Tuesday, September 21, 2010 Print Edition

Hokies keep season afloat, defeat ECU

page six

LUKE MASON / SPPS

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

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Officials begin CRC expansion East Carolina student run over by car Friday night LIANA BAYNE associate news editor A Virginia Tech student drove over an East Carolina University student Friday night in the Maple Ridge apartment complex.

A Blacksburg Police Department press release said Morgan Smith, who had just completed a right turn from Red Maple Drive onto Autumn Splendor Way, drove over Kaitlin Thorpe, who was lying in the road.

According to the release, Smith said he did not see Thorpe in the road. Witnesses at the scene said Thorpe had fallen in the road prior to the vehicle driving over her.

According to Blacksburg Police, alcohol was not a factor in Smith’s driving, but may have been a factor in Thorpe’s fall prior to the accident.

Thorpe is being treated at Montgomery Regional Hospital for several serious but non-life threatening injuries.

Recycling promoted at football tailgates GREG WILSON / SPPS

(L - R) Corporate Research Center president Joe Meredith, Congressman Rick Boucher, Virginia Tech president Charles Steger, Tech treasurer Ray Smoot and Blacksburg mayor Ron Rordam participated in Monday’s groundbreaking ceremony for 18 new CRC buildings on 95 acres.

NEW PHASE OF CORPORATE RESEARCH CENTER BRINGS 18 BUILDINGS, 95 ACRES, 2,500 JOBS GORDON BLOCK associate news editor Virginia Tech administrators and local politicians talked economic development as the university broke ground on the second phase of its Corporate Research Center Monday.

Speaking from a makeshift lectern in a pasture along Tech Center Drive, Blacksburg Mayor Ron Rordam spoke of how the center brought vitality into the community.

“These companies will set the stan-

dard for the future,” Rordam said.

The development of the second phase of the CRC was moved along by a $1.96 million grant to Tech and the town of Blacksburg by the Economic Development Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The master plan for the second phase calls for the creation of 18 new buildings, adding 95 acres to the 120 used by the center’s first phase. The first phase currently houses more than 140 companies employing about 2,200 employees.

The expansion is also expected

to bring in several thousand new jobs, with estimates from Monday’s ceremony at about 2,500 new workers.

The groundbreaking comes 25 years after the center’s establishment in 1985.

CRC president Joe Meredith, Tech treasurer Ray Smoot, Congressman Rick Boucher (D-9th district) and Tech President Charles Steger also spoke at Monday’s groundbreaking.

Steger said development for the center had reached “critical mass.”

“This is a record that we can bring new business and attract current business to Blacksburg and Montgomery County,” Steger said.

The Association of University

Research Parks named the CRC the 2010 Outstanding Research Park.

Boucher called the center a “major engine of economic development in Southwest Virginia,” and told those in attendance that he looked forward to the creation of a third phase of the center.

The first task for center officials is creating the infrastructure for the new area. In addition to a new road, which will be named Innovation Drive, sewer and fiber optic capabilities are also on the agenda for the center.

Meredith expects work to begin on the infrastructure by the end of October, with the construction taking about a year to complete.

Group promotes awareness of parking spaces JAY SPEIDELL news staff writer A Virginia Tech student put change in a College Avenue parking meter Friday for her nine rolls of sod, two trees, a tiny cactus and some lawn chairs.

A hammock was strung between the meter and a parking sign in honor of (PARK)ing Day, an international event where metered parking spaces around the world are temporarily transformed into public parks.

Lida Aljabar, president of the Urban Affairs and Planning Student Association, teamed up with several members of the organization to bring this project to Blacksburg.

Started in 2005 by the San Francisco artanddesignstudioRebar,(PARK)ing Day has rapidly spread across the globe.

“We’re taking it back,” Aljabar said.

“This is valuable land and they’re just paving it over.”

GREG WILSON / SPPS

Volunteers handed out blue recycling bags to tailgaters before Saturday’s football game and picked them up after kickoff.

PROGRAM CONTINUES INTO SECOND YEAR WITH SUPPORT FROM SGA, ENVIRONMENTAL COALITION KATIE NOLAND news staff writer

LUKE MASON / SPPS

The group took over parking spaces on College Avenue on Friday afternoon, installing turf and trees.

Aljabar said the paved spaces were not contributing to the social fabric of the community.

“What we’re doing is going into this space, legally paying the meter, and

we’re creating more of a public, civic space where we can have impromptu social interactions,” she said.

“Just something to create a more inviting, more public environment

in our community, to bring it back to the citizens.”

Passers-by had mixed reactions to see PARK(ING) / page two

The football tailgating culture at Virginia Tech can generate fun times and many empty cans and plastic bottles.

The office of sustainability, Tech’s chapter of the YMCA, the SGA and the Environmental Coalition at Virginia Tech teamed up Saturday, Sept. 18, to promote recycling at game day tailgating for the second year in a row.

