Friday, January 25, 2013 Print Edition

Friday, January 25, 2013

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

COLLEGIATETIMES 109th year, issue 61 News, page 2

People & Clubs, page 4

Opinions, page 5

Hokies lose to rivaled UVa

Study Break, page 6

Students develop custom jewelry

BEN WEIDLICH / SPPS

Katelyn Branson displays a pair of earrings she has fashioned.

ASHLEY ADAMS features staff writer

TREVOR WHITE / SPPS

Forward Joey van Zegeren attempts a hook shot over UVa Cavalier Mike Tobey. Van Zegeren was scored two points and had five rebounds.

MATT JONES used a 24-2 run in the first half Hokies a very small margin for continued to struggle in their sports editor to gain the lead before Green error. Green’s 35 points keep role as starters, combining for ended the half with six-straight him decimal points ahead of nine points on 2-of-14 shooting. points. The Hokies went into Creighton junior forward Doug The Hokies return to action Erick Green’s career high 35 the locker room trailing 34-25. McDermott in points per game. Sunday afternoon when they points weren’t enough Thursday Virginia’s slow pace and transi- Should he continue to excel, he will travel to Clemson, S.C. to night as the Hokies fell to the tion defense took the Hokies out could be a candidate for first face the Tigers. Tip off is set for Virginia Cavaliers 74-58. of their comfort zone for most of team All-American and ACC 1 p.m.

The senior remains in first the night.

Player of the Year. Evan Nolte place in the nation in points Tech finished with 14 turnovers posted a career high 18 points per game, but the Hokies have and only two transition points. for the Cavaliers in the win. Joe SEE FULL STORY ON failed to find consistent second- The Cavaliers scored 20 points Harris added 17.

COLLEGIATETIMES.COM ary scoring options. Virginia off Hokies turnovers, giving the Robert Brown and Jarell Eddie

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When it comes to accessorizing, Katelyn Branson can rely on her natural talent for crafting jewelry.

The Virginia Tech junior and her friend Kristina Brown have designed their own line of sea glass jewelry together.

“If I have an outfit and I really need a pair of earrings to go with it, I’ll just make it,” Branson the human development major said. “It’s perfect.”

Branson and Brown recently began making their jewelry this past summer to sell at a bazaar where local artisans were able to showcase and sell their work. However, Brown, a student at Old Dominion University, said the concept didn’t come to them right off the bat.

Initially, the two began by making magnetic picture frames and had intended to sell them at the craft fair.

But after examining pieces of sea glass they had found in the Chesapeake Bay, they decided to give jewelry making a try as well.

According to Branson and Brown, the glass isn’t particularly hard to come by in Virginia Beach, where the two are from. With each piece of sea glass varying from the next, and the multitude of beads and wire patterns the two employ, the two have designed an impressive range of designs and styles.

However, the skill took time and effort with both Branson and Brown progressing over time.

“There were hits and misses,” Brown said. “But the great thing about it is that you can just start over.”

Branson laughed when she reminisced over the learning process.

“We wasted a lot of wire,” Branson said. “You have to wrap it a certain way so the glass doesn’t fall out, so we had to unwrap it. But once you wrap it you can’t really use it again because it’s kinked.”

Fortunately, the two weren’t completely alone in their training. They learned the basics from a friend of Branson’s mother. After learning the technical process of making the jewelry, Branson and Brown were free to experiment with the method and develop their own styles.

Apart from the varying types of glass, Branson and Brown also decided to use beads in their designs to ensure creations that are one of a kind.

The first step in creating a design is finding the glass. Both find every piece they use themselves, which Brown says sets their process apart because many designers simply order their sea glass from a supplier.

All the glass they use was found locally in Virginia Beach or Hampton, Va. But the trick to finding enough pieces isn’t combing the shoreline, according to Branson. Rather, the two find their pieces in shipyards and shipping lanes where the glass is more likely to have been deposited.

After they collect the sea glass, they take the next step by sorting through the pieces to find ones that look similar enough to create a cohesive design for a pair of earrings. Since they don’t order their glass they some see JEWELRY / page three

Incoming Dean of Pamplin shares experiences, ideas DEAN SEAL associate news editor

After several weeks of deliberation, Senior Vice President and Provost Mark McNamee announced over winter break that Robert T. Sumichrast, current dean of the Terry College of Business at University of Georgia, has been appointed the new dean of the Pamplin College of Business Virginia Tech.

Despite having a qualified candidate pool, McNamee said Sumichrast stood out from his two main competitors.

“Any one of the three could have made a positive contribution, so it was an interesting problem to have: a choice,” McNamee said. “Robert Sumichrast emerged as an outstanding candidate. He had a great vision for the college, terrific experience (from) two major universities … his ideas and plans for the college made sense.”

Among the qualities that

the college to another level.”

In an interview with the Collegiate Times, Sumichrast discussed his tenure as a Hokie, the experience he gained at other schools, and his hopes for the semesters to come.

Collegiate Times: What can you tell me about your background as a leader within business academics?

Richard Sumichrast: I started my career at Virginia Before I left, I was the SUMICHRAST Tech. associate dean for graduate best suited him for the job: and international programs his history as a Hokie. in the Pamplin College. I Sumichrast served as an had served in a number of associate dean at Tech, academic and professional before moving on to be dean organizations. In 2003, I of other business schools. was given a chance to be “He’s been gone long the dean of the business enough to bring in a whole school at Louisiana State new set of fresh ideas, but University, which is the he could get a very quick flagship state university of start,” McNamee said. “He Louisiana. Then in 2007, I knew some folks, he knew had a chance to go to the the institution, he knew University of Georgia to he would like it here, and be the dean of the Terry I think he was excited to College of Business, in come back and help move the flagship school of the

state. That’s where I’m at right now. I’ve also served in a number of capacities for the Associate for the Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business, and in other professional capacities.

“

tant professor in a department called management science at the time. Made a lot of good friends; I met the woman who I eventually married, and we got married at the War Memorial Chapel. We lived in Foxridge Apartments when we first were married. So we have a lot of good memories from that time. Of course, I was able to make progress on a professional basis as well; I was eventually promoted to full professor, and as I mentioned, to associate dean.

The ability to go back to where I started my career, to be closer to my family, to connect with so many people.. it was too wonderful to CT: So I guess we could say you’re sort of a grassroots pass up.”

Hokie then?

RS: You could say that.

