Danger in Durham: No. 6 Duke ahead ED LUPIEN sports reporter The Virginia Tech men’s basketball team enters its toughest contest of the season Sunday at No. 6 Duke and will attempt to climb closer to the top of the Atlantic Coast Conference standings. The Hokies (21-4, 8-3 ACC) will travel to Cameron Indoor facing the first place team in the ACC and the unrelenting Cameron Crazies. The last time Tech beat Duke (22-4, 10-2 ACC) was during the 2006-07 season when it upset the No. 5 Blue Devils 69-67 in Durham, N.C. While former Hokies star Deron Washington scored only 11 points, he created a YouTube sensation when he leaped over Duke guard Greg
Paulus twice while going to the basket. That image is now a centerpiece in the Hokies new $21 million practice facility. “It feels good, we’re not getting too high because we still got a couple more games to go,” said guard Malcolm Delaney who torched Wake Forest for 31 points. “Also, we’re looking at going into Duke near first place. Nobody expected that to happen right about now. We just got to prepare, take a day off ... rest our bodies and get prepared for Duke and fight harder than we did (against No. 25 Wake Forest) the rest of the season.” To prepare for Duke, the Hokies will have to focus their defensive efforts on the Blue Devils’ three top-scorers who account for 66.3 percent of their scoring offense this season. Senior guard Jon Scheyer, junior guard Nolan Smith and junior forward Kyle Singler are Duke’s main offensive weapons, and few teams have successfully shut them down. However, maybe the most impressive attribute is their durability with each player averaging more that 35 minutes per game. The Hokies similarly feature a lopsided offensive attack relying on Delaney, Dorenzo Hudson and Jeff Allen to lead the scoring. However, none of those players average over
35 minutes per game. In fact nobody on Tech’s roster does. Tech head coach Seth Greenberg tends to think the amount of minutes Duke’s top performers are playing is a non-issue. “I look back at Duke over the years, and (Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski) has played guys a lot of minutes for a long time,” Greenberg said. “He seems like he’s won a couple games, so it can’t be the worst thing in the world. “In this league you’ve got to try to win as many games as possible, and you’ve got to concern yourself with staying in the present and then figure out the next game.” In addition to their top scoring threats, the Hokies will need contributions from their veteran role players to compete against Duke. Against Wake Forest, juniors Terrell Bell and JT Thompson provided valuable minutes. Bell pulled down 14 rebounds and blocked four shots while Thompson scored 16 points. “It feels great that we’re supporting our leaders, so we’re definitely going to keep doing that throughout the season,” Bell said. “We know our roles, we know what we do best, and everybody embraces their roles.
“We got a junior class; we’ve been playing together for a long time,” he said. “We got a great chemistry out there.” Greenberg agreed, comparing himself to a “Peanuts” character. “I’m Linus, and they’re my security blanket.” A victory against Duke will also undoubtedly move the Hokies into the top 25 for the first time since the 2006-07 season. While the Hokies’ current tournament hopes are on the upswing, the lack of quality victories and a weak non-conference schedule could burst their bubble. “We don’t really pay attention to the polls,” Delaney said. “We used to be one of the bottom-feeders in the league. We play with a chip on our shoulder because of that. We don’t really care about that right now. We’re trying to win the ACC. “We win more games and that stuff will happen, but right now we’re just concentrating on winning games and trying to win the ACC regular season.” The Hokies will attempt make it six straight victories as they travel to Duke on Sunday. Tip-off is set for 7:45 p.m., and the game will be televised on Fox Sports Net.
BRIAN CLAY/SPPS
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SGA lobbies for students in state capital ZACH CRIZER nrv news editor RICHMOND — Leaders from the student governments of Virginia’s universities flooded the offices of the state’s General Assembly members Thursday, seeking to halt higher education budget cuts. What the members of the House of Delegates and Senate said stopped many of the student body representatives in mid-sentence. “I’m with you,” said one legislator after another. Virginia Tech SGA President Brandon Carroll said he was often “preaching to the choir.” CARROLL Thursday was Lobbying
Day for members of Virginia21, a highereducation “action-tank” based in Richmond. Student body presidents and leaders from all public Virginia universities were invited to meet at the Virginia State Capitol to be recognized in session, but more notably, to meet with as many General Assembly members as possible. Carroll, along with SGA governmental affairs leaders Brittany Anderson and Nadine Gibson, traveled to Richmond to meet with delegates and senators. Carroll said the efforts of student leaders to meet with General Assembly members in person would be remembered. “They hear so many times from all these different lobbyists on a daily basis,” Carroll said. “They understand that we’re in school. They understand that we have lives, and that we’re driving down here to show them how impor-
tant this is to us. I think they realize that.” Nearly every public Virginia university sent a representative. Christopher Newport University and Longwood University sent the largest number of representatives. Dan Smolkin, the student body vice president for administrative affairs at James Madison University, said he felt all students needed to send a message that they were worried about budget cuts. “Students are what the universities are about,” Smolkin said. “If this is something that truly is important to us, it’s something that needs to come from the students, and not just the political science majors or the ones that are really studying legislation.” More than 30 student leaders swarmed through the halls of the General Assembly building Thursday morning, looking to convince policy makers to stop certain cuts to
higher education. Most said they were already convinced, especially on the topic of an auxiliary student fee tax in former Gov. Tim Kaine’s proposed budget. “I think that was probably a poison pill that was put in the budget that was unacceptable to the majority of people,” said Sen. Frank Ruff, a Republican from the 15th District. The tax, if written into the final budget, would take five percent of student auxiliary fee money from each public university in the state. Auxiliary student fees include money paid to the university for health centers, athletic facilities and libraries. Steven Jones, executive director of Virginia21, said the tax was a top priority for his group. He is confident it will not make it to the final budget, which is scheduled to be finished March 14.
