Friday, November 4, 2011 Print Edition by Collegiate Times

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Friday, November 4, 2011

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COLLEGIATETIMES 108th year, issue 111

News, page 6

People & Clubs, page 2

Opinions, page 3

Sports, page 5

Classifieds, page 4

Sudoku, page 4

Property contract brings controversy ABBY HARRIS news staff writer Fiddler’s Green Partners, LLC made an offer to buy 11.6 acres of the old Blacksburg Middle School property for $3.1 million last week. The development company plans to turn the property into an upscale, professional housing area, said Jim Cowan, a principal with Fiddler’s Green and the project’s spokesperson. He also said there is potential for commercial space on the parcels closest to Main Street. But as negotiations for the sale of the property move forward, members of the Blacksburg Town Council have a few considerations to make before redevelopment can begin. Jeanne Stosser, a managing member of Fiddler’s Green and president of SAS Builders, has had two past conflicts with the town of Blacksburg that resulted in Supreme Court cases. One

case dealt with development at First and Main streets, and another involved the Tom’s Creek Basin sewer construction. In both cases, the court sided with the town. “There’s a trust issue there, and that has to be prepared,” said John Bush, a member of the Council. “I am going to remain very positive and optimistic about all applications that come before the town, and will review them on their merit, just as I would for any developer. “But, I think people would be remiss to not know the history of what has happened in the past 10 years, and I think because of that, we will be very careful and vigilant about that process.” Now that an agreement is underway between Montgomery County and Fiddler’s Green, the Council has shown concern about some required actions the contract asks of the town. Marc Verniel, the Blacksburg town manager, said the contract includes

contingencies that ask the town to contribute to the costs of certain parts of the redevelopment, such as building roads and transferring density from different pieces of property. Leslie Hager-Smith, a councilwoman, believes the contingencies are unfair because the town does not own the property. “It’s like if your neighbor next door in your apartment building decided with her roommate that they were going to have a party,” HagerSmith said. “And then it’s almost show time, it’s 9:00 on a Friday, and they come to you and say, ‘Oh, did we tell you that you’re going to pay for all the beer?’” Although there are a few situations hindering the contract’s progression, members of Fiddler’s Green and the town of Blacksburg are willing to put their differences aside to bring the best enhancements to the redevelopment. see OBMS / page six

COURTESY OF TOWN COUNCIL

The proposed design of the old middle school includes residential, recreational and commercial space.

NTRO TO JAVA EMILY GODDARD features staff writer The smell of fresh coffee lingering in the air is generally a soothing experience for early risers. At Deet’s Place, this sensation is amplified even more so, with a variety of coffee blends available at the cafe’s Coffee College class. Entering through the side of Deet’s, a divider covered in large, burlap coffee bags separated the class from students who were socializing and studying in the other half of the cafe. Long tables were set up, creating an L-shape, giving individuals a perfect view of the instructor. White tablecloths were covered with faux, orange and red leaf vines — a welcoming decor appropriate for fall. White coffee mugs flipped over on plates were sprawled across the table as place settings for each person signed up for the class. When a worker placed cinnamon scones on the tables, eyes began to dart around the room in anticipation. Finally, Leann Cook, the Deet’s operations manager, walked into the room to begin the session. It was time to learn — and eat. Cook has worked with the program for the entire eight years it has been available to Tech students and locals. “I want everyone to feel fully molded from their experience here,” Cook said. “I like working with the students, watching them grow and having them teach me as well.” With an enthusiastic smile on her face, Cook greeted everyone and began her lecture on “fives.” She explained how Deet’s supported five different world regions with its coffee production. Each region takes five years to prepare their soil, five years to grow a coffee bean and five years to pull the beans. Cook exuded a passion for her coffee knowledge, as she described the intensive labor that goes into growing a single coffee bean. During her lecture, she passed around baskets of different types of beans ranging from dark to organic roast, allowing everyone to examine them closely. see DEETS / page six

COFFEE BUZZ Coffee beans are actually found inside bright red berries that grow on trees. Some believe coffee was ﬁrst discovered by Ethiopian farmers who claimed their goats “danced” after eating the cafﬁeneinfused berries. Trees where coffee berries grow can be up to 30 feet tall. The world’s second most traded commodity is coffee, only outpaced by oil. Instant coffee was invented by a Belgian man named George Washington in Guatemala in 1906.

