Wednesday, September 14, 2011 Print Edition by Collegiate Times

Wednesday, September 14, 2011 An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903

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COLLEGIATETIMES 108th year, issue 85

News, page 2

Food & Drink, page 5

Opinions, page 3

Sports, page 6

Classifieds, page 4

Sudoku, page 4

Financial aid policy changes Tech app helps teach fractions JENNIFER BATES news staff writer Junk food is making its way back into the public school system thanks to an iTunes application created by Virginia Tech faculty members. CandyFactory is helping to improve middle school students’ understanding of fractions. The purpose of the CandyFactory app, and others in production, is to “create a new niche of games that will both get players to think more deeply about content and will provide diagnostic information for teachers,” said Michael Evans, an assistant professor in the School of Education. Anderson Norton, a mathematics assistant professor, worked with two seventh graders from Corey Watkins’s math class at Blacksburg Middle School every Wednesday after school for about four months. “I would absolutely bring this app into my classroom if I had the option of using iPads,” Watkins said. CandyFactory, which Watkins said brings novelty to fractions, took about six months to design and complete. The team of Tech teachers created the app without funding from its recent grant of $2 million from the National Science Foundation. The grant is meant to be used to create three new educational apps. CandyFactory contains three levels, which are designed to help students understand fractions. In level one, candy bars are already partitioned and students focus on “ubiquitous concepts of fractions,” Norton said.

In level two, “students must be more creative about the use of partitioning and iterating,” he said. Improper fractions are introduced in the third and final level. The app is available free on iTunes and has been downloaded over 2,500 times. Norton said the team chose fractions because they are gateways to algebra.” “Students need to develop these mental operations in order to make sense of what comes next,” he said. With the NSF grant, the team is contracted to build three apps over the next two years. Norton said each of the three new apps will be GAMES — gateways to algebraic motivation engagement and success — applications and will focus on fractions for the sixth, seventh and eighth grade. As a part of its grant project, the team plans on purchasing 150 iPads to give to public middle schools in Danville and Shawsville, Va., as well as Floyd County. “You can’t get benefits from the app if you don’t have something to play it on,” Evans said. The app was a collaboration with the School of Education, the Educational Research and Evaluation Program, and the computer science, psychology and mathematics departments. The team that created CandyFactory consists of Osman Balci, a computer science professor, Mido Chang, an educational research and evaluation assistant professor, Kirby Deater-Deckard, a psychology professor, Serdar Aslan, a computer science Ph.D. student, as well as Evans and Norton.

Radford Transit stops at Squires JOSH HIGGINS news reporter The Radford Transit now offers extended bus service to Blacksburg and Christiansburg. The new NRV Connect Express services connect Radford residents and Radford University students to the rest of the New River Valley. Radford students and children may ride the bus for free. NRV residents pay $1 for bus fare, and senior citizens pay 50 cents. The bus runs on Fridays from 3:40 p.m. to 1:40 a.m., and Saturdays from 12:40 p.m. to 1:40 a.m. The bus route starts at the intersection of Tyler Avenue and

East Main Street in Radford, and travels to Christiansburg, where it has a time check at the New River Valley Mall and a stop along Laurel Street, near the Walmart and Kmart. The bus then travels to Blacksburg, making a stop along Main Street and a time check along Alumni Mall at the Virginia Tech campus. According to Mike Greg, a Radford Transit official, Radford began offering the service because a study assessing Radford residents’ and students’ transit needs showed the extended coverage service was necessary and popular. Follow the writer on Twitter: @joshualhiggins

DANIEL LIN / SPPS

Scott Terrell studies in Torgerson Bridge. His ﬁnancial aid may be threatened if he takes more than 180 credit hours at Virginia Tech.

STUDENTS ENTERING COLLEGE WITH HIGH SCHOOL CREDITS MAY NOT RECIEVE AID OVER THE YEARS JOSH HIGGINS news reporter Scott Terrell is not sure if he will receive financial aid for his last semester at Virginia Tech. His uncertainty stems from requirements imposed by revised financial aid policies enacted this year. Terrell, a first year statistics major, technically entered Tech as a sophomore because of credits he earned in high school. He is now afraid he may exceed a 150 percent credit hour limit, leaving him ineligible to receive financial aid later in his college career. In turn, Terrell might have to alter his preferable course schedule to accommodate the policy’s changes. “I may have to adjust my schedule and pile up classes in the final semester, as to delay the 180th credit hour, which would make it a difficult final semester,” he said. “But it may be the only way to ensure I receive aid all eight semesters.” The new policy states all students must meet academic progress and success requirements to receive aid for tuition costs. The revised policies imposed by Title IV federal aid programs this year now require students to meet certain expectations in three Reasonable Academic Progress categories — pace, cumulative grade point average and maximum timeframe — to receive financial aid. Financial aid offices use RAP measures to evaluate a student’s academic success and progression. “The expectation is that you reasonably and successfully complete the courses for which you’ve received funds to assist in paying that tuition cost,” said Marilynn King, the senior associate director of the University Scholarships and Financial Aid. “We are measuring everything they have attempted to accomplish toward program com-

