Thursday, August 12, 2010 Print Edition

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August 12, 2010

what’s inside News .............2 Features ........6 0pinions ........5 Sports .........10 Classifieds ...11 Sudoku ........11 107th year issue 72 blacksburg, va.

‘100-proof ’ backfield ready to go ALEX JACKSON sports editor After tearing his anterior cruciate ligament during preseason practice and missing all of last season, Virginia Tech running back Darren Evans is hungry.

Evans is sick of being asked how he’s feeling and can’t wait to get on the field come Sept. 6 when the No. 6 Hokies open up the season against No. 5 Boise State in Landover, Md. “I was saying before, if I had a dollar for every time someone asked me that question, I’d be rich,” Evans said. “I feel good. It’s fixed, I know it’s fixed, and I’m ready to play football.”

According to Tech trainer Mike Goforth, Evans has been full-go for about a month and a half. At the Hokies’ first practice of the summer, the former Orange Bowl MVP looked fitter than ever, working without a brace or sleeve on his previously injured left knee.

While reporters and fans may question his ability to bounce back from such a serious injury, there are no questions in the Hokies’ locker room.

“

I was saying before, if I had a dollar for every time someone asked me that question, I’d be rich. I feel good. ... I’m ready to play football.

DARREN EVANS RUNNING BACK

“Usually when people get hurt, you know, they usually start to beef up a little bit or maybe start to gain a little weight,” explained Tech tight end Andre Smith. “But, I tell you what — his work ethic throughout this injury, to me ... he’s gotten just as more cut and ripped as ever.

“I know that he’s ready to go fulltilt. I feel like he’s back to what he was — maybe even stronger and better than before, and I’m definitely

DANIEL LIN/SPPS

Tailbacks Darren Evans (left) and Ryan Williams (right) answer questions at Saturday’s Media Day. anticipating a great season from him,” Smith said.

In 2008, Evans exploded onto the scene, improving with every carry.

He began his career by becoming the first Tech player to score a touchdown in each of his first six games. In the ninth game of his college career, he set a school single-game record against the University of Maryland, rushing for 253 yards.

When the season was over, Evans had carried the ball 287 times, gaining 1265 yards while scoring 11 touchdowns. His accomplishments earned him a second-team AllAtlantic Coast Conference selection and second-team All-America honors from Sporting News.

Then, as he was preparing for his encore season last August, his knee gave out.

But when the door slammed shut on Evans’ season, a young, charismatic redshirt freshman named Ryan Williams stepped up to the plate — and hit a home run.

Unexpectedly, Williams picked up right where Evans left off.

Rushing for a school-record 1,655 yards, breaking ACC season marks for both yards and touchdowns, scoring 22 times in 2009, Williams

established himself as one of the best running backs in the nation and the best in Hokies history.

Evans said he learned more than just how to be humble from watching his teammate break records from the sidelines. “(I learned) another outlook from reading defenses and finding holes and different things,” Evans said.

“The way he moves and stuff, you can’t do anything but try to imitate it and learn from it. I mean, he gets out of jams. When you get the ball, that’s what you’re supposed to do.”

When the Tech football team hit the practice fields for the first time last week, it had arguably the two best running backs in the ACC on its side.

While it sounds like nothing but a luxury, the situation in Tech’s backfield does pose its problems.

How will the two backs get along when one’s number is called, but the other’s is not?

“I mean, it really don’t matter to me,” Williams said Saturday. “For real. It’s a two-back system and it was really supposed to happen last year if he wouldn’t have went down with the injury.

“I’m used to it. I did it all through

high school and I know high school and the college level is very different, but as far as sharing time — I really don’t think there’s much of a difference when you’re sharing the backfield with a quality running back,” he said.

Williams admitted at times it would be tough to come out of the game.

“We probably won’t want to come

out of the game, regardless of the situation,” he said. “But it makes us feel a lot better just knowing if we’re tired or if we need a break, that I know — If I come out of the game, he’s going to handle business and vice versa. ... We’re going to alternate and we’re both going to do what we need to do to help the team win.”

Evans agreed.

“However it works out, it works out. I know it’s important to get into a rhythm, but I think it’d be easier to get into a rhythm if we’re both fresh and feeding off of what each other is doing,” Evans said. “If he breaks a long run and gets tired, I’m going to be so hyped after that, that I’m going to be wanting to do it too.”

“It’s a good look,” Williams added.

While there is certainly competition in preseason practice as the two show their stuff, yearning for as many carries as they can get this season, the two backs feel more like competitive brothers than schoolyard rivals.

“I mean — that’s like my big brother,” Williams said about his teammate. “I think that bond that we’ve built is going to make what we have on the field a lot better.” see BACKS / page 10

DANIEL LIN/SPPS

The seniors of the Virginia Tech football team gather around head coach Frank Beamer during Media Day at Lane Stadium Saturday.

Group pressuring Tech to change tax policies CLAIRE SANDERSON managing editor Some have accused Virginia Tech of not playing fair — not on its athletic fields, but in its dining halls and hotels.

