Tuesday, March 1, 2011 Print Edition by Collegiate Times

An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

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COLLEGIATETIMES 108th year, issue 25

News, page 2

Arts & Entertainment, page 6

Opinions, page 3

Sports, page 5

Classifieds, page 4

Sudoku, page 4

Perfect storm

more on page five IMPROBABLE UPSET OVER NO. 1 DUKE TAKES HEAT OFF HOKIES AS MARCH MADNESS APPROACHES GARRET RIPA sports editor Coach Seth Greenberg’s bubbledwelling Hokies (19-8, 9-5) entered Saturday night’s game with one last opportunity to earn a marquee win on the season — a nationally recognized win that the NCAA Tournament selection committee

could not ignore. The Hokies got exactly what they needed. Senior guard Malcolm Delaney described the 64-60 upset of then No. 1 Duke as “the biggest game of his career.” “Obviously we’re excited in what we were able to accomplish this weekend,” Greenberg said. “But we need to basically validate our play this past

weekend by playing very well against a tough Boston College team.” Senior forward Jeff Allen paced the Hokies in their defeat of Duke, scoring 18 points and grabbing 15 rebounds — all while managing to stay out of foul trouble. “Jeff Allen is a first team all-ACC player (in terms of) what he has given us lately,” Greenberg said. The Hokies played tough defense (limiting the Blue Devils to 4 for 20 from behind the arc) to overcome a dismal 8 for 19 effort from the charity

stripe and a 4 for 15 shooting performance from Delaney. Until now, Tech’s resume had been full of mediocre wins. The Hokies flopped in early-season opportunities against Kansas State and currently No. 6 Purdue and No. 13 North Carolina. At home, the Hokies led Purdue 5046 with 1:49 remaining in the game only to lose in overtime. In Chapel Hill, they saw a 16-point advantage fade into a three point loss. After Saturday, the Hokies are in a

much better position than where they have been over the past three seasons. But in order to avoid sweating out another Selection Sunday, they need to win at least one more game. “Our goal at the beginning of the year was to make the NCAA Tournament — not beat Duke,” Greenberg said. “To make the NCAA Tournament, we have to continue to play well.” Tonight, Tech hosts Boston College for senior night before closing out the regular season at Clemson on Saturday. The Hokies will then com-

MARK UMANSKY / SPPS

pete in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament March 10-13. Boston College (17-11, 7-7) and Clemson (19-9, 8-6) are both bubble teams in a worse position than Tech. The Hokies are looking to even the season-series with the Eagles, having already suffered a tough 58-56 loss on the road on February 5th. “We have to guard the ball better, we didn’t do a very good job keeping the ball in front of us,” Greenberg said. see UPSET / page ﬁve

Several sickened New Tech sorority populates roster at local restaurant CLAIRE SANDERSON news reporter Several reports of people becoming sick after eating at Souvlaki’s last week are a part of a regional outbreak of Norovirus. According to Robert Parker, a Virginia Department of Health spokesman, more than 100 individuals in the district have been affected. According to Souvlaki’s owner Mike Buchanan, the virus entered the facility last Tuesday when an employee came to work and then became sick in the women’s bathroom. He said that employee, who was not a student, did not feel sick when she came to work. “It was literally heartbreaking for me, I lost a good employee because of it,” Buchanan said. “It literally brings me to tears sitting here talking to you about it, because I feel like I’m going to lose business.” Buchanan said that he was not at the restaurant when the incident occurred, but arrived quickly after and cleaned up the mess. “I feel like I did what I thought was right,” Buchanan said. “I take pride in the food I serve here and I take pride in my customers.” Marla Willis, an inspector from the Virginia Department of Health came

that day to confirm that Norovirus had been the culprit. Willis declined to comment on the specifics of the incident because of privacy concerns. The following day, Souvlaki’s was closed while Buchanan and his employees cleaned the restaurant according to state standards. “I sanitized the restaurant from top to bottom. I threw out all the food that had been prepared or open that day,” Buchanan said. Parker said that Norovirus is a common gastrointestinal illness at this time of year, which is very contagious, especially in close living environments. He said that the last time an outbreak occurred in the area was about four years ago near Radford. Because students living in dorms are especially susceptible to catching the virus, an e-mail notification was sent out to warn students about the outbreak. “When we heard that there was Norovirus circulating in the community, we sent out the notice as a preventative measure in response to the Virginia Department of Health notice,” said Ken Belcher, senior associate director of Housing Services. Belcher said he could not say where the virus originated, but added the best way to avoid catching it is to wash your hands.

STAFF / COLLEGIATE TIMES

Souvlaki closed for a day to sanitize the restaurant after an outbreak.

COURTESY GAMMA PHI BETA

Members of the newly colonized Virginia Tech sorority Gamma Phi Beta pose in front of the memorial pylons bordering the Drillﬁeld.

SORORITY MEMBERS FROM ACROSS THE STATE HELPING DEVELOP INTRODUCTORY CLASS CLAIRE SANDERSON news reporter Get used to seeing some new letters around campus. Less than three weeks ago, 175 women formed Virginia Tech’s newest sorority, Gamma Phi Beta. While the sorority is beginning to settle into the Oak Lane community, there’s still plenty of work to be done. Without older members to teach new members about the sorority and its traditions, resident consultants Elyse Gieschen and Anna Sturdevant are helping to fill that void. The pair are a part of a team of 10 from the national organization that assists local chapters. Gieschen said she helps the women learn about the organization, helps them plan events and will help elect officers late this spring. “We’re not really members of the chapter, we’re liaisons between the national organization and the chapter, but also between the chapter and the office of Fraternity and Sorority Life,” Gieschen said.

