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Wednesday, October 26, 2011

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COLLEGIATETIMES 108th year, issue 105

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BackCountry builds NRV center Nuclear physics professor dies BACKCOUNTRY.COM TO BUILD $20 MILLION CHRISTIANSBURG CENTER SUMMER 2012 BY CODY OWENS | news reporter

JOSH HIGGINS news reporter Ramaswamy “Raju” Raghavan, a physics professor, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 20. Raghavan, who was also the director of Tech’s Institute for Particle, Nuclear and Astronomical Sciences, taught modern experimental physics and research courses in the physics department. He began his career in nuclear physics at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Mumbai, India, and also attended Purdue University, where he received his

Ph.D. As an employee of Bell Laboratories, where he worked for 32 years, Raghavan worked in nuclear and neutrino physics. When the nuclear research programs at Bell Laoratories ended in 2004, he came to Tech to teach as a physics professor. During his career, Raghavan created a direct counting technique for the spectroscopy of proton-proton solar neutrinos — part of the LENS experiment at Tech. Raghavan was recently in India, where he advised Indian government officials and scientists on an INO project.

Tech develops phone software

Christiansburg will be the location of a new $20 million distribution center. On Oct. 11, outdoor retailer BackCountry.com announced plans to build its newest fulfillment center in Christiansburg. Located in Falling Branch Corporate Park, it will serve as the East Coast presence of the Utah-based company. “It was the state and county’s commitment to economic development and the package that they put together for us to very strongly consider Virginia,” said Marit Fischer, the communications manager of BackCountry. The proposed $2.3 million agreement, which was released by the Economic Development Authority of Montgomery County on Oct. 19, includes a $300,000 grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to assist with site costs. The agreement includes $80,000 from Christiansburg as well as the 46-acre piece of land at Falling Branch Corporate Park, which was bought by the EDA in 2000 and had total cost of over $1.1 million. Warren Hammer, of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, said the lot, which is within a day’s drive of twothirds of the nation, was a major incentive. “The land really assisted with the landing of the project in Montgomery County,” Hammer said. “It’s one of the things that a locality can do to sway the deal towards them because it’s $2 million the company doesn’t have to spend.” Montgomery County also offered tax incentives, including a 50 percent rebate on property taxes for five years.

Grant from the town of Christiansburg

$80,000

PRISCILA ALVARES news staff writer A team of Virginia Tech researchers has created software that secures information on smart phones. A phone is permitted to access documents within the confines of a secure room, but once it leaves that room the information is left behind. The research for this software began two months ago due to the need of cyber security for mobile devices. The idea was to allow national leadership, such as the president or generals, to be able to access secure information and ensure that it would not be leaked. “We took the custom version of the Android source code that allows us to control how data moves around the device to make sure that when secure information is given to the device it will deliver, but not store it,” said Jules White, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at Tech. “Another part of the software is creating a remote control to tell it how to access information and when.” In essence, the device can detect when it’s in a particular room through the use of Bluetooth, which helps prove that it is actually inside the room and allows it to gain access to information. “The way I see it, the technology is similar to the electronic tagging used in stores to prevent shoplifting,” said fifth-year senior Mike Willey, an aerospace engineer major. “The tags are more efficient than relying on the police to catch shoplifters, just like using this software is more efficient than relying on court rulings to protect sensitive data.” The software is beneficial for audiences such as the government, medical patients and parents. A general serving in the military could open up a confidential file on their mobile device in a secure

government facility without worrying about it being stolen or lost later, as well as prevent any leaked information. In addition, doctors could only access patient’s information in their office or the hospital. Finally, parents could control where their son or daughter is using their phone and to whom they are texting.

“

We took the custom version of the Android source code that allows us to control how data moves around the device to make sure that when secure information is given to the device it will deliver, but not store it. JULES WHITE ASSISSTANT PROFESSOR OF ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING

“This software seems practical, especially with the medical field,” said Kristen Toth, a senior biology major. “As a patient, it would make me feel better for security reasons.” As for national security, Willey said, “I think the software could be a valuable safeguard against spies looking to steal intelligence from the United States.” White and his team also created new ways of authenticating with a phone. “Normally, you’d have a password screen,” White said. “Now we can do that plus we can use ID badges that one would hold up next to the phone to authenticate with it. Secondly, we created a way that we can have remote find range control over a phone and how a user can access that phone.” Currently, White and his team are focusing on what the government needs. However, the software will eventually expand to ordinary people, who could download it and try it out for themselves.

