Wednesday, April 3, 2013 Print Edition by Collegiate Times

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

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

COLLEGIATETIMES 109th year, issue 94 News, page 2

Food & Drink, page 5

Scantron costs may pass on to students

Opinions, page 3

Sports, page 6

Study Break, page 4

Downtown faces changes

BRAD KLODOWSKI / SPPS Scantrons will be available at the bookstore for no more than 25 cents.

LEAH KOMODA news staff writer

The transition to new scantron software, effective the first of August, could pose added costs for students. The new software, which replaces a 25-yearold single machine, will use new scantron sheets. The cost of purchasing the new scantrons will be taken over by each of Virginia Tech’s colleges, who will then make the decision whether to pass that cost on to their students. The grading of exams currently takes place in one office using a single, out-of-date machine. The university gives professors scantron sheets for exams. After the exam is given, faculty brings the completed forms to Testing Services where they are graded. The graded scantrons are then organized in a filing cabinet, arranged by professor’s last name, for faculty to later pick up. The machine malfunctions often, a symptom of its age and many operating parts. There is no back-up plan when it breaks. “For the cost of a single year of maintenance on the older machine, we can put 10 or 11 new machines across campus,” said Director of Emerging Technologies and New Ventures, Jennifer Sparrow. “(With the new system) faculty will run the scantrons

themselves and will have instant access to their scores.” Along with the new and revamped scantron software comes the determination of who will pay for the scantron sheets. “We have let the departments know that they will be responsible for funding the paper for their colleges,” Sparrow said. Some of the colleges have already said they will absorb the cost of the scantron sheets in order to provide them for their students, while others have yet to decide, and are still looking at what the cost will be for their department. If the departments decide not to provide students with these forms, students will be responsible for purchasing scantrons at the bookstore. “I think the policy will be a hassle for students and faculty as well,” said sociology professor Ted Fuller. “(A hassle for faculty) in terms of a few students forgetting to bring opscans and in terms of opscan forms which are crumpled as a result of spending hours in someone’s backpack but which faculty need to put through a reader.” Students also feel the responsibility of purchasing scantrons themselves is unnecessary. “We already have so many fees,” said freshman biological sciences major Elise Fegler. “It is see COSTS / page two

RYAN SUTHERLAND / SPPS

Len Comaratta stands in front of Moe’s, the space where he was once assistant manager of the music and video store Crossroads.

Downtown Blacksburg evolves as chains move to occupy spaces once ﬁlled with local businesses ANDREW KULAK news reporter

Generations of residents and Virginia Tech students alike have been attracted to Blacksburg by its small-town vibe, but some local businesspeople fear the town’s homegrown culture could become a thing of the past, as large-scale brands and franchises snap up downtown real estate once occupied by local companies. “Blacksburg used to be a nice

mixture of restaurants, bars, and retail,” said Gary Walker, Tech alumnus and proprietor of Cabo Fish Taco. “All the new stuff that’s opening up like Moe’s, Chipotle, Jimmy John’s. … These places are taking over spots that used to be really cool, locally owned businesses.” As The Mellow Mushroom, a nationwide chain, seems poised to open a new location where local-favorite Backstreets once operated, many, along with Walker, are left wonder-

ing about the future of small retail and dining in downtown Blacksburg. Downtown at a Crossroads Tech alumnus Len Comaratta remembers a different, more vibrant Blacksburg, filled with small businesses, before a property auction 11 years ago saw many buildings downtown change hands. A longtime Blacksburg resident, Comaratta was an assistant manager of Crossroads at the time, a locally owned and operated music and video store that had several area locations.

In 2002, HCMF Corp., mired in financial problems as well as federal legal trouble, sold off its downtown properties in a hotly contested auction that saw Martinsville-based Lester Group feverishly outbid smaller-scale buyers. “It was deemed by many as really shady,” said Comaratta of the events. When Lester Group took ownership of the properties downtown, the company said it had no plans to make significant changes, but Comaratta claims the company did just see LOCAL / page two

Hokies come from behind to beat VCU MATT JONES sports editor

The Virginia Tech Hokies learned their lesson about overlooking non-conference opponents last week, and defeated the VCU Rams 11-5 on Tuesday. Last Tuesday, the Hokies (21-9, 7-5 ACC) fell behind after starter Colin O’Keefe failed to complete two innings. Early walks led to early runs and the Hokies lost to the VMI Keydets 8-0. Brendon Hayden made his first start of the season Tuesday against the VCU Rams and before the Hokies recorded their first out, it

seemed as if they were destined for the same fate. Hayden’s first pitch drilled Ram’s leadoff hitter Bill Cullen square in the back and he walked the next batter on four pitches. Two batters later Brent Mikionis smashed a ball down the left field line and the Hokies trailed 2-0. The Hokies escaped the inning allowing just two runs but Hayden, who walked or allowed a hit to six of the 11 batters he faced, was pulled after just 1.2 innings of work. “I always worry,” said Hokies head coach Pete Hughes. “It was an emo-

game stats

tional weekend and immature kids can’t handle success, and they want to come out and be complacent on a Tuesday. We had close to 3,000 people here (on Saturday), and you come out here and there’s not the same crowd, and you can get sucked into that atmosphere and sucked into thinking you’re really good and not respect your opponent.” Luckily, the Hokies had Chad Pinder and Tyler Horan on their side. Pinder tied the game in the bottom of the first with

