COLLEGIATETIMES
June 03, 2010
what’s inside News .............2 Features ........6 0pinions ........5 Sports ...........9 Classifieds ...11 Sudoku ........11 107th year issue 62 blacksburg, va.
VCOM enrollment rises SARAH WATSON news reporter With caps and gowns on and parents in tow, 157 students from the Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine walked across the stage in Burruss Hall on Saturday, May 29, to receive their degrees. As part of the day’s festivities, Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling spoke to the graduating class. In his commencement address, Bolling reminded the graduating class that they would be entering a health care system under great reform. He reminded students that medicine should be practiced “humanistically” and that patients should be treated with respect. Of the 157 graduates, 86 percent are going into point of contact specialties such as psychology and emergency care. Specifically, 57 percent are going into primary care
specialties like family medicine and pediatrics. “Primary care is the greatest area of need,” said Bill King, assistant vice president for student services and marketing at VCOM. Several graduates are completing residencies at hospitals in the New River Valley, while others are part of residency programs at Johns Hopkins University, Georgetown University and Wake Forest University hospitals. In addition, 14 graduates will be practicing medicine in branches of the military. When VCOM was established in 2003, the college received approximately 700 applications. In 2010, the college received 3,500 applications. According to King, this increase in applications reflects the need for physicians and medical schools in the Appalachian region. VCOM’s mission is to “serve the see VCOM / page two
REBECCA FRAENKEL/SPPS
Graduates react to Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling’s speech at the Via College of Osteopathic Medicine’s May 29 commencement ceremony.
Hokies hit NCAAs JOE CRANDLEY sports reporter The Virginia Tech baseball team received its first NCAA regional berth since 2000, garnering the No. 2 seed in the Columbia, S.C. regional beginning Friday, June 4. Tech (38-20, 16-14 Atlantic Coast Conference) is joined by the No. 1 seed, the University of South Carolina (43-15, 21-9 Southeastern Conference), as well as The Citadel (42-20, 24-6 Southern Conference) at No. 3 and Bucknell (25-33, 8-12 Patriot League) at No. 4. After getting swept by North Carolina in the last week of the regular season at Chapel Hill, the Hokies went 2-1 during pool play and narrowly missed a chance to play in the championship game against Florida State due to an extra inning loss to North Carolina State. The Hokies open the regional versus The Citadel Bulldogs and will start junior lefty Justin Wright who pitched a complete game with 15 strikeouts against the nationallyseeded Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the ACC Tournament. Head coach Pete Hughes had originally decided to go with sophomore right-hander Mathew Price Tuesday morning but changed his mind the same afternoon and decided on Wright. Hughes determined that the Bulldogs’ aggressive base-stealing and bunting would be too risky for Price to deal with despite the Bulldogs featuring eight right-handed hitters in their starting lineup which would generally
NEILS GOERAN BLUME/SPPS
The Virginia Tech baseball team congratulates one another after a play in its game against the Duke Blue Devils on May 16. provide an advantage for a righthanded pitcher. “(Wright) does a good job controlling the running game and he fields his position very well, so I think he’ll match up good against the Citadel,” Hughes said. “Lately lefties and righties haven’t been hitting him, so hopefully he can pitch well and do it again.” Keeping the running game of the Bulldogs in check and playing solid defense will be key since they will keep the pressure on the Hokies all
day to make mistakes in the field after some shaky defense in recent weeks. Tech committed five errors in the loss against NC State and four in a narrow win over Clemson last weekend, and the Hokies have not had an errorless game since May 9 against Savannah State. All five of The Citadel’s first five hitters have stolen at least 15 bags, and three of them nabbed at least see HOKIES / page ten
Colleges foot hefty bills, dodge state furlough day LIANA BAYNE news editor Many of Virginia’s public colleges and universities paid a steep price to allow their employees to report to work as usual on Friday, May 28. Statewide, 13 institutions absorbed a total loss of more than $8.8 million of money that would have come from the federal government Friday by independently declining to participate in a state-mandated furlough day of unpaid leave. Instead of allowing employees to stay at home and lose a day’s pay, Virginia Tech, along with the University of Virginia, the Virginia Commonwealth University, George Mason University, James Madison University, the College of William and Mary, Radford University, Christopher Newport
University, the University of Mary Washington, Longwood University, the Virginia Military Institute, and the 23 colleges governed by the Virginia Community College System, paid the daily wages of their full-time employees from non-government funds. “Technically, we elected to pay employees that day out of our funds rather than funds that normally come from the government,” Tech spokesman Mark Owczarski said. “We didn’t accept about $1.3 million from the state.” Owczarski said he did not consider the move to be a “buying out” of the state furlough day, as many have termed it. Rather, he said Tech simply found funds from “dozens of sources” within the preexisting budget to cover the cost of paying about 7,000 fulltime employees for a day’s work.
“We wanted to stand by and support our employees,” he said. Owczarski said the $1.3 million came from a variety of areas within Tech’s roughly $1 billion annual budget. “There were contingency funds in the existing budget,” he said, “… (and) savings through the year.” “When you’re an organization the size we are, you build in,” those extra savings, he said. Other schools, like VMI, which only absorbed $100,000 in costs, and George Mason, which absorbed $902,196, had specific sums of money available in the event of a situation like the furlough day. Stewart MacInnis, VMI’s communications and marketing director, said his college’s Board of Visitors “had been saving money through tighten-
Money absorbed by public universities Cost absorbed
School
Virginia Community College System Virginia Tech University of Virginia, main campus Virginia Commonwealth University UVa, medical center George Mason University James Madison University College of William & Mary Radford University Christopher Newport University University of Mary Washington Longwood University Virginia Military Institute
see FURLOUGH / page two
$ 1.7 million 1.3 million 1.3 million 1.1 million 950,000 902,196 541,697 330,000 231,247 146,532 143,890 122,983 100,000
Source: Richmond-Times Dispatch
PETER VELZ/COLLEGIATE TIMES
BREAKING NEWS, MULTIMEDIA, UPDATES AND MORE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT COLLEGIATETIMES.COM
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VCOM: Grads serve in area Furlough: Schools use savings for payroll
NEWS
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under-served areas of Southwest Virginia and Appalachia,” according to King. King also said that the need for effective and efficient physicians and medical schools is continually growing. “We are excited to meet those needs,” he said. As part of this service, VCOM focuses on performing medical missions locally and internationally. Half of the students participate in global medical mission efforts, while all students serve the Appalachian region. “The students are very service-oriented,” King said. VCOM has plans to expand beyond Virginia by partnering with Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C. The South Carolina campus will open in 2011 and accept 150 students into its program.
