Friday, October 26, 2012 Print Edition by Collegiate Times

Friday, October 26, 2012

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COLLEGIATETIMES 109th year, issue 1 News, page 2 People & Clubs, page 4 Opinions, page 5 Sports, page 3 Study Break, page 6 Halloween, page 8

Tech student to run marathon

MERCHANTS OF

SOUND

PHOTO COURTESY OF JESSIE GUNTER

Gunter has raised nearly two-thirds of her team’s overall fundraising

Senior international studies major competes in marathon to raise money for Parkinson’s Disease REBECCA ROBERTSON news staff writer

This Sunday, Virginia Tech senior Jessie Gunter will live out Ut Prosim by running in the Marine Corps Marathon to raise awareness about Parkinson’s disease. Gunter, a 22-year-old international studies major, will be running with a four-member team to raise money for the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation. This organization aims to fund research for a cure and increase awareness about the disease, as well as provide support for individuals living with Parkinson’s Disease. Gunter has been personally affected by the illness because her father was diagnosed with young onset Parkinson’s disease more than 10 years ago. As of now, no cure exists for the neurological disorder and no medication is available to halt its progression. Gunter and her teammates connected with one another through the PDF Champions program, which helps volunteers get involved with fundraising efforts. “I’ve never met them before, but we all have in common that we’ve been profoundly affected by Parkinson’s,” Gunter said. Kelly Bresnahan, PDF’s Senior Development Coordinator for Events, runs the PDF Champions program. “We’re here to support volunteers’ fundraisers in any way we can,” Bresnahan said. “We offer support any time they need it.” Bresnahan is enthusiastic about the team that has been put in place and proud of their efforts thus far. “We have four marathoners running. They’re from all over the country, which is fantastic,” she said. “We have a collection of people and they all have a personal connection with Parkinson’s disease, so they’re all very excited for this weekend.” The team originally pledged to raise $10,000 collectively for PDF. Gunter hoped to raise $2,000 individually. However, she and her teammates have already far exceeded their original fundraising goals. “My fundraising goal is now $15,000. I’ve already gotten to about $12,000, so hopefully in these next couple of days I can meet my goal,” Gunter said. Bresnahan said of the team, “They’ve collectively raised over $18,000 for the foundation and are still fundraising, so we hope that we will exceed $20,000. They will be fundraising after the event as well.”

BEN WEIDLICH / SPPS

The 37th annual marathon on Oct. 28 will stretch for 26.2 miles through Northern Virginia and Washington DC. This will be Gunter’s first time ever running a marathon, and she is excited about the challenge and potential future opportunities. “In terms of running I am not necessarily focusing on a goal time. I’m just hoping to stay strong throughout the marathon and complete the race,” Gunter said. “I’m a little nervous but really excited — I’m ready for it to be race day.” “Assuming this race goes well, I think there’s potential for future races and fundraising efforts through running,” Gunter said. “It’s something that I would recommend to people who enjoy running or exercising and it’s a great way to raise awareness and raise money.” Gunter is also enjoying her first experience working with PDF. “I’d like to be more involved in the future, they seem to be a really great organization,” Gunter said. She hopes to stay connected with PDF by attending seminars or webinars offered by the organization about the ongoing research efforts for Parkinson’s. Overall, this event has been a very influential experience for Gunter, and she encourages other students to get involved with raising funds and awareness for causes that are important to them. “When someone you love is affected by a disease, I think it’s really important to show continued support for them and to garner the support of friends and family to make sure they know that you’re thinking of them, supporting them, and honoring them” Gunter said. “The race has also provided me with the opportunity to try to help contribute to future research efforts so that maybe people won’t have to live with this disease in the future.” To those looking for ways to get involved, Gunter said “contacting friends and family and soliciting their support is very effective because people have a personal connection with what you’re experiencing.” Bresnahan similarly encourages people to get involved with a cause they care about. “Anyone can make a difference,” she said. “Everyone can find something that works best for them and contribute in some way.” Follow this writer on Twitter: @rarobertson93

Wesley Fox, Nick Macioce and Jackson Stitzer practice at a band member’s residence for a performance this Saturday.

Four Virginia Tech students brought together by a passion for music make progress toward becoming a local band sensation JACOB WILBANKS features staff writer

Juggling the daily tasks afforded to college students can be daunting and exhausting. Just ask any student about balancing school, leisure and sleep. But for four full-time students, that balancing act also includes trying to find time to rehearse and record, around each other’s schedules. Local band Merchants of Seven is trying to juggle all of those things. Comprised of Virginia Tech students Wes Fox, Ian Patrick, Jackson Stitzer and Ryan Cunningham, Merchants of Seven was formed when Fox and Patrick met two years ago while living on the third floor of Lee Hall. Patrick approached Fox after hearing him play guitar and the two began jamming together frequently. Fox’s bluesy soft rock style and

Patrick’s harder alternative style meshed together nicely, so they decided to start a band. After enlisting a bassist, they soon found themselves playing an open mic night through Blacksburg Live Music. En route to its first gig, the band came up with its name in an elevator. “I always thought ‘merchants of something’ would sound really cool, and (Ian) was like ‘Seven. My favorite number is seven.’ So that’s how it happened,” Fox, a junior accounting major said. The band continued practicing together for the next year and booking gigs, all the while composing new material. The hard work culminated in Fox and Patrick’s favorite moment as a band while playing a house party last spring. “It was a big party — a big show,” Patrick, a senior mechanical engi-

neering major said. “A bunch of people came out and we had a really good time. It was one of the times the band was actually on spot and together, and we sounded really good. We were completely comfortable.” The band soon entered a professional studio to record tracks for it debut album. It recorded 11 tracks but was not entirely satisfied, wanting to add or re-do certain things to improve the overall sound quality. Tumultuous times followed as the group’s previous bassist had to leave the band to focus on graduate school while the drummer left to take a co-op. Fox and Patrick even considered changing styles and making music with just the two of them. “We were getting ready to go with two acoustic guitars and two microphones,” Patrick said. A random chance event fortunately brought the duo together with their future bassist. see BAND / page four

Tech gallery hosts unique exhibit DEAN SEAL news reporter

Fans of avant-garde art may be thrilled by the unusual pieces displayed in the Perspective Gallery this month. The work of potter Joey Jones is being showcased until Nov. 10, and the works on display have been more audacious than the gallery’s standard fare. The ceramics show sculptures of various animals, with some performing acts of sexuality, defecation, or violent attacks. While these acts are shown most typically with dogs, others include raccoons, deer and turtles. “It’s potty humor at its fi nest, and there’s no pun intended, I don’t think,” laughed Robin Boucher, curator of the gallery. The responses given in the comment book, located at the front of the gallery, have been positive. “I think they like the irreverence that some of the sculptures refer to, and the ways in which he’s using the animals to speak our minds

