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Thursday, September 24, 2009
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COLLEGIATETIMES 106th year, issue 90
check out our coverage of the men’s soccer game at www.collegiatetimes.com News, page 1 Features, page 5 Opinions, page 3 Classifieds, page 4 Sudoku, page 4
Sports, page 2
N.B. Spencer succumbs to cancer at 62 ZACH CRIZER nrv news editor Virginia Tech Associate Provost Norrine Bailey Spencer, 62, died Wednesday according to a university press release. Spencer had been battling cancer and participated annually in Relay for Life. Spencer served Tech from 19832008 in numerous capacities. She was most recently the associate provost and director of undergraduate admissions. Prior to that role, she served as an associate dean of the Pamplin College of Business. She was awarded emerita status by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors when she retired last year. Before coming to Tech, Spencer
SPENCER
-Associate Provost, Dean of Undergrad Admissions -Pamplin Associate Dean, 1983-2004 -Doctorate from Tech
worked at the University of Delaware. Spencer is survived by Ed Spencer, her husband and the university vice president for student affairs, as well as their son Andrew and two grandchildren. Spencer earned her doctorate from Tech after graduating from Susquehanna University and completing a master’s degree at Syracuse University.
Garage to fix, yet restrict, parking GORDON BLOCK news reporter Students and university officials are working to alleviate commuter parking concerns with construction of a new parking garage in the Prices Fork Lot. The new $26 million garage, set for completion in the fall of 2010, is projected to hold between 1,2001,300 new parking spots. However, construction for the new garage has stripped 402 spots from the lot. Despite the loss of the spots, members of the university administration are convinced there is plenty of space. “There’s not a lack of parking,” said Richard McCoy, manager for Parking Services. “There’s a lack of convenient parking.” McCoy said more parking for commuting students was available at the Smithfield Lot. The lot is roughly 0.8 miles walking distance from the center of the Drillfield. “There’s open parking down there in abundance,” McCoy said. “They could park down there and go about their day.” With a shortage of convenient parking, students are being pressed to explore alternative forms of transportation to campus, including taking the bus or biking to campus. “It’s a simple supply and demand problem,” said Brandon Carroll, SGA president. “If we can decrease some of that demand, then I think we can help ease the situation.” Bus usage increased 17.7 percent in the first week of classes of fall 2009 compared to the same period of time in fall 2008, a difference of 17,950 rides. “That’s quite a few people,” said Ken Tucker, marketing director for Blacksburg Transit. The bus line has instituted several changes to alleviate bus
congestion, including additional trippers to heavy traffic areas that drop students off on Perry Street. One proposed plan from the SGA would update students about the location of buses and other updates through Twitter. “It would be an easy way for students to be updated,” said Brianna Farr, director of the transportation committee of the SGA. Debby Freed, alternative transportation manager for Transportation and Campus Services, suggested students riding the bus should plan ahead. “Catch the bus before the bus you must ride,” Freed said. “You might have to go out earlier, but it’s better than being late.” Tucker said his office has been quick in giving feedback to dissatisfied riders. “We answer every e-mail, every phone call we receive,” Tucker said. Tucker was sure the changes would make a difference for students who commute by bus to campus. “I feel confident that we’ve made changes that are making a trip from off campus to on campus less frustrating for riders,” Tucker said. Students are also using their bikes more frequently to get to classes, Freed said. For the first time, a survey will be done to determine how many students ride bicycles to campus. The survey, to be conducted in the last week of September, will gauge demand and determine areas where more bike racks would be needed. Farr suggested a change in mindset of driving would be necessary to relieve some of the parking woes. “Our system of everyone driving separately isn’t working,” Farr said. “There aren’t enough spaces to accommodate everybody who wants to drive.”
