parts of one’s life. After all, being a good citizen is not just working, paying taxes and abiding by the laws. One also has to contribute to society on an intellectual level as well. We live in a democracy, and part of that experience is the responsibility of making informed decisions when voting in local, state and national elections. If one does not know anything about the candidates, the process by which they get elected, or how the candidate’s political stance will affect other citizens, then one’s vote is not contributing to society in the most effective way. Just voting along party lines — or merely choosing a candidate because our parents do — is not making an informed decision, and therefore makes no intellectual contribution to our society. A liberal education inspires and qualifies one to be a meaningful part of this process, and it helps one understand what is going on and how one can contribute to the democratic process. Take the current gubernatorial election in Virginia, for instance. The two candidates running are Democrat Creigh Deeds and Republican Bob McDonnell. These men have very different values and are running on different platforms. This is a vitally important race in Virginia for both Democrats and Republicans because the governor’s office has been under control of the Democrats for eight years now. However, when I go out and talk
to people about the race and ask them who they think they might support, too many people don’t even know there is a campaign going on. In fact, these two candidates ran against each other in the 2005 attorney general’s race, and Deeds lost by 323 votes. This election could be very close, making every vote matter. Many of the people who are potential voters are native Virginians, and many others have been living in Virginia long enough to cast an informed vote here, but all should at least know who is running. Many people have strong political and moral values and beliefs that are a crucial part of this race, but these people will not be able to express them or put them into action without knowledge of the issues, the political process and the candidates who are running. If people took the importance of a liberal education more seriously, they would have a stronger and better informed impact on their community. They would realize how important it is to be educated about elections, local, state and national issues, the political process, and how all of these topics affect them personally. Indeed, the liberally educated citizen would have an extended worldview that would show them what they do will change other people, their ideas, and ultimately our commonwealth and nation. And what we fail to realize — my main point here — is that one can get this vital knowledge here at Tech. While we are the Virginia Polytechnic Institute, we are also a “State University.” This means that we are required to have a College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences (or an equivalent) because the commonwealth of Virginia substantially funds the school. Tech has the duty to give every high school senior the same opportunity to apply and hopefully attend college here. So,
while we have a nationally ranked engineering school, a great business school, and are ranked second in the nation in architecture, there are other colleges and departments here, too. Our philosophy department has been nationally ranked the last 10 years, and our political science department has sent students to law schools such as Cornell, Washington and Lee, and William and Mary. T ech has a good liberal arts college with many more-than-qualified professors who offer numerous classes that are open to all majors. These classes can be very challenging, but they are taught by people who know the subject and who know the value of an informed citizenry. These professors require us to think outside of the box by opening our minds to new intellectual possibilities, problems and solutions. Their liberal arts classes are essential for teaching us how to construct arguments in favor of our product — intellectual or marketbased — to give powerful presentations at any company or job, and to solve problems effectively in any kind of workplace. These skills, crucial to the effective functioning of a democracy, are intended for everyone. It is my hope, and the hope of all those who believe in the value of a liberal education, that all Hokies can benefit from our state university status, not only as professionals, but also as educated and well-informed citizens, neighbors, volunteers, familymembers and humans.
