Thursday, September 8, 2011 Print Edition by Collegiate Times

Thursday, September 8, 2011

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COLLEGIATETIMES 108th year, issue 82

News, page 2

Weekend, page 5

Opinions, page 3

Sports, page6

Classifieds, page 4

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Reporting arrests Selling alcohol, illegal without license policy criticized First class misdemeanor NEWS STAFF

ELIZABETH HAYDU news staff writer Every student currently taking classes agreed to a new policy that requires them to report their arrests to Virginia Tech within 10 days. Previously, students were only required to report convictions. “We have already had about 175 forms turned in,” said Ed Spencer, the vice president for Student Affairs. “Most of these reports have been of minor incidents.” The policy is based on a similar program at the University of Virginia that was implemented after lacrosse player George Hugely allegedly assaulted and killed a female HUGELY lacrosse player, Yeardley Love. David Fox, a senior electrical engineering major, questioned how the policy is enforced. “The ultimate thing is how the hell are they going to know and get the information about your background to make a proper assessment of whether you lied?” Fox asked. At Tech and U.Va., the policies rely on students’ honesty to report arrests. However, arrests made locally are exceptions. Local law enforcement agencies, including Blacksburg Police, Tech Police and Montgomery County Police do report arrests to the university. If Tech finds out about the arrest, failure to have reported it could lead to harsher punishments from the university, said Francis Keene, the director of student conduct. “I actually think the majority of students — given the numbers we have had — are disclosing, and certainly not disclosing something is at your own risk,” Keene said. “If you don’t disclose something and we later find out about it, that would be something we would have a conversation with the student about.” Spencer said the vast majority of the reports are for minor incidents, and most students who report these receive a note of recognition for following the policy — no other action is taken. However, for students who have been arrested for severe incidents, students will be called in for a hearing. He also said the university is not particularly interested in minor offenses, but students should still report them. “I warn students not to hold anything back.” Spencer said. “Like I said earlier, with most cases the student just receives a letter that has stated the report was received. However, if the university finds out you did not report your arrest, you will be double charged.” A student would be double charged for lying to a university official, and violating rules and regulations. Keene said student conduct is not trying to catch students in lies, but is trying to make the university as a whole is more secure. “This policy is not intended to be a ‘gotcha’ program,” Keene said. “It is just for us to be aware of issues that might be affecting our learning community, so we can also assist students who might be struggling with a particular issue.” Fox said the program should have been implemented to incom-

ing freshmen, not students who already accepted admission under the old policy, which stated students were only required to report convictions to the university. “To make it mandatory for students who are already students here to do that is kind of a violation of contract in a way,” Fox said, “because students came under the assumption that they wouldn’t have to do that.” Robert Collins, a senior English major, said he thinks the new policy is justified. “I think it makes sense,” he said. “It’s only a simple question of anything you might have done before you sign up for classes to test your eligibility.” Tech’s Safety and Security Policy Committee began to consider implementing the policy after a visit to U.Va. during fall 2010. Tech’s policy allows students 10 days after an arrest occurs to report it to the university, while U.Va. students are allowed only 72 hours under their policy. Sarah Brown, a junior English major, said she is concerned about what could happen to a friend who she said visited the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill this past weekend and was arrested for underage possession of alcohol. “So now he is probably going to have to, with this policy, report it to Tech, which is ridiculous because he wasn’t at Tech, it didn’t involve Tech, and he wasn’t even in the state of Virginia,” Brown said. “I think they are just digging for more things from the students than is necessary for security.” Fox said he has a problem with the policy because Tech is a public university, which is an arm of the state of Virginia. “You have a serious problem with a state university running into the Fifth Amendment, which basically says you can’t be forced to incriminate yourself to the state,” he said. “(The university is) basically saying, ‘Incriminate yourself so we can punish you for it.’” Other students are worried about what will happen to students in cases of false arrests. “I think the university should throw out the form completely if it is a false arrest,” said Brittany Thrall, a 2009 Tech graduate. “I have a number of friends who have gotten in trouble with the university due to circumstances beyond their control and have gotten in deeper or more serious trouble because of it. I feel they are more harshly enforcing the wrong policies instead of focusing on ones that could use a harsher hand.” Scott also said people are often arrested who are in the wrong place at the wrong time. “I think the context of the crime is important,” Scott said. “A lot of the times people get in trouble for stupid things.” But Spencer said on the form students must fill out to report an arrest, there is an area providing sufficient space for them to explain their arrest’s circumstances. He also said the student conduct office keeps all the information students provide under the new policy and cannot release it without the person’s consent, unless a court subpoena or government request equal to that is made. Keene encouraged students who oppose the policy to let their opinions be heard via student government.

Many students at Virginia Tech, those who are older and younger than 21, attend parties where alcohol is served — some party throwers even require guests to pay money before entering. This action is actually a Class 1 misdemeanor. If a person throwing a party with alcohol is charging guests money for cups, admission or another reason, they are technically selling alcohol without a license, Steve Clarke, the director of the Campus Alcohol Abuse Prevention Center, said. “If you are charging for any amount at the door, even for a band or concert, and there is alcohol available, then that is legally considered selling alcohol without a license,” Clarke said. And it doesn’t matter if a person is selling alcohol to someone who is 21 and older — if the person does not have a license to sell alcohol, then this exchange is illegal. But it is legal for people 21 and older to share alcohol without exchanging money. If a person sells or simply gives alcohol to someone under 21 years old, then they are providing alcohol to a minor and/or selling alcohol without a license. Serving alcohol to those under 21 is also a Class 1 misdemeanor. Those charged with Class 1 misdemeanors face up to a $2,500 fine and/or up to a year in jail, as well as 100 hours of community service. The offense would be listed on a person’s permanent record and could affect future job prospects, the right to purchase a gun, and the ability to obtain licenses and bonds. Julia Michel, a senior aerospace engineering major, said she disagrees that selling alcohol should be a crime if buy-