Play Fair Tech is a group of restaurant owners, business owners, Tech faculty and town citizens who have come together around the issue of whether Tech should collect meals and lodging taxes from visitors of

the university.

The meals tax would not apply to students or university employees who have a meal plan, which is already taxed, but to visitors who eat in dining halls and pay with cash or credit.

Restaurants in Blacksburg collect a six percent meals tax and hotels collect a seven percent lodging tax.

For decades, Tech has not collected either in its dining halls or at the Inn at Virginia Tech.

“We really feel like this is a fairness issue,” said Michael Sutphin, a spokesman for the Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and a member of Play Fair Tech’s steering committee.

“It wouldn’t be taxing the university,” he said.

Instead, he said the burden would fall on visitors.

“The town did a study on the potential impact of Virginia Tech collecting the meals tax and found

that it would raise over $200,000,” he explained. “The money would go into the general revenue fund for Blacksburg, which will help Blacksburg provide any of the services it offers and it will benefit everyone.”

The town of Blacksburg does not currently levy the meals or lodging tax on Tech.

“The university is not legally compelled to collect the tax, but it is also not legally compelled not to,” said

Susan Anderson, a member of the Blacksburg Town Council.

Section 22 of the town code, which deals with taxation, does not include specific language about Tech.

“Virginia Tech is a state agency and the town is a municipal government. The municipal government cannot compel Virginia Tech to do this, and there’s nothing in the code that enables a state agency to collect

THE COLLEGIATE TIMES WILL CEASE PRINTING UNTIL AUG. 23. CHECK ONLINE FOR BREAKING NEWS AND UPDATES.

see TAXES / page three

page

collegiatetimes.com August 12, 2010

NEWS

2

McDonnell holds town hall Parents ask for

increased taxes, new schools

SARAH WATSON news reporter Residents of the New River Valley came out to in high sprits to welcome Gov. Bob McDonnell to Roanoke on Aug. 4. McDonnell kicked off his Virginia Speaks tour at the Roanoke County Administration Center, which was the first of eight stops McDonnell will make across the state to gather the suggestions and opinions of Virginia’s citizens and put these ideas into action.

“I’m here to listen to your ideas about making better government,” McDonnell said.

The main focus of McDonnell’s presentation was job creation and economic development throughout the state.

Before he spoke, he spent time at local food banks, Steel Dynamics and the new Carilion Medical School to gain a better understanding of area businesses.

McDonnell said he is concerned but optimistic about the future of Virginia’s job market. Virginia currently has an unemployment rate of 7.1 percent, and more than 300,000 residents do not have jobs. McDonnell said that the best way to combat those numbers would be to focus on the local businessman.

“The job gives people access to the American dream,” he said.

McDonnell said the current state of the job market is partially because of the state’s budget.

“This is the worst budget that we’ve seen in quite a while,” he said.

LIANA BAYNE news editor REBECCA FRAENKEL/SPPS

Gov. McDonnell invited citizens in Roanoke to ask him questions.

McDonnell’s commission on government reform and restructuring was created to maintain funds and save money, and its goal for this fiscal year is to reduce spending to 2006 levels, or about $15 billion, according to the Washington Post.

Along with the General Assembly, McDonnell created a provision in the budget that would reward departments and individuals that spent less than their predetermined budget.

“They are encouraged to save,” McDonnell said.

McDonnell also believes the privatization of ABC liquor stores will free up governmental funds for transportation, education and energy.

The government currently has a monopoly over the sales of distilled spirits in the state of Virginia, but 32 states across the country have already privatized liquor sales.

While the state government would still have an input over which businesses receive licenses, sales and distribution would be out of its hands. McDonnell believes this would create private sector jobs and save the state anywhere from $300 million to $500 million.

The money saved by privatizing ABC would go toward transportation, an issue McDonnell said is “critically important.”

However, some residents are fearful that privatization could result in an increase in consumption of alcohol, underage drinking and crimes related to alcohol.

Another issue brought up by residents during the question and answer session was government funding for higher education.

College tuitions across the state have experienced an increase over the past see GOVERNOR / page four

Montgomery County residents are asking for higher property taxes in order to pay for new schools for their children.

In the first of two public forums Tuesday night, superintendent Brenda Blackburn listened to public comment from parents and educators from both the Blacksburg and Auburn schools.

The school board estimates a tax increase of around 10.5 cents because of the amount that will have to be borrowed to pay for improvements to the current Blacksburg High School or the construction of a new school. It will also cover the planned improvements to Auburn middle and high Schools.

Improvements to AHS and AMS were “supposed to be next,” school board member Walt Shannon said.

The board had planned to construct a new AHS at an estimated cost of $44.5 million and improve AHS to become the new AMS at an estimated cost of $22.5 million.

The collapse of the BHS in February interfered with these original plans as 1,200 Blacksburg strand students were displaced.

The board has also estimated a new BHS would cost around $57.4 million, and merely improving the current BHS building would cost around $14.4 million.

School board members and members of the Montgomery County

board of supervisors seem to be in support of repairing the current BHS building because of its reduced cost.

However, many parents and community members who addressed Blackburn Tuesday night were in support of a new school building in Blacksburg.