Because of these changes, VCOM plans to change its name, dropping “Virginia” from its title. The fall 2010 opening of the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute and School of Medicine in Roanoke will also affect VCOM. Virginia Tech Carilion is not part of VCOM but will complement the needs in the community, according to King. Virginia Tech Ca rilion is a research-oriented institut ion with a class size of approximately 42 students. Virginia Tech Carilion’s target areas are much different than those of VCOM, including inflammation, infectious disease, neuroscience, cardiovascular science and cardiology and cancer biology. “There are plenty of applicants for both institutions,” King said.
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ing the belt,” and felt that spending that extra money to support employees was the right thing to do. “The fact that employees haven’t seen a raise since 2007 … the BOV felt like this was something they could do,” MacInnis said. He said VMI felt asking employees to observe the unpaid furlough day “would be a penalty.” And Christine LaPaille, vice president of university relations at George Mason, said the university “anticipated budget cuts” when creating its annual budget. “We had a reserve,” she said. She said that reserve of money “would have been assigned to one-time projects.” “We felt it made sense for us to do this at this time,” she said. According to LaPaille, George Mason, like many other schools, chose to absorb the cost of the furlough day as a way to give back to its employees. “It was more about the families who it would have affected,” than the cost of
paying the 3,100 full-time workers that would have been affected, she said. Don Egle, university spokesman for JMU, said the Harrisonburg school, like many others, felt absorbing the $541,697 of its furlough day “was the best choice.” “We were able to identify other institutional savings,” Egle said, that allowed to university to foot the bill. Jeffrey Kraus, the assistant vice chancellor of public relations for the Virginia Community College System, said VCCS, which absorbed a total of $1.7 million spread between 23 community colleges in the state, has been looking for ways to save money for years because of state budget cuts. “Cost-cutting is the name of the game,” Kraus said. He said VCCS has been hit with “about $64 million of state budget cuts” in recent years, while simultaneously experiencing “record enrollment” levels at its colleges across the state.
Kraus said the VCCS board of visitors decided to go ahead and absorb the $1.7 million because “it would disrupt our mission.” “It was a tip of the hat to our hardworking employees,” he said. Owczarski said Tech has also worked over the years to fundraise and identify other sources of revenue as the state has cut funding to higher education almost annually. He said the issue of decreased state funding and programs like Friday’s furlough day would be considered in the next Board of Visitors meeting. On Monday, June 7, Tech’s BOV will meet to decide on the university’s operating budget for the 2010-2011 school year. Owczarski said when considering the budget, the BOV would look to “protect ourselves from future what-ifs.” The board will meet on Monday only. The full board will meet in an open session in the Torgersen Hall boardroom at 1:15 p.m.
Students fight for right to protest NOREEN AHMED-ULAH
collegiatetimes.com June 03, 2010
mcclatchy newspapers CHICAGO — When students protested a crackdown on tardiness at Oak Park and River Forest High School, school officials dispersed the crowd within minutes, called police to a second planned sit-in and threatened to take away seniors’ rights to prom and graduation. Similarly, in West Chicago, school officials quickly quashed a middle school rally over the cancellation of a school play. Seventh and eighth graders were threatened with disciplinary action and were ordered to remove their costumes because they were disrupting “the learning environment.” “We’re studying the Constitution this year, and we knew we had a constitutional right to protest,” said eighth grader Korrin Gladwin, of West Chicago, Ill. Students may be learning about First Amendment rights to free speech and participation in democracy, but they often find that when they exercise those rights in school, their fledgling movements are crushed. Recent student demonstrations, including a rally by hundreds of Chicago Public School students against budget cuts, illustrate the point. The 823 Whitney Young High School students who walked out of class and marched to CPS headquarters all faced detention. School officials say the need for a safe, orderly environment where students can learn outweighs the right to protest. “When it gets to the point when you have people disturbing the learning environment, hen we’ll have to react in
a way that our learning environment stays safe,” Oak Park and River Forest High School Principal Nathaniel Rouse said. But Frank LoMonte, executive director of the Student Press Law Center, an Arlington, Va.-based non-profit that helps student publications in battles with school principals and college administrators, sees it another way. He said for students, school administrators are the government. “When you teach young people that the government gets to decide what they can criticize, you shouldn’t be surprised that we get damaged citizens,” he said. Whitney Young High School Principal Joyce Kenner said students need to understand the repercussions for breaking rules. “With every action there is a consequence,” Kenner said. “Even though I believe their voices have to be heard, they have to be disciplined for their infractions.” Almost four decades ago, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of students who wore black armbands to protest the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. In the 1969 case Tinker v. Des Moines, the court stated that school officials clamping down needed to demonstrate the speech would invade the rights of others or cause “substantial disorder” of school activities. Perhaps not surprisingly, the debate now often revolves around what constitutes “substantial disorder.” Some argue that provoking discussion and disagreement doesn’t rise to the level of substantial disorder, but others disagree. “The courts have been clear: The
rights of students in school are not the same as adults in society,” said Brian Schwartz, associate director and an attorney at the Illinois Principals Association. In the West Chicago case, students decided to stand outside after the morning bell rang. They figured they’d wait for five warnings. But Gladwin told school board members that an assistant principal came out and told them they were facing suspension and that eighth graders were putting graduation at risk. “It made us feel devalued,” he said, tearfully reading a prepared statement for the board. Superintendent Ed Leman said if the protest had occurred outside of school time, the students would have been within their rights. In Oak Park and River Forest High School’s case, the school began piloting new technology that forced late students to scan ID cards in the hallway and wait for a slip of paper detailing their violations before being allowed into class. Some seniors, annoyed with the crackdown on tardiness just a few weeks before graduation, decided to protest. Students decided to converge on a specific hallway, force people to be late and tie up the new equipment. Tom Benedict, 18, a senior, said although the event did get out of control, it started as an “organized protest,” and as such should have been permitted. In West Chicago, parents stepped in. Vocal criticism and student tears at the board meeting swayed school officials. The superintendent has decided the play will, in fact, go on.
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‘Up on the Roof’ provides networking opportunities 3
COURTESY OF DOUG ATWATER
Thursday, April 29, marked the second “Up on the Roof” event of the spring semester. Blacksburg town councilwoman Krisha Chachra organized the event in an attempt to bring young professionals together for social networking. Local businesses such as Buffalo Wild Wings and PK’s Bar and Grill catered and sponsored the event. CLAIRE SANDERSON news reporter
event. For the most recent Up on the Roof, PK’s Bar and Grill provided hot wings and beer. A five-dollar donation is optional to attend the event, and this money goes to cover its costs.
