OCCUPY VIRGINIA TECH SEEKS AID REFORM KELSEY JO STARR news staff writer Jade Womack’s financial aid changes every time she logs onto HokieSpa. “My parents bought my software package for me two weeks before classes started so I would be allowed to attend Tech,” Womack said. “I later found out that my mom had to sell something in order to afford it. And that really bothered me.”
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Occupy Virginia Tech is a movement trying to stop just that. Today at 4:30 p.m. participating students will walk out of their classes, or stop what they’re doing, to meet at the War Memorial Pylons as part of the movement, a satellite program of Occupy Colleges, modeled after the recent Occupy Wall Street protests. Occupy Colleges’ goal is to raise awareness of the massive amount of students
who are faced with extreme student debt after college or are forced to not attend college because they cannot afford it, according to a post on the Occupy Colleges website. About 90 schools are expected to take part in this event across the country, according to Occupy Colleges. About 200 students are expected to attend Tech’s event , according to a statement released by the group.
“I believe it’s a good expression of people’s democratic freedom,” said Darren Rosbach, a visiting instructor with the urban affairs and planning department. Rosbach teaches a class that directly conflicts with the time of the walkout. He said he would not oppose students leaving his class, so long as they told him about it in advance. see OCCUPY / page two
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PUMPING THROUGH THE PAIN BY ASHLEIGH LANZA | sports staff writer
DANIEL LIN / SPPS
STUDENTS SAY COMING OUT TO FAMILIES CAN BE DIFFICULT, BUT THEY ARE OFTEN ACCEPTING JENN BATES news staff writer Chris Hickey and Bekah Ulmer were afraid their families would reject them for being gay. “I was tired, I was just really really tired (of being closeted),” Hickey, who is the treasurer and information officer for the Virginia Tech Queer Grads and Allies, said. “People only knew 75 percent of me. They didn’t know all of me. And coming out was finally letting my friends in. I needed to let them know who I am. I decided I don’t want to be tired anymore, I want to be happy.” The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community is trying to stop that mentality and encourage open dialogue. The organization’s National Coming Out Day was Tuesday, but the LGBTA is celebrating it today. The tradition began in 1987 when half a million people participated in the March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights, according
Live Homosexual Acts will be taking place this Thursday, October 13th at 8 p.m. in Old Dominion Ballroom in Squires. First, Faisal Alam will be speaking about being gay and Muslim. Then, students read monologues about coming out followed by poems and a song. to the Human Rights Campaign. Ulmer, a senior sociology major and National Coming Out Day chair for the LGBTA, said she always knew that there was something different about her. Once she found out what gay was, she was able to put the pieces together. But she learned about it in a negative light from church. She said she struggled with her sexuality through her senior year of high school. But coming out doesn’t have to be a lonely battle. National Coming Out Day is a way for people to connect with the LGBT community. “We want to show love and support to people who are maybe having this inner battle in their mind about coming out,” Hickey, a graduate student studying biology, said. “It is a big event to come out, and we respect the weight of it, but we’re also here to support you.” After years of struggle, Hickey came out to his family when he was 20. The only male in a family of four
children, he was worried about how his father would accept the news and who would carry on the family name — he thought that was really important to his father. After he told his mother, she smiled and said, “I knew it all along.” His father assured him that his happiness was more important than the family name. Ulmer’s experience was more difficult. The first person she told was a girl she liked, who was a lesbian as well. But when they broke up, she needed someone to talk to. She told her twin sister and eventually her immediate family, but her aunt and cousin could not accept who she was. While living with them for the summer, Ulmer overheard her younger cousin using negative gay slurs. Ulmer explained why those gay words had upset her and shared her true self. Later, her aunt openly condemned homosexuality in front of her cousin. Her aunt repeatedly tried to bring her to church and talk about her being gay, she said. With the exception of her aunt and cousin, Ulmer said she has been pleasantly surprised with how people have accepted the declaration of her sexuality, especially her grandparents. Ulmer said that she was the one who was nervous, crying, and tense when she first told her sister. After Ulmer told her sister, she simply told her it was okay. “(My sister) was great about it … very accepting,” she said. Ulmer and Hickey encourage people to be open about their sexuality, especially to their families. “(Coming out) was an emotional day for everyone,” he said. “I was trembling and everyone was crying, but it wasn’t an ashamed crying. It was a cry: I wish I had done this earlier.” “It weighed on me, it was always there,” Ulmer said. “Not being out, hiding it was difficult.” After coming out when she was 18, Ulmer said she has changed a great deal. She has become more confident in who she is and is a more outgoing person. She said she is definitely happier with her life now. Hickey’s life has completely changed from where it used to be. He said he used to think of himself as an outsider and his sexuality was wrong. He now has no shame, and his life is more complete. He said he has gained so much more out of coming out than he could have ever lost by not doing so. see OUT / page two
As No. 19 dives across the floor for a dig, it is hard to believe that just a few months ago she was rehabbing almost every day from two surgeries on her right shoulder. Junior volleyball libero Morgan O’Neill now sacrifices her body without hesitation after months of training healed a partial tear of her right rotator cuff. “My first surgery I was standoffish about because it was so early and no one had had surgery before on the team at that time,” O’Neill said. “(The team) didn’t really know how to handle it or what it was like to not be able to play and couldn’t realize how hard it was for me.” see PUMPING / page five
Volleyball splits weekend series BROOKS TIFFANY sports staff writer The Virginia Tech volleyball team returned home this past week after an exciting win at Maryland to host the Wake Forest Demon Deacons and Duke Blue Devils on Thursday and Friday, respectively. The opening set against Wake Forest Thursday night was tied up nine different times, but the Hokies (10-8, 3-4) overtook the Deacons to win the set 27-25.