Of free land from the Economic Development Authority of Montgomery County

$1,100,000

NEW SECURITY SOFTWARE ALLOWS PHONES TO ACCESS DATA IN CERTAIN PHYSICAL SPACES

The Virginia Department of Business Assistance agreed to assist the company in the recruitment and training of employees. On the day of the announcement, Gov. Bob McDonnell expressed his confidence in the state and local investments made in BackCountry. “Backcountry.com is a well-known outdoor retailer, and I am thrilled they have selected Virginia as home to their east-coast operations and are making a significant investment in our community,” said McDonnell. Those investments largely refer to the creation of 216 new jobs in Montgomery County and beyond. According to the VEDP, BackCountry said it will pay an average annual salary of $26,555 or approximately $12.77 an hour. An employee discount on products sold through the company will also be provided. “When a company like Backcountry.com is willing to come in and establish themselves, hire 216 people and provide a steady income and benefit package, it’s a great asset to any community,” Hammer said. While Montgomery County put forward significant funds towards the project, Brent Sheffler of the VEDP believes the investment will be beneficial for the community in the long-run. “Montgomery County is going to be receiving tax dollars from this facility starting in the allotted year for the next 10, 20 or 30 years,” Sheffler said. “As long as the building is up and operating, (Montgomery County) is going to benefit from the tax dollars.” see BACKCOUNTRY/ page four

20%

$300,000 Grant from the Governer’s Opportunity Fund

74%

Incentives from State and Local Governments DANIELLE BUYNAK / COLLEGIATE TIMES

Leading the Way Ben Issacs, an Army ROTC cadet in Ranger Company, slides along a rope bridge between two trees assembled by fellow cadets. The Ranger Company juniors were practicing for the upcoming Ranger Challenge event, which pits teams of ROTC cadets against each other in various athletic and teambased tasks. During competition, cadets will be performing a similar task over running water. by Daniel Lin

2 news september 23, 2009 october 26, 2011

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

GIS software helps police manage games

On the death of a Joe Ngo:

DONAL MURPHY news staff writer

Alumna>> People of the general student population and community in Blacksburg should take the time and make the effort this week to approach Corps members and express your sympathy. You cannot imagine the commitment these brave and dedicated students are making as members of the Corps. Most of them won’t get to see their families until Thanksgiving break and have to bear the grief of losing a comrade, friend and mentor on top of the stresses of their studies and responsibilities in the Corps. It would be a welcome gesture if you would reach out to these fine Americans with the simple sentiment, “I’m sorry for your loss.”

Cadet Close to Joe Ngo>> The Corps was notified soon after his family was notified. No one was told to hide such information. I am so sorry that after hearing the news that our close friend tragically died suddenly, we did not spread the news all about campus. Give PFC Joe Ngo the respect and dignity he deserves. He was a great guy, a good friend, and a good soldier. We in Golf Company saw Joe every day, and we loved him. We initiated into our company together and I spent my sophomore year as a fire team leader and our junior as his superior. He cared deeply about all the people under his command he always met the stresses of the Corps with a smile. It’s your speculative comments and quick judgments that we are trying to avoid. You haven’t asked anyone close to the situation, because if you had you would have known how carefully and judiciously the University and the Corps handled this tragic. If you want to arm chair protest about this and that about the university I suggest you Do not do so in the face of the recently deceased. I don’t believe I saw you out there this morning at 0730 for the silent formation, the moment of silence, the words about his passing, and our tears we shed over these last few days. There are some very upset individuals in the Corps right now and comments like that only push them into deeper grief. Non Concedo Joe Ngo

crime blotter

The Virginia Tech Police Department and Emergency Management have begun tracking crimes and safety resources during homes games in Lane Stadium using a new Geographic Information System application. The program provides a top-down view of Lane Stadium showing locations of crimes, where approximately 150 police officers and emergency responders were last stationed, and "hot spots" of activity. Users can also search for previous events that have been recorded, and see if there are any patterns of activity. "In the command post at Lane Stadium, we are able to track where we have incidents where we are involved, as the police department, or the rescue department have medical incidents," said Major Kevin Foust, the deputy chief of police. The system was first tested for police use during the game against Appalachian State, and has been used since. It is designed to help both prepare for events given previous experience, and to respond to events as that happen. Development on the project began in June, a combined effort of the Center for Geospatial Information Technology, Enterprise GIS, and Tech's department of Converged Technologies for Security, Safety, and Resilience. "We created this tool that was initially used during the emergency exercise, and

