Wednesday, April 4, 2012 Print Edition by Collegiate Times

MULTIMEDIA SEE VIDEO ON COLLEGIATETIMES.COM

Acappella groups ‘Sin g, si ng, sing’ Check out pages four and ﬁve to get the scoop on Virginia Tech’s musical groups

Naturally Sharp, CJ YUNGER / SPPS

Wednesday, April 4, 2012 An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 www.collegiatetimes.com

COLLEGIATETIMES 108th year, issue 41

News, page 2

Food & Drink, page 7

Opinions, page 3

For love or money? As students try to uphold scholarship requirements, some change majors to maintain a minimum GPA

Sports, page 8

County shines as center for growth CODY OWENS news reporter

PRISCILLA ALVAREZ news staff writer Crystal Velasco aspired to be a computer scientist, but when faced with difficult circumstances, she had to change her major to satisfy her need-based scholarship’s requirements. With student debt surpassing credit debt, students increasingly rely on scholarships to help pay for tuition. Some, like Velasco, changed their major to meet scholarship standards. The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarship works with students to help them keep their scholarships, but some students end up choosing a new major, with hopes of higher grade point averages. Barry Simmons, the director of university scholarships and financial aid, said sometimes students go into majors with a demanding curriculum they cannot meet. In these cases, they are forced to be more realistic with their goals, which can cause them to change major. Velasco, a sophomore international studies major, came to Virginia Tech on the Presidential Scholarship — it rewards students with $2,500 a semester and can only be given to students their freshman year. If a student loses the scholarship by not fulfilling the requirements, they can never get it back.

With Montgomery County businesses expanding and offering more employment opportunities, the area has become a hot spot for families to plant roots. According to the Economic Development Authority of Montgomery County, seven new or expanding companies announced plans in 2011 to create 572 new jobs and invest $43.5 million in the county. Compared to the 134 counties and cities in Virginia, Montgomery Country ranked 15th for monetary investments and eighth for job creation. This marks one of the most active years in the past decade. Last year had the most job creation since 2001, when 700 jobs were created, and the highest investment since 2004, when $44.1 million was put into the county. Out of the various business announcements made over the past year, the three most significant came from Modea, Federal-Mogul Corp. and Backcountry.com. Here’s a breakdown of the biggest players in the local economy.

“It provided a good portion of my tuition and was the biggest scholarship I had. Losing that would have been really bad,” Velasco said. To keep the scholarship, Velasco had to make some hard decisions. Fall semester of her freshman year, her mother passed away, and the following semester, she received emergency surgery. Therefore, she was forced to miss a lot of her engineering classes, which put her GPA at jeopardy. The Presidential Scholarship requires students to hold a 2.5 GPA, but after the fall semester of her freshman year, Velasco had a 1.8. The scholarship office was understanding of her situation and gave her another semester to pull up her GPA. “I had to get a 3.1 or 3.2 to get it up. I was so determined to take my engineering classes, which is no easy A,” Velasco said, “I got a 2.1 that semester, which did not average to (an overall) 2.5.” However, the scholarship office gave her another chance the fall semester of her sophomore year because she was showing improvement. “The Presidential Scholarship is rewarded with the aim of a student graduating. We expect all students to be successful, and we do all we can to make that happen. But it is still a two-way

FEDERAL-MOGUL CORP. Federal-Mogul Corp., a global automotive supplier employing close to 400 people in Montgomery County, announced in October 2011 its intent to expand its 275,000-square-foot engine-bearing manufacturing facility, located in Blacksburg Industrial Park. The $10 million expansion will bring new equipment and manufacturing lines and create 50 new jobs. In the accompanying press release, Gov. Bob McDonnell stated the importance of expanding existing

see AID / page two

Crystal Velasco, PAUL KURLAK / SPPS

Tech alumni create Game Day Designs ALLIE SIVAK features staff writer One family swears it will never forget where its roots originated — that place is Virginia Tech. Steve Hollar and his daughter Lexi are introducing Tech fans to a new kind memorabilia to fawn over. However, their fairly new products are unlike the traditional items that can be found in bookstores. From Fairfax, Va., the Hollars come from a long line of Hokie descent. Steve and his wife attended Tech, and when his daughter attended the university a few years ago, he was ecstatic to have an excuse to go back to Blacksburg. Now that Lexi has recently graduated, Steve decided he needed to find a new purpose for his frequent trips to the heart of the Hokie Nation. After earning a degree in computer science at Tech, Steve maintained a great interest in woodworking — he combines his talents in shop, since much of the equipment he uses, such as a laser engraver, is computer-controlled. With his education and hobby in mind, Steve came up with an idea for a new business — Game Day Designs — when Lexi was still in school to stay busy after retirement.

Game Day Designs creates Tech paraphernalia beyond koozies and tailgating plates. Steve initially made engraved pens, which Game Day Designs still sells. However, he wanted to expand his expertise by using other materials. He later realized that Corian — brand-name solid surface material commonly used to make kitchen countertop surfaces — had various color options. He eventually found a Corian color match that embodied the classic Hokie maroon and orange, so he uses the material to create most items. “I wanted to do something I was familiar with, and Virginia Tech was obviously something I was familiar with,” Steve said. “Lexi was still in school when I decided to try this, so I just started putting ‘VT’ on things. After all, if you put a ‘VT’ on anything, somebody is going to buy it.” Steve began making an assortment of Tech-themed items that could be used in homes or for gifts. Game Day Designs now offers cutting boards, wine stoppers, glass Christmas ornaments, Lazy Susan turntables, napkin holders, graduation frames, engraved wine glasses, as well as wine glass and cheese see DESIGNS / page seven

COURTESY OF LEXI HOLLAR

Steve Hollar and his daughter Lexi show off their Hokie gear.

