Wednesday, February 1, 2012 Print Edition by Collegiate Times

BROOKS TIFFANY

GIVING IT THE OLD

COLLEGE

TRY

TREVOR WHITE / SPPS

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

sports staff writer Virginia Tech men’s rugby isn’t for the faint of heart. Their practices are intense. Their coach is a former British Army soldier. Players fight through rigorous training exercises just to get ready for game day. All of that has forged a strong bond between the coach, players and fans that spans generations. For a program that dates back to 1891, rugby is a way of life for many. This is what Tech men’s rugby is all about.

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see RUGBY / page ﬁve

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COLLEGIATETIMES 109th year, issue 10 News, page 2

Food & Drink, page 6

Tech adds solar panels to garage

Opinions, page 3

Sports, page 5

Study Break, page 4

Sudoku, page 4

Reinventing email

MARK UMANSKY/ SPPS

Half of the Perry Street garage is closed for solar panel construction.

The Perry Street parking garage roof will be the ﬁrst source of photovoltaic energy at Virginia Tech CODY OWENS news reporter One building at Virginia Tech is being adapted to soak up the sun. Construction began in December 2011 to install a photovoltaic, or solar panel, array on the top deck of the Perry Street parking garage. The project was approved at the March 28, 2011, Board of Visitors meeting. Photovoltaic technology utilizes semiconducting materials, such as silicon, to convert the energy of light into electrical energy. When photons of light strike a photovoltaic cell, the material absorbs the energy and loses electrons from its atoms. The resulting flow of electrons on the solar cell creates direct-current electricity. The Perry Street parking garage is set to have 480 solar panels, with each consisting of many photovoltaic cells arranged into modules. The resulting 100-kilowatt array will produce an annual energy output of approximately 136,000 kilowatt-hours, or 13 percent of the estimated annual energy output of the parking garage. “The technology on the garage will be the first major photovoltaic field on campus,” said Hilary West, the communication coordinator for the Office of the Vice President of Administrative Services. Tech has contracted with Siemens Industry, Inc. for the project. The company’s Building Technologies Division assisted with the university’s LumenHAUS project, an energy-efficient house designed by students, which won the European Solar Decathlon in 2010. Siemens gave more than $150,000 worth of technology and professional assistance to the project. Bo Frazier, the assistant manager

Solar Energy Production by University

of parking services, said an emphasis has been placed on taking away as few parking spaces as possible for the project — only one half of the garage’s top deck will be closed at a time. “We are trying to do this in a couple phases so as to not take up too many parking spaces,” Frazier said. “We put up all the steel structures up on the top floor itself … while there was no one here as to not disrupt parking as much as possible.” Currently, half of the top deck is closed as the steel structures that will support the solar array are constructed. When that is finished, the other half of the deck will be closed for the same construction. These types of closings will take place again when the actual solar panels are installed. Project manager David Chinn echoes Frazier’s sentiments, assuring that the loss of parking space will be at a minimum. “You can park on one-half of the top level while they’re working on the other half,” Chinn said. The $1.3 million budget is funded entirely through a federal grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The grant, used for the purpose of renewable energy projects, was given to the state of Virginia and divvied up among different projects in the commonwealth. With the increasing cost of fossil fuels, many incentives exist for those interested in renewable energy. The act provides funds equal to 30 percent of a solar energyproducing property. The federal government also offers tax breaks ranging up to $2,000 for renewable energy. Virginia Code 58.1-3661 allows any country, city or town to

A student and graduate are trying to revolutionize the email experience with the Mail Pilot application BY ABBY HARRIS | news staff writer A Virginia Tech student and graduate are developing an application called Mail Pilot, which will turn email inboxes into to-do lists. Alex Obenauer, a senior computer science major, and Josh Milas, a recent biological sciences graduate, came up with the idea for Mail Pilot in September 2011. “We broke it completely down to the bare bones and then built it right back up again around what the essence of it should be,” Milas said. The Mail Pilot website is an application that “reimages email from the ground up and is built to fit into the workflow of how people use email today.” Mail Pilot users will be able to sign in to Gmail, Yahoo!, or any other email agent and organize their inbox messages into the categories of complete or incomplete, rather than read or unread. This feature is based around the idea that most emails require further action than reading. Messages marked for later action will go to a separate folder to keep the inbox from becoming cluttered with emails that eventually tend to pile up. Users will also have the ability to mark emails for further action on a specific date, at which time, Mail Pilot will prompt the user to act on it.