Just a
click away Past ticket distribution
[2007] Students receive perforated sheet of tickets One ticket per game No new copies of lost tickets are provided
[2008] Students receive one durable plastic card Card must be scanned for each game No new copies of lost cards are provided
[2009] Students receive e-mails containing ticket files One ticket per game Ticket is sent three days before each game New copies of lost tickets can be printed out SARA SPANGLER/COLLEGIATE TIMES
[news in brief] Two arrested for attempted robbery Two local men were arrested in connection with an attempted robbery on Hunt Club Road early Wednesday morning. A Blacksburg Police press release said a robbery complaint was called in at 1:02 a.m. Wednesday in the 400 block of Hunt Club Road. Police later arrested 19-year-old Langston Emaumal Lewis of Pulaski and 19-year-old Justin Santea Little of Radford and charged them with attempted robbery. The release said two men approached a 20-year-old male victim and grabbed his backpack. The victim was able to free himself and flee the scene. Both suspects are currently being held without bond in Montgomery County Jail. by zach crizer
LEWIS
E-mail tickets pose counterfeiting concerns BY HOPE MILES | news staff writer counterfeit student football tickets are finding their way into the hands of Virginia Tech football fans, the athletics department is hoping that student integrity will decrease this growing trend. For the 2008 football season, students received one pass with their student identification number on it that was scanned before each game. However, 2009 student tickets are e-mailed to them to personally print out, much like last season’s basketball tickets. The new setup marks a pseudo-return to the ticket system used two years ago, in which students were given printed, per-game tickets. The main difference is students print their own ticket. “There were problems with the cards because students would lose them or they would get stolen, and they weren’t easy to replace,” said Sandy Smith, assistant director of athletics for Ticketing Services. Smith said the print-at-home tickets were used for the 2009 basketball season, and it seemed to work well. However, the issue of printing and selling multiple counterfeit tickets has become a problem with the introduction of print-at-home tickets. “Altering or selling counterfeit tickets is an honor code violation,” Smith said. Students face conduct referrals if they are caught counterfeiting tickets. “We are doing our best to tell people not to do it,” Smith said. “If anyone is found counterfeiting tickets, they will be turned into judicial review.” Smith said the electronic print-at-home method is easy for students, and they are distributed on a game-by-game basis. “I understand why the new ticket situation is the way it is, but I liked the tickets that were mailed to your house ... like alumni tickets,” said junior civil engineering major Robert Thuma. Alumni are given the option of print-at-home tickets or receiving them through the mail, but there is a price difference. The print-at-home tickets are less expensive. The new distribution method “helps students get their tickets in an efficient manner, and they help maneuver people around the stadium,” Smith said. Smith said the department does not want student tickets to look like alumni tickets because it makes it difficult for ticket scanners to tell the difference between the two, and Tech students are expected to show a Hokie Passport along with their ticket to enter the game. He also said student ticket prices are reduced, and a similar looking ticket could be sold for more than what the student paid. Smith said alumni tickets have also experienced some changes over the years. “Alumni tickets have changed,” Smith said. “The look has changed. There are new pictures every year and there is a bar code this year that wasn’t there before. We have also used rainbow and roll tickets in the past.” Thuma said he would not take the risk of altering his ticket but knew how it could be done with computer software. “Personally, I wouldn’t change my ticket because if everyone did it would be chaos, but changing a ticket would be very easy to do,” Thuma said. RMC Events, Inc., staffs ticket checkers for football games. Marc Satori, event manager at RMC Events, could not comment when asked how ticket scanners distinguish counterfeit tickets and what procedures are taken when one is found. When designing the tickets, designers aim to make tickets that are easy to read yet hard to counterfeit. Smith said no decision has been made on the future changes to the form of student tickets. “I’m not sure. It depends on the situation,” Smith said.
LITTLE SARA SPANGLER & BETHANY BUCHANAN/COLLEGIATE TIMES
sports 2
editors: joe crandley, alex jackson sportseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865 COLLEGIATETIMES
september 24, 2009
Volleyball off to strong start, prepared for conference slate RAY NIMMO sports reporter With a 10-2 record, the Virginia Tech volleyball team is poised to make a run at the Atlantic Coast Conference title and earn a spot in the NCAA tournament. The Hokies began the season with nine straight wins — their best start
ever. They dropped their first game to the University of Virginia this past weekend, which puts their ACC record at 0-1. Despite the loss, reflections on the first half of the season were positive. “We took care of the matches we were supposed to take care of,” head coach Chris Riley said. “We played well at times. We played down to our compe-