Cafe in final stages of construction CSA continues debate over CT’s online comments PHILIPP KOTLABA university news editor The Commission on Student Affairs voted on Feb. 18 to accept the offer of professionals to attempt to mediate between the commission and the Collegiate Times in a dispute over anonymous online comments. It also informally authorized sending a drafted response letter to the Educational Media Company at Virginia Tech, Inc. The decisions were the product of a nearly hour-long discussion on the recent communication between EMCVT and the commission. EMCVT is the independent parent company of the CT as well as the WUVT radio station, VTTV student television, Student Publications Photo Staff, Silhouette literary magazine, Bugle yearbook and College Media Solutions advertising. Thursday’s discussion centered on how to move forward following the decision by the university administration that the commission’s original resolution — advocating a termination of EMCVT’s funding, revoking offices in Squires Student Center, and denying student organizations from using Budget Board funds for CT ads — was not a legal option. In a unanimous vote the commission elected to accept an offer from Dale Robinson, manager of Tech’s conflict resolution program, to act as mediator. EMCVT has stated that the company wants all communication with CSA to continue to be in written form. “There is no legal action that can be taken,” said Michelle McLeese, CSA chair, to assembled student leaders. She added, however, that individual organizations could voluntarily choose to boycott CT ads. Matthew Penny, president of the Interfraternity Council, noted that his organization has stopped advertising in the CT. Ben Wade, representative of the Virginia Tech Union, said his organization was “considering pulling” about $15,000 of allocated funds for CT advertising. Leighton Villa, chair of the CSA’s subcommittee assigned to the issue, began by reading several comments from the CT Web site to exemplify what he claimed were the detrimen-
tal consequences of anonymous commenting, including disparaging remarks on rape and racial groups. “Is this really what we want our student newspaper to say?” Villa said. A repeatedly mentioned concern during the meeting was that anonymity endangered violence prevention efforts because threatening comments could not be traced to the poster. “This is not an issue of censorship. This is an issue of campus safety,” Villa said. “Given our history, how
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on the web
School on double duty after collapse news reporter
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see CSA / page two
see SGA / page two
LIANA BAYNE
Check out the CT’s Web site at collegiatetimes.com to see pdfs of the letter exchange.
can we not afford to do something about this?” Others raised the value of anonymity and protection of identity online. “There is a need for the protection of what people are writing,” said Kristin Carr, chief justice of the undergraduate honor system. “They should feel free to express unpopular opinions.” Although the meeting was abundant in strong words, there was discussion of the nature of EMCVT’s contract, the CT’s independence — financial and otherwise — and the potential for further dialogue with the newspaper, contributing to the decision to enlist the help of a mediator. “I’m concerned about opening up dialogue again,” said Rebecca French, graduate representative to the Board of Visitors. Members of the CT editorial board met three times with CSA representatives last year. Guy Sims also noted the inclusion of guidelines displayed prior to posting online that were introduced following a dialogue in the fall semester. They prohibit libelous, profane or obscene comments and spam. A university’s relationship with its student newspaper varies widely across the country. The University of Virginia’s Cavalier Daily has no relationship with its university but, like the CT, occupies on-campus real estate.
“What students need to see, and what we think the legislators have seen, is that it is more of an issue of public trust,” Jones said. “The school sends you a bill that says you are paying a $30 computer fee — that is what it should actually go toward. It shouldn’t go to paying down the state deficit.” Ruff said the prospect of legal ramifications could also cause the tax to be removed from the budget. “I think it puts us on very thin ice. Those fees were paid with one purpose, and I would not at all be surprised if the families or students that paid those fees felt like they had a case in court,” Ruff said. Multiple legislators told Carroll and other student representatives lobbying against the tax that they hoped it was removed.
MARK UMANSKY/SPPS
Virginia Tech Services Inc., the group that staffs the bookstore, will manage the new library cafe.
LIBRARY CAFE TO OPEN BY END OF THE MONTH, WILL NOT SUPPLEMENT STUDENT MEAL PLAN SHANNON CRAWFORD news staff writer Virginia Tech Services Inc., will operate the planned study cafe at Newman Library, after Dining Services and others rejected the opportunity. Virginia Tech Services runs the University and Volume Two bookstores and Dietrick General Store. Matt Nuckols, an employee of Virginia Tech Services, said the organization would not add another brand name such as Au Bon Pain to campus but would instead go for something “original.” While Virginia Tech Services many have experience in operating different venues around campus such as residence hall coin-operated laundry and vending machines, this will be the company’s first attempt to manage a restaurant-like business. Nuckols said Virginia Tech Services hopes “to have it open by the end of the month.” Because Housing and Dining Services will not be sponsoring the cafe, meal plan holders will not be
able to use their meal plans as payment. Jodi Cone, human resources project manager, said the cafe would be “something like the Johnston Student Center,” where students can only purchase food from Subway and Seattle’s Best Brand Coffee using cash or a Hokie Passport debit account, not meal plans. Sophomore communication major Chris Saccoccia expressed his disappointment that the cafe will not be a part of meal plans. “After this extended period of construction, a lot of students are excited about the cafe’s completion, and I think it’s really important to meet their needs,” Saccoccia said. “But since it doesn’t include the meal plan, that’s something that will turn many potential customers away, and that’s unfortunate. “It would be a lot more advantageous for students if a deal could be made, and the cafe could be incorporated into the meal plan,” he said. Freshman university studies student Molly Stryker frequently studies in Newman Library and enjoys
snacking before beginning study sessions. “I think it’s pretty crucial,” she said. “I always make a pit stop at Squires.” However, she does not carry cash on campus. Construction on the cafe is almost finished. “Everything is on schedule,” said Michael Coleman, associate vice president for facilities. Construction crews are currently awaiting the completion of inspections and certifications. While the crews prepare a space for the cafe, administrative services will not be outfitting the area for Virginia Tech Services. Coleman said although major construction will soon be finished, the next step is moving the retailer into Newman. “The task at hand is to set it up,” he said. The seating area and exit would be completed by the end of the month, but the food service area of the cafe will need to be finalized by the Virginia Tech Services, said project manager Shane Larkin. Virginia Tech Services is currently accepting applications for employees at the cafe at the Volume Two Bookstore on University City Boulevard.
