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Friday, April Fool’s, 2011
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COLLEGIATETIMES 108th year, issue 3
News, page 4
People & Clubs, page 7
Opinions, page 5
Sports, page 3
Final Four, page 8
Classifieds, page 6
Faculty, student members of new residential college selected MICHELLE SUTHERLAND news reporter Virginia Tech has chosen two faculty members to live in the Honors Residential College of East AmblerJohnston for the next academic year. The residential college is a model that weds academic and student life by housing both students and faculty in one building. Married couple Robert Stephens and Heather Gumbert, both assistant history professors, will serve as faculty principals. East AJ will house honors students and Gumbert and Stephens, who will share the faculty principal job. West Ambler-Johnston will undergo a similar renovation in 2012 to become a non-honors residential college and a faculty principal will be chosen for that building. The renovation provides students with a unique “multi-generational” community. The building will feature a variety of rooms, including traditional hall style dorms, suites and student apartments to bring students of all ages and backgrounds under one roof. A larger apartment will house the college’s faculty principal team, who will guide the intellectual life of students. Gumbert and Stephens will share the job, with Stephens acting as the primary principal until Gumbert gets tenure.
“(Plans include) formal things, like speaker series and film series, there’s a movie theater in (East AJ), and some more informal things like afternoon teas and having students drop by and having people over for dinner and that sort of thing,” Gumbert said. The large apartment is designed to encourage faculty to invite students into their homes and inspire a robust intellectual life. “When I’m in the classroom it’s usually me and the student, and the grade is somewhere in between us. Having a relationship with students that doesn’t revolve around that, in which that is not the biggest concern, is going to be something that’s really wonderful,” Gumbert said. “And at Virginia Tech, the Drillfield has always been a barrier between the two halves of campus and they haven’t mixed. The residential college is this wonderful model that bridges that gap and brings faculty in the residential life,” Stephens said. The residential college includes several amenities to encourage intellectual growth, including a 40-seat movie theater for films, classrooms, conference rooms and a small library. To promote community, the building will have a large kitchen where a dozen students may cook and share a meal together, a game room and a workout room. But, the goal of the residential college is to promote outreach rather than
more on page two
DANIEL LIN / SPPS
Heather Gumbert and Robert Stephens are the principals of East AJ. inwardness. “(Professors Gumbert and Stephens) wanted this to be a community that thought of itself as a supportive community and they wanted it to look outside of itself, so the idea of service outside of the college was important. They wanted it to be an open and welcoming place,” said Terry Papillon, director of the honors program. In an e-mail Jamie Penven, associate director of residence life, said the residential college hopes to connect students to a smaller community while
encouraging explorating of the benefits and opportunities presented by a large research institution. While the faculty principals are the “intellectual leaders” of the college, the community will be largely student-driven. “We are simply one focal point in this and there are other focal points, or groups of people, who are also working towards the same goal,” Gumbert said. Older students will mentor the younger students, who will then become mentors in later years. Students are encour-
aged to apply to this housing only if they plan to stay for multiple years. In this way, tradition will be passed on. About 180 sophomores, juniors and seniors have already submitted applications for housing at East AJ. Many currently live off campus. Nick Onopa, a sophomore, is moving back on campus after spending a year in his fraternity house. “It’s about the environment you’re in. Being in an environment where everyone’s learning together all the time, communicating with each other, discussing ideas — it’s going to be a great thing,” he said in a December 2010 interview. Administrators say this sort of model will encourage high-caliber high school students to choose Tech over other universities. “It will certainly become a recruiting tool that students will choose to come here rather than Duke because they will have a chance to be in the honors residential college. We saw that at Baylor and we see that at other universities,” Papillon said. One of the reasons Gumbert was drawn to this position was because of her own undergraduate experience at Trent University in Ontario, where the residential college was a “wonderfully rewarding experience,” she said. Her experience and vision for the future made Gumbert and her hus-
band strong candidates for the position. Additionally, Papillon said they both articulated a solid understanding of the model’s history and eloquently envisioned a plan for the future. It was a very competitive process to become Tech’s first faculty advisers and many faculty applied. “We were thrilled by the diversity of applicants representing a variety of colleges, a variety of positions, their professional careers at different stages of their professional careers,” said Frank Shushok, the university’s associate vice president for student affars. Shushok implemented a residential college program at Baylor before bringing the idea to Tech. The process was a collaboration between the residential college’s Board of Trustees, the honors program, the provost, the vice president of undergraduate education, the vice president of student affairs, Gumbert and Stephens’ department chair and their college’s dean. “I think the thing that has been a real inspiration is the depth of collaboration that’s taken place in ways that some have suggested might not be possible,” Shushok said. “It’s been a real affirmation of how people gather around an idea that can shape the lives of students to work collaboratively even though it might not be simple but it’s worth it.”
Local high school student discovers star CLAIRE SANDERSON news reporter A junior at Blacksburg High School has discovered a new star, but unfortunately she has to name it J1632-1609. Susan Chen found the star, a pulsar, after looking through hundreds of hours of data from the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia. “I was a bit surprised at first, it was almost too perfect,” Chen said. “We always say, ‘Hey, we’re going to find a pulsar today,’ but I never thought it would happen.” It may not seem like a typical afterschool activity, but searching for pulsars is what Chen and 11 other BHS students do every Monday after school. Their club at BHS is a part of the Pulsar Search Collaborative, a joint project of West Virginia University and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory. “The PSC is designed to encourage high school students who are interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) careers by getting them engaged in cutting edge scientific research,” said Rachel Rosen, an astronomer with the NRAO who also serves as the project director for PSC. “Searching for pulsars does get boring if you do it by yourself, but it’s pretty exciting because I do it with the rest of the pulsar kids,” Chen said. “Susan has gone through hundreds of hours of data. So she gets to a real one and said, ‘What is this?’” said K.C. St. Clair, the
PSC club adviser and a physics teacher at BHS. “You just don’t expect it after going through hundreds of hours of trash.” But Chen almost didn’t find her star. On the day she made her discovery, members of the NRAO were coming to visit the Blacksburg club from West Virginia.
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Searching for pulsars does get boring if you do it by yourself, but it’s pretty exciting because I do it with the rest of the pulsar kids. SUSAN CHEN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT
“Susan found this (star) right before they came. Luckily for us, they got lost along the way and were about 45 minutes late,” St. Clair said. “If they had been on time, they would have been talking and this wouldn’t have happened for Susan or for BHS.” Since the PSC began in 2008, three students have discovered unknown pulsars. According to Rosen, there are about 2,000 known pulsars in the sky. “Some people just discover them at home, but it’s always nice to have your whole pulsar searching team around you,” said Sarah Scoles, one of the NRAO members who came to visit the club that day. The program is about two years old BHS, but almost ended after last year’s roof collapse.