pletion — the goal is to measure academic success.” The measures require undergraduate and graduate students to maintain at least 2.0 and 3.0 cumulative GPAs, respectively. The policy also states 75 percent of all attempted credit hours must be completed, and no more than 150 percent of the hours required to complete a degree will be covered by financial aid. Pace is evaluated during a census each semester to gauge the number of attempted versus earned hours. If a student has 50 credits completed as of the census date, that student cannot drop more than 15 credits at that time. If they drop, withdraw or fail 15 or more credits before they accumulate more earned credits, they will have fallen below the 75 percent requirement, and will not have met RAP. Transfer credits, including those received from Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and dual-enrollment courses, also count toward the pace measurement. Those credits are also included in the 150 percent limit, if they count toward a degree. Terrell said he believes his current course plan, which includes multiple courses outside his degree concentration, will exceed this percent limit, preventing him from receiving aid. He also said he thinks the 150 percent cap inhibits students’ abilities to gain an interdisciplinary education. “While I understand the intention of the 150 percent rule — it’s to encourage students to have a focused plan of study toward a given degree — I believe it also carries an extraneous side effect,” Terrell said. “It can restrain a student’s ability to complete coursework outside their degree plan, even when that work can be applicable to their degree.” If a student doesn’t meet the three RAP requirements, financial aid

will tell them to meet RAP by the following semester. Financial aid will be suspended if RAP isn’t met by the end of the semester-long probationary period. But a student may request an appeal to have financial aid reinstated if they provide supporting documentation, such as a letter of recommendation from an academic advisor, and a reason for unmet RAP to financial aid. King said the policy revisions would help USFA assist struggling students through an “early intervention” by informing them about remediation opportunities, such as tutoring and study programs, to help them get back on track during the probationary period. King said overall, the revised policy will have a small affect on most Tech students. “We have been fortunate that most students perform remarkably well at Virginia Tech,” King said. “We are very fortunate to have such a strong, academically-excelling student body.” The new policy amendments were added mainly to meet federal regulations, and help students maintain academic success and complete a degree program, King said. “The idea is that if you start something, you want to finish it — that’s a very common approach to many things we do in life,” King said. King said the regulations will not require much of students receiving financial aid. “In reality, I think these regulations are very reasonable,” King said. “The ideal goal is that a student should be able to stay on task and on target to complete a degree in a reasonable amount of time.” More information about the new financial aid policies and complete policies, is available at Finaid.vt.edu/appeals/rap/policy-2011-2012.html or the USFA offices in the Student Services building.

guidelines for reasonable academic progress The measures require undergraduate students to maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA, while graduate students are subject to a 3.0 cumulative GPA requirement. Seventy-five percent of all attempted credit hours must be completed, and no more than 150 percent of the hours required to complete a degree will be covered by financial aid.

Follow the writer on Twitter: @joshualhiggins

Predator drones now prevent and treat forest fires on US, Mexico border BRIAN BENNETT mcclatchy newspapers WASHINGTON — Most days, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer David Gasho sends three unmanned spy planes into the skies over the rugged Sonora Desert to hunt for drug smugglers crossing into southern Arizona from Mexico. But in mid-June, as the largest wildfire in Arizona history raged, Gasho sent one of the Predator B drones soaring over residential neighborhoods in search of another threat — rogue brush fires. Working from an air-conditioned trailer, his crew aimed an airborne infrared camera through thick smoke and spotted a smoldering blaze. Using coordinates fed from the drone, airborne firefighters then doused the hot spot from helicopters and watched over a secure Internet feed as the heat

signature of the flames cooled. It was the latest example of oncesecret military hardware finding routine civilian uses. Seven surveillance drones are chiefly used to help patrol America’s northern and southern borders. But in recent months, they also have helped state and local authorities fight deadly fires, survey damage from floods and tornadoes, and inspect dams and levees. “People are constantly coming up and wanting a piece of that Predator pie,” said Gasho, a former commercial pilot who heads the Customs and Border Protection air operations in Sierra Vista, Ariz., standing beside one of the drones at Libby Army Airfield. Between March and July, for example, dozens of drone missions were flown between Grand Forks, N.D., and Columbia, Mo. The Predators provided first responders and engineers with live video and radar images of

widespread flooding along the Soris, Red and Missouri rivers. During the summer, drones flew along the Louisiana Gulf Coast and up the Mississippi River to inspect flood damage and the integrity of levees. Operators studying the drone feeds look for signs that a levee is bulging from pressure of floodwaters, and advise where a swollen river may first overflow its banks. Local officials can then order evacuations and direct help to vulnerable neighborhoods. In addition to three Predators in Arizona, Customs and Border Protection crews operate two drone aircraft out of Grand Forks, N.D., one from Corpus Christi, Texas, and another in Cocoa Beach, Fla. Plans call for adding three more drones later this year. But some see dangers as well as benefits in the arrival of the drones.

MCT CAMPUS

see DRONES / page four

A technician with General Atomics closes a hanger door where work is being done in Libby Army Airﬁeld

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

september 14, 2011

COLLEGIATETIMES

If desks could talk

We’ve all been in that class where the drawings on the desk are more interesting than the course material. Here is small sample of grafﬁti found on desks from the second ﬂoor of McBryde Hall. These drawings are just a glimpse of the broad spectrum of students at Virginia Tech.

-daniel lin, photo editor

what you’re saying //comments from online readers... On Sept. 11 inconsistencies:

`SpongeBob’ impairs kids’ thinking

Thank you Chris Dunn, this is a necessary and brave article.There’s very little worse than someone who can’t apply high-school physics, a stopwatch, and their own eyes to realize that all three WTC buildings collapsed at or near free-fall speed, symmetrically and into their own footprint, exhibiting all signs of a controlled demolition.Furthermore, no steel-framed high-rise building has ever collapsed completely and rapidly due to fire. Some people will never change their minds regardless of the evidence; that’s the hallmark of faith and religion. For those who believe in science as a method of inquiry, the facts will speak for themselves. What you do with those facts is a matter of courage and integrity.

