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Working around the clock Federal April

16 findings under wraps ZACH CRIZER nrv news editor

SARA MITCHELL/COLLEGIATE TIMES

Students (left to right) Callie Zawaski, sophomore engineer major; Ashley Broderick, junior interior design major; and Joseph Walsh, sophomore electrical engineer major, work on homework in Torgersen Hall. “I can actually ... be more settled,” Broderick said of the building.

TORGERSON HALL COULD BE 24/7 STUDY FACILITY IN FALL AFTER TWO-YEAR EFFORT LIANA BAYNE news reporter Virginia Tech students may soon find themselves with a place to study 24 hours a day, seven days a week. SGA president Brandon Carroll and SGA senator Melissa Yates have been working since 2008 on SGA legislation to make Torgersen Hall, specifically the first floor atrium, open and secure overnight, making it the first ever 24/7 study facility on campus. Carroll is confident the measure can be implemented by the beginning of next semester. “I think it’ll be implemented in the fall,” Carroll said. Carroll presented the topic to university President Charles Steger and others as top priority to students during the University Council meeting on Feb. 15. “This is the biggest issue for students, and it would take $50,000 out of a $1.05 billion budget,” Carroll said. Yates also presented to the Commission on Student Affairs during their Feb. 18 meeting. “I think it would be in poor taste on the part of the university to not pass this,” Yates said. “I see the student body having much more confidence in the administration after they pass this. The only upsetting thing is that this took two years.” WORKING TOWARD CHANGE Yates began examining the option of using Torgersen Hall in 2008 as the 24-hour facility when she discovered through word-ofmouth that it was already being used informally past its closing

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on the web

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Check out the CT’s Web site at collegiatetimes.com to take the poll on 24/7 study facilities.

time of midnight. “There were engineers telling me they were going to Torg to study because people were still using it until 5 (a.m.) when the cleaning staff kicked them out,” she said. “Clearly students made their choice,” Yates said. “They had no study place so they went and made one.” Yates wrote the legislation and it was passed after a monthlong process of review. After it was passed, however, university administrators took no action. “The SGA has no real power,” Yates said. “Legislation is usually dead after we pass it. Unless you are immediately pursuing the relevant administrators, nothing will happen. It just ends up on some person’s desk.” Carroll explained that the governance system could be frustrating for students to make changes. “We say we invent the future, but we never set a precedent,” he said. He also said the SGA’s voice is not easily heard in the administration. “It takes so long to maneuver the system,” he said. “The governance system is not helpful for students.” Carroll said SGA members such as himself and Yates “have to be very intrinsically motivated” to make changes. “People have to take initiative,”

he said. “It’s like we have to have so much more initiative than I think we need to be having.” “It’s not SGA’s fault that when we say something, nothing happens,” Carroll said. “Everything should have a student voice.” Carroll said that although he’s frustrated with the amount of time it takes for legislation to pass through the administration, he is excited to see a 24/7 study facility for students as one of his last acts as SGA president. “It’s my biggest thing that I’m trying to end with,” he said.

SGA’s survey shaded portion refers to time designated. respondents could pick multiple options.

THE LOGISTICS OF A 24/7 FACILITY Johnathan Davis, a facilities director of academic space management who works through the provost’s office, said he doesn’t anticipate many problems would arise if the facility were to go 24/7. “It’s a good time to push this angle,” he said. He said some staff members that have offices inside Torgersen Hall had been discussing making the building more accessible to students even before hearing about the SGA’s campaign. Although not yet confirmed, it is possible that the facility could become 24/7 during a “trial period” that may be during final exam week this semester, to give students more study options and see if making the building permanently 24/7 would work. Currently, Torgersen Hall is on 24-hour limited access after midnight. Some graduate students and employees who have offices and labs have Hokie Passport access via the card reader next to the door that faces the Drillfield. see TORGERSEN / page two

Night school

20% prefer to study between 6 a.m. - noon

37% prefer to study between noon - 5 p.m.

90%

prefer to study between 5 p.m. - midnight

54%

prefer to study between midnight - 6 a.m.

Gay community upset with McDonnell’s executive order GORDON BLOCK news reporter

Blacksburg High School students board buses at Blacksburg Middle School Tuesday night after their ﬁrst full day back at school. The high school gym roof collapsed Feb. 13. Students begin their day at 2 p.m. and leave at 7:15 p.m. photo by daniel lin.

