Tuesday, May 3, 2011 Print Edition by Collegiate Times

Osama bin Laden killed see story on page 4 think it’s great. I’m not in any way a supporter of people “Ikilling each other, but there’s a few people who need to die. It will be great for the morale for the troops, and it’s great for Obama. –emma schmidt, freshman english major I think people are over-celebrating with “ Itheguessriotingit’sandgood.ﬁreworks. When we celebrate someone’s death, no matter how evil they were, we’re no better than people who celebrated on the other side of the earth when the Twin Towers went down. –rachel adell, sophomore humanities, science and environment major

“ Tuesday, May 3, 2011

I think a lot of people are taking their reactions to the extreme. –joe angles, senior industrial and systems engineering major

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COLLEGIATETIMES 108th year, issue 56

News, page 2

Features, page 3

Ride is over for The Bar

DANIEL LIN / SPPS

Sam Welz takes a ride on The Bar Blacksburg’s mechanical bull.

DISAGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE RESTAURANT’S BUSINESS PARTNERS TO BE SETTLED IN COURT CLAIRE SANDERSON news reporter The party is over at The Bar Blacksburg. Tom Long is pursuing litigations against The Bar business partner Sam Okoronkwo, who owned the venue as Abella Cafe and Oge-Chi’s. Long said he could not publically discuss the specific issues that are under ongoing litigation, but he said, “(Okoronkwo) never followed through with any of his promises.” When the two came together as business partners, Okoronkwo owned the site at 204 Draper Road, and Long brought new ideas and vision for The Bar. “The underlying factor behind this partnership is he wanted to get his liquor license back, and he thought he could do it under my name and as a new style of restaurant,” Long said. “He would pay me a yearly salary, and then I would eventually purchase The Bar from him.” In addition to steering the restaurant in a new direction, Long was in charge of daily management. Then called Oge-Chi’s, Okoronkwo’s establishment lost its liquor license in 2009 because only 12 percent of its revenue came from food sales. To obtain a liquor license in Virginia, and establishment must make 45 percent of its revenue

from food sales. “As far as the idea, and the website, and the name, I hold intellectual property rights to all of that,” Long said. Long said one of the biggest problems he had with Okoronkwo was the way he treated the employees Long had hired. “The treatment of the employees that I hired by Sam was just appalling, and seven people were let go in the first week,” Long said. “When one bartender in her first week made a small mistake that did not even cost The Bar anything, he yelled at her and fired her and reduced her to tears.” Long said he should have realized working with Okoronkwo was a bad idea from the start. “I was blinded by the excitement,” Long said. “I really didn’t look deeper into why this place had always been so unsuccessful, and it was because of Okoronkwo.” But he said the failed business venture is probably for the best because he can now focus on earning his doctorate in educational research and evaluation. “Everything happens for a reason, and I feel a lot better about it now honestly. Now I can go back to being a student,” Long said. “There are more important things than making money, and I guess I lost sight of that.”

Opinions, page 5

Sports, page 6

Classifieds, page 6

Sudoku, page 6

Men of Power CLAIRE SANDERSON news reporter Just after sunrise on a cool April morning, the coal yard at the Virginia Tech Power Plant reverberates with the clang of machinery and hum of the boilers. The “John Boy and Billy Show” blares from a scratchy radio in Dwayne Wilburn’s coal loader. “They’re idiots, but I listen to them, and that breaks the monotony a lot,” Wilburn said. His position as coal operator involves driving a coal loader back and forth from the coal pile to the hopper to keep the boilers fed. It will be a few hours until the campus also echoes with the sounds of thousands of students, but most of them won’t give a spare thought to the power plant. “You want your utilities to be out of sight, out of mind — to a point,” said Byron Nichols, associate director of utility systems for the power plant. “Just as long as you recognize the people and they feel like they’re part of the community. And they are, because if the plant doesn’t run, the university doesn’t run. It’s as simple as that.” The power plant’s purpose is to provide Tech with its heating and hot water needs. It produces up to 440,000 pounds of steam per hour at 825 degrees Fahrenheit using electricity. Since the power plant’s electricity production is dependent on how much steam needs to be produced, it makes less electricity during the warmer months when the university needs less heat. The plant cannot produce all the power needed to run the university, but it significantly lowers the amount of electricity Tech needs to buy from Appalachian Power. “It provides good, cheap, reliable thermal energy for our campus,” Nichols said. “And it helps keeps the whole cost of going to school here within reach.” At about 7:45 a.m., a truck pulls into the yard to dump its load, which can range from 18 to 25 tons of coal. “This coal’s coming from Cyrus, W. Va. They’ve got about a three-and-ahalf hour drive,” said Ted Acord, plant operation manager, as he watched the truck bed rise pneumatically up to dump the coal. Although Nichols said between four and 10 trucks arrive daily, he tries to maintain at least a five-day supply of coal in the yard in case of bad weather or emergencies, which could prevent trucks from delivering. “This was here before anything in the world,” Wilburn said, as he gazed

at the fresh black pile, referring to coal’s generation millions of years ago. Only one of the plant’s two large coal boilers is running today, but it will take Wilburn at least a few hours to keep the hopper filled with the fresh coal. Now 48 years old, Wilburn has been working with coal for about 20 years of his life. He began right out of high school, working for his father-in-law who sold coal off the yard to people who used coal-burning stoves. He has worked in limestone mines and power plants, and he came to Tech about 10 years ago after he was laid off from his job at the Celanese coal plant in nearby Giles County. Like most who start working at the Tech power plant, Wilburn began as an ash puller, laboring long hours raking the burnt coal out of hot ash pits at the bottom of the boilers. Now, as coal operator, his main job is to oversee the coal yard and load coal into the hopper that feeds the boilers, which can go through about 300 tons per day in the coldest months. According to Nichols, plant workers have not received a raise in four years, and Wilburn said that at $27,500 per year, he makes one of the lowest salaries at the power plant. “It’s hard on us,” Wilburn said. “I should be making at least $30,000 with the job I got, ’cause it’s the dirtiest, and you gotta breathe all that stuff in, and there’s a lot of manual labor.” Wilburn looks forward to Wednesdays and Thursdays, which are his days off. “A lot of people say they want to have the weekends,” Wilburn said. “My kids are grown, and it’s just me and my wife, so I don’t care. The weekend is just another day to me.” Wilburn enjoys spending his days off with his two-and-a-half-year-old grandson, Memphis. “I don’t have him spoiled or nothing,” Wilburn said, chuckling. “But one of these days I might spoil him.” From the hopper at the back of the power plant where Wilburn loads the coal, it is carried to a storage unit above the boilers, which rise about three stories above ground level. Coal dumps from here into a measuring bucket that holds 200 pounds. When the bucket is filled to that amount, its bottom releases, sending coal down a chute and into the boiler. It is now under the watchful eye of boiler operator Rick Hale. But like Wilburn and most other workers at the power plant, Hale does a little bit of everything. Hale has no formal education but see COAL / page seven