GABI SELTZER -regular columnist -sophomore philosophy major
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Volleyball wins three, improves to 6-0 RAY NIMMO ct sports reporter The Hokies’ women’s volleyball record stands at 6-0 for the first time in school history after winning all three games of the Virginia Tech Tournament at Cassell Coliseum. Tech pummeled its first two opponents, East Carolina University and Norfolk State University, beating both 3-0. In the finale against Arkansas, the Hokies defeated the Razorbacks in a five-set, back-and-forth showdown to win the tournament. Three Hokies made the AllTournament Team: sophomore setter Erin Leaser, senior outside hitter Taylor Parrish and junior middle blocker Felicia Willoughby, who also won Most Valuable Player for the tournament. Tech kicked off the tournament against ECU, easily winning in straight sets (25-17, 25-13, 25-22). The Hokies hit .265 for the match and held the Pirates to a .049 hitting percentage. Willoughby blocked nine out of the 14 total blocks in the match and led the team in hitting percentage with .571. “I couldn’t have done it without my team,” Willoughby said. “Without someone passing the balls and setting, I wouldn’t have the success I have.” Parrish (.417) and senior middle blocker Betsy Horowitz (.364) also amassed gaudy hitting percentages against ECU. The second game against NSU showed the coaches and fans just how much depth the team has. Head coach Chris Riley played reserves for a majority of the game. The Hokies still won in straight sets (25-11, 25-18, 25-15), with sophomore middle blocker Kirsty Blue hitting a .538 clip with eight kills. Redshirt freshman Jennifer Wiker hit .353, and sophomore Justine Record hit .409 with 11 kills. The Hokies’ defense forced the Spartans to hit negative for the match (-.045). Riley recorded his 200th win against NSU, but he was modest about the statistic. “It’s just a number,” he said. “I love coming to work everyday. This is a great place. I love the fans. I love the administration. I’ve had some great players and some great teams, and I’m very lucky to have them.” Any reminiscing ended shortly after as the Hokies were poised to face BRIAN CLAY/SPPS Arkansas, which, like Tech, won its Senior middle blocker Betsy Horowitz goes up for a hit against East first two games, 3-0. Arkansas won the first set, but Tech Carolina University in Tech’s 3-0 win Friday in the VT Tournament.
IFC
“
Felicia really dictates our offensive tempo, and if you’re going to use two on her, the rest of our players are good enugh to beat you. CHRIS RILEY HEAD COACH
stormed back to win the next two. The Razorbacks responded to win set four to send the match into a decisive fifth set. Both teams went on short streaks in the final set, but the Hokies prevailed winning the match 3-2 (20-25, 25-23, 25-20, 19-25, 15-13). “It was good to get ourselves in that situation (five sets) before conference play,” Riley said. “We knew it was going to be a battle. They’re a very, very good team. We knew it was going to be tough.” Tech and Arkansas played last year to the same result — a five-set Hokie victory. “I know they came here to have a little bit of revenge on us,” Willoughby said. “They came out playing hard, and we came out playing hard, and it just came down to who would make the most errors. It was a really good match.” Willoughby hit .280 against Arkansas and had 10 kills — one of five players to have double-digit kills. “Felicia’s great,” Riley said. “They were sending two blockers against her everywhere she went. She had to hit against four hands in front of her the entire time. Felicia really dictates our offensive tempo, and if you’re going to use two on her, the rest of our players are good enough to beat you.” One of those other players is freshman middle blocker Cara Baarendse who compiled a .459 hitting percentage over the three games. She had 13 kills and hit .500 against Arkansas. She is cementing her role as a go-to player. “I just came out with the same attitude, (which is) wanting to win,” Baarendse said. “I couldn’t have done it without the team.” Baarendse’s impressive statistics didn’t come easy, though. “It was intense,” Baarendse said. “It was very nerve-racking, but I overcame the nerves. It was really fun just being out on the court and putting my whole effort on the court.” The Hokies travel to Washington, D.C., to play in the American Tournament this weekend. The first game is against New Jersey Institute of Technology, followed by games against Yale University and American University.
sports 7
september 8, 2009
page 8
Cross country teams open well, appear primed for success MATT COLLETTE ct sports reporter The 2009 Virginia Tech men’s and women’s cross country teams both earned first place honors in their first competition at the Virginia Tech Cross Country Relays Friday. The wins were important for both teams, who have varying hopes for the upcoming season. Expectations are on two different levels this year for the Hokies. The men are trying to put it all together and take the next step into the NCAA elite while the women are looking for answers after losing All-American Tasmin Fanning. If the men do take that next step in 2009, it will be because of a unique mix of experience and youth. Two seniors, Devin Cornwall and Paul LaPenna, who both have established themselves as top runners in the ACC, will captain a group of up-and-coming Hokies who impressed in flashes last year. The maturation of the younger guys has the elder statesmen on the team excited. “I realistically think that we should and that we will qualify for the NCAA meet,” LaPenna predicts. “I think if everyone’s healthy, we can have a top15 program in the nation. We finally
have all the pieces together.” Head cross country and distance coach Ben Thomas echoes that sentiment. “This team can be as good as expected, but the key is keeping everyone healthy,” he said. The NCAA Cross Country Championships are Nov. 23 in Terra Haute, Ind. and the men’s team expects to be there, this would be quite an accomplishment, since the team has not been to an NCAA Championship in 22 years and has only gone four times in the program’s history. “The atmosphere on the team is completely different this year. Now we think we should make it to NCAAs. We should do well. There’s a lot confidence on the team this year,” LaPenna said. LaPenna, an All-Atlantic Coast Conference runner in 2007, comes back after medically redshirting last year. Cornwall, the 2007 ACC Freshman of the Year, took another step in 2008 with a third place finish at the ACC Championships. If both can stay healthy in 2009, they will be battling the top runners in the ACC and the country. Enter the supporting cast, a band of exciting young runners who are looking to take Tech to the next level.