Following an unexpected break from class when part of the school’s roof collapsed, many students and teachers from Blacksburg High School are anxious to return. Class, however, will not be quite the same. Interim Superintendent Walt Shannon said Wednesday BHS students would attend classes at Blacksburg Middle School on an “afternoon schedule,” most likely meaning that students will not begin class until the middle school students finish, which would go well into the evening. Details have yet to emerge on the logistics of the move and when it will occur. The exact schedule has also not yet been released. BHS is still officially closed to the public, although Shannon said there has been “limited access” granted for teachers to retrieve their materials from classrooms in the undamaged portion of the building. It is unknown when a final decision regarding the safety of the building will be handed down. “We just have to be patient,” Shannon said. The roof of the BHS gym collapsed on Saturday, Feb. 13. Students have not returned to classes since then, adding four more days onto the 12 they have already missed this semester because of winter weather. Shannon said he ultimately chose BMS because of its proximity to the Blacksburg community. “It was the fastest way to get students back to school,” Shannon said. “It will work.” Students have voiced concerns over the proposed afternoon schedule. BHS senior Michael Huff said he is concerned about new scheduling conflicts between class and his current employment. “They’ve screwed over a lot of students who have jobs,” Huff said. “I work in the afternoon and I’m not going to be able to work during the week anymore.” “It’s really going to affect my older friends who have jobs,” said freshman Emily Hjulstrom. Hjulstrom added that attending classes on an afternoon schedule would seriously affect her family’s routine. see HIGH SCHOOL / page two
2 news
new river valley news editor: zach crizer university editor: philipp kotlaba newseditor@collegiatetimes.com/540.231.9865
february 19, 2010
THE 2010 WINTER OLYMPICS
COLLEGIATETIMES
SGA: Carroll battles student taxes, budget cuts from page one
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CURRENT MEDAL COUNT as of 10:35 p.m. Thursday
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gold | silver | bronze | total
USA GER NOR
5 5 7 17 4 4 3 11 3 3 2 8
Olympics coverage ratings beats ‘Idol’ For the first time since 2004, something beat Fox’s “American Idol” juggernaut between 9 and 10 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday. And that something was not just the Olympics, but for most of the hour it was tape-delayed Olympics — the women’s downhill held earlier in the day. NBC averaged 30.1 million viewers and 17.5 percent of homes as Americans Lindsey Vonn and Julia Mancuso took gold and silver, while “Idol” managed 18.4 million and 10.4 percent. NBC mostly has delivered on its promise to present marquee events such as snowboarding and figure skating live — or close to it — thanks to the favorable time difference with Vancouver. Americans Shani Davis and Shaun White won their golds live Wednesday before and after the Vonn Show. Through six nights they were averaging 20.0 percent of homes in major markets in the Mountain Time Zone, 16.9 in the Pacific, 16.7 in the Central and 16.1 in the East. mcclatchy newspapers
CORRECTIONS JUSTIN GRAVES -Contact our public editor at publiceditor@ collegiatetimes.com if you see anything that needs to be corrected.
Sen. Mark Obenshain, a Republican from the 26th district, said he would be “shocked” if the committees working on each house’s respective budget proposals left the tax in the plan. Sen. John Edwards, a Democrat who represents part of Montgomery County, as well as Sen. Creigh Deeds
and Del. Robert Orrock, said it was unlikely the measure would remain in the final budget. Orrock, a high school teacher by trade, said he took action when he feared a similar tax could be imposed in his school district. As the sponsor of his school’s FFA chapter, he had put significant surplus funds into a rainy-day fund. As the
CSA: Comments remain on agenda from page one
“The offices are rented,” said Prateek Vasireddy, assistant managing editor at the Cavalier Daily, “(but) we don’t get any funding.” Others, such as the University of Texas at Austin newspaper, the Daily Texan, are technically an auxiliary enterprise of the university and have managing editorial candidates screened by a combination of students, newspaper representatives and faculty in a body that is owned by the university. The CT falls in the middle of the spectrum. EMCVT receives $70,000 yearly from the university to support its operations. These funds are not used by the CT, which funds its operations through advertising, but by other EMCVT divisions such as the WUVT radio station and Bugle yearbook. Student media benefit from offices on the third floor of Squires Student
Center provided in the same ongoing contract between EMCVT and the university. A 24-month advanced notice is required from either party to indicate a desire to renegotiate or terminate the contract. On Feb. 8, McLeese sent a letter to EMCVT declaring the CSA’s intent to request the university to bar student organizations from buying CT ads and refuse to renew Tech’s contract with EMCVT until the commission’s concerns were satisfied. EMCVT general manager Kelly Wolff replied on Feb. 11, citing a breach of contact and the First Amendment, pledging to pursue legal action if Tech followed through with the recommendations. Tech officials later released statements indicating they would not seek to renegotiate EMCVT’s contract at the request of the CSA. news reporter liana bayne contributed to this report
economy worsened, he decided to buy the group a tractor with the money instead of holding it, fearing the local school district may pull from rainyday funds built by club fundraising. The efforts of Virginia21 and the student leaders found no opposition in the General Assembly. “It was interesting; a lot of them were saying, ‘You’re kind of talking to
an ally here,’ or they definitely agreed with me,” Carroll said. Smolkin said it is a matter of how motivated the legislators are to act on their convictions. “Of course in going into the meetings, your expectation is that no senator or delegate is going to tell you they are opposed to funding,” Smolkin said.
Del. Timothy Hugo, a Republican from the 40th District, said in a meeting with Carroll that he did not know about the tax. He said he would ask the appropriations committee to remove the tax. Hugo admitted that the inclusion of the tax, a small portion of the budget, would not cause him to vote against a proposal.
High school: Students to take evening classes at Blacksburg Middle School from page one
Her brother is in the eighth grade at BMS. “It’s really going to lengthen the day and change our meal times,” Hjulstrom said. “We wouldn’t have much time together.” The other major option that had been on the table was to send students to neighboring Christiansburg High School. The facilities there are more conducive to high school instruction, Shannon said, but ultimately it was decided that it would be too far to take students to Christiansburg. The move finds support in BMS principal John Wheeler. “We are welcoming them (the high school students),” he said. Wheeler said he did not expect that the influx of high school to BMS would create “a huge impact.” “We don’t look at this as a hindrance or as problematic,” he said.
MICHAEL MCDERMOTT/SPPS
Blacksburg High School’s gymnasium collapsed Feb. 13. “This is a great opportunity for us to be able to help in our community.” Michael Kaylor is a cinema and photography teacher at the high school. Although the collapse has been “very hard to deal with,” he
remains optimistic for the rest of the school year. He did, however, express his disappointment at losing his photography studio space for the rest of the semester. Also affected is BHS’s theater department, which will no longer have use of its auditorium to produce its spring play. Kalyor, who taught at BHS for 22 years, said there were no easy solutions to the situation. “It’s the best thing we could’ve done,” he said. School officials are attempting to remain optimistic throughout the transition process and make it “as enjoyable as we can,” Wheeler said. “We look at it as a positive opportunity.” More details on accommodations for BHS students for the remainder of the semester will be available soon, according to Shannon. “Just be patient,” he said.