BRAD KLODOWSKI / SPPS

New minor lands in ‘21st Century’ ALLIE SIVAK features staff writer A new minor will provide curriculum that gives students an international experience. New to the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences is the 21st Century Studies minor, which is set to take flight this spring. The program, which is still in the approval process, will consist of a 12-hour core, plus two electives selected from a list of official options — totaling 18 credits. Students can choose other courses with prior approval. Robert Siegle, an English professor, first envisioned the program, drawing from his experience traveling abroad on a sabbatical in India. On his trip he witnessed the expansion and globalization of Indian culture. “I saw all the issues of Indian culture afresh, instead of being inside the golden cocoon of American ways of seeing things,” Siegle said. “I teach courses in contemporary culture in the English department, and I thought that if you built this minor around a different type of study abroad experience, then it would be a really interesting thing for students.” Once the minor’s idea was conceptualized, a committee of professors and advisors from a variety of departments within CLAHS was compiled to map out what the new program would entail. They came to a consensus that students in the minor will complete the program core requirements over a single calendar year, beginning in the spring with introduction to 21st Century Studies. Next, students will embark on a nearly 20,000 mile-trip in the summer, as part of the six-hour nomadic studies part of the program, in which they will explore the cultures and practices in Morocco, Istanbul and Sri Lanka. Students will complete their core the following fall semester with a capstone seminar, in which they must present a culminating project relaying their studies within the program. Siegle chose for 21st Century Studies to be a minor so it would compliment any area of study. “I thought it would be great if

people from almost any major in the university could have this program that was conceived outside of traditional majors and disciplines they represent,” Siegle said. “Everything is sort of connected to everything else, so you can’t just look at things with a single lens, or you miss what’s going on.” Students from all majors and academic levels had the opportunity to apply for the minor by Oct. 3. Once the applications were received, a review committee of about five professors in the new department reviewed the applicants and assessed which individuals would be offered the chance to take part in the program. Janelle Watson, a French professor, is on the review committee. “The applications we received were very impressive. It was very hard to choose,” she said. “What I was looking for … was to see if this is a good fit for this student. Is this the kind of study abroad experiment that’s going to complement other interests and academic work of the student?” The program initially intended to accept between 16 and 20 students, but the committee ended up choosing about 35 people. The numbers were limited because of expense, as the cost of travel will range from $6,000 to $7,000 per student. However, donor support should help subsidize the cost for each student, and the program aims to reduce the cost range to between $2,000 and $2,500 per person. “We’d like to raise an endowment of several million dollars so this becomes something that each year can find a number of students to go,” Siegle said. In addition to continuing financial considerations, Siegle hopes the program will broaden the horizons of students. “People tell me that they like taking contemporary classes, (but) how they never get to see how history changes in the times they are living in,” Siegle said. “So I thought we could (take students) elsewhere, where different cultural assumptions and different ways of doing things change how the 21st century feels.”

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eeditors: dittors: chels chelsea sea gu gunter, unteer, ppatrick atrickk m murphy urphyy featureseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ fe eaturesseditoor@coolleegiaatettimes.com/ 5540.231.9865 400.2231.99865 TIMES T MES ME COLLEGIATE C CO OLL L EGIA IATE ETI

november 4,, 22011 011

SAID

He said: Always growing up C

Trail” day in computer class, even though you could never keep all the buffalo you shot, and your sister all too often died of dysentery. Nothing in the world gave you more sadness than when Mufasa died in “The Lion King,” and nothing gave you more pleasure than running through the sprinklers in your front yard. It is hard to believe that a whole decade sits between 2011 and the glorious 90s, but here we are in a time of war, economic crisis and final exams. Life was so much simpler back then, but growing up — at least in terms of age — is something you simply cannot stop. Fortunately, growing up has some definite advantages that no amount of Saturday morning cartoons can make up for. Not having to get your mom to drive you everywhere is awesome, especially when you’re going somewhere she might not approve of. While you may not fit in that tree house anymore, that college apartment is an equally cool place to chill. Communication is always a call/text/tweet away on your cell phone instead of waiting around by your wall phone at home. Coming to college is one of the biggest signs of growing up — no more parents or curfews. It is a time to grow as an individual and start accepting responsibility. I remember watching my mom drive away as she left me to fend for myself on that warm, August day freshman year. A whirlwind of thoughts went through my head, the biggest being, “I’m all grown up now.” As I got involved in various activities and met new people, I realized how much growing up I was actually doing. Without your mom and dad to push you through the day, you learn a lot about yourself. Living on my own and having to wake myself up for my own classes taught me more than

any episode of “Bill Nye the Science Guy” ever did. Who would have thought I wasn’t grown up after all? Now, as a junior, I am beginning to see how close life on the other side is. Soon, I will be away from the world of D2 meals and into the world of an 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., fulltime job. Surely this crossover must be the point when you finally grow up, right? Well, I argue that we never stop growing up. Not to get too philosophical on you, but if we never stop growing up, we are never technically grown ups. So don’t ever stop acting like you did when you were a child. And if school and life ever stress you out too much, just remember: “Hakuna Matata.”

