Wednesday, August 29, 2012 Print Edition by Collegiate Times

Wednesday, August 29, 2012 An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 www.collegiatetimes.com

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Opinions, page 3

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Presidential campaign courts colleges Obama speaks in Charlottesville

POTUS targets student issues

MALLORY NOE-PAYNE

PRISCILLA ALVAREZ

news editor

news reporter

he University of Virginia declined a request from President Barack Obama’s campaign for him to speak on the university’s campus last week. Instead, President Obama is speaking in Charlottesville today at the nTelos Wireless Pavilion on the downtown mall. This is the final stop on a two day college campaign tour, and follows visits in Iowa and Colorado on Tuesday. A statement released by UVa Spokesperson Carol Wood said the visit would cause an “extraordinary disruption” to classes during the first week, as many classes had started on Tuesday. According to the statement, the two venue options on campus — the Amphitheater or a small library plaza — would either require closing a major dining hall or canceling 186 classes. UVa would also have to bear the full cost of security for the event. Virginia Tech University spokesperson Larry Hincker said UVa’s decision seemed logical. “I can tell you that a presidential visit to a college campus makes a tremendous drain on staff resources and really can be disruptive to the college schedule,” Hincker said. Hincker cited Virginia Tech’s own experience with receiving First Lady Michelle Obama when she spoke at commencement ceremonies in May. “There were about two dozen people, myself included, who spent the better part of that week working on that project,” Hincker said. UVa has made similar declarations in the past. In 2004, then-UVa President John Casteen announced the university’s football team would decline a bowl game invitation if it was scheduled during the week of final exams. “Colleges have very good reasons for declining participation of individuals,” Hincker said. “Even if it’s the president of the United States.” Taylor Fortunato is a freshman business major at Tech, and an Obama supporter. “I’d be disappointed; students would have had a first-hand ability to hear him speak,” Fortunato said. However, Fortunato added that, as a freshman, she can understand the desire to get through the first week of classes without any major disruption. see SPEECH / page two

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Obama addresses crowds at a July 13 rally in Hampton Roads, Va., during his last visit to the swing state.

Romney’s nomination As Obama campaigned college towns, Mitt Romney cinched the Republican Party’s ofﬁcial nomination for the presidency. He earned the necessary 1,144 delegates at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida shortly before 6 p.m. Tuesday. Romney and running mate, Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, will formally accept the nomination Thursday.

Rennovated office inspires new SGA PRISCILLA ALVAREZ news reporter

The Virginia Tech Student Government Association is kicking off the year with a newly renovated office and student-inclusive ambitions. The organization plans to use its new welcoming and accesSHAPIRO sible setting to encourage more student involvement in their upcoming initiatives. According to the SGA President Dustin Doprh, the change has set the stage for “unifying the student voice.” “(We want to look at) what issues there are on campus, whatever they might be,

take those different issues and take them to administration and see what effective change we can make,” Dorph said. Dorph said these factors will contribute to the overall focus of the SGA this year — governance. “A lot of what we’d like to do is really go to a governing organization,” he said. “As a whole we’re focusing more on university governance.” The SGA intends to continue its programs, such as the Big Event and Relay for Life, however its will also be shifting some attention to issues on campus. In order to accomplish this, the SGA will be working with university administration. New Tech Vice President for Student see OFFICE / page two

ampaign season is nearing its peak. Candidates are traveling across the country and negative ads are being broadcasted on all media outlets. President Obama isn’t missing a beat; he is campaigning across the country and stressing the youth vote along the way. For many college students, this will be the first election season where they can vote. With that in mind, Obama is voicing his thoughts on youth voters. “I see the kind of changes that you’ve been able to bring about,” Obama said of collegiate voters. “You made a difference in the election four years ago, and as a consequence, you made a difference in the life of your country.” During the call, Obama outlined reforms that occurred thanks to the votes of the youth who participated in the last election. He mentioned the college tax credit that saved families up to $10,000 on their tuition for over four years, the doubling of grant aid for millions of students, and the low student loan rates. He went on to add health care reform as well as changes in renewable energy. “It’s because of you,” Obama said. Those four words resonated throughout the conversation as he placed emphasis on the importance of the youth vote, which is an area that, according to Obama, Romney is not encouraging. Obama has extended his campaign to social media where he is gaining several youth followers. He currently has 18.5 million followers on Twitter compared to Romney’s 850,000 followers. He has also gained 27.1 million likes on Facebook compared to Romney’s 4.1 million and trumped the YouTube stage, which was all part of his $25 million advertising campaign. “They’re hoping that young people, even if they don’t vote for them, at least don’t vote at all,” Obama said. “My main message to all of you is I’m expecting something different.” The lack of concentration on youth voters is not the only concern Obama has with his oppo see CALL / page two

