Friday, February 3, 2012 Print Edition by Collegiate Times

Friday, February 3, 2012 An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 www.collegiatetimes.com

COLLEGIATETIMES 109th year, issue 12

News, page 5

People & Clubs, page 6

Opinions, page 3

Sports, page 8

Study Break, page 4

DUKE STORMS CASSELL

BY MATT JONES | sports editor

DANIEL LIN / SPPS

Tech failed to deliver a repeat of last season’s upset performance against Duke, losing 75-60 Thursday night.

Duke’s return trip to Cassell Coliseum played out in stark contrast to last year’s Feb. 26 upset. The Virginia Tech men’s basketball team fell at the hands of the No. 5 Blue Devils last night 75-60 in a game it never led. Beaten soundly in every aspect of the game, the Hokies could not repeat the emotional performance they put on last year against Duke at home. “It disappoints me because, and this sounds stupid, I think we’re a good team,” said head coach Seth Greenberg. “I didn’t say great team, I think we’re a good team. (Duke) is a very good team — they’re not a great team either.” The Hokies experimented with a different starting lineup as they inserted

true freshman point guard Marquis Rankin in place of fellow freshman Robert Brown. The change in the lineup could not stop the mighty Blue Devils, who shot 50 percent in the first half to build a 10-point halftime lead. Even with 11 team fouls, the Blue Devils smothered the Hokies from behind the arc, limiting Tech to just 1-of-7 from threepoint range. “They just played harder than we did,” Rankin said. “We just have to come together as a team and compete. (Duke) just played tougher.” After Dorenzo Hudson tied the game at 21 with two free throws, Duke went on a 17-4 scoring run to essentially put the game out of reach. “When things start going downhill see BASKETBALL / page eight

Consumer Report Delegate proposes state marijuana study president to lecture JOSH HIGGINS news reporter

COURTESY OF VIRGINIA TECH

Jim Guest will lecture on consumer affairs at Virginia Tech on Feb. 14 MICHELLE SUTHERLAND news editor Jim Guest, the president and chief financial officer of Consumer Reports, will be the inaugural speaker for a new lecture series on consumer affairs, which begins Feb. 16. “It’s the first (lecture), and we’re really excited. (Guest) is really well-known in the area,” said Julia Beamish, a Virginia Tech professor and the head of the apparel, housing and resource management department. Consumer Report is widely recognized as an objective, legitimate source of consumer information, Beamish said. According to its website, the non-

profit organization follows a strict policy of purchasing all products rather than receiving them for free, and ConsumerReports.org does not accept paid advertisements. “More and more, people have to rely on themselves to compare and get the best value,” Beamish said. “They are viewed as objective, and consumers can find all kinds of things.” This speech is called The Alfred and Shirley Wampler Caudill Lecture and was made possible through a donation from Donald Caudill, a consumers studies graduate student from 1993, according to Virginia Tech News. Caudill named the lecture after his parents to commemorate their support of his education.

Lyric to host free Japanese ﬁlm festival starting tomorrow NICK CAFFERKY news editor The 2012 Japanese Film Festival will begin tomorrow and continue over the next two weekends at the Lyric Theatre in downtown Blacksburg. The festival will feature three films: “Our Mother,” “Still Walking” and “The Hidden Blade.” One film will be played at

3 p.m. on each Saturday during the event. All three are free, open to the public and will have English subtitles. John and Mihoko Lanier are sponsoring the festival with support from the Virginia Tech Department of Foreign Languages and Literature, as well as the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.

A proposal in the Virginia General Assembly might bring something unexpected to ABC stores: marijuana. Virginia Delegate David Englin, a Democrat from House District 45, introduced House Joint Resolution No. 140, which proposes a study to examine the economic impact of legalizing marijuana and selling it in Virginia ABC stores. However, it is not the first bill of its kind to reach the floor. “It’s hard for me to believe that even a study will get passed,” said Karen Hult, a Virginia Tech political science professor. “I think there is going to be some concern about whether it’s studying something that legislators would ever agree to, and I think many of them will say, ‘No, we wouldn’t.’” In a statement on his website, Englin said legalizing marijuana sales might generate state funding for education, health care, public safety and other government benefits. Additionally, he said rather than attempting to increase taxes, which he says is something the Republican majority is opposed to, he would look into revenue from marijuana sales. Hult said legislators might be concerned about the cost of the study, which the bill says will not exceed $15,040 on direct expenses. But this may be a political move by Englin, she said. “I wonder if what the representative is trying to do is raise the issue publicly because there is some concern about legalizing at least medical marijuana, as it has been done in many other states,” Hult said. “Whether Virginia will ever do that legislatively is another question. I think what that representative was trying to do is try to get it out in public discussion.” She said, however, that Englin’s move to publicize the issue might be ineffective. “I don’t think many people in the public pay much attention to the state legislature,” she said. “I think that’s sad, but I think it’s very true. We know there aren’t as many news bureaus reporting from Richmond. We know some of the TV coverage is relatively limited, and many people simply don’t focus on what goes on there as much as Congress or what’s going on in other parts of their lives.” However, Claire Scrivani, a junior biochemistry major, is aware of the issue behind marijuana legalization. “I’m very pro-legalization,” she said. “I don’t see how it’s any more harmful than alcohol.” Marijuana legalization has been a source of contention at the state and federal level for years, yet according to ProCon.org, 16 states, along with the District of Columbia, have managed to