DANIEL LIN / SPPS

From top to bottom: Power Plant Coal operator Dwayne Wilburn, Boiler Operator Rick Hale, and Operations Manager Ted Accord.

Region celebrates Bike Month in May JAY SPEIDELL news reporter Bicycle enthusiasts have planned a number of events to celebrate this May’s National Bike Month. Events will include a free breakfast at the Blacksburg Farmers Market, a Bike Shorts film festival in downtown Roanoke and promotions at local businesses for customers who show up on their bikes. The Farmers Market breakfast will be free to cyclists and offered on May 20 from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. The Bike Shorts film festival will feature locally produced short films about cycling, and the best will be recognized with a $100

prize. A full list of events and the submission form for the Bike Shorts film festival, which will be held on May 28, can be found at RideSolutions. org. May 30 is planned to be free tune-up day, where mechanics from local bike shops will be tuning bikes up for free at the Farmers Market from 9:00 a.m. to noon. RIDE Solutions, a ride-sharing program run by the Roanoke ValleyAlleghany Regional Commission, is hosting most of the events as a campaign to promote alternative transportation. “We promote cycling as the cleanest transportation option out there,”

said Jeremy Holmes, coordinator of sustainability programs at RVARC. “We try to touch on all of the benefits of bike commuting.” Holmes said commuting with a bicycle has great health benefits, as well as gas savings — bike commuters could have a significant environmental impact because over half of air pollution comes from vehicle tail pipe emissions. “And it’s more fun to ride a bike than it is to drive,” Holmes said. RIDE Solutions’ main event is a campaign called “Clean Commute,” where the group asks people to pledge to try alternative transportation methods on Fridays in May.

But not all the events are about health and the environment.

“

We promote cycling as the cleanest transportation option out there. We try to touch on all of the beneﬁts of bike commuting.” JEREMY HOLMES COORDINATOR OF SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAMS AT RVARC

A ride of silence to remember those who have died in cycling accidents will be held in downtown Radford on May 18, which is part of a worldwide event.

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may 3, 2011

page 3

for your

10 songs START THE SUMMER OFF WITH A PLAYLIST THAT IS SURE TO GET YOU IN THE BRIGHTEST OF MOODS lieu of an album review this week, I provided a list of 10 In songs that are sure to kick off summer to blissful beginnings. Some newer genres seem to be almost entirely based off the feelings and themes of summer, perfectly capturing the varieties of mood in just a few minutes. All of the songs on this playlist were chosen because they convey the carefree attitude everyone hopes to adopt best for the three short months of freedom. Given the independent nature of many of the artists featured, most of the songs can be found legally for free online — URLs have been included where applicable. 1. “Island on Fire” — Monster Rally Start the playlist with “Island on Fire,” a bouncy tune that seems to drift in from some distant luau on an imaginary beach. Monster Rally makes terrific surf-inspired instrumental jams that are sure to take your mind to a more sun-and-sand place, no matter where you are, or what you are doing.

summer

“Island on Fire” can be downloaded for free from Bad Panda Records at BadPandaRecords.wordpress.com. 2. “Fire Hands” — Pepepiano Sampling “Pet Sounds” by the Beach Boys, Pepepiano’s track “Fire Hands” is destined for summer anthem status. The sample is tastefully employed with the perfect touch of 60s pop. Quirky, poppy and entirely danceable, “Fire Hands” is the perfect tune for any summer party soundtrack. Pepepiano’s entire album, including “Fire Hands,” can be downloaded from his Bandcamp at Pepepiano. bandcamp.com. 3. “Surfer’s Hymn” — Panda Bear When a song opens with the sound of waves washing onto the shore, there is no denying it should be enjoyed in the warmer months. “Surfer’s Hymn” is one of the most radiant songs from Panda Bear’s new album “Tomboy.” The kaleidoscopic marimba sample running throughout the background shines like a bright light over Panda Bear’s gorgeous harmonies and the

thumping kick drum. Panda Bear’s “Tomboy” can be purchased digitally on iTunes and Amazon, as well as on vinyl via Paw Tracks or Insound. 4. “K is for Kelson” — Bibio “K is for Kelson” is without a doubt the catchiest track off Bibio’s latest album, “Mind Bokeh.” The song has a cheery, childlike quality to it that will be sure to put a smile on your face. The percussive elements in the background evoke images of kids having a blast banging on pots, pans and glass bottles. Overall, the song is a lot of fun and will be stuck in your head for days once you hear it. Bibio’s album “Mind Bokeh” can be purchased digitally on iTunes and Amazon, or on vinyl from Insound. 5. “Frequency” — Unouomedude Unouomedude is a one-man band from Jacksonville, Fl. that just released its latest single, “Frequency” on Old Flame Records. “Frequency” is more rock influenced than most of the other songs listed here, but the fuzzy guitars and overall energy of the song make it just right for hot summer days in the sun. Download “Frequency” by