“We cover all our costs through these donations and through local sponsors,” Chachra said. In addition, Downtown Events Inc., the group that helps organize Up on the Roof, does not need to pay to rent out the space at Kent
Square. “It doesn’t cost us a dime,” Chachra said. “The owners and property managers of Kent Square have generously donated that space.” The next Up on the Roof will be on June 24.
collegiatetimes.com June 03, 2010
The security cameras that line the top level of the Kent Square parking garage witness an unusual event at 5:30 p.m. on the last Thursday of each month. This is when almost 300 young adults gather on the rooftop to eat, drink, socialize and network during a program called “Up on the Roof.” “It’s a creative professionals event that caters to young professionals and locals of Blacksburg,” said Krisha Chachra, town councilwoman and an organizer of Up on the Roof. “It’s an event that wants to bring together those creative professionals — they’re not undergraduates but they’re not necessarily settled with families. We wanted to create a space for them.” Chachra and others in the community had been working to make an event like this happen for over eight years with varying success. One reason she mentioned that these earlier events catering to young professionals fizzled out was constantly changing venues, which confused and frustrated participants. Town councilwoman “Leslie HagerSmith originally contacted a few people who had experience putting on these kind of events. She suggested having it on top of Kent Square,” Chachra said. This will be the third year for Up on the Roof, which occurs on the final Thursday of every month during the spring and summer. According to Chachra, the event had only about 40 attendees the first
year, most of whom were friends of the organizers. “Now we have over 300 attendees. We’re really proud of that,” Chachra said. Emily Reineke, a regular attendee of Up on the Roof, is not a Blacksburg native but grew up in New York. She is recent graduate of the graduate school at Tech and now works with the Virginia Tech Police Department. “Up on the Roof is my most favorite event of the month,” she said. “I meet a lot of people there who I normally wouldn’t interact with.” Reineke said she initially heard about the event last year when she was in a class with Chacha, also a graduate student at Tech. Chachra invited everyone in the class. “This is the kind of creative programming that gets people excited about living in Blacksburg. You’re less likely to leave when your network of friends are here,” Chachra said. “Up on the Roof will help people have more of an investment in the town and become more enmeshed in their community.” The event aims not only to help these young adults network and get to know their town, but Chachra believes it will assist in the creation of social networks in the community that will help the town as a whole. “It’s a really good way to make contacts not only in my personal life but also in my professional life,” Reineke said. Several local business owners also attend, and frequently sponsor, the
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OPINIONS
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MCT CAMPUS
No cause for alarm
collegiatetimes.com June 03, 2010
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or Christmas, my parents gave me a lime green backpack. While on my travels studying abroad in Montpellier, France, I found other uses for it, such as carrying groceries. The grocery store was a half hour walk from my apartment, and on this particular March day, the weather in Montpellier was cold. Wanting to be comfortable, I decided to dress like an American. I paired my lime green backpack with my multi-colored Asics sneakers and my shiny white puffer down jacket. I definitely did not look French, in fact I probably looked like an oversized marshmallow. So began the walk to Carrefour. To me the name sounded like a Star Wars planet, but it was the cheapest place to buy food, a fact that was common knowledge and contributed to long checkout lines. I took my time shopping, got what I needed and headed to the checkout. As usual, the lines that day were long. There were people everywhere. Weeknights at Carrefour looked more like those at a sporting event than at a grocery store. I was standing nervously in line, hoping to avoid any confrontation. I just wasn’t that confident with my French yet. Any time that I had to interact with the natives, I got a little nervous. I would try so hard to pay attention that I would miss the obvious things that people said to me. When my turn came I began to put my endless amount of groceries on the conveyer belt, hoping that the cashier wouldn’t speak to me. With nervous energy I was swaying back and forth, all the while focusing so hard that I didn’t even notice I was continually setting off a security alarm! With each sway, the alarm beeped again and again. Still intent on not embarrassing myself in front of the French cashier, I also missed her reach for her phone and call security. The entire store was watching me
now. To my surprise, (but no one else’s), the store manager approached me a few moments later. She started to question me in French. Question after question. Reading the blank stare on my face, she realized that I spoke no French. “Parlez-vous anglais?” she asked me. “Oui!” I said. However it soon became clear that she spoke as much English as I spoke French. The next five minutes were spent searching me: my backpack, my coat, my coat pockets, my jean pockets, everything. My personal space had been compromised; there were hands everywhere. By this time, the entire store had become involved in solving this mystery. Shoppers ignored their groceries, and everyone was looking, pointing, and whispering. I stood frozen as all the while; the alarm was still ringing out. Then I had a thought. This has happened to me before in the States. New clothes from Gap always equal alarms. The clothes contain small sensors that you are supposed to remove before wearing. I grabbed my shirt and pulled it high. Sure enough, there was a “Remove Before Washing” tag. The sales woman gasped, I gasped, and the rest of the store cheered. Success. I felt like I deserved a prize. Before I could say anything, the manager had a pair of scissors in her hand. She grabbed my shirt and then, snip. She cut the tag right off. So much for keeping the tag. I packed up my backpack, steadied it on my back, and marched out of the store with a strange mixture of embarrassment and pride. My white jacket and green backpack glowed like highlighters. And so went another day in France.
BRITANNY BURKHALTER -regular columnist -communication major
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s members of the Virginia Tech community, we learn about the importance of “Ut Prosim” (that I may serve), we learn about the values embodied in the Principles of Community, and we learn about our collective role in “Inventing the Future.” As a member of the Tech community, it is heart breaking and frustrating to see the comedy of errors that is taking place in the Gulf of Mexico. Over a month has gone by and a pesky oil leak cannot be contained. Each attempt has failed to resolve the issue and reports indicate that it may be months before a solution is found. We are witnessing a disaster of untold proportions that will certainly impact each of us. BP has tried a new solution each week, yet it seems that there is no backup or preparation for the next solution. While it is easy for me to speak from this perspective, the public needs more information as to how things are being handled. With the wealth of top engineering schools in the United States, why can’t we find a viable solution that works?
