GOING TO THE GAME? see pg. 5 for our preview Thursday, February 7, 2013
An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 www.collegiatetimes.com
COLLEGIATETIMES 109th year, issue 68 News, page 2
Tech offers new master’s degree ALEX GOMES news staff writer
People looking for a career in an art museum, cultural organization or heritage tourism will soon FINE be able to graduate with a Masters of Fine Arts from Virginia Tech that will set them on the right path. After about six years of production, the Department of Religion and Culture and the Department of History have collaborated to create a new Master’s of Fine Arts program called Material Culture and Public Humanities. The 30-credit MA program focuses on teaching students to interpret cultural materials and practices in order to relay those interpretations to the public. According to Dr. Bailey Van Hook, a chair and professor in the Program of Art History who was one of the architects of the program, its creation came from the two colleges having a lot in common. “Where we expected students to end up was basically the same: small museums, house museums, cultural organizations and publications like The Smithsonian,” Van Hook said. As the program was developed, the colleges thought it important to show that those who would graduate with the degree would have a good chance of finding jobs afterward. According to Dr. Elizabeth Fine, a coordinator of Tech’s Humanities program and professor in the Department of Religion and Culture, the results were favorable. “We were delighted to see that one of the fastest growing areas of jobs right now is in this field of cultural organization, museums and heritage tourism,” Fine said. Despite the fact that getting the program started was hampered by the poor economy, the outlook is still good for incoming students. Graduates of the program
can work a variety of jobs, including careers in public education interpreting objects, or in small towns cataloging their material culture. “A key part of our program is to understand how to interpret, preserve and then present the cultural artifacts of a town, place or region, because they carry the values of the people,” Fine said. The program’s focus on local culture is enhanced by Tech’s location in southwest Virginia. All around the region, “heritage tourism” trails like The Crooked Road and ‘Round The Mountain give tourists greater access to craftspeople around southwest Virginia, including weavers, potters, carvers and many other artisans. While the program has taken roughly six years to develop, it’s still a relatively new and unexplored field. One of the few other universities that include a Material Culture and Public Humanities hybrid programs include Brown University and Bard College. According to Fine, Bard’s program stresses the public humanities aspect, while Brown’s program emphasizes material culture. “Ours is the first in the country that that’s going to foreground both things,” Fine said. Because the field is so cutting-edge, Van Hook thinks it may be a little too soon to say exactly what the college and faculty can expect from the program, but both she and Fine remain optimistic. “I think one of our national needs is to have what we would call ‘public humanists,’” Fine said. “People who can take their background of culture, history or English and critically address issues that communities are concerned with.” The program is currently accepting applications for next fall. Follow the writer on Twitter: @alexgomes_CT
Weekend, page 6
Opinions, page 3
Sports, page 5
Study Break, page 4
Redefining fiction BY JESSICA GROVES | features staff writer
BRAD KLODOWSKI / SPPS
Matthew Vollmer, assistant professor of English, teaches his discussion-based graduate course on the form and style of fiction.
Matthew Vollmer focuses his teaching and writing style on the fusion between fiction and nonfiction The clock in Matthew Vollmer’s office stopped working a while ago. The hands are frozen somewhere between one and two o’clock. For Vollmer, an assistant professor of English at Virginia Tech, it might be a sign that his time in the spotlight is just beginning. Vollmer has written three nonfiction books, including “Fakes: An Anthology of Pseudo Interviews, FauxLectures, Quasi-Letters, ‘Found’ Texts, and Other Fraudulent Artifacts.” The New York Times said that Vollmer’s work was “the arrival of a strong new voice.” Blending genres “Fakes” is a work of unique nonfiction; Vollmer and co-editor David Shields took inspiration from real documents, such as tax returns and bumper stickers. Shields argued that popular culture is oversaturated with fiction,
and craves reality. “My goal is not to write the next ‘Hunger Games’ or ‘Harry Potter,’” Shields said. “I think the most exciting thing by far in popular culture exists in the space between nonfiction and fiction.” Vollmer and Shields both said they wanted to tell the story that exists within real life. His latest book, “Reality Hunger” focuses on the same issues of creative nonfiction that “Fakes” does. “I’m interested in the story whether it’s fiction or nonfiction,” Vollmer said. “You could make an argument that nonfiction, even though it’s supposedly about true events, exists as a language. I’m not just giving you the facts of the experience.” Refining the work product “Fakes” is one of many experiments that Vollmer has used for experience. Vollmer regularly participates in writing workshops with his students. He said that some of see FICTION / page six
Blacksburg social media company takes center stage LESLIE MCCREA news reporter
Heyo, a social-media company launched by former students, may soon get the chance to showcase a new project on a highly visible stage. The Blacksburg-based company was recently chosen as a finalist from a pool of 500 applicants for the fift h annual 2013 SXSW Accelerator conference. From March 11-13, companies will meet in Austin, Texas to compete and show off their ideas for the year. The competition works interactively as finalist companies attempt to “discover advancements in social media, mobile applications
