Friday, October 14, 2011 Print Edition by Collegiate Times

TH C E E HE BA XT CK CK RA OU PA PO T GE IN T,

CHELSEA GUNTER features editor COURTESY BILL COS BY

Growing up in the Philadelphia projects, he never imagined himself becoming famous, much less a comedian. Bill Cosby, first-born son of four, faced a childhood that was less than ideal. Cosby lacked motivation and dedication to his education, spending

Friday, October 14, 2011

MR. HUXTABLE his time and focus on athletics. Eventually, Cosby dropped out of high school, but as he discusses, eventually changed his path. He began his career through various clubs until he landed his first starring role in the 1960s show “I Spy.” In 1984, Cosby started his own series, “The Cosby Show,” which quickly became popular and continued for eight

seasons. After the series ended in 1992, Cosby moved on to other projects, including “Cosby” from 1996 to 2000 and hosting “Kids Say the Darndest Things” for two seasons. Today, the 74-year-old Cosby continues his role as veteran comedian, travelling across the U.S. This year, Cosby has added Blacksburg to his tour stops in

An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903

order to perform at the Virginia Tech Homecoming event, Laughriot. On Thursday, Oct. 20, Cosby will perform in Burruss Hall Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Student tickets are $20, public and faculty tickets are $45 and children’s tickets are $11. To purchase tickets and learn more about Cosby visit BillCosby.com. see COSBY / page ﬁve

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COLLEGIATETIMES 108th year, issue 99

News, page 4

People & Clubs, page 5

ABP tries out iPads

Opinions, page 6

The Extra Point, page 10

Classifieds, page 8 Halloween, page 2

AMERICAN DREAM ‘A MYTH’ BY CODY OWENS & KELSEY JO STARR | news staff Erich Foster knows the price of education. The former Navy sailor used the GI Bill to pay for college, but also worked three jobs to help with the cost. Still, he is in debt. Foster was one of many who stood in solidarity with the Occupy Wall Street protests Thursday atop the War Memorial Chapel as part of the Occupy Virginia Tech protest. Occupy Virginia Tech’s protest was one of nearly 150 similar protests that took part at universities across the United States yesterday. Students nationwide walked out of their classrooms and met to voice their concerns. “The overall point of this protest is to show solidarity with Occupy Colleges,” said Sara McDonough, a student getting her doctorate in sociology and Africana studies. “There is a nationwide walkout and protest today.” The Occupy Wall Street movement see OCCUPY / page four

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INSIDE

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Read our special two-page opinions section on the Occupy Wall Street movement

BRAD KLODOWSKI / SPPS

Derrick Summers helps James Dwight order using the iPad.

AU BON PAIN INTRODUCED iPADS TO PREVENT HEALTH CONCERNS ABOUT SPREAD OF GERMS ABBY HARRIS news staff writer Au Bon Pain is now using iPads for sandwich orders, but there are still some problems to be worked out. Luther Moseley, assistant director of dining services for Shultz, Squires, and the Graduate Life Center, said that ABP is not happy with the application software yet because it is not very user-friendly. Moseley said after a conference call with the software company on Thursday, he was not very confident the company would be able to fix the kinks soon enough. He said ABP may continue using iPads or another touch screen system. “Going forward, we still want a touch screen system where customers can order and have it print out behind the counter,” Moseley said. “I think we’re going to get something resolved, but the question is how soon.” Currently, ABP employees are assisting customers with sandwich orders. “I think they could just leave them out, it’s kind of weird having somebody be there while you’re ordering,” said Lesley DeDona, a senior political science major. “But I just like playing with the iPads, more than anything.” One problem with the software is that once a customer is finished ordering on the iPad, it doesn’t show a confirmation screen showing that the order was sent. “Those are the types of things we are trying to work out,” Moseley said. “I’m really appreciative that the students have been very supportive. I’m really glad that they’re understanding right now that this is a transition.” Moseley compared employees to swimming ducks, saying that they are working very hard to make this transition smooth for customers. “A duck glides tranquilly across a pond, and all we see is that beautiful little wave behind the duck, but what you don’t see are the two little feet under the water that are kicking like crazy,” Moseley said. “And that’s kind of what we do. We kick like crazy, so that all you see is the tranquil (part). We try to make sure that customers are not negatively impacted by the hard work that goes into bringing this stuff out.” The iPads were installed as a solution to concerns regarding the paper-order system previously used by ABP.

The transfer of the handwritten orders from students to ABP employees was seen by the Health Department as a possible health risk. Once a customer hands over an order slip, germs could be transferred to the sandwich-making environment, even if the ABP employees followed proper health procedures. Moseley said that the iPads are a preventive measure, rather than a response to a reoccurring problem. “We served 6.3 million meals last year, and nobody got sick,” Moseley said. “There’s a value to that, I think. You want to be able to eat and know you’re not going to get sick.” Moseley estimated the total cost of the iPads, the programs, and the computer servers they work on would be between $4,000 and $6,000. However, he said that dining services is trying to cut the costs wherever they can. “We know that we’re spending the students’ money, and so we try to be careful,” Moseley said. “And this is just one more example of that. Every day we try to do something that will (make) things a little bit better, smarter, a little leaner, to make sure that our meal plans are one of the most cost-effective values to the students.” ABP is reusing an older server from Owens Dining Hall instead of buying the second server required for the ABP iPads to operate. The new iPad order system has been received positively by a majority of students, including Shelley Morgan, a senior human development major. “I think they’ll transition really nicely,” Morgan said. “I think in the long run it’ll definitely improve things.” Julie McIntire, a junior food science and technology major, is pleased by the arrival of the iPads. “I actually really like it,” McIntire said. “I think it’s easier to see all the options. It’s better for the environment, (because) not as much paper is being wasted.” The orders taken on the iPads print out as receipts behind the sandwich counter, but those tickets can be recycled along with the receipts at the ABP registers. Once the initial bugs are worked out of the new ordering system, iPads will eventually replace written order forms in all of the Virginia Tech dining halls. “I think this is the way of the future,” Moseley said.

DANIEL LIN (TOP LEFT, ABOVE) & KEVIN DICKEL (TOP RIGHT) / SPPS

(Top left) Charles de Souza advocates for economic reform. (Top right) Veteran Erich Foster voice his opinion over a megaphone Thursday. Occupy Virginia Tech is the latest in a series of more than 150 protests on college campuses. (Above) An occupier listens to a speech.

Student’s dream of ‘Jeopardy!’ realized CODY OWENS news reporter Franny Howes can teach you many things. Explanations of the backgrounds of the four Whig presidents, countries in the Indochina peninsula, and an 11th-century Polish monarch are just a sample of the trivia that she has accumulated. It might seem like this collection of knowledge is outside the realm of the 27-year-old doctoral student’s English studies. For Howes, however, this work was worth it to fulfill her dream of being on “Jeopardy!” Howes, a Ph.D. student studying rhetoric and writing at Virginia Tech, appeared on the show on Thursday, Oct. 6. She said since the airing, she has been recognized and congratulated not only by friends but also by coworkers. “It’s my favorite game show,” said Howes. “This show has been on my whole life and my family always watched it.” Last February, Howes decided to seize the day and give her “Jeopardy!” dream a shot. “I thought that if I don’t do the things I want to do in life and I just sit around thinking about them, then I’m not getting anywhere,” Howes said. Her path to “Jeopardy!” began with

BRAD KLODOWSKI / SPPS

Franny Howes, a Ph.D student at Virginia Tech, recently appeared on the television show “Jeopardy!” an online test of 50 questions similar to those heard on the show. Howes later learned that 40 out of 50 questions is the cutoff point for the inperson audition. Howes said she must have done well on her test, because that April she received an invitation to an audition in Washington, D.C. There, she par-

ticipated in a written test and a quiz game with actual buzzers to mimic the full “Jeopardy!” experience. Much like the chats that host Alex Trebek has with contestants on the show, contestant coordinators interviewed the Howes and the other people auditioning to gauge their personalities. Howes had once been

a bridesmaid in a Star Wars-themed wedding, so that was the story she choose to talk about. Even though she received an audition, Howes’s chances of making it to the show were slim. Out of the thousands that audition, only about see JEOPARDY / page four

2 weekend september 23, 2009 october 14, 2011

page B editors: chelsea gunter, patrickkim murphy editors: lindsey brookbank, walter featureseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ featureseditor@collegiatetimes.com/540.231.9865 540.231.9865 COLLEGIATETIMES

Guide to enjoying collegiate Halloween

Sometimes two beautiful things come together to benefit us all. Peanut butter and chocolate. Chik-Fil-A and meal plans. Erin Andrews and a network desperate to appear equal opportunity. For students, the marriage of college life and Halloween tops them all. Our God-fearing nation’s curious adoption of pagan rituals results in a holiday of debauchery and shame-free gluttony celebrated by a population craving exactly those things. Children are welcome to enjoy the festivities — more on that later — but it’s pretty clear that Halloween was created with morally lax college students in mind. After all, historians believe the originators of the holiday were either the Romans or the Celtics — not exactly the choirboys of ancient civilizations. In fact, they would have given the choirboy an atomic wedgie before strutting to the boy’s room to light a cigarette and use cuss words. So when you’re on the dance floor, costumes awkwardly grinding as far as the eye can see, just remember that these parties are really about embracing the true tradition of Halloween. Switch the Four Loko for the finest wine of Dionysus and your dance partner for a 12-yearold cousin and you might as well be Octavius celebrating a successful harvest. See, we’re learning here. Halloween isn’t just about parties with more bared flesh than an American Apparel ad. This is a scholarly pursuit of knowledge and as such I’ve taken the liberty to provide background literature for the upcoming learning sessions, peer-reviewed by Dr. Pepper