STEPHANIE LACASSE / COLLEGIATE TIMES

onsidering I recently left my adolescence, growing up is somewhat of a sensitive subject. While 18 is technically considered an “adult” by law, few days make you feel older than the day you exit your teenage years. You can choose to dwell on the sadness of being a grown up, or you can sit back, throw on Bruce Springsteen’s “Glory Days” and take a trip down memory lane. For my readers who were also 90s kids, I want to remind you of just how sweet life was growing up. First and foremost were the TV shows. Saturday mornings were used for waking up early and watching cartoons — not battling hangovers. “Modern Family” and “The Office” are great, but they have nothing on the days of “Hey Arnold,” “Doug,” “Aaahh!!! Real Monsters,” “Kenan & Kel,” “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” “Rugrats,” “Scooby-Doo,” “The Angry Beavers” and “Rocket Power.” If you need me to go on I will, but I think you get the point. West End lunches are great, but little excited you more than the thought of having a pizza Lunchable washed down with an ice-cold Capri Sun. The only political debate you had was which of the three starting Pokemon were best (clearly Charmander, for the record). Lisa Frank was the Lilly Pulitzer of modern day, and you would do anything for “The Magic School Bus” to be real. You would also know in an instant if a color were missing from your Crayola box. In the music sector, the divide between Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC was enough to tear friendships apart. Britney Spears won my heart over like no other woman ever had before. Sorry frat parties, but we all know there ain’t no party like an S Club party. Instead of going on Facebook in class, you counted down the minutes until it was “Oregon

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

She said: Times change, but childhood memories endure T

oday I looked at the doorway of my BIT classroom for a full two minutes debating whether to go in. I had a flashback to the first day of kindergarten when I was unsure if I would be ready. I had my pink plastic Barbie lunchbox in hand and all of my supplies tucked into my brand new Disney princess backpack, yet I refused to let go of my mom’s hand. Although going into class today was nothing like embarking on the journey of grade school, it did remind me of how much I miss being younger. Being able to come home, spend a whole hour on homework and then head straight outside, regardless of the heat or cold, may possibly be what I miss the most. Games were made up on the fly, and everyone got along with each other because no one wanted to go inside until the street lamps came on. My absolute favorite memories of being little were when my family would go camping the weekend

before school started. This was a tradition from preschool to first grade. We would load up our huge tent with all the necessities and go camping with four other families. There was always an exciting food fight at one of the meals, but none of the children ever knew which one. The parents would be passing around the serving bowls and then next thing you know, mom pours a bowl of refried beans on your head, and dad squirts mustard all over you and your sisters. We would all go fishing during the day, where I may or may not have caught a duck once. My dad had to wrestle with it to get the hook out while countless others were pecking at him. I could not look at Donald Duck without crying for a month from the guilt. Priceless memories like those are the ones I cannot wait to have with my kids. Aside from family vacations, other great childhood memories come from holidays. One of my favorite holidays in school was Valentine’s Day because I always

e nj oy e d making my valentine’s m ai l b ox out of a shoebox. I wrapped it with paper and put a slit on the top so everyone could put their cards and candy inside. Holidays simply are not the same in college when you are away from your family. Halloween has felt strange every year without carving a pumpkin or trick-ortreating with my parents. I’ll never forget when my twin sisters each dressed up like dice, and wore large boxes with holes cut out for the arms and head. I pushed Kristin near a hill, and she bumped into Caryn, causing them both to tumble and roll down the hill. I rolled two fives — I won. Toys and games are also not what they used to be. “Rollercoaster Tycoon” and “Oregon Trail” were the favorites before the AIM madness. I owe the root of my creative mind to the countless hours play-

i n g w it h m y P o l l y Po cke t s , F i s h e r Price family and Barbie dolls. I remember waking up on Christmas thinking the entire Toys “R” Us store was in my living room, though I never did get that pony I wanted. Thanks, Mom and Dad. The toys have changed so much since we’ve grown up. If it doesn’t have to do with technology or doesn’t move in some way, the kids are not interested. It upsets me to think that the days of dress up or pretend play may truly be over, not only for my generation, but for all children. While toys may be changing, I hoped that sports would at least remain the same. Last Sunday afternoon, I took a walk around the Foxridge area by the elementary school. There was a little league baseball game in play, and my friend and I sat and

Sarah’s Key

watched a few innings. I’ll always be the little girl who turned in her ballet slippers for soccer cleats. I miss the days of looking forward to the snacks at halftime or the treats we would get when the games would end. A good ole’ Capri Sun always capped a good game, regardless of the score. As I was watching the baseball game, I noticed all of the little leaguers had their last names on their jerseys. It is evident more money is being put into sports, as early as little league, and the talent pool is starting earlier each year. My only wish is that childhood maintains the magic for children that it had for me. The make believe, the cuts and bruises from

playing outside, and the invisible friends all helped us grow. We matured through the friendships we made, the Saturday morning cartoons we watched and even the toys we played with. As much as I miss having no worries or cares in the world, I know each chapter in my life has brought a new adventure, and I am not anywhere close to want to stop exploring. For now, I get the opportunity to stay in my very own “Never Never Land” — Virginia Tech — and I couldn’t be happier.