“They came and met every Saturday at Panera, spread out over several tables with their own laptops to search for pulsar data and kept this program alive,” St. Clair said. “It could have easily just died.” Since Chen decided to check out the club last year with a friend, she has combed through terabytes of scientific data. “At first it was kind of boring, but as you begin to understand what pulsars really are, it gets a lot more interesting,” Chen said. In fact, Chen probably understands more about pulsars than many people twice her age. “A pulsar is a supernova star that has collapsed in on itself, and it becomes very small and dense,” Chen said. The star is so dense because it is composed of pure neutrons, no protons or electrons. “It starts spinning rapidly and begins to send pulses of radio waves through the universe,” Chen said. Next, Chen will have the chance to go to the Green Bank telescope and track her star. “She and the Blacksburg team are coming up in early April to observe the pulsar and learn more about it,” Rosen said. Chen said that while searching for pulsars is exciting, she’s not quite sure what she wants to do in the future. “I still don’t know which path I’m going to take,” she said. “It’s something I’m definitely considering though, because I really like physics and astronomy.”
PAUL KURLAK / SPPS
BHS junior Susan Chen discovered the new pulsar after hours of analyzing data.
Women, Harringtons march Runners gone wild for a cause against domestic violence MICHELLE SUTHERLAND news reporter
About 30 people took off their clothes and ran a lap around the Drillfield in the rain Thursday night after donating the clothes to Goodwill. The event had been highly publicized on Facebook. photo by zeton li, spps
Pain, recovery. Silence, a voice. A crowd gathered Thursday to share stories and protest abuse against women. The 22nd annual Take Back the Night rally and march began in the Wesleyan Center with song and speeches, followed by a march around campus and downtown to raise awareness of domestic violence. Participants greeted by beating drums were led to an auditorium to hear speakers and singers. Against a mosaic of Tshirts, each representing a case of abuse, women shared their stories. Two women were abused as children. Another was locked in an emotionally manipulative relationship in college and plunged into depression. Dan Harrington spoke about memories of his daughter, Morgan Harrington, a Virginia Tech student who was abducted and murdered in 2010 while attending a concert in Charlottesville. He and his wife, Gil Harrington, spoke to the Collegiate Times after their presentation about Katherine’s Bill, a Virginia state bill that would require campus police to turn cases over to state police in the event of rape or murder. “There’s an inherent conflict of interest,” Gil Harrington said. “You don’t want an institution to investigate itself, as well as there’s an experience and resource deficit.” A capella music swept emotion across the crowd. Nearly all attendees were
MAZIAR FAHANDEZH / SPPS
Marchers chanted positive slogans through downtown and campus. wiping their eyes. But women did not come to cry and commiserate — they came to remember and take back the night. The tone of the evening changed as organizers shuffled participants out the door and handed them candles. Despite the rain, nearly 100 people marched in support of women’s rights. Anna LoMascolo, co-director of the Women’s Center at Tech, told the audience they had to make a choice to speak out and use their voices. The marchers used them indeed. Men and women in neon-orange vests held megaphones and led chants such as, “Yes means yes and no means no!”
“Support without shame, that is the reason why I’m here,” said Thomas Friss, a student marcher. “I’m here to support women’s rights,” said Samantha Phanthanousy, another student participating in the march. Students peered out of residence halls and conversations were halted at bars downtown. In Sharkey’s, people stopped talking and looked out the window. Some passersby even cheered when the protesters walked by. “We’re still trying to find positive ways to move ahead,” Gil Harrington said. “The positive emotion is necessary to get beyond. I don’t think you get over it, but you can get beyond.”
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news editors: philipp kotlaba, liana bayne, gordon block newseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865
april fool’s, 2011
COLLEGIATETIMES
Taking a sneak peak inside the new East Ambler-Johnston HONORS STUDENTS, FACULTY TO LIVE TOGETHER IN RENOVATED HALL SET TO OPEN THIS AUGUST
PHOTOS BY MALLORY NOE-PAYNE
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1 A movie theater that seats 40 will host film series that promote academic enrichment. 2 This game room is part of the connector wing between East and West Ambler-Johnston. The communal space, which has been set aside for all residents, also has a kitchen, meeting area, lounge, and study. 3 The building includes faculty apartments, designed to provide space for entertaining students. Each faculty suite features a large living room, kitchen, three bedrooms, and a fireplace. 4 Project manager David Vest stands in the doorway of a student study. 5 The walls of an exercise room on the ground floor are a prime example of the attention to detail made in every aspect of the building’s design. 6 Although faculty apartments and suites do have small kitchens, a large, modern communal kitchen is part of the open space between East and West Ambler-Johnston. 7 An open foyer dominates the ground floor. The building design is centered around providing a space for students of all grade levels and faculty to live and work together in the residential college. 8 The communal hall bathroom shows the attention to detail that has played an important role in choosing materials and layout.
sports 3
editors: michael bealey, garrett ripa sportseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865 COLLEGIATETIMES
april fool’s, 2011
Hokies look to right the ship against No. 2 UVa WANTED JOSH PARCELL sports reporter After finally picking up an Atlantic Coast Conference win, Virginia Tech returns home this weekend to face the No. 2 team in the country and in-state rival, the University of Virginia. The Hokies ended an eight-
game losing streak in conference play with an 8-1 win at Boston College Sunday. Tech turned around on Tuesday and suffered its first midweek loss of the season, 7-5, to Radford. Andrew Rash, who has been the Hokies’ best power hitter this season, nearly tied the game in the final inning with a deep fly ball to left, but it was
caught just short of the wall. It was yet another disappointing loss for coach Pete Hughes, whose club is already more than halfway to matching last year’s conference loss total of 14. The road doesn’t get any easier with the Cavaliers coming into town. Virginia will start Danny Hultzen, conference preseason pitcher of the year on Friday. Hultzen has been
nearly unhittable all season long, and he is 5-0 on the season with a 1.12 ERA. He’s allowed just 23 hits in 40 and one-third innings of work. He poses a stiff challenge for a Hokie lineup that is averaging just 3.2 runs per game against ACC opponents.
Last year, the Hokies lost a hardfought series with the Cavaliers two games to one in Charlottesville, beating them 8-5 on the final day of the series. Only four of this year’s Hokie starters played in that game. The Hokies figure to have everything on the line this weekend as they try to resurrect a slowly declining season.
PAUL KURLAK / SPPS
The baseball team meets together in the outfield to prepare before the game against North Carolina on March 19. The Hokies have just one ACC victory so far this season.