the police were there, saw it, and said 'Hey, we really need something like that for our football stadium on game day'" said Brenda Van Gelder, executive director of the CTSSR. The information showing the locations of officers, emergency response staff, and emergency assets such as ambulances, is all updated continuously during the games by officers calling in to the command center and reporting their change of location. "It's exceeded all of our expectations, in how reliable and how helpful it has been, given that it was only developed in the period of a couple of months," Van Gelder said. Van Gelder said that cooperation between Tech’s IT technicians and the police has been beneficial for both groups. The IT staff is better able to understand the needs of the police and meet them, while the police are better able to understand the workings of the IT staff and how they can help. The program tracks events in almost real time — it requires officers to call in their location, which takes some time. Van Gelder said she would eventually like to see the program track events with even more immediacy, as well as use more cameras to cover live traffic issues on campus which could be tracked on the program. "In order to do it real time, we would have to put a device on each officer, their location could be transmitted to the application and it would show where they were in real time," Van Gelder said.

However, she said the mobile devices are expensive and would need to be provided to 150 officers, so they are currently looking for funding for that project. Another issue with real-time coverage is the interference caused by having the concentration of people in Lane Stadium using mobile devices. While the GIS program has been used primarily to track safety hazards and crimes during home games, it can be used across campus for planned events, such as on the Drillfield. "We are using it to be able to track resources," said Bobbi Myers, an administrator with Emergency Management at Tech. "The most popular event everyone is seeing is the football game, and we also can use it for events and other incidents on campus." Previously for home games, the police and Emergency Management would use large paper maps and manually annotate the locations of crime, officers, and resources. At the end of the season, Foust said he plans to have the police department study the trends in incidents during the games. Factors can vary from the time of kickoff, to the opponent, to what the weather is on a given game day, and he said the application will make studying the data and finding patterns much easier. Foust anticipates hearing from other collegiate police departments for information about the program once word gets out, that might be interested in implementing the program at their own campuses.

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

october 26, 2011

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

MCT CAMPUS

Obama’s campaign promises disappoint I

t’s difficult to judge a president’s success while they’re still in office. Thus judging our current president’s success is problematic due to the fact that we have little historical context with which to judge him with. That being said, President Obama will always be viewed by most of those who watched his rise, with a certain degree of disappointment. I say this from the perspective as neither a liberal nor a conservative, as neither a supporter of Obama nor an opponent. I say that he is a disappointment due to the situation in which he was elected into office, the way in which he was elected, and the campaign he ran to get elected. When Obama was elected in 2008, the U.S. was not exactly in a good situation. The economic downturn was in full swing, and the outgoing president had an incredibly low approval rating in the country. Whatever your view on former President Bush is, it’s clear he was very unpopular when leaving office. And so in that political climate, of a growing recession and an unpop-

ular outgoing president, Obama was elected into office. But it wasn’t just that he was elected in a time when the country wasn’t at its best — plenty of presidents have been elected during hard times. It was how he was elected that set him up for disappointment. Obama ran a campaign on the lofty ideals of hope and change to our institutions if he were elected. He was already setting himself up for disappointment with this style of campaign because one person, even the president, cannot hope to change the institutions of a country as large as our own. Large groups of people can at best, but historically presidents have had little success changing the institutions they had to deal with. Even the dynamic presidents of the 20th century — Teddy Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan — had a very difficult time changing the country’s institutions and it’s questionable how much they actually changed. So already Obama was creating a daunting goal that he could not hope to reach, setting himself up for some

degree of disappointment, as there was no way his promises could live up to the political reality. Yet it seemed that perhaps he could. Obama was elected with a significant majority in the 2008 election, and he came into office with large democratic majorities in both houses of Congress. He was an inspirational speaker, and seemed like a strong leader. The opportunity was there to create some of the big changes that Obama spoke of, as all the political factors seemed to be aligning in a way that could enable some of this change to happen. And then it didn’t. The first year of Obama’s presidency, the time when any president has the best chance of getting something big accomplished, went by without any of the big changes Obama promised. Whether or not you’re a supporter of the health care bill, there’s no doubt that it was not what people were expecting when Obama promised to change the healthcare system in the country. Instead of big change, a bill was passed that tried to improve specific areas,

without actually changing the healthcare system much. Obama promised to change the culture in Washington and to reduce the influence of those involved in the economic institutions that helped bring about the recession, yet he hired people like Timothy Geithner and Larry Summers, powerful members of those economic institutions, to hold powerful positions in his administration. And much of the Obama administration’s economic policies seem to have reflected the allegiances of these advisors by strongly supporting the economic institutions that Obama campaigned against in many ways through bank bailouts and other policies. But the disappointment with Obama as a president is more than just specific policy points. The reason why Obama will always disappoint us, no matter what your political affiliation, is due to the problem of failed expectations. The fact is Obama didn’t campaign on making some small reasonable changes to our political and economic systems, he campaigned on truly