It raises the question of what can our engineering students and faculty do to develop efforts to resolve the situation? In the 1960s when the United States faced the challenge of Sputnik and the space race with the Soviets, entities came together to help promote math and science education. While not exactly the same, why don’t the engineering programs come together to explore options and alternatives to this crisis? Why not use the best and brightest young minds to come up with a solution? We see different universities beginning to explore the impact on the marine life and the environment, only to get told by the government or BP officials that the impact is not that severe. The data that the schools are finding is valuable information and is providing an interesting picture. As I write this from abroad, if we as a country can’t successfully plug up an oil leak, how can we come together to resolve major issues? How will we handle the next disaster? While it is true that nature has a way of healing itself, the damage of this effort will be painful in many differ-
ent levels, and will impact all of us on some level, whether now, in the near future, or beyond. Imagine if this oil leak were happening in the middle of New York City (like in a sci-fi movie), with oil oozing out of Times Square and creeping into Central Park. Trains could not run as the lines are filled with oil. People would have to be evacuated because of toxic fumes and the fear of fires. Would we be reacting as slow or as fast? In the aftermath of the January earthquake in Haiti, a number of groups including Tech came together top develop ways to help make a difference. Why is the Gulf oil spill no different? In the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Hokies United organized fundraising efforts and community service trips to help those communities. These efforts continue to this day as some parishes in New Orleans and the surrounding communities are still recovering. What can we as a Tech community do to help with the Gulf oil spill? Could members of the Pamplin College of Business look at ways to develop economic strate-
gies for the Gulf with this new reality? Could members of the College of Natural Resources and Science look at the environmental aspects? Could those in hospitality and tourism management look at the tourist components, as this area’s economy is heavily dependent on tourism? Could we use our networks with other universities to make an impact or address an issue? I use these examples to show that there are a number of ways that our Tech community can help make a difference with the situation taking place in the Gulf of Mexico. Let’s not be afraid to come together and begin to talk about this. Can we as a community afford to idly sit by while this happens? If we are focused on inventing the future, what will our future look like if the oil spill continues?
RAY PLAZA -regular columnist -faculty member
Have a letter to the editor or a guest column? E-mail opinions@collegiatetimes.com.
Focus on engagement in “office of zoom” M
y breathing was labored and I moved as fast as I could, dodging bikes and students ambling around campus. However, I wasn’t able to dodge the curious glances that seemed to ask, “What could be important enough to make you sprint across campus?” When many Virginia Tech students see my book bag, and small stature (five feet with the flip-flops), they assume that I am just a silly freshman late to class. They do not know that I am a graduate student assistant at the Center for Student Engagement and Community Partnerships. On this occasion, my government and international affairs class had run over, causing me to be late to CSCEP’s exciting weekly staff meeting in 1660 Litton Reaves. I was propelled to the meeting by the spirit of zoom. I was wearing my favorite T-shirt, the orange tie-dyed “Hokies have a heart for service” shirt, and I aired out the shirt a bit as I slowed my breathing and entered the first floor of Litton Reaves. I zoomed down the hall and did not pass go, did not collect two hundred dollars. I normally swerve off my course to 1660 and stop by the office of Dr. Jim Dubinsky, CSECP director, to take in Dr. D’s daily dose of laughter and
ask him which of his million projects needed my help, but not that day. Nor did I take the time to stop in the office of Jake Grohs, CSECP’s assistant director for student engagement programs, to grab one of the coveted dark chocolates that he keeps on his desk. Even though I knew that the many student service club leaders and the freshman SERVE residential community members that regularly inhabit Jake’s office would later eat the chocolates, I refrained from the detour and kept zooming down the hall. I did not stop by the office of Karen Gilbert, assistant director of CSECP and coordinator of VT Engage, to get my daily smile and update on the newest developments with VT Engage or Town-CSECP relations, nor did I step into the office of Michele James-Deramo, director of Service-Learning, to hear her daily hello and get caught up on progress of the newest grant proposals, service-learning placements, Global Citizen Partnership exchanges, and Pilot Street Refugee project events. I kept right on zooming down the hall to Litton Reaves 1660. When I finally entered the windowless, cellular dead-zone of LittonReeves 1660, the CSECP storage
room/graduate student office/staff meeting room, I smiled with relief knowing that I had made it just in time. I sat down at the table with the staff members whose offices I had just passed, ready to contribute my thoughts to the planning of the various programs on this week’s docket. We were in the process of planning the next Gobblerfest, a yearly event showcasing community nonprofits and service-clubs to university students. We also needed research suggestions for the Second Annual Global Dialogue for Responsibility, a new conference between faculty, graduate scholars and global nonprofit leaders. Finally, we were choosing this year’s Ut Prosim-themed April 16, 2007 memorial events, not to mention checking up on the progress of the various service clubs, service-learning curricula, and study abroad servicelearning programs. I was able to sit at the table as an equal and suggest a new innovative international service-internship program which would combine our existing social entrepreneurship program with our service-learning exchange program. I also updated the group on Ut Prosim El Porvenir, the Honduras
community development partnership I facilitate. So, I sit here writing this column in the “office of zoom,” as a staff member, as a student, and as a community member. Different individuals affiliated with CSECP will write from the spirit of zoom throughout the summer. They will share their experiences, their successes, their thoughts, and their questions with you. In return, we hope for suggestions, greater recognition from the university and community, and an opportunity spread the word about the great community partnerships and student engagement work going on at Tech. We call ourselves the “office of zoom” because our staff is constantly busy managing and creating university-community partnerships and programs. I encourage you to join in the spirit of zoom as you follow CSECP’s weekly column throughout the summer.