Study Break, page 6

companies. “Virginia is recognized as the top state for business not only for our ability to attract new companies, but, equally important, for our ability to grow these relationships and retain business,” McDonnell said. Both state and regional agencies worked with Federal-Mogul in the expansion. Through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program — which is from the Virginia Department of Business Assistance — the company will receive funding as it finds and trains new employees. Brian Hamilton of the Montgomery County Department of Economic Development said such methods can allow one branch to flourish over others. “While Federal-Mogul has closed plants in Michigan, they have grown the plant here in Virginia,” Hamilton said. “We try to work with our local plant when they start competing internally for business to provide them with incentives that lower the cost of producing the product, which therefore allows them to attract that new business to their plant.” BACKCOUNTRY.COM Later that October, Backcountry. com, a major outdoor retailer based in Salt Lake City, Utah, announced it would build its first East Coast center in Christiansburg. The company’s Utah location separated it from half of its customer base, prompting it to build a new center to lower the costs and time of shipping. As Backcountry.com searched for an eastern location, it was courted with competing offers form Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Virginia. Backcountry.com eventually chose Virginia, and specifically Montgomery County, over other see GROWTH / page two

Govt. recognizes Tech for service MICHELLE SUTHERLAND news editor The Corporation for National and Community Service, or CNCS, listed Virginia Tech on the 2012 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll — the highest federal recognition a university can receive for service. Gary Kirk, director of Tech’s Center for Student Engagement and Community Partnerships, or CSECP, is excited about the university’s history of service. “We’ll be looking into the future, building new programs that offer students some really great opportunities for engagement and expanding on the efforts we’ve had in the past,” he said. “We’re excited for the recognition, and we really see it as not an end product, but something we’ve been doing for a long time and will continue doing well into the future.” The CNCS examines the quantity of service as well as the breadth and institutionalization of service when placing universities on the honor roll, according to Michele JamesDeramo, director of service learning for the CSECP. In addition to projects outside the classroom, Tech offers 60 to 80 courses every year that integrate community outreach. “One of the things we are trying to do is work with departments

to build service learning courses in their curriculum,” James-Deramo said. “That way, every student who passes through that major would then have an opportunity to participate in community service through coursework.” James-Deramo taught a class about forced migration — her class learned from and provided service to refugees in Roanoke. Another type of service coursework is problem solving, when a class uses skills to aid a community group. Some classes are placementbased, so professors provide students a list of organizations they can work with. The CSECP has awarded the horticulture and biological sciences departments for their service courses. However, the human development, English and agroforestry departments also regularly offer courses. For the 2011-12 school year, about 20,000 students participated in service totaling 210,554 hours, according to CSECP data. In the application, CSECP focused on specific projects to highlight Tech’s service, including Bridges to Prosperity Footbridge in Ti Peligre, Haiti, the Coalition for Refugee Resettlement and Kids Tech University, which is a science, technology, engineering and math program for children. The listing was based on the 201011 school year.

news

april 4, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

Aid: Funds Growth: Tech entices business depend on student GPA from page one

from page one

street,” Simmons said. Fall semester of her sophomore year, Velasco was still not receiving the grades to raise her GPA, so she decided it was time to change her major. “I decided I needed to get a degree in something. It is better to get it in anything than drop out with nothing,” Velasco said. If a student is struggling to reach scholarship requirements, the scholarship office looks at high school transcripts and SAT scores to evaluate whether a student is following a path appropriate to their standing. Assisting a student with a merit-based scholarship can prove to be more challenging than helping one with a need-based scholarship. Parents and students often have a general overall attitude of entitlement for scholarships coming from lower tier schools that quickly offer money to prospective students in hopes of them attending their university, Simmons said. However, because Tech is a prestigious institution, he said, it is far more competitive to receive these scholarships. The office does not require students to change their major. But, students use that avenue as a last resort. “Unless a student is receiving a scholarship with major requirements, I want to see them go to the major they want,” Simmons said. The Center for Academic Enrichment and Excellence is available to students for advising regardless of financial aid. Some students — such as Carlee Blanchat, a sophomore public relations major — agree that if there are issues with paying for tuition, changing one’s major to graduate with scholarship is appropriate. “I think it depends on where you and your family stand, in which case you do anything to stay in school,” Blanchat said. While Velasco still dreams of being a computer scientist in the future, she is content with the transition of becoming an international studies major. “I don’t have the luxury of being in engineering, but I do have the luxury of being at Virginia Tech,” Velasco said.

competitors after it was offered a large incentive package. The $2.3 million agreement included a $300,000 grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to assist with site costs. In addition, Christiansburg gave $80,000, as well as a 46-acre plot of land at Falling Branch Corporate Park, bought by the Economic Development Authority of Montgomery County in 2000 for more than $1.1 million. According to the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the lot was a major factor in the landing of the project in Montgomery County. The proximity of the corporate park to I-81 and the nearby Roanoke UPS center makes shipping along the East Coast practical. “From a logistics perspective, there are huge advantages for companies to have a presence in Virginia because of the access to markets,” said Brent Sheffler of the VEDP. “They can reach half of the United States population in overnight trucking.” Liz Povar, director of business development for the Virginia Department of Business Development, said communities along I-81 have seen solid growth. Much like with what it did with Federal-Mogul, the Virginia Department of Business Assistance will offer aid in hiring and training employees. The county will also offer a 50 percent rebate on property taxes for five years. Backcountry.com’s director of operations Jeff Carter said the state and county’s commitment to economic development made the area attractive to the company. “Virginia has been this friendly climate that’s worked for us,” Carter said. “Kudos to Montgomery County for helping us find a lot to build on and working with us to make it an option that would be profitable for us.” MODEA One of the most significant announcements for the county came from a company born in Blacksburg. Modea, a digital advertising agency, announced in March 2011 that it would invest $10 million in a 100,000-square-foot headquarters in Blacksburg, located on the site that formerly held the old

Blacksburg Middle School. The company currently operates out of three sites, two located at Kent Square and the University Gateway Center. The new site will hold all of the company’s employees. When faced with the need for expansion last year, Aaron Herrington and David Catalano, co-founders of Modea, looked at locations in Texas, Illinois and North Carolina in addition to Blacksburg. Incentives from the state, including $200,000 from the Virginia Jobs Incentive Program to help develop additional employees, encouraged the company to keep their expansion in Blacksburg. Since it was founded six years ago by two Tech graduates, Modea has seen significant growth. Its revenue in 2011 was $5.9 million, and the planned expansion will bring 200 new jobs over the next five years. The company was ranked 521st on Inc. Magazine’s list of the 5,000 fastest growing privately held companies, experiencing a 624 percent growth over a three-year period. While Blacksburg might seem like an odd fit for a major digital advertiser, Modea acknowledges on its website that Blacksburg is a wired community, with Tech claiming that Internet connectivity is available anywhere in town. On a wider scope, Povar stated the depth of fiber optic networks and the availability of low-cost power systems drives an infrastructure conducive to digital businesses such as Modea. However, Modea’s steady growth recently hit a rough spot. In February, the company lost one of its biggest clients, Verizon Wireless. As a result, Modea laid off 25 employees, nearly onethird of its workforce. The layoffs were all from the company’s digital division. However, Modea told WDBJ it is still looking to hire people to its advertising division. On Feb. 23, Catalano — Modea president — told The Roanoke Times the company was committed to building its new headquarters at the Old Blacksburg Middle School site. In March, Catalano told the Collegiate Times he was not ready to make a statement on project specifics.