OFFENSE

* Provide false information on keg registration. * Charging for alcohol without an ABC license. * Serving or purchasing alcohol for those who are not of legal drinking age * Using a Fake ID to establish a false identity PUNISHMENT - up to one year in jail and/or

- up to a $2500 ﬁne and/or

- up to 100 hrs of community service AND

- it goes on your permanent record VICTORIA ZIGADLO / COLLEGIATE TIMES

ers are 21 years and older. “The crime would be reselling to an underage, which is selling to a minor,” she said. The number of arrests for selling alcohol without a license increased from two per year to six per year, last year in Blacksburg, Clarke said. “The police had done very little about selling alcohol without

MCT CAMPUS David Joyce poses in front of his store, USA Golf Outlet. Joyce took advantage of a special federal program to gain U.S. residency.

P.J. HUFFSTUTTER mcclatchy newspapers LOS ANGELES — David Joyce marched his way to the front of the U.S. immigration line using his pocketbook, sinking half a million dollars into a Vermont ski resort. The British citizen had spent years in a futile effort to secure green cards for himself, his wife and their 9-year-old son so they could relocate to sunny Florida. Then, a fellow emigre tipped him off to a little-known federal program that helps foreigners gain permanent U.S. residency by investing in American businesses. “In six months, we had our green cards,” said Joyce, 51. “Considering everything we’ve been through, this was easy.” Joyce is one of thousands of foreigners speeding through the U.S. immigration labyrinth — for a price. Those who invest $500,000 in a U.S. KEVIN DICKEL / SPPS

general, he said. Taylor said students begin to realize what is legal and illegal as police make arrests. “It we see it, we charge it — and it calms down,” Taylor said. “(The increase in arrests) may not be the result of a crackdown, it may just be a new school year, and people may not yet realize that you can’t sell it.”

Flashing some green for a green card

LITTLE-KNOWN PROGRAM ALLOWS GREEN CARDS TO FOREIGNERS WHO INVEST AT LEAST $500,000 IN US

Be sure to pick up The Extra Point tomorrow

a license, and then last year they addressed it more seriously,” Clarke said. He said police plan to crack down on this offense this year. However, Blacksburg Police Lt. Steve Taylor said the department is enforcing it seriously, but no more than usual. Rather, police are enforcing alcohol-related arrests, which typically occur more often at the beginning of they school year, in

enterprise that creates at least 10 jobs in a rural area or a community with a high unemployment rate are eligible for special visas that put them and their families on the fast track to becoming permanent residents. For some wealthy immigrants lacking the family ties or special skills required for traditional U.S. visas, it’s the fastest way to establish permanent residency apart from marrying a U.S. citizen. Investors aren’t required to work in the business or participate in its management; some never even see the enterprises they buy into. The federal program, known as EB-5, is relatively small, capped at 10,000 visas annually. But applications have skyrocketed since 2006 as entrepreneurs and cash-strapped towns have begun aggressively wooing wealthy foreigners as a low-cost source of capital. In San Bernardino, Calif., the city is tapping EB-5 funds to redevelop its downtown theater district. In Jupiter,

Fla., overseas money is fueling the construction of an outdoor amphitheater, marina slips and entertainment hub. In Philadelphia, it was used to expand a hospital complex and improve a school for disabled children. Once the federal government gives preliminary approval to a project and conducts background checks, the would-be immigrant can invest in the deal and apply for the visa. But the government’s initial approval doesn’t always lead to desired results. Some immigrants have faced deportation when their investments failed to create enough jobs or otherwise didn’t comply with program rules. Others have secured their green cards but lost their entire investments when projects foundered. Yet the prospect of U.S. residency has proved so enticing that some are willing to take the chance. Once approved for the program, the investor can apply for a conditional green card, good for two years. If the investment creates 10 jobs during that time, he or she can apply to live in the U.S. permanently. Applications from mainland China

have soared in recent years, fueled by well-off parents eager to get their children into U.S. schools. “They can afford to do this,” said Zhang Runan, an immigration attorney in Washington. Proponents laud the program as a way to boost struggling local economies while rewarding immigrant risktakers. In the hamlet of Jay, Vt., where Englishman Joyce was part of a $215 million investment pool, EB-5 money has helped finance luxury condos and a new ice hockey arena. Up next: an indoor water park, a golf complex and a hotel aimed at attracting more visitors to the ski town hit hard by the recession. “We tried going to banks, but the lending environment was impossible,” said Bill Stenger, chief executive of the Jay Peak Resort. “There is no way we could have done this without EB-5.” But some critics contend this is little more than a cash-for-visa program, one that is more beneficial to project promoters than the depressed communities it’s supposed to help. A cottage industry of middlemen has emerged to introduce investors hungry for permanent U.S. residency to American developers and communities eager for money. A flurry of EB-5-related websites has popped up with pitches written in Chinese, Korean, Spanish and Arabic. Promoters regularly offer seminars in hotel ballrooms in China, as well as in the U.S., proffering deals and collecting hefty fees. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the federal agency that administers the program, can’t say how many net new jobs have been created. Under USCIS rules, the projects don’t even have to hire 10 workers. Instead, an investor’s money can be used to preserve 10 jobs that economic models show, and the government concludes, would otherwise disappear without such funding. “Immigration visas should be precious,” said David S. North, a research fellow with the Center for Immigration Studies, a conservative think tank in Washington, who has written extensively about EB-5. “The government is selling access to this country and what are we getting in return? Very little.” No city has encountered more strife with the program than recession-ravaged Victorville, Calif. Foreclosures sprouted on nearly every street. Unemployment soared past 16 percent. So local leaders hired William Buck Johns, a prominent Orange County developer and Republican fundraiser, to help them set up an EB-5 regional center. They traveled overseas seeking short-term funding to continue redevelopment work at the former George Air Force Base while the city secured permanent financing. Normally, such bridge loans carry high interest rates and are backed with collateral such as real estate.

