Thursday, November 17, 2011 Print Edition by Collegiate Times

Thursday, November 17, 2011

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

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COLLEGIATETIMES 108th year, issue 118

News, page 2

People & Clubs, page 5

Opinions, page 3

Sports, page 6

Classifieds, page 4

Sudoku, page 4

A RISK WORTH

TAKING? Gun rights and gun control advocates to demonstrate today as debate rages over whether concealed weapons would make campus safer BY JOSH HIGGINS | news reporter

irginia Tech has the right to choose whether people are allowed to carry concealed weapons on its campus. Nearly five years after the April 16, 2007, campus shootings, there is still disagreement over which choice is more likely to prevent future campus violence. The Virginia Citizens Defense League, sponsored by the Libertarians at Virginia Tech, will visit Tech today and demonstrate in front of Squires Student Center to advocate the concealed carry of weapons, which Tech currently prohibits along with all but one Virginia college — Blue Ridge Community College. Students for Gun Free Schools will host a counter-movement called “School Walk-Out: Keep Guns off VT Campus,” according to the event’s Facebook page, in response to VCDL’s visit to Tech, making Thursday a key date for the debate surrounding concealed carry on campus in Virginia. The protests come only one day after Liberty University announced a change in its firearms policy. The private univerity in Lynchburg, Va. now allows guests with concealed handgun permits to carry guns in their cars and on the grounds, but not in buildings. Faculty and students can also do so if they get permission for the Liberty University Police Department. Concealed carry advocates argue that letting permit holders bring their guns on campus is not a safety hazard, and may actually create a safer environment. “It’s important that we recognize the fact that these laws and regulations aren’t going to stop criminals,” said Eric Smith, president of the Libertarian Club and a junior chemical engineering major. But despite the argument for concealed carry on campus, the university maintains that concealed carry of guns on campus should not be allowed. “The university believes that guns don’t belong on campus, in our classes, or in our dormitories,” said Larry Hincker, university spokesman. And for Colin Goddard, making sure that guns remain off campus is of utmost importance. Goddard was injured in the April 16 shootings. Goddard was sitting in French class when he was shot four times by Seung-Hui Cho that day. He made a recovery and now promotes gun-free schools. “It’s changed my life,” Goddard said. “I’ve devoted all my time and effort to helping educate Americans about what we do in this country with guns, what we don’t do, and what we should be doing.” Although he said gun issues are important, Goddard said mental health issues should be a priority. “We need to do background checks on people,” Goddard said. “This is bigger than a gun issue. Mental health issues should be at the center of this debate about what we’re doing about campus violence, but it’s not, and it’s a shame.”

And some students like Maggie McVicar, a sophomore communication major, agree with the university and those associated with April 16 that guns could disrupt the educational environment. “Guns make me feel uncomfortable and uneasy,” McVicar said. She will be attending the Students for Gun Free Schools protest. Lori Haas, whose daughter was injured in the April 16 shootings, will be attending the counter-prostest as well. “My daughter Emily was shot twice in the back of the head on April 16, 2007, and I have worked on gun violence prevention issues since then,” Haas said. “College campuses are absolutely no place for loaded guns.” “It isn’t that difficult to get a concealed carry license in Virginia, and that just worries me — a person could potentially be carrying around a gun and not know how to use it,” McVicar said. To get a permit in Virginia, an applicant must send in a form to their county’s courthouse and pass a competency test, which can be completed online if it is taught by a state-certified or National Rifle Association instructor. Goddard said problems with the system for acquiring guns need to be fixed. He said the background check system needs to be expanded and improved, and the process for getting a concealed carry permit should become more difficult. “I was blown away by how easy it was to get guns in this country,” Goddard said. “I just couldn’t believe it, so I wanted to speak out, and now I am.” Smith disagrees on principle. “I personally do not believe one should have to get a permit to carry a firearm. Several states, such as Vermont and Arizona, do not require a permit to carry for anyone over 21. Anyone who hasn’t committed a violent crime should be able to carry a firearm whenever and wherever they want, with few exceptions.” he said, but noted Virginia is easier than other states. “Ohio, (where I’m from,) has much stricter permit requirements. It requires a 12-hour course, mandatory FBI background check, and a few other requirements. Virginia’s concealed carry laws are not the easiest in the nation, but certainly on the more lenient side of things,” he said. Currently, the Campus and Workplace Violence Prevention Policy says university employees, students, volunteers, visitors and other third parties are banned from having weapons at sporting, entertainment or educational events, or while visiting university buildings. This policy also applies to any event where people congregate in public or outdoor areas. Failure to comply with the policy can result in a student conduct referral, an employee disciplinary action or arrest. The carry of open or concealed weapons, however, is not prohibited on campus grounds, because, as a public university, campus grounds are considered public property and are not covered by university policy.

FOLLOW THE CT SOURCE BLOG

FOR LIVE UPDATES ON TODAY’S PROTEST

UFO expert speaks about nuclear sites CODY OWENS news reporter Robert Hastings is a UFO researcher and lecturer who wrote the book “UFOs and Nukes: Extraordinary Encounters at Nuclear Weapons Sites.” What sets Hastings aside from other alien enthusiasts is his focus on nuclear weapons cases. In September 2010, he hosted a press conference on the subject, which was live streamed on CNN. Hastings shared his views with the Virginia Tech community last night in the Owens Banquet Hall. The Collegiate Times met with him before his lecture to ask him about his theories, as well as the connections he sees between UFOs and nuclear weapons.

Collegiate Times:

How did you become interested in UFOs?

