Friday, December 7, 2012 Print Edition by Collegiate Times

In Justin’s own words see page 3 Friday, December 7, 2012

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One year later, Tech honors Crouse

FILE 2011 / SPPS

Members of the Virginia Tech Police Department stand in silence during the candle-light vigil for ofﬁcer, Deriek Crouse. Saturday will mark the one year anniversary of his death. DEAN SEAL news reporter

Dec. 8 will mark the one year anniversary of another Virginia Tech tragedy. Yet one thing is clear — the Hokie nation will never forget the loss of one of its protectors, Officer Deriek Crouse. Crouse lost his life in the line of duty on Dec. 8, 2011, while performing a routine traffic stop near Cassell Coliseum. The ensuing campus lockdown shook the Tech community. When the commotion was setCROUSE tled, all were devastated to hear the Tech Police Department had lost one of its own. President Charles Steger announced on Nov. 26, that a memorial service will be held at noon on Dec. 8 to honor Crouse and his service to the Tech community. The memorial

site will be in the Coliseum Lot off Washington Street and Spring Road. The service will feature remarks by Steger, Tech Police Chief Wendell Flinchum, Delegate Joseph Yost, Officer Kendrah Cline, and Reverend Tommy McDearis, the chaplain for the Tech police department. Steger also announced that a permanent memorial for Crouse will be dedicated at the end of the service. In his open letter to the Tech community, Steger said the memorial will be made in Hokie Stone, “representing our loyalty to one another and to our Hokie Nation.” Tech’s police department still mourns Crouse’s passing, though from it they have taken on a newfound vigilance. In the wake of such random violence, the campus police force is on guard for any threat. According to VTPD officer Marshall Hamilton, even traffic stops are now a time to be on alert. “Backing up another officer, or

Summer session courses offered at discounted rate NICK CAFFERKY managing editor

Course request opens today for both summer sessions I and II, and for those students planning to spend their vacations in the classroom, they will be doing so at a reduced rate. In its May meeting, the Board of Visitors approved a 10 percent decrease to the tuition from summer classes, meaning that students will now pay $344 per credit hour compared to the $382.75 per credit hour that is charged during the fall and spring semesters. “This discount is an opportunity for students to earn credits while saving money and making progress towards their degrees more quickly,” said Wanda Hankins Dean, assistant vice president for enrollment management and university registrar, in a press release. “In addition, it helps Virginia Tech uphold goals within the Virginia Higher

Education Opportunity Act of 2011, known as ‘Top Jobs 2011,’ such as promoting progress toward a degree, expanding access, and optimizing physical resources beyond the traditional academic year.” The summer sessions offer more than 1,800 classes to choose from, and the discount also applies to all internships, co-ops and research opportunities taken for credit during the summer. “The cheaper the better,” said Lamime Tall, a junior business information technology major. “Because I’m an international student, one of the problems when I came here was tuition and fees.” Each summer session lasts six weeks and students can take up to nine credit hours per session. In order to be considered full time, students must take at least six credit hours. Course request will remain open until Feb. 8. Classes for session I begin May 28.

having a secondary officer at a traffic stop, is commonly accepted (to) do that at night time, because there’s an increased risk,” Hamilton said. “So (now), we find ourselves backing up officers during the day, where we didn’t in the past. There’s a hyper vigilance, being aware of your surroundings.” The atmosphere of the past year, for the officers of the VTPD, has been a somber one. “We miss our friend, we miss our coworker,” Hamilton said. “He was a fellow officer, and there is that brotherhood. There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about him.” Yet Hamilton says the department is ready to look forward, in a style reminiscent of Crouse’s own work ethic. “We have a job to do; life goes on,” Hamilton said. “Crouse was a nononsense kind of guy. You take care of business, and you press forward. We take a little bit of comfort in

that.” In the year following the tragedy, Hokies have shown the pride of Tech in honoring Crouse’s memory. Bethany Darnley, a class of 2012 graduate, showed her empathy in a movement that sparked nationwide attention. Upon learning that Crouse was leaving behind him a family of five boys and a wife, Darnley decided that something had to be done to assist Crouse’s grieving family. For that reason, a fund, titled ‘Hokies for Crouse’, was born mid-December of last year. The fund provided an opportunity for anyone, local or otherwise, to donate to Crouse’s family. “When President Steger sent out the email about how he had five boys, I really wanted to take the time to do something, and make a difference,” Darnley said. “I didn’t think it would make such a profound see MEMORIAL / page two

Student’s career takes a running start JESSICA GROVES features staff writer

Like many little girls, Britani Myers sang into a hairbrush and dreamt of fame. Throughout high school, she performed at various talent shows and family gatherings, but she was never labeled a musician. The Virginia Tech mid-distance runner never thought she would make it as a musical artist, much less become one. “The fi rst shows that I did were in front of people I didn’t know at all,” Myers said. “When I performed at my high school, people knew me for being the ‘hometown runner person.’ It’s definitely a cliche for people to tell me that I’m following my dreams. That’s exactly what all the other girls are doing. I just happened to get the call.” The call came because Myers recorded a CD for her mother to listen to while she was at school. What started as just an unofficial family recording became her ticket to success in Nashville. “For some reason, the secretary at Curb Records was listening to my CD and the CEO walked over, heard it and really wanted to contact

me,” Myers said. “I was definitely lucky.” Myers related her signing experience to another upcoming artist at Curb. “I’ve been talking to another new artist Curb signed as well, and she’s been singing and writing since she was three years old,” Myers said. “She’s lived in her car, her parents quit their jobs — everything just happened so fast for me, compared to her. I’ve gone from doing nothing to this in a little over seven months and it just feels really crazy.” Myers’ journey into the music industry began seven months ago; she learned to play the guitar in only two. Producers at Curb Records have been calling her back to Nashville, and are already urging her to write her own lyrics. “It’s entirely different from someone just handing you a song and telling you to sing it,” Myers said. “It’s very challenging, but it’s also a really good way to get my emotions on paper.” Myers said Taylor Swift is one of her major influences because she is the face of teenage girls and emotions. “I think it’s very hard to not write a song about that kind