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september 23,block 2009 news editors: philipp kotlaba, liana bayne, gordon newseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865
april fool’s, 2011
COLLEGIATETIMES
what you’re saying //comments from online readers...
world
On the DOE’s sanctions against Tech:
Japan nuclear reactors to be scrapped
Anonymous >>
Anonymous >> I’ve always been torn as to whether or not VT’s administration could have prevented further loss of life on that sad day. Either way I do not think the DOE thinks this will change or rectify anything that happened that day. And I do not think that this is about the fines, or about the money- it’s a small amount for either VT or the DOE. It’s more about the verdict. The DOE had guidelines in place that they feel were not followed. And it would seem more inappropriate to me if they had ruled this after 4 months versus 4 years. I’m confident that this incident touched those in charge of investigating for the DOE and they took time to look into it and made hard decisions. There is no way the administration could have known what would happen after the first incident that they believed to be a common domestic dispute, and maybe that’s the very reason why they should have acted differently. We all want to move on and I am proud of the way we have so far. I think we all would also want to be sure this does not happen again for the same reasons and that seems to be what the DOE is after as well. Personally I cannot get mad at anyone for taking either side, as we all wish it had not happened and don’t want to see it happen again on this or any campus.
more spin than a football >> You are wrong, Mr. Litsas. The fine will help put the record straight.My friend Henry would be alive today if Mr. Steger (and others) acted after the AJ murders with emergent concern, rather than sculpting it as another PR situation.
crime blotter
TOKYO — The chairman of the utility that runs the crippled Fukushima power plant on Wednesday said the facility’s four tsunami-battered reactors would have to be scrapped, and he apologized to the Japanese public for the nuclear disaster. Tsunehisa Katsumata, chairman of the Tokyo Electric Power Co., expressed his deep remorse for the accident at Fukushima in northern Japan, including explosions, the release of radiation and contamination of crops and tap water. Although Katsumata referred only to scrapping reactors No. 1 through 4, government officials and other experts have been saying for more than a week that the entire complex, including the less problematic reactors 5 and 6, eventually would have to be decommissioned. Katsumata’s remarks came as authorities working to bring the battered plant under control said they were considering new methods to limit radiation leakages from the facility, including draping some kind of large tarp or cloth over the reactors and applying resin or glue to the ground to prevent contamination of the soil. Experts are also mulling whether radioactive water that has flooded parts of the facility could be sucked up and placed in a barge. Radioactive material contin-
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ues to seep from the plant. The government’s nuclear agency said Wednesday that radioactive iodine131 had been detected at 3,355 times the legal limit in seawater several hundred yards from the Fukushima plant. That’s the highest such concentration recorded at sea to date, but specialists said the material’s half short life and the diluting effect of the ocean meant there was negligible concern about the impact on human health. Eventually, Katsumata said, the Fukushima plant could be entombed in concrete. Chief Cabinet secretary Yukio Edano cautioned later that that was but one option being considered. “We should look at all the options,” he said. People living within 12 miles of the plant have been told to leave their homes, while those living between 12 and 18 miles have been urged to move out or stay indoors. Asked at a news conference how the central government would respond to the Fukushima prefectural governor’s request to force people living 12 and 18 miles of the plant to evacuate from the area, Edano said: “We are considering the government’s request.” Katsumata’s public appearance came after the company announced that its president, Masataka Shimizu, had been hospitalized for high blood
pressure and dizziness. Shimizu has been absent from the public eye for several weeks, leaving other company executives to address the public. Experts from the French utility Areva arrived in Tokyo on Wednesday to advise on the situation at Fukushima, expanding the team of international specialists now consulting on the situation. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman Gregory Jaczko came to Tokyo earlier in the week. French President Nicolas Sarkozy will visit Japan on Thursday and hold a news conference with Prime Minister Naoto Kan. Meanwhile, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko made their first visit to evacuees Wednesday, appearing at a sports complex in Tokyo where several hundred people, many from near Fukushima, are taking shelter. The emperor walked around the gymnasium and paused to kneel on mats where evacuees sleep to chat for a few moments and express their concern. The death toll from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami on Wednesday stood at 11,632, the National Police Agency said, with more than 16,000 people still listed as missing. -julie makinen, mcclatchy newspapers
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V I O L A T I O N - A F F I D A V I T
date reported
time
offense
location
status
arrestees
3/30/2011
3 a.m. - 3:10 a.m.
Larceny of a Bicycle
Torgersen
Inactive
N/A
3/30/2011
1:15 p.m.
Harassment
Monteith
Active
N/A
3/30/2011
4 p.m.
Larceny of Lab Samples
Price Hall
Active
N/A
3/30/2011
9 p.m.
Simple Assault with minor injury
Graduate Life Center
Active
N/A
3/31/2011
11 p.m. - 2 a.m.
Larceny of a Bicycle
I Lot
Inactive
N/A
13216540656465514
Well said. I hate the idea that our government thinks that a tiny fine levied almost 4 years later is going to rectify the situation. If it’s meant to be punitive, I think our community has suffered enough already, thanks.We ALL wish that Cho had stopped in AJ; but he didn’t. There’s no way VT could have predicted that a “domestic dispute” could have turned into a massacre. I for one stand behind our school and can honestly say that none of the safety measures, and certainly no fine, make me feel safer on campus. In fact I long for the days of running across campus to make it to my friend’s room before 10 when I knew the doors would lock, knowing that because I was there so often the smokers would let me in anyway. That’s true community and that’s what I miss about my school. Shove it DOE.
opınıons 5
editors: scott masselli, gabi seltzer opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865 COLLEGIATETIMES
april fool’s, 2011
Music industry now pay-for-play one were to delve into the world of modern politics, he or she If would undoubtedly discover that politicians are receiving money in the form of campaign contributions to support a cause. This is known as a pay-for-play scheme and is far too common in today’s society. It’s a disturbing trend, to say the least. What’s even more disturbing is that this trend has found its way into another facet of American life: the music industry. Most people have heard of the “song” by “singer” Rebecca Black, titled “Friday.” The entire song, including the music video, is nothing short of a train wreck that has no doubt set the music industry back 50 years. Initial reactions to the song have been mixed. Despite more than 60 million views, the video has more than one million “dislikes,” making it one of the most hated videos on the Internet. Who could blame people for not liking the song? Besides the nasally singing and heavy autotune, the lyrics are something out of a kindergarten poetry contest. Actually, that probably does a disservice to the work of the six-year-olds. While it is easy to vent frustrations over the song at the 13-year-old girl who lends her (awful) voice, it’s not that simple. Some recording studios are taking advantage of children, and their parents, who are looking to get their 15 minutes of fame. The biggest culprit is ARK Music Factory, located in Los Angeles. The best way to describe what ARK does is a pay-for-play scheme that takes advantage of parents with money, who are looking be the parents of stars. Many children in show business are driven to sing or act by parents whose
dreams of stardom were quashed. They are looking to live vicariously, and monetarily, through their children. The music industry is the biggest victim. With preteen pop songs rising to the top of the charts from artists such as Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber, recording companies are looking for the next big thing. Clarence Jey and Patrice Wilson, owners of the aforementioned ARK, are going about finding artists in a different way. Instead of finding children who can sing, they are finding parents who have the money to get a song produced for their child. It is hard to argue with the business model they have put together. They are raking in the dough and are now known worldwide, even if it is in a negative light. However, the song, as well as many others performed by young girls under the tutelage of Jey and Wilson, was written by the owners of the company. The terrible autotune and the juvenile lyrics are all the production of two men who know how to make a song as well as UVa knows how to beat Virginia Tech in football. In the end, the public derision gets directed mostly at these young singers who have no business singing outside their middle school choir. The blame for these ear-sores should not fall on these exploited girls, but rather on the adults who believe this is how a recording company should work. Let us all take a page out of the book of the immortal Ice T: “Don’t hate the player. Hate the game.”
