Tuesday, February 28, 2012 Print Edition by Collegiate Times

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Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2012

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COLLEGIATETIMES 109th year, issue 25

News, page 2

Arts & Entertainment, page 5

4/16 victims oppose repeal of handgun law

Opinions, page 3

Sports, page 6

Study Break, page 4

behind the

DESIGN Architecture professor draws international acclaim with award-winning, environmentally aware designs

BY NICK SMIRNIOTOPOULOS | features reporter

FILE 2010 / SPPS

Gov. Bob McDonnell speaks in Roanoke, Va. on Aug. 4, 2010.

April 16 victims make ﬁnal plea against legislation that would repeal restriction on handgun purchases ZACH CRIZER editor-in-chief Gov. Bob McDonnell listened to input from victims of the 2007 Virginia Tech campus shootings this weekend as he prepares to decide whether Virginians will be allowed to purchase more than one handgun in a month. Families affected by the April 16, 2007, campus shootings spoke with McDonnell in hopes of stopping a bill that would repeal Virginia’s ban on purchasing more than one handgun per month through commercial sales. The repeal passed both houses of the General Assembly and would become law with McDonnell’s signature. The ban was originally put in place in 1993 to curb Virginia’s role in gun trafficking. Andrew Goddard, whose son Colin Goddard was injured in the shootings that left 32 people dead on Tech’s campus, said the repeal would be a step back for Virginia’s public safety laws. “It’s a very bad idea, I think, to do away with the only piece of legislation we have that specifically targets gun-trafficking in a time when we’re almost back to the point we were when this bill was put in place,” he said. Goddard, along with several other families that have been active in lobbying for increased gun control since the shootings, sent a letter to McDonnell asking to voice their opinion. McDonnell listened to their arguments Saturday and is expected to make a decision today. He has previously voiced an intention to approve the repeal as passed by the General Assembly.

Goddard pointed out a survey conducted by the Richmond TimesDispatch and Christopher Newport University that found 66 percent of Virginians don’t want to repeal the one-handgun-per-month ban. In a statement to the Collegiate Times, McDonnell’s office thanked the families for their concern but declined to comment on the bill. "The governor appreciated hearing directly from the families on this issue. It was a straightforward and substantive discussion,” McDonnell press secretary Jeff Caldwell said in an e-mail. “His thoughts and prayers remain with them as they continue to deal with their tremendous loss. We will have further comment on the legislation at the appropriate time." If McDonnell approves the repeal, Virginians would no longer be restricted to purchasing one handgun per month through commercial vendors. It is already possible to purchase multiple firearms per month through private sales — such as gun sale transactions or buying a firearm from a friend. “Even if it’s not as effective as it could be — because there are ways around it — taking it away altogether isn’t going to make it any better,” Goddard said. “Anyone who has a legitimate reason for getting more than one handgun a month has ways to do that now.” The repeal is one of many gunrelated bills to come up in the General Assembly this year. The two bills related to college campuses — one that would allow professors to carry concealed weapons on campus and another that would have ended colleges’ power to ban firearms on campus — have not passed this session.

On-campus rooms available for graduation Families of graduates can now stay on campus while visiting Tech for spring commencement TAUHID CHAPPELL news staff writer Finding a place for students’ family members to settle in for spring commencement can prove to be a stressful experience. To accommodate the amount of people that pour into Virginia Tech for graduation, the university is offering on-campus lodging for those who want to stay in Blacksburg and avoid the commute from a hotel. To reserve rooms on campus, family members can fill out registration forms online or mail them, with payment, to Harper Hall. There are three lodging packages and two types of residence hall rooms to select. Suite style rooms include air-conditioning, and since the demand is high for these types of rooms, there will be a lottery sign up starting March 7. The lottery will remain open until March 19, and those who signed up will be notified with results by March 23. Reservations for traditional-style rooms will begin March 26, so family members who don’t receive an air-conditioned room will be able to sign up for a traditional room. Eric Wininger, assistant director of conferences and events, said total room availability will depend

