Friday, April 13, 2012 Print Edition by Collegiate Times

Friday, April 13, 2012

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

COLLEGIATETIMES 108th year, issue 47

News, page 2

People & Clubs, page 5

Opinions, page 3

Sports, page 6

Study Break, page 4

Blacksburg artist Stinson ‘always profound’ spreads her wings

PAUL KURLAK / SPPS

June Mullins, a local artist, shows a copy of her “32 Butterﬂies” piece.

VTV Family Outreach Foundation will host an art exhbit Sunday to honor the 32 victims of April 16

John B. “J.J.” Stinson is remembered by his friends for his warm, welcoming and outgoing personality MICHELLE SUTHERLAND news editor John B. “J.J.” Stinson was named “everyone’s best friend” in his high school yearbook. He was also voted “most likely to brighten your day,” but since he had to pick one, he decided to be everyone’s best friend. Those close to him say he had an

indescribable ability to bring people from different walks of life together and make them feel welcome. His outgoing character and genuine kindness leaves a hole in the heart of the Virginia Tech community. Stinson died of unknown causes earlier this week while studying abroad with the Presidential Global Scholars program at the Riva San Vitale in see STINSON / page two

Students gather at the War Memorial Pylons to remember Stinson Thursday, PAUL KURLAK / SPPS

New climbing walls come to area CODY OWENS news reporter A local business opening this weekend wants to take customers to new heights. Crimper’s Climbing, a rock climbing gym, will hold its grand opening on Saturday, April 12, is located in Christiansburg and will offer three climbing walls within ten minutes of Virginia Tech. This isn’t the New River Valley’s first indoor climbing facility, though. Dwelling Place Christian Fellowship, a Christiansburg church, used to host a gym called “the Rock” for its youth that was popular with local climbers. However, the church closed the gym approximately two years ago. “I don’t think that they were really trying to make money off of it and when they decided that it wasn’t the best thing for their youth, that’s when they got rid of it,” said Katherine Marek, a senior mechanical engineering major and president of the VT Rock Climbing Club. The void left by its departure was not left unnoticed, however. After experiencing a particularly rocky year in which he lost his job as a broadcast engineer, John Johnson decided in 2010 to earnestly pursue his dream of opening his own climbing gym. “It was (a drastic change),” said Johnson. “My passion for climbing is what kept me going.” Beginning in December 2010, Johnson and his wife began planning for their potential future gym. As a Blacksburg native and a climber for 13 years, he knew there was a thriving local climbing and outdoors community. After seeing gyms like the Rock succeed, Johnson had confidence a marketed, well-planned gym could garner interest. “I knew that there had been some small climbing gyms in the area that were extremely popular,” Johnson said. “Bringing a commercial, fullscale gym was something that I (hoped) the community would get behind and really enjoy.” Nearly a year after initial plans, Johnson got a lease for a former gymnastics studio in Christiansburg, with construction on the 10,000 square foot facility beginning in January 2011. The construction involved Timy Fairfield, a member of the United States national climbing team for over a decade. Fairfield worked with Johnson to design Crimper’s 40,000 square feet of climbing space at an expense of $122,000. Fairfield, also the president of Futurist Climbing Consultants,

CJ YUNGER / SPPS

Travis Melin, a Tech student, climbs the wall in Christiansburg. helped design the gym’s the bouldering wall, its signature feature. Bouldering, a type of rock climbing undertaken without a rope, is practiced on short walls over a mat to prevent injury from falls. “Bouldering is definitely harder to start out getting into because it’s a harder type of climbing,” said Browning Gentry, a junior majoring in industrial and systems engineering. This degree of difficulty makes indoor bouldering walls so useful for practice-and so popular among climber looking for a challenge. However, the pair was determined to rise above the competition and build a 16-foot-by-70-foot wall. “Our goal was to always make it a national-level or world-level facility,” Johnson said. Matt Londrey, a junior animal and poultry science major and vice president of the VT Rock Climbing Club, said the 16-foot high wall is unique among gyms. “The bouldering wall is one of the tallest that I’ve been on,” said Londrey. “Most of the tallest boul-

dering walls are like 12 feet.” Height is not the only thing differentiating the wall. Fairfield drew upon his experience of designing climbing routes at the X-Games to construct a wall with a striking aesthetic design. On the left side of the wall, an outcropping in the shape of a wave juxtaposes a similar shape in the shape of a ship’s prowl. “We wanted something that evolved as you go laterally across the panorama and offered a water element to the space,” said Fairfield. “It’s very much inspired by a boat coming out of a wave.” Some climbers have noted there is no texture on the wall. However, the unnatural feel is part of Fairfield’s plan. “We’re moving away from trying to build fake rock; we’re moving toward minimalist and modernist design,” Fairfield said. “It’s a design aesthetic that is different than others, but generally some of the newer gyms are moving to a smooth look.” The outcroppings on the wall offer unique opportunities. The middle of the prowl contains sec-