Blacksburg diner days Blacksburg’s ﬁrst Wafﬂe House, which opened Tuesday morning, wants to disprove the saying that nothing good happens after 2:00 a.m. Staffed largely by Virginia Tech students, the 24-hour restaurant hopes to offer the Blacksburg community a new latenight, or early-morning, option. Unit manager JoAnn Seymour, a 1999 marketing management graduate of Virginia Tech, spoke about the restaurant’s vision. photo by Kevin Dickel

news

august 29, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

editors: mallory noe-payne, victoria zigadlo newseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865

Speech: UVa declines

what you’re saying Stadium Woods remains firmly rooted behind Lane for now

Cory Bernhards: I would like to stress that

if the Athletic Department tears down the roller hockey rink for the second time they need to finish construction for a new roller hockey rink location BEFORE they proceed with any demolition. This is the only way to ensure the survival of our clubs and not repeat what happened four years ago.

from page one

“I would hope that if the president of the United States wanted to come speak at Tech, the faculty and everyone would consider that an honor,” said Young Democrats Co-President Liz Wenska. Wenza also added that seeing a candidate speak in person is a good way to get a sense of how they conduct themselves, and to hear first-hand what their priorities are. According to the campaign, Obama’s college-town visits in swing states are meant to “discuss the choice for young voters in this election between two fundamentally different visions of how to grow the economy, in part by ensuring our future workers can afford to get a college degree.” College-aged voters came out in large numbers to support Barack Obama during the 2008 election. According to a study done by the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University, an estimated 23 million voters between the ages of 18-29 voted in the 2008 election, 11 percent more than in 2000. The study adds that 70 percent of those voters were college educated. According to the Pew Research Center, 66 percent of that youth vote cast a ballot for President Obama. Doors open for the event at 1 p.m. Tickets are required for entry and can be picked up for free at distribution locations in Charlottesville. Follow this writer on Twitter @MalloryNoePayne

Town / Gown Rep: I appreciate the recognition

MCT CAMPUS

Call: Obama talks policy from page one

nent. In regards to the GOP convention currently taking place in Tampa, Obama expressed his thoughts on R o m n e y ’s platform. “The other side is making their sales pitch and they’ll put on a pretty entertaining show, but what they’re not doing is offering a serious path forward,” Obama said. One of the main issues related to college students Obama has expressed concern for is that of college grad employment. A recent study by Rutgers University showed roughly half of college graduates are working full time after graduation. “Young people (need to) have greater awareness of where the new jobs are going to be. There’s a mismatch in terms of s k i l l s ,” Obama

said. “We need more engineers, more folks working in the health care field.” Oba ma encouraged students take advantage of opportunities in specialized training in their universities. Programs have been placed in community colleges to partner with businesses to assist students in specializing in their areas. In the future, Obama would like to partner universities with businesses to collaborate in research. Regardless of the situation, Obama emphasized the unemployment rate is double without a college degree, so a college education is still important. The unemploy ment rate in Virginia is currently lower than other states.

As of July 2012 the unemployment rate for Virginia is 5.9 percent, where as Nevada is at 12 percent; the national average is 8.3 percent. In regards to the outcome, he expects Virginia to be very close. In 2008, he was the first democrat in 44 years to win the state. The 2012 election has already presented several differences from 2008. In 2008, 66 percent of Obama’s supporters aged from 18-29, where as today t hat nu mber has d ropped to 61 percent. “Frankly, the choice you guys face couldn’t be bigger or more consequential,” Obama said. Follow this writer on Twitter @priscialva

Ofﬁce: SGA president talks goals from page one

Affairs, Patty Perillo, is already in contact with the group to share ideas and provide assistance. “We want to make a difference for students here on campus and we want to let the students know how they can make a difference themselves,” Dorph said. Dorph hopes the new office’s inviting atmosphere; it features an open reception area that will help encourage students to contribute to the SGA more and share concerns. Also among its goals this year are a sense of collaboration, inclusion of diversity and outreach to the community. To broadcast its goals and accomplishments, SGA will be available via Facebook and Twitter. Currently, it is constructing a new website that will host a newsfeed to increase interaction between students. “We’re all about figuring out what we can do to put the organization forward in a good direction,” Dorph said. Follow this writer on Twitter @priscialva

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that the author gives students, They do deserve a share of the credit. But it was the community at large, to a great degree unaffiliated with VT, that helped steward the woods over the Summer, continued the letter to the editor writing campaign, Had signs printed, continued to collect signatures and kept a cautious eye on Larry Hinker and the development staff. Great Job everyone - but were not done. Let’s get that irreplaceable remnant of ancient forest into a conservancy easement!