Robert Hastings: My father was career Air Force, and in 1967, he was stationed at Malmstrom Air Force base in Montana, which was a nuclear missile base. He was aware of UFO activity at some of the (intercontinental ballistic missile) sites and objects being tracked on radar. It was clear that the UFOs were maneuvering near and even hovering above some of the underground nuclear missile silos. I was aware in a very peripheral way of what had gone on at the time. Coincidentally, I had a job at the

The VCDL expects a turnout in the hundreds. The event could not be held on campus without the sponsorship of the Libertarians at Virginia Tech. The university does not permit any non-university-afﬁliated group to protest on campus without the endorsement of a student or other university-affiliated group. Students for Gun Free Schools is holding a counter-protest. PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY LUKE MASON & VICTORIA ZIGADLO

NICK SMIRNIOTOPOULOS features reporter

Hastings: Again, if one knows anything about the history of the Cold War era, the planet was basically on the edge of its seat, anticipating a nuclear exchange between the United States and the former Soviet Union at any given moment. We continually engaged in conveyed threats in using nuclear weapons against another. If there had been a full-scale nuclear exchange between the two superpowers, there would have been a great deal of collateral damage, including massive disruption of the Earth’s environmental system. All of these very monumental developments have come to the see UFO / page two

see PROFESSOR / page ﬁve

CT: Can you explain the connection between UFOs and nuclear weapons?

Today’s protest begins at 11:30 a.m. outside Squires Student Center.

Professor ignores athlete stereotypes Joann Harvill is helping student athletes rewrite their academic narratives. Balancing the hefty workload of athletics and academics is often a challenge for student athletes, and coping with the stereotype of the “dumb jock” can often cripple them in the classroom. While many teachers may overlook student athletes based on this cliche, Harvill, an English professor, has set out to help them succeed in the classroom. Harvill was named Professor of the Year in 2010 by the StudentAthlete Advisory Committee, an award that validated her pursuit of enriching the academic experience for student athletes at Virginia Tech. “I don’t know of anything I have that I am prouder of than,” she said of the award. “Over the years, I have come more and more to appreciate what (athletes) take on and how serious (they) are about it.” Only students voted for the winner of the award, enhancing its meaning and importance in Harvill’s eyes. Harvill’s determination to help student athletes succeed in the classroom can partly be attributed to the athletes in her family who have had to overcome

air traffic controller tower three nights a week as a janitor (as) a junior in high school. In March of ’67, I was present when the (Federal Aviation Administration) controllers who worked at the tower covered up the presence of five unidentified aerial objects being tracked. I brought that fact to my father’s attention. Unbeknownst to me, he made inquiries where he worked, which was called (SemiAutomatic Ground Environment). It was part of the Air Force’s radar system. They confirmed the presence of these unknown objects.

see GUNS / page two

protest preparations

MAZIAR FAHANDEZH / SPPS

Joann Harvill, an English professor at Virginia Tech, helps her students in and out of the classroom.

2 news september 23, 2009 november 17, 2011

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

what you’re saying //comments from online readers...

Gun: Groups protest rights

On red wine potentially causeing cancer (Nov. 16):

from page one

Chris>> These health scares and links from research are all just plain dumb. I bet if you did a study and surveyed the habits of women with breast cancer you would find that 100% of them drink....dum dum dum WATER!!! So I think that women who drink water are more at risk for breast cancer and, “May want to think next time they go to drink the clear liquids!”

Anonymous>> Repeat after me - coralation does not equal causation....

Anon>> Repeat after me - coralation is spelled “correlation.”

Karen>> No, correlation does not equal causation, but a correlation analysis is the first step at identifying links between two factors. The first study on smoking and lung cancer probably sounded the same. “Smoking cigarettes could increase a person’s chances of developing lung cancer.” It’s interesting to find this relationship, which exists for a reason, and hopefully continuing research can determine the underlying causes, whether it’s some factor that was not controlled for in the study or a true link between red wine consumption and breast cancer. I first heard of this potential link several years ago, so it’s not like only one study has found this relationship...

Anonymous>> maybe, but the drinking of red wine could just be an externality. hence, there would be no link between the two it’s just pure correlation. it may not exist for a reason. it could just be that a lot of women drink red wine. for example, it’s pretty fair to say that an overwhelming majority of college students drink on friday nights compared to those the same age who are not in college and are working (and if you don’t believe this then just pick something that is true about college students), if college students are more likely to develop cancer than non college students does that imply that drinking on friday nights then has something to do with cancer? it’s probably just a correlation and nothing more. secondly, correlations aren’t always long-term, you may find that the wine statement is not true in 5 years, so how do you differentiate which is right? it’s better not to jump to conclusions with studies like this unless there is some science behind it.

Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli said in a non-binding legal opinion that university policy is insufficient, and a state regulation would need to be implemented for universities to ban legal concealed carry in campus buildings. However, earlier this year, a Virginia Supreme Court ruling decided that public universities may ban open carry of firearms in buildings and at events through university policy. Regardless of policies, the controversy continues to evoke strong responses. Some argue shootings can be stopped if people with concealed weapons are able to respond before police. “Gun-free zones don’t work, so you basically have to take that idea and throw it in the trash. Tech showed, sadly, in 2007 the need for people to be able to defend themselves,” said Philip Van Cleave, the president of VCDL, referring to the April 16, 2007 campus shootings. “Things like this happen at colleges and universities in Virginia and around the country all the time.” Goddard has a different view. “(Pro-gun advocates) use the shooting at Virginia Tech as justification for allowing guns on campus,” he said. “I couldn’t believe it. I know all the survivors, I know all the family members, and none of us think that we should arm stu-