tition at times, but all in all, I think we learned a lot about our team.” “I think that we came out strong,” said Felicia Willoughby, a junior middle blocker. “Our tempo on offense is a lot quicker than a lot of teams are used to. I think that’s probably one of our strengths. The first half of the season is just practicing and getting used to playing with each other, so I think we
have a lot to improve on to get ready for ACC play.” Coming into the season, the Hokies were picked to finish sixth in the conference. UVa was picked to finish seventh, so the loss to the Cavaliers was a mild upset. The match was in Charlottesville — a place Tech has not won in since 1992. During the four-set affair, the Hokies didn’t lack the winning mentality. “It was a great match,” Riley said. “They were up for us, and they always will be. It was a good match. We had our opportunities in game one and game two; we were winning both of them. It’s a tough conference. Anybody can win on any given day in our conference. ... We haven’t won there in forever. We’ll make sure that’s remembered when they come here late November.” Last year, Tech took the ACC by surprise by starting out 5-0 in the conference. This year, that surprise factor no longer exists. “We’re not going to sneak up on anybody,” Riley said. “They know we’re a pretty solid team. In years past, with Virginia being our travel partner, they’ve prepared for them a little bit harder than they’ve prepared for us. Now, honestly, I think it’s probably switched. Everybody’s going to be expecting our best when we play.” How can the team perform as well as last year with a target on its back? It starts with preparation. “It’s more technical depending on the team we’re playing that week,” Willoughby said. Practices become more intense, film sessions become more vital, and players must become better. “There’s more of a focus on the opponent rather than our side of the net,” Riley said. Not all individual drills to get better are thrown out, though. There is always room for improvement from the seniors down to the freshmen. Willoughby earned All-American honorable mention honors last year, which led to teams double-blocking her. Despite the new difficulties, she started all 12 games this season, recorded 111 kills and averaged a .359 attack percentage. “I don’t worry about that because I know my team will back me up,” Willoughby said. “If they double me, we have splits for Cara and splits for the outside (hitters). I think it becomes more of an advantage for us. They can do that all they want, but I don’t think it’s going to affect how we play.” Riley is optimistic about Willoughy’s abilities going into the season. “Honestly, I think it’s going to be very
BRIAN CLAY/SPPS
Erin Leaser (left) and Amy Wengrenovich (left center) celebrate with their teammates during the Hokies’ win over ECU on Friday, Sept. 4. difficult for Felicia to be better than she was last year,” Riley said. “There isn’t a team in the ACC that’s going to let her go one-on-one. She’s going to be going against two blockers every time she touches the ball. If she’s close to what she did last year, I’d be very happy with that.” Senior outside hitter Taylor Parrish, senior middle blocker Betsy Horowitz and redshirt senior libero Jill Gergen have all played their parts for the Hokies. Parrish leads the team in kills with 116 and is fourth on the team in attack percentage, hitting .297. “Taylor needs to be more efficient,” Riley said. “She struggled against UVa — only had three kills. We need more from her than that. She always bounces back.” Horowitz ranks second on the team in blocks, with 36 (four solo and 32 assists), but she has been hit or miss throughout the season. Currently, she’s hitting .254, and Riley expects a lot more. She returned at the beginning of the season after injuring her back late in 2008, but she has not quite been up to her usual standard so far. “Betsy needs to get back to what she was doing to score,” Riley said. “We expect her to hit .350-.400 on the season.” Gergen continues to be the team’s defensive leader with 171 digs. Freshman middle blocker Cara Baarendse leads the team with a .366 attack percentage. She also ranks third in kills (93) and recorded the least
amount of errors among players with 100 or more attack attempts. Baarendse had trouble explaining her skill behind the statistics. “I just have a weird approach,” Baarendse said. “It’s really hard to read. People at my old school used to call my hand ‘magic hand’ because you would see it reading one way, and it would go somewhere else.” It also helps that Willoughby brings two defenders wherever she goes, leaving Baarendse with more one-on-one opportunities. The success hasn’t come without nerves, though. “Coming in as a freshman,” Baarendse said, “it’s very different than high school play (with) the high level of teams and players we’re playing against. They told me (the ACC) is a good level of volleyball, and all matches are going to be tough.” To morph the Hokies into a legitimate ACC contender, Riley focuses on defense. “We need to be much more disciplined defensively,” Riley said. “We are still moving as the ball is being attacked, and we’re giving up easy points when we shouldn’t.” The defense will be tested right off the bat as the Hokies travel to Florida to take on No.18 Florida State University and the University of Miami. Tech has never won against either team in Florida or at a neutral site. “That’s part of the game,” Riley said. “If you want to make history here and change the culture of the program, this is the opportunity to do it.”