way into campus.” Although Tech is pushing for parents to stay on campus, local on current students’ check out hotel businesses don’t seem worplans. ried. “We wait to get their check out “There’s enough demand here to plans so we don’t overbook,” he fill all the hotels in this area,” said said. “Last year, we had 1,050 peo- Tom Shaver, general manager for ple stay.” The Inn at Virginia Tech. Since many hotels fill up fast for Shaver also said staying on camgraduation weekend, the lodging pus is not for everyone. “When my sons started their college career at another university, I stayed in a dorm during their orientation,” he said. You come and you’re here “That would have been my time I would have volunand you don’t have to drive only teered to stay in a dorm.” in to campus. It’s very Rei Black, general manager for the Main Street Inn, said convenient to be in town it’s a great that Tech allows to stay on campus. instead of being an hour families “I think it’s a really good away, instead of trying to idea that they offer the lodging because the university is ﬁght your way to campus.” that only getting larger,” Black said. “The sizes of the freshman Martha Pinard classes are only getting bigger, Parent who is staying on campus so the demand is increasing. I for commencement don’t think it’s a bad competitive element to have them offer that.” Likewise, Wininger said packages offer family members a the university is not attempting chance to avoid staying in a hotel to compete with or drive business far from campus. away from hotels. One reason Martha Pinard, a “We’re not competing, we’re just parent of a graduating Tech stu- here to help provide some housing dent, is choosing to stay on campus closer to Blacksburg,” he said. for commencement is because of For those who are scrambling the convenience. to book a room on campus, more “You come and you’re here and information on the lodging packyou don’t have to drive in to cam- ages can be found on Tech’s conferpus, and that’s a big thing for me,” ence and guest services website at she said. “It’s very convenient to be Housing.vt.edu/conference/planin town instead of being an hour ners/amenities.php. The deadline away, instead of trying to fight your for registration is April 30.

“

The architectural masterpiece of the Lumenhaus — that has received international acclaim for design and efficiency— embodies what Virginia Tech students and faculty interpret as “Invent the Future.” The modern design — that won the international Solar Decathlon in 2010 — emphasizes a sleek exterior, utilizing cutting-edge green technology to create a self-sustaining environment. The innovative model is merely a projection of the unified ideas created by the thinkers who worked on it. Robert Dunay, T.A. Carter professor of architecture, was one of three architecture faculty advisors for the Lumenhaus. Since the start of the Solar

Decathlon competitions in 2002, Dunay has been an advisor for the Tech team in three successive competitions in 2002, 2005 and 2009. “With each generation, the design has gotten better and more complex. In 2002, we had never done anything like this — it was a heavy learning process. In 2009, we were much more sophisticated,” Dunay said. While the competitions demanded increasing complexity and creativity, the Tech team built upon knowledge from years of research, which provided the technology for the Lumenhaus. “The research (for the Lumenhaus) built on foundations from (competitions) before. We knew we had a good design, but see DUNAY / page two

PAUL KURLAK / SPPS

Obama approves pipeline White House allows Canadian ﬁrm TransCanada to begin constuction of Keystone XL pipeline LESLEY CLARK & RENEE SCHOOF mcclatchy newspapers WASHINGTON — With President Barack Obama under fire from Republicans over the rising cost of gasoline, the White House moved quickly Monday to trumpet a Canadian company’s decision to build a section of the Keystone XL pipeline from Cushing, Okla., to Houston after Obama blocked a longer path last month. Press Secretary Jay Carney hailed TransCanada’s announcement and used it to counter Republican criticism that the administration has stifled oil and gas production. He said that the Oklahoma-to-Texas section of the pipeline would “help address the bottleneck of oil in Cushing that has resulted in large part from increased domestic oil production, currently at an eight-year high.” The company’s decision, Carney said, “highlights a little-known fact — certainly, you wouldn’t hear it from some of our critics — that we approve, pipelines are approved and built in this country all the time.” Obama’s decision last month to reject the full 1,661-mile Keystone XL pipeline from Canada’s tar sands has become a focal point of Republican efforts to portray him as responsible for the recent spike in gasoline prices, and they fault him for blocking a project they say would create jobs and reduce America’s dependence on oil imports from unstable foreign sources.

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, poked fun at the White House salute of TransCanada’s decision. “The president is so far on the wrong side of the American people that he’s now praising the company’s decision to start going around him,” Boehner said in a statement to ABC News. A recent national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press suggests that Obama’s Keystone decision could become a political liability. Though 37 percent of those surveyed said they had not heard of the pipeline, 66 percent of those who had heard of it said the government should approve it, while 23 percent opposed it. Energy experts say that the Keystone XL pipeline wouldn’t do much to lower gasoline prices. The recent price increases stem largely from speculators bidding up prices at a time of growing fear of future oil-supply disruptions in the event of a war with Iran over its nuclear program. TransCanada will be the second pipeline moving oil from Cushing to the Gulf Coast. The other is already built and owned by Enbridge Inc. The two pipelines will reduce the glut of oil in the Midwest “and in doing so will raise the price of oil in Cushing and the Midwest and will lower the price very slightly in the rest of the world,” said Severin Borenstein, a professor at the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. Prices in the Midwest could go up 10 to 30 cents a gallon, ending the

