Thursday, April 7, 2011 Print Edition by Collegiate Times

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Thursday, April 7, 2011

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COLLEGIATETIMES 108th year, issue 42

News, page 2

Weekend, page 4

Opinions, page 3

Sports, page 6

Classifieds, page 4

Sudoku, page 4

Virginia rail expansion hopes gain steam in October 2009, it has tripled estimates on the number of expected riders. Drake said it is the most successful state-sponsored Amtrak line in the country. Drake, a former congresswoman from the Hampton Roads area, said service could eventually reach Roanoke, Bristol and beyond as expansions of the currently operating Lynchburg line. Rees Shearer, of Emory, Va., is chair of RAIL Solution, a rail transportation advocacy group. He said many Southwest Virginia residents would welcome an alternative to the oftencongested I-81. “The main thing people are attracted to is passenger rail,” Shearer said. “There is a real need for it, and I think the Lynchburg station has really satisfied it.” Shearer took a train from Lynchburg

ZACH CRIZER managing editor A possible passenger rail line could help future Virginia Tech students avoid the frustration of traveling on Interstate 81. Thelma Drake, director of Virginia’s Department of Rail and Public Transportation, said the state is exploring a possible passenger line that would connect Southwest Virginia’s I-81 corridor with Washington D.C. and other major northeast cities. Tech’s Board of Visitors approved a resolution at its March 28 meeting endorsing extension of passenger rail lines into the area. Since a Lynchburg Amtrak station connecting the region to Washington D.C. and the northeast corridor opened

to New York City last week for business. He said it aided productivity since he could work while riding the train. Demand for the service will be measured through a bus connecting Roanoke to the Lynchburg station. “There is a budget amendment this year that was passed to set up a bus bridge from Lynchburg to Roanoke to show interest,” Drake said. The bus service — which will operate daily with the help of a $150,000 grant from the state — is scheduled to start running in July. It will cost $4 per ride from Roanoke. An option including service to Blacksburg was considered, but operating costs would increase to $274,571 from the estimated $152,000 for the Roanoke service. Students and other New River Valley residents can reach

Washington D. C.

Richmond Blacksburg

Roanoke

Lynchburg

Bristol

WEI HANN / COLLEGIATE TIMES

see RAIL/ page two

Senate halts plan to cut EPA powers

Face value

NEELA BANERJEE mcclatchy newspapers

or Neither

Have something to say about VT FaceOff? Send an email to opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com. KATIE BIONDO / COLLEGIATE TIMES

Users of newly established vtfaceoff.com are presented a “faceoff” of two photos, of which they must choose which one is more attractive. The site boasts more than 5,000 users who have compiled more than 600,000 “faceoff” votes.

STUDENT REACTION IS MIXED AS ATTRACTIVENESS RANKING LISTING FOR VIRGINIA TECH DEVELOPS IMMENSE FOLLOWING GORDON BLOCK associate news editor In less than three weeks, a new site allowing Virginia Tech students to compare the looks of their classmates has exploded in use. The site, vtfaceoff.com, presents two photos side by side. Users can choose one of the two pictures as more attractive, or select neither. Pictures selected most often in these “faceoffs” are placed on the site’s “Hall of Fame.” The site is modeled after an early version of Facebook presented in the movie “The Social Network.” “We saw that there was nothing similar at Virginia Tech and decided it would be interesting the (sic) pursue,” the site’s founders wrote in an e-mail. A tagline on the site’s home page claims over 5,000 users and 600,000 votes. Registration for the site is limited to those with “vt.edu” email addresses. The site’s founders declined to reveal their names and would only communicate to the Collegiate Times via e-mail from the vtfaceoff. com domain name. The founders, identifying themselves as three currently enrolled Tech students, said they wanted to keep their names private because they didn’t want “undo attention that would distract us from our studies.” A WHOIS search for the domain vtfaceoff. com showed the site was purchased on March 16. The site formally launched March 25. The registrant name is listed as private, and a Chesterbrook, Pa. address listed is shared with domain registration site 1&1 Internet Inc. Originally open to female images only, the site

recently allowed male pictures to be uploaded. “We had initially planned to add men. We didn’t receive enough submissions early on, so we saved them up until we were ready to release that feature,” an email from the site’s founders read. The site has drawn some mixed reactions from students featured in the “Hall of Fame.” Amber Shaffer, a freshman engineering major, said she was surprised to be recognized in one of her classes from being on the site’s “Hall of Fame.”

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If someone who is highly ranked loses to someone who is not ranked very well, their rating will suffer more severely. VT FACEOFF FOUNDERS

“Was that you at number three?” Shaffer said, recounting the conversation with the classmate. “It was a little bit awkward.” At press time, Shaffer had fallen out of the top 90 spots comprising the female “Hall of Fame.” Eric Olson, a senior business information technology major, said he was surprised to see himself on the site. A friend of Olson’s had placed a picture of him on the site. “It’s really only a bunch of white guys, who are a bunch of frat guys,” Olson said. “I guess I’m representing the Asian population.” Olson was not a part of the male “Hall of Fame” at press time. Amanda Dove, a freshman international studies major, said her best friend submitted a pic-

ture of her to the site. “At first I was disgusted, but then I thought it was really funny,” Dove said. Dove was ranked at 21st place in the female “Hall of Fame” at press time. Dove said students “shouldn’t take it so seriously.” “It doesn’t really matter anyway,” she said. Not all those interviewed were enthusiastic about the site. Some students that the Collegiate Times emailed were unhappy with their pictures appearing on the site. One student on the “Hall of Fame” had transferred from Tech after their 2009-2010 school year. The site’s founders said they’re vigilant in moderating pictures on the site and require users to check a box saying they either own the photos they submit or the photos are public on Facebook. “We make it our priority to respond to emails we receive requesting pictures be taken down as soon as possible,” the site’s founders wrote. Jackson Sims, a freshman biology major, said he and a few of his friends entered their pictures to the site at the same time. “The really neat thing about the “Hall of Fame” is that it’s constantly changing,” Sims said. “It’s kind of sweet.” Sims was not a part of the 24-spot male “Hall of Fame” at press time. The site’s founders said they used the Elo ranking system, which was originally created to gauge skill levels of chess players, to create the site’s “Hall of Fame” section. Those selected more frequently develop higher rankings on the site. “If someone who is highly ranked loses to someone who is not ranked very well, their rating will suffer more severely,” the site’s founders wrote. The constant votes can create quick and dramatic fluctuations to rankings. “We think that the ratings will stabilize as ranks begin to reach their equilibrium values.”

