Wednesday, April 11, 2012 Print Edition by Collegiate Times

Shultz goes overboard As it prepares to close, Shultz holds its last themed dinner, drawing on the Titanic. See page two for more event info.

CJ YUNGER / COLLEGIATE TIMES

Wednesday April 11, 2012 An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903

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COLLEGIATETIMES 108th year, issue 45

News, page 2

Food & Drink, page 6

Opinions, page 3 The Avett Brothers, FILE 2001 / SPPS

Sports, page 5

Study Break, page 4

Secret’s out the

VICTORIA ZIGADLO design editor

VTU seeks out stars BY JACOB WILBANKS | features staff writer

ehind the scenes of campus performances — ranging from speeches by Bill Cosby and Joan Rivers to concerts by

Third Eye Blind and The Avett Brothers — are the members of Virginia Tech Union.

VTU was founded in 1969 and quickly became the largest studentrun programming board on camB.o.B, FILE 2011 / SPPS pus. Its mission is to bring social and educational entertainment to Tech students and the Blacksburg community. “That’s always our number one motivation when we’re booking people or looking for people. We always care about the students,” said Eroica Williams, director of special events for VTU and a junior communication major. Williams said members of the club are motivated by their commitment to providing fun and engaging entertainment to the university. Matt Haugen, director of concerts for VTU and a junior international studies and Spanish major, agreed. “It’s just really cool when the students respond well and you’re actually doing something for them. That’s the whole purpose for us,” Haugen — who was recently elected as VTU’s 2012-13 president — John Legend, FILE 2012 / SPPS said.

The group doesn’t hold back when it comes to spreading the word about performances, either. “We have tried a lot of different marketing stuff that’s here — even down to putting coffee filters in toilets because it just shows up as floating words. It’s really cool,” Haugen said. However, Haugen said planning for an event isn’t an easy feat and is a long process — the group decides on a performer and sends an offer to a performer’s agent. If an agent responds, they go through the logistics, working with production services, the ticket office and Virginia Tech Police. But that’s just the beginning. The day of a performance brings its own set of challenges. “The day of show is just loading all the equipment in, getting everything set up and ready for everybody to come in, and then hoping the show goes well and taking it all down,” Haugen said.

Tuesday, in a storm of social media celebration, Virginia Tech was named the winner of the Victoria’s Secret Collegiate Showdown. Organized as a MarchMadness style online voting competition, the event relied heavily on Facebook and Twitter promotion to encourage college students to cast votes for their school’s chance to win a back-to-school PINK party, complete with Victoria Secret PINK models, games, giveaways and a free concert. Tech beat the University of Texas in the final round of the contest, which ended at noon. “I was sitting online at noon waiting for the results,” said Allison Hudson, a sophomore hospitality and tourism and human resources management major. “They didn’t actually appear on my computer until 12:03 (p.m.). I just kept refreshing my screen, texting everyone I knew, checking Twitter, asking ‘Did we win? Did we win?’” The contest spanned over six rounds and four weeks of voting, though it was only recently that many students, including Matt Armiger, a sophomore history major, began focusing on voting. “I didn’t vote, I just didn’t have the time. But for the past couple of days, every other post has been ‘vote here,’” Armiger said. Hudson said Facebook was a contributing factor in accelerating the voting process. “At first, I didn’t really hear anything about it. Then last week, everyone on Facebook started getting really excited about it and

wanted to vote as soon as possible. Every day, I had to log on and check the site and make sure I voted,” Hudson said. To vote, students were required to sign up for a PINK Nation account, a promotional group for Victoria’s Secret PINK. Each registered member was allowed to cast one vote per day, per round of the competition. However, some students — especially Siggi Simonarson — found ways to maximize their number of votes. Simonarson, a sophomore computer science major, created a link on his personal webpage, Siggisim.com, that allowed students to cast multiple votes a day for the competition. Simonarson capitalized on a glitch in the Victoria’s Secret voting program, which allowed students to open multiple tabs before voting for the day, and then casting votes from each open window. Simonarson wrote code for a Web page that allowed users to open 50 separate voting screens in one Web browser window, enabling students to quickly submit massive amounts of votes. Additionally, students like Justya Majdas, a junior finance major, created multiple PINK Nation accounts using different email addresses, so she could vote for Tech. “I wanted to win pretty badly,” Majdas said. According to Ryan Finnegan, a sophomore mining and mineral engineering major, these cheat methods were widespread. “There were ways to cheat posted all over Facebook. I think people were just assuming every one knew about the cheat and were going to use it,” Finnegan see PINK / page two