Virginia Tech officials are declining to release initial findings of a U.S. Department of Education investigation into the university’s Clery Act compliance during the April 16, 2007 campus shootings. According to documents obtained by the Collegiate Times, the Department of Education sent a request for documents to President Charles Steger on Sept. 4, 2007. The university complied on Oct. 3, 2007. Hincker said the university received initial findings from the Department of Education, “a couple weeks ago,” but will not release them, citing a Freedom of Information Act exception. The exception cited grants an exemption to “Working papers and correspondence of the Office of the Governor; Lieutenant Governor; the Attorney General; the members of the General Assembly or the Division of Legislative Services; the mayor or chief executive officer of any political subdivision of the Commonwealth; or the president or other chief executive officer of any public institution of higher education in Virginia.” It goes on to define “working papers” as “those records prepared by or for an above-named public official for his personal or deliberative use.” Megan Rhyne, a Virginia Coalition for Open Government representative, said in an e-mail the initial findings might not qualify as a working paper because Tech did not commission the investigation. “If the university asked for it, then, yes, for as long as the president uses the report to craft future statements/policies/responses, then it is and remains a working paper,” her response to the Collegiate Times said. “If the study was initiated independently of the university and the president has been given an advance copy as a courtesy, then it seems the ‘prepared by or for’ language would not apply.” Hincker said the findings are working papers because Steger is preparing to respond to them. “This is a draft report for the president’s deliberation so he can respond to the (Department of Education) and they can issue then a final report,” Hincker said. “They have asked us to respond to this draft report.” Jane Glickman, a Department of Education spokeswoman, described the same process as Hincker and said the final report would not be completed soon. “They have a chance to respond to it and provide input and we will then come out with what we call the ‘Final program review determination letter,’” Glickman said. “That is public, but that is months away.” Hincker said the university would grant any requests to the information if it were a final report. According to Hincker, offering the university a

chance to respond to initial findings is standard Department of Education procedure. “It’s not like we’re trying to keep secrets,” Hincker said. “The issue here is that it’s an opportunity for the university to evaluate the analysis and provide our response to the (Department of Education). We’re just following their process.” Steger has been asked to respond within 60 days, but there is also the possibility to receive a 30-day extension from the Department of Education. Hincker said the university has not yet applied for the 30-day extension, but likely will. He said the response will likely be sent in “either late March or late April.” The Department of Education conducts routine checks of each university’s Clery Act compliance. “We review a school’s compliance with (the Clery Act) as a matter of course when we do what we call ‘regular program compliance reviews,’” Glickman said. “To get money for Pell Grants and loans, they have to also be in compliance with Clery.” However, Glickman said this is a more detailed investigation that is not frequently conducted. “We do regular compliance reviews, but this is much, much more indepth than we do on a regular basis,” Glickman said. She did not elaborate on potential consequences of the more intensive review. Security on Campus, Inc., initially filed a complaint to the Department of Education in August 2007, stating the campus community should have been warned of Seung-Hui Cho’s initial shootings in West AmblerJohnston Hall. Daniel Carter, the group’s director of public policy, said he wants the report to be available to improve the response to future university crimes. “What we really wanted by having this review is an analysis of where there were gaps — where things went wrong, so they could be corrected,” Carter said. “I’m hopeful that’s what the report will speak to so that lessons can be learned going forward.” Security on Campus is a nonprofit group founded by the parents of Jeanne Clery, the namesake of the Clery Act, which was enacted in 1990 and requires universities to report crime statistics and give communities timely warnings of campus crimes. Jeanne Clery was raped and murdered in her dorm room at Lehigh University in 1986. Carter was disappointed the university did not release the investigation’s initial findings. The exception does not require the university to withhold the documents, but gives it the right to do so. He also said Security on Campus has filed a FOIA request with the Department of Education, which has been acknowledged but not answered.

An executive order regarding workplace discrimination from Gov. Bob McDonnell has sparked disappointment within the gay community. The order, issued by McDonnell Feb. 5, clarified rules on workplace discrimination in state government offices, assuring “equal opportunity in all facets of state government.” Prohibiting discrimination on areas including race, sex, religion, age, political affiliation and disabilities, the executive order offers no written protection based on sexual orientation. Aimee Kanode, a senior humanities, science, and environment major at Virginia Tech and president of Tech’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Alliance, said she was “appalled, but not surprised” by the absence of written protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation. “I have no doubt in my mind that it was on purpose,” Kanode said. Virginia Tech, in its Principal of Community statement signed in 2005, “rejects all forms of prejudice and discrimination,” including discrimination based on sexual orientation. Ray Plaza, a member of Tech’s Commission on

