Tuesday, February 1, 2011 Print Edition by Collegiate Times

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

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Egyptian uprising draws student support

DANIEL LIN / SPPS

Protestors at the rally accused the Mubarek administration of civil rights abuses and corrupted elections.

WITH TENSIONS RISING IN CAIRO, STUDENTS TAKE TO THE STREETS TO PROTEST EGYPTIAN LEADERS Virginia Tech students braved the cold Friday afternoon to raise awareness and support for the Egyptians protesting President Hosni Mubarak’s 30-year rule. The students protested the Egyptian government’s actions against protesters, including the use of martial law and a communications blackout. The group collected signatures from both members and non members for DANIEL LIN / SPPS a petition at the Graduate Life Center Plaza. A young protestor takes part in a rally Friday afternoon to support Egyptians during an uprising against the presidency of Hosni Mubarek. “All lines of communication have been cut with Egypt, there is no Internet, there are no phones, and media has been banned from the streets,” said Aly Tawfik, a civil engineering doctoral candidate, as he handed a petition to a group of students. “The last thing we heard is that they enforced martial law, tanks have been MICHELLE SUTHERLAND the difference through their own er example of the state’s reduced in three-and-a-half years to have paychecks if they want to draw the commitment to higher education to start contributing now to the released into the streets,” Tawfik said. news reporter same funds from the pension at and the future of its citizens and retirement system, but hey, you The group’s petition called for the U.S. know, everyone understands the economy.” government to stand by the Egyptian A proposal from Gov. Bob retirement. Hal Irvin, associate vice president retirement system needs some “The difference is the VRS people, and the group plans to send McDonnell to fix the state’s retirethe petition to the White House and ment program will reduce real employee is losing out of current for human resources at Tech, noted help,” Hincker said. “It’s this big, the United Nations. income of state employees — salary whereas the ORP employee that Virginia is one of only four huge $17(.6) billion shortfall that’s Tawfik, who returned from Egypt including all Virginia Tech employ- is losing out of the contribution paid states in the country that pays for got to get fixed.” All employees hired after July to his or her retirement account, all of its employees’ retirement. The three weeks ago, said the situation on ees — by 2 percent. 1, 2010, have already adopted the the ground “was really bad.” If the motion is passed by Virginia’s but the current salary is not affect- contributions are often equal. proposed system. McDonnell “I was told horrific stories,” Tawfik General Assembly, workers who ed,” said Larry Hincker, university promised he would not extend said. Some of the signs had recent phodraw from the Virginia Retirement spokesman. It’s difﬁ cult enough to ask it to employees hired before While the ORP employee does tographs taken on the streets of Egypt. System will contribute 5 percent of our employees who haven’t July, but reneged because of “Can you see that picture?” Tawfik their salary and will receive a 3 per- not have to directly contribute, he or the state’s budget and pension said, pointing to a photo of a man cent base salary raise for a net loss of she will have 1.9 percent less retirehad a raise in three-andproblems. ment funding, he said. being dragged in the street. “That’s a 2 percent in earnings. a-half years to have to This is not the first time the Another key difference in the journalist. And that’s how they treat Since 1983, the state has paid both start contributing now to state has reduced its retirement journalists, so imagine what they do “employee” and “employer” shares two retirement plans is the means contributions. with the regular people.” toward the Virginia Retirement of drawing money from the the retirement system, but In the early 1990s, the general The protesters claimed Egypt’s System and the Optional pension. hey, you know, everyone assembly voted to reduce ORP When employees sign democracy was a facade. Retirement Plan, resulting in an contributions by 2.1 percent as a way “They claim we have an elected govunfunded liability of $17.6 billion, up for the VRS, they are understands the to fix a financial shortfall, according ernment, but if you try to vote for the according to a recent study by the guaranteed a certain amount of retirement system needs to Hincker. opposition they won’t let you vote,” Joint Legislative Audit and Review money from the system. ORP some help,” Caldwell said that to help alleviate employees do not have a set figure Tawfik said. “They forge the elections Commission. the net loss, McDonnell will propose so only their party wins, and they form “(The governor) feels very strong- guarantee. LARRY HINCKER a 2 percent one-time bonus similar The plan is similar to an india government from that party. This is ly that we can’t just ignore this probUNIVERSITY SPOKESMAN to the 3 percent bonus received in how it has been for 30 years.” lem or leave it for a future admin- vidual retirement account in the “It’s just that in this state the state December. The protest came as conditions in istration to handle; he would like sense that it is unknown how much The bonus can only happen if the Cairo become more tenuous. to address it during his term,” said money will be in the account at pays both shares and the state is now In the fight to save his embattled Jeff Caldwell, the governor’s press retirement. The amount of money proposing employees start (paying state makes certain money saving depends on how it is invested, their share),” Irvin said. “This is a big goals and has no effect on base pay. regime from a popular revolt, the secretary. U.S.-allied Mubarak administration “So by doing that, the governor and a 1.9 percent change in the hit to people’s paychecks. It’s going But every bonus is important to has severed the phone and Internet, has proposed making these changes initial payments can have huge to come out of their pockets now faculty members. “We don’t yet know how it and it never had to before.” rounded up journalists, closed banks to have employees contribute to the ramifications. Caldwell said the proposed will turn out,” Irvin said. “It’s a “We’re still very appreciative of and dispatched riot police to beat back VRS system in an effort to address having jobs, but the fact of the changes will save the state $300 mil- proposal from the governor for the protesters. this.” On Monday the government halted Those who are a part of the matter is we’re losing grounds of lion for the 2012 fiscal year and $4.2 pension system because it’s in trouble. But in the meantime, all our all trains throughout the country to Optional Retirement Plan will purchasing power of our income, billion for the next 10 years. Officials understand that the faculty and staff who work here are prevent Egyptians in outlying provincface a similar loss through differ- which has serious long-term worried because they don’t yet know es from joining throngs of protesters in ent means. The state will reduce implications on retirement,” said pension is hurting. “It’s difficult enough to ask our what’s going to happen to their Cairo who are planning an audacious its portion by 1.9 percent, and Mike Ellerbrock, president of the march on the presidential compound employees will have to make up faculty senate. “This is anoth- employees who haven’t had a raise paychecks.” Tuesday. As Mubarak resorts to a measure deemed extraordinary even by the standards of Middle East autocrats, demonstrators pledged to keep up their rebellion until the president steps down. “Each of you here today, bring three more tomorrow!” an activist yelled ERIN CHAPMAN into a bullhorn in downtown Cairo’s Its authority came into question This new organization will news staff writer Tahrir square. “If you love Egypt, you with the sale of the Taylor Frames make everything clearer will come!” & Things building in downtown Mubarak reshuffled his Cabinet A new Blacksburg ordi- Blacksburg last year. and easier for people to get on Monday, keeping most of the old While the owner of the propernance could give the Historic information,” guard in palace, Omar Suleiman, the Design and Review Board more ty wished to demolish the buildformer intelligence chief who last week ing, the board advised Blacksburg’s power. SUSAN ANDERSON was named Mubarak’s first ever vice Blacksburg’s Planning Commission Planning Commission to deny the Date: HISTORIC DISTRICT TASK president, told Egyptians in televised will hear recommendations tonight request. Tuesday, FORCE remarks that the government will As a result, the owner of the from the Historic District Task Force February 1 conduct talks with opposition groups “This new organization will regarding a change to the board’s building was required to attempt and take immediate steps to address to sell the property for a year make everything clearer and easabilities. Time: unemployment and other economic Ordinance 1604, which will before she could demolish the ier for people to get information,” 7:30 p.m. concerns. Suleiman didn’t mention said Susan Anderson said, a membe reviewed by the commis- building. other key issues such as emergency The dispute was resolved ber of Blacksburg Town Council sion, will authorize the Historic Place: law, corruption or term limits for the Design and Review Board to when a buyer stepped in, with and the Historic District Task Blacksburg president, who has been in power for approve buildings as historic plans to convert the space into a Force. Municipal 30 years. Anderson hopes that this restaurant. sites. Building The thousands of anti-government The debate was one of the main new ordinance will offer a betThe Planning Commission protesters in Cairo’s Tahrir square organized the Historic District factors contributing to the for- ter explanation of ambiguous immediately shouted down Mubarak’s Task Force in early 2010 to eval- mation of the Historic District terms. Ordinance 1604, Cabinet appointments and focused on “I think we can clarity definitions uate the usefulness of a new Task Force. Members of the to be discussed drumming up a million-strong crowd ordinance dealing with historic Town Council wanted more safe- and make things easier for everyTuesday, would to march Tuesday to the presidential structures within the town of guards in place when it came to one to understand,” Anderson authorize the compound on the edge of the city. protecting Blacksburg’s historic said. Blacksburg. Historic Design Such a provocation leaves the The Planning Commission The Historic Design and Review buildings. and Review Board Egyptian military in a bind. So far the The task force put togeth- will review the ordinance and can Board, which deals with the historic to designate army has cultivated its image as the district of Blacksburg in an advisory er a new map that includes make changes before it is passed buildings as protector of the Egyptian people, but role, is currently only able to approve all the addresses for historic to the Town Council for final historic sites. blocking such a march would jeopreview. sites. the demolition of historic buildings. ardize its popularity. A senior defense