“I would encourage the school board and the board of supervisors to recognize this is a good time to be buying,” said Matt Beeken, a teacher at BHS,. “If we can move quickly we can get a deal.”

Colin Baker, another teacher at BHS, concurred, advocating for the building of a new school building.

“My wife will not let my kids in that building,” Baker said. “This is a psychological thing for parents. Our parents will not feel safe sending our kids to that building.”

Other parents advocated for the plan to build schools in Auburn simultaneously during construction in Blacksburg.

“You need to keep Auburn as high on the list as you can,” said one mother of students at Auburn. “I would definitely support a tax increase if it meant getting Auburn some new school facilities.”

The school board intends to discuss the building plan at their next meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 17.

There will be another public forum Monday, Aug. 16 at 6:30 p.m., in the Christiansburg Government Center building.

from page one

and remit taxes for a municipal government,” said Larry Hincker, university spokesman. “We just don’t have the authority in the state of Virginia to collect a municipal tax.”

According to Play Fair Tech’s website, all 15 public four-year universities in Virginia collect the taxes except Tech.

However, Hincker explained that there is an important difference between dining at Tech and at the other universities.

“Other universities in the state have private vendors running their dining systems,” Hincker said. “Private vendors here do collect the meals tax.”

According to Hincker, the only dining facilities with branded products that collect the meals tax on campus are Subway and Seattle’s Best Coffee, both in the Johnson Student Center. Neither is on a student meal plan.

Anderson said that the town and the university have been involved in an ongoing conversation about the issue for several years, and Tech will be collecting a tax on the concessions sold at games for the first time this year.

“One of the things that we discovered when we looked into it is that Centerplate was not collecting the tax, and we agreed that it is a private vendor under contract with the university, so it will be collecting the tax this year,” Hincker said.

Centerplate is the private vendor that provides concessions at Tech football games and other athletic events.

“With all the different home games and all the attendees, a considerable

amount of money could be collected,” Anderson said.

According to Sutphin, Tech could actually make money by collecting the meals tax.

He said there is a provision that allows restaurants to keep three percent of the total meals tax they collect in order to cover the costs of collecting the tax. This was more important in the days before automated cash registers. Today, he said, many restaurants are able to pocket that three percent because the cost of collecting the tax is low.

“Of the $200,000 collected, Tech would get back $6 million,” Sutphin said. “It wouldn’t cost Tech anything, and they would actually get money back by doing this.”

Play Fair Tech has created a petition that it intends to present to the university.

“I believe we have over 500 signatures right now,” remarked Sutphin.

“We’re going to continue for a few weeks into the semester and then take it to the university.”

Sutphin said that he is not sure why the university has declined to collect the tax, explaining that though the university’s presence is already beneficial to the region, it should still collect the tax.

“Virginia Tech is a major economic driver in the region, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t collect the tax and help give back to the community,” he said.

It is unclear how the university will respond to the group.

“The university has not formally responded to the town on this issue,” Hincker said, “but we don’t see any way we can legally do this thing.”

3 NEWS

Taxes: More than 500 signatures collected

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collegiatetimes.com August 12, 2010

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NEWS

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Governor: Seeks local opinions on programs from page two

several years. McDonnell wants to cut college tuition so middle-class families can send their students to college, but does not have a plan for doing so.

“We need more money (for higher education),” McDonnell said.

ResidentsalsoquestionedMcDonnell about ecological initiatives that many deemed unnecessary, including “green” downtown Richmond.

However, McDonnell does support all efforts to reduce both nitrogen and phosphorus runoff in the Chesapeake Bay. “More oysters and striped bass in the Bay will help the economy,” he said.

Another Roanoke County resident expressed frustration toward proposed wind turbines in her area.

McDonnell said that there are clear visual issues with wind farms, in addition to being unsustainable.

He said he hopes to explore off-shore drilling, and alternative sources of energy including solar and wind once improvements in technology have been made.

“We’ve got to reduce our dependence on foreign sources of energy,” he said.

McDonnell will be conducting town hall meetings in various cities this month. He is also accepting ideas on www.reform.virginia.gov.

[news in brief] Blacksburg Transit to switch to regular schedule one week early The Blacksburg Transit announced on Tuesday that it would switch from break service to regular service one week earlier than in previous years.

All BT routes will begin operating on regular service on Sunday, Aug. 15.

The BT had previously planned to remain on break service until Sunday, Aug. 22.

Classes at Virginia Tech and the New River Valley Community College begin Monday, Aug. 23.

A press release from the town of Blacksburg said the change

in schedule was made partially because of resident need.

“We did it because our riders have been asking for it,” said Ken Tucker, a BT spokesman.

The press release also said the early schedule is “a pilot program and will be evaluated for future planning.”

“We had over three million people last year,” Tucker said.

Bus route maps and more information are available at www.BTransit.org.

-liana bayne, news editor

UVa fills section for upcoming game The University of Virginia announced last week to its football season ticket holders that fewer Cavalier fans than usual had purchased tickets for the annual UVa-Virginia Tech football game.

Those tickets have now been successfully sold to UVa fans.

