Tuesday, February 5, 2013
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COLLEGIATETIMES 109th year, issue 66 News, page 2
Features, page 3
Opinions, page 5
Sports, page 7
Study Break, page 6
Pritchard sees theft Sat. night
Females to the frontline BY DONAL MURPHY | news reporter
MICHAELA REARDON news staff writer
FILE 2011 / SPPS
A female corps member throws a dummy grenade during the Corps of Cadets annual tactical challenge. Tech’s Corps was one of the first to enroll women.
Women in Tech’s Corps of Cadets see possibilities and potential problems in newly open direct combat roles
because I haven’t had those opportunities within my branch.” Many Cadets now have new opportunities open to them in a military career. However, the issue of women’s role in the military has never been an easy one to solve, recently or historically, and few see it as clear-cut.
For female cadets like Stephanie Romero, the future has changed. On Jan. 23, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta lifted the ban on women in combat arms roles within the military, opening opportunities in artillery, armor and infantry. For some female cadets in the Corps, this has significantly changed their outlook and their prospects within the military. “For myself, I’ll actually be going combat arms, so my outlook is that now I have more opportunities within my branch to do stuff,” said Cadet First Lt. Stephanie Romero, a senior in international studies and a platoon leader within the Corps. Romero joined the Corps by chance after selecting the option during her application to Tech and came to enjoy it in during her freshman year. She eventually went into Army ROTC and took the Field Artillery path, a role greatly affected by this new policy change. “Before, females were only able to do rockets,” Romero said. “Now I won’t have to worry about not being promoted as quickly as a male just
A New Opportunity These changes to policy have limited effects on the Corps itself, which has traditionally been very inclusive of females. “Within the Corps, there’s no big change because the Corps has always gone out of its way to make sure females are given leadership opportunities,” Romero said. “Sometimes they try so hard to do so that they’ll give females positions that females don’t deserve. They really go out of their way to make sure females have those chances.” While the Corps has already taken action to bring women into the ranks equally, Romero still views the policy change for the entire military as a progressive step in social rights. “I don’t think there are many females who want to go the route of combat arms, but the fact that they can now give hope that there’s more equal opportunity and it’s really progressive for women,” Romero said. see CADETS / page four
Women in the Corps 1959: Patricia Ann Miller becomes the first woman commissioned at Tech 1973: First women to join the Corps of Cadets form the L Squadron 1977: Marilyn Helmeyer is the first woman in the Highty Tighties 1987: Denise Shuster earns the Corps’ highest rank of regimental commander 1992: Lori Keck becomes the regimental band’s first female drum major
Flyers were posted around residence halls Saturday morning warning students of a series of thefts that occurred between midnight and 4:00 that morning. It was reported that a male entered several rooms in Pritchard Hall and stole various items from rooms that were unlocked and unoccupied. The suspect went through the hall checking doors to see if they were unlocked. When he encountered occupants, he claimed to be a resident looking for a roommate or an RA doing rounds. The male is described as being between 5’2” and 5’3”, and many believed him to be of Middle Eastern decent. He has a dark complexion, no accent, and short black hair. According to VT Police L ieutena nt Deb or a h Morgan, there have been no leads, but they hope to have more information later this week. Morgan recommends three main things to students to prevent any further thefts. First and foremost is to keep you doors locked. “Don’t leave your dorm room unlocked; they can’t come into your room if your room is locked,” Morgan said. Secondly, Morgan recommends reporting suspicious activity when it happens, rather than waiting. “If you see someone in your hallway that you don’t know and you don’t think is supposed be there — call then, don’t wait. A lot of times one of the big things people will do is they will see someone turning door knobs and will wait an hour or two before they actually call somebody about it,” she said. “It makes it difficult to follow up. So, immediately report suspicious activity in the building.” Lastly, Morgan says students should watch out for “tailgaiters” that go in and out of the building behind residents. To report any leads on the thefts, please contact Detective Hardy at 540231-9686 or email dhardy@ vt.edu.
COURTESY OF SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
Source: Virginia Tech Special Collections, University Archives L Squadron, the first female cadets, practice in uniform on the Drillfield,1973.
Follow the writer on Twitter: @MReardonCT
Old buildings get a new facelift in the upper quad CAMERON AUSTIN news blog editor
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A new building will be constructed behind Lane Hall (5).
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Kenneth Belcher, senior associate director for Housing Services, said that relocating the cadets
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Thomas (1) and Montieth (2) Halls will be torn down.
st. er ng sta
After a century of little change in the upper quad dorms, drastic new plans are finally in the works. New plans have been revealed to give those historic buildings a facelift, and get rid of some of the buildings that have shaped the tradition and history of the university. Plans will be approved in March at the Board of Visitors meeting to demolish and rebuild Rasche and Brodie Halls, which are reserved for Corps of Cadets, into modern dorms for the cadets. New features of the residence halls will include air
conditioning, more storage space, study rooms for the Cadets to gather and meet, laundry and mailrooms, as well as modest kitchen spaces and a fitness area. The plan also includes eventually tearing down Thomas and Monteith Halls, and using that area as green space, or potentially part of a bigger repurposed area. Construction will begin this summer on Rasche Hall, where 286 cadets currently live. While that construction is underway, cadets will be moved into Main Eggleston and West Eggleston Halls, which were once a part of the cadets living quarters but currently house civilians.
