Wednesday, December 1, 2010
An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903
www.collegiatetimes.com
COLLEGIATETIMES ACC / Big Ten Challenge preview on page six 107th year, issue 124
News, page 2
Food & Drink, page 5
Opinions, page 3
Sports, page 6
Classifieds, page 4
Sudoku, page 4
Downtown church prepares for expansion CLAIRE SANDERSON news reporter Having outgrown its downtown building, Blacksburg Baptist Church now plans to expand to a large new worship and recreational facility on North Main Street. The expansive facility would include a worship center and classrooms at the front of the site. A welcome center and multipurpose building to the rear would house a gym, fellowship hall, kitchen, locker room and offices. The plan also includes recreation fields, a softball field and a playground. “The reason we need this is we’re one of the largest churches in Virginia, and we’re in a facility that is built for one-fourth the size that we are now,” said Tommy McDearis, senior pastor. “We’re definitely a seven-day-a-week church, and we’ve just maxed out.” The site for the new facility is a part of the former Givens farm, located near Mt. Tabor Road and the Wyatt Farms neighborhood. “Right now, the project is moving a little slowly, but we will sign a contract for the land we hope by mid-December. It’s 62 acres of the Givens’ land,” McDearis said. At a town council meeting in October, the church was granted the conditional use permit it needed to go forward with the project. The proposal passed unanimously, though several concerns were brought up, including the traffic impacts on North Main and the speed of vehicles coming off of Route 460. Zoning Administrator Andrew Warren said the church
COURTESY OF BLACKSBURG BAPTIST CHURCH
Plans for the expanded Blacksburg Baptist Church, seen above, call for a variety of new facilities and several recreational fields. The center was approved unanimously in October by Blacksburg’s Town Council. was asked to conduct a traffic analysis before the project and will conduct one during the construction to determine whether changes are needed to Main Street to make traffic flow more safely. Another concern was whether the church would allow the rec fields to be used by other clubs and teams in the town, not just by the church congregation. “They are certainly willing to entertain that, they’d like it to be a place the community would like to come and enjoy, so that’s definitely something they’ll look into,” said Sheldon Bower, an engineer with Parker Design Group, which is helping BBC with the design for the project. Bower said insurance issues were the only reasons that
could stop the church from allowing other groups to use the fields, and those would simply have to be worked out at a later time. Lisa Goatley, representing the nearby Wyatt Farms Homeowners Association, welcomed the proposal. “We really look forward to having them as neighbors. We welcome them to the North Main section of town and we hope that you approve their request for the Conditional Use Permit,” Goatley said. McDearis said the cost of the land is $1.69 million, but at this point he does not know how much it will cost to build the facility. “The money comes from donations from our church
membership,” McDearis said. Though BBC will have a majority of its facilities at the new site, McDearis said the church will still use the downtown building as much as possible. “We’re not abandoning our downtown facility. We’d do at least two services there on Sundays and two downtown,” McDearis said. One problem he noted with the downtown building is the lack of adequate parking, a problem which has only grown worse with the construction on Main Street. “Our attendance is definitely down, and the downtown construction is part of that. Our daytime programming has also been considerably hampered,” McDearis said. “It’s not like we’re opposed to it or anything, it’s just inconvenient like it is for everyone else.” Parking is one problem in particular that has become even more difficult with the construction. “We’ve always used Shultz parking lot, as a kind of overflow parking on Sunday mornings, but that’s disappeared, so we’re losing more than half our parking,” McDearis said. The project is still many years from completion, with groundbreaking expected in the next 18 months to two years. But McDearis said even with the church eventually being farther from campus, he did not expect to see a decline in the number of students attending. “Freshmen might come across the street to our downtown location in the fall, and they’d find out about the other facility through that,” McDearis said. “But we will provide transportation for those students to get out there if that’s needed.”
Charlottesville vendor to Veterans band together, operate library cafe space adjust to college lifestyle SARAH WATSON
MICHELLE SUTHERLAND
news reporter After years of searching, Virginia Tech’s Newman Library has found a vendor to operate a cafe on the library’s first floor. Greenberry’s Coffee and Tea Company, based in Charlottesville, recently signed a five-year contract with Newman Library to supply the university with coffee, tea and snacks, according to Dennis Herron, purchasing and facilities manager for university libraries. According to Herron, Newman Library staff saw a need for a cafe in the library after receiving feedback from students. “What we’ve noticed here in the library is that many students bring food already,” Herron said. Staff members took note of the success of other library cafes at campuses across the country and made the decision to bring a cafe to Newman Library. The cafe also allows students to remain in the building while studying late into the night, according to Herron. “It seems like it has taken a long time to get to where we are,” Herron said.
news staff writer
FILE / SPPS
Plans have been ready for Newman Library’s first floor since 2000. While plans for the library cafe have been in place since 2000, Herron blamed delays on complications from working with state entities. The space for the cafe was created through renovation last year. The contract with Greenberry’s comes after operation of the space was declined by Tech’s Housing and Dining Services and Virginia Tech Services, Inc. Construction on the cafe will begin in early January and the opening is
scheduled for late January or early February. Funding for the study space and cafe was provided by alumni and other supporters of Newman Library, according to Herron. Food and snacks offered in the library cafe will not be part of student meal plans, but Greenberry’s will accept Hokie Passports and cash. Greenberry’s has 16 locations nationwide, including several spots on the University of Virginia campus.
A pair of student military veterans have formed a group to help fellow veterans transition to the Virginia Tech campus. Zack Mayo and Gino Vivalda created Veterans@VT over the summer as a part of the national charter Student Veterans of America. They were inspired by their own experience as veterans at Tech. “Most vets are coming straight out of the military and they’re not used to learning in a collegiate atmosphere,” Vivalda said. “That’s what our goal is for the future, for vets transitioning into Virginia Tech to have that kind of buffer to ease them into the program of learning.” Vivalda had a year-and-ahalf-long break from active service before beginning classes at Northern Virginia Community College. “But it doesn’t matter (how long the break is),” he said. “The last time I did school was when I graduated high school in 2000. So seven years later was when I started learning
how to do calculus. A seven-year break is kind of tough.” Mayo had only two weeks of separation from active duty before coming to Tech. He credited a strong support group for easing his transition to Blacksburg. “Transitioning back to school was pretty hard, but one thing that I had that not a lot of people had was a group of friends here in Blacksburg.