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

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

november 4, 2011

POLAR POLITICS Women deserve Abortion has no right to choose

N ov. 8, Mississippi voters will be given an almost God-like opportunity to enact a legal definition on the nature of personhood. Proposition 26, or the so-called “Personhood Amendment,” will be brought before the people to vote on. If passed, Mississippi will become the first state in the nation to legally define the point in which a grouping of cells can be called a “person.” Under this proposal, that point will be established at the moment the egg is fertilized in a female, making all efforts to thwart the development of those cells beyond fertilization nothing less than attempted murder. Before I begin, I think it is necessary to make one important assertion that many who oppose abortion as a legal right of every American female lose sight of: Those who believe abortion should be legal do not necessarily like that the procedure occurs. I do not want to speak for people other than myself, but personally, because I believe in a woman’s right to choose does not mean I enjoy the fact that abortions happen. For too long, those who oppose abortion have been allowed to cast pro-choicers as knife-wielding proponents of genocide who drool at every opportunity to rip a fetus to bits. Not only is this prevalent connotation unfair, it is remarkably offensive. On the contrary, I cringe at the thought of every abortion, and sincerely hope they are performed as last resorts. My unfortunate position, as a person who values freedom and law in a society, is that my personal whims cannot determine the rights

another individual possesses. It is this most important feature of our nation that so many on the Christian right fail to understand. It is clear that even in the context of a legitimate abortion debate (and perhaps this country is in need of a clearheaded and mature one) the proposal in Mississippi is remarkably dangerous in its unfathomable and uncertain effects. This point is so clear that even the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the National Right to Life Committee have publicly denounced this piece of legislation.

“

Make no mistake, the right to an abortion is one of the most fundamental rights of women”

Their reason, as that of a majority of people in this nation, is that this proposal, in its establishment of “personhood” at the moment of conception, would make many widely accepted processes illegal. First, this proposal would force all women who have been raped and subsequently become pregnant to go through the painful and traumatic bearing of their child. In addition, any woman who experiences a dangerous birth and is in need of a medically valid, life-saving measure would be, along with her doctor, arrested for murder once the needed abortion occurred. Although I feel both of these consequences are enough for it to be ruled out by any person who believes in the right to life and pursuit of happiness, there are several smaller objections being made. Many, or all, forms of contraception would be made illegal (e.g. the Morning After Pill). In addition, many argue

that in vitro fertilization would be put in serious jeopardy because any unused embryos would by law have to be brought to birth (if, of course, the embryo survives). Taken together, this proposal is a serious assault on women’s rights, not only because of its consequences for abortion rights, but also because of the other widely accepted women’s rights that would be brought into legal question. For too long now, those who oppose abortion have been allowed to cast those who believe in women’s rights (and make no mistake, the right to an abortion is one of the most fundamental rights of women) as advancing the cheapening of human life and acting as proponents for genocide. But what I wonder is how defining a grouping of a few cells, which in all probability would never reach birth, is in any way respectful to the notion of “personhood”? Personally, I think the factors that make someone a “person” are far more special and meaningful than a mere division of cells. I see a person in the love a mother has in holding her baby or the joy on a father’s face when throwing a baseball to his son. I see a person in the friends I enjoy spending time with and the tears I shed when I lose someone who is special in my life. These features — which a fetus is unable to have — make a group of cells into a person. Those who believe in a woman’s right to choose simply think the value of human life is more meaningful and special than being debased to mere biological processes.

JASON CAMPBELL -regular columnist -junior -philosophy major

merit in society

ext Tuesday, on Election Day, those in Mississippi will be voting on a constitutional referendum that would declare all unborn children “persons.” Proposition 26, which will appear on the ballot in the state, would declare persons as “every human being from the moment of fertilization, cloning or the equivalent therof.” In February 2010, Personhood Mississippi submitted more than 130,000 signatures supporting this referendum to appear on the ballot, which was much more than the 89,285 required. If the referendum passes, it would be the first law of its kind in the U.S. My first thought on this referendum is: It’s about time. At the risk of being sued by the American Civil Liberties Union for being Christian, I personally believe that life begins at conception because all life is Godbreathed, and I’m not going to apologize for that. While many on the pro-life side of the aisle have been trying for years to get the government to define the beginning point of life as this or something similar, those on the pro-choice side have struggled to come to a consensus. Some think when a baby is able to survive on its own, then it is a person. Some think life begins once the baby is born. Is a simple heartbeat not good enough for them? Or how about the simple fact that the baby is growing? When exactly do they want to define the start of life? When a child is able to fit into a size six shoe? I certainly applaud the efforts of the Mississippi citizens for taking the initiative to protect innocent life. It’s kind of hard to have an intelligent discussion about life and abortion when opponents are

sinking to vandalism of pro-Proposition 26 signs. Owners of a southern Mississippi gas station had to call police when a woman attacked a Proposition 26 sign there. On a side note, just two weeks ago, someone tore my “Abortion is Homicide” sticker on my car while it was parked in the garage on campus.

