Weekend Concerts
see page 6 for previews
Tonight at Burruss
Tomorrow at Attitudes
Jack’s Mannequin
Carbon Leaf
Thursday, October 14, 2010
An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903
www.collegiatetimes.com
COLLEGIATETIMES 107th year, issue 102
News, page 2
Weekend, page 6
Opinions, page 3
Sports, page 5
Wild, Wild West End
Classifieds, page 4
Tech selects new sorority MICHELLE SUTHERLAND news staff writer
GORDON BLOCK / COLLEGIATE TIMES
Students sit near J.P.’s Chophouse in West End Market. It was the scene of a fight between two men earlier in the evening.
POLICE CALLED OUT WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR FIGHT AT ON-CAMPUS DINING HALL, AT LEAST ONE MAN INJURED GORDON BLOCK associate news editor Virginia Tech Police Department officers were called in for a fight that broke out Wednesday evening at West End Market. At least one person was injured in the fight, employees said. Witnesses reported the fight started over a table at the dining hall. According to Justine Maurer, a senior finance major and student manager at J.P.’s Chophouse, where the fight broke out, trouble arose around 6 p.m. when a man sat at a table another group had claimed. “Somehow they claimed the table, and the other kid took it,” Maurer said. Maurer said the approaching student called the seated student a “faggot,” while the seated student replied that the student should “return to his own country,” in reaction to what Maurer described as the approaching student’s “Australian” accent. The approaching male pushed the seated student, which led to the fight. A small handful of
other patrons jumped to break the two apart. Maurer said the fight was over in about 20 seconds. “By the time I got out there, one guy (the one who had sat at the table) had run out,” Maurer said. “The other guy (who had started the pushing) was bleeding all over the soda fountain.” Maurer said the approaching student had blood running on his face and his shirt. Blood had also splattered on the nearby drink machine and silverware holder. Maurer said she and another student manager had to stop several students who were attempting to reach around the bleeding student for silverware and drinks. “People just aren’t very perceptive,” Maurer said. James Leggett, an assistant manager at the restaurant, said the area was bleached down, which is standard procedure when bodily material, like blood, gets on common surfaces. The damage from the fight was limited. A single wooden chair had the top of its back splintered
news staff writer Cold weather season is here, and Virginia Tech is preparing for the coughs and pains that come along with it. Beginning Monday, Tech will offer flu shots to students and insured faculty and their families. Those who do not have insurance can pay a fee for the flu shots. The clinics will run until Nov. 12. A general immunization clinic will be available from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Oct. 18 and between noon and 6 p.m. on Dec. 1, with participants able to receive shots for a $25 fee without setting up an appointment. Recipients under the age of 18 should have the informed consent form filled out by a parent or guardian. Last year, more than 2,000 people received a flu shot from Tech-provided clinics. “We prepared for this year by using the numbers from last year,” said Shelby Davis, the registered nurse supervisor for Intravene, the company providing the flu shots. “Ideally everyone should come and
receive the shot.” So far, Shiffert Health Clinic has not seen many students with cases of the flu. “There are different ways of testing and tracking for either the flu or flu like symptoms,” said Colleen Farmer, a coordinator for Shiffert. “According to trends there will be less cases of the flu than last year, but everyone should get vaccinated.” Shiffert partners with Intravene because of the high number of appointments. Another flu shot clinic will be offered on Wednesday, Dec. 1 for those unable to get their flu shots Monday. Fever, headache, muscle aches, chills and nausea can all be symptoms of the flu. “Sometimes the flu can start as a cold but turn into something more serious,” Davis said. Washing your hands frequently and keeping a distance from those who might be ill are ways to prevent the spread of the flu. Any student feeling ill can make an appointment to visit Shiffert online or by phone.
The Panhellenic Council voted to accept Gamma Phi Beta to the Oak Lane community Wednesday night. Last semester, Virginia Tech’s PHC opened for extension to the other sororities under the umbrella of the National Panhellenic Council. Of the nine that submitted interest, three finalists were selected by an extension committee. The finalists were Gamma Phi Beta, Kappa Alpha Theta and Phi Mu. On Tuesday, the extension committee convened to decide which group to endorse to PHC. The committee announced its recommendation last night at a PHC meeting. Gamma Phi Beta was chosen to come to campus this spring and Phi Mu was “stacked,” meaning next time Tech is open for extension it will be selected immediately. A unanimous vote from 12 sorority representatives made the recommendation official. Gamma Phi Beta was selected, according to the extension committee’s written recommendations, because it currently has chapters at 18 of 25 of Tech’s peer institutions, and all of the chapters it has started in the past 16 years are all still active. The recommendation cites a strong alumni network in the area
to help with the colonization, or start up of the chapter, as well as its unique philanthropy. The document said Gamma Phi Beta has an in-depth plan for colonization and post colonization — planning up to five years in the future. The extension committee recognized the process of trying to establish a colony is both expensive and time consuming, and that was part of the reasoning behind stacking Phi Mu. National leaders must come from all over the country to give presentations and establish networks with local alumni during the selection process. Gamma Phi Beta will be able to recruit spring semester. There are four rounds of formal recruitment, and they will participate in only the first. Because they have no members to dine and socialize with potential recruits, they will only have an open house. Following formal recruitment they will be able to begin informal recruitment. They may informally recruit up to the median chapter size. The median fall semester chapter size is currently 121 women and is estimated to be in the 150s next semester. Once they reach this number, they will be unable to informally recruit until the next round of formal recruitment.
For-profit schools defend credibility BETHANY BUCHANAN / COLLEGIATE TIMES
A single chair, seen above, was damaged during Wednesday night’s brawl. open. “Wood chips were everywhere,” Maurer said. She said the Wednesday fight was the first she had seen at the dining hall. Mark Bratton, executive chef at West End Market, called the fight “kind of sad.” “I’ve been here 10 years, and I’ve never seen anything like that,” Bratton said. The identities of the individuals in the fight or the extent of their injuries has not been confirmed. A call left with Tech Police Wednesday evening was not returned.
Tech prepares clinics for flu season ERIN CHAPMAN
Sudoku, page 4
MCT CAMPUS
More than 2,000 people received flu shots from Tech last year.
MICHAEL VASQUEZ mcclatchy newspapers MIAMI — Stung by a barrage of recent criticism, the nation’s for-profit colleges and universities are crying foul — and going on the attack. The target of this PR counteroffensive isn’t only Washington, where Congress and the U.S. Department of Education are considering tighter oversight of for-profit schools. Increasingly, for-profits are turning up the heat on community colleges. Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Keiser University might be the best example of this new phenomenon: The school has gone as far as filing a lawsuit against one community college for its “destructive media campaign.” Keiser accuses Florida State College at Jacksonville administrators of conspiring to sully the for-profit school’s reputation by spreading misleading student horror stories through various media outlets. Keiser is not the only for-profit school to start attacking community colleges. Last week, the same day Keiser filed suit, the Coalition for Educational Success — a marketing firm funded by dozens of for-profit schools — released a self-funded report that faulted community colleges for poor graduation rates and other academic failings. Critics of the report noted its questionable methodology — the document’s own introduction acknowledges its study sample “was one of convenience and may not represent all student experiences.” Keiser’s action has garnered national attention. The school complains that untrue allegations of malfeasance — fueled by Florida State College at Jacksonville’s media campaign — have slowed student enrollment growth. In addition, health care sites are less willing to partner as Keiser clinical training locations, and high schools are now reluctant to let Keiser recruiters on campus for student outreach, the school says. “They have essentially harmed not only the reputation of Keiser but
they’re devaluing the degrees that our students are obtaining,” said Keiser general counsel James Waldman. Waldman declined to name specific high schools or clinical sites where Keiser is no longer welcome. For-profit colleges like Keiser, along with industry titans such as the University of Phoenix and Kaplan University, target nontraditional students with degree programs that specialize in flexible scheduling and/or online classes. But an assortment of former students, federal officials and consumer advocates have raised concerns that the industry recruits students through deceptive practices. For-profit schools’ high cost has also led to worries about students taking on excessive debt. More than 90 percent of students at for-profit colleges borrow to finance their education, while community college students — who pay far lower tuition for similar programs — borrow less than 17 percent of the time, according to a recent U.S. Senate committee report. “These debts can haunt these students their entire lives,” said Steve Wallace, president of Florida State College at Jacksonville. Wallace said the lawsuit is retaliation against his college because administrators have spoken out against high student debt. The demographics of students at community colleges and for-profit colleges are strikingly similar — with both serving high numbers of minority or low-income students, many of whom are the first in their family to attend college. For-profit colleges have enjoyed tremendous expansion and profits during the recession, as many unemployed workers opted to go back to school. As a privately held company, Keiser does not have to disclose its annual revenues, but earlier this year school chancellor Arthur Keiser told media outlets the company operates with a healthy 15 percent profit margin. Reported profit margins for other for-profit schools are as high as 37 percent — double the computer maker Apple.