BEN WEIDLICH/ SPPS

Myers weighs her options for the future with track and singing. of stuff at my age,” Myers said. Curb Records lays claim to artists like Rodney Atkins, Hank Williams Jr. and LeAnn Rimes. Myers recently opened for Rimes in concert. “Opening for (Rimes) at my high school was nerve wrack-

ing,” Myers said. “People knew me there, but when they know you — that’s when it’s easiest for them to judge you.” Myers is now learning to balance the pressures of being a full-time student, running see COUNTRY / page four

december 7, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

news

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

Tech design team promotes alternative transportation CAMERON AUSTIN news editor

It’s not uncommon for students to fi nd themselves circling Squires parking lot for a space or riding the bus for 30 minutes to get back to their apartment after classes. But one local student organization is trying to fi nd ways to cut back on transportation pollution in the New River Valley, while helping students realize alternative transportation is sometimes quicker than mass transit. The Design for America chapter at Virginia Tech has started a project called “The BurgFinder,” where it is working to make alternative forms of transportation easier for students to access and understand. The group is trying to accomplish this by designing signs for Blacksburg presenting information regarding biking and walking in a simple and informative format that hopes to promote alternative transportation. “Transportation issues kept coming up and we quickly realized that this was a big issue in town,” Michael Kulikowski, the studio founder and current president of Tech’s Design for America chapter said. DFA is a part of a nationwide network of student led studios working with community members and the universities to identify local issues and go through the design process to identify solutions and implements. The group is interdisciplinary, and is a co-created environment where everyone can participate no matter his or her major. The idea was initiated at a kickoff workshop last spring, where the group determined that alternative transporta-

tion around the area was a topic they could tackle and make a difference in. “The signs were doing a double duty in a way because we could display distance and time. It would have a stronger impact and get people to understand how easy it is to use other ways of getting around, and how convenient it could be,” Kulikowski said. Signs around campus became their main focus. By establishing a time measure, they hoped to show students that alternative and environmentally friendly transportation to campus is easier and takes a shorter time than driving a car or taking the bus. “By hanging up the signs in high traffic areas, it would raise awareness of bikers in the area and improve their experience,” Kulikowski said. The signs were initially PHOTO COURTESY OF DFAVT hung up in April of last year, Signs around campus indicate how long of a walk it is to notable locations to encourage transportation other than driving or taking the bus. with six different locations around town and on campus. The signs were only sup- approved properly. It has will be to inject bike planposed to be an initial test to plans to write a proposal, ning into future enhancesee how they were perceived present it to town council ment projects that the town to community members. and university members, and takes on,” Lohman said. However, the group was met get the initiative to become By joining forces with local with opposition from town a permanent part of the organizations, the DFA is administration members. Blacksburg community. able to spread the word about “We thought the signs on “We have various levels of its initiative, and educate the campus would be immedi- support within the univer- public with the project. ately taken down because sity and town and we’re cur“I think that there’s a real we didn’t get permission,” rently trying to navigate how push to have some commuKulikowski said. “However, to get it done the right way,” nity driven initiative that is the campus signs stayed up, Kulikowski said. creative and more interacand the town signs got taken Beth Lohman, a commu- tive,” Lohman said regarding down immediately.” nity partner working with the project. Blacksburg has a strict DFA and is associated with The group will be sending ordinance on signage, and the New River Valley Bicycle out a survey starting at the since the group didn’t prop- association, has been an beginning of next semeserly get the signs approved, advocate of the project and ter, hoping to gauge the best town management took helping to write the group’s areas for the signs, as well them down in a short period signs into the towns “Master as getting feedback from of time. Plan for Cycling.” A draft members of the area on what Despite the initial disap- has been written of the plan, they’d like to see. proval from town manage- and is in the process of being PHOTO COURTESY OF DFAVT Follow the writer on Twitter: ment, the DFA team has fi nalized. @CAustinCT BurgFind seeks to make alternative transpot easier to understand. made its goal to get the signs “The goal of the master plan

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

news

december 7, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

‘Ultimate Hokie’ relies on friends

PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVEN MCKAY

Graduate student Justin Graves, who has been referred to as the “Ultimate Hokie,” is carried by his friend Scinju Gadamsetty, a senior engineering student, on the way to see the Cascades for the ﬁrst time.

Friends help fulﬁll a tradition MALLORY NOE-PAYNE news editor

On an unusually warm day at the beginning of December, more than a dozen people, some of whom had never even met before, came together for one collective goal: to get Justin Graves, the “Ultimate Hokie” and a paraplegic, to the top of a two-mile hike. What came from that afternoon was an online video that has since gone viral, with almost 11,000 views on Virginia Tech’s University Relations Vimeo page. The story of Graves’ trip to the top of the Cascades, a local must-see hike, has been dubbed an inspiration and a tribute to Tech’s motto “Ut Prosim.” Graves, who is currently a masters student at Tech in Higher Education Administration, has been in a wheelchair almost his entire life. He still can be seen rolling backwards around campus, giving tours as a Hokie Ambassador. Scinju Gadamsetty, a senior engineering student, may not be the star of the viral video, but he is the mastermind and muscles behind Graves’ hike. “The way I saw it, (Graves) has done so much for the university,” he said. “This is one of those quintessential Virginia Tech traditions that everyone does and I thought, if I could do something little like this to help him participate in

that tradition, it would be just something I could do that was really nice as a friend.” It was Gadamsetty’s idea that inspired the collective effort. Graves, who had been titled an “Ultimate Hokie” last year by a Virginia Tech news story, hadn’t yet accomplished something every Tech freshman does — hiking to the top of the Cascades. Gadamsetty, who has been friends with Graves since they both became Hokie Ambassadors three and a half years ago, said the idea came from just joking around last February. “I was giving him crap for being the ‘Ultimate Hokie’ but never having done the Cascades,” Gadamsetty said. “Then like half an hour later I was like, ‘Dude, if I got all my friends and you got all your friends, we could totally carry you up there.’” Although nothing came from the idea right away, eventually, a Facebook event was created and the two gathered a group of their friends together to make it happen. “We ended up making a stretcher using an old camo blouse, some bungee cords and some sticks,” Gadamsetty said. With two people holding the front of the make-shift litter and two people in the back, the group made their way up the rocky and narrow path, across four