changing the political and economic culture in this country. These expectations were only increased by the large popular support Obama had after his election and the large majorities in Congress the Democratic Party enjoyed. These factors created lofty expectations Obama could never have achieved. Even if he does win the election in 2012, Obama will always be a disappointment on some level because of the lost potential for actual change his 2008 presidency represents. Even if history ends up viewing Obama’s presidency as being successful overall, there will always be that disappointment by those of us who lived through it because of what could have happened, of what we were promised would happen.

DEVIN MILLER -regular columnist -senior -political science major

Bottled water is bad Death penalty should be ended B

ottled water is a fairly constant sight in this day and age. For many, it is a staple for getting through the day and a necessity for staying hydrated. Most people would say they gravitate towards bottled water for the convenience. A struggle for those with busy schedules and limited time is the availability and accessibility to water fountains and other tap sources. When planning their day, most individuals would rather pack a bottled water or two than take the time to search for water fountains. Individuals also rely on bottled water for its perceived superior quality. Others have access but are stigmatized by the belief that tap water automatically denotes dirty water. A new trend in flavored water has only added to the hype of bottled water. This fear of tap water and reliance on “clean” bottled water has created a multi-billion dollar global industry. However, does bottled water really live up to all its presumed expectations? One of the biggest issues associated with bottled water is the bottle itself. Statistics from Fast Company state that bottled water generates nearly three billion pounds of waste each year. Very few people take the time and responsibility to recycle water bottles after their use. For every five bottled waters used, the publication reports only one will be recycled. These discarded bottles end up in landfills where they sit for thousands of years before fully degrading and in the mean time they pollute both soil and water. Furthermore, the energy and resource use associated with the production of bottled water is extremely wasteful. The manufacture of plastic water bottles takes up to three times more water than will eventually fill it. The oil necessary to complete the production of a single plastic bottle is roughly one full water bottle itself. In addition, many plastic bottles harbor and release contaminants into their water. According to Greener One, soft plastics contain contaminants such as xenoestrogens, a factor linked to breast cancer, and BPA, a substance condemned by the American Dental Association. Unfortunately, most bottled water manufacturers prefer to use soft plastic because of their cheap cost and lightweight character. Fast Company reports that 22 percent of bottled water brands tested were found to have levels of contaminants violating state health

standards. Why are consumers paying prices exponentially greater than tap for bottled water if in the end they may be drinking municipal water anyway? Municipal drinking water must meet state and federal standards that include testing for harmful bacteria, disclosure of the source of water and annual quality reports for consumers. Although there are a number of areas in the U.S. that do not have access to clean drinking water, the majority of the American residents are fortunate enough to receive potable supplies that at the very least meet, if not surpass, health regulations. Studies also show that tap water, unlike bottled water, contains levels of fluoride that are beneficial to dental health. There is no doubt that access to clean, portable water is extremely important. However, we should consider that bottled water is not always the answer. There are other ways to reduce waste and maintain a healthy supply of water than simply reaching for bottled water. To begin with, aerator caps, reverse osmosis filters and numerous other conventional filters can be installed on your home faucet to block harmful contaminants and bacteria. Once filtered, water can be stored in reusable water bottles made of sustainable materials perfect for a grab-and-go lifestyle. As a citizen you have the right to review municipal water supply reports which must be published annually. You can even collect a sample of water and ask that your municipal provider test it. The EPA is another alternative for water supply testing and information. For those who truly feel compelled to continue drinking bottled water, or those without access to safe municipal supplies, recycling is the best way to reduce waste and your carbon footprint. Remember that a single plastic bottle can take thousands of years to degrade. When selecting bottled water, avoid soft plastics and instead go for glass bottles. Furthermore, hold bottled water suppliers accountable for the quality and impact of their product on both the environment and your health. Ask private producers for information on contaminants, for new water tests and for the use of sustainable materials. Remember, just because it’s bottled doesn’t mean it’s better.

