Thursday, January 19, 2012 Print Edition by Collegiate Times

Legend to make an appearance at Tech PATRICK MURPHY

doors opening at 6:30 p.m. Student tickets are $10 and general admission is $20. Tickets purchased the day of the performance will also be $20. The Virginia Tech Union is working with several organizations on campus for the show. Among the groups sponsoring the show are the Tech Black Organizations Council, the Black Student Alliance, the office of Multicultural Programs and Services and the SGA.

features editor A Grammy-winning music artist will be headed to Virginia Tech this February as a part of Black History Month. On Feb. 23, R&B singer John Legend will perform in the Burruss Hall Auditorium, and speak to the audience. The show, titled “An Evening of Music and Discussion with John Legend,” will be held at 7:30 p.m. with

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Thursday, January 19, 2012

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COLLEGIATETIMES 109th year, issue 3

News, page 4

Weekend, page 10

Opinions, page 5

Sports, page 2

Study Break, page 8

DO OR DIE:

TECH TRIES LUCK VS. NO. 8 NORTH CAROLINA

Sudoku, page 8

Journell posts bail, awaits trail NICK CAFFERKY news editor

BY BROOKS TIFFANY | sports staff writer The Virginia Tech men’s basketball team will look to reverse course tonight as they face the No. 8-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels in Cassell Coliseum. The Hokies (11-6, 0-3 ACC) are returning home after a tough 61-59 loss at Boston College, in which they played without the services of leading scorer and point guard Erick Green, who was out with a sprained knee. Green is expected to return against UNC, as he will try to lead Tech to victory and provide the spark they need to fire up their season.

TICKETS AVAILABLE TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR TONIGHT’S GAME ARE STILL ON SALE AT HOKIESPORTS.COM FOR $35 APIECE. It might seem like things can only get worse from here on out as one looks at the impending schedule, but the Hokies don’t see it that way. “We’ve got a tremendous

opportunity and a tremendous challenge all in the same,” said Seth Greenberg, head coach. “We’ve got a home game against an elite team, and if memory serves me correctly, we’ve been in this situation before, and we’ve figured out a way.” Coach Greenberg’s Hokies have indeed figured out a way against elite opponents, as they have toppled three No. 1-ranked teams, including last year’s home win over Duke on Feb. 26. In last season’s match up against the Tar Heels (153, 2-1 ACC) on Jan. 13, the Hokies almost stole the show at Chapel Hill on the hot hands of Malcolm Delaney, as he sank seven of 12 from beyond the three-point arc. Unfortunately, he was slightly off on his last attempt with seven seconds remaining, leaving Carolina to escape with a 64-61 victory. However, one need not look far to find the last time Tech upended UNC, as it was their last visit to Cassell that sent them away with a 74-70 loss. The Hokies know that bouncing back against UNC after their 0-3 start in ACC play is no small charge. DANIEL LIN / COLLEGIATE TIMES

see BASKETBALL / page two

Cody Journell has been released from custody after posting a $100,000 secured bail bond on Dec. 28, 2011, according to the Montgomery County General District Court. The decision was the result of an appeal filed by Journell’s attorney and a reversal from the initial decision on Dec. 21, 2011, to hold him without opportunity of bail. To comply with the terms of his release, JOURNELL J o u r n e l l must meet a 6 p.m. curfew and abstain from drinking or using drugs, as well as talking to Sean Allen and Dorenzo Hudson, the victims of a home invasion that took place on Dec. 21, 2011. He is also not allowed to leave the Commonwealth of Virginia. Journell’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 23. He is facing felony charges for an alleged breaking and entering, with the intent to commit larceny, assault and battery, or a felony other than murder, rape, robbery or arson. Up until the incident in question, Journell was the starting kicker for the Virginia Tech football team, but he has been suspended indefinitely in conjunction with University Policy 1035.

Fund for Crouse Uranium deposits still untapped continues to grow JOSH HIGGINS news staff writer

DANIEL LIN / SPPS Students keep showing their support for Ofﬁcer Crouse with a sidewalk painting.

AMOUNT RAISED FOR OFFICER CROUSE CLIMBS AS COMMUNITY KEEPS HIS FAMILY IN ITS THOUGHTS MICHELLE SUTHERLAND news editor The Crouse Memorial Fund exceeded expectations as online donations climbed to $131,600. However, that number does not include money raised at recent fundraisers in Falls Church, Va. and San Diego. Bethany Darnley, the movement’s founder and a senior human development major, said she hopes to have raised about $7,000 at those locations. The current tally also does not include physical donations brought to banks, or cash and checks people have sent in. Shortly after the Dec. 8 campus shootings, when Ross Ashley shot and killed Virginia Tech Police

Officer Deriek Crouse, Darnley created the fund with the help of Drew Jenkins, a senior communication major. The nation watched as Hokies for Crouse started receiving money exponentially. In addition to the countless contributions from individuals, BookHolders is giving proceeds from donated books, Run About Sports gave funds from its annual 5k and the Richmond Alumni Association presented a large sum. The money will be used to help the Crouse family in their time of financial need. “When I met Mrs. Crouse, it was really moving,” Darnley said. “It was great to see that the money was going to a great cause. We’re really glad to be able to help.”

The fate of the Coles Hill uranium deposit in Pittsylvania County, Va., has been a source of contention between business leaders, environmentalists, politicians and even researchers since its discovery in 1978. But even after years of debate, the issue remains unresolved. Companies like Virginia Uranium, Inc., that want to mine Coles Hill, say mining is an economic investment, while environmental advocates say that mining poses an environmental threat and a public health hazard. “It’s an economic game-changer for Southside Virginia,” said Patrick Wales, a spokesman for Virginia Uranium. “(Several socioeconomic studies) demonstrate that this would be a tremendous economic benefit to not only Southside Virginia, but for the entire commonwealth.” Opening a mine at the Coles Hill site, which holds 119 million

THE AMOUNT OF URANIUM IN THE COLES HILL DEPOSIT

pounds of uranium ore, would employ more than 320 people with an average salary of $65,000, Wales said. In addition, up to 1,000 jobs could be created, including indirect consultants, suppliers and contractors. “It gets down to creating jobs; it gets down to helping the economy down here,” Wales said. “It’s a very necessary thing. We need this material to safely operate our nuclear reactors around the country. We’re dangerously dependent on foreign countries for the fuel for those reactors.” However, Andrew Lester, the executive director of the Roanoke River Basin Association, says the negative effects of uranium mining outweigh the economic benefits. “They started considering mining uranium near Chatham, Va., which is nearly dead in the center of the Roanoke River System,” Lester said. “We realized that it could be a detriment not only to cities along the river system, but also to places like Virginia Beach, which use our water supply.” Such a large issue hasn’t gone unexamined. Since