Pilot’s online suicide note blasts IRS, religion, big business BILL MILLER & DAVE MONTGOMERY mcclatchy newspapers AUSTIN, Texas — In a rambling, obscenity-laced suicide note posted online, the pilot accused of flying his plane into an Austin office building Thursday takes aim at the Internal Revenue Service, religion, big business and even former President George W. Bush. A man identified as Joe Stack, 53, of Austin flew his small, single-engine airplane from a Georgetown, Texas, airport and then crashed it into an office complex in northwest Austin
about 25 miles away, reports said. Officials also believe he set his own house ablaze. “I remember reading about the stock market crash before the ‘great’ depression and how there were wealthy bankers and businessmen jumping out of windows when they realized they screwed up and lost everything,” according to the online note, dated Feb. 18, 2010, and signed “Joe Stack, (1956-2010).” “Isn’t it ironic how far we’ve come in 60 years in this country that they now know how to fix that little economic problem; they just steal from the middle class (who doesn’t have any say in it,
elections are a joke) to cover their asses and it’s ‘business-as-usual.’ “Now when the wealthy f--- up, the poor get to die for the mistakes ... isn’t that a clever, tidy solution.” Stack, who is presumed dead, described himself in the note as a software engineer and blamed the government, the IRS and accountants for his business problems. Violence, he wrote, “not only is the answer, it is the only answer.” At least two people were taken to the hospital from the burning building, and officials were looking for one other person who was unaccounted for. The airplane involved is a Piper PA-
28-236 that is registered to Stack. The seven-story office building, described as the Echelon building, is about six miles southwest of Stack’s home in northwest Austin. The crash occurred about 10 a.m. CST. A federal official said two F-16 fighter jets were launched as a precaution after the crash, though a spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security said there is no reason to believe that terrorism was involved. About 60 firefighters battled the blaze after the crash, said Austin Fire Battalion Chief Palmer Buck. An access road in front of the building also remained closed, Buck said.
Police Chief Art Acevedo said the person who was unaccounted for was scheduled to be at work Thursday, but he had no other information. Matt Farney, who was in the parking lot of a nearby Home Depot, said he saw a low-flying private plane near some apartments and the office building just before it crashed. “I figured he was going to buzz the apartments or he was showing off,” Farney said, adding that the plane dipped down. “It was a ball of flames that was high or higher than the apartments. It was surreal. It was insane. ... It didn’t look like he was out of control or anything.”
opınıons 3
editor: debra houchins opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com/540.231.9865 COLLEGIATETIMES
february 19, 2010
Open letter to Gov. McDonnell H
ello Gov. McDonnell, While I did not vote for you in this past election, we all must accept the winner in hopes that he or she governs best and for the people he represents. I also understand that what the majority wants is not always the best, and a representative of the people must sometimes go against the public’s opinion to better govern. Opinion polls should not be the driving force behind policy. But none of this applies to the recent executive order that was released specifying those people protected against discrimination as state workers under your administration. I do not know why this was released, as Tim Kaine already had made an executive order that covered all people from discrimination as state employees. Does his executive order expire during the transition between governors? If this is not true, then it seems that the entire purpose was to strike out the protection of homosexuals in the workplace. Under what basis do you believe that they should not be protected on the state level? What law are you “faithfully executing” by not explicitly allowing them to be protected? Homosexuals have a hard enough time dealing with denials
of visitation rights, tax deductions and health care coverage not transferring between partners because of a lack of federal recognition for monogamous relationships, but the state does not even have to back these things to give the common decency of saying, “Hey, if you have someone that is firing you based on his discomfort with your sexual orientation alone, I’ve got your back.” Most conservatives who don’t include homosexuals will choose to go to religion to find reason, but beyond this not being a secular guide for public policy, it is against the teachings of the church to not help your fellow neighbor. Treating others the way you would want to be treated dates back to Confucius and is one of the simplest rules of morality children learn. So please, why did you not include sexual orientation in your executive order? If there is no reason, then immediately include them. It is your job and your obligation to do so.
BRIAN ROPER -regular columnist -senior -physics major
Precautionary principle applies to human life It
is not often that a forestry class delves into the realm of philosophy. So, when my teacher started discussing the “precautionary principle” during Forest Resource Policy, I felt slightly out of place and feared that my choice to skip over Knowledge and Reality during my college career might result in a lower grade for this course. It was a couple of minutes before I knew what the precautionary principle was as the teacher painstakingly wrote the definition on the chalkboard: “When an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the environment, precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically.” That didn’t seem too complicated. It was similar to the aphorisms “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” and “better safe than sorry.” When your mom (or your overbearing roommate) tells you to take a raincoat to class because there’s a chance of rain, she is exercising the precautionary principle in the hopes of protecting your wellbeing. In terms of forest policy, the precautionary principle is demonstrated when a regulatory agency prohibits timber harvesting because of the possibility that some wildlife species (perhaps ones possessing cures to human ailments) may be adversely affected. I realize that most people, even foresters, have little desire to read about the inner-workings of forest resource policy. Hence I call this argument, “The Precautionary Principle and Abortion.” As the president of a student pro-life organization, I spend a lot of time thinking about abortion and why I believe what I believe. One matter I’m always attempting to resolve is the definition of “life” and how it applies to the unborn. The reality is that I, or any number of scientists, find it difficult to prove when life begins. Is it at conception? The first trimester? The first breath? As with most things in science, the concept of life carries a lot of evidence, but definite conclusions are hard to come by, similar to the controversy about the theory of evolution. But it must be noted that science has not disproved that life begins before birth, at conception. For pro-lifers, the precautionary principle now becomes important. Even though “cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically,” since there is the possibility that a human life may be destroyed by abortion, our laws, and our sense of responsibility to mankind, should strive to eliminate
“
Abortion may risk ending a human life, but, on the other hand, fewer mouths to feed may allow mature adults to reinvest their resources toward a better life — not just for themselves but for others in greater need.
the threat to human health. I’m sure many might question this logic based on economic principles. After all, many things in life require risk, such as business investments that may be lost, or may generate great returns. Abortion may risk ending a human life, but, on the other hand, fewer mouths to feed may allow mature adults to reinvest their resources toward a better life — not just for themselves but for others in greater need. Fewer humans may result in less stress on our environmental resources, which according to many are already taxed severely. Brilliant minds and a lot of grant money could feasibly calculate the dollars that are saved by every abortion that results in one less pregnancy, one less baby and one less human. But what about the threat to human life, a commodity that is literally unique and irreplaceable? Of course there is the human life/ human “un-life” that may or may not be threatened and destroyed. As stated earlier, semantics will always find our use of the word “life” confusing. But there are additional costs to preventing life that we may never know. What if an aborted being had the potential to make billions, even trillions of dollars, and the compassion to give it away to humans in desperate need across the globe? What if one of the aborted was gifted with a mind capable of solving global pollution problems? Abortion is either a really good financial deal, or it is the greatest threat to the human race by destroying millions of lives and countless potential. We may never be able to prove which it is, but a wise person may step back and decide “Hmm, better safe than sorry, I always say” and devote his efforts toward preventing these difficult situations and developing solutions that respect the right to life of all humans.