and web entertainment,” according to sxsw.com. In 2007, Twitter attended SXSW Accelerator, and although it had previously launched in 2006, the conference exploded their network and boosted their audience into the millions. Now it is Heyo’s chance to shine with innovation. At the Accelerator conference, Heyo will have the opportunity to reach out and impress international companies and judges. “Th is conference is very well-known. We thought we had very little chances of getting in, just because of our location. When we applied, it’s clear that the people looking at our application saw how powerful the soft ware
is and that we have a significant amount of customers using the platform,” Latka explained. For a conference that began as the South by Southwest Film Festival, it is a big step to be able to represent technology on such a large scale. Accelerator works with very large companies like Microsoft, and only accepts the most promising companies that they feel will make an impact in the upcoming year. “This is the kind of conference that all of the big players go to. I’m excited for the exposure because I think it COURTESY OF HEYO will be great not only for Tech alumni and Heyo CEO, Nathan Latka, works in Blacksburg office. our company but also for Southwest Virginia when international competition,” Heyo focuses on allowing we present ourselves at this Carroll said. small businesses to expand
their audience and fan base through ‘Do It Yourself ’ instruction. They work with clients to build fan pages, mobile applications and websites to make it easier for them to drive traffic leads and sales. “The main reason we entered the competition is for exposure,” said Nathan Latka, Co-Founder and CEO of Heyo. “It will help us forward our mission of helping small business owners. More people will hear about us, and we can make connections and build our cause.” Along with Latka, previous Radford and Virginia Tech students, Brian Putt and Joshua Gunter, helped to see SXSW / page two
2
news
February 7, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES
SXSW: Heyo is finalist
Tech employee wins gold
Follow the writer on Twitter: @lesliemccrea
news editor
Virginia Tech recently installed 21 pet waste stations around campus to raise awareness on stormwater protection. According to the Site and Infrastructure Development, SID, department, “stormwater is rainwater and melted snow that runs off streets, lawns, and other surfaces.” The water collects pollutants that can eventually harm the environment as well as any body of water it spills into. Pet waste is a contributing factor to pollution, containing an average of 23 million fecal coliform bacteria, according to SID. “It ultimately ends up in the body of water and that, often times, will change the pH in water, it can change the temperature in water… and then the different bacteria in water can harm the aquatic life,” said Stephanie Smith, intern for SID and senior environmental policy and planning major. To prevent further contamination and fulfill components of their permit, SID decided to place pet waste stations in areas such as the Drillfield, Vet Med,
what you’re saying On Virginia Tech chef passes on knowledge to community
On Bill could alter laws on marijuana
Somebody: If we legalize federally the entire
country will follow. The tourism argument becomes moot.
jway: “If you legalize it, more people will do it.”
Well, that’s just an assumption. So let’s take a look at its accuracy. Legalizing marijuana like wine will allow stores to undercut drug dealers’ prices thus stripping the dealers of their adult customers and driving them off the street (exactly what happened when we legalized adult alcohol sales). With drug dealers gone and stores not selling to them, teenagers will find marijuana significantly harder to access, which will REDUCE teenage use.
COURTESY OF NORRIS FAMILY Ben Norris won gold in the Alpine Intermediate Super G and placed seventh in the Alpine Skiing Intermediate Giant Slolom.
Ben Norris, who works with Dining Services, returns from South Korea, where he skiied in the Special Olympics. MATTHEW JOHNSON & CAMERON AUSTIN news staff
His co-workers describe him as friendly and always smiling, but Turner Place employee Ben Norris was all competition on Monday as he competed, and won, a gold medal in the Special Olympics. Norris competed in three different events in PyeongChang, South Korea, winning the gold in the Super G with a winning time of 49 seconds. The Super G is a type of Alpine skiing that focuses on speed, compared to events like the slalom, which focus
on technicalities. “Th is has really been a dream come true for Ben and I am sure a life changing experience for him,” said B.J. Norris, his mother and a Virginia Tech employee. Norris’ dad, Stan Norris, has been teaching Ben and his twin brother how to ski since they were 12 years old. Now, 22, Norris had been practicing for the Special Olympics at local resorts Wintergreen, WinterPlace Ski Resort, and Appalachian Ski Mountain. The Special Olympics is the second largest sporting event in the world, with almost 2,400 competitors. Team USA had 151 members who
competed against 112 countries. Though his co-workers at Turner Place could not be there to cheer him on, Assistant Director for Turner Place John Barrett said that they were “showing him support in every way (we) can.” Before the competition, fellow employees wore red, white, and blue to honor and support their co-worker. Barrett, who has corresponded with the family, said Norris is looking forward to coming back to work and enjoying American food. Follow the writer on Twitter: @CAustinCT
Campus installs pet waste stations PRISCILLA ALVAREZ
newseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865
Karen: Glad you put your family first since they were important to you, and yet you’re still satisfied with your career.