Bob>> @eyes-open Of course no steel framed high rise building has collapsed due to fire. A normal fire does not burn at the temperature that JET A (aviation fuel) does. As a former structural engineer, I can assure you that once metal (even steel) has been superheated enough...and it was - by JET A...it will lose its structural characteristics and is not capable of supporting what it was designed to support. You also have to consider the structural members that were taken out by the impact itself, which has been completely ignored in most of these accusations! Once various members are taken out, and the steel columns left are subject to a JET A fire, everything below the compromised members is subject to the force of everything ABOVE the compromised members accelerated in freefall (or close to it) for the distance of a few floors worth of height. I’ve studied this myself. I can’t speak to the Pentagon disaster, but conspiracy theories about the WTC are complete rubbish. I’ve done the study. I’ve used the science. My guess is you have not. STOP IT!

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Follow up to cursing/obscene language 3:00 p.m. - 12:11 a.m. Offense Change Follow up to Larceny/Theft of motor vehicle parts

LOS ANGELES — Watching just a short bit of the wildly popular kids TV show “SpongeBob SquarePants” has been known to give many parents headaches. Psychologists have now found that a brief exposure to SpongeBob, Patrick, Squidward and the rest of the crew also appears to dampen preschoolers’ brain power. Angeline Lillard and Jennifer Peterson, both of the University of Virginia’s department of psychology, wanted to see whether watching fast-paced television had an immediate influence on kids’ executive function — skills including attention, working memory, problem solving and delay of gratification that are associated with success in school. Television’s negative effect on executive function over the long term has been established, the researchers wrote Monday in the journal Pediatrics, but less is

known about its immediate effects. To test what those might be, Lillard and Peterson randomly assigned 60 4-year-olds to three groups: one that watched nine minutes of a fast-paced, “very popular fantastical cartoon about an animated sponge that lives under the sea;” one that watched nine minutes of slower-paced programming from a PBS show “about a typical U.S. preschool-aged boy;” and a third group that was asked to draw for nine minutes with markers and crayons. Immediately after their viewing and drawing tasks were complete, the kids were asked to perform four tests to assess executive function. Unfortunately for the denizens of Bikini Bottom, the kids who watched nine minutes of the frenetic high jinks of the “animated sponge” scored significantly worse than the other kids. “Connecting fast-paced televi-

sion viewing to deficits in executive function ... has profound impacts for children’s cognitive and social development that need to be considered and reacted to,” wrote University of Washington pediatrics professor Dr. Dimitri A. Christakis, an authority on children and the media, in an editorial accompanying the study. A different type of expert begged to differ. Nickelodeon, the network that airs “SpongeBob SquarePants,” told CNN that “having 60 nondiverse kids, who are not part of the show’s targeted demo, watch 9 minutes of programming is questionable methodology. It could not possibly provide the basis for any valid findings that parents could trust.” The network noted that “SpongeBob” is intended to be viewed by kids ages 6 to 11 and not by preschoolers. - eryn brown, mcclatchy newspapers

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

september 14, 2011

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

MCT CAMPUS

UN recognition could bring peace to Palestine homeland is not a suit“My case. I am not a traveler.” These are the words of Mahmoud Darwish, a Palestinian poet, journalist and interpreter of the exile and hopes of the Palestinian people. Through his poems, he illustrates the hardships that the Palestinian people have suffered over the past 63 years while being under occupation. He exemplifies the need of statehood for the people and the independence that is long overdue, so that Palestinians are able to have the basic human right of selfdetermination. Palestine is currently an occupied territory by Israel but will have the opportunity to join the United Nations as the 194th member state if they gain the appropriate votes at the end of September, and it is my hope that they will successfully be an internationally recognized independent state. Palestinians, both those in the Diaspora as well as those living in the occupied territories in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, have been waiting a very long time for the world

to officially recognize their right to an independent homeland — a right guaranteed by international law. We find ourselves at a unique moment in time, where a movement is taking place across the Middle East, a huge part of it initiated through the organization and efforts of college students. Now is the time to spread the word that the Palestinians are overdue for freedom through statehood. Currently, 125 countries — representing 75 percent of the global population — already recognize Palestinian statehood on the international 1967 borders, including Brazil, Argentina, India and China. Even the International Olympic Committee and football’s infamous world governing body FIFA formally recognize Palestinian sporting teams as separate entities. With two-thirds of Palestinians supporting the campaign for international recognition of the state of Palestine, it is my hope that it will be admitted as the 194th U.N. member state. Many are frustrated and disheartened by the current situation, and

after going to Palestine myself this past summer and witnessing first-hand the horrors of unjust occupation on a dayto-day basis, I truly believe seeking membership into the U.N. is the right thing to do, and crucial to gaining peace and justice within this region of the world. People are living through unheard conditions at this exact same moment in time, and without seeing it through your own eyes, it can be difficult to understand. However, imagine having to go through a military checkpoint to get from your house to school every morning and evening, knowing your entrance is not guaranteed. To pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque or the Dome of the Rock (holy places specifically for Muslims), you need special permission that takes months to receive from the Israeli government, if at all, to gain entry into Jerusalem. Families have actually been separated because of the wall being built dividing the Palestinian territory. It is unfair, it is unjust and it is time that something is done to assure human rights to these people.