KEVIN RIEDEL -guest columnist -senior -forest resource management
The Collegiate Times is an independent student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903
MCT CAMPUS
Capitalism moral system, greed causes its failure B
eing a business major in this day and age carries a sort of stigma with it. Amid the news of corporate scandals, embezzlement and greed, I am constantly met with the skepticism of my fellow students once I tell them my course of study. I am not surprised or angered by this cynicism. In fact, one of my biggest fears about entering the business world is being put into a position where I may be asked to compromise my moral integrity and how I would behave under certain pressures. It is no wonder that people have been calling into a question the very capitalist system under which businesses operate. Leftist filmmaker Michael Moore even went as far as to call capitalism “evil” in his 2009 documentary, “Capitalism: A Love Story.” However, this assessment of capitalism is largely unfair. Adam Smith, the father of modern capitalism, famously noted, “It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own self-interest.” Most people will agree that it is rational to act in their own interest. Everybody works to put food on his table and clothes on his back, but in doing so he is making a larger contribution to society as a whole. For example, Google is a profit-making entity that has made its services so invaluable to the general public that it has become a verb in our regular vocabulary. The creators of Google did not make the Web site out of benevolence, but out of their desire to make a profit. Moreover, people often pursue higher education in order to advance their own interests, but in doing so benefit society by becoming doctors, engineers and scientists. Capitalism acts as the vehicle by which individual achievements are rewarded. No other system in history has been as successful in fostering innovation and human progress. In the past few centuries that the market system has been allowed to thrive, humanity has made more advancement than it did in the entire preceding millennium. What has allowed capitalism to be so successful is the concept of natural
rights: namely life, liberty, property and the pursuit of happiness. Let us examine the latter two concepts. Enlightenment philosopher John Locke wrote, “Every man has a property in his own person. This nobody has a right to, but himself.” While this might seem like common sense to the reader, it has been demonstrated continually that societies that do not value individual accomplishment also do not affirm the right to property. For example, before capitalism was adopted, the dominant system was feudalism. Under feudalism, wealthy aristocrats owned a majority of the property and the entire purpose of the commoner, or a serf, was to provide service to his lord. A serf did not own personal property and was not allowed to pursue any higher ends. Moreover, under Communist systems, one’s property is capable of being nationalized at any time by the whim of the state. Under Nazi Germany, property was searched and seized by the fascist regime on a regular basis. The right to property is the very basis of both Capitalism and of free society in general. The other unique right is that of “the pursuit of happiness.” It is in this respect that Capitalism differs most strongly from feudalism. Under a feudal system, serfs were relegated to a near-slave status, from which they could never escape. No matter how hard they worked, they were only entitled to the same level of benefits from their lord, which, subsequently, encouraged serfs to do the minimum amount of work required. They did not have the right to pursue higher goals or advance in society. This is ultimately why feudalism collapsed. Since workers had no intrinsic motivation to be successful, all innovation was stunted. The majority of the wealth in a lord’s household came from warfare rather than economic competition; many lives were lost just so people could maintain a minimum standard of living. Therefore, the concept that each individual has the right and responsibility to pursue his own ends is both logical and moral. An individual who
is acting in order to better himself as opposed to his lord will ultimately be able to contribute more to society as a whole. Knowing that working harder will help to advance one’s own goals will encourage the individual to be more productive and innovative. However, acting in self-interest does not give one license to act unethically. Ethical behavior and transparency are necessary in order for capitalism to be successful. Unfortunately, the major issue afflicting business today is that consumers and investors do not have access to the same information that the managers have; unethical managers have chosen not to disclose the information to their stakeholders or present it in a deceptive way. Furthermore, many managers have been acting unethically in order to achieve short-term goals, without looking at long-term consequences. These actions are ultimately self-defeating because they damage firm’s reputations, and hurting the stakeholders ultimately hurts the firm. Capitalism is a moral system, which has unfortunately been exploited by some immoral people. Acting unethically is counter-productive to a firm’s success, but selfish people motivated by short-term gains may ignore this fact. Therefore, it is necessary to create controls (both internal and external) in order to curtail these behaviors, with the bare minimum of necessary government intervention. Too much intervention slows innovation and gives firms negative incentives to act, whereas too little intervention allows unethical people to exploit the system. That being said, a free state cannot exist without free markets. It is both necessary and moral to allow people to pursue self-interest.
MARK GOLDSTEIN -guest columnist -accounting & information systems, management major
International graduate students can get involved to feel at home L
eaving one’s home country and traveling abroad for graduate studies is a big step in the life of a student, which brings with it not only hope and avenues for a prosperous future, but also multiple anxieties about life at the new place. It was no different for me, but I was fortunate to receive a warm welcome and strong support when I joined Tech and became a Hokie. My friend Mike would say, “Ganesh, you are hilarious,” because of my British English. The first thing I learned was that football is American football, not soccer. When something is damaged, you fix it, not repair it. When you have queries about anything, you ask a quick question, not express a doubt. Two important things about being an International student are adaptability and recognition. Acclimatizing to the cold, enjoying cuisines from different corners of the world, gaining knowledge through professional and personal interactions and so on happen eventually, but the most significant of all is making friends — who, although they speak a different mother tongue, can instantly bond with you over a homework assignment, a discussion on skiing or maybe
just an invitation to a party at their place. Thankfully I have such friends, which has made the demanding graduate life much more enjoyable with a balance of work and play. Everyone loves to be recognized for his efforts. Extracurricular activities are what keep me going. When I applied for and was eventually selected to be GSA’s (Graduate Student Assembly) Research Symposium Chair for 2009-10, it was a challenge I was looking forward to for many reasons. First, being able to find the right people to include in the event committee and then to suitably intertwine my ideas with their suggestions was really something I looked forward to. Secondly, to provide specific platforms for demonstration of different research findings, we introduced two new sessions: video — encouraging students to participate with eye-catching motion picture of fluids or short academic documentaries of field studies like wildlife and natural resources — and performance — to facilitate musicians, theater groups and other performing artists to stage their work. Thus, while the different majors held
their own, everyone could come under one roof at the Graduate Life Center. Uniting the different disciplines, even with so much academic diversity on campus. But, I must admit, amid all this, what has given and will continue to give me most pleasure is when I receive a compliment such as, ”Hey, I really like your idea,” which shows that whichever part of the world you come from, human virtues are universal. I feel so happy. Life away from home can become disturbing and difficult if someone plans to be within his own niche. Making friends and getting together with fellow students will ease the various pressures to a great extent. If someone takes the first step, the other steps magically fall in place one after another.