Batting Chad Pinder: 3-for-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI Tyler Horan: 2-for-4, 1 HR, 5 RBI Mark Zagunis: 2-for-3, 1 RBI, 2 BB

Pitching Jake Joyce: W (4-1) 3.1 IP, 4 H, 1 BB

see TECH / page six

Apartment complex will offer quiet housing location CAITY GONANO

likely potential tennants. “In terms of location,” Meredith explained, “The Reserve at Knollwood, as well as our other properties in the area, are not in the middle of anything, although still close to everything.” Current residents have enjoyed the quiet environment of the complexes in the area, but many have said that they never even knew they were back there—a concerning thought for property managers since Knollwood Condominiums have been in that location since 1999. The Reserves at Knollwood will offer one-to-three bedroom apartments. Currently, only two or three bedrooms are available for lease, ranging from $1,140-to-$1,190 for two bedroom units and $1,351-to$1,395 for three bedroom units. Completion of the Reserve at Knollwood is expected to be by July 15, 2012. Follow the writer on Twitter: @caitygonano

St.

Students will have a new offcampus housing option next year, as a new apartment complex finishes up construction. Located right across from the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center, the Reserve at Knollwood will offer premier apartment complexes for students. “We wanted to break the barrier of what is available in Blacksburg. We wanted more of a resort feel,” said Tammy Meredith, property manager. CMG Leasing manages several apartment complexes in Blacksburg, Christiansburg and Radford. One of its leasing offices — located two miles from Lane Stadium and near the CRC — manages a variety of complexes such as Knollwood Condominiums, The Crossing at Knollwood, Cedarfield Apartments and Townhomes, and most recently The Reserves at Knollwood. The buildings are available for

residents looking to be secluded from the noise and traffic of downtown and other highly occupied complexes. Competing with other new and premier complexes like Maple Ridge and Smith’s Landing, The Reserves at Knollwood is designed to offer high-end amenities with a resort style. With the rise of competing premier complexes in the Blacksburg area, managers and planners worked with current residents of other Knollwood properties to gauge what residents would want in a newer complex. The complex will feature a fitness and yoga center, coffee bar, student study area with interactive media table, tanning salon and a gaming area. The Reserves at Knollwood, and the other CMG properties, in the area are taking applications for tenants once construction is finished. Due to the location, CMG thinks graduate students and students in the veterinary and medical programs are

S. Main

news staff writer

uti

VT Corporate Research Center

Air

Knollwood

HANNAH CAO / COLLEGIATE TIMES

The complex, The Reserve at Knollwood, is located by the CRC and is expected to open by mid July.

news

april 3, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES

Cost: Tech buys new machine from page one

on more. The exact cost of the scantron sheets, for students, has yet to be determined though the cost is expected to be below 25 cents. Despite the possible added cost for students, Sparrow says the new system will benefit everyone. The way scantrons are currently graded poses inconveniences to both students and faculty extending beyond the availability of the machine. The scantrons do not provide any feedback on the physical form. The correct answers are not printed while the exam is being graded, so students and faculty cannot easily determine which questions were missed or the answers to those incorrect questions. “With the new software, faculty can drop scores right into Scholar and get a lot more in terms of analysis of the data available to them,” Sparrow said. The new scantron software will visibly mark the correct answer and will print the score at the bottom of the scantron. The software also allows faculty to make any necessary changes to the answer key from their own computer and can count two answers correct, count one answer more correct than another, or give greater weight to an individual question. “We need to make sure our machines are robust enough to meet the needs of the students and faculty,” Sparrow said. “The needs of faculty in terms of assessment was discussed, and the new software is the solution.” The funds from selling scantrons will be redistributed into new and innovative projects, such as the e-textbook project, which will move textbooks from hardcopy to digital copies. “By not having to do scantron work, we are able to provide new projects that will serve the needs of students all around,” said Sparrow. “We are Virginia Tech. We should be focusing on inventing the future, not perpetuating the past.”