dents as a way to prevent violence. None of us. It irks me when we are used for promoting an agenda that we do not support.” On Tuesday, a person was seen with a gun in a business building at the University of California, Berkeley. Campus police responded to the building and shot the gun holder. Currently, possessing any firearm on a public California campus is a felony under state law. “Look at Utah and Colorado. All these shootouts just haven’t happened there,” Smith said. “You can make all the laws and regulations you want, but someone who’s going to come onto campus and murder people is not going to care about (laws).” And even though universities like Tech provide policies that try to protect people, Van Cleave said they don’t do the job. “(Universities) don’t have to protect you. They’re under no legal obligation,” Van Cleave said. “And then they turn around and say you can’t protect yourself (with the right to carry a gun). I don’t know where that leaves you.” Omar Samaha, whose sister Reema was killed on April 16, said students should not need to carry their concealed guns to class with them. “Many of us believe in the right to protect yourself, but we don’t believe that

letting students take guns to class makes things safer,” Samaha said. But besides allowing gun carry on campus, Smith said he wants to advocate individual liberties — something he strongly believes in. “You are taking away an individual right, and you don’t have a good enough reason to do it because unless you put a metal detector over every square inch around campus, you are never going to stop the bad guys from carrying, so why are you trying to stop the good guys?” Smith said. Even though more guns would likely be on campus if concealed carry was allowed, Smith said it would not make a campus more dangerous. “It certainly, at the very least, would not make campus any more dangerous, and that’s the important thing, because if you’re going to take away liberties, which I don’t really think you should ever do, you should be able to prove that it’s going to be a more dangerous place,” he said. Blue Ridge Community College in Weyers Cave, Va., is the only college in Virginia that allows concealed carry on campus. It, like other state community colleges, has seen little crime over the past decade, a trend that is also likely influenced by lower levels of on-campus student activity and a lack of campus housing.

Anonymous>> I agree I’d like for them to perform linear regression on the data sets to see what the R squared value was.

UFO: Expert speaks at Tech

Bob>>

from page one

Chris, above, even joked about water but there have been studies suggesting that even THAT is bad for you (at least from the tap). I’m a strong proponent of science, but I’m convinced that studies like this should be taken with a grain of salt. Here’s a tip: EVERYTHING is bad for you in excess, and most things are good for you in moderation. It’s as simple as that, if you want to live a healthy life.

Karen>> I agree with you, but I would argue that drinking 4 glasses of red wine a week isn’t drinking it “in excess.” So I think it’s worth learning more about a potential relationship. What *I* think is a waste of money is that billions of dollars are poured into TREATING cancer and considerably less money is invested in actually preventing it in the first place by trying to identify possible environmental causes that we can control. And a former co-worker of mine died of breast cancer that was first diagnosed when she was in her mid 30s, so I really do see the value of research on treating it. But I’d rather prevent it in the first place...There are clear reasons why water can be bad for you - contamination, imbalance between salt and water (hyponatremia), etc. Surely studies looking at red wine consumption and breast cancer could be conducted in Greece, Spain, or Italy where red wine is and has been a part of life and a part of a meal for centuries.

Bob>>

notice of outside observers. We know about the collapse of the Soviet Union through documents that had been declassified in Russia. The Soviets had the same type of UFO activity at their nuclear weapon sites, just as the documents from our own government confirm. This is not a question of some super-secret weapon that the Americans are using against the Russians and vice-versa. But quite clearly, the UFOs are from an outside third party of very sophisticated technological capabilities. My sources have said, on a number of occasions, when a UFO hovered over our missiles, the missiles malfunctioned. I have multiple witnesses over the years that have confirmed that incident. We know from declassified Soviet documents that similar incidents happened over there. This is quite clearly dramatic information I think is worth to be public information.

CT: Where and how did you get

Karen, I agree with you that more dollars should be put into prevention than treatment. That being said, the reason we have such a high rate of illness in this country is because (a) people are generally lazy and don’t take care of themselves and (b) we, as Americans don’t do anything in moderation. THOSE are the keys to prevention - not studies like these. Until we change those things as a culture, we’ll be continually dumping cash into medical prevention AND treatment. In the end, people make their own choices and they are typically bad ones when it comes to lifestyle. I just don’t see that changing any time soon in the US.

Anonymous>> I’ll leave this here http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=269512464297

Bob>> Bravo, Anonymous. Well put

crime blotter

your source information?

Hastings: Because my father was career Air Force, I had available to me a small group of contacts in the 1970s who were the first persons I interviewed about this. I also hooked up with a researcher who worked on the Minuteman missile program as a civilian contractor who had Air Force contacts at Knox Air Force base and other bases where these incidents were occurring. He provided leads for me to follow up on additional sources. With the advent of the Internet in the 1990s, I suddenly had access to a potentially much larger source base. I have found a number of contacts online. I simply put out a message saying, “This is what I know about and research-

ing,” without asking leading questions to these individuals, and I ask them to provide any subsequent information about this incident or that incident. Before I accept or pursue the case, I ask the person for their DD214, which is a Defense Department document corroborating a person’s military background. Once the person who contacted me said they were aware of a UFO-related incident at the missile site they were working at. Then I get this military documentation to confirm at least that much is true. Because of the Freedom of Information Act, there are already-declassified documents in some instances that corroborate what these people are telling me in a general sense.

CT: Your witnesses speculated on why they thought UFOs were tampering with U.S. and USSR nuclear tests. Why do you think they were doing it?

CT: What did the declassified U.S.

CT:

Hastings: My view and the view of the co-sponsor of my press conference, former Capt. Bob Salas, are in agreement that whoever these visitors are, they are in effect wagging a finger at us and the Russians, telling us that we are playing with fire by possessing and threatening to use nuclear weapons. This is very speculative based on the available information, both from the documents and the witnesses, that this is what’s going on. Someone is in effect telling us that we are on the precipice, and we could potentially irretrievably damage human civilization.