Gamma Phi Betas from the University of Virginia, the College of William & Mary, and James Madison University also came to Tech to help the new chapter get started. “We were actually invited by the Gamma Phi Beta international headquarters,” said Katie Kirtland, administrative vice president with the Gamma Phi Beta chapter at UVa. “It was a huge honor that they thought of us to come and help.” Kirtland and about 50 women from UVa’s Gamma Phi Beta chapter taught the potential new members about the sorority’s philanthropy, Campfire U.S.A. “We did what’s called a philanthropy craft round,” Kirtland said. “We had the potential new members come and we wrote cards to send to the kids at the closest Campfire U.S.A. camp in Maryland. It was a kind of chatty, artsy event.” The chapter went through a recruitment period in February that was separate from the rest of the sororities, during which potential new members got to meet many Gamma Phi Beta volunteers and representatives.

Gieschen said that next school year, Gamma Phi Beta will recruit during the formal recruitment period with the rest of the sororities. Kirtland said that Tech’s new colony had been extremely successful in recruiting so many new members in such a short time. “We sort of have the opposite problem at UVa,” Kirtland said. “We have a chapter who just colonized and they are still recruiting because they didn’t get as many people as they needed on bid day.” Kirtland said that she enjoyed meeting people in the Greek community here at Tech, and was impressed by the enthusiasm that everyone showed. “The response from the average female UVa student is pretty different from the average Tech kid, they were very enthusiastic,” Kirtland said. “It seemed like the girls at Tech knew about Gamma Phi already and really wanted to be in it.” Gieschen said many of the girls were also excited about taking leadership roles within the new sorority right away, as opposed to waiting several semesters in other more established sororities.

“A lot of them were into leadership, so it’s really exciting for them to jump into those leadership roles right away,” Gieschen said. The Panhellenic Council at Virginia Tech chose Gamma Phi Beta to be Tech’s newest sorority last October. Due to the growing number of women going through recruitment, colonizing a new sorority on campus was already being considered. When Delta Zeta was stripped of its charter last spring, the need for a new sorority increased. “We selected three finalists, they all came to campus to present, and our students voted on who they liked the best,” said Adam Cantley, assistant director of Fraternity and Sorority Life. “Each of the sorority chapters got one vote.” The 12 chapters voted unanimously to bring Gamma Phi Beta to campus. “One of the big things that stood out for them is that Gamma Phi Beta is at 18 out of 25 of our peer universities and they had an outstanding past colonization record,” Cantley said. “Our women felt they really articulated the value of alumni and advisor support in colonizing and they thought the philanthropy was really unique.”

2 news

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

march 1, 2011

COLLEGIATETIMES

what you’re saying //comments from online readers... On bus etiquette:

nation UC San Diego counters offensive e-mail

Anonymous>> Hey author, you ever ride a city bus or subway in say New York or Chicago or DC etc.?I’m guessing not because the BT is like eating a babies candy compared to those. If you don’t like loud crowded spaces where people are going to fight like sardines to get off first then walk or ride a bike.

On research of the benefits from drinking water: Anonymous>> That’s news? I’m glad CT relies on Cosmo for there information. Water has been known to be a weight reducer forever. Geez.....

LOS ANGELES — University of California, San Diego, administrators have condemned an Internet prankster who sent out a racially offensive e-mail earlier this month, but they declined to publicly identify the student or say whether any disciplinary action was taken. After receiving a campuswide email about a student survey, someone took advantage of a “reply to all” button that should not have been on the message, campus officials said. The officials did not respond to

questions about the specific content of the message, other than to describe it as “grossly inappropriate.” According to a report in the San Diego Union-Tribune, the person sent out a one-word message containing a common anti-black epithet. TheactionupsetAfrican-American students who were outraged last year by several racially tinged incidents, including an off-campus party that mocked Black History Month. In a statement released Friday, UC

San Diego’s administration said: “We sincerely regret that a single individual was given the ability to send out a hurtful and offensive email, and we have taken steps to ensure that this does not occur in the future.” The message said the campus is “resolute in our determination to ensure a safe and just environment in which everyone may live, work, learn and flourish.” — Larry Gordon, mcclatchy newspapers

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opınıons 3

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

march 1, 2011

Religious acceptance of gay marriage unlikely

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

Collegiate Times Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief: Peter Velz Managing Editors: Zach Crizer, 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, Mia Perry 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 Special Sections Editor: Bethany Buchanan Public Information Director: Dishu Maheshwari Training Director: Kelsey Heiter Copy Editors: Taylor Chakurda, Thandiwe Ogbonna, Spenser Snarr, Brittany Kelly Layout Designers: Danielle Buynak, Victoria Zigadlo, Wei Hann, Maya Shah Online Director: Jamie Chung

erhaps the only issue I have avoided writing about is gay marriage. I think it is a little overdone, and while I know it is a current and continuing issue I still get annoyed by the incessant feed of opinions on the matter that cross my eyes. That being said, I think my stance on the matter might be a little surprising. I’m certainly not the only person who objects in some regard to the proposition of homosexuals entering into matrimony. However, as a homosexual, my views are probably in the minority in the gay community. My issue with the idea of gay marriage has and will continue to be the lack of distinction between legal and religious recognition; I only see one form of recognition ever becoming possible. What I mean is that the church — and by “the church,” I mean the multitude of religions that regard homosexuality as a sin and see it as an abomination — will never change its views. And why should it? Quite frankly, the idea and desire of homosexuals to be recognized by an institution that turns its nose up at homosexuals is a little masochistic, don’t you think? Why on Earth do you want to be recognized by an

institution that is repulsed by your existence? Repulsed may be a little strong of a word, but I do recall my mother telling me that our pastor cried when she told him I was gay. I should mention that my church in Texas is very understanding, and that I have never had a problem with any of the religious figures I have encountered. But that is not to say that it should be expected. I am not by any means saying that you cannot be religious or spiritual if you are a homosexual. Are there gay-friendly churches and beliefs? Absolutely. The opinion of one pastor, priest or minister, though, is not the opinion of the collective church. How old is religion? I don’t even know. But it’s been around, and at this point, it’s here to stay. Expecting to change the beliefs that most religions are founded on, though, is undeniably ludicrous. Recognition in general is one thing, but acceptance is another. Let me remind you that I am talking about religious marriage, something that is purely ceremonial and sometimes spiritual. I say this knowing that my own parents married in a church, but not because of religious faith. And though I am accepted at my own church in Texas, I don’t think they would let me be married there.

