Perry Street deck opens GORDON BLOCK associate news editor A university press release and two small signs linked to a fence along Perry Street announced the partial debut of Virginia Tech’s first parking garage Monday. According to Parking Services manager Richard McCoy, about 800 of the garage’s spaces were available Monday, with three out of five bays complete on all five of the garage’s levels. McCoy said the garage will hold about 1,300 spots when construction on all five bays is finished. With 402 spots lost in the construc-
tion of the parking garage, Monday’s opening netted Tech approximately 400 additional spots. Despite Monday’s opening, many drivers appeared to be unaware that the garage was open. Most of the second floor, where faculty and staff can park, remained empty. Large portions of the third, fourth and fifth floors, where graduate students and commuter pass holders can park, stood empty around 1:30 p.m. Monday. The fifth floor held only two cars. Chris Setzer, a senior civil engineering major, found out the garage was open only after driving through a neighboring lot and not finding any
open spots. “If it’s as open as it was this morning, I’m going to park here more often,” Setzer said. McCoy said he saw several people circling parking lots surrounding the garage Monday morning, a problem he said would diminish over time. “Once people get used to using it, they won’t continue circling around surface lots,” McCoy said. “They’ll just go there for parking.” “This really doesn’t need advertising,” said Joseph Kaiser, a sophomore. Construction is expected to finish in early October.
An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
www.collegiatetimes.com
COLLEGIATETIMES 107th year, issue 74
News, page 3
Features, page 5
Opinions, page 7
New UVa policy could prompt changes at Tech
Sports, page 2
Classifieds, page 10
Sudoku, page 10
Move-in weekend snapshots
Virginia Tech
University of Virginia
— Not asking current students — Asking new students with stronger language on all admissions applications — Policy covers time period since student was admitted — Part of the honor system
— Asking current students on NetBadge each fall — Asking new students on Common Application — Policy covers time period since student was admitted — Part of the honor system
LUKE MASON/SPPS
CAROLINE DOSS/COLLEGIATE TIMES
CURRENT POLICIES:
PHOTO COURTESY OF TERREN/FLICKR.COM
NEW UVA POLICY ASKING CURRENT STUDENTS TO SELF-REPORT ARRESTS COULD INFLUENCE TECH, OTHER SCHOOLS TO IMPLEMENT SIMILAR POLICY LIANA BAYNE associate news editor Virginia Tech administrators are closely watching changes to the University of Virginia’s policy for student disclosure of crimes, and say similar measures could be on the way in Blacksburg. CHANGES AT UVA Allen Groves, UVa’s dean of students, said UVa has had “a requirement that students self-disclose any arrests or convictions,” since 2004. However, in the light of crimes that took place around UVa’s campus last school year — including the disappearance of Tech student Morgan Harrington from the John Paul Jones Arena in October and the murder of UVa lacrosse player Yeardley Love in May — the school is taking several steps to encourage students to report their former arrests or convic-
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Check out UVa’s FAQ on their new rules at www.virginia. edu/deanofstudents.
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tions. Groves said he felt “a large number of students weren’t aware” of the require-
ment to self-report. “People just didn’t know about the requirement,” he said. In addition to keeping language on the standardized Common Application form, UVa asks students to disclose previous arrests or convictions, Groves said the university searched for a way it “can be more active in bringing it to students’ attention.” Current UVa students will now be asked once per semester if they have been arrested or convicted of a crime since being admitted. The question will be posed when they log onto NetBadge, a service that provides students access to their university e-mail, student account and wireless Internet. “On this screen, if they say yes, it asks for background,” Groves said. He said he hopes students will “rely on their honor to be truthful.” At UVa, students who answer “yes” to having had past arrests or convictions will be handled on a case-by-case basis, Groves said. He said UVa does not use a strike system. Each self-report could be given to the student judicial system or it could just be handled by the dean of students’ office. “You’re not always talking about it from a disciplinary standpoint,” he said. Groves said performing background checks “on 21,000 undergrads isn’t feasible.” Groves wrote a frequently asked questions document. It can be found at
www.virginia.edu/deanofstudents. UVa is encouraging other colleges to share information with one another about students’ arrests. It’s also encouraging other schools to adopt similar new systems to encourage students to report their legal issues. Tech is one of those schools considering adopting some of UVa’s policies. CHANGES TO TECH’S ADMISSIONS Ed Spencer, Tech’s vice president for student affairs, said no changes are in place for current students but changes have already been made to admissions applications. Questions were added to admissions applications for potential undergraduate, transfer, graduate and veterinary medicine students reminding applicants to adhere to the honor code, Spencer said. Mildred Johnson, Tech’s director of undergraduate admissions, said questions added to admissions applications are “designed to be a little clearer” in asking students to continue reporting arrests or convictions after submitting their admissions applications. In the section that asks applicants about the truthfulness of their answers, a sentence has been added that reads, “I further understand that, should any of my answers change after I have submit-
MARK UMANSKY / SPPS
Tech President Charles Steger (left) and SGA President Bo Hart (right) passed out water to thirsty parents and students on Washington Street during Friday’s move-in period.
see POLICY / page three
Civil War professor to retire ZACH CRIZER managing editor Distinguished Civil War professor James “Bud” Robertson Jr. will retire at the end of the academic year. Robertson, who has been recognized as one of the foremost experts on the Civil War, is an alumni distinguished professor in history. He was the executive director of the U.S. Civil War Centennial Commission, which marked the war’s 100th anniversary. He has written more than 20 books
and teaches classes at Tech each semester that attract more than 300 students. Robertson has been teaching at Tech for 42 years. History department chair Mark Barrow said Robertson is a “legend” at Tech, noting that many students take Robertson’s class because of recommendations from their parents. “He’s been an institution here at Virginia Tech in terms of writing about, publicizing and researching the Civil War,” Barrow said. “His class has been extremely popular, as a large
number of students have enjoyed hearing his accounts of what he considers to be one of the most important events in the history of the United States.” This semester, his Civil War and Reconstruction class has 292 of 500 seats still available. There are no restrictions on the class. Robertson is a native of Danville, Va. He earned his undergraduate degree at Randolph-Macon College before completing his master’s and doctorate degrees at Emory University.
DANIEL LIN / SPPS
Parents and students take refuge under umbrellas while moving into East Ambler-Johnston Hall on Friday. There are more than 5,100 entering freshmen in the class of 2014.
sports 2
editors: michael bealey, garrett ripa sportseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865 COLLEGIATETIMES
august 24, 2010
Mascots Paint the landscape of college football Mascots have been the staple of college football tradition since the sport’s inception in 1869. Although switching from live animals to students rallying the team’s fans, mascots are still a unique aspect of college football unparalleled in the professional ranks. Here are my picks for the 10 most interesting mascots across the country.
1
Chief Osceola and Renegade (Indian Leader and Horse), Florida State University Before all home football games, a student portraying Seminole leader Osceola charges onto the field riding Renegade, an Appaloosa horse. He rallies the crowd by planting a flaming spear at midfield prior to the start of the game. The Indian chief and horse duo have been together since the Seminoles’ home opener in 1978 against Oklahoma State. Former coach Bobby Bowden’s support for this mascot was instrumental in garnering both the university and the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s approval.
Cowboy Joe and Pistol Pete, University of Wyoming
2
Wyoming’s mascots tend to go a little under the radar, just like its football team. Pistol Pete is a student dressed up as a cowboy that will roam the sidelines and even the stands in an effort to entertain. Wyoming also features Cowboy Joe, a dressed-up pony who makes laps around the field to celebrate following a touchdown.
Traveler (Horse), University of Southern California
3
Traveler is a white horse appearing at all USC home football games. The Trojan warrior who saddles Traveler is a professional horse rider and a USC alumnus. Since 1961, after every USC score the band plays “Conquest,” and Traveler gallops through Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Allegedly, O.J. Simpson, a Heisman Trophy winner and former USC tailback, decided to play for the Trojans after seeing Traveler on a televised football game.
4
Virginia Tech’s first nickname was the “Gobblers,” which originated when the school was still called the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College. This came about from the athletes “gobbling” their meals. The first Gobbler took the field in 1962, but resembled a cardinal with dyed turkey feathers. In 1981, athletics director Bill Dooley led a campaign to revamp the mascot. The Hokie Bird, a turkey-like figure, was the new creation and the school’s nickname became the Hokies. Nonetheless, “Hokie” has nothing to do with a turkey. Instead it is a term originated in the university’s fight song and was originally spelled “Hoki.”