Cory Bernhards: You bring up a good point

that even though Stadium Woods is on Virginia Tech’s campus most of the activism and work was done by non-students so now that the roller hockey rink and tennis courts are going to be destroyed I hope that you will support the actual Virginia Tech students and their needs as much as you support the woods.

Kara: The short-term plan to preserve the Stadium Woods from placing the entire athletic practice facility in it is indeed an inspirational outcome from student-faculty-town-alumni collaboration. I was able to serve on the committee referenced in the article and would like to note two things. First, the Master Plan is a ‘guide’ BUT the basketball facility and indoor practice facility were both outlined to be built on Washington Street. Thus, Hincker is wrong in saying that an indoor facility was not planned for this original location and that basketball was the only building on the Plan. Secondly, our committee recommended funding and re-building the roller hockey rink before any construction is slated for an athletic facility site on the Washington Street tennis courts. Cory, you are remiss in stating that supporting the roller hockey rink is supporting “actual” VT students... thousands of VT students spoke up for the Woods as well (petitions, rallies, buzz on campus). Students can root for both the Woods and the rink :) Erika: Thank you, Kara! Very well written.

Congrats to everyone on this momentous achievement! We won’t forget that the battle isn’t 100% won, but it’s GREAT to know that Stadium Woods will be preserved for the foreseeable future.

Sarah Gugercin: As a Friend of Stadium

Woods, I would like to add that we also insist that the tennis and roller hockey rinks be replaced before ANY construction takes place. Also, I don’t think that the article reflects exactly how I feel so let me clarify-1- I am SO happy that they decided not to build in the woods2- I am disappointed that they decided not to protect the woods though I can understand their apprehension. I look forward to working with Friends, students, administration and the Town of Blacksburg (who has reached out to VT on this issue) to find a way to protect the this rare forest. 3- The top priority right now is to establish a management plan for the woods

Rebekah Paulson: We truly appreciate

everything that everyone has done to save the woods and to advocate for permanent preservation of the old growth white oak urban forest. This monumental effort has had incredible widespread support. Our goals now are to advocate for a management plan for the woods. In fact the Arboretum Committee, under the new leadership of Chair Dr. John Seiler, has already begun discussing the development of a management plan for the woods. Additionally the VT Environmental Coalition and students in John Randolph’s environmental planning senior seminar are already discussing the same. The second goal is to secure permanent protection via a conservation easement or another preservation vehicle to protect the woods in perpetuity. We will not rest until both of these goals are met. Who gets “credit” for saving the woods is irrelevant. It is truly a campus, alumni, local, regional, national and global effort that has come together as a unified voice with the mission and explicit goal of protecting Stadium Woods from development. We can, and should, ALL TAKE CREDIT, for the strong advocacy effort that has prevented the destruction to date of the rare and ancient old growth white oak urban forest remnant known as Stadium Woods. We celebrate this victory while remaining realistic and vigilant about the protections still needed to prevent future development of Stadium Woods. Rebekah Paulson, Ex. Dir. of the Friends of Stadium Woods.

editors: josh higgins, bethany melson opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865

opinions

august 29, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

The Collegiate Times is an independent student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 Collegiate Times Editorial Staff Editor in Chief: Michelle Sutherland Managing Editor: Nick Cafferky Design Editors: Andrea Ledesma, Alicia Tillman Public Editor: Erin Chapman Web Editor: Chelsea Gunter News Editors: Mallory Noe-Payne, Victoria Zigadlo News Reporters: Priscilla Alvarez, Cody Owens Features Editors: Emma Goddard, Nick Smirniotopoulos Features Staff Writers: Ben Kim, Katie White, Kara Van Scoyc, Allie Sivak, Jacob Wilbanks Opinions Editors: Josh Higgins, Bethany Melson Sports Editors: Matt Jones, Zach Mariner Sports Reporters: Alex Koma Special Sections Editors: Cody Elliot, Gina Patterson Copy Chief: Nora McGann Copy Editors: Allison Hedrick, Kristin Gunter Collegiate Times Business Staff Business Manager: Ryan Francis Circulation Manager: Travis Neale

MCT CAMPUS

Standard solutions limit war on drugs

Our Views [staff editorial]