STEVEN RICH -regular columnist -senior -communication major
Media attention to Japan misguided he media’s fascination with Japan’s nuclear crisis misses the T real devastation in the aftermath of the magnitude 9.0 earthquake and resulting tsunami. Japan’s death toll has officially reached 10,000 people, and that number is likely to rise. A New York Times report on March 27 said 27,000 people are listed as dead or missing. Having trouble wrapping your head around that number? That would be equivalent to wiping out 95 percent of Virginia Tech’s undergraduate and graduate population. The Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications continues to tally the loss and destruction caused by the natural disasters. More than 400 miles of coastline are affected. If you drove from Blacksburg to Richmond, Va., then up to Baltimore, Md., you would still be in harm’s way. With entire villages literally swept away, there comes an enormous loss of local history and culture, not to mention the devastating economic impact. And that loss is being underscored by fears of an invisible threat: radiation. This is not to reject the importance of the nuclear crisis in Japan. The world has legitimate concerns about the risks of contamination and how to stop the leaking reactors. However, thanks to the Japanese government’s regulations, warnings and forced evacuations, the public is at minimal risk of harm. The highest reported radioactivity found in a liter of tap water was equal to 1/88 of a chest X-ray. With such knowledge and some foresight, the Japanese can better prepare for potential threats and avoid consumption of certain food products, whereas no one could
prepare for mother nature’s fury. It is the fear of the invisible and the unease of not knowing that spread panic. So far, this fear has been the worst outcome of the nuclear crisis because it can be mentally debilitating. But there is no reason to live in fear. We are surrounded by radiation in our daily lives, from the sun’s rays to X-rays, from air travel to food. Instead, we should be concerned about helping the displaced survivors rebuild their lives. Japan is one of America’s closest allies. As such, we should mourn with them and assist them in way we can. For the religious among us, we can send prayers and condolences. We can learn about the culture and people of Japan. We can reach out to nonprofits and lend a financial hand. In Blacksburg, there are fundraising efforts to help the victims and survivors. For instance, Hokies United for Japan will be fundraising and raising cultural awareness at the International Street Fair on April 2. Moe’s Southwest Grill will be donating 20 percent of its profits April 6 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. to World Vision, a non-profit, helping those affected by the Japan earthquake and tsunami. Assuredly, there are other group efforts the Hokie community can explore. In the meantime, don’t let the media’s coverage cloud the real people behind the news. Think of them as you search for ways to help. Now, let’s make some positive headlines of our own.
KATHRYN GALLAND -regular columnist -senior -communication major
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Gender equality during revolutions must live on hile representing a month of liberation for many in the W Middle East, March was revolutionary for the area in more than one way. At the culmination of Women’s History Month, I would like to take note of some very famous women as of late: the female revolutionaries of the Middle East. We’ve seen photos of them front and center during protests, as well as squirming in seas of people demanding to be heard. They volunteered to take security positions at all hours of the day and broke stereotypes by standing shoulder to shoulder with men in order to work towards their common goal: freedom. They are to thank for the spread of the revolutions to the scale that was witnessed, as they were largely responsible for spreading the word to protest in Tahrir Square via the Internet. One might even go as far as to say that without their participation in the protests, the outcome would not have been possible in places like Egypt and Tunisia. In celebrating their newfound voices, the single largest shame would be for these developments to simply be temporary. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has recently gone as far as to attribute women’s participation to the success of establishing and sustaining peace. In speaking of the female revolutionaries in the Middle East, she further noted that, “The ability of Egyptian and Tunisian women to participate in the decisions that will shape their nations’ futures will go a long way
toward determining whether democracy actually takes root in North Africa.” I find these bold statements not only true but also awe-inspiring in that the potential of women is being recognized. Not only is it being recognized, but recognized in an area of the world most view as backwards and neglecting of women. The fact of the matter is, now that Egypt and Tunisia are building their new governments, women need to be included — although as of yet, they largely have not been. In reflecting on this, it is useful to consider the fact that in order to bring women’s rights to where they are today in the United States, American history has not been without tumult of its own. There are similarities between the situation of women revolutionaries in the Middle East and the history of American women’s rights, as women in the U.S. became politically involved when society needed them. Take, for example, the World War II era, which gave rise to symbolic figures such as Rosie the Riveter while women worked in factories in order to support the nation’s interests. Gender barriers and stereotypes were put aside and the very human and equal nature of women in relation to men was appreciated for arguably the first time. Being American at this point began to overshadow any other social issues to the extent that gender was not considered an issue because matters of the state were more important. This feels very reminiscent of what
we have seen in the Middle East during the month of March, and this period of time serves as a critical point during which their participation in society and politics can be solidified for the future. Stereotypes are being broken in these countries and ours regarding these women should be as well. In doing so, we must remember the gradual progress that women in America endured to reach where they are today and consequently ban together in celebration of the women of the Middle East. Women’s History Month was set forth with the intention of celebrating the contributions of women to contemporary society as well as events in history. I believe the female revolutionaries in the Middle East pertain to both of these categories, as they rose up during March 2011 to make history and are not done yet. They have begun to be heard and be taken seriously. They are poised to have their positions in society elevated in respect and equality. The continuation of these developments will be crucial to the progression of the Middle East and it’s important that we put any outdated views we may have on women aside as they become even more relevant.