2 news

editors: claire sanderson, michelle sutherland newseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865

september 8, 2011

COLLEGIATETIMES

nation

what you’re saying //comments from online readers... On the new Visitor and Undergraduate Center:

Congress not ready to let go of partisanship

Speaking of embarrassing houses, maybe they should move the Undergraduate Honor System into some of space in Burruss. Right now they’re in an off-campus house that’s in terrible shape. Makes a pretty bad first impression about what the administration thinks about academic honesty doesn’t it?On the column that argued that Rick Perry is a hypocritical candidate:

Anonymous>> Every politician to ever walk the earth is hypocritical. Just Saying.

jireh>> get the board out of your eye before you become a ‘speck ‘ inspector. hey mr. bible man. how about reading the first couple of chapters of genesis and you will get some real truthful facts ! here are some anomalies of your “ buddy “ prof. dawkins. “ we admit that we are like apes, but we seldom realize that we are apes. in truth not only are we apes , we are african apes ‘ it is the plain truth that we are cousins of chipanzees , somewhat more distant cousins of monkeys , more distant cousins still of aardvarks and manatees, yet more distant cousins of bananas and turnips.” you got to like that !!!!i guess we won’t see you at the next hokie game because you may be visiting the zoo to see your cousin “ chimpy “.

hokie_199>> “None of these candidates would be right for the job or good for the country, but of those three, Perry is the worst.” At this point, I would take any of the, over what we’ve got now. Obama is an unmitigated disaster, but that should come as no surprise. Obama is probably the least qualified president in history and got elected largerly on the color of his skin.Ask yourself this question: if a white guy named Barry O’Brien had run in 2008 with the exact same credentials as our Obama - would you have voted for him? Would he have even made it through the primary?

@Jeff>> Care to explain/justify/defend the statement that Michelle Bachmann is a better choice to lead the country than Rick Perry?Seems like you jump on Perry early on but throw some pretty questionable accusations in there before you get to your reasons.

On the column on youthful news outlets: Bob>> I honestly miss the news prior to the internet boom. There is NO truly trusworthy source anymore. The internet is great for countless things, but it is a poor source for accurate news. Prior to instant communication, when the news was reduced to bullet points, few things were reported inaccurately. It was a HUGE deal when they were. Now, we live in a time when news is no longer news - it is gossip and rumors. Because there are countless news outlets, it is an even bigger deal to be the first to break a story than it was when there were only three main outlets. As a result, misinformation is commonly broadcast to the world as truth. We could do with more actual news from a few trusted sources. That was much better than countless gossip columnists trying to make a name for themselves by rolling the dice on a story without confirmed sources.

On the column on teachers not requiring attendance: wow>> the fact that you admit skipping class was a problem for you, yet say that professors “show little confidence in our maturity and ability to succeed without supervision” while continuing to say you shouldn’t be required to attend class merely proves the professors correct.

Mark>>

WASHINGTON — Lawmakers returned to Washington this week convinced that their constituents are tired of their bickering, but there was little evidence of an imminent outbreak of bipartisan cooperation to enact any major economic plan. “The country doesn’t want a blame game anymore,” said House of Representatives Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., one of the fiercest partisans on Capitol Hill, and he listed some areas of agreement. But despite holding dozens of town hall meetings around the country during their August recess, and polls showing Congress’ approval ratings sinking to historic lows, common ground on a major jobs-creation initiative remains elusive. Instead, lawmakers from the two major parties seemed to get widely different messages from the folks back home about what to do — if they were listening at all. Republicans heard that government was the problem. Democrats heard that government help is needed. In

quick schemes coming out of the White House,” he said. Many lawmakers are in no mood to give in. “For us to compromise on something we fundamentally disagree on, I think that’s why we have elections,” said Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C. Lawmakers left Washington for their summer recess in early August after weeks of ugly partisan turmoil over whether to raise the federal debt ceiling. The dispute was resolved just hours before the government faced a historic default. The nation — for that matter, the whole world — let Congress know of its deep unhappiness with the gridlock and inability to govern. Standard&Poor’s cut the nation’s top AAA credit rating, which the country had for 70 years, to AA-plus. Financial markets quaked and stock indices remain far below their preJuly levels. - David Lightman & William Douglas, mcclatchy newspapers

world US and EU to crack down on illegal ﬁshing WASHINGTON — Illegal fishing undermines efforts to stop overfishing and shrinks the profits of legal commercial fishermen, the oceans chiefs of the United States and the European Union declared on Wednesday, as they pledged to cooperate to nab fish pirates. Although it’s a global problem, the U.S. and the European Union declared they have a big responsibility for solving it because they catch and import so much seafood. The EU is the world’s top seafood importer, followed by Japan and the U.S. Illegal fishing is one of the most serious threats to American fishing jobs and the health of the world’s oceans, said Jane Lubchenco, the administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NOAA says the illegal operations allow pirates to cut corners and lower their costs, and so they have an unfair competitive advantage. In the world’s poorest countries, the large pirate vessels take fish that’s needed by subsistence fishermen, Lubchenco said at a news conference here. Her European counterpart, Maria Damanaki, who visited Washington to sign the agreement on Wednesday, said that an EU report estimated that pirates globally take 20 percent of the catch, but some environmental groups estimate it’s 30 percent. “The truth is, we don’t know exactly, but we have to find out,” she said.