Businesses unhappy with traffic circle KELSEY JO STARR

see ENERGY / page two

10,000 KW

Vir gi ni aT as ec te h rn M en no W as ni te hi ng to n & Le e Ar izo na St at e

104 KW

Another feature allows Mail Pilot users to see an in-line preview of attachments before opening or downloading. Obenauer and Milas had many discussions prior to the Mail Pilot project about the problems with today’s email clients. The duo joked that they currently have a competition between each other of who has the most unread messages in their inbox. “Everyone, ourselves included, knows there’s a problem with email, but most people really don’t think about what the solution could be,” Obenauer said. “That’s where we were last September and years prior to that. We always griped about it, but then that conversation ended.” Milas said although many mail clients have tried to fix commonly known grievances with email, many attempts have fallen short. “What we’ve found in our research is that the people who do try to solve problems with email actually end up just adding more and more features on top of a system that’s already broken,” he said. “That’s why we started from the ground up.” Mail Pilot will be available for Windows, Mac and Linux see MAIL / page two

news staff writer

450 KW 100 KW

DANIEL LIN / SPPS

Alex Obenauer (left) and Josh Milas (right) pose in front of a projection of Mail Pilot, a new email application they are creating.

The North Main Street traffic circle was meant to bring more business to the area, but local shops have yet to see that happen. No businesses have reported increased sales and no new shops have opened in the area since its completion in the fall, according to the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce. “Everybody’s business down here took a huge hit while the thing was being built. We have seen a return, but our businesses would have been better if they never built the thing,” said Stan Davis, the owner of Eats Natural Foods Co-op on North Main. Cecile Newcomb, a member of the Blacksburg Town Council, said the traffic circle was part of

a master plan that was intended to expand Blacksburg’s downtown to Prices Fork Road, improve traffic flow and encourage pedestrian activity. “We had a normal intersection there, and it was very dangerous and didn’t move traffic very well,” Newcomb said. “It was extremely hard to cross on foot or bicycle.” Traffic circles and roundabouts reduce the number of accidents by 40 percent when compared to normal four-way intersections, according to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety. But some stores lost about $50,000 in business during construction, and others, including the antique shop on North Main, actually had their storefronts blocked off, Davis said. Mellissa Long, the manager of the Wendy’s on North Main, said

the traffic circle made it harder for people to turn into her parking lot, reducing business. The antique store was unavailable to comment. Although the wider sidewalks are more pedestrian-friendly, Davis said trucks, including those that send his deliveries, have to drive on the sidewalk to navigate the traffic circle and get in and out of his parking lot. Another concern has been the lack of bicycle paths, but Newcomb said the town plans to include these on some of the side roads — installing them on main roads is impossible. “If we put bike lanes along that portion of Main Street, they would have to stop right at College Avenue because at that point, the road has to squeeze down because there are existing buildings,” Newcomb said. “We can’t widen

that part of Main Street, so we didn’t want to have bike lanes that disappear.” Overall, Newcomb is pleased with the traffic circle and said it is a direct cause of the increase in pedestrians in downtown, giving it a more upbeat atmosphere. Candice Flake, a junior music education and performance major, likes the circle more than normal traffic intersections. “You don’t have to wait as long,” Flake said. “You just wait for other people to go, then you go.” Jenna George, a junior music education major, says the problems are not in the circle’s construction, rather that the rules and etiquette of traffic circles are much different than those most drivers are used to. “Once people learn how to yield, there will be no problem,” George said.

news

february 1, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

Chinese New Year A dance group performs as part of the Chinese New Year celebrations, which were sponsored by the Chinese Student Association. The Chinese New Year was on Monday, Jan. 23. photo by Brad Klodowski / SPPS

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

what you’re saying On the Golden Rule applying for foreign policy

Mike: Good column. What annoys me is the

media (and some teachers at Tech) constantly referring to Paul’s foreign policy as “isolationist.” Ummmm no, his foreign policy is “noninterventionist.” North Korea is isolationist, Switzerland is non-interventionist. Switzerland, Sweden, New Zealand, etc show that there is another choice beside isolation (North Korea), and interventionism (United States).

Anonymous: Trying to label Ron Paul as an

“isolationist” is like calling your neighbor a “hermit” for not breaking into your house and smashing up all your windows.

Mike: “The real isolationists are those who impose sanctions and embargoes on countries and peoples across the globe because they disagree with the internal and foreign policies of their leaders. The real isolationists are those who choose to use force overseas to promote democracy, rather than seeking change through diplomacy, engagement, and by setting a positive example. The real isolationists are those who isolate their country in the court of world opinion by pursuing needless belligerence and war that have nothing to do with legitimate nation security concerns.” - Ron Paul in 2008 Jaed Deaj: Ron Paul supporters, if you haven’t