Unouomedude from iTunes, or stream it from his Bandcamp at Unouomedude.bandcamp.com. 6. “After the Moment” — Craft Spells Take a trip to the 80s for a bit with Craft Spells’ lo-fi dance track, “After the Moment.” Bedroom 80s pop at its best, “After the Moment” features an infectious hook and a great retro dance beat that will get you up and moving in a heartbeat. If you’re looking to play something a little different than the usual Top 40 pop hits at your parties this summer, definitely give Craft Spells a chance. Craft Spells’ album, “Idle Labor,” can be purchased digitally via iTunes and Amazon, or on vinyl from Captured Tracks. 7. “Phoenix Wind” — Yeasayer This Record Store Day, Yeasayer, put out a 7-inch record featuring two takes from the “Odd Blood” recording sessions called “End Blood.” The B-side, “Phoenix Wind,” is kind of a surprise to hear, sounding very little like anything that made it on the LP. The song slowly and smoothly builds into a really nice groove that would be perfect for the end-of-night wind

down. Look around the darker corners of the Internet to find this vinyl-only track. 8. “Emergency Room” — Ford & Lopatin If the 80s vibe of Craft Spells got you going, Ford & Lopatin’s track “Emergency Room” will surely satisfy your desires for music filled with synthesizers and big electronic drum beats. Almost overly indulgent in its retro-futurism, the song sounds like it would be well suited to an 80s video game or maybe more accurately a movie about an 80s video game. Either way, the song will transport you to a strange, digital world with its bleeps and bloops. Ford & Lopatin’s new LP will be released in June via Software/Mexican Summer. 9. “You Know What I Mean” — Cults Cults caused a stir over the summer when it released a 3-track EP that caught on with its 50s girl-group sound. “You Know What I Mean” continues that sense of nostalgia, complete with sweet melodies and finger snaps. Poppy and romantic in

all the right ways, this song might be saved for a quiet moment on the back deck under the night sky. “You Know What I Mean” can be streamed from Cults’ website at CultsCultsCults.com or downloaded from the dark corners of the Internet. 10. “Pushing Onlys” — Woods A nice blend of psychedelic and folk, Woods makes music that screams summer days. The band’s new single, “Pushing Onlys,” is a perfect example with its bright and folksy tune, driven by energetic guitar and lead singer Jeremy Earl’s falsetto vocals. Once again, you’ll have to get a little resourceful to find a download for “Pushing Onlys” on the Internet. The record, “Sun and Shade,” will be released in June via the band’s own label, Woodsist.

KEVIN MCALEESE -music reviewer -sophomore -political science major

Ytoss group encourages students to recycle left over dorm items CHELSEA GUNTER features reporter Every year, thousands of pounds of semi-used goods head to landfills during student move out, including notebooks, binders and even electronics. Along with the YMCA at Virginia Tech, the Office of Sustainability, the Department of Residence Life and the Town of Blacksburg team up to host Ytoss to reduce the amount of excessive waste produced during student move out. Last year, the Ytoss group collected 20,000 pounds of materials. The 6th annual Ytoss program will take place from Saturday, May 7, to Thursday, May 12, from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day, with the exception of the final day, which will conclude at noon. “Ytoss is a sustainable movement that we are trying to implement throughout campus — it’s the first of its kind,” said Allison Rizzetta, a sophomore environmental resource management major and co-director of Ytoss. “It’s our attempt to create a culture of reduce, reuse, recycle in a really tangible way.” The slogan for Ytoss this year is “we want what you’ve got.” Students are encouraged to donate a variety of leftover goods they don’t want, including clothing, food, hutches, rugs and any kind of electronics. The only items not accepted are lofts. These items are then cleaned, tested and stored over the summer. Then, Ytoss resells the donated goods back to the community during the first two days of move in next fall. All proceeds go to the YMCA community student-led programs, which include after school tutoring, senior connections, buddy playgroup and alternative service break trips. There will be eight collection points for students to donate their goods this year: Pritchard/Lee, Miles/Johnston, Eggleston Quad, Payne Hall, Slusher Hall, Oak Lane, Ambler Johnston and Shultz/Monteith. All the collection points will be

donate at these locations Pritchard/Lee Miles/Johnston Eggleston Quad Payne Hall Slusher Hall Oak Lane Ambler Johnston Shultz/Monteith located next to a dumpster so trained volunteers can encourage students throwing goods away to donate them instead. Rizzetta and her co-director Sheel Patel, a junior finance major, have been planning this year’s event since the end of Ytoss last spring. Together they have formed a committee that holds weekly group meetings to make this year’s event more effi-

cient. The Ytoss program’s goal is to double its profits and collect 30,000 pounds of donated goods. “We hope that this event will be as big as Relay for Life and the Big Event,” Rizzetta said. “We want to be the third that’s mentioned with those to events.” Organizing the event takes a considerable amount of time and volunteer effort. Over 150 volunteers are needed within a six-day period. “We couldn’t function without all of the other organization and support that campus gives us,” Rizzetta said. “We’ve been able to grow so much from just what I’ve seen this past year.” Along with organization participation, LeeAnn Reich, the director of volunteer outreach for the YMCA at Tech, has joined the group to increase the productivity. “Ytoss in the past has been a big event and it’s required a lot of time, and it’s been relatively taxing because we haven’t

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been efficient as possible,” Reich said. Pods out of Roanoke is going to have an impact on the event this year. Last year, the program utilized vans to transport the donated goods back and forth. When a pod is full, an outside business will come to pick them up. “(Pods) will serve as our collection sites this year in an effort to be more sustainable and leave less of a carbon footprint on campus,” Riech said. Besides sustainability, using pods instead of vans will reduce the amount of work and stress for volunteers. “It cuts down on the man power, gas costs and the liability of driving vehicles,” Rizzetta

said. With new sponsors, pods and an experienced committee, the Ytoss group is confident this year’s collection will be a success. This year, the committee has been proactive in reaching out and presenting to campus Housing and Residence Life, clubs, organizations and Greek life. “We’ve been working really hard to make sure that it’s something that everybody knows about,” Reich said. Along with the community, students are getting involved to reduce the amount of waste on campus. “My favorite part about helping out with Ytoss is really watching the students get involved and

engaged in creating a more sustainable campus — the passion,” Reich said. Reich encourages students to take a study break and volunteer for Ytoss, even if it’s only for an hour. According to Rizzetta, volunteering is a way to ensure that the YMCA’s programs continue. “It’s just a great way to give back to the community,” Rizzetta said. “You’re going to be helping out kids programs. The programs rely on the funds from Ytoss, so without them, it would be hard for them.” Those interested in learning more about Ytoss or volunteering can visit vtymca.org.