CORRECTIONS

@ wow - Don’t try to reason. This opinions piece has been written and re-written dozens of times for well over ten years, I’m sure. It’s the same every time. To the author: GET OVER IT. It’s a prof’s prerogative to decide whether attendance should count toward your grade in their class or not. You are paying to earn a degree. Every prof you have has a grading system for their class, and if some of that grade comes from your presence, either comply or find a new class. It’s not difficult to show up.And your sob story of being too weak to type is a bit dramatic, isn’t it? Even if you were hit by a bus, typing is not something that is going to break you.Incidentally, I have found that teachers who do take attendance are far superior to instructors that don’t and are more concerned with their research. I’ll take the former any day.

crime blotter

part the dual messages reflect that state legislatures draw House districts to maximize one-party ideological purity, so that lawmakers elected from them are under little pressure to compromise. House Assistant Democratic Leader James Clyburn of South Carolina recalled meeting with constituents at Voorhees College in Denmark, S.C. “These people didn’t want to hear me talking about spending cuts,” Clyburn said. “They don’t want to hear anything but jobs. They want to see us focus on jobs.” But Republicans say that shortterm stimulus programs aren’t a serious answer to the nation’s job crisis. Massive reductions in federal spending are a better antidote, in their view. People “believe that the short-term fixes that are coming out of Congress are creating more uncertainty, more debt, more questions about taxes,” said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. “There are too many “get-rich-

The lack of information makes it difficult for consumers to know whether much of their seafood was legally and sustainably caught. In the U.S., more than 80 percent of seafood is imported. About half of the imports are wild-caught fish, and half are farm-raised. “We don’t have a real good handle on the extent of illegal imports,” Lubchenco said. She said that the agreement she and Damanaki signed calls for the U.S. and the EU to work together to identify pirate vessels and deny them port entry and also to train more science observers and enforcement personnel. Under Damanaki’s leadership as commissioner for fisheries and maritime affairs, the EU in 2010 started to require that all fish it imported or caught had to have a certificate showing its legality. Damanaki said her goal is to get international support for a global certificate. Lubchenco said the United States didn’t plan a certificate program but instead would rely on the countries where fishing vessels are registered to make sure they operate legally. The U.S. already restricts port entry for vessels on the piracy lists of international regional fisheries organizations that it belongs to. The U.S. also can impose trade sanctions on countries that don’t take steps to stop fish piracy. Global economic losses from fish piracy are estimated at $10 billion to $23.5 billion a year, Lubchenco said.

The Pew Environment Group, a conservation organization that promotes a global campaign against fish piracy, said on its website that the high seas today are like the Wild West with no sheriff. It said large fishing vessels operated by pirates keep fishing by moving around and changing their vessels’ names or flags. Illegal fishing includes failing to report catches, ignoring conservation rules, fishing in closed areas and using banned equipment. A global fisheries enforcement system is needed, including a global registry of fishing vessels, stricter rules at ports and a system for nations to share information, “essentially an Interpol for the oceans,” the group’s managing director, Joshua Reichert, said in a statement on Wednesday. “We are committed to assisting these two governments in reversing the tide of illegal fishing, which is significantly damaging many of the world’s fisheries and depriving millions of people of basic food security and the ability to earn a livelihood from the sea,” Reichert said. NOAA on Wednesday also released its 2010 report on the U.S. fishing industry. It said American commercial fishermen landed 8.2 billion pounds of seafood in 2010, an increase of 200 million pounds over 2009.

In “WSU fined for false report,” (CT - Sept. 7) the graphic accompanying the article reflected the incorrect numbers. Eastern Michigan University originally faced a fine of $357,500 not $357,000; Tarleton State is appealing a fine in the amount of $137,500 not $82,000; and Washington State is appealing a fine of $82,500 not $135,700.

-Renee Schoof, mcclatchy newspapers

JUSTIN GRAVES -public editor -senior -sociology major

The Collegiate Times regrets this error.

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

9/5/2011

10:30 a.m.

Follow up to Assault (simple)

Huckleberry Trail

Inactive

N/A

9/6/2011

7:50 a.m.

Larceny/Theft from a builiding

War Memorial Gym

Inactive

N/A

9/7/2011

1:53 a.m.

Assault and Battery

Peddrew Yates

Cleared by Arrest

Robert Louis Stevens II, 18

13216540656465514

Anon>>

Miners suffer despite rising gold prices TOM LASSETER mcclatchy newspapers ZHAOYUAN, China — As flames swept through the Luoshan Gold Mine late one afternoon in August 2010, men began dropping dead. By the next day, 16 people had died, most of them from choking to death on smoke and fumes. The Chinese government made its usual announcements: The incident was caused by poor wiring, management of the state-run mine had been questioned and other operations in the area were suspended briefly for safety inspections. But a year later, with the price of gold hovering at near-record levels, locals say that not much has changed down in the mines of Zhaoyuan. “The conditions are not safe at all. Stones fall from overhead all the time,”

said Ji Mingxing, 44, who’d just finished his shift blasting rock. From the outside, China’s recent emergence as the world’s largest producer of gold is one more step in its economic expansion. The nation’s output from an industry dominated by state and jointventure companies has jumped from about 108.4 tons in 1995 to more than 340 tons last year, worth about $20 billion at current prices. The Shandong Zhongkuang Group, the state company that owns Luoshan Gold Mine, reported a climb in pretax profits from about 636 million yuan in 2006, about $99.6 million at today’s exchange, to almost 2.1 billion yuan last year, some $328 million, according to its website. However, the men who work the

myriad of mines in the area say that while skyrocketing gold prices have upped their salaries, a combination of inflation and a sense that neither the government nor big business cares much about their welfare has them worried. A visit to Zhaoyuan, which advertises itself as “China’s Capital of Gold,” suggests a troubling disconnect between the staggering wealth that’s being created in China and those who toil literally at the bottom. This corner of coastal Shandong province, where apple orchards sit in the moody shadows of Luoshan Mountain, with its thick veins of gold, and the surrounding areas were responsible for more than 14 percent of China’s gold production in 2010, according to figures posted by the Zhaoyuan government.