5
Notre Dame Leprechaun, University of Notre Dame
Hokie Bird, Virginia Tech
6 7 8 9 10
The live leprechaun is a student-chosen mascot at annual try outs and is dressed in a green suit with an Irish country hat. His cheers supposedly lead to magical powers and good luck to the Fighting Irish. The leprechaun was named the official mascot in 1965 replacing terrier dogs, Notre Dame’s original mascot.
Mike the Tiger, Louisiana State University Mike is a live Bengal tiger, originally purchased from the Little Rock Zoo in 1935. $750 was raised for his purchase by collecting 25 cents from every enrolled student. His wheeled cage is staged by the opponent’s locker room in Tiger Stadium, forcing opposing players to walk by it in order to get to their lockers.
Ralphie (Buffalo), University of Colorado Ralphie leads the team out at the start of the game and again at the beginning of the second half. She almost never travels to away games as rules of the host stadium often prohibit such an animal. Ralphie IV embarked on a famous journey during the 2006 season, traveling to Georgia to face off with the Bulldogs. The trip was documented by ESPN, and a segment aired on College Game Day.
Uga (Bulldog), University of Georgia. The bulldog was first seen in 1956. He wears a spiked collar and a red jersey with a varsity letter attached. All of the dogs are in the same family line, and a human dressed in a bulldog costume accompanies the dog to assist in leading cheers.
Joy and Lady (Bears), Baylor University The first live bear was provided by troops stationed at Camp MacArthur in Waco, Texas during World War I. The bear first appeared at a 1917 Baylor-Texas A&M football game. Once the troops were relocated, the bear was donated to the Baylor athletic department. Bears have since been appearing at home football and basketball games along with other events.
Tusk (Russian Boar), University of Arkansas This razorback hog was originally very fierce and angry. It would fight any creature that got in its way, including humans. This ferocious creature inspired coach Hugo Bezdek to proclaim his team had fought “like a wild band of razorback hogs” against LSU in 1909 and led to its implementation as the mascot.
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august 24, 2010
Marching into new academic, military careers
Man gets jail time for dead animals found on property REX BOWMAN mcclatchy newspapers A Bedford County man has been sentenced to 10 days in jail on animal cruelty charges after investigators found more than a dozen dead animals — mostly alpacas — on his property. Phillip Sewell Parnell, 47, was convicted on 14 counts of animal cruelty Friday in Bedford County Circuit Court. Judge James Updike sentenced him to 36 months in jail but suspended all of the sentence except 10 days.
Parnell entered what is known as an Alford plea to the charges. An Alford plea is an assertion of innocence but an acknowledgment that prosecutors have enough evidence to win a conviction. Bedford deputies searched Parnell’s rural property at 1248 Locust Lane outside the city of Bedford on Jan. 12. They initially reported that they had found 12 dead alpacas, a dead emu and a dead goat. Monday, though, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Wes Nance said the animal cruelty counts involved eight alpacas, three goats and three
sheep. Other animals found on the property were in poor condition, according to a veterinarian’s review. Nance said Parnell fell behind in his care for the animals after running into financial difficulties in early 2009, “and things just sort of spiraled out of control for him.” The brutal winter of heavy snows exacerbated conditions for the animals, he said. The surviving animals were all placed with various caregivers, Nance said, adding that “they’ve all made a dramatic rebound.”
.. radio for everyone
New cadets march in a parade as they are presented Saturday morning to the university community. This year’s freshman class is the largest since 1969. Freshmen cadets completed a week of physical training during the week before classes began. photo by sara mitchell
august 24, 2010
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Police: ‘Angry feud’ preceded slayings LOUISA, Va. — An “angry feud among family members” led to the fatal shootings of a man’s son and nephew and the woundings of four others before officers killed the suspect in an exchange of gunfire, state and local police said today. Police said Charles P. “Zeke” Steadman Sponaugle Sr., 52, killed his son, Charles P. Steadman Jr., 29; and a nephew, Mark A. Cooper Jr., 23, yesterday after an argument that apparently had previously drawn officers to the home, and later escalated. Injured was Cooper’s father, Mark A. Cooper Sr., 45.; and his wife, Kitty Cooper, 41. Also injured were two more nephews of the shooter, Jason C. Steadman, 27; and Jerrell A. Steadman Jr., 26. Mark Cooper Sr. and Kitty Cooper have been released from University of Virginia Medical Center. Two sheriff’s deputies arrived at the home at 4:58 p.m. after a 911 call six minutes earlier reported shots had been fired, Virginia State Police spokeswoman Corrinne Geller said. “There was an active shooter situation,” Geller said. “The shootings were ongoing as they arrived.” Sponaugle shot at officers, and unleashed his pit bull at a deputy who brought a police dog, Geller said. One or both deputies returned fire, fatally wounding the suspect. Authorities at the news conference declined to immediately say how many shots were fire, or to identify the deputies. -reed williams, mcclatchy newspapers
CORRECTIONS JUSTIN GRAVES -Contact our public editor at publiceditor@ collegiatetimes.com if you see anything that needs to be corrected.
Policy: Universities advocate self-reporting from page one
ted my application, it is my responsibility to inform the Virginia Tech Office of Undergraduate Admissions immediately.” At the end of the application, applicants are asked to sign a statement affirming, “I understand and agree that, if I am offered admission to Virginia Tech and choose to matriculate, I have a continuing obligation to report to the Office of Student Conduct any arrests or convictions, other than minor traffic violations, that occur subsequent to signing this application. This obligation extends during any periods of my enrollment at the university. My failure to make the notification may subject me to disciplinary action under the Code of Student Conduct.” “We always had those questions,” Johnson said. “But we changed them to be a little clearer.” “We wanted to be very upfront that we expect students to tell us if things change,” she said. Spencer said the change in the language and the added questions should
help students adhere to the honor code. “We’re counting on people paying attention to the honor code,” he said. Current students at Tech Frances Keene, director of Tech’s judicial affairs and the office of student conduct, currently works with Spencer’s office to handle cases of students who are arrested or convicted of a crime more serious than a minor traffic infraction while in school. “We have sharing agreements with all the local law enforcement agencies,” Keene said. “If you’re arrested in Blacksburg, we’re going to be notified.” Graves said local law enforcement in Charlottesville work with UVa police to notify the university of students who are involved in crimes off-campus. Spencer said the Blacksburg Police, Montgomery County Sherriff’s Office, Radford County and Radford University Police “routinely send reports of Tech students” involved in criminal incidents. If those incidents are serious enough,
they are passed to Keene’s office, where she said “someone reads every single report.” Though Spencer and Keene both like the idea of implementing a statewide system of universities and police organizations sharing information about arrested students with one another, Keene said she didn’t think it would be logistically possible. However, Keene said, if a student from another university is arrested on Tech’s campus, “I’ll fax it to their institution.” Spencer said Tech’s safety and security committee, which he sits on, is looking at implementing a system at Tech similar to the one recently put in place at UVa. “We’re sitting back looking for UVa’s experiences,” this school year, Spencer said. Possibilities for future questions Tech students might be asked when, for example, logging into HokieSpa, are open. “We’re going to be in conversation with UVa,” Keene said. “I support the idea.”
“I further understand that, should any of my answers change after I have submitted my application, it is my responsibility to inform the Virginia Tech Office of Undergraduate Admissions immediately.” – Addition to undergraduate admissions application
Lawyer demands to be paid, case pending DERRICK NUNNALLY mcclatchy newspapers PHILADELPHIA — Despite a hostile initial response from the Lower Merion School District, the lawyer handling the webcam lawsuit against it repeated his demand Monday to be paid more than $400,000 while the case is pending. In an Aug. 12 federal court filing, the district attacked attorney Mark S. Haltzman for a bill that “far exceeds the bounds of reasonableness” and for suing in the first place instead of going directly to school officials. Concerns over the webcam surveillance of Harriton High School studentBlake Robbins, the school district said, could have been handled without the expense of litigation. Haltzman responded on both fronts Monday, defending his accounting and the decision to take the matter to court — backing the latter up with the first public glimpse at the sworn statements given by school district officials in the case.