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news editors: philipp kotlaba, liana bayne, gordon block newseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865
october 14, 2010
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Walk away student raises questions RICHMOND, Va. -- The father of a kindergartner at G.H. Reid Elementary School in South Richmond wants to know how his son was able to walk off school grounds unescorted yesterday. David Boulden said his 5-yearold son Jalil arrived at home unexpectedly after being treated by a school nurse for a splinter. Jalil’s mother was home. “That’s a very dangerous situation,” Boulden said. “He could have been abducted or hit by a car.” School officials said the incident is under review but insisted that students aren’t usually allowed to walk around the school without a buddy or an escort. “This really never should have happened, and we do apologize,” said Felicia Cosby, a school spokesperson. Cosby said the student was sent back to class after school officials talked with his mother by telephone about how his splinter should be treated. She added that the student apparently walked home alone and unnoticed after he found his class door locked. The student’s class had left the room to take school pictures. Cosby added that school officials responded promptly when the teacher returned to class and realized the student had not come back from seeing the nurse. At that point, an assistant principal went to the student’s home. “I want somebody to be held accountable. That’s a bunch of mess,” Boulden said. “He’s 5 years old. That’s unacceptable.”’ by will jones, mcclatchy newspapers
CORRECTIONS JUSTIN GRAVES -Contact our public editor at publiceditor@ collegiatetimes.com if you see anything that needs to be corrected.
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Wondering what’s going on around the ‘burg? Check out the events of the upcoming week.
[Thursday, October 14]
[Saturday, October 16]
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virginia headlines
COLLEGIATETIMES
[Monday, October 18]
What: Music: Jack’s Mannequin Where: Burruss Auditoriuim When: 7 p.m. Cost: $15 students, $20 public
What: Music: The (acoustic) Kind Where: Gillie’s When: 7 p.m. Cost: Free
What: Music: Perpetual Groove Where: Awful Arthur’s When: Monday AND Tuesday at 9 p.m. Cost: $15 advance, $18 at door
What: Music: Chickenwings and Gravy Where: Gillie’s When: 7 p.m. Cost: Free
What: Movie: Dinner for Schmucks Where: Squires Colonial Hall When: 7:30 p.m. Cost: $2 students, $3 non-students
What: Fall Imunizations Where: Mccomas Gymnasium When: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Cost: www.intravene.net/vatech for costs of immunizations
What: Fashion Show: Fashion as Art III Where: Awful Arthur’s When: 7:30 p.m. Cost: $5
What: Music: True Sound w/ DJ Rah Bee Where: Awful Arthur’s When: 9 p.m. Cost: Free. $5 over 21, $7 under
[Friday, October 15] What: Music: Sepatus w/ Levi’s Gene Pool Where: Gillie’s When: 9:30 p.m. Cost: Free What: Music: Carbon Leaf Where: Attitudes When: 8 p.m. Cost: $15 advance, $17 at door, 18+ What: Movie: Dinner for Schmucks Where: Squires Colonial Hall When: 7:30 p.m. Cost: $2 students, $3 non-students What: Comedian: Laura Prangley Where: The Lyric When: 9 p.m. Cost: $15
[Sunday, October 17] What: 3rd Annual Latino Festival Where: Squires Commonwealth Ballroom When: 2 p.m. Cost: Free What: World’s Largest Pillowfight for Maddie Where: Drillfield When: 2 p.m. Cost: Minimum donation fee of $2
[Tuesday, October 19] What: Music: B-Foundation Where: Attitudes When:8 p.m. Cost: $6 advance, $8 at door, 18+
[Wednesday, October 20] What: Students Helping Honduras Acapella Concert Where: Squires Colonial Hall When: 7:30 p.m. Cost: Free
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nation & world headlines
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Chinese support censorship ban BEIJING _ Almost two dozen former Chinese Communist Party officials and academics have signed a petition demanding that government censorship in China be dismantled in favor of the freedom-of-speech rights enshrined in the national constitution. The open Internet letter surfaced just days after jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo won the Nobel Peace Prize and shortly before the ruling Communist Party’s central committee convenes for meetings that some observers expect to include discussion of political reform. “We hope they will take action,” said Zhong Peizhang, a signatory who headed the news bureau of the government’s Central Propaganda Department from 1982 to 1986. “As it says in the letter: to cancel censorship in favor of a system of legal responsibility.” Speaking of the years since he was in the propaganda department, Zhong said, “I had hoped there would be some progress in terms of freedom of speech.” The letter, which the authorities quickly scrubbed from most Chinese Web portals, describes a vast censorship system that’s gone so far as to black out the words of Prime Minister Wen Jiabao. “Even the premier of our country does not have freedom of speech or of the press,” the letter says, referring to Wen’s August speech in the southern city of Shenzhen, in which he warned that “without political reform, China may lose what it has already achieved through economic restructuring.” Domestic news media didn’t carry his comments, and since then there’s been no change in Chinese censorship policy. “We would ask, what right does the Central Propaganda Department have ... to rob the people of our nation of their right to know what the premier has said?” the letter says. by tom lasseter, mcclatchy newspapers
opınıons 3
editors: scott masselli, gabi seltzer opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865 COLLEGIATETIMES
october 14, 2010
The Collegiate Times is an independent student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903
Your Views [letter to the editor]
Hokies: Get fired up for season
D
ear students, The leaves are turning orange and maroon, and the temperature is dropping. This can only mean one thing: It’s time to hoop! As we prepare for one of the most anticipated seasons in Virginia Tech history, I would like to formally invite you to join me for our first “Chalk Talk” tomorrow at D2 at noon. Get insights into our coming season, our schedule, and our players. Enjoy great D2 cuisine and bad jokes by yours truly. Later that day, we will once again tip off the season following the volleyball game with “Late Night with the Hokies.” Player skits, contests, free commemorative T-shirts and a few surprises will be included. Let’s pack the Cassell and set the
tone for the coming season. We have had a record number of requests for student season tickets. The energy for our program has been at a new level. Most national publications have us ranked in the top 20 nationally and top 4 in the ACC. Pre-season publications will not affect us; we are committed to getting it done on the court. The challenge for you, as always, is to set the tone and create a championship atmosphere and energy — your ownership makes Tech basketball special. They only bring “College GameDay” to great environments, and you have created a great environment and atmosphere in the Cassell. See you Friday as Hokie Hoops hits the hardwood. Go Hokies,
Seth Greenberg Men’s basketball coach
Pay less attention to Lindsay Lohan hen I turn on the computer, before checking my e-mail, W I usually browse through a handful of news and periodical websites. To catch up on the daily events and happenings in politics, sports and such. These Web pages often have a wide variety of headlines in order to catch any random internet surfer. The latest in health, a new recipe, Wall Street, campaign races and on and on. You’ve all seen them. So last week, when going through this routine, I couldn’t miss reading Lindsay Lohan was returning to jail. I guess she likes alcohol. In my opinion, the gossip headlines get too much attention. But I’m for freedom of the press, and people can allocate their time to reading whatever they want. It’s America. Do what you want. Yet, as I flipped through a handful of our country’s most respected news sites, this Lohan headline dominated every square inch of my screen. My annoyance turned to disgust when I had to go all the way down to the lower right hand margin to find articles about a helicopter crash in Afghanistan and education reform. The point of the matter is not that I had to give an extra down scroll and click to get to the article I wanted. It’s a matter of perspective. To say most of us take many things for granted would be an understatement. We’re not even aware of how much of an understatement it really is. And I’m sure if asked which we are more concerned about, every American would say our troops or the educational future of children is more important than Lindsey Lohan. Yet, we consistently binge on banal subject matter. And even when we try to pay attention to current events, we defer to surface details or the childish shouting of opinions. Notwithstanding the fact that major news agencies are corporate juggernauts more concerned with grabbing readers than reporting relevant news stories, our daily readings reflect our personal priorities and concerns — as well as our country’s. Politics and current events can be just as much of a hobby as fantasy football or online shopping. Nevertheless, when we focus all of our daily attention on relatively mundane and irrelevant subject matter, we diminish our ability to form a knowledgeable position on events when they actually do concern us. Watch the news. I notice myself paying more attention to the summarizing ticker at the bottom of the screen than the person actually delivering the news. And I even pride myself at looking past the surface. Our love of the quick and easyto-understand is constantly encouraged by our news sources.