KEVIN DICKEL / SPPS

see PERSPECTIVES / page two Artist Joey Jones’ “potty humor” exhibit will be displayed in the Squires Perspectives Gallery until Nov. 10

news

october 26, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

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

CSA forum discusses student issues PRISCILLA ALVAREZ news reporter

The Commission on Student Affairs met yesterday afternoon to discuss campus concerns expressed at a student forum on Oct. 23. Transportation issues, including parking, residential parking and parking fees, were the widely discussed. “It was a good conversation and it was good to meet new students and hear their perspectives,” said Patty Perillo, vice president for student affairs. On another note, CSA opened a discussion on Dining Services, specifically about receipts. Ted Faulkner, director of Dining Services, has been in con-

tact with the commission to gain feedback on decreasing receipts, but still making sure students know the amount of money on their account after a purchase. Michael Goodwin, president of the Jewish Student Union, suggested students be given the opportunity to opt out of receipts and implement a name recognition system. By doing this, students could chose not to receive receipts through their account and have the system recognize their Hokie Passport when swiped at dining halls. No decisions were made on the topic. Following talks on campus issues, Dustin Dorph, president of the SGA, presented two pieces of legislation. Last year, the House and

Senate in SGA passed legislation on increasing the use of evergreen plants around campus as well as increasing the number of electrical outlets on campus. The first resolution suggested that the university plant more Evergreen trees in their landscaping. According to the legislation, the plants would be beneficial to the environment and improve the aesthetics on campus. There are still edits to be made to the legislation, so it will have to be rewritten in SGA House and Senate. It will then be reintroduced to the CSA for further discussion and a possible vote. The request of electrical outlet expansion would be a sizable charge for the univer-

CHECK IT OUT THE NEXT STUDENT FORUM HOSTED BY CSA WILL BE NOVEMBER 29 AT 7:00 P.M. IN 304 JOHNSTON STUDENT CENTER sity, according to Guy Sims, assistant vice president for student affairs. Squires, the Graduate Life Center and Johnston Student Center have added charging stations to temporarily satisfy student demands. The resolution will be reviewed by SGA one more time and then possibly put to vote at CSA’s next meeting. Follow this writer on Twitter: @priscialva

Perspectives: Animal art featured from page one

for us,” Boucher said. Boucher made the decision to bring Jones’ work to the gallery, as he had previously worked with the ceramics artist in Floyd County, where Jones is currently a resident. “I did a pottery workshop with him in the ‘90s, when he had a place in Franklin County. I was building my studio, because I’m also an artist, and I was in between having a studio space, so I just made pottery and took it out there,” Boucher said. “I was also part of an artist cooperative in Floyd, and we would have exhibits there, so he’d roll in. I’ve known his work and watched it over the years, and knew that he was on the rebound with his work, so I did a studio visit.” Boucher approached Jones in January about creating the exhibit. After having undergone surgeries and a kidneytransplant, Jones was rebuilding his art career, and provided Boucher with 87 pieces for possible use in the gallery. Jones is supporting himself as an artist, and some of the pieces on display have already been purchased by observers, both for their usefulness as pots and their unconventional artistry. “I had a lady, she must have been in her ‘70s, who was really interested in purchasing one of the bathroom pieces,” Boucher said. “The people you think you’re going to offend the most often have the greatest sense of humor about

everything.” While Boucher didn’t want to censor any of the eccentric pieces, she did have to remove one piece from the exhibit due to its content. “There’s one piece I didn’t put in, because it was bordering on pornography. … well it was pornographic,” laughed Boucher. “While I’m okay with eroticism, pornography I can’t condone in the gallery. There’s a fine line there, and I just had to draw it.” Interestingly enough, the piece has since been sold. After the exhibit is closed in November, more of his work can be seen in galleries throughout Virginia, and local curators have shown interest in showcasing Jones’ work. Jones was born and raised in a family of tobacco farmers in Franklin County, Va. He began working with clay in the 7th grade, and followed his passion through several acaKEVIN DICKEL/ SPPS demic endeavors that spanned Pieces in the gallery, all made by Jones are all available for purchase. from Ferrum College in Virginia, all the way to San Jose State in California. After having spent time in ‘nonconformist’ communes in California, Jones has returned In “Apartment Hunting,” (CT-Oct. 25) Terrace to his pottery studio in Floyd View apartment complex is pet friendly. The County. Boucher fondly describes Collegiate Times regrets this error. Jones as having a bohemian style, and is known for saying, “The hound dog is in me, I just -Erin Chapman, Public Editor tell the story.”

CORRECTION

Follow this writer on Twitter: @jdseal92

what you’re saying Stick it In Trademarked by Bookholders

Mr. Verde..: Donate the money to victims of sexual assault. Sincerely, "Blacksburg Culture"

atypicalG: Make up on a pig. Don't hide behind

charity, BookHolders. What you did was out of pure money lust. This charity stunt sounds like a necessary step by BookHolders considering the bad press that I hope this article perpetuates. A better solution is to give up the trademark. I mean what's next? Lunch pail defense? By the way, that photo shows 'Stick It In' four times. Anyone who knows anything about it knows it was only said three times. Campus emporium had it right. They always have and will continue to get my business.

VT and Marching Virginian alum: You shouldn't be trademarking a phrase like that, that is so prevalent throughout the community. Not a Lawyer: "'We were worried about losing the right to do it.'" What a money grab, pure and simple. There's an exception in trademark law that allows a trademark to be disputed if there is clear evidence of prior use. I hope the Marching Virginians a) are the recipient of any alleged "charitable donations" that might come from Bookholders and b) they use the funds to file their own claim on the trademark. It gives me another reason to continue shopping at Bookholders. Anonymous: It disgusts me that a book

store, based in Baltimore not Blacksburg, would trademark and capitalize on a school tradition. As others have said, if anyone had the right to the trademark it is the MArching Virginians. I have never and will not be shopping at BookHolders and will continue to shop at Campus Emporium.

Cameron: On the topic of trademarking; why

not let them do it? If they want rights to it, then let them have it. Campus Emporium had the same opportunities as BookHolders to trademark it! And why would they lie about donating it to charity. This has the potential to turn into a great fundraising opportunity for a great local charity.