region’s cheaper gasoline compared to other areas, he said. If the full pipeline is constructed, the effect on prices would “never really be noticed” because it would be so small, a few cents or less per gallon, that it would be “lost in the noise of other changes.” TransCanada also told the State Department on Monday that it plans to submit a new application for the rejected segment of the pipeline, and Carney said the president’s rejection last month “in no way prejudged future applications.” The White House contends that House Republicans forced Obama to reject the earlier cross-border application by not giving it enough time to review the project. Republicans accuse Obama of putting off the decision until after the 2012 election to avoid upsetting environmentalists. Environmental groups made the pipeline a test of Obama’s will to move the country off fossil fuels and to slow climate change. They also say the pipeline would put the Ogalalla Aquifer under the Great Plains, streams, farms and wildlife habitat at more of a risk of oil spills. Kim Huynh of Friends of the Earth said in a statement Monday that the pipeline would be an “environmental disaster” and called the administration’s welcome of TransCanada’s plan “an alarming about-face.” “The administration must stop trying to have it both ways,” Huynh said. “President Obama cannot expect to protect the climate and to put the country on a path toward 21st century clean energy while simultaneously shilling for one of the dirtiest industries on Earth.”

news

feb. 28, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

Bridal show season starts On Sunday, the Owens Banquet Room was home to a bridal showcase from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event was free to students and $5 to the general public. Participants had an opportunity to meet with wedding service planners, watch a bridal fashion show and enter a rafﬂe for a chance to win prizes provided by visiting wedding vendors. Missed this one? The Blacksburg Bridal Expo will be held on Sunday, March 11 from noon until 5 p.m at The Inn at Virginia Tech. The event will also include door prizes and refreshments. photo by Brad Klodowski

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

what you’re saying On Paul uniting Tea Partiers and Occupiers

OKayyyy: Being that the majority of information on Wikipedia is incorrect, never fact checked Mike: Your column reminded me of this awesome video from Occupy Wall Street: http://www.youtube. com/watch?v=uZmPWcLQ1Mk Ron Paul and Mitt Romney are the only Repubs on the Virginia Ballot. It will be fun to see what happens with that.

Anonymous: We, the people, are ready for Ron Paul. He has stayed the course, and he is the only one who has answers and a plan for restoring of our Country and our liberty. Hugh Hall: Ron Paul is the only candidate calling

for the basic principles our country was founded on. He has never waded from the truth.Some say his foreign policy is not sound.Let some individual or country strike us and Ron Paul will be the first to take care of the insult.Hugh

Anonymous: Ron Paul would be a terrible choice for the republican nomination: he’s to the left of Obama on national defense he’s fine with the government letting people die on the streets he associates with very racist and antisemetic people his year one budget cut would put the economy into shock causing another great depression. The only taxes he cuts are for the rich.

anon informed: @Anonymous: I suggest you

inform yourself on his real stance with an open mind. Your statements show you are simply not well informed. A mind is a terrible thing to waste. Don’t be a tool to those who wish to oppress you.

Dunay: Professor named a top 25 US design educator from page one

we had to make it perform in competition,” Dunay said. The international competition in 2010 required Tech students to live in the Lumenhaus and engage in simple daily tasks, such as cleaning and cooking, to test its sustainability. Chip Clark, visiting professor

of architecture, had the chance to work alongside Dunay both as a student for the 2005 competition and a faculty member for the 2009 competition. “(The Solar Decathlon) offered an opportunity that a standard curriculum didn’t — the opportunity to work with other disciplines,” Clark said.

“That kind of project can’t happen without other departments in the university and industries outside the university.” The cross-disciplinar y research involved in the Solar Decathlon led Dunay to start the Center for Design Research, or the CDR, where he serves as director.

“The vision is to build a center of collaboration where performance criteria co-mingle with cultural forces and societal precepts to produce works of use, surprise and wonder,” Dunay said. The CDR was officially formed last year but was essentially operating at a grassroots level throughout the Solar Decathlon competition. The CDR seeks to merge various disciplines associated with design, such as engineering and business, to promote the cooperation between research and education. “The greatest lesson learned (from the Lumenhaus) is there are territories of opportunity between disciplines, which requires an interrelationship between the disciplines,” Dunay said. Dunay said the next phase for the CDR is to take the aspects of the Lumenhaus to the next level and create “the house of the future.” The CDR is partnering with other universities from the Solar Decathlon for the project, cooperating to formulate ideas, rather than competing against each other. While integrating research and education has become a core aspect to Dunay’s profession and personal identity, teaching was not initially part of his career plans. Dunay realized his passion for architecture in high school, which led him to study at Tech. “I thought of architecture as the chance to make some-