Craig Littlepage, athletic director for UVa, wrote in an e-mail to season ticket holders that after allowing donors to the Virginia Athletics Foundation to order tickets to the Tech game as part of the football season ticket application, the school had 1,000 extra tickets.

Littlepage attributed the leftover tickets to the fact that this year’s game will be played in Blacksburg on Nov. 27.

Littlepage encouraged UVa fans to purchase the extra tickets to “reverse this trend” of Tech fans purchasing tickets in the UVa section of Scott Stadium at past games at UVa. “It’s important that only Cavalier fans have access to our allotment of tickets,” the e-mail read.

“A number of our fans have voiced their concerns about this and have written to me and others within the Athletics Department,” Littlepage wrote. “The first opportunity to begin to reverse this trend is to make sure we have strong support for our team in Blacksburg this season. It’s up to all of us to help make this happen.”

Rich Murray, UVa’s associate athletic director for media relations, said Tuesday that all extra tickets had been sold, meaning none would be returned to Tech.

“We have sold out our allotment of tickets except for the number we hold for our students,” he said.

-liana bayne, news editor

collegiatetimes.com August 12, 2010

Tickets for home games available The athletics department announced Tuesday that there are a limited number of individual tickets available for five of the seven home games in the upcoming football season.

Tickets are available to the Sept.

11 game against James Madison University, the Sept. 18 game against East Caroline University, the Oct. 23 game against Duke and the Thursday night game against Georgia Tech on Nov. 4.

A press release said the tickets are available because the visiting teams returned a portion of their ticket allotments.

Tickets can be purchased through the ticket office or on HokieTickets. com.

-liana bayne, news editor

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picture is worth 1000 words — a hackneyed expression, maybe, but in this case a truism.

Unfortunately, I only have 600 to describe the mission of Ut Prosim El Porvenir (an Honors Program service-learning class) that is now over 2500 miles from Blacksburg.

But if I could choose one scene, I’d show you our extended and diverted walk home the other night from the local secondary school in El Porvenir, Honduras.

Since our arrival in Honduras, we’ve quite literally hit the ground running.

From the start, our daily schedule has enveloped us and taken on a life of its own.

An unwitting game of chicken on the Honduran roadways with an intrepid taxi driver was followed by an onslaught of rapid, agriculturallythemed Spanish with the local garden group, which led to laying the beginning foundation of the fire station with a group of vaguely related, jocular, and water-happy volunteer firefighters.

This was in addition to the door-to-door Dengue inspections we helped conduct in conjunction with a meticulously capable team from the health clinic, courtesy of a national emergency Dengue mandate.

However, a few days into the

mix, catching my breath and reclining on the untouched Honduran shore, it’s not any of these events which fully prove an allegory for UPEP’s presence in the community, but rather the seemingly insignificant return trip from one such event.

As Heather, our nonprofit community liaison, advised us yesterday: “Idle time always represents an opportunity.” And so it did.

Dragging our feet along the freshly paved Porvenir streets on the way back to the volunteer house last night, the seven of us were physically exhausted but in high spirits, shouting out our token Spanish phrases haphazardly to the local pulperia (corner store) owners and their naked, sun-kissed children.

From the behind us came the cry, “Ey! Every-bady! Lez go! High fives!” Circling us on a tricked-out bicycle was Alex, the head of El Porvenir’s volunteer fire department.

I’d like you to picture Alex as the guy at your high school who knew everyone and played every sport.

Now add a wife, a few children, and therespectofanentirecommunity,and you’re beginning to understand the role that Alex Rodriguez plays in this

town.

As Alex herded us down the street, treating us to a sampling of the Backstreet Boys and Justin Bieber, an idea struck him, “Ey, guys! Come to my mahm’s! I cho ju plans!”

We stepped into a nearby pulperia, where he retrieved some papers from the back and seated us all around a picnic table.

He then proceeded to lay in front of us three different blueprints for his distant and ideal firehouse, all professionally designed and executed.

Speaking rapid and fervent Spanish, Alex articulated every detail of his dream for the community, from the garages that would house the fire trucks, down to the last bunk bed, where he assured us there would always be room for community volunteers to stay overnight.

Finally, we turned our attention to the last page of the plans, which consisted of a list of numbers attached to a large quantity of zeroes in any language.

Alex glanced down at the page, smiled at us wearily, and said, “Si Dios lo quiere, va a pasar.” (If God is willing, he will make it happen).

Later, we mentioned that our group would be “reforesting the beach” with the secondary school later this week.

The bomberos eagerly sought out further details and rapidly indicated their commitment to such a pursuit, also mentioning that they were hoping to challenge us to a basketball game the next night.

I marveled to myself at how in a town where 30 minutes late translates to a prompt arrival, community initiatives seem to spring up with surprising alacrity.

Reflecting on our parting last night, I find that it presents an apt metaphor for UPEP’s principal function in El Porvenir.

We’re not here to provide physical labor, or act as founts of wisdom or offer donations.

There is such a hotbed of excitement and potential involvement just simmering under the surface, as Alex’s commitment so significantly proved.

Our aim is to gather this vision, harvest it, and provide these diverse and vibrant community members with the stage and resources to meet one another halfway — something our visibility in the community has already begun to foment.