Retirement plan irks Tech employees

“

Historic board under review Tuesday “

public hearing

ministry spokesman appeared on TV to reassure Egyptians that the military wouldn’t turn against the people, a statement the opposition interpreted as a green light for Tuesday’s risky trek to Mubarak’s doorstep. “The military respects the protesters’ legitimate demands and has not and will not use force against them,” Maj. Gen. Ismail Etman said. “Your armed forces, who are aware of the legitimacy of your demands and are keen to assume their responsibility in protecting the nation and the citizens, affirms that freedom of expression through peaceful means is guaranteed to everybody,” he said. Mubarak’s most notable appointment Monday was Mahmoud Wagdi, a retired police general, as the new interior minister. Wagdi replaces Habib el Adle, who is widely detested by Egyptians for the heavy handedness of his security forces. But there were few other new faces; most of the ministers were the same close Mubarak associates, including Defense Minister Field Marshal Hussain Tantawi and Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit. When the news reached protesters in the square, there was laughter and incredulity. To many in the crowd, the reshuffling of the same men who ruled Egypt for three decades was a sham. The Mubarak era is over, they insisted, adding that they are prepared to force him out if he doesn’t go in peace.

“

They claim we have an elected government, but if you try to vote for the opposition they won’t let you vote. ALY TAWFIK STUDENT PROTESTOR