thing of significance,” Dunay said. Upon graduation, Dunay moved to Colorado with his wife, who also graduated from Tech with an architecture degree, to work for an architectural firm. After a few years in Colorado, Dunay received an opportunity that would change the course of his career. “I never had the thought of teaching. (My wife and I) were asked to teach (at Tech) for a year and one year turned into more — we liked it here,” Dunay said. The reason Dunay was enamored with Tech’s architecture program was the core curriculum, which inspires individual creativity and intellectual inquisition. “The object of the curriculum is to work under the students’ drive. We (the professors) don’t have the answers. We are providing a framework to provide new ways of seeing problems,” Dunay said. Clark was a direct beneficiary of the curriculum, which also drew him back to the university to pursue a career in research and education, following in Dunay’s footsteps. “(Dunay) is essentially my mentor,” Clark said. “He has experience and depth in the profession and is very well respected in the field. I am very fortunate to be able to learn from him.” Clark said Dunay’s attention to detail sets him apart from

other professors and helps prepare his students for the profession. “He doesn’t take anything for granted at any level, and he holds the students to that same standard. I think that is why people respect him so much,” Clark said. Dunay has recently been recognized by DesignIntelligence Magazine as one of America’s 25 Most Admired Educators in the field of design, an award he has received three times. “(The award) is gratifying because it means I have done something for students in the past that impacted them, since it is determined by people who are currently working in the field,” Dunay said. Clark said the award emphasizes Dunay’s core philosophy that the field of practice is inextricably linked to the realm of education and research. “The recognition is not strictly coming from the profession or from academia, but it is supposed to be balanced between the two. It is a notion that he operates simultaneously between both,” Clark said. For Dunay, whether he is involved with research, education or real-world projects, design is paramount to his identity. “(Design) is a way of life, a value system and a belief system. It is really the blood of what one does,” Dunay said.

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

opinions

feb. 28, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

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

Our Views [staff editorial]

Policy change could increase gun trafﬁcking

his past weekend, five families of victims of the April 16, 2007, shootings at Virginia Tech spoke with Gov. Bob McDonnell via conference call in hopes of vetoing House Bill 940. The bill in question would repeal a 19-year-old law that limits the number of handguns a person in Virginia can buy to one per month through commercial sales and would likely increase the number of guns in the state. While we certainly understand the Second Amendment and the constitutional right to bear arms, we believe the legislation should be vetoed and the current law should stand. As Tech students, we know all too well the worst-case scenario when it comes to guns. Furthermore, the repeal of this law could make illegal weapon trafficking even more prevalent. According to TraceTheGuns.org, Virginia is

already a “net exporter,” meaning more firearms are exported out of the state than imported. If the repeal is lifted and the ratio between exported and imported increases, it will only hurt the commonwealth’s reputation. Some activists have argued the law is outdated, as many citizens are already exempt from the law, but we believe it perhaps needs to be rewritten, but not done away with. Guns can be dangerous, even in the right hands, and there are few situations that warrant the need to purchase multiple handguns in a single month. The last thing the commonwealth needs is another incident like that of April 16 or Dec. 8, 2011, and if HB 940 increases the chance of more wanton acts of violence occurring again by even the tiniest margin, it isn’t worth it.

The editorial board is composed of the editors of the Collegiate Times.

Your Views [letter to the editor]

‘The VP Is In’ session talks ‘slacker’ rating

ast week’s meeting was the first of three “The VP is In” sessions scheduled for the spring semester, and I was joined in the SGA office by a small group of students. The first part of the conversation was a summary of concerns that were expressed by members of the SGA House of Representatives. Among other concerns, this list included: faculty holding students responsible for deadlines even when the Scholar site goes down and is not available, inconsistencies in academic advising, concerns about the class attendance policy, the Stadium Woods issue and where to put the indoor football practice facility, and the desire for a more unified and multicultural campus. It was quite an extensive list, and it is noteworthy that a number of the items on the list reappear year after year. Before the article came out the next day in the Collegiate Times about the CollegeHumor identifying Virginia Tech as “third in the country in terms of being a slacker campus,” we discussed the fact that a reporter had interviewed me about the site. There was unanimous consensus among the students that labeling Tech students as “slackers” is totally inaccurate and not descriptive of our student body. They felt our curriculum does not lend itself to this type of description, and they noted the “top 10 schools” on the CollegeHumor list happen to be large public institutions with major football programs. There was also a strong consensus that the CollegeHumor staff jumped to conclusions based upon the limited perceptions of some people, rather than actual data to support such a ranking. Students also commented that they would put the CollegeHumor survey in the category of a meme. By the way, that was my learning lesson of the day, as I had not heard that term before. And in case you have not, a meme is basically a thought pattern that goes viral, usually through the Internet, which is more often than not based on inaccurate and invalid information We went on to talk about frequent communications between students and parents. I was musing about being an undergraduate in the 1960s, at time when I was lucky to talk to my parents, at most, once a week, and we generally communicated by United States mail letter rather than a telephone call. A quick survey of the students present for the session showed nearly all of them communicate one or more times each day by phone, text or email with their parents. Oh, how times have changed. Students talked a bit about powerful classes they have