NOOR KHALIDI -regular columnist -junior -economics major
Most dangerous jobs vitally important for modern society he Department of Labor just released figures on the most T dangerous jobs in the United States, which are the occupations that have the highest number of deaths per 100,000 workers. You might be surprised to learn who puts their lives on the line so that you are able to live in safety and comfort. Many Americans mistakenly believe police are the workers who “risk their lives everyday,” and that they “don’t know if they are coming home to their families at night.” Others believe firefighters have the most dangerous job. But contrary to popular opinion — which no doubt is propagated by Hollywood images of firemen storming into burning homes to save children or heroic cops who save the day — neither of these occupations even break the top 10 list. In fact, roughly 90 percent of occupational fatalities happen to people who are not on government payrolls. Interestingly enough, more than half of the top 10 most dangerous jobs are in occupations that provide us our basic needs. Basic needs, such as food, clothing and shelter are so essential for survival that we cannot live without them. Some psychologists, such as the famed Abraham Maslow, go so far as to say we will not pursue higher needs — love, self-esteem, acceptance and so forth — until these basic physiological and security needs are met. Regardless of whether Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is accurate, after examining the Department of Labor’s data, one thing remains clear: The people who fulfill these needs risk their lives to provide them. Workers who put food on our tables have dangerous jobs. Once again, the title for the most dangerous job in America goes to fishing, with farming and ranching coming in third place. Even though most of us would be
dead in a matter of weeks without food, it is very unlikely that people are going to exchange the ribbon on their car for a new one that reads, “support the fishers” or “support the farmers.” Though it would be nice if people were thankful and threw a prayer or two their way for once. Four of the most dangerous jobs are held by those involved in sheltering us from the elements. Loggers came in second place, iron and steel workers fourth, roofers fifth and construction laborers 10th.
“
Workers who put food on our tables have dangerous jobs. Once again, the title for the most dangerous job in America goes to fishing, with farming and ranching coming in third place.
Thanks to workers like these, we have secure abodes we call home, and sound buildings we can gather in to work, worship, learn and play. These guys are not afforded the luxury of fancy uniforms and perky city benefits — all they require is blue jeans, steel-toe boots and hard hats. But it is their hard work for a meager wage that allows us to remain warm and dry in the winter and cool and dry in the summer. Drivers have the ninth most dangerous job. Not only are the unsanitary restrooms at the truck stop and a diet of Cracker Barrel and fast food health hazards, but these guys also have to worry about traffic accidents. Many of these drivers transport the raw materials used in constructing our shelters, as well as the food and water we rely on to live. Besides delivering passengers from one destination to another, pilots are also responsible for transporting many of the important goods we rely on. Pilots have the third most dangerous job.
People who install, repair and maintain industrial machinery came in eighth place. I guess the old saying, “If it aint broke, don’t fix it,” came out of this industry — after all, in this case, fixing the machine is a matter of life and death. Just ahead of the machinists are sanitation workers, who have the seventh most dangerous job in America. That is right. The guy you are frustrated with for interrupting your morning sleep is putting his life on the line to haul away the disgusting pile of trash you have accumulated over the past week. Be nice to them, because if they ever decide to go on strike, flies will prosper and disease could break out. There you have it, the most recent data on hazardous occupations in the United States. Once again, the data shows that those who work hard to meet our basic needs perform the 10 most dangerous jobs. As is the case every year, the people who really risk their lives for us are the private industry workers who provide us with food and shelter. These are the workers who can realistically wonder if they are going home to their families at night. So the next time you want to thank somebody for putting their life on the line for you, head over to the farmer’s market and thank the people selling produce. The next time you want to reward somebody for the difficult job they do, tell the waiter or waitress, “That guy over there in the hard hat, covered in dirt, his tab is on me.”
CHRIS DUNN -regular columnist -senior -political science major
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.
april fool’s, 2011
page 6
Big Event thriving despite going solo MEIGHAN DOBER news staff writer Despite separating from the SGA at the beginning of this school year, the Big Event is thriving in preparation for its 10th anniversary this year. Last year, the Big Event applied to be an organization independent from the SGA. The split was finalized at the beginning of this school year and the Big Event became a Registered Student Organization. “This was a great decision for the long term. In the short term, there have been some challenges. We’re looking to keep an even better relationship with the SGA in future years,” said Nathan Lavinka, co-director of the Big Event. Since the split, nothing in the group’s structure has changed.
There are still different committees, staff members and an executive branch that oversees the whole event. The turnout for the Big Event this year is already larger than last year’s. As of last week, there were 6,145 volunteers with a goal of 8,000. There are more than 900 projects to be worked on. “It looks like we’re going to reach our goals and be ahead of last year’s turnout,” said Gavin McDuff, the other co-director of the Big Event. Although the Big Event did separate from the SGA, the SGA continues to support the program. The SGA gave money to the Big Event and is considered an official sponsor. According to SGA president Bo Hart, the SGA donated $20,600 to the group this year. “I think it is going to go very well this year. The Big Event is not tied down to the SGA now. They can
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Events DOG WASH The Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine invites you to come pamper your dog at the annual VMRCVM Dog Wash fundraiser (hosted by the Class of 2014 and SCAVMA). The event will be on April 9th from 8am to 3pm at the veterinary college complex off of Duckpond Dr. Just park and follow the signs. Prices are $10 for a bath and $5 for ear cleaning and nail trim. Hope to see you there! SKYDIVE! One-day first jumps from 13,500’ from 22-jumper twin engine airplane. Gift Certificates! www.skydiveorange.com 540.943.6587
flourish and grow and expect lots of participants and jobs. We’re very supportive,” Hart said. The amount donated to the Big Event was a little less than what was given in previous years, when the Big Event was still a part of the SGA. “The amount was agreed upon by the (SGA) House and the Senate. It just made us rely more on outside donations more so that we have had to in the past,” Lavinka said. The SGA had technically overseen the Big Event since its inception 9 years ago, so there were a few challenges for all groups involved in the split. One of the biggest challenges was treating the SGA sponsorship as a corporate sponsorship and treating SGA volunteers as any other student group. Despite the fact that the Big Event was part of the SGA, the SGA never ran the Big Event. The SGA had
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sign up Visit www.vtbigevent.org registration ends today
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directors that sat on the executive board. “Both groups have grown so large that we outgrew our home,” Lavinka said. “We have more opportunities to expand between being a 501(c)3 and a non-profit organization. The split allows the SGA to focus on governance and less on programming.” Overall, the transition has proven to be a smooth and successful one. “Looking back, we have done what was best for the organizations. We hope we can continue to foster positive relationships, and I think we can be here for a while,” McDuff said. Volunteer registrations ends today. For more information, visit www. vtbigevent.org
Teacher posts photo of student on Facebook NOREEN AHMED-ULLAH mcclatchy newspapers CHICAGO — Chicago Public Schools says a teacher showed poor judgment posting photos of a student on her Facebook page, leading to the child being mocked for her hairstyle. The 7-year-old turned up for photo day with Jolly Rancher candies tied at the end of her braids. Her teacher allegedly took photos of the child and posted them on her site where people mocked the hairstyle. The child’s mom complained to the principal, said school district spokeswoman Monique Bond. “The principal said this was a good teacher but this was a case of poor judgment,” Bond said. Most of her daughter’s teachers complimented her hair at school, so she didn’t think much of a teacher’s request
to take pictures of the hairdo, Williams said. The teacher asked the girl to put her hair over her face and then used her cellphone camera to take a side shot and then one of the back of her head. Williams said the teacher told the child, “My husband is not going to believe this.” Another parent whose child is the teacher’s friend on Facebook let Williams know that the girl’s photo was on the teacher’s page and people were mocking the hairstyle. Williams notified the school principal the next day. The teacher apologized and said she took down the photos, but Williams’s lawyer is preparing a lawsuit against Chicago Public Schools. “What bothers me is that she still hasn’t apologized to my baby,” Williams said. “No child should have to go to school to be bullied by their teacher.”