In a sliver of a transcript from a June deposition — eight of the document’s 296 pages — included with the filing, district information services coordinator Carol Cafiero said that the principals of Lower Merion and Harriton high schools blocked an attempt to end the webcam monitoring. She described a Nov. 10 meeting with the principals and Cafiero’s boss, information services director George Frazier, over the surveillance program. “The principals were on the side of keeping it going,” Cafiero said. “Mr. Frazier wanted to stop and get a policy.” Although the meeting happened two weeks after school officials tapped Robbins’ computer and saw pictures from within his house, Cafiero said the discussion was about the general policy, rather than any student. Cafiero’s attorney, Charles Mandracchia, said Monday that the excerpt fairly characterized her extended deposition. Cafiero remains on paid administrative leave from her
district job, he said. Cafiero’s claim of a rift over whether to continue the schools’ use of remote webcam monitoring to track computers thought to be misplaced has been debated for months. In April, she told The Philadelphia Inquirer that administrators at that November meeting had wanted to keep using the feature. But a May report made by the Ballard Spahr law firm for the district said “all of the known attendees of that meeting” had no such recollection. Haltzman, however, made the deposition a linchpin Monday in his quest to get paid while litigating the case. Proving that the lawsuit he filed for Robbins ended the webcam surveillance and other privacy violations in the case would help enable Haltzman to begin to collect attorney’s fees and other court costs as a winning party, though the decision rests with U.S. District Judge Jan E. DuBois. Lawyer Henry E. Hockeimer Jr., who represents the school district in the case, declined Monday to com-
ment. In the Aug. 12 filing, he attacked Haltzman for a bill that “far exceeds the bounds of reasonableness” and for suing in the first place instead of going directly to school officials. In Monday’s filing, Haltzman responded on both fronts. Cafiero’s deposition was cited to defend the escalation to court. “Surely if the school’s own IT director was unable to stop the practice,” Haltzman wrote, “what chance did a mom have to get the surveillance stopped?” He also defended the costs at which the school district’s attorneys had balked, including the cost of hiring technical experts to analyze computer records. In an interview, Haltzman called one item “ironic” for a lawsuit over surveillance: the school district’s objection to paying a$4,836 charge for videotaping the depositions. “At least I was doing it with the full knowledge of everybody in the room,” Haltzman said. “The school district did it without anybody knowing about it.”
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Cuccinelli: Virginia can regulate abortion clinics RICHMOND — Virginia has the authority to regulate facilities where first trimester abortions are performed, Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli has concluded in a recent advisory opinion addressed to two Republican legislators. That means more stringent standards could be imposed on clinics which provide those procedures and medical professionals who perform them if new state rules are adopted. At present, abortion clinics in Virginia generally are viewed as outpatient facilities, as are physician and dentistry offices and plastic surgery centers. Over the years, pro-life lawmakers have sponsored bills to hold abortion clinics to the regulatory standards hospitals must meet. But the legislature has repeatedly declined to enact those proposals. Cuccinelli’s opinion notes that because abortion clinics provide a variety of medical services beyond abortions they “clearly are subject to regulation” under Virginia’s broad power to protect public health and welfare. “The state has long regulated outpatient surgical facilities and personnel to ensure a certain level of protection for patients,” a statement issued by the attorney general’s office reads. “There is no reason to hold facilities providing abortion services to any lesser standard for their patients. Even pharmacies, funeral homes, and veterinary clinics are regulated by the state.” “The attorney general’s official opinions do not create new law,” the statement continues. “Instead, the opinions represent the attorney general’s analysis of the current state of the law based on his thorough review of existing law and relevant prior court decisions.” Adopting new state regulations requires multiple layers of government approval and typically takes between 18 months and 2 years for the process to run its course. -julian walker, mcclatchy newspapers
august 24, 2010
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Dance crew rides Super Mash Bros. to take stage wave of success MANJONI HARNAL features reporter
COURTESY OF DANIEL KRUTHANOOCH
The up-and-coming dance crew, Poreotix, dances a combination of popping, choreography and robotics in their signature shades.
SEASON FIVE “AMERICA’S BEST DANCE CREW” WINNER, POREOTIX, IS GAINING POPULARITY ALICE PARK features staff writer In late 2007, three high school guys with a passion for dance and hiphop culture formed a dance crew that would go on to win the title of “America’s Best Dance Crew.” Poreotix was crowned the champion of “Randy Jackson Presents: America’s Best Dance Crew” in its fifth season on MTV after weeks of tough challenges, late-night practices and choreographing under the pressure of time. The Collegiate Times chatted with Poreotix during the height of its fame on the show and learned more about the crew and its members. Matthew ‘Dumbo’ Nguyen, Charles Nguyen and Can Nguyen were the original three members of Poreotix, with Dumbo being the founder. Justin ‘Jet Li’ Valles would be recruited later through a characteristic function of urban dance known as a cypher. A cypher is an open session during which dancers can showcase their talents in the center of the circle formed by other fellow dancers and casual onlookers. Lawrence ‘Law’ Devera was recruited through his involvement in PAC Modern, a West Coast dance movement in which some other Poreotix members were also involved. Chad Mayate, who substituted for Justin during the 2009 World Hip-Hop Internationals, became a permanent member. Poreotix had performed at many prestigious dance venues prior to appearing on the show, including World of Dance, World HipHop Internationals and Body Rock. As members of a group called “Sick Step,” Dumbo Nguyen and Lawrence Nguyen had also appeared on “America’s Got Talent.” The crew was originally named Poreotics, but it changed the spelling prior to auditioning for the
show. “We didn’t want our original name to be controlled by MTV,” Valles said. “We were known as ‘Poreotics’ in the dance community (in southern California), and we picked that name because we knew who we wanted to be.” The name came from a synthesis of three words that epitomize its style — popping, choreography and robotics. The crew never performs without its trademark dark sunglasses. It uses them as a tool to hide any anticipation and emotion in the members faces that might give away the unexpected twists in routines. In the midst of immense success from the show, the members of Poreotix have each temporarily put their educations on hold. All six members had been attending college prior to their April 2010 win on the show. Dumbo Nguyen was studying cosmetology; Charles Nguyen, education; Can Nguyen, visual communication; Valles, kinesiology; Devera, radiology; and Mayate, clinical lab science. When asked about the future of Poreotix, they expressed enthusiasm at the prospect of travel opportunities that would accompany the demand for performances. “We still get a bunch of messages and friend requests. We each get, like, 20-something per day,” Charles Ngyuen said, laughing. Still fresh off of its win of “America’s Best Dance Crew,” Poreotix has been highly in demand for performances all around the country. Recently, it was awarded second place at the 2010 World Hip-Hop Internationals in Sydney, Australia, after having won the championship title at the USA tournament for the second year in a row. Poreotix also appeared alongside other America’s Best Dance Crew contestants in Justin Bieber’s newest music video, “Somebody to Love.”
This year’s edition of Gobblerfest, a free welcome festival to kick-off the new school year for Virginia Tech students, faculty, staff and local residents, will include a kick off concert featuring hit group Super Mash Bros. Hosted by the Division of Student Affairs and various Tech and Blacksburg partners, the event will consist of an outdoor street fair, pep rally and late-night activities, including a comedian performance, movie, dance party and midnight pancake breakfast. Additionally, the class of 2012 will host a free concert beginning at 6 p.m. in Squires Student Center’s Commonwealth Ballroom, showcasing Super Mash Bros. The trio consisting of Nicolas Fenmore, Dick Fink and Ethan Dawes grew up in Los Angeles and currently juggle the responsibilities of being full-time students and full-time touring artists. When Christina Tammaro, special events co-chair for the class of 2012, heard about the upand-coming group, she thought it would be perfect for the concert. “(I) got feedback from VTU to bring the Super Mash Bros. to Virginia Tech. They sounded great for this college atmosphere, and it should be a fun show,” Tammaro said. Branding themselves as “Girl Talk’s hot cousin,” members of Super Mash Bros. cite the other group as their greatest musical influence. A concert put on by Girl Talk at Tech in 2009 sold out in record time, leading organizers to believe the Super Mash Bros., following in the footsteps of the familiar performer, are bound to be a hit with the Hokies. Laura Wedin, student program director for alumni relations, said while Gobblerfest is a relatively new event first held in 2008, the concert has been a tradition since the mid-’90s. Aimed at introducing new and returning students to the Blacksburg area, Gobblerfest mixes fun activities with infor-
mative displays to showcase what Tech has to offer. Since its inception, Gobblerfest has continued to host the annual concert. Last year’s concert featured reggae band SOJA and a crowd that numbered more than 1,000 fans. The only major difference from last year, aside from the performers, is the venue.