1982, a moratorium — or temporary ban — on uranium mining has been in place to give researchers time to examine the effects of mining on health and the environment. Over the years, researchers on both sides of the argument have studied the deposit at Coles Hill. Robert Bodnar, a geosciences professor at Virginia Tech, has spent nearly five years studying the uranium deposit at Coles Hill — an interdisciplinary research undertaking involving biology, hydrology, soil and environmental science, as well as civil engineering. “The Coles Hill deposit is very unique in a couple of ways,” Bodnar said. “It’s an ore deposit that I and many other people have the opportunity to work on and study before they start mining it, and that’s very unusual.” Being able to study the Coles Hill deposit, Bodnar said, is an opportunity to examine the deposit before the

see COLES HILL / page 11

1.2

BILLION TONS OF COAL

IS EQUAL TO ENERGY FROM

“We have an opportunity to see what the surface above a mineral deposit is like, what the effects the mineral supply has on the local water supply, on the biota, on the air quality and everything,” he said. “This is called baseline characterization. In other words, it’s characterizing the natural environment around an ore deposit before any mining takes place.” Bodnar and his team of researchers have made a couple of findings supporting uranium mining. “The question we have to ask is, ‘Can the uranium at Coles Hill be mined with minimal and acceptable risk to the public heath and the environment?’” Bodnar said. “The answer is absolutely yes. It’s being done in France, in Canada, in the western United States, Australia and other places around the world.” But Robert Moran, a researcher who has spent more than 39 years studying geology and water quality around the world and at various uranium mines, says there are some risks to mining. According to his assessment of the Coles Hill site, the undiluted tailing liquids resulting from mining could contain 1,160 to 1,460 times more than the Safe Drinking Water Act standard for uranium.

mine is built — the deposit in its natural form.

3.7 BILLION BARRELS

OF OIL

TRILLION 22 CUBIC FEET OF NATURAL GAS DANIELLE BUYNAK / COLLEGIATE TIMES

sports

january 19, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

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

Basketball: Inexperience has Tech off to 0-3 start in ACC play from page one

“It’s easier said than done,” said sophomore Jarrell Eddie. “We are going to have to play harder. We know North Carolina is a very good team, and we are just going to have to compete with them. We’ve been competitive with all the teams we’ve played with so far, and this game is no different.” Tech has definitely shown up in games this season, leading current No. 1-ranked Syracuse at the half on Nov. 23 in the NIT Season Tip-off, sweeping Oklahoma State, and falling just short on its first three tries in ACC play by a combined nine points. “We just have to finish the game in the end, we have to get that stop, get that rebound, finish the possession,” Eddie said. “We’re converting offensively. We just have to make those stops and get over the hump at the end of the game.” One of the primary challenges facing the Tech coaches and veteran players is bringing their new talent up to speed — ACC speed, to be more precise. Freshman players make up nearly half of the Tech roster, as the Hokies strive to better themselves and compete in the unforgiving conference. “Our practices have been terrific, and our attitude has been good … this is a learning process for six of them for sure. Six of them didn’t play ACC basketball last year,” Greenberg said. “For six of them, the grind of league play and being ready each and every night at a level that you need to really be competitive is all new. I’m very pleased with where we are in terms of wanting to try and get

better.” UNC brings a triple threat with forwards Harrison Barnes and John Henson, as well as point guard Kendall Marshall. Their combined efforts have them ranked first in the country in points and rebounds per game, as well as fourth overall in assists per game. For the Hokies to slow down the Heels Thursday night, they’ll have to start by playing smart, fundamental basketball. “If you’re going to play an elite team that close, you have to control the tempo of the game,” Greenberg said. “You can’t give up easy baskets and shots on transition, and you have to take care of the basketball.” With a win over the Tar Heels on Thursday, the Hokies could brighten the outlook of their season, quiet the critics and add a much needed marquee win to their resume. Tip-off is set for 9 p.m. in Cassell, and the game will be televised on ESPN.

THE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM IS ALSO HOSTING UNC TONIGHT, AT 5 P.M. ADMISSION IS FREE FOR STUDENTS.

LAST 10 GAMES VS. TOP 10 TEAMS (OVERALL RECORD UNDER GREENBERG: 6-19)

Nov. 23, 2011 vs. No. 5 Syracuse, 69-58 L* Mar. 12, 2011 vs. No. 5 Duke, 77-63 L* Feb. 26, 2011 vs. No. 1 Duke, 64-60 W Nov. 16, 2010 at No. 3 Kansas State, 73-57 L Feb. 21, 2010 at No. 6 Duke, 67-55 L Jan. 10, 2010 at No. 9 North Carolina, 78-64 L Mar. 13, 2009 vs. No. 1 North Carolina, 79-76 L* Mar. 4, 2009 vs. No. 2 North Carolina, 86-78 L Feb. 28, 2009 vs. No. 7 Duke, 72-65 L Jan. 21, 2009 at No. 1 Wake Forest, 78-71 W

FILE / SPPS

news

january 19, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

editors: nick cafferky, michelle sutherland newseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865

Alumnus wins big on ‘Wheel of Fortune’

step by step photos by paul kurlak

Members of VT Bhangra dance team were invited to perform at the Step Show hosted by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated to promote diversity on campus. COURTESY OF ADAM GREENLEY

Greenley, who graduated from Tech in 2002, won more than $50,000 in prizes on “Wheel of Fortune.”

GREENLEY, A TECH GRADUATE, GOES FROM A FAN OF A POPULAR GAME SHOW TO A CONTESTANT CODY OWENS news reporter As Adam Greenley stood beside Pat Sajak, the letters just seemed to come together. As the Virginia Tech alumnus stared at the final puzzle of “Wheel of Fortune,” he quickly deduced the phrase was “LONG JOURNEY.” After thousands of miles traveled and nearly a decade of trying out for the show, it was an apt phrase to go out on. Greenley, who graduated from Tech with a degree in marketing management in 2002, had been a long-time fan of “Wheel of Fortune,” having watched it with his grandmother since he was young. “I’ve always watched that game, and I always felt like if I ever got the opportunity to be on, I would do really well,” Greenley said. “I see letters ... and they make sense to me.” He finally received the chance

Members of the Alpha Kappa Psi step team perform at the Step Show.