legalize marijuana to some extent. Hult said she is uncertain of how much awareness could stem from college campuses, as many students are from out of state and do not pay attention to the happenings in the General Assembly. Advocates argue that marijuana legalization brings some benefits. Over the past few years, multiple states have legalized marijuana for medical uses, and some legislators contend that legalization boosts the state economy. Additionally, they argue that marijuana legalization decreases crime rates. However, the crime statistics are not always telling. “Would it decrease the number of people stopped for possession, for instance? Sure,” Hult said. “It depends on how the bill was written.” According to a New York Times article, advocates for Proposition 19, a piece of California legislation that legalizes the possession and growing of marijuana, said approving the proposition would have resulted in $1.4 billion in tax revenues and relieve some of the law enforcement involved with regulating illegal marijuana. However, defenders of status quo argue it will also cost a considerable amount of money to regulate. The issue remains controversial as state and federal laws have contradicted each other. According to the New York Times article, even though there is now some leeway with federal marijuana laws, the federal government still opposes decriminalization of it, something Jackie Bramlett disagrees with. “I’m for the legalization of it. It’s a simple answer,” Bramlett, a sophomore statistics major, said. “It’s been proven to be less harmful than cigarettes and alcohol, and it would also create jobs.” Hult said these issues remain important topics in political discussion of marijuana legalization. “I think legalization can be important for medical and health purposes,” she said. “I also think it can be important for regulation and safety of what’s being smoked, and it could be an important source of revenue for some states.” “I understand all the concerns about it — everything from driving under the influence of drugs, which is an increasing problem on the roads, and a range of other people are concerned about the impact of the smoke and people developing habits of various kinds,” Hult said. But Hult does not see legalization happening in Virginia any time soon. “I don’t think there’s a chance in the Commonwealth of Virginia that it will ever be put into place,” she said.

States that allow the possession of medicinal marijuana Alaska Arizona California Colorado DC Delaware Hawaii Maine Michigan Montana Nevada New Jersey New Mexico Oregon Rhode Island Vermont Washington

february 3, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

Sweet sensations

ABC’s ‘The Bachelor’: The good, the bad and the ugly

The popular reality series returns yet again with 25 women in search of love, adventure and fame

KEVIN DICKEL / SPPS

Located on North Main Street, Campus Cookies is a popular late-night delivery choice for students with a sweet tooth.

While it may not be the best bang for your buck, Campus Cookies provides quality, unique desserts

he sweet scent of freshly baked cookies waftThe cookies appear to be homemade and ing from an oven is something I’ve expe- fresh out of the oven. Soft and chewy like qualrienced countless times since childhood. ity cookies should be, these will melt in your Sometimes cookies and milk are just as much mouth. a necessity for college students as they are for Although the title of the business emphasizes children. cookies, it also offers other items, which I appreciSince I am no longer able to lead a frivolous life- ate. Campus Cookies sells beverages and ice cream, style, consisting of arts and crafts and “naptime,” along with numerous types of cookies, cookie cakes baking doesn’t easily fit into my schedule. Luckily, and brownies. Campus Cookies is available to anyone with a sweet I have always been pleased with my desserts tooth — like me. from Campus Cookies, but because its primary My first experience customers are poor colwith this unique business lege students, I understand occurred during my freshwhere the business may fall man year. Surprised, I The cookies appear to be short. received a phone call notiOne traditional chocolate homemade and fresh out of chip fying me of a gift delivcookie costs 94 cents ery consisting of chocolate the oven. Soft and chewy without tax. Specialty cookchip cookies. Until that ies and brownies cost even like quality cookies should more. Discounts for severpoint, I had never even imagined something like it different cookies on the be, these will melt in your al existed. menu exist, but this requires Although it was a nice mouth.” customers to buy bulk gesture by the gift giver, I orders, which aren’t always wondered to myself, if not necessary. for a gift, who would go I’d much rather spend two out of their way — and have the money — to buy dollars on a box recipe for an entire batch of chocothemselves cookies on a whim? I decided that I’d late chip cookies, rather than about a dollar for have to try it out myself. one. Eating cookies late at night seemed appropriate — I would, however, be more willing to spend I can always use a sugar boost during all-nighters. money on cookies that I probably would not Although the effect of Campus Cookies is not be able to make myself. The s’mores cookie quite as similar as that of pizza, subs or Pokey Stix, and chocolate truffle cookie, while still it gives customers a change. a bit pricey, are definitely worth the I rarely hear that my peers have ordered a batch splurge. of these cookies, and admittedly, I’ve only ordered Although the cost could be a deal breaker for Campus Cookies three times in my college career. some, Campus Cookies will not let you down. I The business seems to be more popular among would not frequently spend money on these cookfreshmen, but nonetheless, it produces tasty baked ies, but every now and then, indulging in these goods. delicious treats is worth it. Despite the prices, this After ordering from an excess of choices off its business stays true to the ideal cookie, leaving their website, the cookies were delivered in the same customers satisfied. amount of time as a pizza — about 30 to 40 minutes. While this may seem like a long time to EMMA GODDARD acquire a few baked goods, the wait is worth it. The three times I’ve had Campus Cookies, -features reporter my food has always been delivered warm and -sophomore -communication major delicious.