Police say sexual assault claim was false The Virginia Tech Police Department announced Wednesday that a report of sexual assault during the Wiz Khalifa concert Sunday was false. According to the release, the alleged student victim was confronted by police officers during the concert about her “apparent state of intoxication.” The report-

ing individual made the assault claim as she was being removed from the concert. A follow-up investigation by VTPD determined the report was false, and no assault occurred. The reporting individual later confirmed the result of the investigation. VTPD Deputy Chief Gene Deisinger said an investigation

into the incident was ongoing, and the department was consulting the Commonwealth attorney’s office on potential charges to the student. No information was given about the identity of the reporting female student. Section 18.2 of the Code of Virginia makes it illegal to “knowingly give a false report as to the

commission of any crime to any law-enforcement official with intent to mislead.” The offense is labeled as a Class 1 misdemeanor, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 12 months and a maximum fine of $2,500. - gordon block news editor

The Obama administration and its Senate allies beat back a months-long effort by congressional Republicans to strip the Environmental Protection Agency of its ability to regulate greenhouse gases, the heat-trapping emissions most scientists believe is the main contributor to global climate change. The votes were the culmination of efforts in both chambers of Congress over the last few months to cut back on the EPA’s regulatory powers. The efforts focus on limiting EPA’s program to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles and more recently, stationary sources such as power plants and oil refineries, the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases. The Republican-controlled House is expected to pass a much more stringent bill Thursday that would permanently strip the EPA of its authority to regulate greenhouse gases. But its companion version, sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., and backed by most big business lobbies, failed in the Senate by a vote of 50-50, which effectively dooms the House legislation. Sixty votes were required to overcome the possibility of a filibuster. “It’s clear the Senate rejected efforts to tie the hands of the EPA to limit life-threatening pollution,” said Franz Mantzer, climate and air legislative director for the Natural Resources Defense Council. “Every day that goes by, we see that the choice between jobs and healthy lungs is a false choice.” But Republicans described greenhouse gas regulation as a threat to the economy. “EPA regulation of carbon is the worst possible outcome and a disaster in the making,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. “The EPA will put burdens on consumers and businesses they cannot handle. It has long been clear to me that elected representatives should write the rules, not theEPA.” In focusing on the EPA, the GOP is probing what they hope will be an effective 2012 campaign narrative: that the agency is a job-killing bureaucracy, the abiding proof of the Obama administration’s purported indifference to the needs of business and average Americans. The Republican charge on EPA put Democrats on the defensive, leading them to draft three less draconian bills

to limit the agency in order to protect at least a dozen senators who will face tough re-election battles next year. None of those bills got more than 12 votes. Four Democrats voted for the McConnell/Inhofe bill that would have gutted EPA’s authority entirely, including Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Mark Pryor of Arkansas, Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Joe Manchin of West Virginia. One Republican, Susan Collins of Maine, voted against the McConnell bill. “If anyone wants to go home and say, ‘I’m responsible for passing the largest tax increase in history of America by not voting for the McConnell/Inhofe bill, then that will be a serious problem not for me but for the senators that vote the wrong way,” said Inhofe, who has long challenged the science behind climate change theories. The EPA’s regulation of greenhouse gases stems from a 2007 Supreme Court decision that compelled the EPA to determine if carbon dioxide and other emissions could be considered pollutants under the Clean Air Act, and if so, to limit them. It remains to be seen if the GOP’s anti-EPArhetoric will resonate with voters, as several recent polls have indicated that Americans greatly support the agency’s work under the Clean Air Act and do not want Congress meddling in it. The White House praised the outcome. “By rejecting efforts to roll back EPA’s common-sense steps to safeguard Americans from harmful pollution, the Senate also rejected an approach that would have increased the nation’s dependence on oil, contradicted the scientific consensus on global warming, and jeopardized America’s ability to lead the world in the clean-energy economy,” said White House press secretary Jay Carney in a written statement. Republicans and major business lobbies lamented the failure of the bills, asserting that their defeat would stunt job growth. But they claimed a minor victory in the 50-50 vote. “Today, a record number of senators voted to stop the EPA from implementing a jobcrushing back door cap-and-trade policy,” said Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming in an emailed statement. “Despite falling short of the 60 votes needed to stop the administration from moving forward, it is a momentous vote.” The EPA’s opponents could find other ways to hamstring the agency legislatively. But for the time being, the agency has some breathing room to keep regulating greenhouse gases.

Former Michigan student president ﬁles stalking case DAVID JESSE mcclatchy newspapers As Andrew Shirvell prepared to graduate from Ave Maria School of Law, a group of administrators and faculty raised concerns that he “lacked the character and fitness” necessary to be a lawyer, a new lawsuit alleges. The suit, filed by former University of Michigan student body President Chris Armstrong, goes on to accuse Shirvell of stalking him, defaming him and inflicting emotional distress on him during a “bizarre” campaign that included physical intimidation and numerous blog postings alleging Armstrong was advancing a “radical homosexual agenda,” according to the lawsuit. Armstrong, the first openly gay UM student president, ended his term last week.

“This guy has behaved so irresponsibly, especially for an attorney,” said Armstrong’s attorney, Deborah Gordon. “He’s a rebel without a cause. “At this point, it’s not about the money. Mr. Shirvell has refused to retract any of his bizarre and untruthful points. We want to set the record straight.” After graduating from law school, Shirvell passed the bar and became an assistant attorney general under thenMichigan Attorney General Mike Cox. Shirvell was fired from his job last fall after an investigation found he used public computers for personal business and lied to the attorney general’s staff about it. U-M police asked the Washtenaw County prosecutor to authorize stalking charges against Shirvell, but were turned down because the prosecutor said Shirvell was exercising his free-speech rights.

2 news

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

april 7, 2011

COLLEGIATETIMES

virginia Sentence issued for sexting teacher

what you’re saying //comments from online readers... On the move for Sycamore Deli: Anon and on>>

LEBANON, Va. -- The former eighth-grade science teacher convicted of soliciting a 14-year-old student with alcohol, sexual text messages and photographs of her bare breasts was sentenced today to more than 20 years in prison. Russell County Circuit Court Judge Michael Moore shaved 10 years off the sentence recommended by the jury that convicted her in January. Connie Beth Klewer, a 39-year-old former teacher at Lebanon Middle School, exchanged sexually explicit text messages with a boy in July 2009, about a month after school let out for the summer. According to

As much as I love SD:Oh joy, another restaurant/ bar in downtown Blacksburg.Well, at least it’s local.PS: The captchas are starting to use Hebrew and Greek letters. Nice.

Anonymous>> Does it get much better than beer on tap on Meatball Monday? No, no it doesn’t.

Huh>> The reality of this move is about 3 blocks...with regard to concern about” moving downtown”...and...print a large two foot by two foot sign and hang it across the front door at the old deli site with your new phone number, new address, photo of the new location and there won’t be a split second of confusion about your move. Basic communication.

On the cost of repairs at McComas Hall:

who had, admittedly, initiated the exchange of photographs. He said the jury “overreacted” and recommended a “Draconian sentence.” Commonwealth’s Attorney Brain Patton suggested otherwise; he said the defense was blaming a 14-yearold who had to change schools, has been ridiculed by his classmates and whose life has been forever changed. He argued that the recommendation of the jury, the “conscience of the community,” should be imposed.

testimony, the boy sent Klewer several nude and provocative photographs and she responded in kind. She was charged with four felonies and one misdemeanor: three counts of using a communications device to solicit a minor, one count of possession of child pornography and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. In January, after a two-day trial and an hour of deliberation, the jury recommended a sentence of 32 1/2 years. At Wednesday’s sentencing hearing, defense attorney David L. Scyphers described the boy as not a victim, but as a mature, 6-foottall participant in the relationship

-claire galofaro mcclatchy newspapers

world Portugal to press EU for ﬁnanical aid

Maybe we should ask a university with an engineering school to help us.