Wake came out strong in the second set, taking it 25-20, while the Hokies allowed the Deacons to hang around in the third set; the Deacons stole it 26-24. Down 2-1 in sets, the Hokies were not finished. Tech regained momentum in the fourth set and took a comfortable nine-point lead on the Deacons, this time putting the set away 25-17 and carrying that fire into the fifth set, dominating it 15-7 and winning the match three sets to two. The Hokies again looked to keep
their momentum going against Duke on Friday night by jumping out and taking the first set impressively by a score of 25-16. The Hokies and Blue Devils battled back and forth in the next two sets, with Duke taking the second set 25-17, and Tech claiming the third 25-23. The Hokies fought closely in the fourth set but were unable to put the match away, as Duke claimed the set 25-17. Tech, for the third match in a row, looked like it would keep its dra-
matic fifth set magic going when it jumped out to a 3-0 lead, but Duke would rally, eventually breaking a 4-4 tie and never looking back to take the set 15-10, and the match 3-2. Junior Jennifer Wiker, who had nine kills in the effort, summed up the match against Duke. “We always play well against Duke,” she said. “It’s a tough match, we just came up a little short and a couple errors here and there added up.” see VOLLEYBALL / page five
Farm owner reflects on growing festival ANDREW REILLY features staff writer It’s 11 a.m. on a Monday morning and Sinkland Farms is all abuzz. Scattered across the sprawling complex are dozens of children roaming through pumpkin patches and bales of hay. It’s field trip day at the farm, and for the staff, that means organizing activities, manning shops and entertaining the shortest of attention spans. That’s a lot of responsibility for Sinkland owner Susan Sink, even before you factor in regular farm chores and her day job outside of the farm. When she says, “It’s all the energy I can give to keep going what I’ve got going,” you believe her. Because however hectic this Monday may be, it doesn’t hold a candle to what Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be like. Every weekend, through the end of
October, Sink’s scenic but unassuming Christiansburg farm transforms into an agricultural playground, bustling marketplace and massive community gathering all rolled into one event: The famous Sinkland Farms Pumpkin Festival. For 18 years, visitors from all across Virginia and other states have filled up the Riner Road expansive grass lawn at the farm to celebrate what has become one of the region’s most popular traditions — an estimated 35,000 people attended in 2008. With new events, such as demonstrations from a world champion “Punkin Chunkin” team and live Shakespeare performances joining old favorites, such as hay rides, farm animals and the festival’s legendary five-acre corn maze, it’s possible this year will surpass that number. “It’s the 18th festival, and it’s just gotten bigger every year,” said Hannah Cooley, Sinkland Farms employee. “The crowds have gotten bigger
— people come from out of state, Tennessee, North Carolina.” Sink doesn’t divulge attendance numbers but notes that the parking lot has been near capacity for some events. “This past weekend, as a matter of fact, we came close. We had about 10 spaces left,” Sink said. “You couldn’t see green grass anywhere.” It’s a busy life at the top, and that’s where she and the Sinkland crew find themselves as they once again look to surpass their own success. Even the largest juggernaut has to start somewhere, though, and Sinkland is no exception — Sink’s farm emerged from humble origins on its way to becoming a beloved community attraction. Though Sink and her husband Henry purchased the farm in 1980, they didn’t begin hosting the festival until 1994. The first 14 years of ownership saw the Sinks begin operation as a dairy farm and experiment
with different agricultural endeavors, including u-pick strawberries, Christmas trees and beef. The business was a modest success, but like all in their field, Sink and her family were subject to the unforgiving whims of the weather. “There are more uncontrollable factors that affect agriculture and farming than most business ventures,” Sink said. “One huge draught every four years, you lose your corn crop.” Sinkland was in the wholesale pumpkin business when Sink and her husband decided out of the blue to make a lengthy journey to attend a fall festival. “It was located in Craig County. It took us an hour and 30 minutes to get there from here,” she said. “It was over the hills, through the valleys, in the country — you know, way out in the sticks.” see SINKLAND / page six
2 news
editors: claire sanderson, michelle sutherland newseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865
october 13, 2011
COLLEGIATETIMES
what you’re saying //comments from online readers...