tions where climbers must hug and compress in order to advance, while both features allow for more technical moves like slinging. Although the aesthetic of the wall looks distinctly artificial, climbers like Marek found the features to be useful in preparing for outdoor climbing. “[The boat shape] makes things more realistic to what you’d see outside,” Marek said. “Most people use a climbing gym to train for climbing outside. Having features like that instead of just a flat wall makes it a lot better to train.” Contrastingly, the right side of the bouldering wall is flat, which Fairfield says allows for smaller holds and slower, more technical climbing. Also, each handhold is movable, letting Johnson adjust and change routes periodically. “One of the great things about this gym is that once you solve one challenge, there’s another one,” Johnson said. “In a couple more weeks, if you’ve done all the things that are a challenge for you, we’ll change all that; there will always be something fresh.” So far, climbers have responded positively to the challenge of Crimper’s. Before its grand opening, the gym has attracted around 100 members, including Derek Aegerter, a junior majoring in mechanical engineering. “The nearest climbing place outdoors is about an hour away, so now we have a place to come and just climb,” said Aegerter. “I just love how close it is.” Johnson plans to work with Virginia Tech’s Venture Out, Radford University’s Radford Outdoors and both the Montgomery County and Blacksburg recreational departments to incorporate more programs. Dave Goodman, Venture Out coordinator, said he looks forward to have trips to the gym next fall and winter. “It’s going to be a local climbing crag which we haven’t had in quite a while and it’s going to be a great opportunity for the local community and students to get out and climb, especially in the winter when they can’t get outside,” said Goodman. The master plan for the gym also includes options for future growth. Fairfield said designs have already been drafted for second or third phases of the facility. With a growing collection of members and options for the future, the only direction for Crimper’s Climbing to go is up. “The future of Crimper’s is huge,” Johnson said. “I’d like to see Crimper’s become the center of the climbing community in this area.”

NICK SMIRNIOTOPOULOS features reporter In remembrance of the 32 victims lost on April 16, 2007, the VTV Family Outreach Foundation will host an art exhibit on April 15 at 7 p.m. in the Hahn Horticulture Garden. The art exhibit, which marks the fifth anniversary of the April 16 tragedy, serves to remember those who were lost and honor those who survived. Event Committee Co-Chair Lolly Miller, the mother of survivor Heidi Miller, described the event as a chance to celebrate the connection between the families. “We wanted to let people know who (the VTV Family Outreach Foundation) is, now that we are a cohesive group of families at the five year anniversary,” Miller said. The art show will feature the original artwork of local artist June Mullins, in addition to collections from around the world. According to Marjorie Castro, VTV Family Outreach Foundation director of development, the event is open to the public. Castro said they will be expecting between 75 and 150 guests, depending on how many families of victims and survivors are present that weekend. Castro’s idea for the event was inspired by Mullins’ artwork, which was made in remembrance of the 32 victims. “The art captures the beauty of healing and shows what the community has done to help the families,” Castro said. In the wake of the tragedy,

Mullins sought to use her artistic talents to cope with the trauma and unite the Tech community. Mullins created a painting called “ThirtyTwo Butterflies,” which took her about one year to complete. The painting utilizes watercolor, acrylic dyes and gouache. “I believe butterflies are a gift of nature in their extraordinary beauty as well as their symbolism for transformation,” Mullins said. Mullins distinctly chose 32 different species of butterflies to show “diversity and unique beauty.” Mullins has agreed to sell prints of her butterfly paintings to benefit the Center for Peace Studies and Violence Prevention, an organization supported by the VTV Family Outreach Foundation. The funds will help support the Norris garden, located outside of Norris Hall, which is the next proposed garden on the Hokie Spirit Garden Trail. In addition to Mullins’ reflective artwork, the exhibit will display unique collections from around the world. After the tragedy, various artists sent original artwork to Tech to express their condolences for the families and the community. The artwork sent to campus, totaling 89,000 pieces, has been catalogued and archived at Newman Library. A smaller collection from the library has been chosen for the exhibit. “We were able to select items we think are representative of all mediums of art. It will be an interesting collection for people to observe,” Miller said.

Comedians to visit Tech Saturday ABBY HARRIS news staff writer Emmy-award winner Ron Jones and veteran performer Larry Jay Tish will be performing their show “The Black-Jew Dialogues” on Saturday, April 14, in the Colonial Hall of Squires Student Center from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Through various forms of comedy the two performers will discuss racism, prejudice, diversity, and understanding in hopes of altering the audience’s perspective on the nature of their biases. They took time to talk to the Collegiate Times about their upcoming performance. Collegiate Times: What is your show, “The Black-Jew Dialogues,” about? Larry Jay Tish: It’s about two guys who come together and try to figure out why we don’t get along, why things aren’t better amongst people. It starts with a black guy and a Jewish guy discussing their history and their commonalities, and then it branches out to all of us through a series of skits, video, improvisations, game show, and puppetry. It’s basically a story of these two guys trying to hash all this out. Some of it’s comedic; some of it’s not. By the end, hopefully you’ll have a better understanding that our commonalities are way more important than our differences. CT: How did you come up with the idea for the show? Ron Jones: Larry had an idea in his head, and he had a title.