Sam>>

LISBON, Portugal — Highly indebted Portugal will seek a financial rescue from the European Union, Prime Minister Jose Socrates announced Wednesday. “The government decided today to address to the European Commission a request for financial assistance”, Socrates said after an emergency Cabinet meeting. Parliament’s rejection of Socrates’ latest austerity package, which prompted him to resign on March 23, “dramatically worsened the

spot on. have the students work on it for a class project or something.

Or...>> You know, have professionals fix it and hold the folks who were supposed to do the job the FIRST time accountable.

crime blotter

would apply for a bailout. The application makes Portugal the third EU country to seek such a rescue after Greece and Ireland. Socrates had informed Barroso of Lisbon’s intention to ask for “the activation of the financial support mechanisms,” the commission said in a statement.

country’s financial situation,” the premier said. The terms of the assistance would take into account that the country only had a caretaker government, he said. “It was the most erroneous signal that the country could give financial markets,” said Socrates, who has repeatedly accused the opposition of allowing market pressure to mount on Portugal. Meanwhile in Brussels, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso confirmed that Portugal

-emilio rappold and sinikka tarvainen mcclatchy newspapers

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

arrestees

2/27/2011

12 a.m. - 1:11 a.m.

Follow up to Vandalism to a motor vehicle

Alumni Mall

Inactive

N/A

4/02/2011

10:15 a.m. - 12:10 a.m.

Follow up to Larceny of money

War Memorial Gym

Inactive

N/A

4/04/2011

7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Larceny of Money

McBryde Hall

Active

N/A

13216540656465514

Henry>>

Rail: Budget restraints could limit federal ﬁnancial support from page one

Roanoke via the Smart Way bus. The ride costs $4. Drake said extending a passenger rail line through Roanoke and Southwest Virginia would be more likely if Tennessee agreed to keep the service running past Bristol. So far, that idea has proved promising. Drake said Tennessee Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey invited a Virginia transportation delegation to speak to him about the potential rail line. She said a potential rail line could extend as far as Atlanta. Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell’s

administration is also using federal stimulus money to prepare a highspeed rail line between Washington D.C. and Richmond that would extend into North Carolina. Republican governors in Florida, Ohio and Wisconsin turned down grants to expand service to those states. Most cited operating costs once the line is built as a sticking point for their opposition. Virginia had the chance to apply for the money left on the table by those states. But Drake said the state did not meet the requirements to win the grants and chose not to apply. The I-81 corridor is not a high-speed corridor

and would not benefit from those federal grants. Shearer’s group has been campaigning for federal support of an intermediate-speed corridor that would run along Interstate 81 from Harrisburg, Pa., to Memphis, Tenn. He said he has garnered interest from many localities but has only found mild interest on the federal level. Drake said the state would continue working on passenger rail internally while pursuing high-speed rail grants from the federal government. But the state’s next priority for a high-speed rail is connecting the Hampton Roads area, not Southwest Virginia.

Virginia is taking steps to ensure future operating costs of rail service are covered, avoiding the problem that stopped other states from seeking rail funding. McDonnell will allow creation of a separate fund for passenger rail operation, meaning Virginia will not have to rely on its general fund. Drake said the next step is deciding where the money for that fund will come from. President Barack Obama’s high-speed rail spending is currently under fire in federal budget negotiations, with many members of Congress calling for elimination or reduction of the rail spending.

Rep. Morgan Griffith, the first-term Republican who represents Southwest Virginia and has endorsed investment in rail transportation in the past, said he was focused on cutting the budget. “While I support developing our railway infrastructure where it makes sense, the federal government is out of money,” a statement from Griffith’s office said. “We are currently borrowing 40 cents of every dollar we spend. Congress has a responsibility to the American people to rein in excessive spending. We have to make difficult fact-based choices so that we do not continue to place the burden of our spending on the backs of our children and grandchildren. It

is clear that as families and businesses in the 9th District continue to tighten their belts, the federal government must do the same.” Drake said Virginia would continue to draw funding for future rail projects because of its prime location at the southern entrance to the high-traffic northeast corridor. “I do think rail transportation is very important to members of Congress,” she said. “I think Virginia, of all states, is in the best position to receive funds because we feed into the northeast corridor. I think as we move forward, the corridor that makes sense is the Boston to Miami route.”

Consequences looming for federal government shutdown KATHLEEN HENNESSEY, RICHARD SIMON & JULIE MIANECKI mcclatchy newspapers Confronting the prospect of failure in last-ditch budget talks, the federal officials have prepared plans to furlough roughly 800,000 employees, freeze processing of some income tax refunds and suspend pay for the military as part of the first government shutdown in 15 years. Administration officials detailed the shutdown plans Wednesday, stressing their hopes that Congress and the White House would reach a compromise on spending before a midnight deadline on Friday. Still, the backup plans on how to slow the machinery of government were necessary “from a good government, good housekeeping perspective,” said a senior administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity when describing internal planning. The contingency plans described a government that would be hobbled, though not halted completely. Social Security checks would still arrive, but new claims could be delayed. Medicare and Veteran’s benefits still would be paid. The IRS, in the midst of its peak season, would be unable to process paper tax filings, but that would not mean taxpayers could avoid the April 18 deadline. Some environmental cleanup would cease. National parks and the Smithsonian museums would be shuttered. Washington’s annual Cherry Blossom parade stands to be canceled. The preparations come as lawmakers debate how much to cut from

federal spending in the remaining six months of the 2011 fiscal year, a fight that is political as well as financial. Democrats have offered an agreement based on $33 billion in cuts, the largest spending reduction in generations. But Republicans want more and also want to ensure the cuts hit at top Obama administration priorities. If talks fail, a shutdown would resound across the country. Airlines, roads, hospitals, schools, food and tourism all have regular contact with a federal employee who may or may not be working next week. The standard used to determine who works and who doesn’t is whether an employee or agency is “necessary for safety of life or protection of property.” That means air traffic controllers would stay on the job and federal prisons operate as usual. Food inspections and border surveillance would continue, as would inspections of nuclear power plants and radiation monitoring, prompted by the Japan nuclear crisis, according to a second administration official. The federal school lunch program would continue. Federal law enforcement agencies would be up and running, and many in the military will still be working. Those employees, however, won’t be paid for their work until a bill is passed. “They will be paid once we have money again to pay them,” the first senior administration official said. If a shutdown lasts only a few days, most in the military would receive their full paycheck April 15, officials said. But if a shutdown lasted beyond the mid-April pay period, they would get roughly half of their check on April 15 and have to wait until the

Parks, museums

• Almost 400 National Park Service sites would close; Smithsonian, other museums, monuments would close; Washington, D.C.’s, Cherry Blossom Parade cancelled Armed forces

• Military would continue to work but get IOUs for paychecks during shutdown

If thereÕs a The federal government could shut down if Congress is unable to reach a compromise to fund the government beyond Friday, April 8. Examples of services affected in a government shutdown:

Federal tax returns

• Processing of paper returns (30 percent of all returns) and refunds would stop; audits delayed • E-filed returns, refunds not affected Federal workers

• About 800,000 would be furloughed without pay Small business, housing

Health,

• Small Business Administration would stop approving loans • New loan guarantees from the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) would not be processed; represents 30 percent of all mortgages

environment

• No new patients accepted for clinical research at National Institutes of Health • Environmental Protection Agency review of environmental impact statements would stop Source: Congressional Research Service, Office of Management and Budget Graphic: Judy Treible, Melina Yingling

next pay period for the rest. The burden on military families, at a time when troops are deployed on three fronts, was a pointed reminder of how a 2011 shutdown could be markedly different from its infamous predecessors in 1995 and 1996. Those two shutdowns — a result of a standoff between then-Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Democratic President Bill Clinton — came during a time of relative peace and general prosperity. Today’s battle comes as the economy is still climbing out of the doldrums

and financially strapped states have less ability to fill in for shortfalls in federal funding than they had during the last shutdown. The senior administration official pointed Wednesday to the potential effects on the shaky recovery. New small business loans would be held up, along with new mortgage guarantees from theFederal Housing Administration. FHA backs one-third of all home mortgages in the U.S. With a fragile market, a freeze during the springtime home-buying season “will have

a significant impact,” the official said. The question of how disruptive a federal shutdown will be depends largely on how long it lasts. White House officials said Medicare can handle payouts for a matter of “months.” Federal courts can operate on money from other sources — court fees, largely — for 10 working days. After that, each district will have to decide how to keep the cases moving. “It gets a little iffy if a shutdown were to last more than two weeks,” said Dick Carelli, spokesman for the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. The unknown has lawmakers starting to ring alarm bells, particularly those from districts containing large numbers of federal employees. “I’m afraid that the lights will go out. I’m afraid that government agencies will be shuttered. I’m concerned that people who work on behalf of the federal government, as contractors — small- and medium-sized contractors, disabled veteran contractors — will not get paid,” said Sen. Barbara Mikulski, a Democrat from Maryland, who said she represents more than 130,000 federal employees. As a separate branch of government, Congress has its own shutdown plan, which defines an “essential” employee as someone who helps lawmakers “perform their constitutional duties.” That definition will include the elevator operators in the Senate, but not employees at the house staff gym. It also will ensure there will be plenty of aides around Capitol Hill to help lawmakers wage the battle that is holding up the spending bill. “They’re just toying with the lives of federal employees,” said Daniel

Sobien, a weather forecaster in Tampa, Fla., and president of the National Weather Service Employees Organization, who described himself as angry that some Republicans are calling for a shutdown. Like Sobien, 85 percent of the nearly 2 million federal workers live outside the Washington, D.C., area, and often in communities where federal prisons, military bases, hospitals and park anchor the local economy. Roughly 800,000 people visit national parks on an average April day and that tourism generates $32 million a day to local economies, according to the park service. Like all things related to the federal government, shutting down places like Yosemite during a busy season is not as simple as hanging a sign. People already camping or hiking in the park would be given a 24 to 48 hours to hike out. People headed in that direction could be left hanging. “We’re getting those calls now — ‘What am I supposed to do, I have hotel reservations and airline tickets for next week,’ and we can’t really advise anybody on what to do on this point,” said David Barna a spokesman for National Park Service. The same question mark is hanging over the 150th anniversary of the firing on Fort Sumter in Charleston, S.C. After 18 months of planning, organizer Jeff Antley is expecting 1,000 Civil War re-enactors from around the world. But about half the program is on national parkland and may need to be moved if Congress doesn’t sort out its political battle. Antley said he’s undaunted. One way or another, “the show will go on,” he said.

opınıons 3

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

april 7, 2011

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

MAHEEN KHURSHID / COLLEGIATE TIMES

Students misdirect blame for grades have always been one to believe we reap what we sow. Most Iwould probably agree that we enjoy thinking our hard work will pay off, however, there are exceptions to this rule. We have all been there. You train hard for a race and do not place as you would like. You can’t bench press the same amount of weight you had no problem lifting last week. However, I have noticed that when you study hard for a test and do not do well, one of the first things we do is blame the professor. Walking out of a test feeling like you did poorly is a horrible experience. It’s amplified roughly 50 times if you studied hard for that test and subconsciously got your hopes up. However, this does not justify ripping the professor apart. This was the case at the end of one of my science exams. Many of us left the exam perturbed at its trickiness. The next class, the professor, noticing the poor grades and gigantic curve that needed to be applied to the scores, decided to ask the class what it thought about the test. What happened then was, for lack of a better word, embarrassing. People, shielded by the anonymity that comes with being in a large lecture hall, started to shout. Our professor seemed (to me, at least) to be desperately trying to keep his cool despite being the target of angry students. “The test was too tricky.” “You need better questions.” “You shouldn’t put questions like X on the test.” I did not agree with these sentiments. I figured the reason I did not do as well as I would’ve liked was because I stretched myself a bit too thin — having multiple tests in the same week is always something students generally dislike. Alas, I went through the mourning process with my unwanted grade and moved on. Sometimes, although students utilize all the time in the world to study for a test, they still do poorly. They blame the professor, the weather or perhaps Canada. EducationPlanner.org, a website run by American Education Services, provides insight on how to approach this quandary. It suggests students identify the type of test they are going to take and that students should pay attention to how well they do on different types of tests. For example, there is the standard multiple-choice test

— everyone loves a classic. There is the essay test. However, it goes deeper than that. Some tests rely purely on memorization skills (whether or not the information is “dumped” afterward is a personal choice). Other tests may sometimes rely on the infamous high-school-esque “plug and chug” format — taking a formula, put in the values and getting an answer, regardless of whether students know what any of the numbers mean. Other tests will require students to take information they already know and apply it to things they may not be familiar with — organic chemistry, anyone? Ultimately, when students know which tests they do and don’t do well on, they can start to formulate a strategic studying approach. This is why the first test is the most difficult and important for students. They need to characterize the test and see which category the test falls into. Then, they can accurately and effectively approach a test while time managing. This is why practice tests are extremely helpful — its not that they give practice problems to work with, but rather, because they expose the format students are likely to see on test day. I don’t doubt that there are some professors out there who have made tests unnecessarily difficult on purpose. I would assume this is because some professors may enjoy the ego boost that comes with being the teacher of a “hard” class. Nevertheless, facilitating student frustration should not be the main goal of a professor when creating a test. Nearly all professors want their students to do well — however, do they want them to do well because it shows the students are learning? Or do they want to show they are a good professor? Or is it a combination of both? I would assume the latter. The next time you take a test and do not do as well as you like, it may be good to start analyzing what types of tests you are more effective at taking and go from there. If that fails, maybe your professor is just plain mean.