NEETU DEO -regular columnist -junior -political science major

ccording to a recent CNN poll, the number of Americans who favor the death penalty against life in prison without parole are declining. No longer in the majority, 48 percent of those polled say they prefer capital punishment, down 5 percent since 2009. With the controversial executions of inmates such as Manuel Valle and Troy Davis making global headlines, many Americans are rethinking the death penalty as an appropriate form of justice and with good reason. Capital punishment is irreversible, disproportionately enacted on minorities, wastes resources and is in conflict with the United States Constitution. Of course, many of these arguments against use of the death penalty fall on deaf ears. Supporters cite deterrence from future crimes and in a most basic sense, they are correct. Killing those on death row, whether they are innocent or not, will certainly deter these individuals from committing future crimes which are punishable by the death penalty. The overall effect of the death penalty on the greater population however, does not prove this. Texas, having executed 475 prisoners, is first in the nation for numbers of staterun executions. If capital punishment serves as deterrence, Texas should also be high on the list of states with low homicide rates. In fact, The Lone Star State has an average of five murders per 100,000 people, which ranks it the top 20 for homicides — above all but one state without the death penalty. The 2008 FBI Uniform Crime Report demonstrated that the southern region of the U.S. had the highest murder rate while simultaneously being responsible for over 80 percent of all executions in the nation. There is also the matter of the victims, which proponents argue should see justice for the deaths of their loved ones. I disagree. The U.S. judicial system is not based on the notion of emotionally-charged vengeance, but impartiality and fairness. Is it justice to permit the state to take the life of a

fellow human being? What about the families and loved ones of death row inmates who will also be subjected to loss of life? It is certainly important that the American courts speak for the victims of heinous crimes, but there are viable alternatives to these barbaric measures and ones that don’t drain the state of its financial resources. Contrary to popular belief, keeping a population of thousands on death row is not less expensive than life in prison. In understanding the costs associated with capital punishment, one must look not only at the price of last meals and lab equipment. There are also the financial burdens of paying judges, prosecutors and defenders in attempts tp convict and execute the offender. In Virginia, capital punishment costs taxpayers nearly $2 million per execution and this trend is seen nationwide, according to a 2009 estimate. In light of our economic downturn, removing the death penalty would help relieve taxpayers across the nation. The most significant argument in opposition to the death penalty, nevertheless, is the matter of permanence. Since 1973, 130 death row inmates have been set free when evidence revealed their innocence. Though there are prisoners who are guilty of the crimes for which they have been convicted, there is an inevitability of human error which suggests some may be innocent. Innocent prisoners have certainly been wrongfully convicted and executed before. The trial and execution of Troy Davis brought media attention when problems of witness recantation, false testimony and police coercion were called to attention by the general public. The fact that such questions exist in many trials across the nation should have been enough to repeal the death penalty as a punishment. It is also the case that race could possibly play a major role in our legal system, despite how progressive our country has become. The defendant’s skin color alone could determine whether that individual faces

the death penalty or life in prison when they are convicted. Non-whites account for 43 percent of all persons executed in the U.S. since 1976 and represent 56 percent of current inmates on death row. Although it can be argued that minorities may be responsible for that percentage of crime, I believe that lack of evidence on this topic is also a good reason to abolish capital punishment. The defendant’s racial background is not the only determinant. Twenty years ago, the U.S. General Accounting Office released a statement asserting “(i)n 82 percent of the studies reviewed, race of the victim was found to influence the likelihood of being charged with capital murder or receiving the death penalty.” The study discovered that those being charged for the murder of white victims as opposed to black victims were more likely to be sentenced to death. Does this prove that race is a factor in electing individuals for death row? I believe that factors such as these, while only parts of a complete picture, illustrate the number of questions that supporters of capital punishment must be able to answer in absolute terms. Normally I would consider the death penalty to be a non-issue, but I cannot ignore that 48 percent of polled Americans see no issue with state-run execution. As it stands, the U.S. is the only industrialized country in the West that continues to execute its own citizens and we allow it to happen. Capital punishment remains a barbaric practice and is cruel and unusual, thus breaking the 8th Amendment to the Constitution. The U.S. has fallen behind other countries in many regards, but should we allow our own justice system to follow suit with such an egregious disregard for human rights? Absolutely not.

COURTNAY SELLERS -regular columnist -senior -history major

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october 26, 2011

page 4

WORDSEARCH: Greatest Artists of the 90’s

Regular Edition Today’s Birthday Horoscope: A key to maximizing profit this year will be to adapt the financial plan to changing times. Resources are all in how you look at them. Keep a cool head, and focus on having your neighborhood thrive. You have more than you think.