Anonymous: Not being able to sell it is a

legitimate concern, considering the way VT trademarks everything remotely related to the school and then locks down all use of it... The old logo and the fighting gobbler, for example, cannot be used on new merchandise orders except by the school. If they wanted to get rid of Stick It In, they could do the same thing and just lock the copyright away. This entire thing is blown so far out of proportion, you'd think everyone involved had nothing better to do with their lives! If anything, I say "Shame!" to Campus Emporium for using the opportunity to start a smear campaign and being obscenely childish. Bookholders is a bookstore that happens to sell some apparel; there's not a wide selection that would threaten Campus Emporium, and I've gone around looking for something and actually been directed to try Campus Emporium instead!

crimeblotter date

time

offense

location

arrestees

status

10/25/2012

12:30 a.m.

Underage Possession of Alcohol

Outside SPH K

Student Conduct

10/25/2012

10:17 p.m.

Underage Possession of Alcohol x4

Pritchard

Student Conduct

10/25/2012

5:30 p.m.

Underage Possession of Alcohol

Stadium Woods

Student Conduct

HOKIE

presents... HAPPENINGS Have some free time this week? Check out our hottest show, Hokie Happenings, to hear the latest buzz around Blacksburg! Channel 33 Follow VTTV

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sports

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

october 26, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

The man in charge: Adair brings success to Tech After ﬁve years and a scout and assistant coach, Adair became head coach before the 2011 season. MIKE PLATANIA sports staff writer

In just his second season as head coach of the Virginia Tech women’s soccer team, Charles “Chugger” Adair has already taken the program where it has never gone before. Under Adair, the Hokies reached the program’s alltime high in the polls (No. 8), went undefeated in nonconference play for the first time ever, and made it to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament for the second time in program history. A program that has struggled for most of its 18 years in existence, the Hokies began to build momentum in the late 2000’s. But after an outstanding 2009 season, a pedestrian 2010 season, and the resignation of thenhead coach Kelly Cagle, it looked like the program may fade back into mediocrity. But then came Adair, a five-year scout and assistant coach for Tech, who was promoted to head coach between the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Even if the athletic department had to deliberate as to whether to hire in-house or look elsewhere, the players knew all along who they wanted to coach them. “It was surprising for all of us because we had gotten so accustomed to having Kelly (Cagle) here,” said senior defender Julia Goldsworthy. “But we knew that Chugger was the best person by far for the job. We didn’t have anyone else in mind. I feel like he was born to be a head coach.” Adair had spent many years playing before coach-

ing, even though he’s been most successful on the sidelines. While earning AllAmerican accolades at the University of San Diego, then-head coach Tony Da Luz noticed Chugger was special. “He had a quiet fire. You could always see the fire burning underneath there. He was always competing,” Da Luz said. “You could see that he held himself to high standards.” Da Luz has gone from mentor to foe now, as he coaches the women’s soccer team at Wake Forest. After Adair’s stellar years at the collegiate level, he moved on to play professionally. He saw time with the U.S. National Futsal Team, as well as playing in Belgium and in Major League Soccer. “For me, playing was the best,” Adair said. “It wasn’t just the competitions or games. It was the interactions with teammates, the training, being at practice, locker room moments with teammates, all of that. No better job than when you’re playing a game for your job, but the next best is definitely coaching.” Though he never got too comfortable wherever he was. Adair bounced around from club to club for 10 years, and eventually found himself in a position where his future was brighter coaching than out on the pitch. “There were difficult days. I got released in Belgium after six months and I was by myself. It keeps you on edge,” he said. But Adair might not be the coach he is now if not for those trying times on

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BEN WEIDLICH/ SPPS

Chugger Adair and the Hokies are currently 13-5-1 and 4-5-1 in the ACC. The Hokies defeated No. 7 Wake Forest Wednesday night 3-0. the field. After deciding to hang up his cleats, he began his coaching career where it all started: the University of San Diego — though he didn’t stay in one place for very long. Adair went on a tour of the west coast, also spending time as an assistant at the University of California at Santa Barbara, Pacific University, as well as coaching youth programs and professional women’s teams. Coaching wasn’t initially a part of Adair’s plans though, but he took every chance that presented itself and it’s taken him all the way from

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California to Tech. “There was never a point where I said, ‘I want to be a coach,’” he said. “I just continued to be around the game, and some opportunities developed that I didn’t even think would be available.” In his time spent as an assistant at Tech, Adair scouted prospects and managed, recruited and developed players. He spent five years in Blacksburg as a jack-of-all-trades, and has the complete trust and support from the players. “He knows what this program needs,” said senior

midfielder Anne Lumpkin. “He just knows how to teach us how to play soccer and not to worry about anything else that’s going on.” Adair always looks calm and collected and is one to play with his kids on the field following games and doesn’t look like he fits the mold of a no-nonsense, stern manager typically seen in soccer coaches. He’s connected with his players not only as a coach, but also at a personal level. “It’s funny because he’ll make a joke on the side and get you with a one-liner,” Goldsworthy said. “Since

we’ve (the team) created such good bonds with him, it’s easy for us to open up to each other.” Adair’s gone through the gamut to get to this level of coaching, and with him on the sidelines, the future looks bright for Tech women’s soccer. Despite all of his success, Adair still gives the credit to his players. “We (the coaches) haven’t kicked a ball, made a tackle, scored a goal or made a save,” he said. “It’s the players. They score, they do the work, they do what it takes and get the results.”

people & clubs

october 26, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

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

Band: Students make music hoping to reach stardom from page one

“I met Wesley at a party one of my first nights here,” Stitzer said. “I was playing guitar and he came out with his and we just started jamming. We clicked. After I told him I also play bass he said they were looking for a bassist for their band and that I should try out. I got in touch with them a couple days later and tried out, and that was that.” Stitzer, a freshman university studies major, proved to be more than just useful as a bassist, as he eventually led Merchants of Seven to their current drummer Ryan Cunningham. “They were looking for a drummer as well and Ryan lives down the hall from me in Slusher,” Stitzer said. “I heard him — he actually has a miniature drum kit in his dorm — so I talked to him and asked if he’d be interested in trying out.” With the addition of Stitzer and Cunningham, Merchants of Seven was back to being a full band. Fox and Patrick then had to bring the new members up to speed on their songs. “I wanted to make sure that the transition between him and me (the previous bassist) was as smooth as possible,” Stitzer said. “I’d often ask ‘Is this how your old bassist played? How would you like me to play this?’ They’ve given me a lot of feedback on that and it’s really helpful getting up to speed with their repertoire.” The band tries to rehearse as often as possible to ensure it

