Tuesday, March 29, 2011 Print Edition by Collegiate Times

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Tuesday, March 29, 2011

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COLLEGIATETIMES 108th year, issue 36

News, page 2

Art& Entertainment, page 4

Opinions, page 3

Sports, page 5

Classifieds, page 4

Sudoku, page 4

A bridge to prosperity

PHOTO COURTESY OF MATT CAPELLI

Children of the villages of Casse and Ti Peligre celebrate the opening of the bridge, which allows access to schools beyond the fourth grade.

STUDENTS GO TO HAITI IN HOPES OF BRIDGING GAP BETWEEN A VILLAGE AND THEIR NECESSITIES MIA PERRY features reporter Imagine living in a place where your options for getting to the nearest hospital, school or market included forging a river and risking drowning or walking four hours on foot. For the residents of Ti Peligre, Haiti, this was their reality. But a few months ago, the Ti Peligre community finished a project that changed everything. The Virginia Tech student chapter of Bridges to Prosperity teamed up with the community to create a footbridge in Ti Peligre that makes access to necessities we take for granted — like medical care and food — much easier. They operated with the message, “Step out and share what you’ve been given. Through holistic sustainable empowerment, there can be lasting change.” While working directly with the people of Ti Peligre in 2009 through Partners in Health, Tech accounting professor Brian Cloyd heard their need for a bridge, as well as a school. Cloyd set about creating a school for the people through connections he had, and then contacted Matt Cappelli, a civil engineering student, to help him with the bridge project. In November of that year, Cloyd, Cappelli and two fellow students, Nick Mason — who was the project manager — and Katie Masura, went down to Haiti to do an initial survey of the land. They needed to figure out what kind of bridge was needed and how

they were going to construct it. Using online research, the group — which now also included Chris Cooke and Zach Lawler — found a suspended footbridge design manual from an organization called Bridges to Prosperity that was perfect for what the town needed. Wanting to set up a structure so the bridge could be built and similar projects could continue, the students formed their own chapter of Bridges to Prosperity. The Tech chapter of Bridges to Prosperity is the first student chapter of its kind. “There are other university teams, but we are actually the first ones to actually start a chapter,” Cooke, a senior civil engineering major and current president of the club, said. After the team’s initial visit to Haiti, it spent the next year working diligently on the bridge’s design plan, which included materials, labor and cost estimates among other things. During this time, the massive earthquake that devastated much of Haiti on Jan. 12, 2010, slowed progress on the bridge’s construction. Although Ti Peligre was not affected as much as other places “the flow of materials essentially stopped in Port Au Prince,” according to Cappelli, also a graduate MBA student. Then, in November 2010, the group was able to return to Ti Peligre, where it did excavation and discussed in depth with the people how the locals were going to build the bridge. Masura, Lawler, Mason and a few others then returned once more in

January of this year to oversee the technical construction of the bridge, like building the tiers and setting the cables. Finally, during spring break, the work of Bridges to Prosperity and the people of Ti Peligre paid off. The bridge was completed. The group is very proud of what it has accomplished in Ti Peligre, but is even more proud of the local people there. “We were there helping,” Lawler, a senior ocean engineering major, said. This included design work, fundraising, and hiring of local labor. “But pretty much 100 percent of the labor was them.” “As part of our model for these bridges, the local labor and local input is very important, because we don’t want this to be something where Virginia Tech students go and build a bridge and leave,” Cappelli said. “What we’re really looking for is long-term sustainable development, and more than anything a partnership with the community.” Bridges to Prosperity would like to think of its project as two parties working together and sharing the talents that they have and putting them together to create something that has more value than could have been created separately. What may seem like a simple bridge to some will have lasting effects on the community. “Ti Peligre is surrounded by a river on three sides, so basically if you don’t cross the river, to get to the hospital is a three-hour, four-hour walk,” Lawler said. “To get to schools past the fourth grade is a three-hour walk, and to get to market is even farther than that.” During the dry season, people of

Ti Peligre are able to trek through the ankle-deep waters, but during the rainy season the river is impassible. With the bridge, medical and emergency care is now available by taking a 10 to 15 minute walk to an ambulance. The markets are now only 15 minutes walking distance. The students in Bridges to Prosperity are happy the bridge grants these people access to what they believe are basic needs everyone should have, including clean water and the opportunity for economic development. “On the last trip, we asked one of the locals, ‘What does this bridge mean to you?’” Capelli said. “And what was translated back was ‘I wish you could open up my heart and see inside, because I can’t describe how happy I am.’ “Those are the interactions that reach inside and touch you and make you realize that this is something so much more than a bridge. This chapter is a chance to take the blessing that I’ve been given to go to a great school like Virginia Tech and take that education and give back to the world. I always say, and it’s really cheesy, but I think it’s about more than bridging a gap from one side of a bridge to another but about bridging a gap to something more in each others’ lives. “It’s like the project made a bridge all the way from Ti Peligre to Blacksburg.” The group also feels like its work is what Ut Prosim, Tech’s motto of “That I may serve” is all about. “The Haitians have taught me so much more than I could have ever expected,” Cooke said. see HAITI/ page six

SGA candidates run unopposed SARAH WATSON news reporter For the second year in a row, the group of candidates for the Student Government Association’s executive branch will run unopposed. Elections for the 2011-12 SGA run from Tuesday to Thursday. The H.E.A.R. & Now ticket consists of Corbin J. Dimeglio for president, Emily Wilkinson for vice president, Caroline Gimenez for secretary and Taylor Long for treasurer. Dimeglio said the group’s name is an acronym for what the ticket wants to achieve, along with a representation of the student voice. The “H” stands for Hokie Nation and the importance of building school pride and promoting student life. “E” is for efficiency; the group states that it will promote sustainability and work with other organizations on campus. The “A” represents academic advising, including more accessibility to advisors and more efficient course planning. Finally, the “R” stands for relationship with the government, both state and local. This would include the continuation of Hokie Day and Virginia21 lobbying, along with working closely with the Alumni Association. Dimeglio, a junior, is the current treasurer of the SGA. He is also a member of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity.

