Thursday, April 12, 2012 Print Edition

Going off script Theatre department promises improv, audience involvement in its latest production opening tonight. See page six for details.

AUSTEN MEREDITH / SPPS

Thursday, April 12, 2012

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

COLLEGIATETIMES 108th year, issue 46

News, page 2

Weekend, page 6

Opinions, page 3

Local pens Hokie book EMMA GODDARD features reporter

COURTESY OF MIRIAM RICH

Miriam Rich is a classic example of a person who has taken a hobby to the next level.

Rich created a book titled “You’re a Hokie Now!” — composed of a poem and coinciding illustrations — to hone in on the distinctive memories most Virginia Tech students hold.

Rich, who works for the Office of International Research, Education and Development, published the book to highlight Tech’s campus, student life and the surrounding Blacksburg culture.

“I have written my whole life, and I wanted to capture the experience at Virginia Tech,” Rich said.

Blacksburg is Rich’s newest home — she has lived in various places abroad and across the nation.

Rich grew up in Japan, and it wasn’t until college that she traveled to the United States.

After college she ventured to Louisiana, Illinois, Oregon and Washington. Along the way she did a variety of things for work, including teaching French and being a licensed masseuse.

Seattle was not her last stop, though. When Rich heard the 1996 Olympics would be held in Atlanta, she decided to make the trek to the city.

While at the gold medal match for women’s field hockey, Rich’s life — professionally and romantically — changed.

“I happened to sit next to this guy who worked at Virginia Tech,” Rich said. “We traded emails, and when I went back to Seattle, he started writing me.

“So, it wound up that out of romance, I moved to Blacksburg, and a month later I got a job at Virginia Tech in his international office.”

Now, Rich works with others in her department to help developing countries around the world. Rich oversees communication for the office, which means looking after the website, writing articles about international work, giving presentations and writing press releases.

Sports, page 7

Study Break, page 4

Student dies while studying abroad MICHELLE SUTHERLAND news editor A Virginia Tech sophomore — known for getting his peers to sing together and engaging them in debates — passed away while studying abroad in Switzerland earlier this week.

J.J. Stinson, a Presidential Global Scholar studying at the Riva San Vitale in Switzerland, went missing on Friday.

Police found his body sometime late Monday night, early Tuesday morning, according to Craig Wainner, Stinson's roommate at the villa and a junior economics and international studies major. However, Wainner would not disclose where Stinson's body was found. And the cause of death has not been released.

Police began searching for Stinson after the weekend came to a close — it was personal travel weekend, meaning many students left the area on trips. Students who leave are supposed to leave a note, but Stinson did not leave one before he left. According to Wainner, Stinson said he was planning on exploring the area around the villa.

“Honestly no one knew (where he went)," Wainner said, "We had all asked him, and he said, ‘Hey, I’m just

J.J. STINSON

going, just wandering.’ He was the kind of person who just wandered and explored things, he never told us where he was going."

Stinson, a philosophy major, was known for his curiosity, both in terms of exploring and asking big questions.

“He was always inquisitive, always challenging you to think in different ways,” Wainner said. “He liked to put you on the spot, but in a friendly way. He loved to have friendly discussions and debates.”

Wainner said his cheerful personality will be missed.

“He had lots of energy, always happy, always smiling, fun loving," Wainner said. "He was a great friend, and a lot of us will miss him. He’s in our hearts.”

see HOKIE / page eight

Miriam Rich, a Blacksburg resident, self-published a book that draws on Hokie experiences.

PRISM launches Student turnout to affect Nov. election social media plan Percentage of 18-24 year JOSH HIGGINS news reporter

Molly Reed has never registered to vote.

“I really just didn’t do it,” the freshman general engineering major said.

“It was just because of lack of time, and I didn’t feel like doing it.”

Reed isn’t alone.

In the 2008 presidential elections, 51.1 percent of American citizens between ages 18 and 29 voted, according to a study by the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, or CIRCLE. While it was a 2.1 percent increase from the 2004 election and the highest turnout since 1992, youth turnout for elections has typically been lower than that of the older population.

The youth vote has increased in the past few years, but the CIRCLE study suggests voter registration laws affect turnout levels on Election Day. And with the 2012 presidential election fast approaching, registering to vote has become a priority for those wishing to cast a ballot on Nov. 6.

Where do students vote?

In Virginia, citizens are required to register 22 days before primary and general elections. But to register, students have to establish their permanent residency and complete registration forms, which has resulted in confusion over whether students should register in Blacksburg or in their hometowns.

“The actual law says a person must have an abode where they rest their head each evening,” said Randall Wertz, general registrar for Montgomery County. “Then they have their residency, or where they actually live.”

Wertz said students can determine whether they want to register at home or at school, as long as they

use what they consider to be their permanent address on the registration form.

“We don’t treat students any differently than any other person,” Wertz said. “If they tell us in the application that is their primary residence, then that is what we utilize.”

Karen Hult, a professor and director of graduate studies in the political science department, confirms students’ ability to register at either location.

“I really think it’s a student choice,” Hult said. “But why would one choose to register here, when they can register back at home? It’s an interesting decision.”

Hult said some local residents, believing there is an effect on election outcomes from student involvement, do not like students participating in local politics.

“In the town of Blacksburg, I’ve not seen much evidence of any effect because I don’t think there’s been much of a turnout,” Hult said. “I was very disappointed at the level of apparent mobilization, activity and interest here in the fall 2011 elections.”

Voter registration rules, the CIRCLE study says, can influence turnout rates. According to the study, youth turnout in elections was 14 percentage points higher if ElectionDay registration was allowed in the state during presidential elections. In addition, youth turnout was 40 percentage points higher during presidential elections if the states allowed voting by mail.