opinions 3
editor: debra houchins opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865 COLLEGIATETIMES
september 24, 2009
The Collegiate Times is an independent student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903
Your Views [letters to the editor]
Tech needs to be fiscally responsible
Free speech not an excuse for disrespect
The state is cutting tens of millions of dollars out of Virginia Tech’s budget this year and next by around $21.8 million. We are forcing professors and staff to take pay freezes and in some cases, pay cuts via furloughs. The school is looking to cut the budget of Student Services in an effort to save money. Meanwhile, we are planning to build a $100 million engineering building in the northeast corner of the commuter parking lot next year ... The building is meant to attract top students and professors in the coming years. I can’t be the only person who thinks this is a suspicious use of money. Half of the funding is going to be raised privately. That would cover the budget cuts. Does the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors not think that cutting student services, raising tuition and cutting pay will turn off as many good students and professors as this new building will attract? I understand that most of the money was already raised for this building. Planners will claim they did not know the state would cut so much or that the economy would go so bad. The economy was only going down for a year prior to the stock market crash. The state contribution to the budget has been going down for a decade, but how could we have known it would also go down this year? I get that we need to plan for the future, but let’s not forget about the people here now. We will be the future benefactors. We need a new cafeteria to keep up with volume. Multiple departments and buildings need renovations. Tuition is on a pace to be the same as a private school soon. We nixed one of the last teacher education undergraduate departments in the state. We are putting a new coat of paint on a car with no engine here. I am by no means ungrateful, and I love this school. I just think maybe the priorities are getting skewed a bit.
I am writing in response to Brooke Leonard’s column, “Political correctness can be hindrance for free speech” (CT, Sept. 22). While I commend her for her stance on political correctness gone mad (to me a fireman will always be a fireman), I find her blaming everything on some distant “far-left liberal elite” to be not just a distinctly blinkered view, but downright hypocritical in the context of the article. She is decrying the “liberal media” from using buzzwords to label their opponents when she, and others on the right, do exactly the same thing. By collapsing down her opposition to a “farleft liberal elite,” she makes them into a set of caricatures — and not real people with real concerns. After all, is it not true that certain extreme conservatives are basically crying “Socialist! Socialist!” without using any logical or intelligent arguments to engage people with facts and not labels to play on knee-jerk stereotypes? What does it say about the state of American democracy when both sides of the political spectrum resort to name calling and fear-mongering instead of intelligent, well thought-out arguments? Perhaps the article would be more appropriate if it was about far-right conservative elites labeling all their opponents as socialists, elitists and unpatriotic, as well as those on the left labeling their opponents as racists.
What might be most disturbing and yet telling about Brooke Leonard’s article, “Political correctness can be hindrance for free speech”(CT, Sept. 22) is the hyperbole and ambiguity with which it is written. While she spends two whole paragraphs detailing a metaphor of political correctness as an “insidious cloud” in America, no doubt one that targets white suburbia, she does not devote a single sentence to specifically stating in an example what it is this cloud comprises itself of. Instead, the old and tired tactic of finger pointing is used; this time the far left is the scapegoat. Why is the far left targeted? Apparently sensitivity, cultural respect and wariness for bigotry in all its subtle forms are modes by which liberals dodge the criticism of the right. If by rightwing critics one refers to oxycontin addicts who tout themselves as role models (i.e. Rush) or representatives who believe an appropriate way to question the president’s policies involves screaming the accusation “you lie” like a petulant kindergartner, then yes, the left has little regard for these kinds of critics. The real issue, however, may very well have nothing to do with politics but a social agenda, one many individuals wish they could discuss more openly without fully exposing themselves. When Ms. Leonard discusses the collapse of American values, which ones is she noting? Is it our long standing history of depriving certain groups of civil rights? Maybe it’s the new found American tradition of blaming the gay community for the failure of heterosexual marriages. Or is it more historical? It is no secret America has a natural distaste for immigrants, and certainly since Sept. 11, has no love for Islam, which it commonly generalizes without any comprehensive understanding of the faith. Indeed, maybe supporters of the article are upset because instead of being able to target people based on their skin color like some believe, now we have to give people the benefit of the doubt and assume that they may not adhere to the radical philosophies of certain fundamentalist groups; a shame to be sure. Calling words like “homophobe” and “racist” buzzwords suggests that no one is in fact racist or homophobic, or that these are just technical terms used to stir people or strong arm them into submission. Apparently incidences like the Jena Six assault in Louisiana or what happened to Megan Williams at the hands of six white captors has been completely forgotten by the public. The article disguises itself under a topic everyone can support: free speech. But do we not also benefit from an America that asks for a little class and accountability when it comes to exercising our “rights”? Free speech was written into the Bill of Rights to allow people the freedom to speak out against their government, not to license the use of inane or truculent criticism that may target an entire group of people. The existence of words such as racist, homophobe or xenophobia are understood when we realize that the social climate of America at times harbors these philosophies, whether or not politically correct agendas keep them under wraps. Now let’s take a moment and have a realistic conversation about the value of respecting one’s neighbor, a tradition that existed long before anyone felt entitled to say whatever was on their mind.
