Tuesday, February 12, 2013 Print Edition by Collegiate Times

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Tuesday, February 12, 2013 An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 www.collegiatetimes.com

COLLEGIATETIMES 109th year, issue 70 News, page 2

Arts & Entertainment, page 3

Sinking Drillfield rumors exposed CODY OWENS news staff writer

Walking across campus on a blustery February morning is a bad start to any day, but is the Drillfield actually a downer? Central to Virginia Tech’s campus, the Drillfield visibly lowers in elevation as one walks from War Memorial Hall at its southern end to Burruss Hall, at its northern end. Rumors have long circulated that the open space of grass is sinking, claiming the bowllike depression as proof. Students explained the Drillfield depression in different ways. One student said she heard it was sinking because of the number of pushups done by the Corp of Cadets, while others said that they heard about the mysterious sink during orientation. “I heard it sinks around an inch a year,” said senior computer science major Derek Ong. “I think I even heard that in a freshman tour.” Although the Drillfield is clearly lower in elevation than the surrounding land, Tess Thompson, an associate professor of biological systems engineering, put down the rapid sinking rumors. “If it were sinking an inch a year, there’d be repercussions for all of the infrastructure on the Drillfield: the light poles, the sidewalks, etc.” said Thompson. “You’d see it.” Some claim that a stream runs beneath the Drillfield and is the source of the sink. Thompson explained they’re partially correct; a waterway, Stroubles Creek, does runs underneath the Drillfield and downtown Blacksburg. A tributary of the New River, the headwaters of Stroubles Creek originate in the northwestern part of Blacksburg and flow to the southwest. The Creek is formed of two streams, the

Web Branch and the Central Branch. The former flows under the Derring Lot and opens up at the intersection of West Campus Drive and Duck Pond Drive. The Central Branch of Stroubles Creek now runs underneath the southern side of the Drillfield, somewhat parallel to War Memorial Hall. In 1934, the waterway was enclosed in a three-sided culvert, measuring eight feet high and four and a half feet wide. Now, all that remains of the Central Branch is a line of manholes on the Drillfield and an opening beneath a bridge leading to the Duck Pond. The bottomless “pipe” retains the natural streambead, said Thompson, who is a researcher for the Center for Watershed Studies. “It allows interaction between the stream and groundwater and also allows bed sediment to move,” Thompson said. The presence of Stroubles beneath the Drillfield has fostered claims that the waterway is responsible for the Drillfield’s sinking. However, W. Cully Hession, professor of BSE, said that if this were true, the dip would look distinctly different. “Where the stream is buried — because it’s got a concrete structure around it — would probably end up being higher than the rest of the Drillfield (if it were sinking), but it’s not,” said Hession. Because Stroubles only runs on one side of the Drillfield, it could only cause that one side to lower rather than cause a large valley like what is present. While Thompson does not believe that the underground waterway could cause any sinks, she said that small depressions could potentially result from soil compaction. As people run, walk and bike see SINK / page two

Opinions, page 5

Sports, page 8

Study Break,

Giving Back

PHOTO COURTESY OF HOKIESPORTS

Tech softball player Kylie McGoldrick represents her “17K Diamonds for All” charity, along with several other Hokie baseball and softball players.

BY ALISON BOWKER | sports staff writer

Hokie softball player Kylie McGoldrick turned her love for helping others into a chance for all to play the game For many students, “Ut Prosim” is a value they pick up when they come to Virginia Tech. However, for sophomore second baseman Kylie McGoldrick, “that I may serve” is something that she has adapted prior to her days on the Tech softball field. Despite an intense academic and practice schedule, she still finds the time to give back to others and teach them about the game that has given her so much. Her summers home in New Jersey are spent playing softball on a travel team and volunteering with “Buddy Ball,” a program that teaches children with disabilities how to play softball. This is the program that initiated the idea of starting a foundation of her own. Long before her days of playing softball at Tech, McGoldrick found a way to incorporate her love of both softball and giving back. In the summer of 2009, McGoldrick and her father, Kevin, founded “17K Diamonds For All,” in McGoldrick’s hometown of Stratford, N.J. The foundation was named after McGoldrick’s jersey No. 17. The “K” is for Kylie and “Diamond” is a reference to the baseball and softball fields. McGoldrick’s love of giving back is rooted deep inside of her. Her family believes that it's an important value in life; they also participate in the “Make-A-Wish" Foundation. Because of McGoldrick’s and her family’s involvement in charities, they came up with the 17K Diamonds for All to benefit others year round. Though they understood that this foun-

dation would never be as big as the Make-A-Wish Foundation, they knew that this would be their contribution. The collections are normally held at McGoldrick’s showcase tournaments in Pennsylvania. McGoldrick said that before a showcase, she emails the coaches from the opposing teams and asks them and their players if they will bring any of their used softball gear to donate to the foundation. The foundation’s first collection in the summer of 2009 was its biggest to date. This collection contributed over 65 bats, 18 helmets, a dozen gloves, new sets of numbered jerseys and several dozen pairs of cleats. The two collections McGoldrick held in New Jersey benefited two local charities. One was the Boys and Girls Club in Camden, N.J.; the other was a local church in Laurel Springs, N.J. McGoldrick said that because of her tough practice and academic schedules, being away at school and all the charity work she does with Tech softball makes it tougher to keep up with her own foundation. Therefore the summer is the most convenient time for her to do collections and drop-offs. However, in January, McGoldrick brought the foundation to Blacksburg. She asked the Tech softball and baseball players to bring back any of their old gear to donate. The collection, which is benefiting the Montgomery Parks and Recreation in Christiansburg, brought in 23 gloves, 11 bats, three bat bags, 15 pairs of cleats and a single set of catcher equipment. McGoldrick said that though the collection was smaller compared to the other two previous collections, McGoldrick and see GIVING / page eight