“He’s like a cornered rat, trying to stay in power. He’s trying everything, but people are just not buying it,” said Hala Shukrallah, a longtime anti-government activist who joined the protest at the square. “He has no legitimacy, no credibility, so whatever solution he comes up with is refused.” Shukrallah, 55, a Coptic Christian, belongs to a Communist women’s group. She marched alongside bearded clerics from the Muslim Brotherhood — young men and women who carried the Egyptian flag and ordinary families with children in tow. The atmosphere was carnival-like, but under the close watch of soldiers. “It’s amazing. It feels like all kinds of Egyptians are here, all ages all categories, said Dina el Kholy, 49, a member of an environmental organization. For now, Egyptian protesters are united in the common goal of Mubarak’s ouster. If that can be achieved, however, opposition parties will begin jockeying to fill the power vacuum of a regime that once seemed immoveable. No one knows what kind of political order could emerge from this crisis — a chastened and reformed Mubarak administration, some sort of unity government representing the various opposition factions or leadership with Islamic leanings. A loose coalition of opposition groups is conducting talks, activists said, and so far the only name put forth as a possible spokesman for the mass revolt is Nobel Peace laureate Mohammed ElBaradei, the former U.N. nuclear chief, whose return to his native Egypt galvanized fellow dissidents. ElBaradei has his own detractors, including many protesters who consider him aloof and unrepresentative of Egyptians because of his long tenure abroad. Others consider ElBaradei an acceptable interim figure if for no other reason than the lack of an alternative. “We hope he can be looked at as a transitional figure,” Shukrallah said. “I think he, and others perhaps in some non-partisan coalition, can keep this unification.” -from staff and wire reports

2 news

news editors: philipp kotlaba, liana bayne, gordon block newseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865

february 1, 2011

what you’re saying //comments from online readers... On MTV’s new show ‘Skins’: Jochebed>> Thank God I don’t own a television.Anonymous | # January 27, 2011 @ 11:25 PM — Flag Comment”Rather than capitalizing on America’s perverse fascination with watching juveniles engaging in sex and drug use, why not strive for authenticity in portraying teenage existence?”Because it would be so boring.

Anonymous>> Quite frankly, I am a teenager and my life is similar to the lives of the characters in Skins. The same applies to a number of my friends. This article is a clear example of hasty generalization. Just because you didn’t live in this manner doesn’t make the same true for everybody else.

Anonymous>> Forget the sex and drugs, the real complaint should be just how poorly the show is written and acted. I made it through half an episode. Just pure trash for such an “acclaimed show”. The BBC version should sue for damages.

On Tech’s winter weather policy: Anon and on>> You could always make an adult decision and not go. Most professors are pretty understanding of such things, particularly if your concern is valid. Regardless of how many or how few people are in your class, you should feel comfortable telling your instructor, “Hey, look, we were open but I didn’t feel safe trying to get here.” If you think that idea is ridiculous, then you either need to work on the interaction you have with your instructor or else realize that 2 inches of snow isn’t treacherous navigation. As they say, put on the bigboy pants and make an adult decision!

COLLEGIATETIMES

virginia FEMA provides county relief funding PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. -- Prince William County is getting some much needed monetary relief from the federal government after last year’s historic snowfall. The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced Monday the approval of an additional $3,037,026 in federal funds to Virginia for severe storm cleanup in February 2010. Prince William County will receive $1,431,197. The grant, plus administrative costs, represents a 75-percent federal share of the cost of the project. Loudoun County will receive $1,605,829.

According to the FEMA press release, more than $45.7 million has been approved for Virginia applicants affected by the December 2009 and February 2010 storms, which dumped more than 50 inches of snow on the DC metro area. The funding was awarded to the Virginia Department of Transportation for reimbursement of expenses related to the removal of health and safety hazards, including snow removal from county-maintained roads. For each of these grants, the remaining 25 percent will be paid with non-federal funds deter-

mined by the Commonwealth. The Virginia Department of Emergency Management is responsible for the disbursement of the funds based on regulatory requirements. Under FEMA’s Public Assistance program, funding is provided to the state, eligible local governments, and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis. FEMA is responsible for managing the program, approving grants, and providing technical assistance to the state and applicants. -Kipp Hanley, mcclatchy newspapers

nation & world Mexico preps for regional elections MEXICO CITY — Plans by Mexico’s once-dominant Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, to score a comeback in next year’s presidential elections stumbled Monday when vote-counting showed that its candidate had lost a key gubernatorial race. PRI candidate Manuel Anorve won just 42.6 percent of the vote in the race for governor of Guerrero state, home to the violence-ridden Pacific resort of Acapulco. The winner in Sunday’s balloting was Angel Aguirre, who headed a coalition of leftist parties and received 56 percent of the vote,

election officials said. The election was the first of six gubernatorial races this year that will gauge the mood of the electorate before presidential elections in 2012. A leader of the coalition that includes Aguirre’s Leftist Revolutionary Party said Aguirre’s triumph showed that a PRI comeback wasn’t guaranteed. “The myth of the invincibility of the PRI has been shown to be just that,” said Jesus Zambrano, coordinator of the Guerrero Unites Us coalition. The PRI governed Mexico for more than seven decades until it lost the

presidential election in 2000. Its hopes for returning to power have been boosted by opinion polls showing citizens’ dismay with rampant drugrelated violence and joblessness under President Felipe Calderon, of the center-right National Action Party. Voters next go to the polls on Sunday to elect a governor in Southern Baja California. Gubernatorial elections follow later in the year in Coahuila, Mexico state, Nayarit and Michoacan. -Tim Johnson, mcclatchy newspapers

opınıons 3

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

february 1, 2011

Don’t fight motto, serve community ighting Gravity, a dance team that originated from Virginia Tech’s Pi F Kappa Alpha fraternity, will be returning to campus after gaining notoriety from its third-place finish on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” in the summer and fall of 2010. The dance group has decided to return to campus to perform for “Relay’s Best Dance Crew,” a fundraiser for Tech’s chapter of Relay for Life, one of the largest university chapters in the nation. Fighting Gravity’s return to Tech for a charitable event proves that even after receiving worldwide acclaim, it has remained true to its roots of Tech values and morals. According to Fighting Gravity’s official website, the gravity-defying dance team convened for a fraternal philanthropic event sponsored by Pi Kappa Alpha to raise money for a local organization, “Service for Sight,” a community service group that assists local residents with vision impairments. Fighting Gravity’s advocacy of community service at Tech, even after attaining its fame from “America’s Got Talent,” proves that, although the group is no longer at Tech, service is still a critical element for its members. Many students take our service heritage as a land-grant college for granted. As Hokies, it is our obligation to participate in service opportunities as a way to give back to the community that provides so many opportunities for Tech students. Many students become so overwhelmed with academics and their social life, and they forget that community service is a crucial part of Tech’s founding ideology. Tech has many opportunities to get involved with community service projects around campus and Blacksburg. Many people are under the assumption that community service can be boring, but actually, any community service project can be fun, especially with the wide variety of options to become active on