4 news

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

may 3, 2011

COLLEGIATETIMES

On the men that were arrested for vandalism:

US kills Osama bin Laden JAMES OLIPHANT

RibleyDibleyDo >>

mcclatchy newspapers

THEY’RE GUILTY!!! LET EM HANG!!! THEY SPRAY PAINTED MY DOG IN FEBRUARY!!!

ChippyDippy >> Don’t you think you’re being a little harsh Mr. Reactionary?

RibleyDibleyDo >> DON’T YOU EVER TALK TO ME THAT WAY!!! YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT KIND OF PAIN I’VE BEEN THROUGH!!!

On the prescription drug amnesty event Saturday: Anonymous >> I offer amnesty for marijuana. I will make sure it is disposed in an selfishly friendly way.

Anonymous >> Stop doing drugs and you will be fine. Why would you want to put that garbage in your body ?

Sven >> You could ask the same question to people eating fast food. It’s my body, if I want go fill it with drugs and big macs, that’s my own choice. My body is a sovereign entity, nobody should be able to tell me what I can or can’t put into it.

On the new reusable to-go containers in Owens: Zach >> So I have to clean them and bring them back with me? The great thing about styrofoam is that I DON’T have to clean it and bring it back. I’ll pass thanks.

Jed >> Eco-friendly reusable containers? Sounds like liberal propaganda to me. I’ll stick with the Styrofoam, thank you very much.

On students alledgedly sharing meal plans: Jacque Hoff >> Why can’t they just refund your money at the end of the semester like normal reasonable people? Oh yes I forgot, VT is a business, not a “loving family.”

Pathetic >> Dude, they teach you read in school. You must be one of those, “It’s never my fault” kind of guys. Read the plan stipulations before whining a river about how you were robbed of you pennies.

Jacob Lambeth >> how about the thousands and thousands they profit from selling bags of candy at the end of the semester to those who have extra money. New students fall for it all the time. $20 FLEX for a bag of candy? They can do it because they’ll just steal your money at the end of the year if you don’t use it...

IN OTHER NEWS >> Students allegedly have sex.

crime blotter

date reported 4/29/2011 4/29/2011

time

offense

12:0 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Larceny of a lifesaving ring/flotation device 4:00 p.m. - 9:00 a.m. Vandalism and Trespassing

After landing by helicopter at the Pakistani compound housing Osama bin Laden on Sunday, the U.S. special operations team tasked with capturing or killing the al-Qaida leader found itself in an almost continuous gun battle. For the next 40 minutes, the team cleared the two buildings within the fortified compound in Abbottabad, north of Islamabad, trying to reach bin Laden and his family, who lived on the second and third floors of the largest structure, senior Defense Department and intelligence officials said Monday. “Throughout most of the 40 minutes, they were engaged in a firefight,” said a senior Pentagon official, who characterized the operation as intense but deliberate. Bin Laden “resisted” and was killed by U.S. gunfire in the larger building toward the end of the operation. He fired on the assault team, a U.S. official said, and may have tried to use his wife as a shield. The woman also was killed. After the firefight, the special operations force quickly gathered papers — valuable intelligence on al-Qaida, officials said — and other materials in the two buildings and clambered back on helicopters, taking bin Laden’s corpse with them. Before departing, the U.S. team blew up one of the helicopters, a Blackhawk, which had experienced mechanical problems, officials said. No detainees were taken, and the women and children who survived the attack were left at the compound, Pentagon officials said. “This wasn’t an execution,” one U.S. official later said. “The assessment going into it was that it’s highly unlikely that’s he’s going to be taken alive, but if he decided to lay down his arms, he would have been taken captive.” Bin Laden’s body was taken to the USS Carl Vinson, an aircraft carrier, in the northern part of the Arabian Sea and buried at sea Monday at around 1 a.m. EDT. Pentagon officials said the decision to bury bin Laden at sea was made because no country was willing to take the body for burial. But it also seems clear that the United States wanted to avoid him being buried on land for fear that the location could become a shrine for bin Laden’s supporters. The funeral was conducted using what a Pentagon official said were “traditional procedures for Islamic burials.” The body was washed and placed in a white sheet on a flat board as a U.S. military chaplain read remarks that were translated into Arabic. Then the board was lifted up, the official said, and the “deceased body eased into the sea.” The funeral was conducted on the ship’s hangar deck, which is at the waterline. The assault was quick, brutal, riskfilled — and ultimately a massive success, the product of months of careful planning and years of intelligence gathering. Before learning of the compound

in Abbottabad last August, the U.S. had had little hard information about bin Laden’s whereabouts for many years, senior intelligence officials said Monday. But after learning the identity of one of bin Laden’s couriers, they tracked him to the facility, which immediately raised suspicions because of its elaborate security and relative luxury compared with the surrounding neighborhood, the officials said. Key information that enabled the CIA to eventually identify the courier came from detainees held by the U.S., according to senior intelligence officials, and crucial information came from interrogations years ago of 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, officials said. Mohammed had been subjected to water-boarding and other brutal interrogation methods. “We were able to get pieces of information from detainees,” the official said. “That took years, and these guys don’t give it up all willingly.” The information enabled intelligence agencies to develop “a composite” of bin Laden’s courier network, which he used to smuggle out audiotapes and to communicate with underlings. It took months to build a picture of who was living in the compound, but eventually the CIA concluded that one of the families matched intelligence suggesting that bin Laden was living with several wives and children in Pakistan. “There wasn’t perfect visibility on everything inside the compound, but we did have a very good idea,” as surveillance continued, of the number of people living there, including how many women and children were in one of the families, said one of the intelligence officials. The number squared with the number believed to be living with bin Laden. It wasn’t until early 2011 that the intelligence agencies became more certain that bin Laden might be hiding there, one of the senior intelligence officials said. “Earlier this year, our confidence level grew much higher,” the official said. As that confidence grew, President Barack Obama in March ordered his national security team to develop “several possible courses of action” for invading the Abbottabad site, according to senior administration officials. The team brought several options to the president for review. Those options were “refined” over the course of the next several weeks, the official said. All in all, the president convened at least nine meetings with his national security team, whose members also met among themselves at regular intervals. The president did not authorize the bombing of the compound, the official said, preferring instead an extraction operation that called for bin Laden either to be captured or killed by a U.S. team on the ground — although some officials believed his capture to be an unlikely outcome. Officials denied that they had decided ahead of time to kill bin Laden, rather than attempt to take him prisoner. “The purpose of the operation was