“

Imagine a group of babies, who were killed as a form of birth control, holding up signs that read, ‘We are the 93 percent.’”

I rest my case about being able to carry on an intelligent conversation about this issue. The rhetoric from the left is all wrong, too (but what else is new). For instance, those in the liberal media like to refer to partial-birth abortion as “what its opponents refer to as partial-birth abortion.” Um, what exactly do its supporters call it? Happy hour? The JC Penney One Day Only Sale? One of my favorites came from a New York Times editorial, which called this referendum “among the most extreme assaults in the push to end women’s reproductive rights.” How exactly is killing an unborn child a “reproductive right”? Killing the baby isn’t reproducing, and murdering an innocent person is not a “right” that should be reserved for anyone. I fail to see the problem with this referendum. People will argue that this will disallow abortions (you know, that reproductive right that is actually an action ending reproduction), which is a problem in the case of rape and

incest. According to The Center for Bio-Ethical Reform, 93 percent of abortions occur for social reasons, as in, the child is unwanted or inconvenient. To put it bluntly, 93 percent of all abortions performed in this country are done as a form of birth control. Just so you liberals can better understand, imagine a group of babies, who were killed as a form of birth control, holding up signs that read, “We are the 93 percent.” That’s the face of abortion, plain and simple. It’s not about protecting the mother or her reproductive rights — it’s about having a back up birth control plan. If this referendum passes, which it is expected to by a fairly sizable margin, it would certainly be a major game changer in the abortion debate. I, of course, hope the referendum passes. It might even inspire some of my own rhetoric. I could say that the newly passed referendum is “a major step in the fight against liberals getting all giddy when they can unnecessarily end the life of someone much, much more vulnerable than them.” Before I wrap up, let me address one last argument I know at least one of my opponents will bring up: You conservatives want to protect the unborn, but you don’t have a problem killing murderers or terrorists. Well, last time I checked, unborn children weren’t blowing up our buildings, and they weren’t murdering innocent people. That last one is Planned Parenthood’s job.

MATTHEW HURT -regular columnist -junior -political science major

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november 4, 2011

page 4

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

Regular Edition Today’s Birthday Horoscope: Open up to new experiences. What if you could have it any way you wanted? Don’t assume anything, or take anything for granted. Explore. Make respectful requests. Don’t be afraid to tell someone how much you miss them. Love is of the essence.

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Unscramble the letters to solve the category “Trees” Have a set of words you want to see in puzzles section? Email your lists to ctadsproduction@gmail.com.

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11/3/11

Council candidates recognize main town issue CT NEWS STAFF With Election Day coming up on Tuesday, Nov. 8, the Collegiate Times caught up with the candidates running for seats in the Blacksburg Town Council to hear their thoughts on local issues. The seven members of the Council serve staggered fouryear terms and are the legislative body of the local government. The Council passes new ordinances, makes rules about land use and long-term planning, and sets all tax rates. This year, five candidates are running for three open spots — John Bush, Leslie Hager-Smith, Melvyn Jay “Mel” Huber, Paul Lancaster and Michael Sutphin. Each day this week, the CT will feature one question posed to all candidates, so readers can compare their answers and learn more about them. Today’s question deals with Blacksburg issues:

What is the biggest problem that will affect Blacksburg in the next five years?

PAUL LANCASTER

JOHN BUSH

MICHAEL SUTPHIN

It really is trying to get the business base reestablished in town. Right now, there’s about 3.4 percent of all the town in Blacksburg dedicated toward commercial. That’s a small number, and a lot of that is vacant. Secondly, we need to look at the possibility of other commercial options in town. Again, way down on South Main, maybe we can bring some office businesses downtown that employ 100 to 200 people. It’s going to take some time and the recession doesn’t help. (Also), I want to establish a comprehensive tree policy in town. I’d like to have more things to highly restrict (tree chopping).

The development of the old middle school property is one — that it gets successfully developed. The town would like to purchase that property for fair market value after the high school building is demolished. Perhaps add recreational facilities and a new rescue station on that property. I think there are opportunities for senior housing. Perhaps more force on what’s termed low- to moderate-income housing both on the middle school and perhaps the high school property. We need to do a better job of providing first homes and starter homes for people who work in the town and aren’t able to afford some of the properties.