UVa should allow President Obama to speak on campus While we certainly understand the logistical issues that come with a visit from a high profile speaker such as the president, we feel that the University of Virginia should have allowed President Obama to speak on its campus. Having the president speak should be considered an honor, and by rejecting the request, the university has prevented its student body from an event that many would remember for the rest of their lives. Party affiliation aside, getting to see arguably the most powerful man in the world speak is something everyone should relish. At Virginia Tech, we saw the worth

in bringing a high profile speaker to campus just a few months ago, when the first lady, Michelle Obama, came to speak at our graduation. While it didn’t result in canceling classes, the visit was difficult to plan because of security and other minor details. The end result of that work though, was a fantastic graduation speech that was seen as well worth it by most of the class of 2012. UVa’s rejection of Obama was a missed opportunity to give its students a chance to see our political system first hand. As a institute of higher education aimed to better prepare students for the world, UVa neglected a chance to teach the responsibilities of being a citizen of the United States.

VT offers more than one way to lead Two years ago, I entered Virginia Tech as a freshman, completely unprepared for what was ahead of me. Now, two years later, I feel more prepared and confident. While much of this confidence came as I adjusted to college, most of it came from my leadership training during my freshman and sophomore years. I came from a small high school of about 500 students, where attaining and managing a leadership role was not very difficult. But when I came to a school with a driven, competitive student population of nearly 30,000, I quickly discovered becoming a leader would not be as easy as it was in high school. However, after becoming involved with Tech’s student leadership programs, I was quickly able to develop my leadership skills and reach my full potential as a student. During my freshman year, I was a student in the Residential Leadership Community, a freshman living-learning community located in Peddrew-Yates Hall. During my time in the RLC, I took leadership courses and interacted with other motivated freshmen. While I did not really appreciate my leadership classes as a freshman, I have found many of the skills I acquired from those courses have been pivotal to my success as a Tech student. In those courses, I learned how to manage time, set goals and manage group work effectively. In addition, I learned different methods of motivating others. While these skills seemed straightforward at first, now that I’ve taken

on leadership roles at Tech I’ve found these skills are extremely useful to overcome difficult obstacles leaders regularly face. Last school year, I returned to the RLC as a peer leader. During my time as a PL, I managed group projects and helped freshmen adjust to college. It was during my role as a group project manager I realized the usefulness of my leadership courses and having different strategies to motivate the students and help them navigate through the difficulties that come with group projects. Now, as an opinions editor for the Collegiate Times, I am using leadership skills more than ever. I have to manage a group of writers, help them improve their writing and motivate them to write good columns and meet deadlines. I would not be able to manage this daunting task had I not refined my leadership skills during the past two years. While I spent much of the time involved with Tech’s leadership programs wondering how I would apply this knowledge to real-life situations, I now realize the importance of learning effective leadership skills and strategies and being able to apply them. I was able to use Tech’s leadership programs as a launch pad for a successful career here at Tech, and if I had not been involved with leadership my freshman year, I would not be where I am today. Now, I am at the point during my college career where I can appreciate where leadership has gotten me, and I encourage you to get involved with leadership in any way

you can. Leadership has given me some great and unforgettable experiences during my college career, and I would like everyone at Tech to be able to have the same great experience I have had. While it is too late for current students to join the RLC, since it is a freshman program, there are many other opportunities to get involved with Tech’s leadership programs. You can get involved academically by applying for the leadership and social change, or business leadership minors. You can take on leadership roles in student organizations. You can get involved with community service opportunities like Relay for Life and the Big Event. And you can join student leadership programs like Leadership Tech and attend leadership conferences like the Stepping Into Leadership conference held during the spring semester. There are many great opportunities at Tech to improve your leadership skills and reach your full potential as a Hokie — all you have to do is find the right program for you. Leadership has been a pivotal and transformational experience during my time at Virginia Tech and has prepared me for a successful career. And once you begin exploring the opportunities that await you at Tech, I believe you will find leadership can be a great experience for you too. JOSH HIGGINS -opinions editor -political science and communication -junior