4 Brodie (3) and Rasche (4) Halls will be replaced with new dorms.
back into Main and West Eggleston just made sense. “It’s their previous homes, and we thought it would be
MARK UMANSKY / SPPS
a good idea for them to go back to their old location for a number of years while we complete this project,”
Belcher said. Main Eggleston used to house male students until it was closed in 1965 for renovations. When it opened back up, it housed only female students, for whom it is still used today. West Eggleston is a co-ed residence hall, currently housing 198 students. Major General Randy Fullhart expressed excitement that the upcoming project will continue to preserve the history of the Corps while bringing its residence halls and buildings to the 21st century. “While we’re moving into the future, we’re also honoring the past,” Fullhart said. see QUAD / page eight
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february 5, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES
editors: priscilla alvarez, mallory noe-payne, dean seal newseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865
Restaurant brings new life to old house
what you’re saying On Sbarro to be replaced with burgers
MELISSA DRAUDT
daryl: this will be GREAT i haven’t eaten as Sbarros since their pizza went over $2. it’s not very good pizza. hopefully the burgers will be good. i just hope they have seedless buns. maybe the new place will sell biscuits also, i really miss hardees that used to be in squires.
news staff writer
A historic building is currently being reincarnated as a restaurant downtown. Former resident Daniel Riley has returned to Blacksburg to buy the Bennett-Pugh house on Main Street, saving it from demolition and its owner, Beverly Taylor, from financial ruin. Taylor, the former owner of the house, requested to demolish the structure, which she had been trying to sell since 2005. She appealed to town council after the motion was denied by the Historic or Design Review Board. According to Susan Anderson, Blacksburg Town Council member and Senior Instructor of Mathematics at Virginia Tech, the BennettPugh house is “one of (the) contributing structures in our historic district...people cannot just demolish contributing structures immediately.” Town Council voted against demolition of the house, requiring Taylor to keep the house on the market. That is where Riley comes in. “We were very, very fortunate that Daniel Riley bought the house with the full intention of restoring it and opening a business there,” Anderson said. Riley, who lived in California for a few years after leaving Blacksburg, bought the house in 2010 for $375,000, with plans to open a restaurant after restoring the 1890s house. “The old house was nearing eligibility to be demolished,” Riley said. “I thought it would be interesting to save it from demolition and make a nice restaurant for my hometown.” The house has already gotten a new foundation and before the renovation is complete will have entirely new electrical
Anonymous: Tht Sbarro suckd anywy, 2 Xpensive an da piza wuz grezsy as dat ratchet grl wrkin on main strt!!! On Cody Journell involved in pepperspray incident
TM: What a knuckle head.
PAUL KURLAK / SPPS
A new restaurant, Social House Eat and Drink, will occupy the old Bennet-Pugh house downtown. Aivey Charoensombut-amorn, to open the restaurant, the Anybody who takes on Social House Eat and Drink, er renovations. a historic building, you aftCharoensombut-amorn will have to really want to operate the restaurant and does not plan to change the do it.” original layout of the house. Daniel Riley “It’s definitely going to be very Owner colorful,” Charoensombutamorn said, “but we (will) and plumbing systems. keep everything the way the “It’s a beautiful, beautiful house (is) supposed to be, home,” Anderson said. “The because (for) everybody who outside and the inside are cer- lives in this town, (it) has a lot tainly in need of some tender of memories.” love and care, but (it) seemed C h a r o e n s o m b u t- a m o r n salvageable.” owns the Next Door Bake Due to Riley’s efforts, the Shop and Cafe de Bangkok Bennett-Pugh house will with her sister, but has taken retain its familiarity among on the Social House Eat and frequenters of Main Street. Drink as a project of her “The goal is to keep (the own. house) historically accurate,” “(In) this town, every single Riley said. restaurant only (has) one kind According to Riley, the archi- of cuisine,” Charoensombuttect is making final plans for amorn said. the house and the rest of the She plans for the menu of the work is scheduled to begin Social House Eat and Drink to shortly. feature that of eight different Riley is working with local countries including Indonesia, restaurant-owner and friend, Vietnam, France, America
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and Italy. Riley seems very confident in his choice of partner in the project. “(Charoensombut-amorn) has really great experience in owning and operating restaurants,” Riley said. “I think she’ll do something fantastic with the old house.” “I think it’s an honor to be able to touch a historic house,” Charoensombut-amorn said. “Not everybody gets a chance to do that. And the location is awesome.” Though renovations, costing near the selling price of the house, have kept the project from completion for over two years, Riley plans to open the restaurant as soon as possible this year. “The renovations are expensive, but I’m excited about it,” Riley said. “I think for anybody who takes on a historic building, you have to really love it to want to do it.” Follow the writer on Twitter: @melissaraptor
Anonymous: saying “accidents happen, big deal” only reveals an ignorance to the world around us. so what if it was an accident, there were still some serious consequences to those around him. a quality person doesn’t take that kind of attitude to this situation; they own up to it and attempt to make amends and move forward. there are consequences to accidents; whether we like it or not. He’s owned up to it, hopefully he goes back to cover some of the lost tab and tip money, as well as learning not to put himself in frequent unwanted situations. Watchit: Yeah, pepper spray doesn’t easily discharge. He meant to do it. Not knowing the effects is no excuse. His judgment hasn’t improved. He should be gone from the team.