to audition for the game show last September. However, Greenley, who moved back to Stephens City, Va. from Colorado in August, had his audition in the latter state. After paying for a flight to Denver and trying out, he did not have to wait long to receive an invitation to appear on the show. Greenley was soon on another plane to Los Angeles in late October for the show’s filming. As a fan, one of the best moments for Greenley was meeting the hosts who he had watched for years. He said seeing Vanna White pass within a few feet of him as he was in makeup was one of the more surreal moments of his experience. Although he said he was in shock during the entire taping, Greenley’s years spent watching the show came in handy. He quickly took the lead, guessing phrases such as “A MILLION-TO-ONE CHANCE” while there were only a few letters on the board. Along the way, the avid

golf fan also picked up a $1,000 gift redeemable at the Golf Channel. As the leader that day, Greenley was pulled up beside Sajak for the final puzzle. After seeing only the first few initial letters, the phrase came to him. “It was pretty fitting that the final puzzle was ‘LONG JOURNEY’ because that was exactly what I had to deal with to get there,” Greenley said. As the phrase was revealed, Greenley was directed over to a Mini Cooper convertible. In addition, he also received a trip to the Sandals resort in Antigua. “(My girlfriend and I) will take that trip at the end of summer,” Greenley said. “I’ve never been anywhere international, so that’s exciting in itself.” Overall, Greenley won $51,400 in cash and prizes. However, he said the best part of being on “Wheel of Fortune” is having the memories of appearing on the game he loves. He is also eager to credit his alma mater for helping him along the way. “It’s that Virginia Tech education paying off,” Greenley said.

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opinions

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January 19, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

The Collegiate Times is an independent student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 Collegiate Times Editorial Staff Editor in Chief: Zach Crizer Managing Editor: Lindsey Brookbank Design Editors: Danielle Buynak, Victoria Zigadlo Public Editor: Justin Graves Web Editor: Sarah Watson News Editors: Nick Cafferky, Michelle Sutherland News Reporters: Josh Higgins, Cody Owens, Erin Chapman News Staff Writers: Priscila Alvarez, Abby Harris, Gina Paterson, Ashley Seagar 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 Bealey, Josh Parcell Sports Staff Writers: Eric Avassi, Zander Baylis, Alyssa Bedrosian, Cody Elliott, Taylor Hay, Alex Koma, Ashleigh Lanza, Brian Marcolini Photo Editor: Daniel Lin Enterprise Team Editor: Liana Bayne Public Information Director: Dishu Maheshwari Training Director: Kelsey Heiter Copy Chief: Spenser Snarr Copy Editors: Nora McGann, Luther Shell Layout Designers: Bethany Melson, Alicia Tillman Online Director: Alex Rhea Collegiate Times Business Staff Business Manager: Philipp Kotlaba MCT CAMPUS

Paul unites the Overpopulation: A US issue In Tea Party, Occupy R

on Paul is a statesman. Barack Obama, Mitt Romney, Rick Perry, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum are mere politicians. Americans are sick and tired of political hacks, and they want honest leaders to represent the people. The Tea Party and Occupy movements demonstrate that Americans are finally ready for real change. An examination of the principles and grievances of the two movements show that Paul is the only candidate capable of bringing politically active Americans together. The modern Tea Party movement was started by Paul’s grassroots supporters on Dec. 16, 2007, a full year and a half before Glenn Beck, Fox News and Republican Party leadership rallied around the April 15, 2009, tax day protests. A simple YouTube search for “Tea Party ’07,” elicits thousands of videos documenting the hundreds of pro-Paul marches and protests across the country, the rally at Boston’s Faneuil Hall and the “moneybomb” event, in which supporters raised $6.2 million for Paul in a single day. Paul thought of similar ideas as those from Freedomworks, Tea Party Express, and the Tea Party Patriots, but nearly two years earlier. According to the Tea Party Patriots’ mission statement, their core values are fiscal responsibility, constitutionally limited government and free markets. Paul adheres to these values more than the other candidates. His fiscal plan is the only responsible one put forth thus far — cutting $1 trillion his first year in office and balancing the budget before the expiration of his first term. Paul has championed constitutionally limited government for more than 30 years, long before it became fashionable to do so. He is willing to stand up for civil rights no matter which party is in control — not only does Paul criticize President Obama for flushing the Constitution down the toilet, but he also spoke out when Bush treated the document like a roll of toilet paper. In regard to free market principles, Paul spoke out against the Troubled Asset Relief Program banker bailout. This is in contrast to Gingrich, Perry and Romney, who supported Bush and Obama as they shoved TARP down the throats of the American people. In addition to Tea Partiers, Occupiers can rally behind Paul as well. Paul is a fellow member of the 99 percent, whereas, according to the New York Times, Obama, Romney and Gingrich are members of the 1 percent. No Political Action Committee and big banker money flows into Paul’s campaign. The same cannot be said about Obama — according to OpenSecrets. org, his top contributors include Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase and Citigroup. The “Declaration of the Occupation of New York City,” from OccupyWallStreet.org, clearly shows that Occupiers are aligned with the Paul campaign. The Declaration states, among other things, that occupiers are against the taxpayer-funded bailouts of Wall Street banks; infringements on the privacy of the American people; colonialism at home and abroad, and the torture of and murder of innocent civilians overseas. The first grievance should be a no-brainer for Occupiers — Paul was

very vocal in speaking out against the TARP banker bailout, while Obama suspended his 2008 campaign to help get it passed. When it comes to privacy, Paul beats Obama hands down — Obama voted for an extension of the PATRIOT Act, whereas Paul was one of the few courageous enough to vote against the original bill. Paul is also the only candidate running for office to speak out against the Transportation Security Administration’s molestation of the American people at airports. With regard to war and foreign policy, Paul makes Obama look like a tyrant. Paul spoke out against the unconstitutional war Obama started in Libya, Obama’s troop increase in Afghanistan, and his unmanned aerial drone campaign in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Yemen. Paul also understands that Obama’s “Iraq troop withdraw” is a charade — every troop Obama withdraws he replaces with private security contractors, and he is leaving 50,000 “noncombat” troops to guard the embassy in Baghdad. Troops understand that Obama is never going to end the wars, which is why Paul’s campaign has received more donations from active duty military than the president’s has. Similarly, Paul has received more donations from the troops than every other Republican candidate combined. I have been to Tea Party events and an Occupy gathering in a large city. The crowds and ideas at both were very diverse, there was some common ground. Although they may disagree about how, both movements want the debt and deficit reduced. Most people of both movements oppose taxpayer bailouts of the big banks. Both sides also want politicians to represent the people, instead of corporate interests. But most interesting is there is only one candidate who garners support from both movements. Scores of Tea Partiers and a minority of Occupiers support Paul’s presidential campaign. The same can be said of no other Republican candidate or President Obama. Many Occupiers support Obama because they are still disillusioned into believing that he is not bought-and-paid-for by the 1 percent. No Tea Partier supports Obama. Some Tea Partiers support Perry, Santorum or Gingrich. No Occupier supports these candidates. Paul brings people together. He is only candidate whom commands support from both politically active movements. Because he was able to corral 50 percent of the youth vote and more than 40 percent of independents, Paul placed third in Iowa and second in New Hampshire. As more middle-aged, older and traditional Republican voters come to the realization that Paul is the only honest statesman in the race, there is a good chance that he will place first in the upcoming Republican primaries and caucuses.