Equal Opportunity and Diversity and one of the original signers of Tech’s Principles of Community, said the wording made the statement “as inclusive as possible.” “I think some might argue when you don’t make (prohibitions on discrimination based on) sexual orientation explicit, it gives the green light to discriminate on that,” said Plaza, who is also a regular opinions columnist for the Collegiate Times. “My standpoint is that it’s always important to clarify things that we take as given.” The order reverses the policy of his two predecessors, Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, whose executive orders on workplace discrimination offered protection based on sexual orientation. The policy reflects previous statements made by McDonnell. In Oct. 2009, the News and Advance reported that McDonnell would not continue the policy, questioning its legality as a “separation of powers issue.” George Rutherglen, a professor at the University of Virginia law school, said there was a “general trend” in protecting the rights of gay workers. “People have become more accepting of people who are gay or who change sexual identity,” Rutherglen

said. “They see less and less grounds to discriminate those type of people.” The issue of workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation has generated a lot of interest in the state legislature. A Virginia Senate bill prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation, SB 66, was passed Feb. 8 and is now being debated in the Virginia House. Sen. A. Donald McEachin, a Democrat from the 9th district who sponsored the bill, was opposed to the wording of McDonnell’s executive order. “Any form of discrimination is wrong,” McEachin said. “It’s disappointing he has not come out in support of this bill.” McEachin said the bill was necessary to protect the rights of gay employees. “If there is a problem, it solves it,” McEachin said. “If there isn’t a problem, it doesn’t hurt anybody.” For Tech’s LGBTA, which has members across the political spectrum, Kanode said that the issue was not a partisan one. “We’re not a politically affiliated organization,” Kanode said. “We go for what policy helps us out. We always hope we’re not going backwards in our fight.”

2 news

new river valley news editor: zach crizer university editor: philipp kotlaba newseditor@collegiatetimes.com/540.231.9865

february 24, 2010

THE 2010 WINTER OLYMPICS

COLLEGIATETIMES

Torgersen: Adjustments needed for 24/7 access from page one

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CURRENT MEDAL COUNT as of 10 p.m. Tuesday

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gold | silver | bronze | total

USA GER NOR

7 9 10 26 7 9 7

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Want free stuff? Sure you do. Come tell us what you think about our paper today under D2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and you’ll get to pick an item from our swag drawer. CORRECTIONS -In “Shultz transformation to begin in summer” (CT, Feb. 23), the photo caption should have read, “The planned renovations for Shultz Hall will include the new Center for the Arts and are expected to be completed in 2013.” The Collegiate Times regrets this error.

JUSTIN GRAVES -Contact our public editor at publiceditor@ collegiatetimes.com if you see anything that needs to be corrected.

Theoretically, this means that the general student body cannot enter or occupy the building after midnight. Tech police, however, do not actually evict students from Torgersen Hall at midnight. Police captain Joseph Albert said the officers who lock buildings at night don’t have time to ask students to leave buildings like Torgersen Hall at its official closing time. They do try not to leave the doors to the building open. Albert said many students currently use Torgersen Hall past its official closing time of midnight because they prop open the four entrance doors. Students who were inside before midnight tend to stay after midnight. “We can run by and pull the rocks, wood wedges, trash cans and everything out, make a lap around the building and here we go again,” Albert said. “It’s just a constant issue.” Many students take advantage of the door facing the Drillfield, through which approved persons can enter using their Hokie Passport. “If (officers) find that door open twice, you go in and say, ‘Are you authorized to be here?’ They say yeah, so you say, ‘Step out here and try your card and see if it works,’” Albert said. Davis has been essentially in charge of ensuring activity runs smoothly in Torgersen Hall since 2001. He said there have always been students studying after midnight in the first floor atrium. “In the beginning, there was just a handful of students,” he said. “Now there will be almost 50 students here at 5 in the morning.” Davis said in previous years, there had been a push to try to deal with unauthorized persons staying in the building past midnight. After the April 16, 2007 shootings, however, “our resources were stretched thin,” he said. Although students have consistently been using Torgersen Hall past its official closing time unsupervised, Davis said he “had not had a lot of problems.” However, “we’ve never been comfortable without some semblance of monitoring,” he said. Albert said one of the major problems with Torgersen Hall right now

JAMIE CHUNG/SPPS

Students occupy the Torgersen Hall atrium at all hours of the day, even when it is technically closed. is the lack of accountability for people who do remain in the building past midnight. There are no cameras installed inside some parts of the building, including the ever-populated atrium, which makes dealing with issues such as vandalism difficult. Davis said cameras could be installed, but each camera would cost about $200, plus the labor to install them. Instead of being evicted at midnight by Tech police or security guards, unauthorized persons are usually evicted by custodial staff at 5 a.m. Davis said the custodial staff asks students to leave at 5 a.m. because they are on a tight schedule to get classrooms cleaned in time for 8 a.m. classes. “Some of the biggest issues and concerns have been from the custodial staff,” Albert said. “They’ve had some vandalism where people have torn something up during the night. They’ve also gone into a classroom to clean, flipped the light on, and there’s somebody sprawled out asleep.” The Torgersen Hall custodial staff has experienced recent budget cuts and personnel issues. Now, three employees must perform the duties that used to be completed by seven people.