“

ow that we have all overcome syllabus week and classes are starting to get serious, it is time to find that new source of procrastination. It may be the worst TV show that exists to date, but the popularity for it lives on year after year, filled with tears, love and — did I mention tears? “The Bachelor” has returned yet again, with ever-surprising twists and turns. This year’s stud, Ben Flajnik, 28, is a winemaker from Sonoma, Ca. Yet again, we are supposed to feel sympathetic for the poor soul that got dumped on the previous season. Our hearts bled nationwide for Flajnik as his proposal to last year’s bachelorette, Ashley Hebert, was rejected. Surprise, surprise, Flajnik got to return to the show, yet again, to seek true love. And lucky for us, 25 new desperate women anxiously signed up for the emotional and ever graceful chase for his heart. I have to admit that I have only w a t c h e d about two seasons of the show, along with scattered episodes of various seasons here and there. However, I also have to admit that I did not hate it when my roommate put the show on two weeks ago. It is clearly a guilty pleasure that makes audience members feel better about themselves. The women on these shows make me embarrassed to be a female, but it’s hard not to enjoy watching them “fall in love,” cry and fail miserably. The first episode I watched was when the infamous Shawntel entered the scene, letting Flajnik know she felt sparks between them on a previous occasion and could not live on without letting him know. The women remaining on the show — who hated each other five minutes ago — teamed up as a pack to gossip, complain and tear up over Shawntel’s sudden appearance.

How dare she want to compete for his heart too. With tears, screaming and a case of the classic faint act, I was hooked. I like to ignore the first hour of the show, which tends to be a waste of time in my opinion. He goes on a date and either likes the girl or ditches her. When you start watching the second hour, she has a rose or she’s gone, and you’re all caught up. This week, Courtney shakes things up as she creepily waits outside of Flajnik’s hotel room in a robe. They make their way to the beach because she’s dying to let him know what it’s like to go skinny dipping with a model. Lucky him. He wakes up the next morning feeling “guilty,” and she wakes up confident as ever. Her “concern” for everyone else finding out is made clear when she casually introduces skinny dipping as a new topic of conversation in front of the women. She cannot help but slide in the fact that she feels very sure of getting a rose this week. From there, Blakeley, 34, takes a huge risk by opening up her true feelings to let Flajnik know that she has had an epiphany and that she not only deserves love, but deserves someone as special as him. How romantic. To true fans, I apologize for my sarcasm and evident mocking of the show, but I can’t resist. The show is what it is. Whether you are a hopeless romantic, someone who enjoys a good laugh or someone who is bored due to the lack of Monday night football, “The Bachelor” is sure to provide you with an hour — or two — of sheer entertainment.

CHECK ONLINE

CHECK OUT MORE POSTS FROM THE CT ENTERTAINMENT BLOG ONLINE AT COLLEGIATETIMES.COM/ BLOGS/ENTERTAINMENT

CHELSEA GUNTER -features editor -junior -communication major

opinions

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

february 3, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

Gingrich’s campaign only hinders Mitt Romney’s W

ith Newt Gingrich’s win in the South Carolina primary, the race for the Republican presidential nomination has essentially turned into a twoperson competition between Gingrich and Mitt Romney. It was expected that Romney would have a strong lead at this point in the race, but Gingrich’s win in South Carolina keeps the nomination competitive for the foreseeable future. This competition for the nomination is not good for the Republican Party and its chances of winning back the White House. Romney is the best chance the Republican Party has of defeating President Barack Obama in November. Romney is moderate enough that independent voters — who provide the key swing votes in most presidential elections — could decide to vote for him. Romney is certainly not the best candidate to challenge an incumbent president, but he does have some decent qualities, such as being a former governor and a successful businessman. And he also has a good grasp on most policy issues. In short, Romney has the best chance of getting elected out of all the remaining Republican candidates. Gingrich, on the other hand, has too much baggage that would greatly hinder his chances of running against President Obama in November. Gingrich’s biggest problem is the level of hypocrisy in his campaign, which won’t survive a general election. For some reason, many in the Republican base seem to be ignoring the hypocrisies that Gingrich is trying to cover up. Gingrich is trying to run on the platform of family values and the sanctity of marriage. Yet he divorced his first two wives, while both of them were battling serious illnesses. And he tried to impeach then-President Bill Clinton for the Monica Lewinsky scandal, while he was being unfaithful to his then-second wife. Gingrich is trying to run as a Washington outsider who is against the establishment, but he is actually the ultimate Washington insider and symbol of the establishment. How can Gingrich be a Washington outsider and against the establishment when he was the Speaker of the House for five years — one of the most powerful positions in Washington — and a lobbyist for Freddie Mac, a profession that is synonymous with being a Washington insider? For some reason this hypocrisy hasn’t destroyed Gingrich’s campaign yet, as he is still in