In Virginia, there are restrictions on absentee voting, and citizens are not allowed to participate in in-person early voting. In addition, Election-Day registration is not allowed.

While voter registration requirements do have an effect on turnout,

the issue for college students remains the decision to register at school or in their hometown. If a student decides to vote at school, Wertz said, they should be aware of possible consequences 51.1% of changing their permanent address.

“Most students who have registered with us consider their address at the university as their permanent address, and that’s what they put on the form,” Wertz said.

“It’s a choice of the student. If there are any 49.0% ramifications for stuff like (tax dependencies and scholarships), we’re not interested in those aspects of it. The only thing we’re interested in is their permanent address.

40.3% The issue with a student changing their permanent address is there’s a possibility tax dependencies and scholarships could be affected.

39.6% For example, if a student has a scholarship for living in their homeVICTORIA ZIGADLO/ COLLEGIATE TIMES town, and they change their permanent address to their school address ticipation might skew local elections, for voting purposes, there is a possi- there could potentially be positive bility they could lose the scholarship outcomes from student engagement. because they are no longer consid“If there were more attention (to ered residents of their hometown. local elections and issues), there Student political involvement might be a better way to build bridgAs the 2012 election approaches, es between the two communities,” political advocacy and voting regis- Hult said. “Right now, I would guess tration, as well as its impact on col- that many of the town officials would lege localities, will become promi- say something like, ‘We would like nent issues on college campuses. students to be more involved. We Hult said while some local resi- would like to work with and talk to dents are concerned student parsee VOTE / page two

old voter turnout 2008

2004

2000

1996

ERIN CHAPMAN news reporter People don't just use social media to connect with friends anymore.

Wednesday, the Pamplin College of Business unveiled its official channels for interaction online — including Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn. PRISM — which was founded last year and stands for Pamplin Re-Inventing Social Media — was created to help build the social media presence of Pamplin.

The group has been working with Pamplin to form a cohesive social media existence, and over the last year, the group has grown from 15 members to 45.

Throughout the day students who came through the Pamplin atrium were invited to “like” the Pamplin Facebook page and send Tweets using @VTPamplin.

The Pamplin Tumblr will have blogs and summaries of presentations by professors, as well as links to videos on the Pamplin YouTube page. The Facebook and Twitter pages will be used to announce events and let students know about speakers on campus.

Lauren Prociv, a graduate student studying business administration and co-advisor for PRISM, said she thinks students are excited about the expansion of Pamplin social media.

“We’re creating order out of chaos — nobody knows exactly what to do with social media so we are trying to be pioneers,” Prociv said.

Leading up to the launch, PRISM members used Facebook

and Twitter to spread the word, generating buzz among students, Prociv said.

Many students need to know to use social media tools, as more businesses utilize tools such as Twitter and Tumblr. Prociv said it is becoming increasingly common for employers to be interested in a candidate’s social media “Klout” when hiring.

Klout.com is a website that tracks people’s influence online through websites such as Facebook, Twitter and others.

Jordan Jacobson, a sophomore marketing major, said this launch reflects well on Tech and Pamplin.

“Everyone is using these social media channels and it helps people collaborate,” Jacobson said.

“College really brings out the collaboration element and using social media helps with that.”

Donna Wertalik, faculty advisor for PRISM, hopes opening these social media channels will continue the dialogue between professors and students after class ends.

“A professor can give a lecture and then Tweet something about it and students can Tweet back,” Wertalik said. “It’s more of a conversation that’s occurring rather than a one-way street.”

Sandy Bass, a senior marketing management major and one of the chief marketing officers for PRISM, said before PRISM, there was some disconnect within Pamplin’s social media outlets.

“We had a Twitter and a Facebook page, but they weren’t being used for information. The only way students were getting information was through emails and the general listserv,” Bass said.

Vote: Tech more apathetic in politics from page one

students.’ But we’ve not seen persistent evidence of that happening.”

Hult said since the 2008 presidential election, she had not seen much involvement from college students locally.

“This is a distinctly unengaged, uninvolved campus, compared to other places I have been,” Hult said.

“There hasn’t been much visible activity on campus.”

However, that doesn’t mean everyone is politically apathetic.

Tara Dillard, a senior natural resources conservation major, is politically involved.

“I am registered to vote,” she said.

“I think having the ability to have a say in who is in government is special and important.”

Hult said the geography, history and demographic of the students that attend Virginia Tech could be a factor in campus disengagement in politics.

“This is an engineering school; most students are in this college or the college of science,” Hult said.

“It seems like those students don’t have that perception of things. I think all of that mixes together in a complex way. That makes it very difficult to get that kind of engagement.”

Voter turnout in the last election The 2008 election was different.

“I think it was one of those years you had really riveting candidates, terrific mobilization campaigns and some issues people cared about a lot,” Hult said, “issues like the economy, jobs and Iraq.”

The 2008 election saw one of the highest turnouts in recorded history, according to the CIRCLE study.

Young blacks posted the highest turnout rates ever observed for any racial or ethnic group of young Americans since 1972. Almost 55

percent of women between ages 18 and 29 voted in the elections, as well.

In addition, voter turnout of young people with college experience was 62 percent — a visible effect at Tech.

“It was stunning to see the lines of people waiting to go vote various places around town,” Hult said.

“But we had people at some of the local polling places that stood in line for hours to cast a ballot.”

The 2008 election, Hult said, saw a moment in history where candidates, especially on the Democratic side, were able to mobilize youth and minority groups. She said Barack Obama, as the first black president, was able to mobilize the black vote, while Hillary Clinton attracted the woman vote.

In addition, she said Obama’s way of dealing with people in a “riveting and persuasive” way played a large role in his ability to galvanize the electorate.