EMILY BARRY -regular columnist -CSECP graduate assistant
collegiatetimes.com June 03, 2010
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5 OPINIONS
Collegiate Times Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief Peter Velz Managing Editor Claire Sanderson Production Manager Taylor Chakurda News Editor Liana Bayne Features Editor Debra Houchins Sports Editor Alex Jackson Online Director Jamie Chung
Oil spill should challenge Tech students
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collegiatetimes.com June 03, 2010
FEATURES
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Severe winds won’t ruffle these Hokie feathers LIZ NORMENT features reporter When the television flashes a foreboding “tornado warning — seek cover” message, senior geography major Kathern Prociv likes to think that she knows better than to obey the presumptive machine. “It only makes me head directly outside to watch the action,” Prociv said. Although Blacksburg has already attracted a number of severe summer storms, Prociv is part of a 10-member team that seeks out treacherous weather patterns in the Great Plains to chase and study what she refers to as “real storms.” The Hokie Storm Chasers is a group of students led by Tech professor Dave Carroll that takes an annual trip to the Midwest for approximately two weeks each spring to chase storm patterns. The idea behind the Chasers is to bolster classroom learning with real-life experience in the field of meteorology — and students often find themselves experiencing storms that become all-too real. It’s these fleeting moments that have kept Prociv coming back to the field of meteorology. Being on the Hokie Storm Chasers team for the first time this May, Prociv was finally understanding all of her classroom learning as well as igniting her passion for the exhilaration of severe storms. “For me there’s a big difference between learning definitions and diagrams, and then going out and expe-
riencing something with my own eyes,” Prociv said. One such experience occurred when following a particularly volatile storm cell. Each Chaser truly felt the power of the tornado they were observing. “I’d read about in text books how if you’re especially close to a really powerful tornado, your ears will pop,” Prociv said. She recalls that as the tornado passed, the team members’ ears popped, “which means if we were close enough for that to happen, we were pretty damn close,” Prociv said. She remembers that even after reading about that type of physical reaction, she and her teammates were still surprised. “I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s what it is,” Prociv recalled. “It’s that type of hands-on research that I’ve been waiting to do my entire life — it’s what enriches your mind and enriches your passion.” All of the Hokie Storm Chasers were blown away by the mere presence and force of the large tornado, but it wasn’t until the following day that they felt the full appreciation of what they had witnessed. “We found out the next day that tornado was an ES4 tornado,” Prociv said. ES4 is the second-highest rating on the strength scale that ranges from ES0 to ES5. “When we found that out we were all in awe to have experienced such a rare thing. Only about 5 percent of tornadoes reach a strength above ES3,” Prociv said.
COURTESY OF WILLIAM CHONG
Hokie Storm chasers get out to view a tornado chased down near Bowdle, S.D. on May 22. It is breathtaking experiences like this one that makes the team’s average 10 hours a day of driving worthwhile. The crew spends about two weeks exploring the Midwest, forecasting for upcoming storm cells and preparing to chase the patterns literally wherever the wind takes them. On this past trip the team covered
ground in eight different states, from Texas to South Dakota, visiting most of the states in between more than once. An average day for the Hokie Storm Chasers, in Prociv’s words, consists of one part sleep, four parts driving and a heavy sprinkling of severe weather. “A normal day starts at the crack of dawn — sleeping in isn’t allowed,” Prociv said, who, like her team, recognizes that volatile weather patterns wait for no one. After a morning meeting to forecast what the day will hold, the team hits the road and crams into two official Hokie Storm Chaser vans. Prociv’s role as one of the radar operators requires her to man the computer at all times, checking satellite updates to determine were the storms will initiate. “We want to make sure that we’ll be in the right place, and that nothing is going to surprise us,” Prociv said. The team will spend anywhere from one to five hours chasing a storm cell depending on the longevity of the storm and road network in the area. It is an endeavor that requires patience, trust and courage among all team members. “One day we drove 10 hours chasing a storm to Colorado and it was a bust, there was no storm,” Prociv said. “That’s part of it too though, to be prepared for anything.” The 10-member student team is headed by weather enthusiast Kevin Myatt, who writes a weather column for the Roanoke Times, as well as the team captain, professor Dave Carroll, in whose hands the students voluntarily put their lives into each chase. “He’s a great leader,” Prociv said. “He knows how to get close enough to the tornadoes to get the best views with-
out putting us in too much danger, or having hail crack our windshields.” Carroll admits that while storm chasing is the group’s mission, safety is truly the main concern. Carroll first got involved with storm chasing as a Skywarn Spotter for the National Weather Service and has been leading students on storm chasing trips for over 20 years. “I have long had a passion for severe weather,” Carroll said. The chasing trips, which were initiated at Tech in 2003, have become a focal point of the meteorology aspect of the geology department on campus. “The trips have evolved into a fullfledged course now,” said Carroll, whose efforts have been an integral part of spinning up a new meteorology concentration within the school. Leaving the on-campus aspect of his work behind once a year to bring enthusiastic students out to the Midwest, Carroll describes his responsibilities with the team not unlike a severe Doppler weather map — truly all over the place. “The storm chase pushes me to the limit in multi-tasking,” Carroll said. “Everything from route-finding, to lodging, to technology trouble-shooting, to food supplies, to communications,” Carroll said, aptly adding, “Oh, and a bit of weather forecasting too.” His position requires him to judge the safest way to approach storm chases while still providing the richest and wildest experience for the students. “The environment around supercell thunderstorms is a very volatile place, and conditions can change extremely quickly,” Carroll said. see STORM / page seven
DEBRA HOUCHINS features editor
COURTESY OF WILLIAM CHONG
The second tornado intercepted by the Hokie Storm Chasers near Faith, S.D. on May 24. The storm produced around six tornados. from page six
the way. “We always meet incredibly kind and generous people on the way, and so it’s important for us to leave a positive impression of Virginia Tech wherever our travels take us,” Carroll said. The team tracks its adventures through its website, Facebook page, and Twitter account, all accessible through Hokiestormchase.wordpress.com. The site allows friends and families to read about the team’s experiences and watch embedded video clips showing raw footage of the extreme weather. Parents of the students are able to follow their children into the eye of the storm while biting their nails in the comforts of their own homes. Prociv’s mom, who follows her daughter’s adventures online, was neither a Facebook fan nor real life proponent of her daughter’s newfound hobby at first. “She wasn’t happy with it right away because it’s obviously very dangerous,” said Prociv, whose mother, as most, would much prefer her child stay far away from tornadoes. “The first tornado we saw on the trip I took a picture and texted it to my mom, which was probably not the right thing to send to a concerned mother,” Prociv said. “What she sent back said ‘You go, girl!’ I think she’s beginning to accept it.”
buyer. Also part of the fashion show will be a display of historic Smithfield era gowns. The Three Cooley Sisters, a group of harpists, will be providing the music. Foodanddrinkprovidedwillinclude typical garden party foods such as finger sandwiches, strawberries, cupcakes and lemonade. “It’s a pretty traditional and lovely thing to do on a Sunday afternoon,” Murray said. “This is the second year that we’ve had this show and this is the second time I have participated in it,” said Ponnie Shawver of Ponnie’s boutique, “I’m excited to do it again, it was wonderful they asked me again and it’s for a great cause.” Tickets to the event cost $15, and all proceeds go directly to the Smithfield Plantation. Tickets are available to purchase at Ponies Boutique, Chantilly Lace, Kent Square Jewelry, Meredith’s salon and at the gate on Sunday. Gates will COURTESY OF TOM MURRAY open at 2:30 p.m. This custom designed ivory “We’re hoping for good weather gown will be auctioned Sunday. and a good time,” Murray said.
