Friday, November 30, 2012 Print Edition by Collegiate Times

Friday, November 30, 2012

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COLLEGIATETIMES 109th year, issue 51 News, page 2

People & Clubs, page 6

Movember sheds light on a hairy situation

CODY OWENS news staff writer

tors and getting checked yearly, it’s very possible that the cancer As men slowly transition can form and go for years or from having clean-shaven vis- even decades until it has begun ages to showing hairy lips, the to spread outside the prostate, Movember Foundation sees when it tends to become deadopportunities to inform men ly,” Whiteside said. about a serious issue —cancer. Initially, Movember had nothFritz Diefenderfer, who has ing to do with cancer awarehad a beard for the past two ness. In 2003, a few natives years, renounced his razor this of Melbourne, Australia were month in order to try some- discussing how fashion trends thing he’d never done. cycle and wondered when mus“At the beginning of taches, or “mo’s,” would come November, I shaved everything into style again. They decided except the moustache and let it that time was November. keep growing throughout the Gathering for a party at the month”, said the junior busi- end of the month, the men all ness information technology told stories of the many constudent. versations that were sparked by But, as Tom Whiteside, the their facial hair. Realizing that grassroots engagement direc- they could capitalize on the tor for Movember, explained, mustachioed appeal for a good there’s more to it than looking cause, they gathered 30 friends like Theodore Roosevelt for a the next year to grow a mousmonth. tache and open conversations “Movember is a world-wide about prostate cancer. movement that encourages Since then, the Movember men to grow moustaches to Foundation has spread from raise funds and awareness for Australia to New Zealand, men’s health, Ta iwa n, focusing on the United prostate and Kingdom, testicular canDenmark, SEE OUR VIDEO AT cer in the U.S.,” South Africa, COLLEGIATETIMES.COM Canada, and Whiteside said. the United About one in six men will get States, raising $126.3 milprostate cancer, which makes lion last year. Funds raised go in more common in men than into programs run directly breast cancer is for women by Movember as well as the “It is a treatable cancer, but Prostate Cancer Foundation like most cancers, it’s all about and LiveSTRONG. early detection,” Whiteside Whiteside thinks that the said. rapid growth is for a reason. When cancer develops in the “I believe that it’s a latent prostate, painful urinary dys- desire in most men,” Whiteside functions can result. Whiteside said. “Most guys had never said many older men just take had a mustache and it’s probthis as a sign of aging. However, ably something they’ve always prostate cancer can also spread wanted to try.” to nearby body parts, such as He explained that partici the vertebrae. “Without dialogue with doc-

CHECK ONLINE

see MUSTACHE / page two

Opinions, page 3

Sports, page 5

Study Break, page 4

Hokie has ‘no stomach for cancer’ ABBY HARRIS news staff writer

While many of us were contemplating what we are thankful for this Thanksgiving, Jessica MacKenzie was just thankful to be alive and well. “I’m just thankful that I’m cancer-free and that I’m helping to spread awareness for this deadly disease,” she said. MacKenzie was recently diagnosed with a rare form of stomach cancer called Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer. According to the No Stomach For Cancer organization, this particular form makes up only 1 to 3 percent of all stomach cancer cases. Although it is not very common in the Unites States, it is the second deadliest cancer worldwide. A Rough Realization Had you met Jessica MacKenzie over a year ago, you would have met a typical Virginia Tech sophomore with no worries about cancer. When MacKenzie returned to her home in New York for winter break in 2011, however, everything changed. MacKenzie lost one of her aunts to gastric cancer in 2010, but at that time, the family had no detailed knowledge of HDGC. Through death came awareness. In September 2011, MacKenzie’s father, Bob, was tested for the CDH1 gene mutation that causes HDGC along with his two remaining siblings and his mother. All came back positive except for one of his siblings. Afterward, Bob MacKenzie, his sister Debi and their mother were diagnosed with HDGC. When Jessica MacKenzie went home for winter break three months later, she was filled in on the family’s genetic discovery. They had waited to tell her so the news would not affect her performance on her final exams. “I knew right away that I wanted to be tested for the mutation,” MacKenzie said. She returned to Tech for spring semester, however, and waited until this past summer to be tested. In June of this year, MacKenzie learned she had tested positive for the CDH1 mutation. “I was a lot more relieved when I tested positive,” she said. “I didn’t want to live in the dark anymore.” A Detrimental Disease HDGC is caused by the CDH1 gene mutation. This gene encodes for the protein E-cadherin, which normally allows cells and tis-

PHOTO COURTESY OF JESSICA MACKENZIE

Jessica MacKenzie, a Virginia Tech sophomore and cancer patient, underwent a gastrectomy on Nov. 8. sues to adhere to each other. The mutation of this gene causes a disruption in the protein’s function, which often results in cancer. Currently, it is still unknown exactly how the CDH1 mutation causes gastric cancer. HDGC is difficult to detect because it does not form a visible mass. Instead, the cancer is diffused amongst the stomach lining, making it difficult for an endoscope to detect. Many cases are not discovered until the cancer has reached a later stage, and sometimes it is discovered too late. Female carriers of the CDH1 mutation also have a 60 percent lifetime risk for lobular breast cancer. The only current cure for HDGC is a gastrectomy, the total removal of the stomach. MacKenzie’s father, aunt and paternal grandmother had their stomachs removed in March. Living With Uncertainty Despite learning that she has the CDH1 mutation, Jessica MacKenzie returned to Tech this fall with the plan to have a gastrectomy five years from now. But, living with the possibly of