The event attracted more than 100 volunteers who

helped educate tailgaters about recycling.

Volunteers in the event spent time before the game educating tailgaters about what is and what is not recyclable.

Volunteers distributed blue recycling bags to tailgaters before the game and picked them up after kickoff.

“Some tailgaters have just been keeping recycling in their cars,” said Lauren Miller, SGA secretary of sustainability. “We want to engage see RECYCLING / page two

2 news

university editor: philipp kotlaba, liana bayne, gordon block newseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865

september 21, 2010

[

national headlines

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COLLEGIATETIMES

Raising the roof, raising spirits

[

world headlines

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US welcomes Japanese diplomat

First non-smoking Oktoberfest opens

WASHINGTON — U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg said Friday the United States welcomes Seiji Maehara as Japan’s new foreign minister, noting his achievements in bilateral relations and many acquaintances in Washington.

The No. 2 U.S. diplomat made the comments during a meeting at the State Department with Japanese Ambassador to the United States Ichiro Fujisaki.

At a press conference after the talks, Fujisaki quoted Steinberg as saying he was pleased that Prime Minister Naoto Kan, after being re-elected asDemocratic Party of Japan president, had stressed Japan would continue to attach high importance to Tokyo-Washington relations.

Fujisaki said Steinberg had expressed hope for enhanced ties between the United States and Japan’s “new team” under Prime Minister Kan’s reshuffled Cabinet.

Fujisaki said Steinberg had expressed hope for enhanced ties between the United States and Japan’s “new team” under Prime Minister Kan’s reshuffled Cabinet.

MUNICH — The beer tents at Oktoberfest were packed Saturday even before the mayor of Munich, Christian Ude, had officially inaugurated the annual festival beer with two whacks of a hammer to open the first keg.

This year’s Oktoberfest, set to run till October 4, is the first at which smoking is banned.

Munich is standing by for 6 million visits.

At noon, Ude, wearing Bavarian leather shorts and a green apron, performed the traditional opening ceremony: hammering a tap into the first wooden barrel of beer using a 3-kilogram hand mallet. He then handed out mugs of beer to VIP guests.

No beer was allowed to be served in the marquees before noon, but many of the huge tents set up by city breweries were already so crowded with expectant revelers wearing traditional Bavarian dress that they were closed to late-comers.

This year’s Oktoberfest, the 177th, marks the bicentennial of the event, which began as a horse race to amuse the public on the occasion of a Bavarian royal wedding and gradually developed into a festival of beer under royal patronage.

There have been lapses in the series since 1810 because of wars and cholera epidemics.

This year’s Oktoberfest has been stretched from 16 to 17 days in length.

A small separate area has been fenced off for re-enactments of Oktoberfest 19th-century style, with sales of pale ale that reproduces the beer taste of 1814.

The Oktoberfest site is now densely packed with funfair rides and the marquees.

The no-smoking rule follows legislation that came into force in the state of Bavaria on August 1, but it will not be actively enforced.

-satoshi ogawa, mcclatchy newspapers

CORRECTIONS In “‘Restrepo’ offers real-life look at war” (CT – Sept. 14) the men in the film are paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade, United States Army.

Also, in “Embattled Hokies desperately seek first win over East Carolina” (CT – Sept. 17), the tight end’s name is Justin Jones.

The Collegiate Times regrets these errors.

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

Members of the Low Techs celebrate during a pep rally Friday night before Saturday’s football game against East Carolina Universitty. The group is composed of members of the Student Alumni Association and frequently performs at spirit events. photo by greg wilson

Recycling: Program Park(ing): Students continues to grow promote community from page one from page one

with tailgaters and get them excited about recycling.”

Miller said the movement is a part of the efforts to get Tech to zero waste.

The project began in response to the Climate Action Commitment resolution, which was passed by the Tech Board of Visitors in June 2009.

The resolution challenges the university to accomplish certain steps towards a more sustainable campus.

Miller said the group would continue to pass out recycling bags at remaining home games

this year as well as in years to come.

“Everything went smoothly this Saturday,” said Emily Schaefer, SGA assistant secretary of sustainability.

“Our expectations were exceeded and we expect continual growth.”

The program coordinators want to eventually add more spots for recycling in Lane Stadium and increase awareness and participation in recycling in other areas on campus.

“There’s no excuse not to recycle,” Schaefer said.

“Hopefully it will get bigger every game.”

the event, but many stopped by to sit in the grass and enjoy the day.

Aljabar said she wanted to get people to question society’s commitment to motor vehicles and think about how they use public space for cars rather than people.

Several people stopped by and gave feedback, including horticulture major Adam Huff, who thought that using turf and plants for the event was a good idea.

The event also brought a moment of peace. Chanel Joss, a junior and local yoga instructor,

saw the space as an opportunity to take a relaxing break from the day.

“It’s very invigorating and inspiring,” Joss said while performing yoga. “It’s a much better use of a parking space.”