Robert T. Sumichrast That’s right.

Incoming Dean of Pamplin CT: What can you tell me more about your time as CT: What can you tell me dean at the University of about the time you spent Georgia? working at Virginia Tech?

RS: I’ve had a good time RS: It was a wonderful at the university, and it’s an time in my life. It was right excellent business school. after my time in graduate I enjoy the people I know school. I started as an assis- here, and the students. I

enjoy being close to Atlanta.

So there are a lot of good things about University of Georgia. We’ve got a great music scene in Athens.

Since I’ve been here, we’ve focused on improving our undergraduate programs, our MBA, and our faculty and their research capabilities. One of the key things we look at for our undergraduate programs is placement. We’ve done our own survey of graduates in the business school shortly after graduation, and after the recession hit in the May 2008 class, only about 46 percent of graduates had jobs shortly after graduation. Each year that’s increased up to 79 percent with the most recent class.

CT: Wow. That’s impressive.

RS: So there’s a lot of improvement there. We’ve seen our MBA’s with the highest placements ever, see DEAN / page two

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january 25, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES

editors: priscilla alvarez, mallory noe-payne, dean seal newseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865

Dean: Sumichrast ready to return from page one

and an average starting salary of about $95,000 a year.

So, I think putting a lot of emphasis on placement has been very beneficial for our students.

CT: Well, it sounds like you’ve done a lot of good over at the University of Georgia.

Why is it that you decided to come back to Tech?

RS: Well, fi rst of all, the Pamplin College of Business is a very excellent business school, and as is the university as a whole. A lot of the reason was because I saw professional opportunities to improve the school further and build on what Dean Sorensen has done. But certainly a lot of the reason is personal. The ability to go back to where I started my career, to be closer to my family, to connect with so

many people we knew for years — it was too wonderful to pass up.

CT: Do you have any apprehensions about returning to Virginia from Georgia?

Other than maybe that it’s just going to be a lot colder?

RS: (laughing) Actually my wife and I talked about how we’re going to have to get a lot of new clothes to be able to enjoy the winters up in Blacksburg.

CT: Obviously, when you come back in July you’ll need some time to settle in, but do you have any policy changes in mind for when you take office?

RS: No, I think it makes more sense to get my feet on the ground and to talk to a lot of people to see what their prospective is of the programs we have, what they

see as opportunities, what they see as needs, both academically and in terms of resources. So, I plan to have meetings with the faculty in Pamplin, meeting with the students, and meeting with the business community, who will be largely alumni from Pamplin.

CT: Should Pamplin students expect any changes within the next year, or expect to be able to confer with you more about the college?

RS: One of the things that I’ve done at the Terry College that I think worked well was to have a number of different ways that I could get input from students. For example, every semester we have an open mic session, where anyone can come. I’ll give an update on the college, and students can tell

me what they think is going well, and where they think opportunities for improvement lay. We’ve tackled anything from specific courses, to structure in a degree program, and we can make changes with input from students. I also will often meet with small groups of students who are perhaps leaders in organizations …

I look for a number of different ways to connect with students, sometimes in large groups, sometimes in small groups, to try and get good insight into what’s working and what isn’t. Whether or not you choose to come to a mic session, or you’ll be in a smaller group, I don’t know, but stop by my office and we can talk about it.

Follow the writer on Twitter: @jdeanseal

Congressional panel questions Kerry PAUL RICHTER mcclatchy newspapers

WASHINGTON — Sen. John F. Kerry pledged Thursday that as secretary of state he would de-emphasize the military role “thrust upon on us” by Sept. 11, saying “we cannot afford a diplomacy that is defined by troops or drones or confrontation.”

Appearing at his confirmation hearing before long-t i me col leag ues on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the Massachusetts Democrat said it is time to spotlight America’s international efforts to promote human rights, fight disease and lift the world’s poor.

“We cannot allow the extraordinary good we do to save and change lives to be eclipsed entirely,” said Kerry, a 28-year Senate veteran and his party’s 2004 presidential nominee.

Kerry, a loyal ally and occasional diplomatic representative of the administration, was giving another signal that the White House intends to close the door on a decade of war, as President Barack Obama said at his inauguration ceremony Monday. His comments veered from the administration script only in its implications about drones, which the White House has embraced as a low-cost counterterrorism tool but which Kerry’s statement cast in an unflattering light.

Kerry, who made his first congressional appearances as a shaggy anti-war veteran in 1971, is expected to easily win confirmation, allowing him to succeed Hillary Rodham Clinton early next month. Indeed, many Senate Republicans actively pro-

moted him as a candidate when they were seeking to block the candidacy of U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan E. Rice, whom they considered too partisan.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., told the committee that he recommended Kerry “without reservation” and predicted the Democrat would easily win confirmation.

Even while highlighting the administration’s interest in peacemaking, Kerry endorsed the administration’s threat to go to war against Iran if that country refuses to accept curbs on its controversial nuclear program.

U.S. policy on Iran “is not containment,” he said.

“The president has made it definitive — we will do what we must to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.”

Senate Republicans have been deeply concerned by the administration’s signals that it intends to redefine the terms of America’s military involvement abroad.

But GOP members didn’t press Kerry hard on the ad mi nist rat ion’s foreign policy direction, and seemed more worried about other current and future members of the Obama team.

Three Republican senators were still smarting from comments by Clinton at a hearing Wednesday, in which she challenged GOP members’ focus on whether the administration had sought to shade the truth in its early explanations of the deadly militant attacks on the U.S. mission in Benghazi, Libya.

The senators signaled that they intend to keep pursuing answers in the 4-month-old controversy.

Clinton had slammed Sen.

what you’re saying On IMAX coming to Blacksburg

Anonymous: Believe it when it is there and

won’t help all those already wiped out of business there already. Many destroyed small businesses in Blacksburg. Willma: Why is Blacksburg allowing this? Yeah it will create more traffic to First and Main but we already have all of these amenities in the burg not to mention the huge theater in Cburg.

No college student is going to want to throw down 18 bucks for an Imax and if you want to bowl go hang out in squires. Go to the Lyric and watch movies that are actually worth your time instead.

Karen: Well Willma... College students aren’t

the only people who live in Blacksburg. As a nonstudent, I’m not really into bowling in Squires, and I don’t always feel like driving out to Cburg. I’ll definitely still go to the Lyric, but I’m certain the IMAX will have some neat movies too.