Economic development is the one thing I’m focusing a lot on. Working to recruit businesses, especially things that are high tech in Blacksburg, so young people are able to have jobs and stay in the area and contribute to our economy (and) create a sense of community to help improve Blacksburg. In small towns like ours, land use issue (are) big. We’ve had great success in approving, between the county and the town, the old Blacksburg Middle School property master plan. In the coming years, the other school issues, like the creation of the new Blacksburg High School and what we’re going to do with the site, will become (bigger).

LESLIE HAGER-SMITH It continues to be true that we need to have our sights set on sustainable development and high quality community planning. I hesitate to call this a problem. If several hundred thousand people pick up and decide this is a cool place to live, they’re coming, that’s it. We need to be ready for that. The point is to be ready and have some control over how we grow. That will be where we will experience points of tension. Christiansburg grew by 25 percent, that growth is a reflection of how much Virginia Tech (and) the Corporate Research Center keep expanding, and spin-off companies such as Modea, can hardly find space quick enough.

MELVYN JAY HUBER Melvyn Jay “Mel” Huber was unavailable to comment. He worked as a lawyer for 56 years with the Wagner & Huber law firm in Blacksburg. Huber has served on the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, the Republican County Committee and the Rotary Club. He served in the Marine Corps Reserve from 1947-58 and was on active duty during the Korean War. For more information on Huber, go to HuberForBlacksburg.net

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sports 5

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

november 4, 2011

Dual perspectives: LSU-Alabama TWO SPORTS STAFF WRITERS, ALEX KOMA AND ALYSSA BEDROSIAN, GAVE THEIR THOUGHTS ON THE LSU-ALABAMA MATCHUP.

Koma: ‘Bama is the favorite despite rank

Bedrosian: LSU RBs will be key to Tigers victory O

ne team’s championship hopes will be crushed Saturday night, as No. 1 LSU takes on No. 2 Alabama in an epic SEC showdown. This matchup has been the buzz among college football junkies since the start of the season. It is games like this that make college football so great, and it is also games like this that make fans and players fight for a playoff. Whichever squad loses will most likely kiss its shot at a national championship goodbye. Both teams have played exceptionally well this season. LSU has beaten five ranked opponents, including No. 3 Oregon in its season opener. LSU senior quarterback Jarrett Lee has thrown for 13 touchdowns and just one interception. The Tigers rank third in rush defense and 10th in pass defense. Alabama also has the numbers to prove itself. The Crimson Tide is No. 1 in the nation in total defense. Alabama has given up just onefourth quarter touchdown and only 14 plays of 20 yards or longer. Needless to say, it will be a battle of the defenses this Saturday night. Home field advantage will be huge for Nick Saban’s squad, however, it will not determine the game’s outcome. Against these two tough defenses, both offensive units will have to rise to the occasion. The key to the Tiger’s offense is their backfield. Sophomore backs Spencer Ware, Michael Ford and Alfred Blue have shared touches this year for a total of 1,205 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns. With such a strong set of backs, the passing game has thrived as well. Alabama is also stacked with talent on the offensive side. Sophomore quarterback A.J. McCarron has thrown for 1,664 yards and 10 BRIANNA PACIORKA / THE DAILY REVEILLE touchdowns. Junior running back

or all of the controversy surrounding college football right now, it can be easy to get depressed about the state of the game. The one positive amid all these negatives is that this system can still produce some incredibly meaningful matchups, and that’s exactly what fans will get this weekend as LSU and Alabama face off in Tuscaloosa, Ala. This contest between the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams in the country stands like an oasis in the current desert of college sports criticism, and they should prove to be the highlight of the sports weekend. At the end of the day, however, the question must be asked — who’s going to come away with the victory? Although it will undoubtedly be a close game, the answer may be simpler than most people think. LSU has been able to vault to the top of the rankings, largely due to their five wins over top 20 teams by an incredible average margin of 23.4 points. However, the numbers tell a very different story. It would seem that Alabama is at a disadvantage, since they can only claim three victories of ranked opponents. While a team’s record against those in the top 25 is a statistic often referred to, it’s actually a pretty poor indication of their quality. Rankings can be swayed by a variety of factors that have nothing to do with how good a team actually is, such as media coverage or, in the case of the Bowl Championship Series standings, the whims of computers. For example, Southern Mississippi is currently 25th in the BCS rankings. If either team had beat the Golden Eagles, could the point really be made that they beat a quality ranked opponent? Instead, the better indication of a team’s performance is the combination of their underlying numbers and the true quality of the team’s they have faced. Luckily for the Crimson Tide, both of these factors work in Alabama’s favor. Nick Saban has crafted another dominant defense, one currently allowing the fewest points per game in the country, as they’re yielding just 6.9 a game. LSU’s defense is certainly impressive in their own right, as they’re letting up just 11.5 points a game. However, they tend to struggle in obvious passing downs, so it will be up to A.J. McCarron to exploit that weakness if the running game struggles. Alabama’s offense has been quietly having an excellent season as well. E! 11 US 20 HOr 12,