Yet interviews here, 280 miles southeast of Beijing as the crow flies, point to a central challenge for the nation’s leadership: ensuring that living standards for average Chinese continue to rise quickly enough to offset frustrations with issues such as income inequality and minimal workers’ rights. “We live next to a mountain of gold, but we are very poor,” said Qu Haocheng, 48, who pushes carts in a nearby mine and keeps a red and gold package of Taishan Cigarettes in his pocket. Qu allowed that his salary had increased from about 1,800 yuan a month in 2006, $282 at today’s rate, to some 3,000 yuan a month, or $470. Hasn’t that made life easier? “The working conditions haven’t gotten any better,” Qu said, with bit-

MCT CAMPUS

see CHINA / page four

Chinese gold miners stand next to the housing provided by the mine.

opınıons 3

editors: scott masselli, sean simons opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865 COLLEGIATETIMES

september 8, 2011

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

MCT CAMPUS

Subculture candidates shift topics of debate ith the conclusion of the fifth W Republican debate, commentary continued on many of the leading GOP candidates, including Govs. Mitt Romney and Rick Perry, and congresswoman Michele Bachmann, the three perennial “first tier” contenders. A considerable amount of attention from GOP strategists has also been focused on a lesser known candidate, former U.S. ambassador to China, Jon Huntsman. Widely proclaimed as a centrist Republican, he has failed to garner much traction in GOP polls. Yet, in spite of this, he continues to receive considerably more attention than two other candidates, congressman Ron Paul and Gov. Gary Johnson. Despite coming in second at the Ames Straw Poll, Paul has, to the ire of his supporters, failed to receive national consideration on the level of the “first tier” candidates, or even Huntsman, who managed a meager 0.4 percent of votes at the Straw Poll. Yet, despite their differing levels of support, all three men voice positions and beliefs that are important to our ever-diverging political landscape. Unlike candidates Bachmann and Perry, Huntsman has shown a willingness to diverge from certain far right aspects of the Republican Party, including the Tea Party. On his Twitter account, he wrote, “To be clear. I believe in evolution and trust scientists on global warming. Call me

crazy,” which undoubtedly alienated parts of the party. Furthermore, his commitment to serving as ambassador to China under President Obama has led many in the party to consider him a RINO, or a “Republican in name only,” along with his belief that the debt ceiling should have been raised, which contrasts with popular opinion among Republican lawmakers. Opposite Huntsman lie Paul and Johnson, two libertarians that have defied the majority of public opinions. Throughout the Republican debates, Paul has been a vocal critic of the wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan, whilst also decrying the United State’s intervention in Libya. He often advocates a ”less intrusive” foreign policy, a position similarly supported by Johnson. As libertarians, both support limited government, which has maintained a limited following in both parties. Paul has furthermore called for public auditing of the Federal Reserve, eventually leading to the complete termination of the reserve. And the final significant piece of both men’s agendas is the decriminalization of marijuana, a viewpoint they feel is justified by a war on drugs that has failed to generate the results as projected. As “Protest Candidates” in the GOP, Paul, Huntsman and Johnson have all failed to gain mainstream Republican approval. Studying their

positions on national matters may explain why. Huntsman has supported positions that are generally accepted in some manner throughout the U.S., though much less among GOP hardliners. Though his stance on evolution and global warming may rankle some voters, they are not considered unthinkable, whether believed in or not. On the other hand,

“

ized partisanship. Huntsman has challenged aspects of the Republican party that are most open to criticism. As both parties are viewed as moving further to their respective wings, Huntsman has seemed to work at pulling his party back towards the center. Though his views on global warming and the economy may not be conventional, they represent a

As ‘Protest Candidates’ in the GOP, Paul, Huntsman and Johnson have all failed to gain mainstream Republican approval. Studying their positions on national matters may explain why. JORDAN PLAHN REGULAR COLUMNIST

Paul and Johnson have confronted issues that are significant to the entire country. Paul’s lambasting of the two wars in the Middle East garnered boos from the crowd at the Iowa Straw Poll debate, not because people necessarily support the wars, but because he seems to deny any positive outcomes that have materialized under General Petraeus’ command. Likewise, Johnson has claimed “after 6 months in Afghanistan, we wiped out Al Qaeda,” which is contrary to conventional belief. All three men are challenging conventional positions in our country, both in their own party and nationally. The rhetoric of these candidates is essential if we are to introduce new ideas and move away from our polar-

fresh opinion on the matter and instigate dialogue. On a more national level, Paul and Johnson work to expose what they believe to be unconstitutional actions of the government and their fellow candidates. Despite achieving relatively little national following, both men have advocated Hayekian economics and a less expansive foreign policy, which are discussions that this country needs. Whether their views dictate the direction our country takes or not, fresh perspectives and unconventional beliefs may shake some of the cuffs that bind our policy makers. Yet, Paul and Johnson’s unconventional stances on national matters put

them behind Huntsman in national political discourse. Paul has consistently supported constitutional rights, whether they have bipartisan support or not. Therein lays the issue: whereas Huntsman is viewed as pulling his party back towards the center, Paul is considered a fringe candidate, despite how substantive his arguments may be. But protest candidates like Paul and Huntsman are important, as they speak out against bipartisan norms that continue to drive this country down. Regardless of your political opinions, it’s not hard to appreciate the contributions these candidates make to political discourse. Protest candiates fill a pivotal role, whether they are successful or not, as leaders who can challenge the status quo of our political system and remove the wedge which seems to drive Americans |apart. The sooner concrete, bipartisan dialogue begins on issues like the economy, foreign policy and energy security, the quicker the U.S. will climb out of this hole.