competition with Romney. But these issues will be the end of his campaign if he is the eventual Republican nominee. Such problems will be easy fodder for the Obama campaign to continuously focus on. Another major issue Gingrich will have in a hypothetical campaign against Obama is that his personality does not match up well against the current president’s. Gingrich often comes across as mean and rude — some might say he’s direct, but there’s a big difference between being direct and coarse, a far cry from the positive and friendly attitude of Reagan, or the easy-going nature of Bush. In difference, Obama has a calmness and even-tempered aura about him that serves him well in debates and public appearances. And he will make Gingrich look even worse by comparison if the two of them were to debate each other during the course of an election. Back to the original issue — Gingrich is bad for the Republican Party because he simply can’t beat Obama. However, Romney could. Since Gingrich is still competitive in the race, Romney has to put his resources into continuing to contend for the nomination itself, instead of beginning to attack Obama and starting his candidacy on the national scale. The longer Gingrich remains competitive in the race, the longer Romney has to commit resources to the nomination, as opposed to the general election. A longer race for the Republican nomination favors President Obama because it gives him more time to direct his campaign resources toward the general populace and election in November. The longer Romney has to contend for the election, the longer he has to talk about more conservative issues that might be popular with the Republican base, which aren’t as popular on the national level with the independent voters who will most likely decide the election. The best thing for the Republican Party is to win back the White House, and the best chance it has to do that against an incumbent president is aligning itself with Romney. The longer Gingrich remains competitive in the nomination race, the harder it will be for Romney to beat Obama.

DEVIN MILLER - regular columnist - senior - political science major

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

MCT CAMPUS

Liberal arts students find jobs I

have recently seen a great deal of articles and statistics that discuss various college majors in relation to students finding jobs. The jobs that are seen as lucrative, and therefore better, are those with the highest employment levels — I have a distinct problem with this view. Just because a student is not in a traditionally profitable major, doesn’t mean they aren’t highly valued or unlikely to find a job after graduation. This point of view stems from a larger societal idea that money is, and should be, the primary consideration in a person’s life. Although, money is important, as it is significant for a person’s survival, it should not be given utmost importance. Instead, happiness should take the forefront of a person’s life — and money does not buy happiness. People should find jobs they are passionate about but that are practical. In the end, if people work hard and strive for success, they will get what they need. And it is their skill and drive that will lead them to success, not their desire for money. To be clear, I am not arguing that people should blindly major in any subject and just hope everything works out after

graduation. Those in the liberal arts, particularly, must be reasonable when making decisions about post-graduation plans. But if students make career choices carefully, they can find jobs they love, while still being able to support themselves. As a double major in the liberal arts, I have seen many peers who think if they work hard enough, then a tenure track position at a major university will fall into their laps — all after they spend a decade and thousands of dollars to get a doctorate degree. However, after doing some research, I realized that path is not practical and more unlikely than some students may think. Instead, those in the liberal arts must think outside of the box, compared to how much an engineer, for example, might. When I graduate in May, I will be awarded two degrees — one in philosophy and one in history. I am the self-admitted queen of the useless liberal arts degree. But I love my majors, and I have thoroughly enjoyed my classes at Virginia Tech, and I credit most of my success to these elements. I have sent applications to jobs and graduate schools. Either path I choose, I will be contributing to society and making an income.

I have applied for the D.C. Teaching Fellows and the Baltimore City Teaching Residency. Both positions are in elementary special education in low-income, high-needs schools. If I am accepted to graduate school, I would enter a Master of Social Work two-year program in August. I would then seek employment through Child Protective Services or another related organization. The only undergraduate degree needed for these programs was one in the liberal arts, as well as additional classes. Even if I don’t utilize both my majors in my future job, I will use my critical thinking, writing and reading skills in any career I choose. This kind of abstract skill application could apply to most liberal arts majors. So to those who think people who major in liberal arts will end up working at Starbucks — don’t count all of us out. Some of us truly love our majors and possess a degree of practicality that will help us become productive and satisfied members of society.

GABI SELTZER - regular columnist - senior - philosophy major

Internships provide students with valuable experience As

a junior engineering major at Virginia Tech, I am going through the dreadful process of applying for summer internships. It is no longer acceptable to simply graduate from a high-ranking college with just your degree. Graduates need high grade point averages, extracurricular activities, proof of leadership skills and spotless recommendations. They also must have work experience in their field to land a job post-graduation. Holding a bachelor’s degree no longer distinguishes a person in a stack of resumes — this has instead become the norm in the United States. In this economy, the job market is tight. Therefore, all university students need extra flair on their resumes.