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They’re averaging nearly 230 yards a game, and Football Outsiders rates them as the third most efficient offense in the country. By comparison, the Tigers are a distant 15th. Jarrett Lee has been able to manage the game for LSU, but if he’s asked to go out and take on Alabama’s impressive secondary, it seems unlikely he’ll be able to do so. Additionally, the Crimson Tide can probably claim to have a better signature win than LSU. The Tigers can boast about their season opening win over Oregon, but Alabama’s 38-14 blowout over Arkansas is beginning to look more impressive, as the Razorbacks continue to move up in the standings. Alabama was able to hold an offense that normally scores 37 points a game to just 14, and while

LSU was able to dominate Oregon, they still let up 27 points in the game. In the end, these teams are extraordinarily close in terms of skill level. Both are probably deserving of playing in the national title game, but examining the numbers can help to shed light on which team might have an advantage. The Crimson Tide should probably be able to come away with a victory Saturday. Either way, this match up will certainly help fans forget about the game’s woes for a few minutes, and for that, it will be well worth it.

ALEX KOMA -@AlexKomaCT -sports staff writer -sophomore -communicaton major

Trent Richardson has a whopping 17 rushing touchdowns and is averaging 6.6 yards per carry. This SEC matchup will go down in history as one of the best. The defenses of both teams are so dominant and both offenses played well this season, proving why they deserve to be national championship contenders. Nonetheless, only one team will emerge victorious, and this time home field advantage won’t be enough. Many college football analysts have predicted that Alabama will come away with the upset win, yet many are discounting the prowess the Tigers have showed throughout the season. The Tigers have commanded each and every game, even against the likes of Oregon and Auburn. Only against No. 25 Mississippi State have the Tigers scored less than 35 points. Alabama has been impressive as well, yet the Crimson Tide does not compare to the Tigers in terms of schedule strength. LSU has had to prove itself multiple times in big-time games. Alabama’s only true test this season has been its matchup with No. 12 Florida, a team that has now fallen out of the top 25, on the road. Alabama and LSU are both national championship teams, however, only one will make it to the Superdome in January. Both defenses will impress, but in the end, one offense will overpower the other. The Tigers have the upper hand, but expect Alabama to put up a fight.

ALYSSA BEDROSIAN -@AlyssaBedrosian -sports staff writer -sophomore -communication major

6Deets:news Coffee expert

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

november 4, 2011

shares her knowledge from page one

Oil seeped from them, reflecting off the contours of each bean as a strong aroma escaped their skins. Truly taking the time to observe the coffee, something that wouldn’t typically be done while in a grocery store, made all the difference. Michael Dendinger, a junior biological sciences major, was enthused to attend his first coffee class, noting the value of coffee, which he says he finally began to understand that day. “I drink coffee in the morning and while I stay up studying,” he said. “I throw in things not actually knowing what I’m doing, and with this class I was able to learn where it came from and where it’s processed.” Making her first cup of coffee as a teenager, Cook had a similar experience as Dendinger, admitting to the class that she wasn’t always so knowledgeable of the art of coffee making. “The first time I ever made a cup of coffee was when I was 16,” Cook said. “I thought the white filter meant that you fill it all the way up. We drank a lot of water for the next few days after that.” Continuing with her talk, Cook warned the class of the common mistakes made when people make coffee. For instance, coffee will immediately go stale after the bean is broken, so storing coffee for as little time as possible, as well

as drinking it fresh, is recommended. “Coffee molecules are so small, and freezing coffee doesn’t really help,” Cook said. “Once the moisture is frozen, it still breaks down and becomes stale. Yes, it’s better (than not freezing it), but you can’t beat fresh coffee.” Cook also conveyed the need to recognize that coffee drinkers shouldn’t take the beverage for granted simply because it’s so readily available. She said coffee is unique, as it varies according to country. She wanted her students to see the pure form of coffee before it is manipulated to taste like an overdose of sugar, like that of Starbucks. Four large coffee presses were placed onto a table for a taste test — two labeled with Hokie Blend, the third with decaf and the fourth with organic. Excitedly, she encouraged each person to bring his or her cup to the front of the room to try each flavor by itself, before adding anything extra to the mix. She also discouraged the intermingling of coffee flavors, an apparent faux pas in the world of coffee. Each student lined up ready for a caffeine kick, and many went back for seconds and thirds. Overall, Cook turned what could have been a simple speech on the basics of coffee into a meaningful experience for the class to walk away with. “I have the most intelligent students on campus,” Cook said. “I want everyone to know what I know about coffee.”