However, one of the greatest influences on the election — especially on the youth vote — was the ability to capitalize on social media sites, like Facebook and Twitter.

“The drive to mobilize and register (the youth vote) and getting them involved in other ways made the difference,” Hult said. “I think it’s getting them involved in other ways —local service work, registering voters, talking about problems.”

The Obama campaign committed a lot of its grassroots effort on engaging and informing citizens through social media, Hult said, giving him an advantage in the race. However, she said he will likely not have that advantage in the upcoming election.

“I think social media will still be important for the president, but it’s no longer a new thing,” she said.

“And all the Republicans are doing a good job with (social media) too.

He’s still good, but he won’t be that much better.”

However, she said family members losing jobs during the economic recession also played a role in voter turnout. But she said dissatisfaction with the president’s lack of change and boredom with politics might affect the political landscape for 2012 Voter turnout in the upcoming election As the 2012 election looms, political scientists question whether this year will see the same youth voter turnout. Hult said while she considers Tech to be an uninvolved campus right now, certain factors might lead to a close race and political activism on campus.

“That’s the narrative that should catch on and continue: What are these old people talking about and making decisions that I’m going to have to live with for a very long time,” she said.

While it is unclear whether turnout will meet or surpass that of 2008, Hult said a close race in Virginia might rally the party bases into coordinating active campaigns on campus.

“It looks like there’s going to be a race (in Virginia) again,” she said.

“That should mobilize college campuses, and it may be that, once a Republican nominee is selected, that in the fall, I would expect to se a lot more engagement and involvement.

“I would look for the kind of mobilization on college campuses to be similar to 2008 —great use of social media, but especially in states like Virginia, which is up for grabs again.”

And with first lady Michelle Obama and Sen. Mark Warner

speaking at Tech’s commencement in May, there could be a resulting political buzz on campus.

“Both of them understand this is a commencement speech, not a partisan speech,” Hult said. “That puts all kinds of constraints on the reaction there might be. What could get people more focused, though, is that kind of reaction (of commencement speaker selection) from students and parents. That sense of opposition might mobilize some Warner and Obama supporters on the one hand, and similarly the opponents on the other hand.

While she said is one possibility, she expressed that it could also have another effect.

“What it will do is get news cameras on campus and have people asking questions to students and getting them to think hard about what their answers are,” Hult said.

“And to that extent, it could have a longer term impact, but we’ll see how students react.”

Hult said often portrayal of politics disengages citizens — even college students.

“I understand not everyone is excited (about politics),” she said.

“I also understand people are increasingly becoming disaffected with what we see on cable TV and what we see cast as politics. I have to say I’m disturbed by it. I don’t think everything can be reduced to sound bites or just two sides. That can turn people off of politics. I don’t think all of politics has to be about conflict, yet that seems like what we want it to be.”

While Reed has not registered to vote, she said she plans to change that.

“I plan on doing it,” she said. “I just haven’t gotten around to it. It really just wasn’t at the top of my list of things I needed to get done before college.”

newseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865

what you’re saying On Minimum wage increases poverty

Anonymous: "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?"HA - the irony to that is that many people around that salary range choose to live off welfare because it pays more and they have to do less!I'd be willing to be welfare would be a lot less costly for this country if we did away with minimum wage and used the EITC or some other subsidized form of providing a living sustenance for those who would otherwise be living in the streets + if rules on welfare were set for incentives to work (and thus more people employed) we'd be way better off than the minimum wage system.

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april 12, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

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

Your Views [letters to the editor]

The Stadium Woods gives school value

T

he editorial board's Stadium Woods debate editorial, printed on April 9, was clear and to the point.

It was well served to be in the opinion section, since your stance on the fate of the Stadium Woods was obvious.

Saying it is difficult to see an alternative to the facilities proposed location is outrageous. Shouldn’t a legitimate alternative be to not build it at all? What will this new building provide? A place where only a handful of Virginia Tech’s student athletes can practice for a game.

What will this new building destroy? A place where every Tech student can visit, learn and relax. A place where many students will discover their passion and begin delving into their future areas of expertise.

Demolishing the Stadium Woods will leave one less resource for the College of Science and the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, who use the woods to practice elementary battle tactics, which cadets could one day use on the battlefield as military officers. I cannot stress enough the concept that this facility will enable some students to practice for a game, while right now, the Stadium Woods helps hundreds of students — from a variety of disciplines — prepare for their futures and life outside of college.

Next time you mention "clear and tangible benefits" that would be provided "to the university community as a whole," please list specifically what those benefits are and how they would impact the university community.

Currently, I see no benefit to this training facility. This building will not give Tech a national championship in football. It will not magically transform our student athletes into NFL stars. Our football team has to find inspiration and resolve in themselves to accomplish those things — a fancy new building won’t instill such

First lady does not embody Tech ideals

On

March 30, I first heard a news story on the radio announcing that First Lady Michelle Obama will be one of two speakers at this year’s commencement ceremony at Virginia Tech. Being a conservative Tech alumnus who loves our great country, I was immediately horrified and saddened that the university I have held in such high regard all these years has now chosen to associate itself with a presidential administration that has consistently demonstrated a willingness to steer this nation away from the principles held by our country’s founding fathers and this university.

According to the Roanoke Times, there haven’t been two guest speakers at commencement since 1958. I duly noted that the last twospeaker program included a Methodist bishop and an editor of a religious publication, which highlights just how far Tech has strayed from its conservative past.

From the Roanoke Times news story, I also saw that President Charles Steger was personally quoted as having said that Mrs. Obama will be one of “two dynamic leaders who are outstanding role models for today's young men and women.”

Does Steger really feel that the future alumni of Tech should strive to live in the unprincipled and hypocritical manner demonstrated by the first lady and her husband?