As a result, internships are proving their worth. They encourage students to participate in other experiential learning opportunities and become more interested in attending company information sessions. In addition, students learn about what types of jobs they do and don’t like, giving them a narrower scope when they begin searching for work. Good experience in the field also allows for positive exposure to companies, mentors and networking opportunities. Internships usually require students to have completed most of their academic education. And in turn, companies ask more out of their interns, providing them with more experience. Many students are given legitimate proj-

ects to work on during their stay at a company. And in many cases, interns are required to make presentations to show their abilities. Christine Routzahn, is the director of the Shriver Center at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She helps place more than 1,700 UMBC students into internships, co-ops and research positions at more than 500 public and private organizations around the globe. She says internships are valuable for students, but also allow companies to “develop a pool of talented candidates from which they can select permanent employees.” As a result, the costs of training and hiring are reduced, since companies find ideal applicants before employing them full

time. But internships are in high demand. Some universities require students to obtain and complete an internship before they graduate. And one of the first questions every company asks applicants during an interview is: What kind of experience do you have that sets you apart from others and that is beneficial to our company? Field experience is essentially becoming almost as important as degrees themselves. To keep up with the amount of students who want internships, companies have increased the size of their programs. Comcast has even increased the number of interns they hire as fulltime employees in the past five years.

Universities are also helping students find internships — many have built career centers and implemented short courses to help students learn about opportunities. At Tech, Career Services offers free advising on resumes. And because of Tech’s upstanding reputation in the working world, many companies travel here to conduct interviews with students. On top of all this, Tech hosts career fairs for almost every department where hundreds of companies send representatives to collect resumes and talk to students about opportunities.

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

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february 3, 2012

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Regular Edition Today’s Birthday Horoscope: Somehow, you don’t take things for granted anymore. Not resources, love or health. Enjoy them this year in the company of those you love most. It’s not about accumlating stuff but about higher ideals, values and principles. Carpe diem!

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Week ending Jan. 21, 2012

Top tracks

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What Doesn’t Kill You • Kelly Clarkson

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Set Fire to the Rain • Adele

(2) 2

Turn Me On • David Guetta & Nicki Minaj

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Good Feeling • Flo Rida

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february 3, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

Facebook seeks IPO and goes public mcclatchy newspapers

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Apply at www.leadlivelearn.com Contact Lily Zeigler 540-552-1515

Help Wanted PAID CT JOBS Apartment Delivery MAPLE RIDGE RESIDENTS: Distribution Assistants wanted for early-bird distribution to Maple Ridge apartments. Apply at collegemedia.com/ join; business@collegiatetimes.com can answer your questions. PERSONAL ASSISTANT NEEDED We are looking for an Office Assistant. Duties include greeting clients, answering phones, and routing mail, data entry and retrieve, scheduling and calender maintenance, Ideal candidates will have proven customer service skills in an

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb.18) There are many opportunities for romance, but they require you to stop looking at your belly button. Don’t waste resources, either. Be creative. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) The waves threaten to rock your boat today. Strap yourself in, keep your eye on the horizon and sail on. Luckily, you’re good at this and love an adventure. Aries (March 21-April 19) Finish a job carefully. Slow and steady does it. Hurry and you might get to do it twice. Leave negative words unsaid; they can multiply. Silence is golden today.

Senior: I am sorry but really Virginia Tech. 4 different houses with their own traditions and identities. Am I the only one that thinks Harry Potter. Are they housing wizards there too. Are your going to rename the RA’s prefects?

Anonymous: Waste of money. Tuition keeps going up yet they spend cash on useless stuff like this.

Anonymous: I think the purpose of the houses is to split the dorm up and make the larger population more accessible and less daunting to students. Having a small community within a larger dorm helps closer connections to develop. One of the points of a residential college is to create a community within a dorm that helps a large school like Virginia Tech seem smaller and more personal. MCT CAMPUS

The Facebook chalkboard wall, originally from the old building, is now featured on the new campus. company has just about saturated the planet. But the company is not satisfied, writing in the IPO filing: “There are more than two billion global Internet users, according to an industry source, we aim to connect all of them.” Zuckerberg’s shareholder letter says the company plans to meet that goal by running the company in the same way that got it to this point. Facebook, he writes, achieved success by being a meritocracy, one that encourages rapid experimentation with new features, an internal culture he dubbed, “The Hacker Way.” The company, he says, has made mistakes and will make more. But it will continue to prize speed and change over the status quo. “We work hard at making Facebook the best place for great people to have a big impact on the world and learn from other great people,” Zuckerberg writes. “The vast majority of hackers I’ve met tend to be idealistic people who want to have a positive impact on the world.” Hard to argue with the results so far. Indeed, it seems strange to think that just a couple of years ago, many of us were skeptics, asking, “Where’s the business model?” With $1 billion in profits last year, Facebook should quell any doubters. Yet despite this deep integration of