PHOTO COURTESY OF JESSICA MACKENZIE

In a campaign to spread awareness about HDGC and the CDH1 mutation, Jessica MacKenzie began a charity called Beads for Bellies. having cancer made focusing on her education difficult. “My depression just got the better of me, and I couldn’t get out of bed in the morning,” she said. “I was just really sad, and so I ended up withdrawing and coming home.” Rex Lacy, MacKenzie’s boyfriend and junior computer science major, stayed by her side as she dealt with everything she had learned in the past year.

“She is one of the bubbliest and most genuinely happy people I’ve ever seen,” Lacy said. “But she definitely knows how to put on a face, and that face is what she puts on when she’s trying to mask the pain of losing her aunt and going through the possibility of having cancer.” After she was told about HDGC over winter break in 2011, MacKenzie and her parents see RECOVERY / page two

Graduate works with company to revolutionize tutoring RACHEL CLINE features staff writer

Many people say that when you are not happy with the way in which something is being done, you should step in and make a difference. In the world of tutoring, a new company is doing just that. Tutonic, a Manhattan-based company, came onto the scene earlier this month as an online marketplace for tutors and students to find each other easily. Unlike standard tutoring services, the tutors can set their own hourly rates and students can then choose who to hire based on what they can afford. Although the company is New York-based, they do have ties to Blacksburg through Kyle Cromer, one of the cofounders of the group. Cromer graduated from Virginia Tech in 2009 after studying animal and poultry sciences before moving on to Yale University for graduate work in biomedical sciences. “I initially wanted to be a veterinarian, so Tech was definitely the best for that,” Cromer said. “About halfway through my college career, I decided to switch into biological research, which led me to

where I am now. If all goes well with Tutonic, I plan on doing that full time, so it’s another switching of gears.” Like many businesses, Tutonic began as a small idea. Joshua Beach, a friendCromer met through living in the dorms at Yale, was dissatisfied after realizing how little he was making on his tutoring through a private tutor broker and decided to do something about it. “They were actually paying (Beach) pretty handsomely,” Cromer said, “But looking further into it, he realized that they were actually making more off of his hourly tutoring than he was for doing little more than setting up the student with the session. “He essentially (wanted to) modernize the tutoring industry that had basically been relying on word-of-mouth connections. We thought making a website that could do this more efficiently was probably a good idea.” Cromer and the rest of the Tutonic team have had to learn quickly about what it takes to start a business, as they have had less than a year to get ready before the company launched less than a month

PHOTO COURTESY OF TUTONIC

Joshua Beach, Kyle Cromer, Wei Jay Bill Fan and Barrett Williams came together to create a website that would aid both students and tutors. ago. The website has about 70 tutors as of now and is focused mostly on schools in New York, as well as the alma maters of the staff, allowing them work with markets that they understand well. However, marketing has changed a lot over the years, so the Tutonic marketing group has to use technolo-

gy and social media to their advantage. Jami Ambler, the company’s lead designer has seen first-hand how different it is to market a brand new company. “I would say it’s been very challenging, especially from a design standpoint, because we’re building a product that’s for consumers and we

don’t really know what people are looking for right now,” Ambler said. In spite of a marketing challenge, Tutonic is able to use social media sites as a free platform to get their message out as they’ve launched. These websites have also allowed them to show a more personal side to their business.

“You can learn a lot about us through our website,” said David Beiner, the company’s social media director. “But by looking at our Facebook, you see pictures of us in our office and you get a really hands-on feel for what we’re doing every day to build this. Also, on Twitter you get to see our see TUTONIC / page two

news

november 30, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

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

Recovery: Family helping others and moving forward from page one

told Lacy that they would understand if he wanted to leave the relationship. Lacy chose to stay. “I was just like, ‘Are you kidding?’” he said. “I’m not just going to drop her because maybe things will get hard. She’s worth staying with, so I’ve always just wanted to do what I can to help her get through this.” MacKenzie’s roommates Annie Wong and Kim Williams were also major sources of support. “It was hard at times, but she has taken it really well considering,” said Wong, a junior computer engineering major. “I don’t know how I would have reacted to something like this. To have cancer at 20 is really scary and overwhelming for anyone.” Wong said that living in the dark was what bothered MacKenzie the most. “It was really scary because none of us knew what was going to happen,” Wong said. “It was really just the fear of the unknown and wondering what’s going to happen next.” After MacKenzie withdrew from school for depression, she went home and had a scope done as a precaution. Surprisingly, two spots of cancer were found in her stomach. “I kind of knew something was wrong, but I didn’t know what,” she said. “Now, obviously I know.” She scheduled an appoint-

ment to have a gastrectomy in late October at Sloan-Kettering Memorial Cancer Center in New York, but the surgery was postponed due to Hurricane Sandy. MacKenzie had her stomach removed on November 8. “But how do you eat?”