And they shouldn’t. I think it’s a little much to ask of something that is centuries old and rooted in tradition and beliefs. Like I said before, there’s a difference between recognition and acceptance, and the latter is something that should not be expected from the church. Now, that is not to say that I am against gay marriage in general. I am completely behind legal gay marriage, and I think of all things it should be the preferred option. The real issue, when I think of marriage, is the legal connection that is created. Marriage is a shift toward the legal union of a relationship, and that is what homosexuals should be looking for — in my mind, anyway. Can homosexuals be married in a church? No. Should they? No. Can homosexuals be married by law? Not everywhere. Should they? Most definitely. I would say that the issue with gay marriage is tied up in the long-standing battle that is the separation of church and state. Were it not for the religious tendencies of our government, it might be easier to distinguish between the two, but this is America, and the two are tied — perhaps permanently.

The Obama administration’s stance — it has made it clear that this is the administration’s stance, not President Barack Obama’s own opinion — is making waves that will hopefully help to separate church and state from one another. Refusing to back a section of the Defense of Marriage Act, the Obama administration has determined that discrimination against homosexuals is unconstitutional — something most of society and pop culture has already realized (cue Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Oprah). This decision is crucial in the fight for gay marriage — by law, not by church — as it will undoubtedly eventually show that refusing to allow homosexuals to marry is a form of discrimination. The issue of discrimination is twofold in my argument against homosexuals being married by the church. While it is important to be recognized and accepted as a major force in society, it is improbable to expect to be recognized by the church. Demanding or even just expecting to be allowed to marry in the church is something that is discriminatory toward religion, in the sense that it refuses to recognize the core beliefs and interpretations of the Bible that have created the church. Again, how old is religion? Older than Elton John and Liberace, that’s

for sure. Have homosexuals always been around? Undoubtedly — and if the ancient Greeks had survived as the predominant societal force of the world then we might have received a little more recognition a lot sooner. But I think it’s safe to say that homosexuals in general are well received and recognized by society, even as a continuously growing force in unexpected arenas (i.e. politics). We have a lot to offer and it’s starting to show. However, that does not mean that those who have rooted beliefs against homosexuality should simply step aside and allow their own beliefs to be trampled. The over-arching issue, in regards to gay marriage in a church and gay marriage by law, is respect. While all individuals deserve to be recognized and given fair treatment, beliefs must be recognized as well. I have respect for those who stand firmly in their beliefs, and I have respect for those who fight for change and progress.

SEAN SIMONS -regular columnist -junior -English major

Your Views

Collegiate Times Business Staff Business Manager: David Harries Distribution Assistant: Ryan Francis

[letter to the editor]

Hokie pride shows on strong Saturday hat is it to be a part of an institution, to be a part of W a living, breathing entity that you can’t fully describe, you can’t quite measure, but you know is there? For me, and many others like me, this is what Virginia Tech is like. Before I came to college I never cared about football, basketball or any other sport that I wasn’t formally involved in. I even remember bits and pieces of a conversation I had with my mom when I was moving into the dorms as we passed Lane Stadium, and she mentioned the spirit and pride the students had for the school. I told her that maybe I’d go to a game or two, but I doubted that I’d ever get into it all. Now nearly seven years later while finishing one last class (yes, I may be a real-life version of a Van Wilder, if you please — and if you find me a golf cart) the spirit of Tech is more well known in me than I would have ever imagined possible. To be in Blacksburg, to live in this town and to be around these people, is like no other experience I would have found elsewhere. To be a Hokie is simply that. There are no other words you could attribute to describing what you are for the rest of your life — you are a Hokie no matter where you go. I’m sure every school has a sense of continued loyalty and pride and I won’t try to take that away from you non-Hokie readers, but Saturday was all about the orange

and maroon. Football season has every student scrounging to find the equivalent of a Willy Wonka Golden Ticket. The parking lots become a sea of tents, barbecues grills and tailgate games. We can walk downtown in our home land and sporadically yell, “Let’s Go” to always be followed by a passionate “Hokies” coming from a random stranger on the street. The same can even be said for the ACC Championship Game when we Hokies take over the hosting city. Aside from the ever popular football program, the basketball games are nothing short of a riot and it unfortunately took me years to learn this. Saturday night we took out the now formerly-No. 1 Duke 64–60 in a game that can only be associated with terms such as “epic” or “exciting.” Being present in Cassell Coliseum or Lane Stadium when Enter Sandman blasts through the speakers is the ultimate rush, but without a ticket I couldn’t even ask for anything better than being surrounded by my fellow Techies at the bar. The entire room erupted with cheers after every sunk basket that brought us closer to the stunning victory, but as the game clock struck zero the bar became an explosion of fans proud for their team. Virginia Tech — I wouldn’t have you any other way. Beware of the Hokie Pride.