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We constantly binge on banal subject matter. And even when we try to pay attention to current events, we defer to surface details or the childish shouting of opinions.
The most popular news shows on the air right now aren’t the ones which have informative stories or didactic discussions. They are the ones with hosts yelling opinions and screaming at the opposition. Buzz words are used so we actually don’t have to remember someone’s political position. We can just attach our emotions to a simple phrase, put that person in a predefined category and disregard them completely. It takes but a minute. The inability to formulate a thought-out position affects the likelihood of rational action. Take the outrageous behavior at town hall meetings, for example. Does this behavior stem from individuals’ distrust and frustration with current politics and ideologies? Yes. But a feeling of frustration shouldn’t necessarily manifest irate actions. How many people have researched the workings of the economy in order to understand the implications of their views? Or health care? Financial reform? That’s not to say you must be an economist just to have a certain stance on economic issues. But when we rely on party politics and overtly emotional predispositions, we lose the capability to properly explain and defend our beliefs. We lose our capacity to communicate. This preoccupation with the trivial has left us unprepared to grapple with the complex political issues of this November. Thus, we are either scrambling to formulate our positions on issues we’re just now being introduced to, or we merely attach ourselves to people with the same opinions as ours. The fact we gobble up buzz words and surface details only compounds our lack of developed and mature political views. We have less than one month to elect politicians who will lead our local, state and federal governments. Everyone votes for different reasons, but in many respects we vote because of an alignment of personal views. Maybe one of the reasons we’re so upset with our current politicians is because we didn’t fully understand the implications of our previous political positions.
MATTHEW ENGLISH -regular columnist -senior -architecture major
Recent hate crimes, suicides show intolerance of society his past weekend, police arrested eight of the nine suspects who T allegedly carried out what is certainly one of the worse hate crimes in recent memory. On Oct. 3, nine members of the Latin King Goonies gang (a Latin-American gang from the Bronx) abducted and tortured three men because they were gay. The first victim was a 17-year-old the gang initially thought of as a potential recruit. They supposedly discovered the boy was gay and lured him to an abandoned apartment before severely beating and torturing him for hours. Following this initial savagery, the gang members lured a 30-year-old man and his 17-year-old lover into the building and tortured them in a similar fashion. Along with being beaten, slashed with box cutters and other atrocious acts, the gang members forced the 17-year-old to punch and burn the older man with cigarettes. As their bigoted cruelty wore off, the gang moved to the apartment of the older man’s brother, where they beat him, stole a TV, and took more than $1,000 in cash and debit cards. What makes this senseless tragedy all the more terrifying is its proximity to the suicide of a homosexual Rutgers student in late September. Tyler Clementi, an 18-year-old Rutgers freshman, plunged to his death off the George Washington Bridge after his roommate posted a video of him engaged in a sexual encounter. This is, however, merely another example in a recent wave of suicides of gay children that has being sweeping across the country. Seth Walsh and Asher Brown, both 13-year-olds, hung and shot themselves following brutal harassment by classmates for their homosexuality. In a similar fashion, high school freshman Billy Lucas reportedly hanged himself in his grandmother’s barn following savage harassment by classmates questioning his sexual orientation.
As these cases indicate, hate crimes targeting gays are becoming a more noticeable element of the criminal activity in the United States. The level of brutality people are able to execute against their fellow men never ceases to amaze me. We consistently reflect on the crimes of our fathers, looking into the gas chambers of Auschwitz or the slave quarters of the U.S., and we quietly state to ourselves “never again.” We praise ourselves for our own progression and evolvement, stating pompously how far we have advanced or how tolerant of a society we now live in. These arrogant claims crash into oblivion, however, when our society is able to produce such a level of hatred as to propel college, high school and middle school students to kill themselves because of harassment, or when three innocent men are savagely tortured because of their sexual orientation. Bigotry and intolerance are, of course, not new phenomena. Along with all other hurdles to social greatness, such as greed and ignorance, they stalk us through our progression, mockingly glaring at our achievements as they plummet into insignificance in the face of such unbridled hatred. We are able to conquer the air, sea, mountain ranges and deserts, yet we are not yet capable of conquering our own sadistic decadence. We construct colossal structures and ideas as monuments to our will for success. These structures do not serve to elate our spirit of greatness, however, but our vision may be brought above the hate and agony of our brothers suffering in the slums beneath their foundation. We hear of the brutal attacks made against our gay brethren this past month and feel sorrow over their struggle, what they deserve is not our sympathy but our attention.
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We are able to conquer the air, sea, mountain ranges and deserts, yet we are not yet capable of conquering our own sadistic decadence.
If we are to purge intolerance and hatred from our society, it will not be through an emotional sense of pity or sorrow, but through an active attention to the suffering of our fellow men. If we are to establish our species in the plane of greatness it should be and is capable of reaching, it will only come through the abolition of social indifference. As long as there are differences within our race, there will be antagonisms. I understand there are some who feel as though homosexuality is a sin, a cancer on our society and a force of debauchery threatening our social fabric. But my understanding exists insofar as recognition of its existence, not understanding of how a person is even capable of thinking such disgustingly inhuman thoughts about their brothers. Instead of stalling in incomprehension of our differences, perhaps embracing these differences as points of diversity and opportunities for learning is the best mode of bringing ourselves to our deserved greatness. Whatever the solution may be, I hope we may at least try to see our greatest enemy is our own personal hatred and indifference. This is a plague that has existed throughout the history of our species, and I am not so idealistic to think these recent hate crimes will bring about its eradication, but “I may be a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.”
JASON CAMPBELL -regular columnist -sophomore -philosophy major
You are not a gadget: Ut Prosim and the possibility of democracy ne morning, while drinking coffee and beginning my day’s O e-mail, I listened to an NPR segment on the upcoming midterm election. Several young people of voting age were interviewed. They were disappointed so little had changed since the 2008 election, which brought President Barack Obama and a majority of members from the Democratic party to Washington. They then said because of their disappointment, they were no longer “into politics” and will not be voting in this upcoming election.