President Obama has become well-known for delivering powerful orations about national economic hardship requiring severe “belt-tightening” and then embarking with his family on overly lavish vacations and shopping sprees at exclusive destinations such as Martha’s Vineyard.

I recognize the first family is expected to live well

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determination.

Tech has thousands of already motivated and dedicated students. If they lack "state-of-the-art" equipment and resources in the classroom, does that make them less driven? Not in the least.

The underlying question to all of this is, what makes the football team more deserving of new resources?

The College of Science is still operating out of trailers, not proper Hokie Stone buildings. By threatening to demolish the Stadium Woods, they are being asked to sacrifice again. The university is stealing from the College of Science and the Corps (among others) to give to a few student athletes so they can play games. That certainly doesn’t seem like a benefit to the "community" to me.

Tech’s constant promise to "Invent the Future" makes me proud to be an alumnus, and as an alumnus, I hope I am making good on that promise. The ranking or performance of our football team does not sway alumni love and support for this school — alumni will always cheer for the boys in maroon and orange and continue to support Tech in other ways.

Building this training facility will proclaim loudly that Tech values its football team, a very small percentage of the enormous student population, more than any other group of students attending this school and paying for the privilege. It saddens me to think this is how Tech officials want the school to be perceived. And the actions and decisions of that small group of officials will sway my love and support.

We might not always have a football team ranked in the top 10 for future Hokies to cheer for. But by saving the Stadium Woods, we can preserve a bit of Tech history for current and future generations to enjoy. There is no need to forget our history as we continue to invent the future.

Megan Wilson VTCC ’07

— they are iconic representations of our nation.

However, a good leader also leads by example, and I’ve seen none of that demonstrated by this administration.

I find it unacceptable that Steger — the president of a university that has prided itself on instilling sound patriotic values in graduates, especially in its Corps of Cadets — would host such a speaker.

I’m sure you are aware that Mrs. Obama has chosen to give commencement speeches this year not only at Tech but also at North Carolina A&T. It can be no coincidence that these two universities reside in states that are viewed as “swing states” in this year’s presidential election.

I can only conclude that this is nothing more than the current presidential administration using Tech as a pawn in its political agenda. For that reason alone, I believe it would have been in Tech’s best interest to have politely declined the first lady’s offer to speak at this year’s commencement.

In closing, I ask President Steger if there is anything he can do to remove the first lady from this year’s commencement ceremony, I urge him to do so. I recognize that having the first lady speak on such an occasion is a prestigious and tempting prospect, but I hope Steger will choose the more prudent option that better appeals to the principles this university was founded on — principles that, I hope, it still values today.

Should Mrs. Obama still take part in this year’s commencement ceremony, you will have disappointed and offended one of many conservative alumni who love this great nation and don’t wish to see it “fundamentally transformed.”

Aaron M. Moyer Class of 1980

MCT CAMPUS

Health care debate mimics Brown case “T

he decision tortured the Constitution — the South will torture the decision.”

These are the hostile words of southerner John Temple Graves in reference to Brown v. Board of Education, the decision that ended de facto school segregation in the United States.

The South’s resistance to the decision — which lasted for decades — was characterized by hostile rhetoric, legal maneuvering, violence and outright defiance of the Supreme Court.

After the decision, “In Congress the court was subjected to assaults of explosive violence,” writes historian C. Vann Woodward in “The Strange Career of Jim Crow,” from which the Graves quotation is also pulled. “The House passed bills restricting the court’s powers, and the Senate came within eight votes of nullifying several Supreme Court decisions.”

“The Strange Career of Jim Crow” is a conspicuous read in early April 2012, as the Supreme Court faces a vote that 75 percent of Americans, according to a March 2012 Bloomberg poll, believe will be decided along political lines. But the court is not the only political actor in this drama. President Obama has been taken to task over the past week for slyly suggesting the Supreme Court “exercise judicial restraint” and uphold the Affordable Care Act. “Imagine if President Eisenhower before Brown v.

Board of Education had heckled, ‘those unelected judges better not be dreaming up ways to undo the decisions of elected school boards around the country on how to run their schools,’” wrote an indignant Jennifer Rubin of the Washington Post in an article highly critical of the president’s statements last Tuesday. “If the president does not defend the rule of law and urge civil

debate and acceptance of the court’s decisions, he is opening a Pandora’s box.”

Yet President Eisenhower did heckle, albeit quietly, and Brown v. Board was his target. “I don’t believe you can change the hearts of men with laws or decisions,” he repeated throughout the era. And while the aforementioned Congressional assault on the court raged, Eisenhower calmly “refused to deny a report that he privately deplored the Brown decision and said that integration should proceed more slowly.”

The resistance to desegregation, as with the resistance to the Affordable Care Act, was cloaked and shrouded in the impartiality of the law, defended through the discernment of its rightful interpreters (whomever they may be), and bolstered by a dutiful and unwavering faithfulness to the Constitution.

Never did the human issues — the lives of a college student in Oxford, as well as a black boy beaten to death and thrown into the Tallahatchie River — seem to rise to the surface, or even be of much importance.

Human life, to put it bluntly, was superseded by religious observance of a document written before the automobile existed.

The saddest part is that today, just as it was almost 60 years ago, this decision is political.

Health insurance does not work like Chevy Volts or broccoli, even though Justice Antonin Scalia insists it does, because failing to buy broccoli, in the words of Princeton economist Paul Krugman, “(does not) make broccoli unavailable to those who want it.”

The government also has a long history of forcing people to do things — a law requiring the purchase of firearms in 1792 is one of the earliest and

most clear-cut — and there is little more coercive than being forced to fight and die for a cause you don’t believe in.