from page one
launch the company almost two years ago in a small space above Sharky’s in downtown Blacksburg. Now Heyo has about 15 fulltime employees and a large, creative office space. “Heyo is not just focused on building fan pages. There’s a much higher goal, and that is creating a cool office, and getting the most intellectual people in a small area to create density of high-level thinking,” Latka said. Brandon Carroll, Chief Fun Officer, works to lead the marketing sales and support, but also takes his “fun” role very seriously. “We have a unique culture here where everyone has fun,” Carroll said. “We are 100 percent committed to the happiness of employees and clients. I think if you invest in people then business will go far. People are our biggest asset.” Heyo plans to expand and market itself internationally, but always stay in the Blacksburg and New River Valley area. “We believe that this area has so much talent and could really be the next Silicon Valley. What makes not only Virginia Tech, but also the area different is that we are committed to the idea of Ut Prosim,” said Carroll. “Our company is really focused on serving small businesses and hopefully the Accelerator conference will help us stay dedicated to that mission.”
editors: priscilla alvarez, mallory noe-payne, dean seal
Visitor Center and the Duck Pond. “We thought the pet waste stations would be a good way to combine (public outreach and education) and protecting stormwater even more because pet waste actually does contribute very negatively to stormwater,” Smith said. In addition to informing the public about the prevention of polluted stormwater, the pet waste stations would also protect Stroubles Creek, which was recently declared impaired by the Environmental Protection Agency. Stroubles Creek runs under RYAN SUTHERLAND / SPPS the Drillfield, into the Duck The stations are part of an effort to help prevent water pollution. Pond and eventually into the Ohio River, Mississippi River our drinking water,” Smith waste stations, reaching an estiand even the Gulf of Mexico. said. mated number of 40. They also Because the creek was not Although the water is sani- intend on redesigning the signs meeting water quality stan- tized, Smith warns that it needs to further inform its users. dards, the Total Maximum to be protected for both recreThe new design will include Daily Load Plan was imple- ational and health use. the website and possibly a barmented to regulate the amount Pedestrians picking up after code for iPhones to scan for of pollutants draining into the their pets will find a sign on more information. body of water. Pet waste was a the station saying, “Help pro“It’s a cool idea that can harbor threat to this effort. tect our stormwater” to remind more outreach opportunities,” “It’s (stormwater) going to pick them of the importance of the said Kelley Junco, Stormwater that up and transport it directly cause. Permit Coordinator, “The outto our water. It goes down a Thus far, more than 2,000 reach portion is a big step for storm drain and it’s not being bags have been used since us.” filtered at all… Ultimately, this August 2012, when they were Follow the writer on Twitter: water will end up in the New first placed, according to Smith. @pitialva River and that’s where we get SID expects to install more pet
Duncan20903: Ms. Bickel’s hysterical
rhetoric is built on the proven false premise that absolute prohibition actually works. There simply is no compelling supporting evidence for that presumption.
upcoming events Thursday, Feb. 7
Class of 2013/2014 Ring Sales, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Squire’s Yorktown Room. Graduation announcement ordering for
2013 will also be available at ring sales this week.
Chalk Talks Season 4, 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. at D2. Virginia Tech Men’s Basketball
Coach James Johnson or his assistant coaches share strategies for the next big game during lunch. Giveaways at each session may include T-shirts, autographed basketballs, and student tickets.
Men’s Basketball vs. Maryland, 9:00 p.m. in Cassell Coliseum. Friday, Feb. 8
Elect Her- Campus Women Win Conference, 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. in 1100 Torgeson Hall. In a five-hour training, Elect
Her-Campus Women Win provides students with research and information about women and politics, brings inspiring local speakers, and involves participants in interactive campaign exercises. This training will provide you with skills and information transferrable to many situations where innovative leadership skills are needed.
How to Start a Business, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. in ICTAS Building 310. Want to learn what it takes to start a new technology-based business? Join us at the How to Start a Business workshop to review the key strategic issues and the entrepreneurial commitments involved. Free workshop, lunch included. Online registration necessary.