and the girl sitting next to me at the Empo. COSTUMES I’m already angry about the Charlie Sheen costumes. They will be more inescapable and played out than the man himself. Worse, for at least one weekend they will bring back our inexplicable national obsession with interpreting a drug addict’s nonsensical scrawls as deep philosophical statements. Just don’t do it. When one person is “winning,” we all lose. Besides that crucial exception, it’s nearly impossible to go wrong with Halloween costumes. The “nearly” is included because some mouthbreather will invariably decide that leaving the house dressed as an S.S. trooper will be a jolly laugh. Remember that even Halloween has a limit to bad taste and it starts right around zombie Amy Winehouse. People will laugh but no one will feel good about it. Interest in exploring the boundaries of appropriate public behavior is not necessary to find a brilliant costume. Possibilities are limited only by imagination and while the inevitable army of Pauly Ds and Taylor Swifts doesn’t exactly inspire a lot hope on that front, there will always be people who let their freak flag fly in epic style. Reward these enterprising folk with your attention and photographs. The guy in the RoboCop costume is sweating profusely, holding bodily functions until returning home and is about as likely to find love as the real RoboCop — the very least you can do is appreciate his effort. Even better, take it upon yourself

to stick up to half-assed costuming and courageously blaze trails of aesthetic excellence. Do a great Steve Bucsemi impression? Go all out with that terrifying getup. Always dreamed of walking into a party dressed as Star Wars bit player Nien Nunb? That’s a little strange but knock your fanboy heart out. Halloween offers the opportunity to masquerade as any person, thing or idea you can imagine. The only mistake you can possibly make is to be boring. Or go as Charlie Sheen. PARTIES Halloween parties are like any other party except for promiscuous costumes and a total lack of shame. This makes them exponentially better than any other party. If you wouldn’t compare Mardi Gras to the Iowa State fair, don’t compare Halloween bashes to your run-of-themill fraternity party. The weekend’s festivities start off innocently as friends admire each others’ costumes and bond over the camaraderie and joyous spirit of the evening. Then, in approximately the amount of time it took The Playboy Club to get canceled, everything goes to hell in a whirlwind of sweat, noise and flailing

robot arms. Few ever make it out alive and even fewer are willing to tell their tale.

“

Remember that even Halloween has a limit to bad taste and it starts right around zombie Amy Winehouse. People will laugh but no one will feel good about it.

Those who do recount stories of sheer chaos, apocalyptic clashes between Pokemon, Oprah and anthropomorphic beer bottles. Costumes are mangled, feet are trampled and for hours after the streets of this once peaceful town are filled with shell-shocked survivors, stumbling towards any safe place. The aftermath is no sight for weak stomachs. Tiaras, ripped blankets and mounds of frat sludge litter a wasteland seemingly ripped straight out of Mad Max. Alex Trebek is unconscious on the couch with phallic final answers tattooed across his helpless body and it appears that poor RoboCop didn’t quite hold it in long enough. Grown men break down and weep at both the sheer horror

in front of them and the sickening realization that this is Friday and the weekend-long journey into the deepest circles of hell has only just begun. TRICK OR TREATING To be honest with you, this isn’t really acceptable anymore under normal circumstances. That said, if you’re a person desperate to trick or treat in college, normal probably isn’t a huge consideration in your decisions. The wrong move is to show up at a resident’s house expecting to fill your coffers with chocolate gold. Adolescents dressed in Harry Potter costumes get candy; 20-year-olds in the same costumes get the cops called on them. The only way to satiate your greed is to appear like the selfless, responsible adult you will never be. What better way to accomplish this noble goal than by using the innocence of children to bypass suspicion? Loaned nephews and nieces are ideal but in a pinch any local child can be recruited after a careful vetting process to ensure their loyalty to the mission. After you’ve made the decision of whether or not to use a leash — most professionals advise against

it — it’s time to exploit that child’s age-appropriateness for all it’s worth. Put them in a Winnie the Pooh costume and proceed to shamelessly travel around town collecting the spoils of your victory. Congratulations on both your hefty bag of treats and impressive dismissal of any and all moral considerations. You have a bright future at Goldman Sachs. CHARLIE SHEEN I’m serious. This will be so tragically less funny than you think. Save yourself the embarrassment and us the agony. If you really care so little about your public image, tape cut up cereal boxes to your clothes and go as Dexter. I would rather fake laugh at your one-note pun all night than hear a single soul-crushing reference to tiger blood. In the immortal words of nonzombie Amy Winehouse: Just say no, no, no.

ANDREW REILLY -senior -communication -@wrylyreilly

Halloween Pumpkin Pattern Instructions

1. Cut out page and tape to pumpkin 2. Carve along dotted line 3. Whittle down the orange area but leave some pumpkin for the light to shine through Pumpkin carving tips -Let the pumpkin soak in cold water to make it harden -Saw slowly -Coat the exposed edges of the carving with petroleum jelly to delay pumpkin decay

Expr xpress ess Your Y ursel self. f. Write Design Paint Draw

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

sports 5 september 6, 2011

4 news

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

october 14, 2011

COLLEGIATETIMES

Occupy: Protest one of many on college campuses held its first protest on Sept. 17 in New York’s famed financial district, though online support had been growing since July through the website OccupyWallStreet.org. About 1,000 people gathered in New York for the protests, according to The Week. The demonstrations have since intensified. On Oct. 5, about 20,000 people marched through Lower Manhattan. The movement has spread to dozens of cities across the country. “I’ve seen a ton of solidarity protests throughout the country and I wanted to be involved with what was going on,” said protester Elias Simpson. “I don’t have the means to travel to New York right now, so I was excited to see one happening here.” While the movement has yet to develop any designated leader, protesters have denounced leaders on Wall Street and in Washington for ignoring the plight of the average

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were voiced, all present at the protest were together in their drive. “The nature of the movement is that everyone brings their own issues here and we’re looking to network with people who share our interests and want to see our concerns change in the world,” Hudson said. Amid the waving of signs and the yelling of chants, occupiers used the protest as an opportunity to share personal stories of frustration, disappointment and anger. Sara Walsh, a doctoral student studying mathematics, said she is in debt and devoid of a job after spending years pursuing her degree. “I was told when I went to college that it would be a great idea to take out student loans because, if I went to college, I would get a great job and I would be able to pay them back,” Walsh said. “I was told that it’s part of the American Dream: going to college to become rich and a productive member of society. I have realized that is not true. “I feel like I’m waking up from this myth of the American Dream and realizing I’m in debt and I have a college education and still can’t get a job. I think a lot of people feel the same way.” Protesters also linked students’ monetary problems to large businesses and financial firms on Wall Street. “Corporations are fleecing America at the expense of a majority of people,” Foster said. “One way they are doing this is by flooding Congress with money and essentially buying votes.” Blacksburg resident Elias Simpson voiced his anger at the U.S.’s involvement with food infrasturcture, saying he was frustrated with the price of eating healthy. “The United States subsidizes

I’ve seen a ton of solidarity protests throughout the country and I wanted to be involved with what was going on. ELIAS SIMPSON STUDENT AND PROTESTER

American. Occupiers at Tech condemned the high cost of education stemming from rising tuition and burdening student loans. Many other concerns were also voiced in the hour-long protest. Troubles with employment, low income, corporate excesses and political corruption were all heard blasting from protestors’ megaphones. One occupier, Mike Hudson, said that while many different opinions

mass farms,” Simpson said. “A huge percentage of those are genetically modified. These companies are profiting from a lack of regulation and it is hurting small farmers in a lot of ways. It’s basically a monopoly that is expanding unchecked.” But not all in attendance supported the protest. Jon Lee, an industrial and systems engineering major, found little purpose in the occupation. “I think they are just complaining, but not getting anything done,” Lee said. “What everyone says is valid, but I don’t think staying here is going to really help. I don’t see this going anywhere.” Krutarth Shukla, a junior civil engineering major, passed by the proceedings without giving them much credence. “Assembling here is pointless,” Shukla said. “You’re not going to draw any necessary attention.” However, the occupiers hope that their actions will have a long-term effect. “This is happening at an interesting time,” Hudson said. “I hope that it mirrors the influence of other recent political movements to accomplish their agendas.” But while many issues were raised in the hour-long occupation, long term direction was absent. Future protests are planned, but protestors have not yet compiled a list of demands. “What I would like to achieve is legislation that prevents corporations from taking away our democracy,” Foster said. Occupy Virginia Tech will partner with Occupy Blacksburg to protest again tomorrow. At 2 p.m., protesters will meet at The Cellar Restaurant to rally and march. “We want to make people aware,” TREVOR WHITE / SPPS Foster said. “That’s the reason for proAbout 100 people gathered for the Occupy Virgnia Tech protest, held in solidarity with the Occupy Wall tests. If we just sat at home, nobody Street protest in New York City. The protest was one of about 150 at college campuses nationwide. would know that we’re pissed off.”

Jeopardy: Student lost in final ‘Jeopardy!’ round she studied nations across the globe. Her Netflix queue was quickly overwhelmed with documentary films. In addition, Howes spent time with her Wii “Jeopardy!” game to both practice answering questions and buzzing in. In August, Howes flew to California to make her August 24 taping. The “Jeopardy!” taping schedule is organized so that five shows are filmed per day for two days per week. Howes was randomly chosen to play the fourth game that day. “The returning champion I played against had won the three previous games from the morning,” Howes said. “We all went out to lunch, but it was awkward because he had just annihilated all the other people that morning.” As Howes prepared to compete, she got a chance to see some of the inner workings of “Jeopardy!” Behind the podiums are risers that

400 are taken a year. Months passed without any word from “Jeopardy!” Finally, by the summer, she got her answer. “I missed a call in July from an area code that I didn’t recognize,” said Howes. “Turns out it was from Culver City, California, and when I checked my voicemail, I got an invite for a taping of the show.” A former quiz bowl member in high school, Howes already knew some trivia, but she began doing everything she could to be well-prepared when she grabbed the buzzer in her game show debut. The walls of Howes’s apartment became cluttered with Post-it notes. She began with U.S. presidents, learning everything from their administration to their personal lives. Recognizing that her geography skills were subpar,

lift or lower contestants so that everyone is the same height. Being 5’1”, Howes said she had to be raised high. Surprising to Howes was the great measures that “Jeopardy!” uses to prevent cheating. “The contestants on the set actually face away from the audience to prevent cheating,” said Howes. “That sounds crazy, but in England a few years ago, somebody was caught cheating on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? by having someone in the audience cough the answer in a code.” The explanation of the signaling device, or “buzzer” was particularly important. Contestants cannot buzz right after Trebek has finished speaking but must wait until a producer has turned on an off-screen light that signals the contestants. If a contestant buzzes in early, they will be unable to answer for a short period of time.