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By not voting, the odds are more in favor of things not changing or, perhaps, of things returning to what was the status quo.
The position that little has changed, while arguable, is understandable. Making changes or changing course in a country as large as the United States is not easy. And, given the number of winds and gales that have been blowing (or were blowing even prior to the last election), I find it amazing we’ve had change at all. But rather than argue as we have (I’ll refer readers to a recent interview in Rolling Stone with Obama, in which he says he has accomplished 70 percent of his promises), I want to comment on these young voters’ decision to refrain from voting and link it to our university’s motto of “Ut Prosim.” My hopes are, at least, to generate a discussion around this issue and make potential consequences clear. Voting is probably the single most significant act of citizenship. By vot-
ing, you choose to participate in our democratic process. You fulfill your obligation to share your thoughts and your voice. I can already hear the other side, so I’ll be clear and acknowledge that yes, not voting is an act too. Make no mistake; by choosing to abstain, even though you are “acting,” you are not participating. You are silencing your voice, and the impact has no upside. I have four children and a stepson. All of my children are college age or just a bit older; my stepson is 17. I know they have strong opinions, and I know I don’t agree with all of them. Yet, when we talk, I listen carefully to what they say and weigh it, realizing their comments and perspectives are important and valuable. Occasionally I change my position based on what I hear or learn during our conversations. If they remained silent because I didn’t change my position every time, I’d learn little and nothing would change. By not voting, the odds are more in favor of things not changing or, perhaps, of things returning to what was the status quo. Those who have money or influence find it easier to rally people who will support their positions and “take back” what they lost. They take the helm and guide our ship to whatever shores promise the biggest returns. A select few truly benefit. But will you? Your parents? Your friends and neighbors? Hard to imagine a “yes” answer given high unemployment rates and stagnant wages. In his book on servant leadership, Robert Greenleaf explains, “If a better society is to be built, one that is more just and more loving, ... then the most
open course is to raise both the capacity to serve and the very performance as servant of existing major institutions by new regenerative forces operating within them.” We are the “regenerative forces” Greenleaf describes, and we can counter a powerful negative force in our culture, one that actually smiles or applauds when you step aside and do not speak (or vote). Whether or not you agree with me, I sense you believe Virginia Tech’s motto is not just about “service” in some menial or diminished way. Rather it about service that helps create a better society. Our education relies upon inquiry and deliberative discourse — to put it simply, it relies on thinking, reflecting and sharing ideas with one another. Such an education, as Martha Nussbaum says, “equips a citizen for genuine choice of a way of life ... and the ability to contrast alternatives.” Such a society asks each member to be a citizen of the world. It “recognizes in people what is especially fundamental about them, most worthy of reverence and acknowledgement, namely their aspirations to justice and goodness and their capacities for reasoning.” And how better to demonstrate your capacities for reasoning and your ability to contrast alternatives than take a position and vote?
JEFF DUBINSKY -guest columnist -CSECP director
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ACROSS 1 Green gem 5 Runs easily 10 Ruler marking 14 High spot 15 Baton-passing event 16 Delhi dress 17 Consequences of a minor accident, perhaps 20 Less than 90 degrees, anglewise 21 Baseball card data 22 “The Greatest Show on Earth” promoters 27 Totally dreadful 28 Place for cookies 29 Like EEE shoes 30 Skin: Suff. 31 Air gun ammo 34 ’50s political monogram 35 Before long 38 Span of history 39 “So’s __ old man!” 40 “¿Cómo __ usted?” 41 Horse’s stride 42 Adjust to the desired wake-up time, as an alarm 43 Gently slips past 46 Product improvement slogan 51 Be __ model: exemplify grace in success 52 Hideous sorts 53 Cozy inn whose abbreviation is a hint to this puzzle’s theme 59 Grandson of Adam 60 Celtic priest of old 61 Basis of an invention 62 Tennis do-overs 63 1,000 kilograms 64 Word with ghost or boom DOWN 1 Sharp punch
By Jeff Chen
2 “The Simpsons” storekeeper 3 FDR or JFK, politically 4 Wide-open space 5 Emotional shock 6 Hertz auto, e.g. 7 Of days gone by 8 Bar bill 9 Damascus’ land: Abbr. 10 “Lord, __?”: Last Supper question 11 __ decongestant 12 Greek island where Minos ruled 13 __ fit: tantrum 18 Pond gunk 19 G.I.’s group 22 Off-color 23 Tolerate 24 Winona of “Edward Scissorhands” 25 Spun CDs at a party 26 Caustic remark 30 Crime lab evidence, briefly 31 Beauty’s beloved 32 Payola, e.g.
10/14/10 Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved
(c)2010 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
33 Mythical mangoat 35 Get noticed 36 River of Flanders 37 Lead-in to girl or boy 41 Tones one’s body 43 Enter stealthily 44 Use emery on 45 Hide’s partner 46 Genesis tower locale 47 Dancer Castle
9/13/10
48 No-show in a Beckett play 49 Half-full or halfempty item 50 Smudge-proof, like mascara 54 Banned bug spray 55 Certain sib 56 Commotion 57 Use a Singer 58 Beachgoer’s shade
sports 5
editors: michael bealey, garrett ripa sportseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865 COLLEGIATETIMES
october 14, 2010
Volleyball shines in RPI ranking GEORGE TILLERSON sports staff writer Virginia Tech’s volleyball team (11-6, 2-5 ACC) made history by placing 33rd in the first Rankings Percentage Index release of the season — the highest any Tech squad has ever been ranked. The NCAA released its first RPI rankings, one of the most critical statistical measures for postseason seeding, on Oct. 4. The RPI ranking is based on a team’s winning percentage and strength of schedule. The Hokies got off to a strong 10-1 start, including an opening ACC victory at Virginia. Since then, Tech has gone 1-5, with each loss coming at the hands of an ACC foe. The historic ranking for the Hokies can likely be attributed to the preseason strength of schedule and early season success. Tech faced potential NCAA tournament contenders during its preseason tournaments, including No. 9 Tennessee, and beat both No. 34 Western Kentucky and No. 45 Missouri. Tech started ACC play with promise, earning a 3-2 road victory over UVa. The Hokies had multiple opportunities to continue success in the ACC with a trip to Florida when they took on the No. 24 Miami Hurricanes and No. 14 Florida State Seminoles. However, the Hokies were swept by the Hurricanes and suffered a demoralizing 3-2 loss at the hands of the Seminoles. Tech did not let the two losses hinder its confidence, as Miami and Florida State were two of the top teams in the conference.
The team regrouped and prepared for two more ACC matches — these in the more friendly confines of Cassell Coliseum — against Clemson and Georgia Tech. However, the Hokies did not take advantage of home court, dropping both matches by a score of 3-2 in their home openers. The two losses were certainly frustrating for head coach Chris Riley and company, because as of right now, Clemson 11-7 (2-5 ACC) is ranked just 69th in the newly released RPI rankings. Additionally, Georgia Tech 11-7 (4-3 ACC) is ranked a dismal 99th in the RPI, despite early success in ACC play. The Hokies had a chance to redeem themselves and pick up two ACC road wins this past weekend when they traveled to the University of Maryland and Boston College, two teams which are not in the RPI Top 100. However, Tech had another let down, as it suffered an embarrassing sweep at the hands of the Terps. The Hokies then swallowed their pride and snapped a fivegame losing streak with a win over Boston College. Conference play does not get any easier for the Hokies, as they take on No. 13 Duke and No. 57 Wake Forest this weekend in Cassell Coliseum. Tech travels to North Carolina to take on the 15th-ranked Tar Heels and 77th-ranked N.C. State Wolfpack. Both upcoming weekends give the Hokies a chance to assert their presence in the ACC and keep their graciously high RPI ranking.