Swing Dance and Lessons, 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. at YMCA’s Stuart Event Room at 1000 N. Main St. Southwest Virginia Social
Dance Society has a lesson and dance every Tuesday and Friday. Everyone is invited and welcomed - no partner necessary. Our dances have a small and friendly atmosphere, great for meeting other dancers and learning to dance. We encourage all styles of dance, with the focus being on vintage Swing. Lessons are 7:30-8:30, with the dance beginning immediately after.
crimeblotter date
time
offense
location
arrestees
status
02/04/2013
1:26 PM - 9:30 PM
Larceny of a Backpack
Lavery Hall
Active
02/05/2013
11:43 PM
Possession of a Controlled Substance/Drug Paraphernalia/ Underage Possession of Alcohol/Weapons Violation (Brass Knuckles)
Cochrane Hall
Active
02/06/2013
3:11 AM
Possession of Marijuaana/Drug Paraphernalia X2
Pritchard Hall
Active
opinions
editors: shawn ghuman, josh higgins opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865
February 7, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES
3
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
French aid in Mali Obama’s guns are not an issue requires brevity
M
ilitary interventions are incredibly delicate and fragile situations and should only be undertaken when absolutely necessary. That is why all eyes are on Mali as French and African forces attempt to force back the al-Qaeda linked terrorist group that overtook Northern Mali last year. A critical intervention is underway: France has sent aircraft and at least 2,500 soldiers while the West African bloc, ECOWAS, is pledging 7,700 troops to combat the radical Islamists who are attempting to impose Sharia Law throughout the land, according to Reuters. French President François Hollande’s decision for French military action, while unexpected, was warranted given the stagnant rate of progress by the international community to agree upon and deploy a coalition force to aid the Malian government, which called out for help from African neighbors and nations abroad. But the conditions under which this intervention is taking place are not lacking in complexity, and that is why it is imperative for the French and other forces involved to tread carefully through this conflict. Given our experiences with volatile military interventions in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya, we should understand the massive number of variables and danger posed to the intervening forces. Fortunately, the vast majority of the Malian people and military have celebrated the arrival of the French forces. According to “The Guardian,” Soumalia Maiga told Reuters: “We are happy, even though it is frightening.” According to the “Washington Post,” Nana Toure, a native of Timbuktu, remarked, “French troops must not leave us alone then because those who fled may come back and cause problems for us,” she said. “French troops have to stay a bit to stabilize the place.” ECOWAS has stated, however, that it did not want foreign boots on the ground, nor does it want the French to play a major role in the intervention or stay for very long. Justifiably so, as extended occupation or excessive action by French forces, when combined with the internal Malian problems, could turn the very people who welcomed the French against them. Similarly, The
“
The conflicting wishes between the Malian government and the Western African Bloc regarding help from abroad”
Huffi ngton Post reported that one French official stated, “The longer we stay, the bigger the risks.” We have seen this in our own military interventions in the Middle East. A large number of internal problems exist within the Malian government, too, exhibited by the military coup in March 2012 as well as the arrest and forced resignation of Prime Minister Cheikh Modibo Diarra by military forces, according to “The Boston Globe.” Militant sympathizers also pose a great threat, as large numbers of Malian soldiers have defected to join the insurgents in the North, pinning former comrades against one another. Such issues bring into question the stability of the Malian government and military forces in play, a crucial component of this situation. Collateral damage must also be avoided to the greatest extent possible. So far, roughly 10 civilian deaths have occurred according to Human Rights Watch. The conflicting wishes between the Malian government and the West African bloc regarding help from abroad, specifically from the French, further complicates the political side of this intervention. The Malian government and ECOWAS should be the driving force behind these operations to take back Northern Mali and defeat the Islamist militants, but given the circumstances on the ground, continued and substantial French involvement may be necessary to secure the overrun areas of Mali. Of course, the successfulness of the French and Malian forces in only two weeks, having reclaimed both Gao and Timbuktu, perhaps reveals that French troops are an asset worth keeping in the region a while longer. RYAN PFEIFLE -regular columnist -freshman -university studies
R
ecently, the White House released a photo of our own president firing a shotgun at Camp David—a controversial one thanks to recent tragedies and the president’s stance on gun control. However, I think the president exercising his own rights, as an American is no different than any other person firing a gun on his own accord. On both ends of the political spectrum, Americans can’t come to terms with the fact that the president is either more liberal than once thought, or more conservative than once thought, because he is a gun-rights advocate with reasonable limitations on them. Unfortunately, many liberals and conservatives can’t agree with this; and it is shameful they let their preconceptions decide what they will think of this instead of their own thoughts on a matter like this. I believe the image of Obama shooting a gun paints a different picture of the president. This term being his last, Obama can now be most sincere and open with his personal life; and this photo shows us that he is no longer concerned with getting votes, but doing what he thinks is right for the country in both
“
This term being his last, Obama can now be morea sincere and open with his personal life”
showing his support for guns, and agreeing to make changes on gun laws. Perhaps the stigma of gun owners as wacky, fringe-society people will indeed change for the better, while also showing that guns themselves don’t contribute to the problem, but the people using them. With Obama’s decision to place a ban on high-caliber assault rifles and possibly require a background check to purchase a gun, isn’t that unreasonable of a proposition. However, many conservatives are skeptical of the president’s perceived gun-friendliness, even though he admitted to being a defender of 2nd Amendment rights and claimed guns reflect on America’s history — which they do.