Yet we are to believe the government’s authority ends where conservative commentators have decided it does. We are to believe that opposition to the Affordable Care Act — in particular, the individual mandate — is grounded in cold, indifferent reasoning, just as some would even have us believe that support of segregation was solely concerned with the particulars of Constitutional law.

There is something sickening and deeply disheartening about such arguments. They are dishonest, illogical and made in the poorest of faith, convincing us that we must countenance the unnecessary suffering of the poor and unfortunate to satisfy the whims of misunderstood dead men from three centuries ago.

But there is hope. As President Obama lobbied the Roberts Court, and as Congress lobbied the Warren Court, we can lobby our representatives. If the Affordable Care Act is struck down, better reforms can be proposed, and if the justices stick to partisan opposition (the reason they were appointed in the first place), they can be replaced.

The important thing is not to give up. It is clear, by way of international comparison and opinions of health care experts, that the U.S. will be forced to undertake reform sooner rather than later. But, like the “Strange Career of Jim Crow,” the resistance will surely “torture the decision” long after the lawyers have headed home.

BRYCE STUCKI -regular columnist -senior -economics major

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april 12, 2012

Regular Edition Today’s Birthday Horoscope: Your career booms over the first half

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april 12, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

featureseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865

5

wryly

e R ILLY DELIGHTFULLY OFFENSIVE.

The geeks shall inherit the Earth: Living in the Golden Age of nerdiness

T

he most buzzed-about show on TV in 2012 isn’t a police procedural or military drama. There are no sharply dressed lawyers spitting out pithy one-liners or supermodel surgeons saving children’s lives without breaking a sweat.

Instead, Americans gather around the water cooler Monday morning to breathlessly discuss dragons, beheadings and warring medieval kingdoms on “Game of Thrones.”

“Desperate Housewives,” it ain’t.

In fact, HBO’s fantasy epic is unlike anything else on TV. It is a violent, sexually explicit tale of political jousting with a fictional twist on feudal Europe. “Thrones” takes the dark complexity of George R.R. Martin’s beloved literary saga “A Song of Ice and Fire” and runs with it.

The result is one of the most compelling TV experiences in recent memory. Every Sunday, millions of well-adjusted adults enter the sprawling world of Westeros to visit dozens of colorful characters, all of whom have an axe to grind with each other — figuratively and sometimes literally.

The magic and mythical beasts associated with fantasy are largely absent, replaced with political intrigue and tense family relationships. Imagine “The Sopranos” in Middle-Earth, as the producers reportedly described it at the pitch meeting.

Still, while “Game of Thrones” may not be traditional fantasy — incestuous relationships and infanticide aren’t exactly staples of Tolkien’s writing — it belongs to the genre as much as Frodo and his ring.

Once upon a time, that label would’ve been enough for the show to be dismissed by critics as childish tripe — not anymore.

“Thrones” received an Emmy nomination for best series, and the second season recently premiered to rave reviews and incredible ratings.

It’s exciting to watch a seemingly niche property like “Game of Thrones” enter the mainstream market, but the show’s success is only surprising if you’ve been in a Rip Van Winkle slumber this past decade.

Geek culture, once banished to basements and convention halls, has taken over the entertainment industry like one of the pow-

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er-hungry kings of Westeros. Move over John McClane and Dirty Harry; in 2012, Batman and Bilbo Baggins call the shots.

It’s the ultimate revenge of the nerds, and no one is more thrilled than my inner 8-year-old.

This may come as somewhat of a shock to anyone who has met the suave, sophisticated college version of me, but I was once a bit of a geek. If you grew up in the ’90s, it’s likely you had a kid in one of your classes with raging ADHD, questionable social skills and an obsession with “Star Wars” bordering on unhealthy.

I was that kid.

Admittedly, it’s fashionable in this strange hipster era to proclaim nerdiness, but I have the credentials and repressed childhood memories to prove it. My geek resume can stand with the best of them. It spans long — intense debates about the narrative complexities of “Star Wars: Episode One” to the literal weeks of my life spent playing various “Zelda” and “Half-Life” video games.

Don’t forget the tiny plastic Warhammer 40K battle figurines littering my basement or the spring break I spent reading the classic graphic novel “Watchmen,” then reading

it twice more for good measure.

As you can imagine, it was a long, virginal slog to social normalcy. Luckily, high school beat a lot of the weird out of me, leaving the sleek, lady-killing love machine you know today. Somewhere along my path to becoming a socially adequate adult, though, something funny happened — nerdiness became en vogue.

“The Matrix” and “The X-Files” may have gotten the ball rolling in the late ’90s, but “The Lord of the Rings” movie trilogy was the tipping point in the “nerdification” of pop culture.

Orlando Bloom’s shimmering blonde locks acted as a Trojan horse to normally fantasy-adverse audiences who, as it turns out, enjoy well-made movies regardless of genre. Hollywood execs looked at Frodo and Spider-Man’s billions and made a swift decision: more hobbits and superheroes.

Ensuing years saw a flood of comic book adaptations hit theaters. The quality ranged dramatically from excellent (“The Dark Knight”) to the eye-gouging (“Wolverine”), but profits always keep the machine churning.

It’s almost unfair how good nerds today

ANDREW REILLY -featured columnist -senior -communication major -@wrylyriley

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Actress Emilia Clarke & actor Iain Glen of “Game of Thrones,” MCT CAMPUS

have it. Twenty years ago, a good superhero movie was hard to find. Now, we get “The Avengers” directed by king dork Joss Whedon, creator of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Serenity.”

This new geek-friendly culture isn’t limited to the movies. Shows like “Arrested Development” and “Community” embrace offbeat high-IQ humor, while “Lost” made everyone rethink what was possible on the small screen.

“The Hunger Games” — adolescent girls’ current novel of choice — is about children fighting to the death in a dystopian future.