GANESH BALASUBRAMANIAN -guest columnist -junior Ph. D student -engineering science
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ACROSS 1 Unceremoniously breaks up with 6 1996 film that won Best Original Screenplay 11 Pro bono TV ad 14 As a friend, to François 15 Greg Evans comic strip 16 Pumpjack output 17 Newly certified coroner’s assignment? 19 Wash. Nats’ division 20 Daffy duo? 21 Generation 22 In pursuit of 24 Lord’s ointment? 29 Isn’t wrong? 30 Flood deterrents 31 Words spoken with a yawn, perhaps 33 TV palomino 34 Mutt with a conscience? 35 Annoying negotiator 38 Sitting Bull telling raunchy jokes? 42 Cops may keep them on suspects 46 Rabbitlike rodents 47 Gulf War reporter Peter 49 Peddle 50 Taxi with no empty seats? 53 Disappointed postgame comment 55 Back muscle, for short 56 Nest builder 57 Seventh-largest st. 58 Topping for schnitzel? 63 Legal ending 64 Bugs once sought by cops 65 Havens 66 Old map inits. 67 Steamed 68 Take forcibly DOWN 1 Stand up for 2 Combat outfit
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3 Candy “whose success is out of this world” 4 Downing St. bigwigs 5 Pose 6 Botanist’s study 7 Hearing-related 8 Wiper 9 Migratory African critter 10 Fit to serve 11 Firebird maker 12 Guest letter? 13 Siren, for one 18 Predicament 23 Pride follower, so they say 25 It’s not true 26 Breaks up 27 Baroque stringed instrument 28 Raison d’__ 32 “No Exit” dramatist 34 Half of MMCXX 36 “What I look forward __ continued immaturity followed by death”: Dave Barry 37 Hung. neighbor 38 Coulees
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features 5
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february 19, 2010
COLLEGIATETIMES
he she
SAID
JAYME MARTIN/COLLEGIATE TIMES
He said:Dancing becomes sweaty, awkward shuffle I
only dance when pornography is involved. And without context, that sounds terrible. However, I’m not the twisted pervert here — the Germans are. During my abroad studies in 2008, I took a leisure trip to Munich with approximately 10 other students. We nominated a ringleader because of his convenient fluency in the language. In search of entertainment one evening, natives told our guide we should visit a certain all-night dance venue. The club was massive, not unlike wandering a shelf-less Home Depot. A stepped structure for multiple levels of dancers sat in the middle of the floor. And with cheap one-liter “biers,” we inevitably broke it down until 4 a.m. Several large screens encouraged us with soft-core sex scenes possibly filmed in the 1980s. Atop that, Germans singing along to Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer” is horrendous. But that was 4,000 miles ago where no one knew who I was and everyone wore lederhosen. With my pack of friends — the victims of higher alcohol content, I had little chance of looking foolish. It’s a shame that self-image is the biggest roadblock to my going footloose. I don’t object to the idea of
dancing at all; my iPod hosts a handsome amount of tunes fit for moves. But nearly all my jigs get internalized. I have an incurable suspicion that people who see me jerk my hips notso-fluidly will pass merciless judgment on my entire character and belly laugh the next time our paths cross on campus. The act of dancing itself isn’t where my nerves begin and end, either. Once I’m woven into the mesh of bodies for any more than one song, my body temperature shifts to that of a sauna. I sweat more than I’d like. And I’m not talking about drops that a quick brow swipe takes care of. I’m saying you saw me walk into the place wearing a cyan-blue T-shirt, and now it’s magically transformed into navy; only beach towels can absorb the torrential monsoon. The average person has 2.6 million sweat glands, and I’m convinced one of mine can’t function without the other 2,599,999. Yet that’s what it’s all about, right? Dancing is a cathartic release. Shake off the academic stressors, the roommate grievances and, in my case, excess water and sodium. I think most females understand this very well; it’s imbedded in their biological makeup. Here are hypothetical options for a Friday night: a movie, a sporting
event or dancing. I suspect a healthy portion of ladies would circle the latter, with (usually) no ulterior motive to innocent fun. And you’ll find complementary herds of fellas, but their intentions aren’t often so one-dimensional. For them it’s not so much detaching from reality as it is latching onto some skintight denim. That’s still not enough incentive for me, mostly because, again, I’m concerned I’ll deliver charley horses to my partner’s hamstrings (since it’s now customary to never face each other). There is a sect of dudes, though, that is all about noodle-legging for the heck of it. I happen to hang out with a fraction of that exact population. I find myself at, for example, Boogieburg performances with my hands jammed in my pockets as my buddies flail about. It’s ironic and funny when they slither out of the crowd and start hounding me about how much of a curmudgeon I am. “What’s your problem? Just dance, man!” That disinterests me even more; I hope they don’t treat their future children that way. Maybe if a woman said it — which is what I’d expect in the first place — with a little more sensitivity, I might (stress: might) dive
in and at least do the hand-jive from “Grease.” Even if I don’t ever overcome my apprehension to shuffle, I’ll ardently support the folks who freely express all that’s pent up within. I better fight the fear soon, though, since my brother is getting married this summer and I’m the best man. Of the ridiculously long list of responsibilities I have, one bullet point knifes my corneas every time I read it: The best man should dance at the reception with the bride, both mothers and as many of the bridal attendants as possible. Maybe if a powerful “bier” is available at the bar, I’ll make the new couple proud. Although I can imagine the flood of perspiration now, causing all on the floor to slip and shatter hips. Thanks to me, the attendees truly are living on a prayer.