New VISTA program strives to fight poverty in NRV DONAL MURPHY news reporter

Almost one-fift h of the New River Valley lives in poverty. However, VT Engage and their developing VISTA program seek to change that with a new grant. VT Engage: The Community Learning Collaborative has been working with the national Volunteer in Service to America (VISTA) program for almost three years now according to Whitney Johnson, the Assistant Director of Community Partnerships at VT Engage, and the head of the VISTA program in the New River Valley. "Over the last year, we wrote a grant to the Virginia state office to increase the number of VISTA places we have," Johnson said. The grant was awarded to

VT Engage in November, meant to assist the program in their efforts to expand its current VISTA partnerships, and sharing resources of their University office with the community to improve relationships with community organizations and Tech. "Right now we have six VISTA placements in different organizations throughout the New River Valley. I oversee all of the VISTA projects, and each of the members are doing some sort of capacity building position," Johnson said. Most of the work done by volunteers include fundraising and organizational development within these groups. Some of the organizations that VT Engage has VISTA partnerships with include Bike Kitchen, intended to provide easy access to transportation and in its second

year of development, and Smart Beginnings, which aims to improve youth literacy in the New River Valley. In addition, there is a partnership with the Blacksburg Farmer's market to reduce the number of people in the area on the Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food stamps, as well as a partnership with the organization Plenty! in Floyd aimed at helping families suffering from food insecurity. "The organizations that we're typically having placeCOURTESY OF FADUMA GUHAD ments with are small organizations that could grow, they Members of VISTA are preparing to expand their program with help of a new grant. just don't have the resources to do that. So we're placing the intention is for the orga- all New River Valley resiwith these programs, pro- nizations to be autonomous dents live under the federal viding them with a full-time and capable of expanding poverty line, meaning that list of volunteers to help their staff and capabilities these organizations VISTA fi ll that program," Johnson of helping the communities and VT Engage help supsaid. around them. port play an important After a three-year program According to Johnson, role. with VISTA and VT Engage, approximately 19 percent of "We still have people liv-

ing in the New River Valley living just above the poverty line that can't access services like food stamps and assistance with housing," Johnson said. Because the New River Valley is more rural in nature, dealing with poverty can be more difficult. Because families are more spread out, it's harder to help provide access to transportation, education and healthcare. However, Johnson hopes that with the new grant and student assistance, the challenge can be met. "We'd like to see students living out the university motto of Ut Prosim, and working alongside community partners to make this area even stronger," Johnson said. Follow the writer on Twitter: @HokieRealist

news

february 12, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES

Sink: Possible reasons for strange shape

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

what you’re saying Plans to change CLE take off

So: Those easy “joke” classes are going to go away is what I am getting from this. I’ll miss: Music Appreciation, The Creative Process, Appalachian Studies, Insects & Human Society, Human Sexuality, and so on. Anyway, it maybe time that students start to look at community colleges or other institutions as a means to complete CLE’s. I know that VA community college students and other transfer students sometimes don’t fit well with CLE’s. Hey you can only transfer so many credits to Tech because VT wants you to take some if not most of your classes at Virginia Tech Karen: No, it’s called if you want a degree from a solid university like VT, you need to take at least half of your classes here. That simple. They don’t want you running around the world with no knowledge with a degree from VT but you took most of your classes at Middle of Nowhere Community College.

COURTESY OF VT SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

Since 1894, the Drillﬁeld has been used for student activities, sporting events, demonstrations and the Corp of Cadets’ military drills. from page one

people run, walk and bike across the Drillfield, it presses the soil in tighter, making it harder for rainfall to infiltrate the ground and for grass to take root. “If you compact soil, it does lower,” Thompson said. “The Drillfield would be a lot nicer if people stayed on the path.” However, while any changes from long-term soil compression are detrimental to the

soil and to tree roots, they are ultimately minute in terms of sinking. To understand a more plausible reason for potential depressions, one has to go deeper. Blacksburg lies on karst topography, meaning, among other things, that the terrain is characterized by layers of carbonate rock such as limestone. Limestone-rich regions often host caves and sinkholes. “You can have the soil sink because there’s limestone,”

Gary Long named associate dean ALEX GOMES news staff writer

On Jan. 25, long-time chemistry professor Gary Long was named Associate Dean for the College of Science, a position involving overseeing curricular development, organizing scholarships and developing new programs for a variety of the college's programs. In an interview with Collegiate Times, Gary Long explained his history with the school, and changes he hopes to make in the near future. Collegiate Times: So you first came to Tech as an assistant professor in 1983? Gary Long: Right; I was 27. I got tenured and did stuff with an associate around '87, and I've stayed with chemistry throughout all of my time here. I spent a time at the (National Science Foundation) as the program director on a rotation for a year. I was a Fulbright in the Middle East for a year, and I worked for the Mobile Chemistry Lab, which was a team of who came together and got it on the road for about four years. And most recently, I was invited to be part of the Dean's Office. So that's why I've got that title of Associate Dean for Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Science.