crime blotter

During the show, Howes became frustrated because the returning champion, Joon Pahk, recurrently beat her at the buzzer. She said she knew the answer to most questions, but could only buzz in on a few of them. But Howes had experience with one category that her fellow contestants did not have. “I was best at the category ‘Broadway Musicals by Character.’ I was so excited that I got to answer those,” Howes said. “There was only one in that category that I didn’t know and Trebek kind of made fun of me for not knowing it.” Howes entered Final Jeopardy in the lead with $17,600. Victory was a buzz away. But it was the Final Jeopardy question that eluded the Tech student. Howes did not know the movie “Mutiny on the Bounty” was the only time three actors from the same movie

were nominated for Best Actor, making Pahk the champion again. “I wrote ‘Down Periscope,’ which is a comedy from the ‘90’s,” Howes said. “I looked at a Wikipedia article on superlative Oscar nominees, but it was a really long list. I memorized all the presidents and worked on the world capitals, but you can’t learn everything.” Finishing in second place, Howes still went home with a $2,000 consolation prize and a photo with Trebek, which will soon be framed in her office. On October 12, Pahk, a Massachusetts physics professor and self-professed lover of crosswords, lost after a seven-day winning streak. He took home $199,000 in total winnings. Another Blacksburg resident will be appearing on “Jeopardy!” Father Scott Russell, the associate

rector of Christ Episcopal Church, will play on the popular game show on December 5, 2011. Russell is in his ninth year as the associate rector of Christ Episcopal and as the Episcopal chaplain at Tech. Howes said the thing she has enjoyed the most about her time on “Jeopardy!” is the reaction of others. “The best part of the experience has been the outpouring of love and support from all my friends and family,” Howes said. As a veteran of one of the most popular and long-running game shows in the country, Howes recommended the experience to all. She encouraged those that are on the fence about trying out to take a chance. “They should absolutely try out,” said Howes. “The online test is really fun, especially if you already like ‘Jeopardy!’ If you think that you got it in you, you should definitely do it.”

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Larceny of a Bicycle

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people & clubs He said: Choose social media wisely

COLLEGIATETIMES

october 14, 2011

Next is Google+. Users of this site claim they are “futurists,” but in reality they are just people who never got the memo that Google+ didn’t actually work out. This Facebook wannabe launched by the Internet mogul was supposed to be the next big thing, but it never caught on. While there is still a chance Google+ may succeed, you don’t want to be that one friend that still thinks it’s cool to use it. If you actually log on, you will see that the news feed is probably filled with worthless posts by the same one or two people. Don’t be that person. Finally, there is the blog. This is for the socialite who wants everyone to know what is on his or her mind, but cannot fit it within the constraints of Twitter. Blogs can encompass everything from sports to fashion to life’s daily adventures. What makes blogging superior to some of the previously mentioned forms is the unlimited amount of space to fill with your thoughts and stories. My personal favorite is Tumblr, which is essentially blogging with a hipster twist. Blogging takes a decent amount of commitment, so only tread those waters if you are a relatively serious about letting the world know your thoughts. I could have gotten this article done about three times faster if I was not connected to the Internet, but I consistently found myself checking my Twitter and Facebook. Social media is a double-edged sword because it does amazing things for networking, informing and marketing, but it also has the power to destroy productivity and waste hours of your life. It encompasses both the present and the future and must be embraced going forth.

he she

SAID

Our generation has become infatuated by social media. Everywhere you look there are people sharing their lives through the Internet. It is extremely easy to get confused amidst all the various forms, so I’m here to clear up any confusion and allow you to discover which one is best for you. The first type of social media to make its way onto the scene was Myspace. Cool during the early years of high school, Myspace has now changed management and is solely the butt of jokes. Claiming to target the “music industry,” Myspace is in reality now only used by 40-year-old pedophiles and moms who are epically failing in trying to be “cool.” But alas, the days of scouring Google for the coolest backgrounds are over now that Facebook has taken the scene. Starting from the later days of high school, Facebook has exponentially grown to become the premier social networking site. It is always there for you when you are bored out of your mind 15 minutes into that Tuesday/Thursday 8:00 a.m. It always finds a way to be the first window opened when you get to your seat at the math emporium. What is the appeal of Facebook? Everyone is on it. If Facebook were a country, it would be the third most populated. Coincidentally, it would also be the most unproductive country in the world. If you don’t have a Facebook, there is a good chance you either don’t exist or think you are too cool for it. Through what seems to be weekly changes to the format and fads such as “Farmville,” Facebook has held strong as the go-to social network. Relatively new to the scene but making a massive impact is Twitter. For those who are unaware, a tweet is a 140 character-or-less blurb describing your current state or emotion. You may be wondering what the difference is between a tweet and a Facebook status update. Believe it or not, it is actually socially acceptable for someone to post a countless number of tweets throughout the day, even though doing so on Facebook will surely cause you to lose friends. Where else can one find out what Lady Gaga is up to on an hourly basis? Many are reluctant to get a Twitter because they feel their lives are not exciting enough to tell the world what they are doing. False. Everything from “Logan Thomas just made Miami his #bitch” to “These lines at West End are #rediklous” is acceptable. See, it’s that easy. Just give it a try and in no time, you’ll be hashtagging things in daily speech.

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

DANE HARRINGTON -featured columnist -junior -industrial & systems engineering major

STEPHANIE LACASSE / COLLEGIATE TIMES

She said: Stay classy on Facebook

The other day I walked into my 500-person management class and what did I see on someone’s computer screen? My Facebook page. I was flattered, but at the same time, as I looked up to see who the owner of the computer was I didn’t recognize them. That’s when I took my purse and hit them over the head and called them a creep. Just kidding. But seriously, I was pretty freaked out. Who are you? One of my biggest pet peeves is when people don’t talk to me in person, yet think they can add me as a friend on Facebook. Obviously that’s sketchy. I’m a pretty open and nice person, but at the same time, forgive me for questioning your intentions when we both know who each other is and you’d rather stalk me on cyber space than merely say hi. I promise you, my pictures are not cool enough to look through. I do, however, love waking up to new friend requests from people I’ve met the night before or was introduced to around campus. It shows initiative. I admit I am guilty of searching people I hear about and have never met, but

that in no way means I’ll add them. My good friend DJ Rhetorik has a rule that he doesn’t really add anyone, especially if you have not cordially met in person. I have to say I agree with that. I always enjoy looking back at my old albums that capture trends like “mirror pics” or even the “Myspace-style” pictures where you hold the camera above your head and look up at it. Let me tell you, I had solid form. Don’t forget all of the ones taken with the duck face while chucking the deuces. They were prime in middle school and even made their way through high school as well. I can honestly look back and realize why guys ran the other way in high school, while also reminiscing the good memories of my friends and I. Needless to say, all of my old pictures are blocked from the public. You can thank my roommate and our friend Tyler for going through my pictures together and “liking” any and all I could be the least bit embarrassed by. Not to mention the witty comments they left were enough for a high school girl with low self-esteem to cry for days. Then there was the terrifying realization that hit me freshman year: future employers would be looking at my pictures, my profile, my comments — everything. This was enough to make me soil my pants in a D2 dash kind of way. I was even more startled after a phone

call from my aunt immediately after my Halloween pictures went up freshman year. Let’s just say my sassy costume, or lack of costume material for that matter, didn’t go over well with the fam. Cover up ladies — keep your dignity, because your parents will always find out. If you choose not to, just make sure you don’t make your profile picture the one of you dressed up as a ghost buster with your two main attractions practically hanging out while wearing fire engine red lipstick. It wasn’t my best look. Hey, I know what you’re thinking, typical freshman girl trying to get attention. Give me a break. I was young and naïve, and like I always say, you win some, you lose some. After that, I said goodbye to pictures with alcohol, which were arguably the cutest ones. I also got rid of the pictures highlighting poses my girlfriends thought were “cute” in high school. Grown-up Kelley has begun to take hold and when my pictures aren’t advertisements for Virginia Tech organizations, I try to portray myself in a way that my grandmother would approve of. This portrayal also has another benefit. I’m also keeping creeps from random countries away, as well as those people who pretend to be models but in reality are some scary person eating chips and watching “Jeopardy” on the couch. My other obsession has become a

sweet song that simply goes, “Tweet Tweet.” Yes sir, I’m talking about Twitter. The cool thing about Twitter is that people usually only tweet witty and impressive tweets. This eliminates all of the excess things people post on Facebook statuses. Two accounts I truly enjoy following are @sportscenter and @disneywords. The sports highlights in my newsfeed constantly keep my interest flaring, while the Disney tweets take me back to the specific scenes they pull quotes from. Also, @VTgirlproblems, your tweets are hilarious. I am dying to find out who you are. Whether it is hardcore stalking people you don’t even know, enjoying Twitter because people don’t post useless knowledge, or simply advertising for an organization, social media is our saving grace and our downfall. Plenty of fights stem from posts, but social media brings our generation together. Networking just got that much easier, while also remaining an exciting portal that I can see myself using into my adult life.