see VTU / page two

Tech researchers develop swimming, robotic jellyfish ABBY HARRIS news reporter A robotics research project at Virginia Tech is coming along swimmingly. A group of student researchers at Tech, in collaboration with three other schools, are working on the creation of a robot that could one day swim throughout the ocean like a jellyfish. The project is funded through a $6 million grant from the Office of Naval Research. Once completed, the “Robojelly” could have both military and civilian applications, according to Alex Villanueva, a Tech mechanical engineering graduate student who has been working on building the robotic jellyfish vehicle since 2008. “The ultimate goal is to have jellyfish vehicles swimming around the ocean doing all these different missions,” Villanueva said. Possible uses for the Robojelly include spying and surveillance for the Navy, as well as civilian uses such as monitoring the migration patterns of different schools of fishes, looking at ocean water currents,

detecting chemicals, determining water quality and even ocean floor mapping. For right now, however, Villanueva said he is working on creating a realistic jellyfish vehicle and finding ways to make it work for long periods of time. “We’re actually pretty close as far as the formation and performance,” he said. “(But) we’re still very far from being able to send out a jelly robot into the ocean.” The idea for this project comes from a concept known as biomimetics, or the study of the structure and function of different biological entities. The goal of this particular project is to mimic the inner workings of a jellyfish as perfectly as possible to create the most realistic product. John “Jack” Costello, a biology professor at Providence College in Rhode Island, has been collaborating with the team at Tech. “To create vehicles that emulate (jellyfish) require not only that you work along the vehicle, but that you also learn a lot more about the organisms you’re emulating,” Costello said. Costello and his colleagues are

currently researching the ways in which jellyfish maneuver and turn within the ocean. “We have had a model that can swim somewhat like a jellyfish for a while now, but we have not developed the ability to turn and maneuver,” he said. Jellyfish consist of about 95 percent water, according to Shashank Priya, an associate professor in material sciences and engineering and Villanueva’s advisor. Through this project, the team is researching how an animal that contains only 5 percent body mass is able to swim at certain velocities, maintain location, and capture and digest food — a concept that Priya finds intriguing. “By answering all these questions, we are able to basically provide an understanding of how to design a vehicle that can propel in water at a very minimal energy cost and also using the very least number of parts,” Priya said. The Robojelly that Villanueva is currently focusing on is a replication of the common Aurelia aurita species, which are also known as “moon jellys.” Future projects will include creating robotic jellyfish

that are up to 5 feet in diameter, such as the Cyanea capillata, also known as the “lion’s mane jellyfish.” One team at Tech is even working on a replica of the Humboldt Squid. “Moving forward I think you will see some other fish, which we are trying to investigate,” Priya said, “and you will see Robojellies of different shapes and sizes inspired by some other forms of national jellyfishes.” In addition to Tech and Providence College, the University of California, Los Angeles, the University of Texas at Dallas and Stanford University have made significant contributions to the project. “Because of this large team, we are able to actually move faster in the program, because everybody is able to provide a very special role in the development of the vehicle,” Priya said. Villaneuva echoed this sentiment. “It’s kind of cool to work with all these people and all the different technology that will eventually BRAD KLODOWSKI / SPPS — hopefully — be applied to this “Robojelly,” created by a group of Tech researchers, undergoes testing vehicle,” he said. in a water tank. The project is funded through a grant from the Navy.

news 2 Shultz hosts final voyage april 11, 2012

COLLEGIATETIMES

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

what you’re saying On Stadium Woods:

joe: there's plenty of parking lots in the area that could be used for the building

Scotty B: They want to cut down trees that

are 350 years old to put in a fieldhouse for the athletic programs at Va Tech, so they won't have to take a 10 minute walk and cut into their practice time. I say, let's make a deal. Win a national championship in one of the major sports and then we'll talk. Who knows, maybe the longer walk will help. Jim Weaver needs to come up with a better line than that. Oh and btw, how is that new basketball facility working out.

John Seiler: It is only 1 minute further. Mr. Weaver continues to exaggerate the distance.

Townie Mike: The petition to save the woods can be found here -http://www.ipetitions.com/ petition/vtstadiumwoods/

David: Why can't they build it on top of the

existing outdoor practice field behind Cassell and Merryman? The stadium can be used for outdoor practice, and the existing practice field will just be made into an indoor one? Isn't that the most obvious solution? Otherwise we end up with three fields for one team (Worshap, indoor practice, outdoor practice)

Twilight Sparkle: There's really no excuse for this ecosystem destruction. Virginia Tech already over-prioritizes athletics and spending on athletic facilities; the existing ones are more than adequate. Save the woods! Cory Bernhards: If you would like to save the CJ YUNGER / SPPS

The Shultz staff dressed up to serve students cuisine that was also served on the Titanic. Dishes included rack of lamb and beef tenderloin.