“

I’m not just going to drop her because maybe things will get hard. She’s worth staying with, so I’ve always just wanted to do what I can to help her get through this.” Rex Lacy, a junior computer science major and MacKenzie’s boyfriend

According to her Youtube channel’s introductory video, this is a question that Jessica MacKenzie is frequently asked after revealing that she no longer has a stomach. “I have to teach myself how to eat again,” she said. “You have to take really small bites, and it’s really tedious. It takes me like an hour to eat an Eggo-waffle, which is kind of pathetic, but you have to chew your food a lot.” Jessica MacKenzie’s father, Bob MacKenzie, expressed that he has been doing well since his gastrectomy and can now eat a

larger variety of food. “Life without a stomach isn’t so bad; you eat a lot of small meals,” he said. “I used to have a lot of acid reflux before this and I don’t get it anymore, so in some ways I can eat more of a variety of things than I could before.” Not everyone recovers as well as Bob MacKenzie has, however. His sister Debi has found it harder to maintain a healthy weight and has recently been put on a feeding tube. As for Jessica MacKenzie, her recovery has been steady. “She has been handling it like a trooper, she’s been fantastic. She’s strong,” Bob MacKenzie said. “For me, it’s been the greatest thing seeing her mature because of this. It’s given her a different perspective on life and other people and some of the things they’ve gone through. “Physically, she’s doing fantastic,” he added. “In that way, she’s always been tough, but now, she needs to get structured and hopefully that will come in time.” After a gastrectomy, small meals must be eaten throughout the day to maintain a healthy intake of calories. “A normal person would be watching their calories, but I’m watching to make sure I get enough,” MacKenzie said. Through all of this, Jessica MacKenzie’s goal has been to remain optimistic. “I try to keep up a positive attitude,” she said. “A lot of people tell me that I inspire them, so I

don’t want to be all pessimistic. I want to help people by sharing the journey.” MacKenzie made videos every day while she was in the hospital after her surgery and posted them to her YouTube channel, SendJessToEllen. She created the channel so that others going through similar ordeals could see what to expect after a gastrectomy. Her main goal, however, is to spread awareness about HDGC and she believes that obtaining an appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres Show would give her opportunity to reach a lot of people. She has also kept a blog at www. indigestibly.com and tweets from her Twitter account, @ NoBellyNoProb. “It’s so grumpy, my blog,” she said. “I’m having trouble finding the words to say right now. Writer’s block is the worst.” Paying it Forward In a campaign to spread awareness about HDGC and the CDH1 mutation, Jessica MacKenzie began a charity called Beads for Bellies. “Over the summer, when I was really anxious about testing for the mutation, we went to Michael’s and bought some beads and we made bracelets and gave them out to family and friends,” she said. “Then a lot of people saw them and thought they were pretty, so it kind of evolved into this charity.” All proceeds from bracelet sales go to No Stomach for Cancer, an organization whose mission is to support research

PHOTO COURTESY OF JESSICA MACKENZIE

on stomach cancer and unite people who have been affected by it. So far, MacKenzie has raised almost $7,000 for HDGC research. “I didn’t expect it to get this big,” she said. “It’s fun. It’s mindnumbing to make the bracelets. It makes me forget about all this stuff going on.” Raising awareness of HDGC and the CDH1 mutation is important to MacKenzie and her family because many people do not know anything about this particular form of cancer. “I just really wanted to spread awareness about this because a lot of doctors don’t even know what it is,” MacKenzie said. “My dad went for a physical the week before his surgery and his doctor had no idea what the muta-

tion was and he thought he was crazy for getting his stomach removed.” The CDH1 mutation was discovered only about 15 years ago in New Zealand. Research and awareness of the mutation and HDGC are still growing. “I’ve sold bracelets to hundreds of people, and now all those people know about the mutation,” she said. “Hopefully it will save lives.” MacKenzie, currently an animal and poultry sciences major, plans to return to Tech next fall and study creative writing. For now, she is at home with her family in New York while she becomes accustomed to her new life without a stomach. Follow the writer on Twitter: @abbyharrisct