to kill or capture bin Laden,” a senior Pentagon official said Monday. “There were certainly capture contingencies.” Though Pakistan’s government was not told that the U.S. suspected bin Laden was at the compound, they did provide information that helped focus efforts on the Abbottabad fortress, one of the senior intelligence officials said. “There was body of intelligence brought” to Obama, one of the Pentagon officials said, “but in the weeks and months beforehand, his personal attention pushed the case to a new level.” On Friday, before traveling to Alabama to survey storm damage, the president gave the go-ahead for the team to go in. The original plan was for the team to go in Saturday, but due to weather, they changed it to Sunday. Had the operation gone on Saturday as planned, it would have coincided closely with a NATO strike on a house in Tripoli where Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, another longtime U.S. foe, was believed to have been visiting. That strike killed Gadhafi’s son. Saturday evening, the president offered light remarks at the White House correspondents dinner at a hotel in Washington, joking about his birth certificate and Donald Trump, but he had spent much of the day being briefed on the operation. And his national security staff was working furiously back at the White House. At one point, the president left the dais at the dinner, but he soon returned. On Sunday, Obama monitored the operation in the White House situation room, along with Tom Donilon, his national security adviser. John Brennan, the administration’s counterterrorism adviser, said it was “probably one of the most anxietyfilled periods of times in the lives of the people assembled here yesterday. Minutes passed like days.” Other officials present in the room included Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen and James Clapper, the director of national intelligence. At 2 p.m. Sunday EDT, Obama met with his national security team to review final preparations on the assault. At 3:50 p.m., he learned that bin Laden had been “tentatively identified.” A little more than three hours later, the president was told, after the operation, that there was a “high probability” that it had been the al-Qaida leader who had been killed in the operation. DNA testing would later confirm bin Laden’s identity. Seeking to dispel questions about whether bin Laden was actually killed, a senior intelligence official said Monday that the CIA and other agencies had conducted “initial DNA analysis,” comparing a sample taken from the body with DNA samples from several bin Laden family members. The results matched, leading the official to say that there was “virtually 100 percent” certainty that the body was that of bin Laden.

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 location

status

Duckpond

Inactive

Lane Stadium

Inactive

4/29/2011

7:00 a.m.

Harassment

Whittemore Hall

Active

4/29/2011

10:39 p.m.

Vandalism to a light

Lee Hall

Inactive

4/30/2011

10:30 p.m.- 1:30 a.m.

Vandalism to a ceiling tile

Pritchard Hall

Inactive

4/30/2011

3:15 a.m.

Appearing Intoxicated in Public

Stranger St

Arrested

4/30/2011

10:00 p.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Vandalism to a vehicle

Washington St

Inactive

4/30/2011

9:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Vandalism to windows

GLC

Inactive

4/30/2011

7:04 p.m.

GLC-outside

Arrested

n/a

Appearing Intoxicated in Public, Underage Possession of Alcohol, Possession of a False ID Indecent Exposure, Attempt to Flee

n/a

4/30/2011

10:23 p.m. 11:50 p.m.

Newman Library Plaza Alumni Mall

Arrested

4/30/2011 5/1/2011

2:22 a.m. 10:00 p.m. - 4:30 a.m.

Pritchard Halloutside Lee Hall

Arrested

5/1/2011

Appearing Intoxicated in Public, Underage Possession of Alcohol Appearing Intoxicated in Public, Underage Possession of Alcohol Appearing Intoxicated in Public, Underage Possession of Alcohol Vandalism to a light cover

5/1/2011

12:30 a.m.

Underage Possession of Alcohol

Ambler Johnston

Inactive

5/1/2011

1:31 a.m.

Appearing Intoxicated in Public

GLC-outside

Arrested

5/1/2011

4:06 a.m.

Appearing Intoxicated in Public

Derring Lot

Arrested

Inactive

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

may 3, 2011

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

Persevering in a time of turmoil: Glade Spring ast Wednesday night, I was up late — like many Virginia L Tech students around Blacksburg — studying for a test. The air outside was thick, and I could sense the coming storms. My friends and I watched the weather radar online and on TV with apprehension, as ominous colors seemed to engulf all of southwest Virginia. We kept an eye on Twitter for any updates about the severe weather situation. As we watched the map in the wee hours of Thursday morning, we had no idea of the destruction that was bound for Glade Spring, a small community in Washington County, where I went to high school and up the road from where I was raised. By the time the warning sirens went off in Blacksburg, bringing hundreds of people out to their balconies to assess the situation, Glade Spring, a mere 90 miles away, had already been hit by a high-powered EF3 tornado, with a path of destruction nearly three miles long and a half-mile wide. When the storms finally passed and the eerie calm set in, the small community began to assess the terrible damage it endured. People tried desperately to call friends and family. Neighbors took to the streets, sifting through the rubble in search of people, pets and treasured belongings. Rescue crews worked to retrieve trapped people from the damage. When his home was flipped upside down, a friend of my brother’s was trapped for hours in a closet before finally getting out. Similar stories were common throughout the community. Houses were completely removed from their foundations, apartment buildings were leveled, and businesses were crushed by flying trees and cars. Tractor-trailers were picked up and hurled hundreds of yards, crashing into buildings and one another. The damage does not look real — it looks cliche — Hollywoodlike, such as something Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt would see in Oklahoma on the big screen. It doesn’t look like something loved ones would see right in in the mountains many call home. But unfortunately, it is real. Real people have lost everything they’ve ever worked for. They’ve lost decades of records and memories — pictures and documents that hold treasured family histories. They’ve lost friends and family. Luckily, they haven’t lost their sense of community. And they haven’t lost their sense of hope and dignity. Immediately after the destruction, people poured into the streets. Neighbors walked from house to house, offering any help they could, even when there was much work to do at their own homes. Emory and Henry College set up a shelter on its campus for people affected, and people from all over donated pillows and blankets, clothes, food, and toiletries to ensure victims had everything they needed. Fire and rescue crews came from all over Virginia and surrounding states to assist in the effort. As I watched this scene unfold, I was reminded why I was proud to have grown up in this small community. Local landmarks faced destruction, and homes were demolished. But that did not mean our community faced that same devastation. The community itself