upcoming events Tuesday, Feb. 5
Chef Series Vietnamese Spring Rolls: 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. in New Hall West’s Test Kitchen. Join Tech’s Executive Chef Senior Nazim Khan to learn the visually stunning and delicious art of Vietnamese spring rolls. Limited to the first 15 participants. Sign up in advance on the Dining Services GobblerConnect page, http://gobblerconnect. vt.edu/organization/dining
Control
your Schedule Graduate on time! Work Summer Session classes into your plan to keep on track. Course request closing on February 8th, 2013 www.summer.vt.edu
editors: emma goddard, nick smirniotopoulos featureseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865
arts & entertainment
‘Warm Bodies’ innovates zombie trend Movie Rating
“Warm Bodies” succeeded where most romantic comedies have failed: balancing clever humor, good acting and a touching story. Nicholas Hoult, of “X-Men: First Class” and the UK television show “Skins,” stars as the zombie R, who finds himself becoming increasingly more human-like. His love interest is a human named Julia, played by Kristen Stewart lookalike Teresa Palmer, who finds herself questioning her indoctrination against zombies when R saves her life. “Warm Bodies” is the latest take on the classic “Romeo and Juliet,” complete with obvious namereferences (Juliet, R, and R’s friend M) and forbidden love, but with a much happier ending. The story, based on the novel of the same name by Isaac Marion, isn’t wildly original — personal prejudices are heroically challenged and love is what saves the day — but it doesn’t have to be. This particular zombie tale doesn’t try to use the undead as an allegory for the fear of “the other” or the dangers of consumerism or
any high-brow criticism. It’s simply a story where some of the characters are zombies. This approach works for a romantic comedy because the premise is so ludicrous that any serious questioning on the finer details of this make-believe world would cause the whole plot to crumble. Instead, “Warm Bodies” asks the audience to simply accept the ridiculous and go with it. R and M (Rob Corddry) are the definite high points of the film, with their astonishingly lively zombie characters. Hoult provides a surprisingly good performance with his dead-pan narration and careful attention to his physical presence. R comes off as awkward as any teenage boy, but Hoult makes his unexpectedly kind heart believable — a true challenge, given that all his spoken lines are essentially grunted syllables or very simple sentences. Corddry also excels at using his physical presence and actions to tell his story, since he doesn’t even have the benefit of providing narration like R does. Palmer’s Julia is a bit bland in the way most female characters in rom-coms are — she’s the stereotypical
“strong female character” who, in actuality, is largely undeveloped and primarily just a love interest — but she does her job. Analeigh Tipton serves as the entertaining foil, playing Julia’s sarcastic but vulnerable friend Nora. Tipton previously starred
in “Crazy, Stupid, Love” as the teenager inexplicably lusting after Steve Carell, and she brings some serious comedic chops to this r ole. Dave Franco and John Malkovich give throwaway performances as Julia’s boyfriend and father, respec-
tively. Jonathan Levine returns to direct his second major studio film, after the fantastic “50/50.” Levine skillfully uses the camera to capture this sprawling and incredibly complex story, successfully dealing with both wide-open spaces and darkly claustrophobic ones. He also wrote the screenplay, which delivers plenty of excellent one-liners as well as a few remarkably tender scenes. But the film’s pleasant surprise is the music, which dynamically impacts the film’s mood from scene to scene. R’s classic vinyl collection meshes well with both the synthetic pop soundtrack and Nora’s mockery use of “Pretty Woman.” It’s this levity which pervades the film and makes it so much fun. In short, simply enjoy “Warm Bodies” for what it is — a wildly entertaining movie not to be taken seriously, complementing humor with unexpected depth. KATIE WHITE -regular movie columnist -junior -history major
february 5, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES
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New Releases Movies “Side Effects,” Feb. 8 A young woman takes medicine prescribed by her psychiatrist for anxiety, only to discover that the drug may have some unexpected side-effects. Starring: Rooney Mara, Channing Tatum, Jude Law, Catherine Zeta-Jones
“Identity Thief,” Feb. 8 Florida woman steals the identity of a Denver man, so he heads south to track her down and bring her to justice. Starring: Jason Bateman, Melissa McCarthy
Games “Dead Space 3,” Feb. 4 Players can play individually or as groups as they journey across space and battle against the Necromorph outbreak.
“The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim -- Dragonborn,” Feb. 5 This add-on to the popular game allows players to journey to the island of Solstheim.
Books “Remembering Whitney,” by Cissy Houston
Book narrates teen’s journey Book Rating
Game brings Prohibition to life Game Rating
It’s surprising that the invigorating simulation game genre has yet to fully embrace the mobsters and bootleggers of the Prohibition era. After all, who wouldn’t want to roleplay as a mafia boss? Sure, the “Mafia” franchise drops you in the 1940s as a soldier in the mafia, but it doesn’t actually give you a chance to handle the logistics behind the bootlegging, hits and other shady business. The developers of “Tropico” approach the Prohibition era from a completely different angle in “Omerta: City of Gangsters.” Walking off a boat from Sicily, I found myself in a small section of Atlantic City during the Prohibition era. Seeing part of the town projected in a top-down 3D perspective wasn’t what I had expected from a mafia simulator. There was the iconic old-time music and weathered portraits, but I didn’t see any guns or booze. If you’re looking to simulate strategic battles between mobsters, look elsewhere. Although there are plenty of tommy guns and revolvers, the fighting is just too simple to be interesting. Battles become tedious after
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You may not feel like a real gangster, but you’ll be peddling liquor and beer to the highest bidder while fending off hit men and the police alike.”
a few turns, and they aren’t helped by the lackluster special abilities available to different types of soldiers. The simulation aspect is genuinely interesting, albeit incredibly repetitive. Every scenario starts with your henchman in a hideout. Various buildings throughout the city are available to be rented, fire-bombed, shot at or purchased. Premises, joints, construction sites and independent businesses are your bread and butter. These buildings can be turned into businesses which boost your income and can yield beer, liquor or firearms. The simulation and combat form a cohesive campaign that puts you in the middle of a family conflict while attempting to take over the city. The story itself is told through pictures and voiceovers although it amounts to little more than a generic mafia story.
