Thursday, November 15, 2012 Print Edition by Collegiate Times

Thursday, November 15, 2012 An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 www.collegiatetimes.com

COLLEGIATETIMES 109th year, issue 47 News, page 2

Weekend, page 5

Opinions, page 3

Study Break, page 4

Developers seek agreement on vacant lot The site of the old Blacksburg Middle School remains empty as Blacksburg Town Council negotiates plans for a mixed-use development in downtown

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BY JUSTIN GRAVES| news reporter

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Mike’s Grill owner leaves a legacy

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see SITE / page two

An 11.6-acre vacancy in Downtown Blacksburg is one step closer to development, following a pivotal meeting last Tuesday. The site of the old Blacksburg Middle School has remained unoccupied for nearly a decade. In that time, developers have approached Blacksburg Town Council with proposals for a redevelopment of the site. Much to the dismay of Montgomery County officials, the Council has remained hesitant to accept any projects too hastily. The area is zoned by the Town of Blacksburg, but the land is owned by the county, which has

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been eager to sell the land because of a deficit in its school budget that could be greatly assisted by the sale of the property. Despite this pressure from the county, the town has refrained from relinquishing zoning rights, holding out for an ideal project. On Oct. 30, Jim Cowan of Fiddler’s Green Partners of Blacksburg, as well as Michael Fite of the Ohio-based Continental Real Estate Cos., offered a new presentation to the town. Their vision was to create a community of buildings with different purposes: an office space for the headquarters of advertising agency Modea; the open cloud company Rackspace; a hotel; two restaurants; and an outdoor dining plaza, which would run alongside Main Street. Three two-

DEAN SEAL

story parking decks and townhouses are planned for the Clay Street side, with 1,700 total parking spaces. They also laid out plans for a medical office building to be constructed, along with a two-story fitness center and an apartment complex residing in the middle of the area. A four-acre public park, dubbed “The Dell,” was also intended to buffer neighboring residential areas from the activity in the development. The developers were ready to spend as much as $85 million on the venture. The proposal caught flak from town council members who wanted more low-income housing for senior citizens and believed the planned development was inappropriately geared toward student residents. Some members also expressed disapproval with the site’s parking plan, and said the development didn’t fit with the surrounding neighborhoods.

ANDREA LEDESMA/ COLLEGIATETIMES

The 11.6 acre site between Clay St and Eheart St.

Big Al’s Grille and Sport’s Bar on the market

The family-owned downtown bar and restaurant in the same building is for sale for $3.5 million DONAL MURPHY COURTESY OF VARELOS Mike Varelos and his children, Nick Varelos and Elaine Golusky, pose in their popular downtown restaurant, Mike’s Grill, where he continued to work regularly until his recent death.

Beloved owner of hamburger joint Mike’s Grill, Mike Varelos, dies at 77

ichael Nicholas Varelos wasn’t well-known in Blacksburg for his name or face, but instead for his

burgers. Varelos is the namesake of Mike’s Grill, a downtown restaurant that opened its doors in the late ‘70s and has been a Blacksburg staple ever since; he passed away unexpectedly Monday at the age of 77. The restaurant, now staffed by his daughter Elaine Golusky and son Nick Varelos, has been closed this week in honor of Mike Varelos’ memory, who came to America in the late ‘50s as a Greek immigrant. “When my dad came here, he was the low man on the totem pole,” Nick Varelos said of his father. “He didn’t know a lick of English. But here in Blacksburg, he really became someone that people knew and (continue to) know.” Varelos remembered how his dad told him stories about finding his niche. He was good with food and with taste. Eventually, Mike worked his way up because of his vision. “He didn’t want to work for someone else. He wanted his own place and to be able to do what he wanted to do,” Nick Varelos said. “I feel like he just embraced the fact that if you want something bad enough, you can make it happen. You just have to be willing to put in the hard work, time and effort that it takes.” Mike Varelos opened some dining establishments in Roanoke before coming to Blacksburg. When he opened Mike’s Grill, he concocted the special “magic” spice that still graces the burgers to this day. It’s a secret recipe known only to those in the family. “He led a great life and a great legacy,” Golusky said. “He knew (Blacksburg) was a great place to be. He had business sense like no one I know.” Part of that business sense was customer service. “He reminded every staff member to say

KEVIN DICKEL/ SPPS

Mike’s Grill has a wreath on the door and will be closed for a few weeks in memory of the owner.