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WUVT WEEKEND 7-9
FRIDAY ed Mix scs Di
7-9
Art Day
9 AM12 PM 12-2
AM
PM
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New River Sampler Thompson & Thomson
Steve Nimitz
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
Pete French
Sunday Morning Classical
9 AM- Hickory Dickory 11 PM Dock 11-1 PM
1-2:30 PM
The Greek Show The Turkish Show Miko & Starflower
Aaron Horst Sounds Good Skylights
w Talk at the Ne ic 2-3:30 Day Drinking 2:30-4 s PM PM w/ Stacey Table Top 15 Mu 3:30-5 The JFK Memorial 4-5:30 Nathan & Jared Tune Talk PM PM Cat Show Tech Talk Actual Miles 5:30-7 Oscar Salguero’s The Entertainment 5-7 z z a J PM PM Peruvian Chicken & Sports Show Ellenberg y 7-9 7-9 t Terrence l a Shawn Manns PM The Billy Goat ci PM Torrence Spe t Symphonies of Ar 9-12 Brenden Evans 9 PM- The Whatever ht PM Sickness & Marc Kravitz 12 AM Hour Nig lty 12-2 L’Guida’s 12-2 a i Walter Valencia George & JR c AM Vaudeville Revue AM Spe 2-4 Caitlin Belcher 2-4 Diesel & Cox ed Mix cs Dis
By Annemarie Brethauer
ACROSS 1 One not standing after a strike 4 “Così fan tutte” composer 10 Fuel used in smokeless briquettes 14 United 15 Tater Tots maker 16 Humerus neighbor 17 School gp. 18 Normal damage 20 Object held by some Monet subject s 22 “Born to Fly” singer Evans 23 __ out: barely makes
AM
AM
4-7
Chris Winfield & 4-7 Angela Huang AM
AM
4/1/11 24 Bribes 27 Exodus landmark 30 Cubicle items 32 End zone dance preceder 34 Way to get up 36 Party drink 37 Like Mars 38 “Pay attention!” 42 Nimitz letters 45 “Livin’ Thing” rock gp. 46 Horde member 49 Extensive Asian landmark 53 Worker with rattan 55 Jockey rival 56 Israeli prime minister, 1969-’74
58 Diet brand word 59 Logician’ s “E,” perhaps 61 Thames neighborhood 63 With the ends of 18-, 32-, 38- and 49-Across, an historic demand 67 Where Dover is: Abbr. 68 Jezebel’s husband 69 City WNW of Boca 70 LAX listing 71 Jobless benefit 72 Assembly sites 73 Man cave, maybe
33 “Come Fly With Me” lyricist 35 Burgoo, e.g. 39 Bit of dough 40 Org. with an interlocking rings logo 41 Trivial 42 “That’ s disgusting!” 43 E. Perón’s title 44 It nearly surrounds Gambi a 47 Liqueur flavoring 48 Cold War thaw 50 Oxygen-lovin g organism 51 Peter the Great, for one 52 Fungus-alga union 54 Born 2/6/1911, speaker of the demand 57 Butler at Tara 60 1/2 fl. oz. 62 Halloween et al. 63 Moonstruck 64 17th Greek letter 65 Falcons, on scoreboards 66 Yr.-end adviser
Thursday’s Puzzle Solved
(c)2011 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
3/31/1
African Cities
HOW TO PLAY:
Spell the phrase in the grid above it, writing each unique letter only once. The correct solution will spell the complete phrase along a single continuous spelling path that moves horizontally, vertically and diagonally. Fill the grid from square to square - revisiting letters as needed to complete the spelling path in order. Each letter will appear only once in the grid.
Sebastian Walker
Andrew Barnes
DOW N 1 Visited unannounced, with “in” 2 See 7-Down 3 Most convenient 4 Does some yardwork 5 Droxies used to compete with them 6 Extremist 7 With 2-Down, engine conduits 8 Nutritional amt. 9 Darkens in the sun 10 Foul-smelling 11 Aquitaine duchess 12 Women’s tennis star Ivanovic 13 Sailor 19 Track event 21 Out of line 25 Road hazard 26 Plum pudding ingredient 28 Blow away 29 Pacers’ home: Abbr. 31 Balneotherapy venue
topic:
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editors: lindsey brookbank, kim walter featureseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865 COLLEGIATETIMES
april fool’s, 2011
He said: Persevere through upcoming weeks’ challenges to avoid parental disappointment
he she
t’s a little ironic that I found out the theme for this week’s Icolumn at a meeting I showed
SAID She said: Stay motivated, avoid distractions of studying for one of the three exams I have this week, I am writing Ithisnstead column. It’s hard to find motivation now that school is almost over. Seniors definitely have senioritis, and the rest of us are just over it. Staying motivated seems impossible when you’re too busy watching March Madness games or Rebecca Black’s music video. And how can you ignore your tweets and Facebook notifications? Think about it, how many times per day do you check your Facebook page? I’m sure it’s just as unhealthy of a number as mine. I would like to discuss how the recent warm weather has left classrooms empty, but Mother Nature has decided to torture us. Facing 25-degree weather when you wake up Tuesday for an 8 a.m. class is brutal. It’s now April. What is the deal? But don’t worry, some of us are seeing the glass half full. The change of weather is the perfect excuse for allergies and sudden illnesses. Thousands of e-mails have been sent with flimsy explanations — very clever. Yet sadly, I’m one of the few students who actually made it to classes this week. Feeling motivated, I attempted to make my 8 a.m. class Tuesday. But apparently I’m not used to setting an alarm for a class so early — mine went off at 6:15 a.m., an hour earlier than necessary. So how can we stay motivated?
7
Personally, I like to reward myself. If I finish an assignment, paper or a specific amount of study time, I treat myself to an episode of “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit” or “Modern Family.” It works like a charm. And when that becomes less exciting, I get in my car and drive to the Math Emporium. Let me tell you that I probably dislike the Empo more than anyone I know, but it works. It’s like a prison. You feel obligated to follow suit and complete your homework like your fellow inmates. Although, I’ll admit, you can definitely still get distracted at the Empo. My goal the other night was to go there to avoid watching television with my roommates. However, I wasn’t expecting to be near another close friend, leading to numerous conversations and jokes. While you will face some distractions with Facebook or friends at the Empo, visits there can really help you buckle down. It beats crawling into your own bed to study and falling asleep by accident. But in reality, your laptop is a lethal weapon. I learned in my media institutions class this week that television viewing has drastically decreased thanks to computers. How much time do you spend on your laptop? You can’t deny that our generation spends more
time on the computer than any other activity besides sleep. Imagine what our life would be like without computers. Imagine all the free time we would have without social media networks. Imagine the productivity. If you’ve never left your computer behind, try it. It’s shocking how much more you can get accomplished. Give it everything you’ve got. It sounds cliche but we only have a little over a month left of school. It’s more than enough time to let your grade drop an entire letter grade. If you have survived this long, don’t give in yet. I’m not going to tell you to stop using Facebook or watching television, because that’s just unrealistic. We’re too dependent on technology at this point. But focus on managing your time, or you’ll end up on Facebook at 2 a.m. And if all else fails, maybe you can follow the path of other college dropouts and create the next big social network.