Deep into my journey in becoming the top mobster in Atlantic City, I had my own brother promising to throw me in jail. My gang consisted of five guys and one girl with blaringly generic names. Doc was my field doctor and Alfredo was my rifle-toting hit man. After scamming a celebrity for $1,320 clean cash, the local police started investigating my operation. After clicking on the investigation button, I was given the option to pay $500 as a bribe, or to give up a local crime boss. I chose the latter since most of the city was already mine. “Omer ta: Cit y of Gangsters” doesn’t try to reinvent the simulation game genre. It’s not groundbreaking or innovative, but it’s fun. Despite the oversimplified combat and repetition of gameplay, it does have a complete story with mechanics that actually work. You may not feel like a real gangster, but you’ll be peddling liquor and beer to the highest bidder while fending off hit men and the police alike. BEN KIM -regular game columnist -sophomore -communication major
For an average middle school student, a perfect report card might result in a pat on the back, or maybe an ice cream cone. For Bee Branch in Maria Semple’s hilarious comic caper “Where’d You Go, Bernadette,” it means a family trip to Antarctica. But Bee’s plans are complicated somewhat by her mother, the titular Bernadette, who finds herself torn between her devotion to her daughter and her crippling agoraphobia. Bernadette rarely leaves the house, outsourcing most of her errands to a virtual assistant in India. Once a promising young architect leading the way in sustainable building practices, Bernadette’s talents have languished in Seattle, where the drivers are a little too polite. The other mothers at Bee’s school are a little too fanatic, and the stateline is far too close to Canada. So Bernadette disappears into thin air without telling anyone — even Bee. Refusing to accept her father’s empty explanation that “the truth is complicated” or the possibility Bernadette may be dead, Bee investigates her mother’s correspondence leading up to her disappearance, with everyone from former colleagues to landscapers. This collection of correspondence allows for the epistolary form of the novel. The author’s voice in each letter, email and instant message is perfectly rendered by Semple. Bernadette’s acerbic wit and intelligence easily wins over any reader, as her character becomes more and more defined with every missive. The inf lated, meaningless chatter of two housewives, whose main callings seem to be gossiping about Bernadette, further illumi-
nates her intense allergy to Seattle and its inhabitants. The correspondence is punctuated by Bee’s narrative, perfectly voiced as a precocious and determined 14-year-old girl. Perhaps Semple’s only misstep is the novel’s uneven pacing. Bernadette doesn’t actually disappear until about two-thirds of the way through the novel. Leading up to her disappearance, Semple takes her time leading her characters through a multitude of interactions and instances ranging from mudslides to pharmacy trips. However, these small moments add to the novel’s witty humor. Even when nothing is really happening, it’s still incredibly enjoyable to spend time with Semple’s characters, as she skewers privateschool politics and suburban living. Despite the novel’s light tone, Semple deals with some heavy themes here — depression, family dysfunction and the haunting of unfulfilled potential, to name a few — but they’re handled with such sharpness and wit that the reader never feels bogged down. “Where’d You Go, Bernadette” is the kind of book you can’t put down because of the eccentric characters, the screwball situations and, towards the end of the novel, to solve the mystery of Bernadette’s disappearance. Ultimately, Semple’s novel about depression, family dysfunction and unfulfilled potential ends with the promise of healing, renewed determination and parental love. Semple has crafted a novel which alternates between humor and heart wrenching drama — a deft combination certainly worth reading. ASHLEY ADAMS -guest book columnist -sophomore -communication major
This biography of Whitney Houston’s life is compiled by her mother, accounting her life struggles and accomplishments.
“Until the End of Time,” by Danielle Steel This love story follows two couples that live four decades apart.
“Private Berlin,” by James Patterson, Mark Sullivan This mystery novel depicts a private investigator in Berlin who goes missing, warranting an investigation of his own.
PASSIONATE ABOUT MUSIC? DESIRE FAME? WRITE MUSIC REVIEWS FOR THE CT! send an e-mail to featureseditor@ collegiatetimes.com
check the Collegiate Times every Wednesday for the drink of the week
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february 5, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES
editors: priscilla alvarez, mallory noe-payne, dean seal newseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865
Cadets: Women in the Corps see new possibilities from page one
The view is also shared by Cadet Captain Catherine Lijewski, a senior in communication, and the Commander for the ROTC Battalion at Virginia Tech. She is specializing in Military Intelligence with the Army. Lijewski joined the Corps at Tech because it presented the best combination of going into service while still maintaining a normal college experience. “I came down here, checked out the Corps, loved what I saw from it, and decided to sign up and join,” Lijewski remembered. Lijewski, who is less affected by the change because Military Intelligence has yet to allow women the opportunity to apply for officer positions, also pointed out that while the changes are new, they will not be quite as drastic as when women were initially allowed to enroll at all. “Most everything else in the military is integrated already, so it’s not like it’s going to be something new; it’s not like they’ve never seen a woman before,” she said. The Drawbacks Romero and Lijewski agree strongly on one thing: the chance should come with certain caveats. “Everyone’s saying it’s another step towards equality, and before you know it, women are going to be everywhere,” Lijewski said. “But if you talk to people who have actually been in combat and been overseas, they’re not quite on board with everyone else.” Lijewski worries that the armed forces will lower or change their standards solely
COURTESY OF SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
The first six female Cadets at Tech are sworn in at Lane Hall, 1973 (Left), L Squadron gathers for a photo outside of Burruss hall (Right). people are going to have a harder time accepting it and it’s going to take a really long time for people to get used to the idea of women in infantry, just because infantrymen have to carry 100 pounds up mountains. There are females that can do it, but I don’t know many who want to do it, and there’s going to be very few I think,” Romero said. “It’s great if a woman can do everything that her male counterparts can do, that’s fine, but most can’t. It’s just a cold hard fact. Being in this program for four years, you see it,” Lijewski said. BRAD KLODOWSKI / SPPS
for the purpose of allowing more women to join combat arms roles. She believes that standards ought to simply be kept were they currently are. “Th is just gives (women) more opportunities to do what they want, but it can also be a step back if they have to change standards and the way things are already working in order to incorpo-
rate them in,” Lijewski said. While she does not doubt women’s willingness to fight and their commitment to the armed forces, Lijewski worries that women will not be able to fit the bill for more physical frontline roles. For Romero, infantry represents a more physical role that could present a problem. “I think that in infantry,
How It Has Been Prior to this policy change, women were only allowed in support roles in the field for military. Th is was not without risk, however. They still regularly faced life threatening situations on the frontlines of Iraq and Afghanistan in roles such as helicopter pilots, convoy drivers and mechanics. So far, 146 females have been killed in action between
Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. The movement for the integration of women in the armed forces has been steadily progressing for years, and has not always been an easy one for both the military and society. “You can’t disconnect the armed forces from society,” said Gary Wamsley, Professor Emeritus and university faculty researcher in Public Administration and Policy. Wamsley has an expertise in civil-military relationships. “(Th is change) has larger societal implications,” Wamsley said. “Our society, and the way society views women has changed and I think it is past time for the American military to catch up with that.” While Wamsley sees some of the unique problems this change could pose, such as lowered physical expectations, he believes many are not voicing them for the time being because of tension in Congress.