Karen: I’m amused by the arcade though. How very 1980s. Do people still go to arcades?

ZAB2010: I think this is great news... looking at the other theaters and “CineBowl” locations that are operated by Frank Theaters they are all very nice and tickets are more reasonably priced than Regal (about $7 for a regular movie versus $11 at Regal). I would love to be able to spend my money in town, I just need the venues to do it!

Dontgetexcited: It won’t be a true IMAX

experience. It’s marketing. It’s still a small screen just with extra speakers...It is nothing to get excited about. When they actually build a 5 story screen to project 72mm film then you can call it IMAX...till then...its marketing to make money.

Save your cash see the regular version...you wont be disappointed and you will have saved some money for popcorn.

MCT CAMPUS

Sen. John F. Kerry argues the U.S. should promote human rights.

Ron Johnson, R-Wis., for asking why she had not made greater efforts immediately after the attack to gather facts on whether the administration’s statements on it had been accurate.

“I think it matters a great deal that the American people get the truth,” he insisted on Thursday.

Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., the new ranking minority member of the committee, expressed concern that Chuck Hagel, Obama’s nominee for defense secretary, belonged to a group, Global Zero, that seeks the eventual elimination of all nuclear weapons.

Kerry reassured Corker that eliminating all nuclear weapons was only an “aspiration” for the group. “We’re not talking about today’s world,” he said.

Kerry also voiced hope that the death or retirement of

the ailing President Hugo Chavez in Venezuela could open the way for better relations with one of America’s chief adversaries in the hemisphere.

“There may really be an opportunity for a transition there,” Kerry said.

Administration officials have said little publicly about their hopes for change in Venezuela, fearing it would suggest that the United States may be secretly maneuvering to undermine the government in Caracas.

Kerry said he intended to examine whether the United States should scale back its sizable work force in Iraq, which he said still consists of about 1,000 personnel and about 4,000 contract employees, even though U.S. forces have departed.

“That’s a pretty big footprint,” he said.

Anonymous: However though the IMAX may not be something worth having to some... this company does provide motion seats and some other “enhanced” features at some of their theaters. I would think that they would want to put in the newest technology in their newest theater. If so, for those who wouldn’t get motion sick, it may be fun experience to have a “Disney type” experience during the movie.

Boooo0oooo0o0o000o00oo: Say goodbye to more local businesses downtown. This almost feels like a sprawl shift in town. Just what everyone loves!

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people & clubs 3 Club finds adventure at great depths editors: emma goddard, nick smirniotopoulos

january 25, 2013

featureseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865

COLLEGIATETIMES

JESSICA GROVES features staff writer

Even when the temperature drops below zero, Virginia Tech students will brave the cold to pursue an activity they love.

Members of the VPI Cave Club like to take a different kind of plunge — a plunge into the earth, where, ironically, temperatures are mild.

According to John Mulheren, president of the VPI Cave Club, Virginia’s average yearly temperature is around 52 degrees.

“Caves are the same temperature all year round, so in the winter you go into a cave and there is natural heating,” he said.

This means that no matter the weather, the club is always preparing trips.

Mulheren had no caving experience before he joined the club his freshman year, yet he trained to become a member and president.

Gobblerfest is the club’s biggest source of new membership.

The VPI Cave Club has opened its arms to the Blacksburg community since its start in 1942.

Students Tommy Watts, Ralph Hess and George Crabb started the club,

which grew significantly after World War II. The club was one of the first to join the National Speleologica l Societ y, which now connects more than 250 other cave-related groups.

VPI Cave Club’s mission hasn’t changed. The entire Blacksburg community is welcome at each caving trip and Mulheren said the club is able to offer a unique experience to every newcomer.

“At Gobblerfest, the big thing is that we offer free trips,” Mulheren said.

“People always expect a catch. Nobody believes we’re lending out nice gear and giving free rides back and forth.”

Because the club can offer so many conveniences, many of the group’s members make it out to the caves every weekend. Vice President Courtney Trost has a near-perfect attendance record and leads most of the club’s expeditions.

“Leading new people is my favorite thing,” Trost, a junior business information technology major said. “It’s really important to know that anyone can try caving, no matter what experience or gear your have.”

Trost was introduced to the cave club at Gobblerfest.

Her first caving trip followed only a few days later.

“They describe caving as a combination of hiking and rock climbing, but it wasn’t really what I expected,” Trost said. “It’s really muddy and there are a variety of ways you can cave.”

VPI Cave Club spends most of its time in Giles County caves on noncommercial land, so the group has always fostered strong relationships with New River Valley landowners.

The club puts an emphasis on caving as a respectful experience.

“Virtually every cave we go to is on some private property,” Mulheren said. “We try not to give out too much information about cave sites because a lot of these caves are on some farmers’ properties.”

The club doesn’t only stay in Blacksburg. Mulheren highlighted a trip to the Cave of the Swallows in Mexico as a standout experience.

“Rappelling down only takes a couple of minutes,” Mulheren said, “but climbing up is like being on a

COURTESY OF VPI CAVE CLUB

Over time, VPI Cave Club has gained much recognition and has seen major growth with its members.

Stairmaster for an hour.”

Both members consider some of the older cavers are The Cave of the Swallows leadership to be the best more focused on leading is the largest known cave part of their club experi- training events than actual shaft in the world, as it ence. trips. drops 1,092 feet from the “In my opinion, caving is The VPI Cave Club has lower opening of the cave 30 percent physical and 70 an entire committee dedishaft. The cave is named percent mental,” Mulheren cated to practicing cavfor the parakeets and swifts said. “Seeing newcomers ing techniques; members that reside in the walls of make progress and get bet- consider this the most the pit. ter at techniques on their important part of the While Mexico offers sever- first trip is so exciting.” club. al places for vertical caving “Caving is very much a As vice president, Trost to take place, Blacksburg team sport,” Trost added. “I is responsible for trainlends cavers a variety of like to see new people hav- ing anyone seeking club excursions to take. The cav- ing fun and working togeth- membersh ip, wh ich ing club takes members and er when I’m leading a trip.” takes approximately one visitors on several different Mulheren said that some year. trips, including brief sport alumni even stick around to “To become a member, you trips and longer surveying enjoy what the NRV has to have to have spent 40 coltrips. offer. For instance, Nellie’s lective hours underground,” According to Mulheren Cave Park is located less Trost said. “Most people can and Trost, beginner caving than 10 minutes from cam- easily reach that goal for trips usually lasts around pus. experience.” two hours, but some spend Mulheren said that a lot of Tech boasts more than 700 weeks submerged in the people move to the area just student clubs and organiEarth. Trips can be photog- for the caves. zations, but Mulheren said raphy-based, sport-based or Just like any other sport, that he tries to expose as simply for enjoyment. technology has begun to many as possible to the “Since we know a lot of redefine the sport of caving. sport of caving because of the caves in the area, most New techniques and equip- the difference VPI Cave of our trips are planned ment help the cave club to Club made in his life. the day before,” Mulheren explore. One example of “When I first came to said. these changes is the switch Tech, I didn’t know many “We can have a meeting from carbide headlamps to people. I didn’t have a lot to Friday and wake up the next LED lights, which are more do,” Mulheren said. morning and just decide to energy-efficient.