‘A GOOD PLACE TO LIVE’ Montgomery County experienced another accolade when Bloomsburg Businessweek named Blacksburg as the best place in the United States to raise children. Using data from real estate information firm Onboard Informatics and Bloomberg Rankings, the site picked locations with a crime index less than 10 percent above the national average, a population between 1,000 and 50,000 people, and a family income within 20 percent of the state median. Blacksburg managed to rise above the other 4,169 locations in competition to claim the title. Factors given the most weight in Businessweek’s decision were income, expenditures and school performance. Blacksburg’s median family income of $83,670 is more than $11,000 higher than the median state income. Primary education has received attention, with Blacksburg’s Gilbert Linkous Elementary School receiving a perfect score from GreatSchools.org and Blacksburg High School placing in Newsweek’s “Top 5% of the Nation’s Schools” in 2003, 2008 and 2009. Blacksburg itself was on Forbes’ 2009 list of America’s most educated small towns. While these socioeconomic factors may not seem to go into a business’s decision of where to move or expand, they can be impactful as a company views its long-term presence and success. “Critical drivers for all companies when they make site decisions is what their workforce looks like today, five years from now and 10 years from now,” Povar said. “Being in a community that has demonstrated that it is family friendly, that it has a quality education system and that it is developing students who are going to become the employees of the future are critical elements for many companies’ decisions.” Businessweek also looked at the presence of Tech, the Corporate Research Center and the Blacksburg Industrial Park on the town’s economy. Efforts such as VT KnowledgeWorks that seek to create companies based on Techdeveloped technology and patents were helpful to Blacksburg. Povar said proximity to Tech is attractive to businesses. The

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

what you’re saying On Au Bon Pain discontinuing iPads

Eric: This isn’t effective immediately, is it? I don’t

know how I’ll order a sandwich without the iPads :(

Robin: If only they knew where to find a CS major to write their own software...

Karen: EXACTLY. So the entire problem is

that there’s no order confirmation screen at the end? Oh, and that people are so used to have a confirmation that they repeatedly enter their order? How about hanging a sign that says, “You will not see a confirmation, but after hitting [X button] you order WILL be submitted!”

RBS: We go to a school with CS program, I don’t see why this is a problem? This is an easy way out, improve the software and fix the issue by providing the customer a notification their order has been submitted.It would also be possible to provide a screen where customers can see their order go into queue and how many orders are in front of theirs. Anonymous: Instead of using an app they

could also have the iPads pointing to a ordering website that would be much easier to implement. Anyone know how to get in touch with Au Bon Pain?

expansion experienced by companies coming from the CRC and Tech graduates create opportunities for the entire region. Being near the university allows companies to recruit a highly educated workforce, which can contribute to future growth. “Virginia Tech’s resources, both from a resource standpoint and from a student-population standpoint, are impactful beyond belief,” Povar said. “It’s important for success of the region to have a strong partnership with Virginia Tech.” Included with Modea in Inc. Magazine’s list were UXB International and Harmonia Holding Group, two companies both located in the CRC. Although there have only been two fiscal quarters in 2012, Montgomery County has already experienced further business announcements. On Jan. 18, Inorganic Ventures, a manufactur-

er of custom inorganic chemical blends, announced it will expand its headquarters, manufacturing and distribution center by 20,000 square feet and create 21 new jobs. On March 26, Aeroprobe Corporation, a designer of scientific instruments used in aerodynamic and hydrodynamic research base, announced it will build a high speed wind tunnel to its Blacksburg Industrial Park faciliity. The company, headquartered in the CRC, is under a contract from NASA to develop a hurricane probe. “(Blacksburg is) a good place to raise a family and to raise kids, and what we see is a lot of folks that go to Virginia Tech are interested in returning to the community,” Hamilton said. “That announcement of the best place to raise kids only helps us to attract employers to the community.”

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

opinions

april 4, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

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

MCT CAMPUS

Court addresses health care law Extremists raise awareness, Supreme Court’s decision protect essential freedoms to end health care debate O

bamacare recently reached the Supreme Court and is under scrutiny for its alleged constitutionality. The main focus of the review is the part of the bill that says all Americans must buy some sort of health care, either via private insurer or the government. Those on the right have focused in on this aspect, calling the entire bill a destroyer of freedom in America, even going as far as to say that “any day now the government will mandate that we all eat broccoli.” I’m serious, people were saying that. Now given that there is a massive amount of hyperbole involved, beneath the nonsense there is a fair point: The American people will be losing a freedom — the choice of whether to buy health care.

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Extremists are our ﬁrst line of defense against those who would strip us of our freedoms.”

But just because we’re the land of the free doesn’t mean we can’t make a calculated exchange of freedom for utility. Health care is something that everyone on the face of the Earth needs at some point, so why is the right wing up in arms about forcing people to pre-order their care? It could also be asked why the left wing of this country feels so passionately about a woman’s right to an abortion. Both freedoms are potentially being limited. Several of these issues of freedom have allies and foes on either side of the aisle. For all of these issues of freedom we look to the media, and see extremists demonstrating, talking heads on the news discussing, politicians denouncing or praising them. Sure the talking heads and politicians have motives, to attract more viewers or get re-elected. But the regular people, what are they doing? Activists may elicit comments such as, “What nuts….don’t they have a life?” or “What difference are they really going to make?” But we live in America, where we have the freedom to demonstrate, even berate those with whom we disagree. These people get classified in others’ minds as oddballs. But citizens willing to speak their crazy ideas to the masses, to scream and march for things they believe in, are keeping us free and will continue to keep us free. These people continually test the bounds of our freedom. They’re like dogs lunging against their chains whenever a spooky shadow happens by. How are we supposed to know that we still have the right to assembly and free speech if we don’t have people assembling and speaking freely? These extremists, even if you disagree with them (pretty much everyone has to disagree sometimes, since there are plenty of extremists on the right and left), are doing something great by getting out in the world. Our rights are like a rubber band — they’ll contract under the forces of those who would