He wanted to write a show that dealt more with our personal family stories. So that led us to doing a little bit of research. We read a couple of books; one of them was the book, “Blacks and Jews,” by Michael Lerner. And we just started writing and it actually turned out to be quite a process. We went about 100 miles west of Boston just so we could get away for the weekend. And we were so productive that we went back again a couple more times and by the end we had a script that was almost 120 pages long. CT: What do you want your audiences to take away from the show? Tish: I’d like them to take away a couple of things. We don’t talk about diversity very much. It comes up maybe once a year on campus during diversity week or comes up during Black History Month. We should think about not only diversity but our own history. What do we know about our past? What do we know about our own people? The other thing is a call to action for people to just do a little bit more in their daily lives, like fighting their own racism and bigotry – their own stereotypes of people – and just think more before they do and say things about others that they don’t really know or understand. Jones: I’d just like to remind people that we’ve got a very special opportunity here to embrace or at least learn about other cultures in a way that is going to make you a better person. see SHOW / page two

news

april 13, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

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

Stinson: University mourns death from page one

STINSON

Switzerland. He was a second year student and academic junior studying philosophy. — Since kindergarten, Nikki Wainard has always seen Stinson with a smile, and never sad. In his time at St. Louis Catholic School and Bishop Ireton High School, all he wanted to do was make everyone feel welcome. “He was the kind of person that just wanted to include everybody,” Wainard said, who now attends James Madison University. His high school hobby was theater, and he worked hard to bring the student body into that friend group. “He brought people in and he brought non-theater people in, which was a really big deal,” she said. “People from all parts of the school — sports kids, the really smart nerdy kids, he would bring them not necessarily into the club, but into the theater community,” she said. “He was just this fun-loving guy. When I think of the drama club I think of him because he brought everyone together.” He was the president of his high school’s International Thespian Society and drama club, and earned a prestigious award from the international organization. According to Wainard, he is one of only a few Bishop Ireton students to win the award. His love of drama developed in middle school when he participated in a Shakespeare class at St. Louis. In 8th grade, he had one of the leading roles in his class’s production. When

he came to high school, he immediately became involved with the theater department and performed for all four years. As president of the two organizations, his leadership skills did not go unnoticed. Bishop Ireton selected him to attend the Salesial Leadership Camp, which recognizes student leaders and helps cultivate their skills, according to Mary Kelly, director of communications for Bishop Ireton. “He was just amazing there,” Kelly said. “They’re already recognized as leaders in the school, and it’s also to make sure that they’re leaders who are good at leading, that they learn to listen to others, embrace other people and bring their ideas to the forefront. J.J. took to it full heartedly, and he was just amazing at it.” When Stinson came to Tech, he no longer participated in drama, but his empathy and focus on connections never stopped. According to Katelyn Catalfamo, a freshman biology major, his passion was people. “He felt like he had to know everyone, but he was more concerned with you knowing everybody and making sure you really saw them. He really saw people the way God made them and that’s such a gift,” she said. One evening, Stinson invited his friends from Hillcrest, the Newman Community and Vawter to watch “Tangled” in his apartment. “He made us sit in a circle and introduce ourselves and say what grade we were, major,” Catalfamo said. “It sounds so cheesy, but he just wanted to make sure everyone knew each other and just loved each other.” At a social one evening for the Newman Community, he noticed a shy girl that didn’t appear to know anyone. He took her around the room and introduced her to everyone, and after he quizzed her on everyone’s names. His kindness very much affected Sandy Serio, a sophomore human, foods, nutrition and exercise major. “He’s probably the most major impact on me changing after coming to college. He was my first friend

at Virginia Tech and he started me into the music group at Newman, he’s the reason why I’m involved here,” she said. He took his Catholic faith seriously, and he spent a lot of time with the Oblates of DeSales, a order of bishops who founded Bishop Ireton, and other priests in his life, according to Ben Shannon, a junior sociology major. “He lived his faith,” Shannon said. “For a lot of people, when it comes to religion, it’s all about themselves. But he wanted you to know. He’d be like, ‘Oh do you know what we’re reading this morning?’ He’d give you his thoughts on (the gospel) and then he’d ask you. That was part of his philosophy.” Stinson liked to look deeper into the readings and find out why they were written the way they were or why they said what they said. “It wasn’t a question of his faith. He just wanted to know more about it. That was one of the most important things about him,” Shannon said. As a philosophy major, he was curious about the world and liked to discuss his ideas. “He was always inquisitive, always challenging you to think in different ways,” said Craig Wainner, a junior international studies and economic major and one of his roommates in Switzerland. In Courtney Thomas’s political science class, he was “every faculty members’ dream.” “He was amazing,” she said. “He asked questions that I didn’t know the answer to and I had to think about; it was fantastic. He came to every class with a great smile. The semester I taught him, I was pregnant with twins. He was in the last of my four classes. I remember one day I came to class and I was exhausted. He wrote me a note and it’s still in my office. It said, ‘You sound a little down today. You want to make it better. It will get better. You’ll get out of it.’” Stinson was known for having profound comments and thoughts, then asking others what they thought about it, according to Rob Deis, a sophomore music education and performance major as well as the

lead musician for Newman. Stinson was part of Newman’s music group and has played guitar for years. Music was a passion of his, and he would frequently bring his guitar to Bishop Ireton and play before classes, according to Weinard. He also wrote his own songs. He has a YouTube channel that features him performing his own songs and his favorite songs by others. “I’ve been playing my favorite song of his over and over and it just explains a lot. This one song he has, called ‘Sing in the Streets,’” Serio said. “I made him play it every time I saw him because he knew it was my favorite. Every time he sang it just made me feel 50 times happier. If I had any problems, it just immediately made everything feel okay again. It made you want to go sing in the streets.” Stinson loved Lady Gaga and could play almost all of her songs on his guitar, according to Deis. One evening, he and Deis attended an acappella concert in Squires. They sat in the back, and Stinson sang in the back the whole time, telling Dies which songs were his favorite. “It was so much fun. I don’t know, just the amount of energy he had. He really kind of made the night more special,” Deis said. His friends say he will be sorely missed, but they are appreciative of the time they had with him. “In these sorts of situations, everyone sort wishes they had one last chance to say they loved him,” Catalfamo said. “But I don’t feel that way because I think J.J. really knew how much everybody loved him. And I don’t think anyone really needed an opportunity to tell him, he really knew that. He really loved everyone else.” Deis always looked forward to him coming back from Switzerland, especially during mass. I’d hear songs in church and think, ‘Oh, J.J.’s song,’ and then I’d think about him coming back, I was really excited about that. We’ll miss him a lot,” he said. “But he’s probably jamin’ out, making God laugh somewhere.”