“With caving, I felt like I go caving Saturday.”

“Many of the more tradi- was doing something with Mulheren and Trost are tional climbers use carbide, my life, and I’m trying to both focused on helping which is a small f lame,” make as many people as possible experience that COURTESY OF VPI CAVE CLUB potential cavers see the Mulheren said.

Mulheren also noted that feeling.”

Many of the club’s members often spend their weekends together by visiting caves at nearby locations. world from the inside out.

Jewelry: Friends bond by crafting from page one

times find that uniformity can be an issue.

A complete set of earrings could mean sorting through several pieces of glass in order to find the right combination. Branson said that sorting the glass by color and size makes the process a little easier.

“They’re not exactly alike, but we try to pair them up as best as possible,” Branson explained.

When the pieces of glass have been selected, the actual design starts to come together.

“I like a lot of earthy colors like greens,” Brown said. “And Katelyn likes the brighter colors.”

Such differing tastes have led to an array of designs that capture their individual tastes. The results end up being quite dazzling, as the glass tends to catch the sunlight. While many of the pieces feature glass of different shapes and color, others are displayed as a rainbow of colors. Imaginative wire patterns and beads adorn them and some even include tassels.

“Each one is different depending on the shape of the glass,” Branson said.

“There’s no set design.”

To Branson and Brown, designing jewelry is more than a creative way to make a little bit of extra cash over the summer. Instead, it is a bonding experiencing. The two have grown up together, and their mothers attended

COURTESY OF KATELYN BRANSON

When they can find time together, Katelyn Branson and Kristina Brown sell their jewelry at local bazaars. the same nursing school and are now nurses at the same hospital.

Designing jewelry and other crafts is their way of sharing quality time together over the summer — something that’s considerably more difficult during the school year with both attending different schools.

Both Branson and Brown know that the time they have put in to master their work has paid off and comes with its benefits. Although Branson said making this jewelry is more of a hobby rather than a future career, it’s something that will always keep the two friends connected.

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january 25, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES

Honoring MLK’s life MAX LUONG news staff writer

Tonight, the Center for the Arts will present a special musical performance in celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s historical accomplishments.

“What Is This Thing Called Freedom?” will commence at 8:00 this Friday evening at the Lyric Theatre. Tickets are $10 for students and children, $16 for seniors and faculty and $20 for the general public.

Violinist Diane Monroe will be accompanied by her quartet and vocalist Paul Jost. The renowned jazz and classical fusion performers will cover the works of a coterie of significant artists from the Civil Rights era – including Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and Pete Seeger.

The show marks the conclusion of a weeklong series of civil rights-themed campus events. Earlier in the week, the Pamplin College of Business Diversity Jubilee honored the accomplishments of individuals’ and groups’ contributions to diversity. The Squires Student Center hosted a reception in the Perspective Gallery, featuring a poster of Dr. King and essay submissions.

“We held a brunch for K-12 students with winning essay submissions in our MLK contest,” said Linda Greene at the Office for Diversity and Inclusion.

The Office for Diversity and Inclusion has worked to bring expression and appreciation for King’s legacy in tonight’s musical reflection.

Students admired the peer-created artwork in Squires throughout the week.

“I think it’s great that we’re celebrating the history of Civil Rights, especially now,” said Tim Greene, a freshman engineering major.

Follow the writer on Twitter: @MaxLuongCT

editors: priscilla alvarez, mallory noe-payne, dean seal newseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865

Sequestration could affect research DONAL MURPHY news reporter

As Congress goes through turmoil, Virginia Tech will be stuck along for the ride.

While the Senate and House were narrowly able to delay the automatic spending cuts, known as sequestration, on January 1, 2013, there is still a possibility that it could affect Tech.

The plan includes $1 trillion in spending cuts, including $500 billion in defense, as well as budget cuts to almost all other departments of the government. Given that Tech receives funding as a state institution, it is also at threat along with other universities and government agencies.

“I can think of two ways we might be impacted,” said Ken Miller, the Assistant Vice President

for Finance and University Controller.

“

Certainly we would be talking to our legislators in our area to let them know of impacts that might happen...”

Ken Miller Assistant Vice President for Finance and University Controller

“The first would be indirectly, and that would be the sequestration would affect the Commonwealth’s economy, base closings or other cutbacks, which would affect state tax revenues, which then might lead to budget cuts or other

consequences for the state as a whole.

“The other would be the potential that our research grants and contracts might be frozen at current levels or funding might not be available as readily as it might have been in the past,” he said.

With research funding being the most likely cause impact at Tech from sequestration, other groups that would be affected are the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, the Carilion Research Institute in Roanoke, and the College of Engineering.

However, in spite of the potential upcoming cuts, most are relatively optimistic about avoiding them.

“We have not been alerted by any of our program officers at federal agencies with which we have con-

tracts or grants that we are in any eminent danger of losing already committed funds,” said Roderick Hall, senior associate director for Operations and Finance at the VTTI. “We are therefore cautiously optimistic that sequestration will not have an immediate impact on us,” Hall said.

According to Hall though, they are still attempting to diversify their research portfolio and are looking for other potential sources of external funding to avoid the possible adverse effects of sequestration.

In addition, Tech plans to further attempt to avoid the automatic cuts going into effect altogether.

“Certainly we would be talking to our legislators in our area to let them know of impacts that might happen, but like any other organization, it’s hard to have a

significant direct impact on how the federal government is behaving or not behaving, as the case may be,” Miller said.

Despite all the preparations, the fate of sequestration and the federal budget is still to be determined, as Congress has attempted to put off the debt ceiling debate for several months, leaving much of the country, and Tech, in limbo.