CHRIS DUNN -regular columnist -graduate student -political science major

a society driven by news headlines, many Americans have been told the world is overpopulated. Overpopulation, by definition, occurs when the carrying capacity of a habitat (in this case, the world) is exceeded by the number of organisms (or humans). Some argue the world is not overpopulated, since there are vast areas of territory in which no one lives, such as Antarctica. This line of thinking, however, is erroneous due to the oversimplification of the concept of overpopulation. The carrying capacity of a habitat is not set by how many people can be squished onto an area of land without anyone falling off. Rather, carrying capacity is defined by how many organisms the environment can indefinitely sustain with its given resources, such as oil, crops, and water. A large majority of the environment’s resources are disproportionately utilized by developed countries. People in developed countries (especially America) tend to have a sense of entitlement to these environmental resources which, underdeveloped countries so desperately need. The environment cannot sustain more people — we cannot even sustain everyone in the world today — just look at how our resources are allocated. Along these lines, the world is overpopulated. With respect to this issue, I wonder why individuals, such as Republican candidate Rick Santorum, feel that banning contraceptives is something a state could reasonably do. According to Santorum, the horrible act of utilizing contraception is “a license to do things in a sexual realm that is counter to how things are supposed to be.” In contrast, in the Supreme Court

case Lawrence v. Texas, the Supreme Court ruled, utilizing the 14th Amendment, that adults are entitled to the liberty to engage in private intimate conduct. Nevertheless, instead of challenging what gives Santorum the right to determine “how things are supposed to be,” I want to draw attention to the fact that not utilizing contraception could actually hurt people (and the world) more than help them. According to the Guttmacher Institute, 99 percent of all women between the ages of 15 and 44 have utilized contraception at least once. A ban on contraceptives, however, does not necessarily mean people would only have sex when the intent was having children. In fact, I highly doubt that would happen. It just means people would take their chances and still have sex. This would lead to more children that couples were not planning on having. Banning contraceptives, then, can cause three major problems. First, families could both financially and emotionally struggle because they weren’t ready for the birth of a child. Children would be raised in an environment that could be hazardous to their health or in a world where their parents do not want them. Some, however, could argue that people should not have had sex in the first place if they weren’t married and wanting to have a child. Many people are willing to take that risk — according to research published in 2007 by the Guttmacher Institute, almost all Americans have had premarital sex. The second problem is we will only contribute to the worsening state of overpopulation in the world. Lastly, sexually transmitted diseases would be transmitted at a higher rate.

Santorum is not alone in his views. Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul have both signed the Personhood Pledge, which could ultimately lead to some forms of contraception being banned in states. As governor, Mitt Romney vetoed a bill that would allow hospitals to provide emergency contraception for individuals who have been raped. In terms of overpopulation, there is one shining beacon of hope many people cling to — technology. While it is true that advances in technology have helped humans sustain larger global populations, this is not something we can plan for. The argument that productivity will always increase enough to sustain larger populations is reassuring, but to rely on this is unreasonable. We need to take deliberate precautions to guarantee sustainable population growth right now. There are people who believe humans have not reached carrying capacity on Earth. The scientific consensus, however, is the rate at which the current population is expanding is a threat. The ecosystem is being damaged, resources are being utilized faster than they are being made, and global warming (whether you “believe in it” or not) is something to be cognizant of. It does not matter if there is more land to spread out on. My fellow humans, is it possible we are actually breeding ourselves to our own demise?

JOSH TREBACH -regular columnist -senior -biological sciences major

Decency rules face court T

he late, profane iconoclast George Carlin must have been rolling in his grave Tuesday — with laughter at the irony and potential. Here was Chief Justice John Roberts, the good Republican, endorsing the government’s ability to regulate corporations, broadcasters anyway. There was attorney Seth Waxman for ABC Inc. directing all eyeballs to the friezes high above the court chambers and talking about “a bare buttock there” and “a bare buttock here.” Hanging over the arguments was the titillating prospect of overturning the 1978 Pacifica decision that immortalized Carlin’s “Filthy Words” monologue as an appendix to Justice John Paul Stevens’ opinion for the court. In FCC v. Pacifica Foundation, the court said the Federal Communications Commission could punish broadcasters for airing “indecency” between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., when children were likely to be in the audience. Now, Fox Television Stations wants to let the industry police itself. Judging from the transcript, Tuesday’s arguments would have made for snappy TV, entertaining without any need of a laugh track. But, darn, those justices still don’t want even a C-SPAN audience. This is the second time in recent years that the court has weighed the constitutionality of the FCC punishing bad language and nudity on broadcast TV. Fox is involved because of awards shows on which Cher and Nicole

Richie spouted naughties. ABC is challenging a fine over an “NYPD Blue” episode in which a young boy sees a woman’s backside. They’ve been fighting over this for almost a decade. You could tell Roberts has school-age children. “People who want to watch broadcasts ... or expose their children to broadcasts where these words are used, where there is nudity, there are 800 channels where they can go for that,” he told Carter Phillips, Fox’s attorney. “All we are asking for,” he started, then caught himself, “what the government is asking for, is a few channels where you can say — they are not going to hear the s-word, the f-word. They are not going to see nudity.” Justice Antonin Scalia, who ordinarily opposes government regulating speech when it looks like money (as in campaign contributions), put himself squarely on the side of government regulating vulgar speech. “Sign me up as supporting Justice Kennedy’s notion that this has a symbolic value, just as we require a certain modicum of dress for the people that attend this court,” Scalia said. The argument for broadcast regulation is that the airwaves belong to the public and that certain restrictions come with the license to use them. Broadcasters counter that, with the proliferation of other TV options, most people can’t tell what’s broadcast and what isn’t. The same content

limits don’t cover cable, satellite or the Internet. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg seemed to embrace the argument that the FCC enforces the rules inconsistently, punishing “NYPD Blue” but not nudity in the movie “Schindler’s List,” for instance, or allowing profanity on TV showings of “Saving Private Ryan.” Justice Elena Kagan quipped, “It’s like nobody can use dirty words or nudity except for Steven Spielberg and that there’s a lot of room here for FCC enforcement on the basis of what speech they think is kind of nice and proper and good.” Solicitor General Donald Verrilli, arguing for the Obama administration, conceded that the rules weren’t a model of clarity but said context matters in determining punishable indecency. Shades of the late Justice Potter Stewart’s “I know it when I see it” about hard-core pornography. What is government’s role in drawing lines for acceptable public behavior? Does that change as society grows coarser and less shockable? Justice Anthony Kennedy fretted about creating perverse incentives: “Isn’t the inevitable consequence — that every celebrity or want-to-be celebrity that is interviewed can feel free to use one of these words?”