Follow the writer on Twitter: @lckomada

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

Local: Businesses seek support from town from page one

that. “They raised our rent from $4,200 to $6,700,” Comaratta recalled. “They were definitely gouging their tenants.” Comaratta said that, despite upping their rent, Lester Group did little to help with structural problems plaguing the historic building that housed Crossroads. The Collegiate Times reported that pipes had burst, heat and air-conditioning seldom worked, ceilings were damaged, and raw sewage regularly flooded the store. At one time, an issue with the building’s aging plumbing caused $40,000 in damages. Lester Group maintained it was the responsibility of tenants to keep up their stores, pursuant to their lease agreements. Crossroads lost a lawsuit and moved to a new location, before folding in Blacksburg for good. Once Crossroads moved out, Lester Group seemed to be in no hurry to lease the space again. “Lester Group left that space open and vacant for a while with the intention of putting a chain into it,” Comaratta said. Moe’s Southwest Grill, a nationwide chain with more than 300 locations, now occupies what used to be Crossroads. Moe’s is a subsidiary of a private firm that owns other eateries such as Carvel, Cinnabon and Auntie Anne’s. No one with knowledge of the events at Lester Group could be reached for comment. Growing Pains Today, Comaratta thinks that the town of Blacksburg remains on a path of rapid development. He worries that some want to see Blacksburg “turned into Charlottesville” — a town that has experienced a great deal of commercial expansion, along with growth issues like traffic and a spike in the costs of living and doing business. Charlottesville’s cost of living is 7 percent higher than Blacksburg’s. Blacksburg is on par with the state average. “A local upstart isn’t going to have a lot of loose capital to spend on exorbitant rent costs, and that’s where I think the town council is failing in Blacksburg,” Comaratta said. Walker, who started a business in Charlotte prior to opening Cabo Fish Taco in Blacksburg, found it difficult to get started in Blacksburg. “It took three times as long, and cost three times as much as it did in Charlotte,” Walker said. He found that the Blacksburg health department and building inspectors were less willing to work with him than they were in North Carolina. He also noted that there were

Members of Downtown Blacksburg Inc.

COURTESY OF SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

The Corner Drug Store in Downtown Blacksburg, in the same building where Moe’s is now located. costs associated with getting started in Blacksburg that are not always clear for new small businesses, though affordable for larger firms. He and Comaratta agreed that infrastructure was an issue and that the town expects businesses to foot the bill for retrofitting aging structures. “If you don’t have deep pockets, that’s not an easy thing to do,” Walker said. “A Town that Seeks its own Counsel” Leslie Hager-Smith, vice mayor of Blacksburg, is passionate about the town’s local personality and disagrees with those who believe Blacksburg is looking to become the next Charlottesville at the expense of local business. “Charlottesville has some of the worst development — the exact kind of stuff we don’t want to emulate,” Hager-Smith said. Hager-Smith emphasized that while Blacksburg does look at best practices of other communities, local leaders do not actively seek to encourage largescale businesses over local alternatives. “We’re a great college town,” Hager-Smith said. “I think the reason why I always have liked Blacksburg is because it is a town that seeks its own counsel.” She cited examples of the town’s support of local business, including a grant program Walker took advantage of to update Cabo Fish Taco’s exterior facade, and an additional $350,000 the town has invested in various projects to encourage economic development and provide added incentive to locate new businesses in Blacksburg. “We have a business climate task force to address the idea that, somehow, Blacksburg is a hard place to do business,” Hager-Smith added. Hager-Smith believes that these projects are one reason

COURTESY OF SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

Deyerle’s Store, next to Hokie House, around 1997. Since then, a downtown renovation has brought chain stores to the area. why the town has won numerous awards and national recognition from organizations like Forbes and CNNMoney for being business-friendly. “We don’t go out looking for these awards; we get them because people from the outside are looking in and seeing we are valuable,” Hager-Smith said. Walker did recognize that the town is now trying to help struggling business owners. “I think they are starting to change for the better,” Walker said. However, he also thinks that change is too slow in coming. “This isn’t a regularly talked about thing,” Walker said. “We see it on a day-to-day basis with all these corporate chains coming in, which I don’t think is the direction anyone wants to move in.” The Future of Small Business Mike Ellerbrock, a professor in Agricultural and Applied Economics, believes that the best strategy is to embrace both local business and large-scale commercial development. “When we pay a low price to go to WalMart and those profits go elsewhere, that’s a drain on the economy,” Ellerbrock

said. “Is there anything good about it? Yes. Consumers get more bang for their buck.” In addition to consumer benefits, Ellerbrock noted that large businesses also pay local taxes and employ local workers. “I think sometimes the local movement upholds the big franchises as a strawman bad guy — that they’re the enemy.” Ellerbrock said. “But they shouldn’t be juxtaposed as enemies to one another.” Ellerbrock has found that small business remain successful when they provide something that big corporations can’t. Laureen Blakemore, director of local merchants association Downtown Blacksburg, Inc., believes Blacksburg’s small businesses do just that. “Small businesses struggle, and it’s difficult. But they provide a service that people can’t get at bigger stores. People appreciate knowing the owner, knowing the business, knowing what to expect when they go in,” Blakemore said. “I think there is a future for small business in Blacksburg.” Follow the writer on Twitter: @KulakCT

310 Rosemont Alligator Alley Big Al’s Grille & Sports Bar Blacksburg Pipe & Tobacco Bollo’s Cafe Boudreaux’s Cabo Fish Taco Cafe de Bangkok Champs Sports Bar & Cafe Eats Natural Foods Gillie’s Restaurant Gobble Cakes Greenhouse Boardshop Greens Happy Wok High Peak Sportswear Kent Jewlers Mad Dog Mike’s Grill Mish Mish Next Door Bake Shop Pita Vera PK’s Restaurant Poor Billy’s Sharkey’s Wing and Rib Joint She-Sha Cafe & Hookah Lounge Souvlaki Sycamore Deli T. Flynn’s Pub Tech Bookstore The Cellar The College Carousel Retail & Resale The Greeks’ Restaurant and Grill The Lyric Theatre Top of the Stairs

CHAINS Bookholders.com Buﬀalo Wild Wings Frosty Parrot Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwhiches Rita's Taco Bell DP Dough *These are only a select few members of DBI. Not all inclusive list.