Mustache: Tech students Tutonic: Business makes tutoring affordable ditch shaving for a cause from page one

from page one

pants, or “mo bros,” as they’re called, have sent in pictures of moustaches growing to the neck, into the chest hair, and even down to the leg. Other men have sent in pictures of hair stretching from ear to ear with words shaved into it. As far as fundraising goes, participants have made videos, email messages, Facebook campaigns, and local fundraisers. Google made a video in 2011 featuring Movember participants on how they raised funds. Additionally, TOMS released a special Movember shoe for the event. While Diefenderfer did not raise funds this year, he did see having a moustache as a way to talk about men’s health. “If you get awareness that it happens for a right reason, I think it could be big because it’s one less thing to shave and it’s for

a good cause,” Diefenderfer said. “If you just do it for the fun of it and people ask why you have a moustache, you can tell them what it’s for.” Becker agreed, saying that having moustache shows solidarity with men who had prostate cancer without even having to say a word. All they have to see is your mustache, he said, and they know you’re in support. As Movember comes to a close, men can be seen sporting several types of hairstyles on their upper lip. Ultimately, Diefenderfer’s handlebar mustache grew out of his control. “I trimmed it two days ago down to its normal length because I ran out of mustache wax and it was hanging in my mouth,” Difenderfer said. Follow the writer on Twitter: @CodyOwens5

voice.” The company is just getting started with their work, but it is hoping to quickly attract more tutors and clients, especially because of the incentives they offer. Unlike other tutoring companies, it only take a 5 percent service fee, allowing tutors to set their own hourly rates without having to turn over most of their profits. There are also enticements for clients, who can fi nd a local tutor at a rate they can afford, an aspect that Ambler is excited about. “Tutonic really levels the playing field when it comes to tutoring and education,” Ambler said. “I really think Tutonic can bring skills and education back to everyone’s level, and anyone who’s anyone can gain skills and knowledge and not have to worry about cost.” Looking back on his time

at Tech, Cromer wishes there had been a service like Tutonic available to him, especially in his freshman general chemistry class. “Fresh out of a small high school, it was really tough for me to adapt,” Cromer said. “I didn’t know how to study when I fi rst got to Tech, and I really could have used some help in that class. But I was also a poor college student, so the traditional means of tutoring would have been far too expensive.” As Tutonic continues to gain momentum, Cromer is proud to look back at the product that they have created, especially with his lack of prior business experience. “Slowing down and looking at the progress that we’ve made, it’s pretty rewarding to see the direct effort that you’ve put into something and the fruits of your labor,” Cromer said.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TUTONIC

Recently developed, Tutonic works on promoting their business. Cromer also encourages current Tech students who will soon graduate. He may have a good potential business proposal to embrace their ideas and see where it gets them. “If you have the confidence to do it and can find the peo-

ple to give you advice about how to proceed, maybe take that idea you have and write a business plan,” Cromer said. “Who knows? In a market where it’s difficult to fi nd a job, maybe you could end up creating your own.”

crimeblotter date

time

offense

location

status

4/21-28/2012

12:01am - 11:59pm

Follow up to sexual battery

Brodie Hall

Inactive

10/29/2012

8am

Sexual battery

Unknown Location

Active

11/10/2012

1:45am

Underage possession of alcohol x2

Lee Hall

Inactive: Reported by Student Conduct

arrestees

opinions

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

november 30, 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 Edtitor: 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 Editor: Cody Elliot Copy Chief: Nora McGann Copy Editors: Allison Hedrick, Kristin Gunther, Mackenzie Fallon, Alexis Livingston, Kayleigh McKenzie Photo Editor: Kevin Dickel Collegiate Times Business Staff Business Manager: Ryan Francis Circulation Manager: Travis Neale

MCT CAMPUS

Future game consoles Fiscal Cliff needs bridges bring new problems A

s students, we have a lot on our minds with the end of the year getting closer. Studying for final exams, what gifts to buy for whom, where to spend our holiday — these are examples of what we concern ourselves with in the coming weeks. But this list excludes one important concern that we should all be mindful of this year in particular: the fiscal cliff. At the end of 2012, the tax cuts imposed by the Bush administration will expire. This means rates on income, capital gains, estate and many other facets of general taxable income will increase. There is also a separate issue of automatic spending cuts, or sequestration, which will greatly reduce funding for various arms of the government. $55 billion will be cut from defense spending, and an equal $55 billion will be cut from non-defense spending. This reduction of approximately $110 billion in subsidy will occur every year for the nine year life of the sequestration. These two events make up what is widely referred to as the fiscal cliff. Of the two issues, the latter brings the greatest concern, while the former will be the most difficult to fi x. If the sequester is to run its course, immediate economic slowdown will occur in the primary form of job loss, bringing the chance of another recession into the realm of probability. But the reason this sequester was even passed by Congress was to motivate both democrats and republicans to work together to reduce the current deficit. This spending cut program was purposely made as ugly as possible so both parties would have no choice but to compromise when the time came. And now, the time is here. There is little chance of the sequestration actually coming to fruition, but the possibility of this catastrophic cut is still enough to cause worry. Taxes are less straightforward and are instead shrouded by a thick veil of disagreement and argumentation. It is a general economic theory that when an economy is in or working out of a recession, raising taxes will exacerbate the problem. Limiting the amount individuals are able to spend, more than a recession does by itself, will further decrease GDP growth. However, regardless of