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january 19, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

En garde 1.The Virginia Tech Fencing Club meets in the basement of War Memorial Hall every weeknight. 2. Alex Ince scores a touch against Jeff Ouellette in an epee bout. 3. Christian Weiss scores a touch in a sabre bout. 4. An epee sits on the ﬂoor between the epee and sabre strips. 5. Chris Cronin and Alex Ince ﬁnd their footing at the start of a bout.

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january 19, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

IDDL reveals new BT bus advertisement NICK CAFFERKY news editor Virginia Tech’s Institute for Distance and Distributed Learning displayed its newest marketing element Wednesday, with the unveiling of a newly designed Blackburg Transit bus to advertise its mission. “This is a signature marketing milestone for distance learning for Virginia Tech,” said Daniel Wubah, Tech’s vice president and dean for undergraduate education and deputy provost. “The distance-learning journey is one to be celebrated not only because of where we have come from, but also because of where we are headed.” Founded 13 years ago, the IDDL has worked to extend the university’s campus beyond its physical borders by offering courses online and researching other possible environments.

“It was in 1998 that Virginia Tech responded to the needs for extending education beyond the traditional classroom, and it was a strategic initiative to create IDDL,” said Mark McNamee, the university provost. “Thirteen years later, distance learning at Virginia Tech is adaptive and it’s mobile and it’s always evolving to meet the wide needs of the students.” The IDDL is not the first organization to use the BT as a form of advertising — several others, including Wells Fargo, have had buses wrapped for them as well. “I think it’s tremendously advantageous — it’s like a moving billboard,” said Fiona Rhodes, a marketing specialist for BT. “You see them all over the town, all day long, every day, so I think it’s a tremendous way to get your name out there.”

COURTESY OF IDDL

Daniel Wubah (left), vice president and dean for undergraduate education, and Peter Macedo (right), director of IDDL, show off the bus ad.

Regular Edition Today’s Birthday Horoscope: You may find yourself getting lost in your studies. It could be that kind of birthday. There’s so much interesting material to cover! Craft a careful plan before investing real money this year, and keep to the budget. Patience pays.

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january 19, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

Program combines bowling, fitness

what you’re saying On Wikipedia shutting down:

BY NICK SMIRNIOTOPOULOS features reporter The dawning of a new year means new resolutions — many health-related. For most, this means joining a gym, but one group just wants people to pick up a bowling ball. BreakZONE Recreation Center, located in Squires Student Center, will be offering a program called Slim Bowling, which is intended to provide students with an alternative to a gym membership, in efforts to lose weight and live healthier. Recreation lead Matt Pepper, a senior hospitality and tourism management major, will be in charge of coordinating and organizing the program this semester. “It is our goal to bring students together so they can learn ways to improve personal wellness and lose weight while having fun in a fun, pressure-free environment,” Pepper said. Pepper extensively researched the health benefits of bowling, and found that the sport helps people mentally and physically. For example, the average bowler burns 211 calories per hour, according to NutriStrategy.com. Bowling also uses 134 muscles during the basic four-step approach. It also provides movement and weight-bearing exercise

OKayyyy: Being that the majority of information on Wikipedia is incorrect, never fact checked and from “random, unreliable” sources kind of makes me want to say “Who cares?” If you ‘steal’ information, you should shut down.

Calories burned per hour: typing

bowling

Anonymous (in response to OKayyyy):

swimming laps

Wikipedia contains about as many errors per article as Britannica and when there are errors, they are corrected much more quickly. I hope every supporter of this bill is as uninformed as you...it makes those opposing it look good.

Shane (in response to OKayyyy): To say

106

211

Wikipedia hosts a majority of incorrect information, never fact-checked and from unreliable sources, is to spout incorrect information.When Wikipedia comes back online, take a look at random entries. At the bottom (if you can bother reading that far), there are usually several, if not dozens, of reliable sources ranging from news stories, credible agencies (not just on .com domains, but .gov and .org as well), and even those antiquated objects we call books.You sound like a high school teacher from 2005.

606

*for a 155 pound person. Source: http://www.nutristrategy.com/

see BOWLING / page ten

youranidiottt (in response to OKayyyy):

99.9% of Wikipedia articles are more accurate than your statement.

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DAWN CHMIELEWSKI mcclatchy newspapers LOS ANGELES — Dominant online video site YouTube has launched a lineup of sports channels featuring some of the biggest names in action sports — including pro skateboarder Tony Hawk, snowboarder Shaun White and surfer Kelly Slater. The four channels seek to tap into the rising popularity of action sports — especially among teens and twentysomethings — by offering clips, commentary and live events on YouTube. The original content represents another step in the site’s efforts to

augment its user-created videos with more professionally programmed offerings. YouTube’s sports outlets will include the Red Bull Channel, which will feature a new 13-episode series chronicling the daily lives of some of the world’s bestknown action sports athletes, including urban mountain biker Danny MacAskill, skateboarding pro Ryan Sheckler and big-wave surfer Jamie O’Brien. Another channel, Network A, will offer highlights and interviews with well-known athletes such as White, Slater and skateboarding pros Sheckler and Paul Rodriguez. AlliSports will feature tips from

athletes discussing how they pull off their signature moves. It will also seek to identify rising stars and offer news and highlights. Hawk will lend his backing to Ride, a 24-hour channel devoted to the skateboarding lifestyle. One show, “Tony Hawk’s Dissent,” will offer subscribers behind-thescenes access to celebrities. “One in a Million” will give amateurs the chance to compete for sponsorship. “Bringing these new channels from some of the world’s leading producers will be a welcome addition to our already-broad base of action sports fans on YouTube,” said Claude Ruibal, global head of sports for YouTube.

On Hokie football in 2012 : Fred: Ten win season, January bowl loss. This is the path Tech is destined to repeat year after year under the status quo. Anon: Agree with Fred, as long as we get

those “10 wins” winning the bowl doesn’t matter. Beamer’s job is secured no matter what which means Stinesprings job and the other incompetent offensive coaches jobs will always be secured as well. We need coaches who know how to win big games. Not against mediocre to terrible out of ACC and out of conference teams.