bridges and eventually to the top of the scenic path at the base of the 69-foot falls. On the way back, the group took the easier firetrail and opted to take turns carrying Graves on their backs. “There was a mother with her two young kids, like elementary school, and one of them is like ‘Wow, what’s that?’ and the mom was like, ‘Oh man, that guy must have really good friends.’” Gadamsett y recalled. Since then, it seems everyone has had the same reaction, something that Gadamsetty hadn’t anticipated. “We thought we’d go up, we’d take some pictures, put them on Facebook — whatever. But it really blew up. We were all really surprised that so many people were interested in looking at it,” Gadamsetty said. For Gadamsetty, everyone’s effort to help Graves get to the top is an example of how Tech’s motto doesn’t always have to be a grand effort. “(Service) goes from being something you talk about to something you just do,” Gadamsetty said. “You don’t have to think about it anymore, you just do it... because that’s just the kind of person you are now.” Follow the writer on Twitter: @MalloryNoePayne

STEVEN MCKAY / SPPS

Strive to care for others uniquely Hiking the Cascades was something I never really planned to do. At the beginning, it was just a random idea we thought about. Somehow, it ended up turning viral. We never anticipated that. To be completely honest, the whole event was kind of bittersweet and almost never happened. My girlfriendwas laying idle, recovering from an injury in rehab on the day of the hike. An accident, a week prior, nearly prompted me to just cancel the Facebook event I had created just hours before hearing she was in the hospital. I didn’t want to hike. I wanted to be with her. I’ll never forget when we talked on the phone last week, and I told her “I think I’ll come visit you this weekend. The Cascades will always be there; I can see them some other time. I want to see you now.” And she said, “Justin, what if tomorrow never comes? Go do that hike.” That was all the inspiration I needed. She’s the same person that used a wheelchair in her spare time just to understand my perspective. I knew that, if she could, she’d be right there alongside our friends, helping to carry me. The rest is history. Now I have a fantastic video to show anyone of a really bittersweet, yet special moment of my life. More importantly, I have something that shows the world, the Hokie Nation and beyond, the power of Ut Prosim, caring for others and friend-

ship. And for them — my friends — I am most thankful. Last week, my friends took what is a pretty typical experience for some and turned it into something inspirational. To be completely honest, I didn’t understand why everyone was so impressed with the video — it was just me being carried by some awesome people, some old friends, some new friends, and some in between. I didn’t think I had done anything too special, and to be honest I still don’t think so. Sure, I was excited to see the Cascades and was honored that my friends would do this for me, but I never thought it would have thousands of views on the internet. So when the news crews started calling me this week, I’m sure they were a little disappointed that I was not in Blacksburg, but instead, five hours away by my partner’s side as she recovers. I wouldn’t have been anywhere else. After all, I get by with a little help from my friends. It’s only fair to return the favor. I encourage you to find a unique way to care for someone else. People can be most moved by caring when they least expect it — I was. JUSTIN GRAVES -news reporter -graduate student -@hesonwheels

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december 7, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

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

Country: Fostering a passion for music

upcoming events Friday, Dec. 7

from page one

and pursuing a music career. She approaches music in the same way that she approaches track practice. “In music, you only have one performance to show people all of the work you put into it, just like with running,” Myers said. “You have a certain amount of time to show people what you’ve trained for.” Freshman Leigh Ann Soistmann has seen much of the work Myers puts into her performances. Myers and Soistmann competed against each other in high school races, and they are now teammates, and roommates, at Tech. “She’s as dedicated to her music as she is with track,” Soistmann said. “We’ve been talking about a lot of people who try to make it big in Nashville, and I think she’s devoted to making her once-in-a-lifetime opportunity happen.” Myers’ parents are just as

excited about their daughter’s success. “It’s kind of a sticky situation in my house because my mom tells me to go for the singing and my dad wants me to stick with running,” Myers said. “It’s always been his dream to have me run, and that’s my dream too.” Myers said her parents would support her no matter what path she takes. That’s a good thing, considering her own plans for the future. “If I got a call from the record company and they told me to drop everything, I would definitely go for it,” Myers said. “Next fall, I’ll hopefully be moving to Nashville and starting to travel and do radio shows.” Since her start last year, Myers has used several social media web sites to build a fan base. She said she initially waited to start a Twitter account because she wanted to make sure everything worked out before she attempted to get followers.

However, she said the hardest part of being an artist isn’t gaining fans; it’s finding the time to build on her passion. “One of my biggest struggles is just finding the time to practice,” Myers said. “I have practice in the morning and evening, and class in between. People don’t really realize how much work and time goes into working with a band and planning everything out. I try to fit in practicing the guitar and singing, but it gets kind of awkward when you’re in a dorm.” Soistmann agreed and said Myers focuses best when she can work alone. “She tries to practice when I’m not home, and that’s how I know she practices a lot,” Soistmann said. “She can sing in front of a group of strangers, but she says I make her nervous. We try to get her to sing in the car sometimes — we turn down the radio in the middle of a song — but I haven’t really heard her by

Memorial: Campus honors fallen ofﬁcer on Saturday from page one

impact on the family. I just thought we could get a couple more Christmas presents for them.” Starting only as a Facebook group, the movement saw a surge of recognition from people willing to donate all over the country. As alumni began donating high amounts, another student, Drew Jenkinson, stepped in to help take care of logistics. Subsidiaries grew out of the initiative, including “Christmas for Crouse,” for which members of the community could donate Christmas gifts directly to the Crouse family through the VTPD.