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A D T H C T

[

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offense

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status

3/21/2013

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Follow up to burglary/ Breaking and entering

GLC

Unfounded

2/19/2013

12am

Distribution of marijuana/ Possession of marijuana

Slusher Hall

Inactive: Reported by Student Conduct/ Regional Drug Task Force

3/9/2013

10am

Underage possession of alcohol x2

Cochrane Hall

Inactive: Reported by Student Conduct

D V I E O I

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opinions

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

april 3, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES

The Collegiate Times is an independent student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 Collegiate Times Editorial Staff

MCT CAMPUS

Our Views [staff editorial]

University shouldn’t proﬁt off scantrons Starting in August, some colleges within Virginia Tech will require students to pay for their own Scantron sheets, as the university is upgrading the out-dated machine that has been in use for 25 years. Sheets will be less than 50 cents each and will be sold in the bookstore. We are fine with the university asking students to pay the costs of Scantrons to get that cost off its bottom line — sequestration has forced every public university’s budget to be tightened, and the cost for a single student would be nominal — but if Tech or the bookstore is profiting from this in the slightest, this becomes an example of it nickel and diming its students. At 5 cents, or even 10 cents, we would have no objection. But if the price is 25 cents when it costs pennies to produce, it would be asking for too much.

Tech should offer programs in US S tudy abroad needs a makeover. Many college students rank it highly on “college bucket lists,” as if the college experience wouldn’t be the same unless they jet set across the globe for a semester, but it is unfortunate that many students and other study abroad programs at colleges don’t consider the option staying in the states when choosing to study abroad. Study, domestic? Yes. Tour the USA; there are plenty enlightening things to see here, and you don’t even need a passport. The geographic knowledge of many college students is, quite frankly, embarrassing. According to a National Geographic study, only 50 percent of people between the ages of 18 and 24 can locate New York State on a map. That number is obviously different for students smart enough to get into college, but the average college student doesn’t exactly know the states like the back of their hand. America, a nation amalgamated in many cultures, boasts a diverse popula-

what you’re saying On President Steger acted cautiously, not negligently, on April 16, 2007 Anonymous: Do you have any understanding of

the legal concept of negligence?

Fred: The problem is that the emergency policy group hemmed and hawed without getting the known facts out in a timely manner. They wanted to massage the message that two students had been slain in West Ambler Johnston, so they took their sweet time before issuing a very terse message about a shooting incident. Additionally, some members of the emergency policy group warned their own family members to avoid the campus area due to the uncertain ongoing threat. Furthermore, the way the policy group by laws were written, the police chief did not have the authority to issue a warning or sound the alarm sirens independently. Anonymous: On April 16th, there were no alarm sirens and VT Alerts did not exist. ken s.: And remember when the campus was

shut down a few summers ago because a summer camp participant reported a man with a possible gun[none was found]? The VT SMART ROAD office was having its Family Day and the pony ride was still operating, and people were milling about outside with the doors wide open as usual. And when the campus was shut down the other semester during lunch, the people at Owens opened the door for many students to come in -- and one of them could have been the possible threat. So even if the VT Policy Group had sent out a warning -- would it have been followed to the degree that would have kept the killings from happening? That's also a consideration that needs to be examined.

tion — especially in bigger cities. It is the polar opposite in many other regions. Virginia is a fine example of this; the differences between Southwest Virginia and Northern Virginia are immense.

“

A program like this would deﬁnitely put (Tech) on the map for a new, unique experience offered at few other colleges”

According to Huffington Post, the Washington D.C. area is one of the most diverse areas in the country. Conversely, Bristol, Va., is one of the least diverse areas in the country, boasting a 95 percent white population. Many naive college students fail to realize their homeland is a treasure trove of cultural, ethnic and geographical diversity. Many parts of the United States, as well as the rest of the world, are well rep-

resented here at Virginia Tech. However, Tech’s study abroad programs offer good opportunities for those who want to travel internationally, but offer no programs inside the U.S. There are few colleges that support this type of program, but a few colleges — like Amherst College, Pitzer College and Cal Poly — offer a “domestic exchange” program. Tech should catch on to this. A program like this would definitely put us on the map for a new, unique experience offered at few other colleges. It would provide students the opportunity to see their own country, in the hopes we would harbor a greater appreciation for the U.S. It would afford students the chance to do something they might not get to do again. Poetic inspiration is derived from being welltraveled. Many famous authors like Steinbeck, Kerouac, Peter Jenkins and Bill Bryson all sought solace in traveling across