Jason Quigley junior mechanical engineering
John Driessnack junior biological sciences
Lucas Pinckney graduate student biological systems engineering
Name calling in column ironic
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MCT CAMPUS
Necrophobia underlying inspiration in our lives T
he achievements of humanity are as vast as the cosmos. We have built some cool stuff, figured out better ways of killing each other, explored every corner of our planet and even went to the moon. Today we feel in control of our world and very much the dominant and enlightened species. This is not true. Despite the advances mankind has made in the last 100,000 years, not much has truly changed, specifically our fear of death and our relentless quest for immortality. From the moment humans became self-aware, they have known one certainty: They will die. From the beginning, people have done what they can to ease the terrifying feeling of closing their eyes and becoming nothing. Burial rites, afterlife preparation, reincarnation and eternal salvation are all buzz words to help ease our fear of death. These terms mean more today than they did in the past. Before industrialization and the emergence of a large middle class, only the upper 1 percent of the population truly worried about dying. Only the kings and emperors had a life comfortable enough where they could stop and think, “Will anyone remember me?” Peasants never had time to even dream up such thoughts. They were too busy struggling to stay alive. The ruling class did have time for these thoughts and did its best to be remembered. As a result, we have the Pyramids of Giza, the Mausoleum of Augustus and many more relics of the ancient world.
My favorite ancient legacy is that of Genghis Khan. A study in 2003 discovered that close to 16 million Asian men have distinct genes that can be attributed to Khan. That’s right, Genghis Khan has 16 million descendants. Having children is, of course, the oldest and still most practiced form of achieving immortality. If you can’t find that special someone, here are some trends that are popular in our American culture. Simply take a picture of yourself and post it on the Internet. This is our generation’s past time: making sure plenty of strangers know what we look like. The underlying force behind the absurd amount of pictures people take of each other and share is the fear of death. People want to be known, and the Internet makes this possible, at least in theory. If anyone on the planet can access the Internet and see me, then everyone on the planet will know I am alive. The Kinks sang it best: “People take pictures of each other, just to prove they really existed.” In fact, much of the usage of the Internet is a result of people trying to create a legacy. YouTube, blogs, Deviant Art and even simply leaving a comment that acknowledges an e-mail addresses are all ways the Internet is being used out of our fear of kicking the bucket. Ignoring the Internet, everyone has something they do out of this common phobia. Have you saved anything for the sake of saving it? Do you have a collection of anything?
Both of those are prime examples of engaging in an activity because of our fear. We attempt to create order in a universe where nothing lasts. “If I save these objects, maybe someone will save the memory of me,” is what plays in the back of our minds whenever we add something to a collection. My favorite immortality technique is organ donation. Think about it. I die, and someone gets my heart. An essential part of my physiological makeup continues to function inside of another human being. If a portion of my body is still alive, then it is like I am still alive to a small degree. Pretty cool, right? There is nothing wrong with death or being afraid of it on a subconscious level. As a matter of fact, I can think of no better motivation than the fear of dying. What is wrong is thinking we are greater than what we really are. We play by the same rules as every other animal. Our motivations are rooted in animalistic thinking. As the late George Carlin once said, “We are barely out of jungle on this planet. What we are is semi-civilized beasts with baseball caps and automatic weapons.”