Titanic-themed dinner at Shultz successful, but the dining hall won’t go on, as it will close in May KARA VAN SCOYOC features staff writer The sound of a lone bugle signaled to the crowd at exactly 6 p.m. — indicating that dinner was served. The line started forming close to 30 minutes before dinner as people eagerly awaited the start of the Titanic experience. Diners attended Shultz dining center's last themed-dinner yesterday evening, just weeks before its closing in May — which Patrick Harton, Corps of Cadets member and a sophomore international studies major, is not happy about. “I had (a) blast tonight, but I’m depressed about the end of Shultz because I’m here every day,” he said. “I wish they could at least keep the top portion of Shultz open

because I will miss the breakfast.” Regardless, Shultz will soon be overtaken with construction for the Center for the Arts building. The dinner provided a memorable way for people to say goodbye to Shultz. Last night, diners were greeted with a variety of appetizers brought around by waiters dressed in full tuxedos. Diners were given a boarding pass upon entry that allowed them to try both the rack of lamb and beef tenderloin. The boarding passes also had information on an individual who was a passenger on the actual Titanic ship. Shultz was broken up into different sections, representing class distinctions. The center tables covered in red tablecloths distinguished first class, while the surround-

ing outside tables represented the lower class on the ship. Cutout stars were taped around Shultz with facts about the ship, incorporating an educational aspect to the experience. Diners could also take a turn spinning a wheel, as part of a game to test their knowledge of Titanic trivia. Large fruit trays featuring melon, pineapple, strawberries and star fruit surrounded by an assortment of cheeses served as the first course of the meal. Long lines stretched throughout the hall as guests waited to try the duck breast, curry chicken, as well as the beef tenderloin and rack of lamb. To finish off the meal, diners had access to a full dessert table featuring items including orange sorbet, vanilla ice cream and strawberry rhubarb pies. A Shultz team constructed a replica of the front of the Titanic ship that was centered in the back of

the hall looking out onto the other tables. Waiters, employees and managers all participated in the Titanic theme by donning clothing accurate to the time period. A large volume of students came out to support the event including the Corps of Cadets, whose members frequent Shultz because of its proximity to the upper quad. “As a member of the Corps, I came out tonight to support Shultz,” said Forrest Rush, a sophomore business major. “I tried the beef tenderloin, which was excellent.” Likewise, Heidi Mull, a freshman economics major, lives in Thomas Hall and frequents the dining center at least once a day. "... (Shultz has) awesome breakfast, and I’m going to have to find a new place to get grilled cheese,” Mull said. In the fall, a new dining center — Turner Place — will fill the void of Shultz, as it is set to open in the fall.

PINK: Tech wins Collegiate Showdown from page one

said. “Everyone can do it, so it’s not really cheating. It’s just that people at our school are more dedicated to it and have less of a life to spend time sitting on the Internet and voting than people at other schools.” This is the second year Tech has made it to the final round of the showdown, losing last year to the University of Illinois. “I voted last year, and I

thought it was really interesting to see how much more involved people got between the two years,” Hudson said. “Last year, not as many people knew about it, but this year, I think people really started getting into it because they thought we actually had a chance.” For Majdas, last year’s loss made this year’s victory all the more important. “I’m proud of everyone

— that we pulled together. We were losing up until like 20 minutes before the thing closed, so it’s pretty impressive that we pulled it off, especially because Texas is much bigger than us,” Majdas said. The Virginia Tech Collegiate Showdown Winning Party, which was the prize associated with competition, is currently set to take place at the beginning of the fall 2012

semester, between Sept. 1 and Oct. 31. “I’m really excited for the show,” Hudson said. “My brother just got accepted into Tech, so he’ll be here next year for it. I just feel like it’s a really good way to start off his college career, with this kind of event.” Further updates, including announcements about the performing artists, can be found at the “VT loves VS PINK” Facebook page.

tennis courts and new roller hockey rink please sign this petition:http://www.ipetitions.com/ petition/save-virginia-tech-roller-hockey-rink-andtennis/

Kyle Gardiner: You do realize that these courts

and the rink are gone no matter what happens? I respect that you want to keep those facilities there fore a lot of reasons, but those sites are up for development in the master plan regardless of what happens to this specific football facility. The real estate is simply way, way too valuable to take up with a bunch of concrete slabs.