“I want to have fun,” Dimeglio said. “We’re college students and I want to make sure we have fun while we’re doing this.” Wilkinson, a junior, is the current secretary of the SGA and service officer for Chi Delta Alpha sorority. As vice president, Wilkinson hopes to establish communication between branches of student government. “One thing I would really hope for is to make sure the organization runs smoothly,” Wilkinson said. Gimenez, a sophomore, is the current representative for the Residence Hall Federation, where she serves as the president. She is also the director of internal affairs for Dance Marathon, chair of the Order of the Gavel, member of the April 16 Student Planning Committee and a member of Gamma Beta Phi Service society. “I have gotten more involved with the governance,” Gimenez said, “but I want to get a lot more involved with SGA.” Long, a sophomore, is a financial assistant to Dimeglio. She also serves as treasurer for Kappa Delta sorority, along with membership in the triathlon club and Relay for Life. “I’m a statistics major and treasurer for my sorority — it’s my biggest interest,” Long said.

Cadets compete in tactical challenge Board reviews

transit facility MICHELLE SUTHERLAND & CLAIRE SANDERSON news staff writers Virginia Tech’s Board of Visitors reviewed a plan for a new multi-modal transit facility which may be constructed in the Derring Hall parking lot. The facility would feature 14 bus loading docks and a bike co-op. Other highlights for Monday’s full board meeting include: -The board approved a resolution creating a new Master’s of business administration program starting next fall. -Plans were discussed for a series of solar panels on the roof of the Perry Street garage, which could be installed by next fall. -The board also eliminated supervision and administration of special education and health and physical education programs from the university’s curriculum. -The board is developing a restructuring plan for the Virginia Cooperative Extension program, putting greater emphasis on professional development. -The board announced new student representatives for the 2011-12 school year. Matthew Banfield, a junior theatre arts major will replace Shane McCarty as undergraduate student representative and Ph.D student Michelle McLeese will replace Deepu George as graduate student representative. -The board recognized U.S. Navy Ensign Zachary Eckhart, a 2007 Tech graduate who died in an aircraft training crash. -No decision was made on a change to tuition. While the board typically makes these decisions at its March meeting, the board delayed the decision to later in the spring.

ERIN CHAPMAN news staff writer

On Saturday, Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets participated in the Annual Squad Tactical Challenge. Sixty-four squads, comprised of nine cadets each, participated in the required event. Each squad was given a prescribed time to begin the course with times beginning at 7 a.m. until late into the afternoon. The event consisted of 10 obstacles, beginning at the obstacle course on Plantation Road, and concluded with a knowledge test at Shultz dining hall. Cadets have been preparing since January for the obstacles faced this past weekend. This annual event gives cadets the opportunity to develop leadership skills, while training them on basic tasks that also require special skill set. At select stations only a few cadets from the squad participated. Cadets were chosen at random from the group to ensure that all members of the squad were prepared for each individual event. The members of Bravo Squad Two have been preparing for Saturday’s event with weekly company time to practice tasks. The sophomore members of the squad mentioned they saw a longer and more detail orientated challenge than they saw at last year’s event. “Last year we didn’t have the repel tower or the mental test, so that is

KEVIN DICKEL/ SPPS

Saturday’s tactical challenge consisted of 10 events, giving cadets a chance to build leadership skills. something new that has been added this year,” said Ethan Yelverton, a sophomore wildlife science major. “There is a focus on working as a team to learn something new and also basic military skills” said

Randy Coates, a senior mechanical engineering major. Cadet Perlik, a sophomore agricultural economics major said that one of the most difficult challenges cadets face is staying

together and working as a team throughout the course. “[The course] enhances moral with a focus on teamwork and a sense of pride within each company” he said.

2 news

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

In “Tech students try to promote fair factory over sweatshops,” (CT — Mar. 24) the bookstore mentioned in the article is the on-campus University Bookstore. The Collegiate Times regrets this error.

crime blotter

1 3 2 1 6 5 4 0 6 5 6 4 6 5 5 1 4

V I O L A T I O N - A F F I D A V I T

date reported

time

offense

location

status

03/24/2011

10/27/2009-1/31/2011

Follow up to Burgluary and B&E Changed to Larceny of a Laptop Vandalism to a Vehicle

Litton Reeves

Active

Cranwell Center

Inactive

03/25/2011 03/24/2011-03/25/2011

JUSTIN GRAVES -publc editor -junior sociology/ public & urban affairs major

03/25/2011

9:41 p.m.

Aggravated Assault / Appear intoxicated in Public Appear Intoxicated in Public

Alumni Mall

Cleared by Arrest

03/26/2011

12:18 a.m.

Appear intoxicated in Public / Underage pos. of alc. Underage pos. of alc.

Pritchard Hall

Cleared by Arrest

03/26/2011

2:02 a.m.

Underage pos. of alc. / Provide False ID to Law Enforcement Underage pos. of alc. Underage pos. of alc.

Lee Hall

Cleared by Arrest

03/26/2011

2:25 a.m.

Underage pos. of alc. X 3

Stanger Street

03/26/2011

3:05 a.m.

Underage pos. of alc.

West AJ

03/26/2011

3:15 a.m.

Underage pos. of alc.

West AJ

Inactive: Rferred to Student Conduct Inactive: Rferred to Student Conduct Cleared by Arrest

03/26/2011

4:29 p.m.

Pos. of marijuana / Pos. of Drug Paraphanelia / Underage pos. of alc

Barringer Hall

Cleared by Arrest

03/26/2011 03/25/2011-03/26/2011

Vandalism to a state vehicle

Slusher Wing

Active

03/26/2011

11:18 p.m.