Anonymous: In simple terms it means we’ll

suck next year.

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Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Sometimes it’s ine to hide away and be pensive. Today might be one of those days. Be mindful of what you say now so that you don’t have to recant later.

Aries (March 21-April 19) A leisurely day taken at a slow pace goes over nicely today. Handle the basics, and devote more time than usual to long walks, sitting in silence and doing “nothing.”

Cancer (June 22-July 22) Compromise may seem impossible. It could be a good time to ask an expert for help. Sometimes it’s wise to not try to do it all yourself. Resting can be good, too.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Slow and steady does it. Practical considerations have your attention. You may need to get dirty. You may discover limitations. Imagine the inished product.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Avoid being too demanding in your relationships. Pick yourself up by your bootstraps, or ind a friend to help you get back on the horse. It’s easier this next time around.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Don’t let a minor disagreement mess up your plans. If you break your word, clean it up. You’ll feel better right away. Communication’s key.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Don’t issue orders; barter instead. Travel’s not advised. Things aren’t as you thought. A productive morning handles routine home and work tasks. A quiet night rejuvenates.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Get the work done one step at a time. Take regular breaks to increase productivity. Avoid getting into a needless argument with a loved one.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Choose love and community over fortune: They’re worth more, especially today. Write down your thoughts to avoid forgetting the good stuff. Take it easy.

Gemini (May 21-June 21) Don’t spend your stash on momentary pleasures. Postpone romance for a few days, and clean house (avoid an argument). Make popcorn at home. Indulge sel ish pursuits.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) There could be romantic misunderstandings, or some kind of a barrier. Your money’s not required. Don’t get discouraged. Patience and a sense of humor get you farther.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) On your climb to be king of the hill, be considerate. Your eagerness to succeed could create trouble. Avoid impulsiveness with money and love. Slow and steady does it.

complement. She is sweet and always brings happiness to everyone in the room. We enjoy all the same things, but I’m usually methodical, whereas she flies by the seat of her pants. It makes each day with her something new and exciting. she says: Michael is my best friend. He loves me despite all my weird “quirks” and isn’t easily embarrassed because of me. He supports me and believes in me even when I don’t believe in myself. He’s my rock and grounds me. how they started talking: My friend thought Michael was cute so she asked me to talk to him for her. Then my friend chickened out and I just decided to keep talking to him. Good decision. Have a couple you want to nominate for ‘Couple of the Week?’ Email your nominations to studybreak@collegemedia.com with the title ‘Couple of the Week.’

january 19, 2012

featureseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865

COLLEGIATETIMES

Bowling: Students aim to replace pounds with pins from page nine

without the mental stigma and stress of going to the gym. The program will begin on Feb. 7, and students can choose to get a six-week or a 12-week membership, for $25 and $40, respectively. With a membership, students will be able to rent shoes and bowl for free during the time period they choose. Pepper has also partnered with the Student Dietetics Association to provide members with free personalized nu t r i t i o n counseling. The SDA president Nicole Famularo, a senior human, nutrition, foods and exercise major, will coordinate and develop options for Slim Bowling members. “(Pepper) wanted an organization that could provide some sort of nutrition assistance to provide information for the program,” Famularo said. In addition to helping the program’s members, the SDA’s involvement in Slim Bowling will give its members valuable practice and preparation for their desired careers as registered dieticians, Famularo said. “Seniors will work with juniors, sophomores and freshmen to show them the process and get them excited about it," she said. "Being exposed to (the practice) while they are younger will allow them to take full advantage of their

opportunities." The dietetics option in the HNFE major provides its students with the proper education so by their senior year, they have the expertise to begin nutrition advising. Thus, through the Slim Bowling program, SDA seniors can integrate the younger students into the process, so they gain experience. Through the partnership with the SDA, the program will be able to offer participants steady exercise and resources for a healthy diet, Pepper said. “Living healthy involves more than just exercise; you must also eat healthy,” he said. “Joining with a group of people who are devoting their education to studying dietetics will also allow our participants opportunities to talk to (SDA members) and figure out what will work for them in the way of eating healthy.” BreakZONE has received positive feedback from students and plans to offer the program in semesters to come. “We have has a very strong response to this program," Pepper said. "Almost every employee has told me they have had numerous people expressing i nte re s t in the program." Since the average bowling league at BreakZONE attracts about 20 people per semester, Pepper said he hopes many of them will participate in the Slim Bowling program.

BUY EAT LIVE

weekend wryly

editors: chelsea gunter, patrick murphy

e R ILLY DELIGHTFULLY OFFENSIVE.

Tebow, Romney and the death of the American perspective

reetings, loyal Collegiate Times readers and online comment section curmudgeons. For those of you blissfully unaware of my identity, I was the “He Said” before Dane took the reins. Retirement is pleasant — I have more time to pursue hobbies and interests, just embracing the joie de vivre of college (translation: so much “Call of Duty”). A good writer can’t stay put for long, however, and as it turns out, neither can an average one. When I received a text from my editor Monday night asking if I’d be interested in one last journalistic hurrah before I ride off into the sunset of unemployment, I coolly hid my enthusiasm at the offer. “Yes! OMG IM SO EXCITED.” The decision was made swiftly before anyone at the paper had a chance to question the wisdom of giving me a weekly bully pulpit. One brief conversation later and retirement was as forgotten as “War Horse.” Get ready folks — like that curious rash you picked up in New Orleans, I’m back and more irritating than ever. For this first column, I wanted to fire an opening salvo to the Blacksburg community, letting you know that I’m here to tackle the hard stories. Mainstream media banality? Fuhgettaboutit. This column will analyze the news and trends no one else dares to cover. After searching long and hard, I finally found the perfect offbeat, provocative topic: a Rocky Mountain football player named Tim. We make jokes here. In all seriousness, the last thing anyone outside of Bristol, Conn. needs is more coverage of America’s favorite proselytizing quarterback. Don’t worry, though; I’m less interested in Tebow the mediocre football player and more interested in Tebow the poster child for 21st century America’s divorce from perspective. The digital era has fundamentally altered our way of life, largely for the better. Perhaps the most obvious example is the unprecedented access to pictures of cats and naked women. Also, free flowing information is pushing the world in a more peaceful and democratic direction. The two developments aren’t unrelated. Science tells us that there is a clear inverse relationship between access to exposed breasts and desire to blow up cars. Not everything is sunshine and rainbows in the rapidly changing 21st century, though. Every revolution —violent or technological — has its casualties whether they are loyalist forces or video rental stores. The case of one Timothy Richard Tebow exemplifies a particularly troublesome consequence of the era of instant analysis — a severe dearth of perspective. No athlete has ever ridden the rollercoaster of public opinion quite like the Denver Broncos signal caller/vessel for the Almighty. Tebow’s every word, play and prayerful gesture is scrutinized ad nauseam by fans and media alike, with ESPN leading the charge to the tune of 160 mentions of the word “Tebow” on a recent SportsCenter. As a result, he inspires inane snap judgments even more than peers like Cam Newton (“elite quarterback after one season”) or Blaine Gabbert (worst piece of