America and found it. Becoming familiar with America cultivates an appreciation of culture and humanity. Students could greatly benefit by applying a globalized, cosmopolitan mindset and zoom in on their own country. Perhaps a semester at a university in Hawaii, then another in Puerto Rico, where U.S. citizens can freely travel like they would to any other state, would be enriching. It’s different from the stale, cliche “trip to Europe,” where students often return with no appreciation for where they went. It seems, in conventional study abroad trips, there is no purpose behind them; Students are going just to go. A domestic exchange program would definitely change that. ANDREW WIMBISH -regular columnist -English -junior

Corruption plagues bank leaders

merica’s big banks, those at the very center of the most recent credit crisis, are rewarding their board members with higher pay than many of the largest U.S. companies in business today. While it’s absolutely fair for leaders that deal with immense amounts of stress and pressure to be fully compensated for their efforts, something just doesn’t sit right here. The salaries for the directors of Goldman Sachs have increased roughly 50 percent since 2008 and over 60 percent at Citigroup, according to a New York Times article. What else has happened to American banks over the past five years? Well, for one, they were given billions of dollars by the Federal Reserve in a bailout effort to curtail the spiraling effect of credit defaults, which were directly a result of their reckless leveraging with fi nancial instruments like mortgagebacked securities and creditdefault swaps. Also, many of these banks, if not all of them, have been investigated for malpractice in the events leading up to the crash. There have been additional developing legal

accusations with regard to these banks having tampered with the Libor index. In fact, multiple banks have admitted fault and paid many millions of dollars in legal settlements as a result of artificially moving Libor — the system used to determine interest rates on student loans, mortgages and many other lending vehicles — in whatever direction benefitted their bottom lines. Th is has hardly been a good half-decade for banks. Yet, the directors that helped make the faulty decisions leading to these problems are making more money every year. It’s just nonsensical. Not only does it not make sense, it really damages the image of these companies. At a time when they are under the media’s microscope, any misstep, no matter how minor, will be publicized and critiqued without mercy. It’s not like the general public has positive outlooks on these companies as it is. One of the most important factors in an economic revitalization like the one we are currently involved in is consumer and investor confidence. And if these banks, the poster boys of the U.S. economy, are allocat-

ing millions of dollars to the pockets of directors, there is not much room left for such confidence. It makes it seem as though these fi rms have already forgotten the magnitude of their mistakes and only strengthens the argument against such companies being too big to fail. Now, if the situation were different, if the economy were healthy and business bloomed without scandal, the board members of these banks would deserve their increased compensation. There would be room for such spending within firms. But the current timing is just wrong for awarding such raises. As the future of the workforce, we cannot be oblivious to these practices. Regardless of industry, we will be making the decisions affecting the image and overall health of the business in which we are employed. And we all must be continuously mindful of the importance of timing when making such decisions. DAVID LEVITT -regular columnist -ﬁnance -junior

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.

april 3, 2013

Regular Edition Today’s Birthday Horoscope: Your connections keep you participating and involved. Ease with communications empowers queries, launches, promotions and networking. The second half of the year focuses more on home and family. Pay off debt and review investments and insurance. It’s a personal growth and love year.

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44 India neighbor, to the IOC 45 The Tupolev Tu144, e.g. 46 Like Magellan, often 47 Drum major’s concern during a parade through narrow streets? 51 Dada co-founder 52 Ring cheer 53 Like Beethoven’s Sonata Op. 109 54 Count Almaviva’s valet, in opera 57 Bobby __

Aries (March 21-April 19) Persistence pays off with a breakthrough. Push ahead and results add up. Don’t be stopped by old barriers. Release pent up tensions, and exceed expectations. Keep studying to increase your theoretical understanding. Taurus (April 20-May 20) Holding your tongue surpasses annoying moments with minimal damage. Take care not to provoke jealousies. Spend time with a partner, and advise caution with their next move. There’s plenty for all. Shift perspective and relax. Gemini (May 21-June 20) Take slow, calculated actions and anticipate resistance. Have a backup plan. Use time-tested methods. Don’t give up or overspend. Mull it over. It’s a good day for iguring out all the angles. Cancer (June 21-July 22) Draw your line in the sand. Decrease personal obligations in the coming week. Your time is precious. This goes for your money, too. Scrutinize repeating expenses that may not be necessary. Savings happens naturally.

DOWN 1 Builders of the Tikal temples 2 “God is not __ ...”: Numbers 3 Baler maker 4 In the area 5 Big wholesale club 6 1773 jetsam 7 NFL’s Cardinals, on scoreboards 8 Artificial being of Jewish folklore 9 Molecules that respond to stimuli 10 “Wheel of Fortune” purchase 11 Woody Allen film 12 Ham it up 13 Physics class units 18 Rock-__: jukebox brand 22 Oxalic acid, e.g. 25 Wedding ring? 26 Teacher of spoken language to the deaf 27 Tel __ 28 Immature newts 29 Balance beam? 30 Back-row bowling target 33 Balls of energy

35 Where many columns are found 36 One with a trunk 37 Greek peak 39 Fix up 40 Window part 46 Varicolored pattern 47 Milk flavorer since 1928 48 Hello, to some Americans

49 Link 50 Put off 51 River island 54 Ward (off) 55 Staples purchase 56 Workplace inspection org. 58 Juillet is part of it 60 Glower inducer 61 Matter state: Abbr.