Out: LGBT groups available for support
On Tech settling a harassment suit: Bill>> Agreeing to a settlement when it could potentially leave the door open to numerous other (valid or invalid) cases is rarely a good idea. I hope the university has solid reasons for paying this woman in a settlement, continuing to employ her, and denying wrongdoing.
from page one
Zachary Barnes>>
The LGBTA and QG&A are Tech groups that advocate coming out and acceptance. “Anyone that believes in basic human rights, in people being happy, and in anti-discrimination should care about (National Coming Out Day),” said Katelin ShugartSchmidt, the QG&A president and a fisheries and wildlife graduate
I feel like this could have been made to sound a bit more dramatic than it appears. First off, he couldn’t have “invited himself into her hotel room.” They have locks, she would have had to let him into the room. Also, since when is it inappropriate to ask whether someone is married.. its called conversation... What is the world coming to where you can’t even try to be a friendly coworker without being accused of harassment. I could be wrong, but my impression from this article is that she was looking for some cash money.
“The issue of our parent’s generation was the issue of race, the issue of sexuality is ours,” she said. “It will be a defining characteristic for our generation as to whether we continue to discriminate against a group of people both culturally and in our legal system, or we take a stand and say that people should be able to do what they choose, as long as they’re not hurting anybody, especially when it comes to love.”
Occupy: Students protest
A misunderstanding is getting ketchup when you asked for mustard. Making an unwanted pass at a woman while drinking beer in your pajamas is called harassment.
from page one
One of the messages of the Occupy Wall Street and otherwise affiliated Karen>> movements is “We are the 99.” Erich Foster, a student working towards Umm... it’s not the business of my co-workers whether I’m married or not. And if I don’t wear his doctorate in mathematics, said this has to do with the fact that 1 a ring, it’s no one’s business whether I have a boyfriend or not. Those are just skeevy nosy percent of the population owns 60 questions... percent of the wealth, and everyone Safe “conversation” topics are: sports, movies, books, activities, favorite restaurants, travel... else must make do with what they can You get the idea. That’s a long enough list for work travel where people are presumably not get. “It’s powerful because it catches the sharing a hotel room. growing realization that the majority of people have been victimized espe-
CORRECTIONS
Seriously?>>
karen, that’s rediculous. asking somebody a question as to whether or not they are married is certainly not off limits. if you don’t want to answer then you just need to set that boundary. but the fact that the school is paying 60k (which by the way is greater than the fine from the dept of education for a poor practice on april 16) because this lady felt “harrassed” by somebody attempting to flirt with her in a very casual manner is pathetic. At best I can see giving Hanes a 10 gift certificate to starbucks.
c-
cially by big banks that have caused this crash,” said Sally Morgan, a science and technologies studies graduate student who is unable to find a job and still has loans to pay. Foster is frustrated because he will be facing large debt after putting both himself and his wife through school. “You would think having a Ph.D. would mean a better job in the future,” Foster said. “But it doesn’t.” With no official message to stand behind, protests come with many various opinions and ideas about what
they want to be done and how they want to do it. “People who find themselves confused and lost should come today,” said Art Ivanvl, a second-year architecture student. “Maybe freshmen who come and find this foreign like I did. I’m from Brooklyn and found myself very estranged with its pride within the university. Even if the model of this school is the same as every other one in the country like it. Once you know that it becomes very odd. If they have realized this, they should attend.”
JUSTIN GRAVES -Homecoming King candidate -senior -sociology major
In “Zoning laws affect historic neighborhoods,” (CT – Collegiate Living Special Section, Oct. 10) the green areas allow three unrelated people and the blue areas allow four unrelated people to live together. The Collegiate Times regrets this error.
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V I O L A T I O N - A F F I D A V I T
date reported
time
offense
location
status
arrestees
10/05/2011 10/11/2011 10/11/2011 10/10/2011
7:30 p.m. 12:30 a.m. 2:30 a.m. 2:40 a.m.
Follow up to simple assault Intimidation Intimidation Sexual Assault
Lane Stadium Shanks Hall Hahn Hall Eggleston Hall
Inactive Active Active Reported by Campus Security Authority
N/A N/A N/A N/A
N E W S A N D NOTICES Friday Oct.14
What: East Asia Strategies Meeting When: 9 a.m. Where: 325 Burruss Hall Price: Free
What: VT Autism Study Group Speaker Series When: 1 p.m. Where: 320 Williams Hall Price: Free What: “Traditonally Untraditional: Changing Face of Music in Nepal When: 2 p.m. Where: 325 Burruss Hall Price: Free
What: “Almost, Maine” When: 7:30 p.m. Where: Department of Theatre Price: Free
October 14-20
Saturday Oct. 15
Sunday Oct. 16
Monday Oct. 17
What: Fall Family Day When: All Day
What: Guest Artist Recital: Michael Patilla, guitar When: 3 p.m. Where: Squires Recital Salon Price: $8.00
What: Cytoskeleton and Beyond When: 3 p.m. Where: Fralin Auditorium Price: Free
What: Alwood Days Hokie Bugfest When: 10 a.m. Where: Agriculture Quad Price: Free
What: Education Abroad 101 When: 10:00 a.m. Where: 140 N Hahn Hall Price: Free
13216540656465514
Yup, you’re wrong sweater vest>>
crime blotter
student. Shugart-Schmidt is an ally member of the QG&A. While in high school in Utah, she saw her best friend struggle with closeting his sexuality and the effects it had on him; he was depressed constantly. She said he blossomed as a person and his happiness level went up so much after he came out. Shugart-Schmidt called the issue of sexuality that of our generation.