But they weren’t protesting against the parking lots or trying to have them removed, Aljabar said.

She said the group was trying to promote alternative forms of transportation.

“We’re just trying to invite people to come hang out with us at our park,” Aljabar said. “It’s just a really fun, playful way to create awareness about this issue.”

-sabine dobel and jean-baptiste piggin, mcclatchy newspapers

opınıons 3

editors: scott masselli, gabi seltzer opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865 COLLEGIATETIMES

september 21, 2010

Measuring the M a s t e r ’$ 30K

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Part two of a two-part series. Keep reading the CT throughout the year to see more theme pages.

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Our Views [staff editorial]

Master’s value seen in workplace duties W

hat are you going to do with that?”

This is a question many liberal arts majors have undoubtedly heard numerous times during their college career.

The question becomes even more patronizing when the idea of a Master’s degree in the liberal arts is mentioned. People who contemplate the value of such a degree usually arrive at the conventional answer: Nothing at all.

Nevertheless, if one examines the usefulness of a Master’s degree in the liberal arts, he will notice graduates tend to take two tracks — both leading to further success and more than a “marginal benefit to society.”

The first track one may take with a Master’s degree in the liberal arts is the further pursuit of a Ph.D. and then enter the work force as professor. These people serve an enormous benefit to society. They make it possible for students to attend universities, they give them a top-rate education and they are the people who make significant advances in society and culture.

The other track — the heavily criticized choice — is to work in a field unrelated to the subject of one’s Master’s degree. Why “waste” time and money getting a degree in a “useless and insignificant” field, when you are just going to be like everyone else in the long run? One reason is to get a higher salary.

For example, in Prince George’s County, Md., a teacher with a Master’s degree in a “related area” to the subject he teaches gets paid, in some cases, up to $20,000 more than one with a bachelor’s degree.

“Related area” does not mean research or a focus in the exact subject being taught. One could be teaching middle school English with a Master’s in creative writing and still obtain a higher salary.

These teachers have a more thorough and complex understanding of what they are teaching.

However, the argument is made that not everyone becomes a teacher — and that is entirely true.

Beyond the typical focus on salary, there are many other benefits to a Master’s degree in the liberal arts.

A Master’s degree in the liberal arts helps one to be a better thinker, and therefore a better employee.

The process to get a Master’s degree is grueling. The crux of the Master’s program is the Master’s thesis, a project that takes at least a year. It requires many hours of research and writing, culminating in a 70- to 100-page thesis.

However, merely writing the thesis does not mean it will be approved and subsequently earn the writer an M.A. Over the course of writing the thesis, one has to submit drafts to his committee members, who are tough in criticizing one’s argument and research. Then, one must defend the thesis to the committee, which asks hard-hitting and pointed questions.

But what is all of this really going to get one besides hard work and useless knowledge in an economi-

cally worthless field?

Consider this: What does a typical corporate job entail? One is assigned a project, given a completion date, performs research and is told to solve the problem at hand when other techniques have not been successful.

What does one do when completing a Master’s degree in the liberal arts? One is assigned a project, given a completion date, does research and is told to solve the problem at hand when other techniques have not been successful, or have not been tried.

The skills and experience gained when completing a Master’s degree in the liberal arts are invaluable to success in the workforce. Students are taught to do research properly and efficiently, get experience in completing a project over an extended period of time and, most importantly, learn how to argue and think well.

This is not job training in a specific and limited field. Instead, it is preparation in how to think critically and argue a point effectively — two skills essential to doing a quality job in any profession.

If one wanted to discuss specific economics of obtaining a Master’s in the liberal arts he would realize it does not cost the university or taxpayers the millions others argue it does. Many Master’s students in the liberal arts are teaching assistants — and are not here on taxpayer money, but on tuition waivers accounted for in the budgets of each department. Teaching assistants do invaluable work for the professors they are assisting and receive a stipend for their work.

Those who are not teaching assistants typically receive scholarships from private organizations for either an individual characteristic or for academic excellence.

This is also not taxpayer money in most cases. If it is, taxpayers are aware their money is being spent in this manner. If they are unhappy with this, it is their civic duty to do something about it.

With all this said, consider the possibility that Master’s degrees in the liberal arts have no practical or direct job training value. Doesn’t a more educated populace make for a better society? If people have advanced degrees, their children are likely to be more educated, creating a more productive society.

Don’t be swayed by typical arguments of scarcity and productivity when it comes to considering the idea of a Master’s degree in the liberal arts — and in general.

Examine those who obtain such degrees and their work. Critically think about the ideas of usefulness and productivity and how they do not necessarily have to determine how we think about society.

Then discover for yourself what the actual value of such a degree really is.

The editorial board is composed of Peter Velz, Scott Masselli and Gabi Seltzer.

This editorial is the opposing view to Friday’s editorial.

like the theme page? hate it?

send your thoughts, questions and concerns to opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com.