A year later, Darnley says more than $300,000 has been raised. While the PayPal account linked through the fund’s website has been frozen, donations can still be made through the National Bank of Blacksburg in an account that will go directly to Tina Crouse, Deriek’s wife. Nonetheless, Saturday will be, as said by Hamilton, a day with “lots of emotions; some of sadness, some of grief, but also some happiness.” The indomitable spirit of Virginia Tech and its police force will live on.

herself yet.” Even though she’s landed a record deal, Myers said she still feels like a runner trying to become a musician. She said it was hard to redefine herself in front of the audience. “Before I got the deal, I had a lot of people come up to me and tell me that there are millions of girls just like me and that I’ll never make it,” Myers said. “I never really thought I was that good until I got the call. I mean your mom’s going tell you you’re good no matter what.” Th rough all of the sudden success and hard work, Myers’ outlook on her experience keeps her humble. She said that she considers herself lucky to be chosen out of thousands trying to make it in the recording industry. “Sometimes it’s hard to grasp it; everything happened so quickly,” Myers said. “I guess I’m just a lucky person sometimes.”

CORRECTION In “Tech leads Virginia in international students,” (CT-Dec. 6) the graphic incorrectly displayed the percentage of international students. 8.4 percent of students at Tech are considered international. The Collegiate Times regrets this error.

EDITOR’S NOTE In the Nov. 29 Walking the Line column, the Collegiate Times did not intend to marginalize any group or interest, and apologizes for any offense it caused.

Funding Opportunities from the National Science Foundation for the Social Sciences: 2:00 p.m. at GLC Room F. NSF program officer, Elizabeth Tran, from the Office of International Science and Engineering, will be on campus to lead the session. Open to faculty, postdocs, and graduate students from any college, center, or institute.

TubaChristmas: 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Blacksburg Farmer's Market Squire. Join in the fun as the town celebrates the Winter Lights Festival, which includes TubaChristmas. Bring your tubas, euphoniums, and all of your friends to downtown Blacksburg on Friday, December 7. Participants, please RSVP to ecrone@vt.edu. Registration 3-4p; rehearsal 4-5:15p; performance 6-7p. TubaChristmas is sponsored by Downtown Blacksburg, Inc and the Department of Music at Virginia Tech.

what you’re saying Course evaluation system all online

Vet Student: Over here at VMRCVM they tried doing all online a couple years ago and-SURPRISEno one really felt like doing them so they couldn't get an adequate percentage filled out for the responses to "count." They went back to bringing in paper copies for certain classes. I've never used SPOT though, maybe that's better? Walking the Line: How the real-life Cindy Lou Who stole Christmas

NOT Brendan: Wow this brother of yours sure sounds super cool and awesome! And I bet his Christmas party pants are way cooler because it was his idea first mom didn't buy his!

Polar Politics: Fiscal cliff deal should include tax hikes on wealthy

Hokie01: You are arguing that one of the world's

most progressive tax structures become even more so. The high earners in this country already pay the vast majority of the taxes, while those in the bottom half pay very little (if any). By the way, Mr. Buffet pays the same tax rate as his secretary on the same earnings, then he pays higher rates on any earned income above that threshold. You are confusing earned income with capital gains, which are taxed at a lesser rate (which makes sense as those earnings are already taxed at other levels). This nonsense that he pays a lower tax rate than his secretary is a pure apples to oranges comparison. I'm just a bit tired of "fairness" being defined as those already shouldering a disproportionate share of tax burden being forced to take on even more. Seems to me like the definition of "unfair."

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Cleared by arrest

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Cleared by arrest

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december 7, 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

End of election brings sadness D

oc, you’ve got to help me. I miss the presidential campaign. Lord, how I miss endless dissections of polls. I would turn on the TV, doc, and there would be all these talking heads yammering at me. The same things, over and over. Then they’d go to commercials and the ads would start. I miss Michelle Obama’s vegetables. I miss Ann Romney’s horse. I thought if I never saw Chuck Todd and his goatee again, it would be too soon. Now I turn on the TV looking for him. Chuck, where art thou? The fiscal cliff ? Don’t tell me to obsess over the fiscal cliff instead of the presidential campaign. It’s not even in the same league. First of all, it’s way too complicated. A dozen things going wrong all at once, how’s a guy going to keep track? What am I supposed to get the most outraged about? Sequestration? The Medicare doc fi x? The alternative minimum tax? I just don’t have enough outrage to go around. Second, I know that eventually, they’re going to fi x it. They can’t really afford to screw around. The front wheels might roll off the cliff, but not the whole wagon. Don’t tell me Benghazi, either. I see John McCain and Lindsey Graham on TV, trying to pump air into Benghazi, I think of Statler and Waldorf, the grouchy old Muppets who used to heckle Kermit the Frog. Who cares if back in September, Susan Rice, the U.N. ambassador, told the Sunday news shows something that wasn’t quite accurate about the attack on the consulate in Benghazi? Either she was fudging for intelligence reasons or she didn’t have the most up-todate information. Besides, I can remember when Colin Powell, who was secretary of state, went before the entire United Nations with incontrovertible evidence that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. I don’t remember Statler and Waldorf heckling Colin Powell. And can I tell you something, doc? On Sunday mornings, I watch ESPN. And I don’t care if Susan Rice becomes secretary of state. She’s not exactly George Marshall. You know what’s pathetic? Watching the talking heads trying to find some conflict to promote. Back in the good old days, like October, they could foam relentlessly about how the president had choked in the first debate. And a year ago, wow, it was just a