In a day of age where drug policies have fallen under more and more scrutiny, the Students for Sensible Drug Policy is an organization of students who are concerned about the impact drug abuse has on our communities, but who also understand the war on drugs has failed our generation and society. We are an international grassroots organization, founded in 1998, which encompasses thousands of members in chapters at universities across the globe. The organization’s key values are shared power and authority, a youth-controlled agenda, collaboration and partnership, constituent-specific strategies, learning, and diversity and inclusion. The SSDP neither condones nor condemns drug use, rather it respects the right of individuals to make their own choices about their wellbeing and health. We work to promote youth civic involvement as a vital tool in reforming drug policy. We also work to develop leaders who advocate policy changes based on liberty, justice, compassion, and reason. The local Virginia Tech chapter was started in 2007 and has been active ever since. Our activity includes everything from screening documentaries, to sending students to the capital to discuss anti-drug war legislation. Currently, the SSDP is working on spreading the conversation about the realities of the drug war. For example, did you know the United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world with more drug-related “criminals” than any other country? And with almost half of these arrests being from petty marijuana crimes, the problem is simple. With prisons and jails being extremely overcrowded the drug war has become increasingly costly and a burden on society. In 2009, it was estimated that it cost $47,102 to incarcerate an inmate in a state prison. This is an increase from 2001 when the expense was $27,602. Obviously, jails and prisons are the largest expense to taxpayers. This leads to a massive, individual price to pay for a small marijuana possession charge. A study by Harvard economist Jeff rey Miron shows that if drugs were legalized, there would be a $76.8 billion injection to the U.S. economy. Breaking that down, it would save the U.S. $44.1 billion in law enforcement savings, and

raise at least $32.7 billion in tax revenue. The extra money associated with ending the drug war could be used to fund many different departments, such as education and welfare, that are lacking in the US. For those of you who think ending the drug war would cause more harm than good, take a look at how Portugal faired after decriminalizing all drugs.

“

...if drugs were legalized, there would be a $76.8 billion injection to the U.S. economy. Breaking that down, it would save the U.S. $44.1 billion in law enforcement savings, and raise at least $32.7 billion in tax revenue.”

The Cato institute analyzed how Portugal responded to ending their drug war and its results concluded that five years after personal possession was decriminalized, illegal drug use among teens declined and rates of new HIV infections caused by the sharing of dirty needles dropped. Meanwhile, the number of people seeking treatment for drug addiction has more than doubled. This is a direct result of the rehabilitation services provided to drug users instead of the widely accepted alternative, incarceration. “Judging by every metric, decriminalization in Portugal has been a resounding success,” said Glenn Greenwald, an attorney, author, researcher, and political contributor to multiple news outlets. This example has led a number of countries beginning to follow suit in drug legalization and decriminalization. If you’re interested in becoming involved or joining the local SSDP chapter to help end this costly war on drugs, contact vatechssdp@ gmail.com or join our group on Facebook; “VT Students for Sensible Drug Policy.” Also be sure to check out our booth at Gobblerfest next week. WILL KRAUSE & CHLOE BEEMER -guest colomnists -students for a sensible drug policy

Student Publications Photo Staff Director of Photography: Brad Klodowski College Media Solutions Assistant Ad Director: Carla Craft Account Executives: Elizabeth Dam, Emily Daugherty, Taylor Moran Inside Sales Manager: Amanda Gawne Assistant Account Executives: Andrew Newton, Jordan Williams Creative Director: Danielle Bushrow Assistant Creative Services Director: Alyssa Morrison Creative Staff: Mary Dassira, Chloe Young, Cameron Vaile, Diana Bayless Voice your opinion. Readers are encouraged to send letters to the Collegiate Times. 365 Squires Student Center Blacksburg, VA, 24061 Fax: (540) 231-9151 opinionseditor@collegiatetimes. com All letters to the editor must include a name and daytime phone number. Students must include year and major. Faculty and staff must include position and department. All other submissions must include city of residence, and if applicable, relationship to Virginia Tech (i.e., alumni, parent, etc.). All letters should be in MS Word (.doc) format, if possible. Letters, commentaries and editorial cartoons do not reflect the views of the Collegiate Times. Editorials are written by the Collegiate Times editorial board, which is composed of the opinions editors, editor-in-chief and the managing editors. Letters to the editor are submissions from Collegiate Times readers. We reserve the right to edit for any reason. Anonymous letters will not be printed. Have a news tip? Call or text 200-TIPS or e-mail newstips@collegiatetimes. com Collegiate Times Newsroom 231-9865 Editor-in-Chief 231-9867 College Media Solutions Advertising 961-9860 The Collegiate Times, a division of the Educational Media Company at Virginia Tech, was established in 1903 by and for the students of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The Collegiate Times is published every Tuesday through Friday of the academic year except during exams and vacations. The Collegiate Times receives no direct funding from the university. The Collegiate Times can be found online at www.collegiatetimes.com. Except where noted, all photographs were taken by the Student Publications Photo Staff. To order a reprint of a photograph printed in the Collegiate Times, visit reprints.collegemedia.com. The first copy is free, any copy of the paper after that is 50 cents per issue. © Collegiate Times, 2012. All rights reserved. Material published in the Collegiate Times is the property thereof, and may not be reprinted without the express written consent of the Collegiate Times.