Facebook into our lives, the social network also occupies a strange place in the Silicon Valley. It never really enjoyed a honeymoon period, unlike say Google, and in fact it is decidedly uncool to love Facebook. The taste makers have moved on to champion more obscure social darlings, like Path and Pinterest. And there are plenty of people here and around the world who dismiss Facebook as a narcissistic cesspool of trivial updates. With its increasing dominance has come both greater success and greater scrutiny. Every design change, every new feature is subject to almost reflexive howls of outrage and protests. But it’s worth noting that these fits of disdain indicate both the level of responsibility the company must now shoulder, and how vital it has become in our everyday digital lives. In its filing, Facebook noted: “We also have posted the phrase ‘this journey is 1 percent finished’ across many of our office walls, to remind employees that we believe that we have only begun fulfilling our mission to make the world more open and connected.” Perhaps. But it will be hard for the next 99 percent to match the astonishment, impact and transformation of the first 1 percent.

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At last, Facebook has embarked on the path toward its IPO, the ultimate Silicon Valley rite of passage and the end of a company’s startup phase. That makes now a good time to stop and marvel at how far Facebook has come in the eight years since a Harvard student got the crazy notion that he could slap together some code and build a better social network. Facebook has long since joined the pantheon of the most important Web companies: Google. Amazon. EBay. Twitter. In some ways it feels like it has surpassed them in terms of its cultural dominance. One can feel it in the way Google, which long dominated the Web, seems to be scrambling to reinvent itself to look more like Facebook. On a grander stage, we see it in the way various activists have cited it as a major factor in their ability to organize a demonstration, a protest, a boycott, a happening. Even a revolution or two. In a remarkable letter to investors that was released along with the company’s IPO filing, co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg made clear that his ambitions for the company have grown even loftier. His intention is to change the world — personal relationships, economies, governments — not the grubby business of making money. If he does the first part, the second part will take care of itself. “We think it’s important that everyone who invests in Facebook understands what this mission means to us, how we make decisions and why we do the things we do,” Zuckerberg wrote. “Today, our society has reached another tipping point. We live at a moment when the majority of people in the world have access to the Internet or mobile phones — the raw tools necessary to start sharing what they’re thinking, feeling and doing with whomever they want. Facebook aspires to build the services that give people the power to share and help them once again transform many of our core institutions and industries.” Grandiose, yes. But pause to consider Facebook’s user statistics. They are simply astonishing. The world has about 7 billion people. Of those, 2.1 billion are the Internet. And of those, almost half are on Facebook: 845 million. Considering about 500 million Internet users are in China, and therefore blocked from using Facebook, it’s fair to say that the

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Taurus (April 20-May 20) Don’t let minor a disagreement mess up your plans. Compromise. Talk about money later. Get some postholiday rest to stay healthy. Tea, soup and a movie could be nice.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Your friends may demand something that you don’t really want to do. Sometimes there’s power in saying “no.” Have fun without spending; challenge your creativity.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) You may be thinking about it too much, and that’s okay. Stay close to home and take it easy. Slow down. Silemce can be a symphony of elegant understatement.

Gemini (May 21-June 21) Refuse to be suppressed, yet wild impulsiveness could cause accidents, so balance it out. Stand up for your health by taking good care of yourself.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) It’s not a good time to travel. Don’t issue orders. An assumption gets challenged. Release old limitations. Take it on faith.

Cancer (June 22-July 22) The timing’s not right so proceed later. Stay cose to home. Have some compassion. You’re doing the best you can with what you have. A bubble bath and some chocolate soothe.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Wander quietly through your imagination. Explore ice cream castles or travel deep into feathered canyons. Let your creativity run wild. Fairy tales can become real.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) The dif icult work is just about over. You’ll be reaping the rewards soon, but don’t spend what you don’t have yet. Keep up a good pace. It takes you far. Caprocorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) You’re dependable and do good work. Shift your routine around. Don’t get burned out to the point that you get sick. Take time for yourself.

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february 3, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

he she

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

SAID

He said: Super Bowl preparation is underway G

et your popcorn ready; it’s Super Bowl time. On par with Easter and Mother’s Day, this most sacred of Sundays is only a few days away. Haven’t started planning yet? There are just a few things to accomplish before kickoff to make sure you’re ready. First, you need to know what team to root for. It is pretty easy if you are a Patriots or a Giants fan, but outside of that, it can get a little difficult. I am from North Carolina, so my love for the Carolina Panthers will forever forbid me from cheering for the New England Patriots after Super Bowl XXXVIII where Adam Vinatieri kicked a last-second field goal to beat the underdog Panthers. Some may call it living in the past; I call it the only thing I have to hold onto. If you are completely at a loss for which team to pull for, Charlotte, N.C. is the closest NFL city to Blacksburg, so don’t be afraid to share my twisted logic. If you are a girl who is not necessarily into football, but you still want to watch the game, your team choice will more than likely come from who has the cuter uniforms or the more attractive quarterback. But ladies, please don’t tell any men this is why because they will more than likely shun you for the rest of the night. At least tell them you’re from the area so they think you have a valid reason. The necessary item is a location. This is when you find out what friend has the