try and dominate the masses if we allow them. These extremists pull on both sides of the rubber band to keep it at equilibrium. Sure there have been contractions and expansions over the years, but a baseline force of the crazed and irate have kept us free over the years. You may not be able to believe every fact these extremists throw at you (not to say they aren’t true, but they are often difficult to verify), but you can know they aren’t pulling any punches about what they believe, and that is something special in this day of deceit and political corruption. We need the crazies, the extremists. We need those people who, upon hearing about a new bill in Congress, will email every politician on the committee and tell their friends to do the same. Don’t believe me? Do you think we could do without the influence of groups of hardline civilians screaming in the streets every time a change in policy is proposed? Not too long ago most of America joined the extremists when SOPA and PIPA were in the House and Senate. Wikipedia, Mozilla, Google, Reddit and other big name web enterprises told us to call our representatives and give them an earful. Because we became a nation of extremists, we crushed these two bills under the might and will of the people. They may not have felt extreme, but simple acts of emailing, Facebook messaging, and placing phone calls to politicians kept us free. They were extreme because they are not something that your average person does. On that day we all talked back to the teacher and gave them a piece of our collective mind. Imagine if the entire country had taken to the streets. But before everyone knew, before everyone acted, there were people acting, protesting and calling. Extremists are the first line of defense against those who would strip us of our freedoms. In Syria, the extremists have taken it to the next level, rebelling against their monarchical government that falsifies elections. As the Syrian extremists fight harder, they have slowly won the support of their population, and now have a full-blown revolution in bloom against the powers that be. The extremists here at home are not exactly “fighting” for their freedoms like the extremists in Syria, but if the time came, they would be ready. So what makes the issue of Internet freedom more important than the freedom to not purchase health care? Or the freedom to carry a gun on a college campus? The difference is we all care about Internet freedom because we all use the Internet. As a country, we often stick our neck out only when something directly affects us, instead of when it’s right. So that’s why we need the extremists, the people who will fight for the smallest little thing — because they keep our rights resilient. It shouldn’t be easy to take away any freedom, even if the majority decides it’s a good idea, and especially if the government decides it’s a good idea.

ETHAN GAEBEL -regular columnist -sophomore -computer science major

he Supreme Court recently heard oral arguments regarding the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, nicknamed “Obamacare.” It was a case the Supreme Court practically had to take, considering several lower courts issued conflicting rulings on the constitutionality of the law, and the Court rightly felt the need to conclusively determine if the law is or is not constitutional. Obviously this is one of the biggest Supreme Court cases in recent memory, and probably one of the biggest cases in the history of the Court itself. A strongly divided Supreme Court has to decide on the constitutionality of a bill that was created and passed by a strongly divided Congress, and which strongly divides the public as well. In this Supreme Court case, perhaps more than most others, politics have clearly become a great factor in a legal process that generally tries to avoid political issues. The

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Despite the narrowness of how the ruling will come down in this case, both the conservative and liberal sides in the debate regarding the health care law are claiming the Constitution as their ally in this ﬁght.”

incredible importance and prominence of the bill has drawn many political voices into the conflict, and the case has naturally become politicized by both extremes of the country’s political spectrum. Even the Supreme Court itself will be politicized in this case as the decision will most certainly be drawn down the ideological lines of the justices. It will most likely end up as either a 5-4 decision by the conservative justices to strike it down, or a 6-3 decision by the liberals and some of the conservatives to uphold the law. In both cases, the swing vote is Justice Anthony Kennedy, the Court’s moderate. If

he votes with the four conservatives, then the law is overturned. If he votes with the four liberals, then the law is upheld, and Chief Justice John Roberts would most likely vote with the liberals so he can write the Court’s opinion in a more limiting fashion. Despite the narrowness of how the ruling will come down in this case, both the conservative and liberal sides in the debate regarding the health care law are claiming the Constitution as their ally in this fight. The conservatives ardently cry that the law’s individual mandate is unconstitutional, while the liberals earnestly assert that it is constitutional. For both sides, the rhetoric has become incredibly strong. But what both sides seem to be forgetting is the irrevocable decision will ultimately be made by the Court. No matter how much the liberals protest, if the Court strikes down the law, the law is unconstitutional. If the Court upholds the law, no matter how loud the conservatives are, the law is constitutional. And no matter how the Court decides, the losing side will argue the law is, in fact, still constitutional or unconstitutional. Both sides forget the Court defines what the Constitution means and how it is interpreted. The Court’s word is final and binding, essentially saying whether this law does or does not conform to the limits and definitions on government that our founding document created. The Supreme Court is the highest and most absolute interpreter of our Constitution, meaning if the Court says a law is in accordance with the Constitution, then it is. Period. And yet there will be plenty of people talking about how the Court made the wrong decision, and how their losing side is actually right, and that the law is constitutional or unconstitutional. But the complaining loser of the ruling is wrong. Whatever the Supreme Court decides is right, it is the interpretation of the Constitution, and anyone else’s opinion is irrelevant and incorrect. That is how the Supreme Court functions; it is the final arbiter of interpreting the Constitution. And in this very controversial, very public case, the finality of the Supreme Court’s role is a very beneficial thing.

DEVIN MILLER -regular columnist -senior -political science major

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november 11, 2012

Juxtaposition, CJ YUNGER / SPPS

editors: chelsea gunter, patrick murphy

ACAPPELLA AT TECH

Strike a chord Virginia Tech’s acappella groups may vary in sound, structure and size, but they all share a passion for music