Burglary / B&E / Vandalism

Cassell Coliseum

Inactive

03/27/2011

1:40 a.m.

Underage pos. of alc.

SPH N

03/27/2011

2:36 a.m.

03/28/2011

12:11 a.m.

Underage pos. of alc. / attempted Larceny Littering

Inactive: Rferred to Student Conduct Shultz Hall Inactive: Rferred to Construction Area Student Conduct Harper Hall Cleared by arrest

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CORRECTION

march 29, 2011

opınıons 3

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

march 29, 2011

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

Our Views [staff editorial]

Speaker choice shows values of school, class With graduation of the Class of 2011 this spring, Virginia Tech will honor and wave goodbye to the last undergrads who were in Blacksburg on April 16, 2007. Throughout their tenure, the university has placed an emphasis on confronting the tragedy head-on, and committing to those who supported the community in the wake of the shootings. Now with the selection of Kenneth Feinberg as commencement speaker, that commitment has come full circle. One of the most renowned lawyers in the country, Feinberg has spent much of his time, including a great deal of the past decade, doing pro bono work in the aftermath of major tragedies — including administering the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund. While Feinberg may not have the glamour of Gov. Bob McDonnell, he embodies Tech’s workman-like ethos. His charitable service to the university and the nation as a whole reflects the values Tech has worked to instill in the Class of 2011. His tireless behind-thescenes efforts have put him among the movers and the shakers of the world and made him a model for students to emulate.

The decision to invite Feinberg is, in some ways, a refreshing break from the more controversial speakers who have taken the podium at commencement in recent years. Gen. Lance L. Smith and Gov. Bob McDonnell, while occupying more visible positions in their respective fields, both brought with them a sense of division among the audience. While Smith is a Tech graduate and the invitation of McDonnell kept with Tech’s tradition of inviting incoming governors to address the graduating class, they both carry with them outspoken detractors. In contrast, Feinberg’s intentions in his humanitarian efforts leave little room for controversy. Working with the Sept. 11th victims’ families, and managing relief funds for the BP oil spill and TARP legislation are all commendable endeavors of service. In this way, Feinberg will be able to properly unite the graduating class in terms of the ultimate mission it is charged with: Go into the world and repay our tremendous debt to our neighbors and countrymen. -the editorial board is composed of peter velz, gabi seltzer, scott masselli and noor khalidi

Show support for Virginia team hree CAA teams? Yeah, three Colonial Athletic T Association teams made the NCAA Tournament: CAA champions Old Dominion University, nationally ranked George Mason University and one surprise. The Rams of Virginia Commonwealth University. Only three weeks later, I feel like a moron. Sunday afternoon, the Rams defeated the Kansas Jayhawks 71-61 to secure a spot in the Final Four. VCU is the lowest-seeded team (11th) to earn a trip to the Final Four since their rival, the 11th-seed Patriots of George Mason University, did in March of 2006. Of course, the sports-watching nation will be pulling for the VCU Rams as they take on the perennial Cinderella, Butler. What I ask from the Virginia Tech Hokies fans is to bury the hatchet. Like you, I’m tired of being a bubble team. I’m tired of that idiot bracketologist Joe Lunardi picking us to make the NCAA Tournament year after year, only to have us snubbed. I think Lunardi must have gotten his M.S. in Bracketology from a school of ill repute — the University of Virginia, maybe? Either that, or it goes to show you that the “experts” at ESPN are full of crap. The NCAA Tournament was the last big championship event of my undergraduate years. In all my years here at Tech, I have not had the pleasure of picking the Hokies in any of my brackets. But we Virginians have something to be extremely proud of: the Rams. They’re in the Final Four and we should cheer for them through the rest of the tournament. Besides, Tech sports fans have so little to be proud of recently. A recent Collegiate Times poll inquired which flagship (revenue-generating) program would be most likely to win a national championship: men’s basketball or football. The football team prevailed in a landslide, and it’s about time they win something handily. Rumor has it our wrestling team is outstanding. But yes, the bitter Hokie fan in me is still resentful of VCU’s tournament berth. They have made the most of their opportunity, which is something Tech athletics unilaterally fails to do. I’ll start with the football team’s demise. On the national stage against Boise State, our guys mounted a glorious comeback against Chris Petersen’s Broncos, only to watch Kellen Moore respond swiftly and fatally. The inglorious Hokies then dropped their home opener to the second-class football recruits of James Madison University. After the Hokies annihilated the entirety of the marginal ACC, the boys of Virginia Tech redis-

covered their own mediocrity against the men of the Stanford University football team in the FedEx Orange Bowl. The basketball team’s story is a bit more tragic. Though nobody anointed the Hokies as national championship material, their proficiency was respectable, epitomized with the gutsy takedown of the Duke Blue Devils in mid-February. Suddenly, the Hokies were worthy! An unprepared band of overnight celebrities promptly dropped games against a poor Boston College basketball team and in a must-win situation versus Clemson. However, I must admit that the Hokies’ performance in the ACC Tournament should have put them in the tournament. Oh well, though; the second round of the Not Invited Tournament proved their unworthiness. The song remains the same with Tech athletics: Major hype yields major choking. Perhaps the gods of collegiate athletics will release the Hokies from purgatory once I receive my diploma. And maybe I will end up at VCU later in my life to pursue a graduate degree. But as we cheer on VCU, we must be thankful we have a feel-good story on the front page again. For months all we have been confronted with are threats by greedy NFL owners to shut down the 2011 season of the American pastime. We have been browbeaten with disgustingly selfrighteous basketball mega-stars who throw their colleagues and hometowns under the bus for the chance to be traded to a bigger market. We have watched the glaringly corrupt world of collegiate athletics punish itself by suspending handfuls of top players. We have watched the martyrdom of Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel for his knowledge of players selling some promotional junk on eBay — all the while that one kid from BYU got kicked off the team for having consensual sex with his girlfriend. The federal government finally figured out the correct mailing address of Barry Bonds to summon his syringepunctured ass to court. Finally, in this backward world of athletics, there is something for us to be excited for. Cheer on the Rams. Cheer them on because they somehow feel like the last stroke of innocence in the world of American sports. They seem clean enough for us to truly appreciate. Or maybe we just like a good underdog story.