“Having the building open 24/7 could impact their ability to prep classrooms,” Davis said. If the facility were to be truly open 24/7, at least two security guards would need to be hired, Albert said. Those guards would probably be paid as part-time wageworkers, as are many security guards. Albert estimated the costs of hiring and retaining security guards to be between $30,000 and $50,000 per year. It is also not yet clear who would pay for the extra costs associated with camera installation and security guards. Davis said if all authorization were given, it would not be hard to provide the student body Hokie Passport access to the building through the door facing the Drillfield. “With a flip of a switch, we could give all students access,” he said. A TWO-YEAR ENDEAVOR Yates authored the legislation to make Torgerson Hall a 24/7 facility in 2008, and it passed in March 2009. A transfer student from the University of Michigan, Yates said one of the first questions she asked after transferring to Tech was whether there was a 24/7 study facility in place. At the University of Michigan,

she said, the undergraduate library was open until 5 a.m. and was connected by a bridge to the graduate library, which was open 24/7. When Yates got involved with the SGA, she almost immediately began pushing her idea for a 24/7 study facility. Initially, she began to focus on the possibility of Newman Library being the 24/7 facility. Davis said that although students have been using Torgersen Hall past midnight since he was appointed to his job in 2001, “this is the first real hard push” he has seen. University spokesman Larry Hincker said he, too, had only recently heard of the idea of converting Torgersen to a 24/7 study facility. Yates first conducted an extensive survey in 2008 that had just over 1,700 students respond. The data from the survey, which had to do with the operating hours of Newman Library, Yates said, made it clear: “This is not just me who wants it, this is the entire student body,” she said. The largest category of students, 26 percent, said they spent between 10 and 15 hours studying each week. Almost 900 students, 50 percent of those asked, reported spending their majority of their time studying in their bedroom, dorm room, or

apartment. About 63 percent of students reported being “unhappy with the current hours at Newman Library,” and 76 percent said if Newman had more convenient hours, they would consider studying there. Additionally, 90 percent of students said they study between 5 p.m. and midnight, while 50 percent said they continue to study between midnight and 6 a.m. Yates said the survey illustrates a sentiment within the student body, especially when the sheer amount of students who replied is taken into consideration. Students found studying in Torgersen atrium agreed with the survey results. “I can actually bring food here and be more settled,” said Ashley Broderick, a junior interior design major. Others, like freshman engineering major Callie Zawaski, prefer studying in Torgersen Hall because study rooms in dorms can get full. It soon became apparent to Yates, however, that Newman Library was not going to be the best choice for the 24-hour facility. Yates was told there was “no way” the library would extend its hours. Davis also said he had been in contact with the library to discuss sharing of resources, especially the security guard who is currently employed at the library. He said, however, that the library staff had not been particularly cooperative with his requests. LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE Carroll said he is extremely hopeful for Torgersen Hall to go 24/7 as his last act as SGA president. “I’m 95 percent certain that Torg will be 24/7,” he said. Carroll said he believes the administration does care about students’ needs, like a 24/7 study facility. However, he said, “they are stuck in the process.” Carroll said he hopes to see Torgersen Hall become 24/7 during final exams. If that isn’t possible, he said, the library might be an option. Before Torgersen Hall can become approved to become a 24/7 facility, the legislation will be having a second reading before the CSA and two readings before the University Council.

opınıons 3

editor: debra houchins opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com/540.231.9865 COLLEGIATETIMES

february 24, 2010

Johnny Be Good: Don’t sacriﬁce who you are A

t a bar downtown this past Thursday night, my friends and I were invariably exposed to some televised Olympics. I usually don’t tune into the Olympics, but this particular moment of winter competition grabbed my attention, because I am a fan of U.S. figure skating phenomenon Johnny Weir. I only learned about Johnny Weir earlier last week, when a wineinduced YouTube session had me captivated with clips from his new show on the Sundance Channel, “Johnny Be Good.” The title is appropriate because of what Johnny Weir provokes — PETA hates him for his fur coats, and he draws ire from social conservatives for his unapologetic gay confidence. Johnny makes just as many headlines for his bravado as for his ice skating prowess — two qualities that come together to create the ultimate desired effect: His performances are arresting. I hadn’t expected the chance to cheer for Johnny on Thursday night, and I had been working on a pitcher of beer with my neighbor, a fellow Weir fan — so you can imagine our excitement when we unexpectedly saw him on TV getting ready for his final free skate routine. I am flawed in my tendency to become overly excited, and I indulge in it often. I imagine this will one day prove fatal, when, in an enthused frenzy, I become the next weird-zoo-accident story on nightly news after jumping into the tiger moat at the Smithsonian. No lives were in jeopardy when I gave myself high-fives and shouted “GOOD!” as Johnny showed the Olympic judges, and the world, his talent. My reveling in Johnny’s skating sorcery proved too much for another guy at the bar, who grabbed my attention to whisper, “Calm down, you’re making people uncomfortable.” I was too completely bewildered by this statement to react as I now, in retrospect, wish I had. Rather than yelling, “Really? Well take a look at this!” and then promptly exposing myself, I