collegiatetimes.com June 03, 2010
“It you linger too long while close to the tornadic section of a storm, this horizontal rain and hail can overtake your position,” Carroll said, adding that it is of vital importance to always have a viable escape route close at hand. Despite the extreme dangers inevitably associated with the chases, Carroll and his team concentrate on collaborating the efforts of each member and forecasting the weather to the best of their abilities to be successful and safe in such extreme conditions. “Putting the pieces together in a complex atmospheric puzzle and successfully locating the crew on a supercell thunderstorm is incredibly rewarding,” Carroll said. This coordination would not be possible without each team member stepping up to take on his or her responsibilities even under extreme conditions. “The students do the bulk of the forecasting and navigation, and when we are in the near-storm environment the main responsibility is keeping the chase crew safe when navigating around high-end severe weather,” Carroll said. This inevitably creates a close and trusting bond among the Storm Chasers, who have survived together through multiple treacherous experiences, and who bring the Hokie community spirit all the way to the Great Plains. Each storm brings a new town and new people to meet along
The second annual Spring Fashion Show at the Historic Smithfield Plantation will showcase both contemporary and historic fashion, with many of the garments provided by local vendors. The fashion show will begin with a silent auction of wearable art — about 50 items total. “Everything is something you can put on,” said Nancy Murray, the event’s coordinator. “Most everything is hand made.” Items up for auction include jewelry, hand bags, scarves and other accessories made by artisans in the community. Participating in the fashion show and auction are local vendors such as Chantilly Lace (Blacksburg), Ponnie’s Boutique (Shawsville) and Meredith’s Salon (Christiansburg). Ponnie’sBoutiquewillmainlyfeature more casual dress garments and accessories that are typically worn at bridal showers, rehearsal dinners and other events that require semi-formal clothing. Chantilly Lace will be featuring the more traditional wedding attire, as well as at least one wedding dress. The event’s centerpiece is ivory dupioni silk wedding gown specially designed by Kevin Meredith of Meredith’s Salon. The dress will be custom tailored to fit the
check it out
What: Garden Party When: Sunday, 2:30 p.m. Where: Smithfield Plantation Cost: $15
7 FEATURES
Storm: Class takes Fashions auctioned at garden party lessons to the field
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FEATURES
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Wondering what’s going on around the ‘burg? Check out the events of the upcoming week.
[Thursday, June 3]
[Saturday, June 5]
What: Music — Ephraim Vause Memorial String Band Where: Gillie’s When: 7 p.m. Cost: Free
[Friday, June 4] What: Exhibition — Art + Healing + History + Art Where: Armory Art Gallery When: Noon to 4 p.m. Cost: Free What: Music — Big Hell v. Boogieburg Where: Cabo Fish Taco When: 10 p.m. Cost: Free before 11 p.m. Note: Ages 21+ What: Food & Wine Benefit Auction Where: Y Center When: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Cost: $35 What: Music — Mood Swing Where: India Garden When: 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Cost: Donations for musicians encouraged
If you would like an event featured in our calendar, e-mail featureseditor@collegiatetimes.com with event details, including cost.
[Monday, June 7] What: Board of Visitors committee meeting Where: Torgersen Board Room When: All day Cost: Free
What: Music — Andrew Gaddy Where: Gillie’s When: 7 p.m. Cost: Free
What: Film — Alice in Wonderland Where: Blacksburg Library When: 6 p.m. Cost: Free
What: Music — Justin Craig Where: India Garden When: 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Cost: Free
[Tuesday, June 8] [Sunday, June 6]
What: Access through the Arts for Children 5-8 Years Old Where: Taubman Museum of Art in Roanoke When: 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Cost: Free Note: Register by calling 540-204-4107
What: Fashion Show and Garden Party Where: Historic Smithfield Plantation When: 2:30 p.m. Cost: $15 What: Board of Visitors board meeting Where: Torgersen Board Room When: All day Cost: Free
What: New River Writers Where: Easy Chair Coffee Shop When: 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Cost: Free
[This Weekend] This week, the Lyric is showing “City Island” starring Andy Garcia and Julianna Margulies. Check out TheLyric.com for showtime information.
What: 52nd Annual Sidewalk Art Show Where: Taubman Museum of Art in Roanoke When: Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost: Free
[Wednesday, June 9] What: Comedy Club Where: Attitudes Bar & Cafe When: 9 p.m. Cost: Cover
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Four reasons the Celtics and Lakers can win it all 9
3. RAJON RONDO In a scenario much different than the last time the Celtics and Lakers faced off in the finals, Boston enters this year’s championship series with a proven point guard. In 2008, Rajon Rondo was still learning the ropes and at times seemed overwhelmed directing an offense with three future hall-of-famers. This year, Rondo enters the finals with more confidence than he’s ever had. The Lakers will have an incredibly difficult time guarding him. His speed is too much for Lakers starting point guard Derek Fisher and Los Angeles can only hope to contain him. While the Lakers had no problem executing a successful defensive scheme against an equally fast Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder, defending Rondo is a completely different task. With more talent around him and a better ability to distribute the rock, Rondo, who is averaging 10 assists per game this postseason is probably giving Phil Jackson a headache right now. 4. LEADERSHIP After Boston completed its upset of the Cavaliers, Paul Pierce said something to the effect of, “We don’t play for series wins here. We play for raising another banner and until we have that, we’re not happy.” The Celtics have a league-record 17 titles, and there’s a reason for that. Its stars have forever understood that this isn’t a team that is satisfied by making it to the bright lights. Rather, it’s a team that won’t rest until that bright light is shining directly on them and no one else. The Lakers have undoubted talent and there is no doubt, after the two teams rolled through the previous three rounds, that the two best teams are in the championship. But, while the Lakers’ leader, Bryant, will still be considered arguably the greatest player in the league win or lose, the Celtics’ leaders — Garnett, Pierce and Ray Allen — will forever be defined by what they did together in these, the final years of their careers. Kevin Garnett is a scary man – and even scarier when he’s playing for a championship. When the finals end, Boston will raise its 18th banner because its other players won’t be able to look its leaders in the eyes if they don’t. Sometimes, that’s motivation enough.