KELLEY ENGLISH -featured columnist -junior -marketing & management major

Cosby: Discusses childhood, getting into the business from page one

COURTESY OF BILL COSBY

The Collegiate Times spoke with Cosby to reflect on his career path and provide college students with some of his words of wisdom. COLLEGIATE TIMES: When did you know that you would become a comedian? COSBY: I was 24-years-old and it was because of my education. (But growing up) I didn’t think about becoming a comedian because I didn’t know anything and I was not a good student. I was looking more toward sports, which later on in life I found out I was not up to quality, speed or ability to break into even a good level of semi-professional. So that was gone. And I had given up in (the) fourth grade of taking up the responsibility of homework and turning papers in and things like that. I drifted. I quit high school at age 19, which says a lot because people generally graduate at 17 or 18 and I was still in the eleventh grade. I entered the Navy for four years and I found out then and there what it really felt like to not be able to control. I’m not even talking about destiny. I’m just talking about what time I get up in the morning … Then I found out that in this United States of America, I was capable of reforming. If I wanted to, I could (get my) GED, and with that, I could try to get into college. All I needed to have was a goal — not a dream, a goal, and I did. (For) the first time since fourth grade, I began to apply myself. I was in remedial everything, but in remedial freshman English, we were asked to do a composition, and it was about the first time I ever did anything. This was the first thing since the fourth grade that I turned anything in on time. That was the beginning of enjoying being brought forward and someone talking about what I did. I enjoyed it because I really was working to make something special with those papers. So there I was, playing freshman football and then shifting to freshman track after the season is over. And I’m in school. I want to be a school teacher because that’s my goal — to grab these boys in seventh and eighth grade and jack ‘em up when they are walking around acting the way I used to act. And I’m going to give them the future orally and then try and straighten them out and have them see the value of the education. (At) 23, I got a job as a bartender. As a bartender (I) would talk to the

customers, and customers in the bar generally have some kind of joke — a dirty joke or something — and I began to collect these things. I started to let the jokes go and tell some of the things I had written. Then one day I was sitting in a Chinese restaurant, getting ready to go into work, and I heard my style — my performance style. I still don’t know that I want to go into show business, but this man was sitting at a table with about nine people and he is just talking, talking, talking and they are just laughing away. They’re laughing because everyone knows what he’s talking about and he’s their friend. I thought, ‘That’s it! That’s my style — to be the friend.’ Then this English couple ... told me how they had spoken to these fellows who owned the wonderful coffee house in Greenwich Village, (The Gas Light). And I drove up and they said, ‘Okay, there’s your audience.’ There were about seven people in a room that holds about 170. I went up, and I did about 15 minutes of stuff I had written. (I) came off and the guy said, ‘Well you’re very raw, but we’ll pay you $60 a week.’ So I took the job and that was it. CT: I read that you were raised in the Philly projects. How did your childhood influence the man you are today? COSBY: There are things that as a child you really don’t know. You don’t know what you’re doing. ... You really don’t have the strength and power to control anything. Sun comes up, it goes down. Moon comes up, moon comes down and I’m still here. ... My mother had four boys. James died. I’m first born, James was second and then the other two came and we lived in the housing projects. There were times when my wish list really and truly was just never magically answered. And that’s the way I lived. ... I mean, I’m looking at, let’s say, by the time I’m 40-some-years-old, and the guys that I used to play with have graduated from college, or they’re coming out of the service or getting ready to. And it’s just a thought that came to me. ‘Ah, these are the guys — my buddies — who when we were in elementary, junior and high school, these are the guys I didn’t see. ... The reason is, they were studying.’ The reason is, their parents were saying to them, ‘Now you’re going to get this homework done and you’re going to (write) this paper. Let me check this. Let me go over this math with you.’ And so they went on

to college while I was still there in high school. CT: Social media was not prominent during most of your career. How have you adjusted? COSBY: Okay, with the new computers, I go ‘brrrrk’ and I’m tweeting. Right? ... It’s wonderful and the fact that they keep it short, you can have only so many figures. So this is wonderful. I can get online and I can let people know. For instance, there was a nut letter that went out and it said, ‘I’m Bill Cosby, I’m 76-years-old and I’m tired.’ ... But, I’m able to respond. I put it out on my website and I put it out on other areas. ... Whoever wrote this, when you read this, be aware that I am at this time still lucid and I know that I’m 74-years-old. So whoever wrote that didn’t fact check to see how old Billy Cosby really is. Secondly, why would I put it out in a letter and ask people to pass it around to their friends as opposed to putting it on my website, which has over 2 million people? So, I think that there are ways that one can clean up quickly some of the sabotage methods that people want to throw out. Once I get something that is that negative then I want to respond, I can do that right away. If I want to say something wonderful about someone, then I can put on my website — boom, and it’s out there. I can tell people where I’m appearing. If you go to the website, you can see that Bill Cosby will be playing Blacksburg. CT: Virginia Tech Union, the student organization in charge of Laughriot, is holding a contest on Facebook. Students can upload images of themselves wearing crazy sweaters for a chance to win an autographed poster and free tickets to your show. What are your thoughts on the contest? COSBY: Well good. I think that’s wonderful. ... It sounds like good college fun for some who just want to try and do something. Maybe some of the people in the school of design, or maybe ... just some fraternities or sororities that get together and do some things — virtual crazy sweater kind of things. I think it’s kind of nice.

WHAT: Bill Cosby at Laughriot WHEN:Oct. 20, 7:30 p.m. WHERE: Burruss Hall COST: $20 students, $45 public, $11 children

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

october 14, 2011

OCCUPIED OCCUPIED

MCT CAMPUS

Our Views [staff editorial]

The end of occupation The latest political phenomenon, Occupy Wall Street, may be coming to an end. The seemingly small movement has progressed and encompassed multiple major cities across the nation, and now the root of Occupy Wall Street faces a potential shut down. Zuccotti Park will be vacated by Friday for maintenance and cleaning. The original occupiers have been in the space for well over a month. Once the cleaning is complete, protestors will be allowed back into the park. But will they come back? The volatile youth of this movement have had their dedication questioned since the beginning of the movement. From New York to Washington, D.C. — and now even Virginia

Tech — young protestors are less inspired and less likely to stay. As we see youth being less and less involved it is only natural to wonder whether or not Occupy Wall Street has had much influence over our generation at all, apart from recognition. Will members stay, or will they pack up their books, beds and selves and return to their normal lives? Change cannot come if the youth is not involved, impassioned, or there. A movement that lacks direction can only go so far, and it appears that both its influence and fortitude have reached their ends. - the editorial board is comprised of sean simons and scott masselli

Your Views [letters to the editor]

Place blame elsewhere

Occupy Virginia Tech seems like it means well. The number of students who graduate with a lifetime of debt is outrageous. Will an “Occupation” lower the tuition? Probably not. Will the school ignore the protest as long as it remains peaceful? It appears they will, because they have not commented. However, as I read the list of demands, I had to raise a brow. We’re supposed to be protesting the salary of the president. But the president doesn’t make anywhere near the amount that football coach Frank Beamer makes. The football department made $40.75 million dollars in 2006. Beamer stands to make more than $2 million dollars

with his contract at Tech, not to mention his sweet retirement package. I think Occupy Virginia Tech is protesting the wrong people. After all, the current students and the alumni are the main source of ticket sales. But has anyone questioned where that money goes? The upkeep of the football department is undoubtably great, but you can hardly protest the president of the college and ignore the football staff. What if that money was put back into the school that made it what it is? Hokie football may be important to the students, but I smell bias and I don’t like it. If you’re going to protest, do it right.

-JOCELYN DUGAN, BLACKSBRG RESIDENT

WHY OCCUPATION IS FAILING Five weeks, 150 cities and two continents: Operation “Occupy Wall Street” has grown into what some are calling a “movement” and “Arab Spring 2.0.” The campout at the financial capital of the world has started to receive mass media attention and, consequently, has forced the political capital of the world — Washington D.C. — to take sides. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., said in a press statement, “I, for one, am increasingly concerned about the growing mob occupying Wall Street and the other cities across the country.” House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., told reporters, “God bless them for their spontaneity. It’s young, it’s spontaneous, it’s focused and it’s going to be effective.” Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, said to the Joint Economic Committee, “They blame, with some justification, the financial sector with getting us into this mess. I can’t blame them.” Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain said what I believe to be the best summa-

“

No one really knows what the occupiers are angry about. They lack a cohesive message. They lack a justiﬁed argument. They are a mob engaging in class warfare. The occupation could morph into a legitimate protest with a lucid and intelligible argument for reform, but they are currently far from that.

tion of the protest — “To me, (it) comes across more as anti-capitalism.” In respect to the comments it has received, Occupy Wall Street seems to have positioned itself perfectly to have an effect on the 2012 presidential election and, possibly, be a make-or-break issue for voters. However, this possibility is troubling for many reasons. According to Dictionary.com, the word “asinine” can be defined as follows: Foolish, unintelligent, or silly. Put these three adjectives together and you have, in a nutshell, the Occupy Wall Street movement. Let’s start with silly: For one, they chose the wrong place to protest. Wall Street is a symbol of financial strength, and nothing more. Currently, only three percent of trading volume is done on Wall Street. So who are they protesting to? Who is hearing their message and outcries for change? The hungry pigeons? Or the homeless people bum-

ming it on the street? Protesting for the sake of protesting is a waste of capital, time, energy and tax money. Second, it is a little late to be angry at the financials sector of Wall Street. The “Great Recession” started officially in December 2007. This means that the Occupiers have been able to control and deal with their anger for roughly three years. This also means even after enduring the worst hardship during the peak of the recession, the Occupiers still did not take to the streets. Yet now, they want their demands — which are still ambiguously defined — to be met and change to be enacted? That is what I mean by silly. On a more serious note, I will concede that yes, the housing bubble burst was predominantly the financial sector’s fault. And yes, it was their supposed AAA credit default swaps that ended up being the “toxic assets” that obliterated the subprime mortgage industry. And yes, it was the same financial sector that created new derivatives to sell to an oblivious AIG to profit off the crisis. However, with all of that being said, the onus of responsibility does not fall solely on Wall Street and its affiliates. Although most Americans could not foresee the inevitable foreclosures around the country that would lead to the crash, they still shoulder some of the responsibility for the crisis. Why? Because it was American’s ignorance that precipitated and hastened the current economic state of affairs we are in. Americans thought housing prices would never fall, that incredibly low interest rates would be there forever. They believed the garbage being promulgated from the political sphere that owning a house was an economic necessity. But the real culprits of the Great Recession reside in Washington D.C. — and that means current residents and alumni, Republicans and Democrats. Most politicians have, at best, a subpar understanding of how an economy works, grows and prospers. As a result, they meddle with the economic edifice and regulate every aspect of the system — ironically with good intentions — and thus create and exacerbate our economic woes. The occupation is unintelligent. The occupiers keep making the claim that the top 1 percent own 50 percent of the nation’s wealth — this is disingenuous. According to IRS data, the top 1 percent holds approximately 36 percent of the nation’s wealth. Moreover, the occupiers refer to the 1 percent as incredibly affluent millionaires and billionaires, but IRS data again shows this is false. Anybody earning $380,354 or more falls within the top 1 percent. These two inaccuracies may