instead allowed for a less awkward silence by avoiding eye contact and permitting my feelings to fester. Moments before Johnny began his final Olympic free skate that would determine whether he’d get a medal, the announcers relayed advice that his parent’s had given him: “You must always be yourself.” In an interview Johnny once said, “Even when I was little and playing on a soccer team and running the opposite way pretending to be a zebra or an ostrich, it was OK — I’ve always been like this.” His free stake was breathtaking. Confidence and vulnerability metastasized into a beautiful work of art — carved ice, muscle, glitter, blades and will. Had Johnny amended his backwards ball kicking in soccer, stopped envisioning himself as an animal or decided to appease those made uncomfortable by his happiness, he might not have been able to share his skills and compete among the world’s top athletes. Johnny Weir placed sixth in the 2010 Olympic Men’s Free Skate. He did not receive a high enough score to medal, but the points lost on the soccer field and from the judges’ scorecards transformed into a standing ovation. If Johnny were to “Be Good” he wouldn’t be where he is today. I’m a little embarrassed I took my own order to “calm down” to heart, but probably less embarrassed than I would be had I exposed myself. Perhaps one day I’ll find a new way to channel my talents to enthuse, and my solo high-fiving and shouting will serve in retrospect as indicators for future excellence. It is important to respect one another’s comfort, but never let it barricade dimensions of yourself, or your happiness.

CHRISTOPHER COX -regular columnist -senior -communication major

War casualties are more than numbers O

ne. Three. Twelve. Don’t worry about the sequence because this is not the start of some numbers puzzle, although it is puzzling when these numbers are aptly applied in today’s confusing world. If referenced to something you would buy in a grocery store, such amounts are insignificant when talking perhaps about one onion, three cucumbers or even a dozen eggs. But let’s relate those numbers to people — people dying one at a time, or in groups of three, or in a house of 12. Innocent people. Slain civilians caught up in a war that is far from being over. Without being overly dramatic, we who sit comfortably in our over-stuffed chairs, inside our roomy houses and gated or highly secured communities must, on occasion, be reminded that there are wars going on and innocent people are dying along with noble warriors and despised enemies. I know the axiom “war is hell” and the overused dismissive phrase “collateral damage,” which is supposed to explain civilian casualties in war. Still, whether we are talking about one or 1,000, any war incident that claims a civilian life is more than regrettable; it is heartbreaking. I always have been against the Iraq war, and I’ve called for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan. So it is not uncommon for me to be critical on the matter.Although often considered naive on the subject of armed conflict, I understand why the president felt the need to increase the troop strength in Afghanistan so the generals can wage a stepped-up assault on Taliban fighters in the southern region of the country. Allied forces, in attacking the enemy in the town of Marjah, understood going in that insurgents were likely to mix with Afghan civilians and mount attacks from areas that put noncombatants in harm’s way. American fighters also understand that in addition to trying to win the armed battles, they must try to win the hearts and minds of the Afghan people. If they don’t, all the fighting will have been in vain. Every civilian death, however, erodes the confidence of the local leaders and their constituents in the “liberating” forces and further impedes the chances for building a stable government willing to oppose the Taliban.

This month, at least 15 civilians have been killed. Twelve died when two U.S. missiles hit a house near Marjah. It was first reported that the missiles somehow missed their target. Later it was learned that three Taliban fighters might have been inside.Regardless, at least six innocent children died in that attack. The moderate military success in southern Afghanistan and the recently announced capture of the No. 2 Afghan Taliban leader in Pakistan indicates there is legitimate progress being made in this war with terrorists.Even more encouraging is that Afghan troops are actively participating with NATO forces, and Pakistan is finally living up to its pledge of taking up the fight against the Taliban who are using that country as a safe haven. No war is easy to fight, but waging battles in heavily populated urban areas on the one hand and rugged mountainous territory on the other makes it extremely difficult for forces that are determined to keep civilian casualties to a minimum. It’s even more challenging when the enemy is not wearing uniforms and can easily hide among the populace. Of course, some of the ways in which the war is fought _ relying on missiles and drone aircraft — almost assure “collateral damage.” Sure, technology has improved greatly even since the first Gulf war, when we were told “smart bombs” could be programmed to hit the enemy without unduly endangering civilians. There are no such things as smart bombs. They are only as smart as the people who program them and set them off.Although I’ve grown impatient with both wars and am sickened by the growing death tolls, I hope the latest offensives in both countries will move us toward a quicker and perhaps more lasting solution to the conflicts.More than 900 U.S. service members have died in the Afghan war and more than 4,375 have been killed in Iraq. When it is all over, no matter what the numbers are, I pray we’ll be able to say that it was all worth it.