VINCENT GUIDA -regular columnist -sophomore -industrial and systems engineering
Environmentalism is logical, but some treat it like gospel I
’m an atheist. Well, at least my friends would say that I’m an atheist. I claim to be a deist. However, as not to be confused with any sort of religion or biblical belief system, I often identify myself as an atheist. I share more common beliefs with an atheist than I do with a person of religion. I don’t necessarily believe in an intelligent god, nor do I truly believe in any sort of afterlife. I’m actually completely OK with this, and I don’t feel that my life lacks value at all. However, because I am now unable to go to church on Sundays, I feel as though I miss the social aspect of being part of a group with a purpose. I value my life greatly, but I really wish I could be a part of something bigger. That’s when I discovered my true passion — environmentalism. I have taken a recent look at many campus environmental organizations, but I haven’t found one that fits me perfectly just yet. I really need to find an organization that makes me feel as though I am part of something greater than myself. I miss having an obligation to spread awareness to all of mankind. Hopefully environmentalism will fill the void that becoming an atheist has left in my life. I really miss living by a set of arbitrary rules. I also miss the looming feeling of world-ending doom, all coming soon as a result of my own sinful actions. There was a time in my childhood when my parents informed me that I was saved, and that I had accepted Jesus Christ into my heart. Although I certainly don’t know when this occurred, the concept of being saved is something I really miss. It’s as if I roamed through life a mere sinner, leeching off everyone around me as I selfishly took life for granted. Then I somehow accepted Jesus
Christ into my heart, and all of this changed. Suddenly, I could walk proudly above everyone else. I became completely aware that my life now had a positive impact on the world around me. In fact, I was officially allowed to inform others of the benefits of being saved, all the while educating them on their impending doom if they chose not to be saved. After all, God owns all life — it’s very hard to choose against your Father. Later in life, I learned of this arbitrary concept of “going green.” Much like the concept of Jesus entering a person’s heart, going green is an indefinable label people can acquire by meeting a set of criteria set down by self-appointed experts. Once a person goes green, they become blameless for the end of the world that may or may not come. They are also now appointed the duty to stand above those who are not green, and inform those masses of the benefits of living a life with a green purpose. This makes perfect sense. After all, we’re all part of the earth. We share this one undeniable commonality, and it’s important we all act in a way that stops the world from reaching a state of destruction. The earth owns all life — it’s very hard to deny your Mother. The one aspect of religion I do not miss is the complete unquestioning common belief system and the censoring of the ideas of dissenters. I am also completely against the molding of religious ethics and law. Thankfully, environmental groups are completely innocent in this area. In my time as an officer of the Libertarians at Virginia Tech, I have been confronted by students from various campus environmental organizations asking me how I feel about the concept of carbon caps and
laws that force people to live a green lifestyle. I was approached by one student who wanted to know how I felt about the idea of government rationing gasoline, giving citizens a ration card that allowed them access to only a certain amount of gallons a month. Another student approached me just last week and asked how I felt about laws that force all citizens to own a car that can get more than 30 miles per gallon. Assuming that these questions had to be jokes, I was very shocked when my sarcastic answer only led to blank stares of confusion. Perhaps the nation’s largest polluter, the United States government shouldn’t be making policies that forces citizens to live greener lives. Seems like common sense to me. This can be compared to religion once again: God murders more people in the Bible than any individual has in the history of mankind. Yet, God is responsible for setting mandates on ethics and punishing those who commit sinful crimes against their fellow man. Perhaps I would find an environmental group I liked if one of them didn’t believe in using the government as a mechanism for forcing people to act correctly. How can we trust environmental regulations to an organization that commits the ultimate act of pollution warfare? Perhaps nothing will ever fill the void that the absence of religion has left in my life. I guess I’ll have to continue thinking for myself.
CHAD VAN ALSTIN -regular columnist -senior -communication -president, Libertarians at VirginiaTech
Collegiate Times Editorial Staff Editor in Chief: Sara Mitchell Managing Editors: Peter Velz, Bethany Buchanan Production Manager: Thandiwe Ogbonna Public Editor: Justin Graves News Editors: Zach Crizer, Philipp Kotlaba News Reporters: Gordon Block, Kelsey Heiter, Riley Prendergast Features Editors: Teresa Tobat, Topher Forhecz Features Reporters: Ryan Arnold, Mary Anne Carter, Dan Waidelich Opinions Editor: Debra Houchins Sports Editors: Joe Crandley, Alex Jackson Sports Reporters: Ed Lupien, Ray Nimmo, Ryan Trapp, Melanie Wadden, Thomas Emerick Sports Staff Writers: Garrett Busic, Matt Collette, Lindsay Faulkner, Hattie Francis Copy Editors: Erin Corbey, Mika Rivera Layout Designers: Kelly Harrigan, Rachel McGiboney, Josh Son, Lindsey Bachand, Sara Spangler Illustrator: Mina Noorbakhsh Multimedia Editor: Kevin Anderson Multimedia Reporter: James Carty Online Director: Zach Swasey Collegiate Times Business Staff Business Manager: David Harries College Media Solutions Advertising Director: Tyler Ervin Asst Ad Director: Kendall Kapetanakis Account Executives: Nik Bando, Brandon Collins, Lee Eliav, Wade Stephenson, Allison Walton Inside Sales Manager: Judi Glass Office Manager: Kaelynn Kurtz Assistant Account Executives: Maddie Abram, Katie Berkel, Diane Revalski, Devon Steiner Ad Production Manager: Allison Bhatta Asst Production Manager: Lara Treadwell Creative Services Staff: Jenn DiMarco, Kara Noble, Adam Sexton, Kyle Waldrop Student Publications Photo Staff Business Manager: Luke Mason
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Great Location! Graduating seniors looking to sublet their apartment. Up to 3 rooms available January-June 2010. $350 per month (includes rent, cable/ internet, and utilities). Located in Center St. apartments next to Lane Stadium: less than 2 minute walk to campus. Call Joey @ 571-331-1212 if interested. SUB-LEASE Spring semester. 1 bedroom of 2 bedroom apartment in Terrace View. Available late December for move-in. 1st floor/ right next to bus stop/ Pets welcome. Call Kevin at 540-272-5677 for more information.