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

Collegiate Times Editorial Staff Editor in Chief: Peter Velz Managing Editors: Zach Crizer, Michael McDermott Public Editor: Justin Graves Senior News Editor: Philipp Kotlaba Associate News Editors: Liana Bayne, Gordon Block News Reporters: Claire Sanderson, Sarah Watson Features Editors: Lindsey Brookbank, Kim Walter Features Reporters: Matthew Borysewicz, Majoni Harnal, Mika Maloney Opinions Editors: Scott Masselli, Gabi Seltzer Sports Editors: Michael Bealey, Garrett Ripa Sports Reporters: Nick Cafferky, Alex Jackson, Courtney Lofgren, Ed Lupien, Josh Parcell, George Tillerson Public Information Director: Dishu Maheshwari Training Director: Kelsey Heiter Copy Editors: Taylor Chakurda, Thandiwe Ogbonna, Spenser Snarr Layout Designers: Katie Biondo, Danielle Buynak, Cathleen Campbell, Josh Son, Victoria Zigadlo Illustrators: Candice Chu Online Director: Jamie Chung Collegiate Times Business Staff Business Manager: David Harries

VIRGINIA GREENE / COLLEGIATE TIMES

Problems with bachelor’s degrees reflected in jobs In

the words of the wise and articulate Tarzan: “It’s a jungle out there,

Jane.”

And for recent graduates armed with only a bachelor’s degree and high hopes for a reputable job, the value of their hard work and investment might seem insufficient when traveling forth into the unknown.

With unemployment on the rise and no end to the bleeding in sight, it becomes even more crucial for those entering the labor market to distinguish themselves from the masses. Fifteen years ago, a bachelor’s degree acted as an almost foolproof way to obtain a respectable position, but in the dawn of the new millennium, people began to realize all too clearly that a bachelor’s degree simply is not what it used to be.

Here are some figures to illustrate the situation, courtesy of a February Wall Street Journal article.

“Based on the current value of the dollar, the average college graduate will earn a mere $279,893 more than the average high school graduate over the span of a lifetime, compared to a much higher $780,000 advantage estimated in 2002. In addition, the cost of a college education has risen from an estimated $15,518 a year to $26,273 per year. “Coupled with the fact that those graduating from college currently are entering one of the most dismal and competitive labor markets in at least 30 years, the career path of the average grad seems bleak.” And it is.

The question on most graduates’ minds (and their parents’ for that matter) is what happened between 2002 and 2010 that devalued the bachelor’s

degree by approximately 36 percent?

The increasing pressures of a globalized economy have not only put Americans in competition with one another but with the entire world.

Eager, talented young men and women possess the ability to leave their often volatile and uncertain economies and enter the United States in search of positions worthy of their expertise.

These employees contribute not only excellent skills in their field, but also a worldwide perspective of what the consumer wants. A well-traveled and more culturally savvy graduate will be more attractive than one whose focus has been solely upon one area of study.

An acute awareness of the evolving and diverse needs of companies, who have an obligation to cater to clientele around the world, has become a necessity rather than a commodity for those seeking a career.

Closely linked to the idea of globalization is the advancing technology integrated into every firm.

Oftentimes firms elect to invest more funding into improving their capital than increasing the amount of labor or hiring a more skilled labor force. After all, why hire a graduate with the ability to churn out complex calculations when a less-skilled worker can operate a program that performs the same calculation and requires less compensation?

In essence, advancing technology has put the average graduate in competition with a computer. How are laborers, who are guaranteed to perform only at a level with minimal human error, supposed to compete with a system that is only as flawed as the person who programs it?

On a final note, the prevalence of bachelor’s degrees throughout the country has made employers view them as a requirement rather than a luxury.

As higher education has become more accessible to the masses, the supply of college-educated labor has simply outgrown the demand for it. For most high school graduates with uninspiring GPAs, there exists an institution that will accept their money in exchange for a college degree.

Low standards simply breed a lower value of the product. Unfortunately, it becomes increasingly difficult for potential employers to distinguish the graduates from highly regarded institutions and those from less discriminating colleges.

Fortunately for the graduates of Virginia Tech, our reputation precedes us; many engineers, biologists, accountants, etc., find themselves well on their way to making competitive salaries.

Yet in order to maintain that standing, we must continue to improve. Let us not rest on our laurels but instead remain cognizant of the evolving demands of modern companies and do our best to transform ourselves to fit their needs.

After all, success breeds success, and in this day in age, we need all the help we can get.

BROOKE LEONARD -regular columnist -junior -economics major

Graduate school journey worth the stress, mishaps As

seniors begin surveying postgraduation options, it would benefit the entire student body to start thinking about the future and what skills or certifications may be necessary to fulfill their respective dreams.

You don’t want the lack of a graduate degree to be the glass ceiling preventing you from advancing your career.