Cory Bernhards: Yes, I do realize that in the

long term plans they will be torn down eventually. That's why we ask for replacement facilities to be built before any demolition. If the football facility isn't placed there then we can keep playing at our current location for 5-10 years. During that time we can find a suitable permanent location. One possibility is moving into War Memorial Gym once a new gym is built in Oak Lane. But that new gym is 5-10 years away. We simply cannot make it through another 3 and a half years without a place to play. Our clubs wouldn't survive.

Anonymous: Using a competition surface

for practice isn't an obvious solution. It's a nonstarter. A lot goes into keeping Worsham Field in the condition it is for an entire season. Outside of scrimmages, it isn't used that often for practice. The outdoor practice field isn't the size of a single field and allows different teams (positions, offense, defense, special teams) to practice at once. Also, as was stated in the article, the football team would not be the sole tenant in a new field house. It would used by most of the athletic department. As for using parking lots in the area, most of those areas have plans per the Campus Master Plan.

VTU: Students prep events from page one

Although the process seems fairly straightforward, the organization’s budget has proven to be an obstacle. The budget limits VTU from bringing huge names — such as Kanye West and Lady Gaga — to Tech. “It is limiting, but there are creative ways you can go around it,” Williams said. VTU tries to circumnavigate the budget issues by working with other organizations and pooling their budgets to bring events to campus. The organization also focuses on timing when booking acts to make them more affordable. “You try and hit bands that are just about to hit it big,” Haugen said. “Last year, the director, Lee Grimes, got B.o.B. right at the beginning of summer when he was just becoming big. So, he was right in his prime when he came here, and that turned out really well.” Budget isn’t the only factor VTU

considers when choosing acts. “(We think about) what the students want, what we can afford and what our committees want to bring too,” Williams said. “It’s really kind of a combination of what’s realistic in the venue or location we want, what’s affordable and what will actually work on campus.” The organization tries to incorporate an assortment of events into its yearlong schedule, so there is something for everyone — John Legend and Ruthie Alcaide of “Real World: Hawaii” are just two performers that came to Tech through VTU this school year. “What I’ve tried to at least do is bring a variety of different fun novelty events that people will enjoy,” Williams said. The variety of acts VTU brings to campus is reflected in the organization’s structure. VTU is split into several committees under two broad headings: programming committees and support committees.

Programming committees — of concerts, alternative sounds, speakers, lively arts and special events — are responsible for selecting and booking events. Each of the programming committees has a different focus, but they will often work together to obtain more established and pricey acts. Support committees — of house and hospitality, public relations, graphic design and Web design — make artists feel welcome and develop VTU’s website. Even though the school year is coming to a close, some of the committees still have work to do, as they prepare for final shows. On April 27, VTU will be hosting Soundfest — an annual concert featuring alternative acts — on the Duck Pond lawn. The time of the event is to be announced. “It’s mostly trying to expose the students to a broader range of music. It’s free so anybody can come out,” Haugen said.

opinions

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

april 11, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

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

MCT CAMPUS

Minimum wage increases poverty N

early all government action has unintended consequenc-

es. In his book “Economics in One Lesson,” Henry Hazlitt explained, “The art of economics consists in looking not merely at the immediate, but at the longer effects of any act or policy; it consists in tracing the consequences of that policy not merely for one group, but for all groups.” In light of this statement, we should consider the claim that increasing the minimum wage will benefit the poor. It is true that some people will receive higher wages if the minimum wage rate is raised, but those receiving higher wages can only do so at the expense of others who will become unemployed. For example, if the minimum wage rate is $7.25 per hour, and a small business can afford to allocate $14.50 per hour for labor, then the business can afford to employ two people. However, if the minimum wage rate increases to $10 per hour, then the business will now have to pay $5.50 per hour for labor beyond what is allocated in the budget. The business will most likely choose to lay off one worker to pay the higher wages to the remaining worker. Therefore, we see that one worker has benefited, but only at the expense of his colleague who is now unemployed. Another way to think about the minimum wage issue is in terms of price controls, for a minimum wage law is simply a price control on labor rather than a good. Price controls always create problems because they distort the market and pricing systems, which directs how producers and consumers best spend their resources. In any introductory economics class, people learn the equilibrium market price of a good or service will be where the supply and demand curves intersect. If the government sets a price that is below equilibrium, the result is a shortage. On the other hand, if the government sets a price above equilibrium, a surplus results. In the case of a minimum wage law, the government sets the price of labor above the equilibrium point, and the result is a surplus of labor or unemployment. Not only do minimum wage laws