“As they say, it’s not a good time for republicans to badmouth immigrants, and it’s probably not a good time for anybody to badmouth women,” Wamsley said. Beyond just his expertise in military relations, Wamsley has had personal experience in the possible troubles to integration. He served in the Air Force during the 1960s. “They closed the old program which was all male, and they opened up one for college graduates, both men and women. And there was all kinds of consternation about it, people talking about how horrible it would be and everything,” Wamsley said. According to Wamsley, the integration had initial problems of sexual interaction among men and women. “But when the Air Force cracked down on that, and said this is out of bounds, this is off-limits, it all straightened out, and women were accepted and things went right on as normal,” Wamsley said. However, Wamsley is confident from both his expertise and experience that while it may be a slow process to start, women will be integrated effectively into combat arms roles within a couple of years. He notes that officers are required to write effectiveness reports annually. This will put pressure on all members to continue moving forward through the integration process and keep the military in working order. “When (the military) really puts its mind to something, once it decides to make a change, it can do it if it wants,” Wamsley said. Follow the writer on Twitter: @HokieRealist
opinions
editors: josh higgins, shawn ghuman opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865
february 5, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES
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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 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 MCT CAMPUS
Women deserve combat positions
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n ited St ates Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has announced he plans to lift the 1994 official Pentagon ban on women in combat, including roles in artillery, armor, infantry and other similar combat roles. In fact, the decision was based on the recommendation of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The reality is that women have already served in combat situations in both Iraq and Afghanistan, so overturning the Pentagon restriction is not only logical, but is also a good decision. Arguments against this action have surfaced already, ranging from the strength and mental capability of women to even sexist arguments regarding women’s ability to adapt to the conditions with which soldiers must contend on a daily basis. These are baseless accusations. The Family Research Council immediately weighed in by releasing a statement by General Jerry Boykin, a retired three-star general, who criticized the idea of assigning women to Special Forces units, saying, “living conditions are primal in many situations with no privacy for personal hygiene or normal functions.” Unfortunately, many people still cling to the idea that women are dainty and fragile, and cannot stand up to the standards of a man. Th is is not the case. The fact of the matter is: If a woman earns a spot on a Special Forces unit or any other unit over a man, then she should get that position hands down, because that is how the process works for men. Only the best of the best should be admitted to such units, regardless of gender. As far as the strength argument goes, it is true the male body possesses more muscle mass and is designed to be stronger, but it is certainly not always the case. And physical strength is not the only deciding factor in who makes a good soldier. Similarly, women have proven they can handle the conditions of combat situations, and it is absolutely ridiculous to assert that women could not deal with the mental fatigue and stress. In addition, there are a multitude of health
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Women currently have fewer opportunities for career advancement because combat positions are a crucial component.”
hazards for both genders in the military, and if both genders are willing to accept the risks, then there should be no question. Women currently have fewer opportunities for career advancements in the military simply because combat positions are a crucial component to those advancements. Many women have served in infantry roles already, but have simply been cycled out regularly in order to abide by the combat restriction. Others have been thrown into combat situations, such as “Maj. Mary Jennings Hegar, an Air National Guard helicopter pilot, who was shot down, returned fi re, and was wounded on the ground in Afghanistan,” according to the New York Times. The Department of Defense did not officially recognize her actions as combat experience, and thus did not grant her opportunities to seek combat leadership. Women have served all over the world, not only in our military, but in our allies’ as well. According to a map created by Max Fisher of the Washington Post, allies such as France, Germa ny, Ca nada, Australia and Israel allow women to serve in combat positions. Women have just as much potential to become great soldiers as men, and it is high time they receive the same opportunities and recognition for their actions in the military. As Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated in a letter to Panetta, “the time has come to rescind the direct combat exclusion rule for women and to eliminate all unnecessary gender-based barriers to service.” RYAN PFEIFLE -regular columnist -freshman -university studies
US needs to talk with Taliban A “ merica’s longest war is coming to an end. As we rejoice over the prospect of troops coming home, we should also be anxious over the future of a region consumed with violence. An entire generation of Afghans has grown up seeing nothing but occupation, war, and violence. What does the future hold for them? There is fear among many that now the United States can claim “victory,” it will walk away from the region, leaving a legacy of violence, a corrupt government and two dozen militants groups to battle out the future of this war-torn state. During the last decade, military operations against the Taliban have yielded mixed results. The group still maintains “zones of influence” and enjoys significant power over large chunks of land. Violence has escalated in recent years and there is every indication that the undertrained and understaffed Afghan army will pose little threat to the Taliban. It is important to realize that strong anti-Taliban feelings do persist in parts of Afghanistan, and if these feelings weaken, as they have in the past, all the gains made by the NATO in the region will soon be reversed. Keep in mind, this would also affect its already volatile nuclear-armed neighbor, Pakistan, and consequently disturb the security of the rising economic
Talking to the Taliban ...is a prerequisite to long-term stability in the region.”
power in India. Since the Afghan government by itself is seemingly incapable of bringing peace throughout the country, and extending the withdrawal deadline will do more harm than good, the United States is left with few realistic solutions for bringing stability to the region. Despite its horrendous views on women and human rights, the Taliban remains the single most powerful group in the country after NATO. Once the NATO forces leave the country, the group will attempt to fill in the power vacuum created by the withdrawal. Therefore, it is imperative the all stakeholders make a sincere attempt to engage the Taliban into a dialogue over the future of Afghanistan. These negotiations need not be viewed as endorsements to the Taliban worldview but as a sincere attempt to bring stability in the region. There is little doubt that many have joined the Taliban movement as reactionaries and an effective dialogue may help dissuade them from the path of violence.