This is not exactly what you’d find in a “Babysitters Club” book.

Even human communication has become advantageous for nerds as the dawn of the text era has made it just about impossible to hide stupidity. When grammar is considered “cool,” you know we’ve entered a bizarre alternate universe.

Of course, too much of a good thing can end up backfiring. Sometimes it feels like Hollywood is taking advantage of fan boys with garbage like “The Green Lantern,” which seemed to arrive with a message saying, “Here’s a super hero — give us your money now.”

And this is more of a personal problem, but it’s totally unfair people waited until after my awkward childhood to decide glasses are cool.

Almost every other aspect of the nerd renaissance is wonderful, though. As “Game of Thrones” proves, everyone benefits from giving more power to the dorks among us.

Luckily, this geeky pop culture nirvana seems like it’s here to stay, at least for now.

To paraphrase Aragorn from “Lord of the Rings,” a day may come when American interest in fantasy fails, when we forsake superhero movies and break all bonds of nerdy fellowship — but it is not this day.

solutions: “shrimp” 1) popcorn 2) gumbo 3) fried 4) cocktail 5) butterfly 6) coconut 7) creole 8) barbecue

health. employment. crime. music. sports. art. dorms. education. housing. government. world politics. sales. travel. traffic. construction. business. relationships. entertainment. virginia tech. ut prosim. construction.

check the Collegiate Times every Wednesday for the drink of the week

CHARLIE & DOROTHY

We share your concerns

married since: June 26, 1952

Check us out in the paper or online at collegiatetimes.com

High school sweethearts, Charlie and Dorothy “Dot” got married less than a month after Dot’s graduation. “It was so hot on our wedding day that the candles melted before the ceremony started,” Dot said. “But as soon as I saw Charlie I didn’t care if it was a thousand degrees as long as I was with him.”

Aries (March 21-April 19) A distant development is in your favor. Gain more than anticipated, and pay back a debt. Buy something that makes your work easier. Make longterm plans.

Cancer (June 22-July 22) Surprises at work could catch you off guard. Learn from an experienced mentor, especially all of those resource-conservation strategies that save money. All’s well that ends well.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Dig and uncover surprises. You have the resources you need. A private contact in a big company is quite helpful. Write down your discoveries and share them.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Watch out for hidden surprises. Take advantage of excellent connections.

Travel looks good, if you stick to your budget. Get out and make something happen.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) All the pieces are coming together for romance. Discover hidden resources when planning a project.

Creativity blossoms as older tasks get completed.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) An amazing breakthrough in love develops spontaneously. And there’s more money coming in! Count your lucky stars, and drink it in deeply.

Journal to remember it later.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Study and discover a treasure. Learn from friends who have plenty, as they can teach you a lot. Get in someone else’s world, and you see that your view’s not the only one.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Find a quiet place to recharge your batteries, and get into a writing project. A friend’s change of plans could affect you. Visualize your next investment.

“I’m not sure what I’ll do without him this year,” Dot said. “I miss him so much, but he lived such an amazing life. I know he’ll always be with me because I can look and my children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren and see a part of him in each. So although he’s not here anymore I know he lives through each one of them and I realize how precious of a gift he left me.”

Gemini (May 21-June 21) Let someone else stir up trouble.

Notice automatic reactions, and keep quiet. What are you really committed to? Remember home, family, friends and love. Grow them all.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Messes can lead to improvements.

Let a change occur naturally. You may receive more than you gave. It’s okay to have abundance. Enjoy it, and share. You can handle it.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Discover a brilliant inancial insight.

Another’s generosity bene its you.

Articulate it so you can share it with others. What comes around goes around.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) New opportunities open up for the future. Act today, even if it’s just one tiny step. Study and learn with a partner or friend ... it’s easier and more fun.

Charlie H. Purks Sr.: of Varina, Virginia, 79, retired from Emery Worldwide. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. His granddaughters will be walking in the 2012 Virginia Tech Relay for Life in memory of his inspiring fight against cancer.

Charlie and Dot were an inspiration to how a marriage should be.

Always putting each other first, giving to others, and most importantly showing their three kids, nine grandchildren, and three great grandchildren what true love was - finding your soul mate and never letting go, through the good and bad.

6

april 12, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

weekend

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

Cast prepares for opening night LUTHER SHELL features staff writer Audience members will play a different role in the theatre department's upcoming production — they won't just be spectators; they'll be part of the show.

"A Servant of Two Masters" — which comes to Virginia Tech today in the Squires Student Center Studio Theater at 7:30 p.m. — implements Commedia dell'Arte.

Commedia dell'Arte was developed in 16th century Italy and is considered to be the earliest improvisational theatrical form. It has elements of improvisation, physical comedy, archetypal characters depicted with masks, as well as audience interaction.

The theater form has been revised and reused throughout the years and is still part of Italian theater, which is a testament to its versatility and endurance.

One of the main features of Commedia dell'Arte is that it can be formed to an audience and a play's setting. This is done through a large amount of improv, allowing audience members and actors to form a unique show, depending on the night.

David Johnson, director of "A Servant of Two Masters," has been at Tech since 1988 and has been working with the Commedia dell'Arte theatrical form since 1997. Since he started working with the form, he has traveled to Italy to study the craft. Last fall, he was hired by the University of Wisconsin to put on a similar production of “A Servant of Two Masters.”

Johnson has made preparations to ensure the ancient theater form is executed authen-

tically and clearly. For this production, Johnson will use masks he purchased in Italy that are similar to those of museum quality.

Commedia dell'Arte combines what Johnson calls “the cooked and the raw.” The “cooked” are the lines that are practiced in rehearsal and essentially the foundation of the play. The “raw” is everything else that is made up during the improv of a performance.