JOSH TREBACH -regular columnist -junior -biological sciences major

Stereotype use in classes allows more discussion this point of the semester, most students have sat At through countless hours of classroom discussions and lectures. On the other side, faculty and instructors have spent countless hours preparing for classroom discussions and lectures, as well as grading papers. As students, we have experienced many things in the classroom setting, from boring class lectures to interesting guest speakers to passionate instructors. We have fellow students spending class time surfing the Internet as they check their Facebook, working on other class homework, texting, taking notes, sleeping, etc. We might even do some of these things ourselves. While the role of the student is pretty clear in the classroom setting, what is the role of the faculty member or instructor? It would seem pretty basic: The role of the faculty member or instructor is to instruct students on the subject matter, to challenge students to learn and research the material, to guide students in the process of learning the material and to help serve as a role model in the field. While all of this may seem idealistic, the premise remains. Students realize that not every faculty member may have or display these qualities. However, one of the main guiding principles for faculty is the concept of academic freedom. I suspect that most students have no understanding of this concept, even though it has an impact on student learning. The American Association of University Professors codified the concept of academic freedom in the 1940 Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure. I wanted to highlight the following passage from the statement: “Academic freedom in its teaching aspect is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the teacher in teaching and of the student to freedom in learning. It carries with it duties correlative with rights. Teachers are entitled to freedom in the classroom in discussing their subject, but they should be careful not to introduce into their teaching controversial matter which has no relation to their subject.” Academic freedom provides faculty and instructors a lot of flexibility to teach on their subject matter. Nonetheless, over the past 50 years, various legal cases have led to further clarification on the limitations of academic freedom.

I bring up this issue of academic freedom because of an ongoing situation that has been simmering about teaching methods in the classroom. The question deals with how faculty and instructors can handle using stereotypes as a means to get students to understand concepts. Does using stereotypes as examples lead to further alienation of students? If stereotypes are used, what types of follow-up activities are required? Can using stereotypes as examples backfire? Are the groups being impacted the only ones that can use stereotypes? I realize that all of this may seem confusing, but this very thing involves one of the more popular instructors on campus, Dr. John Boyer. We know him as the Plaid Avenger and professor of the wildly popular World Regions class. His methods are unconventional, but he has successfully introduced global aspects to thousands of Virginia Tech students.

“

We can’t be afraid to acknowledge that stereotypes exist, whether true or not. And we can’t be afraid to engage in scholarly discussion on these topics.

In his class, Boyer is not afraid to experiment with different teaching approaches, and he has been known to use activities revolving around stereotypes to help educate students. In most cases, students from his class volunteer to participate in such exercises. The challenge is that this particular approach has raised eyebrows among different groups because of stereotype use. His opponents argue that the using such activities further perpetuates such stereotypes and that students don’t understand the difference. They argue that this continued usage creates a hostile climate for students. For those that are not enrolled in his class, we only see these activities through the lenses of snapshots, without the true context of what took place before and after the exercise. Students often do not see or witness the discussion that takes place. All they see are those exercises that have made their way onto YouTube and other social media networks. His opponents argue that the

using stereotypes violates the spirit and meaning of the Tech Principles of Community. A closer look at the Principles provides evidence to the contrary, as it encourages a dialogue on these types of issues. It seems to me that we can’t shy away from using stereotypes as a way to help make a point and to educate ourselves. It does require that we are deliberate in our approach, but it can be done. If we can do it effectively in different training programs, why could it not be done in the classroom setting? We can’t be afraid to acknowledge that stereotypes exist, whether true or not. And we can’t be afraid to engage in a scholarly discussion on these topics. If certain groups are going to go after Boyer for his use of stereotypes in exercises, what other faculty members will be investigated for what they do or do not use in the classroom? Will we be forced to have monitors in each class that ensure no stereotype discussions? Will we be forced to review textbooks and other publications to ensure that no stereotypes are used as examples? For example, looking at the other components of Boyer’s classes, should the types of movies that he shows to students be investigated? I believe that academic freedom allows us to avoid a McCarthyesque situation in having a legitimate discussion about the role of exercises that use stereotypes. As students, academic freedom provides us the freedom to learn. I believe that as college students, we are old and mature enough to handle such exercises. As members of the university community, students have the right to ask and raise questions but also need to be willing to sit down and discuss these issues. In this case, those that accuse Boyer of perpetuating stereotypes seem to be unwilling to interact and talk with him, for some reason. If we value the Principles and the concept of academic freedom, then why are we afraid to discuss this issue?

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

As demographics change, so should racial policies fter being honorably discharged from the Army, A Iraq war veteran Colby Bohannan found the college-application process to be an eye-opener. He saw many scholarships for minorities, but none for his demographic: white men. So the Texas State University student formed the Former Majority Association for Equality and is offering $500 scholarships exclusively to white male students. “Diversity is not a bad thing,” he explained to me recently. “We’re not here to make a stand against affirmative action. Or to make a stand for affirmative action.” Bohannan noted that the GI Bill was helping him pay for college, though he added: “I don’t think everybody needs to serve in the military to afford an education.” I don’t expect FMAE scholarships to overtake the United Negro College Fund anytime soon, but my conversation with Bohannan got me thinking about where we are headed with admissions preferences

in a demographically changing w orld. Can the arguments for preferences based on race be sustained in a world in which whites take on minority status? It would seem that as the composition of the nation changes, those policies will be more difficult to justify. This issue became all the more relevant when, within a week of my conversation with Bohannan, I read two newspaper stories about the shifting demographics of two of the nation’s largest states. In a Houston Chronicle piece detailing population changes in Texas, Steve Murdock, a former U.S. Census Bureau director and current head of the Hobby Center for the Study of Texas at Rice University, said: “It’s basically over for Anglos.” Two-thirds of Texas children are non-Anglo, Murdock said. He predicted that within the next three decades there would be 516,000 fewer Anglos living in the Houston area and 2.5 million more Hispanics making their homes there. Meanwhile, a story in the Los Angeles Times detailed the explo-

sive growth of California’s minority population — to the tune of a 28 percent increase in Latino residents (to 14 million total) and a 31 percent increase in the number of Asians (to 4.8 million total). Accompanying those demographic gains was the decline of nonHispanic whites, who dropped 5.4 percent (to just under 15 million), and African-Americans, whose numbers declined almost 1 percent (to 2.2 million). Nationwide, the Census Bureau has estimated that by 2050, whites will no longer be the majority, raising the question of whether preferences based on race can still be justified. One expert sees change on the horizon. “Universities have made greater efforts to take into account a family’s socioeconomic situation (first generation to go to college, household income, high SAT scores, coming from underperforming schools) as a way to mitigate charges of reverse racism as well as the realization that bright (and white) kids from modest backgrounds were pretty much not going to selective schools,” claims

Charles Gallagher, the chairman of the Department of Sociology, Social Work, and Criminal Justice at La Salle University, who has just finished a chapter for a forthcoming book that deals with this subject. But Gallagher also believes that some trepidation on the part of whites based on their declining numbers is unsupported by the data. He points out, by way of example, the vast hold on government at all levels that whites continue to maintain. Still, efforts like Bohannan’s, Gallagher said, are not surprising in light of polling data that indicate that “we believe that we are way more nonwhite than we actually are.” Indeed, at least one piece of research indicates that a significant percentage of Americans sees discrimination shifting along with the country’s demographics. A Public Religion Research Institute poll released in November found that 44 percent of Americans believe prejudice against whites is an issue on par with prejudice against current minorities. “The reality is that whites are still a majority and if you include

the Latino population that defines itself as white (50 percent of Latinos do) whites are still around 70 percent of the population,” Gallagher told me. “There is nothing racist about this view, but when you see yourself as a minority, especially in times of economic contraction, one starts to feel threatened.” Gallagher also noted national polling data of whites suggesting a majority believe that the goals of the civil rights movement have been achieved, institutional racism is a thing of the past, and equal opportunity in terms of quality of schooling, housing, and jobs is now the norm. “If you lay this on top of an immigrant narrative most whites have about their own family’s story of struggle and success you get a narrative that says, ‘Hey, we have all moved forward, racism is a thing of the past.’ “ But will those that are today’s minority groups agree that the playing field has been sufficiently leveled? Only time will tell.