With that said, there are many reasons proving that gaining membership into the U.N. is necessary. Number one and most importantly, Palestine is ready, and it has been for a long time. Along with having a permanent population (albeit living under occupation), Palestine meets all the conditions of the Montevideo Convention for Statehood, of which the United States is a signatory. Palestine has demonstrated it can govern itself and hold democratic elections, and has relations with over a hundred countries who recognize the 1967 Palestine borders. Becoming a full member of the U.N. would be consistent with international law and the right to self-determination — it would mean the continued protection of the rights of all Palestinians around the world, and not just those in the homeland. Not only that, but getting this vote comes with the overwhelming support of Palestinians themselves. It is also important to note that gaining membership into the United Nations General Assembly

is not an alternative to peace negotiations, rather it is a tool to support peace negotiations that can actually be taken into action. Full membership will not solve all the problems of this extremely sensitive situation, but it is a start on the road to ensure people are able to live in peace with their neighbors in the interests of the region, the U.S. and the rest of the world. That is why I, along with activists everywhere, stand up for the interests of our nation and supporting Palestine’s U.N. initiative when the United Nations General Assembly meets in New York later this month. It is my hope that the U.S. and other nations will once again show strong leadership and, for the sake of peace and justice, support Palestine’s bid to become the 194th member state of the U.N.

LINA BARWAKI -regular columnist -junior -industrial systems engineering major

Music industry scraping by Abortion practices is no secret that we are It elbows-deep in the digital age. Modern society demands we stay connected and utilize technology at all times. We can watch television on our smart phones, video chat with friends or colleagues hundreds of miles apart and access an unprecedented amount of information at any time we please. It should come as no surprise then that our ability to enjoy music follows the same set of guidelines. The music industry today, however, is lagging far behind, although some signs would suggest otherwise. The Recording Industry Association of America recently released the total industry sales numbers for 2010, and statistics show the music industry is doing its best to penetrate the digital world of music. In 2010, digital music sales made up 47 percent of the total market share. Nearly half of all albums and singles sold in the United States were bought online through music-giants like iTunes and Amazon — a staggering number, considering digital music made up only 9 percent of the market in 2005. Recent sales from the most popular artists we listen to today also suggest that the music industry is turning back in the right direction. Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” is one of few albums recently to move more than a million copies in its first week. Jay-Z and Kanye West’s “Watch the Throne” made a dent in the charts as well, selling about a half a million copies in its first week. Lil’ Wayne’s newest album, “Tha Carter IV,” is on pace to sell over 750,000 copies in its first week. As promising as these numbers are, they are a far cry from what the recording industry used to enjoy for its blockbuster albums. In 2000, the industry experienced once of its most successful years on record. In March, pop super band N’Sync released their smash hit “No Strings Attached” and set the record for the fastest selling album of all-time, shipping 2.4 million in its first week. Just two months later, Eminem reached a similar milestone with “The Marshall Mathers LP,” which sold 1.7 million copies in its first week — the fastest selling solo album of all time. A current superstar seeing these kinds of numbers

would be astonishing. Artists also saw a drop in concert revenue in 2010, down 12 percent from the numbers posted in 2009, according to the Performing Rights Society. The PRS was quick to place blame on the lack of major tours in 2010 — the Rolling Stones did not play, for example, as it had set records for tour revenue in its most recent run. But perhaps the biggest culprit is that big acts are simply not selling as many tickets. Popular artists such as Kings of Leon and Rod Stewart had to downgrade to playing in arenas versus much larger stadium venues. Add that to the resale mess that promoters like Ticketmaster are fighting against popular sites such as StubHub and even eBay, and the music industry suffers.

of physical “Sales copies of albums were down a staggering 20 percent from 2009. ERIC JONES REGULAR COLUMNIST Overall, despite the surge of digital music sales, the music industry as a whole is suffering just as much now as it was four or five years ago. People just aren’t compelled to go out and by albums anymore. Sales of physical copies of albums were down a staggering 20 percent from 2009. And the digital surge only made up for about 9 percent of the loss — music sales overall are down 11 percent. It is evident that the digital music industry simply can’t keep up with the shift we are seeing in the music marketplace. Perhaps the most important question is why? It would be easy to blame piracy, which is a large part of our generation’s method of obtaining information and culture. It takes mere seconds to find an album online and download it free of charge without anyone noticing a problem. But methods like these are getting more difficult for the average Web-surfer, making them turn to YouTube and online radio sites such as Pandora and Spotify.

YouTube makes it possible to listen to almost any song you can think of in an instant. Hundreds of millions of viewers are exposed to the world’s most popular musicians on YouTube. What’s the point of buying a whole album, or even a single, when you can hear your favorite new song on YouTube repeatedly, free of charge? Sites like Pandora and Last. fm make it easy discover and stream new music for as long as a person needs it, absolutely free of charge, as long as an ad or two don’t cause too much of a problem. Spotify, a smash hit in Europe, figures to become a similar force in the U.S. The library available has millions of songs, and all of them can be played on-demand, again with only the occasional ad as interruption. Subscriptions for these services are a dime-a-dozen, so the music industry doesn’t see the best royalty fees from them. YouTube recently settled a lawsuit to pay more royalties for unofficial videos that feature an artist’s music, and Spotify and Pandora offer monthly fee subscription services which cut the ads and offer unlimited playback. But the percentage of users that fork over these monthly payments are dismal — less than 1 percent of Pandora users subscribe, and Spotify enjoys a somewhat heftier return at 15 percent of all users. These subscriptions and royalties add up to mere fractions of pennies on the dollar for the artists making the music who are suffering the most from the vast availability of their songs. So don’t be fooled — the industry is going to try to play the recent success of “Watch the Throne” and “Tha Carter IV” to make it seem as if music is on the upswing. These albums are going to help, but the overall situation is far from OK for artists and record companies trying to see their same success from the past. The reality is far harsher, and all we can do is hope our favorite artists keep making the best music they can to prove the trends wrong.