“Hopefully they’ll be able to negotiate things in a more orderly fashion and not have automatic cuts to kick in that are going to have dramatic impacts,” Miller said. “I’m hoping that rational minds will prevail and that they’ll do things systematically and not dramatically.”

Follow the writer on Twitter: @HokieRealist

State hazing investigation ‘incompetent’ DENISE-MARIE ORDWAY & in a civil case brought by STEPHEN HUDAK Champion’s mother, gave a mcclatchy newspapers harsh critique of Harper’s A state investigative findings in a legal motion report assailing FAMU filed Wednesday in that for its failure to stop haz- case, and followed up ing is “incompetent” and that critique Friday in a contains “unfounded opin- statement to the Orlando ions,” according to an Sentinel. attorney who is helping to “I like Mr. Harper persondraft the university’s offi- ally, just disagree on whethcial response to the findings er he’s an ‘effectiveness that were released late last expert’ in the complex area month. of university student hazThe critical report by the ing,” Mitchell said Friday. state Board of Governors’ “Indeed, as confirmed by Inspector General came a leading national hazing a little more than a year study, there are no simple after the hazing death of solutions or foolproof methFAMU drum major Robert ods of eliminating hazing Champion aboard a char- on college campuses, and in tered bus in Orlando. Citing 95 percent of hazing cases, numerous failings, it found students did not report the that FAMU lacked the incidents to campus offiinternal controls needed to cials. identify and fight hazing “At bottom,” Mitchell before Champion’s beating said, “FAMU’s former antiby fellow marching band hazing program satisfied members. the applicable standard of Until now, administra- care, and our current protors at FAMU had not pub- gram embraces and exceeds licly criticized the 34-page all hazing prevention best report by BOG Inspector practices recently identified General Derry Harper. by the Board of Governors.”

Florida A&M University is Christopher Chestnut, expected to file its formal lead counsel for Pamela response to the report next Champion in her lawweek. suit against FAMU, asked But Orlando attorney Orange-Osceola County Richard “Rick” Mitchell, Circuit Judge Walter who is defending FAMU Komanski on Tuesday to

consider the damaging report as the judge weighs the university’s request to throw out the family’s wrongful-death lawsuit.

The Champion family blames FAMU for allowing a culture of hazing for decades at the school and within the Marching 100 band.

But Mitchell contends in the lawsuit that Champion, a 26-year-old adult, made the choice to participate in the hazing that killed him.

In the motion he filed this week, Mitchell urged the judge to disregard Harper’s report, which he described as irrelevant because of “Mr. Champion’s own actions...”

Mitchell also wrote that FAMU was preparing to submit its official response to the Board of Governors, which oversees the university system, and predicted the response would result in “substantial changes being made” in Harper’s final report.

“Further,” he wrote, “the... report is incompetent, unauthenticated and inadmissible hearsay evidence.”

Randy Goin Jr., chief of staff for the Board of Governors, declined to discuss FAMU’s characterization of the investigative

report. He said the board cannot comment on matters related to pending litigation involving one of its institutions.

But he pointed out that FAMU’s leadership was complimentary Wednesday after Harper gave a presentation about the investigation to the Board of Governors.

Solomon Badger, chairman of FAMU’s board of trustees, commended the Board of Governors’ staff for “the professional fashion” of their work.

“If we know what ails us, we certainly know how to fix it, and that’s where we’re headed,” Badger said at the meeting.

Interim FAMU President Larry Robinson added, “I also want to thank the team who conducted that particular investigation for their hard work. I know they worked very, very hard on it.”

Peter F. Lake, director of the Center for Excellence in Higher Education Law and Policy at Stetson University, said he would expect FAMU’s formal response to the report to have a “different tenor” than the university took in its legal filing.

In court filings, Lake explained, “language does

tend to be very positional and, in court proceedings, it can be very extreme.”

The university, he said, will likely submit a response with measured language considering the politics involved and its relationship with university system leaders.

“They are two different contexts,” he said. “It’s a different way of expressing things. In court, it’s combat.”

Robinson has stressed that FAMU has made a number of changes over the past year to fight hazing and tighten controls over the marching band, which was suspended shortly after Champion’s death following the Florida Classic football game.

The school announced Friday that it had hired an administrator to enforce anti-hazing policies and track hazing activities — a new position created in response to the hazing scandal. Bryan Smith, who holds a master’s degree in public management from FAMU, will begin his new role Feb. 1 at $90,000 a year.

Kom a n s k i h a s not yet ruled on FAMU’s request to throw out the case.

crimeblotter date

time

offense

location

status

arrestees

1/22-23/2013

4pm - 8am

Vandalism/ Destruction of property

Squires Student Center

Inactive

1/16-22/2013

2pm - 2:25pm

Larceny of a laptop

VBI

Active

1/24/2013

12:20am

Appearing intoxicated in public

Kent Street

Cleared by arrest

Ryan Atkinson, 21

1/24/2013

2:07am

Drive under the influence of alcohol

East Roanoke Street

Cleared by arrest

Richard Barrar, 26

12/21/2012

3:30am

Underage possession of alcohol

SPH Housing

Inactive: Reported by Student Conduct

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

opinions

january 25, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES

5

The Collegiate Times is an independent student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 Collegiate Times Editorial Staff

MCT CAMPUS

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 Senior News Editor: Mallory NoePayne Associate News Editors: Priscilla Alvarez, Dean Seal News Blog Editor: Cameron Austin News Reporters: Leslie McCrea, Justin Graves, Andrew Kulak, Donal Murphy News Staff Writers: Alex Gomez, Sean Hayden, Max Luong, Cody Owens, Features Editors: Emma Goddard, Nick Smirniotopoulos Features Staff Writers: Ben Kim, Katie White, Kara Van Scoyc, Allie Sivak, Jacob Wilbanks Senior Opinions Editor: Josh Higgins Associate Opinions Editor: Shawn Guhman Sports Editors: Matt Jones, Zach Mariner Special Sections Editor: Chelsea Giles Copy Chief: Nora McGann Copy Editors: Allison Hedrick, Kristin Gunther, Mackenzie Fallon, Alexis Livingston, Kayleigh McKenzie Photo Editor: Kevin Dickel

College degrees have value Stereotypes distort

Collegiate Times Business Staff Business Manager: Ryan Francis Circulation Manager: Travis Neale

T

Student Publications Photo Staff Director of Photography: Brad Klodowski Lab Manager: Trevor White

he bachelor’s degree has often been considered a gateway to the future by college students across the country. Students who invest their money in a college education do so believing the rewards of attending college outweigh the risks of foregoing a fouryear education to pursue work and save money.