august 29, 2012

editors: emma goddard, nick smirniotopoulos featureseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865

food & drink

Recipe: Sweet Corn Risotto

august 29, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

Review: Atomic Pizzeria

BY BRIAN CROMER | features staff writer

BRIAN CROMER/ COLLEGIATE TIMES

With the beginning of a new school year, this recipe is a perfect way to start off the semester. Try this sweet corn risotto as a special dinner treat to yourself, or enjoy it with others. Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 30 minutes Ingredients: 1 small onion 2 ears of sweet corn (2 cups of corn) 3 cloves garlic 1 1/2 cups Arborio or Carnaroli rice 1/2 cup white whine 6 cups chicken stock 4 tablespoons butter 1/4 cup cream 1/4 cup parmesan cheese Fresh parsley Directions: 1. Bring the chicken stock to a simmer over medium heat. 2. Mince the onion and garlic, as well as about 1/4 cup of the fresh parsley. shuck the ears of corn and remove the kernels with a sharp knife. Add the vegetable scraps to the chicken stock. 3. Combine the cream and parmesan cheese in a small bowl. Allow it to come to room temperature. 4. Over low to medium heat, saute the onions and garlic until translucent (about 10 minutes). 5. Add two tablespoons of butter to the pan with the onions. Add rice. Stir for two to three minutes until it has taken on a pale golden color. Add 1/2 cup white wine and stir until the wine is absorbed (about five minutes). 6. Add 1/2 cup of stock to the rice and stir until absorbed. Continually add the stock, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly until the rice is cooked (about 15-20 minutes). 7. Remove from heat. Stir in two tablespoons of butter, the cream mixture, fresh parsley and the sweet corn. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Drink of the week: Cherry Smash BY JIMMY HUDNALL | features staff writer

KEVIN DICKEL/ SPPS

There has been a lot of buzz about Turner Place, the new dining hall facility on the academic side of campus, so I decided to go check it out to see if the food is all it’s cracked up to be. After navigating my way through the pathway between McBryde and Holden, I was struck with the finished product of more than seven years of hard work: Lavery Hall, the multi-use building which houses Turner Place. Entering through the front door, I was tempted by Bruegger’s Bagels to my left, but was determined to go to Atomic Pizzeria, the brick-oven pizzeria offering an assortment of gourmet Italian food. I made my way downstairs and, as expected, witnessed a long, winding line at the pizzeria. I made my way to the end of the line, and used the 20 minutes of waiting to decide upon my order. I wanted to get a true taste of the place — the creativity of the menu design, the authenticity of the ingredients and the complexity of the dishes — so I decided to split a series of items with my friend. When I finally got to the register, I was greeted with a smiling, eager face and a sincere, “I am sorry for the long wait, how may I help you?” If I wasn’t already in a good mood from the first day of classes, the wonder-

ful attentiveness from the dining staff certainly lifted my spirits. They seemed as eager for this place to finally open as the students, after a sum-

“

The savory sauce complemented the crunchy shrimp, providing a great assortment of ﬂavors.”

mer full of training and testing. I ordered a slice of pesto chicken pizza, a slice of the week’s specialty shrimp & white cheddar pizza, and finally a classic pasta dish with marinara sauce, which was especially recommended by the energetic staff. The wait for the food was short and sweet, allowing me a minute or two to admire the ergonomic design of the kitchen and the impressive brickoven. When I finally sat down to devour the food with my friend, I had a sense of both relief and fulfillment. All these days waiting for the new dining hall in eager anticipation were finalized with my first chomp into the decadent shrimp pizza. The savory sauce complemented the crunchy shrimp, providing a great

assortment of flavors. While I was satisfied with the week’s specialty, I was blown away by the classic chicken pesto. The sharp cheese blended with the staple pesto taste, topped off with bite-sized, juicy pieces of chicken. I was pleased this slice would remain on the menu for good, not having to worry about when they would bring it back for a special. I finished off the meal with the classic pasta with marinara sauce, providing me with a light and spicy sauce to dunk my pizza crust in to. The pasta was a good addition, and complemented the pizza well; however, the traditional f lavor did not win over my appetite, already wooed by the tasty pesto. My first encounter with Turner Place was a good one. Even though the line was a little long, this was to be expected for opening day. I was greatly satisfied with the authentic Italian cuisine the facility had to offer, and I am excited to go back and see what else the dining hall has to offer, hoping the highly anticipated experiences there continue to come to fruition. Nick Smirniotopoulos - features editor - junior - communication major

health. ealtth. eemployment. mpl crime. music. sports. art. dorms. education. duc cation. housing. government. world politics. sales. travel. raveel. trafﬁc. tr construction. business. relationships. entertainment. ntertainmen virginia tech. ut prosim. construction. We share your concerns Check us out in the paper or online at collegiatetimes.com