Air Force documents reveal to you?

Why should students and people know about these incidents?

Hastings:

You can see that as early as December 1948, the FBI, the Air Force and other groups in the Pentagon were discussing UFO activity at the Los Alamos nuclear weapons lab in New Mexico. The government’s own internal documentation says the birthplace of nuclear weapons, Los Alamos, was in fact a primary focal point for UFO activity within the continental U.S. In my program, I also present documents from the 1970s, which confirm that saucershaped aircrafts were repeatedly cited around Malmstrom’s nuclear missiles, were tracked on radar, and were basically hovering and performing high-speed maneuvers. The documents describe unsuccessful aerial intercept attempts on the part of Air Force pilots who were scrambled to chase these objects.

The United States of America is allegedly a democracy. We are supposedly privy to any information that affects our collective destiny in domestic and international affairs, and I think this is an extension of that concept. Unlike totalitarian states like the former Soviet Union, where the government feels like it has the right to keep the public in the dark on any given subject, I think in America, we need to adhere to the standard that supposedly underpins our democracy. If the government has information that UFOs are real and apparently from somewhere else and not from this earth, and (about) whoever is flying these crafts and monitoring and sometimes disrupting our strategic weapons decade after decade after decade, in my opinion, that is something the American people deserve to know about.

1 3 2 1 6 5 4 0 6 5 6 4 6 5 5 1 4

V I O L A T I O N - A F F I D A V I T

date reported

time

offense

location

status

11/03/2011

9:00 a.m.-6:31 p.m.

Follow up to vandalism

Owens

Inactive

11/14/2011

5:56 p.m.

Follow up to harassment (by e-mail)

Whittemore

Inactive

11/15/2011

11:00 a.m.-5:55 p.m.

Larceny of Food items

Lane

Inactive

11/15/2011

8:00-8:00 a.m.

Burglary

Media Building

Inactive

11/15/2011

8:30 a.m.-11:59 p.m.

Counterfeit Curency

Dietrick

Active

11/15/2011

12:47 p.m-10:46 a.m.

Embezzlement

Johnson Student Center

Arrested

13216540656465514

This report is exceedingly frustrating. I’m so tired of hearing that one study suggests something is good for you and then another determines it’s bad for you (see: eggs). What a waste of money.

opınıons 3

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

november 17, 2011

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

MCT CAMPUS

Collegiate Times Editorial Staff Editor in Chief: Zach Crizer Managing Editor: Lindsey Brookbank Design Editors: Danielle Buynak, Victoria Zigadlo Public Editor: Justin Graves Web Editor: Sarah Watson News Editors: Claire Sanderson, Michelle Sutherland News Reporters: Josh Higgins News Staff Writers: Erin Chapman, Meighan Dober, Abby Harris, Elizabeth Haydu, Cody Owens, Mallory NoePayne Features Editors: Chelsea Gunter, Patrick Murphy Features Reporters: Nick Smirniotopoulos Features Staff Writers: Courtney Baker, Torie Deible, Dane Harrington, Kevin McAleese, Andrew Reily Opinions Editors: Scott Masselli, Sean Simons Sports Editors: Matt Jones, Zach Mariner Sports Reporters: Michael Bealy, Nick Cafferky, Courtney Lofgren, Josh Parcell Sports Staff Writers: Eric Avassi, Zander Baylis, Alyssa Bedrosian, Cody Elliott, Taylor Hay, Alex Koma, Ashleigh Lanza, Brian Marcolini, Cody Owens Photo Editor: Daniel Lin Special Sections Editor: Liana Bayne, Nick Cafferky Public Information Director: Dishu Maheshwari Training Director: Kelsey Heiter Copy Chief: Spenser Snarr Copy Editors: Debra Houchins, Nora McGann Layout Designers: Nadia Groome, Kaitlyn Kicia, Bethany Melson, Matthew Ryburn Online Director: Jamie Chung Collegiate Times Business Staff Business Manager: Philipp Kotlaba Student Publications Photo Staff Director of Photography: Paul Kurlak Lab Manager: Austen Meredith

Gun rights group lacks judgment

Concealed carry would protect Tech’s students

oday, the Virginia Citizen’s Defense League is scheduled to conduct a protest on campus hosted by the Libertarians at Virginia Tech. The protest was prompted by Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli. He recently stated that governing bodies at college campuses must pass regulations regarding the banning of concealed weapons on their campuses if they wish to prevent these weapons from being carried on them. What is so disturbing about this protest is not merely that idiocy is a viable political position, but also its severe moral depravity. The very notion that the Second Amendment protects the so-called right of people to carry concealed weapons on college campuses would be an almost laughable position if it was not so dangerous to public safety. As a defender of the rights enumerated in the Constitution, I have consistently defended the right of people to own firearms at levels that extend far beyond what most of my ideological compatriots would agree to. In this regard, I believe that although strong restrictions on gun ownership are necessary for governments to impose. I also believe that the governments in this nation do not possess the right to strip the citizenry of their firearms. But what makes this particular issue different is the fact that proponents of it hold almost no conception of civil responsibility. Our Constitution was constructed with the notion of civil responsibility at its core. Our founding fathers saw the rights they were enumerating as extending from their belief that people are intelligent enough and responsible enough to have them. It was this particular issue that made the Constitution itself so controversial — many felt the people were not responsible or intelligent enough to hold them. With a few exceptions, those who were against the Constitution were proven wrong, and our American experiment has since endured with its promise of personal freedom and responsibility. But now with groups such as the VCDL lobbying for the issue, the fear must again be raised as to whether our people are truly responsible enough to hold and maturely implement their constitutional rights. The balance between safety and freedom is always an arduous and painful balance to maintain. On some level, public safety is needed for our society to continue on a practical level. In another sense, the free-