NICOLE RUSSELL -guest columnist -junior -business, Spanish major

Students experience new school year, country A

s current students prepare for finals and wrap up this summer session, there is another set of students that is just starting its Virginia Tech experience. These are our new international students.

While we often hear about new student orientation and transfer student orientation, we rarely hear about the needs of our new international students.

Did you know that there is an international student orientation period that is coordinated by the Cranwell International Center?

I suspect that many were unaware of this effort.

New international students started arriving on the campus since early next week, through the Smartway Bus or through shuttles provided by Cranwell.

New international students can’t enter the United States until 30 days prior to the start of classes, and they have to have all of their visa paperwork in order. Once they arrive, they are faced with the process of finding a place to stay.

During this initial three-week period, Cranwell provides students the opportunity to stay in temporary housing either on or off campus.

This provides a temporary base for them as they get settled and get all of their paperwork together.

They must get their new student ID, their new social security card, set up a bank account and find an oncampus job.

Another big factor is that they have to sign-up for their classes and meet with their academic advisors during this time.

For many, it is the first time that they have stepped foot on Tech’s campus, so they are also learning where everything is located.

For some, it is also the first time that they have left their home countries, sometimes leaving careers or families behind.

In many ways, it is the fulfillment of the American educational dream.

Many have hopes that they can head back with their academic credentials and skills to make a difference in their home countries.

This can also be a period of extreme culture shock for these students. Cranwell provides student mentors who help new students in this period.

For example, they do shopping runs to Wal-Mart and other stores, as most of these students do not have cars.

In addition, Cranwell provides different activities so that the students can begin to build community here and get adjusted to Tech and the surrounding area.

Just this past weekend, the students were encouraged to attend the Steppin’ Out festivities.

This was a great opportunity for the students to begin to get a feel for life in Blacksburg.

When students come in, they have to check-in at Cranwell and they can begin to have access to the services provided.

This allows them to begin expriencing life in the United States and in Blacksburg before things get hectic with the start of classes.

Once the week of August 16th begins, a more formal orientation begins for these students.

One of the main goals is to try to give these students an experience similar to what new students got in the July orientation.

Why should these students miss out on the Hokie spirit that is generated during summer orientation in July?

These international students are not only undergraduate students but also new graduate students, so schedule of activities during this special orientation is geared according to their particular needs.

Included are immunization clinics, English placement tests, and workshops for new graduate students who are going to be teaching

assistants.

Imagine if we didn’t provide these services for new international students.

It would certainly make Tech a much more cold and barren place for these students.

The efforts by the Cranwell International Center and the other offices that provide support for international students, such as the Graduate School, OIRED, and the Institute of Language and Culture, truly make a huge difference in terms of setting the environment.

While the journey for these students won’t be easy, they will benefit from the different services provided and the opportunities to get involved in the different student organizations and community groups.

Rather than keep these efforts tucked away, the university should give it the prominence that it deserves as compared to the other respective orientation sessions.

RAY PLAZA -faculty member -study abroad leader

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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

Hokies creating a vision in El Porvenir

page

page

FEATURES

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‘After the Workshop’ caters to niche, impresses W

hat can you do with a master of fine arts degree in creative writing? In John McNally’s third novel “After the Workshop,” Jack Hercules Sheahan finds his creative writing MFA degree is good for only one thing: aimless drifting.

In this novel, styled as Sheahan’s memoir — and yes, “Hercules” is

his real middle name — writes that a prestigious graduate degree from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop is parlayed into a whole lot of nothing. Sheahan can only find work as a media escort for a long parade of visiting writers to Iowa City bookstores, a job he got only because the previous media escort, also a graduate of the Writers’

Workshop, drove off a bridge and drowned with an unfinished novel in the backseat of his car.

Smashing the reader over the head with symbolism? Yes, there’s a lot of that in “After the Workshop,” but you’ll laugh at it loud and long — if you’re in the target audience for this novel.

That audience is a small one but luckily one that grows with every passing year — graduates of creative writing MFA programs.

Here’s an inside tip: Not every creative writing MFA student ends up becoming a creative professor. In fact, you could say that’s the exception and not the rule (based on my obsessive observations of the current academic job market, but I digress).

“

That audience is a small one but luckily one that grows with every passing year — graduates of creative writing MFA programs.

More and more students who, after entering the rarefied air of graduate school with big ideas and bigger dreams, find the reality of life after the MFA to be not entirely unlike what Sheahan experiences: hustling for jobs, balancing delicate finances, and barely having the time or energy to write.

To say “After the Workshop” hit home with me is an understatement.

Had I been handed an admission letter to the University of Iowa’s graduate school instead of Virginia Tech’s four years ago, this life easily could have been mine.

And I find that a little frightening, but also a little enticing, because Jack Hercules Sheahan has grand adventures: Scouring Iowa City drugstores for a breast pump as demanded by a visiting writer he’s escorting around town, stealing notebooks from successful writer while he’s puking his guts out in a seedy bar bathroomww and hooking up with an ex-girlfriend

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Bottom line: One should certainly not consider this novel as a road map to success as a writer.

