B.o.B brings magic to Burruss
JOSHUA MILLER / SPPS
An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
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COLLEGIATETIMES 107th year, issue 109
News, page 2
Food & Drink, page 5
Opinions, page 3
Sports, page 6
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Downtown adjusts to Chipotle opening CLAIRE SANDERSON news reporter A front entrance entirely blocked by wet concrete was not enough to keep burrito-lovers out of Chipotle last Thursday afternoon. “I think this speaks for itself,” said David Cox, a geography major pushing forward a plate piled high with used napkins and patting a full stomach happily. “I was only recently exposed to Chipotle. I’d never known about it for the first 23 years of my life, but as soon as I had it, my life was dramatically changed.” Cox’s enthusiasm is shared by many students at Virginia Tech, though some do have complaints about the new restaurant. “It’s too small, especially since there are so many students at Tech,” said Foad Kolbadi, a junior. “The first time they opened, and even for the first week, the line was just too long to go in.” But he added, “The food is great — we’re addicted.” Cox agreed the small size was a problem. “There’s too low capacity, and they way they’ve set up the tables is weird,” Cox said. “What would be amazing is if they had Moe’s location. That would be the best business in Blacksburg.” While a self-professed Chiptotle fan, Cox said he has met many who are loyal to Moe’s. “I’ve done my own little survey and I find that people who already like Moe’s still want to eat there,” Cox said. “I know that they have free chips, and I’ve heard that people also like the queso there, which Chipotle doesn’t have.” Despite Chipotle’s success, Moe’s regional vice president Angelo Dajon indicated their sales were going very well. “Sales are always good here. We’ve been here for three years and we’ve been doing very well,” Dajon said.
DANIEL LIN / SPPS
Customers line up for food during the opening day at Chipotle Oct. 5. Leaders of Downtown Blacksburg, Inc. say they will offer membership to the restaurant this week. As to what Cox had termed “a burrito showdown,” Dajon said Moe’s was not worried about business. “It’s the same reason that people are loyal to Hardee’s or McDonalds,” Dajon said. “Some people like one hamburger, some people like another. For us, some people like one burrito, some people like another.”
He said though both restaurants serve similar southwestern fair, there is a niche in the market for both. “It’s been great for them and it’s been great for us. What it tells you is that there are enough students at Tech to support both businesses,” Dajon said. And as Chipotle settles into its new Blacksburg location, it may soon have
the opportunity to become more fully invested in the downtown community and become a member of Downtown Blacksburg, Inc., a downtown business collective. Sue Drzal, administrative director of DBI, said she hoped Chipotle would join the organization. “We welcome any of our downtown
businesses,” Drzal said. Drzal said organization has waited to give the new business some time to get settled before approaching it about membership. “Probably sometime this week we’ll get over there and talk with them,” Drzal said. “Quite honestly every time we look out our window they’ve got a
big line.” While many of the businesses downtown are locally owned, Drzal said chains such as Chipotle are welcome, too. “I think it all boils down to what kinds of businesses — whether chain or locally owned — are a good fit for downtown.”
Tech ranks high in retention rates US Army grant ERIN CHAPMAN
UMW 75.7 percent
90 VT 77.5 percent
90
First-year Retention Rate 100
JMU 81.5 percent
100
UVa 93.2 percent
Virginia Tech fared well against other Virginia public schools in first-year student retention rates and job placement, according to a recently released poll. The poll, released Oct. 11 by the nonprofit American Institutes for Research and Matrix Knowledge Group, broke down graduation rates along several categories nationwide. The study included 15 Virginia public colleges and universities. According to the report, Tech has a 77.5 percent graduation rate, coming in fourth among public schools in Virginia behind the University of Virginia, William & Mary, and James Madison University. Tech was third in first-year retention rate with 91 percent of students returning for their second year in Blacksburg. One important aspect of the report is the ratio of student loan payments to earnings per recent graduates, which is a measure of the median starting pay for graduates. The median starting pay for a Tech graduate is $52,000. This is in the 94th percentile among all colleges and the 97th percentile among public colleges. Tech held the lowest student loan default rate, with only 0.7 percent of students defaulting on loans. UVa is fourth with 1.5 percent and JMU is in fifth with a 1.7 percent loan default rate. Compared with other states, Virginia comes in third in the country for overall graduation rate behind Delaware and Vermont. Virginia schools also ranked first nationwide for first-year retention rate, with 86 percent.
W&M 91.5 percent
Graduation Rate
news staff writer
UVa 97 percent 2.0 W&M 96 percent VT and JMU 91 percent VMI 1.8 87 percent
80
1.6
70
70
1.4
60
60
1.2
50
50
1.0
40
40
0.8
30
30
0.6
20
20
0.4
10
10
0.2
0
0
0.0
80
Student Loan Default Rate
aids education KATIE NOLAND news staff writer
JMU 1.7 percent UVa 1.5 percent
VMI 1.1 percent
VT and W&M 0.7 percent
MICHAEL MCDERMOTT / COLLEGIATE TIMES
A $17 million education grant from the U.S. Army will allow Virginia Tech to take the lead in teaching math and science. The grant will focus on educating students from fifth to 12th grade in STEM fields, short for science, technology, engineering and mathematics. With the grant, Tech is now the lead organization of a national cooperative agreement to determine what kind of teaching affects interest in math and science. Tech’s main role is that of creating a marketing strategy, collecting data and developing programs based on the data collected. Partners in the initiative include The University of New Hampshire’s Leitzel Center, George Washington University, the Junior Technical Engineering Society, Academy of Applied Science and the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association. The U.S. Army has supported youth science outreach for youth and teachers for more than 50 years.
“Their aim is to prepare the work force creating a science and technology literate people,” said Mark Bernhard, director of Tech’s continuing and professional education. Amy Parlo, Tech’s STEM K-12 Outreach Initiative Coordinator, explained the grant would unite programs funded through STEM outreach. “They decided to consolidate the program and look at how efficient it is. Now we are bringing it under one umbrella,” Bernhard said. “The individual programs have been successful, but we learned that they can be more successful if we coordinate efforts,” said Steve Culver, Tech’s associate director of academic assessment. Culver is heading the research portion of the project. He will be collecting and analyzing data in hopes of improving existing programs and creating more opportunities for STEM experience. “As our world becomes more and more connected, opportunities abound for those with education in the STEM-related fields,” Culver said. “We’re cresee GRANT / page two
2 news
news editors: philipp kotlaba, liana bayne, gordon block newseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865
october 27, 2010
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virginia headlines
Baby found in car used in robbery
COLLEGIATETIMES
Grant: Th ree ] hires expected
Registrars caution election day delays TYLER WHITLEY
from page one
LAKE RIDGE, Va. -- Police say a Dumfries man robbed a Lake Ridge grocery store Monday ngiht then led authorities on a chase into Stafford County, all with his 2month-old baby boy in the car. The robbery happened at 9:53 p.m. at the Bloom store in Dillingham Square, said Prince William police spokesman Jonathan Perok. A man walked in, displayed a gun and demanded money. He fled with an undisclosed amount of cash, in a red Dodge Neon. Police caught up with the Neon near Nugent Lane in Dumfries a short time later. Officers tried to stop the driver, but he ignored the lights and sirens, Perok said. A pursuit ensued onto Interstate 95 and into Stafford County. Stafford County sheriff’s deputies and state police troopers set up a rolling road block to try and stop the Neon. At one point, the driver swerved his car toward at deputy’s cruiser, said Stafford sheriff’s spokesman Bill Kennedy. The driver was finally stopped near the 135 milemarker, and that’s when authorities discovered the 2month-old baby in the car. Prince William police charged Marquise Antwallious Cody, 22, with armed robbery, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, reckless endangerment and felony eluding police. Stafford sheriff’s deputies charged Cody with felony eluding, attempted malicious wounding to a law enforcement officer, reckless driving, child neglect, reckless endangerment and possession of stolen property, Perok said. The baby was uninjured and turned over to family members.
ating all kinds of connections. That’s the fun part, creating a nifty network.” Culver noted the grant funding allows Tech to build on its own STEM outreach programs. Tech runs programs including Kids’ Tech University, the C-Tech2 summer camp program, and a STEM Mobile Learning Lab in Danville, Va.
“
As our world becomes more and more connected, opportunities abound for those with education in the STEMrelated fields. STEVE CULVER ACADEMIC ASSESSMENT
Parlo also works with master’s students at Tech who are seeking licensure in science teaching. She works with the professional development of Virginia’s practicing teachers through Tech’s Distance Delivery master’s program.
“I believe it is my experience in both of these areas that lends itself to our efforts to participate in STEM-related youth programs like the Army’s Youth Science Cooperative,” Parlo said. According to a release from Tech, the grant will pay for the hiring of three full-time Blacksburg-based staff members, including a project director. “Our part of the grant will be utilized for staffing including leading and working with partners, creating a marketing strategy, collecting data and equipment and materials,” Bernhard said. Bernhard said Tech will see effects down the road, as early as summer 2012. Culver said the research will determine how effective the programs are and whether they really lead to more people entering the math and science fields. “Things we find might lead to changing curriculum here,” Culver said. “Not just programs or the implications of programs, but how to use it for a better identity in other places.”
mcclatchy newspapers RICHMOND, Va. -- Registrars say the state’s VITA-operated voter verification system is so slow that there may be delays Tuesday on election day. While operating sluggishly for some time, VERIS the name of the system has been working more slowly since a meltdown in August, registrars say. The State Board of Elections sent out a warning today about the system. “Oh my God, yes, it’s slow,” Kirk Showalter, the Richmond registrar, said. Her office has had to assign more people to put voter information into the system, particularly now, when absentee ballots are mailed, she said. “VITA and [the State Board of Elections] and Northrop Grumman have known about this since the ‘big state computer breakdown’,” Bill Jenkins, the Sussex County registrar, said. “You think for $2.5 billion it would get up and go.” The $2.5 billion refers to the state’s 13-year computer-management contract with Northrop Grumman. Because local registrars will be unable to verify some voters’ records on election day, Jenkins fears those voters will have to cast provisional ballots. “This will delay results,” he said. If
[
the federal election is affected, the registrars will take the heat, he added. This week, the registrars need the system to check and see whether a voter has already voted absentee. Nancy Rodrigues, Secretary of the State Board of Elections, and Sam Nixon, head of VITA, issued a statement telling voters not to worry. “Virginia voters can be confident that every registered voter will be able to vote in this election and every vote will be counted,” they said. They acknowledged that “system slowdowns are being experienced at times and State Board of Elections staff and VITA engineers are working together to resolve them. Most importantly, the system slowdowns will not impact a qualified voter’s ability to vote.” Other registrars were optimistic for few problems on election day. Mark Coakley, Henrico County registrar, said the system is so slow that it will “time out” before a computer entry can be made. He added the system may be slower in the morning. But Coakley said he anticipated few problems on election day because by then the entries will have been made. Haake said there may be some problems verifying addresses, but he did not expect an election backup.
CORRECTIONS JUSTIN GRAVES -Contact our public editor at publiceditor@ collegiatetimes.com if you see anything that needs to be corrected.
nation & world headlines Indonesia volcano eruption kills 15
At least 15 people were killed and 13 injured Tuesday after a volcano on Indonesia’s Java island erupted, spewing clouds of hot ash, local television reported. Metro TV said thousands of people were moved by trucks and cars after Mount Merapi started spewing hot ash and volcanic rocks just before dusk, a day after authorities upgraded an alert status to the highest level. Television footage showed residents, most wearing masks, being taken away in trucks with windscreens covered by dust. “This is an initial phase of an eruption,” said Subandrio, head of the Volcanic Technology Development and Research Centre in Yogyakarta, who like many Indonesians uses only one name. Metro TV reported that 15 badly burned bodies were found near the house of Mbah Marijan, the man known as the keeper of the mountain, who had refused to leave his home. It said one of them was a journalist who climbed the mountain to interview Marijan. An Indonesian Red Cross official said 13 people were injured and were being treated in a hospital. Officials could not be reached immediately to confirm the report of deaths. Vulcanologist Surono said three explosions were heard at around 6 p.m. (1100 GMT) and Merapi spewed clouds of black smoke 1,500-meters into the sky. On Monday, authorities began moving children and elderly people to some of the 60 emergency shelters after scientists upgraded the alert status as lava flowing down the cone’s slopes reached 2.8 miles. Tents, blankets and plastic sheeting were distributed to dozens of evacuation points around Yogyakarta and Central Java provinces, said Arief Setyo Hadi, an official with the Indonesian Red Cross. Officials estimated up to 40,000 people were living in the area.
Rangers, Giants open World Series tonight 106th edition of Major League Baseball’s Fall Classic features the San Francisco TTheheGiants and the Texas Rangers, a battle of two tortured fan bases. American League champion Texas Rangers are in completely unfamiliar territory, having never reached baseball’s pinnacle series. The National League representative San Francisco Giants have not won a World Series since their move from New York after the 1957 season. Here is a quick position-by-position preview of the 2010 World Series. Series prediction: Giants in 7
by MATT JONES | sports reporter
Center Field
American League MVP candidate Josh Hamilton against a combination of Andres Torres, Aaron Rowand and Cody Ross? Advantage: Rangers
Left Field
Right Field
While neither is special, this matchup might come down to who can get the big hit. The Giants have Pat Burrell, a 10-year veteran who won a championship with the 2008 Phillies. The Rangers’ David Murphy has yet to make any noise this postseason. Advantage: Giants
It will most likely be Ross in right for the Giants, a player who torched the Phillies pitching staff in the NLCS. Nelson Cruz for the Rangers provides some pop in the middle of the lineup. Cruz will be the more consistent player in this series, as he is a righthanded hitter against the two Giants lefties. Advantage: Rangers
Shortstop
For most of the playoffs, the Giants have used a platoon of Edgar Renteria and Juan Uribe at shortstop. While their production has been average, Texas has gotten all it could ask for and more from young leadoff hitter Elvis Andrus. Look for Andrus to continue his hot streak. Advantage: Rangers
Third Base
The Giants situation at the hot corner is similar to shortstop. Uribe and Pablo Sandoval will split time, with Sandoval handling the bat a little better. The Rangers have veteran Michael Young, who in his first postseason has been the calming presence in the Rangers’ locker room. Advantage: Rangers
Second Base
Texas is set for years to come with their talented young second baseman Ian Kinsler. After starting the season on the disabled list, Kinsler battled back to win a reserve spot in the All-Star Game. San Francisco pencils in Freddy Sanchez, who just simply isn’t on Kinsler’s level. Advantage: Rangers
Starting Pitching
Tim Lincecum, Jonathan Sanchez, Matt Cain and Madison Bumgarner take the hill for the Giants, a rotation that had the thirdlowest earned run average in all of baseball in 2010. While the Rangers have the always-clutch Cliff Lee on their side, the rotation behind him doesn’t match up with the Giants. Advantage: Giants
First Base
The Giants start Aubrey Huff, whom they signed this past January to a 1-year, $3 million contract. The veteran first-baseman has done everything they’ve asked of him, batting .290 on the season while missing only five games. The Rangers, who traded prospect Justin Smoak on July 9 for Cliff Lee, are now left with Mitch Moreland, a solid yet unproven player. Advantage: Giants
Relief Pitching
In a series that came down to the bullpens, the Giants’ relievers stepped up for the most part, relying heavily on closer Brian Wilson (and his beard) for the big outs. The Rangers’ bullpen looked shaky at best against the powerful Yankees lineup. Advantage: Giants
Bench
The Giants ability to bring Uribe, Sandoval, Renteria, Ross, Rowand and Torres into the game, depending on who’s starting, will pay off big in this series. Texas doesn’t have nearly as deep of a bench. Advantage: Giants
Catcher
This may be the most intriguing matchup of the World Series. On July 1, Bengie Molina was traded from the Giants to the Rangers, allowing the Giants to start rookie stud Buster Posey behind the plate. The move has clearly paid off for both teams, as the Rangers got a veteran signal-caller while the Giants got a lot younger. In this series, look for the rookie Posey to play beyond his years. Advantage: Giants
]
Manager
Prior to arriving in San Francisco, Bruce Bochy was the manager of the San Diego Padres, where his teams won four division titles and appeared in one World Series. Ron Washington is in his first postseason as a manager. Advantage: Giants
opınıons 3
editors: scott masselli, gabi seltzer opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865 COLLEGIATETIMES
october 27, 2010
Working to end abusive romantic relationships ave you a bouquet of roses to ask you out? Such a sweetG heart. Offered you his umbrella when it was raining outside so your hair wouldn’t mess up? He simply likes you. Drove an hour to take you to the best restaurant in the town with a magnificent view for dinner? He loves you. But, does he go overboard with expressing his feelings toward you and tell you what and what not to do? Does he text or call you constantly to ask what you did or whom you are with, or does he stalk your Facebook and ask you why you added a guy? Does he yell at you if you talk to any guy? If you answered yes to some of these questions, then he is definitely not the one for you. I have seen many a girl refuse to break up with her boyfriend — even if she is not having a good time with him — just because they have been dating for so long. Sometimes she thinks she might be the one with issues and should give the relationship time to fix itself. She would rather choose to be tormented by him than stand up for her own happiness and break it off with him once and for all. Whatever the reason is, if it’s not right, then it’s not right. Giving more time to an already bad relationship won’t make it any better. It can only get worse. Why be with a guy who violates your personal space, provides no sense of security and has instead become a threat to you? Ladies, you are smart people — that’s why you are attending such a prestigious university. But what’s the knowledge worth if you can’t even stand up for yourself and can’t protect your own rights — your right to be happy, to be with the best guy? A woman who doesn’t speak of the torture she has been facing is no different from the person who committing it; she is supporting a vicious cycle and is equally to blame.
Life is too short to dwell on bad relationships; end them before they begin. If you get even the slightest hint the guy you are with isn’t right for you, you should not be with him. Virginia Tech is a big university. I am sure out of all the good guys out there, you can find someone who will treat you better than your current abusive boyfriend. If you can’t find one, what’s so bad about that? Spend the spare time discovering new hobbies, or catching up with friends you might have lost because your boyfriend wanted you to shower all your time and attention on him. And my genuine request to all the boyfriends, fiancees and husbands out there, including the abusive kinds: Please stop for a moment and think about how you have been treating the women in your life. Women aren’t there to entertain men or to be objects of pleasure. Women deserve to live as happily as everyone else in the world; they are not there to satisfy men’s need. They are someone’s daughter, someone’s sister and someone’s friend. Would you be fine if a guy yelled at your sister or beat your friend? If you truly cared about your girlfriend and liked her so much, you would let her be happy and not make her life miserable. For those girls out there who are still in abusive relationships, there is plenty of help out there. Reach out and there will be many people supporting you. Stand up for your happiness, because you deserve to be happy.
NAMRATA SHRESTHA -regular columnist -sophomore -economics
Your Views [letter to the editor]
SGA needs feedback to advocate better Fall is in full season on campus, and this just shows all of us why Virginia Tech is so special. There are a lot of exciting events happening on campus, be sure to take some time off from your busy schedules and get involved with all that Tech offers. This past week, the Student Government Association has been surveying students on campus to hear about your issues and concerns. This is important because the SGA represents all of the undergraduate students and we want you to be able to voice your opinions, which we can then advocate for you to the administration. On Tuesday, Oct. 26, Ed Spencer, vice president for student affairs, held office hours in the SGA office to listen to students talk about their issues and concerns on campus. The next “VP is In” with Dr. Spencer is Nov. 10 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the SGA office. Please come by and talk with him about anything. SGA is continuously working hard to make this year a great one for the students. Our committees on sustainability, transportation, marketing, diversity and inclusion, community initiatives, Hokies on Fire and student outreach are all planning and collaborating on events for
the rest of the year. We have four days left in October, so be sure to take advantage of the “30 Days of Blacksburg,” and get 10 percent off in downtown Blacksburg stores by showing your Hokie Passport. As fall comes to an end, remember to support the Hokies by getting your Maroon Effect T-shirt at the University Bookstore or the Volume Two Bookstore for the Thursday night football game against Georgia Tech. These long sleeve T-shirts are only $10. In addition, basketball season is almost here, so be sure to pick up our Hokies On Fire Maroon Monsoon T-shirt for $7. The Maroon Monsoon game will be played against Duke on Feb. 26 and is a huge game, as ESPN’ s College GameDay will be here in Blacksburg. Remember, SGA is here to represent you. Please do not hesitate to e-mail us at sga@ vt.edu with your ideas or concerns. Stop by our office in 321 Squires, or friend us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/vtsga. To find out more about all of SGA’s events and programs, visit www.sga.vt.edu. Enjoy the weather before it gets really cold and go Hokies!
Bo Hart SGA President
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MAHEEN KHURSHID/COLLEGIATE TIMES
Make an informed choice about food consumption your next trip to one of Blacksburg’s handful of groOn cery stores, take a quick moment to look around before you start filling your cart. Look in the produce section. Look in the meat case. Look at the coffee, the milk and the bread. Even take a look in the snack food section. Notice the variety of options available to you as a consumer. Now, I’m not talking about the variety of brands or even the sheer variety of types of food products. I’m asking you to notice the variety of options you have as a consumer with regard to how and where your food is produced. You can buy food that is certified organic. You can buy food that is “all natural.” In some stores, you can even buy locally-sourced food. And then, of course, there’s always the conventionally produced food that usually doesn’t have a special designation. And this list is in no way exhaustive; there are all sorts of little qualifiers (think along the lines of “no hormones used”) that you could potentially see on your food’s packaging. But what does it all mean? What’s the difference between organic, natural and conventional, and is it even important? It is important to understand that these designations are referring to the way food is produced — be that in on-farm growing methods or even in processing. A common misconception is these labels refer to the nutritional value, taste quality or safety of the product. Second, understand the terms you see on your food’s label are not interchangeable. Organic and natural do not mean the same thing, and phrases like “no pesticides used” may not actually mean the product is certified organic. The term organic, as officially defined by our friends in Congress, means the food was produced on a farm certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic
Program. USDA sets the standards for a producer to become certified organic. Once that producer is certified, you can be guaranteed your food was produced in a specific way — without the use of pesticides, growth hormones, antibiotics or anything else of this sort. Again, understand that an organic label relates only to how the food was produced. According to USDA, organic food isn’t more nutritious than conventionally produced food, nor does an organic label mean the food is necessarily safer. All food produced in the U.S. must meet the same safety guidelines set by the Food and Drug Administration and USDA, and these guidelines do not differ depending on the method of production. Furthermore, if a meat product is labeled organic, that doesn’t mean the animals were raised in a more “humane” way than animals raised by conventional farmers. There are humane care standards all producers must meet, and these aren’t different for organic producers. Another type of label that you may see in a supermarket is “natural”, “all natural” or some variation. There is a little more flexibility with this label according to national standards. USDA defines “natural” as a “product containing no artificial ingredient or added color that is only minimally processed.” So, any food product that meets this fairly broad definition can be labeled as natural. Again, food with this type of designation is not necessarily safer, healthier or better for the environment or the animals than any other type of product. It is simply one more option for consumers as we navigate the aisles of the local grocery store. Finally, what about food that doesn’t have any label difference or special designation? Generally, this type of food is referred to as “conventional,” meaning that it was produced using the most
common methods in the agriculture and food industry. For example, in the beef industry this probably means some sort of antibiotic was used on the animal sometime during its life. Does this make this type of food less safe to eat, worse for the environment, nutritionally inferior or worse from an animal welfare perspective? Not at all. All it means is farmers use wide varieties of production methods to grow that food. Looking back to the beef industry example, most farmers and ranchers use antibiotics on their animals, sometimes to ensure those animals are as healthy as possible. Furthermore, there are guidelines for “withdrawal periods” which state how long a farmer must wait before harvesting after administering that antibiotic to ensure no residue is left over in the meat you buy. One of the greatest sources of pride for folks involved in agriculture is the fact we can provide options for consumers. So, no matter what your income level or what factors lead you to your food choice, there will be an option for you at Kroger, Food Lion, Wal-Mart or wherever else you may shop. So, the next time you drag yourself to the store to pick up a few groceries, keep your options in mind. If you’d like, you can buy food that is organic. You can buy food that has a “natural” label. You can buy the cheapest food. You can even buy food based on how colorful its packaging is. If you prefer your food to be produced and processed in a certain way, you have that option, and people in agriculture take pride in providing it.
BRAD COPENHAVER -regular columnist -junior -economics major
‘Jersey Shore’ provides escape from everyday college worries would like to take a break from the usual topics of politics and current Ievents this week to discuss something a little more captivating — MTV’s “Jersey Shore.” I’ll spare you all the exposition of the show, because if you don’t already know about the fist pumping, GTL (gym, tan, laundry) or Snooki, you probably have better things to do. Following the drunken shenanigans of Snooki, JWoww, Angelina (I’m so glad she left), Sammi, Pauly D (his immovable hair included), Vinny, Ronnie and “The Situation” has become one of America’s favorite pastimes for the past 10 months and a staple of college towns on Thursday nights. I always feel a little embarrassed when I confess my love for “Jersey Shore” to others, even though it’s one of the more popular shows of this generation. It’s sort of like confessing you listen to Miley Cyrus or telling a James Madison fan you go to Virginia Tech (no, I’m still not over it). You think to yourself, “If I was on the other side of this conversation, I’d look down on me.” Self-deprecation aside, my relationship with “Jersey Shore” hasn’t always been roses. I had a very tumultuous, love-hate beginning with the show before it blossomed into one of my more inappropriate timesinks. Friends of mine had informed me of the show’s premiere last year, and because I hadn’t watched MTV since about eighth grade, I was nowhere near prepared for what I was going to experience. I was instantly taken aback by the ridiculous number of V-neck T-shirts, drunken tirades, bludgeoning egotism and the profoundly vapid conversations. Like most, I was quick to declare this abomination of a show the personification of “what is wrong with America.” This disapproval only grew as the show’s popularity skyrocketed. Sammi and Ronnie’s relationship took flight and I was squirming in my seat. I was by no means forced to watch, but the show’s easy conversion to a drinking game with friends made
it difficult to pass up. People began to validate their enjoyment of the show by saying it made them “feel so much better about themselves” compared to the idiocy demonstrated by the characters of “Jersey Shore.” For me, this rationale would have been acceptable except for the fact that each one of these “idiots” was making thousands of dollars every episode and the drama portrayed in the show seemed to supersede the drama of the national economy or health care reform. But what concerns do we, as students, really have for such uninteresting topics? It was the first mass-commercialized demonstration of the stereotypical “guido,” which most had only enjoyed through online forums and ridiculed pictures. Sheer distaste transformed into indifference for me, as I accepted there was nothing I could do to change the opinions of my friends and the millions of viewers helping “The Situation” become a household name. Soon thereafter, something scary happened — I began to enjoy the program. In my eyes, a character like Pauly D turned himself from the antithesis of a role model into an entertainer (albeit more Bozo the Clown than Johnny Carson). Especially in this second season, it became clear that “The Situation,” Pauly D, and Vinny understood what fueled their popularity and amped it up to sensational levels. They embraced the fact that they were essentially big jokes and they understood viewers were only watching for the “oh-my-God-whatwill-they-do-next?” effect. While this meant the misogyny and narcissism was extrapolated to the 10th degree, more and more of my friends began to watch the show. The hour that is “Jersey Shore” became an alternate reality for me. I ignored the fact there are actually people like this in the world and laughed away as JWoww threatened to beat up virtually every other person on the show.
I even began to like some of the characters (which, pardon the lack of subtlety, is exactly what they are); Vinny seemed like the most down-to-earth guy on the show and I actually started to root for him to get the girls. Snooki slowly became my favorite girl of the bunch, just because I failed to find any redeemable qualities in any of the other girls. This does not mean, however, that I’ll be reading the novel she says she wants to write once the show is over. “Jersey Shore” transformed into a live-action version of “The Simpsons” for me. The characters were fantastical and their actions inexplicable. None of it seemed real, yet I knew it was and that’s what made it so comical. On top of this, what has mostly contributed to my love of the show is the fact that I share the enjoyment with good friends. Drinking games aside, “Jersey Shore” is a true group viewing experience that provides laughs and sets the stage for effortless impersonations. There are plenty of ways to have fun with friends and this show undeniably provides one of those opportunities. Its unbelievably careless and self-concerned characters create an atmosphere that makes us forget the stresses of life and allows us to just feel OK. Ignorance can be bliss and “Jersey Shore” blissfully celebrates ignorance in a comically entertaining way. While this escapism can be applauded as unique by people like me, it is important this type of amusement and thinking doesn’t consume us for more than that one hour once a week. So plop down in your La-Z-Boy, grab a cold one and take refuge in the almost fictitious, carefree parallel universe of “Jersey Shore.” Just remember to come back to the real world once its over.
OWEN DAVIS -regular columnist -senior -political science
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ACROSS 1 Cabo locale 5 Fall, as home prices 10 Havana howdy 14 Distant start? 15 Insured patient’s med cost 16 Mideast nation 17 *Coconut dessert 19 State bordering eight others: Abbr. 20 Krazy of comics 21 Backsliding event? 22 Tourist attraction 23 *Facetious name for a fund-raising circuit entrée 27 Some campus sisters 29 Big repair bill reaction 30 “Hee Haw” prop 31 Kuwaiti currency 33 Fairy tale legume 36 Where it’s laughable to see the answers to starred clues 40 Old curse word 41 Overhangs 42 Canal that Sal worked on, in song 43 Stud farm stud 44 Groundbreakers 46 *Mixer holder 51 Mindful 52 Rankles 53 TV channels 2 to 13 56 Lisa’s title 57 *Yellow slipper? 60 “Agreed!” 61 Put an __: stop 62 Janis’s comics mate 63 Sale caution 64 County northeast of London 65 Oceanic flora DOWN 1 Eponymous German brewer Heinrich 2 Caribbean color 3 “Don’t worry about it!” 4 River isle 5 Surgical coverage?
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6 Raccoon ___, “The Honeymooners” fraternal group 7 Like some echelons 8 Printemps month 9 Joe-__ weed: herbal remedy 10 Like smart phones, e.g. 11 Vacuum shown lifting a bowling ball in TV ads 12 Tilting pole 13 1997-2006 UN leader 18 Goya’s “Duchess of __” 22 Prefix with scope 24 Sch. near the Rio Grande 25 Bops 26 ’50s Red Scare gp. 27 Kitchen meas. 28 Saintly circle 31 One going down 32 Assure victory in, slangily 33 Gut it out 34 Cut out, say 35 Bridge assents 37 Take by force
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38 Container allowance 39 Keyboardist Saunders who collaborated with Jerry Garcia 43 Range rovers? 44 Loc. with billions in bullion 45 “__ girl!” 46 Island where Robert Louis Stevenson died
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Available for every home game
october 27, 2010
editors: lindsey brookbank, kim walter featureseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865
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food & drink Amateur and expert brewers alike prepare for Brew Do COLLEGIATETIMES
MAJONI HARNAL features reporter Beer enthusiasts rejoice, because Blacksburg Brew Do is back. The second annual craft beer festival is a sister to the Blacksburg Fork and Cork, which takes place in the spring. Brew Do will provide a variety of entertainment and activities, with beer as the central focus, Saturday, Oct. 30 from noon to 5 p.m. “We started both events because neither were being offered in Blacksburg,” said Diane Akers, Blacksburg Partnership president. Akersexplainedtheeventsaregeared toward providing the Blacksburg area with community events, while stimulating the local economy by showing others in the area what the town has to offer. Host brewery Bull & Bones Brewhaus and Grill is one of 20 participating breweries that will offer beers, ales, pilsners and stouts to the thirsty crowd. Attendees can buy tasting tickets to sample the large assortment of drinks. Another component of the festival is the home-brew competition, where 85 brew entries are being judged in four categories. Last year’s best-ofshow winner, Dave Hrdlicka, had his winning beer brewed by Bull & Bones. Virginia Tech’s community liaison, Joshua Gambrel, also walked away with two awards last year. As a member of the New River Valley Brewer’s Guild, Gambrel has always enjoyed brewing and looked up the local
Home Brewers Association upon his arrival to the area. “It’s an inclusive, fun group,” Gambrel said. “We encourage anyone to join, whether they know how to brew or want to learn about beer. Maybe they’ll get interested in brewing themselves.” Gambrel enjoys brewing so much that he is actually going professional soon as an assistant brewer at Big Daddy’s in New York. Although the competition is closed for this year, anyone interested in brewing shouldn’t underestimate their capabilities. Senior chemical engineering major Chase Damiano is a local brewer who started with an all-in-one kit and has graduated to more complex procedures. “It’s a 50/50 split between art and science,” Damiano said. He explained the kit gave him a basis from which he could design a personalized recipe. “Everything is your decision, from what hops you use to the grains to water quality,” he said. A helpful element for amateurs is the home-brewing demonstration by Mike Anderson of Barley Dog Brewery and the NRV Brewer’s Guild. The demonstration will encompass the entire brewing process, from setting up the equipment to fermenting. Tech geography professor John Boyer will be giving three talks about beer in history. Restaurant Row will balance out the numerous beer options. Five area restaurants will be selling their fare during the festival. Furthermore, four
local chefs will be whipping up dishes in which beer is an important ingredient. Mouthwatering entrees such as Wisconsin cheddar ale soup and pale ale lime grilled chicken sandwiches will be available at the Kroger Cooking Tent on a first-come, firstserve basis. Attendees will also experience the music of The Jugbusters and Gov’t Plant on the main stage. The Jugbusters perform old-time country music going beyond the expectations of a square dance band. Gov’t Plant is a self-proclaimed southern rock and blues group and will perform their original music, as well as covers, at the festival. The array of vendors and activities calls for a large, accommodating venue. Brew Do will be located at the First & Main shopping center, which Akers said is a good location because it is easy to find and has ample parking. With 1,500 attendees last year — and more expected for this year — the space was taken into account when planning the event. “It will bring many visitors to Blacksburg, and it’s our hope that they enjoy the festival, as well as stay a little longer to see what else Blacksburg has to offer,” Akers said. Tickets can be purchased at Kroger on South Main Street at the customer service office and at Bull & Bones at First & Main. They are also available at BlacksburgPartnership.org/brewdo. STEVEN SILTON / SPPS Prices vary depending on if they are Blacksburg’s second annual craft brew festival, Brew Do, includes a home-brewing competition, which purchased in advance or at the event, includes 85 entries this year. These brewing lovers have only the rest of the week to prepare Saturday. or if tastings are included.
Taste these bloody beverages MIKA MALONEY features reporter Pump up your Halloween festivities with some freaky themed alcoholic beverages that are sure to guarantee a fright-filled evening. Mix these concoctions and experience an orange and black night to remember. Dracula’s Kiss: 1 oz coconut rum 1 oz raspberry liqueur 6 oz pineapple juice
Ghostini: 1/2 oz vodka 1/2 oz melon liqueur 1 splash sour mix Monster Behind the Curtain: 2 ounces apple vodka 6 ounces Monster Energy Drink The Vampire: 1 oz raspberry liqueur 1 oz vodka 5 oz cranberry juice 1 oz lime juice
Spellbound: 1 oz Hpnotiq 1 oz melon liqueur 1 oz vodka 1 oz Grenadine 4 oz orange juice Hidden Nightmare: 1 oz Amaretto 1 oz Everclear 1 oz Jagermeister 1 oz coconut rum 2 oz orange juice 2 oz pineapple juice
6 sports
editors: michael bealey, garrett ripa sportseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865 COLLEGIATETIMES
october 27, 2010
Star-studded Miami cast won’t win title A re you ready to take your talents to South Beach? Get ready for a wild ride NBA fans, as this is sure to be a thrilling season full of storylines, rivalries, disputes, success and disappointment. The traditional powers Los Angeles and Boston are still near the top, with teams like Miami and Oklahoma City looking to knock them off. In the NBA, young players will always capture the attention of the fans. A year ago it was Tyreke Evans, Brandon Jennings and Stephen Curry who stole the spotlight. This year John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Derrick Favors and Blake Griffin all breathe new life into their respective franchises. Griffin especially is ready to break out after he suffered a season-ending fractured kneecap in last year’s summer league competition. Look for all four of these rookies to make a big impact this season.
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER Kevin Durant — Forward, Oklahoma City Thunder Durant, the star of USA Basketball’s FIBA championship team, will lead the Oklahoma City Thunder this year in all areas. We all know he can score, as evidenced by his league-leading 30.1 points per game a year ago, but he is also a tremendous passer and sets up his teammates extremely well. Look for Durant to use more post moves this season and for the Thunder to challenge the Lakers in the Western Conference. COACH OF THE YEAR Mike D’Antoni — New York Knicks The New York Knicks should be much improved in 2010-11, and under the guidance of D’Antoni, they will be a lot of fun to watch. His high-octane offensive attack is sure to put up points with the additions
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER JaVale McGee — Center, Washington Wizards McGee, a 7-footer in his third year out of Nevada, is primed to break out in 2011. With the addition of Wall to the backcourt, McGee will be on the receiving end of many alleyoop passes and easy buckets. On the defensive end, McGee is truly an eraser, putting up an astonishing five blocks per 48 minutes in 2009-10. As Washington makes a push for a playoff spot, McGee will literally be the center of attention.
Top Four Teams EAST 1. Miami Heat At this point, it would be foolish to pick any team other than the Heat to have the most regular season wins in the Eastern Conference. The additions of LeBron James and Chris Bosh instantly make this an NBA Finals contender, while some are saying this might challenge for the best team ever. Over/Under: 64.5 Wins. Prediction: Over 2. Boston Celtics It appears this might be the last hurrah for Boston’s Big Three. While the team re-signed veterans Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, it also added the O’Neals (Jermaine and Shaquille) and the enigma that is Delonte West. If point guard Rajon Rondo grows into the star of the offense, and this team stays healthy, they could challenge for the East’s top spot. Preseason O/U: 54.5 Wins. Prediction: Over 3. Orlando Magic The 2008 East champions, the Magic head into the 2010-11 campaign with their core group intact. After letting foward Matt Barnes leave, they signed Quentin Richardson and Chris Duhon to 4-year deals, while drafting Kentucky big man Daniel Orton. Dwight Howard, already the most dominant defensive player in the league, has been developing his offensive game with Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon. If he shows off those skills, this Magic team has all the pieces to make another push at the finals. Preseason O/U: 54.5 Wins. Prediction: Over
4. Chicago Bulls Offseason acquisition Carlos Boozer will miss two months after tripping over a gym bag (broken pinkie), but that shouldn’t slow the Bulls down too much. They also added Kyle Korver, J.J. Redick, Ronnie Brewer, Hakim Warrick and good luck charm Brian Scalabrine to a team that went 41-41 a year ago. Preseason O/U: 46.5 Wins. Prediction: Over WEST 1. Los Angeles Lakers As long as Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol are on their side, the Lakers have a very good shot to repeat as champions. This season, the Lakers add defensive specialist Matt Barnes to their roster, and anything they get from oft-injured center Andrew Bynum is a big plus. Preseason O/U: 56.5 W i n s . Pre d i c t i on : Over 2. Oklahoma City Thunder The city of Seattle couldn’t be more disappointed. Their beloved Sonics left, and under the guidance of coach Scott Brooks, have turned into a Western con-
ference powerhouse. MVP candidate Durant leads the team, while budding star Russell Westbrook runs an offense that averaged 102 points per game a season ago. Preseason O/U: 51.5 Wins. Prediction: Over 3. Portland Trailblazers In 2010-11, the Trailblazers had the worst string of injuries in recent memory. This season, they should be back to full
MCT CAMPUS
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR John Wall — Point Guard, Washington Wizards The dynamic guard arrived at the University of Kentucky a year ago with huge expectations, and he didn’t disappoint. He again arrives in a new environment, hoping to revive the basketball culture in the nation’s capital with his fast-paced style and acrobatic finishes. Wall is also adept at getting in passing lanes, as he averaged 1.8 steals per game in his lone year as a Wildcat. Wall should be a top-5 point guard this season.
of Amar’e Stoudemire and Anthony Randolph. The Knicks won only 29 games last year, so it’s hard to see New York going anywhere but up. If the Knicks acquire Carmelo Anthony mid-season as rumors suggest, watch out.
strength, which makes them an extremely dangerous team. Brandon Roy will continue to be the main scorer, while the frontcourt will crash the glass and hammer the opposition inside. With Marcus Camby, Joel Przybilla and Greg Oden, the Trailblazers are one of the few teams with enough size to pose a legitimate threat to the Lakers in the regular season. Preseason O/U: 51.5 Wins. Prediction: Over 4. San Antonio Spurs San Antonio is just what any young NBA team hopes to become. With the veteran leadership of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginóbili and Tony Parker, a tenured coach in Gregg Popovich, and new-wave stars such as DeJuan Blair and George Hill, the Spurs will be a threat in the West for at least another year. Preseason O/U: 49.5 Wins. Prediction: Over NBA FINALS Prediction: Los Angeles over Boston
Los Angeles should find their path to the Finals considerably easier than that of their Eastern Conference rival, Boston.
The Lakers posses too much size in the frontcourt, and NBA Finals MVP Kobe Bryant is always there to hit the big shot.
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Come June, the Lakers will be tested by the Celtics, but they will again be too much for the aging Big Three.
The Celtics, on the other hand, will need to grit out victories in the East, and will likely face the Heat in the conference finals. As the Cavaliers have proven the past two seasons, regular season records don’t mean all that much. Boston will have the depth and experience to combat the LeBron, Wade and Bosh triumvirate, and the defensive mentality to get stops when needed. Come June, the Lakers will be tested by the Celtics, but they will again be too much for the aging Big Three. Lakers win in six games.
MATT JONES -sports reporter -sophomore -communication major