ERIC JONES -regular columnist -junior -psychology major

to be standardized he Virginia Department of T Health recently issued regulations regarding the commonwealth’s abortion clinics. These regulations were a result of the General Assembly’s bill, passed in February of this year. These regulations would require abortion clinics to meet the same standards as hospitals. This bill is said to be the most controversial of the General Assembly’s session. The proposed regulations have received mostly negative media coverage throughout the country. The media is mainly focusing on the “restrictive” code requirements instead of the actual safety of patients, which should be of concern to both pro-choice and pro-life advocates. As of now, first-trimester abortion clinics in Virginia are treated as outpatient clinics, just like plastic and oral surgery facilities. These other clinics and facilities perform much less invasive surgeries than abortions, and therefore should be treated differently than abortion clinics. The Family Foundation in Virginia has been advocating for these regulations for over a decade because the clinics have been under-regulated in the state, according to the organization’s director. Currently, the foundation is looking into two medical malpractice cases involving abortion procedures in these clinics. I believe these regulations are reasonable and should have been implemented decades ago, since the abortion clinic industry is worth $1 billion. The proposed regulations, which were categorized as “emergency” to speed up their formulation, were drafted by the VDH after the bill was passed and signed by Gov. Bob McDonnell. They now have to be adopted by the Board of Health at its Sept. 15 meeting and signed into law by McDonnell by the end of the year. The meeting is open to the public, and citizens are welcome to comment and share their opinions on the new regulations. The VDH has been considering comments and suggestions since the bill was passed in February. According to the VDH, an abortion clinic is defined as a “facility that performs five or more firsttrimester abortions per month to meet the same standards for staff-

ing, security, construction and maintenance as hospitals.” Some of these so-called “restrictive requirements,” which are rarely, if at all, mentioned in the media, include that physicians must remain on the premises until a patient is discharged, staff members certified to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation should be available for emergency care, and sanitary conditions have to be improved. As you can see, most of these regulations are meant to improve the safety and health of patients. After reading the regulations, I came to the code restrictions section, which was only a small portion of the new requirements. As a woman, I do not see how these regulations are a bad thing. If women choose to use these services, they should be able to feel reassured knowing the regulations on a facility are up to date and the physicians have to comply with the same regulations as hospitals. Pro-choice advocates have argued that these regulations will cause 17 of the 21 Virginia abortion facilities to close. This will obviously change how and when women will be able to receive the help they need, but it could also increase the number of alternatives to abortion, such as adoption. McDonnell has stated that these regulations are not meant to close down clinics, but to improve the health and care of women. Although McDonnell is pro-life, I feel he respects the law and realizes these clinics need to be up to date to perform such procedures. After the horrific discovery of the Philadelphia abortion clinic where a “doctor” is currently charged with eight murders from partial birth abortion, pro-choice advocates should encourage these regulations. It is important, especially for women, to understand how these regulations could affect them. And in the end, I hope they support regulations that improve the welfare of patients’ health and the overall wellness of women throughout Virginia.

MADELINE HENNINGS -regular columnist -senior -political science major

Collegiate Times Editorial Staff Editor in Chief: Zach Crizer Managing Editor: Lindsey Brookbank Design Editors: Danielle Buynak, Victoria Zigadlo Public Editor: Justin Graves Web Editor: Sarah Watson News Editors: Claire Sanderson, Michelle Sutherland News Reporters: Josh Higgins News Staff Writers: Erin Chapman, Meighan Dober, Abby Harris, Elizabeth Haydu, Cody Owens, Mallory NoePayne Features Editors: Chelsea Gunter, Patrick Murphy Features Reporters: Nick Smirniotopoulos Features Staff Writers: Courtney Baker, Torie Deible, Dane Harrington, Kevin McAleese, Andrew Reily Opinions Editors: Scott Masselli, Sean Simons Sports Editors: Matt Jones, Zach Mariner Sports Reporters: Michael Bealy, Nick Cafferky, Courtney Lofgren, Josh Parcell Sports Staff Writers: Eric Avassi, Zander Baylis, Alyssa Bedrosian, Cody Elliott, Taylor Hay, Alex Koma, Ashleigh Lanza, Brian Marcolini, Cody Owens Photo Editor: Daniel Lin Special Sections Editor: Liana Bayne, Nick Cafferky Public Information Director: Dishu Maheshwari Training Director: Kelsey Heiter Copy Chief: Spenser Snarr Copy Editors: Debra Houchins, Nora McGann Layout Designers: Nadia Groome, Kaitlyn Kicia, Bethany Melson, Matthew Ryburn Online Director: Jamie Chung Collegiate Times Business Staff Business Manager: Philipp Kotlaba Student Publications Photo Staff Director of Photography: Paul Kurlak Lab Manager: Austen Meredith College Media Solutions Ad Director: Brandon Collins Asst Ad Director: Matt Freedman Account Executives: Johnson Bray, Kevin Jadali, Alyssa Brown, Brian Dickson, Janssen Claudio Inside Sales Manager: Mario Gazzola Assistant Inside Sales Manager: Adam Shata Office Manager: Kayley Greenday Assistant Account Executives: Alex Perry, Kacie Nolan, Jordan Peugh Creative Director: Casey Stoneman Asst Production Manager: Colleen Hill Creative Services Staff: Danielle Bushrow, Michael Craighead, Alyssa Morrison, Molly Vinson 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.