Currently, I face this very situation because, though I have worked within the university setting for more than 12 years, I am not seen as a qualified or suitable candidate for some opportunities because I don’t have a doctorate degree. Obviously this can be very frustrating and disheartening.

For me, there came a point where my undergraduate classes were just a routine and were not interesting anymore.

When I became a graduate student, it was completely different. Just that shift from being an undergraduate to being a graduate student changed the relationship in the classroom.

We were now like peers with the faculty and were treated like colleagues.

It was more of a mentor relationship, rather than just sitting in a classroom and listening to an instructor.

My initial application to graduate school was rejected because of my GRE scores. I had to take the GREs 3 times before I got the necessary score in

mathematics. An important lesson for freshmen here: Your math classes may be more important than you think.

I remained as a Master’s student for four years until I graduated in May 1998. While most would complete their coursework in two years, I was in no hurry and took the time to expand my opportunities, learning a lot about myself in the process.

My graduate course work in higher education and student personnel prepared me for my first professional opportunity as the Complex Director for Pritchard Hall. All of my training and graduate work was essential as I embarked on this new journey in managing what was, at the time, one of the largest all-male residence halls in the country.

I ended up spending seven years in Pritchard, where I had the chance to supervise an excellent group of Resident Advisors and graduate assistants, and to interact with countless numbers of students. After a brief respite from academic work, I enrolled in grad school here at Virginia Tech.

It would be a new journey as I would be a part-time student and working full-time. I started off taking one class a semester in Fall 2000. I knew that it would take a while, but I was not ready to undertake a full-time doctoral role.

Once I started my doctoral program, it made a difference as it provided an outlet from the mundane, but also provided a context to explore ideas.

I also faced the situation where my on-campus employer did not have the funds to provide the tuition assistance that was available to faculty. As a result, I had to take out loans to pay for school.

While the road has been bumpy at times, the educational journey and experience has been worth it.

Too many times we hear the horror stories of the academic hazing that takes place with graduate students and how they are treated. I know first-hand, as I’ve experienced these challenges, but I can’t allow that to interfere, or can’t let a committee of faculty define who I am because they “feel” that I don’t understand the difference between qualitative or quantitative analysis.

As I continue my graduate journey and work on completing my doctoral degree, I can say that the time and money spent have been worth it.

RAY PLAZA -regular columnist -graduate student -curriculum & education major

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ACROSS 1 Cable initials 4 Workout apparatus 15 Joey in Milne stories 16 Old fortunetelling site 17 The Cyclones of the Big 12 Conf.

18 Carried out by 19 Mystery author whose work has been translated into more than 100 languages 21 “I can do that” 22 Made one’s view known 23 1940s-’70s bandleader Edmundo 26 Tahari of fashion 27 Heading to overtime 28 Exude 31 LAX posting 32 Scattered 34 Union members?

36 Carefree state 37 Chain with links 38 Multiple-ride ticket 41 Terry of Monty Python 45 Adder’s kin 46 Aircraft company since 1927 48 When Eliza sings “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly?”

49 Tough test 51 Called with chips 52 Liquor store buys 54 Doctor, ideally 56 Expiate 58 Sought some shelter?

61 Dramatic way to go?

62 Balance in the end 63 Mauna __ 64 Had an in 65 You’ll trip if you drop it DOWN 1 Warp-knit fabrics 2 Slam-dancing area

By Joe DiPietro

3 Express service employee 4 “Imagine, Zeke ...”

5 Garments lacking waistlines 6 Nonpro?

7 What a hider shouldn’t say to a seeker 8 Bar order 9 It may include highs and lows 10 Uzbekistan border sea 11 Rocky debris 12 Snitches 13 Early inhabitant along the Dead Sea 14 Carb-up days, to low-carb dieters 20 Committed and then some 24 Circular signal 25 “El Cid” co-star 29 Greek regional capital 30 Trick 33 WWII enlistee 35 Burning the midnight oil

9/21/10 Friday’s Puzzle Solved

(c)2010 Tribune Media Services, Inc.

38 Detroit Red Wings coach Mike 39 Consume with regard to 40 “Puh-leeze!”

42 Irregular glacial mass 43 One of the Fates 44 See Tears for Fears?

47 Gershwin’s first hit

8/28/10

50 Agree to more issues 53 Harebrained 55 Old Royale 8’s, e.g.

57 Save for later, in a way 59 Comedy team, usually 60 Pharmacy convenience, often

arts & entertainment 5 september 21, 2010

editors: lindsey brookbank, kim walter featureseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865 COLLEGIATETIMES

‘Gasland’ spills a frightening truth P

eople across America are falling dangerously ill as a result of their drinking water, which connects back to contamination from natural gas drilling.

This is the message “Gasland” is trying to spread, and filmmaker Josh Fox does this by showing firsthand lives destroyed by hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.

Hydraulic fracturing is a method used to increase the yield of gas wells.