Energy: Grant Mail: Platform to funds new panels launch this year from page one

“exempt or partially exempt any solar energy equipment or recycling equipment from local property taxes.” Nineteen counties in the state offer such an exemption, though Montgomery County is not one of them. Other than tax incentives, solar power offers benefits in the form of decreased pollution and increased sustainability. Also, photovoltaic arrays are silent and often come with long-term warranties of more than 20 years. Arizona State University found an unexpected benefit of solar panels when the large array on their parking garage shaded cars from the sun. However, solar power is not without its criticisms. Namely, the high startup cost for solar panels ensures that most arrays will not turn a profit for an extended period of time. Also, Chinn has heard opinions that find solar panels to be aesthetically unpleasant. “One of the concerns with this project is that people didn’t want to see (the solar panels),” Chinn said. “They thought they’d be ugly.” Similar renewable energy projects can be seen across the state. Currently, the largest photovoltaic project in the commonwealth is at Harrisonburg’s Eastern Mennonite University, which hosts a 104-kilowat array on its library. However,

Washington and Lee University promised to outpace that when it announced in August 2011 that it would place two photovoltaic arrays on its campus, one of which will also be located on a parking structure, for a combined energy output of 450-kilowatts. On a national scale, ASU hosts more than 58,000 solar panels, which produce a combined capacity of 10 megawatts. A 34-kilowatt array built in 2004 on an ASU parking structure was the university’s first photovoltaic project. The University of Montana, which holds a policy to be carbon-neutral by 2020, initially ruled out installing a photovoltaic array because of the high startup cost. However, the university made its first venture into solar power with the installation of a few solar panels on one building. As construction continues, Chinn wants to see more renewable energy projects occur on Tech’s campus. “My hope is that this will lead to more projects,” Chinn said. “Hopefully, people will see that these (panels) aren’t what they think, and we can start putting more of them around campus and make an effort to use renewable resources like this.” The installation on the Perry Street parking garage should be completed by the end of April, although Chinn said the project is ahead of schedule.

from page one

operating systems, as well as iPhones, Android phones, and BlackBerrys. A Web-based client will be available for those who often access their email on computers other than their own, along with a mobile Web version for those who do not have the aforementioned cellphones. “So often people look through their email on their phones nowadays, and the mobile versions of these clients are even worse than the desktop versions,” Milas said. “So having a really intuitive, easy-to-use mobile interface is also one of the things we’re prioritizing.” After the co-founders conceptualized their idea for Mail Pilot, Obenauer immediately began coding the program to work as they wanted it to. Afterward, they designed the outward appearance of the application to look and work in a way that is simple for users to understand. “A lot of companies tend to

skip that step and just kind of write code and mash it all together,” Obenauer said. “It works, but it doesn’t interact with the human user very well.” Mail Pilot is currently in the process of gaining funding through Kickstarter.com, a website that allows people to pledge money to fund creative projects. Once Milas and Obenauer receive enough funding, they plan to release a beta version of Mail Pilot exclusively to their Kickstarter supporters in June. From there, they hope to publicly release Mail Pilot before the end of the year. “All of this is contingent on our Kickstarter funding,” Milas said. Once Mail Pilot goes public, users will have the chance to start off with a free trial period to determine if the new client is right for them. The applications themselves will be free, but users will have to pay a subscription fee for the service.

already, please go to VoteRonPaul and make your pledge to vote for him. Take a look at the map that is shown. It’ll show supporters from across the country. Please share the page with your friends, family and other Ron Paul supporters and scroll down to the bottom to like their facebook page. I would love to see EVERY Ron Paul supporter make their pledge to vote for him. We know that Ron Paul has faced and will face continued efforts to marginalize him and even attempts at voter fraud (Iowa for example!) If we could get every single Ron Paul supporter to this site and make their pledge, it is my belief that it will be hard for them to ignore especially when we start seeing numbers into the millions. We would make people’s eyes pop out of their heads when they see the sheer number of us and no one will ever have a reason to say he is “unelectable” ever again. Thanks.

Trey: I grew up in SC so I can tell you this as a matter of fact - religion doesn’t supersede over prejudice and warmongering. I can’t tell you the number of times, and sadly many times in public, when I’ve heard racial slurs aimed at blacks, Muslims and Chinese people. Man I remember one time in particular when I was at a Chinese buffet, and the endless slurs at the Chinese people bringing out the food. I’m glad SC is a past residence. Anonymous: Does the CT even have editors?

THE SAME SENTENCE IS REPEATED TWICE IN THIS ARTICLE, LITERALLY ONE PARAGRAPH AWAY. This article is also extremely repetitive in its arguments.

not really: Article is not repetitive at all. My guess is that he wanted to show that the Golden Rule is found throughout the Bible, to drive the point home that those in the Bible Belt should not boo something that is clearly a Bible principle. Instead of attacking style, try attacking the substance of the argument. CT commenters always get their panies in a bunch of the silliest of things.