It’s funny and engaging, but don’t do what Jack Hercules Sheahan does, and one will be just fine. in the back of his sad, sorry Toyota in a parking garage.

I like grand adventures, but the aimlessness of Sheahan’s life — and his lack of writing drive — depressed me. This is a good sign that McNally’s characterizations are spot-on, even if they bum me out.

Sheahan’s adventures also include a hardly dressed neighbor, a highmaintenance publicist, writers of various stripes and genres — McNally’s skewering of the typical cast of characters found in a creative writing program is worth the price of the book alone — and Iowa City locals all just along for the ride.

And it all culminates in an unexpected, slightly heartwarming ending. McNally does the reader (and by extension, the writers reading this novel as either a break from their current writing projects or as inspiration toward a new one) a good turn by leaving Sheahan with a small sense of hope with regard to his writing abilities.

Sometimes a small sense of hope is all one needs to keep going. Thank you, John McNally, for that.

JOSETTE TORRES -WUVT DJ -class of 2010 -MFA creative writing

August is ideal time to embrace market vendors features editor With August heat beating down on Blacksburg, the best time to get outdoors is the morning and the early afternoon. So, take a stroll with the Collegiate Times as we profile the vendors who grace the Saturday morning and Wednesday afternoon farmers market.

Continuing from last week, here are two more profiles of local farmers who help keep Blacksburg a little healthier — and lot more enriched.

PS SP IN/ LL NIE DA

INDIAN VALLEY FARMS Tucked away in Indian Valley, Randy Cohen and his wife, Chipkin, have been at it for nearly two decades.

The market veterans sell a wide variety of vegetables, and eggs and honey when available. Since they started coming to the market nearly 20 years ago, they’ve maintained long time clients and witnessed the growth in the local foods movement.

“I love it when people ask me what I grow and where I grow,” Cohen said. He pointed out the increases in awareness about local farming and health consciousness.

As for where he grows, Cohen has about three acres of farmland with two hoop houses — the green houses made from semi-circles that are covered with plastic — and various vegetables and melon patches.

Growing up in Long Island, N.Y., Cohen is a licensed certified personal accountant who works mostly during the tax season while he waits for the growing season to start.

Three kids — two of whom helped o u t in the market — have graced t h e Cohen’slives,

but none are farmers. Cohen said that it’s understandable since kids these days “just that aren’t into farming.”

However, Cohen is excited about the increase in student attendance at the market over the past few years.

“It’s great that students come to the market because they are eating healthy,” Cohen said. “At least they are trying to eat locally raised products.”

Cohen says he hopes to see even more students come to the market in future.

BIRDSONG FARMs Patti and Deano Chlepas are the epitome of all things nature and wellness.

Hailing from California, the two originally moved to Lindside, W.Va., about four years ago in order to tackle the state’s health problems and start their own farm. Patti Chlepas said their philosophy is simple: “Love all things natural.”

Because of the health benefits, the couple knew they wanted to incorporate beeswax and honey into their farm. Many, if not most, of their products contain some form of either, as well as other natural oils.

Deano, an airline pilot who was forced to retire after being diagnosed with a degenerative eye disease, worked as a fitness and nutrition adviser, as well as a trainer.

He specialized in child-

7 FEATURES

DEBRA HOUCHINS

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DANIEL LIN/SPPS

Patti Chlepas pays extra special attention to the presentation of the Birdsong Farm booth at the Blacksburg Farmers Market. hood obesity and ran a business with Patti that offered services to help improve the health of families.

The two even started a nonprofiteorganization to help promote fitness and wellness, but it was sidelined when the economy declined.

Although the fitness business struggled, Birdsong Farms took off. Originally starting with beeswax candles, the business quickly expanded to include a plethora of natural skincare products including soaps, lotion bars and all-natural

insect repellant. The products were a hit, especially the “Don’t Bug Me” repellant. There are two distinct formulas, one for humans and one for dogs.

Birdsong Farm, aptly name for the birds that are always singing, also sells flowers such as sun flowers and lavender, as well as shiitake mushrooms, which will be ready to sell in bulk next year.

Surrounded by forest, the farm itself is like a natural haven for birds.

“It’s a really natural setting,” said Chlepas.

Steppin’ Out

Vendors and visitors filled South Main St. Friday afternoon at the 30th annual Steppin’ Out.

collegiatetimes.com August 12, 2010

COURTESY OF THE BLACKSBURG FIRE DEPARTMENT

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FEATURES

8

‘The Other Guys’ good for laughs but insubstantial L

ike most Ponzi schemes in comedy, “The Other Guys” delivers a type of systematical laugh that gets further and further away from the main joke, while never letting you remember where it originated. With funny-man Will Ferrell and over-thetop actors like Samuel L. Jackson and Mark Wahlberg, you can’t help but get caught up in the action and chuckles, but forget why you’re there in the first place.

In a very “48 Hrs.” reminiscent portrayal, Terry Holtz (Wahlberg) has been put back at his desk for his hotheaded nature and clumsy reactions.