september 14, 2011

page 4

Drones: Unmanned aircraft may threaten other planes from page one

drones from distant locations may not be able to see and avoid other aircraft in busy air corridors. “The problem is safety (and) how to share airspace with manned aircraft,” said Michael Barr, who teaches aviation safety at USC. The Homeland Security Department’s first drone crashed in 2006. When a console froze during the flight, the ground-based pilot accidentally switched off the fuel line to the engine. “This was one of these instances where he would have been better off not touching it,” Gasho said. He just panicked. Hit the button and threw away a $7 million

Privacy experts warn that few guidelines restrict eye-in-the-sky coverage. Jay Stanley, a senior analyst on privacy and technology at the American Civil Liberties Union, says the unregulated use of drone aircraft “leaves the gates wide open for a dramatic increase in surveillance of American life.” The drones can detect all manner of activities: from it’s usual altitude of 20,000 feet, a drone camera can tell if a hiker eight miles away is carrying a backpack full of marijuana. And aviation security experts worry that pilots operating

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This was one of these instances where he would have been better off not touching it. He just panicked. Hit the button and threw away a $7 million airplane. DAVID GASHO U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION OFFICER

The crash missed a residential area by 1,000 feet and brought additional scrutiny from the Federal Aviation Authority. It established a special board to approve airspace for use by

unmanned aerial vehicles. In emergencies, like floods and fires, the FAA will fast-track the approval process, said FAA spokesman Les Dorr. “But that doesn’t short-circuit any of the safety concerns,” Dorr said. We still evaluate it to make sure it can fly safely without danger to people on the ground or pilots in the air.” Indeed, the FAA has yet to approve a request to authorize use of a Customs and Border Protection drone to help firefighters in Texas battle fierce wildfires there last week. The ability to sense and avoid

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9/14/11

By Steve Salitan

ACROSS 1 *One way to reach a superhero 9 Blind slat 15 Concurred about 16 Lower, for now 17 Ogled 18 Skinned 19 One of two O.T. books 20 When Donne is done for the day? 21 Genesis outcast 22 Go by 23 *2008 Republican hopeful

-Ballywoo -Qat -Jerk -Zoea -Craziest -Plethora -Benj -Carapax -Fatwa -Cliquay -Equid -Ajee -Zyme -Dexie -Pyxidium -Baal -Mucid -Byrl -Aalii

27 Focus of some trips 28 Justice Sotomayor 29 Unsatisfactory marks? 30 Explain 32 Fiona, after Shrek’s kiss 34 *Roll-fed toy 36 Fertilizer component 39 “I can’t explain it” 43 Imitated 44 Old 51-Across devices 45 “The Simpsons” shopkeeper

7 Tishby of “The Island” 8 Head M.D.? 9 Horse warming up, say 10 Bridge opener, briefly 11 Take for a chump 12 Chemical bonding number 13 Winning numbers 14 Flights that often span two days 20 LAX posting 22 Chest ripple 23 Transform eerily, in sci-fi 24 __ to one’s neck 25 Link with 26 Donald’s second ex 28 Coming and going spots: Abbr. 31 Carloads 32 Others, in Oaxaca 33 Proceeds

46 *Musical about 62 Its season starts rock’s 4 Seasons today; its 49 Benjamin et al.: equipment starts Abbr. the starred 50 Give pieces to answers 51 Trial site, perhaps DOWN 52 Jai __ 1 __ masqué: 53 “The dance with Executioner’s costumes 2 A good while Song” Pulitzer back winner 3 Crime of betrayal 55 Burlesque act 4 Stylish waves 59 Show up 5 Cad 60 Some feelers 6 “How peculiar” 61 Viewed to be

35 Sharp competitor 36 Hefner garb 37 Work 38 Unhappy home inspection find 40 African plain 41 Like some film effects 42 Sorority letters 44 Flow back 47 “The Vampire Diaries” heroine Gilbert 48 Play places 49 Secondary strategy 52 Chick chaser? 54 Quarterback Dawson 55 “Super!” 56 Actress Gasteyer 57 Some Windows systems 58 Epitome of slipperiness

Tuesday’s Puzzle Solved

9/12/11

other aircraft is the “big bugaboo with unmanned aircraft that has prevented them from meeting federal regulations to fly,” said Bill English, senior air safety investigator at the National Transportation Safety Board. The FAA requires pilots have direct eye contact with the drones as they take off and land to avoid collisions with other aircraft Yet because no pilots are on board and the planes can stay aloft for 20 hours at a time, the drones are well suited for dirty, dull and dangerous work. In April, when ice piled up under bridges and caused the Red River to overflow its banks,

a Customs and Border Protection drone flew out of Grand Forks to survey the river around Oslo, Minn. Watching the live footage from the unmanned plane, officials were able to spot a clay levee that appeared about to break and quickly shored it up. Without the live footage, engineers and rescue teams might not have reached the right place in time, officials said. “We would have lost a small town of 50 to 80 homes,” said Kim Ketterhagen, the mutual aid coordinator for Minnesota’s homeland security and emergency management department.