ALEX JACKSON -sports editor -senior -communication major
1. REVENGE After two games of the Western Conference finals, when the Lakers held a 2-0 lead over the Suns, fans outside Los Angeles’ Staples Center began screaming, “We want Boston!” Not only is this the NBA’s premier rivalry, but two years ago when a much hungrier Celtics team disposed of the Lakers in six games, the City of Angels never forgot. There is not a player in the NBA more motivated to achieve greatness than Kobe Bryant and rarely, if ever, in his NBA career has he allowed the same team to defeat him so convincingly twice. Bryant willed his team to the series-clinching victory over Phoenix in game six, and he will do the same in the series with Boston. However, Pau Gasol might be the Laker with the greatest need for revenge. Why? In the 2008 finals, Kevin Garnett turned Gasol into nothing more than a seven-foot-tall gargoyle. In that series, Garnett averaged 18.2 points and 11.3 rebounds per game. Gasol meanwhile averaged 14.7 points and 10.2 rebounds. The Lakers traded for Gasol in February of that season to help bring a title to L.A., and he was instead embarrassed. He will atone for that this time around. 2. HOME-COURT ADVANTAGE The Lakers hardly ever lose at home,
especially in the playoffs. So far in this postseason, they are 8-0 when playing in the Staples Center. There’s something to be said about a team that knows how to finish games on its home court. Games one, two, and six and seven, if necessary, will be played in Los Angeles. In 2009, when the Lakers won the NBA championship, they lost only twice at home, and both came before the NBA Finals. With an experienced starting unit used to the pressure of the finals and clearly adept at winning home games, don’t expect Boston to walk in to L.A. and steal a win very easily. Boston is 5-3 on the road in the postseason and has been wildly inconsistent away from home. The Celtics thumped Orlando and Cleveland each once in those respective series, but they also lost twice by more than 20 points to both of those teams when on the road. 3. PHIL JACKSON Jackson has 10 NBA title rings sitting on his bedroom table, while Doc Rivers has one. Rivers is a young coach who has done a good job blending a see LAKERS / page ten
collegiatetimes.com June 03, 2010
2. CLUTCH DEFENSE When the Boston wants to, it can lock opponents down like a church youth group. The Celtics have allowed just 91.4 points per game in the 2010 postseason, a number good enough for second-best in the league. While the C’s have had their slipups in the past two rounds, allowing a 124-point game against the Cavs and a 113-point performance from the Magic — when it matters, the Celtics pull through. In the final three games of its series against the Cavaliers, the Celtics allowed just 86.6 points per game and more importantly, limited LeBron James to just 21.3 points per match. When the Cavs went up 2-1 after three games, Boston followed with a game in which they held James to 3-of-14 shooting, allowing just six points from the league MVP away from the free-throw line. In game six of its series against the Magic, when Boston had to win, those Magic not named Dwight Howard were held to just 36.3 percent shooting from the field. Kobe Bryant and the Lakers will undoubtedly open it up against the Celtics several times during the finals.
But when the clock is winding down and the Celtics need to, it’s hard to imagine Boston won’t employ that lock-down defense once again.
GARY W. GR EEN/M CT CA MPUS
1. EXPERTS PREDICTIONS Since the end of round one, it seems the Celtics have been every experts favorite pick to lose. In round two, according to ESPN’s brightest, the Celtics didn’t stand a chance against LeBron James and the mighty Cavaliers. In fact, 10 of 10 “experts” picked the Cavs to take the series, with just two of those studious journalists taking a risk, saying the Celtics would extend the series to seven games. James was too physical, created too many mismatches, and with the Cavaliers sporting the most dominant record at home during the regular season, Boston couldn’t possibly expect to make it out of Cleveland with a win. Yet the Celtics did, going on the road to beat the Cavs by 18 points in game two and by a devastating 32 in game five — winning the series in six. In the Eastern Conference Finals, eight of 10 ESPN experts picked the Orlando Magic to take the Celtics down. Prior to the series’ start, SportsCenter highlighted a matchup to look out for — Magic forward Rashard Lewis against Celtics forward Kevin Garnett. According to the leader in sports, the younger, more athletic Lewis looked ready to silence a recently hot Garnett and posed a serious offensive-threat to the C’s. Anything is possible, right? Over six games, though, Garnett outscored Lewis by 2.1 points per game, outrebounded Lewis by 2.2 boards per game and even had more assists than the former Seattle Supersonic — despite the fact that Lewis spent nearly four more minutes on the floor per contest. Six of 10 ESPN experts take the Lakers in the NBA Finals. Take the Celtics.
LAKERS HOPE FOR DIFFERENT ENDING THAN TWO YEARS AGO, REVENGE AGAINST HATED RIVALS
SPORTS
BOSTON’S VETERAN LEADERS ENTER NBA FINALS READY TO LEAVE LEGACY, SILENCE SKEPTICS
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Hokies: Going to NCAAs for first time in 10 years from page one
22 over the course of the season. The Bulldogs led the SoCon in stolen bases and sacrifice bunts, and since they lack the power to score in bunches like many ACC teams, they will try to manufacture runs each inning one at a time with steals and sacrifices. Starting Price on Friday would have allowed the Hokies to potentially pitch their top pitcher, Wright, against the top-seeded Gamecocks on Saturday provided both teams win their opening round games. Instead, Price will pitch on Saturday followed by junior Jesse Hahn, who has struggled in his last three starts since missing appearances against Georgia Tech and
Boston College late in the regular season. A big factor in Hahn’s improvement this season was lowering his velocity for improved control, but he has gone back to his old ways of overthrowing since returning to the starting rotation. “He’s overthrowing,” Hughes said. “He got some time off just long enough to get away from his approach and his style of pitching which gave him success and he went back to throwing too much and trying to do too much.” “He’s just gonna have to figure it out. He’s running out of starts to figure it out, but I think he’ll be fine. At least he knows where he went wrong,” Hughes said. Still, Hahn is the most talented
pitcher in the entire regional, and if he can get back to his prior form, he could go a long way to helping the Hokies win and advance to the super regionals. The Citadel will be taking a much more aggressive approach with their pitchers because of the lack of quality starters after studs Asher Wojciechowski and Matt Talley. Bulldogs coach Fred Jordan has elected to pitch No. 2 starter Matt Talley against the Hokies with the hope that he can match up their ace, Wojciechowski, against the Gamecocks the next day for two quick wins. Talley, a 6’6” lefty, is no slouch with a 7-2 record and a 3.79 earned run average, but Wojciechowski
is a top prospect in the upcoming Major League Baseball draft and would be as difficult a matchup as any in the country for the Hokies with his 12-2 record and 3.25 ERA. Regardless of who is on the mound Friday, the Hokies should be prepared considering all of the top prospects they have already seen this season during conference play. Tech features the best hitting lineup in Columbia, and the Hokies can hit their way back into any game as evidenced by their seven run fourth inning last week against NC State. With the exception of a lackluster weekend against the Tar Heels, the Hokies have been hitting well
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Check out NCAA coverage at www.collegiatetimes.com for updates on the Hokies’ performance.
