Thursday, March 22, 2012
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COLLEGIATETIMES 108th year, issue 34
News, page 2
Weekend, page 5
Relay initiates funding push
Opinions, page 3
Sports, page 6
Study Break, page 4
Heel-ing tumors
MICKEY RADIOU / SPPS
Leyna, Frank Saltarelli’s miniature schnauzer, is one of several dogs that has beaten cancer thanks to a new treatment. BRAD KLODOWSKI / SPPS
Relay members pass out balloons to raise awareness, yesterday.
Relay board continues its ‘10 for 10’ fundraiser with Moe’s, gathering money for the April event NICK SMIRNIOTOPOULOS features reporter The Virginia Tech Relay for Life executive board — which holds the annual event that raises money for the American Cancer Society — is in its home stretch, as it prepares for the all-night affair on the Drillfield next month. This year, the event will take place on April 20 starting at 6 p.m. — participants will “relay” into the wee hours of the next morning. Fundraising efforts are already in full swing for the highly anticipated event, which explains why Tech has had the No. 1 Collegiate Relay for the last several years, raising more money for the ACS than any other college. Last year, Tech raised $630,000 — the largest amount in its history. Amanda Krieger, the public relations executive for Relay, said the event’s growing success can be attributed to the executive board’s involvement. “... the executive board (has made) it part of their everyday lives. We stay up all night, doing ever ything we can to get the word out and think of creative fundraisers like ‘10 for 10,’” Krieger, a senior communication major, said. “10 for 10” is a fundraising initiative the executive board started three years ago in an attempt to raise $10,000 every day for 10 successive days. The event has been a success the past two years, raising a little more than $100,000. This year, the executive committee is hoping for an even better outcome through corporate sponsorship. Moe’s Southwestern Grill is sponsoring “10 for 10” this year, which Krieger believes has the potential for a huge success. “Moe’s is a way bigger difference from last year,” Krieger said. “The last few years, we have reached our goal. This year, with Moe’s, we are hoping to exceed our goal.” This Friday is “Moe’s Day” — a day when all of the restaurant’s proceeds will be donated to Relay. In addition, the first 200 people in line that morning, starting at 11 a.m., will get a free burrito every week for an entire year. Regardless of the outcome on that day, Moe’s has already pledged to meet the day’s goal of $10,000. In addition to Moe’s corporate sponsorship, there will
be a special event each day during the 10-day fundraising initiative to encourage people to get involved and donate. Special events include fundraising incentives, restaurant proceeds, concerts and more. Krieger said the executive board is right on track to meeting its fundraising goal of improving upon last year’s record high. In addition to fundraisers, the event’s vitality relies on strong, passionate individuals like Greek Liaison co-executive Thomas Lawler. Lawler, a sophomore economics major, is one of the event’s top fundraisers and is deeply motivated on a personal level. “Foremost, (I fundraise) for the loss of my mother two years ago and knowing I never want anyone else to be affected by cancer in the way my family has been,” Lawler said. Lawler has currently raised $4,285, a goal he has been able to accomplish through several fundraising outlets. One of the main w a y s Lawler has been so productive is by sending out fundraising letters to friends, family, professors and even Charles Steger, Tech’s president. “It amazes me every day how I can touch someone with my story and motivate them to donate to Relay,” Lawler said. “Even something as simple as posting a Facebook status can raise hundreds of dollars.” The cause also hits close to home for Krieger. “I have lost three grandparents to the disease and saw my best friend struggle in high school after she lost her younger sister,” Krieger said. “It is something we don’t want to be around anymore, so if there is something I can do to help, I am going to do my best.” Considering the magnitude of the disease worldwide, affecting 50 percent of males and 33 percent of females during their lifetime, chances are, a majority of people have been impacted by the disease on some level. Whether it is fighting for the memory of a lost loved one or fighting so the disease does not affect anyone else, these passionate motivations are largely what have made Relay so successful. “The student body is a big part of (our success),” Krieger said. “Tech is such a close school, and everyone wants to do what they can for a good cause.”