seem trivial, but if you are going to make a ruckus about something, please be correct with your allegations. No one really knows what the occupiers are angry about. They lack a cohesive message. They lack a justified argument. They are a mob engaging in class warfare. The occupation could morph into a legitimate protest with a lucid and intelligible argument for reform, but they are currently far from that. Occupy Wall Street is also foolish. If you take a step back from the emotional appeal to the movement and peel away the layers, what they are really advocating is socialism and the eradication of our capitalistic financial system. The occupiers provide nothing more than arguments from emotion or appeals to pity, not substantive arguments. Furthermore, they purport that the rich are not paying their fair share. The rich are rich for a reason. Some people inherit large sums of money, but that is a small percentage whose money is taxed. The vast majority of rich people work extremely hard for their money and I would say they are fairly compensated. I think it would be beneficial to review the definitions of fair and equal. Fair means being in accordance with rules and standards; legitimate, just or appropriate in the given circumstances. Equal means being the same in quantity, size, degree or value; uniform in application. Your professor passes back an essay you wrote and you got an A, but the person next to you got a B because they turned t he paper in a day late — this grading method would be fair since the person next to you did not turn in the paper on time and was therefore penalized for the action. Equal in this situation would be both of you got an A. Which situation would you prefer? Imagine you are the CEO of a Fortune 500 company and have to pay exorbitant taxes just because you make more money. That is not fair. The political system in our country is penalizing success and incentivizing entitlements and handouts. Moreover, what is truly frustrating about the Occupy Wall Street movement is that they want to take a step away from capitalism because they believe capitalism is causing their troubles. This is another fallacy — association is not causation. The people involved in this movement are misguided. What they should do is take all their pent-up energy and go occupy Capital Hill and advocate for stricter “parents,” (politicians) who will refuse to further exacerbate the economic problems and who will no longer sympathize with appeals to pity.

TYLER ARTHUR - regular columnist - sophomore - business major

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

october 14, 2011

OCCUPATION LACKING PURPOSE, POWER, AND FACTS It’s hard to judge such a large group of protesters like the Occupy Wall Street demonstrators when they seem to have problems telling us what they’re trying to accomplish. The group seems to be lacking quite a few things — cohesion, common goals, a general message and even basic hygiene. But what they lack in messaging they seem to compensate for in sheer determination, so I’m still going to try and dissect just what this group is all about and what they’re trying to achieve (despite the fact that even they don’t know). First off, we have to get past the typical, liberal, overarching rhetoric that appeals to the masses without addressing the facts. “This is what America has been waiting for,” they’ll tell us. Watching interviews of the protesters on TV will leave you doing nothing but scratching your head (unless you are anti-capitalism, in which case you probably shouldn’t be watching that TV you obviously bought with money you earned thanks to our capitalist economy). “We are the 99 percent” is another popular saying coming from the Occupy Wall Street crowd. My personal favorite is, “this is democracy in action.” I fail to see how Occupy Wall Street, a movement that has led to hundreds, if not thousands, of people being arrested, is “democracy in action,” when it is okay for Vice President Biden to call the Tea Partiers “terrorists.” I’m not denying that they have a First Amendment right to be gathering and protesting, but they, and the media, seemed to have a huge problem with the Tea Party doing the exact same thing (minus the violence, arrests and the whole not showering thing). As if that wasn’t hypocritical enough, they’re protesting big bankers on Wall Street while they’re enjoying support from some very rich celebrities. Kanye West, Michael Moore, Susan Sarandon and music mogul Russell Simmons have all appeared at the Occupy Wall Street camps in New York to show their support. The question you have to ask is why the protesters are demonstrating outside the houses of wealthy bankers, but not outside the houses of just as wealthy celebrities. It is reported that West is worth $70 million, Moore and Sarandon each around $50 million and Simmons a whopping $325 million. Oh, that’s right. The reason they’re only protesting Wall Street is because the large-

ly liberal crowd believes Wall Street is in bed with the Republicans. They ignore the fact that commercial banks donated a record $3.4 million to Obama in 2008, and that the likes of Chris Dodd and Barney Frank, both Democrats, are arguably in bed with Wall Street more than any Republican on Capitol Hill. These protesters, like most liberals, seem to have problems with facts. On the other hand, what we do know is that these protesters don’t like Wall Street, and they don’t like the rich (meaning they’re jealous of the success that they don’t have). Dear Occupy Wall Street, you can be successful too if you work hard. Capitalism isn’t stopping you from becoming rich and successful, your lack of ambition and determination is, and the government can’t give that to you. Sincerely, reality. They also want more income equality. Well, how else are we supposed to have more income equality other than the government redistributing wealth in this country? That, my friends, is what we call socialism. Will someone please give me a scenario where socialist principles have actually worked? Anybody? I can’t wait forever. After all, after college I’m actually going to have a job and work for my money rather than expecting the government to hand it to me. Do I think we need changes in Washington? Of course I do. American businesses are over-taxed and over-regulated. Do I think we need to redistribute wealth? Absolutely not. However, Occupy Wall Street is going about this all wrong. Blaming the bankers on Wall Street won’t solve anything when it was the Democrats in Congress that forced those banks to hand out sour, irresponsible loans in the first place. And it certainly isn’t the government’s responsibility to make people successful and punish the success of those who have worked for it. Capitalism isn’t unfair. It doesn’t pick winners and losers — people just choose whether or not to participate in the system. Remember, capitalism only works if you do.

MATTHEW HURT - regular columnist - junior - political science major

OCCUPY D.C.: STAY OR GO “Mic check!” yells a man in his late 20s. He is wearing glasses, a military cap, a white shirt and jeans — some look for a revolutionary. “Mic check!” he yells a little louder, and the protestors filling this artery of McPherson Square turn to look. “In 15 minutes!” he shouts as loud as he can. “In 15 minutes!” the crowd shouts back. “We will be meeting!” “We will be meeting!” “Under that big, beautiful oak tree!” And now everybody knows. The protestors are on their eighth day here, though judging by their encampment it looks like the first. The commissary has less food than my apartment kitchen, the library (a table) has about two dozen books, and the “take-a-smoke, leave-a-smoke” bin wouldn’t last a day near my grad student friend, and he’s on the wean. “It’s coming along,” says a man hand-rolling a few more cigarettes just before he jumps into the path and over to his friends sitting on their faded sleeping bags. The showing is healthier than I expected. About 60 to 80 people are shifting in and out of the park, and the signs laying about the statue of General McPherson announce their causes. “Make Love Not Money” and “Overeducated, Underemployed” are common themes — dollar signs are blots on the cheerful messages. Some signs are pro-abortion, others anti-gun. Many call for higher taxes and many to end the two-party system. At least one participant has committed a confused, uncertain paragraph against religion, God and the status quo in red sentences on a white board. I spend the afternoon guessing who wrote it. The meeting under the oak tree, the one called by the bespectacled man, is also confused and tentative. Termed the “General Assembly,” it gives no information as to what these people are for. The conversation instead focuses on practical matters: How to avoid arrest for sleeping in the park, what to do about earlier clashes with demonstrators from nearby Freedom Plaza, how to get women

more involved in the discussion and a request for the welcome committee to be more welcoming (I am sympathetic). “What gives me hope, what makes my heart soar,” says an older Tallahassee man just before I leave, “is we got people from 18 to 80. When you got that broad a spectrum, it’s bound to work.” But I am not so sure. The average age at this protest has to be older than 30. At the meeting, it is much higher. The younger people (few of whom appear college-aged) have largely stayed near their sleeping bags. Our country is becoming increasingly stratified. Wages are stagnating for lower paid workers and exploding for those at the top. College graduates are facing low unemployment, while those with only high school educations are facing very high rates. Even our share of inequality as measured by test scores is second highest among developed countries. Otherwise very different groups of people seem to be viewing themselves as losers in an unfair game — the Tea Party and Occupy D.C. are some of the more visible reminders of this frustration. At the same time, the diversity of these groups may be making their cohesion difficult. The lack of notable leadership from within the Tea Party comes to mind, as does the unfocused nature of the Occupy Wall Street movement. Without leaders and a specific message, these people will struggle to improve their situations. Yet, the spirit in McPherson square is remarkable. I expect the commissary, library and “takea-smoke” bin to become better stocked. But when the weather becomes cold, when hunger sets in, and many realize the length of their fight, will they keep going? I see the younger people leaving, as well as those with warm apartments. Those who stay will show how serious they really are.

BRYCE STUCKI - guest columnist - senior - economics major

PROTEST DEMONSTRATES NATIONAL SENTIMENT In 1848, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels warned Europeans of the specter that was haunting them. Today, in our globalized world, a new specter is haunting us. It is a specter that is being seen in the streets of Beijing, Tripoli, Cairo, Madrid, Gaza and New York and that threatens to engulf every nation and city in the world. It is the specter of democratic freedom from the current trend of capitalist oligarchy and it is a specter that will bring all forms of tyranny to its knees. On Sept. 17, 2011, a small group of protesters began convening on Wall Street to protest the influence of corporate money in politics. It was a relatively unnoticed demonstration at the time that was given little media attention and little chance of gaining momentum. Now after nearly a month, demonstrations of the same sort have spread to more than 800 American cities and towns and is being hailed across many parts of the world as the “American Spring” (in reference to the “Arab

Spring” that is raging across the Middle East). Though the demonstrations lack a cohesive internal organization, media outlets and politicians are giving them serious attention. Many labor organizations and businesses, including The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations and Service Employees International Union, have endorsed them. The Occupy Wall Street movement can be approached in a variety of ways. Those who wish to ignore it can look toward its lack of central organization and coherent ideology. Those who wish to keep it in the context of American politics can show its similarities with the Tea Party in both spirit and historical origin. Both of these approaches, however, fail to recognize the far greater context this movement must be seen in — another symptom in the current worldwide movement of liberation from political and economic totalitarianism.