is clicking and staying on the same page. “We’re all busy and working, so we practice when we can and try to get together as often as possible, but sometimes things don’t work out,” Stitzer said. Their hectic schedules keep them from having any set rehearsal times or procedures, so they instead focus on the material they feel needs the most improvement at a given time. “If one of us thinks we need to work on something, we pretty much go with that,” Stitzer said. “Other than that, it’s whatever we really feel like doing or whoever is on which instrument.” Fox and Patrick are the primary songwriters for the group, though Stitzer contributes as well. They have a sort of democracy for composing songs, where feedback of the other members is incorporated, but the person with the original idea has ultimate creative control. “It starts with an idea and where the writer wants it to go, and we just bounce ideas back and forth off each other,” Patrick said. Merchants of Seven is in the process of re-recording and tweaking 11 songs to go on their self-titled debut. The band is hoping to have the album finished by Thanksgiving. The group already has some material written for a subsequent album that it hopes to get recorded in the spring semester. It also has an acoustic EP in the works to be

BEN WEIDLICH/ SPPS

Ian Patrick and Nick Macioce participate in a jam session, ensuring quality sound to satisfy audience members at their future shows. released later this semester. Merchants of Seven has an upcoming show at the Coffee Pot in Roanoke on Nov. 2. The band is also planning for two more shows in November. Updates on concerts and music can be found on the band’s Facebook page. “We will keep everyone posted about the album coming out, any new songs, the acoustic EP, music videos, concerts, shirts, all that stuff,” Fox said. The band has finally reached

a stable and comfortable lineup as it progresses toward the future, though getting there was a struggle. “It is just finding talented committed people who have the same vision that we do,” Fox said. “That’s probably the biggest challenge.” The band has relied on the help of friends and acquaintances to help them overcome other challenges, from getting a PA system half off to getting the band portraits done. “I think it’s incredibly

important, for a band like us who are kind of just getting on our feet at this point, to have someone take pictures for us or help us make shirts or help us get shows,” Stitzer said. “The small things like that really do make a difference.” Merchants of Seven is a focused group of individuals that has grand visions and dreams for the future of the band. For Patrick, it’s the idea of being world famous rock stars; for Fox, it’s Grammys;

and for Stitzer, it’s action figures. “Obviously that’s probably not going to happen, but it would be nice to make a living off music and not have to go into what we are majoring in,” Fox said. Obstacles will continue to arise as the band moves forward, but it feels it is ready to take them on in pursuit of its dreams. “You do what you have to do,” Stitzer said. “It really is all about the music.”

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opinions

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

october 26, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

The Collegiate Times is an independent studentrun 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 NoePayne, Victoria Zigadlo News Reporters: Priscilla Alvarez, Dean Seal, Cameron Austin, Donal Murphy 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 Photo Editor: Kevin Dickel Sports Editors: Matt Jones, Zach Mariner Special Sections Editors: Cody Elliot, Danielle Buynak Copy Chief: Nora McGann Copy Editors: Allison Hedrick, Kristin Gunter Collegiate Times Business Staff Business Manager: Ryan Francis Circulation Manager: Travis Neale Student Publications Photo Staff Director of Photography: Brad Klodowski MCT CAMPUS

Necessary change Dining plans deceive students comes to Citigroup A T

he most important piece of business news over the past couple weeks was released when Citigroup’s CEO, Vikram Pandit, suddenly declared he was stepping down and leaving the company. This move came as a shock to onlookers, and even Citi employees. The only people not surprised were the company’s board members. Pandit was instated as CEO on Dec. 11, 2007 amidst both the economy’s and Citigroup’s spiraling recession at that time. As it turned out, he was no stranger to criticism throughout his tenure. Recently, according to Forbes.com, former FDIC chair Sheila Bair wrote in her new book she doubted Pandit’s abilities when being named CEO, stating, “I thought Pandit had been a poor choice.” Bottom line — it was determined by Citi board members that Pandit was no longer the person this company needed to encourage improvement within the organization. Enter Michael Corbat. The announcement was made last Tuesday, October 16 that Corbat will be the new CEO of Citigroup, amassing the responsibility and expectations of future growth on his shoulders. According to the Citigroup website, Corbat had most recently been positioned as CEO of European, Middle Eastern and African operations. Before that, he had been CEO of Citi Holdings, overseeing the divestiture of many of Citi’s subsidiary businesses. In evaluating an individual for the position of CEO for one of the top Fortune 500 companies, many qualities must be taken into consideration. To keep it simple however, there are two questions I’ll address concerning Michael Corbat. The fi rst being — does he have the intellect and the experience for the job? The answer is yes. A Harvard alumnus with a degree in economics, he understands wealth management, risk management, global markets and the finer points regarding the different categories of banking (investment, corporate, consumer etc.), all of which are integral aspects of Citigroup’s business operations. He experienced these business features through almost 30 years of employ-

ment with Citi and its predecessors. The second and more important question is whether is he characteristically right for the job, but the answer for this isn’t as simple. It’s clear that in order to stay competitive, Citigroup will need to change the way it conducts business. To facilitate this transformation, Corbat will not only need to be adaptive, but able to foresee valuable business opportunities. This was Pandit’s greatest fault. He reacted more than he predicted. As a result, Citi is lagging behind other banks in the refi nancing market, which as a result of low interest rates, is booming. Citi was late to the party and Pandit was the traffic jam. In the debate of whether to elect someone from within the organization with many years of experience, like Corbat, or a relative outsider, like Pandit was, Citi has made the right choice. The fact Corbat has been part of this company for so long will greatly benefit the efficiency and quality of his work. This is because he will already know the people he is working with along with the specific processes involved in decision making that are unique to Citigroup. The broad effect of Citigroup’s business actions, and therefore its importance, is based on the same principle that caused all banks to be hit as hard as they were by the market crash. There is a network that connects all major banks. They lend to each other, borrow from each other and invest with each other. This means that even if you aren’t a direct client of Citi, you are affected in some way by its decisions. As far as this particular decision to alter management, Citigroup has done well. It is making the necessary steps to better its situation, and that alone indicates promise. Plus, the candidate it elected was a strong choice. As is true, though, with many aspects of business, time will be the telling factor of just how strong a choice it was.

