Tuesday, March 26, 2013
An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 www.collegiatetimes.com
COLLEGIATETIMES 109th year, issue 89 News, page 2
Arts & Entertainment, page 5
Upper Quad, traffic research expansions take next step MALLORY NOE-PAYNE news editor
Virginia Tech’s Board of Visitors approved two major construction projects on Tech’s campus and at the Corporate Research Center yesterday. The BOV held its quarterly meeting Sunday and Monday on campus, with different committees meeting separately before the board met in full to approve resolutions Monday afternoon. The committees on finance and audit, and buildings and grounds both met Monday to discuss a resolution to approve the Upper Quad renovation project. By suggestion from the committees, that project was approved by the board without discussion. The Upper Quad project involves repurposing Rasche, Brodie, Thomas and Monteith Halls — all Corps of Cadets housing. According to the report submitted to the entire board, the dorms have “received few improvements since their original construction, do not meet student expectations and carry significant deferred maintenance backlogs.” The renovation project will replace the old dorms with two new residence halls expected to house 1,000 beds for cadets. The Board also approved plans for a new building behind historic Lane Hall. The new building, to be called the Corps Leadership and Military Science Building, would have many purposes. It would house the commandant staff, the Corps museum, ROTC staff, classrooms, the Rice Center for Leadership Development, a tailor shop, the armory and uniform storage areas.
info on the go The Upper Quad project is estimated to cost $90 million The target funding for the project is $90 million, and yesterday, the Board approved an initial $5.85 million to authorize the planning for the project. The Board also approved e x p a nd i n g Te c h ’s Transportation Institute and moving it to the Corporate Research Center. The Transportation Institute conducts research, including automotive safety, transportation infrastructure and sustainable transportation. It is Tech’s largest university-level research center. The approved expansion at the Corporate Research Center would add over 24,000 square feet of additional office space and over 6,000 square feet of warehouse space. The approximate cost is $5.3 million. In addition to providing approval for these two large constructions projects, the BOV also heard updates on several other projects around campus, including a new jumbotron screen at Lane Stadium, changing the 460 interchange with Southgate Road, and relocating the Dairy Barn. The BOV is the governing authority for Virginia Tech and is composed of 14 members, including one graduate and one undergraduate student representative. Its next meeting will be in the beginning of June. Follow the writer on Twitter: @MalloryNoePayne
Opinions, page 3
Sports, page 6
Study Break, page 4
Founder of Reddit inspires Tech student entrepreneurs BY JUSTIN GRAVES | news reporter
Alexis Ohanian networks with students at “Silicon Valley to Blacksburg” on Saturday The co-founder of the popular website Reddit was in Blacksburg this weekend to network and speak with hundreds of student entrepreneurs. Start-up founders delivered advice to students as part of an event, “Silicon Valley to Blacksburg,” organized by the Virginia Tech Entrepreneur Club. The event was held at TechPad, a technology focused co-working and hacker community downtown. The event ran from 12:30 until 8 p.m. on Saturday. It was geared toward those interested in creating the next big thing of tomorrow. Students received advice, participated in workshops, and were able to network with highly respected individuals in the startup community. “I just wanted to see people that have done big things in the world, and have influenced the lives of millions, standing in front of me,” said Joshua Jenkins, a freshman aerospace engineering major. “It’s great realizing that they are just people just like me, and if they can do it, then why can’t I?” Overall, the event hoped to create some buzz and a higher profi le for student entrepreneurs. “We think there are a lot more people doing
BEN WEIDLICH / SPPS
see REDDIT / page two
James Beshara and Khaled Hussein of Crowdtilt, Ashu Desai of MakeGamesWithUs, and John Fallone of SendHub join Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian answering questions and giving advice on startups to students.
Hokies fare well at NCAAs ALEX KOMA sports reporter
The wrestling team earned its highest NCAA championship fi nish in program history on Saturday, fi nishing in 10th place at the competition in Des Moines, Iowa. Although none of Virginia Tech’s wrestlers earned an individual championship, the team did have a school-record four AllAmericans — among them was Pete Yates, who scored an impressive fourth-place finish to help lift the Hokies into the top 10 as a team. Jarrod Garnett was the next-highest fi nisher for the team, coming in sixth at 125 pounds, while Zach Neibert and Nick Brascetta each finished eighth in the 141 and 149 pound classes, respectively. Erick Spjut, Austin Gabel, Nick Vetterlein, Derrick Borlie and David Marone all wrestled for the Hokies as well, but lost in the first round of their brackets and fell out of action early on. Jesse Dong suffered a disappointing fi nish, despite being the No. 7 seed in the 157-pound bracket. He won his first round match against Central Michigan’s Luke Smith, but lost in the second round to Josh Demas of Ohio State. Yates started out the tournament on a hot streak, easily dispatching his first two opponents with scores of 7-0 and 5-3, respectively. He faced off against Minnesota’s Cody Yohn, the bracket’s No. 11 seed, in the quarterfinals and came away with another 5-3 victory to advance into the semifinals. However, second-seeded David Taylor of Penn State downed him in their match, earning the fall in roughly three and a half minutes. Yates got the chance to compete for third place in his weight class, but the loss to Oklahoma State’s fourthseeded Tyler Caldwell knocked him down to fourth. Garnett started out the championships poorly, losing to Appalachian State’s Dominic Parisi in a heartbreaker, by a score of 7-6. He was then relegated to
Spring snow storm surprises students
KEVIN DICKEL / SPPS
Students trek through sideways flurries on their way to class.
IMAGE COURTESY OF CHRIS GLUTH, MIRROR IMAGE PHOTOGRAPHY
Sophomore Nick Brascetta earned All-American, placing 8th at 149.
Blacksburg gets 2 to 4 inches of accumulation, with parts of the New River Valley getting up to 7 CODY OWENS news reporter
IMAGE COURTESY OF CHRIS GLUTH, MIRROR IMAGE PHOTOGRAPHY
Pete Yates (165) earned All-American for the second straight season. the consolation bracket but went on a tear, winning four matches in a row to go head to head with Cornell’s sixthseeded Nahshon Garrett. Garrett dispatched him 13-9, but Garnett still had the chance to compete for fift h place. However, another tough loss to No. 9-seed Trent Sprenkle of North Dakota State brought him to a sixth-place finish. Neibert followed a similar route in the tournament. He had early success against Cornell’s 11-seeded Michael Nevinger, but he lost in the second round to Citadel’s Undrakhbayar see WRESTLING / page six
more info Virginia Tech set a school record with four All-Americans in Des Moines last weekend. - Pete Yates (165) Senior 4th place - Jarrod Garnett (125) Senior 6th place - Zach Neibert (141) Junior 8th place - Nick Brascetta (149) Sophomore 8th place
Blacksburg experienced a different type of spring shower, as snow blanketed the region this past weekend. Starting Sunday morning, two-to-four inches of snow fell in Blacksburg. The wider New River Valley, including Roanoke, saw as much as six-to-seven inches making it the biggest March snowstorm in a decade. Michael Sporer, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Blacksburg, said Blacksburg can expect more snow showers and flurries for the next couple days but no more accumulation. According to the National Weather Service forecast, temperatures will rise steadily after Thursday, reaching the high 40’s by the weekend. Many students were surprised by the snow after Saturday’s high in the mid 50’s. However, Sporer said March snowfall is not unheard of. “It’s defi nitely not what you’d expect normal spring weather to be, but it’s also not unprecedented,” Sporer said. “These things happen from time to time.” Sporer said one of the big-
gest storms in his memory happened twenty years ago on March 13, 1993, during what has been called the “Storm of the Century.” Strong winds, coupled with a low-pressure system, caused upward of 32 inches of snow to fall in Blacksburg. Ten years later, on March 20, 2003, more than 10 inches fell in the region a day after temperatures in the 70’s. “These things can happen in March,” Sporer said. “It’s a transitional season, and we can get strange weather sometimes.” The sudden snow caused many students to stay in, but those who had to drive found adverse conditions on some roads. “I generally have trouble getting to work in the snow because I work in Christiansburg, and I drive a Mustang,” said Anthony Delano, a junior HNFE major. His work meeting was ultimately canceled because so many employees could not make the drive in the storm. When unexpected storms like this one happen, information from meteorologists like Sporer gets passed on see SNOW / page two
2
news
march 26, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES
Snow: 4 inches fall in region
editors: mallory noe-payne, priscilla alvarez, dean seal newseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865
Reddit: Ohanian praises ingenuity, risk San Francisco because I had to be; and now I live in New York. And really, this innovation is a lot bigger than Silicon Valley.
“
from page one
Kelly Mattingly, public works director for the Town of Blacksburg. His responsibilities include keeping drivers like Delano safe by plowing the town’s roads. “We keep a really good eye on the storm (and), we try to get a full crew in long before the snow is expected to start,” said Mattingly. “They were able to jump on it pretty quickly.” Others had different reasons to see silver linings in the dark snow clouds. “I love the snow, because I think it’s beautiful,” said Bryce Renick, a junior mechanical engineering major. “But the real reason I want it to snow is that it gives me hope of getting out of class.” Follow the writer on Twitter: @CodyOwens5 The Collegiate Times Media/News/Publishing 3,796 like this
The Collegiate Times 2012
Become a fan of the Collegiate Times on Facebook to get your news as soon as it happens! Like • Comment
BEN WEIDLICH / SPPS
Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian starts off his lecture at TechPad with one of his favorite memes. from page one
entrepreneurial activities on campus that don’t know about us, and we want to change that,” said Hayden Lee, a junior computer science major and VicePresident of the Entrepreneur Club at Virginia Tech. The keynote address was delivered by reddit co-founder and UVa. graduate Alexis Ohanian. Ohanian sat down with the Collegiate Times to give his thoughts on how the Internet has changed startups and entrepreneurship, ahead of the release of his new book which can be ordered at ohanian.co/ WTPbook.
The Collegiate Times 2012
does family farming. CT: Do you think the internet helps establish more companies who would otherwise be unlikely? Ohanian: (I met) founders of a jewelry company called Scarlet At a time where your Garnet who met online because they both had an Etsy store and room and board is collaborated to open a storecovered, it’s low risk. front that is now a part of the St. Louis downtown. What are the The time to make chances they would have had the means or the ability to just things is now.” dive into a jewelry company like that? The Internet was supAlexis Ohanian posed to obliterate brick and Reddit Founder mortar but look at how it can now come back because the CT: What do you mean by say- barriers are so much lower. ing it’s bigger? Ohanian: It’s happening all CT: There are students walkover. I just did the Internet 2012 ing all around us and there’s Bus Tour and we just launched been a buzz here since you’ve a mini-doc called Silicon arrived. How important is it for Prairie: America’s New Internet you to work with student entreEconomy. We went through preneurs, people who idolize the heartland of America, and and look up to you? it’s amazing to see downtowns Ohanian: I’ve been doing that used to be derelict that this speaking thing for a little are now getting rebuilt. There while, I guess since when we are companies that are mov- started reddit. That was the first ing in, startups that have 100 time anyone wanted to hear employees. They don’t only me say something. Ever since, bring high-paid, fun jobs but the crowds just get bigger, and are also bringing people who more diverse. I think once have the income and the means entrepreneurship breaks out of to start building new business. being something that we think It’s making an impact. about within the realm of the Zuckerbergs, I think students CT: What kind of stories or will really be able to break out, people did you meet through too. I see artists doing this to get those experiences? their documentaries made, and Ohanian: I met a guy named it’s that kind of resourcefulness Tom who is a family farmer and that makes an excellent student checks his email three times as well as an excellent entrea week; not the hipster with preneur. The Internet can help the skinny jeans talking about you find answers, and you don’t the Internet. This guy’s family need anyone’s permission; you farm now gets more than 90 can just seek it out. percent of their orders from the Follow the writer on Twitter: Internet. The Internet has fun@hesonwheels damentally changed the way he
CT: Obviously you have a busy schedule. You’re a Wahoo. So
why Blacksburg? Why did you think it was important to come to Tech for this event? Ohanian: The ability for college students with an Internet connection and a laptop to create something that can touch millions of people is powerful. I want to plant that in the mind of everyone I can. Not enough of them realize the opportunity that exists right now. At a time where your room and board are covered, it’s low-risk. The time to make things is now. And maybe this is a way for me to try and build a bridge between the Tech and UVa rivalry. CT: When I’m with engineering students at Tech, a majority of them use reddit. It has kind of a cult following. Why do you think that is?
Ohanian: Well hopefully they’re studying! But, really, that’s wild. I just checked last month and we had 55 million people visit reddit from over 175 countries. It is huge. It doesn’t surprise me how deep it is within the engineering community. A lot of these new technologies, when they start, begin amongst the early adopters who are generally excited about technology. And when they truly grow to scales is what makes the Internet so exciting. CT: A lot of startups have dreams of making their way to San Francisco. What was your experience like working in Silicon Valley? Ohanian: I did not come from Silicon Valley today. I’ve only spent two years there; I was in
crimeblotter date
time
offense
location
arrestees
status
3/22/2013
10:20 AM 10:22 AM
Larceny of Clothing Items
Ambler Johnston Hall
N/A
Active
3/23/2013
2:16 AM
Appear Intoxicated in Public/Underage Possession of Alcohol
Library Plaza
N/A
Inactive: referred to student conduct
3/23/2013
1:27 AM
Appear Intoxicated in Public/Underage Possession of Alcohol
Slusher Tower
Charles Dwain, 20
Cleared by Arrest
3/23/2013
2:33 AM
Appear Intoxicated in Public/Underage Possession of Alcohol
Outside Graduate Life Center
Brian John Kelly, 22
Cleared by Arrest
3/23/2013
10:27 PM
Underage Possession of Alcohol
West Ambler Johnston
N/A
Inactive: referred to student conduct
3/24/2013
12:40 AM
Underage Possession of Alcohol
Slusher Tower
Chrstine Khong, 19
Cleared by Arrest
3/24/2013
1:01 AM
Underage Possession of Alcohol
West Ambler Johnston
Bridget E. Cantwell, 18
Cleared by Arrest
3/24/2013
1:24 AM
Appear Intoxicated in Public
Armory Parking Lot
Andrew Jennings Rahahan, 21
Cleared by Arrest
3/24/2013
1:24 AM
Appear Intoxicated in Public/Underage Possession of Alcohol/Attempt to Flee
Alumni Mall
Benjamin Dean Matthias, 19
Cleared by Arrest
3/24/2013
2:19 AM
Appear Intoxicated in Public/Underage Possession of Alcohol
Lee Hall
Keegan G. Weiler, 19
Cleared by Arrest
3/24/2013
2:34 AM
Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol
Kent Street
Sonja H. Vickhouse, 50
Cleared by Arrest
3/24/2013
7:27 AM
Appear Intoxicated in Public/Underage Possession of Alcohol/Fake ID/ Trespassing
Outside Pritchard Hall
Robert Hollis Martin, 19
Cleard by Arrest
3/24/2013
8:03 AM
Appear Intoxicated in Public/Underage Possession of Alcohol
Pritchard Hall
Zachary James Ostrowski, 19
Cleared by Arrest
3/1124/2013
10:14 AM 5:16 PM
Harassment
O’Shaughnessy Hall
N/A
Active
3/03/2013
2:00 AM
Underage Possession of Alcohol x4
Pritchard Hall
N/A
Inactive: reported by student conduct
3/07/2013
11:00 PM
Underage Posession of Alcohol x2
Ambler Johnston Hall
N/A
Underage Posession of Alcohol/Destruction of Property
......radio for everyone
editors: josh higgins, shawn ghuman opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865
opinions
march 26, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES
3
The Collegiate Times is an independent student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 Collegiate Times Editorial Staff
MCT CAMPUS
what you’re saying On “GPA policy needs changing” YourNameHere says: While I appreciate the author’s attempt to address at least a few possible critiques of his proposed plan, I would like to make the case that GPA should be not only a reflection of a student’s aptitude for/ interest in a given subject, but also a reflection of that student’s overall responsibility and critical decision-making skills. A lot of professors make it a point to assign one major test/paper/project before the drop period ends, based on which students can decide if they’re in a good position to finish the class with a strong academic showing. Additionally, you can withdraw from up to three courses during your time at Tech at any point in the semester and your grade for the class will simply appear as a “W’ on your transcript and will have no bearing on your GPA. With all this flexibility, students should be responsible enough to assess if they are consistently struggling across multiple classes/professors in a given major and make adjustments accordingly- if it takes you more than a few drops/withdraws to realize that you’re doing poorly in one particular subject area, you’re probably just being negligent or falling prey to wishful thinking. The ability to manage your schedule, weigh the options available to you, and think critically about your life choices are all life skills that are just as important (if not more so) to prospective grad schools and employers as having a real talent or passion for your field of choice. Admissions Pro says: What the author posits may seem to be effective, but in actuality its not. It assumes that graduate admissions professionals in do not take notice to how GPAs are calculted. University’s grade differently, for example some have limits to the number of courses a student may retake and gain grade forgiveness (thus potentially increasing a GPA drastically) while others are much more conservative.I think it would be prudent to include an admissions professional in the conversation to get an example of what actually takes place. And if event doing so, understand that different programs may go about the process in their own ways.
Arming Syrian rebels isn’t ideal option I n the last 11 months, much has been said about Syria. Most of the conversation has been directed toward President Bashar Assad and his regime’s brutal tactics to suppress a revolution. In recent weeks, a consensus seems to be forming in Washington to support Syrian rebels and reject Assad’s government. However, the more I explore the Syrian confl ict, the less convinced I am that supporting or arming the rebels in Syria will benefit the United States or any of its regional allies. For starters, there is little to nothing known about who these rebels are. The information available shows that these rebels have successfully bombed multiple cities, and have been successful in killing over 7,000 government troops and perhaps as many civilians. Islamic militant groups such as the Al-Nusra Front
— which was designated as a “terrorist organization” by the foreign office — have backed the rebels and enlisted hundreds in the fi ght against President Assad’s forces. Unlike Libya, the Syrian Free Army and the Syrian rebels come from a diverse set of organizations and groups which seem to be united only under the common opposition of Assad. The question remains though, once he is gone, who will make sure fighting among different militias does not break out? International human rights groups have repeatedly highlighted the abuse and torture of government sympathizers by the rebels. In some cases, the groups have pointed out severe human rights violations in areas predominantly controlled by the rebels. Assad’s regime may have little legitimacy, and his use of state machinery to protect
his dynastic politics deserves the strongest condemnation, but it should not automatically qualify the Syrian rebels for “armed support” as indicated by Secretary of State John Kerry.
However, is arming rebel groups that may betray us really the best solution? Have we learned nothing from history?”
The humanitarian crisis in Syria is deepening by the day and calls for international attention and perhaps some sort of intervention. However, is arming rebel groups that may betray us really the best solution? Have we learned noth-
ing from history? It is time the United States makes a sincere attempt to end the confl ict in Syria. Arming the rebels is only going to exacerbate the situation and lead to more violence. It may even force Assad’s use of chemical weapons. The United States needs to engage regional players like Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey to put political pressure on Assad’s regime. Th is will help open the country up for a smooth transition of power. Such a transition should be brought about through the voices of the Syrian people, not by American-provided bombs and bullets. As a country that professes democratic thought, we should make every effort to restore the sanctity of the ballot over the bullet.
NABEEL CHOHAN - regular columnist - accounting - senior
Tax bias hurts working women I
n proclaiming March as Women’s History Month, President Obama stated that “too many women feel the weight of discrimination on their shoulders.” Liberals often make this claim, citing the fact that women earn only 77 cents for every dollar earned by men, and call for stronger protection against genderbased discrimination by employers. Conservatives typically respond by pointing out that men and women tend to make different choices about occupation, working hours and whether to take time off from the labor force. They cite studies showing that, after controlling for these choices, the gender wage gap falls to only a few cents. Unfortunately, both sides are missing an important point. Our society does indeed discriminate against working women. But the main culprit isn’t employers. It’s the government.
we’re YOUR newspaper. send a letter to the editor and express your views.
Fortunately, some simple policy fi xes can help create real fairness for women. But these reforms will require liberals to accept tax and entitlement changes and conservatives to accept more mothers working outside the home. The federal income tax system imposes high tax rates on secondary earners, and the Social Security system punishes two-earner households relative to single-earner households. As secondary earners are typically women, both the tax and Social Security systems discourage married women from working. If we remove these barriers, many women would make different choices about their careers, taking less time off from the labor force and working more hours. Changing these choices would, of course, have a direct and immediate effect on the gender pay gap. But that’s not all. When women work more during the early
part of their careers, they gain valuable experience that increases their future wages.
“
Our society does indeed discriminate against working women. But the main culprit isn’t employers. It’s the government.”
ginal rates — would reduce the tax rates that apply to a household’s second source of income. In addition, Congress could improve Social Security’s work incentives by reducing the ability of spouses to claim on one another’s records. Or, the total income earned by a household could be divided evenly between the husband and wife, equalizing both their gains from additional earnings and retirement benefits. The president is correct in saying women still face discrimination. But if he wants to address this issue, he should focus on reforming government programs. Reducing work disincentives for secondary earners gives women the freedom to make choices based on their preferences and opportunities rather than on the basis of government policies.
Because the current tax system treats a household as a single unit, secondary earners can face high tax rates on even the first dollar of their earnings. Switching to an individual-based tax system, which is used in many industrialized countries, would fi x this problem by treating a secondary earner’s income just like the primary earner’s ASPEN GORRY AND SITA NATARAJ income. Alternatively, a flatter tax SLAVOV system — with lower mar- - McClatchy Newspapers
send an email to opinionseditor@ collegiatetimes.com with your letter or guest column attached.
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 Collegiate Times Business Staff Business Manager: James Dean Seal Circulation Manager: Keith Bardsley Student Publications Photo Staff Director of Photography: Brad Klodowski Lab Manager: Trevor White College Media Solutions Assistant Ad Director: Carla Craft Account Executives: Robert Alberti, Taylor Moran Inside Sales Manager: Amanda Gawne Assistant Account Executives: Catie Stockdale Jordan Williams, Elizabeth Dam, Emily Daugherty Creative Director: Diana Bayless Assistant Creative Director: Nik Aliye Creative Staff: Mariah Jones, Samantha Keck
Voice your opinion. Readers are encouraged to send letters to the Collegiate Times. 365 Squires Student Center Blacksburg, VA, 24061 Fax: (540) 231-9151 opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com All letters to the editor must include a name and daytime phone number. Students must include year and major. Faculty and staff must include position and department. All other submissions must include city of residence, and if applicable, relationship to Virginia Tech (i.e., alumni, parent, etc.). All letters should be in MS Word (.doc) format, if possible. Letters, commentaries and editorial cartoons do not reflect the views of the Collegiate Times. Editorials are written by the Collegiate Times editorial board, which is composed of the opinions editors, editor-in-chief and the managing editors. Letters to the editor are submissions from Collegiate Times readers. We reserve the right to edit for any reason. Anonymous letters will not be printed. Have a news tip? Call or text 200-TIPS or e-mail newstips@collegiatetimes.com Collegiate Times Newsroom 231-9865 Editor-in-Chief 231-9867 College Media Solutions Advertising 961-9860 The Collegiate Times, a division of the Educational Media Company at Virginia Tech, was established in 1903 by and for the students of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The Collegiate Times is published every Tuesday through Friday of the academic year except during exams and vacations. The Collegiate Times receives no direct funding from the university. The Collegiate Times can be found online at www.collegiatetimes.com. Except where noted, all photographs were taken by the Student Publications Photo Staff. To order a reprint of a photograph printed in the Collegiate Times, visit reprints.collegemedia.com. The first copy is free, any copy of the paper after that is 50 cents per issue. © Collegiate Times, 2012. All rights reserved. Material published in the Collegiate Times is the property thereof, and may not be reprinted without the express written consent of the Collegiate Times.
4
march 26, 2013
“Edmund, my good man, did you pick up your copy of the Collegiate Times today?”
Regular Edition Today’s Birthday Horoscope: Career changes could disrupt your finances, so respectfully think outside the box. Look within and release personal limitations; your intuition grows. There’s powerful buzz in your networks until summer; write, record and get the word out. Home draws your attention after June, so invite friends and family to your place.
“But of course, Winston, old chap.” Piled Higher and Deeper by Jorge Cham Quote of the Day
See your ad on the most popular page of the Collegiate Times
Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people. - Eleanor Roosevelt
Send us your quote and see it here! creative.services@collegemedia.com
XKDC by Randell Monroe
collegiatetimes.com | 540.961.9860 | advertising@collegemedia.com
1
3 8 2
8 9
7
9
7
7 6 3 4 7
8 2
7 6
9 4 1 5 3
5
8
3
4 51 1983 best-seller with a misspelled title word
2 4
9 5
3
Copyright 2007 Puzzles by Pappocom Solution, tips and computer program at www.sudoku.com
By Brad Wilber
Week ending March 29th, 2013
Hot New Songs Dance With Me • Ra Ra Riot Pusher Love Girl • Justin Timberlake Where We Should Be • Cherub Just Give Me A Reason • P!nk, Nate Ruess Karate Chop (Remix) • Future, Lil Wayne
ACROSS 1 Auctions 12 Counterproductive “Get Smart” apparatus 14 Poster-mounting aid 16 White and black pawns, e.g. 17 “The Da Vinci Code” monk 18 Filet mignon sources 19 Zoo feature 23 Some peculiarities 24 [More on next pg.] 25 Tierney of “E.R.”
3/26/13 26 Mother of divine twins, in Greek myth 27 Twin who adopted the surname Bunker 28 Student employees, usually 30 Ruby or tawny drinks 31 Where some washers are kept 33 See 32-Down 36 Dogpatch creator 37 Conical brewing equipment 38 Tendency
39 Fivers 40 Retired boomers 41 One who’s been rubbed out? 42 Nebraska tribe 44 French enforcement unit 45 2006 Cate Blanchett film 50 Classic 1913 novel called “the tragedy of thousands of young men in England” by its author
DOWN 1 Looking grumpy 2 Straightened 3 Shots taken quickly 4 ’50s Dodger pitcher Billy 5 Hypotheticals 6 CBS ratings giant 7 Rocker Vicious 8 One might be blonde 9 Watch readouts, briefly 10 Qualifies 11 More reptilian, in a way 12 Silkworm’s protection 13 Solar year/lunar year differentials 14 Sweetly, in some suites 15 Brand with a tiger mascot, once 19 __ Vineyard 20 Where many homesteaders headed 21 Museum VIPs 22 Besmirches 25 Aquino’s predecessor 28 Race competitor 29 Marzo, por ejemplo 30 Billboard magazine’s milieu 31 Things to avoid 32 With 33-Across, common tourist transport
33 Drought-stricken 34 Baltimore NFLer called “The Golden Arm” 35 Mill output 36 Abridgment on the bridge? 38 German director Herzog 41 Tropical fruit 43 Part of PDA: Abbr.
44 Macbeth, for one 46 Treaty gp. that admitted Belize in 1991 47 Denver-toBismarck dir. 48 Fleet VIP 49 Radical org. in 1974 headlines
Friday’s Puzzle Solved
(c)2011 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
“DON’T FORGET TO PICK UP YOUR COPY OF THE COLLEGIATE TIMES!” “Available Tuesday through Friday, by golly!”
3/22/13
editors: emma goddard, nick smirniotopoulos featureseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865
arts & entertainment
march 26, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES
5
‘Olympus’ has big names, lacks depth ‘Life Without Limits’ inspires determination Movie Rating
The weather outside may be a lot closer to winter than spring, but the movie theaters appear like they are already gearing up for this summer’s blockbuster season. “Olympus Has Fallen” has the big names, explosive action and an unapologetically root-for-America plotline that would be perfect for a summer action movie. Instead, the movie came out in the post-awards season stretch, when we more typically see quality artsytype movies that are not good enough to earn an earlier release date. But the difference between this and a July or August blockbuster, such as the massive “Transformers,” is that “Olympus Has Fallen” is actually half-way decent. And with its paltry $70 million budget, it probably would have just been lost in the dust of bigger action franchises. “Olympus Has Fallen” tells the story of the fallen Secret Service agent Mike Banning (Gerard Butler), who works in exile at the Treasury Department after a mistake that led to the death of the first lady. When an ex-North Korean terrorist named Kang Yeonsak (Rick Yune) coordinates a series of terrorist attacks on Washington D.C. that culminate with the abduction of President Benjamin Asher (Aaron Eckhart), Banning might be the only one who can save the day. Butler returns to action movies after a too-long focus on rom-coms (“The Ugly Truth,” “The Bounty Hunter,” “Playing For Keeps,” etc.) and, believe it or not, gives a good performance. His character as a Secret Service agent is nothing new, but he brings some
Book Rating
surprising emotional sincerity to key scenes, such as his interactions with the president’s son, Connor (Finley Jacobsen). This gives Banner a much more dynamic personality than the typical action star, which is welcoming. Aside from that, the actors seem to be mostly props filling a role. Eckhart’s Asher is too much of an unerring good-guy to be exciting. For example, when he tells two top officials to save themselves because he knows he won’t crack under pressure, it should theoretically be moving or inspiring. Instead, it’s just boring. I couldn’t bring myself to care about a character so bland, even if he is the president of the United States. The other big star is Morgan Freeman as the Speaker of the House, who takes leadership of the government during the crisis. Freeman can be a masterful actor when he chooses, but this is painfully obvious stunt-casting, and Freeman seems to be just reading his lines and picking up a paycheck. Lack of inventive acting aside, the rest of the fi lm is decent. The storyline is an obvious
rehashing of previous action movie themes, but “Olympus Has Fallen” holds a tighter plot and more consistent pacing. Unfortunately, firsttime writers Creighton Rothenberger and Katrin Benedikt don’t bring any new ideas to the table, nor are they particularly skilled with dialogue. Typically, director Antoine Fuqua of “Training Day” skillfully fi lms hard-to-capture explosions and fight scenes, but his background in music videos is evident in this film, as directing occasionally seems episodic. Ultimately, calling the fi lm decent may not sound like much of a success, but “Olympus Has Fallen” is better than many of the action films being released today. If cool images of the White House on fire or the National Monument crumbling entice, and you like your action films with a splash character development, then “Olympus Has Fallen” will certainly entertain.
Imagine trying to skydive, golf or swim with no arms or legs. Impossible, right? Not for Nick Vujicic. In “Life Without Limits,” Vujicic gives the reader a sneak peek into his struggles and triumphs. Vujicic was born with tetra-amelia syndrome, which left him without arms or legs. He has two small feet, one of which only has two toes. For the first 17 years of his life, Vujicic struggled to accept his disabilities and the resulting emotional pain. Vujicic calls himself “a bully’s dream,” since he had no ability to defend himself as a child. At just eight years old, Vujicic first contemplated suicide; at 10, he tried to drown himself in the bathtub. “I’ll never get a girl to love me,” Vujicic writes. “I don’t even have arms to hold a girlfriend.” But Vujicic survived. As a teenager his parents told him that God had a plan for his life, and at 15, that plan came into fruition. Vujicic met a family in church with a baby
just like him, and he saw a future in that little boy’s eyes. At age 30, Vujicic has graduated from a university, written several books and married the love of his life. He managed to prove his younger self wrong, even without the arms and legs he always prayed for. “I realize I may not have hands to hold my wife’s hand, but when the time comes I’ll be able to hold her heart,” Vujicic said. “I don’t need hands to hold her heart.” Apart from that of nonfiction, it’s hard to put a label on “Life Without Limits.” Those expecting a sob-storyturned-self-help book will be disappointed to say the least. Vujicic is genuinely telling his story, and he credits God as the reason for his success. It’s also refreshing to read about someone overcoming a physical disability with such excitement. Vujicic’s struggle to accept himself is one that many go through, but most readers have never heard of a limbless man who can swim. Vujicic isn’t just telling the world about his success. He’s helping others. Vujicic has met many people like the family in
the church that feel alone and unloved. He tells them what the world hasn’t told them — they’re wrong. “It’s a lie to think you’re not good enough,” Vujicic writes. “It’s a lie to think you’re not worth anything.” At it’s worst, Vujicic’s book comes across as repetitive — perhaps because he is trying to hammer his message into the minds of his readers. These readers, added to the thousands of students he has spoken to at school assemblies though, generally appreciate the gesture. Vujicic describes one girl who approached him out of a group of 300 teenagers, asking for a hug. She told him no one ever told her she was beautiful. She said Vujicic changed her life. Just like Vujicic refuses to give up on others, he refuses to let himself lose hope. He even keeps a pair of shoes in his closet — just in case. JESSICA GROVES -features reporter -junior -communication major
KATIE WHITE -featured movie columnist -junior -history major
‘Starcraft II’ expansion fails to expand Game Rating
Jim Raynor and Sarah Kerrigan return in “StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm” to wage war against Arcturus Mengsk, continuing right where “Wings of Liberty” left off. Unfortunately the impressive cinematic opening only demonstrates just how disappointing “Heart of the Swarm” really is. This expansion is anything but ambitious. With fewer campaign missions and the addition of only seven new units to the multiplayer, Blizzard has focused more on streamlining the experience than actually introducing new mechanics to the game. This means that multiplayer matches will follow similar build orders and games will feel uncannily similar. Many of the new units feel more like novelties than actual meaty additions to an already complex game. Units like the Oracle and Widow Mine are being built by nearly everyone on the competitive ladder, but are inherently limited by the fact that their attacks and abilities are not affected by upgrades. The Protoss Mothership Core is one of the few standout units
Aries (March 21-April 19) Compromise will be required soon. It’s all worth it in the end. The result could surprise you. Get farther faster with professional assistance. Taurus (April 20-May 20) Work especially hard, or at least smartly. Inject energy by inding what you love most. Settle on what you and your sweetheart ind most interesting. Gemini (May 21-June 20) Work faster and make more money, or increase your rates. Remember to take time off for fun, too, or you’ll get burned out. There’s an abundance of projects; add creativity to have it all.
that has actually influenced the metagame. As an early game flyer unit built from the Nexus, it leads to interesting new situations in any Protoss match up. Ironically, many of the changes to the user interface and overall experience are present in both versions of “StarCraft II.” It’s clear that Blizzard is looking to create an ecosystem in which players of both “Wings of Liberty” and “Heart of the Swarm” can interact and play together without major problems. This makes the expansion feel more like a piece of downloadable content than an actual expansion to the game. The new Zerg-focused campaign is based entirely around Kerrigan, an interesting character only because of her physical transformations during the story. This isn’t really a space opera, but more of a space sitcom with a few major characters that don’t see any change or experience any actual emotion. The writing falls flat throughout the story, as Kerrigan goes through the motions and rarely makes an actual emotional connection. Despite the beautiful cut scenes littered throughout the game, the story is simply too Spartan to be meaningful. The Dominion is out to
capture Raynor, and Kerrigan won’t let that happen. In her efforts to protect and save her Terran lover, Kerrigan moves across the universe, unearthing new Zerg mutations, evolutions and units in a system nearly identical to the level system in “Wings of Liberty.” Missions generally consist of building up a base and moving out with a large mass of units, which is nothing new to anyone who has ever played any other real-time strategy game. Although there are a few interesting missions that revolve around new mechanics — see parasitic invasions and unit evolutions — the experience is essentially a Zerg version of the Terran campaign in “Wings of Liberty.” If you’ve kept up with “Wings of Liberty” since its release, you’ll probably be immediately familiar with everything in “Heart of the Swarm.” This is an expansion that will appease hardcore fans of the game, but doesn’t bring anything new or uniquely interesting to players who aren’t already invested in the lore or competitive modes. BEN KIM -featured movie columnist -sophomore -communication major
Cancer (June 21-July 22)Some bold actions may be required, especially around family, but it all works out eventually. Start planning a project at home. It’s very important to stay in communication.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) There are challenges ahead, and you have the energy to take them on. Solve them one at a time. Prioritize important tasks. Don’t force things. Bend with the wind to avoid breakage.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Things are starting to make sense, inally. With a bit more work and dedication, you can move on to the next level. Get what you’ve been wanting. Be quick to adapt to changes.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) It’s easier to focus on small details. Don’t get discouraged by breakdowns; they reveal what’s missing for success. Listen to encouraging friends, and stay persistent.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Check instructions, and then use your good judgment on how to proceed. Better take the time to be sure the job’s done right. Make good money now, but don’t throw it around, not even for love. Keep it practical.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Friends are happy to give you a boost. Listen to their words as if you’re paying for the counsel, and then make your own choice. There’s time to party.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Go along with a partner’s suggestion, as long as it’s not too crazy. You may have to try it to ind out if it works. Pay back what you owe. Travel looks adventuresome. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Optimism provides a context for growth. Now’s a great time to plan for the long-range future. Write down what you really want, and ind support in like-minded friends. Your equity is growing. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) You have a lot of irons in the ire, especially in the days ahead. Go ahead and juggle, but be aware of consequences. Others are impressed. Making a commitment empowers you. Maybe you can give another away.
Travel
For Rent
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
APARTMENT ROOM Seeking male students two rooms available $415 mo. Split utilities call 4343902202 more info
Help Wanted CARLSON ENTERPRISES ARE seeking an Admin officer, sales rep and cashier. FT. Position requires excellent organizational skills, telephone etiquette, Ability to multitask and prioritize projects in a very fast paced environ. It comes with an attractive salary plus benefits. Send resume to:carlsonjeff18@gmail.com
TOMS CREEK TERRACE - 2BR, 2BA Suites or 4BR, 2BA apartment, Water, Sewer, Trash Removal included, $925/ mo., Avail. NOW, Visit Renttnt.com or Call TNT Prop. Mgt. 540-951-1075
l e t ’s
put
YOUR AD
HERE www.solutions.collegemedia.com 540-961-9860
6
sports
march 23, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES
Wrestling: Tech snags 10th place from page one
Khishignyam. He then won three consolation matches in a row before losing to fifthseeded Evan Henderson of North Carolina. He got the chance to wrestle for seventh place, but lost to Minnesota’s Nick Dardanes. Brascetta mimicked this path in the 149pound bracket, winning his first match before falling to ninthseeded Jake Suefloehn of Nebraska. Three straight wins earned him a match against Oregon State’s Scott Sakaguchi, the bracket’s seventh seed, but he dropped the opportunity, losing 8-5. He too got to compete for seventh, but a loss to Purdue’s Ivan Lopouchanski forced him to settle for eighth. Penn State earned the team title at the tournament, racking up a pair of first-place finishes and a trio of second places. Oklahoma State followed close behind to earn second. The Hokies are left to celebrate their newfound success and build on it, as they continue to pursue the elusive individual title. Follow the writer on Twitter: @AlexKomaVT
editors: matt jones, zach mariner sportseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865
Softball team drops two to NC State BROOKS AKER sports staff writer
The No. 19 Virginia Tech softball team took the field at Tech Softball Park for the first time this season on Saturday, dropping both games of a doubleheader against North Carolina State, 10-2 and 9-2. The Wolfpack wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in the first game as Scout Albertson, NC State’s second batter of the game, hit a solo home run for a quick 1-0 lead. Later in the third inning, NC State opened up the game with six players touching home in the third inning. This also ended the day for Hokies starting pitcher Jasmin Harrell, who only lasted two and one-third innings and allowed six earned runs on seven hits. The Hokies (18-6, 0-2) finally got on the board in the fourth inning. Courtney Liddle hit a leadoff double, followed by a single from Kat Banks to put runners on first and third. A
sacrifice fly from Logan Spaw drove in Liddle, and Dani Anderson followed with a double to drive in Banks. But just as Tech cut the lead to 7-2, the Wolfpack answered with three runs in the top of the fifth and claimed the 10-2 victory in five innings. In the second game of the doubleheader, Hokies star-freshman pitcher, Kelly Heinz, took the mound, but received a worse greeting than Harrell in the first game. After giving up two singles and a walk, Heinz allowed a grand slam to NC State centerfielder Caitlin Dent before recording an out. The Wolfpack took a 9-0 lead into the seventh and final inning. The Hokies tried to rally in the bottom of the seventh, but it was not enough. After Banks reached on an error and Anderson walked, the Hokies had runners on first and second with one out. Following a groundout by pinch hitter Jessica McNamara, the Hokies had runners on second and third with two outs. Bkaye Smith laced a triple to right cen-
Upcoming Games Fri, March 26, North Carolina Sat, March 30, at North Carolina (double header) Tue, April 2, UNCG Sat, April 6, at Georgia Tech (doubleheader) Sun, April 7, Georgia Tech Wed, April 10, at James Madison (doubleheader) ter field, but these would be the only runs of the second game for Tech. The teams were scheduled to play a third game on Sunday, but it was cancelled due to inclement weather and will not be made up. The Hokies return to Tech Softball Park at 3 p.m. on Tuesday when they host Kent State for a doubleheader. Follow the writer on Twitter: @brooksaker
TREVOR WHITE / SPPS
Maggie Tyler fires a pitch against N.C. State.
Beamer reveals Coles, Edwards healthy; other notes ZACH MARINER sports editor
Frank Beamer held a teleconference on Monday morning to discuss spring football practice, which begins on Wednesday. While it was mostly a refresher course for fans via the media, Beamer did offer several tidbits of good news, primarily surrounding injury concerns. Here is a summary of what was discussed: Coles, Edwards and Miller healthy Beamer said he believed wide receiver D.J. Coles, linebacker Tariq Edwards and center Andrew Miller would all be ready to go for spring drills. Coles and Miller were both injured during the 2012 season. Edwards played but never
more info Spring football practice begins Wednesday evening. Head coach Frank Beamer held a teleconference with the media Monday morning. got back to form, struggling to recover from surgery for a stress fracture in his shin. “I’ve been really pleased with (Edwards’ progress),” Beamer said. “I think he’s back, and he’ll be a good leader for this football team.” Having Coles and Miller back will be huge for an offense that struggled mightily in 2012. Coles is the leading receiver coming back this season, with 39 career catches for 507 yards
and three touchdowns. “(Coles) is one guy that was playing at a really high level when he got hurt,” Beamer said. “Toughness, good blocking on the edge, making some tough catches. But we don’t want to rush it if he’s not ready to go full-tilt. Next fall is when we really need him to go full-tilt.” Young CBs getting reps in place of injured Exum While Antone Exum hopes to be back from his January ACL tear in time for the season opener against Alabama on Aug. 31, Tech needs to be prepared in case that doesn’t happen. According to Beamer, Donovan Riley, Donaldven Manning, Davion Tookes and Der’Woun Greene will all get reps at the cornerback position.
All four are 2012 recruits, with Riley and Manning having played last season; Tookes and Greene were redshirted. Riley and Manning had four tackles and an interception apiece during their true-freshman seasons. Receiving corps, offensive line begin to take shape Tech lost its three leading receivers from 2012 in Marcus Davis, Corey Fuller and Dyrell Roberts, as well as both its starting tackles in Nick Becton and Vinston Painter. Demitri Knowles, who had 19 catches for 240 yards and a touchdown last season, is expected to join Coles in the starting lineup. “We hope he’s going to continue to progress, and he’s got the great speed,” Beamer said
of Knowles. Beamer also mentioned Joel Caleb, E.L. Smiling and Charley Meyer as candidates to see meaningful action at receiver. Replacing Becton and Painter at tackle will be Mark Shuman and Laurence Gibson. Redshirt freshmen Augie Conte and Adam Taraschke will back them up. “(Conte and Taraschke) are two promising young guys. We’ll let them battle,” Beamer said. “We plan to start out (Nick) Acree at the inside guard position, and we’ve got some flexibilities in there with (Caleb) Farris and (Andrew) Miller and so forth.” Follow the writer on Twitter: @ZMarinerCT
$1500 signing bonus! 6
e’s xridg can o F Only droom up to 4 Be odate es! at mm acco roomm
6
Blacksburg Transit Now hiring 25 operators before March 29th. • Paid Training • Starting at $9.25/hour • • Flexible hours can fit many class schedules •
Don’t delay, apply today! All applicants are subject to CDL drug testing guidelines.
AN EEO Employer M/F/D/V You must be at least 19 years old and have an excellent driving record. To apply, pick up an application at the Blacksburg Municipal Building, 300 S. Main Street, or visit blacksburg.gov. For more information, call (540) 981-1185.