MICHAEL SMERCONISH -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, 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.

4Bigweekend Band to beneﬁt april 7, 2011

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

Awful Arthur’s plays host to duo of West Coast DJs

YMCA and The Lyric NICK SMIRNIOTOPOULOS

CARA MCBROOM features staff writer Promoters from Third Eye and Boogieburg, along with host Awful Arthur’s, will present DJ EPROM and DJ NastyNasty, two renowned DJs from California, on Thursday. Sander Dennis, known as DJ EPROM, is originally from Vermont and is not your average DJ. It was only five years ago he that started EPROM. But before that, he was producing. The performance is not like any traditional DJ set. Dennis will do a live set, which means his material will be original — he’ll be manipulating, re-editing and mixing tracks on his computer. “I’ve been into it since I was a kid,” Dennis said. “And I always had an interest in technology, so I wanted to push the limits and experiment more.” His interest in technology can be seen through his alias, EPROM, which stands for erasable programmable read only memory. It’s a rewritable memory chip that holds its content without power, according to PCMag. Dennis said he thought this was a humble piece of technology and decided to try it out for a name. Dennis works as a graphic designer outside of producing

The Lyric theater will take its diverse audience back in time this weekend to experience an authentic “big band” ensemble. The Old Pros band will perform a benefit concert at the Lyric on Saturday at 3 p.m. Tickets are $5, and the proceeds will be split evenly between the two non-profit organizations involved, The Lyric and the YMCA at Virginia Tech. The band consists of musicians from various backgrounds across the New River Valley. The Old Pros plays “big band” music, which is a genre from the ‘50s and ‘60s made famous by musical greats, such as Duke Ellington. Band member Joel Williams is a Blacksburg native who owns JSW Financial, a wealth management company that is sponsoring the event. Williams, who has served on the board of directors for The Lyric and the YMCA, said he asked Wilbur Grant, the Old Pros’ director, if the group could do a fundraiser for the two organizations. If

the organizations advertised the event, then the band would play. Williams said he would love to see the event happen annually and get bigger over time. The mold that made the concert come together was the relationship the organizations already had. Susan Mattingly, executive director for The Lyric, said the organizations have done cross-promotional events, such as the Bluegrass concert to kick off the YMCA craft fair. Mattingly said the concert will bring the diversity of the community together in a quality venue. “It (the concert) should be a great opportunity for people to hear this genre of music,” Mattingly said. Gail Billingsley, executive director of the YMCA, highlighted the Old Pros’ extraordinary talent. She said several band members are former professionals and have fantastic resumes. Billingsley said she thinks the band’s talent can help bring the community together. “This is a great family-friendly event,” she said. “It should be a nice cross section of the community.”

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and DJing. He’s currently working on crossing the two digital worlds with an audio and visual project that should hit the public scene later this year. “This stuff will be more experimental than the typical stuff on the dance floor,” Dennis said. He described it as extreme and raw, as opposed to some of the smooth music that’s happening now. Dennis is touring non-stop all over the U.S., hitting Texas, California, Virginia, Louisiana and Europe this summer. “It’s an awesome job,” Dennis said. “I get to go places I’ve never been before. It’s cool because I see the different countries through the eyes of people who come to the show. We share a commonality about the music.” Dennis said his best shows have been in Los Angeles and San Francisco, Ca., as well as in Manchester, England. “The crowd is very forward and wants you to push them to their limits,” Dennis said. Right now, Dennis is working with another artist, Boreta. They worked together in the past and decided to get back together to make the group, Nasty Ways. They plan on touring this year. Dennis described their music as having a dance-floor focus with all kinds

COURTESY OF DJ NASTYNASTY

DJ NastyNasty will be performing at Awful Arthur’s on Thursday. of tempos. “You know, I’m a producer. I’m not really a DJ,” Dennis said. “I don’t move in the circle that they do.” Back when Dennis first started, he used to spin vinyl. Dennis said technology has changed for the better. “DJs used to spin vinyl, and if you didn’t have a turntable, you weren’t a DJ,” Dennis said. “Laptops have changed the game.” Dennis said he prefers DJing on his laptop, with a mini controller and a

sound card. On April 18, Dennis plans to release his EP “Pipe Dream” on vinyl. Jen Morrison, Awful Arthur’s general manager, has high expectations for DJ EPROM and DJ NastyNasty. “Third Eye and Boogieburg have been doing a fantastic job promoting locally,” Morrison said. “We’ve been selling out shows, so we’re expecting a good crowd on Thursday.” Doors open at 9 p.m., and tickets are $10.

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WORDFIND • Theme: US Presidents Locate the list of words in the word bank in the letter grid. T

By Thomas Takaro

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WORD BANK Harrison Cleveland MKinley FD Roosevelt Taft Wilson Harding Coolidge Hoover T. Roosevelt Truman Eisenhower Kennedy Johnson Nixon Ford Carter Reagan Bush Sr. Clinton Bush Jr. Obama

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5-7 PM - Alex Simon, Professional Kitty 4-7 AM - Jessica Norman 28 Admit it 29 Flaming 30 Corn chip 31 Verdi work 32 Really enjoy, as food 33 Some turnpike ramps 38 Magnum __: great work 39 Onion relative 41 Smidgen 42 Bender of rays 44 Bumbling 45 Hubbub 48 Jackson 5 hairdo 49 Golf club part 50 American-born Jordanian queen 51 Piece of cake 52 Outskirts 53 Sicilian smoker 54 One of a deck’s foursome 55 Maestro Klemperer 56 Melting period 58 Early hrs. 59 Covert __: spy missions

Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved

4/7/11

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april 7, 2011

page 5

‘Get ’Em Hokies’ artist, Jeedy, debuts mix tape this weekend MIA PERRY features reporter Gurcan Durukan is running on 30 minutes of sleep. His lack of snooze time is not because of his demanding schoolwork, but because he’s also known as Jeedy, an up-and-coming rapper, who is beginning to feel the effects of success. Jeedy has been up all night until 6 a.m. to help put on this past Sunday’s Wiz Khalifa concert. His new mix tape “Look What I Can Do Ma,” will be released this weekend. Jeedy, a senior financial planning major, has been a hip-hop fan since childhood. He is kicking his musical career into high gear this year and has been performing his raps whenever the opportunity arises. To promote the new mix tape and his music, Jeedy will perform at Awful Arthur’s Friday at 10 p.m., with doors opening at 9 p.m. Jeedy’s close friend, DJ Smiles, will be spinning the event, and performer, KDOT, will perform opening act. “Expect to be on your feet,” Jeedy said, of his upcoming performance. “It’ll be hot, I promise.” Jeedy has received a warm reception to his music lately, especially with his viral hit “Get ’Em Hokies,” a Virginia Tech-themed remix of Wiz Khalifa’s “Black and Yellow.” But Jeedy is no overnight celebrity.