doms we hold dear are necessarily required to be in place in our nation if we think of ourselves as being truly American. It is on the issue of this balance that civil responsibility comes in to play. By having the rights we have as Americans, we are brought into a contract with our government and our fellow citizens to not abuse these rights and to hold them maturely and responsibly. This is where the difference exists between allowing people the right to own hunting rifles versus bazookas. Essentially our nation holds the value that freedom and safety must be balanced in a mature and responsible manner at its core. Proponents who support the “right” of people to carry concealed weapons on college campuses are morally deranged based on this value. The danger and blatant irresponsibility of allowing concealed weapons to be carried on campuses is one that we have witnessed continually in many forms throughout the history of this nation. The danger of guns on campus is something Tech has witnessed firsthand, with the tragic loss of 32 of our students and faculty. This brings us to the more horrifying aspect of this disgusting protest: the fact that the VCDL have the audacity to come to this campus. When I first heard about this protest I almost had to stand back in awe over its moral contempt. The offensive nature and sheer callousness by which this organization dares to come here is paralleled only by the ethical perversion of the Westboro Baptist Church’s protest here last year. Although I respect the right that this organization has to speak freely on our campus and with one of our student groups (the Libertarians at Tech) hosting them, the issue of civil responsibility comes up once again. Like the Second Amendment, the First Amendment comes with a strong responsibility to use it wisely, which is why Americans are so often disgusted at the legal protests organizations have at the funerals of soldiers. The fact that this organization is so morally perverse as to step on this campus and protest for the right of people to carry concealed weapons here is a testament to their lack of civil maturity and responsibility. This necessarily requires us to question the value of their position.

JASON CAMPBELL - regular columnist - junior - philosophy major

his week, the Virginia Citizens Defense violent gun crimes. League will be hosting a rally at Virginia Some people will argue allowing guns on Tech in support of allowing concealed carry campus would distract from the learning envion campus. The rally is called “Virginia Tech- ronment in classrooms. This issue is answered No Guns? No Funds! Operation Campus simply by the word “concealed.” Theoretically, Safety Protest.” The basic message that VCDL the person sitting next to you right now in is trying to convey is that Tech should allow class, in Squires Student Center or in West concealed carry on campus so students can End Market as you read this article could better protect themselves if they choose. be unlawfully hiding a gun in his or her With the tragic events that unfolded on our backpack. This has always been a possibility, campus in 2007, it is understandable that this so allowing law-abiding citizens to carry a is a rather contentious issue among the Tech concealed handgun on campus would not be community. There are many opponents to some kind of new distraction that would cause allowing concealed carry on campus, which is grades to suddenly drop. also understandable. However, I believe these Another commonly held belief is that a opponents are terribly misinformed. I fully sane person with a gun could simply lose it support the notion of allowing students to one day and go on a killing spree. However, carry a concealed weapon on the Tech campus a study from the U.S. Secret Service showed and all other college campuses. school shooters don’t simply snap, and there How exactly are anti-concealed carry poli- are typically numerous warning signs before cies benefitting schools and colleges? They’re the attack. not, that’s how. Creating these gun-free zones Many worry a gun might go off by accident. is not making us any safer. Tech is a gun-free Statistically, a person is five times more likely campus, but that didn’t stop Seung-hui Cho to accidentally drown, 29 times more likely from murdering 32 of our fellow Hokies. to die in an accidental fire and 32 times more Columbine High School is a gun-free zone as likely to die from accidental poisoning than to well, but try telling that to the two guys who die from an accidental gunshot. shot and killed several of their classmates. Allowing concealed carry on campus will It’s not in light of simply allow stuthese tragedies that dents to better prowe must change our tect themselves. Also, policies; I would previous events show never try to politicize MANY WORRY A having a gun when in these horrific and a mass shooting-type GUN MIGHT GO unnecessary deaths. situation can actually These policies should save lives. OFF BY ACCIDENT. have been different In 2002, a student STATISTICALLY, A all along. at the Appalachian Let’s all be honSchool of Law in PERSON IS FIVE est with ourselves: Grundy, Va. went Do we always follow TIMES MORE LIKELY on a shooting spree. all the rules? Just Two classmates TO ACCIDENTALLY because the speed retrieved guns from limit sign on I-81 DROWN, 29 TIMES MORE their cars and forced says 65 mph, does the gunman to drop LIKELY TO DIE IN AN that mean you won’t his weapons, which occasionally drive allowed a third classACCIDENTAL FIRE ... faster than that on mate to tackle him your way home for and end the bloodThanksgiving break? Mass shootings have shed with only three dead. occurred in several “gun-free zones.” In 1997, a student at Pearl High School in Let’s actually look into some of the more spe- Mississippi shot several people at his school, cific arguments as to why people don’t think and then was headed to the junior high school concealed carry should be allowed on college when he was stopped by the assistant principal campuses. Many believe that allowing guns who retrieved a pistol from his car. That ended on campus would lead to increases in violent the slaughter with only two dead. crime. Concealed carry has been allowed on In 1998, a student at a junior high dance at 20 campuses in Utah since 2006, at Colorado a restaurant in Edinboro, Pa. started shooting, State University since 2003, and at Blue Ridge but then the restaurant owner pulled out his Community College in Virginia since 1995. shotgun and chased the gunman away leaving Since implementing these policies, not one only one dead. single incident involving gun violence has Making college campuses gun-free zones occurred on any of those campuses. does not save lives. Having another gun in the Furthermore, numerous studies, includ- picture, however, does. ing those by University of Maryland senior researcher John Lott and University of Georgia MATTHEW HURT professor David Muster, show that concealed - regular columnist handgun license holders are actually five times - junior less likely than non-license holders to commit