Travel SKYDIVE! One Day First Jumps! 22jumper airplane goes to 13,500’ Gift Certificates! www.skydiveorange.com 540.943.6587
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features 5
editors: topher forhecz, teresa tobat featureseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865 COLLEGIATETIMES
VTU Alt Sounds show plays to a different, distorted beat MARY ANNE CARTER features reporter Weaving through a clutter of cables, effects pedals and amps, Jeff Haley, member of the Blacksburg band Facepaint, made his way through his bedroom to a cherry-colored bass. “Let’s play one we are going to play for the show,” he suggested, plucking the bass from its perch and draping the long strap around his neck. Feet away, guitarist Jack Tatum and drummer Max Brooks nodded along as they strapped on their own instruments, conversing briefly before jumping into a punchy, upbeat song that caused the slew of art, posters and flyers that lined the thin white walls to shake. Facepaint formed in 2008 as a product of summer boredom since all its members are Virginia Tech students and were on break, explained Tatum. “Max and I would just goof around,” Tatum said, “and Jeff was just there, and we were like, ‘OK, come here. We are going to play music.’” Its sound marries elements of pop, punk and beach music, but it had a humble origin. “I couldn’t even play an instrument at first,” Haley said, “but they taught me, like, two chords. I just played them over and over, and we made a song that day.” Since its start, Facepaint has gained a following performing at local venues, such as Gillie’s, the Lantern, XYZ Art Gallery and Tech’s Soundfest. Haley has also gained his own following: girls. “I’ve definitely seen a few girls check out Jeff,” mused Tatum as Brooks chuckled along knowingly. “Yeah, I’m single,” Haley responded with a coy grin before changing the subject. “We should talk about Jack’s music. ‘Wild Nothing’ stuff,” he suggested. And for good reason as Tatum’s solo project, Wild Nothing, was recently signed to Brooklyn-based label Captured Tracks. He is expecting to release an EP and full album this year. “I started writing songs over the summer,” Tatum said. “New songs with a little different sound (than Facepaint). I put them on the Internet just to get them out there, but didn’t send them out or really expect anything. I added a few labels ... and was asked to do a record.” In preparation of the album release,
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check it out!
Facepaint, Mas Y Mas and Des Ark perform tonight in Old Dominion Ballroom. Cost is $2 with a student ID or $3 without.