taken while at Tech. Two students were especially complimentary of the teaching of Art Buikema, alumni distinguished professor of biological sciences. They had him for an honors biology course two years ago, and were very grateful for the challenging and inspiring ways in which he teaches the course. They noted that although, at the time, the course may have seemed especially challenging, in retrospect they expressed much gratitude to him for the ways in which he taught students to think about connections between seemingly unconnected things. There were other concerns were raised about the Math Emporium — a subject that frequently comes up in our discussions. One suggestion I heard was that the staff there should consider having online videos of faculty lecturing on a particular topic, so they could be consulted as supplements to other online work. We talked next about the use of designated drivers. I have commented before that designated drivers are a mixed blessing — they provide a presumably “safe” transportation system to those students who have been consuming alcohol, but they also enable students to consume enormous amounts of alcohol. However, I mentioned that the graduate students working in our Center for Applied Behavioral Systems in the psychology department have become quite concerned recently about the blood alcohol counts being observed among designated drivers themselves. Graduate students in the center have recently indicated that a designated driver is not necessarily a “sober/nondrinking” person, but may in fact be the “least drunk” of the group. Obviously, this is a dangerous and disconcerting situation. Students suggested that the various drinking establishments downtown ought to consider incentivizing designated drivers by providing them with free soft drinks. The session concluded with students asking me detailed questions about the reseating of Lane Stadium, the possibility of a dining center being located off campus (no, we are not considering that), and an overview of campus construction at the present and in the future. That’s a summary of the latest things on students’ minds. I hope some of you will join me to hear what’s on the minds of our students at the next “The VP is In” session, which will be held on Tuesday, March 20, at the Graduate Life Center from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Here’s to a safe and enjoyable spring break for everyone. Edward F.D. Spencer vice president of student affairs

MCT CAMPUS

Ausan Al-Eryani featured columnist, junior, political science major

US must help EU crisis At

t he recent G-20 meeting in Mexico, Brazilian finance minister Guido Mantega mentioned that Brazil, among other developing nations, would be willing to provide more financial assistance to ease the eurozone’s debt crisis. The catch is that in addition to the Europeans strengthening their financial stabilization funds — mainly through the European Financial Stability Fund — developing nations would ask for more power within the International Monetary Fund, or IMF. This is problematic for the United States. The IMF was created in the mid1940s to guarantee currency stability in the world economy. Today, it has expanded its oversight of the global financial system by offering financial loans to developing economies and — more relevant to the ongoing eurozone crisis — providing financial assistance to economies in precarious financial situations. Although the traditional head of the IMF has been a European, the institution is based in Washington, D.C., and is mostly a product of America’s superpower status and leadership following the devastation of World War II. Undoubtedly, the European financial crisis is the IMF’s biggest test yet, and its most powerful members determine the direction it goes forward with. Subsequently, Brazil’s finance minister makes a good point. Most developing countries are growing more wealthy and prosperous by the day. Naturally, it is both economically and even ethically right that they have a larger say in how organizations like the IMF manage international financial crises. But Brazil — a thriving democracy in its own right — isn’t the real issue. Earlier this month Chinese premier Wen Jiabao said China was considering increasing its role in providing funds for Europe. This is where the economic dynamics of the eurozone crisis will certainly lead to interesting political dynamics. Suppose China does decide to commit to helping “rescue” Europe. Just recently, the IMF said it may need to increase lending by $600 billion to counter the effects of the eurozone crisis. China, with its ever-increasing financial muscle, can afford to foot a good chunk of that bill. But the Chinese will not simply hand out free money. In addition to requiring the European Union grant China full market status — a technicality that would remove certain restrictions to Chinese exports and investments in Europe — Beijing will surely (and logically) seek political favors as well. This is where U.S. interests would be threatened. Following the catastrophic political and economic situation the Europeans found themselves in after World War II, the U.S. wisely stepped in and provided the funds necessary for Europe to rebuild itself. The most important aspect of those funds is they weren’t “loans.” Rather they were essentially financial aid tied not to promise of repayment, but a promise that the Europeans would stop destroying one another and ultimately embrace a collective destiny. It is time for the U.S. to step in once more and show Europe that it remains its most important and willing ally. Aside from China, Europe represents the U.S.’s most critical financial partner, and arguably, with two European nations