Liberals too, are at fault. Some went far enough to look for evidence of a photo-shopped image, and couldn’t believe their infallible president would be outdoors shooting guns at clay targets. This goes to show that often people put too much stock into one individual, and illustrates the passion and high expectations Americans put on elevated figures like President Obama. Issues like this one really get under my skin, because what people fail to realize is that from our beginning, almost every president has been a gun advocate. Even if they weren’t photographed firing guns at Camp David, I would be willing to bet at one point during their presidency, they did. Critics of this photo like the NRA assure us with propaganda that Obama poses as a gun advocate, who in reality is coming — this time, armed — for your guns, all the while encouraging dissent and distrust of the government. And we worry that our president is an occasional skeet shooter? ANDREW WIMBISH -regular columnist -junior -English
Burger joint doesn’t suffice
I
n all honesty, it is disappointing that dining services has decided to discontinue the Sbarro pizzeria in Squires Student Center. Sbarro’s hours of operation were more convenient than most dining halls on campus and was my hot spot for dinner on Sunday nights, when Owens was unbelievably overcrowded. However, following the announcement, rumors spread that Sbarro would be replaced with a Panda Express, an absolutely delicious Chinese food chain. With this knowledge, I was not too opposed to Sbarro’s replacement. In fact, I welcomed the prospect of a Chinese restaurant chain on campus to compete with D2 and Owens’ mediocre Chinese dishes. However, the university dashed the hopes of many students when they officially made a statement that Sbarro would be replaced by a burger joint. That is right: another burger eatery on campus. Sure, Sbarro was one of many places where students could purchase and consume great pizza but now, like Sbarro, this new restaurant will just become one of many.
One concern that many have is the cost to eat at this new establishment. The school decided against bringing in another outside chain and opted to utilize dining services for this project, which is not a problem as long as it is run as smoothly as the other dining halls are. If the restaurant overprices its food, no one will want to waste their time stopping there. Overpriced meals were one of the reasons why Sbarro shut down in the end. It currently costs almost $5.00 for two slices of pizza; regardless of size, that is completely exorbitant. Th is new burger establishment will also have major competition on campus. For starters, there is no better deal on campus than to pay $3.95 for dinner at D2 to consume as many burgers as you want; certainly not the best quality but definitely cheap. Also, much more impressive burgers are served at Flip’s in Owens Dining Hall. If this new dining option does not have some distinctive or redeemable characteristic, such as lower prices, better food, or longer hours of operation, this joint will sink much sooner than Sbarro did. With more than 25,000 stu-
dents attending Virginia Tech, one would think all of the dining halls would be utilized equally. However, this is not the case in any sense. There is a distinct reason why some students prefer one dining hall over another and these qualities are the reason they last. Though Sbarro had some tasty pizza, saving your money and going for the cheaper option sometimes tastes just as good. With that being said, maybe they should have let the students vote on what food establishment they want to take the place of Sbarro. In a “Collegiate Times” story on the new restaurant, the associate director of food for Squires stated, “After discussions with the SGA and the council, Moseley said, ‘we’re going with burgers.’ I do not see the student body involved in this process whatsoever, with the exception of a small number in the student government. That alarms me greatly, as the few who voted to bring the burger joint to campus are not the only ones who will end up eating at it. RYAN TURK -regular columnist -freshman -business information & technology
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 7, 2013
Regular Edition Today’s Birthday Horoscope: Enjoy the social whirlwind and romantic sparks until a project captivates. April promotions generate lasting results. Be cautious with investments after that, and keep providing great service for a steady rise in status. Love pays fine dividends.
Piled Higher and Deeper by Jorge Cham
Beijing Buffet
Quote of the Day
All you can eat Eat In or Take Out
It’s better to be a lion for a day than a sheep all your life.