BOB RAY SANDERS -mcclatchy newspapers

The Collegiate Times is an independent student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903

MCT CAMPUS

Nationalized media can jeopardize local perspecitve F

or people who follow the role of the media in government, the developments and shortfalls of cable news have been well documented. Major pundits and networks have been so often guilty of bias, yellow journalism and twisting words (the use of “deficit” as opposed to “national debt” comes to mind), that their journalistic impieties have caused a rift between news-watching citizens and earned them regular derision from outside commentators. It is interesting — if not frightening — to note that when a person indicates a preference of the three major news stations, it is considered (often correctly) a declaration of allegiance to a particular political party. Intriguing and troubling as it may be, there is no good that can come from continuing on such a broad review of the media; it is foolishly stubborn to try to change someone’s general conception of an issue. For every MSNBC viewer who finds Bill O’Reilly to be an abrasive bully, there is a Fox viewer who thinks Keith Olbermann is a pompous jerk. One of the more evasive questions about a populous that gets its news predominantly from one of three national news stations is what effect it will have on federalism. As newspapers, which are usually local entities, continue to struggle in the Internet Era, more Americans turn to national television news to keep up with political events. Free, outside of cable costs, and with business models that indulge our human desire to reinforce the validity of our own views, cable news networks are an attractive alternative. The trouble with this phenomenon is that the national media is national. By time and viewer-interest constraints, sufficiently reporting on statewide issues in all 50 states is impossible; everyone can agree on that. But, if the trend of nationalization of media continues, there will be minimal outlets for the citizens to read statewide news, especially in small- and medium-sized states such as Virginia. This problem has largely already manifested itself. Think back to last November, can you honestly say that you made an informed vote — if you even voted at all — in your state’s elections? Or did you merely vote your

opinion of President Barack Obama without regard to potential differences in his philosophy as opposed to the candidates in the election? Even if you did the latter, it’s not your fault. It’s a natural byproduct of nationalized media. Older generations have been affected by this journalistic rearrangement, but ours has been raised under it. It’s like owning a computer or getting your driver’s license at age 16 — we think this is just how it is supposed to be. It is important, however, to correct this trend. By the nature of American federalism, Virginia’s Democratic Party is independent of the national Democratic Party; political philosophies and the meaning of party membership changes by state and also at the national level (the South, where “Democrat” tends to mean, “Less conservative than the other guy” is a great example). The people running for a state’s governorship cannot vote on national legislation; their duties are to their specific state’s issues. Supporting a gubernatorial candidate because of his support toward a national party’s stance on national security is foolhardy since states play virtually no role in defense. Thus, a general conception of national politics is not sufficient to guide state elections. Also at issue is the effect national journalism has on state politics once candidates have been elected. Aside from a few major stories and those that affect us directly, does anyone really know what goes on in Richmond? Every detail of every Congress session, every protest, and every Supreme Court case, is so heavily studied by national media that it’s hard not to be aware of these issues. We worry about various kinds of tyranny and injustice disseminating from Washington, but the lack of scrutiny of state politics has given free rein to state officials. The loss of local media, which once held politicians to their word as the national media tries to today, is at the heart of this problem, and its return to functionality is the only solution. Nationalized journalism has gone beyond standard media operations of informing constituents and being a government watchdog — it has also pervaded our own philosophies. Whereas in the past, important issues were addressed at state levels where politicians could generate solutions to fit their

state’s unique situation, Americans now look to Washington to solve every issue. Consider health care: instead of seeking federal legislation, Massachusetts citizens decided to create their own reforms that solved the problems they faced in particular, rather than all the other problems facing each individual state in the union. Without commenting on Obama’s plan, I would venture to say that Massachusetts’s reforms were much more efficient and directed than national reforms could ever be. Many may point to the famous calls for “states’ rights” during the civil rights movement as evidence of the tyrannical potential of states, and the need for the federal government to protect American citizens. Obviously, most do not object to the civil rights acts in modern times. However, what supports of states’ rights ignored then, and critics of state-oriented politics ignore now, is that the 14th Amendment barred both the federal government and the states from discrimination, and Section 5 gave Congress the power to enforce it “by appropriate legislation.” Thus, federal civil rights legislation was both constitutional and, of course, proper. The return of state-centered journalism is requisite for an efficient and solution-oriented government. Progress and solutions to problems almost always come from analyzing the individual issues’ problems on the micro-scale, where broad ideologies are not powerful enough to constrain what solutions a person is willing to pursue but are sufficient enough to moderate the solutions we accept. (In other words, we might determine a solution to student dropout rates, but if it somehow conflicted with a basic freedom, we would shelve it.) Establishing this type of government requires state-oriented journalism, as does guaranteeing the continued benevolence of any efficient government.