KEVIN DICKEL/ SPPS

Pass the Courvoisier — with a “cherry” twist. The Cherry Smash is a perfect way to segue from summer into the school year. There are a few variants of this popular cocktail, but the one explained today is a classier version. This drink requires a degree of planning ahead, but the end result justifies the preparation. The Cherry Smash exudes a variety of flavors, going down sweetly with a slight burning sensation due to the presence of brandy. The lemon juice gives it just the right touch of sourness without overpowering the drink. As stated, this cocktail is sweet, and as such should be sipped to avoid unpleasant face-palming moments after the fact. The first week of classes will no doubt be a breeze, but we don’t advocate toting this drink onto campus in place of your usual fruit beverage; save it for five o’clock. Ingredients 1 cup pitted fresh or frozen (thawed) cherries 1/4 cup clear cherry brandy 1/4 cup sugar 1 cup ice cubes 6 tablespoons Courvoisier 1/4 cup orange curacao 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1 tablespoon Cherry Heering liquor Directions 1. Combine the cherries, cherry brandy and sugar in a bowl, and stir until ingredients are blended. Let them remain at room temperature for 24 hours, occasionally stirring. 2. In a martini glass, add desired amount of brandied cherries and crush with a spoon. 3. Combine Courvoisier, curacao, lemon juice, cherry liquer and ice cubes in a cocktail shaker. Shake well and strain into the martini glass. Serve and enjoy!

august 29, 2012

Regular Edition

GET INSIDE THE GAME

Today’s Birthday: Embrace priorities and release unnecessary fluff. This year’s potentially brilliant for your career. Creativity, expression and communications shine, and your circles open new doors. Relationships get particularly interesting after autumn. Love’s the new currency: spread it around.

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Piled Higher and Deeper by Jorge Cham

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4 6 XKDC by Randall Monroe

Textbooks cost $1137 on average BIGWORDS.com saves about 90% (that’s $1,000 you just made)

Week ending August 31, 2012

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WORDSEARCH: Hokie Opponents Locate the list of words in the word bank in the letter grid. G

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GET INSIDE THE GAME WITH GEORGIA TECH - SEPTEMBER 3, 2012

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

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august 29, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

Dual perspectives: Ronaldo vs. Messi Two of our sports staff writers debate who is the premiere soccer player in the world.

Platania: Ronaldo is the world’s ﬁnest player

Christie: Messi better at an earlier stage in career

There isn’t a player in the world who can do what Cristiano Ronaldo does on a soccer pitch. He is the game’s most complete, athletic and best player. We as fans are fortunate to be witnesses as both Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are bringing the game to new levels as they compete with one another. Despite being two of the best the game may ever see, each carries an entirely different style and image. Messi looks like he’s more likely to be on his way to class than a soccer match, while your girlfriend or little sister probably has a poster of Ronaldo hanging on their wall. Ronaldo is a rare specimen of athlete, especially for soccer. He’s the hardest-working athlete in all of sports, having played over 6,000 minutes of game time in the last calendar year for both club and country. For comparison, Kevin Durant played just over 3,000 minutes in the last year. Cristiano’s stamina and work ethic are superhuman, and it reflects in his play. It only took two years for Ronaldo to break the singleseason scoring record in Spain, while it took Messi eight years. Countless players struggle when they leave their previous league, team and manager, but Ronaldo thrived in it. It took Ronaldo only three

As far as I’m concerned, this is an easy debate to settle. Messi, I believe will go down as the greatest player to ever lace them up. Ronaldo is a fabulous soccer player blessed with a tremendous combination of skill, speed and tireless work ethic. Despite Ronaldo’s sustained success though, I don’t believe his overall resume stacks up with Leo’s. For one, Lionel Messi has, is, and may always be a significantly better teammate and playmaker than Ronaldo. Though Messi may benefit from Barcelona’s distinct pass-happy style of play, he has out-assisted Ronaldo over the past four club seasons 82-48. Bottom line, Messi is a visionary playmaker capable of slicing through any defense with his precise distribution. Though Ronaldo may have scored more career goals than Messi, he’s got another year of professional experience on his resume. The fact of the matter is that Messi, just this past season, set the new mark for goals scored in a European campaign with 73. Ronaldo pumped in 55. As a 24 year old, Messi also broke the Barcelona all-time scoring mark. For three straight years, Messi has been the recipient of the prestigious Ballon