september 14, 2011

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

food & drink

COLLEGIATETIMES

New pizzeria to take slice out of competition lacksburg is not exactly lacking B in late-night food options, but what happens when there’s a new guy in town? Between a smorgasbord of ethnic and fast food offerings, not to mention the university’s own DXpress, possibilities for afterhours feasts are limited only by students’ imaginations. Pizza is especially well covered — local favorites such as Firehouse, Gumby’s and DP Dough have the Italian food fix adequately met. It’s a crowded market to say the least, yet a new pizza parlor has entered the fray. For the Benny Marzano’s pizza restaurant, which is located on Draper Road, standing out means upping the ante. If the name doesn’t ring a bell, perhaps a different description will sound familiar — it’s the place with the giant pizza. Benny Marzano’s claim to fame is its enormous, Godzilla-sized slices of New York style pizza. That’s not rhetorical flourish — these things are massive. Sbarro — no slouch itself in the size department — looks downright puny in comparison. My first experience came as part of a closing time mass exodus from Top of the Stairs. The crowd, which normally follows College Avenue up to Main Street, veered off onto Draper Road for what one person in the procession described as, “the biggest pizza I’ve ever seen.” My curiosity thoroughly piqued, I followed the hungry mob into the nondescript shop where this treasure supposedly rests. When it comes to Marzano’s giant slabs of bread, tomato sauce and cheese, seeing really is believing. I placed my order for a $3.60 slice of cheese — pricier than the $1 slices at TOTS but not outrageous — and watched in awe as a 14-inch behemoth was spread out across two plates. Bar patrons aren’t always the most trustworthy sources of information, but in this case, the hype was true — and then some. The caloric monster on the counter was easily the biggest slice of pizza I’d had the pleasure of encountering in four years at Virginia Tech. The sight and taste are familiar to anyone who has spent significant periods of time on Long Island, N.Y. The slice — light on the tomato sauce and heavy on the grease — offered a hot explo-

sion of thin crust and gooey cheese. Local shops are supposed to pack more punch than bland national chains, so it shouldn’t surprise anyone that Benny Marzano’s blows Sbarro out of the water. The new kid on the block provides a fresher and more satisfying taste. Its pizza also has a more appetizing appearance than Sbarro’s trademark “skinon-a-cadaver” look. The competition between the two New York style parlors is a non-starter. The real question is how Benny Marzano’s holds up compared to the legion of other local competitors. Verdicts on taste are largely dependent on personal preference, but I feel that PK’s, The Cellar and Backstreets still come ahead by a nose. Value is a whole different matter — $3.60 and $4.50 for a gargantuan slice of cheese and pepperoni, respectively, are hard to beat. It’s obviously not the right place for large orders or delivery, but Benny Marzano’s stands head and shoulders above the pack as a place to buy a slice or two. In many ways, however, this is like comparing apples and oranges. Benny Marzano’s seems to be targeting a different market than its competitors and for good reason. Only a fresh take on the college staple could infiltrate such a crowded market. The new shop on Draper Road, which is open from 11 a.m. until 3 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursday through Saturday, is perfectly situated to capitalize on the seemingly limitless late-night dining needs of students. On all other days, the restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to midnight. The uniqueness factor alone should keep crowds steady, as people pour in after hours to see Benny Marzano’s creations for themselves. And really, if you’re going to set a business apart with a novelty, you could do a lot worse than colossal, diet-destroying slices of New York style pizza.

ANDREW REILLY -features staff writer -senior -communications & environmental economics major

Drink

DANIEL LIN / SPPS

Top: Benny Marzano’s 14-inch pizza slices barely ﬁt on two paper plates. Bottom: Marzano himself pulls a freshly baked pizza out of the oven.

BY PATRICK MURPHY PHY | features editor

of the week

Blue skies

Recipe: Pancit

BY EMMA GODDARD | features staff writer

C O

IA TE T IM

E S

While the cooler weather may be fast approaching, there’s still some sunshine s to soak in. Kick back and relax with this Caribbean-inspired drink designedd to be consumed poolside. Ingredients: (serves one) 1 shot Blue Curacao 1 shot melon liqueur 1 shot white rum Splash of grenadine ½ - ¾ cup lemon-lime soda Ice Tiny umbrella if feeling festive Directions: 1. Fill a tall glass with ice. 2. Pour in the liqueurs, rum and soda. Stir well. 3. Add splash of grenadine, but do not stir unless purple color desired. 4. Finish with a tiny umbrella on edge of glass if poolside.

EMMA GODDARD / COLLEGIATE TIMES

Pancit, meaning “noodles” in Filipino, makes for a different yet delicious pasta experience. It’s certainly a healthier alternative to Chinese food and other types of Asian takeout dishes. Make sure to try out this recipe before calling for late night delivery. Prep Time: 30 minutes Cook Time: 20 minutes Ingredients: 1 (8-ounce) package thin rice noodles ½ pound pork tenderloin, cut into bite-size pieces ½ cup soy sauce ground black pepper 1 bag mixed vegetables (snow peas, carrots and

broccoli) 2 green onions, chopped into 1-inch pieces Directions: 1. Place the rice noodles in a large bowl and cover completely with hot water. When soft, cut into 4-inch lengths, drain and set aside. 2. In a skillet over medium heat, brown the pork until no pink shows. Season with soy sauce and ground black pepper. Remove from skillet and set aside. 3. Saute the mixed vegetables. 4. Stir in the noodles and green onions. 5. Cook for five minutes, stir in the pork, then cook for five more minutes. Enjoy.

sports 6

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

september 14, 2011

Errors bite women’s volleyball team in loss ASHLEIGH LANZA & ERIC AVISSAR sports staff

After convincing victories over American and Seton Hall in consecutive three-game sweeps, it appeared the volleyball team was headed for a third straight victory to close out the Hokie Invitational. However, the Hokies were unable to maintain the momentum of a convincing 25-20 opening game victory, losing on Sunday to Tennessee 25-20, 21-25, 16-25 and 17-25. Senior outside hitter Justine Record led the Hokies with 11 kills, while Jennifer Wiker added nine of her own. Junior outside hitter and defensive specialist Morgan O’Neill and Record tied for the team lead in digs, each with 11. “We did not feel nervous,” Record said. “We just started to do too much and got out of our comfort zone, which caused us to make more errors than usual.”