DAVID LEVITT -regular columnist -junior -ﬁnance

s we approach the end of October, many students are also approaching the end of their dining plan balances. Though this may have a lot to do with insatiable appetites and DX, the campus Flex Plan system is a major culprit. Specifically, the way dining services calculates the balances and advertises prices is very deceptive. Rather than consider the whole dining fee as the available balance and simply charge the regular prices on food, Virginia Tech has devised a clever system of dividing the Flex Plan cost. According to the Dining Services website, “All Flex Plans have a base cost of $894 and a balance of Flex Dollars.” However, the balance for any of the Flex Plans is at least $180 less than the base cost (the Premium Plan offers a balance of $714). This means even the 50 percent discount on food at the a la carte facilities does not fully compensate for our Flex Plan costs. In other words, the discount is just a gimmick; we are not getting real savings. Every time students buy food anywhere other than D2 — where you receive at least a 67 percent discount on food — we lose money we thought we were

saving. One famous example is the lobster at West End. When students see the listed price as $30 they shirk away. But occasionally there will be a sign touting the discounted price of $15, giving the impression of real savings. Unfortunately, students paying with their Flex Dollars in effect pay more than $30, since the 50 percent discount does not compensate for the difference between the base cost of the Flex Plan and our balance. But the problem is more insidious than simply paying more for food we thought was actually discounted. It’s a matter of false advertising, which has psychological effects on students’ eating habits on campus. When students want to a buy a cheeseburger and fries, a steal at around $3.50 after the discount, they are more likely to buy this combination of food. They eat unhealthy snack foods despite high prices. I can personally attest to the psychological effects of the 50 percent discount lies. Since freshman year, the deceptively low discounted prices of food at DX gave me an excuse to go there about every other day. The

draw of DX prices is still too much to bear. So what can be changed to solve the problem? First of all, dining services should drop this ridiculous concept of a “base cost.” When a normal restaurant charges a certain price for food, it does not differentiate between a base cost to cover “utilities, maintenance, repairs, mortgage payments, and the labor…” (the words used by dining services’ website). Guests pay one price covering every cost to the restaurant and that may lead to some profit. Second, the guise of a 50 percent discount should be dropped. It is deceptive. It gives the false impression that food is actually cheap on campus. Most importantly, it would be unnecessary if the balance on Flex Plans could simply be made equal to the total cost of the plan. Until changes are made to the Flex Plan system, students will continue to eat unholy amounts of food on campus. But Tech’s Dining Services will have a stain on its conscience.

HECTOR QUESADA -regular columnist -junior -political science

Beamer upholds reputation R

egarding recent sentiments held by many students around campus about our current coaching staff and whether we should “clean house,” I support the stance that this is a horrible idea. However sensible it may sound to get rid of head coach Frank Beamer and replace him with a new coach and staff who don’t call stupid plays and not give certain players time on the field, the continuity Virginia Tech has held for the past 25 years would all wash down the drain. If you ask me, continuity is a good thing; currently Beamer is the winningest active coach in college football. Beamer’s tenure here at Tech has overall been a good one, with benefits seen by Tech both on and off the field. Since Beamer has been here, we have seen Tech’s academic rankings skyrocket largely in part of the football team’s success. Not only has Tech seen upward trends in the college rankings, the New River Valley has become one of the fastest growing regions in Virginia, with not only the growth of Tech, but Blacksburg and the surrounding region, with the football program’s success as an indirect result.

A crucial part of Tech’s reputation nationwide is the football program, which we cannot afford to compromise by taking a measure as drastic as firing Beamer and all his staff. This would leave us in shambles for a few seasons, in attempts to “rebuild” an already aboveaverage program. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. One thing that has really aggravated me with this talk around Blacksburg to let go of Beamer is our reasoning behind doing so. Tech has had nothing but a tradition of integrity and honesty in a college football program. These are traits that are often hard to come by; and we are ready to fire our beloved head coach after a few rough seasons. On the other side of the spectrum, Joe Paterno covered up child abuse at Penn State because he prioritized the reputation of a storied football program over the welfare of at-risk youths. What this says to me is that we need to prioritize, and take a step back and look at what we are really saying here, that we want to fire one of the most well-revered, honest football coaches in the NCAA over a few seasons when we didn’t do

as well as we wanted to? That is what I call lazy fans, those who only want to pull for a team when they are doing well, and not be there through thick and thin like the Hokie Nation is said to epitomize. “Strong Together”, not “Strong Sometimes” or “Strong only when we’re winning.” The contempt and vitriol that seeps in to our opinions on players sickens me. The attitude and shortsightedness we have with our program and its administration should not reflect on the players who are playing their hardest on the field. Many “fans” on websites make remarks about how “bad” our players are, when oftentimes a few dumb decisions made by the staff are to blame. As a community of what I would like to assume as rational, educated individuals here at Tech, let’s not be rash and act on our emotions only to do something we would regret later in the future, because I can guarantee you almost any program would take a great coach like Frank Beamer. ANDREW WIMBISH -regular columnist -junior -English

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, 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.

october 26, 2012

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Week ending October 26, 2012

By Barry C. Silk

ACROSS 1 Party leader 5 ___ Sea, off Siberia 9 Short-necked European fruit 14 Neutralizer of a sort 16 Theater name 17 Ben Franklin, e.g. 18 City on the Aar 19 Solutions for unfair situations? 20 Not so tough 21 Modern address 22 “1-2-3” singer Barry

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10/26/12 23 Tracker or Canyon 24 Fifth-century date 25 Haberdashery item 27 Brand for which Garfield was once spokescat 28 Patricia Neal’s Oscar film 29 Fountain output 30 They fall in war films 33 One may go over your head 35 Space-saving display

38 Brothers 42 Lucy of “Kill Bill” 43 Body protector 44 Worn out 46 Gives a thumbsup 47 Antiquity, quaintly 48 Old televangelism letters 49 Burden 50 Adjust at the garage, perhaps 52 Composer for whom an annual violin competition is named

27 “As You Like It” forest 31 Secret rival 32 “O Fortuna” composer 34 Agreed 35 Wedding arranger? 36 Perfectly restored 37 Stark 39 Attendants

40 Done 41 Many Suffragette opponents 45 Half a legendary bluegrass duo 48 Advisory group 51 Press 52 Minute opening 53 First name in linguistics 55 Co. heads

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sports

october 26, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

Men’s soccer faces Duke with tournament on the line At 6-7-3 and 0-5-1 in conference, the Hokies have plenty to play for at Thompson Field on Saturday. DAVID COOPER sports staff writer