Strapped to his side is Allen Gamble (Ferrell), a forensic accountant who’s married to an impossibly attractive wife (Eva Mendes) and is too much a strict follower of the rules.

By some unprecedented twist of fate, the two are allowed to head out onto the street to go after a drug trafficker

(Steve Coogan). It’s here that you realize that Allen could have solved the case and put the bad guys behind bars, if it wasn’t for Terry knocking down his manhood and his inability to fight throughout the film.

Watching the two cops pair off, it’s obvious that it’s never meant to be a “buddy-buddy” film. Walberg hates Ferrell’s character with everything that he has, and if not for Ferrell playing such a timid and lackluster character, it would almost be too much on the screen at any given time. The ability to at least have Ferrell calm down his otherwise loud, noisy, and rambunctious attitude that has been so prevalent in his past films gives comfort to the two main characters.

That doesn’t explain however, how writer and director Adam McKay would allow for the clustered amount of explosions, jokes, and slapstick humor throughout the film.

Understandably, the film had a sense of ‘80s cop films like Eddie Murphy’s “48 Hrs” or “Beverly Hills Cop.” Yet to add that in with the continuation of so much on-screen pollution took away from what he was trying to get at.

At least the on-screen talent, which was packed full of star-studded wonder from Jackson, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and Derek Jeter, did well to enhance the performance in their own ways. Not one overshadowed the other or overplayed their part, but again, once you include seven or eight stars in a film it becomes too much for your mind to focus on.

In all reality, the film wasn’t so much SONY PICTURES “bad” as it was overdone. Too much Samuel L. Jackson and Dwayne Johnson (below) play the standard noise here and an overly thoughtup plot makes it something that you buddy cop duo, Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg are “The Other Guys.” can’t fully comprehend or enjoy. Yes, you’ll laugh and you will even enjoy Will Ferrell once again after seeing this film, considering the last several films he has dropped in popularity.

However, all of that is minimized by the fact that it just wasn’t fully thought through.

collegiatetimes.com August 12, 2010

WILLIAM CASE -features staff writer -senior -English and theatre arts major

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Wondering what’s going on around the ‘burg?

Check out the events of the upcoming week.

[Thursday, August 12]

FEATURES

Loop

9

What: Music — Chickenwings & Gravy Where: Gillie’s When: 7 p.m.

Cost: Free

[Saturday, August 14] What: Music — Doc Greenberg’s Patient Jazz Where: Gillie’s When: 7 p.m.

Cost: Free What: Music — Re:Fill w/ DJ FLO Where: River Mill When: 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Cost: Free Note: Ages 21+

[Monday, August 16] What: Beginners Billards Lounge Where: 117 Squires Student Center When: All day Cost: $25 Note: Visit www.uusa.vt.edu for more information

[Wednesday, August 18] What: YMCA Ytoss? Annual Sale Where: Cassell Coliseum Amublatory Area When: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Cost: Free What: Wednesday Butterfly Walk Where: Peggy Lee Hahn Garden Pavilion When: Noon to 1 p.m.

Cost: Free What: Film — Rear Window Where: The Lyric When: 3 p.m.

Cost: Free What: Comedy Club — Roy Haber Where: Attitudes Bar & Cafe When: 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Cost: Cover Note: Ladies free before 11 p.m.

This week, the Lyric is showing “TInception,” from the writer and director of “Memento.” Check out TheLyric.com for showtime information.

collegiatetimes.com August 12, 2010

All week What: Play — The Pajama Game Where: Pridemore Playhouse, Radford University When: Aug. 12-15 from 7:30 p.m.

Cost: $15 general, $10 senior, $6 student/child

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SPORTS

10 ......radio for

everyone

Clips from Hokies football Media Day ALEX JACKSON sports editor The sixth-ranked Virginia Tech football team held its annual Media Day on Saturday, one day after the team opened preseason practice.

The Tech coaching staff and nearly the entire starting lineup was available for questions. Here’s a recap of what was said as the team began preparations for the season.

collegiatetimes.com August 12, 2010

ON THE HOT-TOPIC OF NCAA PLAYERS’ IMPROPER INVOLVEMENT WITH AGENTS Beamer: “Our message is this — and this is what I believe — this has got to start with the student-athlete.

“There are too many agents. You can wake up tomorrow morning and be an agent. They say we need the NFL to help, but I’m not sure they can control agents. It’s very complex. There are so many ways of going about it.

“What we tell our players is that agent can’t do one single thing for you to get you drafted higher. I’ll promise you, there’s not one single thing he can do.

The way you get drafted higher is to go out and play well on Saturday. That’s what determines where you get drafted.

To be working with an agent or have your family talking with an agent, all you’re doing is taking a chance on getting into trouble..

“We’ve got education sessions where we bring these people in and make sure that everyone knows the rules…

After that, you have to depend on (the student-athlete).”

Running back Ryan Williams: “Seeing what’s going on, I’m sure they’ve probably tried (to contact me). But I don’t pay attention because I know that’s not good for us and I don’t want to lose any years playing.”

Running back Darren Evans: “You always get the e-mails and stuff, but if it’s not from a teacher, I don’t usually look at it. ... I usually delete it. I ignore them. You get the e-mail and it’ll say something like, ‘Sports Agency.’ I delete them.”