on the United Nations Permanent Security Council, America’s most vital political ally. With the growing influence of Germany (and the potential for it to be added to the Permanent Security Council), these ties may become even more important. Since the creation of the European Union, or the EU, and the adoption of the euro currency by most European economies, the union has managed to promote democracy, human rights and economic liberalization without fear of backlash from other political actors. Should China take the lead in “rescuing” the eurozone, the Europeans may be less inclined to speak out against much of the political volatility in Africa, the Middle East and East Asia. Even with all of Beijing’s coyness regarding the crisis, the reality is that Europe remains China’s biggest trading partner. China’s economic growth is reliant on Europe’s financial destiny, with the IMF stating that escalation of the EU debt crisis could “slash China’s economic growth in half this year.” Make no mistake, Chinese officials understand the gravity of such an escalation clearly. With that, there are several approaches the U.S. can take to ensure that Europe retains the backing of the world’s most powerful economy and, more importantly, a democratic hub. First, the U.S. must make it clear that it will do whatever it takes to help stabilize the situation in the eurozone. Next, in addition to encouraging Europe to expand its financial firewall, the U.S. ought to be blunt with the Europeans about their problems. For too long, economies such as Spain and Greece have received a free ride on the success of the EU. With bloated bureaucracies and uncompetitive economies, these troubled nations have managed to bring the entire existence of the euro into question. What Europe needs — and what U.S. leadership should explicitly state — is for financially troubled economies to slash their debt, revamp their fiscal operations, and pursue policies that promote economic growth and competitiveness. Lastly, though certainly controversial given America’s own precarious financial situation, the U.S. should commit to providing more funds through the IMF and other institutions. That may not sit well with many people, but it’s what needs to be done. If the U.S. doesn’t provide financial assistance — and one without excessive preconditions — it will see the EU, at least politically speaking, much more willing to take China’s “considerations” more seriously. How could Europe remain vocal on human rights and democratic principles if it had one of the most undemocratic nations looking over its shoulder? This isn’t to say China and other developing nations should not have a say in world affairs. On the contrary, China, Brazil, Turkey and India will prove to be some of the most important political actors of the 21st century. However, to remain relevant in this century’s international area, America will have to prove — not simply claim — that it is committed to Europe and all that the EU stands for. If the U.S. doesn’t do so, someone else may step in instead.

Collegiate Times Editorial Staff Editor in Chief: Zach Crizer Managing Editor: Lindsey Brookbank Design Editors: Danielle Buynak, Victoria Zigadlo Public Editor: Justin Graves Web Editor: Sarah Watson News Editors: Nick Cafferky, Michelle Sutherland News Reporters: Josh Higgins, Cody Owens, Erin Chapman News Staff Writers: Priscila Alvarez, Abby Harris, Gina Paterson, Ashley Seagar Features Editors: Chelsea Gunter, Patrick Murphy Features Reporters: Nick Smirniotopoulos Features Staff Writers: Courtney Baker, Torie Deible, Dane Harrington, Kevin McAleese, Andrew Reily Opinions Editors: Scott Masselli, Sean Simons Sports Editors: Matt Jones, Zach Mariner Sports Reporters: Michael Bealey, Josh Parcell Sports Staff Writers: Eric Avassi, Zander Baylis, Alyssa Bedrosian, Cody Elliott, Taylor Hay, Alex Koma, Ashleigh Lanza, Brian Marcolini Photo Editor: Daniel Lin Enterprise Team Editor: Liana Bayne Public Information Director: Dishu Maheshwari Training Director: Kelsey Heiter Copy Chief: Spenser Snarr Copy Editors: Nora McGann, Luther Shell Layout Designers: Bethany Melson, Alicia Tillman, Tanja Vogel Online Director: Alex Rhea Collegiate Times Business Staff Business Manager: Philipp Kotlaba Student Publications Photo Staff Director of Photography: Paul Kurlak Lab Manager: Austen Meredith College Media Solutions Ad Director: Brandon Collins Asst Ad Director: Matt Freedman Account Executives: Johnson Bray, Kevin Jadali, Alyssa Brown, Brian Dickson, Janssen Claudio Inside Sales Manager: Mario Gazzola Assistant Inside Sales Manager: Adam Shata Office Manager: Kayley Greenday Assistant Account Executives: Alex Perry, Kacie Nolan, Jordan Peugh Creative Director: Casey Stoneman Asst Production Manager: Colleen Hill Creative Services Staff: Danielle Bushrow, Michael Craighead, Alyssa Morrison, Molly Vinson