BEN WOODY -regular columnist -senior -English major

MCT CAMPUS

VP discusses drug policy March 22 I held the latest session of “The VP is In” On in the SGA office in Squires Student Center and I am happy to share some highlights of the day’s conversation. Students were excited that the course registration period for fall semester had begun and they were beginning to think about their choices of courses for next year. They were also pleased that construction has started on the West End Market renovation project. This will provide about 100 more seats, a new restroom area and an expanded kitchen, all of which will help the service and ambience at West End. The project is due for completion by early in the fall semester. One student mentioned he had some ideas about arrangement of tables at West End that might make things go more smoothly. I suggested he fill out one of the comment cards in the dining center and send the staff his suggestions in this way. The dining staff is always grateful to receive comments and suggestions. Discussion then shifted to SGA elections and the observation that for the past two years we have had only one “ticket” of candidates running. I asked people why they thought this was true and the most common responses were a reluctance of some students to express opinions and run for office, allegiances to small organizations rather than to SGA and groups of friends not wanting to run against groups of friends. The net result of this is that there are now discussions going on about doing away with the slate or ticket of candidates and instead having candidates run as individuals. There is even discussion of having elections of only a president and a vice president and making the secretary and treasurer offices appointed positions. What do you think? Let’s hear your thoughts on this matter. It was interesting to hear some of the students talk about how they missed living in residence halls. They reported especially missing the convenience of living on campus, but they appreciated being able to buy any one of the

available dining plans since they like the food and did not want to invest in major cooking in their apartments (by the way, about two-thirds of our students in Blacksburg purchase some sort of dining plan). We went on to discuss the possibility of our instituting a “good samaritan” policy or procedure in our student conduct system that would inform students they would not be penalized in the student conduct system if they sought help for an alcohol emergency. Some present thought this might be a good idea; others thought this could lead to abuse and suggested that perhaps such a provision might be a onetime privilege, but that it should not be abused by “repeat offenders.” Some students suggested, even though there might not be a formal student conduct case in such a matter, the student should still have to come into one of the Student Affairs offices for discussion with one of the professional staff members about his behavior. We went on to talk about the university’s zero-tolerance policy on drugs and the fact that simple possession of marijuana generally results in suspension from the university for at least a semester. I raised the question as to whether we ought to change this policy/procedure, and most students felt we should, and a first offense of that nature should not necessarily lead to automatic suspension, depending upon the circumstances. These two policy discussions regarding a good samaritan policy and the minimum sanction for drugs are currently under discussion within my staff. We would welcome hearing your thoughts about these matters. One student wanted to know about the airport runway expansion that is going on. I explained that the first part is a correction in the current runway to take out a “dip” that exists on the runway and to level off that portion. The second portion of the project will be an actual extension of the length of the runway itself, to allow larger corporate jets to land and take off in Blacksburg. We talked about basketball seating

and student interest in redoing where the seats for students are located. There has been strong interest in having students occupy the portions immediately behind both baskets. However, in the current system that would mean displacing a number of non-students who have purchased tickets in one of those areas for years. At the same time, the athletics department has announced it will be reseating Cassell Coliseum for the 2012-2013 season. I suggested that making a proposal for a change in seating, to be effective that season, might be the best way to go. Finally, one student asked about the project at the back of War Memorial Gym that has been going on for quite some time and involves the wall and crossover bridge from the Payne Hall area. I promised to get some specific information about this and I have now heard back from Mike Coleman, associate vice president for facilities, who provided the following report. During a routine inspection of the War Memorial bridge, Facilities Services discovered several locations of deterioration that raised concern. This resulted in the engagement of professional engineers to evaluate and make recommendations to the university. During the destructive phase of repairs it was discovered that the concrete deterioration required the bridge to be removed from service. The authorization for this demolition has been approved and will begin shortly. Discussions are ongoing to determine what, if any, next steps are required regarding replacing the bridge. See you around the campus or at the next “The VP is In” session, scheduled for 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 20, in the SGA Office in Squires.

EDWARD F. D. SPENCER -vice president for student affairs

Learning from animal cruelty cases West Virginia man named Jeffrey Nally Jr. is facing 29 A charges of cruelty to animals after he allegedly used various tools — including a crossbow, a drill, saws and hammers — to torture and kill at least 29 dogs and puppies over several months. Nally is also charged with holding his former girlfriend captive for months, physically and sexually abusing her, forcing her to watch him torture the animals and then making her clean up the mess. According to reports, Nally told police that he got the dogs from ads in the local newspaper and that the animals were all advertised as “free to a good home” or sold for a few dollars. It’s tempting to push this horrific case of cruelty out of our minds as quickly as possible, but we can help save other animals — and humans — from suffering similar fates by learning from the lessons it holds. Nally’s alleged abuse of both dogs and his ex-girlfriend points to the link between cruelty to animals and cruelty to humans, and his apparent pattern of acquiring the animals he tortured from newspapers highlights the dangers of giving away animals or placing them without a proper adoption fee, pre-adoption home evaluations and follow-up visits. As Nally’s case seems to indicate, cruelty to animals isn’t just a minor personality flaw; it’s a symptom of a deep mental disturbance, and it should never be taken lightly. Animal abusers are cowards — they take their issues out on the