lead to unemployment, but they also keep the poor from improving their situations because people with low skills will be locked out of the workforce, thereby preventing them from improving their skills. To illustrate, consider a situation where no minimum wage law exists. Let’s say person A has a skill set worth $5 per hour. He can find employment at $5 per hour, and over time, he has the chance to hone his skill set to be worth $10 per hour. Unfortunately, under minimum wage laws, it is likely person A will not be hired because his skill set is only worth $5 per hour, but an employer is forced to pay him $7.25 per hour. He will not be able to gain the job-site training that could lead to development of a more valuable skill set. This is not to say that being paid a wage of $5 per hour is desirable, but isn’t it better to be employed at $5 per hour rather than unemployed at $0 per hour? Finally, minimum wage laws have also been used by large companies to give them a competitive advantage. In 2005, the minimum wage was $5.15 per hour. The average wage paid to Walmart hourly employees was between $8.23 and $9.68. Walmart actually supported an increase in the minimum wage, ostensibly because it was the right thing to do, but in reality because it would have no effect on Walmart’s labor costs. On the other hand, smaller mom-and-pop stores paying the minimum wage would be adversely affected. Subsisting on minimum wage income certainly is a great hardship, but enacting policies that produce the opposite results of what they purport is not the answer. To truly help the poor, we should advocate for policies that protect the value of the dollar, while halting both inflation and the ruinous business cycle. Keynesian fallacies aside, we need to heed the writings of Adam Smith when he stated, “What is prudence in the conduct of every private family can scarce be folly in that of a great Kingdom.”

MATTHEW SUMMERS -guest columnist -graduate student -mechanical engineering

Obama fails with drug policies “L

egalized 420 will lead to massive crime on our streets and a nation of pot addicts ... If Libertarians controlled the country, we would be living in a third-world country,” said Jack Bardo, southwest chair at Virginia Young Democrats No, seriously, he said that. In response to criticism on Facebook of his proposed “Obama Campaign Kickoff ” at Virginia Tech — which is mostly centered around the fact that Barack Obama has made George W. Bush look “liberal” when it comes to civil liberties and the war on drugs — Bardo seriously argued that legalizing marijuana would be tantamount to legalizing murder. Why would a “liberal” sound like he was pandering to Bible Belt social conservatives? It’s probably because he is so eager to defend President Obama that he has cast reason, principle and logic aside. There is a lot of truth to the line of thinking behind, “Only Nixon could go to China.” But it fails in defense of the current president. Sure, a “liberal” Democrat legalizing, or even being soft on, drug policy could be destroyed by a Republican in his reelection campaign. That said, Obama did not just continue the status quo in the failed war on drugs. Instead, Obama has been far worse than Bush with regard to wasting taxpayer dollars to ban the sale and possession of marijuana. “I’m not going to be using Justice Department resources to try to circumvent state laws on this issue,” Obama said while campaigning in 2008 — he was referring to raiding medicinal marijuana dispensaries in states where it is legal. Campaign Obama was a great guy, with all that “hopey changey” stuff, but things have changed for the worse. A scathing article in “Rolling Stone” on Obama’s marijuana gaffe sums things up perfectly: “With more than 100 raids on pot dispensaries during his first three years, Obama is now on pace to exceed Bush’s record for medical-marijuana busts. There’s no question that Obama’s the worst president on medical marijuana. He’s gone from first to worst,” said Rob

Kampia, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project. College students flocked to Obama in record numbers in 2008, in part because of his statements on marijuana policy. Many others were attracted to him because he seemed so strong on civil liberties, which should make sense because, obviously, college students do not like the idea of the government wire-tapping their phones or hacking their computers without a warrant. Despite this, Obama reneged on his campaign promise to revise or completely repeal the Patriot Act. Here again, however, one could make a very good argument that Obama was worse than even Bush on civil liberties. For example, Obama signed the unprecedented National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, breaking his campaign promise on “signing statements” and allowing for the indefinite detention of foreign nationals without trial and, arguably, the same for U.S. citizens. We could go into the particulars of Obama’s failures on wide-range issues related to civil liberties, like the Guantanamo Bay, Bradley Manning, torture policy, etc. However, his entire philosophy on civil liberties can and should be summed up by the murder of Abdul Rahman al Awlaki. Abdul was the son of noted terrorist Anwar al Awlaki, but nonetheless was a U.S. citizen who should have been entitled to the protections of the U.S. Constitution. Instead, the Obama administration decided to be judge, jury and executioner when it ordered a hellfire missile strike directed at the young 16-year-old boy. The Obama administration is responsible for the first assassination of a U.S. citizen, or at least to openly admit to it. Why is it that established Democratic and Republican politicians never seem to care about the will of their constituents? The answer is quite simple: Libertarians are not their constituents. Their constituents consist of corporate lobbyists and party leaders. Obama’s campaign is fueled by the same Wall Street