month before the Iowa caucuses. Newt Gingrich was covering ground, boasting, “I’m going to be the nominee.” Lord, how I miss Newt. Now the only time I see him on TV, he’s peddling a historical novel about the battle of Yorktown. Sure, there’s conflict, but we know who won. What am I going to do, root for the British? For a while, I whiled away a few hours on the David Petraeus-fools-around-onhis-wife saga. I bored into the details about how he would visit various CIA stations around the world and demand fresh sliced pineapple in his quarters at night. I thought maybe we had another fruitrelated espionage scandal, like Whittaker Chambers stashing secret papers in a hollowed-out pumpkin. No such luck. This was just another powerful-man-falls-for ambitiousyounger-woman story, with a pushy-socialite sidebar. Two days, tops. For a week we had that unpleasantness in Gaza, but I’m an American news consumer, doc. How many Americans do you think could locate Gaza on a map? It didn’t develop into a fullblown war, which I suppose is a good thing. And the new president of Egypt was helpful, but he quickly ruined everything by declaring himself to be in charge of everything. But foreign affairs? Really? The Middle East? Where’s the excitement in that? It’s like the presidential campaign was Thanksgiving and now all we’ve got is leftovers. I want to see Karl Rove trying to steal Ohio. I want to see David Axelrod promising to shave off his mustache. I want to see Bill Clinton ‘splainin’ things to the folks, saving Obama’s bacon, and then Obama completely ignoring him in his victory speech. But now I see that the Iowa Republican Party is thinking about ending its famous “straw poll” held 15 months before every presidential election. Sure, it’s totally meaningless. Sure, it tends to favor wingnuts who couldn’t win a general election on a bet. But without it, I’ll have to wait longer to see Chuck Todd analyzing polls again. Michele Bachmann won last year’s Iowa Straw Poll. God help me, doc. I miss Michele Bachmann. KEVIN HORRIGAN -McClatchy Newspapers

Your Views [letters to the editor]

Weekly column promotes ignorance On Thursday, Nov. 29, I read Walking the Line, a section of this newspaper which featured a piece titled “Puerto Rico, America’s ugly stepchild.” Thoughts in my mind immediately raced like stock cars as I considered the belligerence of these words. I understood Walking the Line was intended for humor, but this article, without an explanatory context whatsoever, was ignorant, arrogant and reckless. There is no humor in attempting to use fantasy football, cartoons and musical references to illustrate incoherent and false statements about Puerto Rico’s political status to a readership much in need of explanation. This article was misleading from the start. How many readers would know, I wondered, that Puerto Rico did not actually apply for statehood? Instead, Puerto Ricans on the island recently participated in the fifth plebiscite assessing public preference regarding their political status. Without diverting into a full history class, let me point to the Spanish-American War of 1898, the JonesShafroth Act of 1917 and the Balzac v. Porto Rico case of 1922 as important

references to understand the United States’ relations with Puerto Rico. Aside from the historical incongruence, the problem is that Puerto Rico’s situation is neither a fantasy football game nor a Beyonce song. To write about the politics of the Puerto Rican people only in the Animaniacs’ framework is to extract a laugh out of ignorance; it is to attempt to make people laugh because they do not know better. The author claims to have no real power. Therefore, he feels comfortable mocking a group of people to which he does not belong. His words, however, are an instrument of significance on our campus. With his keyboard, the author has the power to bring attention to issues and even influence the way readers would view a topic. On that day I was reading the Collegiate Times; the newspaper of the Hokie Nation — a nation that claims to promote diversity, inclusion and service. “That I may serve” reads the motto of this wonderful institution. And yet, the article I was reading consisted of twenty paragraphs of inflated ego and disrespect. The piece in my hands was a hostile contradiction to the values of my university. I felt sad. Not because I come from

the neighboring island of the Dominican Republic and have extensive family and friends living in Puerto Rico. I felt downhearted not because as a Latino, I clearly understood the piece as another rant against a marginalized group. Instead, I felt sad because the words I read embodied the destructive and discriminative mentality that has our planet in shambles. We make the mistake of allowing race, language, religion and political views to obstruct happiness, unity, friendship and universal love. Our languages ascribe more importance to our differences than to our commonalities. Emancipating ourselves from such rhetoric could prevent ink being wasted again. As Desmond Tutu, the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize winner, said, “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.” Danny Mota Junior Biological systems engineeirng

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december 7, 2012

Regular Edition Today’s Birthday Horoscope: Carve out alone time this year. Review diet, exercise and balance practices, and prioritize vitality. Family and loved ones have your attention and care; put your oxygen mask on first. Romance and partnerships advance before June. After that, career and finances heat up.

M W

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Piled Higher and Deeper by Jorge Cham Quote of the Day

Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid. - Albert Einstein Send us your quote and see it here! creative.services@collegemedia.com

XKDC by Randall Monroe

8 4

2 3 9

4 3 9 7

1 8

7 6 5 9 2 5 1 4 7 9

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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

Week ending December 7, 2012

By David Poole

Top Tracks Locked Out of Heaven • Bruno Mars

(1) 1 (2) 2

Girl On Fire (feat. Nicki Minaj) • Alicia Keys

(3) 3

Ho Hey • The Lumineers

Home • Phillip Phillips

Gangnam Style • PSY

12/07/12

ACROSS 1 Persian __ 5 Argentina’s Perón 9 Spectrum producer 14 One of two Monopoly squares: Abbr. 15 Not a supporter 16 Greek column type 17 Morro Castle site 18 Desktop image 19 Bakery array 20 Posh digs for comic Billy? 23 Owing too much money

24 Getaway for Gandhi 27 Feathery accessory 28 Barley beards 30 Latin 101 verb 31 Fine cotton 34 Rumors about comic Eric? 37 Decree 39 Spring mo. 40 Public commotion 41 Theme song for comic Chris? 44 Yankee nickname since 2004

45 Radius starting point: Abbr. 46 Lower intestinal parts 47 Work in a museum 49 Major or Mrs. of old comics 51 Deo __: thanks to God 55 Topics for comic Martin? 58 Sunday singers 60 Part of IBM: Abbr. 61 “The Man Who Fell to Earth” director Nicolas

62 Plunder 63 Abate 64 Give off, as light 65 Sculls in a quad scull, e.g. 66 1974 Gould/Sutherland spoof 67 Retreats with remotes DOWN 1 Name on some fashionable sunglasses 2 Complete reversal 3 Algeria neighbor 4 Scene from the past, in films 5 Game called zesta-punta in Basque 6 “I give up!” 7 On 8 1492 caravel 9 Some cubist paintings 10 Exterminator’s target 11 Feature of some pens 12 “Sprechen __ Deutsch?” 13 Game show VIPs 21 Furthermore 22 January 1st song word 25 Kind of acid in protein 26 Hybrid bike 28 Leader in Athens? 29 Existed 31 Roost 32 “What did __ deserve this?”