Show: Actors to highlight diversity struggles from page one

COURTESY OF ERIC WELLS

Ron Jones and Larry Jay Tish act out “The Black-Jew Dialogues.”

CT: How do you think your show has made an impact in terms of promoting diversity and breaking stereotypes? Jones: We know that people get it. We know that from the conversations we have with the people who come and talk to us after the show. We know that they walk away feeling like they’ve gotten something that they see they took for granted or just never thought about at all. Tish: During the discussions after our performance, lots of people — maybe hundreds —

have really spoken about their own pain and their own suffering in a public forum, which I don’t think they’ve really done before. They shared stuff and opened up and I think that that’s a part of healing for them and for everybody that is a part of it. So I know it’s had that effect on people, for sure. I think the comedy has a lot to do with it. I like to say that when people sit down and laugh together that something’s happened between us, there’s been a connection made. It seems to make people more comfortable.

what you’re saying On J.J. Stinson

Luke: I'll miss you J.J., you were a great guy.

You made me feel at home at BI despite not even going there. You were the main reason I thought BI would be a great school for me to go to, and I'm sure everyone there will miss you, too. R.I.P.

Mike: R.I.P my friend. he was our SPL for

Boyscouts

Matt Flamini: JJ had a great personality to

go along with his great mind. He was bright, enthusiastic, and insightful in the class I shared with him. He will certainly be missed. RIP JJ.

Katy: He was a friend of mine and a wonderful person. I am so sad to learn this :’(

Cadets to complete march on Saturday DEAN SEAL news staff writers The freshman class of Virginia Tech’s Corps of Cadets will be taking on 13 miles in the second leg of the Addison Caldwell March on April 14. “It’s going to be harder than the first, to show that we have to keep working harder to make it through,” said Beth Kiernan, a freshman engineering major. The 26 mile march, done in honor of Virginia Tech’s first student and cadet, has been a featured part of cadet training since 2000, and it signifies a major landmark in the cultivation of cadets during their first year in the program. Each year, new cadets undergo training through a series of phases, practically dubbed the “Red,” “White,” and “Blue” phases of freshman year. The “Red phase” culminates in the first half of the Caldwell march, completed in the fall. “It becomes a milestone in cadet training,” said Col. Rock Roszak, associate director for the Corps of Cadets’ Alumni Relations. “They start out trekking 12 miles of country roads until they reach Caldwell fields and proceed a mile past that.” Upon completing “Red phase,” they move to “White phase” and finally to “Blue phase,” which will conclude when the new cadets have completed the last stretch of the Caldwell March. A ceremony will follow this triumph. “They’ll march the last 13 miles from where they left off, going up Brush Mt. then coming out on residential neighborhood roads until they reach the upper quad,” Roszak said. “They’ll fall into formation to be congratulated by

the regimental commander, and then sent to line the VT sidewalk. From there, the band will play a cadence as the upperclassman cadets line the opposite sidewalks, and the freshman class will do a final about face towards the upperclassmen.” The Corps will also be featuring sponsorship for the march. Alumni of the Corps will be making donations to the Corp program, each in the amount of $500. “This year, we’ve gotten 175 sponsors, and all the money they send will benefit the Corps,” said Cadet Commander Sgt. Maj. Hope Mills, a junior political science major. The Corp is showing its appreciation to the generous alumni in an individual way. “Each alumnus that donates will have a name tag made for them, which is issued to a cadet,” Roszak said. “The cadet will wear it on the march, and write a note to their sponsor when it’s over. Each donor will then be sent the nametag, a photo of the group, the thank you note and a photo of the cadet they’ve sponsored.” As the days draw closer for the last strenuous undertaking of the Blue phase training, freshman cadets are preparing themselves mentally and physically to tackle the final 13 miles. “The march will be exciting,” said Xavier Canlas, a freshman engineering major participating in Saturday’s march. “It’s definitely going to be a long day, but it’ll be worth it when we’re done.” Enthusiasm is widespread among other members. “They all seem excited,” said Roszak, “and it makes sense. It’s a culmination of a long year of hard work. And they’ll find a great sense of accomplishment.”

crimeblotter date

time

offense

location

status

4/11/2012

12:00pm - 1:30pm

Larceny of vehicle parts

Alumni Center Parking

Inactive

2/8/2012 4/6/2012

11:00am - 12:32pm

Burglary

McBryde Hall

Active

3/18/2012

1:30am

Follow up to Threatening Phone Calls

Patton Hall

Cleared by Arrest

5/1/2009 8/31/2009

8:00am - 4:01pm

Sexual Assault

Peddrew Yates

Active

A Separation PG-13

arrestees

Christopher Collin Bowyer, 18

Fri-Sat 7:00 & 9:15 Sun 3:00, 7:00 & 9:15 Mon 10:00am, 7:00 & 9:15 Tues-Wed 7:00 & 9:15 Thurs 9:15