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arts & entertainment

feb. 28, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

Anime film adapts well for US audience “T

he Secret World of Arrietty” For instance, when a character rested comes from the well-respected his head against a pillow, the fabric foldStudio Ghibli that has made movies such ed in as naturally as any live action pilas “Kiki’s Delivery Service,” “Spirited low would have. All the objects seemed Away” and “Howl’s Moving Castle.” to breathe. All these films are hand drawn in the Even something as simple as a water Japanese anime style. “Arrietty” pro- droplet was made to look as viscous vides a refreshing as jelly from the little people’s point of from the usual view. Imagine being able to hold a water MOVIE break computer-generated droplet as big as a baseball in the palm REVIEW movies. Though it’s of your hand. not the best movie Since “Arrietty” was originally released Studio Ghibli has to offer, it is still in Japan in 2010, the American voices entertaining. are dubs of the original Japanese cast. I know little of the world of anime. My Real life spouses Will Arnett and Amy longest soiree with the anime genre was Poehler voice Arrietty’s mother and in 1997, when I’d wake up early before father, respectively. school to watch “Pokemon.” Obviously, Poehler is perfect as the mother, I’m no expert, but I have seen a few playing up her neurotic behaviors. Studio Ghibli films. Unfortunately, the father’s character is The expertly crafted stories and breath- more stoic, and Arnett’s humorous tone taking animation truly places the studio does not come through. in a league of its This was my first own. Walking time seeing a Studio into the theater Ghibli film in theto see “Arrietty,” I It’s not a waste of money aters, and I have to expected another admit I didn’t realize to see it in theaters, but how badly some of masterpiece. Similar to voices matched I’d aim for a matinee the “The Borrowers” the characters’ lips. (1997), “Arrietty” showing. After all, anime On a TV, it’s hardfollows a famto see that the isn’t just for ‘Pokemon’ er ily of miniature mouth movements people who live don’t exactly mirror masters.” under the floorwhat the characters boards of a norare saying. On the mal-sized human’s home. Arrietty and big screen, it’s quite obvious. her parents sneak out each night to take Given the fact that the film was origismall things that won’t be missed from nally in Japanese and the English dub the human’s house, such as sugar cubes, was able to render the dialogue to fit the pins and stamps. characters’ voices is a feat within itself, When a boy who has just moved in I gave the filmmakers a break. If you’re sees Arrietty, her family’s existence is one to get distracted by something like threatened. this, you may want to steer clear of The plot from this point forward is “Arrietty” while it’s in theaters. pretty predictable — the pace is slow, I also highly recommend “Howl’s and the dialogue is sparse. And although Moving Castle” or “Spirited Away” if the movie is rated G, I wouldn’t take a you have not seen a Ghibli production. child younger than 6 years old to see it. While “The Secret World of Arrietty” I’m pretty sure a child would prob- is fun, it lacks the complexity of the ably find the gum under their seat former films. more entertaining. For everyone older, It’s not a waste of money to see it “Arrietty” is a neat adventure into the in theaters, but I’d aim for a matinee world of people no bigger than a thumb. showing. After all, anime isn’t just for From the first scene of a cityscape “Pokemon” masters. complete with cars and bustling people, I was in awe. It has been a while since COURTNEY BAKER I’ve seen a hand-drawn movie in theaters. The attention to detail was phe- -featured columnist nomenal. Each thing that moved on -senior -political science major screen had a life of its own.

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Keep the law

“Winter Gear” 1) coat 2) gloves 3) hat 4) scarf 5) mittens 6) boots 7) socks 8) earmuffs

101

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Lesson 7: Illegal Drug Policy Violations I heard that Virginia Tech no longer has a ZeroTolerance policy on drugs. So, what’s the policy now?

Send your information and a photo to the Collegiate Times at studybreak@collegemedia.com to make an announcement.

ANSWER: Virginia Tech revised its policy on illegal drugs to allow for special circumstances that may warrant sanctions other than suspension. However, while suspension is no longer guaranteed, if a student is found responsible for violating the illegal drug policy, it is still the likely and expected outcome. I received a notification from student conduct and I believe this is about an incident involving marijuana. What should I expect? What is going to happen at this meeting?

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) You ind new answers to old questions. You’re motivated to take action. You’re imaginative, inspired and justy plain lucky. Take a step.

Gemini (May 21-June 21) An antique igures into your plans. Go over inancial information with an expert. Step into the spotlight, and let it rip. Sing out for what you care about.

Aries (March 21-April 19) Get ready for another great learning experience. Your ability to concentrate will be enhanced marvelously for the next two days. Resist the temptation to splurge.