SCOTT MASSELLI -regular columnist -sophomore -economics major

Twitter won’t bring revolution to Iran, despite optimists’ hopes I

n a recent speech on Internet freedom, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton called online organizing a “critical tool for advancing democracy” in Iran. The majority of Iranians, however, do not have access to this tool, and instead are fed an alternative reality professionally crafted by the state broadcaster. For the sizeable segment of Iran’s population without access to satellite television and the Internet, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting has created an alternative reality populated by three archetypes: the Islamic nation of Iran, the Great Satan (America), and the few enemies of the Islamic nation inside Iran who take their orders from the Great Satan. This caricature would be an amusing were it not for the oppressive machine that it helps nurture and maintain. The control of information has become near complete in recent months. The only way to counter this control is through another medium that is readily accessible by the still large provincial and conservative underclass. Demonstrations on Dec. 30, 2009, during which this subsection of the population was brought onto the streets of Tehran by bus from surrounding provinces, provide a good case in point. Sandwiches, cake and orange juice were offered to keep them happy during the state-orchestrated demonstrations. It is important that any change in Iran, if it does occur, does not leave Iran’s poor, less educated and religious underclass dissatisfied. Recent experiences in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan show

that administration or regime change can lead disgruntled fundamentalist groups to take their revenge on their own compatriots, mostly through terrorism. A number of pundits have taken to calling the massive demonstrations that have occurred since the disputed re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in June the “Twitter Revolution.” Ultimately, however, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube are great tools for getting news out of the country, but they are useless for getting news and information into Iran. According to some domestic sources, only 10 percent of Iranians have access to the Internet; even the most optimistic guess puts the figure at 35 percent. Certainly, only 2 percent of the population has access to high-speed Internet. Meanwhile, 40 percent of Iranians have access to satellite TV. There are ways to break through the government’s monopoly on information, however, and they are decidedly low-tech. As a teenager, I took part in the demonstrations that overthrew the Shah. Back in 1978, we would huddle around the radio and listen to the BBC Persian Service and even Radio Moscow for news. The news was reliable, constant and universally available: even a villager in the most remote parts of Iran could tune in and find out about Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s latest sermon from exile in Neauphle-le-Chateau, France. What was later termed the “cassette caravan” — the flow of tapes from Khomeini’s headquarters — kept the

revolutionary leadership in touch with the masses. The Shah’s regime was completely incapable of stopping this lowtech stream of news and information. Today, news and information are immensely more complex and more visual, but they are also more easily interrupted or shut down. The Islamic Republic easily jams all foreign news channels and filters as many news websites as it deems fit. I was in Tehran during the June protests after the disputed presidential election. My friends and family were scrambling to get some news from foreign sources, but nothing relevant could be picked up on satellite TV. All channels were jammed by the authorities. Technology has captured people’s attention as a promising tool to make change in Iran. The U.S. Senate has authorized up to $50 million to help Iranians evade Internet censorship. However, what is now essential is to provide a universally accessible medium to Iranians that would not be susceptible to complete disruption or censorship by the regime. The opposition groups need to move beyond preaching to the converted and target those who have seen nothing but the propaganda of the Islamic regime. If the regime is willing to shut down the Internet, cell phones, text messaging and satellite TV at any moment, as it has frequently done since the elections, high-tech will fail again.

BABAK SHAHRVANDI -mcclatchy newspapers

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COLLEGIATETIMES

Snowed In: How Blacksburg prepares Yeasayer spills ‘Odd Blood’ itself for dangerous weather conditions P LINDSEY BROOKBANK features staff writer While most Virginia Tech students eagerly await cancellations and delays because of the snow, other businesses in Blacksburg are either preventing those disruptions from happening or notifying the community about them. When snow starts falling, the trucks begin plowing, the buses scope out the road conditions and the Blacksburg and Tech alert systems are on standby. Bill Woolwine, assistant director of field operations for the town of Blacksburg, takes care of sidewalk and street maintenance as well as all snow removal. If it snows at night when Woolwine isn’t in his office, the police department will notify him. To prepare for a snowstorm, he sets up his drivers who work for 12-hour shifts starting at 6 a.m. and ending at 6 p.m. for the dayshift, and reverse for the nightshift. He also puts chains on the trucks and snowplows on the pickup trucks so that he can begin taking care of the roads.

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All buses come in at night. They’re washed, fueled and ready to go in the morning. Our maintenance department is here early in the morning when there are snow events as well, too, or bad weather. KEN TUCKER MARKETING MANAGER FOR THE BLACKSBURG TRANSIT

Woolwine applies chemicals such as chloride combined with salt to the road to thaw the snow. “I start applying chemicals as soon as the snow starts to stick to the roads,” Woolwine said. “I start pushing the snow off the roads when the drifts are approximately two inches.” One of Woolwine’s other duties is plowing apartment complexes on Prices Fork Road and Toms Creek Road. After a snow, Woolwine explains that they wash their equipment, do maintenance on their trucks like repairing broken chains and replacing the rubber on the front of the snowplows in order to get ready for the next storm. While Woolwine maintains the roads, Ken Tucker, marketing man-

[

on the web

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To register for Blacksburg Alert visit www.blacksburg.gov, click on the green icon that says Blacksburg Alert, and follow the instructions.