Sensations BY KARA VAN SCOYOC | features staff writer

Sensations, CJ YUNGER / SPPS

The bond shared among the Sensations women is stronger than that of mere group members. “We are all best friends and spend most of our time with each other than we do anybody else at school because of our schedule,” said Katie Leslie, president of Sensations. “Our closeness comes out when we are on stage, and you can see our silliness and how much fun we have together.” Sensations — an all-female acappella group that was founded at Virginia Tech in 2003 — is comprised of women who share a passion for music. For Hannah Martin, a group member, their connection “is set apart from every other experience because it’s a group of people who support a talent.” However, this relationship wouldn’t be possible without time and commitment from group members — they practice three times a week for two hours at a time. Rae Kennedy, musical director of Sensations, said the amount of time the women spend practicing is equivalent to six credit hours. Leslie, a senior psychology major, said managing her time is difficult. “It’s definitely a challenge to balance school with Sensations, but when you join the group, you really have to know that you are making it a priority,” Leslie said. “So, we just give it our all and make it work.” Some group members even find practices to be refreshing, since they are times away from studying. “I’m always excited for practice because for me, it is my two hours of happy, even when it’s stressful,” Martin, a freshman political science major, said. The group is under more pres pressure, as it prepares for its upcoming concert, which will be held on April 28 at 8 p.m. in the G Graduate Life Center auditorium. During the concert, conce Martin will perform her first solo. “… I just got iinto the group this semester, so for me to have a solo — no matter how small or short-lived — is so exciting,” she sh said. Kennedy, a senior hisKen tory major, said havto ing a solo improves in a performer’s confidence. for “My first couple of years in the group, I had horrible, horrible horrib stage fright,” she said. “So, when I got my m first solo, it was a big moment for me bec because I felt that I was finally able to overcome this fear.” Soloists are chosen thr through tryouts, which are held during practic practices. Selected soloists must practice on their oown and have opportunities to work with the arranger before performing solos with the th entire group. When Sensations looks for new members — the group holds auditions once every semester — it pays attention to people who could be pe potential soloists. “We look for what kind of voice blends with the v rest of our group, and we look for somebodyy who can be a strong soloist, solo as well as fit our sound,” Leslie said.

Mixed Emotions

Naturally Sharp

Soulstice

Juxtaposition

BY KATIE WHITE | features staff writer

BY JENN BATES | features staff writer

BY KARA VAN SCOYOC | features staff writer

Don’t be fooled by the name Naturally Sharp, as the title has more to do with the group’s fashion sense than its music’s pitch. “Our naturally sharp dressing (makes us different),” said group member Zach Daly, a senior aerospace engineering major. The all-male acappella group believes its uniforms differentiate it from others on campus — during performances, group members wear maroon bow ties with orange polka dots or orange ties, along with maroon blazers, adding extra flare to their ensembles. But fashion isn’t the only factor the group prides itself on. “I think the genres of music we do sticks us out from the other groups,” Daly said. The group sings songs ranging from “Stu’s Song” from the film “The Hangover,” “Walking in Memphis” by Marc Cohn, and “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room” by John Mayer. Members of the Fiji fraternity founded the group in 2002, said Brandon Ruhe, assistant director of Naturally Sharp. Ruhe — a senior marketing management major — is one of 16 members in the all-male group, which is entirely student-run. The music the group performs is also student-arranged. Each semester, Naturally Sharp performs a showcase concert. This spring’s concert is called “Behind the Music: Sex, Drugs and Acappella” and will be held on April 13 at 7 p.m. in the Graduate Life Center auditorium. The money the group raises from the concert — as well as money from dues and a small university grant — funds its performance uniforms, trips to competitions and other activities. The group travelled to the Rock in the Forest acappella competition in spring 2011 at Wake Forest University — Ruhe cited the competition as his favorite memory with the group. At Rock in the Forest, Ruhe said there were six to eight groups in attendance that performed and socialized. Naturally Sharp also participates in local concerts, which feature other acappella groups, including the Relay for Life concert and Acafestapella. Compared to the other acappella groups at Tech, Ruhe said Naturally Sharp stands out because it performs both fun and serious songs. “We have a lot of fun with every song we do. We try to incorporate a little choreography, and we just try to have fun with it and make people laugh,” Ruhe said. “We don’t take ourselves too seriously, even though we are a serious group. There’s still that humility factor.” Naturally Sharp host’s auditions in the fall and spring semesters, although Ruhe said the group usually gains more members in the fall. “You come in with a prepared piece, and you sing just a verse or a chorus of the song,” Ruhe said. “Then we’ll test your range, and if we like yyou,, we’ll call you y back … and teach you y parts p of a song and throw you into the group and see how you sound.” After clearing auditions and being accepted int into the group, new members start attending practices — the group usually has three two-hour practices a week. Ruhe — who first got his start in mus music while he was in his high school choir — said he has been bee most impressed with the influx of talent each new aud audition series brings. He also said in his three years year as a member, he has seen major growth in i the quality of the group. In addition, Daly said he has seen group members memb become closer and more tight-knit. “There’s something “The about singing that brings s us all together, and we love it and enjoy it, and we wouldn’t an trade anything for tra it,” Daly said. For Daly, the group’s bonds go deeper than just friendships. “My favorite part of being in p the group is the fact that we can count on tha each other for everything,” Daly said. “It’s thin become more than a beco singing group — it’s become a fr fraternity of singing brothers.” Naturally Sharp, CJ YUNGER / SPPS

Like the song they perform by Christina Aguilera, for almost 15 years the women of Soulstice “keep on singin’ (their) song.” Soulstice is an all-female acappella group at Virginia Tech, which was founded in 1998 and has 16 members. Ashley Sprano, Soulstice’s music director, said the group offers listeners a distinctive experience, particularly because it has learned more music recently and delved into new genres — the group sings songs like “You and I” by Lady Gaga, “Rumor Has It” by Adele and “Here Comes the Sun” by the Beatles. “Our sound is especially different this year because our arrangements are more intricate,” Sprano, a senior marketing management major, said. The group’s rare and dynamic sound also stems from the mixture of different personalities, said Katie Shonk, a group member. “There are so many different types of women in the group — we’re all different years and majors. It’s a very unique blend of personalities and talents,” Shonk, a junior mathematics education and philosophy major, said. Although its members are diverse, Soulstice seems to be a tight knit group. Shonk, who is the newly elected group president, remembers a moment during last year’s spring concert that made her feel truly part of Soulstice. “We have this song, ‘Heart of the Matter,’ that we never retire. It’s like our Soulstice song. All of the alumni know it,” Shonk said. “The spring concert last year was my first time performing in a concert with the group. It was great getting to sing that song. Everyone already knows it; everyone can connect to it. It’s a bonding experience.” Sprano’s favorite memory of her three years in the group was at last year’s fall concert. She asked group members to come up with superlatives for everyone and said the results were quite entertaining. In addition to its own showcase concerts, Soulstice participates in a plethora of other events at Tech. For the past four years, the group sang at Ring Dance. Members also perform at fundraisers for organizations such as Students Helping Honduras and Pi Beta Sigma. In addition, they sing during fraternity rush events. This February, they also sang the national anthem at the men’s basketball game against the University of Virginia. Looking forward, the group will perform during April 16 remembrance events and at Relay for Life. When group members aren’t practicing or performing, they are recruiting new talent. Sprano said the audition process is straightforward. “(During the first round) you come in and sing a song for us. You sing some scales, and we do some pitch matching exercise,” Sprano said. “(In) the second round, we teach you a song, and you sing with the group so we can see how yyou blend with us.” Although group members embers are not required to have previous musical experience nce to join Soulstice, most do. Sprano, who sang acappella in high school, said she always knew she wanted anted to be in an acappella group in college. Since joiningg her freshman year, the group has undergone several changes. hanges. “When I first joined, oined, the group had 19 girls. (Now I w it has 16.) know three girls doesn’t seem like esn’t a lot, but it is,” Sprano ano said. “Our leadership style has (also) completely changed. The group p used to be led by seniority, but we’ve moved away from that.” The group practices es twice a week for two hours and has one or two performances per week. While practices serve rve as a time of work, Shonk feels relieved duringg the late night sessions. She said that although most people are tired and have been through a long day, it’s always nice to see her fellow group members. In the future, the group would like to create a CD — it is saving itss money from member dues. The dues also go toward ward T-shirts and putting on concerts. Soulstice’s next performance rformance is its spring concert, which will be held on April 29 at 2 p.m. at the Lyric Theatre. Tickets will be available at the door.

featureseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865

TechNotes

COLLEGIATE TIMES

For Mixed Emotions members, the co-ed acappella group isn’t just a musical organization. “We’re very much a family,” said Will Enoch, president of Mixed Emotions. “We all get along well and hang out together outside of practice and gigs.” Founded in 1996, Mixed Emotions is the second-oldest acappella group on campus, with 17 members who put in at least two hours of practice three nights a week. However, the group puts in extra practice time before performances. But Enoch, a senior human nutrition, food and exercise major, said spending so much time together has enhanced the group dynamic — a sentiment Ray Yankey, one of the group’s music directors, echoed. “You’re with them so much, so ultimately you develop friendships. (When I graduate), I’ll really miss that,” Yankey, a senior civil engineering major, said. Yankey joined the group in the fall semester of his freshman year. Initially, he also tried out for Naturally Sharp, an all-male acappella group. Because of scheduling conflicts, he chose Mixed Emotions but said he has no regrets. “I liked the mixed group because you have a lot of ranges to work with,” Yankey said. “You have so many more octaves to work with, and it just sounds much cooler.” During Yankey’s sophomore year he become one of the group’s three music directors — he and the other directors arrange music, conduct the group and lead warm-ups. “Essentially we do anything a chorus teacher would do in high school,” Yankey said. Aside from practices and its own concerts, the group performs at various local events and locations — at Relay for Life, for the Make-AWish Foundation and at Blacksburg High School. The group’s repertoire of songs is just as diverse, ranging from classic oldies to the newest in pop. Mixed Emotions will perform such songs at its upcoming concert, which will take place on April 21 at 7:30 p.m. in the Graduate Life Center auditorium. Its sound will soon take a more permanent form, as Mixed Emotions plans to release its first full-length CD — the album is titled “MEMOrable” — on the same day as its concert. Mixed Emotions worked with Breaking The Curse Productions to record the album, and a sneak peak is available on the company’s website, BreakingTheCurseMusic.com. Producing the CD was time consuming — the group spent between 12 to 14 hours each day in a studio over a period of three weekends. “We’ve been to competitions before, but I think our biggest accomplishment will be releasingg the full CD,,” Yankeyy said p The release of the album will be bittersweet for graduating seniors, including Yankey, who will graduate in December. “First and foremost (I’ll miss) the music,” he said. “When you’re singing that much and it just goes away, (as it does) over the summer, there’s sort of a void, so it’s going to be hard.”

april 4, 2012

For Juxtaposition — the oldest all-male acappella group at Virginia tech — tradition is of the utmost importance. “We have been around the longest, so we are a little more established than the other groups on campus,” said Chris Sangster, a senior music technology major and music director for Juxtaposition. The group performed in its most recent concert on March 30 at the Lyric Theatre — Juxtaposition came up with the theme “Young at Eight” for the event. “The young part is showing how we try not to take ourselves too seriously as people, but we are serious musicians,” Sangster said. “We are all young college guys, so we are just trying to let the world see what our experiences in college have been like.” Choosing a theme is a long process for the group. “We want to pick something that everyone likes and will have fun performing,” said Kevin Hargrove, a freshman accounting major and group member. The theme is also the name of the album Juxtaposition released the night of the concert. “Every track on ‘Young at Eight’ means a lot to all 16 of us,” Sangster said. “It’s just showing our fans and anyone who wants to listen what we’ve gained in our time here.” The concert and album are products of a lot of group practices — they have three two-hour practices per week. “Sometimes practices can be tense,” said Charles Carter Harvey, president of Juxtaposition. “But usually it’s all fun because we all love music and like to be around each other.” He also uses practice time as an escape. “I don’t know if I’d have a musical outlet if I wasn’t in Juxtaposition,” the senior finance major said. Even though the group performs on a routine basis, members still become anxious before certain events. “The sorority gigs make me nervous because we are singing in front of so many girls in the same room,” Sangster said. The group also tries to give back to the community by supporting charity events on campus. “Last year, we donated to Zeta’s philanthropy because they were the organization with the most members who came out to our concert,” Harvey said. Most recently, the group performed in the Acapalooza event, which supported the Make-A-Wish Foundation. “We try to help out the most charities we can and sing for a good cause,” Hargrove said. But above all, the group members are supportive of each other. “Myy favorite part p is the camaraderie of the ggroup, p” Sangster said. “Everyone is really close, and I laugh a lot, which makes it all worth it.” Hargrove shared this feeling. “It’s more than just a bunch of guys singing together — it’s the bond,” he said.