is as strong as ever, with friends and neighbors working together to rebuild lives that have abruptly changed paths. And this is exactly what I would expect. Everyone from this area knows what a strong community we have. We know each other. We see each other at church, Patrick Henry High School basketball games and the grocery store. We eat at DJ’s pizza together, go for late-night food and gas runs to the Chevron — well, I guess it’s the Shell now — hang out at the Muscle Sholes pool, play golf at Greenway Creek and watch the most extravagant fireworks display in southwest Virginia every Independence Day. Most of us have spent our entire lives growing up in this community. We know our neighbors and their families, and they know us and ours. Word of any news travels quickly through an established, complex network of people that only a small town can realize. Once that word spreads, the entire community stands ready to offer its support. This is the Glade Spring we know, and the Glade Spring that will be victorious in one of the darkest times of its history. To an outsider, Glade Spring is just another speck on the map — an insignificant dot with a Wendy’s and a truck stop to satisfy I-81 travelers. To an outsider, it is easy to overlook, and this tragedy is easy to brush off as just another headline, another cliched example of a tornado-ravaged small town working to rebuild. But to insiders, whose lives are anchored deep within the spirit of this community, this disaster means so much more. It is the character and resolve of Glade Spring and the surrounding community which assures me its citizens will rebuild. Lives have been changed forever, but people still have one another and the community they’ve spent their lives building. It’s something with which we, as Hokies, can surely identify. We have braved our own tragedies in the past, and we have shown the strength, courage and overwhelming spirit of the Hokie Nation. We know personally what it feels like to be a member of a community that is greater than any one of us, which can be relied on to offer its backing in any time of success or trial. We’re needed now, Hokies. Our donations are needed. Our time is needed. Our support through thoughts and prayers are needed. Glade Spring and the rest of Washington County will emerge from its surreal, cyclone-induced rubble as strong as ever. Although the community has lost so much, its people have not given up and will continue to live their lives, rebuild and do what they do best — be there with a supportive hand, ready to help their neighbors. Donate to the relief efforts for Glade Spring and other affected areas of southwest Virginia through Red Cross and United Way.

BRAD COPENHAVER -regular columnist -junior -agricultural economics major

MCT CAMPUS

American economy wanes, power of nation weakens egend tells that once a Phoenix has reached the end of its life it L will make a nest of fine spices, set it ablaze and be consumed within it. After a brief time passes, a newborn Phoenix will rise from the smoldering ashes and soar into the air. This image’s beauty has taken hold of the imagination of differing cultures and people throughout history from many scopes of the world. People have a relationship with this conception — fire will consume the Phoenix, allowing a new member of its species to emerge. Recently, the International Monetary Fund released a report showing that the age of American economic superiority is ending. Although the report’s meaning is questionable, its findings caused widespread angst among Americans. Immediately, commentaries and news reports said the next president may be the last one to preside over an America that is the dominant economic power. Perhaps the end of American dominance is not as troubling as the end of western dominance in the world. The history of the modern world has been one in which the western powers have consistently dominated the world stage — being more comfortable with giving orders than peaceful negotiations. Within the past century, as the old powers of Europe recovered from the shock of the greatest mass extermination of human life in our species’ history, the United States was comfortably moving into its old position. At that time, Europe’s countries made a choice: What was more important for them was not imperial

ambitions but the betterment of lives in their citizenry. A nation built from rebelling against an empire became one masked in the veil of freedom and democracy for all people. However, my concern here is not American hypocrisy in foreign affairs. Instead, my interest is in the choice the nation is being forced to make.

“

We have forgotten that while there are brave ﬁghters dying for their rights to be free in other nations, there are mothers in this nation who are forced to watch starvation mask innocence on the faces of their children.

While we are still recovering from the greatest economic downfall since the Great Depression, U.S. citizens are still unable to find jobs or adequate living conditions — many people’s concern. People are being toppled from their posts by a nation that blatantly cares nothing for its citizens or their welfare. The People’s Republic of China is certainly not a nation of its people. Although the U.S. has known the hypocrisy of claiming to care when it blatantly doesn’t, this new breed of superpower is quite different. I, like so many of my compatriots, feel this existential angst over the end of the United States’ age as leader of the world. But in my heart, I question whether this is necessarily a bad thing. After over 100 years of dominance,

perhaps the time has come for the U.S. to focus its attention on its people — in a sense, to be more selfish. Leaders habitually pour resources into the betterment of other nations. Although this is not necessarily a bad thing, it has distracted the U.S. from itself. We have forgotten that while there are brave fighters dying for their rights to be free in other nations, there are mothers in this nation who are forced to watch starvation mask innocence on the faces of their children. Instead of feeling arrogant pain over the loss of U.S. dominance, perhaps we should use it as an opportunity to return our attention to ourselves flourishing. Like the Phoenix of myth, the time has come for us to return ourselves to ashes and allow someone else to take our place in the sky. This is not an endorsement of weakness on our part, nor is it an endorsement of policies from one of the most disgustingly evil nations of the modern era. Doing so would openly state we are tired of funding a world and indebting a nation. It is saying the policies China has used to get itself where it is are so horrifying and beyond the scope of any humanistic understanding that there is no possible way we can fight them. It would be repeating the wisdom of Yeats — “whatever is begotten, born, and dies” — resulting in a world that is “no country for old men.”

JASON CAMPBELL -regular columnist -sophomore -philosophy major

Unemployment and economic downfall caused by capitalism he education bubble, sooner or later, is expected to pop. But what T are the students who have already accumulated thousands of dollars in loans to fund their education and interests doing while they keep racking up loans, while desperately looking for jobs for after graduation? With the unemployment rate at an all time high, college graduates have to compete against candidates who have far more experience than them, making the recent graduates’ chances of finding jobs slim. The current economy has created such an undesirable situation for recent graduates to look for jobs that moving abroad, especially to India, has better options for job opportunities. According to a news article on the “Russia Today” website, experts have predicted India’s economy to grow almost 5.5 percent, while the United States economy is expected to shrink within the next few years. Because of the shrinking U.S. economy, students from top-tier schools, including Ivy Leagues, are seeking job opportunities in India, as the American dream is more feasible outside the country. Bangalore, which is regarded as India’s Silicon Valley and the center of India’s IT boom, is a hot spot for many flourishing IT industries. More than 500 multinational companies have their IT operations in Bangalore alone. Of the many IT industries, Infosys Technologies is one that recruits almost 100 students from prestigious universities in the U.S. every summer for its intern positions. Most of these internships eventually

turn into job opportunities. Experts predict that by 2015, American companies will outsource 3.5 million jobs abroad, most of which will end up in India. Hence, more American college graduates are expected to turn to India for job opportunities.