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

opinions

february 1, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

Resolutions prove hard to stick to

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

oing to McComas Hall during the first week of classes was an absolute nightmare. There were too many people, not enough machines and a lack of space in the group exercise classes. The heat exploding from the mass amount of bodies and prevailing smell of sweat was overwhelming and particularly unpleasant to say the least. Why is the gym this full only at the beginning of every semester? Sure, people aren’t as busy with school since classes are just starting. Perhaps students are genuinely curious about what the gym has to offer. But let’s get serious — New Year’s resolutions bring everyone to the gym in January and February. The first of every January is a predictable day — it brings out peoples’ strength, motivation and willpower to achieve their goals. Then why do their inspirations for better lifestyles and personal growth eventually die out so soon? The causes of my failed ambitions are that I set unrealistic goals and have unreasonable expectations. For some reason, at the end of the year, people conveniently realize their flaws and expect to fix them in the coming year. Unfortunately, that will not magically happen just because it is 2012. If you want to see real changes happen, you must set clear and realistic coals. You should also set smaller target goals to meet that lead to an ultimate goal. It is important to notice small accomplishments to keep you motivated. Getting in shape and eating healthier are common resolutions among college-aged people. If you make it a habit to go to the gym and choose the right foods, you will help your figure, boost your confidence and keep you focused. New Year’s resolutions may produce unfortunate failures, but these don’t have to continue. Let the new year and semester give you that boost to become the best you can be. After all, life is undoubtedly short, and as each year passes, the next one will fly by even faster. Know yourself and know that you can accomplish anything you want with a realistic vision and consistency.

LINA BARKAWI - regular columnist - junior - industrial & systems engineering major

MCT CAMPUS

Saragosa lets down judicial system I

coached a youth soccer team while studying abroad last semester in Scotland — a country in which the people are borderline obsessed with the sport. I would consider myself a pretty laidback coach, as I only had a few non-negotiable rules, such as no arguing with the referees or profanity. And I made it clear that if the players broke the rules, they would be benched. I got to know one of the player’s parents pretty well, since they served as my quasi-surrogate parents during my stay. Their son, Craig, was one of my best players — a spikey-haired 13-year-old with an eye for the goal. During our last match of the season, trailing our crosstown rivals 1-0, Craig was issued a questionable yellow card. He responded to the referee with an expletive filled rant that would have made even the most vilemouthed pub regulars I had grown accustomed to during my stay in Glasgow blush. Despite the score and my relationship with his parents, I pulled him out immediately, and he watched from the bench as we went on to lose the game 3-0. After the game, his father angrily confronted me, asking me why

his kid was riding pine for nearly the entire game. I explained the rules and consequences to him, but he didn’t seem to understand. So, he grabbed his kid and vehemently stormed off. Looking back, I still don’t regret my decision. Rules are only effective insofar as they are laid out clearly and implemented in a non-discriminative fashion — a cornerstone of any authoritative governance that we as a society need to be reminded of. On Jan. 6, 2012, Justice of the Peace Melissa Saragosa imprudently delayed 34-yearold boxing title holder Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s 90-day jail sentence for domestic abuse charges until June 1. Saragosa did this to allow Mayweather to take part in his previously scheduled May 5 bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. This move can only be interpreted as a shameful desertion of judicial responsibility in the face of outside economic pressures in light of her justification that “This scheduled fight … is worth more than $100 million to this community.” Since when does fiscal revenue and celeb-

rity repute trump the integrity of our legal system as set forth by the phrase “Equal Justice Under Law” etched into the United States Supreme Court Building? Regardless of current economic difficulties, Saragosa needs to realize some things, such as the law’s sanctity, are more important than public approval or financial benefit. The democratic principles to which we as citizens adhere are effective only when we realize they represent an agreement between the state and its subjects — that we consent to behave according to certain standards that make social interaction possible in return for certain services, such as defense, that the state provides us. Any violation of these aforementioned standards is subject to punishment to maintain order — an action that should be dispensed with equality and finality to ensure they are respected and observed by all. Perhaps Chief Deputy District Attorney Lisa Luzaich put it best when advancing the prosecution’s case: “Mr. Mayweather shouldn’t be treated any different than anybody else that comes into this court or any other court

because of his status as a celebrity … there was no discussion at the time of the negotiation of the fight, there was no talk about ‘well, if there’s a jail sentence, let’s move it around the fight,’ or anything like that. When the court sentenced the defendant in December, the court gave him time to put his affairs in order.” Therefore, Saragosa’s ruling sets a dangerous precedent in our legal system. The only crowd members Mayweather should have for the next 90 are the guards and inmates at the Clark County Nevada Detention Center. If courts allow convicted criminals to tailor their respective punishments to their convenience, their ability to uphold justice will inevitably falter. If we allow an individual’s potential to generate market gains to negate the wrongs against society they have committed, I’m worried for the future — and you should be too.