and around campus. For community service projects around campus, such as The Big Event and Relay for Life, you can form teams with your friends. If you put a competitive aspect into the event, you and your friends can do some remarkable work around the community while making great memories. There are a variety of student service organizations around campus, so you can find a niche that suits your personality and make a positive impact in the community. With the variety of options to become involved in, there’s no excuse for Tech students to be inactive. Community service doesn’t have to be a major time commitment; in fact, many service events only require a day or two during the year. In addition, participating in service projects can provide experiences for your resume, and it can give you the opportunity to network with notable alumni, which can be very beneficial when it comes to job searching. Overall, participating in service projects around campus can enrich your experience as a Tech student without burdening or detracting from academics. Fighting Gravity’s return to Tech will inspire many to join the efforts for Tech’s Relay for Life, and it will also provide students with an opportunity to see a great dance crew for a reasonable ticket price. The impact that Fighting Gravity’s performance at Tech can make on the participation in Relay for Life has the potential to be extraordinary, and it provides an example for involvement around campus and the community that everyone should aspire to match. Becoming active in community service will not only benefit the community, but can make an immense impact on your experience as a student or alumnus of Tech.

JOSH HIGGINS -regular columnist -freshman -communication major

Is WikiLeaks done? the era of WikiLeaks over? It’s been less than a year since Is the underground organization made its first big splash with the release of U.S. military files from Afghanistan. And it’s been only two months since WikiLeaks began releasing documents from its trove of 251,287 U.S. diplomatic cables. But with fewer than 3,000 cables released, the newspapers that were given access to the database have found that it has already reached the point of diminishing returns. Journalists working on the project say they (naturally) published the most interesting stuff first; what remains, apparently, is mostly a vast collection of diplomatic trivia. And what of WikiLeaks itself? The organization is in tatters; its early successes have prompted both new competition and new controls on leaks. As WikiLeaks’ founder, the mercurial cyber-militant Julian Assange, faces criminal investigations in Sweden and the United States, some of his lieutenants — alienated by Assange’s domineering ways — have split to form a new, competing leak depository called “OpenLeaks.” Even more threatening, the New York Times is considering a plan to cut out the middleman by opening an electronic leak channel of its own. “The aim would be to facilitate tips and information from sources who are afraid to directly approach a reporter,” the Times’ editor, Bill Keller, told me via e-mail. Meanwhile, the U.S. government has taken steps to prevent others from doing what a soldier based in Iraq, Pfc. Bradley Manning, allegedly did for WikiLeaks, downloading secret cables onto compact disks and spiriting them away. “Bradley Manning could not do today what he did a year ago,” an official said. Leaks will continue with or without WikiLeaks, but that’s nothing new. As John Adams, America’s second president, lamented: ‘How can a government go on, publishing all of their negotiations with foreign nations, I know not.” Now that we’ve survived WikiLeaks, what have we learned? The WikiLeaks documents contained few blockbusters. These were not the Pentagon Papers. What they primarily showed was that American diplomats told the truth most of the time, that their perceptions of foreign leaders were more acerbic and interesting than anyone knew, and that many of them are quite good writers. We learned that it’s a nasty world out there. We learned that Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi may be making money from private business deals with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. We learned that Arab leaders are desperately afraid of the growing power of Iran, just as U.S. officials have been claiming for years. We learned that China’s government employs thousands of computer hackers to try to read everyone else’s e-mails. We also learned we still need journalists to decipher raw information. It’s telling that even Assange, no fan of tra-

ditional institutions, felt a need to turn to old-fashioned newspapers and magazines to make sense of all those cables. Even then, hasty journalism produced some stories that were incomplete. One of the biggest apparent scoops was a report that Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton had sent a cable ordering U.S. diplomats at the United Nations to spy on their foreign counterparts and even collect samples of their DNA (exactly how was left to the reader’s imagination). But officials later explained that Clinton hadn’t written that cable (it bore her signature as a formality) and that it was the kind of annual “wish list” from the CIA that most diplomats — the sensible ones — routinely ignore. And we learned that some leaks can be dangerous. The Guardian published an article based on cables reporting that Zimbabwe’s prime minister, Morgan Tsvangirai, had privately urged Western governments to maintain their economic sanctions against the regime of President Robert Mugabe. Zimbabwe’s attorney general promptly announced that he would use the report as the basis of a treason investigation. U.S. officials say they assume, but don’t know for sure, that “technologically astute intelligence services” like China’s have penetrated the WikiLeaks database. As a result, the U.S. government has contacted hundreds of people named in the cables to warn them that they could be exposed. “No one’s been killed, but I don’t think that’s the right standard to apply,” a U.S. official said. “There are people we have helped to move to safe places.” But then, some of the cables may have had positive results too. In Tunisia, human rights activists have said they were bolstered by WikiLeaks cables that showed that the U.S. government didn’t love President Zine el Abidine ben Ali — although the claim that WikiLeaks played a major role in touching off that revolution has been vastly overblown. And U.S. officials have said privately that the WikiLeaks cables on Iran have helped impress the Tehran regime with how widespread foreign opposition is to its program to enrich uranium that could be used for nuclear weapons. The long-term problem every government faces in keeping secrets isn’t WikiLeaks; it’s the information technology that makes communication easier but makes leaking easier too. The wisest words on this subject remain those offered by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates last year. In sum, he said: Get used to it. “Every other government in the world knows the United States government leaks like a sieve, and it has for a long time,” Gates said. “Is this embarrassing? Yes. Is it awkward? Yes. Consequences for U.S. foreign policy? I think fairly modest.”