Educators and statistics assure us that going to college is the right step for ensuring success in life. But is a bachelor’s degree destined to be a thing only the privileged and exorbitantly wealthy can afford, leaving everyone else to seek means of earning an undergraduate education elsewhere?

Traditional brick-and-mortar colleges and universities are slowly being phased out because of the many technical colleges offering hyperfocused degree programs, promising their graduates employment in the field of their specialty.

With the rise of these institutions, bachelor’s degree holders are becoming a dime a dozen, with the four-year degree becoming so accessible and achievable that the need for an advanced degree is oftentimes the only path to certain jobs.

It is not a bad thing that Americans can receive an education. After all, according to Thomas Jefferson, an educated society is the key to

a free society. It just gets to a point where the traditional bachelor’s degree becomes so insignificant that the fouryear degree is becoming the new high school diploma.

One factor involved in this predicament among colleges and universities is the cost to students.

“For profit” institutions often charge much less in tuition, offering many degree programs without the commitment and investment of time and money studying at a traditional college requires.

This is unfortunate, because I see merit in holding a college degree from a “real” university. To me, it shows the student stepped out on a ledge and did things on their own, independent from their parents and hometowns.

Here at Virginia Tech, we offer many online courses, of which I also see merit in taking, because of their convenience to students lacking a few classes to graduate or to those who want to take them over the summer.

A “real” university that offers online courses to its students is a sign of a progressive institution, with the accessibility and inclusiveness of online courses supporting students’ success. However, the dawn of online education blurs the line between a legitimate college education and one

the student completed at a for-profit diploma mill.

Not that brick-and-mortar institutions have much to worry about — most employers would hire someone with a Tech degree over anyone with a degree from an online diploma mill because, in many cases, other schools fail to “educate” their students like traditional colleges do.

Often they don’t require their students to take courses in humanities, science, mathematics and other core subjects because they “don’t need them” in order to achieve their career goals.

In contrast, the Curriculum for Liberal Education here often parses the truly qualified applicant with a grounding in other subjects, rather than producing someone who learned how to run certain programs and go through the motions like a machine.

In the end, the bachelor’s degree still carries its weight in the working world. But it is quickly losing its legitimacy, with solutions on how to maintain its status not always so forthcoming.

ANDREW WIMBISH -regular columnist -junior -English

views on Greek life

T

he “girls in pearls and guys in ties” stereotype doesn’t wholeheartedly fit the Virginia Tech Greek community. While outsiders may see the campus chapters as shallow, vapid creatures, which pay for friends and drink until dawn, I can assure you most of us are deeper than our Lily prints may imply.

The idea that sorority women and fraternity men do nothing more than party and drink alcohol is a misconception.

Panhellenic Council ensures campus organizations uphold the motto of Tech: “That I May Serve.”

Campus sororities and fraternities raise hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to give to philanthropic causes and donate their time toward service, both in the community and in more remote parts of the world.

During the recruitment process for campus women, a philanthropy round is included wherein sororities can showcase their noble causes.

Positive contribution to society is a major aspect of the Tech campus and all of its organizations are expected to embody the same values.

Greek life on campus strives to instill altruistic ideals in

all its members and participation in Greeks Giving Back and Relay for Life are two major events that promote service.

The picture of the average Greek on campus is usually a fallacy, a delusion created by nonessential bias. The pristine, tall blonde in a sundress and pearls isn’t found in every house.

Women at Tech don’t draw on your unflattering areas with magic marker, fraternity men aren’t asked to rank the new girls and large amounts of alcohol aren’t force-fed to you. While the women’s recruitment process may seem harsh and judgemental, it is just an ancillary tool to place women in the chapter where they would best relate to their sisters. Sororities are genuinely about sisterhood, service and community; little regard is given to vain concepts and superficial conduct.

The reason anyone should join a Greek organization is to find a sense of family and comfort on such a large campus.

Going Greek is a great opportunity for growth, friendship and self-betterment.

KELSEY EDELMANN -regular colomnist -junior -English

Sports industry should encourage integrity A mericans are ambivalent about integrity. We demand it from athletes — most of the time, anyway — but we send politicians back to office even when it's clear that they're owned lock, stock and barrel by special interests.

We teach our children to do the right thing, to admit when they're wrong. But let us get caught by a red-light camera and we go all 14th Amendment.

Social scientists who have studied the issue generally agree that 10 percent of people are honest all the time. Five percent will lie and cheat any time it's in their interest. And 85 percent are basically honest, but depending on circumstances, will cut a few corners or shave the truth from time to time.This is what makes the Lance Armstrong saga so amazing: No one is defending him.

Bill Clinton has made the biggest comeback since Lazarus.

Some of Richard Nixon's former staffers recently gathered on what would have been the Trickster's 100th birthday to say he wasn't so bad. Thirty-six

percent of the baseball Hall of Fame voters had Barry Bonds on their ballots. But there's no love for Lance Armstrong. If it had just been the doping-whilebicycling thing, it wouldn't be a big deal. Until Armstrong won the Tour de France, relatively few Americans cared about bicycling, combining as it does two narrow interests, France and bicycles.

When Armstrong beat all those gaunt Europeans at their own game, bicycling became all red, white and blue. You couldn't drive down a country road without running a gauntlet of Spandex. Then came the gutsy recovery from cancer and more Tour wins and the Livestrong Foundation and those ubiquitous yellow rubber bracelets.

He was a hero, giving back to his fellow cancer survivors, a medical marvel with a resting pulse rate of about 3, a human being who utilized oxygen like a gazelle. Sure, his rivals were muttering about doping, but hey, it was bicycling, for crying out loud, not baseball. You have to expect those kinds of things.

Armstrong's biggest mistake was the cover-up, the loud protestations that he'd never tested positive. He played the American public for saps, even taking $40 million out of the U.S. Postal Service. Imagine: a bad business decision by the postal service.

Then came the fall, the antidoping agency reports, sponsors bailing out. Finally there was last week's bizarre maybeI-can-spin-my-way-out-of-this interview with America's confessor-in-chief, Oprah Winfrey.