largest TV and start sucking up to him. “Hey man, I really like your sweater today,” “Dude, need help with that paper?” or “Let me swipe for you at West End. Sure man, go ahead and get the lobster.” Once you’ve buttered him up as much as the lobster, it’s time to ask. Convince him how fun it will be, how many hot chicks will be coming and the various snacking possibilities. If you can successfully persuade him, you’re in. Start inviting everyone you know, and then pull the line “Hey man, you don’t mind if I invite Bob, do you?” There’s no way your passive aggressive friend will be able to say no. With a location and team set, all you need now is food. In a potluck-style party, always bring the Taco Bell party pack. It’s not a party without C-grade meat. Girls, this is a great time to use all of those pins on your “food to make” boards on Pinterest. See? Football isn’t so bad after all. Other crowd pleasers include seven-layer nacho dip and buffalo wings. Don’t be that nerd who brings fruit to a football party. With planning complete, you can now sit back and enjoy the show. The worst part of the Super Bowl is the lack of time to pee. You don’t want to go during the game

in case you miss the next big play. Commercials — typically prime urinal time — are now devoted to multimillion-dollar mini movies. The halftime show is even sacred with the hopes of a washed up star having another “wardrobe malfunction.” Just savor it while you can — because on Monday, we all have to pretend to like the NBA.

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

CHELSEA GUNTER / COLLEGIATE TIMES

She said: Fans to indulge in snacks and commercials I

had every hope in the world this season. This was supposed to be the year we wouldn’t choke in the playoffs. I practically slept in Jason Witten’s jersey, burned Tony Romo’s and pulled out Deion Sander’s from the bottom of my dresser. This time, I swore my Cowboys Christmas hat was going to be my lucky token into the playoffs, and more importantly, the Super Bowl. Oh, how I was wrong. Even worse, a team that has beaten my boys not once, but twice, is playing a team whose quarterback’s head is bigger than “Hey, Arnold’s.” It is not that I am a hater; I have incredible respect for both of the contenders. However, I will be rooting for the commercials this year. The best commercials last year included the rock paper scissors battle from Budweiser and Doritos’ display of bringing the dead back to life. I cannot wait to see what advertisements are in store for us this year in between all of the action. As an 8-year-old, I realized I was not the typical girl when I looked around and noticed I was the only female with all of the dads outside playing catch. In honor of the “She Said,” I sat down with a few of my girlfriends and merely brought up the game in general. Two of them admitted to only realizing this is Super Bowl Sunday because their meetings were cancelled, and none of them

knew who was playing. The most embarrassing moment I have ever witnessed was during senior year in high school. All of us gathered at our friend’s place to watch the game, and it was the first time I invited my then-boyfriend, who went to a different school. Having met my dad and realizing that I was raised in a life that revolved around sports, he was aware of my football knowledge. But there were a few girls in attendance that simply hadn’t read their “Football for Dummies” guide before trying to impress the guys. After a touchdown, one yelled, “Goaaaaaaaaaal!” Yes, this was real life. Our entire group was silent at first, and then, in a split second, we were off the couches laughing — she was beet red. And that single handedly became her senior quote. News flash: Most men are secretly awaiting the next close up on the cheerleaders and this does not go unnoticed by the female gender. Also, it is not sexist to say many women just hope the right team wins so their man will remain in a good mood. A lot of girls look forward to picking out a cute Super Bowl outfit that matches the team they know their man is rooting for, in hopes of keeping his attention while plays are under scrutiny or the commercial is lacking. It is no longer a preseason, regular season or even playoff game — it is the Temple Run, Harry Potter’s final shakedown with Voldemort, the Holy Grail. Cheers to you women who follow fantasy and can make solid bets on the talent. Although I said I couldn’t choose between the two, my heart has no choice but to place some favoritism. You can find me grubbing on Buffalo Wild Wings or Kobe, and don’t forget my favorite eight-layer bean and cheese dip with chips. Bring it on Super Bowl XLVI, and much like Rose in “Titanic,” I will never let go, Dallas.

KELLEY ENGLISH -featured columnist -junior -marketing management major

sports

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

february 3, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

Tech takes on fellow ACC underachiever Clemson

FILE / SPPS

After a strong start to his tenure, Clemson coach Brad Brownell (top right) has encountered struggles in conference play this season. The Tigers have suffered close losses to ACC leaders Duke and Virginia.

Hokies, Tigers try to get back on track in the ACC after disappointing starts to conference schedule CODY ELLIOT sports reporter The Virginia Tech men’s basketball team will host the Clemson Tigers tomorrow in an ACC matchup, and both teams have failed to live up to expectations. Tech is 11th out of 12 teams in the conference standings, with a 1-6 conference record. Clemson (11-10) has enjoyed a bit more success but still stands at a 3-4 ACC record. The teams are looking to get on track, as both were expected to be in the top half of the ACC standings this season.