Soccer turns corner with upset wins NICK CAFFERKY sports reporter While most of Virginia Tech has focused on the football team turning its season around, the women’s soccer team has done the same thing. After starting the Atlantic Coast Conference schedule with two losses, a 3-0 loss to Virginia and a 2-1 loss to North Carolina, the Hokies have won two conference games in a row and find themselves back in the thick of things. After the loss to UNC, in which the Hokies saw an early 1-0 lead fall by the wayside, Tech faced a serious identity crisis. It was a team full of talent, but for some reason it wasn’t getting it done on the field. Nonetheless, the Hokies turned things around rather quickly as victories over No. 7 Maryland and No. 4 Boston College gave the Hokies their first two big wins of the season. The cause of this turnaround has been, as cliche as it sounds, the “complete game.” Throughout the season, the Hokies have played great soccer for 75 to 80 minutes of game time. The problem is that a soccer game is 90 minutes long, and good teams can put you away for good in that little window of time. Examples of this temporary drop in quality have been seen in many games this season, including James Madison and UNC. On both occasions, the
AUSTEN MEREDITH / SPPS
Tech defender Kelsey Mitchell takes a shot against UVa on Sept. 23. Hokies gave up two goals in less than 15 minutes, changing the complexion of the game entirely. Tech was able to overcome the 2-0 deficit against the Dukes, but the two goals against the Tar Heels proved too much to handle. The ACC is the best conference in the country. It has five teams in the top 25 and has three others that received votes (Wake Forest, Duke and Tech). In that kind of a conference, even a
five-minute slip will lose you the game. Against Maryland, fans saw the Hokies play great soccer for all 90 minutes. There was no drop off after halftime or a let up in attack — it was a solid performance to get the Hokies’ first conference win. The same goes for the win against Boston College. If the Hokies want to compete for the rest of the season, they are going to need to put that kind of effort on display night in and night out.
Those two games have been momentum gainers, but the Hokies still have a lot of work to do if they want to reach their third straight NCAA tournament. Tonight, the Hokies host Wake Forest, which is 4-1 in the conference, and will follow that up with Duke on Sunday, Oct. 17. Those two games will be very important in shaping the season. If they win, the Hokies’ success could propel them forward to theoretically run the table, since the only remaining ranked team on the schedule is Florida State. That being said, every win in the ACC is hard-fought, and this is also the first time Tech won’t have an out-ofconference game to break up its ACC schedule. However, if the Hokies are unable to take advantage of this home stand against the first non-ranked opponents they’ve faced since Sept. 17, then all of the progress made in past two weeks was irrelevant. Tech has arguably the most talented team in the program’s history, and Kelly Cagle, head coach, has been firm in her belief she has something special with this group of players. Yet talent doesn’t always translate into success in sports, and the Hokies have six more regular season games to put it all together before the ACC tournament.
6 weekend october 14, 2010
editors: lindsey brookbank, kim walter featureseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865 COLLEGIATETIMES
Jack’s Mannequin lead singer lives his music MAJONI HARNAL features reporter Laughing at the term “rockstar,” Andrew McMahon, singer, songwriter and front man for groups Something Corporate and Jack’s Mannequin, said it’s just a blessing to get to play music for a living. “I live to play music; it’s my truest form of communication,” McMahon said. On Oct. 14, Burruss Hall Auditorium will reverberate with the melodies and beats of Jack’s Mannequin. Although the final set list hasn’t been decided, the band will bring a mix of hits from its first and second albums, “Everything in Transit” and “The Glass Passenger.” Citing “something special” about the rush onstage from communicating directly with the audience, McMahon cheerfully said in the end it’s all about pleasing the people who come out for the show. He said feel-good songs such as “La, La, Lie” that talk about friends really get the energy of the crowd going. Initially a side project for the thenSomething Corporate front man McMahon, the group has flourished in its own right. After recording, touring and living on hectic schedules, the members of Something Corporate burned out and went on hiatus. In his downtime, McMahon wrote a song called “Locked Doors” that was different than Something Corporate’s usual style. McMahon cited the “visceral experience” of going through recording the song alone in the studio as the moment that urged him to branch out. He said it was cool to see what he came up with when left to his own devices and decided it was worth exploring. Success of the group was shadowed, however, by McMahon’s fight against cancer starting in 2005. “It changed the trajectory of my life in a massive way,” McMahon said. “It had profound effects on me.” McMahon said he overcame his greatest health struggle with the unending support of his family and friends. A documentary titled “Dear Jack” was made from footage McMahon shot during this fight and later put together with interviews. Truly an independent, personal, handheld camera operation, McMahon wanted to keep a record of everything, and in the end he realized what could be done with the footage.
Carbon Leaf gets back to its roots ANDREW REILLY features staff writer
COURTESY OF JACK’S MANNEQUIN Andrew McMahon, lead singer, founded Dear Jack to benefit cancer survivors. When watching the film, McMahon said he gets chills when he thinks of the lengths that people have gone to help him get better. He described support from his immediate family, co-workers and fan base. “I learned it’s the kind of thing you can’t do alone,” he said. In the years following his medical episode, McMahon set up the Dear Jack foundation, which will be holding a benefit in November. The already sold-out benefit will raise money for Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation and the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. McMahon described the benefit as an alternative to an expensive tour so that all the money, rather than a portion of it, can go toward helping the survival rate for young adult cancer victims. Stating recent statistics, McMahon said he sought out relevant research groups and got the ball rolling. Deeming the venue modest, McMahon said he was “pretty stoked it sold out so fast.” The benefit will actually be the first time McMahon simultaneously fronts for both Something Corporate and Jack’s Mannequin. Sure to be an energy-draining show, McMahon said he is just excited about performing with Something Corporate again. The group only recently reunited for a summer tour, but McMahon said they have been having a great “celebratory phase” of having survived their experiences together.
Between all the concerts and benefits, Jack’s Mannequin is currently recording its third studio album in Los Angeles. Working on a few new tracks with Reliant K singer Matt Thiessen, McMahon promised some “little experimental” pieces on the new album. Although his career has been lengthy, spanning much of his lifetime, McMahon said he can pinpoint the favorite moment in his musical career. It was a charity project he did with Amnesty International, where multiple artists contributed covers of John Lennon songs to help raise money. What made it really memorable, he said, was the opportunity to work with Mick Fleetwood, drummer of Fleetwood Mac — a personally influential group he listened to on his parents’ radio growing up. McMahon said if he lived his life outside of music it would still be a creative endeavor. “I’d probably be in design,” he said. “Yeah, I would be involved in the aesthetic, something with construction or architecture.” McMahon said no matter what, he knows his life would lead him to connecting with the outside world, whether it is building a house or teaching a class, because he enjoys interacting with people. But all that is of course, speculation. McMahon has happily been involved in music since he was just nine years old. “It will never get old,” he said.