years to become the first player ever to score against all 20 Spanish league teams in a season, a feat Messi is yet to accomplish. Since coming to Spain, Ronaldo has averaged more than one goal per game, a level of consistency no player in the world has ever upheld. As every defender’s worst nightmare, Ronaldo uses his video game-esque skills and tricks to create his scoring chances. He physically dominates defenders with his speed and unmatched quickness, while Messi often gets the work done for him. Messi uses clinical precision to score goals. Ronaldo has both the precision, and the power to score from nearly anywhere. History has seen few players who can score from the type of range Ronaldo can. Ronaldo’s free kicks have power and curve on them that make David Beckham’s shots look elementary. While Ronaldo fi lls the highlight reel, Messi simply finishes what his teammates started. Messi has the luxury of playing in front of one of the best midfields soccer has ever seen. Players like Andres Iniesta, Xavi and Cesc Fabregas are legendary players who will leave legacies of their own, and they have one job and they do it well: give Messi a chance to score. As a result, most of Messi’s

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Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal is one of the world’s best at soccer. goals are simple tap-ins, or scored on a breakaway. Give any player those types of chances often enough and he’s bound to score. Without those players behind him, Messi is much less effective, as it is showcased when he plays for the Argentinean national team. It’s also noteworthy that Messi’s been playing with Barcelona’s players his whole life. Barcelona’s team chemistry is Messi’s biggest benefactor to his success. After dominating competition in England, Ronaldo’s proved he can light it up in multiple leagues, while it remains to be known if Messi

is capable of producing in the tougher, more defensiveminded English Premier League. Messi is not a poor player by anyone’s standards, and he would start on every team in the world. His dribbling runs make it seem as if the ball is on a string tied to his feet, and his goal count speaks for itself. But the point is Cristiano Ronaldo is in a league of his own, and Messi plays second fiddle for now. MIKE PLATANIA -sports staff writer -senior -communication

d’ Or, which recognizes the best player in Europe. Ronaldo meanwhile has finished second, third, and second, respectively, in the voting process.

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Bottom line, Messi is a visionary playmaker capable of slicing through any defense with his precise distribution.”

If things continue to pan out as they have been, Messi will be awarded an unprecedented fourth trophy. I continue to tell my friends that we’re watching the greatest of all time here. He is becoming as his former coach Pepe Guardiola aptly noted, “the Michael Jordan of soccer.” If Messi keeps up this silly pace for another five or so seasons, he may indeed go down as the greatest soccer player of all time. As for being better than Cristiano Ronaldo? Case closed. TOMMY CHRISTIE -sports staff writer -junior -communication

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......radio for everyone Pet Advice of the Week:

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Make an educated decision. They’re saying nice things about you at work. Ask for more (and get it). Friends help you get the word out. There’s fun going on, and you’re in the thick of it.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -Dedicate some time to write, as you’re very persuasive now. A walk outdoors helps clear up your ideas. Play the game, listen to your intuition and score.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Your genius and efforts are appreciated. Grasp the new opportunities coming your way. Don’t be afraid to assume authority. A familiar routine is comforting.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Take on a leadership role. With your excitement, everything seems easier now. Close the door for more privacy. Discard junk and gain creativity.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- It’s worth the extra effort to put your ideas in action. You’re getting more and more curious. Revamp your wardrobe. All it takes is a little juggling.

Aries (March 21-April 19) -- There’s plenty of work to be done, and it’s the lucrative kind. But there are also plenty of distractions. Add a dash of fun and spice to keep it interesting.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Improve your home with a touch of love. Listen for miracles. Don’t force the issue, though. Your fame precedes you. Walk the walk.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Work from home, and use money to make money. Your friends cover for you, but you have to ask them. A happy secret gets revealed. Provide information.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) -- Feed on other people’s ideas, and add your personal brilliance. Others look to you for advice; see how you can make it work for you, inancially.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) -- Go for it. There’s really nothing stopping you, even if it seems so. You may fail, but you won’t know if you don’t try. Restore your power through yoga. Cancer (June 21-July 22) -Reinvention is called for. Your intuition and creativity come to the rescue. Co-workers get inspired and join the project. At the end, you’re all stronger. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Do the necessary research, and ind the very best deal so you don’t spend the money that you’ll need later. Don’t overthink it, though. Trust your instinct. Add respect.

“Put your dog on a regular schedule and stick to it, this includes weekends as well. Dogs thrive on routine and upsetting their familiarity causes them to feel nervous or uneasy. Try to walk your dog the same times every day...The bedtime walk is especially important because it keeps your dog from getting overly anxious in the morning after not going to the bathroom all night.” by Tony Smith yahoo.com

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august 29, 2012