political affi liation, President Obama had been very clear about his plans for taxes throughout his campaign for re-election. His platform included raising the tax level for highincome citizens making an annual amount of $250,000 and above. Now that he has been reelected, he has the general public on his side. Therefore, his administration has the leverage needed to get tax increase legislation passed. The difficulty stems from the partisan rift that has developed in Washington. Both sides of the aisle have been stubborn in their opinions on the direction of tax rates. The political aspect behind the issue has gotten so twisted that voting for the Obama tax increase would be considered a tenure death sentence for many republicans planning to run for reelection. The instant their opponent publicizes that they did so, the conservative voters will feel betrayed, and the incumbent will most likely be ousted. This is just one example of the many factors contributing to the impasse in Washington. It’s unfortunate, but that is the state of the current political environment. Compromise has shifted from the fundamental basis for democracy, to a necessary evil, to just evil. I feel, as Warren Buffet expressed in his New York Times article “A Minimum Tax for the Wealthy,” that there should definitely be a tax increase in the upper echelon of income, but also raising the criteria to $350,000-$500,000 and above. This would increase tax revenue which would, although modestly, help the deficit. It would also protect the salaries of the low, middle and moderately high income citizens, promoting spending and GDP growth. Of course, this is a simplified version of what actually must be done to fi x our economic problems, but these are the kinds of conciliations our political leaders must be open to. The future will call for both fiscal and monetary reform to fi x our disjointed economy. There is no perfect plan that everyone will agree with, and it isn’t likely there will be. So for now, it will have to be compromise that bridges this fiscal cliff. DAVID LEVITT -regular columnist -junior -ﬁnance

any video game enthusiasts have been patiently waiting for successors to the revolutionary XBOX 360 and PlayStation 3 gaming consoles, which both made their debut in 2005 and 2006 respectively. It has been a little more than six years since the original PlayStation 3 launched, and needless to say, the public is growing anxious and quite curious for what is coming next. However, there are a couple of reasons why gamers should be more alarmed than excited. It was released to the public that the upcoming XBOX 720 and PlayStation 4 game systems will do away with actual game disks, ruling in favor of streaming. Though this process sounds more optimal, there are definite problems that arise. The biggest issue of all is that gamers will not be able to play their games at their friends’ houses anymore unless they bring their entire game console. I don’t know about you, but I would rather not have to physically carry my XBOX or PS4 if I want to play games at another location. Many people see no problem whatsoever, claiming that friends can still play video games together over

the network. However, many can tell you from experience that it is not the same as competing in the same room. One will miss out on the inside jokes that form, the unworldly facial expressions one makes when they win or lose, and the experiences you gain playing on someone else’s television. Other rumors have developed that the new video game systems will not be backwards compatible to former game systems, such as the XBOX 360 and PS3, making used games and trade-ins invalid. This development not only affects social aspects, but also takes a shot at one of the leading industries in the economy today. It will ultimately destroy once-popular organizations such as GameStop, EBGames, and gamef ly. com. In 2010, used games accounted for 30 percent of total video game sales and 55 percent of gross profit gained at GameStop. That may not seem earthshattering, but combined with the fact that they will be discontinuing production of disks, it will terminate “buying video games in the store” for good. With these sudden changes being made to the video game industry, who are we to blame? The

answer lies in the selfish corporations that created the systems themselves: Sony and Microsoft. Some may see these changes as a way to capitalize profit, but I see these changes as what they really are: pure greed. The used game industry actually loses money for the console manufacturers for obvious reasons. Nonetheless, used games are also much more convenient for the users, who may not want to pay full price for a certain game. In that sense, these corporations are stealing an opportunity from its own consumers, which I find despicable. On Black Friday in a couple of years, there will be no lines at the video game counter. However, there may be some slow Internet connections due to backups for streaming new games that make their debut. There are some people who have decided not to buy the PS4 or XBOX 720 because of these flaws and others. Ultimately, this may drive many customers to their main competitor, Nintendo. RYAN TURK -regular coolumnist -freshman -business information technology

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november 30, 2012

Regular Edition Today’s Birthday Horoscope: Treat yourself to health and wellness this year. Family is your priority, surrounding you with delicious fun. Stay organized, and work and finances will stay balanced. Prepare for a busy summer. Exercise keeps you grounded.

M W

H Thursday F X N

December H Z S 13Q

2012

FnX PNuzzPlesH EdRitio

Piled Higher and Deeper by Jorge Cham Quote of the Day

Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony. - Mahatma Gandhi

Send us your quote and see it here! creative.services@collegemedia.com

XKDC by Randall Monroe

8 9 7 4

9 7 2 9 4 1

5 2 4 3 1

8 7

5 7 6 3

8 3

31 County with grapes on its seal 32 Finds cool, man 33 Storage for jewel cases 36 British peer 37 Offer to a bunch of hitchhikers 38 Valencia, for one 39 Not as well-done 40 __ Kringle