This element of breaking the fourth wall and having direct contact with the audience attempts to make each performance energetic and lively.

Johnson has a clear idea of what he wants from the improv and style of the show.

“You can only say what works and what doesn’t, and sometimes it goes too far, and I have to pull it back. Improvisation comes out of the subconscious and can be controversial material,” Johnson said. “Commedia has a sexual component, but it can’t be overt. I wanted to keep the show child friendly, so when they’re ‘improvving,’ they can’t swear or be gross.”

This atmosphere Commedia dell'Arte generates makes a play relatable to various types of people through the archetypal characters — including angry old men, clown servants and blowhard professors, just to name a few.

Creating such an atmosphere is in the hands of the entire cast, including Daniel Fissmer, who plays Florindo, one of two masters. Fissmer — a junior theatre major — has faith the theatre company's group effort will be able to make the play resonate with a diverse audience.

“The cool thing about Commedia is you can make it relative to whatever audience you’re playing to,” Fissmer said.

“The majority is going to be a college crowd, so there will be jokes specifically geared for people at Virginia Tech, possibly people our age, but that doesn’t mean it’s geared just toward them.”

For Fissmer, everyone involved has played a huge role in bringing the theater form to life. But, the costumes — which he said are crazy, colorful and bright — are the most interesting aspects of the show.

“The actors are funny.

Everyone is really hilarious, but the set and costumes are really what bring it together,” Fissmer said.

However, Caity Edwards, assistant stage manager for the play, is a fan of the set.

“The (set) is one of the coolest aspects because of the black and white checkered floor,” Edwards, a senior English major and theatre minor, said. “The colored lights make the floor change colors at key moments.”

But Commedia dell'Arte is what Edwards believes will draw in a crowd — she and Fissmer found a connection to the form, themselves, after studying it last semester with Johnson.

“I think that there is a bit of reputation that the shows (at Tech) are artsier, if you will, or maybe you wont get it, but this is a show that doesn’t have this hidden agenda or meaning that we’re trying to get to the audience,” Edwards said. “It’s just a truly enjoyable show.”

"A Servant of Two Masters" will be showing from Thursday, April 12, to Saturday, April 21.

Tickets cost $8.

From April 12 to April 14, as well as April 17 to April 21, there will be showings at 7:30 p.m. And from April 14 to April 15, as well as April 21, there will be showings at 2 p.m.

AUSTEN MEREDITH / SPPS

Cast members practice their roles during a rehearsal for “A Servant of Two Masters” that opens tonight.

AUSTEN MEREDITH / SPPS

Much of the cast wears masks during the production, which is customary for this Italian style of theater.

sports 7 Secondary shifting to prove beneficial

editors: matt jones, zach mariner

april 12, 2012

COLLEGIATETIMES

sportseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865

CJ YUNGER / SPPS

Antone Exum listens to Frank Beamer after the team’s intersquad scrimmage on Saturday afternoon.

Defensive backfield realignment to add flexibility to a unit that lost two starters from a year ago ZACH MARINER sports editor When you have a defense in college football that returns nine starters, you usually try to change as little as possible.

However, if you're Bud Foster, you do what you have to do to get the most out of your players — even if it means rearranging your entire defensive backfield.

The only two players not returning from last year’s team hail from that same secondary — safety Eddie Whitley and cornerback Jayron Hosley — and Foster and defensive backs coach Torrian Gray have tweaked their lineup to accommodate those losses.

Antone Exum has moved from safety to cornerback, Kyle Fuller has finally moved from nickel corner to field corner and Detrick Bonner and Kyshoen Jarrett have moved from cornerback to safety.

"All it’s doing is adding flexibility to us," Gray said. "I can move Antone back, but we have corners in Kyshoen and those guys. It’s just trying to maximize the personnel, but I feel better now knowing those guys can go in and play safety. Corner is not easy at all, but at least those guys are corners at heart, too.

“I think this is something we are going to want to go ahead and finish with this spring, and be committed to and just evaluate it afterward,” Gray said of the realignment. “I really think we’ll have a chance for this to work out.”

One of the biggest advantages of the shift will be the physicality the team will have out on the perimeter, as Exum and Fuller have both proven to be sure tacklers. They’re both also good-sized for the position, as well.

“I’m real excited,” Exum said.

“Kyle played a lot of nickel last year, but there’s more to his game than that. He can go out there and cover with the best of them. I feel like I’ll be able to go out there and cover with the best of them, as well.

“So, you put that together, and then you put how physical both of us of are, me having safety experience, being a bigger guy and Kyle

biggest issue has been communication. Bonner has at least spent some time playing with the firstkind of being a big corner and team secondary, whereas Jarrett being aggressive with his experi- only saw action in late-game, bigence last year at the whip position, margin situations.

I feel like we’ll be in good shape.”

“The covering comes naturally,” While the unit’s cornerbacks Jarrett said. “I’ve played corner both have plenty of experi- before. For myself, it’s more the ence playing for Gray, Bonner communication. That was an and Jarrett both just arrived in issue with me coming in the first Blacksburg last year. day of spring.

Bonner got some action late in “I’ve learned how to communithe year, primarily against North cate because of my surroundings Carolina and then again during with Antone Exum, Bonner and the ACC Championship Game. Kyle Fuller. With them talking Jarrett, however, played mostly on with me it’s kind of helped me talk special teams, and didn’t see a ton more. I just want to make sure that of reps on defense. presence they had in the fall isn’t But that’s not what has their taken away.” defensive coordinator worried the This group has already made most. some progress in the communica“My biggest concern will be, tion department from the start of ‘Can those guys tackle consistent- spring practice. ly at the safety spot?’” Foster said.