RYAN ARNOLD -features reporter -senior -communication major
She said: Hit the dance floor, regardless of talent O
nce upon a time, I was a dancing queen. Before I go into this narrative, however, I must remind my readers that “dancing queen” doesn’t imply that I’m any good. ABBA’s well-known, funky disco song claims that to be a dancing queen, “you can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life.” ABBA never actually says you have to be good at it. But back when I was still on the prowl, my lady-friends and I would bust some moves every week as Boogieburg-spun some jams. We would bounce, flirt, grind, drink, and only stop to occasionally go outside and wring the sweat out of our clothes. I don’t have an arsenal of amazing moves like Beyonce Knowles, nor can I always smoothly transition between two songs of different rhythm. In fact, I’m not sure I have rhythm. But unlike every other time in my life where I’m overly concerned with having proper decorum, I simply don’t care when I’m dancing. For many people, dancing is a way to let go. Even if we’re usually shy, we can pretend we’re sex-deities when we’re out on the floor. We can take on a whole new persona. We can be as crazy as Lady Gaga, and it doesn’t even matter if we’re considered cool or not. For example, my good friend Lori describes herself as being in a constant state of awkward. The moment she exchanges glances with her type of guy, she blushes and stammers — she has no idea what to say. And even when she’s among her closest female friends, if a crude word is spoken, Lori might laugh, but she still blushes and anxiously fidgets. No matter the situation, she’s always uncomfortable. Of course, I find Lori’s awkwardness absolutely endearing. The most puzzling thing, however, is that Lori transforms while dancing. Wallflower Lori has no problem getting out on the dance floor. She sheds her uneasy shell and becomes the epitome of mid-twenties, blonde confidence. Honestly, Lori’s seat-shaking is like watching some sacred fertility rite unfolding in front of you. It’s beautiful, it’s sexy, and while watching it, you forget that Lori ever had an awkward moment in her life. But of course, even if Lori is the
Optimus Prime of dancing-related transformations, there are others who aren’t so fortunate. You know who you are. To every person who can find complete comfort by getting her groove on, there still remain some people who simply don’t dance. It’s not that they can’t, because “can’t dance” never stopped Will Smith. It’s just that these people don’t. Maybe you’re nervous. Maybe the beat just can’t persuade you to get your back up off the wall and join a crowd of writhing strangers. Maybe you can’t begin to think of any moves, period. Maybe dancing just isn’t for you. I’ve known many people who just wouldn’t dance. I dated a guy whose strict rule was that he would only dance with me overseas because, as he said, “nobody knew him there.” If we were stateside, he’d get downright mad if I even joked about shimmying with him. (No wonder it didn’t last.) My fiance and I — as long as we’ve been together — have danced for a grand total of one song. And I pretty much had to force him to keep dancing until Eric Clapton stopped crooning. Like in middle school days, our dance consisted of spinning in place with barely any attitude or style. Afterward, Tom Yancey wasn’t happy we shared a moment; he just looked relieved that our dance session was finally over. There are probably innumerable shades of grey between comfort levels, but from my experience, most people fall into these two categories: you either love dancing, or you just don’t. But for those of you who, like my fiance, avoid dancing so much that you probably don’t even dance alone, I implore you — just give it a try. Turn on your favorite tune and roll with it — while home alone and safely locked in your bedroom. OK, maybe you still won’t like dancing. But for the rest of us, we’ll be content to go crazy to the thumping bass and proclaim ourselves dancing royalty. I know I will.
LAKEN RENICK -features staff writer -senior -English major
sports 6
editors: joe crandley, alex jackson sportseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865 COLLEGIATETIMES
february 19, 2010
DUKE (34-25 OVERALL RECORD IN 2009, 18-12 ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE) The Blue Devils qualified for last year’s ACC tournament in eighth place. Despite being the lowest seeded team, they managed to defeat Clemson. This year, Duke could see a drop off in production and in the standings. It lost three big bats in the lineup, which could be devastating considering it was seventh in batting average last season. Duke will rely on good pitching from Christopher Manno and Eric Pfisterer. Manno was drafted in the 38th round of the Major League Baseball draft by the Washington Nationals. Pfisterer pitched exceptionally in the revered Cape Cod League over the summer, going 3-1 with a 3.32 earned run average. Losing that offense might be too much for the pitching staff to overcome, though, and without some unexpected success, the Blue Devils could miss the ACC tournament. PROJECTED ACC COASTAL FINISH: 6TH GEORGIA TECH (38-19 OVERALL, 1710-1 ACC) Baseball America ranks the Yellow Jackets sixth in the nation. That ranking comes from the fact that Georgia Tech enters the season boasting a AllAmerican pitcher Deck McGuire and a powerful offense. Last year, the Jackets hosted a regional but failed to advance to the College World Series. Much is expected of this team in 2010,
and they are the only real threat to the University of Virginia in this division. Senior first baseman Tony Plagman hit .354 last year with 16 home runs and 73 runs batted in. Junior shortstop Derek Dietrich emerged as a top prospect and looks to continue his success. McGuire is what makes this team great, however. He collected various accolades for his 2009 performance. The junior went 11-2 with a 3.50 ERA and 118 strikeouts in 16 starts. Georgia Tech has to find secondary pitching to challenge UVa. PROJECTED ACC COASTAL FINISH: 2ND MIAMI (38-22 OVERALL, 18-12 ACC) Miami went to a regional last year where it went 2-2. The Hurricanes stock is dropping this year, though. They basically have one great pitcher and one great hitter. Junior pitcher Chris Hernandez suffered a sophomore slump in 2009, going 7-5 with a 4.76 ERA. The Canes lost a dominant closer to the MLB draft in Kyle Bellamy. Both the bullpen and the remaining starting spots are a concern. Miami’s offense finished fourth in the conference with 68 home runs last year but only managed to finish ninth in average. Junior catcher Yasmani Grandal will have to put up big number. He hit .299 with 16 homers and 45 RBI in the Canes’ 2009 campaign. PROJECTED ACC COASTAL FINISH: 5TH