53 He voiced curmudgeonly Carl in “Up”

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 Jeff Chen

Week ending November 30, 2012

Top Tracks Locked Out of Heaven • Bruno Mars

(1) 1 (2) 2

Die Young • Ke$ha

(3) 3

Gangnam Style • PSY

Home • Phillip Phillips

I Cry • Flo Rida

11/30/12

ACROSS 1 Composes, as a telegram 8 Render harmless, in a way 14 Warranty contract fig. 15 Hold ’em challenge 16 Sniveled, “But I don’t wanna!” 18 Flagrant felonies 19 Moxie 20 Puffin kin 21 Damon and others 22 Like runts

23 River in a 1957 film title 24 What much may follow 25 Indigo Girls song, e.g. 26 Fetches flies 27 Common starting word 28 Male mallards 29 Treated like royalty 33 Symbolic trees of Lebanon 34 Days in Durango 35 Loosely arrange 36 Like a soufflé 37 Scrapple meat

41 Prefix with byte 42 Pantry lineup 43 Broadcast network 44 Like the Opry? 45 Brand of syrup 46 Beatles nonsense syllables 47 Take care of every last detail 50 Tennis great Goolagong 51 Traces 52 Puts new prices on

DOWN 1 Azadi Tower city 2 Barry Manilow’s longtime label 3 Some Côte-d’Or reds 4 Composer Saint-__ 5 Auto industry pioneer 6 __-ball pens 7 Flooring joint 8 Unsportsmanlike 9 Piccadilly Circus statue 10 Critter to 8Across, perhaps 11 Stare at the ceiling, maybe 12 Eased 13 Sloppy greeting from a puppy 14 Guru 17 Give up the ball 22 Tawny predator 23 Kublai __ 25 A&W competitor 26 Hindu titles 27 __ mortals 28 Time for action 29 TV roving reporter’s opening 30 Words of reluctance

42 Makes fun of 43 Picks the locks for, perhaps 45 “__ Fu Panda”: 2008 animated film 46 Greek high point 48 It was Genentech’s stock ticker symbol, aptly 49 20-volume ref.

Thursday’s Puzzle Solved

11/29/12

WORDSEARCH: HARRY POTTER Locate the list of words in the word bank in the letter grid.

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1.AZKABAN 2. RON 3. HARRY 4. HERMOINE 5. HAGRID 6. SORCERERS STONE 7. HEDWIG 8. DUMBLEDORE 9. QUIDDITCH 10. PHEONIX 11. VOLDEMORT 12. HOGWARTS 13. WAND 14. SPELLS 15. GRYFFINDOR 16. RAVENCLAW 17. SLYTHERIN 18. HUFFLEPUFF

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sports

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

november 30, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

Dual perspectives: Heisman Trophy Both Manti Te’o and Johnny Manziel had terriﬁc regular seasons. But who is more deserving of bringing home the Heisman Trophy?

Despite freshman status, Manziel is very deserving At first it was just noise and a nickname. Some kid from Kerrville, Texas was putting up crazy numbers in his fi rst few games and people were starting to notice. More than that, his fellow Texas A&M students gave him a moniker that makes him sound like he is the messiah of the game rather than just another student-athlete playing it. Surely, I thought, the fantastical play would return to a more common level for a freshman and I would not have to listen to another analyst preach about how “Johnny Football” was changing the game. But the play didn’t stop, and it still hasn’t. The Heisman Trophy has been awarded 77 times, yet it has never been given to a freshman — until now. I am saying I am now a believer in the Johnny Football effect. Call it jumping on the bandwagon, I’m fi ne with that, but the fact that his name is John Paul is more of a sign from above than a coincidence. His 24 passing touchdowns this year isn’t all that impressive, until you consider the fact that he ran for 19 more. He led a conference that is based on strength in the trenches and speed on the outside in total touchdowns, rushing touchdowns and rushing yards. He has shown up time and time again and in a rare losing effort to LSU in which he

turned the ball over a seasonhigh of three times, the Tiger players commented on how much they would not enjoy playing him for the next couple of years. It’s no surprise, however, that there are those who don’t believe he should win the trophy. The naysayers are separated into two categories: those who think there is another player more deserving of the trophy, and those who think Manziel (Johnny Football’s last name) shouldn’t win because he is a freshman. To the latter group I have no response for you other than noting the pure ignorance of that statement. While the trophy is hallowed ground, it is not a lifetime achievement award. In football you had Earl Campbell. In baseball there was Ichiro in 2001 and Fred Lynn in 1975. All are rookies who have won their respective sports MVP recognition. It doesn’t happen often, but if the right man is the young man, why should he be denied? Now to the former group, one that is equally as wrong but stands on a worthier argument. If not John Paul Football, than whom? Collin Klein has put up incredibly numbers as well but they just are not as good. He has thrown 14 touchdowns and six interceptions, compared to Manziel’s 24 and eight. Klein has rushed for 20 touchdowns on the year but

Te’o leads on and off ﬁeld for undefeated Irish Okay one thing needs to be acknowledged before this argument is started; Johnny Manziel has had the best statistical season of any player in college football, and it is not even close. He puts up monster numbers in an offensive system that was seemingly designed for him. That all being said, there is a decent chance that he will not win, because if we have seen anything it is that the people who vote for the Heisman Trophy love both stories and traditions, and Manziel falls on the wrong side of both categories. The last freshman to even be in MCT CAMPUS New York City for the Heisman Texas A&M’s freshman quarterback, Johnny Manziel, had 24 passing presentation was Virginia Tech’s touchdowns and another 19 on the ground for the 10-2 Aggies. own Michael Vick, finishing third in 1999. the caliber of the opposition that. There is still a large block of was not equal to that of the The game is driven by Heisman voters that are a little SEC talent Manziel was going offense and you can be “outtoo — can we say traditional? up against every week. standing” while making plays — to ever vote for a freshman That leaves Manti Te’o. He is with the ball in your hands to win the award. Manziel could a great football player, proven on offense more than chasing have thrown for 10,000 yards by impressive stats, and an after it on defense. and 100 touchdowns yet would emotional leader of the Irish Manziel is not a gift from have still missed out on some who have earned the right to above although his name and votes. play for the national cham- his play may suggest otherIf that is actually the case, pionship. Th at being said, wise. He is just another kid which upperclassman can then neither his stats nor his emo- from Kerrville, Texas who, steal the award away from the tional leadership make him when the nation’s watching Aggie? This is where the storythe “most outstanding player and the ball is in his hands, lines part of the Heisman voting in college football”. will make a big play for your kicks in. Teo averages 8.4 tackles a team (see Nov. 10 against Despite his detractors, Notre game, 59th best in the coun- Alabama). Dame linebacker Manti Te’o has try. He has seven interThe Heisman Trophy has not only put up great statistics ceptions, which is best for been awarded 77 times, yet but has also become the media linebackers, but he has zero it has never been given to a darling of the most surprisforced fumbles. His numbers freshman — until now. ing team of the season. By now are impressive but he got the JACOB EMERT everyone has heard about the short end of the stick regard- -sports staff writer spiritual leader and best player of ing the Heisman at a young the last eligible undefeated team -sophomore age when he chose to play in the country. defense, and linebacker at -history According to their website, the

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

mission of the Heisman trust is “to recognize the outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity.” Te’o is the leader of arguably the best defense in the NCAA, has the second most interceptions in the country and has led the Fighting Irish defense when they held four ranked opponents to an average of 10 points a game. And though it has nothing to do with on-field performance, Te’o tragically lost both his grandmother and his girlfriend during the season, all the while handling his situation with grace and dignity. Putting it simply, Te’o is the best player on what is currently the best team in the country. He symbolizes the combination of excellence and integrity that is sought by the Heisman committee and will gain major voter consideration because of it. While Manziel has put up major numbers, has he really pulled that far ahead of Te’o? His team is 10-2, yet tied for fourth in their conference, and only 2-2 against ranked competition. Te’o’s team is 12-0, with four wins over ranked competition. Notre Dame’s defense has been their saving grace for the entire season, and Te’o has been in the center of it all. All in all, Manziel’s numbers may say Heisman, but everything about Te’o screams it. BRIAN MARCOLINI -sports staff writer -senior -communication

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PICK UP THE COLLEGIATE TIMES TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Do what you can to help the others stay relaxed and calm. Think fast but not recklessly. Stay close to home and replenish stocks. The perfect solution may be an uncomfortable situation.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) A clear vision of the future opens up. Access your con ident side. Doublecheck your work to avoid errors. Hope is triumphant. Focus on inances for a couple of days.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Your friends are your inspiration. Schedule meetings and parties. Accept a challenge if it pays well. Create clear ideas out of the confusion. You’re very attractive now.

Aries (March 21-April 19) There’s a lot of energy available. Your home base is waiting to be inspired. After meditation and re-evaluation, ire them up with everything you’ve got.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) For a few days, you’re the king of the mountain. Put on your leadership hat and your work gloves, and get in action. You have the resources you need. Figure it out.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Career matters most now. Find a relaxing place away from distractions where you can be most productive. Focus on what you believe in and what you’re passionate about. You’re in love.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Watch out for surprises. Send somebody else ahead, and let them take the risks for now. You can pay them back later with your creative ideas.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Should you go or should you stay? Romance may be challenging, but it’s well worth the effort. Dress for a special event. Don’t play any con games. Honesty is your best weapon. You gain clarity.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Don’t push yourself or your good luck too hard. Or do, but accept the risk with all its consequences. Trust your instincts when going for the big prize. Accept the compliments.

OF THE

he says: She is the most amazing person I have ever met in my life. She has supported me in everything that I have ever done and I can not be more thankful. I can't imagine a day without her in my life. Everything about her is perfect in my eyes and meeting her was the best thing to happen to me. I love her with all my heart. she says:

I love the way I feel when I am around him. He is the perfect gentlemen and the love of my life. After being together for so long, I still have not lost an ounce of love for him. I look forward to spending more years together! I love you.

their first date: We went to the Winter Melt down concert in Virginia Beach. She was with her friends, and I was with mine. We met up there and enjoyed the concert and had a great night. At the end of the night when she was about to leave, I looked her in her eyes and told her she was beautiful and then we had our first kiss. We were official from that point on. It was a special night.

people & clubs

november 30, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

he she

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

SAID: Holiday Shopping

She said: Skip pre-Christmas mayhem By the time I’m done with finals, have hauled my cookies on a four and a half hour bus ride back to NOVA, reclaimed all my bedding from the squirrels’ dens that are my sisters’ rooms, and woken up on the first morning of winter break, you had better believe that it’s going to take a miracle to get me to drag my butt out of the house until at least a week after Christmas. Holiday shopping is just not one of those miracles. Don’t get me wrong, I love shopping. And, you know, the people that I want to get gifts for. It’s just that the thought of leaving my cramped little cookie-cutter residential street to fight the wall of cars on Route 50 gives me nightmares. Add to that my general Grinchiness, terrible giftgiving abilities, the promise of long lines and Christmas tunes sung by Taylor Swift, and you’ll start to realize why you should feel grateful for getting a gift at all. And I don’t know if

you’ve ever been to Tyson’s Corner anytime after Dec. 20, but it is not a pretty sight. It’s filled to the brim with haggard parent’s dragging their video-game obsessed children through department stores to find the perfect blender for Nanna, and hunched little grandmas leading foreign family members through Forever 21 like it’s some kind of tourist attraction. All of that plus a line for Starbucks that rivals the line for Space Mountain at Disney World? No, thank you. The trouble is that people get pretty grumpy when you try to explain to them that you’re skipping Christmas in favor of finals-induced hibernation in your childhood home. They get even grumpier when you try to say that instead of gifts, we should all just focus on the true meaning of the season (which is obviously the Doctor Who Christmas Special on BBC America). So, I’ve perfected my

gift-giving ability over the years to avoid this mess. My sisters get some item of clothing I purchased over the past year but never took the tags off of for whatever reason. My brother gets a box of the Christmas cookies that only I know how to make, to finish before breakfast on Christmas morning. Dad gets a board game that my siblings and I “split;” mom gets a handmade card or the empty promise that I will finally do all of her ironing; everyone else gets told that I’ll give them their gifts after break so they forget that I snubbed them by the time we get back. And I get a nap that lasts from the moment my head hits the pillow at home, until I wake up for dinner on Christmas Eve. VICTORIA ZIGADLO - news editor - senior - English major

He said: Be wary of malls, shop online Whenever I go shopping, my collar starts to itch. I’m not positive when it started or even why, but if I’m in a situation where I can’t just run into a store to grab what I need and leave, it happens. And it’s super uncomfortable — and sweaty. My running theory is that I was conditioned to be allergic to long shopping trips. When I was little, my mother and sister would take me to the mall with them almost every weekend. They wouldn’t just go for an hour or two like normal people either. I’m talking six-to-seven-hour shopping marathons. I, as the son and younger brother, would be their baggage donkey, dutifully toting around bags from JC Penny and finding chairs wherever they were located outside dressing rooms. It’s no wonder why I still have a stigma about going shopping. this is Thank fully, really only a probhe holiday lem during the season. day, for Black Friday, instance, seemss like a small form of torture. I don’t know iff those extra 1000 ve bucks you save ing off are worth taking work for three days to sleep on the dirty sidewalk of a Best Buy. Even after Black Friday, radio ads, commercia ls and re all magazines are reminding me of the ere are inevitable: there ping days only 25 shopping s, and you until Christmas, he game. need to get in the Living in Blacksburg, we’re lucky to be around gest shopone of the largest ping meccas on the hat’s right: East Coast. That’s Christiansburg.. The NRV mall is so expansive that you can get ot even reallost in it and not ize it. he-line store Every top-of-the-line here’s really is there, so there’s o anywhere no need to go else. Also, it’s right across from erbowl, the the NRV Superbowl, ng alley in classiest bowling

the world. Need to take a break from shopping? You know where to go. But if you’re like me and you dislike shopping, then even the wonders of the NRV Mall turn to ash in your mouth. Just when I was filled w it h disappointment, preparing myself to face the hordes of shoppers in the mall, I heard a term that changed everything: Cyber Monday. The Monday following Black Friday is one of the most glorious days of the year. No hassle. No waiting in lines. You just get on your computer, go to Amazon and find deals on stuff that wasn’t on sale the day before. Then, you order it and bada-bing bada-boom, you’ve gotten all the gifts you needed to get. Be warned however, this is a dangerous game. With Amazon’s One-Click shop- p i n g

you cou ld spend hundreds of dollars without even realizing it — a dangerous game indeed. Even without Cyber Monday, the world of online shopping, previously known to me only as a curse spat by my sister, is awesome. You can find whatever you need, and normally for pretty good prices. So, whether you’re a fashion aficionado or a schmuck who has never heard of style, rejoice. No longer will hours of shopping fill your days. Instead, with a quick Google search and a credit card, you can shop to your heart’s content. JAMES HARRIS - featured columnist - senior - history major

ALICIA TILLMAN/ COLLEGIATE TIMES