52 “Ready or not, here __!” 53 Ordered takeout, say 54 NCOs two levels above cpl. 56 Exec’s rackful 57 Breeze 58 Zagreb’s country, to the IOC 59 Blazin’ Blueberry drink brand

33 Windows manufacturer 35 Go out with 36 Strewn 38 Like a well-fitting suit 42 D’back or Card 43 Aggies and steelies 48 British rule in India 50 Temple U. setting 51 Bold

Thursday’s Puzzle Solved

12/06/12

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

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people & clubs

december 7, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

SAID Preparing for ﬁnals

He said: Break away from routine with reading day Exam week is approaching and students everywhere are gearing up. We all have our pre-exam traditions like emailing professors, stocking up on coffee or finally getting that Adderall prescription fi lled. But there isn’t anything that I love more than reading day. Now, I realize this can hardly be considered a tradition, since it is imposed by most universities, but for the sake of this article let’s just consider it one. Throughout the year, my body rebels against the routine that accompanies school. Between classes, weekly meetings and rigorously outlined activities, I get worn out. I like to think that I live my life on the edge, and doing the same thing every day is pretty much the definition of draining. For this reason, I love reading day. Although it is scheduled and technically routine, you never know what reading day has in store. All-male breakfast at IHOP that lasts a few hours? Check. Watch an entire season of “Dexter”? Maybe. Go home on a quick day trip? Probably not. No matter what you choose, the possibilities are endless on reading day. Sure, some studying should probably be done, but when you’re a history major, pretty much all of your exams are essays, which have been under construction for weeks. So no cramming is really needed. That’s why I enjoy exam week and reading day. Routines and schedules go out the window

and for a short period of time I get to experience an almost mini-vacation, with the exception of editing for grammar and content. There’s only one thing I really hate about exam week: everyone complaining about taking their exams. Facebook is filled with mindless chatter complaining about how in your anatomy class, you have to know which bones go where. I know I can get an occasional academic gripe in now and then, but it’s pretty illogical if you consider it. We’re paying to go to college. If you don’t want to memorize what the medulla oblongata is, then don’t. No one is forcing you to take exams, so try to tone back any ill-conceived soliloquies you’re just raring to blast all your social media friends with. At the end of the day, exams aren’t the end of the world, and we all chose to be here, so suck it up and hit the books. On that negative note, try to join me in looking on the bright side. Experience exam week this year in a new and crazy way. Instead of dread and loathing, look forward to exams with optimism in your hearts and a song on your lips. It will make the week a lot more enjoyable for everyone and yourself included. JAMES HARRIS - featured columnist - senior - history major

ALICIA TILLMAN/ COLLEGIATE TIMES

She said: provide support for stressed out friends Let me paint a picture for you: It’s the night before her column is due the week before finals. Victoria Zigadlo is sitting on my bed, eating a taquito, chugging a Red Bull and powering through one of the two presentations she has due tomorrow. So I, being the steadfast and quick-thinking friend that I am, offered to fill in this week and donate my thoughts to the cause. In general, finals week at Virginia Tech is no cakewalk. I’ve heard horror stories from engineer friends depicting gore splattered battle scenes strewn with shattered graphing calculators and lab goggles. For my breed of English major, however, it is a much different ball game. Aside

from a few cruel 7:45 a.m. exam times and equally soulcrushing one-word quote identification tests, I’ve had pretty smooth sailing on the final exam front. This being said, the week before finals is anything but relaxing for your average English major. If you want to get technical, before classes officially end, I have three final papers, a presentation and two portfolios to finish. It’s like the English program banded together and decided to hold exam week the week before actual exam week. And if you ask me, it’s all by very smart design. English is a “feelings” major. We’re supposed to read and write and feel characters, all the while taking on and understanding their emotions.

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So, I’m staying in Blacksburg through much of finals week even though my two exams are online, strictly to provide moral support to my less fortunate friends. We’re here for you, us English majors. We’re here to soak up the mental breakdowns of all the other majors. Need someone to marathon watch “How I Met Your Mother” with you as you put off your studying? I’m your girl. Need someone to peel you off some sidewalk Downtown after you’ve effectively bombed your final and consequently ended your life in one fell swoop? As long as you don’t vomit in my car, I’ll DD. All of this is not to say that I am without my own stressors though. I have just cho-

sen to pull the oldest trick in the book and am pretending I don’t actually have anything to worry about. That is of course, until some dark time this weekend where I will undoubtedly curse myself for procrastinating and sop up a carton of ice cream with a term paper. Even as I write this, Victoria and I have regressed from actually being productive to the inevitable 2 a.m. Justin Timberlake music break. Hey, it’s pre-finals week though. Cut me some slack. And some Sexy Back. DANIELLE BUYNAK - special sections design editor - junior - English major

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DARREN & CARLA DON’T FORGET TO PICK UP THE COLLEGIATE TIMES TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Use your powers of observation. Work with close associates today and tomorrow. A loved one offers excellent advice. Listen closely, and hold your comments until asked. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Begin to develop the necessary resources. Get current accounting data, and ask for strategy updates from your teammates. Advance your career while you’re at it. Angels guide your actions. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) You’re making a good impression. Don’t get presumptuous. Concentrate on studies, and conditions are better for travel now, too. Ask provocative questions.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Attend to inancial matters for the next two days, and turn your plan into the perfect thing. A co-worker and a loved one are your best allies. Aries (March 21-April 19) A great idea regarding money comes from afar. Review instructions. Friends connect you to a new associate who could become a valuable partner. It’s getting romantic. Taurus (April 20-May 20) Focus on work today and tomorrow, including paperwork. It’s getting busy, so stick to practical basics. Express your thoughts freely at home. Friends speak well of you.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Romance blossoms for a while, with a few hurdles. Set long-term goals with your sweetheart. Be sure you have all the information. Take notes. You’re gaining support.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Work hard and make lots of money. Talk over ideas with co-workers. Provide leadership. Finish an old task and pro it. Gather resources together. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Get the opinions of close family before proceeding. You’re entering a more domestic phase. Gather information. Keep your inancial situation con idential. Invest in success and gain respect.