MARK DEWYEA - regular columnist - senior - English major

we’re YOUR

ACTA threatens free and open Internet

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send a letter to the editor and express your views.

send an e-mail to opinionseditor@ collegiatetimes. com with your letter or guest column attached.

he Stop Online Piracy Act, or SOPA, and Protect IP Act, or PIPA, are essentially no more. After many sites blacked out to protest the acts, Congress tabled the vote. These two acts, if passed, would have allowed the indefinite shutdown of websites that contain any sort of copyrighted material, or links to copyrighted material. Sites like YouTube, Google and any blog or forum fit into this category. While the battle against SOPA and PIPA came to a climactic end, another lurked in the shadows, growing stronger. The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, or ACTA, has been discussed behind closed doors since 2007, when U.S. Ambassador Susan C. Schwab, along with five Congress members who received campaign contributions from major media groups, initiated its push. These discussions were largely secret. Any information about ACTA pre-2010 came from leaks to the site Wikileaks.com. ACTA is now public. But the entire bill’s text is available online, and its most oppressing provisions have been picked away. A few of the removed provisions would have forced Internet providers to monitor Internet traffic for piracy at all times and customs agents from all countries to search laptops, MP3 players and CDs for copyrighted material at border crossings and in airports. Once ACTA’s text was released from the preliminary backdoor dealings, the insanely overbearing provisions were stripped

away. But ACTA still poses a threat to the free and open Internet. ACTA allows media companies and other rights holders to demand the personal data of Internet users from their service providers, without a court order. This is an improvement, since media companies would have to ask Internet providers “nicely” for your data. Copyright holders are given another tool to coerce information from Internet providers: the threat of slapping them with aiding and abetting charges. What good business would deny a demand when there are criminal and civil penalties at stake? The powers that ACTA gives copyright holders over Internet service providers are disturbingly similar to those given to the government in the PATRIOT Act. Through the PATRIOT Act, government agencies were given the authority to issue a special type of subpoena — one that requires no judicial oversight or probable cause. These subpoenas are issued to Internet providers, among other organizations, and they require recipients to turn over their users’ data. Sound familiar? Why should media companies and other copyright holders get to investigate people suspected of copyright infringement in the same way people suspected of terrorism are investigated by the U.S. government? This is a scary delegation of power to those who we did not elect. As if ACTA does not already do enough, it also creates an

“ACTA committee” that deliberates on all matters ACTA and determines, in conjunction with signatories, whether to add amendments to ACTA. This essentially writes a blank check to the architects of this agreement, telling them they can remold it in any way they want, deleting protections and adding provisions. As of now, more than 20 countries have signed ACTA, with the United States being one of the first signatories. Canada, Japan, South Korea, Australia and the United Kingdom are a few other noted signers. Luckily for the European Union, its Parliament is voting on whether to accept ACTA in June 2012, but 22 European member states have already signed on as of Jan. 26. In protest of the massive signing, Kader Arif, the man appointed to monitor ACTA proceedings for the European Union Parliament (now that they’re actually out in the open) has resigned, citing “the whole process which led to the signature of this agreement: no consultation of the civil society, lack of transparency since the beginning of negotiations, repeated delays of the signature of the text without any explanation given, reject of Parliament’s recommendations as given in several resolutions of our assembly.” His statements provide even more testament to the oppressive, anti-democratic agreement that is being pushed forward under the cover of night. One of America’s own, Sen. Darrell Issa, a Republican from California who was a vocal critic of SOPA, believes that

ACTA is “more dangerous than SOPA” and says, “once implemented, it creates a whole new enforcement system and will virtually tie the hands of Congress to undo it.” In October, Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon challenged the constitutionality of the executive agreement to ACTA, arguing that, “ACTA’s subject matter — including foreign commerce and intellectual property — appear to me and others to relate to Article I powers of Congress, not issues lying within the President’s sole constitutional authority.” Wyden has been seeking more support via a petition on WhiteHouse.gov that seeks to have the Senate vote on ACTA. All of this conjecture raises the larger question of why SOPA and PIPA ever existed when ACTA was already being negotiated? It would appear that media companies have been hedging their bets in this horse race, and it seems to have paid off. While the country was in an uproar over SOPA and PIPA, ACTA slipped by relatively unnoticed, and now it may be too late. But the real lesson to take away from this is that as long as media companies have financial influence in our government, they will try to get bills, as well as agreements that are beneficial to themselves, passed by any means necessary.

ETHAN GAEBEL - regular columnist - sophomore - computer science major

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february 1, 2012

There’s still time to snap your senior photos!