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- political science major

College Media Solutions Ad Director: Brandon Collins Asst Ad Director: Matt Freedman Account Executives: Johnson Bray, Kevin Jadali, Alyssa Brown, Brian Dickson, Janssen Claudio Inside Sales Manager: Mario Gazzola Assistant Inside Sales Manager: Adam Shata Office Manager: Kayley Greenday Assistant Account Executives: Alex Perry, Kacie Nolan, Jordan Peugh Creative Director: Casey Stoneman Asst Production Manager: Colleen Hill Creative Services Staff: Danielle Bushrow, Michael Craighead, Alyssa Morrison, Molly Vinson Voice your opinion. Readers are encouraged to send letters to the Collegiate Times. 365 Squires Student Center Blacksburg, VA, 24061 Fax: (540) 231-9151 opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com All letters to the editor must include a name and daytime phone number. Students must include year and major. Faculty and staff must include position and department. All other submissions must include city of residence, and if applicable, relationship to Virginia Tech (i.e., alumni, parent, etc.). All letters should be in MS Word (.doc) format, if possible. Letters, commentaries and editorial cartoons do not reflect the views of the Collegiate Times. Editorials are written by the Collegiate Times editorial board, which is composed of the opinions editors, editor-in-chief and the managing editors. Letters to the editor are submissions from Collegiate Times readers. We reserve the right to edit for any reason. Anonymous letters will not be printed. Have a news tip? Call or text 200-TIPS or e-mail newstips@collegiatetimes.com Student Media Phone Numbers Collegiate Times Newsroom 231-9865 Editor-in-Chief 231-9867 College Media Solutions Advertising 961-9860 The Collegiate Times, a division of the Educational Media Company at Virginia Tech, was established in 1903 by and for the students of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The Collegiate Times is published every Tuesday through Friday of the academic year except during exams and vacations. The Collegiate Times receives no direct funding from the university. The Collegiate Times can be found online at www.collegiatetimes.com. Except where noted, all photographs were taken by the Student Publications Photo Staff. To order a reprint of a photograph printed in the Collegiate Times, visit reprints.collegemedia.com. Subscription rates: $65 semester; $110 fall/spring. The first copy is free, any copy of the paper after that is 50 cents per issue. © Collegiate Times, 2011. All rights reserved. Material published in the Collegiate Times is the property thereof, and may not be reprinted without the express written consent of the Collegiate Times.

november 17, 2011

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

Regular Edition Today’s Birthday Horoscope: If you ever thought you weren’t good at asking for money, this is the year to get over that. Practice makes perfect. First, get straight with yourself about what you want. Then, let others know, in particular those who can do something about it.

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Police officer dies in UC Berkeley campus shooting MATTHIAS GAFNI, DOUG OAKLEY, JOSH RICHMAN & KATY MURPHY mcclatchy newspapers BERKELEY, Calif. — A man who was shot Tuesday afternoon by University of California Berkeley police at the Haas School of Business has died of his injuries, according to campus officials. The man, an undergrad at the business school in his early 30s, has not been identified. He died at Highland Hospital overnight, UC Berkeley spokesman Dan Mogulof said Wednesday morn-

ing. There is no information connecting the shooting to Occupy Cal protests Tuesday on the campus, Mogulof said. The man was shot by university police after he brought a handgun into a business school computer lab Tuesday afternoon, officials said. The man was the only person injured and was taken to Highland Hospital. Late Tuesday, police said there was nothing early in their investigation connecting him to the Occupy Cal march on the other side of campus.

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suspect pull out a handgun from his backpack and then place it back inside. The man exited on the third floor, but the employee continued up to the fifth floor, where she found Nevels. The pair returned to the third-floor computer lab and saw the suspect in a corner, Nevels said. The pair called police, and officers responded within two minutes, said UC Berkeley police Chief Mitch Celaya. When three officers confronted the man, he said, the suspect pulled out the gun and “displayed it in a threatening man-

ner.” They ordered him to drop the weapon, and when he did not, one officer fired multiple shots, Celaya said. The man did not return fire, and a handgun was found near him, Lt. Alex Yao said. No one else was injured. The shooting was caught on a computer lab camera, and officials will review the tape, campus police Capt. Margo Bennett said. The Haas School of Business building was immediately evacuated after the shooting, and the college sent out email and text notices, spokesman Dan Mogulof

said. Alex Arroyo, a UC Berkeley student who works at the front desk of the computer lab, said he did not notice the man enter, but he saw officers approach the man in the back of the lab, a large area that includes classrooms. “I heard them say, ‘Drop the gun! Drop the gun!’ and I heard four or five shots,” Arroyo said.”When we heard the shots, we all dropped to the ground, and about 30 seconds later the police came out and said, ‘Everybody get out, get out.’”