capitalists that pushed Bush into office, and they’re playing two hands by backing Mitt Romney as well. The two-party system is beyond broken, and both parties are happy to keep it that way. Libertarians are not politicians — they are philosophers who use science, morality and reason to manipulate the political arena to allow for a return of individual freedom. A police union cannot buy a libertarian politician to vote for furthering the drug war, as it is against everything they believe in. An evangelical political action committee cannot buy a libertarian’s vote to stop gay marriage and further hinder the efforts of the LGBT rights movement. Likewise, no libertarian would sign his name next to anything like the Patriot Act or the NDAA, signing statement or not. Unfortunately, this principled, just and admirable approach to politics is exactly the reason why libertarian politicians fail — they don’t get millions of dollars of campaign contributions from special interests. Fortunately, as is evident from Ron Paul’s and Gary Johnson’s campaigns, the youth vote is becoming more libertarian. Looking at the 18 to 30 age bracket, Paul has won many of states in the GOP nomination process, some by a landslide. College students are waking up to the pandering, lies and broken promises of the Democratic and Republican parties. That is why I think the future of the youth vote rests with libertarians. On April 20, the Libertarians at Virginia Tech will be holding a pro-legalization awareness event outside the Graduate Life Center, and on April 26, the group will be cosponsoring the LGBTA’s Freedom to Marry Day, also outside the GLC — both are non-partisan, single-issue only events. The 4/20 event will feature a DJ and “Special Liberty Brownies.”

ERIC SMITH -guest columnist -junior -chemical engineering major -president of the Libertarians at Virginia Tech

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april 11, 2012

Regular Edition Today’s Birthday Horoscope: Renewal fills this year with the fragrance

of springtime. Release old, limiting habits or perceptions to make way for new circumstances. Your family, friends and community are really there for you, no matter where you roam (and you probably will). Save money for a passion.

Piled Higher and Deeper by Jorge Cham 5 8 1 6 7 9 3 4

4 8 2

4 2

8 9 2

6 3 5 7 9

XKCD by Randell Munroe This could be you . . .

Crossword

want your comics featured in the collegiate times?

submit them to: studybreak@collegemedia.com

Week ending April 6, 2012

Top tracks

( ) Last week’s ranking in top five

(1) 1

We are Young (Feat. Janelle Moneae) • Fun. Glad You Came • The Wanted

Stronger • Kelly Clarkson

Set Fire to the Rain • Adele

4 (2) 5

Somebody That I Used to Know • Goyte

word

WORDSEARCH: Family Guy Characters Locate the list of words in the word bank in the letter grid.

W Y

W U

W R

W Y

W O

W H

W M

W C

D 1 Peter 2 Lois O 3 Chris T 4 Meg 5 Stewie O 6 Brian M 7 Diane Simmons T 8 Quagmire 9 Cleaveland U 10 Carter C 11 Loretta 12 Mort K 13 Muriel E 14 Neil 15 Tom Tucker R 16 Joe H 17 Consuella B 18 Death

W P

W D

UNSCRAMBLER

WORD BANK

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sports 5 Dual perspectives: Baseball vs. soccer

editors: matt jones, zach mariner

april 11, 2012

COLLEGIATETIMES

sportseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865

TWO STAFF WRITERS, ALEX KOMA AND MIKE PLATANIA, BREAK DOWN SOCCER VS. BASEBALL IN THE US

Koma: Baseball is far from dying in America

Platania: Soccer stars make the game attractive

he national pastime is dying. At least that’s what sports analysts have been saying about baseball for the better part of the last decade. Between the sport’s steroid scandals, declining attendance at games and the rising popularity of sports like soccer, people have become convinced it’s just a matter of time until what was once the most popular sport in the country becomes an afterthought. While it’s impossible to deny the public’s attention has largely shifted to football, with a growing interest in basketball as well, these predictions of doom and gloom are a tad premature. Observers are quick to point to Major League Baseball’s shrinking attendance numbers as evidence that the sport is on the way out. However, not only has the advent of high definition TV and the Internet caused a decline in turnout in virtually every sport, but baseball’s numbers also aren’t that discouraging. It’s easy to forget, but the MLB actually posted an all-time high in attendance in 2007, when an average of 32,770 people attended each game. Since then, attendance declined every year until last season, when there was actually a small increase. Economists seem to believe baseball attendance is directly tied to confidence in the economy, given most fans are squarely in the middle class, and the recent uptick in the country’s financial system should be a reason for optimism. “Sports Business Daily” recently predicted attendance would see a 3 percent to 5 percent increase this year, and the results of the season’s first weekend seem to be bearing this out. After all, it isn’t often that the Pirates are able to sell out two games over a weekend.