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ACROSS 1 Stinging 6 Texas Ranger s CEO Nolan 10 Go, as through mud 14 Sex educator Hite 15 Billion add-on 16 Hobbler ’s support 17 One of a pool table pair 19 Take the stage first 20 Franken and Gore 21 Old-fashioned wedding vow pronoun

33 Freud contemporary 34 Fashion monogram 35 Like “Nip/Tuck,” rating-wise 37 Get on the soapbox 38 Humbly takes th e blame 39 Shapemaintaining insert 42 Agitated 43 Skips over in pronunciation 44 Extremely 45 First family 47 Inventor Otis 49 Clown heightener 50 Most crosswords have one 51 Fabulous fellow? 52 AOL communications 58 Bridge installer’s deg. 59 Rubbish 60 “For __ a jolly ...”

10/26/11 22 Inhabited, with “in” 23 Final: Abbr. 24 Illegal football tackle involving grabbing the inside of th e shoulder pads from behind or the side 27 Prevaricators 29 Trick 30 Bond, for one 31 Head, to Cécile 32 M16 attachment 36 Album holders 40 Practiced with the platoon 41 When repeated, a food fish

43 That, to Tomás 46 Citrus drink 47 Big name in stationery 48 Seafood entrée 53 Shipping lane milieu 54 Foaming at the mouth, so to speak 55 Prefix with spher e 56 Sot’ s syndrome, briefly 57 Moore of “Ghost” 58 Item featuring the ends of 17-, 24-, 36- and 48Across

Tuesday’s Puzzle Solved

61 Airline to Eilat 62 Major-__ 63 “__ Go Again”: Whitesnake #1 song 64 Part of SSS: Abbr. 65 Part of a process 66 Starlike flower

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10/25/11

Check out tomorrow’s paper on page 5 for the answers!

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BackCountry: Local, state incentives bring new firm from page one

BackCountry’s announcement is Montgomery County’s second major business announcement in in the past month. On Oct. 7, automotive-supplier Federal-Mogul Corporation announced that it will expand its Blacksburg facility in a $10 million investment which will create 50 new jobs in the county. “The state of Virginia, Montgomery County and Christiansburg proved to us that this is where we should do business,” said Jill Layfield, CEO of BackCountry in a release from the Office of Governor

McDonnell. “Their support of and commitment to Backcountry. com has been remarkable, and that is only a sign of their larger commitment to the people of the area.” The company initially decided to open an East Coast fulfillment center to meet the demands of customers. Operating out of Salt Lake City, the company is currently distanced from half of its customer base. According to Fischer, the decision to build a new distribution center came from the company’s desire to lower shipping costs and time for East Coast customers.

For Sale

Greek Notes

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Notices

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FOR RENT Pheasant Run Crossing Townhome For Rent 2012-2013. 4 bdrm. 2.5 baths. Refurbished. www.techtownhomes.com 540.552.1869

“We do everything we can to get orders out the door fast, but proximity is definitely a factor,” Fischer said. “It obviously takes more time for a package to get to Charlotte from Salt Lake City than it does for it to get to Boise.” Fischer said that while shipping costs won’t be reduced, customers in Virginia can expect their orders to be shipped to them much quicker, with orders in the New River Valley likely arriving within a day. Access to I-81 via the nearby Roanoke UPS center makes shipping along the East Coast more

practical. “From a logistics perspective, there are huge advantages for companies to have a presence in Virginia because of the access to markets,” Sheffler said. “They can reach half of the United States population in overnight trucking.” Sites such as Backcountry. com have garnered attention from Tech outdoor enthusiasts such as sophomore history major Charlie Ewing. “Outdoor gear these days is really expensive,” Ewing said. “I hardly ever buy stuff at retail price.” Other students have mirrored Ewing’s interest in the sharp dis-

counts. “I like them because they provide great deals,” said Cody Rich, a freshman general engineering major. “I’m a poor college student, so I can’t afford overly priced stuff.” Despite the arrival of such a large retailer in Montgomery County, most local businesses did not seem to be worried, mainly because of the company’s online nature. Blake Aldridge of the Bike Barn in Blacksburg stated that he did not think his business would suffer and instead saw the company’s arrival as being beneficial to the region. “I’m not worried because

the bikes I sell can’t be bought online,” said Aldridge. Fischer said that the fulfillment center’s groundbreaking should occur within the next two weeks and that the center should open by the summer of 2012. BackCountry operates ten websites selling outdoor, cycling, and action sports clothing and equipment from over 1,000 brands. The company earned a spot on Internet Retailer Magazine’s Top 50 Retail sites for five of the last nine years and has earned favor among customers for selling well-known brands at discounted prices.