Tuesday Oct. 18
Wednesday Oct. 19
Thursday Oct. 20
What: Open Web Course Request for Spring 2012 When: All day
What: Women in International Development Series When: 12 p.m. Where: Conference Room A, International Affairs Office Price: Free
What: Conflict Resolution Day When: All Day
What: Human Intelligence: How Spying is Done When: 7 p.m. Where: Whittemore Hall room 457 Price: Free
What: Family Day Pass in Review When: 10:30 a.m. Where: Drillfield Price: Free
All Week What: Class of 2011 and 2012 Ring Sales Where: Squires Yorktown Room
What: Virginia Tech for Real Life Speaker Series: “Tips from VT Alumni on How to Build a Successful Career” When: 3 p.m. Where: Holtzman Alumni Center Assembly Hall Price: Free
What: Laugh Riot Featuring Bill Cosby When: 7 p.m. Where: Burruss Hall Auditorium Price: Students $20.00, public $45.00
opınıons 3
editors: scott masselli, sean simons opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865 COLLEGIATETIMES
october 13, 2011
The Collegiate Times is an independent student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903
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
MCT CAMPUS
Our Views [staff editorial]
Occupy needs a plan O
ccupy Virginia Tech, the local offshoot of the Occupy Wall Street movement, is rallying today at 4:30 p.m. to show solidarity with the Wall Street protesters. Since this editorial is being written prior to the protest, the actual goals of all the protesters can only be speculated. However, there are questions as to the design of the event. The most glaring flaw is the timing of the rally. At 4:30 p.m. on a Thursday, many students will be missing classes to protest what they see as unfair student loans practices. It is ironic that those skipping class to protest student loans will be throwing away money from their own tuition bill.
Furthermore, the protesters could pick a more fitting setting than the War Memorial Pylons. The Student Services building, where the financial aid office is located, would provide a better backdrop than the Drillfield, which, for all its beauty, lacks a true symbolic connection to the protesters’ efforts. If Occupy Virginia Tech — and the Occupy movement as a whole — want to be taken seriously, they must demonstrate they have a specific plan. But they must also demonstrate practical understanding if they expect to be taken seriously by political leaders and the general public. - the editorial board is comprised of sean simons and scott masselli
Your Views
[letter to the editor] Hager-Smith needs new term
L
eslie Hager-Smith deserves re-election to Blacksburg Town Council. She has served the town well and has accomplished a lot, both on the council and in her 30 years of community service in Blacksburg. Leslie is a thoughtful activist, a true pragmatic progressive. She has worked for a sustainable community, served on the middle school transition, and worked on housing and community
development. Before her election to the council four years ago, she held several jobs in the community as well as being a wife and mother of three. Her experience, her deep commitment to the town, her energy and talents are invaluable. I hope others will join me in voting for Leslie Hager-Smith for Blacksburg Town Council.
-Isabel Berney Blacksburg resident
Tech would still face issues without coal plant present T
his article is in response to Julia Katz’s letter to the editor, “Tech should get off coal by 2020.” We’d like to start off by thanking Katz for bringing up a controversial and locally relevant topic in our campus’ coal plant. While we agree that students and young people drive societal change, we would argue that they make more enlightened and persuasive arguments when dutifully informed on the issue at hand (in this case, the campus coal co-generation plant). To paraphrase Katz’s argument, Virginia Tech needs to retire the coal plant for three reasons: to eliminate the negative health effects on the students living in Thomas Hall, to contribute to Tech’s lowering of its carbon footprint, and to exemplify a commitment to a clean energy future. To achieve these ends, the obvious question is, “What do we replace the coal co-generation plant with?” Not everyone knows this, but the primary purpose of the coal plant is to produce steam — electricity is merely a convenient byproduct. Have you ever been steam tunneling? That’s how the steam from the plant is transported through campus for use in space heating, water heating and industrial processes (such as cooking, sterilization, autoclaving, pressing and research lab uses). Given this application, a replacement for the coal plant must be able to fulfill similar needs. Steam production requires some sort of thermal process, which eliminates wind, hydro and photovoltaic solar from our options. Nuclear could provide the heating component, but obvious social concern and length of construction time (i.e. 10-plus years) would eliminate this as a reasonable option. Tech also can’t just buy “green” energy from the grid without first constructing a decentralized system to fulfill the needs of the aforementioned processes.