CHELSEA GUNTER -features reporter -sophomore -communication major
up 20 minutes late for. And it’s humorous that bro classics such as “Knocked Up” and “Role Models” have consistently delayed its writing. Really though, my suspect motivation shouldn’t come as a surprise to you at this point. You’re not exactly reading the perspective of Douglas MacArthur. There are highly driven individuals all over campus changing the world. I applaud their efforts, while I head to Hokie Grill to study in front of a 72-inch HDTV. Maybe it’s just wishful thinking, but I don’t feel as out of place typing away in front of SportsCenter as I did earlier in the semester. We’ve reached the point in the school year when incentives, such as a glorious Blue Ridge Barbecue turkey sandwich, are necessary to scrounge together any productivity. An epidemic of inertia is spreading beyond the usual suspects of video gamers and slothful columnists. Everyone’s getting in on the fun of ceasing to care — professors, sorority girls and clearly the men’s basketball team. If Blacksburg’s schizophrenic weather ever decides to settle down, this campus may shut down entirely. Of course, that’s about as likely to happen as CollegeACB hosting reasonable discourse. So for now, academic obligations stay intact. The $6 million question remains: How do you find motivation to excel when the marginal benefit seems so insignificant? Where does initiative come from? Summer is waving at you from one cruel flip of the calendar away. Wait, you expected me to have an answer? That’s rich. I had a hard enough time locating my MIA work ethic in January. Now that it’s the season for seersuckers and volleyball, I’m about as driven as a Pontiac Aztek. My theft of an old Jay Leno joke should convince you of my complete lack of credibility on this topic.
But my lovely and witheringly intelligent editors are unlikely to accept failure as an option, so I will dive into the deepest recesses of this lethargic mind to find some advice to help stem off this onslaught of sluggishness. In fact, I have just the anecdote. High school cross-country is the quintessential example of our mind’s power to remember anything fondly. Ask any former runner and they’ll reminisce wistfully about the good ol’ days of pasta dinners and thrilling meets.
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We’ve reached the point in the school year when incentives, such as a glorious Blue Ridge Barbecue turkey sandwich, are necessary to scrounge together any productivity.
That’s about as accurate an impression of the sport as ESPN GameDay was of our sporadic interest in school spirit. Cross-country would have been as pleasant as a Soviet Gulag, if not for the plentiful long-legged beauties. If you can convince yourself that 10-mile runs in the grueling summer heat were a good time, your ability to lie to yourself knows no limits. The most severe self-delusion are race memories. What now seem like exciting tests of perseverance were really excruciating, “I will sell my firstborn child for this to be over,” tests of sheer will to survive. An initial surge of adrenaline made the first mile tolerable, as far as running at full speed in a huddled mass of flailing limbs goes. The real fun began when the exhilaration wore off and the realization that the foreseeable future would be spent in Sisyphus-like torment set in. Like all terrible things — accounting classes come to mind — the race eventually reached its climax. I never understood the idea of a “kick to the finish.” It always seemed like one of those trite phrases was
coined by someone who truly deserved a kick to the finish. The ends of my races were less triumphant than “Rocky” and more like a blind, old dog crawling toward his bed. This is where my long-winded story and the current crisis facing Virginia Tech students come together. My motivation was absolutely zapped by the end of those races. It’s not like I was running for team standing at that point. The only reason to finish was simply to be done with the matter. I could always feel myself dogging it as I stumbled into the home stretch. Then I would see my coach. Suddenly any exhaustion seemed irrelevant. The look in his eyes said one thing: Your soul is mine if you dare slow down. Call me lazy if you want, but I’m not stupid. The guy who administered wind sprints at practice was not someone you wanted to tick off. I would naturally run the final stretch like a man possessed by the spirit of Steve Prefontaine. The parallels between my athletic predicament and the feeling of ambivalence sweeping campus are clear. Enthusiasm is in low supply these days. The urge to say “eff it” and hit the snooze button has never been greater. Before you blow off that take-home quiz, remember that summer relaxation isn’t the only thing coming in a month. A reunion with the parents awaits when exams are over, and odds are they won’t be too understanding of your lackadaisical attitude. Better step it up now — the coaches are watching and you’re going to have to talk to them soon.
ANDREW REILLY -features staff writer -junior -communication major
International street fair to bring together cultures MALLORY NOE-PAYNE news staff writer No passport will be needed to travel the world this weekend. The 52nd International Street Fair will transform College Avenue into a bustling marketplace of exotic foods, music and dance from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. this Saturday. The fair is held annually by the Council of International Student Organizations to educate students and raise awareness of the diversity of Virginia Tech’s population. This year the fair is themed, “No Passport Required.” “Once a year, in a very formal, large scale way, we celebrate the diversity that is in residence here at Virginia Tech,” said Pablo Miguel Martinez, festival coordinator from the Cranwell International Center. Student clubs showcasing their diversity will be selling food to help
fundraise for their individual groups. There will also be performances of both music and dance from around the world. From the Iranian Society at VT to the Moroccan Club, 56 organizations will be represented. The number of organizations, which is consistent with last year’s event, features a few new groups, such as the Chinese Student Association.
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International Street Fair Saturday, April 2 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. College Avenue
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This year will also feature a new event to raise funds victims in Japan, held by Hokies United for Japan. “Street fair attendees will be encouraged to join members of Hokies
United for Japan in folding a thousand origami cranes,” said Lubna Chowdbury, president of CISO. “(It) will symbolize our heartfelt wishes for Japan’s recovery.” An event that will be repeated this year after its successful first year is a fashion show. Representatives of different associations will model traditional garb as an additional way of learning about cultural differences. Tina Tran, the educational chair of the Vietnamese Student Association, will be attending the fair for the first time this year. For her, it represents an opportunity to educate people and let them know, for instance, about “different kinds of recipes from other cultures.” In addition to participating in the fashion show, the VSA will be selling Vietnamese spring rolls and Vietnamese iced coffee. The event is an important fundraising opportunity for the group.