Cancer (June 22-July 22) Speak, email and send your messages out. You may be under a bit more pressure. Slow down and think it over. Let your partner choose the color.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Edit the presentation again for clarity ad brevity. You’re entering a two-day domestic phase. Get practical, and watch for a new source of inspiration.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Little successes add up. Enjoy gorgeous moments. Your good manners gain you brownie points. Network socially, and spread the good vibes around.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Writing, recording and communications go well today. Prepare in private for the attention that’s coming later. Go over planning and schedules. Edit the speech down to it’s most powerful form. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) You’re probably thinking about it too much. Trust your instincts for a brilliant solution. Be open to new ideas, even if they seem crazy. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) You don’t have to do the boring stuff. Delegate to someone who’s better than you at that, and focus on what you do best. Reward with rest and relaxation.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) There’s gain without pain, although it does require discipline. You can be very convincing now, and move forward with celerity. Don’t dodge the acknowledgement. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) You get farther when you team up with a partner. You get a boost of con idence. Go ahead and dream. A plan, a team and actions make it real. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Solving problems comes easily, especially when you let your higher sense prevail. Creativity lows, and it’s so romantic... share with with someone interesting.

ANSWER: Your first meeting will be a pre-hearing where you will be informed of all charges and how your formal hearing will work, receive a copy of the conduct referral, and ask any questions you may have. The incident will not be adjudicated at the pre-hearing, but you will receive a date and time for the formal hearing, where the incident will be adjudicated.

feb. 28, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

sports

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

Track teams gear up for season CODY ELLIOTT sports reporter Since joining the ACC, the Virginia Tech track and field program has been thriving, with the men’s and women’s teams experiencing national success over recent years. The men’s team won its first ACC indoor team title last year and came up just a few points short of the outdoor title, falling to Florida State. This year, the teams return a ton of talent and will once again be known for their deep rosters. In last year’s indoor championship, the Hokies won three individual championships, still taking home the title because of a collective effort. Dave Cianello, the director of track and field and cross country, said he centers his efforts toward one thing. “Our focus is always on the conference championships,” Cianelli said. “That is what we work toward each year.” The men’s team is locked and loaded for another deep run this year after finishing fifth in the NCAA Outdoor Championships last season. The Hokies will return nine AllAmericans in outdoor track, making them a threat to win a team title at both the conference and national FILE 2011 / SPPS level. Meanwhile, the women’s team is Members of the men’s track and ﬁeld team celebrate their conference championship last year. The Hokies return nine All-Americans this season. rebuilding from its accomplishments a few years ago and will mostly center around freshman and sophomores this year. Although they must cope with the loss of All-Americans Dorotea Habazin, Kelly Phillips and Samira Burkhardt, the Hokies are still expected to compete well in the ACC. In the sprint, hurdles and jumps, two-time All-American Hasheem Halim will lead the way. He placed 15th in the country last year in the triple jump and second in the ACC Indoor Championships. He also walked away with an ACC Outdoors title and a fourth-place national finish. Keith Ricks is the team’s best sprinter and qualified for the NCAAs in the 100-meter dash last season. But health could be an issue for Ricks, as he has had injury concerns in the past. However, he insists he is doing everything in his power to prevent harm. “Every day in practice, I approach that day like it is a meet,” Ricks said. “I like to warm up and focus like it’s competition day, so when the competition day does come, I already know what to expect and have played each race through my mind.”

EVERY GAME AT CHAMPS IN HD THE MADNESS BEGINS MARCH 13

With so much attention being paid to him and his career at Tech, the senior has aspirations he’d like to reach outside of Blacksburg. “One of my major goals for this year is to compete in the Olympic Trials this outdoor season,” Ricks said. “I once competed for the United States at the Pan Am Junior Championships in Trinidad and Tobago. It was an amazing experience to represent my country, and I’d love the opportunity to do it again.” Two seniors on the women’s side, Ogechi Nwaneri and Aunye Boone, will hold down the sprints and jumps. Both headlined the Hokies in this area last season and are expected to score in multiple events at the conference championships. In the pole vault, there are multiple All-Americans returning for the men including Joe Davis and four-time All-American Hunter Hall. Tech is also loaded in throwers as well. Five-time honoree Marcell Lomnicky leads a group that, as a whole, has combined for 11 AllAmerican honors. The women’s throws and pole vault lost several All-Americans and are looking at the potential of some young prospects. Juniors Leigh Allin and Emme DeJarnette will be expected to improve this season, along with Annjulie Vester from Germany, in throws. Finally, in the distance races, the men’s team, like most other categories, is loaded with depth and features All-American talent in Michael Hammond and Will Mulherin. For the women, Frances Dowd has taken over as the top runner and recently set the school record in the 600- and 800-meter races. Dowd, like Ricks, has her mind set on bigger things. “My goals for this year include qualifying for nationals, as well as finishing top three in the 800 meters at both indoor and outdoor (conference championships),” Dowd said. So far, both teams have seen success and believe they have the talent to compete hard. “Our main goal for this year is to rebuild our ACC standing,” Dowd said. Meanwhile, Ricks said the team has just one thing one its mind. “Our team wants to win the ACC Championships,” he said. “We have got a great group of athletes that is capable to be ACC champions.”