By this logic, the only viable options appear to be “cleaning up” and modifying the existing system, co-firing or direct-firing biomass, implementing geothermal, utilizing solar thermal, integrating more natural gas, or choosing to do nothing. Every one of these options has obvious benefits and drawbacks. Cleaning up our existing system would lower or eliminate the negative health impacts of the plant, but would do little to improve our carbon footprint or demonstrate a commitment to renewable energy. Utilizing biomass would exemplify clean energy prioritization, but would require significant logistical rethinking to transport and store the new fuel. Furthermore, biomass is still a combustion source, so air emissions would remain a consideration. Geothermal and solar thermal would both help lighten the load, but neither resource has sufficient magnitude in Blacksburg to completely offset the current system. Natural gas is already used in a limited capacity at the plant, and implementing more would reduce carbon and particulate emissions, but also subject Tech to significant fuel market volatility. Additionally, natural gas is still a fossil fuel — moving in this direction could be interpreted as sidestepping the issue at hand. Finally, by doing nothing, the status quo is maintained. This may or may not be acceptable, depending on one’s perspective. However, bear in mind that this is the only option that incurs no additional financial costs. Inevitably, all of these options have positive and negative attributes, and their relevance is dependent on one’s value system. Also, all but the last option represents a significant cost. Do you care about tuition increases, or at least the diversion of Tech resources that would have been deployed otherwise? Do you care about the well-being of the students
in Thomas Hall? Do you care about the image of Tech as a sustainable university (by the way, our school received a B+ in 2011 on the College Sustainability Report Card, with an A grade in the Climate Change & Energy sub-category, outscoring the University of Virginia in both categories)? Given the traffic that Katz’s article received online and the fact that a similar article to hers appears almost every semester in the Collegiate Times, we assert that many of you do care. While we aren’t trying to propose a solution, we are trying to illuminate the complexity of this multifaceted issue. We encourage you to not merely jump on the bandwagon of clean energy for its own sake or a solution that only considers money. Rather, consider your own values while thinking critically and broadly. To further investigate some of Katzs points, she claims that coal is “old technology.” However, our nation’s research expenditures say otherwise; we’ve spent $526 million on coal research and development between 2002 and 2007 (research, not subsidization), compared to $305 million for renewables (hydropower excluded). You might be saying to yourself that it’s unfair that fossil fuels received almost triple the raw funding of renewables, but consider that fossil fuels provided 51 percent and renewables provided 1.4 percent of our energy during that timeframe. This equates to a $10.3 million percent for coal and $218 million percent for renewables. In other words, renewables were funded at a rate just over 20 times as much as coal relative to their energy contributions.
ALEK DUERKSEN & AARON NOBLE -guest columnists -chairmen, Energy Club at Virginia Tech
Killing of al-Awlaki presents major legal challenges L
ast September Anwar al-Awlaki, a radical cleric affiliated with al-Qaida in Yemen, was killed by a predator drone strike. Al-Awlaki was linked to the Fort Hood shooting in November 2009, the attempted detonation of a car in New York City by Faisal Shahzad in May 2010, and to Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the Nigerian man who pled guilty to trying to blow up a Detroit-bound airliner in December 2010. A prominent propagandist and organizer for al-Qaida, his death, as the Obama administration said, is a huge blow to al-Qaida’s operations, at least in Yemen. His death means there could be a drop in recruiting and local support necessary for terrorist organizations. All of this is good news for the War on Terror. However, because al-Awlaki was a citizen of the U.S., the administration was misgiven to target him. To be sure, al-Awlaki was a terrible man
who should be held responsible for his crimes, but his death was wrong. To kill al-Awlaki, a U.S. citizen, without due process was wrong. It has been argued that this was simply the justified killing of an American enemy, but the predator drone strike that killed him was a violation of the Fifth Amendment. Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul has rightly pointed out that we should think very critically about assassinating U.S. citizens without charges. Yes, that’s right: Al-Awlaki was killed for alleged crimes. This important detail reveals an underlying shift in American thinking, from thinking “innocent until proven guilty” to “guilty until proven innocent.” For instance, compare alAwlaki’s death to the Troy Davis case. Davis, who many thought was innocent after several witnesses recanted their testimony, was also executed under the sovereign power of the U.S.
government. The difference is, whether you thought Troy Davis deserved to die, that at least he was granted the right to due process. To cheer an execution and assume someone is guilty before a trial is wrong, whether he is a suspected terrorist. As a U.S. citizen, he was entitled to due process. In fact, a lawsuit challenging the Obama administration’s ability to target its own citizens without trial was brought forward by al-Awlaki’s father, Nasser al-Awlaki. However, the lawsuit was dismissed on Dec. 7, 2010, by a federal judge who ruled that al-Awlaki’s father did not have the authority to sue to prevent the U.S. from targeting his son. Also, the judge held that decisions about targeted killings overseas are a political question for executive officials to make. According to the New York Times, “in the 83-page opinion, Judge John Bates of the D.C. District Court
acknowledged that the case raised ‘stark, and perplexing, questions,’ including whether the president could order the assassination of a U.S. citizen without first affording him any form of judicial process whatsoever, based on the mere assertion that he is a dangerous member of a terrorist organization.” This ruling effectively stripped U.S. citizens of the ability to challenge the government’s power to kill citizens without trial. His death means that the U.S. government can effectively execute one of its own citizens with no judicial process and based on secret intelligence. The simple truth is we are moving toward a more authoritarian government, one that tramples on individual rights in the name of safety, and one that can do so because when it does trample our rights we cheer instead of fight back. Restricting filming of police officers
and public officials in public, warrantless wiretapping and cell-phone tracking are just a few of the new methods enacted since Sept. 11, 2001, that have encroached on American freedom. The worst part of all is not that it has seized and exercised exactly the power the Fifth Amendment was designed to bar, but that Americans are cheering the US government’s new power to kill its citizens without due process. Anwar al-Awlaki probably deserved death, but in the quest to kill him our freedom took a hit. One man dead, one significant amendment of the Constitution weakened. Was it worth it? In a word: No.