Thompson said. “Is there one completely under the Drillfield? Nobody knows, but that’s another reason why soil can sink.” Ultimately, the two professors expressed doubt at the rumor that the Drillfield is sinking and said that it is a natural valley. Some students say that, whatever the cause, the natural contours of the Drillfield have changed over the past century and cite photographs as evidence. “You can look at picture of it 50 years ago and it’s totally level,” said Daniel Diggs, a junior majoring in engineering, science and mechanics. “There are no hills like you see now.” Originally, when President John McBryde offered the field for use by both the military and athletic departments in 1894, the area was plowed, harrowed, and rolled, leaving the earth stony. It was not until 1909 that the field — then known as “Miles Field” — was

“

If you compact soil, it does lower. The Drillﬁeld would be a lot nicer if people stayed Tuesday, Feb. 12 on the path.” Tess Thompson Associate Professor of BSE

top dressed, adding three to nine inches of soil and leveling it substantially. Whether the Drillfield is indiscernibly sinking or not, the fact remains that it is an integral part of university life. Students like Bryce Renick, a junior mechanical engineering major, say that a slight sink might actually be a good thing. “I can cross the Drillfield a lot quicker,” Renick said. “Ultimately, it’s a much quicker route because of the hill... it shoots me across.” Follow the writer on Twitter: @CodyOwens5

CHEN JIANG / SPPS

CT: With your work outside, it's clear that you have broad expe-

Follow the writer on Twitter: @AlexGomes_CT

6:00 p.m. at Smith Career Center. There are several large job fairs on campus this spring and employers are interested in talking to and hiring Hokies. Do you know how to present yourself to an employer at a job fair? What to ask? What they’ll expect? Come to this seminar to learn how to stand out in the career fair crowd.

Men’s Basketball vs. University of Virginia, 7 p.m. in

Charlottesville.

Wednesday. Feb. 13

Salsa Massive: Valentine’s Day Dance, 9:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. at Giovanni and O’s Lounge. Grab your dancing shoes and your friends and head to Giovanni and O’s Lounge and dance to salsa, merengue, bachata, and reggaeton. The cost is $3 at the door, or $2 if you purchase a membership card with SalsaTech. The night begins with a beginner’s lesson from 9:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. From then on it’s dancing until the DJ gets tired. Chocolate Dipped Treats and Truffles, 5:30 p.m. at 341 Wallace Hall. Learn all about chocolate with Executive Chefs Mark Bratton of West End Market at Cochrane Hall and John Scherer of Owens Hall. Sign up in advance at http://gobblerconnect.vt.edu/organization/ dining; limited to 25 participants.

Long - Associate Dean of Science

CT: So you're still getting used to saying the full title? You paused a bit before it came out. Gary Long: (laughs) Yeah. So, my job is to look at the academic programs within the College of Science and help departments who are trying to create new curriculum. And we have to; science changes, and so should the curriculum. But you can't just go out and say, "I'm going to teach a brand new course." It has to be approved by a variety of levels within the college and the university to make sure it meets the standards. Ultimately, we want to make a course where say, if someone wanted to transfer to UVa., and I don't know why anyone would want to do that, they'd know if they took this particular new course, they would get credit for it.

upcoming events

Stand Out in the Career Fair Crowd, 5:00 to

Give the gift of memories!

rience, in addition to working with us for 30 years. Using that knowledge, are there any particular changes that you've had in mind that you'll be able to implement easier now that you've been promoted? GL: There are some high-priority issues: one is the Integrated Science Curriculum. It is a different idea that tries to teach science to first-year students by taking all that material that's taught in individual disciplines, sometimes over and over again. For instance, you take thermo in Biology, you take thermo in Chemistry, you take thermo in Physics, and rather than just keeping them in these little silos where everybody controls their own information flows, let's blend it together. So if you learn how to do a new derivation, what can you use it for? It helps to have an immediate application of the new theory that you learned. When you're dealing with environmental issues, it's not just chemistry; environment goes through everything. There are so many different approaches to a problem. They, (other fields), have to work together. This program isn't for everyone, though. We're still very, very strong in our traditional approaches to all the sciences. At this juncture, the Integrated Science Curriculum is an evolving process, a student in this program can be a major in any of the sciences. It's a little bit of everything. The person has to be trained in all these disciplines to really understand the problem and go forward.

Honestly Karen: You don’t get. No one is running around the world nor wasting their time in a community college. You Karen dismissed those that want to take courses elsewhere (aboard) or students that are simply saving money by going to community college. You also seemly dismissed an associate degree because of the “prestige” of a degree from Virginia Tech. The value of a VT degree is subjective.