The Hokies will face a highscoring, upbeat team, which has caused them struggles at times this year. Clemson averages 65.1 points per game and has shown to be a tough matchup for ranked teams Duke and Virginia, losing by a combined 11 points in the two contests. Senior guard Andre Young, who averages 13.9 points per game, leads the Tigers. He likes to penetrate the lane but has an all-around game, making him a big threat. With the ability to knock down the open three and make a move off the dribble, Young could be an issue for the

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Hokies. Guard Tanner Smith is the other primary scorer for Clemson, with three-point shooting as a major strength. Smith has consistently improved his accuracy throughout his career and has become a prolific shooter for the Tigers. He ranks second on the team in threepoint field goals made, behind Young, and averages 11.1 points per game. The inside presence for Clemson comes from junior Devin Booker, the brother of former Tigers star and current Washington Wizard Trevor Booker. The 6-foot-8-inch forward averages 10.7 points and 6.8 rebounds per contest. With the lack of inside presence for the Hokies, Booker

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could have a big day in both columns. Junior Milton Jennings is currently suspended from the team for failing to comply with academic standards. As a result, Bryan Narcisse has been inserted in the starting lineup and has done well. The 6-foot-6-inch forward has outstanding athleticism and brings a lot of energy to the court. His leaping ability makes him a threat on any loose ball in the air, and he could have a big day on the boards if the Hokies do not put a body on him. T.J. Sapp is the final member of the starting lineup and has the least experience. Sapp, a freshman guard, has struggled

to find his place on the team this season. His primary role has turned into shooting outside jumpers, but he certainly possesses the skill set to do otherwise. He is averaging just 4.7 points per game but is shooting 32 percent from beyond the arc. The Tigers have a deep bench and have no problem playing several guys. Freshman guard Rod Hall sees significant time off the bench and is the primary scorer for the second unit. Senior Catalin Baciu and freshmen K.J McDaniels and Bernard Sullivan all see minutes each game but don’t fill up the stat sheet. The key for Tech’s success will

be to shut down Young and keep Booker off the boards. The Tigers are a very athletic group of players who have the ability to put up a lot of points quickly. If Tech comes out in a daze — as it has been known to do this season — it could help Clemson jump out to a big lead early on, which would be hard to overcome. Tech has struggled up to this point in ACC play, largely because of the team’s inexperience and slow starts. However, seven games into the ACC schedule, now is the time for this team to grow up and begin to show fans what it is capable of. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. in Cassell Coliseum.

sports

february 3, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

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

Basketball: Hokies fall flat, lose to Duke 75-60

DANIEL LIN & KEVIN DICKEL / SPPS Despite a 23rd consecutive double-digit scoring game from guard Erick Green, the Hokies never led during their matchup last night against the No. 5 Blue Devils, losing 75-60. Hoping to bounce back from their loss, head coach Seth Greenberg and the Hokies will take on Clemson tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m. in Cassell Coliseum. from page one

and not going our way, we have to learn how to respond,” said Erick Green. “That’s a team thing that we need to work on — how to get that fight in us and play harder.” Green pointed to the small things the Hokies didn’t do that allowed Duke to build the first-half lead. “We didn’t get some rebounds. We didn’t hustle. We didn’t do the little things we should’ve done,” Green said. “We just didn’t have that fight, that’s the main thing. As a team, like I said, we have to get that fight in us.” Things didn’t get much better for the Hokies in the second half, as Duke opened up on a 24-12 run to start the half. Green, who entered the

game averaging 18 points per game in ACC play, was one of the only offensive weapons the Hokies had, finishing with 17 points. His teammate Victor Davila, a senior forward from Canovanas, Puerto Rico, tied a career high with 16 points and added seven rebounds against Duke’s Plumlee brothers. On the other side, Duke true freshman Austin Rivers torched the Hokies to the tune of 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting. When it came to offense, the Blue Devils had all the answers to the Hokies’ defense. “They hit some key threes, kickouts, tap-backs, things like that,” Green said. “When things like that happen, we can’t keep them off the

glass and they’re getting open threes, they’re going to make us pay.” Tech starting small forward Dorian Finney-Smith, a true freshman, continues to struggle shooting the ball. Over the last six games, FinneySmith is 0-25 from the field, with nine turnovers in that period. “I went through the same thing as a freshman,” Green said. “It’s a hard thing to be as a freshman. He’s playing hard, and that’s the main thing we can ask for. I think things are going to get better for him.” The Hokies — now 1-7 in their last eight games — host Clemson tomorrow afternoon. With nowhere to go but up, Green hopes the team doesn’t hang their heads and pack it in.

“All of us want to get some wins, but we have to learn. As a team, we just have to learn that when things don’t go our way instead of putting our heads down and giving up, we have to get that fight in us and keep it going," he said. Greenberg and the Hokies hope to get their first win in February come tomorrow on a quick turnaround. “We’re going to do film tomorrow and nothing on the court,” Greenberg said. “The biggest thing for us is, we’re not going to use a turnaround game as an excuse.” Tip-off for tomorrow’s game against Clemson is at 2 p.m. The game will be broadcasted on RSN.

2.5.2012

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