Imagine the ego this all took.

His threshold of self-delusion must be as high as his threshold of pain.Now Armstrong has become the Bernie Madoff of American sports fraud.

Who can compare? The eight guys on the Chicago White Sox who threw the 1919 World Series? Pikers. They each got a few thousand bucks. Armstrong was said to be worth $100 million before the fall. There were any number of sadsack boxers who took dives. There was the Boston College basketball pointshaving scandal of 1978-79 and betting scandals in the mid-

2000s involving an NBA referee a Hall of Fame voter) decided and some pro tennis players. that none of the stars linked to There was Manti Te'o's fake dead steroid use was spongeworthy. girlfriend. Nothing comes close. In fact, nobody was. Good for Baseball had its cocaine days in the BBWAA. Someone has to the 1970s and 1980s, but nobody enforce standards of integrity. was accused of fraud. The recent The only bad part is the tedious steroid scandals could have; a arguments it creates. I would lot of games were won on the eliminate those by opening a strength of outsized perfor- special wing of the Hall of Fame mances by juiced-up athletes.

— call it the rogues' gallery — But since Major League for players whose performance Baseball didn't have an effective was worthy but who took actions anti-steroid policy until 2006, detrimental to the game's integand the governing policy was rity.Merely being a jerk would pretty much to look the other not get you into the rogues' galway, nobody ever suggested lery. overturning the results of a You would have had to gamble game. Pitchers who lost games or juice or build a career on on homers by Jose Canseco flagrant cheating. The burden and Mark McGwire or hitters of proof would not be "guilty who got punched out by Roger beyond a reasonable doubt," as it Clemens must have thought is in criminal cases, but guilt as about it, though. The remnants of it is in civil litigation: a preponthe steroid controversy play out derance of the evidence.Lance in the annual Hall of Fame bal- Armstrong is not a baseball loting, announced this year the player, but I would put him into week before Lance Armstrong the rogues' gallery anyway. On stole the fraud spotlight. principle. You remember prinThe Baseball Writers of ciple.

America, as upright an organization as ever was (full disclosure: KEVIN HORRIGAN I was once a member, but never -mcclatchy newspapers

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6

january 25, 2013

Regular Edition Today’s Birthday Horoscope (1/25/13) The first half of the year oozes creativity and fun. This benefits career and social life, as others want to play too. The romance lasts into June, when it gets busy at work, with a rise in status and income. Balance with family time.

Piled Higher and Deeper by Jorge Cham Quote of the Day

Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life; define yourself.

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

XKDC by Randall Monroe

3

4 2 7 1

4 6

7 8

1 2 5 7 8 9 4 1 5 4 9 8 5 6 3 2

65 Where one hears the starts of 18-, 23-, 34-, 49- and 54-Across

Copyright 2007 Puzzles by Pappocom Solution, tips and computer program at www.sudoku.com

Week ending January 25, 2013

By Todd Gross

Top Tracks I Knew You Were Trouble • Taylor Swift

1

Ho Hey • The Lumineers

2

Locked Out of Heaven • Bruno Mars

3

Don’t You Worry • Swedish House Mafia

4

Don’t Stop the Party • Pitbull

5

ACROSS 1 Held, as a protest 7 Beggar’s request 11 T-shirt sizes, for short 14 Bow user 15 Homebuyer’s request 16 “Bali __” 17 “Great” Russian emperor 18 Missing someone special 20 Modern recording device 22 “Now, listen to me ...”

23 Start of a fictional sea shanty

1/25/13 27 Flair 28 “Was __ forward?”

29 Have on 30 Enjoys the shallows 31 Duke U.’s conference 32 Jib or spinnaker 33 Flab 34 ’80s-’90s ABC drama 40 Time workers, briefly 41 Topsoil 42 Not worth a __ 43 Doorposts 46 Male swine 47 Poetic black

48 Layer between the sclera and retina 49 Quick nap 51 Interrupt 53 Adam’s second 54 Competitive look 56 Black Sea port 60 Before, in an ode 61 Country south of Iran 62 Discrimination based on years 63 Damascus is its cap.

64 Divisions in 65Across

DOWN 1 Oozy tree output 2 Italian trio 3 Performance 4 Inner city area 5 Weird 6 Garage entrances 7 More than most 8 Not so tight 9 Expert 10 Bygone knife 11 Protection against spears 12 Gordon of “Oklahoma!”

(1955) 13 Notes similarities (to) 19 Blade cover 21 “__ the loneliest number”: old song lyric 23 Italian automaker 24 Skin irritation 25 Centers of attention 26 Unpleasant smell 30 Measure of power 32 Conventions, for short 33 Interisland transport 35 Dealer’s incentive 36 Sporty Mazda 37 Literary ID 38 Barnes & Noble e-book reader

39 Six-shooters 43 Court figures 44 Zoo section 45 German physician from whose name a spellbinding word evolved 46 Black-spotted feline 47 Brennan of “Private Benjamin”

49 Oil holder 50 Golfer’s lofted iron 52 Sci-fi subjects 55 One-point Scrabble letters 57 It can be carnal or cardinal 58 Govt. assistance program 59 Trans __: certain Pontiacs

2 1/23/13

Thursday’s Puzzle Solved

(c)2011 Tribune Media Services, Inc.

1/24/13

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

people & clubs

ing makes getting back to the old grind, while suffering the effects of a collective two-week hangover, more palatable than giving up caffeine or sugar or throwing another chore like exercise into the mix.

But there is hope for all you resolvers out there. Just give up, cave in, call it quits and throw in the towel. When you consider all the natural forces lining up against you, it’s no wonder that 97 percent of resolutions are broken before the end of January, according to a new study out of Stanford by Lennay Kekua.

Regardless, sufficient anecdotal evidence exists — as a liberal arts student, I’m all about anecdotal evidence — to suggest that your New Year’s resolution will be broken and broken soon. So why drag it out any longer?

Getting out of bed while it’s still kind of dark sucks enough without cutting out coffee or cigarettes or whatever vice helps you get through the day. Something you’ve arbitrarily elected to give up because 500 years ago, Pope Gregory decided this would be the first month of the new year.

My suggestion — if you’re really married to the whole idea of selfimprovement — is to save your difficult resolution for just prior to your summer vacation, when it won’t have to compete with other general drudgery. And, not coincidentally, when I won’t have to share a campus with you as you suffer through bad habit withdrawal.