Mixed Emotions,

Soulstice,

CJ YUNGER / SPPS

BY KATIE WHITE | features staff writer The baby of the acappella bunch at Virginia Tech, TechNotes was founded in fall 2010. It’s not just its relative youth that set TechNotes apart — it’s the variety of its repertoire. TechNotes’ concerts feature top-40 hits alongside lesser-known indie songs and creative mash-ups. Imagine “Enter Mister Sandman” — a combination of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” and the 1950s crooner Pat Ballard’s “Mr. Sandman.” The group’s eclectic library of music doesn’t stop there. Other notable hits TechNotes performs include “Fidelity” by Regina Spektor, “Animal” by Neon Trees, “Starlight” by Muse and “Your Love is My Drug” by Ke$ha. The range of songs allows group members to showcase their talents in a number of genres and ensures that all audience members will hear something familiar. Samira Rahimi, a freshman international studies major, can attest to the diversity of the group’s music. “When I went to the Acapalooza event in February, my favorite song of the whole thing was when TechNotes did Kanye’s ‘Love Lockdown,’ Rahimi said. “It was just an unexpected choice and a really cool take on an awesome song.” Since its inception, the 17-member co-ed group has been constantly focusing on its craft. Mikala Michalski, a senior biological systems engineering major, is the founder and president of TechNotes. She, along with the rest of the group, has worked to perfect its sound through trial and error. “We’ve learned to pick songs that will lend themselves to acappella — not just one that happens to sounds cool,” Michalski said. Michalski said she saw starting TechNotes as an opportunity. There were already two men’s groups and two women’s groups, but only one co-ed group. “(I) felt like Tech needed another mixed acappella group to balance it out,” Michalski said. Michalski said she prefers the sound of a mixed choir, as well as the flexibility it allows for picking and performing songs. Still, Michalski recognizes the group is still relatively new and hopes to expand on the songs it performs and improve its vocal quality. More specifically, the group wants to learn more songs at a faster rate and blend their voices together better. To help themselves develop, the TechNotes members put in about six hours of practice on average each week. When there is an upcoming concert, they practice more. TechNotes’ spring concert will be held on April 20 at 7:30 p.m. in the Graduate Life Center auditorium. Admission is free, though donations will be accepted. Expect to hear the group perform songs by Bob Marley, Paul McCartney and Mumford & Sons, among others. Michalski encourages prospective members to come out for the group’s next round of auditions in the fall. Last fall, the group held its first true auditions since the group’s formation to recruit new members. Despite being several months away from adding the next batch of vocalists, Michalski is already looking forward to them and discussing what she’s hoping to find. “We look for people with high-quality singing talent and strong m o t i v a t i o n ,” Michalski said.

april 4, 2012

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Week ending March 30, 2012

Top tracks

( ) Last week’s ranking in top five

We are Young (Feat. Janelle Moneae) • Fun

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

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food & drink

Designs: Hokie family launches business

april 4, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

Recipe: Bite-sized apple pie BY EMMA GODDARD | features reporter Sometimes there’s nothing like eating a warm slice of apple pie for dessert — on any day of the week. The texture of crunchy pastry mixed with the flavor of cinnamoncovered apples makes for a great treat. This recipe is a great snack to make for friends and is sure to hit the spot. Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 15 minutes Ingredients: 3 medium-sized apples 1 package of refrigerated pie crusts 1/2 cup sugar 2 tablespoons cinnamon 1/2 stick of butter, melted

COURTESY OF LEXI HOLLAR

Steve Hollar works in his shop to produce unique Hokie memorabilia.

Uniting to form Game Day Designs, a father and daughter draw on their love for the university holders — all inlayed with Tech logos. “The possibilities are endless what he can come up with,” Lexi said. “The neat thing about it is you won’t see anything else like it. We’ve gone to tons of craft fairs, the Campus Emporium, the Tech Bookstore — they all have the same thing after a while.” Game Day Designs provides customers with a new outlet to purchase Hokie gear that isn’t traditional or cliche, Lexi said. “My dad’s stuff is unique because there’s nothing else like it, and it’s good quality,” she said. “The items are not the kind of things found around your average college dorm. They’re beyond your usual tailgate items.” The father-daughter team works well together — Steve creates the products, while his daughter works on advertising through Facebook, Pinterest and word of mouth When Lexi still attended Tech, she was able to spread the word about the company to her fellow students. Now that she has graduated, her and her father’s business thrives off of trips to Blacksburg to not only show off product designs, but also to have a little fun. “We just love Tech and any excuse

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to go down. Every time we go down to Tech we talk about where we’re going to eat and plan to make trips to the Cascades, among other things,” Lexi said. “My dad and I literally have a bucket list for when we go down for weekends.” Through mingling with other Hokie alumni, the Hollars have learned that a person’s love for Tech lives on outside the Blacksburg community. “You meet so many people at craft fairs who are really excited to see these things they’ve never seen before and to meet other Hokies who share the passion we have for Virginia Tech,” Lexi said. The main goal of Game Day Designs is to give Hokies of all ages a constant connection through items that can remain in households for years. “You’ll find out that after four years you just won’t want to leave,” Steve said.

more info To place an order or ask questions about products, email steve@ GameDayDesigns.com.

Drink of the week: ‘Sex with an Alligator’ BY JIMMY HUDNALL | features staff writer Not to be confused with something out of an episode of “Swamp People,” “Sex with an Alligator” is a tasteful treat, although somewhat difficult to create. This layered drink mixes the sweetness of raspberry, the sourness of lemon and the unmistakably bitter-yet-spicy taste of Jager into a single glass. Anyone can add ingredients into a glass, but to create this particular drink, one must use discipline to achieve the desired blend. After creating the first layer, you should add the remaining two by holding a spoon upside down over the shot glass, and then, slowly pour. The idea is a water fountain effect. If done correctly, there should be a distinctive line separating the Jager from the Midori/sour middle, with the raspberry layer slowly protruding up from the bottom. Provided you don’t slam it down, you will first be treated to the spices found in the Jager before suddenly being hit with the sour bite of lemon. Toward the end, you’ll experience the much smoother flavor of raspberry, while still maintaining the lemon aftertaste. If you can ask for it at your local bar with a straight face, more power to you. If not, practice that layering. Ingredients 1/2 ounce Midori lemon liquor 1/2 ounce sweet and sour mix 1/2 ounce raspberry liquor 1/2 ounce Jagermeister liquor Ice Directions 1. In a mixing glass filled with ice, add the Midori and sweet and sour mix. Cover, and shake. Then, seep mixture into a heavy shot glass. 2. Carefully add the raspberry liquor (this should sink, creating the lower layer). 3. Again, carefully add the Jagermeister, forming the top layer. 4. Throw it back or sip to enjoy the flavor explosions found in each layer.

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UNSCRAMBLER

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Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. 2. Peel and core the apples. Slice into small wedges. 3. Mix the sugar and cinnamon together. Unroll one of the pie crusts and brush with the melted butter. Sprinkle a generous helping of the mixture on top. Cut into 10 strips. Repeat with the other pie crust. 4. Roll the apple wedges into the pie crust strips, so most of the apples are covered. 5. Spray a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray or line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 6. Bake the mini apple pies for 15 minutes. Once baked, let cool on a wire rack for five minutes. Serve when ready, and enjoy.