The Lyric Theatre 135 College Avenue ~ Movieline: 951.0604 www.thelyric.com

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

opinions

april 13, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

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

MCT CAMPUS

Collegiate Times Editorial Staff Editor in Chief: Zach Crizer Managing Editor: Lindsey Brookbank Design Editors: Danielle Buynak, Victoria Zigadlo Public Editor: Justin Graves Web Editor: Sarah Watson News Editors: Nick Cafferky, Michelle Sutherland News Reporters: Josh Higgins, Cody Owens, Erin Chapman News Staff Writers: Priscila Alvarez, Tauhid Chappell, Abby Harris, Sean Hayden, Gina Paterson, Ashley Seagar, Kelsey Jo Starr Features Editors: Chelsea Gunter, Patrick Murphy Features Reporters: Nick Smirniotopoulos, Emma Goddard Features Staff Writers: Courtney Baker, Jenn Bates, Torie Deible, Chelsea Giles, Madeline Gordon, Dane Harrington, Jimmy Hudnall, Kevin McAleese, Andrew Reily, Kara Van Scoyoc, Allie Sivak, Kaila Taylor, Jacob Wilbanks Opinions Editors: Scott Masselli, Sean Simons Sports Editors: Matt Jones, Zach Mariner Sports Reporters: Josh Parcell Sports Staff Writers: Eric Avassi, Zander Baylis, Alyssa Bedrosian, Cody Elliott, Taylor Hay, Alex Koma, Ashleigh Lanza, Brian Marcolini Enterprise Team Editor: Liana Bayne Training Director: Kelsey Heiter Copy Chief: Spenser Snarr Copy Editors: Nora McGann, Luther Shell, Kristen Gunther, Brittany Kelly, Jordan Davis Layout Designers: Bethany Melson, Alicia Tillman, Tanja Vogel Online Director: Alex Rhea Collegiate Times Business Staff Business Manager: Philipp Kotlaba Student Publications Photo Staff Director of Photography: Paul Kurlak Lab Manager: Austen Meredith

Republicans choose Romney’s appeal stems Romney to beat Obama from lack of individuality N

ow that Rick Santorum has suspended his presidential campaign, it has become even clearer that Mitt Romney will soon clinch the Republican nomination for president. That’s right, Mr. Sweater Vest is no longer running. It was really a culmination of things that led to Santorum suspending his campaign. There was mounting pressure from members within the Republican Party for him to drop out so Romney could turn his attention to President Obama. Romney was building a larger and larger delegate lead after each primary, and Santorum was also facing family issues, particularly the ailing health of his daughter. Nevertheless, even though Romney isn’t the official nominee yet, he is basically the presumed nominee at this point. So what exactly does this mean for the GOP, and what does this mean moving forward to the general election? It depends on whom you ask. Some Republicans will say Romney simply can’t drum up a lot of support from the base within the Republican Party. They will argue that he is too moderate, and Republicans and Tea Partiers alike won’t be enthusiastic to campaign for him this summer and fall. Others will say the party finally has a nominee that can defeat President Obama, and it is time to rally behind him as the nominee. These people believe regardless of one’s own personal feelings towards Romney, Republicans want to end Obama’s presidency. Personally, I don’t believe Romney’s eventual nomination actually means anything other than what it is. However, if I have to align with one of the two sides I already lay out, I would align more so with the second. Was Romney my first pick? No. Will I support Romney in the general election? Of course. I do understand why people have reservations about Romney, since he is seen as somewhat of a moderate Republican. I do think, however, the media and even certain conservatives are missing one point: Republicans are more scared of a liberal Democrat than a moderate Republican. For Republicans, Obama has been nothing short of a disaster for this country. He has not turned the economy around completely like he campaigned on, his landmark legislative accomplishment is likely to be declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, and he’s even shown recently that he didn’t learn about Marbury v. Madison in high school like every other American.

The Republican Party, like I, will choose to support its nominee and rally behind him no matter what. Whether or not the Republican Party will win this November is a different story. The outcome of the election this November is too difficult to predict at this point — a lot that can happen between now and November. I won’t get in to all of that because that is an entirely different topic altogether. Instead, I’m focusing on members of the media trying to define “What this means for the Republican Party” now Romney is the clear eventual nominee.

“

Romney isn’t perfect. No candidate ever is. However, he is by far the best chance the Republican Party has at beating Obama in November.”

Who cares? That topic might be worth debating had Donald Trump decided to run, but Mitt Romney isn’t too far off from other Republicans currently in the limelight. He balanced the budget in Massachusetts without raising taxes. You know who else has done that? Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell. Romney has created private sector jobs, and wants to help create an environment for private sector job growth as President. The same can be said about virtually every Republican in America. Romney isn’t perfect. No candidate ever is. However, he is by far the best chance the Republican Party has at beating Obama in November. He has the campaign infrastructure, fundraising ability, and debating skills to go toe-to-toe with President Obama. And even though he’s framed as a moderate, his record as Governor of Massachusetts isn’t too shabby either. So what does Romney being the presumed nominee mean for the Republican Party? It means the Republicans have a nominee — that’s it. And given Obama’s current approval rating, it means Democrats should watch out.