most defenseless victims available, and their targets often include members of their own species. A study by Northeastern University and the Massachusetts SPCA found that people who abuse animals are five times more likely to commit violent crimes against humans. A history of cruelty to animals regularly appears in FBI records of serial rapists and murderers, and many notorious serial killers also abused and killed animals. Dennis Rader, the so-called “BTK Killer,” who was convicted of killing 10 people, admitted that he had been cruel to animals as a child and had apparently practiced strangling dogs and cats before moving on to human victims. Serial killer and cannibal Jeffrey Dahmer tortured animals and impaled the heads of cats and dogs on sticks. The Boston Strangler, Albert DeSalvo, put cats and dogs into orange crates and killed them by shooting arrows through the slats. Many who batter their partners or spouses also try to control their victims by threatening, torturing or killing the victim’s animals. In three separate studies, more than half of the battered women surveyed reported that their abuser threatened or injured their animal companions. For everyone’s safety, it’s crucial to report all known or suspected abuse to authorities immediately, and prosecutors and judges should treat cases of cruelty to animals with the seriousness they deserve.

Advertising animals in newspapers, on bulletin boards or online is like handing them to animal abusers on a silver platter. Cruel people routinely use these sources for free or cheap animals to abuse. Barry Herbeck, a Wisconsin man, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for torturing, sodomizing and killing nearly two dozen animals whom he had obtained through “free to a good home” ads. Such people are often masters of deception: Herbeck confessed to taking his kids with him when answering ads so that people would be comfortable turning animals over to him. Classified ads are also a source of animals for dealers who sell friendly dogs and cats to laboratories for experiments as well as dogfighting ring operators who look for animals to use as “bait.” Newspapers that allow people to advertise animals facilitate these tragedies. The most humane and responsible option for people who must part with their animals is to take them to a reputable open-admission animal shelter. There, the animals will be safe and cared for and will have a chance to find a loving home. It’s too late for the 29 dogs who allegedly died in terror and the woman who reportedly endured unspeakable abuse at Nally’s hands, but we can help prevent other innocent beings from becoming victims by taking the lessons of this case to heart.

MARTIN MERSEREAU -mcclatchy newspapers

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 Collegiate Times Business Staff Business Manager: David Harries Distribution Assistant: Ryan Francis Student Publications Photo Staff Director of Photography: Sara Mitchell Business Manager: Luke Mason Lab Manager: Mark Umansky College Media Solutions Ad Director: Nik Bando Asst Ad Director: Brandon Collins Account Executives: Emily Africa, Matt Freedman, David George, Melanie Knoth, Hunter Loving Inside Sales Manager: Wade Stephenson Assistant Inside Sales Manager: Diane Revalski Assistant Account Executives: Maddie Abram, Katie Berkel, Kaelynn Kurtz, Erin Shuba Creative Director: Chloé Skibba Asst Production Manager: Casey Stoneman Creative Services Staff: 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.

& entertainment 4Wantingartsto appear in Virginia for sometime, actor/comedian Kirk Fox comes to VT march 29, 2011

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

Kirk Fox, a comedian whose career has begun to grow in the past few years, has been acting since the early 1990s, appearing in popular television series “Parks and Recreation,” as well as movies such as “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.” He started by playing dark roles in his acting career because of his physical appearance. When he began to tell jokes and do stand-up comedy, his career flourished. In December 2008, he made his first appearance on “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno and made a return in 2009. He had his own Comedy Central special, made it to the semifinals of the seventh season of “Last Comic Standing,” and even won the Jury Prize for best standup at the HBO Comedy Festival in Aspen, Colo., in 2007. He’s traveled the world to tell jokes in places such as Dubai and Scotland, yet his suc-

cess has only just begun. The actor and stand-up comedian will be performing in the Graduate Life Center Auditorium tonight at 7:30 p.m. The students price is only $1. The Collegiate Times spoke with Fox about his career path and motivation to perform in Blacksburg. COLLEGIATE TIMES: How long have you been a comedian? KIRK FOX: I think I’ve been telling jokes since Nov. 10, 2002. That was the first time I went on stage at the Comedy Store in Hollywood. And since then I’ve gone on stage 1,663 times. CT: What inspired you to become a comedian? FOX: I kind of needed something to do at night. I had tried everything else and I needed something else to do. I had been acting for 15 years. I play sports all day and I played a lot of tennis. I just went on stage, had fun and they laughed, so I just kept doing it.

CT: Was it difficult to become a comedian? FOX: If they’re laughing it’s good and if not it can be tricky. It was pretty easy for me because they were laughing right away. It wasn’t until later when they got a little difficult. And then you start doing a lot of self-analysis and try to decide what you want to talk about. But it’s fine, and I’m enjoying it now. I like talking. And they laugh enough. CT: What do you consider your big break? FOX: I had a really good set on “The Tonight Show” the first time I did Leno and that really kind of helped. I won the HBO Comedy Festival in Aspen in 2007 and that seemed to help also. It let people also see that I could be funny. That was one of the reasons I started doing comedy. Every audition I was going in on was to be a bad guy — a killer or a rapist. And no one knew I was funny. I said I was and it wasn’t until