Geoff Wilson D2 Special Events Coordinator Industrial & Systems Engineering

R U O Y e r ’ e w . r e p a p s w ne the o t r e t t e l a ss d e r n p e x s e d n a r o t i . ed s w e vi r u yo

il to e-ma m n a send times.co . te legia attached l o c mn or@ sedit uest colu n o i n opi tter or g le your h t i w

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MCT CAMPUS

University should actively involve itself in community you have been following the news, then you are aware of If the protests that took place in Egypt, and those currently happening in Libya and other places in the Arab world. For some of us, it is a reminder of what happened in Eastern Europe with the fall of communism, or what happened in Chile when General Pinochet was forced from power. Even closer to home, we have the situation in Wisconsin over the role of unions and the need to cut the state budget. While the protests are not to the scale of what has happened in other countries, they are having an impact, especially in today’s political climate. If there is one common similarity between all of these events, it is in the lack of compromise or understanding from those that are in power and the protestors. As I reflect on these situations, I look at Virginia Tech’s role in the community and its interactions with its important constituents. Over the past year, one of the biggest issues has been the fact that Tech refuses to collect a sales tax for meals sold on campus. This is not a new issue; it has been around for a number of years. Those from the community argue it gives Tech an unfair advantage and weakens those off-campus establishments due to a lack of business and that other state institutions collect such a tax. Tech argues that it is not required by state law to collect such a tax and will not do so. Recently, in an opinion piece that appeared in The Roanoke Times, a Tech official argued that Tech would not change its position and that even if it did collect such a tax, the amount raised would not be significant. It argued that Tech contributes much more funds through other means to the community. As I read the piece, it seemed to suggest, “We give you more than enough, so stop bugging us about the sales tax.” If anything, it was the tone of the letter that struck a chord and implied a holier-than-thou attitude. It is this attitude that has repeatedly strained the institution’s relationship in the community.

The irony of the situation is in the fact that Tech also depends on the community. As the Montgomery County School Board and the Board of Supervisors have wrestled with the issue of what to do with the Blacksburg High School in the late summer, the university issued a letter through the president indicating that the ongoing issues were affecting the quality of life in the community and potential new university employees. While the letter was well received in some circles, there was also a feeling of disingenuousness among those in the community. Some did not want to see the university involved, while others were thought, “What took you so long?” As I look back at these two situations, all of the interactions were done through letters. Why not face-to-face? What could have been done differently? Wouldn’t it have been a powerful scene to have had university officials addressing the school board and the board of supervisors? Or why not be proactive and engage in serious discussions about the sales tax issue? Why not bring together the key folks and engage in a dialogue about these issues? I certainly understand that the issues are complex, but like the examples of the protests around the world, it is about compromise and a willingness to not only listen to each other but to work with each other. Tech will not get anywhere if it refuses to engage and talk about the issues affecting the community. I remember when I first became involved in the community and began to reach out for collaborations and support. I was met with a lot of skepticism because I was from Tech. Some felt that we were trying to use the members of the community, some felt that we were not sincere in what were trying to do, and some felt that it would just be a one-time effort. Fortunately, in this instance, we were able to show a genuine interest and commitment in the involvement and that it would be sustained.

This is no different from the number of students, faculty, staff and offices that provide valuable outreach into the community on a daily basis. Whether it is through organized programs such as the Center for Student Engagement and Community Partnerships, through individual faculty and staff work or through student organization efforts like the Big Event, these entities and individuals make a huge impact on the community. As I have become more involved in the community, you get to understand why individuals in the surrounding community have frustrations with Tech. Each circumstance is different and some are more complex than others. On one extreme, there are those for whom it is a major challenge even coming on campus is because of how they feel. Often times, it is not about the institution, but about certain individuals at the institution and what they did or did not do and about policies or procedures. While each of us may have our own gripes and feelings, this relationship between the university and the surrounding community is an important one. While Tech serves the entire Commonwealth through its land grant role, it also has a significant relationship with the New River Valley. Rather than face an extreme situation where citizens of the community are blocking entrance ways to campus, town governments are passing resolutions against the university or students and faculty/staff are boycotting the institution, we need to become more willing to interact, engage and sit down to discuss the relevant issues that affect the community. We can’t be seen as the mythical ivory tower that does not care about the surrounding area.

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

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: Tim Austin, Jennifer DiMarco, 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 direct 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, visit reprints.collegemedia.com. Subscription rates: $65 semester; $110 fall/spring. The first copy is free, any copy of the paper after that is 50 cents per issue. © Collegiate Times, 2011. 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.

march 1, 2011

page 4

Winterfest

Cuts looming for federal student aid MICHELLE SUTHERLAND news reporter Virginia Tech officials are expecting an increase in student financial aid requests. Last year, 25,014 students received aid and scholarships. This year more are expected to apply. Today is the deadline for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. No official figures will be available until a new software program can compute the data, said Barry Simmons, director of scholarships and financial aid.

Because of the nature of financial aid, it is difficult to determine how the increase will affect individuals. “It just depends,” Simmons said. “It’s so individualized. It depends on what type of students are applying (and) those that bring money with them.” The university has a finite amount of money for financial aid, but more students applying does not necessarily mean less money for all. However, federal stimulus funds will expire for the 2011-2012 academic year.