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The rare officer-involved shooting came as an unexpected twist to an already tense day on campus. As students began their rally outside Sproul Hall and evicted Occupy Oakland protesters amassed at Frank H. Ogawa Plaza to march to Berkeley, a man, about 5-foot-8 and wearing a blue jacket and blue backpack, entered an elevator in the Haas School of Business, said Lyle Nevels, the business school spokesman. A business school employee entered the same elevator, and as it ascended, she noticed the

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november 17, 2011

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

people & clubs

COLLEGIATETIMES

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ingle freaking bells! Iff there ot live is one season I cannot without, it is Christmas. I get to s, bake fly home for the holidays, ristma m s goodies and watch Christmas films. Too soon you say? Forgive me, with all of the holiday decoraristmas tions popping up and Christmas ions, I songs on the radio stations, forget Thanksgiving has yet to happen. My house alreadyy has a m ready Christmas tree up, and I’m to pounce on some sweets — and who knows, maybe Santa as well. If there is anyone more ready for Thanksgiving break, it is me. ts, due Beyond the countless tests, dates and group projects, I need some time to breathe. The “Harry ay was Potter” marathon on Sunday such a tease; I cannot wait to ust for have a movie marathon just the hell of it. I can picture it now ecoverec — chillin’ couch side, recoverharging ing from school and recharging h after my body for the final push break. nto my My home has turned into tomac, twin sisters’ place up in Potomac, ght herr Md., but Momma has taught girls right. We do every dish we would normally have at home and then some. It is also someeations what amusing as new creations ers r are pop up each year. My sisters lactose intolerant, so we always try to change a dish they used to love into one they can still enjoy. I n some have undeniably gagged on of them and thrown them out — who knew nothing could replace r? Not the consistency of butter? us. You cannot talk about being out the home without talking about hoards of food that will basically turn you into a hibernating bear. I could even go without eating after Thanksgiving and survive finals week. But that won’t be happening. I turn 21 the week we get back from break, so I need to hydrate and stock up on carbs early — right? Another key element to an incredible break would be the perfect amount of football that is constantly on my TV screen. If I don’t accomplish anything else over break. I hope to destroy a chocolate pudding pie, finish a can of cranberry sauce and watch the Dallas Cowboys actually win a game on Thanksgiving. I know, I know, a girl can dream. Don’t get me confused, I am not a Tony Romo fan either, Hokies. I have been a fan since Troy Aikman and Deion Sanders, and I simply cannot let go of the traditional Thanksgiving wins from the past. Don’t you worry, this year “I (also) pledge” to be at the University of Virginia for our game over break. What a joke. I don’t need a silly video to tell me how important it is to be there. Hokies flock to the games

regardless of the Hoos. What the hell is a Hoo an aanyway? yway a ? I’m ay a Texas girl, so I’ve never really understood tthe un he nickname. But I do know one thing for sure: I am not a fan of U.Va. U.V Va.. in in the least. The whole rivalry thing has worn off on me enough in the pa p st two w past and a half years yeaars to create the illu usion illusion that I’ve disliked them my entire life. Bring it on Cavs. My faith is in our game-changers Da D n y nn Danny Coale, e David d Wilson and of course good ole L o g a n Thomas. We will come home with the win regardless of how lucky the Hoos have ggotten go ott tten en iin n re ecent recent game ga ame mes.. games. Attend nd din ingg aan n Attending alumni event not too long ago, a woman from the class of 1978 sa ssaid id she currently live v s in Charlottesville, Va. and lives proudly wears her Hokie gear each year. She said recently, current students were aware she wass within hearing distance and began to butcher our name. “They call us rednecks and ffools ools over here at Virgini ia Tech, and Virginia say we are more like a Hokie Hokie Hokie high school than a university.” If that doesn’t enrage you, I’m not sure what will. I was in disbelief. I am always protective of my close friends, and that expands to all Hokies as well. She’s a nice lady, how low could you be? Thanksgiving is our saving grace at Tech. It is the one week you are given to catch up on sleep, studying and family time. Remember when you were complaining when we didn’t get any national holidays off from class? You’re welcome for an entire week off. After this break, it is all downhill from here — finals, Red Rider BB guns and Christmas. Go home, relax, get excited about our last football game and get ready to end this semester with a bang. It only gets better after this folks. Be good and travel safe Hokies!

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

CHELSEA GUNTER / COLLEGIATE TIMES

He said: Turkey day is a time to be grateful A

few things result from the fact that Thanksgiving is less than a week away: Tests, projects and other deadlines are approaching. But even with all this stress, it is important to sit down and think about what I am thankful for. If you are like me, you will have family coming in for the prestigious holiday. I expect to continuously hear how tall I’ve gotten, even though I haven’t grown an inch in years. And what would Thanksgiving dinner be without Nana telling me about her trip to Africa. There’s nothing else like listening to your grandmother’s voyage through the plains for the 200th time. Then comes the food. From the amazing turkey and green bean casserole to the terrible fruit mold — which

I refuse to touch to this date — D2 has nothing on this meal. And the food coma makes for the best nap of the year. Just make room for dessert because nothing compares to grandma’s pie. So use this week of to catch up on work, sleep and socialize. Ask your mom if she needs any help around the house. Go play with your dogs. Sure, finals are a few weeks away, but now is not the time to worry about that. I’ll see you in a week Hokies.