Speaking out against violence
“The fact that people keep coming in larger numbers every year shows a lot about the interest on the part of the community to have this as part of the community’s life, as part of it’s social fabric,” Martinez said. The placement of the main stage will be moved this year to help provide more direct interaction between performers and other events. It has been placed in front of Newman Library in the past, but will be on Otey Street this year. While admission is free and open to the public, the event flyer suggests that attendees “bring an empty stomach and a full wallet.” The event is co-sponsored by the Cranwell International Center, Downtown Blacksburg Inc., Global Goods and Oasis World Market. In the event of inclement weather, all activities will be moved into Squires Student Center.
FILE / SPPS
A woman performs a traditional dance during last year’s street fair.
Wiz Khalifa will bring ‘Rolling Papers’ to life at Sunday concert NICK SMIRNIOTOPOULOS features staff writer Blacksburg will bleed black and yellow this weekend, as two Pittsburgh rappers bring their beats and lyrics to town. Wiz Khalifa and special guest Mac Miller are performing at Burruss Hall this Sunday. The duo hails from Pittsburgh, Pa., and have just begun a nationwide Campus Consciousness Tour, an effort to spread environmental knowledge supplemented by memorable music entertainment.
check it out When: Sunday, April 9 at 7 p.m. Where: Burruss Hall Tickets: $35 through UUSA.vt.edu/tickets.
The Clothesline Project allows women to create color-coded T-shirts that are visual testimonies to the shattering effect of violence against women. Red represents rape or sexual assault. photo by maziar fahandezh, spps
The tour, which began Thursday at Emory University, comes at a time when both artists are promoting new works. Wiz Khalifa released the highly anticipated album “Rolling Papers,” on Tuesday, and Mac Miller released the popular mix tape, “Best Day Ever.” Before the concert there will be an event held outside Burruss Hall from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. where there will be free giveaways and a Wiz Khalifa special appearance. Tinzberry Entertainment, one of the chief organizations responsible for the event, will host an afterparty from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Awful Arthur’s with special guest DJ Rhetorik.
COURTESY OF WIZKHALIFA.COM
8 final four april fool’s, 2011
editors: michael bealey, garrett ripa sportseditors@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865 COLLEGIATETIMES
Two mid-majors have chance to win it all in Houston MATT JONES sports reporter
NCAA men’s
basketball
SEMIFINALS
Kentucky
29-8 overall, 4.75 point average margin of victory
Connecticut
30-9 overall, 12.25 point average margin of victory
For just the third time in history, not a single No. 1 seeded team will participate in the NCAA Tournament’s Final Four. The spoilers — Kentucky (4seed), Connecticut (3), Virginia Commonwealth (11) and Butler (8) — are all teams with a history of success in March. They will converge in Houston, Tex. for a chance to cut down the nets. For a team like Kentucky and its basketball-crazed state, the event is almost old-hat. With 14 Final Four appearances, seven NCAA titles and countless All-Americans throughout their history, the Wildcats are one of college basketball’s bluebloods. Kentucky’s path to Houston has not been easy. The fourth-seeded Wildcats needed a bucket from star freshman Brandon Knight in the waning seconds to put away 13th-seeded Princeton. After trailing by seven points at halftime to West Virginia, Knight again rescued the Wildcats en route to an eight-point win. Knight did it again against No. 1 seed Ohio State, knocking down a 15-foot jump shot with five seconds remaining to advance Kentucky. And in the biggest game of his life, Knight put the Wildcats on his back, scoring 22 points
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VCU celebrates after downing No. 1 seed Kansas in the Elite Eight. to beat North Carolina and advance to the Final Four. They will match up with Jim Calhoun’s Connecticut Huskies, the Big East’s tournament champion and lone remaining representative. Led by point guard Kemba Walker, who always seems to rise to the occasion, the
Huskies are a tough matchup for the freshman-laden Kentucky team. Having won its last nine games dating back to a first-round Big East Tournament win over DePaul, Connecticut is arguably the nation’s hottest team. Walker, who is averaging 26 points per game in the tournament,
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Rams head coach Shaka Smart, who has guided his team from the First Four to the Final Four, is becoming a household name.
will have the ball in his hands come crunch time. And if history holds true, he’s going to make the shot. From the Southeast region, the Butler Bulldogs make their second-straight trip to the Final Four. Under the guidance of the nation’s brightest young coach in Brad Stevens, Butler has shown it has staying power when it comes to playing in the NCAA Tournament. After losing superstar small forward Gordon Hayward to the NBA Draft, Stevens and company rallied around a tight-knit group of players, including senior Matt Howard. Howard and junior point guard Shelvin Mack have given Bulldogs fans a lot to be happy about, and they’re a big reason Butler has won four straight by an average margin of just 3.25 points. Finally, there are the Rams of Virginia Commonwealth University, led by Shaka Smart. In just his second year as head coach, Smart has transformed what was last year a College Basketball Invitational team into a group of players two wins away from cutting down the nets in Houston. After their controversial inclusion in the NCAA Tournament over teams such as Virginia Tech and Colorado, the Rams hit the ground running in their first round game against Southern California. They moved on to play the Georgetown Hoyas, who some thought might embarrass the Rams. VCU instead demolished the Hoyas in an 18-point win. After handling a third-seeded Purdue team, the Rams had their toughest and closest game against the Seminoles of Florida State. An inbounds pass from Joey Rodriguez to Bradford Burgess with 7.1 seconds remaining put VCU up one, and a shot at the buzzer was blocked to secure the win in overtime. With a trip to the Final Four on the line, the Rams gave it all they had against the lone remaining No. 1 seed in the tournament, the Kansas Jayhawks. On that day, it was all VCU, as the Rams jumped out to an 18-point lead in the first half, and held on for a 10point victory. The win gave the Rams their first Final Four appearance in school history, despite being part of the selection committee’s last four in. When you look at the matchups for Saturday’s games, there is a stark contrast between the left and right side of the bracket. On the left, Kentucky and Connecticut, full of history and tradition, battle it out for a chance to play Monday night. On the right, two mid-major schools, VCU and Butler, will play for a spot against a perennial
VCU
28-11 overall, 12 point average margin of victory
Butler
27-9 overall, 3.3 point average margin of victory
power of college hoops. For Connecticut, can Walker keep up astronomical performance? If not, can the Huskies rely on freshman Jeremy Lamb to carry the scoring load? For Kentucky, will Josh Harrellson continue his streak of big games in the tournament? Will the freshmen Knight and Terrence Jones finally play like freshmen, who are typically prone to mistakes in big games? Can VCU keep up its hot shooting (53 of 109 from three-point range) in the tournament? Will the Rams’ size finally become an issue in the rebounding department, which they have managed to cover up with made shots? Butler, a team that was in this spot a year ago, is reliant on Howard and Mack. Will both stay out of foul trouble and carry the Bulldogs back to the title game? Every team has questions, but they’re all questions that can be thrown out come opening tip. At that point, the game will come down to coaching, focus and luck, three things all four teams have in spades. It’s the NCAA Tournament, so you know it’ll be madness.