The Virginia Tech men’s soccer team will be hosting Duke University at Thompson Field Saturday at 7 p.m. The Hokies enter their final home game of the 2012 season with a 6-7-3 record and a 0-5-1 record in conference, while the Blue Devils find themselves entering Saturday with a 6-7-1 record and a 2-4-1 record in conference. This ACC game is crucial for both teams, as the season is winding down and the conference tournament is looming. “We’re in the same position,” said Kyle Renfro, goalkeeper. “We both really need some ACC points so we can get out of that play-in game.” In the ACC conference tournament, the bottom two teams are placed in a play-in game with the winner then taking on the No. 1 seed the following day. At this point in the season, the No. 1 seed will most likely be the Maryland Terrapins, who are widely considered as the best team in the country. The Hokies would find themselves in that play-in game should the tournament start today and will most likely need to win both of their final two conferences games to get out of it. Luckily for the Hokies, their last two conference games are very winnable. This Saturday’s game against Duke will be the Hokies best opportunity out of the two to gain their

first conference win, as Duke is coming off a fourgame home stand where it won two and lost two. The Hokies, meanwhile, are coming off a stretch of tough losses to the North Carolina State Wolfpack and the Virginia Cavaliers — where the Hokies blew a two-goal lead to lose in overtime. The Hokies have also gone into overtime in three of their last five games, making fatigue a serious factor, especially when taking into account the unusual number of injuries the Hokies have suffered through this season.

“

...The key thing is to stay mentally sharp and focused throughout the whole game. Kyle Renfro goalkeeper

“I know the field players get a little bit tired, but the key thing is to stay mentally sharp and focused throughout the whole game,” Renfro said. Amongst all the adversity the Hokies have faced this season, they still have managed to accumulate the most wins they have had since 2007. A key to the Hokies’ success has been winning at home, where they have picked up four of their six wins. Tech’s other two wins have come on neutral sites, meaning the Hokies have yet to win a game on the road this

season. A major reason for the Hokies road struggles has been due to a lack of offensive performance. They have managed to score just two goals on the road this season, both of which came in the same game. Those offensive woes have been the story of the season, and in four of their last five games, Tech ha s scored one goal or less. Hokies coach Mike Brizendine knows the game on Saturday will be a big challenge for his young team, but believes Duke is having the same problem with scoring. “I think they’ve had some similar issues as us in regard to scoring,” Brizendine said. “I think it’s going to be a hardfought match.” In addition to this game being a very important ACC contest for both teams, the Hokies will be honoring t heir lone senior, David Fiorello, for his last home game as a Hokie. Fiorello has been a team captain for the last three seasons and has been a key contributor during his time at Tech. “I’ll miss him,” Brizendine said. “Not just the player part, but what he brings to the table as a person. You just can’t have enough of those guys.” Fiorello and his teammates will be doing everything they can to find a way to get one last victory in front of the home crowd, it what is sure to be an emotional night. “It’s going to be bittersweet but I think I am ready to move on to the TREVOR WHITE / SPPS next stage in life,” Fiorello David Fiorello and the Hokies play host to Duke on senior night at Thompson Field Saturday at 7 p.m. said.

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Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Make time for love, despite possible confrontations. Listening with special attention pays dividends. You’re entering a very busy phase. Bath or shower meditations generate brilliance.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) You’re very attractive now, and extra brilliant. Others ask your advice. Invest in communications infrastructure. Add some relaxation to the equation. Write, record and get it down.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) It’s a time of introspection. Have your partner represent you. It’s hard to decide what to buy, and what to put on hold for later. Focus on long-range goals, and don’t stress. Not worth it.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Make up a wish list for the perfect romance and watch love blossom, with some help from your friends. You may as well pop the question, today or tomorrow. Share feelings.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Make money while you can, but don’t lose your passion in that focus. There are so many other things to celebrate and experience. Doing what you love increases interest and money.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) You can easily do two things at once, but watch out for toes you don’t want to step on (especially those of a loved one). Moderate a clash between normally gentle souls.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Opposites attract, even now. The action is behind the scenes. It’s a good day to ile away papers and get the household in order. Enjoy the results.

Aries (Mar. 21-April 19) Speak from the heart. You can get whatever you stand for, even if romantic issues challenge. You’re stronger for the next two days. Make plans that generate income.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Make sure you know what’s required to get the job done. Consult a female expert, and listen to new ideas. Stand outside the controversy as much as possible for the next two days.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) You’re full of wild and crazy ideas, and some of them might work, but when it comes to romance, not right this second. Present your thoughts with compassion. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) You may hit a bump in the tunnel of love. Don’t worry, you’ve got the words. Compromise is required. There’s room for inancial improvement, too. Keep in action. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Postpone a romantic moment, for just a little bit. Let somebody else take care of you for the next two days. Learn to take risks from interesting people. Music enhances mental focus.

Healthy relationships are comprised of people that will listen to each other and respect each other in a non-judgemental way. The last thing anyone needs is a disrespectful partner who will belittle them and not consider their feelings. Life isn't always easy and we all need positive support from time to time. Support each other and help each other through any issues that either of you are having. In order to really respect and support someone, you need to have a foundation of trust. Trust is earned over time. Be honest. While manipulation might help you get what you want in the short term, in the grand scheme of things, you are just creating resentment, distrust and disrepect. LOVEADVICEFORUM.COM

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halloween

october 26, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

Haunted house underwhelms aiting in line at St. Albans Sanatorium, chills ran up my spine. Maybe it was the cool, crisp night air or perhaps it was the piercing screams. Located in Radford, the sanatorium is perched on top of a hill, glaring down as visitors walk up the driveway. The run-down brick building is swarming with weeds and vines, making it seem as though it came straight from a horror movie. According to the website, St. Albans was built in 1892 and was originally an all boys school until 1916, when it was converted into a sanatorium for the mentally ill. The sanatorium had been abandoned since the 1980s before being transformed into a haunted house attraction last year. Although it has recently opened to the public, many paranormal investigators have visited the site calling it a hotspot for paranormal activity. For the season surrounding Halloween, St. Albans opens as a “Scream-ATorium,” offering two different haunted houses. Visitors have the option to buy two tickets at $10 each and walk through both houses or choose between the “Reign of Terrors” and the “Carnival of Cadavers.” Both are said to be equally frightening but the “Reign of Terrors” is zombie themed, while the “Carnival of Cadavers” is clown themed. Being especially terrified of clowns, I chose to walk the “Carnival of Cadavers.” Waiting in the courtyard of the old insane asylum was eerie. The building itself was creepy enough, but there were also actors as mental patients dressed in bloody costumes, laughing hysterically and trying to scare