Today’s Radio Schedule Mixed Discs Day Art New Music New Music

7-9 AM - Hills ‘n’ Hollers 9AM-12PM - Morning MisAnthropy 12-2PM - Diesel & Cox 2-3:30PM - Chris Kitchen

New Music

3:30-5 PM - Trevor Richards

Jazz

5-7 PM - Ace Fever WUVT “5 Minute” News at 5 PM

Specialty Specialty

7-9 PM - The Local Zone

Week ending Oct. 14, 2011

Top tracks

( ) Last week’s ranking in top five

We Found Love • Rihanna

(3) 1

Night Art Specialty

9 PM-12 AM - The Big Waste of Time 12-2 AM - Red Panda

Sexy and I Know It • LMFAO

(1) 2

Someone Like You • Adele

(2) 3

Mixed Discs Mixed Discs

2-4 AM - GFunk & ATDub 4-7 AM - Mixed Discs

Pumped Up Kicks • Foster the People

(4) 4

Moves Like Jagger • Maroon 5

(5) 5

october 26, 2011

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

food & drink New cafe spices up Main Street Peanut butter trufﬂe COLLEGIATETIMES

brownies

BY EMMA GODDARD | features staff writer Looking for something to help out with that sweet tooth? Take a bite out of this brownie for a special treat. The three layers of brownie, peanut butter and chocolate are sure to be a hit. Prep time: 20 minutes Ingredients: Brownie base: 1 box brownie mix water vegetable oil eggs (amount depending on mix) Filling: 1/3 cup butter, softened 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter 1 1/3 cups powdered sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons milk Topping: ¾ cup semisweet chocolate chips 3 tablespoons butter Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottom of 8-inch or 9-inch square pan with cooking spray. 2. Make brownies as directed on box. Cool completely for about one hour. 3. In medium bowl, beat filling ingredients with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Spread mixture evenly over brownies. 4. In small bowl, microwave the topping ingredients (uncovered) on high 30 to 60 seconds. Stir until smooth. 5. Cool 10 minutes; spread over filling. Refrigerate about 30 minutes or until set. Cut brownies when ready. Serve and enjoy.

rink D Biting Pumpkin

PATRICK MURPHY features editor

of the week

Goblins and ghouls are abound on Halloween, but don’t forget the old standby — the pumpkin. While this drink doesn’t taste like pumpkin (and you wouldn’t want it to), the florescent orange glow is tribute enough.

DANIEL LIN / SPPS

Cafe Mekong currently offers a limited menu, but will continue to expand its offerings. In the meantime, hot sauce can spice up any order.

Being a picky eater, I often find myself ordering the same meal over and over again to ensure I will have no complaints. To get out of this tragic rut, I decided to try the new restaurant, Cafe Mekong, which serves Viet-Thai cuisine. This unique type of cuisine is known for its spice so it seemed a perfect way to get out of my comfort zone. Located on South Main Street, it was only a short mile-and-a-half bus ride from Squires. With its strip mall location, the outside does not look overly appealing. It neighbors the large Dollar Tree, and even though it just recently opened, its faded mustard-yellow sign seems to indicate an aged appearance. For Cafe Mekong, being a new restaurant means a limited menu. The menu was typed on a sheet of white computer paper, similar to a word document, with two soup selections, three curry options, three Pan Thai options and four lunch specials that ended at 2 p.m. Since I was there for dinner, I decided to try the regular Pad Thai, meaning it was a moderate

level of spiciness. My waiter was prompt and friendly when taking my order and brought out the food around 15 minutes after I ordered. The regular Pad Thai was a combination of noodles, eggs, bean sprouts, beaten eggs, a choice of chicken, beef or shrimp and was topped with a handful of peanuts and a lime. I ordered chicken with mine, which was well seasoned and was a perfect complement to the spice of the noodles. On the table was a large bottle of hot sauce to add intensity if the regular was too mild. For me, the regular was already hot enough. Even four glasses of water could not combat the spiciness. The portions were incredibly generous. My “to go” box was completely full, making it appear as though I hadn’t even started my meal. My $10 total was reasonable for the amount of food in one meal. Cafe Mekong was a quick and different dinner option that added diversity to my usual meal choices. The food was also authentic and delightfully seasoned. My mildly spiced Pad Thai definitely

was hot, but if you aren’t afraid of a little spice, Cafe Mekong is a wise choice. Going at lunchtime would capitalize on the large portion size for a better price then the dinner meals. While the atmosphere is somewhat dull, the fresh and spicy food definitely adds enough excitement to the experience.