JORDAN PLAHN -regular columnist -sophomore -engineering science and mechanics major

Tech should provide Major collaboration important clubs more exposure T you found yourself in Squires If after 5 p.m. this past week, you came across a building filled with different student meetings. From Latin Link’s first meeting in the Black Cultural Center, to the Society of Indian Americans meeting near Colonial, or to the various groups that were having discussions near the couches on the second floor, Squires was buzzing with club activity. For many student organizations, this past week was the start of the club year following Gobblerfest. Gobblerfest gives students a chance to see the true variety of the different student organizations that we have on campus. There is something for everyone, whether it is an organization focused around academics, heritage, Greek life or recreation — like the quidditch club. For these student organizations, Gobblerfest is the only time they can get this type of broad exposure in front of the university’s community. This face-to-face interaction is a valuable tool for clubs; indirect advertising, such as Facebook and posters, simply cannot elicit the same response. It is unfortunate this is the only major opportunity the university creates for clubs and organizations to recruit new members and get students involved. Gobblerfest is an excellent way to showcase the different student groups at the beginning of the academic year; why not do something similar at the start of the spring semester? Many groups would be receptive to having such an opportunity, especially groups that were not able to participate in this year’s Gobblerfest. This would also be a great way help spring transfer students get involved and may attract those that missed out the first time. In addition, a spring Gobblerfest held in January could be used as a way to further recruit participants and promote the major student events that take place in the spring such as Relay for Life, the Big Event and even the Council of International Student

Organizations’ International Street Fair. If planning a Gobblerfest II is out of the question for the beginning of the spring semester, what about more focused opportunities throughout the year? The Black Organizations Council successfully showcases their respective constituent groups; what is preventing the university from providing a forum for similar showcases focused on the different interest areas? In contrast to the densely populated Gobblerfest, a tailored and focused showcase could provide that opportunity for more in-depth interaction with the different groups. In addition, many students may not be ready at the end of the first week of fall classes to learn about the different groups and to get involved right away. While the onus is on the different student groups to market and publicize their own efforts, there are things respective offices within the university can do to ease that burden on clubs and strengthen student involvement. After all, a more involved student body benefits the university as a whole. The simple step of planning and organizing additional opportunities could further strengthen involvement in the spring semester and help the student organizations. What are the barriers that prevent us from setting aside space and promoting such an effort? I really don’t see any. If we as an institution truly value the wide variety and number of different student organizations that are available, then we should encourage the university to provide more opportunities to match clubs with interested students.

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

he infamous syllabus week has come and gone. Teachers have finished droning over their plan for the semester, offering introductions and, to my dismay, asserting their class’ or department’s superiority over others. Students compare schedules and work loads as they begin to prioritize their classes. One thing that stuck out to me about the opening two weeks of this semester is the lack of collaboration among departments and disciplines. Where is the love? As a sophomore with classes in four different disciplines — political science, communication, history and university honors — I find it disheartening to see the disconnect within my own college and Virginia Tech’s academic community as a whole. By no means do I wish to single only my college out; the professors are terrific, and I seldom come across trouble with any of them. What troubles me is the lack of connect, or even respect for other departments, whether it is between students or professors. I have taken several philosophy courses and each time the professor has questioned my choice in majors, aggressively putting their academic priorities before mine. Yes, I enjoy philosophy to an extent, but my passions are elsewhere. Though

comments may be considered just lighthearted jokes, I am beginning to find it offensive. If this is the kind of criticism I come across within a major similar to mine, I don’t even want to think about what the professors in other colleges would say about my concentrations. I came to college to pursue academic excellence in the subjects that fascinate me most. Many times, especially in today’s economy, people decide their majors based on their future jobs, rather than their interests. Though I think this is of the utmost importance, I also think we should be doing what we’re best at and most passionate about. Call me trite, but my mantra for academic pursuits goes: do what you love, and respect others for doing the same. This is not meant to be a defense of my own academic discipline, but instead a call for realization. We are all here to attain an education, and every aspect of learning at Tech should be appreciated. More importantly, the only way our society can run smoothly is through collaboration. A history major has a lot to learn from an engineer; a biology major has a lot to learn from someone who is studying English and communication.

I am currently enrolled in a special study on peace studies, in which the Center for Peace Studies and Violence Prevention is working to build an educational, cross-section track in which students across departments can collaborate from their freshman to senior year. Programs like this are exactly what we need to overcome the disunity between majors. This study is meant to embrace peace and understanding and to urge students to learn from each other, as they will in the real world. While I am more than happy to be a part of the study, I wish more opportunities would emerge for students who cross departments and college boundaries. I genuinely believe this change could turn our university into a better, more encouraging learning environment. Both students and teachers need to acknowledge and respect the interconnectedness of our education — even when it seems too wide of a gap to jump across.