everyone in line. Not only that, but the screams from inside the asylum could even be heard from the back of the line. The atmosphere waiting outside the haunted house put everyone on edge and made us all hyped to go in. After a 30-minute wait, my group was finally next. We were prepped on the background information of St. Albans and also given instructions on what to do if we wanted to get out. I was jumping out of my skin to get in, so I lead the way for my friends. Of course there were clowns jumping out at every corner, which was scary, but I was pretty underwhelmed with the decorations. I guess it was scary enough to be in an old mental hospital, but I didn’t think that the actual costumes and decorations were all that frightening. Nothing was intricate and at times it felt like they forgot to jump out or forgot to add something terrifying to the room. If you are easily scared then St. Albans will definitely scare the pants off you. But if you are not easily frightened, it’s not something that will get your heart racing. That being said, I think it was definitely worth the $10 to walk through the supposedly haunted sanatorium. Being an old mental hospital, it was creepy, especially if you’ve seen movies like “Shutter Island.” The anticipation built in the courtyard didn’t measure up to the actual delivery of the haunted house, but my expectations were very high due to the nature of the location. Many people seemed genuinely freaked out after walking through, but personally, it wasn’t enough to get me screaming and shaking.

featureseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865

Props awaken imagination

BY MADELEINE GORDON | features staff writer

editors: emma goddard, nick smirniotopoulos

BY CHELSEA GILES | features staff writer

he thrill is worth the wait in line at the Gallows Foundry of Fear haunted house. Considering this year is the first the house has been organized, I was suprised our group waited about 45 minutes before entering. However, there were food and drink vendors, as well as vintage scary movies playing on an outdoor screen to keep us entertained. Some of the haunted characters from the house were also wandering in and out of the line eating our kettle corn and handing out candy. As our group finally prepared to enter, we were questioned about any phobias we had; we each looked at each other and realized that we were actually scared to go in. Before entering the maze, each visitor is warned by a girl wallowing on the f loor yelling a warning not to enter. They are then marked with a bloody “x” either on the hand or forehead. The haunt is a dark maze intricately designed with various rooms of gory and disturbing scenes with live actors, who chase you around and reach out to your group with bloody hands. I was somewhat disappointed to have to pay $2 to park then another $12 for a ticket, but once I was inside, I appreciated what my money was going toward.

The haunted house did not spare a dime on costumes, lights or set designs. There was a mix of classic scare themes such as creepy clowns, an operation room with a mentally disturbed doctor, and halfhuman, half-animal creatures creeping behind you from the darkness. There were also men with chainsaws dispersing your group in a room of bloodied sheets, prisoners chained to walls, limbs hanging from ropes in the walkway, a family wanting to cook their guests and much more. The entire walk-through lasted about 20 minutes, which is a long time compared to most haunted houses. Once it was over, I was left wishing I had not been so scared to rush through it so I could have observed how detailed each haunted scene was. On its website, it is highly advised not to bring children, and I exited as an advocate of the warning. Though I think the actors were even more intense with our group because we were talking back to them and interacting as much as we dared, the setting overall is terrifying and violent. I highly recommend anyone looking for a frightful Halloween weekend read the storyline of the house on its website then venture over to Christiansburg. Gallows Foundry of Fear is located at 137 Warren Street NW.

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he she

people & clubs

october 26, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

SAID Halloween

ALICIA TILLMAN / COLLEGIATE TIMES

He said: Work with creative costumes She said: Keep it casual, recognizable I’m not a huge fan of Halloween. Ever since I became too tall and neighborhood adults started making cynical comments and being misers with their candy, some of the magic of this scary day wore off. However, after a few years of college, I see I am in a small and shrinking minority. College students treat Halloween with awe-inspiring reverence normally reserved for religious events and Hokie football. Weeks are spent picking the best costume, arranging plans for which parties to attend and contemplating how much skin you can show before being charged with public indecency. Last year when temperatures dropped below freezing, the bitterness was almost palpable — at least until around 11 o’clock when no one really seemed to care anymore. Th is year, the weather is promising to be far better, and folks on campus and beyond are in full swing of costume preparation. Chatter concerning the subject can be heard all over. Should I be a witch again? Are bunny costumes cliche? Pants — how neces-

sary are they? These are the concerns of our generation. Although I claim to be no expert on the subject, I have been considering different, fun costumes ideas for the past few days, jotting down notes and creepily giggling to myself in public. So if you’re currently about to break down in an anxiety attack because you can’t choose between being Petey the Pirate or Scuba Steve, take heart because you now have fallbacks. Logan Thomas: Go invest in a number three jersey, acquire some stilts and you’re good to go. White pants are fine but if you go full pads more power to you. Kanye West: You can dress up in shades and a leather jacket if you want, but this one is more about attitude. Constantly compliment yourself, refer to yourself as Mr. West in the third person and interrupt people whenever possible. Ke$ha: This one isn’t that creative and is probably on the verge of being overdone, but the concept of a major music artist spelling their name with a dollar sign is hilarious. To get this costume down, just

don’t sleep or shower for a few days. German Club program salesman: Super easy. Dress business casual and rock some free Virginia Tech shades. Say “$5” over and over again while carrying around a week-old program. Hipster: Go to any vintage clothing store aka Goodwill, or just wear stuff that was popular in the ‘70s. Ride a fi xie — a fi xed-gear bicycle — listen to some vinyl records and write a blog filled with self-angst. Be warned however; if you choose to dress too cool for school, you probably shouldn’t attend any Halloween bashes — way too mainstream. So if you are struggling to decide on your Halloween wardrobe, found my ideas ridiculously clever (or you actually are Logan Thomas), you should consider trying out one of these. Or you can use one as a last resort, either or. JAMES HARRIS - featured columnist - senior - history major

As an English major, exsorority girl, media junkie and amateur Martha Stewart, there are very few things I love more than donning a costume and pretending to be someone I’m not. Halloween is my magical ball. Between a decisive lack of shame and tendency toward over-planning, my October escapades are, to say the least, eccentric and over the top. As much as I love Halloween however, I’m grateful this one will be my last as an undergraduate. For a supposedly collegeeducated bunch, Virginia Tech, you happen to turn into absolute buffoons once you’re three sheets to the wind — a trait I’m definitely not fond of when I’ve spent months hot-gluing and hand-stitching my wittiest outfit. I’ll never recover from the episode freshman year when I handmade an “Easy A” costume from items I had found at Goodwill, only to spend the entire weekend trying to explain to frat boys dressed as

nerds what the movie was about. I think I should have known better than to expect to have drunken conversations about the societal prevalence of shaming and demoralizing women’s sexuality, but hey, I was younger then — more hopeful. After the first night of blank stares and torturous small talk, I simplified my costume tag line. “I’m Hester Prynne,” I told the “Love Doctor” I was talking to at my next party. “You know, from ‘The Scarlet Letter!’” I think I actually witnessed his eyes glaze over mid-sentence. He told me he had to get another beer, and it was at that moment that I felt perhaps more poignantly than ever, that I was a lit major at an engineering school. The next year, I decided to go with a ringer costume: Hello Kitty. This costume was sweet, recognizable and had relatively little politically charged commentary involved.