“
We try not to call it a support group because we don’t want people coming in from the military service to feel like that’s what it is. ZACK MAYO CO-FOUNDER, VETERANS@VT
That made it a lot easier, already knowing people,” he said. The focus of the group is to give veterans a way to network with people their age and reach out to others with similar experiences. “There’s no real structure to (the group), and we try not to call it a support group because we don’t want people coming in from the
military service to feel like that’s what it is. It’s more like a social networking group,” Mayo said. “We don’t want people to feel like it’s going to be a structured student group and that if they join it they’re going to have to be doing events and planning or taking up responsibilities. It’s really just networking, so you have a group of friends here. It’s a way to find somebody who knows what we went through, (who has) the same kind of ideas, the same age group that we are.” Member Will Chesak is very appreciative of the group. Transitioning as a 24-year-old sophomore was very difficult, he said. The hardest part was relating to the other students who were much younger and had not experienced what he had. While many of his family members and friends went to Tech, most had already graduated. He thought Veterans@VT was a helpful way to meet new people and make friends. The biggest focus now is getting the word out. The group uses traditional means see VETS / page two
Troop study reveals limited opposition to openly gay military service NANCY YOUSSEF mcclatchy newspapers WASHINGTON — The U.S. military could allow gays and lesbians to begin openly serving in the military immediately with minimal risk to military readiness even as it fights two wars, an eight-month Pentagon study released Tuesday concludes. But the change should be implemented cautiously because resistance remains higher in combat units — a finding likely to fuel opposition to repealing “don’t ask, don’t tell” in Congress, where opponents recently have said they’re most concerned about the impact repeal would have on military effectiveness. A massive study of military opinion found that while 70 percent of troops said they thought serving with an openly gay person would have a positive or neutral impact, the opinion was startlingly different in combat units, where 48 percent of Army troops and 58 percent of Marines said the change would negatively affect their ability to fight. “In my view, the concerns of combat troops as expressed in the survey do not present an insurmountable barrier to a successful repeal of ‘don’t ask don’t tell,’ “ Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said Tuesday. “However, these findings lead me to conclude that an abundance of care and preparation is required if we are to avoid a disruptive — and potentially dangerous — impact on the performance of
Study: Gays in the military Gays and lesbians could begin openly serving with minimal risk to U.S. military readiness, according to a long-awaited study by the Pentagon.
Asked to those who said they served with leader they believed to be gay or lesbian and others in unit believed to be gay ... ... How would you rate unit’s ... How would you rate unit’s ability to work together? morale? Good Good
77%
Neither good nor poor Poor
If Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) is repealed, and someone in your immediate unit says he/she is gay or lesbian ... ... How will that affect your ability to work together to get the job done?
... How would your level of morale be affected?
Positively
Positively
Equally positive/negative
32%
Negatively
Some
13%
20%
those serving at the tip of the spear in America’s wars.” The report itself, while acknowledging those percentages, said that other data in the survey indicated that combat units were more accepting of gays based on their actual experience. “The percentage distinctions between war-fighting units and the entire military are almost non-existent when asked about the actual experience of serving in a unit with someone believed to be gay,” the report found. The report said the survey found that 69 percent of respondents said they’d served with someone they
16% A little
Negatively
30% No effect
8%
Equally positive/negative
28%
14%
who said they had served in combat with someone they believed to be homosexual
15%
• If DADT is repealed, how will your military career plans be affected? Will stay or think about staying longer than planned
4% Will leave or think about leaving sooner than planned
24% Plans will not change
62%
Not at all
56%
No effect Don’t know: 11%
18%
Poor
• How much did the belief that a service member was gay or lesbian affect the unit’s combat performance?* A lot *Asked to those
7%
5%
18%
15%
68%
Neither good nor poor
44%
thought to be gay or lesbian and that of those, 92 percent said their experience was good or indifferent. “Anecdotally, we also heard a number of service members tell us about a leader, co-worker, or fellow service member they greatly liked, trusted, or admired, who they later learned was gay; and how once that person’s sexual orientation was revealed to them, it made little or no difference to the relationship,” the report found. The report’s conclusions were quickly hailed by senators who support the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell,” the policy that Congress created during the Clinton administration that
No basis to judge
6%
requires gays and lesbians to hide their sexual orientation. “Today’s report confirms that ending ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ can be implemented in a manner consistent with maintaining the strong, cohesive military force we have today,” Sen. Carl Levin, a Michigan Democrat and chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said in a statement. His sentiments were echoed in a separate statement by Sens. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., Mark Udall, DColo., and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y. “The Pentagon report makes it unambiguously clear that the
Don’t know: 11% © 2010 MCT Source: U.S. Defense Department Graphic: Judy Treible
risk of repeal on military effectiveness is minimal, that any risks can be addressed by implementing the report’s recommendations, and that a clear majority of active duty servicemen and women have no problem with repeal,” they said. There was no immediate reaction from senators who previously opposed repealing the policy. In implementing the end of “don’t ask, don’t tell,” the report concluded that the military should extend life insurance, military savings plans and hospital visits to same-sex partners, but that such benefits shouldn’t include military housing.
In addition, service members kicked out for being gay should be allowed to apply to rejoin the military. “Motivating many of our recommendations is the conclusion, based on our numerous engagements with the force, that repeal would work best if it is accompanied by a message and policies that promote fair and equal treatment of all service members, minimize differences among service members based on sexual orientation, and disabuse service members of any notion that, with repeal, gay and lesbian service members will be afforded some type of special treatment,” the report said. The report was undertaken in response to President Barack Obama’s pledge last January during his State of the Union address to overturn “don’t ask, don’t tell.” It included the largest survey ever of service members. More than 400,000 active-duty and reserve troops were asked for their opinions on allowing gays to serve openly in the military, of whom 115,052 responded. In addition, the views of 150,000 spouses were sought, of whom 44,266 responded. Another 72,384 service members or spouses offered their views through an online “suggestion box” and more than 24,000 service members took part in 92 town hall meetings held at 51 bases around the world. The survey found that across the services, between 50 percent and 55 see SURVEY / page two
2 news
news editors: philipp kotlaba, liana bayne, gordon block newseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865
december 1, 2010
[
state headlines
COLLEGIATETIMES
Vets: Informal atmosphere stressed ]
City noise ordinance overturned Tuesday Richmond General District Chief Judge Robert A. Pustilnik on Tuesday declared the city’s noise ordinance unconstitutional Tuesday. Pustilnik gave the city until Dec. 14 to appeal the decision to Richmond Circuit Court. If the city has not appealed by then, the judge said the charges against the four people charged under the ordinance would be dismissed. The case stems from music played by a band during a party at a home in April. The City Council unanimously approved the ordinance Feb. 22. During daytime hours, the ordinance prohibits sound such as a television or the playing of a musical instrument if it is “plainly audible” inside someone else’s home or at 50 feet away or farther. The ordinance exempts sounds related to religious expression, such as sounds from religious services or events, including singing, bells and organs.Steven Benjamin, who is representing the four people charged, argued at a hearing last month that the exemption violates the First Amendment, and he said the law was unconstitutional because it was too broad. “This statute advances religion over any other normal conduct,” Pustilnik said in court Tuesday. He said the ordinance criminalizes noise emanating from almost any appliance and noted that a husband who turned on the television after getting into bed would violate the ordinance if his wife beside him could hear the television. -reed williams, mcclatchy newspapers
from page one
of advertising via flyers and the Internet, but it also takes an informal approach of recruiting veterans at the gym. “You see a lot of guys in the gym wearing army PE shirts, or a lot of guys will have Marine tattoos. Then it’s obvious. And it’s that common bond of the service, then it’s not
awkward at all to go up and talk to them and invite them to the group,” Vivalda said. Veterans@VT also helps veterans with questions about benefits and transfers. Most come to Tech as transfer students because they get credits in the service. The help currently offered is piecemeal. While they are able to get their questions answered, veterans usually
have to see a number of different people. Members hope to create a staffed veterans center to serve as a “onestop shop” for academic, financial and marital advice. Many vets are married, so the spouse often has just as much difficulty transitioning into a new town. The center could help provide counseling and buffer problems.
“We’re such a big community for putting people into the military, with the corps of cadets and all that stuff and our history, why don’t we have anything for vets coming back?” Vivalda said. Support for a veterans center is strong, especially since more veterans are coming to Tech because of the 9/11 GI bill.
Survey: More than 115,000 soldiers responded from page one
percent of respondents said that repealing the ban on openly gay service members would have no effect on the military. It also found that only 12 percent of spouses said they’d encourage their spouses to leave the service if “don’t ask, don’t tell” is repealed. But fully a fifth of respondents in the Army and a higher percentage among Marines said knowledge that a unit member was gay would hurt training and their ability to work together. Opposition to repeal, the report said, was strongest among military
chaplains. “A large number of military chaplains (and their followers) believe that homosexuality is a sin and an abomination, and that they are required by God to condemn it as such,” the report said. But other respondents said they, too, were concerned about how the military’s social climate would change if the ban were repealed. They said they worried about men holding hands on base, for example, and overall erosion of the standard of conduct. “Based on our review, however, we conclude that these concerns
about gay and lesbian service members who are permitted to be open about their sexual orientation are exaggerated, and not consistent with the reported experiences of many service members,” the report said. Citing the military’s previous push for racial desegregation and allowing women to serve, the report said that such surveys are often more pessimistic than what actually happens when such changes are made. How the report will affect the debate in Congress was not immediately certain. The House of Representatives voted for repeal earlier this year,
but the Senate balked this fall, with many opponents, notably Sen. John McCain ofArizona, the top Republican on the Armed Services Committee, saying they wanted to see the study first. McCain blasted the repeal efforts Sunday as “a political promise made by an inexperienced president or candidate for presidency of the United States,” referring to Obama. “Look, we’re in two wars now,” McCain said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “I want to know the effect on battle effectiveness and morale, not how best to implement a change.”
DAILY CRIME BLOTTER Name and Age
Offense
Date
Time
Location
Status
None reported Daily Fire Log--Fire in 405 Hahn Hall at 1:35 p.m. on Nov. 29. The fire was caused by a machine with a broken gas line and resulted in $25,000 in damages. Traffic--No incidents to report
CORRECTIONS JUSTIN GRAVES -Contact our public editor at publiceditor@ collegiatetimes.com if you see anything that needs to be corrected.
......radio for
everyone
[
nation & world headlines
]
War victims protest Angelina Jolie film SARAJEVO — Bosnian war victims maintained pressure on Hollywood star Angelina Jolie, whose directing debut has stirred a huge controversy in the war-torn country, a report said Tuesday. Bakira Hasecic, member of an organization representing women war victims, wrote to Jolie via the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR of which she is a goodwill ambassador and asked for a meeting, the daily Dnevni Avaz said. The film she is currently making has outraged Bosnian Muslims because it reportedly tells a story of love between a Muslim women and a Serb soldier who raped her. The 1992-95 war in Bosnia pitted the Belgrade-backed Serbs against Muslims and Croats. The conflict was marked by atrocities, including the organized rape of women. Rape victims say the idea of a rape victim falling in love with a rapist is preposterous. Pushed by the women war victims group, Bosnia’s culture ministry at one point revoked Jolie’s film permit, but reversed the move a few days later. The protests forced Jolie to shoot much of the film in Hungary. The shooting has now been completed but no date has been set for the release of the still untitled film. Jolie insisted that she has no intention of hurting the war victims and urged opponents of her film to see it before protesting against it. The actress, who has been a UNHCR goodwill ambassador since 2001, did not say whether she would meet representatives of the Bosnian women’s organization, Avaz said. -boris babic, mcclatchy newspapers
opınıons 3
editors: scott masselli, gabi seltzer opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865 COLLEGIATETIMES
december 1, 2010
The Collegiate Times is an independent student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903
MAHEEN KHURSHID / COLLEGIATE TIMES
Your Views [letter to the editor]
Recycling curbs global warming Global warming is one of the main causes of animal deaths, especially in the polar regions of the world. In Antarctica the polar icecaps and icebergs are melting. These melting icecaps in turn tend to crumble and fall when they get to a certain point. The destroyed icecaps then block the annual migration pathway for the penguins to get to their feeding grounds. If the animals can’t eat, they end up starving and dying. In the north the same thing is happening to the polar bears. Their annual pathway to and from their feeding grounds is melting, causing them to have to swim in the harsh Arctic seas for longer periods of time. This in turn weakens them and they end up losing the battle with the sea and drown.
Global warming used to be just a theory, but because of recent evidence of melting polar icecaps, freakishly wild weather and unnatural weather patterns, global warming has been largely accepted as a fact. Virginia Tech is making an effort to stop this phenomenon through all of the recycling dumpsters and bins it provides its students and residents. By using these recycling opportunities we are cutting down on the amount of carbon dioxide being released into the air when the plastic bottles and aluminum cans are incinerated. Our college gives us a chance to make a difference. We can all make an effort do something to lessen the effects of global warming by choosing to recycle.
Lauren Ross Sophomore Animal and Poultry Science
April 16 civil lawsuit should be dismissed here is a lawsuit currently working its way through T the court system regarding the April 16, 2007, Virginia Tech campus shootings. The families of two students killed during the shootings are suing Charles Steger, Tech president; and James Hyatt, former executive vice president, for $10 million, because the university didn’t take appropriate actions the morning of April 16. The lawsuit targets these two men as if they could have stopped the shooter themselves. As an overview, the Pryde and Petersen families filed this lawsuit and refused to participate in the settlement most of the victims’ families accepted. Last week, a judge ruled the case will go forward. Attorneys representing Steger and Hyatt tried to get it dismissed on the grounds of sovereign immunity since the positions they hold are established by the state; attorneys representing the victims’ families argued most of Steger and Hyatt’s pay comes from private funding. The judge ruled Steger and Hyatt are not protected by sovereign immunity, and therefore the case will now go forward. First of all, let me say I deeply feel for all the families of the victims of the shootings. I cannot imagine what they went through during the aftermath of the tragedy, and in no way do I intend to attack the families’ loss. I do, however, intend to question the families’ intentions with the lawsuit. To me, this lawsuit seems rather selfish. Why are they suing Steger and Hyatt? In doing so, they are taking the blame away from the real culprit, shooter Seung-Hui Cho. I don’t understand how you can even begin to think any blame falls on Steger and Hyatt. I understand the university was not placed on lockdown
following the first shooting in West Ambler-Johnston Hall, but there wasn’t a single person in Blacksburg who could have guessed what would happen next. The federal government was attacked for not stopping the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The same principle applies to Tech. There was no evidence the shooter who killed two people in West Ambler-Johnston Hall would proceed to kill 30 more in Norris Hall, nearly two hours later. Although I was only a sophomore in high school, I was on a field trip to Tech that day. My group of about 50 students ended up spending five hours on lockdown in the basement of Shanks Hall. I didn’t personally know any of the victims, but I can say the university did not fail on any front that would have prevented any deaths. It is much easier said than done to put a community of more than 30,000 people on lockdown. The shooter would have taken lives one way or another, even if there were a campus-wide lockdown. I fail to see what this lawsuit will accomplish. It won’t bring the victims back. It won’t prevent future acts of violence. It will only give Tech and its leadership a bad reputation. Again, I feel for the families of the victims, and I certainly understand why they are hurt and upset. However, this lawsuit only attacks the university the victims once attended and loved. Show some real Hokie Respect; support the university no matter what tragedy happens on its campus, and don’t sue it.
MATTHEW HURT -regular columnist -political science -sophomore
Don’t discount Black Friday experience, enjoy the crowd ike most students, I was oozing with excitement to go home for L Thanksgiving break — so much so that it became difficult to concentrate on my coursework in the last couple classes preceding the break. I was looking forward to seeing my dogs, my family and my friends who attend other schools (yes, even the University of Virginia). I went home, and all was good. Then, as quickly as the cold weather crept into Blacksburg, I was hit with a wave of pessimism over break. I acknowledged finals were approaching, and I should probably start studying — apprehension set in. The news was swarming with coverage about the conflicts between North and South Korea, and it troubled me to hear of such discord. Additionally, I kept coming face-toface with how horrible the economy is in this country when talking with family members about jobs they have lost or jobs they cannot find. The mixed-up state with health care in America did not help ease my mind. My faith in humanity was dwindling. Throughout my stay at home, this mood came and went, becoming most evident on Thanksgiving Day. I was not without anything to be thankful for, and although it did trouble me to think about all the turkeys being killed (thank you for pardoning two turkeys, President Obama), my distressed mood was caused by the fact that the next day was Black Friday. I recalled how in previous years it was, well, crazy. I remember one person was trampled and killed as people went for prices literally worth dying for. I knew the economy was bad — I was fearful for how the next was going to be. I was also aware that
with the economy the way it is, this Black Friday was going to be a homicidal barrage of savings. It probably did not help that I was going to one of the most crowded malls in Northern Virginia — Tysons Corner. But going to the mall that night helped me gain faith in humanity again. Upon entering the mall, everyone was socializing with one another. I managed to befriend an elderly couple, random store employees, a mom and even a person who claimed she was jittery because of an “energy drink,” although I think I heard her mention “cocaine” to one of her friends. There was a DJ playing loud music to inspire shoppers, and a crew of shoppers who had decided to spontaneously break dance, working to get everyone cheering and laughing. It was minutes before midnight, and the stores were all about to open. At one point, a man who was waiting at the front of a crowded gate noticed his girlfriend in the back of the crowd. He waved to his girlfriend and asked everyone if it was all right if she cut to the front, and like the Red Sea, the crowd of people parted as she floated through the mass to her boyfriend. It was, for lack of a better word, majestic. The clock struck midnight. I braced myself. I was astonished at how little death there was. In fact, I did not witness anyone being stomped. Everyone, to my knowledge, survived. The deals were insane, the temperature was high and the noise was deafening. Although these all seem like factors that would contribute to crazy death-hungry shoppers, this was not
the case. Even though stores were giving out free food, cologne and even gift cards, people were not barbaric. In fact, the people were so pleasant that even while waiting in line for an hour at some stores, I was able to pass the time by conversing with those around me. Around 4 a.m., my brother and I managed to sit down at a Chinese restaurant to get some food. While eating, a group of rambunctious children (probably in elementary school) were making a lot of noise behind us. I let out a sigh of annoyance. Only after my whiny exhale did I realize these kids were singing songs from the TV show Glee, and correcting each other on hitting the right notes. I smiled and laughed to myself. I ended up leaving Tysons Corner at around 5:30 a.m. Overall, I managed to meet very interesting people (I seriously think that girl was snorting cocaine) and got great deals (why, yes, I did buy that hoodie for $10). Above all else though, it was nice to see how people can be so cohesive and interactive with one another. It was beautiful to see how well people got along despite the adverse conditions. I think I should go shopping more often.
JOSH TREBACH -regular columnist -junior -biological and life sciences major
Memories of friend add value to meaning of Thanksgiving I was driving southwest down Interstate 81 to go home last As Friday morning for Thanksgiving break, I had more on my mind than just how the Hokies were going to fare that Saturday against Miami, what I was going to do with my friends in the coming week and how much I was going to eat on Thursday. Even as I was considering squeezing in a few extra hours of sleep and mulling over a potential Black Friday shopping outing, one thought reigned supreme in my head that morning. That thought was the reason I was driving home early Friday morning. No one likes to bury a friend. Even though I hadn’t seen him in over a year, I had been keeping up with him on Facebook. That was how I learned about his critical condition, and that he’d passed away two weeks ago this past Sunday. Raymond Riner was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at a very young age, and he struggled with the condition for his entire life. CF is a disease that causes mucus to become very thick and build up in the lungs, pancreas and other organs. People with CF generally have problems with nutrition, growth and digestion. As of now, there is no cure for the disease. I didn’t know Ray until middle school, when he and his brothers moved to my hometown to live with their grandmother because their parents had died in a car accident a few years earlier. Throughout the time we were classmates, he was the most good-natured person I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. Without asking him, one would never have guessed he had dealt with so much pain in his life. He loved to play golf, and I have fond memories of time on the high school team, playing every day after school, and even taking a trip to the regional championship tournament to play our senior year. He loved school and embraced learning with
a passion that, unfortunately, seems rare. He graduated with honors as the president of our senior class. Throughout high school, Ray talked about his life goal of eventually becoming a doctor and working toward a cure for the disease that plagued him. He took the first step toward this goal by attending the University of Virginia. I joked with him that the fact he was a lifelong Cavalier and was intending to go to UVa was the only thing I could ever hold against him. Ray did go to UVa, but unfortunately, his condition forced him to leave after his freshman year. He moved to Nashville with family, and his condition worsened all the way up until a couple weeks ago when he passed away. Still, his spirit never faded, as he posted smiling pictures of himself on Facebook all the way until the end. At his funeral that Friday morning, people poured in to say goodbye to someone who truly was an inspiration to our small community. On that drive down from Blacksburg to Abingdon, and for the rest of that day, weekend and week, I thought about Ray. I thought about the fact he had seen more pain in his 20 years than most of us will see in a long lifetime. However, his smiling face never showed it. His bright disposition and academic drive overshadowed his bleak past, present and future, and there were times when one could legitimately forget he suffered from a terrible disease. I asked myself how he did it. How did he manage to maintain his spirit and drive when faced with mountainous obstacles that would cause others, including me, to shake our heads and walk the other way? I realized something this past week. Ray didn’t concentrate on his illness, or the loss of his parents or even the fact that he was forced to leave his dream school after just one year. Rather, he was thankful for all of
the good surrounding him. He was thankful for his intelligence and saw it as an opportunity to make a difference. He was thankful for his family, who were there for him to offer their selfless support. For his entire life, he played golf in thunderstorms, with gale winds and torrential rains. When the wind blew, he gripped his club a little tighter and swung with force. When the rain came down, he opened his umbrella, lined up his putt and knocked the ball toward the cup. He was thankful to be out on the course, and he gave the game everything he had. It may sound a little cliche, but I don’t care. Over Thanksgiving break, I tried to learn from Ray, as we all should. Sure, we all have classes with looming finals to worry about and social lives to plan, all while figuring out how to catch enough sleep to avoid collapsing. Sometimes, however, we forget how lucky we are. As we think about our lives, we should be perpetually grateful. We should be thankful for the people who love us. We should be thankful that we attend this great university and have abounding opportunities for our futures. We should be thankful we are able to eat when we’re hungry and turn the heat on when we get cold. And, perhaps most importantly, we should be thankful for the time we spend with our friends and our families. I thought about what I have to be thankful for this Thanksgiving more than any other. And I hope I never forget how to give thanks for my life and the people who make it so special.
BRAD COPENHAVER -regular columnist -junior -agricultural economics and political science
we’re YOUR newspaper. send a letter to the editor and express your views.
send an e-mail to opinionseditor@collegiatetimes. com with your letter or guest column attached.
Collegiate Times Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief: Peter Velz Managing Editors: Zach Crizer, Michael McDermott Public Editor: Justin Graves Senior News Editor: Philipp Kotlaba Associate News Editors: Liana Bayne, Gordon Block News Reporters: Claire Sanderson, Sarah Watson News Staff Writers: Katie Noland, Jay Speidell, Michelle Sutherland Features Editors: Lindsey Brookbank, Kim Walter Features Reporters: Mika Maloney, Matthew Borysewicz, Majoni Harnal Opinions Editors: Scott Masselli, Gabi Seltzer Sports Editors: Michael Bealey, Garrett Ripa Sports Reporters: Nick Cafferky, Alex Jackson, Matt Jones, Courtney Lofgren, Josh Parcell Sports Staff Writers: Ed Lupien, George Tillerson Public Information Director: Dishu Maheshwari Training Director: Kelsey Heiter Copy Editors: Taylor Chakurda, Thandiwe Ogbonna, Nora McGann Spenser Snarr Layout Designers: Katie Biondo, Danielle Buynak, Cathleen Campbell, Maya Shah, Josh Son, Victoria Zigadlo Online Director: Jamie Chung Collegiate Times Business Staff Business Manager: David Harries Distribution Assistant: Ryan Francis Student Publications Photo Staff Director of Photography: Sara Mitchell Business Manager: Luke Mason Lab Manager: Mark Umansky College Media Solutions Ad Director: Nik Bando Asst Ad Director: Brandon Collins Account Executives: Emily Africa, Matt Freedman, David George, Melanie Knoth, Hunter Loving Inside Sales Manager: Wade Stephenson Assistant Inside Sales Manager: Diane Revalski Assistant Account Executives: Maddie Abram, Katie Berkel, Kaelynn Kurtz, Erin Shuba Creative Director: Chloé Skibba Asst Production Manager: Casey Stoneman Creative Services Staff: Katie Biondo, Colleen Hill, Jenn Le, Erin Weisiger
Voice your opinion. Readers are encouraged to send letters to the Collegiate Times. 365 Squires Student Center Blacksburg, VA, 24061 Fax: (540) 231-9151 opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com All letters to the editor must include a name and daytime phone number. Students must include year and major. Faculty and staff must include position and department. All other submissions must include city of residence, and if applicable, relationship to Virginia Tech (i.e., alumni, parent, etc.). All letters should be in MS Word (.doc) format, if possible. Letters, commentaries and editorial cartoons do not reflect the views of the Collegiate Times. Editorials are written by the Collegiate Times editorial board, which is composed of the opinions editors, editor-in-chief and the managing editors. Letters to the editor are submissions from Collegiate Times readers. We reserve the right to edit for any reason. Anonymous letters will not be printed. Have a news tip? Call or text 200-TIPS or e-mail newstips@collegiatetimes.com Student Media Phone Numbers Collegiate Times Newsroom 231-9865 Editor-in-Chief 231-9867 College Media Solutions Advertising 961-9860 The Collegiate Times, a division of the Educational Media Company at Virginia Tech, was established in 1903 by and for the students of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The Collegiate Times is published every Tuesday through Friday of the academic year except during exams and vacations. The Collegiate Times receives no funding from the university. The Collegiate Times can be found online at www.collegiatetimes.com. Except where noted, all photographs were taken by the Student Publications Photo Staff. To order a reprint of a photograph printed in the Collegiate Times, e-mail spps@vt.edu. The Collegiate Times is located in 365 Squires Student Center, Blacksburg, VA, 24061. (540) 231-9865. Fax (540) 2319151. Subscription rates: $65 semester; $110 academic year. The first copy is free, any copy of the paper after that is 50 cents per issue. © Collegiate Times, 2010. All rights reserved. Material published in the Collegiate Times is the property thereof, and may not be reprinted without the express written consent of the Collegiate Times.
december 1, 2010
page 4
Policies: The Collegiate Times reserves the right to reject or edit any advertisement it deems objectionable, at any time. No refunds are available.
Place An Ad Today
CLASSIFIEDS WWW.COLLEGIATETIMES.COM 540.961.9860
Visit our business office at 618 N. Main St. 9am–5pm 9am 5pm Monday–Friday Monday Friday,, or place an ad online at collegiatetimes.com.
The advertiser assumes full responsibility for his or her advertisements and agrees to hold the Collegiate Times harmless for the content of all advertisements authorized for publication and any claims that made may be against the Collegiate Times.
Deadline: Three business days prior to publication by 3PM.
Rates:
Any questions concerning ads, please call the Better Business Bureau at 1.800.533.5501.
Rates as low as 32¢ per word, contingent on the number of days to run. Prepaid. 15 word minimum. Cash, check, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity. To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll free at 1.800.669.9777.
FREE CLASSIFIEDS FOR VT STUDENTS! students must come to 618 N Main ST to place the ad Sub-Lease Travel Rides Campus
Childcare Tickets for Sale Tickets Wanted Volunteers
Textbooks for Sale Textbooks Wanted Lost & Found Help Wanted
Legal
Events
LEGAL TROUBLES?
SKYDIVE! One-day first jumps from 13,500’ from 22-jumper twin engine airplane. Gift Certificates! www.skydiveorange.com 540.943.6587
Call for Free Consultation with Attorney on Alcohol, Assault, Drug, Traffic Charges, and VT Student Conduct Referral. Joel S. Jackson, PC. www.joeljacksonpc.com. 540.961.5297
Furniture for Sale BRAND NEW mattress sets: twin $89, full $99, queen $119, king $169 We can layaway/deliver 540.260.9091
Travel
HTTP://TINYURL. COM/VTREADYU ReadyU is bringing you the best online resource for all you need to know about life at Virginia Tech. Because they can’t teach this stuff, ReadyU.com will. Visit http:// tinyurl.com/ VTReadyU for the all the tips, tricks and articles from fellow students!
Help Wanted
GETTING COLD TIME to Plan your Spring Break 2010 Get Away! Learn how to travel to beautiful locations like Jamaica, Acapulco and the Bahamas on a party cruise. Find out what other Virginia Tech Hokies are headed to your destination. -Adrian Email: Awhite@Studentcity.com for more information
*****BARTENDING***** MAKE UP TO $300/ DAY. No Experience Necessary. Training Available. 1-800-965-6520 EXT210 ASSISTANT&ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Account Executives: Gain incredible resume and life experience at student media. We’re now hiring outgoing, dedicated and confident VT students for Spring 2011. As
an Account Executive at College Media Solutions, be a marketing consultant for clients, helping them reach their goals. We analyze the needs of each business. If reaching the campus or extended VT community of alumni and families can increase their business, we recommend an appropriate marketing strategy using the Collegiate Times, collegiatetimes.com, out of home advertising, VTTV Channel 33, WUVT 90.7 FM or other means. This is valuable experience whether you are pursuing a career in marketing or advertising or not. Close to 100% of student media alumni report that their experience helped them land their first jobs or advance faster in their careers. In student media, you are not relegated to a lowly intern. You have the opportunity to advance into management and student leadership as well. Your earnings are only limited by your effort and commitment. Assistant Account Executive: Entry level student positions are available at College Media Solutions, the advertising agency for student media at Virginia Tech. Responsibilities include accurate data entry, excellent customer service skills, guided selling to clients, filing and organization. Assistant Account Executives have the opportunity to be promoted within the organization. Commitment of 8-12 hours per week is required. Federal work study grants may be used for this co-curricular
Notices Wanted Musical Roommates
Greek Notes For Rent Personals Furniture for Sale
Downtown Living South Main Living North Main Living Prices Fork Living
Patrick Henry Living Christiansburg Living
student activity experience.. Positions are open until filled. All training is provided Apply online today at collegemedia.com/ join Preference will be given for students who plan to return in Summer and/ or Fall 2011. College Media Solutions is a Registered Student Organization whose mission is to give students co-curricular experience while providing the funding support for student-run mass media on campus. Get a job that means something. Deadline: December 3.
Personals ADOPTION Pediatrician and hubby in northern Virginia wish to adopt newborn. Approved by licensed child-placing agency. Med/legal expenses. Loving home! Contact us toll free 1-866581-5494 www. EdandMargaretB. freehomepage.com
quality entertainment
*
VTTV
[ WARNING: may cause couch potato-ism
[
*
Notices
For Sale Events Health & Fitness Automotive
WE WANT
YOU! JOIN THE COLLEGIATE TIMES BUILD YOUR PORTFOLIO IMPRESS EMPLOYERS
The Collegiate Times gives you the opportunity to voice your opinion on the things that matter to you. Impressing your future employers with your work is just an added bonus. Join today.
www.collegemedia.com/join
ACROSS 1 Aloe target 5 Indian royal 9 Treat meanly 14 1990s Expos manager 15 Approach shot club 16 “Platoon” co-star 17 Bubbles 18 *Ancient Chinese cote occupant? 20 Tasseled toppers 22 Happy hour order 23 Partook of 24 Bit of dental work 25 *Observation after a Bush walk? 28 “Hold on!” 30 JapaneseAmerican 31 “If __ only listened!” 32 Shade sources 35 Florida’s __ City 36 *Nickname for a so-so Navy officer? 39 Lead player 41 “Even Napoleon had his Watergate” speaker 42 I followers? 45 Stoop 47 Dry cleaner’s supply 50 *Habitually drunk panda? 53 Sheikdom of song 54 Carpenter __ 55 Exxon Valdez cargo 56 “All in the Family” family name 57 *Kenyan health care worker? 61 Genesis brother 62 Many a dance club tune 63 Fiendish 64 The old you 65 ’50s flop 66 Guitar’s fingerboard 67 Repairs, as a green DOWN 1 Picaresque 2 Property recipient 3 Drunk, in slang
By Scott Atkinson
4 Old-fashioned “Way to go!” 5 Wheel parts 6 Paul’s “Exodus” role 7 With 56-Down, eponymous bacteriologist 8 Saxon opening 9 Star Wars letters 10 Witchy woman 11 Lackin’ gumption 12 Under-the-table diversion 13 Article of faith 19 Keystone State founder 21 It may be evil 25 “The Optimist’s Daughter” writer 26 Generic pooch 27 “Out of Africa” author Dinesen 29 Good name, briefly 33 He said “Learn from the masses, and then teach them” 34 Common sense? 36 Atkins diet no-no 37 Gas brand seen at ampm stores 38 Peeples of “Fame”
12/1/10 Tuesday’s Puzzle Solved
(c)2010 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
39 Reached across 40 Powwow communication source 42 Dismissal, and a hint to how the answers to starred clues were derived 43 Traveled from point A to point A? 44 Analysts’ concerns
10/1/10
46 Clopper 48 Former RFK Stadium NLer 49 Mill inputs 50 Ballet rail 51 Fire indicator, perhaps 52 Green shade 56 See 7-Down 58 Old cry of disgust 59 Rose of rock 60 Prez, to GIs
december 1, 2010
editors: lindsey brookbank, kim walter featureseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865
food & drink
COLLEGIATETIMES
T
hese soft and chewy oatmeal cookies will melt in your mouth. Eat them fresh out of the oven or as a snack several days later. They are fast and easy to make and will last for days if stored in a sealed container. by Mika Maloney, features reporter (adapted from allrecipes.com)
CT Recipes Oatmeal Cookie Recipe Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 8-10 minutes Serves: 24 Ingredients: 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 3
cup butter, softened cup packed brown sugar cup white sugar eggs teaspoon vanilla extract cups all-purpose flour teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon teaspoon salt cups quick-cooking oats
Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. 2. In a large bowl, cream butter. Gradually add in brown and white sugars and mix until fluffy. Beat in eggs and then add vanilla. 3. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt and add to wet mixture. Slowly stir in oats and mix well. 4. Roll dough into golf ball-sized balls and place 2 inches apart on a greased cookie sheet. Partially flatten each cookie with fork dipped in sugar. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes.
MIKA MALONEY / CT
MIKA MALONEY / COLLEGIATE TIMES
5
Nine meals for $9.99...or less JOE STUMPE mcclatchy newspapers Despite what you see in TV ads, home cooking is still cheaper than eating out. Here are nine meal ideas to make it just as tasty, too. We took the KFC challenge, and we didn’t stop there. A recent KFC commercial, in case you haven’t seen it, challenged families to re-create a seven-piece fried chicken meal for $9.99, which is what the chain charges. Our 8-piece fried chicken meal (side dish and biscuits included) cost just $7.82 to make at home. And that got us thinking about other great meals that would feed a family of four well for $10 or less. We counted all ingredients — including cooking oils, seasonings and condiments — in figuring up the cost of these dinners. Your exact cost will depend on where, when and how you shop. 1) Fried chicken with baked beans and biscuits Cut up a whole chicken. Roll pieces in flour seasoned with salt, pepper and paprika. Heat 1 inch vegetable oil in a heavy 10-inch skillet. Fry chicken until golden brown on both sides, about 20 to 25 minutes total. Meanwhile, bake refrigerated biscuits according to package directions. Heat canned baked beans and serve with chicken and biscuits. Our cost: $7.82 2) Creamy ham and beans with jalapeno corn bread Use a fork to shred 1/2 lb. ham steak. In a soup pan, heat 1 tablespoon oil. Saute 1 chopped onion and 2 minced garlic cloves until soft and fragrant. Add 2 cups chicken broth, 2 cans (drained) white northern beans and shredded ham. Simmer 20 minutes, mashing some of the beans with the fork. Meanwhile, make 1 batch of corn bread according to directions, adding a chopped, seeded jalapeno to the batter before baking. Our cost: $5.21 3) Italian pork roast with polenta Make horizontal slice in 1 1/2-lb. pork roast. Open roast and stuff with 1/8 lb. sliced salami and 1/8 lb. sliced provolone from supermarket deli. Close up roast and rub all over with Italian seasoning and olive oil. Wrap roast in aluminum foil and bake at 425 degrees about 30 minutes or until done. Let rest 5 minutes before slicing. Meanwhile, prepare polenta or cornmeal mush according to package directions. Serve polenta dotted with butter.
MCT CAMPUS
Our cost: $8.70 4) Creole meat loaf with mashed potatoes With your hands, mix 1 1/2 lbs. ground beef, 1 small chopped onion, 1 egg, 1 slice bread torn into pieces, and 1 teaspoon Cajun or Creole seasoning. Place in loaf pan and bake at 425 degrees for 45 minutes. During last 20 minutes of cooking, top with sauce made of 1/2 cup ketchup, 1 clove minced garlic and 1 teaspoon Creole seasoning. While meat loaf cooks, boil and mash 11/2 lbs. potatoes. Stir in milk, butter and salt to taste. Our cost: $8.53 5) Tilapia with spicy mayo and coconut rice Bake 4 frozen tilapia filets (4 oz. each) for 12 to 14 minutes at 425 degrees. Mix several tablespoons mayonnaise with sirachi hot sauce (sold in Asian aisle of supermarket) to taste and brush over filets during last 6 or 7 minutes of cooking time. Meanwhile, cook 1 1/2 cups instant rice in 11/2 cups chicken broth. Toast 1/2 cup sweetened coconut flakes in a skillet and add to rice after it’s cooked. Cost: $7.71 6) Potato-pea tortilla with crescent rolls Note: In Spain, tortilla refers to a kind of omelet. In a large bowl, combine the contents of a 5-oz. package of instant three-cheese or au gratin potatoes, 8 lightly beaten eggs, 1 cup milk and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Pour mixture into a well-greased 10inch ovenproof, nonstick skillet. Place the skillet in a preheated 450-degree oven and cook for 20 to 25 minutes, or until tortilla is browned and puffy. Carefully remove from oven and let rest a minute before slicing and serving with crescent rolls. Cost: $5.30 7) Sliders with onion rings
Cut eight dinner rolls in half horizontally to make mini-buns. Form 1 lb. ground beef into eight round patties and cook as you would hamburgers, flattening them as you go. Top with half-slices of American cheese and place on buns with ketchup, mustard or other condiments. Meanwhile, dust 2 large sliced onions with flour and fry in hot oil until golden brown. Drain on paper towels and sprinkle with salt. Serve onion rings with sliders. Cost: $8.45 8) Baked linguine with bacon and cheese, with green salad and garlic bread Cook 1/2 lb. linguine according to package directions; drain and toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil, 5 slices cooked and crumbled bacon and 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese. Meanwhile, make white sauce by combining 2 tablespoons flour and 1 cup milk in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring often, until thickened. Put pasta in ovenproof dish, top with white sauce and sprinkle with 1/4 cup more grated Parmesan cheese. Slide under a broiler and cook until bubbly and lightly browned. Serve with green salad and garlic bread. Source: Adapted from “Second Helpings of Roast Chicken” by Simon Hopkinson Cost: $6.34 9) Black bean tostadas with Spanish rice Spread 8 tostadas (deep-fried corn tortillas sold in Hispanic section of supermarket) with a layer of canned refried black beans. Top with 1 lb. cooked ground beef, lettuce, chopped onion, salsa and cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 5 to 10 minutes. While tostadas cook, make instant Spanish rice according to package directions. Our cost: $7.80
6 sports
editors: michael bealey, garrett ripa sportseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865 COLLEGIATETIMES
december 1, 2010
Hokies face No. 22 Purdue in ACC/Big Ten Challenge ZACH MARINER sports staff writer The last time the Virginia Tech men’s basketball team played a ranked non-conference opponent in Cassell Coliseum was Nov. 24, 2000 — when the Hokies were still members of the Big East Conference. Tech was blasted by rival and then-No. 25 Virginia, 6448, and would finish that year with an 8-19 record overall. Tech’s basketball program has come a long way since then. Tonight, the Hokies have an opportunity to announce they’re contenders on a national level, as the ACC/Big Ten challenge pits Tech against No. 22 Purdue in Blacksburg. Tech coach Seth Greenberg and company (4-2) are coming off a second-place finish at the 76 Classic in Anaheim, Calif. Tech handled Cal State Northridge, and then won a close one over Oklahoma State before falling to UNLV, 71-59, in Sunday’s tournament championship game. In a game marred by 18 turnovers and a sorry performance from the foul line (9-of-21), the Hokies were still in it until midway through the second half, when the Rebels used a 14-6 run to pull away for good. Chance Stanback, who was voted the tournament’s most outstanding player, led UNLV with 17 points and eight rebounds. Foul trouble also plagued Tech — forward Jeff Allen, in particular. It was the third time the senior forward has fouled out already this season. When on the court, Allen has been a dominating force in the paint for Tech on both ends of the floor, averaging 11 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. His presence has almost become a necessity, as the team lost fellow big men JT Thompson, Cadarian Raines and Allan Chaney to various ailments and injuries in the preseason. Raines, however, has recently been cleared to play and tallied a total of 10 minutes in the final two games of the 76 Classic. Malcolm Delaney was named ACC Player of the Week for his performance in Anaheim. He averaged 21 points and four assists per game throughout the tournament. Meanwhile, the Boilermakers (5-1) have faced struggles all too familiar to Tech. Senior forward Robbie Hummel, who also chose to return to college basketball for his senior year rather than head to the NBA a year early, suffered his second ACL tear in less than a year during an October practice. It would be easy to say Hummel’s presence has already been missed, as Purdue fell to Atlantic-10 opponent Richmond Saturday night — a game
GHISLAIN DELPORTE / SPPS
Senior guards Dorenzo Hudson and Malcolm Delaney will play a key role in slowing down the Boilermakers’ transition scoring game. Both teams have struggled in the low post. in which the Boilermaker’s offense mustered only 54 points and a shockingly low six assists. The loss dropped them 12 spots in this week’s AP Poll, from No. 10 to No. 22. But Purdue has still managed to find playmakers. Guard E’Twaun Moore and forward JaJuan Johnson — two other seniors who, along with Hummel, chose to return to Purdue for their final year in the hopes of making a national title run — have averaged a combined 37.3 points and 15.5 rebounds a game. Tech’s lack of frontcourt depth might not hurt it as much in tonight’s game as it usually would. Purdue’s big men have scored an average of 23.4 of the team’s 80 points per game. Johnson has accounted for 16.5 of those. That puts the pressure on Delaney and fellow senior guard Dorenzo Hudson to slow down a Purdue team that loves to score in transition. Delaney and Hudson have struggled to take care of the ball
thus far (53 combined turnovers) and must improve in that area if the Hokies are to stand a chance tonight. Purdue head coach Matt Painter, who is in his sixth year at the helm of his alma mater, has transformed his team into a perennial power over the past several seasons. The program has made four straight NCAA Tournament appearances, and is one of only five teams to reach the Sweet 16 in each of the past two seasons. Painter has quickly turned the program around, as Purdue is a nationally respected team. With both teams coming off early season struggles, it appears to be anyone’s game. The Hokies obviously have a huge edge in homecourt advantage (5214 in Cassell since 2006) and that could prove to be the difference in this contest. A win tonight would go a long way toward national respect and an NCAA bid in March.
ACC/Big Ten Challenge Year
Opponent [rank]
Score
2005
Ohio State [24]
OSU 69-56
Columbus,OH
2006
Iowa [21]
VT 69-65
Blacksburg,VA
2007
Penn State [12]
PSU 66-61
State College, PA
2008
Wisconsin
WISC 74-72
Blacksburg,VA
2009
Iowa
VT 70-64
Iowa City
Location
Virginia Tech plays No. 22 Purdue in Cassell Coliseum at 7:30 p.m.