Regular Edition Today’s Birthday Horoscope: Treat yourself to lovely scenery, delicious food and company. Recurring themes this year are fun, friendship and learning. The first six months highlight home and family, while social life heats up the second half. Make a big wish!

sponsored by

THE YEARBOOK OF VIRGINIA TECH

Piled Higher and Deeper by Jorge Cham 7 2 9 8 1

2 9 1 3 4 9 3 7 8 3 2 4 3 9 7 2 5 1

5 8

4 7

XKDC by Randell Monroe

This could be you . . .

Crossword

want your comics featured in the collegiate times?

submit them to: studybreak@collegemedia.com

Week ending Jan. 21, 2012

Top tracks

( ) Last week’s ranking in top five

What Doesn’t Kill You • Kelly Clarkson

(3) 1

Set Fire to the Rain • Adele

(2) 2

Turn Me On • David Guetta & Nicki Minaj

(1) 3

Good Feeling • Flo Rida

(4) 4

Domino • Jessie J

word

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

W M

W S

W E

W R

W N

W O

WORD BANK 1 Merlot 2 Pinot Noir 3 Chardonnay 4 Riesling 5 Sauvignon Blanc 6 Syrah 7 Cabernet Sauvignon 8 Malbec 9 Zinfandel 10 Sangiovese 11 Barbera 12 Semillon 13 Moscato 14 Pinot Grigio 15 Gewurztram-iner 16 Burgundy 17 Shiraz 18 Madeira

UNSCRAMBLER

etangam

qeituours

DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE COUPLE OF THE WEEK?

eagorn

aeyhmtts

SEND US:

hclaraoc

nraoom

drlnaeev

sonmla

YOUR NAMES WHEN YOU STARTED DATING WHAT YOU SAY ABOUT EACHOTHER ABOUT YOUR FIRST DATE

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

n r a y r o v l

Check out tomorrow’s paper on page 5 for the answers! studybreak@collegemedia.com

Mon, Jan. 16 – Thurs, Jan. 19 Squires Jamestown Room

Mon, Jan. 23 – Thurs, Jan. 26 Squires Jamestown Room

Mon, Jan. 30 – Thurs, Feb. 2 Squires Jamestown Room

Wed, March 14 – Thurs, March 15 Squires Cardinal Room

2pm-7pm

sports

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

february 1, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

Rugby: Team shows commitment on and off the field from page one

The coach Andy Richards has been the head coach of men’s rugby club team since December 2009. Richards played rugby his entire life — on military teams while serving in the British army for 23 years — instilling in him the right kind of character needed to lead the Tech rugby team to success. The players couldn’t agree more that they have the right man at the helm. “Coach pushes us for sure,” said Junior Kevin Hurley, a team officer. “He’s a hard-nosed, ex-army guy from England, so he doesn’t mess around, but we know he has our best interests at heart, that’s for sure. “He brings a football mentality too, which is what you have to do,” Hurley said. “He tells us up front that this is going to be tough, and you might not like it, but you have to do it if you want to be good. We trust him and know that with him coaching and us putting in the hard work, we’ll get it done.” This intangible contract between coach and player is one of the driving forces behind the program’s success and ensures everyone who shows up does so with the best interests of the team in mind.

The commitment One of the strongest assets the rugby team possesses is the commitment found among its members. Richards and the players don’t take training lightly. “These kids all know what’s expected of them,” Richards said. “They live and breathe the sport. They work out six days a week.” Week to week, the rugby team tackles a vigorous training regimen, which takes place on the field and in the gym. The team has even hired a fitness instructor to take its aerobic workouts to another level. With all their hard work and dedication, coach and players alike take exception to the adage, “It’s just a club sport.” “It’s not just a club sport,” Richards said. “We train just as hard as some of the varsity sports. It’s a big commitment; you shouldn’t come out lightly, and you have to be fit.” Many of the players say they love the toughness of their training — a practice that binds the team together. “We’ve been through some of the worst sessions where you are just suffering through it together,” Hurley said. “And you gain a mutual respect for each other.”

The camaraderie In a college atmosphere, where fraternities and sororities seem to dominate the social landscape, club sports

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Home field advantage While the rugby team doesn’t officially own its home field, it has certainly taken it under its wing. The team is spearheading an effort to refurbish the grounds of the Recreational Sports-owned field into a spectator-friendly venue. It has already completed phase one of the plans, in which it had goal posts erected with custom Hokie post pads and Hokie corner flags added to the field. There is certainly some excitement centered around the upcoming plans for the field, as the atmosphere it creates is essential to recruiting players and fans. “You’ve got to build the infrastructure first,” Richards said. “We’ve got a good field. We’ve raised more than $10,000 already and bought brand new goal posts — custom made — and it just looks fantastic. It looks like a rugby field, and we are now trying to finance an electronic scoreboard, a PA system for the national anthem and seating. It’s just begging to have a little bit of refurbishment to generate some interest.”