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Facepaint started learning Wild Nothing’s set, although they will continue to play under the name “Facepaint.” “People know us as that,” Tatum said, “so we are going to keep it going.” Today they will be doing just that as they take the stage alongside bands Des Ark and Mas Y Mas for Virginia Tech Union’s Alternative Sounds Show in Squires Student Center. “All three bands are phenomenal,” said Alternative Sounds director Abby Schoenfeld. “This is the first show I’m truly proud of. ... It’s so hard to program for this campus because I feel like if people don’t know the bands, they won’t come out, but it’s only $2, and the best case scenario is you could go home with a new favorite band.” Facepaint and Mas Y Mas have played a number of shows together in the past at Gillie’s and XYZ Art Gallery. The entire lineup has also played MACRoCK together, an annual music festival held at JMU. “The first time I saw Des Ark was at MACRoCK,” said Schoenfeld, a senior business management major, “and I already knew Mas Y Mas and Facepaint. When planning for Alt Sounds, I pretty much picked my favorites. I didn’t think they would say yes.” All three bands boast not only unique sounds, but memorable live performances as well. “We want people to dance,” Tatum said. “It’s like a homemade party show.” “Facepaint greatly benefits from its flawless execution and rock ‘n’ roll bravura,” said Mas Y Mas frontman Vinny Meddis, whose prison-style “2 Tuff” tattoo on his upper arm adequately sums up the fast-paced jams and rowdy attitude that saturates the band’s live show. “Our music is highly professional music,” assured Meddis. “We are very polished, professional entertainers. We play the hits and keep the mood as sleek and aesthetically pleasing as a well-moussed Baldwin. You and
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It’s so hard to program for this campus because if people don’t know the bands, they won’t come out, but it’s only $2, and the best case scenario is you could go home with a new favorite band. ABBY SCHOENFELD ALTERNATIVE SOUNDS DIRECTOR
your girl (or) boy can sit back, relax and enjoy the finest in professional entertainment. That’s the Mas Y Mas guarantee.” However, the group also asserts that its latest album, “Proud Sponsors of Pepsi,” is ideal “for parties, dance recitals, puppetry, kilning, assisted suicides, HUSSEIN AHMED/SPPS non-assisted suicides, sudoku, gardening and blogging, and is best when Jack Tatum, Max Brooks and Jeff Haley of local band Facepaint prepare for their show on Thursday. paired with a fine meal of homemade ice.” Meddis forewarned students of the health risks Mas Y Mas can pose. “I had an old, sweet cat that died suddenly while Mas Y Mas was blaring out of the kitchen boom box,” Meddis said. “I have no idea what sort of activities she was engaged in at the time ... I just come in the kitchen, found her there with that racket and knew right away it wasn’t healthy to listen to the stuff. I’d never sell it to a child.” Both Mas Y Mas and Facepaint expressed praise for Des Ark, the show’s headliner. The group’s unique performance is divided into two parts. Lead singer Aimee Argote performs half of the show by herself and the other half with the rest of the band. “The full band is dirty and raw and I guess a little bit progressive post punk,” Schoenfeld said. “She can do anything from scream to rip your heart out with her quiet lyrics. ... It’s really an impressive live show. She really feeds off the audience.” This Thursday, Schoenfeld hopes that people will come to the Alt Sounds show with open minds and ears. “Though none of these bands are pop or country or rap — the three things people like here,” she said, “I hope people come and aren’t too judgmental. ... You will understand all three bands’ music better (after you see them live) because you get to see their delivery and passion.”
september 24, 2009
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In the
Wondering what's going on around the 'burg? Check out the events of the upcoming week.
Thursday, September 24
Friday, September 25
What: VT Majors Fair Where: Squires Commonwealth Ballroom When: 10 a.m. - 11 p.m. Cost: Free
What: Kevin Carter & Full Assurance/ The Black Twig Pickers/ The Clyde Williams Band Where: Floyd Country Store, 206 S Locust St., Floyd When: 6:30 p.m. Cost: Free
What: Hokie F6's Go Green Picnic Where: Dietrick Plaza When: 5 p.m. Cost: Free What: Alternative Sounds Fall Show starring Punchline Where: Squires Old Dominion Ballroom When: 7 p.m. Cost: TBA What: Jugbusters Where: The Cellar When: 9 p.m. Cost: Price of food
What: Hopehop and Boogieburg Where: Attitudes When: 9 p.m. Cost: Cover
Saturday, September 26 What: By Morning Where: Champs When: 8 p.m. Cost: Cover
What: Third String Giants Where: Awful Arthur's When: 8 p.m. Cost: Cover
Sunday, September 27 What: Japanese Film Festival Where: Lyric When: 3 p.m. Cost: $1
What: Rough for Theatre II Where: Performing Arts Building Room 204 When: 7:30 p.m. Cost: Free
Monday, September 28 What: Skydiving Club Meeting Where: TOTS When: 7 p.m. Cost: Free
What: Labyrinth opening/ dedication to April 16, 2007 victims Tuesday, September 29 by Christ Episcopal Church What: Two Fresh Where: Intersection of Church Where: Attitudes and Jackson Streets When: 8 p.m. When: 5:30 p.m. Cost: $8 in advance, $10 at the door Cost: Free What: NRV Rollergirls Slam and Jam Where: Adventure World, Christiansburg When: 6 p.m. Cost: Free
Wednesday, September 30 What: SAVOY Where: Awful Arthur's When: 9 p.m. Cost: Cover
If you would like an event featured in our calendar, e-mail features@ collegiatetimes.com.