“

The current economy has created such an undesirable situation for recent graduates to look for jobs that moving abroad, especially to India, has better options for job opportunities.

This affect of globalization has caused a sense of excitement in India, and the Indians wish to welcome Americans wholeheartedly. However, this news is not perceived the same way in the U.S. The IT boom in India didn’t take place until the early 1990s when the Indian government opened the country for globalization. Just like the Gold Rush, multinational companies, such as HP, Dell, Motorola, Texas Instruments, flooded India to take advantage of the cheapest IT services. Soon enough, they started outsourcing jobs. All the American companies that flooded India during India’s IT boom played a major role in India’s growing IT business. They created job opportunities and helped the country globalize. The companies are now in the position to offer jobs the U.S. job market hasn’t been able

to provide. Capitalism has helped the U.S. economy prosper. However, isn’t the economic downturn the U.S. is currently facing also a result of capitalism? In the name of being opportunists and venture capitalists, U.S. investors invest billions of dollars abroad, as the nation has always been on a mission to make the world a better place to invest for American businesses. However, the globalization is shifting. According to Michael Parenti, the author of “The Face of Imperialism,” many nations are tired of American superiority and have taken matters into their own hands by building new trade networks to enhance their economies. Parenti insists the U.S. should pay attention to problems the nation is facing, rather than impose power on other nations in the name of national defense. The U.S. is responsible for the economic downturn. The idea of outsourcing, which the nation thought was fruitful — and to some extent was — has turned against the nation’s economy. The nations’ economies are in a position to take over that of the U.S. If the government does not take charge soon enough, China is destined to take over the economy in five short years.

NAMRATA SHRESTHA -regular columnist -junior -economics 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, Mia Perry Features Staff Writers: Andrew Reilly, Nick Smirniotopoulos 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, Debra Houchins 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, Connor Geiran, Mario Gazzola 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, 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.

sports 6

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

may 3, 2011

Three former Hokies drafted, others left disappointed STANDOUT PLAYERS TAYLOR, WILLIAMS AND CARMICHAEL SELECTED IN 2011 NFL DRAFT ALEX KOMA sports staff writer Every college student dreams of finding a job once school is over. However, only a select few had the chance to have their dreams fulfilled by being selected in the 2011 NFL Draft. Three former Virginia Tech student athletes heard their names called this past weekend at Radio City Music Hall in New York City for the draft. Running back Ryan Williams was selected early in the second round,

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as the Arizona Cardinals took the redshirt sophomore with the 38th overall pick. Additionally, redshirt senior cornerback Rashad Carmichael was taken 127th by the Houston Texans, and senior quarterback Tyrod Taylor was selected with the 180th pick by the Baltimore Ravens. Although Williams had hopes of being selected in the first round, he was still overcome with emotion when he heard his name called in the second round. “This is the only thing that I have ever wanted to do in my whole life, and I have an opportunity

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to do it, so everything just came out,” Williams said in an interview with Kyle Tucker of the VirginianPilot. “Those are all the emotions from since I was seven, eight years old when I had it planned out that I wanted to be in the NFL. So that was it right there.” The Cardinals used a first-round draft pick to select running back Beanie Wells two years ago, so Williams will face stiff competition at the position as he joins the team. Carmichael will likely face less competition, as he joins a Texans defense that ranked third to last in the league last season. However, questions remain over what position he’ll

during the draft but were not selected. While these players would ordinarily be able to sign as undrafted free agents with teams immediately following the draft, the conditions of the NFL lockout prevent them from doing so until the league opens for business once more. Nevertheless, Evans has been confident in his ability to play at the professional level since he declared for the draft in January and is taking the latest setback in stride. “I see the opportunity that is there for me,” Evans said in an interview with Tucker. “I know there’s people around the league that think highly of me.”

picked in the third or fourth rounds, but 10 quarterbacks were taken ahead of him as he fell to the sixth round. Despite his drop down the draft board, Taylor remains confident in his abilities. “I believe I’m the most dynamic quarterback in the draft,” Taylor said in his interview with Tucker. “I have the ability to move the pocket and keep the play alive, and I also have the ability to stay in the pocket and make every throw that they ask for.” Several other former Hokies, including running back Darren Evans, tight end Andre Smith, defensive end Steven Friday and defensive tackle John Graves, all waited to hear their names called

play. “I play football. Special teams, kick return, anything. Whatever the coach needs me to do,” Carmichael said in an interview with Tucker. “That’s how I was raised growing up, but definitely that cornerback position (is where I want to play). If they think I can work out at safety, I’m going to put my best foot forward, too.” The Texans already employ a pair of former Hokies — offensive tackle Duane Brown and linebacker Xaiver Adibi — so Carmichael will have some familiar faces to look up to when he joins the team. Taylor suffered one of the steeper slides of any player, as initial projections suggested he would be