“I’ve been actually writing poetry, you know, lyrics and stuff, since I was 11,” Jeedy said. “When I got to high school, freestyling sort of became the thing, and it sort of built from that.” When Jeedy was a sophomore at Tech, a friend suggested he try to make some songs from his freestyles and lyrics. “So I saved up five to six hundred dollars and bought my first home studio equipment and just set up and recorded in a closet,” Jeedy said. Jeedy has been pushing himself ever since, to promote his work. Although he has experienced a number of setbacks since his first recording session, Jeedy is finally starting to see success. Previously, Jeedy was a member of the Hammer Boys, a rap duo, gaining mild success through performances and Youtube videos, but the duo has recently split. “We both just wanted to branch off and sort of do our own thing,” Jeedy said. “But there’s no harsh feelings”. Perhaps that move has been a wise decision. “Literally within the last eight to 12 months, I’ve been on a no-days-off type of schedule,” Jeedy said. Jeedy is trying to get as much face time as possible, appearing at clubs and working with other artists. “I’m trying to seize every opportunity I can,” he said. “Get ’Em Hokies” was one such opportunity Jeedy took that unexpectedly boosted his success. Since the song was posted in February on Youtube, it has over 25,000 views.

onto every single one.” Jeedy said the “ma” part of the title is for his mom, who has been his biggest supporter. “Look What I Can Do Ma” is a fitting name for the tape, considering Jeedy has been picked up to play multiple shows and will go on a small tour this summer. The tour will possibly cover locales like ECU, parts of Florida, northern Virginia and Virginia Beach, since his sound manager, Brandon Cleeton, knows many of the club owners there. Although Jeedy works independently with his DJ and manager, he said promoters have been contacting him. But Jeedy said signing a record label is the least of his worries right now. “Looking at it, you don’t really need a label to do all this because I’m not looking to be a multi-millionaire,” Jeedy said. “I just want to expose my COURTESY OF JEEDY music and have a good time while doing it.” Known for remixing “Black and Yellow,” Jeedy makes his own sound. I’m Working with big name artists, such Originally, Jeedy received a link for the biggest thing on his mind right as WALE, is one of Jeedy’s career goals. a JMU version of “Black and Yellow” now. Its title holds a lot of meaning. “I’m mainly trying to get in touch “When I first started this, my parfrom a friend. Jeedy got pissed off when he heard the barbs made at ents were proud, but they thought it with producers right now because I was just a hobby. They didn’t know really wanna build my own sound Tech in the song. I was going to push forward with it,” first,” Jeedy said. “I do have a sound, He retaliated. but at the same time, I’m still experi“I kinda came at the guy (who made Jeedy said. “So the ‘look what I can do’ portion menting. I’m trying to build a definithe song) in the beginning of it,” Jeedy said, “but sort of made the rest into a of it is because my tape has a variety tive, where if people hear a sound of beats. I jumped on, you know, ,they are like ok, this is (Jeedy).” Tech anthem.” Being unique is something very The official video for the song has something as old school as Pete Rock, been posted for about two weeks and and then I went as off the wall as Dub important to Jeedy. “I’m 100 percent Turkish, but I Step. It’s a variation of beats that I features plenty of Tech landmarks. Jeedy’s new mix tape, however, is chose and I sort of put my own twist look white,” Jeedy said. “No matter

[Friday, April 8] [Thursday, April 7] What: Poetry at the Grove Where: Grove Lane (Pres. Steger’s house) When: 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Cost: Free What: EPROM and NastyNasty Where: Awful Arthur’s When: 9 p.m. to midnight Cost: $10 What: The Great Unknown Where: Gillie’s When: 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Cost: No cover charge

Wondering what’s going on around the ’burg? Check out the events of the upcoming week.

What: Movie: Ceder Rapids Where: The Lyric When: 7 p.m. to midnight Cost: $6 What: Jeedy Where: Awful Arthur’s When: 9 p.m. to midnight What: Movie: The King’s Speech Where: Squires Colonial Hall When: 8 p.m. (Friday & Saturday) Cost: $2 students, $3 public

[Saturday, April 9] What: Community Dogw wash Where: Vet. College Com mplex When: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cost: $10 for dogwash, $5 for nail trimming/ear cleaning What: 5K Run/Walk Where: VT Cross Country Course When: 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Cost: Benefits scholarship funds, $25 if not pre-registered

What: The Matt Horn Project Where: Gillie’s When: 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Cost: 18+, no cover charge

What: Old Pros Big Band Benefit Concert Where: The Lyric When: 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Cost: $5 benefits The Lyric & YMCA

What: Chinabration Where: Graduate Life Center When: 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Cost: Free

What: VSA Culture Show Where: Squires Commonwealth Ballroom When: 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Cost: Free

what people are gonna compare me to — white rappers because of my skin tone. It doesn’t matter what you sound like or what you do. Until you actually have a name, you’re going to constantly be compared to someone.” Among Jeedy’s other greatest inspirations are Jay-Z, Big L, Biggie, Black Star, Black Thought of the roots, Naz, Common, Kanye West and Eminem. But although Eminem is one of Jeedy’s greatest influences, he doesn’t appreciate people saying he’s trying to mimic him. “(I’m) not trying to copy anybody,” Jeedy said. “When you hear the mix tape, you’ll be able to tell that I hold my own. I think it’s a very unique sound.” Jeedy also makes each performance different from others. He said he looks at each performance as an opportunity to win over new fans. Jeedy said he has never been as confident in a project as he is with his mix tape. “Look What I Can do Ma” is available at DatPiff.com. Jeedy encourages fellow students that see him around campus to say hello. “I’ve heard some people say that they recognize me but are scared to say hello,” he said. “But I’m just a normal person. I’d love to sit and have a conversation with anyone for a couple minutes.” Jeedy will also be shooting music videos around campus next week. “Keep a look out for those if you want to be in them,” he said.

[Saturday, April 9] con’t What: John Hildreth Where: Gillie’s When: 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Cost: No cover charge What: The Big Event Service Project Where: The Drillfield When: 9 a.m.