Football and great acoustic music: That’s what Virginia does. For evidence, look no further than commonwealth natives Dave Matthews, Jason Mraz and Carbon Leaf. One of Virginia’s most successful exports to the national music scene, Carbon Leaf is bringing its unique blend of Celtic and bluegrass acoustic rock back to Attitudes Bar and Cafe tomorrow night at 8 p.m. Tickets are still available for $15 preorder or $17 at the door for the 18 and up concert. It’s been an eventful year for Carbon Leaf since it touched down COURTESY OF CARBON LEAF in Blacksburg last fall. The five-memCarbon Leaf, independently producing its music after being with ber group released an EP, recorded a record label for six years, comes to Attitudes Oct. 15. songs for the “Curious George 2” soundtrack and played in the 10th “When you’re on the road so Carbon Leaf has returned to its annual Rock Boat festival alongside roots, independently producing much, in a away you kind of lose Sister Hazel and Augustana. The biggest event, however, came and distributing the music as it touch a little bit about what’s going in March when the band left its did during its formative years at on at some of the college towns major label of six years. The loss Randolph-Macon College. Privett around Virginia,” he said. Attitudes manager Joshua of record company resources may credits the shifting dynamics of the seem like a negative development, music industry with allowing bands Roseberry is glad to have the band but to hear lead singer and guitar to directly interact with fans, bypass- come back after its successful show last year. player Barry Privett tell it, the move ing the label system altogether. “I think that Carbon Leaf brings a “Especially with the digital age, has been the best thing to happen to and being able to release things variety to the area,” he said. “There’s the band in years. “We sat down and boiled down yourselves and control your distri- a lot of excitement around it.” Based on high pre-show interest, exactly what we wanted out of this bution, it was just a no brainer,” he Roseberry expects a large turnout. experience of being a band and it said. Junior finance major John Fuggi, The band is taking immediate was really just record and tour, get our music out and get out on the advantage of the newfound free- said he’s been excited to see the band road and just always be working on dom. A holiday album is planned ever since his roommate turned him the next big thing,” he said. “We’re for November and Privett says a on to their music. “They have such a unique sound very energized and glad to have that live DVD with companion album with a great mix of both up-tempo should be out to fans in February. flexibility back.” As if that wasn’t enough, a new and slower, more relaxed songs,” Members had grown frustrated with the restrictions of label control album is tentatively scheduled for a Fuggi said. Carbon Leaf knows a lot can — specifically, limitations on the spring release. “We’ll have another full-length change in a year. The band’s return amount music they could produce. The expensive traditional label pro- record probably by April or May,” to Blacksburg comes at a critical time in its history as the members cess of manufacturing and promot- said Privett. “It’s a lot of material.” Before embarking on a sup- enter the next phase of their musical ing releases reduces the frequency of port tour for the holiday album in careers. new music releases. There’s no anxiety in his voice as “When you’re on a schedule like November, the group is playing a that they only want you to release an series of concerts at universities in Previtt talks about the band’s new album every two years because they Virginia and North Carolina. Privett direction though, only excitement. “For us its just a matter of trying have so many bands under their said the band is looking forward label that you’re really just kind of a to the shows in Charlottesville and different things,” he said, “and we continue to do that.” Blacksburg. rotation crop,” Privett said.
COLLEGIATETIMES
collegiate living
october 14, 2010
107th year issue 102
MINA NOORBAKHSH / COLLEGIATE TIMES
collegiate living is all about about
LOCATION, LOCATION, on or off campus? | how much? | renters’ insurance necessary? | do they allow pets?
page 2
october 14, 2010
......radio for
everyone
Apartment complexes invest in security firms for safety LINDSEY BROOKBANK features editor When the sun goes down, wild college students emerge from their beds and studies to engage in typical latenight festivities. Whether it’s partying, taking a latenight run or cruising to DXpress, offcampus dwellers tend to come alive during the dark hours, which can be dangerous. But, have no fear. With the help of courtesy officers and security systems, students living free from dorms are still offered safe environments. Apartment and town home complexes in Blacksburg are mostly student-oriented, therefore property managers understand the need for amped-up security to keep residents safe. The Village at Blacksburg, Smith’s Landing Apartments, Pheasant Run Crossing, Pheasant Run, Clover Valley and University Place, plus others, utilize some type of nightly or all-day safety plan. Raines Property Management, which controls PRC, PR, Clover Valley and University Place, has a contract with AlliedBarton security services, which is a professional firm providing on-foot and in-vehicle security officers to monitor the complexes. “They are on patrol to provide security and to give a safe feeling to the residents,” said Reggie Britts, property manager for Raines Property Management, “And to protect the property and to assist a particular resident in any way that they can.” The security officers do not monitor full time, but instead during certain hours of the week and weekend, which are not disclosed so people don’t know when they can and cannot get away with a crime. This is their third year using the security officers. They initially hired them because of vandalism, however, Britts said the officers encounter everything from fender benders in parking lots to students who’ve consumed too much alcohol to disputes between residents. Britts’ philosophy is to not interfere with a party as long as it is under control. “We see they are here for college life,” Britts said.
“
It is just a way to implement a sense of community so our residents don’t feel like they don’t have to create a negative environment between their neighbors. BECKY BOMLIN PROPETY MANAGER, THE VILLAGE
Instead, the security officers for Raines act as a barrier between the residents and the police. They are to help the students understand a party is getting out of hand or they are putting themselves in danger. “Our goal is not to sit behind trees with binoculars calling the police saying, ‘Hey, there are five parties in Pheasant Run,’” Britts said. The Village has three courtesy officers, rather than security officers, who monitor the areas on foot from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. They have been doing so since the complexes, Phase I and Phase II, were built. The courtesy officers can be reached on an answering service when the office is closed. When a call is made, they are paged. Like Raines, The Village courtesy officers also monitor parties. According to Becky Bomlin, property manager for The Village, their lease agreement states gatherings larger than 10 people are not allowed without permission from management. If a courtesy officer is notified by another resident of a party that violates the lease agreement, or sees it, then they give the resident holding the gathering time to disperse it. “A lot of times though, if it is not something that is totally out of control, then we would never know about it,” Bomlin said. “But, if it gets to be disruptive to the neighbors, then the neighbors will report it, and the courtesy officer will show up.” However, if the resident does not clear the party, then the courtesy officer has every right to notify the police. “We give them every opportunity to fix it themselves,” Bomlin said.
Other than handling parties, the courtesy officers are also used as a buffer between neighbors. According to Bomlin, residents don’t want their neighbors to know they reported a complaint because they live beside them and see them daily. Rather than creating an issue with their neighbors, they can simply relay their complaint to a courtesy officer, and it will remain confidential. “It is just a way to implement a sense of community so our residents don’t feel like they don’t have to create a negative environment between their neighbors,” Bomlin said. And again, if the officers are unable to handle an issue on their own, then they are instructed to notify the police. The Village courtesy officers also fix smaller problems like allowing locked-out residents re-entry, making sure the area is welllit and changing light bulbs if it is not. At the end of each shift, the courtesy officers turn in a round sheet documenting each incident that occurred. Smith’s Landing takes a different, and more high-tech, approach to their security. Rather than having security or courtesy officers monitoring the premises, they have a 24-hour monitored security alarm system in every opening to the outside, like a window or door, in each apartment. The systems are activated by a simple touch pad. If a resident’s code is not entered on the pad upon entering the apartment, then a signal will go out to a monitoring service, which will contact Smith’s Landing. If the monitoring system cannot get in touch with the complex, then it will call the resident. If it cannot reach the resident, then it will call the police. Smith’s Landing has had this service since it opened in 2008. According to Mason Walker, leasing consultant for Smith’s Landing, the complex wanted to implement a new feature to make residents feel more at home. In addition to the security system, the police monitor the area during break periods because breaking and entering rates are higher during that time of year.
october 14, 2010
HOW TO:
find a place get renter’s insurance stay safe off campus
page 3
What to look for in housing Many apartment complexes start renewals between October and February, and begin taking new applications in February. Here are some things to consider during an apartment search:
• • • • •
Where is the apartment located? How close is it to campus? Consider living expenses (utilities, groceries, internet). How many people will live in the apartment? How well do you get along? Is the apartment area neat and clean? Do you feel safe there? How is parking handled at the complex? Is there space for guest parking if you plan on having guests over? • Do you understand the terms of the lease? A renter is bound to the lease after signing. • Take your time looking for housing. Don’t rush into a decision!
renter’s rights Renters have certain rights under the Virginia Residential Landlord Tenant Act.* •You have the right to a fair application fee. •You have the right to a fair security deposit. •You have the right to privacy. •You have the right to be informed of a change in management, ownership or change of property for some other use. •You have the right to a decent, safe place to live and a certain level of security. •You have the right to proper notice before pesticides are applied in your apartment. •You have the right to proper notice of a rent increase or decrease in services. •You have the right to a proper eviction notice. •You have the right to speak out. For more information on renter rights’ contact Student Legal Services at (540) 231-4720
*Some renters of town homes, duplexes and detached homes do not apply under the law. *information courtesy of Virginia Tech’s Off-Campus Housing office
safety tips TEN OFF-CAMPUS SAFETY TIPS 1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10
Make sure your door has a deadbolt lock and a peephole. Lock all doors at all times, even when you are at home. If you have common laundry areas, only use them during high traffic hours. Get to know your neighbors. Even if you are going out for a few minutes, lock your door and take the keys with you. Before signing a lease, drive through an apartment community during the evening hours to see how well lit the parking lots and surrounding areas are. Keep your key safe. Don’t leave a key under a doormat or flower pot — burglars know these places. Don’t overcrowd balconies and decks in housing communities. Make sure you know how many people can safely go on these areas. If you come home and believe someone has broken in, do not go inside. Find a safe place and call for assistance. Make sure you know who has access to building keys. Ask who has access to master keys of your apartment.
