Wednesday, September 5, 2012 An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 www.collegiatetimes.com
COLLEGIATETIMES 109th year, issue 7 News, page 2
Food & Drink, page 3
Committee splits on Terrace View ruling CODY OWENS news staff writer
Terrace View’s proposed expansion was the main topic at the Blacksburg Planning Commission meeting Tuesday night. Ultimately, the planning commission was split with a 3-3 decision. Since the hearing was just to get the commission’s recommendation, the issue will move forward to the Town Council for a decision on October 9. During the public hearing, Blacksburg zoning commissioner Andrew Warren explained the proposed offer. Terrace View wants to construct 119 bedrooms within its complex, which is in line with the town’s plan to increase multi-residential living without increasing sprawl. However, the topic of parking is what caused the most uproar. Under its current zoning designation, Terrace View is classified as a medium density multi-unit residential area. The town standard for parking is 1.1 parking spaces per bedroom, so with the addition of 119 new bedrooms, there would need to be a total of 130 new spaces. However, Terrace View’s proposed plan aims to have a ratio of 0.77 spaces per resident. Jeff Danford, a representative of Terrace View’s management Iconic Development LLC, said a parking study was conducted on a Wednesday and Saturday last March, which found there was a surplus of 105 parking spaces. The study indicated the apartments had a surplus of parking while the townhomes had a deficit.
Originally, Terrace View planned to build 163 apartments and build no more parking spaces. However, after dialogue with residents, Danford said the number was changed to 119 apartments along with the construction of 32 spaces for townhomes, the housing he said needed the space the most. However, Terrace View was not the only apartment complex voicing its opinion. Scott Wise of University Management, which manages Collegiate Suites, Hunter’s Ridge and Maple Ridge, explained Maple Ridge had a similar growth in years past and increased its parking; he suggested Terrace View do the same. “Terrace View’s parking right now is not adequate,” Wise said. “I was at a tailgate and spoke to several students; they claimed that there was not enough visitor’s parking.” Wise, along with a representative of Stonegate Apartments, said residents of Terrace View would park at their properties and walk to their apartment because of the need for parking. Danford said a survey sent to Terrace View’s residents found more than 60 percent of them rode the Blacksburg Transit busing system. This information goes along with the plans to construct 15 new bicycle racks for a total of 60 new bike spaces, improve bus shelters on Progress Street and Toms Creek Road, and build a new shelter along Patrick Henry. “We’re making alternative transportation more attractive,” Danford said. Follow this writer on Twitter @ CodyOwens_CT
Opinions, page 5
Sports, page 7
Study Break, page 8
Hokies win in ugly fashion
CJ YUNGER / SPPS
Quarterback Logan Thomas celebrates after a 20-17 overtime victory over Georgia Tech in the season opener. See VICTORY/ page seven
SweetFrog tops off town froyo market
Goode wins independent spot on Virginia ballot MALLORY NOE-PAYNE news editor
Former Congressman Virgil Goode qualified for the presidential ballot in Virginia yesterday after a challenge from the state’s Republican party. Running as a third-party candidate for the Constitution Party, Goode submitted over 20,500 signatures, far above the requisite 10,000 needed to qualify for the ballot.