ON TECH’S YOUNG DEFENSE Defensive coordinator Bud Foster: “We’re as young as we’ve been in a while and for us, that’s a challenge… We’re used to being the reason why we’ve won championships around here, and I told that to the kids on the first day… Our expectations aren’t going to change just because we’ve got seven new starters.”

Defensive tackle John Graves: “Coach Foster does a great job of getting us ready and he expects the same expectations from me, as he would from any younger guy. So, we feel we’re pretty confident.”

ON FACING NO. 5 BOISE STATE IN FIRST GAME OF THE SEASON Beamer: “You never know what’s

going to happen after that game. ...

Clearly, whoever wins that’s going to be in better position to get national recognition. There’s no question about that.”

ON THE FUTURE OF BACKUP QUARTERBACK LOGAN THOMAS Offensive Coordinator Bryan Stinespring: “Somewhere in that few minutes that you get to let your mind wander a little bit, I think you think of the future (Thomas) has, and you have a tendency to smile a little bit… I think (he’s) made tremendous effort to be here this whole summer.

Thomas: “I think the spring was a big stepping stone for me. Starting today, it was like I was right at the start of spring, but I know I’ll pick it up where I left off at the end of spring and catch a groove after I get to playing a lot more.”

ON THEIR FIRST YEAR AS STARTING HOKIES Kicker Chris Hazley: “I’m excited…

I’ve been waiting for my turn. It was definitely worth the wait… I feel good about it.”

Linebacker Jeron Gouveia-Winslow: “Playing behind Cody (Grimm) last year was big for me. Learning from him and Cam Martin the defensive system helped me a lot. The expectations are high, there are some big shoes to fill, but I like the challenge. In the meeting rooms and on the field I feel comfortable. I just want to play my game and see what I can do out there,” Tight End Andre Smith: “Oh man, it being my senior year and being able to start this year… I can’t even explain to you the anticipation I have, for just being able to be that starter and make some big plays throughout the season.”

OTHER NEWS AND NOTES: -After approximately 14 months of construction, the Tech football team has a new locker room. The privatelyfunded addition, which cost $18 million, includes locker rooms for players and coaches, taping areas, equipment distribution areas, a lounge that has two nine-foot pool tables and six 64-inch flat-screen TV’s, hot tubs, a snack bar and a new wrestling room.

-Starting linebacker Barquell Rivers will miss the team’s opener against Boise State, according to Tech trainer Mike Goforth. Rivers is recovering from a torn quadricep, which forced him to miss spring practice and summer conditioning sessions. Goforth said his recovery is going well and expects him to return to the lineup sometime during the first month of the season.

Sophomore Bruce Taylor will fill Rivers’ role until then.

-Running back Kenny Lewis, Jr. has decided to not return to the football program for his final season. Lewis played in 27 games during his career, starting eight of them.

page 11

Thursday, August 12, 2010

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Backs: Williams welcomes Evans back to backfield

FILE/SPPS

Tech running back Ryan Williams looks to gain yardage during a carry against Nebraska last season on Nov. 21 at Lane Stadium.

collegiatetimes.com August 12, 2010

from page one

“I look at him as a brother, too,” Evans remarked. “I’ve learned a lot from him, watching him play, just by us talking. We’ve got a lot more in common than just football. Like I said, I’m excited.”

With one always laughing as the other answers questions, the two’s bond is undeniable.

“We talk every day,” Williams said.

“After we work out, we’re usually the last guys to leave the locker room. So, when I’m sitting there being lazy, not wanting to take my workout clothes off or something like that and just sitting there, he’ll come by, coming out of the sauna, and we’ll just sit there and talk about anything. It could range from girls to what (Evans’ son) little James is doing, to ‘How is the weather outside?’”

Last season, Williams’ name was mentioned among some of the nation’s top running backs as deserving of a Heisman trophy. With a two-back system and carries limited, that probably won’t be the case this season. But Williams and Evans don’t really care.

“I don’t pay attention to the Heisman,” Williams said. “You know, I feel like the Heisman is more of an individual and a team effort. I mean, you put (last

year’s trophy winner) Mark Ingram (of Alabama) on another SEC team that didn’t win the national championship, would he have won the Heisman? No. “I’m sure a lot of guys would agree and that’s not taking anything away from Mark Ingram. So, if we don’t go undefeated or anything of that sort, nobody from this team is going to win the Heisman. Even if we go undefeated, I still won’t be worried about the Heisman, really. I mean, awards are awards. It would be great to have it, but I’m worried about trying to go to the national championship rather than win the Heisman — and win the national championship. ... That’s how I look at it,” Williams said.

And Hokies’ fans would agree. With a team that head coach Frank Beamer says is one of “two or three” teams he’s coached capable of reaching the BCS National Championship, Evans, Williams and the entire Hokie Nation can’t wait for kickoff.

While it is still to be seen how the Tech coaching staff utilizes its deep, talented backfield once the season starts, one thing is for sure.

“I think we’ll always have an explosive back in the game,” Beamer said.

“Sometimes two.”