Tuesday’s Puzzle Solved

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Keep increasing your skill level this week. Shift your emotional direction. Reduce doubt. Argue key points in your head, irst. Don’t tell anyone about your lucky break yet. You feel better after exercise. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) There’s a temporary domestic meltdown. Learn a new balancing act. Compromise isn’t possible yet. Aim high and add elbow grease to do it right. Your money isn’t required, but patience is. Clean up messes. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) You’re entwined in a controversy. Move quickly, without promising money. Decrease inancial risk-taking this week, and increase cash low. Stay lexible and attentive. Add to recent home improvements; it’s appreciated. Organize books and papers. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Reduce your personal workload this week. No need to participate in gossip; it’s a time suck. Find resources nearby, and complete the job. Despite a temporary setback, all ends well.

4/2/13

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Resolution is possible soon, although an attempt doesn’t work. Don’t run away from your work or controversy. Advance to the next level with persistence. Then celebrate with the friends who always had your back. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Get cozy. Traveling or fast motion could provide hazardous, so take it easy. A secret gets revealed that provides an advantage. Work through some old business. Listen, and discover a clue through being observant. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Wait to see what develops. Worrying messes with your dreams. Patient, careful measures succeed. Cross things off your private list, and hold out for the best deal. Invest in your home, and enjoy it. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Request participation. Increase your social activities, while cautiously making commitments. Your team will make it happen, if they’re invested. Don’t inance it. If there’s enough interest, it’ll go. Underline the bene its.

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

food & drink

april 3, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES

Dining halls reinforce sustainability through donations SARA LEPLEY features staff writer

At six or seven at night, when the dining halls close, it’s likely that workers dump pounds upon pounds of food into the compost machine, also known as “the goat.” The strict safety laws governing the dining halls remind workers they must toss the food, but that doesn’t mean they can forget that only miles away, povertystricken families starve. In 2007, Jacob Moyer, a student from Virginia Tech, noticed how much food was tossed during a break period his symphony conductor had allotted him; he immediately knew he had to act. “That’s when I said, well let’s try and do something about it,” Moyer said. Moyer contacted Ted Faulkner, the director of Dining Services, and began forming a program in which excess food is donated to local food banks. For a seemingly simple solution, the food diversion program requires extensive planning and adapting. “It started out as kind of a test project, and we had to lay a lot of ground work,” said Kelvin Bergsten, the assistant director of Dining Services at Dietrick Hall. Efforts from the dining halls are especially important, considering the need to avoid foodborne illnesses. For the dining halls, safety is of paramount concern. Tech fol-

lows requirements set by Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points. This restricts the temperatures and amount of time elapsed since preparation that food must be under in order for it to be served. A certificate signifying that Tech exceeds national HAACP standards consistently hangs in the office of D2, yet the dining staff continues to strive toward the safest possible dining experience for students. “Our standards are a little bit higher,” Bergsten said. “It’s more important than anything else we do, because you can have great food, but if you don’t serve it properly and safely, then, well, you failed.” While the leftover food meets Virginia state requirements for safety, Tech no longer considers it servable. Therefore, an external source must sign off on it and transport it to those who need it. “It’s kind of like handing a baton off to someone,” Bergsten said. Moyer took on the responsibility of locating and contacting such a source. He needed to find not only a food bank, but also one that had the equipment and human resources necessary to transport the food in a safe way. As an added obstacle, he had to make this happen with absolutely no cost to the students. Nevertheless, he got in contact with the Salvation Army and Feeding America. “As far as I know, it went pretty smoothly,” Moyer said. “I think the Salvation Army had a

change in leadership, but at that point, Dining Services had created a sustainability coordinator position, and between him and several other students, they were able to find somebody else to come and pick up the food.” Unfortunately, the food diversion program has lost some of its impact due to food sustainability’s two biggest components: cost and safety. Although Tech’s website lists the Salvation Army as a recipient of food donations, the nonprofit organization has not been able to receive food for a few years now. “We couldn’t handle it,” said Jim Forrer, captain corps officer of the New River Valley Corps and volunteer for the Salvation Army. “It was costing us about $500 a week just to pay my truck driver to go get it, because it would take him half a day going to all the buildings there to pick it up. Plus we didn’t have a refrigerated vehicle.” On multiple occasions, Tech has offered to donate again, but the current logistics make any further attempts impossible. Also, the Salvation Army facility only has three or four household-sized refrigerators — not nearly enough to accommodate all of the donations. By the time Tech would call to ensure the organization handled the food properly, they could only serve a small portion, making the costs of the endeavor outweigh the benefits. While the Salvation Army still