Cancer (June 22-July 22) For the next four weeks, you’ll have sweet dreams. Write them down, and if so inspired, take action to realize the one that calls to you most clearly. Your team’s hot.

info // Two year old in Te Teddy Bear Hamster

interests // caring in for fo her babies, loves to roam the apartment m in her hamster ball b Send your information and a photo to the Collegiate Times at studybreak@collegemedia.com to make an announcement.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Try out a new idea. Use the materials that you ind in your own closets and garage. Summarize everything with a romantic description.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Mercury’s retrograde (since Jan. 23) comes to an end today, with an easing of travel conditions. Still, business chugs along, and the money’s coming in. Keep stoking the ire.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Communication and travel energy are prominent. There’s more business coming in, too! Stay active, and make up for lost time. Love’s the word.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Visit friends, send emails and get the word out. It’s been so sluggish, but that’s shifting. Go for an income increase. You can ind the resources now.

Gemini (May 21-June 21) There may be less talk and more action. Your power is in your networks. Meet face to face, or get together with friends at home. That’s where your heart is, anyway.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Part with some of your treasure for the bene it of all. Launch new endeavors and sign contracts after. Words low easily, so catch them with writing projects.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Taking a break in nature reinvigorates. Pay attention to new career opportunities that ill you with joy. Imagine the future, ful illed. Now take another step.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Work gets more fun for a little while. You’re expanding and growing faster than you think. Reaf irm a commitment, and stay in action. Share laughter. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Take advantage of a new business proposition. You may have to take the lead to resolve a con lict. Don’t dismiss your friends’ ideas. Replenish your coffers. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Find strength in numbers, especially with those who support and believe in you. Return the favor. Flexibility is key. Take some time off outdoors.

My girlfriend had gotten a hamster with her roommate for fun and then one of my roommates decided to get one and then I decided, you know I think ill go to the pet store just to check out the animals. Low and behold, I picked up one of the hamsters and it looked up at me and I couldn't resist not getting her. It even started a trend with our neighbors at the time. I absolutely love animals I guess, I volunteer at the humane society shelter, so go figure I couldn't resist buying a pet!

Have a question you need answered about your pet? Or want your pet featured in next week’s paper? Email your questions to studybreak@collegemedia.com with the title ‘Pet of the Week.’

sports

april 4, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

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

Hokies rebound against Wofford MATT JONES sports editor On the heels of two-straight weekends of being swept in ACC play, the Virginia Tech baseball team should’ve had little to smile about. Behind the 3-for-3 performance of third baseman Chad Pinder, the Hokies defeated the Wofford Terriers 13-4, their 12th straight non-conference win. The Hokies (19-12, 2-10) were swept by the Duke Blue Devils and Florida State Seminoles on consecutive weekends, being outscored 41-13 in the process. “We have to get playing good again,” said head coach Pete Hughes. “We’re good enough to win every series, we are. It’s got to click mentally, and we’ve got to play fundamentally sound.” Starting pitcher Devin Burke, making just his second start of the season, battled through four innings, allowing five hits and two runs. “I didn’t know what we were going to do,” said Eddie Campbell. “I didn’t know how many innings they wanted to get out of Devin, because they’re getting his pitch count up. Everybody was available, and they came to me. I was ready to go.” Unlike several of their recent games, the Hokies jumped out to a 6-0 lead through two innings, allowing the team to settle in and play comfortably. “It was great,” Pinder said. “Obviously (for) a pitcher, it’s easier when you have some runs up on that board. Our pitchers did a great job competing today and putting the ball in the zone.” Tech plated five runners in the second inning, using a Carson Helms groundout and two-out RBI by Pinder (double), Johnny Morales (single) and Mark Zagunis (single). The Hokies would score again in the fourth inning off Tyler

Horan’s eighth home run to make it 8-2. Tech finished the game with 15 hits. Campbell turned in his thirdstraight solid performance, going four innings and allowing one run. He’s rebounding from a string of appearances in early March that weren’t typical of the Hokies’ left-handed specialist.

battling a hamstring injury he reaggravated on March 20 against Cornell. He will likely miss the Boston College series this weekend. Jake Atwell, the Hokies’ starting right fielder and middle of the lineup bat, is now in a cast after cracking his hamate bone in his hand. “We originally thought it was broken, which is eight weeks (of recovery time),” Hughes said. “We It was great. Obviously (for) got a CAT scan, which said it was a pitcher, it’s easier when partially healed, is great news. you have some runs up on which It could be two to that board. Our pitchers did four (weeks) in a which we’re a great job competing today cast, hoping. He’s a and putting the ball in the dynamic offensive player for us with his zone.” power and speed.” Chad Pinder Temporary closer Third baseman Manny Martir, who moved from the rotation to the clos“It’s great to come back after er role earlier this month, is I struggled my last few appear- sidelined with inflammation in ances,” Campbell said. “We his pitching elbow. The training changed a few things in my staff is monitoring his progress. windup and stretch, so I was “The MRI’s are all clean, but excited to work with that (last he’s really flamed up,” Hughes night).” said. “He’s pitched a lot and Hughes — never afraid to gone through so many injuries, switch up the starting lineup it’s just wear and tear of an old — began the game with Gabe baseball arm.” Ortiz leading off, regular leadTuesday night was Military off hitter Zagunis batting fifth Appreciation Night at English and freshman Helms making Field, as the Hokies honored his third start of the season. service men and women during “Somebody’s got to step up the game. The Corps of Cadets and play fundamentally sound were in attendance, and Sean baseball,” Hughes said. “I don’t Grindlay, an Air Force cadet, care how many injuries we threw an honorary first pitch. have, we left so many guys in Up next: Andrew Aizenstadt scoring position against Florida will start the finale game of the State, just get over the injuries.” two-game series this evening, While Hughes would never as the Hokies host the Terriers admit it, the injuries are taking at English Field at 5:30 p.m. a huge toll on what looked like Aizenstadt, who has a 5.40 ERA a promising start to the season. in three starts this year, will The Hokies are still without look to sweep Wofford after the services of senior Ronnie the Hokies’ win Tuesday night. Shaban, the team’s normal first Tech will be going for its 13th baseman and closer. He’s still straight non-conference win.

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MARK UMANSKY / SPPS

The Virginia Tech baseball team beat Wofford last night 13-4 — the win marked the Hokies’ 12th straight non-conference win. Tonight, Tech will go for another non-conference win, taking on the Terriers at 5:30 p.m.