*information courtesy of Virginia Tech’s Off-Campus Housing office
*information courtesy of Virginia Tech’s Off-Campus Housing office
renter’s insurance faq What is renter’s insurance?
QA
Available to anyone living in a rental property, it can protect personal property against certain accidental damage. Renter’s insurance may also protect a person against liability claims if they are responsible for injury or damage against another’s property, no matter where the incident occurred.
What does it cover?
QA
Renter’s insurance protects against damage caused by fire, theft, lightning, explosions, wind or water damage (except for floods). The insurance may protect a renter from lawsuits filed by people injured at the rented property. Many insurance companies will provide temporary housing if a residence is deemed uninhabitable because of a covered incident.
How can I save on renter’s insurance?
QA
While pricing varies based on where a property is located and its size, renter’s insurance is usually cheaper than auto and homeowner’s insurance. A few ways to save include: -Compare prices from more than one insurance provider. -Buy your renter’s insurance from the same company as your car insurance — some have savings of up to 15 percent. -Ask about discounts. For example, some companies offer discounts for non-smokers.
october 14, 2010
page 4
Dorm life v. off-campus: Co-ed dorms gain campus popularity Both have advantages ENCARNACION PYLE mcclatchy newspapers
BILL BRINK mcclatchy newspapers Oct. 13 — Quick: Name one college movie where the characters throw a massive party in a dormitory. Can’t do it, can you? The Deltas in “Animal House” had the party house, Van Wilder had his bachelor pad, and the boys in “Old School” became a fraternity just to keep their place. So why would you ever live on campus? Pump the brakes for a second. Campus living is fantastic. Just do it right. On-campus and off-campus living offer separate, yet equally important benefits. The best approach is to take advantage of both. My dorm at the University of Notre Dame was built in 1952 as a temporary building, to be replaced by a newer dorm, and never left. It’s a gray cinder-block, L-shaped building, and I lived in the basement of it my freshman year. Our room had old wooden modular furniture, no sink and no air conditioning. The priest in charge of our dorm had a dog named Ellie. Thing about Ellie was, she smelled like a wet rug that had been left outside to rot for a few months. The communal kitchen in the basement had been defunct since about 1984; I once had to form-fit a mouth guard for sports and couldn’t do it because the stove wouldn’t boil water. We loved it. And we loved Ellie. I say “we” because I formed some of my closest friendships during that first year in the basement. We embraced the poor condition of the dorm together. You won’t find the proximity the dorm offers anywhere else in the world. Your closest friends live four steps away, and when you’re in a new place, potentially far from home, you come to appreciate the tight community a dorm offers. As you spend more time and become comfortable in the community, the dorm ceases to be a safety net and turns into a living, breathing organism. It has a pulse, moods, feelings, good days and bad days. It’s tough to describe, but it’s there, and it adds a vibrancy to your life that cannot be replicated. If you skip dorm life, you’ll miss something special.
Life in the dorm, however, fell far short of perfect. The rooms were small and claustrophobic. The dorm was single-sex. Resident assistants caught on to our shenanigans. As great as it was, it grew old, so my friends and I moved off campus. We lived in a house built in 1910 that was converted from an apartment building, a big brick square with eight bedrooms. It was exactly what we needed: no rules, more space, away from campus when classes became too much. It taught us how to participate in real life because we had to pay rent, bills, cook, clean and take care of ourselves. The latter three fell by the wayside, but the idea was there. We enjoyed the experience. We liked being able to throw parties for our friends without RAs knocking on our doors. We loved the distance from campus that allowed us to relax after a tough week. Living together brought us closer. We’d make an effort to do things together, be it as elaborate as planning beer Olympics or as simple as watching the Winter Olympics. I’d come home to find my roommates clustered around the TV watching curling with rapt attention, and life stopped because England just put two stones inside the four-foot circle in the seventh end to even the match. You can make your house or apartment your own. Decorate it how you choose, outfit it for your personal preferences: foosball table, Rock Band room, etc. It’s another type of special experience you will regret missing. There’s nothing like spending almost all of your time with a few of your closest friends. The best way to approach the on-campus, off-campus question is to experience both. Live in the dorms your first year. If you like it, stay. I was lucky. I got a great dorm. You may not. If you and your friends hate it, move off. You’ll know when the time is right. But make sure you move off at some point. Besides being a valuable learning experience, a sneak peek at real life, it forges a connection with you and your friends — those you live with and those you don’t — that lasts forever. Besides, the Deltas had to be on to something, right?
At most colleges, men and women have lived harmoniously together in coed dorms — often just a floor, wing or few doors away — for decades. Student activists at Ohio and Denison universities are now pushing for the final step in the student housing revolution: to allow members of the opposite sex to share rooms. The movement started about 10 years ago at a few small, progressive liberal-arts colleges in an effort to help gay and transgender students feel comfortable in on-campus housing. But more colleges are embracing the idea to allow all students, gay or straight, to pick the most-compatible roommates. In Athens, the Student Senate voted last week to support an effort to start a test program next fall at Ohio University. School leaders are studying the issue. Gay, bisexual and transgender students at Ohio University currently can request special accommodations, but they have to “out themselves” to the housing staff to do so, said
Amelia Shaw, vice commissioner of the Student Senate’s GLBT panel. “Can you imagine being put into such an uncomfortable situation? I don’t have to go in and say, ‘I’m straight,’” she said. Shaw noted that such accommodation often means students are put into single-occupancy rooms, which are more costly. Campus housing officials have been independently studying the issue since the summer. “We’re in the business of creating safe environments, and we think this is just the next logical step,” said Judy Piercy, associate director for residential housing. She said her department would need to make a recommendation by February to make it possible to roll out a few coed units next fall. About 55 schools nationwide, including the Columbus College of Art & Design, Miami University and Oberlin College in Ohio, allow men and woman to live in “genderneutral” housing. Freshmen typically aren’t eligible. Some schools have specific housing for gay and the small number of transgender students on campus. Others offer a few units where men
and women of any sexual orientation can live together. A few make coed housing possible everywhere but in single-gender halls. Generally, advocates say, about 2 percent to 3 percent of rooms at the institutions have been made coed. Many universities have resisted the concept because of concerns that some students would end up sharing not only a room but a bed. At Denison University, a small private college in Granville, student leaders submitted a petition this spring to allow coed rooms. “We are still in the very early processes of reviewing data, talking with students, thinking about it in committee and studying other programs at peer institutions,” said Bill Fox, associate dean of students and residential-life director. CCAD officials started offering gender-neutral housing last year after opening its new Design Square Apartments, which have private bedrooms. “We knew students wanted to live with whomever they wanted, but at the same time, we knew some people would look at this as a morality issue,” said Dwayne Todd, associate vice
president and dean of students. Like most schools, CCAD discourages romantic partners from living together. But officials were prepared to make room transfers if couples did move in together and then broke up. That hasn’t happened. “Most coed roommates are just friends,” said Jeffrey Chang, cofounder and associate director of the National Student Genderblind Campaign, an advocacy group that works with students and campus administrators to provide coed housing. Claims that gender-neutral housing would result in promiscuity among straight couples and the potential for violence haven’t materialized, said Chang, a second-year law student at Rutgers University. The suicide of Rutgers freshman Tyler Clementi, whose roommate had posted video on the Internet of Clementi having sex with another man, proves the need for this kind of housing, he said. “There are students out there like Tyler who don’t feel comfortable in their own campus home. How long are we willing to turn our backs on this need?” he said.