“
(I) got feedback from VTU to bring the Super Mash Bros. to Virginia Tech. They sounded great for this college atmosphere, and it should be a fun show. CHRISTINA TAMMARO 2012 SPECIAL EVENTS COCHAIR
Last year, the original plan called for an outdoor concert, but inclement weather warnings forced organizers to move the show indoors. Kelly Smith, special events co-chair for the class of 2012, said the indoor venue seemed to work very well in a pinch, and organizers this year decided it would be better to hold the concert indoors. Putting out two albums out in the past three years, “Fuck Bitches. Get Euros.” and “All About The Scrillions,” Super Mash Bros.’s rise in the music industry has been noticed around the world. Formed in 2007, the members were college students operating out of a basement, and as their popularity grew, so did the venues and range of their performances. The group’s mash-ups meld a variety of songs from a wide range of genres, leading to a large scope of interest. In addition to the concert, there will be tables outside the ballroom with information pertaining to two junior class events — Ring Premiere and Ring Dance. There will also be merchandise tables from the musicians. If the Facebook event is any indication, with close to 3,000 members planning to attend, then the event will surpass last year’s attendance — as well as the ballroom’s maximum capacity.
FILE / SPPS
Virginia Tech students, faculty and staff, as well as local residents, gathered at booths for Gobblerfest to kick off the 2009 fall semester.
FILE / SPPS
Last year, two Gobblerfest attendees broke out into dance, showing affection for one another in front of the booths near the GLC plaza.
Friday night flick
‘The Switch’ finds its light-hearted moments TOM HORGEN mcclatchy newspapers With “The Switch,” it appears Hollywood has discovered a new subgenre of the romantic comedy: the artificial-insemination rom-com. Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? If you’ll remember (you probably won’t), Jennifer Lopez covered similar ground earlier this year in “The Backup Plan.” The Cliffs Notes version of these movies reads like this: Fortysomething woman wants to have a baby, can’t find a worthy guy, has baby anyway, turns out she needs a guy. “The Switch,” at least, launches its effort from a more refreshing angle. In a screwball-comedy setup, Aniston plays Kassie, a New Yorker whose girlfriends throw her an “I’m Getting Pregnant Party” where she will finalize the procedure. Call this “Insemination and the City.” Problem time. Kassie’s best friend, Wally (Jason Bateman), disagrees with her decision because he’s in love with her (of course). Bateman is wellcast, playing Wally with a neurotic bent that recalls a taller, better-looking version of Woody Allen. At the party, Wally’s displeasure is amplified by the sight of Roland (Patrick Wilson), the buff blond sperm donor who is in attendance to lend his “ingredient.” Sulking in the bathroom while the party rages on, Wally, now drunk, accidentally washes Roland’s semen down the drain. Panicked, he quickly replaces it with his own. As the rom-com universe would have it, Wally wakes up the next day remembering nothing. Once pregnant, Kassie moves back to Minnesota to raise her child. Seven years later, she returns to New York with young Sebastian, and guess what: He’s an adorable neurotic munchkin prone to
overly analytical tirades. Wally realizes that Sebastian is unmistakably his and spends the rest of the film strategizing ways to tell Kassie that he hijacked her pregnancy. Aniston and Bateman find a funny chemistry together, and the film’s bemusing setup unfolds with wit and charm. As 6-year-old Sebastian, Thomas Robinson steals every scene he’s in. “The Switch” was originally going to be called “The Baster.” Unfortunately, the name change wasn’t the only part of this movie that needed a little more finessing. (“The Baster” is, in fact, the title of the film’s source material, a short story written by Jeffrey Eugenides, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “Middlesex.”) Plot points in “The Switch” _ specifically in the second half _ are snapped together like Legos, which is to say everything falls into place nicely but without real panache. Once Kassie is back in New York, she falls for Roland. We know this because she tells Wally so. But the filmmakers show us very little to back up the new arrangement. It’s simply another hurdle for Wally to jump over. Aiding Wally in his rom-com obstacles is Jeff Goldblum (talk about neurotic), who is oddly inserted into the movie as a friend and confidant. As Leonard, he has little to do with anything, but it’s his sage advice to Wally that sends the movie off in different directions. Goldblum handles the minor role almost with a wink to the audience. This is not to say that the film doesn’t work. It generates a fair share of tender moments (synched to a soundtrack filled with superfluous weepy piano). The blossoming relationship between Wally and Sebastian is played especially right. “The Switch” isn’t a bad a.i. romcom. It’s just not a particularly great one.
Virginia Tech students gathered on the Drillfield Friday, Aug. 20, for a free nighttime showing of “Iron Man 2.” Sponsored by the Department of Student Activities, fun-filled movie night allowed freshmen and upperclassmen alike to unwind before Monday’s first day of classes. photo by austen meredith
august 24, 2010
page 6
Rapid Fire Reviews: xkcd, Munchkin card game Music -Super Mash Bros. Super Mash Bros. has been described as “Girl Talk’s hot cousin.” The talented trio knows how to mash together two drastically different tracks to spawn a unique club experience. To date, the group has published two albums titled “Fuck Bitches. Get Euros.,” and “All About the Scrillions,” while enjoying lifestyles as college students and renowned DJs. The two albums are fairly different. “Fuck Bitches. Get Euros.”, will appeal to listeners who grew up listening to music from the late-’80s and early-’90s, as well as earlier rap by Jay-Z and 50-Cent. Younger listeners attracted to more recent pop-artists and rappers will prefer “All About the Scrillions.” Both albums display technical skill, but the second album seems to suffer from awkward tempo-matching. Both albums contain abrupt transitions between tracks. Super Mash Bros. will always be compared to Girl Talk, and while the Bros. may be Girl Talk’s hot cousin, the older cousin is definitely hotter.
Miscellaneous -Webcomic-- xkcd (http:// www.xkcd.com)
Game – Munchkin
A long time ago, children used to blow into game cartridges to get them to work. If you’ve ever done this, then “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” will blow your mind. If you never owned a NES (or SNES, or Sega Genesis) then your enjoyment will depend on your toleration for Michael Cera and how well you can suspend your disbelief. The film is based on a six-volume graphic novel by Canadian cartoonist Bryan Lee O’Malley. It follows Canadian slacker/bassist Scott Pilgrim and his quest to earn the love of the girl of his playing the only role he plays. dreams, Ramona Flowers. The humor is quirky and certainly inspired by the collective ADD suffered by its target audience and the superim“Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” gets four posed graphics — a staple of director coins out of five. Edgar Wright (“Shaun of the Dead,” “Hot Fuzz”). MATTHEW The glaring problem with the film is BORYSEWICZ the reliance on Cera. -features reporter He certainly fits the titular Scott Pilgrim -senior and delivers a great performance, but the script suffered in transition from paper to -history major Xkcd receives five stick figures out Super Mash Bros. gets three spins of the Munchkin gets a full hand of five screen. The world has had enough of Cera of five. vinyl out of five. cards. Virginia Tech’s omnipresent engineering programs are a defining element of the school, and xkcd is made by an engineer for engineers. Xkcd is a Web comic written and illustrated by Christopher Newport University graduate Randall Munroe. The humor is incredibly dry and intellectual, with enough childhood fantasies and pop-culture references thrown in to prevent it from becoming a series of stale math jokes. Demonstrating proficiency in both website scripting and comedy, the humor doesn’t end with the punch line of the comic but continues with a mouse-over text on every comic that takes jokes to a new, personal level. If you understand the humor of a cat in a box being dead, then maybe xkcd is the choice for you. Otherwise, it is dependent on your comprehension of math and your love of Internet geek humor.
If you hate your friends, then “Munchkin” is the perfect game for you. Published by Steve Jackson Games, Munchkin is a card game where cheating is encouraged. The object of the game is to be the first “Munchkin” to reach level 10 by defeating monsters. The mechanics of the game are not hard to pick up: pull a face-up “door” card, do what the card says (Fight it if it’s a monster!) and collect your treasure or suffer the “bad stuff.” The real fun in the game lies in sabotaging your opponents or extorting treasure by withholding direly needed help. Play the right card at the right time, and you can ruin their dreams of reaching level 10. Be careful not to get on the wrong player’s bad side though, or you might find yourself on the receiving end of those cards. Munchkin comes in a variety of flavors including Fantasy, Space, Cthulhu Mythos and Vampires.