Fracking fluid — a cocktail of dozens of chemicals including diesel, formaldehyde, methanol and 2-butoxyethanol — is pumped into a well, causing rock fractures and increasing pressure in the structure.

This fracking fluid is at the center of the controversy because a pattern of water contamination and illness has popped up near fracking sites. Gas companies refuse to acknowledge the problem. Instead, they pay off victims and make them sign non-disclosure agreements. They also won’t reveal some of the compounds in the fluid.

In “Gasland” Fox travels the country, camera in hand, to visit victims of fracking. Discolored, foul-smelling water drawn from backyard wells is a frequent sight.

At one location, Fox holds a lighter to a running faucet, and a fireball erupts in the sink. Something in the water is making people very sick, something that didn’t exist before the gas wells.

Unfortunately this coincidence is merely circumstantial evidence.

The Environmental Protection Agency was doing nothing to investigate claims because former Vice President Dick Cheney ensured natural gas companies, like Halliburton, were exempt from disclosing their proprietary compounds in the fracking fluid and protected from the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974.

Part of the film is devoted to the political reasons as to why fracking is allowed to continue unchecked.

The climax comes inside a congressional hearing on fracking, which outlines the roundabout logic politicians use to keep the lobbyists happy.

A few choice arguments are that regulation of hydraulic fracturing will result in increased dependence on foreign oil and terrorism, and that some fracking fluid compounds are trade secrets. Revealing these would help the competition.

Visually, the film is a little dull. At more than an hour and a half in length, it feels like long shots of rolling landscapes, pockmarked with gas wells interrupted by interviews.

RAPID FIRE - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - REVIEWS play

Endless Ocean 2

Documentaries, however, don’t often pursue the same artistic routes as Hollywood films.

Fox has to be applauded for his effort to find solid evidence that fracking causes groundwater contamination. Many documentarymakers lately have succumbed to the same plight that cable news channels have: ‘This is my point of view, and if you disagree I’m going to liken you to Hitler,’ as opposed to actual evidence.

Fox sends water off to get tested, and the compounds present matchups identical to fracking fluid compounds that have been made public, strengthening the claim of fracking victims.

“Gasland” also makes a strong practical argument. Many environmentalist documentaries focus on hypothetical end-world scenarios, where we run out of oil or eventually pollute ourselves to oblivion. “Gasland” shows the real-life, everyday devastation that irresponsible extraction practices wreak on unsuspecting folk.

Most importantly, “Gasland” is an environmentalist documentary that isn’t preachy.

Thereisnobiggerturnoffthanamessagebeingflunginyourface.“Gasland” sets up its point and supports it with evidence, like any good argument should.

If you’d like to see the film and learn more about the impact of hydraulic fracturing, “Gasland” will be playing at The Lyric Theatre through Wednesday, Sept. 22.

MATTHEW BORYSEWICZ -features reporter -senior -history major

......radio for

everyone

“Endless Ocean 2” is a video game with a unique premise.

Instead of blasting aliens or solving puzzles, you SCUBA dive and interact with the flora and fauna.

That’s the entire idea of the game.

Sometimes you are given objectives (Find the sunken treasure!) and use tools to reach your means, but the entire game is a SCUBA simulator. The game begins to run into problems at times because it tries to be something more.

There is a plot to the game: You are a diver seeking to unlock the mysteries of the “Song of Dragons.”

The game doesn’t really explain what the “Song of Dragons” is until the very end, but other than that it is an important part of “that legend,” which is never really fully explained. This leads me to believe that at some point in the development cycle, the producers realized they needed a story but didn’t want to actually hire a writer, so they just chose some random guy from accounting to fill out the bare minimum.

Despite the story’s quirks, the game play is light and fun. The controls translate smoothly into underwater movement, but there were a few segments where I just wanted to go faster. The ocean feels impressive and the visuals are crisp — for the Wii. This sort of game play really is the Wii’s forte but I would like to see this game paired with the graphic capabilities of the PlayStation 3.

It would feel more like an interactive, high definition episode of Discovery Channel’s Blue Planet.

“Endless Ocean 2” might not be refined, but it’s unique, so it receives three starfish out of five. ..

..

..

..

watch

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” is about to enter its sixth season.

This sort of longevity in the everchanging world of network ratings is a testament to the show’s quality.

The series has even cross-pollinated with other media thanks to a frenzy of Green Man (the creation of one of the show’s characters) sightings at sporting events nationwide.

The show follows the shenanigans of the friends that run Paddy’s Irish Pub in Philadelphia. Each episode follows a pretty standard format: Someone gets a very bad idea, hilarity ensues, problems get resolved and the gang fails to learn any lessons.

The titles of each episode usually present the theme up-front. Some examples: “The Gang Exploits a Miracle,” “The Gang Solves the North Korea Situation,” and my personal favorite episode, “Mac Bangs Dennis’ Mom.” If the titles weren’t a dead giveaway, the humor in this show is irreverent, crude and somewhat satirical — perfect for the typical college male.

The characters are one-of-akind and their selfish acts fall just inside of the limits of suspension of disbelief, leading many viewers to question whether or not idiots left to their own devices are capable of such astounding feats.

New episodes air weekly on Thursday nights on FX at 10 p.m.

The bizarre antics of the Gang at Paddy’s Pub get a toast of five pints out of five.

..

“Endless Ocean 2” receives three starfish out of five.

“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” gets five pints out of five.

The Consumerist (www.consumerist.com) “The Consumerist” is the blog arm of Consumer Media LLC, the company that publishes “Consumer Report.”

It acts as an online consumer advocate, revealing scams and publishing user-submitted encounters in the world of rampant consumerism.

The website is famous for creating the “executive e-mail carpet bomb,” a technique used by consumers to quickly resolve their pressing issues with corporations.

The site houses a repository of CEO e-mails for companies from Acer Inc. to Zipcar, which can be used to quickly and effectively air your grievance to the top dog.

Consumerist usually posts success stories from readers who use this method.

The articles are genuinely informative and enable people to protect their wallets from greedy corporate practices or their own self-destructive spending habits.

read

Occasionally they will run stories of bizarre corporate practices, like the recent revelation that Disney tends to a huge colony of feral cats on the grounds of Disneyland to help keep the rodent population in check.

If you’re into saving money or can’t stand the scams that some companies are able to pull under current law, check out “The Consumerist.”

$$$

“The Consumerist” gets three dollars and change out of five.

MATTHEW BORYSEWICZ -features reporter -senior -history major

Mom wants you to be in the yearbook.

Do it for Mom.

6 sports

editors: michael bealey, garrett ripa sportseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865 COLLEGIATETIMES

september 21, 2010

Wilson and Evans ready to step up in Williams’ absence In

football, there are always moments that come to define a player or a

LUKE MASON / SPPS

Ryan Williams is helped off the field in last Saturday’s game vs. ECU.

team.

Midway through the second quarter of Virginia Tech’s 49-27 win over East Carolina Saturday, the Hokies’ running backs had one of those moments.

Redshirt sophomore Ryan Williams lay prone on the Lane Stadium 36-yard line, having suffered a scary leg injury, which was later revealed to be a pulled hamstring.

As the Tech medical staff carried a limp Williams off the field and into the locker room, one of his back-ups, sophomore David Wilson, interrupted him.

“I told him I’ll be praying for him,” Wilson said.

For each burst of talent, there has been an equal helping of adversity — but it’s yet to stop the running backs from accomplishing their goals.

Wilson and Darren Evans combined to rush for 180 yards in Williams’ absence against the Pirates, including a 116-yard effort in the game-changing third quarter.

Wilson’s breakout game couldn’t have come at a better time from his own perspective.

Earlier in the week, the true sophomore publicly voiced his displeasure over his lack of carries in the first two games of the

season — both losses.

“Yeah, I definitely thought I was going to be more involved,” Wilson said last Tuesday. “I said the only way I wouldn’t redshirt is if I didn’t do what I did last year.

“I said if they are planning on just giving me four carries a game, then I’d rather redshirt. And so far, I haven’t gotten four carries in a game, and that’s been frustrating. But I guess I’m in it now, and any time I touch the ball, I’m just going to try and make the best of it.”

Do 12 carries and two touchdowns cure all ills?

“Yeah, it was never about me not getting carries. It was just hard for me to watch. I was just frustrated, but anybody would be. I got my opportunity and I took advantage of it,” Wilson said following the game.

If he thought watching from the sideline as a healthy man was tough, that’s nothing compared to what backfield mate Evans had to endure.

After setting the school’s single-season record for rushing yards by a freshman in 2008, a torn ACL sidelined Evans for all of 2009.

His injury paved the way for a recordbreaking season from Williams.

Notice any theme? When one man falls, another fills the gap.

When Williams sat on the bench, chin tucked, following a decisive lost fumble in a 20-17 loss to North Carolina last year, it was Evans who was at his side, whispering encouragement during Williams’ darkest hour.

Through thick and thin, Williams and Evans have formed a bond that goes beyond football, now referring to one another as “brothers.”

“He’s going to be good,” Evans said after the game about Williams’ injury. “I kept telling him throughout the game to make sure he got everything straight and to keep his head up.”

Sometimes, you have to pick up your own slack too.

Evans’ lost fumble in the final minutes of last week’s notorious loss to James Madison was one of the primary factors that cost the Hokies that game.

When he lost another fumble on his third carry of Saturday’s game, it was easy to have assumed the two plays would have long-term negative effects.

He stood alone on the sideline following that fumble.

Two possessions later, he was back on the field, moving the ball 34 yards on two carries en route to the go-ahead touchdown drive.

“I forgot about it,” Evans said of the fumble. “I knew there was a lot more

game to play.”

When Williams’ injury occurred, the Hokies trailed 17-14. When Evans lost that fumble, it led to a 27-21 East Carolina lead.

Both of those moments came in dire situations. The Hokies were trying to avoid their first 0-3 start in 23 years.

A win was desperately needed, and if it weren’t for the resiliency of Evans and Wilson, that win may not have happened.

“Our spirits were pretty down (during the week),” Evans said.

In the hours following the game, the Hokies caught a break. Williams’ injury was nowhere near as serious as the team originally feared.

The hamstring injury is being described as minor and he is listed as day-to-day.

The Hokies can take comfort in the fact that no matter when Williams returns, he’s got two guys behind him capable of filling that void.

JOSH PARCELL -sports reporter -junior -communication major

Women’s soccer comeback shocks JMU in OT thriller NICK CAFFERKY sports reporter Just six days after James Madison’s football team shocked the Hokies at Lane Stadium, the women’s soccer team got a bit of revenge for Virginia Tech athletics.

In an overtime thriller, the Hokies erased a two-goal deficit to defeat the Dukes 3-2.

Even with a very active first half, nothing was different on the scoreboard at the break as it was still 0-0.

Despite outshooting the Dukes 10-0 in the first half, Tech couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net. The Hokies had several threatening possessions, but had nothing to show for it.

Of those opportunities, no one came closer than freshman Jazmine Reeves, who beat the goalie on two occasions only to have the ball roll just left of the post.

When the second half started up, the Hokies came out sloppy for the second consecutive game.

The Hokies let JMU dominate the ball, and it seemed like it was only a matter of time before the Dukes would score the

first goal of the evening.

Just six minutes after the half, the Dukes did just that, as Teresa Rynier capitalized on a penalty kick. The opportunity arose because a Hokies defender brought JMU midfielder Kelly Germain down on a breakaway in the penalty area.

Following the goal, the Hokies were still unable to wake up. In fact, it took JMU less than two minutes to increase the Hokies’ deficit to two, thanks to a Jessica Barndt goal.

“The start (of the second half) was bad.

I mean we gave up two goals to start,” said Kelly Cagle, head coach. “It’s not acceptable. JMU is a very good team and our conference is the best in the country. It’s unacceptable.”

Things looked rather dismal for the home team but it didn’t take long for the momentum to shift back in Tech’s favor.

The Hokies reverted back to the same attacking style that was so close to working in the first half.

It took 20 minutes of firing at the goal, but in the 72nd minute, Ashley Manning finally put the Hokies on the board.

With the clock as their enemy,

the Hokies spent very little time trying to possess the ball in the midfield — electing to force the action.

Finally, Tech evened the score at two on a header by Reeves in the 86th minute. It was Reeves’ first career goal as a Hokie, and it came at crucial moment.

“I don’t even know what to think about it. It couldn’t have come at a better time.”

Reeves said.

As the horn sounded for the end of regulation, any momentum the Dukes had was gone and it all belonged to the Hokies.

In front of a now-blaring crowd, Tech didn’t show any sign of letting up.

“In soccer, momentum is big. Once we scored those two goals and went into overtime, we just knew it was on our side,” said Kelsey Billups, senior defender.

JMU rarely got the ball past midfield in the overtime period and had its defense constantly working.

While it took Tech 14 shots to get its first goal of the night, it took only one to get its last.

Kelly Lynch got the ball to Billups on the left side of the box and after moving

to the right, Billups powered it past the JMU goalie to cap off the improbable comeback.

The victory brings the Hokies record to 6-3 and stretches their current winning streak to four games.

In addition, the victory gives Tech just its second win against JMU, which has dominated the emerging Tech program in the 14 previous meetings.

The come-from-behind win gives the team ample momentum heading into Atlantic Coast Conference play, which begins on Thursday at Virginia with game time set for 7 p.m.

“For us to be able to come back and score those three goals to win this game, I think this catapults us into the ACC,” Cagle said.

“When they play hard and they play together and stick to the plan, we are as good as anybody.”

AUSTEN MEREDITH / SPPS

Senior midfielder Jennifer Harvey fights for position in the Hokies 3-2 victory against James Madison. Next up for Tech is UVa.

Celebrate Active Commuting!

Join us on the Drillfield, Wednesday, September 22 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Free Breakfast Free bike safety checks Transit Information

Discount Coupons Health Information Free Bike Registration

...And much more!

Participants in the event include: Blacksburg Transit Recreational Sports East Coasters Bike Barn NRV Bike Association Yield 2 Life VT Sustainability Office Sustainable Blacksburg U Car Share Town of Blacksburg Bring this ad to East Coasters or Bike Barn in Blacksburg and receive 15% off any bike helmet or light!

To learn more about the Active Commute Celebration or about Virginia Tech’s Alternative Transportation programs visit www.tcs.vt.edu or contact Debby Freed at dfreed@vt.edu or 231-0248.