Tech researchers help create new brain tumor treatment that has cured dogs of cancer and could help humans ABBY HARRIS news staff writer Frank Saltarelli had just returned home from walking his dog, Leyna, when she had her first seizure. Leyna, an 8-year-old miniature schnauzer, had four more seizures that day, Oct. 2, 2011 — one of which occurred in the waiting room of Alexandria Animal Hospital. The doctors were unsure about the cause of Leyna’s seizures, so they began running tests and gave her seizure medication to take in the meantime. On Nov. 23, an MRI examination determined that Leyna had a brain tumor. Now, just four months later, Leyna is back at home, thanks to a new treatment discovered by doctors at the Virginia Tech-Wake Forest University School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, also known as SBES. Saltarelli took Leyna to Bush Veterinary Services, a clinic that specializes in neurology. A neurologist recommended that Saltarelli talk to Ken Johnson, founder of the Boo Radley Foundation. This foundation helps dog owners find and participate in canine brain tumor clinic trials after diagnosis. It was Johnson who informed Saltarelli of the pre-clinical trial being done by the VirginiaMaryland Regional College of
Veterinary Medicine, also known as VMRCVM, in Blacksburg. The trial is for a treatment called non-thermal irreversible electroporation, or N-TIRE, developed by Rafael Davalos, an associate professor in the SBES. The N-TIRE treatment involves placing two very small needle electrodes directly into the tumor and applying a series of electric pulses to the cells. These pulses create defects within the cells’ membranes, causing them to die in a controlled manner. The pre-clinical trial for this procedure is currently treating canine patients with gliomas, a type of brain tumor. Saltarelli and Leyna were referred to John Rossmeisl, a neurosurgeon from the VMRCVM, who treats the canine patients within the preclinical trial. After histopathical evaluation, Rossmeisl determined that Leyna’s tumor was a gradethree astrocytoma, a common type of glioma. The World Health Organization grades glioma tumors on a one to four scale; a grade three tumor, like the one Leyna had, is considered very biologically aggressive and malignant. “I feel very fortunate that the timing worked out very well, because maybe a year earlier, we wouldn’t have been able to do anything,” Saltarelli said. “Even a lot of vets are
still learning about what these trials are doing now and part of what (the Boo Radley Foundation) has been trying to do is educate about these options.” Saltarelli brought Leyna from their home in Washington, D.C. to Blacksburg and she received the N-TIRE treatment on Dec. 14. She recovered well and returned home four days later, the Sunday before Christmas. Saltarelli was able to bring her with him to visit family in New York for the holidays. “Even family members, while we were up there at Christmas time, commented that she seemed to be looking like she was doing well,” Saltarelli said. A follow-up MRI conducted in January showed that Leyna’s tumor was 99 to 100 percent in remission, meaning her tumor has shrunk drastically and could possibly be gone. So far, it has been more than five months since Leyna’s first seizure — much longer than anyone could have expected. “We have enough data from looking at these dogs, that when they don’t get treatment, the vast majority of them are dead within three months of a diagnosis if you don’t treat them with surgery, radiation or an experimental therapy,” Rossmeisl said. On Tuesday, an MRI showed that her tumor is still in remission. It has been three months since she see TUMORS / page two
SAVE THE DATE
What: Relay for Life When: April 20, 6 p.m. Where: Drillfield
Bike registration helps alleviate theft ERIN CHAPMAN news reporter With gas prices climbing and weather getting warmer, more people are looking to bikes for transportation, as they are a cheap and easy way to get around. Taking a stroll around campus, anyone would notice the large clusters of bikes parked outside buildings — some have locks, others don’t. This begs the question: How safe are bikes from getting stolen, while their owners are in class or meetings? Apparently, pretty safe — so far, there have only been two reported bike thefts this year. In 2011, there were 56 reported bike thefts. The number in 2010 was smaller, with 45 reported bike thefts, according to Virginia Tech Police. Kevin Foust — the deputy chief and assistant director of security for Tech Police — said the department takes bike thefts seriously. “It’s a crime, and we treat it like any other crime — it’s part of our responsibility,” Foust, deputy chief and assistant director of security for Tech Police, said. To decrease bike theft and help with recovery of stolen bikes, Parking Services requires all bikes to be registered with the university. Registration is free and can be completed on a form via Facilities. vt.edu/bikereg. If a bike isn’t registered, it could be impounded or its
rider could be fined. Alternative Transportation at Tech — which promotes and encourages the use of alternative modes of transportation — is present during fall move-in, which has helped increase the number of bikes registered on campus, said Deborah Freed, the organization’s manager.
said Lyndsey McKeever, the SGA transportation director. “So we’re trying to educate people that it is safe and easy to ride your bike around Tech and Blacksburg.” McKeever said bike registration helps Parking Services calculate an accurate number of bikers on campus — this information allows the organization to understand how many bike racks are needed around campus. A lot of people are scared However, Freed said registrations do not to ride their bikes (because bike expire, so it is difficult to they could get stolen while gauge how many bikes are on campus. parked on campus). So we Freed has noticed that are trying to educate people there is an increase of bikes on campus, but a that it is safe and easy to lack of infrastructure to them. ride your bike around Tech accommodate “We do have people and Blacksburg.” chaining bikes to trees and other objects that are bike racks, and it’s Lyndsey McKeever not becoming a real issue,” SGA transportation director Freed said. Bikes that are chained “I think people weren’t aware that incorrectly risk impoundment, registering your bike is required — regardless of whether they’re regit’s easy to do online and (Parking istered. Services) will mail you your decal,” However, a registered bike is easFreed said. ier to get back. With registration, In fall 2010, 461 bikes were reg- riders receive a sticker to place on istered. The following fall, 1,047 their bike. However, Foust sugbikes were registered, according to gests riders etch their registration Parking Services. numbers on their bikes because The SGA also helps push riders the stickers can be removed or to register their bikes. fall off. “A lot of people are scared to ride “The etching has helped a lot their bikes (because they could get over years in matching owners stolen while parked on campus),” back up with bikes,” Foust said.
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Registration numbers etched on bikes can also help if they are seen at a yard sale or in town — if it looks like a Tech number, the police can try to find the bike’s owner. Foust also recommends riders use U-locks to chain their bikes — they are made of a strong metal that is more difficult for thieves to cut through than other chain locks. He suggests locking a bike to a solid piece of its frame, rather than its tires, since they can be easily removed. Various investigation techniques have been employed to deter thieves. Tech Police purposely plant unchained bikes to racks. There are signs near certain racks, letting passerby know that a particular unlocked bike is being watched. “If you can put it into the mind of a would-be thief — that by stealing a bike off this rack am I stealing a planted bike or not. If you put that little bit of doubt into their mind perhaps they may decide it’s not worth steal,” Foust said. Freed said riders should try to lock their bikes in well-lit areas with a lot of pedestrian traffic. Regardless, McKeever said riders who chain their bikes are simply buying time — if someone really wants to steal a bike, they will find a way to do so. “There is an issue with bike theft all over the place. Wherever there are bikes there are thieves that will steal them,” she said. “Tech is no different.”