crap to ever put on a helmet). At least they got the benefit of a season before the public delivered their verdict — Tebow gets a game, if he’s lucky. Bad loss to Detroit? He’s a punchline who should be an NFL starting quarterback as much as Chris Brown should be teaching couples therapy. Last minute win against the Jets? Give the kid a guaranteed starting job for the next five years or you’re insane. On and on the talking heads prattle about from their seats of influence in ESPN studios, providing knee-jerk analysis that has as little perspective as it does substance. This culture of instant, empty feedback isn’t limited to athletic pursuits. Americans have been lucky enough watch a competition for our country’s highest office reduced to a farce by a media desperate to craft compelling narratives for impatient audiences. To be fair, the bumbling B-team cast of Republicans also deserve a fair share of the credit for this carnival show. It seems every single candidate, even the vacuous haircut that is Rick Perry, has at one point or another been declared an invincible frontrunner. By the last debate, four of these “sure things” were conspicuously absent from the stage. Mass media can’t solely be blamed for the slow, painful death of perspective. They may feed us empty calories, but that’s only because we ordered the fried pretzel stuffed with ranch. As a nation, we need to sit back, relax and remember that like Rome, accurate narratives aren’t built in a day. One playoff win doesn’t make Tebow the second coming of Joe Montana, and one playoff loss doesn’t lump him in with the Ryan Leafs of the world. Is it possible the truth lies somewhere in the boring, rational middle? That Tebow at this current state is not a star, not a bust, but a developing player with flaws and strengths? Sure, but try selling that sexy spin to ESPN head honchos. I’m sure they’ll find “Tebow, developing player” a far more compelling angle than “Tebow, better than Tom Brady?” Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to catch up on the GOP primaries. The race is heating up and Santorum just took a slight lead in South Carolina. Applying the Tebow standard, it looks like curtains for Mitt Romney.

Questions or column ideas? Want to tell the author this piece stunk to high heaven? Share your thoughts with @wrylyreilly on Twitter. ANDREW REILLY -featured columnist -senior -communication major

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january 19, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

Coles Hill: Mine still Seven accused in Dell scandal a subject of debate KEVIN G. HALL

mcclatchy newspapers

from page one

translated into a regulatory frame- “That’s where we are right now. We work here in Virginia. Our main can’t fully design our mine until we objective is to build the safest mining know what the regulations on the mill in the world, and we feel like we books would be as far as uranium can accomplish that.” mining in the commonwealth goes.” However, Lester said other uranium If the moratorium is lifted, safety mines cannot be compared to the regulations would be implemented to ones in the western U.S., Canada or protect the miners, the environment France, due to environmental differ- and the people in the surrounding ences and heavier rains. area. One such safety regulation could “In our state, we have hurricanes be proper ventilation, which prevents and tornadoes come through all the the build-up of radon gas, a byprodtime,” Lester said. “The site’s prone to uct of uranium. flooding. The water table is only 18 “In reality, you look at what’s been feet in some parts of the site. The risks accomplished in the Canadian mines, are just too great, given the benefits.” and Canadian miners are exposed Bodnar disagrees. to extremely low levels of radon gas,” “It rains as much in France as it does Wales said. “In fact, they’re so low that in Virginia,” Bodnar said. “It rains the National Academy of Sciences’ more in Canada, where they’re min- research estimated that the average ing uranium, than it does in Virginia. Virginian is exposed to higher levels It’s something that opponents to min- of radon gas in their home than a ing say, but there’s no basis in scientific uranium mine worker in Canada is.” fact in that statement.” The opposition, however, says reguHowever, Lester said a natural or lation cannot prevent some of the man-made disaster could pose a big issues with uranium mining. problem, “You can re g ard do everyless of the thing right, THE QUESTION WE HAVE TO you can climate. “It’s a all the ASK IS ‘CAN THE URANIUM AT have gigantic best reguissue if COLES HILL BE MINED WITH lations in one of the world, MINIMAL AND ACCEPTABLE all the best those (uraniRISK TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH intent on um) cells the minAND THE ENVIRONMENT?’ breaks ing people’s loose part, but it’s from an Robert Bodnar, like the old earthgoes: geosciences professor poem quake, ‘The best which laid plans we’ve of mice and obviously had in the region, a hurri- men often go awry,’” Lester said, refercane, or a terrorist attack,” Lester said. encing poet Robert Burns. But proponents still say, with strict He said uranium mines, often safety regulation, the economic ben- times, create a dust problem, exposing efits outweigh the risk. humans within 50 miles of the mine Wales said the mine operation to radioactive dust. Additionally, he would pay about $1 million in local said that the uranium tailings would taxes and $2 million in state taxes pose a perpetual problem. each year, generating revenues for the “It’s a minimum of 29 million tons state economy. — that’s 145 super Walmarts all put He said these jobs would be a reli- together, 10 million cars,” Lester said. able economic boost for the region. “That’s a lot of stuff they would have “You can’t ship these jobs overseas to store on that site eternally, and it somewhere where someone would would be radioactive for thousands work for a lower wage,” Wales said. of years. “So for the entire length of time Yet until the moratorium is lifted, no that we operate, these jobs are here, regulations can be drafted — somethey’re good jobs, and the majority thing both sides of the issue are lobbyof our workforce can come from the ing government officials about. workforce that already exists here in Virginia Uranium has been involved Southside Virginia.” with lobbying for mining at the state Additionally, the mine would pro- level, as this year’s General Assembly duce enough uranium to power convenes to discuss the moratorium. Virginia’s reactors, which need about “We have a great government rela1.6 million pounds of uranium each tions team,” Wales said. “We have year, for more than 70 years. taken the approach of really going and When compared to other energy seeking out legislators to tell our story sources, the Coles Hill uranium because we have a compelling story deposit would be equivalent to 1.2 to tell. And I think the reception from billion tons of coal, 3.7 billion barrels legislators we’ve spoken to has been of oil or 22 trillion cubic feet of natural overwhelmingly positive. gas, according to Wales. “We certainly hope there is some But until the moratorium is lifted, positive movement in the General a regulatory framework cannot be Assembly session this put into place, and mining operayear. Hopefully the tions cannot begin. ball will move “It’s difficult for someone forward this to engineer a building year.” without knowing what the building codes are,” he said.