DOYLE McMANUS -regular columnist

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MCT CAMPUS

Going green not very bright when it comes to light bulbs his State of the Union address this past week, President In Barack Obama reiterated his goal of going green. Unfortunately, going green has become an excuse for companies to cut corners on quality and safety. Have you ever heard of Subtitle B of Title III of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007? By the year 2014 incandescent light bulbs will no longer exist in the United States and will be replaced with new energy-saving light bulbs. Compact Fluorescent Lights are the most popular type of energy saving light bulbs. The problem with this is these new lightbulbs (in addition to poorer light quality) contain mercury. Hospitals are also warning these new light bulbs can cause epileptic attacks and migraines. Not only is mercury poisonous, but the improper disposal of the lightbulbs negates the benefits of CFLs. Most people will probably throw the light bulbs in the trash, trash that will most likely be taken to a landfill and buried. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want mercurycontaminated soil. Last time I checked, contaminating the soil was not part of the green initiative. Traditionally, incandescent light bulbs have been made in the United States. But in Winchester, Va., the last major incandescent light bulb

factory, which employed nearly 200 people, has closed. The process of making CFLs is labor intensive, and labor in China is comparatively much cheaper, so the jobs likely replacing those put out of work will be in China. There are those who argue that we need to ban incandescent light bulbs for America’s energy security. However, since electricity comes almost entirely from safe domestic sources, the impact of banning the traditional bulb on energy security will be negligible. Oil and gasoline only generate about 1 percent of domestic electricity. Energy efficiency standards already exist for vehicles, appliances and buildings, and recently introduced legislation calls on the Secretary of Energy to identify additional appliances and equipment that “have significant national energy savings potential” to be included for future performance standard mandates. The economic theory of “creative destruction,” which was popularized by Joseph Schumpeter, is important when understanding the value innovation has on long-term economic growth. The theory says that the short- and long-term benefits of entrepreneurial activity and competition far outweigh the short-term losses caused by a new product replacing an old one.

Repealing the bulb ban would reverse what has been a long regulatory attack on the American consumer. Producers and consumers do not need government mandates and subsidies to be more energy efficient. If being energy efficient saves consumers money or reduces costs for businesses, they do not need the government mandates or the taxpayers’ help. When the government creates specific mandates and regulations, it purposely narrows the path businesses can take. These policies distort normal market forces and encourage government dependence. Several members of Congress are working to repeal it. Representatives Joe Barton, Michael Burgess and Marsha Blackburn introduced the Better Use of Light Bulbs Act last week, which would repeal the elimination of the incandescent bulb. Now, if only the rest of Congress would join them in turning the lights off on this misguided idea once and for all.

JEFF HOMAN -regular columnist -sophomore -history major

‘State of the Campus’ address could provide university community direction an there be a “State of the Campus” Speech for our C community? Last week, I was among the millions of people who watched the president’s State of the Union speech. As I watched and listened, I was wondering what that message would be like for the Virginia Tech community. Over the past few weeks, we’ve had the State of the Commonwealth speech by Gov. Bob McDonnell, and now the State of the Union speech by President Barack Obama. While the symbolism of those speeches is rooted in history, they serve as a way to share with the greater public the policy issues that need to be discussed in the coming year. The symbolism of having the sovereign is powerful but the messages in the speech provide the context for the government’s actions. All of this raises the question of what a “State of the Campus” address would look like for the Tech community? Would such an address be necessary or could we simply read it in an e-mail? I realize that some would argue these conversations take place within the shared governance system of the university, whether it is through University Council, the faculty and staff senate or the different university commissions. Anything related to policy changes has to be discussed and vetted through this process before subsequent approval by the Board of Visitors. Despite discussions regarding policy, the administration does not spend enough time outlining goals and priorities for the university. Can the Strategic Plan address the current realities on the ground? Where can a member of this community learn about and become engaged in these c onversations? Look at it this way — the university is made up of several different entities, known as the colleges and administrative units. Each of these

entities develops its own different goals and visions for the academic year. But this system has a problem: These particular goals combined cannot produce a comprehensive list of goals for the university as a whole. We often get to hear and read about the successes of the past year through the annual reports, but what about understanding the goals at the beginning of the year. What is the guiding vision for a particular college or administrative unit or student entity, such as student government, and how many members of these groups could honestly state the goals of their organizations going forward in the new year? I raise this question because I sense most don’t understand the current goals and focus areas of the university. We realize there are certain ideals that guide the university from the motto of “Ut Prosim” to the Principles of Community. However, these ideals don’t substitute for achievable goals. What are we going to do in 2011 to help move the university forward? What are the things that need to be focused on? What things continue to be the challenge areas? What can a member of this community do to help make a difference? It is the latter question that is perhaps the most important. Community members need direction in how to best apply themselves to helping the university progress toward its goals. If we wanted a more formal address, as opposed to a university-wide e-mail, it could be an occasion where all of the major deliberative bodies on the campus would come together and hear from the university president, as well as others such as the SGA president. Not only would this State of the Campus address be meaningful for the university community, it would send a powerful message to the alumni and the communities served by the

university. While Lane Stadium would be the only venue large enough to hold the entire university community, we can utilize technology in the classrooms, online and in the residence halls to make the address accessible to everyone. I realize some will scoff at such an idea, because of past events that did not work. I can remember the annual Founder’s Day program, which marked the anniversary of the founding of Tech, which was an opportunity for the university to recognize faculty, as well as for the president to speak with the community. But because of low attendance, poor marketing and other factors, this event went away and the components were spread out to other events. Also years ago, there was the experiment with a freshman convocation in Cassell Coliseum. This would be an opportunity for the freshmen to meet administrators and learn about the university. This event never gained traction, as it was sandwiched amid other items during this hectic first week of the semester. Regardless of the format, a State of the Campus address is needed to help guide activities. Amid budget cuts and other changes affecting the university, there needs to be a morale booster. Such a campus address could be valuable for the community to reignite a sense of commitment, to serve as a reminder of where the university is going with its goals and where we, as members of this university community, can help in that pursuit.