Women’s soccer back on track ZANDER BAYLIS & MIKE PLATANIA sports staff The Virginia Tech women’s soccer team took down the Loyola (Md.) Greyhounds 3-0 at Thompson Field on Sunday. Coming off a heartbreaking overtime loss to Nebraska Friday night, the Hokies (7-1-0) were looking to get back to form against the reeling Loyola team. Tech came out strong in the first half, dominating possession early on. Quick breaks from Jazmine Reeves and Kelly Conheeney tested Loyola keeper Didi Haracic multiple times, one of them being a breakaway for Reeves that was turned away. Despite out-shooting the Greyhounds 13-1, the Hokies went into halftime scoreless. The team had been knocking on the door the entire first half, and its frustration was visible. Defender Julia Goldsworthy was busy not only showing great vision in multiple passes that jumpstarted the offense, but also repeatedly stopping the Greyhounds’ attacks. “We went 0-0 into halftime,” Goldsworthy said. “We knew one minor slip-up and we’d be down.” The Hokies knew at that point they had to start converting opportunities into goals. Tech didn’t waste much time getting going in the second half. They finally found the net in the 50th minute on a Brittany Michels header that came off of a corner, delivered by freshman Kelsey Loupee. The Hokies ceased to let up from that point on. Reeves had a wonderful chance just outside the Loyola goalie box, only to be fouled, earning Tech a free kick, which was given to Conheeney. Conheeney has been on fire this season, netting eight goals in eight games. She made Loyola pay for the foul, and fired a scorcher over the Loyola defenders and into the left corner of the net for the second goal of the game. “I’ve taken more of a leadership role this year and felt like I needed to step it up,” Conheeney said. “I’m an attacking midfielder, and it’s part of my job to score goals.” Tech added to their tally in the 78th minute when senior Katie Cramp headed a cross from midfielder Anne Lumpkin into the net. The late goal essentially sealed the deal for the Hokies, who finished the game outshooting Loyola 25-1. Tech’s defense didn’t allow a shot during the entire second half. Head coach Charles Adair commented on how the team was able to turn things around in the second half. “Fortunately, the first two goals came off set pieces, which are extremely important in our game,” Adair said. “That helped turn the game around for us and open it up.” Tech knows the tough competition in the Atlantic Coast Conference will require more offensive efficiency. “We need to take our chances when we get them,” Adiar said. “We’re not going to get 25 shots in a game moving forward.” The Hokies prepare for ACC play to begin on Sept. 18 against the No. 3 ranked Maryland Terrapins. The Hokies’ next game is at home against Appalachian State on Thursday, Sept. 15. Follow the writer on Twitter: @MikePlatania_CT

The first game was filled with an aggressive and efficient attack, as the Hokies made 11 kills and eight digs. “We were just playing very low-error just like we try to emphasize in practice,” Wiker said. “Head coach Chris Riley told us we only made two errors in that first game, so that was huge.” Initially, the Hokies were able to control the second game, jumping out to a quick 5-1 lead, but the Volunteers reacted quickly to eventually tie the game up at 9-9. What ensued was a seesaw battle of continuous ties and lead changes until the Vols were able to pull away in the game’s closest match. “After that first game, they caught on to what we were doing,” Riley said. “They’re bigger than we are, a little more physical, and we couldn’t stop them.” The turning point in the third game came with two consecutive controversial calls which were in Tennessee’s favor. Hokie fans and players alike were vehemently protesting an illegal touch call, followed by a serve called

out, which many believed should have been an ace. As a result, Tennessee went from a 16-12 lead to an unassailable 18-12 advantage. After taking a 2-1 game lead, Tennessee refused to let up, winning the opening point of the game for the first time and climbing out to a quick 8-3 lead before Riley called the first timeout. With the Hokies down 11-18 in the fourth and final game, Riley called his second and final timeout in an effort to resurrect the match. The initial response was a thunderous crosscourt spike from freshman middle blocker and right side hitter Kathryn Caine, but the Vols fired back scoring three of the next four points to put the match out of reach. The Hokies now have a record of 5-4, while the Vols improved to 7-2 on the season. Despite the loss, Record praised the younger players for their performances and said the team has plenty to work on before next weekend’s tour-

nament. “I felt like we had a lot of different lineups,” Record said. “I feel like the younger girls stepped in and played very well for the first time. I definitely think we can improve from this weekend because win or lose, we can always get better.” Riley said he will focus on the team’s weaknesses, which are primarily defensive, this week in practice. “We were fine offensively,” Riley said. “I will take that every time if we can be that offensive. Our weaknesses are on defense and blocking. We have to see where they are going and not give up easy swings. If they can go around us and through us, then that’s different. And we can’t give away easy points like we did tonight.” The Hokies will host another tournament this weekend, beginning the Hilton Garden Hokie Invitational against U.Va. on Friday for Student Appreciation Night. On Saturday, AUSTEN MEREDITH / SPPS the Hokies will play a double-header Morgan O’Neill (19) bumps the ball during a match against Cincinnati. against Chattanooga and Connecticut.