“I’ve worked at a lot of uranium sites, so what I am saying is not theoretical; it’s not textbook stuff. This all happens,” Moran said. Additionally, he said the mines create more toxins than just uranium, posing environmental problems. “The mineralized rock contains much more than just uranium; it contains many other toxic compounds,” he said. “All of these can be released into the environment, contaminating surface and groundwater. And they frequently do.” But in addition to the natural contaminants resulting from mining, the mining process itself can release other toxins into the environment. “You have residues of diesel fuel and gasoline, all of which are extremely toxic to organisms,” Moran said. “It’s very common to use a lot of toxic processing agents in volumes that are tremendous, so all of these could potentially get into the surface or groundwater and even the air. I’ve sort of neglected the air part, because that’s not what I normally deal with. But it’s a real issue.” Moran said even research on uranium mines has had issues, as many uranium mining companies pay researchers to conduct studies. “That’s a normal problem around the world,” he said. “It isn’t that these are good or bad guys, but you have a conflict of interest,” he said. “(The companies) want to promote this activity and make a lot of money, yet they’re the ones paying for the science. So, it’s a real problem in terms of getting independent science. I think that’s a major issue.” While mining proponents say mining can be done safely, Lester agrees that uranium mines have their problems. “Everywhere you look there are issues with this stuff,” Lester said. “The potential for accidents is always there. There’s never been a uranium site in the U.S. that hasn’t had problems.” According to Denver Post articles from 2011, the Cotter mill facilities near Canon City, Colorado have experienced a few problems with the liners of the tailing ponds, which hold the solid and liquid wastes from mining. These leaks allowed the material to permeate into the ground and contaminate groundwater in the area. The uranium mill is a Superfund site, meaning it is part of a U.S. government program for cleaning toxic wastes. Lester, the Roanoke River Basin Association executive director, said the tailings — or refuse that remains on the site after the uranium has been mined — at the Cotter mill have to be transported miles away from the site to prevent the radioactive material from contaminating the Colorado River, which supplies much of the West Coast’s water. Wales said, however, that with strict regulations on mining, uranium can be extracted safely, helping boost the economy and ease foreign dependence on uranium, which powers nuclear reactors around the country. “We’ve gone around the world to places like France and Canada, and we’ve seen the effectiveness of the best management practices today,” Wales said. “The operations in Canada are some of the safest in t h a t country. We feel like those things can all BLACKSBURG be

“

PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY, WHERE THE COLES HILL URANIUM DEPOSIT IS LOCATED

WASHINGTON — Federal authorities announced criminal and civil charges Wednesday against seven investment fund managers and analysts whom they accuse of gaining more than $62 million in illicit earnings through insider information passed to them about Texas-based computer giant Dell Inc. Four men were arrested early Wednesday in New York and Los Angeles, and another three already had pleaded guilty and were cooperating with prosecutors, the FBI and the Securities and Exchange Commission said at a joint news conference in Manhattan. The arrests are part of an ongoing four-year probe into insider trading in the hedge fund industry. “Today’s action lays bare an organized network of analysts and fund traders who set up and used a corrupt network to obtain insider information,” said Robert Khuzami, the SEC’s chief of enforcement. The managers and analysts worked for or with two Connecticut-based hedge funds, Diamondback Capital Management LLC and Level Global Investors LP. Hedge funds are investment vehicles for the ultra-wealthy, often requiring that investors pony up $1 million or more in exchange for a chance at outsized returns. Law enforcement officials said it was disconcerting that those charged weren’t merely engaging in opportunistic behavior but instead were accused of setting up a “circle of friends” with the express purpose of exploiting nonpublic information obtained from Dell and the California tech firm Nvidia “When you have the answer sheet in hand, it’s pretty hard not to ace the test,” said Janice Fedarcyk, the FBI assistant

director in charge of the New York field office. The federal officials said inside tips about three 2008 quarterly earnings reports from Dell allowed the alleged conspirators to rake in more than $62.3 million in illicit profits. The Nvidia insider trades netted them another $15.7 million, according to the SEC, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. Authorities said that Spyridon Adondakis, a former technology analyst at Level Global, Jesse Tortora, a former analyst for Diamondback Capital Management, and Sandeep “Sandy” Goyal, a former Dell employee, were cooperating with prosecutors. Anthony R. Chiasson, a co-founder of Level Global, surrendered Wednesday in New York. FBI agents also arrested Todd Newman, a former Diamondback trader in Boston, and Jon Horvath, who worked at Sigma Capital Management. Federal agents in Los Angeles arrested Danny Kuo, a vice president at Whittier Trust Co. Goyal was at the center of the scheme, prosecutors alleged. He worked at Dell until 2006 and allegedly used his connections to get the company’s quarterly earnings and other performance data from another employee in advance of announcements. He was compensated $175,000 for the tips, they said. The information was passed to Tortora, of Pembroke Pines, Fla., who then tipped others in a “circle of friends” in order to bet collectively on or against Dell stock ahead of the rest of market participants, prosecutors said. David Frink, Dell’s director of corporate affairs, confirmed that the unidentified Dell worker left the company in May 2010, and he said Dell had cooperated with investigators. “If the allegations are accurate, the

action was a clear violation of Dell’s policy regarding disclosure of material, nonpublic information. All Dell employees are required annually to complete training on the company’s code of conduct, which includes a section on insider trading,” Frink said. He added that two former employees would have known they’d crossed a clearly marked line of conduct. Preet Bharara, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, was coy when he was asked at the news conference whether the unnamed former Dell worker had been charged. “The Dell insider is not a defendant in the documents unsealed today,” he said, leaving open the possibility of forthcoming charges. Prosecutors allege in the criminal complaint that Kuo was behind the illicit trading on Nvidia stock, obtaining information from inside sources and sharing it with the “circle of friends.” Insider trading at hedge funds appears “rampant and routine,” Bharara said, adding that “this criminal behavior was known and encouraged.” Bharara has successfully prosecuted more than four dozen people in the past two years for insider trading, including last year’s conviction of hedge fund giant Raj Rajaratnam, who’d headed Galleon Group. The arrests could play into the presidential campaign. Rivals in the party of Republican front-runner Mitt Romney are pummeling him for his Wall Street ties and enormous profits made while heading Bain Capital, a private equity firm. Private equity funds and hedge funds run in the same circle, trying to attract deep-pocketed investors. Should Romney win the Republican nomination, President Barack Obama is expected to try to associate him with Wall Street greed.

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