Talking to the Taliban and making it a stakeholder in the Afghan peace process is a prerequisite to long-term stability in the region. Therefore, it is critical to make an attempt to bridge political and power differences and to try and include the Taliban into the mainstream democratic process. Mainstreaming militant groups into society and governments has yielded some extraordinary results in the past, and it may house tremendous potential in a country like Afghanistan. Meanwhile, there have been some rumors of backdoor negotiations with the Taliban which have been aided by the Taliban’s newly opened diplomatic office in Qatar and the release of high profile militants from Pakistani prisons. Such negotiations need to continue so that all factions are taken on board to determine the roadmap for the future. These measures are paramount to keep Afghanistan from falling into the same chaos as it did after their war with the Soviets, and we can hope that the Department of State will not make the same mistakes as it once did a few decades ago.
NABEEL CHOHAN -regular columnist -senior -accounting
Boy scouts rectify view on gays
F
or 113 years, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has mentored and educated young boys to become morally straight and upstanding men in today’s society. However, its definition of “morally straight” has become more of a problem than a learning experience for this generation’s scouts. Previously, openly gay children or ones with homosexual parents were excluded from joining the BSA, despite their interest in partaking in the activities just like everyone else. On Jan. 28, 2013, the BSA announced they would allow membership for homosexual children. It is a great victory for the LGBT community, but honestly, what held them up? The BSA has been accused for years of practicing discrimination against homosexuals, atheists and agnostics. Let us note that there is a major difference between not agreeing with a principle and discriminating against a group due to principle. Just a few weeks before the BSA announced it would
“
telling a child that they will not be accepted in society because of how they feel on the inside is completely hypocritical.”
change its policy, an openly gay 18-year-old Ryan Andreson fulfi lled all of the necessary tasks to become an Eagle Scout. Despite the fact that he did everything he was supposed to, Andreson was denied his certificate because of his sexual orientation. There are many other stories like Andreson’s, showing that the Boy Scouts organization has been out of line for many years. They claim they are teaching these children how to work together and become better men. However, telling a child that they will not be accepted in society because of how they feel on the inside is completely hypocritical. Often, the Bible has been used as a means to advance the fight
against equal rights for homosexuals. Just like the BSA, the Bible is meant to provide guidance and a basic code of morals for people that want to listen, not a tool to place judgment on others. For example, young Ryan Andreson was technically denied his Eagle Scout status because his scout leader stated that he did not meet the “duty to God” standard because he “avowed homosexuality.” It was necessary for the BSA to make a change. Many may defend its hateful actions, stating that it is a private organization which has every right to teach these children whatever they desire. In a way, this is true. But do we really want to tell kids it is not correct to be gay and certain people will always express hatred toward homosexuals no matter what? Before you answer, note that these are just innocent children. RYAN TURK -regular columnist -freshman -BIT
Collegiate Times Business Staff Business Manager: Ryan Francis Circulation Manager: Travis Neale Student Publications Photo Staff Director of Photography: Brad Klodowski Lab Manager: Trevor White College Media Solutions Assistant Ad Director: Carla Craft Account Executives: Elizabeth Dam, Emily Daugherty, Taylor Moran Inside Sales Manager: Amanda Gawne Assistant Account Executives: Andrew Newton, Jordan Williams Creative Director: Danielle Bushrow Assistant Creative Services Director: Alyssa Morrison Creative Staff: Mary Dassira, Chloe Young, Cameron Vaile, Diana Bayless Voice your opinion. Readers are encouraged to send letters to the Collegiate Times. 365 Squires Student Center Blacksburg, VA, 24061 Fax: (540) 231-9151 opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com All letters to the editor must include a name and daytime phone number. Students must include year and major. Faculty and staff must include position and department. All other submissions must include city of residence, and if applicable, relationship to Virginia Tech (i.e., alumni, parent, etc.). All letters should be in MS Word (.doc) format, if possible. Letters, commentaries and editorial cartoons do not reflect the views of the Collegiate Times. Editorials are written by the Collegiate Times editorial board, which is composed of the opinions editors, editor-in-chief and the managing editors. Letters to the editor are submissions from Collegiate Times readers. We reserve the right to edit for any reason. Anonymous letters will not be printed. Have a news tip? Call or text 200-TIPS or e-mail newstips@collegiatetimes.com Collegiate Times Newsroom 231-9865 Editor-in-Chief 231-9867 College Media Solutions Advertising 961-9860 The Collegiate Times, a division of the Educational Media Company at Virginia Tech, was established in 1903 by and for the students of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The Collegiate Times is published every Tuesday through Friday of the academic year except during exams and vacations. The Collegiate Times receives no direct funding from the university. The Collegiate Times can be found online at www.collegiatetimes.com. Except where noted, all photographs were taken by the Student Publications Photo Staff. To order a reprint of a photograph printed in the Collegiate Times, visit reprints.collegemedia.com. The first copy is free, any copy of the paper after that is 50 cents per issue. © Collegiate Times, 2012. All rights reserved. Material published in the Collegiate Times is the property thereof, and may not be reprinted without the express written consent of the Collegiate Times.
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february 5, 2013
Regular Edition Today’s Birthday Horoscope: Social fun and partnership thrive for the first half of 2013. Consider family when making career decisions with long-lasting implications. Keep delivering on your promises, especially around finances. An exciting career opportunity arises this summer, and the spotlight is yours.