LUNCH BUFFET Monday-Saturday 11AM-4PM DINNER BUFFET Monday-Saturday 4PM-10PM Sunday All Day Dinner Buffet 11AM-10PM
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9
4 2 1 7 6 9 4 9 6 8
2 8 1 9 2 4 7 5 4 2 3 6 5 8 1 8
Copyright 2007 Puzzles by Pappocom Solution, tips and computer program at www.sudoku.com
Week ending February 8, 2013
By Mark Bickham
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
4
Don’t You Worry• Swedish House Mafia
5
ACROSS 1 It may be shown to an usher 5 Flying Disney critter 10 Semi compartment 13 Like a firelit room on a cold night 14 1992- ’93 NBA Rookie of the Year 15 Apollo’s org. 16 Recommendations at the salon 19 Greatly smacked of 20 At the right time 21 Intricacies of cells
2/07/13 26 Gloss target 27 Collector’s goal 28 Roleo roller 29 Word with weight or worth 30 __ Bator 32 Feverish fits 34 Attributes at the links 41 Exams for future attys. 42 “As __ saying ...” 43 Airport safety org. 46 Brit. record label 47 Hugs, symbolically 50 Crew tool 51 Vicissitudes of cargo space
55 11th-century Spanish hero 56 Jacket material 57 Miscellany of benevolence? 63 Not for 64 Levels 65 Talk show host Banks 66 LAPD rank 67 One in a black suit 68 Site of Charon’s ferry
DOWN 1 PTA meeting place 2 __ fault: excessively 3 Action film weapon 4 “She Walks in Beauty” poet 5 Lollapalooza 6 Like some angry email, wisely 7 Honey beverages 8 Shut out 9 __ Spice aftershave 10 Yucatán resort 11 Sharp as a tack 12 Most abject 15 It’s verboten 17 Mates for bucks 18 Didn’t exactly answer, as a question 21 Advertisement 22 Hawaii’s __ Bay 23 Birthstone after sapphire 24 Pond plant 25 It may be proper 31 Org. for Bucs and Jags 32 Biblical mount 33 Biol., e.g. 35 False start? 36 Wheelchair access 37 Bluesman Redding 38 “Man, that hurts!” 39 Asian bread 40 Old red states?: Abbr.
43 Something to step on while driving 44 “Bye” 45 “Little Women” author 47 Leader’s exhortation 48 Danish seaport 49 Had too much, briefly 52 Gogo’s pal, in “Waiting for Godot”
53 Sailing, say 54 “Awake and Sing!” playwright 58 Souse’s syndrome 59 Party bowlful 60 “All the news that’s fit to print” initials 61 Prohibitionist 62 Jazz combo horn
Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved
(c)2011 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
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
2/06/13
editors: matt jones, zach mariner sportseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865
sports
february 7, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES
5
Tech looks to get back on track against Terps WANTED more info
JACOB EMERT sports staff writer
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James Johnson was hired as Virginia Tech’s men’s basketball head coach to do something his predecessor could not: consistently reach the NCAA tournament. If Johnson is to lead the Hokies into the “Big Dance” in 2013, things must change quickly. Virginia Tech (11-10, 2-6) has dropped 10 of its past 14 games, and is currently tied for last place in the ACC, alongside Boston College and Georgia Tech. For the Hokies to turn the season around, they must start tonight in Blacksburg against the Maryland Terrapins (16-6, 4-5). It will be the teams’ second matchup of the year, the first being a 23-point Terps victory at home in January. Johnson, however, believes that his team is better than it was a month ago. “I think the team is playing better right now,” Johnson said. “I think defensively we’ve improved, I think rebounding we’ve improved.” The confidence stems from the team’s two most recent losses, in which Tech led both Miami and North Carolina at halftime of their respective games. Although the Hokies were unable to maintain their leads, their ability to make their opponents, who were both significant favorites, sweat for victories proved they could compete on a nightly basis. Because of this, Johnson believes the team has not yet lost hope. “The fact that we’re coming out and we’re playing hard, we’re getting off to good starts, we’re competing and fighting, it also shows me that the guys still
Where: Cassell Coliseum When: 9 p.m. Who: Tech v. Maryland What: Hokies look to reverse fortunes in ACC Players to watch Erick Green, VT 25.0 points per game Alex Len, MD 12.7 PPG, 8.2 RPG
KEVIN DICKEL / SPPS
Junior forward Jarell Eddie blocks the shot of North Carolina’s Desmond Hubert in Saturday’s 72-60 loss. have confidence,” Johnson said. Perhaps more importantly, the level of hustle and competition the Hokies are
exuding has guaranteed that, even at 2-6 in the conference, they won’t be overlooked. “The thing I see about
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Virginia Tech when I watch them play, they’re a team that has a ton of fight in them, competing like crazy, got a first-
year coach that’s coaching every game like it’s his last game,” said second-year Terrapins head coach, Mark Turgeon. In order for the Hokies to win tonight, they will have to be able to limit the success of 7-foot-1, 255-pound Maryland center, Alex Len. In the teams’ first meeting, Len scored 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Len was neither the first, nor the last, big man to get to the best of the Hokies in 2013, but Johnson has increasingly been playing more zone-defense: not only to support his big men down low, but to help limit the fatigue of his players. “I think it’s part of the grind,” Johnson said. “We’ve played a lot of games, we’ve played a lot of guys and a lot of minutes. I think that’s just wearing on them.” To be hopeful about the remainder of the Tech season is being optimistic; to be optimistic of their chances of making the NCAA tournament is being delirious. However, the Hokies have played better basketball of late, and a victory tonight night is the first step, of many, to turn this season around.