With its commitment to fundraising combined with donations from alumni and students, the rugby team is well on its way to having a home field that will soon be capable of hosting major tournaments and garnering serious interest from the powerful Hokie fan base as well as prospective players.

The community Similar to their hard work and dedication on the field is their support for the community. The players did their part, volunteering their time to organizations such as the Special Olympics of Virginia in October 2011. In addition to the blood and sweat they regularly leave on the field, the players were also found giving a little bit more at blood drives hosted last April.

The competition Spring brings with it the competitive season in rugby, with Tech competing in the Atlantic Coast Rugby League, which is composed of clubs hailing from many ACC schools. (The ACRL is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by the ACC.) The competition is tough with no teams in particular dominating league play. “There’s a lot of parity in the league,” Fish said. “We’re in the ACRL, and we play each other pretty well. There’s a lot of back and forth, but we can hang with them.” The ACRL participates in a national tournament, akin to March Madness, where the winner of each regional league goes on to play in the USA Rugby Division One, National Round of 16, with an eventual National Champion crowned. Tech Rugby’s ACRL campaign will begin against North Carolina State on Feb. 25 in Raleigh, N.C.

Prospective recruits The rugby team is open to all types of players — one in particular. “There are so many guys who can’t get into that team over there,” Richards said, gesturing toward the towering Lane Stadium. “(Here’s) a place for them to play.” The team recruits former high school rugby players, like Hurley, but also gets former high school football players, like Heitzer. “I played football all my life in Texas, and I wasn’t going to play football in college,” Heitzer said. “But I had a friend who said I should go out for the rugby team, which I did, and I fell in love with it.” Training and open tryouts for the team begin this August, with the start of the fall semester. For more information on the team, visit VirginiaTechRugby.com

TREVOR WHITE / SPPS

The Tech men’s rugby team begins its season on Feb. 25 in Raleigh, N.C. The Hokies look forward to facing rival U.Va. for the Commonwealth Shield trophy every year.

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like rugby offer something different for those who want an alternative means to meet new people and develop lifelong friendships. “You become part of a brotherhood,” said senior Matt Heitzer, the team captain. “All of these guys are my buddies, and we hang out. To me, it’s better than a fraternity or something like that because you have a common goal, and you’re playing a team sport and facing competition, so it’s the best of all worlds.” One of those common goals is to beat archrival Virginia year in and year out. To fuel the rivalry, a new tradition has been established between the two schools, as they will annually compete for the right to take the Commonwealth Shield home. The award is similar to the Commonwealth Cup sought after by the respective football programs. The last time the two teams met, the Hokies beat U.Va. in the final seconds of the game — a common favorite moment held among the players. “It was a thriller,” said senior Ryan Fish, the team treasurer. “We beat them in the last minute on a Friday night with a big crowd there. It was really cool. When that whistle blew and we beat U.Va., that was the biggest thing, with your heart pumping and the adrenaline flowing. There’s nothing like beating a team in the last minute.” Shared experiences like the U.Va. thriller are key ingredients in forming the team’s bonds of brotherhood. “You make friends here that will last you a lifetime,” Richards said. “I talk to some of the alumni who come back here, and they’ve been buddies since the 1960s; it’s just incredible.”

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food & drink

february 1, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

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

Super Bowl cocktails JIMMY HUDNALL | features staff writer Has your annual Super Bowl party become routine and borderline predictable? Make this year memorable by offering a classier selection of cocktails, which are sure to please either fan base. The Cranberry Almond Kicker is a popular drink among Pats fans (and Bostonians, in general). This cocktail features a sweet almond flavor found in the amaretto, combined with the sharp taste of cranberry and orange. Add in the vodka, and you have a true spectrum of flavors culminating in a single glass. The Jolly Red Giants drink is also a vodka-based cocktail and is generally associated among Giants fans

After a lackluster ﬁrst experience at Cook-Out, the Collegiate Times returns for a second taste.

fter a passionate uproar of responses to my first review, I decided to go back and give Cook-Out a second chance. The overwhelming community support coerced me into reevaluating my experience to see if other items on the menu tickled my fancy. The vast, uniform support was yet again evidenced by the crowded, midday lunch rush I encountered when I returned to the restaurant. In addition to the crowd, the Channel 10 local news team was set up outside for a quick video interview with the manager, which only added to the fanfare. This time, I decided to order the restaurant’s staple meal deal: the CookOut Tray. I personalized my meal with a hamburger, coupled with a chicken quesadilla and Cajun fries. I finished my Cook-Out Tray with a Cheerwine float to wash it all down. Just in case my sweet tooth hadn’t had enough, I ordered an Oreo milkshake to finish off the gargantuan meal. After all, the illustrious shake menu had almost lured me in the first time around, so there was no use resisting again. After paying only $8 for my meal, I was a little shocked when I got my mini-feast, which seemed like it was meant to feed a hungry family of four. But I wasn’t complaining, and clearly, other customers weren’t either. There is no doubt that other fast food chains have a tough time competing with the bargain value and versatility of the Cook-Out Tray. Other fast food joints specialize in one main item plus a side, such as fries