Movie – Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
look down.
pick up.
pick up.
opınıons 7
editor: scott masselli, gabi seltzer opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com/540.231.9865 COLLEGIATETIMES
august 24, 2010
The Collegiate Times is an independent student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903
Your Views [letter to the editor]
Bikers should wear helmets
I
was gratified to see many Virginia Tech students biking to campus this morning. Any hope of making this a bikefriendly town depends on having lots of student bikers. But I was also dismayed at how few students were wearing helmets. Please, please get a helmet at
your nearest friendly bike shop and wear it every time you bike. Your fellow students are often driving while distracted and they won’t see you until it’s too late. Your head is your most valuable asset — it’s worth protecting.
Kimberley Homer VT Alumna and Staff Member
Corrupt politicians have failed America MCT CAMPUS
T
hey say politicians are like diapers: They need changing regularly and for the same reason. Perhaps one of the most egregious examples of this is the current focus of a highly publicized investigation — former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who in a recent article published by the Associated Press, discussed his intention to re-enter the political arena after his “anticipated” acquittal from the 22 crimes for which he is being retried. Of late, he has only been convicted of lying to federal officials, a charge from which he hopes to be exonerated. Historically, it would not seem Blagojevich’s beliefs are unjustified. America is, after all, the land of second, third and fourth chances, a country so permissive and forgiving of illegal behavior. Perhaps that is why we have arrived at a junction where almost every elected official will at one time or another be entrenched in a scandal of some sort, be it anywhere from infidelity to bribery to racketeering. The overall expectation regarding today’s elected officials is not if they will be involved in some sort of illegal practice, but when and to what extent. Tragically, we can only assume that we’ve merely scratched the surface with what federal officials have uncovered about Blagojevich’s plans to sell the Illinois Senate seat, among his other supposed indiscretions. Regardless of whether they convict him the second time around, Blagojevich has demonstrated in recent months his eagerness to cash in on his infamy through a stint on “Celebrity Apprentice” and
his dedication to masking whatever unsavory acts he committed to achieve political success while in office. His actions merely elucidate the two characteristics that permeate the political climate most in this country — greed and deception. After examining the hierarchy of elected officials, it raises the question — of all the men and women in this country, is this really the best we can do? The manner in which men and women make their way up the political ladder needs to change. We as voters need to be savvier, less permissive of immoral behavior and more in tune to what makes a valuable public official. As Albert Einstein said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.” How can we expect to turn the tides of American politics when we continue to use the same indicators for electing politicians? Americans have been blinded by flashy campaigns and empty promises for far too long. Yet have those officials been more effective in producing positive results? If the mounting problems plaguing this country are any indication, it would seem they’ve failed us.
BROOKE LEONARD -regular columnist -senior -economics major
NYC Mosque example of freedom, not terrorism T
he debate over the “Ground Zero mosque” has evolved into something much bigger than whether a Muslim center should be built two blocks from hallowed ground. This debate is really about whether Americans still have the self-confidence to stand up for our Constitution’s principles — or whether we’ve become so fearful that we’re eager to junk them. I say this although I believe the idea of building a mosque in this place at this time is unwise. And I sympathize with the families of 9/11 victims who are uncomfortable with the prospect, although some of the families support it. But this issue has been so shamefully exploited by political opportunists — and those who believe America is at war with all Muslims — that it’s becoming a national scandal. It’s time we all took a deep breath and considered what’s really at stake. Contrary to the hysteria in the blogosphere, the site would not be a megamosque but a community center-cumprayer space two blocks from Ground Zero. It would not have a minaret. The imam spearheading the project, Feisal Abdul Rauf, already leads a mosque 12 blocks away. He frequently engages with Jewish and Christian leaders and writes widely on the compatibility of Islamic thought with Western democracy. The State Department just sent him to tour the Arab emirates and talk about religious tolerance in the United States. And Rauf is a member of the Sufi Muslim sect, which is despised and attacked by radical Islamists for its willingness to draw from other cultures. That said, some of his statements blaming U.S. foreign policy for inspiring the 9/11 attack are jarring given his desire to lead a mosque near Ground Zero. The same goes for his advocacy of sharia law for American Muslims in personal matters like inheritance and divorce. And there are legitimate concerns about where he will raise the $100 million needed to build his center, and whether it will come from Mideast sources. However, there is zero evidence of any link between Rauf and Islamist terrorism. So why has hysteria over this community center risen to a fever pitch? The answer lies in the willingness of politicians, mainly Republicans, to hype the mosque controversy before elections. Leading the pack, Newt Gingrich says approving the mosque “would be like putting a Nazi sign
next to the Holocaust museum.” All Muslims are Nazis — get it? New York Republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino has called the proposed community center “a monument to those who attacked our country.” All Muslims are terrorists — get it? For Sarah Palin, it’s a “knife to the heart” of 9/11 families. Never mind that al-Qaeda wants to broaden America’s fight against Islamist terrorist groups into all-out war between the West and Islam. Gingrich and Palin eagerly play into al-Qaeda’s hands. This demagoguery stokes antiMuslim feelings around the country. Republican polls claim they don’t oppose religious freedom. But have any of them stood in solidarity with Muslims in Mufreesboro, Tenn., or Temecula, Calif., or other locales where local Republicans and tea partyers have opposed the building of local mosques? No way. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, pressed by his Republican opponent, also opposed the mosque, but at least he didn’t pile on more anti-Muslim slurs. Have these politicians totally lost sight of what America stands for? Given Europe’s problems integrating large Muslim communities, I’m always grateful our system has enabled so many Arab and South Asian immigrants to become full citizens. That’s one reason we haven’t had more terror attacks here. Yes, there have been some imams who preached hate in U.S. mosques; that’s a law enforcement problem. In many more cases, Muslim community leaders help alienated young Muslim immigrants find their way. Yes, it would have been easier if Rauf had chosen a different locale. He could still defuse fears by being more transparent about funds, more modest in scale or more willing to consider New York Gov. David Paterson’s offer of another site. But if Rauf chooses to go ahead, he is entitled to do so. As President Obama said last week: “Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as anyone else in this country.” And as Mayor Michael Bloomberg eloquently stated: “We do not honor (the 9/11 dead) by denying the very constitutional rights they died protecting.” Have we become so fearful that we can’t recognize that?
TRUDY RUBIN -mcclatchy newspapers
Crisis Pregnancy Centers need more transparency I
f I had to make a wild guess, I would say that most people oppose false advertising and support agencies, such as the Federal Trade Commission, in uncovering cases of false advertising. So why are Crisis Pregnancy Centers allowed to slip on their sheep’s costume every day — even protesting legislation that would force them to declare their true motives and offered services? No matter your individual beliefs about abortion and choice, we all need to join forces to reveal CPCs for what they really are. Often CPCs purposely locate themselves near legitimate clinics and use similar names and display colors, but they are not actual clinics or women’s centers. Run by reproductive rights opponents, CPCs provide pregnancy-related services that don’t constitute the practice of medicine and don’t provide women with or refer women to abortion services, nor do they offer comprehensive contraceptive services. Once inside a CPC, women can obtain pregnancy tests and counseling on abortion alternatives but cannot obtain abortion care or birth control. Some women have reported being intimidated, harassed and fed misleading, if not entirely inaccurate, information. Many women have taken advantage of the free pregnancy tests CPCs usually offer, having been incorrectly told that the CPC’s pregnancy tests were more accurate than generic pharmacy tests. Unfortunately, some of those women were purposely given false negatives by the CPC workers, causing them to miss the deadline by which they could have an abortion if that had been their decision. Others have made appointments for abortion services and mistake the CPC for the clinic. Then the CPC workers gave the women food and drink,
which is not allowed before surgery. So even if the women discovered their mistake and eventually went to the actual clinic where they had scheduled an abortion, they couldn’t follow through with their original decision to terminate the pregnancy. What is particularly appalling to me is that some of the workers and volunteers at CPCs have no medical training at all. When patients visit a health clinic, they expect services and information from someone who has training in the medical field. What if you found out you were treated by someone with absolutely no medical training and also had been given false information? Astonishingly, some leaders in our government condone this cycle of harassment and misinformation. According to Legal Momentum, the nation’s oldest legal defense and education fund dedicated to advancing the rights of all women and girls, “CPCs are increasingly receiving federal and state funding for these activities — with dangerous consequences for women’s health and well-being. ... The largest source of government funding for CPCs is federal abstinence-only program grants. This funding has brought inexperienced CPC employees and volunteers into schools to teach abstinence-only programs, replacing trained sexual health educators who had provided comprehensive sexual education.” Every person, especially a pregnant woman, deserves and needs to have access to accurate, comprehensive information regarding their health and options -- no matter their eventual decision. I urge everyone to support legislation — as absurd as this may sound — challenging CPCs to be honest and upfront in their advertising and information. Duchy Trachtenberg, a Montgomery County, Md., council
member, introduced such legislation, requiring CPCs to provide a verbal disclaimer or post at least one sign in their waiting rooms in English and Spanish explaining the center doesn’t have any medical professionals on staff. The law also requires that women who are or may be pregnant should contact a licensed health care professional. This legislation would not, however, require the CPCs to close down or stop providing services. Furthermore, the posted sign won’t require any large effort or financial expense. It can be a simple statement printed from a computer. Terry O’Neill, president of the National Organization for Women, wrote a letter to the editors of the Washington Post: “Health care providers are already required by their oaths to tell their patients the truth, and this is supported by the licensing practices of the state. A doctor asked by a patient for a referral to an adoption service will receive one, and no physician or assistant needs to be told to inform their patients truthfully. The same cannot be said by those set up specifically in pursuit of a political agenda.” I don’t advocate for abortion nor do I believe that abortion is for everyone; none of the decisions regarding an unplanned pregnancy are easy. I do advocate for accurate, upfront information that helps women make a fully educated decision about all of their options. Make CPCs take off their sheep’s costume and finally tell the whole truth.