It is worth noting that attendance is hardly the only measure of a sport’s popularity. TV ratings are a major factor in assessing a sport, and baseball’s ratings in the playoffs haven’t been stellar. The sixth and seventh games of this year’s Fall Classic were encouraging, as they drew in 21.1 million and 25.4 million viewers respectively, but when compared to the Super Bowl’s 111.3 million viewers, they pale in comparison. Many of baseball’s problems can undoubtedly be traced to the fact that the game has been unwilling to adapt to many of the technological advances other sports have embraced in recent years. The MLB still refuses to allow video clips of its games to be posted anywhere but its own website, while leagues like the NFL and NBA dominate YouTube with their videos. Similarly, as other sports have become faster and more suited to the shrinking attention span of the viewing public, the average baseball game has become longer, and the league has made no effort to make any rule changes to affect this. This variety of issues has led some to believe a sport like soccer may rise to take baseball’s place in America. It seems with every World Cup, Olympics or Premier League season, people become convinced Americans will become interested in soccer. Whether it’s through an exciting run by the national team or simply the magnificent play of the game’s stars, many believe it’s just a matter of time until the country is as captivated by soccer as the rest of the world. However, it seems unlikely that even a World Cup title for the United States would gain soccer a real foothold in the country. As bored as

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like the Red Sox and the Giants were excluded last year, the two additional spots should create more drama. In short, people can worry about baseball all they want. Many concerns about the sport are certainly warranted, and the league needs to address them, but it’s not going anywhere. So fear not soccer haters — the day when people recognize Lionel Messi before Derek Jeter is still pretty far off.

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Americans may be by a lengthy baseball game, nothing puts them to sleep faster than the endless inaction of a soccer match. Similarly, baseball’s detractors underrate the value people place on the experience of attending a baseball game. For all of its exorbitant prices, it remains a quintessential experience for Americans in the summer. Additionally, the influence of fantasy games can’t be ignored either. Even if someone doesn’t have a family they want to take to take to a game, the chances are good they have a vested interest in beating their friends or coworkers in a fantasy league. The addition of an extra wildcard team should help drive interest in the playoffs as well. While popular teams

record books and stockpiling trophies. And we are all witnesses to two of the best the sport has ever seen. Players like Robin van Persie, Mario Gomez, Ronaldo and Messi have removed soccer’s reputation of being low scoring and full of injury embellishment. These walking highlight reels can get even the mildest fan on their feet. The coming months are setting the stage for some of the best soccer play since the 2010 World Cup. The best players and teams in the world will be fighting for the European Cup, which is the most sought-after piece of silverware in all of European soccer. Chelsea FC will battle reigning champions FC Barcelona for a spot in this year’s Final, in an unlikely but vicious rivalry. Either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid will occupy the other spot, and when those two meet, some of the world’s best goal-scoring talent will be facing the two best goalkeepers in the world. In June, many of the same players in the Champions League will don their national team’s colors for the Euro 2012 tournament. Spain, the Netherlands and Germany are the top three teams in the FIFA World Rankings, and they will all showcase their talent to the world as a preview to the 2014 World Cup. The “boys of summer” are looking more like a bunch of has-beens in American sports. Baseball’s game doesn’t feature any tricks or flair, and soccer’s finesse and flashy style is winning over action-hungry fans. Soccer is here to stay, and there’s no better time to see what it has to offer than now.

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hen Landon Donovan blasted in a goal during the final minutes against Algeria in the 2010 World Cup, he not only advanced the United States national team into the next round of the tournament, but he also rocketed soccer into relevance in America. Since America’s wild run in South Africa two summers ago, not only has international soccer’s popularity increased in the U.S., but club soccer is also on the upswing. And with soccer’s rise, it’s only fitting that another sport is falling. Baseball has been long regarded as America’s pastime, but it has become literally that: a thing of the past. The numbers are there to show it. Major League Soccer attendance is at an all-time high and total attendance went up 37 percent from 2010 to 2011. Though it’s not falling as fast as soccer is growing, Major League Baseball’s attendance has still been on a steady decline of about 1 percent per year since 2007. Ever since baseball’s work stoppage during the 1994-95 postseason, baseball hasn’t been able to regain the fans it once had. Soccer is runaway the most popular sport in the world, and the U.S. has always been the exception to the rule. All of this success is happening despite a relatively weak domestic league. Aging stars like David Beckham and Thierry Henry are using the MLS as a retirement plan due to the high wages, but the MLS certainly isn’t a top destination for the world’s best talent. Soccer stars of today are bigger, better and more popular than those of previous generations. The common fan may have heard of legends such as Pele, Maradona or Zidane, but today’s players are even better. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are more than just athletes — they’re international superstars and on good merit. The two are re-writing the

name // Sydney info // female one year old Red Heeler interests // fetch, swimming, playing at the dog park in mud, LOVES to get dirty

solutions: “Peanuts Characters” 1) Charlie 2) Lucy 3) Snoopy 4) Linus 5) Schroeder 6) Woodstock 7) Sally 8) Rerun