Memorial Information Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. today, in the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Roanoke. In lieu of ﬂowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 30 Huntington Blvd., Roanoke thank you to our customers for coming in,” Nick Varelos said. “They didn’t just happen to end up here. They wanted to come here.” Mike Varelos was known for his accent and his warm demeanor. “He was bigger than life. When he walked into a room, if you didn’t know his face you definitely recognized his voice,” Golusky said. “He had a unique way about him ... People loved to ask him to say things again in his own special way.” Tech students and Blacksburg community members have frequented the restaurant for almost 30 years, and the news of Mike Varelos’ death have left alumni and community members reflecting on the commu-

nity he created. Ed Devine, a senior biological science major, has worked at Mike’s Grill in recent months. “There is one word for working at that place, and that place is family,” Devine said. “I spent the summer working there and everyone was so supportive. The Varelos’ really worked to make Mike’s a welcoming, friendly place.” Alumni from years past frequent Mike’s Grill, and it’s not rare to have a line forming outside of the restaurant on game-day weekends. see MIKE / page two

news reporter

Two of Blacksburg’s iconic Main Street businesses have gone up for sale. Big Al’s Grille and Sport’s Bar and Poor Billy’s Seafood Restaurant, as well as the building of 201 N Main St., have been put on the market. The building and businesses are being listed by the firm Drucker and Falk Real Estate at a current price of $3.5 million. Further details of the listing remain confidential. Originally opening with Big Al’s Hair Salon on the first f loor, the building and businesses have been run by the Edwards family since 1977. Led by ‘Big’ Al and his wife Shirl, as well as their daughter Julie and son Billy, it has remained a family business for the duration. Big Al’s Sports Bar was not introduced until 1998, aimed at sports enthusiasts and increasing business by also selling alcoholic beverages such as the “Trash Can,” their Long Island iced tea and a variety of foods. In 2000, the hair salon was closed and replaced with Poor Billy’s Seafood, an idea from its namesake, Billy Edwards. It was aimed at more upscale clientele, selling sushi and tapas, as well as including an outdoor patio. When the business proved to be successful, the Edwards family opened Poor Billy’s Sushi behind the Main Street building in order to accommodate larger crowds. Whether this additional building will be included in the sale is still uncertain. The reasons for the Edwards family’s attempt to sell the buildings and businesses are still not known, but regulars to Poor Billy’s and Big Al’s should be ready for change. Follow the writer on Twitter: @Hokie Realist

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news

november 15, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

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

Site: Meeting addresses concerns

upcoming events Thursday, Nov. 15

Chalk Talks: 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. D2. Virginia Tech Men’s Basketball Coach James Johnson or his assistant coaches share strategies for the next big game during lunch. Giveaways at each session may include T-shirts, autographed basketballs, and student tickets. This session discusses strategies for the Virginia Military Institute game. Study Abroad Egypt Information Session: 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Cowgill Hall,

400. The College of Architecture and Urban Studies at Virginia Tech, in collaboration with the Arab Academy for Science and Technology, offers its annual interdisciplinary Summer Education Abroad program in Egypt.

COURTESY OF TOWN OF BLACKSBURG PLANNING & BUILDING

The unofficial site plans include a dining plaza along Main Street, a fitness center, both apartments and offices, as well as a community park.

MCAT Prep Workshop: 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The Inn at Virginia Tech Assembly Hall. Free. Dr. Judith Wubah, Director, Office of Health Professions Advising, is conducting an workshop for pre-med students. The MCAT exam is changing in 2015 and the workshop will outline the prerequisites that you need in order for prepare for the new test. Registration is required and is on a first-come, firstserved basis, limited to 135 participants.

from page one

In the joint meeting held last Tuesday between Blacksburg’s Town Council and its planning commission, members were able to discuss these criticisms directly with the two original developers, as well as Frank Kass, another representative of Continental Real Estate Cos. According to Mayor Ron Rordam, the meeting was able to address some of the concerns, though not all members of the Council were satisfied with the changes being made. “I think the developers were able to take back concrete concepts of what was causing concern,” Rordam said. Under the revised plan, the development will still include the hotel, though it was downsized, as well as the fitness center, residential buildings, and

restaurant. The office spaces will remain untouched. Within the new plan, developers would eliminate roughly 200 parking spaces and rethink parking structures so less pavement is used. They would also relocate the decks away from Clay Street. “The amount of coverage with surface parking and the deck parking caused a little bit of concern,” Rordam said. “Some would like to see those garages at least on the Miller Street side, with the big one wrapped, so it’s not just a garage sitting there.” A bike path would also be added to the community, along with townhouses on Clay Street for workers at the site. Despite this, there was still discontent with the perceived aim of the residential units.

“I think a lot of the members there yesterday, and some of the citizens, thought it (still) looked like student housing,” Rordam said. The developers have stated the price for the property, at $5.6 million, couldn’t support the addition of single-family homes. They also said their research gave no significant support for the notion that senior citizens would be seeking special housing in the area. Council members disagreed and showed senior housing was a priority. “It’s very important for the site that it would be a demographic mix of lots of different ages and occupations, so how do you control that?” Rordam said. “One of the other items we talked about was that the master plan called for more

senior housing, or at least one block of affordable senior housing.” Fite responded that senior citizens still had the ability to move into the housing, and more efforts could be taken to ensure that not all spaces are taken up by students, such as prohibiting parents from cosigning for leases. Fite said other requests, such as the need for retail space, were not realistic for the profitability of the community. While the developers will continue trying to reach and agree with council members, they still have plans to apply for re-zoning on Dec. 1. Mayor Rordam is still undecided on the development. “There are some things I like, and things I don’t,” Rordam said. “It’s a process in motion.”

Open Mic Play “That Takes Ovaries”: 7:00

p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Deet’s Place. Free. The play is a collection of fabulous real-life stories from women and girls about the gutsy, outrageous, courageous things they have done. The diverse stories are full of humor, wit, sass, and honesty of estrogen-powered deeds. The play also includes real stories submitted by our Tech students.

Men’s Basketball: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Cassell Coliseum. Game versus VMI. Guest Trumpet Recital: 8:00 p.m. to 9:30

p.m. at Squires Recital Salon. $5 general; $3 senior/student. Kelly Rossum, Assistant Professor of Trumpet at Christopher Newport University, presents a varied program of music for trumpet and percussion. Tickets are available at the venue door beginning one hour prior to the performance.

CORRECTION

Mike: Immigrant finds success from page one

“There are even regulars who are just like family there and they would come not just for the food, but because it was a place that was legitimately friendly for the sake of being friendly,” Devine said. Nick Varelos recounts the care his father took in making everyone feel welcome, including showing children the kitchen and handing out candy. “People would come back in with their kids 20 years later and would show them around the kitchen, just like my dad showed

COURTESY OF VARELOS

them around when they were little,” Nick Varelos

said. Mike

Varelos

stepped

back from the business in 2005, but his full presence was never lost. According to his son, even after he beca me semiretired, he was still in the restaurant for at least an hour each day. “He still worked here but was just a little bit more on the outside while we all helped out,” Nick Varelos said. “He was here just up until last Saturday, helping us out wherever he wanted to.” At the end of the day, Mike’s legacy is more than just burgers. “He had no intention of ever leaving this place com-

In “Tech to retire two logos,” (CT-Nov. 14) the writer’s name was omitted from the story. The story was written by news staff writer Abby Harris. The Collegiate Times regrets this error. pletely. Of course, now it’s a different ball game, but it’s not like anything is going to change,” Varelos said. The restaurant will be closed for the next two weeks to allow the family to grieve and decide how to move forward. Viewings were held on Wednesday and funeral services will be at the Greek Orthodox Church in Roanoke today.

Nick Varelos is confidant that his father’s death will mean little change for the restaurant in the long run, although it might mean some firsts for the family. “You know, we might miss our first (football) game ever; he might be rather mad if we miss it. But we’ll see,” Nick Varelos speculated. “It’s not just a restaurant, it’s a family restaurant ... We want to make Dad proud.”

crimeblotter date

time

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arrestees

status

11/14/2012

12:45 AM

Possession of Marijuana

Campbell Hall

Cory Ryan Owens, 19

Cleared by Arrest

09/07/2012

2:00 PM

Underage Possession of Alcohol x4

New Hall West

Inactive: Reported by Student Conduct

10/21/2012

2:39 AM

Underage Possession of Alcohol x2

Pritchard Hall

Inactive: Reported by Student Conduct

11/02/2012

9:30 PM

Underage Possession of Alcohol x2

Ambler Johnston Hall

Inactive: Reported by Student Conduct

11/03/2012

7:39 PM

Underage Possession of Alcohol

Lee Hall

Inactive: Reported by Student Conduct

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november 15, 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 Special Section Design Editor: Danielle Buynak 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 Special Sections Editors: Cody Elliot, Gina Patterson Copy Chief: Nora McGann Copy Editors: Allison Hedrick, Kristin Gunther Collegiate Times Business Staff Business Manager: Ryan Francis Circulation Manager: Travis Neale

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Next Obama term President moves US forward threatens America P “

resident Barack Obama’s win was not only a loss for Gov. Mitt Romney, but also a loss for America. And, in turn, Romney’s loss illustrates the dire need for a revamping and restructuring of the Grand Old Party. Th is election indicated that people vote with their wallets, and in this economy, they voted for welfare. With nearly 50 percent of all Americans receiving government assistance, that should come as no surprise. Of that, 35 percent receive assistance from “means-tested” programs, including food stamps, Medicaid and housing assistance. The upcoming four years will not deviate much from the past four years, so you should expect the following from Obama’s second term: 1. Pain at the pump. Obama’s energy strategy is to loan money to green energy companies, like Solyndra, a solar cell manufacturer that went bankrupt in 2011. In addition, he refused to sign legislation approving the Keystone Pipeline, blocking an attempt to utilize natural resources at home. 2. High unemployment. Obama plans to increase taxes on Americans with income more than $250,000. Republicans argue these Americans are small-business owners, who will be discouraged from hiring if their taxes increase. 3. Big government. Obamacare is set to begin in 2014 — the U.S. healthcare industry makes up nearly 20 percent of U.S. GDP. Government spending crowds out private investment, and thereby hurts private businesses and job growth. During the past four years, companies have been sitting on $5 trillion of cash reserves, fearful of Obama’s policies and upcoming tax rates. Several things are happening in January that, according to the Congressional Budget

Office, will increase the risk of a recession during 2013. One is the upcoming “fiscal cliff.” The Bush tax cuts are set to expire in January, 2013. And if the existing laws are left unchanged, tax increases, spending cuts, and a corresponding reduction in the budget deficit will begin in 2013. A sudden reduction in the deficit will put us in another recession in 2013. To avoid this fiscal cliff, members of Congress must negotiate and compromise during the “lame duck” session,

“

This election indicated that people vote with their wallets, and in this economy, they voted for welfare.”

which occurs between now and the end of the 2012 year. The failure of the Republican Party to win the presidency stemmed from two things: arrogance and lack of contact with many key voting blocks, including Latinos, women, Asians and African Americans. The Republicans believed they would win the White House because of the bad economy, but the Republicans failed to connect with these minority groups, while the Obama campaign was successfully able get them out to the polls, handing Obama his reelection. Unfortunately for young people, Obama’s economic policies have proven to be bad in terms of job availability and growth. Oppressive taxes and a stagnant economy will highlight the next four years. SALLY BRADY -regular columnist -agricultural and applied economics -graduate student

resident Barack Obama is certainly not a socialist. In fact, he is more of a Tory, as some media sources in America and even the BBC have stated. Elected on the Democratic Party’s platform, he resembles much more closely Eisenhower, Nixon, and Ford — moderate Republicans. He has been very pragmatic, his foreign policies have often mirrored Republican policies, and he has tried to work with Republicans. Obama’s economic policies have not hurt the economy — it is up for debate whether or not the stimulus, for example, worked or not. According to the “Washington Post,” six studies say it did, one said it only partially worked, and two said it did nothing. GDP is rising at a slow but steady rate of 2 percent, Wall Street is largely back on its feet, and the housing market is coming back, with more people buying new or preexisting homes, which is causing the construction industry to gain momentum. Those are only a few of numerous areas where improvement is evident, and while the economy is still in a fragile state, it is moving in the right direction. Unemployment recently fell from 8.1 percent to 7.8 percent, but then rose to 7.9 percent within the past two weeks. This is not a troubling sign, though. Th is increase indicates at least a small amount of confidence in U.S. workers, as more have decided to actively look for work again. Under Obama, Americans are paying the lowest taxes in 30 years. According to Factcheck.org, taxes were at their lowest in several decades when Obama took office, and then lowered again in his first year. In fact, middle-class citizens received some major tax breaks during his first term, going largely unnoticed. Not

all taxes have remained at the same rate or have been lowered; indeed, taxation for the healthcare legislation as well as for numerous miscellaneous things has increased. With the passage of the healthcare bill, the U.S. now has universal healthcare. It is not a flawless piece of legislation, but overall provides numerous benefits to Americans of all age. In addition, healthcare costs and premiums have stabilized and are rising much more slowly than they had over the past decade. Obama’s foreign policies, albeit controversial at times, have been far from weak. He escalated the drone program, which has brought down numerous top leaders within al-Qaida but has also resulted in an unsettling amount of collateral damage. He also ordered Seal Team Six to take down Osama Bin Laden. He worked closely with NATO forces to oust Muammar Qaddafi from his position of power in Libya without making America the leading force in that operation, a move commended by European leaders. The U.S., in conjunction with nations around the globe, has put crippling sanctions on Iran. Not all of these problems, such as with Iran and Libya, have been “fi xed,” but the world is moving closer to accomplishing its goals. His approval ratings around the globe are exceptionally high, especially in Europe where his approval rating is above 90 percent in several nations. Truth be told, the view of America held by the world has gotten dramatically better over these past four years. Progressive and historic changes have been made at the state level, such as marijuana legalization and the legalization of gay marriage. Congress has seen historic

The future actions of our leaders will not be ﬂawless, but we should approach these next four years with optimism, not pessimism.”

changes as well. Women now hold more seats in the U.S. Senate than ever before, welcoming to the table new women of various backgrounds. America is far from “the pathway to Greece.” We, the American people, did not lose last Tuesday, nor did the country or the Constitution lose. America is making progress, and as slow as it may be, it is still progress. We should expect more improvement and changes over the next four years. We can expect more money for education in the U.S., tax rates to remain close to their current rates, a progressive movement in the states, and a steadily growing economy. We can expect a continuation of the president’s strong foreign policies, both pragmatic and potent, and a push for progress in his domestic policies. The future actions of our leaders will not be flawless, but we should approach these next four years with optimism, not pessimism. It is time to work together, to end the slander and McCarthyism, and it is time for moderation and for the radicals to leave the media and the government. It is time for Americans to move forward. RYAN PFEIFLE -regular columnist -university studies -freshman

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.

november 15, 2012

There’s still time to snap your senior photos!

Regular Edition Today’s Birthday Horoscope: Get your priorities straight, and the world is your oyster. Step into a bigger level game. Double-check travel arrangements, and send launch news after 11/26. New possibilities and perspectives unveil themselves after the Winter Solstice. Career rises steadily through next June, when an educational opportunity beckons.

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Complete the grid so that each column, row and 3x3 box contains the numbers 1-9. For a greater challege see how fast you can complete the puzzle. Copyright 2007 Puzzles by Pappocom Solution, tips and computer program at www.sudoku.com

By Gene Newman

Week ending November 16, 2012

ACROSS 1 __ Verde: Colorado national park 5 Gobs 10 It might be slippery 13 Inclined 15 Ruth’s number 16 __ gratia 17 Mike Hammer portrayer’s favorite food? 19 Place to retire? 20 Perón title 21 In close combat 23 Distillery equipment

Top Tracks Locked Out of Heaven • Bruno Mars

(1) 1 (2) 2

Die Young • Ke$ha

(3) 3

Gangnam Style • PSY

Diamonds • Rihanna

4 (5) 5

One More Night • Maroon 5

11/15/12 25 What a frosh studies to be? 26 Estrange 30 Gift for dad 33 Book after Exod. 34 Plumbing supplies 36 Instant 37 It’s always 13Across: Abbr. 39 Attained 40 Cry of dismay 41 Flub 43 Fire blight victims 46 Army member 47 Like some decorative furniture

49 They’ll take you up 51 Gaelic tongue 52 “The Blackboard Jungle” author Hunter 53 Threat to Crusoe 57 Make beloved 61 “Our remedies __ in ourselves do lie”: “All’s Well That Ends Well” 62 Sportscaster’s favorite food? 64 Diagnostic proc. 65 Deceive 66 Dive, in a way

67 House dealer? 68 Ruhr city 69 Old autocrat DOWN 1 Eucharist liturgy 2 Suffix pertaining to size 3 Phillips who played Livia on “I, Claudius” 4 Niche 5 “The Simpsons” leisure suit wearer 6 Small amount 7 Violinist’s direction 8 Urgent prompting 9 Act with diligence 10 Cabaret singer’s favorite food? 11 Frequent Carson stand-in 12 Blasting site 14 Coup target, perhaps 18 One of the Gulf States 22 It may be comic 24 Show petulance 26 “I had to visit my sick aunt,” e.g. 27 Blabbed

28 Tennis great’s favorite food? 29 Weapons seen on pistes 31 Quitter’s words 32 Packs, as a set of mixing bowls 35 Camping support 38 Hear about 42 Disposed to laugh 44 Hull fastener

45 Jargons 48 Rubbish 50 Add to the service 53 Casino reward 54 Big do 55 They’re pros 56 Hurrying, maybe 58 Flightless birds 59 “Waterloo” group 60 Comedy club sound 63 Com lead-in

Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved

11/14/12

WORDSEARCH: CAT BREEDS Locate the list of words in the word bank in the letter grid.

WORD BANK

W Q

W R

1. SIAMESE 2. SAVANNAH 3. PERSIAN 4. BENGAL 5. RAGDOLL 6. SPHYNX 7. SIBERIAN 8. BURMAN 9. BURMESE 10. HIMILAYAN 11. MANX 12. BOMBAY 13. CHARTREUX 14. ABYSSINIAN 15. SHORTHAIR 16. ANGORA 17. TOYGER 18. OCICAT

W U

Wednesday, Nov. 28 Thursday, Nov. 29 Friday, Nov. 30 Jamestown Room

1:00 PM - 6:00 PM 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM Squires Student Center

weekend

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

november 15, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

I MAY BE WRONG, BUT I DOUBT IT

Star Wars is better off with Mickey Mouse than Lucas As everyone is well aware of by now, Mickey Mouse is now the proud owner of everything Star Wars — including the now-upcoming Episode VII. For Star Wars nerds and sevants, this is apparently a bad thing for some unknown reason; but for me, this is awesome. Episode VII is going to be epic, if for no other reason than the 100-mile restraining order Disney will hopefully put on George Lucas. Lucas might be remembered for creating Star Wars, but that was 35 years ago. The Lucas of today is a man that found a way to ruin two of the most beloved series in cinema: Star Wars and Indiana Jones. Aliens? Really? I honestly believe that if Lucas decided he wanted to make another trilogy — which, for the record, he was planning to do until the debacles that were Episodes I, II and III — it would be a three-hour musical about Jar Jar Binks leading his people to greatness. Lucas hid Indiana Jones in a refrigerator, created Jar Jar, and casted Hayden Christiansen to ruin Darth Vader and NBA Commissioner David Stern to play Darth Sidious. OK, that last one is a lie, but look at their pictures; the resemblance is uncanny. Regardless, though, Lucas will never be forgiven for his trespasses in my book. Disney’s “John Carter” was a huge bust, true, but it was doomed from the start. The movie: (1) was horribly marketed — I still don’t

have any idea what it is about; (2) didn’t have an A-list actor and; (3) didn’t have the brand equity of a Star Wars. No amount of money could change that once the mold had been cast. You know what movie nailed all three of those things? The Avengers — a movie Disney knocked out of the park. That’s what you’ll see in the next Star Wars movie. Even if it’s not, it can’t be worse than the prequels. The people saying they’re worried about the new movies ruining Star Wars have failed to take into account the fact that it’s already ruined. Lucas made sure of that. A new trilogy could only redeem Star Wars, not sink it further. But Disney isn’t purchasing LucasFilms for $4 billion just for a few movies; here’s where it gets fun. I must say that I’m not a huge fan of the rumored TV show that could also be green lighted, but there’s one rumor that I’m in love with: a Star Wars theme park. There is literally a 0 percent chance this doesn’t happen. After seeing how successful Universal Studio’s The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has been (I’ve been, and it was everything I hoped it would be), Disney should be salivating at the idea to do this. Don’t forget, Disney teamed up with Lucas to make the simulation ride Star Tours in 1990, so they’ve already had this thought before.

Lifestyle & Community have a big announcement, selling things, need help?

I told a friend of mine about this idea and the look on his face could only be described as the one on a teenaged boy’s face when he sees boobs for the first time: eyes wide open, jaw on the floor and an inability to form sentences when trying to explain his joy. Disney should start production now and open it with the release of it’s final movie. The new generation of children would be hooked by the recent movies enough to want to go, and just about every demographic that pretends they’re too old for amusement parks would be booking the first available flight to Florida to check it out. Come to think of it, I need to get in touch with Disney to make sure this happens and that it hires me to coordinate everything. I swear I’m qualified. Finally, what has Saint Walt Disney ever done to anyone? OK, let me rephrase that… Aside from his hatred of the Jews, movies advocating slavery (that catchy song “Zipa-Dee-Doo-Dah” comes from a full-length movie the NAACP described as glorifying slavery) and putting a penis on the cover of the Little Mermaid — what did he ever do that was so wrong? NICK CAFFERKY -senior -managing editor -communication major

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Keep the law

101

on your side.

Lesson: At-Risk Drinking

BICYCLES

GRILLS AND

What is considered at-risk drinking?

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ANSWER: The National Institute of Health

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defines at risk drinking as 3+ drinks for a woman and 4+ drinks for a man. That seems low, why is that risking?

ANSWER:

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Creativity and patience is required. Handle correspondence. Check work orders for changes. Friends give you a boost. Recycle and repurpose to revamp your home. When you’re happy, everybody’s happy. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Do the work yourself and save. Learn about safe investment plans, and pick one. Enjoy sweet victory. Turn down a public engagement for a private one. Encourage your partner. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Avoid a fuss that doesn’t concern you. Do more research before launching. Plan carefully. Accept an upcoming increase in status, and more. Take the philosophical high ground.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Don’t believe everything you hear. Maintain objectivity, and wait for more data. You and a partner connect. If you must spend, pay bills or add to your IRA. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Put your feelings into the design. Love is everywhere you look! Add a touch of luxury, with elegant color. A smile dissolves confrontation. Invite for an intriguing possibility. Aries (March 21-April 19) Establish a new regimen. There are excellent party conditions, but you may have to wait. Compromise and careful word choice are required. Not everyone is ready to boogie yet.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Share, but don’t give it all away. You’ll need some later. Private time is more productive; gracefully minimize interruptions. Resist spending for the time being. Relax and recharge. Gemini (May 21-June 20) Get a feel for the balance of new tools. Make adjustments to your schedule, and accept a nice bene it. Controversy could arise. You’re gaining respect. Cancer (June 21-July 22) Schedule carefully. It looks good for a romantic excursion; go ahead and profess your love. Enjoy your surroundings. There is no shortage of bene its. Expand your ield of vision.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Save more than you spend. See what you can do without. Get help from a strong partner. Adjust priorities. A female makes interesting dessert. Your popularity is growing. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) There is less than expected. The more you learn, the better you look. Avoid making an avoidable error. The end result provides substantial gain. Love grows, along with other bene its. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Don’t deplete reserves by staying up too late. Things don’t always go according to plan, but having a plan sure helps. Work with another on the next social gathering.

As your blood alcohol rises above .06, the risk of negative social and health outcomes increases rapidly. Staying below .06 optimizes positive and reduces negative outcomes.

november 15, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

weekend

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

Shack band ﬁnds roots at Tech JESSICA GROVES features staff writer

The Shack Band may call Richmond home, but for most of the band, the music began in Blacksburg. “We all started as a band when we were at Virginia Tech,” said Mason Owen, bassist and vocalist for the group. “I met Andrew, our keyboard player, my sophomore year. I was living in a onebedroom house on East Roanoke Street that people called ‘The Shack.’ We started gathering all of the music equipment we needed and by the time we were ready to play, people were already calling us the Shack Band.” The Shack Band is composed of four college graduates: Owen, drummer Bobby Hudson, keyboardist Andrew Gillespie and guitarist Hunter Pease. “I was actually in a separate band at Tech,” Pease said. “Our two bands would play together; we jammed a lot. When some people dropped out, they asked me to join.” Gillespie, Pease and Owen are Tech alumni. They said playing a show last week at the Sycamore Deli brought back fond memories of their time in college. “It was our second time playing at the Sycamore Deli this semester, but oddly enough, that place used to be known as The Lantern,” Owen said. “Back in the day, we saw huge national touring bands in that room: Perpetual Groove, Lotus, The Hackensaw Boys, Railroad Earth. It was cool because Blacksburg had that vibe to get national touring bands in a 150-person room and the next night the Shack Band could be playing there.” After graduating from college, the band left The Shack and moved to Richmond to begin real work as a group. They had no record deal and no guarantee that their music would be a success. “It was terrifying to move to Richmond and go for it after graduating, but things worked themselves out,” Owen said. The Music Business Making it in the music business does not come without hard work. Each member of the group has a job outside the band. “Besides touring, everybody has their own way of financially supporting themselves,” Owen said. “Hunter and I are both cognitive skills trainers — it doesn’t take up many hours of the week. One of the guys is a plumber and one works at a golf course.” Owen and Pease said they value their extracurricular work, even though their lifestyles seem atypical to the modern working world. “I wouldn’t trade what I’m doing for anything,” Pease said. “What we’re doing outside of music will prepare us for when we’re not in a band. I’m getting useful, practical experience.” Developing a following The band also values its connection with fans. Building loyalty in a fan base is critical, and seems more important to the Shack Band than financial success. “It helps when someone can come and make an initial investment in us and finance things,” Pease said. “We’re the ones making payments on our transportation and equipment and when we get an investment from someone who believes in who we are and what we do, it helps a ton.” The band hopes to maintain a loyal following while reaching out to new fans. “We keep trying to develop new markets while servicing the following in markets we already have,” Owen added. “Blacksburg is one of them, and it’s great to be able to start a tour knowing people will be at shows to see you. That’s one of the great things about coming back and playing in Blacksburg.” Distinctive Sound Those unfamiliar with The Shack might feel lost trying to categorize its sound. “Born & Raised,” the band’s first EP, was released in front of a soldout crowd at The Camel in Richmond. Listeners can find elements of funk, alternative and progressive rock riddled

CJ YUNGER / SPPS

The Shack Band performed at Sycamore Deli on Halloween night. throughout each song. “We’ve written songs on “Let me put it this way,” Owen stage before,” Pease added. said, “If you were trying to find “Sometimes a song will come at us in the record store, we’d be on 6 a.m. after a long, long night of the rock and roll shelf.” drinking.” Owen named bands such as Modest Mouse, Phish and Dave Looking to the future Matthews Band as personal While the band has opened influences on his musical style. for well-known acts such as “The playing started with songs Perpetual Groove and moe., by Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin, each member has lofty aspiraThe Rolling Stones — all of tions for the future. “I think everyone has his sights these classic bands,” Owen said. “They’re all the basis of where set pretty high in the band,” the sound of the band began to Owen said. “We want to be a solely original band, not a cover take shape.” The Shack Band currently tours band. We want to release fullall over the East Coast, writing length, original albums.” Between writing new material songs whenever they come to on the road and building a fan mind. “It’s a constant process; some- base, The Shack Band is on its times nothing will come when way to achieving fame. Owen you’re trying to write but you and Pease were eager to share use that for practice,” Owen said. advice with aspiring musicians “Sometimes a whole song will at Tech. “To the people attending our come out of nowhere.” Owen gave an example of this alma mater: don’t be afraid of impromptu creative spark. Keith graduating and doing what you Richards, he explained, woke up want to do. None of us were in the middle of his sleep to write music majors,” Owen said. “If “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”, a you really believe in what you’re song that Rolling Stone placed doing, regardless of the economy second on its list of the “500 you’re in, you can do it. You’re prepared.” Greatest Songs of All Time.”

CATIE CARRERAS / SPPS Students enjoy the annual thanksgiving feast featuring holiday classics like turkey, mashed potatoes and green beans.

Thanksgiving dinner stuffs a crowd CATIE CARRERA news staff writer

Students anticipating a delicious Thanksgiving dinner got their wish one week in advance at D2 and Owen’s Thanksgiving Feast yesterday. “My boyfriend told me about it,” said Mayss Saadoon, freshman meteorology major. “It was perfect timing, because the feast doubled as a birthday dinner for our friend.” Students of all ages looked forward to the Thanksgiving event, even seniors who returned for the fourth time to celebrate. “I heard about it freshman year and it’s been a great experience ever since,” said Andrew Puckett, a senior business information technology major. The freshmen corps students also enjoyed the occasion as a group, having been advised to go by the upperclassmen members. “They made a big deal about it,” said James

Turbyfill, a freshman finance major. “But the unlimited cheesecake was really my main motive for going.” For many students, the feast served as an enjoyable ending to a busy week of exams before break. “I’m so tired from classes, so I was glad to have time with my friends before we leave,” said Saadoon. “I’m so excited to go home and see my family.” Puckett agreed that Thanksgiving break is always a good chance for family bonding. “The fact that my family is separated across the country and we all come to one dinner table on Thanksgiving is great,” Puckett said. Turbyfill is also looking forward to Thanksgiving at home. “Nothing beats Nana’s cooking, but this feast was definitely a great idea to bring the student body together,” Turbyfill said.