KATHLEEN DWYER -regular columnist -senior -English major
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august 24, 2010
page 8
Muslims worldwide bemused by New York City Ground Zero mosque controversy
Of mice and men?
BORZOU DARAGAHI mcclatchy newspapers
MCT CAMPUS
Paula Cannon, associate professor of molecular microbiology and immunology at the Keck School of Medicine, is a co-investigator on a team that received $14 million to develop a novel therapy that may offer lifetime immunity to HIV infection. Here, Cannon inspects a mouse that will be infected with HIV for study at a medical research lab on the USC Medical School campus in Los Angeles, California.
HIV-RESISTANT CELLS TESTED ON MICE. COULD THEY WORK ON HUMANS IN THE NEAR FUTURE? RACHEL BERSTEIN mcclatchy newspapers LOS ANGELES — Clad in a yellow gown, blue foot covers, hair net, face mask and latex gloves, Paula Cannon pushed open the door to the animal room. “I hate this smell,” she said, wrinkling her nose. The stink came from scores of little white mice scurrying about in cages. Some of the cages were marked with red biohazard signs, indicating mice that had been injected with HIV. Yet, in some of the animals — ones with a small genetic change — the virus never took hold. Like mouse, like man? Maybe so. In early 2007, a patient in Berlin needed a bone marrow transplant to treat his leukemia. He was also HIVpositive, and his doctor had an idea: Why not use the marrow from one of the rare individuals who are naturally resistant to HIV and try to eradicate both diseases at once? It worked. Sixty-one days after the patient’s transplant, his virus levels were undetectable, and they’ve stayed that way. Since news of the man’s cure broke, HIV patients have been telephoning doctors to ask for bone marrow transplants. But it’s not that simple. The treatment is too risky and impractical for widespread use. “A bone marrow transplant — it’s a horrible process you would not wish on your worst enemy unless they needed one to save their life,” said Cannon, a biology professor at USC’s Keck School of Medicine. There are grueling treatments to prepare a patient for transplant; the danger of rejecting the marrow; and the risk of graft-versus-host disease, wherein the marrow attacks the patient. And that’s assuming the patient can find a matching donor — a difficult proposition in itself — with the right HIV-resistant genetic constitution, which is present in only about 1 percent of the Caucasian population.
But there could be another way. Instead of sifting through the sands for a rare donor and then subjecting a patient to the dangers of a bone marrow transplant, Cannon and her colleague Philip Gregory, chief scientific officer at the Richmond, Calif.based biotech company Sangamo BioSciences, began to think: They could use gene therapy instead, to tweak a patient’s own cells to resistance — and recovery. The mouse “cure,” they say, suggests they’re on the right track. Now, with $14.5 million from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, the San Francisco-based stem cell research-funding center created by 2004’s Proposition 71, Cannon, Gregory and researchers at the City of Hope cancer center in Duarte are working toward bringing the technique to clinical trials within four years. Cannon and other HIV researchers insist that, despite cancers and deaths associated with past gene therapy trials, it’s the right way to target the disease. They cite recent successes, including treatments that cured children with the “bubble boy” syndrome and helped blind children regain their vision. “I don’t think anyone would want to do gene therapy if there were an alternative,” said Caltech biologist David Baltimore, one of the many L.A.-based researchers pursuing gene therapy strategies to prevent or cure HIV. “I think it’s absolutely necessary. Nothing else will work.” Since AIDS emerged in the early 1980s, development of anti-HIV medications has turned the disease from a virtual death sentence into a chronic, manageable condition. But the clamor for a cure hasn’t quieted. Vaccine trials have failed; drugresistant strains are on the rise; and the meds, which can have uncomfortable side effects such as fatigue, nausea and redistribution of body fat that creates a so-called buffalo hump, cost about $20,000 a year. A bone marrow transplant is about five times as expensive, but it would
have to be done only once. The question was, could researchers create bone marrow stem cells that — just like the marrow the Berlin patient received — lack the crucial gene, CCR5, that normally lets HIV into the key immune cells it destroys? In 2006, Gregory asked Cannon if she was interested in testing whether a tool his company developed, called a zinc finger nuclease, could do the trick. Zinc finger nucleases are genetic scissors, cutting DNA at a specific site — say, in the middle of the CCR5 gene. When the cell glues the gene back together, it usually makes a mistake, resulting in a gene that no longer works. “It just jumped out at me as, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s actually something that could work,’ “ Cannon said. The team spent about a year optimizing the procedure for treating delicate stem cells with the CCR5 snippers. They tested the method using socalled humanized mice — ones engineered to have a human immune system — because HIV doesn’t infect normal mice. When stem cells were treated with the molecular scissors before being injected into mice, the resulting immune system lacked CCR5, exactly as the scientists had hoped. These mice acted just like the Berlin patient — they fought off the virus. Ready to make the leap from mouse to man, Gregory found a third leg for the team: researchers at City of Hope, who had extensive bone marrow transplant expertise. “They brought Paula’s data to us and we said, ‘Wow, this looks fantastic,’ “ said Dr. John Zaia, City of Hope’s deputy director for clinical research. Researchers there are now working toward clinical trials, optimizing every element of the treatment for safety, effectiveness and reproducibility. On a wiltingly hot afternoon in July, lab manager Lucy Brown maneuvered a computer mouse across three screens speckled with red, yellow and green dots. The computer was hooked to a flow cytometer — a collection of black boxes, green wires and silver knobs that can detect subtle differences
between cells and separate them at a rate of 50,000 per second. This is how the scientists will separate stem cells from patients’ blood once trials are underway, to be sure that the genetic fix in the CCR5 gene was made, and kept. Upstairs, machines with mazes of sterile tubes and pumps stood ready to prepare cells for CCR5-snipping. Here, the scientists will purify the bone marrow stem cells, increasing their numbers first to 5 percent of total cells, up from a measly 0.1 percent in the starting mixture, and then to 99 percent. At this point they can begin testing methods to clip the cells’ DNA. When all is perfected, the scientists will have a precise recipe for producing batches of engineered stem cells, including exactly how long the cells should be treated, how much of each chemical needs to be added, how pure the cells need to be, and thousands of other details. “We are literally writing the book on how you do this,” said David DiGiusto, director of City of Hope’s bone marrow stem cell therapy research. To receive FDA approval for clinical trials — a goal they hope to achieve in three to four years — the researchers must prove that they can safely and reliably prepare the cells. Once they get the green light, the first cases will probably be people like the Berlin patient who need bone marrow transplants to treat AIDS-related lymphoma. They’ll modify the patients’ cells in the stringently sterile manufacturing lab that DiGiusto designed with details such as cove molding and seamless floors so there are no corners or cracks to collect dust. Anyone who enters must wear a full bunny suit, much like the one Cannon wears in her mouse room, to keep from contaminating the delicate cells. Some have advertised the effort as a quest for the elusive “C” word, but Cannon doesn’t quite see it that way. “People say we’re trying to cure HIV,” she said. “I think of it more as, we’re just trying to make the body live quite happily and healthily with a small amount of virus.”