needs food, the more traditional food drive tactic may be more effective. “We need mostly nonperishable items,” Forrer said. “Our pantry has gone empty several times this year. I apologize that we can’t pick up the stuff (from Tech). It would be nice, but it just wouldn’t work for us.” Efforts toward food sustainability, however, are far from lost. Every day, dining hall workers load the Feeding America truck parked in the D2 lot with hot meals and to-go items, such as yogurt and salads. Since Feeding America has the resources to provide trucks, they enable the program to not only continue, but also flourish. “Virginia Tech (has some of) the best people,” said Pastor Mike English, as he loaded a crate of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches into the truck. “They feed a lot of people. No one does more than they do.” Feeding America invites staff members to serve food with them, which gives them a chance to see the positive outcome of food diversion firsthand. Moyer also had the chance to volunteer and witnessed the process that he initiated from start to finish, pick-up to consumption. “It was pretty awesome to get to see the people that were helped by the food we’re passing on from ABP, and there’s a lot of food,” Moyer said. Even after losing the Salvation Army as a recipient, the food

diversion system has made huge strides in reducing waste. In order to expel pre-consumer waste entirely, they utilize other tactics as well, particularly when it comes to planning how much food to make. One of the most efficient means of doing this is batch cooking. “What you want to do is cook in smaller batches more often,” Bergsten said. “That will minimize waste.” The managers at each stop gauge the number of customers piling into the dining hall and review food logs from years past in order to decide how much food they should prepare. Striking a balance involves a large amount of critical thinking, but the managers do their

best to ensure that students have enough to eat without needing to throw away food that goes cold or has sat out too long. Their efforts have not gone to waste; the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System gives Tech a perfect score for both its use of food diversion and food composting. While the survey provides a useful measuring stick to estimate progress toward sustainability, Tech hardly looks at rankings as the goal. “(Sustainability) is just absolutely the right thing to do,” Bergsten said. “It’s not a buzz word. It needs to be more of a way of life, not just for us here, but at home and everywhere.”

Drink of the week: Lemon-gin martini

Recipe: Korean lettuce wraps BRIAN CROMER | features staff writer

CHELSEA GILES | special sections editor

The Korean lettuce wrap, or “Ssambap,” is a rice wrap packed with flavor, from pickled vegetables to spicy, charred pork. Adding Kimchi gives it a more Korean flavor, while the astringency of the fresh cilantro helps balance its powerful fermented flavor. Pickling the vegetables ahead of time makes a big difference. After several days, the radish will not have spoiled but may smell suspect. Prep time: 30 minutes Cook time: 15 minutes Ingredients: 2 pounds pork loin 2 cups cooked jasmine rice 3 carrots 3 cloves garlic 1 daikon radish 1 small onion 1 jalapeno pepper 1 head of bibb lettuce 1 cup cabbage or scallion kimchi

KEVIN DICKEL / SPPS

“The goat” is a compost machine used for leftover dining hall food.

1 bunch fresh cilantro 1 1/4 cup rice vinegar 4 tablespoons chili garlic sauce 3 tablespoons teriyaki sauce 2 tablespoons soy sauce 2 tablespoons Sriracha sauce 2 tablespoons granulated sugar PAUL KURLAK / SPPS

Directions: 1. Throw the pork loin into the freezer for 45 minutes; this makes it easier to slice thinly. In a medium bowl, mix the sauces and 1/4 cup of the rice vinegar. Mince the garlic, and add it to the marinade. Reserve a few tablespoons of the marinade for a sauce. 2. With a sharp knife, slice the pork across the grain into 1/8 inch-thick pieces. Toss them in the marinade and refrigerate them for up to three hours. 3. Julienne the radish, carrots and half of the small onion. Slice the jalapeno into thin rounds and mix them with the vegetables in a non-reactive bowl. 4. In a small saucepot, combine two tablespoons of sugar with two tablespoons of salt, one cup of water and the remaining rice vinegar. Bring it to a boil, and then pour over the vegetables. The vegetables are best after about 24 hours, but even one or two hours pickling will work. 5. Remove the pork from the refrigerator 15 minutes before cooking so it can reach room temperature. 6. Heat one tablespoon of oil in a large saute pan over high heat. Saute the pork for four-to-five minutes, allowing it to char slightly. Don’t shake the pan too often or the pork will not sear well. 7. To serve, scoop two tablespoons of rice into the center of a lettuce leaf. Top it with the pork, kimchi, cilantro, sauce and pickled vegetables.