ERIN KURLE -regular columnist -sophomore -political science major

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september 8, 2011

page 4

China: Gold mines cause health problems for workers

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Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved

p to

held there for four days until they signed a contract agreeing to accept 514,000 yuan in compensation, about $80,560. “They said that if we didn’t accept it, we would get nothing,” said the mother, who alternated between kneading a tissue in tight circles in her hands and lifting it to wipe away tears. “After we signed the contract, his body was cremated and we got his ashes.” Teng’s 31-year-old wife, in a black cotton dress with a white flower print, said she didn’t bother reading the agreement. The mine bosses had made it clear that they didn’t have to answer for what had happened. “They never gave us an explanation,” the widow said.

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of Teng. The son of corn farmers, the husband of a schoolteacher and the father of a 2-year-old boy with chubby cheeks, Teng had worked in the mines since he was a teenager. “Nobody from the company came to tell me that he was dead; I had to go to the mine to find him after I heard there had been an accident,” said Teng’s 61-year-old mother, who along with his widow agreed to an interview on the condition that neither their names nor Teng’s full name be used. After being turned away from the mine, Teng’s mother and his wife drove to the hospital just in time to see bodies being carried into the building. After his mother collapsed amid loud sobs, she said, she and her daughter-in-law were driven to a hotel by a group of men and

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who live here are suffering.” Jiang said his pay for a day’s work had gone up from 80 yuan in 2005, about $12.50 at current exchange rates, to 100 yuan, roughly $15.60. It’s a good raise, he said, though it comes against the backdrop of a steep increase for everyday goods. The meal in front of him cost 12 yuan five years ago and is now 20 yuan. Ji, wearing blue pants torn at the bottom and a dusty camouflage jacket, spoke up to add a detail: “If we get killed in the mine, our families get paid 600,000 yuan,” about $94,000. How did he know that? “Other people have been killed,” Ji answered. Among the dead at the Luoshan Gold Mine on Aug. 6, 2010, was a 30-year-old man with the surname

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anymore.” At a small restaurant down the road from a cluster of mines at the base of Luoshan Mountain, Jiang Daiwen was recently slurping a bowl of lamb soup across the table from his friend, Ji Mingxing. “I’m very scared of working in there. I’m scared the mine will collapse,” said Jiang, a 46-year-old miner with a thin mustache, muddy boots and headlamp slung around his belt. The owner of the restaurant, which he runs in the courtyard of his house, at first yelled at customers not to speak with a Western reporter. After listening to the conversations, though, Li Chunhai leaned over to say, “There are only a few people who control the mines here. They make billions a year. The common people

Wh o

terness in his voice. Hearing that a reporter was visiting, Qu’s neighbor dropped by to show a petition she’d filed with the city government, and a complaint signed by about 180 people. An accident in July at a plant related to gold refining spewed a sulfurous cloud that killed livestock and hospitalized more than half a dozen people, Wen Cuiling said. After Wen helped lead a demonstration of people demanding compensation, a village official visited her son and threatened to have their house burned down if she didn’t stop making trouble, said Wen, a 57-year-old farmer. Multiple attempts to reach

Zhaoyuan officials for an interview about gold mining in the area were unsuccessful. A man who answered the phone at the Zhaoyuan Communist Party propaganda department, who gave only his last name of Gao, referred McClatchy Newspapers to a city government office. When told that no one in that office had answered the phone in two days, Gao said they were busy. Asked what the government office’s fax number was, Gao said the fax machine was broken. Asked what his own fax number was, Gao said his also wasn’t working. After further conversation, Gao gave a fax number, later confirmed that he’d received the interview request and said, “If you don’t hear from us, don’t contact us

HE SAID

from page two

september 8, 2011

editors: chelsea gunter, patrick murphy featureseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865

weekend

COLLEGIATETIMES

Take a hike with Venture Out

in the

Loop

This weekend catch the last film of the Starlite Drive-In season, "Rise of the Planet of the Apes." Heads up, it is also "Facebook fan weekend," so visitors who use the code words "FREE CEASEAR" will get a free box of popcorn at the concession stand. If the place gets packed enough, the theatre will remain open for one extra weekend.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 9 What: “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” film at the Starlite Drive-In Theatre in Christiansburg Where: Starlight Drive, off Roanoke Street When: Gates open at 7 p.m., first movie at 8:30 p.m., second movie at 10:30 p.m. (Sept. 9-11) Cost: $5, $3 for children under 11 What: VT Talent Night at Deet’s Where: Deet’s Place on campus When: 7 p.m. - 11 p.m. Cost: FREE

SATURDAY, SEPT. 10 What: 2nd Annual Roanoke Diamond Dash Where: Suntrust Plaza, Roanoke, Va. When: 11 a.m. Cost: FREE What: Top Dog/Underdog (play) Where: The Lyric Theater When: Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m. Cost: $20 adults, $10 students What: Sign Challenge Celebration for the United Way Where: Briarwood Clubouse in Heathwood When: 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. Cost: No cover charge, donations only DANIELLE BUYNAK / COLLEGIATE TIMES