NORTH CAROLINA (47-17 OVERALL, 1910 ACC) UNC made it to the College World Series last season before bowing out with two losses to Arizona State. Entering this season, the offense is losing four of its top five hitters. Junior outfielder Ben Bunting is the best returning hitter. He batted .327 and hit two home runs in 2009. Because UNC is such a baseball juggernaut, its young players are as talented as any in the ACC. Two weekend starters from last year are gone, leaving only junior Matt Harvey. Harvey certainly has the potential to be great, but a 2009 ERA of 5.35 won’t cut it this season. If he can find his stuff, though, UNC will be a threat come postseason time. The Tar Heels lost outstanding closer Brian Moran to the MLB Draft. In 35 appearances, he went 7-1 with a 2.20 ERA. PROJECTED ACC COASTAL FINISH: 3RD VIRGINIA (49-15-1 OVERALL, 16-11-1 ACC) Many see the Cavaliers as national title contenders, and there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be there right at the end. The Cavs return all nine position players — a group that batted .327 last year, which was tops in the ACC and 33rd in the country. Baseball America ranks them No. 2 in the nation. Cavs’ sophomore Danny Hultzen ranks among the best pitchers in the
Starting Lineup
Resurgent Tech squad readies for upcoming ACC season C /#13 1B /#21 Anthony Sosnoskie Austin Wates
2B /#5 Michael Seaborn
SS /#8 Tim Smalling
3B /#29 Ronnie Shaban
LF /#26 Steve Domecus
RF /#4 Mike Kaminski
DH /#23 Matt Blow
SP /#24 Justin Wright
CF /#3 Sean Ryan
conference and possibly the country. Going 9-1 with a sparkling 2.17 ERA, as he did in 2009, will get you that kind of respect. UVa also retains its starter Robert Morey and closer Kevin Arico. PROJECTED ACC COASTAL FINISH: 1ST VIRGINIA TECH (32-21 OVERALL, 12-17 ACC) If ever there were a dark horse this season, it would be the Hokies. Tech’s 32-21 mark last season was its best since 1999, and it even took two out of three games from the Cavaliers. The offense is among the conference’s best, and the pitching is talented. Junior first baseman Austin Wates and redshirt senior outfielder Steve Domecus lead the offense. Domecus batted .406 in 2009, while Wates finished hitting .397. The Hokies must find their power swing to make it to the next level with only hit 52 homers in ’09, putting them 10th in the category. Tech loses workhorse Rhett Ballard in the pitching department, but it will move top prospect Jesse Hahn out of the bullpen into a starting role. Hahn has so much untapped potential, so if he can reach it, the Hokies could find themselves in the ACC tournament for the first time ever and a regional. PROJECTED ACC COASTAL FINISH: 4TH ATLANTIC DIVISION BOSTON COLLEGE (34-26 OVERALL, 1415 ACC) The Eagles made the ACC tournament for the first time in their history last year and made an appearance in the NCAA tournament. They would fall in 25 innings to Texas, which many consider to be the best college baseball game of the decade. The Eagles return six position players, including senior outfielder Robbie Anston, who hit .344 and stole 15 bases last season. Junior infielder Mickey Wiswall hit 14 home runs in 2009. BC’s No. 1 starter graduated, putting pressure on the pitching staff to make up for the loss. The Eagles also have to replace a closer. PROJECTED ACC ATLANTIC FINISH: 3RD
CLEMSON (44-22 OVERALL, 19-11 ACC) The Tigers, along with FSU, are the best in the Atlantic Division. Clemson advanced to a Super Regional before losing to Arizona State last season and it returns eight starters in the field, keeping its explosive offense alive. Providing the power is junior outfielder Jeff Schaus, who jacked 13 home runs last year. Hitting for average is Wilson Boyd, who finished 2009 with a .341 batting average. The concern for Clemson is the pitching staff. Three starters are gone, leaving a big hole to fill. Junior Casey Harman will have to shoulder much of the pressure, and last season’s stats prove he can do just that. He went 7-3 with a 3.95 ERA. PROJECTED ACC ATLANTIC FINISH: 2ND FLORIDA STATE (45-18 OVERALL, 19-9 ACC) If the Seminoles are not in the College World Series, something terrible must have happened. They are ranked ninth by Baseball America, but they have the talent to be a No. 1 team. Like Clemson, they made it to a Super Regional before being swept by Arkansas in 2009. The whole rotation is back for 2010, however. Sophomore Sean Gilmartin shines as the best. The lefty went 12-3 with a 3.49 ERA last season. Junior outfielder Tyler Holt is the star of the offense. He hit .401 and stole 34 bases last season. Mike McGee hit 19 home runs while keeping a .379 average and driving home 78 runs. This team has everything in place and should only be challenged in the ACC by UVa. PROJECTED ACC ATLANTIC FINISH: 1ST MARYLAND (27-27 OVERALL, 10-20 ACC) A new coach will lead the Terrapins into battle this season. Not much went well for the Terps last year as both their team batting average and ERA finished 11th in the conference. Infielder David Poutier is the best hitter in the lineup. The senior hit .321 and
knocked in 29 runs in ’09. The two top returning pitchers, Brett Harman and Matt Fullerton, couldn’t stay under a 5.93 ERA last season. Despite all this, Maryland isn’t the worst in the division. PROJECTED ACC ATLANTIC FINISH: 5TH NORTH CAROLINA STATE (25-31 OVERALL, 10-20) There isn’t much good news entering 2010 for the Wolfpack, either. It finished last in batting average in 2009 with a miniscule .265 mark. Its pitching staff hovered around a dismal 5.00 ERA last year as well. It has the talent to stay ahead of the bottom feeders such as Maryland and Wake Forest, though. Junior outfielder Drew Poulk leads the offense, but he only hit .266 last year. NC State’s number one starter is gone and replacing a 3.86 ERA will be tough. The candidates to take over were a combined 3-11 last year. PROJECTED ACC ATLANTIC FINISH: 4TH WAKE FOREST (22-30 OVERALL, 6-24 ACC) By far the worst team in the conference, the Demon Deacons probably wish the season would be over already. Wake replaced its coach, looking for a new direction prior to the start of the season. The offense managed to hit .284 in 2009, and it returns three of its top four hitters. Pitching is a different story. Wake’s pitchers served it up to opposing hitters and finished with a 7.30 ERA in 2009. While it returns most of its starters, that isn’t saying much. PROJECTED ACC ATLANTIC FINISH: 6TH
RAY NIMMO -sports reporter -senior -communication major