KARA VAN SCOYOC -features staff writer -freshman -university studies major

word UNSCRAMBLER

DESPITE AN AVERAGE EXTERIOR AND DECOR, CAFE MEKONG BRINGS EXCITING CUISINE TO BLACKSBURG

solutions: “Electric Guitar” 1) gibson 2) fender 3) esp 4) ibanez 5) jackson 6) peavey

Ingredients: (serves one) 1 shot peach Schnapps 1 shot orange-flavored vodka 4 ounces orange soda pinch of lemon zest Directions: Shake the peach Schnapps and vodka with ice and strain into a glass. Add in favorite variety of orange soda and stir gently. Finish by garnishing with lemon zest. A drop or two of lemon juice can be substituted to add the appropriate pucker.

6 sports

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

october 26, 2011

Men’s soccer gets draw against UVa thanks to PK save TECH’S KYLE RENFRO’S SEVEN SAVES BLANK THE NO. 21 WAHOOS ON HOMECOMING FRIDAY NIGHT. ZANDER BAYLIS sports staff writer Friday night marked the beginning of Homecoming weekend, a time of reminiscing about how good college life really was. The returning alumni get to make their judgments of how their alma mater has progressed, for better or for worse. Despite being last in the ACC with a record of 4-9-2 going into their game against No. 21-ranked Virginia, the Virginia Tech men’s soccer team showed promise with the performances put on by their young talent in a 0-0 draw. The starting lineup that was put on the field by Coach Mike Brizendine i nvolved eight sophomores and freshmen, with only one senior to even set foot on the field through the entire game. Mind you, the game did go the distance through two overtime periods, without any goals scored. The score was very much indicative of the attention to detail on defense by both sides. The shining star of the defensive unit for Hokies — perhaps, even the entire team — was their sophomore goalie, Kyle Renfro. The highlight of the game came in the 64th minute when a showdown between two stars of the ACC was forced as result of a handball violation in t he p enalty box. UVA front-man and the nation’s third leading scorer, Will Bates, directed his scoring touch toward the lower-left half of the goal only to be denied by a diving Renfro. Renfro’s heroic effort seemed like the perfect trigger for a mid-game intermission for “Enter Sandman.” Unfortunately, with the knees of our faithful alumni in mind, the sound guy held off. “My coaches stressed being confident, assertive, and being a leader,” Renfro said. “The rest of the team can build off that and it radiates off of them as they play better.” A youthful exuberance did appear to emanate from the team

throughout the rest of the game as the offensive tempo of the Hokies increased. Tech found success in getting the ball in position to score with captain James Shupp streaking up the side to cross the ball, or having any of the defenseman lob the ball up the field for the forwards to chase. However, the recurring problem for the Hokies throughout the season has been their inability to finish and score, as they currently stand last in the ACC in goals scored with twelve on the year. They could not find a cure for their fatal flaw, despite a valiant effort by the defense and the playmakers in midfield. “We’re not scoring goals. We had a number of looks, but we just couldn’t capitalize,” Brizendine said. The frontline was lead by sophomore Mikey Minutillo and freshman Taylor Lemmon, who combined for seven shots. Another underclassmen, Will Witherspoon, acted as a shot in the arm at times for the offense as he dictated with his pace, while ultimately contributing two shots. The lack of experience at the position got the best of the Hokies against their high-powered foe, who outshot them 19-14. “I have young guys in those positions, and with them it’s a learning process. However, I do have confidence in the players we have in our program,” Brizendine said. With the game ending after 110 minutes, without a score involving any numbers other than zero, the first impression that someone will probably get is “boring.” The game and this year for the Tech men’s soccer team have been much more than that. With youth comes inexperience. There are always hurdles on the way to the top. Judging from the valiant effort that Renfro and the rest of the defensive side displayed on Friday night, the bright future of Coach Brizendine’s squad does not seem too far off. The next game for the team will be this Tuesday at the 7-7-0 Radford Highlanders.

DANIEL LIN / SPPS

Top: Sophomore goalkeeper Kyle Renfro snags his own rebound after saving a UVa penalty kick. Bottom left: Junior midﬁelder David Fiorello heads the ball midway through the second half. Bottom right: Sophomore midﬁelder David Clemens defends a UVa player.

[THATS YOU]

OCTOBER 28, 2011 // 10AM-7PM

50-75% OFF Today’s Latest & Tradition Favorites. Super Heroes Jersey Shore Pirates & more! (hurry, limited supplies)

October 26th 3-5pm Come Taste Firehouse Pizza and Chocolate Spike on the Drillfield!