Simplicity. If you are searching for a focus word to calm your mind and slow down the chaos of spring events, this is the one. When you take the time to break away from the schedule, why would you reach for a complicated recipe, or one that requires a long list of steps? Sometimes, effortless cocktails are the most enjoyable, and the lemon-gin martini embodies “easy does it.” The bold yellow of the lemon zest bursts through the clarity of the gin, and the drink whispers peace of mind just KEVIN DICKEL/ SPPS by looking at it. This recipe yields 16 servings, so it would be a fresh touch to the decor and savory refreshment for a spring gathering of friends and family. If you are not trying to add another event to your planner by inviting a group over, you can tailor the recipe down for fewer guests or just for one. However many servings you expect to make, remember to keep it simple and enjoy. Ingredients: 3 cups gin 1/2 cup dry vermouth 2-to-3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Small ice cubes 32 strips of lemon zest (about 4 lemons)

Directions: 1. Stir together the gin, vermouth, juice and ice in a pitcher. 2. Strain the mixture and pour it into glasses. Garnish it with lemon zest.

sports

april 3, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES

Tech: Hokies take down Rams, 11-5 from page one

a two-run home run to left, and added a solo shot in the fifth. “Mid-week games are always fun to come out and hit because hits in the ACC are hard to come by,” Pinder said, whose batting average rose above .400 with three more hits tonight. “When you get these games, you get your swing grooved; it is definitely fun to come out and hit it.” Horan filled in the gaps with a two-RBI double in the third and a three-run home run in the seventh to extend the lead to five after the Rams hit a long ball of their own in the top of the inning. “It always feels good to put one over the fence, but at the same time, you can’t be trying for it,” Horan said, whose home run was his first since March 17 against Duke. With Pinder, Horan and Andrew Rash producing in the middle of the Hokies lineup, Tech’s offense has improved in recent games. “They’re clicking, and hopefully we can get them at that level and just stay,” Hughes said. “Pinder has been so solid and consistent all year long. Horan starting to get looser in his swing and the balls jumping off his barrel and Rash, for a two-week stretch, has been as good as I’ve seen in three years.” After Hayden was pulled

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in the second, Hughes went with Jake Joyce out of the bullpen and would use four arms in total to get the job done. Joyce went 3.1 innings and didn’t surrender a run; he was followed by Sean Keselica and then Clark Labitan. Keselica allowed three earned runs, two in the seventh and one in the eighth, to round out the Rams’ scoring for the day. The Hokies overcame what could have been a potential mid-week nonconference trap game — as was last week — but also exposed a question that has been present all season long. With Brad Markey, Devin Burke and Joe Mantiply locked in as the weekend starters, the Hokies are still struggling to find a reliable starter for their weekday games. “We’re worried about our pitching depth right now,” Hughes said. “I want those guys to throw more strikes. Jake Joyce has got to get better; he’s throwing a lot of balls, more than we’re accustomed to seeing and so is Sean Keselica. Sean wasn’t very sharp tonight.” The Hokies will rely on their three starters once again this weekend when they visit the North Carolina State Wolfpack, ranked No. 25 by the USA Today.

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

Softball sweeps UNC Greensboro JULIA CANON sports staff writer

After travelling to Chapel Hill, North Carolina to face UNC over the weekend, the Virginia Tech softball team returned to Blacksburg on Tuesday to host UNC Greensboro in a doubleheader. The Hokies swept the Spartans, winning the first game 8-1 and the second game 10-9. In the first match UNCG got on the board first with Alisha Fergueroa scoring off of a single to the left field by Katelyn Beldwell in the top of the first inning. Although the Spartans got off to a fast start, Virginia Tech pitcher Jasmine Harrell held UNCG scoreless for the rest of the game. Harrell bounced back from pitching two recent losses and improved her record to 8-4. “I think Jasmines confidence may have been down a little bit, and hopefully, she uses this performance to springboard her into the rest of our ACC schedule,” said head coach Scot Thomas. UNCG continued its trend of scoring in the top of the first inning in the second match, scoring a run off of a single down the right field line by Lindsay Thomas. The Hokies quickly responded with 2 runs in the bottom of the first inning, sparked by a hit to the left field fence by senior Courtney Liddle.

CHEN JIANG / SPPS

After winning the ﬁrst game of the double header 8-1, Tech took down UNCG 10-9 in seven innings. The Spartans tied up the scored at 4 in the top of the third inning with a home run by Bedwell, bringing in two runs and single by Figueroa, bringing in the third and final run of the inning. Af ter the Hok ies reclaimed the lead in the fourth inning, Thomas changed pitchers, putting Harrell in for starting pitcher Maggie Tyler, but Harrell’s return to the mount wasn’t as successful as hoped. UNCG wasted no time in getting back on the board with Bedwell hitting another home run down the left field. “Getting scored on is just part of the game, but you cant let it get to you,”

Harrell said. “You just have to keep pushing forward and put your team in the best position to win.” With the game going back and forth almost every inning, Tech entered the bottom of the seventh inning losing 9-8. After the first two Hokies up to bat were walked, Sophomore Logan Spaw got to first place off of a bunt. The bases now loaded, junior Kat Banks hit a single to left field, allowing the two runs needed to win the game. After being swept by North Carolina State in their home opener and losing two out of three games

to UNC last weekend, the Hokies are seemingly out of their slump. “I think it was important for us to get our bats hot again, and this was an important and close game for us,” Liddle said of the second game. “In the end, we put up 10 runs, and last weekend, we really struggled to put runs on the board, so that was probably the biggest thing for us tonight.” The Hokies play the reigning ACC Softball champions, Georgia Tech, this weekend at home with a double-header beginning at noon on Saturday and a match on Sunday at 1 p.m.