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Aries (March 21-April 19) There could be mechanical problems. Delegate to someone who’ll do the job better than you. Exceed expectations. Set your own long-range goals, and record a signi icant dream. Taurus (April 20-May 20)You help others stay on track. But this may not be something you’re willing to do in every case. Consult an expert. Don’t be pushed into anything. Choose. Gemini (May 21-June 20) Respectfully move quickly with more work. Emotions direct your activities, and your destination calls. Beauty feeds you now, which adds to your charm. Don’t forget an imminent deadline.
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Keep the law
What types of punishment does Student Conduct give?
ANSWER:
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Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Plug a inancial leak, and guard against reckless spending. Save money by consuming less and conserving energy. Inspire others and motivate yourself. Give thanks for a lucky break. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) List the changes you want to make. Good deeds you’ve done bring bene its. Think fast, and put a surprising development to good use. Don’t rely on untested equipment.
on your side.
Lesson: Student Conduct
For Rent
Cancer (June 21-July 22) Get farther than expected, despite con licting orders. More money is coming in. Friends help you around a dif icult situation. Improve working conditions. You can work it out.
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Student Conduct does not give “punishment,” you receive appropriate educational or status sanctions. Status sanctions are your status with the university (probation, suspension, etc.). Educational sanctions vary widely and are individualized to help equip students for success (alcohol intervention, action plan, etc.). Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) You can do more than you thought. You’ve been doing the job the hard way. Creative work pays well. Keep digging. You’re great at networking. Valuable new opportunities arise. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Reaf irm a commitment, romantic or otherwise. You’re attractive. The wallet’s getting fuller. Sand down rough edges and facilitate creative efforts. Add glitter. The pace picks up. Compromise gets achieved. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Household matters demand attention. There’s more money lowing in, luckily. You’re very magnetic now. A partner may be even luckier. Witness another stroke of brilliance. Keep the faith.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Don’t worry about things you can’t change. Old formulas don’t it; new procedures glitch. But it all comes together. And time with your sweetheart is extra nice. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Make a big improvement. Problems may still arise. Ask for money anyway. Circumstances dictate the direction. Obstacles make you even more determined. Cross things off your private list. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Suddenly you’re in an alien environment. Get the facts by asking detailed questions. Provide well for family. New opportunities arise, including a con lict of interests. Choose for love.
I have a meeting with Student Conduct…are my parents going to find out?
ANSWER: The only time our office notifies a parent/guardian is when a student is found responsible for violating the illegal drug and/or alcoholic beverage policies and is under 21. Otherwise, parents will need your FERPA passcode to receive case information.
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february 7, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES
editors: emma goddard, nick smirniotopoulos featureseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865
I MAY BE WRONG, BUT I DOUBT IT
X Games shouldn’t make rash safety decisions On Jan. 31 the X Games community lost snowmobiler Caleb Moore from bleeding internally and brain complications — a result of a crash a week earlier, where his snowmobile fell on top of him after a failed backfl ip. Moore was just 25 years old, and although it’s a tragedy every time someone dies, this death was more haunting than usual because we all saw it live in the winter X Games. Moore might have walked away from the horrific crash, but it’s still eerie to know that I was watching the very moment that marked the beginning of the end. Even scarier? There were dozens of accidents, especially in the big air events, that looked far worse. Quite frankly, it’s easy to see how an extreme sports athlete could die trying to pull off one of these tricks that attempt to defy physics. The incident comes at perhaps the worst time possible for the X Games, which is in the beginning of a year where it is expanding its brand to having six events, spanning five countries. Now, the higher-ups of the X Games must figure out how to make sports that inherently dangerous safer without taking away from its “extreme” nature. When you think about it, the state of extreme sports is in the same perilous situation as the NFL. It seems like every Sunday, I watch a hit in football where my fi rst reaction is to scream out, “I think he might actually be dead.” Sometimes the hit is legal, some-
times it isn’t; whether it’s followed by a little yellow flag is irrelevant. Each time, the player has gotten up, or has waved to the crowd as he was carted off to let the fans know he was fi ne, but I can’t help but feel like I will eventually be right and a player will die on the field. If the X Games can learn one thing from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, though, it’s that changing the rules isn’t how to go about fi xing things. By trying to alter the rules, Goodell has botched the NFL’s situation worse than Richard Nixon handled Watergate. He’s turned football into a watered down version of itself and gone on a witch hunt to label some of the league’s hardest hitters as “dirty” players. He also disgraced the New Orleans Saints for the “Bountygate” scandal that was blown out of proportion. None of these things have actually made the game safer; they are merely PR stunts that give the allusion of helping. Football is a dangerous game and the people playing it are aware of that. They love playing the game and risk life and limb to play it. Want proof? Read Dan Lebetard’s piece on Jason Taylor in the Miami Herald. It’s graphic, but it details the excruciating pain Taylor went through on a daily basis, ending with him saying he’d do it all again in a heartbeat. I’m all for the NFL giving retired players health insurance for life — football generates billions of dollars and part of that should protect the men that sacrificed their