[Tuesday, April 12] What: Ben Folds Where: Burruss Auditorium When: 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Cost: Students: $18 ahead, $20 day of Public: $20 ahead, $25 day of What: Jimkata Where: Awful Arthur’s When: 9 p.m. to midnight

[Sunday, April 10] What: Can You Rock the Run? Where: VT Cross Country Course When: 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Cost: $22 per individual

[Monday, April 11]

[Wednesday, April 13] What: ArtFusion Event: The Fantasticks Where: Squires Studio Theatre When: 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Cost: $8 students, $10 public

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6 sports

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

april 7, 2011

Youthful defense looks for leaders in upcoming season MATT JONES sports reporter Swarmed with media, Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster held the lunch pail tight. The look on his face said it all. If you want this, you’re going to have to earn it. Without leaders on the defensive side of the ball, Foster is waiting for someone to assert themselves and lead a unit that ranked 18th in total defense a year ago. There is one problem — the defense is still extremely young. “We’re probably younger this year than we were last year,” Foster said. “I think we only have four starters back. We have to grow and develop, and we’ve got to learn our positions, the expectations of our positions and how that position plays in the role of the defense.” It won’t be easy for Foster and company, as they must replace senior defensive linemen John Graves and Steven Friday, as well as safety Davon Morgan. Leadership roles are certainly there for the taking. “We went from having four to five solid, vocal guys — to now. The only senior that’s really speaking up is Eddie Whitley,” said Bruce Taylor, mike linebacker. “That’s what I think we’re missing the most, the vocal leadership on the field.” Taylor, who tallied 91 tackles in 2010, is expected to take the next step in 2011. Part of his duties will be leading the defense. “I consider myself a leader because I’m more of a vocal guy,” Taylor said. “Coach told me and a lot of linebackers, you have those leadership qualities.” That linebacker group will be key for Tech this season, especially at the backer position.

ily start games or play a majority of the snaps, it won’t be uncharted waters. “We’re very young, but a lot of our young guys got some experience last year,” Taylor said. “A lot of our young guys played. They didn’t start, but they touched the field, so they know what to expect.” One of those inexperienced players will be defensive end Zack McCray, a highly-touted prospect from Lynchburg, Va. Through winter workouts, McCray has shown flashes of potential that made him a four-star recruit, according to Rivals in 2009, all under the guidance of a few of his teammates. “I feel like we have a lot of (guys) stepping up as far as leadership goes,” McCray said. “Whitley at safety, Taylor at linebacker. They might not be an outspoken leader, but they’ll lead by their mannerisms and play on the field.” When Foster eventually hands out the lunch pail to a deserving defender, the hope is that it creates a hunger in the entire unit. “We’re going to go back and give it to who we feel like is the guy that gave us the best effort for that day,” Foster said. “I want everybody to have an opportunity to earn this thing. It’s going to be a team effort, not just some individual efforts.” Historically, the lunch pail has been given to the star of the defense, most recently players such as Graves, Kam Chancellor, Orion Martin, Darryl Tapp and Xavier Adibi. If Foster gets a player stepping up daily on that level, the 2011 defense could do big things. “A national championship is always that major goal,” Taylor said. “This year with guys stepping up and playing better, as guys get experience, FILE / SPPS I feel like it could be something special.” Hokies linebacker Bruce Taylor peers over the offensive line in Tech’s 2010 matchup against rival Virginia.

Redshirt sophomore Lyndell Gibson started 13 games in 2010, but he transferred and will not be part of the program next season. A starting job is up for grabs and Foster wants to see someone take it. “I think that’s going to be a key battle, and that’s been a playmaking spot for us,” Foster said, of the backer position. “Between Tariq Edwards, Chase Williams and Telvion Clark, I think that’s going to be a big battle.” Backer has been a revolving door of sorts for Foster in recent years. In 2009, Jake Johnson began the season as the starter, but he was benched in favor of Gibson eight games into the year.

I consider myself a leader because I’m more of a vocal guy. Coach told me and a lot of the linebackers, you have those leadership qualities.

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BRUCE TAYLOR LINEBACKER Neither player will put on a Hokies uniform in 2011. “We’re going to find out who can play, and what roles they’re going to play through the spring,” Foster said. “I’m excited about the group because I think we’ve got a good group of guys right there. There’s going to be some tremendous battles, especially at the backer spot.” For a team with such little experience, the first several games of the season will be critical. With a soft September schedule, the Hokies should ease into conference play 4-0 while the defense learns the ropes. For the Hokies, youth on the defensive side is a serious matter. In their preseason two-deep depth chart, the Hokies have 11 players without a single collegiate start. While they didn’t necessar-

Bass fishing team angling to bring home national title ALYSSA BEDROSIAN

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sports staff writer The Virginia Tech bass fishing team will compete for a national title this weekend. The team will head to Kentucky Lake Thursday to participate in the 2011 FLW College Fishing National Championship. The FLW ranked the team No. 4 in the preseason. The team will send junior Carson Rejzer and sophomore Jody White to the championship. Rejzer and White finished fourth at the FLW College Fishing Northern Regional tournament, securing their spot in the championship. Last year, the Hokies sent two teams to Fort Loudon Lake in Knoxville, Tenn. Each finished in the top 20. This year, just one team qualified — duo Rejzer and White. Senior Wyatt Blevin, team president, said it was disappointing to send just one tandem to Kentucky Lake. “I was one of the guys who fished in last year’s national championship,” Blevin said. “I was kind of bummed I didn’t get to go back.” In 2007 the team made quite a splash, winning the Under Armour College Bass National Championship. Since then, the Hokies have remained competitive, but they have yet to win another championship. “We’ve had multiple top-five and

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White and Rejzer will travel to Kentucky to represent Tech in the bass ﬁshing national championship. top-10 finishes in the FLW,” Rejzer said, “which is now the most prestigious league in the whole college sport.” Throughout the year, the Hokies

have traveled to nearby Claytor Lake and Smith Mountain Lake. To prepare for Kentucky Lake, Rejzer and White have been putting in extra time and effort.

“We spent all of spring break there (Kentucky Lake),” Rejzer said. “Everyday I look at water levels, temperatures, the weather and any reports that might come out.”

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Virginia Tech Bass Fishing Team Members Competing: Carson Rejzer and Jody White When: April 7 - 9 Where: Mountain Lake, Ky. Prize: $100,000

Blevin said water temperature will play a big factor in the competition, especially this time of year. The team will face stiff competition this weekend. Eastern Kentucky will have an advantage, considering the university’s close proximity to the lake, according to Blevin. “It’s kind of hard to compete with the local teams,“ Blevin said. “We can do well, but the chances of us winning are a lot slimmer the farther we go away from home.” Although the Hokies will likely be satisfied with a top-five finish, Rejzer and White are hoping to come away with a national title. For the team, success this weekend could translate into greater recognition from Tech’s administration. The team is a student organization and funding continues to be a strug-

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gle. Although the team does receive some of its winnings, a portion of the money goes to Tech. “We really need to see if the university can give us that money back that we’ve won for them,” Blevin said. “They use it for scholarship money anyways, but I think it would help us out a lot if we could keep it in the club.” Despite their struggles, the team remains confident about the future. “Hopefully we can get a couple more championships,” Rejzer said. “We have a really strong club, and I think it’s going to keep growing.” As for this weekend, Rejzer and White are ready to prove themselves worthy of another national championship. “I would say our goal is to win it,” White said. “Top-five would be great, but we’re gunning for the win.”