Prepare mentally, and then adapt as needed. Use your power responsibly. They’ve been waiting for you to say the word. Check your course with friends, then full speed ahead.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Use the secret sauce. Put in the extra effort, study and ask questions. Believe you can. Accept the coaching. Don’t push yourself too hard. Any forward momentum counts.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Today is a 5 -- Deadlines are looming; better get back to work. Slow down and think it over. It’s getting introspective. Friends help you go farther. Use your imagination. Repay a favor.

dating since: February 4, 2009 he says: Carla is very silly in her own way, and she has a great sense of humor. She is special to me because she is someone I can seek advice from as a friend, or I can just enjoy her company. I love her because she is always caring, devoted, and genuinely beautiful in every way.

she says: I love everything about him: He’s so kind and smart and wonderful, and he genuinely makes me laugh. He’s a total sweetheart, and we always have the best time together. I love that above all else, he is still my loving, supportive, and goofy best friend. their first date:

Our first date was like something out of a cheesy 80’s movie. We were both 16, and still just best friends. It was Valentine’s Day, and we were invited to a big roller-skating party. We had been friends for about a year, and at this point, we were both secretly starting to like each other. So, we went to the party, and ended up holding hands and skating for the entire night. At the end of it, we told each other how we felt, and officially became a couple 10 days later.

sports 8 Dual perspectives: ACC bowl games

editors: matt jones, zach mariner

december 7, 2012

sportseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865

COLLEGIATETIMES

The ACC went 2-6 in bowl games in the 2011 season. Will the league improve on that mark in 2012?

ACC likely to keep losing in bowls The ACC has been mediocre at best this year, and that will unfortunately continue this bowl season. Last year, the ACC went 2-6 in bowl games, and the last time the ACC had a winning record during the bowl season was 2005. Combined with underachieving teams and tough matchups, the ACC will continue the trend and have another losing record this year. After looking at the schedule, there are two bowl games that the ACC will almost surely lose. In the Sun Bowl, the ACC costal division winner Georgia Tech (6-7) will play former No. 1 ranked USC (7-5). Georgia Tech has one of the least explosive offenses in the country and is ranked No. 79 in defense. It faces one of the best offenses in the country, loaded with NFL talent. Georgia Tech could get blown off the field in this one. The Chick-fil-A bowl could probably be considered one of the best ACC bowl games this year, but I can very easily see Clemson (10-2) losing to LSU (10-2).

“

If Florida State ﬁnds a way to lose this game, the bowl season will be truly horrible for the ACC this year.”

Clemson has an explosive offense but their defense hasn’t showed up all season. Clemson’s offense struggled in a loss to in-state rival South Carolina, which has the 13th ranked defense. LSU has the No. 11 defense in the country, and Clemson will have trouble scoring and will not have enough defense to stop LSU’s offense. The Music City Bowl in Nashville is another ACCSEC matchup that pits Vanderbilt (8-4), against NC State (7-5). NC State recently fired their head coach after what they considered a disappointing season and will have an interim head coach at the helm for this game. Vanderbilt, who is led by NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ brother, Jordan Rodgers, will try to lead Vanderbilt to their first nine-win season since 1915. Vanderbilt is riding a six-game win streak coming into this game and is led by their 15th ranked defense. While North Carolina State is led by NFL quar-

MCT CAMPUS

E.J. Manuel and the Florida State Seminoles face Northern Illinois Huskies in the Orange Bowl. The Seminoles will represent the ACC in the league’s lone BCS bowl game. terback prospect Mike Glennon, it will be tough to win this game during the middle of a coaching transition against a hot Vanderbilt team looking to cap off its surprising season with a victory. In the Belk Bowl, Duke (6-6) will take on a surprising Cincinnati team (9-3), which won a share of the Big East title this season. Duke started off this season strong but has lost four straight and five of their last six. Cincinnati won a close game against Virginia Tech, a team that blew out Duke 41-20 earlier this season. While it is great Duke has made a bowl game for the first time since 1995, I doubt it will be able to pull it together to beat a strong Cincinnati team. A game the ACC should win, but will be a tough test, is Tech’s bowl game against Rutgers (9-3) in Orlando. Tech (6-6) has struggled all year, and Rutgers has lost three of its last five games. The strength of both teams is defense, and between, Logan Thomas and Rutgers quarterback Gary Nova, they have thrown a combined 29 interceptions. The only bowl game that I can see as a definite win for the ACC is the Orange Bowl in Miami. Northern Illinois (12-1) only has one win all season against a power conference team and lost to lowly Iowa earlier this year. If Florida State finds a way to lose this game, the bowl season will be truly horrible for the ACC this year. JAMES MCNAMARA -sports staff writer -sophomore -civil engineering

ACC will improve on 2011 losses in 2012 The ACC has a good opportunity to come out of the 2012 bowl season with a winning record. Coming off the worst bowl record out of any Automatic Qualif ying (AQ) conference last year, the ACC has favorable matchups this year and looks to change the conference’s poor reputation. The conference has been criticized for its bad performance in bowls in recent years and for good reason. The ACC finished last bowl season with a dismal 2-6 record and a 0-2 record in Bowl Championship Series bowls. Under the current BCS system, the ACC has won just two out of the 13 BCS bowl games it has played in. Those two wins are Virginia Tech’s Orange Bowl win over Cincinnati in 2009 and Florida State’s win over Tech in the 1999 National Championship, back when the Hokies were a part of the Big East. Although the conference has struggled in recent years, this might be the year for the ACC to change its losing trend. The ACC’s bowl season starts off with Duke playing Cincinnati in the Belk Bowl on Dec. 27. The Duke Blue Devils haven’t been to a bowl game since 1994, and I expect them to come out ready to go against a good Cincinnati team. The Bearcats are favored in this game, but Duke’s passing game will keep it close. The Bearcats have given up quite a few points to

teams that like to throw the ball, which is perfect for a Duke team led by the quarterback/receiver duo of Sean Renfree and Connor Vernon. The Blue Devils will make this game close, but I believe will fall just short of winning. Tech plays the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the Russell Athletic Bowl, and if you like defense, then this is the game for you. The Scarlet Knights have arguably the best defense