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I started doing stand up comedy that people said, “Oh, he can be funny. He doesn’t always have to be the bad guy.” I look like a bad guy because I’m tall. CT: Where do you get your ideas? FOX: I get my ideas from just things I kind of see and think about. The ideas just kind of come to me and then I build a story around it. CT: What is your favorite joke? FOX: I don’t know. I have a lot of jokes. I have a Comedy Central special and there are a lot of jokes on there. They’re all my favorite jokes when I’m doing them. I mean I might have a favorite joke that I don’t even have yet that I’ll do in Virginia. There was a parrot today at the Coffee Bean that wouldn’t shut up and I think there is a joke there. The parrot just kept talking to me and I realized that he’s not just a cool parrot that can talk; now he’s an asshole that doesn’t know when to shut up. I don’t really have a favorite joke I just get up there

and try to get through the hour without too many people getting hurt. I don’t even know if I’m really a comedian. I’m just kind of a guy who gets up there and talks. I’m just a man. CT: What is your favorite part about getting up there and telling jokes? FOX: When it’s over. Just because I got through it. It’s fun when you’re up there and you’re just talking. I do like it when I’m telling a joke and I just add something that wasn’t planned. I like the surprises. I like it when you say something that you don’t think will be funny and everyone laughs. I like the honest moments up there when you connect. It’s fun to see 1,000 people laugh at the same time. I mean laughter’s pretty healing. CT: Why did you choose to perform at Virginia Tech? FOX: Virginia Tech is a great school and in the last few years it has had some sadness. I pick the areas to go to that I

feel need me the most. It’s Virginia — it’s beautiful, and I’ve never been there. I’ve wanted to go to Virginia and it’s a good way to go there. CT: What’s next for you? FOX: I’ll be on Dr. Phil Thursday, so that’s fun. I got a couple episodes of Parks and Recreation that you can see in a couple of weeks. And April 21 I’m on John Oliver’s Stand Up New York on Comedy Central. CT: Is there anything else that you would like to add? FOX: I’m funny and I’m good at what I do. I respect the audience and I’m glad I’m there. If they’re nice to me, I’m nice to them. It’s really simple. I’m excited about coming to Virginia Tech. It’s good for me. It’s a good way to get out of my house. I don’t like to travel because I’m tall and I don’t like to get on a plane. So for me to get on a plane and come there it must be good because I don’t need the money.

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WORDFIND • Theme: Desk Supplies Locate the list of words in the word bank in the letter grid. S

By Donna S. Levin

ACROSS 1 Dissolves into a puddl e 6 Firing range rounds 10 Dog bugger 14 Audibly astonished 15 Pastry served au rhum 16 Bee, to Andy 17 Exec’ s per k 19 Adriatic resort 20 Sixth sense letters 21 Tableland 22 Conestoga, e.g. 23 Tempts fate, in a way

27 God of manl y beaut y 29 Actor Diggs 30 “Saturday Night Fever” dance genre 31 Bogus plan 33 Actress Cheryl 37 Acolyte ’s suffix 38 One in an extra large baby carriage, perhaps 41 Angus’ s greetin g 42 Space Shuttle gp. 44 Feb. 14 45 Colorado resort 47 “Of __ I Sing” 49 Mideast fleet 50 Second in a Sue Grafton series

WORD BANK Pen Pencil Tape Stapler Whiteout Paper Marker Calculator Notepad Highlighter Rubberband Paperclip Binderclip Scissors Eraser Stamps Glue Shredder

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DOWN 1 Nutmeg spice 2 Boardroom clashers 3 Streetlight support s 4 1/6 fl. oz. 5 Musical with the song “The Hol y Grail” 6 Bottomless pi t 7 Avian chatterbox 8 Wharton deg. 9 Galley mover 10 Pita filling 11 “Super Mario ” brothe r 12 Biblical witch ’s home 13 Do penance 18 R&B artist with the 2006 #1 hi t “So Sick” 22 “For what reason?” 24 Partnershi p letters 25 Country with a da Vinci drawing on its one-euro coi n 26 Docile 27 Score after deuce

7-9 AM - Jessi Schmale

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

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9AM-12PM - Michael Mosley

7-9 PM - The Soul Jones

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9 PM-12 AM - The Money Shot

2-3:30PM - Stu Ruiz

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3:30-5 PM - EJ & Katie

2-4 AM - Reo & Jamaal

5-7 PM - Esteban Bueno Presenta Jazz Caliente

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3/25/11

4-7 AM - John Hisky

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

march 29, 2011

Bittersweet series for Tech Three players will transfer from football ends in ﬁrst conference win program, including starting linebacker MICHAEL BEALEY

NICK CAFFERKY

sports editor

sports reporter The Virginia Tech baseball team may have finally gotten the monkey off its back with its first ACC victory on Sunday, but the three-game series against Boston College was still a disappointment. Sunday’s 8-1 victory could turn out to be an important breakthrough, but it was also necessary to avoid being swept by yet another conference opponent, as Boston College had taken both of the previous two games in the series. In what has become the Hokies’ Achilles heel, they let the Eagles take an early lead in the first with a two-run home run off of starter Joe Mantiply. Boston College added one in the third inning and then two more in the eight to stretch the lead to 5-0. Before the ninth inning, Tech’s offense was completely absent. In fact, the Hokies didn’t get a hit until the seventh inning. However, the ninth was friendly to the Hokies, as the offense finally woke up. Tech managed to pull together a string of hits by Ronnie Shaban, Tim Smalling and Andrew Rash to bring in its first run of the ball game. Tech went on to score two more, but the Eagles’ five-run cushion was too much to overcome and the Hokies fell 5-3. The following day, Tech broke its cycle of getting behind early by scoring a quick run in the first thanks to classic run manufacturing. After Tony Balisteri walked to start the game, a stolen base and a wild pitch brought him to third. Smalling then drove him home with a sacrifice fly. It wasn’t pretty, and didn’t even involve a hit, but the Hokies were on the board first. That lead would last until the fifth inning, where Hokies pitcher Marc Zecchino saw his only trouble of the day. With the bases loaded and two out, Zecchino gave up a single that brought two runners home for Boston College. It was the only mistake Zecchino made all day, but it was all Boston College needed. The Eagles kept the Hokies scoreless for the final eight innings and took the game 2-1. Tech managed just two hits the entire game — bringing their total to just seven hits through the first two games. Desperate to avoid a sweep in their final game, the Hokies came right out of the gate with an offense they hadn’t shown for weeks.

PAUL KURLAK / SPPS

Mark Zecchino pitches to a Tar Heel batter in last weekend’s series. Shaban brought Balisteri home with the Hokies’ first extra base hit of the series and the team’s first run. In his next at bat, Shaban brought home Balisteri again, but did so with a triple this time. The Shaban triple started a three-run third inning and the Hokies lead was 4-0. With Joe Parsons dominating on the mound, the four runs to start the game were all the Hokies would need. Parsons went eight strong innings, giving up just

one run on three hits. By the time his day was done, Tech was sitting on a comfortable 8-1 lead with just three more outs left. Fittingly enough, Shaban came in to pitch the final inning and close what his bat had started in the first. After finishing their four-game road trip at Liberty and Boston College, the Hokies will return home for their next game on Tuesday against Radford. Tech will also host a three-game series against No. 3 Virginia this weekend.

Virginia Tech head football coach Frank Beamer announced today three players will leave the program. During a teleconference Wednesday, Beamer said linebacker Lyndell Gibson, wide receiver Austin Fuller and defensive back Jacob Sykes would be transferring at the end of the current semester. “Three players have notified us that they intend to transfer at the end of the current semester,” Beamer said. “Those players are Austin Fuller, Lyndell Gibson and Jacob Sykes. We certainly wish each of these guys the best of luck and will help them any way we can. That said, I will not have any further comment on this. I’ll let any further comment come from the players themselves.” Gibson, a redshirt sophomore from Virginia Beach, started 13 games for the Hokies last season at linebacker

and five games in 2009. He tallied 119 tackles with 8.5 tackles for loss over two seasons. Gibson was also charged with DWI on Feb. 5 and had GIBSON two other previous run-ins with the law. In 2008, Gibson received 12 months probation for underage possession and purchase of alcohol and in 2009 was convicted of interfering with property rights after allegedly stealing a bicycle on campus. Fuller, also a redshirt sophomore from Richlands, Va., played in 19 games over two seasons, catching just one pass for 11 yards in his collegiate career. He started at whip linebacker, but moved to offense in 2009. Sykes, a redshirt junior cornerback from Goldsboro, N.C., played in 33 games over three seasons with Tech. He blocked a punt against Miami in

2009 that led to a touchdown. Beamer also indicated a number of position changes during the teleconference. Starting defensive SYKES end Chris Drager will move back to tight end, offensive guard Vinston Painter will move to offensive tackle, offensive tackle Laurence Gibson will move to offensive guard, rover James Hopper will move to running back, free safety Antone Exum will move to rover, linebacker Dominique Patterson and free safety Nick Dew will both move to whip linebacker and fullback Josh Oglesby will move to running FULLER back back.

march 29, 2011

page 6

No folk in Bibio’s new sound Haiti: Bridge closes more than one gap from page one

s been almost two years since his last but British experimental pop Iartistt’release, Bibio strikes again today with his new album, “Mind Bokeh.” Perhaps the best place to begin this review is by defining exactly what the term “bokeh” means. Bibio himself explained the background of the word for the album’s press kit. “Bokeh is the out-of-focus region of a photograph. It’s not a quantifiable thing, but photographers and lens manufacturers are obsessed with it. In Japanese it means ‘haze,’ ‘blur’ or even ‘dementia.’” Given the definition, it makes perfect sense that Bibio chose to name his album after this effect. The album is bright and vibrant but always seems to have hazy, dreamlike blurring around the edges. Folk artists have taken their folk-electronic music and completely subtracted the folk component from the equation in 2010 and 2011. First, Sufjan Stevens unleashed “The Aged of Adz,” with all of its moody beats and grandiose synth. Then Iron & Wine released “Kiss Each Other Clean,” completing the electronic evolution found on his previous album. When Bibio released his previous LP, “Ambivalence Avenue,” critics praised it for its innovation, mostly for his particular way of making electronic music sound so organic and natural. The album represented the maturation of Bibio’s sound, as it moved away from sometimes uninspired lo-fi folk toward a unique blending of electronics, folk and a newfound emphasis on his own vocals. Now with “Mind Bokeh,” Bibio too seems to be almost completely abandoning the folk aspects of his own music in favor of electronic pop, with only a few shadows of folk lingering in the background of some songs. The album is full of energy and color, often dipping into a unique blend of

retro and world pop that not so much screams, but lazily drawls, “summer soundtrack.” “Mind Bokeh” opens with the sound of distant, warped chimes slowly moving closer and closer to the listener as an even more distant bass line simultaneously slithers its way into the forefront. The song is called “Excuses,” and it sets the tone for the rest of the album with its unexpected twists and turns and offkilter production, buzzing with kinetic energy and electricity. Sounding at once electronic and organic, the song eventually breaks down into a gleaming, kaleidoscopic explosion of electronic glitches and bleeps. “Excuses” and the four songs that follow it make up the strongest chunk of the record. Each one shows a different side of Bibio’s new sound that fans of “Ambivalence Avenue” might find alienating. “Pretentious” opens with a sitar chord that is soon overtaken by a ’70s dance-club beat, complete with disco style vocals from Bibio himself. The song concludes with a brief, retro saxophone intermezzo that gives way to the bombastic beat of “Anything New.” Flashy and full of energy, “Anything New” is one of the most fun songs on the entire album. “Wake Up!” begins with the sounds of a zurna, a Middle Eastern flute-like instrument, that is sampled throughout the background of the track serving as evidence of Bibio’s global influences on the album. “Light Sleep” is a straight up funk song, with wah-laden guitar that hearkens back to ’60s funk music. The album falls off a bit in terms of quality when it reaches “Take Off Your Shirt.” A tribute to the Irish band Thin Lizzy, the hard rock guitars of the song brashly interrupt the otherwise more blissed-out pop sound of the rest of the album. This is not to say “Take Off Your Shirt” is a bad song — it certainly has its merits and is definitely a song that will get the listener pumped up and ready to party. It’s just that it doesn’t fit with the rest of the album and breaks the wonderful flow Bibio had built up in the songs leading up to it. “Artists’ Valley” is one of the only lulls in energy on the album, which is fine except for the fact that it comes directly after “Take Off Your Shirt.” After such a random song, to follow it with a relatively low-key track only further derails the mood established just a few songs ago.

Luckily, after “Artists’ Valley” the listener is once again carried away to the cloudy day-dream world of the first half of the album with “K is For Kelson.” The song is oddly reminiscent of the “Doug” theme song, so that might be what gives it the cheery, childlike bounciness that is so welcome after two disappointing tracks. Title track “Mind Bokeh” is low on energy as well, but not in the same way as “Artists’ Valley.” The song is a perfect sonic expression of the term “bokeh” — blurry, out of focus, dreamlike. It carries the listener away to another world, one where nothing seems to be quite what it appears and lucidity is always just out of reach. After a brief reprise of “Excuses,” the album gets back into the swing of things with “Feminine Eye,” a short track featuring a smooth jazz saxophone solo. Closing out the album is “Saint Christopher.” It’s the longest track on the album and does a good job of recapping the overall “bokeh” theme of the album — elements of the song are always just out of focus as they move from the foreground of the instrumentation to the background, never really becoming clear enough to take a strong place at the front of the mix. “Mind Bokeh” will most likely disappoint fans of Bibio’s earlier more folkinclined sound but will surely please those who appreciated the electronic retro-pop sound of “Ambivalence Avenue.” The vivid, highly-creative pop gems crafted by Bibio on this album are guaranteed to expand your mind in new and interesting ways. Despite a few underwhelming songs, the album is ultimately a very entertaining piece of work that will work nicely as the soundtrack to days spent in the sunshine of the beach. Bottom Line: “Mind Bokeh” shows Bibio completely abandoning the folk aspects of his previous music in favor of electronic pop that is full of energy and color, often dipping into a unique blend of retro and world pop that not so much screams, but lazily drawls, “summer soundtrack.”

KEVIN McALEESE -music reviewer -sophomore -political science major

“I came into this project expecting to just build a bridge and I walked away with really amazing relationships and a whole new perspective on life.” Cooke said going to a place where the lifestyle is in so much contrast to his own helped him realize there is so much in life, that many value, that is actually meaningless. “They’re just livin’ life, and it’s amazing how simple their lives are, yet how happy they are,” Cooke said. “I come back here and there are just so many distractions. You have to get plugged right back in and that’s sometimes hard to adjust to. I love that one of the first things I noticed when I was down there was that these people who barely speak English just come up to you and ask you how your family is. One of the first English phrases they learn is ‘How is your family?’” Cooke admires how community and friendship mean so much to the Haitian people he worked with. “I think all of us would agree that engineering experience is probably at the bottom of the list as far as what this project gave us,” Cooke said. “But don’t tell our adviser that!” After proving itself with the Ti Peligre bridge project, the group is now trying to focus on what its relationship with the Parent Bridges to Prosperity organization will be. It has also just received a $100,000 grant to keep working in Haiti. “We’ve got a big commitment to

PHOTO COURTESY OF MATT CAPELLI

Residents take their ﬁrst steps during a day of dedication in March. Haiti, so we have to sift through how we will interface with Bridges to Prosperity, and how we will gain partnerships,” Cooke said. “Right now we are working very hard to continue a relationship with Partners in Health, who is really a valuable partner in Haiti,” Cooke said. “They have been working in Haiti for over 25 years and they are experts in the needs that Haiti has,” Cappelli said. “They hire locals whenever possible, which is good because then they

can be like ‘Hey my cousin lives here and they need this’” Lawler said. The club also noted there are countless parties outside of the club who deserve thanks. “There are so many people walking around this campus who allow and make it possible for students to do this type of work, and they’ll never even be recognized for it,” Cooke said. “There’s people who have been supporting us all along the way, and they are not doing it for the recognition, but for the value of the work,” Cappelli said.

Tips to keep you from feeling blue To end National Nutrition Month on a good note, the Student Dietetic Association is offering some tips on how to eat healthy. In accordance with this year’s National Nutrition Month theme, “Eat Right with Color”, the SDA has grouped some yummy foods into color categories with information on their nutritional benefits from the American Dietetic Association. Look for a new food color each day for some colorful food ideas.

Purple and blue produce contain antioxidants and have anti-aging effects. They help with urinary tract infections and memory, and reduce cancer risks. Some good choices are blackberries, blueberries, plums, raisins, eggplant, purple cabbage and purple flesh potatoes.

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Student Legal Services 143 Squires • (540) 231-4720 Monday-Thursday 9 AM-5 PM Friday 9 AM-1 PM SLS can provide legal advice such as leasing issues, traffic tickets, immigration, consumer problems, and criminal charges. They can also prepare legal documents such as simple wills, powers of attorney and contracts. NOT PROVIDED - student vs. student, student vs. university or student vs. parent Notary services available on Tuesday and Thursday

Did you know..... By being a member of the Virginia Tech community you agree to the following:

You are a student regardless of whether the alleged misconduct takes place on the campus, across the street from campus or across town.

»Abide by all state laws and university policies regulating alcoholic beverages and controlled substances

Should you find yourself in the student conduct court and choose to have an attorney present they would be present as your advisor.

»Encourage the development of an environment in which individuals can make informed, healthy, and responsible decisions about alcohol and controlled substances

An experienced attorney can plea bargain your case with the prosecuting attorney. Depending on the circumstances, your attorney may be able to strike a deal that keeps points off your driving record.

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If you are under 21 and you are found responsible for an alcohol/other drug violation then your parents will be notified.