BEIRUT — The heated debate across America over construction of the so-called ground zero mosque is reverberating across the globe, with the potential of creating a worldwide black eye for the United States. Many Muslims abroad are miffed by the stateside debate, largely conducted by non-Muslims, that has grown so loud as to become a topic of discussion on talk shows and newspapers from Bali to Bahrain, from Baghdad to Berlin. The proposed Cordoba House has become a symbol of America’s fraught relations with the world’s 1.5 billion Muslims. “Rejecting this has become like rejecting Islam itself,” said Ahmad Moussalli, a professor of Islamic Studies at the American University of Beirut. “The United States has historically been distinguished by its tolerance, whereas Europe, France, Belgium and Holland have been among those who have rejected the symbolism of Islam. Embracing it will be positively viewed in the Islamic world.” Since the Sept. 11 attacks and the U.S.-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, America has spent millions trying to improve its image among Muslims, especially in the Arab world, from where the Sept. 11 hijackers and their leaders came. Ironically, the leader of the proposed Muslim community center, the Kuwaiti-born scholar Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, is currently touring the Persian Gulf states on a U.S. State Department-funded trip to promote goodwill for America. Like most non-Americans, Muslims across the world barely understand the vagaries of U.S. politics, including the wedge issues and posturing that turn mid-term elections into mud fights. Commentators from the Middle East to South Asia to Indonesia to Nigeria praised both PresidentBarack Obama and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg for coming to the defense of the community center, even as the president hedged his apparent initial support for the project. Obama has “placed ethics and principles ahead of politics that not only enhances his credibility to the Muslims only but also his stature as a statesman to the rest of the world,” read an opinion piece in the Daily Star of Bangladesh. But in interviews conducted mostly in the Arab world and in commentaries by newspapers throughout the Muslim world, many emphasized that the United States will be judged ultimately not on a building in Lower Manhattan but on whether it is able to help resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and leave Iraq and Afghanistan in peace. “Is not exerting serious effort to implement pledges towards the Palestinian cause and state more useful with regard to showing the U.S. adherence to rights, freedom and justice?” Rajih Khouri wrote in the Aug. 19 issue of An-Nahar, a Lebanese daily. The proposed center, a sort of Muslim YMCA with a pool and a prayer room situated two blocks from the World Trade Center site, is not a huge topic of debate on websites that draw frenetic commentary over the Arab-Israeli conflict or tensions between Shiite and Sunni Muslims. Houses of worship are humdrum affairs in the Muslim world and many ordinary Muslims wonder primarily whether the mosque is “needed,” meaning simply whether Muslims in that neighborhood now have nowhere else to pray.
Some appear baffled that anyone in their right mind would scoff at a $100 million private-sector investment at a time of global economic crisis. “To me and many Muslims, this mosque is like any other mosque in any part of the world,” said Houriya Baleegh, a 55-year-old Cairohousewife. “It does not mean much to Islam having a mosque at Ground Zero.” Indeed, some say it’s a bad idea to construct the building so close to the site of the Twin Towers, whose fiery destruction at the hands of 19 Muslim extremists is etched into the minds of people all over the world. “Building a mosque there will increase hatred between Muslims and non-Muslims in the West,” said Gamal Awad, a professor at Cairo’s Al Azhar University. “It will further connect Islam with a horrible event.” But many Muslims tuning into the debate see a demonization of their religion by some Americans, who have been painting the 1,400-year-old faith as a dangerous political ideology. They bristle at the ignorance of politicians who argue that the structure should not be allowed because Muslims don’t allow churches in their countries. Despite ongoing tensions between Christians and Muslims in some countries, Saudi Arabia is the only country to specifically bar churches. Muslims worry that the campaign has become caught up in the same racially tinged clash-of-civilizations campaigns to ban Muslim women inFrance from wearing Islamic garb or Muslims in Switzerland to build minarets on their houses of worship. “What is important is the symbolic dimension to the issue,” said Zaki Saad, a former leader of the Jordanian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, called the Islamic Action Front. “When they connect all Muslims to Sept. 11, that means they connect terrorism and extremism to Islam. This is a form of discrimination and unacceptable.” Fazel Maybodi, a moderate Iranian cleric and supporter of the opposition movement, has seen fellow political travelers jailed and tortured by dogmatic Islamist extremists who now have the upper hand in Iranian politics. Citing verses from the Koran arguing for peaceful co-existence between Muslims, Christians, Jews and Zoroastrians, he said the Lower Manhattan center could help reinforce more moderate trends within Islam. “A mosque in Ground Zero is good for promotion of democracy and peaceful coexistence of people all over the world,” he said. While some conservative American critics allege the building would serve as a “victory mosque” to the terrorists who destroyed the World Trade Center, Muslims contend that the project could serve as a bridge not only to non-Muslims, but to reach out to those of their faith who may have lost their way. Those in Osama bin Laden’s Wahabbi school consider the Sufism espoused by Abdul Rauf a degenerate form of the religion. And in April, Iraqi authorities said they uncovered a Sept. 11-style alQaida plot to fly planes into mosques revered by Shiite Muslims in Najaf and Karbala, underscoring the disdain the extremist network holds for Muslims who don’t adhere to its puritanical Sunni brand of Islam. “It is very important to have mosques and Islamic learning centers, especially abroad,” said Bassem El Tarrass, a Lebanese cleric who preaches at several mosques. “If there is no mosque, people will go to the Internet to learn about Islam, and perhaps come across extremists like the ones who carried out Sept. 11.”
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august 24, 2010
Volleyball looks to Willoughby for leadership in 2010 GEORGE TILLERSON sports reporter Virginia Tech’s volleyball team has high expectations for the 2010 season, hoping a mixture of veteran leadership and talented youth can catapult it into the upper echelon of the ACC. The Hokies face eight NCAA tournament teams from a year ago, including No. 19 Tennessee and No. 15 Florida State. The Hokies went 4-8 away from Cassell Coliseum last year and have 16 of their 28 games on the road this season — a challenge the Hokies will have to embrace in order to return to the NCAA Tournament. “The ACC schedule is what it is. For us to be nine home, 11 away in the ACC ... puts more pressure to win on the road. That’s why we put ourselves into this position with our preseason tournaments,” said Chris Riley, head coach. “Our end-of-the-year record has to reflect that early success in order for us to reach the NCAA tournament. We play Tennessee, Western Kentucky, Missouri — all quality teams. We’re going to have our work cut out for us, but that’s the test our team needs in order to be successful.” The Hokies only have two seniors returning, All-American middle blocker Felicia Willoughby and defensive specialist Amy Wengrenovich, yet boast a class of six incoming freshmen. “We’re going to lean on Amy and Felicia as much as we can. We have a good core of upperclassmen, along AUSTEN MEREDITH / SPPS with a real talented group of young kids too,” Riley said. “Our success will rely All-American Felicia Willoughby goes up for a spike in practice. The on how we can control the emotions Hokies will look to Willoughby to improve on a 19-12 record in 2009. of the young kids. They have played a
lot of volleyball before they got here, so they’re used to the pressure situations.” Wengrenovich said the two seniors are fully capable of setting a good example for the young team. “I think since Felicia and I have been here awhile, we can keep control during pressure situations and be leaders on and off the court,” Wengrenovich said. Senior leader Willoughby, the team captain, was selected to the 2010 preseason All-ACC volleyball team. The Hokies were picked to finish eighth in the preseason polls, but the players said they are capable of achieving much more. “One of our team goals is to make the NCAA tournament, and I know we were picked to finish eighth, so we’re the underdogs,” Willoughby said. “We have something to prove. I don’t mind being picked eighth because I know we’re better than that.” Willoughby also has the opportunity to put her stamp in the Tech record books. Entering this season, Willoughby stands fourth all-time in career block assists with 352, and total blocks with 428. She is just 22 block assists and 66 total blocks away from becoming Tech’s new all-time blocking leader. “It’s awesome, it really is, but we have been working a lot on blocking in the preseason, so achieving this will help not just me, but our team blocking as a whole,” Willoughby said. The Hokies were second in the ACC last year in points scored, however they gave up just as much or more than they scored. In addition, for the Hokies to be considered a legitimate ACC title contender and NCAA tournament chal-
lenger, they must reduce their errors. “Our error ratio was way too high. We have to be a low-error, high-efficiency team,” Riley said. Nowadays, coaches try their best to create a challenging schedule, and Riley has made a concerted effort to increase the Hokies’ level of competition. For example, the Hokies have to travel to the unfriendly confines of Tennessee, Miami and Florida State. The players are not worried about the rigorous schedule though and think the competition will bring the best out of them. “I’m not too worried about the schedule,” Wengrenovich said. “I think leadership and being really relentless will help. We just have to be tough on the road.” “It’s mental toughness,” Willoughby said. “I love playing in other people’s gyms and beating them on their home court. So, mental toughness, working together as a team and making sure we get done what we know we need to do.” The Hokies open the season on the road Aug. 27-28 at the Comcast Lady Vol Classic, where they will face Chattanooga, Xavier and Tennessee. They return to Cassell for the seventh-annual Hilton Garden Hokie Invitational from Sept. 3-4, where they will host three 2009 NCAA tournament teams including Coastal Carolina, Jacksonville State and Long Island University. “It’s hard to quantify everything on wins and losses,” Riley said. “The ACC is such a tough conference. Our goal is to reach the NCAA tournament. There really is no other measuring stick for what we do.”