Flower & Gift Shop Valentine’s Day Special

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

arts & entertainment

Murder-mystery novel follows autistic teenager Book Rating Unlike most fi fteen year olds, Christopher Boone isn’t afraid when he sees his neighbor’s dog stabbed by a pitchfork. Boone, the main character in Mark Haddon’s “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time,” simply pulls the pitchfork out and embraces the deceased creature. He prefers dogs over people, because he says, “You always know what they are thinking.” Boone, the arguably autistic narrator, makes it his mission to solve the case of who murdered this dog, Wellington. When the cops see him holding this dead and bleed-

ing dog, they immediately suspect him as the murderer. Christopher never lies, so he simply tells them he did not kill Wellington, while the dog’s owner, Mrs. Shears, is

less than convinced. Christopher cannot handle being touched; he loathes the colors yellow and brown, but adores red. Merely seeing four yellow cars in a row makes him silent for the rest of the day, refusing to eat his lunch. He declares it a “Super Good Day,” however, when he sees five red cars in a row. His practices take a toll on his single father, who lacks patience at times. His father urges Christopher to stop investigating Wellington’s murder and when he doesn’t, problems between them escalate. When searching for clues to Wellington’s murder, Christopher fi nds himself unwrapping secrets to his own life and realizing the people closest to him have

been anything but truthful, which becomes painfully hard for him to process. This murder-mystery novel reaches far beyond Wellington. Haddon’s voice for Christopher makes for an interesting read for anyone with experience with autism, and eye-opening for anyone without such experience. He puts you into the mindset of a teen with autistic tendencies, while it is never confirmed in the book. The readers eventually find themselves understanding the reasoning behind most of his quirks, and sympathizing for those that must honor them. The shocking mystery aspect of this novel will make it hard to put down, and nearly impossible to predict.

Possibly the only main flaw in this book is the ending. It lacks complete resolution and leaves the reader wondering what happens next. Some may argue the ending is unfair to the main characters involved, while the last paragraph is undeniably cheesy. Despite its ending, this book is definitely worth the quick read. Haddon has created a unique perspective on autism and the people it affects, while proving not every mystery novel has a direct villain. It will leave your mind blown and heart heavy with the inescapable hardships every person experiences. MAITLAND MANN -book columnist -junior -English

Cinematography boosts suspense in ‘Side Effects’

february 12, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES

New Releases Movies Feb. 14: “A Good Day to Die Hard:” John McClane tracks down his estranged son Jack to Moscow, Russia. The two quickly become embroiled in a plot to protect a Russian government whistle-blower. Starring: Bruce Willis, Jai Courtney “Safe Haven:” Based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks, a young woman struggles to lead a quiet life and ﬁnd love again, only to have her past catch up with her. Starring: Julianne Hough, Josh Duhamel

Games Feb. 18 “Alex Cross, Run,” by James Patterson -- Alex Cross, the protagonist of Patterson’s murdermystery series, is back again, this time tracking a series of murders.

Movie Rating

“Warning: May Cause Murder” — this is the warning label that should have been on the container of the new antidepressant drug “Ablixa” in Steven Soderbergh’s latest movie, “Side Effects.” “Side Effects” tells the story of Jonathan Banks (Jude Law), a psychiatrist who is assigned to help a young woman named Emily (Rooney Mara) after she attempted suicide. Emily’s husband Martin (Channing Tatum) has just returned from a prison sentence for insider trading, and Emily clearly has trouble dealing with the change. When Emily’s previous psychiatrist Victoria (Catherine Zeta-Jones) tells Banks that

Feb. 19 “The Sound of Broken Glass,” by Deborah Crombie -- Scottland Yard Detective duo Gemma James & Duncan Kincaid are at it again for the ﬁfteenth installment of this series. “Neferet’s Curse: A House of Night Novella,” by P.C. Cast, Kristin Cast -- In the late 1800s, 16-yearold Emily Wheiler’s life changes when her mother passes away and she is made the Lady of the Wheiler House.

see MOVIE / page seven

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

february 12, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES

news

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

In case you missed it... Virginia Tech's basketball team lost 64-54 to Georgia Tech Saturday afternooon. Star player Erick Green, who leads the nation in scoring and scored 28 for the team Saturday, spent the last few minutes of the game dehydrated and on the bench. The Hokies play again tonight against UVa in Charlottesville at 7 p.m.

Still don’t have plans for this Valentine’s Day? St. Alban’s Sanatorium in Radford is offering a special “Forever and Always” tour of their haunted house. Tickets are $10 and will feature 15 different interactive love scenes that showcase the scary side of love. Nothing says romance like grabbing your loved one and screaming your head off at a haunted house… right?

Meth lab busted. Investigators made a major bust in a meth lab operation that had been taking place in Montgomery County last week. Deputies raided and arrested William Burton’s meth lab on Wednesday in Riner County, and call it one of the most sophisticated operations in the New River Valley. Authorities noted that when there is an increase in crime in the area, it is likely due to an increase in drug activity. Investigators said that this bust was the largest one-pot meth lab they had seen so far.