MATTHEW HURT -regular columnist -junior -political science major

his week, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum dropped out of the Republican presidential race, thus allowing Mitt Romney to all but accept the nomination of his party for the presidency. Santorum’s failure to continue challenging Romney’s long-expected coronation brings closure to the long, ugly and tiresome process of the desperate search for a suitable candidate. While Romney and the rest of the GOP are basking in their success of saving the party from a convention-produced nominee, it is important for us to reflect on what this candidate means for the Republican Party today. For the Republican Party, this election cycle has been exceptionally dynamic. At its start, Romney, like Hillary Clinton for the Democrats in 2008, was considered the heir-apparent to the nomination. While a myriad candidates from different parts of the party’s ideological spectrum purported their candidacy under the baseless facade of actually being legitimate, Romney seemed to never seriously lose his position as being the certain nominee. There were, of course, many who believed the momentary popularity of candidates such as Perry, Gingrich or Santorum, might destroy the certitude nearly everyone had in Romney’s chances, but none of them had any semblance of sustainability. Whereas in 2008 the Democrats were able to upset the certainty in Clinton’s nominee status with the phoenix-like rise of Obama, the Republican’s proved themselves capable of no such thing. Instead,

“

Romney represents the ethereal ideological aura with which most Republicans seem to have an afﬁnity.”

the GOP has spent the past year mocking the American people with a series of pathetic candidates showcasing arrogant ignorance and shameless bigotry. The fact Romney has secured his nomination is a testament to the limited survival of sensibility and rationality in the party. The Republican Party has been marked for the past several years by factions resembling things more akin to 1933 Germany or 1500s England with radical elements attempting to make this nation into a fascist theocracy. This has been quite blatant during the current presidential nomination process

with authoritarian-minded candidates such as Gingrich and Santorum, or theocratically inclined people such as Perry or Bachmann. In the end, however, the GOP proved itself as remaining a legitimate political party with intelligent people when it nominated a businessman in Romney. It is easy to generalize Romney as being a calculating pragmatist — someone who makes decisions based on profit margins and risk management — but such an interpretation will yield only partial results. Instead, I prefer to see Romney in the same light in which Nixon saw the majority of Americans: “the Great Silent Majority.” Whereas Santorum, Gingrich, Bachman, and Paul all represent the fringe elements of the GOP adherents, Romney represents the faceless and ethereal ideological aura with which most Republicans seem to have affinity. Maybe this is the reason why so many people have wanted to know who the “real” Romney is; he has to be faceless, so he can adequately represent anyone who wants Obama to lose. Ultimately, what Romney wants to be is nothing but the mirror all anti-Obama people can seem themselves in; the formless icon of buffet-style politics in which electoral victory is the only principle of guidance. Now that the GOP has chosen its candidate, it can continue on its path to cast the president as a socialist and worship at the altar of unrestricted capitalism. Romney is the only candidate that can ride these ideas to a victory in November. The GOP’s acceptance of Romney as its candidate shows how it is no longer a serious party of principles and platform; it is only an agenda of reactionary excess with the sole purpose of thwarting all progress and expansion of social tolerance. Romney, while lacking a face of his own, has adequately taken up the faceless image of everyone that wants to stop social evolution and prevent the expansion of the vox populi. He has put himself in the unique position of appealing to both bigots and loving anarchists and fascists — those who yearn for the 15th century. By being a walking paradox, Romney epitomizes the nature of the current state of the GOP and the politics of this nation overall. He’s trying to appeal to all individuals by not being one.

JASON CAMPBELL -regular columnist -junior -philosophy major

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he she

april 13, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

SAID

He said: Live ‘Ut Prosim’ and participate I

CHELSEA GUNTER / COLLEGIATE TIMES

She said: Never forget April 16 events cannot believe it has been five years since our campus endured one of the biggest tragedies. We lost 32 Hokies and were suddenly faced with the terrible reality that bad things can happen anywhere at any time. I remember sitting in class in Texas when I got a text message from one of my friends saying, “Have you heard about VT? Are your sisters okay?” Everyone knew my sisters went to Virginia Tech and I was known to rock my Tech hoodie. As soon as my brain processed the message, my heart suddenly dropped and I panicked. I walked out of class without even asking for permission. I heard my teacher calling my name and asking me where I was going, but she sounded so muffled and far away — my mind was racing. Without even thinking, my legs carried me downstairs to a place where I found comfort and could find out the truth. My sisters, who are twins, were sophomores at Tech at the time, but our librarian, Mrs. Martin, knew them when they attended high school. I had grown close to her over the years and I walked straight to her. My face was pale as I rushed into her office. She took one look at me and asked what was wrong. I couldn’t force a word out, so I merely handed her my cell phone and walked over to turn on the TV. Once I saw the headlines and the words of the text began to make sense, I began dialing. I called Kristin’s phone, then Caryn’s phone, over and over with no answer. As a high school sophomore, I didn’t realize, thousands of miles away from Blacksburg, just how many Hokies have Verizon as their cell phone service provider. Servers were

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undeniably “Busy at this time. Please hang up and try your call later.” I screamed at this automated message, and I could feel tears swell up as I felt a surge of helplessness. My eyes stayed glued to the TV, yet as soon as I saw the first body being carried out and the numbers of deaths listed on the bottom right hand side of the screen begin to rise, I fainted. All I could picture was one of the females being carried out as my sisters. They released the building where most shots occurred and that’s when I turned numb. It was the building my sister’s were supposed to be in. Luckily for my family, my dad was visiting and had just left town that morning, causing my sisters to skip the class they had in Norris Hall on the same floor as the deadly shots. They were safe in their sorority house on lockdown. Once I got in contact with them, I could not have been more thankful, yet tears kept filling my eyes as the number grew to 32. This person interrupted our daily life, our community, our family. Yet, in reaction to that terrible day, we have become the strongest community and well-knit campus in the nation. It saddens me we made headlines because of the tragedy and again following the tragic passing of Officer Crouse. We all huddled together, thinking, “This can’t be happening again,” but knowing deep down we would yet again overcome and come together. This year, we are moving on from celebrating the Day of Remembrance free of classes. In many administrators’ eyes, our school need not dwell on the past and the tragedy, but progress with our lives in memoriam. To my eyes, and perhaps others, this day is sacred.