NICK SMIRNIOTOPOULOS features reporter Let’s be honest, as far as nightlife goes, the small town of Blacksburg does not have much to offer compared to other booming urban college towns. But what Blacksburg lacks in nightlife, it abounds all the more in a rich assortment of natural reserves, which very few college towns can claim. One major benefit of the New River Valley’s landscape is the availability of great hiking |trails. Virginia Tech is fortunate enough to be only 20 minutes away from the Appalachian Trail, which connects Georgia to Maine, through a towering mountain chain. This convenient accessibility has provided Tech students with many nearby hiking “hot spots.” Venture Out, a Tech organization dedicated to providing students with fun, safe outdoor activities, has compiled a list of these popular hikes. The two top-rated hiking trails on the list are Cascades, which has one flat two-mile trail and Barney’s Wall, a more scenic three-mile trail. These paths straddle a winding stream and peak at an immense 60-foot waterfall, which pools into a pond at the bottom, providing tired hikers with a spot for a nice, refreshing swim. David Goodman, a Venture Out coordinator, said the most scenic hike, in his opinion, is the Cascades. “The beauty of it is you can go there year-round — in the winter it is beautiful when there is snow on the ground,” Goodman said. The hiking trail rated third is Kelly’s Knob. This trail starts out very steep but then levels off for the final portion leading to the knob, which is an exposed, rocky area. This hike has a great view at the end and a camping area available for those who wish to get the full nature experience. Other hikes on the list include War Spur, Wind Rock, Dragon’s Tooth and McAfee’s Knob, which was named the most photographed spot on the

FILE 2010 / SPPS

Located in Pembroke, Va., the Cascades in the Jefferson National Forest is a the top hiking trail in the area, mainly for its scenic views. Appalachian Trail — Goodman showed no hesitation saying this hike has the best views, especially in fall foliage starts coming in. “It is amazing,” he said. All the trails listed are less than an hour away from campus, and the majority of them are closer to 20 minutes away. With the hikes being so close, Goodman, who has a strong passion for outdoor activities, said he wants to see more people utilize these opportunities. “These trails are easily accessible — well worth the reward of putting forth the effort of going,” he said. With the availability of trails we have, there is something out there for

everyone.” Regardless of a hike’s proximity to Tech, Goodman said climbers should prepare for an excursion, whether short or long, properly. He suggested bringing a rain coat, first aid kit and ample amouts of water. Goodman also recommended telling a person where and when you plan to hike for safety reasons. Venture Out offers several hikes per semester for students who are interested in exploring the nearby hikes available. Its office is located in 123 Squires Student Center. For more information about hiking and its activities, visit their Facebook page via “Venture Out.”

6 sports september 8, 2011

editors: matt jones, zach mariner sportseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865 COLLEGIATETIMES

Men’s soccer set to kick off ACC play COURTNEY LOFGREN sports reporter The Virginia Tech men’s soccer team will look to do two things in Saturday’s matchup against North Carolina. First, even its record, and second, prove the team can stay competitive in the Atlantic Coast Conference, as it begins conference play. Tech currently has a 1-2-0 record after last weekend’s Hokie Invitational at Thompson Field. The team’s win, a 2-1 victory, came against the Cincinatti Bearcats on Sunday when Robert Alberti converted a penalty kick in the 82nd minute. They had previously lost to Wisconsin and Howard. Now, after three games for the players to get acclimated to one another, their focus turns to conference play. It will not be an easy task, as North Carolina was the ACC’s lone representative in the final four of the NCAA tournament last year. Historically, Tech has not played North Carolina well. Since 1973, when the series between the two teams started, Tech was 2-8-0. The Hokies’ last victory against the Tar Heels came in 2007 in Blacksburg, when North Carolina was ranked No. 5 in the nation. This was two seasons before Mike Brizendine took over as the Hokies head coach. Since then, the Heels have won both matchups between the two teams. Brizendine knows there is a tall task in store for his team but is grateful the team’s first taste of conference play will be at home. “One thing we’re fortunate (for) is we’re bringing a bunch of (ACC) teams (to Blacksburg),” Brizendine said. “I’d much rather play them at home than away. We still have some tough road games.” Brizendine also said that with the team’s first matchup being against an opponent like UNC, the roster, which is made up mostly of freshmen and sophomores, will get a taste of how competitive and talented the ACC teams are this season, and for years to come. The Heels are currently ranked No. 1 in the nation. However, there are some similarities between the two teams. North Carolina also boasts a roster with a large number of freshmen, with a mix of 11 redshirt and true freshmen. But one advantage UNC does have

on the Hokies is a greater number of upperclassmen who have experienced winning seasons throughout their time at the school. There is a mix of 10 juniors and seniors on the roster. Although experience is always a key factor, Brizendine was pleased from what he saw from his players throughout the first three games of the season. Midfielder Ben Strong, one of 13 redshirt or true freshmen on the roster, has started the Hokies’ first three games. He knew coming into Blacksburg how the team had struggled throughout the past few seasons against conference opponents and echoed Brizendine’s previous statements about remaining competitive this year — a change from the past. “We just want to compete in our tough conference,” Strong said. “We got the top teams and we had a rough season last year.” When Tech upset UNC five years ago, none of the current players were on the roster except for one of this year’s captains, James Schupp. He was also one of the last players on the roster to partake in postseason play beyond the ACC tournament. He helped the team reach the NCAA semifinals in the tournament. Schupp said not to count the Hokies out in any of their matchups, as any team can win a game at any given time. “Four years ago, we were pretty good, and we’re still rebuilding,” Schupp said. “We have some key components this year that, (being) the underdog will probably help us because everybody knows we haven’t been good the past couple of years. (The opponent) might take us lightly, but that opens the door so we can show people what we can do — and we will.” Although the other team may have moretalentandexperience,Brizendine still likes his team and is impressed with the chemistry that has developed since starting camp earlier in the summer. “The team is really, really close, more so then any of the teams I’ve been with,” Brizendine said. “You feel like they are a family.” The Hokies will get their first taste of ACC action this weekend, as they face off against North Carolina at 7 p.m. this Saturday at Thompson Field.

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Tech freshman Ethan Ashong battles for possession with a Cincinnati defender during the Hokies 2-1 win over the Bearcats last Sunday.