“
I think it’s an effort to squelch persons who have different views... Some in the Romney camp believe that we will take votes from Romney, but we will take votes from Romney and Obama.” Virgil Goode presidential canidate
However, the eligibility of many of the signatures was challenged in a 28-page report filed by McGuire Woods Consulting Firm on behalf of the Republican Party of Virginia. The report approximated 36 percent of Goode’s signatures had material omissions and could not be counted. Additionally, the report makes claims of fraud in signature-gathering efforts. While third-party candidates rarely have a chance of winning an election on a national scale, their involvement can affect voting numbers for Republican and Democratic candidates. Current poll numbers have Obama and Romney nearly tied in the state, and according to a poll report produced by Public Policy Polling in July, Goode could garner 9-percent
of the vote in Virginia. Goode supports smaller government and the end of “Obamacare;” he opposes amnesty programs for illegal immigrants and abortion. These positions leave him most likely to draw voters away from the Republican Party. Goode claims the Republican Party’s challenge to his campaign is merely political tactics. “I think it’s an effort to squelch persons who have different views,” Goode said in a phone interview Tuesday. “Some in the Romney camp believe that we will take votes from Romney, but we will take votes from Romney and Obama.” Goode recollects one individual who signed the petition, stating they would have voted for Obama if there were no thirdparty options. Goode said his campaign will bring people to the polls that otherwise would have stayed at home, disillusioned with the involvement of large money and corporate sponsered Super PACs in traditional campaigning. Although the State Board of Elections did qualify Goode to be on the ballot, it also voted unanimously requesting the Office of the Attorney General further investigate allegations of petition fraud. Other third-party candidates who qualified for the ballot include Libertarian Gary Johnson and Green Party candidate Jill Stein. Neither will be investigated. Goode spent 12 years in Congress representing Virginia’s Fifth District, comprised of southern and middle portions of Virginia, including Charlottesville and Bedford. He lost his seat to Democrat Tom Perreillo in 2008. He also spent 24 years in the Virginia State Senate. Follow this writer on Twitter @ MalloryNoePayne
BRAD KLODOWSKI / SPPS
Students such as freshman human nutrition, foods and exercise major Allyson Fiery site a variety of toppings as sweetFrog’s main draw. ABBY HARRIS news staff writer
Blacksburg got a little sweeter Aug. 30 with the opening of a new sweetFrog location in University Mall. SweetFrog is a frozen yogurt shop allowing you to hand-create your own concoction of soft-serve frozen yogurt flavors and toppings. Flavors range from strawberry and white tea peach to snickerdoodle and red velvet. Additionally, a large variety of toppings allows for many different possibilities. “Compared to the other frozen yogurt places I’ve been, their toppings are better,” said Allyson Fiery, a freshman human nutrition, foods and exercise major. “We’re really thrilled to be here,” said Ingrid Lupica, the owner of 12 sweetFrog locations, including the stores in Blacksburg, Christiansburg and Charlottesville. “We welcome Tech and all of our customers.” Lupica believes the shop
will thrive in its location despite the recent closing of Yogi Factory, another frozen yogurt shop, which previously resided in University Mall. “A lot of the student body is there, and it’s a good loca-
“
We’re really thrilled to be here. We welcome Tech and all of our customers.”9-5-1 Ingrid Lupica Blacksburg sweetFrog owner
tion for the customer base that we are going after,” she said. However, sweetFrog may have to compete with the downtown location of the Frosty Parrot, a frozen yogurt shop with a similar setup. “I haven’t gone to sweetFrog yet, but I go to the Frosty Parrot a lot,” said
Andrea Long, a senior communication major. “It’s easier because it’s downtown and I can walk to it. Also, downtown you’re more likely to see people you know, and that’s great if you’re really social.” Long admitted she will often forego quality for convenience. “Even if one place is better — or has more options — than the other, I will go to whichever one is more convenient for me to get to,” she said. Alternatively, sweetFrog’s location could be convenient for students who live off campus or frequent the Math Emporium in University Mall. “It’s my motivation for coming to the Math Empo,” said Maureen Haynal, a freshman HNFE major. Lupica said the progress sweetFrog has had with branding itself will be a big contributing factor to its success where Easy Chair Coffee Shop was previously located.
“SweetFrog has become such a great brand,” Lupica said. “It’s like comparing Starbucks to Easy Chair. Starbucks does coffee, and what they do, they do really well. They’ve become the pioneers of coffee. And I think, in business, whatever you choose to do you have to do it really well.” The “Frog” in the store’s name is an acronym for “fully rely on god,” an indication of the religious principles on which the company was founded. According to its website, sweetFrog believes in bringing happiness and a positive attitude into the lives of its costumers. The Blacksburg location is open weekdays from 11:30 a.m. until 10:30 p.m. Weekend hours are still being determined, but the store will stay open later — until either 11 or 11:30 p.m. — according to Lupica. Follow this writer Twitter @abbyharrisct
on