The organization speaks to all of those who feel as though the government is under the control of corporate interests and right-wing fanaticism. The fact that it lacks a coherent ideology is not an excuse for people to ignore it. Instead, it must be seen as necessary for the survival of the movement itself. Unlike the 20th century, where political movements progressed toward either a single or a plurality of goals, political movements in the 21st century are more and more being seen as echoing a feeling. As was the case in Egypt and Libya, the people that were part of these movements were able to topple governments and dictators without a manifesto or, in the early stages, a centralized structure. In this nation, movements that begin and spread with the internet require incoherent ideology and decentralized structure in order to personally reach into the troubled souls of those who feel the same. This fact is already being seen with remarkable effectiveness across all

sectors of the American social fabric. Of course, there are people who were already in the left-wing of the American political spectrum that were certainly going to support any movement that spoke to the feelings they had always had. But what is r emarkable about this movement is that it has been spreading toward sectors that would never before have echoed similar sentiments. Last month, GOP presidential candidates like Herman Cain and Mitt Romney spoke of this movement as “dangerous” and immature. They now say they understand where the demonstrators are coming from and can show solidarity with this feeling. As the movement spreads to more cities and encompasses more sectors of American society, it becomes more difficult to ignore. Until the current trend of rightwing fanaticism that seeks complete domestic hegemony under the guise of “conservatism” ends, the Occupy Wall Street movement will endure.

Until the current trend of the government being co-opted by corporate interests and capitalistic oligarchy ends, the Occupy Wall Street movement will endure. And until the current trend of worldwide disinterest with the status quo and the smothering of freedom and democracy by those who wish to retain their despotic interests ends, the Occupy Wall Street movement will endure. Movements like this can no longer be seen as mere ripples in an otherwise tranquil socio-political sea. Instead, they must be seen as the zeitgeist of our age, which is defined by social unity and political institutions free from corporate interests and moral domination. A choice is left for all of us to make: Either you fight for freedom and democracy, or you fight for the status quo of despotism and hegemony.

JASON CAMPBELL - regular columnist - junior - philosophy major

OCCUPATION DOES HAVE OBJECTIVE Zuccotti Park, located in Lower Manhattan, was a symbol of quiet refuge for those who wished to escape the frenzied lifestyle of New York’s chaotic Financial District. Where the plaza once held the burnt fragments and remains of the North and South twin towers, recent renovations had introduced sculptures, scenic foliage, marble chess tables and plenty of seats for tourists and locals. Following its restoration, Zuccotti Park had once again become a peaceful sanctuary for visitors. The peace would not last long: On Sept. 17, 2011, approximately 1,000 impassioned protestors gathered in the middle of the square clutching picket signs and carrying cardboard boxes for shelter. Occupy Wall Street had begun. Adbusters, a Canadian activist organization, is credited with starting the movement, although it is unlikely they expected such an impressive response. Beginning with emails encouraging their members to occupy Wall Street, the demonstration has spread far from the state of New York, spawning similar protests in California, Texas, Florida and Maine.

Perhaps most significantly, Occupy Wall Street has irrevocably turned from a small crowd of hundreds to a diverse crowd of hundreds of thousands, gaining publicity from media outlets, well-known celebrities and politicians. It is exactly this attention that has caused many to question the intentions of those who are rallying across the nation as Occupy Wall Street protestors. I have often heard from those who are uniformed or misinformed about the movement that there is not a clear-cut objective and I simply have to disagree. From the very start, Adbusters said the demonstration was produced “beginning from one simple demand — a presidential commission to separate money from politics — we start setting the agenda for a new America.” It is not a constitution by any means, but it is certainly a goal that highlights the protestor’s desire to limit corporate power and influence in American politics. Moving into the realm of politics, political discourse on the subject has the bad habit of splitting on party lines, pushing Republicans and Democrats further apart. It should

be noted that both conservatives and liberals are lifting picket signs and demonstrating, even though our political leaders don’t seem to realize this. It is fair to say that most Democratic pundits have supported the movement, while the majority of Republican pundits oppose it. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., have openly championed the Wall Street protests. Why haven’t leaders of the GOP? The lack of support from Republicans is baffling — have they forgotten that the Tea Party movement began in much the same way as the Occupy Wall Street movement? The Tea Party was a reaction to what many conservatives saw as fiscal irresponsibility by big government in the wake of an economic crisis. Occupy Wall Street seeks to limit the power of banks and corporations that contributed to the current failing economy. Although I see what the Tea Party has become now and cringe, I would not say that their original protests were unpatriotic or un-American. Sean Hannity, a prominent conservative talk show host, told a pro-

Occupy Wall Street individual that she didn’t “believe in liberty or freedom.” Republican candidate for president Herman Cain has gone as far as calling the protests a “distraction so that many people won’t focus on the failed policies of the Obama administration.” I do not see how supporting a movement made possible by the First Amendment’s right to peacefully assemble and free speech implies that I don’t believe in liberty. I also do not see how a movement screaming at the injustices of wealth disparity and corporate greed is a distraction of failed policies of any administration, Republican or Democrat. This is not to suggest that Cain and Hannity are the only voices of the Republican Party — there are numerous republican citizens who agree with the Occupy Wall Street protests. However, I have to question why so many conservative leaders are able to publicly disagree with the movement without any backlash from their constituents. The GOP has consistently belittled the efforts of Occupy Wall Street, and not to their detriment. The Republican base in America seems to approve of their sentiments. If there are major Republicans speak-

ing up in favor of the recent protests, I would honestly like to know who they are and encourage them to be heard. Despite the differences between Republicans and Democrats on this issue, I’d prefer that the Occupy Wall Street protests focus more on their stated objectives, rather than looking for an endorsement from or fighting for a political party. After all, they have many obstacles to overcome as a diverse group of young adults. They have been called lazy, ignorant and leaderless. Instead of having their ideas seriously considered, they were called unpatriotic. For complaining about the economy they were told to stop whining. For asking that the government reflect the interests of the 99 percent, they were accused of class warfare. I do not disagree that the Occupy Wall Street protestors do not have a clear leader, but I do not argue that there should be one. For once, the American people are going to lead the American people and we are going to be heard.

TYLER ARTHUR - regular columnist - sophomore - business major

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october 14, 2011

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WORDSEARCH: Halloween Locate the list of words in the word bank in the letter grid.

Regular Edition Today’s Birthday Horoscope: Find a new way to have fun with your body in motion (or rediscover a previous practice). Physical activity this year sustains your health and vitality, your most precious assets. Work out your frustrations. This time pays rich dividends.

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ACROSS 1 Berlin Olympics star 6 Test site s 10 Unexpected result 15 “The King’ s Speech” Oscar winner Firth 16 Touched dow n 17 Pheasant ragout 18 Far from fresh 19 Snack in a shell 20 Garden figure 21 *Ages 24 Spelling on screen 25 Old Olds creatio n 26 Minnesota twins? 27 Buf f

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DOW N 1 Fall mo . 2 Klingon of ficer in the “Star Trek” franchise 3 “The Untouchables ” co-author , 1957 4 Powerful liquid, for short 5 Derisive looks 6 Incurring a fine, maybe 7 Banned apple spray 8 Antacid choice, briefly 9 He who is without sin? 10 Links gp. 11 Prevalent all over 12 Memorial __Kettering: NYC hospita l 13 Tube awards 14 Draw 22 VapoRub maker 23 Durante’ s “Inka Dinka __” 27 Japan’ s highest mountai n

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28 Grad 30 Reine’ s spouse 31 FedEx rival 32 Bullring shout 36 Balanc e 37 Kids’ block 38 Do some cutting 40 It usually includes crossed-of f item s 41 Soccer star Freddy 42 Thurman of “Kill Bill” 43 Used a stool 44 “__ card, any card” 49 Many a Fed. holiday 50 Beefy ste w ingredient 51 “You saved me!” 52 Big hits 54 Shout of delight 55 All ear s 58 Handy “M r.” 60 Swedish furniture chain 61 Mythical archer 62 Type typ e 63 River of Flanders 64 NBC hit since ’75 67 Chicken general? Thursday’s Puzzle Solved

10/13/11

Dinner: Success seems to feed off tradition from back page

steak and shove it in there, and dip it in some honey mustard,” DeChristopher said. “It’s legit.” The Farmhouse sandwich wouldn’t be complete without its definitive ingredient. “It’s 100 percent the honey mustard,” said tight end Chris Drager. “It’s just delicious. You could dip a piece of (feces) in there and it would taste awesome.” Once everyone has food, a silent calm sweeps the banquet hall. A short 45 minute stay at The Farmhouse doesn’t leave much time for chatting. I suppose incessantly pumping food into your mouth until it’s on the verge of overflowing into your gullet doesn’t leave much space to articulate sentences. A majority of the communication taking place in The Farmhouse involves grunting and moaning. However, one table finds time to gab. “I just love the camaraderie of the brothers,” said linebacker Telvion Clark. “Everybody at the table joking back and forth.” Even within the table known for gabbing like teeny-boppers at a slum-

ber party, not everybody likes to chat. “When it’s time to eat, (Barquell Rivers) doesn’t have jokes,” Clark said. “It’s all spoon and fork.” Jack Tyler observes a similar tendency. “Barquell is the big eater of the linebackers, so we rag on him the whole time about how much he can eat, and that he could possibly be our starting D-tackle by the end of the year,” Tyler said. After Rivers and everybody else finish playing chubby bunny with steak sandwiches, we funnel out of the banquet hall — leaving behind a mess that requires a two-hour cleanup. If you’re lucky, you will make it to the bus in time — unlike yours truly after a 2010 dinner. Trust me, after inhaling exorbitant amounts of steer, chasing down a bus is not the best medicine. Although the splurge itself brings a taste of ecstasy, the gastrointestinal complications can be extreme. “A lot of times I feel like I’m on the verge of throwing up,” said left tackle Andrew Lanier. “After so many years of going to The Farmhouse, I’ve learned how to control the eating so that it’s more enjoyable on the bus ride