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may 3, 2011

page 7

Coal: Power plant workers reflect on value of education from page one

simply learned on the job. “I just knew I wasn’t meant to go to college. It wasn’t for me, so I joined the Air Force and got some experience,” Hale said, checking a row of computer screens that make up the complex nerve center of the power plant’s operations. For now, everything looks normal. Hale said his father has worked at the Tech power plant for longer than he has. He said his father suggested that he take a job at Tech because the pay was slightly higher than the $5.50 per hour he was making in his previous job. Today, father and son work at the power plant together. “We don’t get to see a whole lot of each other, because he’s on maintenance, and I’m on operations. So I get to break things, and he gets to fix them,” Hale said, laughing. “But me and Dad, we have a real good relationship. When we leave work, work stays at work, and it’s completely different when we go home.” Hale said his somewhat unusual work schedule — 10 days on, four days off — suits his lifestyle. He works every other weekend, and his six-year-old son visits him during that time. “We go to Salem Red Sox games. We’ll come over here to Tech football games. We’ll go to Tech baseball games,” Hale said, “just typical father and son stuff.” On the 10 days in a row Hale is at the plant, he oversees boiler operations. He monitors the boilers mostly on computers in the control room, which display real-time moving diagrams of every complex mechanical system in the power plant. He is also constantly correcting low oxygen levels in smaller gas boilers, for example. Coal travels through the boilers on a moving floor that is similar to a conveyor belt, where it is spread about four or five inches deep. Because the boilers have a slightly negative pressure, Hale can open a small window in the boiler’s wall, revealing the fire inside. “We burn about 300 plus tons in 24 hours, if both boilers are running, and it’s cold out,” Acord said. By mid-day, temperatures outside have risen and the campus demands less heat. Hale said on days like this, coal moves through the boiler in about 45 minutes — although Hale said he can increase the speed of the moving floor if campus requires more heat. As the coal burns, it heats columns

of water that are embedded in the boiler’s walls. The hot water becomes steam, which is used to heat campus. Any extra steam powers the turbine to produce electricity. “Our whole purpose here is to heat the campus, but why not reap the benefits of that and use this energy?” Acord said. After the coal passes through the boiler fires, the burnt remains fall into the ash pit. “Here we rake it into grinders that grind up the big stuff,” Acord said. “Then it is carried off into the ash silo behind the plant.” Acord is in charge of all the operations of the power plant. He has a thorough understanding of its systems, as well as an engineer’s intuition for mechanics, which he has cultivated over many years. “I’ve pulled wrenches (for) probably 26 years I think, as a mechanic, millwright, pipe welder and machinist,” Acord said. Acord said his father inspired him to work with coal. “I guess a lot of my skills are generated from Daddy, through the years,” Acord said. “Of course, I had a lot of other guys show me and teach me, but Daddy planted the seed in me to go on.” His rise to operations manager — second in command at the power plant — was made possible because he went back to school to get a degree in power plant technology. “I still have a couple of electives to do to finish that up, but I’m on the home stretch,” he said. “And I can see light at the end of the tunnel.” However, he said education was not a priority in his family growing up. “It wasn’t that Daddy didn’t care, that was just the way it was. He was raised the same way,” Acord said. “It’s a family curse, and you’ve got to break that curse.” “I got tired of climbing up on roofs, driving nails and digging ditches. I knew there had got to be something better out there, and that’s when I started pushing myself toward it,” Acord said. “Knowledge is key. Knowledge is power. I’ve learned that through the years.” Acord said his wife, Deanne, truly enabled him to get his degree. “I’d be working here until 4 p.m. or 5 p.m. and then get on the computer to study and stay until 11 at night,” he said. “And during the interim, my wife was taking care of everything else. If it weren’t for that, it wouldn’t have occurred.” Even so, Acord said his empha-

sis on education didn’t quite connect with his 19-year-old son, who announced his decision to join the Army several weeks ago. He will deploy in October. “So I was just hoping to break the curse,” Acord said, laughing. “I was hoping to pass it on to my boy but he was too hard-headed.” But a man at the plant who can truly attest to the power of an education is Nichols. Nichols has risen to the top position at the plant after working there for 26 years and taking 10 years of night school at Old Dominion University and New River Community College. “What it amounts to is I worked my way from the bottom all the way to the top,” Nichols said. “But the education has been key, without that I wouldn’t be sitting in this chair talking.” While Nichols’ and Acord’s stories demonstrate the value of education, there are many things that prevent workers at the power plant from pursuing degrees. “I think the guys don’t see the value in education because (they) may not see that payoff immediately, sometimes it just takes time,” Nichols said. “But I do think it’s possible. I think for anybody that wants to do that, it’s doable thing, and we try to help them do that.” Nichols said he can help workers complete night school by adjusting their schedules and even helping with their tuition. But for many, there is just not enough time. “It’s hard, particularly if you have a family, to put that much time and effort into night school,” Nichols said. “It’s really, really hard.” When he was taking night classes at NRCC, he said he often did not get home from the library until 1 a.m. or 2 a.m., only to wake up hours later for work. “So I had almost a continuous day going — no time for a social life,” Nichols said. “But I didn’t have a family then, so that made it more possible.” But Nichols said most men at the power plant are grateful for their jobs and appreciate a bit of recognition. “I don’t think they need a lot, but a little pat on the back is a good thing, for all the nights and weekends and holidays and the stuff these guys work through,” Nichols said. Nichols admitted the power plant often receives negative attention from students because of the environmental problems caused by burning coal. “I know there’s somewhat of an aversion to coal plants out there and

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A truck arrives early in the morning to dump a load of about 18 to 25 tons of coal from Cyrus, West Virginia. the fact that we burn coal, but we do a really good job with it,” Nichols said. “Our scrubbers are second to none, and our boiler emission rates are second to none.” The coal plant runs at a thermal efficiency of 82.2 percent, according to plant data. Nichols said while natural gas or oil would leave a smaller environmental footprint, those fuels cost significantly more than coal and would not produce enough heat for campus. “You go to gas or oil — it’s going to be expensive to switch over to those two fuels,” Hale said. While the plant currently operates

on a yearly budget of $6 million to $7 million, Nichols said switching to natural gas or oil would increase operating costs to $12 million to $18 million. “If you went to a liquid or a gaseous fuel, you could easily increase the cost of going to school here by 50 percent or even double it,” Nichols said. “I don’t know how much of the tuition is energy based, but it’s got to be some.” However, he said he looks forward to a cleaner future, when greener technology is cheap enough for Tech to use. “Hopefully technology will come

along in the next 10 or 15 years that will allow us to build a much more efficient new plant somewhere else,” Nichols said. “But today, we really don’t have any other choices.” And when Wilburn, Hale, Nichols and Acord go home at the end of the work day, they rest easy knowing their jobs will be around for at least a few more years. “Some days, we’re busier than a one-legged man in a hind-end kicking contest,” Acord said. “But the power plant world is a good world, it really is. I really enjoy the job I got.”

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may 3, 2011