Volleyball upcoming schedule Comcast Lady Vol Classic: Friday, Aug. 27, 2010 vs. Chattanooga 5 p.m. Knoxville, Tenn. Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010 vs. Xavier 10 a.m. Knoxville, Tenn. Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010 at #19 Tennessee 7 p.m. Knoxville Tennessee Hilton Garden Hokie Invitational: Friday, Sept. 3, 2010 vs. Coastal Carolina 7 p.m. Cassell Coliseum Saturday, Sept. 4, 2010 vs. Long Island Noon Cassell Coliseum Saturday, Sept. 4, 2010 vs. Jacksonville State 7 p.m. Cassell Coliseum
Boise State Broncos look to bring swagger against Hokies The chant started low, a murmur in the crowd of defensive players. It quickly grew louder as more and more of Boise State’s top defenders chanted and hummed along, turning in a credible rendition of The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army.” A mix of third- and fourth-stringers tried to stay composed on the field, the non-playing defenders creeping closer to the backfield, bouncing along to the unmistakable beat. Some joined with mocking chants of “Hedrick, Hedrick” anything to rattle freshman quarterback Grant Hedrick. At stake: A few sprints. The real stakes: Intimidation. And fun.
The running commentary is typical at Bronco practices this fall, where a defense filled with strong-willed veterans and colorful personalities provides a non-stop soundtrack during drills. “Our goal is to bring swagger,” linebacker Derrell Acrey said. “We’re going to bring swagger. I feel like we’ve got a lot of it. That’s what’s going to make us good.” Boise State has a new place in the college football landscape, its seat at the big boys’ table reinforced once more by its No. 3 ranking in the preseason AP poll released Saturday. If the Broncos were ranked on their defense’s ability to talk smack, they’d be BCS-bound for sure. A lock.
“A lot of personalities, a lot of guys that have been playing for a while. So they feel very comfortable talking and expressing themselves,” quarterback Kellen Moore said. And the Broncos are developing an attitude to go along with it. The bluecollar overachiever story line is fading with each magazine cover, national championship story and record-setting ranking. Coach Chris Petersen has spoken about proving everyone right this season, a departure from the Broncos’ usual “no one believes in us” routine. “Coach Petersen does a great job of making sure we talk to our guys about hungry and humble,” defensive assis-
tant Jeff Choate said. “Having a lot of confidence in our abilities, and that’s a little bit of that swagger, but at the same time respecting our opponents.” The defense has earned the right to its prodigiously expressed confidence. It was the defense that swallowed Oregon. It was the defense that held TCU in check. It was the defense that made the cover of Sports Illustrated. It’s the defense that has pushed the Broncos from the top 15 to the top 5. It will be up to the defense to stymie Virginia Tech. With many of those players returning to the blue, a certain level of arrogance is to be expected, to be applauded. The goal is dominance.
The defense, even without five pro- fling their way to defensive immorjected starters, outplayed the offense tality. Think the Miami Hurricanes in Saturday’s final public scrimmage. in the 1980s, who turned confidence Sometimes you wonder, though, if the into a program value. Think even offense wants to tell their counterparts the current New York Jets, the No. 1 ranked defense in the league, who to shut up. “You don’t want to be in that cocky have become lovable on HBO’s “Hard stage, but we’re pushing it, which is Knocks.” But it can be obnoxious and good,” senior nickel Winston Venable a punch line when you don’t win. In less than two weeks, the talking said. “As long as we’re super confident and humble at the same time, I think stops. Maybe. Shut down Virginia Tech and there that’s what you need.” will be plenty to talk about. As long as you win. “Those guys know they got to back up their play with good play, not talk,” BRIAN Petersen said. Swagger is endearing when it’s MURPHY backed up. Think the ‘85 Bears, shuf- -mcclatchy newspapers
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Beamer’s extension keeps Hokies in hunt for first title A
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Head football coach Frank Beamer is entering his 24th year with Virginia Tech. Beamer has a 187-92-2 overall record and the Hokies have at least 10 wins in the past six consecutive seasons, tying only Texas.
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nyone watching Virginia Tech football knows exactly how important Frank Beamer is to the school. Since Beamer took over as coach in 1987, he has led the Hokies to a 18792-2 record, and the team has made 17 consecutive bowl appearances. Considering the success the Tech program has seen in the past 23 years, it was no surprise when Beamer was given an extension through the 2016 season prior to the Hokies’ scrimmage on Saturday. Although negotiations concerning the compensation package will begin in January 2012, retaining Beamer is still well worth it. Much like Bobby Bowden at Florida State, or Joe Paterno at Penn State, the legacy of the school’s history in football is his legacy. Prior to Beamer, football at Tech was not what it is today. Sold-out games, bowl appearances and conference championships were all non-existent back then. It wasn’t until the Hokies hired Beamer to coach his alma mater that Tech started on the path to national prominence. Although Beamer has seen the football program improve a great deal during his 23 years at the helm, what the team has done during the past decade is truly remarkable. Even during the 1999 season, when Tech made it to the BCS National Championship Game, it was still a school that was trying to find a place in the spotlight. However, since then
the Hokies have had consistent success including winning at least 10 games in the past six consecutive seasons — a feat matched only by Texas. The reasons behind the climb to success can be attributed to Beamer’s approach in building the program. To start, Beamer is perhaps the best coach in the country at getting the best out of his players. The Hokies have never had the recruiting success of the likes of Miami or Florida State, but it never seems to matter because Beamer takes three-star recruits and turns them into impact players. Rashad Carmichael and Danny Coale are viewed as leaders of the Hokies in 2010, but in 2006 and 2007 they were just two-star recruits who weren’t garnering the hype of five-star recruits. The ability to take supposedly belowaverage talent and push them above their perceived limits has been a staple of Beamer’s staff since day one. Secondly, Beamer has paid particular attention to Tech’s special teams. Through the late-’90s and 2000s, the Hokies made it their calling card to win games thanks to the battle of field position and a game-changing blocked kick or punt. Special teams is so important to Beamer that he has taken the role of special teams coordinator because of the advantages it affords a team when executed correctly. Beamer’s philosophy is so successful that you see other teams duplicating
his ways. Urban Meyer, head coach of the Florida Gators, went the same route as Beamer when he was the Gators’ special teams coordinator until health problems forced him to delegate those responsibilities this season. People can call the focus on special teams “BeamerBall” or whatever else they want, but the bottom line is that it has proven to be an x-factor in games during Beamer’s tenure at Tech. Finally, what makes Beamer irreplaceable is the staff with which he has surrounded himself. Coaches such as defensive coordinator Bud Foster and running backs coach Billy Hite are a large part of the Hokies’ success. Beamer is responsible for grooming and retaining the top-notch assistants. Beamer has proven through his time at Tech he is still the leader and coach the Hokies need. The extension means Tech has at least six more seasons with Beamer and six more shots at the school’s first national title. Regardless of whether Beamer can earn that championship, he will always be known as the coach who put the Tech program on the map.
NICK CAFFERKY -sports reporter -sophomore communications major
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