“It just comes with reps, I feel like,” Bonner said. “Everybody talks. The more they communicate, the better it is. When we communicate as a group, it’s betfor us overall. Last week, we I think this is something ter were a little slow on the comwe are going to want to go munication. We weren’t doing it well. Now that we are, we’ve ahead and finish with this made a big improvement.” spring, and be committed The only other area for concern for this unit will be the depth to and just evaluate it af- behind it.

With the transfer of James terward. I really think we’ll Farrow, the only scholarship have a chance for this to players behind Exum and Fuller at cornerback will be freshmen. work out.”

One of them is already here, as Donaldven Manning was one of Torrian Gray three early enrollees for Tech’s program who came in January.

While a bit undersized, Manning has a good amount of “I mean, they’re corner guys, but raw talent, which should help him they have good size, they’re not progress into another premiere small guys. But, I want to make Hokie cornerback. sure they’re good tacklers. Our “From a technique fundamental safeties, we spill the ball to those standpoint, I expect him to get guys a lot, and just being consis- better,” Gray said of his unit’s newtent with communication, there est member. “Physically, he’s only will be some new things for them.” going to get so big at this point Bonner is excited to show he has in time in his career, but if he can what it takes. show physically that he can get “It’s a challenge,” he said of down the techniques and do those being a physical presence. “It’s a types of things, I’ll feel encourgreat challenge, I’m happy for it, aged because he’s going to be 15 I can’t wait. My main goal right practices better starting fall.” now is to get bigger and stronger Manning said he’s already over the summer. So far that’s the learned a lot from his fellow coronly thing that’s holding me back ners. from bringing down big backs.

“Pointers that they give me, they My tackling, I feel like, is well. just tell me don’t back down from Overall, I just need to get bigger.” nothing, keep going hard and Bonner said he wants to bring make sure you know your assignhis weight up to at least 195 ment,” he said. “If you know your pounds before fall practice. Right assignment, then you can always now he stands at about 188. beat them to the play and be able As far as Jarrett is concerned, his to make a play on the ball.”

“

CJ YUNGER / SPPS

Kyle Fuller intercepts a pass during Saturday’s scrimmage. He would return it 51 yards for a touchdown.

8 Hokie: Poem captures Tech experience editors: chelsea gunter, patrick murphy

april 12, 2012

featureseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865

COLLEGIATETIMES

from page one

With this position, writing has become a more prominent part of Rich’s working life — but, she has allowed it to spill over into her personal life. Rich began writing poems for birthdays and going away parties.

While she was sitting in a hotel during an overseas trip, Rich came up with the idea for “You’re a Hokie Now!” — bringing her poetry to a larger level.

With some help from a family member who graduated from Tech, Rich came up with a list of key moments that all Tech students have experienced or will experience in their college careers. From this list, she created her poem.

Rich soon realized she needed illustrations to accompany her poem, so she sought out Truman Capone, director of the School of Visual Arts at Tech, with the hope that he could help her find an art student who could do the job.

When they met at Capone’s store — Capone’s Fine Jewelry — she ran into Jonathan Kolodner, who was at the shop designing an engagement ring for his fiance. Having overheard Rich and Capone’s conversation, Kolodner chimed in, letting Rich know he was an illustrator.

Kolodner — a 25-year-old Tech graduate with a bachelor’s degree in industrial design — said he has always known he is artistically inclined.

“It’s kind of like the serendipity of life,” Kolodner said. “You find projects, and you have to grab them when they show up.

Rich and Kolodner worked together on the book, collaborating on ideas for the themes of each image. They decided they would take readers through the four seasons, displaying each one throughout the book. The pair also decided they would place a Hokie Bird on each page.

Kolodner initially created each illustration with pencil and inks,

later adding colored pencil onto each image. He’d then scan them onto his computer to add a few finishing touches.

When the book was complete, Rich had it self-published. With a full-time job, it was difficult for her to promote her book on her own. So, she reached out to a group of students to help her market it.

Mandy Snyder, a senior marketing management major, initially learned about Rich’s book through one of her marketing classes last semester. She said there were about five project options, and her group chose to promote Rich’s book to help her with an advertising campaign.

“She was one of the nicest, sweetest ladies ever,” Snyder said. “She was so excited about the book, and after she left the meeting, we wanted to help her in any way we could. Her enthusiasm was really contagious.”

Snyder’s group created a campaign proposal for Rich. At first

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glance, Rich’s book may seem as if it’s meant for children, so they wanted to change this by having it appeal to a wider demographic.

The marketing team thought the book would make a good gift for graduating seniors or incoming freshmen, as well as their parents. They conducted surveys and asked who would like receiving the book as graduation memorabilia, while also asking how much buyers would be willing to spend.

The initial price Rich set for the book was $15, but after the group’s advisement, she is bringing it down to $10 — a change not yet reflected online via YoureAHokieNow.com, where people can purchase the book.

Customers can also buy the book at the University Bookstore.

Rich said she has already sold a few hundred books and hopes the number will continue to increase. Although she is content with the work she has produced, Rich hopes to continue writing when she has the time.

“It makes me happy to actually have something I thought of coming to fruition,” Rich said.

“I had the idea in my mind and now I can hold it in my hands.”

COURTESY OF MIRIAM RICH

Rich enlisted the help of marketing students to promote her book.

PI KAPPA PHI PRESENTS

SUDFLOOD MUSIC FESTIVAL OUTSIDE (1PM-7PM) Always Morning Jake Troth Carbon Leaf

INSIDE (7PM-2AM) Lloyd Dobler Effect Melodime Ben G

Top of the Stairs - April 14th, 1pm - 2am TICKETS $17 (+ $3 for unders at the door) www.showclix.com/event/SudfloodXXII

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Proceeds benefit Pi Kappa Phi’s national philanthropy