Piled Higher and Deeper by Jorge Cham Quote of the Day
Assume a virtue if you have it not. - William Shakespeare
TAKE A STUDY BREAK! Rent skis from Back Country Ski & Sports and go skiing with friends!
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5 63 Brooks’s country music partner 64 Sources of immediate cash: Abbr. 65 Mends with thread 66 FBI personnel
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Copyright 2007 Puzzles by Pappocom Solution, tips and computer program at www.sudoku.com
By Jeff Chen
Week ending February 1, 2013
Top Tracks I Knew You Were Trouble • Taylor Swift
1
Nothing Like Us • Justin Bieber
2
YOLO (feat. Adam Levine) • The Lonely Island
3
Ho Hey • The Lumineers
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Don’t You Worry• Swedish House Mafia
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ACROSS 1 Magician’s bird of choice 5 Seattle’s Best product, slangily 9 Fall faller 13 Pub picks 14 Special Forces cap 15 Fairy tale starter 16 Strike gold 18 Give __ to: approve 19 Canadian coin nicknamed for the bird on it 20 Hand-waving or finger-pointing 22 For each
2/05/13 23 Mythical Egyptian riddler 25 Cornfield bird 27 Smallest prime number 28 27-Across plus one, in Italy 29 Lines of theater seats 30 Goes down in the west 32 Debatable point 36 Encouragement for a matador 37 Lane straddler 39 LAX hrs. 40 Welsh dog 42 Screwball 43 Dalai __ 44 A bit amiss
46 “Milk” director Van Sant 47 Oval segments 48 Guy “nipping at your nose,” in a holiday song 52 Inquire 53 Rand McNally references 54 Takes home from the pound 57 Yogi, for one 58 Singer of the 1961 #1 song found in the starts of 16-, 23-, 37and 48-Across 61 Can of worms, e.g. 62 “Drat!”
DOWN 1 Author Roald 2 Assortment 3 President’s weapon 4 Station with game reports and highlights 5 Clampett patriarch 6 Onassis patriarch 7 Brink 8 Declare to be true 9 Despises 10 Boredom 11 Piece of the sky, to Chicken Little 12 Shipping giant 14 “Sayonara!” 17 It’s roughly 21% oxygen 21 Unit of parsley 23 Tinker with 24 Franks 25 Hook nemesis, for short 26 Cylindrical caramel candy 27 General of Chinese cuisine 31 Loud call
33 Auto tune-up item 34 Camp Pendleton letters 35 LAX incoming hrs. 37 Jazz licks 38 Approves 41 Amusement park racers 43 Longtime Dodger skipper Tommy 45 Brittany brothers 48 Sluglike “Star Wars” crime boss
49 Persistently bothered 50 Allegation 51 Missouri river or tribe 52 Cavity filler’s org. 54 Blissful sighs 55 Camping shelter 56 9-digit IDs 59 Deviate from a course 60 DJ’s stack
Friday’s Puzzle Solved
(c)2011 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
2/01/13
editors: matt jones, zach mariner sportseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865
sports
february 5, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES
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49ers unable to convert on final drive; fall short of glory O nly seven yards stood between the San Francisco 49ers and one of the greatest, if not the greatest, comebacks in Super Bowl history. Seven yards. But fate is a fickle mistress, and in four plays, the 49ers could only get two yards closer to fulfilling their dream, and their near-miraculous 22-point comeback came up short. The Baltimore Ravens were Super Bowl champions. Being a Super Bowl champion is a historical accomplishment in and of itself, but when it comes down to a last-minute, game-winning drive, or the toppling of an insurmountable lead, it just feels more important. To wit, four of the last five Super Bowls prior to this one were decided by a last-minute, game-winning score and they have been described as some of the best Super Bowls ever. There is just something about that lastminute score that excites fans
MCT CAMPUS
Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco hoists the Lombardi Trophy Sunday night. and creates lasting memories. The largest deficit overcome in a Super Bowl is 10 points. This was accomplished twice,
in 1988 by the Washington Redskins over the Denver Broncos, and again in 2009 by the New Orleans Saints over the
Indianapolis Colts. But those are not the only momentous comebacks in Super Bowl history. In 2001, a young Tom Brady led his New England Patriots to a huge upset over the St. Louis Rams with a lastsecond drive setting up a walkoff field goal by Adam Vinatieri. Brady repeated that magic in 2003 when he again led a last-second drive, setting up another game-winning Vinateri field goal that beat the Carolina Panthers. In 2007, the New York Giants pulled off a large upset, ending New England’s bid for a perfect 19-0 record on one of the best drives in NFL history, highlighted by David Tyree catching a deep ball from Eli Manning on his helmet. However, the most famous game-winning drive in a Super Bowl was conducted by these same 49ers and the legendary Joe Montana in 1989. They marched 92 yards in under three
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minutes to score the game winning touchdown with just 34 seconds left. It is a stark contrast. While one 49ers team will go down in NFL story books, immortalized forever as the team that orchestrated “The Drive,” the other has found itself on the wrong side of history. But they are not alone there. The 49ers failing right at the doorstep of the end zone is reminiscent of the Tennessee Titans falling a yard short of tying the Super Bowl in 1999. The image of wide receiver Kevin Dyson stretching the ball out in vain was shown over and over again in the following weeks, much like the no-call on a potential holding call in the end zone at the end of this Super Bowl will be. However, as is often said, the history books are written by the victors. The Titans’ last gasp has lost its significance to time, with the real story becoming
the “Greatest Show on Turf,” about the Super Bowl champion St. Louis Rams and their MVP quarterback Kurt Warner. So too will the 49ers’ near miraculous comeback be lost in the annals of time. There are certainly things that will be remembered about this Super Bowl: brothers coaching against each other, a power outage during the game, and Jacoby Jones’ record-tying 108-yard kickoff return, but the near comeback will not be one of them. The 49ers had their moment of glory in hand, one of the greatest Super Bowl comebacks of all time, and they let it slip through their grasp. Just seven yards stopped the 49ers from achieving their dreams.