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afterward — and (so) I’m not thinking about when I’m going to make it to the bathroom.” Linemen appear to be among those most vulnerable to The Farmhouse spell. “You eat yourself into a coma, and fall asleep on the bus ride,” Nosal said. The men in the trenches have always been an elite group of eaters, and these hogs don’t disappoint. “Being a lineman, the number one thing on your mind is food,” said left tackle Nick Becton. “You have to eat. I’m 330 (pounds) right now — the main reason is The Farmhouse. I can’t even imagine life without The Farmhouse.” Becton isn’t alone in his convictions. In the event that coach Beamer ever abolishes this beautiful privilege, the repercussions could be devastating. “There would probably be a riot,” said right guard Jaymes Brooks. “None of the O-linemen would play that weekend… We would have a holdout of our own.” The pain of visualizing a world without The Farmhouse is too much for some players to handle. “(I would) quit the team and drop

out of school,” said fullback Joey Phillips. Indeed, living without The Farmhouse would leave a vacancy in all of our souls. “It has a special place in our hearts and we need our Farmhouse,” DeChristopher said. Understandably so — the tradition has been around longer than “Enter Sandman.” During the fall of 1993, the team began paying occasional visits to The Farmhouse. Back then, the trips took place only on evenings before a couple home games every year. It wasn’t until 1998 that The Farmhouse became our exclusive restaurant on nights before Lane Stadium kickoffs. The Farmhouse has not only tickled our taste buds and coaxed us into morbid obesity — it has fueled the way we play the game. Prior to ‘93, coach Beamer’s record at Virginia Tech was 24-40-2. The year we became patrons of The Farmhouse also happened to mark coach Beamer’s first bowl victory after leading the Hokies to a 9-3 record. From ’93-’97, the Hokies won two Big East Conference titles, a Sugar Bowl,

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child to dine with the Hokies. “It’s good publicity,” Wade said. “It’s great for business.” Well, it’s my senior year, and only six more visits to The Farmhouse remain in my dwindling career. Barbara, it’s been a great run, and my teammates would agree. “I’m really nervous because my days are becoming short at The Farmhouse,” DeChristopher said. There’s no doubt in my mind, even after our playing days are over, we will continue to faithfully invest in the restaurant that has brought us so much joy over the years. As a benediction, I would like to close with a reading from Proverbs 28:7, which says, “A discerning son heeds instruction, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.” Sorry, Dad.

COLLIN CARROLL -long snapper -senior -marketing management major -@collinjcarroll

Week ending Oct. 11, 2011

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and boasted a record of 44-16. Since we tied the knot with The Farmhouse in ’98, Tech has collected another Big East crown, four ACC titles, an Orange Bowl win, five other bowl victories, a national championship berth, and a 135-41 overall record. “(The Farmhouse) boosts team morale, big time,” Lanier said. Clearly. In 2008, the team began visiting The Farmhouse before all games — home and away. It appears the best is yet to come for the Hokies. “It’s what everyone looks forward to during the week,” said offensive lineman Mike Via. “It’s what gets us through the week.” Tech players aren’t the only ones who fantasize about the weekly visit. General manager Barbara Wade, who has worked at The Farmhouse for the last 48 years, describes herself as one of the restaurant’s many antiques. “I’m proud to be a part of serving the football team,” Wade said. “It’s a tradition.” The partnership has created numerous synergies, as southwest Virginia natives would sacrifice their firstborn

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september 6, 201115 @23, kickoff: october 6:30 p.m. september 2009 page 9

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Logan Thomas improves, Hokies open up playbook MATT JONES sports editor For Virginia Tech offensive play caller Mike O’Cain, performances like Logan Thomas’ don’t come around too often. O’Cain has developed and coached some stars at the position, including Tyrod Taylor. So, when O’Cain said this week that Saturday’s 23-of-25 passing performance by Thomas — who finished with 310 yards and three touchdowns via the air — ranks tops among any he’s coached, well that’s saying something. “Probably the best overall, from a pass completion standpoint,” O’Cain said. “Because of what we asked him to do, and his play overall, and some of the throws that he had to make — they weren’t all easy throws.” The offensive outburst, all 482 yards and five touchdowns, came a week after failing to find the end zone in a 23-3 loss to Clemson on national television. Thomas struggled so much in the three-point effort there were people that wanted a change at the quarterback position. Fans in Lane Stadium booed during the final minutes of the loss. “Can’t help but hear (the boos), but I did use it as motivation,” Thomas said. “It didn’t really bother me too much.” In that loss, Thomas was given very little help from his teammates on offense. Receivers dropped passes, linemen missed blocks and the coaching staff took a lot of the blame. So what is to be made of the sudden change in offensive productivity? A few things happened that took pressure off Thomas and put it on the defense: 1. Thomas was a weapon in the run-

STEVEN SILTON / SPPS

Logan Thomas gallops to the end zone for the winning score against Miami. He was 23-25 for 310 yards. ning game In the first three games of the season, Thomas was healthy enough to keep the defense honest with his legs. The 6-foot, 6-inch, 254-pound quarterback rumbled his way for 114 yards on 24 carries. However, in his first quarter touchdown run against Marshall, Thomas injured his left shoulder as he plowed over a defender. The injury forced

Thomas to hand the ball off exclusively with his right hand, and limited O’Cain’s playcalling. The injury was still bothering Thomas in the Clemson game, which affected the offense immensely. “We were worried about him getting banged on,” O’Cain said. “We ran it a good bit against East Carolina. It was something (against Miami) that Logan was healthy now and we felt like it puts

a lot of pressure on the defense. It gets Logan’s hands on the football — a big, strong guy that we feel like can move the pile.” Thomas rushed for two touchdowns against the Hurricanes, a sign that his shoulder is good to go moving forward. 2. Passes got completed Against Clemson, Thomas’ longest passing play was 16 yards. Saturday against Miami, he completed six passes

of 16 or more yards, including touchdowns of 40 and 60 yards. Not every play was a downfield pass whistling through the air. The plays are designed so that if receivers downfield aren’t open, check down throws are available. “Where to go with the ball, I think he was better this week,” Beamer said. “He’ll learn every week. He’s just a guy that he’ll keep improving.” If Thomas keeps progressing at the rate fans saw after one game, there is reason for a lot of excitement in Blacksburg. The throws down the middle of the field are also a nice sign for his coach. “He had a couple where he had to hit people down the middle of the field, which is not an easy throw,” O’Cain said. “The long ball to Jarrett (Boykin), that ball was put right there, and the throw to Chris (Drager) on third down, those are thrown about as well as you can throw them.” A couple of throws came when Thomas was moving outside the pocket, a situation that he looked very good in. “I feel comfortable throwing on the run,” Thomas said. “It gives the defense a different look, and it gives the safeties something else to look at. They see everything flowing left or they see everything flowing right, whichever way, and it makes them stay honest.” While the stat sheet may look nice after the game, Thomas understands there will be more speed bumps in his progression as a quarterback. “I know it’s definitely going to be hard to have that same type of performance, and I don’t really expect to have that

same type of performance,” Thomas said. “You want to. You practice to, but the likeliness of it happening is not as high.” 3. Offense got in a rhythm early Against Miami, Thomas had no trouble getting off to a fast start. Thomas completed five of his first six passes — three of which went for first downs. “When you convert third downs and you stay on the field, then it allows whoever is calling plays to get into a rhythm, and you build on things, and you kind of get a feel for what (the opponent) is doing,” O’Cain said. Miami didn’t get a lot of pressure on Thomas, allowing him to sit back and read the entire defense. Completing early passes set the tone for the entire game. “When you’re in there for just a few plays and out, then you never can get anything really established for what you’re trying to get done, and also see what they’re trying to do to you,” O’Cain said. The Hokies’ first play, a 17-yard pass to Danny Coale, got the momentum going for what ended up being a touchdown drive. “After that first catch, I kind of got settled in, and I didn’t have a problem from there on out,” Thomas said. Following the Clemson loss, O’Cain said he never got into a very good rhythm calling the plays. That certainly wasn’t the case against Miami, and Beamer praised him following the game. “I thought he called a great game,” Beamer said. “I thought Mike O’Cain kept them off-balanced. Good plays are always good when they work.”

Wake: Tech defense must plug holes Boykin: Receiver from back page

This aggressive style will be a dramatic change from Miami’s techniques, and the offense will be forced to adjust to be successful. “Wake Forest blitzes a lot more than (Miami) did this past week, so it’s going to be a lot of different coverages (and) reads for the quarterback,” Coale said. While the Hokies may be busy preparing for the Demon Deacons, the Wake coaching staff has been working on a gameplan that will stop a Hokies squad that has several types of weapons it hasn’t come across this season. “They have a quarterback who is playing well right now and is probably bigger than any of our defensive linemen at 6-foot-6, 254 pounds or whatever Logan is right now,” said Jim Grobe, head coach of Wake Forest. “(They have) one of the best running

backs in the country and a corps of receivers that are really talented, a really good offensive line and a defense that continues to play good football.” With the offense seeming to have brought itself to life, it is the Tech defense that has questions to answer. Before last week’s victory, the Hokies were giving up just 58.2 yards per game on the ground — good for second best in the country. However, injuries have diminished the front seven of Bud Foster’s defense and it felt the effects of those missing players. In addition to losing defensive tackle Antoine Hopkins in the Clemson game, the Hokies defense lost defensive end James Gayle and linebacker Jeron Gouveia-Winslow during the Miami game. Hopkins is gone for the season, but the statuses of Gayle and Gouveia-

Winslow will be unknown until game time. The lack of depth on the D-line in that game was such a problem that Courtney Prince, who has been a backup offensive guard all season, saw snaps as a defensive tackle. “We’ve had too many injuries,” said Frank Beamer, head coach. “Sometimes, you go through the year with the same people every week, and some you go through and you don’t. This is one of those years where we don’t have the same people. “Instead of being smooth, it’s kind of a bumpy ride right now.” Those holes created by injuries showed in the second half of the Miami game, as the ‘Canes combination of Lamar Miller and Mike James rushed for a combined 231 yards on just 28 carries. Things don’t get easier this week for the run-stopping unit, as sopho-

more Josh Harris has had unparalleled success against the Hokies. As fans may remember from last season, Harris rushed for 241 yards, the most ever gained by an individual against the Hokies, in his first career start. “When we watch his film and he breaks long runs and stuff and you see the speed he has, it just reminds us of those runs he was breaking on us,” said Antone Exum, safety. “It’s going to stay in the back of our minds, but we’re going to treat him like we treat every other running back.” Harris suffered a hamstring injury last week against Florida State and has been limited in practice, but is expected to play. The Hokies and Demon Deacons kick off at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday in Winston-Salem, N.C. The game can be seen on ESPN3.

Hokies on Twitter follow your favorite players on twitter @23is_BACK Boye Aromire The guy who discovered milk? What was he doing with that cow?