Aries (March 21-April 19) There is still a way to win. A challenge puzzles you, and you’ll need to do your homework. Practice pays. Let your creativity loose. Do the research, and think it out.

Cancer (June 22-July 22) Review and revise a habit or routine, and save. Stay grounded in the basics, and consult with your team of experts. Your touch is golden; gather up what you can.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Turn it down if your mate thinks it’s beneath you. Discipline gives you more time to play. There is ample opportunity for making creative changes at home.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Reconsider the methods that don’t work, and continue using those that do. Listen to your heart and proceed with passion. Take on something new. Learn to juggle.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) You can learn whatever you need to know. It’s an expansion phase, and an adventure or trip tempts. Accept invitations to visit, and let a friend teach you.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Keep your money in your pocket for now. You’re too busy to spend it anyway, at least for the next few days. A moment of planning saves hours. Tell someone how much you care.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Entering a learning phase, you’re getting more awesome. And there’s room for romance. Reassure a loved one and guard their dream. It turns out well in the end.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Your capability to concentrate increases. It’s a good time to plan your next move. Don’t let pressure get to you. Take short meditation breaks.

Gemini (May 21-June 21) The more careful you are with the details, the better you look... important people are watching. Consult an absent group member. Verify intuition with facts. Work fast.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Don’t let anyone coax you off track. You’re creating a positive buzz. Let go of a preconception, and consult a wise friend. A two-day romantic phase begins.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) You’re being pushed to take action. Accept the invitation as you see it. Don’t throw money at a problem. Find harmony by listening to others and adjusting the tone.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Pay attention to other people’s arguments. Some of their ideas might work. Get social for the forseeable future, and allow your friends to contribute.

Sydney is a fun-loving dog with lots of energy and a personality to match. Her main goal in life is to have everybody she meets love her. She has gotten along with every dog and person she has ever met. However, despite being a cattle dog, she is terriefied of cows.

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.’

april 11, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

food & drink

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

Drink of the week: The Tom Collins BY JIMMY HUDNALL | features staff writer The Tom Collins is a classic long drink, well suited for a Blacksburg summer. The ginbased drink is both strong and sweet, so be careful when indulging. The sour flavors found in the gin and lemon juice contrast nicely with the sweetness from the simple syrup, culminating in a rich-flavored drink that goes down very easily. The secret to this drink is the simple syrup — something that can either be purchased or made from the comfort of your home. To make the simple sugar on your own: Ingredients: 1 cup water 1 cup sugar Directions: 1. Heat cup of water almost to a boil, and then add sugar. Stir vigorously until sugar is completely dissolved. 2. Allow the solution to cool, and then you’re good to go. Unless you’re aiming for diabetes in a glass, excess simple syrup can be refrigerated and used at a later date. For the drink itself: Ingredients: 2 ounces gin 1 ounce lemon juice 1 ounce simple syrup 1 cup ice 1/4 cup club soda 1 lemon slice (to garnish) Directions: 1. Shake gin, simple syrup and lemon juice over ice. 2. Fill a Collins glass with ice, and strain mixture into glass. 3. Top with club soda and stir. Garnish with a lemon slice. COURTESY OF LUKE MASON

Recipe: Stuffed mushrooms BY EMMA GODDARD | features reporter

EMMA GODDARD / COLLEGIATE TIMES

Appetizers and finger foods are perfect to serve at large parties and small gatherings. They can even serve as individual snacks. This stuffed mushroom recipe is simple, and the mini meal is sure to make your taste buds dance — even for those who aren’t mushroom lovers. Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 25-30 minutes Ingredients: 1 package chicken-flavored stuffing 24 large fresh mushrooms 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese Olive oil for drizzling Directions: 1. Wash mushrooms or wipe each mushroom with a damp cloth or paper towel. Remove stems, and set aside. 2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Prepare stuffing according to package directions. Once cooked, stir in cheese. 3. Spray a baking sheet with baking spray. Stuff each mushroom with the stuffing and cheese mixture. Drizzle mushrooms with olive oil so all sides are covered. 4. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Allow to cool before serving.

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