JAMES O’HARA -sports staff writer -junior -computer science
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Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Do the job yourself, or make more money doing something else and hire somebody. Just get it done. Find what you need nearby. You have what others want. Minimize distraction.
Taurus (April 20-May 20) Friends offer good advice. Also, you may ind a way to earn more without increasing work. Make sure you know what’s required.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) You’re exceptionally perceptive for the next few weeks. You inspire others, and they tell you so. Speak out, and voice your point of view. Love lows abundantly. Send invoices. Aries (March 21-April 19) You’ll get great insights from your dreams. Use them to plan your direction, and anticipate some resistance. Expand your creativity with wild practicality.
101
on your side.
Lesson: Student Conduct
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If I am arrested, do I need to disclose this to student conduct?
ANSWER:
Yes, within 10 business days of any arrest/conviction/issuance of a protective order must be submitted to a person in student conduct.
Gemini (May 21-June 20) Intuition inspires your work. Check out new career options. Don’t overlook anybody to avoid jealousies. Join a good team. Travel’s good, too. Cancer (June 21-July 22) Allow others independence, as you free your own imagination. Your thoughts wander a lot these days. You may choose different tactics than planned. Take advantage of the moment.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Maintain your inances with savings. A task that strengthens your home strengthens you. Evaluate resources. You can borrow or barter for what’s needed. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Go with a creative leader. Your partner has a lot to say. Don’t believe everything you learn ... they’re just “guidelines.” Offer encouragement. Controversy arises. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Shop very carefully now. Develop necessary processes before proceeding with projects. Listening works well over the next month. Increase your family’s comfort by clearing clutter. You’re attracting admiration.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Don’t behave is if you’re made of money, even if you are. For about three weeks, you really understand people. Conscious and subconscious alignment occurs. Listen to intuition.
Why is the university requiring this?
ANSWER: The underlying purpose is to maintain a safe university community, not to adjucate more violations
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) You can afford it; set your sights high. You’ll have a strong nesting instinct; clean, sort and organize. Discuss core goals with family members. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Friends and lovers may compete for attention. Look at it from another perspective. Your curiosity is aroused. Surprise each other. Plan, and provide motivation. You’re advancing naturally.
it ’s le g a N E H W k in r d o t e s o cho
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news
february 5, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES
editors: mallory noe-payne, priscilla alvarez, dean seal newseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865
Tech goes green with recycling competition Quad: MIKE DEMSKO news staff writer
Virginia Tech’s campus will look a little greener this spring. Recyclemania, a North American EPA sponsored competition, will be pushing students to clean up their usual dumpster routine. Recyclemania requires that each participating university measure its total weight in recycled paper, cardboard, plastic, aluminum cans, as well as composted organic material from the food service departments. Total weights and per capita amounts are judged for final competition rankings. The Montgomery Regional Solid Waste Authority in
info on the go Tech placed second in Virginia in last year’s Recyclemania Christiansburg is in charge of measuring and recording the recycled materials, with the exception of the organic compost. Last year the competition boasted 6.2 million students and staff participants nationwide, resulting in a grand total of 94.4 million pounds of recycled and composted waste. As for the Hokies, Tech fin-
ished second in the commonwealth of Virginia in 2012 to UVa., but still put up substantial numbers. Last year, Tech accounted for 578,060 pounds of recycled materials, specifically: 208,420 pounds of paper; 127,920 pounds of cardboard; 45,420 pounds of plastic bottles and aluminum cans; and 196,300 pounds of composted organic materials. The Office of Energy and Sustainability, the governing body for Tech’s involvement in Recyclemania, contributed much of last year’s success to the Library Services’ journal recycling program, which increased paper recycling by 70 percent.
The department has equally high hopes for this year’s competition, setting a goal to further improve recycling by 5 percent and to decrease overall trash output by 5 percent. All students and faculty are encouraged to participate by making small changes to their daily habits, such as making use of designated recycling containers and reusing common items like water bottles whenever possible. Student involvement is, however, a priority of the upcoming campaign. Sustainability Program Manager Denny Cochrane is looking for possible groups and individuals to promote the program. “Our office is meeting with a
student rep to discuss ways we can encourage student involvement,” Cochrane said. Students around campus have had positive reactions to the program. “It’s a good incentive for colleges to protect all that we have,” said Riley Allison, a freshman in university studies. Mimi Savage, a sophomore in HNFE agreed. “(Recylemania) is a really good idea for students to compete to promote a good purpose like recycling,” Savage said. Recyclemania begins Feb. 3 and will continue until March 30. Follow the writer on Twitter: @mikedemskoCT
Corps renovates
from page one
“The upper quad represents the first 140 years of the university and the Corps. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to shape the campus for the next 140 years.” Tech plans to hold a design contest between different architectural firms to see who can come up with a unique but traditional view of the Corps. “This is for Virginia Tech,” Belcher said, “and we want them to have a great space that really works for them.” Not only will the residence halls be renovated, but Fullhart also revealed plans for a new building to go up behind the historic Lane Hall, which was considered Barracks 1, and one of the oldest buildings on campus. The new building would be multipurpose, and would be called the Corps Leadership and Military Science Building. It would house the Commandant staff, the Corps Museum, ROTC staff, classrooms, the Rice Center for Leadership Development, a tailor shop and uniform storage areas, as well as the armory. Belcher estimates the project of renovating the residence halls alone, including tearing down the current buildings, will cost around $95 million to $100 million. That estimate does not include the cost of the new Corps Leadership and Military Science Building. The funds will come from a combination of public money and private donations. The project will begin by rebuilding Rasche, then Brodie, before building the new Corps Leadership and Military Science building. Montieth and Thomas will be torn down last. Each building is expected to take two years to completely renovate. Follow the writer on Twitter: @CAustinCT