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Friday, February 22, 2013

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COLLEGIATETIMES 109th year, issue 77 News, page 2

Video request proves successful

BRAD KLODOWSKI / SPPS

Boyer videos a request to former-Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

Instructor John Boyer has used social media once again to reach a leader from across the globe.

SEAN HAYDEN news staff writer

Instructor John Boyer never fails to prove the power of social media to his World Regions students.

For the last two years, Boyer has been able to directly connect with important figures in both the United States and the world by using YouTube, Twitter and other social media networks.

On Feb. 19 Boyer posted a video on YouTube with the help of his World Regions class, inviting former Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, to talk to his class via webcam next week.

In a Skype interview with NBC News Australia, held shortly after the video was posted, Boyer elaborated on why he chose Kevin Rudd and what makes him a great candidate for a discussion with his geography class.

“I heard about Kevin Rudd ’s interactiv it y through some former students of mine who saw news stories about him, and ended up following him for several years,” Boyer said.

“As a scholar of China, a foreign minister and prime minister of Australia, Mr. Rudd has a very unique vantage point for understanding the foreign relations with not only Australia and China, but also the Pacific Asian Region in general.”

Boyer showed his sense of humor in the video invitation by offering to buy Rudd a Fosters beer to show his appreciation for talking to his class, which he later apologized for during the NBC interview, as Australians do not usually drink Fosters.

Rudd also showed his sense of humor by responding from his twitter account, @KRuddMP, “I was skeptical about your offer until I saw free beer.”

Rudd is one of the most active politicians on Twitter, so it was no surprise that several of Boyer’s students were able to get direct responses from

Rudd.

Carmen Lodato, a sophomore communication major and student in Boyer’s World Regions class, expressed her excitement about the Skype event next week.

“I am really excited about next week and I was extremely impressed about how quickly Rudd responded to the YouTube video and the Tweets,” Lodato said.

“Rudd replied so quickly that I did not even have a chance to tweet at him like a lot of the students.”

“

Mr. Rudd has a very unique vantage point for understanding the foreign relations with not only Australia and China, but also the Pacific Asian Region in general.”

John Boyer World Regions Professor

Fre sh ma n World Regions student Layla Mustafa is also looking forward to the video chat with Rudd next week.

“I am really looking forward to interacting with a world figure first hand next week,” Mustafa said.

“It’s not every day that you get to talk to such a significant world leader in one of your college classes.”

Boyer has had great success in the past with his Skype interview with Aung San Suu Kyi, the Burmese democracy leader, and with his showing of the film, “The Way” with guest appearances

by Emilio Estevez and Martin Sheen.

“Over the past couple years, I have seen Professor Boyer’s YouTube videos about trying to connect with world leaders, and it is awesome that I finally get to be a part of one,” Lodato said.

Follow the writer on Twitter: @shayden

People & Clubs, page 8

Opinions, page 5

Sports, page 3

Study Break, page 6

Hughes’ road to Blacksburg MATT JONES sports editor

Pete Hughes doesn’t do anything halfway.

Virginia Tech’s head baseball coach only knows one way to attack a situation: head on. Whether that comes from his background as a football coach and player, family man, community service advocate, or baseball coach, Hughes makes sure his presence is felt.

Don’t mistake his energy for intimidation or his enthusiasm for fakeness.

Hughes is the face of baseball at Tech, but it didn’t come easy.

“Everyone’s got the trials and tribulations of sacrificing in this crazy profession,” Hughes said. “You’ve got to have a good wife, you’ve got to have goals and you have to be persistent. Sometimes it works out for you, sometimes it doesn’t. It’s worked out great for us.”

The Hokies, who finished 35-21 in 2012, are poised for a breakout 2013 season. In his six years in Blacksburg, Hughes has already climbed the all-time wins list at the school, trailing only Chuck Hartman and G.F. “Red” Laird with 182 wins. At the age of 43, Hughes has coached 16 seasons of college baseball, amassing a record of 484-363-2 entering 2013.

His success is a testament to the sacrifices he’s made in his early coaching career, a journey that has taken him to five schools before the age of 40 and often tested his and his family’s resolve.

Climbing the ladder Unlike the specialization of today’s young athletes,

BRAD KLODOWSKI / SPPS

Virginia Tech head baseball coach Pete Hughes has built the Hokies into a serious contender in the ACC. Hughes never had a dull moment growing up athletically.

A two-sport athlete at Boston College High School, Hughes played football and baseball for the Eagles, an accomplishment he feels shaped who he is today and was a major reason he chose Davidson College.

“That’s why I went to college,” Hughes said. “I couldn’t see myself going to college for four more years and not doing what I’d done my whole life. After making an academic decision, which my parents told me

to make, playing two sports was the second criteria, and that was it.”

A four-year starter at quarterback and a threeyear starter at third base, Hughes graduated in 1990 with a degree in sociology/ anthropology. His next step — coaching — kicked off a wild ride through his 20’s and 30’s. “(I knew I wanted to coach) from day one,” Hughes said.

“It was going to be football though. I was going to be a college football coach — that’s what I was going to do.”

Hughes took his first job in 1990 as an assistant football coach at Hamilton College, a small school in upstate New York. To make extra money, Hughes also served as a baseball assistant during the spring, bringing his annual salary up to $4,000.

“That’s what drives me nuts with all these guys saying, ‘I’d take that job, but I can’t afford it,’” Hughes said. “If you want that job, and you want to be great at it, you just figure it out. We don’t talk about money — we do what we always do, see HUGHES / page three

Nepali mixes new customs with old JESSICA GROVES features reporter

In fall 2012, the Cranwell International Center counted 812 undergraduate students among its numbers.

Freshman electrical engineering major Dikchhan Tamang is one of a handful of international students from Nepal, but his situation is unique.

“I have the equivalent of a green card in the United Kingdom, but I’ve lived here too long to be considered international,” Tamang said.

Because of his unique status, he can’t apply to FAFSA or international scholarships.

However, this didn’t stop him from coming to Virginia Tech. Tamang said that Tech was always a top priority.

According to the university enrollment profi le, Tech

“

I have the equivalent of a green card in the United Kingdom, but I’ve lived here too long to be considered international.”

Dikchhan Tamang Electrical engineering major

received 20,191 applications. Of that number, 5,487 enrolled as part of the class of 2016. Out of those, Tamang is one of 20 Nepalese students

BRAD KLODOWSKI / SPPS

Dikchhan Tamang has eased his way into the Blacksburg community while still staying true to his culture. in Blacksburg.

Tamang researched Tech and chose the electrical engineering major because of its current demand. He said Tech was also popular with friends at his high school in Woodbridge.

“I had narrowed it down to George Mason, Tech and UVa.,” Tamang said. “UVa. flat out said ‘no,’ and I would have to pay double as an international student, but Tech fi nally said ‘yes.’”

Also wanting to pursue a career as an engineer, Tech seemed like an appropriate choice for Tamang.

“I always liked watching technological shows,”

Tamang said. “The lights and lasers always fascinated me, and electrical engineering seemed like it would work with that.”

Tamang started searching for other Nepalese students before he even got to Blacksburg. That search led him to several different student organizations, including the Japanese Cultural Association, Korean Student Association, and Chinese Student Association.

Tamang was immediately drawn to the university’s activities as well. Holly Younce, a junior communication major, became Tamang’s big sister in the

Korean American Student Association in fall 2012.

“I had no idea who he was when I was assigned to be his big,” Younce said. “At the reveal, my friends said that he and I were a perfect big and little match, and we were able to have really easy conversation once we started talking.”

Even though 9,087 students live in residence halls on campus, Tamang has found a home within his circle of friends. Younce said Tamang values community as much as any other Tech student does; she has seen Tamang’s passion for Tech’s people and organizations fi rsthand. see CULTURE / page two

2

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february 22, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES

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

Culture: Student adjusts to Blacksburg Liquor bill attempts to from page one

“(Tamang) is a really positive, driven person,” Younce said. “He’s really passionate about photography, and he’s a good friend.”

Like many students, Tamang has always been pushed to broaden his horizons. He comes from a traditional family, but his parents have learned much about the world from their travels.

“My grandparents don’t really get it,” Tamang said.

“But my parents are well adjusted. They’ve traveled together for a long time, and they push me to know more. I can do what I want, but I can’t forget my culture.”

The typical family unit in Nepal is considerably larger than in the United States, which means the typical home in Nepal is bigger. Tamang said that adults often live with their parents, so many branches of the same family tree inhabit a home.

Tamang’s own family is large — he said he manages to meet new family members every year.

“Family presence is a massive deal,” Tamang said.

“My dad’s brothers still live

in their father’s home.”

Unlike his brothers, Tamang’s father moved away from home to work in different parts of the country. Though Tamang was born in Hong Kong, he was raised in the U.K., where he received most of his schooling. He said the

“

Family presence is a massive deal. My dad’s brothers still live in their father’s home.”

Dikchhan Tamang Electrical engineering major

education system in the U.K. was relaxed compared to that in Kathmandu.

“We were learning at an eighth grade level in grades four and five,” Tamang said. “The schooling is also a lot stricter in Nepal than it is here.”

Tamang also enjoys the physical exploration Tech has to offer. The general altitude in Kathmandu is 4,600 feet above sea level, so Tamang felt right at home when he came to

town.

“The only place that comes close to the view is Skyline Drive,” Tamang said. “That’s how it is everywhere.”

Tamang has full citizenship in Nepal; he spent an entire month in Kathmandu in 2009. He said Nepal and its cities are brimming with sights that both tourists and locals enjoy.

“There is a city specifically made for tourists called Pokhara,” Tamang said. “And it looks amazing. Cousins and friends come back from skydiving and boating there — it’s great.”

Nepal’s city area is famous for its temples and scenery, but it’s also home to some of the strangest sights Tamang has ever seen.

“If you’re walking through the city, you might see a rock covered in hundreds of coins,” Tamang said.

“If your teeth hurt, you bang a nail into the rock, and your toothache goes away.”

According to Tamang, there are also things in Nepal that visitors should skip. He said coming down with food poisoning was

one of his worst experiences in the city.

“We went and ate street food the day before visiting a skyline view of a temple,” Tamang said. “And coming down was the worst experience ever. I was in the hospital all night.”

In Kathmandu, regular rolling blackouts leave citizens without power for hours to conserve energy.

Tamang said being powerless in Nepal was always an opportunity to gather with family.

“After being in the U.K. and America for so long, I didn’t know what to do,” Tamang said. “When the power went out at night, though, it was cool to see the city in candlelight.”

As much as he loves to see new places and relatives in Nepal, Tamang plans to continue studying at Tech.

Even though his time in the U.S. is not firmly cemented, he said he plans to make his parents proud and work on his degree.

“My diplomatic visa is only applicable while my dad has his job here,” Tamang said. “After a while, I either have to get my own visa or green card or leave. I’m hoping that’s after I graduate.”

bring business for I-81 CAMERON AUSTIN news reporter

A bill recently signed by Governor McDonnell will soon allow new restaurants and businesses in the area to obtain an ABC license.

The ban will be lifted in Montgomery County to allow liquor sales outside of the towns of Christiansburg and Blacksburg. Currently, only restaurants that operate in these towns can serve alcoholic beverages.

The new regulations would go into effect on July 1 of this year.

The bill would specifically affect the Radford exit (Exit 109) and the Ironto exit (Exit 128). It only allows for ABC licenses to be purchased for the area within 1,000 feet of the exits.

These exits don’t currently have any major chain restaurants or hotels, but local officials hope that by lifting the ban, the area will become more attractive for new businesses.

Businesses looking to obtain an ABC license in the state of Virginia must go through several steps of an application. Among other rigorous steps, businesses must post a notice of application on the front door of the

establishment for 10 to 30 days, as well as publish the notice of the application twice in a local newspaper.

“The goal would be to grow the interchange area and collect additional revenue by attracting new business to the area,” said Brian Hamilton, Director of the Department of Economic Development of Montgomery County.

According to Hamilton, Christiansburg brings in around $9 million in meal taxes every year, while Blacksburg brings in around $6 million. However, without being able to sell liquor, Montgomery County otherwise only brings in $200,000.

Senator John Edwards carried the bill in the Senate, while Joseph Yost, 12th district delegate for Montgomery County, introduced it in the General Assembly.

“The hope is that this will attract restaurants that can locate at those two exits and provide revenue for the county so we don’t have to continually increase our revenue in other areas,” Hamilton said.

Follow the writer on Twitter: @CAustinCT

crimeblotter date

time

offense

location

status

2/11/2013

12pm - 5pm

Follow up to larceny of a bicycle

Outside New Hall West

Inactive

1/23 - 2/8/2013

5pm - 10am

Follow up to larceny of a bicycle and lock

Outside Peddrew Yates

Inactive

1/1 - 2/15/2013

12:01am - 11:59pm

Larceny of money

Kraft Drive

Active

11/25 12/1/2012

12am - 11:59pm

Burglary/ Breaking and entering

Cochrane Hall

Active

1/27 1/31/2013

12am - 7pm

Burglary/ Breaking and entering

Cochrane Hall

Active

2/6/2013

12pm - 11:59pm

Burglary/ Breaking and entering

Cochrane Hall

Active

2/4-7/2013

12am - 11:59pm

Burglary/ Breaking and entering

Cochrane Hall

Active

REAL WORLD Paid Marketing Intern Wanted Blacksburg Transit $12.00 per Hour Job Description at www.blacksburg.gov A Town of Blacksburg application is required for this position by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 1st, 2013.

Applications are available at the Human Resources Office located in the Municipal Building at 300 South Main Street, Blacksburg, VA 24060 or May be downloaded at www.blacksburg.gov.

Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodation in the application process may call 540-961-1188 (voice) or VA Relay Center at 711(TDD).

An EEO Employer M/F/D/V

arrestees

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

sports

february 22, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES

3

Hughes: Hokies reach new heights in recent years from page one

which is figure it out.”

A year later, Hughes became a graduate assistant at Northeastern in Boston, Ma. Head coach Barry Gallup, who would become the athletic director, approached Hughes asking if he would assist with the baseball team. Hughes would go on to become the full-time defensive line coach for the football team, a position that required hours and hours away from home recruiting.

“

In 10 years, I want to be wearing Chicago maroon and burnt orange, and I want to be an Omaha team consistently.”

Pete Hughes Head coach

At 23, Hughes was the youngest assistant coach in the Division I-AA ranks. Gallup kept Hughes’ recruiting area local, which provided stiff competition from some of today’s highest-profile coaches.

“I’m recruiting with Chip Kelly (head coach, Philadelphia Eagles); we’ve got the same area, same hotels and are going to the same schools,” Hughes said.

“Doug Marrone (head coach, Buffalo Bills) slept on my couch for two years at Northeastern.

I worked with Joe Philbin (head coach, Miami Dolphins) at Northeastern. These are the guys I ran with.”

During his time at Northeastern, Hughes began thinking about a future for himself and his family. He married his wife, Debby, during his final year at Northeastern, and the two knew they wanted to have a big family. College football, for all its big salaries and high profile games, was not conducive to the life Hughes wanted.

“There’s not very much job security,” Hughes said. “I was working a ton, and I could never rationalize these guys that work so hard and only do it 10 Saturdays a year. I want to work hard and work crazy, because I think I can outwork anybody and play 56 times.”

Hughes interviewed for the baseball head coaching position at Harvard as well as Williams College. At Williams, Hughes got his first big break — a relationship with athletic director Bob Peck, which materialized into a head coaching position at Trinity University in San Antonio, Tex. With his wife nine months pregnant, the Hughes family boarded a plane 10 days later for Texas.

“My whole plan was, ‘Yeah, I’m going to go, turn the thing around and get another job, and I’m leaving,’” Hughes said.

After winning a schoolrecord 33 games in 1998, Hughes had an opportunity to return to his home state of Massachusetts. Boston College came calling, and Hughes was ready.

“There’s no way I’m not getting this job.”

Hughes is a Boston guy through and through, and make no mistake, Boston College was a job he desperately wanted.

“When you grow up in New England, there’s only one school — it’s Boston College,” Hughes said. “I was going to be the next Doug Flutie.”

The Eagles, a program in the basement of the Big East, were either going to drop the program or get serious. Hughes thought he was the perfect fit for the job.

“I’m an excitable, enthusiastic, young head coach with Boston roots,” Hughes said.

“I must’ve called every connection I knew to flood Gene DiFillippo’s office with phone calls.”

Hughes interviewed for the Boston College position on July 3, the day Hughes’ childhood neighbor Jay McGillis died of leukemia. McGillis played football at Boston College under now-New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin.

“There’s no way I’m not getting this job,” Hughes said.

Despite his confidence, Hughes pulled out all the stops in securing his job in Chestnut Hill. He went as far as waiting for Athletic Director Gene DeFilippo to arrive at work around 6:30 a.m. two days after his official interview.

“I jump out of my car, ‘Coach, I just want to say if you hire me

BRAD KLODOWSKI / SPPS

Pete Hughes speaks with his team at practice on Thursday. Hughes and the Hokies opened up their season last weekend with four wins. that I’ll exceed your expectations. Morning,’” Hughes said.

“Then I get in the car and drive away.”

Hughes turned the Eagles into a respectable program in his eight years there, averaging 31 wins a season. He found success despite scholarship limits, poor facilities and the New England climate, which is not conducive for college baseball.

The next step of his journey pulled Hughes from one commonwealth to another — a transition he’s made seamlessly.

Building another program Boston College gave Hughes an avenue to rise through the national spotlight, ultimately allowing him to interview at Virginia Tech in 2006.

“I think he believed that he had a better chance of getting to Omaha in Blacksburg than he did in Boston,” said Jon Jaudon, director of athletics for administration at Tech.

In his six years at Tech, Hughes has propelled the Hokies to as high as No. 12 in the country and has put dozens of players into profes-

sional baseball. Following in the footsteps of Hartman at Tech, Hughes has taken the Hokies to the next level.

When he interviewed at Tech, Hughes had no intention of taking the job. The draw of raising a family in the Blacksburg community was a big factor for Hughes, who has five children ranging from the age of seven to 15. The main factor in Hughes ultimately taking the job was a chance to win.

“I’m negligent as a parent if I get into a situation as a coach where they don’t want to win, because I’m going to get fired in three or four years,” Hughes said.

“I had to figure out if they want to win; they did, and professionally, I’m motivated by getting to the highest level of college baseball, and I thought I could do that here more so than at Boston College.

Hughes, along with Jaudon, took his ideas of what baseball at Tech could be to Athletic Director Jim Weaver. “(Hughes) and I agreed on a vision for our program, and we sold that vision to Jim Weaver,

and Jim Weaver supported that vision,” Jaudon said. “That vision really centers around providing our student athletes the greatest opportunity to advance their skill level in baseball.”

The Hokies made that product worth investing in, gaining national recognition during the 2009 and 2010 seasons.

Hughes built the Hokies into winners, but still finds himself behind the eight ball in the recruiting game. When he couldn’t sell wins and losses, he sold the community with the help of football coach Frank Beamer.

“Coach Beamer has gotten us more recruits than any other coach on our recruiting staff here,” Hughes said. “When we couldn’t sell wins and losses, we hired the right people that went out and recruited like crazy, and we sold ourselves.”

Along with Jaudon, Hughes has seen great improvements to the facilities. Before last season, English Field was renovated to be completely artificial turf, allowing the Hokies to practice in all weather conditions. Prior to the start of the

2009 season, the Hokies built an indoor hitting facility as well.

“At Boston College, I was sick of coaching indoors,” Hughes said. “Seventy percent of my coaching life was indoors in a bubble. I want to recruit kids to come south of the mason Dixon line. I want to go outside and practice.”

The upgrades and athletic department support are all to chase one goal: the College World Series in Omaha, Neb. “Every year that is our goal we set for the team — Omaha,” said Chad Pinder, third baseman.

“We do take it game by game, but that is our goal as a team — to get to that little place in Nebraska.”

Hughes has the tools in place to be successful. With an administration backing him, the Hokies are all in to go to Omaha.

“In 10 years, I want to be wearing Chicago maroon and burnt orange, and I want to be an Omaha team consistently,” Hughes said. “We’re close, and our guys understand how close we are.”

Tech opens home slate with four games JACOB EMERT sports reporter

The Virginia Tech baseball team finished its first weekend of the 2013 season with an unblemished 4-0 record.

The weekend event, which took place in UNCWilmington, saw a pair of victories over both the Kent State Golden Flashes and the UNC-Wilmington Seahawks.

For head coach Pete Hughes, who has been clear and vocal about the team’s goal, it was just the start the team needed.

“I love learning lessons through wins rather than losses, and I loved our guys approach,” Hughes said.

“They came to play every inning. When you play four games, keeping your intensity level is very difficult in our sport, but they did.”

The opening game, a 10-9 victory against the Golden Flashes on Friday, was the only close game of the weekend.

The remaining three were comprised of great performances from starting pitchers Brad Markey, Devin Burke and Tanner McIntyre, and plenty of offense. The trio gave up three runs over the weekend combined — the same number of games the unit started for the Hokies in 2013.

Despite Burke’s shutdown performance on Sunday,

Hughes is not quite ready to lock him into that fourth spot in the rotation.

“Between (Burke) and Tanner (McIntyre) right now, those guys are going to figure out if they are going to be our guys on the weekend or a main staple in our bullpen,” Hughes said.

“Either way, we are going to be good.”

For Markey, the seven innings of dominance on Saturday marked his first appearance at the Division 1 level since transferring from Georgia Tech over a year and a half ago.

He believes the biggest difference between who he is as a player now, and who he was as a freshman, is the increase in both his confidence and experience.

In the four game set, the Hokies scored 34 runs, had a team batting average of .303 and hit five home runs.

While everyone contributed to the hit parade, the star of the weekend, Mark Zagunis, picked up FILE 2012 / SPPS right where he left off last Virginia Tech’s Alex Perez makes contact in a game last season against Cornell.

The Hokies outscored their opponents 34-12 last weekend. year.

Zagunis batted .500 on the weekend, reached base The perfect record for the this time in Blacksburg with nor the players are willing but we have to play better on 60 percent of his plate- Hokies has earned them a games against Temple, Holy to become content in 2013, defense.” appearances and was suc- No. 24 ranking in Baseball Cross and Delaware. and both believe they have Even Zagunis, who has cessful on all four of his America’s national rankTech will host the Owls much to improve on; this been virtually flawless thus stolen base attempts. ings. on Saturday at 11 a.m. and weekend gives them a great far, knows there is more he “The key is to stay having The ranking means noth- Holy Cross at 2:30 p.m. The chance to do that. can do. fun and focused, don’t over- ing, however, if they are not Hokies finish up with games “We have to play bet“You can’t take a pitch think the game,” he said. able to keep their success against Delaware on Sunday ter defense — that’s it,” for granted, defensively or “You have to take the posi- going. at 6 p.m. and Monday at 3 Hughes said. “I loved offensively,” Zagunis said. tive encouragement from On Friday the team will p.m. what our team did, and I “When you do, that can the team and coaches.” start another four game set, Neither the coaching staff, loved our intensity level, hurt you in the long run.”

4

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february 22, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES

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

al series an occasion

TODAY’S TOPIC: E GAD L K C A T S T STUDEN

TECH

LESLIE MCCREA news staff writer

“Credit card numbers, addresses and other personal information are stored on your computer with or without your knowledge,” Marchany said. “(Hackers) gain access to your machine somehow, and then boom — your information is out of your control.”

The IT Security Office on campus is constantly creating tools available for anyone at the university to search their computers for personal information, in order to limit what is available to outsiders.

“Part of it, as college students, is creating good habits that you can keep up with in the future,” said Janine Hiller, professor of business law.

“You’re cultivating habits as a college student that will help you when you are part of an organization that has even more cyber security risks.”

These forms of cyber-terrorism is widespread.

Recently, there have been attacks on computer systems in U.S. government organizations and agencies. The Chinese Military has been linked to these attacks.

According to National Public Radio, one specific unit of the Chinese military has attacked “over 141 corporations across 20 different industries,” mostly in America. That specific unit in China may be one of about 20 active cyber spying groups.

“If (hackers) get control of your computer, they want to do one of two things: they want to steal your information, or steal access to use your computer to hack

Hacking goes global

COURTESY OF RANDY MARCHANY Hacking has gone global, with internet criminals being able to break any security system from their computers.

other sites,” Marchany explained.

The Tech IT system detects and responds to probes from around the world on campus 24/7. The primary purpose of the office is to make the campus aware of what the dangers are and some of the things students can do to protect themselves.

“The problem is that you hardly ever find the people who do this. The percentage of people who are caught is tiny and they can be anywhere in the world,” Hiller said. “It would be better to prevent someone from hacking into your computer in the first place.”

Marchany suggests students also keep

up to date with privacy and security options on social networking sites.

“The first thing to remember on any social networking site is that you’re the product,” he said.

According to Marchany, anytime something is offered for free, that means that any information you give them can be sold to others.

“Nothing is really free,” Marchany said.

“You pay a price in giving up your own information.”

Follow the writer on Twitter: @lesliemccrea

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rm u sic?

From Facebook, to Twitter, to the U.S. government, high-profi le hacking is plaguing the global cyber network.

In January, both Twitter and Facebook systems were hacked. Facebook claims that no evidence has been found connecting any user accounts to the information that was hacked. Twitter was not as lucky, with roughly 250,000 user accounts’ information compromised in the attack.

At Tech, the last major security breach on campus was in March 2011. One virus caused 350 social security numbers to be exposed.

“Hacking, in a sense, is any action of using someone’s computer or name or anything that isn’t yours without permission,” said Randy Marchany, Virginia Tech University IT Security officer.

In order to hack, an attacker must crack computer-based security systems to reach personal information of an individual or a company.

Most cyber security systems require certain codes — hackers try to exploit those codes and find weaknesses to make their attack.

“Basically what these hackers are doing is tinkering,” Marchany said. “They know how to use flaws to take over your computer.”

While students’ information is at the same risk of being accessed by a hacker, they are more likely to get their valuables stolen.

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what you’re saying West AJ door policy raises questions about community Mandy Moore: I’m a college student and I need to find something to be angry about since there are no good wars going on right now.

Kylie Gilbert: Thanks for the thoughtful comment.

The policy was introduced to the entire community in the welcome back e-mail at the beginning of the semester. I knew it was going to be a big deal when I saw it.As for the safety issue, VTPD is doing a threat assessment on the claims. I have never felt unsafe on campus at night, personally.Another note, there is not a single “dorm” at Virginia Tech. They are all “residence halls”.

Anonymous: Really? With all the nice stuff you get in this dorm, you complain about having to walk an extra 20 yards to get to the entrance? Grow up, you entitled brats.

Anon: This has gone on since September, in, I’d say, a very comfortable silence. Everyone believes him/herself a bystander. I noticed that the “principles of community” was cited in this petition (among many others cited out of context). Please reread this document. Had it been read carefully, I think our priorities here would have been very different. To use this document to support your case against the locked doors (in a public petition, no less) is simply an exercise in narcissism.

Please consider what the Principles of Community document is advocating.

200+ people feel a policy is not working after a couple of weeks (convenience? change?) and this merits a petition. It’s your right and I support it. Although, imagine how this may sound to others on campus or in other communities?

Racism (written and spoken) endures in myriad ways in our community, and no one sees anything wrong with how we’re treating members of this community (after one whole semester). Does anyone even notice? Indeed no one is suggesting change or sees any problems. It simply is not discussed.

However, please feel free to continue to inundate Joe and Sam with your concerns about the doors.

For those of you interested in changing our current culture of complicity and silence, please direct your concerns to me, or your Associate Principals, we would be delighted to help.”

-Dr. Sax

Procrastination goes beyond college E

ver had homework for breakfast? Please tell me you’ve done that. You push off assignments until the morning, expecting you to be fresh and ready to do all the work you’ve postponed — it often fails.

I’ve done it numerous times before, and it’s an example of what I think is the worst kind of procrastination: kicking the can down the road.

So you’re thinking this is about how students procrastinate and should work harder. Wrong.

This doesn’t apply to just Virginia Tech students, or even students in general; it applies to more aspects in our society than you could even think of. It pervades it; procrastination is something that even our politicians can’t figure out.

House speaker John Boehner rejected a Senate plan that would further the payroll tax cut for two months and said, in a USA Today article, this is “just kicking the can down the road.”

Now this problem is not the Democrats’ fault, maybe not even the Republicans’ fault, but this is definitely the fault of the laziness and increased amounts of stall-

ing — think filibuster — which has characterized the inefficient state of our 112th Congress. Nobody’s doing their homework; everyone’s going downtown on Tuesday nights.

It’s this decision to push things off that has reduced our lifestyles to simple post de facto measures; our solutions only reside in fixing a problem, not preventing them. This procrastination has effectively consumed our culture.

In a New Yorker article

by James Surowiecki, he writes, “philosophers have begun to tackle the issue of procrastination for another reason.

It’s a powerful example of what the Greeks called akrasia — doing something against one’s own better judgment. Piers Steel defines procrastination as willingly deferring something even though you expect the delay to make you worse off.”

How relevant is that to our lives? Think of medicine, politics, business and even the environment. In pharmacies, people get tons of drugs to fix their obesity, lung cancer and headaches, yet no one takes the time to diagnose the problem before it gets worse, therefore delaying the inevita-

ble until they have to rush to make up for it (rising healthcare costs).

Think of British Petroleum’s devastating natural disaster that occurred in the Gulf of Mexico, where gushing oil destroyed

“

It’s this decision to push things off that has reduced our lifestyles to simple post de facto measures; our solutions only reside in fixing a problem, not preventing them.”

the natural ecosystems that created and developed the human societies that were built on them today.

This negative externality was forced because of our society’s want for cheap, quick oil rather than preventing this kind of event by lowering demand and being more sustainable. Human self-interest is willingly deferring hard work and reasonable practices, knowing that it will hurt us more in the end.

It’s not only in America but also throughout the world: how many years of leisure did the residents of Greece and Spain have until the economies’ belief in austerity bit them right in the behind? So, for us college students, procrastination doesn’t only happen to us, it’s happening in the very system we live in.

This is kind of scary, right?

But there is a bright side, and definitely a real, enjoyable solution. However, the problem is that we have to realize it within us. I’m not saying go and take the trash out right now or to tell you to do your homework; instead, I’m saying don’t hesitate or else you’ll end up doing yourself over.

By pushing things off like losing weight or passing legitimate legislation, we are only making matters worse.

It’s easier to pay now than it will be to pay later, and if we can use the resources and technology we have now to avert difficulties later, never will we have to deal with the anxiety that comes from kicking the can down the road.

SHAWN GHUMAN -associate opinions editor -communication -senior

Awareness campain isn’t what it seems

T

he line between philanthropy and causerelated marketing is a blurry one.

According to the Center for Disease Control, breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among women. In 2009 alone, the CDC released data that said 211,731 women were diagnosed with breast cancer, and 40,676 women died from the disease. Th is disease is tragic and heartbreaking, but is everything being done that can be? If the iconic symbol of breast cancer cannot drive marketers away from seeking a profit, then instead it should be taken away.

I’m talking about the famous pink ribbon. Th is small item has spurred a desire to fi nd a cure for breast cancer in all corners of the globe, but it has also enticed corporations and salesmen.

In 2011’s documentary “Pink Ribbons, Inc,” directed by Lea Pool, the relationship between philanthropy and cause-related marketing is examined.

The documentary starts out giving the audience historical information on the pink ribbon. One interesting fact to note is that the ribbon was not originally pink. A 68-year-old woman named Charlotte Haley, who hand made the ribbon in a salmon color, created the fi rst breast cancer awareness ribbon.

Charlotte was approached by make-up and perfume giant Estee Lauder who wanted to buy her idea, but she said no. Estee Lauder decided they did not need her permission and simply changed the color of the ribbon to pink, and the rest is history.

The pink ribbon symbol has been used on all kinds of products, from cereal and fruit drinks to shoes, watches, and buckets of Kentucky Fried Chicken. It has even appeared painted on NFL football fields for breast cancer awareness month, and the White House hung up a massive pink ribbon in front of the main entrance.

The products being sold that are associated with the pink

ribbon are endless. If you do not believe me, simply google “pink ribbon products” and look at all the pictures that appear.

I have absolutely no problem raising money for breast cancer because it is a disease that we must fi nd a cure to, and the only way to do that is with enhanced research funded by money. However, I do have a problem with the companies that are benefiting from the use of the pink ribbon to make an extra profit. They used a strategy called cause-related marketing, where they market a product with a sentimental value to increase the chances of a customer purchasing it.

An example lies in the NFL’s pink campaign.

According to SBNation.com, the NFL is accused of making $3 million since 2009 from its pink items, but is only actually donating 5 percent of that money to the American Cancer Society.

My idea to end the discrepancy between charity and cause-based profit for companies is to get rid of

the pink ribbon. First off, breast cancer is not a pretty thing. It is not glorious and sparkly like the pink ribbon.

Breast cancer is a serious and life-threatening disease.

It causes pain and anguish among families.

A happy pink ribbon should not represent this.

Instead, I propose a word, like Lance Armstrong’s “Livestrong,” to represent the breast cancer awareness movement. Perhaps something as simple as the word “hope,” still in pink for continuity, can be the new face of the breast cancer movement.

As long as consumers are not being guilt tripped into purchasing a new brand of chocolate just because it has a pink ribbon on it, the quest to crush breast cancer has a bright future.

ADAM ROTHE -regular columnist -marketing -freshman

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february 22, 2013

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Today’s Birthday Horoscope: Continue frugal management of time and money, and end the year ahead. The real gifts this year happen at home, in shared memories with friends and family.

Explore new directions, and let your playful side out. Study, research and writing figure in. Create powerful change together.

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

By Bruce Venzke

Week ending February 22, 2013

Top Tracks Stay (feat. Mikky Ekko) • Rihanna

1

Thrift Shop (feat. Wanz) • Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

2

Ho Hey • The Lumineers

3

Suit & Tie (feat. Jay Z) • Justin Timberlake

4

When I Was Your Man • Bruno Mars

5

ACROSS 1 Quinine target 8 Smartened (up) 15 Hard to nail down 16 When parents don’t want a teen to be home?

17 Equity complaint 18 “Don’t Wanna Lose You” singer 19 Obviously fearful 21 Like some jokes 22 Red Ryder ammo

Stay in the know.

2/22/13 25 Richard Marx label 26 Crude amt.

29 First of an old film septet 36 Drawer 37 Freezes over 38 Hold back 42 “Merv Griffin’s Crosswords” announcer Hall 43 Spring sign 44 Do some needling 45 Doughnutshaped treat

51 Howls skyward 55 Rolling service station?

56 They were the Browns before they moved from St. Louis 58 High-speed contest 59 More restless 60 Crept 61 Sages

DOWN 1 “So many __, so little time”: Mae West 2 Declare 3 Stucco strip 4 Comparable to a fiddle 5 Gaucho gear 6 Wrigley Field features 7 Does some lawn maintenance 8 Enter stealthily 9 Western group 10 Some IRAs 11 “__ Gold”: 1997 film 12 Bookstore area, often 13 French political division 14 Outdoor shelter 20 Event before finals 22 Gas neighbor 23 Made holes 24 Full 26 Some crew members, casually 27 Giants manager Bochy 28 Romantic toon mammal 30 Roller coaster element 31 Defense agency since Nov. 2001 32 Baseball’s Little Giant

33 They’re often in a mess 34 Patriot __ 35 Shooter insert 39 Looked out for?

40 Attic collection 41 Gem State native 45 Wet suit material 46 “Wicked Game” singer Chris 47 Burlesque

48 Sci-fi pioneer 49 Gives forth 50 Nocturnal resting spot 51 “__ Green”: Kermit’s song 52 Bern’s river 53 Variety 54 Start to do well?

55 Jobs for grad students 57 Many SAT takers

Thursday’s Puzzle Solved

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2/21/13

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news

february 22, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES

7

RA interviews coming to a close MIKE DEMSKO news staff writer

At the beginning of every Hokie’s four year journey, students have a common neighbor at the end of their hall.

Resident Advisors, or RAs, can play a major role in the course of young students’ experience at Tech. Last weekend, students had the chance to become the bookend of next year’s freshmen’s hallway and lives at Tech.

Since September, students could see advertisements urging RA applications anywhere from McComas to McBryde. With 600 students attending each of the two information sessions, it was clear the flyers did not go unnoticed.

Students who will be either abroad or involved in co-op programs during the following spring have a chance to interview in the smaller fall session prior to the larger applicant pool. Upperclassmen are given the same chance for an early interview during this time as well.

After these fall interviews are completed, the office for Residential Life opens its mailbox to what amounted to more than 400 applications for this year. Each application is reviewed, scored and either granted or denied an opportunity to continue the process.

Carl Krieger, the assistant director for Housing and Residence Life, described the process as well-developed and successful during his span of three years in the position.

Krieger expressed little need for change and explained what few alternations to the process had come about since his employment.

“In years past, you could apply to be an RA anywhere you wanted, such as a residential college,” said Krieger. “You now have to have lived in that residential college to be RA there”.

Of the original 400 received applications, 200 are given the chance to partake in the individual interviews. From January 15 to 16, all 200 potential RAs

are interviewed by two staff members: one professional staff member and one current RA. They question, and ultimately judge, the applicants capacity to act as a responsible employee of the university.

Finally, a little more than 90 students are left for the 70 available positions. Students that have passed all previous screenings then participate in group interviews of eight to nine of their peers. This year’s students were asked to analyze several common hall scenarios and together form a “This I believe” statement regarding higher education.

The finalists are judged on a wide array of qualities, from motivation and civility, to selfunderstanding and decision making, all the way to communication and writing skills.

Current RAs then observe and score the applicants.

Edi Ekasi-Otu, a current RA and obersever in the group interviews, knows the anxiety going through the extensive screening.

“It was a relief being on the other side of the process; I remember being really nervous going through (my interview),” Ekasi-Otu said. “You just have to be yourself, that’s the best advice, you have to act natural, showcase what you to offer, and show that you’re enthusiastic about the position”.

On the other hand, Jocelyn Rathbone — a freshman biology major, who recently partook in the group interview screening — was excited about the chance to interact with others in a profesional environment.

“The group interview was very graitfying for me. I had never interviewed like that and it was interesting to see what a great atmosphere the small group of students in the room could create”.

Candidates are now waiting to hear the final decision, which should be released sometime in late February.

Follow the writer on Twitter: @MikeDemskoCT

600 attend general info session

400 submit applications

200 applications accepted and partake in individual interviews

90

invited to group interviews

70 RA positions filled

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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

For Rent RENT 4 BDRM TOWNHOUSE in Pheasant Run, 8/1/13-14, Pheasant Run Dr, Blacksburg 24060 $1350 pheasantruntownhouses4rent@ gmail.com

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DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE COUPLE OF THE WEEK? SEND US:

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Eat healthy and rest to avoid getting sick. Handle work issues with peaceful ef iciency so you can take time off later. Watch out for what you ask for; you’re very persuasive now.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) You’re exceptionally intelligent and expressive now and for the rest of the week. Play the right chords with ease. Add words to the melody. Keep a secret.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) All this attention can be exhausting. Take some time for yourself and your own thoughts, but don’t take yourself too seriously. A spoonful of humor makes the medicine go down.

Aries (March 21-April 19) Bridge the gap between work and fun with inventiveness. Sit down with your team, and play the game like you mean it. Losing shows you what’s missing.

Celebrate your victories.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Include enough information for clarity and to clear misunderstandings before they grow out of proportion. You pro it from this, possibly inancially. Invest in your business. Pay it forward.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Focus on home and family for the next few days. Mix old and new for the perfect idea. Graciously ask for help to move forward. Use honey, not vinegar.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Create a book or recording. Spread your ideas far and wide; they’re worth sharing. Getting into any kind of action on the project breaks writer’s block. It’s a very educational process.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Improve your communications, especially with those who love you. Trust your instincts. Acknowledge those who are there for you when you need them, and make sure the message gets across. Romance kindles.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Put down your thoughts for yourself, not necessarily for posterity. Getting words on paper releases stress and frees you from those thoughts, so they no longer dominate you. Burn them if you like.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Gather more data. The news affects your decisions. Follow through on what you promised. Communication is key. Take time to explore new territory.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) The more careful you are with details, the better you look. It’s a good time to work on taxes and inances. Answer a call to action, and schedule it.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) A new associate could become a valuable partner. Explain the long-term game plan. Share the load today and tomorrow, but hold on to the responsibility. Get it in writing.

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people & clubs

february 22, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES

he she

SAID

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

Roommates

He said: Prevent any confrontation, live solo It’s that time of year again, when student suddenly turns against student in a frenzied dash for the few remaining decent places to live off-campus in Blacksburg.

I’ve had enough apartments rented out from under me to know that it’s definitely dogeat-dog.

If you take the time to even think twice about throwing that guy who sits next to you in calc under the bus — You’re going to rent to that guy? Him? You do of course know that he set his last two apartments on fire trying to cook meth, right? — he’s probably already sitting in the office telling the same story about you.

Now, the ink’s drying on his lease for the sweet place with utilities included that you found right across the street from campus, and suddenly you find yourself homeless. And you don’t know the first thing about meth. You don’t even like “Breaking Bad.” Well, hope springs eternal — there’s bound to be some people out there, leases signed and looking for roommates to help make rent, right?

I happened into my first experience with a roommate at the grand ol’ University of Notre Dame. When one arrives in South Bend for freshman orientation — in addition to being forced into all manner of awkward interactions generally involving water balloon fights with people you’ve never met and had no real intention of meeting — you are randomly assigned a room and a roommate.

My freshman year roommate was a nice Hawaiian fellow who mostly kept to himself and gave me delectable chocolatecovered macadamia nuts for my birthday. He also had less endearing habits, though, like using the dorm room’s communal sink for a urinal on nights when it was too cold to walk down the hall to the bathroom.

I found this out only from later reports and was mildly disconcerted, as I preferred to use our sink for bizarre rituals like brushing my teeth and rinsing my one pathetic Ramen bowl.

Then there were the 4 a.m. binge-gaming sessions, which I grant I would have appreciated under many circumstances.

Just not on weeknights before I had an 8 a.m. class, as was frequently when they occured.

My sophomore year, I had the misfortune of being assigned to something called a “forced triple,” which I believe the Geneva Convention more colloquially refers to as a “human rights violation” — three men randomly selected to live together in a cinderblock closet that could barely be said to have running water.

At Notre Dame, I probably need to point out, most students live on campus for all four years. An element of camaraderie explains this: the dorms become de facto fraternities and sororities on a campus that has banned Greek life completely.

It might also relate to the delightful snowy winters, besetting the region with a 10-inch permafrost from about October through mid-March or early April. They sort of make commuting to classes difficult. And assaults, robberies and other manner of violent crime tended to occur with some frequency off-campus. But I digress.

One of the men with whom I shared a said closet my sophomore year was a passionate physicist and ardent atheist from the East Coast. I would often satirize his political leanings as Marxist — though I maintain that not to be too far from the truth. My other roommate was a loyal Republican and faithful Catholic from California who studied the liberal arts.

If I were to tell you that I was a politically moderate, more or less agnostic individual who enjoyed studying science and math along with Latin literature, you would have all the elements in place for some sort of sitcom.

And I was.

Hilarity ensued. Of a sort.

Particularly, I suppose, if you were watching events unfold rather than experiencing them firsthand on a daily basis.

Now — as you can perhaps imagine — I live by myself. But I realize this isn’t always a reasonable alternative, especially when every leasing company in Blacksburg thinks you’re a meth dealer for some reason.

So, here’s my advice gleaned from years of roommate experience: invest in a decent web camera. If your roommate-onroommate altercations prove unbearably absurd, you might at least make some money on YouTube for your trouble.

I think the three of us in 322 Stanford Hall could have more than paid off our student loans.

ANDREW KULAK - news reporter - graduate student - English major

She said: Caution, choose roommates wisely Guys, I’m a difficult person to live with. I’m sure none of you would have suspected that, but it’s true.

I like to be alone 50 percent of the time, pet my cat and go on the Internet for 40 percent, and hang out with my boyfriend the other 10. I’m messy, with extreme bouts of cleanliness where I’ll spend all weekend bleaching every square foot of my home. My favorite outfit to sit around the house in doesn’t involve pants.

All of these things, plus a couple hundred more, have resulted in pretty dismal roommate relationships over the years. To be perfectly honest, I’ve hated my roommates’ stinking guts — and their feelings, I have no doubt, were mutual.

So, as you’re all braiding your future roommates’ friendship bracelets and picking out little sweaters for your shared dog while you sign your leases for next year, I’d strongly discourage you from taking any

advice I have to give on picking the right roommate.

I can, however, tell you how to pick exactly the wrong one.

Here are my dos and don’ts for having a terrible roommate experience: DO go in expecting your roommate to be your best friend forever College roommates are the people who stand in your wedding and give speeches about your crazy single days. They’re the ones who grow up and buy your kids beer because they’d rather see them drunk at home then out with the rest of the hooligans. A fight over who broke the refrigerator isn’t going to change that.

Neither is your new cat that they’re allergic to.

DON’T bring up concerns you have with your roommate before you move in together It’s much more efficient to sweep those bastards under a rug, lock that rug up in a safe, and drop that safe into the bottom of the Duck Pond.

That’s the mature way of dealing with things, after all. Plus, then your roomie can be totally blindsided when you guys have your first fight and you drag up all the issues you’ve left to brew.

DO pick roommates who describe themselves as a “neat freak” or someone who “likes to avoid drama” Because that’s definitely not code for “secretly messy as hell, but will get mad when you don’t pick up your stuff ” or “feeds off conflict like a secondary food source.”

Definitely not.

DON’T pick a roommate outside of your main friendship circle You’re going to want to spend every waking minute with your friends. It’s going to be like one of those cute sitcoms where you all have keys to each other’s place, and you walk in unannounced with quirky problems. You’re not going to drift and form different interests and eventu-

ally want your own personal space. That never happens in those sitcoms. Why would it in real life?

DO pick a roommate for the stuff that they have You don’t have a couch or a vacuum and they do? Match made in heaven. There’s no way that could end in a Duct Tape divided apartment and things labeled “yours” and “mine.”

DON’T even consider living alone Who are you, Boo Radley?

Do you also own a trench coat and an industrial freezer for storing your roadkill taxidermy projects? Because those are the kind of people who live alone.

VICTORIA ZIGADLO - featured columnist - senior - English major