GINO RIVERA / COLLEGIATE TIMES

Virginia Tech has been selected for the fifth consecutive year as a Tree Campus USA college. The program is sponsored by Arbor Day Foundation, and recognizes campuses that eﬀectively manage their trees, develop connections with the community’s urban forests and engage students in educational and preservation service.

opinions

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

february 12, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES

The Collegiate Times is an independent student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 Collegiate Times Editorial Staff Editor in Chief: Michelle Sutherland Managing Editor: Nick Cafferky Design Editors: Andrea Ledesma, Alicia Tillman Special Section Design Edtitor: Danielle Buynak Public Editor: Erin Chapman Web Editor: Chelsea Gunter 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

Solution for gun shows require closing loophole

ast week, Wayne LaPierre of the Nat iona l R if le Association testif ied before Congress on the subject of universal background checks for all gun sales in the country. The focus during the hearing was the “gun show loophole.” The “loophole” allows a private dealer to sell arms without administering a background check. A private dealer in this case is defined as someone without a license and who does not sell arms regularly. LaPierre’s statements quickly gained a lot of media attention due to apparent contradictions with the last statement he gave before Congress in 1999. In his last statement, which was shortly after the Columbine

“

The distinction between a private a sale involving a ﬁrearm and a public one is not wide enough to forsake something...like a background check”

shootings, LaPierre stated that “We think it’s reasonable to provide mandatory instant criminal background checks for every sale at every gun show. No loopholes anywhere for anyone.” Contrast that with his recent statement from last week: “background checks will never be ‘universal’ — because criminals will never submit to them.” When pressed for the reason why he changed his opinion so drastically, LaPierre stumbled from one weak response to the next, while mostly avoiding the question. He argued that excess burden would be put on lawabiding citizens if they were forced to administer background checks before selling firearms. He also stated that criminals could not be stopped from purchasing firearms by a simple background check. The only merit to this argument is that it went beyond the tired rants of big government

infringing on gun owners’ freedom and rights. Apparently, LaPierre believes that despite our best efforts, criminals will go on to commit the crimes they were destined to commit. Why bother putting into place restrictions and checks on lethal arms if criminals will just procure them illegally? This attitude is dangerous and flat out wrong. Instant background checks are useful deterrents for people who have a violent or mentally-unstable history. LaPierre’s arguments do not even logically follow: he supports background checks from licensed dealers, yet does not support them in private cases. The distinction between a private sale involving a firearm and a public one is not wide enough to forsake something as important as a background check. LaPierre may have worries about the costs imposed on the dealer, but these costs are passed on to the purchaser by most licensed dealers, and could be handled similarly at gun shows. Another of LaPierre’s dubious claims is that instead of the hassle of background checks, we should overhaul the mental health system and include people with a mental history in the NICS (criminal background check system). So, LaPierre proposes that instead of expanding a useful tool we already have, we should look to fix the infrastructure and outreach of an entire branch of healthcare. This implausible proposal aside, LaPierre’s second idea of expanding the NICS to those with a mental history still does not address the issue fully. Even if we did expand it, what good would the check do if it is not in use at private gun shows? The contradictions in the NRA’s position are telling of the issue — the only option we have to ensure maximum safety under the law is to close the “gun show loophole.” SHARATH REREDDY -regular columnist -sophomore -economics

Students, doctors are at fault for growing Adderall misuse I t’s all too easy to obtain that magic pill that gives you a boost during finals. You probably know someone willing to sell you an Adderall, and if not, you can easily find a Concerta, Ritalin, Methylin, Dextrostat, or a Decedrine on campus. It’s so tempting to take a pill to obtain tunnel-like focus that in turn will give you that bright, shining “A” you desperately need. After the first time, it’s too tempting to pass up again— the thought of being locked in the library without your sixhour ancillary capsule is just horrifying. So when students get hooked on recreational test helpers, they move to the major leagues and get their own prescription. It’s simple enough to get a recommendation from a doctor; Wikipedia can tell you all the answers you need to pass the test proving you are positive for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Yes, you have trouble sitting still, yes, you have trouble concentrating… it’s the one test you don’t need an Adderall to pass. The results of tests of students with ADHD and those merely faking symptoms are absolutely indistinguishable. The test doc-

tors hand out is a short cut, a cop-out diagnosis. Physicians and psychiatrists will make the process even easier for perspective clients. They make hasty diagnoses to lying patients and up dosages even with evidence of growing addiction and psychiatric instability to make a quick buck off of a desperate college student. The mutual understanding of faking tests and writing prescriptions is a travesty. Obliging doctors give out hundreds of pills each day even if more medication might be detrimental to a patient’s health. According to the New York Times, as many as 35% of college students use stimulant drugs to enhance their academic performance. The pills are a kind of steroid for your study skills. For most who use the drugs more than once and a while, they find daily activities difficult without popping a pill. It’s at this point when they become an addict. It is projected that 10 percent of Adderall users become addicted. While a pill might give you six hours of pure concentration and studying bliss, the side effects take over the remaining 18 hours of your day. Mood

darkening, scattered sleep pattern, tics and decreased appetite might consume your nonstimulated part of the day. As the dosage goes up, the negative symptoms do, as well. In extreme cases of addiction suicide is a threat. The pills aren’t the problem with overwhelming addiction and abuse of the drug, but, rather, the doctors that prescribe the medication. Too lenient and too easy with their prescription pad, doctors fail to take the time to inspect the real severity of a patient. More often than not, doctors take the clients’ word for granted and trust their articulated symptoms without seeing any real evidence toward A.D.H.D. Doctors and students, both, should stop relying so much on pills as problem solvers. The cycle of abusing Adderall and similar drugs is one that should be stopped immediately, before dangerous outcomes become more prevalent around the country.