Oct. 8

Also look for: @CJournellVTFB89 (Cody Journell) @nb54 (Nick Becton) @jhopp26 (James Hopper) @Lthomas_3 (Logan Thomas)

takes Tech records from back page

That is what makes Boykin’s accomplishments long overdue. When the season started, Boykin was just 149 yards and three receptions away from being the Hokies most decorated receiver of all time. But with a hamstring injury costing him a week, and a young quarterback under center in Logan Thomas, Boykin didn’t get off to the same start he had last season with senior Taylor. Luckily for Thomas, Boykin isn’t the record-chasing type. In fact, Boykin wasn’t even aware that he had broken Ricky Scales’ record last week when it first happened. “I knew I was within reach during the game, but it wasn’t anything I was thinking about,” Boykin said. “I was just out there trying to make some plays. But toward the end of the game, it dawned on me that I had broken (the record).” For a player who will no doubt be talked about for years based on his individual accomplishments as a Hokie, Boykin is very low key and eager to deflect the attention he’s gotten. “I try not to let that distract what’s going on, because at the end of the day we have another game and we have to focus on that too,” he said. “I don’t want all the attention centered around me.” WALK RIGHT IN, STEP RIGHT UP Boykin’s journey to the Tech record books did not come with a hype machine. Rated the No. 81 receiver in the country in high school, Boykin was ignored by many top programs. “I reflect back a lot,” Boykin said. “I was a late bloomer in high school, junior year I played JV. I think it was just when I transferred schools (from Independence to Butler) I decided I would rather beat them than be playing for them.” After weighing offers from Illinois and South Carolina, Boykin decided that he would sign with Tech. Among several critical factors, perhaps the most important for Boykin was the ability to compete for playing time right away. “South Carolina had a lot of young receivers and I was going to have to compete a lot, and I didn’t want to go in there and not really have a place to probably play,” Boykin said. “So when I came here with Eddie Royal and all them leaving, it was coming in with the same freshmen, so I was like ‘We’re all

on the same page.’” Despite that desire, Tech coaches didn’t sugarcoat the situation for him. Yes, there was an opportunity to play immediately, but it wouldn’t be handed to him. “(We told him,) ‘If you come in and compete, get your feet on the ground socially, academically, physically, in the weight room and all those things, we’ll see how you do in preseason,’” said Kevin Sherman, the Tech receivers’ coach. “He understood he had a lot to learn, too. Going from high school to college, the speed of the game is so much different, and you’re going to see so many different things.” Boykin came in and immediately showed that he was willing to do everything the coaches asked and more. Starting in eight of 14 games as a true freshman, Boykin led the team in receiving yards (441) and yards per catch (14.7). Over the next two seasons, Boykin continued to improve and eventually became Taylor’s favorite target, leading the team in receptions and yard receiving in both 2009 and 2010. “I think he’s come a long way in knowing how to play the position, how to play full-speed, but then again learning how to make plays consistently,” Sherman said. “Once he saw himself do those things over and over, it was the sky is the limit.” Always pressing to get better, he, along with Coale, studies the great players who came before him to see what skills they have that he can implement into his own game. “We still watch film of them, we still try and be better than them everyday,” Coale said. “That’s our goal. We watched a whole lot of film of them when we were freshman, and it kind of engrained into our brain that these are the guys, (Royal, Josh Morgan, Justin Harper and Josh Hyman), this is the group you want to become. At the end of the day, if we’re half as good as them, I think we’ve done a pretty good job.” Now, as his time at Tech is dwindling, Boykin is focused on this season, knowing a career in the NFL is almost certainly in his future. “I have certain goals for myself every week that I try and accomplish,” Boykin said. “We all have dreams of playing at the next level, so I just want to do everything and anything to put myself in position for that.”

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CATCHING ON NICK CAFFERKY sports special sections editor Over the past four years, the Hokies passing attack has been more productive than any other span in the program’s history. Much of that can be attributed to former quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who set just about every record in the books, but he isn’t the only person responsible for the success. Wide receiver Jarrett Boykin can claim some of those bragging rights too, and now he has a few records of his own. After a 12-yard catch in the first half of last week’s win over Miami, Boykin officially became Tech’s all-time leader in receiving yards (2,346) and receptions (143). “He’s put in the work, he’s somebody that pushes me to get better, and hopefully I push him to get better,” said Danny Coale, wide receiver. “It’s been fun looking back, we’ve come a long way

Wake a surprise ACC contender ALEX KOMA sports staff writer Not many people projected Wake Forest to be undefeated in conference play at this point in the season. However, such is the case as the Hokies travel to face the Demon Deacons, who are 3-0 in the ACC for the first time since joining the conference in 1953. Both Virginia Tech and Wake Forest enter the game coming off of impressive wins over conference opponents. The Hokies won a thriller against Miami 38-35, while the Deacons took down Florida State 35-30. Each team also had explosive games offensively, with Logan Thomas in particular shining in Tech’s come-from-behind win. “I think (Thomas) played a great game,” said wide receiver Danny Coale. “He did what he had to do, he put the ball in the position for the receivers to make a play — and we had some drops early on, but since then we’ve really been trying to help him out because we feed off each other.” After his lackluster performance in the Clemson game two weeks ago, teammates noticed Thomas’s progression throughout the Miami game, and look forward to his continued development.

“I think it’s really neat to see, as one of his teammates, for the game to kind of slow down for him,” Coale said. “He moved the pocket, and he took off with it when he needed to, but he was looking downfield, and he did pretty much all the right things.” However, it’s clear that Wake’s offense can’t be ignored after piling up nearly 400 yards on Florida State’s stout defense. The Hokies could quickly find themselves in another shootout — especially considering the Hurricanes racked up 519 yards themselves last week “We’re going to definitely have to put some points on the board. I think that’s any offense’s goal, so we need to have a good week of practice and just be sharp,” said Blake DeChristopher, the ACC’s offensive lineman of the week for his performance against Miami. In addition to the impressive offensive display, the Demon Deacon defense forced five turnovers last week, and the Hokies will need to be prepared to face that disruptive scheme. “They go between an odd and even front,” Thomas said. “They roll the safeties, they blitz the safeties, blitz the corners, so they give you a lot of different things to look at.” see WAKE / page nine

If you think running out of the tunnel at Lane Stadium is the payoff that gets us through each week of practice, think again. The reward that makes it all worthwhile is received the night before we touch the Hokie stone — but by the time we hit the field, the gift has already come and, ideally, gone. Every Friday night during the season, the team buses arrive at The Farmhouse Restaurant in Christiansburg. What ensues can only be described as insatiable gorging. “It’s the best meal I’ve ever had,” said left guard Greg Nosal. Housed inside a genuine country home built in the 1800s, The Farmhouse hasn’t lost a morsel of its down-home flare. Since the restaurant’s opening in 1963, interior decorations have included rough wood walls, lanterns, gun collections, farming tools, antique art, wagon wheels and red checkered tablecloths. “It doesn’t have a restaurant feel,” said defensive end James Gayle. “It’s more of a home feel — it’s like Mom made it.” Upon our arrival, we are greeted by devoted fans. Some followers have reserved tables near the entryway for every Friday night during the season — just so they can welcome us to our

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CHASING RECORDS The possibility of reaching those records first occurred to Boykin last season, when he had another goal in mind, too. “We were probably five or six games away from the end of the season, I started breaking down what I wanted to do each game to put myself closer,” Boykin said. “I always wanted to be a 1,000-yard receiver, so I was always like ‘I have this many games left, so I need to average 80 yards a game.’ That 1,000 yards would have made me the first person to do that (at Virginia Tech) plus the record as well. Ever since then, I kept track of it.” Boykin fell short of that goal, finishing the season with 847 yards, but still put him in position to reach the other two records with ease.

Hokies chow down at The Farmhouse

“My Daughter a Virginia Tech Student had got in an accident. I needed someone to look at it and advise what needed to be fixed to get the car home so I could have my local auto body shop do the repair. They said it needed a strut and a four wheel alignment. They gave me a great price and did the job that day. She drove the car home that weekend with no problems. I really appreciate what they did for me especially doing everything over the phone.”

and it’s been fun being next to some of those guys.”

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Left tackle Nick Becton said eating at The Farmhouse regularly helps him maintain his 330-pound ﬁgure. binge-fest. We are then ushered into the banquet hall, which takes almost four hours to arrange to perfection. A smorgasbord of steak, chicken, pasta, baked potatoes, green beans, corn, rolls, salad and ice cream tantalizes both nostril and retina. But alas, we must first be seated, and inevitably salivate. Circular dinner tables divide players by position. Danny Coale continues to run from his true identity as a punter, and refuses to dine in the presence of specialist paupers.

Anxiously we wait for coach Beamer to announce, “Johnny time,” and team chaplain Johnny Shelton to bless the food. He knows to keep this prayer short and sweet. Before we can eat, coach will usually introduce and welcome a recruit and his family. The Farmhouse has persuaded legions of high school studs to reach for the “VT” hat on signing day. In true Saint Peter fashion, coach Beamer begins to announce players who are welcome to approach the buffet — starting with graduates. For some players, earning a college degree

has never been more important than Friday nights at The Farmhouse. “I graduated this year with a business management degree,” Nosal said. “The most it’s gotten me so far is eating first at The Farmhouse, and I’ve been ecstatic. It’s the happiest moment of my life when I get to eat first as a graduate.” Player names are then called in order of descending grade point average, a tradition borrowed from the University of Maryland by John Ballein, the associate director of athletics for football operations. In addition to traveling with the Terps for a 2003 game, Ballein also visited the University of Texas to gather some ideas for game weekend operations. Before he visited Austin, dinners at The Farmhouse were pre-plated. As it turned out, the Longhorns ate buffet-style. Upon Ballein’s return, so did the Hokies. We are all eternally indebted to Mack Brown for inspiring this next chapter. After completing our brisk stroll to the buffet, we grab a plate and begin smothering it with all the fixings of a home-cooked meal. By the time we get through the line, our plates resemble Jenga pallets. Once the aforementioned menu items are gathered, we each begin constructing the signature masterpiece of our visits to The Farmhouse. Right tackle Blake DeChristopher’s unique way with words brings this process to life. “You cut open a nice biscuit, slab some butter, some cheddar cheese, a little bit of honey, cut open a nice fat see DINNER / page eight