Or just choose a nice and easy resolution for the new year. Take my resolution for instance: I have resolved to become a Twitterlebrity. And you can hop on board too. All you have to do is follow me: @KulakCT. Together we can resolve to make Twitter a more interesting place!

ANDREW KULAK - news staff writer - graduate student - English

COLLEGIATETIMES

7

SAID New Year’s Resolutions he she

He said: Don’t waste all that time, quit while you still can Whoever invented New Year’s resolutions must have been a fi lthy sadist.

At first glance, it seems like a great idea. Who couldn’t benefit from a few positive life changes here and there?

Well, first of all, the timing is just abysmal. After the veritable cacophony of days off, lavish dinners, boozy parties and gift exchanges that pervade the December holiday season, the first month of the new year summarily slaps you in the face with the return of reality and all its attendant monotonous tedium. Does it really need to be more belabored by uncomfortable major life changes?

It’s back to work and school. No more sleeping in, no more vacations and, what’s worse, no more drinking on weeknights. Well, let’s not get carried away; at least not the regular weeknight drinking to which numerous holiday cocktail gatherings have accustomed us.

Oh, the humanity.

It also doesn’t help that — in this hemisphere, at any rate — January happens to be the dullest month of the year, bringing with it low, grey skies and, in Virginia, just enough snow to be inconvenient and irritating without being any fun.

Entertainment is sparse. It’s too cold to comfortably do anything outside, the new movies that were going to be released already came out around Christmas, and sports are beginning to wane.

College football is over, pro football is winding down, and baseball hasn’t quite started up. Fortunately, hockey was able to resolve their strike — self-imposed by nonsensical machinations that would make Capitol Hill blush — prior to the two-week NFL hiatus before the Super Bowl. SportsCenter would have been nothing but professionals playing something almost resembling basketball.

So, you’re telling me that on top of all this general gloom, I also have to craft some sort of resolution that will no doubt make my January absolutely horrible? Because noth-

january 25, 2013

ALICIA TILLMAN/ COLLEGIATE TIMES

She said: Take action without any resolutions Let me paint you a picture: It’s 9:13 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. While my family sits downstairs eating pumpkin pie, drinking champagne and playing “Just Dance,” I’ve barricaded myself in my bedroom under every blanket I can find.

I’m re-reading Harry Potter, shoving towels into the crack under my door to block out the sounds of aerosol whipped cream cans and bad Bon Jovi cover songs. I’m decisively avoiding my computer so as not to be reminded of my friends who are spending the night partying in D.C. I listen to my family distractedly and stare for about 20 minutes at my clock radio, willing the minutes to move by faster until finally I get fed up and just go unplug it.

I think “Happy New Year” to myself while the clock blinks 12 a.m.

I turn off my phone to avoid the well meaning midnight text messages of long-forgotten high school friendships and drunken ex-boyfriends. I climb back under the blankets and

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

fall asleep on what is perhaps the best New Year’s Eve I could possibly imagine.

Somewhere between unplugging that clock and falling asleep was the point when I decided to stop making New Year’s resolutions.

Not that I’m judging; you all with your resolutions are great.

I see you ladies on Pinterest saving articles on money management, you skinny dudes lining up for the gym, you broke kids booking your dream trip to Morocco, and you Ted Mosbeys standing in traffic outside of Times Square kissing the Robins you secretly love. You all rock.

I won’t scoff when you chow down on a McRib two weeks after pinky promising you’re a vegetarian. OK, I’ll scoff a little, but only because I love animals.

I’m certainly not going to hem and haw about how McComas is overcrowded, the lines at Leaf and Ladle are out the door, and none of my friends will get Chipotle with me because they have to “look good for

spring break.”

I won’t roll my eyes at your book lists, study schedules and handcobbled blogs — I just won’t make resolutions.

You see, there came a point when I decided to stop waiting for Dec. 31 to give me courage and made up my mind that I had it in me all along.

Soon after, I admitted people can have that conclusion just as well in bed watching “Almost Famous” for the hundredth time as they can on a treadmill in a sweaty gym on a cold January morning.

So do what you need to do, because eventually we’re all going to reach that kind of revelation.

I’m just glad I didn’t have to touch any sports equipment to reach mine.

VICTORIA ZIGADLO - featured columnist - senior - English

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ANDREW & KELSEY dating since: February 2012 he says: She is the best listener I have ever met. We can talk about anything and everything.

she says: Andrew never fails to make me Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Complete un inished projects, big time. Others appreciate your efforts. Check and double-check the data; you may have more than you thought.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) New challenges appear, especially when it comes to love. You get stronger from the process. Stick to your ethics and integrity. Dress to impress.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Expand your creative and social potential.

Access your ethical conviction and get into action. If you mess up, you can always clean the slate and start over.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) You’re extremely persuasive now. Use your power wisely. Gossiping about your job doesn’t help. Focus on inancial productivity instead. If you fall off the horse, get back up and ride into the sunset.

Aries (March 21-April 19) Plan a luxurious evening at home or a party. You’ve done the necessary work; now give yourself a welldeserved rest. Make money, and spend it only if it’s wisely.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) When the game gets harder, you’re being challenged; this is good. Your winning is not all due to luck; give yourself some credit. Leave the past in the past.Chores interfere with romance.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Say no to propositions that deep inside you know are too risky. Keep practicing a game you know well. A female sets you on the inside track. Keep costs low.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) You’re attracted. Allow for changes in romantic plans. Sparks could ly, but it’s all good. At the end you resolve the con lict. Listen to the advice of an older friend who’s been there.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) This partnership stays exciting. Believe you can achieve your dreams, and take action. A romantic interlude could get postponed for a few days.

De initely no gossiping; there’s no time.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Conditions are good for exploring new business territory. Market your ideas and services in new ways.

You’re very popular now. Save some time for family.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) New skills make you even more interesting.

Hold yourself to the highest standards, especially around career. Cleaning house opens new opportunities, or reveals a treasure.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) There’s room for improvement in your relationship, and that’s a good thing.

The next couple of days are good for generating new possibilities with a loved one. Take the chance.

laugh, no matter what. He is my best friend.

their first date: We went to IHOP and had breakfast for dinner, then bought a bottle of Grand Marnier and talked until morning.

Have a couple you want to nominate for ‘Couple of the Week?’ Email your nominations to studybreak@collegemedia.com with the title ‘Couple of the Week.’

8

january 25, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES