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Wednesday, September 15, 2010 An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903
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Not beyond repair LIANA BAYNE
CLAIRE SANDERSON news reporter
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Blacksburg High School has been out of use since the collapse of its gymnasium on Feb. 13, 2010. come was not,” said Wat Hopkins, a school board member and Tech communication professor. “The vote last night was inevitable. It was going to happen.” Creed, who represents the southeastern portion of Montgomery County, said he made his decision to push the vote after touring the building last week. “They told us everything that needed to be done,” Creed said. “They told us all of it was fixable and doable.” Though Hopkins acknowledged Creed’s point of view, he said he was not sure why the vote was made at the end of Monday’s night meeting without being scheduled on the agenda, calling the move “trickery.” Biggs said she was “looking forward to talking with the engineers again” during a second joint meeting between the school board and the board of supervisors that is scheduled for Sept. 23. She did not know if that meeting would still be held. Since February, engineers have been inspecting the building for structural deficiencies. Steel beams that support the building’s roof have been tested for quality. In an Aug. 30 joint meeting between the board of supervisors and the school board, school board member Walt Shannon said 54 percent of the steel beams failed the tests. Members of both boards have been
split on what the better solution for the schools would be. School board chairman Wendell Jones said during the Aug. 30 joint meeting he did not support repairing the current building. “I will not vote to put anybody back in that facility if the gym is not complete,” Jones said during the meeting. “Someone would really have to convince me that that basement (gym) is safe. I don’t believe it is.” However, building a new school would have meant a tax increase across the county of 10 to 12 cents per $100 on property taxes. “In the end, there was a safe way to rebuild this school without raising taxes,” Creed said. Creed said he brought the vote because he wanted to take action as soon as possible. “The right thing to do was go ahead and vote on it,” he said. Now, Creed said, the vote will go back to the school board, “and they will have to make their recommendations” on how to move forward. “What we have to do is get on with repairing Blacksburg High School,” Hopkins said. Hopkins said not all of the steel beams have been tested. He said he believes the gym can be rebuilt by the beginning of the next school year, but he is not certain whether the classrooms can be
fully repaired by then. Though some citizens have questioned the safety of repairing the building, Creed said he trusts the engineers’ assessment of the building’s conditions. “These people know what they’re doing,” Creed said. “There’s been scare tactics by people who want to take advantage of this fact and want a new school. In the long run, we probably had more people who didn’t want a new school than people who did.” However, “some of our Blacksburg residents are frustrated with what has been happening since the collapse,” Anderson said. “I’m sure there are going to be a lot of very angry people,” Hopkins concurred. Hopkins said residents can be assured the school will be safe for occupancy. “The only thing I can say is that the resolution was that the building be repaired so it can be occupied safely,” Hopkins said. “There’s going to be no renovation; there’s going to be a repair. We’re not going to put kids back in a building that’s not safe.” According to both Anderson and Biggs, a supervisor who voted “yes” could bring the vote back to the table for further discussion. “I’m concerned that this action will further divide our community,” Biggs said, “and I don’t want to see that happen.”
Tech reviews communications systems SARAH WATSON news reporter VirginiaTech’sNetworkInfrastructure and Services is currently taking bids to create a new campus communication system. The department released an official Request for Proposal on Sept. 10 for the Unified Communications System, which is slated to provide students, faculty and staff with enhanced communication on a variety of platforms from e-mail to mobile phones. At least 15 vendors have been contacted and will be submitting proposals. However, any vendor can submit proposals for review. Proposals will be reviewed after Oct. 15. After one is chosen, the department will enter the design phase of the project. Joe Hutson, director of voice and mobile technologies, said he and other members of the department held an informal Request for Information before developing the RFP. During this time, they saw presentations from a variety of technology vendors. “This was done to take inventory of the technology landscape,” he said.
Sudoku, page 4
Launch set for reusable bottles
associate news editor The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors closed a chapter of Blacksburg High School’s ongoing saga Monday night when it voted to repair the damaged school. The board of supervisors voted 5-2 against a plan to build a new BHS, a project that could have potentially cost the county $124.5 million, in favor of repairing the current building at an estimated cost of $14.5 million. Although the issue has been under discussion by both the board of supervisors and the Montgomery County School Board since the BHS gymnasium collapsed on Feb. 13, Monday night’s vote came unexpectedly. The vote was not on the agenda for Monday night’s meeting. Supervisor Mary Biggs, who represents western and northwestern portions of the town of Blacksburg, said supervisor Gary Creed brought up the vote during the section of the agenda designated for member business at the end of Monday’s meeting. “I’m concerned because the vote was taken without knowing the true total cost,” Biggs said. “We had not explored all the information on building new facilities.” Biggs cast one of the two “no” votes. The other was cast by board of supervisors chairwoman Annette Perkins. “I think it’s a fairness issue,” Biggs said. “I think it should be something that was open to the public and media.” Blacksburg Town Council member and Virginia Tech math professor Susan Anderson said although the town council does not have an official position or role in the question of repairing the building, she felt the vote should have been listed on the board’s agenda. “Many people who would have wanted to be present didn’t know to come,” Anderson said. “It seems that our residents want to share their views.” Though the vote came unexpectedly, many supervisors had already expressed wishes to repair BHS instead of constructing a new school. “The timing was surprising, the out-
Classifieds, page 4
However, the university’s planning department is now communicating with all technology vendors. Based on proposals, the Unified Communications System will integrate real-time communication, like instant messaging, with other forms of communication, such as e-mails. “We intend to overhaul and optimize how Virginia Tech affiliates communicate,” Hutson said. According to Hutson and William Dougherty, the department’s executive director, the goal is to create an open dialogue with the university to provide the Tech community with what they want and need. “It is time that we answer the needs of our users,” Dougherty said. Therefore, all proposals by vendors must reach certain criteria to be considered. The criteria include technical capabilities, service, support, training and account management, pricing and infrastructure specifications. “When we put these pieces of technology in, they must fit into the network roadway,” Hutson said. The main goal of the Unified Communications System is to provide open and extensive communication,
according to Hutson. “The possibilities are driven by the needs of the students,” Hutson said. A variety of features will be offered, allowing users to choose features that suit their personal needs. “We’re going to have much greater capability to integrate Virginia Tech branded services on mobile devices,” Hutson said. For example, a local client can be developed to offer instant messaging, video and text messaging on one device, according to Hutson. Another feature in the works is described as “Find me, follow me.” If someone misses a call, the call is then continually forwarded from phone to phone until the call is received. However, users can set up stipulations based on the caller or their calendar. The Unified Communications System will also address the issue of landline telephones in residence halls. “We’re at the end of the useful life of the telephone system,” Hutson said. According to Hutson, Tech’s model differs from other universities, because Tech owns and operates the telephone system, which leads to lower costs than peer institutions incur.
The current landline phone system was installed approximately 20 years ago and received its last update in 2000. However, the department does not want to make an economic decision regarding landline telephones, with Dougherty calling it a risk to the safety and security of the students. “We don’t want anyone to think that they can’t reach out in emergency situations,” Dougherty said. The department will continue to work with housing and dining services and the Virginia Tech Police before making any final decisions. However, final security decisions will be made outside of the RFP, according to Hutson. It could take up to two or three years for the current telephone system to be retired. Hutson said that no final decisions have been made, but the department has considered some replacement possibilities, including removing landlines entirely and providing telephones to the students who want them for a monthly fee, or providing one telephone per suite or common area. Also under consideration is an Internet-protocol based technology, utilizing the Internet connection to make telephone calls.
Virginia Tech housing and dining officials say the stainless steel reusable water bottles that students could purchase during last semester’s Earth Week could again be available in a few weeks. “We will be relaunching that later in the semester,” said Rachael Budowle, sustainability coordinator for housing and dining services. “It should be shortly.” The bottles will be available in Owens Food Court for $10 with a meal plan or $20 without, according to Budowle. Budowle said housing and dining services has already purchased 2,000 bottles, but they have not yet arrived. Freshmen were able to reserve the bottles during orientation. “On average, the use of reusable bottles will reduce 11 pounds of landfill waste per student,” Budowle said. “And plastic is light, so that’s a significant amount of plastic.” Budowle said she hopes use of the stainless steel bottles will reduce waste from both plastic water cups and plastic water bottles. The bottles are not approved for hot liquids or for juice, milk or coffee, and cannot be used in D2 and Shultz, the campus all-you-care-to-eat dining facilities. “That’s because we don’t allow any take out in those facilities,” Budowle said. The idea for the reusable bottle was introduced last year as a piece of legislation in the SGA, according to SGA President Bo Hart. “That legislation never got passed because there were a lot of other things attached in that bill,” Hart said. The bill included initiatives to eliminate plastic bottles on campus and reduce drink machines, and had a total cost of about $10,000. “They weren’t sure if it was the right time financially,” Hart said. “But dining services saw that they were very passionate about it, and did the test run.” Earth Week offered a good time for the test run, as students were already aware of efforts to help the environment. “We began by doing a pilot program during Earth Week in April,” Budowle said. “That was an extreme success, all 200 bottles sold out during Earth Week. That has given us the confidence to go ahead with it this year.” Environmental Coalition President Kara Dodson said during a campaign against bottled water last year the Environmental Coalition was able to get almost 1,000 signatures for a pledge to not purchase plastic water bottles. “We used that as a gauge of student interest in reusable bottles,” Dodson said. “Students are already buying their own water bottles, such as Nalgenes or Camelbaks, so I think they would definitely buy one that they could use in the dining halls.” Budowle said she worked closely with students in developing the program and choosing the bottle. “Specifically, I worked with the SGA executive committee and members of the Environmental Coalition, and both of those groups helped launch the program,” Budowle said. In order to meet health and safety standards, the bottles needed to be made so that the filling surface was separate from the drinking surface. Students will unscrew the bottle top to fill it at soda and water fountains, then replace the cap to drink from the mouthpiece. Dodson said the Environmental Coalition may sell the reusable bottles at campus events. The reusable water bottle project is one of several projects the Environmental Coalition has taken on to improve sustainability in the dining halls. Others include eliminating printed receipts in D2 and looking into more sustainable alternatives to styrofoam containers.
CORRECTIONS In “Embarrassment in Lane: Hokies hit rock bottom,” (CT - Sept. 14) Tech beat Marshall with a final score of 52-10 last year. Also, Tech received 4 votes in the USA Today Coach’s poll this week.
In “Allen promotes fundraiser for Griffith campaign,” (CT – Sept. 14) the event was a fund raiser for the Montgomery County Republican Committee and all funds generated through the auction will go to that body. -the collegiate times regrets these errors.
2 news
university editor: philipp kotlaba, liana bayne, gordon block newseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865
september 15, 2010
COLLEGIATETIMES
A doggone good time Dog owners ocked to the Frog Pool in Christiansburg Sunday afternoon for the third annual Montgomery County Dog Swim. Breeds of all shapes and sizes enjoyed the warm waters in a day gone to the dogs. photographs by mark umansky
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september 15, 2010
The Collegiate Times is an independent student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903
Beck distorts King’s Legacy N
ow we all know Glenn Beck is no stranger to contentious theories and incendiary rhetoric. But just when you thought he couldn’t connect any more dots on his chalkboard, the egotistical Beck has done it again. He has found another way to pervert a great legacy in American history. This time, he is doing it to Martin Luther King Jr., and it’s been excruciatingly painful to watch. It all started when Beck scheduled his “Restoring Honor” rally to be held on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Also, it was “coincidentally” on the anniversary of King’s “I have a dream” speech, which he gave on those same steps. The man that once called our first black president “a racist, who has a deep-seated hatred for white people,” angered the black community. Of course, Beck, who always has to take it too far, had this to say to his critics: “We will reclaim the civil rights moment. We will take that movement because we were the people who did it in the first place.” This seemed very inaccurate on many levels. MyprofessorBrandyFaulkner eloquently said, “Glenn Beck is among many individuals and organizations who have bastardized King’s ideologies. (King) was certainly used to having his words and ideas illegitimately portrayed. Not only have most not understood precisely what that dream was, but also we are really in no hurry to find out. To do so would demand that we uncover and carefully examine some rather complicated issues, and Beck doesn’t do complicated.” Beck has taken King’s dream and distorted it with his simplistic right-wing rhetoric. Don’t let Beck deceive you, his dream is not King’s dream, and his fight is not King’s fight. These two men have nothing in common. Beck’s comments were absolutely appalling to hear, considering how the man speaks maliciously against economic and social justice, the very ideas for which King fought and died. So let us try to uncover this intriguing man that was King and show just how different his dream was from Beck’s. King and Beck are on the opposite ends of the political spectrum. King’s movements preached for social and economic justice. The civil rights movement that King led was a progressive movement. King himself was a true progressive, meaning he believed that reform can come through the government. When King marched peacefully on Washington, D.C. back in 1963, he advocated for the many things Beck speaks out against. For one, he advocated for workers’ rights and economic justice through labor unions. He stood with the unions to fight for those still denied opportunity and equality, and to bring better lives for disadvantaged races. King was even in Memphis supporting a sanitation labor union on strike when he was assassinated. On the other hand, Beck and his conservative ideology are against many things that most people would deem progressive. He relates progressivism to socialism, and says that it “moves beyond the principles of our founders.” Beck also condemns labor unions; he believes they are socialist organizations trying to redistribute all the wealth in America. Beck even went as far as to say the AFL-CIO, which is a volun-
tary federation of labor unions, is a communist organization. Keep in mind King worked with the AFL-CIO extensively in his fight for equality in the civil rights movement. King believed he could end many of the social problems in our country by placing them at the seat of government. King’s struggle for social justice eventually helped facilitate the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. At the time of its passage there were some conservatives against it. One of the largest organizations opposed to the legislation was the John Birch Society. For those of you who haven’t heard of the group, it is a radical right-wing organization that at the time wanted to “Expose the ‘civil rights’ fraud,” and believed “liberals are communist traitors.” It even went as far as to say Dwight Eisenhower was a communist, and it campaigned to have Supreme Court Justice Earl Warren impeached after he declared segregation in schools unconstitutional. Now you might be wondering what this has to do with Beck. Well, Beck has said an author by the name of Cleon Skousen had substantial ideological influence on him. Skousen was a supporter of the John Birch Society, who wrote some works defending the organization. Beck has even promoted Skousen’s books, and had members of the John Birch Society come speak on his show. Now you understand what kind of ideologues Beck has been influenced by. Do you still buy Beck’s rhetoric when he preaches that he is reclaiming the civil rights movement? “Yes, before the victory is won, some will be misunderstood,” King said in a 1961 speech. “Some will be called reds and communists merely because they believe in economic justice and the brotherhood of man. But we shall overcome.” If King was still alive today, he would still be fighting for economic and social justice; only sadly you would see his face on Beck’s chalkboard. Here at Virginia Tech, we are a student body of bright individuals. Please don’t let Beck give you a history lesson; go to Newman Library and check out a book on King to find out what a wonderful man he was. Beck’s dream would turn back the clocks on everything King spent his life fighting for. Beck uses false rhetoric to spark fear in uninformed Americans, and his ideologies only adhere to a particular audience, driving a wedge between the American people. King spoke of uniting all Americans under the fight for economic and social justice, and believed in doing so peacefully. King gave his life for this, and that dream must still live on in all of us. If we let people like Beck distort King’s dream, then his fight will have been all for nothing. As Faulkner put it, “Our society contributes to this travesty because we are so easily captivated by a single story. When a dynamic and complex man such as King gets reduced to four words: ‘I have a dream,’ we’re all in trouble.”
JOHN BARONCELLI -regular columnist -sophomore -political science major
MCT CAMPUS
Humane Society of the United States not helping your local animal shelter I
have to admit, I choke up a little bit every time one of those commercials comes on TV — you know, the ones with the saddest looking kittens and puppies the world has ever seen. As sad music plays in the background, we see the cutest little animals in cages, looking like all they need in the world is a fresh bowl of food, some water and a good friend to rub their scruffy little bellies. Who is going to be that good friend? Well, as evidenced by its logo in the corner of the screen, that would be the Humane Society of the United States, of course. After seeing these heart-wrenching commercials, Americans of all ages and incomes pick up the phone or get on the Internet to make their pledge to help those poor animals. And we all feel a little bit better about ourselves for giving up some of our hard-earned cash to a great organization dedicated to helping those shelter animals find loving homes. If only the HSUS actually cared about those animals as much as those folks who donate their money. The sad reality is HSUS, which defines itself as the “nation’s largest and most effective animal protection organization,” has almost nothing to do with the direct care of animals in the thousands of shelters across the nation. In fact, according to the organization’s own financial records, only one-half of one percent of its almost $100 million budget actually goes to helping hands-on animal shelters. So, out of every $200 Americans pledge to this organization, only $1 goes to actually helping the animals that really need it. Where does the rest of the donated money go? Well, for one thing, according to the Center for Consumer Freedom, in 2008 more than $2.5 million went right into this rich animal rights group’s pension plans. HSUS also uses those donations to advance a radical animal rights agenda through wide-ranging, expensive lobbying and advertising
campaigns. Even though you can’t tell from its commercials, one of the group’s underlying goals is to promote veganism. The organization may officially say it is not against eating meat or other animal products, but comments from some of its senior officials tell another story. Paul Shapiro, head of HSUS’s anti“factory farming” campaign, is vegan and has stated “eating meat causes animal cruelty,” while encouraging people to become vegetarian or vegan. What Shapiro and HSUS fail to acknowledge is farmers (like my family), ranchers and animal scientists around the country are dedicated to providing the best care possible for our animals. Shapiro and friends — including HSUS CEO Wayne Pacelle — are the folks behind California’s Proposition 2, which passed in 2008 and is now threatening the livelihood of some of the Golden State’s egg farmers. Furthermore, when Ohio farmers sensed they could be HSUS’s next target, they came together to create the governor-appointed Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board to ensure the state’s farm animals were being cared for under the best methods possible. Even though this ballot initiative passed Ohio’s voters with flying colors, our friends at the HSUS were not pleased. They vowed to come back this November with a ballot initiative similar to Proposition 2 out in California, and they forced a standoff and eventual resolution with Gov. Ted Strickland. If HSUS is concerned with the welfare of Ohio’s critters, why did it continue to invest millions of dollars into an issue that Ohio’s farmers, local humane societies and voters already tackled? My guess is HSUS wants to continue to be seen as an important player in the world of animal welfare, even if that means diverting donations away from the shelters that need them and toward expensive lobbying and publicity stunts. To me, this sounds a lot like another organization you may
have heard of and probably have an opinion about: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. HSUS likes to present itself as the more mature, reasoned and moderate counterpart to PETA, but in reality it is a group of like-minded radicals who just happen to work for an organization of a different name. America’s confusion about who is responsible for caring for its animals and ensuring their welfare is threatening the very animals in need of help. A recent nationwide poll conducted by Opinion Research Corporation found seven out of 10 Americans incorrectly believe HSUS is some sort of umbrella organization for all of the nation’s humane societies and animal shelters. Americans are starting to see the difference, though. Charity Navigator, a respected group that rates nonprofit organizations, recently downgraded HSUS’s status from four stars to three, and bumped the rating of the organization’s international arm down to one star. So, if you really want to make a difference in the lives of animals that need your help, make a donation to a local animal shelter, such as the Humane Society of Montgomery County. If you’re looking for information about how your food is produced and how animals are raised on the farm, find a classmate from an agricultural background and have a conversation. And if you only remember one thing from this column, let it be this: The Humane Society of the United States is not affiliated with any local humane society or animal shelter.
BRAD COPENHAVER -regular columnist -junior -agricultural economics and political science major
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October 14th, 2010
ACROSS 1 Urge 5 It’s not what it pretends to be 9 Chef’s topper 14 Vesuvius flow 15 O’Hara home 16 Prevent 17 Pins and needles holder 18 Capital of Rhône department 19 Military lifesaver 20 Apple hater’s purchase? 23 Grind, as teeth 24 Prefix with -naut 25 Bygone French coin 28 Aliens, for short 29 Drive up the wall 31 Guerrero y Oaxaca 34 Run the show 36 City of NE Italy 37 2004 Daytona 500 winner 42 Gaming pioneer 43 Mends, as socks 44 Divided differently, as city land 47 10 mi. on a clear day, e.g. 48 Eggs in labs 51 Principal tonality, as of a concerto 52 Ploy 54 __ artery: forearm blood vessel 56 “Wichita Lineman” singer 59 Bordeaux brother 62 Biblical physician 63 Qualified 64 Mystiques 65 Life sentences? 66 Nothing, in Normandy 67 Takes a look inside? 68 Homes, colloquially 69 Ocular malady DOWN 1 Heavy hammer 2 It may be pending 3 Tonsil neighbors 4 Vagabonds might ride them 5 Normandy town decimated in WWII 6 Powerful punch
By Michael J. Doran
7 Soap-on-__ 8 Farm fertilizer 9 Bring under control 10 No longer hung up on 11 Logical abbr. 12 Ocean State sch. 13 Mail Boxes __ 21 Give one’s two cents 22 How-__: instruction books 25 Change text 26 Because, e.g.: Abbr. 27 One at a keyboard, often 30 JVC competitor 32 Uncovers, as evidence 33 Inserts 34 Dulles Airport terminal designer Saarinen 35 Stop 37 Nyctophobe’s fear 38 Suit to __ 39 Like a couch potato 40 Give birth 41 Shapiro of NPR 45 Before, before
9/15/10 Tuesday’s Puzzle Solved
(c)2010 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
46 Longtime tire brand 48 At all 49 Geological depression, and what the first word of 20-, 37and 56-Across is 50 “What’s My Line?” panelist Francis 53 Explore reefs, in a way
8/25/10
55 Construction pieces 56 Confederate color 57 Take away 58 Beneficiaries of Bill Buckner’s famous World Series error 59 Phoned document 60 1921 sci-fi play 61 Nostalgic period
sports 5
editors: michael bealey, garrett ripa sportseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865 COLLEGIATETIMES
september 15, 2010
Volleyball earns second consecutive tournament sweep GEORGE TILLERSON sports reporter Virginia Tech’s volleyball team extended its winning streak to six matches and earned its second consecutive tournament sweep this past weekend at Western Kentucky University. The Hokies (8-1, 0-0 ACC) remained unbeaten in neutral play, as they handled the University of Central Arkansas 3-1, Western Kentucky 3-2 and the University of Missouri 3-1. “I thought we played well as a unit and were very low error,” said Chris Riley, Tech’s head coach. “(This) is the key to our game, and I thought we were very good as a group this past weekend.” The Hokies got off to a fast start in the first set against Central Arkansas, leaping out to a 13-9 lead, and eventually going ahead 20-12. However, the Sugar Bears mounted a tremen-
dous comeback to pull within one, 23-22. Thanks to a kill by freshman outside hitter Samantha Gostling and an attack error by the Sugar Bears, Tech put the set away 25-23. Central Arkansas took a quick lead in the second set, opening up 10-6. However, the Hokies responded with a run to eventually tie the score at 12. The Hokies then found themselves trailing 23-21, but back-toback kills by junior outside hitter Justine Record tied the score at 23. A block by junior setter Erin Leaser andseniorAllAmerican m i d d l e blocker Felicia Willoughby finished off the Sugar Bears, 25-23. “We didn’t have as many errors as we normally do, and everyone did their part,” said Willoughby. “We went in with a lot more confidence and mental toughness.” The Sugar Bears stole the third
set from the Hokies in a wild 26-24 finish. However, the Hokies jumped out to a quick 13-2 lead in the fourth set, eventually claiming their fourth consecutive victory 25-14. The Hokies technically picked up their first away victory of the season when they beat tournament host Western Kentucky 3-2. The first set was extremely close as neither team claimed a lead larger than two. Sophomore outside hitter Jennifer Wiker got back-to-back kills for the Hokies to give Tech the advantage, 22-20. Three attack errors in a row gave the Hokies the first set 25-22. The Hokies jumped out to an 8-3 lead in the second set and maintained that lead for a late 23-19 advantage. The Lady Toppers went on to score four unanswered points to tie the score at 23, until Record notched her 600th career kill to put the Hokies up 24-23. Record and Willoughby added two more kills, and the Hokies capitalized on Lady Topper errors to take the set 27-25. Western Kentucky responded with a strong showing in the third set. The set was back and forth throughout, leading to a tie at 21. Four subsequent kills by the Lady Toppers doomed the Hokies, as they went on to snag the third set 25-22. The fourth set was all Western Kentucky as it never looked back after gaining a 20-16 advantage. The Lady Toppers went on to take the set 25-20, tying the match at two sets apiece. Despite the Lady Toppers’ momentum, Tech opened the final set with four straight points and strolled to a 15-8 set win and a 3-2 match victory.
PHOTOS BY AHAD SUBZWARI / SPPS
The Hokies are off to a hot 8-1 start but will be tested this coming weekend at the Cavalier Invitational. In their final match of the weekend, the Hokies got off to strong start against the Missouri Tigers, jumping ahead 13-6 in the first set. Tech eventually won the set 25-20. The second set, however, was a grind with nine ties and three lead changes. The score was soon knotted at 20 apiece, but five kills by the Tigers shut down the Hokies, as they went on to win the set 25-22. Tech turned things around quickly as it breezed through the third set, taming the Tigers 25-12. The Hokies went up 21-16 in set
four, eventually winning the set 25-22 and the match 3-1. Their impressive 8-1 record will be put to the test in their ACC opening match at the University of Virginia. “I think that’s really our main focus right now,” Leaser said. “In the past, road games have been hard for us. We’re really good at home, but away we’re trying to tell ourselves ‘Same game, same court, same size.’ I think it’s going to be really important for the success of our season to get this first win. “Since they’re our rival it’s a big deal,
so we’re really excited for it and we’re going to do our best.” Tech will take on UVa at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 17, at the Cavalier Invitational. “I’m trying not to put too much emphasis on one match, because it’s just one of 20,” Riley said. “For us, our goal is to win 15 of 20 matches, something of that regard. I don’t care if it’s the last 15, or the first 15, but we have to put ourselves into a position to win the ACC. So it starts with the first match, but the first one is no more important than the last one.”
Baseball’s focus shifts to young, fireballing phenoms
CHUCK KENNEDY / MCT CAMPUS
Former Giants slugger Barry Bonds takes a swing during a September 2007 game against the Nationals. Bonds, who holds the single season home run record at 73, was a major player in the slugging era.
HITTING 100 MPH ON THE RADAR GUN, WITHOUT PERFORMANCE ENHANCERS, IS THE NEW THRILL LARRY STONE mcclatchy newspapers The Slugging Era is being replaced by the Age of the Radar Gun. For a long time — let’s say 1988 through 2005 — baseball fans got their jollies watching mammoth hitters crank tape-measure drives into the stratosphere. Fifty homers became relatively commonplace; the 61-homer barrier that stood for 37 years was shot past six times by three men in a fouryear span; and even 70 was touched by Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds. Then came BALCO, Senate investigations, increased drug testing and the Mitchell Report. Magically, bodies returned to normal proportions — and so did slugging numbers. Now, however, a new fixation is developing among fans (and, yes, media), one that is also predicated on extraordinary power. But instead of being the victims, pitchers now are the show. Specifically, pitchers hurling ridiculously high heat, registering triple-digit gun readings that induce shock and awe.
The Nationals’ Stephen Strasburg, of course, is the poster boy of this new trend, but the arrival of Aroldis Chapman with the Cincinnati Reds has ratcheted up the focus on fireballing phenoms another notch. In his debut appearance against the Brewers on Aug. 31, Chapman unleashed four pitches in excess of 100 mph, including one clocked at 103 mph that Craig Counsell managed to connect on for a ground out. Returning to action the next night, Chapman touched 104 mph against Milwaukee. A week earlier, Chapman had caused a frenzy among scouts while pitching at Class AAA Louisville when he hit 105 mph. This is not to imply, by the way, that the 100-mile-an-hour men are artificially enhanced. Baseball’s fascination with the flamethrower dates back to the beginning of the sport. The likes of Amos Rusie, Walter Johnson, Smoky Joe Wood, Smoky Joe Williams, Chief Bender, Lefty Grove, Bob Feller, minor-leaguer Steve Dalkowski, Sandy Koufax, Bob Gibson, J.R. Richard and Nolan Ryan,
among many others, all gained renown for throwing their speedball by hitters and making them look like fools. There just weren’t any modern-day tracking machines to measure their speed, though scientists gamely tried to use rudimentary radar devices. In recent years, Joel Zumaya of the Tigers had became the king of the blazing pitch, getting timed at 104.8 in a 2006 game. Others who have been documented at 102 mph or above (as much as documentation can take place with something as fickle as a radargun reading) since 1990, according to efastball.com include Mark Wohlers (103), Jonathan Broxton (102.6), Brian Wilson (102.2), Bobby Jenks (102), Randy Johnson (102), Brad Lidge (102), Matt Lindstrom (102), Justin Verlander (102), Armando Benitez (102), Neftali Feliz (102) and Robb Nen (102). Numerous other pitchers have reached 100 or 101, including rookie Jordan Walden of the Angels, who peaked at 101 during an inning of work against the Mariners recently at Safeco Field. For the Mariners, Mark Lowe was clocked at 101 in 2006, while Brandon Morrow hit 100 this year for the Blue Jays, as did Rafael Soriano for the Braves in 2007. In July 2006, current Mariners reliev-
er Brandon League, then with the Blue Jays, hit 100 mph on the gun in a game at Rogers Centre; David Aardsma, as a member of the Cubs, reached 101 in 2006 as well. Both pitchers, however, say that their greatest success came when they stopped being mesmerized by their clock readings. “Your primary goal is not to light up the gun; it’s to get guys out,” League said. “Arms like Chapman, it’s nice to look at. But in the end, if the guy hits it out of the park, what good is that? It’s cool to throw hard, but I always thought location was better than velocity.”
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You get a lot of media for doing that, just like you get media for homeruns. But at the end of the day, it’s getting outs. DAVID AARDSMA SEATTLE MARINERS
What every hard-throwing pitcher learns is that if all he can do is bring the heat, he will get hit, sooner or later. “You’ve still got to throw the ball where you want to,” Mariners catcher Josh Bard said. “Eventually, big-league hitters, if they know where and when it’s coming, they can cheat enough to
get there.” By “cheating,” Bard means anticipating where a pitch will be and beginning their swing early enough to connect. “If that’s all you’ve got, if it’s flat, or you’re not locating it well, or you don’t have secondary pitches, good hitters will get themselves in counts where they can catch up to it,” Aardsma added. “Once they’ve seen you a little while, good hitters can hit it.” The other key factor, of course, is that the human arm is not designed to throw that kind of speed. Not for long, anyway. That’s why pitchers like Ryan and Johnson, still scorching into their 40s, are such anomalies. Strasburg’s recent Tommy John surgery is the latest testament to that, while Zumaya has also been riddle by arm injuries. As Bard said, “You don’t see a lot of guys throwing that hard for a long time. They end up settling in at 95 and 96, and a lot of those guys have had great careers.” Aardsma hopes to be one of them. He vividly remembers the first time a gun registered him at 100 — his first professional game in Lancaster, Calif., after signing as the San Francisco Giants’ No. 1 draft pick in 2003. “It’s neat,” he said. “You get a lot of media for doing that, just like you get
media for home runs. But at the end of the day, it’s getting outs.” Aardsma no longer lights up the gun at 100 mph. But after several years of drifting, he is now an established closer. It’s not a coincidence. “I try not to pitch like that anymore,” he said. “When I did throw that hard, I was trying to throw that hard every pitch. I’ve learned you don’t have to do that. Use it when you have to. Hump up when you need to. Now, I’d rather throw three pitches and get three outs than throw 16 pitches trying to throw it by everyone.” It’s a lesson his teammate, Felix Hernandez, has used to transform himself into one of the game’s great aces. “Fifi (Hernandez) can throw just as hard as (Strasburg),” Aardsam said. “He doesn’t need to. When he needs to, he does.” Aardsma’s own history has made him skeptical about the hype that was attached first to Strasburg, and now Chapman. “I hate guys getting so much media for having the ability,” Aardsma said. “Strasburg — let him pitch. Don’t say he’s better than Bob Gibson. After he’s pitched 15 years, then let him be better than Bob Gibson.
6 food & drink september 15, 2010
editors: lindsey brookbank, kim walter featureseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865 COLLEGIATETIMES
Grille mixes traditional with unusual Homemade, fresh meals food review
efty’s Main Street Grille brings exciting twists to typical meals. Located on South Main Street, the restaurant and bar serves up a variety of American-style food, such as burgers, hot dogs and an extensive weekend breakfast menu that is highly regarded by students and members of the community alike. Lefty’s is a low-key restaurant with a laid-back atmosphere. The sign by the entrance invites customers to seat themselves in a mish-mash assortment of restaurant seating, varying from benches to kitchen chairs alongside tables. The service was a little slow for no visible reason. The restaurant was quite empty, yet the waitresses seemed to take a while to take orders or bring the check. It was a very slow-paced environment and not conducive for anyone in a rush. The interior is quite a bit smaller than most restaurants, but a generous seating area outside on the patio compensates for the interior’s size. The menus themselves are simply stapled, laminated print-outs of the restaurant’s offerings. The walls feature black and white photographs of left-handed celebrities. One large wall is a chalkboard
DAVID MUDRE / SPPS
The “South of the Border Burger” (above) is one of many beefy specialty burgers Lefty’s offers, along with other classic dishes. that lists the lunch specials, beer choices and desserts, as well as a few other options not listed on the menu. The menu is extensive, but limited at the same time. It features variations of the same basic item and not a lot of other choices. The list of entrees is broken down into “Burgers and Hot Dogs,” “Sandwiches,” “Salads” and “Soup” combinations. With the two main menu categories concerning burgers, hot dogs and sandwiches, there are only a few vegetarian
options. Appetizers range from the typical spinach and artichoke dip and nachos to more unique options, such as fried calamari and jalapeno bottle caps. Dedicating large sections of the menu to burgers alone poses a challenge, which Lefty’s stands up to well. While some of the burgers are of the normal hamburger, cheeseburger variety, there is also a selection of specialty burgers. For example, the “South of the Border Burger” comes with the
basics — chipotle mayo and jalapeno peppers — whereas the “Bruschetta Burger” has a tomato salsa topping. A word of advice: All the burgers are sizeable and a little messy, so an extra napkin or two is essential. One of the more popular aspects of Lefty’s is the weekend breakfast menu. Lefty’s offers a sizeable selection of morning favorites, such as pancakes, omelets and mimosas, from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday and Sunday mornings. The restaurant serves basic items, such as bacon and coffee, but also offers interesting options such as omelets with apples and mango salsa. Lefty’s also has a selection of homemade desserts, which varies from day to day, and is listed on the chalkboard. Although the food is satisfying, large parties or diners with varied palettes may not find Lefty’s to be the best choice. The food is worth its price though, and with a little patience and an extra napkin, the experience is a positive one.
MAJONI HARNAL -features reporter -international studies major -junior
bring Italy to Blacksburg
MAZIAR FAHANDEZH / SPPS
An array of wines are offered at Zeppoli’s by the bottle and glass.
ZEPPOLI’S RESTAURANT MATCHES MEALS WITH FINE WINES FOR A PALETTE-PLEASING EXPERIENCE
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ntering the dimlylit Zeppoli’s Italian Restaurant and Wine Shop, customers step into owner Doris Fleming’s Italian world of fine wines and fresh pasta. The restaurant opened in fall 1996, in response to the many fast food and chain restaurants in Blacksburg. Since then, it has successfully achieved its goal to provide quality Italian cuisine. Zeppoli’s most noteworthy feature is its commitment to making everything from scratch, including the bread, pasta and meatball sauces. The top-notch ingredients combine to make simultaneously flavorful and wholesome meals. The menu is heavily influenced by Italian food, but offers some innovative twists on traditional recipes, which sets it apart from its other downtown counterparts. Available entrees range from a host of homemade raviolis, to seafood pastas, to a variety of soups and salads. The fresh pasta is a must when dining at Zeppoli’s. The lemon vegetable linguine is a perfect combination of seasonal sauteed vegetables in a zesty lemon sauce over a large portion of homemade pasta. All meals are served with bread, which is made from scratch, with a choice of olive oil or whipped butter. Zeppoli’s offers a wide selection of international wines, which diners can enjoy by the glass or bottle. Unlike many other restaurants, its worldwide collection complements any meal at retail price, with an additional $2 corking fee. The front room of the restaurant serves as a wine store, with its diverse selection
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of Chiantis, Pinot Grigios and Aglianico, to name a few, which sell for between $6 and $100. Every Wednesday, the restaurant offers wine tasting and hor d’oeuvres for $15 (reservations required). While the restaurant’s lighting is borderline gloomy, the multitude of art for sale by local painters and photographers helps brighten the walls and lighten the overall atmosphere. The layout is spacious with many tables scattered across the large room, which offer simple and functional place settings. The wait staff was also friendly and eager to answer any customer questions or complaints. Zeppoli’s attracts a diverse crowd of professionals, students and Blacksburg residents. However, the prices may be higher than many students wish to pay for a casual dinner out. Entrees are priced between $9 and $17, and a variety of gourmet lunch sandwiches are served for about $7. The restaurant’s success can be largely attributed to Fleming’s uncompromising dedication to fresh ingredients and her years of experience. Diners will not be disappointed with the plethora of flavors to choose from and selection of wines which complement them. Overall, this restaurant comes highly recommended for foodies seeking a nice but relaxed night out with a variety of traditional Italian cuisine.
MIKA MALONEY -features reporter -Spanish major -senior