Although all classes directly affected by the tragedy have thus graduated, it affected all Hokies whether they were past, present or future. The date April 16 is a part of us and the phrase “neVer forgeT” was created for a reason. It is our responsibility to share the importance with future Hokies and teach them why we cherish their memory. I do not believe we should have classes on April 16. That memorial is in front of Burruss and is located in the center of our campus because their lives should forever be honored and remembered. It is at the memorial where goosebumps appear on every person when they retrieve memories of that day, as the lives of 32 Hokies are read off, as Taps is played at the memorial, as Hokies hold each other and remind each other that we are stronger than ever. They are the same goosebumps that arise on alumni when they remember their glory days, as “Enter Sandman” plays and Skipper is fired. April 16 is a part of Tech now and forever. Seung-Hui Cho might have had alternate intentions, but he gave us a reason to believe, a reason to love and a reason to live. Tech has taught me the meaning of community, the importance of Ut Prosim and what it means to be a part of the Hokie family. We live for 32. We will neVer forgeT. We will Prevail. We are Virginia Tech.

KELLEY ENGLISH -featured columnist - junior -marketing management major

is shared by everyone who has ever called themselves a Hokie. As a student at a university plagued by negativity from outside media sources, you are bound to face critics and skeptics of our university. When asked about the events of that dreadful day, tell them about the amazing things Virginia Tech has accomplished since. Tell them what it’s like to be part of a community that truly cares about each other. Tell them what it means to be a Hokie. What makes our school unique is not our great academics, our diversity, or our sports teams. These are things shared by most schools across the nation. What sets Tech apart from every other school I have been to is our sense of community. This April 16 should be spent celebrating this community. Don’t just mourn for those members of our family who have lost their lives, but also celebrate this special bond of love for this school we all share.

DANE HARRINGTON - featured columnist - junior - industrial & systems engineering major

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legiate Relay for Life program in the country, raising more money for the American Cancer Society than any other university. We started the Day of Remembrance that includes activities such as a 3.2-mile run, a community picnic and a candlelight vigil. The Center for Peace Studies and Violence Prevention was created in the very location the tragedy occurred. We have been named one of the nation’s leading colleges in service every year since the tragedy; community service events such as the Big Event only continue to grow year after year. A community like ours, which has endured such adversities like April 16 and the shooting of Officer Deriek Crouse, is aptly prepared to help others through tragedies of their own. It has become our obligation to aid those who have gone through similar afflictions. Our university motto of Ut Prosim, “That I May Serve,” has grown to mean more than ever before and become a central part of our school. People always ask why events like April 16 had to happen to Tech. I can only imagine that the answer is: because we can handle it. When faced with the pain that trembles us to our very core, we choose to react positively. We go out and serve others and create a sense of community that

UNSCRAMBLER

take a step back from my typical sarcastic writing style to contemplate an event all Hokies hold dear to our hearts: April 16. This day, which meant nothing to us five years ago, now has a profound resonance for each and every one of us. I will probably never comprehend why the events of that day took place, but what I do understand is the impact on our school and the community I am proud to call home. While I was not a Tech student at the time, I specifically remember following the events of that day as a junior in high school. I first discovered what happened when my history teacher, a Tech alumna, informed my morning class about the tragedy. She and I were both taken back, as Tech was her alma mater and likely to be mine. I followed the updates from the news throughout the day and immediately turned on the TV when I went home. I had just been there for my cousin’s graduation the prior year and couldn’t believe how such a tragedy could occur in such a peaceful town. I proudly wore my maroon and orange throughout the next few days and I was approached on multiple occasions as to why I would wear the colors after such a terrible tragedy — something that never made sense to me. For me, this was an occasion when it was only appropriate to show my respect to the victims through my love of the university. This was not accepted by many others. When I was finally accepted to the university the following year, the critics only grew. After telling people I would be going to Tech the following fall, I was told “Don’t get shot” or “Why would you go there after the tragedy?” more times than I can count, and it broke my heart. How could you insult the 32 that lost their lives that day and criticize my dream of becoming a Hokie? While many cower and hide when tragedy strikes, our community has taken the road less travelled. Stricken with a disaster no one should ever have to face, we have come out stronger than anyone could have imagined. As the eyes of the world were on this small southwest Virginia town, condemning our university for its poor reaction, we rose from the ashes with hearts full of love. We quickly became the largest col-

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MY STYLE// Aries (March 21-April 19) Prepare everything in private, and review the logical steps. De ine your terms before you cast yourself to the delights of a very fun social whirlwind. Taurus (April 20-May 20) It may be Friday the 13th, but that’s no reason for superstition. A quiet morning prepares for important afternoon meetings and fun with friends later. Gemini (May 21-June 21) Finances open some. An expansion phase begins, and the next adventure calls. With Mars stationary direct, energy is slower today. Plan a cultural escape.