bodies so we could be entertained — but changing the game is the wrong way to go about it. For the same reason, what the X Games should do as a result of Moore’s death is simple: nothing. Banning snowmobiles from the X Games — something that is being talked about — would only help in that it might appease concerned sponsors. It’s only a matter of time before someone dies in skateboarding or skiing, and then what? It’s not like you’re going to get rid of one of those. Extreme sports athletes do what they do for the rush that comes with the fact that they know the dangers involved. They enjoy looking the Grim Reaper in the face and mocking him as they land a trick that would kill 99 percent of the world. That’s what Moore was doing when he died, and it was something he loved. Had Moore survived the crash, I would bet anything that he’d be on a snowmobile as soon as he got out of his hospital bed. The bottom line is that you can’t try to protect these athletes from themselves because you think what they do is reckless. They love it; we love watching them. Why is that a bad thing? NICK CAFFERKY -senior -managing editor -communication major
Fiction: Professor emphasizes taking risks, creative thinking for successful writing from page one
those sessions have given him ideas for new books. “In this new book of mine, there are only 30 sentences,” Vollmer said. “I never sat down and wondered whether I could write a book with 30 long sentences in it. That happened in a creative writing class.” Vollmer understands that writing is not done in a box. In the classroom, he tries to instill that sense of community and collaboration during workshops. Vollmer said that doing workshops doesn’t stop once you leave college. “My first book was a book of stories and some of those stories were written in workshops,” Vollmer said. “[My stories] always had eyes on them.” Risky Writing As a student University of
at the North
Carolina, Vollmer found himself emulating writers who took risks. He cited E.E. Cummings and Sylvia Plath as two main influences in his early work. “I could probably point to almost anything I’ve written and chart the people I’m ripping off,” Vollmer said. “But that’s what I see in writing anyway: the recycling of forms, structures, tropes and themes.” But in the classroom, he encourages students to take it one step further. Just as “Fakes” blurs the line between nonfiction and fiction, Vollmer urges his classes to step across the same boundaries. “I wanted to give students experience writing what they might not otherwise write,” Vollmer said. “I find more and more that I need to find a set of limitations I can push against to get excited about writing.”
Shields is also interested in the unique approach Vollmer uses in his writing. “[Vollmer] and I both teach creative writing and have a great interest in what we call fraudulent artifacts,” Shields said. “They take place in an interesting space between fiction and nonfiction; they occupy a sort of limbo land.” Shields labeled Vollmer and himself as two authors from different backgrounds: fiction and nonfiction. Shields describes himself as a writer who started out with fiction and merged into the world of nonfiction, and he says Vollmer is on a similar path. “I was coming into writing [“Fakes”] from a nonfiction perspective, and to a certain degree I think he was coming from a fiction perspective,” Shields said. Words of Praise Though Shield’s and Vollmer’s approach to
writing seems new in the world of nonfiction, several publishers and reviewers have stated their approval. “Fakes” has received praise from Publisher’s Weekly, The Washington Post and The Boston Globe. Shields said that the source of such praise for “Fakes” was Vollmer’s interest in finding stories between the lines of nonfiction. “The most interesting thing to me is [Vollmer] is a whole generation, if not more, younger than I am,” Shields said. “I think it’s important that he and I both love works that boundary jump.” Vollmer is used to jumping between other types of boundaries, too. He’s in his fourteenth year of teaching, but he frequently blurs the lines between writer and assistant professor. He said that consistently writing and creating material can
be exhilarating, but that distractions and confusion can be terrible. “Nobody else gives a damn whether you [write] or not,” Vollmer said. “You’re the person who has to be the caretaker; you’re the one who has to care.” Discovering a Calling Shields commended Vollmer’s work ethic, which makes him a unique person to work with. “[Vollmer] is unusual in the sense that he’s incredibly rigorous and demanding of himself and everyone else, but he has such a good core.” Shields said. “To me, he is a very unusual combination of intelligence, talent and a really big heart.” Shields isn’t the only one who has recognized Vollmer’s work. In 2010 Vollmer was awarded
$25,000 for Literature Fellowship in Prose from the National Endowment for the Arts. That award gave Vollmer the resources he needed to take time away from teaching and focus on writing. However, he still believes that teaching is his main calling. “If someone asked me what I do, I might say I write, but I’m more likely to say I’m an assistant professor at Virginia Tech,” Vollmer said. As someone who has explored the world of creative writing from both sides of the teacher’s desk, Vollmer still believes in teaching students about taking risks. After wading through difficult publishing processes and redefi ning non fiction, the man with the broken clock knows the only limit a writer knows: himself.
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