“

The ACC ﬁnished last bowl season with a dismal 2-6 record and 0-2 record in BCS bowls.”

in the Big East, and the Hokies saw significant improvement on the defensive side of the ball in the second half of the season. The team that wins the turnover margin will win this game. Rutgers quarterback Gary Nova can be turnover prone at times, and I think the Hokies aggressive pass rush will force him into some bad decisions and ultimately the Hokies will win the game. Star quarterback Mike Glennon leads North Carolinna State against the Vanderbilt Commodores in the Music City Bowl. This game will be played

in the Commodores’ backyard and will be virtually a home game for them. The Commodores rely on the running game to open up their offense, meaning the Wolfpack will need to attack early so the Commodores will be forced to throw more often than they would like. If this game becomes a quarterback battle between Glennon and Vanderbilt’s Jordan Rodgers, I am taking Glennon. At first glance the matchup between Georgia Tech and the USC Trojans in the Sun Bowl looks to be a double-digit win for the Trojans. Georgia Tech will have its hands full on defense going against a much more athletic offense than they have seen all season. However, the one thing Georgia Tech has going for them is its triple option offense. If the Yellow Jackets can control the time of possession and keep the ball away from USC quarterback Matt Barkley, they could make things interesting. Also, the Trojans had National Championship aspirations at the beginning of this year, and it will be interesting to see how much they really want to be playing in this game. At the end of the day, I still think USC is way too much for the Yellow Jackets to handle. The Clemson Tigers face off against LSU in the Chick-fil-A bowl in Atlanta and you can bet the Clemson players are thinking about last year’s Orange Bowl where they got blown

out by West Virginia, 70-33. I expect the Clemson players to come out with a chip on their shoulder and pull the upset. Although the Clemson defense has not improved much from last season, I think it can slow down a mediocre LSU offense. Just like NC State, Clemson will need to get up early and force quarterback Zach Mettenberger into some mistakes. Finally, we have the Florida State Seminole representing the ACC in the Orange Bowl. They will face this year’s most controversial BCS bowl team, the Northern Illinois Huskies. The Seminoles are more athletic at almost every position and are the heavy favorites in this game. Although Florida State is the superior team, they need to watch out for this Huskies team. The Huskies have taken a lot of criticism for being in this game and will be doing their best to prove everyone wrong. The Huskies offense relies almost entirely on quarterback Jordan Lynch, who has thrown for nearly 3,000 yards and rushed for another 1,700. Although Lynch has put up big numbers this season, the Florida State defense will be by far the best he has played against and should be able to shut him down. DAVID COOPER -sports staff writer -sophomore -aerospace engineering

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

sports

december 7, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

Hokies set to renew rivalry with Mountaineers BRITTANY KEUP sports staff writer

Fans of Virginia Tech basketball are known to experience disappointment each season, but after a quick 7-0 start, the program has done nothing but exceed fans’ expectations. And Saturday, the Hokies will take on long-lost rival West Virginia. The last time the Hokies played the Mountaineers was in 2004, before Tech decided to join the ACC. At that point, the two teams had played each other since 1968. Despite that history, this particular team has no idea about the rivalry between the two in the past or what the Mountaineers will bring to the court. “I didn’t even know the last time we played them was 2004, so those guys don’t have a clue, and that’s not something I’m going to talk to them about, because those guys in 2004 were freshmen, sophomores in high school, even middle school, if that,” said James Johnson, head coach. “I don’t think they knew where West Virginia was unless they were in history class, looking at a map or something.” In the preseason, the Hokies were looking to rekindle that rivalry by adding the Mountaineers to their 20122013 and 2013-2014 schedules, which at that point was one of the biggest names being added to Tech’s schedule. Saturday, rather than focusing on the rivalry between the Hokies and the Mountaineers, Johnson is treating this just like any other game. “I haven’t talked about the rivalry at all, it’s just that WVU happens to be the next

team on the schedule and it just happens to be on the road and here’s how we’re going to approach it, here’s our game plan,” Johnson said. Before the season started, the Hokies were plagued with the controversial fi ring of Seth Greenburg and as a result, many players departed the team in the preseason and added walk-ons to the team. As a result, Johnson and the players have been looking to the leadership of the ACC’s third-leading scorer Erick Green to carry this team to victory. “He’s leading these guys on and off the floor,” Johnson said. “He’s not a vocal leader, but he’s leading by example. He’s one of the hardest workers we’ve got, he was in the gym at 7 o’clock this morning. I always hear the ball bouncing when I’m in the office, and I know it’s him.” Despite having star-players like Green in the past, the Hokies have consistently fallen to the Mountaineers because of their quick ball movement and smooth teamwork, but Marshall Wood believes the Hokies are on the fl ipside of the Mountaineers this year. “We defi nitely move a lot faster than them, since they’re kind of big, so they’ll move kind of slow, so we’ll definitely try and get them out of position to get some easy buckets,” the freshman forward said. But the question is, can the Hokies improve their 7-0 record to a 8-0 record, and are they ready to take on the Mountaineers in unknown territory? “No question, we’re ready,” Wood said. Tip-off between the Hokies and Mountaineers is set for 4 BEN WEIDLICH / SPPS p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN2. Joey van Zegeren dunks the ball in last week’s game against Iowa. Van Zegeren recorded his ﬁrst career double-digit scoring performance.

Immediate.

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21st century news doesn’s wait for a print run. The Collegiate Times regularly updates its news blog with breaking news, interesting info, guest blogs and commentary.

december 7, 2012