Cancer (June 22-July 22) Don’t confront authority directly, but be prepared to defend your position. Write up thoughts. Return correspondence. Tackle detailed planning with inancials. It pays. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) There could be a clash of wills or a misunderstanding. Communicate long-distance. Delegate to increase effectiveness, and get expert assistance. Listen to suggestions. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Compromise works. Don’t start before you’re ready. Talk a little; de ine terms, review steps. Prepare in private, and then dive into the job. There are busy days ahead.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Fact and fantasy clash. Listen to fact this time. Offer your peacemaker skills. Re ine your speech. Say the magic words. Love blossoms anew. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) It’s easier to get disoriented now. Make good use of common sense (or a compass) and ind solace at home. Stay in communication with loved ones. Finances open up. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) An extra dose of creativity, especially around inances, is greatly appreciated. Prepare more than you think, and save some money. Maintain optimism.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) You have the power to manage chaos as it arises, enjoying the process and creating something new out of the experience. It’s not a good time for inancial risks. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Problems could come to mind. Solving them is part of the job. Things are just about to ease up. You’re entering a powerful phase. Celebrate into the night. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) It’s not a good time to travel. If you have to go somewhere, add time for the unexpected. Better check the train schedule again, or your tire pressure.

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sports 6 Spring notebook: Taylor battles back

editors: matt jones, zach mariner

april 13, 2012

sportseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865

COLLEGIATETIMES

CJ YUNGER / SPPS

Left: Defensive end J.R. Collins leaps during last Saturday’s scrimmage to block a pass thrown by quarterback Mark Leal. Right: Defensive coordinator Bud Foster looks on during defensive drills last Saturday.

Bruce Taylor, who suffered a Lisfranc sprain of his right foot last fall, is making progress in his rehab. MATT JONES sports editor For the second-straight spring, Bruce Taylor will be watching the Spring Game from the sideline. One of the most productive linebackers to ever step on the field in Bud Foster’s defense, Taylor is working to get back on the field following a Lisfranc sprain of his right foot, an injury he suffered in last season’s Boston College game. Over the past two seasons, Taylor has solidified the mike linebacker position on defense, posting 91 tackles in 2010 and 53 in 2011 (eight games). Even though he missed six games with the foot injury, he was named Honorable Mention All-ACC. Now that he’s back on the field, albeit in a limited capacity, Taylor has taken more of a leadership role with the younger linebackers. He’s contributing to the defense by watching things in practice Foster might not see. “(Foster) has to watch an entire defense, so I

in his foot removed Thursday. “It’s still got a little pain in it,” Taylor said. “It feels good, I feel like when I’m out just have to get it strengthened there I can see something that back up, just rehab the heck out he’ll probably miss,” Taylor of it.” said. Part of the process will be “Coach Foster does a good playing through pain, even job correcting, but if it’s after he has healed, somesomething that he missed, I’ll thing Taylor said might be pull one of the linebackers the most difficult obstacle to aside.” overcome. “The biggest thing about this injury is getting used to it,” said. Bud Foster is trying to get Taylor “It’s going to be that dynamic in our football sore for a good year, before I feel team, that we can be that good on it. I’ll defihave to play violent inside and not have a nitely through a little bit of 300-pound guy inside every pain.” Jeron Gouveiatime.” Winslow, another Tech linebacker who Corey Marshall suffered a Lisfranc defensive lineman sprain, is going through a similar rehab. GouveiaWinslow and Taylor had their injuries just Taylor, who had surgery on two weeks apart, so their timethe foot in early November, table for return is very close. is at an awkward part Taylor said the rehabilitation of his rehabilitation. process is different from when While he’s been on the field he had arthroscopic surgery for spring practices in a blue on his left shoulder in April (limited participation) jer- 2011. sey, Taylor had a screw “(I’m doing) any type of

“

movement that’s going to attack those muscles that have been repaired,” Taylor said. “It’s a lot of resistance stuff that you do. It’s more trying to isolate specific muscles to strengthen it.” Taylor, who was already on the NFL radar before his injury, has proven to be an elite player at the collegiate level. He said he’s trying to improve his overall game. “Staying healthy, but other than that, always trying to get better in every phase of the game,” he said. “I’m trying to be the best, so everything.” The fact he’s not out there full-tilt with his teammates also frustrates Taylor. “The worst part about m i s s i ng t wo - s t r ai g ht springs is I just want to be out there with my team,” he said. “We’ve got some linebackers that are promising, they’re not there yet, but they’re

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coming around slowly but surely.” MADDY, MARSHALL ANCHOR INTERIOR LINE What has for years been a relatively thin position on the Hokies defense, defensive tackle has been a position of strength so far this spring. With returning starters Derrick Hopkins and Luther Maddy along with key backups Antoine Hopkins and Corey Marshall, Charley Wiles has possibly the deepest group of tackles in his tenure in Blacksburg. “We created depth through the injuries last year,” Wiles said. “Luther’s a better player than he was last year, Corey’s better. You know how thin you can get and quickly, so it’s exciting to have good competition so you have to go out there and really get ready.” Maddy, a sophomore from

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Delray, Fla., started seven games last season as a true freshman. He said the defensive line’s depth is a huge plus. “It’s great knowing you’ve got guys behind you and that you can take a breather and go your hardest the first two plays,” Maddy said. “Then somebody behind you does the same thing.” Marshall, another key player on the line, thinks the defensive line could be a lot like the most recent Super Bowl champion. “The New York Giants kind of have that look where they employ those guys,” Marshall said. “Bud Foster is trying to get that dynamic in our football team, that we can be that dynamic, that violent inside and not have to have a 300-pound guy inside every time. I think that’s going to pay off big down the road.”

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