RAY PLAZA -regular columnist -graduate student -curriculum and education

Collegiate Times Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief: Peter Velz Managing Editors: Zach Crizer, Katie Biondo, Josh Son Public Editor: Justin Graves Senior News Editor: Philipp Kotlaba Associate News Editors: Liana Bayne, Gordon Block News Reporters: Claire Sanderson, Jay Speidell, Michelle Sutherland, Sarah Watson News Staff Writers: Erin Chapman, Meighan Dober Features Editors: Lindsey Brookbank, Kim Walter Features Reporters: Chelsea Gunter, Majoni Harnal Opinions Editors: Scott Masselli, Gabi Seltzer Sports Editors: Michael Bealey, Garrett Ripa Sports Reporters: Nick Cafferky, Matt Jones, Courtney Lofgren, Josh Parcell Sports Staff Writers: Alyssa Bedrosian, Alex Koma, Ashleigh Lanza, Zach Mariner Public Information Director: Dishu Maheshwari Training Director: Kelsey Heiter Copy Editors: Taylor Chakurda, Thandiwe Ogbonna, Spenser Snarr Layout Designers: Danielle Buynak, Cathleen Campbell, Maya Shah, 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, Craig Mullaney, Krista Silano, Ari Weiss Inside Sales Manager: Wade Stephenson Assistant Inside Sales Manager: Katie Berkel, Diane Revalski Assistant Account Executives: Maddie Abram, Kaelynn Kurtz, Erin Shuba Creative Director: Chloé Skibba Asst Production Manager: Casey Stoneman Creative Services Staff: Tim Austin, 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.

february 1, 2011

page 4

Florida court declares Obama health care law unconstitutional WASHINGTON — A federal judge in Florida sided Monday with 26 states to declare President Barack Obama’s health-care law unconstitutional, emboldening congressional Republicans, who are vowing to repeal what they call “Obamacare” before the Supreme Court weighs in. The Obama administration will appeal the ruling, and White House aides said they’d continue to implement the law in phases between now and 2014. U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson ruled that the law ‘s requirement that individuals obtain health insurance exceeds Congress’ powers under the CommerceClauseoftheConstitution,

in part because it attempts to regulate inactivity rather than activity. Since the individual mandate is the “keystone or linchpin” of the law, Vinson also ruled that it and all the other provisions of the law “are all inextricably bound together in purpose and must stand or fall as a single unit.” Vinson, whom President Ronald Reagan appointed to the bench, wrote that he’d reached his decision “reluctantly.” “This has been a difficult decision to reach, and I am aware that it will have indeterminable implications,” Vinson said. “At a time when there is virtually unanimous agreement that healthcare reform is needed in this country, it is hard to invalidate and strike down a statute titled ‘The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.’ “

Obama deputy senior adviser Stephanie Cutter, in a White House blog posting, called the ruling “a plain case of judicial overreaching” and “well out of the mainstream of judicial opinion.” Vinson’s ruling follows last December’s ruling by U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson in Virginia, who found the individual mandate unconstitutional, and federal rulings last fall in Michigan and another Virginia district that supported the mandate. Vinson’s ruling is broader because 26 states signed on to the Florida case and because he rejected not just the individual mandate but also the entire law. The law includes provisions that cover people who have pre-existing conditions, young adults up to age 26 on their parents’ plans, seniors, small businesses, Medicaid recipients and

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the final arbiter of this constitutional question.” Opponents of the healthcare law celebrated Vinson’s ruling.. Carrie Severino, chief counsel for the conservative Judicial Crisis Network, called the ruling “an unqualified victory for the Founders’ framework of principled, limited government.” House Speaker John Boehner, ROhio, applauded the message that “the federal government should not be in the business of forcing you to buy health insurance and punishing you if you don’t.” Two Senate Republicans, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and John Barrasso of Wyoming, said they would introduce legislation to let states opt out of the mandate and other provisions of the law.

The House of Representatives recently voted, largely on party lines, to repeal the law. Because Democrats control 53 of 100 Senate seats, a legislative repeal appears unlikely. Republicans also are considering ways to dismantle the law piece by piece or withhold the money needed to implement it. But there are political considerations for both parties. Some provisions are widely popular with Americans, especially those that would prevent insurers from dropping, refusing to cover or exorbitantly charging people with pre-existing conditions. Cutter, in her blog post, acknowledged the difficulty of making the rest of the law work without the mandate. She said that “unless every American is required to have insurance, it would be cost prohibitive to cover people with pre-existing conditions.”