Sophomore Michael Hammond, a highly touted recruit out of Midlothian, Va., made a statement at the end of last year with a 15th place finish at ACCs. Sophomores Will Mulherin and Brian Welch come back along with Hammond after successful freshman campaigns. Mulherin also had an impressive finish at ACCs in 2008, coming in behind Hammond finishing 20th. “Will should carry over from the success he had as last year went on,” Thomas said. “He had that great finish at the ACCs in cross country in the fall and then in the spring he won the 5,000-meter ACC Championship outdoor race. That’s a hard thing to do as a freshman.” Mulherin and Hammond’s ACC success helped the team finish third overall at the 2008 ACC Cross Country Meet, improving from its fifth place finish in 2007. If the trend continues, an ACC crown could be in the cards in 2009. “We can be one of the better teams (at the ACCs) this year,” Thomas said. “If we are healthy we should do well. And if we can be one of the top teams there, we should be able to compete nationally as well.” On the other side, the Tech women’s team is left in the wake of the tsunami
MICHAEL SHROYER/SPPS
The men’s cross country team runs together at the Virginia Tech Alumni Invitational on Sept. 19, 2008. that was Tasmin Fanning. Arguably the best female runner to ever put on Chicago Maroon and Burnt Orange, Fanning received Academic AllAmerican status, was named a finalist for the Honda Award (given to the nation’s top female runner), finished third at the NCAA Championships, and personally rewrote the Tech Cross Country record books. Fanning departs along with two fellow seniors and established Hokie runners Jess Fanning, her sister, and Erin Reddan. This leaves the team with
no seniors for the 2009 season. Only two years removed from an ACC Championship, the phrase “rebuilding year” can be thrown around quite easily when discussing the 2009 Hokie women. An overhaul of young runners will hopefully make this year the beginning of another campaign like that of 2007. “We are definitely in a reloading stage, but we are going to take our success from the spring and try to use that for the fall,” Thomas said. “We have a lot of young runners, and I think given
a little time this team could surprise some people.” Fairfax junior Jess Trapeni leads the team back in the fall as one of only three girls who aren’t in their first or second year on the team. Trapeni won the Hokie Open last year and was named Atlantic Coast Conference Women’s Cross Country Performer of the Week on Nov. 10 for her victory. Trapeni is looking forward to the challenges this year brings. “We are excited to see how all of the freshmen perform,” she said. “They have already come in and adjusted really well. Everyone’s pushing each other because there are 12 girls and only a few will make the travel team.” With only five returning runners, the women will rely heavily on coach Thomas’ “reloaded” team. Both Thomas and Trapeni agree that the key to success is to shorten the times between the top and bottom Hokie runners. “Last year we had a big gap between the top runners and the bottom ones. This year we want to change that so we can score better,” Trapeni said. Tech’s next competition will be at the Virginia Tech Alumni Invitational on Sept. 18 in Blacksburg. Along with the Virginia Tech Alumni Invitational, the Hokies will also hold one other home event this year, the Hokie Open Race on Nov. 6 at the Tech Cross Country Course. Three away meets are also scheduled, with the Highland Duel on Oct. 2 in Boone, N.C., the Chile Pepper Festival on Oct. 17, in Fayetteville, Ark., and the ACC Championships on Oct. 31, in Cary, N.C.