KELSEY EDELMANN -regular columnist -junior -English

Society causes ADHD drug abuse

mericans are cheaters. Our massive Adonis-complex has transcended sports, business, politics and has even found its way into our education. Children take Adderall, Vyvanse and other drugs to compete academically in wholly unnatural ways. Luckily our superior morality allows us to admonish this behavior as well, but we haven’t found a way to diminish the problem. The emphasis in American culture is on success fi rst and that is a good thing. We are naturally competitive and we always want to do better. However, our culture defi nes success too narrowly, especially for kids in school. We don’t encourage students to cheat and take Adderall. But every student is pressured to excel academically regardless of what they want to do in life. Some of my best friends took Adderall to excel in class and on standardized tests. These people were not sinister. They’re our classmates. Students who use Adderall do so because they are told from birth that the only way to suc-

ceed is to score high on the SAT, get into a good college and get a good job. Success is a value our generation has been raised on. If you are a 10-year-old naturally gifted fi sherman in Northern Virginia, you’re still raised to go to school and get an education so you can be a doctor or a lawyer. And bringing B’s home on a report card just won’t cut it. So people take Adderall and get A’s when they are naturally gifted in non-academic fields and struggle in the classroom. Fairness is important, but so is the ability for people to find what they are good at and do it. We judge success with blinders on and then we pressure kids into doing things they aren’t comfortable with. Are you shocked that some of those kids cheat? A successful high school student makes friends, stars on the varsity team, gets straight A’s and gets into a great college. Nobody cares if you can fish when your older brother is going to law school in the fall. Parents and friends need to realize that a student can be successful by finding out that

they are talented in something other than school. If we broaden our defi nition of success in high school and college to include developing talents rather than developing a high GPA, we can be more successful in stemming the use of Adderall in school. If two people fi nd that they are meant for each other and decide to start a family instead of going to college, that is just as successful of a life outcome as getting a 4.0 and going to Harvard. We should celebrate that success too. We can cry all we want about students using Adderall, yet until we can defi ne success as something other than doing well on the SAT, getting into college and making tons of money we are going to continue to have people who use drugs like Adderall to boost their test scores. After all, success is what matters. JOSH YAZMAN -regular columnist -junior -political science

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february 12, 2013

Regular Edition Today’s Birthday Horoscope: Your solar year begins a season of social fun, creativity and romance. For about five months, old partnerships are best, and promotions attract attention. A career choice in summer blazes trails for the rest of 2013 and beyond. Go play!

Piled Higher and Deeper by Jorge Cham

Best Wishes

Quote of the Day

Flowers and Gifts

There is much pleasure to be gained from useless knowledge. - Bertrand Russell

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XKDC by Randell Monroe

2 3

3 2

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

9 7

6 5 7 3 4 4 3

65 Chianti, for one 66 Swamp plant 67 Speak like Don Corleone 68 Ticker tapes, briefly?

By Don Gagliardo and C.C. Burnikel

ACROSS 1 REO part 5 7-Down portrayer on “Frasier” 9 Medicine cabinet item 14 First-century Roman leader 15 Cross 16 Lickety-split 17 Jack Benny’s 39? 19 Was about to blow up 20 Mizrahi of “The Fashion Show” 21 Insurance co. employee 23 __-relief 24 Mix-up among the peas?

Week ending February 15, 2013

Top Tracks My Songs Know What You Did In the Dark • Fall Out Boy

When I Was Your Man • Bruno Mars

I Knew You Were Trouble • Taylor Swift

Highway Don’t Care (feat. Taylor Swift) • Tim McGraw

Ho Hey • The Lumineers

27 Top-shelf 28 Charlotte-toRaleigh dir. 29 Texas NLer 30 Aslan’s land 32 “It __ Nice”: ’60s protest song 34 Doubter 36 Julian Assange’s controversial website, and a hint to what’s missing from this puzzle’s four longest answers 39 Federal statute trumps it 41 New England law school 45 Mercury, e.g.

WORDSEARCH: MARVEL Characters Locate the list of words in the word bank in the letter grid. C

W T

W W Q

W J

W G

W R

W M

WORD BANK 1 Spiderman 2 Captain America 3 Daredevil 4 Hawkeye 5 Iron Man 6 Cyclops 7 Dr. Doom 8 Wolverine 9 Hulk 10 The Thing 11 Magneto 12 Thor 13 Thanos 14 Storm 15 Dr. Strange 16 Galactus 17 Colossus 18 Iceman

2/12/13 46 Old school addition? 49 Rolls around the house 50 Hierarchy level 51 Amorous ship leader? 54 Bug 55 Third deg.? 56 Like some tragedies 57 Club relative 59 Bird with a droll wit? 63 Earn 64 Tulip chair designer Saarinen

DOWN 1 __ mission 2 Throngs 3 Saxony’s capital 4 Beds, at times 5 Like some quilt kits 6 Want ad letters 7 See 5-Across 8 Pipe dream, say 9 Castaway’s creation 10 “The Simpsons” character with an 18-letter last name 11 Big name on the ice 12 Vast 13 Site of a legendary parting 18 Fan support 22 Ligurian seaport 24 Shar-__ 25 Weak 26 Aid on a misty night 27 Pretentious 31 “Don’t __!” 33 Country music sound 35 Just starting 37 Suffix with vulcan 38 Craft with a mizzen

39 7-Eleven beverage 40 Vessel with a hinged cover 42 Rigorously abstinent 43 Exploring 44 Shogun stronghold 45 Binocular features 47 1950 #1 Ames Brothers hit

48 She played Romy in “Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion” 52 Scary snake 53 Fortitude 55 Tennis great Sampras 58 Shovel 60 Mens __: criminal intent 61 Sch. levels 62 Signs of resistance

Friday’s Puzzle Solved

2/08/13

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

arts & entertainment

february 12, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES

Movie: Soderbergh brings together all-star cast for ﬁlm from page three

Emily should go on the new antidepressant “Ablixa,” the stage is set for disaster. Soderbergh assembled a great cast for this movie, which is absolutely essential for a film that demands so much of the audience. There are numerous twists and turns, clues that seem obvious in hindsight and tons of details that require a sharp eye to catch. And the A-list cast definitely keeps you hooked. Rooney Mara’s incredible ascent into stardom after her bit part in 2010’s “The Social Network” is once again confirmed. She brings the necessary vulnerability to Emily as a patient – and some serious grit for her second big part. Jude Law and Catherine ZetaJones also deft ly play their

roles, creating some powerful chemistry between the three. Soderbergh captures all of this with an incredible eye for detail in every shot he takes. Each shot seems deliberate and thoughtful, carefully planned out for maximum effect, and with little concession to the showy sequences so beloved by big-studio directors. This is interesting, given that Soderbergh is widely known for his commercially-minded movies with huge budgets and even bigger stars. But he has also made more than a few art-house films in his career, with experimental techniques and a next-to-nothing budget. Th ink about the contrast between his debut, “Sex, Lies, and Videotape,” which was made for only $1.2 million, and

“Ocean’s Eleven,” which had an $85 million dollar budget. Indeed, “Side Effects” feels

much like Soderbergh’s previous movie “Magic Mike” — an art-house film masquerading

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

as a blockbuster. They have a similar aesthetic and style, which is not surpris-

ing considering Soderbergh served as the cinematographer and editor for both (under his usual pseudonyms Peter Andrews and Mary Ann Bernard). The major difference between the two is the excellent work of the screenwriter for “Side Effects,” Scott Z. Burns. “Side Effects” is a much tighter film, with a clearer sequence of cause and effect, and a more satisfying ending. Without such a strong script, the intricate plot could have easily become muddled under the weight of its own complexities. Instead, the film emerges as a coherent work that gives just enough information away to keep the audience in the loop while maintaining the suspense and mystery that makes it so entertaining.

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Travel GETTING COLD TIME to Plan your Spring Break 2010 Get Away! Learn how to travel to beautiful locations like Jamaica, Acapulco and the Bahamas on a party cruise. Find out what other Virginia Tech Hokies are headed to your destination. -Adrian Email: Awhite@Studentcity.com for more information

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tip of the week

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Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) There are new assignments coming in, and the money motivates. There’s a power play. Figure out how to go farther to resolve practical questions. Provide leadership and persuasion.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) New information emerges. Speak up; you could earn a bonus. New inancial arrangements are possible. Keep track of spending, and create a game plan. Tap into hidden resources.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) It’s a good time to learn from someone you love, someone who comes up with brilliance. Do the homework you’ve been avoiding for an epiphany. This makes you irresistible.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Let others know what you want. Promise something better later and mean it. More becomes available. Invest in ef iciency. You gain public recognition. Phone home if you’re away.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Convince your partner by inventing a fabulous fantasy. Discuss inancial implications. More planning is a good idea. Ask probing questions about priorities. Proceed to the next level: design.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Persuade a family member into going along for the ride. Bring home a happy surprise. Advance to the next level of your practical plan for prosperity. Keep a secret.

Aries (March 21-April 19) Communications go the distance today. Present practical data, and get the word out. Share a commitment and inspire others, who take it the extra step. Listen for the gold.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Share discoveries and listen to your partners. Find ways to save time by working smarter. A small investment now produces high returns. Ask for more and get it.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Your clever wit attracts new business. Gather information and learn quickly. The news is all good. Graduate to the next level. Allow your partner temporary veto power.

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Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Follow a wise relative’s advice, and let words lead to surrender. Be vocal about what you want. Get materials for a creative project. Listen to your heart’s song. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) An amazing discovery validates your work. Step outside the box. Others ask for your advice. Deliver your message in writing, or give a speech. Consult friends for feedback. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Watch for new information. Fan the lames by broadcasting it. Your past work speaks well for you. Accept assistance. Reveal your ideas in private. Record feelings in your journal.

TIP: Go easy when you’re stuck. WHY: When stuck in mud or snow, don’t make the problem worse by damaging an expensive component. Gently rocking in an attempt to free the car is fine. But if it looks as though you’re really stuck, don’t keep at it. Throwing your car from forward to reverse repeatedly, as well as spinning tires at high speeds, can generate lots of heat and spell trouble for transmissions, clutches, and differentials. It may be cheaper in the long run to call the tow truck rather than risk big repair bills down the road. It’s a good idea to carry a traction aid in the trunk, such as sand, gravel, or cat litter. TIP: Fix the washer fluid tank ANSWER: Cracked washer-deicer fluid tanks are fairly common once a car is of a certain age. A good remedy — until you can buy a new tank or find one at the junkyard — is to insert a plastic freezer bag into the tank and fill it with the washer fluid. -www.rd.com

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sports

february 12, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES

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

Position battles, player development highlight spring training This week, pitchers and catchers for all 30 Major League Baseball teams will be reporting to spring training to begin preparation for the 2013 season, marking the beginning of baseball season. Teams will be prepping for a run at the defending champions San Francisco Giants and the ultimate goal of a World Series title. Spring training in MLB takes place in two places: the Grapefruit League in Florida, and the Cactus League in Arizona. Teams will be using this time filling holes, solving position battles, getting their first looks at offseason acquisitions, a better look at top prospects and getting physically prepared for the new season. Each team has different holes to fill. For example, the National Leagure-favorite Washington Nationals will be going into camp with a decision to make on the seventh member of their bullpen, while the Minnesota Twins, San Diego Padres and Miami Marlins will be trying to determine nearly all of their lineup and rotation. Position battles are always entertaining for fans, as most choose sides and defend their chosen player. Some interesting battles going into 2013 are the Arizona Diamondbacks' and Oakland A’s outfield situations — they both have four starters for three spots — and the Chicago Cubs’ third base competition. After an offseason full of

MCT CAMPUS

Jurickson Profar (Rangers) and Oscar Taveras (Cardinals) are ranked the No. 1 and No. 2 prospect in baseball. moves, spring training represents the first opportunity for fans and teams to see new players playing meaningful baseball for their team. In particular, the Los Angeles Dodgers will have a number of new faces in camp. Additionally, teams like the Cleveland Indians, Atlanta Braves, Kansas City Royals, Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Angels will be showing off their new stars. Other teams will be introducing new managers, and spring training will give an idea of what these managers want to accomplish. This will be the first spring

training for new Colorado Rockies manager Walter Weiss and Houston Astros manager Bo Porter. Of less interest to fans, but an important part of spring training for executives is the fresh look at top prospects in more advanced action. Organizations will be judging whether or not the best prospects in the game, such as Oscar Taveras (Cardinals), Jurickson Profar (Rangers), Travis d’Arnaud (Mets), Dylan Bundy (Orioles) and Wil Myers (Rays) are ready to begin their promising MLB careers. These looks often lead to games

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filled with substitutions and players who are relatively unknown getting into games in the late innings. This can lead to some

hilarious situations such as a TV broadcast calling a Cardinals prospect “Minor League Guy on Third,” but it also means that the results aren’t measured on the scoreboard. Finally, some teams will be trying to get healthy in time for Opening Day. Teams that rely on older stars like the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies, will be using this time to get their stars prepared for one more run at a title. This spring training also has a few quirks. First, there are still two bigname free agents who remain unsigned in Scott Boras’ clients Michael Bourn and Kyle Lohse. Due to new rules regarding free agent signings and draft compensation, both players have struggled to find the deal they want. With spring training beginning, both will be looking to wrap up this situation and get to know their new teams. Second, this season marks the

third World Baseball Classic, in which a number of Major League stars will be participating. The WBC will run from March 2-19, directly during spring training. This means that star players such as Miguel Cabrera, Felix Hernandez and Ryan Braun will not be in camp for this time as they compete for their country. While the statistical results themselves aren’t completely relevant, spring training is still an important part of the baseball season. Every team — from fringe contenders such as the Chicago White Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates to World Series favorites such as the Toronto Blue Jays and Cincinnati Reds — will be looking to send an early message that 2013 is their year. JAMES O’HARA -sports staff writer -junior -computer science -@nextyeardc

Giving: Softball player starts foundation from page one

and the teams were proud that they were able to contribute to the local community in Blacksburg. McGoldrick has not stopped to catch her breath though; she already has plans to do another collection in the spring. The collection would again involve both the softball and baseball teams. For McGoldrick, giving back is the best part of her softball experience. She said that seeing how excited the children were when she went to drop off her first collection brought tears to her eyes. “They are just so thankful for everything you give them,” McGoldrick said. McGoldrick said that as

much as she loves playing, she enjoys coaching and teaching others the game she loves even more. She said that because the game of softball has given her so much, she wants others to be able to get just as much out of it. Giving back is something that McGoldrick hopes to continue to do in the future. She hopes that the foundation will continue to grow and have more collections. “I want to continue working to the best of my ability providing others with the opportunity to play softball and baseball,” McGoldrick said. “Everyone should be able to have the same opportunities to thrive in a sport they love.” She wants to continue doing

charity work with her family, specifically her younger brother because they share the connection of giving back. “We were blessed in so many ways with the talent to play the game along with having all the assets to make it possible,” McGoldrick said. “We want to do the best we can to share that ability with others.” McGoldrick has made softball a bigger part of her life than just a sport she plays. This sport has become something that she hopes to spread along the east coast and eventually to other parts of the country and the world.

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