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others. Democratic leaders and consumer and family advocacy groups who support the law criticized the ruling as political and predicted that it would be overturned. Ethan Rome, executive director of Health Care for America Now, said the ruling was a gift to Republican governors and attorneys general who are friendly with private insurance companies. Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA, called it “radical judicial activism run amok.” The American Public Health Association’s executive director, Georges C. Benjamin, said the ruling posed an “enormous” risk to millions of Americans. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said “there is little doubt the Supreme Court will be

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arts & entertainment 5 february 1, 2011

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

Smith Westerns’ recent release a blast from the past he indie music world has become veritably obsessed with T recreating the melancholic, synthe-

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Anthony Hopkins (top) as Father Lucas, Colin O’Donoghue (bottom) as Michael Kovak and Alice Braga (bottom) as Angeline star in New Line Cinema’s psychological thriller “The Rite.” However, the ﬁlm falls short of its description. Instead, it has proven to be less than scary.

‘The Rite’: A boring disappointment hen I hear the terms demonic and exorcism, words such W as scary, creepy and evil come to mind. Never would I have associated the word dull with mentions of the devil — that is until I saw “The Rite.” Directed by Mikael Hafstrom and starring Anthony Hopkins, “The Rite” parallels the story of how a priest-in-training, played by Colin O’Donoghue, tries to come to terms with his faith by learning to become an exorcist. To start out with, the first words that flash on screen are “Inspired by real events.” This immediately lets the audience know that perhaps one element of the film really happened, everything else is Hollywood glitter. “Based on a true story” at least says the film will follow, to some extent, the narrative of the real life events. “Inspired by real events” is basically just a way to catch the viewer’s attention and amp up the scares. Unfortunately, this device has little effect for audiences today. Most horror fans know the “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” claims to be inspired by a true story, even though it is loosely based on various serial killers, none of which did anything to the extent of the movie’s main villain, Leatherface. The first hour of “The Rite” is slow and tedious. Many plot points are set up, which one would assume would be further examined later on. This never happens. The significance of certain recurring elements often goes unexplained, making for a sloppy plot line. Once the young priest begins his exorcism training, the religious act of expelling a demon from a possessed human, things do pick up a bit. There are a few jump-out-of-yourseat moments. But, for the most part, even the exorcism scenes are borderline boring. The tediousness could spawn from a number of things in the movie. Perhaps it was the dull acting by a majority of the cast. O’Donoghue seemed bored. Although Hopkins was fun to watch as seasoned exorcist Father Lucas, he fell a bit flat. I felt he drew on some of the same mannerisms he used in “Silence of the Lambs” as infamous serial killer Hannibal Lecter, which took away

some of Father Lucas’ believability. I half expected him to utter, “Good evening, Clarice.” What can be said for “The Rite” is that it does deliver a creepy atmosphere. The cinematography is dark and sinister. The music is soft, yet menacing, suggesting the demon could be around any corner at any moment. I thought maybe my disappointment with “The Rite” stemmed from comparing it with the classic “The Exorcist,” a definitive film of its time that still stands today as a legitimately scary movie.

But upon further consideration, “The Rite” just isn’t a good film, comparison or not. If you are looking for a film that will leave you awake at night in terror, “The Rite” is not for you. If you are sleep deprived and need a two-hour nap, then head over to the movie theater. But quite honestly, it would be a sin to waste a good $10 on “The Rite.”

COURTNEY BAKER -features movie reviewer

sized sounds of ’80s pop. This fixation on all things electronic and new wave resulted in a spike of popularity for acts such as Wild Nothing, Twin Shadow and the lo-fi king, Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti. Vocals were drenched in reverb, guitars were run through delay pedals, drums were programmed on a drum machine — most of the music was capable of being produced by one person alone in a basement. The dream pop movement has its endearing qualities. Plenty of amazing music has come out of the trend. However, it’s refreshing to hear “Dye It Blonde,” Smith Westerns’ fantastic sophomore effort, released Jan. 18 on Fat Possum Records (The Black Keys, Tennis, Wavves). Searing guitar riffs and heavy drum fills are at the top of the mix, foregoing usual mumbled bedroom-pop singing to throw Cullen Omori’s vocals to the front. None of this is to say that “Dye It Blonde” doesn’t exude a certain sense of nostalgia for the past — various influences from eras long gone are definitely present here. There’s a distinct vibe of ’70s glam rock, the kind that eventually went on to inspire the glossy hairbands of the ’80s. Putting a personal twist on the music they draw inspiration from is something many new artists have difficulty with, especially those emulating ’80s pop. What’s remarkable about “Dye It Blonde” is Smith Westerns’ ability to cultivate a sound that draws on this wide range of influences, while simultaneously presenting music to listeners that sounds fresh and current. Perhaps understanding that what they were releasing was going against the grain, the first track, “Weekend,” opens with the distant sound of a synthesizer before a guitar pushes it out of the mix. Songs such as “Still New” and “All Die Young” are almost deceiving, leading listeners to believe they are going to be just another indie poprock song, only to send the chords of a guitar tearing through the pop

facade, moving the song straight into the territory of Bowie-esque glam. Ballad “Smile” represents the more gentle side of Smith Westerns, exploding at the chorus in a wash of beautifully layered vocals and falsettos. Living up to its title, “Dance Away” features a highly danceable beat, only momentarily giving way to more dramatic guitar flourishes at the hook. Closing track “Dye The World” shows the band digging back into its glittery roots, asking “Look in the mirror / Are you glamorous?” before surrendering to another scorching guitar solo to close out the album. Though Smith Westerns’ eponymous debut album was an exercise in fuzzy garage rock, it is clear the talented songwriting present on “Dye It Blonde” was in them from the beginning. With lines like “Love is lovely when you’re young” and “Weekends are never fun unless you’re around here too,” it’s apparent that the band’s goal was to write songs about the pains of being young and in love and the pains of being young and bored — the pains of being young in general. Themes such as youth and love seem appropriate for the band, considering none of its members are older than 20. Yet, despite being able to connect on a certain level of naivete and youth, they sing from an experienced perspective that comes with age. While certainly not hoping to see the death of lo-fi pop in indie music, I am interested to see if music like Smith Westerns’ is part of a backlash against it. Even if that does not end up being the case, “Dye It Blonde” proves to be an outstanding, extremely fun pop record by an up-and-coming group of glam rockers. This album is definitely an early contender for any best of 2011 lists.