Bringing pets to college becomes option for some LUIS ZARAGOZA mcclatchy newspapers ORLANDO, Fla. — Jasmine Parham’s new college roommate is a dear friend from back home. The roomie responds to “Leo” and never goes to class, but can perform some neat tricks. Leonora, a frisky border collie, and her owner, Parham, are among the first residents of the first petfriendly dorm at Stetson University in DeLand, Fla. About 20 students and their pets — dogs, cats and a few caged gerbils and rats — are taking up residence at Nemec Hall, an established dorm, as the fall semester begins this week. Stetson is not the first college to have a pet-friendly dorm, but it’s among the relatively few schools — perhaps a dozen or so across the country — that have formal policies and accommodations. Stetson officials say the dorms could become a recruitment tool that helps set the school apart, just as big schools such as the University of Central Florida entice students with
football stadiums, basketball arenas and trendy eateries. The idea behind the dorm is to give students — freshmen, in particular — a familiar presence as they make the sometimes stressful transition from home to campus. “What better way to do that than to have a family friend there to greet you when you get out of class?” said Justin Williams, the university’s director of housing and residential life. Having a pet along for the college journey makes a dorm “a home away from home,” he said. Parham, a freshman from Palm Coast, Fla., agrees. “I love having my best friend here with me,” Parham said. Eckerd College, a private school in St. Petersburg, Fla., has had petfriendly dorms for years. So has Stephens College, a private school in Missouri that was the previous home of current Stetson President Wendy Libby. Libby brought the pet-friendlydorm concept with her to Stetson a year ago. Stetson staff members visited Eckerd and Stephens to get ideas on how to set up similar living arrangements.
Although small, independent colleges such as Stetson dominate the list of pet-friendly schools, powerhouses Caltech and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology allow certain small pets in some campus dorms. Many schools, especially public ones, may shy from pet-friendly dorms because of liability worries connected to animal attacks or building maintenance, Stetson officials said. Students sign an agreement that sets out terms. Obedience training is required for dogs. Aggressive or noisy animals can be sent home. In establishing policy at Stetson, the welfare of the animal was a priority. So inspections will be held to make sure students are caring for their pets properly. Students pay a $400-a-year surcharge to get a pet-friendly dorm room, with $200 of that refundable if the room is kept in shape. Part of the fee goes toward pet-related costs, such as establishment of a fenced dog walk near Nemec Hall. The rooms designated for pets are singles instead of standard double-occupancy rooms to avoid having cats and dogs
as roomies. Not all animals are allowed. Dogs 30 pounds and less are OK, as are cats and caged rodents such as rats, gerbils and hamsters. Small fish and turtles that can reside comfortably in small water tanks are fine, too. Because of potential odor issues, birds, most reptiles and rabbits are not on the approved list. Depending on how things go this year, however, the list may be expanded and the dog-weight limitation could be relaxed. It’s too soon to tell whether Stetson’s pet-friendly-dorm experiment will expand. Nemec Hall can accommodate up to 34 students with pets. Two additional rooms for resident staff also are pet-friendly. Arthur DeFilippo, a residentiallife coordinator on staff who lives in Nemec Hall with his wife, came to work at Stetson in part because of the pet-friendly living accommodations. There was no way the couple was going to give up Elphie, their pet puggle — a canine mix of pug and beagle. “For a lot of people, pets are like members of the family,” DeFilippo said. “It’s about quality of life.”
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As hectic college life begins, don’t ignore security issues KATIE FALLOON mcclatchy newspapers As I was deciding what college to attend, I didn’t think too much about campus safety. My mom worried about me going to school in New Haven, Conn. — a city that doesn’t, perhaps, have the best reputation when it comes to safety — but I had so much else to think about. I was busy imagining what classes would be like, wondering how accessible professors would be and trying to figure out what each school’s students were like. Even after I decided, I still didn’t think much about staying safe. The summer before freshman year was filled with so many other college preparations, I thought about campus safety only when articles on campus crime appeared in my room, courtesy of my mother. There was just so much else to keep me busy. There were awkward e-mail exchanges with future roommates: Future roommate No. 1: Hi, I’m so excited to virtually meet you. I’m sure we’ll be good friends! Future roommate No. 2: Definitely. Is anyone bringing an iron? I’m thinking of bringing one. Future roommate No. 3: It’s going to be so strange going to school up north. I’ve never had hot chocolate. Me: What?? Hot chocolate is only one of the most delicious beverages, etc. There were shopping excursions to Bed Bath & Beyond. (I promise not all the items on their college checklist are necessary.) I’m still not entirely certain what “tension rods” are, though a Google search informed me
you use them to hold up curtains, not to relieve stress) and there were hours spent packing up my room. Even when I got to campus, safety didn’t feel like a huge concern, though I did pay attention during the talks on campus safety during orientation. I dutifully entered numbers into my phone, such as the Yale Escort Service, which provides a security officer to walk students anywhere on campus they want to go 24/7, and the Yale Minibus, which is available at night to give students a ride. And I still have a card they handed out with safety numbers in my wallet: Yale Police, Yale Health Services, YUHS Urgent Care, Share Center for when “you or a friend are in need of sexual assault services.” I’ve never had to pull out the card except to look at it for this story, and the only time I’ve called the police was when a visiting friend somehow managed to accidentally press the red emergency button on one of the about 400 security blue phones stationed around Yale’s campus. I guess it’s good to know the response time is extremely quick — a voice came out from the speaker before I’d really even had time to process what she’d done. But while I’ve never had to call emergency numbers, friends have had to call. In fact, it was when I was thinking about a friend who was attacked and robbed at the end of the school year that the idea of campus safety for my essay came to mind. College is filled with so many incredible experiences, and concerns about campus safety shouldn’t interfere with any of them. But it’s worthwhile to at least know what you should do to protect yourself, even before the orientation packets arrive.
In between poring over your college’s course catalog and deciding which pair of old flip-flops will become shower shoes, reading up on how safe your campus is, and what it recommends you do to protect yourself, is certainly not a bad idea. Many schools have safety tips they put online, and the tips often overlap. Common ones include always locking doors and windows, not letting people you don’t know into your building, not walking alone at night and utilizing security escorts. I was pleased to find that Yale’s security website also offers a more unusual tip: “Use Operation Identification: Borrow an electric engraver pen from the Police Department or the Master’s Office and mark all your belongings with your driver’s license number and the state in which it was issued.” I also discovered that campus safety data for all schools is made public. Named for a 19-year-old who was raped and murdered in her Lehigh University residence hall in 1986, the Jeanne Clery Act requires that schools release information about crime on and around their campuses. The act has a website, which includes three years of crime data for all colleges and universities, accompanied by a glossary and other information about campus safety. Such statistics don’t tell the whole story — for instance, they say nothing about how a school handles the crimes — but they do provide concrete information, and it’s worth taking a look. Last bit of advice? If someone does start leaving information on campus safety around the house, go ahead and read it. You never know when such information might help you protect yourself.
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october 14, 2010