It seemed perfect. That is, until I spent the weekend fielding misguided compliments about how cute my Minnie Mouse costume was. This year, I’ve effectively given up on the idea of picking out a costume that will amuse both my woefully ignorant peers and me. So I’m practicing my nasty, superior snarl and dressing up as the TARDIS to my boyfriend’s David Tennant version of “Doctor Who.” I plan to avoid the big parties, stick with my equally weird partner and bring a fun flask to share with my fellow Whovians who actually recognize who I am. Oh, and talk in a fake British accent all night — haven’t told the Doctor that part yet. Maybe there’s hope for this Halloween yet. VICTORIA ZIGADLO - news editor - senior - English major

sports

october 26, 2012 COLLEGIATE TIMES

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

Dual perspectives: Super Bowl picks Who is the favorite to win the Super Bowl seven weeks into the season? That’s completely up in the air, so we had two of our staff writers pick their team to win it all.

MCT CAMPUS

Jay Cutler and the Chicago Bears are coming off a big Monday night win over the Detroit Lions. Many think they will make a playoff run.

Cutler, Bears have all the ingredients

Unbeaten Falcons could make run

icking a potential Super Bowl winner seven weeks into the NFL season is not really intelligent. Let’s be honest; out of all the professional leagues in the U.S., the NFL is the one in which the team perceived to be the best at the end of the season ends up losing in the playoffs (see Patriots vs. Giants rounds one and two). So even though it’s almost pointless, I think it’s time to make the oh-so-bold prediction. I think that you have to look for a sleeper pick the pundits aren’t looking at currently; a talented team lurking to show its true potential. That’s why I have to go with the one team everyone is sleeping on: the Cleveland Browns. Just kidding. It may be hard to choose, but there are some teams that have pulled away from the group. The Falcons, Giants, Bears, 49ers and Texans have all made some noise during the first half of the season. The Packers, Patriots, Ravens and Broncos are all lurking in shadows of that first group of teams, waiting to show their stuff. Atlanta may be undefeated, but let’s be honest; Matt Ryan has never won a playoff game, Michael Turner is the example of a running back who’s has carried the ball too much over a short period of time, and its defense is inconsistent (it almost lost to both the Panthers and the Raiders). The holes in all of the “lurking” teams (like New England’s pass defense and Denver’s everything other than Peyton Manning) will inevitably scratch them off the list. The Texans are at a disadvantage because the NFC has been a far and away better

conference this season, and Houston showed that by losing to Green Bay by almost 20. The team that will win the big one has to have a great defense and at least a competent quarterback (sorry San Francisco). That’s why I have to pick the Chicago Bears. They have a devastatingly good defense, which can make any offense one-dimensional (by shutting down the run), an awesome dual headed monster at tailback in the explosive Matt Forte and gritty Michael Bush, and a quarterback-to-receiver combination in Jay Cutler to Brandon Marshall which may be the best in the league. Sure their line may look like Swiss cheese at times, and Cutler always looks like he is one more sack away from committing a double homicide, but they have all the ability in the world to not only win in the regular season, but also in the playoffs. Combining a running game, defense, dangerous quarterback and a dangerous kick returner (Devin Hester), the Bears have the chance to bring it come January. Of course Cutler may get hurt again and this prediction could look dumb in a matter of weeks…but I’m willing to risk it. So in this election season, I am casting my ballot for Cutler/Urlacher 2012. At the very least an explosive pick, if not a correct one. BRIAN MARCOLINI -sports staff writer -senior -communication major

n sports, the best teams don’t always come out on top. It’s not a new topic, but it’s one worth mentioning. The New York Giants won Super Bowl XLVI with the worst winning percentage of all NFC playoff teams;Likewise, the St. Louis Cardinals, last year’s world series’ champions, had the fewest wins of all playoff teams. Whether it be momentum going into the postseason or the fact that the teams have less pressure on them because they are “playing with the house’s chips,” history has a long track record of the least-deserving team getting the victory. Because of this, it is extremely difficult to predict a future Super Bowl champion but since it’s fun, let’s do it anyway. This early in the season it would be easy to pick any one of 15 teams and make a case for them, but to narrow it down let’s establish guidelines for what makes a Super Bowl team successful. Maybe you’ve heard defense wins championship — throw that idea out the window. Since the Steelers won the Super Bowl following the 2005 season, four of the six champions ranked in the bottom half of the league for total team defense. The other side of the ball, offense, is a better indicator of success. In those same six years, the total team offenses of the Super Bowl champions ranked: 2, 14, 20, 1, 10, and 9. While every team in the league is still mathematically capable of making the playoffs, and therefore winning the Super Bowl, the majority of them don’t have a legitimate chance purely because of the guy taking snaps. Someone with the last name Manning, Rodgers, Brees, Roethlisberger, or Brady under center has won the previous nine Super Bowls. To win the Super Bowl you need a defense, but

not really. An overpowering offense is needed, sometimes. Having an established QB — one with the ability to take over games when his teammates are struggling — will lead to much more success his team in the big game. So, using my complex formula of success, who comes out on top? Well, that would be the Atlanta Falcons, the sole remaining undefeated team in the league. I concede I’m picking the easy team, but not for the easy reasons. They finish their season in Detroit, and then home against the Bucs — two probable wins. Finishing the season with momentum? Check. Their play-caller is on the precipice of elite. Yes, I’m aware of the fact that he’s had more than his fair share of postseason woes, but so did the now-undisputedly elite Eli Manning before he won his first ring. Every top QB broke through at some point and this is Ryan’s year to do so. Finally overcoming his playoff troubles will elevate Ryan to the top-tier of quarterbacks in the league. Big name QB? Check. It’s October 26. The Super Bowl is 101 days away. Anything can happen in that time, and at this point anyone’s predictions can be justified. However, it doesn’t get better than a top-ten offense and defense, a top-ten quarterback to bail them out when they are struggling, and a schedule that allows for them to gain momentum for when it counts. JACOB EMERT -sports staff writer -sophomore -history major