KEVIN McALEESE -features music reviewer -political science major

6 sports february 1, 2011

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

Somen steps up for men’s tennis in expanded role teammates have noticed the positive impact his increased role is having on the team. “He has great confidence,” said senior Pedro Graber. “It’s always hard to have someone play well at No. 1 against the best players in (college tennis) and it shows we have a strong team overall.” Graber has also been a significant part of this year’s team, although he hasn’t had as much success as Somen. He lost his first match this weekend against Alex Llompart of Pepperdine and was winning against Michigan’s Justin Rossi before the match was ended because the team was officially eliminated. “(Pedro) showed a lot of poise out there and he deserved to finish that match,” Thompson said. “He’s one of the guys on the team that can beat anyone.” Beck has also stepped up to provide a leadership role as one of three seniors on the team. He was able to emerge victorious in both of his matches this weekend. “Now that I’m a senior, I think I’ve got the experience to help me win,” Beck said. “Early in my career, I folded under the pressure (sometimes), but playing all four years has helped me be successful.” Although the contributions of others have been significant, Somen’s importance as the No. 1 player is undeniable. “(The No. 1 player) is always important,” Thompson said. “Our biggest wins always seem to come when the No. 1 steps up, and (Somen) doing well gives everyone confidence.” The team will need all the confidence it can get as it heads to Minnesota for its

ALEX KOMA sports staff writer In most sports, there is no clear label that indicates who the best player on the team is. The star of a basketball or football team intrinsically knows they are the best without being told so. Collegiate tennis is not like most sports. Instead of one player simply believing that they’re the best, a player on the tennis team is selected as the “No. 1” player and competes against his counterpart on the opposing team. Understandably, the role comes with a great deal of pressure, and it’s difficult for a team to lose its top player — as the Virginia Tech men’s tennis team did this year with the departure of Yoann Re. However, the loss has been offset with the emergence of the team’s new No. 1, junior Luka Somen. “Luka has always had a great game, but this year he’s really stepped up and been much more aggressive,” said Jim Thompson, head coach. Despite the Hokies’ losses to both Pepperdine and Michigan l weekend, Somen was able to demonstrate his growing talent, as he knocked off Pepperdine’s nationally-ranked Sebastian Faneslow. “It really helps to look over at his court in the middle of a match and see that he’s winning,” said senior Will Beck. “When he beats good competition like he did this weekend, it inspires the rest of us to play well.” Last season, Somen competed primarily in the No. 2 spot, and his

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first true road match of the season. “In all sports going on the road is hard, and it will be good to see how the team responds,” Thompson said. “Last week when we were on the road neither team had much of a crowd, but Minnesota is promoting this match to try and make sure (the arena) is packed, so this will be a big test for our

program.” The Golden Gophers are ranked 33rd in the country, so Somen and the rest of the Hokies will be facing stiff competition. The team will face Minnesota in LUKE MASON / SPPS Minneapolis, on Feb. 4, and will stay on the same court to face Boise State Senior Pedro Graber prepares to return a hit. Graber is one of only on Feb. 5. three seniors and brings experience to the court for Tech.

Wrestling notches another signature victory over Lehigh

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Junior Luke Somen follows through on a shot. Somen has been tasked with succeeding former Hokie Yoann Re as the team’s No. 1 player.

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Junior Jarrod Garnett stares down his opponent Friday night. The 16th ranked Garnett defeated Mitch Berger in the 125-pound weight class.

NO. 6 HOKIES BEAT LEHIGH 23-15, MARKING THE 11TH WIN IN THE LAST 13 MATCHES FOR TEAM ZACH MARINER sports staff writer The Virginia Tech wrestling team continued its successful season this weekend, with impressive performances in both its victory over No. 12 Lehigh on Friday night and in the Appalachian State Open on Saturday. On Friday night, the No. 6 Hokies grabbed the momentum early, which would end up carrying them through the entire night. Tech wrestlers saw victories in

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the first six contests. That included pins from redshirt freshman Zach Neibert in the 141-pound weight class and redshirt sophomore Pete Yates in the 165-pound class. The Hokies also notched a win in the only top-20 matchup of the night, when ninth-ranked freshman Devin Carter defeated 20th-ranked Frank Cangina, 16-9, in the 133-pound class. Despite a rough ending to the night, which included losing the last four matches and being deducted a team point for an unsportsmanlike con-

duct penalty, Tech did manage to hang on for the 23-15 victory over Lehigh. The Hokies would carry that momentum into Saturday, as three wrestlers in maroon and orange singlets won their respective weight classes, while two more placed second in theirs. Cameron Hurd (149-pound), Chris Moon (165-pound), and Erik Spjut (133-pound, wrestled unattached) all went undefeated down in Boone, N.C., on their way to winning titles. Ty Mitch (125-pound) and Taylor Knapp (157-pound) were runners-up on Saturday, as both wrestled unattached. Tech responded well this weekend

after losing by a surprisingly large margin last Friday at No. 16 Rutgers, 24-7. It marked only the team’s fourth loss in a dual meet all season — all have been to ranked competition, with two coming against top-5 opponents. With only four dual meets remaining in the regular season, the Hokies are peaking at the right time. The ACC Championships, which start March 5, are right around the corner, and the team appears to be exactly where it needs to be if it expects to win the conference. Tech will resume action this Saturday against defending ACC champion and rival Virginia at 7 p.m. in Cassell Coliseum.