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for the last month and that should continue against The Citadel at 2 p.m on Friday. If Tech defeats The Citadel, the Hokies will play the winner of the South Carolina vs. Bucknell game at 7 p.m. on Saturday. If they lose, they will play again at 2 p.m. The winner of the first round will advance to the super regionals, which will take place at a location to be announced.
Lakers: Ready for revenge from page nine
collegiatetimes.com June 03, 2010
talented roster to make it this far. Jackson, on the other hand, is the best coach to ever sit on an NBA bench. After the Suns threw a surprising and confusing zone defense at the Lakers in the conference finals, Jackson made the necessary adjustments after game four, and Los Angeles won the final two games of the series. Overlooked in the adjustments to the zone was the defense the Lakers played in games five and six. Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire had their way with Los Angeles early in the series but were much quieter in the final pair of games. Jackson knows how to control his team, and they will have plenty of strategies to take down the Celtics. 4. KOBE BRYANT Bryant is four wins away from his fifth NBA championship. After playing virtually non-stop for the past two years — thanks to deep playoff runs and international play — Bryant has every reason to be running on fumes, and maybe he is. His fumes are still better than anyone else’s full tank, though. Bryant might wear down, but it does not affect him in the clutch. In the final two minutes of game six against Phoenix, Bryant scored nine of his game-high 37 points to send the Lakers to the NBA Finals. It’ll take six games, but in a few weeks the city of Los Angeles will celebrate its 16th NBA title and 17th in franchise history, equaling the all-time record held by — you guessed it — the Boston Celtics.
JOSH PARCELL -sports staff writer -junior -communication major
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collegiatetimes.com June 03, 2010
SPORTS
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Baseball team falls just short at ACC tourney JOSH PARCELL sports staff writer The Virginia Tech baseball team came within one inning of reaching the ACC Championship game in its first tournament appearance last week in Greensboro, N.C. After taking down Georgia Tech and Clemson on Thursday and Friday,
North Carolina State outlasted the Hokies in a 10-inning affair Saturday night, preventing the Hokies from reaching Sunday’s title game. The Hokies started off the tournament with a win, thanks to a historic performance by pitcher Justin Wright. The junior lefthander struck out a career-high 15 batters against Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets finished the regular
season with the second most home runs in the country, and fielded arguably the deepest offensive lineup in the ACC, but Wright had no trouble making them look like they’d never swung a bat before. “That was probably the best starting performance I’ve seen at this level in my coaching career. It was dominant,” Hokies head coach Pete Hughes said. Equally as impressive was the Hokies’
strong offense all week. Georgia Tech started former ACC Pitcher of the Year Deck McGuire against the Hokies, and he was banged around in six innings of work. The Hokies hit two home runs off of McGuire and led 4-1 when he was removed from the game. The Hokies won the game 6-2. The following afternoon, the Hokies outslugged Clemson and its highoctane offense again. The Tigers, who swept Tech during the regular season, fell behind 5-0 in the first inning, only to come roaring back to lead 6-5 in the fourth inning. The topsy-turvy affair took its toll on Mathew Price, Tech’s starting pitcher, who only lasted four and one-third innings after giving up those six runs. His teammates struggled to play clean baseball behind him when they committed four errors that led to three unearned runs. Thankfully for Hughes, he had a full arsenal of relief pitchers, thanks to Wright’s complete game the night before. We didn’t get a great start out of (Mathew) Price, but our defense didn’t help him ... it wears anyone out to throw 40 pitches in an inning.” Hughes said. “To have (the bullpen) fresh was huge.” Poor defense ultimately doomed the Hokies the following night. Coach Hughes stressed the importance of clean, mistake-free baseball prior to the start of the tournament. It was a blatantly true statement, but it was ironic that the part of the game he pegged most important was the Hokies’ weakest link. They committed 10 in the three games combined. Four of NC State’s 10 runs directly resulted from Tech errors. If the Hokies didn’t hit the ball so well, it could have been a truly ugly weekend. Instead, some of their best players came through at the plate.
One virtually unknown reserve had a breakout weekend, too. Andrew Rash, a redshirt freshman whose playing time began to increase in the final month of the season, started all three games in Greensboro and was one of the most consistent hitters all weekend. Against Clemson, Rash hit a home run and a double, and also scored the game-winning run in the eighth inning on a close play at the plate. Sean Ryan, one of two holdovers from the pre-Hughes era at Tech, lined a ball into centerfield with Rash on second base in a tie game against the Tigers. Rash took off on contact, but a cramp in his right calf made it much more difficult to round third base and make it home. “It wasn’t going to get in the way of me scoring. I was going to fight through it,” Rash said. The throw from centerfield just barely reached the plate before Rash, who had to make an acrobatic leap to evade the catcher’s swiping mitt, and he slapped home plate safely. The Tech dugout came racing out to embrace him for making the biggest play of his young career. Rash’s emergence as a viable hitter at the bottom of the lineup — he batted eighth in two games and seventh in the other — is a crucial bonus for the Hokies heading into the NCAA Tournament. Just as Rash is playing well at the right time, starting pitcher Jesse Hahn is struggling to return to form after a strained forearm kept him out for a month during the season. Hahn, who relies heavily on his 96 mph fastball, lost velocity on that pitch much quicker than usual against the Wolfpack, and lasted just four innings, allowing seven runs (four earned). He also threw three wild pitches and hit one batter with a pitch. “I let the adrenaline get to me, I tried to do to much instead of being relaxed,” Hahn said. The lack of defense, especially against the Wolfpack, and Hahn’s struggles were the biggest disappointments during a week that may have finally marked the return of Hokie baseball to ACC relevance. Since the tournament condensed to include only the top eight teams in the league in 2005, it never included the Hokies until now. With two impressive wins over tournament mainstays Georgia Tech and Clemson, Hughes’ team validated themselves as a upper-echelon club. The Hokies will attempt to take that momentum to Columbia, S.C., when Tech begins NCAA Tournament play on Friday, at 2 p.m. against The Citadel. It will be the Hokies first appearance in the NCAAs since 2000 and could mark the final games of several Tech players’ careers, who will leave for graduation or in some cases, a shot at a professional career.