JEFF HOMAN -regular columnist -junior -history major
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october 13, 2011
Pumping: O’Neill bounces back from page one
O’Neill had no idea about her tear until the beginning of August 2009 when she arrived at Virginia Tech as a freshman. The tear kept her from performing heavy lifting, and she was unable to reach her right arm above her head. After realizing that simple tasks, such as writing, caused her arm to get tired, doctors realized it was time to make an appointment for surgery. Before the surgery in December, O’Neill was able to post 192 digs and 69 kills. “For us to learn that Morgan was injured was tough because we wanted great things for her and knew how good she would be for VT,” said Chris Riley, head coach. “We needed to figure out how to manage her injury so that we could do what was best for her.” The unexplainable injury, most likely triggered by excessive rotation from swinging over the course of her volleyball career, has caused her to miss two spring seasons and forced her into more than 12 months of rehab. “It’s so hard not to play and I have such a big desire to play,” O’Neill said. “Having this surgery makes me appreciate playing every day so much more.” Even though she was unable to physically practice with the team, O’Neill still attended every practice. Instead of being on the floor with her teammates though, she ran Cassell Coliseum stairs, keeping up her stamina until she was ready to make it back onto the court. “Going to practice and not playing was the hardest thing,” she said. “It teaches you how to appreciate the game. Watching everyone play made me want to be more supportive and taught me how to be a better teammate.” After six long months of rehabbing anywhere from twice a week to every day, O’Neill had regained her range of motion and was able to begin playing by the end of her freshman year. Over the summer, Morgan took the time to practice at home until the Tech volleyball team came back for the preseason in August. ”If you hit a rut it’s all about finding the motivation to get through it,” O’Neill said. “Go for what you want and find what makes you happy.” Upon her return, O’Neill had begun practicing at a new position — libero. The libero is usually the best defensive specialist on the court — she is responsible for digging the ball, giving the offense an opportunity to score. This was not a position O’Neill was used to. Since the age of 13, she had played as an outside hitter, an offensive specialist that focuses primarily on attacking. Because of her shoulder injury, O’Neill was switched to the libero, a position that focuses more on ball control rather than swinging and hitting, which would relieve her shoulder while it is was healing. “It’s a complete different mentality for both (positions),” O’Neill said. “Sometimes I want to hit because I miss the thrill of it. But on defense you want to dig the ball to frustrate the other person to make them think they won’t ever get a kill.” However, the position has become more than just temporary for O’Neill,
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Virginia Tech libero Morgan O’Neill notches a dig against Virginia earlier this season. After two offseason surgies on her rotator cuff over the past two years, O’Neill’s shoulder is holding up well this season, as she’s currently leading the team in digs with 274 on the season. who became the team’s starting libero in October 2010 after fellow libero Amy Wengrenovich broke her wrist. During her sophomore season, she recorded a team-high 377 digs, leading the team in digs in 16 different matches. Just when she thought she was fully recovered, O’Neill learned that her injury was not completely healed. In fact, she had actually re-torn her rotator cuff. “Her injury took a big toll on her,” said junior Alex Gale, a close friend
of O’Neill’s. “She overcame a lot of doubt. She kept pushing herself and always thought about getting back on the court.” In February of this year, after the completion of her sophomore season, O’Neill returned for a second surgery to repair her shoulder. “You get so frustrated,” O’Neill said. “You think you are ready for the next step and then you find out that you aren’t. You wonder, ‘Why aren’t I ready and why can’t I get there?’ It’s one of those things where you
have to be mentally tough and push through it.” After another six months of intense rehab, she was allowed to take her spot back as libero for the fall season. “Morgan sees the game a step faster than most people do,” Riley said. “Her ability to anticipate separates her from most players.” To date, Morgan has 274 digs this season and is on her way to leading the team once again. “Injuries are not fun, especially
Volleyball: Hokies beat Deacs, lose to Devils from page one
Junior Cara Baarendse, who led the Hokies in kills with 16, pointed out that the difference in the game came down to serving. “I think that’s what we could’ve worked on, our serving game,” she said. “That’s what they had better than us.” Duke had only seven service errors compared to Tech’s 12. Head coach Chris Riley acknowledged Tech’s effort but also pointed out there is always something to learn from and improve upon with each game. “We still went five (sets) with them, they’re a good team and we played well at times,” he said. “We
learned a little bit and we’ll get better.” On a positive note, senior Justine Record moved up in the record books with two service aces during the match, moving her into sole pos-
session of fifth place on the school’s all-time list with 150 career service aces at Tech. The next milestone will be 158 aces, as that will move her into fourth place. Record and the Hokies head to
North Carolina tonight at 7 p.m., to face off with the North Carolina Tar Heels and then scoot over to Raleigh, to play the Wolfpack of NC State in a Friday evening match.
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Tebow fans will show at Sun Life
when you are competing on a D-1 athletics team at Virginia Tech,” Gale said. “The way she overcame everything was incredible. She came from not knowing where she stood to starting on the court.” As O’Neill steps onto the court wearing a different color jersey than the rest of the team, that of the libero, she is constantly reminded of her past, and sees it as a blessing in disguise. “I couldn’t ask for a better opportunity,” she said.
Her story will be a common one at the next Dolphins game in Sun Life Stadium: She’s not a Dolphins fan. “I’ve never been to an NFL game in my life,” she says. She’s not interested in the Gator championship team’s reunion, even though she’s a Florida graduate. “I didn’t even know about that was going on,” she says. She bought tickets with friends for one thought, one player, one simple announcement. “Tim Tebow,” says Libby Spencer, 23, who grew up five miles from Sun Life in Pembroke Pines. “Even if he wasn’t starting, I’d probably go. Now it’s even better.” Will there be a section set aside for Dolphins fans in Sun Life Stadium? Will they stand out by their aqua colors in the corners, like Alabama fans in their red at The Swamp? A matchup of two bad teams grew some fun with Tuesday’s announcement Tebow will start for Denver against the Dolphins on Oct. 23. It’s locally compelling. It’s nationally intriguing. It also will measure just how much one man can matter at the ticket gate. On Tuesday, more than 2,000 tickets sold for the game on the secondary market through sites like Stubhub. com, according to a source. That equaled the previous six weeks of sales for the game. That’s still a small dent into the glut of what was 15,000 tickets available in the secondary market and 15,000 more that the Dolphins haven’t sold for the game. Selling 30,000 tickets in 11 days is the marketing version of converting a Hail Mary pass. Is Timmy Touchdown up to it? If his drawing power pulls off that miracle, it would translate into an estimated $5 million decision at the gate to start him. You can count on your hand the number of players in team sports who sell tickets just by showing up. There’s LeBron. No, it’s not the Heat’s Big Three selling tickets. It’s LeBron. What he did in Cleveland and what the Heat did before his arrival demonstrate his power. There’s Kobe. The Lakers star might not quite hold that power for much longer, though. Shaquille O’Neal and Brett Favre once were in that category. They retired. Peyton Manning might again be in that category. But he’s hurt. Sidney Crosby? Hockey’s No. 1 draw hasn’t returned from a concussion issue. At some point, and soon, Tebow will have to win at the pro level to sell tickets. But for now in selected pockets like Denver and Florida, he’s a potential gold mine for the curtain going up on his season “It’s awesome,” said Sonja Capps, president of the Palm Beach Gator. “Everyone wants to see him in our backyard. People are super-excited.”
6 weekend september 23, 2009 october 13, 2011
B editors: chelsea gunter, patrickpage murphy featureseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865 COLLEGIATETIMES
Sinkland: Punkin chunkin, parade, maze attracts new visitors from page one
The trip was well worth it. When the Sinks finally arrived, they were stunned by what they saw: A large crowd had come out to share in the farm experience and was absolutely loving it. “When we looked around, we were amazed to see how visitors to that farm were happy, deliriously — very happy, very interested in seeing the farm, a working production farm,” she said. “We were just astounded at the numbers of people visiting, at their having a wonderful time on the farm.” Ideas burst forth like fireworks the entire car ride back as the Sinks realized they had stumbled upon a way to supplement their income. They already had a productive pumpkin business and the farm’s location — two miles off I-81 and situated within 10 minutes of two college towns — was perfect for attracting a large audience. The Sinks returned to the Craig County farm to speak with the operators of the pumpkin festival and were encouraged by the results. The farm owners shared tips of the trade and opened their books to give the Sinks an idea of the financial commitment they would be making. At the end of the meeting, no further persuasion was needed. They were in. “The very next year (1994), we started off very small, it was nothing like they had,” Sink said. “We had planted pumpkins in the field, tractor hayrides to the pumpkin patch for everyone to get off and pick their own pumpkin in the field and a huge barn that we had all kinds of farm animals in.” Sink describes the community response to the festival’s original incarnation as very positive. Encouraged, the family began planning new attractions and events for the future. “I’ve tried to add something new, out of the box every year,” Sink said. “Every year we’ll either think of something new and neat as a family, or others will turn to us and say, ‘Have you thought about this?’” Perhaps no addition has become as intrinsically tied to the Pumpkin Festival as the corn maze. A five-acre behemoth is constructed annually with the help of a friend in the Virginia Tech engineering department. The corn labyrinth is an impressive sight, seeming to sprawl on forever. The maze, described by Sink as the second of its type in Virginia, is one of the farm’s most popular attractions. An afterdark version has proved to have particular appeal with nearby students. As a result, the college crowd, initially an afterthought, became an unlikely source of growth for the festival. “What I found over the years is that more and more college students were coming
out,” Sink said. “I’d never really advertised to Tech or Radford, but we’ve gotten more and more interest from colleges.” As the festival has grown in size beyond the Sinks’ initial expectations, she has changed its business model. Dairy operations ceased in 2005 as focus shifted exclusively to pumpkins, beef cattle and as Sink calls it, “agri-tainment,” educating people about farming and agricultural traditions through fun activities. Sink took full control over the farm after Henry passed away in 2007 and is increasingly pushing it in an educational direction. She says that America has lost touch with its agricultural roots as fewer and fewer people have direct connection to farms. Rather than lose interest in agriculture, however, she believes this disconnect has prompted a desire among the community to visit farms and reclaim their heritage. “People just come here and exclaim, ‘This is just beautiful, oh thank you so much for having animals on display, my three yearold son has never seen a turkey in person,’” she said. That passion for sharing her farming heritage guides Sink in all of her business decisions. She eschews popular haunted house type attractions to keep the focus on Sinkland’s mission: family-friendly education about American agriculture and its importance to our history. And she won’t be adding any moon bounces or play equipment. “I don’t want to turn it into a playground,” she said. “What I’m most focused on in is actually how we started talking about Sinkland Farms — this is a way, a wonderful venue for families and individuals to come out and experience life on a farm and have a great day.” This year’s Pumpkin Festival looks poised to continue Sinkland’s proud tradition of success and community involvement. With a schedule chock-full of events, including a concert by Tech’s all-female a capella group, Sensations, the annual Halloween costume parade, and outdoor Shakespeare performances at 6 p.m. every night from Oct. 26 through Oct. 31, guests will find no shortage of entertaining diversions during their visit to the farm. As always, attendance is free, excluding the Shakespeare shows and $3 parking fee per car. Full listings of events and prices can be found at SinklandFarms.com. It’s not easy to pull off such a massive event every year, but hard work seems to be a fundamental part of the Sinkland culture. Hopping into her car, Sink prepares to drive to another part of the farm. There are PAUL KURLAK / SPPS more chores to complete and logistics to Susan Sink, owner of Sinkland Farms in Christiansburg, Va., continues to adapt her pumpkin festival activities to the desires of families and take care of before the weekend’s festivities begin. students. This year’s events include a 5-mile corn maze, live music, Shakespearean shows, a Punkin Chunkin team and a costume parade. No one ever said a farmer’s life was easy.
Town nutrition shop opens Vote for us in Best of Blacksburg! ALLIE SIVAK
features staff writer
EQUAL HOUSING
OPPORTUNITY
After growing up in a family focused on physical health, Brian Jardine is seeking to share his knowledge of nutrition with the Blacksburg community. In July, he opened Blacksburg Nutrition, located on 460 Turner Street, on the edge of campus. This new store offers a variety of weight-training dietary supplements, including protein shakes, bars and powders. The store also shares an entrance with New Tech Fitness, making it a convenient stop for strength trainers, athletes and even those just coming back from a quick workout. “My parents owned an organic food store back on the Eastern Shore,” Jardine said. “So, I’ve kind of grown up in a family business setting, and it felt natural after I got my degree in nutrition to go forward with my own business. I’m more interested in strength training and supplements than organic foods.” While many outlets for exercise are offered, Jardine, a December 2010 Virginia Tech graduate, felt that Blacksburg was lacking a location where both students and locals could supplement their exercise routines. He decided, drawing from his
background as a human nutrition, foods and exercise major, that it was time to cater to the needs of serious athletes and strength-training individuals who have not had a store that houses strictly workout and dietary supplements. Jardine originally came to Tech for engineering, but soon found his passion in HNFE, where he pursued a degree in the exercise and health promotion option of the program. After working extensively to help others improve their fitness, he found protein supplements to be a key component of many weight lifters’ workout regiments and decided to open up the shop to expand and enhance Blacksburg’s fitness offerings. In addition to providing useful weighttraining supplements to those who need it, Jardine also posts several workout videos on his website to help his customers optimize their training. “In my own workouts, I try to find something that is important to the specific training,” he said. “I’ll try to find an article or a video that I think would be good to share with people.” However, for serious trainers, it is widely believed that supplements have a substantial benefit on overall results and performance. Jardine recommends his products, such as the supplement, Bulk Protein, to
a variety of people, including both men and women. By opening a supplement shop in Blacksburg, he hopes to encourage students and locals to explore the benefits of adding supplementary protein to their workout plans. Maurice Freeman, a senior engineering major and personal trainer at McComas Hall, feels that dietary supplements like protein shakes are advantageous for his clients and recommends them for serious trainers. “The biggest benefit is for people who can’t maintain a lot of protein intake and need more because protein is pretty filling,” Freeman said. “I have some of my clients take protein powder just because they can’t stomach so much meat.” Jardine takes pride in his store motto: “providing quality and affordable supplements to the Blacksburg area.” If the store does not carry a certain item, he will order it and have it shipped promptly. Such commitment to customer satisfaction is what Jardine hopes will spur interest in his up-and-coming shop. “Once people come out to my store, they come back to my store,” he said. “Repeat business either tells you that you have a good product, are serving your customers well, or a combination of both.”
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