or fruit. However, Cook-Out basically offers customers two extra main dishes, considering the options and portions of the available side items. I don’t know what the typical side items are in North Carolina, but in most of America, quesadillas, corn dogs and chicken nuggets each pass as a main portion of a meal. But when customers can get more than they bargained for, nobody is going to petition for the ordinary, traditional sides offered elsewhere. While Cook-Out’s reputation had a lot to live up to after my first bland experience and the countless community praises, the second time around definitely produced a more favorable experience. While the restaurant offers such a variety of items, I honestly had suspicions about ordering the quesadilla at a place that seems to specialize in southern cooking. After tasting the quesadilla for myself, I began to wonder if the restaurant really specializes in anything, or if it simply attacks each food item with the same quality. The quesadilla was sufficiently flavored with a good combination of spices, cheese, chicken and a touch of Texas Pete hot sauce. The Cajun fries supplied a delightful kick compared to the regular fries I had last time. While I considered the regular fries ordinary and bland, the Cajun spices seemed to go a long way. After devouring the quesadilla and Cajun fries, I almost forgot that I had a burger left to consume, which had a lot

CJ YUNGER / SPPS

as being the team’s premier mixed beverage. Though

to live up to. The burger, customized with lettuce, tomato, onion and mustard, provided a tasty addition to the meal. While I wouldn’t venture to say it was one of the better burgers I have had, it was more than I could ask for considering the price. The Cheerwine float and Oreo milkshake were arguably the best parts of the meal. The float was a hard option to pass up, considering it is the same price as a regular soft drink, and it didn’t disappoint. The milkshake was thick and creamy — it seemed more like a deluxe milkshake than a fast food shake. Truly living up to its title of a “fancy milkshake,” it was filled with real Oreo chunks. Upon reflection, I am glad I decided to give Cook-Out a second chance. Or rather, I am glad that the passionate Cook-Out fanatics out there were determined enough to encourage me to give it another shot. While Cook-Out did not give me a new outlook on fast food or unhealthy eating, I would most likely choose to go there over other comparable fast food restaurants. I would certainly be inclined to go back on occasion to shake things up with a new flavored milkshake or menu item; after all, with a plethora of options, the Cook-Out experience can hardly get old.

similar in color to its rival, this drink separates itself by

NICK SMIRNIOTOPOULOS -features reporter -sophomore -communication major

eliciting a distinct cherry flavor due to the UV Cherry Vodka.

Cranberry Almond Kicker (Patriots) cktails) Ingredients (makes 4 cocktails) ktail 1 cup cranberry juice cocktail 1/2 cup vodka 1/4 cup amaretto ce 2 tablespoons orange juice Ice Clementines (optional; peeled and sliced) Directions 1. In a pitcher, mix the twoo juices, vodka and amaretto. 2. Cover pitcher, and refrigerate until you’re ready to serve. 3. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and pour in about one cup of the mixture. Cover and shake. 4. Strain into a martini glass. Optionally garnish with a clementine slice.

The Jolly Red Giants (Giants)

Bacon-wrapped, cheese-ﬁlled tater tots BY EMMA GODDARD | features reporter With the Super Bowl quickly approaching, this recipe is highly appropriate for Sunday’s football festivities. The game, bonding with friends and the infamous commercials are all important aspects of this day. However, what would football be without food? Try this tasty appetizer, which is sure to make a statement at any Super Bowl party. After all, who can say no to bacon? Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 15 minutes Ingredients 24 tater tots, partially defrosted 12 strips of bacon, cut in half 24 small chunks of sharp cheddar cheese Toothpicks

Ingredients dka 2 parts Absolut Ruby Red Vodka 1 oz. UV Cherry Vodka 4 oz. pomegranate juice

Directions 1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees, and spray a baking sheet with nonstick spray. 2. Take half of a piece of bacon, and place it on a flat surface. Place a tater tot on top. 3. Using a knife, cut across the tater tot creating a slit for the cheese. 4. Place a small chunk of cheese inside the slit and begin rolling bacon around the tater tot. Secure with a toothpick. 5. Place in the oven, and bake for 15 minutes or until the bacon is crispy.

1/2 part lemon juice 2 oz. sweet and sour mix Ice Directions 1. Combine all ingredients into a ke cocktail shaker. Cover and shake. 2. Strain into a martini glass, and enjoy.

EMMA GODDARD / COLLEGIATE TIMES

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