According to Tim Hodge, university budget director, eligible in-state students got $130 each from the funds, for a total of $2.3 million. One detriment to financial aid for the upcoming academic year will be slashed work study funds. These funds, given by the federal government, were cut by 41 percent in October. Also affecting student aid is potential legislation cutting the Federal Pell Grant Program. The grants, allocated based on academic status and finan-

Help Wanted

HUMPHREY PROGRAM ASSISTANT

Volunteers Wanted OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH Sociology graduate student seeking participants for thesis research on bi/ multiracial identity. Recruiting Virginia Tech students to participate in interviews Only criteria: 1) must be 18+ 2) have parents of different races In addition to fulfilling my own research needs, the interview will offer an avenue for individuals to discuss their own racial identities and life experiences in a confidential environment. Contact Melissa at mfburges@vt.edu to express interest in participating or to ask any questions

The Virginia Tech Language and Culture Institute in Blacksburg, Va. has an opening for a Humphrey Fellows Program Assistant. The purpose of this position is to provide administrative support to the Humphrey Fellows Long Term English Training Program. This position ensures efficient administration of the program and ensures quality of service to the fellows. The Humphrey Fellow program lasts 5 months and the program assistant will be expected to begin on March 14, and end on August 26, 2011. Please see www.jobs.vt.edu for more details and how to apply.

MEDICAL RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT TechLab, Inc. develops and manufactures medical diagnostic tests and currently has an opening available in the Product Development Group. Qualifications include a degree in biochemistry or biology, with experience in protein purification, ELISA assays, microbiology, and basic laboratory techniques preferred. TechLab offers a competitive salary with excellent benefits. Qualified candidates should submit a resume and letter by mail to: TechLab, Inc., 2001 Kraft Dr. Blacksburg, VA 24060. No phone calls please.

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HUMPHREY SERVICES AIDE

The Virginia Tech Language and Culture Institute (VTLCI) is in need of a Humprey Fellow Services Aide. In this role the aide will assist in a variety of ways to help the Humphrey Fellows adjust to their new surroundings in the U. S. and to lead or accompany the fellows in area activities. The Humphrey Fellows program lasts 5 months and the aide will be expected to begin March 14 and end August 26, 2011. Please see www.jobs.vt.edu for more details and how to apply. 540.231.9348

LAWN/ LANDSCAPE Full time/ part time labor positions. Valid VA drivers license and strong work ethic req. For further info call Wemow, Inc. 540.951.8925 NOW HIRING Stop In Food Stores is accepting applications for sales associates. Campus Shell is located at 600 N Main Street in Blacksburg, with a midMarch opening planned. Full and Part time positions available. Print application online at www.stopinfoodstores.com/jobs/ or call 1-800-955-5668. Drug test and background check required. EOE

Events SKYDIVE! One-day first jumps from 13,500’ from 22-jumper twin engine airplane. Gift Certificates! www.skydiveorange.com 540.943.6587

Deadline

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Today is the last day to submit applications for ﬁnancial aid through the FAFSA program.

cial need, award up to $5,550 a year. The House Republican budget proposal would cut the grant by $845 per student, or 15 percent, and lower it further over the next decade. “If (it) passes, we may potentially have to redo awards,” Simmons said. “Students should be aware.”

For Rent

Joe Cuadrado races in a bungee cord game during Winterfest. photo by Luke Mason, spps

A D T H C T

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Today’s Radio Schedule ed Mix scs Di Art Day

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By Bruce Venzke and Gail Grabowski

ACROSS 1 Mak e mention of 5 Bamboo lover 10 Ar my NCO 14 Eight, in Essen 15 Look f orward to 16 Tiger or Twin, briefly 17 Do some palmistry 20 Giant legend Mel 21 Chi ck’s digs 22 Fine distinction 23 Tavern tussl e 25 Dela ware senator who sponsored IRA legislatio n 26 Groundbreaking 1970s sitcom 33 Excessive ly ornate

34 Sensitive skin spots 35 Not operating 38 “Midnight Cowboy” hustler Rizzo 40 __ Kan: Alpo alternative 41 Welsh dog 44 So viet anti-s py group in som e James Bond novels 47 Link on a writer’s Web site 51 “__, old chap! ” 52 Laura’ s cr y on “The Di ck Van Dyke Show” 54 Small gu n 57 Wester n tie

3/1/11 60 Stag par ty attendee 61 Hilla ry Clinto n bestseller 64 One who might 17-Across 65 Begat 66 Top draft status 67 Music boosters 68 When repeated, star t of an old shout that ends with the star ts of 17-, 26-, 47- and 61-Across 69 Cold War initials DOWN 1 Billiards bounce 2 Summer refresher

3 “__ be the day! ” 4 LAX datum 5 Windo w sectio n 6 Lea ves speechless 7 Condé __ Publications 8 “What ’s the __?” 9 Numerous 10 Ar mstrong’ s nicknam e 11 Turn on an axi s 12 Lady’ s par tner 13 Lo w card 18 NBC correspondent Roger 19 Ha ywor th and Moreno 24 Wrapper for Santa 25 Obstacle for Moses 27 Hide-hair link 28 In poor taste 29 Blac kjack request 30 Aggr avate 31 Grassy e xpanse 32 French designer ’s monogra m 35 Andean stew veggie

7-9 AM - Jessi Schmale

*** WUVT “5 Minute” News at 7 PM *** lty

cia

9AM-12PM - Michael Mosley

7-9 PM - The Soul Jones

Spe

12-2PM - Parrish

9 PM-12 AM - The Money Shot

2-3:30PM - Stu Ruiz

12-2 AM - Jeff Craley

rt ht A Nig ty cial Spe

3:30-5 PM - EJ & Katie

2-4 AM - Reo & Jamaal

5-7 PM - Esteban Bueno Presenta Jazz Caliente

36 Watch chain 37 To’s opposite 39 Tulsa sch. named for a televangelist 42 Ro ck instr ument s 43 “Not to worry” 45 Seat that ofte n swivels 46 1968 loser to RMN 48 “Honor Thy Father” author Gay 49 Instr uments with many pedal s 50 Cheek colorers 53 Ho w some lear n music 54 Tuscan y tower site 55 Agenda uni t 56 Twelve-__ progra m 57 Homer’ s son 58 In e xcess of 59 “__ Rose”: “The Music Man” song 62 Common dinner hour 63 Comic Costello Friday’s Puzzle Solved

2/25/11

4-7 AM - John Hisky

ed Mix cs Dis

sports 5

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

march 1, 2011

Upset: Seniors set sights on ﬁrst Big Dance appearance from page one

“Offensively, we didn’t play with any type of speed.” However, tonight will be a much different environment. It is senior night for Delaney, Allen and Terrell Bell.

“

Those guys are invested in our program. They have a chance to be the winningist seniors in the history of Virginia Tech if we can continue to play well, SETH GREENBERG HEAD COACH

“Those guys are invested in our program. They have a chance to be the winningist seniors in the history of Virginia Tech if we can continue to play well,” Greenberg said. Delaney and Allen have been fouryear starters for the Hokies, while Bell entered the starting lineup last season.

“He (Terrell) is a huge part of what we do when we’re good,” Greenberg said. “Terrell bought into our program and he has been rewarded over the past two seasons.” These seniors have never been to the NCAA Tournament, as the Hokies’ last appearance was in 2007. “Last year was a failure to me. We broke a record for wins but we didn’t do what our goal was (to make the tournament) and when I don’t reach a goal that is a failure to me,” Delaney said before the beginning of the season. “The NCAA Tournament is a big stage. We’re seniors and that’s the stage that we need to be on,” Allen said. A victory tonight over Boston College would essentially lock up the appearance on the “big stage.” “This is a home game and you have got to win your home games,” Greenberg said. “To me, senior night is special and it is even more special if you can find a way to get a win.” Tip-off is slated for 9 p.m. and the game will be televised by ESPNU.

MARK UMANSKY / SPPS

Game recap: Team effort produces signature win Facing the No. 1 ranked team in the country, the Virginia Tech men’s basketball team defied the odds and pulled off the miraculous. In front of one of the most raucous crowds in Cassell Coliseum’s history, the Hokies recorded a signature victory for the program, 64-60. And College GameDay’s appearance in Blacksburg for the weekend only sweetened the win. “That was just a definition of a team win,” said Seth Greenberg, Tech head coach. “It’s plain and simple. Go to every guy that played in the game picked a moment, and they had their moment.” The Hokies’ five starters battled through the ebbs and flows of the game, eventually stifling the Blue Devils and earning the victory. Tech point guard Malcolm Delaney had a tough night for much of the game as he was harassed by Duke’s Nolan Smith. Delaney finished with just 11 points on four-of15 shooting. Yet, the senior came up huge down the stretch, nailing a three-pointer that extended the lead to 62-57 with 2:03 remaining in the game, and making some key defensive stops. “We never gave up,” Delaney said. “We know Duke can go on runs, but we limited (those runs). The last few times we played them, when they went up six, we couldn’t stop them.”

In the first half, Hokies were firing on all cylinders early on. Tech took a 9-4 lead and forced Duke into some difficult shots. However, the Blue Devils responded with a 12-5 run to take the lead with 8:50 remaining in the first half. Yet, a 13-3 run by Tech gave the Hokies a 29-22 lead with 4:40 remaining in the first half. Smith was the catalyst for the Blue Devils in the first half, as he also helped the Blue Devils close the gap to 33-31 at the break. Smith had 12 points in the first half on six of 10 shooting, and limited Delaney to just 4 points on one of four shooting in the first stanza. In the second half, it appeared as though the length and ability of Smith and Duke’s Kyle Singler were too much for the Hokies. Duke went up six, 53-47 with 7:44 remaining in the game, and Tech’s offense couldn’t get in a rhythm. Nonetheless, Tech went on a 9-0 run to re-take the lead 59-55 with 2:39 remaining in the game. A crucial three-pointer by Delaney at the 2:03 mark sealed the Hokie victory. The fans inside Cassell Coliseum, who made the venue deafening throughout the game, stormed the court celebrating their victory over the top-ranked team in the country.

MARK UMANSKY / SPPS

-michael bealey, sports editor PAUL KURLAK / SPPS

Track & field wins first ACC title Strange Sunday ﬁnish prevents Tech sweep JOSH PARCELL sports reporter

MARK UMANSKY / SPPS

Members of the Virginia Tech men’s track & ﬁeld team celebrate after winning their ﬁrst ACC title this past Saturday at Rector Fieldhouse. COURTNEY LOFGREN sports reporter For the first time in program history, the Virginia Tech men’s track and field team won the Atlantic Coast Conference Indoor Championship. The team competition began on Thursday and concluded with the win on Saturday. The team finished the meet with 140 total points. Florida State finished second with 98 points. Last year, the Hokies lost the title to Florida State

following a questionable disqualification. However, Tech came back with new motivation to win this year’s title. In total, three individual titles were won by the men’s team. The polevaulters and throwers combined to earn a total of 49 points. The field squads, in particular the pole-vaulters and throwers, carried the team. The men’s pole-vaulters continued their dominant season in dramatic fashion. Sophomore Stephan Munz won the men’s pole vault with

a height of 17-9 (5.41 meters). The vaulters took four of the five top spots, while earning 25 points toward the overall team total. This is the fifth time the men’s pole-vaulting team has won the event in the last seven years. The Tech throwers swept the top three finishes in the weight throw. Alexander Ziegler earned his second consecutive title with a distance of 21.4 meters. Teammate Marcel Lomnicky finished second and Denis Mahmic finished third. Ziegler, Lomnicky and

Mahmic were responsible for 24 of the team points. In the distance events, the Hokies performed exceptionally well. Michael Hammond earned his second consecutive one-mile title with a time of 4:07.47. Hammond’s teammate Chris Walizer earned a fourth place finish with a time of 4:08.67. Will Mulherin finished second in the men’s 3,000 meters with a time of 8:04.59. In the men’s triple jump, Hasheem Halim and football player David Wilson took second and third place, respectively.

For the second straight week, a bizarre ending cost the Virginia Tech baseball team a chance at a perfect weekend. The Hokies won the first three games of a four-game series with Niagara before falling 8-7 on Sunday afternoon. Tech trailed by four runs entering the bottom of the ninth when the Hokies’ Tony Balisteri blasted a threerun home run to center field with two outs. On the following play, Michael Seaborn’s swinging bunt was collected by Niagara catcher Wes Walker and thrown to first. The ball bounced off of Seaborn’s shoulder, and the umpire ruled him out for runner’s interference, which is running inside the foul line. Seaborn said he knew he was running inside the line, but wasn’t aware he was doing anything illegal. “According to the rule, you have three feet on both sides, so I was trying to cause as many problems for them as I could, and didn’t realize that I was that far inside,” Seaborn said. The biggest concern for the Hokies, (6-2), through two weeks, however, is finding a third starting pitcher they can rely on. Patrick Scoggin and Eddie Campbell are both vying for the final spot in the weekend rotation, and both struggled over the weekend. Scoggin lasted four innings on Saturday, allowing three runs on three hits in the win. He earned a no decision, with the win credited to middle reliever Sean McDermott. Campbell struggled with his command on Sunday, constantly falling behind in the count in four innings of work. He walked five batters and allowed five runs in the losing effort. Of his 80 pitches, just 40 were strikes.

“I don’t know who is going to be our third pitcher at this point. Both of them have been inconsistent,” Hughes said. “We’re just waiting for someone to go up there and be able to throw strike one. Whoever does it first will be our third starter.” Tech faces another four-game series next weekend, which will allow both Campbell and Scoggin to audition again in the same series. “These guys have to start growing up pretty soon,” Hughes said. Balesteri’s last at-bat was not his only bright spot of the weekend. He was 10-for-20 at the plate with three home runs and nine RBI. Hughes moved Balisteri to centerfield this weekend in an effort to increase his team’s athleticism in the outfield. He made one error on Friday, which Hughes attributed to high winds in excess of 40 mph. “He gives us some productivity and some life at the top of our lineup. We’re kind of force-feeding him reps in center field — he’s athletic enough to run gap to gap,” Hughes said. Ronnie Shaban broke out of his early-season slump with a big weekend. The junior first baseman, also the most experienced hitter on the Hokies’ roster, was six-for-14 with a home run and six RBI for the series. Shaban is also the favorite to win the job as the team’s closer, but after a shaky effort on Saturday, nothing is set in stone. Shaban entered Saturday’s second game with an 11-4 lead in the ninth inning and gave up four runs. “I don’t think we can lock in on our closer, because I don’t want to take a positional player and throw him on (three consecutive days) — some days Jake Joyce is going to have to close for us,” Hughes said. The Hokies face Liberty at home on Wednesday in an in-state battle, the significance of which is often overlooked in terms of recruiting, Hughes said. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.

6 arts & entertainment march 1, 2011

EP Reviews: Beach Fossils, Gross Ghost & Cop Magnet

Band: Beach Fossils Album: What A Pleasure

Band: Gross Ghost Album: Wicked Game

Band: Cop Magnet Album: Abstraction

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

Annual Thaw-Out to reel in new ﬁshers

Following the release of its widely acclaimed debut self-titled album last year, Beach Fossils is back with the “What A Pleasure,” EP a brief compilation of songs that is intended to precede its sophomore record, which is due out later this year. The songs on this 20-minute EP share similar feelings of summery nostalgia found on the Beach Fossils LP. Beach Fossils writes simple songs that reach into the moodiness of melancholic ‘80s pop for inspiration. The EP opens with “Moments,” a short instrumental containing looped drum fills that culminate in a wash of cascading vocal harmonies. The vocals throughout the record are drenched in reverb and synths and accent the smooth guitar work in all the right ways. The ‘80s influence is felt most strongly in “Out In The Way,” which features fellow bedroom-pop crooner and labelmate Jack Tatum of Blacksburg’s own Wild Nothing. Despite sounding a lot like a Wild Nothing leftover, the song is a highlight for Beach Fossils’ EP and is most likely to be the song stuck in your head once the record stops spinning. “Adversity” is the longest and last track on the EP. It is a relaxed song that really sums up Beach Fossils’ laid back, sometimes haunting sound in a nice four-minute long package. Ultimately, “What A Pleasure” is less of a change in direction for Beach Fossils and more of a pit stop on the way to the release of its second album. “What A Pleasure” is out now on Captured Tracks.

MAJONI HAHNAL features reporter The New River Valley chapter of Trout Unlimited will be having its annual Thaw-Out on March 2. This yearly tradition brings together the members of the club and prospective members for presentations on aspects of fishing for small mouth bass and trout in the area. Speakers will include members of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, as well as a renowned guide from the New River Outdoor Company. Fish biologists John Copeland and George Palmer from the VDGIF will discuss the technical aspects of the river and fish populations. Copeland will be answering questions about the best places to fish and other helpful information. Outdoor writer Bruce Ingram and renowned guide Brit Stoudenmire will share their perspectives on the status of fisheries today. Rounding out the night is a raffle with a range of items, such as specially tied flies or a night at the Walker Retreat Cabins. The event itself has no cost of admission, but donations are appreciated as they go toward charitable causes, including the New

Gross Ghost, hailing from Raleigh, N.C., has crafted a wonderful little EP in “Wicked Game.” At a track listing of just four songs and a duration of only 11 minutes, it is a quick listen, but there is much to be heard. Sunny psychedelic pop of the ‘60s is an obvious influence here, evidenced by the surfy guitar licks and jangling percussion that runs throughout almost every song. “Wicked Game” starts out with “You Tell Me,” easily the poppiest of the bunch with its fuzzy vocals and glowing melodies. The song sounds like the perfect soundtrack to a summer drive with the windows down and radio blasting. “Lazy Little Walk,” the second song on the EP, features more of a jazzy vibe with light tapping of cymbals replacing the kaleidoscopic rhythms found just minutes ago. Forming the middle of the EP, “Lazy Little Walk” and “Soft Focus” show the band chipping away the pop coating, taking more of a turn toward the psychedelic rock side of the spectrum than before. “Tenements” is a gentle tune with some really warm melodies and wellused violin. It also happens to be the best track on the record. Surf music influences are clearly present in it, sounding wistful and breezy. The song sounds like something a downtrodden beach drifter might listen to as he hops on his motorcycle in search of something, or someone, new. “Wicked Game” is out now via Grip Tapes and can be downloaded free of charge (and completely legally) online. Brooklyn’s Cop Magnet, also known as Maxwell Velocity, announced recently that he is preparing to officially retire his Cop Magnet project, but not before releasing a slew of previously unreleased tracks in the form of a cassette and digital EP called “Abstraction.” The songs that make up this EP are some tracks that had simply never been released before, and some that were cut from earlier albums after being deemed too “weird” by labels. Cop Magnet gathered them all up and decided to release them together on the cassette label Crash Symbols. The result is 27 minutes of mind-melting pop jams, ranging from bombastic, electronic dance songs to screeching, distorted noise tracks. The record opens with “Candy Mane,” a tripped out version of the Willy Wonka song “The Candyman Can.” The song is hazy with tape hiss and pitch-shifted vocals that turns the original song’s childhood dreaminess into the land of childhood nightmares. “Whambulance” and “RECSTASY IV” are two of the most accessible songs on the EP, featuring techno synth riffs and thumping bass lines. KEVIN The EP closer “Vid” rounds the set McALEESE out with a drastically slowed down -sophomore sample of “I’ll Fly Away,” over top -political science pounding bass, creating a blissful major dance track. “Abstraction” is now available as a -music reviewer cassette and free download online.

River Valley Trout in the Classroom program, which gives middle school, high school and some elementary school classrooms the chance to witness the life cycle of fish from egg until adulthood and learn about fish biology. Upon adulthood the trout are released in an event with the NRV chapter of Trout Unlimited. Some proceeds also go toward various cold water fish conservation efforts. Graduate crop and soil environmental science student Andrew Green is a member of the NRV Trout Unlimited, one of 12 in Virginia alone. Green jokes that he has been fishing since he was about four years old, when he could be trusted not to hook his sister on purpose. Green describes the group as social as well as informative, with group members taking semi-annual trips or simply getting together to tie flies. “You have small groups going out on any given weekend,” Green said. “In fact, I’ll be going later this afternoon with a friend.” The NRV chapter, with its usual meetings as well as the special events, is a great resource for those in the area who are interested in small mouth bass and trout fishing. Membership is diverse and includes undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and local residents, as well as retirees.

2011 Oscars ratings take a negative hit RUS BRITT mcclatchy newspapers LOS ANGELES — Sunday night’s Oscar telecast took a ratings dip from last year’s showing, but the awards spectacle managed to remain off a low mark reached in 2008 that broadcaster ABC and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is trying to keep from revisiting. With younger hosts James Franco and Anne Hathaway as the masters of ceremonies, the show was seen in 21 percent of all households, which represents its rating. The program garnered a market share of 33 percent, meaning it was watched in 33 percent of all households with their sets turned on at that time. In 2010, the telecast got a 23.3 rating and a 37 share. But it stayed off a recent low reached in 2008 when it got an 18.7 rating and a 29 share. In 2009, the show earned a 20.6 rating and a 31 share.

Last year, the Oscars tried to raise ratings by expanding the list of bestpicture nominees to 10, designed to include more box-office hits. The 2008 hit “The Dark Knight” was left off the Oscar list that year, and many observers suspected the ratings for the subsequent 2009 telecast suffered as a result. Last year, “Avatar,” the all-time boxoffice leader with nearly $3 billion in sales worldwide, was included on the list among such hits as “Up” and “The Blind Side.” But last year’s best picture Oscar went to “The Hurt Locker,” which turned in $19.2 million worldwide. A number of other 2010 nominees had similarly low numbers, including $31 million for “A Serious Man,” $12 million for “An Education” and $50.9 million for “Precious.” In all, only five films surpassed the $90 million mark domestically last year. The academy might have expected better ratings this year, given the fact

that seven pictures were above the $90 million mark domestically, and bestpicture winner “The King’s Speech” has made more than $221 million worldwide. Critics gave mixed-to-negative reviews to the telecast, but the negative comments were more scathing than in years past. Film critic Roger Ebert tweeted it was, “the worst Oscarcast I’ve seen, and I go back awhile. Some great winners, a nice distribution of awards, but the show? Dead. In. The. Water.” The Hollywood Reporter was no kinder, saying “it could go down as one of the worst Oscar telecasts in history.” ABC said, however, that its online traffic to Oscar.com and the Oscar Backstage Pass application was up 29 percent from last year. Earlier, ABC noted that its “local people meter” showed the Oscars had a 14.5 rating among adults 18-49, down slightly from the 14.8 reported a year ago.

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