ager for the Blacksburg Transit, handles external communications in various situations. One such situation is bad weather. For example, if there is a snowstorm that begins during the night, the marketing department receives a call letting it know if the BT is ready to run or not. From there, Tucker and the marketing department communicate this message to the public via their Web site, phone system, TV and radio. To gauge if there is going to be an upcoming snowstorm, the marketing department monitors weather reports. In addition, the operations department checks weather sources and reports on a daily basis. It also participates in emergency management, preparedness, reporting and meetings, all of which happen before a store. There are many different departments within the BT that help decide how to handle a snowstorm, with the first being the operations department. “They’re the people who determine who’s operating the buses, what schedules they run on and (if they) are they running safely,” Tucker said. “If there are problems, operations take care of that.” If it snowed during the night, operation supervisors typically start driving around the BT system at 3 a.m. to 4:30 a.m., before the buses begin running. The operations supervisors report back via phone to the operations manager to discuss the road conditions. “The operations manager,” Tucker said, “at the same time while taking all their reports, is also consulting the local law enforcement, the university, town officials, our safety and training department, and public works. “From there, they make a decision on whether or not it is safe to operate, or if we have to delay service or change routes.” The BT also has a safety and training department that prepares operators before a snowstorm. Drivers go through an extensive training program where they learn how to operate a vehicle. They then go through training and refresher courses, as

well monthly meetings on safety and training. The department now uses a simulator that emulates different driving conditions and terrain. Operators don’t need to go out driving in a vehicle to learn how to drive in dangerous circumstances. Drivers learn a certain type of driving system that stresses space, visibility and time to promote the safe operation of vehicles. The BT maintenance department regularly carries out preventative maintenance procedures and checkups on all of their vehicles.When it is preparing for a snowstorm, it carries out the same procedures as usual. “All buses come in at night,” Tucker said. “They’re washed, fueled and ready to go in the morning. Our maintenance department is here early in the morning when there are snow events as well, too, or bad weather.” On rare occasions, the BT will run on snow routes, which are a subset of the system that it runs on regular. For example, the BT would run on the same roads it normally would on Main Street during a snowstorm, but it may not run on certain parts of Main Street. The Blacksburg Alert system helps keep the community informed about BT cancellations. Lisa Sedlak, communications specialist for the town of Blacksburg, is in charge of communications through social media. Blacksburg Alert was launched in September 2003 and is powered by Tele-Works, Inc., a Blacksburg-based company. “It is an e-mail alert system where people can receive alerts according to various categories, whether they want alerts on recreation activities, community events, development notifications, (or) traffic,” Sedlak said. “Just general e-news which is something we send out every Friday just summing up all of the news, or if they just want public safety or emergency notifications. “So basically we send these emails out to the lists based on what these people have signed up for.” The notifications of delays or closings are based on the department. Sedlak said the BT contacts the community relations department to have their services sent over the Blacksburg Alert system through e-mail. Other departments such as parks and recreation or the police department also contact the Blacksburg Alert as well. During a snowstorm, Blacksburg utilizes its departments to address problems before they affect a majority of the town.

sychedelic indie-rock band Yeasayer has caused a division among its fans with the release of its latest album, “Odd Blood.” The LP marks a large departure from the ambient and world musicesque sound that was featured on its first album, 2007’s “All Hour Cymbals.” While some have enjoyed the shift in songwriting, with changes in lyrics and harmonies taking precedent over the material, other fans are no longer saying “yeah” to Yeasayer. “Odd Blood” opens with “The Children,” a mechanized zombiewalk track with a sound distinct from the rest of the album. The thick, reverberated vocals bubble out of frontman Chris Keating’s throat, mingling with a strange combination of piano and horns. The merits of the song are debatable. While it has its moment of intensity and a good harmony to hum along to, “The Children” feels almost like a song that may have come out of the oven too soon.

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check it out

For more album reviews at “The Woove,” WUVT’s ﬁne arts magazine at www.wuvt.vt.edu/woove.

]

If “The Children” came off as a hot mess to your cultured little ears, the following tracks will surely redeem “Odd Blood.” Although it is on the verge of being overplayed and remixed with too much zeal, “Ambling Alp” definitely deserves the hype it has received. With its eccentric gurgling, clapping and pounding rhythms — along with an equally strange music video — this song has developed into the “My Girls” of 2010. “Madder Red,” Odd Blood’s third track is reminiscent of Yeasayer’s earlier material, with its blossoming harmonies and layered yet simple drums and guitar. The dreamy quality of “Madder Red” is a nice step down from the energetic previous track and easily segues into another chilled-out song, “I Remember.” Serving as the love ballad of the album, full of soaring falsettos and cascading electronic blips of goodness. Although the aforementioned pair of songs provides a relaxing oasis in the midst of Yeasayer’s trippy journey of an album, “O.N.E.” reinstates the same tribal beat present in “Ambling Alp” and pushes the material back into an