French & Interdisciplinary Studies in English

COLLEGIATETIMES

OBMS: Property to be ‘mixed use’ from page one

The Council will discuss the contract at its next work session in November, and Fiddler’s Green will present its ideas. “The Council doesn’t really need to be concerned about the contingencies that are in that contract,” Verniel said. “What they need to be concerned about is what is in the town’s comprehensive plan and also what is in the master plan that we did back in the spring.” Verniel said at the next work session, the Council and Fiddler’s Green will talk through some of the issues that have recently come to light. “Certainly there are many challenges in the redevelopment of this unique site, and as we begin to work through the ultimate design and mix of uses, we are eager to begin the hard work of bringing to life the vision for the property that is embraced in the recently adopted master plan,” Cowan said in a press release. Bush emphasized the importance of looking further into the issue. “Because it is located in our town and adjacent to existing neighborhoods, all of those folks will care very deeply about what happens here,” he said. Currently, plans and layouts are in the early design stage. Fiddler’s Green’s purchase would include parcels C, D, E and part of F,

at the back end of the property. The parcels bordering Main Street are still currently under negotiation between Montgomery County and Modea, who agreed to buy six acres for $2.45 million. Fiddler’s Green estimated that the project will be a total investment of $30 to $45 million. Although Montgomery County owns the property, a resolution between the county and the Council, which was approved in June 2011, allows the Council to make rezoning and redevelopment decisions. The county and the town paid for consultants to assist in the master plan’s creation. Although it was unusual to do so, the Council agreed to pay a portion of the consultant costs to ensure the master plan contained ideas the Council and town members wanted to see in the redevelopment. Hager-Smith said the Council agreed to assist with consultant costs because it wanted to make sure it would get a high order of development with the property. “The obvious reason we would do that is because we are the ones who will live with the consequences of this project in the heart of our downtown,” she said. Susan Anderson, the vice mayor of Blacksburg, said the master plan was created with the intention of making the property an enhancement to the original 16 blocks of Blacksburg.

“The county and the town have agreed on the certain kinds of things we’d like to see,” she said, “But there’s nothing set in stone. We want something aesthetically pleasing, something really pretty to enhance our downtown.” The current master plan for the old BMS includes a pedestrian promenade, an extension of the Huckleberry Trail, the possibility of a parking garage and two public park areas. After the creation of the master plan, the Council requested the county send out a request for proposals, but the county did not follow through. A RFP would have given developers throughout the region a chance to submit proposals and bids to the county for the property. “We went through this elaborate planning process. We created a very sound plan for development of that entire property, and it satisfies multiple goals on the part of the town of Blacksburg,” Hager-Smith said. “The next logical step in the process should have been to issue a RFP.” Brian Hamilton, the director for economic development in Montgomery County, said no RFPs were issued because according to Virginia code, any money made from selling school property must be returned to schools for debt service or building facilities. “The county’s goal is to get the greatest funding we can from the property,”

he said. “We have to issue around $100 million worth of bonds in the next couple of months, and next year, debt service begins. So the county’s goal was not to waste any time when we had a viable offer on the table, to go ahead and sell the property and move forward.” Currently, the property is zoned R-4, meaning developers can build four residential units per acre. If potential developers want the property to include commercial space, they will have to submit a request for rezoning to the Council. “We already have all kinds of commercial spaces around that are not fully utilized, and that’s just not what we think makes sense. “At the end of the day, what they’re going to be asking for is for the town to rezone the property to a concept called ‘mixed-use.’ But I can assure you the town will be very vigilant in preparing a request for rezoning, for adherence to that vision and that spirit that what we think would make a good development right in the center of our town and at the entrance of the downtown area.” Bush said he would like to see a proposal from the developers that includes architectural or aesthetic guidelines to make sure the property’s redevelopment will be high quality. “I think it’s in everybody’s interest that this is a quality development,” he said.

Leslie

Hager-Smith Re-elect Leslie, November 8th Broadband Expansion // Sustainable Development Regional Collaboration // Neighborhood Civility

Info Meetings: Contact: Oct 04 5:30 RAND 216 Oct 19 6:00 MCB 126 Nov 10 6:15 MCB 126 Dec 02 5:00 MCB 126

Dr. Médoune Guèye Foreign Languages & Literatures Phone: (540) 231-8317 E-mail: mgueye@vt.edu

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“We need an open access network to provide affordable high-speed broadband for all citizens. This will accomplish three goals: it will support clean, green businesses; preserve our beautiful surroundings; and build on Blacksburg’s strength as a computing and engineering hub.” - Leslie Hager- Smith

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