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

What Dane is thankful for... -D2 Breakfasts, Owens lunches and West End dinners -A school that goes all out for every football game — not one that needs to send a video out to its students begging them to come — cough -Being able to do the Hokie Pokie and not getting weird looks -The fact that I’ll be here for the new Virginia Tech dining hall. -The beautiful maroon and orange fall leaves -El Rodeo Jumbo Texas

margaritas -The Corps of Cadets for not only serving Tech, but also our country -The Huckleberry Trail for giving me a place to run on nice days in Blacksburg -“Enter Sandman” -Living out Ut Prosim every day -Having a week off school to sleep in, spend time with my family and eat lots of food -All the great memories and friendships I have made while in Blacksburg

Professor: Harvill aids student success, learning process those negative stereotypes from a young age. Harvill grew up in Beaumont, Texas where football was not only a defining characteristic of the local high schools, but also of the greater community. While sports were a key focus in her family, there was also a heavy emphasis on academics. There were several professors in her family, who helped her eventually recognize her own passion for teaching. However, when Harvill went on to obtain an undergraduate degree, she was not yet convinced on becoming a professor and struggled to find her academic calling. “I couldn’t decide what I wanted to major in. There were four universities I went to as an undergraduate,” she said. “I learned a lot and had a lot of fun. I guess that is important to me is that learning should be fun, and that is what I hope my classes do.” While Harvill might not have had a typical undergraduate experience, encountering various collegiate atmospheres and the students who embodied them gave her a heightened appreciation for the human experience. “It was a great education to see how similar all people are. Even at that young age, you see the comparisons of your peers and

the people who are teaching you. It is the humanistic experience,” Harvill said. Harvill’s fascination with human nature led her to finish her undergraduate studies majoring in English. At that point, Harvill decided she wanted to go on to teach, like many members of her family. This led her to obtain a master’s degree at Tech. “I had family from Virginia, so I came up here and kind of stumbled into the program, delightfully so, because I wanted to be here. It was a place that attracted me,” Harvill said. Harvill began teaching at Tech in 1980, and her initial experiences helped affirm her deci-

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sion. “Once I started to teach, I felt I was at home. I recognized that was really what I wanted to do in my life because my own teachers had made such an impact on me. I wanted to be like them,” Harvill said. Over the years, Harvill has been able to see the dynamics of teaching change, which has helped her develop core philosophies that

help engage and motivate her students. “In my day, professors were kind of put on a pedestal and whatever they said you wrote down. But the attitude has changed, which is a good thing. There is more of a sense (that students) can question,” Harvill said. Harvill described this unique change as being centered on the complimentary relationship

between student and professor — both assisting each other in the learning process. “It is the reciprocal idea of the classroom,” Harvill said. “We learn as much from our students as they learn from us. It is really a great interaction.” This core teaching philosophy has helped Harvill connect with her students on a deeper level, especially with student athletes.

Kyle Renfro, a sophomore university studies major and member of the men’s soccer team, has already taken three of Harvill’s courses and plans to take a fourth in the spring. While English was Renfro’s least favorite subject when he entered college, he said Harvill’s enthusiasm and unique teaching style has given him a greater appreciation for the subject.

6 sports september 23, 200917, 2011 november

B editors: matt jones, zachpage mariner featureseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865 COLLEGIATETIMES

Women’s basketball falls to UNC-Charlotte in overtime CODY ELLIOTT sports reporter Before last night, the previous two meetings between the Virginia Tech women’s basketball team and the Charlotte 49ers had been decided by a grand total of four points. On Wednesday night, the Hokies added to the series of close games with a 71-65 overtime loss at Cassell Coliseum. Guard Aerial Wilson led the way for Tech with 18 points and seven assists, while guard Alyssa Fenyn finished with 11 points, nine points and three rebounds. Both teams opened up with excellent defense that led to poor shooting and a lot of turnovers between them. The game was back and forth throughout, with neither team leading by more than six points. “I thought the kids played very hard,” said Dennis Wolff, Tech head coach. “I was disappointed with our execution throughout the game. We just need to get a little more in sync on offense.” After forward Porschia Hadley hit a jumper with 9:50 remaining to extend the Hokies lead to 14-8, it appeared they might be able to pull away a bit. However, the 49ers came storming back with a 7-0 run of their own, and from there, the remainder of the half went back and forth. In total, there were eight lead changes in the first half. The second half remained a back-and-forth battle. Tech maintained a lead throughout the first 14 minutes of the half but were never able to stretch their lead to more than four points. For every basket the Hokies hit, the 49ers would have an answer. With the Hokies up 48-44 and only 5:44 remaining in the game, Charlotte went on a 10-0 run to seize control of the game and take a six-point lead. During that run, Epiphany Woodson hit three straight jump-

ers to take the game from tied at 48 to a six-point Charlotte lead. The 49ers continued to hit their free throws and maintain a twopossession lead. Trailing by four with just 25 seconds remaining, the Hokies then turned on their press once again and caused another turnover as Woodson stepped out for Charlotte and the Hokies got the ball with nine seconds remaining on the clock. After a missed shot that tipped off the hands of a Charlotte defender, the Hokies got the ball again with just two seconds on the clock. Wilson inbounded to Fenyn, who hit a short jumper from the side with just 0.1 seconds on the clock to tie the game at 59 apiece. After going scoreless in the first half, Fenyn did not lose any confidence in her ability to shoot the ball. “It was just a matter of hitting shots,” she said. “I had some open looks in the first half that I didn’t hit. My teammates did a good job of just finding me on the baseline.” In overtime, Charlotte jumped out to a four-point lead and never looked back. Woodson continued her late game heroics for the 49ers scoring six points in the extra period. The Hokies struggled to hit from the field and were forced to put the opposition on the line where they were able to put the game away. Guard Monet Tellier, coming off her 29-point performance against Old Dominion, struggled to find her shot and finished with just 10 points on the night. Wilson, however, knows they can’t expect Tellier to have that type of performance each game. “You’re not going to have a good game every game,” Wilson said. “I just tried to play hard and do everything Coach Wolff asked.” With the loss, the Hokies fall to 1-1 on the season, while Charlotte improves to 3-0. The team will have two days of TREVOR WHITE / SPPS preparation before hitting the road to take on George Washington Monet Tellier (31) jukes around a 49ers defender. The Virginia Tech women’s basketball team played UNC-Charlotte last night, losing 71-65. Nov. 19.